Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Tuesday began with more news about the federal investigation into the vast business empire of Dodgers owner Mark Walter and the Guggenheim Group. It's complicated, for sure (more complicated than a couple of hoops podcasters are going to try to explain) but doesn't seem trivial, to say the least. And while it doesn't look now like the investigation will have any immediate impact on operations for the Lakers (or the Dodgers for that matter) it's obviously something that over time will be a story to watch. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers are reportedly interested in adding more center depth. Now, they used to have a backup center in Deandre Ayton that was quite a luxury in that spot, given his resume. It's worth asking whether Ayton would happily (or happily enough) fill the role the Lakers would need him to play with Walker Kessler on board, but fair to say when the Lakers sent him to Washington, the common perception was that another move would be coming behind it. 

That hasn't happened. 

So what do the Lakers do from here? Are the street free agents (i.e. Nick Richards, Drew Eubanks, etc.) much of an improvement over Kevon Looney as a backup C? How would the Lakers open up a spot for one of them? What about a trade for someone like Jericho Sims? Is Daniel Gafford, were he made available, worth what would likely be a higher cost, given that he and Kessler almost certainly couldn't play together? 

It's a spot that could be resolved, too, by improving at power forward, which could push Sandro Mamukelashvili into a high-minute backup role at both PF and C. 

There's still time to iron stuff out, and a lot will depend on the resolution of the Peyton Watson situation in Denver. But it's something the Lakers are certainly watching closely. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Feds are poking around Mark Walter's businesses. 

 

SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers do at backup C? 

 

SEGMENT 3: The Mamu question! 

 

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

 

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the Lakers (or at least Lakers fans) endure the Jonathan Kuminga Waiting Game -- and along those lines, Jake Fisher reports Monday evening that the Lakers are still interested, but are very much trying to dictate the terms, financially -- many folks are searching around for potential better offers.

Denver, meanwhile, is in a real pickle when it comes to their negotiations with restricted free agent Peyton Watson following the diabolical offer sheet OKC's Sam Presti threw at Spencer Jones, and needs to offload salary if they want to keep him. One name on that list could be forward Cam Johnson, a three-point specialist who has at least the reputation of playing good defense, even if it's not quite as well-deserved now as it once was. (And this is when he's on the court, which the oft-injured player struggles to do consistently.)

Still, while Johnson would not be the long term answer (likely) for the Lakers at power forward, if they could acquire him for the right price, would he make more sense than a higher upside, potential long term piece like Kuminga?

Meanwhile, what's the deal with Matisse Thybulle? The Lakers made the signing official, but how much is he going to be able to play, given his health questions over the last couple of seasons? And what about Thybulle's offense? Can he provide enough shooting to give the team high quality minutes?

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Thybulle signs. What does he bring?

SEGMENT 2: Can he shoot well enough for a significant role?

SEGMENT 3: What about Cam Johnson?

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

 

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Odoo

Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers need a starting-caliber forward. That much is clear, and it's not exactly a state secret. 

Whether the Lakers can do it this offseason remains to be seen, and whether that player is intended to be a short or long term solution is the other half of the equation they have to try and figure out. It stands to reason the Lakers would prefer the latter, but finding that guy won't be easy. One potential candidate, at least in theory, is Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who is young, athletic, has shown some promise and is available. 

Of course, getting him is complicated by a variety of things. First, the Lakers and Kuminga would need to agree on a contract of at least three years in order to execute a sign and trade, and reportedly the gap between what the Lakers want to pay and what the Kuminga wants to receive is pretty significant. And then they'd have to figure out how to execute the actual trade, which has gotten harder after Atlanta acquired Lu Dort from the Thunder last week. 

But is Kuminga even worth all of this fuss? Would he fit with what the Lakers are doing? Is he actually as good as some (especially including Kuminga) seem to think? Would he accept the role the Lakers would need him to play, and then thrive in it? 

Would LA be better off with a shorter term solution, knowing that the odds of fully rebuilding the team to a championship level in just one offseason -- particularly after LeBron James left -- were thin? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: Is Kuminga worth all this fuss? 

 

SEGMENT 2: Short vs. long term considerations.

 

SEGMENT 3: Better alternatives out there? 

 

Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

 

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LeBron James has chosen the Sixers. LBJ had already long been out the Lakers' door, so in that sense, it's kind of a formality. But on a practical level (business around the league may pick up again) and on an emotional level (LeBron's relationship with the franchise and fans was... to put it mildly... complicated), there are ripple effects. Andy Kamenetzky offers some quick immediate thoughts on what comes next for the Lakers.

 

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

 

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.

 

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

 

Betterhelp

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

 

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lakers haven't yet officially signed Blazers free agent forward and defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle to a veteran's minimum deal, but that's only a formality. He'll be inked soon enough and expected to provide a true Three-and-D presence as, along with Ziaire Williams, part of a concerted recent effort to shore up the roster's wings. The real question isn't whether Thybulle is capable of handling his assignment, but rather whether he'll stay healthy enough to do it. Over the last two seasons, Thybulle played just 45 combined games. Were he able to remain on the court, he may not have been available for the Lakers in the first place, and certainly not at this price.

To get a better idea of Thybulle, Andy spoke with Mike Richman from Locked On Blazers.

Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Mike Richman (Locked On Blazers)

 

Photo Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.

 

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Betterhelp

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.