Good to see the guys finally string together some wins against teams they should beat. Winning 5 outta 6 is always a good thing and nothing to turn my nose up at. A win is a win and they produced some impressive analytics numbers for folks to get excited about. But those numbers always have to be put into context and last night vs a good MEM team (playing a back-to-back btw) showed the difference between playing a buncha sub-.500 teams and playing actual playoff contenders. I could be wrong but the last winning team we beat was the Heat with Jimmy B injured early in that one…that was literally 2 months ago. The schedule gets alot more serious between now & the All Star break in mid February and we’ll have a much more realistic view of where we stand than wins against HOU, POR, MIN (w/o KAT & D.Russell), SAC, & ATL.

I heard this so many times growing up. Another way of saying actions speak louder than words. We’ve heard a whole lotta words about AD’s “desire” to play a buncha minutes at center. But the ACTIONS of the past and the move of adding Dwight & DeAndre paint a different picture to me. I think everyone (AD, Frankie, Rob, Rich, LeBron) is on the same page and they want that big traditional 5 who can grind & catch those lobs which was the formula to winning the Covid Cup.

We all know the team is better with AD at center but that still doesn’t mean he wants to spend the majority of his minutes there. All you have to do is look at the Naomi Osaka situation to understand the mental aspect of this thing. Being the best at something doesn’t necessarily make you happy.

And honestly, what does it all matter? The regular season is just something to endure. Nobody cares if you win 73 games; just get to the playoffs healthy. As was shown in the Cup, it’s not hard for AD to move to the 5 on short notice. All this hand-wringing is unnecessary.

I'm still getting asked about Dennis Schroder and a Lakers S&T. Yes, technically, they can do that in early August but why does Dennis help the Lakers out? Why doesn't he just go to a team with $ w/o a S&T? Maybe if he's squeezed out of the market, but let's talk then

— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) July 30, 2021

How is it still on the table? Lakers sending the 2 pieces the Kings wanted to the Wizards. The Lakers can't really get to a Buddy salary w/o Dennis S&T and I just noted, Schroder has no reason at this time to help the Lakers and Kings don't need DS https://t.co/tkxOL3ldiT

— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) July 30, 2021

The meme makes a valid point. The Lakers have 12 players right now and every single one of them has a right to expect to get minutes based on talent and resume. That has implications. Lots of implications and some worries.

First worry is it will be hard to build the same Kumbaya chemistry that the Bubble Championship team had because it’s almost a certainty, like last year, that there will be players unhappy with their minutes or role.

Second worry, the already deep roster and luxury tax costs make it near impossible to add another impact player, although the Lakers do appear to be still looking to make a move. If that move brings another player, he better be almost a star or a perfect fit (shut down defender) to justify overloading the roster and incurring the huge taxes.

On the other side, having a 12 or 13 deep roster could allow the Lakers to give players a game off every 3 or 4 games to limit wear and tear and save them for the playoffs. Adjust the lineups and rotations to matchup best. Some days Marc would be the backup at the five. Some days Dwight.

The other big plus to the deep lineup is dramatically reduced minutes for LeBron and AD. LeBron played 33.4 mpg and AD 32.3 mpg. I would love to see both of them under 30 mpg this season. That might be the biggest reason to have a deep and competent roster. Spread the regular season minutes and improve the matchups.

Dallas is progressing in its attempts to hire Igor Kokoskov as an assistant coach to Jason Kidd, league sources say.

Kokoskov, who coached Luka Doncic to a EuroBasket title in 2017, is head coach at Turkish power Fenerbahce and would have to be released from his Fener contract.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 15, 2021

The Clippers announced Tuesday night that Kawhi Leonard had surgery to repair a partial tear of his right ACL, an injury the team did not specify as he sat out their final eight playoff games. https://t.co/PzfBqpBpN7

— USA TODAY NBA (@usatodaynba) July 14, 2021

Re: Kawhi: Thomas Bryant & Spencer Dinwiddie each missed 60+ games after undergoing surgery for Grade 2 (partial tear) ACL injuries earlier this season. Dinwiddie was cleared for basketball activities ~6 months after surgery. Look for Kawhi’s recovery to carryover into next year.

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) July 14, 2021

It appears the #Lakers will attempt to reunite with Lonzo Ball this summer.https://t.co/hByNfTBmnV pic.twitter.com/VEgCcpEVjK

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) July 13, 2021

This offseason should be an interesting one for the Los Angeles Lakers as after a disappointing first-round postseason exit, changes to the roster are expected to be made.

Two things that the Lakers will be looking for are shooting and playmaking in order to take some of the load off LeBron James. One player who fits both of those skillsets is someone who Lakers fans are very familiar with: New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball.

Ball is set to hit restricted free agency and despite coming off a career season, most reports have indicated that the Pelicans are not intent on keeping him. In 55 games last season, Ball averaged career-highs in points (14.6), shooting percentage (41.4) and 3-point percentage (37.8) to go along with 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

If the Pelicans don’t bring him back, the Lakers are expected to be among the teams with interest in Ball, per Marc Stein of the New York Times:

“Expect to eventually hear of them searching for potential pathways, however obstacle-strewn they would be, to reacquiring restricted free agent-to-be Lonzo Ball for that reason.”

While Ball coming back to his hometown team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2017 would be a great story, the pathway to make it happen is very slim.

First off, the Pelicans would have to be willing to sign-and-trade Ball back to the Lakers, which is unlikely in itself given the past relationship between the two teams. The Lakers would then have to pay Ball a hefty salary that could reach $20 million annually as well as send assets back to New Orleans.

Even if that agreement between the two teams and Ball was made though, the Lakers would then be hard-capped for the rest of the season. That means they would likely lose some of their other key free agents like Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker, who Rob Pelinka has made it clear he wants to bring back.

Additionally, Ball is expected to have no shortage of suitors this summer with the Chicago Bulls and L.A. Clippers already known to be among them. So the Lakers would also have to beat offers from other teams in sign-and-trade scenarios.

Pelinka has been known to take big risks since taking over the Lakers’ front office, so even though a reunion with Ball seems to be unlikely, it can’t be completely ruled out given L.A.’s need to add shooting and playmaking.

Monty Williams. Leader. pic.twitter.com/5Ou3XmYiyq

— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2021

Ayton immediately went out there and made big plays down the stretch to help secure the win after having a sub-par game to that point. That’s real coaching & leadership right there from Monty.

New story: After an injury-riddled season derailed the Lakers’ repeat title hopes, the team is searching for a new head athletic trainer https://t.co/XLb0lIHEUP

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 19, 2021

Who had (Michael) Jordan Clarkson going on his own personal 17-0 run on their bingo card? Looks like 3 Game 7’s for the weekend..

…Ben Simmons out here trying to intentionally foul himself out.

Mike Conley is available to play tonight.

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 19, 2021

The Mavericks let team president Donnie Nelson go after 24 years with the franchise. @MarcJSpears: "Let's just be real: Donnie was fired. And the one guy who is upset about it is the one guy you really don't want to be upset about it. He and Luka Doncic are really close." pic.twitter.com/d8zE0GHPN9

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 17, 2021

Luka Doncic, from Slovenia with his national team, on Donnie Nelson's Mavericks exit:

"It was kind of tough to me. I really like Donnie. I know him since I was a kid and he was the one that drafted me. It was tough for me seeing that, but I'm not the one making decisions there."

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 17, 2021

Washington and coach Scott Brooks couldn't come to an agreement on a new deal and are agreeing to part ways, sources tell ESPN. Brooks' deal expired after the playoffs.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2021