Andy Kamenetzky here, the host of the daily Locked On Lakers podcast, with your daily Locked On Lakers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Lakers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Anthony Davis Will Play Tonight, but Christian Wood Will Miss Another Month (at Least)
The Lakers got some good injury news on Tuesday. Anthony Davis, poked in the eye during Sunday’s win over Toronto, is fine (or fine enough) and will play. Without goggles, because he just hates them, apparently. But he’ll play.
Meanwhile, the news wasn’t so good for Christian Wood. The team’s most offensively talented reserve big man has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation following (another) knee surgery, and will essentially be shut down for a month. Realistically, this means the earliest he might return to play would be mid- to late-December. It’s very possible if Wood returns it’s after the first of the year.
Needless to say, combined with news that Jarred Vanderbilt seemingly isn’t any closer to returning than he has been over the last few weeks, the Lakers aren’t getting any help anytime soon. And it raises all of the same questions about the team’s training and medical staff. Did they do anything wrong in regards to Wood? Nothing indicates that at this point. The body is complex, and recovery can be difficult, especially when the bar to clear is “can play NBA basketball.”
But at the same time, it’s easy to believe the Lakers have a recurring problem with their medical staff and keeping people on the court, if for no other reason than their own actions seem to confirm it with consistent turnover in those departments. At the least, they have a communication problem. While most teams now don’t like to give much information about injuries—and there are a lot of good reasons for that—the Lakers seem particularly challenged when it comes to communicating in ways that craft expectations, and then help keep them in check.
Frankly, a little more “we don’t know” would be good. Guys are hurt, recovery is slow. “We don’t know when a player will be back. He’s doing everything he can, but we have a to be careful.” Something like that.
However you slice it, the Lakers are what they are for the time being. It’s highly unlikely that any players not currently in uniform (or available on a 2-way) will suit up for the Lakers before mid-December at the earliest, when the trade market functionally opens up.
—BK
In This Episode...
1. “The man just doesn’t want to wear goggles, Andy. And we’re all now just gonna have to hold our breath and wait for the next time he gets poked in the face.”
2. “Rui was shooting 58.6% in October, 20% in November. And we’ve talked before about Rui and often DLO as the two X-Factor players for this team.”
3. “No news is not always good news, but sometimes news isn’t good news either.”
4. “The idea that, at least to me, DLO was a difficult fit with the starting lineup... He now has a role that not only makes perfect sense for him, he’s filling a need.”
Klay Thompson’s homecoming to The Bay started well before he hit the floor last night at Oracle with the Mavs and roughly 19,000 fans started waving nautical Captain hats.
It started mid-way through last season, when Golden State didn’t signal they’d immediately be resigning Thompson as the franchise had, up to then, always been in a hurry to. There were shades of it along with Thompson’s frustrations in his game changing, the splashy shots not falling as fluidly as they used to. Clues came in the way the Warriors felt their frustrations as a team: once together, a cohesive unit, and then splintering and individually.
“Even from July, when Klay decided to go to Dallas to us showing up for training camp and him not being here, it was kind of like a slow build to this night for everybody,” Warriors point guard, Steph Curry, said after last night’s game.
Basketball isn’t played in a vacuum, and Curry sharing the psychic and emotional timeline of the team underscores that in a rare glimpse behind the curtain. Sometimes its brightest full-circle moments have to struggle through discomfort, angst and loss in order to come back around. Often, the storylines with the most ups and downs are the ones that end the most cathartically.
Since this season began, Thompson’s been candid about how necessary the move to Dallas was for him. “Every pro athlete’s human, and uncertainty can bear on you,” he told ESPN prior to Tuesday night’s homecoming game.
“Honestly, it’s rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental [state] and my career,” Thompson said.
It’s a knife’s edge between animosity for an athlete’s who’s left a franchise they share a storied history with and sympathy for their decision. What tips fans to one side or the other can skew personal, so isn’t always easy to predict, but Thompson’s tendency toward honesty helps. He’s always been someone who wears what he’s feeling on the floor openly, and for that fans — for the most part — respond with empathy. There’s a sense that through all the years he played for the Warriors there was an open conduit of conversation between him and the fanbase.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Legacy Klay Thompson feels “free” after his late-career move to Dallas. (ESPN)
Preview The Lakers are set to take on the Grizzlies. Get the start time, TV info, and injury report to catch all the action.
Injury Anthony Davis reassures fans that his eye is fine and plans to play on Wednesday against the Grizzlies. (Daily News)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Takeaways From Tuesday - Robert Williams Day
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) shoots the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during the first half at Moda Center. |Photo by Soobum Im/Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Tuesday’s NBA games offered a wealth of insights for fantasy basketball managers. Here’s a closer look at the key takeaways and strategic moves you should consider:
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic
- Grant Williams: With his move to the starting lineup, Williams is a viable short-term pickup, especially while the Hornets deal with injuries. His ability to contribute in multiple categories makes him a solid addition in deeper leagues.
- Moussa Diabate: Diabate’s rebounding prowess is noteworthy, especially with the Hornets’ frontcourt injuries. He’s a strong option for those in need of rebounds in deeper formats.
- Franz Wagner: Wagner’s performance underscores his value, particularly with Paolo Banchero out. Consider selling high if you can get a top-tier player in return, as his current production may dip once Banchero returns.
Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons
- Tyler Herro: After a 40-point explosion, Herro is a prime sell-high candidate. His shooting percentages are unlikely to sustain, so capitalise on his current form to bolster your roster.
- Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey: Both players showed their potential to fill the stat sheet. Cunningham remains a must-start, while Ivey’s bounce-back game suggests he’s worth holding onto for his upside.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Lakers podcasts.
Jarred Vanderbilt Remains Out Indefinitely. Should the Lakers Expect Him to Return This Season? The Lakers have had long stretches this year where news on Jarred Vanderbilt has essentially been non-existent. And for the most part, it has been a matter of no news not equaling good news. There’s no update because he’s not making progress. Well, sometimes getting news isn’t good, either.
Dalton Knecht Scores 37, Lakers Beat Utah for 6th Straight Win In a town that has seen its share of “manias” around young, exciting players (Fernandomania, Nomomania, and so on) it’s fair to think we’re probably one more big game from full blown Knectomania in Los Angeles. Dalton Knecht, who entered Tuesday’s game against Utah at the Crypt riding a big hot streak, got even hotter. He finished with 37, on a cartoonish 9-11 from 3-point range.
Should Dalton Knecht Stay in the Starting Lineup? The Lakers are riding a five-game winning streak, with a very good chance to make it six tonight at home against the 3-10 Utah Jazz. So while the hot start—the Lakers wake up Tuesday morning as the 3rd seed in the West—has fans rightly excited, it’s not all they’re talking about. First-rounder Dalton Knecht has, after a shaky start, grown red hot as a shooter.
