Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman, two key Los Angeles Dodgers executives, have taken on advisory roles with the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the ownership transition to Mark Walter, multiple sources told ESPN. Zaidi is functioning as Walter’s representative during the transition while Friedman consults primarily with Lakers president Rob Pelinka.
Zaidi currently serves as a special adviser to the Dodgers and is renowned for his analytics background. Sources close to the situation said he is helping oversee the transition process on Walter’s behalf. Zaidi has also been consulting with the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA team owned by Walter and TWG Sports.
Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, has played a lesser role in the Lakers transition. He has helped the Dodgers win three of the past six World Series. His involvement focuses on consulting with Pelinka on basketball operations matters.
Both the Lakers and Dodgers are expected to become part of TWG Sports, the entity Walter created to oversee his sports holdings. Zaidi and Friedman are acting as senior executives of TWG Sports following the Lakers sale closure last month. Walter was approved as the new majority owner on October 29 in a deal valued at $10 billion.
The Lakers terminated several members of their scouting department on Thursday, including Joey and Jesse Buss. The brothers confirmed the dismissals to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The moves represent the first significant personnel changes under Walter’s ownership.
As part of the ownership deal, Jeanie Buss will remain as the team’s governor for at least the next five years. The arrangement allows for continuity while Walter assumes control of basketball operations decisions. The integration of Dodgers executives signals a data-driven approach to the Lakers’ future direction.