The more things change for the Los Angeles Lakers, the more they stay the same.

Jeanie Buss could have used the abrupt departure of president of basketball operations Magic Johnson last month to veer away from her longstanding commitment to organizational nepotism. Instead, as Buss and others quickly tried to pick up the pieces in wake of Johnson's departure, Los Angeles is apparently leaning even harder on the same cast of characters that's contributed to the organization's downturn.

According to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and Dave McMenamin, Buss' decision-making team is currently comprised of general manager Rob Pelinka, senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis, and executive director special projects Linda Rambis – Buss' longtime best friend who some league insiders call a “shadow owner.”

With Johnson gone, Pelinka reports to Buss while communicating with Linda and Kurt Rambis. Sources around the league said those four operate as a group on basketball decisions.

The position of team president currently remains vacant.

Unless Buss hires someone to replace Johnson, Pelinka — with Kurt Rambis involved — is expected to oversee the draft and free agency. Sources said Pelinka and Rambis worked in tandem during the coaching interview process.

Kurt Rambis, a four-time champion with the “Showtime” Lakers, has a 65-164 record as a head coach in the NBA. He's been interim head coach of the Lakers and New York Knicks, and was the Minnesota Timberwolves' full-time head coach in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Linda, his wife, has no basketball experience, but Jeanie Buss nevertheless values her opinion most, according to ESPN. Pelinka, Kobe Bryant's former agent, was hired as general manager in tandem with Johnson in February 2017.

This offseason is one of the most important in Los Angeles' history. And if its management group's recent track record of success is any indication, the Lakers will head into next season after another summer of vexing personnel choices and missed opportunities.