Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers didn't acquire Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets. Instead, he's going to Dallas. Whether they missed out, lucked out, or just behaved prudently depends on your POV, but one guy who clearly hoped Irving would end up in Los Angeles?

LeBron James.

His frustration was clear over social media on Sunday. And on Monday, sitting down with ESPN's Michael Wilbon, James admitted he was disappointed, but said he's quickly moved past it and is once again focused on the roster the Lakers actually have. "I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but [also] someone that I had great chemistry with, and know I got great chemistry with on the floor, that can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes," James told Wilbon. "But my focus is shifted now. My focus is shifted back to where it should be and that's this club now and what we have in the locker room."

He also said he believes this team, as constructed, can compete for a championship. And if they can do that as constructed... think about what they could do with some help! That's the message, there. And it's about as good a response as the Lakers could hope for from James. Maybe it means he's accepting of the idea that the Lakers tried, and drew a reasonable boundary. Maybe he understands that the Lakers can't make the Nets trade Irving to L.A., and clearly Nets owner Joe Tsai was in no mood to do that. Or maybe he's just putting on a good face. Regardless, the Lakers are surely happy.

So where can they turn from here?

There are still other names out there. None as big as Irving, or as splashy. But impactful, potentially. What would be a reasonable amount to give up for, say, Bojan Bogdanovic? Or Fred VanVleet? For Buddy Hield, without Myles Turner? Or one of the eleven members of the Jazz that appear to be available?

Would those guys be worth a pick? Two?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers expect Austin Reaves to return Tuesday against Oklahoma City.

SEGMENT 2: LeBron is disappointed about the Kyrie thing, says he moved on fast.

SEGMENT 3: Who is left on the market? Is anyone worth a first rounder? Two of them?

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