Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Well, it looked like a slow news day until it wasn't. 

First, finally the Lakers (and everyone else) got a conclusion to the Jonathan Kuminga saga. He's going to Minnesota, agreeing to a two-year deal worth about $13 million, with a player option for the second year. He'll move into their exception space, try to play really well this season, opt out next summer and sign a genuinely big money deal somewhere else. That's the plan at least. Will it work? Who knows. But Camp Kuminga decided he'd ultimately make more money doing it this way than taking the 3 year, $36 million deal reportedly on the table from the Lakers. 

Did LA lose out? Well, having Kuminga certainly could have helped, but the cost was higher for LA than Minnesota, because it wasn't just about the money, but what the Lakers would have to give up in order to make the space on the roster to bring Kuminga in. One second rounder? Two? If they had to raise their financial offer to Kuminga, that impacts their flexibility, and likely means having to send out more players. 

At some point, the price is too high. 

Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss is taking her siblings to court, in order to try and keep control of the Lakers, or at least the governorship she currently has, thanks to the family's near-18% stake in the team. 

She says she's exercising her fiduciary duty to the family trust, and that the family members are acting out of school. 

No matter how you slice it, it's a mess, one likely to annoy Lakers fans significantly, and severely damage Jeanie's standing with Lakers fans before it's over. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Kuminga chooses Minnesota. 

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There are a couple players still rattling around the NBA, unsigned. Two have limited options but likely return to their current teams (Benedict Mathurin, Jalen Duren) and one is Jonathan Kuminga, who currently has no home. 

He does have suitors, though. Minnesota needs a forward and can sign him straight into their exception, but can't pay him as much as the Lakers, who would have to agree to contract terms and then figure out how to actually execute a trade. No easy task, given that the Hawks (who have no interest in bringing Kuminga back) already have too many players, and have zero need for anything the Lakers would be willing to offer. Are there enough other teams that would be incentivized by a second rounder? How many picks would the Lakers be willing to give up? 

And that's all stuff that would assume that the Lakers decide that Kuminga is worth the assets, and could figure out a way to make Kuminga happy. Could they be willing to do a wink-wink nudge-nudge type deal where they sign him undermarket, then find a way to give a little boost after a successful first year? 

Meanwhile, what about PJ Washington? He seems to think he's staying put. Which makes sense! Dallas isn't incentivized to trade him right now and should they ever get the itch, the Lakers are likely not going to have a package that outdoes other interested parties. That, by the way, is going to be a common theme for the next few years, which explains the continued interest in Kuminga despite some totally legitimate reservations. It's reasonable to wonder how much access they'll actually have to the most desirable options at that wing spot now and down the road. 

Finally, answering a listener email, we're looking at something each player on the roster can do to improve for this season. We kick it off with Austin Reaves! 

SEGMENT 1: A plan for Kuminga? 

Photo Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Indeed

Odoo

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ESPN is out with a bunch of late-summer evaluations for teams around the league. It includes win projections (45, which they say will be sixth in the conference) along with an offseason grade (C+) and all kinds of other little interesting bits of information. 

First and foremost, while it's reasonable to think the Lakers took a little step backward because they didn't fully replace LeBron's production (even if you disagree, it's a defensible position) are they eight games worse, considering the upgrades at center and with better depth? Moreover, didn't other teams take some small steps back, too? Or potentially so? It's also fair to ask whether the Lakers are even being graded on the proper criteria. Did they make progress in stated goals? Yes, but you have to judge by what those goals are, right? 

The story also gets into the biggest change to the roster composition, namely that the Lakers should have bolstered their bench, even if the starters get a hair worse. But the productivity gap between LA's starters and reserves last year was the biggest in the league, so closing that down will help JJ Redick considerably. And should the Lakers (sooner or later) find a starting caliber forward to drop into the lineup, not only will the disparity between last year's starters and this year's shrink, it'll make the bench better, too, by slotting guys into more appropriate roles. 

Is one of those guys Jonathan Kuminga? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 2: Are they being dinged for the wrong stuff? 

SEGMENT 3: Why the next player they add is huge. 

Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Indeed

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Turns out there's no real downside to being Luka Dončić's teammate, at least as it pertains to offseason team bonding trips. 

The Lakers, flown out to Slovenia on Luka's dime, are being treated to a first class tour of his home country. There has been golf and food and kayaking and clinics and workouts and more, all of it designed to bring the team together. Important to build chemistry with a very new group, no question. But also to help that new team learn more about Luka, who is stepping into an enhanced leadership role this season with LeBron James now in Philly. 

It matters that the people being led understand who is doing the leading. And this trip plays a big role. Hopefully they can truly jumpstart the process of building meaningful cohesion. It'll be hard to quantify the impact, but it certainly won't hurt. 

Meanwhile, player movement! Klay Thompson, connected to the Lakers in one way or another for years, is again... not coming to the Lakers. He's going to Miami to help bolster the Heat bench, and will get a two year deal with a player option for the second season that the Lakers couldn't offer, and shouldn't have even if they could. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan will try to stem the bleeding in Denver, agreeing to join the Nuggets on a one-year deal. He can't defend the way Peyton Watson does, but offensively is still a very strong player. 

Finally, is Adam Silver ready to help figure out a resolution to the Buss Family Drama (which doesn't involve helping the sibs get along, but likely means getting them out of the ownership group)? And what does the Walter issue indicate about the problems the league has with owners in the age of franchise valuations in the multi-billion dollar range? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Fun with Luka in Slovenia! 

SEGMENT 2: Klay in Miami, DeRozan in Denver. 

SEGMENT 3: Ownership issues get tricky as valuations rise significantly.

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic

Indeed

Odoo

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The Nuggets unloaded Peyton Watson in a deal on Wednesday that netted them a first rounder in 2031 and another second rounder. All of this despite Watson agreeing to a deal in line with market expectations, of four years and $88 million. 

So with the Nuggets in flux and Nikola Jokic currently not signed for the long term, it's of course time to start putting him in other jerseys. Lakers jerseys, specifically!!!

But while the fantasies are fun, they can also be destructive. In years past, the Lakers front office might put things on hold in order to make sure they had all the assets needed to make a run at an available star once his contract was up. That, of course, puts a damper on the team's ability to compete, either because moves are always for the short term, or because they simply aren't made at all. 

The good news? The Lakers can't play that game right now, even if they wanted to. They don't have a cache of draft picks, no young players who would fetch a premium in return (not yet at least), and no cap space coming. 

So the odds of Jokic coming here without... a lot of stuff having to happen... seem very slim. So the Lakers, whether with current or future ownership, can simply go about the business of trying to create a winner around Luka. 

Speaking of leadership, Jeanie Buss reportedly would be interested in holding on to her governorship (which requires a 15% stake in ownership) by buying out her siblings. But would they sell? Where can she get the money? And even if she got it... why would Kushner and Iger let her keep that gig? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Jokic dreams! 

SEGMENT 2: Bursting that bubble. 

SEGMENT 3: Jeanie willing to maneuver? 

Indeed

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One of the last big pieces left to move in the NBA this offseason finally found a home on Wednesday, as Nuggets small forward Peyton Watson, once a rumored target for the Lakers, was flipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for ... nobody. A first and second round pick a few years from now. The only other human player of note in the deal (which expanded to five teams, enveloping last week's Dennis Schroder trade) was Max Strus, who actually went to the Clippers, not Denver. 

So the Nuggets continue to thin out this offseason, and while they're rumored to be working hard to bring in Demar DeRozan, who would help them, even if they do the team isn't as good right now as it was last year, and is relying on certain players with a VERY spotty health history to stay afloat. 

All of this at a time when there's at least some question surrounding the future of Nikola Jokic. So all of this is obviously good for the Lakers, who have stayed about the same as the conference shifts around them, something that should benefit LA over the course of the season. Some of the "next tier" teams behind San Antonio and OKC just aren't as strong. 

And, of course, this also influences the future of Jonathan Kuminga, since Cleveland was seen as one of the teams with interest in acquiring him. That leaves the Lakers as one of his only suitors, but as has been well established, that interest doesn't come at the price Kuminga wants to get. And even if they settle on a price, the Lakers would then have to figure out a way to complete a trade with Atlanta, who have 17 players under contract and no need for anyone the Lakers would trade them. 

So great work by Kuminga's agent, here. Top shelf. 

And finally, Luka is taking the Lakers to Slovenia! And it's a trip that could bode well for the squad's chemistry this season. At the least, it says something about how Luka is looking to lead the team this year. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Watson traded to Cleveland. 

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Indeed

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The Buss siblings clapped back at Jeanie Buss in their argument over whether the sibs have the ability to force a liquidation of the family shares, and as we wait for a resolution that might be a while in coming, it's worth asking what comes next. For the sale of the Lakers, for Jeanie's role, for the current front office, the roster and more. 

One thing that becomes clear: The longer this -- meaning the sale of the team from Mark Walter to Josh Kushner/Bob Iger -- goes without a resolution, the worse it is for the Lakers (it makes it harder to hire people, make transactions, etc.). But it's also not good for Jeanie, because ultimately, it's very hard to see how she comes out ahead, even if she wins in court. 

One way or another, it feels like then end of an era, but the question now is how much damage that end brings.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Buss siblings clap back. 

SEGMENT 2: How this impacts the basketball end of things for the Lakers. 

SEGMENT 3: What does Jeanie think she's going to "win" even if she wins?

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Indeed

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Rather than cede the franchise sale drama to Mark Walter, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, the Buss siblings on Monday went full bore into doing what they do best—creating serious sibling drama. 

Early in the day, ESPN reported that the Buss family had voted to sell its remaining share in the Lakers, amounting to just under 18 percent. 

Not long after, Jeanie's attorney released a statement calling that vote bunk, and saying the sibs don't have the legal authority to do it. Jeanie, as laid out by a 2017 court order, has a legal claim to her governorship that can't be eliminated by the sale of the team (which, interestingly, was the impetus for the sibs to take this latest vote to sell). 

Who wins? The lawyers will sort it out. 

The bigger and more important question is whether in the end, any of this really matters for Jeanie in terms of retaining her current gig. 

Is any of this, especially if it comes through a very public, very unseemly and potentially protracted legal battle, ultimately going to matter to Kushner and Iger if they want her out (or, if nothing else, remove any teeth from her position). Because in the end, is 75 year old Bob Iger, who has tried for years to put himself in this position, seemingly wants to be out front for the franchise and unquestionably has the background in league affairs to represent the Lakers in league functions, going to just kick back and let Jeanie do stuff? 

Is Kushner going to favor her over his friend and co-owner? 

There's no good endgame here for Jeanie. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Buss family is selling. Or is it? 

SEGMENT 2: Jeanie can't win. 

SEGMENT 3: What are the practical impacts from Monday's events? 

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Indeed

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For the nine zillionth time since turning down a long-term deal with the Lakers, veteran guard Dennis Schröder is on the move, this time from Cleveland to Charlotte. 

The motivation for the Cavs is relatively simple - free up money to get James Harden resigned, and then try to add another player. Reportedly, that could be Peyton Watson (restricted FA, Denver) or Jonathan Kuminga, who has been rumored to be on the Lakers radar for so long at this point, it's reasonable to wonder if the radar is even working properly. But with this news comes a fresh round of Kuminga-or-not-to-Kuminga, because that, ultimately, is the question. 

And when you start breaking down how a deal with Kuminga would have to look financially for the Lakers (this is before trying to figure out whether or not you could even make the trade to get him here), it's reasonable to wonder if this is a good idea. 

Meanwhile, the dust continues to settle around the agreed upon sale of the Lakers from Mark Walter to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger (and a bunch of other rich folks, TBD). 

We walk through two of the biggest concerns about Kushner: 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Reluctantly, back into the Kuminga waters. 

SEGMENT 2: Why it's just a dicey idea.

SEGMENT 3: Is Kushner rich enough? Is the VC thing a problem? 

PhotoCredit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Indeed

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In a normal offseason, the August schedule release is one of those signpost events that lets fans know the season is creeping closer. It's a fun chance to try and predict what's coming. 

Things never quite work out as predicted, but that's part of the fun. 

Of course, this year, a certain blip in the news cycle has radically changed the subject for Lakers fans, who now wonder what's coming with the second ownership change in 15 months. But that doesn't mean the schedule didnt' come out! So we break it down. What are the highlights? The lowlights? The most challenging parts? 

Start with the beginning. The Lakers are home-heavy, and get just about as tolerable an opening 18 game stretch as you could ask for. A couple games against elite squads, a couple against bottom feeders, and a bunch against potentially-solid-but-still-lower-tier Western Conference teams like Golden State, Portand and Utah. JJ Redick and his staff will have an opportunity to get a huge crew of new players acclimated, and because they see the same opponents multiple times (2x vs. GSW, 2x vs. Portland, 2x vs. Sacto, 3x vs. Utah) learn how different lineup adjustments can work against the same opponent which can be helpful with a new roster. 

Things get significantly more challenging in the second half of the year, so that's tough, but the Lakers benefit from closing with a very home heavy schedule. 

One that includes consecutive games against Minnesota (games 80 and 81) that could prove very, very significant. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

Photo Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Odoo

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