Report: Rob Pelinka emerges as candidate to join Lakers' front office

If Kobe Bryant is indeed on his way to join the Los Angeles Lakers under new management, this could be a major clue.

Bryant's agent Rob Pelinka, a titan in the game, is a candidate to join president Magic Johnson in the Lakers' reshaped front office, sources told ESPN's Baxter Holmes.

Magic said his first call, if given control of the Lakers, would be to recruit Bryant. Co-owner Jeanie Buss did exactly that by naming Magic as president of Basketball Operations on Tuesday.

Pelinka has worked as a player agent dating back to the 1990s. He has represented the likes of Bryant, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Carlos Boozer, in addition to several dozen other active players.

The Lakers are familiar with Pelinka through the course of Bryant's 20-year career. Pelinka negotiated many of his deals and advised Bryant throughout his sexual assault case in 2003.

USA Today's Sam Amick adds that super agent Arn Tellem, Portland general manager Neil Olshey and former Cavaliers GM Chris Grant could also emerge as candidates to populate the Lakers' front office.