While it’s still early in training camp, Lakers first-year coach Darvin Ham revealed a surprise starting lineup he’s been using in practices, Jovan Buha of The Athletic tweets. The group around Anthony Davis and LeBron James includes Russell Westbrook, Damian Jones and Kendrick Nunn. Westbrook has heard his name mentioned often in trade rumors, Jones has never been a regular starter in the league, and Nunn missed all of last season due to injury.
James plans to play more often this preseason, when he only saw action in two games, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
We have more from the California teams:
- The Pacers would almost certainly trade Buddy Hield and Myles Turner to the Lakers if Los Angeles is willing to include its 2027 and 2029 first-rounders without any protections, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on the Lowe Post podcast (hat tip to HoopsHype). “My best intel right now is if the Lakers called Indiana right now and said ‘Both picks unprotected,’ the Pacers would do that deal, would probably do that deal.”
- Klay Thompson was held out of playing in Tokyo this week because he didn’t do any scrimmaging this offseason after the Warriors won the title, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN. “I didn’t play much this summer,” Thompson said. “With what I went through the last summer, I was healthy, popping my Achilles, it was really hard for me to get out of it, mentally. It’s hard to explain. It’s a mental block or something.”
- During the preseason opener in Tokyo, Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo played 17 minutes off the bench, contributing nine points, seven rebounds and two assists. He also didn’t commit any fouls or turnovers. Those types of contributions are why the Warriors added him, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. DiVincenzo signed a two-year, $9.3MM contract early in free agency.
- Davion Mitchell‘s defensive prowess, paired with his budding talent as a creator, could lead to a breakout season for the Kings’ second-year guard, Ethan Fuller of Basketball News writes.
Poole needs to step up if wants that max contract. Divencenzo could replace him.
Ham is just trying to keep Westbrook happy and engaged. they better hope Nunn hits 3s or teams will be able to guard inside and and keep Lakers from scoring. You need a few 3 pt shooter to open up the floor for LeBron. 1 3pt shooter will only clog up the middle.
I’m a big fan of Kendrick Nunn. He played great for the Miami Heat and can do the same for us this season. I like him in the Starting Lineup because he can create his own shot and for others and he can defend both guard positions and he’s a very good shooter. I Damian Jones can make 33% of his 3pt attempts I’m really going to like him.
Kendrick Nunn is absolutely the “X” factor for the Lakers right now. If he is healthy, he is better than many of the offseason acquisitions that were rumored.
2 years ago, on most nights, Nunn was every bit as good, if not better than Tyler Herro.
Kendrick can score the ball in a variety of ways.
I’ve known the family since Kendrick was a freshman in high school. Laker fans are gonna love his Pops. My man Melvin Nunn is good people.
Gonna need Kendrick to hit the three. Lakers lacking shooters, and I think A.D. shot like 18% from the 3 last year.
My seed prediction regular season
5 Clippers not healthy
6 Nuggets
7 Wolves
8 Lakers if traded all future First round picks
8 Pelicans if Lakers keep Westbrook and he isn’t fixed
10 Kings
5 teams tank for first overall pick
Seriously? Pelicans will most likely be a top 6 team. They will be the surprise team out of the west. Zion looks healthy and in shape. If NOP stay healthy they could be a top 3 team in the west.
Are they better than Wolves and Nuggets?
Ingram and McCollum are overrated
Wait and see. They exceeded expectations last year. last year I picked Chicago bulls as the surprise team and they exceeded expectations. NOP is this year’s surprise team.
I will take 20 plus every night from both no matter the weaknesses in their games. Add Zion’s 25 and 10 plus the teams experience without the big man and I’m expecting big leap.
Top 3 is pushing it
I think it would be fair to see some regression from the grizzlies and suns. Ayton isn’t happy and isn’t in contact with coach. That’ll pose issues. Grizzlies won’t have JJJ for half the year due to injury.
I think the top 3 in no order are:
Warriors
Nuggets
Clippers
4-9 in no order:
Pelicans
Suns
Grizzlies
Mavs
T-Wolves
Battling for final play in spot:
Kings
Lakers
Trailblazers
Bottom of conference:
Jazz
Spurs
Rockets
Thunder
Flip those top three friend. The clippers are absolutely loaded. Leonard and George are top 5 players in this league. Best bench in the league.
Top 5 in the league. Lol, how do you know that? They haven’t played in like 2 seasons
@petersdylan36 – I like your thinking here. My only change is to add the Lakers to 4-9 category.
Nuggets #6?????
Pelicans #8 ?????
Who on the Clippers isn’t healthy???
You rolling with Golden State, Phoenix, Dallas and Portland as top 4 seeds????
The key to the Pelicans is how Zion and Brandon Ingram share the floor, if they can play together the Pelicans have a shot, if they can’t because Zion’s role in the offense limits Ingram’s, which I see as an inevitability, it could frustrating for Ingram and that could be a problem because it was Ingram and to lessor degree McCollum that led that team last season, as I see it the Pelicans will have to trade Zion.
Julius Randle would be a good fit with the Pelicans, and they could probably land a couple other rotation players, like Fournier and possibly Miles McBride, and a haul of picks from the Knicks in a trade, like four unprotected firsts. Knicks might make that trade.
True chemistry is very big in the NBA. You can have a bunch of good players and still not be a playoff team. I just think Zion will be such a force he should push them ahead. It will be more on the other players around Zion to step up like Ingram to be that outside shot force.
They aren’t trading Zion unless he asked them to, they played fine together when Zion ran point at the end of the 2021 season.
Don’t bother with pointing out reality, this person thinks GSW should trade Steph!
Knicks would make that trade in a heartbeat, but no way NOP would
The key to the Pelicans is Zion fitting in and understanding that this is Brandon Ingram’s team now.
Zion needs to focus on diet, staying healthy, and developing a jump shot.
Brandon Ingram has developed into an absolute stud! He scores the ball on all levels.
Ingram will be an All-NBA player this year.
Ingram has developed into a hell of a player, and he should start the season as the primary option, but as soon Zion works the rust off it’ll be Zion’s show after that.
I plan on planning too.
James plans to play more often …
Interesting
Should the Lakers trade both unprotected picks for Hield and Turner?
Not at all.
I won’t trade one first round pick for them let alone two.
Myles Turner and Buddy Hield are good players but not worth unprotected picks down the road.
Of course the Pacers would do that trade. Two unprotected firsts for Turner (expiring contract) and Hield (30 y.o. two years left)? Who wouldn’t?
Lakers can sign Turner next year for no picks.
Lakers are saving that payroll to sign a big name player to a max deal. Look at their team if Westbrook walks they have money to spend on 1 big all star.
30-35 million dollar cap space? That wont be enough to convince a free agent star player. They should just use that money to sign multiple solid role players.
30-35 million a season can convince a player to come to L.A.
His name is Kyrie Irving. He will sign 4 years $120 million with the Los Angeles Lakers in a hurry next off season.
To play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and compete for championships every year and play for his idol Kobe Bryant organization.
Nah! Rather have multiple solid role players instead of 1 star player for that amount. Depth is still important especially wing depth.
LeBron and Anthony Davis are the only two players on the Lakers roster signed for next year.
Only 2 that makes significant money. Jones and Christie are also signed through next season
DiVincenzo was a great signing by GSW. He fits quite well in their system.
JaMychal Green, not so sure. But if Wiseman stays healthy, they could win 60+ games on their way to a repeat.
Then they can let Poole walk.
I’m hoping he signs the extension offer by the 17th deadline.
Looks like Klay is still on a vacation anyway this GSW team is already freaking good even the rooks look pretty pretty good.
Golden State still doesn’t have anybody who can guard Jokic. It ain’t Draymond!
Jokic gets his boys back with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. They added Bruce Brown to come off the bench.
Denver beats Golden State right now.
Nobody To Guard Beast-Mode Jokic! Who now has enhanced options to play with.
@barry The Warriors have something even better.
Very Barry conveniently skipped the fourth quarters of the Nugget Series last year when Draymond shut down the best center on the planet.
He is with the team in Japan and practicing. I’m not sure how you call that a vacation.