Lakers Sign DeAndre Ayton

In a continuation of their wide-reaching discussion on NBA media, Pete and Darius discuss how growing up in the era NBA fandom they did shaped their views of the league, how to discern between rumor and reporting, the nature of how the league is covered by its media partners in 2025, the differences between local and national coverage of the Lakers, what to make of the latest LeBron news cycle, and much more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are the Lakers really gonna wait two years for Giannis’ free agency? Do they need another big, considering how many two-big looks there are around the Western Conference? How can fans better figure out which rumors are true and which aren’t? The guys answer your questions about the trade market, team-building, and more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers closed out the California Classic portion of summer league with a comeback win over the Spurs that featured Dalton Knecht's best game so far and Darius Bazley's continued strong play. Pete and Darius break down what they saw from both players and the team overall, and how they view both players for the rest of the summer and beyond. And then later the guys discuss the joint media availability of DeAndre Ayton and Jake LaRavia who made their first comments as Lakers after being signed in free agency. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the defensive trade targets the Lakers should look hardest at? Is it possible to make a deal without including Rui? Are there any remaining options in free agency? Pete and Darius answer these questions and more when they dive into how the Lakers can upgrade their defensive talent overall, especially in the backcourt, while still accomplishing the team's goals of keeping their salary cap sheet relatively clean. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers have 14 player under guaranteed contract, leaving one spot open. The guys discuss how the team may be eyeing the buyout market to see what happens with Smart, Beal, and others, how self-imposed restrictions limit their trade market, and more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the heels of signing DeAndre Ayton as their starting center, the Lakers have come to terms with Jaxson Hayes to return to the team as a backup big in their rotation. Pete and Darius discuss Hayes' return, what his role might be, and whether there were other options they would have preferred instead. And then later, the guys discuss the still missing wing defender the Lakers need and they go over three potential solutions and how they also coincide with the "2027" free agency plan that the Lakers have been linked to.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers get their starting center as DeAndre Ayton signs a 2-year, $16.6M deal with a player option. The guys react to the news, discuss how it gives more context to DFS’ departure, the team’s much higher ceiling, the inevitable frustrations with Ayton, and more Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Free agency is in full swing and while other teams have been very active, the Lakers have made just one signing in former King and Grizzlies wing Jake LaRavia to a two-year deal, but also have lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets. Pete and Darius break down the relative inaction from the team, discuss the DeAndre Ayton buyout that seemingly has the team in a holding pattern, what free agents are still out there for the Lakers to go after, and much more.  Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers have more certainty with their own free agents as LeBron James has opted into his contract for next season while Dorian Finney-Smith has opted out of his deal. Pete and Darius discuss both decisions, including what kind of deal they would offer DFS now that he's on the open market, how LeBron's decision impacts the Lakers flexibility heading into free agency, how they interpreted Rich Paul's comments about LeBron's decision and his potential future with the Lakers, and much more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Garcia hops on the pod to react to the Lakers moving up to draft the athletic Adou Thiero, one of the draft prospects that Mike had ranked highly on his draft board. Then, Pete & Darius discuss the events of the night, their impressions of Thiero & much more. Support Pete here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lakerfilmroom Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lakerfilmroom Pete’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakerFilmRoom Pete’s Playback: https://www.playback.tv/lakerfilmroom For Feedback or Questions: [email protected] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices