Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball

Donovan Mitchell has reportedly finally been traded to...the Cleveland Cavaliers??? Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss this turn of events and analyze the deal from both the Jazz and the Cavs perspectives. Later, the guys get into how this deal impacts the Lakers, their hopes of improving their team this offseason, and whether it makes it more or less likely they make a trade.

While the Lakers have reportedly been trying to trade Russell Westbrook, they have also been signaling they are fine bringing him back to (at least) start the season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the potential of a Russ return and dive into the argument for why a trade might not happen. Then later, the guys debate whether Patrick Beverley -- and his confrontational leadership style -- could actu...

As the NBA calendar transitions towards September, the question of whether the Lakers are going to make another move persists. Pete, Mike, and Darius debate what factors should be considered when thinking about deals, whether the front office can wait things out longer or if they need to make the best deal it can now, and why LeBron's ability to still be the best player on a title team might be an...

Talen Horton-Tucker did not develop into the player envisioned while with the Lakers, but he remains an intriguing prospect whose path towards helping the Jazz feels much less complicated than it would have been for the Lakers this season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Talen's game, the conflict between developing him towards his individual strengths vs. what the Lakers team needed from him, and...

The next domino of the Lakers season has fallen, with the Lakers trading Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson for old nemesis, Patrick Beverley. The guys discuss the experience of cheering for a player you used to hate, how Beverley imbues his teams with urgency and competitive spirit, his role on the Lakers, and some of his limitations.

Mike and Darius celebrate Kobe Day by reliving one of his great performances as a player, and stroll down memory lane to discuss Kobe's clutch coming out party: Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals. 

In an NBA where star players have the most value and whose impact is felt most, it's the connective players who help elevate stars through their feel for the game and ability to extend advantage that often have more value than their salary would indicate. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the Lakers pivot towards more of these player types this season than last, and why Troy Brown Jr.'s potential to...

The Lakers and LeBron James have come to terms on a contract extension that will keep him on the team for at least the next two seasons, and potentially a third. Pete, Mike, and Darius react to this news and discuss it from all angles, including whether it made sense to do the deal now instead of waiting until next offseason and how much this impacts the urgency for the Lakers to make a win-now tr...

Do the Lakers have their hardest schedule in recent memory? What's up with all the holiday road games? Is there a stretch of games that stand out as particularly important? Can the team set the right tone to start the season vs. a slate of difficult opponents? Pete, Mike, and Darius answer these questions and more when they break down the Lakers schedule from every angle. 

In adding Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones this offseason, the Lakers hope to get a massive boost in both production and quality depth at the Center position compared to last season. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss both bigs as value additions who can be high reward players, debate who projects to be the best fit as a starter, and wonder whether Jones will end up shooting 3's this season. Then later,...

With a new show about the Lakers set to debut on Monday, Pete and Darius discuss Legacy and Winning Time, and how they capture the Lakers story in different ways. Later, Mike joins and the guys roast him for being late and his speedy answer to which actor he'd want to portray him in a series.

With LeBron James and Darvin Ham reportedly agreeing that the offense should run through Anthony Davis more often, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss what this could look like schematically, how much the load AD carries on defense will impact his ability to have this type of role on offense, and how much LeBron's own game -- as he ages -- impacts what AD's role on both ends should be. 

Pete, Darius & Mike reminisce about how Kobe, Pau & Lamar came together and break down why that brand of basketball was so beautiful.

Pete, Mike, and Darius take a closer look at Lonnie Walker IV's game, including his natural fit in uptempo lineups, how playing with LeBron & AD might impact what he's asked to do, and the defensive issues that will likely impact his playing time.

Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss the life and career of the incomparable Bill Russell in the wake of his passing. 

Can Kendrick Nunn be the skill guard the Lakers need? Does Talen Horton-Tucker have the defensive ability and offensive upside needed to play in lineups with LeBron and Anthony Davis for longer stretches? Will either even be on the team next season and, if so, should they be counted on to produce to the level the team will need? Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss both Nunn and THT's future with the te...

Can Juan Toscano-Anderson or Stanley Johnson be the combo forward who slots between LeBron and Anthony Davis in a Lakers closing lineup? Do either have the full offensive skill set? What about the defensive versatility? Can both even play in the rotation if the Lakers start AD at power forward? Pete and Darius answer these questions by breaking down Stanley and JTA's games, the Lakers forward posi...

Austin Reaves was one of the few bright spots from last season's Lakers. Can he continue his development and make a leap towards being an even better rotation player next season? Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss Austin's importance to next year's team, what position he is and why his versatility matters to the roster, and whether he should be considered for the starting lineup. Later, the guys discu...

Do the Lakers actually need to trade Russell Westbrook? Are there scenarios in which he could return and help the Lakers on the court? What are the variables at play when considering a trade? Pete and Darius discuss and debate whether Russ returning next season is viable, whether a threshold exists in a potential deal, and how the futures of LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Darvin Ham all impact what co...

From increased player movement to the more openness of players discussing their mental health challenges and everything in between, the nature of player happiness and its impacts on the NBA have become more and more important in recent years. Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss these topics, how they've evolved over the years, and how they see them impacting the league today and moving forward. 

Will Kevin Durant actually get traded? Can a Donovan Mitchell trade be the domino that triggers more deals around the league -- including a potential Lakers trade? Pete and Darius discuss how KD's trade request reminds them of Kobe asking out in 2007, Mitchell's status in the league and how a Knicks deal could work, and why the Lakers might be lurking in the background of these bigger potential de...

How valuable is your future 1st round pick? This is a question the Hawks and T'Wolves just answered for themselves by making blockbuster trades for win-now players and one the Lakers will need to answer as they explore their own roster construction heading into next season. It's also a question the Pelicans, Jazz, and Thunder will need to answer in their own way as they stockpile future picks in t...

What move this NBA offseason has stood out the most? Did the Wolves trade for Rudy Gobert or the Hawks trade for Dejounte Murray push them into the next tier? Does the Celtics trade for Malcom Brogdon or their signing of Danilo Gallinari make them favorites? What does losing Jalen Brunson mean to the Mavericks? How have the 76ers moves impacted their title chances? Pete, Mike, and Darius answer th...

What did we learn from the Lakers summer league offense and how it might translate to what the team does when the real season begins? Whether it's needing a shooting big man, how offensive floor spacing helps transition defense, or why big man mobility is so useful, Pete, Mike, and Darius discuss what they've learned about what the Lakers want to do offensively and how some of their roster moves f...

Lakers leadership reportedly insist they're still not done building the roster for this upcoming season, but the summer continues to move forward and any reported potential roster moves appear to be more rumor than reality. Pete and Darius discuss the limbo the team (and its fans) find themselves in and what it means to navigate this part of the offseason that still has this much uncertainty. Late...