Is Rob Pelinka a Good General Manager? Plus, How Context Impacts Comfort In a Player's Assigned Role

Monday was a quiet day in El Segundo, with the Lakers getting in a rare practice (with another coming Tuesday!) and no big newsy controversies to juggle. Which gives everyone a chance to look ahead (by looking backwards just a little). There are a few bits of unfinished Trade Deadline Week business that the show couldn't get to, starting with reports stating that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James may not have been fully aligned on strategy. Were the stars ok with standing pat, at least in the way Pelinka suggested? Were they really consulted, as he stated? There is plenty of wiggle room to interpret events, but it seems like all the parties involved are, at the least, in CYA mode. Nobody wants to look like the undisputed captain of the proverbial ship, and that's never a good sign. It conjures up older moments where Pelinka's integrity and honesty have been questioned by players, and reportedly by other execs around the NBA, too. And all of this, when you get to other reports about inaction at the deadline and whether the Lakers are truly getting all the big details right, gets to a larger, critical question: How good a GM is Pelinka? It's a conversation happening today, likely to have many other installments going forward. Finally, Frank Vogel was asked about roles at Monday's practice, and how important it is for players to enjoy them in order to embrace them. His answer was interesting, and puts into context what guys like James, Davis, Russell Westbrook and even Austin Reaves have been asked to do this season. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: There are conflicting reports about whether LA's stars and its management were on the same page last week. Why that matters... SEGMENT 2: Is Rob Pelinka good at his job? SEGMENT 3: Roles, who plays them, and why context matters. A lot. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline..net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices