Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Day 1 has come and gone, and the Lakers were quiet on the transaction front Monday, as free agency opened (officially) across the NBA. 

Two big moves that impacted the team directly. First, Dorian Finney-Smith left (as was becoming apparent), heading to Houston on a four-year deal. That's more than the Lakers wanted to offer the 32-year old forward, which is understandable. They quickly responded by signing forward Jake LaRavia from Sacramento for two years at $12 mil (or so). LaRavia isn't as accomplished as DFS, but is also a decade younger and is coming off an upside semi-breakout season, the first where he's had access to consistent playing time. 

LaRavia, at the least, defends some on the perimeter, and can shoot (42% last season). 

After that? Crickets. 

That said, free agency isn't over, the Lakers have some money left to spend, and are rumored to be very much in play for center Deandre Ayton, who can't sign with another team until he clears waivers after his buyout in Portland, and De'Anthony Melton, who (if healthy) would add real perimeter D to the rotation. That, given the dollars available to spend, would be a decent outcome. The Lakers would need to find a few other parts, but would have gotten younger, added a little D, and found a center (albeit a risky one). 

Will it happen? 

Or are the Lakers falling back into a common trap? It's reported they're trying to maintain maximum flexibility for the summer of 2027. Yes, not next summer, but the one after that. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: DFS out, LaRavia in. 

SEGMENT 2: What are the Lakers doing next? 

SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers looking at '27? 

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A VERY busy day for the Lakers, as players and teams around the league faced a deadline to pick up or decline options for the upcoming season. 

For the Lakers, the big name was LeBron James. Expected to pick up his $52.6 million option, that's exactly what he did, except it came with some very strong messaging from Rich Paul. Via ESPN: "LeBron wants to compete for a championship... He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."

That can mean a lot. Obviously LBJ has put pressure on Lakers management before. But there's no question this statement from Paul contains a tremendous amount of language that seems to shade in the past tense. Very little forward looking. Does that mean he might ask for a trade? If so, to where? And when? Obviously the Lakers are building around Luka Doncic... but how fast might that rebuild happen? 

In terms of this season's team, one of the more important questions that could help answer these questions came when forward Dorian Finney-Smith declined his $15 million player option. That potentially opens up space for the Lakers to use a full midlevel exception of about $14  million vs. a $6 million taxpayer midlevel. That certainly opens up  the field for the Lakers, who could use that extra cash on multiple players. Of course, some of it would need to go to replacing DFS. But could they find a younger, more athletic wing? 

Finally, in a solid move that makes sense for everyone, the Lakers picked up their option on guard Jordan Goodwin. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Special Guest Daman Rangoola!!!

SEGMENT 1: LeBron picks up his option. 

SEGMENT 2: What now, after Rich Paul sends a message? 

SEGMENT 3: What to do with DFS? 

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LeBron James is opting in, as expected, picking up his $52 million player option for next season. 

That part, no surprise. What did make headlines via ESPN were Rich Paul's comments after the announcement: 

"LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul told ESPN. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."

Obviously a lot of messaging, there. Putting pressure on the team to build a winner, perhaps laying the groundwork for an exit from the team. It even, you could argue, says he's planning to play a couple years beyond this season... or making it clear he's not. As a practical outcome, this is good for the Lakers, because it sets a definitive end date, if they choose, with James. It gives them agency. But it adds a lot of intrigue. 

Meanwhile, Dorian Finney-Smith is opting out of the final year of his deal, creating a very intriguing situation for the Lakers, who could open up a full mid-level if he walks... but then would also have to replace him. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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The Lakers didn't have a first round pick in this year's NBA Draft, but they did enter Thursday's Day 2 with the 55th pick. One they managed to red paper clip their way—with the benefit of a little cash‚up to the 45th selection, and then with one more trade, up to 36. There, they selected Arkansas forward Adou Thiero, a 6'8" (6'6.25" at the Combine) wing with top level athleticism and an insane motor. He lacks offensive polish, but at that stage of the Draft represents an excellent gamble. 

If he's able to develop enough of an offensive game, Thiero will fill a major need on the roster, namely athleticism and defense. 

Moreover, the Lakers were solid in their process here, using the tool they had available (money) to get a player they wanted with a skill set they lacked. Were he a fully polished player, Thiero wouldn't have been available this late in the Draft. But there are reasons to believe he's got potential to improve as a shooter. 

We break it down with special guest Claire de Lune, who does outstanding work covering the NBA for The Guardian. 

Where do the Lakers go from here? How hard will it be to build a team that can compete in a brutal Western Conference? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers trade up, get wing from Arkansas. 
 

SEGMENT 2: Can the Lakers pick up a C? 

SEGMENT 3: Competing in a brutal Western Conference. 

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The Lakers were (no surprise) quiet on the first night of the NBA Draft. They didn't have a pick, and didn't have much leeway to acquire one. Meanwhile, few players switched teams (with one very notable exception), so there weren't many opportunities for the Lakers to sneak into another team's deal. So what happens now? 

Especially since one thing is clear: Centers are once again VERY highly valued around the league. 

With that in mind, would it be smart to pivot to different needs? Perhaps on the wing? Miami's Andrew Wiggins can be had, reportedly.

HOSTS: Brian Kamenetzky with Guest Anthony Irwin! 

 

SEGMENT 1: What happened on the first night of the NBA Draft? 

SEGMENT 2: Centers are valuable again. 

SEGMENT 3: How about Andrew Wiggins? 

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On Monday, the NBA's offseason center market got an interesting piece of news, when Dallas center Daniel Gafford signed a three-year extension that didn't make him trade-ineligible this offseason. Good news for the Lakers! 

More good news, potentially, on Tuesday when the Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks. What does that have to do with the Lakers? Well, it makes it a lot less likely that Atlanta will bring back free agent center Clint Capela, who is without a doubt the most appealing option for the Lakers who could be had—maybe—for the taxpayer mid-level exception of about $6 million a year. That's the most the Lakers can offer any free agent. 

Will it be enough to get Capela? It might not be. The market still has some speaking to do. 

The trade has smaller ripple effects, too, as now it seems more likely that the Celtics bring back one or both of Al Horford and Luke Kornet, two centers with different skill sets that would have some appeal on the open market. In a supply-and-demand type environment, the Lakers benefit from more guys in the market. 

It would help, too, if there were fewer teams with real demand. Unfortunately, centers are coming back into vogue. 

Finally, Luka's gettin' skinny. This isn't just internet tea leaf reading, but actual reporting from real live reporters. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Capela more available now? 

SEGMENT 2: Is Capela good enough? 

SEGMENT 3: Skinny Luka! 

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Mavericks center Daniel Gafford signed an extension with Dallas on Monday afternoon. Initially, reporting had the contract worth about $60 million over three years, which because of the totally arcane CBA rules would have made Gafford ineligible to be traded for six months. 

Bad for the Lakers, because it pulls a realistic center target off the market, and raises the price for everyone else. 

Then, more news. Turns out that deal is worth about $54 million over three years. And the difference means that Gafford doesn't have any trade protection and can be moved anytime. While this could raise the price for Gafford a little (the risk of losing him as a free agent next summer would mitigate his value, just as it does Austin Reaves for the Lakers) it also makes him a more appealing target. Were the Lakers to swing a deal, they'd have cost certainty for a 26-year old with some marketable skills, at a position of incredible need. 

Moreover, it helps keep the price for a player like Brooklyn's Nic Claxton a little lower, because the Nets don't totally have the market cornered. And what about Deandre Ayton? Would Portland move him... and would he be worth a flier for the Lakers? (It wouldn't come cheap.)  

Meanwhile, LeBron James is back on the floor working out - a good sign for next year - and Alex Caruso is telling the haters to eff off. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Daniel Gafford signs an extension. Good deal for LA? 

SEGMENT 2: Gafford or Claxton (or Ayton)? 

SEGMENT 3: Caruso has another ring, LeBron is working out. 

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Life didn't get any easier for the Lakers on Sunday. 

First, the Oklahoma City Thunder won an NBA title, after winning 68 games in the regular season. While they caught a break with Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton's horrific injury in the first half of Game 7, making it easier to pull ahead in the second half to gain and maintain a lead, it's also very likely that the Thunder are not done improving. That knocking them off will be harder next season, given their assets and a young core that should keep ascending (especially players like Chet Holmgren and Jaylen Williams). 

And now that Kevin Durant has been sent to Houston in exchange for... nothing that should make the Rockets notably worse, even getting to the Thunder is going to be harder. Houston, a two-seed this year, solved their greatest playoff weakness (scoring) by acquiring Durant and sending out Jalen Green while keeping all of the young players they covet (Amen Thompson, Alperin Segun, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard) and their most valuable draft assets, as well. Meaning they have plenty of stuff available to continue getting better. 

The day was a reminder that nobody can punt away a season, because opportunities that seem enduring can be fleeting. Just as Boston and now Indiana, both of whom will enter next season with severely dampened championship hopes based on injuries to their stars. On the other hand, a calm and realistic understanding of where you are as a franchise is key, because "all in" moves for a team that's not good enough to make that investment? That can bury a franchise. It's why Miami ultimately never made a credible offer for Durant. 

So the Lakers remain in a tricky position. Clearly a quality team in a stacked Western Conference, but just as clearly with a gap between them and the best teams in the conference. They have plenty of incentives to improve, but few assets to make it happen. So what's the risk/reward equation? 

And did the way the Finals squads were coached reinforce the playoff mistakes of JJ Redick? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: KD to Houston. Life gets harder for the Lakers. 

SEGMENT 2: Context is key with trades in the NBA. 

SEGMENT 3: What did we learn? 

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So how much will this ownership change, from the Buss family to Dodgers owner Mark Walter, actually impact the Lakers? And just as importantly, when? 

Those are the big questions that are yet to be answered. But early indications, delivered by reliable folks like ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, say that for the time being, at least, things are going to look pretty similar. Jeanie Buss will remain in charge, Rob Pelinka's job is safe, and Walter intends to be deliberate about how he moves forward. 

Which makes sense. He didn't make sweeping changes when taking over the Dodgers, either. They have always been operated by process. How Jeanie fits in long term will be fascinating. Walter apparently is very comfortable with how she's handled the business and the brand. And if we're all being fair, it's hard to think of someone who's necessarily more qualified to keep doing this stuff than her. Nobody really is disputing, or is even concerned, about that stuff. What people care about is how the basketball side will work. And over time, you would expect to see things beefed up on that end. More investment in scouting, in coaching, in training, and all the other places where it has lagged. 

No matter what Jeanie's job title is. 

From there... how does Luka feel about all of this? Well, if his social posts mean anything... he's pretty happy!

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: What change is coming, and how fast? 

SEGMENT 2: Luka's on board!

SEGMENT 3: Of course competence matters for the Lakers. 

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FanDuel
Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

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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