Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka acknowledge that trading big for small ahead of the trade deadline left his team in a tough spot up front. After trying to fill that need before the trade deadline, and voiding the Mark Williams deal, Pelinka said adding size will be an offseason priority.
“I think when you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course that’s going to create significant issues with the roster, and we saw some of those play out,” Pelinka said. “We know this offseason, one of our primary goals is going to be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position.”
While referencing the voided Williams trade, Pelinka said it’s clear the Lakers need more in their frontcourt.
“There’s NBA rules that prohibit us from speaking to a particular transaction, but I’ll say in general, it’s very clear and it was clear then … this roster needs more size and needs a center,” Pelinka said. “That’s a very clear and obvious by-product of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard. Of course, that’s going to open up a huge hole.
“The trade deadline and the moments up to it don’t allow you the requisite time to explore every single unturned stone to add a big to our roster. We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade. But now we do.”