Summer League for the Lakers might be a relatively sleepy time - if anyone playing for the sort of Lakers right now ends up playing a role with the big team this season, things have likely gone off the rails in indescribably horrible fashion - but that doesn't mean there's no intrigue. LeBron James and Russell Westbrook appeared courtside together in Vegas, and then LeBron put out a (now seemingly mandatory?) Insta workout post/message-to-the-haters that got a bunch of people's attention. Now, pretty much everyone thinks the Lakers are going to be really good, and it's just a question of whether the ultimate result is a championship. But that's neither here nor there. What matters are the fictions athletes construct for themselves. So what is LeBron doing? Next, Seth Partnow at The Athletic has a great breakdown of why predicting results this year is so tricky. Russ is a statistical anomaly of his own (good and bad), and there's really no template for any of what we're about to witness, given how singular Westbrook and James are. We discuss. Finally, L.A.'s other squad made a move Sunday, one that raised an eyebrow not just because it sent Pat Beverley and Rajon Rondo to Memphis for Eric Bledsoe, but because it saved Steve Ballmer tens of millions in luxury tax payments. Was it a cost savings move? A basketball move? Both? What does it say not only about Ballmer, but how all NBA owners operate, including Jeanie Buss? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! SweatBlock Get it today for 20% off at SweatBlock.com with promo code LockedOn, or at Amazon and CVS. Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. BetOnline AG There is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Rock Auto Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Indeed Get started RIGHT NOW with a SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to upgrade your job post at Indeed.com/HangUp Theragun Try Theragun for THIRTY-DAYS starting at only one hundred ninety-nine dollars. Go to Therabody.com/LockedOn RIGHT NOW and get your Gen 4 Theragun TODAY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices