The music blaring from the speakers inside the Lakers facility was upbeat. Rob Pelinka and Davon Hamm were smiling and joking as they sat down in front of the team’s backdrop to informally kick off the team’s upcoming season.
There are few questions about their lineup. With no foundational trades imminent, the ripples of the Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday trades shook the league around them.
Instead, Lakers leaders are here Thursday, in part, to celebrate their summer plans, which they executed relatively quickly and without drama.
Training camp begins Tuesday, one day before players will take turns at the microphone during Monday’s media day. The team won’t enter the season as the league’s favorite, but will certainly be among them after reaching the Western Conference Finals.
“If you don’t have any expectations around you, you just exist,” Hamm said. “I want to live. “I’m here for those expectations”
The excitement inside the Lakers practice facility has been building behind closed doors for the past month as the team gathers for offseason workouts. Last weekend, LeBron James organized a mini-training camp in San Diego, and the entire team’s attendance was high.
For James, the season is building after his last public appearance as a Laker, when he publicly questioned his basketball mortality after the Lakers lost 4-0 to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
However, Pelinka said he saw James reignite the flame in the offseason.
“For a player who’s been around for 20 years and prepared like a rookie for 21 years, it’s shocking,” Pelinka said. “He’s been training at 6 a.m. This offseason is probably as good as any. Players are in our building just as much. Went to the weight room as often as any player. Any team LeBron has ever played for, his job has been very consistent in setting the tone. The number of people here who have seen that happen has only increased. There’s nothing outside of it. To me, we should be talking about it, not talking about it. He’s definitely been paying attention to it this offseason. To see him prepare so meticulously and work so hard, our whole team They are all full of fighting spirit.”
Lakers star LeBron James was outstanding after hitting a field goal in an April playoff game against the Golden State Warriors.
(Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times)
Anthony Davis also had a stellar offseason, from an ever-expanding array of training methods like boxing to an improvement in his jump shot during minicamp. Earlier this summer, he signed a $186 million contract extension with the Lakers that will keep him with the team through the 2027-28 season.
“Darwin and I had a great interaction with AD when he offered to renew. The theme was, ‘We want to commit to you, but we want you to commit to us.’ “One of the things we discussed with him in that exchange was being a leader and being the hardest worker, and he’s really done that this offseason,” Pelinka said. “… He takes on the responsibility of leadership and I think he knows when teams invest in him, like we did this summer, he’s going to reciprocate that. That’s his character. That’s Anthony. Davis. We’re excited to see that.”
Ham eliminated some minor mystery before the season started, naming D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves as his starting backcourt. He said he expects the team to be healthy heading into training camp.
For Russell, it was a move after the team moved him to the bench in the final game of last season and signed point guard Gabe Vincent as an unrestricted free agent. A strong vote of confidence.
Russell, who became a free agent this summer, re-signed with the Lakers, signing a two-year, $36 million contract that includes a player option for the final season.
Before facing the Nuggets in the conference finals, Russell was performing well in the playoffs after being traded from the Lakers midseason.
“We wanted to get to know him better when he got here, and he had a huge impact on our season, leading us to the playoffs, beating the defending champion Warriors…I I’d say his offseason has been quietly impressive,” Pelinka said. “He is really full of confidence and spirit. He has always been a vocal leader on the court, and he is training with his teammates. It seems that he is also taking good care of his body and adding a little shoulder strength. I miss you guys Will see him knock other guys off their line and into his dropback package. DeAngelo’s head space is really good.”
For Reeves, the anointing was more of a formality. He became one of Team USA’s top players at the FIBA World Cup after signing a four-year, $54 million restricted free agent contract with the Lakers.
“I don’t think Austin’s growth is surprising to any of us who have really scouted him, drafted him and helped him develop to where he is now,” Pelinka said. “He has that unique Mamba DNA, it’s all about the job, it’s about playing competitively every game, it’s about being a great teammate, not caring about individual accolades, just about winning as a team. “I An example illustrates this point. “
Assuming Davis and James also start — and that’s more than a fair assumption — the Lakers will have a spot in the top five with Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince and Jared · Vanderbilt is a solid choice.
“We’re going to tinker and entertain a variety of different lineups,” Ham said.
One unknown factor could be Christian Wood, the last player the Lakers acquired in free agency. Both Pelinka and Hamm spoke of the lengthy recruiting process, which was pushed back into July before Wood agreed earlier this month.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka (left) and coach Marvin Hamm address the media during a press conference in El Segundo on Thursday.
(Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times)
“Chris is a very articulate, very thoughtful kid. He thinks deeply about the different opportunities he has. There are several competing teams that want to add him, just because his skills are undeniable. (He)… … Can spread the floor. He’s got length. He’s fluid. Just being at LeBron’s minicamp in San Diego and seeing him on the court with Anthony Davis and the time those two spent together. He Is an extraordinary genius.
“… I think the biggest thing about Christian is believing in our team, our talent, our team, and Darwin as the head coach. It’s been a very positive process and I’m excited about what he’s going to do for us.” Very, very excited about the impact of winning this year.”
Hamm said he and Wood have discussed how to take their unique skill sets and turn them into more than just flashy numbers.
“He’ll tell you he’s never been to the playoffs. He and I had a conversation and I said, ‘Now is the time for you to show the statistics you put up and the impact you can have to impact winning and at the highest level. Winning,’ Hamm said. “So, he’s excited about it. “He’s excited, his teammates have completely embraced him and I hope he has a lot of big moments this season.”