How the 2026 Playoffs Could Impact the Lakers 2026 Offseason (and Beyond)

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2026

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There are all sorts of different signposts along the path towards building a team in the offseason, whether in the trade or free agent markets. But things can shift as you go from point A to B to C. One of the big ones? The playoffs. Think about last season, when major injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton radically changed the plans for the Celtics and Pacers respectively, and added motion to the offseason markets. This year, there is already talk of the Warriors doing a significant retool to try and make one more run with Steph Curry. Could the Rockets be in for another retool (around Kevin Durant and others?) given a shaky first round performance and some chemistry questions? With the Magic up 3-1 over the Pistons and Detroit's All-Star center Jalen Duren having a terrible series, there's some chatter that his max rookie extension, believed to be a formality, might not be automatic. And who knows what the Nuggets will do in an offseason where Peyton Watson is a free agent, and they have some very challenging roster choices to make? The Lakers, of course, have their decisions to make, including about the future of Austin Reaves. So how has the future started to bend to new events? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGYGet candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game. 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)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Are the 2026 playoffs impacting what the Lakers could do in the 2026 off season?
0:06.2	We'll explain next.
0:13.7	You are Locked on Lakers.
0:16.1	Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:24.5	Thanks to everybody for joining Locked-on Lakers, Brian Keminetsky, Andy Kaminetsky.
0:28.3	It's always an interesting time of year, Andy, because not only are the playoffs happening,
0:32.7	the playoffs impact what happens next. I'll give you an example.
0:38.4	I'll give you a couple examples.
0:40.6	Peyton Watson, who is expected to be a very sought-after a player available this off-season,
0:49.6	hasn't played in the postseason because of a hamstring injury,
0:53.7	which is just a little cautionary tale there for Luca. He had a recurrence of a hamstring injury, just a little cautionary tale there for
0:55.7	Luca. He had a recurrence of a hamstring injury that has kept him out. Aaron Gordon's been in and out
1:00.8	of the lineup, and so they have to make decisions about him. And meanwhile, Cam Johnson's been
1:06.1	terrible. So what are you going to do with the Denver's? They could be a completely different team next year,
1:12.8	which impacts what they do with Peyton Watson.
1:14.8	Meanwhile, Orlando is taking a 3-1 lead on Detroit in the Eastern Conference.
1:20.8	And Jalen Duren, who has been ascending like crazy in the Eastern Conference,
1:29.9	has been awful in this series.
1:37.8	And now there are whispers at least in the immediate reaction of the games, what day is this,
1:44.9	Monday night's game that maybe the, the, the pistons wouldn't give him a max rookie extension.
1:50.3	And in other teams, say needing a center, a young center, a young center team like the Lakers could swoop in and maybe make an offer if Detroit doesn't, in fact, try to bring
1:57.2	him back.
	...

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