The Kyrie Irving Rumors Gain Some Steam, While the Lakers Prepare for Free Agency

Free agency begins this week in the NBA, and the Lakers have a tremendous amount of work in front of them. But as the curtain rises on rebuilding yet another brand new Lakers roster, there's more smoke billowing around the Kyrie Irving-to-LA conversation. Not any fire, yet, it would appear, but with careful NBA reporters saying that LeBron James and Kyrie are communicating and that there's some substance to the interest, it's not nothing, either. And with James Harden reportedly set to take a less-than-max-length extension with Philadelphia, does that change the arithmetic around Kyrie's leverage, whether in Brooklyn or L.A.? What about LeBron's leadership? In an interview with Bloomberg, Golden State's Draymond Green noted that LeBron's presence would help mitigate Kyrie's relative lack of leadership skills. Certainly not a guy you'd want as a frontman, for sure... which means LeBron has to be here as long as Irving would be. Is James committed to Los Angeles in that way? Finally, as free agency starts, we open up the mailbag to look at some of the team needs, and whether or not the team will recalibrate its strategy around signing free agents. Should they bring back anyone? Dwight Howard? Carmelo Anthony? Should they guarantee spots for Stanley Johnson or Wenyen Gabriel? It's gonna be real tough to pull together a coherent roster on minimum deals and one taxpayer exception, that's for sure. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Kyrie rumors are percolating. Credible sources say there's something to it. SEGMENT 2: Draymond Green weighs in on how LeBron's influence could help it work, should Kyrie land in Los Angeles. SEGMENT 3: Should the Lakers bring Carmelo Anthony back? What about Dwight? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Check out PrizePicks.com and use promo code: “NBA” or go to your app store and download the app today. PrizePicks is daily fantasy made easy! 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 BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! 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. Arcade1up Pre-order now from arcade1up.com - that’s Arcade, the number 1, Up, dot com - for an estimated early September ship date! They are giving away a NBA JAM Shaq edition to a Locked On listener! Enter for a chance to win a game console for your man-cave at arcade1up.com/lockedon. Sakara Sakara is a wellness company anchored in food as medicine, on a mission to nourish. Go to Sakara.com/LOCKEDON20 or Enter Code “LOCKEDON20” for 20% off at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices