The Lakers Have an Identity Problem, Part II: Roster Construction

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4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 2 January 2026

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

After Tuesday's loss to Detroit, JJ Redick noted that the Lakers have an identity problem. In the sense that they don't really have an identity. For Thursday's show, we talked about part of that equation, namely leadership. The team is in a transition from a LeBron-voiced squad to one where Luka Dončić is both the face and the leader, and unquestionably the team's best player. But the styles are very different, and both elevating Luka and having LeBron step back are muddling things. But another part of the lack of identity? Roster. The Lakers just aren't built to effectively maximize Luka on either side of the ball, which inherently makes it harder to build a culture, or identity, or discernable style of play. So is that something that can be fixed? How did we get here? To say the least, Rob Pelinka has work to do. And so does JJ Redick, broadly, and Friday against Memphis because the team is again shorthanded. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are down more guys against the Grizz. SEGMENT 2: How much does roster construction hinder building an identity? SEGMENT 3: What can be done? Everydayer Club If 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! GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. 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	J.J. Redick says the Lakers don't have an identity yet, and one major problem, these are my words, could be the roster.
0:07.8	That's next.
0:14.9	You are locked on Lakers.
0:17.2	Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:26.8	Thanks to everybody for making Locked-on Lakers first listen to every day Monday through Friday,
0:30.5	sometimes on weekends, often on holidays, no matter how you get your podcasts, whether Spotify,
0:36.2	Apple Podcasts, maybe one of the 37,000 subscribers to the YouTube channel,
0:40.6	Lockdown Liquors YouTube channel.
0:42.5	No matter how you're doing it,
0:43.4	you're helping support the number one sports podcast network in this
0:47.0	or any known universe.
0:49.6	Brian Komenetsky and Andy Kemenetsky, long time covering the Lakers with the LA Times, ESPN, the athletic.
0:58.0	Andy, as the Lakers face the rare two home game non-consecutive against the same team,
1:07.6	back-to-back thing against Memphis, a team that is playing better.
1:13.5	The Lakers have some injuries that are piling up.
1:19.6	JJ Redick has talked a lot about identity.
1:23.0	In difficult times, identity, a team's culture, a team's identity is something that they often will
1:30.3	lean on to kind of get them through, you know, play at times when people are available.
1:37.8	And you got to play different guys in different positions and all this kind of stuff.
1:42.4	That is what they are facing.
1:45.1	We'll get to this conversation about, you know,
1:48.3	kind of where the Lakers are going wrong with their identity.
	...

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