Lakers Eye "Dead-Set" Plan to Pair Nikola Jokic With Luka Doncic After Ownership Resolution, Per Insider

Things have gotten messy for the Los Angeles Lakers as of late. It all started when Mark Walter decided to sell his majority ownership stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record $12.5 billion. This resulted in a domino effect as the majority of the Buss family suddenly wanted to sell their remaining 17.8% minority ownership stake.

Since then, it's been back-and-forth among the Buss siblings as Jeanie Buss refuses to sell their remaining share. This is so Jeanie can keep her position as the Lakers' governor. Despite the ongoing dispute, it seems that new owners Kushner and Iger are already strategizing their next big move.

"The Lakers organization’s eyes are going to be “dead-set” on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets once their ownership situation is figured out," per Lakers insider Anthony Irwin.

While the idea of Nikola Jokic coming to LA to play with Luka Doncic sounds exciting, we're not entirely sure if the Lakers can pull off a deal with the Denver Nuggets this summer. According to sources, the dispute among the Buss siblings could be a long legal battle that could last until 2027.

With that in mind, Kushner and Iger might have to wait a bit longer before they fully assume their roles as the new owners of the Lakers.

Lakers Legend Breaks Silence on Buss Family's Ownership Sale

When you think of the Los Angeles Lakers, it's difficult not to associate the organization with the Buss family. For nearly 50 years, the Buss family has been in charge of the Lakers' day-to-day operations. However, after their sale last year to Mark Walter and the current dispute among the siblings, it seems that the Buss family era is truly approaching its end.

Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal recently opened up about the situation. O'Neal shared his fair share of experiences working for the Buss family during his time in LA. While the Buss siblings haven't officially settled on selling their minority ownership stake yet, Shaq is already bidding them goodbye as he gives them his thanks for their service to the Lakers.

"I have great admiration for the Buss family," O'Neal said in a recent broadcast of SportsCenter. "Learned a lot of business acumen from watching them. And I can remember how much Mr. Buss paid for the team. So if the rumors are true on how much they sold it for, I think it was a monumental business move."

"It will be different not knowing that the Buss family is there with the Lakers, but I want to wish them well, want to congratulate them," O'Neal continued. "Thank you for the great memories that they gave me. But from a business standpoint, for what they purchased it for to what they're selling it for…you get the golf clap."

As of this writing, Jeanie Buss' siblings have found a loophole in their intention to sell their minority ownership stake. Sources suggest that the five of Jeanie's siblings could simply sell their respective shares, leaving her alone as a 3% minority owner.

If that happens, Jeanie will fall short of the minimum requirement of 15% to maintain her position as the team's governor. Having said that, Jeanie is currently doing everything in her power to legally nullify her siblings' sale.