Lakers News: Rob Pelinka Flippantly Rejected East Contender's LeBron James Trade Pitch
The NBA trade deadline came and went, and your Los Angeles Lakers surprised many when they stood pat and decided to ride it out with their current team.
More or less. The front office did add guard Spencer Dinwiddie via the buyout market, but that was it.
Many expected Los Angeles to be a big buyer by the deadline, but nothing happened. However, some talks were out there that the Lakers should trade their superstar LeBron James. That had little to zero traction, but that didn't stop Philadelphia 76ers' president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, from asking about James for a trade.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, Morey asked about James for a trade. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka had the perfect response to Morey.
After seeing James' cryptic social media post of an hourglass a week before the trade deadline, Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey called Pelinka to probe on a James trade and was immediately told that James wasn't available. In fact, Pelinka responded by asking Morey if Joel Embiid was available, sources said. And that ended that brief conversation.
I'm all here for a petty Pelinka!
The purple and gold want James to retire as a Laker, and they have no intention of changing that. The only way the Lakers would trade James is if they are getting a star in return. Pelinka's response was perfect.
James has been passive-aggressive, like always, when it comes to bettering his team. His cryptic tweet isn't the first we've seen him throw shade at his current team, and it won't be the last.
That's the nature of having the 39-year-old on your team, and the Lakers wouldn't have it any other way. 76ers superstar Joel Embiid would be a great addition to the team, but give me James nine times out of ten.
The four-time champion is still that dude, and it seems like L.A. will ride with him until the wheels fall off.
