After LeBron James downplayed any concerns over what has been a quiet offseason so far for the Lakers, his star teammate Anthony Davis followed suit from Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas, as Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times relays. Davis pointed out that injuries to presumptive rotation players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent had an impact on last year’s team and that having better health luck in 2024/25 could make a difference.
“We don’t know what we could have been if we had those guys, especially in the playoffs,” Davis said. “You know especially Vando because he’s a big part of what we do defensively. But, so we look at the lineup, and you know we come in ready to work.
“And last year is last year. We can’t say, ‘Oh this is the same team.’ It could be a different result. For us it’s about coming in with the mindset of getting to work and seeing how it plays out.”
Of the 15 players who finished last season on the Lakers’ roster, 13 remain under contract for the coming season. The only two newcomers to this point are the team’s two draft picks, Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two Los Angeles-based teams:
- Although DeMar DeRozan was said to be on the short list of “impact” Lakers targets that LeBron James would have been willing to take a significant discount for, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium stated during an appearance on The Rally (Twitter video link) that it came down to the Kings and Heat for DeRozan. “I’m told the Lakers never went beyond expressing just simple interest in DeRozan,” Charania said. “There were no offers or tangible conversations with the Bulls on a sign-and-trade deal.”
- Speaking to reporters after he agreed to re-sign with the Clippers, veteran forward Nicolas Batum indicated that he chose to reunite with his former team and former head coach (Tyronn Lue) after receiving interest from over half the league. “I had several options, a lot of options, I actually had 17,” Batum said (French link via BasketUSA.com).
- The Clippers, who had the NBA’s oldest roster last season, haven’t exactly been a player development hub in recent years, according to Law Murray of The Athletic, who takes a look at how the team could change that going forward, starting with this year’s second-round pick Cam Christie.
Even players from LA don’t want to play for lakers.
Neither LA team made an effort to get DeRozan, PG13 or Westbrook so you’re playing a horrible game of connect the dots.
Of course u left Klay off the list. Maybe u are the one u can’t connect the dots
Forgot about him because he’s irrelevant these days.
Except the Lakers offered Klay a contract so he wouldn’t meet the criteria for that list. Seems you both lack the skill of dot connection.
Lakers wanted to offer him a contract but it never got to negotiations since it was attached to D’lo bad contract leaving so nobody knows if he would have said yes.
Lakers offered him 80 over 4 years. The idea that the trade didn’t work because the Warriors didn’t want DLo is beyond dumb. The Warriors were in a 6 team trade for crying out loud.
Yes but here’s the thing. Nobody else wanted D’Angelo Russell either.
That was the only way Klay was getting that 4 years and 80 million slot from the Lakers.
I don’t think LeBron was going to give up $20 million dollars per season to bring in Klay Thompson.
And the only other way was if the Lakers were going to attach a great player or a first round pick or two with D’Angelo Russell to bring in Klay Thompson.
I don’t think the Lakers do that either for a 34-year-old declining shooting guard. Yes he’s nice to have, but not at that cost.
If LeBron James was not willing to take a 20 million per season pay cut to bring in DeMar DeRozan, he certainly wouldn’t do it for Klay Thompson.
The trade cap space and 2 2nd picks were worth a lot more than D’lo. Lakers would be happy to dump D’lo for nothing.
Lakers have nice gesture to acquire everyone
They don’t want to add salary
lol. The report said they offer Klay 4yrs 80mil, he is from LA and his dad played for lakers. He took 3yrs 50mil from mavs. Like I said even players from LA don’t want to play for lakers
That Laker offer was contingent upon the Warriors taking back D’Angelo Russell and his salary, thus creating the room for Klay Thompson and that 4/80 contract. No way it was happening, that’s why he took the Dallas offer.
Such an unlikeable organization since Dr. Buss passed. What an embarrassment.
No shot the Lakers make the playoffs. Would need a massive career year from AD and Lebron playing better than he did last year. Odd of both those two things happening? Yikes.
The odds of them playing 90% of the games again is pretty slim as well
There is not much they can do being a high cap team. Play out the season and see what they have. There is a few bad contracts they need to get rid of. The season does ride on Vincent and Vanderbilt playing at productive levels.
What’s a high cap team ?
Feels like your playing horseshoes here
A team over the tax tier. Limits what they can spend on free agents. Is it that hard to understand???
For you, apparently so
Let’s be honest you are playing horseshoes here. You have little clue how the cap works which is apparent from all your posts
Tax tier now lol, that’s a new one … keep throwing words out Tho , I’d recommend aprons next
Q – Do you really believe yourself that you have a clue what you’re talking about ? If so wow – Your aren’t fooling a soul who understands how the Cba functions
The comment you make because I schooled you. Funny how you put down post here on people then get angry when the correct you. You have no idea about the cap or anything about the NBA. You are no expert so go now and change profiles to pretend you are right. How about pretending to be a king? Get the hint.
Tax tier , high cap team haha , just stop it’s embarrassing
You come here all the time bashing people’s comments. Nobody wants you here so why do you stay???
Clippers basically don’t have their next 4 first round picks. Losing PG is gonna kill them, they could’ve even kept him to retain the asset and traded him at the deadline.
Now, every time kawhi is out they’re gonna be horrible to watch, even with him they’re probably still a lottery team, which compounds their draft pick nightmare.
They’re actually really good
Lakers are the worst team in their division, not even close, pathetic off season. Big season for Silver, ESPN, foster, Brothers etc getting L.A in the playoffs, would be quite the achievement. Best hang on to those draft picks, they’ll be extremely valuable in the near future. Man lakers stink LOL.
Not a Lakers fan, actually hate the Lakers, BUT having Vanderbilt and Vincent back to guard the perimeter D is exactly what the Lakers need… It would have helped them in the playoffs against Denver… This year teams got better in West… will be interesting….
What has ailed the Lakers the past few seasons is continually trying to overhaul the roster and adding new faces to the rotation. I still think that dismantling the bubble team was the worst thing we could’ve done, so in that regard it will be interesting to see what we can do with a returning core of players that are used to each other already. Having a healthy Vincent and Vanderbilt should be a solid boost, especially on defense where we seem to struggle the most and constantly put too much responsibility on AD.
What no one is talking much about is that the Lakers had LBJ and AD both pretty healthy last year and still didn’t go far in the playoffs. I don’t think you can count on them contributing as much next year as they did last, once injuries start taking their toll. Plus many teams in the west are stronger. Not even a playoff team at the moment, imo.
All fair assessments , I’d add the Olympics aren’t good for Ad and Lbj as well
Health will be huge , as with every team , Vincent and Vando will need to be healthy and solid rotation players to have any hope , they also need to upgrade Hayes / Wood in sone capacity before the playoffs start. I think. Jj will be an upgrade on Ham but that’s pure speculation as well
The Lakers have a few too many holes… Vando and Vincent help, but not enough…
Not being able to do something with the Dlo sized hole on the salary cap and defensive end is a problem…