Pelinka says Lakers are building a new kind of team around LeBron
General manger Rob Pelinka says the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t trying to beat the Golden State Warriors at their own game.
Instead, they’re building a team around LeBron James to do something different.
Pelinka spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since the Lakers’ remarkable offseason overhaul began, and the irrepressibly optimistic former agent radiated excitement about the future for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in five seasons.
“To get the commitment from LeBron James to come to the Lakers for four years was really the culmination of everything we’ve been working towards,” Pelinka said. “When LeBron chose to come here, it was the ultimate validation for the moves we’ve made and what we’ve been building since we started.”
The longest postseason drought in franchise history could be finished after James chose the Lakers in free agency. The club also added veterans Rajon Rondo, JaVale
McGee and Lance Stephenson alongside their young core while parting ways with Julius Randle and Brook Lopez, among others.
Pelinka and top executive Magic Johnson hope the result is a sturdy, defense-minded team with enough up-tempo offense to trouble the Warriors, the Houston Rockets and every other contender for the title.
“I think to try to play the Warriors at their own game is a trap,” Pelinka said. “No one is going to beat them at their own game, so that is why we wanted to add these elements of defense and toughness and depth and try to look at areas where we will have an advantage.”
Pelinka said the Lakers will have “an open training camp” in September, with only James guaranteed to be a starter. That means Rondo and second-year pro Lonzo Ball will compete to be Los Angeles’ starting point guard, a possibility that was welcomed by Rondo after he signed.
Pelinka also said Ball will be fully healthy for training camp. The point guard has a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Grizzlies sign Omri Casspi
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed their second free agent in forward Omri Casspi.
General manager Chris Wallace announced the deal Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.
The 6-foot-9 Casspi has started 145 of 552 games in his career with Sacramento, Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans, Minnesota and Golden State. Casspi, 30, played 53 games with the Warriors last season and averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds. He shot 58 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent outside the arc.
Sacramento drafted the native of Holon, Israel, at No. 23 overall in 2009. He became the first Israel-born player to play in an NBA regular season game on Oct. 28, 2009.
The Grizzlies also signed Kyle Anderson to a four-year deal announced Monday.