Will Cain

PJ's got a knee issue. Gafford missed a game recently, not that big of a deal. Lively's out indefinitely with a stress fracture. So maybe it works or maybe they never get fully healthy and we can't judge Dallas on this trade anyway. I think all of those possibilities are on the table at this point. I also worry a little bit about the dynamic of Kyrie as the true one. I think he loves the role.

PJ's got a knee issue. Gafford missed a game recently, not that big of a deal. Lively's out indefinitely with a stress fracture. So maybe it works or maybe they never get fully healthy and we can't judge Dallas on this trade anyway. I think all of those possibilities are on the table at this point. I also worry a little bit about the dynamic of Kyrie as the true one. I think he loves the role.

I think he likes being mic'd up. I think he likes it kind of being his team, despite staying all the right things and playing some really good basketball and being drama-free here for two years. But The weird part about Kyrie's playoff run last year is that when it was great, it was just universally praised as great, and when it was bad, it didn't really matter because Luka was there.

I think he likes being mic'd up. I think he likes it kind of being his team, despite staying all the right things and playing some really good basketball and being drama-free here for two years. But The weird part about Kyrie's playoff run last year is that when it was great, it was just universally praised as great, and when it was bad, it didn't really matter because Luka was there.

I think he likes being mic'd up. I think he likes it kind of being his team, despite staying all the right things and playing some really good basketball and being drama-free here for two years. But The weird part about Kyrie's playoff run last year is that when it was great, it was just universally praised as great, and when it was bad, it didn't really matter because Luka was there.

Where Kyrie could have bad stretches and big playoff moments that just kind of became hidden because he was the two and not the one, and the one gets... the brunt of all that criticism. When you're the one and your team doesn't win in the playoffs in the NBA, it's like, oh, what's wrong with this guy? And Kyrie's able to avoid a lot of that stuff because Luka was there. Now he won't.

Where Kyrie could have bad stretches and big playoff moments that just kind of became hidden because he was the two and not the one, and the one gets... the brunt of all that criticism. When you're the one and your team doesn't win in the playoffs in the NBA, it's like, oh, what's wrong with this guy? And Kyrie's able to avoid a lot of that stuff because Luka was there. Now he won't.

Where Kyrie could have bad stretches and big playoff moments that just kind of became hidden because he was the two and not the one, and the one gets... the brunt of all that criticism. When you're the one and your team doesn't win in the playoffs in the NBA, it's like, oh, what's wrong with this guy? And Kyrie's able to avoid a lot of that stuff because Luka was there. Now he won't.

And to be honest with you, it's not going to be because AD can overshadow. Kyrie is the focus of attention here because AD is kind of the same way. As great as he is, he's a deferential personality. He probably works better with somebody else who's perceived more as the face of a franchise, a popularity superstar like LeBron James, despite the fact

And to be honest with you, it's not going to be because AD can overshadow. Kyrie is the focus of attention here because AD is kind of the same way. As great as he is, he's a deferential personality. He probably works better with somebody else who's perceived more as the face of a franchise, a popularity superstar like LeBron James, despite the fact

And to be honest with you, it's not going to be because AD can overshadow. Kyrie is the focus of attention here because AD is kind of the same way. As great as he is, he's a deferential personality. He probably works better with somebody else who's perceived more as the face of a franchise, a popularity superstar like LeBron James, despite the fact

Look, the last two years, Anthony Davis was the better basketball player between the two guys. For the Lakers, it's a franchise reset, and it should be. Who cares about 2025? I don't like their defense on the perimeter right now. Who cares? Because once Luka becomes available to you, you trade for Luka, and you worry about the rest of it later.

Look, the last two years, Anthony Davis was the better basketball player between the two guys. For the Lakers, it's a franchise reset, and it should be. Who cares about 2025? I don't like their defense on the perimeter right now. Who cares? Because once Luka becomes available to you, you trade for Luka, and you worry about the rest of it later.

Look, the last two years, Anthony Davis was the better basketball player between the two guys. For the Lakers, it's a franchise reset, and it should be. Who cares about 2025? I don't like their defense on the perimeter right now. Who cares? Because once Luka becomes available to you, you trade for Luka, and you worry about the rest of it later.

Some have said the Lakers got sick of LeBron and Clutch.

Some have said the Lakers got sick of LeBron and Clutch.

Some have said the Lakers got sick of LeBron and Clutch.

I'll hear you out. But, you know, you were so sick of Clutch and LeBron that, what, you gave LeBron a two-year, $100 million extension with a player option? You drafted his son. You hired another new coach, this time it being J.J. Redick. And I don't want to be dismissive of J.J. by saying, oh, you hired his podcast co-host, because I love the J.J. Redick hire. And again, I'm biased. I like J.J.

I'll hear you out. But, you know, you were so sick of Clutch and LeBron that, what, you gave LeBron a two-year, $100 million extension with a player option? You drafted his son. You hired another new coach, this time it being J.J. Redick. And I don't want to be dismissive of J.J. by saying, oh, you hired his podcast co-host, because I love the J.J. Redick hire. And again, I'm biased. I like J.J.

I'll hear you out. But, you know, you were so sick of Clutch and LeBron that, what, you gave LeBron a two-year, $100 million extension with a player option? You drafted his son. You hired another new coach, this time it being J.J. Redick. And I don't want to be dismissive of J.J. by saying, oh, you hired his podcast co-host, because I love the J.J. Redick hire. And again, I'm biased. I like J.J.