Lakers GM Rob Pelinka's Job on the Line Without Playoff Run

Ownership change and team's recent struggles could spell the end for Pelinka's tenure as Lakers GM.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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According to an NBA source, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka's job could be in jeopardy unless the team makes a serious run in the upcoming NBA playoffs. The Lakers have struggled in recent years, missing the playoffs entirely in 2022 and going through the play-in tournament three times in the last five seasons. With new majority owner Mark Walter looking to reshape the franchise, Pelinka may not survive another early playoff exit.

Why it matters

The Lakers are one of the NBA's marquee franchises, and their struggles in recent years have been surprising given the talent on the roster with LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Pelinka's tenure as GM has been marked by questionable roster moves, and the new ownership group may want to bring in their own people to lead the front office in a new direction.

The details

Pelinka has been the Lakers' general manager since 2017, but his tenure has been marked by controversial decisions like the 2021 trade for Russell Westbrook. The Lakers have only advanced past the first round of the playoffs once since winning the championship in 2020, and they've missed the playoffs entirely or had to go through the play-in tournament in three of the last five seasons. With new majority owner Mark Walter looking to reshape the franchise, Pelinka's job could be in jeopardy if the team fails to make a deep playoff run this spring.

  • The Lakers have a 32-21 record and are currently in 5th place in the Western Conference as of February 2026.
  • The Lakers missed the playoffs entirely during the 2021-22 season.

The players

Rob Pelinka

The general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers since 2017, whose tenure has been marked by controversial roster decisions and the team's struggles in recent years.

Mark Walter

The new majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, who purchased a majority share of the team in 2026. He has previously owned the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012 and helped turn them into one of the most dominant franchises in Major League Baseball.

LeBron James

One of the greatest players in NBA history, who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers since 2018.

Luka Doncic

A superstar player who was recently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and is expected to team up with LeBron James.

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What they’re saying

“Unless they catch fire in the second half of the year, unless they really come on and make a run in the playoffs, it's got to be on life support, it is going to be tough to see how he survives. If they're in the play-in again this year, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic on your roster, it's hard to make excuses at this point. Does he have the respect of the league? Does he have a clear vision? That's the problem.”

— NBA Source (Heavy Sports)

What’s next

The Lakers will need to make a deep playoff run this spring in order for Rob Pelinka to keep his job as general manager. New owner Mark Walter is expected to make significant changes to the front office if the team fails to perform.

The takeaway

Rob Pelinka's tenure as Lakers GM has been rocky, marked by questionable roster moves and the team's struggles to contend for championships in recent years. With new ownership in place and high expectations given the star talent on the roster, Pelinka will need to guide the Lakers to a successful playoff run this spring to save his job.