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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 31m

I'm definitely in the camp that believes Manon has a clear NBA-level skill. You can feel his presence and impact every time he checks into the game. He has a knack for getting under opponents' skin and making their life miserable. He is like the guard version of Vando. Which is good and bad 😭

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 23h

Feels so unfair OKC keeps getting these good draft picks. Bad enough they were the best team in the league then you give them the 12th overall pick too 😭. Stupid Clippers haha

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I have been very pleased with the effort from Grimes and he does fight through screens pretty well. Curry did bait him into some pretty bad fouls 😭. Although Curry does that to the best of them. That was also an issue with Smart to be fair.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Mamu isn't a great rebounder, but he did have a higher rebounding rate last year than Jaxson Hayes. Looney is one of the better rebounders in the NBA, per rate anyhow. Raptors were a top 3 defense with Mamu playing heavy minutes, he might be ok.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Grimes did play, we don't know for sure he is starting but possibly haha

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

And the official Salary-Adjusted Final is.... LAKERS 98 - WARRIORS 67.5 Lakers win by 30.5 points😭

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Maybe, and to me Looney looked pretty good yesterday. If both Looney and Mamu are on the second unit that is a fairly big lineup. Sexton, Mattise, Jake, Mamu and Looney isn't that small. Starting lineup is a bit small but Kessler is huge

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Maybe they will turn those two seconds into a backup center or a big 4.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Trying to find any way to put this in a positive light, best I have is.. Warriors on court tonight: ~$124.8M Lakers on court tonight: ~$67.9M so technically we are overachieving 😭

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Adou's athleticism stands out so much on the court. Not just the athleticism but how he uses it to play the game. He is really learning how to apply it to the things that give him an advantage. Rebounding and defense in particular.

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Ion Ugutz Madariaga @ionugutz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It’s only first preseason game, against Sacramento, but I really love this roster, the season seems to be very fun.

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Iztok Franko @iztokfranko.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

After months of talking about a new Lakers identity, we finally got a first look. The motor was on from the get-go. If anything, Game 1 only added to the hype. My first preseason observations👇 digginbasketball.substack.com/p/lakers-kin...

digginbasketball.substack.com

Lakers Preseason Observations: Game 1 vs Kings

If anything, the first preseason game made me even more excited about these Lakers

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Darn, was really looking forward to the debut. Hopefully soon

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Keep Bronny you can buy second round picks

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Seeing Rui on the Clippers makes me so sad. And he looks so good

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Iztok Franko @iztokfranko.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It took like two media sessions for Matisse Thybulle to become my favorite Lakers interview. Him talking about Walker Kessler’s defensive gravity and everyone else orbiting around it is the kind of insight that makes you think, and exactly the kind of basketball stuff I’m here for.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Seeing Kessler's 3 point shooting form and consistency yesterday has me dreaming 😃

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Grimes shot a lot of pullups and very badly. But his C&S numbers were above average and at good volume. Sixers used him a lot as a creator, his role on the Lakers should be more of a finisher, so I have hope.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Neither Grimes or Mamu project to shoot with the same efficiency of Rui. But Mamu in particular is a textbook example of exactly what you want next to Luka and AR. All of his shots come exactly where they should. Rim or C&S. Grimes is more complicated....

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Really fun exercise. Be interesting to see how we do on shooting, no matter what volume will be up 😂

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Ion Ugutz Madariaga @ionugutz.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A must-read, data based, analysis that is worth your time, specially if you’re a Laker fan.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Grimes rated below average last season but his first 3 seasons he was Above Average so there is reason to think he can be

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Based on last season's defensive impact data. These are the players on the roster who rated out as above average on defense. Kessler's data is useless since it was just 5 games, in the previous year it was in the top 90%. As for Reaves, he rated out as just average, as did Jake and Vando.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Can't say I did, did it blow up lol

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I wish that was how it always worked 😂. But it is the right mindset for a coach for sure!

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Edwin Garcia @ecreates88.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Free for all to read. Subscribe so you don't miss any of my Lakers coverage.

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Dillon @dillonnba.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

HAPPY LAKERS MEDIA DAY! #RoadTo18

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I wouldn't read that much into him not being there. Under league rules, he can't. Technically he isn't on an NBA team right now. I still think they get a deal done. They aren't that far away based on the latest numbers.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I remember being so excited when we drafted him, thought he would be the next Curry lol

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It is funny that people are taking so much value in JJ's "it won't be two white players" comment. He was clearly just having fun. His later comments made it pretty clear it will be about fit and play.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Biggest takeaway from the #Lakers presser.. no more optionality 😂. For better or worse this is the team. I think it is going to be fun! Sounds like Adou really has a shot at a substantial role. And do agree with Rob about the price for Kessler, it was the biggest need, you have to pay it.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

If the rumors about DFS were true, they did him pretty dirty. Spreading his medical info to other teams to prevent competing bids.. yikes. But who knows how true that really is. Might have been just an isolated innocent incident between people who knew each other

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

That is a big edge for Hardy over Bronny. But if you think Bronny can be a rotational player you have a team option for him at 2,486,995 next season. That is such a team friendly contract for next year if you are trying to get full MLE.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I have a feeling training camp will be an elimination round for Hardy, Bronny and Knecht. I am rooting for Bronny and Knecht, mostly cause there is already an attachment

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Dillon @dillonnba.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

TODAY’S THE DAY! Lakers press conference with Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick will be streaming on Lakers YouTube today at 1:00pm PST. #RoadTo18

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I loved Marcus so much last season, and the numbers show his impact was incredible. The only thing I can think of is that the Lakers felt one semi-healthy season was a “count your blessings” type of situation and didn’t want to bet on it happening again.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

for fun, if we want to include Kessler from 24/25 and Williams from last year

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

That isn't to say that on an individual possession where you need a stop, I would take Mamu over Bron on defense, but over the full course of a season Mamu put in more consistent defense last year.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

for context, Mamu was top 17th percentile in the league for Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus. Lebron and Rui were nowhere close to him. Granted Raptors had a much better defensive team overall but Mamu was third highest rated on their team. Lebron and Rui were both lower than Luka on the Lakers.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I feel the defensive issues with Mamu are being overblown. He graded out as a good defender in many areas. Raptors defense was extremely good when he was on the floor. He graded out better than Rui in every area except switching onto guards. He was especially good rotating and helping.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Great writeup, Mamu unlocks so many things for everyone. But I think Vando and Manu together in particular can be so effective, especially against second units where that chaos can really be amplified. Sexton, AR, Carr, Vando and Mamu in theory sounds so fun.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Not that Mamu and Grimes are better players. But Bron, Smart, Ayton, Luka and AR didn't have good spacing. Many plays ended with Bron or Smart shooting a 3 because teams didn't care if they did. Mamu and Grimes give Luka and AR actual threats on the perimeter, that should open the paint for them all

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I agree that losing Bron and Smart hurts the playmaking a bit, but at the same time, I still see it offensively as an upgrade. Neither Bron or Smart could shoot. So you could make all the great passes you want and it ends up in a miss. Mamu and Grimes are capable passers who can also shoot.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I feel similar. I see the vision with this team. You can't replace a player like Lebron talent for talent, but I feel the parts all complement each other in a way that can outperform pure talent. Can't wait to see how it plays out

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Definitely agree. And this season might be the perfect season to develop players and chemistry. I would be very open to trying many things and just seeing what you have, even if it means winning less games. Necessary steps in the bigger/longer term process.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Would love to see Adou develop into that role for sure. Athletically nobody on the team is even close. His defense right now is more theoretical than real though haha. The effort and athleticism to recover are off the charts but the technique and decision making have a long way to go still.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Defensively also gives us versatility. Teams are going to force Kessler to come out and guard, Mamu is good at covering the paint on rotations. Teams will hunt Mamu with guards, but that is ok, much rather they get Mamu on a switch than Kessler or Luka. Especially Kessler, who is insurance for that.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

And not to say Mamu is in any shape near the player Bron is, but in this role, he has some advantages with spacing that Bron didn't give you. So you get some of the Bron screening and connector passing as well as some of the Rui spacing. He isn't as good as either in those roles but does do both.

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Gold Tinted Lens @lalbb.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Jake makes a lot of sense if you want someone who can defend 3's and 4's. But I have to go with Mamu. Mamu does a lot of the things the Lakers wanted Lebron to do last year. Set screens and be that connector piece. Bron was overqualified for that role in an absurd way, but Mamu fits that role well.

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