Lakers Hire Dodgers' Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi as Strategic Advisors

Lakers hire Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi as advisors, adding front-office firepower to Los Angeles basketball operations and strategy.

The Los Angeles Lakers have added significant front-office firepower by hiring two Los Angeles Dodgers officials — president Andrew Friedman and former general manager Farhan Zaidi — in an advisory role. This cross-sport move links baseball executive experience with NBA front-office strategy and has immediately drawn attention across sports media and among Lakers fans.

Andrew Friedman is widely recognized for building a sustained winner with the Dodgers, while Farhan Zaidi has earned respect as a seasoned executive. The Lakers’ decision to bring both Friedman and Zaidi into advisory roles suggests a focus on sharpening basketball operations through proven organizational practices. Although the hire is described as advisory, it signals the franchise’s intent to broaden its approach to analytics, talent evaluation, and long-term roster planning.

Cross-sport hires like this are increasingly common as teams look for fresh perspectives on analytics, process design, and decision-making. The Los Angeles Lakers stand to benefit from the Dodgers’ front-office culture, which emphasizes data-driven scouting, efficient resource allocation, and institutional stability. With Friedman and Zaidi advising, the Lakers may integrate new frameworks for player evaluation, contract strategy, and operational efficiency within their NBA front office.

For Lakers fans following team-building and roster construction, the Friedman-Zaidi advisory roles could lead to subtler, behind-the-scenes changes rather than immediate headline transactions. Advisory hires often influence organizational philosophy, develop scouting processes, or recommend structural shifts in basketball operations. The Lakers’ move underscores how franchises increasingly look beyond traditional basketball circles for competitive advantage.

In the coming months, expect observers to watch how the Los Angeles Lakers incorporate the advice of these Dodgers executives into their decision-making. Whether through enhanced analytics, refined scouting pipelines, or organizational restructuring, the addition of Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi to the Lakers’ advisory ranks is a notable development for both Los Angeles teams. This hire reinforces the trend of cross-pollination in sports front offices and highlights how modern franchises seek diverse expertise to stay competitive.

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