March 2022 Los Angeles Lakers Wiretap

Lakers Players Believe They're Couple Pieces Away From Becoming Title Contenders

Nov 28, 2022 3:20 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers backed away this offseason from a proposed trade of Russell Westbrook and draft capital to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Budy Hield, sources tell Dave McMenamin.

The Lakers concluded that giving up both their 2027 and 2029 first round picks for Turner and Hield was too exorbitant of a price given it wouldn't automatically turn them into contenders.

The Lakers also believed that the trade would remain available to them by the Pacers further along in the season.

The Lakers also expect more teams to be open for business beginning December 15th when players who signed offseason contracts become eligible to be traded.

Sources say there is a belief by the leaders in the Lakers' locker room that they are only a couple of players away from turning the roster into a legitimate contender. 

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Anthony Davis Expected To Return Monday

Nov 28, 2022 12:49 AM

Anthony Davis is expected to play on Monday night against the Indiana Pacers, sources told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Davis missed the Lakers' 143-138 win over the Spurs on Saturday due to a left calf contusion.

Darvin Ham said that the team are taking a cautious approach towards Davis.

"He was kicked at some point in the second half [Friday] night and it's a little irritated, a little bruising. So just trying to stay ahead of it and be a little cautious and take our time with it," said Ham.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Patrick Beverley Suspended Three Games For Shoving Deandre Ayton

Nov 24, 2022 2:52 PM

Patrick Beverley of the Los Angeles Lakers has been suspended three games for shoving Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns during Tuesday's game. Beverley took offense to Ayton standing over his Lakers teammate Austin Reaves after a foul.

Joe Dumars, the NBA's Head of Basketball Operations, said the suspension was in part based on Beverley's history of unsportsmanlike acts.

Beverley will miss back-to-back games at the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and Saturday. He'll then miss the Lakers home game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Suspension

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Devin Booker Called Out Patrick Beverley For Pushing Deandre Ayton

Nov 23, 2022 11:03 AM

The Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers for an 11th straight time on Tuesday night. But the win came with some drama.

Late in the game, Patrick Beverley was ejected after shoving Deandre Ayton in the back. That didn't sit well with Devin Booker.

"Pat need to stop pushing people in the back man," Booker told TNT. "Push them in the chest."

Beverley said he pushed Ayton, because he didn't like the way the Suns were treating Austin Reaves.

“Got a person on the ground, two people looking over mean-mugging and puffing their chest out and referees don’t get into it to kind of separate it, control the game, so I’m going to stand up for my teammate,” Beverley said. “I’m not going for that s***. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened on national TV. But you know me: Regardless of what’s going on, I’m a big fan of protecting my teammates. … I’m a foxhole guy. I put on the jersey, and I commit to a team, I commit to a city, and it’s kind of my motto. I’m a foxhole guy. Very unfortunate situation, though.”

Chris Haynes/TNT

Tags: Devin Booker, Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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LeBron James To Return From Groin Strain Friday

Nov 22, 2022 11:02 PM

LeBron James will return to game action in Friday at the San Antonio Spurs.

James has missed five straight games due to a groin injury.

James is averaging 24.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 35.7 minutes over 10 games this season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chris Haynes/TNT

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Lakers Turned Down First Round Pick From Raptors For Talen Horton-Tucker

Nov 21, 2022 3:47 PM

During the 2022 trade deadline period, the Toronto Raptors offered the Los Angeles Lakers a first round pick in exchange for Talen Horton-Tucker.

The Lakers were on the fringes of playoff contention, but still hoped to secure a play-in spot.

The Lakers may have also had to take on Khem Birch as part of the deal.

During the offseason, the Lakers traded Horton-Tucker to the Utah Jazz for Patrick Beverley. 

Dave McMenamin/ESPN (via Silver Screen & Roll)

Tags: Talen Horton-Tucker, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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X-Rays On Russell Westbrook Thumb Return Negative, Will Be Re-Evaluated Monday

Nov 21, 2022 1:15 AM

X-rays on Russell Westbrook's right thumb returned negative on Sunday night following the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-92 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Westbrook, whose hand was wrapped following the game, will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Westbrook finished the Spurs game with 10 points and 10 assists, his fourth straight game with at least 10 assists. 

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Lakers, Pistons Among Teams Monitoring Miles Bridges

Nov 18, 2022 9:37 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons are among the teams interested in signing Miles Bridges pending the league's investigation into his felony domestic violence plea.

Bridges pled no contest to the domestic violence charge stemming from a June incident in November. The NBA is considered likely to suspend Bridges for the incident.

Bridges remains a restricted free agent with the Charlotte Hornets despite his $7.9 million qualifying offer expiring.

Bridges was one of the NBA's most sought after free agents before the domestic violence incident.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Still Interested In Trading For Bojan Bogdanovic

Nov 14, 2022 9:27 AM

On the latest episode of his "Don't Aggregate This" podcast, Jake Fisher of Yahoo Sports talked the Detroit Pistons. One of the items was the trade possibilities surrounding Bojan Bogdanovic, despite his recent extension with Detroit.

One of the teams mentioned as still having interest in Bogdanovic was the Los Angeles Lakers. LA had talked about a Bogdanovic trade during the offseason, before he was dealt from the Utah Jazz to the Pistons. Fischer also mentioned the Phoenix Suns as a potential suitor for Bogdanovic.

Shortly before the season began, Bogandovic signed a two-year, $39 million extension with the Pistons. The second season of that extension is only partially guaranteed for $2 million, effectively make this a one-year, $22 million extension. Because Bogdanovic got only a slight raise, and extended for only two years, he remains immediately trade-eligible.

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Tags: Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Insiders Interpreted LeBron James Tweet As Signal He's Open To Lakers Acquiring Kyrie Irving

Nov 11, 2022 1:43 PM

A story from Chris Haynes on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers suggested he wants the front office to make a major trade to upgrade their roster and not waste the current season. James also publicly supported Kyrie Irving, which led many around the NBA and even within the Lakers to interpret that as a signal he has interest in bringing his former teammate to the team.

"You know with that story coming out yesterday, there's pressure coming from somewhere," said Zach Lowe on his podcast. "There's pressure coming from somewhere. 

"And with LeBron's comments about Kyrie... Look, I don't know why LeBron said what he said about Kyrie yesterday. About how it's time to bring him back in the league.

"Maybe he just said it because he believes and there's nothing else to it. I can tell you around the league and even within the Lakers, some corners of it, those comments were read as LeBron opening the door to... At least opening the door to 'Hey, if you all are comfortable with it and all the blowback it would be, and the Nets are willing to just get out of the business now of Kyrie Irving so we can get him for much cheaper, not both picks, maybe one pick...

"I don't even know how to construct a Kyrie Irving trade right now for nine million different... Maybe [Kyrie] never meets those conditions and they waive him?

"It was read around the league as LeBron indicating, 'If you guys want to consider it, I'm not going to stand in your way.'"

Lowe later added that Irving currently has "negative trade value [and] most of the league would not even touch him."

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Hold Workouts With Joe Wieskamp, Tony Snell

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Lakers Interested In Bradley Beal

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

LeBron James Day-To-Day With Left Adductor Strain

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Lakers Not Currently Considering Trade Of Anthony Davis

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

LeBron James Doesn't Want Lakers To Waste Season To Wait For Upgrades In 2023

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

LeBron James Leaves Clippers' Loss Due To Leg Soreness

Marc Stein/Substack

Lakers Will Be Prudent With Trading First Round Picks

Shams Charania/FanDuel TV

Lakers Have Concerns On Adding Kyrie Irving 'At Any Price'

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Anthony Davis Might Be Available Via Trade

Bill Simmons/The Ringer

LeBron James Says Kyrie Irving 'Caused Some Harm To A Lot Of People'

Dan Woike/Los Angeles Times

Lakers Were Unwilling To Offer Kyrie Irving Long-Term, Guaranteed Contract In Offseason

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Myles Turner: Lakers Should 'Take A Very Hard Look' At Potential Trade

Dave McMenamin/ESPN