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Christian Koloko Shams: Christian Koloko, Lakers agree to deal
Sat, Sep 14, 2024, 10:06 AM
Shams Charania on Twitter
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Lakers have agreed to a deal with free-agent center Christian Koloko.
Analysis: Less than 24 hours after the mutual interest between the two parties was initially reported, Koloko will sign with the Lakers. According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the contract is expected to be a two-way. If cleared to play by the NBA's fitness panel, as blood clots ended his time with the Raptors, Koloko would potentially give the Lakers another option at the center position. Anthony Davis has made it known that he prefers the power forward role, and Christian Wood recently underwent knee surgery. |
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Christian Wood Shams: Christian Wood undergoes surgery on knee
Mon, Sep 9, 2024, 9:58 AM
Shams Charania on X
Christian Wood underwent surgery on his left knee and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Analysis: Wood missed the final two months of last season after undergoing surgery on his left knee, and now he'll have another procedure on the same knee that will force him to miss the start of the season. He'll be re-evaluated in early November, which means that Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt will likely see a few extra minutes to start the season at center behind Anthony Davis. |
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Jordan Goodwin Haynes: Jordan Goodwin signing with Lakers
Tue, Sep 3, 2024, 9:47 AM
Chris Haynes on Twitter
According to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, Goodwin is signing a training camp deal with Los Angeles ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Analysis: Goodwin spent most of last season with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 40 outings. He then notched 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 17 games with the Memphis Grizzlies. |
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LeBron James LeBron James puts up 14/6/10/2 in win over France
Sat, Aug 10, 2024, 11:37 AM
LeBron James posted a full line on Saturday with 14 points (6-of-10 FGs), six rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, one block, one 3-pointer and five turnovers against France.
Analysis: LeBron wasn't able to make it two straight triple-doubles, but he came close as he added another gold medal to his resume. There wasn't a dramatic comeback for Team USA, yet there were still plenty of late theatrics that made for a fun finish. LeBron wasn't the one hitting the late shots, but he still had his hands all over this game. He'll have about two and a half months before he starts year 22. |
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LeBron James LeBron James records triple-double vs. Serbia
Thu, Aug 8, 2024, 11:49 AM
LeBron James amassed 16 points (6-of-9 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), 12 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes in Thursday's 95-91 win over Serbia.
Analysis: James and Stephen Curry did most of the heavy lifting for the United States, which advanced to the gold medal game despite trailing Serbia by as much as 17. The 39-year-old forward recorded a triple-double while playing 32 of a possible 40 minutes. Next up for LeBron and the Americans are hosts France, who became the first host nation since 1996 (USA) to advance to the gold medal game in men's basketball. |
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LeBron James LeBron James flirts with double-double vs. Brazil
Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 11:28 AM
LeBron James totaled 12 points (5-of-6 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs) with three rebounds, nine assists, and three steals en route to dominant US win.
Analysis: James scored efficiently and continued to seamlessly act as his team's primary distributor. He has the highest floor among all Team USA's players and could need to ramp up his production for a highly-anticipated matchup against Serbia next. |
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Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura (calf) sits out Olympic finale
Fri, Aug 2, 2024, 1:57 PM
Associated Press
Rui Hachimura did not play in Friday's loss to Brazil due to a left calf injury.
Analysis: Hachimura felt discomfort in his left calf following Japan's overtime loss to France on Tuesday, with further examinations revealing an issue with the gastrocnemius muscle. Not only did he sit out the loss to Brazil, which eliminated Japan from contention for a quarterfinal berth, but Hachimura was not with the team. No details were provided regarding the injury's severity, so it remains to be seen if this will linger until the Lakers open training camp in late September. Either way, he is not a great fantasy option on a team that boasts LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. |
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LeBron James LeBron James makes history in win over South Sudan
Wed, Jul 31, 2024, 10:59 AM
LeBron James provided solid value on Wednesday with 12 points (5-of-9 FGs), seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and six turnovers against South Sudan.
Analysis: James made history on Wednesday by becoming the third player in USA Men's National Team history to score 300 points in the Olympics, joining Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. He played well in this game (aside from the turnovers), and he sealed the win with a late dunk off a pass from Anthony Davis. James is likely playing in his final Olympics, so we should expect him to do everything in his power to go out with another gold medal. |
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Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura scores 24 in controversial OT loss
Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 10:12 AM
Rui Hachimura finished Tuesday's 94-90 loss to France with 24 points (10-of-16 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, and three 3-pointers in 28 minutes.
Analysis: Hachimura played well on Tuesday, but a second unsportsmanlike foul prompted his ejection early in the fourth quarter. And it's easy to consider what Japan may have been capable of had he not been given his marching orders. Seconds away from sealing an upset victory over the hosts, Japan made the mistake of fouling Matthew Strazel on a 3-point attempt. Strazel made the shot and the ensuing free throw to force overtime, and Victor Wembanyama took over in the extra period. Japan is now 0-2 in group play and will need a win over Brazil on Friday to have a chance of advancing to the quarterfinals. |
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LeBron James LeBron James posts near triple-double vs. Serbia
Sun, Jul 28, 2024, 8:11 AM
LeBron James dropped 29 points, eight boards, nine dimes, a steal and a three-pointer in Sunday's 110-84 win over Serbia.
Analysis: James finished behind only Kevin Durant (23 points) for the team lead in scoring, but he led all players in rebounds and assists. As he's done throughout the Olympics thus far, James has been Team USA's clear leader, and he should continue to stuff the stat sheet in Paris. |
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Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura puts up 20/10 line in loss
Sat, Jul 27, 2024, 11:05 AM
Rui Hachimura led Japan with 20 points (4-of-19 FGs, 9-of-10 FTs), 10 rebounds, two assists, one block and two triples in a 97-77 loss to Germany on Saturday.
Analysis: Hachimura didn't have a great shooting performance, but he was able to finish with a 20-point double-double in the loss. Hachimura is one of the only NBA players on the team, which allowed Germany's defense to lock in on him. He'll continue to be one of the focal points of Japan's offense as they look to have more success against France on Tuesday. |
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LeBron James Like a fine wine: LeBron leads USA past Germany
Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:19 AM
LeBron James finished Monday's 92-88 win over Germany with 20 points (8-of-11 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 18 minutes.
Analysis: The United States found itself in trouble during the fourth quarter for the second straight exhibition. As was the case in Saturday's one-point win over South Sudan, James shouldered the load to help lead the Americans to victory. He scored a team-high 20 points in just 18 minutes of action and has shown no signs of slowing down despite being 39 years old. Next up for the United States is their first group play game in Paris against Serbia on July 28. However, before that game is played, LeBron will be one of the flag bearers leading the United States delegation during the Opening Ceremony. |
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Colin Castleton Colin Castleton records 17/12/6/2 line vs. Hawks
Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 5:27 PM
Colin Castleton shot 8-of-9 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Wednesday's 87-86 win over the Hawks, tallying 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 24 minutes.
Analysis: While most eyes may have been on Bronny James, Castleton was outstanding as the Lakers picked up their first win in Las Vegas. He only missed one shot from the field and was dominant on the boards, recording a double-double while also tallying six assists. Castleton did not record a blocked shot but did manage to change a few attempts. With Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood back in the fold, Castleton will have difficulty earning rotation minutes in training camp. But he's played well enough to earn the opportunity to compete. |
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Colin Castleton Colin Castleton turns in 18/11/3/2/4 line vs. Heat
Wed, Jul 10, 2024, 8:56 PM
Colin Castleton recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 18 points (7-of-13 FGs), 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, four blocks and one triple against the Heat.
Analysis: Castleton joined the Lakers last summer after going undrafted and played a total of 59 minutes in year one. However, if he continues to perform to this level during Summer League, he may be able to earn a few more minutes this upcoming season. Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood are still in front of him in the rotation as the backups to Anthony Davis, so even if he ends up seeing time, he won't play enough to be worth considering in fantasy hoops. |
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Maxwell Lewis Maxwell Lewis struggles in blowout loss to GSW
Sun, Jul 7, 2024, 7:29 PM
Maxwell Lewis failed to make a shot in Sunday's 92-68 loss to Golden State, going 0-of-8 from the field and finishing with zero points, three rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in 19 minutes.
Analysis: Lewis was the only Lakers player to struggle on Sunday, but he took a noticeable step back after scoring 14 points in Saturday's loss to the Kings. Selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Lewis was limited to 34 appearances (3.0 minutes per game) as a rookie. The Lakers still have one more game to play in northern California before heading to Vegas, so Lewis will have opportunities to make a positive impression on the new coaching staff. He'll need to be more consistent offensively, especially if he's to have a chance of cracking a veteran-laden rotation once training camp begins. |
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LeBron James Shams: LeBron James intends to re-sign with Lakers
Wed, Jul 3, 2024, 7:32 AM
Shams Charania on X
LeBron James intends to re-sign with the Lakers on a two-year, $104 million deal with a player option after year one, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Analysis: In an unsurprising move, LeBron will be back with LA for at least two more seasons, unless he chooses to opt out after one year. He'll have his son on his team and his podcast co-host at head coach, but nothing should change too much in fantasy. James will be 41 by the time this contract is up, so there is a chance that this is his final one. LeBron also has a no-trade clause, though it was unlikely that they dealt him anyway. |
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Max Christie Woj: Max Christie to ink 4-year, $32M extension
Sun, Jun 30, 2024, 4:13 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Max Christie intends to sign a four-year, $32 million deal to remain with the Lakers.
Analysis: A 2022 second-round pick out of Michigan State, Christie averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds across 14.1 minutes in 67 appearances last season. Woj notes that Christie has been a âdevelopmental success storyâ for the Lakers, but that doesn't mean he'll be a success story for your fantasy hoops team. There's no reason to target Christie in 2024-25 drafts. |
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LeBron James Shams: LeBron James intends to opt out of contract
Sat, Jun 29, 2024, 11:17 AM
Shams Charania on Twitter
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, LeBron James intends to opt out of the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.
Analysis: This news is unsurprising, even with the Lakers selecting LeBron's son Bronny with the 55th overall pick in the NBA Draft. While James was due to make $51.4 million next season, this allows him to negotiate a new deal with the Lakers. Look for LeBron to remain in Los Angeles and play for new Lakers head coach JJ Redick next season. |
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Jaxson Hayes Report: Jaxson Hayes to exercise player option
Sat, Jun 29, 2024, 7:09 AM
Shams Charania on Twitter
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Jaxson Hayes has decided to exercise his player option for the 2024-25 season.
Analysis: Hayes is due to make approximately $2.4 million in 2024-25, and the decision to opt into his contract means the Lakers will have a full rotation at center. Anthony Davis prefers to play at power forward, and having Hayes and Christian Wood under contract will give new head coach JJ Redick more opportunities to make that happen. That said, Hayes and Wood don't offer enough fantasy value to merit being selected in most drafts. |
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D'Angelo Russell D'Angelo Russell picks up option for 2024-25
Sat, Jun 29, 2024, 7:06 AM
ESPN
D'Angelo Russell has decided to pick up his player option for the 2024-25 season.
Analysis: Despite being the subject of trade speculation last season, Russell has decided to remain with the Lakers for the final season of his current contract. And the 2023-24 season was a good one for him fantasy-wise, as the point guard provided 6th-round per-game value in 9-cat formats. The hope is that the partnership with new head coach JJ Redick will help Russell take his game to another level playing alongside LeBron James (who also has a player option) and Anthony Davis. âI love what JJ is about, and I really see myself thriving under his guidance to help win at a high level,â Russell told ESPN. While Russell provided middle-round fantasy value last season, look for him to go a little later in standard league drafts, as playing alongside LeBron and AD limits his fantasy ceiling. |
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