It has been an eventful summer season for the Lakers, who lost LeBron James in free company, underwent their second possession change in 10 months and are embroiled in drama over whether the Buss household will promote its 17.8% stake in the staff and Jeanie Buss will stay governor.
Here are the 4 greatest questions for the Lakers transferring ahead:
1. What is Bob Iger’s and Josh Kushner’s plan?
The $12.5 billion sale of the Lakers from Mark Walter to former Disney CEO Iger and enterprise capitalist Kushner raises a lot of questions. Mainly, what’s the new house owners’ plan? Under Walter, we knew the Lakers were going to be constructed in the likeness of the Dodgers, who have won three World Series championships since Walter purchased the staff in 2012. The Lakers had already begun bolstering their entrance workplace and constructing out their knowledge and analytics departments.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger still want last approval from the NBA Board of Governors to formally purchase the Lakers. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
While the Lakers may have gotten out of the Walter enterprise at a nice time contemplating the federal regulation enforcement probe into his monetary affairs, we also know the staff’s new house owners don’t have the blueprint for how to win. It stays to be seen how Iger and Kushner will method their new roles, assuming the NBA Board of Governors approves the sale.
2. Will Jeanie Buss stay governor?
Iger and Kushner are going to want trusted advisers, and Jeanie Buss appeared excellent for that function, contemplating the Lakers won 11 championships under the Buss household’s reign.
After the Buss household offered the Lakers to Walter in October 2025, there was an settlement that Jeanie would stay governor at least through 2030. Iger and Kushner meant to honor that association. But issues have since gotten difficult.
Jeanie Buss and her siblings might be headed for a prolonged court docket battle. NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Buss household voted Monday to promote its 17.8% share in the Lakers, but Jeanie is contesting the sale. If they don’t attain a settlement, they could be headed for a prolonged court docket battle.
That all makes issues very tough for the Lakers and their new house owners, who will want steerage instantly.
3. What strikes are left for the Lakers to make to bolster their roster?
It’s no secret that the Lakers are in Jonathan Kuminga, a 23-year-old athletic wing. But momentum sputtered earlier this summer season, with Kuminga’s camp rejecting the Lakers’ provide of an common of $10 million yearly.
Jonathan Kuminga still wants a residence for next season. Are the Lakers still ? Getty Images
With the Cavaliers buying and selling for Peyton Watson, perhaps the Lakers and Kuminga will be motivated to transfer ahead. Right now, Kuminga is seemingly the greatest domino left on the market that could assist the Lakers.
4. Will the Lakers be contenders next season?
As at the moment constructed, it’s laborious to think about the Lakers competing with the elite groups in the West, such as the Thunder and Spurs, who are both much deeper than the Purple-and-Gold.
If Luka Doncic performs MVP-caliber basketball, Austin Reaves lives up to his lofty four-year, $180 million contract extension and Walker Kessler blossoms into an All-Star, the Lakers could be very good.
But there are a lot of “ifs” in that sentence.
And still, the Lakers would want to shore up a lot of holes to become actual contenders, such as including perimeter taking pictures and bolstering their protection.
Right now there’s a lot of distance between the Lakers and the groups that are expected to compete in June.