Heading into Oklahoma City, Anthony Davis called this game against the Thunder "must-win," which may have raised eyebrows for a December contest, but considering they had lost five of the previous six, and had already pulled themselves out of a sub .500 state earlier this season, the urgency was in fact warranted. So much so, in fact, that Darvin Ham opted to change the starting lineup again. Defensive specialist Jarred Vanderbilt joined the first five, while D'Angelo Russell moved to the bench. 
The result? An extension of the Lakers at their best, with more physicality and defensive intensity to set a tone for opening halves. Davis made good on his call to arms, putting up 27 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks. And LeBron James was phenomenal, with 40 points (15 in the fourth quarter to hold off a surging OKC), plus seven rebounds and seven assists. In the meantime, Russell responded well to the move, scoring an efficient 15 points, and forming quite the offensive punch with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. 
Is this new look the cure to the Lakers' ails moving forward? It's too early to tell, although the Christmas day game against the Celtics will definitely offer more clues. But for now, the Lakers can head back to L.A. feeling good, and enjoy the holiday before getting back to work shortly afterward.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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Lakers Get 129-120 Win Over Thunder, fueled by LeBron, Anthony Davis, New Starting Lineup

Locked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the Purple and Gold since 2005 for media outlets including the LA Times, ESPN and The Athletic, offer traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor to provide expert, local analysis. Locked On Lakers takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Lakers locker room and all over the NBA. The Locked On Lakers podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

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Earlier this week, we noted an interview done by our friend Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation fame with Taurean Prince in which Prince stated his hope that he's back with the team next season. He also talked about the team more broadly, reflecting on whether he believes they should try to run it back with continuity, or if the team needs big changes to contend. And while he's not exactly an impartial observer (continuity is a vote for bringing him back, after all) the question is legitimate. 

What kept the Lakers from more success? Are the ingredients there, so with better health, a little more luck and improved coaching, could the Lakers achieve more in a brutal Western Conference? 

Or do they need a more dramatic overhaul? 

If it's the latter, does that mean building up depth? Or would that mean getting another star to run with LeBron James and Anthony Davis? Depth might seem like the preferable play, but how do the Lakers do that with the assets they have available? How can they take existing depth and use it to get better players? Can they add without giving up too much stuff? 

And what problem areas ought to be targeted? Is it the need for a viable center? For a genuine defensive wing? 

The answers are not cut-and-dried, and may not make themselves obvious for Rob Pelinka as he moves through the offseason. 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Continuity or change? Stars or Specialists?
 
SEGMENT 2: Who can the Lakers use to get better? 

SEGMENT 3: How many assets do they have, exactly? 

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Do the Lakers Need Big Change? Continuity? More Stars? More Specialists?

Not that he was every really in play, but Ty Lue, the Lakers aspirational coach (who, of course, could/should have been hired a few years ago) finally came to an agreement with the Clippers that will keep him on their sidelines for the next five years. Maybe Rob Pelinka was secretly holding out hope that somehow Lue would become available. 

Well, now that's not a thing. 

Meanwhile, the reporting is sending out all sorts of signals. That JJ Redick is poking around for potential assistant coaches. That the Lakers are interviewing James Borrego for the gig, and are doing so in earnest. That more guys are coming! That the Lakers are interviewing Borrego, but really it's with the assistant job in mind. In fact, most of the people on the list are really interviewing for second place. 

What the truth is central to whether or not the Lakers are undertaking a good process to get to the next coach. It's especially important for whether or not they'll be able to put a good staff around Redick, should that be the direction they want to go. 

There's a lot to sort through, and because you tend to hear absolutely nothing from the team itself, we're all left reading the tea leaves, or interpreting the leaks that emerge. FUN TIMES!

Plus, what would signs LeBron could actually go look like? 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Ty Lue gets a money belt!

SEGMENT 2: Are the Lakers really interviewing other candidates? SEGMENT 3: Is there any real risk LeBron could leave? 



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Ty Lue Signs Extension with Clippers. Is JJ Redick Inevitable for the Lakers?

Things are taking a turn. 

Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Bronny James has been invited by 10 or so teams  to work out with them ahead of the NBA Draft. Nothing unusual there. Except James is only going to accept two of them. Phoenix, and the Lakers. Now that, if it holds is unusual. Bronny is not exactly in a position, based on consensus mock drafts and so on, to be dictating terms or turning down workouts. You'd think he'd be trying to take as many as he could in order to maximize the chances of getting drafted. 

So is he, a player with some potential, sure, but hardly an elite draft prospect, big-footing the process? Or is there something else going on? This on the heels of news over the weekend that Bronny wouldn't be accepting a two-way contract (this coming straight from Rich Paul), only a standard deal. Was this a way to push his stock a little higher? Or again, is he trying to dictate the terms of where he lands? 

And when it comes to the Suns, at first glance it seems crazy for that team to even consider using their first round pick, one of the only picks the team controls for the next 872 years, on a player highly unlikely to help them next season. Unless, of course, they really, truly thought it would bring them LeBron James, too, as a free agent. Because if that's the case, and Pops really would take a massive, massive paycut to play with Son, that's the most profound improvement a team like the Suns could make this offseason, given their cap sheet. 

So are the Suns a real threat, if/when LeBron opts out? How about Philadelphia, who can't give James as much money as the Lakers, but they can give him a lot. 

Finally, mailbag questions! This time, it's about the coaching search. Does it matter that JJ Redick left Anthony Davis off his DPOY ballot? Who are the candidates we'd like to see hired? 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Bronny dictating Draft terms?

SEGMENT 2: Are Phoenix or Philly a threat to steal LeBron away? 

SEGMENT 3: Coaching mailbag!



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If the Suns Draft Bronny James, Would LeBron Join Them? Plus, More on the Lakers Coaching Search!

The Lakers are reportedly ready to open up their coaching search a little wider this week, with interviews with the big batch of well-regarded assistants (David Adelman, Micah Nori, Chris Quinn) expected to happen relatively soon. 

In the meantime, it's a perfect time to get into the Locked On Lakers mailbag (found in the community section of the YouTube page, or @Kambrothers on Twitter/X) and spend some time talking about the guy who is ultimately responsible for choosing the next head coach. No, not LeBron James (ha!) but Rob Pelinka. How much faith do we have in Pelinka's ability to find sustained success going foward? To this point, would you call his stewardship of the team a success? It's hard to call it an abject failure, with one title and one trip to the Conference Finals... but that's not the same thing as a success. 

From there, it's a question about personnel and the direction the Lakers go next year. How attractive are the Lakers still for the make-good type players they'll need to fill out a roster? Are they still viewed as a place where players who need some redemption have the opportunity to get it? 

And what about a trade of Austin Reaves, if it means getting back something special? Last year, the Lakers seemed very hesitant to include him in any sort of deal. Do they still have that luxury, if it means getting back an elite level talent? 

Plus, remembering Bill Walton. 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Is the Pelinka Era a success or failure? 

SEGMENT 2: Optimism around Pelinka going forward? 

SEGMENT 3: Could/should the Lakers explore trading Austin Reaves? 

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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.

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Mailbag! Has the Rob Pelinka Era Been a Success? Will (Should?) the Lakers Trade Austin Reaves?

The Lakers head coaching search is going slowly, in part because the apparent frontrunner still has a gig calling games for ESPN. Reports from Shams Charania (and others) continue to put JJ Redick at the front of the line for the Lakers, even while more interviews are set to happen this week, followed by another round of more intensive interviews as June rolls around. Marc Stein  reports there is even chatter around the league about who the Lakers might target to be on Redick's staff. (Hint: It includes guys who are theoretically in the running for the head gig, which feels at least potentially a little ambitious.) 

Nothing, at the least, has been said/done to dispel the idea that it's Redick's job to lose. Maybe that changes as the interview pool widens. Keep an eye on what leaks -- in multiple directions -- after guys like David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn sit down for a rap sesh with Rob Pelinka. 

Meanwhile, Rich Paul is on the record saying the Lakers really should be focusing on Anthony Davis in this process, not LeBron James. Which is true - AD is going to be a Laker, almost surely, longer than James. It's also another tea leaf that points to Redick's candidacy, because Team James is going the extra mile to separate themselves from the perception that Redick would be LeBron's hire... which of course is required because people see that, you know, the guy is LeBron's podcast partner. 

Finally, a report over the weekend said the Phoenix Suns plan to make a full court press on James if/when he opts out of his Lakers deal. Which he surely will. The notion of him going to Phoenix for a veteran's minimum or taxpayer midlevel (can the Suns even offer that?) or whatever is far fetched. But is it 100% guaranteed he comes back to the Lakers if he ops out? 



HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: JJ Redick is still the clubhouse leader. SEGMENT 2: Rich Paul reiterates that LeBron isn't pulling the strings. SEGMENT 3: We're sure LeBron returns if he opts out, right? 



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Lakers Get 129-120 Win Over Thunder, fueled by LeBron, Anthony Davis, New Starting Lineup

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