Los Angeles Lakers majority owner Mark Walter, overseeing his first offseason at the helm, has authorized an extensive search to strengthen the club’s basketball operations department, according to multiple league sources.
General manager Rob Pelinka confirmed the organization is interviewing candidates for two assistant general manager roles. With the 2026 NBA Draft roughly one month away, the Lakers aim to have the posts filled quickly to ensure a unified approach to draft and free-agency planning.
List of targets grows
Per reporting from HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto, Los Angeles has reached out to a range of executives:
- Steve Senior, assistant general manager, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Prosper Karangwa, assistant general manager, Philadelphia 76ers
- Eric Amsler, vice president of player personnel, Miami Heat
- Bart Taylor, vice president of player personnel, Utah Jazz
Additional unnamed candidates are also under consideration, league sources said.
Senior declines elevated role
The Lakers’ pursuit has already faced challenges. In May, Minnesota’s Steve Senior was offered the position of executive vice president of basketball operations in Los Angeles, but he chose to remain with the Timberwolves. The effort to recruit Senior was led in part by Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, who assisted in contacting potential hires.
High-stakes offseason looms
The front-office expansion comes at a pivotal moment. Los Angeles could have up to eight free agents this summer, a group that may include Austin Reaves and LeBron James. Executives within the organization view the addition of two-way players as a priority after observing Minnesota’s roster construction under Senior’s guidance.
The Lakers have yet to set a timetable for final decisions, but team officials indicated that a completed front-office lineup before draft night remains the goal.
Source: Lakers Nation
