All articles tagged with #lakers
Lakers coach JJ Redick called a timeout 52 seconds into a preseason loss to the Warriors, citing poor execution of scripted plays. The Lakers, missing their entire core rotation, fell behind 45-31 after the first quarter and lost 124-98. Redick emphasized that standards must be met even without star players, while the Warriors capitalized on a dominant first half led by Steph Curry and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
Pulitzer-winning journalist Pablo Torre teased a forthcoming investigation into how billionaire sports owners use money to influence teams, posting a cryptic image of Dodgers owner Mark Walter with Donald Trump and signaling a broader probe after his Clippers coverage amid federal scrutiny of Walter’s empire.
Venture capitalist Josh Kushner teamed with Bob Iger to buy a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion, marking his ascent in tech-backed investing through Thrive Capital and positioning the deal as a long-term asset play amid Mark Walter’s federal investigations.
Jonathan Kuminga chose to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Los Angeles Lakers, a two-year, $13 million deal driven by defensive fit and versatility rather than money. His agent, Aaron Turner, said Kuminga prioritized Minnesota's defensive edge (Gobert, McDaniels, Edwards) and a winning environment, with offense taking a back seat to winning. The Wolves’ lineup would feature Ball and Kuminga alongside Edwards and Gobert, and the piece notes the Lakers may pivot with a potential Bruce Brown addition as a separate move.
With Kuminga signing with Minnesota, the Lakers shift focus to adding frontcourt depth behind starter Walker Kessler and reserve Kevon Looney, eyeing a center upgrade via unsigned veterans like Kevin Love and other options (Powell, Biyombo, Eubanks, Tillman, Plumlee) as they trim the roster before training camp.
With Jonathan Kuminga choosing elsewhere, the Lakers are weighing a trade or roster cuts (likely Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy) as they navigate limited open roster spots and scarce assets. A starting-caliber forward remains a goal (Saddiq Bey is a common name) but may be tough to obtain; alternatively, a backup center could be pursued to complete the fifth starter. The core’s multi-year contracts aim to boost buy-in, coaching staff stays largely intact, and ownership changes could slow new hires in scouting/analytics. In short, LA must balance cap, depth, and defensive upgrades during a nuanced offseason.
TWG Global says the Los Angeles Lakers sale to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion represents a 25% premium over Walter's last year price and higher than the 2021 valuation, arguing it is not a fire sale; ongoing investigations into Walter's holdings keep scrutiny on the move as the Buss siblings join the San Diego Padres ownership group.
Joey and Jesse Buss are set to become minority owners of the San Diego Padres (about 5%), joining new controlling owners Kwanza Jones and Jose Feliciano and serving on the Padres’ advisory board; the deal broadens the Buss family’s sports-ownership footprint as they pursue an NBA Europe franchise, while the Lakers’ ownership saga continues with five Buss siblings selling their stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger — a sale Jeanie Buss is contesting.
Jonathan Kuminga chose a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves over a larger Lakers offer and a three-year, about $75 million package from the Warriors, a move many view as a misread of his value. The decision leaves him with a shorter-term path and less certainty about long-term earnings, as other teams divvied up their cap space and sign-and-trade options, effectively narrowing his market this offseason and turning the saga into what observers dub a major “bag fumble.”
Jeanie Buss has sought to block a sale of the family’s Lakers stake as five of six siblings push to monetize the share held in a trust that uses a 'last man standing' provision. The dispute underscores how such clauses can strain family relationships and complicate succession in multigenerational enterprises. Lawyers suggest smoothing transitions with strategies like using life insurance to compensate heirs, consolidating control under a single trustee or a pot trust with independent oversight, and rethinking who governs a family business. The case also foreshadows broader tensions as a large wealth transfer accelerates across generations.
Longtime Lakers executives Joey and Jesse Buss are purchasing a stake in the San Diego Padres through Buss Sports Capital, joining an ownership group led by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano; MLB approved the Padres’ sale at a record $3.9 billion. The move comes as the Buss family pursues the sale of their Lakers minority stake amid an NBA deal led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, valued at about $12.5 billion and awaiting league approval, with Jeanie Buss reportedly opposing the sale and the family having previously sold the majority stake to Mark Walter while retaining a 17.8% share.
TWG Global, Mark Walter’s holding company, pushed back on federal scrutiny of its Dodgers financing, asserting there has been no fraud and defending the deal’s integrity; the probe centers on investments through Walter’s life-insurance affiliates and potential self-dealing, while outside investigators found no irregularities in the Dodgers purchase. Amid the scrutiny, Walter sold the Lakers for $12.5 billion and is weighing other sports-property moves, with Dodgers not for sale and TWG exploring orderly steps to reduce affiliate exposure by buying loans.
Jeanie Buss filed in LA Superior Court to block her siblings from selling the Lakers’ remaining stake (about 17.8%) and to remove the co-trustees for breach of fiduciary duty, arguing they acted without her knowledge and in violation of a 2017 order that named her Controlling Owner. The petition seeks contempt and damages, notes the sale would undermine her control and the Lakers’ value, and sets a Nov. 5 hearing as the family feud over ownership continues amid broader sale talks with Iger/Kushner.
NBA insider Jake Fischer says Jonathan Kuminga’s next team likely hinges on a Lakers vs. Timberwolves path, with a sign-and-trade framework and salary considerations shaping the deal; Chicago could also enter the mix, while other notes touch on Bruce Brown’s market, Nick Richards to the Heat, and ongoing chatter around Jalen Duren and Nikola Jokic.
TWG Global defended its financing of the Dodgers, denying any financial impropriety and saying regulators cleared the 2012 purchase and harmed no policyholders. The Dodgers’ payroll remains funded by strong revenues, and the company reiterated the team is not for sale. Amid Mark Walter’s Lakers sale at a record $12.5 billion, analysts say a Dodgers sale would likely fetch roughly $10–$13 billion if pursued, but TWG says no sale process has begun and it is cooperating with regulators.