Lakers Lounge

It most likely comes down to two guys for the final starting gig. Anthony has a preference but there is definitely a case to be made for either. Let's hash it out together.

One concept lobbed out there as an option for the Lakers' starters was a variable group where, on some nights, Smart starts against a team with a perimeter-oriented primary creator and, on others, Rui starts to match up with a different kind of team. Anthony explains why he likes the idea in theory, but why it likely won't happen. He then gets interrupted by Myles and wraps with a couple questions from the live audience.

Anthony opens all the various mailbags to answers your questions. First, though, he updates the Luka Doncic injury situation after he gave us all a scare over the weekend. Listeners asked about Rui sacrificing in a contract year, Luka's next co-star and plenty more.

Having to worry about injury scares in August just seems kind of mean, doesn't it? Anthony updates you on the situation and answers a mailbag question about whether the Lakers can step in to keep their superstar safe. It's not going to happen.

Anthony dips into the mailbag and listeners are still curious what the Luka Doncic era might look like, especially after LeBron James departs -- however that might be. Anthony explains why he thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo is the likeliest of the elite echelon to seek a trade.

Anthony goes game by game to break down a schedule that feels pretty manageable for the Lakers. It opens light and never feels overwhelming. As of right now, that's all we can ask for. From there, he dives into the ownership situation in Boston and how applicable that might be to the Lakers' own transfer of power. He wraps with some questions from the live audience.

Anthony has been predicting this (because it's how it usually goes) but the schedule-makers came through again. They're going to open the season with a couple easier stretches (relatively speaking), allowing themselves some momentum built on their continuity.

Anthony breaks down the similarities and differences between the Lakers' ownership change and the ones we've seen with the Mavericks and Celtics. He wraps with some questions from the live audience.

Anthony and Raj use this episode to simply nerd out. You want player combination rules? You got it. Team-wide identities? Check. Magic Johnson (the executive) slander? You betcha. This was a really fun conversation.

Is this another situation where the Lakers allow team seniority to prevent them from running a lineup that makes the most sense? Raj and Anthony agree about who should start, but disagree about who will actually get the nod.