Rob Pelinka reveals new franchise direction based on other Los Angeles team's forming dynasty

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the more solid teams in the NBA this year, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 32-19. However, it seems like they’re ready to make some major moves to alter the course of their future. 

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are collaborating with Los Angeles’ resident dynasty, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to help them with Lakers’ basketball moves. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka revealed in a press conference before their game with the Golden State Warriors that he has been working with Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman to take notes on how the Dodgers came to be where they are. 

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"[It's] been great to have sort of outside allies and advocates looking at the Dodgers and the success they've had and what they've built over there, and being able to tap into a person like Andrew Friedman for best practices…He's so incredibly smart and has done such an amazing job bringing championships to the Dodgers," Pelinka said. "So just to have another head of another team that you can, whether it's a roster move, whether it's a staff move, just someone that you can talk to has been an incredible resource,” (via McMenamin).

To speak to the Dodgers’ legitimacy, they are THE team to beat in the MLB currently. Since 2024 when they began their dynasty, they’ve won the past two World Series, have gone 191-133 in the regular season, and landed the top free agents of the offseason, most notably Shohei Ohtani in the winter of 2023, and Kyle Tucker this offseason. 

McMenamin continued, revealing Dodgers owner Mark Walter, who now owns the majority stake in the Lakers, will work with former owner and current governor Jeanie Buss on ways he can start supporting the team. 

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“Beyond his rapport with Friedman, Pelinka said that he, Walter and Lakers acting governor Jeanie Buss have discussed the ways in which Walter can further support the team, starting this summer. Buss will continue to be acting governor for at least four more seasons after 2025-26, according to the Lakers,” McMenamin wrote.

Hopefully, Friedman and Walter can help Pelinka and Buss bring the Lakers the same amount of success he brought to the Dodgers, and at least get L.A. tied up with the Boston Celtics for total championships.

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