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Lakers introduce Brook Lopez as GM dispels notion of rebuilding year

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- During his opening statement while introducing new center Brook Lopez on Wednesday, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka made a comment that raised eyebrows.

"We don't see next year at all as a rebuilding year," Pelinka said at the team's practice facility. "We see it as a Lakers year. A lot of that is going to be centered around [Lopez] and what he stands for and what we know he'll give this organization."

On the surface, it was an incredibly bold statement for a team that posted a 26-56 record last season, the league's third-worst mark, and that hasn't made the playoffs in four straight years.