Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Darvin Ham: The Lakers Have Championship Level Depth... Is He Correct?

Darvin Ham: The Lakers Have Championship Level Depth... Is He Correct?

08/18/23 • 34 min

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The schedule was released on Thursday... but we recorded this before that happened, so all the big post-schedule-drop-hoodoo will come on Monday.

In the meantime, Darvin Ham says the Lakers have championship caliber depth. Is he right? And more importantly, what exactly does that mean? The answer, particularly the focus on depth, is an interesting change for the Lakers compared to different points in their history. There certainly have been times where depth was measured in the number and quality of stars, rather than viable rotation players going down seven or eight or nine or ten roster spots.

This Lakers team has two bonafide stars. Top 5-10 guys around the league (and better, depending on the day). But they also have Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura -- three high end members of the NBA non-star class. They've got Taurean Prince and Jarred Vanderbilt, along with Gabe Vincent,, and some young players worth a flier.

What does championship depth mean? How is that different from championship talent? Is there a difference?

And why are we talking so much about depth? The answer says a lot about the direction the league is going. Remember, it's a copycat organization.

Finally, with the in-season tourney schedule out -- remember, we recorded before the big schedule drop -- we revisit the NBA's new event. How will teams like the Lakers react?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Darvin Ham says the Lakers have championship caliber depth.

SEGMENT 2: Why are we talking about depth now, more than stars and talent?

SEGMENT 3: The mid-season tournament drops!

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The schedule was released on Thursday... but we recorded this before that happened, so all the big post-schedule-drop-hoodoo will come on Monday.

What does championship depth mean? How is that different from championship talent? Is there a difference?

And why are we talking so much about depth? The answer says a lot about the direction the league is going. Remember, it's a copycat organization.

Finally, with the in-season tourney schedule out -- remember, we recorded before the big schedule drop -- we revisit the NBA's new event. How will teams like the Lakers react?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Darvin Ham says the Lakers have championship caliber depth.

SEGMENT 2: Why are we talking about depth now, more than stars and talent?

SEGMENT 3: The mid-season tournament drops!

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Previous Episode

Is Rob Pelinka a Good General Manager? Plus, Stephen A. Smith Regrets Infamous Kwame Brown Rant.

Last week, Harrison Faigen of SB Nation/Silver Screen and Roll joined the show, and we spent much of the show talking about Rob Pelinka, and the redemptive arc he's been riding over the last several months. On the one hand, he has unquestionably fixed the mess the Lakers were in. On the other, he was the one who created it.

So how has Pelinka grown? Is he a different type of GM now than he was when he arrived in LA? Has he been humbled? Has he evolved? Is it a matter of gaining more confidence, so he's not trying as hard to impress?

What's going on here, exactly?

And how should Lakers fans feel about it going forward?

This time, we explore Pelinkaville with Andy, who is back from vacation. Given the criticisms we've had for Pelinka over the years, it only seems fair to open the conversation at a time when things are going well, the future looks solid, too. So are we all at a point where we can say that Pelinka is a high quality GM? Or are circumstances just lining up well for him now? It's hard to argue against everything that's happened from the Rui Hachimura trade on, and for the first time he has a roster with balance both positionally and financially, including contract length.

There is an opportunity to create something sustainable, no question.

Finally, Stephen A. Smith was a guest on Paul George's (quite excellent) podcast, and was asked if there was something specific over the course of his career he wishes he could take back. His answer was one that might resonate with Lakers fans.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Has Rob Pelinka fully rehabbed his image?

SEGMENT 2: Is Pelinka really a good GM? What is different about the guy now?

SEGMENT 3: Stephen A. Smith apologizes for turning Kwame Brown into a meme before memes were a thing.

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

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Next Episode

Does Anthony Davis Take More Criticism with the Lakers Than He Deserves? (Guest: Mike Trudell)

Anthony Davis is, to say the least, a conversation starter.

In Part I of our two shows with Mike Trudell (Lakers.com, Spectrum Sportsnet, and more!) we dive deep into the Anthony Davis Experience. Does he get less credit than he should for high level of his play? When people are complaining about his performance, what exactly are they complaining about? Do people focus too much on some inconsistencies in his offensive dominance, without fully accounting and crediting him for his play defensively?

How are the Lakers going to give Davis more support defensively this season so that he doesn't get burned out over the course of the year? How are they better prepared to play good D this year compared to last? Just how good do they need to be to get where they want to go in the regular season?

How will it help the Lakers to have a little bit of continuity going into the season, as opposed to everything they've been doing for the last couple of seasons?

Are people overrating the shooting question for the Lakers? Whether because the perimeter shooting will be substantively better, or perhaps because it's just not *that* big a deal? Maybe a little from column A, a little from column B?

Finally, is a little bearishness on Rui worthwhile? Or does the context in which he now plays - fitting in on this team with these Lakers - change the equation completely, to where old numbers and trends don't matter as much?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Does A.D. get more grief than he deserves?

SEGMENT 2: What kind of D will the Lakers play around him this year?

SEGMENT 3: Rui and Reaves. Why Hachimura is such a perfect fit, and why that might make his regular season performances to this point kind of moot.