Luka Doncic warned by sportscaster with Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado, Corey Seager examples as Lakers enter new era with Mark Walter

Mark Walter, the chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, has reportedly agreed to buy the majority shares of the Los Angeles Lakers from the Buss family. Walter is also the chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which Guggenheim Baseball Management owns.

Sportscaster Colin Cowherd believes the ownership change will be bad news for Luka Doncic, who arrived from the Dallas Mavericks through a shock trade that sent Anthony Davis the other way. Cowherd aired his thoughts on Thursday's episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd:

"That ownership group and the front office moved off Cody Bellinger, a National League MVP; Corey Seager, a World Series MVP; Max Scherzer. They knew Manny Machado was going to go to the Padres, their rival.All right, see you. They could have paid for all of them. They'll move off stars." Cowherd said [from 4:09].

Seager and Machado signed massive deals worth over $300 million with the Rangers and Padres in 2022 and 2019, respectively.

Scherzer signed with the Mets for $135 million in 2022. The Dodgers non-tendered Bellinger, who joined Chicago for the 2023 season, earned a three-year, $80 cmillion contract in free agency.

"If Luka doesn’t stay in shape, if Luka doesn’t defend at a higher level, (they’ll sign him to the summer max, he’ll get his $228 million), they’ll move off him," Cowherd added.

Cowherd noted that superstars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have had a say in the franchise's operation, but it won't be the same.

"So the Dodgers with this group have moved off MVPs, not just MVPs, World Series MVPs in their 20s, 30s, young 30s, mid-20s. They’ll move off guys. They don’t care. They prioritize winning. And the Buss family, to their credit, has always understood the value of stars," Cowherd said.

The sportscaster also distinguished between the Dodgers' and Yankees' workings. He praised the Dodgers, especially how they acquired Shohei Ohtani, but criticized the Yankees for trading for Giancarlo Stanton, whom he feels isn't a different addition but an Aaron Judge duplicate. Stanton's injury woes further dampened his value.

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Sportscaster shares why Mark Walter is best for the Lakers, cites Dodgers example

Mark Walter with Shohei Ohtani at Los Angeles Dodgers-Press Conference - Source: Imagn

Mark Walter is known for his diversified investments in professional sports. Apart from the Dodgers and Lakers, he's the primary owner of Andretti Global, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Professional Women's Hockey League. He also has ownership stakes in soccer clubs Chelsea F.C. and RC Strasbourg.

On Thursday's episode of First Things First, sportscaster Chris Broussard claimed that the move will do wonders for the Lakers by pointing out Walter's success with the Dodgers.

"This guy Mark Walter, since he took over, when he took over the Dodgers in 2012, they had not been to a World Series, let alone won one. They had not been to one in 24 years. They had missed the playoffs several times. It was 1988, that was the last time they had even gotten there. They won it, but that was the last time they had even reached the World Series," Broussard said (from 3:53).

The sportscaster noted that after Mark Walter's entry, the Dodgers have been the divisional champions 11 times and been in the playoffs every time. He also pointed out that Walter doesn't meddle in the team's affairs but hires the best people to do what's necessary.

Edited by Bhargav