Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

Las Vegas Summer League is here! Pete and Darius discuss what stood out to them in opening matchup between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, what other top rookies have stood out for good and bad reasons, and what they’re looking forward to from the Lakers squad. The guys also dive into the team’s search for a starting power forward and why a resolution could continue to drag out. . Join Pete on Of...

Pete and Darius discuss the Walker Kessler trade being officially announced, and break down whether their thoughts on the deal have changed in the time since the deal was first reported. And then later the guys dive into the latest round of reporting on the mutual interest between the Lakers and Jonathan Kuminga, the intricacies of what a deal could look like, what potential alternatives could be...

The Lakers signed Kevon Looney to a vet minimum deal on Tuesday. The guys discuss his strengths & weaknesses, how a completely different approach to the 5 position indicates a stylistic change in the offense, how the team’s perimeter defenders don’t match their bigs, the possibility of Jaden Hardy sticking on the roster, and more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store:...

The guys discuss the three Summer League games the team has played so far, with a focus on Cameron Carr, Adou Thiero, and the players on two-way contracts. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store: https://cottonbureau.com/people/laker-film-room-podcast-store Pete’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pe...

Rui Hachimura will reportedly sign with the Clippers on a two-year contract. Pete and Darius discuss his departure and what it means for the team, and get into the decision to move on almost entirely from the players who made up last season’s rotation. And then later, the guys discuss the work the Lakers still need to do this summer and the mechanisms they still have at their disposal to improve t...

The Lakers offseason rolls on with a trade of big man Deandre Ayton who was traded to the Wizards in exchange for guard Jaden Hardy and two 2nd round picks. Pete and Darius discuss what the Lakers accomplish with this deal, the hole it opens up at backup center, and much more. And then later the guys discuss the Lakers reported interest in Jonathan Kuminga to fill their need at power forward, his...

After settling down from the Lakers’ flurry of free agent signings on Wednesday, Pete and Darius dig deeper into the moves the team made, why they believe there’s been a groundswell negative response to the moves, whether those opinions impact their own optimism, and much more. And then later, the guys discuss what moves the team still needs to make to round out the roster and why they believe a R...

After a slow first night to open free agency, the Lakers reshaped their roster in a single morning, executing a sign and trade for Walker Kessler and then signing Quentin Grimes, Colin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency. Pete and Darius react to all the moves, and discuss each player’s skill sets and fit on this newly formed Lakers roster. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside....

Hours before free agency begins, LeBron James has informed the Lakers he will play for a different team next season. Pete and Darius react to the news, detail how they believed this was a more likely outcome than had been reported, reflect on LeBron’s time with the team and how meaningful it was, and dive into what comes next for a Lakers team that has one more big hole to fill in free agency now....

With NBA free agency set to open, Pete and Darius discuss the Lakers needs on the wing at guard and forward next to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Who are their preferred options? How should the Lakers balance unrestricted vs. restricted free agents? Should they look to trade for a solution? The guys answer these questions and more by diving into specific targets for the Lakers to look at. . Join...

With reports of rocky negotiations between the Pistons and restricted free agent center Jalen Duren, Pete and Darius discuss whether Duren could be an option for the Lakers’ needs at that spot. And then later, the guys dig into further reporting on what led to Austin Reaves receiving a max contract, and what is going on in the negotiations between LeBron James and the Lakers. . Join Pete on Offsid...

The Lakers traded up one spot to draft Baylor swing man, Cameron Carr. Pete and Darius discuss Carr falling to the Lakers pick, his overall game and the positives that pop on tape, where he still needs to improve, how he can help the Lakers in the short and long term, and much more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store: https://cottonbureau.com/people/laker-film-room-podca...

Austin Reaves has reportedly agreed to a 4-year max contract to stay with the Lakers. Pete and Darius react to Reaves’ new deal, what it means for the Lakers cap situation and team building now and moving forward, the added pressure a deal like this adds to the front office to improve the team this summer, and much more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store: https://cotton...

Mike Garcia joins Pete to give his final thoughts on the 2026 Draft, including his perspective on Dailyn Swain, Isaiah Evans, Ebuka Okorie, Jayden Quaintance, the unexpected players he’s hoping might fall to the Lakers pick and #25, whether trading up or down is worth it, and more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store: https://cottonbureau.com/people/laker-film-room-podcas...

With the reports that a Giannis trade is close that he will either end up in Boston or Miami, Pete and Darius discuss the rumored trade packages from each team, which one they prefer, how the Lakers could fit into any of these deals after the fact, and more. And then later the guys discuss the early free agency deals the Suns, Hawks, and Thunder have made and how those could impact the Lakers as w...

After focusing on the Lakers trying to get the best top-end talent in free agency, Pete and Darius pivot to discuss how the Lakers can build out the depth on this team, what traits they’re looking for in role players, why players on minimums and lower value deals are so important, how the draft plays into this idea, and much more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store: http...

Pete & Darius discuss the team’s most important offseason in years, amidst reports that they’ve been targeting this summer as their chance to put a title team around Luka. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Store: https://cottonbureau.com/people/laker-film-room-podcast-store Pete’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee....

After additional reporting on the ongoing contract discussions between Walker Kessler and the Jazz, Pete and Darius continue their discussion on the Lakers possible interest in the big man as their center solution in free agency. And then later, the guys check in on the Giannis trade chatter around the league and where the Lakers could fit into all the moving parts, if at all.  . Join Pete on...

With reports that Walker Kessler is frustrated with how his contract negotiations have been playing out with the Jazz, Pete and Darius discuss the possibility of the Lakers acquiring the restricted free agent, why the Jazz’s roster and payroll could allow him to change teams, whether a trade or free agent signing would be more realistic, and much more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.g...

The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions! Pete and Darius reflect on how they did it, their path to building out this roster and the takeaways from building through trades, Brunson’s brilliance and being the exception to the rule of small guards leading title teams, Mike Brown’s role in getting this team over the top, and much more. . Join Pete on Offside! https://www.offside.gg/beta LFR Sto...

With reports that the Brooklyn Nets are gearing up to offer Austin Reaves a 4-year max contract this offseason, Pete and Darius discuss Reaves’ pending free agency and the possibility he gets a max offer from another team, what they would do in the Lakers shoes if presented with the opportunity to match that kind of deal, the team building realities that would come with paying Reaves a max deal, a...

Behind the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, the Knicks stole Game 4 from the Spurs to take a 3-1 lead in their race to the championship. Pete and Darius discuss how the Knicks did it, how the Spurs helped them, why Jalen Brunson’s mid-game heroics were so crucial, OG Anunoby’s late game brilliance, De’Aaron Fox and Wemby’s second half struggles, and much more. . Join Pete on Offside! https...

What if the Lakers targeted an elite shooter to slot next to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves? What would that roster build look like? Would they have enough defense to be a real contender? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more when they discuss two high-level shooting forwards as a different summer pathway the team could explore when trying to build a contender this offseason. . Join Pete...

The Spurs struck back to make it a series, winning Game 3 of the Finals in New York. Pete and Darius discuss the details of the game and what stood out to them most in the Spurs victory. And then later the guys continue their discussion on Rui Hachimura’s pending free agency by focusing on his defensive fit on the team, how his role and skill set don’t always align on that side of the ball, and ho...

Pete and Darius continue their examination of the Lakers offseason priorities by discussing Austin Reaves’ and Rui Hachimura’s pending free agencies, whether both should be back, what their future salaries might be, and how the Lakers’ performance in the playoffs combined with the conference and NBA Finals impact the viability of building a contending roster around Luka with both Austin and Rui. ....