Lakers Aim to Emulate Success of Champion Dodgers in Front Office and Player Development

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Lakers Aim to Emulate Success of Champion Dodgers in Front Office and Player Development

In a significant move signaling a potential shift in organizational philosophy, the Los Angeles Lakers, a franchise steeped in NBA history with 17 championships, are actively seeking to model aspects of their operations after their cross-town counterparts, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers, who have captured the last two World Series titles, represent a benchmark for consistent success and operational excellence, a standard the Lakers aspire to reach and surpass.

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, recently detailed this burgeoning inter-league collaboration. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the official finalization of Mark Walter's purchase of the Lakers at a staggering $10 billion valuation in late October, Pelinka highlighted the strategic advantages of this partnership. The Lakers and Dodgers share a common ownership group, led by Walter, fostering an environment ripe for shared insights and best practices.

"It's been great to have sort of outside allies and advocates looking at the Dodgers and the success they've had and what they've built over there, and being able to tap into a person like Andrew Friedman for best practices," Pelinka stated. Andrew Friedman, a highly respected figure in baseball, serves as the Dodgers' President of Baseball Operations. He joined the franchise in 2014, a period that predates the team's current era of dominance, and has been instrumental in their strategic build-up.

Pelinka lauded Friedman's acumen, describing him as "incredibly smart" and acknowledging his pivotal role in bringing championships to Los Angeles. The ability to consult with another high-level executive from a successful organization, regardless of the sport, is viewed as an invaluable resource. "So just to have another head of another team that you can, whether it's a roster move, whether it's a staff move, just someone that you can talk to has been an incredible resource," Pelinka elaborated.

The strategic discussions extend beyond Pelinka and Friedman, involving Lakers' owner Mark Walter and acting Governor Jeanie Buss. These conversations have focused on how Walter can further bolster the Lakers' infrastructure and operational capabilities, with tangible changes anticipated to begin this summer. Buss is slated to continue as acting governor for at least four more seasons beyond the 2025-26 campaign, ensuring continuity in leadership.

"When Mark bought the team, Jeanie and I did a really deep dive with him on sort of the areas he wants to grow and move into and get aggressive," Pelinka revealed. "Looking at the Dodgers and how they built it out has been a great sort of example and North Star. And so we're still going through that process of how we'll look in the offseason and what additions we'll make. But there will be some positive changes, and we will build things out."

A key area of focus for the Lakers is replicating the Dodgers' proven model for player development, including their draft strategy and the structure of their minor league system, often referred to as their "farm system." This suggests a commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of talent from within, rather than relying solely on external acquisitions.

Pelinka emphasized that the implementation of these changes will be a collaborative effort, spearheaded by himself and Jeanie Buss, with the full backing of Mark Walter. This unified leadership structure is intended to drive the organizational transformation forward efficiently.

The Lakers' front office has undergone significant restructuring in recent years. Following Magic Johnson's unexpected departure as President of Basketball Operations in 2019, Pelinka assumed primary decision-making authority, supported by Kurt Rambis as a senior advisor. Further streamlining occurred in November when the team parted ways with Joey Buss (alternate governor and VP of Research & Development) and Jesse Buss (Assistant GM), along with several scouting department members, indicating a drive towards a more consolidated and potentially specialized front office.

Pelinka expressed his intention to emulate the depth and scope of the Dodgers' front office. "The Dodgers, just the way they've sort of built out their front office, how deep it is -- there is no expense they'll spare in being the best sort of front office in the world," he remarked, underscoring a commitment to investing in top-tier talent and resources for management and scouting.

Addressing the team's recent activities and future outlook, Pelinka also discussed the Lakers' approach to the trade deadline and their strategy for the upcoming offseason. The Lakers are positioned to be active in the summer, with three future first-round draft picks available for trade and an estimated $50 million in projected salary cap space.

Regarding the trade for Luke Kennard, involving Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick, Pelinka stated, "When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it's a great opportunity. So, we seized it." This move highlights a focus on acquiring specific skill sets that can immediately impact the team.

On evaluating other potential trade opportunities before the deadline, Pelinka described the team's stance as "aggressive." He clarified that aggressiveness isn't solely about making deals, but also about discerningly declining moves that might not align with the long-term vision. "And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future. That's being aggressive, even though you end up doing nothing, because it's hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix, but could have implications for the long term where it doesn't fit into the overall vision you have for the team," he explained.

Looking ahead to the summer, Pelinka acknowledged the challenges posed by the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, particularly the "dual-apron system." He noted that many teams find navigating beyond the second apron difficult. "We felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason. Because there's some teams that maybe have gotten too deep into the aprons. And I think players, we see around the league, that become available when teams get in that position," he said. This strategic positioning aims to maximize flexibility in free agency, trades, and potential contract restructures.

The Lakers anticipate a diverse range of avenues for roster improvement in the offseason. "So, whether it's through free agency, whether it's keeping our own players, whether it's looking around the league for players that are really good that maybe teams are trying to get off salary, we feel like there'll be so many different ways to complete our roster in the offseason," Pelinka concluded.

Concerning the buyout market, Pelinka confirmed the team is evaluating their final roster spot. "We are evaluating [our open] 15th roster spot and at some point, probably will likely fill it," he stated, indicating potential additions to finalize the team's composition.

Ekhbary News Agency