Rob Pelinka Is Being Praised as a Genius After a Move Lakers Fans Once Mocked

What was once viewed as a mistake is quickly becoming one of Rob Pelinka’s smartest decisions of the season.

When the Los Angeles Lakers allowed Dorian Finney-Smith to leave in free agency after spending valuable draft capital to acquire him, the backlash was immediate. Many fans saw it as a waste. Others viewed it as a step backward.

Now?

The narrative has completely flipped.

With Finney-Smith still unable to suit up for the Houston Rockets and unlikely to return until January due to offseason ankle surgery, Pelinka’s move is suddenly being viewed as elite-level foresight.

🔄 Why Letting DFS Walk Now Looks Brilliant

Finney-Smith signed a four-year, $52.7 million contract with Houston — a fair market value for a reliable 3-and-D wing.

But paying that contract would have forced the Lakers into brutal cap gymnastics.

Pelinka saw what others didn’t:

Keeping DFS would have limited Los Angeles’ flexibility and prevented them from building the current version of their roster.

Instead, the Lakers pivoted — and it worked.

🚀 Lakers Thriving Without Finney-Smith

Without DFS on the books, Los Angeles was able to bring in:

• Deandre Ayton
• Marcus Smart
• Jake LaRavia

Those three have been major reasons the Lakers started the season 16–6, positioning themselves near the top of the Western Conference.

If Finney-Smith had been retained, there’s a strong belief the Lakers wouldn’t have had the financial room to sign all three.

This wasn’t luck.

This was planning.

📉 The Reality of DFS’s Health

Finney-Smith hasn’t played a single game for Houston yet.

He’s already missed 30+ games.

And when he does return, he will be closely managed.

That matters.

The Lakers don’t need “future help.”

They need production now — especially alongside Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.

A 3-and-D wing who can’t step on the court offers no value, no matter how talented.

🧩 The Bigger Picture: This Was Always About Flexibility

To acquire Finney-Smith, the Lakers originally gave up:

• Three second-round picks
• D’Angelo Russell
• Maxwell Lewis
• Plus absorbing Shake Milton

DFS played meaningful minutes — even logging 34 minutes per game in the playoffs — but the Lakers were still bounced in the first round. Minnesota was simply a nightmare matchup for a smaller, injury-thin roster.

Pelinka learned from that.

Keep flexibility.

Avoid long-term salary traps.

Build depth.

And that’s exactly what he did.

🎯 What the Lakers Are Still Hunting For

Los Angeles still needs a wing who can:

✔ Defend at the point of attack

✔ Space the floor

✔ Play without dominating the ball

✔ Knock down open threes

Those players are rare.

But Pelinka still has the trade ammunition to make another move before the February 5 trade deadline.

And this time, fans no longer doubt him.

🧠 From Mocked to Mastermind

Fans respected Finney-Smith — and still do.

He’s a worker.

He’s respected around the league.

He’s tied closely to Luka’s Dallas years.

But sentiment can’t run a franchise.

Pelinka chose availability, flexibility, and depth over nostalgia.

And it’s paying off.

While DFS continues his rehab, the Lakers are stacking wins, climbing the standings, and proving that sometimes the smartest move is the one that gets criticized the loudest.

That’s not luck.

That’s front-office genius.