Dodgers executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman are advising the Lakers as new owner Mark Walter reshapes the franchise. Serving under TWG Sports, they’re helping guide operations during the team’s transition from longtime Buss family leadership.
In a significant development bridging two of Los Angeles’ most iconic sports franchises, top-ranking Dodgers executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman have begun offering strategic guidance to the Los Angeles Lakers during the team’s transition to new ownership under Mark Walter. Multiple reports indicate that both front-office leaders have taken on advisory positions as Walter restructures basketball operations following his acquisition of majority control.
Zaidi, who recently returned to the Dodgers as a special adviser and is widely respected for his analytical approach to roster-building, has become one of Walter’s primary representatives throughout the transition process. According to individuals familiar with the situation, Zaidi has been involved directly in organizational evaluations and other early decisions as the Lakers shift away from decades of Buss family leadership.
Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations and architect of one of MLB’s most successful modern-era front offices, has played a more limited but still notable role. His involvement has centered on conversations with Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. Friedman’s championship pedigree, leading the Dodgers to three World Series titles in the past six seasons, has made him a valuable voice in Walter’s broader sports portfolio.
Both the Lakers and Dodgers are expected to be incorporated under TWG Sports, the umbrella organization created by Walter to oversee his professional sports holdings. In this structure, Zaidi and Friedman function as senior executives within TWG, enabling them to contribute across multiple franchises as needed. Their responsibilities currently include providing insight into basketball operations while the Lakers undergo a period of restructuring after the sale’s completion.
Zaidi's involvement extends beyond the NBA franchise. Sources have indicated that he has also been advising the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA team also owned by Walter and managed through TWG Sports. His growing influence across Walter’s sports properties suggests a broader strategic vision in which experienced baseball executives lend cross-sport leadership.
The Lakers' internal shifts became even more apparent on Thursday, when members of the team’s scouting department were dismissed, a group that included longtime evaluators Joey and Jesse Buss. Their departure marks one of the clearest early signals of an operational reset.
Walter, officially approved as the Lakers’ new controlling owner on October 29, purchased the franchise in a deal valued at approximately $10 billion. Despite the ownership change, Jeanie Buss will remain the team’s governor for at least the next five years, ensuring some continuity during a transformative moment for the organization.