Thursday's episode was centered around Max Christie, and what he's expected to bring this season for the Lakers.

But it touched on Austin Reaves, as well, and it's that portion of the conversation that generated the most feedback in the comments and prompted discussion for today's show. Namely, are the expectations around Reaves, whether set by the hosts in this space or by the Lakers, fair? What are they, exactly? How much is set by media, and how much is put on Reaves by the contextual needs of the team (and the roster construction)?

Today, it's a deep dive into Reaves, how he performed last year and what needs to be different—and better—this year. That includes a lot of reason to think improvement could be on the way! Reaves, assuming he makes it through camp without any injuries, will be set up for success better this year than last, no question.

From there, it's a listener email about Christian Wood and expectations around him, as well. Earlier in the week, we discussed how Wood is the guy who will change the dynamic among the centers the most, once he comes back from his latest injury. When that will be, nobody is sure. Will he succeed? Nobody is sure. But relative to the other options, Wood has more upside. We explain.

Finally, when are the Lakers going to get the Bron/Bronny "moment" out of the way? How should they handle it?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Are expectations for Austin Reaves unfair?

SEGMENT 2: How good does Reaves need to be?

SEGMENT 3: What about Wood? Plus, predictions on the Bron/Bronny moment.

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It's no secret that Max Christie didn't like how he was used - or more specifically, not used - last season with Darvin Ham. Speaking to Allie Clifton at Spectrum SportsNet this week, Christie made it clear he's highly motivated this season after signing his 4-year, $32 million contract this offseason, and is fired up about the new coaching staff.

But whil most Lakers fans are excited to see Christie back and be given a chance to play, not every analyst around the league thinks this was a great deal. At the least, it's not without risk. Christie hasn't proven himself as an 82-game rotation player to this point. That probably should have happened last year, but here we are.

So the Lakers invested with some unknowns definitely still on the table. That can't be argued.

Can Christie step in and produce as the Lakers hope he can... and need him to? What would it mean for the team, in terms of optionality and flexibility, for Christie to break through this year? Who else on the roster is under the microscope in the same way? Start with Austin Reaves, who needs to make a jump if the Lakers are going to hit their ceiling as currently constructed.

And what about JJ Redick? He's not a player, obviously, but few around the league will be scrutinized like him, and the Lakers need coaching to contribute to more wins this season, after letting Ham go.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Max Christie on his contract and the new staff.

SEGMENT 2: Can Christie meet the expectations set for him?

SEGMENT 3: Where Redick ranks...

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The Lakers haven't done much this offseason, and as such have some holes in the roster, one of the biggest being at backup center. That hole only got larger after Christian Wood underwent knee surgery last week. He'll be out until at least early November, likely longer.

So with that in mind, the Lakers did make a move this week, signing former Toronto center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract (and releasing forward Blake Hinson to make the space). Koloko has a small body of work to evaluate, and hasn't played for about 18 months after a blood clot issue forced him to miss last season. So to get a better feel for his game, Sean Woodley of Locked On Raptors joins the show to provide a scouting report. Among the big topics of discussion:

• How effective is Koloko defensively?
• Is the offense as bad as advertised?
• Can Koloko contribute to a team with aspirations (assuming expectations are held at an appropriate level)?
• How much growth potential is there?

What does it say about the Lakers and their current predicament that we're talking about Koloko as a potential rotation player, which isn't a consideration usually afforded a two-way player? Is his ability to contribute this year even the best thing about the signing?

Plenty to unpack!

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky with guest Sean Woodley, Locked On Raptors

SEGMENT 1: Woodley on Koloko's O and D.

SEGMENT 2: Can Koloko contribute?

SEGMENT 3: How much could Koloko play? The answer has a lot to do with Christian Wood...

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Last season, Anthony Davis told ESPN that, even though he deserves to win, he'll never actually take home a Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Wny?

He's not totally sure. Maybe the media and the NBA just don't like him. He's honestly not sure about why, only that he's not going to win. So is he right? Fair or not, there does seem to be a feeling that whatever he does, it's not going to be enough. Not just with the DPOY Award, but most things. How much does the bar move on Davis from day to day? Is he always being held to what amounts to an impossible standard?

As the Lakers try to fill out the backline around him, it's a relevant question again. Davis has noted throughout his tenure playing with the Lakers that he prefers to have another big next to him, at least some of the time. Is this the year the Lakers can again accommodate him? Is there a center combination that might make it possible to have Davis at the four, just a little more?

Well, one C on the roster in theory fits the bill...

Finally, looking at the mailbag to answer an interesting question: As currently constructed, are the Lakers more likely to win a title or miss the playoffs entirely?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis wants a DPOY, no matter what he says.

SEGMENT 2: Do the goalposts ever stop moving with Davis?

SEGMENT 3: A fun mailbag question.

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The Lakers have needed help behind Anthony Davis all summer, and REALLY need help now that Christian Wood is out until at least November following knee surgery. (And could be out longer.) That leaves Jaxson Hayes as the only healthy true center left on the main roster. The Lakers do have Colin Castleton on a 2-way deal, but that has its limitations.

So this weekend, they got a little help, while working within the tight constraints in which they have to operate these days. They are set to sign former Raptors center Christian Koloko to a 2-way contract of his own, releasing forward Blake Hinson to make the space.

Koloko is a former high second rounder for Toronto, and played surprising amount for a very raw rookie back in 2022-23, showing some legitimate defensive potential. He almost certainly would have remained a Raptor last season, but Koloko ended up sidelined and then released after being diagnosed with a blood clotting issue. So what does he bring to the table? Defense, first and foremost and almost exclusively. Koloko moves well, is very athletic and showed real rim protection capability. He's also an awful offensive player. So think of him as a more extreme version of Hayes. Better defensively, but worse on the other end.

He certainly doesn't solve the team's problem at the center position, but he does provide a little optionality, and a specific skill set that could come in handy at one point or another. He can be active for 50 games before the team would have to make a decision about his contract status. That's a pretty good amount of time to figure stuff out. So between him, Hayes and Castleton, the Lakers can try to mix and match at least until Wood is healthy.

Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss was doing some media last week, and talked about the criticism the team has received for its very, very quiet offseason. Did she strike the right tone?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers to sign Christian Koloko.

SEGMENT 2: What will the Lakers do with Koloko. Can he help?

SEGMENT 3: Jeanie speaks to the media.

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The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors have a lot in common. Their franchise faces - LeBron James, Steph Curry - are not just iconic but forever linked to each other after multiple Finals showdowns and the most recent Team USA run. They're also teams that feel kinda stuck with little flexibility and options as they try to squeeze out one more title run with their respective aging stars. (Say what you will about the Lakers' flawed roster, but at least LBJ has Anthony Davis alongside him to try and make the seemingly impossible happen.) Neither team is bad... but neither is also good enough to be great, which can be dissatisfying for fans, especially since both front offices have made big mistakes leading them to this point.

To compare and contrast these teams, Andy Kamenetzky is joined by Charlie Walter (Locked on Warriors).

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Guest Charlie Walter, Locked on Warriors

SEGMENT 1: Who's in better shape for this season and the future, the Lakers or Warriors?

SEGMENT 2: Is it possible the Lakers and Warriors could make a trade this season to help each other?

SEGMENT 3: How much will Redick help the Lakers?

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The relationship between the Lakers and Jerry West—legendary player, coach and general manager and arguably the greatest person to ever represent the purple and gold—had been strained for years before West died in May.

And when he passed, the Lakers were criticized by fans for responding too slowly with a statement that, at best, felt boilerplate and impersonal, and certainly not reflecting the massive impact West had on the franchise. It was an unusual misstep for a franchise that normally handles this sort of thing very well. Earlier this week, the team announced that it would be honoring West all season long with a jersey "stripe" along the shoulder, and a night celebrating West near the end of October.

So what's going on here?

Certainly the Lakers are doing the right thing. West is, after all, a true giant. Is it enough to change the way the fans perceive things? What is really behind fan sentiment, here? How much of it is about frustration with the performance of Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka? And who is really to blame for what went wrong, here? When you're dealing with a family business, you get family troubles.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have hired a new coach for the South Bay Lakers, rounding out their player development staff. Is there anything we can learn from who they brought in?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers will honor Jerry West

SEGMENT 2: What went wrong in the relationship? Are the Lakers answering the criticism?

SEGMENT 3: The South Bay Lakers have a new head coach.

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It's not been a great week on the health front for the Lakers. Reports that Jarred Vanderbilt might not be ready to go for training camp, and maybe even the regular season were quickly followed by hard news that Christian Wood absolutely won't be ready to go, since he had knee surgery on Monday.

Wood won't be re-evaluated for eight weeks, which for calendar lovers is early November.

Well, the good news is Vando may not be so bad after all. Appearing on 710 ESPN's Lakers Talk with Andy Kamenetzky, Dan Woike of the LA Times said that while the details on Vanderbilt aren't exactly clear, Woike says much of this could be an abundance of caution from the LA's POV. The team may not have been targeting the first day of training camp for his return, anyway. But there's nothing to indicate (necessarily) that Vanderbilt is unhealthy, or definitively won't be able to play.

So it's wait and see, but maybe wait with a little less worry.

Wood, meanwhile, was working his way back and clearly had a recurrence. What this clearly isn't, though, is a situation where Wood decided to get surgery on "company time," a'la Shaq back in the day.

Woike also talked about new coach JJ Redick, and his obsessive work ethic. The Lakers wanted a grinder, and they got one. Woike notes that Redick won't have much patience for anyone (like, anyone) in the org that isn't equally committed to getting the details right and all that stuff. In theory, this is all good stuff, and what you want from a head coach. But Redick will have to learn to moderate disappointment and figure out how to detach when needed if he's going to be at his most effective.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Maybe Vanderbilt isn't so injured after all?

SEGMENT 2: More details on what happened to Wood.

SEGMENT 3: JJ Redick is a grinder. Can he avoid getting too tightly wound?

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