Locked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the Purple and Gold since 2005 for media outlets including the LA Times, ESPN and The Athletic, offer traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor to provide expert, local analysis. Locked On Lakers takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Lakers locker room and all over the NBA. The Locked On Lakers podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.
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episode 1439: Kyrie Irving opts in with Nets. What Next For the Lakers? Plus, Would Malik Monk Take Less to Stay?
The world woke up Monday to news that the relationship between Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets continued to deteriorate, and the star guard had permission to look for a sign and trade deal that would end his stay with the Nets. The Lakers, it was said, were the only team that showed interest. But Brooklyn, it was said, didn't want Russell Westbrook. So would it be a three-team deal? Four? How far would the Lakers go to simultaneously add the dynamic (if problematic) scorer and rid themselves of the Westbrook problem?
Well, by 4 pm local time, it was a moot point. Kyrie announced, in the most pretentious way possible, he'll be staying with the Nets. Irving opts into the final year of his contract, and while that doesn't mean he can't be traded, it does mean he can't be part of a sign-and-trade that would bring him the contract Brooklyn seems unwilling to provide.
So what does this situation say about Kyrie? The league's shifting approach to stars? The Lakers? And L.A.'s relationship to Westbrook? All of it is relevant and discussed herein.
From there, it's a look at NBA free agency, which kicks off on Thursday. Specifically, The Athletic's Jovan Buha reports that Malik Monk, one of the team's few bright spots from last season, would be willing to take a little less to stay with the Lakers. Which would probably be required, were the Lakers to retain him. LA simply can't compete with what other teams can offer Monk, should they be so inclined.
But even if the Lakers can give Monk their biggest available exception (a little over six million dollars) should they? Does Monk fill the greatest need in a summer where the Lakers have very few assets on hand?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Kyrie-to-LA heats up... then ends just as fast.
SEGMENT 2: Why the Lakers handled this news cycle the right way, vis-a-vis Westbrook.
SEGMENT 3: Should the Lakers use their taxpayer midlevel exception on Malik Monk, if that would keep him here?
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