DEAL PUTS JEANIE BUSS IN CONTROL OF LAKERS

The family feud that had embroiled the Los Angeles Lakers is officially over. Jeanie Buss, who’d controlled the business side of operations for the last three years, will serve as controlling owner of the team. Jeanie and her brothers, Jim and John

ny, agreed to a legal stipulation ensuring she stays in control as long as their family owns the Lakers. She will remain a part of the team’s board of directors, according to documents obtained Monday by USA TODAY Sports. The brothers mounted an effort to remove Jeanie Buss as the Lakers president and controlling owner this month. She sought a restraining order after word got out that her brothers planned to seek out a new board of directors. The move came after Jeanie had overhauled the Lakers front office, including hiring longtime friend and Hall of Famer Magic John

son as president of basketball operations and removing Jim as executive vice president of basketball operations. The Lakers also hired a new general manager, former agent Rob Pelinka. “The message is clear here: Do not underestimate Jeanie Buss,” her attorney, Adam Streisand, told the Los Angeles Times, the first outlet to report the family had reached a deal Monday. “There is not going to be a palace coup. Not now. Not ever.” The agreement, settled in a Los Angeles County Superior Court, means that a scheduled May 15 probate court trial isn’t necessary. As part of the deal, Jim Buss resigned as the team’s co-trustee, according to a filing Monday. In a consent of successor trustee filing, Janie

Buss, Jeanie’s younger sister, was tapped to replace Jim Buss as co- trustee. Janie joins Jeanie and Johnny as co-trustees. The order approved Monday reaffirms the 2001 family trust that orders the co-trustees to vote along with Jeanie Buss “absent further court order” that would modify the trust. Janie has voiced support for her sister’s controlling role.