Rob Pelinka openly thanked Nico Harrison for enabling him to acquire Luka Doncic
The Lakers GM is fully aware of his actions.
It’s rare for NBA executives to directly thank someone for helping them land a superstar, but the Luka Doncic trade has completely broken the usual rules of the league.
At Luka’s press conference on Tuesday, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka praised Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, calling him “instrumental” in making the deal happen. While Pelinka likely meant this genuinely, it’s hard to thank someone for essentially facilitating a theft without sounding a bit smug.
Meanwhile, Luka had little to say about Nico Harrison, offering a “no comment” when asked about the Mavericks’ leadership. This is understandable, as it must be painful to be unceremoniously traded after giving so much to a team and city.
Luka’s press conference felt surreal. Dozens of media members were present in LA to welcome him, and both Luka and Rob Pelinka seemed somewhat in shock over what had unfolded in the past 72 hours. We all feel the same, guys.
Rob Pelinka pulled off a masterstroke
Honestly, if someone came up to me and said, “Hey, I have something that will make your job ten times easier, and I want to give it to you for practically nothing,” I’d probably thank them, too—so I understand Pelinka’s reaction.
Nico Harrison likely didn’t anticipate becoming a Los Angeles Lakers icon when he made this trade, but that’s exactly what occurred. However, being a legend for a team you’re directly competing with is probably not the goal for an NBA GM, I’d imagine.