LeBron James’ friend, Cuffs The Legend, blasted Rob Pelinka, the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations and general manager, on Instagram on Thursday. Following James’ decision not to re-sign with the team, the basketball observer wrote that both the four-time MVP and Anthony Davis were “back-doored” out of the franchise.
The social media personality highlighted the time Davis “begged” for a starting center but never got one. Instead, the 10-time All-Star was traded to the Dallas Mavericks roughly two weeks after publicly making the request.
Former Laker Kyle Kuzma commented on the post, prompting a reaction from Davis.
Ex-Laker Kyle Kuzma Backs Rob Pelinka, Seemingly Calls Out LeBron James and Anthony Davis
In January 2025, Davis, via an interview with ESPN’s Shams Charania, said that the Lakers needed “another big” to compete for a championship. He added that he’s always been at his best when he’s “at the four.”
The NBA insider also reported that Davis and James “expressed that they want the franchise to make moves to contend for a title.”
Pelinka’s response after that interview was to send Davis packing for then-Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić. The Lakers did make a move, but at Davis’ expense.
On Thursday, Kuzma reacted to Cuffs The Legend’s post about Davis “begging” Pelinka for a starting center.
“You can’t get a center when two people making 600 ms lol,” Kuzma wrote.
The now-Washington Wizards center promptly responded, “@kuz, stop it 0, lol.”
AD & Kuz going back & forth in my IG comments wasn’t on my bingo card today 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Y9KhGfguJP
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) July 2, 2026
Kuzma, Davis, and James helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship. That roster included centers JaVale McGee, who started in 68 games, and Dwight Howard. In the playoffs, McGee opened games 11 times while Howard started in seven.
McGee and Howard were out during the Lakers’ title defense during the 2020-21 campaign. In their place were centers Marc Gasol and Andre Drummond. Montrezl Harrell provided depth in that position. The following season, the Lakers made Davis start at the five until he was traded to the Mavericks.
In the post-Davis-James era, Pelinka’s most expensive move was trading for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler this offseason. To acquire the restricted free agent, LA gave up unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
Interestingly, Pelinka reportedly wanted to land Kessler for years, but could not bring the 7-foot-2 big man to Hollywood until this offseason.
According to Cuffs The Legend, there was a “hidden agenda” in Pelinka’s alleged lack of moves to complement the Davis-James duo. However, the executive did make a major deal, acquiring veteran star guard Russell Westbrook from the Wizards in the summer of 2021. Pelinka sent Kuzma, Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson (No. 22).
Despite the hype, the Lakers imploded during the Westbrook era. Reports have recently emerged that James’ relationship with the front office was never repaired after the “failed Russell Westbrook experiment.”
Cuffs The Legend tweeted that the soured relationship was the reason “why Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss refused to make MAJOR MOVES until LeBron was out the door.”
