The Los Angeles Lakers are making waves with strategic hires under the leadership of new owner Mark Walter. Fresh off his acquisition of a majority share, Walter is bringing in seasoned talent to bolster the franchise's front office. Notably, Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, both with impressive resumes from the Los Angeles Dodgers, have joined as advisors.
In a significant move, Lon Rosen has been appointed as the Lakers' new president of business operations. But the spotlight now shines on the hiring of Tony Bennett as the NBA Draft advisor.
Bennett, a former Virginia coach and two-time national coach of the year, has been tapped to lend his expertise to the Lakers' draft strategy. His tenure at Virginia from 2009 to 2024 was marked by a national championship in 2019 and an impressive 364-136 record.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' president of basketball operations and general manager, expressed his enthusiasm for the addition. "As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource," Pelinka stated. He praised Bennett's ability to cultivate high-character, high-skill, and high-IQ players, emphasizing his value to the team's leadership and scouting departments.
Bennett, 56, brings a wealth of experience from his coaching stints at Washington State University and the University of Virginia, where he earned multiple prestigious coaching awards. His brief NBA playing career with the Charlotte Hornets adds another layer to his basketball acumen.
The Lakers have had mixed results with recent draft picks, with their 2023 selection, Jalen Hood-Schifino, not meeting expectations. Their 2024 pick, Dalton Knecht, remains under scrutiny. With Bennett's guidance, the Lakers aim to enhance their draft success, particularly with their upcoming first-round pick this June.
This strategic hire signals the Lakers' commitment to building a robust future, leveraging Bennett's deep understanding of the game to identify and develop emerging talent.