Still Talking Devers, Also Talking Lakers

I definitely thought the Thunder game was last night. As such, tonight is house money. Free basketball for me. I’m out of breath keeping up with the NBA. But don’t think I’m skipping over the Lakers…..

Last Thoughts

The minute the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, Devers knew he was getting traded. Players (and agents) know the business better than anyone. This had nothing to do with “play 1st" or “I don’t want to DH”. That was purely the media game. Devers watched the Red Sox sign his replacement. He looked across the diamond and saw a younger, cheaper first baseman (Triston Casas, who the Sox refused to trade in the offseason), and knew that Yale Boy Craig Breslow wasn’t going to pay a DH $30m per year. You can understand the frustration Devers would feel being on the trade block 2 years after signing an extension he thought would retire him a Red Sock. The position change drama was only the manifestation of being squeezed out. That he agreed to play first with the Giants isn’t surprising. He is a good teammate. Management has the right to change direction, but the rug pull on Devers after he recently could’ve signed elsewhere in free agency is what ticked him off.

I have one rather plugged in KMARK reader who will perhaps share some intel on the Laker deal 👀 . Until then, until I realize my full JOURNALIST potential, please consider the following:

Mark Walter purchased 27% of the Lakers in 2021 from AEG (longtime minority shareholder and owner of the Staples Center). At that moment, it was apparent he was going to own the team. Walter is no one’s minority owner. The 27% included an option to buy the rest of the team should the Buss ever decide to sell. Since Jeanie and her gang retain 15% ownership, Walter has committed approximately $6.15b to become the majority (75%) owner. The outstanding shares are owned by a handful of investors. The valuation ($10b) is obscene. No doubt. Like the Celtics, the Lakers don’t own their arena (or any adjacent real estate). As we noted earlier, the Celtics sale price ($6b) shocked former Bucks owner Marc Lasry particularly because the Celts likewise didn’t own their building. The Laker lease at Crypto runs through 2041. Steve Ballmer bought the Clippers in 2014, promised fans their own arena, and delivered one a decade later. Working backwards from 2041, that gives the Walter team 6ish years to determine if they too would like to endeavor on a new build. Plenty of time to hire consultants.

What does this mean for Laker fans and the rest of the league? More than anything with the Dodgers, Walter did an exceptional job hiring Stan Kasten as his CEO. Kasten is a management legend who actually cut his teeth as GM of the Atlanta Hawks during the Dominique Wilkins era. Kasten moved from the Hawks to the Braves and oversaw 14 straight playoff appearances from Maddux, Chipper, Glavine and Smoltz. The man can piece together a front office (hired Andrew Friedman) and build competitive teams. Is he coming over from the Dodgers? Probably not. Will Walter seek another Kasten to run the org? Definitely. If I’m Rob Pelinka, I’m either getting a significant promotion or a new boss ahead of me.

Three things matter to the Lakers this summer:

1. Luka’s extension. He can resign for 4yrs/$229m this summer or wait a year to sign for $5yr/$418m (he should wait).

2. Who runs the show? Is Hot Rod Rob P really in this long term?

3. What to do with Lebron now and when he retires.

#3 is the biggest QUANDARY. That’s how you spell quandry. Lebron leaving doesn’t guarantee the Lakers immediate cap space to sign his replacement. Nor is his replacement guaranteed to be on the open market. I am 100% not convinced Lebron opens the season in LA. He is absolutely investigating if he could finish his career in Cleveland. A move East would give Lebron a way better chance at reaching the Finals. Both his sons have moved out of the house. Leaving LA would be a one or two year (max) hiatus. For the Lakers, getting a return for Lebron could patch some holes, cement Luka’s transition, and clean up a cap sheet with the same or more flexibility as watching him retire in purple and gold. This ownership change might offer the clean break window both parties need. The Finals aren’t even over, and this summer is already COOKING with drama.