One LA Lakers insider thinks President Rob Pelinka missed a huge opportunity to hold on to Jordan Goodwin this offseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason has turned out to be quite an interesting journey for their fans. After seeing how much improvement their roster needed, the front office had to get to work.
Things didn’t get off to the best start, as Rob Pelinka’s poor negotiations cost the Lakers Dorian Finney-Smith.
But Pelinka bounced back, as the Lakers signed Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton in free agency. Ayton, in particular, was the most important signing, as he fills a huge gap the Lakers had at center.
While Luka Doncic helped recruit Ayton to the Lakers, Pelinka also needed his superstar’s help for their next massive signing.
This weekend, the Lakers signed Marcus Smart after his Wizards buyout. But signing Smart came at a cost, as the Lakers waived Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin to clear cap space for him.
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesRob Pelinka cost the LA Lakers Jordan Goodwin by refusing to add a draft pick in trade talks
NBA insider and LA Lakers expert Anthony Irwin took to X to discuss the LA Lakers waiving Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton.
The Lakers tried to make a trade to keep Goodwin on their roster. But things didn’t work out because Rob Pelinka just wouldn’t part ways with the team’s 2031 first-round pick, or any other draft capital they have.
“One thing that has come up before and seems to have hurt the Lakers’ chances at making a trade here is Pelinka’s preferences against attaching a pick to move a contract.
“We saw this last year with Wood/Reddish. He’s consistent on this front. This isn’t just to keep Goodwin, by the way.
“Moving Gabe/Maxi+Dalton in a trade that brought back ~$10M would’ve also made room to add one of the FAs left, and that list is interesting.
“So Pelinka’s stance here could technically cost Goodwin, that player, and whoever they trade for.”
This isn’t just to keep Goodwin, btw. Moving Gabe/Maxi+Dalton in a trade that brought back ~$10M would’ve also made room to add one of the FAs left, and that list is interesting. So Pelinka’s stance here could technically cost Goodwin, that player and whoever they trade for.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) July 21, 2025
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Anthony Irwin believes Rob Pelinka should have traded for Matisse Thybulle
In the same thread on X, Anthony Irwin talked about a trade idea he felt would have worked, packaging Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, and their 2032 second-round pick to land Matisse Thybulle from the Trail Blazers.
“One trade I kept coming back to was Gabe/Dalton/’32 2RP for Thybulle.
“This would’ve cleared the money they needed to, landed them another defensive wing, allowed them to keep Goodwin, and have (money) left over. Lakers didn’t want to include that pick. I would’ve, if it were up to me.”
One trade I kept coming back to was Gabe/Dalton/’32 2RP for Thybulle. This would’ve cleared the money they needed to, landed them another defensive wing, allowed them to keep Goodwin and have $ left over. Lakers didn’t want to include that pick. I would’ve, if it was up to me.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) July 21, 2025
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Now, the Lakers could realistically make this trade and try and bring Goodwin back still. But it is worth asking why Rob Pelinka didn’t do that.
The Lakers’ President has come under fire for not acting with enough urgency to build a contender around Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Pelinka has played things too safe, often trying to safeguard their future, while not capitalizing on the incredible superstar talent available to them in the present.