Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Who are the BEST and WORST teams in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season? With opening night just around the corner, Locked On NBA Daily reveals its official 30-team NBA Power Rankings, organized into S-through-F tiers!

Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize unveil rankings voted on by hosts from all 30 Locked On NBA team podcasts, debating the biggest surprises, overrated contenders and underrated playoff hopefuls.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and defending champion New York Knicks headline the exclusive S Tier. But do Victor Wembanyama's Spurs belong alongside the NBA's elite?

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics are among the teams trying to break into that top group.

And why are Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat only in the B Tier? Are the Golden State Warriors really a C-tier team? Have the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings hit rock bottom?

Plus, reactions from Locked On team hosts and predictions for which teams will rise or fall.
 

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The Lakers had until this Monday (2 pm PT) to get their roster down from 16 players to 15. Reports persisted throughout the offseason, chronicling a desire to make a consolidation deal, sending out two non-rotation players (and draft assets) for one more playable guy. That was always a long shot for a variety of reasons. The most logical end was them having to eat a contract, with three obvious candidates: Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, and Dalton Knecht.

A case could have been made for James being the player cut, but the more likely conclusion was Dalton as the odd man out. It's a very logical, very predictable end to his time in L.A... but also one filled with heavy disappointment and ramifications for the present and future.

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

Photo credit:  Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Nobody expects the new-look Lakers, with so many moving parts, to be operating like a well-oiled machine at the end of one preseason. 

That said, it's pretty clear that many fans and media types expected the machine to look somewhat oiled. Or ready to be oiled. Or at least assembled so someone can get around to oiling it. 

Wherever you are on that spectrum—the big question of how much progress the Lakers made, what sticks out as good, what pops out as bad, and where the big unknowns still are—is not insignificant. Arguably the easiest portion of the team's schedule comes in the first 20 or so games. It's a good situation for a group that could still be jelling in those early games... unless they're too disjoined to take advantage. 

Why did the Lakers treat the preseason the way they did? 

And from there, when guys that matter were on the floor, how did the product look? Where did the Lakers surprise? What are the big question marks? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are disjointed coming out of the preseason. 

SEGMENT 2: Where the offense and defense shined... and also what wasn't as good. 

SEGMENT 3: Why the Lakers do what they do. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to get started. 
 

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The Lakers finally got the Big Three on the floor together Friday in their preseason finale (a 121-106 loss) against the Nuggets, and the results were... mixed. Particularly early in the game, they were a turnover machine, as the chemistry between Luka, Reaves and Walker Kessler was very much a work in progress. No real surprise there, but still kinda disappointing given the high hopes. 

So lots to work on there. 

Big nights for Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili, and a surprising start for Matisse Thybulle as JJ Redick busted out a starting lineup that might -- might -- be what's used on Opening Night. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

PHOTO CREDIT: Jon Endow-Imagn Images

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The Lakers are trying to get the roster down to 15 players, and at the least, seem to be exploring ways to do it that don't involve straight-up cutting Dalton Knecht. 

Jake Fischer reports on Marc Stein's Substack that the Lakers are exploring a trade: 

The Lakers, meanwhile, have been engaged in trade talks to try to get their roster down from 16 to 15 standard contracts and perhaps even acquire some additional frontcourt help in the process. League sources say that the Lakers and Bucks have held exploratory trade discussions on a framework that would ship former first-round selection Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee (along with second-round draft capital) in exchange for big man Jericho Sims. Yet it must be said that I've also heard some pessimism from sources briefed on those talks that such a trade will actually go through. The Lakers might be forced, if no deal materializes between now and Monday's deadline, to simply waive Knecht to get down to 15."

Would it be worth giving up a pick to get Sims? How much would he help fill the hole the Lakers clearly have around the backup center spot? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

PHOTO CREDIT: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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The Lakers may finally have the band, or at least the band members that matter the most, on the floor for preseason play Friday night. 

Thursday in El Segundo, Ziaire Williams returned to practice, as did Adou Thiero. Luka Doncic practiced in full. Even Collin Sexton participated in everything except full contact work. Likely won't play Friday, but at least Sexton is on a decent path to play opening night. 

So aside from him and Cam Carr, who is out with an injury JJ Redick didn't describe because he doesn't have to until the regular season begins, That means we should see, finally, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler on the floor together. After Tuesday's impressive debut for Kessler, and a really nice game from Reaves as well, to get a feel for how the whole package could look will be fun. 

Plus, since all of the guys who are in the running to start at the four are available, we get a window into that, too. 

Meanwhile, the NBA's annual GM Survey was released on Thursday, and where the Lakers and Luka appear, and don't appear, is noteworthy for sure. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Getting healthy ahead of the last preseason game. 

SEGMENT 2: The GM Survey. Where the Lakers are, where the Lakers aren't. 

SEGMENT 3: Walker Kessler for Most Improved Player? 

PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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The Lakers have a little less than a week to get their roster down to 15 players. Rob Pelinka has noted that they have been, and still are, looking to make a 2-for-1 "consolidation" type deal that would allow the Lakers to shrink the roster without cutting a player. 

That feels unlikely, in the sense that anything that might be available to them probably would have presented itself, but there's still the possibility that as teams shuffle players around before the start of the season that some type of opportunity might arise. How big a price should the Lakers be willing to pay? If it doesn't result in them adding a player that contributes to this year's rotation, probably not a ton. 

So how to the Lakers get down to 15? We've talked about how the math impacts things - why Jaden Hardy's contract has value. We've talked about considerations by position (they don't have as many 1/2s as 2/3s). But we haven't talked much about merit. Has anyone earned a spot? 

And why does this conversation about the back end of the roster matter? Obviously Bronny James comes with all sorts of other baggage attached when trying to have a sober-minded discussion, but how important are these end-of-the-roster spots for a team that wants to elevate, but doesn't have a lot of resources to do it? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  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)

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The Lakers are always in a win-now posture, though win-now doesn't always mean exactly the same thing from year to year. 

ESPN has an interesting story up looking at the level of proverbial win-now desperation each team across the league ought to feel. The Lakers landed at fourth. Why? Because they have a roster that's pretty much set, without much draft capital or salary cap space to make signficant changes should the formula be a little off. 

And if things go wrong, the (broader) theory goes, so does their ability to keep Luka Doncic happy, and in purple and gold. 

So are they right? 

Sort of? Certainly Zach Kram (who wrote the story) correctly diagnoses the box the Lakers are in, and notes that they are now, and could remain, in a tier that's behind the Thunder and Spurs in the West, given how young those teams are, and their current level of excellentness. But LA does have a chance to improve this upcoming offseason, and if they've chosen the right guys this summer -- especially players like Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes -- they should be positioned to be a very good team for a few years, at least. And Luka Doncic will tell you a solid team with one other very high end player (i.e. Austin Reaves) and Luka Doncic on it? That's good enough. That's the level of belief he has in himself. And there's some proof of concept there. The Mavs team he took to the Finals was not expected to get there. Weird things happen. Poorly timed injuries, and all that jazz. 

The Lakers are really in a tier of about 10 other teams that legitimately believe they have a chance to win a championship with a little luck and some good timing. So are all of those teams wrong, just because the West has two squads that should be elite for a while? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers should be desperate? 

SEGMENT 2: Does ESPN get it right? 

SEGMENT 3: A long list of "second tier" contenders. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

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Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to get started. 
 

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Luka Doncic sat out of Tuesday's preseason loss to the Warriors in Las Vegas. Not because of any reported injury, even a minor one, but just for what JJ Redick described as a "night off." 

Ziaire Williams, Cam Carr, and Collin Sexton were among the other players not in uniform. 

No question, the Lakers are incredibly conservative when it comes to injuries, and it also makes sense to be very careful in the preseason. Sexton, for example, is clearly dealing with something, given the length of his absence. (Redick expressed optimism that he'd be ready for the regular season, FWIW.) 

But when a healthy Luka sits in what was pretty likely a scheduled game off, are the Lakers missing out? They have a ton of new pieces, and a big need to get off to a good start, given the relative softness of the first 20 or so games vs. the post All-Star stretch. What is lost when players miss games, and practices? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

PHOTO CREDIT: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

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Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM  to get started. 
 

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Lakers fans have been waiting a while to see Walker Kessler in purple and gold following the massive offseason sign and trade that brought the giant center to LA. Tuesday in Vegas against the Golden State Warriors, they finally got their chance. 

And it's fair to say that the first impression was a very good one. 

Kessler had 11 points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block in 16 minutes. He was a team-leading +15. Basically, he looked exactly like you'd hope. Rebounded effectively, was an obvious impediment to the Warriors around the rim, and showed opportunistic scoring off the pick and roll and on the glass. Very, very encouraging start. 

Austin Reaves, meanwhile, was cooking, with 28 points in only 25 minutes of play, to go along with seven assists. Seven turnovers, too, but Reaves was playing with an aggression and confidence that stood out even for a guy who normally has plenty of both qualities on display. Sandro Mamukelashvili continued his strong preseason, with 10/7/2 in 21 minutes off the bench. 

The other big performance for LA was the one that didn't happen: No Luka on the floor Tuesday. JJ Redick said it wasn't injury related, but given how cagey the Lakers are about these things, it certainly raised a little suspicion. And with guys like Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams and Cam Carr still out (Adou Thiero sat as well) the Lakers were a little shorthanded. 

Oh, they lost the game, but nobody really cares. 

Bottome line - Kessler and Reaves looked good. And should only look better with Luka. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Kessler back on the floor.

SEGMENT 2: Another good game for Mamu, who is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

SEGMENT 3: Austin Reaves shines. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

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