Lakers Turn To Tony Bennett For NBA Draft

The Lakers hired Tony Bennett as a draft advisor to GM Rob Pelinka, per ESPN. Bennett "will not be leading the Lakers' draft room or scouting," but his track record for finding players with toughness, energy and IQ should help a roster low on young talent. Bennett retired from Virginia in 2024 saying, "I realized I'm no longer the best coach to lead this program in the current environment," and warning college athletics is "not in a healthy spot." Merlin sees a defensive sage slipping into a busy front office. Bennett’s strength is spotting high-IQ role players who fit winning systems, not chasing pure upside. His impact will be advisory and gradual, yet his eye could convert late picks and undrafted signees into reliable rotation pieces if Pelinka values that craft.