Lakers Lounge

Raj asks Anthony about honeymoon periods, which leads to a hilarious, ridiculous analogy. The guys talk about the Lakers' decisions impact on Luka Doncic, who will have an extension passed across the table to him this summer that the Lakers desperately need him to sign. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony is joined on this earlier edition of The Lounge by Kirk Henderson (Mavs Moneyball, Pod Maverick) to discuss Luka Doncic's season, both in Dallas and eventually in L.A. The guys talk about the calf strain that never relented its grip on this season, Luka Ball, the need for a center and, eventually, a former teammate of Doncic's who the Lakers have an eye on. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony dropped a report last night on the Lakers' center pursuit. He narrates that piece, plus a couple occasional nuggets here and there. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony comes back from his little break with a bang, as he welcomes Trevor Lane (LakersNation) into The Lounge to talk ... about most of the same stuff we've been talking about. Centers stuff, the need for athleticism, Austin Reaves' trade market and whatever else comes up. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Trevor kick off their conversation with some bbq talk, then dive into the playoffs that continue to roll on without the Lakers. These games demand the question: Are the Lakers close? If they are, then how can that gap be bridged? If not, then is it smarter to keep their powder dry for when they can more sustainably compete? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In that 2019-20 season, the Lakers brought back Dwight Howard and had a very honest conversation with him about his career at that point. Anthony makes the case that a similar conversation could help a very talented center turn things around in L.A. Trevor is a little less sold. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony did a little digging and one thing resonates far above everything else as it pertain to noise surrounding the Lakers' offseason: They know they need at least one center and are in the market for a couple. He discusses how that pursuit is going so far, the speed bumps they've already hit and how a chaotic summer might really help them. He also explains why it seems unlikely Jaxson Hayes will be back next year -- and why he hopes he isn't. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Honestly, the guys could've spent the entire show marveling at the game they just watched. But, they're professionals, so instead, they marveled at the game they just watched and then fantasized about some of the players they just watched being on the Lakers. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Knicks just lost in one of the most excruciating ways ever seen in the history of the sport and have only themselves to blame. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a really good chance the Pacers might start looking at their books this summer and decide there is a guy here and there they won't be able to keep. Anthony thinks this might present the Lakers an opportunity. He and Raj discuss this, and the notion of trading talent for fit. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Raj continue their conversation but the most striking thing in this segment (other than the live questions) was everything they learned about Luke Kornet. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony has noticed a take that he just can't quite wrap his head around from a particular faction of the fan base. They want LeBron James gone. Anthony explains why it wouldn't help and where he thinks the take is coming from, then dives into what the Lakers will need to do to make it work with James. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony records every episode with an image of Kobe behind him. He was once the obnoxious Kobe stan. He thinks there's a good chance that faction of the Lakers fan base is also the one that has been waiting for a reason to demand LeBron James go away. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeBron James and Luka Doncic were asked to completely rethink the way they play the game in a matter of a few months then try to let that carry them through the playoffs. It's going to be legitimately fascinating to watch these two basketball geniuses try to figure this rubix cube out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of our absolute favorites stopped by The Lounge today. Dan Woike (L.A. Times) is back from the NBA Draft Combine, where things are considerably quieter for the Lakers than when he was there last season. The guys talk about the "mourning period" the Lakers went through and the work they're doing to avoid that next year. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pope is a White Sox fan from Chicago. Dan Woike is a White Sox fan from Chicago. This is the closest Anthony will ever get to talking to the Pope about the Lakers offseason. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Dan finally get around to the Austin Reaves portion of their conversation. All they keep hearing is how unlikely it is Reaves will be moved for a variety of reasons. They wrap with a bit of offseason rapid fire as they try to design out the ideal Lakers summer. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The conference finals matchups are set and, now that we're two rounds in, Anthony offers up a take on what it takes on offense and defense to enjoy postseason success -- and how it runs contrary to what is valued across the league. From there, he brings the conversation back to the Lakers by answering questions from the iTunes, Twitter and youtube mailbags. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As much as teams have focused on efficiency through shot selection, Anthony found a notable trend across most of the conference finalists over the years and their ability from two-point range. Between that and the defense we're seeing from the teams left, the Lakers have their work cut out for them this summer. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A listener wanted to know what it would take for the Lakers to play the kind of defense we're watching from the remaining teams and, well, we have some bad news... To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of trying to find some way to record a regular pod together, Anthony and Pete finally have that opportunity and will be recording episodes of "The Hook" every other Friday or so. This is their first such episode and in it, they talk about the potential for a quieter summer than fans may expect, what that would mean and what's on the line in this first transaction window since the Luka trade -- plus any number of topics in-between. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Given how little the Lakers have to work with, Anthony is concerned the team will probably look pretty similar to what we saw this year. If so, and if the Lakers want to compete for a championship, then any improvement will need to come internally. Anthony asks Pete about this notion and... Pete isn't sold. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One thing that's become impossible to ignore is that, outside of keeping his job, it's pretty difficult to figure out what Rob Pelinka's top priorities are in building a team. The organization has lacked much of an identity and this is probably a reason why. Anthony and Pete discuss this and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Raj break down what they just watched as the Nuggets extended their series to a game seven in OKC thanks to Julian Strawther stepping up. Identity matters in basketball, turns out. From there, they have THE DEFINITIVE AUSTIN REAVES CONVERSATION as so much attention has been paid to his trade market. They also hold THE DEFINITIVE CHRISTIAN KOLOKO CONVERSATION which doesn't exactly have the same ring to it. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The guys discuss everything they saw from Nuggets-Thunder game six and how frustrating it was to watch the Lakers wander away from their identity in their series against the Wolves. That can't happen again. They also discuss the differences between regular and postseason basketball and why Anthony was always skeptical of OKC. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arguably the best case for not trading Austin is how much it would suck to trade him at maybe his lowest value following that disappointing playoff run. Raj makes that case, then Anthony plays devil's advocate. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raj has a quite frankly weird amount of things to say about Christian Koloko and what he considers a wasted opportunity from the Lakers to grab the $100 bill they saw floating down the sidewalk (Anthony's analogy). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, the Celtics extended their series and now are applying a whole bunch of pressure on the Knicks to win Friday. Please, Knicks. Take care of business. Anthony then pivots to the Warriors' elimination at the hands of the Wolves and how the NBA playoffs have become a minefield of star injuries. He also takes a look at a relatively weak-looking Pacific Division heading into next season. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In kicking off this year's season review series, Anthony thought long and hard about the most important figure to the season and eventually landed on Anthony Davis. He explains that decision, reviews Davis' season and the Luka Doncic trade, then discusses why Davis' jersey will eventually hang in the rafters. He wraps up with some questions from the live audience, too. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a season that felt like a few campaigns combined, Anthony Davis was most often the Lakers' best player and then became a key figure for the future of the franchise -- just in a very different way than he may have thought. Anthony recaps Davis' season. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There really is no argument to the contrary here but Anthony thought it was worth hammering this home: Anthony Davis' jersey will eventually hang in the rafters and rightfully so. From there, he answers some live questions quickly and wraps up the show that way. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony had a backed up mailbag that he was able to mostly empty out, with enough time to mock the Lottery Defenders and also those who don't seem to understand the whole reason the lottery odds were flattened in the first place. Let's talk centers, Austin's trade market and the notion of trading Austin for a center. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A listener compared Kobe's ability to impact the game when he wasn't scoring to what we saw from Luka these playoffs and it's honestly fair to wonder about it. Anthony makes the case as to why that will be the next step Luka takes if he wants to reach the heights he's capable of. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, Anthony starts with a rant directed at the people he saw complaining about flattened lottery odds and how they seem to be missing the point. Then, listeners asked about trading Austin Reaves and then specifically about moving him for Walker Kessler and stuff and that got the wheels spinning in Anthony's head. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony uses one of his ridiculous spur-of-the-moment analogies to explain why he thinks the Mavericks might be more open to trading with the Lakers again now that they have the top pick in this draft. He also reacts to the Giannis rumors and the basketball last night. Wildly packed show. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Harrison react to the Mavericks "winning" the lottery, the eventful basketball from last night, the Celtics' window potentially slamming shut and plenty more. They also discuss the Lakers' options on the trade market and how they continue to point back to Austin Reaves as a trade asset. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony goes full tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist and calls out the league for it's latest blatant rigging of the draft lottery that honestly is what's probably best for the NBA. Yeah that's a crazy sentence but this was an insane segment. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Harrison continue their conversation about one of the wilder nights in recent NBA history but then circle back to the Lakers offseason, which feels like it's riding to a fairly large extent on what happens with Austin Reaves. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony spent most of the day with family for Mother's Day but hopped on to record a quick update on what he's hearing ahead of tonight's NBA Lottery. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jovan Buha stops by and boy do he and Anthony have a lot to talk about. They start with that series, which made both of them look pretty dumb. From there, they discuss what the Lakers need to do to ensure that doesn't happen again. They talk about JJ and Luka's somewhat conflicting ideologies and the Lakers needing to pick a direction this summer and actually do the work before the season. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony is used to being wrong about sports, but not THAT wrong. He and Jovan (who last spoke before the series) discuss what went wrong for the Lakers and some of the blindspots they carried into the matchup. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One particular takeaway from this season keeps bugging Anthony so he decided to bug Jovan about it. It seems as if Luka and JJ's ideologies somewhat clash when it comes to the center position. If that comes to a head, the guys discuss the likely outcome. Get ready to learn traditional centers, JJ. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Knicks did it again. Or, the Celtics did it again? Either way, BING BONG AGAIN. The guys revel in that Celtics loss, discuss their dogmatic commitment to the three and debate the ethics of hack-a-whoever. From there, they segue back to the Lakers to discuss JJ Redick's own ideologies and how they might be at odds with Luka Doncic's preferred approach and pick back up on Anthony's discussion about the Lakers' issues with small ball. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Raj celebrate the Knicks breathing some life back into them with these comebacks over the Celtics, who simply will not stop shooting threes. The guys also debate hack-a-whoever. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony raised questions yesterday about the Lakers going small with Luka Doncic. Raj quelled some of those concerns but Anthony keeps coming back to the footspeed issue with those lineups. So again, can the Lakers play small ball in the playoffs with Luka Doncic? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony and Raj have a debate over how things probably should be vs. how things actually are. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A lot can be true here at the same time. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Full disclosure, this was recorded before Timberwolves pissed all down their legs in game one. Still, Anthony has watched enough playoff basketball at this point to wonder whether small ball is a sustainable model to the extent some teams want to use it. He then directs his attention to the Lakers to wonder whether they'll be able to use it at all with Luka Doncic. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA regular season and playoffs feel like two different sports. As a result, teams that rely heavily on going small during the regular season have had to adjust against bigger team in the postseason. Is this the next step of evolution in the NBA? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JJ Redick likes going small. He's borderline dogmatic about spacing. Anthony isn't sure about playing small with Luka Doncic, so it feels like something is going to have to give here. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices