Every can chill out about Dorian Finney-Smith leaving the Lakers. Finney-Smith would come off the bench in any finishing lineup. Check this out:

- PG, Luka (chill)

- SG, Reaves, (for now)

- SF, Rui (will get traded)

- PF, Lebron (leaving)

- C, Missing (Ayton is a joke)

Everything will be fine! In all seriousness, the Lakers have two choices to make:

1. Trade Reaves. Reaves might be easier to trade after he signs his extension. He’s unlikely to move this offseason. The Lakers need to ask themselves if he’s the best fit next to Luka.

2. Trade Lebron. There’s real promotional revenue value to having Lebron in your organization for his Last Dance. His on-court performance warrants a couple assets in return. The Lakers can jumpstart the Luka era by shipping Lebron east.

[Editor’s Note]: all of this was written before Mike Brown was hired by the Knicks. I’m now convinced (10%) Lebron ends up in NY.

Golf has an unofficial all-star break. Last week’s Rocket Classic featured one of the leanest fields all season and this week is no different. Where is everyone! The tip top Tour pros head to Europe (just like me). No doubt a few guys stopping in Mykonos before trekking up to Royal Portrush for the Open Championship (July 17th).

The rest of the Nerds not getting a table in Ibiza? Well, can I interest you in Silvis, Illinois. That’s right, it’s a boom or bust game baby and the real grinders are in the Quad Cities for the John Deere Classic.

A Tour stop since 1971, prior sponsors include Miller Brewing and Hardees. Beer, burgers, and industrial grade farm equipment. I love this tournament.

There’s plenty to get excited about beyond Midwest hospitality (summer shandy’s, cheese curds, burgers). Due to the less than packed field, you have a great shot at seeing someone win their first tournament much like Aldrich Potgieter did last week. Recent first time winners include defending champ Davis Thomson, Michael Kim (2019), and little ole Bryson Dechambeau (2017).

I don’t miss these opportunities. And I don’t take it lightly! Winning on Tour for the first time changes a golfer’s life. With a win, players receive Tour exemption for 2 years. That’s two years of guaranteed qualification for all events, the opportunity to set your schedule before the season, and commitment from sponsors that you’ll be present on TV. The flood of emotions from first time winners is reflective that years of grinding junior tours, chasing exemptions, and scrambling to qualify are over. It’s a Golden Ticket.

Being a fringe Tour pro means committing weekly to events with no guaranteed payday. Miss the cut and you’re entirely out of pocket. Miss enough cuts and you lose your Tour card. For some guys, this week is the Super Bowl.

Lundin is an unremarkable golf course with a fantastic hitting bay, credible opening holes, and a charming clubhouse. It loses the links narrative in the middle in the middle of the course. I won’t send you to Lundin Golf Club, but if I did, it would still outperform six of ten domestic rounds.

Here are my highlights:

- Trees. Lundin does feature a long, back nine par 5 with probably the first set of trees that shaped a hole. I wasn’t a fan.

- Flyover. The Royal Air Force buzzed the course while we were out there. Not sure if that’s an everyday occurrence, or just for VIPs like myself.

- Proximity to Elie. You don’t need to pre-game Elie, but if you wanted to squeeze in golf, at least Lundin is close. Consider Lundin a double-A team and Elie the Bigs.

- Lunch. Was radically uninspired, but then again, most Scotland lunch is.

Is this a tear down? Is that what’s happening here? Hardly. As mentioned above, the course gets off to a strong start. There’s scoring to be had if you’re playing well. The par 5 does offer stellar ocean views. If this is sub-baseline Scottish golf, and I think it is, then it only speaks to the excellence that can be found elsewhere.