Rob Pelinka rules out tanking as Lakers chart offseason plans
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said the franchise has no intention of sacrificing seasons for draft position, stressing that “tanking is not part of our infrastructure.”
Speaking at the UCLA Health Training Center on Sept. 25, 2025, Pelinka previewed the upcoming 2025-26 campaign and outlined an offseason focused on building a title-caliber roster around Luka Doncic.
“You could lose five years in a row and get five top-five picks and come out of it without that player,” Pelinka told reporters. “We were able to get that in Luka, so that part of the puzzle is solved. Now it’s just a matter of putting all the other pieces around that to be able to get to the end.”
Pelinka acknowledged that franchises such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons rebuilt through extended stretches near the top of the draft. The Lakers, he said, will pursue “sustained excellence” without enduring multiple losing seasons.
“Multiple seasons of losses — that is just not part of our infrastructure here,” he said. “As much as some might want it to be, it’s not the Lakers Way. We’ve got to find a way to have championship rosters every year.”
While dismissing a full rebuild, Pelinka emphasized the importance of developing young talent already on the roster. He said internal growth, along with opportunistic moves in free agency, trades and the draft, will be critical during a summer the Lakers view as pivotal to returning to championship contention.
Source: Lakers Nation
