Rob Pelinka Accused of Lying About Dorian Finney‑Smith’s Injury During Lakers Talks

Delving into the trade controversy surrounding Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka reveals some troubling allegations regarding Dorian Finney-Smith's knee during free agency discussions. Reports suggest Pelinka has been accused of attempting to undermine Finney-Smith’s market value by disseminating misinformation about his health—ethically questionable behavior, to say the least. Lakers insider Anthony Irwin discussed these claims on his podcast, asserting that Pelinka reached out to other teams concerning supposed issues with Finney-Smith’s knee, aiming to diminish his free agency appeal. Irwin also noted that this information eventually reached Finney-Smith and his representatives. However, he later clarified that the injury in question was actually an ankle issue, not a knee problem, emphasizing his earlier mistake.Interestingly, despite this alleged strategy, Finney-Smith ultimately chose to decline his $15.4 million option and secured a lucrative four-year contract with Houston. The ramifications of these allegations could significantly tarnish Pelinka’s reputation and the Lakers' standing in the league.