Lakers GM Rob Pelinka ready for NBA draft lottery fate

The question greeted the Lakers every day for the past three years when their fortunes rested on ping-pong balls instead of postseason success. So it’s no surprise Rob Pelinka has frequently found himself fielding inquiries about the team’s draft lottery fortunes since being hired as their general manager three months ago.

“People are asking, ‘Do you guys have to have that pick?’” Pelinka said shortly after the 2016-17 season ended. “That’s something I get asked at every single game.”

Whatever role the Lakers’ top-three protected draft pick might play in accelerating their rebuilding process, they will get clarity on one thing this week: whether they actually get to keep the pick. On Tuesday, the NBA holds its annual draft lottery in a New York City hotel where the top 14 selections in June’s draft are determined.

As poorly as the Lakers’ 2012 trade for Phoenix’s Steve Nash turned out on the court because of his late-career injuries, the Lakers might soon face more consequences for that deal. The Lakers owe their first-round pick to Philadelphia if it falls out of the top three, and then would also owe their 2019 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic as part of the Dwight Howard deal.

After finishing with the NBA’s third-worst record, the Lakers (26-56) have a 46.9 percent chance of retaining that top-three selection while holding a 15.6 percent odds of landing at No. 1.

Plenty around NBA circles consider the Lakers’ NBA lottery fortunes as the most significant asset as they continue to rebuild under an overhauled front office.

If the Lakers land at No. 1 or No. 2, they could use that to upgrade their backcourt with a dynamic passer (UCLA’s Lonzo Ball) or a balanced floor general (Washington’s Markelle Fultz). If the Lakers slide to No. 3, a promising defender in the backcourt (Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox) or along the wing (Kansas’ Josh Jackson) could be in the mix.

Meanwhile, that pick would give the Lakers more flexibility either to package it as part of a trade or to dangle one of their existing younger players in a separate deal. If the former happens, perhaps the Lakers can include one of the cumbersome contracts of veterans Luol Deng (three years, $54 million) or Timofey Mozgov (three years, $48 million). If the latter happens, the Lakers could absorb dealing a young player since the new prospect will take his place.

And if the Lakers lose the pick?

“I think we’re prepared to have it,” Pelinka said. “We also have a plan that we don’t.”

Pelinka argued the Lakers are “already in a position of strength” after the Houston Rockets sent them a late first-round pick (28th) and swingman Corey Brewer for veteran guard Lou Williams before the February trade deadline. The Lakers also have a second-round pick from Denver as part of Jose Calderon’s acquisition from Chicago last summer. And the Lakers have enough cap space to sign a player to a max contract.

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Pelinka referenced plenty of examples from what he called “Los Angeles sports lore” that demonstrated the ability to thrive through adversity.

From the Dodgers’ Kirk Gibson hobbling to the plate on a pair of bad legs to hit a two-run walk-off home run to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series to Magic Johnson leading a Lakers team playing without injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to a series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals, Pelinka thinks the franchise can succeed a number of ways.

“If we get the lottery balls to bounce our way, we have a great attack plan for the draft,” Pelinka said. “If we don’t, just like those sports moments, we have to find a way. We do have a plan to get to where our ultimate destination is without the draft pick.”

With Pelinka frequently comparing the rebuilding process to solving a Rubik’s cube, the Lakers have already done other things in hopes of expediting that process.

Pelinka and Johnson have mapped out potential free agents for the next five years. They have hosted workouts for players who could be available with that No. 28 pick. And Pelinka, Johnson and Lakers coach Luke Walton have met frequently since their season ended in mid-April.

The Lakers have also made several staff changes as part of what the organization has called the “reorganization of basketball operations.” Several members were not retained, including director of player development Rondre Jackson, assistant strength and conditioning coach Sean Light, scout Chaz Osborne, director of basketball analytics Yuju Lee and basketball operations coordinator Tania Jolly. Also, former Lakers coach and longtime consultant Rudy Tomjanovich was not retained shortly after the season ended, nor was his son, Trey, who was a consultant and helped with statistical analysis in the basketball analytics department

Assistant GM Glenn Carraro and strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco also resigned.

Amid those changes, Pelinka has said he plans to revamp the team’s scouting and analytics department.

“There’s a thousand different ways to turn the cube and to get it so it all lines up. You’ll eventually do it,” Pelinka said. “Maybe you have the pick. Maybe you don’t. But you got to continue to make moves and turn it until you have that complete perfect picture. That’s what we’re doing every day.”

All the problem-solving skills in the world won’t help the Lakers on Tuesday, though. The draft lottery is about a simple thing called luck.