Jovan Buha answers all of your Los Angeles Lakers and NBA questions. Jovan also reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers re-signing Jaxson Hayes to an above-minimum salary, their projected rotation, their roster crunch, what's next for LA, Dalton Knecht's struggles in summer league, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:28 The Lakers re-sign Jaxson Hayes 4:32 What's next with LA and their roster options + BAE? 9:39 Dalton Knecht's...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 38 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Khobi Price, Los Angeles Lakers beat writer for the Southern California News Group, to discuss the early returns of the Lakers’ offseason. Jovan and Khobi recap the offseason up to this point, analyze how Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia fit in LA, debate what the Lakers’ biggest remaining needs are in free agency and the trade market, rank and tier the Lakers in the West, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 In...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers signing Deandre Ayton on Day 3 of NBA free agency. Joan covers Ayton's fit in Los Angeles, what's next for the Lakers in free agency and on the trade market, their most significant remaining needs, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:11 The Lakers signed DeAndre Ayton to a two-year deal 1:56 How Ayton fits in Los Angeles 7:37 Ayton's friendship with Luka Doncic 9:11 What's next...
Jul 03, 2025•2 hr 14 min
Jovan Buha reacts to Day 2 of NBA free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers, including their continued search for a center in free agency and the trade market, Deandre Ayton's impending decision, Al Horford, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:29 The latest with the Lakers in free agency and on the trade market 9:37 Q&A 2:15:16 Outro Timestamps are subject to change based on ad placement and duration. To learn more abou...
Jul 02, 2025•2 hr 17 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the start of NBA free agency for the Los Angeles Lakers, including LA losing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets, signing Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12 million deal, and targeting Deandre Ayton and De'Anthony Melton. If you enjoy this type of NBA content, please subscribe, comment, and like this video. Follow Jovan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jovanbuha/ Follow Jovan on X: https://x.com/jovanbuha Follow Jovan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jovanbuha C...
Jul 01, 2025•2 hr 41 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the news that LeBron James is opting in to his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. He also reacts to Dorian Finney-Smith declining his $15.4 million player option and becoming a free agent. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:57 Updates: LeBron opts in, DFS opts out, Goodwin's team option, Koloko is RFA 3:33 LeBron's statement after opting in 5:09 What does this mean for LeBron? 8:35 Where coul...
Jun 30, 2025•2 hr 9 min
Welcome to the Great Western Forum -- a new podcast from Jovan Buha, Anthony Irwin, and Pete Zayas at Audacy. Jovan, Anthony and Pete discuss the potential impact of the Lakers' record sale to Mark Walter and the TWG Group, as well as realistic expectations for the Lakers' roster this summer. Later, they are joined by Raj Chipalu and Mike Garcia to discuss the sale, trading for the No. 36 pick to select Adou Thiero, the Lakers' two-way and Exhibit 10 deals, and the offseason. Chapters: 0:00 Intr...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers drafting Adou Theiro with the No. 36 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:12 The Lakers draft Adou Thiero at No. 36 6:12 Q&A 1:05:33 Outro Timestamps are subject to change based on ad placement and duration. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit htt...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) to break down the Los Angeles Lakers and the 2025 NBA Draft. Jovan and Mike discuss the 2025 NBA Draft, including whether the Lakers should trade up, potential center targets such as Khaman Maluach, Thomas Sorber, and Derik Queen, late first-round and early-to-mid second-round prospects, candidates for the No. 55 pick, and the value of the Lakers' trade assets in this draft, among other topics. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing...
Jun 24, 2025•59 min
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions. Jovan analyzes how the Lakers can add a center AND depth, if LA can mimic Indiana's build around Luka Doncic, realistic guard/wing trade targets, if Austin Reaves will be a value on his contract, accurate and misrepresented Lakers national storylines, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:07 Question No. 1: Can LA add a center AND depth? 5:46 Question No. 2: Can LA mimi...
Jun 20, 2025•47 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the WILD news of the Buss family agreeing to sell the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter, CEO of TMG Global for a valuation of $10 billion, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:57 Instant reaction to the Lakers being sold 8:02 Q&A 1:05:38 Outro Timestamps are subject to change based on ad placement and duration. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: h...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Iztok Franko of digginbasketball to discuss the best ways for the Los Angeles Lakers to build around Luka Doncic this offseason. Jovan and Iztok analyze which rotation players fit best with Luka, the types of players the Lakers need to add to their roster, center and perimeter trade targets, the pressure that will be on LA ahead of Luka's extension date, why Luka will likely sign the extension, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and revi...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers and NBA Finals questions. Jovan analyzes Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, what, if anything, LeBron James' latest commercial means, the ideal nine-man rotation for the Lakers, Austin Reaves vs. Dyson Daniels, if Rui Hachimura could hang in the Finals, why Dorian Finney-Smith is unlikely to be traded, a slew of fake trades, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewin...
Jun 14, 2025•1 hr 37 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Anthony Irwin to answer your Los Angeles Lakers questions. Jovan and Anthony analyze the most realistic offseason for the Lakers, the most likely center(s) for LA, Nic Claxton, Dalton Knecht's trade value, the types of players they'd trade Austin Reaves for, the alternative universe in which the Luka Doncic trade doesn't happen, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:20 Question No. 1: What’s the most re...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 39 min
Jovan Buha divides the Western Conference into tiers ahead of the 2025 NBA offseason. Jovan analyzes the Lakers' place in the West, what they can do to ascend in the conference after the draft and free agency, ranks their biggest competitors, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:17 Oklahoma City Thunder (Tier 1) 3:08 Denver Nuggets (Tier 2) 6:16 Minnesota Timberwolves (Tier 2) 6:54 Golden State Warriors (Tier 3) 9:05 Los ...
Jun 10, 2025•33 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Pete Zayas of Laker Film Room to rank and debate the biggest decisions of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason. Jovan and Pete examine the Lakers’ urgency this summer, building for 2026 vs. 2027, realistic center targets, potentially trading Rui Hachimura, why they’d both keep Austin Reaves at least one more season, their favorite taxpayer mid-level exception targets for LA, an exciting podcasting update, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, ...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr
If the Los Angeles Lakers are to contend for a championship next season, they will need internal improvement. Jovan Buha examines one area each Lakers player and head coach JJ Redick can improve for the 2025-26 season. From Luka Doncic's conditioning to Austin Reaves' strength to Dalton Knecht's defense, there are numerous ways next season's group can be better, regardless of any roster changes. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1...
Jun 03, 2025•55 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Sean Davis to grade the second half of the regular season and playoffs for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jovan and Sean analyze the final 41 games of the regular season and five-game playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, focusing on the key rotation players and head coach JJ Redick. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:04 Criteria for player grades 2:28 LeBron James 10:01 Luka Doncic 18:52 Austin Reaves 32:55 Ru...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Jovan Buha breaks down the Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 offseason. Jovan analyzes the Lakers' key dates, provides a general overview of their flexibility, examines their free agents and trade assets, discusses the first and second apron, explores various cap-sheet scenarios, outlines offseason needs, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:00 Key offseason dates for the Lakers 2:00 General overview of LA’s offseason 3:58 LA’s fr...
May 28, 2025•28 min
Jovan Buha welcomes Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation to break down the biggest questions of the Los Angeles Lakers' offseason. Jovan and Trevor analyze what the Lakers should learn from the playoffs, why Rui Hachimura is the potential pivot point of the offseason, realistic center options and trades, building the roster this summer vs. at the trade deadline, their favorite cheap free-agent targets, LA's tradable assets, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and rev...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:41 Q&A 1:21:13 Outro Timestamps are subject to change based on ad placement and duration. 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
May 22, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Jovan Buha analyzes one lesson the Los Angeles Lakers can learn from each of the four conference finalists: the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers. Jovan examines the Knicks' 'heliocentric' blueprint, the power of the Thunder's identity, the Timberwolves' physical advantages, and the Pacers' depth. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:11 New York Knicks 7:21 Oklahoma City Thunder 13:26 ...
May 21, 2025•36 min
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions. Jovan analyzes the ideal (realistic) Lakers offseason, how LA can build depth if LeBron James doesn't take a pay cut, how Nic Claxton, Daniel Gafford, Myles Turner or Walker Kessler would fit with the Lakers, if there are any concerns with LeBron's knee, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:07 Question No. 1: What is the ideal Lakers offseason? 10:48 Question No. 2: How...
May 14, 2025•56 min
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions. Jovan analyzes the biggest takeaway of the season, if the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves, if Reaves can be a No. 3 and fit next to Luka Doncic, the realistic centers LA should target this offseason, Luka's rank among players in trade value, if this will be LeBron James' last season, sports-media advice, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:11 Question No. 1: Biggest ...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Jovan Buha welcomes ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike and the Southern California News Group's Khobi Price -- the other three Los Angeles Lakers beat writers -- to talk about what it's like to cover the Lakers. Jovan, Dave, Dan and Khobi share their favorite moments covering the Lakers, the biggest surprises on the beat, road life, favorite road cities and arenas, the state of NBA media, the Luka Doncic trade, sports media advice, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' exit interview with JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka. Jovan analyzes Pelinka and the Lakers' belief in the star trio of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, LA's offseason goals of adding a starting center and more perimeter defense, Redick saying the group has to get in 'championship shape,' and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:20 Takeaway No. 1: LA still believes in Luka/LeB...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' elimination in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves 103-96 in Game 5. Jovan analyzes the disappointing end to the Lakers' season, LA's strong foundation for the future, the clear need for more size and depth this summer, the offense, offseason questions, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 3:28 A big thank...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 51 min
Jovan Buha discusses five adjustments the Los Angeles Lakers should make entering Game 5 of their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jovan discusses the obvious starting lineup change, running more organized and intentional offense, mixing up coverages against Anthony Edwards, the possession battle, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:18 Adjustment No. 1: Start Dorian Finney-Smith 5:07 Adjustment No. 2...
Apr 29, 2025•32 min
Jovan Buha answers your Los Angeles Lakers questions. Jovan analyzes Game 5 adjustments, why the Lakers are down 3-1, what he got wrong in his series preview, LA's rotation, Luka Doncic's conditioning, LeBron James' two-way play, starting center options for LA this offseason, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing, rating and reviewing. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:32 Q&A 1:22:51 Outro Timestamps are subject to change based on ad placement and duration. To learn more abou...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 31 min
Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 116-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the first round. The Lakers trail the series 3-1. Jovan analyzes why the Lakers are losing this series, the brilliant performances from LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the possession battle, JJ Redick's bold and controversial second-half rotation strategy, 16-game players vs. 82-game players, the glaring offseason needs, Game 5 adjustments, and more. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subsc...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 15 min
