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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is reportedly expected to become involved in the ownership dispute around the Los Angeles Lakers. The Buss family is divided over the future of its remaining stake in the franchise. According to Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend, league sources have suggested that Silver could try to help calm the situation, mainly because he has a long-standing relationship with Lakers governor Jeanie Buss. “The Lakers’ situation isn’t as clear cut, with sources believing Commissioner Adam Silver — who has always been close with Jeanie Buss — will try to help smooth over the Buss family chaos.” This dispute is mainly around the Buss family’s remaining 17.8% stake. Five of Jeanie’s siblings have suggested that they are ready to sell the family’s remaining shares to the new ownership group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, but Jeanie Buss has reportedly opposed the move and contested whether her siblings have any legal authority to complete this transaction without her approval. Her attorney, Adam Streisand, has argued that a 2017 court order requires the family co-trustees to keep Jeanie Buss as the controlling owner. That issue has become very important, with NBA guidelines suggesting that a team owner or governor should have at least a 15% ownership stake. If the Buss family’s shares are sold and Jeanie is left with only her own shares, she would fall well below the threshold and could have to be removed as governor. Jeanie is reportedly open to finding another solution. The Athletic previously reported that she would consider buying enough Lakers shares to have at least 15% ownership, and at the franchise’s new $12.5 billion valuation, a 15% stake would be worth approximately $1.875 billion. Finding these shares has also become increasingly difficult. Lakers minority owner Patrick Soon-Shiong recently made it clear that he has no plans to sell his 4% stake. The entire situation started after Mark Walter agreed to sell his controlling stake in the franchise at a $12.5 billion valuation. Walter purchased control of the franchise at a $10 billion valuation less than a year ago and had an agreement with Jeanie Buss that would keep her as governor for at least five years. Bob Iger has suggested that he would like to honor the agreement but admitted that circumstances could change. That is why Adam Silver getting involved has become particularly important. The commissioner cannot do anything about a legal disagreement between the Buss siblings, but his involvement could help the parties reach a compromise before this dispute becomes an even bigger distraction for the Lakers. There are basketball implications as well. Reports have suggested that the Lakers are dealing with uncertainty in their basketball operations and are going through a hiring freeze, while teams around the league are also reportedly monitoring Luka Doncic’s situation if this drama continues. The NBA would undoubtedly want a clean-cut solution. The Lakers are its flagship franchise, and a prolonged family and ownership dispute would benefit absolutely nobody. Silver has dealt with plenty of tough ownership situations during his tenure. Now, with his relationship with Jeanie Buss and the Lakers’ importance to the league, he may have to play mediator again in perhaps the NBA’s most high-profile ownership dispute.