Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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)

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