Lakers’ $11M gamble turned heist validates GM Rob Pelinka’s $33M questionable decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a roll, now riding a nine-game winning streak after defeating the Orlando Magic on Saturday night. One of the biggest priorities coming into this season was building a roster that satisfied Luka Doncic and his championship aspirations.

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“Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn’t mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he’s not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,” CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.

The Lakers took some time to find their stride, but they have now. One major reason is a trade GM Rob Pelinka made at the deadline to acquire Luke Kennard.

“The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick, the team announced on Thursday night,” ESPN wrote.

The key for Pelinka was securing another shooter — a move that has elevated his reputation.

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“The Lakers are going to score. They have Luka, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Pelinka needed to find a lights-out shooter to open that bit of extra space for everyone else. Kennard has the second-best 3-point percentage in NBA history, and the Lakers got him for Gabe Vincent and a second-round draft pick. It was another magic act by Pelinka as he turned virtually nothing into a crucial piece the team desperately needed. If fans had heard all that two months ago, they wouldn’t have believed it. Rob Pelinka deserves a ton of credit. It was his relationship with Nico Harrison that brought Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Now, the Luke Kennard trade has lifted the Lakers even further. Fans thought Kennard’s defense would make him a non-factor, but they were wrong. Pelinka is doing it all with limited assets and savvy moves. Credit to him,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote.

The Lakers are increasingly looking like a true contender, and Kennard’s floor spacing is a big reason why. Pelinka has now delivered two consecutive seasons of deals that have fundamentally changed the complexion of the Lakers’ season.

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