Max Christie's contract extension this summer has made him a major point of interest in training camp, because people want to see if the Lakers will get the return they want (and many want to validate their view that Christie should have been playing more last year).

A version of the same storyline applies to Gabe Vincent, too. He missed most of last year with an injury, robbing the Lakers of a rotation piece representing their big money signing from that summer. Vincent's absence meant the Lakers spent the season short at guard, too.

So can Vincent, who has received a lot of praise in the early days of camp, step up and play a key role for LA this year? What do they need from him, exactly?

Meanwhile, Thursday's practice in El Segundo featured more players talking in more detail about Redick's management style. Very efficient, very clear. The communication, early reviews say, has been very good. Even in his moments of sparring with the media, Redick has shown a very specific POV around words and communication that give clues as to his style behind the scenes.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Gabe Vincent is back and healthy.

SEGMENT 2: What are reasonable expectations for Vincent? Plus, more talk of Redick's communication skills.

SEGMENT 3: What Redick's (minor and playful) sparring with media indicates about his POV.

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The score wasn't great (the Lakers lost 124-107), but with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in street clothes, to some degree the ability to judge the final score was eliminated before the game started.

Nor is it wise to try and infer too, too much about what life under JJ Redick will look like, since a) the stars weren't playing, and b) they've practiced for less than a week. That put the focus on individual performances, and among the most intriguing players on the floor for LA were the young guys who didn't make an impact last year, either because they weren't in the rotation (Max Christie), weren't ready/available (Jalen Hood-Schifino) or in college (Dalton Knecht).

And while the sample size is small, the early returns were positive. Christie was for large stretches the best Laker on the floor, showing great calm and command of what he was doing on the floor, and contributing across statistical categories. The poise is there, which is why Redick referred to him as an "old soul" after the game. He's someone the Lakers will ask to make a significant contribution this season, well above what he was given the opportunity to do a year ago. At the least, he looks confident in his ability to deliver.

Knecht didn't shoot particularly well (2-7 from 3-point range) but still scored 16 points and showed the ability to score at multiple levels. And while the turnovers were too high (five on the night), Knecht looked like a player who can function within an offense and keep it moving, rather than a ball-stopping shooter/scorer.

Finally, Hood-Schifino, who suffered through a horrible rookie year in which he was clearly overmatched early and then injured for the bulk of the year, looked light years more confident and physically capable. Basically, JHS looked like an NBA basketball player. A rotation level player? Way too early to say. But last year, he didn't look like he should be wearing the uniform. So this was a major improvement. Six assists, no turnovers, much higher confidence.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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Among the most interesting aspects of Monday's Media Day was D'Angelo Russell, who proved again why while not the best player on the Lakers, he's in the running for most interesting, from a media standpoint.

He has a long history of candor, even when it doesn't serve him (and sometimes when it doesn't serve his team), and Monday was no exception. Russell started his time with an apology for periodic selfishness - the sorts of things where he didn't always seem to operate with a feel for the team's best interests. Not necessarily on the court, but as a leader and a veteran off it. This year, with new coach JJ Redick expressing his full support and saying he'd like to push Russell to a career season, Russell returned the favor by saying he wants to step up his game and earn his coach's trusts. First and foremost, that means defennse, and for Russell, that's a matter of focus.

But can he sharpen those skills enough after 10 years of bad habits (compounded by natural limitations by NBA standards)? Even if the intentions are good?

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis says he's not into analytics. Redick and his staff clearly are. And an interesting exchange Wednesday at practice is likely going to show again how many people don't understand the relationship between data, coaching and players.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: D'Angelo Russell says he's going to earn JJ Redick's trust.

SEGMENT 2: Can Russell change his habits after a decade in the league?

SEGMENT 3: AD, Redick and data.

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The first full day of practice for the Lakers was, according to all involved, a very well-executed, efficiently run operation. A schedule was presented, it was adhered to. There was, by all accounts, purpose. And this was on the heels of a decision to hold a team dinner earlier this week to discuss expectations and lay out principles, rather than using practice time or extending the obligations players have during the day.

In some ways, these are minor details - though clearly players are interested in pointing out the contrasts between Redick and his predecessor, when it comes to attention to detail and efficiency.

These are all critical mechanisms for Redick, a first time coach at any level, to establish credibility with his players, who (despite early endorsements) are almost certainly reserving a little bit of judgment for a guy who has never coached at any professional level. These early days are more important for Redick than they might be for any other coach in the league, even the other guys who are new with their teams.

So far, it seems, so good. So how is Redick going to make sure his attention to detail doesn't become overwhelming for players, to where the forest gets lost for the trees?

Meanwhile, a lot of high praise early for Max Christie... is he ready to step up and fill the role the Lakers are clearly expecting him to play? He's one of the nine guys Redick plans to use in his rotation. But it'll likely be nine, and not more. At least for now.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: JJ Redick is running an efficient operation!

SEGMENT 2: Redick is planning a nine man rotation.

SEGMENT 3: Is Christie Ready?

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Monday was Media Day across the NBA, and in El Segundo there where plenty of open questions that were addressed, at least a little, as every Lakers player took a turn at the podium to answer questions.

A few themes emerged...

LeBron James said his Olympic experience was valuable on multiple fronts. First, it reminded him of the feeling that comes with playing truly consequential games for ultimate prizes, and that was something he clearly enjoyed. From there, James said the experience of playing with the Team USA crew, including a lot of young players like Anthony Edwards, was an invigorating experience, one that's continued moving into camp as he has the chance to practice with his son. Put it all together, and the whole deal was a reminder not just that he could still play, but that he has a lot -- a lot -- left in the tank. This isn't a guy who thinks he'll need to hang it up anytime soon, if he doesn't want to.

Anthony Davis, meanwhile, talked about the potential for internal improvement with these Lakers, and the capacity to be better than people might expect. He too seemed to appreciate what it meant to play with Team USA and have the type of impact he did. It's clear, as well, that while he fully believes he'll never win a Defensive Player of the Year award, he wants to make the slight so obvious that the voters will cast their ballots with a sense of real shame.

D'Angelo Russell? He's a huge fan of JJ Redick, and at the risk of speculating beyond his words... is a bigger fan than he was of Darvin Ham. An appreciation of Redick in these early days was a common theme among the players. They praised his communication, organization and attention to detail, and while the intention wasn't explicitly to disparage the previous regime, it's easy to be left with the impression that a few of the players at least didn't mind of that's where the mind of the listener went.

Russell said this year he's really hoping to tighten things up and gain the trust of Redick, which has to happen on the defensive end first and foremost. That means paying attention to detail, and more broadly making sure that he's always a positive influence and providing constructive energy, something he admitted hasn't always been the case through his career.

And the injuries! Christian Wood? Very optimistic! Jarred Vanderbilt? Seemed... less so.

Plenty to highlight on a busy day for the Lakers.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers kick off the season with Media Day, and LeBron says he's got a lot left.

SEGMENT 2: Good early reviews for Redick.

SEGMENT 3: Candid D'Lo...

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It's Media Day in El Segundo, which means the official start of the 2024-25 season.

So what is this year going to bring? Well, it starts with a massive trade that could shake up the Western Conference, as Minnesota is planning to send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for forward and old friend Julius Randle along with guard Dante DiVincenzo. For a team like Minnesota, that made a Western Conference Finals for the first time in the last 63 years, this sort of deal has the potential to make them worse. And anything that makes a conference rival worse helps the Lakers, even if it's just for that opening night matchup. The Lakers need all the help they can get to get off to a strong start, and a Wolves team playing the getting-to-know-you game that early in the year could help LA.

Meanwhile, the minute Towns was sent (or will be, once it's official) to New York, that put speculation out there that maybe Mitchell Robinson, their incumbant (and injured) center might be available. Would it make sense for the Lakers to kick the tires, even if he's going to be out until December, at the earliest?

On paper, it's a nice fit... but what about the practical issues a trade presents?

The Lakers do, after all, need a big body. They admitted as much, at least after JJ Redick tried to talk around it last week meeting the media.

So what comes next?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: A blockbuster in the West. How does it impact the Lakers?

SEGMENT 2: Could the Lakers swing a deal for Robinson?

SEGMENT 3: Redick talks C, then the Lakers backtrack.

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Wednesday, the new Lakers season unofficially began - the official kickoff comes Monday with Media Day - with a press conference featuring GM Rob Pelinka and new Lakers coach JJ Redick.

There was a lot of ground covered -- more than enough to stretch into Friday's show -- but for today, it's a focus on the big picture the pair tried to push. The big theme was optimism. About the work that's been done this offseason to try and help players build on last season. About the addition of Redick, and the fresh thinking he could bring to the job. About confidence in the group they have, if they can get a little good fortune and a lot of good health. This last one was particularly emphasized by Pelinka, who has received a ton of criticism from Lakers fans about the team's almost total lack of action (from a personnel standpoint) over the summer.

So is the optimism warranted?

What about what's coming? Does the newfound commitment to player development the team is pushing hard mean they're not going to be aggressive trying to make trades and using those first rounders at their disposal? In that regard, Pelinka was more non-committal than he usually is. Often he'll talk down the notion of bold moves while simultaneously leading fans to believe that's exactly what the team is looking to do.

So when nothing happens? Fans get annoyed. Is this now a matter of Pelinka underpromising and hopefully over-delivering?

Pelinka did say he'd make a deal if the right one came along, but the plan going forward is to frame things in the context of "Sustainable Lakers Excellence."

Oh, and Jarred Vanderbilt might just be back for the opener after all!

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Pelinka and Redick meet the media!

SEGMENT 2: Vanderbilt looks like he might be back for the opener after all!

SEGMENT 3: What exactly is Sustainable Lakers Excellence?

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)