<p>The <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> haven’t been at their best for most of the season. Despite winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament, they don’t seem built for the playoffs or able to <strong>make a run at an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship right now.</strong></p>



<p>Then again, we know <strong>all teams involving <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a></strong> are always quite active in the market, and <strong>GM Rob Pelinka </strong>has pulled off some major mid-season moves throughout the course of the years.</p>



<p>Now, they could be setting their sights on Georgia, as the <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/atlanta%C2%A0hawks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlanta Hawks</a></strong> are reportedly on the verge of a rebuild, and they’re keeping tabs on <strong>All-Star PG Dejounte Murray.</strong></p>



<h2>Lakers Could Target Bogdan Bogdanovic</h2>



<p>Nonetheless, Murray might not be the only Hawk to take his talents to Southern California. According to an unnamed executive and<strong> Zach Lowe,</strong> they could also target <strong>Bogdan Bogdanovic </strong>in the operation (Via Basketball Forever):</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/28083743/Dejounte-Murray-1-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="Dejounte Murray" class="wp-image-98013" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Dejounte Murray gets ready to shoot.</figcaption></figure>



<p><em>“Speaking on “NBA Today” recently, ESPN’s Zach Lowe shared insights from one NBA executive, envisioning a complex deal where<strong> the Lakers could secure not only Dejounte Murray but also sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic</strong>,<strong> addressing the Lakers’ desperate need for more shooting,</strong>“</em> read the report.</p>



<p>Needless to say, that<strong> won’t be cheap</strong>, and the Lakers will have to give up draft assets and solid rotation players to get their hands around two of the Hawks’ best players:</p>



<p>“<strong><em>According to the unnamed executive, the Lakers would also have to include Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell and additional draft compensation,”</em></strong> the report concluded.</p>



<p>Bogdanovic could give the Lakers some much-needed shooting. He thrives offensively and can play on and off the ball and either start or come off the bench, as <strong>he doesn’t need a lot of touches to be efficient.</strong></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/dangelo-russell-takes-subtle-jab-at-darvin-ham-amid-lakers-struggles-20240114-BUS-97836.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240114_BUS_97836_DAngelo-Russell-4.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="D&apos;Angelo Russell doesn&apos;t seem to be too satisfied with Darvin Ham&apos;s rotations. Check out what the Los Angeles Lakers point guard had to say about their struggles.
" title="D&apos;Angelo Russell takes subtle jab at Darvin Ham amid Lakers struggles" publication_id="BUS#20240114#BUS#97836"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-rumors-potential-replacements-for-darvin-ham-20240109-BUS-96798.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240109_BUS_96798_Darvin-Ham.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="There&apos;s plenty of uncertainty regarding the Los Angeles Lakers right now, and some believe it&apos;s just a matter of time before they part ways with coach Darvin Ham.
" title="Lakers rumors: Potential replacements for Darvin Ham" publication_id="BUS#20240109#BUS#96798"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-players-rip-darvin-ham-in-unfiltered-film-session-20240110-BUS-96874.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240110_BUS_96874_Darvin-Ham.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="With the Los Angeles Lakers going through a rough patch and multiple rumors of disconnect with the locker room, coach Darvin Ham allowed the players to give him some feedback.
" title="Lakers players rip Darvin Ham in &apos;unfiltered&apos; film session" publication_id="BUS#20240110#BUS#96874"></div>


<p>As for Murray, he could give them<strong> the defensive boost their backcourt has craved </strong>for quite a while now, not to mention another solid playmaker and finisher to take pressure off LeBron James’ shoulders.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65a5397f355a85755992a1e3" data-title="Should the Lakers pursue Murray?" data-options="2"></div>

Lakers could pursue another star in Dejounte Murray trade

Lakers rumors: Potential replacements for Darvin Ham

Lakers could pursue another star in Dejounte Murray trade - Bolavip US

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<p>It’s tough to take a look at this<strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> team and think they’re the same team that made it to the <strong>Western Conference Finals last seaso</strong>n. Then again, that’s just<strong> how fast things can change in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA.</a></strong></p>



<p><strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/darvin-ham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Darvin Ham’s </a>team has looked overwhelmed </strong>and out of sorts at times this season. Injuries have prevented them from making the most of their depth, but even at full strength, they’ve been inconsistent.</p>



<p>Notably,<strong> D’Angelo Russell</strong> has been one of those inconsistent and often-hurt players. And when asked about his team’s situation<strong>, he didn’t exactly sound satisfied.</strong></p>



<h2>D’Angelo Russell Says Lakers Have ‘Holes’ In Their System</h2>



<p>While he acknowledged that injuries have obviously taken a toll on this team’s ability to be at their best, he may have taken a subtle jab at his coach, stating that the team has yet to <strong>figure out some holes in their system:</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/28105302/dangelo-russell-1-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-40531" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>D’Angelo Russell</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong><em>“I think it’s just a lot of holes in our system right now,”</em></strong> Russell told The Athletic. <em>“You use the regular season to figure those things out, the ups and downs, the digression, the setbacks, all these things. Injuries just keep playing a part in our success.”</em></p>



<p>Even so, the<strong> former No. 2 pick </strong>isn’t ready to hit the panic button just yet. He knows it’s a marathon, not a race, and they were able to turn things around in the second half of last season:</p>



<p><strong><em>“I</em></strong> <strong><em>think we’re team that’s still trying to figure things out,”</em></strong> Russell said. <em>“We’re still mixing and matching lineups, finishing groups, starting groups. So, we’re still figuring it out. <strong>So, I wouldn’t say panic, or anything like that. Last year was a prime example of this team not being where they wanted to be and we had some new energy, new vibes and it kind of made– it got us to where we ended off last year.”</strong></em></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/heat-rookie-jaime-jaquez-jr-admits-he-didnt-want-to-play-for-the-lakers-20240103-BUS-95751.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240103_BUS_95751_Jaime-Jaquez-Jr-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="UCLA standout Jaime Jaquez Jr. was born and raised in California. However, he didn&apos;t want his professional career to continue in the Golden State, and was actually glad the Los Angeles Lakers passed on him.
" title="Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. admits he didn&apos;t want to play for the Lakers" publication_id="BUS#20240103#BUS#95751"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-rumors-potential-replacements-for-darvin-ham-20240109-BUS-96798.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240109_BUS_96798_Darvin-Ham.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="There&apos;s plenty of uncertainty regarding the Los Angeles Lakers right now, and some believe it&apos;s just a matter of time before they part ways with coach Darvin Ham.
" title="Lakers rumors: Potential replacements for Darvin Ham" publication_id="BUS#20240109#BUS#96798"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-players-rip-darvin-ham-in-unfiltered-film-session-20240110-BUS-96874.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240110_BUS_96874_Darvin-Ham.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="With the Los Angeles Lakers going through a rough patch and multiple rumors of disconnect with the locker room, coach Darvin Ham allowed the players to give him some feedback.
" title="Lakers players rip Darvin Ham in &apos;unfiltered&apos; film session" publication_id="BUS#20240110#BUS#96874"></div>


<p>Even so, the fans are starting to lose their patience, and with all the rumors and rumblings about Ham’s job security, they won’t have that much time to turn things around before they’re<strong> forced to make some big changes.</strong></p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65a2d943355a85755992a082" data-title="Can the Lakers turn things around?" data-options="2"></div>

D'Angelo Russell takes subtle jab at Darvin Ham amid Lakers struggles

Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. admits he didn't want to play for the Lakers

Lakers players rip Darvin Ham in 'unfiltered' film session

D'Angelo Russell takes subtle jab at Darvin Ham amid Lakers struggles - Bolavip US

<p>The<strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a> </strong>are a flawed team. Roster-wise, chemistry-wise, and basketball-wise, they’re just not good enough to compete for an <strong>NBA championship </strong>right now, not even with <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and Anthony Davis playing at a high level.</strong> Then again, not everything is lost.</p>



<p>Darvin Ham’s team has shown glimpses of great play when healthy and locked in, but those are two things that <strong>haven’t happened very often</strong>. No one can be blamed for injuries, but the coach should be held accountable for not having his team ready to perform night in and night out.</p>



<p>That’s why it wasn’t surprising to see the reports of an alleged disconnect between the locker room and their coach. Fortunately for them, Ham decided to face the criticism face-first,<strong> holding an ‘unfiltered film session’</strong> to hear the players’ feedback.</p>



<h2>Darvin Ham Hosts ‘Unfiltered Film Session’</h2>



<p><strong><em>“‘Hell yeah I open the floor,’</em></strong>” Ham told The Athletic. “<em>‘Give me some feedback. I don’t have pride. My pride is not crazy. My ego — all that. <strong>We had a couple (players) speak up. I’ll just leave it there, but we had a few guys speak up. And right or wrong, I love it. I agreed with most of it, and I disagreed with some.’”</strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/28104106/Darvin-Ham-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="Darvin Ham" class="wp-image-46800" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Darvin Ham</figcaption></figure>



<p>The Lakers have<strong> dropped multiple games they were supposed to win </strong>because of sloppy play and an inability to come back from behind. Ham’s adjustments have come too late or not at all, and you can tell the players are frustrated with the way they’re being coached.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-rumors-potential-replacements-for-darvin-ham-20240109-BUS-96798.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240109_BUS_96798_Darvin-Ham.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="There&apos;s plenty of uncertainty regarding the Los Angeles Lakers right now, and some believe it&apos;s just a matter of time before they part ways with coach Darvin Ham.
" title="Lakers rumors: Potential replacements for Darvin Ham" publication_id="BUS#20240109#BUS#96798"></div>


<p>This is pretty much the same team that made it to the <strong>Western Conference Finals</strong> last season, but they may have peaked already. Whatever the case, it’s up to the coach to find some answers, and props to him for listening to his players and keeping an open door.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="659e8f3c355a857559929c09" data-title="Should the Lakers fire Ham?" data-options="2"></div>


<p></p>


Lakers coach Darvin Ham receives criticism in 'unfiltered' film session

Lakers players rip Darvin Ham in 'unfiltered' film session - Bolavip US

Lakers coach Darvin Ham faces criticism from players, hosts film session

<p>It’s not usual to see <strong>winning <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> teams</strong> making in-season coaching changes. But the <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> are far from a winning team, and while they managed to stop the bleeding by <strong>beating the Los Angeles Clippers, </strong>they simply don’t look good right now.</p>



<p>There have been multiple reports about<strong> an alleged disconnect between the players and coach Darvin Ham.</strong> Ham called out the fans for their lack of patience, even though we’ve almost reached the midpoint of the season.</p>



<p>It’s not unusual to see <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James </a>lose his cool with his coaches </strong>and lose his confidence in them. Not many people have managed to stay in charge of James’ teams for more than a couple of years throughout the course of his career.</p>



<h2>NBA Rumors: Potential Lakers Coaching Candidates</h2>



<p>It’s more than evident that some people within the locker room<strong> are frustrated with Darvin Ham, </strong>and let’s not even get started with the fans. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at three potential candidates who could take the reins of the team if he’s fired at some point in the season.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/28104037/Darvin-Ham-1-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-47061" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Darvin Ham</figcaption></figure>



<h2>3. Mike D’Antoni</h2>



<p><strong>Mike D’Antoni </strong>will always be a candidate whenever a head coaching job becomes available. He’s too experienced to be sitting on a bench as an assistant coach, and we all know he’s one of the best offensive minds in the game.</p>



<p>This team could definitely use some offensive uptick and spark. They’re too stagnant on half-court sets, and their offense goes dry way too often, especially from beyond the arc. <strong>Their defense could be a concern, </strong>though.</p>



<h2>2. Doc Rivers</h2>



<p><strong>Doc Rivers </strong>didn’t get another chance to coach, which is not much of a surprise if  you consider how many leads he’s blown in the playoffs. But he still has an NBA championship pedigree and plenty of experience developing culture.</p>



<p>This team lacks accountability, and<strong> that’s not going to be an issue with Doc</strong>. He’s a respected guy in the league and a ‘player’s coach.’ His rotations could test the fans’ patience, but he’s a proven winner, at least in the regular season.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/28115019/Doc-Rivers-1-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="Doc Rivers" class="wp-image-12268" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Doc Rivers</figcaption></figure>



<h2>1. Phil Handy</h2>



<p><strong>Phil Handy</strong> has plenty of experience with two things: The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James. He’s been a lifelong assistant and clearly has LeBron’s confidence and ear, and that should not be overlooked when pursuing a new coach.</p>



<p>He’s been waiting for his turn for quite a while, and some believe he actually has a stronger presence and voice in the locker room than Ham, so even though he has never run the show, <strong>he could be his logical successor.</strong></p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="659d92fa355a857559929b1a" data-title="Should the Lakers fire Ham?" data-options="2"></div>

Lakers rumors: Potential replacements for Darvin Ham - Bolavip US

<p>The <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> are a mess right now; there’s simply no way to sugarcoat it. Ever since <strong>winning the In-Season Tournament</strong>, they’ve crumbled to pieces and can’t seem to get a stop against anybody.</p>



<p>They’re now two games below .500 and <strong>look more like a Play-In Tournament team than like an actual <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship contender. </strong>And to make things worse, it seems like the players are no longer committed to the coach.</p>



<p><strong>Darvin Ham keeps getting exposed </strong>night in and night out, and<strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> LeBron James</a></strong> has been quite frustrated about it. Even at full strength, his rotations have always been questionable, and it seems like the second-year coach is just way over his head right now.</p>



<h2>Clippers Game Could Be Crucial </h2>



<p>That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to see Lakers insider <strong>Anthony F. Irwin </strong>reporting that their Sunday <strong>matchup vs. the Los Angeles Clippers </strong>could be crucial for his future in the organization:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/28122254/Darvin-Ham-Lakers-Nuggets-Game-1-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="Darvin Ham Lakers-Nuggets" class="wp-image-2121" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Darvin Ham</figcaption></figure>



<p><em>“I’ve spent tonight asking around and this is the general consensus I’ve gotten: Sunday is crucial for Ham,</em>” Irwin wrote on Twitter.<strong> <em>“Considering how things have gone recently against the Clippers and how well they’ve been playing, there are plenty of people battening the hatches for a tumultuous weekend.”</em></strong></p>



<p>Irwin did admit that he<strong> doesn’t expect Ham to be fired midseason,</strong> but it would be almost impossible to appease the fans with another blowout loss, especially to their city rivals:</p>



<p><em>“I’d still be pretty surprised if Ham was fired midseason, let alone this weekend, but between how the locker room feels about him, recent results, and his own comments, things feel pretty damn dire,”</em> Irwin continued.<em><strong> “A blowout Sunday with more showers of boos would be impossible for the FO/ownership to ignore.</strong></em>“</p>



<h2>Ham Calls Out The Fans</h2>



<p>Ham recently tried to <strong>downplay all the rumors about his job being in jeopardy</strong>, and he even went as far as to call out the fans for complaining after every loss this season:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/28113339/lakers-1-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-20585" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Darvin Ham and LeBron James</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong><em>“It is what it is, it is the NBA,</em></strong>” said Ham after the loss. <em>“It is a marathon. You have to look at the totality of the picture. <strong>I’m tired of the people living and dying with every single game we play. It’s ludicrous, actually.”</strong></em></p>



<p><strong>Ham wants the fans to be patient</strong>, and while he acknowledges that the team is going through a rough patch right now, it’s not like they haven’t played well this season.</p>



<p>“C<em>ome on, man, this is a m</em>arat<em>hon, and we’ve hit a tough stretch. <strong>It’s the same team that we play some high-level games a little while ago, and we just got to get back to that.</strong> We got to keep the fight thought. We cannot lose our fight,”</em> Ham added.</p>



<p>Then again, <strong>it’s the Los Angeles Lakers we’re talking about,</strong> and there’s no such thing as moral victories or patience there, especially when you have two of the best players in the league on your team.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-lebron-james-anthony-davis-are-worried-after-another-blowout-loss-20240102-BUS-95612.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240102_BUS_95612_LeBron-James-and-Anthony-Davis.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="With the Los Angeles Lakers dropping another key game, LeBron James and Anthony Davis voiced their concerns about their current situation.
" title="Lakers&apos; LeBron James, Anthony Davis are worried after another blowout loss" publication_id="BUS#20240102#BUS#95612"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/heat-rookie-jaime-jaquez-jr-admits-he-didnt-want-to-play-for-the-lakers-20240103-BUS-95751.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20240103_BUS_95751_Jaime-Jaquez-Jr-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="UCLA standout Jaime Jaquez Jr. was born and raised in California. However, he didn&apos;t want his professional career to continue in the Golden State, and was actually glad the Los Angeles Lakers passed on him.
" title="Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. admits he didn&apos;t want to play for the Lakers" publication_id="BUS#20240103#BUS#95751"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-prefer-another-player-over-zach-lavine-20231228-BUS-94819.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231228_BUS_94819_Zach-LaVine-4.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to show an interest in Zach LaVine, they may have chosen a primary  trade target.
" title="Lakers prefer another player over Zach LaVine" publication_id="BUS#20231228#BUS#94819"></div>


<p>Ham is walking on thin ice, and his recent comments calling out the players for their lack of effort won’t do much to help his cause in the locker room,<strong> especially if they keep sliding in the standings.</strong></p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="659990c8355a8575599297c1" data-title="Should the Lakers fire Ham?" data-options="2"></div>

Lakers' Darvin Ham could be fired soon

Lakers prefer another player over Zach LaVine

Lakers' Darvin Ham could be fired soon - Bolavip US

<p>The<strong> <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> had the<strong> No. 17 pick in the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft.</strong> Plenty of mock drafts had them taking<strong> Jaime Jaquez Jr. out of UCLA, </strong>as it made sense from several standpoints.</p>



<p>From a basketball perspective,<strong> he was an experienced forward with polished footwork and a versatile face-up game</strong>. He was also an elite rebounder for his position and someone who could get his teammates involved with his playmaking.</p>



<p>On top of that, he was perhaps <strong>the most Californian prospect in his class</strong>. Born in Irvine, raised in Camarillo, and having a four-year tenure with the UCLA Bruins, it was just a match made in heaven.</p>



<p>The Lakers wound up taking <strong>Jalen Hood-Schifino</strong> before the<strong> <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> </strong>snatched him just one pick later. However, as crazy as it may seem, <strong>he actually didn’t want to play for the Purple &amp; Gold.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/28084219/Jaime-Jaquez-Jr-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="Jaime Jaquez Jr" class="wp-image-95711" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Jaime Jaquez Jr of the Miami Heat.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Jaquez Jr. Wanted To Leave Southern California</h2>



<p><strong><em>“I wanted to get away,”</em></strong> Jaquez Jr. told The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. <em>“I think, for myself, I thought it was important for me to be able to go out of my comfort zone and experience something new.”</em></p>



<p>Of course, this had <strong>nothing to do with hating the Lakers or whatnot. </strong>He just wanted to spread his wings and take his talents somewhere else, leaving SoCal for the first time in his career:</p>



<p>“<em>I didn’t want to be a guy that said, ‘Oh, I just stayed in Southern California all my life,‘” </em>he added. <em><strong>“I wanted to go live in a different, new place. And that’s why I was very excited to go to Miami. It was new. Everyone compares it, but I think it’s very, very different.”</strong></em></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/bam-adebayo-makes-bold-statement-on-lakers-asterisk-championship-in-the-bubble-20231228-BUS-94735.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231228_BUS_94735_Bam-Adebayo.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo doesn&apos;t seem to agree with what most fans say of the Los Angeles Lakers&apos; championship run in the Orlando bubble.
" title="Bam Adebayo makes bold statement on Lakers&apos; &apos;asterisk&apos; championship in the bubble" publication_id="BUS#20231228#BUS#94735"></div>


<p>Unfortunately for the Lakers, Jaquez Jr. has balled out from the very first day, averaging<strong> 13.7 points, 3.9 boards, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game </strong>on 50.4 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="6595677e355a8575599292fc" data-title="Should the Lakers have taken Jaime Jaquez Jr?" data-options="2"></div>

Why Jaime Jaquez Jr. didn't want to play for the Lakers

Bam Adebayo makes bold statement on Lakers' 'asterisk' championship in the bubble

Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. admits he didn't want to play for the Lakers - Bolavip US

Miami Heat rookie Jaquez Jr reveals why he didn't want to play for the Lakers

<p>The <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a></strong>have been up and down this campaign, and if they continue this trend, they will only have the In-Season Tournament to show for<strong> at the end of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>season.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Darvin Ham’s team </strong>has alternated solid efforts with not-so-good ones, and he’s looked overwhelmed and over his head from time to time. Even so, they still have the potential to be better than his.</p>



<p>The Lakers have lacked a consistent effort, and they’ve dug themselves into big holes early in games way too often. Needless to say, <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> isn’t satisfied with that.</strong></p>



<h2>Lakers Cannot Relax, Says LeBron</h2>



<p><strong><em>“Definitely we’re not a team that likes to play from behind,” </em></strong>James said. <em>“We’ve been in that position a lot this year, especially in the first quarter, but we still was able to get back into the game. <strong>But they did a good job. You know, you give credit where credit’s due.”</strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/28085733/LeBron-James-5-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="LeBron James reacts during the Lakers loss to the Thunder." class="wp-image-89310" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James reacts during the Lakers loss to the Thunder.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The Lakers will now play <strong>11 of their next 12 games at home</strong>. But as good as that might seem, LeBron doesn’t want them to get too comfortable and just go through the motions:</p>



<p><em>“It could hurt us in the sense where you start to feel comfortable because you’re at home,”</em> James said. <strong>“<em>So we have to understand that, yes, just because we’re home, we really can’t relax now.”</em></strong></p>



<h2>Injuries Are Killing The Lakers, Says Anthony Davis</h2>



<p><strong>Anthony Davis</strong> also voiced his frustration about this tough stretch, talking about how their lack of depth and the countless injuries continue to hurt their chemistry and rotation:</p>



<p><em><strong>“Rui [Hachimura] goes out. I just said that’s going to be our biggest downfall this year,”</strong></em> Davis said<strong><em>. “Not being able to stay healthy, especially coming off a back-to-back. You’re already missing Cam [Reddish], DLo.</em></strong>”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/28092934/Anthony-Davis-1-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-77947" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



<p>Davis talked about the team being smaller, which is kind of odd, considering they did have<strong> Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes</strong> available in their loss to the <strong>New Orleans Pelicans:</strong></p>



<p><em>“Obviously, Gabe [Vincent] is out for an extended period of time, but then Rui goes down,”</em> he continued. <strong><em>“Now, our rotation is smaller. You lose another body as far as scoring, but yeah, I mean, defensively, we gave up a lot of threes.”</em></strong></p>



<h2>Lakers Need To Regroup</h2>



<p>Even so, the Lakers cannot keep using the health excuse for their struggles. <strong>Austin Reaves </strong>acknowledges that as banged up as they are, everybody in the league has to deal with those issues:</p>



<p><em>“You want to win. And as a team, I believe that you know what our goal is to do is win. And you know, since the in-season tournament, we’ve been struggling. Health, you know injuries, sickness, you know we’ve kind of had some bad fortune there,</em>” said Reaves. <strong><em>“But at the end of the day, it happens to everybody, and we got to look in the mirror and, you know, see what we can do to be better what I could do to be better, and just get better.”</em></strong></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-prefer-another-player-over-zach-lavine-20231228-BUS-94819.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231228_BUS_94819_Zach-LaVine-4.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Even though the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to show an interest in Zach LaVine, they may have chosen a primary  trade target.
" title="Lakers prefer another player over Zach LaVine" publication_id="BUS#20231228#BUS#94819"></div>


<p>Injuries have obviously taken<strong> a big toll on this team,</strong> but it doesn’t seem like they have the right personnel to be a legitimate NBA championship contender, even when healthy.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65943758355a85755992918c" data-title="Can the Lakers turn things around?" data-options="2"></div>

Lakers' LeBron James, Anthony Davis are worried after another blowout loss

Lakers' LeBron James, Anthony Davis are worried after another blowout loss - Bolavip US

<p>The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Los Angeles Lakers</strong> </a>are going through the same cycle of always. They look like a <strong>legitimate<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a> championship contender</strong> one day, and then drop the ball against beatable teams the next one.</p>



<p><strong>Darvin Ham might not be the right guy for this job.</strong> He has yet to find a lineup that works, and that’s a big concern 30 games into the season, even with the injuries they’ve been through.</p>



<p>So, just like what happens with <strong>most teams involving <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>,</strong> the Lakers are  most likely going to go through a roster overhaul at some point in the season. It’s just a matter of who they can pursue.</p>



<p>According to the latest reports, they’re not only interested in trading for <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zach-lavine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zach LaVine</a>. </strong>They have also set their sights on <strong>Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Dejounte Murray.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/28084409/Dejounte-Murray-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="Dejounte Murray" class="wp-image-94822" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Lakers To Target Dejounte Murray</h2>



<p><em>“According to Shams Charania from The Athletic,<strong> Atlanta Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray is seen as a potential target,</strong>“</em> reported Basket News.<strong><em> “Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine has been involved in Lakers trade rumors recently as well.”</em></strong></p>



<p>Nonetheless, as they may know by now, it’ll be virtually impossible to get either of these players without giving up<strong> Austin Reaves,</strong> so they’ll have to make an uncomfortable decision at some point:</p>



<p>“<em>Charania notes that the Lakers would most likely have to give up <strong>multiple first-round picks and at least one notable player like Austin Reaves to land a player of Murray or LaVine’s caliber</strong>,</em>” the report continued. </p>



<h2>LeBron Isn’t Pleased With The Roster</h2>



<p>Whatever the case, something’s definitely going to happen, and plenty of players are on borrowed time. LeBron has already made it clear that <strong>they’re not good enough to compete</strong> with the top-tier teams, and that usually leads to multiple moves:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/28085532/lebronjames-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-90173" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers</figcaption></figure>



<p><em><strong>“I think the league’s best team so far is Minnesota, they’re pretty much healthy. OKC, pretty much healthy besides [Josh] Giddey. And Boston, they’re fully healthy</strong></em>,” James said. </p>



<p>The veteran forward also admits that the team hasn’t been healthy this season. That makes it tough to assess what works and what doesn’t. But even at full strength, they might not have what it takes to <strong>keep up with the championship contenders:</strong></p>



<p>“<strong><em>I don’t think we’re healthy right now,” </em></strong>James said. <em>“I don’t think we’re where we want to be to compete versus the top teams, and we need to continue to get better, continue to work on our habits. <strong>For us, we’re still trying to figure out our situation as far as how we want to continue to approach each game. We’ll be better.”</strong></em></p>



<p><strong>LeBron James and Anthony Davis</strong> have well, but even though they claim to be one of the top duos in the league, they haven’t been able to carry this team to legitimate championship contention.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-makes-concerning-admission-about-lakers-roster-20231226-BUS-94363.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231226_BUS_94363_LeBron-James-1.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="The Los Angeles Lakers failed to keep up with the Boston Celtics, and LeBron James hinted at their need to make some moves before the trade deadline.
" title="LeBron James makes concerning admission about Lakers roster" publication_id="BUS#20231226#BUS#94363"></div>


<p>Perhaps it’s time to assess their status <strong>as a so-called elite duo in the league, </strong>as empty stats aren’t enough to win championships, and other duos are getting it done despite averaging fewer points or spending fewer minutes on the court.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="658dd0cd355a857559928be9" data-title="Are the Lakers good enough to compete?" data-options="2"></div>

Lakers prefer another player over Zach LaVine - Bolavip US

<p>Like it or not, agree or not, there’s simply <strong>no way to take the asterisk away from the 2020 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship.</strong> It’s not about what we believe or what objectively happened; it’s just a matter of public opinion. Some people don’t think it’s a legitimate title, so it’ll never be one.</p>



<p>However, NBA players, just like the fans, have their own thoughts on this matter. Former <strong>Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams</strong> recently stated that none of the players on his team took the bubble seriously because they knew the fans wouldn’t either.</p>



<p>Notably, that’s not how<strong> Bam Adebayo and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> </strong>thought of that matter. Talking to<strong> Mike Miller for The OGs Podcast</strong>, the talented big men actually claimed the<strong> <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> </strong>won the hardest championship to win.</p>



<h2>Bam Adebayo Tips Hat To Lakers’ 2020 Title Run</h2>



<p><strong><em>“That was the hardest championship to win, in my opinion,”</em></strong> Adebayo said. “<em>15-deep plus coaches, staff, whatever you need like training staff</em><strong><em>. Other than that, it’s you and your thoughts in one room, boxed in.”</em></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/28104040/Bam-Adebayo-1-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-47060" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Bam Adebayo</figcaption></figure>



<p>Adebayo believes the way teams were locked in made it all the more difficult for everybody. <strong>There were no interactions between teams,</strong> and it was all about basketball:</p>



<p><strong><em>“Listen, it felt like you was gang-affiliated when you was in the bubble”,</em></strong> he added. <em>“Lakers got on purple and gold, we got on black, the Bucks got on their green, and nobody was walking by their self.<strong> We walking; we ain’t speaking to nobody. I’m talking about it was like we was walking around mad at everybody.”</strong></em></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-could-get-zach-lavine-but-itll-be-costly-20231227-BUS-94608.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231227_BUS_94608_Zach-LaVine-Bulls-Jersey.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="With the Los Angeles Lakers still interested in trading for Zach LaVine, we discuss a deal proposed by Bleacher Report&apos;s Zach Buckley.
" title="NBA Rumors: Lakers could get Zach LaVine, but it&apos;ll be costly" publication_id="BUS#20231227#BUS#94608"></div>


<p>Of course, the Heat made it to the <strong>NBA Finals</strong>, so it’s not like he’s going to say anything different. But after watching<strong> T.J. Warren turn into Michael Jordan</strong> for a couple of weeks, nothing anybody says will make some fans change their minds about this matter.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="658d81a4355a857559928b24" data-title="Do you agree with Bam?" data-options="2"></div>

Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo believes Lakers won hardest NBA championship

Bam Adebayo praises Lakers for winning 'hardest championship' - Bolavip US

Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo praises Lakers for winning 'hardest' championship

<p>It’s just a matter of time before the<strong> <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago Bulls </a>hit the reset button</strong>. The team has struggled all season long, and their chances of making the playoffs are pretty close to zero right now.</p>



<p>That’s why several of their players have been linked with trades for months now. <strong>DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and even Coby White and Nikola Vucevic</strong> have emerged as potential trade suitors for contending and rebuilding teams alike.</p>



<p>Needless to say, that makes<strong> <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/zach-lavine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zach LaVine</a> the most likely and most valuable trade asset </strong>they have right now, even though he hasn’t played for the past month or so while nursing an injury.</p>



<p>With that in mind, <strong>Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report </strong>put together an interesting mock trade that would send LaVine to the <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Laker</a>s,</strong> the place where he thrived when he was in college playing for the UCLA Bruins.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/28085802/Zach-LaVine-1-1-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks." class="wp-image-89021" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>The Trade</h2>



<p><strong>Los Angeles Lakers receive: </strong>Zach LaVine</p>



<p><strong>Chicago Bulls receive:</strong> D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis and a 2029 first-round pick</p>



<p>This trade isn’t that appealing for the Bulls at first sight, but the reality is that LaVine’s trade value isn’t as high as it used to be after<strong> so many injuries and his stand-off with Billy Donovan.</strong></p>



<h2>Lakers Get Another Shot-Creator</h2>



<p><em><strong>“L.A.’s 17th-ranked offense is light on shot creation and essentially nonfunctional when James, who turns 39 in December, needs a breather.</strong> Just that one subtraction torpedoes its output by 13 points per 100 possessions,”</em> wrote Buckley.</p>



<p>LaVine might not be a good defender, but he can at least take plenty of pressure from<strong> LeBron James and Anthony Davis</strong> on the offensive end of the floor, both with his scoring and his passing:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/28090315/Zach-LaVine-Bulls-Jersey-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-87148" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Chicago Bulls G/F Zach LaVine</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>“<em>LaVine, one of five players to average at least 24 points, four assists and 2.5</em> <em>three-pointers each of the past four seasons, could help prevent those drop-offs while also enhancing the effectiveness with James on the floo</em></strong><em>r. Each could create for the other, and both are dynamic finishers. If they hit the ground running, they could steer this offense into the top 10 or higher,”</em> added Buckley.</p>



<h2>The Bulls Get More Assets</h2>



<p>The Bulls, on the other hand, wouldn’t benefit from the players they get in return from this trade per sé, but they <strong>could flip them into more draft capital</strong> to actually kickstart their rebuild: </p>



<p><em>“The rebuilding Bulls wouldn’t have a ton of use for Russell, but they could give him temporary control of the offense in hopes he’d drive up his trade value and help bring back additional assets. <strong>Hachimura might see similar treatment, though he’s just young enough (25) to potentially keep if Chicago sought a rapid rebuild,”</strong></em> Buckley concluded.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/predicting-landing-spots-for-zach-lavine-demar-derozan-and-alex-caruso-20231219-BUS-93118.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231219_BUS_93118_DeMar-DeRozan-Zach-LaVine.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="With the Chicago Bulls likely going through a fire sale at some point in the season, we predict the likeliest destinations for their three most significant trade assets: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso.
" title="Predicting landing spots for Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso" publication_id="BUS#20231219#BUS#93118"></div>


<p>At the end of the day, LaVine’s trade value gets lower by the day, so it only makes sense that <strong>Arturas Karnisovas</strong> and company make the most of him while they still can. It will take a while, but the Bulls need to move on from this core to go back to the place they never should’ve left in the league’s hierarchy.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="658c7b8c355a857559928a03" data-title="Who wins the trade?" data-options="2"></div>

NBA Rumors: Lakers could get Zach LaVine, but it'll be costly

NBA Rumors: Lakers could get Zach LaVine, but it'll be costly - Bolavip US

<p>Win a couple of games and talk about winning <strong>an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Championship</strong>. Lose a couple of games and talk about how he needs more help. Wash, rinse, and repeat the<strong> <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James </a>and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>cycle.</strong></p>



<p>For years,<strong> LeBron’s teams have gone through major overhauls, both in the offseason and mid-season. </strong>Ironically, he’s always had a big say in decision-making, yet he complains about not being good enough to compete with the top guns in the league.</p>



<p>Notably, this season hasn’t been the exception to that rule. Right on schedule, LeBron talked about not being healthy or good enough to compete just a couple of days after saying<strong> they could win a ring because they won the In-Season Tournament.</strong></p>



<h2>LeBron Says Lakers Aren’t Good Enough To Compete</h2>



<p><em><strong>“I think the league’s best team so far is Minnesota, they’re pretty much healthy. OKC, pretty much healthy besides [Josh] Giddey. And Boston, they’re fully healthy</strong></em>,” James said. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/28085324/LeBron-James-3-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="LeBron James" class="wp-image-91086" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.</figcaption></figure>



<p>LeBron then<strong> blamed health</strong> for the loss and claimed that they still have some things to figure out as a team. That’s worrisome, considering they’re over 25 games into the season, <strong>yet Darvin Ham has failed to establish any sort of identity on the team:</strong></p>



<p>“<strong><em>I don’t think we’re healthy right now,” J</em></strong>ames said. <em>“I don’t think we’re where we want to be to compete versus the top teams, and we need to continue to get better, continue to work on our habits. <strong>For us, we’re still trying to figure out our situation as far as how we want to continue to approach each game. We’ll be better.”</strong></em></p>



<h2>Anthony Davis Is Frustrated As Well</h2>



<p>Notably,<strong> Anthony Davis wasn’t happy with the loss either.</strong> He blamed their transition defense for their struggles, adding that they just failed to keep up with the Celtics’ in the fast break:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/28092934/Anthony-Davis-1-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-77947" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong><em>“There’s too many mistakes, especially tonight, a ton of mistakes in transition” </em></strong>Davis said postgame. <em>“Obviously, we was crossmatched, so it’s a little tougher. We’ve been really good with turnovers but it’s the timing that kind of hurt us. But we just gotta buckle down defensively.”</em></p>



<p>Davis also talked about Darvin Ham’s recent lineup change, which is something they still need to get used to. They’ve been together for<strong> just a handful of games, </strong>and it’ll take a while before they’re at their best:</p>



<p><strong><em>“Obviously the lineups changed, and we’re not really a switching team but now we’re getting into it because of our lineup,</em></strong>” Davis continued. <em>“We’re able to do that, so the miscommunication is kinda there. I think just buckling down defensively. <strong>Offense, I think we can be fine, but we gotta do a better job on defense.”</strong></em></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-pressured-the-lakers-to-hang-in-season-tournament-banner-but-lebron-is-happy-about-it-20231221-BUS-93453.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231221_BUS_93453_LeBron-James-Lakers-In-Season-Tournament.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="According to NBA insider Chris Hynes, the NBA &apos;pressured&apos; the Los Angeles Lakers into hanging a banner for the In-Season Tournament. Nonetheless, LeBron James had no complaints about that.
" title="NBA pressured the Lakers to hang In-Season Tournament Banner, but LeBron James is happy about it" publication_id="BUS#20231221#BUS#93453"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-makes-up-incredible-excuse-for-lakers-lack-of-energy-20231220-BUS-93331.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231220_BUS_93331_LeBron-James-5.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James talked about his team&apos;s fatigue and how they&apos;re running out of gas, and he blamed all the traveling for their shortcomings.
" title="LeBron James makes up incredible excuse for Lakers&apos; lack of energy" publication_id="BUS#20231220#BUS#93331"></div>

        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="SEO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-could-trade-two-stars-20231217-BUS-92724.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231217_BUS_92724_Lakers.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Now that most of their players have finally become eligible for a trade, the Los Angeles Lakers could look to make a big splash in the trade market.
" title="NBA Rumors: Lakers could trade two stars" publication_id="BUS#20231217#BUS#92724"></div>


<p>Shaking up your entire starting lineup one-quarter into the season just shows <strong>how clueless Ham is.</strong> He might be way over his head right now, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see this team go through yet another roster overhaul before the trade deadline, just like what has happened with most LeBron-centric teams in the past two decades. </p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="658b1ca7355a857559928822" data-title="Does LeBron need more help?" data-options="2"></div>

LeBron James questions Lakers' ability to compete with top teams

LeBron James makes up incredible excuse for Lakers' lack of energy

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LeBron James makes concerning admission about Lakers roster - Bolavip US

LeBron James blames lack of health for Lakers' struggles

LeBron James makes concerning admission about Lakers roster

<p>This Christmas, the<strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers"> Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics"><strong>Boston Celtics</strong></a> gift us a battle for bragging rights and a potential glimpse into the NBA’s future. Taking center court at Crypto.com Arena today, these two titans of the hardwood go head-to-head in a rivalry that transcends generations.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191276?irad=356361&amp;irmp=3119684" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow"><strong>[Watch Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics online for FREE in the US on Fubo]</strong></a></p>



<p>A recent victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder 129-120 gave relief to the Los Angeles Lakers, they finally won a game after suffering with a 4-game losing streak. So far they are in the 3rd spot of the Pacific Division.</p>



<p>Boston Celtics come into this one as the Eastern Conference leaders, they have a record of 22-6 with a pair of recent wins against the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/sacramento-kings"><strong>Sacramento Kings</strong></a> and L.A. Clippers. They haven’t played at home since December 17.</p>



<h2>When will Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics be played?</h2>



<p>Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics play for the 2023-2024 NBA Regular Season <b>on Monday, December 25 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles</b>. More than just a regular-season game, this matchup ignites decades of memories. From Magic vs. Bird to Shaq vs. Kobe, LeBron vs. Pierce – the Lakers and Celtics have woven a tapestry of epic encounters that define the very spirit of the NBA. Tonight, a new chapter unfolds, fueled by young stars eager to etch their names in history.</p>



<h2>Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics: Time by state in the US</h2>



<p><b>ET:</b> 5:00 PM<br><b>CT:</b> 4:00 PM<br><b>MT:</b> 3:00 PM<br><b>PT:</b> 2:00 PM</p>



<h2>How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics in the US</h2>



<p>This game for the 2023-2024 NBA Regular Season, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, December 25, <b>will be broadcast in the US by</b> <strong><a href="https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191276?irad=356361&amp;irmp=3119684" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">Fubo (7-day free trial)</a></strong> and <b>other options to watch this game in the US is ABC.</b></p>


How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics for FREE in the US today: TV Channel and Live Streaming

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics for FREE in the US today: TV Channel and Live Streaming - Bolavip US

<p>The <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> </strong>have been through a complicated start to the season. And while they’ve been slightly better <strong>since<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Zach LaVine</a> fell with an injury</strong>, it seems like they’re just prolonging the inevitable.</p>



<p>The reality is that they’re not good enough to compete and keep up with the rest of the Eastern Conference. Ironically, they do have great players that could be of significant value somewhere else, which is why<strong> all eyes are set on the Windy City right now.</strong></p>



<p>Most fans and analysts believe it’s just a matter of time before the Bulls go through a bit of a panic sale. That means they should have plenty of bidders lining up to <strong>make an offer for their All-Stars.</strong></p>



<p>Needless to say, <strong>that puts<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/demar-derozan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> DeMar DeRozan</a> in the spotlight.</strong> He’s in the final year of his contract, is already a well-seasoned veteran, and has proved himself in the league over and over. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three teams that could look to make a run at him.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/28105402/demar-derozan-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-39755" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>DeMar DeRozan</figcaption></figure>



<h2>3 Potential Destinations For DeMar DeRozan</h2>



<h2>3. Miami Heat</h2>



<p>The <strong>Miami Heat</strong> have been after so many stars over the past three years or so, and they’ve gone empty-handed. Landing <strong>Jimmy Butler</strong> was a huge first step, and he’s led them to the <strong>NBA Finals</strong> twice in four years, but he needs someone who could help him carry the load as well.</p>



<p>DeRozan isn’t a good fit from an offensive standpoint because he’s another non-shooter. Then again, he could be their starting point guard, as he boasts over-average playmaking skills, and we already know what he’s capable of as a scorer. He’d be a nice<strong> low-risk/high-reward pickup.</strong></p>



<p>The Heat shouldn’t have to give up a lot to get DeRozan on the final year of his deal, but the Bulls would be wise to target at least one of <strong>Nikola Jovic or Jaime Jaquez Jr.</strong></p>



<h2>2. Los Angeles Lakers</h2>



<p>The <strong>Los Angeles Lakers</strong> were interested in signing him before he joined the Chicago Bulls. Even he admitted that he thought he was heading back home to play in California, but the<strong> Russell Westbrook</strong> deal pretty much killed all chances of that happening.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/28120620/demar-derozan-1024x572-1024x572.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-6032" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>DeMar DeRozan</figcaption></figure>



<p>A couple of years have gone by, and the desire to come back home hasn’t faded. If anything, the Lakers could use another consistent scorer next to <strong>LeBron James </strong>and<strong> Anthony Davis.</strong> However, once again, spacing could be an issue with him on the floor.</p>



<p>Getting him shouldn’t be much of an issue for the Lakers from a salary-matching standpoint. The only issue would be whether the Bulls are interested in what they could have to give,<strong> and that’s not very likely.</strong></p>



<h2>1. New York Knicks</h2>



<p>Like the Miami Heat, the <strong>New York Knicks </strong>have also been in the market for a big star for quite a while, but to no avail. That’s despite playing in the basketball mecca and one of the biggest sports markets on Earth. They just can’t catch a break in free agency.</p>



<p><strong>Tom Thibodeau’s</strong> team has flirted with deep postseason contention for years, and it seems like they’re always on the verge or just one piece away from being a legitimate championship contender. Perhaps DeRozan is that piece they’ve been craving.</p>



<p>The Knicks have<strong> plenty of draft picks</strong> to do business with, so they should have the upper hand over every single team interested in trading for DeRozan, as the Bulls will look to replenish their draft capital.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65884f22355a857559928575" data-title="Where will DeRozan end?" data-options="4"></div>

NBA Rumors: Potential destinations for DeMar DeRozan

NBA Rumors: Potential destinations for DeMar DeRozan - Bolavip US

<p>The <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a></strong> needed something to make the players care about the regular season again. Commissioner <strong>Adam Silver came up with the In-Season Tournament idea, </strong>and it was a massive success, all things considered.</p>



<p>Nonetheless, as exciting as the games were, NBA fans are well aware of the fact that<strong> the NBA Cup is nothing compared to an actual championship.</strong> Winning seven games, with most of them coming against subpar teams, is nothing to brag about.</p>



<p>That’s why there was such a big debate about whether a franchise as historied as the <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a></strong> should hang a banner for that tournament. According to <strong>Chris Haynes,</strong> they didn’t have much of a choice:</p>



<p><em><strong>“I wasn’t sure they would do it, but I know the league really wanted any team who won the In-Season Tournament; they wanted the team to do something to kind of say that this is a big deal,”</strong></em> Haynes said on the #thisleague UNCUT podcast. <em>“I know that the Lakers had a little bit of pressure. <strong>I don’t know to what extent, but I know the Lakers felt a little bit of pressure to do something.”</strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/28085324/LeBron-James-3-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="LeBron James" class="wp-image-91086" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Lakers’ LeBron James Liked The Banner</h2>



<p>Even so, <strong>LeBron James didn’t seem to have any complaints</strong> about hanging the banner. If anything, he sees it as a nice reminder of the path they walked this season:</p>



<p>“<strong><em>I think it’s awesome,” </em></strong>the veteran forward said of hanging the banner.<strong><em> “To be able to acknowledge wins throughout the course of the marathon, I think it’s pretty cool.”</em></strong></p>



<p>LeBron also believes it was nice to have something to celebrate with the fans who didn’t get to join them in Las Vegas for the IST Final, <strong>even if it wasn’t an actual NBA Championship.</strong></p>



<p><em>“It’s the first inauguration of it, and we were able to win it, so for our fans that didn’t get an opportunity to be in Vegas, they got an opportunity to kind of share that celebration with us tonight, share that moment,”</em> added James.<em><strong> “Something that will live on forever for sure here, so it was a good moment.”</strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/28090039/LeBron-James-2-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="LeBron James angry" class="wp-image-88355" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before a game.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Austin Reaves Knows It’s Not That Big Of A Deal</h2>



<p>On the flip side, Lakers guard<strong> Austin Reaves</strong> was pretty much unfazed by the ceremony. As cool as it may have seemed, he knows the Lakers are about winning the real thing:</p>



<p><strong><em>“Yeah, I mean, it’s the first one, and it was cool,</em></strong>” Reaves said. <em>“It was cool to be a part of winning that and that whole deal. <strong>But now that’s over, and we got to focus on the season and try to hang another one up at the end of the year.”</strong></em></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lakers-hanging-a-banner-for-the-in-season-tournament-goes-against-kobe-bryants-mentality-20231213-BUS-91699.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231213_BUS_91699_LeBron-James-Lakers-In-Season-Tournament.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant once talked about how the team should never raise a banner unless it comes from winning an NBA championship.
" title="Lakers hanging a banner for the In-Season Tournament goes against Kobe Bryant&apos;s mentality" publication_id="BUS#20231213#BUS#91699"></div>


<p>Perhaps the Lakers will only hang a banner for the inaugural edition of the tournament. Otherwise, it will just feel like they’re patting themselves on the back and have forgotten about their actual goal of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. That’s all that should matter for the winningest franchise in NBA history. <strong>That’s the way Kobe Bryant wanted it to be.</strong></p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="6584542ee4fa417d5ecabaf5" data-title="Do you agree wih the banner?" data-options="2"></div>

NBA pressured Lakers to hang In-Season banner, LeBron unfazed

NBA pressured the Lakers to hang In-Season Tournament Banner, but LeBron James is happy about it - Bolavip US

Lakers bow to NBA pressure for In-Season Tournament banner

NBA pressured the Lakers to hang In-Season Tournament Banner, but LeBron James is happy about it

<p>The <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>won the league’s In-Season Tournament,</strong> but they don’t look like a legitimate <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a></strong>championship contender right now. Besides <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron  James</a> and Anthony Davis, </strong>the rest of the team has lacked consistency.</p>



<p>That was evident in their<strong> five-point loss to the New York Knicks. </strong>It seemed like they had the game under control and were at home, yet they seemed to run out of gas later.</p>



<p>That has been <strong>a worrisome trend for Darvin Ham’s team early in the season</strong>. They shouldn’t be so gassed out after just one-quarter of the regular season has gone by.</p>



<h2>LeBron James Blames Road Games For Exhaustion</h2>



<p>When asked about that, LeBron pointed out the fact that the Lakers had <strong>only had two home games since November 22</strong>, stating that all that traveling is starting to catch up with them:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/28085532/lebronjames-1024x576-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-90173" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers</figcaption></figure>



<p>“<strong><em>I feel like our energy was up and down throughout the course of the game,” </em></strong>James said after losing to the Knicks. <em>“<strong>We’ve been feeling it, definitely, like you said, first time being home since Dec. 5 and now we hit the road against tomorrow.</strong> But I feel like even through that, we still competed. We competed and gave ourselves a chance to stay in the game throughout the game. But it was just a tough one for us.”</em></p>



<p>Of course, traveling takes a big toll on your body, especially going through different timezones. But<strong> it’s still too early in the season to use that as an excuse,</strong> especially considering they travel in private jets and stay in five-star hotels:</p>



<p><strong><em>“It’s been a killer for us with the travel and games and things of that nature,”</em></strong> he continued. <em><strong>“But no rest for the weary, we just got to mentally stay locked in and get ready for Chicago first,</strong> who had a big win tonight. Big win for them against Philly in Philly. So looking forward to the matchup.”</em></p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-headlines-lakers-key-aspect-to-win-in-season-tournament-20231210-BUS-91083.html" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.bolavip.com%2Fwebp%2Fen%2Ffull%2FBUS_20231210_BUS_91083_LeBron-James-3.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="More than the In-Season Tournament trophy, LeBron James is proud of the Los Angeles Lakers&apos; growth throughout the course of the competition.
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        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="" image="" excerpt="" title="" publication_id=""></div>


<p>At the end of the day, the Lakers will have<strong> no choice but to keep pushing</strong>. Everybody has the same amount of road and home games, and they’re not the only team that has had to travel.</p>


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65833b24e4fa417d5ecab99b" data-title="Is LeBron&apos;s excuse valid?" data-options="2"></div>

LeBron James makes up incredible excuse for Lakers' lack of energy - Bolavip US

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