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LakerTom wrote a new post
The Lakers made the splash of the decade, but is the star power actually suffocating the squad? 🤔 Brian Windhorst just dropped a truth bomb on First Take regarding the chemistry between the King and the new era: "When Luka [Doncic], LeBron [James], and Austin Reaves play… pic.twitter.com/Fal9ogMsVa— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 26, 2026
Read MoreThe Lakers made the splash of the decade, but is the star power actually suffocating the squad? 🤔 Brian Windhorst just dropped a truth bomb on First Take regarding the chemistry between the King and the new era: "When Luka [Doncic], LeBron [James], and Austin Reaves play… pic.twitter.com/Fal9ogMsVa— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 26, 2026
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Normally, having a 26-year old superstar in his prime join with a 41-year old superstar near retirement would be an easy fit. The problem is that LeBron is not a normal 41-year old.
To me, the real villain has been Pelinka, who has not let three transaction periods go by without making a major move to add players that complement Luka. That makes me wonder whether Mark Walter will really be the savior for the Lakers since he’s willing to let Pelinka remain in charge despite his inability to make moves.
The only way JJ is going to solve the Big Three puzzle is by breaking it up. The numbers say start with Luka, Austin, and Jax and back that up with LeBron, Smart, and Ayton. If JJ continues to waste time trying to get the starting Big Three to win their minutes, he will end up getting fired this summer.
Right now, the Lakers need to move LeBron to the bench. I’m hopeful that that conversation has already started. We have 25 games left before playoffs, with 18 against teams with winning records. We’ll struggle to play .500 the rest of the way.
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It’s not about age; it’s about fit. Your best 3 players don’t thrive playing off the ball and don’t play defense either. When we traded our only 2-way players for Luka, this imbalance had to be anticipated.
I’m no fan of Pelinka but he’s not doing anything that he hasn’t been instructed to do by his bosses. There were no substantial moves to be made with our lack of resources… probably why nobody’s job is truly on the line….yet. This summer is the line in the sand which is why the only dept to get overhauled was scouting. Now after that, all bets are off.
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It’s also about the lack of role players who would fit with the Big Three. If we had Peyton Watson as our starting small forward and Walker Kessler as our starting center, then a Luka and Austin backcourt and 41-year old LeBron at power forward would surely work a lot better.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreLAKERS NEED MODERN TWO-WAY CENTERWHO CAN STRETCH FLOOR & PROTECT RIMAnd that is NOT Deandre Ayton. My biggest problem with Mark Walter allowing Rob Pelinka to remain as head of basketball operations for the Lakers is his tendency to look for the best deal rather than the… https://t.co/MvAEVQoLbI pic.twitter.com/DGpYjDz5pD— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 26, 2026
5 Comments-
That modern center is gonna get his azz kicked by Wemby, Joker, and probably by Holmgren & Sengun as well.
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He will for sure if we continue to send out minimum wage or buyout candidates. We have two major needs that we can solve this summer. Peyton Watson as our stating small forward of the future and Walker Kessler as our starting center of the future.
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Wemby and Joker are two generational stars but Kessler has the potential to be better than Holmgren and Sengun because of his size. If the Lakers can pair him with a second big who is a proven stretch four/five, that’s the kind of front court they need to build to compete.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Lakers' Deandre Ayton still finding role with Lakers: 'I'm not no Clint Capela!'The thing is, next to Luka Doncic, the Lakers could use peak Clint Capela. https://t.co/d4ZfPdxHkB— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) February 26, 2026
Read MoreLakers' Deandre Ayton still finding role with Lakers: 'I'm not no Clint Capela!'The thing is, next to Luka Doncic, the Lakers could use peak Clint Capela. https://t.co/d4ZfPdxHkB— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) February 26, 2026
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“They keep trying to turn me into Clint Capela. That’s not me. I’m Deandre Ayton.”pic.twitter.com/EWsNKStEmX— Ryan Rueda (@PlayoffDude) February 26, 2026
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You cannot help the team without Rebounding big numbers and Blocking shots. We don’t need points. Another team might, not us.
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Members of the Lakers training staff wrap Deandre Ayton's water bottle in athletic tape and write "DA's Crunk Juice — Drink this to unleash the beast" in black marker on it before games to keep him motivated, per @mcten pic.twitter.com/Q0Ju6GHVAy— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) February 26, 2026
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Early success with the Suns may have ruined this guy. Relying on him for consistent effort is a fool’s errand.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
Read MoreLAKERS IDEAL 10-MAN ROTATION HAS LUKA/AUSTIN LINEUP & LEBRON LINEUPSLakers need to create 10-man rotation with a starting lineup led by a Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves backcourt with Jaxson Hayes as starting center. STARTING LINEUP:Here's the best 5-man Doncic, Reaves,… https://t.co/8MwuCH0wbR— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 26, 2026
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LakerTom wrote a new post
WHY LEBRON TO THE BENCH IS KEYTO UNLOCKING LAKERS ELITE PLAYOne of the 'best practices' the Lakers need to take from the Dodgers is letting the data drive decisions. Right now, the data is literally screaming that the Lakers cannot win starting their Big Three of Luka Doncic,… https://t.co/UUnsEbr4ol pic.twitter.com/QCW1SaDnwe— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 26, 2026
Read MoreWHY LEBRON TO THE BENCH IS KEYTO UNLOCKING LAKERS ELITE PLAYOne of the 'best practices' the Lakers need to take from the Dodgers is letting the data drive decisions. Right now, the data is literally screaming that the Lakers cannot win starting their Big Three of Luka Doncic,… https://t.co/UUnsEbr4ol pic.twitter.com/QCW1SaDnwe— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 26, 2026
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MICHAEL HINRICH
Blog Editor
Michael Hinrich, AKA Michael H, has been a Lakers fan since his 5th grade basketball coach, who had played with Wilt Chamberlain at Kansas, turned him into a Wilt fan and Lakers fan when Wilt was traded to L.A.
Another expat from the LA Times Lakers Blog, where he met LakerTom and Jamie Sweet, Michael’s stream of consciousness writing style and savvy intelligence is refreshing and invites conversation and response.
As far as day jobs, Michael has been a councilor, truck washer, bank V.P., and semi-professional writer who just published his first novel. He currently works part-time designing greenhouse systems and just enjoying the good life in Hawaii.
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The guys from the Lakers Fast Break return for some NBA Observation as they share thoughts on the recent big-money extensions for Miami coach Erik Spoelstra and the Clipper’s Kawhi Leonard. Does this mean the Lakers will be opening up their wallet a little more as well? Plus after Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic’s huge rant after the Lakers game because of the fourth-quarter free throw disparity, we ponder if Darvin Ham will ever show that kind of energy if he remains as the guys on the sidelines for LA. We’re back talking some big $$$, and wondering if the Lakers are ready to go on a spending spree? Find out our thoughts on the latest Lakers Fast Break podcast!
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A lot of folks said this when the trade was made over a year ago…Luka & LeBron are too similar. Our coaching staff had an entire off-season to figure out how to make it work but apparently they did nothing. Just roll the ball out there and hope it works itself out.