Buha's Block with Jovan Buha

Latest Episodes:

Lakers' Trade For Mark Williams Rescinded + Lakers-Pacers Postgame Reaction Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' trade for Mark Williams being rescinded due to Williams failing his physical with the team. He also reacts to the Lakers' 124-117 win over the Indiana Pacers on February 8, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the impact of not adding Williams, the underwhelming center buyout and free-agent market, the awkwardness of bringing back Dalton Knecht, the Lakers winning 11 of 13 games, Austin Reaves' career-high 45 points with LeBron James and Luka Doncic out, Jordan Goodwin's Lakers debut, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:29 Analyzing the impact of the nixed Williams trade

10:29 Why I think this lowers LA's ceiling this season

13:46 The fallout of all of this for Dalton Knecht

15:31 The center buyout/free-agent market is underwhelming

19:21 Overaching takeaway from Lakers-Pacers: Another impressive win as LA ascends to No. 4 in the West

20:52 Stat of the night: 45-7-7 from Austin Reaves

21:19 Takeaway No. 1: Reaves continues to show his importance

23:16 Takeaway No. 2: Jordan Goodwin impresses in debut

26:30 Q&A

2:01:02 Outro

Ep. 86: The Lakers' Ceiling After The Trade Deadline With Cranjis McBasketball Feb 08, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha welcomes Tim (aka Cranjis McBasketball) to recap the Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 trade deadline and look ahead to the rest of the season.

Jovan and Tim discuss how Luka Doncic and Mark Williams fit with the Lakers, Williams' defensive limitations, grading the trade deadline, who should be the fifth starter, Austin Reaves, the empty roster spot, LA's ceiling and spot in the West pecking order, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:03 Cranjis’ reaction to the Luka Doncic trade

3:28 How Luka fits and improves the offense

9:40 Assessing the Mark Williams trade

16:07 Mark Williams’ defense

23:56 How Luka and MW change the offense

31:12 Luka off the ball

32:45 Grading the trade deadline

34:33 Who should be the fifth starter?

40:57 How does Austin fit alongside Luka and LeBron?

47:58 What should LA look for with its open empty roster spot?

55:01 What is LA’s ceiling? And where are they in West pecking order?

1:03:23 Outro

Lakers-Warriors Postgame Reaction: LeBron James Outshoots Steph Curry As LA Continues Its Surge Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 120-112 over the Golden State Warriors on February 6, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the new Mark Williams we learned ahead of the game, LeBron James joining the 40-40 Club, the Lakers' blueprint with this new group, one potential concern defensively, Jarred Vanderbilt, Luka Doncic, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:55 Overarching takeaway: LA is playing its best basketball of the season

6:09 Stat of the night: Jarred Vanderbilt's 14 rebounds in 21 minutes

9:21 Takeaway No. 1: Mark Williams trade context

18:02 Takeaway No. 2: The blueprint forward (and how Luka and MW fit in)

25:31 Takeaway No. 3: Perimeter speed defensively is still a concern

30:45 Q&A

1:31:34 Outro

Lakers Post-Trade Deadline Q&A: Can LA Contend?, Luka Doncic, Mark Williams' Fit Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha reacts and recaps the Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 trade deadline on February 6, 2025.

He analyzes the Lakers' moves over the past month-plus, why this is an A+ trade cycle for LA, the current starting lineup and rotation, and Mark Williams before answering viewer/listener questions.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:16 Trade deadline recap

1:39 Projected starting lineup and rotation

4:38 Grading the Mark Williams trade (again)

8:03 Q&A

1:36:37 Outro

Lakers Trade For Mark Williams: LA Goes All-In on Luka Doncic & LeBron James Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles trading for center Mark Williams late on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the deal, Williams' fit on both sides of the ball, Luka Doncic coveting a Williams type, the projected starters/rotation, what's next for LA, their new ceiling, giving up on Dalton Knecht, the current center market, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:56 The Lakers get the type of C they wanted (and Luka wanted)

6:11 Mark Williams scouting report

14:19 LA's new projected starters/rotation

17:45 Assessing the current center market

20:58 The Lakers go all-in on Luka Doncic & LeBron James

27:09 What's next for LA ahead of the deadline?

31:24 How good are the Lakers? What's their ceiling?

36:02 Q&A

2:08:18 Outro

Lakers-Clippers Postgame Reaction: LA Completes 5-1 Grammy Trip With Luka Doncic Watching On Bench Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 122-97 win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Lakers' first game post-trade, a statement win ahead of the trade deadline, the postgame comments from LeBron James, LA's connectivity on both sides of the ball, LA having a positive point differential, the potential starting lineup, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:35 Overarching takeaway: This is the most connected LA has been

12:18 Stat of the night: +25 margin of victory (and +19 point differential)

13:53 Takeaway No. 1: What is the ideal starting lineup post-trade?

22:41 Takeaway No. 2: Luka-AD trade reactions from JJ Redick, Austin Reaves & LeBron James

31:04 Takeaway No. 3: Statement win before the trade deadline

33:56 Q&A

1:36:49 Outro

Ep. 85: Five Takeaways From Luka Doncic's Lakers Intro Presser Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha analyzes Luka Doncic's introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Jovan covers why Doncic appears motivated after being traded and criticized by the Dallas Mavericks, when Doncic could be making his Lakers debut, the updates from Rob Pelinka on the trade deadline and the center search, why the Lakers are clearly on Luka's timeline now, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:59 Takeaway No. 1: Luka is motivated after the trade and criticism

5:45 Takeaway No. 2: Injury updates for Luka and Maxi Kleber

9:15 Takeaway No. 3: The benefits of familiarity

13:52 Takeaway No. 4: Pelinka speaks on trade deadline & center search

19:14 Takeaway No. 5: The Luka timeline

25:16 Outro

Ep. 84: Luka Doncic To Lakers Q&A: Short- And Long-Term Impact, What's Next? Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha analyzes the impact of the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Luka Doncic and what comes next for LA.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:05 The end of the LeBron-AD era and looking back at AD in LA

4:29 Why was this trade so surprising?

5:40 Why did the Lakers do this?

8:33 How does this impact LA in the short term?

16:59 How does this impact LA in the long term?

20:29 What's next for the Lakers?

25:14 Q&A

49:01 Outro

Lakers Trade Anthony Davis For Luka Doncic In WILDEST Trade In NBA History Feb 02, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers trading Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic in a blockbuster three-team deal on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Jovan analyzes why the Lakers made this move, how it came together, the shocking nature of the deal, how Luka fits in LA, short and long-term implications, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:20 How I found out about the trade while still at MSG

1:46 Why this trade was so shocking

3:36 Why the Lakers had to make this trade

8:56 Short-term questions about Luka and the Lakers

14:30 Closing thoughts

15:04 Q&A

44:22 Outro

Ep. 83: Lakers Trade-Target Tiers: Ranking The Top 10 Players + Proposing Offers Feb 01, 2025

Show notes

Jovan Buha ranks his top 10 trade targets for the Los Angeles Lakers with the 2025 NBA trade deadline less than a week away.

Jovan breaks the players down into tiers based on value, explains why he likes each player, how they’d fit in the Lakers’ rotation, and proposes realistic trade offers.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:49 Explainer

3:28 Honorable mentions

4:57 Tier 1

5:41 Trade target No. 1: Walker Kessler

17:42 Trade target No. 2: Myles Turner

28:02 Tier 2

28:37 Trade target No. 3: Cam Johnson

35:35 Tier 3

36:14 Trade target No. 4: Bruce Brown Jr.