It had been over a decade since the Lakers tipped off a playoff run at home, and man, the buzz inside Crypto.com Arena was different. You could tell fans weren’t just hoping for a win—they were dreaming big. Sixteen wins big. And with Luka Doncic running the show for the first time in purple and gold, you couldn’t blame them. Rob Pelinka’s star signing gave them a show, too. But not the Lakers.
Luka wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s built for the postseason—pull-ups, mismatches. But while Luka looked locked in, the rest of the squad didn’t match his vibe. Ever since Anthony Davis checked out, the paint turned into open season. The Lakers suddenly looked way too soft inside. At first, you probably didn’t notice because they were holding it down defensively as a unit. Right after the trade, they actually had the best defensive rating in the league. Wild, right?
But here’s the catch—none of that came from protecting the rim in a traditional sense. It was all hustle, rotation, and smart switches. And that was Jeanie Buss’ demand from Rob Pelinka after the Doncic trade back in March. Speaking on the Games With Names podcast, Jeanie Buss made it crystal clear—building around Doncic isn’t just about star power, it’s about fit.
Feb 4, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks before introducing Luka Doncic at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“You mean the trade? Yeah, I mean, you know, we—I think we need to get the right players around him,” Buss said, leaving no room for confusion. But Pelinka hasn’t been able to do so as exposed by the Timberwolves on Saturday.
As the dust settled on yet another embarrassing loss, fans weren’t just upset—they were pointing fingers. And the one name that kept coming up? Rob Pelinka. From roster decisions to glaring holes in the lineup, the Lakers’ downfall sparked a wave of frustration directed straight at the front office. Here’s how they sounded off after the defeat.
Fans call out Rob Pelinka’s mistake, they’re not impressed with just Luka Doncic
One reaction in particular hit a nerve. “If Rob Pelinka would’ve went and got us a center we would’ve won because LeBron wouldn’t have had to play center,” a frustrated fan posted, summing up what plenty of Lakers faithful were thinking.
Now, yes, the Lakers did bring in Alex Len late in the season. But let’s be real—he wasn’t moving the needle. The 7-footer gave them a big body, sure, but he averaged just 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game. He barely cracked the rotation, and when he did, he wasn’t exactly locking things down.
Len’s presence didn’t take the pressure off LeBron, who at 40, still had to log minutes as an undersized center.
One sarcastic take summed it up perfectly: “HI MY NAME IS ROB PELINKA. I HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE although I couldn’t figure out that AD needed help and Lakers mainly needing a center. So I traded him for a point guard so LeBron can play the 5.”
It stings because there’s truth to it. Their lack of a center was clear as day when Jaden McDaniels—who isn’t even known for his offense—torched the Lakers for 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting. He even went 3-of-3 from deep. After the game, McDaniels said the Lakers’ small-ball lineups worked to his advantage, admitting, “If [Jaxson Hayes] isn’t out there, I’m basically the tallest person out there. I don’t think no one [could] really rim protect me because Jaxson Hayes wasn’t on the court.”
That’s not just a player feeling it. That’s a direct hit at L.A.’s roster flaws—one that fans feel Pelinka has no excuse for ignoring.
Another netizen chimed in with, “Rob pelinka you got your money. Please for the love of god get a center in the offseason, trade whoever you need to just get Luka some help”.
Rob pelinka you got your money. Please for the love of god get a center in the offseason, trade whoever you need to just get Luka some help
— yuva (@yuvaqt) April 20, 2025
Lakers fans aren’t just mad about a single playoff loss—they’re fed up with what they see as a pattern of neglect from Rob Pelinka. And what made it worse? The timing. Just this season, the Lakers handed Pelinka a multiyear contract extension and upgraded his title to President of Basketball Operations on top of being the GM. That’s a big promotion for a guy whose team just got manhandled in the paint.
Fans aren’t just throwing shade at Rob Pelinka for fun—they’re pointing to real breakdowns on the floor that exposed his missteps by just signing Luka. One fan summed it up with frustration: “This is why we should’ve taken careful consideration with Rob Pelinka. You mean you couldn’t have found another center?”
And honestly, they have a point. The Lakers tried to make up for their lack of size with a hyperactive, swarming defense—doubling constantly, switching on everything, just trying to survive. But that only works if you can recover fast enough. The Wolves saw right through it and picked it apart.
Minnesota torched the Lakers, shooting a scorching 51.2% from the field and 50% from deep. With no true rim protector, LA was forced to scramble on nearly every possession.
This fan’s reaction, “And we’re stuck with Rob Pelinka to actually build out a solid roster in the summer man ,” speaks volumes. It’s a sentiment shared by many who are frustrated with Pelinka’s moves, or lack thereof, over the past few seasons. Despite being handed more control with his recent contract extension, Pelinka still faces the pressure to fix glaring issues—like the Lakers’ lack of a true center—before next season.
Lakers fans want to see more than just flash; they want substance, and that starts with the right pieces around LeBron and Luka.
The post No One Can Ignore Rob Pelinka’s Failure After Lakers Loss as Jeanie Buss’ Only Demand Resurfaces appeared first on EssentiallySports.
