Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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. 

SEGMENT 2: The West is getting weaker, Kuminga is running low on options. 

SEGMENT 3: Luka brings the gang to Slovenia. 

 

Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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: 

That he's a VC guy, and will be motivated primarily by bottom line issues and therefore won't be willing to spend to win. 

That he's just not rich enough to compete with richer owners. 

 

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

 

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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

 

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