Lakers' Rob Pelinka: 'High Priority' to Keep Core Players Together After Playoff Run

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka isn't planning to replicate the roster reshuffle that propelled the team in the second half of the year once the offseason kicks into gear.

"Keeping that continuity is going to be very important," he told reporters Tuesday following the Lakers' 113-111 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. "... That's a high priority to keep our core players together."

The Lakers have three players on guaranteed contracts for the 2023-24 season: LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Max Christie—and they are reportedly keeping Jarred Vanderbilt as well by guaranteeing his salary.

Normally that might give a team a lot of flexibility, but James and Davis will combine to earn $87.5 million. There isn't a lot of additional money to go around in L.A.

That was one benefit to the flurry of Pelinka's midseason trades. He described the moves as "pre-agency" in February because the front office would get extended time to see how all of the pieces fit. The Lakers also have the Bird rights for D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura, making it easier to re-sign them.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that Los Angeles "is determined to retain Austin Reaves and [Hachimura] in free agency." He added that "there is frankly no scenario, based on what I know, that Reaves won't be a Laker next season."

However, the 2023 playoffs raised questions over how much work is required to get the franchise back to a place where it can win a title. In particular, the Lakers may not be able to count on Russell as their starting point guard moving forward

The 27-year-old steadily saw his role diminish across the conference finals. By Game 4, he was coming off the bench and logged 14:56 on the floor. For the series, he averaged 6.3 points on 32.3 percent shooting.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha already reported Los Angeles has "had internal discussions about what a hypothetical trade offer" for Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young could be. Kyrie Irving will be hitting the open market as well.

You couldn't help but wonder what an upgrade over Russell at the point would've meant for the Lakers against the Nuggets.

Maybe Pelinka opts against wholesale change with the roster. It's clear, though, that a significant acquisition of some kind is needed for L.A. to avoid a similar fate in 2024.