Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are hanging on the fringes of the Western Conference Play-In race (the top 6, at this point, is a real stretch). They've been doing it without LeBron James, who remains sidelined with a bum foot. Before Sunday's game, Darvin Ham said that the team expects James will be available before the end of the regular season. Yahoo's Chris Haynes reports that while it's certainly a possibility James could return, if he does, he won't be 100%. Or really anywhere close.

So what exactly would the Lakers be getting with a diminished-but-available LeBron James? Is that guy enough to help fuel that miracle playoff run that some kiiiiiiinda refuse to rule out, just because he's LeBron James, has won a title with A.D., and the West just isn't that dominant this year? Is he enough to help get the Lakers through a play-in game or two?

Most fans, right now at least, would take the latter and cross their fingers for anything else. What can people expect?

Meanwhile, the Lakers ability to succeed is still dictated more than any other player by how Anthony Davis performs. After games like New York, the end of Dallas, Sunday vs. Orlando -- there are still a lot of nights where the floor just doesn't seem high enough, and the consistency with which he performs is too low. Is that a function of scheme? Of newness with the supporting cast? Of issues around Davis himself? (None of these are mutually exclusive, btw.)

Finally, Austin Reaves has been nails of late, and has ramped up his upcoming free agent price tag over the last few weeks in a big way. The Lakers can offer 4/$50 million. Other teams can offer more, and the Lakers will be able to match. How much might he draw in a soft year for free agents? Can the Lakers afford, on the court and off it, to let him go, even if it costs more than they'd like to spend?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron won't be 100% when he returns. What % is good enough?

SEGMENT 2: Can Anthony Davis be relied on to deliver nightly, in the way MVP candidates generally can?

SEGMENT 3: How much $ does Reaves make this offseason?

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