The Los Angeles Lakers announced two significant front office additions on Friday, hiring Eric Amsler as assistant general manager for player personnel and Keith D’Amelio as director of integrated performance systems. This move comes as the franchise looks to strengthen its infrastructure following a difficult playoff exit.
Eric Amsler joins the Lakers after spending 22 seasons with the Miami Heat. His most recent role was vice president of player personnel and general manager of their G League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In Miami, he was responsible for overseeing the scouting department and evaluating draft, professional, and G League prospects. His hiring fills a second assistant GM position created this offseason, joining Rohan Ramadas who was hired in May.
Keith D’Amelio will lead the Lakers' sports performance efforts. He was most recently the chief innovation officer for the WNBA's New York Liberty, working across basketball operations, health, performance, and analytics. D’Amelio also has NBA experience with the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, and has worked with Stanford men's basketball and Nike.
This investment in front office talent was a major initiative for former majority owner Mark Walter, who purchased the team in 2025. Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka stated after the season that the ownership group planned to create two assistant GM roles and upgrade sports science facilities to match the success of Walter's other team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Walter's unexpected sale of his majority stake to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner last month raised questions about these plans.
The NBA board of governors must still approve the record $12.5 billion transaction, with their next meeting scheduled for September 14-15. Despite the ownership limbo, the Lakers are pushing forward with basketball operations improvements. "Continuing to invest in and strengthen our basketball operations group is a top priority as we build for the long-term success of our team and players," Pelinka said in a statement. He added that both Amsler and D’Amelio bring valuable experience to the organization.
The front office reshuffle follows a challenging end to the Lakers' season.
These new hires are designed to address areas that need improvement. While Ramadas will manage salary cap, analytics, and data, Amsler's focus will mirror his Miami duties on scouting and player development. D’Amelio's role aims to integrate performance systems across the organization. Building a stronger foundation is essential for the Lakers as they plan for future seasons. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
The moves signal a commitment to building a sustainable contender, even amid ownership uncertainty. The Lakers are betting that expertise from successful organizations like the Heat and the Liberty can help reshape their basketball operations department.
