Rob Pelinka is framing the Lakers’ summer as the first clear turn into a post-LeBron James build, with Austin Reaves kept in place and Walker Kessler added at center.
Pelinka sees a new Lakers core taking shape
The Lakers general manager voiced enthusiasm for the roster reset as the franchise moves beyond the James era. Reaves remains a key piece of that direction after being retained, while Kessler gives Los Angeles a new option in the middle.
Kessler’s arrival places a center acquisition alongside the decision to keep Reaves, two moves that underline Pelinka’s confidence in the club’s offseason work. The organization is now preparing its next phase with a reshaped group rather than relying on the structure that defined the James years.
