Christie/Vando/Knecht one of them with AR sliding to the 1 and LeBron being the primary handler.

@@d-freeyour offense gets worse.

I actually agree with you. My bigger issue with both is that the Lakers need a player who can hold down the fort when AD is off the floor. And I don’t have great confidence in either. When people hype Christian, it’s within the context of him next to AD. And that’s fine. The numbers were good. But you don’t want your backup C to be dependent on playing next to your starting C. You need him to be able to replace him (ideally, both). I think the Jaxson-only minutes were better than the Wood-only minutes. But that could change under JJ. Neither is a good rim protector, though, and that puts a lot of pressure on the perimeter defenders to prevent dribble penetration

In part, yes. Also because there is a limitation to the fit with him and AR. They need more athleticism and defense in the backcourt.

It’s a really good point - and the main counterpoint to trading DLo (along with his playmaking/passing). I think the bigger issue is just the fit with him and AR. There’s a clear limitation there due to both needing the ball, to some extent, and neither being great defensively. And the Lakers value AR more, so it’s DLo that’s the guy they’re trying to move

Which part do you disagree with?

@@jovanbuha He is not capable of being a better offensive player than Dlo. Reaves is a Norman Powell tier player y'all hype him like he's a all-star.

Love that trio together. And, yeah, ideally they add another ballhandler if they move DLo, but it’s tough to solve every roster problem. Right now, I think a better backup C and a better starting wing are bigger issues.

@@jovanbuha - Agreed & Fosho Brotha Buha!!!

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That’s really all he needs to on this team, though. He doesn’t need to handle the ball. And I don’t think he will much.

@jovanbuha I feel your wings need to be able to iso and break down defenses. Great teams have wings who can score and don't need to be set up all the time. I also feel kenecht isn't the type of athlete that can finish at the rim as a wing in the nba. He has been iffy at it in summer league.

Appreciate that! Means a lot.

Thank you, Milorad!

I don’t see him dropping that low. I was just laying out the hypothetical. And that if he does, even that level of slippage (which I would consider minor) would be bad for LA’s title chances. I think realistic slippage would be to 15-20 range. But he very well could stay where he’s at, which is somewhere between 8-12 for me.

@@jovanbuha thx Jovan. I get what you are saying 100%. It’s just frustrating watching Bron/ AD playing at these levels knowing if the Lakers FO could just give them a bit more margin of error they could be going on serious runs. I think the FO has only put 2 properly balanced teams around them. 1 won a title and the other AD got hurt in the PHX series.

Yep. I think with a clear vision and consistent roles, this team will thrive

Yep. Depends if they’re healthy and how they play.

I don’t think they’re going to bench him. I was talking about it because I keep getting asked about it and you could argue there’s value in splitting him and AR up (and AR is a keeper for them).

He’s clearly our 3rd best player and it’s not close. Everyone wants Reaves not dlo. Dlo is trash never shows up in the playoffs. Reaves last 2 playoff runs better than dlo’s whole career

@@nnam2397 He isn’t. Reaves a good role player but his production is far more replaceable than Dlo’s for our team. Dlo has been bad during the Playoffs for sure but that’s the goal for the defense. They’re willing to let Reave beat them rather than Dlo. Y’all bring up the playoffs as if we didn’t get swept still. Trading our best shooter and secondary passer

Is dumb if the goal is to have a 5 out offense. Again, Reaves isn’t a great shooter or defender…he’s barely better than Dlo on that end. Why does our FO treat Reaves like he’s Caruso?

I actually agree with everything you said until the last point. I think he’s their third-best player and most within the Lakers do too. There’s a reason why they’re keeping him out of trade talks but have been struggling to trade DLo. If they put Reaves on the table with Atlanta instead of DLo at the 2024 trade deadline, Dejounte Murray would be a Laker right now. Even if you think DLo is the better player, the Lakers and the rest of the league think it’s Austin and value him more.

@@jovanbuha I’m aware of that and I don’t want to make it seem like Dlo shouldn’t be traded. I just think the treatment of the two by our FO should be switched. Reaves has value and is a more palatable piece on the market. Shopping him should be a no brainer because his production can be easily replicated in comparison. If we’re going to keep Dlo this season it’s best to maximize his skill set by strengthening the backcourt with a SG/Wing who can shoot & defend. Grant + Kessler would be the ideal get and imo would solve most of our issues immediately. If one of them requires Reaves I’d do it.

How can you say AD isn't him? The same way you give Buha credit for recognizing Vando's possible growth offensively before the injury. You discredit AD's Growth in his durability, having played in 107 of the Lakers last 116 regular season games and all their playoff games. Vando's has had foot issues going all the way back to High school & College. Those injuries have stunted his growth as a 2 WAY player and why he has been traded 3 times in his short career. AD made All NBA 2nd team & All NBA 1st team defense. he is the games best 2 way big, the 3rd best big in the NBA and the only Big who is asked to give 100% offensively & anchor the defense, only Bam & Wemby come close. Lastly because he wears a Lakers uniform, playing for the leagues most recognizable team, no other Big faces the constant pressure, scrutiny from the fans & media that AD does.. Being called soft or street clothes when KD, Kawhi & Joel have missed more games the last 3 seasons than he has. Being called a failure when he has helped his team reach the Conf finals while the other 3 haven't gotten close the last 4 years..When the Clips got there Kawhi was injured. He called out Ham when no other teammate would publicly, he played his tail off vs the Joker while his mates were M.I.A, how come it's him out there defending Murray a point guard in game #2? your 7ft big? What more does AD have to do for you?

@@hilamadventures4060 AD was my fave non Laker before he came This means I give him more leeway and I've made more excuses for him than anyone else I call it like I see it Anthony Davis is a soft frontrunner You're absolutely correct about those other guys not getting labeled the same way he is... But that doesn't mean the label doesn't fit him I'm not even denying his greatness from a talent standpoint That is what makes it so frustrating because we all know what he is capable of but like it or not this man has no heart

@@LN-Lifer AD was your Fav while in New Orleans? what's changed since he came to LA? His First season was amazing. Second started great as well 21-6, then he injures hit the next 2 seasons. But injuries happen in sports. I have always believed talented Bigs needs 4 things in order for them to be great. They need amazing guard play because they can't get the ball to themselves. Great Coaching because players always need teachers. Team Chemistry & continuity because that breeds winning. Health because ability is availability . Jabbar had Magic & Oscar, Riley, always healthy. Shaq had Penny, Kobe & Wade, Phil & Riley stayed healthy but had injuries, Duncan had Johnson,Parker & Manu, Pop stayed healthy but dealt with injuries as well. The Joker had Murray, Brown & KCP, Coach Malone, stayed healthy. Embid had harden his MVP season and now Maxey, River & North. Even Wemby now has CP3 & Pop who will help him develop. Jabbar,Shaq,Duncan & Jokers teams all had chemistry & continuity. AD has had no chemistry because the team changes players every year, no actual coaching the last 3 seasons because he is now on his third head coach & staff in 5 seasons, no guard play he can rely on.. The last great guards he played with were Jrue & Rondo.

@@LN-Lifer Yes I do agree about his playing soft at time that to comes with Coaching. Duncan always talks about how Pop would be on him during games when he saw him floating. There is a famous clip of Shaq during timeouts in game 7of the 2000 WCF being told by Sally over & over to be aggressive! Kobe zeroing in on Pau Gasol when he saw him being soft. Riley & Phil making sure the ball got fed into Jabbar & Shaq. As for the frontrunner take.. He played his first 7 seasons for the Pels,Hornets,Bobcats whatever New Orleans felt like being called. What history does that franchise have of winning? That's a football town in a football state. When he arrived in LA they were a lottery team. He changed agents, aligned himself with Klutch & Lebron.. Maybe his play during the Olympics and the upcoming season if he continues to give all on the floor like last season, will change your mind about him as a player.

I think people misunderstood what I was saying about LeBron. I don’t think a drop-off is coming. It’s just possible at any moment once you reach this age. But I still think he’ll be hanging around the top 10

I agree

I think both are possible. 3 blocks is tough in this era, but 2.5 is within realm of possibility

@@jovanbuha I'm sorry I meant top 3 in the league in blocks

Which part(s) do yo disagree with?

@@jovanbuha austin reaves is a defensive liability as much as d lo is also d lo to me is a poor man’s Steph curry meaning he can swing a game in any moment with his 3 point shooting also remember the bucks game when he outplayed Gianni’s and dame I think he had 44 and 9 I understand the playoff concerns and the hot and cold shooting but for a player making 18mill you aren’t going to get more bang for your buck than that I would move him to my 4/5 scoring option but I would not get rid of him he’s valuable

I think his lows in the 2024 playoffs were worse (like the 0-for-7 Game 3). He arguably had two games in that series that were worse than any of the 2023 WCF games (Games 1 and 3). But it’s not about what I think. It’s about what the team thinks. And they’ve been trying to trade him for eight months.

Nobody wants dlo cuz he sucks

Play hard you get hurt Respect

Yeah, go retire while being a top 12 player in the league. 🙄 Haters are hilarious. 🤣🤣🤣

Imagine saying age is no excuse to a 39 YEAR OLD that just averaged 26-7-8 on 41% from 3😭😭 and holding players to under 50% from the field when he’s guarding them😭

You’re either ignorant to all things basketball or just a plain, simple 100 % certified lebron hater.

Thank you for watching!

Thank you 🙏

I’ll answer this on an upcoming mailbag.

👊👊

That’s a throwback! Then people were comparing him to TP 😂

That is certainly valid. Fwiw, his playoff ranking is higher for me. I was discussing his aggregate ranking between regular season and playoffs (and factoring age, recent injury history and potential drop-off at age 40). I think the only players I’d take ahead of him in the playoffs are Jokic, Luka and Giannis. Everyone else is debatable. Even Embiid IMO

🤝

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Noted 👊

100%

@@Fijiwater215 Appreciate you 👊

@@jovanbuhalikewise 💯

Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

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He’s good, he’ll be OK 👌