As fate would have it, a rare opportunity could be emerging to reshape the Los Angeles Lakers at the very top. A legit shot at landing Sam Presti may present itself.
While the Lakers transition from the Buss family era to Mark Walter’s leadership, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported on The Hoop Collective that the Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to be sold soon. The timing is striking, because with new ownership often comes organizational overhaul.
Walter is the new face of Los Angeles Lakers ownership, but make no mistake, he did not step into this role to keep things running as is. This is not about protecting the past.
It is about pushing the franchise into a new era. With a track record of bold, forward-thinking leadership from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Walter now inherits a Lakers organization with sky-high expectations.
Sam Presti moving on from the Thunder isn't impossible
Fresh off building the youngest championship team in the NBA, Presti might finally be at a professional crossroads. His nearly two-decade run in Oklahoma City, which included building two separate contenders and mastering the art of trading for draft picks, may have reached its natural conclusion.
A new Thunder owner might want their own people. Presti might want a new challenge. And Mark Walter just might be the right kind of partner.
Lakers have chance to reset how they operate at the top
Over the past decade, the Lakers have leaned heavily on star power and quick fixes. Sometimes it works, but when it does not, and the stars fade or the depth dries up, the entire structure falls apart. That is where someone like Presti changes everything.
He builds frameworks, not just rosters. He sets a direction and finds the players to fit it. The result? A 2025 championship banner and the recipient of the 2024-25 NBA Executive of the Year.
Presti has mastered being patient, but at the same time, he also knows when to strike. That balance is exactly what the Lakers need as they pivot out of the LeBron James era and into whatever comes next with Luka Doncic.
If the Thunder sale goes through, and Presti even considers a new opportunity, Walter should be ready. Guys like him do not become available often.
The Lakers have the appeal. They have the budget. Now, they might have the leadership willing to think big, not just in names, but in structure and stability.