Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

It's Opening Night for the Lakers, who will be hosting the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena to kick things off. And it's a game they need to win, not just to get things off to a good start, but to take advantage of a shorthanded Warriors squad.  But beyond that, it's the start of what truly feels like the beginning of the Luka Dončić Era, not the Luka and Era. This is his team, assembled to leverage his skills and preferences. It does, as JJ Redick has liked to say, feel more coherent than squads they've had in the last few seasons, and it certainly feels like something more permanent. It's the start of something with this roster, rather than a feeling of playing out the string. Where it goes, nobody knows, but there are lots of reasons to be excited.  It starts with Luka, and moves to Austin Reaves, who had a really good preseason after signing his huge offseason deal. Walker Kessler gives the Lakers real rim protection they've lacked since Anthony Davis, and guys like Sandro Mamukelashvili have quickly become fan favorites. Without trying to be homers, we do feel like the team is being undersold.  So how many wins? Any big surprises? We discuss.  Plus, some news that does put a bit of a damper on the start of the year. While Collin Sexton is questionable to play and has been trending in that direction, Adou Thiero is out with swelling in his surgically repaired knee, and Cam Carr won't play either, thanks to an oblique injury.  So while the Lakers can certainly get buy without them -- only Thiero was really projected to play much early, and even that is with the understanding that the minutes might not be heavy -- Lakers fans will be disappointed, and remain quite conscious of how much trouble the team has had keeping young players on the floor.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Why it's ok to be bullish.    SEGMENT 2: Predictions? Surprises?    SEGMENT 3: Health alerts! Thiero and Carr out, Sexton questionable.    PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers did what was widely expected on Monday as the NBA's roster cutdown day arrived. Dalton Knecht was released to get the Lakers down to 15 players.  That closes the door on a VERY recent #1 pick, and given how promising a start Knecht had, is a pretty shocking end.  So what went wrong, here? Did the Lakers do the right thing? Should they have released Bronny James instead? What is the lasting damage to the franchise for having two straight top picks wash out (Jalen Hood-Schifino, we hardly knew ya)? There's a lot to unpack, even beyond just Dalton himself.  It does increase the pressure on the (currently injured) duo of Cam Carr and Adou Thiero to pan out, because the draft cupboard is exceedingly bare at this point, between picks that have been traded and others that are committed to potential swaps.  Speaking of injuries, the Lakers might be getting one of their banged up guys back, which is good news. Collin Sexton spoke with the media in El Segundo on Tuesday, and while he didn't commit to getting on the floor in Wednesday's opener, the fact he was talking is a very good sign. Injured players aren't obligated to speak with reporters, and are generally not put in front of them. Just the act of being made available indicates the Lakers will have him, even if on a restriction, when the season opens.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers cut Dalton Knecht. What went wrong, here?    SEGMENT 2: Collin Sexton ready to go?    SEGMENT 3: There are believers in the defense!!!   PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers had until this Monday (2 pm PT) to get their roster down from 16 players to 15. Reports persisted throughout the offseason, chronicling a desire to make a consolidation deal, sending out two non-rotation players (and draft assets) for one more playable guy. That was always a long shot for a variety of reasons. The most logical end was them having to eat a contract, with three obvious candidates: Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, and Dalton Knecht. A case could have been made for James being the player cut, but the more likely conclusion was Dalton as the odd man out. It's a very logical, very predictable end to his time in L.A... but also one filled with heavy disappointment and ramifications for the present and future. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Photo credit:  Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to 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)Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Who are the BEST and WORST teams in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season? With opening night just around the corner, Locked On NBA Daily reveals its official 30-team NBA Power Rankings, organized into S-through-F tiers! Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize unveil rankings voted on by hosts from all 30 Locked On NBA team podcasts, debating the biggest surprises, overrated contenders and underrated playoff hopefuls. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and defending champion New York Knicks headline the exclusive S Tier. But do Victor Wembanyama's Spurs belong alongside the NBA's elite? Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics are among the teams trying to break into that top group. And why are Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat only in the B Tier? Are the Golden State Warriors really a C-tier team? Have the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings hit rock bottom?   Plus, reactions from Locked On team hosts and predictions for which teams will rise or fall.    Follow Your Team Every Day 📲 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba/ Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba/     📸 PHOTO: IMAGN-Images     📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers from our sponsors: lockedonpodcasts.com/offers   SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod   KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM    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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nobody expects the new-look Lakers, with so many moving parts, to be operating like a well-oiled machine at the end of one preseason.  That said, it's pretty clear that many fans and media types expected the machine to look somewhat oiled. Or ready to be oiled. Or at least assembled so someone can get around to oiling it.  Wherever you are on that spectrum—the big question of how much progress the Lakers made, what sticks out as good, what pops out as bad, and where the big unknowns still are—is not insignificant. Arguably the easiest portion of the team's schedule comes in the first 20 or so games. It's a good situation for a group that could still be jelling in those early games... unless they're too disjoined to take advantage.  Why did the Lakers treat the preseason the way they did?  And from there, when guys that matter were on the floor, how did the product look? Where did the Lakers surprise? What are the big question marks?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are disjointed coming out of the preseason.    SEGMENT 2: Where the offense and defense shined... and also what wasn't as good.    SEGMENT 3: Why the Lakers do what they do.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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)         Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers finally got the Big Three on the floor together Friday in their preseason finale (a 121-106 loss) against the Nuggets, and the results were... mixed. Particularly early in the game, they were a turnover machine, as the chemistry between Luka, Reaves and Walker Kessler was very much a work in progress. No real surprise there, but still kinda disappointing given the high hopes.  So lots to work on there.  Big nights for Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili, and a surprising start for Matisse Thybulle as JJ Redick busted out a starting lineup that might -- might -- be what's used on Opening Night.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Jon Endow-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are trying to get the roster down to 15 players, and at the least, seem to be exploring ways to do it that don't involve straight-up cutting Dalton Knecht.  Jake Fischer reports on Marc Stein's Substack that the Lakers are exploring a trade:  The Lakers, meanwhile, have been engaged in trade talks to try to get their roster down from 16 to 15 standard contracts and perhaps even acquire some additional frontcourt help in the process. League sources say that the Lakers and Bucks have held exploratory trade discussions on a framework that would ship former first-round selection Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee (along with second-round draft capital) in exchange for big man Jericho Sims. Yet it must be said that I've also heard some pessimism from sources briefed on those talks that such a trade will actually go through. The Lakers might be forced, if no deal materializes between now and Monday's deadline, to simply waive Knecht to get down to 15." Would it be worth giving up a pick to get Sims? How much would he help fill the hole the Lakers clearly have around the backup center spot?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers may finally have the band, or at least the band members that matter the most, on the floor for preseason play Friday night.  Thursday in El Segundo, Ziaire Williams returned to practice, as did Adou Thiero. Luka Doncic practiced in full. Even Collin Sexton participated in everything except full contact work. Likely won't play Friday, but at least Sexton is on a decent path to play opening night.  So aside from him and Cam Carr, who is out with an injury JJ Redick didn't describe because he doesn't have to until the regular season begins, That means we should see, finally, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler on the floor together. After Tuesday's impressive debut for Kessler, and a really nice game from Reaves as well, to get a feel for how the whole package could look will be fun.  Plus, since all of the guys who are in the running to start at the four are available, we get a window into that, too.  Meanwhile, the NBA's annual GM Survey was released on Thursday, and where the Lakers and Luka appear, and don't appear, is noteworthy for sure.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Getting healthy ahead of the last preseason game.    SEGMENT 2: The GM Survey. Where the Lakers are, where the Lakers aren't.    SEGMENT 3: Walker Kessler for Most Improved Player?    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a little less than a week to get their roster down to 15 players. Rob Pelinka has noted that they have been, and still are, looking to make a 2-for-1 "consolidation" type deal that would allow the Lakers to shrink the roster without cutting a player.  That feels unlikely, in the sense that anything that might be available to them probably would have presented itself, but there's still the possibility that as teams shuffle players around before the start of the season that some type of opportunity might arise. How big a price should the Lakers be willing to pay? If it doesn't result in them adding a player that contributes to this year's rotation, probably not a ton.  So how to the Lakers get down to 15? We've talked about how the math impacts things - why Jaden Hardy's contract has value. We've talked about considerations by position (they don't have as many 1/2s as 2/3s). But we haven't talked much about merit. Has anyone earned a spot?  And why does this conversation about the back end of the roster matter? Obviously Bronny James comes with all sorts of other baggage attached when trying to have a sober-minded discussion, but how important are these end-of-the-roster spots for a team that wants to elevate, but doesn't have a lot of resources to do it?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are always in a win-now posture, though win-now doesn't always mean exactly the same thing from year to year.  ESPN has an interesting story up looking at the level of proverbial win-now desperation each team across the league ought to feel. The Lakers landed at fourth. Why? Because they have a roster that's pretty much set, without much draft capital or salary cap space to make signficant changes should the formula be a little off.  And if things go wrong, the (broader) theory goes, so does their ability to keep Luka Doncic happy, and in purple and gold.  So are they right?  Sort of? Certainly Zach Kram (who wrote the story) correctly diagnoses the box the Lakers are in, and notes that they are now, and could remain, in a tier that's behind the Thunder and Spurs in the West, given how young those teams are, and their current level of excellentness. But LA does have a chance to improve this upcoming offseason, and if they've chosen the right guys this summer -- especially players like Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes -- they should be positioned to be a very good team for a few years, at least. And Luka Doncic will tell you a solid team with one other very high end player (i.e. Austin Reaves) and Luka Doncic on it? That's good enough. That's the level of belief he has in himself. And there's some proof of concept there. The Mavs team he took to the Finals was not expected to get there. Weird things happen. Poorly timed injuries, and all that jazz.  The Lakers are really in a tier of about 10 other teams that legitimately believe they have a chance to win a championship with a little luck and some good timing. So are all of those teams wrong, just because the West has two squads that should be elite for a while?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers should be desperate?    SEGMENT 2: Does ESPN get it right?    SEGMENT 3: A long list of "second tier" contenders.    PHOTO CREDIT: Candice Ward-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Luka Doncic sat out of Tuesday's preseason loss to the Warriors in Las Vegas. Not because of any reported injury, even a minor one, but just for what JJ Redick described as a "night off."  Ziaire Williams, Cam Carr, and Collin Sexton were among the other players not in uniform.  No question, the Lakers are incredibly conservative when it comes to injuries, and it also makes sense to be very careful in the preseason. Sexton, for example, is clearly dealing with something, given the length of his absence. (Redick expressed optimism that he'd be ready for the regular season, FWIW.)  But when a healthy Luka sits in what was pretty likely a scheduled game off, are the Lakers missing out? They have a ton of new pieces, and a big need to get off to a good start, given the relative softness of the first 20 or so games vs. the post All-Star stretch. What is lost when players miss games, and practices?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   PHOTO CREDIT: Candice Ward-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lakers fans have been waiting a while to see Walker Kessler in purple and gold following the massive offseason sign and trade that brought the giant center to LA. Tuesday in Vegas against the Golden State Warriors, they finally got their chance.  And it's fair to say that the first impression was a very good one.  Kessler had 11 points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block in 16 minutes. He was a team-leading +15. Basically, he looked exactly like you'd hope. Rebounded effectively, was an obvious impediment to the Warriors around the rim, and showed opportunistic scoring off the pick and roll and on the glass. Very, very encouraging start.  Austin Reaves, meanwhile, was cooking, with 28 points in only 25 minutes of play, to go along with seven assists. Seven turnovers, too, but Reaves was playing with an aggression and confidence that stood out even for a guy who normally has plenty of both qualities on display. Sandro Mamukelashvili continued his strong preseason, with 10/7/2 in 21 minutes off the bench.  The other big performance for LA was the one that didn't happen: No Luka on the floor Tuesday. JJ Redick said it wasn't injury related, but given how cagey the Lakers are about these things, it certainly raised a little suspicion. And with guys like Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams and Cam Carr still out (Adou Thiero sat as well) the Lakers were a little shorthanded.  Oh, they lost the game, but nobody really cares.  Bottome line - Kessler and Reaves looked good. And should only look better with Luka.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Kessler back on the floor. SEGMENT 2: Another good game for Mamu, who is quickly becoming a fan favorite. SEGMENT 3: Austin Reaves shines.    PHOTO CREDIT: Candice Ward-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers look like a team that should be pretty good, and have some balance and coherence to the roster construction. But everyone also knows the Lakers are, as currently constructed, a tick or two below the elite squads in the West.  So what is their biggest need? ESPN says "starting caliber forwards," and explained thusly:  "Look, there's going to be a little less positional certainty whenever LeBron departs. Rather than target a single replacement for the four-time MVP, the Lakers invested their resources into re-signing guard Austin Reaves, acquiring starting center Walker Kessler and compiling a grab-bag collection of unproven forwards with varying skill sets. In his season tipoff news conference, Lakers coach JJ Redick said that both starting forward spots would be up for grabs. Redick's long list of options includes Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Adou Thiero. Regardless of who wins the job, the Lakers will ask both forwards to function as high-activity defenders and auxiliary options in an offense led by Luka Doncic and Reaves. As the season unfolds, Redick will be in position to compensate for his lack of standout forwards by extending his rotation with a "quantity over quality" approach." Big picture, it's a reasonable take. Most of the criticism around the roster construction, other than perhaps the price the Lakers paid for Kessler, was about the hole that was left on the wing. The whole Jonathan Kuminga storyline was founded in that understanding. But ultimately, the Lakers have chosen to take their time and try to fill it later in the season, or more likely in the summer with their exception. In the here and now, the preseason has shown how big a hold the Lakers have at backup center. And in terms of things they can more likely solve sooner rather than later, this one sticks out.  So how you answer the question depends a little on the context and the timeline.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers entered the preseason with two starting spots theoretically up for grabs. (Though most people think one of those spots was always Quentin Grimes's to lose, and to this point, it doesn't seem that he has.)  But that leaves one spot available. Who are the most prominent candidates?  Sandro MamukelashviliJake LaRaviaZiaire WilliamsMatisse Thybulle Adou ThieroThe good news for JJ Redick is that all of these guys have had strong preseasons to this point. Williams has been hurt, but flashed the skill set that made him an early dark horse to win the gig. Thiero continues to show growth, and his absurd levels of athleticism. Thybulle's defensive reputation precedes him, while LaRavia has had a fantastic bounceback through three preseason games, after a terrible second half to last year. And Mamu has arguably been their best non-Luka player in the first three games.  So what direction will Redick head? Which way should he go?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are still searching for the final starter.    SEGMENT 2: Who gets eliminated from the list?    SEGMENT 3: The case for Mamu, Williams and LaRavia.    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So there seems to be some reasonable optimism that Walker Kessler will be back on the floor soon, where he can make his Lakers debut.  But what about Collin Sexton?  The backup guard, expected to play a significant role off the bench as a playmaker, three-point shooter and bucket getter, is still on the sidelines, and has been described by JJ Redick as a little behind Kessler. The diagnosis is a somewhat vague "lower leg injury," so presumably something kneecap or below? On one of his two legs?  For the Lakers, it's important to figure out how they're going to respond should Sexton miss real time, or in any instance where one of their three primary guards isn't available.  One solution is to have Sandro Mamukelashvili handle as much work as possible. The Lakers certainly can put him in critical decision-making positions and have him use his court vision to their advantage. But there are certain things Mamu won't be able to do himself. So if they need more traditional guard skills, where do they turn? Bronny James is probably the most qualified member of the roster to step in there, but we've seen that he's not yet qualified to be a lead guard in high-leverage situations against first and second string NBA competition.  So what do the Lakers do?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have had some highlights this preseason, but one massive absence—literally and figuratively—has undercut some of the optimism.  Walker Kessler jammed his left pinkie on the backboard early in the preseason, and has been limited since. He's missed all three of the team's preseason games. But this weekend, he was back on the floor, playing without restrictions (other than some tape on his fingers). Those bullish on Kessler's impact this season (including the hosts of this podcast) and his capacity to elevate the Lakers defense (especially via rebounding and rim protection) are excited to see what comes next.  It also raises a significant question, one that has been somewhat answered in the preseason, with mixed results. What do the Lakers do when Kessler isn't on the floor? Whether the 15-18 minutes a night he's not playing while healthy, or the 48 minutes that open up in those games he's not available for? (Hopefully not too many of those.)  We've seen in the preseason that the Lakers will struggle with rebounding and rim protection. Is there anything they can do to address those shortcomings?  Plus, Collin Sexton isn't playing yet. The Lakers aren't giving up much info as to why.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Kessler to return soon?    SEGMENT 2: What to do without Kessler   SEGMENT 3: No info on Sexton is... not exactly surprising.    PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Luka Dončić is a tough nut to crack. He's not a basketball and global celebrity, but even more than a decade into his professional career is uncomfortable with fame.  Still, he's the centerpiece of the NBA's crown jewel franchise, which has not been completely turned over to him.  Doncic knows he needs to let people in a little, and has spent the offseason doing just that, as Chris Mannix reports for Sports Illustrated in a very good, highly insightful profile. Like his Lakers teammates and coach JJ Redick, Mannix went to see Luka in Slovenia, and profiled him there. That's been the mechanism for letting people in.  The story details how Doncic is slow to let his guard down, but beloved once he does. His love for basketball is palpable, as is an increasing enthusiasm for golf. But more importantly, the story illustrates Luka's role in building this year's Lakers squad, and shaping the direction of the team. He talks about taking blame for last year's hamstring injury, which functionally ended LA's season.  It's smart for Luka to open a window into his personality in the way he has. He's likely not going to change how he operates towards the media, so the work he did this summer is helpful for providing context that might not come through as much once the games begin.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers still are waiting for the preseason debut of Walker Kessler, who sat out a third game with an injured finger. (FWIW, he in a halftime interview said it was fine, they're just being really, really cautious.)  As for the guys who did play?  Luka made it to the line nine times, and while he wasn't exactly hyper-efficient from the floor (6-16) he was playing with palpable joy and is very clearly ready to go. Austin Reaves made his preseason debut, and lived in the paint, piling up eight assists and five boards. Sandro Mamukelashvili finished with 19, along with four assists and continues to impress in the preseason. Jake LaRavia continues to build confidence after a terrible second half to last season.  All in all, plenty to like in what finished as a 114-110 Lakers win.  So what comes next?  The Lakers don't play again until early next week, so it's very fair to start looking for Kessler on the floor between now and then. And Collin Sexton, who also hasn't played yet in the preseason. At some point, even more hearty fans will start to get nervous if some of these dudes don't play soon. Even if management says they're fine.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers beat Sacramento, but are still missing a few guys.    SEGMENT 2: Reaves's preseason debut.    SEGMENT 3: Mamu and LaRavia continue to impress.    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Monday's big show, we talked with Lakers sideline reporter (and new Substacker) Mike Trudell about the big questions surrounding the team this year. What will the defense look like? Who is most poised to thrive in the new system? Which newcomers are you most excited about?  And perhaps most importantly, how does the new architecture support the talents of headliners Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves?  Well, we're back with more questions, this time looking at where the Lakers stand relative to the competition in the Western Conference. Obviously they've had a lot of turnover, but so have the group of teams generally placed behind the Thunder and Spurs at the top of the conference. So are the Lakers, generally picked in that five or six slot, actually more of a three or a four? At least potentially?  As good as the Rockets?  A step above the Wolves?  What about the Nuggets?  Any surprises in there?  How much does a bad Pacific Division help the Lakers?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers play their third preseason game of the very, very young season Thursday night, but already some signs are shining through, giving glimpses of what this team could look like over the course of the '26-'27 campaign.  There's a lot to be excited about, and great storylines to follow. It starts with Luka Donćić, a perennial MVP candidate and arguably the league's most elite offensive weapon. There's Austin Reaves, trying to take the next step after being given a massive contract. All the new guys, from Grimes to Mamu to Kessler who form what is a new core for this team, the first time they've had a group of players under contract for a long time.  The young guys, Cam Carr and Adou Thiero, have shown promise, and could fill a void the franchise has had for a while, in terms of player development.  Who is the fifth starter?  Which players are most likely to pop in their new roles?  What about new ownership? What about current management?  Joining us to break all of this down is Mike Trudell, the great Lakers sideline reporter, radio host and now the author of his own Substack.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Mike Trudell joins!    SEGMENT 2: Starters and rotations!    SEGMENT 3: Storylines you're most excited to see play out.    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Monday's preseason opener, the Lakers were short a few important players, but still managed to put together a top shelf effort to beat Sacramento.  One night later, they were down even more guys, and found the limits of what the remaining talent on hand could deliver. The Warriors took control early, and never gave it up in a game that was never close. Final score, 124-98. The Lakers were without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton and Matisse Thybulle. That's six of the top eight guys in the rotation. And not only that, the Lakers really played without a point guard, since Bronny was the closest thing they had to a one, and his shortcomings as a true lead guard are no secret. Were there highlights? Kinda. Sandro Mamukelashvili had a nice game, with 15 points. Quentin Grimes had a few moments where his ability to put the ball on the floor to score was on display. Adou Thiero had a spectacular dunk.  But overall, this was a throwaway game in most ways, because the Lakers couldn't generate enough organization or offense to really work through stuff and try to make evaluations.  Lakers will take the floor again Thursday, hopefully with more folks.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers sit ... almost everyone? Good move?    SEGMENT 2: Harder to learn lessons.    SEGMENT 3: What's next for the preseason?    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, that went about as well as you could ask.  Luka Dončić dropped an easy breasy 21 points, the Lakers shot the lights out in the first half especially, and the defense came to play as the Lakers romped in Sacramento, 127-103. As you'd expect, JJ Redick spread the playing time around, and with Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma in street clothes with (non-serious) injuries, but basically everyone who played contributed. It gave a little extra time for some of the newer players to stretch their legs, and for guys like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams (3-3 from downtown) Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili (two threes, five dimes, two steals) did some good stuff.  Jake LaRavia, who had a horrible second half to last year, had a confidence building night, and the youngsters looked good. Cam Carr finished with 19 points, and Adou Thiero had a pair of steals and, this is cool, four assists, showing better feel for what's going on around him.  We'll see what the Lakers put on the floor Tuesday night against Golden State. Certainly wouldn't surprise to see Luka resting. It's possible the guys who weren't in the lineup could be, or maybe it waits until Thursday.  Strong start!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Luka looks good, Lakers cruise in the preseason opener.    SEGMENT 2: How about the new guys!!!   SEGMENT 3: The defense looks good.    PHOTO CREDIT: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images     Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a lot of needs going forward, and not a lot of ways to meet them. Not much draft capital, limited cap flexibility, and so on.  So it's critical that their young, cost controlled players develop into real, useful NBA players. That starts with Cam Carr and Adou Thiero, both of whom could push for playing time this season if their improvement arc continues. But while those two are the most important part of the young player equation, the development challenge doesn't stop with them. The Lakers also would benefit in a big way from hitting on some of their two-way players, finding rotation-caliber players in players that weren't drafted. They've got a decent history in finding those guys, with Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves representing the biggest successes.  So can Arthur Kaluma, Chris Manon and AK Okereke become the type of players the Lakers need? The organization seems to be approaching their two-way guys with specific positions (wings) and skill sets (athleticism, defense) in mind, as opposed to looking at positions where the big club might be thin this year and could use extra support with fringe NBA types that might have a lower ceiling.  So what will we see in the preseason? How do all five of these guys fit into larger development plans?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's been a while in coming, but the new-look Lakers are going to play a game on Monday. Preseason Game 1, up in Sacramento.  JJ Redick hasn't made it totally clear who is going to play in each game, or who has been held out of practices at different times, and all of that good stuff. So we'll need to see what the lineup looks like once that's announced. And who knows what the lineups will look like throughout the five preseason games. A dress rehearsal or two, likely. But beyond that, people want to know what the product is going to look like. What will the defense anchored by Walker Kessler look like? How much switching will we see? Will the team be a big ball pressure group? Try to interrupt the passing lanes?  And what about the other end? Any clues about what JJ Redick is planning in Year 1 post-LeBron? How will the new guys be used? In what combination? Which guys will force Redick's hand for more PT? Which guys will give some away?  Not all of that will be resolved on Monday night, but we'll start to see some clues.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers kick off the preseason!    SEGMENT 2: What to watch for.    SEGMENT 3: The preseason this year is... different?    PHOTO CREDIT: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have talked about using what they believe is increased depth, and people wonder if that means perhaps even expanding the normal 9-10 man rotation into 10-11, or even up to 12 guys?  There are certainly examples of teams pushing those boundaries in an effort to play at a higher level of intensity.  Of course, the only way for the Lakers to get to that number, realistically, is for Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero to force JJ Redick's hand and put them in the rotation by outplaying some of the other options. It's certainly possible, based on what we saw in the summer from Thiero and the skill set he brings to the team, and then the scoring/shooting capabilities of Carr that were on display as well.  Could either of them be good enough to find regular playing time even if the rotation doesn't expand? Certainly possible, if not at the start of the year by the end of it.  There's another question at play, too. The Lakers have to balance the need to win games -- this is not a rebuilding team with an eye towards the future, even with an awareness that more work needs to be done to build a true title contender -- with the need to develop Thiero and Carr. Some of that can happen in the G-League, but not all of it. Redick is going to need to give both guys meaningful opportunities to play and improve on an NBA court. That means putting up with mistakes, but even more than that, helping play those guys in ways that play to strengths and help hide weaknesses, with very specific instructions on what's expected in each shift.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a significantly different roster this season than last. That everyone knows.  How it'll get used is an open question.  Plenty of people think the team has a little more usable depth this season, especially if players like Cam Carr and Adou Thiero prove to be capable of handling minutes. The Lakers want to figure out how to use defensive oriented players like Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. They need to get offensive spark plug Collin Sexton real minutes. Jake LaRavia played all 82 last year, and in the first half of them at least was productive.  And on Thursday at practice, even Kevon Looney, generally seen as a guy not slated for much PT, was being talked up pretty significantly.  Now, not everyone is going to play to the top of his potential. Not everyone is going to stay healthy. But for the time being, at least, Redick has the full menu available to him, and has to figure out how to use it. There have been a few teams in the last couple years who have tried to expand their rotation beyond the standard 9-10, pushing 11 and even 12 guys playing night to night. That can get complicated, but has some upside. Will Redick try that? Or will it be something where it's 10 (generally) on a nightly basis, but some of the names change?  The players could make this decision easier, or they could make it a lot harder. Redick is surely rooting for the latter.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: What kind of rotation will Redick run with?    SEGMENT 2: Is Looney really gonna play?    SEGMENT 3: New PA announcer, new front office name.    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At Wednesday's practice, JJ Redick got a little reflective, looking back on his early days as Lakers head coach. He noted that while the confidence he could do the job was always there, at times it felt like cosplay. Not surprising, really, given that it was his first head coaching gig at any level beyond grade school coaching his kids. That feeling, and an intense desire to try to control EVERYTHING going on around him is likely why Redick was, to say the least, a little tightly wound in that first season. But last season saw a bit of a mellowing with Redick, and now entering his third year in LA (with two 50-win seasons behind him), Redick definitely feels more calm and at ease. That should, at least in theory, help him be a better coach. And it's a big year for Redick, who finally has a rim protector on defense and a roster he feels makes much more sense as a whole than anything he's had here before. So what will he do with it? How will the offense change? Will he find floor combos that maximize the team's potential, and of his role guys? Plenty to look forward to.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   PHOTO CREDIT: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.  GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's early, less than a week in. But listen to JJ Redick and the rest of the Lakers, and it's clear they're working hard to forge a real identify on both sides of the ball.  Defensively, Redick has already talked about how the days of 1-5 switching are over with the arrival of Walker Kessler. It's going to look more like 1-4, but even then with some caveats. And just that change will make the Lakers look a lot different defensively. Add to that the constant talk of disruption and deflections and intensity, and you start to see what the vision is on defense.  Offensively, Austin Reaves said Wednesday that the Lakers are looking to use fewer ball screens, which makes sense given that their two primary weapons function well, if not better, without them. Reaves described a more "free flowing" offense, and Redick noted how they want to expand the playbook a little in their early offense beyond what they did last year.  Put it all together, and it feels like the Lakers want to take advantage of a roster that a) will be together (in theory) for a bit, and b) has a skill set they believe is more coherent.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: JJ is building out an identity, early.    SEGMENT 2: Early plans for the offense and defense.    SEGMENT 3: Why the Lakers can build it out a little faster.    PHOTO SEGMENT: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

JJ Redick has some decisions to make, not just with the starting lineup -- while he says that only three of the five spots are settled (if we have to tell you which ones, you're probably at the wrong podcast), most people believe that Quentin Grimes is also very likely to start. So that leaves a fifth guy. Will it be Sandro Mamukelashvili? Ziaire Williams? Jake LaRavia? Matisse Thybulle, for that defensive presence? What about a wild card like Adou Thiero?  The decision Redick makes there will obviously have a ripple effect on the rest of the rotation. So he's likely thinking about which player combinations work best over the course of 48 minutes, not just who might be the "best" player available to him to fill that spot.  The good news for JJ is that the Lakers don't really have to worry about the politics that might go into the decision. None of the players he's choosing from are likely to rock the boat if they don't "win" the competition for the fifth starter?  According to our Locked On Lakers summer survey, fans are leaning now towards Williams, thanks to his defensive range and athleticism, and a degree of versatility despite a pretty thin frame.  Williams is also one of the role players fans are most excited to see, part of a group that should give Redick a chance to deploy players with a little more cohesion in skill sets. Whether you believe the parts are better this year than last, there's definitely an argument to be made that they fit together in ways that make more sense.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two days into the Lakers season, one thing is clear: Walker Kessler is an extremely optimistic young man who believes in the inherent awesomeness of his teammates. So when Kessler said on Tuesday that he believes the Lakesr are going to have a "nasty" defense, and meant it in the most positive way possible, it definitely raised some eyebrows.  In his mind, the team's defensive quality is being underrated.  Determining whether he's right depends a little on how we're defining terms. Are the Lakers underrated in the sense that they're secretly goign to be a top five defense, taking the league by storm? Probably not.  But are they underrated in the sense that many folks feel like they could be a disaster on that side of the ball? That they're going to be worse than last year's ranking of (about) 20th, depending on who's data you use?  That's a different story.  Put last year and this year side by side, and it's actually quite reasonable to believe the Lakers are going to be better on that side of the ball this season. Mostly because of Kessler, but also because there should be a level of defensive cohesion that wasn't present a year ago.  So are the Lakers going to be "nasty" good, or "nasty" bad?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: Kessler says the Lakers are going to be nasty.    SEGMENT 2: Are the Lakers better or worse this year on that side?    SEGMENT 3: Finding a coherent style of play.    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have arguably the most elite offensive force in basketball in Luka Doncic, and that without question provides them a certain level of confidence every time they take the floor. They know as long as they have that guy, they have a chance to win, even on a night where the team isn't playing well.  But the larger questions around this team aren't on that side of the ball. People don't know if the Lakers, led by Luka and Austin Reaves, have enough defensive talent to thrive.  You wouldn't know that from the level of confidence expressed by Lakers players at Monday's Media Day, however. And that confidence can be boiled down to the presence of one guy: Walker Kessler. Luka noted how hard it is to play against Kessler, which was one big reason he wanted the former Jazzman on the Lakers. Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Zaiare Williams, Matisse Thybulle -- anybody expected to play a lick of defense on this squad noted how much more freedom they have to play aggressively knowing that Kessler is behind them.  Kessler's defensive metrics back up that confidence, but will it translate to higher pressure, higher stakes basketball now that he's in LA?  If the answer is yes, the Lakers will then have one of those dudes on both sides of the ball, and it'll make a big difference in their prospects.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The new-look Lakers made their season debut Monday with Media Day, and it definitely felt like the start of a new era. Lotsof new players, changing roles and shifting expectations around a team that is expected to be good, but not expected to contend.  But that's what media says. The players didn't talk about long term plans or rebuilding over time. They talked about winning this year, and expressed confidence in the talent on hand to get it done. There were a lot of themes that stuck out:  They all thought that trip to Slovenia was really valuable, even beyond obviously wanting to seem appreciative.Luka is a draw. The role guys all seemed to understand what playing with Luka could do for them, and how he’ll make their lives easier.Defensively there is a MAJOR vibe shift in terms of confidence players express, and that’s all Kessler. I realize some of it is seen as speculative and there’s a chance he doesn’t meet expectations, but THEY clearly believe they have one of *those guys* and that could make a significant difference in how they play.It's a very likable group overall. Rob Pelinka noted last week it should be a group that fans enjoy cheering for, and I think media day reflected that.Whether intentional or not, they have multiple core players who have had to really grind through uncertain circumstances to establish themselves as players in Reaves, Grimes and Mamu. I think that’s potentially really good for building a culture. In combination with what we heard from Pelinka and JJ Redick last week, it definitely feels like the Lakers made strides in bringing in a group of people that can set a culture. Decent people and (hopefully) high end players that help usher in a new era in Lakers basketball.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The new look Lakers make their debut.  SEGMENT 2: Big themes!  SEGMENT 3: They believe in the potential of the group.  PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Media Day! It's the first day of school, NBA style.  And for the Lakers, it's truly a new era, as Luka Donćić opens the season as the sole superstar voice on the team. He is going to be the leader of an entirely new group, tasked with setting culture and a tone that is going to, hopefully, result in the next year or two in a team ready to compete for a championship. And it's a role he's said he admits is more meaningful to him now, and that he's ready to step into in earnest.  It's part of a new chapter for the Lakers, where they're clearly trying to build continuity -- something emphasized by Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick in last week's press conference, and that they've lacked in meaningful ways over the last few seasons. In part by choice, in part by circumstance.  It'll be fun to watch Luka grow into the role, and how his leadership style shapes the next phase of Lakers basketball.  Meanwhile, the Lakers need to figure out how to get the roster down to 15. Is there any advantage (mostly in goodwill)  to letting a player go now, while he has a better chance of hooking up with another team?  And who should the Lakers be cutting, if it comes to that?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are officially Luka's team in every way now.    SEGMENT 2: How Luka's interest in leadership has grown.    SEGMENT 3: How should the Lakers get the roster down to size?    PHOTO CREDIT: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.  Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The season officially kicks off on Monday, with Lakers Media Day. It unofficially kicked off Thursday, when Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick met the media. They answered questions for just over a half hour on a range of topics, and generally sounded like people pleased with a busy summer's work and ready to begin the Luka Era in earnest, with a team that is his now on every level.  Some of the highlights:  Pelinka said that once they knew LeBron was leaving, they built a template based on 1) Keeping Austin. 2) Finding a "franchise center." 3. Getting younger with "dribble, pass, shoot" types who could work well around Luka. Certainly they believe the mission was accomplished in that regard. JJ said three spots were locked in the starting lineup. (If you need us to tell you which... how did you get here, anyway?) And while he didn't reveal any big hints about the other two, he did say it wouldn't be "two white guys." Sorry LaRavia and Mamu. There's only room for one of you. JJ and Pelinka both agreed this roster makes sense, in terms of its construction. They've put something together that is coherent in their eyes, even if it's incomplete. Speaking of which... Both Pelinka and Redick made it clear that the Luka-centric rebuild wasn't going to be executed in one offseason. This is a project that is still in progress. Asked if he thinks the Lakers have a championship caliber roster, Pelinka deferred, and certainly didn't say yes. They're done switching 1-5 now that Kessler is in the fold. That, said Redick, was a strategy borne from necessity, not preference. More to come on Monday at Media Day!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Pelinka and Redick meet the media.    SEGMENT 2: A roster in progress.    SEGMENT 3: Competition for starting spots.    PHOTO CREDIT: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. WayfairPatio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Austin Reaves signed a massive contract this offseason, moving him from one of the great bargains in the NBA to ... something else. And based on the results of our listener survey, no Laker has more pressure on him going into the year than Reaves. People are worried about whether or not he'll live up to the contract, and whether that contract will age well. They're worried about the defense (which he doesn't help). They're worried, basically, about everything associated with Reaves as a true number two, expected to step in behind Luka Doncic and lead the team.  ESPN, for its part, has Reaves ranked at 37 in its NBA Rank project this year, a massive bump from last season (60). Is that a fair placement?  And more importantly, what does the slotting say about where Reaves fits into the league's upper crust, now that he's paid like one of those guys? It's a strange space, where folks in that range can elevate to raise the ceiling of a team, or hurt it by underperforming or getting hurt. The Lakers no longer have the financial flexibility afforded by Reaves making well under market money. Now, the pressure will be on to earn it.  Meanwhile, the Lakers will sound different this year. First, longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced his retirement earlier this summer. Now, we're learning that Stu Lantz, who has been part of the broadcasts on TV since the 80s, will only be calling home games after enduring some health issues that kept him out of the booth last year.  Great that he's well enough to work, even in a reduced capacity. For a legend like Stu, we'll take what we can get.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Austin Reaves under pressure.    SEGMENT 2: Where does Reaves stack up?    SEGMENT 3: What the Lakers need from each tier of player.    PHOTO CREDIT: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. WayfairPatio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's the Locked On NBA Top 100 player rankings! Today, Wes, Matt, Haize and Andy come together to rank players 21-30. Will LeBron James continue to slide? Does Cooper Flagg crack the top 30? Find out on today's episode!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. WayfairPatio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to get started.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers made a bold push to acquire Walker Kessler in a summertime sign and trade with the Jazz, giving up the rest of their first round draft capital and a whole lot of money to bring in the young, hopefully ascending defensive standout. Some liked the move when it happened, some thought the Lakers overpaid. But if ESPN's summertime player rankings are to be believed, at the least the Lakers spent all this stuff on a player that's pretty good!  Kessler landed at 73 in the annual rankings, one spot ahead of Isaiah Hartenstein, one spot behind VJ Edgecombe.  The question is if there's room to grow, because if Kessler actually gets better -- and there's a very good chance his offensive numbers rise playing with Luka, who has made far lesser players than Kessler look good -- that puts him more towards the league's top 50. Now the Lakers would be cooking with gas.  So what's fair? What's not? And how does Kessler fit even more neatly into what the Lakers are likely going to try to do offensively?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Kessler at 73 on ESPN!   SEGMENT 2: Justified ranking?    SEGMENT 3: Kessler's secret weapon offensively.   PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Gray-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. WayfairPatio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers aren't necessarily expected to contend for a title this season, but Luka Dončić is still one of the favorites for MVP. Which is a testament to both his star power, and his incredible skill as an offensive player, because MVP candidates almost definitionally come from elite teams.  But what about the other guys? Who has a chance to be Most Improved from this year's roster? What about Coach of the Year? Could Cam Carr break into the Rookie of the Year conversation? What about Austin Reaves on an All-NBA Team?  While there's no question each of these guys would love to take home some postseason hardware and it's always interesting to see what kind of love Lakers players/coaches get for things like this, the real value of the discussion is how it frames where the Lakers could end up. The best case scenarios for this team likely have some combination of Grimes as an MIP, Luka in MVP voting, Collin Sexton in the 6th Man convo, and AR gunning for All NBA.   Maybe some of those things don't happen, but a couple almost surely need to for that scenario to have some legs.  So we break down the most likely ones from FanDuel Sportsbook's preseason futures tables.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: What about the Lakers and postseason awards?    SEGMENT 2: Grimes? Mamu? Bronny? Dalton? Huh?   SEGMENT 3: The market is getting set already?    PHOTO CREDIT: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. WayfairPatio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A LOT of eyebrows went up among Lakers fans heading into the weekend when news of an investor presentation created by the Josh Kushner/Bob Iger ownership group to bring in more cash to their group and round out the sale of the team from embattled owner Mark Walter.  The pitch lays out how the team plans to build the team's value up to (we bleep you not) $30 billion over the next decade. And that, by the way, is more a middle ground estimate. If things go really well, that number could get a lot higher. (So they say.) How they plan to get there seems to be through a combination of very, very aggressive marketing and monetization of everything in the org that isn't nailed to the floor, plus things like international rights, growing value of the NBA more broadly, and a rapid increase in ticket revenue built not simply on price increases (though that's happening, and would have even had the team not been sold again), but by eliminating the role of ticket brokers.  That will functionally serve to jack up prices, because on the secondary market tickets often go for below face value. And when they go higher, it's the broker that gets the money, not the team.  More than anything, fans are very, very worried this is a sign the Lakers will be much more concerned about money and paper value than titles and banners. Are they right?  And is this a big concern across the league?  Finally, more preseason odds from our friends at FanDuel. Who from the Lakers is in real contention for postseason hardware?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers next owners are aggressively raising money.    SEGMENT 2: What does the prospectus mean for Lakers fans?   SEGMENT 3: More preseason odds for Lakers players.    PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. WayfairPatio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelThis season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to 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)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Preseason odds for postseason awards don't necessarily say everything about a team's chances, but they can be instructive. So for the Lakers, who aren't expected to move mountains this year when it comes to the Western Conference standings, where players land on some of the preseason betting lists is worth a look.  And thankfully, our friends at Fanduel Sportsbook have their numbers up for view!  No surprise, Luka Dončić has the fourth best odds in the NBA to win MVP, which is a testament to the respect he gets as a player, because MVP almost always comes from a team at or near the top of a conference. That's not where the Lakers are expected to be. Meanwhile, who else appears on different lists? Is Austin Reaves seen as a real candidate to contend for an All-NBA slot? What about Walker Kessler for Defensive Player of the Year? Or Most Improved?  What does having two players (Sexton, Mamu) in the conversation for Sixth Man mean for the team this year? Especially considering how poor the bench has performed over the last couple of seasons?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Who is on the board for postseason awards?    SEGMENT 2: What about Kessler?    SEGMENT 3: Why 6MOY is a key race to watch in terms of Lakers success this season.    PHOTO CREDIT: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every year, ESPN breaks out its Future Rankings, looking at the prospects every team in the league has going forward, based on things like roster quality, draft capital, financial flexibility, quality of management and quality of market.  Last year, the Lakers were 8th. This year, they're 13th.  Why the downgrade? Mostly because the financial flexibility and draft capital they had last summer was used this summer. So they fell in those categories. Thankfully, they did rise in roster quality, but the overall effect is a downgrade. So what comes next? On the one hand, 13th isn't bad. To the extent you think these types of evaluations are revealing, you'd want to be higher. But it's not bad. And meanwhile, 13th in the NBA actually translates to fourth in the Western Conference, meaning many of the team's competitors seem to have equally murky future prospects, or worse. And these are the teams the Lakers have to compete against.  As in all things, the wisdom of these rankings will likely be revealed based on this season, and learning whether or not the extensive list of moves made by Rob Pelinka in the offseason play out the way he hopes. If Rob is right, the future looks a lot brighter. If he's not?  Don't ask.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are 13th in the Future Rankings.    SEGMENT 2: The categories that matter...    SEGMENT 3: Context is king. Where LA fits with the rest of the conference.    PHOTO CREDIT: William Liang-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tuesday at the NBA's league meetings, Adam Silver spoke to the media for the first time since dropping Adam's Silver Hammer on Steve Ballmer and the Clippers.  He had a few things to say about the LAC, but of greater interest here were his comments about Mark Walter and the impending Lakers sale. Did the league have any inkling as to Walter's potential financial issues and the existence of a federal investigation when it approved the sale from the Buss fam? Silver says no, and it's certainly believable. He also says he didn't know about the deal between Kushner/Iger and Walter until the handshake was done.  That's perhaps a little tougher to believe, but also doesn't really matter that much, assuming the NBA didn't tap Kushner/Iger on the shoulder (their ownership group was looking at an expansion team) and suggest he give Walter a call.  No surprise, there wasn't any talk of the impending sale for LA. Too many impending deals.  Meanwhile, it's expected the salary cap is going to be a couple mil higher next offeason. Doesn't sound like all that mich given the size of payrolls, but for a team like the Lakers, hoping to preserve the ability to use a full non-taxpayer midlevel, this sort of thing matters. And from there, it's a a reminder too that one way the Lakers can improve is by creatively inserting themselves into trades that require multiple teams, whether to stash draft capital or players they like, ideally without giving up all that much. You want talked coming in, but not going out.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: League meetings. Folllowing Walter's money?    SEGMENT 2: How ownership is changing.    SEGMENT 3: Salary cap help is coming.    Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.  StanceCheck out the ICON collection from Stance—premium comfort, performance, and durability designed for whatever your day brings. Use promo Code LOCKEDON at checkout for 20% off your purchase.  Learn more at https://Stance.com.Stance. The Official Sock Partner of Major League Baseball. Clutch ParlaysGo to https://ClutchParlays.com today and use code LOCKEDON for your first month free on a monthly plan. Pick Smarter. Parlay Sharper.  5-Hour ENERGYGet candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon KALSHIFor a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last week, the big news for the Lakers was an assistant GM, but the team didn't stop there. On Friday, the squad also filled out the sports science staff, adding Keith D'Amelio as their new sports performance guy. (Director of Integrated Performance Systems, technically speaking.)  This isn't necessarily a *new* new position—the Lakers have struggled for years to maintain a consistent sports medicine and sports performance department (the evolution of the training/sports science/performance space is a story in itself...). D'Amelio appears to be a new cog in that machine. But it still feels like they're building it out, and hopefully this hire can bring some stability to this part of their operation. Because it's a big factor in how free agents, when presented with opportunities to choose between good franchises, ultimately make decisions.  Jeanie Buss meanwhile is representing the Lakers at league meetings, which shouldn't surprise anyone. It's obviously too quick for the Lakers ownership to get a vote from the rest of the league. Josh Kushner still needs to sell his shares of the Miami Heat, and reports suggest the group still needs to add a few more investors. So when will the league be ready to go here? Hard to say, but given that the Lakers can't for a variety of reasons make many big personnel moves for a few months (we explain) and that they seem to be carrying on with hiring, it's not such a big deal.  Finally, ESPN is again previewing the West. The Lakers are bunched in with last year's 3-6 teams, in the "flawed" W.C. contenders category. Fair?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: More hires in the basketball department!  SEGMENT 2: The Lakers are still repped by Jeanie, which is fine! SEGMENT 3: "Flawed" is fair?    Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ziaire Williams gave a little more insight in to the trip he and the rest of his teammates, speaking to Sports Illustrated. While the Lakers played some ball, Williams says most of the important stuff from the trip came off the floor, in all the team bonding and team meals, and obviously the window into the world of Luka Donćić.  That kind of thing is important for a team that is, for all intents and purposes, starting from scratch. And while teams like Minnesota have had a ton of turnover, the top teams in the conference, and a squad like Houston, still have a lot of continuity. So LA is playing catchup in that regard. Every bit helps.  But meanwhile, is Williams potentially the best option for the lakers at the remaining forward spot? There's certainly a strong argument to be made.  And from one Williams to another, the Lakers may have dodged a bullet when they rescinded their deal with the Hornets for Mark Williams. The (now) Suns center, who missed 22 games last year, is now going to miss months after undergoing shoulder surgery. There's still not a ton of insight out there about the details that got the Lakers to back out of that deal following Williams's physical?  Who cares? Point is, he's not here, and that's good for the Lakers.  And finally, Steve Ballmer made a lot of noise after the league handed down its punishment, threatening lawsuits and more. Well, Sunday he folded.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Ziaire Williams on the trip. Plus, is he the right guy to start?    SEGMENT 2: The Lakers dodged a bullet!   SEGMENT 3: Ballmer capitulates.    Photo Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Aura CybersecurityStart your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.  Protect yourself now.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are giving away a lot of bobbleheads this season. Like, a lot. Both for established stars like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and fan favorites from days gone by, like Kurt Rambis, Norm Nixon and even Paul Westhead.  The Lakers have done the bobblehead thing before, but not in this quantity during the season. And it's a reflection of how fan service and promotion are changing in the wake of the squad's Dodgerification (which is either continuing, or at the least, is continuing with plans already in progress, despite the upcoming sale).  And the Dodgers do the bobblehead thing a lot. Because they're incredibly popular, and a fun way to highlight players, both current and historical, as well as popular moments. They're a great way for the Lakers to honor players that can't get jerseys retired or statues out front. And more importantly, it naturally can get a person looking ahead to the next ownership era. Will they have the same respect for history as the Buss family has always had? That sort of attention to cultural history has always been a strong suit for the franchise, and appreciated by fans. So will the new guys be worthy successors in that regard?  Finally, earlier in the week we discussed Walker Kessler as someone who many are quite bullish on when it comes to performance this season. The range of reaction on the show's YouTube page was significant, from people believing Kessler is going to put up big numbers, and others that think the hype falls short.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The importance of Bobbleheads.  SEGMENT 2: Will new ownership honor team history? SEGMENT 3: Expectations fair for Kessler?    PHOTO CREDIT: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Good news out of El Segundo on Wednesday. The Lakers reportedly have hired (now former) Miami Heat executive Eric Amsler as another assistant general manager under Rob Pelinka.  Amsler spent two decades in Miami, a place that famously holds on to its executives for a long time. He has worked extensively in the scouting functions, which is definitely a place where the Heat have thrived. Few teams have been more adept at consistently finding inexpensive players who produce in highly defined roles than the Heat. (How well those players produce in other roles, as Lakers fans know, is a different story.) The Lakers, quite prominently, basically don't have a scouting department, which indicates that Amsler could be the guy tasked with changing that. (In the same way that Rohan Ramadas is geared towards analytics.) So is this a good hire? Hard to say. How responsible is Amsler for Miami's relatively consistent success? Also hard to say.  But the Lakers are pulling from a good org, with a guy who has a resume indicating some skill at something they're missing. That's good.  And the big Q: What this means for Rob Pelinka? Probably nothing. Amsler doesn't profile as a typical "GM in waiting" type. Pelinka's viability going forward is likely based on the team's success this year, and if they run him out of town there's a good chance new ownership will be looking for much stronger, or at least prominent, candidates than Amsler.  But it's still a welcome development, and an indication that the concern over a hiring freeze while ownership sorts itself out may not be totally accurate.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers hire another assistant GM.    SEGMENT 2: Is Amsler a good add?    SEGMENT 3: What does this mean for Pelinka?    Photo Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Tuesday's show, we talked about players like Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton or Cam Carr who could make a significant difference in how the Lakers finish the season. But none of those guys matter if the frontline dudes -- that's Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler -- don't perform as needed. And while Luka and Austin are more proven commodities in the NBA, Kessler isn't. He's never played in the playoffs, or even for a .500 team. Last year, he barely even played, because the Jazz were in no hurry to get anyone on the floor who might actually help them win games.  But that said, Kessler's impact numbers are undeniable, especially defensively, and there isn't a center on Earth that Luka hasn't made look significantly better. That includes the stiffs, and Kessler is decidedly not one of those.  So how good can he be? Lakers great Robert Horry, speaking at the team's golf tournament last week, thinks the answer is very good.  It's easy to agree, as well.  Meanwhile, Phil Jackson is getting a statute at Star Plaza at LA Live. He's obviously worthy, and one of the last guys you can think of from the organization who clearly merits the honor.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Walker Kessler needs to be good.    SEGMENT 2: Is Kessler a good bet to perform?    SEGMENT 3: The Lakers are giving Phil a statue.    Photo Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are expected to be good this season... but not good in a way people need to pay much attention to, according to the pundits and assorted tastemakers.  So in some ways, the fact that they're a brand new group that will, like all new groups, need time to gel is actually kind of beneficial. When you're not expected to come out hot, it's ok if you don't. Gives the team a little time to build things up. Underpromise and overdeliver. And one of the things that might help the Lakers prove some doubters wrong? Chemistry. It's hard to quantify, but for a team that needs to find every avenue to maxing out its talent, chemistry is a potential helpful tool. How quickly can the Lakers look like a group that has played some ball together?  That's one way the Slovenia trip can make a difference. It obviously won't put the Lakers on the same level continuity wise as some of their competitors, but it can get the a little further ahead than they otherwise might have been. Maybe the good vibes help the team pull things together a few weeks faster than they otherwise might. And it'll help them mesh faster with Luka's leadership, which makes a difference. Slovenia was a chance for them to learn about the guy who will be leading them this season, which is critical.  And finally, which newcomers have the potential to make the most impact this year? Former Lakers champ Danny Green has thoughts.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: A leadership boost for Luka?    SEGMENT 2: Why chemistry can matter.    SEGMENT 3: Difference makers?    Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelMake this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days.  Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There were people, very likely including Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who didn't think Adam Silver had the stones to do it. Those people were wrong.  The NBA on Wednesday dropped the hammer on the LA Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer, stripping five first round picks from the team, fining Ballmer $30 million and suspending him for a year, and handing down other suspensions to team executives. Uncle Dennis (i.e. Dennis Robertson) was banned for five years from NBA activity.  Only Kawhi Leonard got off basically unpunished by the league (a $750K fine, but in the grand scheme of things that doesn't amount to much given how severe the punishement could have been). And that is by design. Because by letting Kawhi walk with a slap on the wrist, the NBA avoids any sort of arbitration process that could hold up NBA business. And if the goal is to punish the behavior and prevent it in the future, the best way to do it is to punish the teams, not the players.  So what now? Where do the Clips, and the league, go from here?  And how could this have been the Lakers, had they chosen a different path?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: The NBA drops the hammer.    SEGMENT 2: Why was the punishment so severe (for Ballmer, not Kawhi).    SEGMENT 3: Good on the Lakers for not being the team at the wrong end of this.    PHOTO CREDIT: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod  FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Four spots in the starting lineup for the Lakers seem pretty settled. Obvously starting with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, and from there Quentin Grimes seems like a pretty safe bet.  But what about that fifth guy?  The hole comes at forward, but because Luka performs as a point guard offensively but absolutely doesn't on the other end, so what the Lakers really need is someone who can defend a few positions, allowing them to lighten Luka's load on that side as much as possible. Could that be Adou Thiero? Or is he too raw after playing so little as a rookie? How about Jake LaRavia? Underwhelming as an option, no question, but also perhaps the easiest answer if the goal is to have a starter-in-name-only type setup. What about Mamu? The Lakers invested a lot of money in him. And while he was a later add and is only on a minimum deal, Ziaire Williams makes a lot of sense, too.  So much depends on what JJ Redick and the coaching staff decide they want to do schematically, especially on defense.  We break down the options.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers need a fifth starter.    SEGMENT 2:  Who makes the most sense?    SEGMENT 3: Is Ziaire Williams worth an extended look?    Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod   FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM    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)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It'll be a while before we know if the new ownership group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger will be a net positive or a net negative for the Lakers. We don't know how they'll spend money, or what they'll prioritize.  But what we did know was that ownership upheaval had a chance to completely undermine a buildout of the basketball operations department that was already going a lot slower than Lakers fans had hoped for when the Buss family sold to Mark Walter a year and a half ago. Dan Woike at The Athletic made it clear in a report on Monday that the Lakers, who have already been turned down for a couple front office positions by potential hires, have essentially gone into a hiring freeze.  There's just not any action, whether higher up in the department, or in things like scouting.  So what does that mean?  Well, it's not good. But there is one silver lining — there's only so much the Lakers can do over the next few months, anyway. So if there was ever a time to be hamstrung, this might be it. But the longer this goes on, the more problematic it gets. So what kind of timeline are we looking at?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers front office is at a standstill.    SEGMENT 2: What does this mean for LA going forward?    SEGMENT 3: How long will all of this take?    Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod   FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM    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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers lost out on Jonathan Kuminga last week (or dodged a bullet, depending on your POV) when the free agent forward went to Minnesota. But that doesn't mean they've stopped trying to fill out the roster. Jake Fischer, in his reporting for Bleacher Report, links LA to veteran guard/forward Bruce Brown, who was in Denver last year.  Would he be a good fit with the Lakers next year? Just as critically, if he's not a great fit, would he be a better fit than anyone else they could find? And just as critically (again) would he be more valuable than the second player they'd have to jettison from the roster to make room for him? Keeping in mind that they already need to free up a spot as it is.  And it will have to come by either trade or release, because the waive'n'stretch deadline came and went this weekend without the Lakers making a move.  And then, who are the Lakers going to let go? The most obvious candidates are Bronny James, Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht. Jarred Vanderbilt may not a favorite of JJ Redick, but he would be a lot of money to eat, is an important salary ballast in a potential trade, and -- this matters -- is one of the only power forwards on the roster.  So who is first to go? Who would be next, if the Lakers need to cut two players, not just one?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers reportedly have interest in Bruce Brown.    SEGMENT 2: Would Brown be a good fit?    SEGMENT 3: Who should the Lakers let go when the time comes?    Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   SquareGet up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA !#squarepod   FanDuel College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM    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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every summer, ESPN issues it's preseason predictions. We hit on a few of them already, noting for example that the Lakers are predicted to win 45 games, and compete in that set of Western Conference teams either in, or narrowly avoiding, the play-in tournament.  If they stay healthy, we think that's too low. But whatever.  A new batch of predictions dropped on Thursday, and ESPN's writers voted the Lakers are the team most likely be the NBA's biggest disappointment. Is that fair? Well, if ESPN's writers are correct about the win total, there will certainly be the belief that they had a disappointing season and took a step backwards. And at the least the Lakers like to project that championship or bust approach to every season, whether championship is realistic or not.  And this season, it's not, and isn't the goal. Sure, they'll try to win as much as possible. They hope to surprise. But the point of this offseason was to retool the team around Luka Donćić, the same Luka that ESPN projects will win another scoring title. What they don't think he'll win, though, is MVP. That prediction is related to the one about LA's win total.  But what if Walker Kessler, who doesn't get any DPOY love, anchors a Lakers defense that's better than expected. Or Austin Reaves elevates to clear All-Star, or even All-NBA levels? What if JJ Redick gets some Coach of the Year love?  If these things happen, it means the Lakers surely have won more than 45 games, and Luka's MVP candidacy gets a BIG boost.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Are the Lakers going to be the NBA's biggest disappointment?    SEGMENT 2: What are the right expectations?    SEGMENT 3: Luka and the MVP race.    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, it looked like a slow news day until it wasn't.  First, finally the Lakers (and everyone else) got a conclusion to the Jonathan Kuminga saga. He's going to Minnesota, agreeing to a two-year deal worth about $13 million, with a player option for the second year. He'll move into their exception space, try to play really well this season, opt out next summer and sign a genuinely big money deal somewhere else. That's the plan at least. Will it work? Who knows. But Camp Kuminga decided he'd ultimately make more money doing it this way than taking the 3 year, $36 million deal reportedly on the table from the Lakers.  Did LA lose out? Well, having Kuminga certainly could have helped, but the cost was higher for LA than Minnesota, because it wasn't just about the money, but what the Lakers would have to give up in order to make the space on the roster to bring Kuminga in. One second rounder? Two? If they had to raise their financial offer to Kuminga, that impacts their flexibility, and likely means having to send out more players.  At some point, the price is too high.  Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss is taking her siblings to court, in order to try and keep control of the Lakers, or at least the governorship she currently has, thanks to the family's near-18% stake in the team.  She says she's exercising her fiduciary duty to the family trust, and that the family members are acting out of school.  No matter how you slice it, it's a mess, one likely to annoy Lakers fans significantly, and severely damage Jeanie's standing with Lakers fans before it's over.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Kuminga chooses Minnesota.  SEGMENT 2: What's next?  SEGMENT 3: Jeanie sues!!! Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are a couple players still rattling around the NBA, unsigned. Two have limited options but likely return to their current teams (Benedict Mathurin, Jalen Duren) and one is Jonathan Kuminga, who currently has no home.  He does have suitors, though. Minnesota needs a forward and can sign him straight into their exception, but can't pay him as much as the Lakers, who would have to agree to contract terms and then figure out how to actually execute a trade. No easy task, given that the Hawks (who have no interest in bringing Kuminga back) already have too many players, and have zero need for anything the Lakers would be willing to offer. Are there enough other teams that would be incentivized by a second rounder? How many picks would the Lakers be willing to give up?  And that's all stuff that would assume that the Lakers decide that Kuminga is worth the assets, and could figure out a way to make Kuminga happy. Could they be willing to do a wink-wink nudge-nudge type deal where they sign him undermarket, then find a way to give a little boost after a successful first year?  Meanwhile, what about PJ Washington? He seems to think he's staying put. Which makes sense! Dallas isn't incentivized to trade him right now and should they ever get the itch, the Lakers are likely not going to have a package that outdoes other interested parties. That, by the way, is going to be a common theme for the next few years, which explains the continued interest in Kuminga despite some totally legitimate reservations. It's reasonable to wonder how much access they'll actually have to the most desirable options at that wing spot now and down the road.  Finally, answering a listener email, we're looking at something each player on the roster can do to improve for this season. We kick it off with Austin Reaves!  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: A plan for Kuminga?  SEGMENT 2: What about Washington?  SEGMENT 3: What can Reaves improve?    Photo Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ESPN is out with a bunch of late-summer evaluations for teams around the league. It includes win projections (45, which they say will be sixth in the conference) along with an offseason grade (C+) and all kinds of other little interesting bits of information.  First and foremost, while it's reasonable to think the Lakers took a little step backward because they didn't fully replace LeBron's production (even if you disagree, it's a defensible position) are they eight games worse, considering the upgrades at center and with better depth? Moreover, didn't other teams take some small steps back, too? Or potentially so? It's also fair to ask whether the Lakers are even being graded on the proper criteria. Did they make progress in stated goals? Yes, but you have to judge by what those goals are, right?  The story also gets into the biggest change to the roster composition, namely that the Lakers should have bolstered their bench, even if the starters get a hair worse. But the productivity gap between LA's starters and reserves last year was the biggest in the league, so closing that down will help JJ Redick considerably. And should the Lakers (sooner or later) find a starting caliber forward to drop into the lineup, not only will the disparity between last year's starters and this year's shrink, it'll make the bench better, too, by slotting guys into more appropriate roles.  Is one of those guys Jonathan Kuminga?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get graded by ESPN.    SEGMENT 2: Are they being dinged for the wrong stuff?    SEGMENT 3: Why the next player they add is huge.    Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Turns out there's no real downside to being Luka Dončić's teammate, at least as it pertains to offseason team bonding trips.  The Lakers, flown out to Slovenia on Luka's dime, are being treated to a first class tour of his home country. There has been golf and food and kayaking and clinics and workouts and more, all of it designed to bring the team together. Important to build chemistry with a very new group, no question. But also to help that new team learn more about Luka, who is stepping into an enhanced leadership role this season with LeBron James now in Philly.  It matters that the people being led understand who is doing the leading. And this trip plays a big role. Hopefully they can truly jumpstart the process of building meaningful cohesion. It'll be hard to quantify the impact, but it certainly won't hurt.  Meanwhile, player movement! Klay Thompson, connected to the Lakers in one way or another for years, is again... not coming to the Lakers. He's going to Miami to help bolster the Heat bench, and will get a two year deal with a player option for the second season that the Lakers couldn't offer, and shouldn't have even if they could. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan will try to stem the bleeding in Denver, agreeing to join the Nuggets on a one-year deal. He can't defend the way Peyton Watson does, but offensively is still a very strong player.  Finally, is Adam Silver ready to help figure out a resolution to the Buss Family Drama (which doesn't involve helping the sibs get along, but likely means getting them out of the ownership group)? And what does the Walter issue indicate about the problems the league has with owners in the age of franchise valuations in the multi-billion dollar range?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Fun with Luka in Slovenia!    SEGMENT 2: Klay in Miami, DeRozan in Denver.    SEGMENT 3: Ownership issues get tricky as valuations rise significantly.   Photo Credit: REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nuggets unloaded Peyton Watson in a deal on Wednesday that netted them a first rounder in 2031 and another second rounder. All of this despite Watson agreeing to a deal in line with market expectations, of four years and $88 million.  So with the Nuggets in flux and Nikola Jokic currently not signed for the long term, it's of course time to start putting him in other jerseys. Lakers jerseys, specifically!!! But while the fantasies are fun, they can also be destructive. In years past, the Lakers front office might put things on hold in order to make sure they had all the assets needed to make a run at an available star once his contract was up. That, of course, puts a damper on the team's ability to compete, either because moves are always for the short term, or because they simply aren't made at all.  The good news? The Lakers can't play that game right now, even if they wanted to. They don't have a cache of draft picks, no young players who would fetch a premium in return (not yet at least), and no cap space coming.  So the odds of Jokic coming here without... a lot of stuff having to happen... seem very slim. So the Lakers, whether with current or future ownership, can simply go about the business of trying to create a winner around Luka.  Speaking of leadership, Jeanie Buss reportedly would be interested in holding on to her governorship (which requires a 15% stake in ownership) by buying out her siblings. But would they sell? Where can she get the money? And even if she got it... why would Kushner and Iger let her keep that gig?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Jokic dreams!    SEGMENT 2: Bursting that bubble.    SEGMENT 3: Jeanie willing to maneuver?    Photo Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One of the last big pieces left to move in the NBA this offseason finally found a home on Wednesday, as Nuggets small forward Peyton Watson, once a rumored target for the Lakers, was flipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for ... nobody. A first and second round pick a few years from now. The only other human player of note in the deal (which expanded to five teams, enveloping last week's Dennis Schroder trade) was Max Strus, who actually went to the Clippers, not Denver.  So the Nuggets continue to thin out this offseason, and while they're rumored to be working hard to bring in Demar DeRozan, who would help them, even if they do the team isn't as good right now as it was last year, and is relying on certain players with a VERY spotty health history to stay afloat.  All of this at a time when there's at least some question surrounding the future of Nikola Jokic. So all of this is obviously good for the Lakers, who have stayed about the same as the conference shifts around them, something that should benefit LA over the course of the season. Some of the "next tier" teams behind San Antonio and OKC just aren't as strong.  And, of course, this also influences the future of Jonathan Kuminga, since Cleveland was seen as one of the teams with interest in acquiring him. That leaves the Lakers as one of his only suitors, but as has been well established, that interest doesn't come at the price Kuminga wants to get. And even if they settle on a price, the Lakers would then have to figure out a way to complete a trade with Atlanta, who have 17 players under contract and no need for anyone the Lakers would trade them.  So great work by Kuminga's agent, here. Top shelf.  And finally, Luka is taking the Lakers to Slovenia! And it's a trip that could bode well for the squad's chemistry this season. At the least, it says something about how Luka is looking to lead the team this year.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Watson traded to Cleveland.  SEGMENT 2: The West is getting weaker, Kuminga is running low on options.  SEGMENT 3: Luka brings the gang to Slovenia.    Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Buss siblings clapped back at Jeanie Buss in their argument over whether the sibs have the ability to force a liquidation of the family shares, and as we wait for a resolution that might be a while in coming, it's worth asking what comes next. For the sale of the Lakers, for Jeanie's role, for the current front office, the roster and more.  One thing that becomes clear: The longer this -- meaning the sale of the team from Mark Walter to Josh Kushner/Bob Iger -- goes without a resolution, the worse it is for the Lakers (it makes it harder to hire people, make transactions, etc.). But it's also not good for Jeanie, because ultimately, it's very hard to see how she comes out ahead, even if she wins in court.  One way or another, it feels like then end of an era, but the question now is how much damage that end brings.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Buss siblings clap back.    SEGMENT 2: How this impacts the basketball end of things for the Lakers.    SEGMENT 3: What does Jeanie think she's going to "win" even if she wins?   Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rather than cede the franchise sale drama to Mark Walter, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, the Buss siblings on Monday went full bore into doing what they do best—creating serious sibling drama.  Early in the day, ESPN reported that the Buss family had voted to sell its remaining share in the Lakers, amounting to just under 18 percent.  Not long after, Jeanie's attorney released a statement calling that vote bunk, and saying the sibs don't have the legal authority to do it. Jeanie, as laid out by a 2017 court order, has a legal claim to her governorship that can't be eliminated by the sale of the team (which, interestingly, was the impetus for the sibs to take this latest vote to sell).  Who wins? The lawyers will sort it out.  The bigger and more important question is whether in the end, any of this really matters for Jeanie in terms of retaining her current gig.  Is any of this, especially if it comes through a very public, very unseemly and potentially protracted legal battle, ultimately going to matter to Kushner and Iger if they want her out (or, if nothing else, remove any teeth from her position). Because in the end, is 75 year old Bob Iger, who has tried for years to put himself in this position, seemingly wants to be out front for the franchise and unquestionably has the background in league affairs to represent the Lakers in league functions, going to just kick back and let Jeanie do stuff?  Is Kushner going to favor her over his friend and co-owner?  There's no good endgame here for Jeanie.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Buss family is selling. Or is it?    SEGMENT 2: Jeanie can't win.    SEGMENT 3: What are the practical impacts from Monday's events?    Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the nine zillionth time since turning down a long-term deal with the Lakers, veteran guard Dennis Schröder is on the move, this time from Cleveland to Charlotte.  The motivation for the Cavs is relatively simple - free up money to get James Harden resigned, and then try to add another player. Reportedly, that could be Peyton Watson (restricted FA, Denver) or Jonathan Kuminga, who has been rumored to be on the Lakers radar for so long at this point, it's reasonable to wonder if the radar is even working properly. But with this news comes a fresh round of Kuminga-or-not-to-Kuminga, because that, ultimately, is the question.  And when you start breaking down how a deal with Kuminga would have to look financially for the Lakers (this is before trying to figure out whether or not you could even make the trade to get him here), it's reasonable to wonder if this is a good idea.  Meanwhile, the dust continues to settle around the agreed upon sale of the Lakers from Mark Walter to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger (and a bunch of other rich folks, TBD).  We walk through two of the biggest concerns about Kushner:  That he's a VC guy, and will be motivated primarily by bottom line issues and therefore won't be willing to spend to win.  That he's just not rich enough to compete with richer owners.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Reluctantly, back into the Kuminga waters.    SEGMENT 2: Why it's just a dicey idea.   SEGMENT 3: Is Kushner rich enough? Is the VC thing a problem?    PhotoCredit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a normal offseason, the August schedule release is one of those signpost events that lets fans know the season is creeping closer. It's a fun chance to try and predict what's coming.  Things never quite work out as predicted, but that's part of the fun.  Of course, this year, a certain blip in the news cycle has radically changed the subject for Lakers fans, who now wonder what's coming with the second ownership change in 15 months. But that doesn't mean the schedule didnt' come out! So we break it down. What are the highlights? The lowlights? The most challenging parts?  Start with the beginning. The Lakers are home-heavy, and get just about as tolerable an opening 18 game stretch as you could ask for. A couple games against elite squads, a couple against bottom feeders, and a bunch against potentially-solid-but-still-lower-tier Western Conference teams like Golden State, Portand and Utah. JJ Redick and his staff will have an opportunity to get a huge crew of new players acclimated, and because they see the same opponents multiple times (2x vs. GSW, 2x vs. Portland, 2x vs. Sacto, 3x vs. Utah) learn how different lineup adjustments can work against the same opponent which can be helpful with a new roster.  Things get significantly more challenging in the second half of the year, so that's tough, but the Lakers benefit from closing with a very home heavy schedule.  One that includes consecutive games against Minnesota (games 80 and 81) that could prove very, very significant.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Photo Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A drop was dropped on Lakers nation this week with the sale of the team from Mark Walter to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Nobody saw it coming, not even (reportedly) the principals until last weekend.  Lakers fans rightly feel like a rug pull has taken place, and not surprisingly, perhaps, that sentiment seems to be impacting how many are reacting to the news. A poll we put up on the show's YouTube page indicates real pessimism around the sale/new ownership, and a solid amount of angst amidst fresh uncertainty.  So as details continue to emerge around the why of the sale -- none of it sounds all that great for Walter -- the "what's next" is what matters to fans. And hopefully what's next comes relatively quickly. There is a lot -- A LOT -- that has to get done before this sale can be finalized and the team can start doing whatever it plans to do, whether around the front office, on the business side, or whatever.  And delays don't help the Lakers, they just keep the team in a state of semi-limbo, operating normally for most day to day things, but in a sort of limbo for other things. Candidates for front office jobs might hold off accepting offers if they think they could get replaced by new ownership. That's just one example.  Finally, does it matter that Bob Iger once identified as a Clippers fan?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: This sale could take a minute, which is bad for the Lakers.  SEGMENT 2: How are fans feeling?  SEGMENT 3: Iger's relationships.    Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well THAT was unexpected. After decades of family ownership, the Lakers will change ownership for the second time in less than a year and a half, with news breaking Wednesday that Mark Walter will be selling the team to a group led by venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney head Bob Iger.  The valuation is reportedly $12.5 billion, meaning Walter flipped the franchise for a tidy profit, having purchased 14 months ago for $10 billion.  So why now?  Theories abound. It could be related to Walter's health, having reportedly suffered a stroke in 2024 that has been challenging to recover from. It could be related to the federal investigation of his companies for insurance fraud. It could be Walter just doesn't love owning a basketball team in the same way he loves owning a baseball squad (he's keeping the Dodgers). Or it could be the aforementioned $2.5 billion.  We'll learn more with time, but in the here and now there are significant questions about what comes next. The Lakers are in the middle of a significant remodel, tied very closely to Walter's ownership of the Dodgers. What happens to all of that? How long will it take for this sale to go through, and for new-new ownership to put its stamp on the organization? Do they have a similar operating philosophy to what the Lakers presumably were getting, via the Dodgers?  It's a lot!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images    Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first bits of the schedule were released on Tuesday, and (no surprise) the Lakers play a big role in what the NBA now calls Opening Week, and then on Christmas. They're playing on what is technically the first night of the season, but then the Lakers will host the Warriors (another version of ______ vs. Steph!) and then on Christmas, the league has sent LeBron James back to the Crypt, like a big gift from Santa.  Both games should be entertaining (it's always fun to watch Steph play) and while the lead up to LeBron's return has the potential to be completely insufferable, the actual X-Mas basketball should be great. The Sixers are a super-intriguing bunch, with all sorts of talent, and the Lakers have the potential to be pretty dynamic, themselves.  So while the NBA isn't exactly going out on any limbs, here, they did assign Luka and the Lakers a couple of good games.  More schedule coming on Wednesday (NBA Cup draws) and Thursday (full schedule release).  Finally, Kirk Goldsberry was on with Zach Lowe, and cited Luka as the player he believes is under the most pressure this year. The reasons he cites (which we pass along) certainly make sense, and the argument he makes is not far fetched. But is he right?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Luka vs. Steph! LeBron vs. the Lakers!    SEGMENT 2: What to expect on Christmas.    SEGMENT 3: How much pressure is Luka facing?    Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images     Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NBA's annual slowplay of its schedule release began on Tuesday, and two of the marquee games will involve the Lakers. They'll open the season against Steph Curry and the Warriors (although not on the literal opening day, for the first time this decade), a matchup that's overly familiar. (Perhaps a bit too familiar for these purposes?) From there, the Christmas Day slate predictably includes a showdown with ex-Lakers LeBron James and the very new-look Philadelphia 76ers. Spicy matchups? Depends on what you're looking for. Big opportunities for the Lakers. Definitely.  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The question of value is going to be a huge one for the Lakers this season. Especially in the context of which players provide more of it than their salary might suggest.  So which guys are most likely to outperform their paychecks?  The obvious place to start is with the dudes making the least amount of money, but who still have a chance to play an outsized role for the team. Like this year's Marcus Smart. Think players like Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle, as vets playing on minimum deals, or Adou Thiero and Cam Carr playing on rookie scale contracts. But what about guys making a few nickels more?  Is Quentin Grimes a good candidate to exceed his salary? Certainly he will get a lot of minutes, and on this team will fill a critical role both as a secondary scorer and a guy expected to guard some dudes on the other end. How about Sexton and Mamu? And then there are the guys at the very top of the food chain. Luka has to be elite, and Reaves has to play like a $40 million player must.  But so much of this conversation starts to settle on Walker Kessler, the most controversial deal the Lakers issued this summer.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers need guys to overperform.    SEGMENT 2: After the minimum guys, who is next?    SEGMENT 3: The Kessler Kunundrum.    Photo Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This question came in from a listener, TheStewPup at Kambrothers on Twitter:  Given the team's lack of (positive) trade pieces, how long do you guys think it will take to turn the team into a true contender? Can they realistically do it before Luka's contract is up? The answer is obviously really important, not just because they want to win, but because progress in that direction is what will help ensure they hold on to Luka after he (presumably) opts out of his current deal to sign an even bigger one, ideally with the Lakers. But while the Lakers made some big moves this summer, they're still not all the way there. That much is both clear and expected. So how do they cover the remaining ground?  A story from Bobby Marks on ESPN looks at how next year's offseason could shape up and the factors that will influence it. When you put it together, they could very well have been influenced to act aggressively this summer not only to respond to present needs, but also to anticipate future environments. There will be more teams with cap space. The free agent pool could be equally thin, but the Lakers could be working without this summer's draft capital, given that the one move they seemed sure to make was an aggressive play for a center.  So there are a lot of steps the Lakers need to cover, from nailing this offseason's pickups to using next year's space wisely to really hitting on young, cost-controlled talent.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Can the Lakers get good fast enough?  SEGMENT 2: Factors at play.  SEGMENT 3: Little ways the Lakers get better, to match the big ones.    Photo Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers need to fill out their roster, and the biggest need is a forward with defensive versatility who can also shoot a little.  Dallas forward PJ Washington seems to fit that bill.  But for this to work, the Mavs would have to want some stuff the Lakers could send them. That's a problem, given LA's relatively bare cupboard of assets. But even more problematic? Apparently the Mavs don't want to trade Washington anywhere. Can't acquire a guy who isn't available. And even someone like Klay Thompson may not be as available as speculated. The Mavs would certainly trade him, but reportedly don't want to buy him out. Probably because they think there's interest and if they're patient, the Mavs might get something in return.  We'll see. But as we open the mailbag, it answers one of the most common Q's we get, namely whether another big move is coming, or if this is likely the team we'll see open training camp.  Meanwhile, the Lakers have some spots on the roster that don't get much attention when talking about the rotation. Guys like Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James and to a lesser degree, Jarred Vanderbilt. Dudes who take up roster spots and for one reason or another, aren't expected to play much, if at all.  Could any of them defy expectations? And if so, which one is the best bet?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers want players, but are players available?    SEGMENT 2: Are they likely to be the team they are now when camp opens?    SEGMENT 3: Could Knecht surprise?    Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%.   BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The great David Aldridge at The Athletic has a review of the summer's activity around the NBA, ranking teams by how successful an offseason they had. That doesn't mean teams finishing higher are better overall, just that the offseason was relatively speaking more productive. The Lakers came in at 11th, which seems pretty fair, all things considered.  On the one hand, you can argue that in raw terms, they might not be quite as good as they were last season (this is, more or less, a referendum on the impact of losing LeBron James, because there are areas where the Lakers have definitely improved, like at starting center). On the other hand, if you're trying to envision what a long term vision for the squad might look like in the Luka Doncic era, that's a lot more clear now. The Lakers are also a lot younger, and seem to have hit on their first round pick in Cam Carr.  Overall, there's a lot to feel good about!  Does Aldridge get his evaluation right?  The answer does in some ways get to a fairly pervasive criticism of Rob Pelinka's work, hsitorically and this season, about a proclivity for player options. Sometimes, they've been mystifying. This year? Maybe not?  Finally, Luka finished in the top 10 for NBA2K's 3-point ratings. This is cearly not meant to be a reflection of raw percentages or efficiency, because Doncic doesn't measure up in that regard. But swag? Audaciousness? That he's got in excess. So what was 2K factoring in? And what do things look like when you dig a little deeper into his percentages?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Athletic looks at LA's offseason.    SEGMENT 2: Why the Lakers gave away the contracts they did.    SEGMENT 3: Luka and NBA2K.    Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%.   BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a hole at forward. Most people think that hole is at power forward, more specifically. And no question, it would be great to fill it with a high end, versatile defender who also comes with a good skill set offensively. Scottie Barnes or OG Anunoby, or a top shelf defender/ball mover like prime Draymond.  But of course, those guys are really, really hard to find.  And as the offseason moves along, it's more likely the Lakers will hold off on filling that spot until the season is underway, or the deadline, or even next offseason. So in the meantime, what do they do with what they have? Well, one thing to consider is the role of Luka Doncic. He is a force offensively who can make a lot of disparate parts work well together, as long as everyone understands his role. But he's obviously not a traditional point guard, because he's so flippin' large. So when people talk about that last starting spot, are they really just talking about defense?  How does Luka fit in?  Is what they need not so much a power forward, per se, but a versatile wing who can take on multiple matchups and allow the Lakers to slot players like Luka and Austin Reaves in more suitable ways?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Is Luka part of the solution?    SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers need at PF?    SEGMENT 3: How versatility on D is much more important than skill on O.    Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%.   BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maybe it's because his dad is a broadcaster for the Lakers, but Klay Thompson has been connected via rumors to the purple and gold for years. And now, at 36, he's reportedly on the trade block with the Mavs.  So once again, the question is asked, how would Klay look on the Lakers?  He's a long way from the elite shooter/defender of his prime, but Klay still does have some utility as a high volume 3-point shooter (still around 40% pretty consistently), and given that he now plays off the bench, the expectations for his performance is much more in line with what he's capable of delivering. Plus, he's been relatively healthy over the last few seasons, meaning even at an elevated age, he's a decent bet to give the Lakers 70 games.  On the other hand, Thompson doesn't really fit the team's timeline, or positional need. He's not a piece that will help bring them significantly closer to the upper crust of the West, and would put bodies in front of players like Cam Carr and Adou Thiero. Is that someone the Lakers should be pursuing, if it's not directly addressing a position of need?  It gets to a core question - are the Lakers better off doing what they can to get the best player at, say, power forward, even if he's not a great fit or comes with question marks because he does more for the team RIGHT NOW, or should they hold off and try to find a player is a better fit long term, even if it causes some pain in the interim?  The answer to that question largely dictates whether the Lakers are essentially done with big swings this summer.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Dallas is shopping Klay, reportedly. Should LA bite?  SEGMENT 2: Logistics aside, what would Klay look like on the Lakers?  SEGMENT 3: Mr. Right, or Mr. Right Now?    Photo Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Cozy EarthHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDONfor an exclusive 20%.   BetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers had a very eventful offseason, leading to what could rightly be called a radical roster makeover. Whether you like, dislike, or remain undecided about Luka Doncic's new look running mates, one thing's for sure: Rob Pelinka and company were not content to sit on their collective hands and play things safe.   But did they actually do a good job with their moves? NBA Front Office Podcast co-host Keith Smith has a new piece for Spotrac, compiling anonymous (and therefore candid) thoughts from Lakers assistant coaches and rival execs/scouts around the league on what they're expecting from this new team. What are the strengths? The Weaknesses? The potential.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Segment 1 Do the players around Luka make sense? Segment 2: Walker Kessler's importance. Segment 3: New roster, better offense?   (Keith Smith's article: https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/3424/2026-nba-western-conference-summer-league-notebook)   Photo credit:  Rob Gray-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Cozy Earth Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are a radically different team this year than last. Better? Worse? About the same?  You could make an argument for all three. But at the least, it's easy to say that the team's floor could be a little higher, assuming good health. And any drop off really depends a lot on your thoughts about losing LeBron. What does it mean that he's no longer on the roster, even as the Lakers arguably improved in a lot of other places?  There's definitely a blueprint in place, even if the construction isn't complete at this point.  At the same time, the Western Conference itself has been pretty radically reshaped. While the teams at the top are still quite elite (San Antonio had a very low stress offseason, and the Thunder have so much depth they can handle a little bit of roster attrition), there are big question marks in Denver and Minnesota, at the least. Meanwhile, teams like Portland (post Ja Morant trade), Dallas (trying to win now, plus Kyrie is back) and Utah (trying to win now, have a solid roster) could/should win more (or even a lot more) games than last year.  So where do the Lakers fit in?  We discuss.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are much different. Are they better? Worse? About the same? SEGMENT 2: What might make you more comfortable about their chances?  SEGMENT 3: What about the rest of the West?  Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers became Luka Donćić's team the moment he was traded to the Lakers, but from a leadership perspective he didn't have to fully take on every part of the job, because the team still had LeBron James, and LeBron James is always going to have a significant role in leadership.  Now LeBron is gone, and there's a big space that needs filling.  Luka looks ready to increase his activity. Reports, including from The Athletic's Dan Woike and ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Wednesday said that Doncic is footing the bill to bring the entire squad over to Slovenia for four days of mini-camp and bonding. It's an interesting way to bring the group together, and certainly will help his teammates understand Luka in ways going beyond a typical mini-camp you might see in somewhere like Vegas or San Diego, which guys like LeBron have organized in the past.  It's also a longer commute, so the logistics are kind of fascinating, too.  But it does put into perspective the question of Luka's leadership, and how he's likely going to need to expand his voice in ways that may not always have been his natural inclination, now that LeBron (and well-respected members of the supporting cast like Marcus Smart) is gone. Austin Reaves will have a role to play here, too, stepping up from the NBA's biggest bargain contract to one where the expectations are heavy.  Meanwhile, the NBA has a PR problem on its hands, because they can't seem to get anywhere near the end of the Kawhi Leonard/Clippers/Aspiration investigation, which now looks like it could extend into the next calendar year.  Ooof.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are heading to Slovenia!    SEGMENT 2: Luka and leadership.    SEGMENT 3: The NBA and the Clippers investigation.    Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tuesday began with more news about the federal investigation into the vast business empire of Dodgers owner Mark Walter and the Guggenheim Group. It's complicated, for sure (more complicated than a couple of hoops podcasters are going to try to explain) but doesn't seem trivial, to say the least. And while it doesn't look now like the investigation will have any immediate impact on operations for the Lakers (or the Dodgers for that matter) it's obviously something that over time will be a story to watch.  Meanwhile, the Lakers are reportedly interested in adding more center depth. Now, they used to have a backup center in Deandre Ayton that was quite a luxury in that spot, given his resume. It's worth asking whether Ayton would happily (or happily enough) fill the role the Lakers would need him to play with Walker Kessler on board, but fair to say when the Lakers sent him to Washington, the common perception was that another move would be coming behind it.  That hasn't happened.  So what do the Lakers do from here? Are the street free agents (i.e. Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks, etc.) much of an improvement over Kevon Looney as a backup C? How would the Lakers open up a spot for one of them? What about a trade for someone like Jericho Sims? Is Daniel Gafford, were he made available, worth what would likely be a higher cost, given that he and Kessler almost certainly couldn't play together?  It's a spot that could be resolved, too, by improving at power forward, which could push Sandro Mamukelashvili into a high-minute backup role at both PF and C.  There's still time to iron stuff out, and a lot will depend on the resolution of the Peyton Watson situation in Denver. But it's something the Lakers are certainly watching closely.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Feds are poking around Mark Walter's businesses.    SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers do at backup C?    SEGMENT 3: The Mamu question!    Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the Lakers (or at least Lakers fans) endure the Jonathan Kuminga Waiting Game -- and along those lines, Jake Fisher reports Monday evening that the Lakers are still interested, but are very much trying to dictate the terms, financially -- many folks are searching around for potential better offers. Denver, meanwhile, is in a real pickle when it comes to their negotiations with restricted free agent Peyton Watson following the diabolical offer sheet OKC's Sam Presti threw at Spencer Jones, and needs to offload salary if they want to keep him. One name on that list could be forward Cam Johnson, a three-point specialist who has at least the reputation of playing good defense, even if it's not quite as well-deserved now as it once was. (And this is when he's on the court, which the oft-injured player struggles to do consistently.) Still, while Johnson would not be the long term answer (likely) for the Lakers at power forward, if they could acquire him for the right price, would he make more sense than a higher upside, potential long term piece like Kuminga? Meanwhile, what's the deal with Matisse Thybulle? The Lakers made the signing official, but how much is he going to be able to play, given his health questions over the last couple of seasons? And what about Thybulle's offense? Can he provide enough shooting to give the team high quality minutes?   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Thybulle signs. What does he bring? SEGMENT 2: Can he shoot well enough for a significant role? SEGMENT 3: What about Cam Johnson? Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers need a starting-caliber forward. That much is clear, and it's not exactly a state secret.  Whether the Lakers can do it this offseason remains to be seen, and whether that player is intended to be a short or long term solution is the other half of the equation they have to try and figure out. It stands to reason the Lakers would prefer the latter, but finding that guy won't be easy. One potential candidate, at least in theory, is Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who is young, athletic, has shown some promise and is available.  Of course, getting him is complicated by a variety of things. First, the Lakers and Kuminga would need to agree on a contract of at least three years in order to execute a sign and trade, and reportedly the gap between what the Lakers want to pay and what the Kuminga wants to receive is pretty significant. And then they'd have to figure out how to execute the actual trade, which has gotten harder after Atlanta acquired Lu Dort from the Thunder last week.  But is Kuminga even worth all of this fuss? Would he fit with what the Lakers are doing? Is he actually as good as some (especially including Kuminga) seem to think? Would he accept the role the Lakers would need him to play, and then thrive in it?  Would LA be better off with a shorter term solution, knowing that the odds of fully rebuilding the team to a championship level in just one offseason -- particularly after LeBron James left -- were thin?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Is Kuminga worth all this fuss?    SEGMENT 2: Short vs. long term considerations.   SEGMENT 3: Better alternatives out there?    Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LeBron James has chosen the Sixers. LBJ had already long been out the Lakers' door, so in that sense, it's kind of a formality. But on a practical level (business around the league may pick up again) and on an emotional level (LeBron's relationship with the franchise and fans was... to put it mildly... complicated), there are ripple effects. Andy Kamenetzky offers some quick immediate thoughts on what comes next for the Lakers.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers haven't yet officially signed Blazers free agent forward and defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle to a veteran's minimum deal, but that's only a formality. He'll be inked soon enough and expected to provide a true Three-and-D presence as, along with Ziaire Williams, part of a concerted recent effort to shore up the roster's wings. The real question isn't whether Thybulle is capable of handling his assignment, but rather whether he'll stay healthy enough to do it. Over the last two seasons, Thybulle played just 45 combined games. Were he able to remain on the court, he may not have been available for the Lakers in the first place, and certainly not at this price. To get a better idea of Thybulle, Andy spoke with Mike Richman from Locked On Blazers. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Mike Richman (Locked On Blazers)   Photo Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have undergone a massive offseason roster transformation, with three (at most) holdovers from last season's rotation. Lots of new faces. More long-term deals than in recent memory. All in the name of maximizing Luka Dončić's prime. How good should Lakers fans feel about their team heading into this season, as is? And how would fans feel about their team after one more trade, which, according to multiple reports, the Lakers want to make? Is it for Jonathan Kuminga? And if not, is there a Plan B possibility that would move the needle? Andy breaks it all down with Khobi Price, who covers the Lakers for the California.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Khobi Price (California Post) Segment 1: Roster overhaul Segment 2: Pelinka has to be right about the offseason choices. Segment 3: Kuminga or bust when it comes to any further moves?   Photo Credit:  Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Unless the Lakers can pull what's become a very tricky rabbit out of their proverbial hat and figure out a complicated deal for a high-profile forward, the offseason's roster rebuild is more or less done. Make no mistake. It's different... way, way different. Younger. Faster. More athletic. More balanced. Less collectively experienced. Entirely retooled around Luka Doncic. And not without many lingering questions. Can Walker Kessler anchor the defense to become better than it appears on paper? How quickly can this group jell? Are there opportunities for unproven but intriguing players like Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero? And will JJ Redick let them learn on the job? For answers to these questions and more, Andy talked with Raj Chipalu. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Raj Chipalu (Silver Screen and Roll, Offsides App) Segment 1: How good can the new Lakers roster become?  Segment 2: Different defensive scheme? Roles for Carr, Thiero?  Segment 3: More on the younger players, and the defense.   Photo Credit:  Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have long needed more young players and promising wing defenders... and if possible, more young promising wing defenders. As such, it makes perfect sense that the Lakers inked a veteran's minimum deal with Ziaire Williams, a 24-year-old forward coming off a solid season with the Brooklyn Nets. At his best, Williams can provide strong defensive playmaking, reasonable defensive versatility, and made threes off open looks, all while operating at high energy. At his worst, Williams can fall prey to messing with an offense's flow while trying to show more shot-making than he's capable of. Or, in the case of these Lakers, what's even needed of him. Can Williams play to his strengths and become a star in his lane? Andy Kamenetzky breaks down the pluses and minuses with Erik Slater, the host of Locked On Nets, who also covers the team and the NBA at large for Clutch Points.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Erik Slater (Locked On Nets, Clutch Points) Segment 1: Matisse Thybulle's health issues, offensive improvement Segment 2: Thybulle's defensive prowess Segment 3: Someone has to get moved to make room for Thybulle Photo Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have clearly been pondering the defensive issues that remained evident after their initial wave of new roster additions. Yes, Walker Kessler and, to a lesser but still tangible degree, Quentin Grimes can be helpful along these lines, but in particular, too many holes along the perimeter remained. Well, over the last two weeks, Ziaire Williams was first signed, and then on Monday, news broke that the Lakers brought two-time All-Defense member Matisse Thybulle aboard.   On the plus side, Thybulle can be an elite on-ball defender and defensive playmaker who also offers good three-point shooting. A true 3&D presence, which all teams covet. On the minus side, Thybulle gets hurt. A lot. Enough that he may have to play limited minutes or even games to keep him healthy come playoff time. This will require excellent planning by the coaching staff and excellent work by the training staff. Still, it's a veteran's minimum deal for a player with a high floor and an established calling card. At worst, it's no harm, no foul at the price, and with a lack of better options. At best, Thybulle provides a lot at a low cost.   Either way, he puts the Lakers' roster at 16 guaranteed players, and you can only carry 15. Someone's gotta go.     Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Segment 1: Matisse Thybulle's health issues, offensive improvement Segment 2: Thybulle's defensive prowess Segment 3: Someone has to get moved to make room for Thybulle   Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the 2025-26 season, the Lakers' bench, to put it generously, lacked scoring punch. Some of this was the byproduct of continual injuries, which kept someone like Rui Hachimura, arguably best utilized as a three-level scoring sixth man, in the starting lineup more often than not. Some of this was the byproduct of someone like Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent (pre-trade) not being a reliable enough source of points when given the rock. Some of it was the byproduct of someone like Jaxson Hayes being effective around the rim, but with no real moves beyond a lob dunk.   All of it, however, became a difficult problem for the Lakers to negotiate.   This season, Collin Sexton should alleviate that problem. The combo guard has proven himself a certified bucket getter during his eight years in the league. Whether he can play good enough defense and, more importantly, make good enough decisions will be the difference between him being a valuable addition or one that takes as much as he gives.   To learn more about Sexton, Andy talked with David Locke (Locked On Jazz, Jazz radio broadcast team) to get the rundown on Sexton's strengths, weaknesses, and unpredictability.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest David Locke.   Photo Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It cannot be overstated how much is riding on Walker Kessler's impending success and fit with the Lakers. It's not simply how much the team needs the skills the center brings, particularly on defense, where he's considered by many to be a budding All-Defense candidate. They also paid a handsome price (literally and asset-ally) to land Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz, who were not widely expected to let him leave. Two first-round picks. Two first-round swaps. Plus, four years, and $130M, all guaranteed, with a fourth-year player option. In other words, the Lakers went all-in on a big man they've clearly coveted for a few years. If they're right, then a big piece for trying to maximize the Luka Doncic era has been solved. But if they're wrong.... whoo, boy. They could be in a spot of trouble and stuck with few outs to fix their mistake. To talk more about Kessler's strengths, weaknesses, and mindset, Andy talked with David Locke (Locked On Jazz, and part of Utah's radio broadcast team). In particular, the question of how Kessler will handle the increased attention, stakes, and scrutiny of being a Laker was of great interest.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest David Locke   Segment 1: Kessler's defensive impact Segment 2: Kessler's offensive skills Segment 3: Kessler in a brighter spotlight   Photo Credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Summer League Lakers are undefeated in Las Vegas, cemented by Thursday's 102-85 beatdown of the Chicago Bulls. Tournament play awaits, but in the bigger picture, could the stars of this team play actual roles with the big club? Who are the main characters in question? First-round rookie Cameron Carr, whose three-level scoring, off-ball comfort, wingspan, and refined athleticism make him feel likely (if not probable) to be in next season's rotation. Second-year player Adou Thiero, whose explosive strength is still in the raw stages, has increasingly played under better control while still overwhelming opponents on both ends of the floor. Two-way contract holder Chris Mañon, whose offense hasn't quite caught up to last season's first-team All-Defense status with the G-League, but has shown more flashes. G-League returnee Arthur Kaluma, who keeps making his case for a two-way deal of his own.   It's always wise to take the Summer League with a grain of salt... but getting excited over these standouts is understandable.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Jovan Buha   Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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)Mark Walter and Rob Pelinka's VISION for the Lakers, Luka. STRONG DIRECTION?  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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers, in need of more depth along the wing, have reportedly been in talks with both the Atlanta Hawks and free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga about a potential sign-and-trade for at least a few weeks. But he's apparently not the only target in mind. Marc Stein reported that Matisse Thybulle, who's been linked to the Lakers in the past, is also on their radar. Which one is more gettable? Who's a better fit? And what does newly ex-Laker LeBron James have to do with all of this?   Insights on these questions and more are provided by special guest Jovan Buha (Buha's Block, The Lakers Collective)   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Jovan Buha   Segment 1: What's the latest with the Kuminga talks, and is Matisse Thybulle a new target Segment 2: Breaking down the new Lakers Segment 3: More on the new guys   Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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)Mark Walter and Rob Pelinka's VISION for the Lakers, Luka. STRONG DIRECTION?  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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's officially the Luka Doncic era in Los Angeles, and not simply because the roster was completely revamped with a goal of building properly around him. (Successful mission? Time will tell.) Doncic is now the franchise face operating without LeBron James (and for these specific purposes, Marcus Smart) as a leadership presence and voice. He, along with Austin Reaves (clearly also considered a foundational piece), will need to grow even more as culture setters and examples for accountability, beyond just increasing their voices.   (JJ Redick, who's already established himself as excellent at coaxing buy-in from players, will need to hone that skill even more.)   What have Doncic and Reaves been like as leaders to this point? To discuss this and other topics, Mike Trudell (Lakers TV sideline reporter for Spectrum Sportsnet, ESPNLA 710) swings by to offer his insights as someone who travels with the team and sees the Lakers' two stars on a day-in, day-out basis.     Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Mike Trudell   Segment 1: What are Luka and Austin like as leaders? Segment 2: The new roster Segment 3: More on the new Lakers, plus JJ's ability to get buy-in.   Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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)Mark Walter and Rob Pelinka's VISION for the Lakers, Luka. STRONG DIRECTION?  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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are now a year or so into the "Mark Walter era," which happens to coincide with the official start of "the Luka Doncic era." More than ever, all the decisions made about the roster and basketball will revolve around what's best for Luka. With all that in mind, what can be read into the offseason that includes... A massive roster makeover... New faces like Walker Kesler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Ziaire Williams... Younger... Potential offensive juggernaut... Potential defensive vulnerabilities...   But more than anything else, it all reflects a new era for the Lakers as a franchise. To break down what it may all mean, Anthony Irwin (Lakers Lounge, Offsides app) swings by to offer thoughts.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Anthony Irwin   Segment 1: Is Rob truly running the show? Segment 2: More front office decisions Segment 3: The new guys!   Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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)Mark Walter and Rob Pelinka's VISION for the Lakers, Luka. STRONG DIRECTION?  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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers may not be done making moves this offseason, and if they have their way, likely won't be. But for the time being, given how they're over the cap, any future new faces will have to be added via trade. Either way, they're *close* to finishing their offseason retooling. And make no mistake, this was one heck of a facelift. One could even say radical. Only two remaining starters (Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves). Only one holdover from the ROTATION (Jake LaRavia, who fell out of favor during the playoffs). Enter Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Kevon Looney and the rookie Cameron Carr. Can't accuse Rob Pelinka of being afraid to make bold moves. But were they good ones? Andy breaks it down with special guest Trevoe Lane. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Trevor Lane (Lakers Nation, Lakers Collective) Segment 1: Kessler scouting report. Segment 2: Grimes scouting report Segment 3: Sexton scouting report   Photo credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a LOT of new faces this coming season, with a rotation that's been radically overhauled. For better or worse? That remains to be seen, but were it to become a notable upgrade from 2025-26, it would mean that Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and especially Walker Kessler not just performed to expectations as new Lakers, but at least one (if not all of them) exceeded them.   With that in mind, what are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of the new guys? What do they bring to the table as players, competitors, and people? To break it all down, Andy Kamenetzky is joined by Tony Jones (@tjonesonthenba), who has a unique (and extremely useful, for these purposes) beat covering both the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers. This makes Jones highly familiar with Kessler, Grimes, and Sexton, and he was kind enough to share some intel. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Tony Jones (The Athletic) Segment 1: Kessler scouting report. Segment 2: Grimes scouting report Segment 3: Sexton scouting report Photo credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers' offseason churn never stops... and in this case, that's a good thing!   On Monday afternoon, two pieces of positive news broke for the Lakers. First, the Lakers signed young Nets free agent wing Ziaire Williams to a one-year veteran's minimum deal. The L.A. product (high school teammates with Bronny James!) is young (24), long (6'9"), athletic (40-inch vert), and, most importantly, a wing... all traits the Lakers have needed to add more of this offseason. Williams is a far more established (if still unproven, all in all) as a defensive player than as a scorer, but the Lakers also lack the former muuuuuuuuch more than the latter, so in that sense, the signing makes a lot of sense. Williams will have a real opportunity at a role and minutes. Worst case scenario, it's a low risk, low reward addition. Best case, incredible value.   And speaking of value, it would be an overstatement to call Austin Reaves "incredible value" at 4 years, $180M... but it beats 4 years, $185M, the original reported terms of his new deal. Reaves gave the Lakers a bit of a discount to help with future roster-building flexibility. What will become of this, who knows? But it's still a team-focused move that even fans cynical of Reaves should appreciate it.   Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers pick up their Summer League run in Vegas on Tuesday vs. the Clippers, and are looking to extend a thus far undefeated run in Sin City. Obviously, as is the caveat with all things "Summer League," it ain't the NBA, not everything directly translates at the Big Boy level, yada, yada, yada. But with that duly noted and acknowledged, several players are creating understandable excitement among fans and folks covering the Lakers. First round rookie Cameron Carr. Second round pick/second year (kinda) player Adou Thiero. South Bay Lakers defensive ace Chris Mañon. And South Bay Lakers holdover Arthur Kaluma, whose eye-popping showing last weekend in Vegas may put Rob Pelinka to a decision about an elevated, two-way contract. Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Photo credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Sunday, the Lakers announced the official signings of Austin Reaves and Collin Sexton, following a CBA-mandated order of operations that contains no surprises, but also cements them as a team operating over the cap, meaning any new additions of significance (short of a killer veteran's minimum signing) must happen via trade. This matters because the Lakers are both short on proven wing players and trade assets. The Lakers are currently heavily linked to Hawks free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga and more lightly to Dallas forward PJ Washington. More names will certainly emerge, but in any event, the Lakers are staring down limited options to make necessary improvements. Can they pull it off? Plus, Andy (with Brian on vacation) opens the mailbag and takes questions assessing the roster as currently constructed. Segment 1: How will being over the cap affect the Lakers? Segment 2: State of the roster, glass half empty. Segment 3: State of the roster, glass half full.   Photo credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The assumption among many fans now that LeBron is out the door is that Bronny is soon to follow, or should be at least, whether that's because the Lakers push him out (why bother with him now that dad is gone) or another team acquires him as part of their LeBron Recruitment Pitch.  But is that how this is going to play out? Should it be?  The Lakers aren't going to release Bronny, knowing he's guaranteed $2.3 mil. And while he's not ready to be a rotation player yet, Bronny is still only 21 and made strides from year 1 to year 2. Would it be worth giving him another year to improve, and see what happens? Is Los Angeles the best spot for him, given the high expectations for the roster and relatively limited opportunities for playing time?  One thing is for sure, the hope here is that Bronny doesn't get treated like a prop joined with his dad, becaus that would undercut a lot of the work he's done over the last couple of seasons. At the least, you hope he has agency, so if he moves with LeBron, it's because he wants to.  Interesting situation for the Lakers.  Meanwhile, this Kawhi thing has gotten really weird in ways that actually felt kind of predictable.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

First things first - there's no indication that Dallas forward PJ Washington is actually on the market, but his name pops up all the time and in theory, there are reasons the Mavericks might want to move off his contract.  In theory.  But let's say it's true. Would the Lakers, who badly need a starting caliber forward (which Washington definitely) is, really not want to take on Washington because, as reported by Khobi Price of The California Post, they don't like his four year, $88 million contract? If that's the case, it would be very interesting to know why. Is it just a structural thing? Where in the new CBA you can't have three guys making what Luka, Austin and Kessler make and then add a fourth above $20 mil, per? Maybe there's an argument for that?  Is it a tax thing? Maybe there's an argument for that... though less of one now given who owns the team.  Maybe they just don't think Washington is that good?  Or maybe they like the upside-for-probably-less-money that would be Jonathan Kuminga?  Or maybe all of this is just smokescreens and lies!  These are the moments you really wish you could be a fly on the wall for personnel conversations.  Plus... is the potential circus of what might be LeBron's last season part of the reason the Lakers let him go?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Do the Lakers really not want PJ Washington?    SEGMENT 2: What could be the reasons why?    SEGMENT 3: Why the Lakers don't want to be part of the LeBronumentary.    PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers started into their business this week making official what was unofficial before. Tuesday, it was the business of finalizing the trade to send Deandre Ayton to Washington, before the Lakers used up their cap space, thus making Jaden Hardy aggregate-able in a future trade.  The Lakers have also signed Mamu, and Wednesday, made the Walker Kessler trade official. What's notable about all of this stuff is that there were no surprises in any of it. No last minute expansions of something like the Kessler trade. No happy acquisitions of extra draft capital or stuff like that. Which means we're all going to have to wait things out as the Lakers do the hard, potentially slow work of filling out the rest of the roster.  Which brings us to Jonathan Kuminga. Multiple reports indicate now that the Lakers are interested in Kuminga, and that Kuminga is interested in the Lakers. They just haven't found the right number, contractually (and the Lakers haven't yet found a way to clear the space for him, anyway). There's also a possibility of a sign and trade, if the Lakers and Hawks could agree on terms. One scenario would include the Lakers remaining pick swap in a deal that would net Kuminga AND excise Jarred Vanderbilt from the roster.  Would that be worth the cost (in money and (relative) treasure)?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are getting down to business.    SEGMENT 2: Is Kuminga as a sign and trade possible?    SEGMENT 3: How much is too much?    Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers, having traded Deandre Ayton, badly needed to address the backup center position, and on Tuesday did just that, signing veteran Kevon Looney, known mostly for his time in Golden State but most recently with the New Orleans Pelicans.  Looney is an interesting addition, because he's definitely a veteran who can provide a voice and guidance for a team that is now extremely young. But at nearly 31 years old when the season starts, there's reason to question how effective a player he'll be. His per minute numbers were broadly similar last year in New Orleans compared to his time with the Warriors, save shooting and scoring numbers that cratered. As did his some of his defensive metrics, but this could be more a function of the Pelicans than Looney.  He's still an aggressive rebounder, but his finishing around the rim has fallen off.  But what he really might be is a player designed to attract free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, who is the current apple of LA's eye as they try to fill out the roster. Of course, to get him, the Lakers will need to free up some space. The "how" there is yet to be determined. Is Kuminga worth the pursuit? They've apparently tried to lure him with a deal starting at 2 years and $20 million. Still work to do!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers sign Looney   SEGMENT 2: Pursing Jonathan Kuminga, hard!   SEGMENT 3: Can they open up space?    Photo Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We learned Monday morning that Rui Hachimura will be heading to Inglewood to join the Clippers next season, on a two year deal worth $28 million (with the second season a team option). The Lakers had reportedly hoped they might be able to keep Hachimura around, but clearly he hasn't been a priority, given the number of players they've already brought in, and the fact that Rui has been extension eligible for a while, and yet here we are.  So why is he gone?  For starters, the Lakers simply seem to be prioritizing players they believe are more multi-dimensional than Rui, who has essentially one dimension... it just happens to be one (shooting) that he's fairly elite at (by percentage at least) and is always in demand.  It's reasonable to let Rui go, but it doesn't change the fact that the Lakers have holes around the roster that need filling. The question becomes how.  Meanwhile, why exactly did the Lakers and LeBron break up?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lost Rui. Now what?  SEGMENT 2: What the shift says about the team's priorities.  SEGMENT 3: Why LeBron and the Lakers broke up.    PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers need some wins in the draft and player development space after swings and misses on Jalen Hood-Schifino and Dalton Knecht.  Well, Cameron Carr looks like that guy, through two California Classic games, at least.  Carr has displayed the rangy, top shelf athleticism and excellent shooting skills (coming off screens, relcating, catch and shoot and so on) from beyond the arc. Needless to say, after two very good showings in early play, he's got Lakers fans (and surely the Lakers) excited. Looking great in Summer League isn't a guarantee a player will be successful at the NBA level -- the more predictive warning flags come when a player doesn't look good -- but it's never a bad thing for your guy to look like he's one of the best players on the floor, and that's been Carr.  Adou Thiero, meanwhile, followed up a wild, out of control effort on Friday with a much more controlled and productive effort on Sunday. The gap between Theiro and meaningful playing time might really be related to how effectively he can slow things down, and make sure he's not he's losing his fundamentals and making too many mistakes.  And then there are the two-way guys, Chris Manon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder. How are they looking?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the Lakers reportedly try to open up the space to continue adding to what is currently a guard-heavy, wing/forward-light roster, there was at least some hope that they could find a way to bring Rui Hachimura back.  Well, that's not a thing anymore.  Reports on Monday have Hachimura moving crosstown to the Clippers, on a two-year, $28 million contract. Rui was definitely a fan favorite, and a truly killer playoff performer, but also has serious limitations in his game, namely rebounding, passing and defense. He might have had a more natural role this year given LeBron's departure, but we'll never know.  In the meantime... the Lakers really need to figure out how they're going to clear some space, and obviously attention will shift even more heavily to free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. And they still need a backup center, given the trade of Deandre Ayton to Washington.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One of the big moves the Lakers made after the big Walker Kessler trade was to wrap up former Raptors PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili. The Georgian vet has been a darling of the analytics community for a while, but had a breakout year last season, showing chops as a passer, rebounder and energy-bringer. But enough to justify a four year, $52 million contract?  The Lakers hope so.  But is Mamu a power forward? A center? Can he play starters minutes? Can he hold up enough defensively to perhaps even outplay that contract?  And what does Mamu look like on a Luka Doncic-led squad?  To answer all of these questions and more, we bring in Sean Woodley, host of Locked On Raptors for a comprehensive scouting report.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with guest Sean Woodley!   SEGMENT 1: What led to Mamu's breakout season last year?    SEGMENT 2: Can Mamu handle a bigger role?    SEGMENT 3: Reaction!   Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are trying to open up enough space to bring in one more impact player this offseason, and started that business on Friday by trading backup center Deandre Ayton to Washington for guard Jaden Hardy (who is kind of incidental to this whole transaction), and two second round picks.  The Lakers also save about two million dollars, which will be very helpful both for the free agent Tetris on the guys they already have, but also for creating room to bring other players in.  Now attention will turn to the other "dead" spots on the Lakers roster, most notably Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt. These picks give the Lakers a little sweetener to move one or both along, perhaps avoiding the need to use a waive'n'stretch on either. (For reference, the cost for the Rockets to move off Dorian Finney-Smith on Friday was three second rounders.) So what's coming for the Lakers? What else can they do to red paper clip their way up to what is almost certainly targeted as a starting or rotation caliber wing/PF? Would it be Jonathan Kuminga? Rui Hachimura? Hard to know, but it's gonna be someone, if they can make it happen.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers want to make fans happy, they always like the good vibes that come with approval from the media.  But the person they really need to make happy? That's Luka Dončić. And on that front, multiple reports indicate that Team Luka is on board with what the Lakers have done, and is very enthusiastic about the addition of Walker Kessler, which is obviously important because he's now part of this team's Big Three going forward. And while you'd expect Luka to say nice things just to avoid creating controversial headlines, you'd also bet most of your paycheck that the Lakers didn't just spend all of their draft capital as well as actual money on a core player at a position he values highly without sign off.  And it's easy to see why he'd like this roster. Offensively, it seems to set up as the type of team he'd like, with some basket attacking ability, enough outside shooting to get the job done, and a center who can both anchor a defense and also set a screen then finish above the rim.  There's some coherence, and a good degree of continuity. Now there are also structural problems, particularly defensively and on the wing. But everyone now knows what the issues are, and can try and figure out how to solve them. It won't be easy, given the near total lack of controllable draft assets, but everyone knows what they are. Clarity can be beneficial.  Meanwhile, the Lakers are clearly trying to add more talent this summer. How is unknown, but they'll certainly explore trades, while waive-and-stretch scenarios, starting with Jarred Vanderbilt but potentially extending to Deandre Ayton as well, whether for an upside athlete like Jonathan Kuminga, or ... Rui Hachimura? He's still unsigned, and ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported Wednesday that the Lakers are still hoping to figure out a way to bring him back.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Luka approves!   SEGMENT 2: Why it might not be B.S...   SEGMENT 3: What about Kuminga? Or ... Rui?   Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton. These are the big names we know will be on the roster next year after a flurry of activity on Wednesday.  There's a lot to like about the new guys, starting with youth (Austin Reaves is now the oldest player on the team), offensive players who can put pressure on the rim, a defensive anchor in Kessler, multi-year contracts that can give the Lakers a little continuity going forward, and so on. There's stuff to worry about, most notably the lack of a wing defender (or really, wings at all). The Lakers gave up all their draft capital to get Kessler. They don't have a lot of defenders outside of him, and even guys like Grimes, who is a solid player on that end, isn't big enough to guard up with regularity.  So are they better than they were before?  Well, it depends on how you define better, and what else the Lakers might do over the course of the offseason (and into next year). Because remember, nobody thought they could get to the level of OKC or San Antonio in one transaction season.  So how much closer are they?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tuesday's opening to NBA free agency was boring.  Wednesday was poppin'.  The Lakers got off to a fast start, coming to terms with Utah center Walker Kessler on the terms of a contract (4 years, $130 million), and the Jazz on the terms of a trade (two firsts, two pick swaps). Then they signed PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili, SG Quentin Grimes and PG Collin Sexton. So that's the nuts and bolts of it until the Lakers can find a way to move someone else off the roster, or presumably use that final roster spot on a vet minimum deal.  But are the Lakers better? What's to like, what's not to like in the day's activity. How well are the Lakers set to compete going forward?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Recapping a huge day for LA.    SEGMENT 2: Is Kessler a good fit? How about Mamu and Grimes?    SEGMENT 3: Why the Lakers needed a backup PG.  PHOTO CREDIT: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It took a minute, but once things shook loose the Lakers VERY quickly reshaped their roster for the Luka Dončić era. The massive piece of business (metaphorically and literally) was the agreement to acquire Utah center Walker Kessler, all 7'2", 245 lbs. of him, for a huge price. Two unprotected first round picks, two pick swaps. Otherwise known as basically everything they had that Utah would want. But the Lakers got their man. He's 25 years old, has produced incredibly positive defensive numbers, and should be a good partner for Luka in the screen and roll, and as a finisher above the rim. Was the price too high? Maybe. Is Kessler currently worth that premium? Probably not yet. Could he get there? He'd better! And after that, the rest of the dominos fell. Long term deals for SG (and sometimes SF) Quentin Grimes and PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili, along with scoring guard Collin Sexton. The Lakers might be able to make some tweaks going forward, but the roster seems mostly formed.   So are they in a better spot now than a week ago?   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images     Everydayer Club   If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers started the day by losing LeBron James. That was, and remains, the biggest news of the day. And how this ends remains to be seen. There's still a chance the Lakers will want to help LeBron find a destination, in order to engineer a sign and trade that might bring back something (though temper your hopes) of value.  At some point, there will be time to think about the LeBron era, but for the time being, the Lakers have a team to build. And it starts with big game hunting, in restricted free agent centers Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren. The Lakers met with both, and reportedly will keep talking. How they wrestle them away from their respective squads, however remains to be seen. The Lakers have lost Luke Kennard to the Suns, and are reportedly close to losing Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart as well, though nothing is set with either guy. Meanwhile, they're reportedly frontrunners to land guard Quentin Grimes and PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili, and have been connected to forward Kelly Oubre as well.  There are a ton of moving parts out there, and while inaction makes fans nervous, they're not in a worse position now than they were post LBJ announcement. And even that could still, in the long run, be better.  But then again, how long of a long run do the Lakers have, vis-a-vis Luka?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: After LeBron goes, the Lakers look for (expensive) centers.    SEGMENT 2: Do the Lakers have a shot?    SEGMENT 3: What about Grimes and Mamu?    Photo Credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The marriage of convenience is no longer convenient. LeBron James informed the Lakers Tuesday that he'll be playing next season, but not for them, according to multiple reports. It means the Lakers get meaningful clarity going forward, something they've lacked in the last few years of the LeBron Era, but have a giant hole blown in their roster when it comes to competing in a Western Conference that isn't getting any less stacked.  There will be time to answer the broader questions about LeBron's legacy in LA, but for now, the big question is what's next? How do the Lakers start to build a coherent roster with long term prospects around Luka Dončić in an offseason where the options seem to be narrowing quickly. Robert Williams III and Jock Londale, centers that had been linked to the Lakers, are staying put. Marcus Smart is rumored to be out the door.  Could the Lakers make waves with unrestricted free agents? Maybe... but maybe not.  Lots of unanswered questions and a huge range of potential outcomes as free agency kicks off Tuesday afternoon.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The market for restricted free agents is starting to heat up a little, and it starts with meetings! Both Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren are at least testing the market as free agency begins. Duren seems to be more in conflict with his current employers in Detroit than Kessler but both of them are taking meetings and considering offers.  Can the Lakers compete? Particularly if Detroit and Utah will demand good returns on a trade as opposed to lower numbers on the contract? The Lakers don't have a ton to offer on the trade front, but do have cash they can throw at guys. Would that be enough?  And which guy would be a better fit? Duren is a more dynamic athlete (though Kessler is a very impressive athlete to be able to anchor a defense at his size -- 7'2", 250) and the better offensive player. Great rebounder, great hands, great lob threat for Luka, and he's very young. Kessler? More limited offense, defensive metrics that are off the charts. Great rebounder, great shot blocker. Can the Lakers use him in ways that maximize his defensive talents?  Meanwhile, LeBron James is considering the Warriors. That's not new. But now the rumors are that he wants to go there... with Anthony Davis? That would be fascinating.  All the fun starts at 3 pm PT.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The big name centers are taking meetings.    SEGMENT 2: Which guy is better fit?    SEGMENT 3: What about LeBron?    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the long term, winning your first big press conference doesn't really win you much, but it was still a great introduction for Cameron Carr last week to the LA media. The newest Laker was enthusiastic, appreciative of the opportunity, and didn't seem at all overwhelmed. He understood the challenge in front of him, vowing to live in the weight room this offseason and promising people will know over time that he's doing the work. (This while acknowledging that he will always be a member of the skinny guy club.)  For the Lakers, it's Step 1 in a long process of helping Carr develop into a quality rotation piece, which is something that simply has to happen after the team struck out on Jalen Hood Schifino and Dalton Knecht.  So between Carr and the two-way players signed by the Lakers, fans will have some new faces to watch.  Meanwhile, free agency kicks off in about 24 hours, and the Lakers are pretty quiet. Which is normal for them, but the fact that they seem on the periphery of so much of the conversation is a reminder of the narrow lanes available to them to improve.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  Photo: Chris Jones-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Free agency is coming fast, and while the rumor mill is spinning on overdrive, the Lakers seem to be more on the periphery of things.  Now that doesn't necessarily mean much, but it gets to some of the challenges they face. It's a big offseason for them, but the quality of unrestricted free agents isn't great. There are potential trades out there to be had (including some that have already been made) but the Lakers don't have a ton of assets they can use for such things. They have potential cap space to use, sure, but a lot of players of their own they need to retain, which would eat into that flexibility.  So they have a lot of different ways to skin the proverbial cat, but probably will only be able to fully leverage one of them. The rest will have to come with some very clever and prudent maneuvering.  So some of the names out there -- Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, Cam Johnson, Mamu (not writing that out until we have to) -- are they good targets? What about John Collins? Could the Lakers let Rui Hachimura go, if they thought there was a better option? How hard will it be to keep Marcus Smart?  Plus, there doesn't seem to be a lot of talk between LeBron and the Lakers. Does that make it more likely he goes? We explain.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: What's going on in free agency?    SEGMENT 2: Can the Lakers retain their own guys? Should they?  SEGMENT 3: Cam Johnson and LeBron talk.    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are believed to be looking for a frontline center to pair with Luka Dončić. For that matter, they're reportedly interested in changing up most of the depth chart at center. The shakeup didn't start on Draft night, either with a trade or a pick. So what happens next? Names like Walker Kessler and Mitchell Robinson are still very much in the conversation, attached to the team. They are different quality players, and would come at very different costs. But what are the Lakers planning on doing?   Especially given that they seem not to have talked up big change to fans, but to Luka Dončić as well?   What's the cost/benefit to Ayton picking up or turning down his option?   Plus, what are the Lakers going to do if LeBron really does slow play his free agency? Now that Austin Reaves is settled, are the Lakers trying to get a handle on what it'll cost to bring LeBron back? If they don't think it's possible, how can the Lakers replace him in ways that, even if they mean a small step back this year in talent, help set themselves up better going forward?   The Lakers need to create a roster that can move together going forward, because cap space isn't going to be available for a while once this offseason is done.       HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky       Everydayer Club   If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub       Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   5-Hour ENERGYIgnite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.   OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.     IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NBA is percolating, with free agency kicking off next week. But for the Lakers, there is still a ton of interest in the guy they selected -- and actually seem ready to keep -- in Tuesday's first round of the NBA Draft.  Cameron Carr, a 6'5" guard out of Baylor, rocketed up the charts this season, his first as a full time, high-minutes player at the college level. The athleticism is top shelf, and the shooting is considered NBA caliber. But what about the rest of the skill set? Where did he grow in his year at Baylor? What's left to work on?  To break it all down, we spoke with Cam Stuart, host of Locked On Baylor. He provided us a more in depth view that comes from seeing him play a season's worth of games. Does Stuart thing the Lakers got a potential steal? Can his defense hold up at the NBA level? Can his very thin frame put on NBA level strength, and handle the level of physicality required to thrive?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Who are the Lakers getting in Cam Carr?    SEGMENT 2: Can the defense hold up?    SEGMENT 3: Reaction!    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More reaction from the news that Austin Reaves and the Lakers came to an agreement Wednestday that'll keep him in LA for the long term.  Final terms, 4 years, $185 million. It's a lot of money, more than the Lakers likely hoped they'd pay, or maybe even expected to. But with interest heating up (the Pistons being the team most widely reported to be making preparations to free the space required to make an offer) the Lakers needed to make sure they didn't lose him for nothing.  Because whether this contract makes you happy or not, that scenario would have been a total disaster.  Still, it has an impact on the team, and will certainly raise no shortage of questions about performance, team building and more. But for the time being, the Lakers did what needed to be done, and they now have a very, very clear idea of what types of players will need to be put around Luka Dončić and Reaves to shore up their shortcomings. (Which is code for defense.)  Meanwhile, would LeBron request a sign and trade to finish off his career in Cleveland? If so, could that deal bring back a starting center?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: More reaction to Reaves.    SEGMENT 2: What this means for LA moving forward.    SEGMENT 3: A sign and trade scenario that would please the Lakers.    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Tuesday, the Lakers gave fans a lot to cheer about, moving up a spot to draft hyper-athletic, sweet-shooting guard Cameron Carr out of Baylor. That was generally quite well received.  Wednesday, in a significantly more important piece of business, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers had agreed to a four year, $185 contract with Austin Reaves, which will be signed near the end of the free agency period after the Lakers have made all their other cap space-related transactions. On the one hand, fans do love Austin. The story is undeniably fantastic. On the other, there will be plenty of them who hate this contract, and the idea of paying Reaves an average of $45 million a year going forward.  Will Austin be as attractive a player now that he's being paid like a star? Will he play like one? And even if he does, can the Lakers put a roster together around Luka Dončić and Reaves that covers the shortcomings of that pairing while those two make as much as they do?  Plenty to discuss! But one thing is for sure, this is probably where this was headed all along, especially with live reporting out there that teams like Detroit were preparing to poach him. Or to try, at least.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A lot of folks were expecting some zig, but the Lakers definitely delivered some zag.  And after sending some cash to James Dolan's New York Knicks to bump up one spot in the first round, the Lakers selected 6'5", 21-year old guard Cameron Carr out of Baylor with their pick. Broadly, the expectation was that LA would select a big, or failing that, a more prototypical wing player, given some of the positional needs. But clearly the Lakers felt that Carr was the best player for the long term. And there is plenty of appeal to the skill set. Carr is seen as an elite athlete and a top level shooter, particularly off the catch. His open court skills are excellent, and from the guard position could be an excellent lob threat.  And with a wingspan over seven feet, Carr has the body to be an interesting tool defensively, even if he's not considered a particularly good defender yet. (And even if he was better at it at Baylor, he's quite skinny at 185 lbs.  So the D will need to get better, as will his strength. But the Lakers got a player that most didn't expect to be available at 24. The skill set makes a lot of sense on a Luka Doncic-led team. Nobody knows whether he'll be good or not, or if other players would have been better. Time will tell. But at the least, the Lakers got a player a lot of experts like, who has a skill set of genuine value.  We'll see if they make any more moves to get into Wednesday's second round -- that's been the pattern of late -- but it's hard to find too much fault in their work on Tuesday.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers trade up, draft Cameron Carr.  SEGMENT 2: Does he seem like a good fit?  SEGMENT 3: What's next? Could the Lakers buy into the second round?    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Los Angeles Lakers received Baylor guard Cameron Carr from the New York Knicks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have some hard choices to make as they try and put a winning team around Luka Doncic, and one of the biggest is how to bring back Austin Reaves (which they need to do, short of using Reaves essentially to find his replacement, which feels like a long shot) but do so at a number that they're happy with. And more importantly, provides the type of flexibility to fill other important needs (especially defensively) that a Luka/Reaves long-term core creates.  So what will the market look like? Monday's action around the NBA could have an impact. First, both the Bulls and the Nets spent into their available cap space as part of the three team deal sending Julius Randle to Brooklyn and Nic Claxton to Chicago. They could easily create more room to make a max offer to Reaves, but now have work to do if that's the goal.  Meanwhile, Trae Young agreed to a deal for gobs of money to stay in Washington, and Ayo Dosunmu will stay in Minnesota for about $22 million per season. Where does Reaves fit in between those guys? And more importantly, is there anyone left to give him big dollars if the Lakers don't want to max him out?  Meanwhile, while it seems pretty clear that barring something unexpected Reaves will be back, the same can't be said about Rui Hachimura, who has a very, very valuable skill set (shooting) but some obvious holes as well. The Lakers can definitely find a better fit and more well rounded skill set for the money it might cost to keep him, but it's also very possible they could take a step back. And in a market that could move very quickly, if the Lakers take too long to make a choice or push for other players, they could lose Rui and not get the guy they want.  So it's a dicey proposition for an important free agent.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NBA Draft is Tuesday, and the Lakers will certainly have some big choices to make, whether they trade the pick or use it. And Tuesday also is a reminder of the incredible stakes that have been put on this season, not just by fans and media, but by Rob Pelinka and the front office. After all, he's been noting pretty consistently that this is the spot the Lakers hoped to be in, and that this summer is potentially transformative.  That wasn't a vision meant only to placate Lakers fans, it was also one apparently delivered to Luka Dončić according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. And as a result, Team Luka also has high expectations.  That doesn't mean they have to leap from this year's team to high end contention in the fall, but Luka (and fans) want to see progress.  And if the Lakers raised the expectations of their star player, was it optimism or a CYA impulse that was driving the pitch?  We'll unpack that and also explain how the Giannis deal impacts the Lakers.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky.    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Monday's big episode with NBA/Lakers Draft expert Mike Garcia, we covered a lot of ground, including where things stand in the front office, how the Lakers are preparing (or aren't preparing) for this Draft and offseason, what qualities they ought to value, and more.  In our bonus show with Mike, we unpack a few more things, starting with the question of whether the Lakers would be better off drafting for the capacity to play immediately (since they need more depth in the rotation right away) or the best player/talent available (because needs change pretty quickly). In theory, you could accomplish both at once, but at 25 the Lakers might need to choose. So if they do, which is more important?  And then, we move past the first round into players the Lakers might want to pick up in the second (should they, as has been the case in the last few drafts, try to acquire or buy a 2nd rounder) or pick up as a UFA.  Then, reaction!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Mike Garcia!    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Monday's big show, we cover a ton of ground with Draft expert Mike Garcia (@canyondriver), a huge favorite among Lakers fans for his incredible Lakers-focused coverage.  Mike not only walks us through his views on some of the players most frequently mocked to the Lakers at 25. Players like centers Tarris Reed Jr., Henri Veesaar and Zuby Ejiofor, and then another higher upside, higher risk player in Jayden Quaintance. But what about wings like Joshua Jefferson, a wing very high on Garcia's wish list?  But more than that, how should the Lakers approach this draft? What are the qualities they should look at to figure out who has the best chance of developing into a quality NBA player, after missing big on their last two first rounders (Jalen Hood-Schifino, Dalton Knecht)? And do they even have the infrastructure in place to have a solid pre-draft process? Who is running the show, and what's missing from the architecture?  Does it put them at a disadvantage?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with guest Mike Garcia!    SEGMENT 1: What makes a good Draft process? Are the Lakers ready?    SEGMENT 2: What went wrong in the last two Drafts? Who should the Lakers target this year?    SEGMENT 3: More names to watch.    Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's a lot of pressure on the Lakers to improve this offseason, and that process begins in earnest on Tuesday with the NBA Draft. The Lakers have the 25th pick, and after their last two first round selections (Jalen Hood-Schifino, Dalton Knecht) have not panned out, it's critical they get this pick right.  What exactly does that mean?  Should the Lakers go after the best available talent? A center? A player most capable of playing right away, even if the upside isn't quite as high?  Lots of important questions, and stuff we cover with Tyler Metcalf, draft expert at No Ceilings, the folks responsible for the Locked On Draft Preview (which you should read!). We talk about all that and more, highlighting names at the center spot and along the wing. What does Metcalf think about our selection in the Locked On Mock Draft, Tarris Reed Jr.?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: What could be available at 25?    SEGMENT 2: Talking centers!    SEGMENT 3: How about the wing? Any 2nd rounders or UFAs to target?    Get Your Free Locked On NBA Draft Guide! Our exclusive first round guide features team picks from local Locked On hosts and deep-dive prospect analysis from Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings. Download your free guide now: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/nbadraftguide/. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.    QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have been pumping the importance of this offseason for a while, in part (one might argue) because they hoped to change the subject after a series of underwhelming trade windows.  Well, now we're here and the hope was the Lakers would be filled with options, and the world would be their oyster. Things look a little more complicated than that, but nonetheless people expect big things. People including Luka Dončić, who on a podcast in Europe made a note of last year's failed season (they didn't win). It's big from a personnel standpoint, and from a fitness standpoint. It'll be very interesting to see how Luka attacks this offseason on that end, following the Summer of Luka and the new bar he's expected to meet.  Luka also noted the type of players he likes -- centers that can jump/finish and shooters. No surprise there.  Meanwhile, ESPN's Marc Spears reports that he's hearing LeBron is likely to return, and could bring a friend with him in former teammate Kevin Love. Would he be a good addition?  Finally, could Trey Murphy III be more available than reported?  Get Your Free Locked On NBA Draft Guide! Our exclusive first round guide features team picks from local Locked On hosts and deep-dive prospect analysis from Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings. Download your free guide now: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/nbadraftguide/. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.    QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have been linked to Jazz center Walker Kessler in one way or another for a couple of seasons. None of it made a lot of sense, given that Kessler is young, good, fits Utah's timeline and was under contract. Meaning there was zero reason for the Jazz to trade him, and especially not to the Lakers.  Now, though, Kessler is reaching restricted free agency, and it's time for Utah to have to pay up.  Kessler has been extension eligible for a while, and no offer has come. And now, according to reports, he's upset by that. The Athletic notes that Kessler and the Jazz aren't exactly on the best of terms. "The 24-year-old ... was already known to be frustrated by Utah’s choice not to offer him an extension last summer. And now, with the Jazz choosing to leverage the realities of restricted free agency against him as a way to minimize his market, sources say he is strongly considering the prospect of a basketball future outside Utah."  Dicey as dabbling into the waters of restricted free agency might be, the Lakers would almost certainly kick the tires on Kessler if they felt there was a reasonable chance he could end up in purple and gold. They'd likely have to overpay, and hope the Jazz don't match an offer sheet, but the prospect of adding a 24-year old with incredible defensive metrics would be a major temptation.  Meanwhile, ESPN's Brian Windhorst told ESPN Cleveland that the Lakers and LeBron James are, and will continue, to negotiate ahead of the start of free agency next month.  And finally, legendary voice Lawrence Tanter is stepping away from his duties after 43 years as the PA voice of the Lakers. The franchise is keeping him involved as a special advisor (which is a nice gesture). Congratulations to a true legend in Lakers basketball, and a genuinely good guy.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Kessler, eh?    SEGMENT 2: Should the Lakers make an offer?    SEGMENT 3: LeBron negotiations, and LT retires.    Get Your Free Locked On NBA Draft Guide! Our exclusive first round guide features team picks from local Locked On hosts and deep-dive prospect analysis from Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings. Download your free guide now: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/nbadraftguide/. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.    QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Locked On Podcast Network is Celebrating it's 10th birthday, and to kick things off, we're bringing you our list of the 10 most impactful moments of the last 10 years.  It includes a lot of hirings and firings, surprise resignations, critical trades and monumental signings.  There are incredible highs, including a title during one of the most disruptive societal moments a great many of us have ever experienced, and a terrible tragedy that preceded it.  All in all, it's been a very busy decade for the Lakers, one they finish in a place that fans hope has a ton of promise.  Let us know what you think about our list.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The 10 most impactful moments of the last decade for the Lakers.  SEGMENT 2: The LeBron shift, tragedy and triumph.  SEGMENT 3: Luka and new ownership.  Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Get Your Free Locked On NBA Draft Guide! Our exclusive first round guide features team picks from local Locked On hosts and deep-dive prospect analysis from Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings. Download your free guide now: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/nbadraftguide/. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.    QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's generally believed that the Lakers want to bring back Austin Reaves, which is great because Austin Reavess wants to come back to the Lakers. And no question, beyond the mutual admiration, a lot of the speculation that returns Reaves to the Lakers has been built around the idea that when it comes down to it, the market for Reaves around the league just won't be that strong. There aren't that many teams with cap space, and among those that have it Reaves isn't a great fit.  But what if that last part is wrong? There have been reports that teams like Brooklyn might make Reaves a very significant offer, and that other squads like Detroit and Atlanta could look to make something happen, too. The latter pair are intriguing because Reaves could theoretically go play there and still feel like winning is an option.  And if Brooklyn drops a bag on him that's way larger than what the Lakers are willing to do? Maybe he talks himself into that.  So in some ways, the Lakers need to be aware of A.R.'s preference to stay in LA, but they can't take it for granted. They can't lowball, or make it seem like he's got some sort of obligation, after being very much underpaid for the last few seasons.  But what happens if a team comes at Reaves with a number that makes the Lakers too uncomfortable? Does that number exist? What happens next if it does?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Get Your Free Locked On NBA Draft Guide! Our exclusive first round guide features team picks from local Locked On hosts and deep-dive prospect analysis from Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings. Download your free guide now: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/nbadraftguide/. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.    QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Knicks have knocked off the Spurs, putting an exclamation point for the ages on the 2025-26 NBA season.  And with the conclusion of the year, it's time for a time honored tradition: drawing conclusions and trying to get some lessons about what you need to win a title in this league. Every year, it's easy to react to the team that just won, but is that the best approach? After all, New York becomes the eighth franchise in eight years to hoist the Larry O'Brien. So is there really one template that needs to be followed?  That said, there ARE things to understand about what we saw, and what happens on the way to the Finals.  As the NBA's offseason officially begins, the Lakers are now very much on the clock to try and pay off what has been promised to be a big and potentially transformational offseason.  As they rebuild the thing, what's the model they should look at?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Finals are over! SEGMENT 2: Learning the wrong lessons.  SEGMENT 3: The right approach for LA.    Get Your Free Locked On NBA Draft Guide! Our exclusive first round guide features team picks from local Locked On hosts and deep-dive prospect analysis from Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings. Download your free guide now: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/nbadraftguide/. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.    QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are simultaneously trying to build next year's team, and the franchise long term. On Friday's big show, we spoke with Khobi Price of the California Post about the progress, or potential lack of progress, the Lakers have made replacing some of the front office personnel (think scouts) that are critical to the pre-draft process. And what about the infrastructure of basketball brains that fans have wanted to see built out in time for one of the most consequential offseasons in recent memory? We react to our conversation with Price, looking both at the process of building the organization for the long term while also trying to build out the team right now. And then there's the Draft itself. How should the Lakers approach the 25th pick? Best player available regardless of position? The guy most likely to be ready for minutes right away? Longer term upside? Can some combination of that be found at 25, anyway? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Photo credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.     DoorDash From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now. 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are simultaneously undertaking two projects that have some overlap in the Venn Diagram, but aren't entirely aligned. First, they have to think about how to build a winning team around Luka Dončić as quickly as possible, putting enormous pressure on this offseason to be quite excellent. Second, they're engaged in a long-term project of building out the basketball operation and the franchise generally into something far more modern and performing than it has been.  The former project has its first big tests coming up soon with the Draft and free agency, both of which will provide opportunities to make significant signings and trades. And in that regard, while the Lakers have hired their analytics guy (a real rocket scientist) they haven't (at least publicly) done much else. Who are the scouts scouring the earth for the best available talent? Who is in the room when players do draft workouts?  The Lakers are building a really big house, hopefully, and everyone wants the foundation to be solid and the furnishings to be top end. Mark Walter took some time developing the Dodgers organization into what it is today, and now it seems to run almost on autopilot, so strong is the culture. But at the same time, that house that the Lakers are working on? Metaphorically speaking, people are coming over soon. There is consequential work to be done.  And as for the draft, where are the Lakers looking? So many fans are prioritizing the center position... are the Lakers doing the same? Who are some of the names in question?  We discuss all of this and more with Khobi Price of the California Post.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Khobi Price!    SEGMENT 1: What's up with the front office?    SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers have right now? Do they have the infrastructure they need?    SEGMENT 3: Looking at the Draft.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well that was insane.  Down by as much as 29 points, the New York Knicks capped off one of the greatest comebacks in modern sports history, pulling ahead for good on an OG Anunoby tip with 1.2 seconds left for a (to say the least) improbable Game 4 win. Now up 3-1, they seem to have a very strong hold on the series as it returns to San Antonio for Game 6.  And for San Antonio, basically the only way to prevent what happened Wednesday night from becoming one of the truly iconic moments in modern NBA history, but something that follows them around even more, is to win the series. And they can... if they clean stuff up. None of these games has been a walk.  So was anything revealed, other than Josh Hart owes Anunoby dinner?  From there, we discuss a very interesting, very legal sign and trade proposed by cap guru Eric Pincus at Bleacher Report that would send LeBron James to Cleveland for a package centered around Jarrett Allen. Is it enough to get either team to bite, in theory? Yes? But with some trepidation. Like many well constructed teams, you can see why both might like it, and you can see they wouldn't.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Game 4 madness!    SEGMENT 2: What the Knicks had that the Spurs missed.   SEGMENT 3: How a LeBron trade could look.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a lot of work to do this offseason, and as today's guest Raj Chipalu of Lakers Today notes, they're going to need to compress what normally is a few cycles of team improvement windows (trade deadlines, summertime) into a shorter amount of time if they want to catch up quickly to the leaders atop the West.  So what does that look like in practice?  We continue our offseason makeover conversation with Raj trying to figure out where help will come from. At the center position, is it worth taking a big swing for Walker Kessler? Would a less sexy acquisition like Daniel Gafford be a better target? Are high profile wings more likely? Can the Lakers pry someone like Peyton Watson from the Nuggets?  Or would a better, if riskier, potential solution be to take on the contracts a lot of teams are trying to move? A Cam Johnson or Christian Braun from the Nuggets, for example? Especially if it means moving dead roster spots (Jared Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht) without giving up draft capital..  Should the Lakers get a little crazy?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Raj Chipalu!   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a million different directions they can go this offseason, even without having tons of tradable contracts or massive amounts of draft capital. Want to create more cap space? Let guys like LeBron and Rui Hachimura go, and Luke Kennard while they're at it. Want to (more or less) run it back? That's easy enough to facilitate. Maybe Austin Reaves stays, and LeBron goes?  So when you think about the ways this could go, there is some wiggle room available to dream a little. So if you could put the thing together in the best possible way, what would it look like?  What's the right price for Rui? What should they do at center?  We ask big questions like these to special guest Raj Chipalu, of Lakers Today on YouTube (plus Offside and Silver Screen and Roll).  What would he do this offseason, if he could wave a magic wand? Plus, Raj's thoughts on the season that was.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: What we learned, and didn't learn, from last year.  SEGMENT 2: What does a successful offseason look like?  SEGMENT 3: What can the Lakers do?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have to figure out what their priorities are this offseason, because they may very well have to choose between different needs.  Is it the wing?  More bench depth?  A center that really matches well with Luka Dončić?  The answer is yes to all of them, and where the Lakers go depends in part on the best player available at each position. Even if you think they'd be better off with a center, if the available wing is a better player, isn't that where you go? So as they wait on Deandre Ayton to make his decision about a player option, they'll be looking at options like Mitchell Robinson, or Robert Williams III. Or would a former All Star like Domantas Sabonis, certain to be made available by the Sacramento Kings, be an option?  Not for the Lakers, for a variety of reasons. (And he'll be hard to trade, but that's a Sacramento problem, not an LA problem.)  So there's that! Plus, NBA Finals Game 3 reinforces just how hard all of this is.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Game 3. Wemby strikes back!  SEGMENT 2: How about Mitchell Robinson?  SEGMENT 3: Would the Lakers chase stars again?  Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Karl-Anthony Towns is having a moment.  After years of being seen in some circles as not quite good enough to be a critical piece on a winning team, KAT has had an incredible postseason, as the Knicks continue a pretty historic run of playoff dominance. It's not that he's never been good in the postseason before (he has) but he's never been THIS good. And who knows, may never be this good again.  And it puts things in perspective, showing not only the bar you often need your 2nd guy to clear -- Jalen Brunson has scored 25 points a game in the Finals but with horrible efficiency -- but how often players in this role (see Holmgren, Chet) can fail to come through. Or even your number one, given Wemby's struggles. So does the whole postseason put Austin Reaves in a different framing? Does he seem as disappointing, given what appears to be some pretty good company on the continuum of guys who didn't achieve all the way to expectations? And what does all of this say about roster building more broadly?  Because part of KAT's success, and the success of the Knicks more broadly, is that the first five guys on that roster are all really good NBA players. They counterbalance strengths and weaknesses, and have very little true one-dimensional skill sets as a group.  Stuff for Rob Pelinka and crew to consider this summer and for a few summers to come.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For much of the year, the expectation was that LeBron James wouldn't be back next season, but Austin Reaves would. Then the vibes (and the results) shifted, and it seemed like both would be back. Now, it looks like James is a little more iffy, but the assumption remains that the Lakers will re-sign Reaves.  But Brad Turner of the LA Times, speaking on Spectrum Sportsnet (the Lakers TV home) said that Reaves is looking for the maximum amount of money he can get, and isn't interested in giving the Lakers a hometown discount. Some of this is obviously potential posturing, and a ton depends on how much teams like Brooklyn or Chicago -- franchises that have the space to give Reaves that kind of money -- actually are willing to offer, if anything. And then how high the Lakers go.  Meanwhile, as the pendulum with James seems again to be swinging towards his departure, it's worth asking, could the Lakers lose both of them?  It's not the most likely outcome, but also isn't impossible. What would that mean for the Lakers this summer?  And how does the number the Lakers land on -- $30 vs.$35 vs. $40 vs. $45 million a year -- impact how they put a highly competitive team on the floor, not just this year but down the road?  And what would happen in the unlikely (but not impossible) event that both left?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Austin wants max money?    SEGMENT 2: Who might force the Lakers' hand?    SEGMENT 3: What happens if he leaves? If he AND LeBron go?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.  Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. HIMS To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.comLOCKEDONMLB   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are in a bind. It doesn't seem like they are clamoring for LeBron James to return... but they also may not be able to afford to let him go. James, for his part, has decisons to make. What does he value most next year? Is it a paycheck that aligns with his value? The best chance to compete for a title (all of it being relative)? Proximity to his family? The most comfortable atmosphere, with players whose company he values?  There's a lot to unpack!  So that's what we're doing, with the outstanding NBA writer for The Guardian, Claire de Lune.  What are the dynamics of this relationship? Are the Lakers really thinking everything through? What exactly is LeBron looking for, here? Is it money? Respect? Some combination of the two? We break it all down... plus some talk about the NBA Finals, and how a seemingly minor sponsorship deal represents something bigger.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: The Finals!    SEGMENT 2: What's the future for LeBron?    SEGMENT 3: What do the Lakers want, exactly?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A look at the Lakers' potential free agents Marcus Smart (player option) and Luke Kennard (unrestricted free agent). Smart proved to be an indispensable defender and culture setter for the Lakers, one that's definitely worth more than the $5.4M deal he can decline. Were Smart to hit the open market, there would be competition for his service. How much, and for how many years, can/should the Lakers pay him? Luke Kennard was a bit more uneven than Smart, particularly in the playoffs, but on balance, he was a nice mid-season addition, and definitely fits a Luka Doncic-centric team. But are there better options to fill a similar role of three-point shooting specialist? Like, say, sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, who could be gettable in a low-cost trade as the Thunder try to manage their growing payroll.  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub     Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.     DoorDash From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Quo Make this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey, the NBA Finals are here, and we react to Game 1, including shout outs to some well-liked former Lakers.  And from there, it's a continuation of Wednesday's discussion of potential trade targets for the Lakers, given some of the limitations in the free agent market (i.e. less flexibility than advertised, and a weak free agent class overall). Wednesday, we talked about potentially available Pelicans, like Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi. We kicked around potentially gettable Magic players, like Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs. A few dudes on the Nets as well.  Today? Lakers fans are focused on Peyton Watson when it comes to the Nuggets, but he remains a tough get, both because he'll cost a lot of money, and because Denver isn't likely to let him go... and especially not to the Lakers.  So what about the guys they're reportedly motivated to offload in order to save enough money to sign Braun without having to foot a big tax bill? Cam Johnson... or Christian Braun?  What if you could turn Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, two players that have little value to the Lakers, for Braun, a player who absolutely fills a needs (assuming last year was an aberration) but comes with big risk, namely a contract extension that kicks in next season and lasts for five years at an average of $25 million per.  It's a risk, for sure, but one with potential rewards as well.  We discuss.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: Let's talk Game 1!    SEGMENT 2: What about Braun?    SEGMENT 3: What kind of risks do the Lakers need to take?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers could try to improve the roster this offseason primarily through free agency, which is a path they've certainly hyped up but also might not yield all that much fruit, given that the cap space accessible from a practical standpoint isn't nearly as large as some of the rosier projections might imply. Moreover, there aren't many good unrestricted free agents, anyway.  So what about the trade market?  If you look around the league, there are some intriguing names the Lakers could kick the proverbial tires on, whether guys like Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones on New Orleans, or someone like Jalen Suggs on Orlando? The Lakers are going to have to be pretty creative, and make sure they use whatever capital they can generate in the most effective way possible.  Would one path be using a distressed asset like Jarred Vanderbilt to acquire another distressed asset, but one that would have an easier path to playing time?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: Trade targets!!! How about the guys on the Pelicans?    SEGMENT 2: Jalen Suggs, perhaps?    SEGMENT 3: Trades and trade-offs.      Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers would like to upgrade at center. That much has been made pretty clear. Certainly Lakers fans would like to see the same thing.  The complicating factor is Deandre Ayton, and his player option for next season. Ayton made about $8 million this year, and will make similar money next year. It's certainly possible he reads the market and decides there's a longer term deal out there, but nobody would be even a little surprised to see Ayton decide his best avenue is to stay in LA and play out the option.  So which one is actually better for the Lakers?  For Ayton non-believers, the answer might be trickier than you think.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky with Deondre Hawkins of 710 ESPN Los Angeles   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are trying to build a team around Luka Dončić that can push the Spurs and Thunder at the top of the conference next year.  The Lakers are trying to build a team that can win in a sustainable fashion around Luka. They're trying to get younger, to get more athletic, to add better centers, better wings and better depth. In short, they're trying to do a lot of things at once, and don't necessarily have a ton of resources to do it (despite what the team has been implying...).  So how much is too much when it comes to salaries for LeBron James and Austin Reaves? How do the Lakers get better if they don't bring those guys back?  And what should be the priorities for the org as they enter the summer?  It starts with trying to figure out where the Lakers are relative to the teams at the top. Unfortunately, because Reaves was damaged and Luka was out, the Lakers didn't get a feel for what the matchup looks like at full strength. (Or at least with the Lakers at full strength, since the Thunder were still missing Jalen Williams.)  We talk about this and more with 710 ESPN's Deondre Hawkins!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: How do the Lakers match up?    SEGMENT 2: Where are the priorities?    SEGMENT 3: What comes next?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have some hard choices to make this summer. And while the idea of bringing back Austin Reaves isn't necessarily one of them -- unless a better alternative presents itself, a relative long shot, the Lakers don't have any viable way to replace Reaves if he goes -- there could very well be some uncomfortable conversations about how much it costs to get the deal done.  Tim Bontemps of ESPN reports that many NBA insiders expect Reaves's deal to come in at or above $40 mil a year, as opposed to, say, $35 million. That's not a trivial difference, and could cause the Lakers a little pain as they try to build a high-end contender as quickly as they can around Luka Doncic.  He notes that teams like Brooklyn and Chicago are in position to make very significant offers, much closer to the maximum Reaves can get under CBA rules. That would require Reaves to enter situations where titles aren't part of the equation, but if the money was that much better, and maybe if he felt the Lakers lowballed him, could he go that direction?  It feels like Reaves wants to come back. He's said he's not interested in squeezing as much as he can from the team. The Lakers want him to return. What remains to be seen is the number. What's something the Lakers, and Reaves, could both feel good about?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a challenging offseason coming, nobody doubts that. But did the just-finished Western Conference Finals provide any type of guide for how they should approach it?  After all, the "forget it, we're all cooked" dynasty that was supposed to be the Oklahoma City Thunder ended in a year... but then again, it wasn't so much because the Thunder did anything to take steps backward (other than get some poorly timed injuries). San Antonio just caught them, and look to have something massive building themselves going forward.  So what now?  Well, the series highlighted the value of depth, not just as a playoff tool but a regular season weapon that makes your playoffs better. It raised questions about how you build teams, and with what in mind. Do you match up with specific teams? Or just build the best version you can around the stars you have? And what about Chet Holmgren's struggles? After a terrible WCF, would Sam Presti pull the trigger on something significant as Chet starts his max-dollar extension?  And does the discourse around Chet remind anyone else of the conversation LA is having around Austin Reaves?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The lessons of the WCF.    SEGMENT 2: Could OKC's loss mean more summer movement in the NBA?    SEGMENT 3: Chet and Reaves.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Ignite your taste buds with the flavor of the summer. Get a Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today. For more information, visit https://FiveHourEnergy.com. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NBA put out its long-awaited rules designed to curb tanking through lottery reform. The rules are a little complicated, and include provisions that not only flatten lottery odds -- out is the old system of tons of ping pong ball combos, in is the 3-2-1 system where teams get (wait for it) three, two or one ball each. Next year, though, we'll see new wrinkles like a "relegation zone," where the three worst teams actually lose a ping pong ball. There are (minor) rules that restrict pick protections, and rules that limit how many seasons consecutively teams can draft in the top five.  All of these are designed to remove the most obvious incentives to lose on purpose. Obviously the league can't keep teams from being bad. A certain amount of teams are going to suck every year, even when they're trying not to.  What the league can do, however, is remove incentives for teams to lose on purpose, so more teams on more nights are actually attempting to win the game. This is likely where teams like the Lakers, who don't frequently find themselves in position to tank, will see the greatest difference. Standings in a conference as competitive as the West shouldn't be determined substantively by whether a team happens to play a lesser squad in November, before the tanking starts, or in March when they've thrown in the towel.  There will surely be unintended consequences, and the League will have a chance to tweak or even scrap these rules after the 2029 season. But a new era in NBA drafting is upon us, and folks will be very interested to see how next season is impacted by it.  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: New rules! New rules!   SEGMENT 2: Did the NBA get it right? How do these new rules impact the purple and gold?    SEGMENT 3: More on how the new rules -- and layoffs in El Segundo --  impact the Lakers.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have a lot of work to do this offseason, and have neither a great range of tools at their disposal, nor a great group of free agents who might be available to sign. And after being promised some significant action this offseason, many fans are noticing the potential issues, here. And that leads to our mailbag questions for today from @socioisbackapparently661 and @ScottSemple-vr2qo, both of whom are essentially asking a question that might seem crazy to most Lakers fans, who have been waiting for big, bold moves for a few trade cycles:  Would the Lakers be better off kicking the can down the road one more year?  Finally, we tackle one more Q, from @dailyromznation615, who wonders if a sign and trade with the Clippers sending Austin Reaves to Inglewood in exchange for Kawhi Leonard would make sense.  A bold proposal for sure!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers have to figure out how to resign their own key free agents, starting with Austin Reaves and (probably) LeBron James, and moving on to (probably) Rui Hachimura. But to improve the team, they're going to have to find some new guys, too. They can't just run it back and expect a different result. (Especially after selling the Bold Summer of '26 to fans for a while.) So at the least, the Lakers need to kick the tires on what is ultimately a weak year for free agents.  Particularly the unrestricted variety. Because while guys like Peyton Watson, Tari Eason, Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren would look great next to Luka, they're also going to be darn near impossible to pry away from their current teams without the Lakers going crazy large on an offer sheet. Like, renounce everyone and throw all that money to your RFA big. Not a great strategy.  So who are the players in the next tier? The ones who still come with a big price tag, but nothing like the guys above?  And given their limited trade chips and a cap situation that isn't quite as flexible as it's sometimes presented, how should LA prioritize offseason needs?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The restricted free agents like Peyton Watson? Don't get your hopes up.    SEGMENT 2: Where should the Lakers look?    SEGMENT 3: Deeper options at C and F.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Tuesday, JJ Redick got three third place votes for NBA Coach of the Year, which is actually a couple fewer than he received in his first season as Lakers head coach. So two years as a coach in the league, two years finishing on the COY table. Pretty good!  So two big questions: Did JJ (and by proxy the Lakers) get the credit he deserved? And how did Redick improve from Year 1 to Year 2?  Lakers fans don't agree about much, but there does seem to be some level of consensus that Redick was an improved coach this year. More willing to try new schemes and move outside his comfort zone. More creative in what the Lakers did, and displaying a far better temperament throughout the year (i.e. not so high strung). When you look around the league, having a coach that seems like he can be around for a while, with a defined culture and structure.  Otherwise that sort of thing can't be built.  If the Lakers are going to emulate the Dodgers over the long term, this is the sort of stability they should be striving for.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: JJ gets some love.    SEGMENT 2: Did Redick improve?    SEGMENT 3: Why it matters that JJ looks legit.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While the Lakers are still probably the most likely landing spot for LeBron James this summer, there are other franchises that certainly make sense as a destination, even if the fit isn't perfect. Golden State to play with Steph and Draymond, and have that experience. New York, because he's LeBron and it's New York, a basketball institution he's always admired. The Clippers, if he wanted a change but didn't want to leave his family. Miami, for one more run with Spo.  But of all the alternatives, the one people look most to is Cleveland, for pretty obvious reasons.  And now that the Cavs were unceremoniously swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Knicks, that chatter is going to grow louder. From a culture standpoint, you can certainly argue the way that the Cavs responded to Game 4 (compared to, say, the Lakers, who had an even more hopeless task in front of them) revealed some cracks. Would LeBron help build championship habits, even if he's not there long enough to actually win a title?  How would it happen? Is there a trade the Lakers would consider? One that would work for Cleveland?  It's a reminder of how the landscape is always shifting across the NBA in ways that could ultimately impact the Lakers. Frankly, it's something Rob Pelinka is counting on.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers under new owner Mark Walter have promised to make significant additions to the organization, especially on the basketball operations side. That process started over the weekend with the Lakers adding former Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager. He served as a VP of strategy and operations for New Orleans and will likely serve a similar role here, working to reshape cap strategy, analytics and so on. A source told ESPN's Dave McMenamin that Ramadas "implemented AI and coded models to aid the front office," and that before arriving in an NBA front office was in aerospace. So yeah, the guy is quite literally a rocket scientist.  It can be very challenging to figure out an executive's skill level when they're not at the top of the org chart, and it's also a potential mistake to judge a person by the organization they used to be at. Do the Pelicans's struggles reflect any shortcomings on Ramadas's part? Very, very hard to know. But not for nothing, he seems pretty well-respected, and more importantly, the Lakers are making moves by looking outside the franchise.  That's good.  Meanwhile, no surprise, but Luka Doncic was named to the All-NBA First Team. And no Lakers landed on the NBA All Defensive squads. Also no surprise.  How can the Lakers find more defensive talent? We discuss.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: New blood in the F.O..    SEGMENT 2. Luka makes All-NBA.   SEGMENT 3: Where can the Lakers find more defense?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's a thin free agent year, this everyone knows. And unfortunately, two of the best among current free agents are their own (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura. There are some other names floating around out there, but while the narrative sometimes makes it sound like they've got cap space to spare, the reality of its LA actually has a relatively narrow window into which they can fit in potential free agents.  So every penny is going to be consequential, whether it's to bring back someone like Rui, or attract someone new.  To that end, ESPN's Bobby Marks has a new list of free agents-to-be, including how much he'd pay them were he the GM of an NBA squad.  We discuss.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LeBon James spoke with Steve Nash for ther Mind the Game podcast on Thursday, and needelss to say it was of great interest to the Lakers and their fans.  A couple things grew more clear over the course of the conversation. First, LeBron will not be rushed into any decisions about his future. He's currently getting ready for a family vacation, and said he's not going to start thinking about next year until mid-to-late June at the earliest. And along those lines, the future he was discussing was a "will he or won't he play" type thing, not something that touched on where. The consensus seems to be that LeBron is planning for another year, but after 23 seasons anyone would be wise to take a minute to think things through.  Second, while he didn't say anything that would indicate an overt desire to stay with the Lakers, when he did speak of this year's team, he was quite complementary. This year's group maxed out its talent, played hard, had a strong culture, was well coached, and all that good stuff. Why did they lose? Poor timing with injuries, and getting "out talented." OKC was simply better. They had more depth, more high quality players and so on.  So what will it mean for the Lakers? Likely they'll need to renounce LeBron's rights to have cap space to work with. Whether they do it with a number in mind to bring LeBron back remains to be seen.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: LeBron talks about his future.    SEGMENT 2: How does his timeline impact the Lakers?    SEGMENT 3: Good culture, not enough talent.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Western Conference Finals are, understandably, creating angst around the league, including among Lakers fans. Why? Because pretty much everyone is watching the Thunder and Spurs thinking, "We're not nearly as good as they are."  And considering both teams might not be done improving (especially San Antonio) the existential crisis is warranted.  Law Murray at The Athletic has been publishing his tiered list of the top 125 players in the NBA. The Lakers will have four guys on it -- Luka, LeBron, Reaves and Marcus Smart, who snuck in at the bottom of the lowest tier -- and one (Rui Hachimura) who was in the group of players who just missed out. Four of those players can or will be free agents this summer, meaning the Lakers have work to do just to hold on to the talent they have, let alone upgrade.  Meanwhile, OKC and San Antonio basically double what the Lakers have. Meaning those teams can go eight deep before anyone who isn't among the league's best 125 players (or basically the top 25%).  That's a depth problem that is difficult to combat, and that's before you even see where guys land, because both Western Conference elites have plenty of dudes near the top of these lists.  Nobody said Rob Pelinka's job would be easy!   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Perhaps the most significant difference between this offseason and the last half-decade of offseason isn't the pressure to improve -- although that's a pretty big factor -- it's the change in ownership.  It's the first where a member of the Buss family isn't a primary owner of the team. And under Mark Walter, there is an expectation that the way the team operates is going to change significantly. In a story for Yahoo on Wednesday, voices around the baseball and hoops worlds commented on the antiquated nature of the Lakers, and what it'll take to move them into the present day. Interestingly, while Rob Pelinka has certainly benefitted from the old-fashionedness of the purple and gold, he at least outwardly appears to be the type of guy who appreciates how modern organizations -- not just a sports franchise -- run successfully.  So what changes? Will expectations for Pelinka be different? Will there be more voices available to him?  And meanwhile, as Walter imports more experts from the Dodgers, the goal is to change how the Lakers operate. Is the mantra we hear every year of "the goal is to win a title" the right way to approach the challenge? Is there a better mindset to have, where winning becomes a byproduct?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Is Rob a modern GM?    SEGMENT 2: A new approach for LA?    SEGMENT 3: What does change look like?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes were, in the aggregate, more good than bad over the course of this season, at least relative to what they were being paid. But unless you think the Ayton the Lakers got over the last eight weeks of the season will be the Ayton they get over 82 games next year -- which would definitely be a nice bargain for eight mil or so -- the Lakers definitely could use an upgrade.  But how?  Free agency offers little by way of impact centers. The trade market is hard to negotiate. And of course, the Lakers have to prioritize. So how far could they go to find better personnel? How far should they go?  Sooooooo many questions... plus, some hypothetical trades to fill the void!   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have a center problem.    SEGMENT 2: Would someone like Myles Turner work?    SEGMENT 3: What about a bold (and totally hypothetical) sign and trade?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The arc of LeBron James with the Lakers over the last nine months or so has been quite interesting, from the moment he picked up his option but neither side seemed (at least for the public) to be interested in a contract extension.  There were comments from Rich Paul about monitoring the situation, and then about the supporting cast, and (relative to his standard) poor play from James when he came back from early season injury. But in the end, LeBron made an All-Star team, found a role that seemed to suit him and the team well, and thrived over the second half of the season.  Now it seems like James is more likely to return to the Lakers than not, but that's not yet guaranteed by any stretch. Paul noted earlier this week that contenders are reaching out to inquire about James, and while most of those teams can't offer James anything beyond an exception without jettisoning players, this level of interest could help open up avenues for the Lakers to improve should a) LeBron want to go somewhere else and b) want a little more money in the process.  Could a trade happen? It would be very difficult to put together, but more interest does open more possibilities.  And big picture, the idea that if LeBron goes the Lakers would want to make sure they get at least something out of the deal reinforces the larger importance of maximizing assets.  If the Lakers want a shot at closing the gap between themselves and the Spurs/Thunder, they simply can't afford to mismanage any assets or opportunities they have.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers -- and every other team in the West and the NBA more broadly -- have a problem. As we all saw in Game 1 of the Conference Finals Monday between the Thunder and San Antonio, these are two teams that are not only incredibly good right now, they're poised to stay incredibly good for a while. Or even continue to get better. (Wemby, Steph Castle and Dylan Harper are 22, 21 and 20, respectively.)  So what does that mean for the Lakers?  Well, first of all, it puts a ton of pressure on Rob Pelinka, who knows he has a big gap to make up to make the Lakers true title contenders. He has to make the team better this offseason, and must do it with limited resources. He has to maximize all the assets available to him. He has to find ways to uncover a few more gems along the lines of Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves -- guys that are cost controlled and wildly outperform their contracts. Basically, the opposite of Jarred Vanderbilt.  Easier said than done, no question.  At least the Lakers are better prepared financially to do what they can in order to make up the gap. If there's a place where infrastructure can help the Lakers catch up, with new owner Mark Walter they'll spend that money.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have a problem, but so does everyone else.    SEGMENT 2: The challenge for Rob Pelinka.    SEGMENT 3: How Mark Walter helps.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So Dillon Brooks -- yes, that Dillon Brooks -- put Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt into the news cycle when he volunteered Vando when asked by a Twitch streamer named Ray who Brooks thought was the dumbest player in the league.  Brooks also said -- because hey, you don't want to be mean, right? -- that he feels Vanderbilt also has untapped potential.  The latter question is particularly important to the Lakers, because Vanderbilt, who is under contract (essentially) for a couple more seasons, is currently a big drag on the payroll, making over $12 million next season without being a player JJ Redick likes to actually put on the floor. So is some of this on the coach? Is he not using Vanderbilt correctly? Is he too impatient? Should Redick work harder to make the Vando thing work? Or is this more a Vando problem, given that his skill sent hasn't improved at all since arriving in LA?  What about a trade? Could the Lakers find one that didn't cost them more than one first rounder? Would teams demand two? Is that too much just to open up a roster spot they'd have no guarantee of filling? Would any transaction like that have to come with a definitive understanding of the roster improvement the Lakers would make?  All of those Q's and more!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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)  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Luka Dončić finished fourth in Sunday's release of MVP voting. This was always the most likely outcome, once Luka was hurt before the end of the year, and the Lakers lost (for all intents and purposes) a real shot at the third seed in the West. But within that voting, there were some things that will almost surely stick in the craw of many Lakers fans -- namely that Luka, the leading scorer in the NBA, didn't get a single first place vote. Not one!  A slight? An insult? We break it down. Plus, why Luka's season was (aside from that injury) about everything the Lakers could have possibly hoped for in his first full season in purple and gold.  Meanwhile, is this going to be Rui Hachimura's last season in LA? He's noted how much he loves it here, but the Lakers are trying to thread a very tricky needle, where the improve the squad around Luka, but with limited resources. That could prompt them to bring guys like Rui back, because he played well and has a badly needed skill set in high level shooting.  On the other, a quick signing of Hachimura, or even one coming later in the summer, presents complications as well.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: 4th with a bullet.  SEGMENT 2: The Lakers have a Rui problem.  SEGMENT 3: Why Rui represents LA's challenges this offseason.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY The funfetti flavor is BACK on https://5hourEnergy.com or Amazon, crack open Confetti Craze 5-hour ENERGY®️ shot today!   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, you know summer is here because reports of the Lakers and Giannis are already out there.  A report from Dan Woike and Sam Amick at The Athletic noted that the Lakers are expected to be part of potential trade talks for Giannis that everyone expects will begin to percolate as soon as the playoffs are over. Interestingly, the report came in the context of noting that Luka Doncic, who the Lakers are definitely in the business of keeping happy, would not want Austin Reaves included in any deal for Giannis. (Of course, Austin would have agree to sign with Milwaukee, as well.)  So on the one hand, Giannis would move the needle because he's still an excellent player. In a down year, he averaged almost 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists a game, and in under 30 minutes a night. Two years ago, the numbers were at an MVP level. Of course, one reason his numbers were down is injuries, which are starting to pile up. Giannis is also going to require an extension that will take him into his mid-30s, costing around 70 million a season.  So injuries plus money is a real problem in the new CBA. On the other hand, the Lakers would be obligated to listen not just because of the talent, but because the price to acquire him would be small. This year's draft pick, the two others LA can trade, and likely some pick swaps that become more or less meaningless because they'll likely never be used (short of disaster scenarios and rapid improvement by the Bucks).  So what's the right way to look at this?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's a reflection of LeBron's still-strong influence on the league that four days into the offseason for the Lakers, the "will James return" discourse is already in overrdrive. And it reflects the significant pressure under which Rob Pelinka will operate this summer, because it's an important part of an offeason that internally and externally is expected to be one of significant progress.  Maybe not enough to catch the Thunder and Spurs atop the West, but one where the path to another title for Luka is a lot more clear.  So Brian Windhorst of ESPN laid out some interesting context Thursday, noting that LeBron doesn't see himself as some sort of legacy player or a novelty act. While he gets the landscape broadly, he also made an All-Star team this year, and expects to be treated, if not paid, like one.  So how do the Lakers handle it? How can they build the requisite amount of trust in an offseason that will probably require the Lakers to renounce LeBron's rights (or sign him quickly) in order to make the rest of the offseason work? Like, what do they do about Rui Hachimura? Because LeBron's salary impacts what the Lakers can pay Rui. And what about Austin Reaves? And anyone else that they want to add in order to make longer-term improvements than LeBron can provide, definitionally.  But next year is part of Luka's prime, and they can't just let talent walk.  It's a pickle!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Will LeBron play hardball with the Lakers?    SEGMENT 2: Why LeBron isn't just about LeBron.    SEGMENT 3: LeBron is a big impediment in a narrow road to improvement.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the moment he returned to the lineup in this year's playoffs, Austin Reaves was squarely in the spotlight.  The results were a mixed bag. Reaves struggled mightily with his perimeter shot against both Houston and the Thunder, and was turnover prone against both teams as well. On the other hand, Reaves was freely able to get into the paint against both of these defenses, which are two of the best in the game. That belies some of the concerns about A.R.'s ability to perform against physical wing defenders. If Reaves could have hit triples at even a 30 percent pace, his overall numbers would have looked significantly different.  Of course, those are all questions of offense. On the other end, Reaves struggled, as teams tried to set him up to defend on ball in space. The Thunder, with Ajay Mitchell, were particularly successful at it.  And obviously that problem doesn't get solved with Luka next to Reaves?  So are you more comfortable or less now that the playoffs are over with the idea that the Lakers might need to pay Reavse $35 million next year? Maybe more? On the other hand, if he goes, the Lakers likely don't have the means to replace him. How do the Lakers look at the rest of the roster, if those two are the frontline players?  Oh, and Luka wants him back.     HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers are at yet another crossroads with LeBron James, and even as it seems like the interests of the franchise and the interests of its former franchise player are more aligned than they were six months ago, there's still the lingering question of whether James returns to the team next year.  Those questions got a little question-ier when ESPN's Dave McMenamin -- certainly very well plugged in to the LeBron camp -- authored a story describing moments of frostiness between James and the team. It included slights (whether real or perceived) and some potentially odd behavior that would be legitimately disrespectful by the team towards LeBron. But the bigger question is what all of this means. How much do moments like these matter for a player that may not have tons of appealing options to play meaningful basketball next year (especially if James demands a big salary), a franchise that doesn't have lots of easy ways to replace him, and a history together that has always been more transactional than emotional?  In the grand history of LeDrama, how much does any of this even register?  No question, the context is different. LeBron is at a different part of his career. He's always had control of the relationship not only with his team, but with the league more broadly. His role on teams he'll play on is different.  So what does it mean?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: New instances of LeDrama?    SEGMENT 2: Why does this happen?  SEGMENT 3: What's next for James and the Lakers?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Luka Dončić announced earlier this week on his IG page that he won't be playing for Slovenia this summer. He cited his ongoing custody dispute and the demands travel would bring as the reason, as opposed to his injured hamstring, but for the Lakers the effect is the same. It means that Luka will have a full summer to heal, train and essentially repeat last year's Summer of Luka. They'd never ask him to skip international play—the Lakers know how important it is to Luka—but the organization surely is more than happy for Dončić to avoid extra play and focus on getting his body together and trying to make that hamstring as strong as possible.  So the inciting incident certainly sucks, but the upside for the org is there nonetheless.  Moreover, reporting indicates that Luka is quite pleased with life in LA, and has been impressed by new owner Mark Walter. And, for what it's worth, he'd like to see Austin Reaves return.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tuesday in El Segundo, the Lakers braintrust laid out some of the big organizational priorities going forward. Things like building meaningful depth - the kind that's modeled after teams like OKC and San Antonio, even if that standard isn't immediately reachable. They want to improve player development. And they want the organizational infrastructure to improve.  Now, the latter has a lot to do with new owner Mark Walter, who is quickly implementing the Dodgers blueprint at the Lakers facility. That's going to mean better medical, training and rehab capabilities, as well as more personnel in important places.  All of it will help the Lakers leverage the franchise's vast wealth in ways casual fans probably assumed they were already... but weren't.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: How JJ Redick views depth.  SEGMENT 2: Player development, too?  SEGMENT 3: The Lakers are getting Dodgerfied!    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka met the media Tuesday in El Segundo following Monday's season-ending loss to the Thunder at Crypto.com. The disappointment was muted by, frankly, the inevitability of the result once Luka Dončić got hurt, and because of that it was easier to focus on the successful nature of the season. 53 wins, above expectations for most projections, and what would almost certainly have been a 3-seed if not for late injuries to Luka and Austin Reaves. They won a round in the playoffs against expectations, and over the course of the year continued to establish solid culture under Redick.  The hard part, though, is coming. The Lakers have significant ambition, and a great deal of pressure to improve the team. Maybe not closing the gap between them and OKC in one summer, but making a lot of progress.  Pelinka will have to do it with some potential cap space to work with, three first round picks he can trade and... not a whole lot else. The Lakers lack desirable contracts to trade to teams looking for flexibility. They don't have any really appealing young players, either. Not the kind that bring back premium players, at least. For every player they let go to create flexibility, that's another player they have to replace.  It won't be easy, but that's the assignment.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The final score was a lot more respectable, but the end result was the same. A fourth straight loss for the Lakers to the Oklahoma City Thunder, completing the 4-0 sweep and ending the 2025-26 season.  Without Luka Dončić, the Lakers really didn't have much of a shot at beating OKC over the course of the series. The hope was to try and steal a game or two and see what might happen. The Thunder never opened the door to the possibility. Monday, the Lakers put an enormous amount of effort and intensity into a game in a series they knew they weren't going to win, and it just wasn't enough. Austin Reaves had some serious highlights, but also turned the ball over in critical moments. Marcus Smart left it all out on the floor, too, but he also was bit by the turnover bug. If this was LeBron James's last game with the Lakers (or even in the NBA, with 24 points and 12 rebounds.  But both James and Reaves missed good looks down the stretch, while OKC's shotmakers came through. That was enough to make the difference.  So now an offseason with a ton of questions for the Lakers, and a lot of hopes for moves that will reconstruct a championship caliber team around Luka. Or, at the least, start the franchise down a clear path to get there. (Because making up the gap between themselves and OKC in one offseason might be too tall an order.)   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers push, but ultimately fall short in Game 4.    SEGMENT 2: Good, even great moments, but killer mistakes from LA's stars.    SEGMENT 3: The offseason begins.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Insofar as the series against Oklahoma City is concerned, there's not been all that much to get excited about. Even when the Lakers manage to play well, they're still getting overrun by a deeper, more talented Thunder squad.  One exception has been the play of Adou Thiero. It's not that he's put up huge numbers in relatively short minutes—though eight rebounds in 13 minutes of Game 2 action certainly ain't bad—but what he's bringing to the floor in terms of additional burst and athleticism. Relative to his teammates, the explosiveness is incredible. Thiero is incredibly raw from a basketball perspective, but if he can figure out how to bring it together, finding some niche as an offensive player while developing a greater awareness defensively, the Lakers will have something in their second rounder.  It's nice to have some hope around a young player. JJ Redick will almost surely play Thiero somewhere in that 10-15 minutes of real time against real players first because his other options aren't great -- Jarred Vanderbilt is injured, and isn't exactly a favorite of JJ's anyway -- and Jake LaRavia has been pretty bad. But more than that, the value of 15 minutes for Thiero (and by extension the Lakers) is far greater. This experience will serve him well when the Lakers return to the playoffs, and Thiero is (hopefully) a more regular part of the rotation.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's not the effort, it's (at least part) the execution (though not in everything) and the opponent that explains why the Lakers are down 3-0 heading into Monday's Game 4 with the Thunder.  No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit, and it feels... unlikely... that the Lakers will be the first. Game 4 becomes a referendum on professional pride. How hard do the Lakers try to cut? How effectively do they set a screen? Rotate on D? Put a body on someone to box out? Now, they could do all of those things and still lose by a comfortable margin, but that's a lot better than just rolling over and just counting down the moments until the offseason arrives.  And individual Lakers, starting with Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton, have plenty to play for.  So we'll see what happens.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are trying their best, but their best isn't nearly good enough.    SEGMENT 2: Problems in the paint.    SEGMENT 3: Problems with Austin Reaves.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, at least they didn't lose by 18.  Instead, after a strong first half the Lakers were again overwhelmed in the second, and lost Game 3 to the visiting Thunder, 131-108. This time, it was the team's stars that simply couldn't get it going. Both Austin Reaves and LeBron James struggled -- Austin was 5-13 from the floor, and LeBron was 7-19, and while they had 17 assists between them, they also combined for eight turnovers. Put simply, the Lakers have very little chance of winning when only one of those guys is off. That percentage drops to zero when both of them struggle.  For Reaves, the problems realy came in the third quarter, when the assists he'd piled up in the first two quarters (eight overall, with only one TO) became a string of turnovers. The Lakers, who were hot from the floor in the first half, went very cold.  The third quarter became a parade of turnovers, and that was basically that. A two point lead at the half became an 11-point deficit going into the fourth.  The Lakers have done an admirable job competing in a series they have no realistic chance of winning. Saturday feltlike the first time they genuinely folded (not quit) against OKC's relentless pressure. Credit the Thunder for never letting off the gas. Teams will occasionally let the foot off the pedal up a couple games in a series they're controlling. OKC doesn't do that. Nor do they get any drop off when the subs come in.  We'll see what happens Monday in Game 4, but unless they can raise their level or OKC lets off the gas, things may not get back to OKC.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.   WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.    Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When analysts note the big plans for LA's upcoming offseason, it's often in the context of opening up large amounts of cap space for Rob Pelinka and Co. to fill with a host of players that complement Luka Dončić. When people talk about maximizing the amount of money available, it means chucking virtually everything that can be tossed overboard. That's all the expiring contracts, and maybe some dead weight on the roster.  Of course, every player that they cut ties with must be replaced in one way or another. The problem becomes figuring out whether the players available are better than the guys in house. Not so tough with stars, but role players? That's tricky.  Take Rui Hachimura. For the last three seasons, he's been solidly above 40 percent from 3-point range. In the playoffs, he consistently elevates his shooting, to the point he's got the best 3-point percentage in NBA postseason history. Rui also has a nifty, and useful, midrange game, and some athleticism that has benefitted LA. Of course, Rui also is a lousy rebounder, and dishes about eight assists a year. His defense is improving, but will never be confused for some DPOY candidate out there.  He makes about $19 million, and is probably in line to make somewhere between $15-20 a year going forward. Is he worth keeping? Would the Lakers do better on the market? Could they replace Rui's shooting with a player that fits a little better with the roster they envision building around Luka?  Tough questions, for sure.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the one hand, the Lakers played very hard, and they made a good game of Thursday's Game 2 in Oklahoma City.  On the other, in the end, the Lakers still lost by 18. Again. Final score, 125-107.  The game was more competitive than the final score would indicate, but the final score still indicates the Thunder won pretty comfortably. For the Lakers, there were some genuine bright spots. LeBron James again had an efficient evening, finishing with 23 points on 9-18 shooting. Rui Hachimura's playoff shooting heater continued, hitting four of his seven 3-point attempts. Deandre Ayton had 10 rebounds. And critically, Austin Reaves bounced back with a 31-point, six assist effort, and hit three of his six triples. It wasn't perfect -- 5 TOs including a couple particularly ugly ones -- but overall this was a fine effort against a brutally tough Thunder defense.  LA again did a good job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but once again OKC's bench was excellent. That's depth the Lakers simply can't compete with.  All in all, the first two games went as expected. The Lakers are playing hard, doing a lot of things well, but aren't nearly equipped to deal with the Thunder.  We'll see what they can do Saturday in Game 3.  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers fight, still lose.  SEGMENT 2: Austin Reaves bounces back.  SEGMENT 3: Any hope coming home?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ok, everyone knows what happened in Game 1. The Lakers weren't necessarily bad, but they weren't nearly good enough, either. So what has to change for Game 2?  For starters, Austin Reaves doesn't just have to be better, he needs to be much, much, MUCH better. But what else? With Jarred Vanderbilt almost surely sidelined and even Luke Kennard now on the injury list, the Lakers are going to have to get creative with how they do stuff. If Kennard plays, JJ Redick might be wise to figure out how to get Kennard more shots. Like, a lot more. It won't be easy, given how effective OKC is in switching, moving around screens and basically disrupting anything teams want to to, but one path for the Lakers would be eight or nine triples hoisted by Kennard, making five or six. He's capable! Can the Lakers keep Deandre Ayton activated? And what about the rest of the rotation? JJ Redick has said he may need to get weird, and this could be the night. Maybe dust off Dalton Knecht to try and add some offense and athleticism? What about Adou Thiero for some hops on the wing?  None of this is the sort of thing teams confident in their core plan would trot out, but the Lakers likely don't qualify as that type of team.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lakers fans hoping for a miracle got some disappointing news Wednesday when Luka Donćić met the media in Oklahoma City, and poured some cold water on the prospect of returning in this series. It's not gonna happen. Luka didn't say it explicitly, but made clear that the timeline for the injury when it happened was eight weeks. The hope was to speed it up with the PRP and fancy treatments, but it's the very start of week five.  That's simply not enough time. So no miracles.  Meanwhile, Jarred Vanderbilt isn't expected to play on Thursday with the gross , and now Luke Kennard is on the injury report with a neck problem. So the depth, already an issue, is going to be even more of a problem.  Finally, we ask a simple question with a very complicated answer: Is Game 2 the most important one of his career?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers won't be seeing Luka Doncic this series, and also have other issues.  SEGMENT 2: Is this the most important game of Austin's career?  SEGMENT 3: What can get better from A.R. in Game 2?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers already had a depth problem in their matchup against the Thunder, something that was very clear in Tuesday's Game 1 loss. Oklahoma City has far more players they can deploy confidently over the course of a game, with a deeper variety of skill sets to choose from. And now things get a little worse for LA, as Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to miss time after suffering a dislocated pinkie finger on his right hand. He had it wrapped up on Wednesday after reportedly receiving stitches, since the bone pierced the skin post-dislocation.  Ewwww.  Assuming Vando can't play, the Lakers lose some of their flexibility in the frontcourt, and even though he wasn't likely to play big minutes, his absence means everyone else has to play more... which only makes the depth disparity worse.  So where do they go from here?  And oh, the microscope on Austin Reaves is going to be INSANE in Game 2.   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers as a team weren't particularly bad (individual players, most importantly Austin Reaves, certainly were) but that's not necessarily all that encouraging, because in the end they lost 108-90 in a game they hung in for a while but never really had even an ounce of real control.  And to make it worse, the Thunder didn't seem to do anything special, either. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't go off. They didn't pile up a huge point total. The Lakers defense was pretty active. But all of this illustrates the issues the Lakers knew they'd be facing, namely that the Thunder are a better, deeper team.  The Lakers simply have no margin for error, and they errored too much in Game 1.  And now to Austin Reaves:  He was bad. Really bad. He was able to get himself in the lane and put some pressure on the Thunder, but overall there were far too many turnovers (four) and far too few buckets (three field goals, on 16 attempts). And unlike how it went in his return against Houston where Reaves was terrible from the floor (4-16), A.R. was unable to supplement the bad shooting with volume from the line. Reaves only shot two free throws. (As a team, they only shot 13, which isn't going to get it done.) Would the Lakers have won with Reaves scoring more than eight points? Maybe not. But they had absolutely no chance with him playing this poorly.  "He didn't play well, but he's going to bounce back. He's a great player," JJ Redick said after.  Lakers fans aren't so sure.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Lakers hang for a while, but still lose by 18.    SEGMENT 2: Reaves has a terrible game.    SEGMENT 3: OKC's gonna be tough to crack.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part I of our preview of the Lakers vs. Oklahoma City, we asked Rylan Styles, host of Locked On Thunder, to break down the strengths and (relative) weaknesses of the Thunder.  How does missing Jalen Williams impact things? When they lose, why does it happen? Where might the Lakers look to attack?  In Part II, we take Rylan's questions about the Lakers. How do they operate without Luka? What does he think JJ Redick will do defensively, from a scheme standpoint? Particularly as it relates to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Do the Lakers try to shut down SGA, and make anyone else beat them? Do they let SGA go crazy, but try to limit everyone else?  The Thunder are a team that thrives on turnovers. The Lakers tend to turn it over. We discuss.  Bottom line, it's another demonstration of why the Thunder are such heavy favorites in this series. It's not that the Lakers can't compete against good teams, even without Luka. They can, and have, as recently as the first round of the playoffs. But Oklahoma City isn't your ordinary good team, and the strengths and weaknesses of the Lakers align very poorly with OKC's.  But as they say, this is why they play the games!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with guest Ryan Styles!   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Look, everyone knows the deal, here. The Thunder are massive favorites to beat the Lakers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.  And they should be!  But what can the Lakers do to try and push OKC? To make it a longer series than expected, and maybe -- just maybe... -- turn it into something shocking? We unpack the series with Rylan Styles, host of Locked On Thunder. Now unlike our conversations with Jackson Gatlin, of "cakewalk" fame, Rylan has every reason to believe the Thunder should make this an easy series, given that the Lakers don't have Luka Doncic and the Thunder beat the snot out of LA multiple times this season.  But where are they at least a little vulnerable? Where could the Lakers try to press even small advantages? How does Rylan believe they'll try to defend LeBron and Austin Reaves? Where will they try to press their advantages over the Lakers?  We have lots of questions! And while his answers won't leave Lakers fans feeling better about the team's chances, they're still pretty informative!   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  (with guest, Rylan Styles!!!)    SEGMENT 1: Setting the stage for Round 2.   SEGMENT 2: How the Thunder guard Lebron and Reaves.    SEGMENT 3: Vulnerabilities?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's no way around it. The Lakers are considered huge long shots to win this series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. That might still be understating the perceived odds LA is battling. You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody not wearing a Lakers uni even remotely talking up the chance of an upset. And that even includes Lakers fans, many of whom the Kamenetzky Brothers have heard talk about this series as a pointless exercise in impending failure, with a fatalistic mindset that reduces the next 4-7 games into a borderline waste of time.   As the K Bros explain, Lakers fans can and should "fan" however they want, but that's the very wrong way of viewing this series, along with the entire reason teams compete in the first place.     HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.     DoorDash From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Reddit Reddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps.   Quo Make this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.   Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men.   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   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers made it through Round 1 without Luka Dončić and for 2/3 of the series, without Austin Reaves.  Against OKC in Round 2, they'll have Austin back, but Luka is nowhere near ready to play, still without a timetable and not doing anything approaching true on court work at speed. And given how fast this series will move -- it's an every other day affair -- there's a very good chance Luka won't be available for any of it. Even if it goes longer than anyone expects. That's how the Lakers are likely approaching things. Plus, they do need to be careful about rushing Luka back for a series that is potentially too far gone, and putting a full, robust offseason in jeopardy. Because the last thing the Lakers want is for this injury to linger.  Meanwhile, the pressure will be on Austin Reaves to step up. The challenge is significant, and Reaves's splits this season against the Thunder are bad. But with a huge free agent summer coming, this is an important step for Reaves, to perform against an elite defense. Because this is the type of quality championship caliber players will face in the postseason. And at an expected $35-40 million, that's the expectation.  Finally, this will be a series where, between Reaves and SGA, the whole "foul merchant" thing will be top of mind. How fair is the label for either guy?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Luka likely out for the second round?    SEGMENT 2: Pressure on Reaves.    SEGMENT 3: Foul merchants!    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   RedditReddit is where the real fans hang out. Download the Reddit app and dive into your favorite team for hot takes, fresh memes, and the group chat that never sleeps. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity - and no cutsomer - slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers were disappointed by the results of Game 5 at home Wednesday night, and knew moving back to Houston they'd need a much better Game 6 to eliminate the Rockets.  And that's what they got.  The Lakers used a good-enough offense, with low turnovers (10) and good 3-point shooting (12-28, 43%) in combination with an excellent defense -- the Rockets shot 35% from the floor and weren't a force on the offensive glass (despite a LOT of opportunities). LeBron James led the way with 28 points, on 10-25 shooting. Rui Hachimura was massive, with 21 points, fueled by 5-7 shooting from downtown. Austin Reaves finished with 15, but was integral in the third quarter (eight points) and overall was very effective getting into the paint. Seven early points from Jake LaRavia was a nice boost, too.  Oh, 16 rebounds and stellar D from Deandre Ayton.  Overall, the Lakers changed some small things. They pushed harder on misses, especially in the first half, to find easier buckets or at the least force Houston to scramble a little defensively. They sent fewer doubles at Alperin Sengun. They found ways into the paint. They cleaned up the TOs.  All in all, a great end to a fantastic series for the Lakers. Even against a Rockets team missing Kevin Durant, to advance in six games when Luka Dončić didn't play, and Austin Reaves didn't appear until Game 5.  Lakers fans have plenty of reasons to be proud, even with an incredibly difficult challenge coming against Oklahoma City.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: Can LeBron go LeBron for Game 6? SEGMENT 2: Can Austin Reaves be a star on Friday? SEGMENT 3: Amen Thompson is making life hard for Luke Kennard.   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub       Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   5-Hour ENERGYGet candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.     DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Generally speaking, in the NBA Playoffs if your stars aren't stars, you're not going to win.  Now, sometimes they're stars and you lose anyway. But rarely do they falter and the team still advances. So that's the position the Lakers are in LeBron James was pretty good (but not spectacular) and had a couple key turnovers. Austin Reaves did some good stuff, leading the team in assists and making 12 of 13 free throws. But he also missed 12 of his 16 field goal attempts.  That's not good enough.  So can the Lakers stars elevate against an excellent Houston defense?  How good exactly do they need to be?  Meanwhile, what can the Lakers do to get someone like Luke Kennard going?  Because the Lakers need to take and make some more shots from distance.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: Can LeBron go LeBron for Game 6?    SEGMENT 2: Can Austin Reaves be a star on Friday?    SEGMENT 3: Amen Thompson is making life hard for Luke Kennard.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Game 5 was not a good one for the Lakers, especially offensively.  And while Austin Reaves did score 22 points, most of it came from the free throw line. His ineffectiveness from the field (4-16 shooting) was a drag on the performance of the offense as a while. It's easy to understand why - parachuting into a series after a long layoff isn't easy - but the circumstances don't necessarily matter. The Lakers need Reaves to be better going forward.  The good news is while the output for A.R. and the team wasn't terribly impressive, there were very positive signs about what Reaves can do for the Lakers in Game 6 and (if needed) Game 7. The Lakers found themselves in the paint more. They got to the line more. Reaves was far more capable of creating his own shot against Houston's defense, finding ways to penetrate and create opportunities for others as well.  Meanwhile, he didn't hurt them on the other end.  So the foundation is there. The importance of his skill set is clear. But he, and the Lakers, need more shots to go down.  ? Can he do it?   HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers came home for Game 5 Friday badly wanting to put their series against the Houston Rockets, and in the first quarter at least looked like they might get it done.  But in the second... and for the rest of the game... the Lakers basically fell into the same patterns that defined the second half of Game 3, and all of Game 4. Momentum killing turnovers, a total lack of shotmaking, particularly from 3-point range. LeBron James found the range late, but it took a while to get there, and Austin Reaves was cold from everywhere but the free throw line after a reasonably quick start. And Luke Kennard disappeared entirely. After a strong opening games, Kennard has been a total non-factor. Marcus Smart hasn't been much better, particularly when it comes to turnovers.  In short, the Lakers need to reset, and find the confidence that pushed them through the first three games. The next chance they'll have to do so is Friday in Houston.  It's a big mental challenge, because the momentum in the series has swung entirely away from them, and the Rockets home crowd will be absolutely bonkers.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky   SEGMENT 1: After a hot start, the Lakers go cold.    SEGMENT 2: Not enough support.  SEGMENT 3: Reaves returns, goes cold.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!  5-Hour ENERGY  Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon  KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDash From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast  Gametime  Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.  FanDuel  Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.  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) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-lakers/ Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba Subscribe to the Locked On Lakers Podcast 📲 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnLakers 📲 Follow the Kamenetzkys: https://twitter.com/KamBrothers #Lakers #LosAngelesLakers #LebronJames #AnthonyDavis #NBA Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Houston has a long way to go, but they're still in it at least.  The Lakers would like to fix that on Wednesday. They want to take no chances, and not even entertain a situation where they could become the first team to lose a 3-0 lead in a playoff series. There's a good chance they throw everything they have at the Rockets, including Austin Reaves who is expected to return to the lineup after injuring his oblique.  The Lakers can definitely use what Reaves provides from a skill set standpoint. But will he be too rusty to make an impact? Can Houston defend him as aggressively as they have other players, and still leave themselves able to cover those who need it?  There's a lot going on in Game 5, including LA's attempts to tamp down Houston's offense, which will be without Kevin Durant. Alperin Sengun has had his way in the last couple of games, and overall using him as a fulcrum has really helped the Rockets get some rhythm.  Time for the Lakers to adjust, but what else does JJ have in the bag?  All that plus Game 5 predictions with Jackson Gatlin of Locked On Rockets.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are all sorts of different signposts along the path towards building a team in the offseason, whether in the trade or free agent markets. But things can shift as you go from point A to B to C. One of the big ones? The playoffs. Think about last season, when major injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton radically changed the plans for the Celtics and Pacers respectively, and added motion to the offseason markets.  This year, there is already talk of the Warriors doing a significant retool to try and make one more run with Steph Curry. Could the Rockets be in for another retool (around Kevin Durant and others?) given a shaky first round performance and some chemistry questions? With the Magic up 3-1 over the Pistons and Detroit's All-Star center Jalen Duren having a terrible series, there's some chatter that his max rookie extension, believed to be a formality, might not be automatic. And who knows what the Nuggets will do in an offseason where Peyton Watson is a free agent, and they have some very challenging roster choices to make?  The Lakers, of course, have their decisions to make, including about the future of Austin Reaves.  So how has the future started to bend to new events?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Game 4 wasn't much fun to watch, that's for sure, but like the pros do, sometimes you have to go back and review stuff.  So where did the Lakers go wrong?  Looking back at the ... action, it was pretty clear first and foremost the Lakers were playing on tired legs. But it's also clear the Rockets have changed up enough things that the Lakers, after six very cold quarters, need to respond. They need to find ways to get LeBron touches in more advantageous positions, without him having to put the ball on the floor to make something happen. Houston's ball pressure is hurting Luke Kennard. Can they create enough action to again make him a weapon, where his gravity (which comes from shot quality) allows him to then get into the teeth of a defense? How about shot selection, generally? Are the Lakers taking shots when they're available? Forcing too much?  Kinda yes to both?  Given the state of things, it seems pretty clear that the Lakers are going to pour everything they have into Game 5 in an effort to put this series to bed. And they should. Especially until Austin Reaves is for sure back on the floor, because their limitations didn't go away just because they took 3-0 series lead.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Houston has stepped up defensively.    SEGMENT 2: LeBron needs more (scheme) help.    SEGMENT 3: How Austin helps if he returns in Game 5.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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)   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers looked tired on Sunday in Game 4, doing everything a step slower than they had been, with responses that were a hair less quick and shotmaking that was more than a hair less successful. All of that was enough to lead to a turnover fueled blowout loss.  As is often the case in the playoffs, one game can make people feel a lot different about a series. And had Game 4 happened in Game 1, people would have freaked out for sure. But the Lakers are still up 3-1, and need to win one of the next three, two of which will happen in LA. They should also get Austin Reaves back reasonably soon, if not for Wednesday's Game 5.  In the meantime, the Rockets did a lot of stuff that hurt the Lakers, including:  Increasing the physicality directed at LeBron James.  Made it tougher for James to get the ball in advantageous spots.  Make Luke Kennard play more defense than they had been.  Increased ball pressure, which elevated LA's turnovers.  Kept the Lakers out of transition.  So what can the Lakers do in Game 5 to close things out?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone was wondering what it might look like if Houston finally found the range offensively while the Lakers went cold.  The answer: a 115-96 Game 4 loss to the Rockets in Houston.  It was an ugly set of outputs for the Lakers, who were obviously trying (it's the playoffs) but didn't have a lot of juice. The scoring collapsed. The turnovers (24, overall) were frequent. The defense wasn't great. But mostly the Lakers looked really sluggish on O while the Rockets finally hit some shots. The leading scorer for LA was Deandre Ayton with 19, and he was ejected after a questionable Flagrant 2 call. LeBron finished with 10 points on 2-9 shooting, and his nine assists were spoiled by eight turnovers.  LA got 16 points combined from Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart.  The Lakers played once again without Austin Reaves, who warmed up and decided he wasn't quite ready. Houston, meanwhile, was without Kevin Durant, who in theory could miss another week or two. So the series moves to Los Angeles for Game 5, a game the Lakers would very, very much like to win and close this thing out.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get thumped in Game 4.    SEGMENT 2: LeBron tired, limited, and had company in being tired and limited.    SEGMENT 3: Any worries?  Do the Lakers close out Wednesday?    Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long.   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How did that happen? People will be trying to figure out exactly what happened for a while, but the bottom line is this: Down six without the ball and under :30 seconds left to play, the Lakers managed to tie the game and then win it in OT. They beat the Houston Rockets in Houston, 112-108 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.  They'll try to close it out Sunday in Houston.  LeBron James led the way with 29, including a critical triple to tie the game. Marcus Smart had 21 points to go with 10 assists, five steals and a pair of blocks. Rui Hachimura was red hot out of the gate, and finished with 22.  It was a stunning collapse by the Rockets, no doubt, but one that was made possible by consistent high-end effort from the Lakers. They didn't quit on the game, and were richly rewarded.  And it looks like Austin Reaves could be available for Game 4 on Sunday, too.  Things are, to say the least, looking good.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before the team headed out to Houston for Friday's Game 3, center Deandre Ayton met with the media and talked about his excitement not just at playing defense in this series, but playing incredibly versatile defense, not just against centers but one through five on switches. Ayton does move well in space, and obviously needs to prove his ability to follow through and do this at a high level, but more than anything, it reflects his investment in doing the right things for the Lakers, and trying to meet the moment and what the team needs from him, especially with Luka and Reaves sidelined. It frustrates some fans (and media like) that Ayton seems to need these sorts of affirmations, and that the team has had to do so much legwork to get him into a mindset like this, and then keep him there. It would be great if Ayton arrived with the proverbial Mamba Mentality, but that's not how he's wired. But over the course of the year, with some ups and downs, the Lakers have managed to get real buy in from Ayton, and it's translating to performance at the right moment. In a lot of ways, whether reflecting the team culture instilled by JJ Redick and Co., or individual support from guys like Marcus Smart. So how does that translate into Friday's game? And what else should folks be looking for as the Lakers try to take an even more commanding lead? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   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   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers, already riding high with a 2-0 lead in their series against the Houston Rockets as the show travels to Texas for Friday's Game 3, got a nice boost with the news that Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury, has been upgraded to Questionable. That doesn't mean he'll play - and with the series lead the Lakers might choose to give him a little more time to heal, even if he could suit up Friday - but just the listing is going to rightly excite Lakers fans.  Meanwhile, the Rockets are listing Kevin Durant as questionable, this time with an ankle injury. It seems like a long shot that he'd actually sit, but given that he's already nursing a knee injury, anything that limits him further is not great for a struggling Houston team.  Meanwhile, the Lakers are winning the series in part because they're winning what JJ Redick calls "the little battles."  "There’s a natural flow to the series where the team that wins can relax a little bit and the team that loses comes out and plays with more desperation. I thought our guys at least matched their sense of desperation. Our second efforts, all that stuff. You’ve got to win a bunch of little fights, that can be your catch position, that can be your screens, that can be creating separation, that can be boxing out. But this team requires you to win a bunch of little fights.” This is a team that needs to be good at that stuff anyway, but without two stars, they need to be even more attentive, and have been for sure.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    SEGMENT 1: Reaves upgraded, Durant downgraded.    SEGMENT 2: Winning the little battles.    SEGMENT 3: What to watch for in Game 3.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a series where the Lakers came in as heavy underdogs, the Lakers now have a 2-0 lead heading into Game 2 in Houston.  So are they now series favorites?  A lot goes into that. Are the Lakers playing above their heads right now? Do you think Houston's offense can improve? if so, how much? Insofar as the Lakrs are concerned, it should be heartening to see that, while maybe the shotmaking has been a little elevated, there's little LA is doing that feels unsustainable, and the discipline and confidence with which they're playing seems unlikely to waver, even if Houston takes a game or two. Which they probably will at some point.  These Lakers are guys who have been in the playoffs, and are less likely to be rattled by them. And it's helpful too to know the Rockets have a clear weakness. In a Round 2 against OKC, maybe you need more luck. But against the Rockets?  And that Houston D, is it even as good as advertised?    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky      Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before things kicked off in their series against the Houston Rockets, the hosts of this space were confident in one thing: The Lakers would set a bar and make the Rockets clear it to beat them. LA is too resilient and composed to fall apart and fold.  The expectation, though, was that the Rockets would have enough talent on hand to put down those plucky Lakers in five or six.  Well... not so far! The Lakers have indeed set an admirably high bar, but the Rockets haven't even come close to coming over it. In fact, Houston has been borderline inept on the offensive end, leaving them down 2-0 heading into Friday's Game 3. So can the Rockets change their fortunes? Are they actually that bad, or is some positive regression inevitable? And what about the Lakers? How much more upside is available to them, particularly on offense?  The Lakers aren't going to quit setting a standard Houston is going to have to exceed. Do these Rockets have it in them to get it done?  We break it down with Jackson Gatlin of Locked On Rockets in another postseason crossover episode!    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Jackson Gatlin.   SEGMENT 1: Why are the Lakers up 2-0?    SEGMENT 2: Is the Rockets offense really this bad?    SEGMENT 3: What comes next?    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon   PrizePicksDownload 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 Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.