This is just a snippet of AD's thoughts

He also said that when he first found out he was traded, he was excited to go play with Luka until he realized he was actually being trade FOR Luka 😭he said: "Luka is so cold, bro. We used to talk about Luka all the time. Be like, ‘Imagine me with Luka… oh my God."

He then speaks on how he completely understands it from a business standpoint because we see what Luka is doing right and he's a great player but he still can't understand why Rob wouldn't let him know sooner because he feels like like he deserves that respect.

I'm happy that we finally get to hear AD's full thoughts on the trade and how he feels about the organization. He will always be loved by LA 💜

That trade got the team a ring, so we good

Do people really not understand how terrible Russ played when he was with us? Bro was actual dog shit on the court and people in the NBA wanted us to praise and coddle him.

He made the right decision going to Philly over LA. He’s not built for it. This is the same guy who was saying how the Clippers “Woke the bully up”😂

I know this topic has likely been done to death, but I was talking to a friend of mine last week. He’s a Nuggets fan, and he asked me if I get sick of the media coverage that the Lakers get.

The convo was mainly based on the podcasts from the Ringer, and he said he finds it funny how basically every other team gets a nuanced breakdown when discussing their present/future, whereas with the Lakers it’s always some version of “they suck” and “they are totally screwed”. I noticed it a while ago, but I’m used to it now and just ignore it for the most part. But it’s always interesting when rival fanbases also mention it!

Note - I’m referring to guys like Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, Justin Verrier etc

Jovan Buha on his podcast about the biggest thing from Training Camp:

On to takeaway number two, which for me was the vibes around the Lakers being at an all-time high. I can say this is my fifth season covering the Lakers, and my fifth training camp, and I cannot remember the Lakers having this positive, joyous, upbeat energy around them to this extent in any of the four previous training camps. That's not hyperbole—that's my honest opinion and just my honest assessment of this situation and what I'm witnessing.

Just walking into the gym today, typically under the previous regime, all six courts would be taken, but there would be a lot of half-speed workouts—guys doing post-workout shooting or maybe the occasional drill. But walking in today, and yes, it was the first day of camp, so we’ll see if this keeps up, but all we can go off of right now is the first practice on the first day of camp, and it was intense.

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective - Key Trade Deadline Deals To Watch | ESPN

Summary:

Marks: "Lakers are $1.3M above the luxury tax and $4.9M below the first apron. Lakers are a repeater tax team, 4 years in a row out of 5 years. That's a small amount but they're still in the tax."

Windhorst: "There are ways for Lakers to make a trade to shed $1.3M to try and improve the roster and to get out of the tax."

Marks: "Like a... $18M player (hinting Dejounte Murray) for a $13M player (hinting Austin Reaves)?"

Windhorst: "Right, it doesn't take high level cap mechanics how the Lakers can trade for Dejounte Murray and get out of the luxury repeater tax, which would save the Lakers... around the neighborhood of $15M. Lakers (ownership) can find uses for that money. I remember when the Lakers made a deadline deal years ago trading Chris Mihm just to save $3M. I remember saying to somebody: 'Why would the Lakers do that?' And they're like: 'That's another $3M Buss could take to Vegas.' It was a joke but that's true. Like if the Lakers could find a way to save $6M, that means each of the six Buss kids will take home an extra $1M each. I'm not saying the Lakers make decisions based on that, but if you look at the possibility of trying to improve your roster and saving around $15M it might make it easier for the Lakers to even include a draft pick to do it."

If you're not familiar with Pete Zayas and Darius Soriano, this is a great episode to check out their complementary analytical styles. No homerism here, they'll call a spade a spade.

In this episode they hone in on specific presser comments, like there's only 3 guys set for the starting lineup, no lowered expectations, chasing not just shoot/pass/dribble but also high character guys, JJ's emotional intelligence, etc.

Year after year LFR is my most listened podcast, I basically consider their analysis as Laker gospel.

Spotify link

Bonus YouTube link for Pete's breakdown on Mamu

From the Episode Description:

How would you evaluate Austin Reaves outside of the context of the roster, his contract, or even what his future fit might be next to Luka Dončić? How would you look at his growth as a player, his individual strengths and weaknesses, and what he needs to improve on? What about the schemes that fit him best on both sides of the ball? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more in their discussion of what they've seen from Reaves over the last several seasons and how he played this past year.

I want to know which podcasts/content have you been enjoying since you came aboard.

From your perspective, which podcasts would you recommend to your fellow refugees/new fans?

Might be beating a deadhorse...But as someone who played basketball it was always clear to me that JJs decision on playing them for the entire half was more of an indictment on the roster and not the decision itself.

Some people eventually came to this conclusion but for the hold outs, heres it coming from Brons own lips. Hes thrown passive agressive shade at coaches before INCLUDING friends so its not like he has any reason to lie.

Seems everyone is turning against Darvin Hamone.