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The Lakers let Byron Scott walk, and quickly signed Luke Walton to a multi-year deal. Good move? What does it mean going forward? Plus, we honor Byron with a statue, dive into the LaMarcus Aldridge audio vault, and break down a magic week in Magic tweets.

The king is dead, long live the king. Barely a week ago, the Lakers let Byron Scott go. Technically, they chose not to pick up his option, as opposed to firing him. Technically. But before we could get around to talking about it, BAM! The Lakers went out and landed Luke Walton, the beloved former Laker and hottest name remaining on the coaching market this offseason. So ... good move? We discuss. (Spoiler alert, we're not booing, we're saying "Luuuuuuuuuuuke.") All that, plus all of your NBA headlines, including Carmelo Anthony making it abundantly clear he doesn't want to Kurt Rambis coaching him next year, the Clippers again facing questions, and the Space Jam reboot lands its director. (Which is really just an excuse for AK to talk about The Fast and the Furious franchise.) Plus, another peek at the Secret LaMarcus Aldridge Audio Recordings, a statue for Byron Scott, and a big week in Magic Johnson tweets!

Thursday was a tough one for music fans across the globe, with the death of Prince. He was 57, and leaves behind a legacy in music and performance matched by few artists, if any. It was in the shadow of that news we went into the studio, and while the agenda changed pretty considerably, there was still plenty of good conversation on what became a day of remembrances, albeit very different ones. We started by welcoming the great Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, who covered Kobe Bryant for the L.A. Daily News from the time he was drafted through the end of the Shaq/Kobe era. With Howard's help, we look at the guy all of us have spent so much of our professional lives talking and writing about. Then, what's next for the Lakers, and how does Kobe's legend impact the answer? From there, Andy and I talk about the influence Prince had on us, why we loved the music, and why it's so difficult to digest the news that he's gone.

Kobe Bryant is done as a Laker. We look back on his career with Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, who covered Kobe through the Threepeat years. Then, we remember the life and music of Prince, who died Thursday at 57.

The Lakers have had an interesting week, to say the least. To the point that Kobe Bryant's final game, now less than two weeks away, was pushed off the front burner. In this installment of the show, we break down D'Angelo Russell's big mistake. What happened, and more importantly, what happens next? Plus, all the headlines around the NBA, including rumors linking Hassan Whiteside to the Lakers, and his reaction to them. Is he a good fit for the purple and gold this summer? In other news, Yao Ming is heading to the Hall of Fame, the Pelicans ask for -- then receive -- input from genuine practitioners of voodoo, and Vlade Divac has an extension with the Kings. We dive back into the secret audio of that first LaMarcus Aldridge pitch meeting, give Karl Malone a statue, and answer your pressing questions in a fresh installment of AAK! All in all, it's enough to vault you happily into the weekend.    

This week, we take a break from the hustle and bustle of a rollicking Lakers season to hop in the NBA time machine. Many of you know Jonathan Abrams from his newspaper work, whether the Los Angeles or New York Times, or more likely though his consistently excellent contributions to Grantland. Now, he's the author of "Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution," a fantastic look at the crop of young players entering the league straight from high school, starting with Kevin Garnett in 1995. We talk a lot about KG, and even more about Kobe Bryant, and how he ended up with the Lakers in 1996. Why did those guys succeed? What are the common characteristics of the successful preps who made the leap? What about the guys who failed? Why did the rules change, and should they have changed? It's a great book, and Abrams provides some fantastic perspective on iconic players from a fascinating chapter in NBA history. Listen to the podcast, then buy the book.

The Lakers nearly picked up a win Sunday against New York ... but would it have been worth it? Once again, Byron Scott's priorities are a topic of conversation. Is he chasing wins at the expense of development? After L.A.'s kiddie corps watched the fourth quarter against the Knicks in favor of Lou Williams, Marcelo Huertas, and Brandon Bass, many were asking the question. So we did, too. What's the balance between one game and season long progress? From there, we have an excerpt from our interview with Jonathan Abrams, formerly of Grantland, and the Times NY and LA about his new book, Boys to Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution (http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Among-Men-Prep-Pro/dp/0804139253). The full conversation comes next week, but here he talks about 1996, and how Kobe got to Los Angeles. All that, plus the news of the day (including Kanye's offer to re-design Chuck the Condor, ostensibly in some sort of neutral colored post-apocalyptic theme), our Lakers Statue segment (featuring Vlade Divac!) and secret audio from the first LaMarcus Aldridge pitch meeting. It's a doozy!  

We're back! We vowed not to podcast again until the Lakers earned their 12th victory of the 2015-16 season, and Tuesday, it happened! And we were so confident, we recorded before the purple and gold took the floor against the Nets. On the agenda... NBA News. Does Kyrie Irving really want out of Cleveland? Who loves Chuck the Condor? Is the Dirk Burger an appropriate culinary honor for Nowitzki? And how much has Phil Jackson actually helped the Knicks? Lakers. Before D'Angelo Russell blew up for 39 Tuesday against Brooklyn, the big conversation of the week centered around his leadership skills. How good are they now? How good can they become? We introduce the Lakers Statue Game. Everyone gets one, but where? And how big? This week, Nick Van Exel! Finally, AAK! You ask a Kamenetzky, and we answer. Oscar talk -- Did Spotlight deserve best picture? Which NBA player takes down the bear from The Revenant? And finally, choosing between Iron Maiden and Rush, in concert.  

The Lakers' roster has taken shape, and the youngsters are in Vegas for some Summer League action. Before too long, the season will be upon us and for the first time since the "super-team" debacle, we could be treated to 82 games' worth of genuine intrigue and stakes, even with the playoffs an unlikely destination. It would be a nice change of pace. The show can be heard by clicking on the module and a list of talking points can be found below. Among the high points: * OUR TOP STORY: With Brandon Bass, Roy Hibbert, and Lou Williams now officially in the fold, the roster is more or less complete, save an unexpected turn of events. We share our thoughts on this year's squad. * HEADLINES: With the free agency dust now settled, we examine the winners and losers of the offseason. * OUR ALMOST TOP STORY: Led by the trio of D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson, this year's summer league squad may be the most anticipated in Lakers history. Safe to say, they haven't played up to the hype. In particular, Russell and Randle have periodically struggled. How concerned should fans be over this showing? * OUR NOT SPORTS STORIES: First, it's been announced that Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, despite recent controversies, will not lose their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Plus, the sun is apparently about to run out. No. Seriously (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-winkles/winter-is-coming-scientis_b_7787664.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592). * PERSON OF INTEREST: Or "persons," more accurately. Batman and Superman, who'll square off next summer in 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2975590/) The new trailer is out (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WWzgGyAH6Y), and quite frankly, we don't get it. * AAK!!! Keeping with the POI theme, we address a series of summer movie-themed questions. What is our favorite "ceviche and Corona" summer movie? What's our all-time favorite summer movie-going experience? Will 'Ant-Man' continue Marvel's string of box office smashes? Plus, our thoughts on 'Boyhood,' which actually was a summer movie (and in its own right, a huge hit) last year. * RECOMMENDED READING: 'The Best Team Money Can Buy, (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Team-Money-Can-Buy/dp/1476776296/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1437022366&sr=1-1&keywords=the+best+team+money+can+buy)" (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Team-Money-Can-Buy/dp/1476776296/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1437022366&sr=1-1&keywords=the+best+team+money+can+buy)Molly Knight's deep dive into the Dodgers' tumultuous 2014 season. The book is getting fantastic reviews, and Molly is a great writer and our friend, so we're urging everyone to pick up a copy.

The Lakers have a roster. Is it any good? How about the Summer League efforts? Should fans be encouraged or discouraged? Plus Cosby/Trump controversy, Batman vs. Superman, and more summer blockbuster spectaculars!

The Lakers have made their pick... and it's D'Angelo Russell! Good choice or bad? What about the rest of the Draft? Plus, we look ahead at free agency, and discover the interview that must -- MUST -- happen.

Big or small? Big or small? Big or small? That was the question in the weeks leading up to Thursday's NBA Draft, and in the end the Lakers surprised a bunch of people -- and royally screwed the Philadelphia 76ers -- by selecting Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell with the second pick. Good idea? We think so, break down why, and what about Russell appealed to the Lakers when push came to shove. Plus, Larry Nance Jr. at 27 (and a most regrettable social media moment), Anthony Brown and 34, and what the new stable of Lakers means for their free agent search going forward. Mitch Kupchak says they'll look to bolster the frontcourt. Does that mean LaMarcus Aldridge? Greg Monroe? Kevin Love? Plus, Mitch interviews Robin Lopez!!!

It's been a while, but we're back in front of the microphones! The NBA draft is a few weeks away, prospects are visiting El Segundo, and the 2014-2015 season is four-seven games away from crowning a champion. (Spoiler alert! It won't be the Lakers.) The show can be heard by clicking on the module, and a list of talking points can be found below. Among the high points: * OUR TOP STORY: The Lakers own the second overall pick, which provides them a lot of options. They can select a big. They can select a guard. They can select a Porzingas (http://www.nbadraft.net/players/kristaps-porzingis). They can trade the pick. What's the best route moving foward? * HEADLINES: Lot o' coaching hires and fires of late. What to make of Scott Skiles, Alvin Gentry and Fred Hoiberg joining, respectively, Orlando, New Orleans and Chicago, along with the Bulls' dismissal of Tom Thibodeau? And should the Lakers make a play for the newly unemployed Thibs? * OUR ALMOST TOP STORY: For the first time in eons, Kevin Love addressed the media since injuring his shoulder. Amid constant speculation about an impending departure from Cleveland, the power forward maintained his company line of remaining a Cavalier next season. Is he relaying sincere thoughts, or proactively putting an exit strategy in motion? * PERSON OF INTEREST: Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, is the cover story of the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair (http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-cover-annie-leibovitz), and will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at next month's ESPY's. Both developments, along with Jenner's very public transgender story, have raised awareness of transgender issues, but the ensuing discussion is inevitably complex, and for many, inevitably confusing. * OUR ALMOST, ALMOST TOP STORY: The NBA Finals are two days away from commencing! The Golden State Warriors are rightly the heavy favorite, but the Cavs have LeBron, which makes all bets feel off. Could LBJ actually lead an upset for the ages? Click above to play, or just (http://content.blubrry.com/kambrothers/Land_O_Lakers_11.23_2.mp3)download the show here. (http://content.blubrry.com/kambrothers/Land_O_Lakers_5_9.mp3)Hope you enjoy it. To subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, click here. You can also find us on TuneIn.com by heading here (http://tunein.com/radio/Kamenetzky-Brothers-Land-OLakers-Podcast-p493529/).

Who should the Lakers take with the second pick in the NBA Draft? Should they dump Byron for Thibs? What about Kevin Love, is he LA bound? Plus Caitlyn Jenner, and the NBA Finals.

Should the Lakers sign Rajon Rondo?