Well, a quiet offseason isn't quiet anymore.
Wednesday afternoon, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Buss family is selling most of its ownership stake to Dodgers owner Mark Walter at a price that values the franchise at about $10 billion. (The Athletic reports that number might rise to $12 billion.) It's a stunning development in some ways, somewhat foreseeable in others. And the end result—Walter takes ownership of the team—has been laid out for years, with him having right of first refusal should the family choose to sell.
So over time, a ton of things will change. While the Lakers can't spend like the Dodgers (different sport, different CBA), those places where the team doesn't face a salary cap, it's reasonable to expect more dollars to flow. Coaching, scouting, front office personnel, medical staff, etc... this is all stuff where the Lakers can use unlimited cash to do what they want. And organizationally, it's reasonable to expect that (again, over time) the Lakers will start to look structurally and culturally more like the Dodgers. Which, again, is a good thing for fans.
In the short term, things might look pretty similar. The family is keeping a 15% stake in the team. Jeanie Buss will remain governor.
But make no mistake, this is a new era, and one that should benefit the Lakers in significant ways.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
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