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Amid the sale of the Lakers to Mark Walter, current owner of the Dodgers, they've made a big internal change amid LeBron James exit rumors.
The Los Angeles Lakers aregoing through major changes both on and off the court, specifically as it relates to the record-breaking sale of the franchise from the Buss Family Trust to Mark Walter and his company, which is the current owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The rumors of LeBron James leaving the team after this season, as they shift to a future with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, have also heated upfor the past few months, but for now, the Lakers have announced a major internal change, as it relates to their new ownership group.
Recently, the Lakers revealed they are parting ways with current President of Business Operations Tim Harris, who is in his final season with the team after 35 years on board. Now, it was announced the news of the Lakers hiring Lon Rosen as new President of Business Operations going forward.
Dan Woike
Lakers name Lon Rosen president of business operations.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have named Lon Rosen as President of Business Operations,”they wrote in a statement. “Rosen has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012.”
Walter bought a majority stake in the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation in 2025.Now, as hebegins to take the reins of the historic franchise, internal changes, like this one, are being made.
Lakers Hire Lon Rosen President of Business Operations
News of the Lakers hiring Rosenisn’t extremely surprising, considering thenews first reportedby Dan Woike of The Athletic that Harris is parting ways with the team. Rosen, however, despite working for the Dodgers for the past 14 years,isn’t a new face in the Lakers organization.
Dan Woike
Lakers president of business operations Tim Harris informed staff Tuesday that this will be his final season with the organization per sources. Harris, who was the driving force between the massive local TV rights deal with Spectrum SportsNet, has been with the Lakers/The Forum
“He began his career for the Lakers, interning for the organization while still in college and becoming an executive in the 1980s before leaving to become a high-profile agent and sports business leader,”the statement also said.
Now that Walteris set to take charge of the team, there was previously an understanding that both the Lakers and Dodgers would work in collaboration for what is best for both franchises. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the hire of Rosen is a perfect example of that.
“This hire makes a direct pathway between the Lakers and Dodgers organizations,”he wrote in a post on X. “Rosen has been an executive vice president and chief marketing officer with the Dodgers for more than a decade.”
Dave McMenamin
This hire makes a direct pathway between the Lakers and Dodgers organizations. Rosen has been an executive vice president and chief marketing officer with the Dodgers for more than a decade
In the same statement announcing the hire by the Lakers, the team praisedRosen’s work for the Dodgers, citing their year-over-year increased profits and their belief that he will be a suitable replacement for Harris in the role.
For many years, I have seen the impact that Lon has had in our industry,”current Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said. “Over that time, I have learned that not only is Lon a great person, but he also has a deep understanding of both sports and entertainment and a true feel for where this businessis headed.”
While the move hiring Rosen in place of Harris is just one singular move, it is fair to say that more internal changes are coming for the Lakers as they enter a new era in terms of ownership.
LeBron James Lakers Exit Rumors
At the same time that the historic franchise is making changes off the court, ones on the court are likelysoon to follow, specifically as it relates to the oldest player in the NBA, James.
Jamesis set to become a free agent this summer, and while general manager Rob Pelinka said that the team is open to him returning and retiring in Los Angeles, thatdoesn’t feel like a likely scenario, as he would have to take a pay cut and play third fiddle to both Doncic and Reaves.
At the same time, rumors linking James to a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers have only increased over the past few weeks.His former team is open to himgoing back to where his career began, but there wouldhave to be one major caveat should the 41-year-old return to his old team.
According to Brian Windhorst, James would likely have to go back to the Cavaliers on a minimum contract, but if he is open to making the least amount of money in an NBA deal compared to the rest of his career, the insider said that there is a 99% chancehe’ll be in Cleveland next season.
ESPN Cleveland
“If he’s able and willing, and is willing to accept that money, I think it’s 99%,” – @WindhorstESPN on LeBron James and the Cavs.
Windy notes that LeBron would have to probably accept a minimum contract in Cleveland.
“He would only come at a discount. The only way the Cavs could add him would be to get him to play at either the minimum, or do some things to shave some salary to open the mid-level exception,”Windhorst said. “Ifhe’s able and willing, and is willing to accept that money, I thinkit’s 99%.”
For now,James’ future remains a mystery.What is known is that the Lakers are making wholesale changes, ones that likely aren’t including him in the decision-making, as they look towards a new future without him.