basketball operation

The Lakers kicked off their summer break by signing their star player to a contract extension in a flashy news conference featuring Balkan walk-up music and a photo gallery display of Luka Doncic’s best Lakers moments. The team returned Thursday by announcing their continued commitment to their coach.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka announced head coach JJ Redick had signed a contract extension at a news conference with the coach as the Lakers begin training camp next Tuesday.

Redick signed a four-year, $32-million contract last year as a first-time head coach and led the Lakers to a 50-32 regular-season record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of playoffs. The terms of the new deal were not announced.

“We think he’s a special coach with a special voice that’s really helping us define the culture of Lakers excellence,” Pelinka said. “We just wanted to make a clear statement that this is what we believe in, what we’re going to lean into and what our players are going to mold into as we continue to develop the identity. I think having long-term planning is helpful as we build this team and go forward.”

Redick’s extension was one of the finishing touches on what Pelinka called “an intentional and productive offseason.” The Lakers touted major additions of center Deandre Ayton and perimeter players Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia who were each hand-selected for their fits around Doncic and LeBron James.

James opted into the final year of his contract, and Doncic signed a three-year extension on the first day the Lakers could offer in August.

After a blockbuster midseason trade brought the former Dallas Maverick to L.A. in February, Doncic and James will enter their first full season together with questions about how the Lakers can best balance the 40-year-old James and his 26-year-old fellow star.

Redick, who said he had two productive in-person meetings with James this offseason, will oversee the league’s most-watched transfer of power.

Redick recognized that joining the Lakers brings consistent pressure. Then he was also transitioning from broadcasting to coaching while moving cities, settling his children into new schools and adjusting to a seismic midseason trade. Redick’s first year came with little time to reflect or process.

After the Lakers were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs, Redick paused to consider his new career. He ruminated for weeks on how to define his philosophy as a coach and his methodology. He searched for answers in meetings with Rams coach Sean McVay, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and Brady’s former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

Through their conversations, he came away with a simple strategy to achieve success.

“We’re going to ask guys to be in championship shape, have championship communication and championship habits,” Redick said. “That’s a daily commitment to that.”

James, who will start an unprecedented 23rd NBA season next week, has always been committed to those pillars, Redick said. Doncic has followed suit.

The Slovenian superstar’s rebuilt and slimmed down body was the talk of the NBA summer after major magazine profiles in Men’s Health and the Wall Street Journal. The offseason work paid off in EuroBasket, where Doncic averaged 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists in Slovenia’s run to the quarterfinals. He was named to the tournament’s five-man All-Star team.

But after traveling to Poland to not only watch Doncic play but to observe Slovenian team practices, Pelinka came away just as impressed by Doncic’s off-court habits as his on-court game.

“How he not only led by example, but he was very demonstrative in the practice in terms of his expectations of the team, how they played, their togetherness,” Pelinka said. “Just seeing that continued evolution and growth with him as not only a leader by example but a leader with his voice really stood out to me.”

Redick noted Doncic’s improved movement and defense during the European competition, and the coach expects to see the same version of the star guard stateside.

“I expect the best version of Luka,” Redick said, “and it’s my job as a coach to bring that out on a daily basis.”

A familiar playlist of Balkan hits led Luka Doncic out onto the court at the Lakers practice facility. A gallery display of photos stood in the back. Six months after first arriving here in a blockbuster trade that shocked the NBA, Doncic has good reason to finally relax.

Doncic signed a three-year, $165-million deal with a player option in 2028 on Saturday, his agent Bill Duffy, confirmed to The Times. In 2028, he would be eligible for a five-year extension worth more than $360 million.

It was an exclamation point to Doncic’s summer media tour that included a “Men’s Health” article detailing his offseason workout regimen, a “Today Show” interview and a photo opp with Aaron Judge at a New York Yankees game.

Now it’s back to basketball.

“We have what we need to compete for the championship,” Doncic said. “I’ll try to win every game no matter what and we got some new great guys on the team so you know we’re going to go for it.”

Several of Doncic’s Lakers teammates, including Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber, were seated in the background of the impromptu Saturday morning news conference. Doncic, wearing a slim-fitting black suit that showcased his widely talked about toned figure, hunched on a tall chair next to general manager Rob Pelinka.

After Doncic and Pelinka posed for the traditional photo opportunity, Lakers teammates and coach JJ Redick descended on the floor and squeezed in for a photo as Doncic held his gold No. 77 jersey.

Less than a full season into his Lakers tenure, Doncic was a critical figure in helping construct what he proudly proclaimed could be “a team to win the championship.” He placed two calls to Smart to lure the defensive ace to L.A. after the Washington Wizards bought out his contract. A smiling Ayton stood to Doncic’s left in the photos, the 7-foot center adding a lob-catching center that will “unlock so much in Luka,” Pelinka said.

“Our thesis for our roster was to get younger,” said Pelinka, who also added 23-year-old sharpshooting forward Jake LaRavia in free agency. “… We like the upgrades we were able to make to the roster. But by no means are we going to be satisfied. I think every year we’re on an infinite cycle to try to improve this team and win championships and we’ll stay committed to that work.”

In 28 games with the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 35.1 minutes per game. But the team was handily bounced from the playoffs, losing 4-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round series as Doncic averaged 30.2 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists.

After the shocking trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Doncic, the Slovenian star was criticized for his work ethic and fitness. But after working with his personal trainers, Doncic’s svelte physique has been the talk of the NBA since “Men’s Health” published a feature about how he remade his body with an offseason program focused on weightlifting, sprints and a no-sugar, high-protein diet.

The makeover has been perceived as Doncic’s revenge since the Mavericks traded him unceremoniously. Yet Doncic insisted he was already “on my way [to] doing it.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and guard Luka Doncic hold up Doncic’s No. 77 jersey during a news conference Saturday to discuss his new three-year, $165-million contract extension.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

“But it was just kind of a fresh start,” Doncic added.

The 26-year-old’s extension was one of the biggest check marks of the Lakers’ offseason that also included LeBron James exercising his player option for $52.6 million. The 40-year-old superstar who is entering his 23rd NBA season was not present Saturday.

Saturday’s announcement came six months to the day after Doncic joined the team in a trade that, for the first time, took focus in the Lakers organization away from James. The franchise suddenly brought in another central figure who would carry the team into its next era.

The move took Doncic by surprise. He wouldn’t have chosen to leave Dallas. But by signing a new deal with the Lakers, he affirmed his choice for the future.

“We could not be more grateful for you choosing this partnership,” Pelinka said. “The best young basketball player in the universe joins, for the long-term future, the best sports franchise on the globe.”

The decision wasn’t difficult for Doncic, who posted on social media that the extension was “just the beginning.” He knew from his Lakers debut, after he recovered from a lingering calf injury that marred his final months with the Mavericks, that he could make a home with this franchise. The fan reception made it clear in his mind.

Doncic has endeared himself to the community by donating to wildfire recovery in L.A., pledging funds to restore Kobe and Gianna Bryant murals around the city and paying for parking at Lakers games. On Saturday, Doncic made his first comments in Spanish, acknowledging the high number of Spanish-speaking Lakers fans. He joked that he wouldn’t speak English.

“Being a Laker is an honor,” Doncic said, “and I wanted to be here.”

Near the conclusion of the news conference to address his contract extension with the Lakers, Luka Doncic detailed the training program that contributed to his striking weight loss.

When he was finished talking about how he lifted weight and refrained from playing basketball for a month, general manager Rob Pelinka made it a point to offer some thoughts.

“Luka’s done all the work,” Pelinka said, “but it’s important to have a support system around you to help you do the great work.”

Pelinka went on to praise Doncic’s trainer, Anze Macek, and physiotherapist, Javier Barrio. He remarked how Macek and Barrio have “worked seamlessly” with the Lakers’ staff. He name-checked Doncic’s agent, Bill Duffy, and business manager, Lara Beth Seager.

These weren’t garden-variety compliments.

This was a pledge of allegiance.

Shortly after Doncic was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers last season, stories emerged about tensions between his inner circle and former team.

Pelinka’s words contained an indirect message: We will support you the way Mavericks didn’t. This is your team.

The commitment was formalized on Saturday, the Lakers signing the 26-year-old Doncic to a three-year, $165-million contract extension.

The news conference ended with seven Lakers players and coach JJ Redick emerging from the back to take a picture with Doncic as he held up his jersey. A couple of the players, center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart, were personally recruited to the team by Doncic.

Doncic is now officially the center of the Lakers’ universe, and as inevitable as that seemed from the moment Pelinka acquired him, the dynamic intensifies a question that was initially raised last season: What does this mean for LeBron James?

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, left, and Luka Doncic hold up Doncic’s jersey during a news conference in El Segundo on Saturday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Too much shouldn’t be made of James’ absence from the news conference on Saturday, as Austin Reaves wasn’t there either. However, James is under contract for just one more season and Doncic for at least three more, and how will James deal with not being the focal point of his franchise? James is a player who is used to exercising boundless influence over teams that employ him, enough to where the 17-time NBA champion Lakers drafted his undersized son.

While the Lakers once had visions of Anthony Davis replacing James as the face of their franchise, the imaginary baton was never passed. The Lakers didn’t make as big a deal of Davis’ extension two years ago as they did with Doncic’s on Saturday, for which a Doncic-themed photo gallery was erected for the news conference.

There’s an uneasy feeling about the situation, in large part because James hasn’t clearly communicated his thoughts. When James exercised his player option for the upcoming season, his agent said that because James wanted to play for championships and the Lakers were “building for the future,” their camp wanted “to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.”

The 40-year-old James will have a say in what happens, as his deal includes a no-trade provision.

Asked how James viewed the Lakers’ summer and whether he thought James would retire with the team, Pelinka replied, “So all the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp, [agent Rich Paul] in particular, have been positive and supportive. So very professional and Rich has been great. The dialogue with him has been open and constant.

“In terms of LeBron’s career, I think the number one thing we have to do there is respect he and his family’s decision in terms of how long he’s going to play. I think that’s first and foremost and we want to respect his ability to come up with his timetable on that. I think that’s really important, but if he had a chance to retire as a Laker, that would be great.”

In other words, there wasn’t enough clarity for Pelinka to be able to say with any degree of certainty, yes, he thought James would retire a Laker.

Doncic accepted an offer from the Lakers to be their next headliner. That was an important development for them. But for them to be able to properly showcase their next act, they will have to close their previous one, whether it’s by him accepting a supporting role or deciding to take his talents elsewhere.

Memo to Mark Walter:

Check your swing.

Now that you’re the majority owner of the Lakers, everyone is expecting you to whack their two most prominent leaders in hopes of transforming the basketball team into your baseball team, but you should instead initially act in terms your Dodgers would understand.

Take a pitch.

Keep Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick in their jobs … for now.

Agreed, this might be a tough call, and certainly there could be temptation to immediately can the two Lakers employees who most epitomize the incestuous decisions that have dragged the once-shining championship organization into dull mediocrity.

Pelinka, the president of basketball operations and general manager, was hired eight years ago because he was the agent and confidant of Kobe Bryant.

Redick, the head coach, was hired last summer because he was LeBron James’ podcast bro.

Neither man came to their current positions with strong qualifications. Both men were beneficiaries of a post-Jerry Buss culture in which daughter Jeanie would surround herself with friends and family.

It is a culture that led to outsized decision-making roles for the likes of Linda and Kurt Rambis. It is a culture that is diametrically opposed to the meritocracy that has made this town’s other glamour team so great.

Now that the Dodgers have basically swallowed the Lakers whole, it might be a foregone conclusion that Pelinka and Redick would be among the first to disappear.

Memo to Mark Walter:

Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Dodgers, recently became a majority stakeholder in the Lakers.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images)

Hold up rounding third.

Both Pelinka and Redick have earned a chance to show their strengths in a new system in which there will certainly be increased scouting, advanced analytics and a new professionalism for an infrastructure that had been difficult for any official to succeed.

Ned Colletti was the Dodgers’ general manager when Walter’s group bought the team in the spring of 2012. He lasted two more seasons, Guggenheim Partners pouring money into the team and giving him every chance to succeed before firing him.

Pelinka deserves at least half that chance.

Don Mattingly was the manager when Walter bought the team. He lasted four more seasons, finally parting ways after the 2015 season.

Redick deserves at least a portion of that leash.

Although both men have been viewed as overmatched both in this space and by NBA insiders across the landscape, each has done well enough to not be summarily beheaded the minute Walter walks through the door.

Start with Pelinka. You do know he has an NBA championship on his resume, right? While Alex Caruso dismissed the 2020 title as phony last week after he won another ring with Oklahoma City, that first one still counts, and Pelinka still deserves credit for overseeing it.

Yes, Pelinka is the villain who ruined everything by letting Caruso walk while gutting the title team to acquire Russell Westbrook. But he’s also perhaps the only executive in NBA history to acquire three players the likes of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.

He had lots of help there — Magic Johnson recruited James, and James recruited Davis, and Nico Harrison handed him Doncic — but still, he was the final cog in making it happen.

Pelinka also engineered the splendid undrafted free agent signing that was Austin Reaves, which led to the Lakers finishing this season as the third seed in the West.

You don’t fire a decision-maker the same year his rebuilt team finishes third in basketball’s most competitive neighborhood. You don’t fire a decision-maker two years after his team reached the Western Conference finals. And you certainly don’t fire a decision-maker until you know what’s happening with his best employee.

It seems clear that James is going to opt in to his $52.6 million contract this week and remain with the team — and son Bronny — for at least one more season. If that’s the case, then Pelinka should get the chance to add the rim protector he’s been seeking to maximize Doncic and give James one more opportunity at a ring.

However, if James unexpectedly turns down the money to seek better title opportunities elsewhere — not a bad decision for the Lakers, honestly — then the ensuing roster chaos will not be the right time to make a change at the top.

Either way, the situation is fluid enough that Pelinka should be allowed to see it through.

The same goes for Redick, who did an admirable job in his first regular season before melting down in the playoffs.

Granted, some would consider his first-round series game management against the Minnesota Timberwolves a fireable offense, particularly in Game 4 when he used the same five players for an entire second half. He didn’t do himself any favors when he later reacted to criticism of that decision by bristling at a reporter’s question before stalking away from a pregame news conference.

During the most important moments of the season, Redick was in over his head. But as he admitted, he’ll learn, he’ll grow, he’ll get better, and he did well enough during the regular season to believe him.

Redick coached one team before the arrival of Doncic and the departure of Davis. He coached another team afterward. He deftly handled both of those teams while smartly disarming the potentially divisive distraction that was Bronny. Redick also empowered Reaves to become a legitimate third threat before Reaves joined his coach in a playoff disappearing act.

All of which brings this surprisingly sugary piece to this upcoming week, the start of the NBA’s summer madness, and the pressure is on.

Like it or not, Pelinka and Redick are a pair now, a tandem joined by the appearance of a new owner with new expectations.

Pelinka needs to find a big man who can help carry them deep into the playoffs. No matter who Pelinka acquires, Redick has to scheme around Doncic and make it all work.

They won’t get many chances under a new Dodger regime that demands sustained success, but they deserve at least one chance to take advantage of the massive changes that this new ownership group will surely create in returning basketball’s greatest franchise to new glories.

Memo to Mark Walter:

Keep Pelinka‘s and Redick’s names in the lineup card.

In pencil.