Lakers mailbag: Why trading sooner is better, Rui vs. Vando, DLo's ceiling: Ep. 48 | Buha's Block

[@soymajia]

Great to have you back!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@LN-Lifer]

Lakers 2 biggest weaknesses- Rebounding and defense Rui's 2 biggest weaknesses- Rebounding and defense 2 things Grant does even worse than Rui- Rebounding and defense

[@LeGoatJames111]

Grant is a better defender than rui

[@RWor1d]

The better defender is always on DLo between the 2

[@chirocket4791]

Dlo has been a starter in the NBA for many years. He is what he is. Like it or not.

[@FNSSLOTS]

Congrats to you and your soon to be wife. Lots to look forward to beyond the regular season!

[@luisdejesus1836]

Puerto rico in the house partying to much jovan buhaaaaaaaa good to hear you

[@AfroPrieto]

YESSIR

[@Russell_53]

(First off congrats on getting married 🍾) 2nd: how aggressive was Rob this offseason? Cause I would’ve loved little moves like salary dumping Hayes & Reddish or even a small trade but he opted not to. And 3rd: how’s the Achilles? Has it been a year? And will you still be playing pickup?

[@lindag6689]

Wait. Jovan got married?

[@LN-Lifer]

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials my man!

[@concernedcitizen4171]

If I remember correctly, no team has won the championship after a significant trade/turnover at the trade deadline (significant is a bit subjective but you get the point). It's important to get players acclimated to the new system and team (if we trade) with a full training camp to build chemistry and more cohesion. If we're going to trade I think it's important we make at least one moderate move before camp.

[@jovanbuha]

Exactly. The only team I can think of off the top of my head is the Pistons acquired Rasheed Wallace in 2004. But even then, he was no longer his peak self. It's rare to overhaul the roster and actually win it all.

[@supadupa181]

Love the show Jovan! Where would you say a closing lineup of Lebron at the 1, max, grant, vando, AD would rank in the west? I think we would have great defense, switching, and rebounding. Not 100% sure whether it’s enough shooting/spacing? If JJ could get Vando playing like a poor man’s draymond it’s interesting. Don’t think it would be worth giving up both firsts still but intriguing?

[@Lindsay-John]

Ay let’s go! Thanks Jovan

[@ciscole2831]

Curry - Dlo Holiday - Vando Booker - Knect Lebron - Lebron Embid - AD

[@Teebagzzz]

Fantasy land also

[@AngelAlvarez-og9et]

Yo yoooooo, I'm Jovan Buha...

[@tdubasdfg]

We need Curry to force his way to the Lakers Warriors aren't gonna be competitive and he's having a lot of fun playing with Bron in Paris

[@AkaMiskeen]

1. That’s not realistic at all. 2. Lakers aren’t that much better than the Warriors.

[@ericmcgilp9704]

Jovan, When you get time, I think it would be interesting to look into the top free agents that will be available in the summer of 2026 when LBJ comes off our books? Who will be available to pair with AD and our young core. Thanks...

[@pinakjoshi5703]

Hi Johan! Much love from India as always ❤ I've always wondered what a beat writer is. Could you tell us? Thanks a lot and keep it up❤

[@gregpollard7158]

I think Our last Hope to Trade D’Lo before The Season is BKNY: • D’Lo/Rui/FINO/Jaxson/1-1st for Cam/Schroder/Day’Ron or • D’Lo/Vando/FINO/Wood/2-2nds for DFS/Schroder/Day’Ron If We can’t move D’Lo before the Season, D’Lo or AR have to come off the Bench then, if that works, We re-sign D’Lo after the Season for a 1+1 (PO) for $10-$12 Mil a Year.

[@benc4968]

Reaves has to get stronger.

[@JonathanNelsonOfficial]

Raw eggs and food based supplements. These doctors suck.

[@gregpollard7158]

If We keep Vando, We need to use Him as an active Off-Ball Screener and Cutter to make His Defender Work, opposed to having Him sit in The Corner. And, opposed to having Vando work on 3’s for an entire practice, have Him spend the majority of His Time working on Finishing @ The Rim/In The Paint along with working to improve His 66% FT Shooting.

[@DEEiBe]

Maaaaan you’re saying the exact same stuff we were saying when we had Westbrook. “It’s going to take 2 firsts…. Lakers don’t have any leverage, they won’t get any quality players back.” All that BS goes out the window when other teams have just as much incentive to move a player as we do.

[@jovanbuha]

I hear you. It’s just different when Westbrook: a) wasn’t good and b) had a $48 million expiring contract. If you take, say, DLo and trade him, you are taking the third- or fourth-best player off the team and he’s only making $18.7 million, which limits the type of player(s) you can bring back. The Lakers can certainly find a good deal closer to the trade deadline, but it’s going to be tricky and it’s going to give them 30ish games to figure it all out. I personally think it’s better to build their ideal roster now and then adjust mid-season only if necessary.

[@LN-Lifer]

Does not matter that Wood was better than Biyombo last year Bis would have helped THIS team a hell of a lo more! We need a BIG BODY and REBOUNDING

[@knell7900]

1000% they have to trade sooner because if it’s at deadline other gms will try to fleece and then we’re stuck again with same teak

[@devo2416]

I say go all in for Trae Young, i think he's on a 40m. But giving up pieces and stock for Jerami Grant when he's not even significantly better doesn't make sense to me.

[@MBeano]

Going with a scenario where Lakers use a pick or 2 before the season starts, Who would you use this on? Im thinking Kessler is the best player using 1 pick?

[@stephenanthony6245]

Utah isn’t going to give up Kessler for 1 first

[@MBeano]

@@stephenanthony6245 Sure, that is what Utah wants, and it could be wishful thinking for Lakers. But fact is, Utah has gotten zero offers to that level. I doubt they will in this new CBA market. Kessler will only go for more within a larger trade with other desired players also attached.

[@stephenanthony6245]

⁠​⁠@@MBeanoI hear you man but Jazz have all the leverage. The Lakers need to get another big, Utah has no reason to move Kessler if the offer doesn’t wow them because he is a rising talent so they will just keep him.

[@thebounceph]

There are no available trades in the market right now that you can say there will be a significant improvement for the Lakers. You can trade around the margins, like trading the vet. minimum guys or Gabe but trading DLo just to make moves is not good asset management.

[@LeGoatJames111]

Jerami Grant is a big improvement over Rui. Better defender, better shooter and better all around player

[@clive7394]

I hate these trade deadline trades. No time to build chemistry.

[@wewk584]

Yeah, I’m glad you said that because I mean the Lakers if they do a trade now, yeah they’re gonna get robbed. This looking to the trade deadline talk is just fake news to hold back revolts. I can see some caution against getting another Russell. Westbrook grants contract is a lot more palatable and the player more close matches it. So if you’re trying to win, you do the trade now. Or an equivalent trade if there is one out there.

[@shaneilpal]

Jovan, is there a world where Lavine is a better fit than DLo on this team?

[@Foggycallabasashillshelicopter]

I hate that Austin narrative. He fucking sucked on defense that Denver series. Jamal Murray had a shitty series shooting % because of himself, just like Lebron did that series as well. Lebron wasn’t getting locked up by Gordon he just didn’t shoot well, same w Murray. Reaves wasn’t even affecting Jamal’s shots😭 Jamal was just broke this playoff run. Reaves is just as much a liability on defense as DLO. I really think one of them needs to come off the bench. In reg szn matchups I think they’ll get away with it most times where offense just trumps defense but playoffs were just losing again….. obviously the better option would to just trade one of them but there’s no one to grab now

[@wills.9422]

Facts. I’m glad LA fans are starting to notice this. Murray literally scored at will when it mattered most in the 4th quarter.

[@gaberox1]

I dunno man I watched that matchup very closely AR at least made him work hard to the point where Jamal strained his calf. Jamal still got the better of him but he had to work for it.

[@wills.9422]

@@gaberox1 jamal struggled throughout but every 4th qt he turned it on.. barely even noticed AR was guarding him.. defensively need a better 2way guard.

[@schmitkeoriginals]

Lo gotta GO! Get WENDELL CARTER JR... Magic have 3 centers making 10+ mil, they also have J Issaac on top of that, and they were dead last in the league 3pt shooting wise. Rob pick up the damn phone and make something happen! 🙀🙀🙀

[@jovanbuha]

WCJ would be a great fit

[@CP.512]

If I see you would it be ok if I yelled “BUUHHAA” like on your intro? If not it’s all good jw lol

[@Thebeard928]

Congrats on getting married!

[@JamekaMoore]

hey JOVAN in your next video can you tell us how likley a jerami grant trade to the Lakers during training camp please also by the way its fine if you dont respond but i appreictiate that you always make videos about my lakers by the way to conclude this im just using my moms youtube account im only 11 im a die hard laker and lebron fan i know im saying alot so thank you though and countinue your sucsess

[@devonpeterson471]

LAKERS SHOULD GET CURRY

[@gregpollard7158]

LBJ could force His way to The GSW after 1-2 Seasons with Bronny however, Steph is not leaving The 🌁 Bay.

[@lifeasb561]

3 team trade for lakers to get Cam J n Rob Will or Walker Kessler. Sign DSJ backup athletic guard

[@RWor1d]

I watched every single dribble of Lakers’ basketball since LeBron has joined the team. Most Laker fans don’t realize that DLo is better than AR. Each game the best guard defender is on DLo while the worse is on AR. Obvious AR can cook the curry’s, Ja’s, and the Murray’s of the world. While DLo is guarded by KCP and the other better defenders from those teams

[@wills.9422]

No one seems to notice AR is always guarded by the worse defender of every team 😂… this is my talking point as well..if we got rid of Dlo and made the AR the lead guard, he would start to struggle alot more..

[@RWor1d]

@@wills.9422 you can tell who the better guard is by who guards who. But I agree that AR has the much better contract

[@JimmyEmoz]

That 0 pt game was so much indeed 🫡

[@williambradford9006]

Start Vando its just that simple.. Rui gives this roster scoring off of the bench.Plus he is a natural 4

[@detective_h_for_hidden]

My concern is Rui was pretty inconsistent coming off the bench last season but I still agree with you

[@LeGoatJames111]

@@detective_h_for_hidden Rui’s gone unfortunately it’s gonna be Jerami Grant in the starting 5 w Bruce Brown, Reaves, AD & Bron

[@johnhowe4211]

According to Buha AR15 is better than Grant and Bruce Brown

[@sinagliwanag4408]

Can't we bring back Stanley Johnson. Then, trade rui at centerpiece. Retain dlo. There's a summer league player named grayson murphy. His resume looks very good. He's a point guard.

[@vesnam116]

I don't get these convos about the "future", some people act like the future is guaranteed, like there's another star player waiting for LeBron to retire to hop on the Lakers. 🙄🤦‍♀️ It doesn't go like that. They also act like AD staying with the Lakers is guaranteed, which is not. Some people would pass on the chance they already have now for a chance they MIGHT have in the future, but might NOT as well. 🙄🙄🙄 It doesn't make sense, it's only LeBron's haters and nothing more than that. 🙄 They would rather see the Lakers fail than LeBron succeed. 🙄

[@Sparatic18]

100% FACTS

[@shandobombs]

Trade Rui Gabe Vando JHS for Bogi Capella and DLO for DFS Bogi Max DFS Bron AD Bench Reaves Dalton Wood Capella That will help u win a ring. To those who say oh no real pg getting a solid pg is easier than a wing or big. Basketball is positionless Bogi can playmake and pass, Reaves can, Bron can , AD can.

[@Lindsay-John]

Why would Reaves be benched for Bogi?

[@DaF1nalC0UNTDOWN]

It’s very simple then don’t start Dlo

[@dom3221]

When you bring up DLo's first half numbers. Be consistent with them. He was averaging 17 the first 2 months of the season and 10 in December. Hence why his First Half numbers look that way. He really only had 1 bad month and an up and down stretch vs the Nuggets

[@jovanbuha]

The larger point was that he played much better starting in January (even better than in those first two months). And if he can do that over 82 games, that obviously puts him in a different tier as a player. But I still have questions about the playoffs until he proves otherwise.

[@teewalker1013]

What's it going to take for the Lakers to finally move on from Rob Pelinka?

[@detective_h_for_hidden]

Great episode ! (not done listening yet but I did listen to the DLo part). What do you think about the prospect of having DLo run the offense more? Last season, everytime LBJ sat, DLo almost always put up great numbers on great efficiency (and against elite defenders sometimes too).

[@LeGoatJames111]

DLo gone unfortunately it’s gonna be Jerami Grant and AD running the show

[@aidanglenane8330]

They can’t decide if th ey want to compete or build for the future

[@jovanbuha]

Episode 48.*

[@taylormadevibe]

Wish we had enough capital to go get a Bruce Brown & or Dennis Schroeder type. LAL obv desperately need another big & to improve margins. It will be sad if Lakers go back in for Valuncunis when there was a free run at him this summer. Such mediocre organization esp in structures of these contracts. Still no big is BAFFLING! PS- Imagine being Jeanie & Rob watching LBJ leading USA in every statistical category + AD who has also looked the best big. Such a disappointing lack of ambition.

[@gregorybrown5419]

Austin Reaves fanboy

[@gregorybrown5419]

Dlo do not have untap potential. Stop with the delusion! His skill set is not winning basketball in playoffs

[@DEEiBe]

lol thank you. Silly statement

[@gringoboy701]

Dudes been in the league 11 years. We've seen who he is. A guy who isn't even starting caliber for a championship contender.

[@paulfritsch672]

Couldn't agree more.

[@wills.9422]

@@gringoboy701at 18 mil , he’s playing way better than his contract… i don’t believe AR/Rui are either but here we are.

[@JimmyEmoz]

​@wills.9422 ok, why does nobody want him if the contract is that good ?

[@rushkurly]

Hey Jovan, line up idea after grant trade. Start bron ad grant dlo vandabelt. Move reaves to the bench and let vando be that defensive help for dlo and play like a carusso. Thoughts on this?

[@LeGoatJames111]

DLo is gone unfortunately for Bruce Brown

[@LN-Lifer]

Dude I think Rui is way overrated by most fans but I would only trade him for Grant if their salaries matched and WE got the pick My God stop looking at names and PPG

[@jrsmiththefourth4628]

Saying Hayes is better than Cwood is crazy probably the dumbest shit I heard today

[@redpillchristian9040]

Austin reaves king of garbage time

[@MicheleKateWhy]

Lakers sitting here with two top 10 players and contemplating hoarding their picks for the future? It just sounds so ridiculous. It's not like Denver or OKC are some kind of world beaters in the WC. Nuggets have gotten worse this offseason.

[@wills.9422]

Crazy right smh. They should’ve did whatever to get Dejounte Murray.. he could’ve been our jrue holiday.

[@Jay-om2gc]

They aren’t top 10 man stfu with that they are top 15

[@wills.9422]

@@Jay-om2gc i would always choose lbj over Giannis off IQ and jumpshot alone.

[@LeGoatJames111]

@@wills.9422 nah Murray can’t shoot bruh he’s Westbrook 2.0

[@LeGoatJames111]

DLo is gone, writing is on the wall. Get Bruce Brown and start the 2020 lineup that won the championship. 3 POA defenders who shoot and space the floor next to AD & Bron

[@KD-eq2ch]

Just get Wendell Carter Jr and wait until the trade deadline for another option (if needed)

[@gregorybrown5419]

Lakers will not win consistently with dlo, Reaves as your backcourt

[@wills.9422]

They try and put it all on our Past coach, when I Believe it was just our unatheltic backcourt. Ham didn’t wanna start Rui to prevent AR from being our best perimeter defender

[@gregorybrown5419]

@@wills.9422 To be honest ham was trash too

[@wills.9422]

@@gregorybrown5419 yea i’m sure they were winning b4 him 😂

[@gregorybrown5419]

@wills.9422 We not talking about b4. We talking about the now. Stay on topic

[@wills.9422]

@@gregorybrown5419 no i’m just saying if he was so trash how come they weren’t winning the year b4 he came.. they were actually a mess. He might not have been perfect but he was far from trash.

[@gregorybrown5419]

Buha u do know playoffs are way more important than regular season

[@raymondtuckerjr1886]

Such an idiotic suggestion to make... of course, he knows. I've a question for you, your "genuis-ship"? Do you know how important it is to GET to the playoffs in the first place? No, dlo, NO playoffs for nitwits like you to criticize dlo about. So stupid, the "fans" are. Shame, too.

[@gregorybrown5419]

@raymondtuckerjr1886 Dlo shrinks in the playoffs as always chump. That's why he has been on 4 different teams. So in reality who actually the nitwit?

[@gregorybrown5419]

@raymondtuckerjr1886 So u part of the stupid fans.

[@theposterking3553]

I think Rob waiting on this summer. I think he thinks bton can swing curry. I'm a big Rob hater. He isnt good. But u never know.

[@gerardov.9716]

LAKERS ARE A SHIT SHOW

[@5abivt]

Jovan if Dlo was white would you still trade him ?

[@sandyfernandez3237]

Mavs Denver Wolves Suns Kings Memphis Okc Are much better than the lakers

[@LeGoatJames111]

None of those teams are beating the Lakers in a best of 7. Lakers are unbeatable w AD & Bron

[@oommaarriiss]

Another wasted season! This management never learns.. its akways to kate when they do

[@aidanglenane8330]

Pelinka has to be mentally ill how can you literally stand by and do nothing what a joke of a gm and a liar

[@THEREALUNCLEILL]

CUT Cam Max Lewis JHS Hayes PICK UP Wenyen Dwight Javelle Danny Green CHAMPIONSHIP 💜💛

[@user-ez7sd7jb5p]

Dude is delusional. If no trade lakers will miss play in

[@LeGoatJames111]

Lakers are easily in the playoffs foh

[@sandyfernandez3237]

This guy has to stop with delusion

[@gregorybrown5419]

dlo, Reaves are bench players. If dlo Reaves come iff bench, lakers will be fine. Them 2 will be considered 6th man of year

[@shandobombs]

Russ really got done dirty

[@lindag6689]

How? He went from making $48 mil to $4 mil with the Clippers. That's because hid performance went downhill, way downhill. Six pts is not going to cut it. Lebron has not made just 6 pts in yrs.

[@lindag6689]

Russ destroyed the Lakers for yrs.

[@LeGoatJames111]

@@lindag6689 nope. Lakers winning the championship easily this year