Sixers Climbing LeBron Falling

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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offer not available in all areas well. Late last night,
um and for many of you waking up right now,
I think it happened in the last two hours. I
see right now reading the article up on ESPN dot com.

(01:11):
Major trade made by an l a NBA franchise, not
the Lakers, will get to that in a little bit,
but according to this story, that's been posted at Let's
see two fifty seven three fifty seven a m Eastern
by Adrian Wodzanowski. The Clippers and the Philadelphia seventies Sixers

(01:35):
have made a big trade on the eve of the
NBA trade deadline. Tobias Harris has been sent from the
Clippers to the Philadelphia seventies Sixers, a move designed to
bring in Harris to pair with Joel Embiide, Ben Simmons
and Jimmy Butler to go after the Eastern Conference title.

(01:56):
Sixers gave up a lot, including rookie guard UH Landry Shammant,
Philadelphia's owned UH project protected first round pick, unprotected first
round pick via the Miami Heat. UH Sixers also sent
several additional players, but this is a move designed to

(02:18):
create maximum salary cap space for the Clippers so they
can pursue a variety of of potentially max free agent deals,
maybe even including Remember that Anthony Davis has the Clippers
on his list of teams that he would be willing

(02:40):
to move to. So the seventies Sixers make an aggressive
play UH they decide to go all in on the
idea of winning the Eastern Conference right now, they now
have a couple of different guys who are potentially going
to be free agents. Uh Now, Butler and Harris will

(03:04):
both be free agent. Sixers plan to be aggressive in
trying to uh resign those guys as well. But this
is about trying to win right now for the seventies sixers,
and so that is a major trade happening on the
late night hours of as Wednesday early morning as we

(03:28):
get ready for the trade deadline tomorrow. Now, of course,
the big question still hanging out there is are the
Lakers still aggressively going after Anthony Davis or not. Lakers
and news yesterday which is a negotiating one oh one
that they are pulling out of trade talks and they
have no interest in continuing those for the moment, which

(03:52):
is again just designed to make the Pelicans have to
deal with the clock ticking down and see whether or
not the Pelicans are going to counter offer some of
what the Lakers have have offered so far for Anthony Davis.
In the meantime, it is ugly right now for the

(04:13):
Lakers franchise because everybody knows that that they are on
the chopping block, and that was brought home last night
the Pacers beat the Lakers by forty two points. It
was the worst loss of Lebron James's career as a
basketball player. Lebron was sitting on the bench all by

(04:36):
himself with amazing photo that spoke a thousand words, and
as Laker players were going to the line to shoot
free throws, the Pacer fans were brutal to them, chanting,
Lebron's going to trade you. I believe we have audio
of that. Let's play it if we can. The average

(04:58):
sixteen points last year and year two, he's at seventeen
point two and his last five last year in one ring.
They just presented it to him at the game. Lebron
James didn't play because he didn't play in the first
one that when they played in goner Stake a little
bit hard to hear, but basically they're all chanting, Lebron's

(05:19):
going to trade you as Laker players are shooting free throws.
Who is going to get traded? Honestly, the only players
on the Lakers who know that they are gonna be
on this team come uh Friday morning Lebron James. And
so if the Lakers don't make moves, now, what does

(05:41):
this say about their future in terms of the likelihood
of this team being able to put everything into the
past and actually come together and play well going forward.
Right now, the Lakers are seven and seven, exactly five
hundred on the season, and they've actually dug themselves a

(06:05):
pretty decent hole. Now they are, They've got twenty eight
games remaining on their season as we come up closely
on the on the All Star break, and they are
starting to fall significantly behind everyone else in terms of
making the playoffs. And you want to see a panic
set in if the Lakers and Lebron James did not

(06:29):
make the playoffs. I've told you this before. The NBA
doesn't have a league, they have a player. The drop
off when Lebron James leaves the NBA is going to
be almost as bad as the drop off was when
Michael Jordan's left the NBA. The Lakers sitting right now,
they are eleven games behind Golden State Golden States in

(06:51):
first place in the Western Conference, and they are even
more troubling two and a half games behind the Clippers
in terms of getting the last playoff spot. Now, the
Clippers obviously making moves, maybe not necessarily uh contending in
an aggressive way for the playoffs, but but that is

(07:13):
that is starting to become a substantial issue going forward
for the Lakers as they come up on the All
Star Game All Star Break. How far exactly are they
going to be behind before they start to make a move,
And if they are going to make a move towards
the playoffs, is it really that big of a deal

(07:34):
if they're the eight seed going up against Golden State
and they get swept in the first round of the playoffs.
There's a lot of major issues going on right now
in l a uh for the Lakers based on the
way they played, and the Lakers schedule is not really
very easy here down the stretch now that they have

(07:54):
flown across country and are playing a couple of games
on the East Coast swing here they go to the
Lakers on the Lakers do go to the Celtics on
Thursday night, that is setting up for one hell of
a whipping. Then they go on the road against the
newly emboldened seventies sixers. So it's likely the Lakers are

(08:17):
going to lose their next two and fall even further
out of playoff contention. Um and uh and man, I
mean I don't know, I mean, you look at that schedule.
Then as you roll into the All Star Break, maybe
they can beat the Hawks, surely, but the Lakers are
likely to be under five hundred at the time of

(08:38):
the NBA All Star Break, and maybe then they can
figure out what exactly is going on. But at that
point in time, there's not much time remaining in the
month of February, so there's a lot of drama again.
The Clippers making a big move trading Tobias Harris to
the seventies Sixers, who are making their shooting their shot.
The seventies Sixers are, in addition, till last night losing

(09:01):
to the Raptors. The seventies Sixers putting together a big
time trade to try to make an aggressive move in
what is a fairly wide open Eastern Conference. For the
first year in a long long time that Lebron James
has not been a factor in the Eastern Conference, the
seventies Sixers trying to make a move and have four

(09:22):
big time playmakers that could potentially get them into the playoffs.
All right, I'm gonna open up the phone line eight
seven seven nine six six three six nine for anybody
who wants to react to what's going on with Lebron
and the Lakers right now. Also, you should know it
is the final signing day of the UH for the

(09:46):
ninten UH signing classes, So there are a bunch of
big name players that are still out there, four and
five star talent, around twenty percent of the overall top
talent in college football that has to make a decision. Today,
we're gonna talk with Barton Simmons from two seven Sports

(10:06):
at the top of our two and then an hour three,
we're gonna talk with Andrew Marshan, who is UH a
writer who broke the story about We talked a little
bit about this this week ESPN firing at Nan Verke
for leaking information to a website that writes about sports

(10:26):
media related issues. He's the one who broke that story.
We will discuss that story with him. Also, you want
to stay tuned because who knows what might happen from
one moment to the next. As the NBA trade deadline
inches closer and closer. All of those things still on
the horizon, all those moves still potentially out there. We

(10:48):
don't know exactly what is going to transpire. But again,
I'll bring in the crew. We will take your calls
and we will react to the news that took place
over less. Now this is Outkicked the Coverage. I appreciate
you starting your Wednesday mornings with us here on Fox
Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions about Kick

(11:10):
the Coverage with Clay Travis weekdays at six am Eastern
three am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I
Heart Radio app. Welcome back. I go OutKick Studios car
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(11:33):
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confident car buying experience. You listen to the show yesterday,
you know I don't think it's smart of Anthony Davis
to want to go to the Lakers, and I laid
out exactly why, but I use Lebron James as an example.
I said, look, when Lebron left the Calves, when Lebron

(11:56):
left the Heat, and when Lebron left the Calves again,
he didn't make the team that he was joining. Mortgage
it's future in order for him to join them. He
didn't make them trade away all of their good young
talent in order for him to be on those teams.
Lebron knew that joining a team, it was important to

(12:17):
preserve all of their assets so they could bring as
much good talent around them in the years around him
in the years ahead as was possible. But he also
left behind oftentimes wrecked refuge that was not anywhere near
championship caliber. Look at what the Calves look like right now.

(12:39):
He way overpaid as GM Lebron Tristan Thompson, way overpaid
j R. Smith. Arguably, Kevin Love never deserved the contract
that he got. Kyrie Irving saw all of this coming
and he said, I don't want to be left holding
the bag when Lebron skips town. And he hardly got

(13:01):
traded to a better team. And now he's going to
be a free agent and he'll be able to go
out and look at all of his options. The smart
play for Anthony Davis is not to be traded now
for all of the good young talent on the Lakers.
It's to wait out the rest of this year and
then wait out all of next year. Two and be

(13:22):
an unrestricted free agent at the age of twenty six
and be able to do what Paul George did, be
able to do what Lebron James did, be able to
do what Kevin Durant did. Go join a new team
without having to worry about everything being upset right before

(13:43):
your contract comes on, comes comes up to the market,
and be able to actually join a team that still
has a lot of assets left with you. Moreover, again,
Lebron James is a declining asset coming off of a
fairly serious injury. Right now, do we really believe that
Lebron James is going to be good for years and

(14:05):
years ahead? Why would Anthony Davis want to tie himself
down with what might end up being another mediocre franchise
in the Lakers as Lebron James plays out the end
of his career. Remember, the Lakers have been through this
once before and they don't want to believe history can
repeat itself. But at some point, Lebron James is going

(14:26):
to age himself out of excellence. We saw it happen
with Kobe Bryant. Kobe got paid way too much money
relative to his overall talent, and I think the same
thing is going to happen on the tail end of
this deal for Lebron James with the Lakers. Lebron does
not have a lot of time to make any moves.

(14:48):
He's desperate. Anthony Davis shouldn't be desperate. He's got a
decade of basketball ahead of him. He's still climbing the mountaintop.
He can still get better. Lebron James is beginning his
cent now maybe it'll be a slow ascent. You certainly
hope so if you're a Laker fan or if you're
a Laker management, but I'm not sure about buying in
on this. Let me bring in the crew that I'm

(15:09):
gonna go to your calls, the calls by the way,
eight seven, seven nine nine six six three six nine,
what do you guys think kind of going forward? Um?
And uh, we will will obviously be following this story
in a substantial way, Danny g Let's ask this question,

(15:30):
based on what you saw against the Pacers, do the
Lakers have to make a trade because their overall team
chemistry is so broken? Based on this Anthony Davis news
going public last week and all the public discussion about
where the other Laker players are going to be the
performance they put forward against the Pacers flat out unacceptable,

(15:53):
likely to be ugly on Thursday against the Celtics as well,
not to mention what might happen over the weekend against
the seven and the Sixers, who will now have Tobias Harris. That,
by the way, the big trade. If you're just waking
up the seventies Sixers have traded for Tobias Harris, what
do the Lakers have to do get past Thursday? Honestly,

(16:14):
I understand what you're saying, but I think things will
calm down once the trade deadline passes. Its stinks right
now for Laker fans, but if you can be patient,
which the patient's got thrown out the window once Lebron
joined the Lakers, right because once that happened, the second
superstar was what everybody wanted. And if it doesn't happen

(16:36):
before Thursday, and we still we're not a pent sure
what's going on behind the scenes between Magic and del Demps,
so who knows what's gonna wind up happening with that?
I think we kind of know. I think that the
Pelicans really really want to see what the Celtics are
gonna lay out in a trade scenario with them, and
also what's gonna happen with the Knicks and where do

(16:56):
they land in the lottery and all that. So, if
the Pelicans seriously want to wait, I don't think the
Pelicans are gonna get what they could have got from
the Lakers if they decide to wait. So then that
gives the other teams the leverage I think. But that's okay.
If the Pelicans want to be stubborn, let it happen. Now, remember, Clay,
you kind of counted out Lebron last season two. You

(17:16):
you thought he wasn't gonna make the playoffs last season. No, no, no, no.
I don't think I ever said they weren't gonna make
the playoffs. I said that they weren't going to make
the NBA finals. They were never I don't have the
schedule in front of me right now, but I don't remember.
I remember a point in the season where you were
questioning whether or not he would even advance past the
first round. Yeah, but that's a big difference making the
playoffs or not. I don't think the Calves were ever

(17:38):
out of playoff contention. My point is Lebron when he
needs to, We've seen how he could put a team
on his back. But obviously there's some stuff going on
in the locker room right now which is really obvious.
And you said it yourself, unlock it in yesterday. Then
it's easy to bet against the Lakers right now because
of the strife. I mean, I would be like, you're

(18:00):
the leader of the show, and if we all found
out that you were trying to get a new staff
and then we still had to come to work the
next day, we wouldn't have harmony. It's human nature. But
once that trade deadline passes, I think it could calm down.
Before Lebron got hurt, the Lakers were in fourth, fourth
spot in the West, so they can have some chemistry.

(18:22):
It's gonna take weeks to get that back. Right now,
after his injury, I think the Lakers are in real trouble.
I think they're gonna lose the next two. I think
they'll fall to twenty seven and twenty nine. That'll mean
that they've got twenty six games left in order to
try to make the playoffs. They could fall into the
eleventh or twelfth place in the Western Conference. I think

(18:42):
this is a big deal. Eddie Garcia, what would you
do at this point this, this is, by the way,
is why let me say this. I think that Anthony
davis Is representation has fundamentally bungled every aspect of his representation,
and I would be asking if Anthony Davis was really
sophisticated and intelligent in terms of his representation. He can't

(19:04):
be represented by the same guy as Lebron James because
Rich Paul's interest in Lebron James is totally different than
what his interest should be for Anthony Davis. Yet it
seems like Rich Paul is doing everything on behalf of

(19:24):
Lebron James as opposed to Anthony Davis. It doesn't make
sense for Anthony Davis, who was only twenty five years old,
to have the Lakers trading away all of his assets
in order for him to get there. He could be
twenty six years old and still be an unrestricted free agent.
He only has to finish out this season, which will

(19:46):
be over in the snap of fingers, especially because it
doesn't seem like the Pelicans are going to make the playoffs,
and then he comes back next year and if he's
not gonna re up with the Pelicans, then they have
to decide to trade him before the NBA trade deadline
next year, or he just plays out his contract. Either way,

(20:08):
he's an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.
It doesn't make sense for him to demand a trade
right now on his future. UH in the NBA. It
makes sense for Lebron James because Lebron is going to
age quickly, But it doesn't make sense at all for

(20:29):
Anthony Davis. He if he wants to join the Lakers,
he should want the Lakers to keep all of this
good young talent and he can join the Lakers and
know that those young players are there and not have
to worry about everything they gave up to get him.
It just doesn't make any sense. I mean, Mike Crazy,
Eddie Garcia for making this argument. I mean, I think
that that Anthony Davis has gotten really bad advice throughout

(20:53):
this process. I think publicly announcing that you're not going
to resign with the Pelicans was dumb. I think trying
to go public with the fact that you want to
be traded was dumb. I don't think that anything that
that Anthony Davis has got from his representation has adequately
in any way advanced his cause. And I hear almost

(21:14):
no one pointing this out and also pointing out the
incredible conflict that his agent has where he's basically working
full throated for Lebron James and that's actually counter to
the interests of Anthony Davis. These two guys aren't in
the same boat. There two different players. I think this
is an example of Anthony Davis being starstruck. I think

(21:37):
he's thinking about Lebron James like he's a kid. Oh,
it's so great that Lebron James wants to trade for me.
He's thinking about what he thought about Lebron James when
he was sixteen years old, instead of thinking about Lebron
James as a sophisticated NBA player at the age of
He can't go all Google eyes over Lebron wanting him.

(21:58):
He needs to be a calculated businessman. And if that's true,
you don't want anybody giving up assets to get you
because it just mortgages the future of the team you're
committing to. Well, you you would hope that, you know,
Anthony Davis, being a young guy, could get better advice.
But as you said, you know, with the agent representing
Lebron as well, Uh, it certainly looks like he's getting

(22:20):
mixed signals. Uh, to say the least. You know, in
the end, the agent is supposed to work for Anthony Davis,
and so Anthony Davis has to ultimately okay this or not.
But yes, it doesn't seem like this is certainly in
his best interests overall. As far as what the Lakers
should do with the situation, it it certainly seems like
New Orleans is going to try their best to take advantage,

(22:40):
you know, of this situation and get you know, I
don't know, like herschel Walker type return from the Lakers.
So even though it's not popular and you think it's
almost counterintuitive to what l A is all about and
wanting star power, you know, and the guys they have
other than Lebron James, there's no real stars in there.
There's some decent players, but they're not stars. You would think,
you know, get Anthony Davis and be damned about everything else.

(23:02):
But it seems everything that I've read that that the
Pelicans want trying to take advantage of the Lakers, that
l A. If they're gonna be smart, they're gonna have
to just not throw everything in the world to the
Pelicans and and try and be patient and see if
they can get Anthony Davis later or maybe pass on
Davison trying to build in the off season. What I
would love to see from a plot twist perspective is

(23:23):
the Lakers trade Lebron James for Anthony Davis. Huge plot
twist moment. I would love Lebron getting shipped for the
remainder of his career to New Orleans UM and Anthony
Davis going out to to l A and Magic Johnson
just like I mean, coming off like I mean. It
would just be an unbelievable plot twist to suddenly have

(23:46):
that story emerged and kind of making fun of the
fact that the Pelicans have asked for everything from the Lakers. Uh,
what if in the end they were like, hey, we
want Lebron and Lebron got traded out of the out
of the process. I think, does Lebron have the ability
to block any trade? Surely he does, yeah, I assuming clause.
I just would love that that element, to see what
Lebron's reaction would be if that if that story got floated. Oh,

(24:08):
the Lakers really want Anthony Davis so much so that
they've actually included Lebron James and trade talks. That would
be uh, that would be Lebron thinks he's a chess
grand master. That would be like getting checkmated um by
by Magic Johnson. Would be pretty outstanding. If he's like,
you know what, he's got injury issues, he's starting to age.
We're gonna ship Lebron to to New Orleans. Um, all right,

(24:28):
we're gonna take some of your Let me bring in
Dub dub. What would you do here? What would you
do if you are the Lakers? I mean, I think
the Lakers have have so painted themselves into a corner
that they have to give the Pelicans whatever the Pelicans
want at this point in time, Which is why I
said last week when this story broke, a lot of
people were like, oh, look at Anthony Davis. This is
such a power move. I said, no, you guys are

(24:50):
completely wrong on this. Uh. The in terms of the
immediate response that was out there as the national narrative,
I was like, this is a huge benefit to the Pelican,
which again to me represents and reflects the fact that
I believe Anthony Davis is getting unsophisticated representation by his
agent and not being led in a very intelligent fashion. Yeah,

(25:12):
the Lakers have kind of dugged themselves a little hole here,
and but I kind of agree with Danny G. Just
get through Thursday. This team needs the All Star Break
more than any regroup. Like Danny G said, they were
fourth in the West before Lebron's injury. If they're still
struggling a week or two after All Star Break, then
it's time, you know, maybe push the panic button a
little bit. But until then, I'm I'm betting on Lebron

(25:33):
so that that's what I wanted to do. What though,
I mean, he's gonna make the playoffs in my opinion.
I mean, but I don't know. If you make the
playoffs as an eight seed and get swept, is that
really like matter? Well, no Ah doesn't. But I'm thinking
they could maybe get to a five or six seed
if if they can come together and and get back
playing the kind of basketball they were playing prior to
Lebron's injury. I understand that argument, but if you just
look at the standings right now, they are a long

(25:56):
way from being a five or six seed. I mean,
and you just do the math there, go in to lose,
I believe, I mean, it would be a big upset
if they beat either the Celtics or the seventies sixers
on the road in the next two games. So if
you assume that they're gonna lose those two games, which
I think is fair, they would then fall to twenty
seven and twenty nine. That might drop them all the
way to potentially the third Let's see what right now,

(26:20):
they're the ten seed. Uh, then there's obviously only eight
teams to make the playoffs. They could they could fall
all the way to twelve by the time the All
Star breaks here. Could happen, might not, but could happen,
And then in order to make like catch Houston, they'd
be like eight games back potentially of Houston to be
able to get back to that four or five line,

(26:41):
and they'd only have twenty five games left to play.
That's almost impossible. I mean, we're talking about best case
scenario them getting into the seven or eight seed line
probably and not even that being necessary. Now, maybe you
could give the Denver Nuggets a run, but I think
everybody out there right now would say the Golden State
Warriors would probably sweep the Lakers in the playoffs. Maybe

(27:04):
the Lakers win one game in that series and boom,
Lebron is done, and he's done really early, and that's
assuming he even makes the playoffs. We're trending towards this
being a disastrous decision by Lebron James to go join
the Lakers. Let me take some of your calls. Jim
in North Carolina. What's up, hey, Clay. I love your show,
appreciate that. Yeah, I just say, from from from the

(27:28):
Lakers standpoint, this thing going public with Antony Davis is
probably going to create a more of a disaster because
now now everyone knows, so New Orleans is gonna try
to get as much as they can. I don't think
it's gonna happen. And then as far as like the schedule,
I don't see him making the playoffs. Yeah, schedules too
tight and uh, you know, they just they don't have

(27:51):
any cohesiveness as a team. It's a it's a five
on five game, not just a one on one. So
I think my answer off the year, Yeah, I mean one.
I mean you have to question how healthy is Lebron
because this whole situation was strange about him coming back
to play against the Clippers and then he needs personal
day and he's more recovery time so he doesn't play
against the Warriors. That was strange. You sit out a month,

(28:12):
you come back for one game, and then you sit
out another game, and now he's on the road, gets
dominated the worst beating of Lebron James's career. The Pacers
put on the Lakers last night, and obviously, remember that's
the Pacers without Victor Oladipo. It's not like we're talking
about a stacked Pakeer Pacers team. You know, the the
Celtics are gonna be out for blood on Thursday. You

(28:33):
know also that the seventies sixers now with Tobias Harris.
That's the big news if you're waking up, the seventies
Sixers have traded for Tobias Harris. If that happens, you've
got a lot of different moving parts here that are
gonna be pretty fascinating to see. I mean. And it was, uh,
the second night of a back to back last night

(28:54):
for the Pacers as well, so it's not like the
Pacers had, you know, four days to get ready for
the Lakers coming to town, and we're incredibly rested. They
won by forty two on the second night of a
back to back without Victor Oladipo, Paul and Fargo. What's up. Paul, Hey, Claia,
thanks for the call. I hope you're having a good week.
I've been a Laker fan since the Magic Johnson days,

(29:16):
although I'm not a big fan of Lebron for many
of the reasons that you have discussed on your show,
so I'm kind of torn on whether or not to
root for the Lakers these days. I totally agree with
you that the Lakers are in trouble. I don't understand
the desire to give up so much for Anthony Davis.
I mean, history has shown that for teams to win
a championship, or at least to compete for a title,

(29:37):
they need three elite players. The Garnett Ray Allen Paul
Pierce Celtics teams, the Lebron d Wade Rush Miami teams,
and of course the Steph kdi Play Thompson Golden State teams,
who I would argue have a fourth elite player in Draymond.
I mean, I just think that having just the two
elite players Lebron and Anthony Davis, and then having basically
no one else isn't going to come close to being

(29:59):
able to compete a title this year or even in
the years that follows. So thanks for a good day. Yeah,
I'm wondering what the Clippers creating all that space. Nobody's
really talking about the Clippers, and obviously their brand A
long range is nowhere near what the Lakers is. But
if you're a sophisticated NBA player, wouldn't you and you

(30:19):
desperately want to go to l A. Let's say you're
Kauai Leonard, wouldn't you rather be on a team that
doesn't have Lebron James's massive contract down the stretch? I
think you have to play on history, lean on history,
as opposed to leaning on Lebron's history. And history shows

(30:40):
us when guys get to be thirty six, thirty seven
years old, their play declines precipitously, and that's even without
having been in the league since eighteen years old. Look
at what happened to Kobe, major injury, shell of his
former self and he rides off into the sunset. That's
gonna happen for Lebron too. It definitely is Josh and Greenville.

(31:05):
What's up, Josh? Hey Clay, I'm just wondering why they
even want to trade for Anthony Davis. What makes Lebron
think that he's gonna gel that well playing with Anthony
when typically he does well with the shooters. I mean,
Anthony's another big man. Yeah, he's a great player, but
I don't see him selling well. Lebron needs shooters, not
someone else who can take it inside. Yeah, I agree.

(31:26):
I think the number one player right now in the
in my opinion, in the NBA, who's going to be
a free agent. I believe next year, right that would
make a lot of sense. Let's leave Kevin Durant out.
Who's the second best player in the NBA. Clay Thompson
would be the perfect player for Lebron. James. Agree with
you a thousand percent on that. Just the lines up outside.
There's that great video of Clay Thompson scoring forty plus

(31:49):
points and he dribbled the ball like four times or whatever.
Spot up shooter, get wide open looks all day long,
doesn't have to create. That's the kind of guy who
typically would make the most sense for Lebron. James. I
don't necessarily know why Anthony Davis's game fits well with
what Lebron's trying to do. Eddie Garcia, what you got

(32:09):
for me? I got a guy Co scoreboard for you.
But the first NBA news and the trade deadline comes
up Thursday. Tuesday night, we had the l A Clippers
agreeing to send Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovitch, and Mike Scott
to the Philadelphia seventy Sixers for Landry Schimidt, Wilson, Chandler,
Mike was Scala, two first round picks and two sego
round picks. On the court, we had the Raptors beating

(32:30):
the seventy sixer Is one nine, one oh seven, Kawhile
Leonards twenty four points for Toronto, Kyle Lowry and Surgebaka
also ship begin with twenty points a piece. Celt Oktoba
the Cavaliers one oh three to ninety six, the Thunder
top Magic onety one twenty two, Paul George thirty night points,
Russell westbrook Is seventh straight triple double, sixteen points, fifteen rebound,
sixteen assists for o k See Pacers pound the Lakers

(32:50):
one thirty six to ninety four. That forty two point
lost the worst ever for a Lebron James team, and
the Clippers beat the Hornets one seventeen one fifteen in
his final game as a Clipper, Tobias Harris, who was
traded at the seventy sixers, thirty four points to lead
the Clippers to the victory. College basketball number one ranked
Tennessee now one and one on the ear, beating Missouri
se balls one seventeen in a row. Also wins for

(33:13):
number two Duke, number five Kentucky, number seven Michigan, and
eight ranked North Carolina. The support brought to you by
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We're back to out Kicked the coverage in ten seconds,
But first a word from farmers. From a dog accidentally
flooding a living room to a dog taking a joy ride,

(33:35):
we've covered it. Talk to farmers. We know a thing
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and affiliates products unavailable in every state. Now back to click.
Travis in the Geico Outkicked the Coverage Studios we'll be
back here final segment of our one. We're gonna be
joined by my guy, Barton Simmons at the top of

(33:56):
our To a lot of you not aware, it is
National Signing Day two. All of the college football signing
day classes will come together about the best players still
out there. We will discuss that with him at the
top of our two and will continue to unpack the
Anthony Davis discussion, as well as the news of Tobias
Harris to the seventy sixers. This is OutKick the coverage

(34:18):
on Fox Sports Radio. Welcome back, I go Outkicks studios.
If you're just waking up major news. Tobias Harris has
been traded. UH that story breaking late night or early
in the morning, depending on how you want to classify
it and what time zone you are in. Tobias Hairs
being shipped to the Philadelphia seventies sixers. Now they have

(34:40):
four big time stars on the seventies sixers. They're making
a move in the Eastern Conference, trying to keep up
with Let's be honest, I mean, there's basically think it's
fair to say four teams that you would think have
a decent chance to win the Eastern Conference, The Celtics,
even though they've been a little bit wobbly and we
don't exactly know what's gonna happen with their team chemistry.
The Raptors who have rented Kawhi Leonard trying to persuade

(35:04):
him to stay with them, Raptors maybe making some moves
before the NBA trade deadline as well. And the Milwaukee Bucks,
who I think are still a little bit under the
radar UH with Janice and exactly how good they have
been um in UH in Milwaukee. So those are the
three teams, along with the seventy sixers, that I would
say feel like, hey, once we get to the playoffs,

(35:26):
we could potentially advance all the way to the NBA Finals.
How much of a difference does Tobias Harris make in
the Eastern Conference? Does this propel the seventies sixers in
some way to the top of the potential contenders given
their four man talent that they have right now. They've
already traded for Jimmy Butler as well. Obviously they have.

(35:48):
They have got a lot of talent. They lost. For
those of you who don't remember UH to the Celtics
last year in the second round of the playoffs if
I'm not mistaken. Uh, in the Eastern Conference. Do they
have enough to get past? Now? What do you think?
Danny G? Yeah, well, you're right about the Bucks weighing
low under the radar because they actually have the best
record in the entire NBA right now thirty nine and third,

(36:09):
which I think would surprise a lot of people who
aren't paying much attention to the regular season NBA. So
I don't I don't think the seventy sixers are going
to pass the Bucks at this point, but they could
get all the way up to number three or number
two Tobias Harris. It's interesting because I was listening to
our flagship station in l A A M five seventy
l A Sports yesterday right before the Clippers game started.

(36:30):
I was listening to the pregame and they were having
this long conversation about Tobias Harris and how he's such
a streaky shooter. He'll be super cold one game, then
he'll go off in the next game, and then of
course they ship them off. It's gonna help the Sixers
as far as when he's on fire, but then when
he's cold, he's cold. That's how it is with Tobias Harris. Yeah,

(36:51):
and I don't think they're thinking we're gonna get the
number one seed or anything like that. But I think
they're thinking, hey, they'll be wide open in the Eastern Conference.
As a result of this move. We feel like we
can be as good as anybody else. What about you,
Eddie Garcia, is that where would you slot the Sixers
right now in the wake of this move? You know,
I'm still unsure with the Boston Celtics exactly where where

(37:15):
they're fitting in all this. I know Kyrie Irving is
in and out of a lineup, but I would put
them probably maybe third behy in Toronto and Milwaukee. Yeah,
I think right now, if you're and I know it's
not reflected in the standings right now, but if you
were asking me who do you think is gonna win
the Eastern Conference? I would go with the Celtics because
I think the Celtics with Brad Stevens as their coach.

(37:37):
We saw what they did last year. They almost went
to the Eastern Uh they almost went to one the
Eastern Conference last year, losing in seven games to h
to the Calves, right and in a series that when
they beat the Calves they didn't just beat the Calves,
they oftentimes blew them out right. So I understand that
was a tough shot for the Celtics. I don't I

(38:00):
n necessarily to the Raptors, even though they've traded to
Rosen and they've got a new vibe with Kawhi Leonard.
We talked about this last year. I got burned buying
into the fact that they were worthy of of contemplation
as Eastern Conference champs. By the way, you want to
talk about NBA television partners losing their minds if Lebron

(38:21):
either didn't make the playoffs or lost in the first
round of the Western Conference playoffs, and then you ended
up with the Warriors against the Raptors, so you had
a Canadian team advancing to the NBA Finals. The amount
of money that television networks would lose t n T
and ESPN would be off the charts. That has to

(38:42):
leave television executives staring at the ceiling late at night,
shivering in a cold sweat, because that's potentially out there
as a possibility. Having said that, I think it's gonna
be the Celtics against the Warriors. I don't think this
move by the seventies sixers changes that, But certainly you
could make an argument if you are bullish on the
seventies sixers future, given that they now have four big

(39:05):
time playmakers now that they've added Tobias Harris. When we
come back top of our two second UH college Football
signing Day, we're gonna know all the classes they'll be complete.
We're gonna talk with Barton Simmons seven Sports. Who are
the players? Where are they're going next? On out Kick?
Why for the Geico OutKick studios where fifteen minutes could

(39:27):
save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance? Visit
Geico dot com for a free rate quote. And we're
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(39:47):
offer not available in all areas. If you're just waking up,
appreciate you joining us on a Wednesday morning across this
country and beyond in the world at large. You know
many of you listen all over the world UH to
stay in touch with American sports life. Big move over
late night as many of you wake up, big move

(40:08):
being made by the Clippers. They have traded Tobias Harris
to the Philadelphia seventy Sixers. The seventies Sixers making a
play to try to get to the top of the
Eastern Conference. There are four teams right now, I would
say in the Eastern Conference that you can make an
argument could be the best once the playoffs actually get here.

(40:28):
The Raptors, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Celtics, and now the
seventies Sixers making their move adding Tobias Harris, giving up
some of their future draft picks and whatnot the Clippers.
If you're wondering why the Clippers are making this move,
Clippers right now the number eight overall seed in the
Western Conference. They are clearing out space to make a

(40:51):
run at Kauai Leonard and the other major free agents
that exist in the NBA, hoping potentially that they can
make a move for two major superstar additions to their franchise,
including potentially Anthony Davis. The word the latest word out
of the Laker pursuit of the of the Anthony Davis,

(41:15):
the Star Pelican Ford uh down in New Orleans is
that the Lakers have made their final offer and that
they want to wait for the Pelicans. They are drawing
with drawing from the trade race, they said, it's clearly
a negotiating ploy. We have still over twenty four hours
between now and the trade deadline, and so we wait

(41:35):
to see what might happen. In the meantime, the basketball
is ongoing and the Lakers got drilled the worst loss
of Lebron James's career. Indiana Pacer fans had to love
everything about that game, given the rivalry that has existed
with Lebron James, given the fact that the Pacers took
Lebron to seven games, given the fact that Victor Oladipo

(41:56):
is out for the rest of the year. To beat
Lebron James's team by forty two points, to leave Lebron
sitting by himself on the end of the bench had
to be sweet, sweet redemption on some level for Pacer
fans out there who have watched Lebron yank out there
still beating hearts time after time over the past several years. Now.

(42:17):
It is also in addition to NBA trade deadline continuing
to get closer and closer, and by the way, tomorrow.
We'll start off in our one with Chris Mannox, who
was going to be up early covering all of this
uh and and craziness and zantinus and wildness as we
come down the home stretch of that deal. In addition
to that, it is also this used to be a

(42:39):
huge day. Used to be that National Signing Day was
this day in February and it was impossible to miss,
and everybody was obsessed with it and it was a
huge story. Now you have an early signing period where
many of the top college football athletes, players talented talented
recruits are signing. Now you have more than one. This

(43:01):
is the culmination of signing day, the traditional usual signing day,
the late signing day, about twenty some odd percent of
the best players are still out there could still be
impactful in terms of what your college is recruiting class
might look like. Would you bring in Barton Simmons, the
national recruiting analysts for seven Sports. Barton, who's out there

(43:24):
and what is the big storyline in your mind as
we come to the conclusion of the signing day process today? Uh,
you know, I think one of the storylines is, I mean,
Alabama is going to have the number one class in
the country. UM, it's it's just a race against history
at this point. For Alabama, it's it's how good is
this class going to be? Historically speaking? Um, there is

(43:48):
a scenario which this could be Nick Saban's highest rated
class of all time. Uh. One year after he brought
in the you know, the first time in eight years
he wasn't number one. He kind of came back with
a vengeance. And so Alabama, even though they're sitting number one,
that there's there's still a lot of action that we

(44:08):
could see from the tide today which would which would
really kind of make a final exclamation point on this class. Um.
There's I think a couple of teams that could make
some moves nationally. Um. Auburn has a lot of a
lot of meat on the bone left. They're sitting outside
the top ten now, but could get up near the
top five with the right kind of finish. UM. I

(44:31):
think you know, Washington is a program that is you know,
has three or four pretty high level prospects that they're
trying to land and could could could jump up near
the top ten. With sitting at the seventeenth in the
country right now. UM. And then you know, just a
couple of the bigger names. Ishmael SOPs Are is a
big defensive tackle out of Louisiana that Alabama and LSU

(44:53):
are battling for. UM. That's always sort of your You've
got your Alabama versus l s U Louisiana kid battle
every year and this is the one as a Shamill
stops for this year. UM. And then you know Tennessee, Uh,
the Darnell right Is is expected to land at Tennessee.
He's the highest rated uncommitted player heading end of the day. Uh,
Tennessee's hoping the land of the five star offensive tackle

(45:15):
to really kind of submit that offensive line moving forward.
But there there's there's a lot of guys out there,
Clay that um that we're following and potential flips and um.
You know, there's a lot fewer prospects out there relative
to what we're used to before the national the early
signing day. But the guys that are remaining that there
there's a lot of drama circulating. Why would most of

(45:36):
these guys wait, why not have signed early? What's the
kind of consensus. I know everybody's story is a little
bit different, but why would guys wait and sign in
February as opposed to in December. Well, I mean, look,
my argument would be, why would you sign in December?
I mean, if if you are the guys that signed
in December are one of two people. They're either someone

(45:58):
that just no was where they want to be. Um,
They're they're they're they're they're happy with their spot. They
want to lock it down and and and finish the
deal and and not have to worry about it anymore.
And that's a lot of guys, and that's you know,
that's perfectly understandable and expected. Um. Then the other guy
is someone that doesn't know if they're gonna have the

(46:20):
opportunities available in the second signing period if they if
they wait, you know, they may be committed to any
level of program, whether it's a group of five school
or sort of a tier two power five school, and
they just don't want to risk the opportunity of losing
the spot, and they're just gonna say, yeah, I'll take it. Sure,
this sounds good to me. Let's lock it up. But

(46:40):
there's also the guys that a pretty much every school
is gonna make room for. They're gonna have room for
because they're so good, they're so highly regarded, and so
those guys kind of have the leverage to wait until
the second signing period because hey, maybe they change their mind.
Maybe they look and see what, you know, what's happened
in the coordinator carousel. Maybe an assistant coach leaves that
was really their their primary want to contact, and they

(47:01):
want to let the dust settle. UM. Or you know,
there's the guys that are committed to those group of
five programs or or Tier two power fives, and maybe
they want to roll the dice and say, look, I
think I'm better than this. UM. When I get to
the second signing period and schools are are filling out
their board and they miss on somebody that was higher

(47:22):
up than me, they may look down and find me
sitting there and and I might have a better opportunity
waiting for me. So I think kids, you know, can
can kind of gamble and find themselves really highly recruited
in the second session. UM that wouldn't otherwise be so
h there's a there's a couple of different scenarios and
make a lot of sense to wait, Um, you did

(47:42):
just hit on it. The other thing is, with all
the coaching movement. That's got to be really frustrating, right,
because when you're signing in December, your assistant coaches but
also your head coaches, there can still be a lot
of movement. And that's got to suck, right to be
a guy who spent all this time getting to know
your position coach, or getting to know your co ordinator,
or getting to know your head coach, and then suddenly

(48:03):
the rug gets pulled out from underneath you and you're
playing for somebody you don't even know. Yeah, the guys
that are are losing an assistant coach, you feel for them.
The guys are losing sort of their primary recruiter, you
feel for them. But at the same time, that's sort
of that's sort of the business. You know, you just
you have to when you when you commit to a program,
you just sort of have to expect that, you know,

(48:25):
an assistant coach, a position coach is going to be
gone by the time you're done with your career at
that program. But when we're talking about these guys that
are ultimately trying to play professional football and and have
realistic goals and aspirations to play professional football, you know,
we can all roll our eyes about pick the school
and not the coach, and you gotta be happy with

(48:45):
the school and you're going to college, you know, all
that sort of nonsense talk. Look, these guys are ultimately
trying to put themselves in the best position to to
to be successful on the football field. And and and
the guys we're talking about want to play in the NFL.
And if you're losing a head coach before you know,
before you even enroll, if you're losing a coordinator before

(49:07):
you even enroll, then then that the picture totally changes
with the school that you just signed on with or
just just recently committed to. And so I think that
that's a that's a pretty tough pill to swallow for
prospects that signing that early signing period. And we saw
several of it, you know, of the of the moves
happened this year where head coaches are changing and you're

(49:27):
signing with one head coach and getting a different one
two weeks later, and not to mention the all the
coordinator changes and assistant coach changes. So I think that's
a problem with the early signing period because it doesn't
really give the student athletes much much leverage. It doesn't
really give the student athletes. They're sort of at the

(49:48):
at the mercy of of the college coaching carousel, because
like I said earlier, I mean those guys ultimately are
gonna be told in that December signing period for the
most part, hey buddy, you can sign now or you
can eight. But if you wait, we're not gonna consider
you committed. We're gonna go and try to find someone
to fill your spot. So what do most guys do?
They sign and then they lose their coaches in a
lot of cases. So it's it's not a great situation.

(50:10):
It's not a perfect system at all. I love looking
at the composite ranking of seven sports and we're talking
to Barton Simmons national recruiting analysts there um and for
people who don't know, here's the top ten. I'm just
gonna run through them really quick because it's kind of
like a refresher course for people who forgot after the
December signing day. Obama's one Georgia is to go figure

(50:32):
Texas three, A and M, four, Oklahoma five, l s
U six, Oregon seven, Michigan eight and nine is Clemson.
Ten is Penn State. Now you talked about a couple
of teams that could make a move, and I'll get
back to that in a second. But first, Alabama right now,
according to the seven composite rankings you said, they have

(50:53):
a chance to put together the greatest recruiting class maybe
we've ever seen before. Right now they have twenty four
four star players, three five star players. Those are mind
boggling numbers. How many more could they add? I don't
know where they find the numbers to do this and
to clarify, this could be the highest rated recruiting class

(51:14):
of Nick Stapen Florida. Class is our is our number
one graded recruiting class at all time. Um, this is
this is potentially the number two rated recruiting class of
all time. With a perfect finish today, likely Alabama finishes
the top five all time. Um, but this is for

(51:34):
Nick Staben. Um. You talk about those numbers, the five
stars and the four star numbers, this is one of
the deepest classes I've ever seen from Nick Saban in
terms of just there's that there's every kid in it
is an elite four star level guy and so uh,
it's just it's kind of mind boggling what he's done
and especially considering all the coaching turnover that he's had.

(51:57):
I mean, they just they really attacked UM this twenty
nineteen cycle and Nick Saban sort of proven even as
everyone else starts to cycle up, as all these other
really talented young head coaches with the recruiting background start
to take over programs, Um, Nick Saban sort of showing
off that this is still this is still still how
you get it done, guys. I'm still the leader of

(52:19):
the pack here. And so it's it's it's a pretty
special class for Alabama. For people out there. Now, there's
always these people, and I'm sure you get them on
social media all the time, and it makes you just
want to, like, you know, ram your head into the
steering wheel, probably over and over again. Um. They say, oh,
it doesn't matter about the four and five stars that
you sign. There's lots of two and three star guys too.

(52:41):
This is your opportunity to tell these people why they're idiots. Yeah.
I think the the important point is that there's over
four thousands uh FBS signees. There's there's another four thousand
plus FCS signees that doesn't need and mentioned D two,
D three, JUCO or guys that show up and and

(53:05):
on a campus that maybe played another sport, and and
and walk on and make it to the NFL. And
so when you look at the minute number of four
and five star players relative to the massive number of
high school football players that or just the population of
of of athletes in general, um, it is the the

(53:28):
the likelihood that a four and five star hits uh
is is astronomically different than the likelihood of a two
and three star hitting. I mean, we, yes, two and
three stars hit all the time, and and we do
not sentence these guys to four or five star careers,
two or three star careers. Um, we project and guys.

(53:51):
Guys make us look good and they make us look
bad all the time on both sides of the table.
But the reality is, and there's no debating it, the
numbers air this out. A four or a five star
prospect is significantly more likely to play in the NFL
than a two or a three star prospect. And yes,

(54:13):
there will be really good football teams with a lot
of two and three star prospects, But if you look
over time, I'm gonna take my chances with a bunch
of four and five star guys versus your two and
three star guys. And you look at the national champions
every year, Alabama, Clemson, Uh, these are the teams that
are rolling out the freaks. You can have really good

(54:33):
seasons with a bunch of mid level players, but to
win a national championship, you really do have to have
the freaks. And I think year and year out we've
seen that bear out in the playoffs. You hit on
the numbers, and I do think that's a big deal
for people out there who may not be very familiar
with the recruiting game. In general, there are thousands of
two and three star athletes out there, right, thousands and
thousands of them. That is the vast majority of signees.

(54:58):
The five stars are just like a pen rick. I
don't know how many you've got this year, but usually
it's around thirty right somewhere in that neighborhood. How many
do you guys? We have thirty two seven sports. We
have thirty two every year to mirror the NFL Draft
because we're staying with our five star rankings. These are
the thirty two players in this class most likely to

(55:19):
be draft in the first rounds of the NFL Draft,
and um and and the hit rate on those guys,
is is significantly higher um than than the chances of
a three, two or even a four star playing in
the NFL. And that kind of puts it in perspective.
All Right, you hit on this a little bit, but

(55:39):
as we let you out and let you go here
because I know it's gonna be a wild day for you.
Who are the guys that you think people should pay
attention to? You said you only have thirty two five stars?
How many five stars are going to sign today? And
where do you think those guys might go? There's only
one five star that's signing today. That's darnel right um
out of it. That that's I think is it's likely

(56:01):
heading to uh Tennessee. Would you be would you be
stunned if he didn't go to Tennessee because he's been
kind of a Tennessee lean for a long time. I'd
be I would be stunned if he didn't end up
at Tennessee. Uh. West Virginia has tried to make a run,
um but and he's a West Virginia native. But I
would be surprised if he's not at Tennessee. The other

(56:22):
five star actually is a kid named jerryan Eely, who's
a running back who's probably going to get drafted in
the first round of the Major League Baseball draft this spring,
probably gonna pull a Kyler Murray and get drafted, play
in the major in the major leagues, but play a
season of college football first. Uh. It looks like Old
miss is trending to beat out Alabama, Clemson, and Mississippi

(56:44):
State for Jerry an Eely. So that's the other five
star level guy to keep an eye on, um. And
then there there's a couple others. Henry tot to Oh
who is a linebacker in northern California, Alabama, Washington the
main ones there. And then how You're Elam is another
really talented corner out of Florida that's battling between Florida

(57:06):
and Georgia. So um, those are kind of the names
to to keep an eye on today and even this morning.
Chris Bogel, who's a commit to Alabama. He's we're about
an hour away from him making his decision. Miami and
Florida trying to flip them have a good shot. He's
a Florida native and edge rusher. So Alabama even admit

(57:26):
a lot of good news is probably coming their way.
They're trying to trying to to to avoid some bad
news earlier in the day as well. I know I
said last question, but I am curious on this, and
I think I've asked you this before, But how often
are you surprised by where a guy goes? Because we
hear all the time on signing day, Oh, he's doing
the hat ceremony, always gonna stand up and pick his
destination point. How often does it happen to you, given

(57:47):
how much time you spend on this where you're like, wow,
I had no idea that guy was going to go there. Yeah.
And and not just sime I spend on it, but
just seven. We have this sort of vast network of
of resources and reporters and if I don't know, someone
on our network probably knows or knows someone that knows,
And so very rarely do we not kind of know
where these guys are going by the time they announce.

(58:09):
There's probably one or two every signing day that really
surprised us that that do a really good job of
keeping things under wrapped. Um. But but for the most part,
and if you follow seven Sports, you look at our
prof square profiles. We have a tool called the crystal ball,
where experts make predictions on where these guys go. Uh
that crystal ball is usually pretty on point. Um. And

(58:29):
so by the time the announcement comes, we don't have
a lot of surprises. So we'll keep an eye out
today and and and see if anybody catches us slipping.
I know I said last question, but I do have
one more question. You covered Kyler Murray for a long
time and you've seen what he's become. Heisman Trophy winner
leads Oklahoma into the playoffs. Would you draft him as

(58:50):
the first quarterback in the NFL based on what you
have seen or is his size too much of a
concern for you. I don't think his size is too
much of a concern. My only thing with Kyler Murray
is I don't know that he's the same sort of
transformative leader that like a Baker Mayfield is. And so

(59:11):
I think there's some intangibles there that I think Kyler
Murray isn't a phenomenal competitor. Um, you know, and I
think he is a winner, and I think he and
he's one of the best high school football players I've
ever seen in my career. Um, And the size doesn't
worry me. I think the talent is there. Um, I
think he's a guy that is is still maturing, and

(59:34):
so that's my only hesitation with him. If you're going
to sort of pick a franchise quarterback in the first round, um,
you know, I need to dig a little bit on
that and and and make sure he's sort of the
leader that I want. But I think that's coming. I
think that he'll get there. And so I like him
better than the other quarterbacks in this draft, I'll say
that much. I I think he got a better chance

(59:56):
to winning with him than most of the guys available
in this draft. Yeah, we talked about that. We played
the Dan Patrick interview. He just seemed a little bit immature, right,
I mean, he didn't seem like the kind of guy
where this is your franchise guy. And I think that
maybe made people take pause when they listen to that interview.
He did. Barton, I know it's gonna be a wild
day for you. Thanks for getting up early with us
here and enjoy this recruiting class, getting the boat put

(01:00:17):
on the present, so to speak. Appreciate it, my man. Alright,
that's Barton Simmons. Go follow him on Twitter. It is
national Signing Day completion Part two. When we return, we'll
dive back into these NBA stories. Also, maybe should we
do the anonymous mailbag? I think we probably will, but
maybe I've run over it. Maybe we need to do
that tomorrow. Anyway, well, I'll make decisions during the break.
This is out kicked the coverage on Fox Sports Radio.

(01:00:39):
And let me tell you right now, it is getting
close to Valentine's Day. In fact, guys, don't blow this.
We are right now eight days from Valentine's Day. Valentine's
is February four, team, for you knuckle heads out there
that have already forgotten the date, and I believe I
am correct that that is next Thursday, next Thursday. Instead

(01:01:01):
of ending up in a panic when you're in bed
on Wednesday night and you suddenly come wide awake and think,
oh my god, it's February tomorrow is Valentine's Day, why
don't you make the smart decision and go ahead and
get hooked up right now. And I've told you this,
and I continue to tell you this. Every woman who
says she doesn't want roses is lying. Every single one

(01:01:25):
of them. May be like, well, my girlfriend said she
she's lying to you. There's a test. You're either gonna
pass or you're gonna fail. There's never been a woman
in the history of recorded women. It's going all the
way back to women starting to exist. Back in caveman days.
Women liked roses. They still do. They like flowers. Make
the smart decision, don't blow it. Make sure you're hooked

(01:01:48):
up on Valentine's Day. Right now. You can get one
dozen red roses with a free glass vase for just
two She's gonna think you spent more, but you can
get it for plus shipping and handling. Go to pro
flowers dot com today. That's pro flowers dot com Today.
Click the microphone in the upper right corner. Enter the

(01:02:11):
code Clay Travis. That's my name c l A Y
t R a v I S. To choose the perfect
roses at the perfect price. That's pro flowers dot com.
Click the microphone and enter the code Clay Travis. Order
today at pro flowers dot com and avoid looking like
an idiot on Valentine's Day when you don't have roses

(01:02:34):
for your woman. Get hooked up today pro flowers dot com.
Be sure to catch live editions about kick the coverage
with Clay Travis weekdays at six am Eastern three am Pacific,
Back Geico, Alt Kick Studios. Car shopping and be confusing
with terms like dealer price, a list price, and voice.
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(01:02:55):
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when you're ready to buy a new or used car.
Visit True Card to enjoy a more confident car buying experience.
We go ahead and bring up Eddie Garcia. Let's find
out what's shaken the world of sports. Let's start with
NBA news. We have the trade deadline coming up on Thursday,
and we had a deal late Tuesday night with the
Clippers agreeing to trade Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovitch, and Mike

(01:03:18):
Scott to the seventy six Series for Landry Cement, Wilson, Chandler,
Mike Muscallet, two first round picks and two second round
picks on the court. Both the seventy six Series and
Clippers were in action, Philadelphia losing at home to the
Raptors one nineteen to one oh seven Kwalet Leonard twenty
four points lead Toronto and the Clippers one in Charlotte.
Over the Hornets one seventeen to one fifteen. Tobias Harris,

(01:03:39):
in his final game for l A, led the way
with thirty four points. Celtics meat the Cavaliers one oh
three to ninety six thunder top the Magic one twenty
two Paul George thirty nine points and Russell Westbrook another
triple double sixteen points, fifteen rebound, sixteen assists for Oklahoma
City for westbrookie seventh straight triple double. Pacers pound the
Lakers one thirty six to ninety four. Forty two point

(01:03:59):
loss is the worst ever boy Lebron James team college
basketball Number one Tennessee peat Missouri Volunteers one on one.
They've won seventeen in a row. Wins were number two Duke,
number five Kentucky, number seven Michigan, and number eight North Carolina,
while ninth rank Michigan State and number ten Marquette both loss.
This report brought to you my True Car online car shop.

(01:04:20):
We can be confusing without any more. With True Price
from True Car, now you can know the exact price
you'll pay for your next car. So visit True Car
and enjoying more confident car buying experience. We'll be back
to OutKick the coverage in ten seconds. But first a
word from farmers. From a dog accidentally flooding a living
room to a dog taking a joy ride, we've covered it.
Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because
we've seen a thing or two. We are farmers under

(01:04:43):
written my Farmers truck fire insurance exchanges and affiliates products
not available in every state. Now back to clet Travis
and the Geico Outkicked the Coverage Studios. We are add
here in the Geico out Kick the Coverage Studios. If
you're just waking up, you just heard the news breaking
about the trade that happened overnight or early this morning,
depending on how you want to classify it. Tobias Harris

(01:05:03):
has been officially moved. The drama now all with the
Lakers and the Lake Show. Losing by forty two points
last night, I thought you guys wanna bring up the crew.
Here the picture of Lebron sitting by himself. I tweeted
it out. I would imagine everybody else has seen it.
The Lakers go on the road Thursday against the Celtics,
then they play Saturday against the Sixers. I think they're

(01:05:25):
likely to lose both those games and fall two games
under five hundred. Then they've got one more against the Hawks,
which in theory, they should be able to win. Then
it's the All Star Break. Is there anybody else other
than me who thinks the Lakers are going to struggle
to make the playoffs regardless of what happens before the
trade deadline. No, and I'm not just being a homer.

(01:05:45):
I said this before the season started. I think that
the Lakers will squeak into the playoffs and dreaming I
wanted them to be like a fourth or fifth seed.
That's not gonna happen. But I do think that they
can get that eighth spot, especially with the Clippers dealing
a way. They're big man and one of their best shooters. Yeah,
the Clippers right now are the eight seeds, so the
Clippers are trying to clear up space. Now. It would

(01:06:06):
be a real I was making a joke about if
the Lakers suddenly traded Lebron for Anthony Davis, but it
would be kind of a spoiler alert or a or
a record scratch moment. I guess I should say if
suddenly the Clippers made the move and ended up with
Anthony Davis because they're certainly is going to be the movie.
The potential there that the Clippers could end up with

(01:06:28):
somebody like Kauai and Anthony Davis together, which would make
the Lakers job that much more difficult. Um, what about you, Eddie,
you're out in l A. Would you be stunned if
the Lakers don't make the playoffs? I wouldn't be stunned,
But I do agree with Danny that the Clippers have
pulled the plug on their season trading away their best player.

(01:06:48):
Uh now, maybe that'll set them up later with all
the picks they've acquired, and we'll see if they make
a trade. But I would say, as it stands right now,
the Clippers are not going to make the playoffs, and
I think the Lakers are better than the Sacramento Kings.
I think the Lakers will squeak in what is the Actually,
somebody looked this up for me. The time the exact
time of the NBA trade deadline is at four o'clock
Eastern on on Thursday, because I know it's Thursday, but

(01:07:11):
I'm curious what exact time it is on Thursday, because
I know on Friday will probably be reacting to whatever
happened on Thursday, but I think if I'm not mistaken,
it's like four o'clock Eastern, so that would mean whatever
the math is now, there's about thirty thirty six hours.
It's three pm Eastern. Three pm Eastern is the official
trade deadline on Thursday. So let's say three pm Eastern arrives.

(01:07:34):
And by the way, if you're not on Twitter, that
is what Twitter has made for right the NBA trade deadline,
NFL start a free agency, everything else. That's where the
news breaks like crazy. So let's presume that it is
three oh one Eastern and the Lakers have been unable
to make any moves. What is Lebron gonna be like

(01:07:55):
with the with the team that has left behind? Is
he gonna be like? Is he gonna why is he
gonna be? Like? You know what I decided. I told
the management that we couldn't make any moves because you
guys are too good and I thought you were better
than Anthony Davis. Like, does he call a team meeting?
Because right now it seems clear that Lebron is the
only guy who feels confident that he is going to

(01:08:18):
be on the team Friday. Right if you saw the
way the Lakers played last night against the Pacers. That
is the overriding impact right now. I don't think it's
gonna be a good performance on Saturday against the Celtics,
but at least then those guys will know, hey, we
get to finish out the rest of this season before
anything happens. And I do think like it sucks to
get traded, probably if you're a young guy, period, But

(01:08:41):
getting traded at the end of a season is nowhere
near the same as getting traded in the midpoint of
a season, where suddenly you're you know, and on an
airplane moving to a strange city. That's pretty overwhelming even
for a veteran, but for a younger guy who may
not have even lived in that many different cities in
his life. For instance, Flonzo Wanzo Ball hasn't been anywhere
other than l A. If he suddenly got shipped to

(01:09:03):
New Orleans, he'd be like a fish out of water. Now,
his brothers have been to Lithuania or whoever the heck
it was was that Lithuania. I can't even remember where
they went and played pro basketball for for a little
bit of time. But does Lebron call a team meeting
and be like, hey, guys. I decided not to trade anybody.
He's got a lie, right, because those guys would still
know they weren't the preferred choices. I would love to

(01:09:25):
know what Lebron does. If it's three oh one Eastern.
Nothing has taken place, nothing has happened. He's stuck with
basically the same squad he already had, and then he's
got a losing record, and he's got to convince these
guys that they can make the playoffs and get drilled
by the Warriors. Love to see how that would happen.
All right, when we come back, we have got two
unbelievably awesome Animal Thunderdome stories we haven't done. Have we

(01:09:47):
done the Thunderdome this week? I don't think we've done
the Animal Thunderdome yet. This week We've got two amazing
stories for you. You're not gonna want to miss these.
That's next. This is out the coverage on Fox Sports Radio,
Great Pool by Roberto he Welcome back to Geico Alt
Kick Studios. Men. M drive is the supplement I use
every day. You should consider it too if you want

(01:10:07):
to feel stronger, have more energy and drive. Now is
the time to start taking M drive to learn more.
To learn more, visit m drive four men dot com
today refined your prime with M drive. This is about
to be a prime example of how good the Animal
Thunderdome can be. Cute music, boys, ladies and gentlemen. I'm

(01:10:35):
just glad. I was scared, boys and good. I thought
he thought I was like this enormous piece of chicken
diume times here I space. This is Animal Thunderdome. This
is an amazing opening paragraph to an animal Thunderdome story.

(01:10:56):
A man whose body was discovered partially eaten by a
bear in the Great Smoky Mountains last year died of
a meth overdose before the bear got to him, according
to an autopsy released on Monday. The remains of William
Lee Hill, he was thirty, were discovered in the National
Park in September when officials encountered a bear feeding on

(01:11:19):
the body in an area off a trail. Without knowing
the exact cause of death, park officials and wildlife professionals
decided to euthanize the bear a few days later for
public safety reasons, but on Monday they discovered that the
man actually died of a meth overdose. UH and the

(01:11:40):
thirty year old had gone to the park with his friend,
who illegally removed gensing, but the pair became separated and
the other guy dies as a result of a meth overdose.
The bear was killed, and the park says attacks on
humans are rare. Bears or wild animals, So they're about

(01:12:01):
fifteen hundred bears in the Great Smoky Mountains which exist
along the Tennessee North Carolina border. So for a little while,
a couple of things about this for a little while,
do you think the meth translated to the bear? And
if so, how wild was that bear when he had
when he was a meth bear? I mean, just running

(01:12:21):
like crazy through the woods, all hopped up on meth
thinking he could destroy the world. That had to be
the most dangerous bear ever in the history of mankind. Second,
the bear just gets killed for just eating a random
guy who died and was, you know, just off the trail,
like like left behind. So I think this is a

(01:12:44):
tough break for the bear. He didn't even do anything
and he still got killed. But can you imagine a
meth bear like a bear all hopped up on meth,
And how much of an apex predator that bear would
have been. I'm no scientist, we only play those on
the radio here. But because of the way certain drugs
metabolize and all that, I'm wondering if, second hand, can

(01:13:07):
that bear actually have any effects of the meth in
the bear system? My assumption is yes, because it's much
more entertaining to think about it bear. I just love
the idea of the bear all meth up, like just
knocking things over, running through trees, like just step into
other bears, um until it ends up getting shot. But
what does meth exactly due to people? Do? You know?

(01:13:29):
I don't know much. I've never done it, but I
think it makes you basically feel like you're indestructive, you know,
like un just indestructible, right, like it's who's the math
expert on here, dub um. I think it makes you
feel like you're completely like like I mean you would
be like I think, like you're a superhero, right. I

(01:13:50):
think I think that's LSD, isn't it. I mean maybe
it's a mellow or version of I'm gonna google it.
What does meth make you feel? Like? Yeah, don't use
drugs kids, uh and because if you do, you might
get eaten by a bear, right, I mean, I don't
know how. Also tough, tough life to be out digging
for jensing in the in the national park, which is illegal,

(01:14:11):
and then decide you gotta do meth and then overdose
and then get eaten by a bear. It says euphoria.
The effect that math users are looking for is a
kind of intense pleasure called euphoria. Yeah. So, I mean
I think the bear would just be euphoric, you know,
just running around like, you know, convinced he's the greatest
bear that's ever lived. I don't think you want to
step to that. Um all right. Uh. We also have

(01:14:34):
Oh man, this is an unbelievable story Colorado. Yeah, this
was tweeted to us hundreds of times. A trail runner
in Colorado killed a mountain lion with his bare hands
in self defense after he was attacked from behind on Monday.
The unidentified man suffered serious injuries, but he was able
to kill the animal while defending himself. The runner did

(01:14:56):
everything he couldn't save his life. In the event of
a lion attack, you needed do anything in your power
to fight back, just as this gentleman did, says Mark Leslie.
The Colorado parks in wildlife. He choked out lion? Right,
did he suffocated it? Choked it out? I mean, he
just got his hands around. This is like my argument.
Remember we had this argument for a while about the
fact that I thought I could kill an alligator. Um,

(01:15:18):
but just like a lot enough elbows, uh to the
vital you know, like an Oregon region. This guy gets
attacked from behind by a mountain lion and somehow maintains
his wits and chokes the thing out. Now do you
take some kill points away because it was a juvenile
mountain lion? It depends on how much smaller a juvenile
mountain lion is. I mean, yes, certainly if I were

(01:15:41):
this guy in an ideal situation, I don't want the
mountain lyon described as juvenile. But are we We're not
talking about like a kitten. I mean it's I think
it said the thing weight eighty pounds. So I mean,
if you kill an eighty pound mountain lion that attacks
you from behind while you're just out for a jog,
it's not like this guy was on a hunt, you know,
and he had a weapon. He's used his bare hands

(01:16:01):
to kill. Remember we had this big discussion I think
it was just a while back. Arian Foster argued that
he could kill a wolf with his bare hands, remember that,
And there was much discussion about whether or not that
was possible. And this certainly would go in favor of him,
that this guy was able to kill the mountain lion.
And didn't we have a grandma like choke out a

(01:16:22):
mountain lion a while back in Georgia. Yeah, there's been
a few of these stories on Animal thunder Dome, and
you're right this even though it was a quote unquote
juvenile mountain lion, it did some damage to this guy.
He's still in the hospital with serious injuries including facial bite, wounds,
lacerations to his arms, legs, and back. Yeah, we need

(01:16:42):
to get this guy on uh out kick at some
point if we can uh the authorities after the authorities
are done with them, because they say we have several
questions for him. So there that doesn't I mean, what
questions could they remotely have for him? Yeah, this guy,
he's not a bad guy's a hero. And even if
he picked a fight with the mountain lion, he still

(01:17:04):
wanted like the mountain lion he says, attacked him. But
I don't even know what questions they could have for him,
and why wouldn't they just go ahead and ask those questions. Anyway,
this is a big win for the humans in the
Animal Thunderdome. I know the animals are gonna strike back,
but for a mountain lion to attack a random guy
jogging in Colorado and then and the mountain lion cowardly
attacked from behind and then this dude just fights him

(01:17:25):
off and chokes it out, I mean, that is that's
pretty awesome. I feel bad for the meth bear, but
the mountain lion human conflict, I'm pretty pumped about about
our success as a species in this wind. By the way,
you can always send the Animal Thunderdome stories as many
of you do. We appreciate it. You can tag us
on Twitter, you can certainly make sure that we see them,

(01:17:46):
and uh, we don't miss these stories very often. So
that was that was pretty fantastic. All right. When we
come back top of our three, we'll dive back into
the Anthony Davis trade ongoing drama situation. We'll touch on
signing day. If you haven't been paying attention to the
show or you just woke up, we talked with Barton Simmons.
It's the second signing day. Used to be the one

(01:18:06):
signing day was in February. Now there are two signing days,
the early signing day, this is the late signing day.
All of the remaining athletes who are going to be
signing for college football are signing today. And we'll talk
about the biggest news that happened overnight while many of
you were sleeping, which is the l A Clippers deciding
to trade to Bias Harris to the seventies sixers, all

(01:18:29):
that more, plus we will talk with Andrew Marshand of
I believe it's the New York Post who broke the
story about ESPN firing ad Nan Verke for allegedly leaking
inside information from ESPN. What does he think about that story?
What does that tell us? All that and more? We
have got a loaded final hour. Encourage you to download
the podcast, make sure you don't miss any of it.

(01:18:50):
This has been out kicked the coverage first two hours
in the books Wednesday edition. Up next, we'll talk with
Andrew Marshand and we'll break down all those stories and
more on out Kick Why from the Geico Alt Kicks
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(01:19:10):
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truecr True Cash offer not available in all areas. If
you're just waking up across the country, it's eight am
on the East Coast, it is five am on the

(01:19:31):
West Coast, and the East and West Coast had a
big trade going down last night while many people slept.
The l A Clippers decided to move to Bias Harris,
their best player, all the way across the country to
to Philadelphia seventies sixers in exchange primarily for draft picks
and young players. The Clippers trying to set up an

(01:19:54):
opportunity in the off season or maybe in the short
season if they want to try to make a run
now at an Thanny Davis, but more likely in the
off season to try to add a couple of big
time free agents. They have freed up a lot of space.
Arguably they are in as good, if not better shape
than the Lakers and many other teams out there that
are trying to make sure they have the salary cap

(01:20:16):
space to make a big run in what is a
intriguing twenty nineteen free agent class that will include guys
like Kevin Durant among others, to see exactly what might
take place Kyrie Irving. There's a lot of guys out there,
uh Kawhi Leonard. There are a lot of players that
could be testing the market and likely will be looking

(01:20:38):
for new destinations. So the Clippers have decided to free
up some space, and so as a result, they have
shipped Tobias Harris to the seventies Sixers. So that happened
while many of you were sleeping. The question that is
now out there. Are the Sixers good enough to win
the Eastern Conference? There four teams at the top of

(01:20:58):
the Eastern Conference right now, all fighting to see who
is going to be the team that advances to probably
play the Golden State Warriors from the Western Conference. Will
it be the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the best record
in basketball and are certainly under the radar. I would
still say to a large degree, will it be the Celtics,
who have had a lot of drama and are trying
to figure out what to do with Kyrie Irving and

(01:21:18):
whether or not they can make the pursuit of Anthony
Davis real. Will it be the Philadelphia seventy six ers
who just made that move to add a fourth primary
point of a big time playmaker to their roster, or
will it be a team that that I think a
lot of people don't necessarily buy into, but certainly they've

(01:21:39):
made a lot of moves and they still make make
moves before the NBA trade deadline is officially here the
Toronto Raptors. So right now you're sitting with the NBA
trade deadline tomorrow at three o'clock Eastern. You've got all
those teams sitting around trying to figure out what they
are gonna do. The Lakers announced through a bunch of
different media sources that they officially stepping back and would

(01:22:01):
not be chasing Anthony Davis anymore. They felt like they
were bidding against themselves. They want to see a response
from the Pelicans. Will the Pelicans give them one or
will the Pelicans just say, you know what, We're fine
waiting out the rest of this season. We'll see what
the offers look like at the end of the year.
For Anthony Davis, We're not gonna be rushed into trying

(01:22:22):
to make a move. We will see all of our
available options. In the meantime, Lebron James and the Lakers
played last night in Indianapolis and it did not go well.
The biggest defeat in the history of Lebron James's NBA career.
The Pacers go out and win by forty two points.

(01:22:42):
And while Laker players were shooting free throws well, Pacer
fans did not hold off. They were chanting, Lebron is
going to trade you. I believe we have that audio.
Here's what it sounds like. The average sixteen points last
year and year two, he's at seventeen point two and
this last five last year in warm Ring. They just

(01:23:04):
presented it to him at the game. Lebron James didn't
play because McGee didn't play in the first one that
when they played a golden stake. So pretty incredible there
from the fans with the Pacers, they were definitely letting
Lebron James's team have it. Not a surprise because the
Pacers have had an awful lot of tough outcomes going

(01:23:26):
up against Lebron James, including games seven last year. Uh
and certainly the Pacer fans still getting over the loss
of Victor Oladipo for the rest of the season, but
that was a beat down of epic proportions. After the game,
Lebron was asked about the situation. He had this to say.
We have a lot of guys who's been in trade
talks the last couple of weeks, and that's never been
in that position before. So you have the Axls guys,

(01:23:49):
and um, you know how they're dealing with it. I don't.
I can't. You can't really ask me. I've never been
a part of that, but I've been a part of teammates,
you know. I know it has to be tough on
a lot of our guys, especially our young guy. Uh,
you know right now, they've just never been a part
of it. And UM, you know here every single day.
The worst thing that you can do right now to
be on social media, and I know all young guys

(01:24:10):
love social media, so UM, you know that definitely can't help.
There's no doubt about that. You talked to NBA players
around the trade deadline, and they find out the news
about all the trades that are being made oftentimes, just
like a lot of us do by just clicking through
on social media and seeing what the latest is there.
So again, trade deadline tomorrow three o'clock eastern, just f y,

(01:24:34):
I will have Chris Mannix on our one tomorrow on
Thursday breaking down some of the possibilities and certainly anything
can happen over the next what's the math on that?
Live math is always tough for me. But what there's
about thirty two hours left before the official NBA trade
deadline is here at three o'clock eastern, if if I'm

(01:24:56):
not mistaken, something like that, thirty one hours until that,
if Shula gets here all right. In addition to that,
last night a couple of upsets. Michigan State Spartan's kind
of falling apart but went on the road, lost to Illinois,
and also Marquette took a loss. Tennessee continues to roll,
as does Duke Um and Kentucky. Three of the top

(01:25:17):
five teams were in action last night, and all three
had relatively easy wins. Uh. It is also National Signing Day,
Part two, the culmination and conclusion of the the Signing
Day process. Who exactly is going to uh to to
end up with the number one overall class. Not a
lot of uncertainty out there. We talked with Barton Simmons,

(01:25:38):
recruited national recruiting analysts for seven Sports. He said Alabama
has the potential to put up the second best signing
day class of all times. So Nick Saban, after the
beat down from Clemson not uh not wasting any time
in rolling out and dominating. This would be his best
class that he has ever signed, and obviously say and

(01:26:00):
has signed a lot of top classes. So that story
will be playing out throughout the course of today as well.
UH And when we are done, we will have the
completed list of all of the top teams in the
country and we'll be able to kind of assess how
those classes uh fulfilled themselves out. All right. When we
come back, we will talk with Andrew Marshant about what

(01:26:22):
I think is a pretty fascinating story. ESPN fired ad
Nan Verke for allegedly leaking internal company information. We will
discuss that, but in the meantime, I just want to
reiterate again about Anthony Davis. I think it's a bad decision.
I think if I were advising Anthony Davis, and he
came to me and he said, Okay, Clay Travis, what
would you suggest I'm gonna keep beating this drum because

(01:26:44):
I think it's by far the right decision. I think
Anthony Davis has been led astray by people who are
not advising him what is best for his career. I
would tell him, Hey, finish out this year. Finish out
this year. You can let it be known private that
you're willing to be talked about from a trade perspective.
If somebody wants to pull the trigger on a trade,

(01:27:05):
you can think about it. But what you should do
is do what Lebron did all three times that he left.
You should not want to be traded. You should wait
until your contract runs out at the end of next year,
and then you should go around and visit all these
different teams that have the salary cap space to offer

(01:27:26):
you a max deal, and in the process you should
figure out whether or not you want to go to
those teams. You should not require the teams, as would
be the case right now, to trade away all their
best assets to get you. Why would you want to
go somewhere where they have to mortgage the future in
order for you to play there. Lebron didn't do that

(01:27:47):
when he went to Miami, he didn't do it when
he came back to Cleveland, and he didn't do it
when he went to the Lakers. The smart move, if
you are a strategic thinker, acting and on a business imperative,
is to find the best sit suation, go join that team,
and don't require them to give up big talent in
order to get you. It makes absolutely no sense. Now again,

(01:28:10):
it makes sense for Lebron James because he needs to
win right now. But Anthony Davis twenty five years old,
he's not thirty five like Lebron, staring down the final
few games and seasons of his career compared to when
he started. Doesn't make sense to require the Lakers to
give up everything to get you. Finish out this year,
then finish out next year, and then go wherever you want.

(01:28:32):
After taking a big time visit to all of the
different potential destinations, I honestly still think the best destination
for Anthony Davis is the Boston Celtics if he's thinking
about the long range future of his career. But that
is my opinion on that right now. Again, Big News
Tobias Harris being traded to the seventies sixers. When we

(01:28:54):
come back, Andrew Marshan from the New York Post will
join us and he will break down his scoop about
at nan Verk being fired. But in the meantime, I
know a lot of you are standing there with the
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(01:29:15):
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This is outkicked the coverage. Why did ESPN fire one

(01:30:44):
of their most popular anchors, will discuss next with Andrew
Marshand on Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports Radio has the
best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within
the I Heart Radio app search f s R to
listen live. Well, this is a great bring back here

(01:31:06):
saw them down in uh Atlanta, they were incredible food fighters,
great performance. Welcome back Geico Outkicks Studios were brought to
you by True Car. When it comes to selling or
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(01:31:26):
check out True Car. True Cash offer not available in
all areas. Let me go ahead, and uh should we
go to Let's go to Eddie ed Is Eddie ready
to go? Get an update from Eddie? Then we'll go
to Andrew Marshawn Eddie Garcia, you ready to give us
an update? Absolutely on the Geico scoreboard in the NBA. Well,
first we'll tell you about a deal that happened last night.
We got the trade deadline in the NBA coming on Thursday.

(01:31:47):
Late Tuesday night on the West coast, we had the
l A Clippers sending out their leading score Tobias Sarahs
along with boban Marjanovitch and Mike Scott to the Philadelphia
seventy Years in exchange for Landry Schmitt Wilson Chan there
Mike Muscala, two first round picks and two second round picks.
Now about the Sixers and the Clippers were in action
last night, Raptors beating Philadelphia on the road one nineteen,

(01:32:09):
one of seven, Quiet twenty four points in the win
and Joel and Beat thirty seven points in the loss
for the Sixers. Also, the Clippers were able to beat
the Hornets one seventeen to one fifteen. That was in Charlotte,
and Tobias Harris, in his final game for l A,
led the way with thirty four points. Celtics beat the
Cavaliers one oh three to ninety six, was the thunder
over the Magic one thirty two, one twenty two, Paul

(01:32:30):
George thirty nine points and Russell Westbrook it's seventh straight
triple double sixteen points, fifteen rebounds at sixteen assists, and
the Pacers pound the Lakers one thirties six ninety four.
That forty two point loss is the worst ever for
Lebron James team. In college basketball, Top rank Tennessee beat
Missouri seventy six volunteers and out twenty one and one
overall and then won seventeen in a row, wins for

(01:32:51):
number two Dupe, number five Kentucky, seventh rank Michigan, and
number eight North Carolina while number nine Michigan State and
number ten Marquette lost in the NHL. Thep Surg Penguins
will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at eight Eastern tonight.
So our Discovered card key matchup. Get your free credit
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(01:33:13):
credit scorecard limitations. Supply we'll be back to OutKick the
coverage in ten sackets of first, a word from farmers.
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(01:33:33):
Now back to Clint Travis and the Geico Outkicked the
Coverage Studios. This is indeed the Geico OutKick the Coverage
Studios were joined now by Andrew Marshand. He is a
reporter on sports and media and business related to issues
for The New York Post, and he broke a big
story about at nan Verke and ESPN UH sportscaster ESPN
announcer who was fired for leaking information uh to a

(01:33:58):
to another sports a web site. Want to bring him
in right now, Andrew, this is a big story. I
don't remember a story ever like this before, do you
off hand? I mean it does. Nothing comes to mind,
at least with sports media companies with someone getting fired
for leaking. Uh So, yeah, it's a it's a little

(01:34:19):
bit different. I mean, having covered teams for a long time,
I know, uh, you know, there's sometimes some crackdowns with
you know, I've covered the Yankees for years, but nothing
like this where someone got let go. We're talking to
Andrew Marshan. So for people who don't know this story,
at nan Verke is a fairly popular, versatile used a

(01:34:41):
lot um announcer for ESPN for a lot of their
studio programming shows. What happened and why did he get fired?
So far as you've been able to uncover, well, yeah,
he's a rising he's a rising stars forty afootball guy,
did a lot of filling work on ESPN radio, UH
and college football, college basketball, and so the feeling from

(01:35:04):
ESPN was this was premeditated. Um, he he leaked some
information uh to the website Awful Announcing, where first off
he tipped them off to a conference call, and then
they had the conference call and it was it was
about baseball, and ad Nan Verke wasn't on it for
most of the conference call. So uh, after the call,

(01:35:27):
he called one of his bosses and asked very pointed
questions about you know, the contracts and what's going on
with baseball and major and ESPN. And then those answers
ended up being on the All pul Announcing website later
that day. Um. And so the issue for ESPN which
really got them going was first off, they felt like

(01:35:49):
it was premeditated. Secondly, um, the fact is on the
conference call, these things weren't discussed. So you know a
lot of times you're a conference calling on fifteen people
on there, Uh to any one of fifteen people, okay,
gets out this case, they didn't discuss what was in
the report. The questions were asked uh to two vers

(01:36:09):
boss and they're kind of you know, not really in
his lane in terms of really what his concerns probably
should be. And then end up on a website later
that day. And then he wasn't forth right in terms
of when he was confronted with this information, and it's
a harsh penalty. Could have been a two weeks suspension, Yeah,
it's possible, but uh, but then he was let go

(01:36:30):
and that's where it stands right now. And as he contemplating,
I think you've reported a lawsuit right over his firing.
He is, He's either hired or will hire a Connecticut
based lawyer and you know, will probably pursue legal action. Now,
this is a fascinating story to me because by firing him,

(01:36:51):
they draw way more attention to this story than would
ever have existed if they had not fired him. I
assume you would agree with that, no doubt. So what
is the ESPNS motivation here? Are they trying to basically
send a message to everybody else who's an employee that hey,
you better not be talking to media because if you do,
it could be your job. Is this is? Is he

(01:37:13):
just kind of the fall guy for a larger, larger
intent here to try to stifle the release of sensitive information. Yeah.
I can't speak to their full motivation, but I don't
think so though. I don't think it's some sort of
let's make an example of Adman Burke. I think this

(01:37:33):
is a situation where it kind of was a little
fire and then it became a forest fire, and where
they felt like this was the right thing to do.
You know, they just signed at Nan Burke to a
four year contract. So it's not as if, um, you know,
they didn't like him, uh, you know, because that just happened. Um.
But I mean, I think a fair question to ask

(01:37:55):
if this was Scott van Peld. You know, the Midnight
Sports Center is doing very well in the ratings and
this happens, and you know Van pell what's that he
wasn't forthright? And you know the exact same scenario, would
he have gotten let go? I don't know about that
so um but but I don't think it's the stifle
other people. I just think that the fact of how

(01:38:17):
you know a word that you know sources keep telling me,
the premeditated action of kind of going out of your
way to give company secrets. Uh, that is what I
think really said all ESPN. This is always fascinating to
me when a leak happens, right, whether it's in the
White House, whether it's out of a team, whether it's
in any other industry, Right, Why did the person want

(01:38:41):
the story to be leaked? Um, this story had to
do with baseball, Baseball ratings, whether Baseball Tonight is going
to be on ESPN. What was adding in Vert's motivation
to care enough about this story that he wanted it
out there? And that's the It's a very good question,
and it's kinda it's right now. I don't know. I

(01:39:03):
don't have a full answer for you. Why why he
would do this, because, like I said, he just signed
a four year contract. Perhaps and I don't know this
for sure, but perhaps you was leaking information awful announcing
to try to curry favor and good good publicity. That's
been known to happen. But but like I said, he
just got a new contract. So I don't really see
I don't really see the motivation for him, UM getting

(01:39:25):
it out there. I think I saw you tweet maybe
or say something I want to on UM your periscope
show about that. Maybe he wanted to try to get
public pressure to get Baseball Tonight on more regularly. UM,
I don't know. That seems a little like I that's
an odd strategy to me for a sportscaster. I think
he was a little naive quite honestly, and uh and

(01:39:46):
and it's it's cost them dearly. But I don't know
if there's some like, uh, huge game plan that was
it was it was in play. Yeah, And that's always
what surprises me is I buy that people will leak stories,
but usually there's an underlying motivation on behalf of the
person who leaks. And what I always say is people
out there like we talk about stories like these. But

(01:40:07):
my position is I don't think I've ever been an
anonymous source for an article. I mean, I mean that
legitimately and certainly I've never been anonymously quoted. Because if
I have an opinion on something, I just say it,
and if I don't feel comfortable saying it, then I
don't say anything at all about it. And so that
to me is really what's so intriguing about this story
in general. One I don't necessarily think what got leaked

(01:40:29):
is like some major state secret that is like fundamentally
altering the trajectory of ESPN's business model. And two I
can't figure out why add Nan Verke would want to
be leaking this to begin with. And three I keep
circling back around to the ESPN decision if they just
like kind of keep this in house, nobody else ever
hears about it and it doesn't turn into a major story.

(01:40:52):
That's true. But when you run a business, though, I
don't know if you can every decision make You have
to think about only the pr point of view of it,
you know it, because I think you have to. Again,
I'm not saying their decisions right or wrong, but I
don't know if you can just say, well, we think
he should be let go, but we're not gonna let
him go because of the publicity won't be great. Um,

(01:41:13):
I think you have to do what you think he's right.
I think you worry. You have to worry about publicity,
don't get me wrong, but you also if don't worry
about what you think is right. And I think what
really was broken is the trust between you know, Vert
and you know his direct boss. Um, like you speak directly.
If this is what Phil Orleans is the senior coordinate producer.
But if if you called Clay your bosses at I

(01:41:36):
Heart Radio or Fox Sports and said to them, uh,
you know, ask some pointed questions about stuff, and then
you know, ten minutes later called me up leaked that
information on I don't know if they'd be at the
trust with you and your bosses would probably be severed.
And I'm not saying it's you know not you couldn't
repair it, but it would be difficult. So I think

(01:41:57):
that would insanely stupid of me, right, which is to
adding Averts actions here, like what does he think that
people are not gonna know where this is coming from?
Like this just seems so dumb to me. It doesn't
seem bright like I, like I said before, it add
main is a very talented broadcaster. And the reason that

(01:42:18):
you know, um, I think you have a little phone with.
I think he's gonna be fine in terms of eventually
he's very talented. I think he'll get another jobs big
in entertainment, maybe they'll move into that sports. I think
they'll be opportunities. So I think he's gonna be fine.
But in terms of the like why you would do that?
I don't see the motivation at all, Like what's in
it for him? Again? Just signed a new four year

(01:42:40):
contract that was worth more than seven figures in total,
uh so why why get into this? And also just
like you have to think about it, and I I
have sources of course, and you know sometimes you're on
you have a conversation with them and it just happened,
and there's like three people in the room, and it's like, yeah,
you know what, you know, if I say to them,
I don't want get you in trouble, and then you know,

(01:43:01):
and they say, you know this, you know, let's we
had to wait a little bit because there's three people
in the room, and it'll be it's pretty you know
obvious how he could eliminate and and that person would
be the one that pointing the finger at and in
this case, yeah, there was really no um, it was
obviously was him. I mean there's no there's no other
way to look at it. And and also just asking
the questions of your boss there really have nothing to

(01:43:22):
do with what you what he does. I think that
also hurt him. Uh when the when the espnmate its
final decision, the story comes out one hour before kickoff
for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Coincidental in your mind? Yes,
I mean I know how it worked. I mean I
can't into all my sources, but yeah, I mean I was.
I mean I could just tell you on a personal level,

(01:43:44):
I was getting ready to review the Super Bowl and
it wasn't really something I necessarily wanted uh to to
work on At that point, I was, you know, getting
ready and watched the poo game. And you know, the
turnaround was pretty quick after I found out the information.
I think it was like forty five in its later,
you know, I you know, made several calls and had
confirmation we had a story. Um up, So yeah, that

(01:44:08):
had nothing to do with it. I know that you
tweeted that, but that's completely inaccurate. I still think the
timing is unbelievable. But you can mean, yeah, I get
to the sources, but you're completely wrong on that. I
get it why you would think that. But and also
if it were the uh it actually if that's I

(01:44:28):
think it's totally incorrect. Let me say that. But if
it were, it would have been a bad strategy because
these types of stories really get a social media lift everyone.
A lot of people are on Twitter during the super Bowl.
The super Bowl was completely you know, boring, and the story, um,
I can tell you gotta at least be a post,
and a lot of people picked it up. There was

(01:44:49):
read by a lot of people. Yeah, no doubt at all,
but pr one oh one in my mind is right
before a major events about to happen, throw some story
out there, and then you that the game is actually
really good and everybody forgets about what happened an hour
before the story. That would be my thought. All right,
two other questions I want to get to you. We're
talking to Andrew Marshawn, who writes at the New York Post.

(01:45:11):
Follow him on Twitter. I believe at Andrew marsh end
is uh Marshawn, marshand. You can tell me exactly how
to pronounce it, but Marshand, you do good work. You
can find him there, all right. Jeff Bezos talking about
the Super Bowl is in the booth of Roger Goodell.
CBS shows him a hundred million people are watching. Is
that intentional? Would you be nervous if you had the

(01:45:34):
NFL Sunday ticket in your Direct TV and you see
Bezos in the in the suite of Roger Goodell right
before the NFL has to make a decision about whether
to allow Direct TV to keep the NFL Sunday ticket, Yeah,
you'd be a bit nervous. Jeff Bezos is the stalking
horse for you know, network TV, uh in terms of

(01:45:56):
football and for Direct TV in terms of the Sunday it.
I mean, he can buy whichever package he wants. The
question is here's the thing or so Sunday ticket could
be in play. Um, you know we're still a few
years out Monday night football to be in play. Uh Thursday,
you know, you know by then, you know could be
in play. But you know he's not getting the Sunday packages.

(01:46:17):
Those are gonna be on network TV. Uh So yeah, Amazon,
you know Netflix is not getting football. I'd be absolutely shocked.
They have no ad business. There's the business, and if
they paid so much money for football, they have to
raise the prices so that I'd be shocked if they
got into football. Um, you know the other ones Facebook, Twitter,
I doubt it, Amazon, the one with Prime. Uh that

(01:46:41):
if you're you know, the networks or direct TV, you
have to be concerned with. Do you think the NFL
is at all concerned that the NFL viewership for the
Super Bowl drop below a hundred million near a decade
blow or do you think they just write that off
as this is a function of the game not being
very good this year? He has a function of the game.
I think, Look, are they a little concerned? Of course,

(01:47:02):
I mean, you're gonna be concerned if your ratings aren't
what you want to be. But uh, the game was terrible.
There weren't a million storylines going in. Besides you know
there there there were some but nothing that really stood out. Um,
you know, but in the Patriots are a I I
think people you know, we it's it's uh, your your
buddy Collin Coward like to say this, and he's right

(01:47:23):
about like the tournament, Um, you know, March madness. Everyone
wants to see Cinderella. But if you have Duke in
North Carolina in the final, you're gonna have a higher rating.
And I think the Patriots, uh, for as much as
everyone most people hate them. Besides Patriots funs Uh, they
still we think are good for ratings. The Rams don't
have a following. And then the big thing also is

(01:47:44):
door Lean a pretty big city. Uh, boycott is the
super Bowl? You know, they have the audience that they
usually do. Have you ever seen that before? I've never
seen a city. You know a lot of times you
hear people say, oh, are so disgusted of it. But
New Orleans compared to last year when they watched it,
it like a fifty seven rating. I mean, New Orleans,
a football crazy market. This year they dropped by over half.

(01:48:08):
I've never seen anything like that in one city. No,
it's incredible, it's it really is a you gotta tip
your hat to you know, their dedication of boycotting that said,
I mean, I don't I don't know what you've said
on this, but the same top the ball in over time.
So it's a little much and it was a terrible miscall,
but it's I mean, their miscalls in a lot of
games that that have happened for forever. So it's not

(01:48:31):
like the things didn't have a chance. They gotta run
the ball. There's a million things. So I think it's
a little overblown. But in terms of a boycott, as
much as you could do, that was impressive. Last question
for you, Lebron James and the Lakers got whipped last night.
They lose by forty two. They're currently in tenth place
in the Western Conference in the NBA playoff race. If

(01:48:52):
the Lakers do not make the playoffs, the reaction for
ESPN and t N T exact gives is how much panic? Yeah? There,
I don't know they'll panic, but they'll be it's that
good for them. I mean, Lebron is the calling guard
of the n b A. He's the guy everyone wants
to see, love him or hate him. But the ratings

(01:49:14):
show that Lebron is the most important player by far
in that league. And if he's not in the playoffs, uh,
it's it's bad for the league. You know, we we
talked about the NFL ratings. I know you you've talked
about that a lot, and I think the biggest factor
manaval ratings were down, and they were up during the
regular season a lot this year, but when they were
down was quarterback play and and also the fact that

(01:49:36):
they have too many games on and they you know,
they they put their programming on too many nights and
it maybe it not special, and they have good games,
but stars are what sell. You know, it's and and
Lebron is the biggest star by far in the NBA.
So yes, that would be terrible for Turner and for
ESPN ABC if they have no Lebron in the playoffs.

(01:49:58):
Why do you think, by the way, I don't want
to the last question, but this builds off that one.
Why do you think the amount of attention for the
NFL ratings and the fact that they were down dwarfs
all of the attention on the fact that the NBA
is down substantially because Lebron to a large extent has
moved to the Western Conference and a lot of people
on the East Coast can't stay up for his games anymore.

(01:50:20):
Yet almost no one is talking about the NBA ratings
going down, and everyone was talking about the NFL. Two things.
First off, nf the NFL is the biggest sport, so
they're gonna get more attention, you know. Number two is, yeah,
the Colin Kaepernick situation and the President getting involved, that's
going to bring more attention to it as well. And

(01:50:41):
number three is the NBA has had really great ratings
you know, last year, and I think the story is
um maybe slower to unfold. And four this most bordn one.
I can't speak for what other people do. I've written
about it, um, so what other people choose to cover
and not cover? Uh, you know that's they're just as
I can't speak for why other people don't cover it.

(01:51:03):
Um you know that said, I think if you look
deep into it, they the Turner got a best you know,
a tough schedule to start and their way down opening night. Uh,
And then they've been trying to fight back. They're not
going to fight all the way back. Ever since the
ratings have gone up and ABC has done pretty good,
uh you know, when ESPN has been kind of flat.
So it's not as I don't think it's as extreme

(01:51:25):
as the NFL ratings were when it when it when
it went down. Andrew, appreciate you waking up early with
us helped to have you on again soon. And uh,
good luck chasing down those leaks. All right, thanks. Thanks.
That's Andrew marsh and you can read him at the
New York Post. I tell you why I think, you
know what. I think the reason why the NBA doesn't
get anywhere near the criticism for its ratings being down

(01:51:46):
as the NFL did because the NBA is considered to
be a woke league, and so many media that cover
the NBA don't actually cover it. They cheerlead. You see
all those little blue checkmark guys on Twitter. I see
all these eyes. They're like a little cocker spaniels yapping around.
They have like a thousand Twitter follower. I don't know
how Twitter gives out these blue checkmarks so easily. They

(01:52:06):
all have like a thousand Twitter followers. They all cheerlead,
they all cheerlead the NBA because it's considered to be woke,
and they all ripped the NFL because it's considered not
to be woke enough. And that's the reason why the
NBA ratings tanking are getting no attention, and why the
NFL ratings going down. Everybody was talking about it. It's unbelievable.

(01:52:27):
When we come back, we'll dive back into the biggest
stories of the day. Anthony Davis still hanging out there.
Will he be traded or not? Also, Tobias Harris is
now moving. If you're just waking up on the West coast.
He has been traded from the l A Clippers all
the way across the country to the Philadelphia seventies sixers.
This is Outkicked the coverage right now on Fox Sports Radio.

(01:52:48):
Welcome back Guy, Go out Kick Studios. Final segment of
the show. Encourage you to go download the podcast. We
have been loaded with stories today. It is the final
day of signing Day. Used to be a major national
holiday for college football fans. Now there's an early signing
period in December, and about of the top players are

(01:53:09):
signing today. So this will complete all the classes. Also
big news that happened while many of you were sleeping.
If you're just waking up across the country right now
listening to us, we had a major trade that took
place overnight. Tobias Harris shipped from the l A Clippers
all the way across the country to the Philadelphia seventies sixers.
There are now as we come up on the conclusion

(01:53:29):
of Wednesday show, roughly roughly if I'm doing math, right
about thirty ish hours until the NBA trade deadline tomorrow.
We'll have Chris Mannox an hour one with us tomorrow
breaking down all the latest news. Will Anthony Davis be
traded from the Pelicans to someone potentially the Lakers or not?

(01:53:50):
Will the Lakers be able to put, like Humpty Dumpty
who falls off the ledge, this team back together again
if they don't end up making any trades. If you
watched that game against the Pacers last night, that was
an ugly, ugly look uh for Lebron James sitting on
the end of the bench all by himself as he
suffered the worst defeat of his NBA career, his team

(01:54:13):
losing by forty two points on the road against the
Victor Oladipo less Indiana Pacers. That is not a good
sign at all. Um. Meanwhile, there are all a lot
of other teams potentially sniffing around trying to make decisions
about whether to make moves or not. Maybe Marc Gasol
getting traded from the Memphis Grizzlies, maybe Mike Conly getting traded.

(01:54:35):
The Raptors are in the market, the Bucks are in
the market, the Clippers, the Lakers. There's a lot of
different teams that are all considering making moves. Meanwhile, the
Lakers currently in tenth place, so there is a lot
to follow there. There's also been a lot to follow
on this show. Our two we talked with my guy
Barton Simmons about the college football recruiting classes. We just

(01:54:56):
talked with Andrew Marshand about the UH and N vert
getting fired for leaking information. I'm curious with you, guys. Uh,
that surprised you that ESPN fired him for for leaking
the information like that? No, not a surprise, especially the
way he broke it down and he told you if
you did that, you would be fired. That is the case.
I mean, I don't know what he was thinking. If

(01:55:18):
you're going to do something that blatant, then you're you're
gonna lose your job. Yeah, that whole story is very strange.
If I were ESPN, I don't know that I would
want the story to be public. I think this is
partly about sending a message to people that you better
not talk about the stories that you know exist internally.
But it is pretty intriguing. Quickly, I want to go
around the horn. I want to start with dub Do
you believe now that the seventies sixers have made that

(01:55:40):
trade for Tobias Harris that they should be considered the
favorite in the Eastern Conference? Yes? Or no? No? I
do not think so. Where do you think it will
change their their outcome in the postseason at all? I
still see them making it to the Eastern Conference semifinals
and losing to either the Raptors, Bucks or Celtics. So
they're still one of the best four best teams where
they were four. But this is not a deciding factor

(01:56:01):
for you in any way. I still think the Celtics
are going to be the team that comes out of
the Eastern Conference. What about you, Danny G. Do you
think this makes any difference at all? Yeah, because Tobias
Harris is a sharpshooter and he can give you a
thirty on any given night. He also has some cold streaks.
But this definitely solidifies the Sixers. Like you said, that

(01:56:22):
gives them a fourth scoring option in a major way.
This could bring them up to the number two slot
in the East. So who would you still make as
the favorite, the Celtics or are you sticking with the
Raptors or the Bucks as your favorite. I'm gonna stick
with the Bucks right now. They have the best record
in the NBA and they are quietly dominating teams. They
are also quietly one of the teams that Anthony Davis
would be would consider signing with if you were traded to.

(01:56:45):
And I don't know that that got a lot of attention.
It seems a little bit strange to me because Joannice
and he seemed they're not the same player, but they
seem more similar in nature than not, So I would
be a little bit nervous about pairing those guys together. Obviously,
the Pelicans try to do two big men together with
the Marcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, and that did not
work out. What about you, Roberto, who's the favorite in

(01:57:06):
the Eastern Conference. I still say the Celtics they have
a deeper team. John is the only start on the
Bucks and UH Rappers only have Kauai and then the Sixers.
Ben Simmons still can't shoot, so he goes up and
gets a good coach and he becomes a non factor
in the playoffs. Yeah, it's interesting the Raptors potentially are
shopping Kyle Lowry potentially for a trade for Mike Conley.

(01:57:27):
It sounded like in the post game after this game again,
the most recent game for the Grizzlies, that Mike Conley
kind of thought his time in Memphis may be complete
and Marcus all reportedly at least out there are going
to be traded I don't think that's officially official yet.
Uh the talk was that he may be going to Charlotte,
So lots of movement. About thirty hours left in the
NBA trade deadline. Encourage all of you to go download

(01:57:50):
the podcast. We will be talking about college football Signing
Day in a big way tomorrow as well as the
NBA trade deadline as it will officially be up on
us in the final day. A shade all the time
that you guys spend with this show. Thanks to all
of our guests really helps out. By the way, I
always say this, if you reach out to our guests
and thank them for coming on, especially since we're on
early in the morning, makes a big difference. You can

(01:58:12):
find Andrew marshand at Andrew marsh end and you can
also find Barton Simmons at Barton Simmons on Twitter. Thank
those guys for coming on as guest with us this morning.
We will be back tomorrow, same bad time, same bad channel.
Appreciate all of you. Welcome to the new listeners in Charlotte.
We appreciate you guys coming on and being a part
of the Fox Sports Radio universe. We'll see whether more

(01:58:32):
insanity happens today, and if it does, you know we'll
be ready for it tomorrow to discuss. This is how
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