Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are shelling out a mind-blowing $12.5 billion to buy the Lakers, but even with that massive shake-up on the horizon, Lon Rosen is still heavily involved in meetings, according to sources. It’s a huge move for the franchise, yet a key front office player remains right in the thick of it all, signaling that it’s not exactly business as usual, but it’s not completely new business either.
“Dodgerizing” the Front Office Isn’t Done Yet
Rosen’s arrival at the Lakers was a massive deal, a real marquee move that screamed “collaboration” between Mark Walter’s LA teams. He wasn’t just some new hire; he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for over a decade with the Dodgers before he crossed over to become the Lakers’ President of Business Operations. His hiring was the clearest signal that these two front offices were going to take a joint approach moving forward, basically “Dodgerizing” the Lakers’ business side. So, when news broke that Walter was selling the team, everyone had to wonder what that meant for Rosen and other Dodgers-turned-Lakers staff. Would they pack their bags? Turns out, not so fast.
Business As Usual While the Papers Get Signed
Dan Woike of The Athletic pulled back the curtain a bit, giving us a glimpse into the Lakers’ front office operation right now. Even after Iger and Kushner agreed to their colossal purchase, not much has fundamentally changed inside the Lakers’ walls. Rosen is still deep in meetings, still heavily involved, still doing what he does. And get this: Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the “Dodgerizing” of the front office isn’t just continuing, it’s going to keep going even after the sale. That could mean bringing in more folks from the Dodgers, or it could simply mean Rosen keeps on implementing that successful Dodgers playbook within the Lakers organization.
It’s going to be multiple months before this sale is finalized, and only then will we really get some clarity on how things shake out. For now, expect it to be business as usual. But don’t be shocked if some of the recent hires from the last year or so decide to head back to the Dodgers. This situation has major implications for the future direction of the team’s operations, and everyone’s watching to see if Lon Rosen’s significant influence persists long after the new owners take full control.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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