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LA Lakers’ new ownership needs to change front office’s brutal reputation around the NBA

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 12:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most iconic franchises in the NBA, with 17 championship banners hanging in the rafters.

Being one of the winningest franchises in the world has been possible due to the LA Lakers being home to a plethora of superstars over the years.

Even right now, the Lakers have the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the roster. But there have long been doubts about the effectiveness of the front office.

However, there’s a chance that things could improve with Jeanie Buss and family selling their majority stake in ownership to Mark Walter in a reported $10 billion deal.

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LA Lakers have a ‘frugal’ front office

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has seen his highs and lows during his tenure. He is currently in the good books of the Laker Nation, thanks to making the blockbuster Doncic trade.

Pelinka signed a multi-year contract extension and earned the title of President of Basketball Operations following the Doncic trade.

However, does it mean that the new ownership can relax and trust Pelinka to build the best roster possible? Well, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers’ front office was viewed as ‘very frugal’ in 2024.

“The general opinion around the league is that the Lakers have a very frugal front office. The Clippers spare no expense with a massive staff, but the Lakers’ sparse front office lacks common features, such as a pro personnel department,” the insider wrote.

He added: “Outside of the scouting department for the draft, L.A. doesn’t have scouts spread throughout the league watching NBA talent on a nightly basis in person like other franchises.”

The biggest revelation here was the fact that the Lakers didn’t even have a pro personnel department. In simple terms, the Lakers were eons behind in terms of scouting talent from around the world.

LA Lakers head coaches do not have ‘proper resources’, stated another NBA insider

Another step in fixing the brutal reputation of the front office and the Lakers organization in general is for Walter’s ownership to earn the trust of coaches, too.

After all, according to Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, an anonymous assistant coach destroyed the franchise’s process for hiring head coaches.

“Sources say the Lakers are seen as a skeleton crew that does not provide its coaches with proper resources,” Irwin reported in 2024.

“It just isn’t a good job. They negotiate as if it’s some grand honor to coach the Lakers, but the reality is you’re looking at a couple of years before you’re going to get scapegoated.

“That’s obviously the case with most coaches, but the Lakers in particular don’t seem to value the position,” an assistant coach told Irwin.

With Buss still reportedly being the governor of the franchise, it’ll be interesting to see how far Walter can push things.

A great indicator will be how current head coach JJ Redick reacts to the takeover and the resources he is provided for the 2025-26 NBA season.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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