Podcast: Should the Lakers use their last roster spot on Alex Caruso?

We have reached the portion of the season where we ask things like, “might another team swoop in on Alex Caruso?” Still, because this is the Los Angeles Lakers we’re discussing, there is that and plenty more for our show hosts to talk about.

Can You Dig It

After this weekend, the Lakers will have to decide whether or not they’re going to bring South Bay Lakers call up Scott Machado back on a second 10-day contract. If they opt not to give Machado another look, they’ll once again have an open roster spot with just five games left in the season.

On this week’s episode of “Can You Dig It?” Christian invites Ali B (@ali_behpoornia) of South Bay Laker Film Room to discuss the possibility of the Lakers signing Alex Caruso — who has been impressing his teammates and the rest of us — to a multi-year contract with their final roster spot.

Currently, Caruso is on the tail end of a two-year, two-way contract he signed in 2017. If the Lakers wanted to, they could offer Caruso a two-year, non-guaranteed contract to ensure they have the right of refusal for his services leading up to summer league and training camp. Considering their recent history of health at the point guard position, that might not be the worst idea.

Christian and Ali also talked about other potential candidates to get called up on the South Bay Lakers, including fan favorite Jemerrio Jones and NBA veteran Spencer Hawes.

Listen below for their entire conversation and, for more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.

Locked on Lakers

On today’s episode, I try to care even a little about the Lakers’ loss last night to the Utah Jazz. I failed. Sorry.

Still, there were a couple things worth pointing out both from the game and the reports on Luke Walton that immediately preceded it. First, from the game itself, I wondered whether more harm than good is being done for Kyle Kuzma in games where the defense can focus on him as their primary target. He’s being asked to do too much and as a result is making the game even harder for him than it necessarily has to be.

Next, I discussed Tyronn Lue and how some frustration with him right now is more of a result of the impending departure of a coach fans wanted to — and maybe still do — believe in. I also talked a little about how both Walton and the Lakers can learn from their failures with each other.

Lastly, I tried to contextualize just how difficult a job whoever takes over for Walton is going to have upon their arrival. Between egos, personnel, politics and, you know, basketball, it’s going to be a hugely daunting task.

You can listen to the entire episode below, and make sure to subscribe on iTunes, where you can also leave questions in the form of a five-star review to guarantee your topic makes the show.