Mike Garcia

The shorthanded Lakers opened their preseason with a pair of losses. The guys offer their takeaways from both games, the team’s inconsistent effort in transition defense, what they’ve liked from Austin, Ayton, and Vando, and more.

🎧: linktr.ee/LFRPOD

👀

New pod: The Kawhi Situation

The guys discuss Slovenia’s hard-fought loss in EuroBasket, Luka’s huge scoring night, Germany’s resolve & later, the new bombshell revelation dropped re the Clippers possible salary cap circumvention with Kawhi, & MORE.

🎧: linktr.ee/LFRPOD

41 days until the 2025-2026 NBA season starts

Interesting tidbit on Knecht and Thiero in the mailbag.

Lakers have signed RJ Davis, Eric Dixon, Arthur Kaluma and Augustus Marčiulionis to training camp (Exhibit 10) deals.

Sacramento Kings place 2 players on the All-NBA Summer League Team.
Nique Clifford💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
Isaac Jones 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Raynaud has incredible feel considering he doesn't have the typical amount of basketball experience that modern NBA prospects usually do.

Like I said, the Kings drafted my guys.

They're really that good.

I think people are going to make Caruso comparisons, but I agree with @upsideswings.bsky.social with the Thybulle comparison. Tons of high risk deflections and less about disciplined, positional defense.

AC was more of a positional defender while still creating havoc, better PG, better shooter.

Nope

Miami Heat head scout Eric Spoelstra is challenging center Kel'el Ware to improve his professionalism, consistency, and daily approach. Let's see how Ware performs as the Miami Heat take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Carter Bryant
Maxime Raynaud
Jahmai Mashack

I mean, Mike Schmitz is there.

The CBA is like 2 tiers of comp lower than the NBA. I was initially high on Hansen after he proved a lot from the combine for me personally. Should have stuck with it.

For a lot, it's tough to see the transferability of footwork and physicality from that low level comp.

But he can read the floor.

From what I've seen of Summer League play, I only regret ranking Hansen Yang so low.

But I don't regret:

Kasparas #4
Thiero #13
Beringer #14
Raynaud #17

I have a lot of optimism for Dixon's shooting.

What A Wild Draft Ride I Could Have Not Predicted This

Wrote about the three Laker additions that matched by Best Player Available list, Adou Theiro, Eric Dixon, and Augustas Marciulionis.

lakersdraft.substack.com/p/what-a-wil...

yay ayton

Man, don't tell me I've got to do this too 😂

It was always about 2027.

Already got LaRavia

The Clippers drafted Yanic Konan Niederhauser and then picked up Brook Lopez.

Looks like YKN is going to sit a lot his rookie season.

I feel like I did my job with the draft and now I'm watching this Laker FA / trade season go crazy 🤣

Agreed

New pod: LeBron Opts In, DFS Opts Out

LeBron opted into his contract for next year while DFS opted out. The guys discuss what kind of deal they would offer DFS now, how LeBron's decision impacts the Lakers in free agency, Rich Paul's comments & MORE.

🎧: linktr.ee/LFRPOD

YouTube video by Thinking Basketball Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso dominate on defense

Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball played 26-games together for the Chicago Bulls

When they were on the court together, the Bulls had a defensive rating of 104.8 and turned opponents over on 17.4% of their possessions while sparking great transition offense.

Remembering the “Lockdown Brothers”

Fun that these 2 went back to back in the draft. Lanier went where I had him, Thiero was my biggest steal by a mile.

Just play a game or two then shut him down.