Monday night in Phoenix, the Lakers were without Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook. Sure, Patrick Beverley and Wenyen Gabriel were back in the lineup, but that wasn't nearly enough and predictably, the Lakers lost big to the Suns. It was in many ways a scheduled loss, and it seems Darvin Ham might have had his eye on keeping James healty heading into Wednesday's game against Sacramento, and then Friday's very winnable game against the Hornets. Why does all of this matter? Because the Lakers can justify thinking that they're too far behind to make real noise in the West, especially with Davis set to miss a lot of time. But they can also justify thinking that, based on recent results, if they can hang in there long enough while Davis is hurt, the Lakers can play with anyone. So do they make a trade? Do they hold off until the offseason, and try to build then? What exactly is available to them now, anyway? Have they closed off avenues that once were open? And beyond that, what exactly is their plan? Because if the Lakers make a move this season, it likely means their team for next season could be set (more or less). Whether Buddy Hield, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bojan Bogdanovic or whatever is behind Door Number 7629, it's hard to see how the Lakers make an impactful trade for this year that doesn't impact next season's roster. But if they're not confident in the AD/LeBron core this season... what's the point of trying to improve on it next year? What is going to change, with Davis and James a year older, and Davis presenting no evidence he can stay healthy through a season? Are the Lakers capable of making the hard choices? Have they put themselves in a position where the right move (building as much depth around those two stars as humanly possible) isn't an option anymore? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose in Phoenix. Were they smart to sit, well, basically everyone? SEGMENT 2: Where do the Lakers go from here? Is this season worth trying to save with a trade? SEGMENT 3: If the Lakers aren't willing to believe in LeBron and AD this year... what makes them think next year will be any different? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” 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! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA PrizePicks First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That’s PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON NHTSA Drive high, get a DUI. Click HERE to learn more. BetterHelp This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. As the world’s largest therapy service, BetterHelp has matched 3 million people with professionally licensed and vetted therapists available 100% online. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices