WEBVTT - Best Of - Giannis Antetokounmpo & LaMelo Ball TRADE REACTIONS + LeBron James RETURNING to Lakers? | Nick Wright

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to the Best of the Week for What's Right

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<v Speaker 1>with Nick Right the best takes in moments from this

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<v Speaker 1>week on the show. Enjoy the Heat have won the

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<v Speaker 1>Yannis Sweepstakes. The Heat received Jannis and Bobby Portis, the Bucks,

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<v Speaker 1>get Tyler, hero killl Ware, Jime Hakez Junior, caspart Casparis Jakenshonis,

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<v Speaker 1>three first round picks, including the thirteenth Tonight, twenty thirty one,

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<v Speaker 1>and twenty thirty three, and a twenty thirty swap for Yannis.

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<v Speaker 1>And my snap reaction is as a basketball fan, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>bummed about it because and I want to say this

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<v Speaker 1>on the front end, because I know this will be clipped.

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<v Speaker 1>I know heat Uh Twitter, who actually historically I think

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<v Speaker 1>is kind of liked me because I've believed in them

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<v Speaker 1>more than I think a lot of my colleagues. Heat

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<v Speaker 1>Twitter is gonna be furious. And I truly, I don't

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<v Speaker 1>say this sarcastically. I don't say this jokingly. I hope

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<v Speaker 1>that this is one of those clips that gets reshared

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<v Speaker 1>multiple times years down the road because I'm proven wrong,

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<v Speaker 1>because I really like Yannis. I think Yannis still has

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<v Speaker 1>at least two and maybe three awesome years left in him,

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<v Speaker 1>and I miss seeing Yannis deep into postseasons flatly, and

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<v Speaker 1>because of that, I'm really bummed. He now has working

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<v Speaker 1>for him a great coach, a good organization, and bam Adebayo,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's about it. They don't know if they're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>be able to bring back Norman Powell. They're not certain,

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<v Speaker 1>even though I would imagine they will be able to

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<v Speaker 1>bring back Andrew Wiggins. Davion Mitchell is a nice defensive

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<v Speaker 1>point guard. And all of a sudden, Yannis went from

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<v Speaker 1>a team who the last couple of years in Milwaukee,

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<v Speaker 1>this ceiling, the absolute ceiling, was Round one of the playoffs,

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<v Speaker 1>and now Jannis is on a team where this ceiling,

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<v Speaker 1>the absolute ceiling is Round two of the playoffs. And

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<v Speaker 1>that really bums me out because as great as Jannis is,

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<v Speaker 1>the one thing and this is actually not that dissimilar

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<v Speaker 1>to Nikola Jokic, but Jokicic's you know, has team didn't

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<v Speaker 1>get gutted over the last few years the way Yiannis's did.

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<v Speaker 1>The one. Yeah, but on the resume, is not a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of real playoff runs like Yannis is obviously the

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<v Speaker 1>one championship and brilliant on that run and brilliant in

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<v Speaker 1>the finals, just like Joker. Other than that, one other

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<v Speaker 1>run to a conference finals and then a bunch of

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<v Speaker 1>first or second round exits and post championship. It's been

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<v Speaker 1>grizzly for Giannis not and I don't listen. He has

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<v Speaker 1>been banged up, he has been injured. I don't blame

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<v Speaker 1>him for that, but that is the part of his

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<v Speaker 1>culpability is availability. It's not how he's played in the

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<v Speaker 1>postseasons over the last few years. It's been because the

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<v Speaker 1>team isn't good enough. And now he's on another team

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<v Speaker 1>that I fear is flatly not going to be good enough.

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<v Speaker 1>I understand that this trade won't be final until July sixth,

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<v Speaker 1>and I understand that there. You know, there's other moves

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<v Speaker 1>around the margins that Heat can do, and Spolstra is

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<v Speaker 1>a genius. I got all of that, but they are

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<v Speaker 1>not going to be able to make any other seismic

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<v Speaker 1>moves this offseason. I saw Barry Jackson saying, hey, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>they'll shake the tree on see if Lebron wants to

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<v Speaker 1>come back to Miami. Would that change my opinion of

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<v Speaker 1>their ceiling? Sure, if you could get a guy who

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<v Speaker 1>is still a max level player on a year to

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<v Speaker 1>year basis production wise, and get him for the mid level. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>that would change my opinion. But I don't think Lebron's

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<v Speaker 1>coming there, and there's not another player. It's like, oh, well,

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<v Speaker 1>if you don't get Lebron, there's not another max level

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<v Speaker 1>production guy that you can get for the mid level.

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<v Speaker 1>And folks are going to try to twist themselves in

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<v Speaker 1>knots explaining why, oh, actually, this Heat team can be

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<v Speaker 1>a championship contender in Vegas thinks they are hard rock.

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<v Speaker 1>Betts got him with the fifth best odds eighteen round sixteen,

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<v Speaker 1>eighteen twenty to one to win the title, only behind OKC,

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<v Speaker 1>San Antonio, Boston and New York, and I just think

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<v Speaker 1>that's flatly wrong. Right now, the Miami Heat have one

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<v Speaker 1>call it top six player in Giannis, another player call

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<v Speaker 1>him a top thirty guy, not in the top twenty,

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<v Speaker 1>but firmly in the top thirty in Bam. And then

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<v Speaker 1>the only other guy on the roster that I would

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<v Speaker 1>even consider to be in discussion to be a top

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<v Speaker 1>seventy five players Norman Powell. And technically he's not on

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<v Speaker 1>the roster. He's an unrestricted free agent. So yes, they're

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<v Speaker 1>gonna be well coached, Yes they're gonna be great defensively,

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<v Speaker 1>and yes you're gonna feel like a puncher's chance because

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<v Speaker 1>of Yannis, But this is not This is a better

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<v Speaker 1>situation than he had in Milwaukee, but it is not

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<v Speaker 1>a way better team than Miami has had over the

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<v Speaker 1>last few years. Giannis is a better player than anyone

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<v Speaker 1>they've had, but losing that depth, potentially losing Powell because

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<v Speaker 1>I I'm hesitant to say definitively they're going to be

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<v Speaker 1>hard capped because they took in more salary than they

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<v Speaker 1>sent out, because the trade again is not yet done,

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<v Speaker 1>and there could be difference slight tweaks that could adjust

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<v Speaker 1>those things, but potentially losing Powell, and the fact that

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<v Speaker 1>I continue to believe the East is somewhat underrated, particularly

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<v Speaker 1>at the top teams that right now I expect to

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<v Speaker 1>be better in next year's regular season than Miami, just

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<v Speaker 1>in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks, the Celtics more on

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<v Speaker 1>them in a minute, the Pistons, and the Calves. That's

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<v Speaker 1>four teams I expect to be better than them in

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<v Speaker 1>the regular season. Now, the Pistons and the I don't

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<v Speaker 1>have a lot of faith for them in the postseason

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<v Speaker 1>as and we'll see what moves they make. But that

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<v Speaker 1>does not teams that should be I to eye with

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<v Speaker 1>the Heat, the Hawks, who were awesome post Tray Young

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<v Speaker 1>trade the Pacers, assuming Haliburton comes back as anything like

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<v Speaker 1>the Halliburton were used to and while they're bummed they

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<v Speaker 1>don't have their draft pick, they do have Zubats the

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<v Speaker 1>see if the not writing them off, will wait and

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<v Speaker 1>see version. Teams I don't expect to be as good

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<v Speaker 1>as the Heat, but I can't flatly say have no

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<v Speaker 1>shot at it Toronto, Orlando and Philly. So where do

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<v Speaker 1>I expect the Heat to be next year? No better

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<v Speaker 1>than fifth and no worse than seventh in the East.

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<v Speaker 1>Winning a round certainly possible, Winning two rounds very unlikely.

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<v Speaker 1>Winning three rounds I would be utterly stunned, and winning

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<v Speaker 1>four rounds not possible. Again, Aw the smile on my

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<v Speaker 1>face if this gets clipped and sent back to me

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<v Speaker 1>in eleven months and Giannis is hoisting his second Larry

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<v Speaker 1>O'Brien and a guy who had done more than seventy

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<v Speaker 1>five percent of the top twenty players of all time

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<v Speaker 1>before the age of twenty seven, regains that trajectory, but

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think that's likely. I think instead what's likely

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<v Speaker 1>is a a version of millwe of what we saw

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<v Speaker 1>from Milwaukee a couple years ago. Down in Miami. When

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<v Speaker 1>they win in the high forties, they're a good, not

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<v Speaker 1>great team, and nobody really thinks they can win the championship. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>I get it, some people are gonna say that all

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<v Speaker 1>would have been different if Yiannis didn't get hurt right

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<v Speaker 1>before those playoffs are in some of those playoff runs. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>it it would have been different in that they maybe

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<v Speaker 1>don't miss the playoffs outright, or they didn't miss the playoffs,

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<v Speaker 1>they don't losing round one. Pardon me, but it wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>gonna be different than that. The team was gonna go

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<v Speaker 1>on a deep, elongated run. And I just don't know why,

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<v Speaker 1>how Miami's gonna have enough offense, how Miami's gonna have

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<v Speaker 1>enough shooting, How Miami's gonna fill out this roster when

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<v Speaker 1>the thing we have seen time and time again in

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<v Speaker 1>this new NBA is man having seven, eight, nine guys

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<v Speaker 1>you can really trust over the course of a postseason

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<v Speaker 1>is just critical. And so as a basketball fan, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>just bummed because and I don't blame Let me put

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<v Speaker 1>make this clear. I don't blame Miami for rolling the

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<v Speaker 1>dice and doing this. They had no other way to

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<v Speaker 1>go get a player anywhere near as good as Giannis.

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<v Speaker 1>You hope that it's just been bad luck on the injuries,

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<v Speaker 1>that the heat magic medical staff and the heat culture

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<v Speaker 1>can be a little rejuvenating for him health wise, and

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<v Speaker 1>that in an era where guy's prime is extending longer

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<v Speaker 1>and they're playing at a high level for a longer

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<v Speaker 1>period than ever before, that forget a Lebron Arc, but

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<v Speaker 1>that he could have a Kevin Durant or Steph Curry,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, extended prime, and even though he's going into

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<v Speaker 1>year fourteen and he's in his thirties, that he's got

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<v Speaker 1>not two or three more awesome years, but four or

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<v Speaker 1>five more awesome years. So I understand rolling the dice

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<v Speaker 1>on that. And when the best asset you gave up

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<v Speaker 1>was Tyler Hero or unprotected picks, when pat Riley's going

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<v Speaker 1>to be in his mid eighties, salute. I don't blame

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<v Speaker 1>you for doing it. I don't blame the Bucks for saying, well,

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<v Speaker 1>I'll get to the Buck side of it. In a bit,

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<v Speaker 1>because there's an argument as far as how what the

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<v Speaker 1>better option for them was. I just, as a basketball fan,

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<v Speaker 1>wish he was in Boston, and everybody knows that. Will

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<v Speaker 1>you know that watches this show or knows my history.

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<v Speaker 1>While I picked the Celtics to win the title foolishly

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<v Speaker 1>this year, It's not like I've been some long term

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<v Speaker 1>Boston Celtics or Boston sports in general, you know, fan

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<v Speaker 1>or supporter. But the Celtics with Tatum and with keeping

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<v Speaker 1>their depth intact, had they traded Jalen Brown, plus I

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<v Speaker 1>know they didn't want to give up Hugo Gonzales. I

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<v Speaker 1>I I don't understand how is Hugo Gonzalez untouchable? And

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<v Speaker 1>I you know, I might talk with Simmons later this week.

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<v Speaker 1>He's gonna have to explain it to me. How the

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<v Speaker 1>twenty eighth pick of the draft, who played fifteen minutes

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<v Speaker 1>a game this year and gave you four points a

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<v Speaker 1>game and in the playoffs when you were grasping in

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<v Speaker 1>the midst of blowing up three to one lead, how

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<v Speaker 1>Hugo you know, could be trusted if you will, over

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<v Speaker 1>the course of that series for a grand total of

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<v Speaker 1>nineteen minutes along with three DNB coaches decisions. How that

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<v Speaker 1>player can't be a sweetener to get this deal done?

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<v Speaker 1>Baylor Shireman, who you know, I like fine, but again

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<v Speaker 1>it is a replaceable piece, a twenty six year old

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<v Speaker 1>thirtieth overall pick who again in the playoffs, gave you

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<v Speaker 1>fourteen minutes a game and four points a game. How

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<v Speaker 1>that guy you if that one would have taken to

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<v Speaker 1>get this trade over the finish line. Shit, for the

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<v Speaker 1>sake of the of Giannis's future, do it. Tatum and

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<v Speaker 1>Giannis would have instantly been the best duo in basketball.

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<v Speaker 1>Your over reliance on three point shooting would have been

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<v Speaker 1>instantly fixed. And if you were willing to give up

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<v Speaker 1>Jalen Brown in two first and to get it over

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<v Speaker 1>the finish line, it would have taken Gonzales or Shireman,

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<v Speaker 1>or God forbid both of them. I don't know how

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<v Speaker 1>you don't do it. And again, folks that Diard Celtics

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<v Speaker 1>fans are gonna be like Nick, you didn't watch him

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<v Speaker 1>as closely as we did. You know what, You're right,

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<v Speaker 1>but you would have been going to war with Giannis Tatum,

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<v Speaker 1>Derek White, Peyton Pritchard, Howser, Nemi Cata who am I

0:16:12.320 --> 0:16:18.960
<v Speaker 1>forgetting there's another Oh, the other center, Luke Garza and

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<v Speaker 1>whoever you fill in the rest of the roster with.

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<v Speaker 1>Even if you had trade both those guys, I now

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<v Speaker 1>Boston might be feeling like, well, we have different ways

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<v Speaker 1>to improve the roster, once again involving trading Jalen Brown.

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<v Speaker 1>And so we'll get to Boston's piece of it shortly.

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<v Speaker 1>But just as a I I respect that Giannis didn't

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<v Speaker 1>just say one team and one team only in ruin

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<v Speaker 1>Milwaukee's leverage. I do wish it the end once you

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<v Speaker 1>got Boston's best possible he had put his finger on

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<v Speaker 1>the scale and said, yeah, tell Miami, I'm not signing

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<v Speaker 1>a contract with him. Take Boston Steel, because that is

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<v Speaker 1>the That would have been a way to almost guarantee

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<v Speaker 1>we get to see Yanna's deep into the playoffs and

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<v Speaker 1>whatever's left in his prime teaming up with Tatum. I

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<v Speaker 1>think Boston's depth is better than Miami's, and their best

0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:39.399
<v Speaker 1>player is way better than Miami's. Tatum versus Pam way

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<v Speaker 1>better and so on. I asked this on the TV

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<v Speaker 1>show today, if you had to make this bet, it's

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<v Speaker 1>A or B A Yanni's wins a title with the Heat,

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<v Speaker 1>or b he never makes a conference finals with the Heat.

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<v Speaker 1>What's the smarter bet, and maybe the most likely is

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<v Speaker 1>you know, outcome, see makes conference finals? You know, but never.

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<v Speaker 1>But it's just it's one or the other. It's binary.

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<v Speaker 1>Either it's a huge success or it's a pretty significant

0:18:28.280 --> 0:18:29.840
<v Speaker 1>I don't want to call it failure because you get

0:18:29.920 --> 0:18:33.439
<v Speaker 1>Yannis fans are excited, but team team success wise failure.

0:18:33.880 --> 0:18:36.040
<v Speaker 1>You win a title at some point with the Heat

0:18:36.160 --> 0:18:40.360
<v Speaker 1>if you're Yannis, or you never make the conference finals

0:18:40.800 --> 0:18:44.880
<v Speaker 1>with the Heat. To me, never make the conference finals

0:18:44.960 --> 0:18:48.600
<v Speaker 1>is a way better bet. And if he had been

0:18:48.680 --> 0:18:53.760
<v Speaker 1>traded for Jalen Brown two firsts and Baylor Shireman and

0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:57.720
<v Speaker 1>I offer you the same bet. He wins a title

0:18:57.760 --> 0:19:00.880
<v Speaker 1>with the Celtics or he never makes a conference finals

0:19:00.920 --> 0:19:08.800
<v Speaker 1>with the Celtics. You are, without blinking, picking wins the

0:19:08.840 --> 0:19:11.880
<v Speaker 1>title because the idea that that Celtics team would never

0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:16.720
<v Speaker 1>make a conference finals be incomprehensible. And not only is

0:19:16.720 --> 0:19:19.240
<v Speaker 1>that not incomprehensible for this Heat team, I think it's

0:19:19.280 --> 0:19:25.960
<v Speaker 1>the likely outcome. Now again, Heat magic, We'll see, but

0:19:26.040 --> 0:19:32.800
<v Speaker 1>the magic's gonna have to be creating rotational playoff caliber

0:19:32.840 --> 0:19:35.720
<v Speaker 1>players out of thin air. You can argue they did

0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:38.160
<v Speaker 1>it with Struce and Gabe Vincent. They'll do it again.

0:19:38.359 --> 0:19:40.040
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<v Speaker 3>Early this morning, the Timber was traded LaMelo gonna tie

0:21:38.040 --> 0:21:39.440
<v Speaker 3>and pair them up over there with Aunt.

0:21:39.480 --> 0:21:41.320
<v Speaker 4>The Hornets got nasried.

0:21:40.880 --> 0:21:44.679
<v Speaker 3>A twenty twenty thirty three first pick, three swaps in

0:21:44.760 --> 0:21:48.760
<v Speaker 3>three seconds. Minnesota also just traded away Randall, which opened

0:21:48.840 --> 0:21:50.960
<v Speaker 3>ups in space. Do you think that they are better

0:21:51.040 --> 0:21:53.199
<v Speaker 3>now than they were a week ago? Something tells me

0:21:53.680 --> 0:21:56.040
<v Speaker 3>you don't love this move.

0:21:57.640 --> 0:22:01.760
<v Speaker 1>Oh I love this move. I love this move for

0:22:01.880 --> 0:22:08.600
<v Speaker 1>the Hornets. Smart I listen, I'm not gonna do any

0:22:08.680 --> 0:22:13.919
<v Speaker 1>I told you so's it's unbecoming. But coming off his

0:22:14.080 --> 0:22:18.160
<v Speaker 1>best year and the team's best season, and his healthiest year,

0:22:19.480 --> 0:22:26.040
<v Speaker 1>and at the peak of his popularity, the Charlotte Hornets said,

0:22:27.160 --> 0:22:30.520
<v Speaker 1>you know, let's get out of the LaMelo ball business.

0:22:30.520 --> 0:22:35.400
<v Speaker 1>For nas red and won first and a handful of swaps,

0:22:37.400 --> 0:22:44.480
<v Speaker 1>And that's smart. I I understand. There was a lot

0:22:44.520 --> 0:22:53.320
<v Speaker 1>of controversy surrounding my comments and criticisms of LaMelo Ball

0:22:53.440 --> 0:22:56.959
<v Speaker 1>after he injured Bam out of bio and ended the

0:22:56.960 --> 0:23:02.639
<v Speaker 1>Miami Heat season in that play in game. Uh, but

0:23:03.960 --> 0:23:09.600
<v Speaker 1>The overarching criticism that at the time I said, and

0:23:09.680 --> 0:23:14.639
<v Speaker 1>that I said, I was shocked was not simply echoed

0:23:14.800 --> 0:23:21.120
<v Speaker 1>by everyone. Was I thought we all agreed that this

0:23:21.280 --> 0:23:28.159
<v Speaker 1>guy was an unserious player and that he was a

0:23:28.280 --> 0:23:35.439
<v Speaker 1>forget all the somewhat harmless but pretty alarming off the

0:23:35.480 --> 0:23:40.800
<v Speaker 1>court immaturity stuff on the court, plays a wildly immature

0:23:40.920 --> 0:23:47.280
<v Speaker 1>style of ball, and understandably his family got all mad

0:23:47.320 --> 0:23:51.960
<v Speaker 1>at me, but other folks, other commentators were acting as

0:23:52.000 --> 0:23:55.919
<v Speaker 1>if I was way out of bounds in saying what

0:23:56.720 --> 0:24:01.520
<v Speaker 1>I thought everybody tended to agree with. We have now learned,

0:24:02.640 --> 0:24:04.879
<v Speaker 1>you know who also agreed with it, the team that

0:24:04.960 --> 0:24:12.439
<v Speaker 1>knew him best. And so I think Charlotte saying Conker Nipple,

0:24:12.840 --> 0:24:18.080
<v Speaker 1>Brandon Miller, Kobe White as a point guard who they

0:24:18.119 --> 0:24:21.280
<v Speaker 1>just gave seventy five million to, now the kid they

0:24:21.440 --> 0:24:28.160
<v Speaker 1>just drafted building around that plus a real pro and

0:24:28.280 --> 0:24:35.080
<v Speaker 1>super valuable guy nasried that we like that plan moving forward.

0:24:36.920 --> 0:24:40.000
<v Speaker 1>I think that's smart from Charlotte, particularly when you consider

0:24:40.080 --> 0:24:44.040
<v Speaker 1>Demons LaMelo in about a week is going to become

0:24:44.480 --> 0:24:49.000
<v Speaker 1>extinsion eligible, where he right now has three years, one

0:24:49.119 --> 0:24:52.560
<v Speaker 1>hundred and thirty million left on his deal, which is

0:24:52.640 --> 0:24:55.720
<v Speaker 1>not terrible, but he's got he's got three years one

0:24:55.840 --> 0:24:59.560
<v Speaker 1>thirty left. He becomes eligible for them to add two

0:24:59.680 --> 0:25:04.880
<v Speaker 1>years one twenty, which would make it essentially a five year,

0:25:05.000 --> 0:25:08.840
<v Speaker 1>two hundred and fifty million dollar commitment to LaMelo Ball,

0:25:09.440 --> 0:25:12.920
<v Speaker 1>and I don't think the Hornets have any had any

0:25:12.960 --> 0:25:15.600
<v Speaker 1>interest in doing that, and so they decided to sell

0:25:15.680 --> 0:25:21.440
<v Speaker 1>high Minnesota. On the other hand, I am baffled at

0:25:21.560 --> 0:25:31.000
<v Speaker 1>them absolutely reimagining their team like this for reasons I

0:25:31.040 --> 0:25:37.880
<v Speaker 1>don't totally understand. So before I get to my Minnesota thoughts, Demonse,

0:25:38.080 --> 0:25:42.440
<v Speaker 1>what was your reaction, because I was I can't say

0:25:42.480 --> 0:25:46.000
<v Speaker 1>I was shocked by it, because there was reporting late

0:25:46.160 --> 0:25:48.760
<v Speaker 1>last night that this could happen, but prior to the

0:25:49.160 --> 0:25:52.240
<v Speaker 1>If if I hadn't seen the reporting late last night,

0:25:52.320 --> 0:25:55.080
<v Speaker 1>I would have been totally shocked by this, but we

0:25:55.200 --> 0:25:57.000
<v Speaker 1>kind of got a little precursor that it was on

0:25:57.080 --> 0:26:00.720
<v Speaker 1>its way. What was your reaction to seeing LaMelo Ball

0:26:00.840 --> 0:26:02.960
<v Speaker 1>was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

0:26:03.240 --> 0:26:05.240
<v Speaker 3>Well, I thought it was a little strange, just because

0:26:05.280 --> 0:26:08.600
<v Speaker 3>they had they just gave Iyo a new contract and

0:26:08.680 --> 0:26:11.120
<v Speaker 3>they were saying they were moving Nasried to the power

0:26:11.160 --> 0:26:14.480
<v Speaker 3>Forward and then Nasrit is gone, you get another guard.

0:26:15.359 --> 0:26:19.960
<v Speaker 4>I I like it. I think that I don't them.

0:26:20.160 --> 0:26:23.880
<v Speaker 3>I mean the Charlotte is they have the tenth best

0:26:23.880 --> 0:26:24.960
<v Speaker 3>odds in the East right now.

0:26:25.000 --> 0:26:25.200
<v Speaker 4>Yep.

0:26:25.359 --> 0:26:27.359
<v Speaker 3>Like I just feel like they're not in a great spot.

0:26:27.440 --> 0:26:29.600
<v Speaker 3>I think that it makes the Timberwolves better. I think

0:26:29.600 --> 0:26:32.440
<v Speaker 3>it gives them the perfect mix of offense and defense.

0:26:32.920 --> 0:26:34.760
<v Speaker 3>I don't I don't hate the move. And then also

0:26:34.840 --> 0:26:38.080
<v Speaker 3>with them being so successful this year, and for LaMelo,

0:26:38.240 --> 0:26:42.560
<v Speaker 3>maybe some internalization, you know, they got you out of here,

0:26:42.640 --> 0:26:44.639
<v Speaker 3>you got just had a really good year. Maybe that

0:26:44.720 --> 0:26:46.639
<v Speaker 3>forces you to kind of change some of your ways

0:26:46.920 --> 0:26:48.960
<v Speaker 3>and just new scenery for him.

0:26:49.119 --> 0:26:51.680
<v Speaker 4>I don't hate I don't hate them.

0:26:51.760 --> 0:26:53.919
<v Speaker 1>So that's why I wanted to go to you first,

0:26:54.480 --> 0:26:59.480
<v Speaker 1>because I think the way you feel about it is

0:26:59.520 --> 0:27:03.880
<v Speaker 1>going to be more mainstream than the way I feel

0:27:03.920 --> 0:27:06.000
<v Speaker 1>about it. I think the way you I didn't know

0:27:06.040 --> 0:27:08.560
<v Speaker 1>you felt that way, but I guessed you did. That

0:27:08.640 --> 0:27:12.280
<v Speaker 1>you would be like Listen nas Reed and one first

0:27:12.400 --> 0:27:17.440
<v Speaker 1>round pick for an All Star for an a guy

0:27:17.480 --> 0:27:21.439
<v Speaker 1>who's a scorer and a great passer. When you his

0:27:21.560 --> 0:27:25.399
<v Speaker 1>biggest weakness is the defensive end, but you still have

0:27:25.560 --> 0:27:29.160
<v Speaker 1>aunts who's a great defender. Jade McDaniels, who's a great defender,

0:27:30.080 --> 0:27:33.640
<v Speaker 1>Rudy Gobert, who's a great defender. So you'll you can,

0:27:34.359 --> 0:27:40.440
<v Speaker 1>you know, overcome his defensive limitations that this raises your ceiling.

0:27:40.600 --> 0:27:43.600
<v Speaker 1>And so I think that's how a lot of people feel.

0:27:44.520 --> 0:27:50.399
<v Speaker 1>And it is absolutely and this is not I'm not

0:27:51.040 --> 0:27:54.679
<v Speaker 1>this is gonna sound like I'm being patronizing or distrightful

0:27:54.760 --> 0:27:57.640
<v Speaker 1>to that opinion, which I know a lot of people hold,

0:27:59.160 --> 0:28:01.960
<v Speaker 1>And it absolutely makes a ton of sense. On two K.

0:28:02.880 --> 0:28:06.679
<v Speaker 1>I think in real life it will not work. Like

0:28:06.720 --> 0:28:08.840
<v Speaker 1>I said, I knew that was gonna come across poorly,

0:28:08.880 --> 0:28:16.199
<v Speaker 1>and I don't I do not think you can in

0:28:16.240 --> 0:28:22.480
<v Speaker 1>an offseason get rid of too true pros. Now Julius

0:28:22.520 --> 0:28:25.880
<v Speaker 1>struggles mightily in the playoffs, but Julius Randalls are hard

0:28:25.960 --> 0:28:30.480
<v Speaker 1>like you salary out him, hard working pro and gonna

0:28:30.480 --> 0:28:35.200
<v Speaker 1>show up every night, nas Reed, one of the truest

0:28:35.280 --> 0:28:38.520
<v Speaker 1>pros in the whole league and one of the most respected.

0:28:39.040 --> 0:28:42.880
<v Speaker 1>You know, teammates and leaders that team has had. Get

0:28:42.960 --> 0:28:48.160
<v Speaker 1>rid of both of them and bring in LaMelo and

0:28:48.200 --> 0:28:59.040
<v Speaker 1>not have it drastically change the sports character of the team. Yeah,

0:28:59.120 --> 0:29:03.880
<v Speaker 1>the culture of the team. And when you add to

0:29:03.920 --> 0:29:11.400
<v Speaker 1>it that LaMelo's never played in a big games in

0:29:11.440 --> 0:29:14.800
<v Speaker 1>the NBA and the Timberwolves play only in big games.

0:29:14.800 --> 0:29:16.840
<v Speaker 1>As far as in the postseason, you can say, oh,

0:29:16.960 --> 0:29:18.640
<v Speaker 1>he's played in the play and he has played in

0:29:18.680 --> 0:29:21.120
<v Speaker 1>the play in and three of the four biggest play

0:29:21.160 --> 0:29:24.400
<v Speaker 1>in blowouts in league history. LaMelo Ball was on the

0:29:24.440 --> 0:29:28.040
<v Speaker 1>wrong side of his numbers in those limited playing games

0:29:28.080 --> 0:29:36.440
<v Speaker 1>have been garish. I my gut reaction is we will

0:29:36.480 --> 0:29:44.800
<v Speaker 1>look back on this as and it's different reasons, different

0:29:44.920 --> 0:29:48.320
<v Speaker 1>rationales as to why a team did it. But demonte,

0:29:48.360 --> 0:29:51.640
<v Speaker 1>I think we will look back on this the way

0:29:51.680 --> 0:29:56.480
<v Speaker 1>we look back on Dame going to minnes or to

0:29:56.600 --> 0:30:02.720
<v Speaker 1>Milwaukee as oh, that was the first really big domino

0:30:03.600 --> 0:30:10.239
<v Speaker 1>in the Superstar asking out. Like I think that in

0:30:10.360 --> 0:30:14.560
<v Speaker 1>two years when one of the big topics is is

0:30:14.640 --> 0:30:19.520
<v Speaker 1>Minnesota going to trade Anthony Edwards? That will be because

0:30:20.080 --> 0:30:26.880
<v Speaker 1>this last week of moves has blown up on them, and.

0:30:27.440 --> 0:30:30.040
<v Speaker 3>So you knew that this was Do you think this

0:30:30.160 --> 0:30:32.640
<v Speaker 3>was them trying to appease ant them getting LaMelo.

0:30:34.280 --> 0:30:36.240
<v Speaker 4>I feel like that was kind of you're going there.

0:30:37.200 --> 0:30:41.800
<v Speaker 1>Well, it's them clearly saying either they felt like we

0:30:41.920 --> 0:30:44.480
<v Speaker 1>needed to make a massive shift or this is something

0:30:45.080 --> 0:30:50.240
<v Speaker 1>ant wanted. But if you were going to make some

0:30:51.440 --> 0:30:56.959
<v Speaker 1>huge franchise altering move, you were on the list of teams.

0:30:57.000 --> 0:31:03.360
<v Speaker 1>Evidently that was engaging on Honest, that to me is worthwhile.

0:31:03.920 --> 0:31:08.320
<v Speaker 1>I would have said, hey, all right, we can't get Yannis,

0:31:08.640 --> 0:31:10.520
<v Speaker 1>what about the other team that didn't get y Honest,

0:31:10.880 --> 0:31:13.480
<v Speaker 1>what can we do to get jail and Brown? Who

0:31:13.520 --> 0:31:17.480
<v Speaker 1>fits perfectly on that team? You can is the same,

0:31:17.600 --> 0:31:20.760
<v Speaker 1>you know, kind of age profile as these guys. Is

0:31:20.800 --> 0:31:24.719
<v Speaker 1>also a pro like a move like that. I just

0:31:24.920 --> 0:31:32.680
<v Speaker 1>I I don't know why Minnesota felt like they had

0:31:32.760 --> 0:31:38.120
<v Speaker 1>to do something this drastic and this risky, and that

0:31:38.280 --> 0:31:44.560
<v Speaker 1>does not even incorporate at all. The one thing we've

0:31:44.560 --> 0:31:47.800
<v Speaker 1>talked to this for ten minutes, what we haven't mentioned

0:31:47.880 --> 0:31:56.120
<v Speaker 1>yet is the massive injury concern. LaMelo ball games played

0:31:56.640 --> 0:32:02.560
<v Speaker 1>the three years prior to last year thirty six, twenty two,

0:32:03.480 --> 0:32:10.040
<v Speaker 1>forty seven. Now, last year he was healthy, they turned

0:32:10.120 --> 0:32:13.640
<v Speaker 1>their season around, He was good until the play in

0:32:13.760 --> 0:32:19.000
<v Speaker 1>games like that. It is, you know, credit to what

0:32:19.240 --> 0:32:23.040
<v Speaker 1>he did last year. But I believe they're gonna they've

0:32:23.040 --> 0:32:25.920
<v Speaker 1>painted themselves into a corner of they've got to give

0:32:26.000 --> 0:32:31.800
<v Speaker 1>him that contract extension. I don't think he has demonstrated

0:32:32.400 --> 0:32:36.680
<v Speaker 1>at any point in his career and ability to consistently

0:32:36.760 --> 0:32:47.560
<v Speaker 1>play winning basketball or mature basketball. And you've never seen

0:32:47.600 --> 0:32:51.120
<v Speaker 1>him what he looks like in the playoffs, because six

0:32:51.200 --> 0:32:55.760
<v Speaker 1>years into his career, his team's never been a playoff team.

0:32:57.760 --> 0:33:03.400
<v Speaker 1>And now you're just now, man oh man, Now you're

0:33:03.480 --> 0:33:10.440
<v Speaker 1>just casting your lot ahead. And I I thought Demont's

0:33:10.680 --> 0:33:14.360
<v Speaker 1>that Minnesota. It also is odd in that, like you said,

0:33:15.040 --> 0:33:19.360
<v Speaker 1>they extend ioh. I liked what Tarren Shannon Junior showed.

0:33:19.920 --> 0:33:22.760
<v Speaker 1>Dante is still on the team, and Iron City has

0:33:22.880 --> 0:33:29.360
<v Speaker 1>popped Achilles, lot of lot of guards, like are they Anton, LaMelo,

0:33:29.640 --> 0:33:34.000
<v Speaker 1>and Io are all obviously now And Jaden McDaniels, well,

0:33:34.040 --> 0:33:37.840
<v Speaker 1>I guess that's it. And Rudy there's your five starters.

0:33:38.280 --> 0:33:41.640
<v Speaker 1>You know, Jayden is a wing, so you're gonna play

0:33:42.280 --> 0:33:43.840
<v Speaker 1>four out plus Rudy.

0:33:44.640 --> 0:33:49.240
<v Speaker 3>I mean maybe me Gobert's limitations on offense. You definitely

0:33:49.280 --> 0:33:54.520
<v Speaker 3>need some guys out there. Yeah, I mean, what do

0:33:54.600 --> 0:33:56.560
<v Speaker 3>you think they're ceiling? Is with this team like that?

0:33:56.600 --> 0:33:58.400
<v Speaker 3>You don't think they're gonna make any noise next year?

0:34:02.000 --> 0:34:06.240
<v Speaker 1>No, I think they got worse. I think they got worse,

0:34:06.320 --> 0:34:09.880
<v Speaker 1>Like I think, I I understand that nas Reed is

0:34:09.920 --> 0:34:14.560
<v Speaker 1>not as good of a player as LaMelo Ball, but

0:34:14.840 --> 0:34:18.280
<v Speaker 1>not the I thought when they Salary dump Julius Randall,

0:34:18.320 --> 0:34:22.960
<v Speaker 1>demons like nas Reed become became so important for them. Yeah,

0:34:23.000 --> 0:34:26.919
<v Speaker 1>and here's the other question that I have, and I'm

0:34:27.040 --> 0:34:35.719
<v Speaker 1>curious your thoughts on this. How do you think LaMelo

0:34:36.960 --> 0:34:42.200
<v Speaker 1>is going to react to not being the man on

0:34:42.320 --> 0:34:46.239
<v Speaker 1>a team for the first time he's ever played basketball

0:34:46.360 --> 0:34:47.680
<v Speaker 1>in his life.

0:34:48.360 --> 0:34:50.440
<v Speaker 3>I don't think he's one of those guys where it

0:34:50.480 --> 0:34:53.880
<v Speaker 3>would like get to him, like like my guy Jaylen Brown.

0:34:55.200 --> 0:34:58.920
<v Speaker 3>I think that, uh yeah, And I feel like he

0:34:59.080 --> 0:35:01.120
<v Speaker 3>is a like Lamello. You just got to understand like

0:35:01.160 --> 0:35:03.279
<v Speaker 3>where you're going like at this point, Like, I don't

0:35:03.280 --> 0:35:05.800
<v Speaker 3>think he's going to have any spite or like feeling

0:35:05.760 --> 0:35:06.560
<v Speaker 3>any type of way.

0:35:06.640 --> 0:35:07.840
<v Speaker 4>I mean, I don't know the guy.

0:35:07.680 --> 0:35:11.120
<v Speaker 1>But oh man, I know, I don't I have.

0:35:12.560 --> 0:35:14.680
<v Speaker 4>Better than like than the old mellow Ball. I feel

0:35:14.719 --> 0:35:16.040
<v Speaker 4>like it's pretty.

0:35:15.880 --> 0:35:18.239
<v Speaker 1>So I don't know if he thinks Anthony Edwards is

0:35:18.239 --> 0:35:20.719
<v Speaker 1>one of them. They're in the same draft class the

0:35:21.200 --> 0:35:25.920
<v Speaker 1>I and so I just I I think this is

0:35:26.040 --> 0:35:29.880
<v Speaker 1>really interesting, Like at Chino Hills, I guess didn't. I

0:35:29.880 --> 0:35:34.440
<v Speaker 1>guess maybe he played a year and so that you know,

0:35:34.560 --> 0:35:36.719
<v Speaker 1>so he wasn't the man there. But ever since his

0:35:36.760 --> 0:35:40.760
<v Speaker 1>big brothers went off to college for his AU career,

0:35:40.840 --> 0:35:43.319
<v Speaker 1>which you saw him play in person, when he was

0:35:43.360 --> 0:35:48.920
<v Speaker 1>in Lithuania, when he was you know, international basketball, and

0:35:48.920 --> 0:35:53.120
<v Speaker 1>then the Hornets, he's always just been the man. And

0:35:54.440 --> 0:35:59.080
<v Speaker 1>so I I don't I think.

0:35:58.920 --> 0:36:02.960
<v Speaker 3>That is a those two characters, Like I think with

0:36:03.239 --> 0:36:07.399
<v Speaker 3>Ant's character and LaMelo's character, I do think that there

0:36:07.400 --> 0:36:10.400
<v Speaker 3>will just be an understanding, to be honest, like I

0:36:10.440 --> 0:36:11.440
<v Speaker 3>think those are like that.

0:36:12.440 --> 0:36:14.160
<v Speaker 4>Man. Yeah, I mean I don't.

0:36:13.880 --> 0:36:16.279
<v Speaker 3>Not necessarily like just straight up that, but I just

0:36:16.320 --> 0:36:19.400
<v Speaker 3>think that those guys will jive well together to where

0:36:19.400 --> 0:36:22.880
<v Speaker 3>like it doesn't it you don't really see that causing

0:36:22.880 --> 0:36:26.160
<v Speaker 3>a problem on on court because I think they'll be

0:36:26.200 --> 0:36:26.560
<v Speaker 3>really cool.

0:36:27.000 --> 0:36:33.560
<v Speaker 1>Will and so I mean maybe I and Aunt. Definitely Will.

0:36:35.719 --> 0:36:40.120
<v Speaker 1>Aunt carries himself with such an authentic confidence that you

0:36:40.160 --> 0:36:43.120
<v Speaker 1>could see him like when he's interviewed, if he's asked

0:36:43.120 --> 0:36:50.799
<v Speaker 1>about something like this, Aunt saying like almost innocuously, yeah, well,

0:36:50.840 --> 0:36:53.160
<v Speaker 1>like ever, you know, he knows that it's my team

0:36:53.160 --> 0:36:55.160
<v Speaker 1>and I'm the best player. But he'll begin with that,

0:36:55.280 --> 0:36:59.080
<v Speaker 1>like you know what, Like he could like like just

0:36:59.120 --> 0:37:02.520
<v Speaker 1>saying it non shalanty, like it's obvious to everyone. But

0:37:02.560 --> 0:37:05.160
<v Speaker 1>I think Aunt would feel that way if Shay got

0:37:05.200 --> 0:37:08.120
<v Speaker 1>traded to his team. Yeah, I think I hate to

0:37:08.120 --> 0:37:10.080
<v Speaker 1>be like, well, he knows I'm better than him obviously,

0:37:10.200 --> 0:37:14.160
<v Speaker 1>and but it's my team. He's coming here, so maybe

0:37:14.200 --> 0:37:17.440
<v Speaker 1>it will solve it's you know, may it will solve itself.

0:37:17.800 --> 0:37:18.719
<v Speaker 4>It just is.

0:37:20.280 --> 0:37:24.120
<v Speaker 1>For a team that made the conference finals, made the

0:37:24.120 --> 0:37:29.120
<v Speaker 1>conference finals last year, beat Denver and threw a scare

0:37:29.200 --> 0:37:34.960
<v Speaker 1>into San Antonio despite being decimated by injury, for them

0:37:35.040 --> 0:37:39.319
<v Speaker 1>to just be like blow it up, which I know

0:37:39.360 --> 0:37:41.800
<v Speaker 1>they didn't blow it up, but they blew up their.

0:37:42.000 --> 0:37:43.560
<v Speaker 4>Front intrajectory a little bit.

0:37:43.719 --> 0:37:48.799
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, is really really surprising to me. All Right, I

0:37:48.800 --> 0:37:50.640
<v Speaker 1>know you have some follow ups here, So let's get

0:37:50.640 --> 0:37:51.720
<v Speaker 1>to him.

0:37:51.800 --> 0:37:54.279
<v Speaker 3>So that the Hornets get three swaps in this deal.

0:37:54.280 --> 0:37:56.520
<v Speaker 3>As we stated, are they betting Do you think they're

0:37:56.520 --> 0:37:57.480
<v Speaker 3>betting on ant leaving?

0:37:58.640 --> 0:38:01.920
<v Speaker 1>I mean, I think they are reckagizing. It's on the

0:38:01.960 --> 0:38:05.800
<v Speaker 1>board and there's no reason not to ask for swaps

0:38:06.320 --> 0:38:10.840
<v Speaker 1>like the you can always trade swaps or giveaway swaps.

0:38:10.840 --> 0:38:13.680
<v Speaker 1>You can't always trade picks, and what they're saying so

0:38:13.719 --> 0:38:15.880
<v Speaker 1>that the pick they got is as far down the

0:38:15.960 --> 0:38:18.960
<v Speaker 1>road as they can get twenty thirty three. So there,

0:38:19.440 --> 0:38:23.000
<v Speaker 1>and the swaps are just, hey, maybe you have a

0:38:23.040 --> 0:38:27.399
<v Speaker 1>down year, maybe Aunt leaves or maybe LaMelo gets hurt

0:38:27.400 --> 0:38:29.120
<v Speaker 1>and the team's not as good and with the new

0:38:29.160 --> 0:38:32.279
<v Speaker 1>flat and lottery odds, like we get lucky, and so

0:38:32.360 --> 0:38:34.279
<v Speaker 1>why not ask for the swap? But yeah, I mean

0:38:34.280 --> 0:38:42.480
<v Speaker 1>that's that's not nothing. And the Charlotte now has extra

0:38:42.600 --> 0:38:45.319
<v Speaker 1>draft capital, nas reed on a good deal, like all

0:38:45.360 --> 0:38:48.839
<v Speaker 1>that stuff makes sense. All right, let's keep going here.

0:38:49.200 --> 0:38:52.200
<v Speaker 3>Charlotte's bringing back Kobe White and they're currently tied for

0:38:52.280 --> 0:38:53.760
<v Speaker 3>tenth best odds in the East.

0:38:54.000 --> 0:38:55.600
<v Speaker 4>Uh do you think the Vegas has that right?

0:38:55.760 --> 0:38:58.360
<v Speaker 1>Like, I mean, I mean, they might as well have

0:38:58.400 --> 0:39:00.400
<v Speaker 1>the fifty. I don't care what best. I mean, they

0:39:00.440 --> 0:39:03.120
<v Speaker 1>have no shot whatsoever winning the East, Like they won't

0:39:03.160 --> 0:39:06.000
<v Speaker 1>make the playoffs next year. But I still like the move,

0:39:06.840 --> 0:39:07.719
<v Speaker 1>Like I know, I.

0:39:07.719 --> 0:39:10.400
<v Speaker 4>Didn't wait what like they just they just kind of

0:39:10.400 --> 0:39:10.839
<v Speaker 4>made the play.

0:39:10.960 --> 0:39:13.279
<v Speaker 3>I guess they made the play in but like this, yeah,

0:39:13.760 --> 0:39:16.640
<v Speaker 3>definitely makes the Hornets worse I shouldn't say worse they

0:39:16.640 --> 0:39:17.360
<v Speaker 3>got an Osrien.

0:39:17.480 --> 0:39:21.400
<v Speaker 1>That's a no no, but you can. I do think it.

0:39:21.719 --> 0:39:24.480
<v Speaker 1>They won forty four games last year. I expect them

0:39:24.520 --> 0:39:27.520
<v Speaker 1>to win less next year, but I don't really care

0:39:27.600 --> 0:39:31.760
<v Speaker 1>about that. Like they with or with It's not as if, well,

0:39:32.120 --> 0:39:35.320
<v Speaker 1>had they kept LaMelo, they would be a contender in

0:39:35.360 --> 0:39:39.040
<v Speaker 1>the East next year. Like teams in the East that

0:39:39.080 --> 0:39:41.439
<v Speaker 1>with or without this trade next year I think will

0:39:41.480 --> 0:39:45.000
<v Speaker 1>be better than them, in no particular order, the Knicks,

0:39:45.200 --> 0:39:52.279
<v Speaker 1>the Celtics, the Pistons, the Calves, the Heat obviously, the Pacers,

0:39:53.280 --> 0:39:57.120
<v Speaker 1>the Hawks, the Magic where it ate already? Who am

0:39:57.160 --> 0:40:01.600
<v Speaker 1>I leaving out? Oh, the Raptors and the Sixers. So

0:40:01.680 --> 0:40:05.600
<v Speaker 1>there's ten. There's like so the the team's not in

0:40:05.719 --> 0:40:11.760
<v Speaker 1>the playing in the East, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Chicago, Brooklyn, Washington,

0:40:11.840 --> 0:40:16.520
<v Speaker 1>those teams. But that's fine, Like you you make your

0:40:16.560 --> 0:40:19.319
<v Speaker 1>big push if you're Charlotte the year after next when

0:40:19.600 --> 0:40:22.960
<v Speaker 1>Canipple's in year three, Brandon Miller's like in his prime.

0:40:23.480 --> 0:40:25.359
<v Speaker 1>That to me, that's how you look at it. Now.

0:40:25.400 --> 0:40:28.400
<v Speaker 1>Maybe they'll overachieve, but no, I don't think they I

0:40:28.400 --> 0:40:31.440
<v Speaker 1>don't think they're a threat. But they just they did

0:40:31.480 --> 0:40:36.399
<v Speaker 1>something no one ever does demonte which is traded their

0:40:36.440 --> 0:40:41.680
<v Speaker 1>franchise guy early, but you know at his peak of

0:40:41.719 --> 0:40:47.839
<v Speaker 1>his value. All right, one last question on this some tattoos.

0:40:49.360 --> 0:40:51.600
<v Speaker 3>Is someone who's gotten a risky tattoo in the past,

0:40:51.640 --> 0:40:53.440
<v Speaker 3>do you have a message for the fans that might

0:40:53.440 --> 0:40:56.040
<v Speaker 3>have gotten a nazriy tattoo.

0:40:57.360 --> 0:40:59.800
<v Speaker 1>I mean that was a stunning trend when it happened.

0:41:01.480 --> 0:41:03.480
<v Speaker 1>I mean, that's the other piece of this. He was

0:41:03.600 --> 0:41:08.239
<v Speaker 1>something of like a cult hero, like when when the

0:41:08.280 --> 0:41:14.319
<v Speaker 1>governor of Minnesota was Kamala's vice presidential candidate and nas

0:41:14.400 --> 0:41:19.200
<v Speaker 1>Reed's getting name checked at like the presidential vice presidential

0:41:19.280 --> 0:41:21.600
<v Speaker 1>debates like it's it was.

0:41:21.880 --> 0:41:22.680
<v Speaker 4>He's just a guy.

0:41:24.880 --> 0:41:27.040
<v Speaker 1>And and there are a lot of people that where

0:41:27.080 --> 0:41:29.160
<v Speaker 1>I have the never a doubt tattoo that I still

0:41:29.160 --> 0:41:31.160
<v Speaker 1>have not figured out how to show on camera. I

0:41:31.200 --> 0:41:33.040
<v Speaker 1>still can't do it. I don't know what's wrong with me.

0:41:33.120 --> 0:41:36.399
<v Speaker 1>I have like armed dyslexia or something. I still can't

0:41:36.440 --> 0:41:42.799
<v Speaker 1>do it. There is uh they have the they have

0:41:43.160 --> 0:41:46.520
<v Speaker 1>little nas red tattoos like on their forearm.

0:41:46.719 --> 0:41:49.279
<v Speaker 3>That's or is it Reed's face?

0:41:50.800 --> 0:41:53.600
<v Speaker 1>No? I think I think I think a lot of

0:41:53.600 --> 0:41:57.879
<v Speaker 1>them just say nas Reed, no, Reed's face be aggressive aggressive, No,

0:41:58.360 --> 0:42:00.920
<v Speaker 1>I I guess it's only seven letters, though maybe you

0:42:00.920 --> 0:42:05.000
<v Speaker 1>can cover it up with something. And I can't believe.

0:42:05.800 --> 0:42:09.280
<v Speaker 1>I can't believe that I let the producers get away

0:42:09.320 --> 0:42:13.799
<v Speaker 1>with you saying to me, as someone who's gotten some

0:42:13.960 --> 0:42:15.160
<v Speaker 1>questionable tattoos in.

0:42:15.160 --> 0:42:22.319
<v Speaker 5>The past, I feel like I feel like that that

0:42:22.960 --> 0:42:26.879
<v Speaker 5>definitely could have been thrown in the other direction, telling

0:42:26.960 --> 0:42:28.440
<v Speaker 5>you right now, it's.

0:42:28.400 --> 0:42:33.040
<v Speaker 1>Just boost Mobile proving you don't have to overpay for

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0:43:05.880 --> 0:43:09.799
<v Speaker 1>And another reminder to everyone to like, rate, subscribe, and

0:43:10.040 --> 0:43:13.520
<v Speaker 1>review the show. All right, Demanse, let's talk some other

0:43:13.680 --> 0:43:15.719
<v Speaker 1>NBA stuff before we get a little more into the

0:43:15.719 --> 0:43:16.279
<v Speaker 1>World Cup.

0:43:16.320 --> 0:43:19.759
<v Speaker 3>Today, Lakers signed ar to four years, one eighty five

0:43:19.880 --> 0:43:23.560
<v Speaker 3>MAX deal and that new money doesn't hit for another year,

0:43:23.600 --> 0:43:26.279
<v Speaker 3>so the Lakers can have the most cap space in basketball.

0:43:26.880 --> 0:43:29.480
<v Speaker 3>This leaves the Lakers and Lebron in a weird situation.

0:43:29.520 --> 0:43:31.000
<v Speaker 3>I shouldn't say weird, but they got to do some

0:43:31.080 --> 0:43:31.680
<v Speaker 3>of Lebron.

0:43:32.880 --> 0:43:37.839
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so so okay, so few let me clarify there

0:43:38.120 --> 0:43:42.280
<v Speaker 1>that money, Austin's money will hit the cap this season,

0:43:42.800 --> 0:43:47.240
<v Speaker 1>but they can wait for it won't hit the cap

0:43:47.440 --> 0:43:52.520
<v Speaker 1>this off season until they're done making all their other moves.

0:43:53.120 --> 0:43:56.520
<v Speaker 1>So they they have an agreement in principal with Austin

0:43:57.360 --> 0:44:01.279
<v Speaker 1>that's gonna pay him forty six million a year. He

0:44:01.440 --> 0:44:05.160
<v Speaker 1>right now as a cap hold of twenty million. What

0:44:05.280 --> 0:44:09.719
<v Speaker 1>the Lakers will do is they will make all their

0:44:09.760 --> 0:44:13.920
<v Speaker 1>other signings with Austin only taking up twenty million of

0:44:13.960 --> 0:44:18.120
<v Speaker 1>their cap. They then will sign him to the deal

0:44:18.200 --> 0:44:22.399
<v Speaker 1>they just agreed to, and because they and then his

0:44:22.440 --> 0:44:24.640
<v Speaker 1>cap number will go from the twenty million to in

0:44:24.760 --> 0:44:27.719
<v Speaker 1>the forties. But because they have his bird rights, they

0:44:27.760 --> 0:44:29.960
<v Speaker 1>can go over the cap to resign him, which is

0:44:30.000 --> 0:44:33.799
<v Speaker 1>to say, even though he is getting this deal with

0:44:33.920 --> 0:44:38.600
<v Speaker 1>the Lakers. It doesn't change their cap situation for the

0:44:38.600 --> 0:44:42.239
<v Speaker 1>rest of the offseason, so they still have flexibility. And

0:44:43.320 --> 0:44:46.440
<v Speaker 1>so let's just first let's talk Austin, then we'll talk Lebron.

0:44:48.640 --> 0:44:51.200
<v Speaker 1>This is a fair deal for Austin Reeves. I like

0:44:51.280 --> 0:44:53.520
<v Speaker 1>it more than the five years at the max they

0:44:53.520 --> 0:44:56.280
<v Speaker 1>could have given him any other team in the league

0:44:56.280 --> 0:44:58.960
<v Speaker 1>that had cap space. De Monse the most he could

0:44:59.000 --> 0:45:02.920
<v Speaker 1>have gotten from someone one else is four for one eight.

0:45:03.840 --> 0:45:06.320
<v Speaker 1>So the Lakers were like, hey, we're not going to

0:45:06.400 --> 0:45:08.600
<v Speaker 1>give you the most we can give you, which is

0:45:08.719 --> 0:45:13.520
<v Speaker 1>five for two twelve or something. I know it would

0:45:13.560 --> 0:45:19.000
<v Speaker 1>have been five for like two thirty. Yeah, but we

0:45:19.160 --> 0:45:22.839
<v Speaker 1>will give you a touch more than anyone else can

0:45:22.840 --> 0:45:25.439
<v Speaker 1>give you to ensure you have no reason to leave.

0:45:25.560 --> 0:45:25.719
<v Speaker 4>Right.

0:45:26.200 --> 0:45:29.239
<v Speaker 1>So, with the belief being that a team like Detroit

0:45:29.960 --> 0:45:32.360
<v Speaker 1>might have found a way to open up cap space,

0:45:32.680 --> 0:45:35.759
<v Speaker 1>as you see, they get rid of Isaiah Stewart if

0:45:37.760 --> 0:45:42.000
<v Speaker 1>they thought they could get Austin rings. So that's why

0:45:42.080 --> 0:45:45.520
<v Speaker 1>he got the money he got. As far as can

0:45:45.560 --> 0:45:49.200
<v Speaker 1>Austin and Luca be a championship duo, here's what I

0:45:49.239 --> 0:45:55.360
<v Speaker 1>will say. The proof of concept behind that would be

0:45:56.840 --> 0:46:01.040
<v Speaker 1>if somebody goes and looks at the playoff stats from

0:46:01.080 --> 0:46:06.239
<v Speaker 1>the twenty twenty four Dallas Mavericks. That team that made

0:46:06.280 --> 0:46:12.120
<v Speaker 1>the finals, that in round one beat Kawhi, Paul George

0:46:12.120 --> 0:46:15.960
<v Speaker 1>and Harden with the Clippers. In round two, beat the

0:46:16.000 --> 0:46:21.080
<v Speaker 1>Thunder and Shay. In round three, beat the Timberwolves with

0:46:21.239 --> 0:46:24.880
<v Speaker 1>Aunt and Karl Anthony Towns, and then in the finals

0:46:24.920 --> 0:46:28.800
<v Speaker 1>got clipped by Boston. That team here were there's six

0:46:28.920 --> 0:46:34.840
<v Speaker 1>leading in the playoffs minutes per game guys Luca, Kyrie, Irving,

0:46:36.520 --> 0:46:40.840
<v Speaker 1>and then a bunch of role players PJ. Washington, Derek Jones,

0:46:40.920 --> 0:46:47.640
<v Speaker 1>junior Daniel Gafford, and a rookie Derek Lively excuse me

0:46:48.080 --> 0:46:51.880
<v Speaker 1>and Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington Demonde had been picked

0:46:51.920 --> 0:46:58.799
<v Speaker 1>up at the trade deadline that year and they were

0:46:58.840 --> 0:47:02.480
<v Speaker 1>an awesome playerf team until they ran into a better

0:47:02.520 --> 0:47:08.600
<v Speaker 1>team in Boston. So you definitely can around Luca have

0:47:08.960 --> 0:47:14.000
<v Speaker 1>the co star B and offense only pure scorer and

0:47:14.120 --> 0:47:18.600
<v Speaker 1>build a contender. The question is can the Lakers do that?

0:47:19.880 --> 0:47:23.279
<v Speaker 1>Like it is Polinka capable of it? Do they have

0:47:24.680 --> 0:47:29.320
<v Speaker 1>the ability to identify players as to his credit, Nico

0:47:29.360 --> 0:47:35.600
<v Speaker 1>Harrison and the MAVs front office did, and are they

0:47:35.719 --> 0:47:43.840
<v Speaker 1>willing to be as aggressive as that MAVs team was

0:47:43.920 --> 0:47:47.800
<v Speaker 1>and you know, making deals at the deadline and identifying

0:47:48.640 --> 0:47:53.319
<v Speaker 1>the right types of athletes and defenders and bigs that

0:47:53.360 --> 0:47:57.600
<v Speaker 1>you need to not only build around a Luca team,

0:47:57.920 --> 0:48:00.480
<v Speaker 1>but build around a Luca team where the coast is

0:48:00.760 --> 0:48:05.480
<v Speaker 1>an offense only guard. But we have seen it done. Okay,

0:48:05.200 --> 0:48:10.799
<v Speaker 1>So there's that piece of it. And then there is

0:48:10.840 --> 0:48:16.040
<v Speaker 1>the Lebron piece, which is is Lebron still a MAX player?

0:48:16.160 --> 0:48:20.000
<v Speaker 1>I mean on a year to year basis sure? Like,

0:48:22.000 --> 0:48:28.200
<v Speaker 1>look we saw on the playoffs last year. Lebron in

0:48:28.200 --> 0:48:32.040
<v Speaker 1>a playoff series against the Rockets was just clearly the

0:48:32.080 --> 0:48:36.200
<v Speaker 1>best player on the court. He is, even at his age,

0:48:37.280 --> 0:48:40.799
<v Speaker 1>as reliable from a health standpoint as any of the

0:48:40.840 --> 0:48:44.919
<v Speaker 1>three best players on the Lakers. But is he a

0:48:45.000 --> 0:48:49.920
<v Speaker 1>MAX player for the Lakers when you already have Luca

0:48:49.920 --> 0:48:58.000
<v Speaker 1>and Austin? I mean probably not ultimately the MAX piece

0:48:58.040 --> 0:49:00.840
<v Speaker 1>if it doesn't matter because nobody's given Bron the max

0:49:00.920 --> 0:49:04.640
<v Speaker 1>on the marketplace, nobody has max cap space. And here

0:49:04.840 --> 0:49:11.680
<v Speaker 1>is what is to me, like what I think the

0:49:11.760 --> 0:49:16.480
<v Speaker 1>most likely outcome Demont's a is Lebron re signs with

0:49:16.560 --> 0:49:20.720
<v Speaker 1>the Lakers and then if things don't go aren't going well.

0:49:21.800 --> 0:49:24.600
<v Speaker 1>The Lakers leaked to the media how annoyed they are

0:49:24.680 --> 0:49:28.120
<v Speaker 1>that they had to resign Lebron, when again, you don't

0:49:28.160 --> 0:49:31.600
<v Speaker 1>have to do anything. They did it this year when

0:49:31.719 --> 0:49:37.319
<v Speaker 1>Lebron was months removed from sixth in MVP voting as

0:49:37.360 --> 0:49:40.480
<v Speaker 1>he was last year or the year before last, when

0:49:40.480 --> 0:49:43.759
<v Speaker 1>the Lakers had their little early season swoon. We saw

0:49:43.800 --> 0:49:46.560
<v Speaker 1>the long form ESPN dot com piece where Genie Buss

0:49:46.680 --> 0:49:50.040
<v Speaker 1>is basically like, yeah, I'm not We're dying to get

0:49:50.040 --> 0:49:52.360
<v Speaker 1>out of the Lebron business. We just haven't been able to.

0:49:53.160 --> 0:49:58.279
<v Speaker 1>Here is to me, the what's a bummer about? How

0:49:58.320 --> 0:50:04.560
<v Speaker 1>I see this final Lebron chapter going. The two places

0:50:04.600 --> 0:50:09.200
<v Speaker 1>he's most likely to end up, the Lakers or the Warriors,

0:50:09.880 --> 0:50:16.239
<v Speaker 1>can be fun, but not top tier championship contenders. I

0:50:16.239 --> 0:50:21.279
<v Speaker 1>don't think the Lakers can do enough on the defensive end,

0:50:23.920 --> 0:50:30.959
<v Speaker 1>the the acquiring a big that fits with Luca better

0:50:31.000 --> 0:50:34.400
<v Speaker 1>than DeAndre Ayton, and that's whether they keep Lebron or not.

0:50:35.000 --> 0:50:40.960
<v Speaker 1>The Warriors, unless they added Lebron and Anthony Davis, I

0:50:41.000 --> 0:50:44.960
<v Speaker 1>don't think that a team would have enough and it

0:50:45.000 --> 0:50:46.960
<v Speaker 1>would just you know it's Simmons been talking about a

0:50:46.960 --> 0:50:53.000
<v Speaker 1>long time, the Expendables, the super old Guy team. There are, however,

0:50:54.719 --> 0:50:58.800
<v Speaker 1>four or five teams DeMont say that I think are good,

0:50:59.360 --> 0:51:05.719
<v Speaker 1>but not contender good, I'm sorry, not top level contender

0:51:05.760 --> 0:51:09.480
<v Speaker 1>good that if they added Lebron, I would and I

0:51:09.480 --> 0:51:11.959
<v Speaker 1>don't care that he's in year twenty four and gonna

0:51:11.960 --> 0:51:15.239
<v Speaker 1>be forty two years old. Instantly I would think could

0:51:15.280 --> 0:51:18.920
<v Speaker 1>win the title. I just don't think they are realistic

0:51:19.040 --> 0:51:22.480
<v Speaker 1>places for him. But I think if he were to

0:51:22.560 --> 0:51:27.759
<v Speaker 1>go to Denver for the mid level, that absolutely that

0:51:27.760 --> 0:51:32.440
<v Speaker 1>that Denver team could win the title. I think if

0:51:32.480 --> 0:51:37.000
<v Speaker 1>he were to go to Detroit, as Whin delightly speculated

0:51:37.120 --> 0:51:43.520
<v Speaker 1>about as a possibility yesterday, that Detroit team could win

0:51:43.600 --> 0:51:46.800
<v Speaker 1>the title. I think if he were to go to Miami,

0:51:47.239 --> 0:51:51.279
<v Speaker 1>a Miami team that I don't really believe in at

0:51:51.360 --> 0:51:55.160
<v Speaker 1>right now, but he would solve a lot of what

0:51:55.200 --> 0:51:59.360
<v Speaker 1>their potential issues are. That Miami team could win the title.

0:51:59.400 --> 0:52:01.880
<v Speaker 1>And there was one more team that when I was

0:52:01.920 --> 0:52:02.959
<v Speaker 1>thinking about.

0:52:02.600 --> 0:52:05.800
<v Speaker 4>This, Minnesota prior to what happened.

0:52:05.880 --> 0:52:10.120
<v Speaker 1>Well, it definitely was Minnesota prior to this, but even

0:52:10.200 --> 0:52:15.200
<v Speaker 1>prior to the LaMelo deal, but there was one more team, Oh, Houston, Houston.

0:52:15.600 --> 0:52:17.680
<v Speaker 1>If he were to go there, I think that Houston

0:52:17.760 --> 0:52:20.840
<v Speaker 1>team could win the title. But I just don't think

0:52:21.760 --> 0:52:25.399
<v Speaker 1>those are likely any of those are likely places for him.

0:52:25.440 --> 0:52:28.640
<v Speaker 3>With Detroit and so, I feel like that does Lebron

0:52:28.680 --> 0:52:30.680
<v Speaker 3>fix their problems with the lack of offense.

0:52:30.719 --> 0:52:32.640
<v Speaker 4>I guess the Rockets have Kadie and.

0:52:32.560 --> 0:52:34.720
<v Speaker 3>I'm not trying to say that Lebron's not good at offense,

0:52:34.760 --> 0:52:39.000
<v Speaker 3>but at the same time, like those I think those

0:52:39.239 --> 0:52:42.200
<v Speaker 3>teams need some offensive powerhouses.

0:52:44.400 --> 0:52:48.800
<v Speaker 1>So that's I think that those teams, because Lebron would

0:52:48.800 --> 0:52:53.840
<v Speaker 1>be able to run the show to a degree offensively. Obviously,

0:52:53.960 --> 0:52:55.880
<v Speaker 1>Cad would run it, you know, a lot of the

0:52:55.880 --> 0:53:00.000
<v Speaker 1>time in Detroit, and they have good enough defensive players

0:53:00.280 --> 0:53:03.000
<v Speaker 1>around in that Lebron could exert one hundred of his

0:53:03.120 --> 0:53:05.800
<v Speaker 1>energy on the offensive end. I do think he would

0:53:05.800 --> 0:53:09.200
<v Speaker 1>solve their offensive prompts. He would just get guys good shots.

0:53:09.520 --> 0:53:11.719
<v Speaker 1>It would be what he did for the Lakers during

0:53:11.760 --> 0:53:16.359
<v Speaker 1>their playoff series against the Rockets, you know. The I

0:53:16.480 --> 0:53:22.320
<v Speaker 1>do think that. I obviously, you know, Wendy is talking

0:53:22.400 --> 0:53:25.520
<v Speaker 1>about the Lakers being interested in a sign and trade

0:53:26.680 --> 0:53:30.120
<v Speaker 1>for Lebron for Jared Allen, and I do think Jared

0:53:30.160 --> 0:53:35.640
<v Speaker 1>Allen would be perfect for the Lakers, and while Lebron

0:53:35.719 --> 0:53:39.479
<v Speaker 1>is obviously way better than Jared Allen, Jared Allen would

0:53:39.480 --> 0:53:42.200
<v Speaker 1>be a better fit for what the Lakers since the

0:53:42.280 --> 0:53:48.520
<v Speaker 1>Lakers have Luca ar But I just don't think and

0:53:48.719 --> 0:53:51.960
<v Speaker 1>Lebron going back to Cleveland is fun. If they hadn't

0:53:52.040 --> 0:53:55.120
<v Speaker 1>made the James Harden move, I would be more open

0:53:55.160 --> 0:53:58.919
<v Speaker 1>to that, but Lebron just going from Cleveland to LA

0:53:59.120 --> 0:54:03.840
<v Speaker 1>to play in another place where he's gotta be the

0:54:03.880 --> 0:54:07.680
<v Speaker 1>Swiss army knife role because your top two scorers in

0:54:08.040 --> 0:54:12.480
<v Speaker 1>Luke and Austin or and Mitchell and Harden simply can't

0:54:12.520 --> 0:54:16.160
<v Speaker 1>really adjust their game the way you can is not.

0:54:18.280 --> 0:54:18.600
<v Speaker 4>I don't know.

0:54:18.680 --> 0:54:20.919
<v Speaker 1>I don't know how attractive that is. If he goes

0:54:20.960 --> 0:54:24.440
<v Speaker 1>to Golden State, the ball's in his hands because STEP's

0:54:24.480 --> 0:54:27.000
<v Speaker 1>off the ball a ton anyway, He's kind of still

0:54:27.080 --> 0:54:29.680
<v Speaker 1>running the show, but he doesn't have to be the

0:54:30.040 --> 0:54:33.000
<v Speaker 1>highest volume scorer on the team. Steph can still be that.

0:54:33.400 --> 0:54:37.279
<v Speaker 3>It's just I think people would not Letbron hear the

0:54:37.760 --> 0:54:40.040
<v Speaker 3>end of it if he went to Golden State. I

0:54:40.040 --> 0:54:42.319
<v Speaker 3>know Lebron doesn't care or any of that, but I

0:54:42.360 --> 0:54:44.680
<v Speaker 3>think that being his final chapter, and it's like, oh,

0:54:44.760 --> 0:54:47.000
<v Speaker 3>Lebron is always play and playing with these players that

0:54:47.000 --> 0:54:49.759
<v Speaker 3>are good. It's like, you know, always seeking the stuff out.

0:54:49.840 --> 0:54:54.080
<v Speaker 3>I get Curry's old, you know, you don't think that

0:54:54.360 --> 0:54:55.960
<v Speaker 3>the masses.

0:54:59.480 --> 0:55:05.160
<v Speaker 1>I mean, here's what I think. The Warriors haven't been

0:55:05.280 --> 0:55:08.560
<v Speaker 1>anywhere close to contending and five since they won the

0:55:08.600 --> 0:55:13.040
<v Speaker 1>time you know, they won the title. Then the next

0:55:13.120 --> 0:55:17.440
<v Speaker 1>year they won forty four games and Lebron knocked him

0:55:17.440 --> 0:55:20.120
<v Speaker 1>out of the playoffs. The year after that they won

0:55:20.200 --> 0:55:22.719
<v Speaker 1>forty six games and they lost in the play in

0:55:23.680 --> 0:55:27.279
<v Speaker 1>the year after that they won forty eight games and

0:55:27.600 --> 0:55:31.000
<v Speaker 1>lost in round two. And last year they won thirty

0:55:31.120 --> 0:55:36.920
<v Speaker 1>seven games. Now, yes, people would create you know, stupid

0:55:37.000 --> 0:55:40.560
<v Speaker 1>Twitter graphics about teammates Lebron has had and all that stuff.

0:55:40.600 --> 0:55:48.360
<v Speaker 1>But the last season, Lebron was healthier than Steph Curry,

0:55:48.920 --> 0:55:52.440
<v Speaker 1>His team was better than Steph's. He made the playoffs

0:55:52.520 --> 0:55:57.200
<v Speaker 1>and won a round like you can't it. And the

0:55:57.200 --> 0:56:02.799
<v Speaker 1>only reason I'm even bring that up is Lebron would

0:56:02.840 --> 0:56:07.200
<v Speaker 1>be going there because they need him, not because he's

0:56:07.280 --> 0:56:12.040
<v Speaker 1>writing coattails. Uh. But yeah, I do think there certainly

0:56:12.120 --> 0:56:17.560
<v Speaker 1>would be a school of thought about of what you're discussing,