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Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Locked On Podcast Network, Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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Locked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the Purple and Gold since 2005 for media outlets including the LA Times, ESPN and The Athletic, offer traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor to provide expert, local analysis. Locked On Lakers takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoo ...
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On the one hand, nobody ever really remembers who wins a preseason game. On the other, it's always better to win, and the Lakers 107-102 win over Milwaukee Thursday night represents a good result, and reflected an approach to the preseason the team has had throughout this October that is different than last. The Lakers have been far more invested i…
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John Schuhmann's annual GM Survey was released this week, and what stood out most about the Lakers is... how little the team came up at all. There were scattered acknowledgments of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, plus a little love for rookie Dalton Knecht's potential, but mostly, they felt like afterthoughts. However, there was one category where …
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The Lakers have a few days off between preseason games, which makes it an ideal time to take stock of how the team has looked in their two preseason games, particularly with LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing alongside what appears to be the actual rotation. And so far... it looks pretty good! Obviously, it's a small sample size, JJ Redick is w…
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In Sunday's preseason loss to the Suns, the Lakers took 40 3-pointers. JJ Redick says it was a nice start, but he'd like to see even more of them! Well, the Celtics led the NBA last year, with just over 42 attempts per game. So there's not a ton of space above 40, at least by last year's standards. The Lakers, meanwhile, were near the bottom of the…
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It was a big night for LeBron James. First, he made his preseason debut, and looked excellent in the process. 19 points in 16 minutes on 8-12 shooting, plus five rebounds and four assists to go with a pair of blocks. But more importantly (certainly for him) was sharing the court with Bronny James to open the second quarter. It was four relatively u…
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The score wasn't great (the Lakers lost 124-107), but with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in street clothes, to some degree the ability to judge the final score was eliminated before the game started. Nor is it wise to try and infer too, too much about what life under JJ Redick will look like, since a) the stars weren't playing, and b) they've prac…
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Max Christie's contract extension this summer has made him a major point of interest in training camp, because people want to see if the Lakers will get the return they want (and many want to validate their view that Christie should have been playing more last year). A version of the same storyline applies to Gabe Vincent, too. He missed most of la…
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Among the most interesting aspects of Monday's Media Day was D'Angelo Russell, who proved again why while not the best player on the Lakers, he's in the running for most interesting, from a media standpoint. He has a long history of candor, even when it doesn't serve him (and sometimes when it doesn't serve his team), and Monday was no exception. R…
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The first full day of practice for the Lakers was, according to all involved, a very well-executed, efficiently run operation. A schedule was presented, it was adhered to. There was, by all accounts, purpose. And this was on the heels of a decision to hold a team dinner earlier this week to discuss expectations and lay out principles, rather than u…
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Monday was Media Day across the NBA, and in El Segundo there where plenty of open questions that were addressed, at least a little, as every Lakers player took a turn at the podium to answer questions. A few themes emerged... LeBron James said his Olympic experience was valuable on multiple fronts. First, it reminded him of the feeling that comes w…
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It's Media Day in El Segundo, which means the official start of the 2024-25 season. So what is this year going to bring? Well, it starts with a massive trade that could shake up the Western Conference, as Minnesota is planning to send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for forward and old friend Julius Randle along with guard Dante DiVincenzo. For a …
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There was too much to cover from Wednesday's press conference for one show, so today it remains the core of the conversation. From a basketball standpoint, a lot was revealed by JJ Redick about how he'd like to play this season. He talked about movement and motion, of redistributing where shots come from around the floor, and how certain guys might…
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Wednesday, the new Lakers season unofficially began - the official kickoff comes Monday with Media Day - with a press conference featuring GM Rob Pelinka and new Lakers coach JJ Redick. There was a lot of ground covered -- more than enough to stretch into Friday's show -- but for today, it's a focus on the big picture the pair tried to push. The bi…
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Last year, it took Darvin Ham a very, very long time to settle on the starting lineup that Lakers fans—and especially THE LAKERS PLAYERS—wanted to see. JJ Redick didn't even make it to training camp before landing in that spot. Speaking with Zach Lowe on his podcast, he said the group that starts will be the one that went 23-10 last season. That wo…
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The Lakers, as everyone knows by now, didn't do much to improve themselves in the offseason. They didn't get worse, but they didn't get any better, either. The hope is internal improvement—from players like Max Christie and Austin Reaves, better health from Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent, better coaching from JJ Redick—will be enough to elevate…
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It's been a common theme this offseason: The Lakers are stuck from a roster standpoint, and getting unstuck won't be simple. The latest illustration of this reality? Even players who are in that second tier of potential trade targets (i.e. non-stars with giant salaries) are getting problematic. Toronto's Bruce Brown underwent arthroscopic surgery l…
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Thursday's episode was centered around Max Christie, and what he's expected to bring this season for the Lakers. But it touched on Austin Reaves, as well, and it's that portion of the conversation that generated the most feedback in the comments and prompted discussion for today's show. Namely, are the expectations around Reaves, whether set by the…
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It's no secret that Max Christie didn't like how he was used - or more specifically, not used - last season with Darvin Ham. Speaking to Allie Clifton at Spectrum SportsNet this week, Christie made it clear he's highly motivated this season after signing his 4-year, $32 million contract this offseason, and is fired up about the new coaching staff. …
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The Lakers haven't done much this offseason, and as such have some holes in the roster, one of the biggest being at backup center. That hole only got larger after Christian Wood underwent knee surgery last week. He'll be out until at least early November, likely longer. So with that in mind, the Lakers did make a move this week, signing former Toro…
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Last season, Anthony Davis told ESPN that, even though he deserves to win, he'll never actually take home a Defensive Player of the Year Award. Wny? He's not totally sure. Maybe the media and the NBA just don't like him. He's honestly not sure about why, only that he's not going to win. So is he right? Fair or not, there does seem to be a feeling t…
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The Lakers have needed help behind Anthony Davis all summer, and REALLY need help now that Christian Wood is out until at least November following knee surgery. (And could be out longer.) That leaves Jaxson Hayes as the only healthy true center left on the main roster. The Lakers do have Colin Castleton on a 2-way deal, but that has its limitations…
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The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors have a lot in common. Their franchise faces - LeBron James, Steph Curry - are not just iconic but forever linked to each other after multiple Finals showdowns and the most recent Team USA run. They're also teams that feel kinda stuck with little flexibility and options as they try to squeeze out one …
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The relationship between the Lakers and Jerry West—legendary player, coach and general manager and arguably the greatest person to ever represent the purple and gold—had been strained for years before West died in May. And when he passed, the Lakers were criticized by fans for responding too slowly with a statement that, at best, felt boilerplate a…
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It's not been a great week on the health front for the Lakers. Reports that Jarred Vanderbilt might not be ready to go for training camp, and maybe even the regular season were quickly followed by hard news that Christian Wood absolutely won't be ready to go, since he had knee surgery on Monday. Wood won't be re-evaluated for eight weeks, which for…
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Heading into the weekend, whispers about the health of Jarred Vanderbilt, who missed most of last season with foot problems, started getting a little louder, with reports that he might not be ready for the start of training camp next month. Not good! Well, Monday brought news that was wasn't exactly great, either. Backup center Christian Wood, who …
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All summer long, Lakers fans have been talking about the value of Jarred Vanderbilt, which was driven home by his inability to stay on the floor last year. With (basically) the same team returning this year, one major spot where the Lakers might generate internal improvement would be having Vanderbilt available again, providing significant optional…
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The Lakers are, most observers believe, stuck. They don't have a lot of stuff to trade - not that other teams want, at least - nor are there all that many players out there to acquire. Not without giving up a ton for questionable gains (trading picks for Jerami Grant, for example). There is, of course, one exception. A guy seemingly on the block pe…
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By now, everyone is used to LeBron James doing incredible things made even more incredible by his age (pushing 40) and mileage in the league. The man has put in a LOT of minutes. But as he approaches the new season, there are plenty of numbers and milestones he'll hit, and if he continues beyond this year there will be even more. But perhaps the mo…
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The Lakers have long maintained that Anthony Davis would be the core of the team once LeBron James hangs it up. They've certainly made the financial investment to back it up. But in this week's mailbag, this question came up: From "@killluhmuhnjaroh: should the lakers post lebron rebuild include anthony davis? he is young enough to be a franchise p…
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Magic Johnson spoke to Jim Hill and KCAL 9 in Los Angeles, and while he was optimistic about the direction the team is going, he also preached patience to Lakers fans when it comes to new head coach JJ Redick. "We as Laker fans gotta give JJ Redick our new coach some time to really help him understand how to utilize the talent, how to coach the tal…
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The Lakers need to get LeBron James through the regular season with as little wear and tear as possible. Easier said than done, obviously, given the challenging nature of the West, and the grind of an 82-game schedule. One idea, says Lakers great Shaquille O'Neal, is simply to take fewer shots and play more of a "Magic" type facilitator role. Let A…
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With the offseason winding down and the trades of any real substance presumably done, we're able to take stock of where the Lakers stand against teams around the Western Conference, and even more specifically, their division. How, for example, do the battle-tested but aging duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis stack up against a talented Sacrament…
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The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor has noted a couple of times throughout the offseason that the Lakers are keeping an eye on Luka Doncic, should something sour in his relationship with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, the Mavs just went to the Finals, have Luka under contract for another few years (including an option) and he's also extension-eligible, and the…
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Most Lakers fans were quite pleased when the team re-signed young forward Max Christie to a four year, $32 million dollar deal this offseason. It's seen as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dull summer. But it's not a move that has received a ton of attention or scrutiny, either, other than maybe a couple lifted eyebrows at the dollar amo…
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For Lakers fans, the Olympics were a bittersweet event. On the one hand, Anthony Davis, and especially LeBron James, played some great basketball. They won a gold medal. James, pushing 40, was named MVP. On the other hand, it was a reminder that the Lakers are not title contenders, despite having a still-elite James at the top of their roster. It w…
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The Lakers are hoping to get healthy again this year. Not with their stars, of course, since Anthony Davis and LeBron James played as many games as anyone could/would have hoped last season. But Jarred Vanderbilt was a non-factor for most of the season thanks to injury, and the Lakers suffered greatly for it. More than most people would have antici…
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The Los Angeles Lakers have had a remarkably quiet offseason. This is no secret. And as we finish up transaction season and start taking stock on where teams in the Western Conference (and across the league). Not surprisingly, perhaps, the reviews aren't good. The pundits of ESPN, for example, overwhelmingly picked the Lakers to be "Team Turmoil," …
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The Lakers get a ton of attention when it comes to the lack of offseason improvement. They are the only team in the NBA to not make a signing or trade of any kind to bring in a new player, and are leaning hard into LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The only fresh faces come from the Draft. But while the Lakers didn't make themselves better... they al…
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The Lakers have a bit of a challenge to start the year. They need to get off to a good start, in part because the second half of the season features some difficult stretches, and they'd really like to avoid having to go full tilt in, say, early February just to make sure they get into the postseason. That wears down the battery of the LeBron James/…
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It's schedule day! Among the most hyped and least consequential days of the NBA summer, one here to remind us all how much we want the games to start. But while it's easy to overstate the importance of schedule day, it does set the table for the upcoming season, and can either seem to raise roadblocks to a successful season or, at least on paper, s…
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It's August, so there's not really a news cycle to follow, which is good because it leaves space to have in-depth conversations with someone like friend-of-the-show Aaron Larsuel about the just-ended Paris games. It's a chance to think not just about what the games did for LeBron's legacy and Anthony Davis's reputation, but also how the performance…
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The Lakers have a problem. Or at least seem to. D'Angelo Russell is not exactly well-loved inside the building in El Segundo, at least not to the degree of an Austin Reaves or Rui Hachimura, or other supporting players about whom the Lakers seem to express more enthusiasm. But they can't afford to just dump the guy in whatever trade they can find, …
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One good way to learn about your team is to compare it to others, especially a franchise that shares many common points. For the Lakers, that team (in a lot of ways at least) is the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix, like the Lakers, is basically all-in on their roster, one dominated by top end stars and lacking in reliable depth. Both teams are up against the…
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The US won a gold in Paris on Saturday, in an entertaining game featuring a Steph Curry heater for the ages as the Americans beat France. But it was LeBron James who walked away with the tournament MVP award, based on a run of consistency and high performance that outdid Curry, who really only played well for the semi-final vs. Serbia and then agai…
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It wasn't easy, but Team USA got it done on Thursday, thanks to a huge fourth quarter comeback that eliminated Serbia and sent the Americans to the Gold Medal game vs. France. Final score, 95-91. Not terribly surprising, but in the middle of it all was LeBron James. Yep, the oldest guy on the team was arguably its best player throughout (at least t…
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The betting markets aren't necessarily a perfect way to measure or forecast an NBA season. After all, they're created with gamblers in mind, encouraging them to put their money in spots where maybe it shouldn't go. Remember, that includes casual fans, not just hard core NBA enthusiasts. But given how awards work, they're also a pretty decent shorth…
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As Lakers fans watch Anthony Davis and LeBron James help push Team USA deeper into the Olympic hoops tourney, there's a lot of chatter among online purple and gold fans about how Davis is performing, and the way he's playing. Paired often with another great defensive center in Bam Adebayo, Davis looks at times much more like the old PF he was when …
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Last week, Mike Richman from Locked On Blazers helped explain why trading for Portland forward Jerami Grant, while at least a somewhat defensible idea on paper, was much less positive for the Lakers in practice. Well, it seems like that's the consensus among NBA execs, as well. Reporting from Sean Deveaney, writing for Heavy.com, confirms the conse…
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The Lakers on Friday unveiled a new statue outside Crypto.com Arena, honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant. It is, as you might suspect, very different from the other statues and honoraries in the plaza outside the arena. But it's not just the presentation — capturing that iconic photo of the two courtside following Kobe's retirement — but also because u…
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Among the more confounding of Darvin Ham's habits in the mind of many Lakers fans was his unwillingness to give steady minutes to Max Christie, even if the team seemed to need some of his skill set at different points throughout the season. Well, having signed an four-year, $32 million contract this offseason, Christie is going to play. Now it's a …
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