The Buss family has traditionally run the Los Angeles Lakers as a tiny family business, and they have decided to sell Mark Walter the majority of their shares for $10 billion. With significant financial support, the Lakers may become even more formidable, like Walter did when he acquired the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Brian Windhorst stated on Wednesday at the Sports Center, "This is one of the biggest things that has occurred in the NBA in terms of shifts that we have seen in the last 15-20 years." "Mark Walter had the right of first refusal in his contract; thus, it was no secret that he would most likely become the Lakers' future owner.
The Buss family's decision to relinquish a majority position was just a question of when, if, and it has now occurred.
"It is an intriguing moment. Given that the Celtics recently reset the market, it might not be a complete surprise. Given that the Lakers are one of the most well-known brands worldwide, their $10 billion valuation is hardly shocking. There is no surprise in Mark-Walter. Despite their tiny size, the Lakers are a highly respected team.
"We witnessed what Mark Walter and his associates accomplished when they acquired the Dodgers, a well-known brand run like a family business. Now, it is not a straight line because baseball has no salary cap, and the Dodgers' entire world shifted as a result of the increased expenditure.
However, the Lakers do not function like many other clubs; they have a modest infrastructure.
"If I were another team, I would not consider this to be a significant step, and I would merely assume that the Lakers are about to undergo a modernization. With additional resources supposedly on the horizon, I believe the Lakers will only become a more dangerous team.
At this year's deadline, the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic through a deal, and this offseason, they plan to sign him to a contract extension. Rob Pelinka, who recently extended his contract, has a crucial offseason ahead of him as he attempts to assemble a championship-caliber team around Doncic. Doncic's presence, along with the new ownership, will probably shape the Lakers' next ten years.
As a condition of the sale, Jeanie Buss will continue to serve as the Lakers' governor for a while.
Although the Lakers have occasionally paid the luxury tax, they have never before spent as much as teams like the LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns.
"There are a lot of built-out processes and procedures in the modern NBA, and the Lakers were kind of at the bottom of that," Windhorst continued. "They did not truly subsist on their franchise investment; instead, they lived and prospered on their brand.
Furthermore, money is certainly not meaningless. Having an owner who is prepared to pay the full luxury tax is beneficial if you are prepared to invest that much money.
"In the past, the Lakers have paid taxes. I would not argue that they did not spend the necessary amount on players, but they most definitely did not make the same investments in the team's infrastructure as other clubs, like the Clippers, for instance.
Therefore, I do believe that this is a significant time for the Lakers organization. I do believe it will help them become a more vibrant corporation. They have an amazing record under the Buss family, so I can not say that they will win more, but I do believe that they get more dangerous.
And I have a feeling that the other owners would express their desire that this day would never arrive if they were being honest.
After the NBA changes, let us go on to another update.
Ace Bailey cancels his visit to the Sixers, but the Sixers are still considering drafting him.
Sources informed ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Shams Charania that Ace Bailey had canceled his meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
Several teams in the No. 3 and No. 8 pick slots have now refused to meet with Bailey.
The Sixers have not ruled out selecting Bailey with the third pick despite the postponement. Additionally, it is unlikely that they will drop out of the selection.
Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain are among the athletes Daryl Morey has chosen in the past without working out.
Even though Bailey is a top-3 pick, his camp is looking for a team that has a clear plan for his usage and minutes. Additionally, Bailey's team thinks the Wizards, Pelicans, or Nets will aggressively pursue a move up and choose him.