DODGERS STRIKE BACK: The Dodgers just pulled a major move in the wake of the Lakers’ shocking front office overhaul, sending shockwaves across both baseball and basketball worlds. Every analyst is scrambling to decode the strategy, wondering how this could shift power and momentum. One thing’s clear — the Dodgers aren’t waiting around, and the stakes just got higher..ll

National League Championship Series - Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Four

Now that the Los Angeles Dodgers have ruined baseball by winning the World Series in each of the last two seasons, it seems the goal is now to ruin basketball. After a front office shakeup for the Los Angeles Lakers that included Joey Buss and Jesse Buss being fired, Dodgers’ executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman have taken advisory roles with the NBA’s iconic franchise.

While the Dodgers were facing the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, behind the scenes, Dodgers’ controlling owner Mark Walter was finalizing a deal to take over as the majority owner of the Lakers from the Buss family. Walter is also the controlling owner of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.

Now, to be clear, Zaidi and Friedman’s day jobs will remain with the Dodgers. As the Lakers are transitioning from the Buss family to Walter, it would seem the Dodgers’ executives will be taking part in establishing the hierarchy on the NBA side. They aren’t expected to have a prominent role when it comes to the basketball operations of the Lakers.

After being the talk of Major League Baseball, the Dodgers are taking their talents to the Los Angeles Lakers

There also appears to be some “Succession”-level drama taking place within the Buss family. Speculation is that Jeanie Buss, serving as the Lakers’ Governor, was willing to toss her brothers to the side as long as it meant she kept her role within the organization. Adding to the tea, Joey and Jesse were against the deal with Walter.

In any other city, it would be comical to suggest a team’s top baseball executive was going to spend his spare time working with the city’s NBA team. The hot takes that would be had in New York or Chicago if Brian Cashman and Jed Hoyer were dabbling in NBA affairs, while some large question marks remain for the teams they are winning, would be scalding.

That said, the Dodgers are entering the offseason with the goal of a three-peat next season, and it feels like Friedman could land any of his top targets in his sleep. Why not bring that level of comfort to the Lakers?

Feels like we’re this close to Mookie Betts getting an opportunity to heave up a three-pointer in the NBA, though.