Lakers GM Praises Dodgers' Friedman After Deadline Moves

Rob Pelinka cites Andrew Friedman's championship-winning expertise as inspiration for the Lakers' own offseason transactions.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka expressed admiration for the work of Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, citing Friedman's ability to build championship-caliber teams as an inspiration for the Lakers' own offseason moves.

Why it matters

The Lakers and Dodgers share an ownership group, and Pelinka's comments highlight the collaborative nature of their sports operations and the Lakers' desire to emulate the Dodgers' sustained success.

The details

Pelinka praised Friedman's smart decision-making and the Dodgers' ability to attract top free agent talent, even with the MLB's lack of a salary cap. The Lakers recently made a trade to acquire sharpshooter Luke Kennard, and Pelinka said he has been able to "tap into" Friedman's expertise for "best practices" as he looks to build a championship contender.

  • The Dodgers are preparing for the 2026 MLB season, where they will look to defend their 2025 World Series title.
  • Pelinka made his comments about Friedman following the NBA trade deadline.

The players

Rob Pelinka

The general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Andrew Friedman

The president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for his ability to build championship-winning teams.

Mark Walter

The owner of both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Luke Kennard

A sharpshooter recently acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers.

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What they’re saying

“Being able to tap into a person like Andrew Friedman for best practices. He's so incredibly smart and has done such an amazing job bringing championships to the Dodgers.”

— Rob Pelinka, General Manager, Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN on X)

What’s next

The Dodgers' 2026 MLB season is slated to begin in late March.

The takeaway

The collaborative nature between the Lakers and Dodgers, both owned by Mark Walter, highlights the value of sharing best practices and expertise across sports franchises, even in different leagues, as they each strive for sustained championship success.