Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the futures of Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and governor Jeanie Buss following the franchise’s $12.5 billion sale. On Wednesday, Ramona Shelburne reported that Mark Walter, who bought a majority stake in the team for a record $10 billion last October, had agreed to sell his stake to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner in another record deal worth $12.5 billion.
Walter agreed to retain Buss as the governor while Pelinka kept his job as the president of basketball operations and general manager. However, Smith thinks only one of Pelinka or Buss will continue in their respective roles under the new ownership.
“I think Rob Pelinka will not be there running basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers,” the ESPN analyst said on his show on Thursday. “I don’t believe that will happen … I do believe that … somebody like Jeanie Buss should be around. She’s synonymous with the Lakers.”
Smith said Buss is the “matriarch” of basketball, so it doesn’t make sense for the Lakers’ new owners to lose someone as respected as her in the NBA community.
As for the role of basketball operations, Smith threw Bob Myers’ name into the mix. Myers is currently the president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, overseeing operations for the Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Under Myers’ leadership, the Sixers managed to flip pieces like Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. into Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.
Given Myers’ instant success with the Sixers, Smith believes the Lakers should pursue him if an opportunity arises.
Chris Paul could land a role with the Lakers as Bob Iger prepares to take over franchise
Fifteen years after the NBA voided the Lakers’ trade for Chris Paul, the two parties could finally join forces. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne hinted on Thursday that the retired point guard may have a role in the front office under new ownership led by Bob Iger.
“There’s a couple names you should pay attention to: Chris Paul, very close friend of Bob Iger’s. He’s sort of a mentor to Chris Paul,” Shelburne said on NBA Today. “Chris recently retired. He’s available, incredible basketball mind. I don’t know what that means for him, but I expect they’ll be talking.”
Chris Paul also shares a close relationship with Lakers coach JJ Redick, having teamed up on the LA Clippers. Paul was one of the smartest players in the NBA, and a bright mind like his could excel in a coaching or front-office role.
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