The Los Angeles Lakers underwent a change in leadership earlier this season, with longtime franchise owner Jenny Buss deciding to sell a majority share of the franchise to Mark Walter, who is now making some changes to the team’s brain trust. In recent days, the Lakers announced that executive Lon Rosen will be the team’s new president of business operations.
Rosen was the executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Walter called on him to take on the role as president of the Lakers. With connections made during his time with the Dodgers, Rosen would enlist the help of Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, the combo who led L.A.’s operations during consecutive World Series title-winning seasons.
For Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, this means he will work closely with both of them, collaborating with them on roster personnel matters. According to Dan Woik of The Athletic, Pelinka “will continue to handle basketball operations” while working within an “expanded front office.”
The next few years are going to be important for the Lakers; They have to start completely building around Luka Doncic, which will take them a year or two.
The Lakers front office is poised to play a key role over the next few seasons
The Lakers’ trade for Doncic is one they would make 10 out of 10 times, but the roster they built was designed to maximize the James-Anthony Davis-led core. They are so lacking in defensive infrastructure that it will take a year or two for them to emerge as legitimate contenders in the West.
The team is preparing for the 2027 free agency period, when players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic could potentially hit free agency. It’s unclear whether Pelinka will remain with the Lakers until then, but it’s clear from their front office what the intention is.
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