Lakers

2022 - 10 - 26

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Athletic"

The Pulse: The Lakers' nightmare continues, Rodgers doubles down ... (The Athletic)

Start every morning with The Pulse in your inbox. Sign up here. Good morning! If you're building a roster today, don't take any calls from Rob Pelinka.

[LeBron James](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/lebron-james-dxRvkEThnxpMbhcr/) and [Anthony Davis](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/anthony-davis-YhDofdcmUKoYKV18/) flail. [he will return for one more season](https://theathletic.com/3733485/2022/10/26/cardinals-adam-wainwright-return-2023/), his 19th in the majors, after hinting earlier that he might retire. [in exchange for former All-Pro defensive end Robert Quinn](https://theathletic.com/3733684/2022/10/26/eagles-robert-quinn-trade-bears/), another clear sign that the 6-0 Eagles are all-in this year. [is expected to start Sunday](https://theathletic.com/3733301/2022/10/26/patriots-jets-mac-jones-quarterback-belichick/) against the Jets, a source confirmed to The Athletic, although New England coach Bill Belichick (shockingly) repeatedly declined to officially say who’s starting. This comes after Jones played just three drives in Monday’s loss to [Chicago](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/bulls/) before getting pulled in favor of Bailey Zappe. The results: He was pretty good in 2022: a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts for the division-winning Cardinals, who got bounced by a hot Phillies team currently gearing up for the World Series. The interview caused some outcry from former teammates; Rodgers, ever the opinionated, said Wednesday that anything he says on a show he says in the locker room and that the players have to be “OK with the (criticism).” Fun times in Green Bay. The defense is even good, too, [as Jovan Buha detailed yesterday](https://theathletic.com/3727672/2022/10/26/lakers-defense-video-breakdown/). It feels much too early to depose your new coach or make a flurry of trades. They finished the year 17-65. The once-proud Lakers are 0-4 after a 110-99 loss to

Paul Pierce Has Lakers Conspiracy Theory, But It's Patently False (NESN.com)

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce has a conspiracy theory about the Los Angeles Lakers, but it can quickly be proven incorrect.

As part of the 2019 Anthony Davis trade, the Pelicans own the right to swap first-round picks with the 17-time champions in next year’s draft. Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3, 209-pound 18-year-old out of France, is being hailed as one of the best NBA draft prospects ever and the Lakers seemingly would do whatever it took to appease James, who is under contract with the Purple and Gold through the 2024-25 season. “Lakers think they slic,” Pierce tweeted.

Analysis: Lakers are going to have to look for some help (The Seattle Times)

They're 78-87 since winning the 2020 NBA title. LeBron James — on pace to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA career scoring leader in a few months — is winless ...

The West is loaded. Smith and Kevin Love, with Kyrie Irving knocking down perhaps the biggest 3 of that season in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The Lakers didn’t have Kendrick Nunn at all last year, they haven’t had Dennis Schroder yet this year and won’t for probably a few more weeks. They’re at the bottom of the Western Conference, and if Orlando wasn’t 0-5 the Lakers would have the worst record in the NBA. The Lakers aren’t good enough right now to make up an 11-point difference. It wasn’t really a part of the offense. Obviously, the four games that we’ve been playing have been on national TV. They’re shooting 22.3% from beyond the arc so far this season, by far the worst in the NBA. The Lakers surely know this: James is at his best when surrounded by shooters. The Lakers are taking an 0-4 record into Friday’s game at Minnesota. Only 5% of the games have been played. The season isn’t even two weeks old.

Flea Begs Lakers To Fix Team, Don't Waste LeBron's Final Years! (TMZ)

One of the most diehard celebrity Laker fans is resorting to a public plea to turn things around ... with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea calling on GM ...

but really, the Lakers' struggles are [far beyond just one player](https://www.tmz.com/2022/10/20/kevin-durant-russell-westbrook-criticism-too-far/). It's getting so bad for the Lakers, LeBron has already started posting cryptic Instagram messages ... and as Flea has put it recently -- "This Laker team is not equipped to win." [Russell Westbrook](https://www.tmz.com/people/russell-westbrook/)'s play ... [Flea](https://www.tmz.com/people/flea/) calling on GM [Rob Pelinka](https://www.tmz.com/people/rob-pelinka/) to do something ASAP. [LeBron James](https://www.tmz.com/people/lebron-james/)’ sunset of his career."

LeBron James posts yet another cryptic Instagram statement after ... (Yahoo Sports)

All is not well in the land of the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James apparently has a thing or two to say about that. A day after a 110-99 loss to the ...