The Lakeshow Review

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  • A Changing of the Guard

    Last week, Jeanie Buss and the Buss family sold their majority shares of the Los Angeles Lakers to billionaire Mark Walter. Walter is the chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a privately held global financial services firm. This news dropped out of nowhere to say the least. But given the team’s penchant for stealth affairs lately, this should come as no surprise. The Buss family, after over 45 years of guiding the franchise to great success, including 17 finals berths and 11 NBA titles (since 1980), will cede control of the organization to businessman Mark Walter, who has recently had great success guiding the LA Dodgers of the MLB to championship heights. In today’s economic climate where maximizing profit margins and creating joint ventures is part of the new age strategy, this is perhaps a good opportunity for the organization to hit a hard reset and modernize their business model with new ownership. After nearly five decades of operating as a mom and pop organization, the team might now be well equipped to dip their toes in the contemporary business world, and be run like a traditional business. One with deep pockets and vast resources.

    Alas, it is perhaps bittersweet to see the Busses sell the team. The Lakers and the Buss Family have been synonymous with each other for the past 40 years. Under the ownership of the late and great Dr. Jerry Buss, the team reached extraordinary heights. Perhaps the likes of which will be hard to replicate. However, over the years, much has changed in the landscape of sports team ownership. Long gone are the days of mom and pop ownership, where a single family helms control of a franchise and do their part to brandish their labor of love into a symbol of pride within the community. These days, teams are run by larger conglomerates, who view their teams as investments, and like big businesses, profit margins are the order of the day. For better, or for worse, this is the climate in today’s world of sports. The Lakers, for all their best intentions, have been lagging lately in this regard. For the past decade or so, the organization has been being beaten in the margins by other, savvier organizations with more modernized business approaches. Not to mention, deeper pockets. The Lakers have lost out on players, and coaches, at times, over the past couple of years. So one would hope that with new ownership in place, these things would no longer be a source of concern.

    Infused with new blood at the the top, it is the hope of all Lakers fans that the new management will go out of their way to invest heavily on the team and potentially try to get a leg up on the competition. Personally, I believe this was a necessary step for the organization. I empathize with the Buss family, who for their troubles will be awarded somewhere in the neighborhood of $10B in exchange for their majority shares. But it still must be tough for them to relinquish control of an organization that has been their labor of love for the past few decades. And for all intents and purposes, they’ve done right by the fans. But given the current climate, this is a necessary move for the betterment of the franchise. A franchise such as the Lakers shouldn’t be losing on the margins, shouldn’t be losing out on players or coaches, shouldn’t have anything but the best when it comes to trainers, team doctors and facilities, etc. With this new ownership group, the Lakers should have the opportunity to be all they can be. This should ignite a legitimate sense of excitement for any Lakers fan. The Lakers brand has always been robust. Now with deep capital to go with it, the brand’s power has the chance to further expand, provided of course that they can bring in the right people on board.

    Good organizations succeed from top to bottom. Great front offices bring in great personnel who hire great coaches and draft great players. In today’s world of luxuries, quality costs money. It’s increasingly difficult to small-time your way to the top, and skimp out on the margins, and still expect to field a contender. Winning requires a uniform commitment from the front office execs all the way down to the players. And just like players are expected to produce on the court, team owners are expected to produce with their checkbook. It will be interesting to see if the new ownership will seek to beef up the front office, to expand the scouting department, to be aggressive with coaching hires and to try to establish a culture of excellence.

    Any type of financial aggression needs to be complimented with prudence and patience. In the sense that team building is the most important component. As much as a blank check from the owner can go a long way, a level head in the executive branch is just as important. Meaning that in order to have any success, it is paramount for a team to value their own assets and optimize their internal growth. Haemorrhaging assets, panic trading young players, gambling away draft picks and making short-sighted ‘win-now’ moves needs to be a thing of the past. The Lakers are no longer in the LeBron timeline, or the Jeanie Buss timeline. The Lakers are now on the Lakers Timeline. The team will now have the opportunity to bolster their brand with a new owner who is eager to spend. If they are able to bring in the right people to correctly allocate those resources, they’ll be in good shape. All in all, it’s exciting to have new blood in the owner’s box. With several quality young pieces already in place, it’ll be interesting to see how the roster shakes out moving forward and observe how the wheels start moving. As long as there’s a commitment to winning and a solid plan in place backed by steady resources, then that’s all we can hope for as fans. Here’s to an exciting new era of Lakers Basketball.

    GO. LAKERS.

  • Rui As A Trade Chip?

    Lakers forward Rui Hachimura culminated his third season with the team this year (two and a half if you consider that he was traded to LA during the 2023 trade deadline). Rui has had a very positive impact since his arrival, averaging 13.4ppg, 4.6rbp and 1.3apg on 52%FG and 42%3PT during his last two seasons in LA. He’s been a steady role player, who takes nothing off the table, isn’t high maintenance and contributes in two of the crucial areas of the modern game; scoring and outside shooting. He currently makes an annual salary of $17M (which will bump to $18.25M for the 2026 season — the final season in his deal), which makes him a positive asset by current evaluations, as his production is fairly robust relative to his salary. He’s not a negative asset, he’s not dead weight. For these reasons, I feel that Rui is perhaps the team’s best tradeable contract currently on the roster. With the Lakers facing several offseason questions, namely their search for a big man as well as shoring up their perimeter defense, Rui could find himself on the move. As productive as he’s been, there’s a case to be made that Rui’s on-court value is more redundant than complimentary. Personally, I’m a big fan of Rui Hachimura. He’s been great for this team in his short tenure so far, even if he doesn’t exactly solve any of the team’s current needs. His talent is obvious and cannot be disputed. But the Lakers have some crucial decisions they must consider heading into the summer. Rui’s on-court production and salary could make him a viable trade candidate for LA as the team seeks upgrades in other areas.

    Hachimura, 27, will be entering the final year of his contract where he’ll earn slightly north of $18M. This means that he would factor in as ideal ‘salary ballast’ for LA to utilize in a trade scenario. Packaging Rui’s salary with a first round pick could net the Lakers a legitimate rotational piece, one that could address a pressing rotational need. Teams finding themselves in rebuilding situations (like Brooklyn or Portland) and looking to tear things down could view $18M of expiring money as an attractive prospect. Throw in draft sweeteners and that’s a solid package that can net a nice player in return. With Rob Pelinka reinstating his vision of building around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves during his exit presser, Hachimura decidedly emerges as LA’s top contract to send out amidst their quest for a more balanced lineup. Rui currently occupies the power forward position. With LeBron James locked in the small forward slot, unless he is ultimately traded (something I wouldn’t be averse to). Hachimura, for all his virtues, isn’t adept at consistently guarding players at his position. He doesn’t bring forth the requisite physicality or rim protection to consistently be a plus on the defensive end. He’s also not quick enough to guard small forwards, not to mention, that is LeBron’s position for now. Defensive switches also present more issues when it comes to Rui. Particularly out in the perimeter, Rui lacks the lateral movement and tenacity to stay in front of smaller guards and/or forwards. We saw it in the playoffs. Ant Edwards decimated the Lakers defense on switches, with Rui being caught in the crossfires on several occasions. It should come as no surprise that LA simply needs more length and able defenders in open space. Additionally, in defensive help scenarios, Rui does not offer the type of help qualities as a low man to deter shots at the rim. Anytime Edwards or Minnesota’s other perimeter players broke down LA’s defense, the team looked hapless with either Rui or LeBron as the low man. Some of this was due to poor defensive game planning, particularly when it came to clearly delegating help responsibilities. But it was also painfully obvious that the team lacks a viable defensive presence on the interior. Hachimura, unfortunately, isn’t that.

    On the other hand, you have to love Rui’s offense. He’s been a great contributor on that end. Even in the playoffs, when the defensive competition gets tighter, Rui still excels. In his 3 playoff seasons with the Lakers, Rui has put up 12ppg and 4rpg on an effective 51% from the field and 46% from long range. These are very solid numbers, particularly for a player who’s your 4th or 5th option on most nights. His offensive output certainly should not go without props. But they say that you have to give value in order to get value. And the roster, as presently constructed, is lacking in several key areas. Moves need to be made.

    Rui isn’t your average soon-to-be expiring contract, in the sense that he isn’t merely salary ballast nor is he a non-factor on the court. He’s a very productive player who will happen to be playing on an expiring deal. He’s also a high character guy with a solid rep. This all translates into “tradeable asset”. I don’t think teams will view Rui or his contract as a burden. On the contrary he could be an avenue for a rebuilding team to shed salary, due to the expiring nature of his contract, and his lack of baggage would make him all the more attractive to rival clubs. If LA can find themselves in a situation where a team like Dallas is willing to trade a Daniel Gafford for Hachimura and first rounder, or if Portland decides it no longer needs D’Andre Ayton and is willing to accept a combo of Rui, Gabe Vincent and a second rounder, then these are all deals LA must seriously consider, and ultimately pull the trigger on. As much as I like Rui, defensively he simply isn’t the most optimal fit. Plus, LA’s roster is very unbalanced as of right now. With Luka only being capable of guarding 2s and 3s, and LeBron 3s and 4s, there simply isn’t any room for Rui as a sensible defensive contributor on this team. Since he’s still a very good player, and playing on a reasonably good deal, perhaps the time is now to explore every scenario in which Hachimura can be moved in order to fill another gap on the lineup.

    In my estimation, it comes down to Rui and DFS, as far as the teams’ most tradeable players. DFS is a small forward, who plays great perimeter defense and can knock down the open corner three. In other words, he’s exactly the type of player the Lakers should retain and seek to find more of. DFS will also have a player option this summer (for approximately $15M). Should he opt out, it would seriously behoove the front office to negotiate an extension, as he’s the lone 3&D man currently on the team. Rui, on the other hand, provides most of his value on the offensive side. As this team seeks to balance its personnel and address its weaknesses, it’s clearly evident that Rui becomes the odd man out. This isn’t a slight on Rui; he’s an excellent basketball player. He’s a strong forward who can finish at the rim with authority, run the floor and play the type of off-ball game that’s the perfect compliment to a dominant ballhandler. When he’s given a healthy amount of open looks, he’ll hit most of them, as his shooting splits would indicate. However, the lack of tenacity on defense and low motor on the boards ultimately diminishes his aggravate value. Rui’s a good player. He’ll surely find himself being a contributor on any team, and it isn’t hard to see another team finding value in his game. However, if any opportunities arise where the Lakers can flip Rui’s skillset for one of immediate need, then that is the type of tough call that Rob Pelinka has to make as a GM, if the goal is to fully optimize the roster’s window.

  • The Value of Dalton Knecht

    With the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Tennessee swingman Dalton Knecht. The Lakers were fortunate to take Knecht at the 17 slot after he unexpectedly fell on draft day. He was projected to go much higher. Right off bat, during Summer League, Knecht showed good promise. He put up 21.3ppg, 5.3rpg and 2.3apg on 41% from the from the field and 39% from three. His perfomance during these exhibition games solidified the expectations he’d have going into his rookie season. Dalton’s first season in the NBA was a mixed bag. He showed some flashes, put up some big time performances, but on the other hand struggled with inconsistencies, mainly pertaining to his shooting and defense. He was unsuccessful in asserting himself into the everyday lineup due to those various deficiencies. But on the aggravate, he’s a talented shooter, which this team needs. He also possesses the functional athleticism to excel as a defender, an area that still requires some work. But you have to like Dalton’s overall profile, and the type of player that he projects to be. LA certainly shouldn’t be so eager to give him away.

    Knecht finished the season with a respectable statline of 9.1ppg and 2.8rpg on 46%FG and 37.6%3PT. He played in 78 games (starting in 16 of them) and averaged about 19 minutes a night. His minutes were sporadic, and he wasn’t part of the rotation each game. Dalton’s rookie campaign got off to a rocky start, averaging just over 6 points on 38% from the field and 29% from three during his first 10 games. His defense also looked suspect at times, as he lacks the stance and technique where he can consistently put himself in good position. As a result, he has trouble staying in front of his man, something that persisted over the duration of the season. Over his next 9 games however, Dalton swiftly picked things up; averaging 19 points and 5 boards on 55% from the field and 52% from three during this stretch. This included a 37 point explosion against Utah, where he set the Lakers rookie record for most made three pointers in a game, totalling 9, and helping LA defeat the Jazz. During the ensuing road trip, his minutes would drop again, and he never quite found a consistent form. Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick wasn’t able to develop the sense of trust with Dalton, where he could simply pencil him in to the rotation on a nightly basis. Much of this was due to his poor defense, and to a lesser extent, his inconsistent shooting. To Dalton’s credit, he did finish the season on a high note. For the last month of the season (March plus a couple days of April), Dalton scored a robust 9.7ppg on 47%FG and 43%3PT over a span of 23 contests. He was, however, a -27 over the course of these such games, reinforcing the notion that perhaps he is still a one dimensional player at this point. His defense is not at the level where Redick can get away with playing him big minutes, which is why we did not see any Dalton Knecht during the Lakers’ playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    All things considered, I’m a fan of Dalton Knecht. I like the player that he has the potential to be. He also plays with an aggressive gunslinger’s mentality, which seems to be in short supply on this Lakers team. When Knecht has it going, he plays with a quick trigger and a quick conscience. He doesn’t seem to think much, he just executes and scores. This Lakers team needs guys that bring a hot-hand effect to the table every so often. However, in order to truly cement himself as a regular in the rotation, he badly needs to improve his defense. When his shot isn’t falling and the rims aren’t as friendly, defense is the one constant that will keep him on the floor. Fortunately, and despite his faults, I believe that Dalton does in fact possess the physical attributes to be at the very least a net neutral on defense (and if his offense keeps progressing then that’s a hell of a player). In fact, I believe Dalton can be an outright positive on the defensive end. It just comes down to how bad he wants it, and the quality of player development that he can get from the Lakers.

    First off, Knecht is a rangy 6’6″ 213lbs forward/shooting guard hybrid. He has a very strong first-step, which is telling of someone who possesses a robust athletic profile. His offensive repertoire has shown tremendous upside thus far. If he can apply those tools on the defensive end the way he does on the offensive end, then I think that would spell a very good defender. One area of improvement is his defensive stance; if he can consistently get low and squared with his man, then he’ll have much more success. He often gets blown by or loses his man, as his high defensive stance negates much of his lateral quickness. This is an issue that persists in many budding on-ball defenders. His rotations could also use some work, as he more often than not finds himself out of position during closeouts or scrambling situations. All these things literally come down to work ethic, film study, coaching and reps. Perhaps he’ll never be Andre Kirilenko on defense. But I don’t see any reason as to why he shouldn’t be at the very least a Christian Braun/Grayson Allen/Tim Hardaway Jr. type. A solid, reliable two-way player, with some scoring upside. If Knecht can work his way up to becoming this player, he’ll have a great career in the NBA.

    From a fit standpoint, Dalton Knecht is the type of player you want on this team. Especially if the Lakers eventually make Luka Dončić their franchise cornerstone via contract extension, then Knecht is precisely the type of player you want on a Dončić-led team. He does everything you need him to do; he’s an impressive vertical finisher, and can do so in traffic. He’s a great shooter who can shoot on the move or on catch and shoot situations. He’s got great instincts scoring off-ball, particularly coming off pin-downs, shooting in the mid-range as well as his ability to backdoor a wandering defender. He can create a bit off the dribble 1v1, and is also capable of scoring out of the pick and roll as an initiator (although his playmaking could definitely use some work). As an off-ball player in the pick and roll, he’s a perfect partner for someone like Luka. He knows when to drift and relocate for a spot-up shot, and is the type of shooter that you can position on the single side of ball screen in order to stretch a defense to its limit and keep them honest. Of course, he didn’t exactly do all of these things at an elite level. But he did show flashes in each department, and has been doing so since his days at Tennessee. I’d like to see the Lakers show some degree of commitment when developing young talents such as Dalton Knecht. He’s far from a finished product, but the upside is there and would compliment this team tremendously. I’d also like to see the Lakers show some restraint when trading away high-caliber young assets. Far often do we see the team trade away young players, before they hit their learning curve and blossom into valuable contributors. Julius Randle, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, and Alex Caruso are prime examples. This franchise has had a knack for hastily shedding assets in exchange for short-term gains. I’d like to see the organization shift their philosophy to something more sustainable and dependable.

    It’s paramount for teams, particularly amidst the current CBA, to prioritize, young cost-controlled talent. It’s equally important for teams to successfully develop said young talent. It’s no longer feasible to win with a three-star model. Just look at the Phoenix Suns. The ultra-restrictive cap stipulations make it so that teams are compelled to value depth over star power. That’s where players like Dalton Knecht factor in to the equation. In order to maintain long-term sustainability and maximize a franchise’s window, that franchise must be committed to finding and developing young, talented players on team-friendly salary. That in turn makes the roster more robust around the margins. It’s these deep teams that are currently making noise in the postseason (OKC and Indiana come to mind). Many of the Lakers’ current team needs, namely shooting and bench scoring, Dalton is already capable of fulfilling. If they commit to his development, they will have an in-house answer to those issues. Internal growth and self sufficiency will be crucial for the Lakers moving forward. Without these qualities they’re back to being the impulsive organization that places short-term gain over long-term growth. If anything, developing Dalton Knecht will only increase his value around the NBA. Which could yield an even bigger payout in the future. Patience is the game moving forward. Something that the franchise has lacked, but must be able to summon in order to navigate the current landscape of hyper-competitive parity that is the Modern NBA.

  • The Quest For a Center

    54-37. That was the rebound discrepancy in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Quarter-Finals that saw the Lakers get eliminated at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves. LA was decimated all series at the battle of the boards. They had no answers for the size and length of Minnesota’s center Rudy Gobert, whose Wilt Chamberlain-esque 27 points, 24 rebounds effort left the Lakers in the dust and searching for answers. Throughout the playoffs, Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick gradually lost faith in Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes, decreasing his minutes as the series progressed. By Game 5, Hayes was an afterthought and logged in a total of 0 minutes. The Lakers also didn’t carry any other center on the roster, thus Redick made the decision to go small, with the hopes of overwhelming the young and physical Wolves on the perimeter. This backfired tremendously, as Minnesota, led by Gobert and Julius Randle, feasted on the Lakers lack of interior presence, to the point where one could make a solid case that it was the main culprit for LA’s disappointing early playoffs exit.

    Amidst the looming offseason, the Lakers brass will be tasked with finding the team a ‘true’ center, as well as perhaps a viable backup, as they cannot afford to go into the season with such nonexistent depth at the 5. The team will likely prioritize fit and play-style over most factors as they search for a starting center. This likely means that youth, athleticism and defensive upside will be the main hallmarks the team will be looking for. Someone who fits the current timeline in terms of age. Someone who can set a screen and then roll and finish at the rim. Someone who can give the team a legitimate defensive presence on the interior. There will be several options available to the Lakers this summer. Some of them better fits, and some more attainable than others. But it’ll be incumbent on Rob Pelinka and the Lakers Front Office to find the right piece that will fill the gap at center and optimize their current window to compete for championships. Let’s take a look at some of the centers, who in my opinion could be available this summer, from the most attainable to the least likely, let’s attempt to cover all the bases:

    Good Bargains:

    • Clint Capela – This is an interesting choice, who the Lakers will most likely keep an eye on. Capela put up 8.9ppg, 8.5rpg on 56%FG in 55 games played this past season. At 31 years old, he’ll be entering unrestricted free agency this offseason. Capela is coming off the final year on his deal, where he he made over $22M as a member of the Atlanta Hawks. He will likely be playing for significantly less, as it’s unlikely that many teams with cap space will be vying for his services. The Lakers, for their part, won’t have a ton of ammunition to spend on free agents, as they will be maxed out at roughly $188M in salaries (assuming they run it back with the current roister). This puts them over the league’s luxury tax ($187.9M), meaning they will only have the tax-payer mid-level exception of $5.69M as means to add another rotation-caliber player. Capela fits this bill, as he could be had at that price, and in all honesty, would be a pretty good option. He is adequate at all the thing’s you’d want a center to do in this offense. He can rim run, finish, set picks, swat shots and defend at good to very good levels. Of course, this current iteration of Capela isn’t quite on the form of his days with the Mike D’Antoni Rockets, but on that same note, he does have experience playing opposite to ball-dominant floor generals like James Harden and Trae Young. This projects well for an offense in which Luka Dončić is the center of attention. Capela isn’t exactly elite at anything, but if he were to stake LA’s tax payer exception, then you’re most certainly maximizing those resources.
    • Brook Lopez – Similar to Capela, Lopez is coming off his final year in his deal, which saw him make $23M with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lopez, 37, put together a very solid season where he averaged 13ppg, 5rpg and 1.9bpg on 51%FG in 80 games. You have to like that durability; additionally, this is the third consecutive season where he has played over 78 games. Unlike Capela, Brook’s play-style is more akin to that of a floor spacer. He shot over %37 from three on close to 5 attempts. He’d be a phenomenal pick and pop partner from Dončić or LeBron (should he return). He’s also an exceptional free throw shooter having shot 82%FT last season, so you’d have no reservation playing him in foul situations late in games. But as talented as Lopez is, anyone who’s familiar with the way Luka likes to play knows that he likes his bigs to roll hard to the rim, triggering the low-help defense which in turn opens up shooters. This isn’t exactly Brook’s strength, as he excels more in the role of a trailer; shooting the open shot at the top of the key, or initiating handoff action on delay sets. These are fine skills to have, however, he isn’t the perfect big to partner with Luka. With that said, if Lopez can be had for the tax-payer exception, you take him in a heartbeat. You know that he’s someone that you can count on to be available and provide above average play at the center position. For anything more than that, you’d have to look at his age (LA should be trying to get younger) and lack of mobility (defense) as factors to consider perhaps looking at other avenues.
    • Steven Adams – As your starter, he’s maybe not the best option. But if he’s your backup, then you’re in business. The 31 year-old Australian is the type of grizzled vet that this team needs. His reputation as an enforcer would go a long way to helping the Lakers shed their perceived lack of toughness. His stats, though unspectacular, are solid for a backup center. With 3.9ppg and 5.6rpg on 54%FG (on a limited 13.7 minutes a game), he’d be a more than ideal candidate to shepherd the second unit. He’s coming off the final year in his deal which earned him over $12M, but I think he’d be a decent target for LA’s $5.9M tax payer mid-level exemption. I think some team will probably value him at slightly higher than a veteran’s minimum. For the tax-payer exemption he’s a solid acquisition. He is not an über productive stats machine, but his impact and presence are still felt. He’s had tremendous influence on the last two playoff teams he’s played for (Memphis and Houston), providing leadership and hard-nosed physicality. As a starter, you’re probably asking too much from Adams. At this stage, he isn’t incredibly dynamic or durable, and isn’t one to consistently produce highlight plays. But his defensive ability is still there, and he’s an able and experienced body to fill the interior with. As a bench sub, he’s all you want in a big man.

    Realistic Trade Options:

    • Daniel Gafford – He’s a familiar face. We know he’s had recent success playing with Luka during the Dallas’ run to the finals last season. With the Mavs winning the NBA Lottery (and expected to take Duke Star Forward Cooper Flagg), and their recent acquisition of Anthony Davis, as well as Dereck Lively’s looming 2027 payday (when he’ll be an restricted FA), the Mavericks may be willing to trim their front court in order to make room for those impending contracts. This leaves Gafford as the odd man out. The 26 year-old is coming off an outstanding year with Dallas, with 12.3ppg, 6.8rpg, and 1.8bpg on a hyper-efficient 71%FG. He also shoots a respectable 69%FT. After thriving as a backup in Dallas, he is now looking for a starting role, and eventually (in the summer 2027) starter money, both of which the Lakers can provide. Fit-wise, Gafford is quite optimal. He’s a very good defender, with excellent shot blocking instincts. He can run the floor, set a screen and dive to the hoop where he is an above average finisher. He’s already established chemistry with Luka from their Dallas days, and is simply a weapon for teams to contend with on the pick and roll. He has an exceptional motor which allows him to defend aggressively and then run the floor where he can beat his man down the court. He’s also very effective as a trailer, which means he’s the type of guy you want in a Luka offense. To top it off, he possesses soft hands, which allow him to be a play-maker on short roll situations and finish around the basket with touch. So what will he cost? Well, in an ideal world the Lakers could net Gafford for one of Rui Hachimura’s or Gabe Vincent’s expiring salaries plus an additional pick (plus maybe a pick swap). So what’s the catch? Well, the ball will once again be in Mavs GM Nico Harrison’s court, who after dealing Luka Dončić to the Lakers, will be under tight scrutiny from the Dallas fanbase. Could a second trade with the Lakers be something he could sell the Dallas faithful on? It’ll all come down to what type of value he expects the Lakers to give up. I believe the Lakers can offer a fair return. But if that’s not enough, then that’s when you walk away. Hopefully there’s still enough goodwill there, because Gafford would be a hell of a get.
    • Nic Claxton – Similar to Clint Capela and Daniel Gafford. Nic Claxton is a great vertical threat, especially as a roll man on ball screens. At 26 years of age, he’s someone who’s a natural fit with this current Lakers core. He’s coming off a strong season, where he posted averages of 10.3ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.2apg and 1.4bpg on 56%FG. He also shot 51% from the free throw line, which could present some issues late in games. Claxton is a young and springy athlete, who excells in many areas that the Lakers could use. He’s a great finisher, and can operate at a high level on the pick and roll. He can also make plays on short roll situations, when teams hard hedge or trap the ball handler. I like his energy and motor. His durability is another plus, as he’s played in 70 or more games during the last three seasons. Claxton will likely be costly, as he is a young, quality and durable big man. First round picks would definitely be in play, from the Lakers’ side. However, if the price is anything more than expiring contracts (i.e. Gabe Vincent) plus a pick, then the Lakers should walk away. For instance, if the asking price is Rui, Knecht and a first, then that’s an overpay. Nic Claxton at the right price is an excellent addition, anything more than that and he could actually set you back.

    High End Trade Options:

    • Bam Adebayo – Bam’s a borderline star if he isn’t one already. With averages of 19ppg, 10.1rpg, and 4.5apg on 48%FG and 76%FT, the 27 year old is one of the best centers in basketball. This past season he also added a bit of floor spacing to his arsenal, shooting 36%3pt on nearly 3 attempts. I’m not sure what Miami’s future plans are for Adebayo, but after dealing Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline and later exiting the playoffs unceremoniously, it’s possible that they continue to sell off their remaining pieces in order to kickstart their rebuild. Bam’s salary, however, makes trading for him a bit trickier. He’s slated to earn over $37M in 2026. After that, his new extension kicks in, which bumps his salary up to $51M in 2027, $55M in 2028 plus a $59M player option in 2029. This means that trading for Bam would require stacking salaries, in addition to parting with most of LA’s assets like Reaves, Knecht, picks and pick swaps. After his new extension kicks in for 2027, you’re pretty much locked in to him and Luka (should Luka sign his extension) as your two best players. Leaving few resources to add depth, and fewer assets to deal for pieces, as a Bam trade basically requires emptying the asset chest. Is Bam worth it? As good of a player as he is, I don’t think he’d be worth it. His salary following his extension will simply be too high, and will limit the team’s ability to build a cohesive roster. But from a pure fit standpoint, Bam is about as good as it gets. He’s a tremendous pick and roll weapon and an elite finisher. He can both pop and roll. He’s also incredibly dynamic on handoffs, as he has enough ballhandling chops to drive to the rim after he fakes the handoff, when the defense over-helps on the cutter. If he had a more reasonable contract, he’d be a perfect fit. As it stands, his salary makes him both an unrealistic and non-practical option. But that’s not to say he isn’t a great player, because he is.
    • Walker Kessler – Perhaps one of the most talked about options, as his name has been tossed around in trade rumors for a moment, Kessler is definitely a name to look out for. As a member of the Utah Jazz, Kessler produced averages of 11.1ppg, 12.2rpg and 2.4bpg on a blistering 66%FG this past season. He also shot 52% from the free throw line. He’s a valued commodity by Utah GM Danny Ainge, who has held steady on his asking price for Kessler; that being two first round picks. Kessler is certainly a unique talent; at 7’0″ and 245lbs, he’s certainly a force to behold on the interior. He possesses great length and athleticism for his size, which allows him to be a high-end vertical threat on screen and rolls. His defensive abilities are also top notch, as he’s one of the better rim protectors at 23 years of age. For all of his virtues, I don’t consider Kessler to be worth the gaudy price tag. Yes, he’s a great fit from an x’s and o’s perspective, but he does have certain limitations, particularly as it pertains to free throw shooting and playmaking. For his price tag, you’d expect a more well-rounded player. His salary though, is quite team friendly, as he’s still on his rookie deal (which earns him $4.8M next season) but he’ll be eligible to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Again, if he can be had for a reasonable price, then sure, pull the trigger. But I don’t foresee Danny Ainge wanting to give the Lakers anything resembling a fair bargain, thus he’ll push Kessler’s value past any realistic evaluation when it comes to dealing with LA. He already bailed out Pelinka once in the 2023 trade deadline, and again (unbeknownst to him) during the Luka Dončić trade. So he’ll obviously be looking to “win” this round over Pelinka. Probably not worth the trouble, even though Kessler is obviously a unique talent in the NBA.
    • Jarrett Allen – Definitely one of the better, and more well rounded center options that may potentially be available. One of my personal favorites. At 26 years of age, Allen is a very complete center who would easily fill LA’s gap at the 5. With season averages of 13.5ppg, 9.7rpg, 0.9bpg on 70%FG and 70%FT, Allen is one of the more productive and consistently available (he played all 82 games this past season) centers in basketball. After Cleveland’s disappointing playoff showing, the team may look to shake things up. Given their slight redundancy at the center position, with Allen and Evan Mobley both making big time money, Cleveland could move one of them in order to bolster other areas of need. Allen would be their odd man out, as Mobley has the much higher ceiling. If so, great news for LA, as they can realistically offer the Cavs an enticing package in exchange for Allen’s services. Allen is set to make $20M in 2026, which makes salary matching fairly easy. Any combination Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber (all expiring contracts) can get you there. Of course, additional assets and/or draft capital would be required, in the form of Dalton Knecht and picks/pick swaps. This is a fair trade, in my opinion, and one that you seriously consider making. Allen would solve several of the Lakers’ issues (size, lack of a “true” big, interior rim protection, etc.) and his age lines up nicely with the Lakers’ core. If Cleveland wants to play ball, the Lakers should oblige.

    Darkhorse (read: unrealistic) Free Agent:

    • Myles Turner – Highly touted Indiana big man Myles Turner is primed to hit free agency this summer, as his $20M/year contract is set to expire. Turner is a name most Lakers fans should be familiar with, as he was the subject of several trade rumors three offseasons ago in the summer of 2022, when the Lakers were looking to unload Russell Westbrook, and his massive contract. Russell Westbrook and multiple first round picks in exchange for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield was the reported offer. LA ultimately (and correctly) passed on this offer, as they deemed the asking price to be too high. This time they *might* have the chance to sign Turner outright. The 29 year old center had averages of 15.6ppg, 6.5rpg and 2bpg on 48%FG and 77%FT. He’s also an elite floor spacer with 39%3pt from range. Unfortunately, Turner is a vital piece in Indiana’s roster, who are currently rolling in the playoffs and set to face off against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. So this makes him highly unlikely to leave his current club, as the mutual interest will certainly be there. From the Lakers’ perspective, attaining Turner is highly unlikely, hence the category. For the offseason, LA will have little money to spend on free agents. If LeBron James opts in to his $52M player option, the Lakers will have no cap room. Leaving them with just the $5.9M tax payer exemption as the only resource to add a free agent. Even if LeBron takes the requisite paycut to activate the full mid level exception (roughly $14M), that’s still not enough to lure someone of Tuner’s stature. He is very clearly a great fit. Even though he is not quite the vertical threat as someone like Bam or Nic Claxton, he has unique gravity for a big man with his three point shooting. His finishing is also decent enough. But his ability as a pop man would certainly open up avenues for the offense. Defensively, you like the swat numbers and overall rim protection. And with his athletic profile, he’s definitely someone who can fill the lane in transition, rim run and/or excel as a trailer. Very dynamic player, who is one of the main reasons Indiana is still playing this deep into the postseason. Unfortunately for LA, he’s more of a pipe dream at this point. But if the stars somehow align for the Lakers and Turner, then he’d be a great pillar to add to the roster.

    Out of these targets, I’d say that Capela and Gafford seem like the best natural fits, in terms of x’s and o’s and budgetary limitations. The Lakers won’t have a ton of money to spend on the market, nor do they have an overabundance of assets to flip for a superstar big, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a result, they’ll have to make their choices wisely and carefully. A player like Capela fits into the team’s $5.9M tax-payer exemption, and would be good allocation of that money. Someone like Gafford would also align with the assets the Lakers can offer. Some combination of Rui Hachimura and a first round pick for Daniel Gafford would be a wise move that the team could make.

    Ideally, you’d want to see the Lakers land both a starting center and a backup center. As we saw throughout the Lakers’ brief playoff stint, JJ Redick quickly lost faith in Jaxson Hayes, the only center on the roster. After Hayes was sidelined, the team had no viable options to play at the 5, thus they were forced to play small, and were subsequently punished by Minnesota’s formidable front court. In my opinion this was the main reason for the team’s woes in the playoffs. As we are witnessing in this season’s playoffs, teams with two-big lineups are reaping the benefits of their size and physicality. Depth at the center position has always been an essential foundation for winning basketball, even in today’s pace and space landscape.

    Additionally, you want to have a dynamic big man (or two) on the roster, in order to fully optimize a Luka Dončić-led offense. Luka is a pick and roll wizard. Thus, bigs who are mobile, can set good screens and are athletic enough to finish strong at the hoop are vital pieces in that play style. Any big who is a threat to finish at the rim after setting a pick will always trigger the low help which in turn opens up shooters on the perimeter. And bigs who are threats to pop after screening will open up driving lanes for other players. That’s why dynamic and versatile big men are vital in today’s NBA, not just in a Luka offense. The Lakers sorely lacked in this area, an area where Jaxson Hayes alone was not nearly sufficient to keep them competitive. Should the Lakers brass nail their quest for a center this offseason, it will open up numerous possibilities for the offense, and make them all the more formidable. Let’s hope they’re successful in that task. Go Lakeshow.

  • JJ Redick: A Year In Review

    Former Duke Blue Devils legend JJ Redick just completed his first season as Lakers head coach. There were some highs and lows, moments of brilliance and, well, moments of head scratching. 

    Redick accepted the job after his brief stint as a podcaster post-retirement. A stint that included a partnership with LeBron James on the Mind The Game Podcast. Despite not bringing any coaching experience, at any level, it was presumed that Redick’s enthusiasm and appetite for the job would propel him to excel at the highest levels. The fact that he’d been podcast buddies with LeBron surely didn’t hurt. Through the offseason, the Lakers explored other options, namely UConn Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dan Hurley. Who famously (or infamously) spurned the Lakers in favor of an extension at this alma mater. Surprisingly, LA did not even take a look at candidates like Mike budenholzer, a proven champion and commodity, and seemed zeroed in on Redick after the brief Dan Hurley detour. Eventually, JJ got the gig, and certainly walked into a situation filled with pressure and expectations. 

    Initially, JJ Redick faced some unique challenges after becoming the franchise’s 29th Head Coach. He pledged to establish Anthony Davis as the “offensive hub”, meaning he would be the prime focal point in the offense. More so than in years past. Perhaps signalling that LeBron James would no longer be the team’s main driving force offensively. He was also tasked with the development of young pieces such as Austin Reaves, and optimizing the fits of forward Rui Hachimura and guard D’Angelo Russell. Ultimately, Davis was traded (along with Max Christie) in exchange for Luka Dončić. I will say, during the season’s first half, AD was playing great basketball for the Lakers. He anchored the team’s defense, and helped propel the Lakers into the playoff picture since the start of the season. The 2025 Lakers were never underwater and maintained a respectable level of play all throughout. Unlike the last two seasons with Coach Darvin Ham, where the team had to claw its way into the playoffs. Much of that was due to AD’s stout two-way play, as he helped the team to an excellent 28-19 record before being traded in February. The team manned its pace after the Luka Dončić trade, and even finished with a top 3 seed heading onto the playoffs. D’Angelo Russell was also traded for Dorian Finney-Smith early in the season, which helped shore up the team’s defensive perimeter deficiencies. All in all, you have to give credit to JJ for keeping the team focused and maintaining a consistent pace, despite several in-season personnel changes. The team could have easily collapsed or dropped its pace, yet they managed to finish the year strong, with a 50-32 record (3 game improvement over last year) and a top 3 seed in the West Playoffs. 

    Philosophically, JJ proved to be a complete 180 from Darvin Ham. He brought a “modernized” offensive approach, with the 5-out offense, which sought to optimize the skillsets of the team’s role players such as Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. The latter of whom pleasantly surprised us all by manning the center position after the AD trade. Reaves in particular enjoyed a career year. Much of that a direct result of the team’s more offensive-centric approach, as well as strong mentorship from his head coach. Redick’s encouragement and belief in AR was crucial in him taking a substantial leap this season. For stretches during the season, AR was looking like a legitimate All-Star and his effect on the Lakers’ winning basketball should not be overlooked. Hachimura enjoyed a strong finish to the season and was a vital piece in the team’s floor spacing, and newcomer Dorian Finney-Smith also looked like a natural fit in JJ’s offense as a corner spot-up man. Even young journeyman Jaxson Hayes showed some flashes of brilliance. After a disappointing 2024 with the team, and frankly a disappointing career thus far, Hayes proved to be surprisingly productive in his limited minutes at center. He was excellent on the pick-and-roll as a screen-setter and roll-man, and even as an outlet man on short-roll situations. At least during the regular season, he looked like a respectable ball screen partner with Luka Dončić. JJ Redick deserves a healthy share of credit for all these things. Amidst roster turnover at multiple points during the season, he managed to keep the team locked in and got the most out of his players, regardless of the personnel. I’d say this was a decidedly positive aspect about JJ’s rookie coaching stint. 

    The area where the team surprised the most was on the defensive end. Particularly after the AD trade, when the team lost its defensive anchor. JJ managed to successfully install a defense-by-committee approach which helped the team keeps its head above water on the defensive end, post-AD trade. The Lakers were able to swarm teams with their length on the perimeter, and against bigger teams, front the post via various zone schemes, which made entry passes difficult and discourage teams from posting up. Their frantic stunt-and-recover schemes proved successful in defending the three pointer, and being able to hold teams under their averages. For the team’s success in the regular season, JJ once again takes home a bulk of the credit. The fact that the defense did not fall apart at any point, particularly after so many roster moves, was quite miraculous. His defensive schemes proved clever and resourceful, and were a big reason why the team was able to keep winning. I was impressed at how he managed to maximize his personnels’ potential and get the most out of each and everyone in the rotation. 

    Just like there was good, there was also not-so-good. The team seemed to perplexingly come out flat for certain games, and failed to display a level of consistency that in my opinion could be attributed to cockiness or over-confidence. Because of their star power, LA took certain games for granted. And at times endured rough stretches, where a humbling loss was needed in order to get the team to snap out of its funk. Most of these duds popped up shortly after the Luka trade. For instance, a 3-game skid to kick off a road trip in early March, the first one being the Celtics loss where LeBron sustained a groin injury. Then suddenly, after LeBron’s abrupt return to the lineup (he should’ve just taken the rest of the regular season off), the team dropped winnable home games against Chicago and Milwaukee. Then, perhaps the worst of all, a road loss to Chicago (again) where the team (mainly LeBron) did everything in their power to throw away the game. A true choking clinic. Lastly, a disappointing home loss to Golden State, when the no. 2 seed in the West was still in play. Overall, the team finished 7-7 after LeBron returned from injury. He could’ve used the rest. And perhaps allowed the rest of the team to develop some chemistry in his absence. Looking back, that was the stretch were the team began to show some cracks. Instead of roaring into the playoffs, the team merely strolled into them. With decent momentum, but not as much as you’d have liked. It’s times like these where one would like to see JJ step on the gas pedal and demand more out of the roster. 

    LA’s unspectacular finish to the season did not spell the best vibes heading into the playoffs. The team came out flat in their round one opener against Minnesota, who ran them off their home floor. LeBron, in particular, looked gassed. A troubling sign considering it was only game 1. As I suggested, he should have rested after the Boston loss in order to optimize his physical condition for the playoffs. Perhaps JJ should’ve prioritized rest and building chemistry with Luka, Austin and Rui, as opposed to making sure LeBron got back on the court as soon as possible. Especially at his age, 40, it’s best to go easy with those matters. The team never quite regained its sterling defensive form it had displayed during the season, often breaking down defensively because of bad tactical decisions. Such as consistently helping off the strong side corner, lazy help defense, the refusal to start Jarred Vanderbilt and stick him on Anthony Edwards, or the neglecting of the center position and insistence on going small sans Jaxson Hayes. All off these decisions proved costly. For someone who looked energetic and willing to adapt during the regular season, JJ was quite the opposite come playoffs. The team went down without any significant adjustment, and with the conceited assumption that Minnesota would eventually come back down to earth. They never did. The series was played on their terms, and LA lacked the smarts and aggression to successfully counter Minnesota’s initial punch, eventually enduring the knockout blow after the Wolves vanquished them in 5 games on their home floor at Crypto.

    It was a season of ups and downs. Roster turnover and injuries certainly played a role in defining the season’s outlook. Coach JJ Redick proved resourceful and capable of managing the grind of the 82-game season, with the occasional wart rearing its ugly head. Unfortunately, that resourcefulness didn’t exactly translate into the postseason. Experience and age took a hold, as Redick was outclassed by the more experienced Timberwolves staff, who were determined to establish their brand of physicality and aggression, which in turn, the Lakers failed to answer for. I can’t really fault JJ for these things, as experience usually wins out this time of the year. The one hope is that the right lessons will be learned. Adjustments, resilience and discipline are all things this team can bank on improving for next season. And yes, there’s always a next season, which always brings new hope and excitement. All in all, I’d say JJ Redick’s initial season as Lakers Head Coach was both encouraging and disappointing. Hopefully the bitterness of losing ignites the right mentality to bring forth next year, and perhaps the Lakers can continue to add the requisite pieces that maximize JJ’s coaching talents. Until then, we’ll have the offseason to mull things over. Let’s hope both the coaches and players are ready to continue building upon their foundation in prosperous ways. 

  • Lakers Should Exit The Klutch Sports Business

    All good things must come to an end. All bad things must come to an end. All things must come to an end. Regardless of how you feel about the seven seasons that LeBron James has spent as a Los Angeles Laker, it’s clearly obvious at this point that it’s in his best interest to seek greener pastures. As well as it’s in the organization’s best interest to build towards the future. LeBron’s timeline and the Laker’s timeline are simply incongruent at this point. The Lakers want to get younger and build around their new star acquisition Luka Dončić, while LeBron James is playing the remainder of his career for his legacy. Chasing all-time records and chasing Michael Jordan. These two visions are incompatible, nor do they ever intersect over the course of their natural trajectories. Which is why the Lakers must choose; do they continue going younger with the aim of being a perennial contender, or do they halt those plans and become a sideshow amidst LeBron’s eventual retirement tour and future family engagements? They very clearly cannot do both. They can either compete for championships or cater to their second best player. The wise play for the Lakers in this scenario, in my humble opinion, is to move on. The Lakers-Klutch Sports joint venture has run its course, and we’ve bared witness to its fruits. For better or for worse, the results are the results. Treating this past season as something to build upon will only spell trouble for the Los Angeles Lakers. They can choose to either make drastic changes, or continue deluding themselves that they aren’t merely tinkering the settings on the treadmill. It’s time to outright ditch the treadmill. It’s time to move on.  

    LeBron is set to make over $52M this upcoming season. At this salary, it’s increasingly difficult to add the necessary parts this team needs in order to improve. Plus, he’s no longer the team’s top dog. Luka is. It doesn’t make sense for the Lakers to shift so much of their attention to someone who is no longer the team’s best player. And on top of that, the Lakers employ the services of his son, Bronny, who as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, boasts a fully guaranteed contract spanning over four years. The team, in my opinion, can’t be prioritizing the James Family’s personal whims at the expense of building around their new cornerstone, Luka and their championship endgame. For a team as cap-stricken and asset-bare as LA, it’s virtually impossible to do both. If anything, LeBron should consider taking a significant paycut, if the optimal outcome of trading him can’t be achieved. He isn’t worth $52M to this team, or any team trying to contend for championship for that matter. The days of LeBron being the best player on a championship team are long gone. 

    James no longer has the ability to run through the rigours of an 82-game season plus an extended playoff run. That much was clear in 2025, when he looked like a completely different player as soon as the playoffs commenced. Even during the regular season, he was not impacting games quite at the level that he and his fans are accustomed to seeing. He was still filling up the stat sheet, but to the tune of a mediocre plus-minus of -54. Yeah the stats were there, but the sheer impact was not. Once the postseason started, LeBron looked tired. As evidenced be his meager 19 points on 18 shots performance in Game 1 of the Minnesota series, after almost a week of rest. He had some bright moments, including a 38 point performance in Game 3. But capped off the series with a disappointing 22 point on 21 shots performance in Game 5, as the Lakers dropped the series in five games. He also shot 2-9 combined in the final two fourth quarters combined (games 4 and 5). Which is a dead giveaway that he was gassed. Overall, his numbers weren’t abysmal (although his fourth quarter play in fact was), however, for a player making close to $50M, more than anyone else on the team, you’d expect more. As in much more. He simply is not quite the difference maker that he once was and can no longer be the engine of a championship offense. Not to mention, the team does not have the luxury of being able to wait for LeBron to “play his way” into a series. For a player getting payed prime money, you expect him to play like it, especially in the playoffs. It simply doesn’t make sense for the Lakers to view LeBron James as a franchise cornerstone any longer.

    Not to mention, the fit between Luka and LeBron, is not an ideal one. Yes, both are big names. And yes, you will occasionally be treated to the occasional highlight-worthy play, such as a Luka outlet pass to LeBron in transition resulting in a slam dunk. But on a consistent basis, particularly within the half-court, they are not a good fit. They have trouble playing off of each other, and while they both can compile nice looking statlines, they come by way of a your turn-my turn effort as opposed to liquid synergy. LeBron is simply not the type of scorer you want next to Luka. He isn’t a quick scorer, in the sense that you can’t just throw him the ball on the block and watch him execute a quick turnaround jumper or spinning layup. LeBron needs the ball in his hands, just like Luka needs the ball in his hands. They both play a relatively similar game, except LeBron is 40 while Luka is 26. You want the young guy who’s entering his prime to control the bulk of the offense, not the older player who’s entering his twilight. Dibs should always go to the best player, thus Luka should have the ball in his hands more. Unfortunately, LeBron simply can’t compliment Luka’s game as you’d like. This was evident in the playoffs. Against good defensive teams who can limit the highlight reel transition plays, the Lakers struggled to get consistent execution in the half-court with both Luka and LeBron. LeBron can’t post-up (he had no success backing down smaller players on mismatches), so you can’t play any semblance of an inside-out game. LeBron can’t pull through trigger from range coming off a pindown as he lacks the footwork (which is an imprtant weak-side function when Luka is operating on ball screens). And he simply doesn’t have the offensive repertoire to score in crunch time in the playoffs (an area where he’s always struggled) when the game slows down making footwork and shot-creation all the more valued. At this stage in his career he also isn’t able to do the dirty work needed to compliment a Luka Dončić, and the style of ball he likes to play. Setting picks, rolling hard to the basket, rolling hard into a post up and punishing smaller players in the post, etc. He plays a game that’s very similar to Luka’s, when what you really need is a foil, not a duplicate. 

    Of course, you also have to talk about LeBron’s age. He’s 40. And it showed. He broke down towards the end of the year, most notably during the playoffs. Where he did not look comfortable shouldering the load he’s expected to carry. After sustaining a groin injury against Boston, shortly after the Luka trade, LeBron should’ve used that time to sit out and rest. Instead, he came back almost immediately when it was evident that he was still nursing some discomfort, which hurt the team. Ideally, he could’ve used the rest. And even more ideally, the Lakers could have used a well rested LeBron as their number 2 guy. Instead he played tired and likely hurt, and his production took a dip. Outside of a gaudy Game 3 effort, he was fairly ho-hum in the rest of the series, particularly late in fourth quarters. And the bigger problem is: none of this will be getting better. Because… oh yeah, he’s 40. This is what happens to players when they turn the big 4-0, they break down. Sure, LeBron has been an outlier throughout his career when it comes to longevity. But even he is starting to feel the cracks. At his current salary of $52M, there simply isn’t any flexibility for the team to get LeBron the necessary ‘help’ to ease his burden. He’ll likely shoulder the same load next season and likely break down again. I don’t think that’s worth it considering what the Lakers are paying him. Thus, it’s time to move on. The LeBron era has come and gone. The team has young talent itching to spread their wings, and it no longer makes sense for the team to cater to the demands of a 40 year old at the expense of the teams’ franchise player and the rest of the locker room. Some concessions need to be made. If the Lakers are serious about their bid to build a postseason powerhouse, it would be in the best interest of both the organization and LeBron for both to move on and prioritize the ensuing chapters of their respective legacies. 

  • The Case For Austin Reaves

    Lakers guard Austin Reaves is coming off the heels of an extremely disappointing series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. During the Lakers’ brief 5-game playoff rodeo against Minnesota, Reaves tallied an underwhelming 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while shooting a meek 41% from the from field and 32% from beyond the arc. Now, these aren’t bad numbers per se, but after a gaudy regular season that saw AR establish career marks in points per game (20.2), rebounds (4.5) and assists (5.8) on a minty 46/38/88 slash line, his playoff output certainly felt like a massive drop off. Not to mention a costly one for the Los Angeles Lakers, who were unable to get any sort of consistent offense from anyone not named Luka Dončić, even LeBron looked paltry for stretches. AR certainly did not help matters. His game seemed to be disrupted by the Timberwolves’ length and athleticism, and it certainly ignited many of his critics to voice their frustrations, and rightfully so. AR was not good, and his level of play was definitely a factor in the Lakers humbling loss to Minnesota, albeit not the only one, nor the main one. Thus, there is chatter that perhaps the Lakers should move on. That he has reached his ceiling, or that he has regressed. In my opinion, these takes are premature. While I do concede that Austin sucked during the Lakers short playoff stint, I still view him as somebody that the Lakers should keep around. As his offensive versatility and shotmaking are all valuable skills that this team needs more of as they build into the future. 

    For starters, AR’s contract kicks ass. In the summer 2023 he signed a 4 year, $53.8M contract, bolstered by a promising sophomore campaign. This has proven to be one of the better contracts in basketball, as his season averages have been steadily improving, while his contract stays relatively the same ($13.9M in 2026, then $14.9M in 2027). It should be noted that the last year of the deal, 2027, is a player option. 

    Reaves had an extraordinary back half of the season in 2025. Following the D’Angelo Russell trade on December 29th, AR averaged 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists on 47/38/90 splits the rest of the way, after being given a vote of confidence by Head Coach JJ Redick. He proved to be easily one of the better third options in the game, playing behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and later Luka Dončić. Certainly, the playoffs painted a different picture. His scoring dropped to 16.2PPG (-4 from regular season) despite his shot attempts roughly increasing (14.2 in the regular season versus 14.6 in the playoffs). One of Reaves’ superpowers is his ability to produce at relatively high efficiency despite low usage. A value that he has displayed all throughout his career so far. Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain this type of play in the postseason. 

    The good news is, we actually do have a fairly recent and substantive sample size where Reaves has in fact excelled in the playoffs. In 2023, during LA’s surprise run the Western Conference Finals, Austin was one of the catalysts, pouring in 16.9PPG (good for third on the team) to go with 4.4 RPG, and 4.6APG. He was particularly excellent in his first ever playoff game, a 128-112 road win at Memphis, where he scored 23 points (14 of them in the 4th quarter) to go with 4 assists, authoring the now infamous “I”M HIM!” soundbyte. He was consistent throughout the Lakers’ 16-game playoff run, including the Western Conference Finals, where the team fell to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in 4 games. In 2024, he was again solid, scoring 16.8PPG on 47% shooting. He was, however, bad from beyond the arc, shooting just 27% from that range. This season, he once again struggled with his three pointer, shooting a below-league-average 32% against Minnesota. This could be a trend, where he struggles with his three ball come playoff time. I would attribute this year’s playoff struggles partly to a big toe injury Austin sustained before the playoffs, as well as the Lakers’ general offensive strategy which lacked the crisp off-ball movement that we’d grown accustomed to seeing from them throughout the regular season. However, Reaves’ struggles these playoffs are mostly on him. He as well as several other players on the Lakers’ roster failed to live up to their billing during the Minnesota series. All in all, I don’t think Reaves is a playoff dud. He had a terrible series, but I think his game is such where he in fact possesses the attributes to be a plus postseason performer. Like I mentioned, there is a reasonable sample size that suggests Reaves can in fact excel in the playoffs, and I am of the opinion that once he develops more chemistry with Luka, they will be able to play off of each other more fruitfully and with better results. I want to sat that I believe in Austin Reaves as a playoff guy.

    One thing I like about AR, is the kid is clutch. If you believe in that sort of thing. I certainly do. His clutch time splits have been rather good, so far in his young career. I will define clutch scoring as points scored during the final 2 minutes of 1-possession games. Under these parameters, Reaves proved sharply productive during the 2025 NBA regular season. He tallied 16 points, making 5 out of his 9 field goals (good for 55%). He also made all of his 5 free throws. The teams’ W-L record in these such games was 10-8. Keep in mind, he is the teams’ number three option, behind LeBron and AD (and later Luka). Yet he finished second on the team in clutch scoring behind LeBron James. Austin was also 50th in the NBA in clutch scoring. Not too shabby. The year before last, 2023, also saw AR finish with 19 clutch time points, connecting on all 4 of his field goals (100%) and hitting on 10 of his 12 free throws (83%) during these such moments. The team’s W-L in these games was 11-8. In my opinion this is a rather valuable and underrated skill to have, particularly from someone that isn’t the team’s top player. While these numbers are far from perfect, it’s clear that AR is someone who’s unafraid of the moment. His robust offensive skillset enables him to get high quality shots off in these situations. Even during this year’s playoffs, where he could he couldn’t hit the ocean from a boat, he was still willing to take the shots. Yeah he missed many of them. But the aptitude is there. Reaves doesn’t back down, and I think that given his attitude and work ethic, these failures will only provide the motivating fuel for AR to come back hungrier and more determined. And that’s precisely the attitude that I want the players on this team to adopt.

    Perhaps the one thing that keeps Austin Reaves from being a pitch perfect for a Luka Dončić team is his defense. It’s not pretty. His lack of athleticism and inability to keep up with players with a naturally quick first step can be frustrating. I see it, just like I’m sure everybody sees it. I think there is still room for improvement for Austin in the defensive department. But I also don’t think that he will ever develop the reputation of a ‘lockdown’ defender. Teams continue to matchup hunt him, as the Minnesota Timberwolves did these playoffs. This is compounded by the fact that Luka Dončić has many of the same deficiencies. Of course, with Luka, you can be inclined to overlook those deficiencies because his offense is so damn good. Not terribly dissimilar from another Lakers legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson. But with Reaves, those issues can, potentially, cancel out the positives. Because as good as his offense can be, it simply isn’t quite to the point that you’re willing to overlook the defensive shortcomings. This is why, I have suggested, and continue to suggest, that perhaps Austin Reaves is best suited as a sixth man. But I don’t exactly view this as a demotion. Many championship rosters have historically enjoyed the services of great bench players that have the ability to check in to a game and affect it in a positive fashion. Think Manu Ginobili. Or Toni Kukoc. Or Vinnie Johnson. Or Lamar Odom. Or Michael Cooper. I think Austin Reaves can fit into this mold. It’s already in his DNA. He’s the guy that occasionally can punch above his weight class. He’s the guy that for a stretch, or two, can catch a heater and match the other teams’ best scorer. This is why he’s better suited off the bench. He can catch lightning in a bottle, and when he does, you can ride him. When he doesn’t, or when you happen to be going up against an opponent that is a bad matchup for him, then you sit him, just like any other historically great bench player. Austin’s defense doesn’t have to be such an achilles heel for this team. Provided of course that the team stops putting him in situations where his defensive abilities can get exposed. It remains to be seen if AR would go along with this philosophy. Maybe he views himself as a starter. In which case maybe things could get interesting. Which leads me to my final point. 

    Austin has the ability to enter the final year of his contract in 2025-26. AR signed a 4 year extension in the summer of 2023, with a player option for his final season. This means that in the summer of 2026 Austin can forego the final year in his deal and opt for free agency. For this reason, I would like to see the Lakers brass actively pursue an extension for AR, in order to keep him long-term. Something in the neighborhood of 4 years/$90M. If he takes it, great. He’s still great value at that figure. If he declines, things could get interesting, and you’d have to consider placing AR on the trade block. I’m a big Austin Reaves fan. The kid clearly loves the game. He works hard. He’s a tremendous story. He can get to the rim and shoot the ball with a formidable bag to go with it. He seems to love being a Laker. However, I don’t think he’s worth anywhere near $30M to this team. Not when they still have so many holes to fill, such few assets and such little roster flexibility. As things stand, the Lakers are capped out and well over the luxury tax. I view Austin as someone who can be an essential pillar to the building of this roster, just as long as it’s at a reasonable price. But ultimately, the ball’s in his court. He will get paid what he thinks he’s worth, and if that figure happens to be anywhere close to the Lakers’ preferred figure, then he’s definitely a player to keep. You want role players with agency, and with the initiative to step into the spotlight whenever the situation or the team requires it. I believe AR has the mindset and the game to go with it. And unless he’s traded for someone like Giannis, I truly hope he can be a Laker for years to come. Despite his playoff failures, his journey and career trajectory suggests that he can be a better player because of them. He’s the type of role player you want on your team. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Look To Offseason After Early Playoffs Exit

    Another season is in the books for The Los Angeles Lakers, who just capped off the 77th season in franchise history in a somewhat unceremonious fashion. The Lakers were ousted, by way of a Gentleman’s Sweep, at the hands of a young and athletic Minnesota Timberwolves team, whose size and speed swarmed the Lakers at virtually every turn. Having entered the postseason on a moderately high note, LA seemed primed to build upon their regular season exploits and embark on a successful summer playoff tour. Those plans were obviously cut short, well short. 

    The team is now sitting at home, having failed to make it out of the first round for the second consecutive season (third time in the LeBron James era). The Lakers brass, led by Team president and majority owner Jeannie Buss, and Team General Manager Rob Pelinka, will now look to the coming months of summer to make their best bid to tinker, enhance and improve the roster, so that the organization can compete for World Championships in the foreseeable future. There will be unique challenges during this off-season for the Lakers. But if the team plays their cards correctly, they should be able to find the right avenues to field a better team by Training Camp in October. 

    Following the failures of the post-season, one would hope that the team heads into the summer with both an uncompromising ambition and an open-mind. Both will be required in order to return the franchise back to their championship standards. Should a number opportunities arise, it will be incumbent on this front office to identify the ones that will bring them closer to said standards. Hopefully, by the end of the summer they will have constructed a roster capable of squaring up against the NBA’s elite. Easier said than done, but I suppose that is the fun of it all. 

    For any team, every road to a championship must start with finding that franchise cornerstone. Luckily for the Lakers, they already have one in Luka Dončić. At least for now, that is. Dončić has a player option for the 2026-27 season. In other words, he is eligible to become a free agent soon after this upcoming 2025-26 season. Thus, it’s imperative for the Lakers to work out an extension with Luka during this summer. Any path to longterm championship contention for this franchise must start with locking up a player of Luka’s caliber. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing him for nothing and you’re simply left with a roster of overpaid role-players. Perhaps Luka wants to wait and see what kind of moves are made this summer before offering an official commitment. In any case, this should be priority number one for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. 

    The Lakers’ salary cap situation puts the team in a unique spot. Not necessarily an optimal one, either. As things currently stand, the team sits at roughly $140.25M in total salary heading into the next season. There will be potentially 12 players under contract for them, those being: 

    LeBron James ($52.63M player option)

    Luka Dončić ($46M)

    Rui Hachimura ($18.26M)

    Dorian Finney-Smith ($15.38M player option)

    Austin Reaves ($13.94M)

    Jarred Vanderbilt ($11.57M)

    Gabe Vincent ($11.5M)

    Maxi Kleber ($11M)

    Dalton Knecht ($4.01M)

    Shake Milton ($3M non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed after July 20th)

    Jordan Goodwin ($2.35M team option)

    Bronny James ($1.96M)

    After factoring in the cap hold for the Lakers 2nd round pick (about $1.28M), they’ll be left with little  ammunition, outside of the $5.7M tax payer mid-level exception, to perform any signing via free agency. It’ll be very interesting to see if the team winds up retaining the services of DFS, who is perhaps the lone 3&D man currently on the roster. He is the type of player this team will likely be going after. Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Rui Hachimura will all be on expiring contracts next season, as well as DFS, should he pick up his player option. Guys like Rui and Reaves can both be utilized as trade assets because of the nature of their team-friendly deals, along with future draft picks and possibly Dalton Knecht. Perhaps this trade package can net the organization another all-star talent to pair with Luka. However, none of these guys should be dangled simply for the fun of it; they should only be moved in the event that they bring back clear and legitimate upgrades. There really isn’t much for the team to do in terms of signings, outside of retaining their own guys. But they will certainly have plenty of options to execute trades that can improve the roster around the margins. 

    Let’s dive a bit into specific free agent targets. Because of the team’s limited cap room, they’ll have limited options to look at as far as signings are concerned. One player that immediately pops up is Hawks’ center Clint Capela. At 30 years of age, his style of play is very much simpatico to what you’re looking for on a Luka-centric roster. He is a dynamic pick and roll center with tremendous finishing ability and optimal lob-potential for Luka to work with on ball screen action. He’s already had significant experience playing with James Harden in Houston, whose play style is perhaps adjacent to that of Luka’s. He’d be a clear upgrade over someone like Jaxson Hayes, who at times lacks the discipline and know-how to consistently be the ideal lob threat that the team needs. Capela is also pretty good defensively, offering solid rim protection and good lateral mobility on defensive switches. 

    Then there’s somebody who’s a familiar face and former Laker, that being Brook Lopez. With things going sideways down in Milwaukee, the team might be ready to blow things up and explore other avenues to build a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lopez, who is 37 years old, will be entering free agency with perhaps his final opportunity to cash in on good money. It’s doubtful whether he would accept the Lakers $5.7 tax payer exception. But he’s certainly a fit. His shooting ability makes him an ideal foil on screen and rolls, particularly as a pop guy. He is a great fit on Spain pick and rolls, which the team didn’t run much of last season. He’s also a former Defensive
    Player of the Year, so there is some upside defensively. His age, however, does make him a question mark as far as his longevity and ability to stay on the floor. He also happens to be right at that threshold where you run the risk of the tread coming off the tires. But, at $5.7M, you could do a lot worse than Brook Lopez. I’m not sure if he’s precisely the type of ‘upgrade’ you’d want to build around Luka, but he’s certainly a quality player, still at his age.

    Houston Rockets center Steven Adams is another option that the Lakers will almost certainly take a good look at. At 32 years of age, he fits within the current timeline. His play style, however, is much different from the aforementioned names, as Adams is more of a gritty, physical presence who doesn’t provide the offensive spark of say a Clint Capela, but he makes up for it with his strong play as a rebounder and screen-setter. I would personally question his fit with Luka on offense, but defensively he is certainly a force to be recognized. With his large frame, he’s someone you could stick on a Rudy Gobert in order to cool him off. Adams is not very dynamic as a finisher on screening action, but he is capable of setting a mean pick. Though he isn’t the best fit, he is still someone I’d take as a backup in a heartbeat. Solid and reliable player. 

    There are also names like Naz Reid or Myles Turner. But these guys are integral pieces to their respective playoff teams, not to mention will more than likely be way out of the Lakers’ price range. You could always make a play at one of them via trade, as a Rui Hachimura + first round pick package would perhaps offer some intrigue to rival executives. But it’s unlikely that the team could net any of the higher end big men during free agency. 

    Then, there’s the trade market. This will perhaps open more doors for the Lakers this summer, as in my opinion, the team does have several attractive assets and could put together a strong package to entice other teams to pull the trigger on a deal. Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura are both expiring contracts, and both can be utilized as salary ballast in order to match salaries in a potential trade. Rui in particular, is an excellent player, with his ability to run the floor, finish, shoot threes, and lately, his improved rebounding. He is someone other teams could possibly view as a useful and productive player, aside from having an expiring contract. The Lakers also have Dalton Knecht, who showed promise this year during stretches, as well as future first round picks that could bolster or sweeten any trade package they can assemble. 

    Then, there’s LeBron James, who seemingly enters every off-season amidst a cloud on uncertainty. As of now, it’s unclear whether LeBron will exercise his $52M player option. It remains to be seen if LeBron actually would like to stay with the club or pursue a change of scenery for his final years before eventually retiring. LeBron, who will be 41 next December, is unlikely to garner significant interest from other organizations in a trade. As far as teams giving up young and valuable assets in exchange for a near-the-of-the-road James, that will be highly unlikely. There could be a possibility where the Lakers swap James in a veteran-for-veteran move, such as for Kevin Durant, for instance. Ultimately, any deal involving LeBron will put the ball squarely in his court. He possesses a no-trade clause, which would require his approval on any potential deal. Alas, if he isn’t fully on board with the team’s direction and future outlook, he will have to work with the from office in order to find a potential new home for himself (and likely Bronny) where he can play out his remaining years. 

    As far as who should stay, or who should go, I think there are three names that the Lakers should retain which would give them the most solid foundation moving forward. Those being Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith. Dončić is the franchises’s new cornerstone, he represents step one in building a championship team. It’s incumbent on the Lakers to make sure they can retain Luka on a long-term basis. Then there’s Austin. Yes, he had a terrible showing this postseason, but he is a tremendous player who has made significant strides and has worked himself to becoming one of the better role players, and one must also consider his hyper team-friendly deal. Finally, Finney-Smith is exactly what this team needs more of. He represents the prototypical 3&D wing. Ideally, you’d want to find at least one or two more DFS’s, but the fact that there’s already one on the roster is a good start. Let’s put it this way, if the Lakers let go of Finney-Smith for whatever reason, eventually they’ll find themselves on the market for a player precisely of his skill set. This team needs more players adjacent to DFS. It’s the key to being able to function defensively while playing the likes of Luka and AR. Offensively, the team needs more floor spacers. Guys who will keep defenses honest while Luka (or Reaves) attack off the dribble or on the pick and roll. All in all, the Lakers clearly have some work to do. 

    There is talent on the roster. There is star power on the roster. But championship teams cannot subsist off of those two things alone. There is great need for balance. The lack of a true big man was costly during their brief playoff run. The lack of shooting and rebounding were perhaps of equal detriment. In order to maximize their current timeline, the Lakers brass will have to go to work this summer. They’ll have to explore all avenues and possibilities to put together a well balanced and complimentary roster; one that can compete against the NBA’s elite. They’re fortunate to have certain foundational pillars already in place, but there’s still ample room for improvement around the margins in order to widen the ceiling of their existing core. I’m eager to see what the Lakers will cook up this summer, and the possibility is certainly there for them to make the necessary improvements that will elevate this roster to its fullest potential. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Season Ends On A Whimper at the Hands of the Timberwolves

    The Los Angeles Lakers 2025 campaign came to an unceremonious end last Wednesday at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, following a 103-96 defeat in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals. Led by Julius Randle’s 23 points, 4 boards and 5 assists, as well as Rudy Gobert’s Wilt Chamberlain-esque stat-line of 27 points and 24 boards, the gritty Timberwolves made short work of the Lakers’ undersized and undermanned attack.

    Ever since the Luka Dončić trade, the Lakers have opted to play a smaller lineup in order to emphasize their speed, shooting and trio of playmakers in Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. However, Minnesota wisely decided to counter with the exact opposite. They utilized their overwhelming size and physicality to punish the smaller and finesse Lakers. In a surprising turn of events, Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick made the decision to remove Jaxson Hayes from the starting unit, instead playing a 5 man group consisting purely of guards and wings (Luka, Finney-Smith, LeBron, Reaves and Rui Hachimura) in hopes of swarming the Timberwolves with their speed and playmaking. This strategy proved fatal. As LA was crushed in the rebounding battle 54-37, the largest margin of any game this series. The Lakers also surrendered 56 points in the paint, while not having (or refusing to provide) an answer for Rudy Gobert’s herculean performance.

    Now, LA is out of the playoffs, with their sights towards the off-season. Many questions linger as uncertainty seems to be the underlying theme of their summer. However, one thing is for sure; this team simply did not have it. Mentally and physically, they were unprepared to undertake the rigours and ups and downs of a long playoff run. Now, they look toward the next year, and will try to answer the conundrum of trying to put together a championship roster around their newly minted star Luka Dončić and their other young pieces. It was a disappointing end, but in my eyes, a predictable one, as this team felt incomplete since the trade deadline, lacking a couple of essential pieces (a dynamic big and a couple of 3&D wings) necessary to not just compliment their star players but also win an NBA championship. Time will tell if the organization will use this season as something to build upon, or if they will continue treading the same middling trajectory that they’ve been on for the past 5 years. Time will tell.

    Wednesday night’s game was uneventful, to to say the least. One would think that Coach JJ Redick’s tinkering of the starting lineup would have given the team a spark of energy or some newfound excitement. As it turns out, it accomplished the exact opposite. From the rip, the team looked sluggish, disoriented and submissively awaiting their impending doom. They were guests at their own funeral. The team pedantically raced out to to a 31-19 first quarter deficit. You knew right there it was going to be a long night. The Lakers’ defensive rotations, shot selection and overall spark (or lack thereof) did not speak to a team desperately trying to find a second wind and keep their season alive. Instead they reeked of a group that resigned itself to the inevitable fate of being unable to stay afloat and in the race. Defensively, even when LA got stops, Minnesota seemed primed to gobble up the offensive rebound and manufacture second, sometimes third possessions. The type that can break a team’s back. Knowing that even when they pull out a defensive stop, the other team will still end up with the ball. Midway through the second quarter, Gobert was already sporting double figures in scoring (11 points), mostly off of easy dunks and putbacks. LA had nobody to battle with Rudy down low, and JJ Redick’s abrupt decision to forego giving any minutes to Jaxson Hayes certainly seemed more baffling by the minute. I’m not quite sure what the goal was. But it simply came off as an exercise in sadism and stubbornness, almost like the coach was willing to go down his way, even if it meant watching the team be decimated due to a bad tactical decision. It certainly left a bad taste. And I’m not sure how this bodes for Redick’s prospects as an aspiring championship coach. Which is what he was hired to be.

    Offensively, the Lakers sleepwalked their way to a beatdown. Relying heavily on iso ball, as opposed to preaching off-ball movement. Some of their more inspiring moments actually did come off of backdoor cuts and off-ball motion. However, those were few and far between. They were led once again by Luka Dončić whose 28 points and 9 assists paced both teams. He also finished with 7 rebounds. He was the lone bright spot. LeBron slugged his way to a paltry 22 points on 21 shots. Austin Reaves continued his abysmal play with 12 points on 14 shots. Rui Hachimura contributed 23 points. The team, however, played with a lack of purpose or identity. They seemed incapable, and at times, even unwilling to build any sort of sustained run in order to wrestle the momentum to their side. Minnesota’s lead fluctuated all game. But they never appeared to lose their grip on the contest. Defensively, they were sharp, and offensively, they were anchored Gobert’s inside presence as LA’s surprising lack of backside help left Rudy primed to feast on an all-you-can-dunk buffet at his disposal for the entire duration of the contest.

    This game did not feel as one the Lakers had any plans of winning. They left the Crypto Arena floor with nothing to show for, with the season on the line, they put forth perhaps their least inspiring performance of the year. LA knew they were not the better team and played like it.

    As the 2024-25 season has come and gone for the Purple and Gold, and the summer’s off-season now looms on the horizon, a couple of questions emerge. Who will be back next year? What will this roster look like? Will this team find a way to come back better, stronger and hungrier? Will this type of humbling experience bring this group closer together? General Manager Rob Pelinka will certainly have no shortage of work on his plate. He’ll be tasked with the quandary of assessing who to bring back, who to let go and who to bring in. It will certainly be a challenge and I’m sure there will be no lack of drama and intrigue. But the goal will be to field a better team next season, one equipped to compete for a championship and capable of going toe to toe with the NBA’s elite. Easier said than done. In my personal estimation, this team needs, desperately, to somehow find a way to get younger. They have an all-world cornerstone in Luka Dončić, as well as some robust young pieces in Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht. The organization has to map out a plan to acquire a dynamic screen and roll center, as well as young players who can offer some combination of shooting, scoring or defending. These will be the keys to elevating this roster into championship contention. It’ll be exciting to see how the off-season unravels, and what kind of surprises it yields. Hopefully they’re of the pleasant variety. Until then, Go Lakers.

  • Lakers On the Brink of Elimination After Loss to the Timberwolves

    The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to exercise their playoff demons last Sunday against the Minnesota timberwolves and now find themselves on the brink of elimination from the NBA Playoffs. The defeat, 116-113, has officially put the season in critical condition. This series has been marred by the Lakers’ inability to shake off their Jekyll/Hyde syndrome. Some nights (or halves, or quarters) they look great, others not so much. Unfortunately, for this series, the latter has been the norm and the former the exception. They have been unable to bring consistent effort each game, and more importantly, they have failed to make the necessary adjustments against a rangy, athletic, energetic and well-coached Timberwolves squad. So far, the team has been unable to meet the moment and play collectively and disciplined. Too many mistakes, careless turnovers, inopportune fouls and overall lack of timely shotmaking have contributed in placing this team in a 3-1 ditch. There is always hope and the series isn’t over, but the Lakers will need to bring much more to the table, both from a tactical and execution perspective, in order to bring themselves back into this series. So far, Minnesota has controlled the pace, dictated the series’ terms and thrown the first and last haymakers. The Lakers must show some grit, some fight, some desperation, coupled with an improved game plan so that they can hang from the ropes and avoid getting knocked out. 

    Minnesota’s athleticism has made them into a dangerous team so far in these playoffs. Their (sudden & unexpected) ability to switch constantly on defense has thrown a wrench on LA’s screen and roll attack. Instead of backing up in drop coverage and allowing the Lakers to feast on midrange shots, they have successfully pressured high, at the level, and at times even hedging on screens to pressure LA’s ball handlers into costly turnovers. Their switching has also proved troublesome for LA, who still haven’s figured out a way to attack it. The Lakers simply don’t have the athleticism to turn the corner on those hedges. And the bigger problem is, they might be resigned to this strategy. As they don’t have any post-up options to throw them the ball down low. It’s unfortunate LeBron has never had a prolific back-to-the-basket game, as that would literally make him the perfect fit on this roster. The Lakers, for all their faults this series, need to find a way to get more out of their screening actions in order to have a prayer’s chance of staying competitive. More Luka/LeBron two-man game (maybe even have LeBron set the screen and short-roll on hedges), more high pick and roll, more slipping screens on switches, punishing lazy switches with three pointers, more off-ball screening and activity, etc. Lakers need to punch back. They’ve been much content being the punching bag, rather assuming the mantle of aggressor. 

    Offensively, LA did not have a horrible game. They were taking and making long range jumpers and were generally flowing offensively. Luka Doncic had his highest scoring output of the series with 38 points, while LeBron added 27 (despite disappearing during the fourth quarter to the tune of zero points), and Austin Reaves chipped n with 17 points (all scored in the second half). Their defense however was another issue. This team can’t live and die with LeBron or Rui Hachimura switched out to guard Anthony Edwards on the perimeter. That’s a recipe for disaster. The Wolves have broken down the Lakers’ perimeter defense at will throughout the course of this series, with Anthony Edwards claiming the paint as his new home. LA’s help defense has also been an issue, as they have surrendered many open three pointers based on bad gambles on the ball, thus leaving their man wide open. Both LeBron and Rui have done a poor job of this. Edwards had his best game of the series with 43 points. Julius Randle also contributed 25 points. Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid continue to be provide a steady hand, pacing the bench with 16 and 12 points respectively. Simply a very balanced attack. It all starts with Edwrds beating his man off the dribble. When the defense breaks down, the Lakers simply don’t have the interior size to offer help as the low man and provide a shot-deterrent at the basket. When the low man is Rui, or LeBron, or Dorian Finny-Smith, that spells trouble. And credit to Edwards since he’s been a virtual killer at making elite reads on his drives whether it’s for the finish or the kickout. Something I find perplexing is the fact that Jarred Vanderbilt, the team’s most well-equipped option to contain Anthony Edwards, has remained parked on the bench. At this point, it wouldn’t hurt to stick him on Edwards, if only as a last-ditch effort. Ant has cooked everybody placed in front of him. 

    Personally, I still maintain that both Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent should be inserted into the starting group. This would allow the Lakers to emphasize the two-man game of Luka and LeBron early on in games thus establishing their chemistry, while also having the athletes to defend the perimeter in Vando and Gabe. Rui and Austin Reaves can provide the much needed scoring punch off the bench. As it stands, this team remains unbalanced. Can they win playing this way? I think it’s highly doubtful. Jaxson Hayes should also be on the floor for the minutes that Rudy Robert is on the floor, as Minnesota’s size has begun to take a stranglehold on the series, after LA convincingly lost the rebounding battle 49-41 during Game 4. Regardless, changes need to be made to personnel, and a shuffling of lineups could be the jolt of energy that the team needs. However, at this juncture, I don’’t expect any of this to happen, as Head Coach JJ Redick seems set on the lineups that he likes for this team. 

    Lastly, this team has struggled mightily in crunch time scoring. They seem perennially unable to generate quality looks at the end of close games. Much of this is due to what they are running. Or what they aren’t running. Redick’s decision to go away from organized sets late in games, opting instead to let the guys “wing” it, has proven costly. The personnel, however, is there. Luka Doncic handling the ball on a high pick and roll, with Austin and/or LeBron on the weak side screening. Finney-Smith is also available for the pick and pop. But unfortunately, these plays ares simply devolving into isolations where the team aimlessly swings the ball around the arc and end up settling for a bad shot (such as a LeBron three pointer in a crucial spot, which he more often misses). This group has not been around each other for a long time, thus they don’t have the synergy required to be able to play freely off each other. In this case, oraganized sets can go a long way to giving this team some structure to make plays out of. Particularly within the pressure-packed crucible of a tight playoff contest.

    In any case, this team has quite simply failed to meet their expectations, unfortunately so. Getting back into this series will require the will of its players and the coaching staff. For a team that hasn’t accomplished much, if anything, they are a cocky bunch. But that attitude is usually reserved for teams with actual championship pedigree. Teams with the proverbial on/off switch, that they can activate seemingly on command. This team doesn’t even know what kind of switch they have, or if they have one at all. Going out and playing under the assumption that they do is a dangerous game to play, the type that makes you humbled. This team simply has to focus on showing up, mentally and physically, and allow the rest to take care of itself. Go Lakers.