Los Angeles — April 18, 2026: Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka opened the franchise’s offseason on Tuesday, telling reporters he is pleased with consecutive 50-win campaigns but remains determined to push the roster to championship level after a second-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Speaking at his annual end-of-season press conference at Crypto.com Arena, Pelinka said the 2025-26 squad was “a lot to be proud of” yet fell short of the club’s title standard.
“This is a market with championship expectations, and now begins the process for leadership here—JJ and myself—to deconstruct the things in the season that went well and then look at the parts we can elevate,” he said, referencing head coach JJ Redick.
Immediate focus: draft combine and roster decisions
Pelinka will fly to Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine, where the Lakers hold the No. 25 pick. The choice could be used on a young prospect or packaged for a veteran upgrade, he noted.
The front office faces a busy summer, with up to 11 players hitting free agency and nearly $50 million in cap space available. Among the potential free agents is 41-year-old LeBron James, whose mutual interest in a new contract was acknowledged by Pelinka.
“We’re going to be incredibly process-oriented,” Pelinka said, adding that collaborative work with Redick and the staff has already begun. “Our goal is to deliver a roster next season that our Lakers fans can be incredibly excited about and honored by.”
The Lakers finished the regular season 51-31 before falling to the Thunder in four games. Despite an injury to star guard Luka Dončić, Los Angeles reached the Western Conference semifinals for the second straight year.
Pelinka called the quick playoff exit motivation to close the gap on Oklahoma City and San Antonio, teams he labeled “the league’s elite.”
The offseason evaluation process, he said, starts “now.”
Source: LakersNation.com
