-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![]()
Read MoreEverybody says don’t expect the Lakers to duplicate the Dodgers’ success under Mark Walter because the rules differ, but that wrongly implies that the Dodgers won because of money rather than enlightened ownership.
While the rules of the sports are different, how you build championship teams aren’t. Smart, rich owners hire savvy front office execs, who hire elite, visionary coaches and draft and trade for talented, winning players. While it’s a big advantage to be able to outspend your opponents, that’s not why the Dodgers won three of last six world series. They won because of Mark Walter’s ‘leave no stone unturned’ formula for succeeding in sports.
Under Walter’s ownership, the only word to accurately describe how the Dodgers operate is ‘relentless improvement,’ whether the front office, the coaching staff, marketing department, or every roster spot on the team.
Expect that same relentless upgrading of every aspect of the Dodgers to be ruthlessly replicated with the Lakers. It’s one thing to have the money to make changes, it’s another to have the iron will to relentless get better.Bottom line, the full transition from the Buss family business to the new corporate version of the Lakers is now happening as signaled by the recent firing of the Buss brothers and hiring of two Dodger execs as advisors.
Mark Walter’s hiring of Farhan Zaidi (Dodger’s analytics) and Andrew Friedman (Dodgers’ operations) as transition advisors was just the first step in expanding and modernizing the Lakers’ entire front office operation.Mark Walter will change how the Lakers’ front office works and change how the Lakers players play the game of basketball. Let’s take a closer look at why Mark Walter’s ownership matters both off and on the court.
Why Mark Walter’s Ownership Matters Off-Court
…
Mark Walter’s ownership will transform the Los Angeles Lakers off-court from a closely run family business to a corporate sports powerhouse that hopefully matches his crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers in championships.
Mark Walter isn’t wasting time as the Lakers’ new owner. Less than 30 days after the NBA approved the sale, Walter fired Joey and Jesse Buss and hired Dodgers’ execs Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman as transition advisors.
The Lakers have also replaced most of the scouting department who were terminated with Joey and Jesse with 3 new highly respected NBA scouts as Walter’s team reviews and revamps every department in the organization.As a closely run family business, the Lakers have often been guilty of being unnecessarily frugal or shortsighted about investing and modernizing their front office, scouting, player development, and other key departments.
Since Dr. Buss’ death back in 2013, the Lakers have been a team without a guiding vision, on-court identity, or charismatic leader to establish a true championship culture, winning just the 1 championship in the 13 years.That will all change with Mark Walter. The Lakers will suddenly become a feature cog in the professional sports empire that Walter is building where the teams will share championship data, resources, and philosophies.
Expect every personnel move the Lakers make before the February 4, 2026 trade deadline to be part of a new analytics data-driven decision-making process where, unlike with the Busses, everybody will be on the same page.Under Mark Walter’s enlightened ownership and direction, the Los Angeles Lakers will finally fully embrace analytics and build an elite championship organization that along with the Dodgers will dominate professional sports.
Why Mark Walter’s Ownership Matters On-Court
…
Mark Walter’s enlightened ownership will prove to be just as impactful for the Los Angeles Lakers as its been for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won their 3rd World Series in the last 6 years as part of Walter’s TWG Sports.
Walter’s company, Guggenheim Baseball Management, bought the Dodgers in 2012 and immediately made them competitive but it took 7 years of ‘relentless improvement’ before they won their first title under Walter.
Mark believes he can utilize the same blueprint or organizational system he developed to optimize efficiency and synergy and transform the Dodgers into World Champions to do the same for the Lakers but much sooner.What the Lakers need right now is to fix their key roster issues, which are a poor starting lineup defense and an abysmal bench offense, which could be partly solved by a lineup change but ultimately will require a trade.
While LA needs major help defensively, they’re also struggling mightily with their long range shooting, which they cannot ignore. Right now, the Lakers are dead last in the league in 3-point shots attempted and made.Walter’s enlightened ownership and analytics team building system will dramatically upgrade whom the Lakers draft and trade for as they load up on elite 3-point shooting, defensive physicality, and basketball smarts.
Some things won’t change. The Lakers will still chase superstars. They may even be willing like the Warriors to go deep into luxury tax to win multiple championships. Like with Ohtani, Mark also likes to think outside the box.Mark Walter believes the Lakers have left championships on the hardwood. He’s confident that, through analytics and data-driven decision making, the Lakers can become just as dominant in the NBA as the Dodgers in MLB.
![Profile Photo]()
liked this
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
Read More9 minutes???!?!?!Mark Walter has Rob’s attention
pic.twitter.com/s6dQcSqlfV https://t.co/aPazH98uRH— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) November 26, 2025![Profile Photo]()
liked this
1 Comment -
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![Profile Photo]()
liked this
1 Comment-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
TOP 10 in Lakers history ✍️ pic.twitter.com/gA1HYl3frM— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 26, 2025
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![Profile Photo]()
liked this
2 Comments-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
SALT LAKE CITY — With nearly 20 percent of the Los Angeles Lakers’ regular season in the rearview, Austin Reaves sat in front of his locker in Utah in as good a position as he’s been in his five-year NBA career.
His team had just hung on to beat the Utah Jazz for its fourth win in a row, moving to 12-4 on the season — tied for the third-best record in the NBA. He had another 20-plus-point game, something he’s done in all but one of his games this season.
And, while it’s not front of mind, a massive payday is waiting for Reaves this summer when he can become an unrestricted free agent and earn more than $40 million a season.
Almost everything has been going right — until Reaves got asked about the most glaring thing that wasn’t.
At the mention of his and the Lakers’ 3-point shooting, Reaves leaned back in his chair and delivered another clank — this time with the back of his head bouncing off the frame of his locker.
“F—,” he said before apologizing to the team’s communication staff.
Maybe the quick blow to the back of the head will be the thing to get Reaves and the Lakers’ shooters back on track.
“I’ll do anything to make a 3,” he half-joked after going 1 of 8 behind the arc against the Jazz.
He’s not alone. Despite the Lakers’ best 16-game stretch to open a year since 2021, their shooters are almost universally ice cold. LA’s three leaders in three-point attempts, Luka Dončić, Reaves and Marcus Smart, are making just 29.6 percent combined. Dončić and Reaves are both at 31.1 percent from 3, both significantly lower than their career averages.
“I think me and AR haven’t hit a shot this season,” Dončić said.
Only the Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies are making a lower percentage from 3. Those teams have started the year a combined 20-48.
The Lakers still haven’t shot better than 33 percent from 3 in three straight games this season, the slump now stretching past the first month of their schedule. They went 10 of 38 (26.3 percent) on Sunday.
“We’re literally one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA right now,” coach JJ Redick told his team after the game. “I don’t think that’s who we are. We’ve got to make shots. We’ve got to shoot them with confidence.”
Asked if his team is shooting with confidence right now, Redick quickly deadpanned, “We’re shooting.”
So how have the Lakers, with their 15th-ranked offense and 14th-ranked defense, managed to win games like Sunday’s?
“I think it’s just chemistry. Care factor’s high,” Reaves said. “You wanna go out there and do whatever you can do to help one another succeed. And I think that that goes a long way. There’s no selfishness; everybody wants to see everybody succeed.”
The Lakers have continued to try and build the team’s chemistry throughout the season, both on and off the court. On Friday, instead of holding practice, they had a pickleball tournament. LeBron James’ sciatic irritation forced them to learn how to win short-handed from the jump, an ability that got sharpened when they had to play — and win — without Dončić and Reaves earlier this year.
“Just our resilience,” Smart said. “It’s something new every game for us.”
The latest is a knee contusion that knocked Deandre Ayton out of the second half on Sunday. The team didn’t have an update on his condition postgame.
In addition to the toughness and the vibes, James’ return has helped to raise the Lakers’ ceiling. He had 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists against the Jazz — though he went 0 of 4 on 3s.
“I’m in great shape physically,” James said. “But as far as my wind, I got to (keep working). And it doesn’t help that it’s my second game back playing in Utah altitude. It doesn’t help, that’s for sure. So every game I’ll get better and better. My wind will get better and better. But, s—, this week was kind of like my training camp for me, to be honest. I didn’t get an opportunity to practice with the guys at all throughout camp, throughout the preseason.
“So I’m still working my way back.”
James should help the shooting. So should improvement from Dončić and Reaves. Despite the lousy numbers, no one is too concerned, as the Lakers are pleased with the offense they’re creating even if the results aren’t fully there.
“We’re not worried about it,” James said. “We got too many good shooters. It won’t last.”
Eventually, Redick admitted, the Lakers are going to have to shoot the ball better. But for now, the foundation they are building, one in which they’ve survived all the missed 3s, has them believing that the rims will eventually loosen up.
“Our togetherness is important, playing for each other, the bench spirit tonight was great,” Redick said. “I do think there’s something with this group where we just whatever the game requires that night, that’s what we’re going to do to try to put us in a position to win. We’ve had to, kind of strategy-wise, mix in a bunch of different things, and the guys have been bought into just, ‘Hey, this is what tonight requires.’
“Let’s go out there and try to execute that.”
-
![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
Paint points, shots from inside the arc and free throws. The free throws are unsustainable and relying on that in the playoffs will see us get bounced early. We are awful on wide open shots…
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![Profile Photo]()
liked this
3 Comments-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
5-0 to make us 17-4, which is on pace to finish 66-16.
-
![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
3-2, losses to Clippers and Raptors.
-
![Profile picture of Jamie Sweet]()
Me too
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![]()
Read MoreWhile the Lakers’ strong start has raised their floor and ceiling, they still need an elite 3&D starting small forward to shut down bigger wing scorers and a quality shot blocking defensive backup center to protect the rim.
With Austin Reaves having played himself into being untradable other than for a true superstar like Giannis, the Lakers no longer have enough coveted trading chips and draft capital to fill both needs before the trade deadline. The Lakers need to carefully evaluate whom they could trade for at the deadline and next summer and who’ll be available to sign as free agent next summer before deciding when and how to fill their two major roster holes.
The Lakers are in an enviable position right now. Their 11–4 record is the 3rd best in the West and 4th best in the league despite injuries, and they’ve won 3 straight games and their next 4 games are against losing teams.
To top off the week, the Lakers now have LeBron back from injury, all 14 roster players finally healthy and available, and a perfectly timed 4-day break to hold valuable practices and set rotations before tonight’s game.Mark Walter is moving quickly to put his imprint on the Lakers much like he did with the Dodgers, which means they’re likely to be more focused and aggressive looking for trades and free agents to win a championship.
Like he did with the Dodgers, Mark is already moving to transform the Lakers front office into a team that’s always on the same page without conflicting factions, which is why he ordered the Buss brothers’ firings.So let’s take a more detailed look at ‘What Do Lakers Need Right Now’ and what moves they might make before the deadline plus ‘What Should Wait Until Summer’ when the team can offer at least 2 and maybe 3 draft picks.
WHAT DO LAKERS NEED RIGHT NOW?
…
The Lakers’ greatest need right now is an elite 3&D starting small forward who can shut down bigger wing scorers and free up current starter Rui Hachimura to add needed firepower to the team’s bench with his shooting.
The Heat’s Andrew Wiggins and Suns’ Dillon Brooks are the top veteran small forwards the Lakers should pursue while the Pelican’s Herb Jones and Rockets’ Tari Eason are the the top younger wing candidates to target.
All 4 candidates would require at least a first round pick. Here’s a chart showing what each of the wing candidates earns, whom the Lakers would have to give up to match salaries, and whom they would be able to keep.
Cost of Starting 3&D Wing Candidates …
As you can see from the above chart, the older the candidate and more salary he earns, the more the Lakers must give up in depth in a trade. The lure of trading for Tari Eason is he would cost the least in terms of depth.
The Lakers need a starting small forward who can space the floor, defend his position, and be an integral part of a championship starting lineup. Here’s a chart showing each candidate’s key offensive and defensive stats.
Stats for Starting 3&D Wing Candidates …
While all 4 candidates have the size, 3-point shooting, and defensive skills the Lakers need in a starting small forward, Andrew Wiggins stands out as the best defender and second best 3-point shooter of the four candidates.
Tari Eason’s 3-point shooting stats jump out for only 23 mpg but his blocks and steals for this season are lower than the others. Last season, he had 1.1 3PM shooting 34.2% and recorded 0.9 blocks and 1.7 steals in 24.9 mpg.The Lakers must pull off a blockbuster trade for an elite 3&D starting small forward like Andrew Wiggins, Dillon Brooks, Herb Jones, or Tari Eason. Andrew Wiggins is the safest bet but Tari Eason could be the smartest.
WHAT SHOULD WAIT UNTIL SUMMER
…
The Lakers should wait until next summer to set their center rotation of the future because by then they’ll know what they have in Deandre Ayton and multiple quality starting and backup free agent centers will be available.
Mark Walter firing the Buss brothers and hiring Dodgers analytics expert Farhan Zaidi signals a transformation where the Lakers’ front office will always be on the same page and embrace data-driven decision making.
The Lakers’ summer strategy was already set when they declined to offer LeBron a next season contract. They plan to use his $50M expiring contract to sign a center, re-sign players, build more depth, and save their picks.Despite the excellent job Deandre has done as their starting center, the Lakers know they ultimately will need a sustainable roster with better floor spacing and stronger rim protection to become a championship dynasty.
The following chart details 6 available centers the Lakers could pursue as free agents next summer: 3 possible starting centers in Porzingis, Kessler, and Ayrton and 3 backup centers in Robinson, Williams III, and Olynyk.
Cost & Stats for Free Agent Centers …
Kristaps Porzingis is obviously the oldest and most expensive starting center option but with Onyeka Okongwu’s ascension and Trae Young’s looming extension, the Hawks appear to be unlikely to extend him.
The most fascinating starting center option is Walker Kessler, who is out for the season due to a torn left labrum but will be ready to play next season. He’s a restricted free agent, which could make acquiring him difficult.The Lakers would love to end next summer with center rotation that could space the floor and protect the rim headed by Kristaps Porzingis or Walker Kessler. Porzingis is the safest option but Kessler could be the smartest.
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![Profile Photo]()
liked this
3 Comments-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
The Los Angeles Lakers could get Keon Ellis and Devin Carter from the Kings for virtually free if they can convince Sacramento that Dalton Knecht jump-starts their rebuild. Ellis is an elite defender and career 43.1 percent 3-point shooter, but is struggling to get minutes. Carter was a lottery pick in 2024 that the Kings talked about dumping in the offseason (subscription required). One team’s castoffs could quickly turn into gold for the Lakers.
LA is 17th in defensive rating, but has their eyes set on title contention. They hope LeBron James can offer a boost. Betting on a 40-year-old to revamp an entire unit seems foolish even if he is the GOAT. The Lakers want to be top ten and need a strong point of attack defender to realize that.
Ellis could be that option, and Devin Carter has sneaky defensive upside. The Lakers would get younger with two players who fit Luka Doncic’s timeline. They have traded Knecht once before and are likely to do so again. This time, the deal sticks and raises the Lakers’ ceiling.
Lakers should trade for Keon Ellis in less than one month
Here is a look at the specifics of this trade.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
-Keon Ellis
-Devin CarterSacramento Kings Receive:
-Dalton Knecht
-Jaxson Hayes
-2030 1st round pick swapThis could turn into a genius trade by the Lakers. No franchise has been more dysfunctional than the Kings in recent years, so they bet on Sacramento remaining a nightmare by offering a first-round pick swap. Sacramento is not developing either player and clearly would like to move on from both. There is no way they say no.
The Lakers throw in Dalton Knecht and Jaxson Hayes to make the salary work. Knecht was out of the rotation when LeBron James returned. They would be thin at the five behind Deandre Ayton, but this deal allows head coach JJ Redick to go small in the second unit.
Los Angeles wants to put shooting and defense around Luka Doncic. Ellis offers both and gives them a true 3-and-D guard without mortgaging the one tradeable first-round draft pick at their disposal.
Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, but the Lakers have a ton of cap space. They could explore his fit before determining if they want to pay him long-term.
LA desperately needs a young talent with upside. Devin Carter has struggled in his first two NBA seasons, but he was a lottery pick for a reason. The Lakers would be buying low and could help the 6’2 guard reach his ceiling.
Fans may not love this trade, but it could turn into Knecht and Hayes for Ellis and Carter straight up if the Kings are worse than the Lakers in 2030. Los Angeles fills a need and gets two young talents as they attempt to build their roster around number 77.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be active and aggressive, and it is an underrated move like this that could lift them into title contention. LA has the top-end talent, but needs the right group of role players. Getting two potential difference-makers at a low cost seems like a no-brainer for the purple and gold.
-
![Profile picture of Michael H]()
I read this earlier on Bleacher report. Made me laugh out loud. Kings trade a quality defender, shooting 42% from 3 for a non defender shooting 32% from 3. For only a pick swap? Ludicrous. Ellis will be unrestricted this summer and he should be a target for the Lakers but the Kings won’t give him up for that.
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
Lakers aren’t going to get any value from swaps unless it’s in a trade with the Thunder or Spurs. I would be willing to give up our one tradable first round pick for Ellis in a swap for Knecht. I think that’s a deal that would be good for both teams.
Since Ellis is going to be a UFA, I woud prefer getting a legitimate small forward with our first round pick, either Wiggins or Brooks. We can still compete for a championship if we can fill the starting wing spot.
I think Hayes plus LeBron can handle the backup center untl next summer, when we may want to upgrade from Ayton to get a legitimate rim protector and/or floor spacer at center. Like Kessler and Olynyk in free agency.
-
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
![Profile Photo]()
liked this
1 Comment-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
…
TEAMS WITH PROJECTED CAP SPACE:
Washington Wizards: $80.9 million
LA Clippers: $67.6 million
Los Angeles Lakers: $55.6 million
Utah Jazz: $48.4 million
Brooklyn Nets: $44.4 million
Chicago Bulls: $35.0 million
…
In order for the Lakers to get here with cap space, they’ll have to cut ties with LeBron James. Or, of course, James could make that decision for Los Angeles by retiring.
This would also mean clearing the books of every other free agent, minus Austin Reaves’ cap hold and Marcus Smart opting in.
But that doesn’t mean all of the other Lakers would be gone. They’d just take care of them using cap space or the Room Exception.
Or, as we’ve seen before, that cap space could be used to get a co-star for Doncic and Reaves.
…
KEY 2026 SALARY CAP SETTINGS:
Salary Cap: $166 million
Salary Floor: $149.4 million
Luxury Tax: $201.7 million
First Apron: $210.3 million
Second Apron: $223.1 million
-
-
![Profile picture of LakerTom]()
LakerTom wrote a new post
- Load More Posts
LakerTomOffline
-
16.6K
Posts
-
18.1K
Comments
-
57.8K
Views
Great interview. Some great stuff about how Smart’s voice has energized practice, how LeBron’s injury was a silver lining, how team wants to win cup, T-shirt campaign, Austin not having ever made a hole-in-one, raves about free agency last year helped team develop depth. Good stuff from Rob.