Los Angeles Lakers' general manager Rob Pelinka recently appeared on Spectrum SportsNet's “Connected With…” and he has an interesting metaphor for his and Magic Johnson's aspirations as the trade deadline approaches.
“I don't know if this is the perfect metaphor but maybe a nod back to Dr. Buss, who we all know loved to play cards. The trade deadline, you almost have 30 GMs sitting around a big card table and they all have their deck of cards. What you're trying to do as a player is analyze the other 29 players. What may they have, what may they move, what may be their next move in this card game.
Sometimes two players across the table do a trade and reshuffle cards, that changes the scenarios you're looking at. So, right now, I think everyone is assessing the other 29 teams and what they might do. Usually you see in that last week is when most of the major moves are made. And again, our goal is singular. It's climbing up the Larry O'Brien trophy mountain and getting to the top. Along the way, we have to show improvement. We've got to make moves to get there, we know that. We're constantly assessing that, and if there's things this trade deadline that help us take steps up the mountain on that journey, we'll absolutely do them. But if those things don't present itself, then we'll stay the course with what we have.”
What Pelinka said makes sense. After all, the Lakers are not exactly in the best position to make significant moves that can alter the course of their franchise. They are far enough from the playoff picture that making short-sighted moves are out of the question.
And even if they can make some significant moves, will those moves even matter in the long run? The Lakers are not in win-now mode. But the team can win in the future by staying still, improving their young talent and getting assets for some of their players, like Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr.
Who knows? Maybe the Lakers will still make significant moves before the trade deadline. Pelinka's comment may just be a way for the Lakers to hide their intentions to the public, as many of their plans have been leaked, like how they are planning on pursuing Paul George.
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