Episode Details

The mission is clear for the Lakers this summer: Build a team that fits Luka Dončić not just for next season, but ideally two or three seasons beyond that. It won't be an easy task, because while the Lakers will have plenty of potential cap space to play with, they'll also have a ton of roster spots that need filling and not a ton of appealing free agents to spend money on. 

There are always trades, but while (at least around the Draft) they'll have some picks to offer, they won't have many players to include in trades. 

It's a tricky siuation for Rob Pelinka to navigate. And oh by the way, there's the LeBron James question as well. Reporting from Dave McMenamin of ESPN on Tuesday indicated the Lakers would welcome him back next season. It was exactly the sort of anodyne, non-committal language you'd expect from a front office looking to avoid headlines. (They don't do LeBron any favors, either.) 

But in an interview with CNBC, Jeanie Buss seemed to indicate (perhaps accidentally) that the Lakers aren't expecting him to return. 

So would it even make sense? Is there a scenario in which it actually benefits both sides to have LeBron back next year? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers send mixed signals on LeBron. 

SEGMENT 2: What do they actually think? 

SEGMENT 3: Would it even make sense to have him back? Could it work? 

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