Among the more confounding of Darvin Ham's habits in the mind of many Lakers fans was his unwillingness to give steady minutes to Max Christie, even if the team seemed to need some of his skill set at different points throughout the season. 

Well, having signed an four-year, $32 million contract this offseason, Christie is going to play. 

Now it's a matter of whether new coach JJ Redick is more willing to deploy Christie without reservation. And more than just giving him a consistent role and not penalizing him for whatever it was Ham saw last year (Darvin never really got into depth about it), will Redick be able to optimize Christie? Getting the most he can from him as a player while mitigating his weaknesses?

If so, in many ways Christie would then become like a free agent acquisition. Someone essentially not available to them last year, who makes a big contribution without giving up existing talent. Obviously Christie isn't a summer signing—nobody on this roster is, as of now—but that would be the effect. It's something, for that matter, the Lakers are hoping for with Jared Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent, as well. Two guys that were, for all intents and purposes, unavailable to the team last year. 

So between internal improvement and the arrival of Redick, where does this team stand (assuming a little bit of injury luck)? Does all of this point to a scenario where the Lakers really are better off being patient now rather than pushing for a summer trade under very suboptimal circumstances?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Christie gets a new deal. Will he get new opportunities? 

SEGMENT 2: The Lakers are hoping Christie is just one of a few returning players who give the team MUCH more this season.

SEGMENT 3: Is Christie part of the reason the Lakers are smart to wait to make a deal? 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors
From brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

FanDuel
FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM and add a big win to your summer bucket list!

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)