The Lakers are heading into the 2026-27 NBA season with plenty of expectations — and plenty of questions. On today’s Hoops Talk w/Allen Sliwa, we’re joined by Raj Chipalu from Silver Screen & Roll to discuss what expectations should be for this Lakers team heading into the new season.

We’ll break down the biggest questions surrounding the Lakers, including who will win the power forward battle during training camp and which player could be the odd man out as Los Angeles looks to consolidate its roster from 16 players down to 15.

We’ll also discuss the pressure on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ roster battles, and what needs to happen for this team to meet expectations in the 2026-27 NBA season.

Plus, we dive into Josh Kushner and Bob Iger’s reported plan to push the Lakers toward a $30 billion valuation over the next decade. What are their plans to grow the Lakers’ value, and what could the ambitious financial projections mean for the future of the franchise?

🔥 TOPICS:
• Lakers 2026-27 season expectations
• Raj Chipalu from Silver Screen & Roll joins the show
• Who will win the Lakers’ power forward battle?
• Lakers training camp roster battles
• Pressure on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves
• Lakers roster consolidation
• Biggest questions heading into the new season
• Josh Kushner & Bob Iger’s $30 billion Lakers valuation plan
• The future of Lakers ownership
• Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office

Join Allen Sliwa for Hoops Talk as we break down the latest Lakers news, roster decisions, NBA storylines, and everything surrounding the Purple and Gold.

0:00 – Intro | Listener comments

8:10 – Expectations for this season

15:45 – Listener comments

23:50 – Is Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy gonna be the odd man out?

29:06 – Listener comments

30:11 – Guest: Raj Chipalu

31:14 – Who does Raj think will be the odd man out on the Lakers roster?

36:00 – What can Mamu bring to the table this season for the Lakers?

40:07 – What are Raj’s expectations for the Lakers this season?

45:50 – How active does Raj think the Lakers will be to improve the roster this year?

53:39 – Raj hopes that Matisse Thybulle can be healthy this year

57:25 – Rob Pelinka & JJ Redick scheduled to talk tomorrow

58:00 – Kushner/Iger group believe Lakers can be valued at $30B in 10 years

1:02:00 – NBA News | Listener comments