Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - No Luka Dončić vs. Toronto, Does Giannis Really Want Out of Milwaukee, and Is He a Future Laker?

Episode Date: December 4, 2025

First things first -- the Lakers will be shorthanded in Toronto Thursday evening, as Luka Dončić is away from the team for personal reasons, and Marcus Smart is still unable to suit up with back spa...sms. (There is a strong possibility both will miss Friday's game in Boston as well, but it's too early to say.) So facing two quality teams in a back-to-back situation, the Lakers will need to dig deep. LeBron James presumably won't play in both games (the Lakers have made it clear he's not yet built up enough to play on consecutive days), but in the game he does play, the Lakers need a better version of James than the one they saw Monday against the Suns. Austin Reaves has been big in these situations so far this season, but he'll need some help. Will Jake LaRavia step up? Deandre Ayton? Who will have the next Nick Smith Jr. Game? Meanwhile, Giannis officially wants out of Milwaukee. The Lakers aren't exactly the most logical destination, given how non-competitive any offer they can make to the Bucks would be... but that won't stop the speculation! Is there any shot for the purple and gold? What does Giannis (presumably) coming off the market now mean for the Lakers' future plans? And what about Chris Paul, who is on the outs with the Clippers, unceremoniously cut in the middle of the night earlier this week. Might CP3 FINALLY make an appearance in purple and gold?  HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  SEGMENT 1: No Luka, no Smart, and a tough back-to-back coming. SEGMENT 2: Giannis wants out. Where do the Lakers fit in?  SEGMENT 3: What about CP3?  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDashFrom 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.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use codeLOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here:https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA RobinhoodYou expect more from yourself. Expect more from your money. Get started today at robinhood.com/yourmoney. Your money. Your move. All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. 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.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey, everyone, welcome to Locked on Lakers for Thursday. Brian Komeneski, Andy Kaminetsky, no Luca Donchich, no Marcus, smart as the Lakers take the floor in Toronto. It's actually shaping up to be a tricky weekend. Plus, Yonnes once out. That's next. You are Locked on Lakers. Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked on Podcasts Network, your team every day. Thanks to everybody for making Lockdown Lakers, your first listen to every day. part of the locked on podcast network,
Starting point is 00:00:37 the number one podcast network in this or any other known universe. We certainly appreciate you. Tune it into the show, however you get your podcast, whether that's through Apple iTunes, Spotify, maybe you're a subscriber, one of 37,000 plus on the YouTube channel.
Starting point is 00:00:55 However you do it, we certainly appreciate it. And I do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by GameTime, download the GameTime app, account, use the code, locked on NBA, $20 off your first purchase. I think Andy people have by now, I've heard that Janice Ans de Kumpo once out of Milwaukee. He has already asked to be traded.
Starting point is 00:01:20 He actually got hurt in, well, to be clear, just so people don't misinterpret. He has not made a recent, like as in the last, I believe, 12 to 24 hours trade demand. Ryan Winhorse was on, I want to say ESPN Cleveland, and in breaking down some of the backstory of this, said that Janus had mentioned to the buck sometime leading into this season that he was interested in getting traded. There was some sort of soft conversations with the Knicks that didn't go anywhere. The NICS reportedly his first choice team very, very much top of the list. and we are now at a place now where reportedly team Janus and team Bucks are going to be sitting down and discussing beyond Janus's medical condition what might be the best pattern. You got hurt in Wednesday's game. Right.
Starting point is 00:02:18 It's interesting. It was originally being reported as a non-contact injury calf, which has everybody understandably freaking out Achilles tear. according to an ESPN report, the Bucks have ruled out in Achilles' terror. So thankfully, that seems to not be the case. But in any event, I just wanted to make sure people did not think that Yonnes has demanded a trade like in the last 12 hours because I don't think that's accurate. No, but it seems the writing seems to be on the wall that, you know. Oh, it could be coming. The time in Milwaukee is running short.
Starting point is 00:02:56 And of course, Andy, that means you've got to. fire up the Janus the Lakers machine and see what pops out. Chris Paul is also out with the clippers. Another player constantly connected to the Lakers. And there will be no more chances after this year to make Chris Paul a Laker finally happen. So all of that is stuff that we will unpack over the course of this episode. We got to start, Andy, with the road trip, which is already off to a tricky start. The Lakers will take the floor Thursday evening in Toronto without Marcus Smart.
Starting point is 00:03:39 No surprise there, but we learned on Wednesday that Luke Dantzich will also be, it won't be at that game. He is away from the team for personal reasons. And so the Lakers, Andy, against a good Raptor squad. I know some people weren't so sure about what Toronto would be this year. Turns out the answer is pretty good. And the Lakers will be taking the floor against the Raptors short-handed. Yeah, I spoke with on my weekly ESPNLA 7-10 Lakers show, Lakers talk, with Sean Woodley, who hosts Locked on Raptors.
Starting point is 00:04:19 This was Wednesday night. And a couple of things that he talked to me about previewing this game that jumped out as particularly important with the matchup against the Lakers. The Raptors are very good at A inducing turnovers and then turning those turnovers into points. And as we saw really throughout the season, but especially against the Sons, if the Lakers do not do a good enough job taking care of the ball, they are exceptionally vulnerable to points off turnovers. He also noted that the Raptors are very good at grabbing a defensive board and then running from there. It's just in general.
Starting point is 00:05:00 They're a very athletic, disruptive, long team that looks to, as Sean put it, run the ball down your throat whenever they can. So given how vulnerable the Lakers are defending in transition under the best of circumstances, it's something they really need to be careful of. Also, he just, in talking about Scotty Barnes, defense. It's not just that he's the best player defensively on the team. He's their best shot blocker. He's everywhere defensively. So they're going to have to keep their heads on a swivel in particular for Barnes defensively because he really is the engine of what has become a very
Starting point is 00:05:44 disruptive defense. Like that on paper beyond Barnes, they don't profile to be an exceptionally strong defense, but Barnes does so much. He allows everybody else to be sort of the top end version of what they can be. Yeah, and you know, Yacapurtle is a pretty stout fellow in the middle. They've got some guys, but like Scotty Barnes has just been insanely good this year. Like across categories, you know, one of the knocks against them had been, you know, things like efficiency, three point shooting. Both of those are, you know, big this year.
Starting point is 00:06:21 You know, Toronto is well over. 500 and right in the middle of things in the Eastern Conference. They've been missing RJ Barrett for a week and a half or so, but haven't really missed a beat without him. Brandon Ingram has played very well for them. They're a very good team playing well and again anchored by Scotty Barnes. The Lakers have played four games this year without Luca, so that's not something that's brand new to them.
Starting point is 00:06:53 they've played games without Marcus Smart, also not brand new. And, you know, this is one of these games where, you know, coming back off of a terrible game on, was it Tuesday against the Suns, right? When was that? Monday. Monday. Right. Thank you. Coming off a terrible game there.
Starting point is 00:07:15 A lot to prove, especially at the start of a very challenging road trip. And, you know, Austin Reeves has stepped. up in these situations, Andy, without Luca on the floor. He has been very good. We've seen Jake Leravia step up in these situations. DeAndre Aiton looked good. We're always curious who's going to have the Nick Smith
Starting point is 00:07:37 Jr. game. It could be Nick Smith Jr. But, you know, I think people understand what we mean when we say that. Like the random guy who you're not expecting who steps up and plays and delivers a bunch of production. But, Andy, presuming
Starting point is 00:07:53 he plays Thursday and not Friday because he presumably will not play in both. LeBron James, I think, is the guy that everybody's looking at to see like, okay, there was a time for the LeBron ramp up to ramp up. It'll be one of these games. Well, we talked about, you know, we talked about for a Wednesday show not just LeBron's showing in that game, which was very bad and probably one of the worst games of LeBron's career, much less Lakers career.
Starting point is 00:08:33 But the question of what he is physically capable of doing right now, because I think some of LeBron's pretty much career low production this season, small sample size, all the caveats, it is in part because he's still ramping up from having missed training. camp, no preseason, all that stuff, coming off sciatica, age. But also his role has not been, I think, clearly defined with this team. And if anything, over five games, I think his role has become fuzzier. I think situations like this where Luca isn't playing, assuming LeBron does, might start providing some clarity about how much of this is still figuring out the fit versus how much of this is. is still physical and how much of this is what LeBron truly can or cannot do purely from a physical basis. The other guy I'm going to be watching for because I think the matchup on paper, he's somebody that you would almost build in a lab for this team.
Starting point is 00:09:42 But also because if he doesn't play in this game, dude is basically buried under the bench is Jared Vanderbilt. Like if Vando does not play, I'm not saying 30 minutes, but if he doesn't play at least 15 to 18 in this game. Right, in a game again, no Luke, no Marcus Smart. And it's a bunch of rangy long wings that again, like Jared Vanderbilt is at least on paper in the NBA to guard guys like that. And also, too, we've talked about like your Huckleberry here. Without Marcus Smart, this team lacks,
Starting point is 00:10:18 an energy and an urgency and a physicality, an edge. And for all of Vando's imperfections and flaws, and we've been through all of them, they exist. Those are things that he always brings. And those are elements that this team, I think especially without Marcus Smart, it's been pretty glaringly obvious they miss. Again, if Vando ain't playing in this game against Toronto,
Starting point is 00:10:42 I don't know if he's ever going to play again. Yeah. We'll pick this up after the break. The Vanderbilt thing is interesting. The rest of the road trip, the rotation is interesting. This notion of sort of stepping up in how the Lakers kind of bounce back from bad games is something. This is another one of those kind of prove it road trips. A well-placed loss heading out on the road.
Starting point is 00:11:12 We'll do that. So we'll break all those things. Plus, Janice's future and CP3 all next. Locked on Lakers is brought to you by Robin Hood. What if sports were traded like markets? Now you can put your sports IQ to work in real time with Robin Hood prediction markets. It's not you against the house. It's you participating in a live market.
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Starting point is 00:12:06 Play by play, you decide. Trade every play with Robin Hood. Now available across the US. Download the Robin Hood app now to begin. It's going to be, you know, you would think in all hands on deck kind of weekend for the Lakers, starting Thursday in Toronto, turning around right away and playing at the very least of Celtics team that isn't great but plays very hard and is above 500 despite missing Jason Tatum. They traded Chris Taps Porzingis.
Starting point is 00:12:45 They are obviously in a bit of a gap year here. And they turn around and you play Philadelphia on Sunday, who always, have Maxi, you know, as a superstar in the back court, and you may get the rest of their good players. You may not. But the Sixers are, are being, you know, been surprisingly, you know, capable at different times this year. And the Lakers are going to enter this with no Lucas, certainly for Thursday. I don't know if he's going to play on Friday. The Lakers didn't make any announcements about that. But, you know, obviously when you're away from the team, um, in a back to back situation, may not make it back in time. So, you know, we'll see what's
Starting point is 00:13:32 going on with that. I, the, I, they've done really well in these kinds of situations. I don't know if it's a matter of the adversity focuses them a little bit more, um, whatever it might be. But these types of games the Lakers have tended to show up and outperform expectations. I would like, obviously, to see them do that again. Well, I think it is at least fair to speculate that the situation brings out an urgency because we've seen when the situation lays out on paper that this should be an easy win, they often treat it like it should be an easy win and we're not going to put in even one percentage point more effort than is necessary. So if that's the way we've got plenty of proof that
Starting point is 00:14:24 they will treat the easy games, I think it is safe to say that a situation, for example, like it was Portland, correct, where they played without Luca LeBron and Austin and won the game. And other times where they've been shorthanded against good teams, I would think this could bring out some focus in them, especially too. They are coming off the heels of a really frustrating and I think embarrassing loss to the Sons. Not that losing to the Sons in and of itself is embarrassing because they have certainly exceeded my expectations and the expectations of a lot of people, but it was the Sons. They lost Devin Boker during this game. They already didn't have Grayson Allen, and they kicked the bleep out of the Lakers on basically
Starting point is 00:15:13 every single front possible. You had Dylan Brooks running his mouth the entire game, and you know what? He outplayed every single Laker out there. But those are the type of things that I think can be a wake-up call for a team. You can lose. Like, the Lakers got their asses kicked by the Thunder. You know why?
Starting point is 00:15:34 Because the Thunder are better than they are. And the Thunder happened to be playing, I think, a good game that night. They kick everyone's ass. Right. And they've been doing that to everybody. The Lakers didn't play particularly well. But I think they tried. They showed up.
Starting point is 00:15:52 I mean, to a man, whether you're talking about JJ Redick or people in the locker room, they didn't play harder enough on Monday. They just got outworked. And I think that's the thing that if you're a professional team with real aspirations, that's the part you look at and say, we have to do better. Like, I don't know if they're going to win Thursday evening. I really don't.
Starting point is 00:16:21 And if I do, I can't tell you. But I do think they're going to play harder. Like, if they don't come out and play harder than they did against Phoenix, that to me would be very disappointing. They may not play better, but they really ought to play harder. I cannot think of a reason for them not to be dialed into a game against a good Raptor squad, given the guys that they're going to be missing. There's just no rationale for it.
Starting point is 00:16:51 The Vando thing, before we get to the future Lakers, Janice Ante Cumpo and Chris Paul, go ahead and get your jerseys now because it's an inevitability because Lakers. Reddick did explain, or at least discuss why Vanderbilt isn't playing. He addressed the question. He didn't get into a lot of detail about what Vando is doing wrong. You can sort of read in between the lines. What was your reaction as a Vando honk, you know, for lack of a better term? I mean, it doesn't necessarily go against the grain of anything.
Starting point is 00:17:38 I've thought with JJ. I mean, he described it in a lot of ways as a numbers game, and he said that if you're on a winning streak, it's hard to change a rotation. I have made it pretty clear that while I don't think Vando necessarily needs to be playing 25 to 30 minutes a night, I think there's a role for him on this team because he brings certain things that most guys on the roster don't.
Starting point is 00:18:02 And I also think that JJ is a coach that, generally speaking, skews offense, skews space, and Jared Vanderbilt doesn't bring a lot of either. And I think he is somebody that is just going to have, he's going to have to raise his game 25% extra to what it would normally be acceptable. I think to really earn JJ Redick's trust, like even acknowledging, again, Vando's flaws,
Starting point is 00:18:31 even as somebody who has been a proponent of Vando, I've never denied what they are. I just think that, especially, with this team at full strength with the offensive firepower that they should have, and I think more properly spread around. I think there should be ways to find a role for Vando. And JJ also said after the Phoenix loss, which you could tell irritated the bleep out of him, that a lot was going to be on the table for reevaluation.
Starting point is 00:19:02 So between the way he talked about Vando before the game, the way he talked about the team after the game, and the current situation. Again, I would be more surprised if Vando didn't play than if he did. And again, if he doesn't, it just means he might as well stop showing up to these games. But like, for example, I got to be honest. I think there's more of a reason to play Vando than Dalton Connect. Like even with whoever's missing or whatever, like Marcus Smart's been out,
Starting point is 00:19:33 I think those minutes make more sense. essentially to go to Vando than to Dalton because even with the spacing and scoring that Dalton theoretically provides, he hasn't been offering a whole lot of either one of them, other than I guess in garbage time. Yeah, I would agree. But Dalton profiles, I think, more towards what JJ generally values. And I think JJ's a good coach.
Starting point is 00:19:57 I'm not saying that I think he's lost his mind with this. He's probably not the first coach to struggle to find ways to keep Jared Vanderbilt on Well, but I just, I, I see the situation clearly differently in, in some ways than JJ does. So, um, just to kind of set it up. So we, we noted the, the, the, the, the assumption at this point that the wheels are officially in motion for, um, yonis to relocate. it's pretty clear Milwaukee, while they've fallen under 500, they have no real path to contention over the next few years. And Janus is, you know, he's over 30 now. Like he's not like a 26 year old guy with a little bit of time.
Starting point is 00:20:57 Like, you know, so it's certainly understandable from his perspective. The other player that is of going to. to be available, not technically available. Yeah. This just made me laugh. This comment, nepo for nepo trade, onto Ticompo Brothers for James father and son.
Starting point is 00:21:16 I actually was hoping for something like that earlier today. Like, let's make the money work. That is actually ever. That's very funny. For father, son, trade in NBA history. The other part of the
Starting point is 00:21:34 potential acquisition, market right now is Chris Paul, who in what can only be described as a very strange story, was released by the- No, he's not been released. I'm sorry, sent home. He was sent home. He hasn't been released yet. He's basically exiled. Yes, he was sent home from Atlanta where the Clippers were playing on Wednesday.
Starting point is 00:21:57 He was sent home like in the middle of the night. They just, they exiled him in the dead of night. And like, you know, like James Hardin, Kauai Lend. Leonard woke up the next day and learned that, or at least allegedly learned, that Chris Paul wasn't going to be on the team anymore. And so he's always tied to the Lakers. He's certainly more easily getable than Janus. Let's talk about both of these guys next. Locked on Lakers is brought to you by game time.
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Starting point is 00:23:28 Create an account. Use the code locked on NBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, download the app, make an account. Use the code locked on NBA for $20. bucks off, swipe, tap, ticket, go game time. I think we can level set expectations here. We like to make the joke, Andy, that every player that is available anywhere is a future
Starting point is 00:23:56 Laker. You know, the photo, everybody's got the Photoshop's ready to go, particularly easy in the age of AI. Just use the one that you've had for Janus for like three or four years. It'll still work. Make him wear, which one did we have, Thanassus? Which, which Antacompo was ours? We had Costas.
Starting point is 00:24:18 Coastus, right. Just wear your Costas, Jersey. It's close enough. So the avenues to getting Janus to L.A., even if Janus were to say to the Bucks, I want to be traded to the Lakers, even then it would still be very difficult because the Bucks don't have to say yes.
Starting point is 00:24:40 and the Lakers simply can't put together an offer that could compete with Oklahoma City where they interested. I don't think they'll actually do it. I would be stunned if OKC did. I mean, how much better do they need to get? But the team that really makes the most sense in terms of both draft capital, young players to offer in a team that really could use that one other guy to push them into the upper stratosphere is San Antonio.
Starting point is 00:25:12 So if Janus were willing to go to San Antonio, that could work out. I think the Hawks could really be in. The Hawks, if he were willing to go there, the Knicks are part of this conversation. I've already kicked the tires on Janus. But the Lakers simply don't have the stuff that you could offer to make this work. Certainly not midseason. No, not midseason. I will say, though, Janus.
Starting point is 00:25:40 potentially coming off the market does impact the Lakers, even if they're not the team that ultimately lands them, just because it reshapes the way the next couple summers presumably will play out. If Janus isn't on the free agent market, not this summer, but the following summer, that changes everybody's strategies. You know, Yokic isn't on the free agent. And so knowing those guys could be gone and off the market. could impact how the Lakers approach this summer, this trade deadline, which I think is good news for Lakers fans. Well, just to break this down a little bit further so people understand precisely why the Lakers,
Starting point is 00:26:24 at least in a mid-season deal, I think it would be impossible for them to come up with a competitive offer, like to beat the rest of the league. I mean, not as long as Nico Harrison doesn't work there. No, unfortunately, he's never getting hired anywhere again. but they only have one first round pick like outright that they can trade right now and the best player that they have right now who they're not going to trade Luca and LeBron
Starting point is 00:26:52 has a no trade clause is Austin. Austin is both too old for I think what the bucks need. Like Austin is 27 now. And even if you think Austin is good enough to be the number one guy for a championship contending team or whatever, the Bucks are in such a bad position to start building around Austin. By the time they even had a worthy team around Reeves,
Starting point is 00:27:21 like you're talking he's 31, 32. I would say that's generously the best way to do it. And also, Austin is a potential walkaway free agent. And the best player in your trade for the best player in franchise history can't be a guy that is a flight risk. So unless you're working out some type of three-team deal where Austin goes somewhere where the other team through back-channeling is pretty damn sure that Austin is going to re-up with them,
Starting point is 00:27:53 like on a lot of different levels, he doesn't fit what the bucks are looking for. And he's the only player on the Lakers roster that would even be up for consideration, that would even be sort of, of appealing to Milwaukee. Right. Keep in mind, like, a Dalton connect type of really.
Starting point is 00:28:11 Right now, Dalton is somebody you need to sort of attach a first round or two to get people to take him. So, you know, that doesn't necessarily help. Austin makes, Austin, to me at least, makes no sense for Milwaukee. I do love how you use flight risk as if Reeves is out on bail and just, you know, may not. Tell you something. If he feels like he's going to be spending his prime years in Milwaukee,
Starting point is 00:28:37 Milwaukee during a rebuild. You're damn right. It's going to feel like a convict trying to escape while on parole or whatever. It's going to feel like the same thing. Kent golf on off days in Milwaukee. You can do it in L.A. anytime. I'm just saying, man. I would treat him like somebody dealing with an APB because he's going to be looking
Starting point is 00:28:58 to flee the scene like someone fleeing the cops. Let's talk about CP3 because I agree with the Janus. we'll see how this develops, but however it develops, the real impact, as I mentioned, is on how it affects the way the Lakers operate this season and I think most importantly into this summer more than anything Janus specific. Chris Paul, though, is a name that has long been associated with the Lakers. he is going to be available. The Lakers could theoretically pick him up,
Starting point is 00:29:40 I believe, about halfway through January. It's either January, February. They can't do it right away, but they can use that 15th spot in a few weeks. A lot of teams will be in that situation. Chris Paul presumably will take his time to find another destination, assuming there is one.
Starting point is 00:30:00 He's got to get let go first. He's got to get let go first. I think people will be very interested in the additional reporting that comes out of this. It was, you know, he reported that he and Ty Lou hadn't been talking like for weeks, which is awkward. He's barely been on the team for weeks. That is correct. That essentially means they haven't been talking.
Starting point is 00:30:27 Like we're only, what, six, eight weeks the most into the season? Yep, not even. I've seen, you know, some reports that, you know, like there were, you know, clashes with, you know, the Chris Paul leadership style, um, wasn't really sitting well. It's certainly, you know, he's not playing very much, which probably has a little bit to do with it. Um, it does change the context. But, you know, I think it was Shams who tweeted out that Chris Paul was essentially being Chris Paul. It just wasn't landing, um, wasn't landing well. And now he was, dispatched in the middle of the night. Were you the Lakers, Andy?
Starting point is 00:31:08 Would you kick the tires on Chris Paul? I mean, even with that 15th spot and a need for a guard? How many more times do I need to say no? Well, I'm just finishing my sentence, and I just want to see how many times you can't say it. Look, I like Chris Paul. I have a lot of respect for him.
Starting point is 00:31:25 Certainly as a player and had interactions with him throughout the years. I've liked him personally. I certainly was mad as bleep when David Stern vetoed that deal. I was really mad about that. And I feel like the entire basketball world, not just Laker fans, but we were robbed at the opportunity of seeing Prime Kobe or back into Prime Kobe with Prime Chris Paul playing together.
Starting point is 00:31:53 I think it would have been amazing. Insane. All that being said. That scared straight commercially made with Blake Griffin was great. still one of the funniest sports commercials ever. Think about the needs for this Lakers team, like the most pressing needs, athleticism, wing presence on either side of the ball,
Starting point is 00:32:19 speed, youth. Like, you got to go down about maybe nine or ten deep on this list before you even start talking yourself into things that Chris Paul actually provides that they don't need. They don't need the basketball IQ. Like if LeBron, Luca, that ain't smart enough for you. I'm sorry, your team's too dumb Chris Paul can't help you. I'm just, I'm being on. And Chris Paul's basketball genius.
Starting point is 00:32:47 But if those two can't make it happen, Chris Paul ain't going to make it work. They don't need more ball handlers. If anything, they have enough difficulty trying to figure out. meshing the three main ones that they have. Like, there really is nothing. And Chris isn't even shooting the way he used to. But like, there really is nothing that he brings to the table. They shouldn't need the leadership.
Starting point is 00:33:13 Like, I will say this, though, it is insane to me that the clippers who know very well what the Chris Paul experience is and he brought them some of the best years, this frame. has ever had. He wanted to retire a clipper. I think in a lot of ways, it is a god-awful look on them that this franchise with very little history that they can celebrate. Even if Chris Paul was chirping a lot that you would do him this unceremoniously, given your paltry history to begin with, it is a really bad look. I mean, at least wait until the sun comes up. I just want to know, what were they expecting? Like this is who Chris Paul's always been.
Starting point is 00:34:01 In theory, you brought him in to do a lot of this leadership because you don't get it from Kauai Leonard. You don't get it from James Hardin. And if you weren't looking for that from Chris Paul, like, I know they had expectations that he'd be closer to the version that was just in San Antonio. But like, one would think that the vocal stylings, which is well documented. It wears on people after a while.
Starting point is 00:34:30 I think Chris Paul is one of the best floor raisers in recent NBA history, but there's a history of this wearing after a while. But I don't know what else they were expecting from this. I don't get it. Yeah, I don't really either. I think they just thought it would be like a good story, perhaps. Then like, you know, decent. They also didn't think they're going to be, you know,
Starting point is 00:34:54 they did win by 23. on Wednesday. So maybe, you know, losing the voice, light in the mood, I don't know. I mean, they were also playing a Hawks team that were missing. It was missing a lot of dudes. I mean, that same team beat the Lakers. So. Well, in fairness, the Lakers weren't trying.
Starting point is 00:35:15 I just, it's one of these things where, like, you know, all of these decisions were made in the context of a team that was supposed to be near the top of the Western Conference as opposed to near the bottom. they did not this was their sixth win this game in in Atlanta on Wednesday and so
Starting point is 00:35:33 if you told them they were going to be six and 16 in early December I don't think they would have signed Chris Paul they'd probably use that roster spot for someone else so what were they I don't know how many people they actually could have
Starting point is 00:35:51 used it I don't know or they would have been open I just I don't know. But I think when you ask the question, what were they expecting? I think first and foremost, they weren't expecting to be this bad. But we'll see. I agree with you, though. It just that ship has passed.
Starting point is 00:36:10 You know, it is sailed the possibility. It just doesn't serve the Lakers, I think, particularly well to have CP3 on the roster. So anyway, locked on Lakers on YouTube, Aindies, where you can go. hang out with over 37,000 subscribers. We will, of course, be back after the game on Thursday night. We'll probably go live for those of you who like to join the post games in the sort of nine o'clockish area. So keep an eye out for that.
Starting point is 00:36:40 Pacific time. Pacific time. If you're a subscriber to the channel, I think you get an alert for these types of things. So another good reason to subscribe. And we'll see everybody after the game.

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