Podcasts about Pelinka

As the Lakers move into the offseason, Pete and Darius begin their year of review by looking at the team's leadership, starting with Rob Pelinka. The guys look at the franchise altering trade for Luka Dončić, but also the context of how the team got to this point, after several years of major ups and downs from Pelinka. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete's Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick held their end of season press conference on Thursday and provided their thoughts on the Lakers first round exit, the change the team went through this season, plans for the summer, and much more. Pete and Darius offer their reactions to what was said, what stood out to them most, and what, if anything, they disagreed with.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Rob Pelinka to a contract extension, with his new title as president of basketball operations along with general manager, sources tell ESPN. Lakers leadership is now signed long-term with Pelinka and coach JJ Redick. RADIO TINDER. Kappy has a bone to pick with Clipper Darrell. What is the beef between them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I talk about the WBNA draft, poorly, then talk about Pelinka's extension and Monte's hiring.  Then I do non-nba, which is Easter this episode.  Then I do the final part of the playoff preview.

On Friday's ENN, Sam Rosen's last game. Peter is live in Vegas for Wrestlemania. Deion on Shedeur and Hunter's jersey retirements. Pelinka extended. Mets-Cardinals preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lakers get Luka, Pelinka played Ainge?!, Dallas gets AD, Steph gets Jimmy, Dennis Schroder gets in trouble for saying it's "modern day slavery", HOF class announced, Super Bowl predictions, Josh Allen takes home MVP, Canelo trades Paul in for a 'real fighter', & more. We certainly won't agree so let's argue ... oops, we mean debate!#BallHogSportsTalk!

The audio none of us wanted to hear, and somehow it's worse than expected.  Luka's Laker presser with Pelinka.

Sendung vom 03.01.2025 Besuchen Sie uns gerne auf den anderen Plattformen:https://www.youtube.com/@oe24TV/featuredoe24.tvtiktok.com/@oe24atinstagram.com/oe24.at

Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick met with assembled media on Wednesday, answering questions and providing updates in the lead up to media day and training camp starting next week. Pete and Darius discuss the press conference, from the Jarred Vanderbilt health update to Austin Reaves' and D'Angelo Russell's roles on offense, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: lakerfilmroom@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier on Wednesday, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and Coach JJ Redick held a press conference outlining plans for what they have coming up with training camp and the exhibition season next week. Tune in as the guys share thoughts on what was said, and did it provide any additional pessimism or hope for the Lakers this upcoming season. How good do the Lakers look according to Rob and JJ heading into training camp? Find out our thoughts on what was said with another Snack pack on the Lakers Fast Break podcast! Lakers Fast Break now has YouTube memberships! Join today at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQQa0G1GLHIo7RRmN5_uaqA/join and for just $2.99 a month, you get access to LFB badges and emojis, channel page recognition, video description recognition, member milestone chats plus a big shout-out from Gerald when he hosts the Lakers Fast Break podcast! Check out Stone Hansen on Twitter @court_report and John Costa's channels: Clutch Talk- https://www.youtube.com/@UCK5a8gQuHatSHCe6iEgNH5w and Lakers Corner- https://www.youtube.com/@UCPVus5ukOvYFmy098vv9qhw and Legend350 on his new channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCOZ69zK4btu9OlG9zFnlRRQ Special Deals today from our friends at #temu today at https://temu.to/m/u1samwbo8cc use code: aca785401 and you might save some $$$ at TEMU!Take a look at the line of Kinhank Mini PC's and retro game machines today at https://www.kinhank-retrogame.com?rs_ref=e8NA2Rm2 for some gaming and computing fun from Kinhank! Don't forget to watch the Lakers games with us LIVE at playback.tv/lakersfastbreak and our newest Lakers Fast Break merchandise site is now up at ⁠https://tinyurl.com/39yb4ta3⁠, check it out!Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter. If you have questions, give us a shout-out on Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, or send us your thoughts to lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com or become a supporter of the Lakers Fast Break today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break⁠ The views and opinions expressed on the Lakers Fast Break are those of the panelists or guests themselves and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Lakers Fast Break or its owners. Any content or thoughts provided by our panelists or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, anyone, or anything. Presented by our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lakerholics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lakersball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pop Culture Cosmos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inside Sports Fantasy Football⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vampires and Vitae⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SynBlades.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube's John Mikaelian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the novel Congratulations, You Suck (available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Happy Hoarder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, EmpireJeffTV, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Retro City Games! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lakers-fast-break/support

PART TWO: After getting through the most important clips from the presser, Anthony reacts to a couple guys going unmentioned. D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt's names never came up in the 50 or so minutes Redick and Pelinka were on stage. Anthony discusses that, then takes questions from the live audience. Subscribe to the Lakers Lounge for reports, rumors, analysis and highlights. https://t.co/dsuEHpPLDA To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Defenders of Darvin Ham—and while Lakers Nation isn't exactly full of them, there are some whether among fans or in the (generally national) media—have pointed out since the Lakers canned Ham (ha!) Friday afternoon that it's not fair to blame him for everything that went wrong this year. Darvin wasn't "the" problem.  The "real" problem was something else. The problem there, of course, is that the framing is too reductive. In any season like this one, responsibility for success and failure is spread around. So yeah, Darvin wasn't "the" problem, but he was "a" problem, and the easiest one to fix at the moment. The time will come for players to be held accountable, as the franchise chooses who they'll try to keep, who they let walk, and who they might use to try and upgrade the roster. But the final question is who holds the decision-makers accountable? Is Rob Pelinka going through a process of introspection similar to the one that led to his evaluation of Ham, and the need for his dismissal? How does that process work in the basketball ops department? And what about Jeanie Buss? Is she holding Pelinka responsible? Who does she talk with to get a feel for whether Pelinka is doing the job as well as he should? What happens if the answers to the questions that aren't about Ham's accountability aren't very good? Or aren't really being addressed at all? What does that mean for the capacity for success for the next guy?  HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Darvin got fired because he wasn't successful enough in his responsibilities this season...that doesn't mean he was the only issue. SEGMENT 2: Multiple things can be true at once. SEGMENT 3: Is Pelinka holding himself accountable? Is Jeanine holding Pelinka accountable?   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.Yahoo FinanceFor comprehensive financial news and analysis, visit the brand behind every great investor, YahooFinance.com.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.Monopoly GO!Get in the game and join your friends. Download MONOPOLY GO! now free on The App Store or Google Play.eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it's easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.FanDuelFanDuel, America's Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That's A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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)  

Heuer ist ein Mega-Wahljahr und das ist eure Vorbereitung darauf. Wie stabil ist die Demokratie? Was will die FPÖ? Welche Koalitionen sind im Herbst denkbar? Ein deep dive mit Anton Pelinka, der die Politik so gut kennt wie kaum sonst jemand.Anton Pelinka ist einer der führenden Politikwissenschafter in Österreich. Er war lange an der Universität Innsbruck und an der Central European University.DANKE an alle Unterstützer:innen des Podcasts. Hier kannst du den Podcast supporten.

Could Lebron James opt out of his contract with the Lakers so that he could play with Bronny? Did the Lakers "stick it" to Lebron James by not making a trade at the deadline? Fred tells a couple of stories of hate mail that he has received recently and over the years and how it usually has little to do with him.

Man alive, Thursday was busy. It started with the NBA's trade deadline. Over the last few days, it started to look more and more like the Lakers wouldn't be major players on Thursday. And it turned out, they weren't players of any kind. They didn't make a move at all. GM Rob Pelinka said the team worked hard to find a way to upgrade, but couldn't match the right player with the right price. "You can't buy a house that's not for sale," he said. Should the Lakers have done more? Been willing to overpay? Could the inactivity influence what LeBron James does this summer? Was there an opportunity they missed? One thing that's clear: Pelinka will have a ton of pressure on him this summer. Meanwhile... There was also the unveiling of the Kobe Bryant statue. Or more precisely, the first of three Kobe Bryant statues that will eventually stand outside the arena. The ceremony was exactly as you'd expect - a well run, classy tribute (say whatever you want about the Lakers, they're good at this sort of thing) and a statue that looks great. It's a shame the Lakers couldn't pull off the comeback, because (wearing the Mamba uniforms, no less!) it would have been a perfect story. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose, but show some heart, vs. Denver. SEGMENT 2: No moves for the Lakers at the deadline. What does that mean for Pelinka going forward? SEGMENT 3: The Kobe statue. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Nissan Our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV's with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.   LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply. eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month. PrizePicks Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your best bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Man alive, Thursday was busy.It started with the NBA's trade deadline. Over the last few days, it started to look more and more like the Lakers wouldn't be major players on Thursday. And it turned out, they weren't players of any kind. They didn't make a move at all. GM Rob Pelinka said the team worked hard to find a way to upgrade, but couldn't match the right player with the right price. "You can't buy a house that's not for sale," he said.Should the Lakers have done more? Been willing to overpay? Could the inactivity influence what LeBron James does this summer? Was there an opportunity they missed?One thing that's clear: Pelinka will have a ton of pressure on him this summer.Meanwhile...There was also the unveiling of the Kobe Bryant statue. Or more precisely, the first of three Kobe Bryant statues that will eventually stand outside the arena. The ceremony was exactly as you'd expect - a well run, classy tribute (say whatever you want about the Lakers, they're good at this sort of thing) and a statue that looks great. It's a shame the Lakers couldn't pull off the comeback, because (wearing the Mamba uniforms, no less!) it would have been a perfect story.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose, but show some heart, vs. Denver.SEGMENT 2: No moves for the Lakers at the deadline. What does that mean for Pelinka going forward?SEGMENT 3: The Kobe statue.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV's with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.  LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your best bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the trade deadline approaching tomorrow, what will (or can) the Lakers do? Fred and Rodney debate about who gets the credit/blame for the Lakers' trade moves. Laker legend, Jerry West, joins the show on the eve of Kobe Bryant's statue being unveiled in front of Crypto.com Arena tomorrow.

For a while, it looked like the most important Tweet to come from a Laker Tuesday in Atlanta would be Christian Wood's, where he "lol"'d right after the Lakers announced a starting lineup that included Jaxson Hayes instead of him, filling in for Anthony Davis.After the game, Wood said it was just a wayward QT. Nothing to see here.Nobody believed him.But all of that was soon eclipsed by LeBron James, who simply sent out a near-empty hourglass. That clearly put people on notice. Was he talking about Darvin Ham, and losing patience with him? Reminding Rob Pelinka to take action, because the season is now running short and the Lakers (and LeBron himself, broadly) are nearly out of time?All of the above?It's another indication things aren't right in El Segundo, and nobody is comfortable with it. It speaks to the disconnect between the locker room and Ham, and potentially the locker room and Pelinka. And it speaks to how challenging a situation the Lakers are in. There likely isn't a series of moves that can be made to transform this team in the same way the Westbrook deal (and the earlier one for Rui Hachimura) did last year's squad.The most rapid path to change is firing the coach. And while it sucks to do it mid-season, if the gap between player and coach is as large as it currently seems, Ham isn't surviving this offseason, anyway. Better to pull the trigger now and see what happens? What about a trade? Dejounte Murray certainly won the battle between him and D'Lo in ATL. Would he improve the Lakers enough to make a deal worthwhile?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers are rocked by an hourglass from LeBron James.SEGMENT 2: Is firing Ham the fastest path to fixing the Lakers?SEGMENT 3: Does Murray's game Tuesday make him more likely to be a Laker?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.QuiiizNBA Quiiiz is the ultimate knowledge challenge for fans that live & breath basketball. Go to App.quiiiz.com to test your knowledge and win cash today. WHERE FANS BECOME CHAMPIONS!eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your best bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a while, it looked like the most important Tweet to come from a Laker Tuesday in Atlanta would be Christian Wood's, where he "lol"'d right after the Lakers announced a starting lineup that included Jaxson Hayes instead of him, filling in for Anthony Davis. After the game, Wood said it was just a wayward QT. Nothing to see here. Nobody believed him. But all of that was soon eclipsed by LeBron James, who simply sent out a near-empty hourglass. That clearly put people on notice. Was he talking about Darvin Ham, and losing patience with him? Reminding Rob Pelinka to take action, because the season is now running short and the Lakers (and LeBron himself, broadly) are nearly out of time? All of the above? It's another indication things aren't right in El Segundo, and nobody is comfortable with it. It speaks to the disconnect between the locker room and Ham, and potentially the locker room and Pelinka. And it speaks to how challenging a situation the Lakers are in. There likely isn't a series of moves that can be made to transform this team in the same way the Westbrook deal (and the earlier one for Rui Hachimura) did last year's squad. The most rapid path to change is firing the coach. And while it sucks to do it mid-season, if the gap between player and coach is as large as it currently seems, Ham isn't surviving this offseason, anyway. Better to pull the trigger now and see what happens? What about a trade? Dejounte Murray certainly won the battle between him and D'Lo in ATL. Would he improve the Lakers enough to make a deal worthwhile? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are rocked by an hourglass from LeBron James. SEGMENT 2: Is firing Ham the fastest path to fixing the Lakers? SEGMENT 3: Does Murray's game Tuesday make him more likely to be a Laker? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply. Quiiiz NBA Quiiiz is the ultimate knowledge challenge for fans that live & breath basketball. Go to App.quiiiz.com to test your knowledge and win cash today. WHERE FANS BECOME CHAMPIONS! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month. PrizePicks Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, NEW customers get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your best bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The long offseason is over. The season starts today, as training camp kicks off with Media Day and the first official practices.And it promises to be an exciting season for the Lakers, who are undoubtedly in the mix of the most elite teams in the NBA. Should they stay healthy - a fairly big if given the age and injury histories of their stars - LA seems likely to be one of the two or three best teams in the West, which makes them one of the best teams in the league.Nice spot to be.So when the Lakers open camp, it's going to be about how to keep LeBron and Anthony Davis healthy and fresh, about finding the right lineup combinations, and maxing out the impressive depth available on the roster. Two players that have big roles to play that aren't stars? Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Both had a lot of attention paid to them last week when Rob Pelinka and Darvin Ham med the media. Reaves was the recipient of high praise from Pelinka, who compared him to Kobe Bryant as an owner of "the Mamba gene." Not that he's as good as Kobe (nobody even kind of thinks that) but Pelinka noted the similarities in competitive drive and commitment, and it's worth noting how much Bryant appreciated players who maxed out their talent. And while Reaves has more of it than perhaps NBA scouts thought, he's certainly not resting on any laurels.Fair to say Kobe would have loved the guy.Meanwhile, Hachimura has experienced what Pelinka called a renaissance since coming to the Lakers. And they expect that to continue. One reason to be optimistic? Context with role players is critical, and the Lakers believe that, especially next to LeBron, Hachimura has been put in the best position to succeed.Finally, big news in the Western Conference... as Jrue Holiday's stay in it was very short. And while Lakers fans might not love his destination -- he's once again put the Celtics at the top of the odds list after being traded from Portland to Boston -- it's a lot better that he land with an Eastern Conference contender than turning a team like the Clippers into a much more potent squad.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers open training camp today, and the vibes are really solid.SEGMENT 2: Jrue Holiday was traded to the Celtics, and that's good for the Lakers.SEGMENT 3: The Lakers will be depending on Hachimura and Reaves, and are excited at the prospect.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IbottaIbotta gives you cash back on hundreds of grocery items from produce to personal care to pantry goods, so you can make sure you're beating inflation no matter what you're purchasing! Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code locked. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNBA or enter promo code LOCKEDONNBA for a free water bottle with any purchase. You won't want to take your birddogs off we promise you.FanDuelThis episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, Official Sportsbook of Locked On. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The long offseason is over. The season starts today, as training camp kicks off with Media Day and the first official practices. And it promises to be an exciting season for the Lakers, who are undoubtedly in the mix of the most elite teams in the NBA. Should they stay healthy - a fairly big if given the age and injury histories of their stars - LA seems likely to be one of the two or three best teams in the West, which makes them one of the best teams in the league. Nice spot to be. So when the Lakers open camp, it's going to be about how to keep LeBron and Anthony Davis healthy and fresh, about finding the right lineup combinations, and maxing out the impressive depth available on the roster. Two players that have big roles to play that aren't stars? Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Both had a lot of attention paid to them last week when Rob Pelinka and Darvin Ham med the media. Reaves was the recipient of high praise from Pelinka, who compared him to Kobe Bryant as an owner of "the Mamba gene." Not that he's as good as Kobe (nobody even kind of thinks that) but Pelinka noted the similarities in competitive drive and commitment, and it's worth noting how much Bryant appreciated players who maxed out their talent. And while Reaves has more of it than perhaps NBA scouts thought, he's certainly not resting on any laurels. Fair to say Kobe would have loved the guy. Meanwhile, Hachimura has experienced what Pelinka called a renaissance since coming to the Lakers. And they expect that to continue. One reason to be optimistic? Context with role players is critical, and the Lakers believe that, especially next to LeBron, Hachimura has been put in the best position to succeed. Finally, big news in the Western Conference... as Jrue Holiday's stay in it was very short. And while Lakers fans might not love his destination -- he's once again put the Celtics at the top of the odds list after being traded from Portland to Boston -- it's a lot better that he land with an Eastern Conference contender than turning a team like the Clippers into a much more potent squad. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers open training camp today, and the vibes are really solid. SEGMENT 2: Jrue Holiday was traded to the Celtics, and that's good for the Lakers. SEGMENT 3: The Lakers will be depending on Hachimura and Reaves, and are excited at the prospect. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ibotta Ibotta gives you cash back on hundreds of grocery items from produce to personal care to pantry goods, so you can make sure you're beating inflation no matter what you're purchasing! Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code locked.  Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase.  Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNBA or enter promo code LOCKEDONNBA for a free water bottle with any purchase. You won't want to take your birddogs off we promise you. FanDuel This episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, Official Sportsbook of Locked On. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With training camp set to open next week, GM Rob Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham met with the media Thursday, and covered a ton of ground. After all, compared to where they were at this time last season, Pelinka especially was far more comfortable and confident answering questions about the team, and the direction in which it is headed.To the point where he didn't have to try and talk up their title chances. Frankly, that sort of thing is assumed. This is a group that expects to contend, and isn't dependent on smoke and mirrors to make it seem possible.That, as a starting point, is a great place to be.From there, Pelinka spent a lot of time talking about Anthony Davis, and why the team felt comfortable investing that massive contract extension in him, despite a long track record of injury that is certainly not going to fade over the life of the contract. So what was the foundation? "Character, character, character," Pelinka said. The team believes not just in the talent, but also the person. Still, Pelinka noted that they've talked to A.D. about the investment they need him to make in the franchise. Not to imply he hasn't bought in to this point, but the post LeBron Era is coming, and they've signed him to be The Man in the not-so-distant future. That's a different deal.And regarding LeBron, Ham made it clear they have a strategy to keep him fresh at a time where the league doesn't want its stars sitting just for rest. And it involves playing him less. So basically, be good, win games, let LeBron avoid as much high leverage activity as possible.They talked about the starting guards - no surprise, it'll be D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. Interestingly, both expressed a great deal of confidence in Russell, focusing much more on the positive impact he made after arriving from Minnesota at the deadline as opposed to a very, very ugly Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets.Finally, while there won't be that much competition for starting gigs (the third forward spot is the only real question mark) there will be a TON of competition for minutes. And that is something Ham loves. But everyone, Pelinka says, will have opportunities to contribute. And in this case, he's not blowing smoke.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers open camp next week, and Pelinka and Ham are talking up the team.SEGMENT 2: The investment in Davis, and protecting the investment in LeBron.SEGMENT 3: Starting guards and the competition for playing time.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDashGet fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonnba at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply.Jase MedicalSave more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com.FanDuelThis episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, Official Sportsbook of Locked On. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With training camp set to open next week, GM Rob Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham met with the media Thursday, and covered a ton of ground. After all, compared to where they were at this time last season, Pelinka especially was far more comfortable and confident answering questions about the team, and the direction in which it is headed. To the point where he didn't have to try and talk up their title chances. Frankly, that sort of thing is assumed. This is a group that expects to contend, and isn't dependent on smoke and mirrors to make it seem possible. That, as a starting point, is a great place to be. From there, Pelinka spent a lot of time talking about Anthony Davis, and why the team felt comfortable investing that massive contract extension in him, despite a long track record of injury that is certainly not going to fade over the life of the contract. So what was the foundation? "Character, character, character," Pelinka said. The team believes not just in the talent, but also the person. Still, Pelinka noted that they've talked to A.D. about the investment they need him to make in the franchise. Not to imply he hasn't bought in to this point, but the post LeBron Era is coming, and they've signed him to be The Man in the not-so-distant future. That's a different deal. And regarding LeBron, Ham made it clear they have a strategy to keep him fresh at a time where the league doesn't want its stars sitting just for rest. And it involves playing him less. So basically, be good, win games, let LeBron avoid as much high leverage activity as possible. They talked about the starting guards - no surprise, it'll be D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. Interestingly, both expressed a great deal of confidence in Russell, focusing much more on the positive impact he made after arriving from Minnesota at the deadline as opposed to a very, very ugly Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets. Finally, while there won't be that much competition for starting gigs (the third forward spot is the only real question mark) there will be a TON of competition for minutes. And that is something Ham loves. But everyone, Pelinka says, will have opportunities to contribute. And in this case, he's not blowing smoke. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers open camp next week, and Pelinka and Ham are talking up the team. SEGMENT 2: The investment in Davis, and protecting the investment in LeBron. SEGMENT 3: Starting guards and the competition for playing time. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! DoorDash Get fifty percent off your first DoorDash order up to a twenty-dollar value when you use code lockedonnba at checkout. Limited time offer, terms apply. Jase Medical Save more than $360 by getting these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical plus an additional $20 off by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com. FanDuel This episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, Official Sportsbook of Locked On. Right now, NEW customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, Harrison Faigen of SB Nation/Silver Screen and Roll joined the show, and we spent much of the show talking about Rob Pelinka, and the redemptive arc he's been riding over the last several months. On the one hand, he has unquestionably fixed the mess the Lakers were in. On the other, he was the one who created it.So how has Pelinka grown? Is he a different type of GM now than he was when he arrived in LA? Has he been humbled? Has he evolved? Is it a matter of gaining more confidence, so he's not trying as hard to impress?What's going on here, exactly?And how should Lakers fans feel about it going forward?This time, we explore Pelinkaville with Andy, who is back from vacation. Given the criticisms we've had for Pelinka over the years, it only seems fair to open the conversation at a time when things are going well, the future looks solid, too. So are we all at a point where we can say that Pelinka is a high quality GM? Or are circumstances just lining up well for him now? It's hard to argue against everything that's happened from the Rui Hachimura trade on, and for the first time he has a roster with balance both positionally and financially, including contract length.There is an opportunity to create something sustainable, no question.Finally, Stephen A. Smith was a guest on Paul George's (quite excellent) podcast, and was asked if there was something specific over the course of his career he wishes he could take back. His answer was one that might resonate with Lakers fans.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Has Rob Pelinka fully rehabbed his image?SEGMENT 2: Is Pelinka really a good GM? What is different about the guy now?SEGMENT 3: Stephen A. Smith apologizes for turning Kwame Brown into a meme before memes were a thing.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, Harrison Faigen of SB Nation/Silver Screen and Roll joined the show, and we spent much of the show talking about Rob Pelinka, and the redemptive arc he's been riding over the last several months. On the one hand, he has unquestionably fixed the mess the Lakers were in. On the other, he was the one who created it. So how has Pelinka grown? Is he a different type of GM now than he was when he arrived in LA? Has he been humbled? Has he evolved? Is it a matter of gaining more confidence, so he's not trying as hard to impress? What's going on here, exactly? And how should Lakers fans feel about it going forward? This time, we explore Pelinkaville with Andy, who is back from vacation. Given the criticisms we've had for Pelinka over the years, it only seems fair to open the conversation at a time when things are going well, the future looks solid, too. So are we all at a point where we can say that Pelinka is a high quality GM? Or are circumstances just lining up well for him now? It's hard to argue against everything that's happened from the Rui Hachimura trade on, and for the first time he has a roster with balance both positionally and financially, including contract length. There is an opportunity to create something sustainable, no question. Finally, Stephen A. Smith was a guest on Paul George's (quite excellent) podcast, and was asked if there was something specific over the course of his career he wishes he could take back. His answer was one that might resonate with Lakers fans. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Has Rob Pelinka fully rehabbed his image? SEGMENT 2: Is Pelinka really a good GM? What is different about the guy now? SEGMENT 3: Stephen A. Smith apologizes for turning Kwame Brown into a meme before memes were a thing. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The young Lakers players on their Summer League team continue to look good, winning two more games over the weekend. But while there's plenty to talk about with Jalen Hood-Schifino, Colin Castleton, Max Lewis, Max Christie and more, it was stuff Rob Pelinka was saying to the media that got a lot of attention.He noted in a couple of interviews that he had talked to Anthony Davis once again about his position on the floor, and that the Lakers would like to repeat some of the success from 2020, when A.D. played most of his minutes with another big next to him.Does that mean the Lakers plan to start Davis with another big? Jaxson Hayes, or whoever they look for with the 14th roster spot? (Pelinka confirmed they'd like to find another big.) Would that be a bench configuration the Lakers deploy from time to time, when the matchups are right?Where Davis plays, at power forward or center, has been a hot-button issue thanks to numbers indicating how well the Lakers perform with Davis as a five. It's why he played 99% of his minutes last year at center, compared to about 90% at power forward back in 2019-20. Of course, the Lakers also had a pair of viable centers in JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, as opposed to only having Hayes, who could break out in L.A., but to this point hasn't been a reliable pro.So what was Pelinka talking about? Is there a C out there who could change that dynamic? How much PF would you expect Davis to play this year?(And is Castleton a solution to any of this? He continues to dominate SPL.)Finally, the NBA announced the rules and groups for its inaugural in-season tournament. The Lakers are in group play with Portland, Memphis, Utah and Phoenix. How will they approach those games? Will teams like the Lakers care? Will their fans? Who is thing designed for, anyway?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Pelinka talks Cs, and where Davis might play this year.SEGMENT 2: How much PF would you expect Davis to play? Is it a good idea?SEGMENT 3: On the new in-season tourney.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNBA or enter promo code LOCKEDONNBA for a free Yeti style tumbler. You won't want to take your birddogs off we promise you.IbottaRight now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA for 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self.PrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONFanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The young Lakers players on their Summer League team continue to look good, winning two more games over the weekend. But while there's plenty to talk about with Jalen Hood-Schifino, Colin Castleton, Max Lewis, Max Christie and more, it was stuff Rob Pelinka was saying to the media that got a lot of attention. He noted in a couple of interviews that he had talked to Anthony Davis once again about his position on the floor, and that the Lakers would like to repeat some of the success from 2020, when A.D. played most of his minutes with another big next to him. Does that mean the Lakers plan to start Davis with another big? Jaxson Hayes, or whoever they look for with the 14th roster spot? (Pelinka confirmed they'd like to find another big.) Would that be a bench configuration the Lakers deploy from time to time, when the matchups are right? Where Davis plays, at power forward or center, has been a hot-button issue thanks to numbers indicating how well the Lakers perform with Davis as a five. It's why he played 99% of his minutes last year at center, compared to about 90% at power forward back in 2019-20. Of course, the Lakers also had a pair of viable centers in JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, as opposed to only having Hayes, who could break out in L.A., but to this point hasn't been a reliable pro. So what was Pelinka talking about? Is there a C out there who could change that dynamic? How much PF would you expect Davis to play this year? (And is Castleton a solution to any of this? He continues to dominate SPL.) Finally, the NBA announced the rules and groups for its inaugural in-season tournament. The Lakers are in group play with Portland, Memphis, Utah and Phoenix. How will they approach those games? Will teams like the Lakers care? Will their fans? Who is thing designed for, anyway? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Pelinka talks Cs, and where Davis might play this year. SEGMENT 2: How much PF would you expect Davis to play? Is it a good idea? SEGMENT 3: On the new in-season tourney. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNBA or enter promo code LOCKEDONNBA for a free Yeti style tumbler. You won't want to take your birddogs off we promise you. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code MLB when you register.Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED. BetterHelp This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA for 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Big CY joins the show from the MLB All-Star festivities in Seattle! The guys talk about the All-Star Friday Softball game and Em tries to get back on Travis's good side by playing his Home Run highlight. Then, some Lakers talk and what Pelinka had to say about the current state of the squad. FACT OR CAP! Sli's finding it hard to be optimistic about his Padres. Now that the Angels are down bad with injuries, they might change their mind when it comes to trading Ohtani.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The era of teams running through one player is ending, and Pelinka is making all the right moves. Woj says we're now in the “Transfer Portal Era” of the NBA. FACT OR CAP! CY shares his Coney Island, 4th of July experience when it comes to the hot dogs and one thing resonates: the awful smell. Then, the sport of Pickleball is hurting people…a lot. How did nobody get hurt at the ESPNLA Pickleball Tournament?! Then CY talks about how he's going to the MLB All Star Game Event this upcoming weekend in Seattle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Move over Dumbledore, Rob Pelinka is throwing his hat into the ring to be the new king of the wizarding world with the work he's done in NBA Free Agency.With the rest of the league spending like drunken sailors, Pelinka and the Lakers front office identified their guys, made their pitch, and kept the books clean to build a roster around LeBron and AD that actually makes sense.Ethan is back to deliver his take on the signings, what else the Lakers need, and to give some of his best and worst of the league-wide spending spree so far.It's the league's second season and we LOVE it in Lakerland!SUBSCRIBE, Rate and Review on iTunes and make sure to follow @EthosLakers on Twitter for all our delightful updates and goodies!PropUp on ThriveFantasy this NBA season! Use code ETHOS at signup for a 100% deposit match bonus and win big cash by simply flexing DFS prop knowledge on the biggest names on the board!Manscaped is BACK, baby! Just like the NBA! Use coupon code HOOPBALL20 to get 20% off and free shipping on your purchase at Manscaped.com!Want more codes? We got 'em! ExpressVPN is offering 3 BONUS months on every 12-month membership purchase by using this special link: https://www.expressvpn.com/hoopballAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trav and Sli look at Sli's softball picks from yesterday. Sliwa was at the player intros yesterday with Pelinka. Emily has to interpret LeBron's tweets for Trav. We have an "Ask Taylor" today and there are lots of farm questions. The Lakers are executing a vision and Trav is impressed with Rob Pelinka's patience. Emily has a bone to pick with Parker's handwriting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big news setting the table for this Lakers' offseason came Monday night, after the team lost to the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, and LeBron James indicated he's considering retirement. Like for real. Now maybe it's a leverage play, maybe it's just the fatigue (and the likely need for foot surgery) talking. But maybe he really is mulling it over (a possibility that too many are underselling).One thing, though, was clear at Tuesday's exit interviews - Rob Pelinka, Darvin Ham and everyone else on the roster were taken by surprise when LeBron said what he said. Nobody had an inkling this was on his mind. And the Lakers, as you'd expect, plan to give him every ounce of time he needs to make a decision. (Whether that means simply deciding he has the juice to keep going, or exerting the influence he wants to exert, or a little of both.)Pelinka also made it clear that the Lakers, heading into the offseason, are inclined to keep the core of this team together. Obviously that doesn't mean everyone returns (it never happens that way), but something similar to what we saw after the deadline, as opposed to the "clear the decks" approach to bring in someone like Kyrie Irving or Trae Young (who is also floating around in rumors).Does that mean the front office is learning its lesson, when it comes to the value of real roster construction vs. top heavy star-bleepery? We'll see, but the signs point to yes. Is that the right call? We explain.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers react to LeBron's surprising retirement talk.SEGMENT 2: Pelinka says the Lakers are inclined to run it back.SEGMENT 3: Why "run it back" is the right call setting the table for the offseason.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.PrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONFanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/lockedonnba and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNBA, they'll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The big news setting the table for this Lakers' offseason came Monday night, after the team lost to the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, and LeBron James indicated he's considering retirement. Like for real. Now maybe it's a leverage play, maybe it's just the fatigue (and the likely need for foot surgery) talking. But maybe he really is mulling it over (a possibility that too many are underselling). One thing, though, was clear at Tuesday's exit interviews - Rob Pelinka, Darvin Ham and everyone else on the roster were taken by surprise when LeBron said what he said. Nobody had an inkling this was on his mind. And the Lakers, as you'd expect, plan to give him every ounce of time he needs to make a decision. (Whether that means simply deciding he has the juice to keep going, or exerting the influence he wants to exert, or a little of both.) Pelinka also made it clear that the Lakers, heading into the offseason, are inclined to keep the core of this team together. Obviously that doesn't mean everyone returns (it never happens that way), but something similar to what we saw after the deadline, as opposed to the "clear the decks" approach to bring in someone like Kyrie Irving or Trae Young (who is also floating around in rumors). Does that mean the front office is learning its lesson, when it comes to the value of real roster construction vs. top heavy star-bleepery? We'll see, but the signs point to yes. Is that the right call? We explain. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers react to LeBron's surprising retirement talk. SEGMENT 2: Pelinka says the Lakers are inclined to run it back. SEGMENT 3: Why "run it back" is the right call setting the table for the offseason. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let's ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. Birddogs Go to birddogs.com/lockedonnba and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNBA, they'll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weeks ago, the Lakers built a plan that mapped out exactly how Anthony Davis would be used once he came back from injury. It prescribed no back-to-backs, something the Lakers have stuck with even as the stakes have gone up with time running out in the season.And that's what they should do. Can't risk a guy's health, if that's what the doctors believe is at stake, here.But even without Davis, even without LeBron, even on the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers needed to win Wednesday's game against a terrible Houston Rockets squad. They needed a better game plan. They needed a little more foresight. They needed better performances from guys like D'Angelo Russell (5-17) and Malik Beasley (6-17).The Lakers didn't get any of that stuff, and they lost. And this one stings, not just because it cost the Lakers a chance to move into a tie for 7th in the West. There just isn't enough season left to set games like this aside.So why, in a game where margins could be tight, did Darvin Ham choose to start Rui Hachimura instead of Wenyen Gabrial, the closest thing to a true center (undersized though he may be) available on roster? It certainly didn't pay off, as the Rockets got off to a red hot start in part because the Lakers offered zero resistance defensively. And why was Gabriel the only C on a night the Lakers KNEW they'd be without Davis, because they came up with the plan weeks ago?Would a big body on a 10-day have made a big difference? We'll never know, will we?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose a painful game to the Rockets in Houston.SEGMENT 2: Why did Darvin choose to start Hachimura over Gabriel?SEGMENT 3: What the loss means in the standings, and why didn't the Lakers sign someone on a 10-day deal, just.to have the option of size?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.IbottaRight now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code Locked when you register. Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app. Ultimate Pro Basketball GMTo download the game just visit probasketballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.PrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONBetterHelpThis episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/LockedOnNBA and get on your way to being your best self.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weeks ago, the Lakers built a plan that mapped out exactly how Anthony Davis would be used once he came back from injury. It prescribed no back-to-backs, something the Lakers have stuck with even as the stakes have gone up with time running out in the season. And that's what they should do. Can't risk a guy's health, if that's what the doctors believe is at stake, here. But even without Davis, even without LeBron, even on the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers needed to win Wednesday's game against a terrible Houston Rockets squad. They needed a better game plan. They needed a little more foresight. They needed better performances from guys like D'Angelo Russell (5-17) and Malik Beasley (6-17). The Lakers didn't get any of that stuff, and they lost. And this one stings, not just because it cost the Lakers a chance to move into a tie for 7th in the West. There just isn't enough season left to set games like this aside. So why, in a game where margins could be tight, did Darvin Ham choose to start Rui Hachimura instead of Wenyen Gabrial, the closest thing to a true center (undersized though he may be) available on roster? It certainly didn't pay off, as the Rockets got off to a red hot start in part because the Lakers offered zero resistance defensively. And why was Gabriel the only C on a night the Lakers KNEW they'd be without Davis, because they came up with the plan weeks ago? Would a big body on a 10-day have made a big difference? We'll never know, will we? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose a painful game to the Rockets in Houston. SEGMENT 2: Why did Darvin choose to start Hachimura over Gabriel? SEGMENT 3: What the loss means in the standings, and why didn't the Lakers sign someone on a 10-day deal, just.to have the option of size? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code Locked when you register. Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app.  Ultimate Pro Basketball GM To download the game just visit probasketballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON BetterHelp This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/LockedOnNBA and get on your way to being your best self. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers will have at least one more game to play without LeBron James, who almost surely will miss Monday's game against Portland, and that shines a light (or a brighter light, to be specific) on the new guys. D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt (with Mo Bamba serving the last of his four game suspension) will be needed to help elevate the Lakers past the Blazers -- a team they're chasing in the West.So what changes will they bring?Does the additional shooting from Russell and Beasley, who have averaged seven and eight-plus 3-pointers a game this year on quality percentages, fundamentally alter the team's offense? Nobody left on the roster pushes pace like Russell Westbrook, but at the same time, nobody was a more awkward fit in the team's halfcourt sets, which have been... well, underwhelming throughout the year.Much of Darvin Ham's decision-making around personnel choices has seemed to be oriented around creating and capitalizing on opportunities to run. In part, it can be argued, because the team was so clunky in the halfcourt. So what are the chances Ham embraces different lineups, perhaps with more size, knowing the personnel are now available to go bigger (Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, Wenyen Gabriel)? How does the complexion of the guard-heavy lineups change without the presence of Westbrook and Pat Beverley? Is a three-guard lineup without them quite as problematic, given the replacements?All stuff we'll learn more about, particularly once LeBron is back in the lineup.Finally, GM Rob Pelinka spoke about "Pre-Agency" ahead of Saturday's big win over the Warriors. What is he getting at there, and why should Lakers fans be encouraged by it? Bottom line, the Lakers have a chance to build a young core of players that are legit rotation players, occupying a range of salary slots. All of this stuff is important for flexibility, especially for a team without a lot of draft capital to work with. And they got more value (in quantity, and likely quality) by making moves now than they could have had in the summertime.And, as Pelinka noted, the team also has the chance to create the type of cap space they've typically chased. (They just don't need to use it.)HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers have another game (at least) without LeBron. That puts more pressure on the new guys to come through.SEGMENT 2: Could Darvin Ham's rotation choices change now that the complexion of the team has changed, too?SEGMENT 3: Pelinka and "Pre-Agency."Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.PrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONLinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBAFanDuelMake Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get startedFANDUEL 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers will have at least one more game to play without LeBron James, who almost surely will miss Monday's game against Portland, and that shines a light (or a brighter light, to be specific) on the new guys. D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt (with Mo Bamba serving the last of his four game suspension) will be needed to help elevate the Lakers past the Blazers -- a team they're chasing in the West. So what changes will they bring? Does the additional shooting from Russell and Beasley, who have averaged seven and eight-plus 3-pointers a game this year on quality percentages, fundamentally alter the team's offense? Nobody left on the roster pushes pace like Russell Westbrook, but at the same time, nobody was a more awkward fit in the team's halfcourt sets, which have been... well, underwhelming throughout the year. Much of Darvin Ham's decision-making around personnel choices has seemed to be oriented around creating and capitalizing on opportunities to run. In part, it can be argued, because the team was so clunky in the halfcourt. So what are the chances Ham embraces different lineups, perhaps with more size, knowing the personnel are now available to go bigger (Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, Wenyen Gabriel)? How does the complexion of the guard-heavy lineups change without the presence of Westbrook and Pat Beverley? Is a three-guard lineup without them quite as problematic, given the replacements? All stuff we'll learn more about, particularly once LeBron is back in the lineup. Finally, GM Rob Pelinka spoke about "Pre-Agency" ahead of Saturday's big win over the Warriors. What is he getting at there, and why should Lakers fans be encouraged by it? Bottom line, the Lakers have a chance to build a young core of players that are legit rotation players, occupying a range of salary slots. All of this stuff is important for flexibility, especially for a team without a lot of draft capital to work with. And they got more value (in quantity, and likely quality) by making moves now than they could have had in the summertime. And, as Pelinka noted, the team also has the chance to create the type of cap space they've typically chased. (They just don't need to use it.) HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers have another game (at least) without LeBron. That puts more pressure on the new guys to come through. SEGMENT 2: Could Darvin Ham's rotation choices change now that the complexion of the team has changed, too? SEGMENT 3: Pelinka and "Pre-Agency." Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers took the court Tuesday vs. the Clippers on a high from Monday's epic comeback, and with some excitement following the deal to acquire Rui Hachimura from Washington. But the Clippers came into the game feeling pretty good about themselves, too, and are getting healthy fast. And for the 10th straight time, the LAC beat the Lakers, burying them with a barrage of first half three-pointers. Final score, 133-115. The Lakers got 46 from LeBron James (who now has notched a 40 point game against every team in the league), but save a tidy 15 from Thomas Bryant didn't get much help.Meanwhile, the Clippers again exposed the challenges faced by the shorthanded Lakers defending a team with that much wing size, something a player like Hachimura should help address (even if he's not arriving with the rep of a great defender).What else will help? How about Anthony Davis?ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported after the game that Davis, who has missed 5 1/2 weeks with a stress reaction in his foot, will return to action Wednesday vs. San Antonio, assuming nothing goes wrong in pregame warmups. This should be a huge boost for the Lakers, even as Davis plays a few games with a minutes restriction. They've managed to stay afloat with him on the sidelines, but time is running out to actually start gaining ground. And with a brutal road trip staring the Lakers in the face, an earlier-than-expected return for A.D. is tremendous news.Finally, GM Rob Pelinka introduced Hachimura before Tuesday's game, and was asked about the possibility of more moves. Including, maybe, giving up those two first rounders the Lakers currently control and can move. His answer could frustrate many fans. It certainly frustrated the hosts.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose to the Clippers, who took advantage of favorable matchups and a shorthanded Lakers roster.SEGMENT 2: Davis reportedly will return Wednesday. This is a massive boost, and comes earlier than expected.SEGMENT 3: What does Pelinka need to see before he'll move those two first rounders?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.PrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONLinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBAFanDuelMake Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get startedFANDUEL 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)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers took the court Tuesday vs. the Clippers on a high from Monday's epic comeback, and with some excitement following the deal to acquire Rui Hachimura from Washington. But the Clippers came into the game feeling pretty good about themselves, too, and are getting healthy fast. And for the 10th straight time, the LAC beat the Lakers, burying them with a barrage of first half three-pointers. Final score, 133-115. The Lakers got 46 from LeBron James (who now has notched a 40 point game against every team in the league), but save a tidy 15 from Thomas Bryant didn't get much help. Meanwhile, the Clippers again exposed the challenges faced by the shorthanded Lakers defending a team with that much wing size, something a player like Hachimura should help address (even if he's not arriving with the rep of a great defender). What else will help? How about Anthony Davis? ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported after the game that Davis, who has missed 5 1/2 weeks with a stress reaction in his foot, will return to action Wednesday vs. San Antonio, assuming nothing goes wrong in pregame warmups. This should be a huge boost for the Lakers, even as Davis plays a few games with a minutes restriction. They've managed to stay afloat with him on the sidelines, but time is running out to actually start gaining ground. And with a brutal road trip staring the Lakers in the face, an earlier-than-expected return for A.D. is tremendous news. Finally, GM Rob Pelinka introduced Hachimura before Tuesday's game, and was asked about the possibility of more moves. Including, maybe, giving up those two first rounders the Lakers currently control and can move. His answer could frustrate many fans. It certainly frustrated the hosts. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose to the Clippers, who took advantage of favorable matchups and a shorthanded Lakers roster. SEGMENT 2: Davis reportedly will return Wednesday. This is a massive boost, and comes earlier than expected. SEGMENT 3: What does Pelinka need to see before he'll move those two first rounders? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started 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)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trade season is starting to heat up, and while the Lakers aren't currently at the center of any big rumors (no, Cam Reddish chatter doesn't count), they're generally expected to do something in one form or another before the deadline. Because, if nothing else, they're the Lakers and under a ton of pressure to at least give the appearance of trying to provide LeBron James a fighting chance to compete.This, of course, is all predicated on the idea that a) Anthony Davis will return at some point soon—Davis participated in parts of Thursday's practice and is at least trending in the right direction—and b) the Lakers are actually interested in trying to salvage this season, vs. waiting until the summer.To that end, an interesting breakdown on the merits of "Now or Later?" on the Rob Pelinka Decision Tree was posted to Hoopshype by cap guru Yossi Gozlan. He lays out the case for making a move today. In essence, it's about maximizing the ability to spend more, whether on higher end players or, critically, a higher volume of them to help build out the roster. The Lakers will have about $30ish million to spend this offseason if they clear the decks for free agency. If they can move Russell Westbrook now, however, his contract alone can be moved for well over $50 million in salary, and were the Lakers willing to take on longer term deals it would potentially open up options.So which path is the right one?A lot depends on whether the market to move Westbrook even exists, and there are reasons to believe that for now, at least, it doesn't.What assets can the Lakers package? Is Max Christie someone that might be worth something, to help the Lakers minimize what they'd have to give up? Is his contract structure a problem? How much are the picks worth, that they're holding on to?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: An Anthony Davis update, plus the NBA admits it got another call that went against the Lakers wrong.SEGMENT 2: Trade now or trade/sign later? That is the question for Rob Pelinka.SEGMENT 3: An argument for moving aggressively today, and why Pelinka might not be willing to do it.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!PrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONLinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBARocket MoneyStop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trade season is starting to heat up, and while the Lakers aren't currently at the center of any big rumors (no, Cam Reddish chatter doesn't count), they're generally expected to do something in one form or another before the deadline. Because, if nothing else, they're the Lakers and under a ton of pressure to at least give the appearance of trying to provide LeBron James a fighting chance to compete. This, of course, is all predicated on the idea that a) Anthony Davis will return at some point soon—Davis participated in parts of Thursday's practice and is at least trending in the right direction—and b) the Lakers are actually interested in trying to salvage this season, vs. waiting until the summer. To that end, an interesting breakdown on the merits of "Now or Later?" on the Rob Pelinka Decision Tree was posted to Hoopshype by cap guru Yossi Gozlan. He lays out the case for making a move today. In essence, it's about maximizing the ability to spend more, whether on higher end players or, critically, a higher volume of them to help build out the roster. The Lakers will have about $30ish million to spend this offseason if they clear the decks for free agency. If they can move Russell Westbrook now, however, his contract alone can be moved for well over $50 million in salary, and were the Lakers willing to take on longer term deals it would potentially open up options. So which path is the right one? A lot depends on whether the market to move Westbrook even exists, and there are reasons to believe that for now, at least, it doesn't. What assets can the Lakers package? Is Max Christie someone that might be worth something, to help the Lakers minimize what they'd have to give up? Is his contract structure a problem? How much are the picks worth, that they're holding on to? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: An Anthony Davis update, plus the NBA admits it got another call that went against the Lakers wrong. SEGMENT 2: Trade now or trade/sign later? That is the question for Rob Pelinka. SEGMENT 3: An argument for moving aggressively today, and why Pelinka might not be willing to do it. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA Rocket Money Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 his success as a sixth man? What would it mean for the Lakers if teams no longer viewed him as an automatic buyout? Just a contract to acquire and quickly get rid of? Could that actually give Pelinka some options down the road?Finally, the Lakers are getting calls from all across Lakers Nation to get off their collective duff and do something before this season washes away. The team , and the franchise for that matter, is undoubtedly in a hole. But is there a trade that would help them genuinely climb out? If not just for this year, to lay the foundation for next season? Or would it just be best to put down the shovels for a while, rather than risk a bad deal that just makes the hole deeper?A one or two year slide could easily be a five or six year collapse, if management isn't smart. (Setting aside, for a moment, how much faith anyone has in Pelinka's ability to put this back together again.)HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers aren't currently likely to make a trade sacrificing their remaining first rounders if the situation doesn't improve... and it may not improve without trading the first rounders.SEGMENT 2: What is Anthony Davis's trade value? How about Westbrook's?SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers smart just to do nothing for now?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBAPrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDONSweatBlockIf you or someone you love is experiencing embarrassing sweat or odor try SweatBlock. Save20% with promo code Locked On at sweatblock.com. Also available on Amazon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 his success as a sixth man? What would it mean for the Lakers if teams no longer viewed him as an automatic buyout? Just a contract to acquire and quickly get rid of? Could that actually give Pelinka some options down the road? Finally, the Lakers are getting calls from all across Lakers Nation to get off their collective duff and do something before this season washes away. The team , and the franchise for that matter, is undoubtedly in a hole. But is there a trade that would help them genuinely climb out? If not just for this year, to lay the foundation for next season? Or would it just be best to put down the shovels for a while, rather than risk a bad deal that just makes the hole deeper? A one or two year slide could easily be a five or six year collapse, if management isn't smart. (Setting aside, for a moment, how much faith anyone has in Pelinka's ability to put this back together again.) HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers aren't currently likely to make a trade sacrificing their remaining first rounders if the situation doesn't improve... and it may not improve without trading the first rounders. SEGMENT 2: What is Anthony Davis's trade value? How about Westbrook's? SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers smart just to do nothing for now? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON SweatBlock If you or someone you love is experiencing embarrassing sweat or odor try SweatBlock. Save20% with promo code Locked On at sweatblock.com. Also available on Amazon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe it's nothing... but nobody seems to think that. Lebron James, who is no stranger to passive aggressive use of social media to make a point, posted Thursday on Instagram a highlight dunk, and a question: "How long will you be taken for granted?" It was widely interpreted as a shot at Lakers management, with the idea they're wasting a still highly productive James. Or at the least, he seemed more than willing to let people make that assumption for at least a day. And James, no neophyte when it comes to social media, certainly understands how a post like that would be interpreted. So what does it mean if James is already taking shots? Does it change the calculus for how the Lakers can and should look at the trade market? Does it raise the temperature on Rob Pelinka to relent and make a deal he'd otherwise rather pass on? Is there reason to believe that some of the problems with the offense are due to an entire team slumping at once, shooting well below career norms? How much improvement is required for the Lakers to suddenly look a lot more competent? It's worth noting, other teams get a vote, here. They may not be interested in what the Lakers have to offer right now, preferring to see what else opens up over the course of the season. It can be easy enough to view moments like this through a Lakers-centric prism and assumption that deals are there for the taking right now if the Lakers make an offer, but that's not the case. Meanwhile, the Lakers are already dealing with a banged up Anthony Davis. He says he'll play Friday, but if we're asking the question not even five games into the year, it indicates this year could be a long one physically for Davis. Navigating him back to health without missing a lot of time - something the Lakers obviously can't afford - is no easy trick. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis is banged up, LeBron James feels unappreciated. SEGMENT 2: Is there any chance James isn't actually taking a shot at Pelinka? SEGMENT 3: How might the James Insta post influence the choices of the front office? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe it's nothing... but nobody seems to think that.Lebron James, who is no stranger to passive aggressive use of social media to make a point, posted Thursday on Instagram a highlight dunk, and a question: "How long will you be taken for granted?" It was widely interpreted as a shot at Lakers management, with the idea they're wasting a still highly productive James. Or at the least, he seemed more than willing to let people make that assumption for at least a day. And James, no neophyte when it comes to social media, certainly understands how a post like that would be interpreted.So what does it mean if James is already taking shots? Does it change the calculus for how the Lakers can and should look at the trade market? Does it raise the temperature on Rob Pelinka to relent and make a deal he'd otherwise rather pass on? Is there reason to believe that some of the problems with the offense are due to an entire team slumping at once, shooting well below career norms?How much improvement is required for the Lakers to suddenly look a lot more competent?It's worth noting, other teams get a vote, here. They may not be interested in what the Lakers have to offer right now, preferring to see what else opens up over the course of the season. It can be easy enough to view moments like this through a Lakers-centric prism and assumption that deals are there for the taking right now if the Lakers make an offer, but that's not the case.Meanwhile, the Lakers are already dealing with a banged up Anthony Davis. He says he'll play Friday, but if we're asking the question not even five games into the year, it indicates this year could be a long one physically for Davis. Navigating him back to health without missing a lot of time - something the Lakers obviously can't afford - is no easy trick.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis is banged up, LeBron James feels unappreciated.SEGMENT 2: Is there any chance James isn't actually taking a shot at Pelinka?SEGMENT 3: How might the James Insta post influence the choices of the front office?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBAPrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is not a new topic of conversation, but it's back in the news cycle. Asked about the possibility of Anthony Davis starting at center (as he did Sunday, when he scored 28 points in 21 minutes) as opposed to power forward this season, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said it's under "heavy consideration" for reasons that are pretty obvious: Davis has thrived at the five as a Laker. The Lakers have thrived with Davis at the five. The team's best players are all in the backcourt. The best opportunity to give them the most playing time demands Davis play center and open up more minutes at small forward that would otherwise be used by LeBron (James). The team's centers have been ok-to-meh to this point in the preseason. They will almost surely finish most games with Davis at center, so why not start him there? So how likely is it that Ham will go ahead and pull the trigger? If he does, what does it mean for the starting lineup? Who fills the void at the three, especially while Troy Brown is injured? Juan Toscano-Anderson? Austin Reaves? Lonnie Walker IV? Ham has options. One more now, too, since the backcourt officially includes Dennis Schröder, who should be available to play Wednesday against Minnesota in what might be the first true tune up game with a (mostly) full rotation of guys for Ham to use. How will he sort all of it out? Where does Dennis fit in? Finally, Monday's show explored some of the issues connected to Rob Pelinka's recently announced contract extension... but not all of them. We dive a little deeper, looking at questions of what Jeanie Buss prioritizes, and whether Pelinka is up for the big challenge facing the team in the next few seasons. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Darvin Ham says Davis could start at the five. Good idea? SEGMENT 2: What does it do for the rotation if Ham makes the move? SEGMENT 3: More on Rob Pelinka's extension with the Lakers and why it could be simultaneously correct and deeply worrisome. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is not a new topic of conversation, but it's back in the news cycle. Asked about the possibility of Anthony Davis starting at center (as he did Sunday, when he scored 28 points in 21 minutes) as opposed to power forward this season, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said it's under "heavy consideration" for reasons that are pretty obvious: Davis has thrived at the five as a Laker. The Lakers have thrived with Davis at the five. The team's best players are all in the backcourt. The best opportunity to give them the most playing time demands Davis play center and open up more minutes at small forward that would otherwise be used by LeBron (James). The team's centers have been ok-to-meh to this point in the preseason. They will almost surely finish most games with Davis at center, so why not start him there? So how likely is it that Ham will go ahead and pull the trigger? If he does, what does it mean for the starting lineup? Who fills the void at the three, especially while Troy Brown is injured? Juan Toscano-Anderson? Austin Reaves? Lonnie Walker IV?Ham has options. One more now, too, since the backcourt officially includes Dennis Schröder, who should be available to play Wednesday against Minnesota in what might be the first true tune up game with a (mostly) full rotation of guys for Ham to use. How will he sort all of it out? Where does Dennis fit in?Finally, Monday's show explored some of the issues connected to Rob Pelinka's recently announced contract extension... but not all of them. We dive a little deeper, looking at questions of what Jeanie Buss prioritizes, and whether Pelinka is up for the big challenge facing the team in the next few seasons.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Darvin Ham says Davis could start at the five. Good idea?SEGMENT 2: What does it do for the rotation if Ham makes the move?SEGMENT 3: More on Rob Pelinka's extension with the Lakers and why it could be simultaneously correct and deeply worrisome.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBAPrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a busy weekend! The Lakers broke a 9-game preseason losing streak, and while wins and losses don't necessarily matter in these games, Sunday's win over Golden State had some significant developments. First, Anthony Davis was dominant. 28 points in 21 minutes, with every facet of the game on display. Hit some threes, hit some mid-range, dominated in the paint, got to the line. And he showed some swagger. It was the type of performance the Lakers are going to need - a lot - through the season if they want to exceed expectations. Plus, Kendrick Nunn played great, Lonnie Walker IV shot the ball well and generally speaking the Lakers looked good when important players were on the floor. Meanwhile, though, the Lakers didn't play LeBron James, Russell Westbrook or Patrick Beverley, and are running out of time to develop the type of continuity in a still-complex rotation they'll need. Darvin Ham says it's all part of the plan, but in some ways it would have been nice for the plan to put a little higher premium on shared floor time, especially after Davis's lower back issue scuttled one game where everyone was supposed to play together. Meanwhile, the weekend was dominated by news that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has received a contract extension, keeping him with the team (or at least paid by the team) through the 2025-26 season and aligning his deal with Ham's. In theory, this makes sense. It's best to have those two office holders running on parallel timelines, so everyone has the same interests and can row in the same direction and all that. This, as reported by folks like ESPN's Dave McMenamin, has been the arrangement since Ham was hired, and it's just a matter of getting the terms ironed out now. It explains a lot of how Pelinka has approached the offseason, and ultimately that's good for the Lakers. Except the bigger question is this: While the process here makes sense and the logic is sound... what if Pelinka isn't very good at his job? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis dominates as the Lakers win a preseason game in San Francisco. SEGMENT 2: Why solid play from supporting castmembers like Lonnie Walker IV and Kendrick Nunn matters and how they could influence the combinations Ham uses. SEGMENT 3: Rob Pelinka gets an extension. Is this a good thing? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a busy weekend! The Lakers broke a 9-game preseason losing streak, and while wins and losses don't necessarily matter in these games, Sunday's win over Golden State had some significant developments. First, Anthony Davis was dominant. 28 points in 21 minutes, with every facet of the game on display. Hit some threes, hit some mid-range, dominated in the paint, got to the line. And he showed some swagger. It was the type of performance the Lakers are going to need - a lot - through the season if they want to exceed expectations. Plus, Kendrick Nunn played great, Lonnie Walker IV shot the ball well and generally speaking the Lakers looked good when important players were on the floor.Meanwhile, though, the Lakers didn't play LeBron James, Russell Westbrook or Patrick Beverley, and are running out of time to develop the type of continuity in a still-complex rotation they'll need. Darvin Ham says it's all part of the plan, but in some ways it would have been nice for the plan to put a little higher premium on shared floor time, especially after Davis's lower back issue scuttled one game where everyone was supposed to play together.Meanwhile, the weekend was dominated by news that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has received a contract extension, keeping him with the team (or at least paid by the team) through the 2025-26 season and aligning his deal with Ham's. In theory, this makes sense. It's best to have those two office holders running on parallel timelines, so everyone has the same interests and can row in the same direction and all that. This, as reported by folks like ESPN's Dave McMenamin, has been the arrangement since Ham was hired, and it's just a matter of getting the terms ironed out now. It explains a lot of how Pelinka has approached the offseason, and ultimately that's good for the Lakers.Except the bigger question is this: While the process here makes sense and the logic is sound... what if Pelinka isn't very good at his job?HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis dominates as the Lakers win a preseason game in San Francisco.SEGMENT 2: Why solid play from supporting castmembers like Lonnie Walker IV and Kendrick Nunn matters and how they could influence the combinations Ham uses.SEGMENT 3: Rob Pelinka gets an extension. Is this a good thing?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBAPrizePicksFirst time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That's PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers need to improve their defense in a big way, after last season's disaster, and that starts with Anthony Davis. On the one hand, Darvin Ham can use him in multiple ways, because he's extremely versatile on that side of the floor. Ideally, Ham's mission is to figure out a way to deploy Davis in a way that a) maximizes Davis, b) maximizes the Lakers' defense, and c) avoids overextending Davis to the point he risks injury. Because if he gets hurt, the whole thing falls apart.Unfortunately, those are not necessarily three easy things to align.So what's the best way to handle things? How much better is the supporting cast around Davis this year, compared to last? Because the answer to that question has a real impact on what Ham can do with AD (and LeBron, and Pat Beverley for that matter). It's an example of the challenge Ham faces this year, trying to figure out how to get the most out of a roster with holes on the wing and significant injury risk among its best players.Meanwhile, have we reached a place in perception where we all have to re-think our view of A.D.? Is he really a true uber elite guy, not necessarily based on talent, but the year in, year out performance? Is Davis polarizing, like a Ben Simmons or Rudy Gobert, or just really, really frustrating?Finally, DeMar DeRozan is again talking about how close he thinks he was to becoming a Laker last offseason. This time, with ESPN's JJ Redick. And maybe he truly thought he was coming to LA, and maybe it was a lot closer than most people think? Damn near a done deal, to the point that DeRozan could go to Mexico just to get away from it all, with the expectation he'd land in LA at some point while he was gone? To the point that friends were texting him when the Lakers traded for Westbrook?But nobody has explained what that trade was going to look like. So unless it was really close and we can all see what exactly Pelinka passed up - and man, there could be some 'splainin to do - DeRozan should stop telling that story because it just makes Lakers fans sad.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: How can Darvin Ham maximize Davis defensively while still keeping him healthy?SEGMENT 2: The Lakers have holes on the wing and sketchy options to fill them, defensively. How can they keep everyone healthy and still plug holes?SEGMENT 3: Is AD polarizing or frustrating? And please stop, DeMar!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices