Lakers executive Rob Pelinka says Luka Doncic wants him to make roster decisions and coach JJ Redick to handle coaching, rather than acting as general manager or coach himself. Doncic has given Pelinka a list of players he would like to play with.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that a disconnect between LeBron James and the Lakers began during the 2021-22 season after the Russell Westbrook trade and never fully recovered. James left after eight seasons and signed with Philadelphia, a team he believed he could win a championship with.
NBA.com's Mark Medina wrote that James and Anthony Davis joined roster discussions with Pelinka and advocated pursuing Westbrook even as the Lakers nearly completed a deal for Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield.
