Lakers Outsiders

Will Lakers continue to trade for youth?

On this episode of the Lakers Outsiders podcast, Donny (@donny_mchenry), Raj (@RajChipalu), and Walt (@HoopeFiasco) open by talking about the newly acquired Rui Hachimura after his debut against the Spurs. They discuss where the Lakers will be going next in the trade market, wondering if they will try and get even younger for this season as well as their immediate future.

After that, they discuss Anthony Davis, the continued three-guard lineups, and what they expect from the team in their upcoming five-game road trip.

Predicting what the Lakers will do in 2023

Welcome back to the Lakers Outsiders podcast!

After a hiatus over the holidays, Donny McHenry (@donny_mchenry) is back to try and figure out what the Lakers will do in this 2023 calendar year. That includes not only what they will do in the coming weeks before the trade deadline, but also what they will do during this summer. Raj Chipalu (@RajChipalu) and Walt (@HoopeFiasco) join to help figure out where this rollercoaster of a team will take us next.

Do the Lakers not have any dog in them?

After a gut-wrenching defeat at home to the Celtics, it's now very apparent that the Lakers have an issue in games that go down to the wire. Donny (@donny_mchenry), Raj (@RajChipalu), and Walt (@HoopeFiasco) discuss what they saw on Tuesday night, the trend that has fully emerged this season, and how the Lakers can fix it (if they even can).

Later they talk about the need to get Patrick Beverley out of the lineup. After that, Donny brings some of his most diabolical trade ideas to the table for Walt and Raj to judge, with one of them actually crazy enough that it might work.

Anthony Davis has brought hope back to the Lakers

Donny McHenry (@donny_mchenry) and Raj Chipalu (@RajChipalu) hop on another episode of the Lakers Outsiders podcast to talk about how they always believed in this Lakers team (don't look at the title of our most recent episode that came right after the loss to the Pacers).

We talk about how Anthony Davis has -- again and again lately -- reinvigorated that belief of ours in the team. We also talk about trades, specifically, if we are having any second thoughts about parting ways with Russell Westbrook. We talk about the overabundance of guards on this team as a result, with discussions of Patrick Beverley's continued poor play to follow.

Running out of hope for the Lakers

After a little Thanksgiving week break, the Lakers Outsiders podcast is BACK! We return at an inopportune time, following a heartbreaking loss to the Pacers that came via a buzzer-beating, go-ahead 3-pointer.

Donny McHenry (@donny_mchenry), Raj Chipalu (@RajChipalu), and Chris Walton (@HoopeFiasco) start diving into this game by talking about how they act at home during these down-to-the-wire types of Lakers games. After that, they then (begrudgingly) start talking about their immediate reactions to seeing Andrew Nembhard's 3-pointer go through the hoop.

To close, they discuss their level of hope in this team -- Westbrook trade or no Westbrook trade -- before giving their predictions on how the upcoming road trip will go for the Lakers. 

Back to the Lakers rumor mill...

The Lakers are 2-8. You know what that means... time for reports and rumors from the media!

Donny (@donny_mchenry), Raj (@RajChipalu), and Walt (@HoopeFiasco) discuss these recent rumors, including the fact that the Lakers are getting more "prudent" with their first round draft picks they can trade in light of the terrible start as well as the fact that they may have their eyes on a mystery "bigger piece" in return for Russell Westbrook and those aforementioned picks.

Other than that, well, the fellas sort of lose their marbles while trying to figure out what to talk about given it feels like we're in a never-ending loop of this type of news.

What to continue, what to change for the Lakers

After the Lakers won their first game of the season, Donny (@donny_mchenry), Walt (@HoopeFiasco), and Raj (@RajChipalu) talk about the positive aspects of the team that they want to continue seeing moving forward, as well as the things that still need to change even with the recent success on Sunday vs. the Nuggets.

This shouldn’t be about Russell Westbrook anymore

Russell Westbrook took an ill-advised mid-range jump shot in the closing moments of the Los Angeles Lakers' 106-104 loss on Sunday vs. the Trail Blazers. The topic of conversation is now centered around him yet again, however, Donny (@donny_mchenry) and Walt (@HoopeFiasco) really saw no point in focusing on him for the 1000th time over the past year. Instead, they rant about the most powerful decision-makers with the franchise. Specifically, they discuss how they need to take control of their team by making the toughest decisions, decisions they'd like to have us believe they have the capabilities of making.

Holiday season Westbrook trade for the Lakers?

After a disappointing season opener against the Warriors, Donny (@donny_mchenry) and Walt (@HoopeFiasco) discuss whether they are more worried about the Lakers' offense or defense moving forward.

Before that, they discuss the most recent report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that states the Lakers are waiting until after Thanksgiving -- around the 20-game mark -- to see if any other trade scenarios open up to them to finally deal Russell Westbrook for something they deem suitable. The two talk about whether this is a smart strategy or not, as well as the numerous factors that go into evaluating the decision.

Anthony Davis starting at the five? Finally?

In this episode of the podcast, Donny McHenry (@donny_mchenry), Chris Walton (@HoopeFiasco), and Raj Chipalu (@RajChipalu) discuss the news of Lakers head coach Darvin Ham indicating that the idea of Anthony Davis starting at center is under heavy consideration.

They then talk about who will fill the final roster spots on the team after Matt Ryan had a breakout night on Sunday against the Warriors. After that, they finish by discussing the announcement of Rob Pelinka's contract extension that happened over the week.