With Rob Pelinka in the front office, the Lakers have chased stars in virtually every way. Whether through trade or free agency, Pelinka and the Lakers have wanted a Big Three at all costs and, after failing multiple times, finally realized that plan through Russell Westbrook.
The result was, obviously, disastrous and the team was forced to cut bait, but what they stumbled into was better than anything they’ve had in recent years. With D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers have found not just depth, but great vibes and winning form.