Things didn\u2019t get off to the best start, as Rob Pelinka\u2019s poor negotiations cost the Lakers Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Pelinka bounced back, as the Lakers signed Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton<\/a> in free agency. Ayton, in particular, was the most important signing, as he fills a huge gap the Lakers had at center.<\/p>\n While Luka Doncic helped recruit Ayton to the Lakers<\/a>, Pelinka also needed his superstar\u2019s help for their next massive signing.<\/p>\n This weekend, the Lakers signed Marcus Smart after his Wizards buyout<\/a>. But signing Smart came at a cost, as the Lakers waived Shake Milton<\/a> and Jordan Goodwin<\/a> to clear cap space for him.<\/p>\n NBA insider and LA Lakers expert Anthony Irwin took to X to discuss the LA Lakers waiving Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton.<\/p>\n The Lakers tried to make a trade to keep Goodwin<\/a> on their roster. But things didn\u2019t work out because Rob Pelinka just wouldn\u2019t part ways with the team\u2019s 2031 first-round pick, or any other draft capital they have.<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing that has come up before and seems to have hurt the Lakers\u2019 chances at making a trade here is Pelinka\u2019s preferences against attaching a pick to move a contract.<\/p>\n \u201cWe saw this last year with Wood\/Reddish. He\u2019s consistent on this front. This isn\u2019t just to keep Goodwin, by the way.<\/p>\n \u201cMoving Gabe\/Maxi+Dalton in a trade that brought back ~$10M would\u2019ve also made room to add one of the FAs left, and that list is interesting.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Pelinka\u2019s stance here could technically cost Goodwin, that player, and whoever they trade for.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) July 21, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Anthony Irwin believes Rob Pelinka should have traded for Matisse Thybulle<\/p>\n In the same thread on X, Anthony Irwin talked about a trade idea he felt would have worked, packaging Dalton Knecht<\/a>, Gabe Vincent<\/a>, and their 2032 second-round pick to land Matisse Thybulle<\/a> from the Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n \u201cOne trade I kept coming back to was Gabe\/Dalton\/\u201932 2RP for Thybulle.<\/p>\n \u201cThis would\u2019ve cleared the money they needed to, landed them another defensive wing, allowed them to keep Goodwin, and have (money) left over. Lakers didn\u2019t want to include that pick. I would\u2019ve, if it were up to me.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2014 Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) July 21, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Now, the Lakers could realistically make this trade and try and bring Goodwin back still. But it is worth asking why Rob Pelinka didn\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n The Lakers\u2019 President has come under fire for not acting with enough urgency to build a contender around Luka Doncic and LeBron James<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n ![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2205090626-1-941x627.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n