1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to this league. I'm cutting in the rule of 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: twenty four hour NBA news. This's you, Chris Haynes. It's 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: so time, work's time, It's so time. This league uncut 4 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: is underway and on fire. This should be a good one. Hey, everyone, 5 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: welcome in to the latest addition of this league uncut. 6 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: An instant reaction addition to some breaking news in hashtag 7 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: this league. Because the Lakers on Friday, they have made 8 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: the expected official formally parting ways with their coach, Darvin Ham. 9 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: I am coming to you in solo audio dispatch form 10 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: in the wake of Ham's dismissal Friday, because Chris Haynes 11 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: and I we've both been running around all over the 12 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: place on playoff assignments. Chris has been working the Eastern 13 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: Conference in Round one. I've been going back and forth 14 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: between Dallas and LA covering the Mavericks Clippers series, so 15 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:20,759 Speaker 1: between travel, time zone clashes, we just haven't been able 16 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: to connect since we recorded Monday's pod the way we 17 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: had hoped. We will rectify that. I promise you we 18 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: will fix that asap. But in today's pod, doing it 19 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: this way, solo essay style, hopefully we can catch you 20 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: up on everything happening, starting of course, with the Lakers 21 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: firing of Ham, and the signs were building that this 22 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: is where it was heading, given the Lakers inability to 23 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: get out of the first round, given the Lakers inability 24 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: to hold several leads in the Denver Series, even after 25 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: a trip to the Western Conference Finals last season, winning 26 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 1: the n Season Tournament as recently as December, pressure had 27 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: been mounting on him four weeks now. He certainly had 28 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: no shortage of detractors this season regarding lineups, rotations, and 29 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: more recently, how he was connecting with Anthony Davis given 30 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: some of the stuff that we heard a d say. 31 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: But look, the Lakers, not unlike Phoenix. They've got roster 32 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: issues to address, not as many as Phoenix maybe, But 33 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: a coaching change is only going to fix so much here. 34 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: And that's especially true because the list of established championship 35 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: coaches out there available to the Lakers, it's very, very short. 36 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: You're already hearing tons of talk about ty Lou as 37 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 1: a potential Lakers coaching candidate. Tylu is still under contract 38 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: to the Clippers. No matter what happens later tonight in Dallas, 39 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: Tylu is not available to the Lakers as we speak, 40 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: and don't forget that the Lakers passed on the chance 41 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: to hire Taran Lou in the first place, back when 42 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: they ended up hiring Frank Vogel, offered the job to 43 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: ty Lou, couldn't come to terms with Tylo, and Tylu 44 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: ended up coaching the Clippers. Mike Budenholzer, three years removed 45 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: from steering the Bucks to a championship, he is available, 46 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: and what the Lakers will ultimately have to decide here 47 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: is do they narrow their focus to coaches who have 48 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: not just experience but title experience like Budenholzer, or would 49 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: the Lakers Fresh off these last two seasons with Darvin Ham, 50 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: are the Lakers prepared to seriously consider another first time 51 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: coach like JJ Reddick. The ESPN broadcaster Lebron James podcast partner, 52 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: I've been writing about JJ Reddick's potential candidacy in Lakerland 53 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: since Tuesday, but again, we don't know yet whether the 54 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: Lakers would be willing to hire another first time coach 55 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: after moving away from Darvin Ham so quickly, even a 56 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 1: first time coach like Reddick, who, obviously, by virtue of 57 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: their new podcast, he's already got a working relationship with 58 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: Lebron James and wherever and however this thing goes. The 59 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: NBA off season coaching carousel just got its first significant nudge. 60 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: The pre existing openings before this one, we know Brooklyn 61 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: has already hired Jordi Fernandez from Sacramento staff to be 62 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: the next new coach. So the only other openings at 63 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: the moment are Charlotte and Washington. Those teams, of course, 64 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: at the bottom of the East standings much lower profile 65 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 1: jobs than the Laker job. And when we talk about 66 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: the Laker job, we are talking about one of the 67 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: hottest seats in professional sports. You heard Darvin Ham the 68 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: other day, right after the Lakers were eliminated with a 69 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: game five loss in Denver. Two straight seasons the Lakers 70 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: are knocked out of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. 71 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: You heard Darvin Ham say that his two years in 72 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: that seat had been quote a hell of a time. 73 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: He was already speaking like a coach, like a man 74 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: who knew what was coming. And Ham's dismissal it's just 75 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: the start of what I expect is going to be 76 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: a pretty frenzied off season because we had so many 77 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: teams We're going to talk about this next. So many 78 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: teams came into the season with big expectations and lost early. 79 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: And just think about what we've already seen here as 80 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: the first round of these playoffs dribbled to a close. 81 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: Let's go through it. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Clay Thompson 82 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: and the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley 83 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: Beal and the Phoenix Suns, Lebron James, Anthony Davis and 84 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: the aforementioned Lakers, Jimmy Butler, bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat, 85 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: Janna Santetokumpo, Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks, and finally, 86 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: last night, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia seventy 87 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: six ers. Now, you guys know, I am no Vegas expert, 88 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: so I'm not quite sure how to calculate this, but 89 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: just imagine the odds you could have gotten in Vegas, 90 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: Let's say around Halloween if you had made a six 91 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: way bet, assuming that's even league. I really don't know 92 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 1: if it is, but let's assume that you made a 93 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: six way bet. Did I get that right? One? Two, three, four, five, 94 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: six teams that none of those Star Layden six teams, 95 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: not a single one of those six teams would reach 96 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: the second round of the NBA playoffs. That's where we 97 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: are in this league. After a pretty chaotic Thursday night, 98 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: you had Milwaukee and Philly the latest marquee teams to 99 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: be ushered straight into an early offseason. And yeah, it's 100 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: going to be wild, stressful, complicated when you look at 101 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: all those teams and the difficult pathways almost all of 102 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: them face to really improving their rosters. I really should 103 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: include New Orleans in this conversation. After Pelicans GM David Griffin, 104 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: he came out after the Oklahoma City inflicted sweep of 105 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: the Zion Williamson lists Pels. David Griffin all but promised 106 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: that the Pelicans are going to be very active in 107 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: the trade market this offseason, so that instantly as you 108 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: start asking questions about who is likely to be moved 109 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: there brandon Ingram, is that a trade scenario that the 110 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: Pelicans are going to look into. There are so many 111 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: significant and tricky decisions that will have to be made 112 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 1: by all of these teams leaving the playoffs early. And look, 113 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: we cannot forget and we shouldn't forget, we should never 114 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: put this to the side. Injuries have absolutely overwhelmed the 115 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: whole league in the first round of these playoffs. You know, 116 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: I mentioned Zion there not being available for New Orleans, 117 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: and we know what's happened in Milwaukee. Game was able 118 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: to play in Game six, but Ya was not for 119 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: the Bucks. And we can go on and on and 120 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: on because there are that many injuries and they're really 121 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: you struggle to find a first round series or any 122 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: team in the postseason that has gone unscathed here. I mean, 123 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: not even coaches are safe right now. I am absolutely 124 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: sick for Minnesota's Chris Finch about the knee injury he 125 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: sustained when everyone's favorite Timberwolf, the newly minted the NBA's 126 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: newly minted teammate of the Year, Mike Conley, plowed into 127 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: Fitch on the sideline in the wolves sweep clinching win 128 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: over Phoenix, and it inflicted a serious knee injury that 129 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: required surgery. It will absolutely suck if Finch's ability to 130 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: coach against the Nuggets in the Tim Connolly Bowl is 131 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: comp and it almost surely has to be given how 132 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: serious this injury was. It is so brutal and unfair 133 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: to Finch and look cruel as this is. We will 134 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: have time to come back to that series to laser 135 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: in on the second round and discuss the Wolves matchup 136 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: with the defending champions from Denver that is to come. 137 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: The immediate focus this week is what's been happening with 138 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: all these headliner teams that have been ousted. And we 139 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: got our answer in terms of Darvin Ham in Lakerland. 140 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: But again, I'm not sure that a coaching change is 141 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: going to drastically alter and raise the Lakers overall ceiling 142 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: Lebron James is affected at this point. All the signals 143 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: suggest that he will stay with the Lakers. We don't 144 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: know yet what the contract structure will be. But the 145 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: real curiosity, yes, the Lakers have a coaching search to 146 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: conduct right now, but the real curiosity what kind of 147 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: trade can the Lakers make to upgrade their roster. Remember 148 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: they didn't do a deal at the trade deadline in 149 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: February with the one first round pick they had available 150 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: to move at that time. But I thought that was 151 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 1: the right call, and we're seeing exactly why now because 152 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 1: they have to do something significant now and now they 153 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: will have three first round picks at their disposal to 154 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: make a significant trade at the June draft or is 155 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: it early July. Atlanta's Trey Young. We've been talking about 156 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: him as a potential Lakers trade target since February. But 157 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: will that list expand I suspect that it will. I 158 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: think it's too early in the postseason for the trade 159 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: market to really have crystallized in terms of potential players 160 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: the Lakers can go after. I think in the next 161 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: four to six weeks there will be another name or 162 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: two or three who emerges as a potential Lakers trade target. 163 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: So and honestly, we could have started this rundown this 164 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: portion of the discussion with Phoenix because Frank Vogel is 165 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: under no shortage of pressure in terms of his job 166 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: security in Phoenix. And that's because, unlike the Lakers, the 167 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: Suns don't have easy pathways to improving their team. And 168 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:46,839 Speaker 1: that's why there's been so much talk already about Frank 169 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: Vogel after a forty nine and thirty three season in 170 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: which he only had his three star players Booker, Durant 171 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: and Beale. They only played together in forty one of 172 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: the eighty two games. That's why you're hearing so much 173 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: about Frank Vogel's job status because meaningfully changing this underachieving 174 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: roster is going to be incredibly difficult for the Suns 175 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: because of all the restrictions they face as a second 176 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: apron luxury tax team. With apologies, of course, to Sons 177 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: owner Matt Ishbia, who had the temerity to proclaim the 178 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,599 Speaker 1: following at a news conference Wednesday. 179 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 2: Oh, it's extremely fixable. I mean, let's just be real. 180 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: Although this isn't a cool narrative and the national media 181 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 2: really won't want to play it out there, but like 182 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: ask the other twenty nine gms, twenty six of them 183 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 2: would trade their whole team for our whole team, and 184 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 2: our whole in our draft picks and everything as it is, Like, 185 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 2: the house is not on fire. We're in great position. 186 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: It's not hard to fix it. It's not like we're like, hey, 187 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 2: we don't have enough talent to win a champion. We 188 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 2: have enough talent to win a championship, right, Do we 189 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 2: have enough continuity? We have time together, Like, there's a 190 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 2: lot of things we can look at. Do we have 191 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 2: like the right leadership in place? Do we have to 192 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 2: add some pieces around? It's not like we don't have 193 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 2: people that can score the Babel not that play defense 194 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 2: and have one chance, like we have all the things, 195 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 2: and so how fixable is it? And I mean, if 196 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 2: I read the media, I would think we have a 197 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 2: lot of problems. But luckily I get to spend time 198 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 2: with you know, the best players in the world. In 199 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: my opinion, the best coach is GMS see all these people, 200 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 2: and I get to spend time with our people and say, 201 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: we're in really great shape. And I wouldn't trade our 202 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 2: team or our situation for anyone else's except for I'd 203 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 2: like to be playing right now. But besides that, for like, 204 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 2: how going into the offseason, I feel great about it. 205 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 2: It's not like there's a lot of other teams that 206 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 2: have good players that have to resign them or they're 207 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 2: going to lose them, or that they might they're unrestrict 208 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: your free agents. Like our starting five's coming back. 209 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: I feel very good about it. Some truly impressive and 210 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: fascinating defiance there from matt Ishbia, But no, dare I 211 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: say that twenty six of twenty nine teams would not 212 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: trade situations with the Phoenix Suns, And no, the Sons 213 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: of Phoenix are not regarded to be in a great position, 214 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: as he also claimed there, and I would also suspect 215 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: that Ishbia will soon be able to confirm all of 216 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: this for himself once this offseason gets going in earnest 217 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: and the Sons try to make roster changes if they 218 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: don't want to trade Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, and 219 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: I strongly doubt they want to do either. Can they 220 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: trade use of Nurkic? Can they trade Grayson Allen after 221 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: they just extended him? That couldn't even happen until October. 222 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: Grayson Allen is not trade eligible until next season starts, 223 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: So just very limited options for the Suns going forward 224 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: roster wise. Miami, the Heat's response to an early exit 225 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: will start with extending Jimmy Butler's contract or not extending 226 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler's contract after a season in which, yes, Butler 227 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: only appeared in sixty regular season games, but he all 228 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: so performed absolutely heroically in the play in Tournament. Remember, 229 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: he played out the opening game of the play in 230 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: Tournament against Philly on a badly spraying knee, and he 231 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: nearly led Heat culture to a win over Philly in 232 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: that one. The Heat don't have to extend Butler. He 233 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: turns thirty five in September, But what will it do 234 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: to the relationship if they don't extend him after For 235 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: so long now, Butler has been the central figure of 236 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: the whole heat culture movement post Dwayne Wade the Bucks. 237 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: I am absolutely relieved for them that Jannis Antetokumpo did 238 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: not try to play in Game six. Hearing Yannis speak 239 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: to reporters in Milwaukee on Friday on the day after 240 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: the Bucks elimination, he really didn't sound close, But I 241 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: have to say I was also I was flat out 242 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: frightened for Milwaukee that Chris's guy, Damian Lillard did insist 243 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 1: on playing in Game six with a less than pristine achilles. 244 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: I'm super relieved for Dame on the Bucks that there 245 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: was no apparent further damage. And I mean, look, I 246 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: understand they had a shot to if they could have 247 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: won Game six in Indianapolis. This thing is now a 248 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: Game seven decider in Milwaukee, but man, that I felt 249 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: like they were risking a lot just to have Dame 250 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: on the floor. And now that it's over, this was 251 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: an absolutely nightmarish season in Brewtown. It began with such 252 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,479 Speaker 1: promise no, there will be no comeback from three to 253 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: one down for Doc Rivers. And now that they're heading 254 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: into the offseason, I wrote about this as well earlier 255 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: in the week, teams are already hope, crossing their fingers 256 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: tightly wishing, praying that Yannis is moved to rethink his 257 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: future as a Milwaukee Buck, even though it was just 258 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: last October that the Yanas response to the Damian Lillard 259 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: trade acquisition was to immediately sign a three year max 260 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: extension with Milwaukee. But that's not gonna stop potential Yannis 261 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: trade suitors from lusting after the idea that he is 262 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: somehow unsettled. There anew and then the Sixers. I mean, 263 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 1: it's been more than twenty seasons now since we've seen 264 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 1: Philadelphia in the Conference finals. This time they didn't even 265 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: get the chance to slam into their usual second round wall, 266 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: losing to the Knicks in six games. But when we 267 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: look at Philly, first of all, this does not have 268 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: the feel of another playoff face plant, a feeling that 269 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 1: the Sixers and their fans know all too well. I mean, 270 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: this time Philly lost a series filled with haymakers and 271 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: bonkers endings. Okay, they lost it to the Knicks, but 272 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: they did so with Joel Embiid rushing back from a 273 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,959 Speaker 1: knee injury, probably faster than he should have, and that 274 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: knee injury it dropped Philly from second to seventh in 275 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:40,400 Speaker 1: the East. And unlike pretty much every other team we've 276 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: talked about here so far, the Sixers really do have 277 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: some tangible hope for the future because they're gonna have 278 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: more than fifty million in cap space this summer to 279 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 1: try to find that third star to pair with Embiid 280 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: and the rising Tyrese Maxey. And look, the free agent 281 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: market is not teaming with wonderful options. But when you 282 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: have cap space, you can also make trades. You can 283 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: trade players into cap space. And I think we know 284 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: that Darryl Morey loves to make a trade or two 285 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 1: when he has the chance. And so I think all 286 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: of Philadelphia right now is trying to work out how 287 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: Tobias Harris could go scoreless in twenty nine minutes, everyone 288 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: naturally concluding that this will be the last time we 289 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: see Tobias Harris in a Philly uniform. But look, the 290 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: Sixers as we speak, Yes, their season is over, but 291 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: they are seen as the foremost threat on the NBA 292 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: map to swipe Paul George away from the Clippers. The 293 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: Orlando Magic also have to be in that conversation, but 294 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: it's the Sixers who have the clip most concerned here, 295 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: and I'm talking about long term concerns, of course, the 296 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: immediate concern for the Clippers. Just in a few hours 297 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: after I finish recording this, I am headed straight to 298 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: the American Airline Center for Game six in Dallas Friday night. 299 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 1: The Mavericks will have another opportunity just hours after this 300 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: episode drops to bring the Clippers season to an end 301 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: and finally avenge those first round playoff losses to Kawhi 302 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: Leonard and Paul George and the Clippers in both twenty 303 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 1: twenty and twenty twenty one. And I have to say 304 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 1: it is this is such a wild night in Dallas 305 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: because Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are in town 306 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: for Caitlin Clark's first WNBA exhibition game. That's happening here 307 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: in town or in the Greater DFW area same night 308 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:03,479 Speaker 1: as the Maverick's chance to close out a playoff series 309 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: at home for the first time in twenty eleven. Unfortunately, 310 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: these two massive games are in completely different places. It 311 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: would have been wonderful if somehow this could have been 312 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: a doubleheader at the AAC with Caitlin Clark playing in 313 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: her first exhibition game in the WNBA, followed by mas 314 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 1: Clippers game six. How amazing would that have been to 315 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: have both of these games in the same place. There's 316 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: no way to be in the same place. And I 317 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: will be at the playoff game again as the Mavericks 318 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 1: try to close out a playoff opponent at home for 319 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: the first time since they're run to a championship in 320 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: twenty eleven, and if it happens tonight, then the Clippers 321 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: concerns they immediately shift fully to trying to hang on 322 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: to join Origin free agency and trying to do a 323 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 1: new deal with Tron Lou because they need to extend Tylu. 324 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: Tylu should not be in the last year of his deal, 325 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: and Kawhi Leonard he was only healthy enough to play 326 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: in two games of this series. This is the Clippers 327 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: third series against the Mavericks in the space of five years, 328 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: and Kawhi is the only member of that Clippers corps 329 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:32,919 Speaker 1: who is signed for the long term. Paul George, James Harden, 330 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: Tylu all of them need new deals as LA's other 331 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: team prepares to relocate to Inglewood. Of course, next season 332 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: they'll be playing in the new and two at Dome. 333 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: And basically now Orlando has to win a Game six 334 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: at home against Cleveland, or the Clippers have to find 335 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: a way to steal another win in Dallas without Kawhi. 336 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: That's the only way we're going to get a Game 337 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: seven in this first round. It did look like the 338 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: Knicks and Sixers might be heading to go the distance 339 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,679 Speaker 1: after Maxie and Philly found a way to steal that 340 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: crazy Game five at the Garden. But now we're just 341 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 1: down to two outstanding series. Calves lead the Magic three 342 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 1: to two, Mavericks lead the Clippers three two. Those series 343 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: could be wrapped up by end of business tonight, and look, 344 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: soon enough, Round two will be here the Tim Connelly Bowl. 345 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: We will be talking about that a lot Timberwolves Nuggets 346 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: in the second round. We know we're getting Nicks Pacers 347 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:45,919 Speaker 1: in the East second round, and that one, of course 348 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:50,199 Speaker 1: serves up a delicious subplot of Jalen Brunson. Remember he 349 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: only played ten minutes in a Game seven in the 350 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: last game he ever played with Rick Carlyle as his 351 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 1: coach in Dallas, and now Jalen Brunson will be leading 352 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 1: the Knicks, although they are still the banged up Knicks. 353 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: He will be leading the Knicks against the Carlisle led 354 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: Pacers in round two, the Thunder and the Celtics. They 355 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 1: still await the identities of their second round opponents. But 356 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: before we go, we do need to point out that 357 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: the Celtics, after months and months and months of anticipation 358 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 1: that Boston would potentially reunite with Milwaukee or Philadelphia, or 359 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: maybe even both in the playoffs, the Celtics now have 360 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: to beat neither to get to the NBA Finals again, 361 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: which is probably a good thing given that Christops Porzingis 362 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 1: is now out indefinitely with a calf strain, because of course, 363 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: we needed yet another injury. I do think the Celtics 364 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 1: can win two more rounds and get back to the 365 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:59,679 Speaker 1: finals without Porzingis, so they can play it safe and 366 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: give him as much time as possible to recover, because 367 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: they do need something close to a full steam poor 368 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: Zingis if they're matching up with Denver in the NBA Finals, 369 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: or even if Minnesota gets there with all of its 370 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: size in the NBA Finals. Boston's gonna need Porzingis and 371 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: the length and versatility he brings both to their offense 372 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: and their defense. All Right, I think that will pretty 373 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: much get us caught up for the week that was 374 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: heading into Friday nights games. As I mentioned, been kind 375 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 1: of a whirlwind for Chris and I. He's been traveling. 376 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: I've been traveling. But Sunday night or Monday night at 377 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 1: the latest, we will reconnect and we will dive further 378 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: into all of this. The coaching carousel, the offseason chatter 379 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: about potential player moves. You watch, this stuff is going 380 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: to start to really spark up now that so many 381 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 1: of these teams that were expected to do big things 382 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: this season, now that so many of them have been 383 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: sent home. And I mentioned the Warriors in there. We 384 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: didn't even get a chance really to touch on the 385 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: complicated decisions they face when it comes to trying to 386 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,400 Speaker 1: enhance their roster. Let alone, the Kings and the Bulls 387 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: and the Hawks, the other three teams that exited this postseason. 388 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: In the Play and Round, it's about to really start 389 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: getting busy again on the transactional front. And I know 390 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: you guys love hearing that the draft lottery is fast approaching. 391 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 1: We know six first round losers, many of them prominent. 392 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: They have to start plotting their next moves immediately because 393 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: of what happened this week. And you're gonna want to 394 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: stay dialed in with us to stay on top of 395 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 1: all the activity that's going to take place over the 396 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 1: next two months and change. The Darvin Ham dismissal is 397 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: only the start of it. That is going to do 398 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: it for this edition of This League Uncut. As always, 399 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: please follow the show via Apple or Spotify or wherever 400 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. Please rate the show, review the 401 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: show for Chris Haynes and producer Ryan and for me 402 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 1: Mark Stein. Your support is very much appreciated. We will 403 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: be back together again very very soon. Thanks everyone for listening, 404 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: and that'll do it for us. See you next time. 405 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: This League Uncut is and iHeartRadio production Chris Haynes and 406 00:28:49,720 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: Mark Stein. I didn't