It has been an eventful summer for the Lakers, who lost LeBron James in free agency, underwent their second ownership change in 10 months and are embroiled in drama over whether the Buss family will sell its 17.8% stake in the team and Jeanie Buss will remain governor.
Here are the four biggest questions for the Lakers moving forward:
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 venture capitalist Kushner raises a lot of questions. Mainly, what’s the new owners’ plan? Under Walter, we knew the Lakers were going to be built in the likeness of the Dodgers, who have won three World Series championships since Walter bought the team in 2012. The Lakers had already begun bolstering their front office and building out their data and analytics departments.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger still need final approval from the NBA Board of Governors to officially acquire the Lakers. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
While the Lakers may have gotten out of the Walter business at a great time considering the federal law enforcement probe into his financial affairs, we also know the team’s new owners don’t have the blueprint for how to win. It remains to be seen how Iger and Kushner will approach their new roles, assuming the NBA Board of Governors approves the sale.
2. Will Jeanie Buss remain governor?
Iger and Kushner are going to need trusted advisers, and Jeanie Buss seemed perfect for that role, considering the Lakers won 11 championships under the Buss family’s reign.
After the Buss family sold the Lakers to Walter in October 2025, there was an agreement that Jeanie would remain governor at least through 2030. Iger and Kushner intended to honor that arrangement. But things have since gotten complicated.
Jeanie Buss and her siblings might be headed for a lengthy court battle. NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Buss family voted Monday to sell its 17.8% share in the Lakers, but Jeanie is contesting the sale. If they don’t reach a settlement, they could be headed for a lengthy court battle.
That all makes things very tricky for the Lakers and their new owners, who will need guidance right away.
3. What moves are left for the Lakers to make to bolster their roster?
It’s no secret that the Lakers are interested in Jonathan Kuminga, a 23-year-old athletic wing. But momentum sputtered earlier this summer, with Kuminga’s camp rejecting the Lakers’ offer of an average of $10 million annually.
Jonathan Kuminga still needs a home for next season. Are the Lakers still interested? Getty Images
With the Cavaliers trading for Peyton Watson, perhaps the Lakers and Kuminga will be motivated to move forward. Right now, Kuminga is seemingly the biggest domino left on the market that could help the Lakers.
4. Will the Lakers be contenders next season?
As currently constructed, it’s hard to imagine the Lakers competing with the elite teams in the West, such as the Thunder and Spurs, who are both much deeper than the Purple-and-Gold.
If Luka Doncic plays 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 need to shore up a lot of holes to become real contenders, such as adding perimeter shooting and bolstering their defense.
Right now there’s a lot of distance between the Lakers and the teams that are expected to compete in June.
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