July 2, 2025 • 42 mins
Lamar Jackson says he needs to be a better leader
Thoughts on Myles Turner spurning Indy for rival Milwaukee
Guest: Jovan Buha
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio, our number.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Two here on The Herd.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Jason McIntyre in for Colin Cowherd Jet setting.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I don't worzy Ebisa? Is that where he is right now?
Speaker 5 (00:34):
I have no idea. You tell me.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I love Abiza.
Speaker 5 (00:38):
I haven't been a we honeymoon in Abiza.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
What a la? Alex Curry joining me.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
We got jovon Buja coming up in I don't know
five minutes.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Lakers fans are like on the edge, Alex right now
there breathing.
Speaker 5 (00:54):
We're okay, okay.
Speaker 6 (00:55):
I'm not as concerned, I think as everybody else. As
we talk about last hour, Lebron knows how to get
the conversation going. This is what he does. What does
his hat say?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Welcome home? Welcome home.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Yeah it's a message, but he is back home.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I thought he's in.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Ohio with Lebron like hanging around seeing what the hell's
going on.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
But he's out here anyways.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
All right, real quick before we get to Yovon, I
just got to talk about it, like I like Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I know people think you don't like him, Jay, You're critical.
That's what we do.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Were critical of everybody, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Lebron, everybody.
And Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP. He's a
dynamic player. When he's on, you're watching. He came out
here so far to play. I think it was the
Chargers even last year, two years ago.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I was at the game.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
He's electrifying. You can't take your eyes off him. He's unbelievable.
And he keeps coming up empty in the playoffs, which
is fine, you know, not everybody wins right out of
the gate. But Lamar went on some digital show with
Kevin Hart and me to take a quick time out.
Kevin Hart, from my money, is the funny guy going.
I know people like Theo Vaughn and then all these
(02:02):
other comics. Kevin Hart's a man. I'm a huge fan
of his movies, his stand up. I've seen him live.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
He's great.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Kevin Hart also does like an ice tub thing where
he invites people on and talks to him.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And here's what Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Said to Kevin Hart about the one thing, okay, one.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Thing he needs to improve on to get the Ravens
over the hump.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Just being a leader.
Speaker 7 (02:23):
Okay, I'm gonna say being a leader because I'm I
really don't. I'm really not outspoken, like being vocal with
my guys like oh let's do this and that got
a great motivation of speech. I don't have that, you know.
I just pretty much lead by example. I go out there,
I'm gonna work hard. I expect that out of you.
But as I've been going, like growing in the league,
it's like, nah, you gotta talk to the guys coaches
(02:43):
and stuff, like to talk to the guy.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'm all right now. I talked to him one on one.
Speaker 7 (02:46):
But certain things I'm saying, I gotta voice it more.
It was my opinion more to those guys.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
It's like when you're in a job interview and you know,
they ask you one of these question like what's your
biggest weakness? And you give one of these answers that
says like I don't have a weakness, you know, not
having a weakness. That's my weakness, like something like that.
And I'm like, really, leadership, you either have that or
you don't. I don't think like five years in the
league something snaps and you're a leader. Like Justin Herbert
(03:17):
is quiet and just doesn't say much.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That's who he is.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
He's not changing, you know. Patrick Mahomes is a fiery dude.
He was that way at Texas Tech. He's that way
in the NFL. He's not changing. Lamar Jackson is a
quiet guy. He doesn't say a lot. Tom Brady, you
remember him on the sideline with the Patriots. He would
f bomb people and dog cuss him.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
That's who he was. Fiery. Everybody's different when it comes
to leadership.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
If Lamar was given truth serum before the Kevin Hard interview,
what's the biggest way, Hey man, I've had some rotten
playoff games going to Buffalo. I couldn't do anything this
past year in Buffalo. I started slow, fumble interception, I
got us in the hole. I can't play like that
on the road. I haven't delivered in the playoffs. And
(04:02):
it's like, yeah, I get it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Mark Andrews.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
If he catches that, it's a different discussion. But look
at the game log of Lamar Jackson. He has not
been great in the playoffs, and yeah, I see the
drops on the screen, and that's not always on him. Obviously,
what's his name against Kansas City when they were at home,
had to fumble the young receiver Za Flowers had a
brutal game, but right out of the gate, like Lamar
Jackson wasn't awesome. Teams have seen him, they know how
(04:27):
to game plan for him. He needs to become a
different quarterback in the postseason. And that's not a knock,
it's just a reality. Right now, that's the only Kryptonite has.
The calendar turns to January and all of a sudden,
Lamar Jackson, Oh shoot, what are we getting here?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Are we in trouble?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I mean, look at the numbers three and five in
the playoffs. Completion percentage down, passer rating down. It hasn't
been great. Now you're playing the best of the best,
But for a two time MVP, that to me is
his weakness.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I don't want to hear this as leadership nonsense.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
All right, let's go back to the NBA and bring
in Jovon Buha, who covers the league. He covers the
Lakers closely. Let's welcome in jovonn Who's listen. The last
time he was your absolute fire. And now the pressure's
on Yovann obviously, not just because you're a free agent,
but also there's some pre agent stuff swirling around and
(05:17):
the Lakers fans want to know right now what is
the status with DeAndre Ayton and Los Angeles.
Speaker 8 (05:22):
MI understanding is he's likely going to make his decision
today he clears waivers at five pm Eastern time. There's
a bit of a DeAndre Aighton sweepstakes going on right
now for a guy who's on a thirty five million
dollar contract gets bought out and now is going to
be in that probably eight to eight to fourteen million
dollar range. So you got a couple of options with
(05:44):
the full non taxpayer mle Golden State in Indiana both
need starting centers. Indiana just lost Miles Turner. They also
have a relationship with eight and they offered him a
max contract offer sheet back in twenty twenty two, which
he signed. So there was a second there where it
looked like he was going to be the center of
the future. Then you got the Lakers, who only have
eight point two five million dollars because they split part
(06:05):
of that mL on Jake Lauravia. So I think the
Lakers probably provide the best opportunity. You're going to be
in the spotlight. You're going to be starting playing with Luca,
potentially playing with Lebron, and theoretically being on a team
with some you know, contending odd So I think that's
the best opportunity for him. But also like money talks
(06:25):
and other teams can offer him more money.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
I mean, he got number one pick money, he got
a second contract, which is huge. Yeah, I mean fourteen
million versus eight If it just comes down to that,
Lakers are going to lose out on that, and he's.
Speaker 8 (06:37):
Still getting the twenty five million from Portland. So he
would be taking like I guess, a one point seventy
five million shaving off of that thirty five if he
goes to the Lakers, whereas actually, if he goes to
the other teams, he could technically make more money on
top of the thirty five because it would be an
offset of like four extra million dollars. But I think
you know right now that they're weighing their options is
(06:58):
my understanding him and his camp, but it sounds like
around the time of him clearing waivers, we should have
a better idea.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah, from just a fit perspective, I got to ask, like, culturally,
did you read the article about him where it's like
he was late to flights. In practice, he couldn't make
it to a game because of icy roads, Like there's
a lot of stuff that apparently trickled out in Portland.
They were like, we got to get this guy out
of here, and now the Lakers want to bring him in.
Speaker 8 (07:24):
Yeah, I mean that's certainly concerning. But if you look
at the center options right now in free agency, the
alternative is a thirty nine year old Al Horford, who
I think I would go out Horford. I like Al Horford.
I just think, you know, in comparison to like rebounding
rim protection. I think Deandreyton as a twenty six year
old is just at a different level than Al Horford
right now, like that they were load managing Al Horford
and Boston right and I don't think he's a guy
(07:46):
who can hold up over the course of an eighty
two game seasons. So I think the Lakers need a
legit starting center and eight and is one. Now that
there are some flaws and there are some drawbacks. I
think he's very talented, he's very skilled. There have been
times where it seems like the motor or the motivation
have not always been there, and I think that's something
that you know, he's in a contract year effectively, so
(08:08):
he's going to have to prove himself.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
He doesn't really stretch the floor, he doesn't get to
the foul line. He's not I mean, I saw the
true catching some lobs, but he's not like the lively
Gafford type. He's more of a throwback, a back to
the basket guy.
Speaker 8 (08:23):
I all seven years he's averaged a double double, so
like you are getting a baseline level of rebounding with him.
Shot eighty percent at the rim last year, which I think,
you know that's not all dunks. But he's got a
soft touch with hook shots, floaters. Like I think the
offensive skill is there. I think he's arguably the best
like realistic offensive option they could get. It's the defensive
end that I'm interested to see. But some of his
(08:45):
rim protection numbers are good, good defensive rebounder like you
could certainly do worst, which I would argue the Lakers
did last year with their center.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, okay, so Ayton, Let's say Ayton picks the Warriors
or whoever. Oh wow, they're just sending me some breaking news.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Are you ready for this? Sure it's not Lakers related.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
The Knicks are expected to land Mike Brown as the
next head coach of the franchise. Wow, so not a
huge surprise. The we'll come back to the Knicks a favorite? Yeah,
he was a favorite. So if the Lakers don't get
Ayton and then Al Horford, is there anyone else out there?
I mean Luke Cornett got.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Way too much money. He would have been the starting
center of the Lakers.
Speaker 8 (09:24):
Yeah, I mean Jackson Hayes is still out there. Alex
Laddin can I can I sell you? So there's precious
Achua from New York who Yeah? So, but but I
think at that point they have to pivot and make
a trade.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Really at that Like, but then who do they have
to trade Ruey or Austin Reeves?
Speaker 8 (09:43):
Depends on the salary for the player. Uh, like a
guy like Walker Kessler, who is like they're not get
I don't think they're getting Walker Kessler. But like that
he's on a rookie scale contract, So you could do
something like the Mark Williams package of Dalton connect a
first a swap something like that where you're not really
giving up much in salary and you're trading a bench
(10:03):
player for a starter. So like that's probably the optimal trade.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Oh, if they could get Walker Kessler for a dolta Cake.
Speaker 8 (10:08):
I don't think they're getting Walker Kestler. But could they
get a Nick Claxton from Brooklyn? Could they get a
Gafford from Dallas? Circle the block talk about.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Dallas So and there's a Lebron There's so much stuff
I don't want to Actually, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Let me go back to Jake Laurraviak.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
A lot of Laker fans are outraged, and there the
memes around what the hell is it Jake Laurravia. But
you told me something that I hadn't seen online about
Jake Laaravia.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
What's a connection to the Lakers?
Speaker 8 (10:37):
Shares an agency with Austin Reeves, and he actually did
a interview this summer and at the end of the
interview he pans and he's in the car with Austin Reeves.
So they were spending some time together this offseason, so
assuming Austin put on his recruiting hat and told him
about his experience in LA and what it's like to
be a Laker, and that was a selling point for sure.
(10:59):
But we'll say I've been in the lab diving into
the Jake Laaravia film okay, and it's it's impressive for
a twenty three year old.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
There we go, there we go, like, look, this is
the guy is a former.
Speaker 8 (11:09):
First round pick from you know, he's played three years
and he played a Memphis and Sacramento. So though like
he's not a household name, he's playing in two small
markets that don't get a lot of attention. He was
a bench player, but they're counting on him to in
some ways be the Dorian Finney Smith replacement. And like
watching his film, I have a film breakdown coming out
on my YouTube channel later, and like he's guarding Jokic
(11:30):
and he's doing the Caruso of fronting him, deflecting entry passes.
He's switching on to Tatum and Kawhi, like he's I
think people look at him and they don't expect him
to be good defensively, but he is actually pretty good
against wings and then forty three percent three point shooter
last year. So like, I think he can actually do
some things for them. And six million dollars like we're
talking about, you know, not even half the mid level, Like,
(11:51):
I think it's pretty good value it.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
So when you said Laaravia shares an agent with Reeve,
I instantly you don't going next step.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
They're not trading Nausin Reeves.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
He's sticking right, You don't do that move with Reeves's agent.
You clearly like the agent and you trust him, and
you like Reeves and the work ethic for la Ravia.
So they're not moving off Austin Reeves. Can we just
put that to bed or no?
Speaker 8 (12:10):
I think so for this summer. Of course, we'll see
how next season goes. And now there's this talk of
them having this twenty twenty seven plan and trying to
keep the cap sheet flexibility to go get a second
superstar in the summer of twenty twenty seven or maybe
trade for one going into that summer. So I think
depending on how this next season goes with him, how
(12:31):
he fares in the playoffs, and then also what type
of contract he gets, I think all those are factors
that could determine whether he ultimately gets traded at some
point in the future. But for this summer, they've been
telegraphing it like they've called him a pillar of the franchise.
They offered him the max contract extension that they could.
It was below market value, so he didn't take it.
But I think he is someone who is going to
(12:51):
be a part of the Lakers for at least next season,
and then we'll see ultimately with the next contract.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Okay, so let's go to the breaking news year.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
So the Nicks move off Tibbs last month and now
bring in Mike Brown.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I'll bring it to Lebron in a second.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
First of all, I'm curious, do you think Mike Brown
is an upgrade over Tibodeau.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
I think it's close. I think from a personality perspective,
he is. And that's always the variable here that it
is hard to quantify of just TIBs can be grading
on people like we have enough of sample size of
that some players just don't mesh well with that. And
I think that old school style of coaching has kind
of gone away in the NBA. So I think from
(13:31):
a personality perspective, especially going to feels like Golden State
is the place as a retread head coach you want
to go to join that assistant coaching staff and learn
from Steve Kerr kind of the modern way of coaching,
which I think is a more player friendly approach. So
I think from that perspective, he will be in terms
of x's and o's defense like it, Tip's pretty good
in that regard. I think he'll play a deeper rotation,
(13:53):
so I think that's probably upgrade. But so sometimes you
just need a new voice. TIBs was there for five
years and does feel like with the coaching cycle, now
get three to five years and you got to try
to maximize that.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
So I'll ask you about Mike Brown dating back to
his early Lebron days. Can you really judge Mike Brown
from coaching Lebron won fifty games, one fifty, lost in
the conference finals, won six, like, I don't really count that.
So then you got one year with the Lakers, and
then he got fired the next year like five games in,
and then he was pretty good in Sacramento. I don't
(14:24):
really know, but what some of my Knicks friends are saying, Jay,
there's one potential landing spot for Lebron and that could.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Be the New York next. The Calves would probably have
to give up too much. Mike Brown knows Lebron.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
What about Lebron getting traded to the Knicks for an
og Mitchell Robinson?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Whatever. Do you think there's any world where Lebron gets traded.
Speaker 8 (14:47):
I think there's a world, but I think it's I
would put the odds very low right now. I mean,
he has not asked for a trade. There's been no
discussion between Rich Paul and the Lakers about a potential trade.
It's hard to look at that statement and not read
into it and then see these subsequent actions by the
Lakers of not retaining Dori and Finney Smith and then
signing a twenty three year old in Jake Lauravia, then
(15:08):
having the support come out that they're looking at twenty
twenty seven as the summer to really get that second
star build around Luca. So the moves they're making are
trending in a younger, short term window and not necessarily
win now, maximize Lebron's twenty third season, maximize Lebron's potential
twenty fourth season. So if I'm Lebron, and I think
(15:30):
they kind of put it out in statement, like it's
been a good partnership that they've had seven years together.
He won a championship, he benefited from the Lakers brand,
they benefited from him coming there, bringing Ad there, winning
a championship, So like it's been a mutually beneficial partnership.
I just think at this point, if you're Lebron, it's
hard to like. I think right now they're probably the
fit best team in the West. And that's not a spot.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
That Lebron were the top. Let me guess Houston, Denver Okac, who's.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
The other one?
Speaker 8 (15:56):
Minnesota back to back conference finals. I mean, they lost, Ah,
but that's a big it is a big loss. But
I mean I think that they just meet the Lakers
in five, and you could argue the Lakers are currently
worse than they were. I mean, Golden State's in the mix,
the Clippers in the mix. I really like the Brook
Lopez signing for them. So the West is tough. And
then you got Dallas just looming.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
So Dallas.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
So of these you see on the screen, four teams
have required about Lebron. Everybody says it's Dallas.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
After the Luca trade. I cannot envision a world where
they're doing another deal.
Speaker 8 (16:27):
I'm part of the everybody because I put it out there,
like I heard over the last couple of weeks that
if Lebron asked that, which is an if right, that
Dallas would be among the teams that would be on him.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Shop that trade.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Let's just just humor me. Who the hell are they
getting for for Lebron?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
They're not.
Speaker 8 (16:42):
I've been on the trade machine.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Give it up.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
Cooper Flag. No, so I think Cooper Flag eighty, Kyrie,
Derek Lively, those four are off the table. Can't get Lively,
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
I mean maybe, but Thompson, Yeah, I.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
Think it's Gafford, PJ. Washington, Klay Thompson, Max Christie that
those four work financially. Don't even throw from throwing a pick.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
No, they're gonna be good.
Speaker 8 (17:04):
You could get the Lakers. Lakers can get their pick
back from the Luca trade potentially.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yeah. Can I get super Max Christie back? No?
Speaker 8 (17:12):
Yeah, I mean it's it's yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
So Dallas is one, Cleveland is another, and it's just.
Speaker 8 (17:17):
Their second Apron team. So that's it's a good tricky.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Did you see the Instagram today of Lebron in Ohio
playing golf wearing.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
A hat that says welcome home. Yeah, okay, go ahead,
give me your thoughts on it, because he loves to
play these games.
Speaker 8 (17:32):
He does.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
From the statement from Rich Paul, the Lakers seem to
counter with their own twenty twenty seven and now Lebron
countering with his welcome home part for the course, ah
golf analogy or is there something more here?
Speaker 8 (17:44):
I think there's a little bit more here, just because
the finish line is in sight. Right, So again going
back to Lebron, like, because Lebron has done this before, right,
He's at various points of his career, health, his team,
to their feet, to the fire with the one plus ones,
and some of the cryptic things he'll do, and he
went to the Cleveland playoff game and like so there's
been a little bit of smoke with that, right, But
(18:07):
it's different to actually ask out right and demand a trade.
He's never been traded. I think that's been a point
of pride for him that he, you know, look at
even though he's bounced around a little bit, it's always
been him making the decision, him being the driving force
behind it. He's never been traded, which not every star, Yeah,
especially stars that have been on multiple teams can say, so,
I think that's a point of pride. But again, the
(18:28):
finish lines in sight, it's one year left, it's maybe
two years, three years. If he really wanted to stretch
it out and if he wants to get that fifth ring,
you could argue there are several teams that would make
more sense.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Are you trusted? Like Atlanta?
Speaker 8 (18:44):
So I think it has to be a big market.
I don't see because people have floated Denver, which now
it's a little trickier with Poe like I think MPJ
would have had to have been the salary and they
just trade for Cam Johnson. But that one, I'm just like,
I don't see Lebron living in Denver and playing for Denver.
I think that's why the four I mentioned on my
show where Golden State, New York, Cleveland, Dallas, Cleveland's the
(19:06):
one small market, but that's obviously home and you got
the homecoming narrative for the second time. But then Dallas,
Golden State in New York are all big market teams.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Yeah, all right, let's go from Lebron to Luka Donchett.
So I opened the show defending Luca. The disrespect is
getting a little out of control? Have you heard the
Avery Johnson sound about? He was asked who would you
rather have Cooper flag or Luka Donchet and I think
we could play it for you here here's Avery Johnson.
Speaker 9 (19:33):
Man, give me Cooper flag. Really Cooper flag in this team? Yeah,
give me Cooper flag.
Speaker 10 (19:40):
Man.
Speaker 9 (19:40):
You're talking about a team when they're healthy. Got three
future Hall of famers with Kyrie ad and Klay Thompson.
So this is really exciting in the Mavericks. Their future
is bright, but they have a window when they're healthy.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
If the next two to three years, what does Ross
as currently?
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Okay, listen, Avery Johnson is a smart guy. He probably
knows more basketball than you and I combined.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Yeah, this is just crazy? Is hoop crazy?
Speaker 8 (20:11):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Correct?
Speaker 8 (20:12):
Correct?
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Why are people adding on Luca like one bad season?
And by the way, hey, if he had rushed back
from his CAF like Nico Harrison wanted, would he beat
Tyrese Haliburton?
Speaker 9 (20:21):
Now?
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (20:24):
Yeah, I mean maybe it's the jersey he's wearing. Now,
I think that comes with some extra criticism sometimes. I
mean I do think the way like I think some
of the stuff that came out from the Dallas side
has been taken as gospel right with the conditioning and
their concerns, and it almost was like, we cannot believe
(20:45):
that this trade is real, so we have to validate
anything that's coming from their side too, to even make
it like plausible that they would consider trading Luca. And now,
of course Nico's still gotten his fair share of jokes
and he's been roasted, and you know, we'll probably be
roasted forever. But I think there has been like a
tarnishing of Luca and his image and and just his
(21:07):
status in the league, because I think for a lot
of people he was like a top two or top
three player pre Lakers trade. Now he's being talked about
in like top five, top seven, top test.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I slip it, would you take SGA over Luca going forward?
Right now?
Speaker 4 (21:21):
I think you asked me this last time I was
on again, because he's now finals.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
I think I would come. But more so it's more
of the defense. I think that like that's I think
that's the real knock on Lucas, Like you have to
build a particular lineup, and now we have the proof
of concept with SGA. Of like I think previously I
had some concerns. Could Sga be the best player? We
hadn't seen it yet, Like that was one thing we
had discussed of, you know, talking about like him versus Harden.
(21:47):
It was like, can he get over that hump? Can
you get to the finals? Can you win a championship?
He did it and he was awesome, and so I think,
like for now, I think Shaye deserves his props MVP
finals MVP. I think both were deserved. But you know,
I think I'll say it's close, Like I think Lucas
probably the third or fourth best players. It's right there
with the.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Honest So I was gonna I was going to ask
you this, but now it probably hurts your chances. So
your background is Eastern European rips because I fall, you know,
in Serbian stuff.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Right. What's Luca's background?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Uh, he's Slomania, but there their close Falkan region former Yugoslavia.
And then the lad has some Serbian roots.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
When he's going back this summer, are you headed back
there to maybe?
Speaker 8 (22:29):
So he is actually going to be in Serbia in August.
They're playing a friendly against Serbia. And we were actually
talking about it at the end of the season. Luca
and I after the Lakers were eliminated, we're walking to
Was that in a different language or uh, no, we
were talking in English. We have done a little talking Serb.
I speak a little bit. I wish I spoke for
you walk into the walk into the car area, you know,
(22:50):
doing the sidling. We were chatting and I was saying
it might be going this summer, and he was saying
when he was going to be there, So, uh, maybe
it's it's TVD right now.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Well it would have augues is to say, of course
Luca over SGA.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, welcome you.
Speaker 8 (23:03):
And no, I mean I've spoken very highly of Luca. Yeah,
you know, I think he's again I think Luca over
Cooper Flag ten out of ten times. Ob we'll see
you with Flag, right, he could develop into that type
of player, But I think Luca is clearly the engine
of you can win a title with him as your
best player, number one option Cooper Flag, I think like
(23:24):
maybe he's more of a number two, but could be
because he could do so many other things, and he's
like a defensive Player of the Year type defender like
I don't know, more like a Kevin Garnett or something
like that. Where you know, I don't know if he's
the number one option, but he can do so many
other things that it makes up for it all.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Right, last one, I thought the Lakers would be in
the mix to get some not ring chasers, but oh damn,
I could play with Luca and Lebron and then I
see like Tim Hardaway's going to the Nuggets. I mean
that's got to hurt, right, Those guys could have been
huge for the Lakers to get just shooters.
Speaker 8 (23:54):
Yeah, So with that, I would say, right now, there's
just to hold up with the eight in situation and
what they do with their non taxpayer and a lead.
They have the bi annual exception five point one million,
So I think there are going to be some guys
that Chris Paul I don't think he's probably one of
the Lakers. It seems more like the Clippers.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
But gosh, Chris, what the heck?
Speaker 8 (24:12):
But like d Anthony Melton is a name I like
who a former was the hurt last year? Trojan Yeah,
he towards ACL last year, so that's the reason why
he's available. But is a defensive energy guard I think
a good guard off the bench. Gary Payton, the second
is still out there, a mere coffee clipper, bench wing
who is athletics score so like that. There's some names
(24:33):
that I think Lakers could sign, depending on what they
have available. But I think you'll see them get like
right now is just being held up by once they
have the clarity with eight and then they'll move forward.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Hot, super hot take Just hit me, why the hell
not Celtics don't have Tatum next year? It would never happen.
But what if there was a hey Jalen Brown, let's
get him off our books. We'll take Lebron for a year.
He could do victory lap with the Celtics, lead us
to I don't know what in the East, and you
guys can have Jaylen Brown because they're not gonna be
(25:05):
able to pay Tatum and Brown sixty five million each
and build a team.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
That's pretty clear. Any shot the Celtics.
Speaker 8 (25:11):
Get involved for Lebron, I think Lebron would rather retire
and play for the Celtics. Well said, and he's got
the no trade class, so you would block it.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
He can dixit, right, that's a fire up and why not?
All right? Coming up next?
Speaker 4 (25:23):
Wait until you see what show Hey O'tani did last night?
Speaker 3 (25:27):
For the Dodgers. Alex has the latest in herd Line.
That's next.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
One more heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd
to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
Hi, this is Jay.
Speaker 11 (25:43):
I'm the producer of the Paula and Tony Fusco Show.
Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to
the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen
to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who
have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable. Don't listen to
the show so it can get camped.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Wha, what the hell are you doing in our studio?
Get them? Ignore that fool.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
He's still moving.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Welcome back.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Great stuff from jovon Bouja on the Lakers. I know
you guys are a little fed up. A lot of
Lakers content today, but.
Speaker 8 (26:20):
They're in the news.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
What do you want me to do?
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Let's go to Alex hurry with the news.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
This is the Herdline.
Speaker 6 (26:29):
News Jay Beck, I love our head NBA coach breaking
news streak that we have going. It's it's now three
for three because, according to several reports, and Knicks are
offering Mike Brown their vacant head coaching position. Brown most
recently coached the Sacramento Kings and has been named Coach
of the Year twice. Brown also won championships as an
(26:50):
assistant coach in Golden State and San Antonio. I mean,
he has quite the impressive resume. Do you like this
fit for the next this is your team?
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (27:03):
I mean this first time they.
Speaker 6 (27:04):
Were in the Eastern Conference finals in twenty five years.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
This was a record setting year for the Knicks.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Shopped everybody what they did, but now makes more sense
as Morris coming out, I guess, But is this the
right fit?
Speaker 3 (27:19):
In a word? Yeah, I like it. You know you
never want to go two overboard, Alex. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
I walked into the morning meeting this morning, even before
the Mike Brown ssopp. Yeah, I was like, you know,
I had a good night's sleep last night. Not to
channel cowherdo, uh huh, but I woke up and I'm
feeling the Knicks going to the finals next year. I
like a couple of small moves they made fortify their bench.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
I like the bright Mike Brown move.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Good coach, he won with Lebron, He's been in the
Golden State system.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
I thought he They showed.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Well in Sacramento where nobody can win, like them alone
could win in Sacramento.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah, and I just I like Mike Brown a lot.
I think this is really good news for the Knicks. Okay,
I'm calling it. The Knicks will be the NBA Finals
for the East next season.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
WHOA, I don't even know who their competition is, Orlando.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Cleveland, let me see believe Land.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
Yeah, I'm Atlanta Calves. I mean six not gonna be
the same team. Pacer is not going to be the
same team.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
Bucks.
Speaker 6 (28:13):
We have no idea what to expect. So yeah, I
think it's Nicks and Calves definitely at top.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
Top two teams in the East.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
I mean, the Bucks to me or a play in
t I don't even think they're.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
Good to Detroit.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
It's kind of depend if Giannis is there.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
Yeah, then, like we can't really make any kind of
prediction until you know who's going to be on that roster.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
They can have to start player.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
I mean they're gonna be healthy. Paul George embiid Maxie.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
I like their pick. They got a lot of stuff.
Sixers are sleepy. Maybe four or five.
Speaker 6 (28:38):
They're gonna go from what thir thirteenth in the East
up to.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Four or five six?
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Yeah, I think that's that's a good jump.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
So the Knicks went to the conference finals, lost in
I think six pacers aren't going to be as good
next year. Lost two starters Knicks sting put ad a
good coach and add two reliable bench players, Like they're
going to be really you guys could remember it was
year one with adding bridges and towns.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Yeah, Like, can we just let things bake?
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Is it the right fit?
Speaker 6 (29:10):
That is the right personality fit? Is it the right
chemistry fit. We've seen this happen with a lot of
top players and coaches, Like it really can turn turn
a franchise around.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Is this runs loved Tips.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
They had a deep history dating back to like his childhood. Yeah,
that is probably a sting there, But you know Brown,
you gotta win the locks.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
He's a winner.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
Yeah, but he's a winning coach. Good.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
That's a I think the first big step there. Okay,
let's move to the NFL wide receiver Chris Godwin turned
down turned some heads when he decided to stay in
Tampa and free agency after the Patriots reportedly offered him
more money. Now, Baker Mayfield wasn't surprised, saying the Bucks
have a great culture full of guys who.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
Don't need the spotlight.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Mayfield went on to add that the Bucks are a
bunch of good guys who just want to win. Now,
we've seen almost all of the Bucks tough guys take
less money to stay and try to win another Super Bowl,
something that Tom Brady kind of did when he came
in and set the culture there, very similar to what
he did in New England, because Tom always took less
(30:14):
money in order to build the roster around him and
be able to go out and win Super Bowls. If
you think about it, since Brady left New England kind
of went downhill. The Bucks have controlled the NFC South.
They won the NFC South the last four years. And
it's always a question you ask these athletes, like do
(30:35):
you want the bag or do you want the ring?
And there's no wrong answer here because as an athlete,
you have a very small window to make your money,
but you usually can't have both. So this Bucks franchise
and what we're hearing from all their top guys is
they want to try to go They want to try
to go for the chips opposed to the bag.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I don't see.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
So that's a good discussion. The NFL's showf lip. You
know THISFL stands not for long. I think you absolutely
have to get the bag in the NFL. There's no
there's no wrong answer.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
There is no wrong answer for an athlete here, Okay,
because you don't know. Your career could be three years,
could be ten years. Really only quarterbacks and top top
tier players that are above that ten year mark.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Yeah, most positions you get early thirties in the NFL
and they're done. Probably your body is done NBA less,
so I think you have a little longer runway. So
I would say, now, I mean, do rings really matter
that much?
Speaker 5 (31:32):
Legacy?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Yes, we have a lot of legacy talk Alex at
the NFL do.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
But again, what's important to you this is this is
a personal question to.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
An after give me a generation.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
What Okay, then there you go, You're going to take
the bag. Yeah, that's where you would go. I would
want to go championship.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Well at what age.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
At twenty five, Give me the bag at thirty five,
give me the chip.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Yeah, but if you if you take the.
Speaker 6 (31:57):
Bag at twenty five, that's going to affect your career
because you're not going to be on a team that's
probably able to compete for the championship. So then it's
just it terms you, Alex, not really like do you
think let me think of a guy like, uh, well,
not Dan, Like.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Mark Clayton, I played wide receiver for Dan Mareen on
the Dolphins way back. Do you think he's like ever
just around and somebody's like, oh, Mark, what's up man?
Speaker 3 (32:24):
You never won that Super Bowl? Like he's not. He's
thinking about like, oh yeah, I got generational wealth.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
My family set, I could travel anywhere I wanted.
Speaker 6 (32:32):
You are like a hardcore athlete, Yes, you're thinking about
that constantly. Yeah, I never won that chip. That was
the one thing on my career. Like, that's why you
play the game, That's why everybody. That's what you dream
about as a kid, whatever sport you're going into is
hoisting that trophy, getting that championship ring. That should be
your number one goal always if you're playing a sport.
(32:54):
And then obviously you're gonna make millions of dollars. You're
sacrificing your body and your life and everything else.
Speaker 5 (32:59):
But Jack, well it's okay.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
That again, it's it's so different for every athlete, and
there is no wrong answer.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Yeah, because it says your life and your career.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Well, I do want you know, you're taking the the
bag and then I set my family up for generations. Okay,
but I would love a championship later in my career.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I know this is wall potatoes.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
A don't trying to have your cake. You eat it too,
I want to, don't. You don't usually get that. And
you look at the goat. Look at Tom Brady. He
always took less money. So always took less money.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Well he is. Remember Giselle was making five hundred million
or whatever, as.
Speaker 5 (33:33):
It helps, made more than him.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
So in in these men's leagues I play in, you know,
Matt Liner was all my teams passes and we won
the championship. So we're a banner in the gym, so
everybody knows it's us.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
But then you play in.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
The tougher league and I'm like, I don't need to
play minutes, guys, I just want the championship. But in
the thirty five and up league, I'm Jack, and you know,
like I'm shooting a lot. So like, if I want
my cake and I want to eat it too, what's
wrong with that?
Speaker 5 (33:57):
There's not.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
But in in this scenario, you're most likely not gonna
get both because you can't build.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Around when you have so many big contracts.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
And if you're Tampa Bay, it's gonna be very tough. Like, no, yeah,
they're coming, They're there at best fifth in the NFC maybe, yeah, Eagles,
yeah better.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
I think Niners are clearly better.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Lions, oh yeah, Washington, Yeah, like the Packers probably, it's
gonna be tough.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Rams. So, like, it's gonna be very tough.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
It's gonna be really tough.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
But I mean that's the attitude you have to take
if you want to keep you gotta tea keep all
of your top guys, and they're like in an easier division,
so you're you're able to take You're able to take
the the NFC South. Yeah, all right, let's move to baseball.
Wrap things up with baseball another day. Another Otani home
(34:50):
run show. Hey lead to the National League with thirty
home runs. This is Otawnie's Third Street season of hitting
it at least thirty bombs before the All Star Game
time Kangriffy Junior for the third most all time and
tied Tode Bellinger for most home runs before the All
Star break in Dodgers' history that twenty nineteen season. Bellinger
went on to win the NL MVP. What I love
(35:12):
right now is that we're seeing the two reigning MVPs,
Aaron Judge and Shohey Otani tied right now with thirty
home runs, like they are both just going off.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
Still not as much as the big.
Speaker 6 (35:25):
Dumper caw Rawly, who is the catcher in Seattle.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
Who is leading all in baseball in home runs, which
is absolutely phenomenal.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
But Otani, I try to remind people just appreciate greatness
when it's right in front of your face. This kid
is a unicorn and a gift for the game of baseball.
We are never going to see a player like this again.
He has already cemented his name in baseball in these
(35:55):
record books and this one.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
This is a very I think on break.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
Record that Otani's setting right now. He has the most
home runs in a season with multiple pitching starts. No
one's ever gonna be able to break that record.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
You don't think a picture is going to hit forty
six home runs?
Speaker 5 (36:12):
No, absolutely.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
I don't think we're gonna see another two way power
hitter pitcher like we're seeing Otani see an ace on
the mound and a power hitter. So you think we're
gonna see another's gonna be gonna be able to beat
this record. I think I know the kids are going
to see this and be like, I'm going to motivate.
Speaker 5 (36:31):
But it's different. It's Otani.
Speaker 6 (36:34):
It has a different hit, a different upbringing, metality. He
went to like a baseball boarding school. Baseball was his life,
and how how strict he is with his training and
his time management, like before he started his family, Like
it was all all baseball. That's all he did. You
(36:55):
would eat, sleep, breathe baseball. Even out on the road,
you wouldn't hear him being out with the other guys.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
He'd just be in his room watching.
Speaker 6 (37:03):
Tape maybe like he literally he is Baseball is life.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Hey, if you ask my wife, she would say, Jay,
that's my my husband for sports.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Uh, basically that's what I was.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
You know, in my twenties, I was like, I need
to build this website do all this. Yeah, anyways, we
have sound alex of Otani's home run last night.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Here we go am five to seven.
Speaker 10 (37:25):
Otani awakes the three two pits from Shane Smith.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Here it comes, he swings. It's a high drive the
right field way back. It does, and this ball is gone.
Speaker 10 (37:37):
A home run show. Hey, oh, tourney with a blast
his earlieth of the season, decent one sixteen exit bilw Like,
he just makes it look so easy, and he has
so much fun, and he has so much respect for
the game.
Speaker 6 (37:55):
He's one of the only batters that goes up, says
hide to the umpires everything.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
I love that when the.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Benches were clearing, he got hit by the pitch.
Speaker 6 (38:01):
When they're playing the padres, he's the one that went
over and like calmed the dugout down both dugouts, Like, guys, stop,
this is a part of the game. Like, it's just
he's so good for the game and the face of
baseball right now. I'm just it's so fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
All right, Alex with the news.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the
herd Line news.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
All right, So coming up next, I got a loyalty
rant to go on, and I'm telling you guys, like listen,
these new NBA rules, they are not good. And loyalty
it's out the window. That's next here on the Herd.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Be sure to catch live editions on The Herd weekdays
and noon Eastern n A em Pacific.
Speaker 6 (38:42):
Alex Pullo looks to continue his legendary season and hold
off a war new Gordon Kirkwood and the rest of
the pack as the IndyCar Series roars into mid Ohio
Sunday at one eastern on Fox.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
All right, let me talk about this loyalty thing teased.
There's a lot. It's weird.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
We don't really have this in the NFL, but it's
a thing in the NBA. Fans of that team really
want guys to stay. And I totally get that, right owners,
when they find good players, they should do.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Everything in their power to keep them.
Speaker 4 (39:17):
So yesterday's something weird happened with Miles Turner of the Pacers.
Out of the blue, and I mean just totally nobody
saw this coming. He leaves the Pacers for the Milwaukee Bucks,
and all these Pacers fans are scratching their heads.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
What wait?
Speaker 4 (39:30):
What every all signs during the playoff run pointed to him, staying,
you guys might have remembered, like a month ago. Early
in the playoffs, they said, man, Miles Turner would be
a great fit with.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
The Lakers if they could get him on the cheap. Oh,
that would be such a heist. And of course the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
Go on and Turner's very, very good, and there's like, yeah,
there's no way they're gonna get him.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
He's staying in Indy.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
The Pacers during the NBA Finals even made a move
telegraphic they want to keep Turner.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
They traded their twenty twenty five first round pick.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
They don't want it to pay somebody, so they got
a twenty six first so they're paying Turner.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
And then Tyrese Haliburton.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Gets hurt in Game seven, and Turner was He was
okay in the finals. He wasn't great. He averaged like
ten to four and it's not great when you're six
foot ten center, seven foot whatever you want to call him.
He's averaging four rebounds a game. That's like less than
Ni Smith Obi top in Like, it wasn't great, But
it's tough to find guys like that who can stretch
(40:27):
the floor and hit threes. Be a written protector. I
know he's a no time All Star, but all signed
to put it to the Pacers keeping him. And now
reports are coming out that the Pacers Cheap owner did
not want to go into the luxury tax because they
don't think they can win a championship next year without Haliburton.
And according to reports, the Pacers only offered him three
(40:47):
years twenty million dollars I'm sorry, sixty million, which is
twenty MILLI year. So the Pacers to keep a guy
who they've had for ten years, the longest tenured pacer
on the roster, a guy who don't trade rumors for
the last five years, they offered him three for sixty
mil twenty MILLI year. The Bucks said, whoa, we can
(41:09):
offer four an extra year for one hundred and seven,
so that's like twenty six million dollars a year. Of
course he's gonna take more money, of course, and I
just this whole idea of loyalty. Hey, attorney, you should
have stayed with us. No, the Pacers owner cheaped out.
Now there are reports he hasn't been in the luxury
(41:31):
tax in over twenty years. He don't want to cut
that check except things have changed. You went to the
conference finals, and now you're in the NBA Finals in
Game seven and you lose your star until you lose
the game, and all of a sudden you get cheap.
All these new rules for the second apron then the
punitive taxes. That's to prevent the big markets and the
(41:54):
super teams from dominating the league. Isn't it not supposed
to prevent small market teams like the Pacers from keeping
their guy, or.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
The Memphis Grizzlies, who pretty quickly.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Realized, shucks, we can't do this with JJ, Triple J,
Bain and Job.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
We got to get off pain. We don't want to
have to pay the luxury tax.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
So what all these owners wanted is now starting to
hurt them.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
And you can't do this on the cheap where you've
got no loyalty.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
He's just saying, hey, Miles, sorry, man, Halliburton got hurt.
We can't offer you the big bag anymore. What I'm stunned, folks.
Pacers fans should be outraged, so should Pacers players. Coming
up next, Luca USA Soccer Big Weekend
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
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dot com, or stream us live every day on the
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio, our number.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Two here on The Herd.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Jason McIntyre in for Colin Cowherd Jet setting.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I don't worzy Ebisa? Is that where he is right now?
Speaker 5 (00:34):
I have no idea. You tell me.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I love Abiza.
Speaker 5 (00:38):
I haven't been a we honeymoon in Abiza.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
What a la? Alex Curry joining me.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
We got jovon Buja coming up in I don't know
five minutes.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Lakers fans are like on the edge, Alex right now
there breathing.
Speaker 5 (00:54):
We're okay, okay.
Speaker 6 (00:55):
I'm not as concerned, I think as everybody else. As
we talk about last hour, Lebron knows how to get
the conversation going. This is what he does. What does
his hat say?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Welcome home? Welcome home.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Yeah it's a message, but he is back home.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I thought he's in.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Ohio with Lebron like hanging around seeing what the hell's
going on.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
But he's out here anyways.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
All right, real quick before we get to Yovon, I
just got to talk about it, like I like Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I know people think you don't like him, Jay, You're critical.
That's what we do.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Were critical of everybody, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Lebron, everybody.
And Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP. He's a
dynamic player. When he's on, you're watching. He came out
here so far to play. I think it was the
Chargers even last year, two years ago.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I was at the game.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
He's electrifying. You can't take your eyes off him. He's unbelievable.
And he keeps coming up empty in the playoffs, which
is fine, you know, not everybody wins right out of
the gate. But Lamar went on some digital show with
Kevin Hart and me to take a quick time out.
Kevin Hart, from my money, is the funny guy going.
I know people like Theo Vaughn and then all these
(02:02):
other comics. Kevin Hart's a man. I'm a huge fan
of his movies, his stand up. I've seen him live.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
He's great.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Kevin Hart also does like an ice tub thing where
he invites people on and talks to him.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And here's what Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Said to Kevin Hart about the one thing, okay, one.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Thing he needs to improve on to get the Ravens
over the hump.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Just being a leader.
Speaker 7 (02:23):
Okay, I'm gonna say being a leader because I'm I
really don't. I'm really not outspoken, like being vocal with
my guys like oh let's do this and that got
a great motivation of speech. I don't have that, you know.
I just pretty much lead by example. I go out there,
I'm gonna work hard. I expect that out of you.
But as I've been going, like growing in the league,
it's like, nah, you gotta talk to the guys coaches
(02:43):
and stuff, like to talk to the guy.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I'm all right now. I talked to him one on one.
Speaker 7 (02:46):
But certain things I'm saying, I gotta voice it more.
It was my opinion more to those guys.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
It's like when you're in a job interview and you know,
they ask you one of these question like what's your
biggest weakness? And you give one of these answers that
says like I don't have a weakness, you know, not
having a weakness. That's my weakness, like something like that.
And I'm like, really, leadership, you either have that or
you don't. I don't think like five years in the
league something snaps and you're a leader. Like Justin Herbert
(03:17):
is quiet and just doesn't say much.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That's who he is.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
He's not changing, you know. Patrick Mahomes is a fiery dude.
He was that way at Texas Tech. He's that way
in the NFL. He's not changing. Lamar Jackson is a
quiet guy. He doesn't say a lot. Tom Brady, you
remember him on the sideline with the Patriots. He would
f bomb people and dog cuss him.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
That's who he was. Fiery. Everybody's different when it comes
to leadership.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
If Lamar was given truth serum before the Kevin Hard interview,
what's the biggest way, Hey man, I've had some rotten
playoff games going to Buffalo. I couldn't do anything this
past year in Buffalo. I started slow, fumble interception, I
got us in the hole. I can't play like that
on the road. I haven't delivered in the playoffs. And
(04:02):
it's like, yeah, I get it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Mark Andrews.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
If he catches that, it's a different discussion. But look
at the game log of Lamar Jackson. He has not
been great in the playoffs, and yeah, I see the
drops on the screen, and that's not always on him. Obviously,
what's his name against Kansas City when they were at home,
had to fumble the young receiver Za Flowers had a
brutal game, but right out of the gate, like Lamar
Jackson wasn't awesome. Teams have seen him, they know how
(04:27):
to game plan for him. He needs to become a
different quarterback in the postseason. And that's not a knock,
it's just a reality. Right now, that's the only Kryptonite has.
The calendar turns to January and all of a sudden,
Lamar Jackson, Oh shoot, what are we getting here?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Are we in trouble?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I mean, look at the numbers three and five in
the playoffs. Completion percentage down, passer rating down. It hasn't
been great. Now you're playing the best of the best,
But for a two time MVP, that to me is
his weakness.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I don't want to hear this as leadership nonsense.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
All right, let's go back to the NBA and bring
in Jovon Buha, who covers the league. He covers the
Lakers closely. Let's welcome in jovonn Who's listen. The last
time he was your absolute fire. And now the pressure's
on Yovann obviously, not just because you're a free agent,
but also there's some pre agent stuff swirling around and
(05:17):
the Lakers fans want to know right now what is
the status with DeAndre Ayton and Los Angeles.
Speaker 8 (05:22):
MI understanding is he's likely going to make his decision
today he clears waivers at five pm Eastern time. There's
a bit of a DeAndre Aighton sweepstakes going on right
now for a guy who's on a thirty five million
dollar contract gets bought out and now is going to
be in that probably eight to eight to fourteen million
dollar range. So you got a couple of options with
(05:44):
the full non taxpayer mle Golden State in Indiana both
need starting centers. Indiana just lost Miles Turner. They also
have a relationship with eight and they offered him a
max contract offer sheet back in twenty twenty two, which
he signed. So there was a second there where it
looked like he was going to be the center of
the future. Then you got the Lakers, who only have
eight point two five million dollars because they split part
(06:05):
of that mL on Jake Lauravia. So I think the
Lakers probably provide the best opportunity. You're going to be
in the spotlight. You're going to be starting playing with Luca,
potentially playing with Lebron, and theoretically being on a team
with some you know, contending odd So I think that's
the best opportunity for him. But also like money talks
(06:25):
and other teams can offer him more money.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
I mean, he got number one pick money, he got
a second contract, which is huge. Yeah, I mean fourteen
million versus eight If it just comes down to that,
Lakers are going to lose out on that, and he's.
Speaker 8 (06:37):
Still getting the twenty five million from Portland. So he
would be taking like I guess, a one point seventy
five million shaving off of that thirty five if he
goes to the Lakers, whereas actually, if he goes to
the other teams, he could technically make more money on
top of the thirty five because it would be an
offset of like four extra million dollars. But I think
you know right now that they're weighing their options is
(06:58):
my understanding him and his camp, but it sounds like
around the time of him clearing waivers, we should have
a better idea.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah, from just a fit perspective, I got to ask, like, culturally,
did you read the article about him where it's like
he was late to flights. In practice, he couldn't make
it to a game because of icy roads, Like there's
a lot of stuff that apparently trickled out in Portland.
They were like, we got to get this guy out
of here, and now the Lakers want to bring him in.
Speaker 8 (07:24):
Yeah, I mean that's certainly concerning. But if you look
at the center options right now in free agency, the
alternative is a thirty nine year old Al Horford, who
I think I would go out Horford. I like Al Horford.
I just think, you know, in comparison to like rebounding
rim protection. I think Deandreyton as a twenty six year
old is just at a different level than Al Horford
right now, like that they were load managing Al Horford
and Boston right and I don't think he's a guy
(07:46):
who can hold up over the course of an eighty
two game seasons. So I think the Lakers need a
legit starting center and eight and is one. Now that
there are some flaws and there are some drawbacks. I
think he's very talented, he's very skilled. There have been
times where it seems like the motor or the motivation
have not always been there, and I think that's something
that you know, he's in a contract year effectively, so
(08:08):
he's going to have to prove himself.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
He doesn't really stretch the floor, he doesn't get to
the foul line. He's not I mean, I saw the
true catching some lobs, but he's not like the lively
Gafford type. He's more of a throwback, a back to
the basket guy.
Speaker 8 (08:23):
I all seven years he's averaged a double double, so
like you are getting a baseline level of rebounding with him.
Shot eighty percent at the rim last year, which I think,
you know that's not all dunks. But he's got a
soft touch with hook shots, floaters. Like I think the
offensive skill is there. I think he's arguably the best
like realistic offensive option they could get. It's the defensive
end that I'm interested to see. But some of his
(08:45):
rim protection numbers are good, good defensive rebounder like you
could certainly do worst, which I would argue the Lakers
did last year with their center.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, okay, so Ayton, Let's say Ayton picks the Warriors
or whoever. Oh wow, they're just sending me some breaking news.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Are you ready for this? Sure it's not Lakers related.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
The Knicks are expected to land Mike Brown as the
next head coach of the franchise. Wow, so not a
huge surprise. The we'll come back to the Knicks a favorite? Yeah,
he was a favorite. So if the Lakers don't get
Ayton and then Al Horford, is there anyone else out there?
I mean Luke Cornett got.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Way too much money. He would have been the starting
center of the Lakers.
Speaker 8 (09:24):
Yeah, I mean Jackson Hayes is still out there. Alex
Laddin can I can I sell you? So there's precious
Achua from New York who Yeah? So, but but I
think at that point they have to pivot and make
a trade.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Really at that Like, but then who do they have
to trade Ruey or Austin Reeves?
Speaker 8 (09:43):
Depends on the salary for the player. Uh, like a
guy like Walker Kessler, who is like they're not get
I don't think they're getting Walker Kessler. But like that
he's on a rookie scale contract, So you could do
something like the Mark Williams package of Dalton connect a
first a swap something like that where you're not really
giving up much in salary and you're trading a bench
(10:03):
player for a starter. So like that's probably the optimal trade.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Oh, if they could get Walker Kessler for a dolta Cake.
Speaker 8 (10:08):
I don't think they're getting Walker Kestler. But could they
get a Nick Claxton from Brooklyn? Could they get a
Gafford from Dallas? Circle the block talk about.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Dallas So and there's a Lebron There's so much stuff
I don't want to Actually, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Let me go back to Jake Laurraviak.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
A lot of Laker fans are outraged, and there the
memes around what the hell is it Jake Laurravia. But
you told me something that I hadn't seen online about
Jake Laaravia.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
What's a connection to the Lakers?
Speaker 8 (10:37):
Shares an agency with Austin Reeves, and he actually did
a interview this summer and at the end of the
interview he pans and he's in the car with Austin Reeves.
So they were spending some time together this offseason, so
assuming Austin put on his recruiting hat and told him
about his experience in LA and what it's like to
be a Laker, and that was a selling point for sure.
(10:59):
But we'll say I've been in the lab diving into
the Jake Laaravia film okay, and it's it's impressive for
a twenty three year old.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
There we go, there we go, like, look, this is
the guy is a former.
Speaker 8 (11:09):
First round pick from you know, he's played three years
and he played a Memphis and Sacramento. So though like
he's not a household name, he's playing in two small
markets that don't get a lot of attention. He was
a bench player, but they're counting on him to in
some ways be the Dorian Finney Smith replacement. And like
watching his film, I have a film breakdown coming out
on my YouTube channel later, and like he's guarding Jokic
(11:30):
and he's doing the Caruso of fronting him, deflecting entry passes.
He's switching on to Tatum and Kawhi, like he's I
think people look at him and they don't expect him
to be good defensively, but he is actually pretty good
against wings and then forty three percent three point shooter
last year. So like, I think he can actually do
some things for them. And six million dollars like we're
talking about, you know, not even half the mid level, Like,
(11:51):
I think it's pretty good value it.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
So when you said Laaravia shares an agent with Reeve,
I instantly you don't going next step.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
They're not trading Nausin Reeves.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
He's sticking right, You don't do that move with Reeves's agent.
You clearly like the agent and you trust him, and
you like Reeves and the work ethic for la Ravia.
So they're not moving off Austin Reeves. Can we just
put that to bed or no?
Speaker 8 (12:10):
I think so for this summer. Of course, we'll see
how next season goes. And now there's this talk of
them having this twenty twenty seven plan and trying to
keep the cap sheet flexibility to go get a second
superstar in the summer of twenty twenty seven or maybe
trade for one going into that summer. So I think
depending on how this next season goes with him, how
(12:31):
he fares in the playoffs, and then also what type
of contract he gets, I think all those are factors
that could determine whether he ultimately gets traded at some
point in the future. But for this summer, they've been
telegraphing it like they've called him a pillar of the franchise.
They offered him the max contract extension that they could.
It was below market value, so he didn't take it.
But I think he is someone who is going to
(12:51):
be a part of the Lakers for at least next season,
and then we'll see ultimately with the next contract.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Okay, so let's go to the breaking news year.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
So the Nicks move off Tibbs last month and now
bring in Mike Brown.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I'll bring it to Lebron in a second.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
First of all, I'm curious, do you think Mike Brown
is an upgrade over Tibodeau.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
I think it's close. I think from a personality perspective,
he is. And that's always the variable here that it
is hard to quantify of just TIBs can be grading
on people like we have enough of sample size of
that some players just don't mesh well with that. And
I think that old school style of coaching has kind
of gone away in the NBA. So I think from
(13:31):
a personality perspective, especially going to feels like Golden State
is the place as a retread head coach you want
to go to join that assistant coaching staff and learn
from Steve Kerr kind of the modern way of coaching,
which I think is a more player friendly approach. So
I think from that perspective, he will be in terms
of x's and o's defense like it, Tip's pretty good
in that regard. I think he'll play a deeper rotation,
(13:53):
so I think that's probably upgrade. But so sometimes you
just need a new voice. TIBs was there for five
years and does feel like with the coaching cycle, now
get three to five years and you got to try
to maximize that.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
So I'll ask you about Mike Brown dating back to
his early Lebron days. Can you really judge Mike Brown
from coaching Lebron won fifty games, one fifty, lost in
the conference finals, won six, like, I don't really count that.
So then you got one year with the Lakers, and
then he got fired the next year like five games in,
and then he was pretty good in Sacramento. I don't
(14:24):
really know, but what some of my Knicks friends are saying, Jay,
there's one potential landing spot for Lebron and that could.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Be the New York next. The Calves would probably have
to give up too much. Mike Brown knows Lebron.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
What about Lebron getting traded to the Knicks for an
og Mitchell Robinson?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Whatever. Do you think there's any world where Lebron gets traded.
Speaker 8 (14:47):
I think there's a world, but I think it's I
would put the odds very low right now. I mean,
he has not asked for a trade. There's been no
discussion between Rich Paul and the Lakers about a potential trade.
It's hard to look at that statement and not read
into it and then see these subsequent actions by the
Lakers of not retaining Dori and Finney Smith and then
signing a twenty three year old in Jake Lauravia, then
(15:08):
having the support come out that they're looking at twenty
twenty seven as the summer to really get that second
star build around Luca. So the moves they're making are
trending in a younger, short term window and not necessarily
win now, maximize Lebron's twenty third season, maximize Lebron's potential
twenty fourth season. So if I'm Lebron, and I think
(15:30):
they kind of put it out in statement, like it's
been a good partnership that they've had seven years together.
He won a championship, he benefited from the Lakers brand,
they benefited from him coming there, bringing Ad there, winning
a championship, So like it's been a mutually beneficial partnership.
I just think at this point, if you're Lebron, it's
hard to like. I think right now they're probably the
fit best team in the West. And that's not a spot.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
That Lebron were the top. Let me guess Houston, Denver Okac, who's.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
The other one?
Speaker 8 (15:56):
Minnesota back to back conference finals. I mean, they lost, Ah,
but that's a big it is a big loss. But
I mean I think that they just meet the Lakers
in five, and you could argue the Lakers are currently
worse than they were. I mean, Golden State's in the mix,
the Clippers in the mix. I really like the Brook
Lopez signing for them. So the West is tough. And
then you got Dallas just looming.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
So Dallas.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
So of these you see on the screen, four teams
have required about Lebron. Everybody says it's Dallas.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
After the Luca trade. I cannot envision a world where
they're doing another deal.
Speaker 8 (16:27):
I'm part of the everybody because I put it out there,
like I heard over the last couple of weeks that
if Lebron asked that, which is an if right, that
Dallas would be among the teams that would be on him.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Shop that trade.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Let's just just humor me. Who the hell are they
getting for for Lebron?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
They're not.
Speaker 8 (16:42):
I've been on the trade machine.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Give it up.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
Cooper Flag. No, so I think Cooper Flag eighty, Kyrie,
Derek Lively, those four are off the table. Can't get Lively,
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
I mean maybe, but Thompson, Yeah, I.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
Think it's Gafford, PJ. Washington, Klay Thompson, Max Christie that
those four work financially. Don't even throw from throwing a pick.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
No, they're gonna be good.
Speaker 8 (17:04):
You could get the Lakers. Lakers can get their pick
back from the Luca trade potentially.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yeah. Can I get super Max Christie back? No?
Speaker 8 (17:12):
Yeah, I mean it's it's yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
So Dallas is one, Cleveland is another, and it's just.
Speaker 8 (17:17):
Their second Apron team. So that's it's a good tricky.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Did you see the Instagram today of Lebron in Ohio
playing golf wearing.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
A hat that says welcome home. Yeah, okay, go ahead,
give me your thoughts on it, because he loves to
play these games.
Speaker 8 (17:32):
He does.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
From the statement from Rich Paul, the Lakers seem to
counter with their own twenty twenty seven and now Lebron
countering with his welcome home part for the course, ah
golf analogy or is there something more here?
Speaker 8 (17:44):
I think there's a little bit more here, just because
the finish line is in sight. Right, So again going
back to Lebron, like, because Lebron has done this before, right,
He's at various points of his career, health, his team,
to their feet, to the fire with the one plus ones,
and some of the cryptic things he'll do, and he
went to the Cleveland playoff game and like so there's
been a little bit of smoke with that, right, But
(18:07):
it's different to actually ask out right and demand a trade.
He's never been traded. I think that's been a point
of pride for him that he, you know, look at
even though he's bounced around a little bit, it's always
been him making the decision, him being the driving force
behind it. He's never been traded, which not every star, Yeah,
especially stars that have been on multiple teams can say, so,
I think that's a point of pride. But again, the
(18:28):
finish lines in sight, it's one year left, it's maybe
two years, three years. If he really wanted to stretch
it out and if he wants to get that fifth ring,
you could argue there are several teams that would make
more sense.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Are you trusted? Like Atlanta?
Speaker 8 (18:44):
So I think it has to be a big market.
I don't see because people have floated Denver, which now
it's a little trickier with Poe like I think MPJ
would have had to have been the salary and they
just trade for Cam Johnson. But that one, I'm just like,
I don't see Lebron living in Denver and playing for Denver.
I think that's why the four I mentioned on my
show where Golden State, New York, Cleveland, Dallas, Cleveland's the
(19:06):
one small market, but that's obviously home and you got
the homecoming narrative for the second time. But then Dallas,
Golden State in New York are all big market teams.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Yeah, all right, let's go from Lebron to Luka Donchett.
So I opened the show defending Luca. The disrespect is
getting a little out of control? Have you heard the
Avery Johnson sound about? He was asked who would you
rather have Cooper flag or Luka Donchet and I think
we could play it for you here here's Avery Johnson.
Speaker 9 (19:33):
Man, give me Cooper flag. Really Cooper flag in this team? Yeah,
give me Cooper flag.
Speaker 10 (19:40):
Man.
Speaker 9 (19:40):
You're talking about a team when they're healthy. Got three
future Hall of famers with Kyrie ad and Klay Thompson.
So this is really exciting in the Mavericks. Their future
is bright, but they have a window when they're healthy.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
If the next two to three years, what does Ross
as currently?
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Okay, listen, Avery Johnson is a smart guy. He probably
knows more basketball than you and I combined.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Yeah, this is just crazy? Is hoop crazy?
Speaker 8 (20:11):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Correct?
Speaker 8 (20:12):
Correct?
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Why are people adding on Luca like one bad season?
And by the way, hey, if he had rushed back
from his CAF like Nico Harrison wanted, would he beat
Tyrese Haliburton?
Speaker 9 (20:21):
Now?
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (20:24):
Yeah, I mean maybe it's the jersey he's wearing. Now,
I think that comes with some extra criticism sometimes. I
mean I do think the way like I think some
of the stuff that came out from the Dallas side
has been taken as gospel right with the conditioning and
their concerns, and it almost was like, we cannot believe
(20:45):
that this trade is real, so we have to validate
anything that's coming from their side too, to even make
it like plausible that they would consider trading Luca. And now,
of course Nico's still gotten his fair share of jokes
and he's been roasted, and you know, we'll probably be
roasted forever. But I think there has been like a
tarnishing of Luca and his image and and just his
(21:07):
status in the league, because I think for a lot
of people he was like a top two or top
three player pre Lakers trade. Now he's being talked about
in like top five, top seven, top test.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I slip it, would you take SGA over Luca going forward?
Right now?
Speaker 4 (21:21):
I think you asked me this last time I was
on again, because he's now finals.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
I think I would come. But more so it's more
of the defense. I think that like that's I think
that's the real knock on Lucas, Like you have to
build a particular lineup, and now we have the proof
of concept with SGA. Of like I think previously I
had some concerns. Could Sga be the best player? We
hadn't seen it yet, Like that was one thing we
had discussed of, you know, talking about like him versus Harden.
(21:47):
It was like, can he get over that hump? Can
you get to the finals? Can you win a championship?
He did it and he was awesome, and so I think,
like for now, I think Shaye deserves his props MVP
finals MVP. I think both were deserved. But you know,
I think I'll say it's close, Like I think Lucas
probably the third or fourth best players. It's right there
with the.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Honest So I was gonna I was going to ask
you this, but now it probably hurts your chances. So
your background is Eastern European rips because I fall, you know,
in Serbian stuff.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Right. What's Luca's background?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Uh, he's Slomania, but there their close Falkan region former Yugoslavia.
And then the lad has some Serbian roots.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
When he's going back this summer, are you headed back
there to maybe?
Speaker 8 (22:29):
So he is actually going to be in Serbia in August.
They're playing a friendly against Serbia. And we were actually
talking about it at the end of the season. Luca
and I after the Lakers were eliminated, we're walking to
Was that in a different language or uh, no, we
were talking in English. We have done a little talking Serb.
I speak a little bit. I wish I spoke for
you walk into the walk into the car area, you know,
(22:50):
doing the sidling. We were chatting and I was saying
it might be going this summer, and he was saying
when he was going to be there, So, uh, maybe
it's it's TVD right now.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Well it would have augues is to say, of course
Luca over SGA.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, welcome you.
Speaker 8 (23:03):
And no, I mean I've spoken very highly of Luca. Yeah,
you know, I think he's again I think Luca over
Cooper Flag ten out of ten times. Ob we'll see
you with Flag, right, he could develop into that type
of player, But I think Luca is clearly the engine
of you can win a title with him as your
best player, number one option Cooper Flag, I think like
(23:24):
maybe he's more of a number two, but could be
because he could do so many other things, and he's
like a defensive Player of the Year type defender like
I don't know, more like a Kevin Garnett or something
like that. Where you know, I don't know if he's
the number one option, but he can do so many
other things that it makes up for it all.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Right, last one, I thought the Lakers would be in
the mix to get some not ring chasers, but oh damn,
I could play with Luca and Lebron and then I
see like Tim Hardaway's going to the Nuggets. I mean
that's got to hurt, right, Those guys could have been
huge for the Lakers to get just shooters.
Speaker 8 (23:54):
Yeah, So with that, I would say, right now, there's
just to hold up with the eight in situation and
what they do with their non taxpayer and a lead.
They have the bi annual exception five point one million,
So I think there are going to be some guys
that Chris Paul I don't think he's probably one of
the Lakers. It seems more like the Clippers.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
But gosh, Chris, what the heck?
Speaker 8 (24:12):
But like d Anthony Melton is a name I like
who a former was the hurt last year? Trojan Yeah,
he towards ACL last year, so that's the reason why
he's available. But is a defensive energy guard I think
a good guard off the bench. Gary Payton, the second
is still out there, a mere coffee clipper, bench wing
who is athletics score so like that. There's some names
(24:33):
that I think Lakers could sign, depending on what they
have available. But I think you'll see them get like
right now is just being held up by once they
have the clarity with eight and then they'll move forward.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Hot, super hot take Just hit me, why the hell
not Celtics don't have Tatum next year? It would never happen.
But what if there was a hey Jalen Brown, let's
get him off our books. We'll take Lebron for a year.
He could do victory lap with the Celtics, lead us
to I don't know what in the East, and you
guys can have Jaylen Brown because they're not gonna be
(25:05):
able to pay Tatum and Brown sixty five million each
and build a team.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
That's pretty clear. Any shot the Celtics.
Speaker 8 (25:11):
Get involved for Lebron, I think Lebron would rather retire
and play for the Celtics. Well said, and he's got
the no trade class, so you would block it.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
He can dixit, right, that's a fire up and why not?
All right? Coming up next?
Speaker 4 (25:23):
Wait until you see what show Hey O'tani did last night?
Speaker 3 (25:27):
For the Dodgers. Alex has the latest in herd Line.
That's next.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
One more heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd
to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
Hi, this is Jay.
Speaker 11 (25:43):
I'm the producer of the Paula and Tony Fusco Show.
Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to
the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen
to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who
have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable. Don't listen to
the show so it can get camped.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Wha, what the hell are you doing in our studio?
Get them? Ignore that fool.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
He's still moving.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Welcome back.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Great stuff from jovon Bouja on the Lakers. I know
you guys are a little fed up. A lot of
Lakers content today, but.
Speaker 8 (26:20):
They're in the news.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
What do you want me to do?
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Let's go to Alex hurry with the news.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
This is the Herdline.
Speaker 6 (26:29):
News Jay Beck, I love our head NBA coach breaking
news streak that we have going. It's it's now three
for three because, according to several reports, and Knicks are
offering Mike Brown their vacant head coaching position. Brown most
recently coached the Sacramento Kings and has been named Coach
of the Year twice. Brown also won championships as an
(26:50):
assistant coach in Golden State and San Antonio. I mean,
he has quite the impressive resume. Do you like this
fit for the next this is your team?
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (27:03):
I mean this first time they.
Speaker 6 (27:04):
Were in the Eastern Conference finals in twenty five years.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
This was a record setting year for the Knicks.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Shopped everybody what they did, but now makes more sense
as Morris coming out, I guess, But is this the
right fit?
Speaker 3 (27:19):
In a word? Yeah, I like it. You know you
never want to go two overboard, Alex. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
I walked into the morning meeting this morning, even before
the Mike Brown ssopp. Yeah, I was like, you know,
I had a good night's sleep last night. Not to
channel cowherdo, uh huh, but I woke up and I'm
feeling the Knicks going to the finals next year. I
like a couple of small moves they made fortify their bench.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
I like the bright Mike Brown move.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Good coach, he won with Lebron, He's been in the
Golden State system.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
I thought he They showed.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Well in Sacramento where nobody can win, like them alone
could win in Sacramento.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah, and I just I like Mike Brown a lot.
I think this is really good news for the Knicks. Okay,
I'm calling it. The Knicks will be the NBA Finals
for the East next season.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
WHOA, I don't even know who their competition is, Orlando.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Cleveland, let me see believe Land.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
Yeah, I'm Atlanta Calves. I mean six not gonna be
the same team. Pacer is not going to be the
same team.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
Bucks.
Speaker 6 (28:13):
We have no idea what to expect. So yeah, I
think it's Nicks and Calves definitely at top.
Speaker 5 (28:18):
Top two teams in the East.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
I mean, the Bucks to me or a play in
t I don't even think they're.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
Good to Detroit.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
It's kind of depend if Giannis is there.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
Yeah, then, like we can't really make any kind of
prediction until you know who's going to be on that roster.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
They can have to start player.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
I mean they're gonna be healthy. Paul George embiid Maxie.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
I like their pick. They got a lot of stuff.
Sixers are sleepy. Maybe four or five.
Speaker 6 (28:38):
They're gonna go from what thir thirteenth in the East
up to.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Four or five six?
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Yeah, I think that's that's a good jump.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
So the Knicks went to the conference finals, lost in
I think six pacers aren't going to be as good
next year. Lost two starters Knicks sting put ad a
good coach and add two reliable bench players, Like they're
going to be really you guys could remember it was
year one with adding bridges and towns.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Yeah, Like, can we just let things bake?
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Is it the right fit?
Speaker 6 (29:10):
That is the right personality fit? Is it the right
chemistry fit. We've seen this happen with a lot of
top players and coaches, Like it really can turn turn
a franchise around.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Is this runs loved Tips.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
They had a deep history dating back to like his childhood. Yeah,
that is probably a sting there, But you know Brown,
you gotta win the locks.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
He's a winner.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
Yeah, but he's a winning coach. Good.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
That's a I think the first big step there. Okay,
let's move to the NFL wide receiver Chris Godwin turned
down turned some heads when he decided to stay in
Tampa and free agency after the Patriots reportedly offered him
more money. Now, Baker Mayfield wasn't surprised, saying the Bucks
have a great culture full of guys who.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
Don't need the spotlight.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Mayfield went on to add that the Bucks are a
bunch of good guys who just want to win. Now,
we've seen almost all of the Bucks tough guys take
less money to stay and try to win another Super Bowl,
something that Tom Brady kind of did when he came
in and set the culture there, very similar to what
he did in New England, because Tom always took less
(30:14):
money in order to build the roster around him and
be able to go out and win Super Bowls. If
you think about it, since Brady left New England kind
of went downhill. The Bucks have controlled the NFC South.
They won the NFC South the last four years. And
it's always a question you ask these athletes, like do
(30:35):
you want the bag or do you want the ring?
And there's no wrong answer here because as an athlete,
you have a very small window to make your money,
but you usually can't have both. So this Bucks franchise
and what we're hearing from all their top guys is
they want to try to go They want to try
to go for the chips opposed to the bag.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I don't see.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
So that's a good discussion. The NFL's showf lip. You
know THISFL stands not for long. I think you absolutely
have to get the bag in the NFL. There's no
there's no wrong answer.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
There is no wrong answer for an athlete here, Okay,
because you don't know. Your career could be three years,
could be ten years. Really only quarterbacks and top top
tier players that are above that ten year mark.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Yeah, most positions you get early thirties in the NFL
and they're done. Probably your body is done NBA less,
so I think you have a little longer runway. So
I would say, now, I mean, do rings really matter
that much?
Speaker 5 (31:32):
Legacy?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Yes, we have a lot of legacy talk Alex at
the NFL do.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
But again, what's important to you this is this is
a personal question to.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
An after give me a generation.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
What Okay, then there you go, You're going to take
the bag. Yeah, that's where you would go. I would
want to go championship.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Well at what age.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
At twenty five, Give me the bag at thirty five,
give me the chip.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Yeah, but if you if you take the.
Speaker 6 (31:57):
Bag at twenty five, that's going to affect your career
because you're not going to be on a team that's
probably able to compete for the championship. So then it's
just it terms you, Alex, not really like do you
think let me think of a guy like, uh, well,
not Dan, Like.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Mark Clayton, I played wide receiver for Dan Mareen on
the Dolphins way back. Do you think he's like ever
just around and somebody's like, oh, Mark, what's up man?
Speaker 3 (32:24):
You never won that Super Bowl? Like he's not. He's
thinking about like, oh yeah, I got generational wealth.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
My family set, I could travel anywhere I wanted.
Speaker 6 (32:32):
You are like a hardcore athlete, Yes, you're thinking about
that constantly. Yeah, I never won that chip. That was
the one thing on my career. Like, that's why you
play the game, That's why everybody. That's what you dream
about as a kid, whatever sport you're going into is
hoisting that trophy, getting that championship ring. That should be
your number one goal always if you're playing a sport.
(32:54):
And then obviously you're gonna make millions of dollars. You're
sacrificing your body and your life and everything else.
Speaker 5 (32:59):
But Jack, well it's okay.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
That again, it's it's so different for every athlete, and
there is no wrong answer.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Yeah, because it says your life and your career.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Well, I do want you know, you're taking the the
bag and then I set my family up for generations. Okay,
but I would love a championship later in my career.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I know this is wall potatoes.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
A don't trying to have your cake. You eat it too,
I want to, don't. You don't usually get that. And
you look at the goat. Look at Tom Brady. He
always took less money. So always took less money.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Well he is. Remember Giselle was making five hundred million
or whatever, as.
Speaker 5 (33:33):
It helps, made more than him.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
So in in these men's leagues I play in, you know,
Matt Liner was all my teams passes and we won
the championship. So we're a banner in the gym, so
everybody knows it's us.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
But then you play in.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
The tougher league and I'm like, I don't need to
play minutes, guys, I just want the championship. But in
the thirty five and up league, I'm Jack, and you know,
like I'm shooting a lot. So like, if I want
my cake and I want to eat it too, what's
wrong with that?
Speaker 5 (33:57):
There's not.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
But in in this scenario, you're most likely not gonna
get both because you can't build.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Around when you have so many big contracts.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
And if you're Tampa Bay, it's gonna be very tough. Like, no, yeah,
they're coming, They're there at best fifth in the NFC maybe, yeah, Eagles,
yeah better.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
I think Niners are clearly better.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Lions, oh yeah, Washington, Yeah, like the Packers probably, it's
gonna be tough.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Rams. So, like, it's gonna be very tough.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
It's gonna be really tough.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
But I mean that's the attitude you have to take
if you want to keep you gotta tea keep all
of your top guys, and they're like in an easier division,
so you're you're able to take You're able to take
the the NFC South. Yeah, all right, let's move to baseball.
Wrap things up with baseball another day. Another Otani home
(34:50):
run show. Hey lead to the National League with thirty
home runs. This is Otawnie's Third Street season of hitting
it at least thirty bombs before the All Star Game
time Kangriffy Junior for the third most all time and
tied Tode Bellinger for most home runs before the All
Star break in Dodgers' history that twenty nineteen season. Bellinger
went on to win the NL MVP. What I love
(35:12):
right now is that we're seeing the two reigning MVPs,
Aaron Judge and Shohey Otani tied right now with thirty
home runs, like they are both just going off.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
Still not as much as the big.
Speaker 6 (35:25):
Dumper caw Rawly, who is the catcher in Seattle.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
Who is leading all in baseball in home runs, which
is absolutely phenomenal.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
But Otani, I try to remind people just appreciate greatness
when it's right in front of your face. This kid
is a unicorn and a gift for the game of baseball.
We are never going to see a player like this again.
He has already cemented his name in baseball in these
(35:55):
record books and this one.
Speaker 5 (35:57):
This is a very I think on break.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
Record that Otani's setting right now. He has the most
home runs in a season with multiple pitching starts. No
one's ever gonna be able to break that record.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
You don't think a picture is going to hit forty
six home runs?
Speaker 5 (36:12):
No, absolutely.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
I don't think we're gonna see another two way power
hitter pitcher like we're seeing Otani see an ace on
the mound and a power hitter. So you think we're
gonna see another's gonna be gonna be able to beat
this record. I think I know the kids are going
to see this and be like, I'm going to motivate.
Speaker 5 (36:31):
But it's different. It's Otani.
Speaker 6 (36:34):
It has a different hit, a different upbringing, metality. He
went to like a baseball boarding school. Baseball was his life,
and how how strict he is with his training and
his time management, like before he started his family, Like
it was all all baseball. That's all he did. You
(36:55):
would eat, sleep, breathe baseball. Even out on the road,
you wouldn't hear him being out with the other guys.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
He'd just be in his room watching.
Speaker 6 (37:03):
Tape maybe like he literally he is Baseball is life.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Hey, if you ask my wife, she would say, Jay,
that's my my husband for sports.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Uh, basically that's what I was.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
You know, in my twenties, I was like, I need
to build this website do all this. Yeah, anyways, we
have sound alex of Otani's home run last night.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Here we go am five to seven.
Speaker 10 (37:25):
Otani awakes the three two pits from Shane Smith.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Here it comes, he swings. It's a high drive the
right field way back. It does, and this ball is gone.
Speaker 10 (37:37):
A home run show. Hey, oh, tourney with a blast
his earlieth of the season, decent one sixteen exit bilw Like,
he just makes it look so easy, and he has
so much fun, and he has so much respect for
the game.
Speaker 6 (37:55):
He's one of the only batters that goes up, says
hide to the umpires everything.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
I love that when the.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Benches were clearing, he got hit by the pitch.
Speaker 6 (38:01):
When they're playing the padres, he's the one that went
over and like calmed the dugout down both dugouts, Like, guys, stop,
this is a part of the game. Like, it's just
he's so good for the game and the face of
baseball right now. I'm just it's so fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
All right, Alex with the news.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the
herd Line news.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
All right, So coming up next, I got a loyalty
rant to go on, and I'm telling you guys, like listen,
these new NBA rules, they are not good. And loyalty
it's out the window. That's next here on the Herd.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Be sure to catch live editions on The Herd weekdays
and noon Eastern n A em Pacific.
Speaker 6 (38:42):
Alex Pullo looks to continue his legendary season and hold
off a war new Gordon Kirkwood and the rest of
the pack as the IndyCar Series roars into mid Ohio
Sunday at one eastern on Fox.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
All right, let me talk about this loyalty thing teased.
There's a lot. It's weird.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
We don't really have this in the NFL, but it's
a thing in the NBA. Fans of that team really
want guys to stay. And I totally get that, right owners,
when they find good players, they should do.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Everything in their power to keep them.
Speaker 4 (39:17):
So yesterday's something weird happened with Miles Turner of the Pacers.
Out of the blue, and I mean just totally nobody
saw this coming. He leaves the Pacers for the Milwaukee Bucks,
and all these Pacers fans are scratching their heads.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
What wait?
Speaker 4 (39:30):
What every all signs during the playoff run pointed to him, staying,
you guys might have remembered, like a month ago. Early
in the playoffs, they said, man, Miles Turner would be
a great fit with.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
The Lakers if they could get him on the cheap. Oh,
that would be such a heist. And of course the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
Go on and Turner's very, very good, and there's like, yeah,
there's no way they're gonna get him.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
He's staying in Indy.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
The Pacers during the NBA Finals even made a move
telegraphic they want to keep Turner.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
They traded their twenty twenty five first round pick.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
They don't want it to pay somebody, so they got
a twenty six first so they're paying Turner.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
And then Tyrese Haliburton.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Gets hurt in Game seven, and Turner was He was
okay in the finals. He wasn't great. He averaged like
ten to four and it's not great when you're six
foot ten center, seven foot whatever you want to call him.
He's averaging four rebounds a game. That's like less than
Ni Smith Obi top in Like, it wasn't great, But
it's tough to find guys like that who can stretch
(40:27):
the floor and hit threes. Be a written protector. I
know he's a no time All Star, but all signed
to put it to the Pacers keeping him. And now
reports are coming out that the Pacers Cheap owner did
not want to go into the luxury tax because they
don't think they can win a championship next year without Haliburton.
And according to reports, the Pacers only offered him three
(40:47):
years twenty million dollars I'm sorry, sixty million, which is
twenty MILLI year. So the Pacers to keep a guy
who they've had for ten years, the longest tenured pacer
on the roster, a guy who don't trade rumors for
the last five years, they offered him three for sixty
mil twenty MILLI year. The Bucks said, whoa, we can
(41:09):
offer four an extra year for one hundred and seven,
so that's like twenty six million dollars a year. Of
course he's gonna take more money, of course, and I
just this whole idea of loyalty. Hey, attorney, you should
have stayed with us. No, the Pacers owner cheaped out.
Now there are reports he hasn't been in the luxury
(41:31):
tax in over twenty years. He don't want to cut
that check except things have changed. You went to the
conference finals, and now you're in the NBA Finals in
Game seven and you lose your star until you lose
the game, and all of a sudden you get cheap.
All these new rules for the second apron then the
punitive taxes. That's to prevent the big markets and the
(41:54):
super teams from dominating the league. Isn't it not supposed
to prevent small market teams like the Pacers from keeping
their guy, or.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
The Memphis Grizzlies, who pretty quickly.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Realized, shucks, we can't do this with JJ, Triple J,
Bain and Job.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
We got to get off pain. We don't want to
have to pay the luxury tax.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
So what all these owners wanted is now starting to
hurt them.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
And you can't do this on the cheap where you've
got no loyalty.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
He's just saying, hey, Miles, sorry, man, Halliburton got hurt.
We can't offer you the big bag anymore. What I'm stunned, folks.
Pacers fans should be outraged, so should Pacers players. Coming
up next, Luca USA Soccer Big Weekend
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