Mark Walter's purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers has fans and media alike dreaming up some surreal scenarios. The one brought forward on an episode of Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective may top the list.
Walter is well-known for his willingness to spend and the work his ownership group did with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unlike MLB, the NBA's second apron puts a financial limitation on the prospects of buying a championship on the court. However, that money could still be flexed off the court.
Tim Bontemps suggested a way to do that would be luring away the Oklahoma City Thunder's guiding hand, Sam Presti. It would be a similar strategy to what took place with the Dodgers upon their purchase.
Bontemps said, "I'm not saying Sam Presti is showing up in LA, because I do not think that will be happening. But again, it is not a coincidence that when these guys bought the Dodgers, what did they do? They went and hired Andrew Friedman."
The Dodgers president worked with the Tampa Bay Rays before jumping ship to Los Angeles. Bontemps went onto contrast how Presti and Friedman both masterfully built 'incredible infrastructure' with their low payroll teams.
Bontemps concluded, "You take a guy like that, you give him all the financial resources, and things look a lot different. ... That, I think, is a blueprint of what you can expect them to do ... based off of literally what they did across town with another iconic team that was in need of some boosting up."
Presti pipe dream not impossible for Lakers
An important domino to fall before dreaming of this kind of monumental addition would have to come from what happens in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. There are a couple of different ways to view the result between the Thunder and Indiana Pacers shaping where things could go.
If the Thunder win the championship, would Presti feel like the job is done in Oklahoma City? Could that give him more reason to potentially entertain offers like this one? On the other end of it, one could argue a win gives Presti even more reason to stay and pursue dynasty status.
A loss to the Pacers in Game 7 is the result which is most likely to lead to Presti sticking around with the Thunder. The optics of him leaving after a Finals loss are not good, whichever way one chooses to slice it.
It is important to highlight that this conversation is happening after Rob Pelinka secured a new extension during the 2024-25 season. However, sources at The Athletic do not believe that would stop Walter and his group from making the change if they felt it was necessary.
"Pelinka just signed a new extension, and Redick is only one year through a four-year deal. However, Walter has demonstrated his willingness to part ways with successful employees if he believes there are better choices available," Andy McCullough and Fabian Ardaya wrote.
These are still the infancy stages of the ownership change in Los Angeles. It will take time to truly see the ripple effects that come from Walter and his group stepping in. Lakers fans will need to be patient in letting things unfold.