Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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. 

 

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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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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)

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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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.