Lakers Mailbag: Austin Reaves, Realistic Center Targets & Luka's Trade Value Ranking
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions.
Jovan analyzes the biggest takeaway of the season, if the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves, if Reaves can be a No. 3 and fit next to Luka Doncic, the realistic centers LA should target this offseason, Luka's rank among players in trade value, if this will be LeBron James' last season, sports-media advice, and more.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:11 Question No. 1: Biggest takeaway of the season? Favorite part? What could’ve gone better?
5:25 Question No. 2: Should LA trade Austin? Can he be a No. 3? Fit with Luka?
22:19 Question No. 3: Which centers are the Lakers looking at?
31:51 Question No. 4: Where does Luka rank among players in trade value?
36:16 Question No. 5: Will this be LeBron’s last season?
38:30 Question No. 6: One piece of advice for Luka?
42:33 Question No. 7: Would LA trade AR for Claxton/Kessler/Turner?
45:30 Question No. 8: AR/DK for Lauri/Kessler?
47:04 Question No. 9: Sports media advice? Sacrifice and workload?
56:31 Outro
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1:04:42
Lakers Roundtable: LA Beat Writers On Covering Team, NBA Media, Road Life & More
Jovan Buha welcomes ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike and the Southern California News Group's Khobi Price -- the other three Los Angeles Lakers beat writers -- to talk about what it's like to cover the Lakers.
Jovan, Dave, Dan and Khobi share their favorite moments covering the Lakers, the biggest surprises on the beat, road life, favorite road cities and arenas, the state of NBA media, the Luka Doncic trade, sports media advice, and more.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:48 Roundtable intros
2:55 What would we change about NBA media?
10:41 Biggest surprise covering the Lakers?
17:29 Favorite moments covering the Lakers?
28:29 Where we were at for the Luka trade
31:53 Do reporters become fans of the team they cover?
39:07 Routine on the road?
51:04 Are you ever skeptical of other media reports?
57:47 Favorite road city for food and road arena
1:00:57 Advice for someone who wants to become an NBA beat reporter?
1:09:27 Outro
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1:17:56
What We Learned From JJ Redick & Rob Pelinka's Lakers Exit Interview + Q&A
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' exit interview with JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka.
Jovan analyzes Pelinka and the Lakers' belief in the star trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, LA's offseason goals of adding a starting center and more perimeter defense, Redick saying the group has to get in 'championship shape,' and more.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:20 Takeaway No. 1: LA still believes in Luka/LeBron/AR as a trio
5:06 Takeaway No. 2: The Lakers' offseason goals
10:00 Takeaway No. 3: JJ says they must get in 'championship shape'
16:30 Q&A
1:04:11 Outro
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1:13:12
Lakers-Wolves Game 5 Reaction: LA Is Shockingly Eliminated In The First Round
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' elimination in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves 103-96 in Game 5.
Jovan analyzes the disappointing end to the Lakers' season, LA's strong foundation for the future, the clear need for more size and depth this summer, the offense, offseason questions, and more.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
3:28 A big thank you for this season
5:43 Buha's Big Picture: LA has a strong foundation, but needs to make some changes
19:21 Takeaway No. 1: This series exposed the Lakers' lack of size and depth
26:11 Takeaway No. 2: LA needs to figure out its offense entering next season
28:46 Takeaway No. 3: An offseason full of questions
34:09 Q&A
1:41:27 Outro
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1:50:57
How The Lakers Can Save Their Season: Five Game 5 Adjustments
Jovan Buha discusses five adjustments the Los Angeles Lakers should make entering Game 5 of their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jovan discusses the obvious starting lineup change, running more organized and intentional offense, mixing up coverages against Anthony Edwards, the possession battle, and more.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:18 Adjustment No. 1: Start Dorian Finney-Smith
5:07 Adjustment No. 2: More organized offense
9:38 Adjustment No. 3: Mix up looks against Anthony Edwards
14:00 Adjustment No. 4: Play the bench more
18:13 Adjustment No. 5: (Finally) win the possession battle
23:26 Outro
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Jovan Buha, a senior reporter covering the Los Angeles Lakers for The Athletic, covers the purple and gold with a weekly podcast, including news, analysis and exclusive interviews with media, players, coaches, team personnel and more.
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