Topic / Subject
Report: The Lakers hired former Virginia head coach Tony Bennett as an NBA Draft advisor.

TL;DR
Reuters says the Lakers added Tony Bennett to the draft room as an advisor. It’s a notable “college evaluation” move, even if the exact scope hasn’t been detailed yet.

Key Details

• Reuters reports the Lakers hired Tony Bennett as an NBA Draft advisor.
• The report frames Bennett as a resource for evaluation and draft preparation.
• Specific responsibilities and how the Lakers will structure draft decision-making weren’t detailed publicly.

Breakdown
This is the kind of hire teams make when they want more signal in their scouting process — especially around intangibles, coachability, and how a player fits into a real role.

Bennett’s value here isn’t “calling plays for the Lakers.” It’s helping the organization translate college tape into pro outcomes: who’s ready to defend, who can learn quickly, and who will survive the jump.

The interesting part is what this implies about priorities. Bringing in a high-profile college coach suggests the Lakers want sharper draft reads, and possibly a stronger pipeline mindset, even while balancing win-now expectations.

What to Watch Next

• Whether the Lakers add more draft/scouting personnel this spring
• Any public clarity on Bennett’s role (meetings, travel, combine involvement)
• How the Lakers’ draft approach looks different on draft night (if at all)

Sources

• Reuters — Lakers hire ex-Virginia coach Tony Bennett as draft advisor

Comment
Do you like this kind of “college coach in the draft room” move, or do you want the Lakers leaning harder on pure NBA scouting?