The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to win their 18th NBA championship. While they were eliminated in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the organization is making moves in an effort to compete with teams like OKC and the San Antonio Spurs in the loaded Western Conference.
On Monday, the Lakers’ announced their most recent move: a splashy front office hire that has the NBA world buzzing.
Los Angeles Lakers Hire Rohan Ramadas to Front Office
The Lakers hired Rohan Ramadas as their assistant general manager under president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. Ramadas spent 12 years working for The Aerospace Corporation before becoming the New Orleans Pelicans’ vice president of strategy and operations.
As a Pelicans source told ESPN, Ramadas is “a literal rocket scientist.” With New Orleans, “Ramadas implemented AI and coded models to aid the front office.”
The Lakers hiring Ramadas away from the Pelicans got the NBA world buzzing.
“Really one of the smartest people in the business. Fantastic hire,” Pelicans writer Shamit Dua said on X. “Rohan is going to run his own team one day and absolutely kill it.”
Really one of the smartest people in the business. Fantastic hire https://t.co/LvuiS7xo95
— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) May 25, 2026
“A true outside hire, which is already a breath of fresh air. Rohan’s background is impressive, and will raise the IQ of the building,” Lakers influencer Daman Rangoola said. “There are so many needs in the front office to fill, this is a great start. Next, I’d like to see some pure basketball heavyweights added.”
Under the Buss family, the Lakers mainly hired people with connections to the organization. However, new majority owner Mark Walter appears to have a different vision, and that includes poaching some respected voices from other organizations.
A true outside hire, which is already a breath of fresh air. Rohan’s background is impressive, and will raise the IQ of the building.
There are so many needs in the front office to fill, this is a great start. Next, I’d like to see some pure basketball heavyweights added https://t.co/BDxOzHkA1O
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) May 25, 2026
“Just looked up Rohan Ramadas on LinkedIn and dudes background prior to joining the NBA is literally rocket science,” Laker Central said. “This is the type of brain power a modern front office needs. Nice hire Lakers!”
Just looked up Rohan Ramadas on LinkedIn and dudes background prior to joining the NBA is literally rocket science. This is the type of brain power a modern front office needs. Nice hire Lakers! https://t.co/jBUKRm9551 pic.twitter.com/Gwz8vxjkFc
— Laker Central (@LakerCentral365) May 25, 2026
Some Lakers analysts wondered if Ramadas’ ties to the Pelicans front office could help Los Angeles complete a trade for Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III in the near future.
The Lakers Chip wrote on X: “Maybe his relationship with the Pelicans can get us one of Herb Jones or Trey Murphy.”
“This isn’t the worst sign of deals getting done with New Orleans this summer,” Ryan Lucas added. “Keep in mind: Tony Bennett was Trey Murphy’s college coach also. Not a guarantee but with all the herb jones talk etc, definitely interesting. Rohan is smart and looks to be filling that analytical side of things for the front office.”
This isn’t the worst sign of deals getting done with New Orleans this summer.
Keep in mind: Tony Bennett was Trey Murphys college coach also…
Not a guarantee but with all the herb jones talk etc, definitely interesting.
Rohan is smart and looks to be filling that analytical… https://t.co/2DYOMEmXlP
— Ryan Lucas (@RyanLucas_LA) May 25, 2026
Bennett was hired as a draft advisor to Pelinka, but it remains to be seen whether these connections give the Lakers an advantage in trade talks with New Orleans.
Regardless, this seems like a strong hire for the Lakers, who are determined to compete with the best teams in the NBA.
