Magic Johnson is back!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:21):
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(00:46):
it's my favorite time of year. It's my favorite time
of year when we want to spend other people's money.
That's what we do. Free Agency Bonanza, Free Agency Topia
is upon us and Sam Amy's gonna join this upcoming
in fifteen minutes from the Athletics. Sam's covered the league

(01:06):
for twenty years. This was supposed to be the biggest
summer free agency bonanza that we've seen ever, ever, ever,
and it may be reportedly kwide. Leonards seriously considering the Lakers,
Kemba Walker supposed they headed to the Celtics, and of

(01:27):
course we don't know about Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors,
Clay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, lots of different guys. But I
find it most fascinating, most fascinating, the mischaracterization of ownership
in this particular time. Right, Like I've heard this from

(01:53):
a lot of different people. Some have a microphone in
front of their face, many do not. Well, you know,
I don't they just go into that, just spend the
luxury at tax. Okay, Um, Look, the reality to this
thing is, and this is really important for you to
understand that the luxury tax not only limits what you

(02:18):
can do in terms of your personnel, right, because if
you're in the luxury tax, you can only deal with
other teams they're in the luxury tax as well. But
then there's just the reality to which is you're spending
money and not getting anything in return, right, And every
year that you're subsequently you're in the luxury tax, you

(02:39):
spend even more money on absolutely nothing that you don't
have to spend. So instead of spending whatever it is,
ten million dollars on a guy that takes you over
the luxury tax threshold. You end up spending one and
a half times that the first time, and then after
that it gets ridiculous. You don't want to be a

(03:02):
repeat offender because now you're now you're just in text hell,
text death. And most teams, many teams operate in an
operating loss or maybe a minimal game per year. And
what you'll hear from the common fan and sometimes you'll
hear from uneducated pundits is wow, I mean you make

(03:24):
up money on the value of the team, which is
in fact true. You've valuations on these NBA teams have
skyrocketed in recent years, but it depends on a couple
of things. What did you pay to buy the team? Right,
Like it's like, oh, well, you know, it used to

(03:46):
be worth five million dollars, now it's worth a billion dollars? Okay,
when did you buy in on the team. And then,
maybe most importantly, you do realize that you some of
these guys actually like the business of own in the
NBA team. Don't want to sell it to make the money.
Like the whole idea of buying an NBA team was
not to sell and to make money was to own

(04:07):
an NBA team, which, by the way, they're told now
they don't actually own there, simply the governors of right.
Take Michael jordan for example. Michael Jordan's is, by my estimation,
the greatest player in the history of the game. If
you want to put him there with with Lebron James,
you can do that. Most people will disagree with you,

(04:30):
but that's not the purpose of this rand. Michael Jordans
cannot sell the Charlotte Hornets. He bought them off Bob Johnson,
who you who started up b et. Bob Johnson went
through I believe, a nasty divorce, had to sell the team.
They were losing their hembringing money, and so he sold
him to Michael Jordan's. Michael Jordans cannot sell the Hornets.

(04:53):
Can't do it. It would be a bad look for
the NBA, no matter how much he sold them for.
Not only is he a former great player, but he's
also a minority owner in his home state. Can't sell
the team. So when you can't sell an asset, you
should probably try and make the asset make money for you. Right,

(05:15):
well wrong? According to some This from Jay Williams, who's
the former colleague of mine, of course a former star
player too number two pick in the NBA draft now
a pundit on ESPN. If the Hornets don't pay Kemba
Walker what he deserves, the conversation about MJ's ownership will
be one of the hottest topics in sports. The one
dude to poured out his heart and soul for you

(05:37):
and you don't pay him. How many times we heard
NBA players say they want to be owners. Okay, but
here's the problem with ownership. It's the same problem with
going from being a salesman to a sales manager. Right,
Like what happens when you go from being a salesman
to a sales manager. You gotta fire people. It's just

(05:58):
not about not a abut hitting your quote, about hitting
your number when other people do not. You have to
fire those people. Why, Because it's a business. And what
happens when you go from player to owner is the
bottom line becomes the bottom line. Not only would they
be in CA tax cap tax hell, but it just
wouldn't be financially feasible in a small market where they're

(06:23):
not the number one, and honestly they're not the number
two and might not be even the number three. Sports
in their market. Don't get me wrong, it's cool to
have the Hornets in Charlotte. I like the throwback name,
I like the throwback uniforms. It's not it's not throwing
back to the nineteen thirties. It's throwing back to the nineties.

(06:44):
But the Panthers are in fact bigger. NASCAR is in
fact bigger, and if you really want to get down
to it, college basketball might actually be bigger in that
market then the Hornets are. They've lost the team before.
Let's not forget. Forget like Charlotte. People think of and
charge people thing of Charlotte as a burgeoning market. It maybe,

(07:05):
but but they have that Scarlett letter right there. Like
the divorce say, like, you can get divorced once. Anybody
gets divorced once. Can you get divorced twice? Now you
become that guy that's on his third marriage. So, can't
move the team, can't sell the team. Gotta make it
work and make money doing so. Kemba Walker is a
tremendous player. He was third team All NBA and whether

(07:28):
or not he should have been, whatever, He's one of
the top twenty five or so guys in the NBA.
He's in his you know, he's he's in his athletic prime.
You're going and you have to over pay him on
some level to keep him or or pay him to
get him. But the idea of well you have to
pay him what he's worth. Listen, I know people like

(07:52):
Jay Williams right have some business acumen and they do
TV shows about sports business. Let me tell you the
basics of valuation personal professional valuations in business. Do you
know what something is worth? Okay, it is worth what

(08:14):
somebody is willing somebody else is willing to pay for it.
I have a piano in my house. It's a piano
from the nineteen thirties. Told the story before, it's worth
the telling again. And I was looking for a piano
and a buddy of mine's like, look, it's not a
stein White. It's not very nice piano. And um and

(08:35):
my daughters were playing piano there, like two if three
or four years old at the time. Whatever. My wife
plays the piano. You know, it's like kind like a
signature piece of your house. And my buddy said, like,
look there's a piano that it's right now. You can
get it at auction because nobody's been on it and
the low bid is like I let the auction expire.

(08:59):
I offered the person I think it was like bucks,
maybe two thousand dollars for the piano. And the gentleman
who owned it called me and he went for a
half hour on this piano has done this and been
in this store, and this has been evaluated at ten
thousan dollars. And I said, sir, respectfully, that piano is
worth what somebody is willing to pay for it. And

(09:20):
I'm willing to pay two thousand dollars for it. And
you had in the six hundred dollars and shipping. I'll
pay that as well as tars. We'll have a come
guy come and tune it up, and it'd be great
for my family. We have it, we've had it for
a decade. So this idea that that Michael Jordan's supposed
to drive his team into the ditch. They didn't make
the playoffs overpay to get Kemba Walker and oh yeah,

(09:43):
by the way, he's a former player, only reeks of
the lack of true business acumen of a lot of players,
which they don't understand that at the end of the day,
the bottom line is the bottom line, especially when you're
not competing for championships. Doesn't mean we don't like you,
doesn't mean we don't love you. It just means it
doesn't make fess sense. Okay, so all of this stuff

(10:06):
is fascinating, but the guys calling out Michael Jordan's, the
former superstar player who understands fully how to keep the
Hornets functioning financially, is kind of ironic. Let's get the
damn buyer. He's got breaking news. Damn when he got

(10:26):
breaking news from Fox Sports? News is plural in this case.
First of all, at the Women's World Cup, the Americans
have scored right away against France and their quarterfinal match,
Megan Rapino a goal in the fifth minute. You can
see it right now on Fox. It's one nothing USA
in the eleventh minute. And this from Adrian Warzanowski of ESPN.
The Warriors are expected to offer Clay Thomps today five

(10:46):
year max contract with one ninety million dollars once free
agency begins Sunday at six o'clock Eastern time, and Thompson
and his representative are expected to accept that offer. So
it looks like Doug Clay Thompson is going to be
staying with the Golden State Warriors right now. Now look
the listen that the different there. There is a difference
here with the Warriors as opposed. And the Warriors are

(11:07):
owned uh by billionaire businessmen or whatever, and they bought
it for I think they bought it for four or
five million dollars. Now it's like the second most valuable, uh,
second most valuable team in the NBA to the Knicks.
I'm gonna say maybe the Lakers are right there as well.
Part of that evaluation is they own the new arena
that they're going to occupy that has a ton of value,

(11:29):
and they're gonna go into the luxury tax and you
just say, Doug, well they're gonna lose money. Well, they may,
but this is again they're competing for championships and they've
made a lot of money and all those playoff games
make you money over the years, not just in your valuation,
but the day to day you're turning a profit. And
now you've got to pay a luxury text. It's different.

(11:49):
It's a different calculus when you're winning and your make
you have extra extra cash as well as you're owned
by It's like the minority owner who pushed Kyle Lowry.
He's owned by you know, two point seven billion dollar guys.
That those guys can take it. These guys can take
a loss, like, all right, we're not collecting dividends, all right,
we write off a loss this year. Some some owners

(12:09):
are willing to do that. And remember, if they resigned
Kevin Durant, they're gonna be paying like three fifty million
dollars in taxas, like crazy, crazy money. And they would
do that to try and you know, maintain this dynasty
that they have. But you know, Kevin Durant and Lebron

(12:32):
James and other players have said they want to ultimately
be an NBA owner. Michael Jordan's is the picture of
what they want to be. He has his own shoe brand,
he has his own NBA team, and he understands the
reality of I love Kemba Walker. I'm not gonna give
him the Super Max so that I pay him the

(12:54):
last two years in his mid thirties forty something million dollars,
meanwhile being the tax hell for the entirety of his contract,
and we're already not a playoff team. That doesn't make sense.
It's not personal, it's just business. It's just business. Doug
Gotleap Show on Fox Sports Radio and BA insider Sam

(13:15):
Amick joins the show. All right, so Clay Thompson is back.
What does that mean for Kevin Durant? And the newest
rumor is Kawhi Leonard is seriously considering the l A Lakers.
How serious is that consideration? Plus we got an injury

(13:35):
in the World Cup. We'll get to that next. Be
sure to catch live editions of The Doug dot Leap
Show weekdays at noon eastern three pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio, a app Doug
Got Leap Show, Fox Sports Radio. So the the women
are up one nil, and uh, I'm gonna look, I'm

(13:56):
not I'm not crazy. I'm not gonna see here and
lie to you just because it's on five Sports that
I'm some crazy women's soccer fan. But I do like
the idea of this is the this essentially becomes the
premier match, right playing on the road against the French
team for a chance to to defend your own untitled
But man, if you thought the dudes take dives, you've

(14:19):
never seen anything like this. And the women soccer is
a super physical sport the highest level. But I mean
they are going down like they got shot from a cannon.
Crazy Sam and Michael Jonas in a moment. So that
the story of the story of the day is has
been reported by I think Stephen A. Smith was the

(14:39):
first reporter that Kawai Leonard will seriously consider, seriously consider
an offer from the Lakers. Huh huh um. Pretty fascinating
stuff right now. I've been told that obviously everybody knows
the Lakers are still a pursuing Kauai. I've been told
that the discussions is not really don't really think they

(15:02):
can get Kyrie, but they'll put feelers out there. The
Kemba things seems to be done in Boston, even though
no one's supposedly talked to anybody else, and Katie has
never had any interests in joining the Lakers, in addition
to the fact that he's not gonna play much of
if any of next year, and the Lakers are in
win now mode. I've been told that the Lakers are, hey,

(15:24):
we'll go out to Kauai. If we don't get him,
then we'll spread that money out. Let's ask same Ammick.
He's been an NBA inside of for years, works for
the Athletic now fall on Twitter at Sam underscore amck um.
Let's let's start with that report. Is that what you're
hearing that Kauai is going to seriously consider the Lakers. Yeah,
it's funny, Doug. A couple of days ago, Um was

(15:47):
being told that from the Clippers perspective that they did
not have any genuine fear about the Lakers in regards
to Kauai, and so like, I always trying to make
sure that we hit the target as close as possible.
I had to make sure I made a bunch of
calls on Matt Idea and then eventually was told from

(16:09):
you know, folks who I definitely trust that you know,
I would not write that that's just simply not true.
That the Clippers were aware that the Lakers and everything
that comes with them are always going to pose a threat.
So I mean, that's that's probably how I would answer it.
That noise is getting louder, and because they now you know,
listen to give Rob to link a credit to this point,

(16:31):
you know, he got his guy and a b He
now withstood a lot of criticism during that confusing time
when it wasn't clear whether or not they were going
to be able to have max money for another guy.
Now they have the max money. He got that deal done,
and now you have the ability to, you know, walk
into a room with Kawhi, Leonardon, Uncle Dennis and try

(16:52):
to get this thing done. And they do. They just
they're always going to have a different kitch than everybody
else in the NBA, and I think that certainly puts
them in the game. Yeah. And and now with the
the Anthony Davis thing is, hey, it used to be, hey,
trust us, you know if what we only have Lebron,
but what others will come with him? Now it's you
don't have to trust us. We already have Anthony Davis.

(17:14):
Like this is the reality to it. And so it
does in addition to the you know, the what is
its seventeen banners or sixteen banners that hang in the
rafters and all those other things that come with it.
And Kauai growing up in southern California obviously knows that.
But it's isn't it the they're not they're not making
promises that haven't already been kept, right, right, It's just

(17:36):
it's a far different landscape. Like if you even hit
the re re one button a couple of years and
you compare this, you know, expected meeting to like a
LaMarcus Aldridge type infamous Lakers meeting that went badly. And
you know that room had business people, it had entertainment people.
I forget which Hollywood producer it was, but they it

(17:59):
was all the bells and whistles, but it was not
the basketball. And Kawhi Leonard is a basketball guy. We
know that. You know, don't come in with the glitz
and the glamour with at him. Come in with with
a you know a picture of high level basketball possibilities.
And then certainly like he's not a glitz and glamour guy,
but he is a paycheck guy. So come in with

(18:22):
all the intel about how players who play for the Lakers,
they just they have more revenue streams. They just simply
do from a marketing standpoint, from a off court business standpoint.
That my favorite example along those lines was Nick Young's
short lived tenure with the Lakers. Like do you remember
that stretch where like in terms of just exposure, Nick

(18:44):
Young was everywhere, And you know that's that's a guy
who's a lower level player. So you know that's those
are the advantages they have. And uh, and I do
think they have a crack at this thing? Sam Ammy
joined us on the Doug Gutlet Show on Fox Sports Radio.
So where does that leave the Raptors um, I mean
they there's still let's not you know, the Lakers thing

(19:06):
is is super interesting to talk about yesterday today going
into free agency. But we should I mean, I'm glad
you asked, because we should not forget at all for
a second how much positivity and optimism there still is
coming from Toronto. And that stuff is very real people
who know him, you know, not just the social media stuff,
because it is interesting to see like, okay, you put

(19:28):
a blue Jay shirt on today as he went to
Barbados or wherever he was for vacation, Like he keeps
donning Toronto gear, which the fans love in Toronto. But
there's also very real optimism. I mean, I had somebody
tell me yesterday who represents someone on the Raptors one
of the better players, that at this point he's not

(19:50):
promising anything to anybody, but his teammates would be very
surprised if he didn't return. And I think that's you know,
we gotta pay attention to that. A lot of the
of the sports media does center around New York, and
so because the city itself is wants the Knicks to
be good, because they seem to have UM a better
management team than they've had in years. In terms of

(20:12):
all being kind of lockstep in what the plan is,
you don't have the kind of guys pulling in different directions.
I think most people like, well, you know, like I
know they're tanking, but it's it's a pretty kind of
good plan. They get a R. J. Barrett instead of
getting Zion who they obviously wanted UM, but now they're
running the risk of striking out. Where are we with

(20:32):
the New York Knicks and your expectations for them the
next week? Yeah, I mean it's dicey now, I mean
it's they they you know, they continue to say like
they did back in UM forgetting when Porzingis got traded
late January, that that you know, the plan was not
always to you know, all in on KB and Kyrie.

(20:53):
The plan was to part ways with Porzingis, and I wrote,
I wrote some of this yesterday, like it's fair to
make sure we also, you know, remember that it got
it was way more toxic with Porzingis, And the next
thing we realized at the time, you know, he they claim,
and they said this publicly, that that he threatened to
go to Spain to rehab as a c L, to

(21:13):
be away from the team, to incur fines willingly, and
they just decided that there's this relationship had to come
to an end. But at the same time, it's set
the stage for big name guys to finally come to
the Garden. And now it looks like they are in
the back of the pack. They're still projecting, you know,
not necessarily optimism, but like the idea that even if

(21:34):
they swing and missed it, they still feel good about
the track they are on. Um, but there's it's gonna
be tough to kind of put lipstick on that pig
if the Nets get Kyrie. I mean, I don't think
that Durant is going to Brooklyn, but if he did,
you know, that would just be a tough, tough till
the swallow for the team on the other side of
the city. But you know, we shall see. They still

(21:56):
feel confident that they're going to get an audience with
Kauai and you know, again, I think they're in the
back of that pack, but they just things have changed
since that trade and Uh, and you know, it's very
different from a couple of months ago when we were
saying on the airways that, you know, certain things seem
to be unofficially done. Sam Ammy joining us on the
Doug Gotlip Show on Fox Sports Radio. Sam does an

(22:17):
outstanding job covers the NBA, is an insider for the
athletic He joined us here on Fox Sports Radio as
we're just a couple of days away from free agency striking. Um, okay,
so let's let's get to the Warriors how it relates
to k D. The most recent report from Ajian war
Danowski is that they are going to have offer Clay
Thompson the max even though he'll miss su substantial portion

(22:40):
of next year with the A c L So that
eliminates and and he's accepted, he's expected to accept, right
will you? Yes? I do? Right? So? Uh what next
for the one? The next is Kevin Durant. Are they
do they have a legit shot of keeping him? Yeah?
I think they do for one. And and our guy

(23:02):
who covers the Warriors so well, Anthony Slater, did a
great job kind of highlighting one thing that had not
been talking about specifically that much, which is not only
can the Warriors offer him more money than anybody else?
That part is obvious, but like the specific number really
strikes you. In that fifth year. If he signed a
five year deal with the Warriors, then at the age

(23:22):
of thirty five years old, he would be making fifty
million dollars, And that's astounding. Even if he never tore
his achilles. It's even more illuminating, I think for him
because of the injury. Because now, I mean not that
Kevin Duran is worried about cash. He's got, you know,
enough for a few dozen generations already. But that's a

(23:45):
big deal. And and not only that, I think the
relationship stuff is just what he's gonna be chewing on
every single hour leading up until free agency. Right now,
Where am I at, you know, with Joe Laco, Where
I'm at with Bob Meyers, Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, Draymond
all that stuff. But you know, if you look, if
you're him, and you look out there, um, if you're not,
for whatever reason, excited about Brooklyn, and only he knows that,

(24:08):
then I think and if you're just you're clearly not
into the Lakers thing. Everybody you talked to says just
not his bag, then what else is there out there
that's better than these Warriors? You know, if they hold
on to Clay and get him back, they're hoping as
early as February, and then you have a you know,
an environment that's comfortable, and you rehab, you come back

(24:30):
and and then it listen, if it goes south. We
all know that superstars eventually get their way. You know,
you can force a trade down the line. So I
do think they have a shot end of the day. Um,
where does he end up? Um? I mean for now,
I'll say Warriors, that's the one. You know. I know

(24:50):
there's reports of frustration on his part potentially about the
medical stuff, you know, in the way it was handled
during the final Steve Kerb did an interview the other
day publicly saying he's not heard any of that noise. Um.
I think again, there's none of the other scenarios to me,
I can't miss. And you know, the Clippers certainly feel
like they're in the back of the pack for Kevin,

(25:12):
and so you know that's kind of gotten me off
that idea of maybe a Kauai Durant pairing that they've
dreamt about for a long time. Uh, and the next thing,
it just seems you know you're gonna go there by yourself.
With James Dolan just absolutely killing his own PR again
recently with terrible timing, with all this New York Daily News,
you know, friction that's been going on. So you know,

(25:32):
if I gotta take one, I think Warriors right now. Yeah, No,
it's it's it's crazy. It's the Dold and things crazy
right because he he literally has no say in the
day to day operations, and they've they've made it a
point to bring in a completely different regime. And then
you know now of a sudden that you know, he
he doesn't like the PR and so he keeps a
couple of reporters from an introductory press conference which is

(25:56):
you know, all hugs and kisses. It just it boggles,
does Doug. It just reminds all at the worst possible time.
That reminds all these high level players who owns the team,
like this is just this is the time for Scott
Perry to be out front ther GM we I think
has done a really good job and who has respect,
who is capable, who who does the right things. It's

(26:17):
almost like you know, you you buy a brand new
house and it's super fancy and you love it, but
you know you didn't lose a bad analogy if you're
renting and you find out who owns this wonderful house
that you were enjoying, and then once you learn I
got a better one for it, I got a better
one for you. It's you're you're looking at the house,
You're like, man, what why is this house been on
the market for six months? What is the deal? Like, Yeah,

(26:39):
there's a murder. Yeah, it's like one of one of those.
They get to the disclosures and you're like, completely rotted out. Yes,
built on an Indian burial ground. Oh, I'm gonna hard
pass on, hard pass on this one. Um. The Kemba
walkers seems to be a surprise to a lot of people.

(27:00):
What's the validity to those reports that Kemba to Boston
is is almost a formality? Have you heard that? Not
too much independently. I haven't dug too much on the
Camba stuff. UM. I certainly trust the reporting of other
high level guys out there and women who have said

(27:20):
this was this is very real. I'm drawing a blanket.
And somebody had made a point to highlight that not
only was it noised, but from the Boston market that
they were believing it from the Celtic standpoint, um, and
it it makes sense at least from the anti Charlotte
standpoint because as much as both sides always professed their
love for one another, Michael Jordan and Kemba, there's just

(27:41):
two realities here that we always knew we're gonna be tough,
kind of a tough gap to bridge, which is the
Supermax is just astronomical money. And it's not you know,
it's no one's trying to disrespect Kemba, but it's just,
you know, for what he gives you as a smaller
guard and that kind of money in the team that
didn't even get in the playoffs, you know, like he's

(28:02):
just not that guy. He's not. Like I tried to
explain it. It's interesting, you know, I tried to explain
in starting my show that like some of these players
say they want to be owners, excuse me, governors someday,
UM in the NBA. And Michael, here's Michael Jordan. He
has his own shoe brand, right, it's his it's his
home state. He obviously can't can't move the team. UM

(28:26):
And like just the financial realities of it. It's not
that he doesn't want to pay guys, but you can't.
You can't pay everybody, you can't pay your stars, ridiculous
money which handcuffs you to do anything else or to
even make money with your franchise. Right absolutely, like the Warriors.
I mean, hypothetically, if the Warriors were not moving to
the Chase Center in San Francisco next year, and this

(28:46):
is just you know, hypothetical, fake world, I would predict
that they were, they would not be offering a max
deal to either Clay or Kevin because the numbers don't
work because they're going to the Chase Center, and it
was I think he has pana report today that it's
worth you know, an additional two million in revenue annually
for them that now you can cut those checks you

(29:08):
know you have. It's Laker asked, you know where the
money is on such a level you can do that.
You can't do that in Charlotte. So not shocked at
all to see that. It seems clear that Charlotte chapter
for him is going to come to an end. And
then in boston's in a tough spot where with all
those young guys, I think Kevic could be a good fit.
You know, we'll see what that number ends up looking

(29:28):
like if that's where he goes. But you know, that
does make sense to me. What what do the Rockets
look like when they take the floor next season? Uh? Man,
I can't figure out that Jimmy Butler stuff. I mean,
I've got a good read on it, but what I
cannot pin down is just his level of interest. Um.
You know, I poked around on that about a month
ago from his perspective, and it was kind of dismissed

(29:52):
at the time in terms of it being a priority
for him potentially, And then now it seems very real.
You know, he's obviously from the hugh An area. Um,
but we also have to take some of this stuff
with a grain of salt, only because Darryl Moury is
the most aggressive executive in the league. And he's constantly,
you know, just diving headlong down paths that sometimes he's

(30:15):
willing to go down all these different paths that lead
to nowhere. That's just how he operates. And so I mean,
they're gonna have James and Chris and and you know
from there, I really don't know. I gotta know what
Jimmy thinks because I was told on the Philadelphia side
that you know, if in fact, Jimmy decides to do Houston,
and that's if he tells that to the Sixers, that

(30:37):
there would likely be a willingness to cooperate in that
sign and trade. And that shouldn't surprise anybody because the people,
you know, players you're talking about potentially being involved are
are good players, and they're on decent contracts. You know,
even Capella five years, ninety million. It's a lot of money.
But um, we'll see you. I think you've got to
know what Jimmy wants first. Awesome stuff. Sam. I know

(31:00):
it's gonna be a super super busy weekend in the
next week. We really appreciate your time in joining us
on Fox Sports Tradio. You got it. Thank Sam Ammick,
one of the best in the business. Follow him on
Twitter at sam Underscore Ammick or Reda's work in the
athletic Which big time free agent will be the first
to change teams this summer? I'll tell you next. Be
sure to catch live editions of The Doug dot Leap

(31:22):
Show weekdays at noon Eastern three pm Pacific. Doug Gottlip
Show Fox Sports Tradio every day. This time we catch
up on a bunch of stories. We give poetic leeway
and license to Dan buyer to play a game. This
is game time on the Doug gott Leap Show. Doug

(31:43):
Gotli Show has brought to you by Discover Card. We
treat you like you'd treat you, Dan. What's the game today? Oh?
It's psychic? Yeah, Doug, the game today is like, yeah,
you knew that because you can look ahead and see
into the future. I don't know if you know the scenarios,
but we'll we'll take a stab at that psychic. What
will be the first the final score, that is, of
this USA France match at the Women's World Cup. There

(32:07):
at the half, the Americans lead the French by a
score of one nail. What's gonna be the final score?
Two to one in favor of all? Right? There we go, alright,
just making sure I wanted to clarify psychic psychic who
will be the first free agent? By the way, your
buddy Hunter Mayhan watching the Women's World Cup, speaking of

(32:29):
golf to sawm tweet a little bit earlier, He's a
I was surprised. I thought maybe be tweeting about the yeah,
golf or something, but I was watching the watching the match. Psychic.
Who will be the first free agent to change teams
once free agency begins, Kemba Walker pretty quick. You think
it's gonna be a Sunday deal? Uh? Yeah, I think

(32:53):
it'll be announced like you know, Sunday late. Yes, I
think they're gonna wait for the Fox Sports Sunday Show
with Nick Bond. That's exactly what they were. I'll see
if see if Kemball text you and come on your
show right and now? Yeah, yeah, give it a shot now.
Mark Stott of the New York Times says the Rockets
do have a trade partner for Clint Capella, but they're
only gonna trade Capella if they know they haven't agreement.

(33:14):
Yeah with the seventies Sixers for Jimmy Butler is so psychic.
Will the Sixers end up agreeing on a side in
trade that would send Jimmy Butler to the Rockets? Yes,
I think there's enough smoke. There will be some fire.
They're not just the engine of the Rockets. But for
Jimmy Butler to be there, man, that would be that
would be something else. I I mean if considering what
the Lakers have done, then he had the Rockets getting

(33:36):
Jimmy Butler, and yeah, that would be that would make
the West quite interesting, to say the least psychic. Do
you think the new coaches challenge in the NBA will
be here to stay? After a possible trial year, next
season they get one challenge for an auto bounds play,
maybe a goaltending or basket interference, a player foul. Do
you think that's going to stay? I guess. I mean

(33:59):
the problem is it's it's really hard to put that
genie back in the bottle. The problem is, like the
replays they are. They already have a replay on every
out of bounds under two minutes to go. You know,
so if they took out the replays and they said
you get a replay challenge, I would actually be more
for that because they're constantly reviewing stuff. But yes, I
think it'll be here to say, it's tough if a
play happens at two oh five, you know, like where

(34:20):
it's still pretty important. You'd like to give the coaches
some sort of leeway. Switching gears to Baseball, Angels outfielder
Mike Trout said today that someday he may enter a
home run derby. Psychic, do you ever see Mike Trout
committing to the event. He's not gonna take part in
Cleveland in about a week and a half. But do
you see Mike Trout ever competing in home run Derby? I?

(34:41):
I do, I do. Um. I just think, you know,
you gotta you gotta find the right time, so future
All Star games in Major League Baseball, right, Yes, that
way next season, Yes, that's that's where it feels like
he'll do it. They also have Philadelphia that would be
in the ways in the future. I felt. I feel

(35:04):
like next year he's like teasing us that next year
will be the year in which he'll do it. Well, well,
hopefully they can alter the baseball to make it go
further than it does. Uh, Psychic, do you see the
Tampa Bay Montreal dual home situation ever coming to fruition
for the raise? I do? I do. I think it's
the only way they can hold on to their team,
and I didn't the Canadian thing. Uh, it'll make it.

(35:28):
Montreal can't get a team on their own, and this
is the way to do. You know, you gotta get
a It's it's like a trade partner. You gotta get
a bed partner who can't get a team on their own,
doesn't want it on their own, wants it on their own,
but can't do it, can't pull it off. Whereas like
Portland's they want their own team, Austin, they want their
own team. I don't think that's the case here with
with UH, with Tampa and with Montreal. I think it'll work,

(35:49):
all right, psychic. Finally, what does I think they'll try
and make it work? What is going to be the
best part of your weekend? Yeah? What do you think
is gonna end up being? You know what? That was
the best part of these last couple of days. Got
any big weekend plans? No, I'm gonna hit the beach, dude,
simple enough. And that's uh. I knew that. That's psychic.

(36:15):
This is game time on the Duck Gottlieb Show. All Right,
we got a lot to get to. We've covered a
lot of NBA ground, a lot of NBA ground, but
let's get to the Kawai Leonard thing coming up next?
All right, So quiet Leonard is a two time NBA
Finals m v P. He's from southern California, but he's

(36:37):
never played in southern California as a member of the
Clippers of the Lakers. Heck, he really was in localit
San Diego State. So the idea of come back home
like it's not. It's a place to which he kind
of lives, kind of calls home, but not really. What's
amazing about it is now there's talk that Kawai Leonard
could become a Laker or at least have serious consideration,

(37:00):
and of course that's met with media pushback. I'll tell
you why it's completely different from k D and why
it makes total sense. Next in the Doug Gotli Show,
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. What uf to

(37:22):
Godli Show Fox Sports Radio m It's brought to you
by Farmers. At Farmers, we've seen almost everything, so we're
not to cover almost anything. When it's game time, have
experienced player help you stay at the game, put their
experience and play at Farmers dot com. Are Farmers? Oh man?

(37:42):
What a wild Sunday into next week it's going to
be as free agency is here, kiddos. It is legitimately here.
Hope you're great, not good, Hope you're just outstanding as
you get ready for a summer weekend Women's World Cup
taking place. We're up one nil at the half against

(38:02):
France in France. Winner goes to the semi finals. So
Dan Byo keep us updated on that that game is
on Fox US Senior Open is on Fox Sports one.
So that's the only really sports being played right now.
And of course you got big baseball at this weekend.
But let's let's dive in with what's I think this

(38:23):
become like a story of the day. You know, yesterday
was Kemba and the assumption now that suddenly he's going
to Boston, that's a surprise, and maybe to double down
on surprise, like surprise Friday surprise. Stephen A. Smith said
that the Lakers are gonna be under serious consideration from
by Kawhi Leonard, his colleague, former colleague mine uh Jay

(38:52):
will J Williams said, and and I quote it would
be the weakest move in the history of basketball. Huh. Well,
in addition to old takes exposed pointing out that Jay
Williams did not call out Kevin Durant, who he's friends

(39:14):
with For people criticizing Kevin Durant, they should know the
inner dynamics of their team before saying it's the weakest
move ever. Okay, look, there's there is a difference, I think.
I mean, I don't think it's no different to me.
I wouldn't care. You're allowed to pick wherever you want
to go work, and they have to find a way

(39:36):
to form, uh to form a team. By the way,
the US team almost scored the very like the first
fifteen seconds of the second half. Um, like, that's the
whole reason you're a free agent. And by the way,
Toronto knew. Toronto knew that there's a chance they could

(39:57):
lose him because he said he wanted to be in
l A when the Spurs initially traded him. Remember then,
And oh yeah, by the way, like we didn't think
anybody wanted to go to l A. No one said
it was week before when Lebron went there and they
cleared out cast base. I think we're gonna have spots
for two guys. You know, you can get Anthony Dais,

(40:20):
but you can't get anybody else who's really good. I
guess it's because you're leaving a championship team. Look, the
difference is Kevin Durant's team got closed, couldn't get over
the hump in Oaklham City. Kawhi Leonards team finished the
job twice. He's already champion, he's already two time m VP.
If he wants to go, he'd go. I actually don't

(40:45):
know how it would all work. I'm not totally convinced
Lebron and Anthony Davis are a perfect fit. But you
get three of the top five players in the NBA.
I mean, it's pretty amazing, right, But it's the opposite
of Kdi, who had not accomplished um in terms of
in the playoffs in the finals. What Kawai Leonards accomplished.

(41:08):
He accomplished more in terms of the body of work
the regular season and scoring titles, but he needed a
championship to solidify him as one of the all time
grades does Look, I have no information to tell you
that the Lakers are getting Kauai. I do know that
the Lakers, from what I've been told, if they don't

(41:30):
get Kauai, then they probably spend the money around. They
just don't think there's anyone else that they could get
that's worth giving that max contract too. And it wouldn't
make sense for what they're trying to build. But if
you can get Kawhi Leonard, it's worth it. Then you
get a mid level exception. Then everybody else is a
minimum contract guy. That makes sense. I don't think it

(41:51):
would be the weakest move ever. I think I think
would be really interesting. I mean, you would be betting
on a coach who's never won a championship and three
players being better than other teams, and it's not a
crazy bet, but it'd be interesting, but also be the
opposite of what Kevin duranted. Ryan, you you want to

(42:14):
say something. Another thing I've heard about Kawhi Leonard joining
the Lakers is like a lot of the idea that like, oh,
why would Kauai Leonard want to go to the Lakers
in order to be the third option? Because like, oh, well,
everyone knows it's Lebron's team, and if Anthony Davis is
Lebron's guy, he'd be the third option. Do you think
that actually still be the case if a player like

(42:35):
Kawuahi Leonard came in that they would just automatically try
and peg him into the third slot. No. No, by
the way, they'd still have Kyle Kuzma two, Like, how
good would that team be? Again, there's not a lot
of of true guards and ball handlers, so you'd need
a you know, you'd have to. You'd be dealing with
a bunch of different, you know, lower level guards in

(42:58):
terms of valuations. But um, yeah, I mean you're not.
You're gonna have Kawhi Leonard not given the basketball right.
And I also think it's a way to manage the
regular season better where why I can miss time, Like, look, dude,
you gotta miss time. You missed, you missed these these

(43:18):
ten games, almost those ten games. Anthon Davis missed those
ten games, Kyle kuzum is five games. And let's roll.
I don't think that's a I don't think that's crazy
time at all. I don't, I don't, I don't. I
think that's actually very reasonable way to look at it. Um.
And and you know, again, here's the difference in in
the Kevin Durant to some extent before he left to

(43:43):
Kawhi Leonard, which is, well, who's going to get the
ball at the end of the game. A couple of things. First,
Lebron is never the Lebron late at Cleveland wanted the
ball and took the big shot, but he's always like
to create shots for other people. Secondly, I do think
we have to realize that Lebron One knows he's older.
Like I've been told, he's lost a bunch of weight

(44:03):
and we'll see if he keeps it off, and then
he knows he's got to kind of change his body.
But I'm sure he also knows that there's got to
be a next phase to his game where he can
be a little bit more of a blended player. And
he tried that some with last year's team two limited
success and a lot of failure early. There's no reason
that he can't play with others. Is it ideal? Maybe not. Again,

(44:27):
we're not saying that this is gonna I'm not sitting
here saying this is gonna happen. I just don't think
it's the craziest thing. I don't think it's a terrible idea,
because you know, the Clippers situation is is a better
version of what the Lakers were selling last year. Right
the Lakers were selling the hey, come here, trust us,

(44:47):
we'll figure it out. The Clippers are like, come here,
trust us. Our culture is going to be so good
that we'll figure out how to win when we've never
won here before. Well what about the what what about
adding somebody else? Like yeah, and I know that there
are people who are a Toronto one with one star. Look,

(45:08):
you can tell yourself that that's cool. They needed a
crazy bounce on a home rim. It hit the rim
four times to in front, to and back for a
rolled in to beat Game seven, beat the Sixers at home,
and then they needed k d Uh Clay Kevon Looney
and even Andrea Dolla to be banged up in order

(45:31):
to beat the Warriors. So like, you can give me
the one star one superstar is the way to go,
because the Raptors want Like, Okay, if you can promise
that the other team is gonna lose half their roster
to injuries, then sure, I'll go with the one star thing.
And that's what the Clippers would be. Uh, that's what
the Clippers would be. So I just I'm not gonna

(45:56):
sit here and tell you that I I don't think
actually the fits perfect in terms of personnel, Like I
think there are other guards that fit better. But it
would be awesome to see you just line up like
all right, they here was a starting lineup and you
got Kauai Letard and Anthony Davis and Lebron James Like, wow,

(46:16):
can you imagine being Magic Johnson or Tyrone LOEU? Watching that,
that was like, maybe I should have taken that contract.
It was a little less money, a couple of two
less years than I wanted, but I could have gotten
the contract extension after winning a championship the first year.
I think the whole thing is fun um. But I

(46:36):
also love when guys who I mean, you know, whether
it's you look like Steven A, for example, who he
didn't call this one the weakest one. He called k
D the weakest one. Right, But like, look, I thought
Stephen A made a bold move early in his career.
Do you guys remember Stephen Aid was a political commentator
for like two years with CNN. It actually happened, Like

(47:00):
that's bold. It's not smart, but it's bold. But all
these all these people are like, well that's weak to
go join, you know. Lebron James like, is it staying
in Toronto is safe? Might be smart? It's safe. They
love you. You want a championship, you don't win one again.

(47:21):
I kind of think trying it with Lebron James and
going to l A is bold. Going to the Clippers
is super bold. Going to the Mavericks who feel like
it's dumb, but maybe bold. They got a bunch of
cap room, they got prezingis and they got the Rookie
of the Year. But I just I I see so

(47:41):
many people comparing this to Kevin Durant and like, look,
Durant hadn't one yet, he hadn't proven he can take
it and made the big shots, which he he did.
By the way, he proved to everybody. Kil has proved
what he need to prove. Now you can pick his
next place where he wants to live and he wants
to work, and maybe it's the Lakers. Maybe at the
end of the day he looks at he's like, I

(48:03):
don't know, I like the Clippers, but it's the Lakers.
And that's not a crazy thought to have. There's one
team everyone is hyping in free agency right now. People
are saying, if this team signs k Kawhi Leonard, they'd
be champions. I'll tell you who it is and why
I'm not buying it. Next. Be sure to catch live

(48:23):
editions of The Doug Got Leap Show weekdays at noon
Eastern three pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
I Heart Radio app Doug Got Leaps show. You're on
Fox Sports Radio. So much to get to today? You know,
it's interesting, Um, there is a there's a good amount
of talk. There's a good amount of talk over over

(48:47):
the Clippers. Right there was just this Kauai to the
Clippers and the Clippers are puffing out their chest and
the Clippers are you know, no one really knows how
the salary cap works, but currently the Clippers are only
able to sign one Max contract free agent. They're likely
to have to work a signing trade to acquire another

(49:08):
Max contract. And I don't know, like if they signed
Kawhi Leonard. Are they legit contenders? Remember part of what
made them who they are is well Patrick Barrelet's toughness,
Patrick Beverley could be gone, could be gone. They have

(49:31):
to find somebody to take on Danilla Danilla Gallinari's contract
in order to get the second Max player and and
making that jump, making that jump from man, they're fun. Man,
They've got great culture. They seem to be building something too,
legit NBA title contender, Like that's a big jump. Remember

(49:57):
they challenge the Warriors until Kevin was like, what were
we doing here? Here's forty five? You know? So, I mean,
I I get it right. You win a couple of
games in an early playoff run, and everybody falls in
love with you. And I like Landry Shammon, I like

(50:21):
shay Gil just Alexander. But if you think in their
second year in the NBA they're going to compete for
an NBA title, tell me where else that has happened.
Let me know, let me know where that let me
know where that is, you know, and and and even
though they did they were competitive at the end of

(50:43):
the year. One of the reasons they made the playoffs
was they had Tobias Harris a good portion of the year,
and then they thought they were gonna be bad. They
were like, wow, we're kind of close to not making it.
Let's let's work on next year. Let's open up those
two salary spots the possibility of it. And then they
got to be where they were decent now. Part of

(51:05):
them making the playoffs, part of it was that there
were so many teams in the West that were dumping
games and trying to be bad, and some of it
was they just played harder than everybody else, which is great.
Part of me really wants to see Kauai with this
team because if you can win in San Antonio, all right,
they won before. If you go into Toronto they were close,

(51:26):
you can win in with the Clippers. No one's ever
been able to do that. But that's also a hard
sale for Kawhi Leonard. Right, you're coming from a franchise
that was close but couldn't close the deal, and previously
a championship franchise where you were the best player, but
they already had a culture to now you have a

(51:46):
good culture of competitiveness, but not in the playoffs. And
and you know, the greatest benefit you can have in
sports and life is low expectations. You know, low expectations.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports

(52:08):
Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app
search f s R to listen live. So they have
this new like the NBA is like, oh, you have
your coaches Challenge. We got our coaches Challenge, and it's
kind of a weird thing for the NBA. It really

(52:28):
is like, did we actually need a coach's Challenge? So
they're gonna allow it for the summer and see how
it goes. The NBA will implement a coaches challenge for
the upcoming summer leagues, and it anticipates using this rule
in the regular season part of a pilot program. Coaches

(52:48):
will get only one challenge per game, whether it's successful
and successful according to this memo that's out there, you
can use it to challenge only called fouls, goaltending, basket interference,
and when the ball knocked out of bounds? What about
fouls that aren't culled? Doesn't that feel like I remember
they they this is like in college football in the

(53:09):
NFL where they review every scoring play. What about when
a ball is ruled incomplete or a fumble is ruled
and there's no touchdown it really was a touchdown? Like
that feels like a loophole. Coaches must have a time
out to use the challenge. That's okay, there's so many
time outs in an NBA game. Team must call it

(53:30):
time out immediately after the event it would like to challenge,
and the coach must twirl his and I love that
they put or her finger towards the referee to signal
for the challenge. But I've already found the first loophole.
You can't challenge a foul that's not called. And in

(53:52):
terms of out of bounds, we already review everything under
two minutes, and it makes it really hard to watch,
really hard to watch. I'm gonna twirl my finger and
the review that segment for a second. Meanwhile, let's get
to Tany Ganguli, who joins us on the Doug Gotlip
Show here on Fox Sports Radio. She covers the l
a Lakers for a Living And Uh, Tanya, I'm sure

(54:15):
you heard what the pundits on TV have said, which
is guide Leonards gonna seriously consider the Lakers. You know,
the Lakers. What are their expectations? Um, I think that
right now they're trying to sort of manage expectations because
the word that I got once they once they were
able to rework their deal and once they were able

(54:36):
to rework their their deal for Anthony Davis and get
that max cap space was that this could be for
a Max guy or it could just be extra space
to use with several different guys. So I think they're
sort of hedging their bets. I mean, there is a feeling,
there has been a feeling with a lot of different
people that once the Raptors won the championship that that's
about's where Kai felt most comfortable and that he would

(54:58):
stay there. So it's really we I mean, it's but
it is hard to know, and I think there are
a lot of there's a lot of uncertainty about where
he will go, and um, the Lakers are just happy
that right now they have a chance to go that route. Yeah,
it's it's fascinating and though how the momentum seems to
have completely changed, at least the narrative of the momentum

(55:18):
is completely changed with the Lakers. What's the reality in
that building? Does it feel different or is it or
is it just weird because there's nobody under contract. It
was funny today we were just in there. We're just
in the gym for summer league practice, and there were
two guys that were in the facility that we're part
of the team last year, Lebron and Kyle Kuzma. They're

(55:38):
getting some shots at and I say, I was like, oh,
there are two guys here, but those are the only
two guys that are that will be going forward from
the last year's roster into this one. They're the only
there the only two that like are right now part
of the team and will be part of the team
once July first come. So it's just funny how much
this team has turned over. I mean, are really going

(56:00):
all in for the presents, and they've done a lot
of building over the last few years for the future
with draft picks, with lottery selections and all that stuff,
and that's all out the window right now. They've cashed
it all in for a chance to win right now. Well, um,
I'm fascinated. Uh. Yesterday they consummated a trade in which

(56:23):
uh three other Lakers that were under contract were sent
to the Washington Wizards. This this cleared up that cap
space for the second Max contract player. I've been told, like, look, everybody,
they knew the cap issue all along, they knew they
couldn't postpone this trade until j But you you cover
on a daily basis. Did they make a mistake and

(56:44):
then fix it yesterday or was this all part of
the plan? Well, I don't think you can say it
was part of the plan. I don't know that they don't.
I mean, I can't say for sure whether they made
a mistake or not. But this is definitely not always
part of the plan um they this was is an addition.
This is an addition to and already existing. I mean

(57:04):
this this is not a different trade. It's part of
the Anthony Davias trade. It'll it will allow them to
work the trade in a way that will get them
that cap space. It is not what was negotiated initially.
They didn't negotiate Davis having they didn't negotiate Data's giving
up his four million dollar trade kicker. They didn't negotiate
a way to get him a way to make the
salaries match, which is what they've done now. And now

(57:26):
they've done that. So I mean when I when I
was sort of doing this reporting on Saturday, the day
that the day that um, the day that the trade
was actually the first iteration of the traders agreed to,
I mean, I do think that they're they weren't. They
weren't really they weren't really expecting to move the trade
date until later in the later in the weekend, and

(57:47):
that's when I started to hear, well they're still they're
still open to moving the date of the trade. So
it's all there. I mean, there's it's very confusing, um
to me. I think, I think what they would say,
is the important thing is that now they've resolve of
it and that they will have that face for another
Max guy. Um. Okay, So if they don't get Kauai,
what do they do? Then there are a few other guys.

(58:09):
It doesn't sound like Kemma Walker is an option. I mean,
who knows this Kyrie Irving might be an option. They're
hoping that he is. Um, you know, there are there
are guys that you don't talk about as much as
Jimmy Butler could be somebody that that fits that um,
depending on what happens with him in Houston. But I
think that they have to be able to find the

(58:31):
right role players for them. Um, if they can't get
one of those guys, because they still can be a
very very good team. They still can be a championship contender.
If they don't get a don't get another superstar free agent,
they would just need to fill the roster with the
right kinds of guys, which is not really what they
did last year. And they were a little hand strung
by the fact that they could only offer one year

(58:52):
deals last year. But that's they're going to have to
show something that they so far haven't chowned. That they can,
they can find the right guys, they can them in
and they can build a team, not just bringing stars.
Last thing, where are they with Ron Adams? Um, I
haven't heard anything about any updates on that, so you
know they're going in the Summer League US at this point,

(59:13):
it's not it's is they're still negotiating. It's not a
it's not something that's that's happened yet. Well, interesting times
in l A as we wait and wait and wait,
and of course, uh, there's not a lot of guys
request for interviews for you, right because they only like
more under contract. But yeah, their draftic is isn't going
to be available up in Sacramentos. He's got a he's

(59:35):
got an injury that he's working through. Taylor tayl and
Horton Tucker has us had a stress reaction and so
he's not going to play with their summer league team
in Sacramento or likely in Las Vegas. And I think
they only have one guy on the summer league roster
who has even played in the NBA, So it's gonna
be it's gonna be a bare bones operation in Yeah,

(59:58):
it would be really different from the last couple year.
Is when they had like lottery picks playing and there
Josh Hart was the last year's star, and Lonzo the
year before that, year before that, Brandon Ingram and Diangel Russell.
I mean, it's it's it's a very different scene in
this year for them. Now it's now it's Joe Young,
mighty Joe Young, great stuff, telling you thanks so much
for joining us, no problem, thanks for having me pleasures

(01:00:18):
mind Doug Gotlip Show, Fox Sports Radio. That's weird, right,
that's a weird deal. You're like, ah, there's literally nobody here.
It's gonna be the first July and we need to
form a new team. And and that also brings me
the you know, it's a long shot to think they
get Kawhi Leonard, but to anyone who says, well, it's

(01:00:38):
like they get Kawhi Leonard, that's that's us going to
the whole Golden State Warriors thing. Remember last year the
Warriors signed Kirk Admitted Kirk Cousins DeMarcus Cousins, and people
thought that's a rap season over planned for next year.
How did that work out? How that workout? Team USA
did score what could have been a third goal over
their off side, so at least they're continuing to try

(01:01:00):
and push for one one more goal. Of course, my
prediction was to one and the French woman just missed
a shot on goal. It wasn't a prediction, that was
my psychic powers. Actually, earlier in the show, coming up next,
Colin Coward thinks Lebron James is still the best player
in the NBA. I'll give you my thoughts next. Be
sure to catch live edition so the Doug Dot Leap

(01:01:20):
Show weekdays at noon Eastern three pm Pacific. So, uh,
this is kind of interesting what just happened in the
women's World Cup. The French women scored a goal and
it's two to one, and they're insistent on a handball.
They're falling down every possible moment, I mean anytime anybody

(01:01:42):
comes near him. They falled out. But let's see if
the ball actually it hit where where does it become
a handball? Dan Buyer, because that one hit her elbow
and did not hit the hand And Doug, your feed
is actually a little bit ahead of hours, so we
have yet to see it. And actually John Romo's probably
would be the better one to ask, considering he's coached

(01:02:03):
for years, but his teams suck. So that doesn't mean
I know what a handball is. His team's committed enough
of them so that he knows what it is. So
a handball is where EBow elbow down, but also you
elbow down. Yeah, you can get hitting the shoulder and
that's not that's not a handle. It hits her in
the elbow. Yeah, but it also has to be non intentional,

(01:02:24):
like if she's defending herself or then that would not
be a handball. But if she puts her hands down
and she's trying to like push the ball somewhere, then
that would be. Yeah. So I didn't actually see it
because I was looking over a dad. And if it
was a actual they call it a handball, I guess
because they're kicking a free kicks. No, they did not
call it a handball. There's there's another that was that
was the handball right after the handball, and then they're

(01:02:47):
just the French women are going down there, they're falling
down like the Argentinian men's batt Yeah. So it uh yeah,
um interesting And I find myself just attracted to I'm
watching this game here. I can't I can't see because

(01:03:08):
holding on for that last for the last they take
rappino out, right, so they bring the defensive they bring
a defensive stopper in. But soccer, once you're out, it's
like baseball. You're you're out, You're out, so you take
your goal score out and they're holding on for it's
what three minutes plus stoppage time, which does anyone actually

(01:03:29):
know how long the stoppage time is? That just seems
like a rounding. It seems like they just round like well,
let's say it could be or it might not be.
Who actually knows? Kept by the ref on the field. Yeah, yes,
And so they have their they have their guests. Yes,
but you have you like your guess you're sitting there, man.
There's a lot of falling down taking place. It actually

(01:03:50):
looks a little bit like youth sports. Like I win
saw my son he's playing in a basketball camp and
he like fell down like three times, Like, what are
you doing? Does they just fall down a lot? They
just fall down a lot? Uh? Ramo's how's how is
your wife this? How is she doing? We're getting close here, Bud,
Yes we are. She's about thirty five weeks so about

(01:04:14):
mid July, I would say. The other two did she
go full term. She did not. Sarah was thirty three
weeks and lucast So you're right in the window, right
in that window, that's correct. Do you have the bag packed? Uh,
we have things ready to go. Susan is very good
about things like that because of the pre births of
the other ones. So she's pretty good birth well, you know,

(01:04:36):
like the earlier than normal. How's that? So she she's
ready to go. I just follow along. Yes, you say, yes, yes,
dear you, you do know the easiest way to get
that that train rolling right to get her to have
a child, Yes, I do not the same way you

(01:04:56):
got her pregnant. Is the same way. Yes, that just
I'm just yeah, I'm just a I know I know
a lot. I'm you know a little about a lot.
And that's one thing that I know. Every day. This
time we get to a previous show on Fox Sports
Radio or Fox Sports One, we call it. Colin Calhard
went to one of his own bag of tricks. He

(01:05:19):
wanted to list the best players in the NBA. Guess
who he has number one overall? Take a listen. I
was thinking this morning, who are the ten best players
next year in the NBA? Do you know who I
have number one, number ones Lebron James. Now, I know
y'all love Kauai, but he's a better ball handler than Kauai.
He's a bigger athlete than Kauai. He'll be more arrested
than Kauai. He's a better passer than Kauai. Lebron is

(01:05:41):
the best player in the league. I think Kauai is
the second best player in the league, and he's a
very good second best player. But he's gonna take twenty
games off. Lebron's rest that he won't take five games off.
And I know everybody is in on Kawhi Leonard, but
Kauai is very comfortable now if he stays in Toronto
taking twenty two games off. He's not the ball handler
of Lebron. He's not, to read founder of Lebron. He's
not the pastor of Lebron. Frankly, I don't I don't

(01:06:04):
think he has Lebron's leadership qualities. And also Lebron is
gonna have Anthony Davis right next to him, so there's
that's gonna help Lebron because there's gonna be some double
teams on Anthony Davis and the low post. So in
the end, It's been a choppy year for Lebron, but
if you're if you're honest about it, he's probably the
best player in the league. With k d out clay
out okay, Um, there's there's there's there's a lot to unpack. First,

(01:06:30):
I would guess that's the most times I've ever heard
the name Lebron said in one How long was that?
How long was that? Bite? Ramos? Two minutes? One minute?
Actually a minute? I would say there was how many Lebrons.
I'm gonna go at least fourteen Lebron mentions. We may
have to go back and count them and get that
little ding going every time he says the name Lebron.

(01:06:54):
I think Wailon is probably the best player in the league. Um.
And as much as we want to give the Braun
credit for his defensive acumen, he's not the defender he
used to be. Uh. He's clearly does not have the
effect on the game at the end of last year
the way we thought he should have the an effect
on a game. And yes, Lebron James is a and

(01:07:16):
will always be a better passer than Kawuhi Leonard. Kawhi
Leonard is a better score a better defender, a better rebounder.
So we I agree with the idea. We can't go
with the data information. Kevin Durant was the best player
in the league. He's heard he's out for a year.
We don't want to know when it will be back.
You can't consider him the best current player in the NBA.
I agree with that idea. But if we're gonna go
with non dated information, we can't judge Lebron based upon

(01:07:40):
what he did the fifteen previous years. We can only
judge and based upon what he's done most recently. So
I would not consider him the best player in the leg,
not considered the best part because if we're going on
offensive skills, I mean, how can we not mention James Harden,
We're talking about all around skills. How are we not
mentioning Janis Antennacopo, who obviously isn't the shooter of Lebron,

(01:08:03):
and it's like and it's not as good a passer,
but everything else, he's a plus and compared to Lebron. Yes,
uh Rye music. Another thing he said there is well
now that Lebron's with Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis would get
double teams and that will open up Lebron. By definition,
if Anthony Davis is getting the double teams and not Lebron,
wouldn't you say that would make Anthony Davis a better

(01:08:24):
player than Lebron James. It doesn't. It doesn't mean that
Lebron hasn't been the best player. But if we think
at thirty what was the thirty four next year, we
think at thirty four, he's still the best player. Like,
I don't know, I just feel like we're dealing with
data information. It takes us a while to come up to, like, oh,
he's not as dominant as he used to be. You
can still put up really good numbers. And then if

(01:08:46):
you actually watch the game go you know there's guys
he struggles to get his Last year, he struggled to
get a step on people like side guys, smaller, smaller guys,
and even big guys when they switch off on him.
He struggled to get a step. Now his skill is
probably better than it ever been, so he's a better
shooter than he's ever been. This is my favorite part,
by the way of soccer, where now the flops and

(01:09:10):
holding of the ankle only lasts for about five seconds.
French player just got slide tackled, perfect slide tackle by
the Americans. She held her foot as if she was
dying in pain, realized she wasn't getting the call, and
because time is against them, she popped right up and
suddenly she's fine. My favorite time in soccer is uh

(01:09:31):
in stoppage time when you just can't flop, just can't flop. Uh?
Now music? Are you? Would you have a a yearly
tradition fourth July. This is a weird year because four
the July is on Thursday, so a lot of America
is gonna be I guess do you do you think
people take the entire week off? Are they gonna be

(01:09:53):
off just from Wednesday night on? Is gonna be next weekends?
The big weekend? Is this is the big weekend? I
think most people are just gonna do it on the day.
I mean, I don't really know. I feel like next
weekend maybe would be the bigger weekend because it's I
feel like it'd be weird to try and celebrate the
Fourth of July when it's still June. But no, I

(01:10:14):
don't really have any Fourth of July traditions, actually none
that I could even think of. Off the top of
my head. You don't like the blow stuff up? No, No,
I have a I have a healthy fear of fireworks.
And I have a healthy fear of fireworks too. I
when I was a kid, I used to like to
blow stuff up. Oh yeah, I never said I never
enjoyed it. But yeah, I've definitely gotten to the point

(01:10:35):
in my life from like, you know, what's not good
is losing limbs. Yes, yes, the the uh the Jason
Pierre Paul deal really has three fingers. Here's an interesting
strategy from the U S. Woman just dribble over to
the corner and Alex Morrigan just kind of turned around
and box out two players. We are running out the clock,

(01:11:00):
run out the clock, so that you ask women looks
like they're gonna hold on and they're gonna beat the
French women and advance by a final score of two
to one. Remind me, remind me what was the final
score that I said would happen? You said six to five.
I did not say six to five. I said two
to one. No, that was ramos. I believe fire didn't

(01:11:25):
I say two to one? In psychic yes? Did alright,
So we gotta track how many I get? Right? I
said Kembo would commit first, you get wrong, I don't
track those, don't track those. There's one I got wrong
that's always on old takes exposed. So let's let's not
track the ones I got wrong. No one ever champions
the ones I got right. You've paid enough dues for

(01:11:47):
for that one, which inevitably comes up anytime someone you
put a take on Twitter that someone doesn't like. That
screenshot just immediately is like the first comment. There you go,
there you go. All right, it is a final two
to one in the quarter five knows the US women advanced.
They take down France and begging Rupino had both of
the goals she'd scored, the only goals who has women? Uh,

(01:12:09):
since they've gone to single elimination, that's kind of it's
kind of crazy, right, kind of crazy. Uh yeah, So
you know what you people like doing, and nothing is
good as spending somebody else's money. It happens at a
corporate dinner, right, it happens when somebody leaves the tab open.

(01:12:33):
And apparently it happens in the NBA, even to the
best and the brightest. I'll explain why it won't happen
in Charlotte next in The Doug Gotlip Show. Be sure
to catch live editions of The Doug Got Leap Show
weekdays at noon Eastern three pm Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio and the I Heart Radio app What Up Doug
got Leap Show, Fox Sports Radio, Roddy by Farmers and Farmers.

(01:12:57):
We've seen almost everything, so we know how to cover
almost anything. It's game time. Having experienced player help you
stay out of the game. Put their experience in play
at Farmers dot com. The producer of the show is
Ryan Music you can the technico director is John Ramos,
and of course Dan Buyer you can hear weekend Sundays

(01:13:17):
on Fox Sports Radio provides us with our updates and
part of the content. I bring that up because, guys,
how good is this read? We've seen almost everything from
from Farmers. Here's one I'm not sure I've seen before.
Brad Turner from the l A Times. Should be noted
that Brad Turner is a Magic Johnson guy. That's where
he gets his info. Um Kawhi Leonards people plan on

(01:13:42):
meeting with Lakers president Genie Buss and Magic Johnson next
week when freedency begins. The meeting will most likely be
in Los Angeles. Oh that makes sense because Magic is
president of the No he wait, what we've seen almost
everything that we haven't seen before. What the hell's Magic

(01:14:02):
Johnson doing here? I mean, all right, I'm just I
want to think through this one out loud for you guys,
out loud for you. Okay, now, Magic, but oh hey,
I just want you guys all to know, no bitter
feelings here. Once a Laker, always a Laker. That's why

(01:14:23):
I'm here. That's a strong pitch. Of course, Rob Polinkas
should probably be there to know. Of course Lebron James
should be there as well. No, right, um, maybe they're
maybe their coach, maybe Anthony Davis. I don't know if

(01:14:44):
Anthony Davis can't attend because technically he's not a member
of the Lakers yet, right, that's why he's not working
out with him. I mean, I guess he can attend
any meeting, but technically to attend a pitch meeting for
the Lakers that would be violing some sort of rules.
But this is weird. So wait, didn't you tell me
that there they were run by a guy who's a

(01:15:04):
backstabber and they're inept and you want to get back
to having fun. Why are you here? That is a
weird one. That is that is a that's a weird one. Right.
It's like the it's like the ex boyfriend showing up

(01:15:25):
at the rehearsal dinner going, hey, how are you guys?
Yeah I used to data, Yeah we're engaged. Yeah yeah yeah,
left me at the altar. Actually yeah, well you know,
I I didn't really wasn't really into being married and
just didingause my parents were pressuring me. But hey, you guys,

(01:15:48):
you're a great match. She'd be so happy, so happy,
kind of bipolar, right, she can be all over the
bed like one day, grace person ever in the Latin,
next day coming at you with a knife. But you
know what, there's a way to her that you know,
she's really special. She's a big time Ah you guys
are great? Does that not strike anybody Else's the strangest? Oh? Hey,

(01:16:10):
and magic is going to be there? Why I do
feel like magic? And we said this before. There's a
little of a Kelly on Conway feel to it. Right.
Kelly on Conway used to run the Trump campaign. Then
Kelly and Conway was working with Trump, and then she

(01:16:30):
leaves Trump and now she's on TV and something, and
the idea was she was being harshly critical Trump, but
really she's she's like a plant. So that one strikes
me as odd. I just I can't help but think
that what Brad Turner put out there is a little

(01:16:53):
bit different. Um By the way, sources tell Sam Amy
could join us earlier, that Lebron and Anthony Davis are
also gonna be part of the formal pitch. It's happening.
It's happening. I don't know how it all works in

(01:17:14):
the basketball floor, right, Like, Okay, Lebron's kind of your
point guard, right and Anthony Davis is kind of your center,
and then you have like two wings and Kyle like
you have a ton of size and two great defensive players,
and you'd obviously add another guard or like three or
four other guards. I don't know how it actually works

(01:17:39):
in the basketball floor, but I just think the whole
thing is fun. How how about Rob Polinka not getting
an invite? Like, hey, guys like dolor Rod, we got
this now you're good. You're good? Hey, I can you
want me to drive? Like He's sitting there on Twitter,
like you guys want me you wanta take my car?
Your car. We all ubering together. You want to meet there?
Do you guys want to strat jazz beforehand there? Like, dude,

(01:18:01):
we didn't invite you? Oh boy? Yes? Right? Music? Doesn't
it feel like if Anthony Davis and lebron are there
it makes the Magic Johnson thing a little less weird
because if it's just Magic and Genie Buss, that's really weird.
But at least if you have two of the bigger

(01:18:23):
stars on two of the biggest stars on the team there,
it kind of makes it like Magic's just sort of
here for show, as you've sort of alluded to in
the past with your criticisms on how Magic sort of
conducts business. Yeah, he just wants to show up and
be Magic Johnson. I don't know. This is just it's

(01:18:43):
still odd though that Magic was including this thing, right
like you this is you didn't put in on this, Dude,
you didn't put in on it. Yes, Dan Buyer, isn't
Kauai the guy who would least be wowed by this meeting?

(01:19:03):
Like like okay, let me, let me, let me. Can
I give you the other side to it? So his
uncle is you know they're l a guys, right, Um,
how long could you move here? Dan uh? Fourteen years ago?
So I can only tell you that if you grew

(01:19:24):
up in Los Angeles, Maggie Johnson is an icon like
part of the deal on TV. And what I'm trying
to relate to people is like I think the Emperor,
the the Emperor has no clothes, like there's just not
a lot of substance to him. But his uncle is
a guy who's kind of controlling this thing. And his uncle,

(01:19:46):
you know, I mean his uncle's that you know, a
blue collar African American man from you know, from humble beginnings,
and that's the pitch of Magic Johnson. That would be
what I would guess. He's only there to just go like, hey,
all that other stuff you see, that's just TV. I'm
a Laker. I just want to travel the world. I
didn't want to I don't want to do the Daily

(01:20:07):
you know, I didn't want to do the Daily Heart
you know, grunt work whatever, That's just not who I am.
And I think it's two more wow the uncle. Whereas
Lebron and Anthony Davis, they're there for Kauai right a
massive pitch meeting, but does anybody like Polinka won't be there.

(01:20:29):
Imagine if you're like rob polink, You're like, oh, you
guys went to texting and tell me how it went. Uh,
you know, I'll I'll conference call in a conference call it.
They're like, all right, do we'll call you when we
get there. Oh man, we just had bad self reception there. Sorry,
So hotel. You know sometimes hotels you gotta log on
and you gotta kind of go through the different things

(01:20:51):
and it's not it's not the greatest unless you have WiFi.
We just didn't have WiFi in that room. Sorry, dude.
It's like trying to sound it, to be in sound
to be enter said that is in a party you
weren't invited to. Yes, So you're like, no, how was
it awesome? All the time holding back saying oh I
wasn't invited like that takes a lot to hold back.
But you want to sound excited that he's at the meeting.

(01:21:15):
Is you just weren't there? Yeah? That was that party
Saturday awesome? Yeah. Well, I mean if it wasn't for Twitter,
we might not have known, like right, like the old days,
we didn't know that. That's that's I don't want the
issues with kids like robos when your daughter gets to
be my girl's age and and you know, they've they've

(01:21:38):
learned about it. My kids are uh, you know when
they get Instagram and I never get like my kids
moved across country. This is going back to last year.
And so they see all their old friends hanging out together,
you know, following them on i G. You know, just
like on their stories like other WANs some in the pool.
They weren't playing in the backyard like okay. And then

(01:21:59):
people that they just met they follow on Instagram and
they have friends and uh yeah, and then all of
a sudden they realize that they're not invited to the
parties like it's supposed to kind you're supposed to with kids.
Parties are supposed to kind of keep it a secret
because otherwise they you know, somebody, somebody always doesn't get invited. Man,

(01:22:22):
that's it's that's nuts. There's a lot of weird things
about NBA free agency, but the idea that a guy
who's an all time great player uh openly stabs the
then you know, uh, the guy running the team in
Jim Buss to get the job, gets the job and says,

(01:22:47):
in two years, we're not we're not where we're supposed
to be. I'm Quentin convinces everybody they'll be able to
talk anybody into coming to Lakers. They get Lebron James,
it goes down in flames and he he taps out
before he has to fire the head coach before he
can get fired himself, goes on national TV two times

(01:23:07):
over and kills the current GM and others within the
organization um and then all of a sudden, like two
months later, pops up at the biggest pitch meeting the
team has ever had. That's just the weirdest crap ever.

(01:23:31):
I mean, man, but that that's the thing with the NBA.
Mm hmm. I don't even know what to make of
this story. I don't I mean not that I don't
think it's true. I do think it's your Christmas star
joins the show next, What does he think about having
Magic Johnson the pitch meeting with Kawhi Leonard and are

(01:23:53):
they going to get him? Next? Be sure to catch
live editions so the Doug dot Leaps show week days
at noon Eastern three pm. Pacie fack. Okay, so we
thought we knew the Lakers are gonna pursue Kawhi leard,
we didn't know how they were going to and then
Brad Turner, who covers the Lakers for the l A Times,
tweeted out that Genie Buss and Magic Johnson will be

(01:24:17):
part of the pitch meeting. And then, of course, uh
Sam Ammi, who joined us earlier from the Athletics, said
that Anthony Davis and Lebron James will also be part
of the pitch meeting. Chris, anytime we go to a
pitch meeting, we bring Chris Broussard. He's a closer, he's
that got, that kind of pulled, that kind of magnantmics,
magnanimous personality. What's your reaction to that? Brad Turner, note

(01:24:38):
that Magic is going to be attending the pitch meeting.
First of all, thank you for that warm introduction. Um,
but I think it's I think it's smart. I'd certainly
Lebron and Anthony Davis need to be there, and I'm
fine with Magic being there for a few reasons. One,

(01:24:58):
it does dispel to some degree, maybe not totally, but
to some degree, the notion that the Lakers have been
and are just a dysfunctional franchise. If if Magic is there,
it kind of you know, lessons, the blow of his
resignation and how badly it looked and and all that

(01:25:21):
because you see, well maybe it was true Magic just
wanted to go out and do other things and and
didn't want to, you know, have to be in the
office all the time. So I think that's good. Secondly,
he is Magic Johnson, and he is known as you know,
he's Mr Laker, the greatest Laker ever to most people. Uh,
And he's got some pull because of that. So I

(01:25:44):
think it's smart. I think it will show Kauai. You know,
it's like bringing together all of the magnitude of what
it would be like to play for the Lakers. You've
got the current two superstars, and then you've got the
greatest Laker of all time. And look, Kauai obviously isn't
gonna give him a decision right then and there, so

(01:26:06):
he'll go away and think about it, and he'll be
on his own when he makes his decision. But to
be in the presence of those three guys, uh, that
can certainly make it tough to say no. So I
think it's smart by the Lakers to do this. Why
Why isn't Rob lincol didn't get invite. Well, no, I

(01:26:26):
think I'm I'm reading it as Genie Buss, Magic and
Cliney Davis Lebron are going to be there in addition
to others. I think Rob gotta be there. I think
Frank Vogel has to be there. I don't know what
it is you have. You have to provide a united
you have to present a united in front right, no

(01:26:48):
question and not to mention. I mean he's the head coach,
Vogel and Rob is the gym, so they've got to
be Like it would just everything I just said would
be killed if Pelinka and Vogel aren't there, you know.
So yeah, I'm reading into it like they need to
be Now. I don't think Curtain Linda Rambus needs to
be there. I don't think Tim Harris needs to be

(01:27:11):
there like I don't think these other people do. But
if it gets those six, then I think it's good.
How good a shot you think they have? You know,
I said, I think it was about two weeks ago.
I was told by someone pretty close to this, fairly
close to the situation. This was before the Lakers got

(01:27:31):
Anthony Davis that if they pull off the Anthony Davis trade,
Kauai will seriously consider going there. Now. I thought, I
I believed that, you know, he always was gonna meet
with him, listen to him, but I didn't think he
would really go there. Um Damon Jones reported the same thing.

(01:27:51):
Now Stephen A. Smith is saying it. I think they
have a legitimate shot. I still at this moment, I
think the Clippers of the front runners, followed by the Raptors.
But I think the Lakers are gaining steam. I feel
that they have a better shot right now than I
felt last night. Uh and I and maybe in a

(01:28:14):
day or two, I feel like they'ven have a greater chance.
But yeah, look, I think that the Lakers are pourted
on thick and they've got a shot. Here's the thing.
Of course, you're J Williams today, Uh, you know, the
former Duke player and played in the league for a
little bit. He said it would be the weakest move
in NBA history for Kauai to go to the Lakers.

(01:28:39):
I disagree. I had to look. You could certainly criticize it.
But what I don't think is I don't think Kauai
could be criticized like Kevin Durant was when he went
to Golden State because Kauai has already proven that he
could lead a team with no superstars besides himself to
an NBA title. That's something Kevin Durant could not say

(01:29:02):
and still can't say when he went to Golden State.
Uh And so I do think it's different, Like Kauai
is a made man. You can't question his greatness. You
could say, Okay, he really wants to take it a
little bit easy these these next four years or whatever.
Um the thing I say to Kauai about the pitch,

(01:29:24):
you know, a lot of the pitch will be looked
Lebrin's here, but you know he'll be here three or
four more years, and then you'll still be young. You
and eight deals still be young. It'll be your franch chimees.
By then he could still he look, he could sign
with the Clippers for four years, maybe wins a title
with them or whatever, and then go to the Lakers

(01:29:46):
after that contract if if that were an issue to
him playing for the Lakers eventually, because they're the more
he stored French. So there's really a lot for him
to think about. A last person I talked to about
this that was close to Kauai. They said, Look, he's
got a lot of soul searching to do. I definitely

(01:30:06):
think he wants to be home in southern California, and
now he has to sit out and think about do
I want to go to the Lakers, who are the
great historic franchise that I always wanted to play for,
or do I how do I feel it I going
to the Clippers, who you know, they're the the little
brother and they don't have a second star right now

(01:30:29):
to play with him, And I think that's a factor
as well from what I'm being told. Yeah, I mean,
and and before the pitch was different with the Lakers.
Now they have Anthony David Stunt just Lebron's team. You
have two different superstars team. Okay, let the story of
yesterday was that Kemba appears headed to Boston. Is that
what you've heard? Or was that somebody getting out ahead

(01:30:50):
of it before anything has been decided. No, I mean,
I don't think it's a done deal, but I do
think they're the front runners. I think if Kevin Durant
surprises and still goes to New York, then Kimba Walkers
in big time play for them there. And there are
some people around the League, even though I've i'ven't talked

(01:31:10):
to anybody that doesn't think Kyrie is a better player,
but they do think Kimba. A lot of people like
him with Durant better than Kyrie, just because you don't
get some of the baggage and and things like that. Now,
as far as Kimba with the Celtics, I love it.
I think the Celtics will be better with Kimba than
they were with Kyrie. I think he'll buy more into

(01:31:33):
what brast even sells. I think he'll get along better
with his teammates, the young guys. Uh. And he's you know,
not quite as good as Kyrie, I don't believe, but
he's it's not a huge gap. And I also think
we haven't seen him on the big stage and professionally,
but from college and just his success in the pros.

(01:31:53):
I do think he is a guy that won't shrink
on the big stage. I think for him it makes
all the sense in the world if he wants to
go to the next level in his career. He could
stay in Charlotte, make more money and maybe make the
playoffs once every three or four years, or he can
go to Boston becoming Eastern Conference contender and play on

(01:32:17):
the big stage pretty much every postseason. So I think
for Kimba Walker that would be a great move. Yeah,
it's gonna be fascinating. All right, what about what about Kyrie? Uh?
The thing about Brooklyn is they have unbelievable chemistry. Everybody
remarks about man that is that they're they're all in
it for all of each other. And then Kyrie comes

(01:32:38):
with his baggage of being a guy who was bad
for the chemistry of Boston. Is it is it locked
up since that he becomes a Net. No, it's not
locked up. For a couple of reasons. We've seen the
reports about the team, you know, wondering, Okay, what if
k D doesn't come with Kyrie? Do we want Kyrie?

(01:33:00):
As far as that goes, I feel like if I
were the Nets and I didn't get Kevin Durant with Kyrie,
I would stick with D'Angelo Russell. Again, Kyrie is better,
but Russell seems to have fit in well with his teammates.
They do, as you said, have this good chemistry. I

(01:33:20):
don't think Kyrie takes them to the next level. He
takes he makes them better initially and on paper, but
he doesn't like take him to a whole another level completely.
D'Angelo Russell would be cheaper and you can use money
to go out and get somebody else. If not this year,
then maybe next year. UM Now, I also look at

(01:33:41):
it from Kyrie's perspective. There are people close to him
that would tell you Kyrie can change his mind and hurt.
He's very unpredictable. It might be something, whether it's going
out to dinner, what we're gonna do that night, or
whether it's what he's gonna do over the weekend. He's
been known to have playing and playing something out and

(01:34:02):
then kind of the last minute going a different direction
just because he's decided to do it differently. So even
people close to him are hesitant to say, oh, this
is done, Brooklyn's done, or anything out. So while Brooklyn
is the front runner, I don't think you can totally say, uh,

(01:34:24):
it's a And then you have Kevin Durant Today the
news came out at the Golden State Warriors. Not really surprised.
He's gonna offer Clay Thompson a max contract that he's
likely to accept. So Clay is gonna stay anywhere on
where k D's head is look, I think New York
is still in play. Brooklyn obviously is somewhat in play,

(01:34:49):
and I think Doug I think the best option for
k D. I would have liked to have seen him
opt in and then get a lay of the land,
you know, after this season. I think that would have
been a good move. Obviously he didn't do that, But
when you really look at it, Golden State is a
great option because we don't he gets the most money,

(01:35:11):
we don't know exactly how he's going to come back
from injury. I think he'll be great, but will he
be Kevin Durant. Maybe he's ninety five percent Kevin Durant.
Maybe he's as good as Carmelo Anthony was in his prime,
so he's not quite the old k D. If that's

(01:35:31):
the case, If he's say Carmelo Anthony now, and he
goes to New York and he's by himself or maybe
has a second star, maybe he can't lead them to
a championship, and the pressure would be on, especially for
the Knicks, to do just that and lead him to
a title. If he goes to Golden State and he's

(01:35:52):
not quite the same, he's still got Steph and Clay
and and presumably Tradmond there and there's still a great team.
They're still the championship. And you know this, first of all,
I think the narrative that he's this outsider and he's
not a real warrior and he's a front runner. Yeah,
there's still a little of that because some people, including myself,

(01:36:15):
think he they would have won the championship without him
if Clay had been healthy. However, it has dissipated to
a great degree because of the courage and the heart
he showed in the finals, and because however you feel
about the injuries, they didn't win it without him. So
I think going forward, he's going to get even more
credit for the championships they could win in the future.

(01:36:37):
And then you know, over time, as we get further
and further removed from these titles. You know, no, I
think we're just gonna see him as a four or
five time champion if they do that, not you're not
gonna look back fifteen years from now and say, oh,
but he was on the stacked team and it was
easy for him and all that. So I think there's

(01:36:58):
a lot of reason for him to consider stay in
in Golden State. Uh. It just is a matter of
I mean, how badly did he really want out of there? Uh?
Is it to a point where he just can't stomach
another year or two with the Warriors? Fascinating? Absolutely positively?

(01:37:18):
Uh fascinating. And then you get the Houston Rockets, right
who you know? Like, apparently they have a trade partner
now for Clint Capella, but they don't know if they
can get Jimmy Butler. They want Jimmy Butler. What do
you think the Rockets look like at the end of
this month. I haven't heard you on this yet, Doug,
but I'm sorry, I think this is ridiculous. I Jimmy

(01:37:42):
Butler is a very good player. I love him. I
thought he was great for Philadelphia last year. But I
don't see the fit with James Harden and Chris Paul
because James Harden is going to play as he's been
playing for the most part, if not completely, the last
two years. Chris Paul already doesn't feel like he's getting enough. Look,

(01:38:04):
Jimmy Butler is not a spot up three point shooter.
How in the world is this gonna work now? If
you're brought in a different coach. And I actually think
D'Antoni is a good coach. But if you run in
a different coach who was going to be a little
more traditional. Put Chris Paul at the one, Hardened at
the two, Butler at the three, I feel a little

(01:38:27):
better about it. Or if Chris Paul went in the
sign and trade and it was Butler and hard no,
I feel a little better about it. But these three together, No,
it's not a fit basketball wise in my view, And
it's not a fit locker room wise, because both Chris
and Jimmy are strong minded, really outspoken, and it could

(01:38:48):
be a real battle in that locker room. Uh. Now,
let me flip it. On the Philadelphia side, if the
Sixers can get p J. Tucker, Eric Gordon, and there's
a third team involved where they can get a serviceable
point guard Darren Collison type, then I would do it.

(01:39:08):
If I'm the Sixers, I would do that and then
resigned to buy his Harris. Now you've got shooting with
Gordon and Harris, and p J. Tucker is a great
defender as well. You you bring back JJ Reddick. I mean,
I think Philadelphia would really be tough if they do that.
So I do it. If I'm the sixers and I

(01:39:29):
can get what I want. But I don't see why
Houston is pursuing this. I don't either. It just seems
like it seems like they panic a little bit. Right.
The owner is really from what I hear, he wants
the title and he's putting the pressure or more, especially
after paying Chris Paul, you pay Plint Capella and more,

(01:39:52):
he's feeling the heat. But let's be honest, this has
been More's modus operende for years now. He goes for
the big and he ignores his own analytics and goes
for Dwight Howard, goes for Chris Paul, goes for Karlo Anthony,
now Jimmy Butler. Uh, it's a strange situation. It is

(01:40:14):
a strange situation. Um, here's one people haven't talked about
enough nationally. The Thunder are trying to move Stephen Adams
right there. They're trying to move that deal. But like
all these big guys, and he try and move them,
and they make and and he he makes you know,
in the mid twenties twenty million dollar range. Um, are
they gonna be an make a big move this offseason?

(01:40:36):
I don't believe so, Like I mean, we all see
the way the game is going. Stephen actually Stephen Adams
actually is effective for them. Um, but you know, it's
no guarantee how good he's gonna be on another team.
And and like we said, it's just it's a different game.
And the bigs like that who can't really get out
and guard on the perimeter and even something that can

(01:41:00):
killing Capella are not as valuable as they used to be.
And so I really don't see. I mean, you never
say never, but I think it's gonna be difficult for
them to get good value back for Steven Adams. Man,
it's gonna be a fascinating, fascinating weekend. Leave your cell
phone on. I know you've got your own show to

(01:41:20):
do later on tonight. The Odd Couple, Chris Brussard, Uh,
Rob Parker, who's now Major League Baseball analysts for Fox Sports. Uh,
that's that should be that that should be a ton
of fun. Can't we hear the show tonight and into
next week? Enjoy the weekend? See thanks for joining us. Man.
All right, Doucks, crazy stuff going on in the world

(01:41:40):
of the NBA. Well, we just sit and wait and
listen to these meetings and what takes place. 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. It's gonna be a wild
weekend in one NBA target in free agency may have

(01:42:03):
already have a deal to stay right where he is.
Find out who next. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Doug dot Leap Show weekdays at noon Eastern
three pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the i
Heart Radio app. This is the Doug gott Leap Show
on Fox Sports Radio. Monday, We'll talk a little football

(01:42:23):
with James Conner running back, Pittsburgh Steelers. Crazy year from
last year, this year, right last year? You waiting on
Levy on Now It's your team. Peter stib Our guest,
longtime NBA in center sold Jim Jackson, get his thoughts
on everything that's gonna go down Sunday and Monday. It
will be interesting. No, no, it will be fascinating, fascinating.

(01:42:44):
Let's get let's get you update in all the stories today,
the possibilities of the weekend. Let's get to the press,
the press. Damn, Doug, We've got so much to get to.
But first, for those that may have missed it, the
United States women's national team is onto the semifinals of

(01:43:06):
the World Cup. They topped France today by a score
of two to one. Megan Rapino had two goals in
the victory, one in the fifth minute, the other in
the sixty minute. We would like to play a little
bit nicer today, but we're moving on into the into
the Semis, into the metal rounds. I think we have
England right that the next game, so we'll enjoy this
one for sure. Though this is so special. I'll be

(01:43:26):
able to beat the host nation. Uh in the part
to Prance. You can't ask for anything one this so focused,
she wasn't even sure of the next opponent. As Rapino
spoke with Fox after the win today over France, France, France,
I say, France. I mean, I guess, but you're in France, Ego, France.
You know the world travel Eagle France. But I say,

(01:43:48):
I don't know anybody who goes France, and you guys,
Megan Repino goes Front. She's probably been you know, she's
been there for a little while. It's there's a little
bit a little there's a little. You know, the the
the French can't protect Paris, and of course England will
put up a mighty fight, mighty fight, but normally England
looks for help from the Americans, and this case it's

(01:44:10):
the Americans are trying to That's where was World War
two stuff? So you know, it's free agency season when
we have reports saying one thing and now reports saying another.
So there was the report from the l A Times
that you were just talking about Genie Buss and Magic
Johnson being involved in a meeting with Kauai. Then Stephen A.
Smith comes out from ESPN saying that Kauai is the

(01:44:31):
one who wanted Genie Bust and Magic Johnson in the meeting.
Now Ramonta Shelburne of ESPN is saying that Magic is
going to help the Lakers in any way that he
wants and says that Kaua I did ask him to
be in a meeting. He said, no problem, he's available.
But quote, I got a great life. I'm not trying
to mess with anyone's job. End quote. Now that had
nothing to do with anything. I think it's the uncle.

(01:44:53):
The uncle wants to imagine Johnson. Yeah, there's just all
old school dudes. They grew up in l A. You know,
seventy around in the eighties and eighties in l A.
I think you know, Magic Johnson's the dude man. You know,
I kind of short changed it. Two, Doug. I want
to read the entire quote from Ramona shell Burn because
Magic said, quote a friend of mine called and says,

(01:45:14):
Kauai wants to meet with you. I said, no problem,
I'm available if that's what this man wants. But I
got a great life. I'm not trying to miss with
anybody's job. End quote. Who's speaking about jobs like it's
got to be a connection to Polinka, right, I mean yeah,
just kind of bringing it up on his own, knowing
that this would cause some flak. Well, and I'm sure

(01:45:36):
he had to know, like I'm the only the GM
is supposed to be in there, Like I ain't trying
to take anybody's job. Whatever. I'll just show you know,
how it reads in print and how it sounded on
the phone might be completely different, right. Yeah. How about
some news on free agency around the NBA. K h
t K at Sacramento reported earlier today that the Kings
are going to offer Harrison Barnes a four year, eighty
eight million dollar deal to stay with Sacramento dollars. Yeah, okay,

(01:46:03):
I mean, look, dude, they call this is they called
the ski mask gang game, right where you just you know,
holding people up for money. I mean, Harrison Barnes is
a good dude and a good and a good solid player.
He has no personal baggage, right, there's like no issues
with him. But he is not a great player. And

(01:46:24):
you're gonna be into him for twenty two million a year. Yeah.
I wonder what Selina has to say about that. Seleno
and Barnes. Yeah, come on, I got an injury attorney.
We all know the dude. I don't know they have
that nationally or whatever. Um, Harrison Barnes is twenty seven

(01:46:46):
years old. You care to guess how many years he's
been in the league. I'll guess eight eight, you're correct,
all right, no, excuse me, seven seven, last. But look,
he plays almost every game a year, and he's you know,

(01:47:08):
he's your classic eighteen A game guy on a bad team,
fifteen a game guy and a good team. That's basically
he's fine. I just twenty two millions a lot of money, man,
New York Times says that the Magic hope to sign
Nikola Voussovitch to a four year, ninety million dollar deal
prior to free agency. So, yeah, now he's their best player,

(01:47:30):
isn't he. Yeah? Yeah, he was an All Star, right,
So for him to to be their best player and
to get two million more per year, doesn't that show
you that Harrison Barnes contracts too much? And who knows
the Voussovitch would even take it? Come on, man, why
wouldn't you? Well, because because what he gets on the market, Yeah,

(01:47:52):
maybe somebody. And he's also somebody. Remember they were beaten
in the playoffs in the first round by the or
by the Toronto Apters. I mean, look, he he averaged
twenty one a game, twenty one and twelve and four
assist's an outstaying rebounder who's improving as a shooter. Like
that feels like a deal. Even if you pay ten

(01:48:12):
million more for the life of the deal between Uh
uh vucevicin uh and Harrison Barnes, that seems like a
good deal for Orlando. That Magic win over the Raptors
in the playoffs seems like nine years ago. That was
the first game in the playoffs. Yeah, and I think
DJ Augustin said, uh, we shocked the world. The world

(01:48:33):
wasn't paying attention to game one of that series. Yeah, hey,
and and we say it didn't even play well in
that game. That was more DG Augustine's game, right, He
had like twenty five and six something crazy like that,
and Kyle Lowry looked like Jim Lowry looked like he
had too much Lowry season. He had a donut in
that game. The Athletic reports Chiefs wide receiver Tyree Kill

(01:48:55):
is expected to join the team at the start of
training camp. The report says that the Chiefs believe he'll
get a four game suspension after the league investigated the
allegations of child abuse mad against him. Also a Yahoo
Sports reports is the Chiefs could resume contract talks on
an extension for Hill if that investigation ends in a
positive outcome for the wide receiver. Is four games suspension

(01:49:17):
a positive outcome? The right you want to charge of
the crime like I get it. It's a lot worse
than me, and you don't get the six game suspension.
Be four games doesn't feel like a positive outcome. I
would say this, if it's six games, that means the
league feels like he probably didn't do anything wrong. He didn't,

(01:49:37):
because if they did, they give him six. But it's
just optics are bad, that audio is bad. Coupled with
what happened in college, they got to give him more
than a two games suspension. We know about the royal
box at the All England Club, Well, there'll be a
royal box at the baseball game tomorrow between the Red
Sox and Yankees. Prince Harry expected to attend the first

(01:49:59):
game of a two games set in London. Now, baseball
was invented in London? Is that what I read? They're
trying to claim they invented the game. I thought it
was invented with the St. Louis Cardinals. I that is
what I thought. Very good end on that one. On
that's the that's the press backing out there and pressed.
That was the press, all right, Dan Buyer really quickly.

(01:50:22):
Something that happens on Sunday night and free agency go
the Knicks become a major player. Okay, Ryan Music. Something
that happens sundaynight and free agency go quiet. Leonard signs
with the Lakers. Oh, Sunday night, Sunday night, okay, uh,
John Romo something having Sunday Night free agency. Kyrie goes
to the Nets. I'm gonna go with. Kemba goes to

(01:50:45):
the Celtics only because I used my powers to see
that being the first one. It's gonna be crazy. Keep
right here in Fox Sports Radio. Obviously we're all over
this thing, and when news breaks we will try and
decipher what it means. But as of now, Kauai and
the Lakers doesn't seem like a marriage that won't happen.
We just don't know if it will. This the Doug

(01:51:05):
got the show. H h said, get out. You'll discover

(01:52:05):
it wildly on Box Sports Radio. As the summer rolls up.
Remember we're here for you. Oh go on summer Let's
radio celebrate sis list where weekend with amazing savings. Now

(01:52:30):
for a limited time you switch to Sprint, we'll cover
your switching. These of the six hundred and fifty dollars
lines on Box Sports Radio set up on the diner,
from the analytics to the exit velocity. When a tinally
wound off the Box Sports Radio six pm Eastern Time,

(01:53:01):
before notes everything needs to keep moving right to the
farm work on Fox Sports Radio. They suddenly at six
pm Easter time when the new year begin. Sitting at
Bent and free agency is time

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