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Only days before the start of the regular season, the Lakers remain busy. Joining us to talk about it, and later tackle a painfully difficult question that's only about choosing what movies you get to watch for the rest of your natural life, is our friend Kelvin Washington from Spectrum News One. We start with Sunday's big news - the Lakers and Kyle Kuzma agreed to a three year contract extension, after the prospects for that sort of thing seemed pretty low. It's a fantastic bit of work for both sides. Kuzma gets a solid amount of money that might be a bit of an underpay should he have a big season... but also hedges against a year where he can't find a consistent role that lets him shine as a scorer. The Lakers lock up a potentially useful piece that could be very hard to replace if he blows up this year. And at the same time, he becomes a lot easier to trade, should the Lakers go that route. Solid work again from Rob Pelinka and the front office. Then, we react to the preseason. Any surprises? What might -

Two preseason romps for the Lakers over the Clippers notwithstanding, the 2020-21 NBA season, at least the Western Conference portion of it, stands very much to be about the two Los Angeles teams. Last year, the Clippers entered the season as the consensus favorite. This year, it's the Lakers. So what will happen?To preview these Western Conference powerhouses, we're joined by Jesse Kass, who hosts the Bleav In Clippers pod on the network. After talking about what went wrong for the LAC a year ago, we ask five questions looking forward for this season:Can motivation from last year's collapse, and a dose of Ty Lue, cure what ailed the Clippers last year?The Clippers biggest strength against the Lakers will be what?What about their biggest weakness vs. the Lakers?While last year the Lakers kept the pedal down all year, this season they'll have to be far more careful preserving LeBron, Anthony Davis and other vets. What lessons can they learn from last year's lack of on-floor continuity the Clippers periodically

The Lakers have started training camp with a lot of sameness, in the sense that their big stars are back (and will be in L.A. for a while going forward, based on this week's news), as are key names in the supporting cast. On the other hand... G.M. Rob Pelinka wasn't shy about mixing things up. So how concerned should the Lakers be about chemistry, given how critical it was for their success last year? It's just one topic of conversation with guest Trevor Lane, senior writer at LakersNation.com, and host of the Lakers Nation podcast. From there, we each pick a player we're particularly interested in this season, and break that guy down. Trevor takes Kyle Kuzma. Last year, he set very goals for himself, and in the most obvious ways (scoring, shooting) didn't get anywhere close to meeting them. On the other hand, Kuz improved his defense, paid more attention to playmaking, and did what was asked of him without complaint. But now, entering a season where he's looking for a contract and facing more competition in

In this crossover episode of the Land O'Lakers Podcast and the Late Night Happy Hour with the Kamenetzky Brothers, Seerat Sohi of Yahoo! Sports joins the show. We start on LeBron James and the surprising news Wednesday of his two-year extension with the Lakers, one that barring the unusual will keep him in L.A. through the 2023 NBA season. Why did he decide to break career norms and make a longer term commitment? What does it mean for the Lakers? For LeBron himself? From there, we turn to the other massive news Wednesday brought -- Houston and Washington swapping problematic contracts as John Wall goes to the Rockets, with Russell Westbrook headed east to the Wizards. How exactly do these parts fit together? Is Wall a better match with James Harden than Westbrook was? What Wall is Houston even getting, here? It's basically been two years since he played. What about Russ with Bradley Beal? Is that combo any better? Does the move entice either incumbent star to stay with his current team long term? We talk too

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a title, but have been incredibly aggressive this offseason re-shaping the team. So after adding Dennis Schröder, Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol and Wes Matthews, where do they stand compared to the competition? To ask that question, and a lot of others, we bring in Nekias Duncan (@NekiasNBA), writer and podcaster at BasketballNews.com and one of the best young writers working. He breaks down the impact L.A.'s newest additions will have, and how they'll change the way the Lakers operate in a pandemic-squeezed 2020-21 season where LeBron James and Anthony Davis haven't had much rest. And what about Davis? After a Finals MVP performance, is this the season he breaks through with an MVP award? And if not the award itself, the type of play that launches him permanently into that small sliver of ultra-elite NBA players, headlined by Giannis and LeBron (if he's not already there)? And of course, no conversation about the Lakers would be complete without a discussion of Kyle Kuz

The 2020-21 Los Angeles Lakers aren't quite a Completed Thing On Paper yet, but are awfully close after a big trade last week and a weekend of acquisitions in free agency. GM Rob Pelinka said the Lakers wouldn't rest on their laurels, and certainly held true to his word, taking a very aggressive role in the market. In are Montrezl Harrell, Wes Matthews and Marc GasolThis, of course, on top of acquiring Dennis Schroder from Oklahoma City in a trade.Out? Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard and JaVale McGeeAnd Danny Green, sent to OKC (and then quickly to Philadelphia!) in the Schroder deal. Meanwhile the Lakers held on to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and are still hoping Markieff Morris returns, as well. So are they a better team now than they were in Orlando, when they won a title? It sure seems so. We explain why. What challenges do they face this year that are different than a season ago? How do the new pieces help? What potential problems could arise?We go through each of the new guys, talking fit, role, and reasonab

The NBA Draft has come and gone, and the Kamenetzky Brothers celebrate with a crossover episode of the Late Night Happy Hour and the Land O'Lakers Podcast. What were the big surprises of Draft night? Unfortunately, the biggest story didn't involve a trade or a potential free agent signing, but an injury. Golden State guard Klay Thompson was injured playing pickup ball in L.A. (this, people should know, is a totally normal activity for NBA players in the offseason) and there are fears the damage could be significant. What happens to the Western Conference if Thompson misses significant time, or even a second straight season? It's good for the Lakers, but horrible for the NBA. Which, ultimately, is bad for the Lakers, too. What about the trades on Wednesday? Philadelphia got better, as did Dallas. The Clippers swapped shooters. Did anyone pull closer to the Lakers at the top of the heap? Milwaukee has tried... but now a big sign-and-trade for Sacramento's Bogdan Bogdanovic has fallen through because apparent

Technically speaking, the deal can't be done until after Wednesday's NBA Draft, but the Lakers are wasting no time looking to improve last year's title winning squad. Reports indicate they'll trade Danny Green and the 28th pick to Oklahoma City for point guard Dennis Schroder. It's a significant deal with significant implications... and we cover them all here. What do the Lakers gain in the exchange? What do they lose? Does the trade mean Rajon Rondo is gone? (Not necessarily.) What about Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope? The Lakers give up wing defense, without question. Where could they go to replace it in a relatively thin free agent market? Do the problems (theoretically) addressed Schroder's presence outweigh those caused by moving Green? Grading this thing out, there are reasons to be optimistic, and reasons to worry. Which side do we fall on? Finally, we tease what could be a CRAZY week in Houston. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com

With the NBA and the Player's Association (more or less) in agreement on a framework for the 2020-21 season, the Lakers are about to kick off a very fast, likely very nutty "offseason," starting with the Draft in about 10 days, and moving through free agency before camp kicks off in a few weeks. To make sense of where things stand, we bring in Eric Pincus (@EricPincus), writer at Bleacher Report, host of the Hollywood Hoops podcast, and (critically for our purposes) noted capologist. The guy knows how the money works in the NBA, and sets the stage for where things stand with the Lakers.How much free agent money will they have, based on the salary cap and luxury tax? Which exceptions, at how many dollars? What does it mean if Kentavious Caldwell-Pope wants to stay, but the Lakers have to pay him significantly more than they did last season? What about the rest of the potential free agents? What would signing guys mean for the cap space Rob Pelinka says he wants to preserve for the 2021 offseason? Or 2022? How

It's an election edition of the Land O'Lakers podcast! With angst at an all time high in America, we give everyone a little of what they want. For the politics fans, we start on a few timely stories. On a day where attendees at a Trump rally chanted "LeBron James sucks!" much to the president's approval, we ask if sports and politics will ever be disentangled again (which assumes, of course, they ever were). What did people miss about the player protests in the bubble? And what do we make of all the new, detailed, and often excellent reporting on the political contributions of owners in American team sports, including the NBA? For fans of Lakers analysis, we introduce a new offseason segment called "Let's Talk About a Laker." Today, it's Danny Green, and we ask the question "Did Danny Green have a good year?" The answer is a little more complicated than it might seem, actually. Especially when considering next season. Anyone in the real estate market? You can buy Derek Fisher's former residence in Tarzana! O

Monday, we noted the NBA's proposed re-start date of Dec. 22, and what that mean for LeBron and the Lakers. This week, we've learned James, no surprise, would rather start the season on MLK Day. He's got company, too. But given the revenue at stake—are rank-and-file guys going to give up real income so LBJ, Anthony Davis and the Laker can get more rest?Worth wondering, for sure.So assuming things do start around the NBA's proposed timeline, how will the Lakers respond? Last season, there was no load management, nor any concessions to the regular season. The Laker kept their foot on the gas throughout. But this year? With a truncated offseason both of those guys will likely need protection, meaning load management (or some euphemism for it) feels likely.It would make the supporting cast that much more important... so we ask, if you could only bring back one of the two, is it Markieff Morris or Dwight Howard? Does Rajon Rondo go? And if so, who might replace him. If two rotation guys with very specific skill se

The NBA reportedly has a tentative plan for the 2020-21 season... and it includes a little bit of 2020, which wasn't exactly guaranteed. 72 games, starting December 22nd, and wrapping up by the 4th of July of all goes well. What's interesting about this? Well, for starters, it means the league isn't counting on fans to be in arenas, given the uncertainty around rising COVID-19 cases in the US, and the impending winter which many health experts worry could be very, very bad. It means the Toronto Raptors won't likely be playing in Toronto... basically because Canada won't let the other 29 franchises into their country. Sorry, Canada. That's our bad. But for Lakers fans, the most important questions surround LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and any ways a truncated offseason impacts them and who might be their running mates next year. Should the Lakers go for continuity to the greatest extent possible? Improve the team in and hope a new group develops quick chemistry? Worked this year, for sure. From there, Shaq i

It's been about a week since the Lakers won it all, bringing home a 17th title in franchise history from the Orlando bubble. And now, because the past is the past, it's time to start thinking about the future! And to that end, there's been some news. Anthony Davis (as expected) reportedly plans to opt out of the final year of his contract, then (as expected) re-sign with the Lakers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Rajon Rondo are also reportedly to opt out of their final years, but does that mean both are gone? The answers to these questions, and more, fall under the umbrella of more meta, overarching questions the Lakers have to answer: How much energy should be devoted to running it back in as close to the same form as last season? How much of a priority should 2021 space have (i.e. for the Summer of Giannis)? How big is the gap between the Lakers and the rest of the conference right now? The answers to those questions could largely dictate team strategy. So we give them a go. From there, it's a look at the C

After a disappointing Game 5, the Lakers returned to form Sunday and rolled Miami 106-93 - the score not at all indicative of L.A.'s total dominance - in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win the series 4-2 and secure the franchise's first title in 10 years, and 17th overall. It was a dominating defensive show where the Lakers put the clamps on the Heat early and never let up. Andy and Brian look back on a season and playoff run that might feel inevitable now, given how much better the Lakers were than the competition in Orlando, but was hardly so. What changes now about the relationship between LeBron and Lakers fans? How much credit goes to Frank Vogel? How much room to grow does Anthony Davis have, and what does it mean for this team's title window? On why this team was more likable outside Los Angeles than arguably any Lakers team in history, and more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Lakers had a chance Sunday to put a true hammer lock on the NBA Finals in Game 3, and whiffed. As it was in Game 2, L.A. was sloppy early, turning the ball over 10 times in the first quarter. But unlike Game 2, the Lakers couldn't find any consistent rhythm. They still had opportunities to win, even leading during the fourth quarter, but when it came time to execute, the Lakers were outclassed. Particularly by Butler, who had a genuinely historic game, matched in history only by LeBron and Jerry West. So how worried should the Lakers be? (They're not, fwiw.) How worried should Lakers fans be? (Not very, fwiw.) Andy and Brian break it all down, before wrapping with a peek at the "No Ring for Kuz" petition. Game 4 is Tuesday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the one hand, it was a great night for the Lakers, who overcame a bad first five minutes and what became a 13-point deficit before totally steamrolling the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Anthony Davis was fantastic in his first Finals game, and LeBron James was huge as well, finishing one dime shy of a triple-double. On the other, it was a bad night for basketball, because Miami saw all three of its stars get hurt. Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo took the worst of it, but Jimmy Butler rolled an ankle in pretty extreme fashion, too. If any of the three is limited/out - and Dragic has a plantar fascia tear - Miami's chances at the upset may just disappear. Additionally, Andy and Brian break down Game 1, look at LeBron's legacy, ask who the team's best player is, talk about lineups, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Lakers have been impressive in the bubble, eliminating Portland, Houston, and Denver, each in five games. Miami swept Indiana, rolled through top-seeded Milwaukee in five and eliminated a strong Celtics squad in six. In short, the Lakers and Heat have been the two best teams in the Orlando bubble, by a pretty fair margin. Andy and Brian take a look at what's coming, but first start with how the Lakers got here. "Team of Destiny" is an overworked cliche, but could it truly apply to this Lakers team, given all it has been through? Has the supporting cast shown it is stable enough to win one more series? How about the D? What does this year and the success of the Davis/James partnership mean for the Lakers, not just regarding a title opportunity now, but over the next few seasons? Looking at the series, when it comes to the lineup, once again focus will be on the centers. Who should Frank Vogel start? Who might take the results more personally, Pat Riley or LeBron? And finally, who wins and in how

The Lakers needed literally every second of Sunday's Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference FInals to pull out the win, but they did thanks to buzzer-beating heroics from Anthony Davis. But his triple over the outstretched arm of Nikola Jokic didn't just represent a win, it was indicative of his ascendance is a postseason star. It's something more impressive given how he sought the pressure that would come with these moments wearing a Lakers jersey. After the shot, Davis looked at the bench and yelled, "Kobe," showing just how important the late Lakers icon has been for this team. What could have been a burden — playing to honor his memory — has instead been an inspiration. No easy feat. We talk about all that and more, including some Dwight Howard energy that is impossible not to watch while he's on the floor, the shorter-than-you-might-think history of buzzer beaters in the playoffs for the Lakers, and share some quick Andrew Bynum memories. See Privacy Policy at https://art1

The Lakers are in the Western Conference Finals. No real surprise, there. Their opponent, though, is. Not the Clippers, as expected, but the Denver Nuggets, who polished off an epic set of comebacks within comebacks nested in other comebacks to beat the LAC 4-3 in a bonkers Western Conference Semifinals. So what does this matchup bring? We're joined by Adam Mares of DNVR Sports (theDNVR.com) to break it down. What got the Nuggets to this point? How will those things play against the Lakers? How will the Nuggets defend LeBron and Anthony Davis? Where will Denver look to attack? Can Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray keep up their incredible 3-point shooting? Why Michael Porter Jr. is an x-factor, and Denver coach Mike Malone might be the other. Plus, it wouldn't be a preview without predictions. We make 'em. Who wins? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's been 10 years, but the Lakers are finally returning to the Western Conference Finals, having dispatched the Houston Rockets four games to one in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs. Andy and Brian break it down. How much of L.A.'s dominance of that series the Lakers? How much different would Denver or the Clippers be? Other big topics of conversation include: The lineup. After making a switch in the Rockets series, does Frank Vogel go back to starting JaVale McGee over Markieff Morris? Depth, as in the Lakers showed some, with reserves from Morris to Alex Caruo to JaVale McGee playing well. Is something truly off about the Clippers? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.