Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

It's time for another episode of the NBA Squad! Today we are breaking down the Houston Rockets' nightmare Fred VanVleet injury, what we want to see from NBA Media Days, whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can take another step up and more! Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba Follow the Locked On Podcast Network Twitter 📲 https://twitter.com/LockedOnNetwork TikTok 📲 https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonsports Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/offers/ #NBA #Basketball #Podcast #NBAPodcast #Sports #SportsPodcast

The Lakers braintrust met the media on Thursday ahead of next week's kickoff of training camp. As is his custom, Rob Pelinka opened with a sort of state of the union. Talked about the positive summer, the excitement of new acquisitions, and of course the amazing Summer of Luka. And then he dropped the big piece of news, almost as a throwaway line at the end: Earlier in the offseason, the Lakers gave head coach JJ Redick a contract extension. That's after one year of his coaching career (let alone his Lakers career) and with three years remaining in the contract that he signed last year. It's a remarkable leap of faith in a guy with a short track record, who was not in line for this kind of consideration at this point. Nobody was talking about whether Redick would get an extension yet. Frank Vogel got a fake extension (only one year) after winning an NBA championship. So yeah, it's an indication the Lakers are very, very confident in Redick. It also means the Lakers have real continuity going forward. With their star (Luka Dončić) their GM (Rob Pelinka, who also got an extension recently) and now their coach. That level of predictability is critical for building a program, including attracting not only star players, but also role playing free agents that have a huge impact on a roster. Meanwhile, Pelinka made it clear the Lakers would like for LeBron James to finish his career in purple and gold. No question, Pelinka gave James plenty of space and deference to make his own choice when the time comes, but was pretty clear in framing the desire to bring him back, should James decide to keep playing next year. We explain why the Lakers are in great position to make whatever choices need to be made. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers give JJ Redick an extension. SEGMENT 2: Good idea? SEGMENT 3: Lakers want LeBron to stay, finish career in purple and gold. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba. Let them know we sent you! After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

With Brian out of town traveling, Aaron Larsuel, the former host of the Official Lakers Podcast, who's also worked for several NBA franchises (including the Lakers), drops by to offer thoughts on the upcoming season for the purple and gold. Together, they run through a bunch of overarching questions about this upcoming season, including... - The starting lineup options - Deandre Ayton's fit, on the court and culturally - The "Summer of Luka," and what it could mean for this season - How JJ Redick could best mesh Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves - The significance of the Lakers' sale, for the Buss Family and for Mark Walter And more!!! Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Starting lineup and Deandre Ayton talk SEGMENT 2: The Summer and Season of Luka! SEGMENT 3: What to look for in the post-Buss Family era? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba. Let them know we sent you! After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers have three starters everyone, from the org to fans to media all agree on. That would be Luka Dončić, Lebron James and Deandre Ayton. Austin Reaves is going to start, even though there's an active faction of Lakers fans who prefer he come off the bench. Sorry folks, that ain't happening. So that leaves a fifth spot, and presumably JJ Redick will be choosing between incumbent starter Rui Hachimura, and free agent acquisition Marcus Smart. There are a bunch of ways to look at how this should go, and reasons to lobby for both guys. With Hachimura, he's tended to play better as a starter, and provides better floor spacing. Smart, of course, brings far better defensive integrity, and is a better secondary ball mover. Rui would have more opportunities to use his best skill set (scoring) off the bench, where there are more shots available and the Lakers need some oomph. Smart is best served in a role where supplementary offense is the goal, as opposed to one where he needs to post points. The Lakers could also go in a different direction, and stick Jarred Vanderbilt in that slot. Vando, in theory, gives you a more versatile defensive energy and athleticism than Smart, but with less offense. But what if Vanderbilt, healthy for the first time in a while, gets back to merely average on offense? Would that higher end D then become a better fit? It gets to a truth about Vanderbilt for this year - he's one of the true wild cards for the Lakers. It's been a minute since we saw the best version of Vando, and so when people talk about him it's often really about the concept of Vanderbilt more than the player. But if he's near the top end of what people think he can provide, Vanderbilt really does change what the Lakers look like, at least during the regular season. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Who is LA's fifth starter? SEGMENT 2: The pitch for Rui, the pitch for Smart. SEGMENT 3: What about Vanderbilt? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba. Let them know we sent you! After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers are unquestionably a very good team, but aren't generally considered a top contender in the Western Conference. There's a path to get there, but it involves unfortunate things happening to the teams that (on paper at least) are a notch above them in the preseason pecking order. Well, Monday one of those things seems to have happened. Houston point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a major knee injury—a torn ACL—that will require surgery and likely keep him out for the year. The Rockets have a pretty stacked roster overall, but VanVleet is a critical part of their offense, and a major voice in the locker room. Moreover, they don't really have any depth at the position, and because they're right up against the apron and have a bunch of players who can't be traded until December 15th, aren't likely going to be able to do anything to fill the void. Or even try. Not right away, at least. So the question becomes how far this knocks down the Rockets in the brutally competitive West. It's a big enough loss that you could project the Lakers to leapfrog them, for sure. Nobody wants this sort of thing to happen, but broadly "bleep happens" is going to be a reality of any rise for the Lakers. Most teams in the conference will need to benefit from a little luck, even the top ones. One thing that will help the Lakers vault to the top? MVP level play from Luka Dončić. And to that end, coaches, execs and scouts around the NBA are bullish, as expressed in the annual ESPN preseason survey. They also weighed in on a predicted location for LeBron James next year. Do they think he'll still be in LA? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: VanVleet hurt. SEGMENT 2: What it means in the West. SEGMENT 3: Bullish on Luka. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba. Let them know we sent you! After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Rob Pelinka spoke with ESPN's Dave McMenamin last week, and needless to say had a tremendous amount of good stuff to say about new star Luka Dončić. Everything about this summer, McMenamin writes, has led Pelinka to believe the Lakers can do big things with Luka perhaps a little faster from a roster building standpoint than perhaps they originally thought. One big reason is Luka's offseason transformation, which either reinforces or reestablishes his status as one of the elite handful of best players on the planet. One of the best, if not perhaps the best, by the end of the season. But another is that Dončić has such a varied skill set that he gives the Lakers tremendous optionality. There really isn't anything he can't do, which means there aren't many players he can't play with effectively. That's a great luxury for a GM, because it broadens the portfolio of players that can be had in an effort to build a championship caliber roster. (Plus, when you have one of the two or three best players in the league, it covers a lot of sins.) But with that in mind, the Lakers will have decisions to make about how to build around Luka in the future. And to that end, Robert Horry, talking on his own podcast, expressed a thought we've kicked around here a lot - that Austin Reaves has too many similar qualities to Luka, and rather than commit to him long term, the Lakers might want to consider a trade. Is he right? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Pelinka talks "optionality." SEGMENT 2: What the Summer of Luka has meant for LA. SEGMENT 3: Better to trade Reaves this offseason? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba. Let them know we sent you! After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

It's a Pacific Division preview with (most of) the Locked On hosts from around the west coast... and Arizona! Which of these five teams is best positioned to rack up the most wins? The Lakers, with the most top-end players of the bunch? The Clippers, with the most pure depth? The Warriors, with a roster that was one Steph Curry injury away from, at minimum, making the 2025 Western Conference Finals? The Suns, with the--- just kidding! The Suns have no chance at finishing on top. Ditto the Kings. But they're still interesting in a "train wreck" kinda way. Sit back as the Locked On hosts chop it up and talk all things Pacific Division. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, Guests Darian Vaziri (Locked On Clippers), Ben Garcia (Locked On Suns), Chuck Walter (Locked On Warriors) SEGMENT 1: State of the Pacific SEGMENT 2: A Deandre Ayton debate! SEGMENT 3: More on the division Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGYEnough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhoneStreamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Fair to say people are fully invested in the LeBron James retirement tea leaves. So when he speaks about the subject, as he did this week on the 360 With Speedy show, it's going to get a lot of attention. And here, LeBron didn't reveal a ton, only (again) that he's (obviously) far closer to the end than the beginning. But to some ears, at least, you could hear hints that he's planning to stick around beyond this season, and overall there are certainly indications he's inclined to do so assuming he maintains his strong level of play and doesn't run into major physical issues. What might get him to hang it up after this year? A title might be a good place to start. And with that in mind, we open up the mailbag to take viewer/listener questions. The first one starts with that question of a title. Do the Lakers have a path? And if they do, is it one that is relatively easily navigated, or will they need to hack through jungle with a machete to get to the promised land? Plus, bold predictions!!! Then another piece of mail, asking about JJ Redick and Darvin Ham. Will JJ get the same level of scrutiny as Ham did in his second season? Was Darvin treated unfairly, looking back? What will Redick have to do in order to maintain the perception of continued growth? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: LeBron retirement hints? SEGMENT 2: Do the Lakers have a real path to a title? SEGMENT 3: JJ vs. Darvin. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

ESPN's annual Future Rankings had been a sad place for Lakers fans over the last few years, even when things were going well for the team. The Lakers may have had potential in the present, but down the road, things were a lot trickier. Building around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, for a variety of reasons, came with ... complexities. Now, however, things are looking bright. Why? Because a team that has Luka Dončić not only gets a top 5 (at worst) talent, they get him ENTERING HIS PRIME. This is critical not just because it means the Lakers have one of those dudes on the team for a while (presumably), but because players looking to join the Lakers can do so knowing they have Luka around for a while, and he's going to be good. So they can attract free agents, they can attract disgruntled stars. And the presence of Luka guarantees a certain level of competitiveness every year. And now they also have big money to go with the appealing market as well. LA has always ranked well as a market in these rankings, but the Lakers lost points because the Buss family was the wrong kind of billionaire -- namely, their fortune was tied up in the franchise. Mark Walter doesn't have that problem, and over time it will allow the Lakers to match market with budget. Oh, and the rankings even have us sticking up for Rob Pelinka. Or sticking down for the Clippers and Warriors, at least. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka saves the day. SEGMENT 2: Why Walter's money matters. SEGMENT 3: Judge the Lakers by the same standards, people! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Summer of Luka continues, this time with a profile in WSJ Magazine, the long form arm of The Wall Street Journal. It's both a player profile -- one confirming again that Luka does, in fact, look awesome, physically -- and a fashion spread. And as the writer Jason Gay notes, the two are related. Most guys aren't all that interested in the modeling (which in this case includes a shot in the cold tub) if they're not feeling good about their appearance. The story was a nice introduction of Dončić to a demographic that might be less familiar with his work. And Rob Pelinka got to describe him as an "illusionist," a word he was likely back-pocketing for use in a well-respected publication like WSJ. Luka, of course, has completely changed the franchise's fortunes, and perhaps nothing illustrates that quite the same way as ESPN's Future Rankings, where without doing much other than swapping Anthony Davis for Luka (and not spending into their cap space), they vaulted from 21st last season to 8th. And let's be honest, most of that is just Luka. So how well set are the Lakers for the future, now that Dončić is under contract? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: More good press for Luka! SEGMENT 2: Did Luka fix LA's future? SEGMENT 3: How well set are the Lakers? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Context is everything in sports. The Lakers have imported Deandre Ayton to be the new starting center, and it's an opportunity for him to change the conversation. Viewed by many as anywhere from a disappointment to a major disappointment to a bust, Ayton arrives in Los Angeles with a totally different set of expectations. Nobody in LA will look at him as a failed top pick, taken ahead of Luka Dončić. None of that matters. With the Lakers, he needs to stay engaged defensively, rebound aggressively and be maybe the fourth or fifth best offensive player on any given night. Sometimes he can pop off for 25, but the Lakers shouldn't need it all that often. And if Ayton stays healthy, he'll certainly be better than what they had at the end of last year, which was Jaxson Hayes. But remember, context matters. Ayton may seem disappointing, but had his best season playing with a great point guard in Chris Paul. Now he has Luka, who has made a career out of boosting the stats of his centers. Meanwhile, if Ayton wants another big NBA payday, it behooves him to stay as dialed in as possible this year. His skill set should match well with Luka. Ayton is good in the pick and roll, has a midrange game, and can get above the rim. There's every reason to believe that Ayton will be a very positive contributor, even if sometimes he falls short of the championship level expectations everyone on the Lakers has to carry. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: New environment for Ayton. SEGMENT 2: Why context is king. SEGMENT 3: What does the O look like with him? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

On Friday, we discussed reports that the Lakers might be more inclined to make moves eating into cap space they've made potentially available for next offseason, or the summer following (when a few high profile stars could become available). Is that really a plan they're kicking around? Would they spend some capital, and some flexibility, to get a guy like Andrew Wiggins from Miami? And no question, this is in large part a Wiggins issue, because a) he's seen as at least somewhat available, and b) as a two-way wing (particularly effective defensively) Wiggins fits a clear and obvious roster need for the Lakers. Put Rui into a deal, and the math works pretty easily. Leave him out, and it's a lot more complex. But more than that, is Wiggins worth that kind of move? If it cost Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and perhaps a first rounder? Is he enough of a difference maker? What if you take out the pick? What if you take out Rui (though it gets harder, for sure), but include the other stuff? What if you tried to approximate what Wiggins could deliver, but at a lower price? What exactly does "all in" mean for the Lakers, anyway? Is it the same for them as it might be for another squad? Does the definition matter? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Does Wiggins make sense? SEGMENT 2: What is "all in" for the Lakers, anyway? SEGMENT 3: Would Wiggins fit better than Rui? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Luka Dončić dominated Eurobasket, leading an undermanned Slovenia to the Round of 8. That performance, along with everything else we've seen in the Summer of Luka, might have been enough to get the Lakers to change their long-term plans. Or at least change the way they do PR around their long term plans. Dan Woike of The Athletic writes that the Lakers, who had been reportedly very, very protective of their cap flexibility going forward into next summer and even the summer of 2027, could be tempted by the right deal to acquire a player who would eat into that space. It would be a defensive-minded wing. And right now, the only player who meets that criteria and is seen as available is Miami's Andrew Wiggins. Would Wiggins, who has an option for about $30 mil next season he'll almost certainly exercise, give the Lakers enough of a push to make it worth giving up not just a first rounder and Dalton Knecht, but likely Rui Hachimura, too? From there... woah Nellie, is Steve Ballmer in hot water. Pablo Torre followed up on his initial reporting about a potential cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard with another big story, this time linking payments to a Clippers sponsor and payments to Kawhi in ways that seem a lot more tangible (not that the initial volley of news wasn't pretty damning in and of itself). How much evidence does the NBA need in order to feel comfortable dispensing justice? How much more is coming out? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Did Luka get the Lakers to change their plan? SEGMENT 2: What about Wiggins? SEGMENT 3: Ballmer is neck deep now... Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

He did all he could throughout the Eurobasket tournament, elevating a group of scrappy but under-talented Slovenians to the quarterfinals, but finally Luka Dončić could take them no further. 99-91, Germany prevails, despite a 39-point, 10 rebound, seven assist game from Luka. He went as the best player on the floor, as has been the case throughout. Dončić even made noise defensively, to the point of being nominated for the tourney's defensive player award. It was as positive experience as could have been asked for, in what continues to be the most positive summer anyone could have drawn up. Luka built incredible momentum towards the regular season. He played extremely well. He didn't get hurt. And all of this will help the Lakers enter the season with just a little more confidence and swagger. Teams benefit from knowing every night they have a truly transcendent star on their team, a guy whose mere presence gives them an excellent chance at victory. Luka is that guy. And they still have LeBron, too, who has a little cache in that area, as well. Finally, this from Brian Windhorst on ESPN's Hoop Collective podcast: "Now, as far as LeBron's future—I know there's a lot of speculation," Windhorst said. "Based on my conversations, I honestly think they don't know. As far as I know, he's honestly going year to year. Could this be his last year? Yes. Will it be his last year? I don't know. Does he know right now? Maybe. But my interpretation is that it has not been established. He will see where he's at at the end of the year." Does that mean the Lakers are sort of flying blind? Is LeBron, in a way? What about a retirement tour? Does how the team is performing have an impact on all of this? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka again dominates, but Slovenia eliminated. SEGMENT 2: What's next for Dončić? SEGMENT 3: When will LeBron hang 'em up? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Lakers have three players in the Locked On rankings of the top 100 NBA players. Luka Dončić (4), LeBron James (12) and Austin Reaves (58). They're the only team with an ultra elite player in Luka, and a (basically) top 10 guy in LeBron. Add in Reaves, and it's not a bad core. But how does that compare to the rest of the conference? Do the Lakers have similar balance to the competition, even if their talent at the very top might be better? How much two way talent do they have, even with the additions of Marcus Smart and an improvement at center in Deandre Ayton? Compare that to OKC, who has a host of legitimate two way guys, the Nuggets, who feature a few names on the list, all of whom (save Jamal Murray) can play on both sides of the ball. Houston was a great defensive team last year, and even after moving Dillon Brooks should be once again this season. So what kind of roster balance do the Lakers have? What's the relative advantage with fit vs. overall talent? How much of both do the Lakers have relative to the competition? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Three in the Top 100! SEGMENT 2: What kind of balance do the Lakers have? SEGMENT 3: How does what the Lakers have match up with the rest of the conference? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Player rankings can be an irritating exercise, because in most ways theres rarely much functional difference between the 13th and 14th best player in the league, and certainly not the 73rd and 74th. What can be meaningful, however, are player tiers. Guys can be grouped together in ways that make a little more sense in terms of impact. There are God-level stars, and regular stars. There are All-Stars and near-All-Stars. So as the season creeps towards us, the Locked On Network has put together its list of the best 100 players in the NBA. Three Lakers make the cut. (You can guess which ones...) -Luka Dončić, 4th. -LeBron James, 12th. -Austin Reaves, 58th. Luka is up in the super-elite group with Jokic, Shai and Giannis. LeBron is in that next tier down (for what it's worth, your hosts both had him in the top 10). And there's something special about that über-elite level guy that can cover a lot of sins. The Lakers are the only team to have someone at that level, plus another at LeBron's. Add in Austin Reaves at 58 and LA has a good amount of representation. But is it the right kind? Is it distributed as needed, from a skill set standpoint? Does it really matter, when the two guys headlining the thing are Luka and LeBron? Meanwhile, the Lakers have added guys who wouldn't be that far outside the top 100 in Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, and have Rui Hachimura, who has developed into a very reliable frontcourt shooter. All Stars? No, but in Ayton and Smart the Lakers are making major upgrades over what they had last year. So put it all together, and can you say the Lakers might be a little underrated? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get three guys in the Locked On Top 100. SEGMENT 2: What it means to have Luka and LeBron. SEGMENT 3: Are the Lakers underrated? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Luka Dončić has gotten progressively better game to game throughout Eurobasket, helping Slovenia get on a hot streak. Sunday against Italy in the Round of 16, Luka put in his best effort of the competition, finishing with 42 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. He throttled the Italians, basically accounting for half of Slovenia's offense. He continued drawing fouls, getting to the line 16 times. All in all, his performance is ramping up as the tourney goes along, and he gets more comfortable and gets more minutes under his belt. Even as the competition gets more intense and the quality rises. All of this contributes to add to the "Summer of Luka," and while Lakers fans obviously can't project with precision how Luka's performance for Slovenia will carry through into the regular season (not that they won't try), one thing that is unquestionably true: Everything that's happened this offseason is a) likely beyond the best case scenario envisioned by Lakers management for the summer, and b) increasing the already incredibly high level of anticipation about his presence on the team. In many ways, it reinforces the notion that the Luka Era really began at the end of last season, not necessarily when he was traded to the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Basketball HOF had its induction ceremony over the weekend, and Dwight Howard was there as a first-ballot HOFer. Why does that seem to surprise and anger a certain element of the fan base? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka lights up Italy. SEGMENT 2: How this impacts the dawn of the Luka Era in LA. SEGMENT 3: Why is there resistance to Dwight Howard in getting in the HOF first ballot? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Pablo Torre broke a crazy potential scandal involving Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Ballmer and some suspicious money. NBA Squad breaks down all that we know, what this could mean for the league and much more! Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba Follow the Locked On Podcast Network Twitter 📲 https://twitter.com/LockedOnNetwork TikTok 📲 https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonsports Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! | Offers: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/offers/ #NBA #Basketball #Podcast #NBAPodcast #Sports #SportsPodcast

Luka Dončić is rounding into form at exactly the right time for Slovenia at Eurobasket. He put up 37 points and was a dime away from a triple-double as the Slovenias won 106-96. They'd already advanced to the Round of 16, but now do so on a two-game win streak, and with Luka looking outstanding. Lakers fans, of course, are primarily concerned about how Luka's play in the tournament might foreshadow something good once the NBA season starts, and to that end it's worth noting that Slovenia's last two games were Luka's strongest in terms of getting into the paint and to the rim. Over the last few years, it's something Luka has progressively done less of, and his detractors used it as an indication that he wasn't as explosive as he had been... and maybe the weight had a role. So the idea Luka might put a stop to, or even reverse that trend is encouraging for Lakers fans. Meanwhile, more bad news for the Clippers, as additional reporting (this time from the network's own John Karalis!) indicates that the endorsement deal received by Kawhi Leonard, reportedly given in an effort to circumvent the salary cap, may have been more lucrative than thought when the story was broken by Pablo Torre on Wednesday. Ballmer went on ESPN Thursday to defend himself and the organization (done before we taped the show) but things are looking... not great for the LAC right now. Finally, are the Lakers better off adding another superstar to go with Luka, or would it be better to build with one star and a bunch of really good, B/B+ type guys? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka crushes it vs. Israel. SEGMENT 2: KawhiGate gets messier. SEGMENT 3: How should the Lakers build around Luka? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Wednesday, news broke that Kawhi Leonard was the reported beneficiary of an endorsement deal that would, to say the least, run afoul of NBA regulations. The reporting from Pablo Torre Finds Out sent shockwaves through the league, and prompted strong denials from the Clippers. The NBA says they'll launch an investigation. So what happens now? And what happens if, in fact, Torre's reporting is verified by more sources? Plus... MAILBAG! Hosts: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Listener Survey We’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year FanDuel Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.comto get started FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)