1
00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,879
Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntire.

2
00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:15,000
Speaker 2: What he's up Straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntire,

3
00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:21,239
Speaker 2: Straight Flawyer for Tuesday, July the first we got a

4
00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,000
Speaker 2: holiday weekend coming up. Public service announcement to everybody be

5
00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,120
Speaker 2: careful with fireworks. I tell my fireworks story all the time.

6
00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,640
Speaker 2: It doesn't need to be rehashed. Just being a young guy.

7
00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,560
Speaker 2: Everybody likes fireworks, and man, there has some sketchy moments

8
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,400
Speaker 2: and everybody knows Jason, Pierre Paul be safe out there.

9
00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,400
Speaker 2: People got a fun podcast today, listen. I totally forgot

10
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,680
Speaker 2: that the NBA off season, you know, July usually kicks

11
00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,040
Speaker 2: off the crazy time, but they pushed it up to

12
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,800
Speaker 2: three o'clock on Monday, so everybody's waiting for a flurry

13
00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,560
Speaker 2: of moves. And of course a bunch of stuff happened.

14
00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,120
Speaker 2: We'll get to but they seem to have really pushed

15
00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,360
Speaker 2: it up. And remember you used to be like July fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh,

16
00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,000
Speaker 2: big moves were happening, nobody was really doing anything huge

17
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,080
Speaker 2: out of the gate, waiting for the large dominos to fall.

18
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,600
Speaker 2: I guess the Kevin Durant move last week expedited the process.

19
00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,880
Speaker 2: And you know, outside of Giannis, there isn't a major

20
00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:20,160
Speaker 2: superstar that many people expect to go anywhere. We'll see

21
00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,920
Speaker 2: maybe there's some small potatoes here or there. Before I

22
00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,520
Speaker 2: get to that, I saw something on Monday night that

23
00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,319
Speaker 2: was absolutely crazy. Okay. So I touched on the mL

24
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:35,080
Speaker 2: sorry WNBA All Star voting, right, and Caitlin Clark obviously

25
00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,160
Speaker 2: blew away the fields. He was number one. But they

26
00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:43,759
Speaker 2: have three different categories and then they give the players

27
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:49,840
Speaker 2: a weighted score. So they have the fan rank, where

28
00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:54,400
Speaker 2: Kaitlin Clark was one, Page Beckers was two at guard,

29
00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,840
Speaker 2: and then they do it for the front court as well.

30
00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,680
Speaker 2: Collier was one, Aliah Boss was one. It was two

31
00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,760
Speaker 2: in the front court and right, so they do guards

32
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,320
Speaker 2: and they do front court. So in the media rank

33
00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,959
Speaker 2: for guards, Caitlin Clark came third. It was Alicia Gray

34
00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:20,440
Speaker 2: and then it was Sabrina Ionescu and then it was

35
00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:25,320
Speaker 2: Caitlin Clark third, okay, which you know, okay, fans say one,

36
00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,399
Speaker 2: Medius's Clark is three. So then it comes to the players,

37
00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:33,120
Speaker 2: and I guess the players having an anonymous voting, the

38
00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:38,920
Speaker 2: players said Caitlin Clark was ninth best among guards. In

39
00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,399
Speaker 2: the All Star voting. Ninth. Now I know you want

40
00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,280
Speaker 2: to ask, well, Jay, who are the people ahead of her? Okay,

41
00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,600
Speaker 2: here we go. Alicia Gray for Atlanta was one. According

42
00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,080
Speaker 2: to the player, she's the best guard in the league. Ionescu.

43
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:58,680
Speaker 2: Two They said Skyler Diggins was the third best guard

44
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,079
Speaker 2: this season. Now she is, she's kind of a big deal.

45
00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,519
Speaker 2: She went to Notre Dame. She I think she dated

46
00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,440
Speaker 2: or married a football player, somebody famous. She's extremely attractive

47
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,799
Speaker 2: as a huge social media following. She's the third best

48
00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,800
Speaker 2: Garden League. I did not know that. Number four they

49
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,400
Speaker 2: said Page Beckers was the fourth best Garden League. Page

50
00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:24,040
Speaker 2: Beckers a rookie. Five. Now here's where it gets crazy.

51
00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,320
Speaker 2: So they only did the top ten guards, right, those

52
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,800
Speaker 2: were the highest that made the All Star Game. Whoever

53
00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:38,200
Speaker 2: the fifth player was from the guards voted by the

54
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,920
Speaker 2: players did not even register here. Sixth was Kelsey Mitchell

55
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:48,320
Speaker 2: of Indiana. Seven Britney Psykes of Washington eight also did

56
00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,680
Speaker 2: not even crack the top ten, and then nine Caitlin Clark. Folks,

57
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,080
Speaker 2: I know you guys don't like what I say. It's jealousy.

58
00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,200
Speaker 2: You could call it jealousy. You can call it haters,

59
00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,720
Speaker 2: whatever you want, but this is definitely a thousand percent

60
00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,680
Speaker 2: of thing and don't I will not stand for anything

61
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,120
Speaker 2: you think otherwise. The players think kate LecRK is the

62
00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,680
Speaker 2: ninth best guard in the league. She is, I believe,

63
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:17,440
Speaker 2: the favorite to win the MVP or she's second in

64
00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,560
Speaker 2: terms of odds. The fans love, the media loves her,

65
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,159
Speaker 2: the league needs her, but the players don't think she's

66
00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,880
Speaker 2: in a league guard. Just let that sink and you

67
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,600
Speaker 2: tell me what is it? Is it jealousy, is it hate?

68
00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,839
Speaker 2: It's just staggering and sad. Anyways, all right, let's go

69
00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,800
Speaker 2: to the NBA folks. Listen. I don't want to go

70
00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,680
Speaker 2: off on any two hot takes with the dust is

71
00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:45,440
Speaker 2: barely settling. We don't totally know everybody going everywhere. So

72
00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,599
Speaker 2: as I record this late Monday night, I think it's

73
00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,120
Speaker 2: pretty clear to everybody that the biggest takeaway so far

74
00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,440
Speaker 2: the Kevin Durant trade last week and everything that went

75
00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,400
Speaker 2: down on Monday, that the Houston Rockets are the best

76
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,240
Speaker 2: team in the NBA. I think that's I don't. I

77
00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,160
Speaker 2: think it's a arguable. The Rocket's depth is insane, and

78
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:12,120
Speaker 2: their owner decided, you know what, let's just go all in.

79
00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,159
Speaker 2: Let's just go all in. Why the hell not. They

80
00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,760
Speaker 2: targeted two guys that the Lakers had been going after.

81
00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,400
Speaker 2: Everybody knew the Lakers had obviously Dorian Finney Smith, and

82
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,960
Speaker 2: they wanted Dorian Finney Smith to return. Houston said, uh uh,

83
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,080
Speaker 2: we're gonna overpay him. Four years, fifty three million dollars

84
00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,360
Speaker 2: for Dorian Finney Smith and he's going to Houston, where

85
00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,679
Speaker 2: he's instead of being like on the court in crunch

86
00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:39,840
Speaker 2: time for the Lakers as like the fifth best guy,

87
00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:41,600
Speaker 2: maybe the fourth best guy, depending on what you think

88
00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,039
Speaker 2: of ruly. Duran Finny said, like the eighth best guy

89
00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,600
Speaker 2: on this team. It's unclear. I mean, they're so loaded

90
00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,719
Speaker 2: the Rockets are. I know, you're scoffing. They also brought

91
00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,920
Speaker 2: back Clint Capella, who would have been a perfect wingman

92
00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,200
Speaker 2: for Luka Doncics, the rim running center who could catch

93
00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,200
Speaker 2: lobs and block shots. He's not what he was seven

94
00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,039
Speaker 2: years ago, but he's still a factor. He got three years,

95
00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,640
Speaker 2: twenty one million dollars. So that's too Lakers targets off

96
00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,880
Speaker 2: the table. So this is the Rocket's depth chart right now.

97
00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:17,480
Speaker 2: And again, I'm not like a Houston fan, but I

98
00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:22,080
Speaker 2: do absolutely love what they've done here their starting lineup.

99
00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,719
Speaker 2: You got Fred van Vliet who took a twenty five

100
00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:30,440
Speaker 2: million dollar haircut. Yes, Fred van Vliet actually said I

101
00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,359
Speaker 2: will take less money, and it's about twenty five million

102
00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,800
Speaker 2: dollars right. I'm in Thompson, who is emerging as a stud.

103
00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,760
Speaker 2: I mean, listen. If you guys don't see it, I'm sorry.

104
00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,400
Speaker 2: This guy is a big time baller and he's one

105
00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,480
Speaker 2: of the best young players in the league. Then you've

106
00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,920
Speaker 2: got Kevin Durant. Then you've got Sheng Goon at center.

107
00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,800
Speaker 2: And then you've got Jabari Smith who got a new

108
00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,320
Speaker 2: deal just now but doesn't kick in yet. Folks, that

109
00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,279
Speaker 2: is formidable. Jamari Smith long, I'm in Thompson, the best

110
00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,920
Speaker 2: defender in that group. Van Vleet's just gonna have to

111
00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,600
Speaker 2: hit some big shots and defend. And then you've got

112
00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,719
Speaker 2: Kevin Durant and Shen Goon is an all star center.

113
00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,040
Speaker 2: That's really good. But that's not even the best part.

114
00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,520
Speaker 2: Remember they didn't give up in the in the uh

115
00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,560
Speaker 2: the k D trade. They didn't give up Reed Shepherd,

116
00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,320
Speaker 2: who was a top five pick last year for them.

117
00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,119
Speaker 2: They didn't give up Cam Whitmore, who's a good young player.

118
00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,120
Speaker 2: They didn't give up Tarry Eason, who's another good young wing.

119
00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:25,120
Speaker 2: And oh, by the way, they also have you know,

120
00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,360
Speaker 2: professional basketball player Aaron Holliday who's just been around the

121
00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:32,840
Speaker 2: league forever, Vet Smart, Steven Adams who they re signed. Folks,

122
00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:39,560
Speaker 2: they are at least twelve deep. That ensures that, hey,

123
00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,559
Speaker 2: you know what, we don't have to wear down kde

124
00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,800
Speaker 2: and haven't played seventy seventy five keys. We don't need that.

125
00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,360
Speaker 2: We've got enough weapons. I mean, this has been an

126
00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,800
Speaker 2: outstanding off season so far for the Houston Rockets. To me,

127
00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,040
Speaker 2: they are now the team to beat in the West.

128
00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,360
Speaker 2: And I know, Jay, what about Okac? What was the

129
00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,160
Speaker 2: last time we saw a defending champ get out of

130
00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,800
Speaker 2: the second round? Guys, it's a real thing for a reason, now,

131
00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,440
Speaker 2: I know. Okay, she's built different. As the kids like

132
00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,960
Speaker 2: to say, well, hey, you know, we got the young roster,

133
00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,200
Speaker 2: we got all these draft picks. We're straight, we're great shape,

134
00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,480
Speaker 2: they are undeniably. We'll see, we'll see if they could

135
00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,920
Speaker 2: duplicate it again next year. I'm gonna go ahead and

136
00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,960
Speaker 2: guess no, but we'll see.

137
00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,600
Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in

138
00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,960
Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio

139
00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:32,199
Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to

140
00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:33,000
Speaker 1: listen live.

141
00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,760
Speaker 2: So for me, it's pretty clear Houston is the team

142
00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,520
Speaker 2: to beat. They have the deepest roster in the league.

143
00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,080
Speaker 2: It's it's pretty awesome that this is happening. To Kevin Durant.

144
00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:42,600
Speaker 2: I know I've been critical of him and I said

145
00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,560
Speaker 2: he's slowed down a little bit, but he got himself

146
00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,440
Speaker 2: to an incredible spot. And this Houston team drove a

147
00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,320
Speaker 2: hard bargain, didn't really give up anything. Jalen Green, Dyllan Brooks,

148
00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,360
Speaker 2: give me a break. I mean, I love everything about Houston,

149
00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:00,280
Speaker 2: and when I do go to Vegas for NFL the

150
00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,719
Speaker 2: NFL contest here, either this month or next month, I'm

151
00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,199
Speaker 2: gonna definitely be putting something on Houston to win the title.

152
00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,760
Speaker 2: I just think that roster, man, I mean, they are very,

153
00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,160
Speaker 2: very and I know they lost to the first round,

154
00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,920
Speaker 2: but you have to remember second seed last year in

155
00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,120
Speaker 2: the West. So after the Rockets, I think the Denver

156
00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,960
Speaker 2: Nuggets are attempting wisely of course, to see if they

157
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,400
Speaker 2: can kind of rebuild on the fly. You knew after

158
00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,760
Speaker 2: that loss to OKC, after the loss of the year

159
00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,280
Speaker 2: before to Minnesota, like there was some pressure to do something,

160
00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,000
Speaker 2: and Denver has done did it. They have shipped Michael

161
00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,240
Speaker 2: Porter Junior. He is going to Brooklyn with his fat

162
00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,080
Speaker 2: ass contract and he's gonna play for the Nets. He's

163
00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,920
Speaker 2: not gonna be surrounded by a lot but Brooklyn. In

164
00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,280
Speaker 2: the trade Michael Porter Junior, they give up Cam Johnson. Now.

165
00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,280
Speaker 2: Cam Johnson obviously a very good wing, not as good

166
00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:56,680
Speaker 2: as Michael Porter Junior, but probably an overall much better

167
00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:01,360
Speaker 2: player because of his defense. So he's slides into the three.

168
00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,760
Speaker 2: You know, I don't think Cam can be a twenty

169
00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,480
Speaker 2: twenty point scorer like Porter, so they'll have to manufacture

170
00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,440
Speaker 2: some points with Murray. But they also added a big

171
00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,960
Speaker 2: bench piece with Russell Westbrook obviously not coming back. I

172
00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,960
Speaker 2: don't know what Russell Westbrook's gonna do. Maybe he ends

173
00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:20,680
Speaker 2: up back in Denver. I don't know, he's got options.

174
00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,400
Speaker 2: But they secured Bruce Brown, who was on the title

175
00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,720
Speaker 2: winning team a few years ago. They bring back Bruce

176
00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,480
Speaker 2: Brown and he will, I guess be their sixth man

177
00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,080
Speaker 2: as they kind of usher in a new era. Listen, man,

178
00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,520
Speaker 2: I know Michael Malone didn't want to play the young guys.

179
00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:37,760
Speaker 2: You have to force feed a lot of Zeke Nazi

180
00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,319
Speaker 2: during the regular season because it's all about the playoffs

181
00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,080
Speaker 2: for Yo Kitchen Murray, and they haven't always been healthy.

182
00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,000
Speaker 2: Aaron Gordon like, they've got a great nucleus. I think

183
00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,240
Speaker 2: Denver's excellent. Little Julian Strather. Next year maybe we'll see

184
00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,040
Speaker 2: some picket. Hopefully Deron Holmes can rebound after he had

185
00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,440
Speaker 2: the Achilles injury. So I think Denver did a really

186
00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,160
Speaker 2: good job. Again, it's early, this stuff is subject to change,

187
00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:03,840
Speaker 2: but I would say right now Houston one, OKC two,

188
00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:08,800
Speaker 2: Denver at three. Now the Lakers, who were third, they

189
00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,400
Speaker 2: made one move, and Laker fans, of course, spent Monday

190
00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:16,520
Speaker 2: just irate about what was happening, and namely nothing and

191
00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,360
Speaker 2: Rob Polinka, you know, catching heat because Laker fans are crazy,

192
00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,680
Speaker 2: and it's possible that I'm out here in La so

193
00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:27,960
Speaker 2: I'm hearing more Laker anger from fans than you know,

194
00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,760
Speaker 2: you guys wherever you are. I'll say, the first move

195
00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,800
Speaker 2: didn't really get anybody excited, and they they went and

196
00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:42,520
Speaker 2: grabbed wake Forest legend Jake la Ravia, who was in

197
00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,360
Speaker 2: Memphis last year. Jake Laavia, Yeah, I know you're not familiar.

198
00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,840
Speaker 2: Others work. I mean, two years, twelve million bucks. It's

199
00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,720
Speaker 2: just peanuts. You know, they're not paying him a lot.

200
00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,160
Speaker 2: The guy listen, man, he's one of those dudes. So

201
00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,679
Speaker 2: you know, six seven, two thirty is kind of a

202
00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,000
Speaker 2: big I don't think he can play a four in

203
00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,760
Speaker 2: your small ball lineup. But he's a young guy and

204
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,840
Speaker 2: he was excellent at wake Forest, turned himself into a

205
00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:11,040
Speaker 2: first round pick. It was very good at Indiana State,

206
00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,280
Speaker 2: I should say first. Then he goes to wake Forest

207
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:15,920
Speaker 2: and then he goes to Memphis and he was like,

208
00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,959
Speaker 2: not bad. He had an incident with Dalton connect which

209
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,520
Speaker 2: should make things interesting with the Lakers, and then he

210
00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:28,199
Speaker 2: was on the Sacramento Kings as well. Last season didn't

211
00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:33,760
Speaker 2: do much, but this is a guy who listen. Here

212
00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:38,760
Speaker 2: are his three point shooting percentages with Sacramento thirty eight percent,

213
00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:44,000
Speaker 2: with Memphis forty four percent. Those are the last that

214
00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,959
Speaker 2: was last season, in between his two stints with each team.

215
00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,960
Speaker 2: I don't think anybody's expecting him to be a superstar.

216
00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,840
Speaker 2: I think if you can make him your your eighth

217
00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,120
Speaker 2: or ninth guy and you can reliably counter him to

218
00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,480
Speaker 2: hit some big shots, play hard nosed defense, and just

219
00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:06,000
Speaker 2: basically be, you know, a shock to the system. You know,

220
00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,720
Speaker 2: you know how kind of Ben Shephard of the Pacers

221
00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,360
Speaker 2: and TJ McConnell that these guys would come in and

222
00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:17,360
Speaker 2: bring massive energy and just be huge factors. Can Jake

223
00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,839
Speaker 2: la Ravia give you twelve of those minutes a night

224
00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,360
Speaker 2: off the bench? Twelve to fifteen and he's being an

225
00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:27,000
Speaker 2: energy guy, and he's providing hustles, stocks, as they like

226
00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:28,959
Speaker 2: to say, steals, and blocks, and he's just doing a

227
00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,680
Speaker 2: little bit of everything while hitting a few threes. I

228
00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,760
Speaker 2: don't see why he can't provide that. Now, he's a

229
00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,600
Speaker 2: little older than well, actually, uh, la Ravia's no, he's

230
00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:42,320
Speaker 2: only twenty three Dalton Connect because he had the long route.

231
00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,800
Speaker 2: He let's see here, he might actually be older than

232
00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,000
Speaker 2: la Ravia. Yeah, Dalton Connect is twenty four, so he's

233
00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,880
Speaker 2: older than Laavia and he's probably not nearly as good

234
00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:57,000
Speaker 2: as a defender, better shooter. I don't know if that

235
00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:58,880
Speaker 2: you can play both those guys. I'm not sure how

236
00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:03,160
Speaker 2: that's gonna work. But the Lakers really haven't done anything yet,

237
00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,640
Speaker 2: which is kind of disappointing another team that I thought

238
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,760
Speaker 2: had a big hit and this one was a surprise.

239
00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,520
Speaker 2: But folks, I don't know if you've seen what's going

240
00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,360
Speaker 2: on with the Boston Celtics here. Obviously the last two weeks,

241
00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,720
Speaker 2: a couple of trades have been significant. We know, they

242
00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,520
Speaker 2: had to get out of the luxury tax, they got

243
00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,000
Speaker 2: out of the second apron and it's like, what are

244
00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,080
Speaker 2: we doing here? Are we getting? Are we getting cheap?

245
00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,760
Speaker 2: And you know, Luke Cornett had one I think he

246
00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,160
Speaker 2: had one game against the Knicks. We had like seven

247
00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:36,160
Speaker 2: blocks in that series. And you're like, oh, this guy's something.

248
00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,080
Speaker 2: And then when Porzingis gets traded, You're like, all right,

249
00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,120
Speaker 2: well it sounds like Horford's going to go elsewhere. You know,

250
00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:47,600
Speaker 2: is there a world where Luke Cornett is your starting center?

251
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,040
Speaker 2: And it was like, all right, sure, why not? He can?

252
00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,400
Speaker 2: He can? He can block shots and defend and be

253
00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:59,720
Speaker 2: a rim runner. And why not, folks, Luke Cornett, Yes,

254
00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:06,480
Speaker 2: the that tall white guy from Vanderbilt signed a forty

255
00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,840
Speaker 2: one million dollar deal with the San Antonio Spurs. I

256
00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,440
Speaker 2: mean that was stunning to me. That is a big

257
00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,360
Speaker 2: time loss for the Celtics. I mean, I can't even

258
00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,880
Speaker 2: put that into words, how bad they are going to

259
00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:24,720
Speaker 2: be depleted at center. Currently, their only center is Luke Garza,

260
00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,360
Speaker 2: the kid from Iowa, who ain't a center in the NBA,

261
00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,920
Speaker 2: and he cannot defend anybody. You know, Luke car is

262
00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,560
Speaker 2: a good offensive guy, but man, that is a huge

263
00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:38,600
Speaker 2: hit four years, forty one million dollars to the San

264
00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,680
Speaker 2: Antonio Spurs where he will Let's be honest, guys, He's

265
00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,120
Speaker 2: going to provide some rim protection either with Wemby as

266
00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,560
Speaker 2: a backup to Wemby. But that is good. You know,

267
00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,280
Speaker 2: I have two sleepers that I'm working on this Spurs

268
00:15:53,280 --> 00:16:01,000
Speaker 2: aren't much of a sleeper. But if you have Fox, Castle, Wemby, Harper,

269
00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,080
Speaker 2: Cornett's gonna be in the rotation. Guys, I know you

270
00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,080
Speaker 2: don't want to hear you got Vassal. Let's see what

271
00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:11,040
Speaker 2: else they've got, any moves they've they've got to make here.

272
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,800
Speaker 2: But I think the Spurs for sure are a top

273
00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,800
Speaker 2: eight team in the West next season. Somebody's gonna have

274
00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,520
Speaker 2: to drop out, which makes it difficult. But for me, yeah,

275
00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,800
Speaker 2: I think the Spurs have to be in there. I

276
00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,240
Speaker 2: don't know that they have, you know, the highest end

277
00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,000
Speaker 2: talent like I'm you know, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Bars

278
00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,800
Speaker 2: they're good, solid role players. They will need a third

279
00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,120
Speaker 2: reliable scorer. I don't exactly know who that is yet.

280
00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,680
Speaker 2: Can it be Vassal? I don't think you can expect

281
00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:41,480
Speaker 2: Harper to come out of the gate and be an

282
00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,560
Speaker 2: instant offense kind of guy. I don't know that Castle's

283
00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,480
Speaker 2: there yet. He's very good, but it just it seems

284
00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,800
Speaker 2: like it could be an offense is gonna be a problem,

285
00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,280
Speaker 2: but the defense will keep them in games. And yeah,

286
00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,480
Speaker 2: I think the Spurs are a top eight team, my

287
00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:00,000
Speaker 2: team that I like, really closing in on them as

288
00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:01,920
Speaker 2: a team that holy held is the team to watch.

289
00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,960
Speaker 2: And I already said Orlando could be a sneaky team

290
00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,639
Speaker 2: to somehow find its way in the conference finals. Well,

291
00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,200
Speaker 2: I would keep an eye on the Atlanta Hawks. Every

292
00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:16,520
Speaker 2: move they've done has hit. You know, they added Nikhil

293
00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,800
Speaker 2: Alexander Walker. Apparently Trey Young was running point on that

294
00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,840
Speaker 2: recruiting mission for Alexander Walker. But they didn't stop there.

295
00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,920
Speaker 2: They also got Luke Cannard, So now all of a sudden,

296
00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:35,040
Speaker 2: you've got great shooting with Canard and obviously Alexander Walker,

297
00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,359
Speaker 2: who was excellent. You've got Jalen Johnson coming back off

298
00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,320
Speaker 2: the injury, Dyson Daniels, a lockdown defender. You've got the

299
00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,280
Speaker 2: young kid Buffkin who is a He's a bit of

300
00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,960
Speaker 2: a project, but he's very highly thought of. And I

301
00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,880
Speaker 2: just wonder is there enough there that this team could

302
00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,359
Speaker 2: be a surprising top top five seed in the East?

303
00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:00,040
Speaker 2: Okongwu porzingis Resa che Asa Newell like, they got a

304
00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:03,240
Speaker 2: lot of guys, a lot of guys. I don't know

305
00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,560
Speaker 2: how it's gonna all work for them because there is

306
00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,679
Speaker 2: a lot of newness. And are they gonna pivot from

307
00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:11,879
Speaker 2: being a Trey Young centric team to a Jalen Johnson

308
00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,840
Speaker 2: team now he's coming off the injury. It's just a

309
00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,680
Speaker 2: really spicy Hawks team. They were forty and forty two

310
00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,480
Speaker 2: last year. I think it's back to get on board

311
00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,720
Speaker 2: the Hawks as well as Orlando. They they I think

312
00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,840
Speaker 2: they will clearly be better than Atlanta, and they picked

313
00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,159
Speaker 2: up a really good backup point guard, Tias Jones. You

314
00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,680
Speaker 2: know you got the JA. I mean Orlando is another team. Man.

315
00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,440
Speaker 2: They they're not really paying anybody other than Paolo and Franz,

316
00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,240
Speaker 2: and they're not even on huge fifty sixty million dollar deals.

317
00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:47,400
Speaker 2: Yet Bain Suggs, Wendell Carter, Jonathan Isaac still out there.

318
00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,520
Speaker 2: Tristan da Silva. I like Anthony Black, it's he's still young.

319
00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,320
Speaker 2: He may not be ready to contribute. Jace Richardson, I

320
00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,199
Speaker 2: like him as a pick. Tias Jones adds veteran leadership

321
00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,120
Speaker 2: in the backcourt, Like this is this is a forty

322
00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:02,960
Speaker 2: Last year they won forty one. I think they're a

323
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,520
Speaker 2: forty eight or fifty win team. So a lot of good,

324
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,520
Speaker 2: a lot of positive. On the first day of NBA

325
00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:12,680
Speaker 2: free agency. I'm trying to keep it positive because it's

326
00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,640
Speaker 2: so easy to be negative. Oh, by the way, Brook

327
00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,399
Speaker 2: Lopez leaves Milwaukee as expected, no surprise, He's going to

328
00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,000
Speaker 2: the paper clips. But this is where it gets interesting.

329
00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,200
Speaker 2: You know, you see all these silly reports whoa well.

330
00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,200
Speaker 2: Giannis is monitoring the draft and free agency to see

331
00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,199
Speaker 2: what the Bucks plan is. I could tell you what

332
00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,520
Speaker 2: they're playing is we got to keep Bobby portis they

333
00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,359
Speaker 2: re signed Kevin Porter junior, They resigned Gary Trent Junior.

334
00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:47,520
Speaker 2: For now they have Kuzma Folks, Kevin Porter junior, Gary

335
00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,520
Speaker 2: Trent Junior in the backcourt. Oh my gosh, that's terrible.

336
00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:57,560
Speaker 2: I'm sorry, Kuzma, Geez Giannis, Bobby Portis coming off the

337
00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,200
Speaker 2: bench with Jericho Sims, former Nick and Prince still banging

338
00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,760
Speaker 2: around the league. AJ Green the three point shooter, Like

339
00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,399
Speaker 2: that is not a good basketball team and they're not.

340
00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,040
Speaker 2: Remember they love that kid Andre Jackson from Yukon. I

341
00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,280
Speaker 2: don't know how he even fits in the rotation. Like

342
00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,920
Speaker 2: this is just not a good Bucks team at all.

343
00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,119
Speaker 2: And I do wonder if anybody out there is keeping

344
00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,359
Speaker 2: their powder dry for Yiannis, Like what team would that be?

345
00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:28,640
Speaker 2: I think that's the real interesting discussion. I just I mean,

346
00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:33,199
Speaker 2: unless you know Golden State, you know you need a

347
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,160
Speaker 2: bunch of picks. You need picks and players for Yannis,

348
00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,639
Speaker 2: And I just don't know who has that. Remember we

349
00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,880
Speaker 2: had Henry Abbott on I think a couple of weeks ago,

350
00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,920
Speaker 2: and he said, the one team that makes sense is okay.

351
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,000
Speaker 2: See but is okay? Is he gonna do it? They

352
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,280
Speaker 2: would have to break up J dub and Chet. One

353
00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,439
Speaker 2: of those two would have to be shipped. Not a

354
00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,160
Speaker 2: great look to ship one of those guys. You put them.

355
00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,360
Speaker 2: We work together for all the for years to get

356
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,960
Speaker 2: the title, and you know, all of a sudden, you

357
00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,040
Speaker 2: win the championship and like two months later you ship

358
00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,280
Speaker 2: him out of town. You know. It is sort of

359
00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:12,840
Speaker 2: somewhat similar to when the OKC thunder Last went to

360
00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,520
Speaker 2: the championship. They had, you know, premature fears that they

361
00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,320
Speaker 2: couldn't afford hard and so they traded and that worked

362
00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:25,959
Speaker 2: out horribly, absolutely horribly. So we will see who the

363
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,080
Speaker 2: big big movers are here for Giannis once the dust clears.

364
00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:35,520
Speaker 2: I mean, I get I'm definitely trade Giannis before you know,

365
00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,000
Speaker 2: the All Star break because the price is gonna go down.

366
00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,080
Speaker 2: You guys know that historically, the longer you wait to

367
00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,120
Speaker 2: trade somebody, the more the price goes down.

368
00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,639
Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in

369
00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,040
Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio

370
00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:55,280
Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to

371
00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:56,040
Speaker 1: listen live.

372
00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:01,480
Speaker 2: Obviously, there was a big trade in the NFL on Monday,

373
00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:03,879
Speaker 2: and it happened early in the morning, like I don't know,

374
00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:07,439
Speaker 2: like eight thirty Pacific times, so obviously we couldn't get

375
00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:12,080
Speaker 2: on the podcast. But the way I described it on

376
00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,560
Speaker 2: the Herd when it broke was it feels like Miami

377
00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,679
Speaker 2: is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. They just

378
00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,240
Speaker 2: are at a loss for how to handle these strong personalities.

379
00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,800
Speaker 2: They're really struggling with Tyreek Hill. They must be fed

380
00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,320
Speaker 2: up with Jalen Ramsey. They ship him out. Then you

381
00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,000
Speaker 2: got john Us Smith. I don't want to say am malcontent,

382
00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,119
Speaker 2: but he wanted to get back with his guy, Arthur Smith,

383
00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:40,800
Speaker 2: who's now in Pittsburgh as the OC. And it's like

384
00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:45,720
Speaker 2: they go to Pittsburgh and Miami gets Minka Fitzpatrick, a

385
00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,320
Speaker 2: playmaker on the back end of the defense. But like,

386
00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,640
Speaker 2: do you really need that if you're Miami. I mean,

387
00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,879
Speaker 2: it just doesn't really make sense why you do that

388
00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,320
Speaker 2: move other than Jayleen is just a human, not a

389
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,280
Speaker 2: nice human, and you just want to get him out

390
00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,320
Speaker 2: of there. But you know, Javon Holland is a really

391
00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,560
Speaker 2: good safety, so they've got one. I guess you can

392
00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,080
Speaker 2: try the two safety play and maybe that works out

393
00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:17,600
Speaker 2: for you. Ask for the Steelers, geez. The bigger news is, well,

394
00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:22,119
Speaker 2: what are you gonna do with everybody's favorite defensive end?

395
00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,960
Speaker 2: TJ Watt and I said back in April, you should

396
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,080
Speaker 2: actually I said it last year, you should trade TJ

397
00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,359
Speaker 2: Watt get a haul and start the rebuild that was

398
00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,920
Speaker 2: last year. Steelers fans laughed at me, you can't do that, Jay, Okay, fine,

399
00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:36,919
Speaker 2: they don't want a playoff game. So now here it

400
00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,679
Speaker 2: is this summer. TJ Watt didn't go to the camp

401
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,639
Speaker 2: and he's like, I want to raise because Miles Garrett

402
00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:46,840
Speaker 2: got a raise, and they're like, well, I don't know

403
00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,280
Speaker 2: that you are worth it because we're not close to

404
00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,720
Speaker 2: winning a Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers doesn't get us close.

405
00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,440
Speaker 2: But now you're trading TJ Watt and they're fielding calls.

406
00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,400
Speaker 2: They said a corner schefter, a lot of people called

407
00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,920
Speaker 2: about TJ Watt. So it's like, wait a minute. People

408
00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:09,040
Speaker 2: are calling about TJ Watt and you're now answering the

409
00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,119
Speaker 2: phone and talking to about it when his price is

410
00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,159
Speaker 2: gone down from what it was last year. It's just

411
00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,160
Speaker 2: bad GMing guys, any way you slice it. I keep

412
00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,200
Speaker 2: saying this, the best time to rebuild was last year.

413
00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,320
Speaker 2: Got to make those decisions early. I don't think the

414
00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,320
Speaker 2: Steelers did it. I don't think Miami did it. This

415
00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,840
Speaker 2: doesn't feel like a significant move that's going to help

416
00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,040
Speaker 2: either of these teams out. I don't have either of

417
00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,600
Speaker 2: these in the playoffs next year, and certainly if I

418
00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,440
Speaker 2: did a Super Bowl bubble, neither of them is in it.

419
00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,199
Speaker 2: So a big start to the week, Holiday week. We

420
00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:42,480
Speaker 2: got NFL trade, you got NBA free agency. It's all crazy.

421
00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,840
Speaker 2: We are back tomorrow. Talk to you then