1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to this League Uncut in the world of twenty 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: four hour NBA news. This's you'll, Chris Haynes, it's time, 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Mark Stein. 4 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 2: It's so time. This League Uncut is underway and on five. 5 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 2: This should be a good one. 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 3: Friends, Thank you for joining us for another edition of 7 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 3: this League Uncut. Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes, recording 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: on a Sunday night. This will drop by the time 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 3: you get this. By the time you're listening, it'll be Monday, 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 3: game day, Game five of the NBA Finals, back to Denver. 11 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 3: Nuggets lead three to one on the brink of the 12 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 3: first championship in franchise history. They didn't win one in 13 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 3: their ABA days. They haven't won one in forty six 14 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 3: seasons as an NBA franchise. Chris Haynes back himself from 15 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 3: Miami after seeing the Nuggets sweep those two games on 16 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 3: the road in person. He will not be at Game five, 17 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 3: but he is here with us. Mister Haynes. This is 18 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 3: the thirty seventh time in Finals history, thirty seven times 19 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 3: that a team has gone up three to one. Of 20 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 3: the previous thirty six, there has only been one comeback. 21 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: From three to one down. We were both there. 22 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 3: You remember it well, Cleveland while you were spying for 23 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 3: the Cavs comes back to win game five, Game six, 24 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 3: Game seven to stun the seventy three win Golden State Warriors. 25 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 3: And I will still say that seventy three win season, 26 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 3: it's one of the five craziest, most incredible things I've 27 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: ever seen covering this league. I know they didn't win 28 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 3: the championship, but a twenty four and oh start, winning 29 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 3: the seventy three games, that whole ride is something that 30 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 3: I really don't think will ever be duplicated again. And 31 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 3: even though the three to one gets thrown in their 32 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 3: face all the time as this massive failure, and you know, 33 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 3: it's one of the few lasting criticisms of the Warriors, 34 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: I still say that those achievements were historic, unforgettable. But 35 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: that's a tangent for another day. I guess this is 36 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 3: my roundabout, long winded way Chris of asking you can 37 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 3: the Heat become just the second team in thirty seven 38 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 3: tries to overturn a three to one deficit. 39 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 2: Come all the way back. 40 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 3: Heat culture so strong that Bernie the mascot is back. 41 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 3: He is apparently shaken off those vicious haymakers from Connor McGregor. 42 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: You were there, you saw it heat, you were in 43 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 2: the locker room. You wrote a whole piece about the Heat. 44 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 2: Can they actually do this and come back from three 45 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 2: to one down? Because I'm gonna say. 46 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 4: No, let me give before I answer that, let me 47 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 4: give a shout out to U. D. Donnas Haslam, the VET, 48 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 4: the leader of that team. He lightweight called me out stein. 49 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 4: I went into the locker room after the game, after 50 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 4: that Game four loss, and I went to him. First thing, 51 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 4: he said, oh you show up to Miami. Huh, well, 52 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 4: good to see you. I say, yes, good to see you. 53 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: That was the first time you'd seen him. 54 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 4: That, that's the first Yeah, I wasn't there for the 55 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 4: first two games, endeavor, and so my response was, Hey, 56 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 4: good to see you. If y'all make it get back 57 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 4: to a game six, you'll see me again. And then 58 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 4: so uh you d keeping track of who's attended these 59 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 4: NBA finals. 60 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: Here love the petty. 61 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 4: But with that being said, you said no, I'm going 62 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 4: to I'm going to echo that sentiment. I was going 63 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 4: to say a little bit more stronger words, but I'll 64 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 4: leave that alone. I haven't seen anything within the Miami 65 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 4: Heat that leads me to believe that they have three 66 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 4: more wins than them in this series. They they just 67 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 4: don't have the firepower. And you cannot discredit or disrespect 68 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 4: the road they had to get here. It's definitely been 69 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 4: a Cinderella story. It's been very similar to the New 70 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 4: York Knicks nineteen ninety nine season, the Trail Spree well 71 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 4: knows Nicks. That was before I was covering league, but 72 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 4: the Trail Spreewill is my favorite player back then, so 73 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 4: I always you know, it's very it's very similar to 74 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 4: that run. But they don't have enough. They just don't 75 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 4: have enough. You know, at some point when you're at 76 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 4: this stage NBA Finals, you need a guy or a 77 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 4: few guys that can just get their own basket, get 78 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 4: their own bucket, just go at wheel. And Jimmy has 79 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 4: he hasn't done it as much as he's had in 80 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 4: the previous two rounds, and they just don't have anybody else, 81 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 4: And so don't I don't see it at all. I 82 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 4: honestly think Devil will close it out Monday. 83 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. 84 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 3: Look, and it brings me no joy to say it, 85 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 3: because I have been a heat backer and believer this 86 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: whole playoffs I'm a huge Jimmy Butler fan. I have 87 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 3: been shouting from the proverbial sports writer mountaintops since the bubble. 88 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 3: The man is a top ten player in this league. 89 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 3: Because he continually performs at a higher level in the 90 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 3: postseason than the regular season. There's a reluctance for people 91 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 3: to want to give him that status. But I mean 92 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 3: this regular season, especially in the second half, he was sensational, 93 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 3: so good that for the second time in his career 94 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: he ended up earning All NBA honors after being snubbed 95 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 3: by the Eastern Conference coaches from the All Star And again. 96 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 2: This isn't just a media thing. 97 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 3: You know, the East coaches didn't put him on the 98 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 3: All Star team when he should have been on there. 99 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 3: I mean, he has been fantastic. I think we forget 100 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 3: how bad that ankle turn was in the first game 101 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 3: of the second round. Nobody's going to talk about that. 102 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 3: I mean, Jimmy cert Well, I shouldn't say nobody, but 103 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 3: Jimmy certainly is not. 104 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 2: Going to use that as an excuse. But I mean, 105 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: you said it. 106 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 3: I mean, no matter how much they get from Butler 107 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 3: and bam At of Bio, the supporting cast, the state 108 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 3: of Miami supporting cast. It can't come close to matching 109 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 3: what Denver is getting from all these other guys. Jokic 110 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 3: is playing at an other worldly level. I mean, Jamal Murray, 111 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 3: this is crazy. Jamal Murray had two doubled digit assist 112 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: games after the All Star Break, only two. He did 113 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 3: not have one after March sixteenth. In the first three series, 114 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 3: the first three rounds, fifteen games against Minnesota, the Suns, 115 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 3: and the Lakers, he didn't have a single double digit 116 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 3: assist game. He's four for four in the finals. We've 117 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 3: never seen a player in his first four finals games 118 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: put up double digit assist numbers. And suddenly, like Aaron 119 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 3: Gordon said, suddenly, Jamal Murray's the point God Jokic heading 120 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 3: towards the finals MVP, and then all these other guys are. 121 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:37,679 Speaker 2: Playing so well. 122 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 3: I mean Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown, Bruce Brown the other 123 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 3: night had an out of body fourth quarter that it 124 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 3: doesn't even matter that Michael Porter Junior is struggling to 125 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 3: the degree that he struggled. So but it's funny you 126 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: mentioned you. I mean you, you know ud I just 127 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 3: I remember him. I remember the young u d and 128 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 3: the six finals and how well he defended Dirk Novitsky, 129 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 3: and he's still going, what is it sixteen seventeen years later, 130 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 3: and obviously this is the end for him, but he's 131 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 3: so valuable and every team wishes it had a Eudonnas 132 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 3: Haslam or an Andrea Gadala. Those are it's so hard 133 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 3: to find those guys. Those vets are so valuable. And 134 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 3: you know, Dame Lillard said this in one of his 135 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 3: twenty five recent interviews. I can't remember specifically which one. Obviously, 136 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 3: all the focus is always on whatever team people think 137 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 3: he's going to next, but it was really interesting what 138 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 3: he said that He said the commissioner should put a 139 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 3: rule in that every team has two vets to mentor 140 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 3: young guys, and the problem is there aren't. I mean 141 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 3: that's saying there's these vets are hard to find. Teams 142 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 3: want vets like Eudonis Haslem and can't find them. So 143 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 3: I don't know how much longer Igodala's gonna play. This 144 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 3: is it for ud who you know will leave. As 145 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 3: you know, he played thirty seconds in these finals, so 146 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 3: no matter what happens in Game five, he will go 147 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 3: down as the oldest player in finals history, breaking the 148 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 3: previous record that was held by my fellow substacker Kareem 149 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 3: Abdul Jabbar. 150 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 2: But I love that. I love that UD is keeping 151 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 2: track of you. 152 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 3: He doesn't know about your Miami only clause only you 153 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 3: could get a finals contract where you only have to 154 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 3: cover the Miami games. 155 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 2: That's that's a. 156 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 4: Flix, what a trip. I enjoyed my time in Miami. 157 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 4: But I don't see again, I don't see anything that 158 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 4: gives me the confidence that's saying that I'm gonna be 159 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 4: traveling back to Miami for a game later this week. 160 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 4: Don't see it. I just don't. It's you know, as 161 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 4: great as this run has been for the Miami Heat, 162 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 4: they're asking too much of role players. I think that's 163 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 4: what it's. It is taking you know, out of body 164 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 4: experiences of you know, out of body performances from from 165 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 4: role players. And they've stepped up. Gave Vincent had his moment, 166 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 4: Max Struce had his moments, Duncan Robinson, but to continually 167 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 4: to try to ask that they step up and have 168 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 4: big games, it's just too much. And then you know 169 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 4: even b BAM has struggled offensively. You know, BAM hasn't 170 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:37,319 Speaker 4: give them them enough offensively on an efficient level. They 171 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 4: need more, they need more. This is gonna be and 172 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 4: again Starn, this is like say, if the Miami Heat 173 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 4: did say the Miami Heat did, if they were able 174 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 4: to be competitive in this series and win it going 175 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 4: this next season, nobody would peg them as the favorite 176 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 4: to repeat. Nobody, they wouldn't even be top five. So 177 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 4: it's just it's just been. It's building a good run, 178 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 4: building a really good run with Jimmy Butler, got hot, 179 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 4: was dominant, but sy look like, look like it's over. 180 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 3: With apologies to your beloved Latrell Spreewell and the ninety 181 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 3: nine Knicks. This has been a this this run has 182 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 3: been I mean to take out Milwaukee and Boston fifty 183 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 3: eight and fifty seven win teams. The way they have 184 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 3: absolutely incredible. I said it was going to be a 185 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 3: six game series because I have so much respect for 186 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 3: the Heat. I couldn't imagine them winning less than two games. 187 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 3: But let's see, maybe producer Ryan can package all this 188 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 3: doubting that we've recorded here. Maybe he can package it 189 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 3: and we could send it to UD as a clip. 190 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 3: He can play it in the locker room and maybe 191 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 3: it motivates. So maybe it motivates these guys to shove 192 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 3: it in our face yet again and bring this thing 193 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 3: back to Miami and get you on yet another cross 194 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 3: country flight rack up. 195 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 4: Something I wouldn't mind. I wouldn't mind. 196 00:11:58,679 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 2: We know you. 197 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 3: You've made a clip you love your South Beach. That 198 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 3: is number one. 199 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 2: That is number one in the Chris Haynes NBA travel rankings. 200 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 3: All right, let's start to move away from the finals, 201 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 3: because if we are correct, if this thing ends Monday night, boom, 202 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 3: we zoom right into the time of year that we 203 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 3: are the busiest. The draft is June twenty second. It's 204 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 3: interesting the new CBA. There's a rule in the new 205 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 3: CBA that allows teams to start discussions with their own 206 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 3: free agents the day after the finals ends. However, the 207 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 3: new CBA does not take effect until June thirtieth slash 208 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 3: July first, so that particular rule does not come into 209 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 3: effect until next season and after next season's finals. 210 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 2: So, technically speaking, the Dallas Mavericks, for. 211 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 3: Example, cannot talk to Kyrie Irving yet, the Philadelphia seventy 212 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 3: six ers cannot speak to James Harden yet, the Toronto 213 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 3: Raptors cannot talk to Fred Van Vliet yet or Gary 214 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 3: Trent Junior yet, But again that's by the rules. 215 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 2: I think we all know that free agency not. 216 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 3: Talking about any specific teams or any specific free agents, 217 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 3: but we know that conversations do tend to happen just 218 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 3: a shade before June thirtieth. So look, we're already at work, 219 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 3: We're already chasing stuff down. It's going to be busy 220 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 3: the draft. We're going to bring in some draft experts 221 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 3: as this month rolls on, because Chris and I obviously 222 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 3: chase all the trades. 223 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: But we are not the draft experts. 224 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 3: We don't watch these guys day in and day out, 225 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 3: so we're going to have to bring in a draft 226 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,599 Speaker 3: expert or two to help us break down some of 227 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 3: the top prospects. But look, the intrigue at the top 228 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 3: it is trade related. Obviously, san Antonio is going to 229 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,839 Speaker 3: take Victor winm Minyama. We think Charlotte is going to 230 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 3: draft Brandon Miller, most likely over Scoot Henderson or at 231 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 3: least that is the strong buzz going around. 232 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 2: The league at this point. 233 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 3: But number three Portland, number four Houston, number five Detroit. 234 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 3: There are people in various corners of the league who 235 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 3: believe that all of those picks are in play to 236 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 3: be traded for win now players. So I mean, we 237 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 3: do expect a. 238 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 2: Lot of action. 239 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 3: Are you ready in general, mister Haynes, for the onslaught 240 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 3: that is draft slash free agency? 241 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 4: Ready? You know what? Ready? I don't know if that's 242 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 4: a good question. Am I ever? Ready? It just comes? Ready? 243 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: It not? 244 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 4: It is happening, you know. So I'll get in that 245 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 4: mode and get to the point. But no, we're well already. 246 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 4: This is the time where we're already making our calls. 247 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 4: And Stein, you had an incredible notebook in your substack recently. Man, 248 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 4: you had tid bits and nuggets galore. So I'm looking 249 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 4: forward to getting into a few of those. But no, 250 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 4: this is the time where we're starting to make make 251 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 4: calls and see on the free agent front, seeing what 252 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 4: what teams are thinking, seeing what teams are thinking about, 253 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 4: what they're thinking about, excuse me, see what players teams 254 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 4: are thinking about having meetings with doing a free agency 255 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 4: that this is you know, this is this is around 256 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 4: that season. But obviously we have the NBA Draft, and 257 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 4: I think that I think it's going to be pretty 258 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 4: active on the trade front going into the NBA Draft, 259 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 4: and I think you have to keep an eye out 260 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 4: on Portland. You got to keep all important with that 261 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 4: number three pick all side and I'm hearing the same thing. 262 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 4: All signs indicate Scoot Henderson will probably be going number three. 263 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 4: Now will Portland be picking for themselves or would they 264 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 4: be picking for someone else? So that that would be 265 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 4: a huge subplot to keep your eye on right there. 266 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 4: And then you know, we got free agency, we got trades, 267 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: so yeah, it's all coming and oka't wait. Stim I'm 268 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 4: I'm I'm glad you brought up the new CBA. The 269 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 4: new rule in the new CBA where teams can start 270 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 4: talking to their own free agents as soon as the 271 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 4: NBA Finals is over. So yeah, I guess now just 272 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 4: legally they can do that. 273 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 3: Right, But that does see I actually thought it was 274 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 3: starting this. 275 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 2: Week, so I was like, wow, like, you know, we're 276 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 2: ready to go. But I checked with the league. 277 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 3: Know that rule, that specific element of the new CBA 278 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 3: does not go into place until next season, so any 279 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 3: talks that are happening now are theoretically against the rules. 280 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 3: But the reason that was so interesting to me is 281 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:15,880 Speaker 3: because what it means is teams that teams will next season, 282 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 3: not again, not this month, but next season. After the 283 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 3: twenty twenty four NBA Finals, there are going to be 284 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 3: instances where free agents come to verbal agreements to stay 285 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 3: with their own teams, and they're gonna We're gonna have 286 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 3: reports and rumbles and tweets before the draft, after the draft, 287 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 3: all throughout the month of June now instead of just 288 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 3: waiting until July thirtieth. So that's gonna be pretty different. 289 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 3: Pretty it's gonna be a drastic change. Again, it doesn't 290 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 3: go it's not gonna impact this free agency, but I 291 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 3: found I was trying to imagine what that would be 292 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 3: like that, you know, just again pretend this is all pretend, aggregators, 293 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 3: We are pretending, but like, imagine, if you know, Harden 294 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 3: and the Sixers came to a deal this week next. 295 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 2: Year, that would be reportable, so. 296 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 4: Crazy I'm looking for I'll be ready. I'll be ready. 297 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 4: It's always fun. You got some of the right in 298 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 4: the mix right in there as well, there's a lot 299 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 4: to keep your eye on. Well. 300 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 3: Sure, before we move on to Kyrie and CP three, 301 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 3: who we seem to talk about, it feels like Kyrie, 302 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 3: CP three and Dame feels like we talk about the 303 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 3: three of them in every episode, but before we get there. 304 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 3: The other big news this weekend was there are no 305 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 3: longer any more coaching openings in the NBA. The big 306 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 3: story this weekend the Toronto Raptors. 307 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: They have a coach. 308 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 3: The last of the league's coaching openings is phil Darko Ryakovic, 309 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 3: the Memphis Grizzlies assistant. He is the surprise choice in Toronto. 310 00:18:55,160 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 3: Other finalists were Sergio Scariolo, the Virtuo Spologna and Spanish 311 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 3: national team coach, who of course was a Raptors assistant 312 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 3: for three years. Kenny Atkinson from Steve kerstaff in Golden State. 313 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 3: He was a finalist. Charles Lee, a finalist in Detroit, 314 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 3: also a finalist for the Toronto job. But the Raptors 315 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 3: make this really unexpected choice. Rakovic has been a head 316 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 3: coach in the g League, but he's not been an 317 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 3: NBA head coach, and I have to admit I really thought, 318 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 3: you know, it's interesting. 319 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 2: Masaiyu Jerry. 320 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 3: In his thirteen years as a lead decision maker in 321 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 3: the league, he inherited two of his three coaches. He 322 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 3: inherited George carl in Denver. He inherited Dwayne Casey in Toronto, 323 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 3: and the only hire he had made before this was 324 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: hiring Nick Nurse to replace Dwayne Casey, but of course 325 00:19:55,960 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 3: he had five years of data and personal EXPERI sperience 326 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 3: with Nick Nurse before making that choice in this case. Look, 327 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 3: Ryakovic is very highly rated, and if I'm mispronouncing his name, 328 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 3: I apologize, and I'm sure my many friends in the 329 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 3: Balkans are gonna send me a note and correct me 330 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 3: on how to say it better. But he's he's been 331 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 3: an assistant, he's been in the NBA for a decade, 332 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 3: but he's still largely an unknown quantity. 333 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 2: So this is I mean, this is a surprise. 334 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 4: To me, the bigger surprise. So I to answer your 335 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 4: question start, I don't think this is the biggest surprise 336 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 4: when I talk. When I talked, we were talking about 337 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 4: head coaches who've gotten jobs, who head coach who have 338 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 4: feeled these openings. I should say the biggest surprise to 339 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 4: me Adrian Griffin getting the gig with Milwaukee. This is 340 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 4: a team that it's a championship team. They're championship ready 341 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 4: and they're looking for that next step. And I've been 342 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 4: one of Adrian Griffin's biggest supporters over the last decade. 343 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 4: He's had a ton of interviews, even going back to 344 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 4: when I was covering to Portland Trail Blaze, the interview 345 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 4: for the job when Terry Stotts. To think about how 346 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 4: long ago that was when Terry Stotts took over, that 347 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 4: was about eleven years ago, eleven twelve years ago. When 348 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 4: Stotts took over, Adrian Griffin was one of four, the 349 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 4: final four. I believe in that and that coaching open opening. 350 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 4: And so although I've been one of his biggest supporter 351 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 4: and saying he should get a shot, I didn't think 352 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 4: the Milwaukee Bucks would go to somebody who hasn't been 353 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 4: ahead coach yet. But I think we're seeing a little 354 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 4: bit of a trend. We see that with the Lakers. 355 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 4: They went and took Darvin Ham, never been ahead coach before, 356 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 4: put him in that role. And so I think we're 357 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 4: seeing a slight a slight let me see, how can 358 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:17,479 Speaker 4: I say this, We're seeing a slight transition out of 359 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 4: recycling coaches. Slight because still you know you can make 360 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 4: the case Nick Nurse obviously should get another job. He's 361 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 4: a championship coach. Frank Vowell championship coach should get another job. 362 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 4: So it's not the same, you know, recycling of just 363 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 4: big name coaches who haven't really done much lately in 364 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 4: the league. They're given opportunities to first year coaches, and 365 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 4: these first year coaches are getting some pretty good gigs. 366 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 4: And the other surprise for Adrian Griffin is that, you know, 367 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 4: there was really I mean, he played in Milwaukee, but 368 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 4: there was really no connection with him and Jannis or 369 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 4: Chris Milton before this. Like so obviously people know my 370 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 4: connection with Jannis. You know, he's his partner, his girlfriend 371 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 4: is my cousin, and so I was able to talk 372 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 4: to him a little bit and he told me he 373 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 4: vouch straight up vouch for Adrian Griffin. You know, he 374 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 4: had he Adrian Griffin had the support of Giannis If 375 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 4: that came as a shock to me when he told me, 376 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,360 Speaker 4: I'm like, wow, again, there was no connection between those 377 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 4: two before, and so that was the biggest surprise. I 378 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:36,719 Speaker 4: thought they would go for a coach who probably even 379 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 4: won a championship, you know, let alone just a coach 380 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 4: with NBA head coaching experience. So that was the biggest 381 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 4: surprise for me. 382 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, look, when you frame it like that, 383 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 2: it's hard to argue. 384 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 3: I think there's no question that without Giannie is backing, 385 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 3: Adrian Griffin does not get this job. Milwaukee was certainly 386 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 3: very interested in Manie Williams, but many william initially he. 387 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 2: Didn't want the Bucks job. He didn't want the job 388 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 2: he ended up taking. 389 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 3: He I was told he turned down the Pistons at 390 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 3: least twice before the Pistons convinced him with that monster 391 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 3: contract to take the Detroit job. I've also heard pretty 392 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 3: strongly that the Bucks were very interested in Kelvin Sampson, 393 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 3: who's had so much success at the collegiate level at 394 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 3: Houston since. 395 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: Leaving the NBA. 396 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 3: But Jannis wanted Adrian Griffin. And you know what happens again. 397 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 3: We're recording this on Sunday night. Earlier today, picture pops 398 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 3: up on Twitter Adrian Griffin with Jannis in Greece watching 399 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 3: the Greek League finals. 400 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 2: So coach and star already bonding. 401 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 3: On an overseas trip, and Milwaukee is such an interesting 402 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 3: situation because they're, you know, the staff that Adrian Griffin 403 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 3: has put together. Terry Stotts and Joe Prunty are on 404 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 3: that staff. Two guys who have been the Bucks head 405 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:07,160 Speaker 3: coach are assistants on Adrian Griffin's staff. So a lot 406 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 3: of interesting layers to that Milwaukee situation. And you know 407 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 3: you said it, there were six openings. We've seen four 408 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 3: experienced coaches get these jobs. Emy Udoka gets the Houston job. 409 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 3: He may, of course, took Boston to the finals in 410 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 3: his only previous season as a head coach. Mani Williams 411 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 3: took the Sons to the finals and followed that up 412 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 3: with a sixty four win league leading sixty four wins 413 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 3: the next season, loses his job. Detroit puts that monster 414 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:43,120 Speaker 3: offer on the table to ultimately convince Mani Williams after 415 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 3: a couple no's, to say yes. 416 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 2: Frank Vogel, as. 417 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 3: You said, championship coach now in Phoenix, Nick Nurse championship 418 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 3: coach now in Philly. But two of the six openings 419 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 3: go to NBA head coaching rookies, Adrian Griffin and. 420 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 2: Milwaukee and dark O Royakovich in Toronto. 421 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 3: And the big question, of course, which I don't think 422 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 3: we can fully answer at this point, is you people 423 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,880 Speaker 3: around the league are certainly trying to figure out, now, 424 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 3: what does hiring a first time head coach who's known 425 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 3: as a developmental specialist. What does that mean for Toronto's 426 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 3: roster plans? The latest rumbles I've heard Fred van Vliet, 427 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 3: Gary Trent Junior more likely than not to be back 428 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 3: in Toronto. But what that means for the rest of 429 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 3: the roster. How much trading will the Raptors be doing? 430 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 3: Are they going to extend Pascal Siyakam? Is everybody in 431 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 3: play apart from Scottie Barnes. These are the questions people 432 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 3: around the league are asking. We're asking them to trying 433 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 3: to get answers, and as soon as we. 434 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 2: Do, we will share them with you. 435 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 3: All Right, one more item we should touch on before 436 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 3: we put a bow on this edition of this League 437 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 3: Uncut and as always, friends, please remember to rate, review, 438 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 3: and subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your pods. 439 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 3: In my aforementioned This week in Basketball Sunday, Around the 440 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 3: League Notes, column I reported that, look, there's a lot 441 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 3: of names that the Rockets are being linked with beyond 442 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 3: just James Harden. 443 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 2: And that's not really a surprise because. 444 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 3: The Rockets are going to have fifty nine million and 445 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 3: estimated fifty nine point one million in salary cap space. 446 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:43,679 Speaker 3: Hat tip to our mutual friend Keith Smith for that 447 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 3: estimate I asked him for and that's the number he 448 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 3: came back with. Fifty nine point one is the current 449 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 3: estimate in salary cap space. So look Harden wrestling with 450 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 3: the idea of going to Houston or staying in Philly. 451 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 3: Lots of other free agents have been mentioned as potential 452 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 3: Rockets targets. Free agents like Toronto's Fred van Vliet, like 453 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 3: Brooklyn's restricted free agent Cam Johnson, like unrestricted free agents 454 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 3: Chris Middleton and Brook Lopez in Milwaukee, even Dylan Brooks 455 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 3: in Memphis. There have been reports linking the Rockets with 456 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 3: all those guys. But today in my Sunday column, I 457 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 3: reported I've been told that the Rockets will weigh a 458 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 3: run at Kyrie Irving in the event they are not 459 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 3: able to convince James Harden to leave Philadelphia. Now, again, 460 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: those are both contingency scenarios if they don't get Harden, 461 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 3: and the Rockets have to weigh if they really want 462 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 3: to go down that road. But I'm told it is 463 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 3: something they will consider. But since they're still in the 464 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 3: consideration phase, I really haven't changed my view of this 465 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 3: I've said this track of how many times I've made 466 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 3: this statement since the regular season ended. 467 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 2: The only to this point, the only. 468 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 3: Verified confirmed team bidding for Kyrie Irving in free agency, 469 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 3: it's still Dallas. 470 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 2: You know, Houston will weigh it. And that's the. 471 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 3: First other team that I've been able to report since 472 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 3: the season ended. And you know, we've been talking for 473 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 3: months about maybe the Lakers, maybe the Suns. But again, 474 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 3: there is no evidence that the Lakers are going to 475 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 3: make a push for Kyrie this summer. It's a little 476 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 3: bit more unclear in Phoenix since they're moving off Chris Paul. 477 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 2: Does that mean do we have to at least. 478 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 3: Raise the possibility that there could be a trade push 479 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 3: for Kyrie Irving? 480 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 2: Again, I am not reporting that. 481 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 3: I have no evidence to confirm that, but it is 482 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 3: something people are obviously wondering about. But at this point, 483 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 3: I think we still have to go with what we've 484 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 3: been saying. The expectation is that the MAVs are going 485 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 3: to resign him. They want to resign him, and Kyrie 486 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 3: by all accounts to this point, as we record on 487 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 3: June eleventh, twenty twenty three, all the signals say that 488 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 3: Kyrie wants to stay with the MAVs who acquired him 489 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 3: in February. 490 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 2: I turn it over you. 491 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 4: No, that was interesting when I read that. That was 492 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 4: interesting because depends on who you talk to. You know, 493 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 4: some people say James Harden is conflicted on whether to 494 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 4: return to Houston or stay in Philly. Other people will 495 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 4: say they believe that it's a done deal, that is Houston, 496 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 4: that James Harden is going to. I did not I 497 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 4: did not hear about a potential the potential of Kyrie Irving, 498 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 4: you know, going to Houston. If they indeed struck out 499 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 4: on James Harten, that would be interesting. But you definitely 500 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 4: have to you look at the free agency that's out there. 501 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 4: The Houston Rockets had let it be known they want 502 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 4: to change the course of where they were headed with 503 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 4: this youth movement. The youth movement, it involved a lot 504 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 4: of losing. That owner is not happy, you know, being 505 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 4: in that transitional phase. So he's trying to get out 506 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 4: and get to some wins. And they believe getting the 507 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 4: Star next season that that is priority number one, getting 508 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 4: a Star next season, trying to change the tie to 509 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 4: get back to their winning ways. And you know, I 510 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 4: still like, like you said, I still, I still would 511 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 4: find it hard to believe that Kyrie would not be 512 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,479 Speaker 4: back with the Dallas Mavericks. You know the fact that 513 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 4: he's he's out there trying to recruit Lebron James, even 514 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 4: though I believe that is a I believe that's an 515 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 4: I don't see that happening, But I think he's I 516 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 4: think he's going back to Dallas, and it would take 517 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 4: it would take a real hang up in negotiations to 518 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 4: veer him off of that course, because I think there's 519 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:20,000 Speaker 4: gonna be something at play. I think, I do think 520 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 4: some teams are going to surface as far as they're 521 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 4: interest in Kyrie by next week. By next week, I 522 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 4: think teams are going to surface express an interest in 523 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:40,760 Speaker 4: Kyrie trying to line up trying to line up meetings, 524 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 4: free agency meetings with him. 525 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:46,040 Speaker 3: So yeah, that's what we've been waiting for, because again, 526 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 3: you know the obviously I live in Dallas, so the 527 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,719 Speaker 3: questions about Kyrie, I get them probably as often as 528 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 3: you get questions about Dame. And you know, I just 529 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 3: I keep saying it because it's all I can say. 530 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,240 Speaker 3: That's the only the only confirmed team in my notebook 531 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 3: is Dallas. 532 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 2: So it would really make things interesting. 533 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,080 Speaker 3: And give us a lot more to analyze if it 534 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 3: emerges that some other teams have interest in Kyrie, because look, 535 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 3: as we've talked about before, the MAVs are trying to 536 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 3: thread a needle here. 537 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 2: They're trying to. 538 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 3: Re sign him to the most team friendly deal they 539 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 3: can that Kyrie. 540 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 2: Feels good about. 541 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 3: Kyrie obviously wants as close to the five year, two 542 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 3: hundred seventy two million max as he can get. The 543 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 3: The MAVs are not going to offer him five years 544 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 3: and two hundred seventy two million, But what you know, 545 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 3: is it going to be three years, is it going 546 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,440 Speaker 3: to be four years? How close to the max will 547 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 3: it be? Will it be the max? You know, these 548 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 3: are all the variables that we don't know yet, and 549 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 3: Kyrie's going to need a market. He's going to need 550 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 3: external interest to create some leverage because to this point, 551 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 3: basically two months since the season ended, it really doesn't 552 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 3: appear that he has much because this thing that I 553 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 3: reported earlier today that Houston will weigh a pursuit of 554 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:08,880 Speaker 3: Kyrie Irving if they don't get James Harden. That's the 555 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 3: closest thing yet to external interest. But let's see if 556 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:17,320 Speaker 3: mister Haynes crystal ball is correct, and let's see if 557 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 3: some interest actually does materialize from beyond Dallas borders in 558 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 3: the next week or so. 559 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,720 Speaker 4: I think you will, Stan, I think you will. 560 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:33,720 Speaker 3: All right, Well, that's a pretty nice tease for future 561 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:37,759 Speaker 3: episodes of this League uncut. The next time Chris and 562 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 3: I join, you will know if the Denver Nuggets have 563 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 3: finished off the Miami Heat to win the first championship 564 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 3: in their franchise history, or if the indomitable Heat, if 565 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 3: Heat culture can keep this thing going and get Chris 566 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:00,040 Speaker 3: Haynes back to South Beach because he wants to go 567 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,879 Speaker 3: out one more time and not get rained on see 568 00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 3: if he can actually have a full afternoon in the 569 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:11,800 Speaker 3: sun without having to dodge some kind of South Beach storm. 570 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:16,080 Speaker 2: It's rough, man, it's rough. You know, these are rough. 571 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 4: Joker is going to be the Joker regardless, and I 572 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:23,240 Speaker 4: expect them to. That's why I expect Stein the next 573 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 4: pot that we do, I would expect we're talking about 574 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:31,879 Speaker 4: Joker being a finals MVP, Denver Nuggets winning their first 575 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:38,320 Speaker 4: championship and and you know, just going on this tremendous 576 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 4: run and salute them salute them. You know, I don't 577 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 4: want They've done everything that they had to do to 578 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 4: get to this point. They took care of the regular season, 579 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 4: they handled it, they respected the regular season, and they 580 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:55,760 Speaker 4: got to this point. So I anticipate will be opening 581 00:35:55,880 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 4: up our next pot Stein giving praise to the Joker 582 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 4: and a diffultness. 583 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:07,560 Speaker 3: All right, my friend, that's going to do it for 584 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:11,240 Speaker 3: this edition of this League Uncut again. 585 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 2: Friends, Please rate, review, subscribe to the pod wherever you 586 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, and Chris and I will be back 587 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 2: very very soon. Buckle up. 588 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:26,480 Speaker 3: We are moving into that time of year. The transaction 589 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:31,840 Speaker 3: game is going to take complete control. It will occupy 590 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:37,319 Speaker 3: our full focus very soon. The draft, free agency, and 591 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 3: a trade frenzy that Chris Haynes promised earlier in this podcast, 592 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:44,879 Speaker 3: Trade Frenzy Capital f. 593 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:47,880 Speaker 2: Chris Haynes says it's on the way, and you know what, 594 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:49,480 Speaker 2: I agree with him. I do think we are going 595 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 2: to see a lot of trade action. 596 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:55,200 Speaker 3: Might not be blockbuster superstar trade, but there are going 597 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 3: to be There's going to be trade action as teams 598 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 3: try to balance their books and move pieces around before 599 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 3: the new CBA takes hold at the end of the month. 600 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,919 Speaker 3: All right, this really does it. We're moving on. New 601 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 3: episode of This League Uncut will be coming at you 602 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:13,839 Speaker 3: very very soon. Enjoy Game five everyone. 603 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 1: And now I'll do it for us. 604 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 2: See you next time. This League Uncut is an iHeartRadio 605 00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:27,280 Speaker 2: production Chris Haines and Mark Stein