NBA Market: The Lakers make 2 key signings for their future

The internal restructuring of Los Angeles Lakers continues to take shape following the arrival of Mark Walter as the new majority shareholder. And now the most striking move comes from an unexpected realm: baseball. As confirmed by several sources to ESPN, two key figures from Los Angeles Dodgers, Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman, have begun advising roles within the NBA franchise in Los Angeles.

Zaidi, currently a special advisor for the Dodgers and recognized for his handling of advanced analytics, acts as Walter's direct representative in this transition phase. According to the same sources, his duty involves overseeing the reorganization process that accompanies the franchise acquisition. His expertise extends beyond baseball: he has also worked as an advisor for the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA team linked to Walter and TWG Sports.

Meanwhile, Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations and a central figure in the organization's three World Series wins in the last six years, is playing a more specific role. His task focuses on advising Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' president, on operational matters related to sports management.

With the integration of both executives, both the Lakers and Dodgers will become part of TWG Sports, the structure created by Walter to centralize the management of all his sports properties. Zaidi and Friedman, as senior executives of the entity, play a key role following the closure of the Lakers' sale last month, in a deal valued at 10 billion dollars and officially approved on October 29.

Initial Implications

The new owner's arrival already brings the first personnel adjustments. The Lakers dismissed several members of their scouting department on Thursday, including Joey Buss and Jesse Buss, who confirmed their departure to Shams Charania. These are the first significant moves of the new project led by Walter, signaling a shift towards evaluation methods more aligned with the analytical culture that defines the Dodgers.

Despite the internal changes, the sale agreement stipulates that Jeanie Buss will remain as the team's director for at least the next five years. Her presence ensures stability in the executive structure while Walter takes the lead in crucial basketball decisions.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mercado NBA: Los Lakers realizan 2 incorporaciones clave para su futuro