Lakers Face Must-Win Game Against Golden State Warriors... Plus, What's D'Angelo Russell's Future with the Team?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Things are getting really tight in the Western Conference, and number of combinations and permutations when it comes to potential end-of-the-year standings could make your eyes bleed.

The Lakers could still finish anywhere from 6th (with a lot of help) to 10th (if they don't help themselves). And suffice to say, if they have any prayer of rising higher than their current lot (9th) they need to win out, starting tonight at home against the Warriors. It's the last home game of the regular season, and the Lakers can either solidify the opportunity to host at least one of their (potentially) two play-in games, or leave themselves vulnerable to having to win two games on the road just to make the main draw.

Win, on the other hand, and everything from eight to six is still live, at least for another day.

It won't be easy. The Warriors are playing very good basketball after a season of wild swings. In that sense, they're a lot like the Lakers. That's true both looking at their paths this season, and the overarching questions about each team's future. But for now, it's about winning whatever advantages are left on the table to take. LeBron James should be back from the illness that kept him out of Sunday's loss to Minnesota, but there's still no word on the availability of Anthony Davis (eye.)

Meanwhile, there was interesting talk on this week's edition of The Hoop Collective on ESPN, with Brian Windhorst. The conversation turned to D'Angelo Russell, and his player option for next year. Windhorst believes Russell will opt out of that year, having a) outplayed it over the course of this year, and b) not wanting to enter next season as an expiring contract leaving him once again on the trade block basically from moment one. So if he does opt out, would that mean an end to his Lakers career? Would the team be interested in giving him a new deal?

If they aren't... what's next?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Lakers vs. Warriors. Do any of the other games in the season series provide clues about tonight's result?

SEGMENT 2: LA and Golden State have more in common than they'd probably like.

SEGMENT 3: What does the future hold for D'Lo in LA?

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