Following the LA Lakers' first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, speculations abounded regarding LeBron James' next move. The four-time MVP silenced his naysayers by signing a two-year, $104 million extension at the age of 39, demonstrating his enduring value in a large-market league and the league overall. Kendrick Perkins acknowledged this and applauded the 20-time All-Star for securing another lucrative deal.
"The GOAT does it again. King James' longevity... another $100 million in his bank account," Perkins said on ESPN's First Take. "He actually took the max dollars when Rob Pelinka had more than enough time to do something."
Perkins bashes Pelinka
Big Perk wasn't all smiles as his praise for James was accompanied by sharp criticism of Rob Pelinka. The 2008 NBA Champ expressed disappointment in the Lakers GM's failure to make solid roster additions during the offseason, particularly lamenting the missed opportunity to sign free agent Klay Thompson.
Perkins further noted the apparent disconnect between LeBron's willingness to facilitate team-building—even considering a pay cut—and Pelinka's actions. Moreover, while James demonstrated a commitment to constructing a championship-caliber roster, his focus seemed to be on the franchise's long-term future rather than immediate title contention.
"We all know that LeBron James wanted Klay Thompson. They missed out on that to the Dallas Mavericks, I don't know how. Because all he had to do was offer something of nice quality to the Golden State Warriors to make a sing-and-trade happen," Big Perk added. "Here's the thing when it comes down to LeBron James and Lakers - to me, it seems like they're on two different pages. The reason why he wanted to take a pay cut, for the simple reason, he wants to win now. Every single time he steps on the floor, LeBron James is thinking about championships. Rob Pelinka is thinking about the future."
Lakers GM is called out by several analysts
It's not just Perkins; even NBA Analyst - Nick Wright recently bashed Rob for losing 'Killa Klay' in a bidding way against the Mavericks despite having dad Mychal Thompson as his broadcaster.
The real problem isn't just this offseason; it's been a recurring issue for the Lakers over the past few years. They've either drafted the wrong players or added guys who didn't fit the team's championship goals. Now, with JJ Redick coming in as the new head coach, an air of uncertainty has already surrounded the franchise, and these subpar offseason activities only make things worse for the Laker Nation.
Understandably, Pelinka is facing intense scrutiny from the media for his recent failures. While teams like the Mavericks and OKC Thunder are strengthening their rosters, the Lakers are falling behind not only in star power but also in overall team quality, appearing increasingly subpar with each passing day.
Related: "We could be entering into the last year of LeBron's career" - Dave McMenamin reports on James' contract negotiations with the Lakers
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