Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Now THAT'S more like it. 

After a bad opening to the season on Tuesday against Golden State, the Lakers raised their level against a very good Minnesota team and bounced back with their first win of the season, 128-110. It was fueled, particularly early, by Luka Dončić, who scored 23 points in the first quarter, en route to 49 points overall. (To go with 11 rebounds and eight assists.) 

But the game turned when the rest of the cast started really pitching in, especially by changing the defensive energy. Marcus Smart changed the vibe of the game in a big way, and it carried into the second half, where the Lakers played a fantastic third quarter, outscoring the Wolves by 11. Contributions were all over the floor. Rui Hachimura finished with 23 points on 13 field goal attempts. Austin Reaves had 25 points, and only one turnover against 11 assists. Deandre Ayton found another gear in the second half, playing with much more aggression and confidence en route to 15 points and eight assists. 

So the Lakers will head to Sacramento for Sunday's game with a much better feeling, and a chance to get above .500 for the first time this year. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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The Lakers have a host of things to figure out ahead of tonight's game at the Crypt against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not just because Minnesota is back in town after summarily dispatching the purple and gold in last year's playoffs -- though that's part of it -- they also badly need a bounceback performance following Tuesday's disappointment against the Warriors. 

So how to get there? 

One topic of conversation is still the starting lineup, and how Gabe Vincent was a magnet for mismatch hunting against Golden State. Jimmy Butler found him repeatedly, and ate Vincent for lunch. So what to do about that? Would he be better off the bench? Very likely, but if he starts again the other issue was the three points he scored. For a guy out there to help grease the wheels and provide some spacing, he was a non-factor. 

Another path? Marcus Smart suggests the Lakers get more physical, and be the toughest team every night, because it's the toughest team that gets to set the rules. And the Lakers without LeBron might just need to find ways to set the rules... assuming those rules involve very physical play that slows a game down and dares the refs to make calls. 

Luka Dončić is incredible, but the Lakers will need to find an identity and style of play that goes beyond just that for them to thrive while LeBron is out, and even when he's back. Let's see if it starts tonight. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Gambling in the NBA!

 

SEGMENT 2: Is Vincent too small? 

 

SEGMENT 3: How to set the rules? 

 

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First things first -- Luka Dončić participated in Wednesday's practice, and according to JJ Redick seems fine following what looked like a groin/hip thing suffered late in Tuesday's loss to Golden State. 

He's expected to practice Thursday, and play on Friday when the Lakers host Minnesota at the Crypt. 

After that, there's a tremendous amount of uncertainty given the team's performance Tuesday night. There are questions about the bench, about diversity in scoring, about the relative lack of athleticism on the team relative to the rest of the West. How much of this is fixable? Based on the reaction to watching tape, the Lakers are confident they can in fact correct a lot of mistakes. Whether that's a matter of better coverages in transition, firmer screens and harder cuts, etc., the Lakers felt a great deal of what went wrong was in their control. 

How quickly can it be fixed? How much did a lack of cohesion during the preseason impact what was seen in the opener? 

Meanwhile, one thing that was definitely seen on Tuesday? LeBron James... doing nothing. Like, almost in the most literal sense. Sitting statuesque in the tall chair that the Lakers keep around for folks with back problems. 

It was a topic of conversation on Wednesday, and Redick noted at practice that LeBron was an active part of film study that day. Of course, was JJ going to claim otherwise, given the headlines it would create? This is a topic of conversation only LeBron can end, and it would be in his best interests to nip this one in the bud. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers try to learn lessons from Tuesday's loss. 
SEGMENT 2: What's fixable? 
SEGMENT 3: LeBron and body language. 

 

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The Lakers weren't great in the preseason, so in that sense, Tuesday's 119-109 opening night loss to the Warriors shouldn't be all that surprising. But in a game where Luka Dončić delivered 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine dimes and the Lakers still struggled to stay connected to Golden State, folks are going to be concerned.

The Lakers got production from an imperfect Austin Reaves (26/9), but everywhere else in the lineup it was ugliness. Deandre Ayton's regular season debut was a bust. He was tentative offensively and inert on the glass. He did manage to hit double figures in scoring, which is more than Gabe Vincent or Rui Hachimura could say. The bench? Not good, though Marcus Smart at least showed some grit and energy, but the collective wasn't nearly productive enough.

All in all, it was definitely not the sort of performance that will quiet critics who believe the Lakers needed to do much more in the preseason to get this team as far along as possible.

They have a couple days of practice before the Timberwolves visit LA on Friday, and have plenty of work to do.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose the opener, 119-109.

SEGMENT 2: Luka looks fantastic.

SEGMENT 3: Ayton, Vincent, Rui, bench... everyone struggles.
 

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All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.

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The Lakers open the season tonight! The real games begin. It's Lakers vs. Warriors, on Peacock! (Something new for this year, and an early taste of a new TV arrangement for the NBA.) 

The Warriors are a team that mirrors a lot of what we think about the Lakrs. Obviously very good. Capable of beating any team in any series, even if they're not quite capable of winning four of them to get an NBA chip. But in any best-of-seven, if playing at full strength, nobody will want to see them. On the other hand, they rely on a bunch of old guys (more than the Lakers) and if anyone significant gets hurt? Forgettaboutit. (The Lakers in this sense have an advantage over the Warriors, because when people talk about old guys, it's really just LeBron.) 

So with LeBron injured, are the Lakers being knocked too far down in the West? What's a fair evaluation? 

And who can raise their ceiling, and the floor? What could happen that would rip a hole in that floor? 

Well, it starts with Luka. There's a massive difference between him performing like one of the two or three best players on the planet, and being a more conventional All-NBA level performer. Someone who'd make evan a second team. The Lakers are banking on him being the guy who averaged a 30 point trip-dub (more or less) two years ago in Dallas. That raises the team's ceiling. Anything less, and the Lakers may not get where they want to go. 

Meanwhile, deeper into the supporting cast, we explain why Deandre Ayton has tremendous ceiling-raising potential, while an injury to Marcus Smart or Jarred Vanderbilt could have an outsized impact relative to their skill level and spot in the proverbial pecking order. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers open the season tonight!

 

SEGMENT 2: Is Ayton the team's best floor raiser? 

 

SEGMENT 3: What about Luka? 

 

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JJ Redick threw the Lakers socialsphere a curveball in Friday's preseason finale, choosing to start guard Gabe Vincent in the open spot vacated by LeBron James's early season injury. This, when most people expected either Jarred Vanderbilt or Marcus Smart. 

So why Vincent? 

You can argue that Vincent may not be the best at any one thing the Lakers feel like they need, but he ticks more boxes overall. Outside shooting? Yes, the way he's been doing it in the preason, at least. Defense? Pretty good, and is very good on concepts and reliability. He's not going to be the reason the system breaks down because he's out of position, or makes the wrong read. He can handle an offense, providing some direction and secondary ballhandling. 

Are Vando and Smart better individual defenders? Yes. Do both allow the Lakers to play bigger? Yes again. Could Smart have more overall offensive juice and a more diverse skillset? Sure could. 

But is Smart, who missed much of the preseason with tendinitis in his Achilles tendon, ready to carry the load of a starter? For that matter, do the Lakers trust Smart and Vando, who have both battled significant injuries over the last couple of years, can play starters minutes at the energy they require without breaking down? 

So is JJ making the right call, here? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Are the Lakers set to start Gabe Vincent? 

 

SEGMENT 2: Smart choice from Redick? 

 

SEGMENT 3: Pros and cons. 

 

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All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.
 

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Hosts Nick Angstadt (Locked On Mavs), Joe Mullinax (Locked On Grizzlies), Rylan Stiles (Locked On Thunder), Ben Beecken (Locked On Wolves), Matt Moore (Locked On Nuggets), Jackson Gatlin (Locked On Rockets), Ben Garcia (Locked On Suns), and David Locke (Locked On Jazz) break down whether the Oklahoma City Thunder can repeat atop the West without relying on injuries, focusing on the crucial offensive growth of Chet Holmgren and half-court improvements. The group debates Denver Nuggets’ chances to dethrone OKC, emphasizing their improved depth behind Nikola Jokic. Minnesota Timberwolves' and Houston Rockets' paths to contention depend on leaps from Anthony Edwards and young guards like Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham. The hosts analyze the importance of Western Conference team depth, highlighting how the Clippers, Warriors, and Mavericks stack up with 240 minutes of viable contributors. Kevin Durant's role with the Rockets is discussed, along with concerns about veteran stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic handling a full postseason run. The segment wraps with spirited takes on which teams have the roster construction, internal development, and playoff resilience to contend in an increasingly deep Western Conference.

0:00 OKC Thunder's Repeat Chances
7:33 Denver Nuggets vs. Thunder: Biggest Threat?
17:11 Veteran Teams Longevity: Clippers, Warriors, Lakers
22:45 Mavericks: Depth, Luka, & Contender Analysis
33:06 Western Conference Standings Predictions
39:02 Lakers Identity, LeBron "Pouting," & Rebuild
44:37 Can Luka Break OKC's Defense?
49:50 Victor Wembanyama Hype vs. Reality
54:10 Grizzlies, Pelicans & Spurs: Best of the Rest

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Luka Dončić looks ready for the season to start, dropping 31 points, five rebounds and nine assists on the visiting Sacramento Kings on Friday in the final game of the preseason for the Lakers, but it wasn't enough to get a win. LA loses to the Kings, 117-116.

The "dress rehearsal" was interesting on a few levels, starting with... the starting lineup. Gabe Vincent was a surprise choice for the final slot, and to his credit he came out hot (as he's been throughout the preseason). Is he going to be the starter when the real games start on Tuesday, or would the Lakers turn to Jarred Vanderbilt or Marcus Smart?

Overall, it was a mixed bag for the Lakers, who got some good work from Deandre Ayton, but Austin Reaves had his first bad game of the exhibition season. Rui Hachimura scored 18 points, but only had one rebound. Smart was a major highlight, particularly of the second half, as he made his presence felt defensively but also got far more aggressive on the offensive end, too, playing a great deal with the ball in his hands.

For fans who are worried about him, Friday's game was likely a welcome development.

Overall, it was not a good exhibition season for LA. They had players dinged up, didn't win a lot of games, struggled defensively, and seemed to miss out on chances to build up a little more continuity. But now it's a couple days of practice before the real slate starts Tuesday. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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The Lakers are down to one more preseason game, tonight at the Crypt vs. the Sacramento Kings. 

It will be the "dress rehearsal" JJ Redick has referenced for a few days. The hope, it had seemed, was to have two of these, but for whatever reason this will be the only game the Lakers will run with their opening night rotation. The starting lineup for Tuesday's season opener is still somewhat in question, but the tea leaves would indicate that Jarred Vanderbilt will slide into the spot created by LeBron James's injury. 

Tonight will certainly give some clues on Redick's approach. And it'll be a chance to see how the Lakers lean on guys like Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura to fill in some of the offensive space left vacant by LeBron, and what it looks like for Luka Dončić to truly be the sun around which the rest of the Lakers orbit. 

The Luka/Reaves combo, always under the microscope, will get plenty of burn to start the year, and perhaps send some signals as to where the Lakers go in the future once LeBron either retires or moves on to another team. 

The center rotation more broadly will be under a microscope, and Lakers fans should be feeling pretty good, given how Ayton has looked in the preseason, and the steady play from a bulked up Jaxson Hayes, now back to his more appropriate role as a backup. 

One of the only remaining mysteries is Marcus Smart, who came into camp nursing an injury, and has been treated with kid gloves throughout camp. He got 20 minutes of burn on Tuesday, but didn't make much of an impact. Will that change tonight? How much can the Lakers lean on him early? And if he's not healthy - or can't be kept healthy - what kind of value will he provide during the season? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get their dress rehearsal. 

 

SEGMENT 2: The center rotation looks much improved. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Is Marcus Smart a major risk? 

 

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First things first: As suspected, LeBron James is hoping to return around mid-November, this from ESPN's Shams Charania. This timetable would have him missing about 15 games, which all things considered wouldn't be the worst outcome. James, who hasn't been able to participate in basketball activities since hurting himself in July, will need a few weeks to ramp up and ensure his fitness is restored to what it needs to be. If that happens around Halloween, mid-November is a reasonable target. Any delay, however... 

So the Lakers at least have some idea of how they'll play the first quarter of the season, give or take. 

Meanwhile, game 5 of the 6 game preseason is in the books, and it was another loss for the Lakers. 

Like the others, it wasn't without its high points. The Lakers played without Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber. And LeBron, of course, and Bronny James, too, who was nursing an ankle injury suffered Tuesday against the Warriors. So there's a limit as to what can be learned from a game like this one. But still, there were good performances worth noting, especially from Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt. 

Meanwhile, Dalton Knecht continues to struggle in meaningful minutes. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose in Vegas. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Rui plays well, which matters a lot. 

 

SEGMENT 3: LeBron out until mid-November (at least). 

 

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It's been a disjointed preseason for the Lakers, with critical players in and out (or in the case of LeBron James, just out) of the lineup, whether in practices or in the first three exhibition games. 

But tonight, that all changes! Barring any last minute emergencies, the Lakers will get the first of two anticipated "dress rehearsals" ahead of next week's season opener at the Crypt against the Golden State Warriors. Of course, LeBron won't be in uniform, so the Lakers not only have to get everyone on the same page as Luka Dončić, who will make his preseason debut tonight, but figure out who will take LeBron's place in the starting lineup. The most logical choices for JJ Redick are his two defensive aces, Marcus Smart (also playing in his first preseason game) and Jarred Vanderbilt. Vando would seem to have the inside track, if for no other reason than Smart could still be building up to a full workload as the Lakers treat his Achilles tendonitis with care. 

How do the Lakers replace LeBron's skill set? Obviously it gets divided among a lot of players, but it's not just about stats. James being out impacts how Redick organizes the guys who will take the floor. It's a big shake up. 

Finally, the Lakers are trying to bring Dalton Knecht back up to a place where he's not only a positive part of this team, but is seen to have value around the league. It's part of the reason he started on Sunday, with decent results. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: Luka is back!

 

SEGMENT 2: Who gets LeBron's starting spot?

 

SEGMENT 3: Rehabbing Knecht's image. 

 

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There were a lot of things about Tuesday's game in Phoenix against the Suns more important than the final score. Luka Dončić made his preseason debut and was dominant, just as he was in Europe this summer, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists in only 22 minutes of floor time. Austin Reaves had 25 of his own.

Deandre Ayton, who has been a rebounding monster this preseason, kept it up, with 13 boards and three blocks in his 26 minutes. Marcus Smart also made his Lakers debut, seeming to move freely in 20 minutes of burn (20 minutes in which he didn't take a single shot).

But there were other things that will most certainly drive JJ Redick nuts, namely the defensive effort of the team, particularly in the second half. Yes, much of that was with deep reserves/G-Leaguers, but the last few minutes with the rotation guys weren't great, especially considering Phoenix sat about 80 percent of its expected regular season rotation.

Along those lines, the Lakers were sitting guys too (Vando, Rui, Vincent). Was that really wise? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: Luka returns, and Luka dominates! 

 

SEGMENT 2: The Luka/Reaves combo is productive. Smart makes his debut. 

 

SEGMENT 3: More good stuff from Ayton! 

 

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The Lakers got some good news on the floor Sunday, winning their first game of the exhibition season, 126-116 over Golden State at the Crypt. Strong games from Austin Reaves (who was banged up in the second half, but after the game was described as "fine" by JJ Redick), Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton -- three guys who will need to bring it without LeBron James in the lineup for the first 10 games at least. 

There were good performances from Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and more. Overall, a strong effort for LA, who were playing without Luka Doncic, LeBron and Marcus Smart. 

So about Luka -- the Lakers did provide a little clarity on a very mysterious week. Luka is fine. He participated in full when the Lakers practiced Saturday, went through warmups on Sunday and will play in two of the final three games the Lakers play before the regular season starts on the 21st. Last week's mini-shut down was planned load management stuff... the type of thing maybe the Lakers should have explained? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Lakers win! But more importantly, the Lakers provide clarity on Luka. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Reaves, Rui and Ayton shine. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Vando and Knecht. 

 

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The news out of El Segundo Thursday wasn't good. LeBron James, who hadn't participated in full speed drills yet this preseason, will miss the next 3-4 weeks with sciatica. At that point, he'll be re-evaluated. So there's really no guarantee all of this will be cleared up in a month. 

That means the Lakers will be without James almost surely for the first 9 or 10 games this season, and very (very, very) possibly for more. 

So what happens now? How much does this hurt the Lakers going forward? There is a tremendous amount to unpack, here. 

And to make it worse, Luka Dončić, who was a full participant last week in LA's camp activities up until the first two preseason games, hasn't practiced all week. The Lakers haven't really clarified as to why, but it means you have the team's second best player (who is top 10 in the league) and the team's best player (top 3, consensus) both on the sidelines. JJ Redick's frustration was certainly palpable in El Segundo on Thursday. 

At this point, with more clarity now available on LeBron, getting a handle on Luka's health becomes the major priority for the Lakers. Why he's sitting out is a matter of utmost importance, and the early part of the season at the least hinges on it. And in the West, losing critical players for any length of time can mean the difference of multiple spots in the standings. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 


SEGMENT 1: LeBron out at least another 3-4 weeks before being re-evaluated. 

SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers do from here? 

SEGMENT 3: Why isn't Luka on the court? 

 

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LeBron James has yet to practice with the Lakers during the preseason. That wait to hit the court will reportedly take even longer. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! QuoSee why over 90,000 businesses trust Quo, formerly OpenPhone. Get started free and get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.Quo.com/LOCKEDONNBA. PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA Peloton Let yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers are deep into their second week of training camp, creeping towards the opener on the 21st. 

LeBron James (nerve issue in his glute) hasn't practiced. And now Luka Dončić seems to be more limited now than he was last week. Luka missed the two preseason games the Lakers played last weekend, and has been a limited participant in practice since. Last week, Dončić was -- reportedly at least -- a participant in everything the Lakers were doing on the floor. 

That's not a good sign. 

Lakers fans are starting to see a lot of teams displaying the important work of critical preseason practices. They're wondering if the team simply isn't serious enough about the preseason. But is the more appropriate worry that they're not healthy enough to put in the type of grind fans would prefer to see? LeBron has gone from hopefully participating in a one of the four remaining preseason games to hopefully being ready for the regular season opener. And now Dončić is going the wrong way. 

It's been so disjointed that when asked what it's like to work with Luka and LeBron, new center Deandre Ayton said he doesn't know, because it hasn't happened yet. 

That's... not good. 

So are they unserious? Or more untruthful? At some point, if Luka isn't on the floor, the Lakers are going to need to provide an explanation of some sort. 

One person likely to get an explanation ... from a judge? The fellow who sued LeBron after James revealed that the big Decision 2.0 was just an ad for cognac as opposed to some sort of retirement announcement. Making the tickets he purchased for the home regular season finale at the Crypt against Utah just a regular old game, one in which it's very possible LeBron won't even play. The dude says he's out hundreds of bucks, and that LeBron is responsible. 

Good luck with that. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka's still not playing this week? 

SEGMENT 2: Are the Lakers being honest about their collective health? 

SEGMENT 3: Lawsuit!!!

 

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It was a big day for LeBron James news on Tuesday. First, James paid off the gigantic tease of the next big "Decision" he'd be making. And, as most of us suspected, it was in fact part of an ad campaign. 

But -- TWIST! -- instead of it being for Amazon Prime (Prime Day started Tuesday) it was actually for Hennessy. So LeBron chooses cognac! And in the process, got a lot of eye rolls from people who thought maybe bigger news was coming, or found the ad itself to be corny... which it kinda was because most things LeBron does now are goofy/corny in a dad humor sort of way. That happens when you're 40. 

But more importantly, the Lakers might be choosing to keep him out of preseason games entirely, with the hope he's ready to go, fully healed from the nerve irritation in his glute, by the start of the regular season. It would be a downer for James not to get any floor time with the team before the 21st, because it would significantly impact the ability to build chemistry. But more importantly, it indicates this pain in the butt might be more than just training camp caution. 

Meanwhile, Marcus Smart was on the floor Tuesday (great, great news) and very quickly showed what he brings. 

Finally, there's some movement in the Giannis Watch! part of the NBA world. Shams over at ESPN reports that if he asks out of Milwaukee, it'll be with New York as a preferred destination. Given how unlikely it seems that Nikola Jokic will leave Denver when his contract is up, this news would put a serious damper on any big plans for the summer of '27. So how does this alter LA's plans? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: LeBron chooses cognac! 

 

SEGMENT 2: LeBron might not play this preseason. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Giannis watch and how it impacts the Lakers. 

 

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The Lakers have lost their first two preseason games. More significant than the scores, though, are the names in the box score. Luka Dončić and LeBron James both sat out the weekend's games, as did Marcus Smart. Maxi Kleber has also been in street clothes, and Austin Reaves missed the second game after playing well in the preseason opener. 

No question, there are reasonable explanations for all of it. Luka played deep into Eurobasket (and has been on the practice floor through the first week). LeBron has been nursing a sore glute and noted heading into camp that he and his camp think LeBron went a little too hard in the preseason last year. Smart has an Achilles problem, so caution is warranted. And so on. 

But at the same time, if the Lakers are going to eat up the gap between them and the teams in front of them (or at least perceived to be in front of them) out West, they need to maximize their upside. That starts with getting as many reps as possible in training camp. That's not happening. 

So is it by choice? Are the Lakers re-starting what had become a trend of kinda blowing off training camp? What could that mean going forward? 

Meanwhile, LeBron got everyone's attention Monday when he teased "#TheSecondDecision."  A "decision of all decisions." 

Is he teasing a retirement announcement? Is he shilling for Amazon (Tuesday is Prime Day)? We'll all find out at 9 am PT. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Are the Lakers missing out on preseason opportunities? 

 

SEGMENT 2: Strategy or necessity? 

SEGMENT 3: What's LeBron teasing? 

 

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Overall, JJ Redick was happier with the effort in Sunday's 111-103 loss to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco than he was with the preseason opening loss to Phoenix on Friday. 

And again, the Lakers were missing frontline players - this time, Luka Dončić and LeBron James sat again, and were joined by Friday's star Austin Reaves. Still no Marcus Smart or Adou Thiero. So not only were they short on talent compared to the Warriors, who played starters (at least in the first half), they were playing some combinations that likely won't be seen in the regular season, with people playing roles they won't likely play. 

On the positive side (at least if you exclude an abysmal third quarter), the Lakers got very good performances from Jarred Vanderbilt, who continues to move like the version of the guy they acquired a couple years ago. He was disruptive defensively, active on the boards, and -- by his standards especially -- was pretty effective finishing on offense, including drawing and and-one, and what appeared to be some sort of Eurostep. Vincent hit 3-7 from beyond the arc, and all five of his free throws. Deandre Ayton didn't get off to a great start, but played much better as the first half went along, getting more aggressive in the pick and roll, getting on the glass and pretty consistently changing shots in the paint, defensively. 

So there are things to be encouraged by. 

The Lakers get a week of practices before their next game (Sunday at home against the Warriors). Redick is hoping to get a couple of dress rehearsals before the end of the preseason, so everyone will be monitoring whether LeBron gets on the floor this week, and puts himself in position to play in Sunday's game. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Lakers lose Sunday in San Francisco. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Vando and Vincent look good! 

 

SEGMENT 3: Can the Lakers get their dress rehearsals? 

 

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The Lakers opened the preseason without a lot of rotation players in uniform (no Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent), and it certainly looked liked they missed them. 

While there were some good individual performances, as a group the Lakes were sloppy and couldn't make a bucket to save their lives (31 percent overall, 17 percent from downtown), losing to Phoenix 103-81. Austin Reaves played will in his minutes, with 20 points, three rebounds and two dimes. Rui Hachimura was active defensively and was second among starters with 11 points, but he was also 3-12 from the floor. Deandre Ayton? Eight rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes... but also only one point and two shots, overall. Jarred Vanderbilt definitely looked mobile and active, which is great, but also didn't have a field goal in four tries. Dalton Knecht? 2-10. Bronny James? 1-12! 

Jake LaRavia played a nice game, as did the bulked up Jaxson Hayes. 

But overall, this was a disjointed team effort. Nothing to sweat so early in the preseason, with so many important players out of the lineup, but surely JJ Redick will want something a little better on Sunday. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

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It's been a mantra for JJ Redick since the Lakers lost Game 5 against the Timberwolves in the first round of last year's playoffs—everyone needs to come back with championship level fitness. 

At the time, while people certainly applied it to the team at large, it was also seen as a message for Luka Dončić. To whatever extent it was, it's pretty clear Luka took the message to heart, given what he did with his body this offseason. But the Summer of Luka hasn't done anything to change Redick's emphasis on fitness as the Lakers have entered training camp. Wednesday's practice ended with a bleep-ton of sprinting. 

But the fitness kick isn't cosmetic. The Lakers have lost a lot of games, particularly playoff games, late in fourth quarters over the last couple of years. That's physical fatigue, potentially, but it's also mental. Defensive communication gets less robust, decision-making and execution suffer offensively. The Lakers aren't going to build more depth than the Thunder, or likely the Nuggets. They are an upper tier team in the West, but need to find any edge they can. Any way possible to boost their ceiling. That can be fitness, and the ability to execute through fatigue. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers are kicking off the preseason slate of games tonight out in the desert against the Suns. 

LeBron James and Marcus Smart won't play, but there will still be plenty to watch. How fast do the Lakers get into their offense? How well do guys chasing rotation roles (say... Dalton Knecht) play? What about the Lakers debut of Jake LaRavia? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: JJ keeps emphasizing fitness. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Why fitness is such a critical point. 

 

SEGMENT 3: What to watch for in tonight's preseason opener vs. Phoenix. 

 

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The Lakers open the preseason on Friday, and while there are plenty of issues to work out, and plenty of time to do it, it's not too early to get a feel for what the rotation could look like. 

Luka Dončić and LeBron James (who won't play Friday, but was doing individual drills on Wednesday) give the Lakers a ton of flexibility, based on having guard skills in forward bodies. Austin Reaves provides obvious guard skills as well. So that means JJ Redick can deploy his other assets creatively. Asked about the guard rotation Wednesday, there were two notable things -- first, he included Jake LaRavia in that group. LaRavia has played some shooting guard, but generally is seen as a forward. And then he didn't mention Dalton Knecht. 

That indicates Knecht has some work to do before he can crack the regular rotation, and it probably means the Lakers have real plans for LaRavia, even if it's smart not to get too hung up on positional designations. 

It also leaves a lot of room for frontcourt guys to have rotation minutes, especially Jarred Vanderbilt. Vando has been in and out of the lineup for the last couple of seasons, and has had very little opportunity to develop consistency in his play. Given the amount of energy and physicality he plays with, Vanderbilt really needs good health to perform. Right now, he has it. Vando talked about it on Media Day, Redick noted it Wednesday after practice. 

So what does a healthy Vanderbilt mean for the Lakers? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Injury updates: LeBron does individual drills, Vincent is back, Kleber is hurt. 

SEGMENT 2: Where do LaRavia and Knecht fit into the guard rotation? 

SEGMENT 3: Vanderbilt! 

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After a really fun first day of school (Media Day) the Lakers got down to work on Tuesday, and some of the shine came off the apple fairly quickly. 

Why? Health. 

First, LeBron James sat out with what JJ Redick described as "a little bit of nerve irritation in the glute." It's something the Lakers are obviously going to be careful with, and that could keep James on the sidelines for the full slate of preseason games as the Lakers work him through a "little bit longer" ramp up to the regular season opener on October 21st. The Lakers were likely to treat James carefully anyway through training camp, given his always high level of fitness and the fact he's entering his 23rd season. There is no indication yet he's in danger of missing the start of the regular season. 

Nevertheless, Lakers fans are going to be nervous about this, and it's totally reasonable. 

The vibes with Marcus Smart aren't too much better. He isn't practicing yet because of tendinopathy in his left Achilles, an ailment that if nothing else sounds kinda scary. Gabe Vincent is nursing knee soreness, and likely won't be cleared until next week. 

So are the Lakers in the danger zone yet? Hardly. But it's always better to start with everyone on the floor, and they can't do that. 

One guy who is playing? Deandre Ayton, who was frank and highly self-aware in his time talking to the media Monday. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron dinged up to start camp. 

SEGMENT 2: Smart sore, as well. 

SEGMENT 3: Deandre Ayton knows the stakes. 

 

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Monday was the official start of the 2025-26 Lakers season, as Media Day hit El Segundo. 

It was a low key, mellow affair, with no drama to speak of, and little news to be made. This is a good thing, of course. Luka Dončić came to camp with a new contract in hand, and had very little to say that hadn't been said already. LeBron James put to bed any sense of dissatisfaction, showing serious enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming season, even while avoiding (no surprise) any firm commitments about what his future holds. 

Rui Hachimura? No grumbling about starting vs. coming off the bench. Same with Marcus Smart. Deandre Ayton made it clear he fully understands and appreciates the stakes of this season. Will he follow through? We'll see, but early returns are positive. Austin Reaves? Ready to go. Bronny? Happy with his growth, and looking forward to more. Jaxson Hayes put on 20 pounds of muscle, which probably can't hurt. 

And so on and so forth. 

If you watched it on TV, you probably learned that JJ Redick has a performance coach. 

All in all, it was the sort of first day at school the team would have wanted. Something less interesting for us media types is ideal for the organization itself. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka's ready, LeBron is excited. 
SEGMENT 2: Ayton understands what's at stake. 
SEGMENT 3: Opportunities abound. 

 

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It's finally here, people! The 2025-26 season for the LA Lakers kicks off today with Media Day. In less than a week, the Lakers will be playing preseason games. 

And while they don't open as favorites in the West, the Lakers definitely do open with the expectation of being very good, and should be a fun team to watch. It is, in the eyes of many, the true beginning of the Luka Dončić era in Los Angeles. It's his first Media Day in a Lakers uniform, his first time taking the photos and taping all the goofy stuff they play on the Jumbotron. 

There are critical questions about JJ Redick, entering his second season. What has he learned? How can he improve, especially given the contract extension granted him by the Lakers in the offseason. 

What about LeBron James? Will he put at least some of the speculation to bed, insofar as it pertains to his relationship with the Lakers and his excitement for the season? 

And, of course, there will be questions for Rui Hachimura about his future in Los Angeles. Right now, he's on an expiring deal. Asked about it last week, Rob Pelinka implied that the Lakers and Hachimura might be working on an extension. But then again, they might not. And signing him creates some complications. But one thing is definitely true: The Lakers like Rui, and love how he's developed as a Laker. Whether that translates to a long term future here, or a resolution to his future that comes before next offseason, remains to be seen. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Training camp opens today! 

 

SEGMENT 2: Big questions for the Lakers, including JJ and LeBron. 

 

SEGMENT 3: What about Rui? 

 

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It's time for another episode of the NBA Squad! Today we are breaking down the Houston Rockets' nightmare Fred VanVleet injury, what we want to see from NBA Media Days, whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can take another step up and more!

 

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The Lakers braintrust met the media on Thursday ahead of next week's kickoff of training camp. As is his custom, Rob Pelinka opened with a sort of state of the union. Talked about the positive summer, the excitement of new acquisitions, and of course the amazing Summer of Luka. 

And then he dropped the big piece of news, almost as a throwaway line at the end: Earlier in the offseason, the Lakers gave head coach JJ Redick a contract extension. That's after one year of his coaching career (let alone his Lakers career) and with three years remaining in the contract that he signed last year. It's a remarkable leap of faith in a guy with a short track record, who was not in line for this kind of consideration at this point. Nobody was talking about whether Redick would get an extension yet. Frank Vogel got a fake extension (only one year) after winning an NBA championship. 

So yeah, it's an indication the Lakers are very, very confident in Redick. 

It also means the Lakers have real continuity going forward. With their star (Luka Dončić) their GM (Rob Pelinka, who also got an extension recently) and now their coach. That level of predictability is critical for building a program, including attracting not only star players, but also role playing free agents that have a huge impact on a roster. 

Meanwhile, Pelinka made it clear the Lakers would like for LeBron James to finish his career in purple and gold. No question, Pelinka gave James plenty of space and deference to make his own choice when the time comes, but was pretty clear in framing the desire to bring him back, should James decide to keep playing next year. 

We explain why the Lakers are in great position to make whatever choices need to be made. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers give JJ Redick an extension. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Good idea? 

 

SEGMENT 3: Lakers want LeBron to stay, finish career in purple and gold. 

 

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With Brian out of town traveling, Aaron Larsuel, the former host of the Official Lakers Podcast, who's also worked for several NBA franchises (including the Lakers), drops by to offer thoughts on the upcoming season for the purple and gold. Together, they run through a bunch of overarching questions about this upcoming season, including...

- The starting lineup options

- Deandre Ayton's fit, on the court and culturally

- The "Summer of Luka," and what it could mean for this season

- How JJ Redick could best mesh Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves

- The significance of the Lakers' sale, for the Buss Family and for Mark Walter

And more!!!

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Starting lineup and Deandre Ayton talk
SEGMENT 2: The Summer and Season of Luka!
SEGMENT 3: What to look for in the post-Buss Family era?

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The Lakers have three starters everyone, from the org to fans to media all agree on. That would be Luka Dončić, Lebron James and Deandre Ayton. 

Austin Reaves is going to start, even though there's an active faction of Lakers fans who prefer he come off the bench. Sorry folks, that ain't happening. 

So that leaves a fifth spot, and presumably JJ Redick will be choosing between incumbent starter Rui Hachimura, and free agent acquisition Marcus Smart. There are a bunch of ways to look at how this should go, and reasons to lobby for both guys. With Hachimura, he's tended to play better as a starter, and provides better floor spacing. Smart, of course, brings far better defensive integrity, and is a better secondary ball mover. Rui would have more opportunities to use his best skill set (scoring) off the bench, where there are more shots available and the Lakers need some oomph. Smart is best served in a role where supplementary offense is the goal, as opposed to one where he needs to post points. 

The Lakers could also go in a different direction, and stick Jarred Vanderbilt in that slot. Vando, in theory, gives you a more versatile defensive energy and athleticism than Smart, but with less offense. But what if Vanderbilt, healthy for the first time in a while, gets back to merely average on offense? Would that higher end D then become a better fit? 

It gets to a truth about Vanderbilt for this year - he's one of the true wild cards for the Lakers. It's been a minute since we saw the best version of Vando, and so when people talk about him it's often really about the concept of Vanderbilt more than the player. But if he's near the top end of what people think he can provide, Vanderbilt really does change what the Lakers look like, at least during the regular season. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: Who is LA's fifth starter? 

SEGMENT 2: The pitch for Rui, the pitch for Smart.

SEGMENT 3: What about Vanderbilt? 

 

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The Lakers are unquestionably a very good team, but aren't generally considered a top contender in the Western Conference. 

There's a path to get there, but it involves unfortunate things happening to the teams that (on paper at least) are a notch above them in the preseason pecking order. Well, Monday one of those things seems to have happened. Houston point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a major knee injury—a torn ACL—that will require surgery and likely keep him out for the year. 

The Rockets have a pretty stacked roster overall, but VanVleet is a critical part of their offense, and a major voice in the locker room. Moreover, they don't really have any depth at the position, and because they're right up against the apron and have a bunch of players who can't be traded until December 15th, aren't likely going to be able to do anything to fill the void. Or even try. Not right away, at least. 

So the question becomes how far this knocks down the Rockets in the brutally competitive West. It's a big enough loss that you could project the Lakers to leapfrog them, for sure. 

Nobody wants this sort of thing to happen, but broadly "bleep happens" is going to be a reality of any rise for the Lakers. Most teams in the conference will need to benefit from a little luck, even the top ones. 

One thing that will help the Lakers vault to the top? MVP level play from Luka Dončić. And to that end, coaches, execs and scouts around the NBA are bullish, as expressed in the annual ESPN preseason survey. They also weighed in on a predicted location for LeBron James next year. Do they think he'll still be in LA? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: VanVleet hurt. 

SEGMENT 2: What it means in the West.

SEGMENT 3: Bullish on Luka. 

 

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Rob Pelinka spoke with ESPN's Dave McMenamin last week, and needless to say had a tremendous amount of good stuff to say about new star Luka Dončić. Everything about this summer, McMenamin writes, has led Pelinka to believe the Lakers can do big things with Luka perhaps a little faster from a roster building standpoint than perhaps they originally thought. 

One big reason is Luka's offseason transformation, which either reinforces or reestablishes his status as one of the elite handful of best players on the planet. One of the best, if not perhaps the best, by the end of the season. 

But another is that Dončić has such a varied skill set that he gives the Lakers tremendous optionality. There really isn't anything he can't do, which means there aren't many players he can't play with effectively. That's a great luxury for a GM, because it broadens the portfolio of players that can be had in an effort to build a championship caliber roster. (Plus, when you have one of the two or three best players in the league, it covers a lot of sins.) 

But with that in mind, the Lakers will have decisions to make about how to build around Luka in the future. And to that end, Robert Horry, talking on his own podcast, expressed a thought we've kicked around here a lot - that Austin Reaves has too many similar qualities to Luka, and rather than commit to him long term, the Lakers might want to consider a trade. 

Is he right? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Pelinka talks "optionality." 

SEGMENT 2: What the Summer of Luka has meant for LA.

SEGMENT 3: Better to trade Reaves this offseason? 

 

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It's a Pacific Division preview with (most of) the Locked On hosts from around the west coast... and Arizona! Which of these five teams is best positioned to rack up the most wins? The Lakers, with the most top-end players of the bunch? The Clippers, with the most pure depth? The Warriors, with a roster that was one Steph Curry injury away from, at minimum, making the 2025 Western Conference Finals? The Suns, with the--- just kidding! The Suns have no chance at finishing on top. Ditto the Kings. But they're still interesting in a "train wreck" kinda way. 

Sit back as the Locked On hosts chop it up and talk all things Pacific Division. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, Guests Darian Vaziri (Locked On Clippers), Ben Garcia (Locked On Suns), Chuck Walter (Locked On Warriors)
 

SEGMENT 1: State of the Pacific

SEGMENT 2: A Deandre Ayton debate!

SEGMENT 3: More on the division

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Fair to say people are fully invested in the LeBron James retirement tea leaves. 

So when he speaks about the subject, as he did this week on the 360 With Speedy show, it's going to get a lot of attention. And here, LeBron didn't reveal a ton, only (again) that he's (obviously) far closer to the end than the beginning. But to some ears, at least, you could hear hints that he's planning to stick around beyond this season, and overall there are certainly indications he's inclined to do so assuming he maintains his strong level of play and doesn't run into major physical issues. 

What might get him to hang it up after this year? A title might be a good place to start. 

And with that in mind, we open up the mailbag to take viewer/listener questions. The first one starts with that question of a title. Do the Lakers have a path? And if they do, is it one that is relatively easily navigated, or will they need to hack through jungle with a machete to get to the promised land? Plus, bold predictions!!!

Then another piece of mail, asking about JJ Redick and Darvin Ham. Will JJ get the same level of scrutiny as Ham did in his second season? Was Darvin treated unfairly, looking back? What will Redick have to do in order to maintain the perception of continued growth? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: LeBron retirement hints? 

SEGMENT 2: Do the Lakers have a real path to a title? 

 

SEGMENT 3: JJ vs. Darvin. 

 

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ESPN's annual Future Rankings had been a sad place for Lakers fans over the last few years, even when things were going well for the team. 

The Lakers may have had potential in the present, but down the road, things were a lot trickier. Building around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, for a variety of reasons, came with ... complexities. 

Now, however, things are looking bright. Why? Because a team that has Luka Dončić not only gets a top 5 (at worst) talent, they get him ENTERING HIS PRIME. This is critical not just because it means the Lakers have one of those dudes on the team for a while (presumably), but because players looking to join the Lakers can do so knowing they have Luka around for a while, and he's going to be good. 

So they can attract free agents, they can attract disgruntled stars. And the presence of Luka guarantees a certain level of competitiveness every year. 

And now they also have big money to go with the appealing market as well. LA has always ranked well as a market in these rankings, but the Lakers lost points because the Buss family was the wrong kind of billionaire -- namely, their fortune was tied up in the franchise. Mark Walter doesn't have that problem, and over time it will allow the Lakers to match market with budget. 

Oh, and the rankings even have us sticking up for Rob Pelinka. Or sticking down for the Clippers and Warriors, at least. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Luka saves the day. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Why Walter's money matters. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Judge the Lakers by the same standards, people! 

 

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The Summer of Luka continues, this time with a profile in WSJ Magazine, the long form arm of The Wall Street Journal. 

It's both a player profile -- one confirming again that Luka does, in fact, look awesome, physically -- and a fashion spread. And as the writer Jason Gay notes, the two are related. Most guys aren't all that interested in the modeling (which in this case includes a shot in the cold tub) if they're not feeling good about their appearance. 

The story was a nice introduction of Dončić to a demographic that might be less familiar with his work. And Rob Pelinka got to describe him as an "illusionist," a word he was likely back-pocketing for use in a well-respected publication like WSJ. 

Luka, of course, has completely changed the franchise's fortunes, and perhaps nothing illustrates that quite the same way as ESPN's Future Rankings, where without doing much other than swapping Anthony Davis for Luka (and not spending into their cap space), they vaulted from 21st last season to 8th. And let's be honest, most of that is just Luka. 

So how well set are the Lakers for the future, now that Dončić is under contract? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: More good press for Luka! 

 

SEGMENT 2: Did Luka fix LA's future? 

 

SEGMENT 3: How well set are the Lakers? 

 

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Context is everything in sports. 

The Lakers have imported Deandre Ayton to be the new starting center, and it's an opportunity for him to change the conversation. Viewed by many as anywhere from a disappointment to a major disappointment to a bust, Ayton arrives in Los Angeles with a totally different set of expectations. Nobody in LA will look at him as a failed top pick, taken ahead of Luka Dončić. None of that matters. With the Lakers, he needs to stay engaged defensively, rebound aggressively and be maybe the fourth or fifth best offensive player on any given night. Sometimes he can pop off for 25, but the Lakers shouldn't need it all that often. 

And if Ayton stays healthy, he'll certainly be better than what they had at the end of last year, which was Jaxson Hayes. 

But remember, context matters. Ayton may seem disappointing, but had his best season playing with a great point guard in Chris Paul. Now he has Luka, who has made a career out of boosting the stats of his centers. Meanwhile, if Ayton wants another big NBA payday, it behooves him to stay as dialed in as possible this year. 

His skill set should match well with Luka. Ayton is good in the pick and roll, has a midrange game, and can get above the rim. 

There's every reason to believe that Ayton will be a very positive contributor, even if sometimes he falls short of the championship level expectations everyone on the Lakers has to carry. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: New environment for Ayton. 

SEGMENT 2: Why context is king. 

SEGMENT 3: What does the O look like with him? 

 

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On Friday, we discussed reports that the Lakers might be more inclined to make moves eating into cap space they've made potentially available for next offseason, or the summer following (when a few high profile stars could become available). Is that really a plan they're kicking around? Would they spend some capital, and some flexibility, to get a guy like Andrew Wiggins from Miami? 

And no question, this is in large part a Wiggins issue, because a) he's seen as at least somewhat available, and b) as a two-way wing (particularly effective defensively) Wiggins fits a clear and obvious roster need for the Lakers. 

Put Rui into a deal, and the math works pretty easily. Leave him out, and it's a lot more complex. But more than that, is Wiggins worth that kind of move? If it cost Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and perhaps a first rounder? Is he enough of a difference maker? What if you take out the pick? What if you take out Rui (though it gets harder, for sure), but include the other stuff? 

What if you tried to approximate what Wiggins could deliver, but at a lower price? 

What exactly does "all in" mean for the Lakers, anyway? Is it the same for them as it might be for another squad? Does the definition matter? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Does Wiggins make sense? 

 

SEGMENT 2: What is "all in" for the Lakers, anyway? 

 

SEGMENT 3: Would Wiggins fit better than Rui? 

 

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Luka Dončić dominated Eurobasket, leading an undermanned Slovenia to the Round of 8. 

That performance, along with everything else we've seen in the Summer of Luka, might have been enough to get the Lakers to change their long-term plans. Or at least change the way they do PR around their long term plans. Dan Woike of The Athletic writes that the Lakers, who had been reportedly very, very protective of their cap flexibility going forward into next summer and even the summer of 2027, could be tempted by the right deal to acquire a player who would eat into that space. 

It would be a defensive-minded wing. And right now, the only player who meets that criteria and is seen as available is Miami's Andrew Wiggins. 

Would Wiggins, who has an option for about $30 mil next season he'll almost certainly exercise, give the Lakers enough of a push to make it worth giving up not just a first rounder and Dalton Knecht, but likely Rui Hachimura, too? 

From there... woah Nellie, is Steve Ballmer in hot water. Pablo Torre followed up on his initial reporting about a potential cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard with another big story, this time linking payments to a Clippers sponsor and payments to Kawhi in ways that seem a lot more tangible (not that the initial volley of news wasn't pretty damning in and of itself). 

How much evidence does the NBA need in order to feel comfortable dispensing justice? How much more is coming out?

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Did Luka get the Lakers to change their plan? 

 

SEGMENT 2: What about Wiggins? 

 

SEGMENT 3: Ballmer is neck deep now... 

 

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He did all he could throughout the Eurobasket tournament, elevating a group of scrappy but under-talented Slovenians to the quarterfinals, but finally Luka Dončić could take them no further. 99-91, Germany prevails, despite a 39-point, 10 rebound, seven assist game from Luka. 

He went as the best player on the floor, as has been the case throughout. Dončić even made noise defensively, to the point of being nominated for the tourney's defensive player award. 

It was as positive experience as could have been asked for, in what continues to be the most positive summer anyone could have drawn up. Luka built incredible momentum towards the regular season. He played extremely well. He didn't get hurt. And all of this will help the Lakers enter the season with just a little more confidence and swagger. Teams benefit from knowing every night they have a truly transcendent star on their team, a guy whose mere presence gives them an excellent chance at victory. 

Luka is that guy. And they still have LeBron, too, who has a little cache in that area, as well. 

Finally, this from Brian Windhorst on ESPN's Hoop Collective podcast: 

"Now, as far as LeBron's future—I know there's a lot of speculation," Windhorst said. "Based on my conversations, I honestly think they don't know. As far as I know, he's honestly going year to year. Could this be his last year? Yes. Will it be his last year? I don't know. Does he know right now? Maybe. But my interpretation is that it has not been established. He will see where he's at at the end of the year."

Does that mean the Lakers are sort of flying blind? Is LeBron, in a way? 

What about a retirement tour? 

Does how the team is performing have an impact on all of this? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka again dominates, but Slovenia eliminated. 

 

SEGMENT 2: What's next for Dončić? 

 

SEGMENT 3: When will LeBron hang 'em up? 

 

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The Lakers have three players in the Locked On rankings of the top 100 NBA players. Luka Dončić (4), LeBron James (12) and Austin Reaves (58). They're the only team with an ultra elite player in Luka, and a (basically) top 10 guy in LeBron. Add in Reaves, and it's not a bad core. 

But how does that compare to the rest of the conference? Do the Lakers have similar balance to the competition, even if their talent at the very top might be better? How much two way talent do they have, even with the additions of Marcus Smart and an improvement at center in Deandre Ayton? Compare that to OKC, who has a host of legitimate two way guys, the Nuggets, who feature a few names on the list, all of whom (save Jamal Murray) can play on both sides of the ball. Houston was a great defensive team last year, and even after moving Dillon Brooks should be once again this season. 

So what kind of roster balance do the Lakers have? What's the relative advantage with fit vs. overall talent? How much of both do the Lakers have relative to the competition? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Three in the Top 100!

 

SEGMENT 2: What kind of balance do the Lakers have? 

 

SEGMENT 3: How does what the Lakers have match up with the rest of the conference? 

 

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Player rankings can be an irritating exercise, because in most ways theres rarely much functional difference between the 13th and 14th best player in the league, and certainly not the 73rd and 74th. 

What can be meaningful, however, are player tiers. Guys can be grouped together in ways that make a little more sense in terms of impact. There are God-level stars, and regular stars. There are All-Stars and near-All-Stars. So as the season creeps towards us, the Locked On Network has put together its list of the best 100 players in the NBA. Three Lakers make the cut. (You can guess which ones...) 

-Luka Dončić, 4th. 

-LeBron James, 12th. 

-Austin Reaves, 58th. 

Luka is up in the super-elite group with Jokic, Shai and Giannis. LeBron is in that next tier down (for what it's worth, your hosts both had him in the top 10). And there's something special about that über-elite level guy that can cover a lot of sins. The Lakers are the only team to have someone at that level, plus another at LeBron's. Add in Austin Reaves at 58 and LA has a good amount of representation. But is it the right kind? Is it distributed as needed, from a skill set standpoint? Does it really matter, when the two guys headlining the thing are Luka and LeBron? 

Meanwhile, the Lakers have added guys who wouldn't be that far outside the top 100 in Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, and have Rui Hachimura, who has developed into a very reliable frontcourt shooter. All Stars? No, but in Ayton and Smart the Lakers are making major upgrades over what they had last year. So put it all together, and can you say the Lakers might be a little underrated? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get three guys in the Locked On Top 100.

 

SEGMENT 2: What it means to have Luka and LeBron. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers underrated? 

 

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Luka Dončić has gotten progressively better game to game throughout Eurobasket, helping Slovenia get on a hot streak. Sunday against Italy in the Round of 16, Luka put in his best effort of the competition, finishing with 42 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. He throttled the Italians, basically accounting for half of Slovenia's offense. He continued drawing fouls, getting to the line 16 times. 

All in all, his performance is ramping up as the tourney goes along, and he gets more comfortable and gets more minutes under his belt. Even as the competition gets more intense and the quality rises. 

All of this contributes to add to the "Summer of Luka," and while Lakers fans obviously can't project with precision how Luka's performance for Slovenia will carry through into the regular season (not that they won't try), one thing that is unquestionably true: Everything that's happened this offseason is a) likely beyond the best case scenario envisioned by Lakers management for the summer, and b) increasing the already incredibly high level of anticipation about his presence on the team. In many ways, it reinforces the notion that the Luka Era really began at the end of last season, not necessarily when he was traded to the Lakers. 

Meanwhile, the Basketball HOF had its induction ceremony over the weekend, and Dwight Howard was there as a first-ballot HOFer. Why does that seem to surprise and anger a certain element of the fan base? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Luka lights up Italy. 

 

SEGMENT 2: How this impacts the dawn of the Luka Era in LA.

 

SEGMENT 3: Why is there resistance to Dwight Howard in getting in the HOF first ballot? 

 

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Pablo Torre broke a crazy potential scandal involving Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer and some suspicious money. NBA Squad breaks down all that we know, what this could mean for the league and much more!

 

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Luka Dončić is rounding into form at exactly the right time for Slovenia at Eurobasket. He put up 37 points and was a dime away from a triple-double as the Slovenias won 106-96. They'd already advanced to the Round of 16, but now do so on a two-game win streak, and with Luka looking outstanding. 

Lakers fans, of course, are primarily concerned about how Luka's play in the tournament might foreshadow something good once the NBA season starts, and to that end it's worth noting that Slovenia's last two games were Luka's strongest in terms of getting into the paint and to the rim. Over the last few years, it's something Luka has progressively done less of, and his detractors used it as an indication that he wasn't as explosive as he had been... and maybe the weight had a role. 

So the idea Luka might put a stop to, or even reverse that trend is encouraging for Lakers fans. 

Meanwhile, more bad news for the Clippers, as additional reporting (this time from the network's own John Karalis!) indicates that the endorsement deal received by Kawhi Leonard, reportedly given in an effort to circumvent the salary cap, may have been more lucrative than thought when the story was broken by Pablo Torre on Wednesday. 

Ballmer went on ESPN Thursday to defend himself and the organization (done before we taped the show) but things are looking... not great for the LAC right now. 

Finally, are the Lakers better off adding another superstar to go with Luka, or would it be better to build with one star and a bunch of really good, B/B+ type guys? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka crushes it vs. Israel. 

 

SEGMENT 2: KawhiGate gets messier. 

 

SEGMENT 3: How should the Lakers build around Luka? 

 

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Wednesday, news broke that Kawhi Leonard was the reported beneficiary of an endorsement deal that would, to say the least, run afoul of NBA regulations. The reporting from Pablo Torre Finds Out sent shockwaves through the league, and prompted strong denials from the Clippers. The NBA says they'll launch an investigation. So what happens now? And what happens if, in fact, Torre's reporting is verified by more sources? 

Plus... MAILBAG! 

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

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How transformational has the Summer of Luka Dončić been? Not just for Luka himself, but for for the Lakers? And how they plan to approach the future? 

It's hard to argue that the Lakers haven't watched the best case scenario play out this offseason, insofar as Luka is concerned. New body, new contract (signed the first moment possible), recruiting efforts for the front office and a dominant performance in Eurobasket. 

So are the Lakers planning to aggressively build around Luka now (or at least at the first opportunity) or is the plan to be patient no matter what? For next summer, or even the summer of 2027? 

These are questions we discuss with Anthony Irwin, host of the Lakers Lounge, former host of this space, and Senior Lakers Insider at Clutchpoints. We cover a lot of key issues from the summer, diving deep into where we think the squad is heading from a personnel and team building standpoint, using someone like Rui Hachimura -- extension eligible -- as a great test case. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Summer of Luka!
SEGMENT 2: What kind of team are they trying to build? 
SEGMENT 3: Is the plan to stay flexible? If so, why? 

 

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Slovenia is 1-2 in Eurobasket play, but Luka Dončić is 3-3. Meaning he's had three games, and all of them have been outstanding. 

That trend continued over the weekend, as Slovenia lost against tourney favorite France and then registered its first win, coming against Belgium. Against the French, Luka nearly had a triple double, keeping the Slovenians in the game longer than many expected, then did get a trip dub (a rarity in Eurobasket). For Slovenia to advance, they'll need wins in their final two games of pool play, against Iceland and Israel. 

While there are plenty of Luka/Slovenia fans who hope that happens, are those fans who are "Lakers first" really pining for Slovenia to get through? Especially given a couple of legit injury scares in the first few games of the tournament? 

On the court, though, Dončić is thriving, particularly when it comes to getting into the paint and drawing fouls. He went to the line 20 times against the French, who sport four active NBA players and a few others with NBA experience. 

Finally, we open up the mailbag to talk about JJ Redick and whether or not he's predisposed to go small at the expense not just of centers, but centers who are better than the guys he plays instead. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka continues to thrive in Eurobasket. 
SEGMENT 2: Do Lakers fans want Slovenia to advance? 
SEGMENT 3: Is JJ too dedicated to "going small?" 

 

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Slovenia kicked off its Eurobasket competition against Poland—one of the host nations—Thursday. A tough draw for sure against a fired up local crowd. Many Lakers fans are undoubtedly pulling for Slovenia right now, because they're pulling for Luka Dončić... 

...but on the other hand, a lot of them are more pulling for Luka. 

And man alive, did Luka come through. Dončić put up a gaudy numbers even as Slovenia lost. 34 points, including 17/18 from the free throw line, plus nine assists and five steals. The court vision was great, he was able to get into the heart of a Polish defense that was, to say the least, overplaying him. So at least when it comes to LA's star, it was so far, so good. 

Meanwhile, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss gave an interview to Slovenian radio in which she recounted the unusual nature of Luka's arrival, and particularly the unusual nature of his emotional state. It explains a lot about why Dončić couldn't quite hit the level fans (and even he, likely) hoped for after the trade. Good, yes. But not top form. 

Finally, it's a question that comes up a lot. Should Austin Reaves come off the bench? 

There are a few reasons to give it a shot, unlikely as it is to actually happen... but would the Lakers perhaps have a little extra incentive to make Reaves a sixth man? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Luka dominates against Poland, but Slovenia loses. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Jeanie on Luka's arrival. 

SEGMENT 3: A.R. as 6th Man? 

 

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He's signed the contract. He's not going anywhere anytime soon. But the Lakers certainly aren't resting on their laurels. 

As Slovenia prepares to start Eurobasket play Thursday afternoon against Poland, the Lakers brass, starting with Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, stopped by practice to show support. They took photos. Pelinka released a statement, making it very clear how much the organization supported Luka in this moment that is so important to him. And if it's important to Luka, it's important to the Lakers. That's how it works, now. 

It wasn't something the Lakers needed to do, but it was smart to hop on a plane and cross an ocean to support their guy. It's a good look, it's smart business. It's the type of extra step the Lakers have historically taken for its stars, and now Luka is on the receiving end. 

Meanwhile, we open the mailbag, starting with ... Luka questions! 

Can Dončić play the type of defense that would allow him to be seen as teh league's best player? Even better than Nikola Jokic? (Or if not better, really close?) If he plays at an MVP level, and LeBron is, say, Top 8 or so again this year, how many games does it mean the team has won? 

What about the pick-and-roll combination of Luka and Deandre Ayton? How potent might it become? And what kind of offense should Lakers fans expect from JJ Redick this season, more broadly? 

Finally, is the Laker most likely to ask for a trade not the guy most media are thinking of? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers make a smart trip to Poland. 

SEGMENT 2: Luka on D, Luka as MVP. 
 

SEGMENT 3: Who asks for a trade? 

 

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One good way to measure how confident the NBA pundit class is in the Lakers is to look at offseason predictions around things like awards. 

And by that standard, the Lakers are doing ok. Luka Dončić finished second behind Nikola Jokic (who is pretty good!) in a preseason MVP handicapping, as judged by a panel of ESPN experts. For that to happen, first and foremost Luka needs to put up big numbers, something similar to what he did in Dallas a couple seasons ago. And second, the Lakers have to be very, very competitive. If they're middling around the Western Conference, struggling to stay relevant in the playoff race, Luka isn't sniffing an MVP. 

As for the first part of that, Skinny Luka looks like he's primed to perform. As for the second? As we've discussed on the show, the Lakers won 50 games last year. They're better than the version that finished the season, post trade. So assuming the right folks stay out of street clothes, they should be good enough this year to keep Luka in the conversation. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers (not surprisingly) were a popular vote for "Team Turmoil." In related news, LeBron James was third among players in the "Next Superstar to Request a Trade..." category. 

Obviously those things are related. 

But here's the thing... the circumstances for the Lakers to be "Team Turmoil" are hard to fathom (for reasons we explain) and if things don't go to pot (which, save injury, feel unlikely for reasons we explain) LeBron James IS NOT GOING TO ASK OUT. 

And, you guessed it, we explain why. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: Luka is an early MVP fave. 

 

SEGMENT 2: What has to happen for Luka to be in the race. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Some people REALLY want LeBron to be LeDrama this year. 

 

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