The Lakers' icy July launch in Las Vegas

Our latest around-the-league notes compilation leads off with the first hint of the awkwardness you can expect for LeBron James' team if it is unable to trade Russell Westbrook this summer

When I chatted Thursday on Spotify Live with longtime Lakerland chronicler Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times, I asked BT to try to forecast how awkward Darvin Ham's first training camp address to the team will be if Russell Westbrook is still a Laker in late September.

I'd say we were promptly treated to a glimpse of how that tension might feel Friday…