Lakers Lounge

Absolutely packed episode to send us into a critical Father's Day weekend. The guys discuss how they feel about recent reporting around Luka Doncic's demands, Isaiah Stewart being made available, which A-list centers fit Luka's standard and their confidence Rob Pelinka can pull off everything he needs to this summer.

Anthony and Pete set the table for a critical weekend likely filled with all kinds of action, reports and speculation by talking about their love of Beef Stew.

Anthony and Pete react to word coming out of Luka's camp that he's done waiting. They're happy to see this pressure.

Anthony explains the parts of ESPN's reporting on Luka Doncic's preferences/expectations you need to pay extra close attention to and give his thoughts on what it all means. He then updates the LeBron James and Austin Reaves situations, and discusses how he sees these three players' summers playing out.

Anthony reacts to the reporting about Luka Doncic wanting an "A-list" center on the heels of Doncic going on the record with the kind of player he prefers at that position. One quote in particular leads Anthony to believe this is Doncic (or his camp, at the very least) making it crystal clear what's on the line this summer.

Anthony asks the question we're all wondering: If this is indeed Luka Doncic applying pressure, will it work? He has a back-and-forth with the audience about LeBron James that leads to a pretty classic rant. Sorry, Tobias Harris.

The Lakers need to add a legit starting caliber center this summer. Some might be available using different pathways. Anthony lays out some options and how they'd be acquired, then outlines how likely each option might be.

After explaining how critical it is that the Lakers land a center, Anthony starts with one familiar name, and one we haven't discussed much before.

Anthony rolls through some options further down the list as well as some draft prospects the Lakers could land if their primary targets aren't available.

For ages, the discussion of hometown discounts in the NBA were always owner propaganda. Now, with the owners having succeeded in putting essentially a hard cap into place, the discussion has come back up again. Jalen Brunson taking less objectively helped the Knicks. Is it fair to hope your team's superstar does the same? Anthony and Harrison hash this subject out.

Anthony and Harrison begin their discussion on pay cuts by outlining the various ways this is different now than it was under previous CBAs and economic situations.

If Adam Silver doesn't come down hard on the Clippers for their alleged cap circumvention, pay days may become a mainstay in NBA economics. The guys discuss this and the notion of what fans and athletes owe each other (with Tom Brady as the example).

Packed episode as Anthony reacts to the Knicks once again walking down the Spurs. He offers up a couple lessons from that win and the history the Knicks made. From there, he officially kicks off the Lakers' offseason and centers it around Giannis trade noise. He updates the situations surround LeBron and Austin, then dives into a Q&A with the live audience.

Anthony gives his thoughts on the Knicks winning it all and then dives into some of the conversations about the Lakers offseason he had with people around the league over the weekend.

Jalen Brunson is making less than he could be on the Knicks. That has allowed them to build a better roster around him. It also applies inherent pressure to players of his caliber and better to take a similar deal, or else compete at a disadvantage. Anthony discusses this, then dives into a Q&A with the live audience.

Anthony welcomes Cranjis back into The Lounge to break down JJ Redick's second season.

The Lakers need JJ Redick to continue growing on the job. Did he do enough of that in his second year?

The funny thing about that whole experience, according to Cranjis? He mostly agreed with what JJ said about organized offense! The guys talk about that, those processes that go into charting that information and how to balance organized offense with Luka's own creativity.

Anthony gives his thoughts on that historic comeback from the Knicks over the Spurs and the role Victor Wembanyama's offensive limits played in San Antonio's late struggles. From there, he discusses a rumor circulating in The Bay that apparently, LeBron James is curious about playing on the Warriors. He wraps with a lengthy Q&A/mailbag session.

Anthony saw all the blame (rightfully) heaped on De'Aaron Fox but also found himself wondering why more of the conversation wasn't about Victor Wembanyama's limitations placing a ceiling over the Spurs. He then discusses a report out of The Bay that alleges LeBron James having curiosity about playing on the Warriors next year.

Anthony was asked by someone on Twitter what his ideal offseason would look like and what kind of team he'd prefer to watch next year. He allows himself to drift away to dreamland to answer the question.

Anthony welcomes Trevor Lane back into The Lounge to talk about a hypothetical most fans would really prefer not to imagine exists... What if the Lakers run it back?

Anthony and Trevor run through at particularly annoying hypothetical and explain why it would be so annoying.

Anthony asks the million-dollar question to Trevor: The Lakers have A TON riding on this summer. How confident are you that it will go as they're hoping it will?

Anthony and Harrison discuss Austin Reaves' season, the consistent progress he's made as a pro and the impossible decision the Lakers have ahead of them this summer.

Whatever number the Lakers re-sign Austin Reaves to is going to tell us a lot about the kind of roster Luka Doncic is going to have for at least the next year or so. Anthony and Harrison debate whether this is the biggest decision the Lakers have facing them this offseason, then look back on the season Reaves just had.

Listeners keep commenting as if those of us who cover the team aren't aware of Austin (and Luka's) weaknesses, especially defensively. The guys discuss those concerns and what needs to be done to supplement them. And if it does become clear the ceiling on this roster is too low, what can be done to maintain flexibility after Austin's big raise this summer.

Raj stops by for the first time in a little while and, as per usual, the guys wander around in a really fun convo.

Anthony and Raj recap a game three thriller between the Spurs and Knicks. Anthony can't hold back from laughing at a certain someone ruining the Knicks' vibes.

As much as we'd like for the Lakers to be able to play a certain way or for the roster to sit at a certain caliber next season, Anthony thinks the real lesson from these playoffs is how critical organizational culture is. Raj agrees.

If a team is going to reach the heights of those franchises still in real pursuit of a championship, they'll need to develop talent and keep them longer term than the Lakers have.

Anthony and Raj wrap up their conversation with a Q&A with the audience, which included a question about the relationship they'd like to see between the Lakers and their superstar.

This is a loaded episode, which features a discussion about Austin Reaves' contract and the complications it comes with. From there, they get into some new reporting on LeBron's contract and potential destination -- which leads to one of the more fiery debated Pete and Anthony have had in a little while. Anthony offers Pete his thinking on Myles Turner, then they answer some quick questions from the audience.

Anthony and Pete react to reports that Austin wants his full max salary slot for next season, first by saying, well, don't we all, but then also running through all the ripple effects of this information.

Anthony and Pete rarely disagree to the extent they do in this episode (which also extends into part three).

Anthony spent all last show trying to convince himself about Myles Turner, so now he spends a little while doing the same to Pete. They're still friends!

Anthony has watched enough of these playoffs to come to the realization that the Lakers are going to need to be able to play five-out next year. If they're going to do that, there really aren't many centers on the market with the skillset they'd need. So... sigh...

Myles Turner!

No please, come back.

The west is filled to the brim with incredible talent at the center position, both offensively and defensively. Anthony has always felt they need to focus on that spot, but now feels a specific player type is going to be necessary if the Lakers are going to keep up in that positional arms race.

Anthony opens by not exactly celebrating the season Myles Turner had last year but he also stresses that there are not many better realistic options who boast his skillset. He wraps up by diving into the chat for a few questions.

Anthony welcomes Kirk Henderson (Pod Maverick) into The Lounge to discuss the season he watched Luka Doncic have from afar. The guys talk about Doncic's production, the way he's talked about by various media types, the MVP race and ways Doncic could still get better. They also discuss the Maverick's interesting offseason ahead and whether a certain former Laker could ever make a return.