Lakers rally in the fourth behind LeBron James and Dalton Knecht https://t.co/3rBCOVJHDO

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 14, 2024

Lakers' LeBron James Reverses Course on Retirement, Details Timeline https://t.co/tHssR1LWO9

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 14, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers took down the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night to improve their record to 7-4 in the new season. They were led by star forward LeBron James as he posted his third consecutive triple-double.

James was everywhere for Los Angeles against the Grizzlies, helping them get a comeback win. His final stat line had him scoring 35 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out 14 assists, and swiping one steal.

After the game, the future NBA Hall-of-Famer once again discussed some plans for his eventual retirement.

“I’m not gonna play that much longer, to be completely honest…I’m not playing until the wheels fall off.”

James has hinted at retirement in each of the last few offseasons and the thought clearly has weighed on him. The King is playing in year 22 of his NBA career and still doing so at an extremely high level.

We have never seen a player perform at this level and James will be turning 40 years old next month. Somehow James has been able to stay in this great of shape and dominate the game despite his advanced basketball age.

Dalton Knecht is the shooter the Lakers have always wanted but never had https://t.co/W9rnLgKvsv

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 14, 2024

Gabe Vincent in 12 minutes:

0 points
0 rebounds
0 assists
0/6 FGs

What happened to this man??? pic.twitter.com/Rulq74LJzw

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 14, 2024

Valanciunas, 32 yo, 6' 11", 265
-12.3/7.2/2.6, 0.6 blk/0.6 stl, 59.2/33.3/90.9%
-$30M/3 yr, Avail Dec 15

Williams, 27 yo, 6' 9", 249
-12.0/5.7/1.7, 1.7 blk/1.7 stl, 78.9/50.0/100.0%
-$25M/2yr

Claxton, 25 yo, 6' 11" 215
-9.2/8.0/2.6/1.2 blk/0.8 stl, 74.3/0.0/28.6%
-$100M/4 yr https://t.co/GmJgrxELTR

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 13, 2024

REPORT: 5 Lakers ‘non-negotiables’ leaked from private team meeting https://t.co/lpDSVpoE5S

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 13, 2024

It seems like Redick is aware of that. According to a new report, before training camp started, Redick gathered the team in a Beverly Hills restaurant for a presentation. It led to a discussion involving the players about team values.

“The presentation included a video highlighting the tenets on which the team would be built, with Redick backing up analytics benchmarks with clips showing the players reaching them last season,” wrote ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Matt Williams. “‘You told on yourselves,’ Redick told the players, one source told ESPN, his sarcastic way of telling them he knows they are capable of what he is asking them to do.

“Charcoal T-shirts were distributed with the theme of the season printed across the chest in white block letters: DETAILS (the ‘L’ in details was the Lakers’ secondary logo in gold, for good measure). Redick and his coaching staff introduced the team identity they expected on both ends of the floor, sources told ESPN. The discussion was then opened to the players to establish team values.

“Some of the points of emphasis, sources told ESPN, included:

“Respecting one another’s time.

“Playing for the same, common goal.

“Expecting elite execution night to night, no matter who is in or out of the lineup.

“Being efficient in everything, from shot selection for the players to time management from the coaches.

“Dominating the details, whether it’s the angle a screen is set on offense, or the timing of blitzing a pick-and-roll on defense.”

A team source described those items as L.A.’s “non-negotiables.”

“These were our non-negotiables,” the Lakers source told ESPN. “Come hell or high water, we will go back to this as a team.”

Across 10 games this season, the Lakers are 6-4, one win better than they were through 10 games last season. They’re on a decent trajectory but certainly still have some areas that are in need of improvement. Fortunately, there’s lots of season left to address those things.

Any sort of playoff success would be a step in the right direction for the Lakers this season after they were eliminated in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but postseason results shouldn’t be the only thing taken into consideration when evaluating the way L.A.’s current season unfolds.

Even if the Lakers don’t make a deep run in the playoffs this season, there could still be other ways for the team to have a productive campaign, like if the squad is able to establish a strong identity and culture under Redick.

As someone who played in the NBA as recently as the 2020-21 season, Redick knows what it takes to make it in today’s NBA, and his perspective should be an asset for the Lakers moving forward. He’s hoping to earn a long tenure with the organization after previous head coach Darvin Ham lasted just two seasons with L.A.

The Lakers, who are currently on a two-game winning streak, will look to build some more momentum when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. L.A. will then finish the week with two road games — one against the San Antonio Spurs and one against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Redick’s squad is currently seventh in the Western Conference with its 6-4 record, meaning the team currently holds a play-in spot.

Lakers trade for Jerami Grant and Robert Williams https://t.co/uj6AnLmBJa

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 13, 2024

TIME TO TRADE FOR STARTING CENTER

D'Angelo Russell and 2029 FRP
for Robert Williams

or

JHS, 2029 FRP, and No 2027 FRP Protection
for Walker Kessler https://t.co/IpEOrfqPNP pic.twitter.com/NO9BSEGMHZ

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 13, 2024

Dave McMenamin was on The Hoop Collective Pod and mentions Jonas Valanciunas, Robert Williams, and Nic Clayton as possible targets for the Lakers.

He also said since they won in 2020 AD still believes his best chance to win is having additional defensive bigs on the roster. pic.twitter.com/6nS93L1Xhk

— Laker Central (@LakerCentral365) November 13, 2024

Jaxson Hayes will miss at least 1-2 weeks with a left ankle sprain that he suffered in practice.

Another big man down… pic.twitter.com/QP06gYyDjK

— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 13, 2024

Lakers Trade Rumors: Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez Among Potential Targets https://t.co/ydTEhuklot via @BasketBallInsiders

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 13, 2024

According to the latest Los Angeles Lakers trade rumors, Milwaukee Bucks stars Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic have been mentioned as notable targets for the Purple and Gold.

Proposed three-team trade package

Then there’s the possibility of the Lakers only trading for Lillard and a few role players.

FanSided’s Craig Miller recently posted a three-team blockbuster trade involving the Bucks, Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs. The full trade details are as follows:

Lakers receive:
-Damian Lillard
-Charles Bassey
-Sandro Mamukelashvili

Bucks acquire:
-D’Angelo Russell
-Rui Hachimura
-Gabe Vincent
-2029 first-round pick (via LAL)
-2031 first-round pick (via LAL)
-2026 second-round pick (via SA)

Spurs receive:
-Jalen Hood-Schifino
-Christian Wood
-2025 second-round pick,
-2030 second-round pick (via LAL)
-2031 second-round pick (via MIL)

Lakers might trade for both Lillard and Lopez

Based on the proposed trade package shown above, neither Lopez nor Nurkic is featured in the potential deal. Having said that, perhaps the Lakers would be better off with both Lillard and Lopez.

Lopez, 36, is in the final season of the two-year, $48 million contract he signed with Milwaukee last July. While Lopez is six years older than Nurkic, the Bucks center has still played in more games than Nurkic over the past few seasons.

Lopez appeared in 78 games in 2022-23 and 79 contests last season. Meanwhile, Nurkic has played in at least 70 games in a single campaign just once (76 games last season) since 2018-19.

If the Lakers can acquire both Lillard and Lopez, the 7-footer would provide insurance in the event that both Christian Koloko and Jaxon Hayes get injured. Anthony Davis is dealing with foot injuries as well.

Los Angeles has a number of injury-prone players, and LeBron James turns 40 in December. If the Lakers want to have any chance of winning another championship, an in-season blockbuster trade is necessary.

Lakers Might Have Found Solution to Defensive Issues Against Elite Wing Players https://t.co/vVZV1AdkOs

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 13, 2024

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick made a surprising move this week when he decided to bench D’Angelo Russell for Cam Reddish. The switch intended to improve the defense with Reddish starting, as well as provide a needed spark off of the bench in Russell.

The decision paid off in the Lakers’ 116-106 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Though the 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Lakers earned the win after losing four of their previous five games.

Reddish stepped in and helped stifle Paul George throughout the game. George finished with just nine points, four rebounds, and eight assists, and was unable to get going offensively.

Anthony Davis, who returned from injury and scored 31 points in the win, broke down what Reddish did well defensively in the game.

“He’s disruptive, he’s handsy, he’s physical, he’s tough, he slides his feet,” Davis said, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “That’s what we need. He’s been that for us, especially the last three games. And it stands out. It got him in the rotation. You need a player like that who you kinda just feed off of their energy. He’s coming into the game and getting steals and guarding the other team’s best wing and putting a lot of pressure on that wing to make tough shots, tough plays.”

Christian Wood posts these photos on his IG story with a caption that says “Soon” on the last story 👀 pic.twitter.com/FohuA1asdj

— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) November 12, 2024