1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntire. 2 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 2: What is up straight Fire? Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 2: Straight Fire for Friday, July eleventh. Though we had some 4 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: Summer League action last night Bronnie James and the Lakers 5 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 2: versus Cooper Flag and the MAVs. Obviously we'll dive into that. 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 2: I listen. I gotta say this Nase Harris story. So 7 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: I had seen it online for those who don't know 8 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 2: what happened. So naj Harris, I guess, didn't get the 9 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 2: memo about, hey man, you're a professional athletes, stay away 10 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,319 Speaker 2: from fireworks on July fourth, and he was at some 11 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 2: party after midnight and there were fireworks, and you know, 12 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: the internet kind of ran wild with speculation that he 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 2: lost an eye. Yes, Naje Harris, the former Steelers running 14 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 2: back who's now with the Chargers, in a fireworks mishap, 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 2: and there was like evidence pointing to something happened, but 16 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 2: it wasn't quite sure what happened. So then one of 17 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: the newspapers, I think they covered his hometown, the Bay 18 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 2: Area something, the Mercury News baby had a story about 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 2: how he suffered an injury and went to two hospitals 20 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: that night. There were all they just weren't all of 21 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 2: the details. And my guess is that big Uh. His 22 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: agent would not talk. But my guess is that that 23 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: story by the Mercury News, I guess decided, Hey, you 24 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: know what, everybody's onto it, we gotta we gotta go 25 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: ahead and talk about it. So his agent talked to 26 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: all the NFL reporters, Chefter, Rappaport, all those guys, and 27 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: according to his agent, Naj Harris suffered a quote superficial 28 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: eye injury, and his agent said he is fully expected 29 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: to be ready for the upcoming season. Now, guys, I've 30 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 2: got to ask you, what is a superficial eye injury? 31 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 2: I don't know. But here's the worst part. Several people 32 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: were with Naj Harris doing who knows what, and according 33 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 2: to the San Francisco Chronicle, one person I don't know 34 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: if it was in Naja Harris's crew, but who was 35 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 2: there lost fingers in the accident. I mean, I don't 36 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: know what to tell people, Like we've all had you know, 37 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 2: when we were young kids, we did some really dumb 38 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: things of fireworks, no doubt about it. We know fireworks 39 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: are dangerous. Obviously, it's July fourth. But when you mix 40 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: alcohol and partying and it just is a disaster. Jason 41 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: Pierre Paul famously lost some fingers someone else in the 42 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: NFL had I'm basically on who it is, but the 43 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: JPP one is basically like, oh my gosh, jeopardizing your career. Now, 44 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: JPP did have a long career after that. You can 45 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 2: rust the pastor missing two fingers. But according to the 46 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: San Francisco Chronicle, six guys were injured and a thirteen 47 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: year old. Six dudes, I mean, and the guy who 48 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: lost fingers suffered injuries to his face and chest. And 49 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: they're only calling it a high grade firework. I don't know. 50 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: Four men went to the hospital, two others drove themselves, 51 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 2: one of them presumably Nase Harris, and the boy declined 52 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: medical treatment. But I don't know, guys, it's just extremely 53 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: disappointing to hear like, you're Nase Harris, you have a 54 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 2: scant shelf life in the NFL of like, I don't know, 55 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: four or five more years, and you're messing around with fireworks. 56 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: I don't know, guys, It's just it's disappointing. But anyways, 57 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 2: I thought we would open the podcast with that. Instead 58 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 2: of the NBA Summer League matchup that everybody could not 59 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: wait for. Cooper Flag, Brownie James Cooper Flag came out 60 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: on top of a two point win. I know nobody 61 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: cares who won, but I'll just give you the stat line. 62 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 2: I'm sure people are gonna freak out. Cooper Flag was 63 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 2: five of twenty one, shooting not great, finished with ten 64 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 2: points six boards Forrest's three steals on a block. Reminder, 65 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: Cooper Flag is eighteen years old. He was zero for 66 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: five on all his threes. Reminder, Cooper Flag's eighteen years old. Okay, 67 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: his first Summer League game hyped. I mean, this guy 68 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: has been working what since maybe the age of ten, 69 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 2: thinking he's gonna go to the NBA. Everybody thinks that 70 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: at the age of ten, right, I'm going to the NBA. 71 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: I thought that like a buffoon, and he's worked his 72 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 2: way up, and finally he makes it to the NBA 73 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 2: Summer League. Of course, he's nervous and amped up, and 74 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: you know, he didn't shoot it great, but the MAVs 75 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 2: wisely are putting the ball in his hands and saying like, hey, 76 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 2: you need to create. Can you create your own shot? 77 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: And he kind of struggled with that. He's eighteen, guys, 78 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: and now, just for balance, some notable number one picks 79 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 2: in their Summer League debut. Blake Griffin, who, if memory serves, 80 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 2: was that in year two because he missed all of 81 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 2: year one. Blake Griffin had an unbelievable Summer League debut 82 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 2: twenty seven and twelve, shot eleven of fifteen. But Blake 83 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: Griffin wasn't handling. Blake Griffin was basically dunking and scoring 84 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 2: in the paint. John Wall had twenty four and eight assists, 85 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 2: Andrew Wiggins had eighteen. Ben Simmons didn't shoot it well. 86 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 2: Shocker two of nine shooting ten points, Markel Folts seventeen points, 87 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 2: Zion had eleven. Wemby two of thirteen shooting. You guys, 88 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,679 Speaker 2: remember this last summer only nine points, eight boards, five blocks. 89 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 2: Cooper flagged ten six four assists. Like, you cannot overreact 90 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: to this stuff. Derreck Rosse had ten and five assists. 91 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 2: Lebron had fourteen, seven and six. I'm pretty comfortable saying 92 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: there's zero correlation to number one picks playing in the 93 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: Summer League in their first game and their NBA career. 94 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 2: They're just there's nothing there guys so much goes into 95 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 2: an NBA player, and some of these guys again, Blake 96 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 2: Griffin went to Oklahoma, John Wall went to college, Andrew 97 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: Wiggins only one year at college. Ben Simmons one year 98 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: at college. But most of these guys spent essentially a 99 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: year in college and came into the pros at nineteen 100 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:40,679 Speaker 2: or twenty. Cooper Flag is still eighteen years old. Let's 101 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 2: just chill the hell out blasting him positives. He could 102 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 2: do it all. He literally can do everything, Cooper. I 103 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: need you to bring the ball up, okay. I need 104 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: you to guard their best perimeter wing, got it. I 105 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: need help defense block shots, got it. He just didn't 106 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 2: make shots. So what, it's his first Summer League game. 107 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 2: I don't think you can draw sweeping conclusions and overreact, 108 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: but you know, it was good to see Cooper Flag 109 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: FAA makes the league. I'm sticking with my Kevin Garnett comparison, 110 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: and yes, I know you don't like that. But the 111 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: interesting thing about that is when I say Kevin Garnett, 112 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: people think, oh, Hall of Famer, MVP winning titles with 113 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: the Celtics. No no, no, no no. I want you 114 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: to think of eighteen year old Kevin Garnett who came 115 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 2: into the league all gangly and skinny and was not 116 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: a huge factor at eighteen. Okay, let me read off 117 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: some Kevin Garnett numbers for you. As a nineteen year 118 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 2: old rookie out of high school. He shot forty nine percent, 119 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: which is nice. He shot seventy nine percent for the line, 120 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: which is good as a rookie. Shoot, what's wrong with 121 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: these stats? It's so annoying as a rookie. Kevin Garnett 122 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: put up, why is this? My bad? 123 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: Guys? My bad? 124 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 2: Okay, here we go. He shot forty nine percent, he 125 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: shot seventy percent from the line, I'm sorry, and averaged 126 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: ten six and one one point eight assists, ten and 127 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 2: six one Cooper flag will will obliterate those numbers. I 128 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: would expect somewhere along the line of like fifteen nine 129 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: and three three or four assists, And then by year 130 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: four Kevin Garnett was up to twenty and ten, and 131 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: then by you know when he's like when he hits 132 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 2: his prime around like late twenties, that's when he's averaged 133 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 2: like Leeds the league in boards four years in a row. 134 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 2: He's a twenty four to thirteen to five assist guy 135 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: wins the MVP. Like, I don't see why people are 136 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 2: pushing back so much against that comparison for Cooper Flag. 137 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 2: Cooper Flag's length is unbelievab. He's gonna block a ton 138 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 2: of shots. I just think he's such a great piece. 139 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 2: Oh my god, I will add Bronnie James to me, 140 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 2: looks like a much different player. And I know he 141 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 2: had a season in the G League and Jay he 142 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: come on his sixty to one, what could he do? 143 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: I'm on record he will be in the Lakers rotation 144 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: this year, not like six seven, eight guy. I think 145 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: it's reasonable to say Bronnie James will be, you know, 146 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: the tenth guy in the Lakers rotation. So five starters 147 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: and then five coming off the bench. As of now, 148 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 2: let's see who who the Lakers get if they're able 149 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: to get Bradley Beal. I do see Zach low is 150 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 2: or is writing and all these people are saying, Zack 151 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 2: Lowe claims the Clippers are getting Bill Hey, that would 152 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 2: be fricking great for the Clippers. I'm not gonna lie. 153 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 2: I don't see why he would give the stiff arm 154 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 2: to the Lakers. That's kind of a jerk move, but 155 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: you know, to each his own. But if I look 156 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: at the Lakers rotation again, as of now, you guys 157 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 2: are starting five of re Hachimour, Lebron Luca Natan, and 158 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 2: then coming off the bench again as of now, Gabe Vincent, 159 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 2: Jordan Goodwin who did some things, Jake Laavia I guess, 160 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 2: Jared Vanderbilt, and then I don't see why Bronnie James 161 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: isn't right there with Dalton connect for the tenth spot. 162 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: Jackson Hayes is probably eleven. Nobody really believes in him. Yeah, 163 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: I think we can expect Bronnie, who just looks more 164 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 2: comfortable as a pro in year two. He doesn't look 165 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: as timid, he seems shiftier with the ball, His step 166 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: back look good. I mean, I thought, again, I'm not 167 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: saying he's an All Star or anywhere close to that, 168 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 2: but the mere fact he's in the NBA and his 169 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: dad is the greatest player in the history of basketball 170 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: pretty freaking impressive. I don't know about you guys, but 171 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 2: my kids, historically, if I say hey, let's do this, 172 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 2: they're like, oh, I'm wanna do something different. No, my 173 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: kids really are mostly out on listening to dad, it's 174 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 2: a chore to get them to do the things I 175 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 2: want them to do that I think are for them 176 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: long term. But the fact that Lebron got one of 177 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: his kids in the league, come on, guys, that's impressive 178 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 2: as hell. So overall, takeaway from Group of Flag if 179 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 2: you're grading his debut B plus. I mean, it wasn't 180 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 2: an a because he didn't shoot it great, but he 181 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 2: was trying to do a lot of one on one creating. 182 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 2: He's not going to be doing that with the MAVs. 183 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 2: Summer League team go for it, but with the MAVs 184 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: he's definitely not gonna be creating as an eighteen year old. 185 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 2: But overall, you have to like what you saw from 186 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 2: the MAVs outside of the shot shooting, and one of 187 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: my buddies was complaining on texts that his shot looks funky. Whatever. 188 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 189 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 190 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 191 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:53,319 Speaker 1: listen live. 192 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 2: Right before I get to this text message drama, I'm 193 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 2: sure you guys have seen it. I just need to 194 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 2: quickly just chime in on this Devin Booker two year, 195 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 2: one hundred forty five million dollar extension. Okay, if you're 196 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 2: a Son's fan, I get it, you want to keep Booker. 197 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 2: If you're a realist who's into building teams, I think 198 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 2: you've got to seriously question this contract. So let's start here. 199 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 2: Devin Booker, we have this firmly established. Is not a 200 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 2: top five player in the NBA. Right If you're going 201 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 2: top five players in the league, you're looking at Jannis Jokich, 202 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 2: Luca Sga. Do you want to go to Lebron, I mean, 203 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 2: Anthony Edwards, whatever. All those guys are better than Booker, 204 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 2: and then you could go to the second tier of superstars. 205 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 2: Is he better than I know this is not gonna 206 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 2: be popular. I'm just gonna say it anyway. Is he 207 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 2: for sure? Devin Booker, for sure better than Paolo Bancaro. 208 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 2: And you could say, well, he's accomplished more, and I 209 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 2: would counter with, well, yeah, he's been around the league longer. 210 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 2: But if I told you you could have a six 211 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 2: to six shooting guard or a six to nine guy 212 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 2: who can play the three, four, maybe the five in 213 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,599 Speaker 2: a pinche, I mean, who you take? You know, d 214 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 2: book is not better than Tatum. I don't know. Is 215 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 2: Booker better than Jalen Brunson, who carried the team to 216 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 2: the conference finals outside of one postseason run with Devin 217 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 2: Booker where he got Chris Paul and they went to 218 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 2: the finals. Is Devin Booker taking the suns anywhere? He's 219 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 2: like a really good player, But does he elevate the 220 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 2: player if veryone and wound him? And that's my point, Like, 221 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 2: I don't even know if he's as good as Dame 222 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 2: Lillard was at the height of his powers. And I 223 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 2: asked this because if you're not a top five player 224 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: and not a top ten player, can you justify paying 225 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 2: someone one hundred and forty five million over two years? 226 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 2: He's gonna make seventy two and a half million dollars. Now, 227 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 2: the smart people will say, oh my gosh, you look 228 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 2: at the percentage of the cap and depending on what 229 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:13,959 Speaker 2: you used chat gubt where you're looking, it's like thirty 230 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 2: five to forty two percent of the salary cap, depending 231 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 2: on how much it goes up. Are you serious on 232 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 2: a shooting guard, he's not even an elite defender. How 233 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 2: is that sustainable? And I ask you this because like 234 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 2: The Suns have a great trade ship in Devin Booker, 235 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 2: and maybe that's why they signed him to this awesome 236 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 2: deal because it's tradable, so the people are gonna be 237 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 2: desperate with to Charlotte Hornet's take on Devin Booker, I mean, 238 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: you know, teams are gonna want to get in the 239 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: Devin Booker business, but building around him seems like there's 240 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: no chance. And I look at the Sun's depth chart 241 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: and I'm like, I don't exactly know what they're building for. 242 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 2: They're not gonna sniff the playoffs. They're definitely not top ten. 243 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 2: I saw a Yahoo ranked the Sun's thirteenth in the West. 244 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: This is their potential starting lineup, and I'm gonna remove 245 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 2: Bradley Beal because you know, we think he's gonna be gone, 246 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: d Book, Jalen Green, Dylan Brooks, Mark Williams, Ryan Dunn. 247 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 2: Is that a thirty five win team in the West 248 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 2: coming off the bench, Colin Gillespie, Royce, O'Neill, Grayson Allen, 249 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 2: the big guy from Duke Malawatch, Nigel Hayes who they 250 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 2: picked up who was overseas. I think that's the former 251 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: Wisconsin guy. Yeah, thirty year old rookie was great internationally, Like, 252 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 2: that's a thirty five, so what's the point of paying 253 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: Devin Booker? And the counter and again I love this 254 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 2: argument with people is like, do you want to pay 255 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 2: Devin Booker when you know you're not going anywhere? Or 256 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 2: is it worth having him on the roster so fans 257 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 2: can cheer for somebody you could sell jerseys, Like if 258 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: they're a thirty five win team, are they going to 259 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 2: be selling out games where people coming to see Devin 260 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 2: Booker or does it make more sense to just get 261 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: off Booker? And I feel the same way about the Bucks, 262 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 2: and they're honest. Now they're in the East, which makes 263 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 2: it even easier, But they went and got Miles Turner. 264 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: I didn't like that move at all. Given the wave 265 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 2: and stretch of Dame Lillard, Miles Turner is essentially on 266 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,359 Speaker 2: the books for about fifty million dollars and that's insane. 267 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: So again, I know that's cold, hard business and nobody 268 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: wants to hear it, but that's kind of the reality 269 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 2: at that level. No, this isn't small potatoes under the 270 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: bench guy, you know, but we're talking big seventy two 271 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: and a half million for Devin Booker. I just again, 272 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 2: I like Booker a lot. He's an Olympian, He's certainly 273 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 2: a top fifteen player in the league. But seventy two 274 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: million dollars, we're getting to that price point for NBA 275 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: players where it's like, yeah, I don't, how are we 276 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: supposed to build a team when one guy's making I mean, 277 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 2: there's a stat out there the Devin Booker's salary next 278 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 2: year is higher than the entire Miami Marlin's payroll, entire 279 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: roster is like sixty seven mil. And Booker's eclipsing that. 280 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 2: Now that I get it, the finances are there, and 281 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 2: I'm not I don't want to take money out of 282 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 2: d books pocket, But goodness, gracious Phoenix, good luck. I 283 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 2: wonder Booker gets unhappy there making a lot of money 284 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 2: and not winning at all. 285 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 286 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio 287 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to 288 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: listen live. 289 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: We can wrap up with this, and I don't want 290 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 2: to keep doing Lebron and the Lakers. We won't. Eventually, 291 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 2: Beal will be settled. But I look at the story 292 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 2: of DeAndre Aiden's given an interview, They ask have you 293 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 2: heard from Lebron? No, not yet. Have you heard from Luca? Yeah? 294 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: I got a text from Luca, And that right there 295 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 2: sends like a shockwave to Lakers fans because it's like, well, 296 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 2: wait a minute, wait a minute, what's going on here? 297 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: Is this? This isn't Lebron being passive aggressive because he 298 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 2: didn't initiate it. DeAndre Aden was asked, have you heard 299 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 2: from Lebron? But this being Lebron's not excited for DeAndre Aiden, 300 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,239 Speaker 2: who the Portland Trailblazers essentially paid ten million dollars or 301 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 2: I'm sorry eight and forfeitted ten million dollars just to 302 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:27,119 Speaker 2: get the hell out of there. So Lebron presumably is 303 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 2: not thrilled with the addition, or is Lebron not thrilled 304 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: that the franchise is essentially make going all decisions through 305 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: Luca first as opposed to Lebron, Like that's new. I 306 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 2: mean it's twenty some odd year, twenty two seasons. He's 307 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: always been the guy that you run to first if 308 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: you're in the front office, and now it's he's not first, 309 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: And you just have to wonder, is Lebron gonna be 310 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 2: okay with this? Is it just a summer malaise where 311 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 2: he's just going through like a little phase here a 312 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 2: spat if you will. And I know some people are 313 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,160 Speaker 2: gonna pooh, pooh oh. Come on on, he's such a baby. 314 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 2: He can't text his new buddy DeAndrea and he can't 315 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: he can't say anything to them. I don't know what's 316 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 2: Lebron waiting for like I do. Now, you could say, hey, Jay, 317 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 2: remember Luca and Bill. Luca and DeAndre and share an 318 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 2: agent in Bill Duffy. And oh, by the way, Jake 319 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 2: la Ravia, the first guy that they went after in 320 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 2: free agency. Guess who he shares an agent with, Austin Reeves. 321 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: It's almost as if the Lakers view Luca and Austin 322 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 2: Reeves as two building blocks and they just need to 323 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 2: find the third guy after Lebron retires. And it's weird 324 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 2: because it's putting Lebron in a weird spot. He I'm 325 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 2: just telling you the Lakers will contend, well, they win. 326 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 2: I don't freaking know. Are they favorites? 327 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: No? 328 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 2: If they get Bill, could you make an argument that 329 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 2: they're the favorites? 330 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: I think so. 331 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 2: Somebody tried to tell me that if you're Bradley bial 332 00:19:58,119 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 2: you want to rehab your image as a starter getting 333 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 2: buckets alongside James Harden And I'm like, all right, sure, 334 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 2: or are you thirty two? You've made a lot of 335 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 2: money and you know what, it's time to freaking get 336 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 2: to a conference finals at least And where's my better 337 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 2: chance at that with the paper Clips or the Lakers? 338 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 2: And oh, by the way, what's more high profile for 339 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 2: me in my next spot? Were the Lakers. I'm gonna 340 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: be on TV all the time, all the primetime games. 341 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 2: I've got Lebron and Luca next to me. You look 342 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: at the last fifty years in the NBA, who has 343 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 2: raised the play of their teammates more than Luca and Lebron. 344 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 2: It's like maybe Magic Johnson. Honestly, Like, okay, obviously Michael 345 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 2: Jordan was amazing, but he didn't make everyone around him better. 346 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 2: He maybe threatened them to be better in practice, but 347 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 2: on the court, he wasn't making them better. Luca's finding 348 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 2: people on every possessions. That's why he's one of the 349 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 2: assists leaders every year. Lebron same thing. They can manipulate 350 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 2: defenses and get their guys to the right spot. You 351 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 2: play with Lebron, It's like, oh my god, you played 352 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 2: with Luca, Like, look what Luca did to PJ. Washington. 353 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 2: Did you guys remember what PJ Washington was before that 354 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: run to Dallas made to the finals? Exactly? What was 355 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 2: Daniel Gafford exactly? Play with Luca Bingo like Yokich is 356 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 2: certainly up there. But I just don't see why you 357 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: wouldn't play with Luca Lebron. And I know people are 358 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 2: gonna call me a homer, J Mac, what the hell's 359 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 2: wrong with you? 360 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: Bro? 361 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 2: Obviously I'm rooting for the Lakers. My buddy has season tickets. 362 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 2: You know, I can wedge my way into some of 363 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: those games. But like, it's just, I not unfathomable, But 364 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 2: it's just crazy if you've got the choice to pick 365 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 2: Clippers or Lakers, that you would go Clippers just because 366 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 2: you can start. Remember it's now starts, it's who finishes now, 367 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 2: there's no guarantee who's gonna finish games. And the Lakers 368 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 2: problem last year was their fifth spot was kind of 369 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 2: up in the air. I'm telling you now, if Beial 370 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 2: is there, oh my gosh, Bill Reeves, Lebron, Luca and Ayton. 371 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 2: That to me is a slam duncan. I guess as 372 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 2: soon as the buyout happens, then the other dominoes will 373 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 2: fall after Bell, the Jonathan Cominga and whatever else is 374 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: out there Al Horford. But right right now, it is 375 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 2: a little troubling if you're a Laker fan that Lebron 376 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 2: hasn't texted DeAndre Ayton like welcome aboard, can't wait to 377 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 2: win with you. It just feels a little strange. I 378 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 2: don't want to say it's a passive aggressive move by 379 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 2: Lebron because we don't actually know why he hasn't done 380 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 2: it yet. Maybe the Lakers have some game plan where 381 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 2: they're going after someone else and then they're gonna announce Lebron, 382 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 2: I don't know, and then Lebron says Lebron's gonna come 383 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 2: out and say his part. But remember the statement he 384 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 2: wants to see what the Lakers are doing and he 385 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 2: wants to be in contentent for a title. I don't 386 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: know that he would ask for a trade that doesn't 387 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 2: feel like on brand for Lebron at this stage in 388 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 2: his career. I cannot imagine that that happens. I also 389 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 2: cannot imagine him getting traded. But the one thing that 390 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:13,679 Speaker 2: really surprises me right now is, you know, why have 391 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 2: the Golden State Warriors done absolutely nothing? I mean that's 392 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 2: the one. They have not done anything in free agency, 393 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 2: not one move. Now you could say they're waiting for 394 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: Beal and then they're gonna have their coaminga thing. I 395 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 2: don't know, guys, it is. It's weird. I'll just leave 396 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 2: it at that. It's weird that the Warriors have done 397 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 2: nothing and the Lakers and Lebron are silent. Something's going on. 398 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 2: We'll head into the weekend with some wackiness. Hopefully we 399 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 2: need Lebron and Lakers obviously, but something seems to be 400 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 2: a miss. Anyways, have a wonderful weekend. Whatever you guys 401 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 2: got on tap show, hopefully it's a good one. And 402 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 2: MLB All Star Break coming up, and hopefully you're joining 403 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 2: me hosting on The Hurt. See you on Monday.