Lakers Lounge

Anthony welcomes Andy Kamenetzky (Locked On Lakers, ESPNLA) to debate what they think the biggest gamble is Lakers history is or was. They discuss the couple games that were announced earlier Tuesday and wonder how Lakers fans will respond to LeBron James' return to L.A.

Anthony believes Walker Kessler is the biggest gamble in Lakers history. Andy Kamenetsky thinks it's Kobe. The guys present their cases and launch their brutal blood feud with each other.

Anthony and Andy wrap up their Kessler conversation, then dive into the couple of games that were announced earlier Tuesday. Lakers-Warriors is pretty uninspired. Lakers-Sixers was also pretty predictable but significantly more fun to think about.

Anthony thinks so. What do you think? Either way, Kessler can work out. The bar is going to be high, but he's talented enough to meet or even exceed it.

The Lakers gave up so much to acquire Walker Kessler that they have nothing now to address the gaping hole in their starting lineup. Anthony wonders whether there was another approach that may have kept some flexibility open and explain why he thinks Kessler is the biggest gamble in Lakers history.

There's just no two ways around this one. If Walker Kessler doesn't live up to expectations, the Lakers are completely screwed and people should/will lose jobs. No pressure! Anthony wraps up with a Q&A with the live audience.

Anthony and Harrison get together to make a little fun of and then also analyze the latest Clippers allegations from Pablo Torre and his team. The guys also discuss why this story should matter to people, then dive into the topic of this Lakers roster as it's currently constructed and how they'd feel about things if this is how they open the season. They wrap with a quick Q&A.

Anthony and Harrison offer up the latest findings from Pablo Torre and discuss how this one feels different from many of the others.

The system was fine. It worked. But now, the league might be forced to take a closer look at the relationships teams have with player sponsors. Will players connect the dots back to Kawhi Leonard?

After discussing the Clippers investigation(s), Anthony and Harrison turn their attention back to the Lakers, who are still waiting on Jonathan Kuminga. Let's just say this is the roster, though, then what? Also, should the Lakers have a walk-away point with Kuminga in these negotiations?

We don't know why we put that in all caps. Felt right because of how many questions Anthony answered.

Anthony asked for questions and should've known this would happen but people wanted to know if there's anything new with this Jonathan Kuminga situation. Anthony explains that there isn't, and why not.

A listener asked a two-parter about the way LeBron's departure was covered and it led to a conversation about how people try to rewrite history but eventually the truth wins out.

Anthony was asked by a listener where he sees things going in the next decade, regarding now just how basketball is played as a sport, but how it will be covered. This honestly could be its own podcast but he tries to answer as succinctly as he could.

Anthony rejoins the show from his brother's sad bedroom and using his parents' shitty wifi. The result is thinly masked frustration over the Kuminga situation, an interesting rumor about Klay Thompson, Peyton Watson whispers and more.

Anthony checks back in from vacation to talk... Kuminga. See if you can sense his frustration.

The Lakers like themselves some Peyton Watson. Anthony has heard enough about their interest in him and that whole situation has gone so poorly in Denver that it's worth taking a closer look. Anthony does that, then answers a few questions from the live audience.

In the second entry of Anthony's player preview series, he breaks down Austin Reaves' increased expectations, whether he thinks he can meet them, and how he'll need to. Also, if Reaves doesn't, what might happen as soon as next summer.

Austin Reaves has been one of the NBA's best stories to this point. Now that he's signed this max contract, however, he goes from fun story to legit expectations. Anthony breaks that down, as well as the level of defense Reaves will have to play alongside Luka Doncic.

Anthony is fairly sure Austin and Luka can work long-term, but what if they do have too low a ceiling? The logical conclusion, looking at the Lakers' assets, is that the best way to tweak the roster next summer might have to start with trading Reaves. Anthony talks that, Reaves' defense, and how sees this season playing out.

Anthony kicks off his player preview series with Luka Doncic. Everything is riding on him, fair or not.

Anthony starts this preview by talking about what Luka Doncic needs to do for the Lakers to have any chance at title contention this season, and the bar is extremely high. Good news is Doncic is absolutely capable clearing that bar.

The Lakers have one of the most dynamic offensive forces in the sport in Luka Doncic. The tendency would be to hand him the keys on that side of the ball and still be really good. In order to be as overwhelming as they can be, a balance needs to be struck. Anthony talks about that, the stakes at play and how he actually sees Doncic's season playing out.

This show does everywhere. Anthony loves Luka's Lakers minicamp. He opens up about how he balances optimism and pessimism as a host. He discusses LeBron/AD's similar frustrations that Steph probably feels right now. Then, he dives into a particularly wandering Q&A with the live audience.

Anthony reacts to the report from ESPN that Luka Doncic is hosting his Lakers teammates in Slovenia for a team trip/minicamp. This is objectively great news, that puts on display something Anthony is looking for heading into next season: Luka stepping up as a leader.