Lakers Will Continue 'Dodgerizing' The Franchise Despite New Ownership

It’s a new era in Los Angeles, and many fans aren’t sure what to expect from the new Lakers owners. After buying the team in a record $12.5 billion sale, the long transition process can finally begin, and it will set the stage for their performance in the next few years to come.

Before the new owners can get settled in their positions, they must first decide how to build the front office. Fortunately, they already have a blueprint to follow, and it’s the same one the last regime used: “Dodgerizing” the franchise from the top down.

“They were in the process of Dodgerizing the Lakers, right? All of the brains and all of the apparatus that had been installed with the Dodgers to make them the most successful franchise in baseball the last few years was being implemented with the Lakers,” said Ramone Shelburne on the Stephen A. Smith show. “Everyone who’s been hired, everyone who’s been put in place here, they’re still going to keep doing what they’re doing.”

One of the toughest aspects of any ownership change is staff turnover. Typically, when a new owner comes in, they prefer to wipe the slate clean by replacing the old executives to instill their own picks for the positions. Oftentimes, the franchise’s entire identity, approach, and strategy change to reflect the new ownership’s vision.

The Lakers experienced this culture shift less than a year ago, when the previous owner officially took control. As owner of the Dodgers (among other teams), Mark Walter used his position to fill the Lakers’ front office with the same ones from his baseball team, leading to massive overlap between the two franchises. After the sale, many fans were bracing for another staff shift.

But while the new owners (Bob Iger and Josh Kushner) have no direct ties to the Dodgers, it seems they have no plans to drastically alter the status quo. In fact, they want to follow the same path the Lakers were already on, which means the “Dodgerization” will continue in earnest.

The good news is that the Dodgers are a good model to follow. Under Walter, they have been among the best teams in MLB recently, securing three World Series championships and 11 National League West division titles since 2012. They have consistently been in the title mix, setting a prime example for how to run a franchise.

By bringing some of those Dodgers executives to the Lakers, Iger and Kushner hope to replicate their success. While their team already has a solid core in Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, there’s still more work to do before they can confidently claim to be on the same level as teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Timberwolves in the West.

That’s why installing the right executives is such an important step for the new regime. To ensure maximum efficiency, everyone in that front office must be aligned on the vision and how to best construct the roster around Luka Doncic. The vibes have been positive so far, but success in LA is only measured in wins.