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With the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly pulling out of trade talks for Anthony Davis after the New Orleans Pelicans requested what Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office considered an “outrageous” asking price, it’s seeming all the more likely the team’s focus will have to be on moving forward with the roster they have.
What makes that somewhat awkward now, however, are LaVar Ball’s comments about the Lakers, the head coach and Lonzo Ball’s teammates. Even before he went on record to call the Lakers a bunch of losers compared to [checks notes] the Phoenix Suns, LaVar (or someone else from Lonzo’s camp) made it known that Lonzo preferred to stay away from New Orleans.
If this had any effect on trade negotiations, I’m reaching the end of my rope with him.
On today’s episode of Locked on Lakers, Harrison makes a return and defends LaVar Ball. Can you believe that? How dare he. (He actually makes some valid points about LaVar’s tactics compared to those of Anthony Davis, Sr., but still how dare he)
We also discuss Kentavious Caldwell-Pope making it known he wanted out, too, which is funny. The Lakers have a very long list of priorities at the moment and it’s hard to see moving KCP being particularly high on it. He’s one of the team’s few good shooters, and as the deadline approaches, it’s hard to see the Lakers selling off pieces as they’re this close to a playoff berth.
The next 48 hours or so are going to be jam-packed with more posturing in either this Anthony Davis saga or in other negotiations as the front office tries to put together a team better positioned for a playoff push. There are also basketball games to be played, which feels like a weird distraction given everything else going on.
Listen to the full conversation below and subscribe on iTunes, where you can also leave questions in the form of a five-star review to guarantee your topic makes the show.