Today
31m 18s
One good way to measure how confident the NBA pundit class is in the Lakers is to look at offseason predictions around things like awards.
And by that standard, the Lakers are doing ok. Luka Dončić finished second behind Nikola Jokic (who is pretty good!) in a preseason MVP handicapping, as judged by a panel of ESPN experts. For that to happen, first and foremost Luka needs to put up big numbers, something similar to what he did in Dallas a couple seasons ago. And second, the Lakers have to be very, very competitive. If they're middling around the Western Conference, struggling to stay relevant in the playoff race, Luka isn't sniffing an MVP.
As for the first part of that, Skinny Luka looks like he's primed to perform. As for the second? As we've discussed on the show, the Lakers won 50 games last year. They're better than the version that finished the season, post trade. So assuming the right folks stay out of street clothes, they should be good enough this year to keep Luka in the conversation.
Meanwhile, the Lakers (not surprisingly) were a popular vote for "Team Turmoil." In related news, LeBron James was third among players in the "Next Superstar to Request a Trade..." category.
Obviously those things are related.
But here's the thing... the circumstances for the Lakers to be "Team Turmoil" are hard to fathom (for reasons we explain) and if things don't go to pot (which, save injury, feel unlikely for reasons we explain) LeBron James IS NOT GOING TO ASK OUT.
And, you guessed it, we explain why.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Luka is an early MVP fave.
SEGMENT 2: What has to happen for Luka to be in the race.
SEGMENT 3: Some people REALLY want LeBron to be LeDrama this year.
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