Just about every famous general manager in basketball wants the world to know that the Los Angeles Lakers never called them. Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob revealed that the Lakers never asked permission to interview Bob Myers. Pat Riley himself came out and said that the Lakers never called him, despite at least a shred of potential interest in returning on his part. And now, Jerry West is joining that chorus. He appeared on The Athletic’s The TK Show (h/t Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll), and revealed that he never got a chance to tell the Lakers no because they never bothered to ask him if he wanted to come back.

“No, you know I think it’s foolish for anyone to say that, I really do. I had a great time there as a player and working with Jerry Buss was very fun. Things evolve, but I was never approached and it’s not something I could have ever revisited. It really isn’t, even though I see things over there that I think could be done, but I think every person in the league does that.”

If the Lakers didn't contact West, Riley or Myers, that virtually confirms the suspicion that they never even considered hiring a replacement for Magic Johnson. Rob Pelinka was always going to be the top decision-maker for the team. Regardless of that choice, West still believes the Lakers are due for a comeback season.

“I hope they do well. I really hope they do well, but they just have to get this noise to stop that’s all around them and play basketball. I would guarantee you: they’re going to have a good year this year, they have enough good players to have a really good year, and they’re going to have a good year.”

The Lakers have the tools to have a good year. They have LeBron James. They have a strong young supporting cast. They have max cap space. But it just isn't clear at the moment whether or not they have the right executive staff to use those things. Assets mean nothing without a GM capable of turning them into a team. And even if West never had a shred of interest in the Lakers job, the Lakers should have at least reached out and asked just to be sure.

Landing on Pelinka, as a singular choice, is not necessarily harmful. He might end up being a good executive without Magic Johnson above him. The problem lies in the process. Nobody with Pelinka's lack of experience should be the first choice for a team that has the resources to conceivably lure someone like Riley, Myers or West. Had the Lakers settled on Pelinka after missing out on better options, the decision might have been easier to swallow. But Jeanie Buss seems to genuinely believe that Pelinka is better suited to run the Lakers than the best executives in the NBA. If that really is the case, her ability to to lead this team moving forward should be in serious doubt.