Lakerholics

  • Profile picture of Michael H

    Michael H wrote a new post

    • 8 months, 4 weeks ago

    Aloha,

    The first thing I believe the new owner should try and get a handle on LeBron’s retirement plans. The trouble with LeBron is, this year to year approach is hard to plan for.

    For instance if this is LeBron’s last year, you definitely want to hold on to Rui to slide into the 4 spot. A stretch 4 is valuable in the league and defensively the 4 is his best position.

    Same goes for Austin. There is no guarantee that you can find another player with Austin’s scoring ability. He averaged 20 as the 3rd option. He generally scored even more when he was the 2nd or 1st.

    With a couple of smart moves I think we are a top 4 seed next year. But becoming a true contender will take more than one off season to accomplish.

    If LeBron retires after this coming season. We will have a lot of money to feel in the holes in the lineup and become a deeper more versatile team. Because Austin’s salary is so low his cap hold will only be around 20 mil. We can others first and then go over and sign him for the 30 mil he will be asking for.

    Short of the pipe dream of LeBron taking less, I believe we should try and build a team around the future as apposed to making win now moves that may not be enough anyway.

    The trouble with LeBron
    Posts
    June 20, 2025
    1

    Aloha,

    The first thing I believe the new owner should try and get a handle on LeBron’s retirement plans. The trouble with LeBron is, this year to year approach is hard to plan for.

    For instance if this is LeBron’s last year, you definitely want to hold on to Rui to slide into the 4 spot. A stretch 4 is valuable in the league and defensively the 4 is his best position.

    Same goes for Austin. There is no guarantee that you can find another player with Austin’s scoring ability. He averaged 20 as the 3rd option. He generally scored even more when he was the 2nd or 1st.

    With a couple of smart moves I think we are a top 4 seed next year. But becoming a true contender will take more than one off season to accomplish.

    If LeBron retires after this coming season. We will have a lot of money to feel in the holes in the lineup and become a deeper more versatile team. Because Austin’s salary is so low his cap hold will only be around 20 mil. We can others first and then go over and sign him for the 30 mil he will be asking for.

    Short of the pipe dream of LeBron taking less, I believe we should try and build a team around the future as apposed to making win now moves that may not be enough anyway.

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    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

      Mark will want to make sure that the Lakers can clear cap space when LeBron leaves. My guess is the Lakers would like more than just next year to get ready. Best guess is James signs a 2-year extension with the second year to be the farewell tour.

  • Profile picture of LakerTom

    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 8 months, 4 weeks ago
    In Less Than Year, Lakers Land New Coach, New Superstar, & New Owner
    Articles, Posts
    June 20, 2025
    17

    In less than a year, the Lakers pulled off an extreme franchise makeover, adding a new head coach of the future in JJ Redick, a new superstar of the future in Luka Doncic, and a new owner of the future in Mark Walter.

    The Lakers extreme new makeover started one year ago next Tuesday when the team hired JJ Redick to be their head coach of the future. We didn’t know it then but that was Jeanie’s first public transition move. Jeanie’s true first transition move came back in 2021 when Mark Walter purchased Philip Anschutz’s 26% minority share of the Lakers and was awarded first right of refusal should the Busses decide to sell the team.

    What’s obvious in retrospect is Jeanie Buss has just given the professional sports industry a master class in how an owner of a legacy franchise like the Lakers should handle the sale of the team to a new ownership group.
    Jeanie Buss choreographed the hiring of JJ Redick as the team’s head coach of the future, the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic to be their superstar of the future, and now the sale to Mark Walter, their new owner of the future.

    Jeanie Buss negotiated the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers for $10 billion. That’s $4 billion more than was paid for the Boston Celtics a few months ago, making it the biggest sales price in history for a pro sports franchise.
    More importantly, Jeanie leaves the Lakers with a dynamic new young head coach, a elite new young top-3 megastar point guard, and a proven new young owner committed to building teams and winning the right way.

    As the NBA undergoes a chaotic changing of the guard with new teams and superstar vying to take over the league, Jeanie Buss has done a masterful job as trustee of the Lakers in choreographing the franchise’s transition.

    What New Owner Means for Rob Pelinka & JJ Redick?

    …

    While Jeanie is staying as governor during the transition, the days of running the Lakers like a small-time family business on a shoestring are over and Pelinka and Redick will be held accountable for their jobs.

    Using the Dodgers’ turnaround since being bought by TWG Global as a guide, Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick can expect to be given a fair opportunity and every possible tool or benefit to help them best perform their jobs.
    Mark Walter has been a minority partner since 2021 so he’s been intimately involved in all the Lakers have been doing, which is why he is comfortable with Jeanie Buss remaining as the team’s governor during the transition.

    But Walter clearly plans to follow the same blueprint he used to rebuild the entire Dodgers’ organization, which means Pelinka and Redick will finally be held accountable to a championship standard for their performances.
    While Walter won’t be able to buy an NBA championship by overpaying players, he will certainly pour finances and resources into every aspect of running the Lakers from player development to analytics to training.

    Rob Pelinka will be under heavy scrutiny and will likely see his front office team dramatically expanded. There won’t be any excuses accepted if the Lakers start the NBA season without a legitimate starting quality center.
    Same for JJ Redick. He may be a rookie coach but he will be given every opportunity to show he has the chops to become a great NBA coach. In the end, JJ needs to grow up, develop quickly, and, most importantly, win.

    Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick will enter the 2025–26 NBA season secure in their positions but also clearly aware that they would be held to very high performance standards, for which they will be personally accountable.

    What New Owner Means for LeBron James & Austin Reaves

    …

    On the surface, one of the reasons Mark Walter wants Jeanie Buss to remain governor during the transition is to insure that the team continues the strong personal relationships with LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

    Since Walter is already a minority owner, he’s likely up-to-date on what the Lakers are planning with respect to LeBron James and his player option and with respect to Austin Reaves and the continuing trade rumors.
    Could the sale to Walter motivate LeBron James to play for more than just one more season? Could Walter veto Reaves untouchable status and use him to make an offer to Utah for Walker Kessler the Jazz cannot refuse?

    While having a rich owner still won’t allow you to exceed the second apron, expect Mark Walter to dramatically raise the bar on what is acceptable to be a Lakers player. Count on better scouting, analytics, and development.
    What you won’t see is a Lakers team where critical roster needs like a shot blocking center to protect the rim gets kicked down the road and ignored for multiple seasons. Accountability is how you win championships.

    How the Lakers address the LeBron situation will be interesting. Do they want LeBron to play more seasons or would they prefer that next season be his farewell tour season so they can plan how to move on from the King?
    Could the Lakers decide the smart move was to trade Austin Reaves now in an attempt to get Walker Kessler or move him to the bench to open up a starting role for a defense-first point-of-attack defender like Marcus Smart.

    Mark Walter will probably allow Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick to proceed with their previously planned strategy this summer but if the Lakers are not playing championship basketball, expect major changes at the deadline.

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    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

    • Profile picture of Michael H
      Michael H
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

      Nice post Tom, by the way. mark is 65. But I guess that’s young for you. Lol.

    • Profile picture of MongoSlade
      MongoSlade
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

      The revisionist history of the “Great Job” that Jeanie has done during her tenure is…..quaint. Maybe I’m mis-reading the tea leaves but it doesn’t seem like the conversation was Mark saying “I’ll buy the team if you stay on as Governor”. Seems like it was more Jeanie saying “I’ll only SELL the team if I stay on as Governor and I want it in writing so I can’t get the boot like Cuban did”.

      • Profile picture of LakerTom
        LakerTom
        8 months, 4 weeks ago

        EXACTLY. What I do give Jeanie credit for is agreeing back in 2021 to give Mark Walter the first right of refusal to buy the Lakers. That was a smart move that made this sale actually happen.

        Fortunately for Lakers fans, the Lakers lure was enough to get LeBron and win the 2020 championship so she doesn’t strike out despite the mom and pop running of the franchise.

        I do give Jeanie credit for choosing Mark, approving the hire of Redick, letting Rob pull off the Luka trade, and getting her family to agree to sell the team at the right time. Lots of luck and good timing involved, but in the end maybe one of the best transitions of ownership of a legacy franchise ever. At least so far.

        What’s different about Mark and the Lakers is this was a sale to a guy who is essentially an insider. That’s a lot different from the sale of the Mavs to an outsider. Mark didn’t make Ishbia type moves when he took over the Dodger and I don’t think he will do that with the Lakers.

        What he will do, however, is make smart business decisions about the GM, the coach, and Austin Reaves, which was not something we could confident was being done in the past.

        Lakers run like a $10B business is going to be something to watch.
        The NBA is definitely not MLB but there is a synergy.
        Can Mark do for the Lakers what he did for the Dodgers?
        That’s what we’re going to get a chance to find out.

        • Profile picture of MongoSlade
          MongoSlade
          8 months, 4 weeks ago

          Real quick…

          -LeBron came here to raise his family on the West Coast, work with Magic, and build his business empire. Very little to do with Jeanie.

          -Jeanie gave the job to Dan Hurley who then gave it back when he realized what a shitshow our front office was…that’s why Reddick is here.

          -Luka is here because Nico Harrison is an idiot.

          One thing I give her credit for is being good at self-preservation and self-promotion.

    • Profile picture of Jamie Sweet
      Jamie Sweet
      8 months, 4 weeks ago

      Interesting read and takes. I think that, taking into account what a shit show the Timberwolbes sale has been, this was as clean frankly out of public eye until details were concluded, as one could expect: if Magic were more fully involved Jimmy Kimmel would have reported the same first 2 months ago or something like that.

      • Profile picture of Jamie Sweet
        Jamie Sweet
        8 months, 4 weeks ago

        My take is this: everyone’s margin for error just shrunk. A lot. Hyperbole rote, corporate spin and poor choices will (hopefully) result in the people in question finding employment elsewhere.

        • Profile picture of Jamie Sweet
          Jamie Sweet
          8 months, 4 weeks ago

          Rob won’t last if he keeps crafting rosters with gaping holes at multiple positions and tossing draft picks into deals that don’t merit their inclusion. Bob Meyers is out there, Pelinka will need to be a lot smarter/luckier than he has already been. We’ve seen GM’s and coaches let go who have won banners more recently than we have.

          • Profile picture of Jamie Sweet
            Jamie Sweet
            8 months, 4 weeks ago

            JJ won’t last if he keeps losing his on-court composure and mistaking annoyance for grit in post game interviews. With able-bodied assistants in the waiting his leash will be very short. Coaches, fair or not (often not) are the first casualty in these kind of rebuilds. Better learn the lessons available or go back to podcasting.

            • Profile picture of Jamie Sweet
              Jamie Sweet
              8 months, 4 weeks ago

              The LeBron question is an interesting one. Everyone needs to be careful about what they say, text and email in regards to this. Wouldn’t surprise me if, suddenly, LeBron was to take more of a pay cut than he previously hinted at. Not the vet minimum, let’s not be absurd. But maybe something in line with opening up the spending tools in conjunction with getting some of James’ people on the team payroll.

  • Profile picture of LakerTom

    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 8 months, 4 weeks ago

    FIRST GAME 7 SINCE 2016 - ONLY 4TH IN 30 YEARS
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    June 20, 2025
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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 8 months, 4 weeks ago

    Pascal Siakam and the @Pacers force Game 7!
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    June 20, 2025
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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Lakers have reportedly made trade offer for Walker Kessler
    Posts
    June 19, 2025
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    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      9 months ago

    • Profile picture of MongoSlade
      MongoSlade
      9 months ago

      The more I think about it, the more I’m against investing too many assets to get a guy like Kessler (who seems to be the best available). Looking at the other centers in the West, I gotta ask myself….where does Kessler rate and how much difference will he make in the playoffs in relation to how much Ainge will force us to overpay to get him.
      Holmgren
      Hartenstein
      Joker
      Wemby
      AD
      Sengun
      Zubac
      Triple J
      Sabonis
      He’s gonna lose that matchup more often than not. I almost rather just use whatever exception we have to get a dude who can just guard his position and then focus more on replacing Reaves in the backcourt.

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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Mark Walter is already looking to expand Lakers front office
    Posts
    June 19, 2025
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      LakerTom
      9 months ago

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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago
    Walter will not hesitate to part ways with staff if better options available
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    June 19, 2025
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  • Profile picture of Jamie Sweet

    Jamie Sweet wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    It feels like an annual tradition, at some point during any NBA Finals in which they are not a part, the Lakers up-end the league. Whether it’s Magic walking away before the last game of a lost season, firing Vogel and then Ham a couple years later, the Lakers seemingly looooove to steal the spotlight. Usually around game 5 or 6 in the NBA Finals. Spotlight on Mark Walter. Now we’re not playing with family money.

    (For the rest of the read feel free to put on or replay in your mind Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’)

    So, without any knowledge whatsoever, let’s get into how this could alter the way we do business.

    1) No more public embarrassment over money. Since the great financial collapse of 2007 there have many flashes of Laker cheapness: assistant coaches being let go during the lockout, the Ty Lue coaching debacle, an inability to put together a medical team that keeps players on the floor. The PPE government loan during COVID… All of these come back to the Buss family bottom line. The Lakers have been run smartly…for the biggest small market team in existence. But that comes with inevitable cost saving or cutting measures that make winning a little more difficult.

    2) Everyone gets a personal trainer if they make more than $40 mil annually. This is obviously a guess and arbitrary number but the theory is sound. Personal trainers for superstars will now be on the team payroll if they show that they can keep their client ready to perform. This will have the added benefit of some other guys getting tips or treatment from high skill level training staff. Expect money to be poured into that area on a much more significant level.

    3) Scouting. The Lakers do OK at scouting, because of their high profile they are a destination team for undrafted players who may be better than expected. This is not a winning model, however. It’s like making use of the goat bones to make a good stock for a stew on down the line. Expect the Lakers to invest more money on scouting both at home and abroad.

    4) Small Cap infractions. I expect the Lakers to be less fearful about the 2nd apron now. I’m not saying we’ll go full Phoenix but it won’t be the anathema it is now, and to be sure it was an anathema. Dr. Buss never paid luxury taxes, the Lakers did only when the league basically built it into the cap as a cost controlling mechanism, and now that won’t matter quite as much. This will show itself most in retaining our own free agents.

    5) Get Rob some help. I’ve never been a huge Rob fan but now there will be fewer voices in his ear. The Buss family will be reduced to but one Buss, Jeannie. The decision making cabal that currently exists will, eventually, be replaced by experts and people with true knowledge. Rob May, or may not, last and Bob Meyers is sitting at ESPN just waiting for the job should Pelinka not last.

    5 Things: Money
    Posts
    June 19, 2025
    2

    It feels like an annual tradition, at some point during any NBA Finals in which they are not a part, the Lakers up-end the league. Whether it’s Magic walking away before the last game of a lost season, firing Vogel and then Ham a couple years later, the Lakers seemingly looooove to steal the spotlight. Usually around game 5 or 6 in the NBA Finals. Spotlight on Mark Walter. Now we’re not playing with family money.

    (For the rest of the read feel free to put on or replay in your mind Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’)

    So, without any knowledge whatsoever, let’s get into how this could alter the way we do business.

    1) No more public embarrassment over money. Since the great financial collapse of 2007 there have many flashes of Laker cheapness: assistant coaches being let go during the lockout, the Ty Lue coaching debacle, an inability to put together a medical team that keeps players on the floor. The PPE government loan during COVID… All of these come back to the Buss family bottom line. The Lakers have been run smartly…for the biggest small market team in existence. But that comes with inevitable cost saving or cutting measures that make winning a little more difficult.

    2) Everyone gets a personal trainer if they make more than $40 mil annually. This is obviously a guess and arbitrary number but the theory is sound. Personal trainers for superstars will now be on the team payroll if they show that they can keep their client ready to perform. This will have the added benefit of some other guys getting tips or treatment from high skill level training staff. Expect money to be poured into that area on a much more significant level.

    3) Scouting. The Lakers do OK at scouting, because of their high profile they are a destination team for undrafted players who may be better than expected. This is not a winning model, however. It’s like making use of the goat bones to make a good stock for a stew on down the line. Expect the Lakers to invest more money on scouting both at home and abroad.

    4) Small Cap infractions. I expect the Lakers to be less fearful about the 2nd apron now. I’m not saying we’ll go full Phoenix but it won’t be the anathema it is now, and to be sure it was an anathema. Dr. Buss never paid luxury taxes, the Lakers did only when the league basically built it into the cap as a cost controlling mechanism, and now that won’t matter quite as much. This will show itself most in retaining our own free agents.

    5) Get Rob some help. I’ve never been a huge Rob fan but now there will be fewer voices in his ear. The Buss family will be reduced to but one Buss, Jeannie. The decision making cabal that currently exists will, eventually, be replaced by experts and people with true knowledge. Rob May, or may not, last and Bob Meyers is sitting at ESPN just waiting for the job should Pelinka not last.

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      Michael H
      9 months ago

      I have to disagree with you Jamie on the scouting department. hey have been considered one of the best in the league. Kuz and hart were both late round firsts that the mocks didn’t have them in the first round. Clarkson, Zuback and Christie were 2nd rounders. Mo Wagner, another late round pick was in the running for 6th man of the year before he got hurt last year. And with the leap that Bronny made last year, he could turn out to be a solid rotation player in the next year or so. The problem for our scouting group was, one we tended to trade or sell draft picks so we never drafted a lot and second the front office didn’t always follow the scouts advise. Everyone in the organization wanted Tatum but Magic thought he was a great Hollywood story and nobody but Rob wanted Hood-Shapino who Rob had personally scouted.

    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      9 months ago

      I’m with you on #5, Jamie. Mark is going to want to bring in some of his people right away. It’s not as important because he’s up to date as a Lakers shareholder but he wants to make sure he has as much information as possible and he knows this summer is critical as OKC and other teams will be getting better.

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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Lakers TV deal earns as much in a week as Grizzlies get for year
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    June 19, 2025
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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Here's where Mark Walter will spend money on Lakers
    Posts
    June 19, 2025
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    • Profile picture of LakerTom
      LakerTom
      9 months ago

      Great thread showing how Walter turned the Dodgers into a juggernaut. Going to do the same with the Lakers.

    • Profile picture of MongoSlade
      MongoSlade
      9 months ago

      Some of those actions can’t carry over to the Lakers simply because they don’t own Staples Center. But they should be OVER-spending in those other areas. I’ve griped about our training staff for years (there’s a reason why Kobe & LeBron barely used them). There should be no expense spared to remake that staff into the most highly regarded in the league. That’s just one example of what I hope to see.

      The biggest change I saw when they took over the Dodgers was aggressiveness. That group takes big swings and makes bold personnel moves…which is why I wonder how long Rob is gonna fit into that culture. He’s going to have to switch gears and make things happen instead of waiting around for LeBron, AD, & Luka to fall into his lap. They kept Ned Colletti around for a coupla years before he was replaced….Rob (and probably alotta other front office folks) are auditioning for their jobs right now.

      • Profile picture of LakerTom
        LakerTom
        9 months ago

        Walter tried to buy the company that owns Crypto and nearby facilities and other sports teams a few years ago. Speculation is that now that Mark has the Dodgers and Lakers, buying Crypto is his likely next big step.

        • Profile picture of MongoSlade
          MongoSlade
          9 months ago

          Who’s speculating that? Huge part of AEG’s business is owning & operating sports & entertainment venues….

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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Dave McMenamin talks about Jeanie selling Lakers
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    June 19, 2025
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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Luka thrilled with news of new Lakers owner
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    June 19, 2025
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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    Brian Windhorst on the Lakers after their record sale
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    June 19, 2025
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      LakerTom
      9 months ago

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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago

    These will be Lakers jersey rotation for 25-26 season
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    June 19, 2025
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    LakerTom wrote a new post

    • 9 months ago
    Here are 5 key tenets of Mark Walter's Dodgers reign
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    June 19, 2025
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