Russell Westbrook Could Be A Laker Again Next Season. Plus, Going "Year to Year" with LeBron

LeBron Reportedly Likes Mark Jackson as a New Coach. Would the Lakers Hire him?: As we all settle into the Lakers' offseason, big questions - and there are many - rumors and reports are already circulating about the direction the team might go in replacing Frank Vogel. One nugget reported by Sam Amick at The Athletic? LeBron James would be interested in the Lakers hiring former Warriors/current ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson. Now, this is highly unikely (Jackson was a rumored candidate after the Lakers canned Luke Walton, and even when the Cavs fired David Blatt), but the concept raises interesting questions about how the Lakers need to approach the coaching search. Because while Jackson is hardly the perfect candidate, that guy doesn't exist. It's very unlikely the Lakers will have access to the creme de la creme of uber-elite coaching options. So they need to be very clear on what they want, why, and who can deliver on their top priorities. From there, they have to match that coach wi by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Is It a Given The Lakers Should Offer LeBron James a Contract Extension? Plus, more on Westbrook's Take on Media/Fans: Nothing is easy about this season for the Lakers, and nothing will be easy about this offseason for them, either. Tons of huge decisions to be made. Now, that includes the future of LeBron James. Not just from the POV of what James wants, but also whether the Lakers would be wise to commit to a core comprised of James and Anthony Davis, since now neither guy can be considered reliable from a health/availability standpoint. Then again, what exactly are the alternatives? Trading James? Trading James and AD? Letting LeBron walk? The team is in a tight spot, because doing better than that core will be hard, but it's reasonable to ask now if that core is enough to win more titles without a stronger supporting cast... something the Lakers don't have much ability to build. On the other hand, there may not be a team in the league with more obstacles in front of them for a tota by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

What is a Realistic Timeline for LeBron James to Return? Plus, the Lakers Retire Pau Gasol's #16!: Of late, The Athletic's Shams Charania hasn't exactly been the bearer of good news for Lakers fans. And Monday, talking with FanDuelTV, wasn't much different. Charania noted that while the Lakers are going to re-evaluate LeBron James after three weeks, there is certainly some belief that the actual length of LeBron's absence could extend past that mark. Well past it, potentially, calling into serious question just how much regular season action James might get before a (hypothetical) play-in matchup. Or whether the Lakers can hang on long enough to even make those last few games meaningful. And what exactly will be the considerations the Lakers and LeBron make when deciding whether LeBron can/should return to action? It's all very speculative and super-unpleasant for the Lakers, and puts that much more pressure on Anthony Davis to elevate the team, D'Angelo Russell to get back on the floo by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

Grading the Lakers' Offseason: Was Westbrook the Right Move? Guest, SI's Michael Pina: The Lakers took a massive swing this offseason, reconstructing what was already considered a championship roster around a trade for Russell Westbrook, adding to LeBron James and Anthony Davis and giving the Lakers a genuine Big Three. As has been discussed, the move comes with great potential benefits, but also plenty of potential problems. Nobody believes the Lakers won't be good - excellent if everyone is healthy - but was the Westbrook move really the best solution to last year's problems? Michael Pina, the outstanding NBA writer for Sports Illustrated, doesn't think so. In his evaluation of the Lakers' offseason, he expressed real concerns about the fit, and wondered whether the Lakers might have better off with something more simple (the potential Buddy Hield deal, for example). And if you don't like the Westbrook deal, it's hard to love everything that came after, even if the Lakers spent what by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

43 min listen

Would Trading Russell Westbrook to Utah Be a Better Option for the Lakers?: A new trade possibility emerged for the Lakers (and Russell Westbrook), at least in theory. According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype reported late last week that Los Angeles could get itself involved in the talks between New York and Utah around Donovan Mitchell, whether as literal players in that hypothetical swap (turning it into a three-team deal) or as a vulture picking at the carcass of a now rebuilding Jazz squad. But the bones of a deal: Westbrook and a first rounder for two of Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley and Pat Beverley. Is this a good idea? Well, it depends on a few things, namely whether the Lakers could maneuver to a place where they could absorb as much unpleasant money tied to useful-but-overpaid players without surrendering significant assets. Draft capital, specifically. If that's an option? Sure, let's break Westbrook up into smaller contracts, and add some useful players i by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

Is It Possible LeBron James Wouldn't Sign an Extension With the Lakers?: LeBron James has spent a great deal of his time in Los Angeles fighting significant injuries. He's been told to stay off that bad ankle this spring/summer for at least a month, probably more. So with all that in mind, and his advancing age and tremendous NBA mileage, it's at least worth contemplating the risks of offering him a $90-plus million extension this summer. But this week, Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote an interesting story that asks the other side of the same question: Would LeBron automatically accept an offer from the Lakers (as everyone assumes the organization will do)? What are the reasons LeBron might turn them down? What might have changed about his perception of the franchise? Is it really any different now than it was when he signed with them originally? When he signed his first extension with the team? Finally, everyone (James included) poked fun at the Timberwolves for, let's call it an extre by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Kyrie Irving opts in with Nets. What Next For the Lakers? Plus, Would Malik Monk Take Less to Stay?: The world woke up Monday to news that the relationship between Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets continued to deteriorate, and the star guard had permission to look for a sign and trade deal that would end his stay with the Nets. The Lakers, it was said, were the only team that showed interest. But Brooklyn, it was said, didn't want Russell Westbrook. So would it be a three-team deal? Four? How far would the Lakers go to simultaneously add the dynamic (if problematic) scorer and rid themselves of the Westbrook problem? Well, by 4 pm local time, it was a moot point. Kyrie announced, in the most pretentious way possible, he'll be staying with the Nets. Irving opts into the final year of his contract, and while that doesn't mean he can't be traded, it does mean he can't be part of a sign-and-trade that would bring him the contract Brooklyn seems unwilling to provide. So what does this sit by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

How Much Should LeBron James (and Other Important Los Angeles Lakers ) Play During the Preseason?: LeBron James noted Thursday that he won't be playing in the preseason opener on Saturday in San Francisco, but he does plan to play in about half of LA's six games before the real ones start later this month. That's a pretty decent amount of run, but is it enough? What is too much? The Lakers have, in the past, gone extremely conservative with preseason playing time for stars. We remember a couple years back when James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook didn't get any time together in dress rehearsals before the regular season, and the results showed. On the other hand, LeBron is officially the oldest player in the NBA, and there is no diminishing AD's injury history. And the Lakers do have some continuity, which matters. On the other hand, there are still a lot of questions about the rotation that need to be addressed, and more importantly, the Lakers have a very difficult, road-heavy by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

LeBron James Gives an Injury Update (Sort of), D'Angelo Russell Opens Up about his Lakers Future: Updates about LeBron James and his injured foot have come out in drips and drabs, and have almost always been couched in very vague language that promises nothing and leaves only a sort of broad, general impression about what might maybe happen, perhaps with a week left in the season or maybe four days or possibly eight or maybe none. Point being, nobody has been saying anything even a little bit definitive. But perhaps it's still been too definitive for James, who put out his own update on social media, which let folks know what he's been up to and also did the SMH at "sources" out there. Granted, LeBron's update was equally fuzzy as anything else that's been reported, and didn't even really refute anything. So what was the point of putting it out there? Time to read some tea leaves! From there, the length of James's absence, combined with the quality of play from Austin Reaves, has some by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Kings hire Mike Brown. Are the Lakers Now More Likely to Hire Mark Jackson?: The Sacramento Kings have settled on former Lakers head coach Mike Brown, in a bit of an upset given the attention that had been given to Mark Jackson as a favorite for the gig. Jackson, though, has interviewed for the Lakers job, so the fact he's still on the market seems very relevant. He does reportedly have the support of LeBron James, but the Lakers (who didn't hire Ty Lue when given the chance a few years ago) have shown that at least when it comes to coaches, they don't always do LeBron's bidding. Does it matter that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, one of the worst owners in the Association, was reportedly a big booster of Jackson while the basketball ops folks weren't? What about Jackson? He, like Brown, would be a "retread," but one with a very different path and background. He's been talked about for all sorts of jobs since Golden State fired him in 2014, including the Lakers position the last time aroun by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

30 min listen

LeBron James Pledges Never to Miss the Playoffs Again! Plus, Russell Westbrook Scenarios!: He's on vacation, but LeBron James, serial watcher of basketball, is still glued to a television watching the NBA Playoffs play out without him, doesn't like it, and Tweeted that never again will he miss the playoffs. But while James didn't mention the specific team he'll be with, he presumably meant "with the Lakers. But all jokes(?) aside, it's a reminder of how much distance the Lakers have to travel before contention, even on the fringes, is a legit possibility. So with that in mind, is it an opportunity for the team to enter next season with a little more humility? Talk about building to something, and maybe turn down the heat on the season at the start? Because they'll definitely be sporting a brand new roster, and Lord knows a little time under the radar could be helpful. From there, a comment left on the Locked On Lakers YouTube page provided the inspiration for an entire show on Friday. by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

LeBron James is Putting More Pressure on the Front Office as the Lakers Win More Games: The Lakers have won five straight at a time when the rest of the conference is slumping. The Suns and Clippers have both lost six straight. The Jazz are sliding, the Blazers with them. as a result, the Lakers aren't just in contact with the play-in, they're creeping up on the real live playoff teams. Just a couple games back of the five spot. That's a ton of unexpected progress at a time when, with Anthony Davis (and more!) on the sidelines, the Lakers just weren't thought of as a competitive team. Yet here we are! And with that, LeBron James is cranking up the heat on the team's front office to kick it into high gear and make some trades to help improve the roster. Not later, not next season, now. In a walk-and-talk following Saturday's win over Sacramento with The Athletic's Sam Amick, LeBron said without saying that he thinks the front office should make a move. Sunday on Twitter, he tried to dia by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

Can the Lakers Get Value in a Russell Westbrook Deal? (Guest: Jovan Buha, Part II): In Part I of our conversation with Jovan Buha of The Athletic, we covered the LeBron James and Anthony Davis core, how viable it is, and what the Lakers might do to improve the supporting cast around them this summer. Central to that is the future of Russell Westbrook. Part II starts there. First and foremost, Jovan doesn't think the Lakers can bring Westbrook back, at least in a basketball playing capacity. If he's on the roster, the Lakers pay him to stay away. So that leaves a trade. What is realistic? Could the Lakers get Indiana to trade Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield to LA? Would that cost them both of their available first round picks? Would that be worth it? What about the head coach? Whatever identity the team forges moving forward will come, at least in part, from the influence of the guy on the sidelines. Could the Lakers land a big fish like Nick Nurse? What about Quin Snyder or Doc Rivers by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

LeBron Says He Wants to Retire (many years from now) as a Laker! Plus, the Lakers' Draft Needs.: As part of his Space Jam promotional tour, LeBron James appeared on the "Smartless" podcast with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, and among many subjects, touched on his basketball future. In a nutshell, he wants to play another several years, and all of them in a Laker uniform. What's crazy is how absolutely sane the notion of him playing well into his forties feels. LeBron also talked about his future in Hollywood, and what he could have in common with Denzel Washington, Liam Neeson and The Rock. From there, the Kamenetzkys break down what type of player the Lakers should target with the 22nd pick, assuming they keep it. Should they target a high ceiling, or a high floor? What skills should they covet? Is it even possible to find a multifaceted player late in the first round? Finally, Team USA lost what is ultimately an insignificant game against Nigeria, but basketball fans are by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

Does it Matter *Why* LeBron James Stays with the Lakers? Plus, How Do Fans Connect With the 2020 Title?: The show - which covers issues ranging from LeBron James' future in Los Angeles to Rob Pelinka's difficult upcoming offseason to the Lakers' 2020 championship's place among other purple and gold titles to Anthony Davis' health to Russell Westbrook -is mostly centered around a comment left by Socrates Thalassos on the Locked On Lakers YouTube page: "Lakers future looks very bleak. Aging LBJ. Always Damaged Aggression Deficient. No draft picks-expect them to trade 27 and 29 to help with next year and to get off Russ. A passive aggressive drama fuels the next 3 years of LBJ, since I think he probably will sign the extension because he wants to stay in LA, not because he wants to stay with the Lakers. After that a totally empty cupboard with maybe Austin Reaves, Wenyen Gabriel and some undrafted projects in it. If we're lucky they'll be as much fun as the Baby Lakers were. Next title ma by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

Has Russell Westbrook Been Good, Bad or Both for the Lakers This Season? (Plus 2nd Half Predictions)...: It's an easy question to ask, and a really hard one to answer. Is Russell Westbrook playing well for the Lakers this season? Ask 100 Lakers fans and you'll get 100 different answers, in part because even before the trade that brought Westbrook to Los Angeles, even before his genuinely disastrous first season in a Lakers uniform, Westbrook already was already a polarizing figure in the NBA community. Like Kobe, Westbrook for many is an avatar for larger conversations about how basketball should be played, and what ought to be valued. He's often been at the center of the divide between "old school" and "new school" analysts, or folks who just kinda don't like the guy and find him abrasive. So there's no question he's not worth $47 million. There's no question the trade was a horrible idea, and could haunt the Lakers for years. But none of that is really related to answering the questi by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

The Lakers Sign Stanley Johnson, Plus, New Westbrook Trade Rumor Details!: It's been a struggle all season for the Lakers to find supporting players to put around their Big 3 (it's been a struggle to keep the Big 3 on the floor, too, but that's a different story). Kent Bazemore, Wayne Ellington, and Trevor Ariza have all been ineffective. DeAndre Jordan, too. Kendrick Nunn is yet to play. A bright spot, though, has been the pickup of Stanley Johnson, who has brought badly needed athleticism on the defensive end, and quickly become a favorite of Frank Vogel. Wednesday, the Lakers reached an agreement with Johnson that will keep him around for the rest of the season, and give the Lakers first dibs on his services next year as well. It's a good deal for all involved, and it's not impossible that, stripped of the expectations that come with being a high lottery pick, Johnson, still only 25, could find a niche and develop with the Lakers. Not into a star - that ship has sailed - but as a va by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

The Luka Doncic Conundrum, 1998 Bulls vs 2021 Lakers & The Trey Lance-Michael Vick Connection by Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

38 min listen

Is LeBron James Almost Back? Is Frank Vogel the Lakers' Biggest Offseason Priority?: ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that LeBron James is getting close to a return from his high ankle sprain, maybe hitting the court sometime this week. How quickly can James get his feet under him, and what does his return mean for guys like Dennis Schröder, who have thrived in outsized roles in his absence? Meanwhile, Woj also reports the Lakers will spend the summer putting together a contract extension for Frank Vogel. What has made Vogel, at best the team's third choice a couple summers ago, such a success? Finally, what's remarkable about the sale of a LeBron James rookie card for $5.2 million isn't the $5.2 million... HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: James is (almost) back. After Monday's game, Anthony Davis and Vogel spoke about the need for players like Schröder to stay aggressive once he's back, continuing to guide the offense and punish opponents when the opportunities present. by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

29 min listen

Listeners React to Anthony Davis Trade Hypotheticals, and the Potential Return of Westbrook: Tuesday, the show was centered around the hypothetical idea of the Lakers trading Anthony Davis. Why they ought to at least consider it, how it might help LeBron James and what kinds of packages they should look for. (Especially when trading Russell Westbrook is/should be a higher priority.) It's a thought exercise as much as anything—the Lakers are very unlikely to actually move him—but gets to the challenge of this offseason. It elicited a lot of reaction, which kicks off Wednesday's episode as well. People thought it was a great idea or a monumentally stupid one, with very little in the middle. Which gets to how complicated the repair job is for the Lakers. There is no clear path, it's a bunch of options all muddy and overgrown. Wouldn't they be better off just rolling with the core they have, asks one listener to Locked On Lakers on YouTube? Very possibly! But possibly, not, too. Meanwhile, by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

The "Russell Westbrook Experience" - How It Impacts LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers: So 11 games in, Lakers fans (and Lakers coaches, Lakers players and Lakers management) are learning a lot about what it means to be a team featuring Russell Westbrook. The extremes are striking, particularly now while he's not playing particularly well in the aggregate. Is it something people were totally prepared for? How is it impacting the way the Lakers play? And perhaps most importantly, when it's all said and done, how does Westbrook's presence impact the effectiveness of LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a pairing? Because for the last two seasons, there has been an assumption that the combination of Davis and James, if healthy and playing at their top level, automatically makes the Lakers strong title contenders, almost independent of what surrounds them. Given LeBron's new struggles with health, is that still true? And critically, does the addition of Westbrook enhance that partner by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

The Phil Jackson/Russell Westbrook Connection, plus a Radical Westbrook Thought Experiment: Former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has, reportedly, noted support for point guard Russell Westbrook, who (as was noted on Wednesday's show) has a pretty decent chance of being in a Lakers uniform next season. Or at the least, being eligible to wear one, assuming the Lakers don't buy him out or pay him to sit on the sidelines. Jackson reportedly believes Westbrook wasn't utilized properly this season and is a fan of his talent. All of that could mean a lot of things, and all of it kinda makes fans a little nervous. Particularly those who don't think Jackson should have a significant voice in choosing the next head coach. So is the concern warranted? As always, God is in the details. Does "support" for Westbrook mean advocating for the Lakers to keep him? For trying to make the best of it if they can't find a good deal? Big difference between just those. From there, it's a Westbrook Thought Exp by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

The Lakers Have Looked to Trade Russell Westbrook (and others). Plus, Kendrick Nunn's Impending Return.: The phenomenon that is Russell Westbrook has unquestionably dominated conversations around the Lakers all year, for good reason. He is fascinating as a player and a concept, and as a massive basketball experiment the Lakers have undertaken in a high-pressure season. And this week we learned that the Lakers have quietly broached the idea of trading Westbrook, only a few months into his tenure. It's highly unlikely it'll happen, but that doesn't make the reports any less telling. From there, Following a turnover-free Tuesday for Westbrook as the Lakers beat the Kings (Russ's first since 2016 in a regular season tilt) he was asked questions about how the team has adjusted to him. How guys have learned to play with him, and what that means. It's a contrast to the normal line of inquiry, tilted much more towards "How are you adjusting to LeBron and A.D.? Both are important, but also rais by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

Did LeBron James and Russell Westbrook Freeze Each Other Out at Summer League: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... unless what happens -- or more specifically doesn't happen -- is seen by thousands in person and hundreds of thousands more on television and social media. Such is the case with LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, who shared space in the Thomas and Mack Center Friday, taking in the Summer Lakers' game against... well, it doesn't matter. Nobody remembers anything about what happened after, because everyone was talking about how L.A.'s stars had zero interaction while courtside, before Westbrook ducked out after halftime. Maybe it means something, maybe it doesn't, but there's a zero percent chance both guys weren't fully aware of how people would react. So what's going on here? LeBron has been, reportedly, very active in his support for trading Westbrook to bring Kyrie Irving to Los Angeles. Or, ostensibly, to bring anyone who isn't Russ to Los Angeles. Is that going to by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Will the Lakers do any Sign-and-Trades? Plus, LeBron's Space Jam, and Scouting LSU G Cam Thomas with Matt Moscona!: It's getting close to the draft and free agency, which makes it a great time for an examination of various implications with both for the Lakers! First, the Kamenetzkys scout guard Cam Thomas, an absolute scoring machine during his lone season at LSU, who's been linked to the Lakers in a few mock drafts. Just how talented of a scorer is this kid who averaged 23 ppg? What else, if anything, has he demonstrated capable of consistently doing other than get buckets? Is he ready to contribute now? The answers to these questions and more, courtesy of Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona), who covers all things LSU for Locked on LSU and ESPN Baton Rouge. From there, the Kamenetzkys discuss several recent articles predicting a slew of sign-and-trades once free agency kicks off, with the Lakers mentioned as a team that would at least want to be players. In particular, Dennis Schröder could by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

37 min listen

Russell Westbrook Picks up $47 Million Option with the Lakers. What now? Plus, Malik Monk Staying?: There were no credible scenarios in which Lakers guard Russell Westbrook decided to decline his $47.1 million player option for next season. Not in a world where maybe - maybe - he'd be in line to get someone's midlevel exception for about $10 mil. And that's a best-case scenario. So while Tuesday's news that Westbrook has exercised the option and is, save a trade, set to return isn't surprising, it's one more step towards actually taking the floor for L.A. this year. That's something few thought would happen at the end of last season. So how is the relationship with Westbrook? Has the team been bluffing with all the nice stuff they've said about him this offseason? Is there a chance everyone can reset the relationship and get him to play ball with a new outlook and new role? Would Russ accept it? Would it really make a difference if he did? (How many guys change their games to start doi by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

Should LeBron James Shut It Down for the Season? Plus, the Return of Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope!: The Lakers are in a bad space. The odds of this thing turning out well, or even close, are increasingly slim. Through it all, LeBron James is playing on a bum knee and what appears to be a more finite amount of time to be LeBron James. Setting aside totally understandable personal priorities like catching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all time leading scorer, is James really gaining much playing in the last 20% of the season? Are the Lakers? Is discretion the better part of valor, even though James says he'll play unless his body says he can't? What signal does it send if he stops playing when he could continue? Even if it comes with pain? How is it linked to the conversation about heart from Thursday's show? Finally, Friday night marks the first game for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma since being traded away by the Lakers for Russell Westbrook. Both players by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

More Reports of Tension Between Russell Westbrook and the Lakers Raise All Sorts of Questions: Well, those 36-ish hours of basking in the glow of LeBron James' brilliance on Saturday against the Warriors was fun... but now it's back to the real world, where things just ain't much fun. New reports from Woj and Marc Stein detail conflict within the franchise over Russell Westbrook. Which, of course, isn't necessarily a new development, but one gets a sense that it's growing more magnified. Some important folks are pushing for Russ to come off the bench, with Frank Vogel apparently the biggest obstacle, for #BasketballReasons. Westbrook is apparently not paying his coach's loyalty back through receptiveness and positivity during film sessions. And all of this raises the question of why the Lakers didn't pay a few extra bucks to add Scott Brooks, who has a longstanding and strong relationship with Russ, onto Vogel's staff. Then again, how the Lakers spend their money is often reason to s by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

Is LeBron James Almost Healthy Again? Plus, a Big Road Trip and Connecting Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan and Talen Horton-Tucker: The Lakers could use some good news, and per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, that's on the horizon. LeBron James may be returning the court as soon as Friday in Boston against the Celtics. To put it mildly, his seven game absence (eight counting Wednesday in Milwaukee) has put a strain on the team. It's set the stage for a difficult five-game roadie, and also made it hard to even evaluate how good or bad the Lakers really are. 15 games in, it's not a cop out to say you're not sure what this roster can accomplish, because it hasn't yet been seen fully intact. But was it constructed correctly to begin with? DeMar DeRozan's recently (re)expressed desire to have become a Laker this offseason got people talking. A summertime trade with San Antonio would have been complicated to make, but what does it say about the Lakers front office that they so emphatically chos by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

LeBron James Makes All-NBA Third Team: Why It Raises Tough Questions for the Lakers: LeBron James has made the All-NBA Third Team. On the one hand, it's a remarkable achievement, given his age and mileage. The level of play he put out this year was pretty remarkable, even before considering how long he's been at it. There isn't much, if any, precedent. On the other hand, the reason James made the third team and not first or second? 56 games. That's how many he played, and it's the third year he's missed a significant number of games since joining the Lakers. So on the one hand, LeBron James is still demonstrably excellent. On the other, it's getting harder and harder to rely on James to be on the court to demonstrate that excellence. So what do the Lakers do? When it comes to figuring out how "in" to go with a James-led team, whether "all" or something more conservative, balancing the paradox of James is a real pickle. Can the Lakers make enough improvements around him (and presumably by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

29 min listen

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Russell Westbrook Could Be A Laker Again Next Season. Plus, Going "Year to Year" with LeBron

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