Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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.

 

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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

 

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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

 

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Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.

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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!

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)

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