Rob Pelinka just secured himself a shiny new contract extension with the Lakers. And not just that, he also bagged a promotion while at it. Less than three months after pulling off one of the boldest moves by landing Luka Doncic, Pelinka got bumped up from VP of basketball operations to President of basketball operations. Talk about leveling up.
However, details of the deal are still under wraps, but Jeanie didn’t hold back when talking about her trust in Pelinka. “For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” she said in an official statement. “I value his partnership and professionalism and believe in his ability to deliver championship-caliber basketball for Los Angeles and Lakers fans everywhere.” Safe to say, the man’s got her full support.
But then again, Pelinka didn’t earn all this without making waves. He first got Anthony Davis from New Orleans in 2019, then sent him out in a massive package to reel in Luka Doncic earlier this year.
Now, here’s the fun part—a former Warriors star couldn’t help but react to all this. As soon as Pelinka’s extension became public, the ex-player hilariously chimed in, predicting his next blockbuster move.
So right after ESPN share the news of Rob Pelinka’s contract extension, Gilbert Arenas wasted no time chiming in with a wild prediction. The ex-Warriors star dropped a comment on Instagram that read, “lets go Nico coming over ,” hinting that Pelinka might already be eyeing his next power move—snatching Nico Harrison. The Mavericks’ season had just ended, and Nico’s name was already floating around, not just from Gil. One fan even joked, “Can we sign NICO for GM.”
The big move and how the fans are taking it
Naturally, that set the internet off. Nico, who previously coached Luka Doncic in Dallas, was somehow at the center of fan theories. Could it actually happen? Maybe. Maybe not. But the Luka trade has a lot of people convinced Nico played a role in Rob’s recent rise. “He got Luka Don for a basket of fries and a half full coca cola, he deserves it,” one fan quipped. Another piled on, saying, “Bro getting paid just bc he said yes to ‘Nico Harrison.’”
Then again, it’s not like Rob hasn’t earned his stripes. That Doncic deal went down on Feb. 7, sending Anthony Davis and Max Christie packing. And in the 28 games since Luka’s Feb. 10 debut, the Mavs star averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 boards, and 7.5 assists. The Lakers even went 19-13 after adding him. Not bad for a mid-season shake-up, right?
Even before that, Pelinka made some loud moves. He brought in JJ Redick as head coach, signed LeBron James back in 2018, and traded for Davis in 2019. And this season? The Lakers finished 50-32, their best since the bubble title run, locking in the No. 3 seed in the West. They now face the Timberwolves in the opening playoff round.
So yes, Rob’s got the fanbase on his side. One even declared, “In Rob we Trust .” But now the real question—will Gil’s Nico prediction actually come true? Or does Pelinka have an even crazier move up his sleeve after this extension?
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