Rob Pelinka on whether Mark Walter’s resources are starting to be put into the Lakers: “Jeanie and I did a really deep dive with him on sort of the areas he wants to grow. … There will be some positive changes and we will build things out”
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Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka addresses the media as the organization prepares for a front office overhaul under new ownership.
The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for another major organizational shift — this time behind the scenes.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers are expected to reshape their front office this summer under new majority owner Mark Walter, signaling a continued transformation of the franchise’s internal structure.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are considering multiple front office staff additions looking ahead to next season, including at least one assistant general manager and another potential high-ranking role,” Scotto reported, citing league sources.
GettySiblings Joey and Jesse Buss (in black hat), from left, were kicked out of the Lakers front office.
The latest developments build on sweeping changes already underway since Walter finalized his purchase of the franchise at a reported $10 billion valuation.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported in November that multiple members of the Lakers’ scouting department were dismissed as part of the restructuring — a move that included longtime executives Joey and Jesse Buss.
Joey Buss served as alternate governor and vice president of research and development, while Jesse Buss held the role of assistant general manager and was widely regarded as a key figure in the team’s scouting success.
Their departures marked a significant shift, removing two long-standing architects of the Lakers’ talent pipeline.
GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after the Lakers made a basket.
Despite their exit, the Buss brothers’ influence remains embedded in the roster.
They played central roles in identifying and developing key contributors such as Austin Reaves, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Ivica Zubac and Max Christie — players who helped stabilize the team through periods of roster turnover and salary cap limitations.
Among that group, Reaves remains with the Lakers and is widely expected to command a significant contract next offseason, potentially setting a new benchmark for undrafted players.
The direction of the Lakers’ front office rebuild has become increasingly clear: follow the blueprint of Walter’s highly successful baseball operation.
Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, has overseen one of the most dominant runs in Major League Baseball, with the Dodgers capturing three World Series titles in recent years while consistently fielding championship-caliber rosters.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged that influence earlier this year.
“When Mark bought the team, Jeanie and I did a really deep dive with him on the areas he wants to grow,” Pelinka said. “Looking at the Dodgers and how they’ve built it out, it has been a great example — a North Star.”
Rob Pelinka on whether Mark Walter’s resources are starting to be put into the Lakers: “Jeanie and I did a really deep dive with him on sort of the areas he wants to grow. … There will be some positive changes and we will build things out”
Pelinka added that the Lakers plan to expand what has long been viewed as one of the NBA’s leaner front offices.
“There will be some positive changes and we will build things out,” he said.
One early sign of that shift came with the hiring of longtime Dodgers executive Lon Rosen as president of business operations.
Rosen replaced Tim Harris, who stepped down after 35 years with the organization, and brings deep experience from the Dodgers’ front office, where he served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
The move reinforced the Lakers’ commitment to integrating Walter’s operational philosophy across both the basketball and business sides of the franchise.
With the offseason approaching, the Lakers are expected to continue building out their front office infrastructure — a move designed to support sustained contention around their current roster.
The urgency behind those changes is also tied to the franchise’s growing flexibility.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, the Lakers are projected to have roughly $50 million in salary cap space this summer, along with three first-round picks available as draft capital — assets that could position the team for a significant roster upgrade or a potential star trade.
The combination of cap space and draft flexibility gives the Lakers a rare opportunity to reshape both their roster and organizational structure at the same time.
The combination of new ownership, front office expansion and philosophical alignment with the Dodgers signals a clear departure from the Lakers’ historically smaller executive structure.
For a franchise defined by championships and star power, the next phase may be shaped just as much by decisions in the front office as those on the court.
Alder Almo is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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