The Lakeshow Review

A dedicated space to all things Lakers Basketball

recent posts

about

  • Lakers, Luka Agree to Extension Through 2028

    The Lakers have just concluded their most vital signing of this summer, after agreeing with superstar Luka Dončić on a 3yr/$165M contract extension. This keeps Dončić in Purple & Gold for the foreseeable future, until 2028. This is obviously great news for the Lakers, who after a productive offseason where they have patched some holes, still had the looming uncertainty of a Luka extension. Fortunately that has been put to rest, as the Lakers now have clarity and agency over their immediate future. With Dončić under contract, LA can now focus on constructing a perennial contender around their newly minted star. The marriage between the glitz and glamour of LA and a superstar of Luka’s caliber seems like a rather seamless one. He is on the short list of best players on the planet and is the type of player that you can build a contending team around. At 26 years of age, he is also just entering his prime, and the Lakers will have ample roster flexibility moving forward, starting next summer in 2026. The next era of Lakers basketball will be one filled with possibilities, and if they play their cards right, LA can make this partnership a fruitful one.

    Even before agreeing to this momentous extension, the dominoes had already begun swinging in that direction. Dončić had been in close dialogue with the front office throughout their free agency period. Even lending a hand to recruit players like Deandre Ayton (who Luka shares an agent with) and Marcus Smart. It had been rumored by the Slovenian newspapers that Luka (who will be playing internationally with his home country this summer) was planning on staying with the Lakers. Additionally, he’s also been active within the LA community, making charitable donations and contributing to the greater good. He’s seemed invested in LA since the moment he arrived with the Purple & Gold, as evidenced with the vibrant crowd reactions that he’s been showered with. He’s looked and felt the part of a Laker since day one.

    Luka was no longer eligible for the “supermax” extension, after being traded by Dallas, the team that drafted him. With his new 3 year extension, he can now pursue the most expeditious avenue to get that supermax three years from now, when he’ll have ten years of NBA service under his belt. Three years in the NBA is a lifetime, though. And LA will have until then to put the necessary pieces around Luka that will make this roster a perennial contender. The flexibility and the opportunity will both be there, so it’ll be up to those in the front office to maximize every asset and dollar on the cap sheet. The table is set for the Lakers to position themselves as a formidable force in the Western Conference.

    It’s also worthy to note the fact that Luka has been working on his physical fitness diligently this summer. He’s been putting in the work and has been looking slimmer, by all reports. He seems to be embracing the idea of being a Los Angeles Laker and putting his best foot forward trying to be at his best for when the season commences. He understands his role as a Laker and the fact he’s one of the best players in the world, when healthy. On a platform such as that of LAs, his brand and personal opportunities are virtually boundless, provided he puts in the work and does his thing. On a market such as LA, and a global brand like the Lakers, Luka will have the chance to go down as one of the greats.

    Motivated by last season’s playoff defeat, Luka will join the chase for getting this franchise back into the championship picture, The Lakers pledged their allegiance to Luka as soon as they traded for him last February, during the midseason point. After a hastily disjointed second half of the season, one where both Luka and the Lakers struggled to find their footing, the team will have a fresh outlook next season with a full training camp and preseason under their belts. We will see how they respond.

    “Today is a monumental moment for our franchise. Luka Dončić’s future is with the Los Angeles Lakers,” said Lakers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka. “Luka is one of the game’s most transcendent players, and his on-court dominance and passion is without compare. From the moment Luka became a Laker, there was an immediate connection and admiration between Luka and our fanbase. You can feel it in your spirit when you attend a Lakers game. Luka is an absolute killer on the court, and blends that with a unique generosity and care for the community. Above all else, Luka will lead our franchise to pursue future championships, a goal that will forever define the Lakers.” These words form General Manager Rob Pelinka echo sentiments of excitement and ambition for the Lakers franchise. Both Luka and the Lakers will have their work cut out for them, but let’s hope that they can make the most out of this golden opportunity. If the cards are played correctly and a little bit of good fortune rears its head, this can be the start of a prosperous superstar-franchise coalition. Now let’s see them make the most of it. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Internal Growth Will Be Crucial To Next Season’s Success

    The 2026 Los Angeles Lakers will sport a significantly different outlook than they did last season. The additions of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart will give the team a different perspective, one which they did not have last year. Ayton will give the team a much needed boost in the front court. Marcus Smart’s defensive tenacity and leadership will also be a welcome addition to a team that’s lacking dogs on the perimeter. With that said, none of the contributions provided by the team’s newcomers will have the impact of what the team’s returning players can bring to the table.

    Firstly, there’s Luka Dončić. There are rumblings that the Slovenian superstar has been diligently working on his training and diet this summer, which has done a number on his physique. He’s apparently looking slimmer, more defined, and more athletic; even gracing the cover of Men’s Health Magazine just recently. Luka will be the biggest key to LAs success this season. If Slim Luka is indeed a thing, the Lakers will be one of the more formidable teams in the Western Conference. Being traded from the Mavericks, and having his name dragged around the media by GM Nico Harrison and the rest of the Mav’s front office seems to have lit a fire in Luka. Hopefully that fire will last through this season, and his entire Lakers career for that matter. When healthy and on his game, Luka is very easily on the short list of best players on the planet. Only two seasons ago, he was scoring champion, and led Dallas to its first finals berth since 2011. Luka is, without a doubt, a player one can construct a roster around and expect to go places. However, Luka’s success starts with Luka. If he’s in tip-top condition then that is a game changer. It allows him to be the best version of himself, while getting the most out of his elite skillset.

    Then there are the next names on the totem pole. Namely shooting guard Austin Reaves, who has plans for a lucrative payday when he can opt out of his contract after the 2025-26 season. AR is coming off a career season in points, rebounds and assists as well as overall usage rate. If he can replicate or better yet build upon these impressive totals, he’ll almost certainly put himself in position for that big payday. For all of his virtues, Austin’t big weakness remains his defense. It’s been a constant “go-to” on opposing teams’ game plans as far as areas to pick on and exploit. To remedy this, AR has been reportedly working overtime this summer in order to improve in that aspect of his game. Time will tell how all of that work is going to pay off. But one thing is for certain; Austin Reaves’ defense is crucial for the Lakers to make a leap as a team. He is usually the weakest link on the court on the defensive end, as his lack of foot speed and agility usually inhibits him from consistently staying in front of his matchup. This rose to the forefront during the playoffs, where AR was heavily targeted and switch-hunted by the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first round of the NBA playoffs. If Reaves can work himself to merely an ‘average’ defender, then that will go a long ways to helping the team. When you consider his offensive prowess, working himself to being merely an ‘average’ defender would multiply his value significantly. He’s already one of the team’s best players, and adding that league-average defensive capability will only solidify that. Not to mention further propel him into elite second option territory. The addition of Marcus Smart should help the team’s defensive makeup, but ARs individual improvement will be crucial given his tremendous value on the offensive side. If Austin does in fact level up on his defensive capabilities, LA will not hesitate to give him that fat contract.

    While individual improvements are of great importance, team improvements are perhaps of equal if not greater magnitude. Head Coach JJ Redick will have to show improvement as a game-planner and decision-maker. During the playoffs, he was clearly outclassed by a more savvy and experienced Chris Finch of Minnesota. The gap in experience between the two coaches is substantial and certainly played a role in this matchup. But LAs coaching staff did not bring much to the table in the form of adjustments. They went out by stubbornly sticking to their original game plan and had no answers for the wrinkles that the Timberwolves hurled in their direction. Hopefully the one year of experience will give the coaching staff enough of a “battle test” to return in better form next year. In the Western Conference, every team is well coached. Particularly those in the elite tiers (the OKS, Houstons, Denvers, Minnesotas, etc.). LA will have to fight fire with fire when matching up with other Wetsern Conference foes and their coaching staffs, and ultimately hold their own over the course of a hard fought playoff series, where savvy game-planning is at a premium. Hopefully last season’s failures will serve as learning experiences to be parlayed into greater playoff success next season. If not, this coaching staff might find itself on the hot seat if they don’t live up to the standards set by the organization’s new ownership group.

    The Lakers’ offseason has certainly been encouraging. Progress has been made when it comes to adding the necessary pieces to improve the roster. But LAs real improvement will have to come from within. From their star players, to the coaches, to the overarching culture established by the front office which will define the coaching staff as well as the locker room. This internal growth will set the table for the newcomers to shine and show their value. Ultimately, it starts with those at the top. Establishing a culture will be crucial to elevating the on-court results, thus the Lakers need leaders that are willing to demand excellence. If these lessons are learned, then the team will be pushing in the right direction. And that’s all we can ask for.

  • Vando’s Health A Key For Lakers Success Next Season

    The Lakers have had an eventful summer of Free Agency, to say the least. It hasn’t been spectacular, but they have managed to fill gaps on the roster, despite limited assets and cap space. Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes are among the names added. It’s a solid mix of talent, considering that they did not have much cap space to start with, and many teams signed other players for much more. The Lakers will almost certainly be getting great value for their money spent. LA has done a good job addressing some glaring needs on the team. The main one of those being the starting center position. DeAndre Ayton will give the Lakers some much needed production on the frontcourt, seeing as how they played without a center during these last playoffs. Jake LaRavia is another young player with decent upside, who can shoot and score the ball at a high level. He will have a chance to flourish playing alongside the likes of Luka Dončić. A player like Marcus Smart will also provide leadership and perimeter defense, the latter of which the Lakers did not have much of last season. Overall these are some good moves that could give the team a boost next season.

    Perimeter defense is an area where the Lakers greatly struggled last season. Particularly in the playoffs, where players such as Anthony Edwards and to some extent Jaden McDaniels had their way attacking LAs defense on the perimeter. The Lakers were punished on defensive on switches, when players like Rui Hachimura or LeBron James were tasked with containing the likes of Anthony Edwards in space. Much was made about the Lakers’ lack of interior presence on the defensive side, and while those critiques are accurate, an even larger problem, in my opinion, was LAs complete lack of defensive containment on the perimeter. LAs defense often was broke down off the dribble, which exposed their poor help defense as well as their lack of size in the paint. I’m of the belief that effective defense starts at the point of attack. To address this, the Lakers signed guard Marcus Smart. If healthy, Smart will surely help the Lakers in this aspect. He can still hound, harass and stay in front of matchups, which helps limit defensive breakdowns as well as the need to constantly rotate defensively. However, in my opinion, the player who will be most crucial to the team’s defensive success is arguably already on the roster. And that’s of course Jarred Vanderbilt.

    Vando arrived in LA shortly after the trade deadline of 2023, and his impact was felt almost immediately. His defensive tenacity and all-out hustle helped ignite a late season playoff push, after being outside of the playoff picture prior to the trade deadline. For a while, late in the 2023 season, I felt as though Vando brought to the table a Dennis Rodman-like impact. He didn’t light up the box score, but provided a myriad of intangibles that made a positive impact. The steals, the turnovers, the hustle, the defensive motor; for a moment he was beginning to resemble that of a bigger Alex Caruso. He was a crucial part of the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals that season.

    Lately however, Vando’s impact seems to have diminished. Injuries have piled up, which have not only kept him out of action, but have also impeded him from working on his game during the offseason, further derailing his progress. He seemed to be getting back on track late during the 2024 season, and we were starting to see glimpses of his on-court impact once again. But a foot injury against Boston late during the season effectively sidelined him for the rest of the year, including the playoffs, where his absence against Denver was clearly felt. He spent much of that offseason rehabilitating, and wasn’t cleared to resume play until January of 2025. He wasn’t quite the same player last season, as his usual defensive spark wan’t all there.

    For the first time in a moment, Vando seems to be in good health this off-season, and is said to be diligently working on his game. If he can come back healthy and duplicate the level of play that we’ve seen in the past, particularly during the latter half of 2023, he could potentially take LAs defense from merely good to great. Between Vando and Marcus Smart, the Lakers could receive a sizeable boost on the defensive end. One that will help them match up against the elite perimeter threats in the Western Conference. When healthy, Vando is an elite disruptor. He has the ability to stay in front of his man, as well as the instincts to wreak havoc on help defense. He’s an agitator with a plus defensive motor who can change the complexity of a game through his defensive effort. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued his productivity as well as his ability to have a positive impact on games. Fans are down on him, and rightfully so. But if he can come back healthy and recapture his level of play, it’ll be a gamechanger for LA. It’s not like there are many more options. The Lakers are currently capped out around the first apron, and Vando’s salary makes it so that he is somewhat unmovable. If only because other teams would be wary of taking back his salary (his contract runs until 2028 where he will make over $13M that season) given the injury history. With that said, Vando’s resurgence could be a vital in-house solution to one of LAs most glaring weaknesses. His availability and productivity could help take the team’s defense to the next level. Vando and Smart can offer the type of defensive outlook that the team lacked all of last season. Let’s hope we get more glimpses of that gamechanging ability in 2026. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Off-Season Hinges On Luka Extension

    We’re almost a month into 2025 NBA Free Agency and the Los Angeles Lakers look to be a much different team than they were last season. Out is Dorian Finney-Smith. In are DeAndre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart. Back is Jaxson Hayes. The front court will be significantly different next season with Ayton starting, and Jaxson backing him up. LA will be able to count on more front court depth than they had last season, particularly during the playoffs where their lack of size became a glaring weakness against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They’ve also added a promising rising player in Jake LaRavia, who is on a team-friendly contract, and given his skillset, has the potential to flourish playing alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. They’ve also managed to add a respected veteran and defensive specialist in Marcus Smart, who if healthy, will provide some much needed toughness in the backcourt. It hasn’t been a summer of splashy headlines for the Purple and Gold, yet it has been a fairly productive one. They’ve managed to add pieces that can help the team win now, without sacrificing much, if any future flexibility to makes moves later on. They’ve also shown resourcefulness in their willingness to look to avenues such they buyout market to acquire talent. as they did with both Ayton and Smart. Time will tell if LAs patience this summer will pay dividends moving forward. But at the very least they should have relatively clean books, and more assets in the form of draft picks next summer to bolster the roster and their chances for championship contention. However, the greater success of this approach hinges squarely on the pen of one Luka Dončić, and his plans for his career.

    Luka is eligible to sign a maximum deal of 4-years/$228.6M with the Lakers this summer, as soon as August 2nd. Following the roster moves made this offseason, the organization feels increasingly confident that they can get Dončić to sign a contract that will keep him in Purple and Gold for the foreseeable future. Luka, for his part, will more than likely have the freedom to get creative with his deal. For instance, he could also sign a shorter 3-year/$165M contract that would allow him to opt out after year one or two and potentially pursue a bigger contract. Or he could also sign a 2-year deal for the same reasons. In any scenario, Luka signing that extension is paramount for the organization, as it validates all of their work so far this summer.

    All the cap space and flexibility moving forward won’t have much of a purpose if a franchise player isn’t already in place for the organization to build a team around. That franchise player of course being Luka. The Lakers have made it clear, particularly through their recent decisions, that they don’t intend to capitulate to the immediate demands of LeBron James or Klutch Sports any longer, given that they now have Luka, who has his own requirements and his own timeline. Ayton, who shares an agent with Dončić, was brought in as a pick and roll finishing big that we all know Luka enjoys playing with. Luka has also stated his admiration for Ayton, as well as a desire to play alongside him. Not to mention, the Marcus Smart signing came after a recruitment pitch from Luka. There is an obvious trend behind these moves. The main one being that the organization is clearly shifting their focus and energy into the Luka Dončić/Bill Duffy wagon, rather than the Klutch Sports wagon. The Lakers have concluded that the Klutch Sports Experience has run its course, and it no longer makes sense for the franchise to be centered around a 41-year old star. And they are correct.

    However, their pivot will only be made successful if they can sell Luka Dončić on the notion that LA is his team and the franchise will do all in its power to construct a contender around him. That’s the the last remaining hurdle for the organization to clear this summer. Once that extension is agreed upon, the Lakers will feel much better about their future moving forward. On a positive note, ESPN insider Dave McMenamin, during a recent NBA On ESPN segment, stated that Luka agreeing to an extension is a formality at this point. Reports indicate that he is committed to the Los Angeles Lakers, at least for the time being, and wants to win and prosper with the organization. Who knows where the truth lies, and at this point of the year, these “reports” are merely just that. With that said, with the team’s moves so far, they’ve certainly put themselves in position to hand the keys over to Luka and sell him on their vision for the future. If and when Luka re-signs remains to be seen. But I for one am content that the organization has displayed the type of calmness, patience and professionalism that suggests that they are in control. They certainly aren’t panicking. As a fan, that is all I can ask for.

    Other signs have emerged that potentially suggest that Luka will indeed sign an extension with the Lakers. Beatwriter Martin Pavcnik, who covers Luka’s native Slovenian National team, reports that “The date of his arrival (with the Slovenian team) is still shrouded in mystery, but it is expected to be August 4. This suggests that he may sign a new contract with the LA Lakers before then“. All but suggesting that Luka could sign the extension on August 2nd, shortly before reporting to his national team, for whom he always plays for every summer. Luka seems like a loyal cat. He plays for his home country every off-season because he appreciates their support for him, as well as the love he receives from the Slovenian fans. Hopefully this type of affection extends to his current NBA club, the Lakers, who clearly have the best intentions to solidify Luka as their main pillar within their future plans. Either way, it remains to be seen as to what happens. I’m pleased with the way the team has handled their business throughout this Free Agency period, having not panicked or made any knee-jerk moves to please any form of outside pressure from the media or the fans. As I’ve written before, now is the time to be strategic, and patient. It seems as though the Lakers are of a similar mindset. Hopefully Luka and his team will recognize that, and eventually plant their flag with the organization. Once that happens, the team can focus on the bigger picture: getting back into championship contention. Go Lakers.

  • Marcus Smart Is Lakers Bound

    The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to terms with guard Marcus Smart, following a buyout with the Washington Wizards. Smart and the Wizards agreed to a buyout on Saturday, and he will join the Los Angeles Lakers on a 2 year/$11M deal as soon as Wednesday once he clears the waivers process. Smart gives the Lakers a tough, defensive minded guard who can both start or come off the bench. Additionally, Smart is the type of players who can check the other teams’ perimeter star, thus filling a great need for the Lakers as far as backcourt and perimeter defense is concerned. This is a solid move by the Lakers, as they needed the type of depth and skillset that Smart brings to the table. He potentially shores up some holes and gives the team a wide array of options in terms of lineup flexibility, which they didn’t have before. Smart’s physicality, toughness, leadership and experience will be a major coup for the Lakers’ backcourt, which will look to be more balanced next season, and hopefully bring the team to another level.

    This has been an interesting off-season for the Lakers and General Manager Rob Pelinka. After LeBron James decided to pick up his (albatross) $52M player option, the club was left with very little flexibility or avenues to significantly improve the roster. Outside of trades where they’re sending out assets, LA had very little room to outright sign players to the salary cap. Perhaps somewhat beneficial was the fact that forward Dorian Finney-Smith declined his player option of $15M. This opened up the ability for the Lakers to obtain the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which they utilized to sign both forward Jake LaRavia and center Deandre Ayton. It also opened up the bi-annual exception (which has a total value of roughly $5M) and that was used to sign Marcus Smart. Essentially, the Lakers managed to turn the departure of DFS (32 years old) into a trio of Ayton (27 years old), LaRavia (23 years old) and Smart (31 years old). Not a bad turn of events, considering the value DFS brought as a perimeter defender and shooter. Getting three guys of the caliber of Ayton/LaRavia/Smart, considering the limited resources, is not a bad coup for this front office. There’s still some work to be done though, as LA will now have to make some roster tweaks in order to open up the full BAE money, which Smart’s contract indicates that he will get. The team waived guard Jordan Goodwin today (who had a partly guaranteed deal) and will likely waive Shake Milton’s non-guaranteed salary. I’d say it’s been a fairly robust summer for the from office, as they’ve acquired legit talent and upgrades, with such limited ammunition. We will see how these pieces end up figuring into the big picture. As things stand, both Ayton and Smart will have the added incentive of performing well in order to re-enter free agency next summer and parlay a higher payday (both have player options after 2025-26).

    One interesting thing to note is that new Laker Luka Dončić helped lend his recruiting skills to land Smart. The Lakers’ star apparently reached out to Smart and pitched him on the idea of playing for the Lakers next season. This is big for two things. A.) Luka knows what this team lacks, when it comes to tough minded players who can defend the perimeter, and B.) Luka recruiting someone like Smart could be a sign that Luka is committed to staying with the team. We will know the latter for sure come early August when Luka is eligible to ink an extension. It is savvy for the team and the FO to seek inout from their best player.

    X’s and O’s wise, Smart is a very good fit with the Lakers. He’s a capable two-way player, with a great emphasis on the defensive side of the ball. He is an excellent perimeter defender, who can lock up the opposing team’s best guard. Additionally, Smart is also a very intuitive and capable help defender. He plays the passing lanes, shoots the gaps, and can wreak havoc via double teams around the perimeter. He has both the motor and IQ to consistently generate turnovers and operates with the type of tenacity and energy than can be contagious. He has the potential to be a leader on the defensive side.

    Offensively, he does have some scoring and playmaking capacity, averaging career totals of 10.6ppg/3.4rpg/4.6apg/1.6spg. His shooting metrics are below average though, as he shoots around 38% from the field, and around 32% from three. He is a capable free throw shooter at 77%. On a team like the Lakers, where he will likely be a 5th or 6th option offensively, these factors won’t be as magnified. I think he can shoot around 42% from the field (he’s had numerous seasons where he shot better than 40%), considering that he will do most off his offensive work off-ball and will get a healthy amount of open looks while playing opposite of Luka/AR/LeBron. He’s a good finisher and a decent catch-and-shoot option, which definitely bodes well. He’s also been a plus playmaker throughout his career, and can be an initiator on ball screens. I like his versatility, and on a much lighter workload, I think we can see the most efficient version of Marcus Smart.

    One of the drawbacks to Marcus Smart is the injuries. He’s been relatively banged up as of late and you’d have to go back to 2023 to find the last season where he played 60+ games. Or 2022 for when he last played 70+. The Lakers are certainly rolling the dice on Smart’s ability to stay on the floor. But for $5M, considering their limited options, it’s a relatively reasonable risk, not to mention, one that carries a very high upside. If healthy, Smart decidedly raises the ceiling on this roster, particularly considering his defensive prowess. But it will all hinge on his ability to stay healthy.

    To me, Marcus Smart is a starter. To get the most out of his leadership, impact and skillsets, he’s best suited to start alongside the regulars. He immediately becomes the best defensive player on the starting unit, which is something they’re sorely lacking. This means that one of Reaves or Rui should head to the bench. I wouldn’t be against either. I’ve always maintained that Reaves would be a great sixth man, however, with his aspirations towards a big payday and the team’s affection for him, this scenario is probably unlikely. That leaves Rui, who will be on an expiring contract and is a highly productive offensive player. Bringing him off the bench will give the team more balance and gives the reserves some much need firepower. Gabe/Vando/Rui/Jaxson is not a bad bench mob to go with, and could certainly give the team an added dimension, or two, which was not present last season. Either way, I like the added flexibility that these moves will bring forth.

    The Lakers have done a good job of staying patient amidst Free Agency period, and awaiting for the right opportunities to strike. Though certainly not perfect, I have to be complimentary of the front office’s ability to fill these holes with so few resources and very little margin for error. It’s also good that they’ve been willing to look to the buyout market for solutions, where they’ve been able to acquire talent at below-market value, with the prospect of rehabilitating their worth. It isn’t the most high-profile approach, but it is a savvy one given their position. They will still maintain flexibility moving forward, not to mention draft picks, expiring deals and young assets at their disposal for potential future moves. Nonetheless, they’ve managed to improve the roster with legitimate talent upgrades. The Lakers are definitely a better team than they were at the end of the 2025 playoffs, and that’s a good thing thing. Perhaps even a Smart thing. OK terrible pun. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Downed by Nuggets in Summer League Finale

    The Los Angeles Lakers have finalized their batch of Las Vegas Summer League games, after falling tonight to the Denver Nuggets, by a score of 106-84. Following a loss to the Celtic last yesterday, LA looked to rebound and finalize the Vegas tournament on a high note. Unfortunately they played perhaps their worst game of Summer League thus far, and were unable to find their footing. Yesterday’s injury to forward Darius Bazley, one of the team’s standouts, coupled with Head Coach Lindsay Harding’s decision to rest other key contributors such as Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, left the Lakers vulnerable and thin on talent. Ultimately, they couldn’t keep up with Denver’s more complete team effort.

    Cole Swider led the Lakers with 17 points on 6-15 shooting, including 2-8 from long distance. The 26 year-old forward has shown flashes of potential, both in this and last year’s Summer League games. But despite his obvious gift for shooting the basketball, he lacks the defensive tools to be a viable rotational player at the NBA level. I still think he’s the obvious candidate for that last 2-way spot, especially after Darius Bazley’s unfortunate sidelining. LA could surely use Swider’s shooting prowess should they need it in a pinch.

    Aside from Swider, LA endured a dearth in scoring from the rest of its starting five. With two players scoring 0 points, and the four starters not named Swider combining to score 9 points. They did receive some solid contributions off the bench, with R.J. Davis scoring 17 points on 6-11 shooting, Ethan Taylor providing 15 points on 5-9 shooting and Sir’ Jabari Rice tallying 14 points on 5-9 shooting. Unfortunately, they were no match for Denver’s balanced attack, who themselves boasted three of five starters in double digits scoring, including 22 points from shooting guard Curtis Jones. They also collected 40 bench points total.

    The Lakers continued to feature a disjointed offensive attack, and in keeping with their Summer League trend, they were unable to get good looks for their shooters to knock down. Effort-wise, the team left much to be desired in the rebounding department, handily losing that battle 53-37. Their transition offense was also anemic, predictably after sitting most if not all of their key guys. I was not a fan of the team’s coaching in Summer League, as they relied mostly on their players’ abilities to play one-on-one. When most of the talent was sidelined tonight, the team had nothing in the way of schemes to keep their offense afloat, and it showed. They lost ugly and looked both lost and undisciplined on offense. Guys like Ethan Taylor and R.J. Davis did what they could to make this a contest, but Denver eventually pulled away late with their aggressive defense and timely transition counters, which led to several open shots. They were the better team.

    The Lakers end Summer League play with a combined 3-4 mark, combining both the Cali Classic and the Vegas Tournament. My main takeaway from Summer League is it has been greatly disappointing. The main goal being obviously to win. The second being tracking the progress of those NBA hopefuls to make the leap to the NBA. None of these guys seem NBA rotation-ready, and the one guy who we know is, Dalton Knecht, showed signs of regression. It’s still too early to call, so we’ll see what he looks like come pre-season. As I mentioned before, this team’s scouting is also lacking. While other teams load up on players with NBA-adjacent skill sets, the Lakers seem to fiill their roster with non-standouts who don’t possess any NBA skills. None of these guys can shoot, run an offense or score in the half-court. It was painful to watch. One of the main things new owner Mark Walter ought to do is completely revamp the scouting department. We want to see the Lakers compete and look like they belong against the rest of the league when it comes to lower level competiton such as G-League and Summer League. This shows the fans that the team cares about player development, and better yet, can rely on their internal youth system to fill small gaps on the roster. We see teams call up guys from the G-League all the time. If a team needs some shooting , or frontcourt depth, they can look to their lower levels to plug those holes. Can the Lakers do that? After watching all seven games of Summer League in 2025, the answer is no, they can’t. If Mark Walter wants the Lakers to be anything like his Dodgers, then scouting, player development and the G-League will need to be key areas of focus, and improvement. I don’t expect there to be any overnight makeovers. But as long as we see incremental changes over time, then that’s progress, and progress is good. Anyways, on to NBA Pre-Season now. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Continue Summer League Skid as They Fall To Celtics

    Following a poor performance against the crosstown-rival Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers took the floor in Las Vegas to face off against bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics. Despite an up and down game for roughly three quarters, one that saw a healthy amount of lead changes, the Celtics eventually managed to pull away and defeat the Lakers by a final score of 87-78. The loss marks the Lakers’ third defeat of Vegas Summer League thus far, dropping their overall record to 1-3. The team got off to a solid start, having led the Celtics 26-21 after the opening quarter. However, they followed that with a 9 point second quarter as they entered halftime down by 5 points, and never quite recovered. This was one of those games were the team simply looked flat, unfocused and undisciplined as they were outplayed by a superior and better-coached Celtics group. Not to mention their carelessness led to 21 turnovers to Boston’s 16, and their lack of playmaking producing only 17 team assists to Boston’s 21. To add insult to injury (quite literally), forward Darius Bazley who’d been one of the few standouts in Lakers Summer League thus far, sustained what appeared to be a leg injury and exited the court by way of a wheelchair. Incredibly disappointing, as he had performed at a high level during the first couple of Summer League outings, and will now likely see his journey back to the NBA (he played overseas last season) be put in jeopardy. Hopefully the big guy will be OK, but it didn’t look to good. He left the game with 8 points and 4 boards in 8 minutes, as he appeared to be on his way to yet another good game for the team. All in all, it was a very lethargic showing by the young Lakers, with some bright spots to be had, but not enough to secure the win.

    Bronny James continued his improvement, and was perhaps the Lakers’ best player tonight, going for 18 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists on on 7-13 shooting from the field (including 1-4 from three). He looked sharp at times, attacking the half-court defense on drives to the rim and showing off strides with his finishing ability. On the down side, he turned the ball over 8 times, mostly while playing the role of initiator on the pick and roll. Some of it was his teammates not rolling to the basket with conviction, but some of it was also his timing on passes. Often taking bad passing angles or attempting to thread tight windows. That’s what Summer League is for I suppose, so it’s good for Bronny to get those reps in. But I have to go back to what I mentioned a few entries back in that LA simply lacks a true initiator and floor general. They currently don’t have that player on this Summer League group. The offense looks disjointed and it’s hard to get into any type of flow within the half-court, as they rely on rudimentary stuff like handoffs and high ball screens top create shots, all of which good defenses can easily snuff out. It’s a shame that exhibit-10 prospect Augustas Marčiulionis has been unavailable for SL due to injury, as he would’ve made an exciting addition for a team starved for ballhandling and playmaking. Hopefully we’ll see more of him come training camp and pre-season.

    Dalton Knecht had another sub-par showing. In fact, with the exception of the second game of the Cali classic versus San Antonio, Knecht has been pretty bad in every SL game so far. Definitely an underwhelming sign, considering that this is a player who was a standout in the SEC two years ago and showed major scoring potential during his rookie year with the Lakers. Against mostly G-Leaguers and NBA hopefuls, one would expect Dalton to look like doesn’t belong in Vegas Summer League, in a good way. Unfortunately that hasn’t quite materialized. Tonight he scored just 8 points on 3-12 shooting (and 1-4 from three). What’s more concerning is that you see other players of objectively lesser status completely outperform him. Most of the Celtics’ wings had no issues getting their shots off and drilling threes, which Knecht has struggled with so far. The shot creation isn’t quite there, neither is the separation or the shot-making. Very disappointing, as I’m expecting big things from Dalton this upcoming season, so this isn’t the best start. Perhaps that midseason almost-trade for Mark Williams messed him up mentally. Although he had strong performances last season post all-star break. Maybe he doesn’t care much for Summer League, and isn’t going all-in. With that said, if he’s playing this way come pre-season, it’ll be time to start asking tough questions regarding Knecht’s future with the team. He was drafted in the first round of last year’s NBA Draft, and it’s imperative for teams in the current CBA landscape to develop their own talent internally. We’ll see where he’s at come October. Maybe playing with high-end playmakers like Luka and Austin Reaves will open up the floor for him and help his confidence, or at least I hope.

    Christian Koloko had another encouraging game, collecting 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, to go with 6 blocks (his interior defense was tremendous). He’s brought great energy, length and mobility on the front court for the Lakers, and I personally feel like he’s a great guy to have at the G-League level, or as a break-glass emergency for the Lakers and their front court. His rolling game is strong and he can finish at the rim as well. The three ball isn’t quite there, but he can hone his shooting in the G-League. Additionally, Cole Swider also had a good game, producing 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. He only shot 2-7 from beyond the arc, but once again, most of those shots didn’t come from any type of flow or great ball movement. The lack of a true point guard on this Summer League squad truly hurts this team’s ability to generate good looks. The team does move the ball, but there are no natural playmakers or players who pass with purpose. This particularly affects guys like Knecht and Swider, who thrive as catch and shoot options.

    Conversely, the Boston Celtics played a very strong team game. They controlled the pace of play, with their energetic defense and aggressive play in transition. Their ball movement was crisp which led to them getting many quality looks from range, which they made at a 32% rate (compared to an abysmal 21% for LA). The Celtic’s G-Leaguers play the exact same way that their NBA team plays. They try to swarm the opponent on defense, then attack the open floor with rhythm and spacing, which leads to a bunch of quality looks from three. They also move the ball exceptionally well. Yes, pretty much their entire roster might not see any time in the NBA this season, but to their credit, they try to maintain a consistent philosophy, whether it’s Vegas Summer League or the NBA. This is the type of structure that the Lakers need to aim for, organizationally speaking. They need to have an identity that permeates the organization from top to bottom. From the NBA roster, to the G-League, to Summer League. So far the Lakers have played disjointed. Many of their high points have from players’ individually shining, despite a lack of team-wide cohesion. They lack structure on offense, as well as a culture for players to adhere to. Yes, even G-Leaguers. They just got smoked by a bunch of no-namers from the Celtics who did the exact opposite. This clearly isn’t the end of the world for the Lakers, but perhaps it is a wakeup call to start investing more resources into advanced scouting and player development. G-League coaches, assistant coaches, the works. Head Coach Lindsay Harding hasn’t done an impressive job in preparing the team for these games, and it shows. This Lakers squad isn’t loaded by any stretch, but they should have the ability to play to their strengths and execute a solid game plan that makes them look up to standard with the rest of Summer League.

    There’s a lot of work to do for the Lakers, but for now, I hope they’ll finish strong against the Denver Nuggets, in the Summer League finale tomorrow night. Yeah, these games don’t really matter. But it’s still Lakers basketball, and you still want to see them win. Not to mention, display the type of organizational structure that inspires confidence in the club moving forward. You always have to keep improving. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Fall To Clippers In 3rd Game of Vegas Summer League

    After an encouraging showing against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the crosstown rival Clippers during Monday’s contest of Summer League action in Las Vegas by a score of 67-58 (ugly game). The Lakers now sit at 1-2 in the early stages of Vegas Summer League. LA got off to a nice start, thanks in part to Bronny James, who came out shooting the ball well. Bronny scored 5 quick points in the early portion of the first quarter, providing some rhythm for the struggling Lakers’ offense. Bronny played a much improved all-around game finishing with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists on 6-10 shooting from the field and 3-5 from deep. It was perhaps his best outing in Summer League so far, even going back to last summer. Unfortunately, no one on the team brought that same level of effort or productivity. Cole Swider added 16 points on 15 shots, including 4-11 from three, however, aside from Bronny and Swider, no other Laker managed to crack double digits in scoring. Overall, the team also struggled significantly at shooting the three, going only 9-30 as a team from distance. It was certainly an ugly game for the Lakers, much of it fuelled by one of my early concerns going in to summer league; the lack of a traditional point guard to run the offense. Last Saturday, against the Pelicans, LA managed to move the ball soundly and produce a well balanced offensive attack. Against a more disciplined and physical Clippers, their ball movement was foiled by the Clippers’ suffocating defense, relegating LA to aimlessly swinging the ball around the perimeter, with no real gameplan to break down the defense. Thus they ended up settling for bad shots, and were unable to find any consistent rhythm throughout the contest.

    Dalton Knecht had another rough showing, scoring only 8 points on 3-15 shooting and 1-8 from three. Even though it’s still very early in the year, it does raise some alarms regarding DKs readiness come training camp and eventually the regular season. His shot has looked flat so far, perhaps an indicator of lack of conditioning. He was coming off of an injury suffered during last Thursday’s game against the Mavericks, but one would still expect him to stand out amongst mostly second rounders, two-way contract guys and G-Leaguers that make up every club’s Summer League program. This hasn’t been the case so far, so concerns about his productivity come next season are warranted. Another downside to Kencht’s game at the moment is his defense. He’s seemingly exposed constantly when it comes to help defense and on-ball defense, displaying poor fundamentals and decision-making on both areas. He repeatedly looks lost as a help defender (often wandering off his man on the wing or at the corner), and consistently takes bad angles to close out a driver’s lane to the rim. Alot of these things come down to effort, awareness and positioning. Unfortunately, there isn’t much improvement on that end, or as much as one would have hoped. Dalton is still young but he needs to make strides as a defender if he is to be a viable contributor this season. He has the the tools, athletically speaking, but it’s up to him to put the pieces together and start making things happen on the defensive end.

    As I mentioned, Bronny James had a surprisingly strong performance, maybe his strongest of Summer League yet. He shot the three ball well, which is encouraging. He also flashed some of his driving ability, finishing at the rim over contact on a few occasions and even showing some post-up chops against switches. I think there’s still much room for improvement and growth, nonetheless, it’s great to witness the improvement. Hopefully he can keep getting better. Defensively, one has to like his activity, especially when engaged. In the past he’s often played with a low motor, but against the Clippers, the effort and the hustle were clearly present. This needs to be a consistent trend with Bronny, as that will make up for his lack of polish offensively. Being the first guy to every loose ball is a great way to earn the coaching staff’s trust, which will help keep him on the floor during crucial minutes.

    There weren’t many other standouts, not to mention, this was a very sloppy and slow game for both sides. LA made a decent push to assume control, as they ended the first half only down by one point, 32-31. Even late in the fourth quarter they managed to take a 54-53 lead. But they failed to score consistently to end the quarter, eventually watching the Clippers go on a short run to close them out. The Lakers also did not do themselves any favors, going only 5-13 from the free throw line for the game. It was a very un-synchronized and clumsy performance, which makes it very tough to win these types of games. This SL roster certainly lacks individual talent that stands out, which makes their lack of a legitimate floor general all the more evident. They’re having trouble generating looks, and when NBA guys like Knecht are struggling with their shot, it’s very tough to get any thing going on the offensive end. Moving forward, I’d like to see the team implement more ball movement, and emphasize getting better off-ball movement from their catch and shoot threats, namely Knecht and Swider. This team’s identity seems to be their shooting (at least on paper) and their rebounding. If they can go back to defending aggressively, thus generating turnovers and utilizing their shooters to create space on the break, they will be able to find easier looks during their early offense. The Clippers did a great job of stiffling the Lakers’ gameplan, but the team needs to go back to playing aggressive defense and attack the open floor, as they don’t have much going on the half-court (this is were not having a true PG hurts this group). Hopefully we can see some adjustments, as well as having players like Knecht get back into a groove. If so, they’ll be able to finish on a high note. Now, it’s on to the Boston Celtics on Thursday In Vegas, as the team looks to bring its record to 2-2. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Rebound To Pick Up First win Of Vegas Summer League

    Following a close 87-85 defeat to Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers Summer League squad picked up their first win of the Vegas Tournament after besting the New Orleans Pelicans 94-81, bringing their tournament record to 1-1. It was an impressive team win, as the young Lakers looked in control of the contest for most of the game. They raced out to a slow start, falling behind to the Pelicans 9-0 at the early stages of the first quarter. But they kept the effort and intensity, managing to secure a 22-19 to end the initial period. The Lakers would not relinquish the lead again, as they mounted a robust team effort, fuelled by 27 team assist (to the Pelicans’ 6), to put New Orleans away and secure their first victory of the Vegas Summer League Tournament.

    The Lakers were led by small forward Cole Swider, whose 21 points (on 8-9 from the field and 4-9 from three) led both sides. Swider is a bonafide deadeye shooter from range, and he’s proven so every opportunity he’s received in Summer League play over the last years. He does a great job of hanging around the corners and capitalizing on open looks from three. He’s also adept at relocating off ball, creating better angles for passes from his teammates. He’d be a solid rotational pro if not for his sub-par defense. But he’s certainly helping this current squad greatly. Darius Bazley (12 points and 10 rebounds on 33 minutes) and Christian Koloko (13 points and 7 boards on 23 minutes) both had strong performances; it seemed as though the Lakers’ big men had an extra pop in their step, as they both ran the floor aggressively and displayed tremendous defensive intensity. Both players combined for 8 blocks. The team’s effort was much better today, as their swarming defense generated a healthy amount of turnovers by New Orleans, which in turn allowed the Lakers to get and run and attack them in space. In doing so, this strategy also collapsed the Pels’ defense at times, creating open looks on the corners for players like Swider and DJ Steward to feast on. This is the type of multi-pronged offensive attack that one would like to see from this Lakers team, both during Summer League, pre-season and regular season. It was a fantastic team effort put forth by the young Lakers.

    Forward and second year pro Dalton Knecht missed tonight’s contest, after exiting last Thursday’s game with a late-game calf cramp. Fortunately, he’s been stated to have avoided serious injury, but ended up sitting out of Saturday’s contest for precautionary measures. Hopefully he will be good to go Monday night against the Clippers. Second year guard Bronny James also had an encouraging showing; registering 14 points on 5-11 from the field and 1-5 from three. Though not a great game on the surface, Bronny’s effort and tenacity was decidedly a step up from the last couple on contests. He was quite active defensively, tallying a pair of steals. He also seemed more aggressive off the bounce on offense, and showed willingness to attack his defender one on one, scoring on a couple of drives to the rim. Not to mention, his off ball movement was crisp as he had some nice backdoor cuts against overplaying defenders. That’s the type of motor Bronny needs to showcase. If he plays with that level of energy then there might actually be a spot for him the big club’s rotation.

    I was impressed by the Laker’s effort tonight, as they really got after the Pelicans defensively and were relatively in control of the game all throughout. The activity from the big men (Koloko and Bazley) was key. Particularly, the way they executed their rim runs in transition, often leading to open dunks, or collapsing New Orleans’ defense to free up shooters running wide. The team played with improved pace and rhythm, and their floor spacing seemed to have the Pels’ defense on constant scramble mode, which the Lakers took full advantage of by way of excellent ball movement. I’m curious to see if they can keep this type of effort up, and if Dalton Knecht can figure into the gameplan without disrupting the team’s flow on the offensive end. If they keep up this level of play throughout the tournament, their shooters will have no issues capitalizing on open looks, not to mention, the defense seems to be getting it together. It was a solid win by the young Lakers, and hopefully they can keep building on this momentum. The Lakers will play the LA Clippers Summer Leaguers on Monday night, so we’ll see what both teams will have in store. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Fall To Mavs In Vegas Summer League Opener

    After capping off the California Classic with a big comeback win against the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers Summer Leaguers came out flat during game one of the Las Vegas Summer League Tournament against the Dallas Mavericks. Prized number one draft pick Cooper Flagg and the young Mavs took down the Lakers 87-85, giving LA its second loss in 4 games of Summer League play so far. It was an up and down contest, with Lakers getting off to a hot start early on, and securing a 47-43 lead by halftime. The Lakers would go on to give up their lead in the third, after forward Dalton Knecht, who had it going late in the third quarter, was subbed out. LAs youngsters made a strong push to regain the lead, late through the fourth quarter, only to see one of their leading scorers Dalton Knecht, exit the game with a cramp (after blowing an easy layup). The Lakers failed to muster any offense during the final minutes, as they watched their lead evaporate as Dallas took command, eventually closing out the Lakers en route to a 87-85 victory.

    Sharpshooter Cole Swider continued to impress, as the 26 year-old NBA hopeful connected on 6-9 three point shots, on his way to scoring 22 for the night. Big man Darius Bazley also continued his solid play, tallying 8 points and 11 boards. More importantly, he played a key role in holding Dallas’ young ace Cooper Flagg to just 10 points on 21 shots. Bazley put forth a tremendous effort on the defensive end against the number one overall pick, utilizing his length to disrupt and alter shots as well as clean the the glass. Bazley has been a pleasant surprise so far in these games, and the Lakers currently hold an open two-way contract spot. Perhaps he should be the one to get it. He’s been a big part of the Lakers’ relative success thus far.

    Second year man Dalton Knecht had another inconsistent game, scoring 15 points on 16 shots, in addition to going 3-7 from beyond the arc. He was unable to catch a rhythm tonight, but did produce a few bright spots. His defense was fairly decent, and he did manage to string together some good sequences. He led a late 3rd quarter push to give the Lakers the lead, connecting on a couple of threes in addition to having a nice drive and finish at the rim. In a somewhat puzzling decision, Dalton was pulled with about five minutes in the third quarter, and the Lakers proceeded to lose the lead heading into the fourth. Knecht received some rest to start the final quarter, and after checking in he helped LA regain the lead. Unfortunately, he suffered a case of the cramps, after stealing the ball at mid-court following an errant Mavs crosscourt pass. He then drove to the rim, but cramped up as he was going up for the layup. The Lakers were down a point at this moment, and unfortunately failed to produce consistent offense the rest of the way. Following DKs exit, LA saw Dallas push their lead and eventually close them out.

    Bronny James had another poor performance. The sophomore scored 7 points on 2-8 shooting from the field, and 1-6 from three point range. He got off to a hot 2-2 start with five points in quarter one, but failed to find any semblance of a groove the rest of the way. Given the fact that Bronny was awarded a guaranteed deal, as a second round draft choice out of USC during last summer’s NBA Draft, it’s reasonable to expect some kind of NBA ready attributes from the young legacy prospect. So far I don’t see how that’s the case. Defensively, he had some good moments checking prized pick Cooper Flagg, ultimately registering a couple of defensive stops. But his overall focus looks lackluster and he also missed some rotations leading to open threes. Offensively, Bronny is quite raw, to put it politely. He still lacks a tight handle, is not a natural playmaker and still sports a broken jumper. Even if he winds up becoming another all defense/no offense type who can readily defend at the NBA level, the Lakers already have a player of this billing in Jarred Vanderbilt. In order for Bronny to register any significant playing time, he will have to show some flashes of offense. He needs to find some spark when it comes to shooting, playmaking or finishing at the basket. For a player with no standout skill in his bag, Bronny plays with no motor. If his offense is lacking, then he needs to display some consistent tenacity on the defensive end by being both a pest and a disruptor. He needs to be the guy who finds his way to every loose ball. Ala Alex Caruso, or Trevor Ariza from year’s past. And yes, it’s fair to point out these things because Bronny James is a Los Angeles Laker, and was given a firm roster spot on guaranteed salary. On a team that’s viewed as a playoff contender in a tough Western Conference, every roster spot has to count. The team cannot be wasting a roster spot on a low-ceiling project such as Bronny. And yes, that’s precisely what he is at the moment. He has some work to do before he is a legitimate rotation player for the Lakers, and if and when he gets there, props to him.

    The Lakers continue their Las Vegas summer games this Saturday, as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans. Hopefully the team can continue to gel and guys continue to shine given their opportunities. Cole Swider and Darius Bazley have both been standouts thus far. Dalton Knecht continues to be up and down, despite signs that he’s finding his groove. I firmly believe that the Lakers win this contest if not for Knecht’s injury late in the fourth, as the team lost its best NBA shotmaker after he exited the contest. But alas, no excuses. The lack of a true point guard has also held this Summer League group back a tad, as they don’t have a natural floor general to set cup the offense, which often leads a lot of robotic passes in hopes of finding an open shot. But again, no excuses. Let’s hope the young Lakers can find their rhythm and put forth a better effort in these last few games. One where they can establish a lead early on, through sound ball movement and team defense, and ultimately hold on to that lead. This roster already has NBA players on it, perhaps by the end of the tournament it can give us a few more. Go Lakers.