Lakers Rumors: Stephen A. Smith Says 'Very, Very Few Teams' Like Rob Pelinka

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka reportedly has few friends among NBA executives because of his time as an agent, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on Monday's First Take.

"Rob Pelinka, a person that I respect as an agent, who was accomplished as an agent. But as an executive for the Los Angeles Lakers, whether they're telling the truth or lying, the story circulating throughout NBA circles is that very, very few teams like him because he's made a lot of enemies along the way.

"Folks don't return his phone calls, they don't pick up the phone to answer him when he does call. These are the things that they say about him. ... It may be grossly exaggerated. He may be being lied upon, but it's said about him consistently."

Pelinka represented a number of high-profile NBA players during his time as an agent, most notably Kobe Bryant and James Harden. He left his agency to become the Lakers' general manager under then-team president Magic Johnson in 2017.

Johnson's sudden resignation created a power vacuum within the organization, and Pelinka has seemingly gained control. He and senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis have been leading the Lakers' coaching search, which has reportedly landed on Ty Lue, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"If you're LeBron James, why would you want to be in this situation in L.A.? Where it's Jeanie Buss there, Rob Pelinka there, it's Linda Rambis there," Smith said.

Smith went on to say the Lakers have not called Jerry West about potentially returning to the organization. He's currently serving as a consultant with the Los Angeles Clippers.

While other general managers may have soured on Pelinka from his time as an agent, he isn't the first agent to have switched sides of the table. Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers was an agent before he joined the Dubs in April 2011.

It's possible teams don't like Pelinka's negotiating tactics or the way he's gone about the job since taking over as Lakers GM. With Magic no longer there to look over his shoulder, it bears watching how Pelinka handles his growing power.