Can LeBron and Anthony Davis be the Best Duo in the Western Conference? (Guest: Mo Dakhil, Part 2!)

Is Anthony Davis Ready to be the Lakers' Best Player, Even When LeBron Return?: For the last two seasons, pundits, team officials and Lakers players alike have all agreed that the key to the team's success is Anthony Davis. He needs to be their most dominant player on a night in, night out basis. The difference between All Star AD and MVP caliber AD is the thing that can elevate the Lakers more than any other personnel move that's available to them. The last three games for the Lakers, all wins, have shown what that looks like, as Davis has thrashed the competition. But that's without LeBron James in the lineup, and against subpar competition. So what has to happen for this version of Davis to be the one the Lakers see even when James is back? When the schedule toughens up, and teams game play for even more heavily than they already do? Is it James that has to change? He's been the team's leading scorer in fourth quarters every year they've played together, including the 2020 title yea by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

30 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

Westbrook For 6th Man of the Year? Could LeBron Enter the MVP Race? Plus, Lakers Trade Targets!: Our friends at Betonline have put out a fresh set of odds for postseason awards, as teams near the halfway point of the NBA season (it's coming quickly, folks). What's interesting about the Lakers in this area is, primarily, that so few Lakers are even mentioned. Guys like Anthony Davis, who had briefly put themselves on the board for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, are now off it. Only Russell Westbrook remains, and not only is he a betting favorite for Sixth Man of the Year, he's the betting favorite. Should he be? It's certainly a strange year for 6MOY, without a ton of obvious candidates on really strong teams. And certainly Westbrook has made a good pitch, and has a compelling narrative (and we can tell you, narrative is a huge factor in media-driven awards). But would someone like Jordan Poole (Golden State) or Malcolm Brogdon (Boston) be more worthy? Will the same media priming by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

The Lakers Most Likely to Win MVP and Other Fun Futures Bets... Plus, Klutch Gets Sued: Vegas doesn't know everything, but they're a pretty good barometer of the landscape at any given time, and the folks at Betonline have numbers out on the 2021-22 season. Not surprisingly, the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are prohibitive favorites to win the title. Like, way out ahead of the rest of the pack. Maybe the over/under on wins might feel a little low (52.5), but when you consider the potential for injury, the premium on rest, the idea the Lakers may not go full throttle for seeding, and some early growing pains given the total roster overhaul... maybe not? But the most interesting stuff is in the futures bets. What are the early odds on Frank Vogel's Coach of the Year candidacy? Did they get stronger or weaker following the Westbrook deal? What about LeBron for MVP? Might it be wise to lay down a couple bucks on James, given where he stands on the list? (Spoiler alert: Yes.) What about Anthon by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

How Does Anthony Davis' Injury Impact The Lakers Moving Forward? Will Rob Pelinka Make a Trade?: Monday night in Phoenix, the Lakers were without Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook. Sure, Patrick Beverley and Wenyen Gabriel were back in the lineup, but that wasn't nearly enough and predictably, the Lakers lost big to the Suns. It was in many ways a scheduled loss, and it seems Darvin Ham might have had his eye on keeping James healty heading into Wednesday's game against Sacramento, and then Friday's very winnable game against the Hornets. Why does all of this matter? Because the Lakers can justify thinking that they're too far behind to make real noise in the West, especially with Davis set to miss a lot of time. But they can also justify thinking that, based on recent results, if they can hang in there long enough while Davis is hurt, the Lakers can play with anyone. So do they make a trade? Do they hold off until the offseason, and try to build then? Wh by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Seriously... Is Anthony Davis playing more Center? Plus, ESPN's Experts on the Lakers and LeBron!: "Anthony Davis at center" has been perhaps the biggest talking point for the Lakers over the last two seasons. Despite the way AD thrives in the middle, and the way the team follows suit with him at 5, he has famously preferred to spend the majority of his minutes at power forward. However, there have been signs an increased willingness to put his preferences aside for the bigger picture, the most recent coming via report from The Athletic's Bill Oram. What would it mean for the Lakers if this really is the case next season? In the meantime, you know the season is close, because ESPN cranking out expert panel polls around 2021-22 season predictions. Inevitably, the Lakers and various members of the team popped up, with high showings in categories as wide-ranging as "Team Turnaround," "Team Turmoil," and "Most Likely to win the West." On the surface, these results may feel incongruent. by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

NBA GM Poll Reflects Anthony Davis's Reputation Dropping Around the NBA. (LeBron Still Respected!): Every year, NBA.com produces the GM poll, asking execs around the league all sorts of questions about players, teams, coaches and beyond. In most years, the Lakers and Lakers players are well represented, given their high profile, high expectations, star power and so on. This year, however, when it comes to the Lakers the results are notable mostly because the Lakers are an afterthought. LeBron James pops up in a couple of categories, Darvin Ham in another. The Lakers are expected to finish around 8th in the conference, which makes sense and certainly isn't unfair. Most notable, though, is the near-total absence of Anthony Davis, who doesn't get mentioned among the best defensive players, centers, power forwards, MVP candidates and so on and so on and so on. One place he does pop up? Breakout candidate, a place usually reserved for much younger players. In total, it shows the massive rep by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Lakers lose to Nets, LeBron James Has a Foot Issue, Fans are Losing Patience.: The Lakers are faced with a genuine Catch-22. They may not be able to make the playoffs without pushing Anthony Davis and LeBron James past safe limits of physical output, but if the org pushes them past those limits either or both are likely to get hurt, in which case they'll miss the playoffs. This was the issue facing the Lakers Monday in Brooklyn, where both James and Davis sat the front end of a back-to-back following Saturday's epic OT loss to Boston. The hope was that maintenance was the driving force behind keeping both in street clothes, and in the case of Davis it probably was. But Monday we learned that LeBron is battling a foot problem that put a fresh spin on his absence. And Lakers coach Darvin Ham wouldn't say if James will play tonight against the Knicks at the Garden. He said they didn't want to get ahead of themselves. That's not going to make Lakers fans feel better! Because if there's no by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Lakers Mailbag, Part 1: Can Beverley and Westbrook Co-Exist? Would Myles Turner Give LA an Elite Defense? And More!: It's the end of August. The Lakers have made one trade (Patrick Beverley, welcome!) and are looking to improve by making more. Will it happen? Is Russell Westbrook automatically headed out the door? What does the rotation look like if he stays? These are just a few of the questions we address in Part 1 of our Locked On Lakers mailbag, taped live at the Du/er store in Los Angeles! We start with questions about Westbrook and the roster. Could they still waive-and-stretch? Regardless of what they do with Russ, LeBron and Anthony Davis have to dominate for this team to have any chance, right? Deeper into the roster, what are reasonable expectations for Max Christie? What could he show to indicate he'll be a solid NBA player one day? From there, we answer a segment's worth of questions from Locked On viewer Alan, who stopped by the Du/er shop. He had a trifecta: Could Pat Bev by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

Will Anthony Davis' Return Make The Lakers Contenders? Plus, First Half Awards!: 41 games down, 41 to go. No, that's not meant as a threat. So with the Lakers at the halfway point, where do things stand? LeBron James spoke Sunday about having a better understanding of what this team is, and how they're going to play going forward, and the identity question is certainly an important one, even if that identity is imperfect. What he can't quantify, though, is just what things will look like once Anthony Davis returns. Not that they won't get better- that's a given- but how much better? And what will Davis look like in this new lineup leaning harder into "small" (i.e. Anthony Davis is a center, LeBron is the backup center, and we're only deploying the classic bigs in specific scenarios) than any season Davis has had here? In theory, it shouldn't be that different. Davis finished virtually every game in the title season at center, and has played more of it this year than the previous two. A by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

29 min listen

Lakers vs. Celtics Preview: Can Anthony Davis and LeBron Slow Down Tatum and Brown?: Lakers vs. Celtics! It always means something, even when the teams aren't competing for titles against each other. And Tuesday's edition at the Crypt is poised to be a fascinating game for L.A., especially. They've shown signs of life, but have a lot of ground to make up to get back to .500, and challenge for a playoff spot. After beating Milwaukee on the road trip - the East's second best team - can they beat the NBA's best? It's a big measuring stick game, as well as an important one in the standings as the Lakers make their way through a brutal December schedule. To break it all down, we welcome the great John Karalis, host of Locked On Celtics! We start by looking at the rivalry itself. What does it mean to today's players, especially these Celtics? Does this game mean a little more, even to a younger generation of players who haven't played a Finals vs. LA? Meanwhile, why have the Celtics been so by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

How Much Will Austin Reaves Cost The Lakers in Free Agency? Can Anthony Davis Consistently Dominate?: The Lakers are hanging on the fringes of the Western Conference Play-In race (the top 6, at this point, is a real stretch). They've been doing it without LeBron James, who remains sidelined with a bum foot. Before Sunday's game, Darvin Ham said that the team expects James will be available before the end of the regular season. Yahoo's Chris Haynes reports that while it's certainly a possibility James could return, if he does, he won't be 100%. Or really anywhere close. So what exactly would the Lakers be getting with a diminished-but-available LeBron James? Is that guy enough to help fuel that miracle playoff run that some kiiiiiiinda refuse to rule out, just because he's LeBron James, has won a title with A.D., and the West just isn't that dominant this year? Is he enough to help get the Lakers through a play-in game or two? Most fans, right now at least, would take the latter and cro by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

How Big Is the Gap Between the Lakers and Western Conference Contenders? Guest, Daman Rangoola!: The Lakers are on the outside looking in, with Golden State vs. Dallas in the Western Conference Finals, and Phoenix and Memphis, the top two seeds, knocked out. So does that mean there are no dominant teams in the Western Conference? Or a ton of excellent teams? Are there really one or two teams the Lakers need to catch, or is it a matter of leapfrogging six or seven legit contender-quality teams? Just how capable are the Lakers of making up that gap in an offseason where they have no margin for error? Now does it frame the disappointment of this season? How does all of that impact the future of LeBron James? That's all on the table with Daman Rangoola, a fixture of NBA social media (@damanr) and a favorite of Lakers-centric Twitter, in the first of two, TWO!, episodes. So should Lakers fans, and the Lakers organization, be at all encouraged by how the playoffs have shaken out? What does i by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

Are the Lakers More Likely to Trade Anthony Davis Before Russell Westbrook?: Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka were trending today, and these days that's never a good thing. Fans seem to have been angry about commentary (including from The Athletic's Shams Charania) that the Lakers won't be trading the two first round picks they currently control ('27 and '29) if the team continues to perform as it has. The reasoning - no trade would save the season, and they'd be better off waiting. Is that correct? What kind of option tree are the Lakers even looking at right now? With LeBron banged up and a subpar supporting cast? Which leads to an interesting hypothetical - is it possible Anthony Davis is the one who gets moved this year? Before Russell Westbrook? Could it be both? What would an A.D. trade look like? Would it be for a star? For depth pieces? Picks and maybe a young good-but-not-star player? And what kind of return would Davis even fetch right now? And has Westbrook's value changed, given by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Should the Lakers Trade for a (Different) Star, or Trade for Better Roster Depth?: Over at The Athletic, Seth Portnow has issued his yearly "tiers" ratings, And while we're not yet at the main course (where do LeBron and Anthony Davis end up?) the series has already revealed a couple fairly devastating things about the Lakers, and the level of talent on the roster. Russell Westbrook, who cost the Lakers a first round pick and valuable depth, is near the bottom of Tier 5, ranked outside the top 100 players in the league. Meanwhile, no other Lakers (aside from James and Davis) will appear on the list at all. Compared to other teams in the Western Conference, this illustrates a staggering lack of roster depth. Is there any way the Lakers can make it up? Even if you think their middle tier guys pop a little - think Lonnie Walker, Thomas Bryant, Talen Horton-Tucker, Austin Reaves - does that get them to the talent level of, say, Denver? Of Golden State? Ummmmm..... no. It doesn't. So how ca by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

How Much Center Does Anthony Davis Need to Play? Plus, Low Key Concerns and Underrated Strengths for the Lakers: With rosters more or less set - though the Brooklyn Nets seem to keep finding dudes to add, somehow - and training camp still a few weeks away, it's a good time to look at where teams stand. This week, ESPN looked at some potential shortcomings for contenders that are perhaps flying under the radar. For the Lakers, it was whether Anthony Davis will embrace playing center. Obviously that's something talked about locally a ton, but it's easy to see how that could be a more granular topic for NBA fans out of market (given how much emphasis has been put on Westbrook's fit or outside shooting, for example). But it does beg the question, how much center is the right amount of center for Davis? Is it about minutes? Timing? Both? And moreover, how much of the conversation should be about the way in which Davis plays, not just the position at which he plays? How about a couple othe by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

37 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

Will Darvin Ham's Inexperience Prevent the Lakers From Making the Play-in?: The Lakers, according to the fine folks at Tankathon (and by other measurements as well) have the league's easiest schedule down the stretch. That includes tonight's game against a hobbled New Orleans squad, and Wednesday against the Rockets, who are awful. They see the Bulls twice, get a beat up Dallas team, the Suns (at least once) without Kevin Durant and the Magic. By the time the schedule grants two games against Utah, the Jazz may or may not still be playing for a playoff berth. (Of course, they're saying the same thing about the Lakers on Locked On Jazz.) So the idea they could be playing significant games down the stretch, even understanding that LeBron is going to miss a huge chunk of time, isn't at all far-fetched. Not given how the Lakers have played since the NBA's trade deadline, Sunday's loss notwithstanding. To get there, they need top shelf performances from Anthony Davis, and on days where he's by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

36 min listen

What the NBA Finals and Steph Curry Says About Anthony Davis and the Lakers: Game 5 was a clunker for Steph Curry, but nonetheless you can make a very solid argument that Steph has been the difference between the Warriors and a Boston team that has frequently looked deeper and better overall. But Curry's play compared with a much more inconsistent Jayson Tatum for the Celtics is a big reason Golden State has a 3-2 lead. So what does that have to do with the Lakers? Well, they're built on a premise that Davis is in that tiny sliver of players who in the ultra elite, and will consistently outperform that still-excellent class of nomal elite players in the biggest games on the biggest stages. If Davis is more Tatum than Curry, so to speak, that has a massive impact on L.A.'s upside. So that's one big reason Lakers fans are showing some real angst around Davis, which was seen in the comments section of the Locked On Lakers YouTube page following Monday's show. If he's not "that guy," the L by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

30 min listen

Are LeBron James and Anthony Davis Still a Championship Core? Guest: Jovan Buha, The Athletic (Part I): The Lakers have a lot of work to do this offseason, but one of the more foundational bits of business is figuring out what they still have in their star core. After two years of injuries scuttling seasons, is the core of LeBron James and Anthony Davis still one that can be reliably championship caliber? If the Lakers are nervous about the pairing, what exactly can they do to move on? Can they have Lebron but not necessarily go all in to win with him? This is the starting point of a two-part conversation with The Athletic's Jovan Buha, It kicks off answering the "What do they have?" question regarding James and Davis, and from there moves into "What can they get to make things better?" Should re-signing Malik Monk really be the team's top priority? Are there more pressing needs, even if Monk represents their most positive contributor from this season who isn't under contract? What els by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

34 min listen

What is D'Angelo' Russell's Fit With the Lakers, LeBron, Anthony Davis? What about Beasley and Vanderbilt?: The return of D'Angelo Russell to Los Angeles might not move the needle on a national level like, say, Kevin Durant being traded to Phoenix. But that doesn't mean it's not a super-intriguing hoops story. In his first go with the Lakers, an immature Russell was sent out to make room for a different point guard the franchise hoped would be the player to lead them back to glory in Lonzo Ball. It didn't happen. After leaving L.A., Russell thrived, making an All-Star team with the Nets and settling into that fringe All-Star space that can be extremely valuable for teams. But he's an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Could Russell, still only 26 years old, be someone the Lakers want to keep for a few years? Would they let him go again? So much depends on that fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and how Russell performs over the next 23 games. What kind of player did the Lake by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

LeBron James Carries the Lakers Past Rockets. How Long Before Anthony Davis Returns to Help?: Watching LeBron James these days is, from a basketball standpoint, a blessing. Seeing any player, let alone a 38-year old, post the kind of numbers he has over the last month or so is genuine fun. You can't love watching the NBA and appreciate incredible athletic achievement without finding this run incredible. For Lakers fans, though, it's also a little uncomfortable. Because he is, unquestionably, putting out a tremendous amount of effort for the Lakers to to tread water while Anthony Davis remains sidelined. (The Lakers are currently 9-8 since Davis went down, which is pretty impressive given the other injuries the team has faced.) Is there a limit to this? At some point, does he hit a wall, where the production can't be sustained at this level? Does the body break down? If so, where exactly does that leave the team? The same context that makes his play so engaging is what makes it unsettli by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

33 min listen

Can the Lakers Make a Trade to Help LeBron? And what's LeBron's Trade Value, if he Requests One?: Reports currently forecast Anthony Davis will be sidelined through mid-January... at the earliest. So maybe that's the next 10 or so games, maybe 15, if we're all being reasonably optimistic, based on current information. Where will the Lakers be when he returns? How much time would they have to integrate new parts, even if the team actually made a deal? Does the record even matter, or has the braintrust already made up its mind, short of some sort of miracle development on the trade market? And now that LeBron James has made it abundantly clear he wants/expects to play meaningful basketball games, the kind occurring in playoff series, in his final seasons, how does that factor in? Do the Lakers need to consider LeBron's comments as February's trade deadline approaches? Is there even a meaningful deal out there to make? Are the Lakers more frightened of making a deal or standing pat? How m by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

2021-22 Season Predictions: Will LeBron James and the Lakers Win an NBA Championship?: IT BEGINS TODAY! The Lakers kick off the 2021-22 NBA season, against the Golden State Warriors. So what's going to happen this year? It's time to make some big predictions. But first, a little more housekeeping as the Lakers finalized their roster. They returned another familiar face to El Segundo, claiming Avery Bradley off waivers after the veteran guard was cut by Golden State at the end of the preseason. Bradley will provide a little bit of depth as the Lakers recover from injury, and in theory at least could help bolster a backcourt short on defenders. Then again, there's no guarantee he'll be on the team in six weeks. Why did they go this direction, when help on the wings remains a much more pressing need from a roster construction perspective? Then, Frank Vogel talked about keeping LeBron James's minutes around 34 a game. Same with Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. Is that too many? Just by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

37 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

Lakers vs. Mavericks, Luka Doncic vs. Anthony Davis, Disappointing Team 1 vs. Disappointing Team 2...: The Lakers planned to practice Tuesday ahead of their flight to Dallas for Wednesday's game against the Mavs, and like everything else this season... plans changed. Talen Horton-Tucker tested positive for Covid-19, and entered the league's health and safety protocols. And as a result, practice was cancelled and everyone had to get tested to make sure the Lakers weren't taking Covid on the road. So once again, the Lakers have to adjust to a shifting lineup and fill the space (particularly defensively) that THT has filled. And they might not have Anthony Davis Wednesday, either. He's still questionable with a knee injury. But big picture, what's going on with the Lakers? What's going on with the Mavericks, who are also struggling? What can the latter tell Lakers fans about the former? To break that down and much, much more, Nick Angstadt (host of Locked on Mavs and Locked on NBA) joins by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

35 min listen

The Truth Behind NBA Mid-Season Power Rankings | The Panel by Players Choice

182 min listen

Darvin Ham: The Lakers Have Championship Level Depth... Is He Correct?: The schedule was released on Thursday... but we recorded this before that happened, so all the big post-schedule-drop-hoodoo will come on Monday. In the meantime, Darvin Ham says the Lakers have championship caliber depth. Is he right? And more importantly, what exactly does that mean? The answer, particularly the focus on depth, is an interesting change for the Lakers compared to different points in their history. There certainly have been times where depth was measured in the number and quality of stars, rather than viable rotation players going down seven or eight or nine or ten roster spots. This Lakers team has two bonafide stars. Top 5-10 guys around the league (and better, depending on the day). But they also have Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura -- three high end members of the NBA non-star class. They've got Taurean Prince and Jarred Vanderbilt, along with Gabe Vincent,, and some young player by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

The Lakers' Four Options for Trades and Fixing The Roster. Plus, LeBron Posts A Cryptic Tweet!: The Lakers finish out the year with (stop us if you've heard this before) basically a must-win home game against a lousy Charlotte team tonight, then a very winnable road trip against Dallas (a .500 team), Orlando (a bad team), Miami (a .500 team), Atlanta (a .500 team) and Charlotte (as noted, lousy). Are they gonna sweep? Get swept? Split? No idea, but as far as NBA road trips go, this is about as favorable as they come. And the Lakers are getting a bit of good news, too. LeBron James and Russell Westbrook are expected to play tonight, and Austin Reaves has been upgraded to questionable. Maybe that means he needs another game, but it signals availability on Christmas, and through the road trip. And how the team fares will have a significant impact on its attitude about trades. Here, they have basically four options: Do something on the margins this year, maybe for an expendable contract by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

31 min listen

Crossover: Christmas Day Hoops, Lakers vs. Clippers in '23-'24 and Kobe Bryant Memories (Guest, Darian Vaziri): The NBA released its Christmas Day slate, and no surprise, the Lakers (who are also featured on opening night against the Nuggets) are right in the center of it. A marquee time slot hosting the Boston Celtics. The NBA went for tradition in a year where both teams are expected to compete for a title. Nice. Not featured? Arguably the most challenging team in the Western Conference, and perhaps the entire league, to predict, the Los Angeles Clippers. Why? Let's break that, and more, down with Darian Vaziri, the host of Locked On Clippers and the DimeDropper Podcast. Where have the Clippers gone wrong? Is it just injuries? If they stay healthy, where do they stack up against the rest of the conference? Against the rest of the league? And what about that massive win streak the LAC have against the Lakers? After adding significant wing depth over the last six-plus months, are the L by Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

32 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Can LeBron and Anthony Davis be the Best Duo in the Western Conference? (Guest: Mo Dakhil, Part 2!)

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Related podcast episodes