June 30, 2025 • 28 mins
On today’s episode, Jason discusses LeBron James' latest passive-aggressive comments aimed at the Los Angeles Lakers front office, whether it's fair to say that the Lakers are incapable of building a championship-level roster around LeBron and Luka Doncic, why the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks feel like the most likely destinations if LeBron does indeed ask for a trade, and what potential Cavs/Knicks trade offers would make the most sense for all parties involved.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is straight Fire with Jason McIntire.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre.
Straight for Monday, June, the thirtieth June is over, ladies
and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
July begins, manyana very excited. You know what that means.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Free agency in the NBA. Obviously, if Jiannis gets traded,
we will for sure have an emergency podcast, There's no
doubt about that. But around the holiday we will take
a few days off here coming up, but we figured
we'd just give you a heads up on that as
we head into the month of July.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Really the dog days of sun Star game.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You know, hopefully Caitlyn Clark returned soon because you know,
I mean, WNBA really needs Caitlin Clark. And then you
got hopefully NBA mooves no NFL still for a good month.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Obviously.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
You know this is a this is a job where
interesting stuff happens. And Lebron James front and center Sunday morning,
decided to opt in to his contract. He will make
fifty two mills something or other, a lot of money. Now,
(01:26):
I was trying to be off the line as much
as possible over the weekend, but when I did dig
into it. You know, the usual suspect. Why didn't Lebron
take a pay cut? Why didn't Lebron.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Take lots of money to get cut?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Guys, Lebron was averaging like twenty five, seven and seven
this calendar year. He's he ain't taken a pay cut.
I mean he's I know, he's I know, you guys
don want to believe it. He's still a top fifteen
player in the league. Sorry, that's just the reality. And
this idea that Lebron should take lesson is just goofy.
Now where it does get interesting is this speculation, will
(01:57):
maybe he gets traded? I personally find that to be
total nonsense. I cannot imagine a world where Lebron demands
a trade at this age. I cannot imagine Lebron going
anywhere other than the East where.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He's gonna have a better chance than when he go
back to Cleveland. For what is this?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
This will be part three in Cleveland, a third tour
of duty. I don't think he's going back to Miami.
I don't particularly know where he else he could go?
Could he go to the Knicks at the stage, But
what are you giving up youth for an old guy?
It's just it feels so difficult to trade Lebron that
I'm of the belief he's.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Not going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And then everybody's like, well, the Lakers can't build a contender,
and I totally disagree with that because they were third
in the West, and I'm gonna keep saying that till
I'm blue in the face, because that's the reality. They
were third in the West behind Houston, which got a
lot better, and okay, see, which won the title. And
we've seen the last few champions whether it is Denver
(02:57):
or Boston, as soon as if you win the championship,
there is a step back. You know, you're not as
hungry as you were. That's just nature of the beast.
And then teams lose guys. Now, okay, see, ain't losing
anybody though Boston didn't lose anyone, at least nobody that
I can think of. Denver did lose a couple of
role players off the bench, and that impacted things. But
(03:19):
I think they blew a twenty point lead against Minnesota
in the second round Game seven at home.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Very wacky.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
So this idea that okayc's gonna repeat, let's just pump
the brake skys Okay, they needed seven to dispatch Denver,
seven to dispatch Oka, Indiana, And.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Don't make me go into all the injuries.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Like if Haliburton doesn't go down in Game seven, guy
had nine points in the first what like eight minutes.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
He was cookie.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So this idea that Lebron and the Lakers can't want
a chip is goofy. But Rob piqued my interest. So
and he's like, well, the Lakers could trade Lebron, And
to me, that's kind of sort of interesting. So I
personally think there's like a zero percent chance. Now you
can never want to say zero, but Rob seems to
think Lebron could be a former Laker, So I'll let
(04:02):
Rob take it away.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Well, first off, let me just say that I agree
with you that I think these comments that Lebron put
out through Rich Paul, which was said to sham Sharan
at ESPN on Sunday morning, we're more about leverage than
anything else. I think Lebron is doing what he always does.
It's his annual apply pressure to whatever team I'm working
with to ensure that they cash in all their chips
(04:26):
to give me the best chance of winning. Right like that,
Lebron is very selfish in that regard. Not even blame him,
right because you know, it's his career. He can do
whatever he wants. But here's the quote to anybody who
missed it, quote Rich Paul the ESPN. Lebron wants to
compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building
for the future. He understands that, but he values a
realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative
of the partnership we've had eight years with Genie buzz
(04:48):
Rop Polinka and consider the Lakers as a critical part
of his career. We understand the difficulty in winning. Now
we're preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate
what's best for Lebron at this stage in his life
and career. Like every season he has left count.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
It's just like the two timelines thing that the Warriors
went through exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And the Lakers don't have young studs.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Well, I mean, they got Luka Dacic and and he's
re rid him in those prime. Austin Reeves just entering
his prime, So I guess you can count those guys
as quote unquote young studs. So, first off, if Lebron
was that serious that gung ho, like, Hey, I only
want to win a championship. This is all I care about.
This is the only reason I'm playing. Then he would
(05:29):
have taken a pay cut, right like that, that's first
and foremost if all he cared about was Rings. But
then again, that'd make him look at hypocrite because he
just said a week and a half ago on his
podcast that RINGS culture is stupid and anybody who talks
about that doesn't really know ball and they don't really
understand what we go through his players, Like, that's a
different conversation, right, So if that's really what he was
talking about, he would have taken a pay cut, stay
(05:49):
with the Lakers, had all kinds of flexibility to add
or subtrac whatever you want to this roster. That's number one,
number two. Even as a Laker fan and guy who
generally likes Lebron, I'm getting really really turned off by
this attitude that he's had basically the entire last fifteen
(06:11):
years of his career, where it's like he has to
have all the best players, Like, yeah, why would you
not have to be like the idea you just mentioned it.
They were the three seed with Luka Doncic, who for
my money, is at worst a top three player. I
think for you, he is probably top two. And they
only had him for half the season, and half of
(06:32):
that half of the season he was out of shape,
playing in the shape because he was coming out of injury,
and he put on like thirty pounds. Even with that,
you were the three seed. You were heavily favored to
beat Minnesota in a round one, and I believe you
were the second or third favorite to come out of
the Western Conference. Let's not forget I'm not blaming Lebron
(06:53):
for what happened. It's Minnesota, but let's not forget that
in a very critical game four on the road, all
Lebron has to do is inbound the ball to Luka Dacic,
He gets fouled, They hit a couple of free throws.
The Lakers come back to La to too. What does
he do? Throws it damn near to half court, steal foul.
(07:13):
The rest is history. Lakers, I'm losing that game. But no,
we can't point that out because that would go against
the narrative for the.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh are you really a Lakers fan?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I love the Lakers. I love the Lakers, and that's
why this is so frustrating because it's like, I don't
know if it's because I'm used to the Lakers always
being good, or I'm used to, you know, having Kobe
who's like, hey, if you get me one more guy,
we're in the mix no matter what. Pau Gasol at
the time the Lakers got him had been swept out
(07:43):
of the playoffs every year of his career. But he
gets to the Lakers and suddenly he's the best number
two options because Kobe and the system and Phil Jackson
a lot of other factors helped elevate him to a
level that he hadn't been to before. Lebron is like, nahn'
I don't need elevatingybody. I just need whoever is at DA.
I need him. I need Russell Westbrook. I need to
hand pick all of my three and D options. We
(08:06):
get Luka Doncic, and that's still not enough, and he's
still like, well, you know, you're not really doing enough
to help me win. And it's like, bro, everything they've done,
or like ninety percent of what they've done since twenty
twenty has been to playkate you, and at some point
you got to wear some of it. As to why
this hasn't worked out. You got to say, hey, maybe
(08:28):
my style of everything revolving around Lebron James doesn't necessarily
work anymore in today's NBA.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
That's just don't you think they're thinking like, hey, it's
now going to be revolving around.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Luca exactly, And you would think at this stage of
his career that would be a good thing. It's like, hey,
I don't have to do the heavy lifting anymore. I
can show up, I can fill in all the gaps.
I can commit myself the defense a little bit more.
I can commit myself to being like a rebounder a
little bit more. Whatever it is. I don't have to
be Superman every game anymore.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
And instead, this is.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
The point number three, He floats out again. I think
it's supply of pressure, but to kind of leave the
door open at all, to suggest that you might be
willing to play elsewhere because the Lakers are not on
your timeline anymore and all I want to do is win.
To me, sounds like did you see what's going on
(09:22):
in the Eastern Commas right now? Boston's falling apart. Not
only did they lose Tatum, they're giving away their entire
starting lineup in trades, Tyre's Halliburn's out for the season.
The Knicks don't have a coach, Like shit, I could
roll over there right now, go back to Cleveland, Me Donovan, Mitchell,
Nevin Hope, like we could totally win the East, and
then once we get to the finals, we're gonna have
(09:43):
an undersized you know, relatives to Lebron. It undersized the
Oklahoma City team went our way? Why not us?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
All right?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
And it's just like, if you really want out, and
and I don't blame if he does, but if you
really want out, then say less, like I'm ready to
move on from Lebron James if that's what he wants.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
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listen live.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So my guess is Lebron looked at the rest. So
Dorian Finney Smith obviously is a big name that they
got to keep. But Rob after next season, the Lakers
will have a shit ton of cap space. Ruiy Hachi
Mora entering the final year of his deal, Gabe Vincent
final year, Maxi kleeber final year.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
So essentially, the Lakers are starting to plan.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Hey, what's forget this year? What are we going to
look like next summer? Who can we go after? So
I'm assuming Lebron and companies saw that, and you know
they need to keep DFS. They have to keep Dorian
Finney Smith. If they lose him, that would be I
don't want to say catastrophic, but they won't have anyone
like him. He's a much better defender than Ruy right,
(10:55):
He's way more offense than Jared Vanderbilt. And if you
lose DFS, you're really taking a step back.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I would like to see this Lakers team fully formed.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I don't know who they're Their big center is gonna
be whoever they get. It's starting to sound like Nick
Claxton's gonna be available over the nets, and you know,
whoever the Lakers deal with Rob, you know this, they're
gonna try to bend the Lakers over the table, say
we want it, we want all the picks, we want everything,
because we don't know how good you guys are gonna be.
And frankly, you know, there is a reality Rob where
(11:26):
it's like, assuming you know, Luca doesn't get hurt, this
Lakers team falls out of the playoffs, and all of
a sudden, their future draft picks are good ones.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
So the Lakers are in a tough spot.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Give me a percentage chance you think that uh Lebron
gets traded.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Oh, well, you got a factor in whether or not
he was serious about the trade demand. And also the
bigger things you got a factor in is he has
a full no trade clause. So even if he did
want out, that basically means he's gonna pick wherever he
wants to go. So when you factor both those things in,
I'm assuming if he wants out, it's probably either just
to Cleveland, New York, or Golden State. I think there
(12:06):
was only three themes that he would agree to get
traded to, So maybe somewhere like in the ten to
fifteen percent chance. M But let's say, I mean, hypothetically,
if he were to say, I don't like this timeline,
I don't like the idea that you're building for two
three years on the line and not just this year
for me. And if he really was hel bent on
(12:29):
getting to one of those three teams outside of Golden State,
there's a number of options that would make it so
I think both sides could be happy in a potential deal.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
So someone floated this this Calves trade. Since you seem
hot on this Calve Zodi idea, somebody floated this Calves deal.
What if the Lakers traded Lebron and Bronny in exchange
for DeAndre Hunter, Jared Allen, and Dean Wade. The numbers
match up a little bit, is like a good three
(13:01):
and D wing. You know, he could play the PJ
Washington is role, Jared Allen not an ideal rim runner,
but a good rim runner, and then Dean Wade provides
pop off the bench. It's just hard for me to
be giving away Lebron, James for freaking Dean Wade, DeAndre Hunter,
and Jared.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
All Like just this when you say it, it's just like,
no way, I can't do that. What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Right now? In an ideal world, if you're the Lakers,
you're like, hey, how about you just do Lebron for
Evan Mobley straight up? And ain't doing that? I know
the Cluvie wouldn't do that, but then also Lebron would
be like, hell no, if I'm getting traded to Cleveland's
because I wanted to play with Evan Mobley. I want
to play with him and Donovan Mitchell. So then it's like, okay,
well the trade you mentioned works. Another one that's, you know,
pretty straightforward is Garland and Allen for Lebron. And I
(13:48):
think that the Lakers would be happy with that. And
I think, no, you don't think they would be happy
with Darius Garland and Jared Allen for Lebron.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
James Jerry's Garland needs the ball.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
I got Luca, not way just for an All star
twenty five year old guard who's locked up for the
next three years.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
All Right, hold on, hold on, let's let's parse that out.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So your back court is Luca and Garland. You've got
what Reeves at the three?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, well one of them comes off the bench, or
maybe you flip Reeves or Garland whatever it is is.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Wait wait and Jared Allen and Ruey. Yeah, I don't
know that that's a I mean, Luca's going to look
around and being like, well, what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Dallas Part two? I know we got to the finals,
but I was those like, you know, two years ago.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
That's that's it, because again you got to think what
would Lebron want? Because when him had with him having
his no trade clause similar to what happened with Kobe
on the back of the Lakers. You know what is
it twenty plus years ago when he had demanded his
trade and he went on Rick Buker's show, and he
went on Steven a show, and he went a Jim
Rome show and he's like, trade me to Pluto, I'll
(14:47):
play anywhere, but with the Lakers, and they had deals
in place that were ready to go that he straight
up vetoed like they had a deal in place to
send him to Chicago and they were gonna get a lou.
He was like, nah, Lou, all dang has got to
be there if I'm gonna be in Chicago, Like they
add a deal in place, I think with Detroit and
(15:08):
he was like, no, I need Tayshon Prince, like you,
we're not gonna do this deal if Tan's in the deal,
and it ultimately everything fell apart and nothing ever materialized.
So Lebron is in the same kind of boat where
whatever he wants in this kind of deal he's gonna
get otherwise there's gonna be no deal. And for him,
he'd be like, you're not gonna include Mitchell, You're not
(15:31):
going to include Mobile, everybody else and Kick Rocks. And
if that's the case, then that only leaves a couple
of guys with the right amount of money, whether it's
some combination of Garland Hunter Allen. You know, I guess
if you want to include Strews, sure, but like that's
kind of what it is if he wants to get
back to Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
So how about this one.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
This again, Reddit is just popping off right now with
Lebron trade ideas.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
So there's a three team.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Of rob let me know what you think. I'm ready
Lebron to the paper clip. He gets to stay in
La with his family. Okay, the Lakers get Norman Powell, Bogdanovich,
Dereck Jones Junior, and Walker Kessler from Utah. The Jazz
get Dalton connect to first round picks, and I think
(16:17):
a trade exception or something like that to make the
finances work. But basically, the Lakers would get their big center,
their room protector in Walker Kessler, who would be their
livelier Gafford around Luca. Derek Jones Junior work great with Luca,
Norman Powell, I guess Bogdanovich one of those two comes
off the bench. I don't know how you feeling about that.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
I mean, it's not terrible. Is that not ideal? But
you know, like that's kind of the position you're in.
When you're trading away a guy who would have a
no trades call, You're not going to get the full bounty,
just similar to wrapping with Kevin Durant.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
And that's why you don't try. I would just rather
have Lebron And you know.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
I mean, if he wants to be here, sure, but
if he doesn't, then, like and if he doesn't, doesn't
that lead to a bigger conversation about what he's really
motivated by? Because, like you, if you don't think having
Luka Dancich on your team is enough for you to
at least be competitive, I think you're the favorites, but
(17:13):
to at least be competitive. And you're saying that's not
enough for me, Like, do you even want to compete
or do you just want to have the prohibitive favorite
every year? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
I think you want to be the favorite all the time.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
You always want to be leveling up and getting better
and trying to acquire more assets like this idea, Again,
Lebron's probably close to a billionaire.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Is he officially a billionaire.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Yet or no cordon to Forbes?
Speaker 1 (17:38):
He is? He is?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Okay, so he's a billionaire.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
And you could be like, well, why wouldn't he just,
you know, tear up his deal and do a one year,
ten million dollar cot. Well, the NBAPA would hate him
right everywhere, it would. You can't do that. That's just
not realistic. And by the way, if you're listening to
this and you're like, Lebron should just take five million, okay, whatever.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Your salary is, you go to your ball.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
And say, hey, let's go hire this guy for accounting.
I'll work for eight dollars an hour. Okay, you tell
me how that sounds right, This idea of Lebron taking
let's just not happening.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
If you could sell them on, hey, if you take this,
we have this trade ready to go.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Maybe that changes the equation.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Rob.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I don't know, because there is the question like, hey,
some of these teams, you know, they're just like, oh,
we want to avoid the second Apron, the luxury tacks
and the Lebron.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
That does nothing for Lebron.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
The only selling point that I like from you, Rob,
is this whole East Coast, the Eastern Conference thing, yep,
But there's some teams he could go to and instantly
it's like, Okay, this team could get to the finals,
but I keep coming back to the Lakers with a
three seed. Like you said with I don't want to
call him fat Luca, that's disrespectful.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
But like you know, this whole Yannis situation.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Like they're not winning anything with Damian Lillard at gone, right, I.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Mean, who's your second best player?
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Bobby Portis Hey, shout out to Bobby Portie. Just got
paid on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
By the way, Oh did he what do he got?
Didn't see that.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
I think he got something like three for thirty six
something like that or three forty seven.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
We're moving on from brook Lopez.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
It definitely feels that way. Yeah, I don't know three
for forty four was number. Well, okay, we staying in
the Eastern Conference again. We anticipate a guy like Lebron.
He's not gonna say yes to Hawk's, Celtics, Nets, Bulls, Hornets.
I don't think he would go to the Pistons, Pacers.
I don't think he go to Indiana. I would think
(19:32):
Miami would be on the list, except that him and
Pat Riley don't like each other, so maybe that's not
going to be an option. No, I don't think he'd
go to Orlando. I don't think he'd go to Philadelphia.
And you know, I obviously I don't think he's going
to go to Toronto or Washington, which means it's Cleveland
or New York. You could, if you wanted to again,
if you, if you if he was held bent on
going to the Eastern Conference. There are a number of
(19:55):
avenues for the Knicks too, Like you could say, hey,
give me a Anenobi and Mitchell Robinson, or give me
Bridges Hard and Robinson. Like, there are ways you could
do it so that the Knicks would still be list
like Cleveland would still be prohibitive favorites. With Lebron James
in tow that would at least give the Lakers some
kind of I know, we didn't get one hundred cient dollars,
(20:16):
but we got seventy five eighty like, and we got
a guy who's not really happy out of the room,
and we can build moving forward.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
It just seems so unlikely.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
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the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
Dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
I mean again, if you're if the Knicks are giving
up two starters for Lebron, who are they giving up
Bridges and Ananobe?
Speaker 4 (20:44):
I don't I mean the Anonobe and Robinson in one
or another one be Bridges.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Heart and Robinson, Josh Hart's second tour of duty.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
That's right, baby, former Laker Laker.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
I just they're too small. They need a I mean
Bridges in Austin, Reeves are similar players. No, I mean
bridges more defense, reeves, more creation. Yeah, I'm of the
belief the Lakers just need to tweak around the edges
rob I don't think they need a full scale Oh
my gosh, we got to do this.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
I agree with you.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
But obviously Lebron doesn't feel that way, or else he
wouldn't be putting.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
On less unless he's just saying this right to like, hey, guys,
keep your foot on the gas. I mean, listen, James Harden,
what did he sign? He signed a two year ago.
He's making about forty forty. He's still very, very good.
Do you think there's a world where Kawhi gets traded?
Speaker 4 (21:37):
No?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I floated this on the herd and the salaries actually
match up. What if the Celtics say, you know, we're
not going to be able to pay Jalen and Tatum
going forward, so why don't we just move off Brown?
Speaker 3 (21:50):
We can't trade Tatum.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Is there a world where they say, hey, Clippers, you
only have Kawhi for two more years. Let me double check,
but I think it's two years. We'll take Kawhi, you
take Jaylen Brown. Yeah, Kawhi has fifty this year, fifty
next year, and Jalen Brown is younger and has like
a long runway.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
It's gonna be making a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
The Clippers can then build around Jalen Brown, who by
the way, went to cal was working out at my
gym leading up to the draft. Jerry West was there.
I wasn't able to get in the gym, but I
was outside the window. What you build around Jalen Brown?
And the Celtics say, you know what, we we're gonna
be able to pump this year. Have Kawhi carry us,
(22:32):
not pump this year, but you know what I mean,
have Kawhi carry.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
They're basically already punting on this year, so.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Kinda and oh yeah, two years from now we get
Kawhi for fifty and Tatum and then he's off the
books and we could just reload.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Is that just too crazy?
Speaker 4 (22:48):
That's not the worst idea. I mean, I don't think that.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Who would Who says no to that?
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Probably Boston.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Just because so how does Boston?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Okay, So let's look at the Boston salaries again, hoops
high salaries. So not this season, but twenty six, twenty seven,
Tatum fifty eight, Brown fifty seven, then sixty two and
sixty one, then sixty seven and sixty four mil.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Like that's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Yeah, I don't see how you build a team and
then you know at some point they're gonna have to
move off Derek White, like.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I think I think Brown is.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I don't know if it happens this year, but that
would suck to ride Brown all this year and then
trade him when he's at the after he carried the
team season.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
So he carries him to like a five seed in
the East, and they're feeling good about themselves and like,
by the way, you're getting traded to Charlotte, like.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
The Halliburton thing is really that's just so unfortunate for
Indie man. They could have made three straight finals. Because
now you've got Siakam basically punt wasting a year and
he's getting up there in age. You can't imagine Lebron
going to like Detroit, could you?
Speaker 1 (23:54):
No?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Like I said at the outset, I think there are
only three real I mean a guess unless you want
to count Dallas just because they Kyrie and ad are
both there. But I just don't know how you would
make the money work for that kind of thing. No,
it's play with Steph, which he's always wanted to do,
or go to the East where it's a you know,
(24:17):
bombed out and depleted and I have a freeway to
the Eastern Conference finals at a minimum no matter where
I go. But if I go to either Cleveland or
New York, it's me and at least two other star
players that I feel can have a really good chance
of winning a championship.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
So what if, again, Detroit's in a weird spot. I'm
sure you saw the Malik Beasley news. He's under investigation
for gambler. Dude, there's a video circulating where he's not
playing any defense at all. I do I find it
hard to believe in a contract hear someone will be
that dumb.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
But I mean he also shot like four. Didn't he
lead the league in three point percent?
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeares well, you know there was a video. The most
damning one is actually they're down by nine with five
seconds left. They end bound the ball to Hi. Everyone's
walking around. He sprints down the floor and dunks it.
They lose by seven and the number was eight and
a half.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Not great, but again, like that shows to me, Hey,
that guy doesn't quit playing. So how about this Lebron
to Detroit for Tobias Harris Ansar Thompson. Oh man, that's
even tough to build. Detroit's paying nobody exactly. Tobias Harris
(25:30):
is an expiring I don't think you want Isaiah Stewart.
He's like a major, major problem. Did he fight with
Lebron last year a couple of years ago, yeah, Jaden Ivy,
I don't know. Detroit seems like a little bit away now.
Atlanta is really spicy by the way that trade they
made where they get the unprotected best pick from New
(25:53):
Orleans or Milwaukee, Yeah, that is a major lottery ticket.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
I don't know. Do you want Trey Young for Lebron?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Not an ideal world, But how could you pair Trey
and Luca, how long are you?
Speaker 4 (26:05):
It would be terrible. You'd probably just get Trey Youngster.
You have the asset at that point, you know, so
you don't lose on for nothing.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
He's yeah, he's got a player option after next year.
I don't know how that's gonna work. Yeah, it seems
like they're gonna build around Jalen Johnson reesa che you know,
Dyson Daniel's good defender.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yeah, but if you say, hey, give me Jalen Johnson
and what uh oh Kongwo, I'd be like, hell.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Yeah, I like Okongwu. He's good.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
But you know who's to say that Atlanta would do
that because Jalen Johnson I think is going to be
a stud.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Yeah no, no, he's very He got a major injury,
but uh, it seems like he's gonna be okay. Uh
Rob it sounds like I don't know if this is
one hundred percent accurate, But did they close w NBA
All Star voting.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
I'm not sure they may have, but I do know
that Kaylan Clark was already at over one point two million.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Yeah, so according to uh, you know, there's all these
Instagram accounts and Twitter accounts attributed just basically following around
Caitlin Clark. They said she received one point two to
nine million All Star votes this year. In twenty twenty three,
the year before she got to the league, the top
thirty vote getters top thirty in the league had one
(27:16):
point one seven.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
That's unbelieved. I mean, I know that you guys are
sick of some Caitlin Clark stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Although I did get some really nice notes about the
pod with Christine Brennan. You guys seem to like that. Obviously,
when Clark is back and we need her, uh, it's
it's gonna be big.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
But I guess we can wrap up obviously.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
USA Costa Rica was a thrilling match, went to penalty
kicks rob in the Gold Cup.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
USA prevailed.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Oh my gosh, big sweat. Listen, we don't have our
best guys there, which you know hurts, but still you
got to be able to be Costa Rica even without
your horses. Penalty kicks in the Gold Cup it just
goes right from regulation to pks.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
There's no overtime.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Penalty kicks is so stressful but also so exciting. All right,
that's it for today. We're trying to get one of
my favorite interviews. We're trying to get him for tomorrow.
Don't know yet if it's a lock. We will be
back tomorrow though. Either way, talk to you then,
This is straight Fire with Jason McIntire.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre.
Straight for Monday, June, the thirtieth June is over, ladies
and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
July begins, manyana very excited. You know what that means.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Free agency in the NBA. Obviously, if Jiannis gets traded,
we will for sure have an emergency podcast, There's no
doubt about that. But around the holiday we will take
a few days off here coming up, but we figured
we'd just give you a heads up on that as
we head into the month of July.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Really the dog days of sun Star game.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You know, hopefully Caitlyn Clark returned soon because you know,
I mean, WNBA really needs Caitlin Clark. And then you
got hopefully NBA mooves no NFL still for a good month.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Obviously.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
You know this is a this is a job where
interesting stuff happens. And Lebron James front and center Sunday morning,
decided to opt in to his contract. He will make
fifty two mills something or other, a lot of money. Now,
(01:26):
I was trying to be off the line as much
as possible over the weekend, but when I did dig
into it. You know, the usual suspect. Why didn't Lebron
take a pay cut? Why didn't Lebron.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Take lots of money to get cut?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Guys, Lebron was averaging like twenty five, seven and seven
this calendar year. He's he ain't taken a pay cut.
I mean he's I know, he's I know, you guys
don want to believe it. He's still a top fifteen
player in the league. Sorry, that's just the reality. And
this idea that Lebron should take lesson is just goofy.
Now where it does get interesting is this speculation, will
(01:57):
maybe he gets traded? I personally find that to be
total nonsense. I cannot imagine a world where Lebron demands
a trade at this age. I cannot imagine Lebron going
anywhere other than the East where.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He's gonna have a better chance than when he go
back to Cleveland. For what is this?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
This will be part three in Cleveland, a third tour
of duty. I don't think he's going back to Miami.
I don't particularly know where he else he could go?
Could he go to the Knicks at the stage, But
what are you giving up youth for an old guy?
It's just it feels so difficult to trade Lebron that
I'm of the belief he's.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Not going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
And then everybody's like, well, the Lakers can't build a contender,
and I totally disagree with that because they were third
in the West, and I'm gonna keep saying that till
I'm blue in the face, because that's the reality. They
were third in the West behind Houston, which got a
lot better, and okay, see, which won the title. And
we've seen the last few champions whether it is Denver
(02:57):
or Boston, as soon as if you win the championship,
there is a step back. You know, you're not as
hungry as you were. That's just nature of the beast.
And then teams lose guys. Now, okay, see, ain't losing
anybody though Boston didn't lose anyone, at least nobody that
I can think of. Denver did lose a couple of
role players off the bench, and that impacted things. But
(03:19):
I think they blew a twenty point lead against Minnesota
in the second round Game seven at home.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Very wacky.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
So this idea that okayc's gonna repeat, let's just pump
the brake skys Okay, they needed seven to dispatch Denver,
seven to dispatch Oka, Indiana, And.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Don't make me go into all the injuries.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Like if Haliburton doesn't go down in Game seven, guy
had nine points in the first what like eight minutes.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
He was cookie.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So this idea that Lebron and the Lakers can't want
a chip is goofy. But Rob piqued my interest. So
and he's like, well, the Lakers could trade Lebron, And
to me, that's kind of sort of interesting. So I
personally think there's like a zero percent chance. Now you
can never want to say zero, but Rob seems to
think Lebron could be a former Laker, So I'll let
(04:02):
Rob take it away.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Well, first off, let me just say that I agree
with you that I think these comments that Lebron put
out through Rich Paul, which was said to sham Sharan
at ESPN on Sunday morning, we're more about leverage than
anything else. I think Lebron is doing what he always does.
It's his annual apply pressure to whatever team I'm working
with to ensure that they cash in all their chips
(04:26):
to give me the best chance of winning. Right like that,
Lebron is very selfish in that regard. Not even blame him,
right because you know, it's his career. He can do
whatever he wants. But here's the quote to anybody who
missed it, quote Rich Paul the ESPN. Lebron wants to
compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building
for the future. He understands that, but he values a
realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative
of the partnership we've had eight years with Genie buzz
(04:48):
Rop Polinka and consider the Lakers as a critical part
of his career. We understand the difficulty in winning. Now
we're preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate
what's best for Lebron at this stage in his life
and career. Like every season he has left count.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
It's just like the two timelines thing that the Warriors
went through exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And the Lakers don't have young studs.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Well, I mean, they got Luka Dacic and and he's
re rid him in those prime. Austin Reeves just entering
his prime, So I guess you can count those guys
as quote unquote young studs. So, first off, if Lebron
was that serious that gung ho, like, Hey, I only
want to win a championship. This is all I care about.
This is the only reason I'm playing. Then he would
(05:29):
have taken a pay cut, right like that, that's first
and foremost if all he cared about was Rings. But
then again, that'd make him look at hypocrite because he
just said a week and a half ago on his
podcast that RINGS culture is stupid and anybody who talks
about that doesn't really know ball and they don't really
understand what we go through his players, Like, that's a
different conversation, right, So if that's really what he was
talking about, he would have taken a pay cut, stay
(05:49):
with the Lakers, had all kinds of flexibility to add
or subtrac whatever you want to this roster. That's number one,
number two. Even as a Laker fan and guy who
generally likes Lebron, I'm getting really really turned off by
this attitude that he's had basically the entire last fifteen
(06:11):
years of his career, where it's like he has to
have all the best players, Like, yeah, why would you
not have to be like the idea you just mentioned it.
They were the three seed with Luka Doncic, who for
my money, is at worst a top three player. I
think for you, he is probably top two. And they
only had him for half the season, and half of
(06:32):
that half of the season he was out of shape,
playing in the shape because he was coming out of injury,
and he put on like thirty pounds. Even with that,
you were the three seed. You were heavily favored to
beat Minnesota in a round one, and I believe you
were the second or third favorite to come out of
the Western Conference. Let's not forget I'm not blaming Lebron
(06:53):
for what happened. It's Minnesota, but let's not forget that
in a very critical game four on the road, all
Lebron has to do is inbound the ball to Luka Dacic,
He gets fouled, They hit a couple of free throws.
The Lakers come back to La to too. What does
he do? Throws it damn near to half court, steal foul.
(07:13):
The rest is history. Lakers, I'm losing that game. But no,
we can't point that out because that would go against
the narrative for the.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh are you really a Lakers fan?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I love the Lakers. I love the Lakers, and that's
why this is so frustrating because it's like, I don't
know if it's because I'm used to the Lakers always
being good, or I'm used to, you know, having Kobe
who's like, hey, if you get me one more guy,
we're in the mix no matter what. Pau Gasol at
the time the Lakers got him had been swept out
(07:43):
of the playoffs every year of his career. But he
gets to the Lakers and suddenly he's the best number
two options because Kobe and the system and Phil Jackson
a lot of other factors helped elevate him to a
level that he hadn't been to before. Lebron is like, nahn'
I don't need elevatingybody. I just need whoever is at DA.
I need him. I need Russell Westbrook. I need to
hand pick all of my three and D options. We
(08:06):
get Luka Doncic, and that's still not enough, and he's
still like, well, you know, you're not really doing enough
to help me win. And it's like, bro, everything they've done,
or like ninety percent of what they've done since twenty
twenty has been to playkate you, and at some point
you got to wear some of it. As to why
this hasn't worked out. You got to say, hey, maybe
(08:28):
my style of everything revolving around Lebron James doesn't necessarily
work anymore in today's NBA.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
That's just don't you think they're thinking like, hey, it's
now going to be revolving around.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Luca exactly, And you would think at this stage of
his career that would be a good thing. It's like, hey,
I don't have to do the heavy lifting anymore. I
can show up, I can fill in all the gaps.
I can commit myself the defense a little bit more.
I can commit myself to being like a rebounder a
little bit more. Whatever it is. I don't have to
be Superman every game anymore.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
And instead, this is.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
The point number three, He floats out again. I think
it's supply of pressure, but to kind of leave the
door open at all, to suggest that you might be
willing to play elsewhere because the Lakers are not on
your timeline anymore and all I want to do is win.
To me, sounds like did you see what's going on
(09:22):
in the Eastern Commas right now? Boston's falling apart. Not
only did they lose Tatum, they're giving away their entire
starting lineup in trades, Tyre's Halliburn's out for the season.
The Knicks don't have a coach, Like shit, I could
roll over there right now, go back to Cleveland, Me Donovan, Mitchell,
Nevin Hope, like we could totally win the East, and
then once we get to the finals, we're gonna have
(09:43):
an undersized you know, relatives to Lebron. It undersized the
Oklahoma City team went our way? Why not us?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
All right?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
And it's just like, if you really want out, and
and I don't blame if he does, but if you
really want out, then say less, like I'm ready to
move on from Lebron James if that's what he wants.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
So my guess is Lebron looked at the rest. So
Dorian Finney Smith obviously is a big name that they
got to keep. But Rob after next season, the Lakers
will have a shit ton of cap space. Ruiy Hachi
Mora entering the final year of his deal, Gabe Vincent
final year, Maxi kleeber final year.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
So essentially, the Lakers are starting to plan.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Hey, what's forget this year? What are we going to
look like next summer? Who can we go after? So
I'm assuming Lebron and companies saw that, and you know
they need to keep DFS. They have to keep Dorian
Finney Smith. If they lose him, that would be I
don't want to say catastrophic, but they won't have anyone
like him. He's a much better defender than Ruy right,
(10:55):
He's way more offense than Jared Vanderbilt. And if you
lose DFS, you're really taking a step back.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I would like to see this Lakers team fully formed.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I don't know who they're Their big center is gonna
be whoever they get. It's starting to sound like Nick
Claxton's gonna be available over the nets, and you know,
whoever the Lakers deal with Rob, you know this, they're
gonna try to bend the Lakers over the table, say
we want it, we want all the picks, we want everything,
because we don't know how good you guys are gonna be.
And frankly, you know, there is a reality Rob where
(11:26):
it's like, assuming you know, Luca doesn't get hurt, this
Lakers team falls out of the playoffs, and all of
a sudden, their future draft picks are good ones.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
So the Lakers are in a tough spot.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Give me a percentage chance you think that uh Lebron
gets traded.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Oh, well, you got a factor in whether or not
he was serious about the trade demand. And also the
bigger things you got a factor in is he has
a full no trade clause. So even if he did
want out, that basically means he's gonna pick wherever he
wants to go. So when you factor both those things in,
I'm assuming if he wants out, it's probably either just
to Cleveland, New York, or Golden State. I think there
(12:06):
was only three themes that he would agree to get
traded to, So maybe somewhere like in the ten to
fifteen percent chance. M But let's say, I mean, hypothetically,
if he were to say, I don't like this timeline,
I don't like the idea that you're building for two
three years on the line and not just this year
for me. And if he really was hel bent on
(12:29):
getting to one of those three teams outside of Golden State,
there's a number of options that would make it so
I think both sides could be happy in a potential deal.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
So someone floated this this Calves trade. Since you seem
hot on this Calve Zodi idea, somebody floated this Calves deal.
What if the Lakers traded Lebron and Bronny in exchange
for DeAndre Hunter, Jared Allen, and Dean Wade. The numbers
match up a little bit, is like a good three
(13:01):
and D wing. You know, he could play the PJ
Washington is role, Jared Allen not an ideal rim runner,
but a good rim runner, and then Dean Wade provides
pop off the bench. It's just hard for me to
be giving away Lebron, James for freaking Dean Wade, DeAndre Hunter,
and Jared.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
All Like just this when you say it, it's just like,
no way, I can't do that. What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Right now? In an ideal world, if you're the Lakers,
you're like, hey, how about you just do Lebron for
Evan Mobley straight up? And ain't doing that? I know
the Cluvie wouldn't do that, but then also Lebron would
be like, hell no, if I'm getting traded to Cleveland's
because I wanted to play with Evan Mobley. I want
to play with him and Donovan Mitchell. So then it's like, okay,
well the trade you mentioned works. Another one that's, you know,
pretty straightforward is Garland and Allen for Lebron. And I
(13:48):
think that the Lakers would be happy with that. And
I think, no, you don't think they would be happy
with Darius Garland and Jared Allen for Lebron.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
James Jerry's Garland needs the ball.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
I got Luca, not way just for an All star
twenty five year old guard who's locked up for the
next three years.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
All Right, hold on, hold on, let's let's parse that out.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So your back court is Luca and Garland. You've got
what Reeves at the three?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yeah, well one of them comes off the bench, or
maybe you flip Reeves or Garland whatever it is is.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Wait wait and Jared Allen and Ruey. Yeah, I don't
know that that's a I mean, Luca's going to look
around and being like, well, what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Dallas Part two? I know we got to the finals,
but I was those like, you know, two years ago.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
That's that's it, because again you got to think what
would Lebron want? Because when him had with him having
his no trade clause similar to what happened with Kobe
on the back of the Lakers. You know what is
it twenty plus years ago when he had demanded his
trade and he went on Rick Buker's show, and he
went on Steven a show, and he went a Jim
Rome show and he's like, trade me to Pluto, I'll
(14:47):
play anywhere, but with the Lakers, and they had deals
in place that were ready to go that he straight
up vetoed like they had a deal in place to
send him to Chicago and they were gonna get a lou.
He was like, nah, Lou, all dang has got to
be there if I'm gonna be in Chicago, Like they
add a deal in place, I think with Detroit and
(15:08):
he was like, no, I need Tayshon Prince, like you,
we're not gonna do this deal if Tan's in the deal,
and it ultimately everything fell apart and nothing ever materialized.
So Lebron is in the same kind of boat where
whatever he wants in this kind of deal he's gonna
get otherwise there's gonna be no deal. And for him,
he'd be like, you're not gonna include Mitchell, You're not
(15:31):
going to include Mobile, everybody else and Kick Rocks. And
if that's the case, then that only leaves a couple
of guys with the right amount of money, whether it's
some combination of Garland Hunter Allen. You know, I guess
if you want to include Strews, sure, but like that's
kind of what it is if he wants to get
back to Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
So how about this one.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
This again, Reddit is just popping off right now with
Lebron trade ideas.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
So there's a three team.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Of rob let me know what you think. I'm ready
Lebron to the paper clip. He gets to stay in
La with his family. Okay, the Lakers get Norman Powell, Bogdanovich,
Dereck Jones Junior, and Walker Kessler from Utah. The Jazz
get Dalton connect to first round picks, and I think
(16:17):
a trade exception or something like that to make the
finances work. But basically, the Lakers would get their big center,
their room protector in Walker Kessler, who would be their
livelier Gafford around Luca. Derek Jones Junior work great with Luca,
Norman Powell, I guess Bogdanovich one of those two comes
off the bench. I don't know how you feeling about that.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
I mean, it's not terrible. Is that not ideal? But
you know, like that's kind of the position you're in.
When you're trading away a guy who would have a
no trades call, You're not going to get the full bounty,
just similar to wrapping with Kevin Durant.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
And that's why you don't try. I would just rather
have Lebron And you know.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
I mean, if he wants to be here, sure, but
if he doesn't, then, like and if he doesn't, doesn't
that lead to a bigger conversation about what he's really
motivated by? Because, like you, if you don't think having
Luka Dancich on your team is enough for you to
at least be competitive, I think you're the favorites, but
(17:13):
to at least be competitive. And you're saying that's not
enough for me, Like, do you even want to compete
or do you just want to have the prohibitive favorite
every year? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
I think you want to be the favorite all the time.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
You always want to be leveling up and getting better
and trying to acquire more assets like this idea, Again,
Lebron's probably close to a billionaire.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Is he officially a billionaire.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Yet or no cordon to Forbes?
Speaker 1 (17:38):
He is? He is?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Okay, so he's a billionaire.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
And you could be like, well, why wouldn't he just,
you know, tear up his deal and do a one year,
ten million dollar cot. Well, the NBAPA would hate him
right everywhere, it would. You can't do that. That's just
not realistic. And by the way, if you're listening to
this and you're like, Lebron should just take five million, okay, whatever.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Your salary is, you go to your ball.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
And say, hey, let's go hire this guy for accounting.
I'll work for eight dollars an hour. Okay, you tell
me how that sounds right, This idea of Lebron taking
let's just not happening.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
If you could sell them on, hey, if you take this,
we have this trade ready to go.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Maybe that changes the equation.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Rob.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I don't know, because there is the question like, hey,
some of these teams, you know, they're just like, oh,
we want to avoid the second Apron, the luxury tacks
and the Lebron.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
That does nothing for Lebron.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
The only selling point that I like from you, Rob,
is this whole East Coast, the Eastern Conference thing, yep,
But there's some teams he could go to and instantly
it's like, Okay, this team could get to the finals,
but I keep coming back to the Lakers with a
three seed. Like you said with I don't want to
call him fat Luca, that's disrespectful.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
But like you know, this whole Yannis situation.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Like they're not winning anything with Damian Lillard at gone, right, I.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Mean, who's your second best player?
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Bobby Portis Hey, shout out to Bobby Portie. Just got
paid on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
By the way, Oh did he what do he got?
Didn't see that.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
I think he got something like three for thirty six
something like that or three forty seven.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
We're moving on from brook Lopez.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
It definitely feels that way. Yeah, I don't know three
for forty four was number. Well, okay, we staying in
the Eastern Conference again. We anticipate a guy like Lebron.
He's not gonna say yes to Hawk's, Celtics, Nets, Bulls, Hornets.
I don't think he would go to the Pistons, Pacers.
I don't think he go to Indiana. I would think
(19:32):
Miami would be on the list, except that him and
Pat Riley don't like each other, so maybe that's not
going to be an option. No, I don't think he'd
go to Orlando. I don't think he'd go to Philadelphia.
And you know, I obviously I don't think he's going
to go to Toronto or Washington, which means it's Cleveland
or New York. You could, if you wanted to again,
if you, if you if he was held bent on
going to the Eastern Conference. There are a number of
(19:55):
avenues for the Knicks too, Like you could say, hey,
give me a Anenobi and Mitchell Robinson, or give me
Bridges Hard and Robinson. Like, there are ways you could
do it so that the Knicks would still be list
like Cleveland would still be prohibitive favorites. With Lebron James
in tow that would at least give the Lakers some
kind of I know, we didn't get one hundred cient dollars,
(20:16):
but we got seventy five eighty like, and we got
a guy who's not really happy out of the room,
and we can build moving forward.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
It just seems so unlikely.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
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listen live.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
I mean again, if you're if the Knicks are giving
up two starters for Lebron, who are they giving up
Bridges and Ananobe?
Speaker 4 (20:44):
I don't I mean the Anonobe and Robinson in one
or another one be Bridges.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Heart and Robinson, Josh Hart's second tour of duty.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
That's right, baby, former Laker Laker.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
I just they're too small. They need a I mean
Bridges in Austin, Reeves are similar players. No, I mean
bridges more defense, reeves, more creation. Yeah, I'm of the
belief the Lakers just need to tweak around the edges
rob I don't think they need a full scale Oh
my gosh, we got to do this.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
I agree with you.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
But obviously Lebron doesn't feel that way, or else he
wouldn't be putting.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
On less unless he's just saying this right to like, hey, guys,
keep your foot on the gas. I mean, listen, James Harden,
what did he sign? He signed a two year ago.
He's making about forty forty. He's still very, very good.
Do you think there's a world where Kawhi gets traded?
Speaker 4 (21:37):
No?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I floated this on the herd and the salaries actually
match up. What if the Celtics say, you know, we're
not going to be able to pay Jalen and Tatum
going forward, so why don't we just move off Brown?
Speaker 3 (21:50):
We can't trade Tatum.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Is there a world where they say, hey, Clippers, you
only have Kawhi for two more years. Let me double check,
but I think it's two years. We'll take Kawhi, you
take Jaylen Brown. Yeah, Kawhi has fifty this year, fifty
next year, and Jalen Brown is younger and has like
a long runway.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
It's gonna be making a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
The Clippers can then build around Jalen Brown, who by
the way, went to cal was working out at my
gym leading up to the draft. Jerry West was there.
I wasn't able to get in the gym, but I
was outside the window. What you build around Jalen Brown?
And the Celtics say, you know what, we we're gonna
be able to pump this year. Have Kawhi carry us,
(22:32):
not pump this year, but you know what I mean,
have Kawhi carry.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
They're basically already punting on this year, so.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Kinda and oh yeah, two years from now we get
Kawhi for fifty and Tatum and then he's off the
books and we could just reload.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Is that just too crazy?
Speaker 4 (22:48):
That's not the worst idea. I mean, I don't think that.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Who would Who says no to that?
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Probably Boston.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Just because so how does Boston?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Okay, So let's look at the Boston salaries again, hoops
high salaries. So not this season, but twenty six, twenty seven,
Tatum fifty eight, Brown fifty seven, then sixty two and
sixty one, then sixty seven and sixty four mil.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Like that's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Yeah, I don't see how you build a team and
then you know at some point they're gonna have to
move off Derek White, like.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I think I think Brown is.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I don't know if it happens this year, but that
would suck to ride Brown all this year and then
trade him when he's at the after he carried the
team season.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
So he carries him to like a five seed in
the East, and they're feeling good about themselves and like,
by the way, you're getting traded to Charlotte, like.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
The Halliburton thing is really that's just so unfortunate for
Indie man. They could have made three straight finals. Because
now you've got Siakam basically punt wasting a year and
he's getting up there in age. You can't imagine Lebron
going to like Detroit, could you?
Speaker 1 (23:54):
No?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Like I said at the outset, I think there are
only three real I mean a guess unless you want
to count Dallas just because they Kyrie and ad are
both there. But I just don't know how you would
make the money work for that kind of thing. No,
it's play with Steph, which he's always wanted to do,
or go to the East where it's a you know,
(24:17):
bombed out and depleted and I have a freeway to
the Eastern Conference finals at a minimum no matter where
I go. But if I go to either Cleveland or
New York, it's me and at least two other star
players that I feel can have a really good chance
of winning a championship.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
So what if, again, Detroit's in a weird spot. I'm
sure you saw the Malik Beasley news. He's under investigation
for gambler. Dude, there's a video circulating where he's not
playing any defense at all. I do I find it
hard to believe in a contract hear someone will be
that dumb.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
But I mean he also shot like four. Didn't he
lead the league in three point percent?
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeares well, you know there was a video. The most
damning one is actually they're down by nine with five
seconds left. They end bound the ball to Hi. Everyone's
walking around. He sprints down the floor and dunks it.
They lose by seven and the number was eight and
a half.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Not great, but again, like that shows to me, Hey,
that guy doesn't quit playing. So how about this Lebron
to Detroit for Tobias Harris Ansar Thompson. Oh man, that's
even tough to build. Detroit's paying nobody exactly. Tobias Harris
(25:30):
is an expiring I don't think you want Isaiah Stewart.
He's like a major, major problem. Did he fight with
Lebron last year a couple of years ago, yeah, Jaden Ivy,
I don't know. Detroit seems like a little bit away now.
Atlanta is really spicy by the way that trade they
made where they get the unprotected best pick from New
(25:53):
Orleans or Milwaukee, Yeah, that is a major lottery ticket.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
I don't know. Do you want Trey Young for Lebron?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Not an ideal world, But how could you pair Trey
and Luca, how long are you?
Speaker 4 (26:05):
It would be terrible. You'd probably just get Trey Youngster.
You have the asset at that point, you know, so
you don't lose on for nothing.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
He's yeah, he's got a player option after next year.
I don't know how that's gonna work. Yeah, it seems
like they're gonna build around Jalen Johnson reesa che you know,
Dyson Daniel's good defender.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yeah, but if you say, hey, give me Jalen Johnson
and what uh oh Kongwo, I'd be like, hell.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Yeah, I like Okongwu. He's good.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
But you know who's to say that Atlanta would do
that because Jalen Johnson I think is going to be
a stud.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Yeah no, no, he's very He got a major injury,
but uh, it seems like he's gonna be okay. Uh
Rob it sounds like I don't know if this is
one hundred percent accurate, But did they close w NBA
All Star voting.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
I'm not sure they may have, but I do know
that Kaylan Clark was already at over one point two million.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Yeah, so according to uh, you know, there's all these
Instagram accounts and Twitter accounts attributed just basically following around
Caitlin Clark. They said she received one point two to
nine million All Star votes this year. In twenty twenty three,
the year before she got to the league, the top
thirty vote getters top thirty in the league had one
(27:16):
point one seven.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
That's unbelieved. I mean, I know that you guys are
sick of some Caitlin Clark stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Although I did get some really nice notes about the
pod with Christine Brennan. You guys seem to like that. Obviously,
when Clark is back and we need her, uh, it's
it's gonna be big.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
But I guess we can wrap up obviously.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
USA Costa Rica was a thrilling match, went to penalty
kicks rob in the Gold Cup.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
USA prevailed.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Oh my gosh, big sweat. Listen, we don't have our
best guys there, which you know hurts, but still you
got to be able to be Costa Rica even without
your horses. Penalty kicks in the Gold Cup it just
goes right from regulation to pks.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
There's no overtime.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Penalty kicks is so stressful but also so exciting. All right,
that's it for today. We're trying to get one of
my favorite interviews. We're trying to get him for tomorrow.
Don't know yet if it's a lock. We will be
back tomorrow though. Either way, talk to you then,
Host
Jason McIntyre
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