Lakers Hire Rocket Engineer Ramadas as Assistant GM

The Los Angeles Lakers are building their front office for next season, bringing in Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager and vice president of basketball operations. Ramadas joins the storied franchise from the New Orleans Pelicans, where he held the position of vice president of strategy and business. His role with the Lakers will reportedly involve similar responsibilities, focusing on the team's strategic and business operations.

Ramadas brings a unique blend of experience to the Lakers. In New Orleans, he was instrumental in analytics and innovation, serving as director of analytics and innovation. Prior to his work in the NBA, Ramadas spent twelve years as a rocket mission design, navigation, and planning engineer with The Aerospace Corporation, working with the U.S. Space Force and NASA. ESPN has highlighted his background as a rocket engineer, underscoring the diverse skill set he offers.

Lakers General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, described the search for candidates as seeking individuals adept at "cap, analytics, and data." Ramadas's extensive experience in these areas, coupled with his engineering background, aligns with this vision. The Lakers are also reportedly looking to hire another assistant general manager to focus on the draft, talent evaluation, and player development.

This strategic hiring comes as the Lakers aim to capitalize on the resources provided by new owner Mark Walter, who took over leadership last year. Pelinka intends to prioritize player development, with plans to relocate the G-League team and create specialized labs for regeneration and biomechanics within the team's complex. These moves signal a commitment to enhancing player performance and utilizing data-driven approaches.