Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers had their first official practice on Tuesday, and (not that anyone expected otherwise) Darvin Ham was quite pleased with the results, praising the spirit and energy of the Lakers as they prepare for what everyone hopes will be a long run into the playoffs. He talked up LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who looked like their normal selves, and noted the work Christian Wood was doing defensively, and the commitment he showed to communication and detail. Worth noting as well that the Lakers seem intent on protecting Austin Reaves early in camp, following his Very Busy Offseason with Team USA playing in the World Cup. It is expected Reaves will not only play a ton of minutes - it's very possible he leads the team - but also high intensity, high leverage minutes, including a lot of time serving as a point guard. With that in mind, it's important for the Lakers to keep him fresh and healthy. It's a long, long season. D'Angelo Russell remains a fairly polarizing presence for Lakers fans, and he had an interesting response Monday when asked (by this show!) about how he looks at improvement at this point in his career. Is it a matter of trying to shore up skills/attributes that are weaker? Does he try to lean into strengths? His answer was interesting and revealing, and how you respond is probably a good referendum on what you think about him more broadly. Finally, Wood is certainly in the honeymoon phase of his time with the Lakers. Nobody has played any games, there isn't any film to criticize. He hasn't been asked to sacrifice playing time or stats yet. But if there was anything concerning from Monday's media time, it might have come when Wood was asked if he felt he had anything to prove, given how long he went unsigned this offseason. His answer was... potentially revealing? Wood is really one of the most interesting subplots for this year. Because while he's found himself in a position where his talent and his salary are not in line with each other, it's an open question as to whether he truly understands why. But then again, he's also never really been in a place with real stability. Context matters. We'll see how it goes in LA. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers kicked off practice, and are being cautious with Austin Reaves. SEGMENT 2: How D'Lo looks at self-improvement. SEGMENT 3: Does Christian Wood really understand how he got here? 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

The Lakers kicked off training camp with Media Day on Monday, and man alive, there was plenty of interesting stuff on the agenda. (What there wasn't? Drama! Tension! Controversy! It was ahistorical for a Lakers Media Day, to be honest.) So without all the low-hanging, headline grabbing stuff available, the focus was on what's in front of a team that rightly has extremely high expectations following a run to the Western Conference Finals. One big thing everyone was happy about? Continuity. All the returning players, from LeBron James on down, spoke glowingly about what it means for this team to be entering training camp starting somewhere ahead of scratch. They know each other. They know the system. They have to integrate players into it, but the guys who are new are also role players, and in the case of Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent, are extremely well respected pros. Christian Wood? Well, he's got some stuff to prove, but he's the only player in the rotation with any sort of question mark. Guys are incredibly excited that the band is back together. As for LeBron, he's back after floating the idea of retirement following the end of last season. What brought him back? And how much longer is he planning on playing? While James definitely didn't say this would be his final season, he also definitely said he couldn't look past this year. What goes into the calculus around how long he'll play? What does Bronny James and a good health report have to do with any of it? Anthony Davis said he'd like to play in all 82 games this year, and is prepping with a mindset of making it happen. Obviously he's not going to play that many games, but he's obviously aware of the perception surrounding him, and hopes to push back through attendance. Does he see himself as the face of the franchise? Is this his team? LeBron says it's his, but what does Davis think? Why does each guy answer that question the way that he does? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: It's Media Day! The Lakers are a drama free operation, and it showed on Monday. SEGMENT 2: LeBron James, his present and future. SEGMENT 3: Anthony Davis. Is this his team? 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

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 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

Well, that turned out a little different than many thought it would! Wednesday afternoon, the NBA finally got the blockbuster it's been waiting for, as Damian Lillard was traded away from the Blazers. But not to Miami, as Lillard had been pushing for since asking out of Portland. Instead, Lillard ends up in Milwaukee, teamed up with Giannis in a three-team deal that also included the Phoenix Suns, who sent D'Andre Ayton to Portland in exchange for some depth pieces that help fill out the roster both from a personnel and a salary standpoint. So what does this mean for the Western Conference, and by extension, the Lakers? Well, Portland wasn't going to contend, so that part doesn't matter. But what Phoenix did certainly does. And while the Suns did add needed depth and they did remove Ayton from the building—even with the new contract, that situation still wasn't healthy—did they get better around their Big Three of Durant, Beal and Booker? If you're the Lakers, would you rather play a Suns team in the postseason with Ayton and less depth, or Nurkic and a little more? But as big a move as Phoenix made, the biggest shoe in the West is could still drop. Because Jrue Holiday was sent from Milwaukee to Portland, and is not destined to stay there. So while James Harden is still on the market, Holiday becomes an incredibly appealing player and arguably the most appealing one on the market. Say for a team that still wants another guard. Like the one sharing Crypto.com Arena for another year. If you're the Clippers, wouldn't you rather add someone like Holiday, who would be a great, near seamless fit next to Kawhi and Paul George, instead of the (waves arms about) thing that is the James Harden Experience? Surely Team Harden doesn't like this little wrinkle in the market. But obviously what impacts the Clippers impacts the Lakers, so this is something to watch, whether now or a few weeks down the road. Finally, what exactly did Portland owe Lillard through this situation? Did they "do right" by him? It's a huge topic of conversation around the league and across NBA social media. What exactly are they obligated to do for a star who wants out, and wants to go to one team and one team only (until he doesn't, at least...)? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Lillard to... Milwaukee? SEGMENT 2: How it impacts the Lakers, starting with Phoenix. Did the Suns get better? Did they become a tougher or easier matchup? SEGMENT 3: Could this deal help the Clippers, eventually? What would that mean for the Lakers? Plus, did the Blazers treat Dame as they should have? He's not in Miami, in the end. 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

The Lakers know Christian Wood's talent. Heck, everyone knows Christian Wood's talent. But the big question about him (one of them, at least) has been attitude. Is he willing to play a role? Can he accept one that might not totally be in line with his self image? On the one hand, he thinks he's really good (which you want in every player). On the other, this is a team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It has title aspirations, and other quality players around the roster. Wood was, or should have been, humbled by the market. So will he fit into LA's culture? So far so good, but it's never been about first impressions, but what happens once things get going. This is the sort of thing tackled on this episode with guest Dan Woike of the LA Times! Will Wood start? Come off the bench? Woike thinks it's the latter. And who will be starting? Woike has a potential name that might not be getting quite as much buzz as he should. But what happens when the game gets going? The Lakers will be looking to give players consistent roles, but there are tons of options at play, here, especially as the team decides who starts at small forward. Finally, it's a quick look around the West. Austin Reaves, guesting on Zach Lowe's podcast, said he thinks the Lakers have the most talented roster in the league. Like, in talent. And depth, and versatility. Are they the best team? Dunno, but in terms of how you look at talent, you can make an argument. Maybe you don't come down on the Lakers, but it's not absurd. Then Reaves said something perhaps more bold: That he's the best golfer in the NBA. Most people would say it's Steph Curry. (Steph Curry likely would, at the least). Whether he's right or wrong, the fact that Reaves believes this and pushed back on Lowe when he suggested it might be Steph? This is as revealing as anything about the guy. Reaves is scarily competitive. If someone doesn't set up some sort of match play event with Reaves and Curry, everyone is doing it wrong. HOSTS: Andy Kamenetzky, with guest Dan Woike! SEGMENT 1: Will Christian Wood fit in well with Lakers culture? SEGMENT 2: Who starts at small forward? Could it be Taurean Prince? SEGMENT 3: Reaves speaks! 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

With training camp only a few days away, it's easy to start to think about what the rotations will look like. One place that's getting a lot of attention? With the addition of Christian Wood, how will the Lakers fold him in a way that makes the most sense offensively AND defensively? To that end, one prevailing argument (expressed on this show, for sure) is that Wood isn't a great option to start because it leaves LeBron James playing far too much small forward by design, which is not a good idea for a nearly 40-year old player in his 21st season. So in response to a viewer question about the Davis/James/Wood rotation dynamic, we break down how it could work. Yes, the three of them might get a few minutes together here and there, but it's likely not a regular thing. That said, Wood can absolutely, and will absolutely, play with both guys. It's just that more attention goes to his fit with Davis, both because in theory Davis protects Wood defensively, and because it's Wood that helps Davis spend less time at center, vs. power forward. To say the least, Darvin Ham has a wealth of options at his disposal. As camp gets closer, we're focusing on position groups. Monday was the guards, today the centers. Another big contrast between last year's group and this year's (remember Damian Jones?). Davis, Wood and Jaxson Hayes are the three main C's, with LeBron and Jarred Vanderbilt likely to get a few minutes here and there in small lineups. It looks like there's a blueprint for Davis and Wood... but what does that leave Hayes? Is there a path to playing time for him, especially in the games where Davis and Wood are available? Finally, another great viewer comment about the way the bar is likely to be raised in the West this year. Last year wasn't exactly easy, but it's fair to say the Conference played along as the Lakers struggled, and left the door open far longer than it might have been in a typical year. And this season is shaping up to be truly brutal. So how tough is that path to a high seed? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Optimism to start the season, and a look at the James/Davis/Wood dynamic. SEGMENT 2: Breaking down the centers. SEGMENT 3: It's gonna be very, very tough out West this year. 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

With training camp set to open in a week - I think we're ALL ready for that - it's fascinating to consider where they are now vs. where things were at this point last year. A year ago, the Lakers were still in play for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner from the Pacers. We were all still wondering if the Lakers really were going to enter the season with Russell Westbrook even while Darvin Ham was saying all the right stuff. Today? While the Lakers have questions and concerns (as all teams do) nobody has to squint or twist themselves into pretzels to feel genuine optimism about where this season could go. There is no leaning into best case scenarios. Instead, this is a group that, if healthy, should be very good. With real balance up and down the roster. That's basically it. And it's really great! If there's a spot that shows the contrast between last year and this season, it's in the guard rotation. Last year, there was Russ and Reaves, Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker IV, a rookie Max Christie, plus Kendrick Nunn coming off an injury. That's a lot of question marks. And even while someone like Walker had some good moments and overall played just fine (relative to expectations), it's worth noting that only two of those players finished the season on the roster, and only one actually played a role. This year, Reaves will be joined by D'Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent to form a very solid core of guards (given that the team's star power is in the front court). With them, you'll hopefully see Christie, and then hopefully not that much Jalen Hood-Schifino (because that means things have gone incredibly right, or really wrong, and the latter would be far more likely in this scenario). It's hard to overstate how much better a place they're in. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: What a difference a year makes. SEGMENT 2: Breaking down the guards. SEGMENT 3: More analysis of the guards. Who starts, who finishes? What of Christie? 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

Thursday, Christian Wood met the LA media for the first time, and said a lot of "meeting the media for the first time" type things. How excited he is to be in Los Angeles, how (as a Long Beach native) he's always wanted to play for the Lakers. And how he has a great relationship with Darvin Ham... who called him every day during free agency. Every day? That's a lot of days, and a lot of calls. But even if it's an exaggeration, it also makes some sense. The Lakers didn't have any extra money to offer, but what they could sell were vibes and opportunity. And whether you're a big Darvin guy or not, there probably aren't too many guys around the league who can sell culture to a player better than he can. And really, context should drive home to Wood the critical nature of this opportunity. If he doesn't make it work in LA, if he can't accept and then thrive in a role on a good team, where does he go from here? But red flags aside, the Lakers got the most talented player left available on the free agent market. And if you want him, it can't hurt to sweet talk him a little. Meanwhile, Pat Beverley was on his podcast, talking about the Jarred Vanderbilt extension. Interestingly, he told him that his advice was not to sign an extension. Why? Because players who do that get paid appropriately. Players who get signed during free agency? They get overpaid. Whether that would have applied to Vanderbilt is an open question, but it's a fascinating view of how folks get paid in the league. And finally, Buddy Hield is on the trade market. But this is a Buddy Hield safe space, because the Lakers do not have any players they can trade for him until at least mid-December. But what's really interesting is that the need for someone like Hield is a lot lower now than it was a year ago at this time. Please leave your Hield comments to yourself until then. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Christian Wood meets the media. Is this his last/best opportunity to change the narrative? SEGMENT 2: The Lakers don't need Buddy Hield. SEGMENT 3: Pat Bev on Vanderbilt. 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. 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

Jeanie Buss was a guest on The Athletic's NBA podcast, and had some interesting stuff to say about Anthony Davis. Namely that for the stretch of play last season after he returned from injury (the big one, where he missed 20 games), AD was the best player in the league. It's not worth debating the point in the most literal sense - everyone remembers how dominant Davis was over that period - but it illustrates how individual the conversation is around Davis. Obviously the expectations he carries are justifiably high, but at the same time, is there to much focus on what he's not doing vs. what he is? You'd think, for example, that based on last year's arc that there would be a notable difference between Davis's first and second half stats, but they looked basically the same. So is AD being judged more on optics than results? Well, sort of. Because sometimes with Davis, the optics dictate the result. Few players can put up games with identical numbers but totally non-identical impact like Davis. So between that and the natural inclination to believe he's about to get hurt (it's a defense mechanism for many Lakers fans to prep themeselves for a letdown) and his freakish talent at his full capacity that makes him seem like an alien, maybe that explains the discourse? Finally, Damian Lillard seemed to find some (non-trade related) controversy when he said it was easier to win in the Bubble. But as he clarified, he didn't mean easier to win a title. In fact, winning a title in Orlando was actually harder, because all the advantages a 1 seed like the Lakers would have had were stripped away. Home floor, home crowd, less travel, and so on. It may have been contextually unrepeatable - the Lakers (God willing) will never have a chance like that to rest their stars before the postseason starts... but then again EVERYONE got to get healthy. And moreover, the Lakers rolled through the playoffs that year. 4-1, 4-1, 4-1, 4-2. So can we finally put this question to bed? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Why do we talk differently about Anthony Davis than other stars? SEGMENT 2: Is it fair? What is, and what isn't, and what is the biggest flaw in how fans and media judge him? SEGMENT 3: Dame defends the Bubble Championship. 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. 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

Tuesday's show was all about the sea change in strategy for the Lakers when it comes to roster building. Where once it was all about cap space above all - meaning no long term contracts for anyone but the biggest stars - now the Lakers have a bunch of multi-year deals for non-elite players. This, by the way, is a good thing, promoting continuity, and actually providing more flexibility for the front office than simply being locked into that "clean sheet" strategy. But why did they shift? That was a question left on the Locked On Lakers YouTube page. Was it the opportunity presented by a team that advanced to the Western Conference Finals after playing together for only a few weeks? Was it a reaction to a shift in the league towards continuity and depth? Was it the lack of any realistic way to add a big name star? Could be some of each, but this year now becomes a bit of a referendum on the shift, and an opportunity to build. That doesn't mean the Lakers won't make moves over the next year or two - they obviously will - but to what end? Is the stars-at-all-costs era over? From there, another question looks at Darvin Ham. While he's not on the hot seat this year, after last year's run, what about his staff? Do the Lakers need more "big names" on it? And what are reasonable expectations for Ham in Year 2? What was good last year, what wasn't? Have Lakers fans fully bought in? Finally, Jarred Vanderbilt was recently asked about players he patterned his game after growing up. One was Penny Hardaway. The other? Another very popular former Lakers lefty. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Why did the Lakers shift strategy around the roster? What prompted it? SEGMENT 2: How long does the new strategy last? SEGMENT 3: What are the expectations for Ham in Year 2? 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. 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

Monday's show was all about Jarred Vanderbilt's contract extension with the Lakers (which became official on Monday). It covered the meat and potatoes of the deal, from his long term fit to the quality of the numbers. Did the Lakers get good deal? Listen to the show to find out. But one thing went undiscussed: Vanderbilt's contract represents the last move in big change in team-building philosophy for the Lakers. They've gone from a team that once defined flexibility purely in terms of creating massive amounts of cap space to go out and recruit The Next Big Free Agent. Now, though, the Lakers (even as LeBron nears retirement) aren't hoarding future space. Instead, they're, like, signing players. Good, young, appealing players. So does this limit their flexibility? Spoiler alert: It does not, and (assuming the players they've signed don't regress) likely increases it. In the meantime, they get the best of both worlds - a very good team now, and the ability to work with agility, adjusting if adjustments become necessary or opportunity knocks. From there, it's a look at the most intriguing teams in the Western Conference. Which teams qualify, and why aren't the Lakers in that group? (Remember, there's a difference between exciting and intriguing.) Finally, with "Winning Time" on HBO officially cancelled, we look back at the series and read responses from viewers about which seasons of Lakers basketball they would have loved to see dramatized on the show. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: What Jarred Vanderbilt's extension represents (beyond, you know, Jarred Vanderbilt himself). SEGMENT 2: Why the Lakers are better off doing things this way... SEGMENT 3: A look back at "Winning Time." Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. 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

Friday, the news broke that Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers had agreed to a four year contract extension worth $48 million. The terms (slightly) surprised your hosts, not necessarily on the length, but in the value - on the relative high side of what seemed like the right value. Much, perhaps even most, of the audience disagreed. Responding to a poll, almost a quarter think the Lakers made out like bandits, because were Vanderbilt to hit the open market this summer, he'd surely get $15 or more, annually. Maybe... but maybe not. Vanderbilt is in a strange position, where his path to significant playing time is hardly clear, particularly if (as many believe will happen) Rui Hachimura moves to the starting lineup after re-upping with LA for significantly more money earlier this summer. (And while it seems less likely, if Christian Wood ends up starting at center, the same basic principle applies - it gets harder to find minutes for Vando.) But while Vanderbilt might not have as much flexibility to shine this year, at least while the roster is healthy, it's easy to imagine a different group where he could have a role that outstrips a $12 million salary. Particularly as the salary cap rises, the chances of this deal being onerous or an albatross seem pretty small. But that doesn't mean Vanderbilt will come off as a huge bargain, either. It might even shift year to year as the roster changes. And do expectations for Vanderbilt change now that he's signed a bigger contract? Finally, HBO's "Winning Time" will not be picked up for a third season. If you watched the show, how disappointed are you? Is there an era of Lakerdom you'd like to have seen depicted? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Reacting to Jarred Vanderbilt. SEGMENT 2: "Winning Time," and more Vando. Do expectations change around him now that he's making more $? SEGMENT 3: Vanderbilt and the regular season vs. the playoffs. Why too many people discount the value of contributions in the former, even if certain players (Vanderbilt included) can be harder to play in the postseason, matchups depending. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. 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

The Lakers have capped an extremely busy offseason (retaining key free agents, signing - among other free agents - Gabe Vincent Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, extending Anthony Davis) by reportedly agreeing to a four year, $48M extension for versatile defensive utility man Jarred Vanderbilt. The deal is fully guaranteed, with the fourth year a player option. Basically, as player-friendly as one could imagine. Now a potential Laker through the 2027-28 season, the Lakers are tied to Vanderbilt as long as AD and Austin Reaves. Which is to say, as long as any Laker on the roster. What are the implications of this news? Andy Kamenetzky hits some of the high points with a few quick thoughts. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code locked when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier in the week, news broke that the NBA would be stiffening its policies against stars missing games for rest. Wednesday, the rules were approved, and Adam Silver is clearly looking to dial back the load management movement and make sure more of the league's best players are on the floor more often. Among the rules: For teams with two "stars" (defined as All-NBA or All-Star over the last three seasons), only one is allowed to miss a game in a night due to rest. Those games shouldn't be national TV games, or in the mid-season tournament, and preferably not on the road, either. And for teams that might be trying to either tank or move disgruntled stars? The NBA will be paying a lot more attention to that, too. Those guys need to be on the floor, barring injury. (Though, perhaps, not "injury.") How the league enforces all this is hard to say, but for the Lakers, there are obvious implications for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, two players who certainly will need to be maintained throughout the year. Then again, the league built in a type of grandfather clause for older players, where they can, with some heads up, to the NBA receive permission for scheduled rest days. That could be important. It'll be interesting to see how these new rules, combined with the higher standards of games required to be eligible for postseason awards, tilt things in the league. Will guys play more? Does it matter the Lakers have two stars, but the Nuggets (seen as the favorite in the West) only have one? Where will these new tweaks have an influence on the standings in what's expected to be a tight Western Conference race? Finally, we were asked to dive into the schedule again by a viewer on the YouTube channel, so that's where we head for the final segment. It's a very, very different deal this year for the Lakers than the last two, with potential implications and challenges that haven't been as acute in years past. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The NBA hands down it's anti-rest rules. SEGMENT 2: How much will the new rules impact the Lakers, LeBron and AD? SEGMENT 3: How the schedule isn't so cooperative this year for the Lakers. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code locked when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED. 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

Next summer, LeBron James will have finished his 21st season, and will be pushing 40 years old. Anthony Davis will be a year older, and even in his early 30s, no less injury prone than he is today, at the very least. They will, hopefully, both be coming off a long, long playoff run. Ideally, one ending in a parade. So the notion they'd turn around and play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics in 2024 right after that might give some Lakers fans pause. Or maybe not. Turns out, at least based on some relatively unscientific polling of Lakers fans, a majority want to see both guys repping the red, white and blue next summer. Whatever the reason, from the enjoyment and pride of seeing the best play for Team USA to the story it would be for LeBron to get one more Olympic gold to the cool factor for many fans of watching players from their franchise play internationally, the fear of injury or fatigue setting the 2024-25 season up for failure before it begins doesn't seem to be a huge fear. It's interesting to think, too, about how the team's performance this season impacts the calculus, both for those guys going to play and for the longevity of LeBron's career. What if the Lakers win a title, and LeBron then wins gold? Hard to construct a glide path to retirement that is more storybook than that. Could that be a consideration, especially if the Lakers win it all? Meanwhile, Dillon Brooks is paying tribute to Kobe. Which is nice, except... Dillon Brooks. And finally, we get into the YouTube comments section to talk about lineups and those who disagree about whether it makes sense for Davis to get more burn at power forward. Plus, a great comment about the nature of "positionless basketball," and why it never seems to apply to defense. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: More fans want to see the two Lakers stars play in Paris than not. SEGMENT 2: Is there an alternate reason LeBron might want to play next summer? And Dillon Brooks shouts out Kobe. SEGMENT 3: Opening up the comments section! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code locked when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED. 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

Team USA suffered some real embarrassment in the World Cup, finishing without a medal of any color following the loss to Canada in the bronze medal game over the weekend. And when Team USA loses with less than its best, typically that's the bat signal for the Avengers to assemble and start getting ready for the next big tournament. In this case, it's the biggest tourney of all - the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the Avengers, led by LeBron James, have reportedly responded. That's LeBron, Steph, KD, AD, Draymond... even CP3 was noted in the report (as if he has any business playing on a team like that at this point in his career). Fortunately, other players like Devin Booker, De'Aaron Fox and Jayson Tatum are also included in the group, keeping it from going full into a hoops version of The Expendables, but it's still an older group. But more importantly for Lakers fans, do you want LeBron playing in this tournament, following what everyone hopes will be a long season with a deep playoff run, leading into an option year (we all assume) he'll pick up? Pushing 40? Or are we thinking of this wrong? Does his enthusiasm for playing in the Olympics signal that maybe he's ready to go out with a bang? That maybe he won't be hanging on as long, especially now that it looks like Bronny, while on the road to recovery, might not be ready to enter the Draft next year? Meanwhile, in related news, the NBA is cracking down on rest. Load management, specifically, discussing rules that will seriously raise the bar on the threshold for allowing players - or the stars, at least - to miss games just to have a breather. They would push players to avoid doing it on national TV games and during the in-season tourney, preferably not on the road, and only one "star" player can sit at a time. And if you're a team that's trying to sit guys to lose games at the end of the year? Better come up with a better justification than has happened in the past. Now, that could mean a lot more players coming down with sudden bouts of back spasms or tendinitis or flu or whatever, but at the least, the NBA is going to require they do some work. The Lakers have two stars. That get hurt a lot. That need rest. How might these rules impact them this season? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: LeBron says he's going to play in the Olympics. Does this signal something about how much longer he's planning to play? SEGMENT 2: Do you want LeBron to play? Or AD for that matter? SEGMENT 3: New rules on load management, and how they impact the Lakers. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code locked when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED. 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

Anthony Davis wants to play power forward, not center. This is not something new. He said it last year, too, but in the end played (not an exaggeration) 99% of his minutes at center. Some of that was context, some of it was the evolution of Davis as a player. The numbers, for a while, have indicated the Lakers are more effective team when he plays there. So reportedly, Davis again wants to play more PF, and the Lakers did just sign someone who could theoretically make that possible in Christian Wood. So does Wood's arrival mean that Davis is bound to get his wish? Well, sort of? The ability of Wood to play with Davis, at least on paper, means that the two of them should be just fine on the floor together. Wood, meanwhile, is someone who can, in theory, play 25 minutes a night. So Davis to the four! Not so fast. The issue isn't just about Davis, but LeBron James. And if Davis plays 75% of his minutes at the four, that means James is playing about that many at small forward. And, that, in terms of defense along with wear and tear, is a really poor idea. But could Wood and Davis play together while LeBron isn't on the floor? OR for a few minutes when he is? Sure! So maybe that number drops from 99% to 80% 85% is that enough difference to make Davis happy? Next... Austin Reaves and Team USA lost in the bronze medal game to Canada this weekend, and whenever the US loses to ... well, anyone in basketball, people get mad. And Reaves took plenty of flak for his defense in the last few games. Did anything happen in the tournament/lead up that should cause real concern? Finally, Friday's show was all about Jarred Vanderbilt, and his new extension eligibility. Both of us had numbers in mind for what would make sense. Many people thought we were lowballing him, though, reflecting a more broad undervaluing of his skills. So are they right? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: AD wants to play the 4. Does he get his wish? SEGMENT 2: Reaves and Team USA finish fourth... SEGMENT 3: Did we undervalue Jarred Vanderbilt? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code locked when you register. Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code LOCKED. 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

The Lakers, after signing Christian Wood, have what most teams would consider to be the best kind of problems. Namely, they have more good players capable of playing rotation minutes than they have spots available to actually give them real minutes from night to night. Sure, guys will get hurt, space will open up... but when the roster is healthy someone is going to have to sit. So who? One candidate could be Jarred Vanderbilt. Particularly if Wood comes off the bench and Darvin Ham chooses to start, say, Rui Hachimura at forward. If that's the case, where can the Lakers find minutes for Vanderbilt in a suddenly crowded frontcourt? Now maybe Vanderbilt starts... but then it becomes hard to find enough minutes for Wood and Rui. And all of this happens as Vanderbilt himself becomes extension eligible with the Lakers. Ironically, the addition of Wood could make it hard to play Vanderbilt this year. But then again, if Wood plays really well, he's likely gone next season... when Vanderbilt's extension would kick in. The question, though, is more complex than it seems, because Vanderbilt is such a particular player, with value that can ebb and flow in profound ways based on how he's used, which is directly influenced by the rest of the team's roster from year to year. So what would be a good number? What's too much? Finally, the Lakers have a roster. 14 guys (plus the 2-ways), and a ton of depth. Where do they stack up against the rest of the West? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Whose minutes get squeezed with the addition of Wood? Because playing time in the frontcourt is going to be hard to come by. SEGMENT 2: How should the Lakers handle the possibility of an extension for Jarred Vanderbilt? SEGMENT 3: Where do the Lakers stack up out West? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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

A day after the Lakers added free agent center/PF Christian Wood, there are plenty more questions to ask. His talent, at least offensively, is undeniable, but what about attitude and fit? Well, to that end he said some stuff to Marc Spears at ESPN's Andscape that raised some eyebrows. There are other important questions to kick around. Like, does Wood start or come off the bench? On the one hand, given Anthony Davis's long expressed preferences to play power forward, many have assumed that this move allows him to do just that. Wood starts at C, right? Well, maybe not. There are many, many compelling reasons to bring Wood off the bench. So which side of the argument will win out? Moreover, plenty of people are talking about this as a "risk-free" move for the Lakers. Is that the right framing? Meanwhile, there is a lot of attention being paid to Wood the talent, but what about Wood the guy? Some believe he's seen himself as entitled. Well, on the way out the door from Dallas, he said the following to ESPN, expressing great enthusiasm for joining the Lakers... and taking a shot at his former employer: "I've always wanted to be a Laker. I know we can win a championship,” Wood told Spears. “Communication with a coach is a big key. Coach Ham and I go back to our Milwaukee days and we've had great conversations everyday about this opportunity. He believes in me and told me I'll be playing a big role and knows what I can do.” Okay! Good start! Now, the kicker: "I'm looking forward to this and fasure motivated after what Dallas did.” What did they do? And is it smart to even go in this direction? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: What is Christian Wood's role for the Lakers? Does he start? Come off the bench? SEGMENT 2: Listeners/Viewers react to the Wood signing. SEGMENT 3: Wood takes a shot at the Mavs... and adds real options to Darvin Ham's rotation. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 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