Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Slovenia is 1-2 in Eurobasket play, but Luka Dončić is 3-3. Meaning he's had three games, and all of them have been outstanding. 

That trend continued over the weekend, as Slovenia lost against tourney favorite France and then registered its first win, coming against Belgium. Against the French, Luka nearly had a triple double, keeping the Slovenians in the game longer than many expected, then did get a trip dub (a rarity in Eurobasket). For Slovenia to advance, they'll need wins in their final two games of pool play, against Iceland and Israel. 

While there are plenty of Luka/Slovenia fans who hope that happens, are those fans who are "Lakers first" really pining for Slovenia to get through? Especially given a couple of legit injury scares in the first few games of the tournament? 

On the court, though, Dončić is thriving, particularly when it comes to getting into the paint and drawing fouls. He went to the line 20 times against the French, who sport four active NBA players and a few others with NBA experience. 

Finally, we open up the mailbag to talk about JJ Redick and whether or not he's predisposed to go small at the expense not just of centers, but centers who are better than the guys he plays instead. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka continues to thrive in Eurobasket. 
SEGMENT 2: Do Lakers fans want Slovenia to advance? 
SEGMENT 3: Is JJ too dedicated to "going small?" 

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Slovenia kicked off its Eurobasket competition against Poland—one of the host nations—Thursday. A tough draw for sure against a fired up local crowd. Many Lakers fans are undoubtedly pulling for Slovenia right now, because they're pulling for Luka Dončić... 

...but on the other hand, a lot of them are more pulling for Luka. 

And man alive, did Luka come through. Dončić put up a gaudy numbers even as Slovenia lost. 34 points, including 17/18 from the free throw line, plus nine assists and five steals. The court vision was great, he was able to get into the heart of a Polish defense that was, to say the least, overplaying him. So at least when it comes to LA's star, it was so far, so good. 

Meanwhile, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss gave an interview to Slovenian radio in which she recounted the unusual nature of Luka's arrival, and particularly the unusual nature of his emotional state. It explains a lot about why Dončić couldn't quite hit the level fans (and even he, likely) hoped for after the trade. Good, yes. But not top form. 

Finally, it's a question that comes up a lot. Should Austin Reaves come off the bench? 

There are a few reasons to give it a shot, unlikely as it is to actually happen... but would the Lakers perhaps have a little extra incentive to make Reaves a sixth man? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka dominates against Poland, but Slovenia loses. 

SEGMENT 2: Jeanie on Luka's arrival. 

SEGMENT 3: A.R. as 6th Man? 

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He's signed the contract. He's not going anywhere anytime soon. But the Lakers certainly aren't resting on their laurels. 

As Slovenia prepares to start Eurobasket play Thursday afternoon against Poland, the Lakers brass, starting with Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, stopped by practice to show support. They took photos. Pelinka released a statement, making it very clear how much the organization supported Luka in this moment that is so important to him. And if it's important to Luka, it's important to the Lakers. That's how it works, now. 

It wasn't something the Lakers needed to do, but it was smart to hop on a plane and cross an ocean to support their guy. It's a good look, it's smart business. It's the type of extra step the Lakers have historically taken for its stars, and now Luka is on the receiving end. 

Meanwhile, we open the mailbag, starting with ... Luka questions! 

Can Dončić play the type of defense that would allow him to be seen as teh league's best player? Even better than Nikola Jokic? (Or if not better, really close?) If he plays at an MVP level, and LeBron is, say, Top 8 or so again this year, how many games does it mean the team has won? 

What about the pick-and-roll combination of Luka and Deandre Ayton? How potent might it become? And what kind of offense should Lakers fans expect from JJ Redick this season, more broadly? 

Finally, is the Laker most likely to ask for a trade not the guy most media are thinking of? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers make a smart trip to Poland. 

SEGMENT 2: Luka on D, Luka as MVP. 
 

SEGMENT 3: Who asks for a trade? 

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One good way to measure how confident the NBA pundit class is in the Lakers is to look at offseason predictions around things like awards. 

And by that standard, the Lakers are doing ok. Luka Dončić finished second behind Nikola Jokic (who is pretty good!) in a preseason MVP handicapping, as judged by a panel of ESPN experts. For that to happen, first and foremost Luka needs to put up big numbers, something similar to what he did in Dallas a couple seasons ago. And second, the Lakers have to be very, very competitive. If they're middling around the Western Conference, struggling to stay relevant in the playoff race, Luka isn't sniffing an MVP. 

As for the first part of that, Skinny Luka looks like he's primed to perform. As for the second? As we've discussed on the show, the Lakers won 50 games last year. They're better than the version that finished the season, post trade. So assuming the right folks stay out of street clothes, they should be good enough this year to keep Luka in the conversation. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers (not surprisingly) were a popular vote for "Team Turmoil." In related news, LeBron James was third among players in the "Next Superstar to Request a Trade..." category. 

Obviously those things are related. 

But here's the thing... the circumstances for the Lakers to be "Team Turmoil" are hard to fathom (for reasons we explain) and if things don't go to pot (which, save injury, feel unlikely for reasons we explain) LeBron James IS NOT GOING TO ASK OUT. 

And, you guessed it, we explain why. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka is an early MVP fave. 

SEGMENT 2: What has to happen for Luka to be in the race. 

SEGMENT 3: Some people REALLY want LeBron to be LeDrama this year. 

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For gamers, at least, it's a big day -- when the NBA 2K rankings start leaking out. (Big day for content creators, too, since it comes in the dog days of August.) 

So were the Game Gods appropriately respectful to the Lakers? 

Broadly, yes. Luka Dončić and LeBron James are among the league's top 10 (virtual) players. Austin Reaves was in the top 50. So basically these rankings pretty closely mirror those we just saw out of The Ringer, for example. So things seem to be properly aligned there. And meanwhile, the leaked rankings do seem to bolster the argument the Lakers have better depth this season, with guys like Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton cracking 80. 

As for the team? The Lakers are placed as a "Tier 1" group, though near the back end of that bunch. Which, if we're all being fair, is about what it should be. They're seen to be potentially potent offensively, and shaky on the other end. Again, sounds about right. 

So hard to argue with the preseason evaluation of the simulated Lakers, at least. 

We'll see how things go for the real club. 

Meanwhile, Warner Brothers is reportedly in development for a Kobe Bryant related movie... and they're doing it smartly. In part, by not making it just about Kobe, and then by avoiding having to stage too much basketball. We explain. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The 2K rankings are out!

SEGMENT 2: What's the right way to make a Kobe movie? 

SEGMENT 3: Is Warner Bros. on the right track? 

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Apparently, the Golden State Warriors are not entirely out of the LeBron James business. 

Jake Fischer, who works for the outstanding Stein Line Substack, noted over the weekend how the interest in LeBron James from the Golden State Warriors—which was certainly has been a low hum in the NBA discourse for a long time, getting louder periodically—hasn't gone away. Golden State will apparently be kicking the tires on LBJ for a while longer. 

It's a reminder that the speculation around LeBron, which is a constant anyway, is only going to get louder. Now it's not a forgone conclusion that James leaves LA after this season, for reasons explored in the episode. And it's highly unlikely, short of a catastrophic turn of events for the Lakers, that he's traded during the season (again, for reasons explained on the show). And even as a free agent, James might find that, depending on how his priorities truly shake out, the best spot for him is still the Lakers (for... wait for it... reasons explained in the episode).

That news may not excite a certain section of the fanbase, no question. 

Meanwhile, it was a big Kobe Bryant weekend, with his birthday (8.23) followed by Kobe Day (8.24). Which got us thinking, in the spirit of the LeBron vs. Kobe rivalry the NBA could never quite make happen on the floor, but that certainly gained traction off it, where are the next great player rivalries? 

Is the league not as well-constructed for that type of thing now? 

Could the Lakers now be in a new "Rivalry Era" with Luka in the fold and the potential to generate more repeat playoff matchups with the same stars in competition with each other? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LBJ rumors aren't going to stop. 

SEGMENT 2: Where is LeBron going to be able to go? 

SEGMENT 3: Rivalries! 

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The Lakers are, barring something unexpected, considered to be set for training camp, in terms of the roster. 

But that said, is there the potential for anything unexpected? 

Sacramento is trying desperately to unload Malik Monk (a former fave of Lakers fans, if only for a short time) so they can pick up Russell Westbrook. (That's an odd choice, we think, but a bigger question for Matt George at Locked On Kings.) Understanding that the mechanics of a Westbrook deal would be difficult to manage (remember, Sacto is trying to open up a spot, so a 1-1 trade likely doesn't work), would Monk be a welcome addition? More specifically, would Monk be the type of player worth sacrificing part of the flexibility Rob Pelinka so clearly values? 

It gets down to your POV about roster building... and also about the current team. Are players (and their contracts) worth more than cap space? Do the Lakers have the confidence to acquire players they think will have appeal on the open market, if they need to be moved again? Is it worth sacrificing flexibility later for guys (whether Monk or someone else) who can help win now? 

This is a conversation that will be happening a lot, especially as the Lakers get closer to this year's trade deadline. 

In the meantime, we can all enjoy Eurobasket, which is set to start next week now that everyone is all finished up with their warm up games... or at least Slovenia is. They, and Luka, took one on the chin Thursday against Serbia. Luka, who absorbed a tremendous amount of attention from the opposition, again struggled from the perimeter (2-10 from 3-point range) but managed overall to still put up a solid line with 17 points and multiple trips to the FT line. 

That, by the way, is something to watch. Luka hasn't been as successful getting to and finishing at the rim as he was earlier in his career. Will his physical transformation change that trend? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Why Luka gets it. 

SEGMENT 2: Slovenia takes one on the chin. 

SEGMENT 3: Malik Monk? Would that be a good idea for the Lakers? 

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The Lakers are in an interesting spot. On the one hand, they were dumped rather unceremoniously from the playoffs by the Timberwolves last spring. The perception, at least in some circles, is that they didn't make any big swings in the offseason. Nothing glamorous, managing only to acquire a couple of distressed assets (Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart) while a big piece (Dorian Finney-Smith) went to Houston. 

On the other hand, while the new guys might not be All Stars, even with some of the shine off their proverbial apples, those two still fill critical holes the Lakers played with in the postseason, and represent significant upgrades. 

Meanwhile, they have a top five guy in Luka Dončić and a top 10 guy in LeBron James. 

And they won 50 games last year, finishing as a three-seed in a brutally competitive Western Conference. 

So are they paying a "Lakers Tax" when it comes to perception? Both of the team's offseason, and its standing in the West?  

And finally, LeBron is up for (yet another) extremely cool milestone this year. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Are the Lakers being overrated or underrated? 

SEGMENT 2: Let's be fair to Deandre Ayton

SEGMENT 3: LeBron and Kareem records. 

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Everyone can exhale. 

After last weekend's injury scare for Luka Donćić, he was indeed back in action on Tuesday in Slovenia's Eurobasket prep exhibition against Great Britain. Just being healthy enough to play was encouraging (yes, it was reported that he was fine, but people want to see the evidence) but it was even better to see Luka dominate. In just over 28 minutes of play, he had 28 points (7-17 shooting, dragged down by a 2-11 mark from 3-point range, but boosted by 14 trips to the FT line), along with six rebounds and 10 assists. 

So once again, things are looking good, and it's a lot easier to once again focus on the potential for a huge year from Luka. 

The Lakers are also still holding out for big things from Dalton Knecht, even if others are more skeptical. To that point, The Athletic did a re-draft of the 2024 class, and Knecht, who was seen as a steal last summer but took some knocks as the year went along, following it all up with a less-than-stellar Summer League run. 

Knecht wasn't even in the top 20 of the re-draft, even in a class that wasn't considered that strong. 

So is it fair? Even if it's fair, does it "mean" anything? What can the Lakers reasonably expect from Knecht this year and going forward? What is the best case scenario? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Luka looks good against Great Britain. 

SEGMENT 2: Knecht falls in the re-draft... 

SEGMENT 3: Big questions around the rotation? 

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As promising as the pairing of Luka Dončić with LeBron James and Austin Reaves seemed following last winter's trade, the Lakers never really managed to find a great rhythm, or post the type of production folks expected. One example of that? The lack of production in the pick and roll, especially with Luka and LeBron in the action. According to ESPN, the Lakers only had the two of them as the pairing in P&Rs 4.4 times per 100 possessions. That number went up in the playoffs, but isn't nearly high enough. 

And especially when you factor in Austin Reaves, the three of them should be working off each other far more frequently than what was happening last season. Not just in those sets, but in a variety of options. The capacity for all three of those guys, starting with Luka and working down to Reaves, to do unique things based on high hoops IQs, ball distribution and so on is high. 

So how hard will it be for JJ Redick to unlock all of this? 

How much will training camp impact these questions? 

Meanwhile, the Lakers have another question about Rui Hachimura, and what his future might look like in Los Angeles. According to Jovan Buha, the Lakers aren't expected to offer him a contract extension going into this season, given how much they're emphasizing flexibility next summer. That doesn't mean Rui's gone either during this season or after, but clearly the Lakers don't see him as so critical that they'll change the plan. 

So what does that say about their plan, though? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Can the Lakers maximize the "Big Three?" 

SEGMENT 2: What are the challenges that come with getting the most out of them? 

SEGMENT 3: Should the Lakers extend Rui Hachimura? 

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