Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Dončić announced earlier this week on his IG page that he won't be playing for Slovenia this summer. He cited his ongoing custody dispute and the demands travel would bring as the reason, as opposed to his injured hamstring, but for the Lakers the effect is the same. It means that Luka will have a full summer to heal, train and essentially repeat last year's Summer of Luka. They'd never ask him to skip international play—the Lakers know how important it is to Luka—but the organization surely is more than happy for Dončić to avoid extra play and focus on getting his body together and trying to make that hamstring as strong as possible. 

So the inciting incident certainly sucks, but the upside for the org is there nonetheless. 

Moreover, reporting indicates that Luka is quite pleased with life in LA, and has been impressed by new owner Mark Walter. And, for what it's worth, he'd like to see Austin Reaves return. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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KALSHI

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DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

 

Rocket Money
Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.

 

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Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   

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Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

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Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.

 

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)

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Tuesday in El Segundo, the Lakers braintrust laid out some of the big organizational priorities going forward. Things like building meaningful depth - the kind that's modeled after teams like OKC and San Antonio, even if that standard isn't immediately reachable. They want to improve player development. And they want the organizational infrastructure to improve. 

Now, the latter has a lot to do with new owner Mark Walter, who is quickly implementing the Dodgers blueprint at the Lakers facility. That's going to mean better medical, training and rehab capabilities, as well as more personnel in important places. 

All of it will help the Lakers leverage the franchise's vast wealth in ways casual fans probably assumed they were already... but weren't. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: How JJ Redick views depth. 

SEGMENT 2: Player development, too? 

SEGMENT 3: The Lakers are getting Dodgerfied! 

 

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

 

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5-Hour ENERGY

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KALSHI

For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.  

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

 

Rocket Money
Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.

 

Wayfair
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. 
Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   

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

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.

 

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)

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JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka met the media Tuesday in El Segundo following Monday's season-ending loss to the Thunder at Crypto.com. The disappointment was muted by, frankly, the inevitability of the result once Luka Dončić got hurt, and because of that it was easier to focus on the successful nature of the season. 53 wins, above expectations for most projections, and what would almost certainly have been a 3-seed if not for late injuries to Luka and Austin Reaves. They won a round in the playoffs against expectations, and over the course of the year continued to establish solid culture under Redick. 

The hard part, though, is coming. The Lakers have significant ambition, and a great deal of pressure to improve the team. Maybe not closing the gap between them and OKC in one summer, but making a lot of progress. 

Pelinka will have to do it with some potential cap space to work with, three first round picks he can trade and... not a whole lot else. The Lakers lack desirable contracts to trade to teams looking for flexibility. They don't have any really appealing young players, either. Not the kind that bring back premium players, at least. For every player they let go to create flexibility, that's another player they have to replace. 

It won't be easy, but that's the assignment. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

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!

5-Hour ENERGY

Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon

 

KALSHI

For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.  

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

 

Rocket Money
Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.

 

Wayfair
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. 
Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   

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

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.

 

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)

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The final score was a lot more respectable, but the end result was the same. A fourth straight loss for the Lakers to the Oklahoma City Thunder, completing the 4-0 sweep and ending the 2025-26 season. 

Without Luka Dončić, the Lakers really didn't have much of a shot at beating OKC over the course of the series. The hope was to try and steal a game or two and see what might happen. The Thunder never opened the door to the possibility. Monday, the Lakers put an enormous amount of effort and intensity into a game in a series they knew they weren't going to win, and it just wasn't enough. Austin Reaves had some serious highlights, but also turned the ball over in critical moments. Marcus Smart left it all out on the floor, too, but he also was bit by the turnover bug. If this was LeBron James's last game with the Lakers (or even in the NBA, with 24 points and 12 rebounds. 

But both James and Reaves missed good looks down the stretch, while OKC's shotmakers came through. That was enough to make the difference. 

So now an offseason with a ton of questions for the Lakers, and a lot of hopes for moves that will reconstruct a championship caliber team around Luka. Or, at the least, start the franchise down a clear path to get there. (Because making up the gap between themselves and OKC in one offseason might be too tall an order.)

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers push, but ultimately fall short in Game 4. 

 

SEGMENT 2: Good, even great moments, but killer mistakes from LA's stars. 

 

SEGMENT 3: The offseason begins. 

 

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!

5-Hour ENERGY

Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon

 

KALSHI

For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.  

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

 

Rocket Money
Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.

 

Wayfair
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. 
Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   

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

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.

 

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)

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Insofar as the series against Oklahoma City is concerned, there's not been all that much to get excited about. Even when the Lakers manage to play well, they're still getting overrun by a deeper, more talented Thunder squad. 

One exception has been the play of Adou Thiero. It's not that he's put up huge numbers in relatively short minutes—though eight rebounds in 13 minutes of Game 2 action certainly ain't bad—but what he's bringing to the floor in terms of additional burst and athleticism. Relative to his teammates, the explosiveness is incredible. Thiero is incredibly raw from a basketball perspective, but if he can figure out how to bring it together, finding some niche as an offensive player while developing a greater awareness defensively, the Lakers will have something in their second rounder. 

It's nice to have some hope around a young player. JJ Redick will almost surely play Thiero somewhere in that 10-15 minutes of real time against real players first because his other options aren't great -- Jarred Vanderbilt is injured, and isn't exactly a favorite of JJ's anyway -- and Jake LaRavia has been pretty bad. But more than that, the value of 15 minutes for Thiero (and by extension the Lakers) is far greater. This experience will serve him well when the Lakers return to the playoffs, and Thiero is (hopefully) a more regular part of the rotation. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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!

5-Hour ENERGY

Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon

 

KALSHI

For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.  

DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.

 

Rocket Money
Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON.

 

Wayfair
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. 
Wayfair. Every style. Every home.   

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

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.

 

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.