Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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.