Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers reportedly close to hiring Kobe Bryant’s agent as new general manager

Published Feb. 22, 2017 7:06 a.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

Hours after reports surfaced that the Los Angeles Lakers were interested in hiring Kobe Bryant’s longtime agent as the team’s new general manager, it appears the deal is close to being finalized. The Lakers and Rob Pelinka are putting the finishing touches on a multi-year deal, The Vertical reported Tuesday.

This news follows the team’s major shakeup in which it fired both Mitch Kupchak as general manager and Jim Buss as executive vice president of basketball operations and hired Magic Johnson as president of basketball operations.

Pelinka will have to hit the ground running with the NBA trade deadline in less than 48 hours. His clientele as an agent includes Rockets All-Star James Harden, guard Eric Gordon and Warriors forward Andre Iguodala. But in order for Pelinka to assume the new role he will have to divest from his agency, Landmark Sports.

According to the Vertical, the Lakers’ top target to replace Mitch Kupchak was Warriors GM Bob Myers, but Los Angeles has backed away from that move after Myers recently signed a contract extension.

Gordon signaled earlier Tuesday that Pelinka's move to the Lakers was all but a done deal.

https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/834179260915019779

The Lakers fired Kupchak and Buss after the team failed to complete a deal for DeMarcus Cousins, a setback that played into the timing of their dismissals, according to multiple reports.