Tag: NBA Basketball

2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers: A quick preview

Despite a rough season last year, the Lakers have shown flashes of what they’re capable of, especially when healthy. With a new head coach in JJ Redick and key players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent fully available, there’s hope for a …

Despite a rough season last year, the Lakers have shown flashes of what they’re capable of, especially when healthy. With a new head coach in JJ Redick and key players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent fully available, there’s hope for a better run this time around.

The challenge, of course, is the reliance on LeBron James, who is entering his 22nd season at will turn 40 in two months, and Anthony Davis, who has struggled with injuries in the past (though not lately). The Lakers aren’t like a Boston or Spoelstra-coached Miami team that can easily compensate for absences – they need all hands on deck for most of the season, along with a bit of luck. Redick, a first-time head coach, adds an element of unpredictability, but his fresh perspective and approach could be just what this team needs to manage rotations better and push the right buttons.

LeBron himself acknowledged the team’s lack of major moves, saying, “It takes two to tango,” when discussing their offseason attempts. But with a core that went 20-10 down the stretch last season, combined with Redick’s innovative coaching, the Lakers might just have what it takes to surpass their 47 wins from last season – if everything falls into place.

Buha: The Blazers want two first-round draft picks for Jerami Grant

If the Lakers want to land Jerami Grant from the Trail Blazers, they may have to give up an arm and a leg.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant has been mentioned as a potential trade target of the Los Angeles Lakers for some time now. A 6-foot-7 forward, Grant is effective and versatile on the defensive end, and he has also become a legitimate scoring threat on the other end.

He averaged 21.0 points a game while hitting 40.2% of his 3-point attempts this past season. If he would accept a somewhat reduced role as a third or even a fourth option in Los Angeles, perhaps he could play a major factor in getting the team back to championship contention.

However, the price may not be right as far as the Lakers are concerned. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Portland wants two first-round draft picks for Grant.

The Lakers have a limited amount of draft capital available for use in a trade. When one considers they have other roster deficiencies besides a two-way wing, perhaps giving up two future first-rounders for Grant, a player who has never been named to the All-Star team, may not be the best idea.

Why Austin Rivers feels the Lakers are close to championship contention

Free agent guard Austin Rivers feels the Lakers are a better team than most are giving them credit for because of two obvious reasons.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a very quiet and therefore disappointing offseason, at least so far. They haven’t brought in any players from other teams, and in fact, they have lost two players from last season’s team in forward Taurean Prince and guard Spencer Dinwiddie.

As a result, fans not only feel the Lakers will be lucky to make the playoffs this coming season but that their roster may actually be weaker than it was a few months ago.

But the fact remains that they still have one of the best, if not the best, superstar duos in the NBA in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James and Davis have played impressive ball for Team USA as it prepares for the Summer Olympics, and it has been a reminder that L.A. still has a fantastic foundation.

Free agent guard Austin Rivers has been watching Team USA’s exhibition games, and he feels the Lakers aren’t exactly far off from returning to championship contention (h/t Lakers Daily).

“I’m watchin’ this USA Basketball, right, and I’ve been watchin’ all their games close, and it doesn’t take a trained eye to notice who have been the two best players, the most impactful, on USA Basketball,” he said. “Granted, K.D. (Kevin Durant) has not played, so I’ll take that into account, but, so far, the two best players are two Lakers players: LeBron James and Anthony Davis, right?

“So, when you start thinkin’ about that, I’m sittin’ here watchin’ this game, thinkin’, ‘Why are the Lakers so far away — or why does it feel that way?’ And I guess J.J. Redick is right. They asked him, ‘How far away are you?’ He said, ‘We’re not far. We are a piece or two away from competing.’ Maybe he is the piece. They got the new coach, they got new staff, etc…

“All I’ve heard this past year is how the door for LeBron James and winning championships in Los Angeles is closed, and the more I watch USA Basketball, I just can’t disagree any more.”

The Lakers’ roster deficiencies, in no particular order, are a legitimate defensive-minded center, a 3-and-D wing and some sort of upgrade as far as a ball-handling guard. It is hoped that rookie Dalton Knecht, the No. 17 pick in last month’s draft, will help replace Prince’s dead-eye 3-point shooting while also providing some scoring off the dribble.

It is important to remember that there are about two months to go before training camp and that major trades have been made late in recent offseasons. Last summer, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday weren’t traded until late September and the first day of October, respectively, and in 2022, Donovan Mitchell wasn’t sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers until early September.

Former Vols’ NBA results for Nov. 21

A look at how former Vols performed in the NBA on Tuesday.

Three former Vols competed in the NBA in-season tournament on Tuesday.

Cleveland defeated Philadelphia, 122-119 in overtime, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tobias Harris started at forward for the 76ers. He totaled 23 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in 43 minutes against the Cavaliers. Harris converted 7-of-13 field goal attempts, 3-of-5 three-point attempts and 6-of-6 free throw attempts.

Jaden Springer played seven minutes for the 76ers and recorded one rebound. He was 0-for-1 in field goal attempts.

Orlando defeated Toronto, 126-107, at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Admiral Schofield played two minutes and did not record any statistics for the Magic.

Lakers 3 goals: Alex Fudge must focus on earning playing time

Here are three goals Alex Fudge should focus on heading into his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Alex Fudge enters his rookie season as a two-way player with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-foot-9 forward enters the NBA after two years at the collegiate level, where he represented the University of Florida and Louisana State University. 

The Lakers have a solid track record of finding and developing undrafted talent into valuable role players. Fudge will likely hope he’s the latest and likely looks to Austin Reaves’ rapid rise to prominence for inspiration. However, Fudge will need to impress with the South Bay Lakers if he wants a shot of getting any legitimate playing time for the Lakers this season.

As such, in the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three goals” series, we dive into potential goals Fudge can work toward in the coming months. After all, earning playing time on an NBA team is difficult; doing it on a contending roster with multiple future Hall of Famers will be daunting.

Lakers 3 goals: Colin Castleton must work on his rebounding

Here are three goals for Colin Castleton to focus on in the coming season.

In the upcoming season, Colin Castleton will split his time between the Los Angeles Lakers and the South Bay Lakers. The 6-foot-11 center went undrafted this summer despite impressing for the University of Florida, with which he averaged 16 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.

Castleton ended his final collegiate season with an All-SEC defensive team selection. However, the five-year college player was judged as a high-floor, low-ceiling pickup. That floor could make him an interesting prospect at the next level. As such, the Lakers will look closer at the versatile big man to see if he can develop and find a role for himself within the team’s rotation.

So, for the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three goals” series, we take a closer look at areas the undrafted big man should work on throughout the season as he looks to crack the Lakers’ rotation and prove himself as an NBA talent.

 

Lakers 3 goals: Cam Reddish needs to make the most of his opportunity

Here are three things Cam Reddish could focus on heading into his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers

In the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three goals” series, we will look at Cam Reddish. The former Duke standout has struggled since entering the NBA, but now finds an excellent opportunity as part of the Los Angeles Lakers rotation heading into the new season. Reddish, 24, was the 10th pick in the 2019 draft and came into the league with the reputation of a versatile two-way wing prospect.

Reddish had somewhat of a bounce-back end to last season, as he began to show flashes during his 20 regular-season games with the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s those flashes that likely caught Rob Pelinka‘s eye and led the Lakers to sign the 6-foot-8 wing to a contract ahead of the new season,

Now, Reddish will find himself in a highly competitive environment where everybody fights for minutes and spots within the primary rotation. The hope is that Reddish will thrive in such a dog-eat-dog setting and begin to make good on his undoubted potential.

Here are three things Reddish should look to achieve in the coming season.

Lakers 3 goals: Gabe Vincent needs to provide floor spacing

Here are three goals for Gabe Vincent to work on in the coming season.

Earlier this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers added Gabe Vincent to their roster on a three-year $33 million deal. Vincent is coming off an NBA Finals run with the Miami Heat, where he enjoyed a breakout run, flashing upside as a starting guard and three-point sniper.

In the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three things” series, we will look at some areas that Vincent may wish to improve heading into the season or throughout the year. The Lakers have been busy building a championship-caliber roster this summer, and Vincent projects to be an important part of the puzzle.

Vincent has spent the first four years of his NBA career playing under Erik Spoelstra, so he may need time to adapt to a new system and his new teammates. Nevertheless, the versatile guard could thrive alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the coming months.

Here are three things Vincent could look to implement during his debut season with the Lakers:

Austin Reaves tipped as sleeper for prestigious individual award

Austin Reaves is expected to take another big step in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming season.

Austin Reaves has enjoyed a rapid rise since being acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted rookie in 2021. Last season, Reaves started 22 regular-season games for the Lakers and became a trusted starter during the postseason. With such rapid improvements and a clear impact, Rob Pelinka prioritized re-signing Reaves this summer.

With a new contract in hand and a new season on the horizon, Reaves is expected to take another step in his development and truly establish himself as an essential starter for the Lakers. As such, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes the third-year guard could be a sleeper to win the Most Improved Player award in 2024.

“Austin Reaves is in the career sweet spot for the Most Improved Player of the Year. He’s still developing, but he’s one year past the ‘we can’t give the award to a second-year player who’s supposed to be better” argument,'” Bailey wrote. “Being on a prominent team like the Lakers will help Reaves’ chances, too. And through the early portion of the FIBA World Cup, he’s been a fan favorite and undeniable spark off the bench. All of that should lead to significantly better numbers than the 13.0 points and 3.4 assists he put up last regular season.”

Reaves will likely have a bigger role within the Lakers rotation in the upcoming season, along with a higher usage rate and additional touches. As such, the 6-foot-5 guard will have every opportunity to put himself in contention for the individual award. However, Reaves and the Lakers will be aiming far higher than simply being recognized for making improvements.

The Lakers want another championship and will feel confident their offseason additions can help them achieve that goal.

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Watch: Filipino fans show love to Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves is being treated like a celebrity while with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup.

Los Angeles Lakers fans are used to the Austin Reaves experience. However, international fans are getting their first taste of the Lakers guard at the FIBA World Cup and appear to be loving every minute of it. Reaves might not be the star player for Team USA, but his charismatic personality is winning everybody over.

On August 27, Reaves was introduced to a crowd of fans in the Philippines and was treated like a rockstar. Hundreds of fans were chanting Reaves’ name as he made his way onto the stage, while the chant of ‘Austin’ filled the room.

Reaves joined the Lakers as an undrafted rookie ahead of the 2021-22 season and has quickly established himself as an integral member of the team’s rotation. Earlier this summer, Rob Pelinka ensured Reaves’ future lay with the Lakers, signing the impressive guard to a four-year $53.8 million deal.

You can watch Reaves’ warm welcome from fans in the Philipines in the embedded clip above.

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