Lakers deal major blow to Heat front office before 2026-27 season

Detailed view of the Los Angeles Lakers logo. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Lakers deal major blow to Heat front office before 2026-27 season

By Kyle Pring | Last updated Sep 9, 2026 10:14 PM ET

Training camp is getting closer and closer, and the Miami Heat just saw their operations take a major hit.

As reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers have pried away a longtime part of their front office in Eric Amsler, who has been with the franchise for 22 years.

Eric Amsler moves from Heat to Lakers

Now, Amsler will serve as the second assistant general manager for the Lakers under Rob Pelinka. He was most recently the vice president of player personnel for the Heat and previously the general manager for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their affiliate team in the G League.

This hiring marks the first move the Lakers have made since Mark Walter agreed in principle to sell the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. It is also a follow-up to Pelinka's erstwhile statement during his presser at the end of the season that he intended to hire two assistant GMs.

The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Miami Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler as an assistant general manager, sources tell ESPN. Amsler – who spent over 22 years in the Heat organization starting as an intern and working his way up in various scouting, personnel and G League roles – joins Rohan Ramadas as assistant GMs under president Rob Pelinka.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 9, 2026

Amsler has had a myriad of roles within the Heat organization since starting out as an intern more than a couple of decades ago. Now with the Lakers, he will be expected to zero in on pro and draft scouting and player development, areas which he already focused on when he was still with the Heat.

The Lakers have quietly had one of the best scouting operations in the NBA with their under-the-radar finds in the draft since the previous decade, so this should only bolster their ability to find young assets for their future.

In fine, this is a quality hire for Los Angeles' brass. While it is not at all a flashy one, it is an internal maneuver that could very well carry with it some tangible effects on the success of the team.

Kyle Pring

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