Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James passed basketball legend Magic Johnson for sixth all-time on the NBA's career assists list in Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

No. 6 at No. 6

LeBron has passed Magic Johnson for No. 6 on the NBA’s all-time assists list. pic.twitter.com/51wSNXSzmH

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 3, 2022

LeBron Passes Magic on the NBA's All-Time Assists List pic.twitter.com/Rai1m8o1QB

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 3, 2022

James entered the night with 10,133 dimes, eight behind Johnson's career mark of 10,141. He tied Magic's mark with a pass to Anthony Davis for a layup early in the fourth quarter before later finding AD on a three-pointer to pass the Laker legend.

With this pass, LeBron James has tied Magic Johnson for 6th all-time in career assists.

Watch live on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/pTyJGP4Ykq

— NBA (@NBA) December 3, 2022

LeBron James has officially passed Magic Johnson for the 6th most assists of all-time.

History for the 👑 pic.twitter.com/tE5s3gSqSg

— NBA (@NBA) December 3, 2022

James finished the evening with 11 assists alongside 28 points and eight rebounds to help lead the Lakers to a 133-129 win.

The 20-year NBA veteran, who turns 38 on Dec. 30, entered the night averaging 25.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

The superstar is near the top of many NBA career lists, including points scored and field goals made (both second), minutes played (third) and steals (10th).

As far as the assists list goes, James could easily find himself fourth all-time before the 2022-23 season ends. Steve Nash is fourth with 10,335 assists, while Mark Jackson is in fifth with just one fewer dish.

James and the Lakers will now head to Washington, D.C., to face the Wizards on Sunday at Capital One Arena.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had "internal discussions" about the possibility of trading for Chicago Bulls stars DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević.

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported that news on the latest edition of the Lowe Post podcast (h/t RealGM and Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago).

"The trade I saw on Twitter was Russ and both picks, one with light protections I think, for DeRozan and Vučević," Lowe said on his podcast.

"I can tell you 100 percent for sure the Lakers have had internal discussions about that very possibility [trading for DeRozan and Vučević] if it would ever come up.

"Not that they [the Lakers] would do it, let me be clear. Just, you look around the league, like any responsible team would."

The picks in reference are an unprotected 2027 first-rounder and a 2029 first-rounder (top-five-protected) in conjunction with guard Russell Westbrook.

Lowe was referencing Twitter speculation from The Ringer's Bill Simmons, who suggested that Chicago should start its rebuilding process.

Hey Chicago… it’s time…pic.twitter.com/xykaIvVPwp

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) November 30, 2022

The Bulls and Lakers are both in need of shake-ups.

Chicago is sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 9-12 record, one year after winning just one playoff game following a sixth-place finish.

Still, DeRozan has been tremendous. The 33-year-old has averaged 26.3 points on 52.0 percent shooting, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds for the Bulls. Vučević is posting double-double numbers with 15.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per matchup.

Meanwhile, the 8-12 Lakers have won six of their last eight games but still reside 13th in the Western Conference. Westbrook, whose contract runs out following this season after he picked up his $47.1 million option, has been demoted to the bench and averages 15.0 points on 39.9 percent shooting.

His expiring contract and the two first-round picks arguably serve as the team's best tradable assets. The Lakers could continue their push to compete around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while the Bulls could begin anew with a younger core.

For now, the Lakers and Bulls are scuffling through the beginning part of the season as they hope for brighter days.

During a radio appearance on Friday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was given the opportunity to respond to the recent comments from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James regarding his appearance in a 1957 photo outside of North Little Rock High School as Black students attempted to integrate the school.

Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, when asked directly if he heard James' comments and hoped to meet with him, Jones gave an answer that only praised James and did not address the issues raised by the NBA superstar.

"I don't know of anybody I respect more," the 80-year-old said of James, adding that he "would have made a great tight end" before closing with, "And I did hear what he had to say." When asked if he had any further thoughts, Jones did not elaborate beyond continuing to praise the 37-year-old forward.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked today on @1053thefan about LeBron James' critique of media coverage toward a 1957 photo that shows Jones watching as white students impeded Black students from entering North Little Rock High School.

Jones responded only with praise for James. https://t.co/MHk6Cjt1qn pic.twitter.com/XinCxoBYfP

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 2, 2022

Last month, David Maraniss and Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post wrote an in-depth profile of Jones as part of the Black Out series on the lack of diversity in NFL head coaches. The profile detailed how the North Little Rock, Arkansas native stood outside his high school among white students who were blocking six Black students as they attempted to enter and enroll.

Analysis: A 1957 photo of Jerry Jones reminds us how recent America’s past ishttps://t.co/rp437vTV9e

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 1, 2022

On Wednesday after a win over the Portland Trail Blazers, James questioned reporters in his post-game press conference over what he believes is a double standard regarding the media's coverage of the published photo of Jones compared to the situation surrounding Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving.

"I got one question for you guys before you guys leave," James said. "I was thinking when I was on my way over here, I was wondering why I haven't gotten a question from you guys about the Jerry Jones photo. But when the Kyrie [Irving] thing was going on, you guys were quick to ask us questions about that."

Irving had been suspended earlier in the year for his promotion of an antisemitic film and his refusal to denounce the beliefs contained in it. James was asked to give his thoughts on the matter, as were other NBA superstars at the time.

Jones addressed his appearance in the photo last week, saying he was not an active participant in the 1957 protest against the Black students.

"I didn't know at the time the monumental event really that was going on," Jones said. "I'm sure glad that we're a long way from that. I am. That would remind me [to] just continue to do everything we can to not have those kinds of things happen."

However, James raised an issue with the lack of attention the photo garnered, saying, "I know it was years and years ago and we all make mistakes, I get it—but it seems like it's just been buried under, like, 'Oh, it happened. OK, we just move on.' And I was just kind of disappointed that I haven't received that question from you guys."

While Jones acknowledged that he heard James' comments, his inability to respond to the main concerns he expressed likely will not sit well with many people.

The Los Angeles Lakers have managed to turn their 2022 season around to a degree. After a disastrous 2-10 start to the season, Los Angeles has won six of its last eight. This doesn't mean that the Lakers are definitely playoff-bound—they're 13th in the Western Conference—but it does suggest that they're starting to figure it out.

Rookie head coach Darvin Ham hasn't been perfect, but he's found a way to maximize the trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. Injuries certainly played a role, but the Big Three struggled to establish chemistry under Frank Vogel last season en route to a 33-win campaign.

Ham's strategy has been to use Westbrook as a sixth man and the centerpiece of the second-team offense. It has worked, and Westbrook has been a valuable contributor in his new role.

Despite averaging 6.4 minutes less than he did a season ago, Westbrook is averaging just 2.5 fewer points and 2.2 fewer rebounds while averaging more assists (7.2 vs. 7.1). He's also shooting 39.9 percent from the floor and 31.7 from three-point range—his highest three-point percentage since the 2016-17 season.

None of this means, though, that the Lakers won't still try to trade Westbrook before February's deadline. According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, Los Angeles is still looking to flip the 34-year-old for a starting-caliber player—and it may use its 2027 and/or 2029 first-round picks to do so.

"We know Russell Westbrook has been in a bunch of trade rumors. The team is still actively trying to trade him, though they’re unsure of what they want to do with their picks," Buha told Lakers Talks with Allen Sliwa (h/t Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll).

Interestingly, Buha noted that Westbrook isn't the only player who has been discussed ahead of the December 15 trade window—when players who signed contracts in the offseason become trade-eligible.

According to Buha, a package consisting of Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn has been discussed:

"So I think looking at Pat and Kendrick specifically, those have been the two names that have come up a lot in potential deals where the Lakers could package those guys together and get to about $20 million combined and then you throw in a first-round pick potentially, and all of sudden there are a lot of options where you get upwards of $22-25 million back in salary and throw in a pick and maybe you get a high-level starter or two coming back the other way."

Buha also noted that the Lakers brass is leaning toward making a smaller move—one not involving Westbrook or a future first-rounder, if that's possible—until the team starts beating quality teams.

Los Angeles is 2-12 against teams over .500.

Even if the Lakers do start stringing together quality wins, trading Westbrook may not be L.A.'s best move with a Beverley/Nunn package hypothetically on the table.

Yes, the Lakers would prefer to have the All-Star version of Westbrook running with the starters, but he's not exactly a liability off the bench. His ability to play up-tempo offense and be a distributor serves as a nice change of pace. Against teams prepared for a more methodical and physical offense centered around James and Davis, that's can be an asset.

Right now, Los Angeles is getting a lot less out of Beverley and Nunn.

Beverley is a fine defender, but he's shooting just 26.8 percent from the floor and 23.4 percent from beyond the arc. That's a problem because L.A. needs perimeter shooters who can complement the inside games of James and Davis.

This is especially true after the Lakers released Matt Ryan in preparation for that December 15 window:

The Lakers are waiving wing shooter Matt Ryan, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ryan impressed in stint with L.A., shooting 38.2 percent from 3, including a clutch shot in win over Pelicans in November. The move opens up a roster spot for Lakers ahead of Dec. 15 trade date.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 1, 2022

Nunn, meanwhile, is averaging just 13.9 minutes and 5.8 points per game. That's a far cry from when he last played in 2020-21 (29.5 minutes, 14.6 PPG). He is expendable, and if the Lakers can replace Beverley in the starting lineup with a quality shooter, it would be an upgrade.

The big question is what Los Angeles can get in return for Beverley and Nunn. They're not going to get an All-Star because of the required salary match, and perhaps that's what Los Angeles is ultimately after. However, Los Angeles should be able to find a quality shooter in the $20-25 million range.

As a purely hypothetical example, let's examine Utah Jazz forward Mike Conley. He is shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range and is making $22.7 million this season. That's perhaps the level of player L.A. can hope to get, from a salary-match standpoint anyway.

If the Lakers can improve their starting lineup and/or their perimeter shooting while still keeping Westbrook as a high-end bench player, it could push them directly into the playoff mix.

Focusing on a trade involving Beverley, Nunn or both would also keep the Westbrook card in Los Angeles' proverbial pocket. If an ancillary piece or two doesn't help L.A. get on a winning track, the Lakers could still revisit a Westbrook trade before February 9.

Los Angeles still has two months before trading Westbrook is no longer an option. If they move him now and the trade doesn't pay off, the Lakers will likely be out of tradeable assets and out of luck.

Pursuing a trade that doesn't involve Westbrook could still make Los Angeles a better team, and if it doesn't, it would at least leave the Lakers with options. That's why Westbrook probably isn't the Lakers' best trade chip right now, and he definitely shouldn't be their only one.

It's no secret the Los Angeles Lakers have been in the trade market amid a disappointing start to the 2022-23 season. However, potential moves might not happen until later this month.

The Purple and Gold are weighing three different trade options for after Dec. 15, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha. Those three options include trading Russell Westbrook and attaching draft picks to him in order to acquire a star or multiple players; packaging Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn with picks to bolster the roster; or a combination of the two deals.

Team sources told Buha that the Lakers are "leaning toward" the second or third option, which "would entail making a smaller move to marginally upgrade the roster while retaining the possibility of following up with a larger Westbrook deal later in the season."

While the Purple and Gold have won six of their last eight games, they still sit 13th in the Western Conference at 8-12.

Further, the team's roster isn't built to sustain success if some combination of LeBron James or Anthony Davis goes down with injury.

We saw those struggles last season, with James playing 56 games and Davis appearing in just 40 games. The Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record.

While the Lakers missed the postseason, they weren't able to make significant upgrades entering this season because of the hefty salaries of James ($44.5 million), Davis ($38 million) and Westbrook ($47.1 million). Instead, general manager Rob Pelinka had to fill out his roster with average talent, including Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones, Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant.

Still, the Lakers are continuing to evaluate their roster, and the team's upcoming six-game Eastern Conference road trip could be "a potential swing factor in how aggressively the front office dangles their first-round picks on the trade market," Buha wrote.

L.A. will face some tough opponents coming up, including the 15-5 Milwaukee Bucks, 14-8 Cleveland Cavaliers, 12-10 Philadelphia 76ers and the 18-4 Boston Celtics, though that game is set for Dec. 13 at Crypto.com Arena.

Westbrook has been mentioned as a trade candidate since last season. However, the veteran's performance last season coupled with his $47 million salary have made him a tough player to move.

To deal Westbrook, the Lakers almost surely will need to attach at least one of their 2027 or 2029 first-round draft picks, though it doesn't seem like they'll do that unless the return is significant enough.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James called out what he believed to be a double standard after the Washington Post published a photo of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones outside of North Little Rock High School in 1957 when the school was integrating.

"I got one question for you guys before you guys leave," James told reporters following Wednesday's 128-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. "I was thinking when I was on my way over here, I was wondering why I haven't gotten a question from you guys about the Jerry Jones photo. But when the Kyrie [Irving] thing was going on, you guys were quick to ask us questions about that."

LeBron James questions the media and shares his thoughts on the Jerry Jones 1957 photo. pic.twitter.com/xbW9LyLicQ

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 1, 2022

The Brooklyn Nets suspended Irving earlier this season after he promoted an antisemitic film on social media and refused to condemn the problematic themes presented. It was briefly one of the biggest stories in the NBA, which prompted reporters to ask stars such as James their thoughts on the matter.

As part of their Black Out series on the lack of diversity among the NFL's coaching ranks, the Washington Post's David Maraniss and Sally Jenkins wrote an in-depth profile of Jones given his outsized importance in the league.

They detailed how Jones, who grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas, stood outside of North Little Rock High when six Black students were attempting to enter the school.

Analysis: A 1957 photo of Jerry Jones reminds us how recent America’s past ishttps://t.co/rp437vTV9e

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 1, 2022

The revelation isn't a focal point of the profile but is included as part of a deeper look into Jones' hiring practices with the Cowboys.

Maraniss and Jenkins note how the 80-year-old can not only open doors for people of color but also help shift the paradigm in the NFL because he's arguably the league's most powerful figure not named Roger Goodell.

Jones told the Post he "want(s) to be the first in line" on improving diversity now, but that hasn't been true in the past:

But league executives say there was one issue Jones never pressed or even expressed much of an opinion on: race. Before and after the Rooney Rule was instituted in 2003, the league regularly discussed its embarrassing minority hiring record. Jones seemed uninterested. 'Other things have been more important,' one longtime former team executive said. 'Being powerful — that’s what is important to him.'

Jones has already addressed perhaps the most talked about portion of the feature. He told reporters he "didn't know at the time the monumental event that was going on" at the protest in 1957.

It's bound to become a topic of discussion once again after James' postgame press conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers earned their sixth win in the past eight games with Wednesday's 128-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena.

LeBron James played one of his best games of the season. The 18-time All-Star dropped 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting with eight assists and seven rebounds in 33 minutes. It was the second time in three games he has surpassed the 30-point barrier.

👑. pic.twitter.com/YBGruRPT5U

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 1, 2022

While James dominating is nothing new, it was a good sign for the Lakers to see Austin Reaves continue his recent streak of strong play. He scored a season-high 22 points in 35 minutes after being inserted back into the starting lineup following a three-game stretch coming off the bench.

Saucetin Reaves 🍝 pic.twitter.com/sPEafCDXg7

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 1, 2022

LeBron James on Austin Reaves: "We trust him. He knows I trust him. And he goes on to play his game, and that's a beautiful thing to see, especially for a young player to see his growth from one year to the next."

— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) December 1, 2022

Reaves' performance caught the attention of NBA Twitter as the Lakers continue to play well:

The Lakers surged back from down 17-6 to go into the 2nd Q up 24-22. Austin Reaves (8 points) was the spark.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 1, 2022

Austin Reaves the last 3 weeks pic.twitter.com/KPs0Ujhqr0

— Calenta (@NBAPaint1) December 1, 2022

Give Austin Reaves the ball and get out of the way.

— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) December 1, 2022

Austin Reaves is one of the best role players in the nba and the lakers kinda lucked into him, especially after losing Caruso

— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) December 1, 2022

Austin Reaves for president

— GITANO ROYALE (@GitanoRoyale) December 1, 2022

Austin Reaves and Lebron James tonight. pic.twitter.com/2gKnOKIngQ

— LakersSpin (@LakersSpin) December 1, 2022

Austin Reaves is HIM.

— Austin Reaves 🐐 (@lakeshow4lyf) December 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/f40daniel/status/1598217809284456448

Undrafted out of Oklahoma last year, Reaves was given a shot by the Lakers when he signed a two-way contract in August 2021. The 24-year-old received extended playing time as a rookie, in part, because of all the injuries the team dealt with.

Reaves showed promise as a role player, averaging 7.3 points on 45.9 percent shooting. The 6'5" shooting guard has hit another level this season and has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the NBA.

After going a combined 0-of-4 from three-point range in two games last week, Reaves did fall under 40 percent shooting behind the arc. But he's still on the cusp of the 50/40/90 club with a 54.0 percent field-goal percentage, 39.7 three-point percentage and 90.9 field-goal percentage.

Head coach Darvin Ham has taken notice of Reaves' play by having him start seven of the past 11 games. He's averaging 31.3 minutes per game in 14 games since Nov. 2.

Reaves and the Lakers will be put to the test in their next game when they begin a six-game Eastern Conference road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

With the Dec. 15 deadline for teams to start making trades, the Los Angeles Lakers have opened up a roster spot by moving on from Matt Ryan.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Lakers will waive the 25-year-old small forward after he played in 12 games this season.

Ryan was shooting 37.1 percent from three-point range with 2.9 attempts per game.

Ryan was one of the feel-good stories coming out of the preseason. He signed with the Lakers on Sept. 26 after playing for the Boston Celtics in Summer League.

The Lakers gave Ryan the final spot on their roster before the start of the regular season. The 25-year-old shot 35.5 percent from three-point range and averaged 8.2 points in five preseason contests.

Ryan actually shot better from behind the arc during the regular season, albeit in limited playing time. He ranks third on the Lakers in three-point percentage (37.1), behind Max Christie (43.8) and Austin Reaves (39.7).

Christie is a 19-year-old rookie who has the potential to play himself into a bigger role. Reaves has already played himself into a significant role for head coach Darvin Ham. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Lonnie Walker IV are averaging more minutes per game.

Ryan was only playing 10.8 minutes per game and a total of 14 minutes, 46 seconds since Nov. 9. He only scored three points during that span. The Chattanooga alum played for the Grand Rapids Gold, G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, for most of the 2021-22 season.

The Celtics signed Ryan to a two-way contract in February. He made his NBA debut on April 10 in Boston's 139-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers have turned things around with six wins in their past eight games after a 2-10 start. They still have the third-worst record in the Western Conference, but general manager Rob Pelinka can at least be encouraged by this recent performance to consider making bold moves.

Los Angeles Lakers fans had at least one thing to celebrate during the team's 116-115 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Jamie Murry pocketed $75,000 and drew an ovation from the Crypto.com Arena crowd when he drained a half-court shot. Lakers star Anthony Davis celebrated with Murry on the court.

Sink the @MGMRewards Big Shot Jackpot ✅
HIt the Griddy ✅
Celebrate with AD ✅ pic.twitter.com/kDqbSobdS2

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 29, 2022

Murry told ESPN's Dave McMenamin he plans to give most of his winnings to his mom and will save the rest:

Spoke to the $75,000 man, Jamie Murry, after he hit the big halfcourt shot at the Lakers game tonight. pic.twitter.com/G70MdhqgEK

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 29, 2022

If only Murry's heave had counted toward Los Angeles' offensive output. Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to hand the Lakers their 12th defeat of the season.

Darvin Ham accepted responsibility for the Los Angeles Lakers blowing a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter of the team's 116-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

"That falls on me," Ham told reporters when discussing his team's lack of offensive organization. "That falls on me. I'll take responsibility for that."

Anthony Davis came to his coach's defense, saying the players needed to step up as the lead started slipping away.

"It's not just on him," Davis said. "It's on us too. I mean, we got enough years in the league for the guys that were on the floor late game to execute. Obviously, he's a coach, you take the blame. But it's on us players to go out there and execute."

The Lakers' offense became stagnant in the fourth quarter, often leaning heavily on Russell Westbrook with LeBron James hobbled by an ankle injury suffered in the opening period.

Westbrook led the squad with eight points in the fourth, but the rest of L.A.'s roster combined to make just five of their 16 shots (31.3 percent) in the final 12 minutes.

"We can't be in situations where we're throwing [Westbrook] the ball and everyone is standing and we're dribbling out the clock, dribbling out the clock," Ham said. "Now we're waiting on someone to go one-on-one versus the world. That's tough. That's a huge responsibility to have to score in those situations."

The loss dropped the Lakers to 7-12 and likely brought a halt to any momentum built up by winning five of their previous six games.

Every L.A. defeat leads to a renewed round of questions about how the team's front office is going to react to the sluggish start to the campaign.

General manager Rob Pelinka and Co. have so far resisted calls to make a significant roster-altering move, but each passing game further solidifies the fact the Lakers need another offensive threat capable of supporting James and Davis.

Los Angeles ranks last in three-pointers made per game (9.6) and 28th in three-point shooting percentage (32.0), numbers that make it tough to win in the modern NBA.

Being able to spread out defenses would not only provide more support for LeBron and AD, but it would also give more space for them to operate in half-court sets.

Yet there's been no sense the Lakers are aggressively working behind the scenes to get deals done. Instead, they may wait until closer to February's trade deadline before deciding how to move forward for the rest of the season.

For a team desperately seeking a spark, however, waiting a couple months doesn't seem like the best course of action if L.A. wants to turn things around in a significant way.

The Lakers are back in action Wednesday night when they host the Portland Trail Blazers.