Los Angeles Lakers GM Has Plan To Model The Team After The World Champion Dodgers
Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has some head-turning comments in a recent interview. Following the recent purchase of the Lakers by Mark Walter, who also owns the Dodgers, a new vision is emerging for the basketball franchise. Pelinka has made it clear that he wants to model the team’s future on the sustained success of their baseball counterparts, calling the Dodgers a “North Star” for their organization.
Los Angeles Lakers: What is the “Dodgers Model”?
When you look at the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past decade, you see more than just star power. Yes, they spend big money to acquire top-tier talent, but their success is built on a much deeper foundation. The Dodgers have become masters of player development, consistently identifying and nurturing young talent through their farm system. They are pioneers in analytics, using data to find undervalued players and gain a competitive edge.
This two-pronged approach allows them to build a winning team year after year. They can afford to sign superstars because they also have a steady stream of cost-controlled, homegrown players ready to contribute. It’s a strategy that blends high spending with smart, sustainable practices. This model has led them to back-to-back World Series championships, making them the envy of professional sports. For the Lakers, adopting this philosophy would represent a significant shift in how they build their roster.
A New Era for the Lakers
The Lakers have historically been a team built on star acquisitions. From Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, and more recently with Luka Dončić, the franchise has thrived by attracting the biggest names in the game. While this has brought them incredible success, it has also led to periods of instability when those stars move on or the team’s assets are depleted.
Pelinka’s comments suggest a desire for more consistency. The new ownership under Mark Walter provides a unique opportunity to learn directly from the Dodgers’ front office. Pelinka mentioned having “outside allies and advocates” and being able to tap into the mind of someone like Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations, for best practices.
“Looking at the Dodgers and how they built it out has been a great sort of example and North Star,” Pelinka stated. This indicates a plan to invest more heavily in areas beyond the star players on the court.
How This Could Change the Lakers
Modeling after the Dodgers would mean a more robust approach to team-building from the ground up. One of the key areas Pelinka mentioned is mimicking the Dodgers’ draft process and farm system structure. For the Lakers, this translates to beefing up their scouting department and player development programs.
Here’s what that could look like:
- Enhanced Scouting: Investing in a larger, more sophisticated scouting department to identify talent not just at the top of the draft, but also in later rounds and internationally. The goal would be to find hidden gems who can develop into valuable role players or even future stars.
- Player Development: Creating a “farm system” environment, likely through their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. This would involve a dedicated focus on coaching and development to turn raw prospects into NBA-ready contributors.
- Smarter Roster Construction: While the Lakers will always be in the market for superstars like Luka Dončić, the Dodgers model would emphasize surrounding them with a deep roster of versatile, well-coached players. This reduces the pressure on one or two players to carry the entire team.
Rival executives have already taken notice. One was quoted as saying, “It’s going to be scary,” when discussing the prospect of the Lakers combining their market appeal with the Dodgers’ meticulous approach to building a sustainable winner.
A Blueprint for Sustained Success
The Lakers are currently in a good position, sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings. However, the goal for a franchise like the Lakers is never just to make the playoffs; it’s to be a perennial championship contender. By looking to the Dodgers, the Lakers are aiming to build an organization that can compete for titles for years to come, regardless of who is on the roster.
This new direction, guided by their “North Star” across town, is about building an organizational culture of excellence. It’s a long-term vision that balances the glamour of Hollywood with the gritty, detail-oriented work of building a true dynasty. If the Lakers can successfully implement even a fraction of the Dodgers’ strategy, the future of basketball in Los Angeles could be brighter than ever.
