Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
The Stephen A. Smith Show is a jam-packed, high-energy NBA-focused special featuring insider guest Shams Charania. The episode covers breaking news, trade rumors, injury updates, and draft projections, all delivered with Stephen A.’s signature passion and insight.
🎙️ Guest: Shams Charania
Role: NBA Insider, ESPN Analyst
Topic: Post-NBA Finals trades, injuries, and draft buzz
🏀 Key Topics & Highlights 🔁 Major Trades & Rumors
-
Jrue Holiday traded from Celtics to Trail Blazers:
- Celtics shedding salary (~$500M payroll).
- Portland gets a veteran leader and elite defender.
- Celtics expected to be very active this offseason.
-
Kevin Durant to Houston Rockets:
- Rockets acquire KD for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, #10 pick, and five second-rounders.
- KD joins a young, athletic core (Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Alperen Şengün).
- Phoenix Suns looking to move Bradley Beal next.
-
CJ McCollum to Wizards:
- Pelicans trade McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, and a pick for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and #40 pick.
🏥 Injury Updates
- Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard all suffered Achilles tears.
- Tatum & Haliburton expected to miss the entire 2025–2026 season.
- Lillard might return late in the season, but caution is advised.
🔄 Player Movement & Free Agency
-
Giannis Antetokounmpo:
- Open to exploring options outside Milwaukee.
- Bucks operating as if he’s staying—for now.
-
Bradley Beal:
- Suns reportedly frustrated; may sideline him or push for a trade.
- Beal’s no-trade clause complicates matters.
-
Kyrie Irving:
- Mavericks reportedly offering less than $40M/year.
- Kyrie expected to opt in at $43M if no deal is reached.
- Stephen A. defends Kyrie’s leadership and value.
🧠 Stephen A.’s Commentary
- On Kyrie: “He’s not a locker room cancer. He’s a champion. He deserves his bag.”
- On Phoenix: “They had to make the KD deal. Jalen Green has upside, but needs discipline.”
- On Boston: “Porzingis’ health is a mystery. Tatum’s out. It’s a shame.”
- On Knicks: “No plan after firing Thibodeau. It’s a mess.”
- On Giannis: “Why stay in Milwaukee with no picks and Dame out?”
🧾 NBA Draft Preview
-
Top Picks:
- #1: Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
- #2: Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
-
Teams to Watch:
- Utah (Pick #5)
- Toronto (Pick #9)
- OKC, Brooklyn, Philadelphia (Pick #3)
-
Draft Themes:
- Expect lots of movement starting at picks 3–6.
- Teams are actively shopping picks and exploring trades.
🔚 Closing Thoughts
- Stephen A. reflects on a hectic NBA season and looks forward to the draft.
- Emphasizes the uncertainty and excitement surrounding the league’s future.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
What's up, everybody. Welcome to the ladies' edition of The
Steven A. Smith Show, coming at you at the very
least three times a week over the digital areas of
YouTube and of course iHeart Radio. As always, I like
to pause and take a moment to take my subscribers
and followers and listeners and what have you because of
the support that you give the show courtesy of millions
of download over iHeart Radio over the last few months
and a subscriber based on YouTube that has now eclipsed
(00:32):
over one point twenty five million. Can't thank y'all for
the love and support enough to show just continues to
grow and grow and grow. It would not happen if
it were not for you. Guys, really really appreciate it
and behalf of myself and my team. Can't thank y'all enough.
Keep the love coming, and I'm gonna keep on coming
as usual. To be notified of all of our newest content,
just click the bell in the right hand corner and
(00:52):
YouTube shall consider yourself the latest member of the Steven A.
Smith's Show family. And while you're doing that, please make
sure to pick up a copy of my New York
Times best selling book Straight Shooter a memoir of Second
Chances and First Takes now in paperback. Just go to
straight shoot book dot com to get yourself a copy.
Once again, go to straight shooter a book dot com
and get yourself a copy. Whole bunch of stuff to
get into in light of everything that's been happening since
(01:15):
the NBA Finals ended on Sunday night. It's been less
than forty eight hours, less than seventy two hours rather
since that happened. But it hasn't stopped trades from taking place.
It hasn't stopped new teams requiring new players, It hasn't
stopped the scuttle What about what's going to transpire as
the NBA drafts approach tonight? All of those things, the
(01:38):
things that we got to talk about, things that we
consider and take into consideration. And who better to talk
to than the ultimate NBA inside of himself When there's
news to be broken, this brother is the one who
usually breaks it. I'm talking about mister Shams Sharania, my
teammate at ESPN, right here on the Stephen A. Smith
Show for the very very first time. What's up, Shams?
(02:00):
How you doing big time? How's everything going?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I say, everything's great.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I'm just honored grateful to be on making my debut
on your show.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
You know, I love watching your show.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
You have your daughter on, You're talking about Pokemon character.
So I'm just glad to be a part of the
mix here.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I appreciate man.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And before we even get started, congratulations, you had big
tim shoes to field succeed in Woch himself, Adrian woj Nuarowski,
you did an outstanding job. You're the elite guy in
this business. You did an absolutely fabulous job for us,
and I'm honored and proud to call you a teammate
at ESPN. Before I get into any of these questions,
how was your first year at ESPN? Break it down
(02:37):
for us?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
How much did you enjoy it?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
It's been a rolling I mean to me and Steven
that you've lived it for so long. But like the platform,
how many eyeballs it reaches? That was definitely something that
I found, you know, eye opening. But even more than that,
what I love personally is like I can break news
at any given moment, like the Luca Doncas trade happened
at eleven twelve PM. Is when I sent that tweet out,
I was on TV twenty thirty minutes later. I know
(03:00):
you got wrung up that night as well. So I
just love the fact that you can break news at
any given moment and be on TV at any given moment,
And obviously the platform is great. And I love the people,
you know, working with you and Malika and the Countdown
crew and the Hillary guys of the world.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Like, there's just so many great people.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I'm just honored and glad and hopefully every day just
making everyone I work with proud and making my family
proude as well.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Man, we love working with you as well. You're really
you're a great person, and you're a great professional man. Okay,
and you're young too, you know what I'm saying. So
you got a long you got a long time in
this industry, and you're already a superstar in it. Let's
get to the latest news obviously broken by you. When
we think about Drew Holiday just getting moved from the
Boston Celtics, I'm looking at first things first, why did
(03:44):
that happen? Explain how audience, why did that happen? And
who's considered the biggest beneficiary or off this deal being
made with the Portland Trailblazers.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Stimunday. There's two sides of this situation.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I think the easier side is the Portland Trailblazer side,
but then this is an aggressive move. Drew Holliday still
is known as an elite defender of veteran player. I mean,
two time champions, six time All Defensive Team member. It's
hard to throw shade on Drew Holliday's name. The issue
that the Celtics had when they were discussing Drew Holliday
deals though that he had three years massive numbers on
(04:15):
his contract left, and so for the Celtics they had
a payroll approaching five hundred million dollars next season. And
so I've been reporting it for weeks. I know, me
and you have talked about it for the better part
of even before the playoffs started win or lose in
the playoffs this past season, the Celtics were going to
make some major changes and that was going to start
with players like Drew Holliday.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And we saw it last night when they reached agreement
with Portland.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
And so that allows them to shed some money. Anthony
Simons is an expiring contract. If they keep him, he's.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
The guy that they like, He's the guy that can
score the ball.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Obviously, nineteen points a game, five assists to night. You
know where you're gonna get from Anthony Simons. He's younger
than ju Holliday as well from Portland. This was an
aggressive move and I know Chauncey Billups their general manager
Joe Conan.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
They're excited about bringing and Steve And we saw the
second half of last season.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I don't know if many people did, but the Trailers
had a top five defense. Talton Bills had that team
playing above five hundred basketball in the second half of
the year.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So we'll see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But for the Celtics, say this is the start of
a very active offseason. Christophers porzingis they're engaged in multiple
conversations about trading him. The Celtics prefer not to trade
Jalen Brown and Derek White, but listen the offers that
they're getting right now, and the conversations.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Are going to be had. Does it reach the value?
And that's the question.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
So you're looking at a lot of potential movement around
the Celtics and last night was just the start of that.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Champs, are you telling me there's a whole bunch of
people out there as suitors for Jalen Brown, even though
he's in the midst of a three hundred and four
million dollar contract, there are.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Multiple teams that have significant interest in Jalen Brown, and
you think about, for sure, the contract is steep. I
understand it, but listen, there are teams, especially in today's NBA,
especially in the Eastern for instance, and now what we're
seeing the Western Conference too. It's an armors race in
the West. So even if you're a team that's meddling
in the playoffs, you're trying to get there.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You're trying to make a swing.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
And I think what we're gonna see now in both
conferences is a lot of activity.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
On my day job on the ESPN first take every
weekday morning from today. In the noon today I brought
up Kristevsporzinkis and how that's a tricky situation, not because
he's injured, but because he's been ill, and by being
ill and people in the Boston Celtics and himself not
being able to pinpoint exactly what has ailed him.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I said, that's going to be difficult for a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Of teams to embrace the stomach to be willing to
pull off a deal to acquire him when you can't
even figure out what's been wrought with him, What do
you have to say to that.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
There's a lot of research being done, Stephen ad like
the three to five teams that are inquiring on Christmas Brezinis,
making offers on frameworks for Christmas Brezlis. These are all
conversations that they're having as well, and they're doing the research.
They're reaching out to christophas Brezilis representative Jef Schwartz at
Excel Sports trying to see what is going on exactly
with Christos Persingias. And so the rationale overall has been
(07:09):
and what I've been reporting is that he was dealing
with essentially after effects. He's been dealing with a bunch
of side effects from what was of viral illness in March.
And again it's his body, it's on him, and obviously
the Celtics doctors and they've been in the midst of it.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
So the Celtics know.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Better than anyone what was going on with the Christos Persingis.
But there's going to be a team that's going to
trade for Christos Presingias, whether it's this week, draft week
or free agency week next week. That will do it
that feels like they're comfortable with how his health is
because he does have a market steven able About three
to five teams.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Quick answer to this Jason Tatum with the Achilles Tiat, Tires,
Haliburt with the Achilles Tia, Damian Lillard with the Achilles tier,
the age the advancement of technology in today's world. Some
people have speculated that it is possible, at least in
the case of Lillard or Jason Tatum, that they could
be back at some point in time during the playoffs.
(08:04):
Are any of those teams Boston, Milwaukee, Indiana silly doubt
Indiana is in this case? Is this has happened to
Tyrees Halliburton, But are any of those teams anticipating we'll
see any of those guys for the twenty twenty five
twenty twenty six NBA season.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Tyri's Haliburton is not expected to return all of the
twenty twenty five to twenty six season. I'm told it's
likely he is out for all of next year, and
that a lot has to do with the fact that
this just happened the final week of June, and so this.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Is a long, long rehab.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
As you know, Steven, they covering it for so long,
ten to twelve months, and that's usually you know, the
ten months is really on on the early side for
these athletes, especially superstar players, the level that they want
to come back at. Jason Tatum also similarly, he had
his I think what in May. So this is this
situation with Jason Tatum where you know, Kevin Durant, Tyris Halliburton,
(08:58):
Jason Tatum all had their surgery within one to two
days after the achilles tear. All had it with the
same doctor, doctor O'Malley at the Hospital Special Surgery in
New York City.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
They did it all for a reason, and that reason
was the.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Quicker you do it, the better and more healthy you'll
be back when you are ready to be back. The better,
the stronger that achilles area will be. That was the
goal with it. That doesn't mean he's going to be
coming back soon. Remember if you remember when Kevin Durant
got back, he had missed I think like fourteen to
sixteen months because of the COVID situation and the time
gap between when he actually made it back on the
(09:32):
flour of the following season in twenty twenty twenty one.
So I expect Jason Tatom to take his time, Tyres
Halburn to take his time.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
The one question that I have is the Damian Lillar situation.
He had his injury in April.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Of course, there has been some optimism that potentially he
could be back within that eight to ten month period.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
But again, with these surgeries, with this.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Type of injury, I'm always leaning toward the side of
caution than a guy rushing himself back.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Well said, you bring up Damian Lilla. How about this.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
What's the situation when Giannis at the Takumpo. I know
he hasn't officially requested the trade. I know that Milwaukee
was leaving stuff up for grabs. Wait, you know they
at his mercy obviously, but with Dame expected to be
out for a considerable amount of time, with them not
being in possession of any first round picks over the
next five years, with the changes that you see taking
place within the Eastern Conference and within the NBA period,
(10:23):
what's the latest on Giannis and his desire to stay
in Milwaukee or him contemplating departing from them by asking
to be traded elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
It's a lot of status Qora now steven A on
Johnson to the Cumpo and what has transpired the Bucks
lost in the first off of the third straight year.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
I reported the week of the Draft Lottery NBA Draft
Combine that Johnson to the Coompo.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Is open minded and considering other options outside of Milwaukee.
He had not requested the trade yet, but he remains
open minded.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
From my understanding, the Bucks.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
For their part, study they're fully operating like John's and
to the Goombo will be back. That's their messaging to
other teams, to free agents when they're gonna go out
and sell other free agents come July one and sell
their own free agents. It's that Johns and Tokoompo will
be back, and that's.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
The only way they can operate. But Jians into Coompo
will be giving them. He's been there for twelve years.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
He's gonna let them operate in free agency, operate at
the draft, see what moves they can make to get
this team better. One thing about Giannis is that he's
always played thing close to the best. When he signed
his two extensions steven A, no one has known about
it since he's literally signing the paperwork, and in this
day and age, usually agreements get out guys are finalizing deals.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
It gets out.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
It's always gotten out when he's literally signed the paperwork,
and that's pretty rare for a player in today's DN
and age. So with him, I don't expect this to
be something that's gonna be tied to the draft.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I don't expect this to be tied to free agency.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
He's gonna allow the Bucks to operate, see what they
can do, see how they can make this team better.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
They have their own decisions to make.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
But this is someone that has said on the record
he wants to compete for a championship. The moment he
feels like in Milwaukee they're not competing for a championship,
he's going to look around. He has said that on
the record that he would be But now that moment
has come, and so I think over the next couple
of weeks, let's see what the Bucks can do. They
only have one first round pick they can trade. They
have a few second round picks they can trade. They
(12:16):
don't have the high value tradable contract as well, and
that's going to be a problem in the trade market.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Hold on Shams hond On right there by the way,
I got to pay some bills I'll be back with
you in a moment. But by the way, before I
even do that, you're breaking news right now. Shams and
New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCullum, Kelly olnic Olenic
and future second round pick to the Washington Wizards for
Jordan Poole, Sadik Bay and the number fortieth pick. That's
what Tourses just tell you. So even while you sitting
(12:41):
here will be talking to me. Champs, you breaking news.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
That's just what you do. That's just what you do.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
More of Sean Sharania in a minute after I pay
these bills. All right, everybody, listen up with all the
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Speaker 4 (13:41):
Hey, hey, run your game. Thoughts about the Kevin Durant
deal that landed him in Houston.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Some people look at the Rockets and they say, hey,
they got a pretty is a pretty good deal for them.
Phoenix should have gotten more. You're talking about Jalen Green,
You're talking about Dylan Brooks. You're talking about the tenth
overall pick at about five second round picks. A lot
of people thought they should have gotten more. My attitude
is as great and phenomenal as Kevin Durant is. He
is thirty six, approaching his thirty seventh birthday, and you're
(14:18):
the Phoenix Suns. You recognize that. And Miami obviously didn't
necessarily have a better deal on the table, which we'll
get into in just a second. Your thoughts about Houston
doing this deal and what the belief is by everyone
out there in terms of what Houston possesses because of
it and what Phoenix possesses because of it.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
This was clear in Houston around the league. This is
a win novel for the Rockets. They put their chips
into an extent.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
They didn't give up a lot of their chips that
they maybe valued more, but they put in the number
ten pick, which has a ton of value. Jalen Green
twenty point per game score at the age of twenty three,
and Dylan Brooks brought a culture fit to the Rockets
that I think we should commend him. And Fred Van
Vliet helped Emi Udoka turn the culture around there. So
on paper, that's not a ton I guess to give
(15:04):
up for Kevin Durant. But listen, this is Kevin Durant
turning thirty seven to me, and when I talk to scouts,
when I talk to people on the league, he fits
seamlessly to this team like he's a number one option
on any given night when you need a shot, we
we need a play to be made.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Kevin Durant gives you that in a way that they.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Felt like they didn't have last year in the playoffs
and so on. That alone, this takes the Rockets to
a whole other level. And to me, Amen Thompson, how
much he rises, that's gonna be an even bigger focal
point of whether this team can really make a run
to the title. Is alpher and Sangun gonna make strides
as well because Kevin Durant.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
We know what Kevin Durant is gonna do. He's gonna
put up twenty five to twenty seven points.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
He's gonna score, you know, score that amount. He's gonna
shoot fifty forty ninety most likely or somewhere close to it.
We know what he's capable of, what he's gonna do.
And when they need shots, when they need playmaking, they
have that. And I think what Kevin Durant loved the
most about the Rockets is that they have these young
athletic guys that are You have the Tarry Eastons, Jabbari
Smid's the world reed Shepherd who didn't play much last
(16:04):
year could get an opportunity. Now moving forward, you have
a men Thompson, you have Alpern saying doing he's excited.
My understanding is to go and play with this young,
energetic team, but he can kind of be the.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Old head and just slide in there and do his thing.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
And you know very well, ema Udoka is a large
presence in Houston, and he's a large presence around the NBA,
and that's someone Kevin Durant has a lot of respect for.
They cross pads in Brooklyn, cross Pats and Team USA,
and that relationship I think will pay dividends for the
Rockets as well.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
What about the noise people are making about Phoenix that
Dylan Brooks and Devin book is one thing, but that
Jalen Green in all likelihood isn't going to stay there
because that's not the ideal match with him and Devin
book and the Phoenix Suns haven't said that. I'm not
implying that. I'm just saying fans out there that have
been talking about rumors and stuff like that have brought
(16:53):
that question mark up.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Have you heard.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Anything about that being a legitimate question mark as to
whether or not Jalen Green will stay in Phoenix because
of his pairing with Booker and how that might not
be ideal.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
On these two sides.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
We're discussing the framework, and it really got down the
line middle of last week and then over the last
twenty four hours Friday, Saturday into Sunday when it just
became Miami and Houston kind of going back and forth,
competing against.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Each other to an extent. But that was the question,
the Jalen Green fit.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
And on paper, you have Jalen Green, you have Bradley Beal,
and you have Devin Booker, and there were questions, natural questions,
but I think at this point, you make this trade,
and the Sons are making this trade with Jalen Green
in mind.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
For next season.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
They're making it with him and Devin Booker as a
high powered backward.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You still have Bradley.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Beal, though, and he's got two years upwards of one hundred,
one hundred and ten million dollars left on his contract,
so they internally need to figure out how that will
play out with Bradley Beal. Is there a bench role
for Bradley Beal? Is there a starting role for him?
Do you play those three guys together? That's question for
all of them. Josh barsetens CEO, Brian Gregory, their general manager,
(17:59):
Jordan not head coaches.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
That's what they've got to figure out the next couple.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Of weeks Sean's I've heard that they're so disgusted with
Bradley Beal they couldn't give him away fast enough. You know,
he obviously is one of only two players in the
NBA that has a no trade clause, otherwise they would
have been got rid of him. And then you're hearing
that Matt Ishbia, the owner for the Phoenix Sons, is
literally strongly contemplating sitting him down, whether it be letting
(18:24):
him stay at home or do something to force him
to get the hell up out of Phoenix.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
What if you heard about Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Sons.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
I think going into this summer that those of those
sides were going to have conversations about his future because
clearly last last season they included him in plenty of
trade talks around the league.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
They were trying to.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Figure out, is their Bradley Beal home to get Jimmy Butler.
That was their goal, is to go get Jimmy Butler
in a three four team trade that sends him to
Phoenix because they felt they needed that alpha personality that
now they kind of look at Diylan Brooks as similar.
He's an alpha guy now, Jimmy Butlerlan Brooks all NBA
All Star Player, Jimmy Butler. Dylan Brooks obviously has done
(19:05):
a lot of good things in the league, but Jimmy
Butler is a star. But they are excited about Dylan Brooks.
But yeah, I mean, there's no question that'll be a
conversation the Sons are going to have to have with
Bradley Beal what's the fit there. He's going to probably
want to have that conversation as well to figure out
just exactly where he's at with that situation.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
But there's no doubts Steven, there were a lot of conversations.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
When if you're Brad you're listening to all these conversations
and you're the one with the not trade clause, I
do wonder how he feels.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
So we go back to the state of Texas with
the Dallas Mavericks have extended Daniel Gafford their big man there,
which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
But I'm also hearing some noise that Kyrie Irvin is
not happy because the Dallas Mavericks obviously have talked to
him about extending him, but the.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Offer is as exorbitant as he would like what.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
If anything at all are you hearing about Kyrie Irving
and the Dallas Mavericks at this particular moment in time.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
So right now it's nine, it's one twenty East Coast time.
He's got a player option that he's got to decide
on by the end of the day for forty three
million dollars. And so the sides, like you said, they've
been discussing what does it look like if there's an
opt out and then a new extension, a two to
three year framework deal, what.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Does that look like.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
And if there's no deal that happens between now and
that opt out deadline opt in deadline, it'll be because
Kyrie Irving feels whatever the MAVs have offered is well
below his market value in his mind from my understanding,
and they have made offers as of this moment.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Again, things can change. We're still hours away from that deadline.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
But as as it stands right now, all the Mavericks
offers have been below that forty million dollars per year threshold.
They have not gotten to forty million dollars per year.
He's at forty three on his player option.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
So if you're Kyrie.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Irving and they're coming in well below that forty three
million dollar mark. And if he decides to just opt
in and play out the year, he would then be
slated for pre agency in.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Twenty twenty six. So this is a massive question right
now in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Steven A, this is something you know, I'm tracking pretty
heavy right now.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
But there's no doubt.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
If there is no deal today, it's because if there's
no long term deal, it's because Kyrie Irving has deemed
that they had just offered well below market value.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Well, clearly they were going to do that.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I know they were going to do that the second
he went down with his ACL injury.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
There was no doubt about that. But I will say
this to add this.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
When he before he had that torn ACL, I'm talking
to teams around the league, and the consensus was was
that he was going to be in line for a
contract in the range of fifty to sixty million dollars
year on a three or four year deal.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
That's what he was on track for.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
That's what his numbers justified, That's what his leadership, everything
he's brought to Dallas justified. But then he has a
torn ACL, and clearly in the Mavericks eye. So far
in these conversations, the value has not gotten back to
that point.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Well, I think what he was targeted for he was
absolutely justified. I think he's been outstanding in Dallas. He's
been out of a standing leader as well. Players throughout the
league love him. He's not a cancer or considered a
cancerous effecting side of a locker room. They don't believe
that at all, So I definitely believe he deserves his
money in that regard. Also, the biggest argument for him
Sean should be, you wouldn't have let go of Luka
(22:19):
if you didn't know you had me.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
There's nowhere on.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Earth you would have let go of Luka Doncic if
you know you had me. So that's a story for
another day. Just a couple more questions because I know
you got a busy schedule and I really really.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Appreciate your time looking at it.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
You know, I'm not gonna let you get out of
here without asking about my New York Nicks.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
What the hell is going on?
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I mean all of these coaches they're asking about, I
mean everybody.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
It seems like they've asked for permission to talk to every.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Damn body, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks obviously
email you Doka before he got his extension.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Even Quinn Snyder, I'm losing it.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
So Billy Donovan email Udoka, Quinn Snyder, Chris Spinch, Jason
Kidd all for five.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Their request permission on all five of those coaches. Some
of them are gonna end up with contract extensions. And
I will say a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I put out Ema Yudoka's deal and he signed a
very big contract extension.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
He's got an eight figure deal annually.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Obviously well deserved there. That was in the works well
before the Knicks reached out. That's why when the Knicks
reached out, it's like everyone in the league knew Ema.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Udoka was gonna get the bag.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So that's, you know, it's kind of surprising that way,
very unorthodox. I have never seen them. I've never seen
an NBA team operate like this. But again, they felt
like they had to do their due deal. Just let's
see who's out there, Let's see who we could potentially
slither our way in their homes to see if we
can talk them into coming to the Knicks. So now
where it's at is they interviewed Taylor Jenkins and Mike
(23:42):
Brown last week. I'm told they interviewed mikeah Nor, the
Minnesota Timbers lead assistant this week, and Mike and Nory
served as an essentially an acting head coach for Timbers
last year in the playoffs. A lot of people think
he's he's destined to be a head coach at.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Some point in the league.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
So this is not a no name or guy in
the NBA. But again, you just fire Tom thibde Oh,
a guy that led you to the conference finals for
the first time in twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
He's his big name of an NBA coach. As you're
gonna get.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
And you're looking, you know, these are the these are
the options. They're still knock on any of these three.
Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown very very well regarded in NBA circles,
Mike and Norriy very well regarded to NBA circles. But
we're at the NBA Draft week and there's still no
head coach. I think the way they're operating right now
is they're going to be patient. Let's see what the
market is. We're not in any rush, Let's talk to
(24:28):
the candidates. I think there could be even more interviews
in the next few days.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
This makes it a mess as far as I'm server.
That's me talking, not you.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Last question this draft, this NBA Draft, it's all about
Cooper Flag and everybody else.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
We all know he's going to number one of the
Dallas Mavericks.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Is is there anything that we should be looking forward
to for this upcoming NBA draft outside of him?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Of course, there's a pooper Flag one, Dylan Harper.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
By all accounts, on my end, number two to the Spurs.
The Spurs feel like at six foot six is aim
what he brings on both ends of the floor, positionless
basketball as we saw in the NBA Finals with the
Thunder and the Pacers. That's in right now, and they
feel like, even though they have Stefan Castle and Darren Fox.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
He'll fit right in there.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
But the draft starts at three, four, five, and I
would say what people can prepare for. I think there's
gonna be a lot of movement this year in the draft.
I think there'll be picks flying across the board, could be,
you know, as early as the top six, could be
in the lottery.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I just I'm hearing so many.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Conversations that start really at pick three, four down, and
a lot of teams are telling me, even when we
get to the pick, we're not just making a selection.
We're listening to a bunch of teams making calls. And
so I think that will be a theme of the
draft as well.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Any particular team in the draft we should be keeping
our eyes on more than anybody in terms of movement
in Utah.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Is interesting to me at five. Toronto's interesting to me
at nine. Oklahoma City's got a few picks in this draft.
What do they do with those picks? Brooklyn's got a
few picks in these drafts? What do they do there?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Their teams are gonna you know, those are particularly teams
that could even consolidate, look to potentially add all that
picks up, move up high in the draft.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
And then what does Philadelphia do with three?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
We know Daryl Morey's always gonna be opportunistic, but you
know the likelihood probably you keep that pick at three.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
You know your draft bj Edge come a Ace Bailey.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
So we'll see what they do at three and then
you depending on who falls. I think four or five
is just waiting to see which dominoes fall.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Does Philly surprise everyone?
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Take Ace Bailey and then that kind of will shake
up the draft. So I think there's a lot of
unanswered questions right now the inside.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
The extraordina himself Sean, I'm Sharania right here on the
Steven Aismith Shaw. Appreciate you, my brother man. Go back
to work, man. Thanksful taking the time out of your
busy schedule. Really appreciate it. And I'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I say, appreciate your the best.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I take it, no doubt that's the man, Seam Sharania.
He knows what the hell he's talking about. And you
heard what he said. He's keeping his eyes on the
Kyrie Irvin situation in Dallas and what that could materialize into.
Because you're I gotta remember something about Kyrie Irving. This
(27:02):
ain't the same dude that was making noise for all
the wrong reasons several years ago. He's been a model
citizen in Dallas. He's been a spectacular player. There are
times that he has led without Luka Doncic on the
floor and the Dallas Mavericks didn't miss a beat. Kyrie
is that spectacular of a talent, and by the way,
he's universally loved by players around the League. So this
notion of him being a cancerisk effect in the locker room,
(27:25):
nobody's believing that nonsense anymore.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
Make no mistake about that.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Of course, you knew that the Dallas Mavericks were going
to try to low ball him once he suffered the
ACL injury. But the bottom line, his injuries are a
part of the game, and you have to believe that
he's going to come back. And his game isn't predicated
on his athleticism, playing above the room and all of
that nasty ball handling skills and his ability to dance
on you that can easily return. And I suspected well,
(27:48):
and when you went out the way to acquire Anthony
Davis to unleash or let go of a luka doncik,
you don't let go of luka doncik if it was
not for you having Kyrie Irving, you let go up
Luka donci because you knew you had Kyrie Irvin, who,
by the way, is a champion. We keep forgetting that
the brother's a champion. You got a chip, got a ring,
and had a lot to do with Lebron James helping
Cleveland E race that curse from fifty two years because
(28:10):
this brother averaged twenty seven in that series. We keep
forgetting that stuff about Kyrie Irvings. So I think he
deserves his bag. And if Dallas doesn't, if they low
ball over whatever. Got to remember the way Kyrie's makeup
is all about. He's the kind of person they ain't
gonna forget it. And so if you low ball him,
it ain't like you can come back and play links
at a later date. If you don't treat him right
(28:31):
up front, He's gonna have a problem with that.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
That's just how he is.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
He's big enough to overcome it, but he's gonna have
a problem with it. Okay, So this is new ownership.
This is not Mark Cuban. Chances are is not Nico
Harrison because if it were up to Nico, Nico got
a lot of love for Kyrie, long standing relationship.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Ones gotta believe that's real. Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
In terms of Phoenix, they had to make the deal
for Kevin Durant because you had to make it before
the tray, before the draft.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
You got two starters.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
You got a young cat and Jalen Green, who are
I was not impressed with in the postseason, But overall
he is impressive and he's only twenty two years of age.
Is upside as tremendous. He just has to get some discipline,
so we got to know that about him. When you
look at Dylan Brooks, he's a rough rider and Devin
Booker needs somebody like that as a teammate and instigator,
a troublemaker, etc. And you got five second round picks,
(29:19):
so you were cooping some of the assets that you
gave away in acquiring Kevin Durant from Brooklyn years ago.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Not all of those assets, but some of them. And
who knows if.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
You'll be able to pull off get rid of Bradley Beal,
which Phoenix clearly wants to do. As it pertains to Giannis,
there's no indication that he wants to leave, but shitn't he.
Where's Milwaukee going? They don't have their own first round
picks for the next five years. They're limited in what
they can do. And Damian Lila is a huge question mark.
In all likelihood he'll miss next season because of the
torn achilles. Yeah, technology says you could come back soited
(29:50):
than that, but when is he going to return to
being Dame Dollar. Chances are it's not going to be
until the season after next due to health.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
So I'm just of that mindset.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
I just don't know if you're Yianni said, you want
to stick around for that. The Knicks this haphazard. They
need to coach. They should have had a plan. This
has James Dolan written all over it. I thought it
was just Leon Rose, but this has James Dolan written
all over it. Because how the hell are you push
Tom Thibodeaux out doing you don't have a damn plan.
It's ridiculous. So that's where I'm at with it. That's
(30:21):
how I feel about it, no doubt. So we'll see
where that goes from there. Boston just a damn shame.
I expect them to be formidable if kristaphs Porziggis was healthy,
with the rest of the team that they have in place,
I expect Boston to be able to make some noise.
The problem is it's not just Jason Tatum being out
with the achilles tear for the whole season, as is
(30:42):
anticipated next season. The problem is you don't know what
the hell is up with kristaves Porziggis because he doesn't
know what the hell is up with him in his health.
So there's a lot of question marks. Meanwhile, Houston's on
the rise. Houston's on the rise, Orlando getting Desmond Baine.
You got to pay attention to them. Cleveland trying to
resurrect themselves and make up for the doldrums they experienced
(31:03):
in the postseason. Can't dismiss them. Dallas eventually is gonna
get back healthy. Luca might be in shape when this
season starts for him and Lebron and the Lakers. Okay,
san Antonio went biyanna, what if san Antonio Spurs gett.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
An additional asset.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
I mean, there's a lot of stuff going on, and
I can't wait because I think we're gonna find out
a lot at the NBA Drafts. I think a lot
of moves are gonna be made, at least a few.
I really really think that's gonna happen. We shall see,
We shall see. That's it for this edition of The
Stephen A. Smith Show. I just wanted to give you
a special off day edition. Obviously, I'm traveling. I'm doing
(31:42):
a lot of stuff, you know, as we prepare for
the NBA Drafts. Had a long NBA season, was on
the road for the last two months, covering Minnesota and
ok Seed and ok See and ND going back and
forth between Minnesota and OKAC and New York and I mean,
it's been real, real hectic. And the culmination is tomorrow
Knight's NBA Draft. That's what we're gonna do. So I
(32:03):
can't wait to get that over with to see what happens.
I mean, Cooper Flags going number one overall. Okay, we
know pretty much who the first and the second picks
are going to be in the NBA Draft. After that
is a crapshoot. Gonna be really interesting to see what
the Sixers do with a third overall pick. Can Joel
and Bed and Paul George gets some help other than
Tyreez Maxie Really? Can Tyreese Maxi get the help? But
can they get some help? Can I can want? You
(32:24):
know what, I'd give up the number three overall pick
for an elite orthopedic surgeon that could heal and Bed
and Paul George.
Speaker 4 (32:31):
I'll tell you that much. I do that, but that's
just wish for thinking.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Either way you slice it, I'll holler let you in
the next couple of days.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
It's a stephen A. Smith show.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I'm signing off after giving you this quick one, but
i'll be back with more in a couple of days.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Don't worry about it. I'm not going away. Talk to
you later. Peace of love.
What's up, everybody. Welcome to the ladies' edition of The
Steven A. Smith Show, coming at you at the very
least three times a week over the digital areas of
YouTube and of course iHeart Radio. As always, I like
to pause and take a moment to take my subscribers
and followers and listeners and what have you because of
the support that you give the show courtesy of millions
of download over iHeart Radio over the last few months
and a subscriber based on YouTube that has now eclipsed
(00:32):
over one point twenty five million. Can't thank y'all for
the love and support enough to show just continues to
grow and grow and grow. It would not happen if
it were not for you. Guys, really really appreciate it
and behalf of myself and my team. Can't thank y'all enough.
Keep the love coming, and I'm gonna keep on coming
as usual. To be notified of all of our newest content,
just click the bell in the right hand corner and
(00:52):
YouTube shall consider yourself the latest member of the Steven A.
Smith's Show family. And while you're doing that, please make
sure to pick up a copy of my New York
Times best selling book Straight Shooter a memoir of Second
Chances and First Takes now in paperback. Just go to
straight shoot book dot com to get yourself a copy.
Once again, go to straight shooter a book dot com
and get yourself a copy. Whole bunch of stuff to
get into in light of everything that's been happening since
(01:15):
the NBA Finals ended on Sunday night. It's been less
than forty eight hours, less than seventy two hours rather
since that happened. But it hasn't stopped trades from taking place.
It hasn't stopped new teams requiring new players, It hasn't
stopped the scuttle What about what's going to transpire as
the NBA drafts approach tonight? All of those things, the
(01:38):
things that we got to talk about, things that we
consider and take into consideration. And who better to talk
to than the ultimate NBA inside of himself When there's
news to be broken, this brother is the one who
usually breaks it. I'm talking about mister Shams Sharania, my
teammate at ESPN, right here on the Stephen A. Smith
Show for the very very first time. What's up, Shams?
(02:00):
How you doing big time? How's everything going?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I say, everything's great.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I'm just honored grateful to be on making my debut
on your show.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
You know, I love watching your show.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
You have your daughter on, You're talking about Pokemon character.
So I'm just glad to be a part of the
mix here.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I appreciate man.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And before we even get started, congratulations, you had big
tim shoes to field succeed in Woch himself, Adrian woj Nuarowski,
you did an outstanding job. You're the elite guy in
this business. You did an absolutely fabulous job for us,
and I'm honored and proud to call you a teammate
at ESPN. Before I get into any of these questions,
how was your first year at ESPN? Break it down
(02:37):
for us?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
How much did you enjoy it?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
It's been a rolling I mean to me and Steven
that you've lived it for so long. But like the platform,
how many eyeballs it reaches? That was definitely something that
I found, you know, eye opening. But even more than that,
what I love personally is like I can break news
at any given moment, like the Luca Doncas trade happened
at eleven twelve PM. Is when I sent that tweet out,
I was on TV twenty thirty minutes later. I know
(03:00):
you got wrung up that night as well. So I
just love the fact that you can break news at
any given moment and be on TV at any given moment,
And obviously the platform is great. And I love the people,
you know, working with you and Malika and the Countdown
crew and the Hillary guys of the world.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Like, there's just so many great people.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
I'm just honored and glad and hopefully every day just
making everyone I work with proud and making my family
proude as well.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Man, we love working with you as well. You're really
you're a great person, and you're a great professional man. Okay,
and you're young too, you know what I'm saying. So
you got a long you got a long time in
this industry, and you're already a superstar in it. Let's
get to the latest news obviously broken by you. When
we think about Drew Holiday just getting moved from the
Boston Celtics, I'm looking at first things first, why did
(03:44):
that happen? Explain how audience, why did that happen? And
who's considered the biggest beneficiary or off this deal being
made with the Portland Trailblazers.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Stimunday. There's two sides of this situation.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I think the easier side is the Portland Trailblazer side,
but then this is an aggressive move. Drew Holliday still
is known as an elite defender of veteran player. I mean,
two time champions, six time All Defensive Team member. It's
hard to throw shade on Drew Holliday's name. The issue
that the Celtics had when they were discussing Drew Holliday
deals though that he had three years massive numbers on
(04:15):
his contract left, and so for the Celtics they had
a payroll approaching five hundred million dollars next season. And
so I've been reporting it for weeks. I know, me
and you have talked about it for the better part
of even before the playoffs started win or lose in
the playoffs this past season, the Celtics were going to
make some major changes and that was going to start
with players like Drew Holliday.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And we saw it last night when they reached agreement
with Portland.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
And so that allows them to shed some money. Anthony
Simons is an expiring contract. If they keep him, he's.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
The guy that they like, He's the guy that can
score the ball.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Obviously, nineteen points a game, five assists to night. You
know where you're gonna get from Anthony Simons. He's younger
than ju Holliday as well from Portland. This was an
aggressive move and I know Chauncey Billups their general manager
Joe Conan.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
They're excited about bringing and Steve And we saw the
second half of last season.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I don't know if many people did, but the Trailers
had a top five defense. Talton Bills had that team
playing above five hundred basketball in the second half of
the year.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So we'll see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But for the Celtics, say this is the start of
a very active offseason. Christophers porzingis they're engaged in multiple
conversations about trading him. The Celtics prefer not to trade
Jalen Brown and Derek White, but listen the offers that
they're getting right now, and the conversations.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Are going to be had. Does it reach the value?
And that's the question.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
So you're looking at a lot of potential movement around
the Celtics and last night was just the start of that.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Champs, are you telling me there's a whole bunch of
people out there as suitors for Jalen Brown, even though
he's in the midst of a three hundred and four
million dollar contract, there are.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Multiple teams that have significant interest in Jalen Brown, and
you think about, for sure, the contract is steep. I
understand it, but listen, there are teams, especially in today's NBA,
especially in the Eastern for instance, and now what we're
seeing the Western Conference too. It's an armors race in
the West. So even if you're a team that's meddling
in the playoffs, you're trying to get there.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You're trying to make a swing.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
And I think what we're gonna see now in both
conferences is a lot of activity.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
On my day job on the ESPN first take every
weekday morning from today. In the noon today I brought
up Kristevsporzinkis and how that's a tricky situation, not because
he's injured, but because he's been ill, and by being
ill and people in the Boston Celtics and himself not
being able to pinpoint exactly what has ailed him.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I said, that's going to be difficult for a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Of teams to embrace the stomach to be willing to
pull off a deal to acquire him when you can't
even figure out what's been wrought with him, What do
you have to say to that.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
There's a lot of research being done, Stephen ad like
the three to five teams that are inquiring on Christmas Brezinis,
making offers on frameworks for Christmas Brezlis. These are all
conversations that they're having as well, and they're doing the research.
They're reaching out to christophas Brezilis representative Jef Schwartz at
Excel Sports trying to see what is going on exactly
with Christos Persingias. And so the rationale overall has been
(07:09):
and what I've been reporting is that he was dealing
with essentially after effects. He's been dealing with a bunch
of side effects from what was of viral illness in March.
And again it's his body, it's on him, and obviously
the Celtics doctors and they've been in the midst of it.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
So the Celtics know.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Better than anyone what was going on with the Christos Persingis.
But there's going to be a team that's going to
trade for Christos Presingias, whether it's this week, draft week
or free agency week next week. That will do it
that feels like they're comfortable with how his health is
because he does have a market steven able About three
to five teams.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Quick answer to this Jason Tatum with the Achilles Tiat, Tires,
Haliburt with the Achilles Tia, Damian Lillard with the Achilles tier,
the age the advancement of technology in today's world. Some
people have speculated that it is possible, at least in
the case of Lillard or Jason Tatum, that they could
be back at some point in time during the playoffs.
(08:04):
Are any of those teams Boston, Milwaukee, Indiana silly doubt
Indiana is in this case? Is this has happened to
Tyrees Halliburton, But are any of those teams anticipating we'll
see any of those guys for the twenty twenty five
twenty twenty six NBA season.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Tyri's Haliburton is not expected to return all of the
twenty twenty five to twenty six season. I'm told it's
likely he is out for all of next year, and
that a lot has to do with the fact that
this just happened the final week of June, and so this.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Is a long, long rehab.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
As you know, Steven, they covering it for so long,
ten to twelve months, and that's usually you know, the
ten months is really on on the early side for
these athletes, especially superstar players, the level that they want
to come back at. Jason Tatum also similarly, he had
his I think what in May. So this is this
situation with Jason Tatum where you know, Kevin Durant, Tyris Halliburton,
(08:58):
Jason Tatum all had their surgery within one to two
days after the achilles tear. All had it with the
same doctor, doctor O'Malley at the Hospital Special Surgery in
New York City.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
They did it all for a reason, and that reason
was the.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Quicker you do it, the better and more healthy you'll
be back when you are ready to be back. The better,
the stronger that achilles area will be. That was the
goal with it. That doesn't mean he's going to be
coming back soon. Remember if you remember when Kevin Durant
got back, he had missed I think like fourteen to
sixteen months because of the COVID situation and the time
gap between when he actually made it back on the
(09:32):
flour of the following season in twenty twenty twenty one.
So I expect Jason Tatom to take his time, Tyres
Halburn to take his time.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
The one question that I have is the Damian Lillar situation.
He had his injury in April.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Of course, there has been some optimism that potentially he
could be back within that eight to ten month period.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
But again, with these surgeries, with this.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Type of injury, I'm always leaning toward the side of
caution than a guy rushing himself back.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Well said, you bring up Damian Lilla. How about this.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
What's the situation when Giannis at the Takumpo. I know
he hasn't officially requested the trade. I know that Milwaukee
was leaving stuff up for grabs. Wait, you know they
at his mercy obviously, but with Dame expected to be
out for a considerable amount of time, with them not
being in possession of any first round picks over the
next five years, with the changes that you see taking
place within the Eastern Conference and within the NBA period,
(10:23):
what's the latest on Giannis and his desire to stay
in Milwaukee or him contemplating departing from them by asking
to be traded elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
It's a lot of status Qora now steven A on
Johnson to the Cumpo and what has transpired the Bucks
lost in the first off of the third straight year.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
I reported the week of the Draft Lottery NBA Draft
Combine that Johnson to the Coompo.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Is open minded and considering other options outside of Milwaukee.
He had not requested the trade yet, but he remains
open minded.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
From my understanding, the Bucks.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
For their part, study they're fully operating like John's and
to the Goombo will be back. That's their messaging to
other teams, to free agents when they're gonna go out
and sell other free agents come July one and sell
their own free agents. It's that Johns and Tokoompo will
be back, and that's.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
The only way they can operate. But Jians into Coompo
will be giving them. He's been there for twelve years.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
He's gonna let them operate in free agency, operate at
the draft, see what moves they can make to get
this team better. One thing about Giannis is that he's
always played thing close to the best. When he signed
his two extensions steven A, no one has known about
it since he's literally signing the paperwork, and in this
day and age, usually agreements get out guys are finalizing deals.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
It gets out.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
It's always gotten out when he's literally signed the paperwork,
and that's pretty rare for a player in today's DN
and age. So with him, I don't expect this to
be something that's gonna be tied to the draft.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I don't expect this to be tied to free agency.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
He's gonna allow the Bucks to operate, see what they
can do, see how they can make this team better.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
They have their own decisions to make.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
But this is someone that has said on the record
he wants to compete for a championship. The moment he
feels like in Milwaukee they're not competing for a championship,
he's going to look around. He has said that on
the record that he would be But now that moment
has come, and so I think over the next couple
of weeks, let's see what the Bucks can do. They
only have one first round pick they can trade. They
have a few second round picks they can trade. They
(12:16):
don't have the high value tradable contract as well, and
that's going to be a problem in the trade market.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Hold on Shams hond On right there by the way,
I got to pay some bills I'll be back with
you in a moment. But by the way, before I
even do that, you're breaking news right now. Shams and
New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCullum, Kelly olnic Olenic
and future second round pick to the Washington Wizards for
Jordan Poole, Sadik Bay and the number fortieth pick. That's
what Tourses just tell you. So even while you sitting
(12:41):
here will be talking to me. Champs, you breaking news.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
That's just what you do. That's just what you do.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
More of Sean Sharania in a minute after I pay
these bills. All right, everybody, listen up with all the
big time sports action that's happening each and every day
to Stephen A. Smith, Show wants to make sure you
are taking advantage of it all. That's why we partnered
with Prize Picks, the best place to win cash while
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Speaker 4 (13:41):
Hey, hey, run your game. Thoughts about the Kevin Durant
deal that landed him in Houston.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Some people look at the Rockets and they say, hey,
they got a pretty is a pretty good deal for them.
Phoenix should have gotten more. You're talking about Jalen Green,
You're talking about Dylan Brooks. You're talking about the tenth
overall pick at about five second round picks. A lot
of people thought they should have gotten more. My attitude
is as great and phenomenal as Kevin Durant is. He
is thirty six, approaching his thirty seventh birthday, and you're
(14:18):
the Phoenix Suns. You recognize that. And Miami obviously didn't
necessarily have a better deal on the table, which we'll
get into in just a second. Your thoughts about Houston
doing this deal and what the belief is by everyone
out there in terms of what Houston possesses because of
it and what Phoenix possesses because of it.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
This was clear in Houston around the league. This is
a win novel for the Rockets. They put their chips
into an extent.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
They didn't give up a lot of their chips that
they maybe valued more, but they put in the number
ten pick, which has a ton of value. Jalen Green
twenty point per game score at the age of twenty three,
and Dylan Brooks brought a culture fit to the Rockets
that I think we should commend him. And Fred Van
Vliet helped Emi Udoka turn the culture around there. So
on paper, that's not a ton I guess to give
(15:04):
up for Kevin Durant. But listen, this is Kevin Durant
turning thirty seven to me, and when I talk to scouts,
when I talk to people on the league, he fits
seamlessly to this team like he's a number one option
on any given night when you need a shot, we
we need a play to be made.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Kevin Durant gives you that in a way that they.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Felt like they didn't have last year in the playoffs
and so on. That alone, this takes the Rockets to
a whole other level. And to me, Amen Thompson, how
much he rises, that's gonna be an even bigger focal
point of whether this team can really make a run
to the title. Is alpher and Sangun gonna make strides
as well because Kevin Durant.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
We know what Kevin Durant is gonna do. He's gonna
put up twenty five to twenty seven points.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
He's gonna score, you know, score that amount. He's gonna
shoot fifty forty ninety most likely or somewhere close to it.
We know what he's capable of, what he's gonna do.
And when they need shots, when they need playmaking, they
have that. And I think what Kevin Durant loved the
most about the Rockets is that they have these young
athletic guys that are You have the Tarry Eastons, Jabbari
Smid's the world reed Shepherd who didn't play much last
(16:04):
year could get an opportunity. Now moving forward, you have
a men Thompson, you have Alpern saying doing he's excited.
My understanding is to go and play with this young,
energetic team, but he can kind of be the.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Old head and just slide in there and do his thing.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
And you know very well, ema Udoka is a large
presence in Houston, and he's a large presence around the NBA,
and that's someone Kevin Durant has a lot of respect for.
They cross pads in Brooklyn, cross Pats and Team USA,
and that relationship I think will pay dividends for the
Rockets as well.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
What about the noise people are making about Phoenix that
Dylan Brooks and Devin book is one thing, but that
Jalen Green in all likelihood isn't going to stay there
because that's not the ideal match with him and Devin
book and the Phoenix Suns haven't said that. I'm not
implying that. I'm just saying fans out there that have
been talking about rumors and stuff like that have brought
(16:53):
that question mark up.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Have you heard.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Anything about that being a legitimate question mark as to
whether or not Jalen Green will stay in Phoenix because
of his pairing with Booker and how that might not
be ideal.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
On these two sides.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
We're discussing the framework, and it really got down the
line middle of last week and then over the last
twenty four hours Friday, Saturday into Sunday when it just
became Miami and Houston kind of going back and forth,
competing against.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Each other to an extent. But that was the question,
the Jalen Green fit.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
And on paper, you have Jalen Green, you have Bradley Beal,
and you have Devin Booker, and there were questions, natural questions,
but I think at this point, you make this trade,
and the Sons are making this trade with Jalen Green
in mind.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
For next season.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
They're making it with him and Devin Booker as a
high powered backward.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You still have Bradley.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Beal, though, and he's got two years upwards of one hundred,
one hundred and ten million dollars left on his contract,
so they internally need to figure out how that will
play out with Bradley Beal. Is there a bench role
for Bradley Beal? Is there a starting role for him?
Do you play those three guys together? That's question for
all of them. Josh barsetens CEO, Brian Gregory, their general manager,
(17:59):
Jordan not head coaches.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
That's what they've got to figure out the next couple.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Of weeks Sean's I've heard that they're so disgusted with
Bradley Beal they couldn't give him away fast enough. You know,
he obviously is one of only two players in the
NBA that has a no trade clause, otherwise they would
have been got rid of him. And then you're hearing
that Matt Ishbia, the owner for the Phoenix Sons, is
literally strongly contemplating sitting him down, whether it be letting
(18:24):
him stay at home or do something to force him
to get the hell up out of Phoenix.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
What if you heard about Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Sons.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
I think going into this summer that those of those
sides were going to have conversations about his future because
clearly last last season they included him in plenty of
trade talks around the league.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
They were trying to.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Figure out, is their Bradley Beal home to get Jimmy Butler.
That was their goal, is to go get Jimmy Butler
in a three four team trade that sends him to
Phoenix because they felt they needed that alpha personality that
now they kind of look at Diylan Brooks as similar.
He's an alpha guy now, Jimmy Butlerlan Brooks all NBA
All Star Player, Jimmy Butler. Dylan Brooks obviously has done
(19:05):
a lot of good things in the league, but Jimmy
Butler is a star. But they are excited about Dylan Brooks.
But yeah, I mean, there's no question that'll be a
conversation the Sons are going to have to have with
Bradley Beal what's the fit there. He's going to probably
want to have that conversation as well to figure out
just exactly where he's at with that situation.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
But there's no doubts Steven, there were a lot of conversations.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
When if you're Brad you're listening to all these conversations
and you're the one with the not trade clause, I
do wonder how he feels.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
So we go back to the state of Texas with
the Dallas Mavericks have extended Daniel Gafford their big man there,
which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
But I'm also hearing some noise that Kyrie Irvin is
not happy because the Dallas Mavericks obviously have talked to
him about extending him, but the.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Offer is as exorbitant as he would like what.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
If anything at all are you hearing about Kyrie Irving
and the Dallas Mavericks at this particular moment in time.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
So right now it's nine, it's one twenty East Coast time.
He's got a player option that he's got to decide
on by the end of the day for forty three
million dollars. And so the sides, like you said, they've
been discussing what does it look like if there's an
opt out and then a new extension, a two to
three year framework deal, what.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Does that look like.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
And if there's no deal that happens between now and
that opt out deadline opt in deadline, it'll be because
Kyrie Irving feels whatever the MAVs have offered is well
below his market value in his mind from my understanding,
and they have made offers as of this moment.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Again, things can change. We're still hours away from that deadline.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
But as as it stands right now, all the Mavericks
offers have been below that forty million dollars per year threshold.
They have not gotten to forty million dollars per year.
He's at forty three on his player option.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
So if you're Kyrie.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Irving and they're coming in well below that forty three
million dollar mark. And if he decides to just opt
in and play out the year, he would then be
slated for pre agency in.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Twenty twenty six. So this is a massive question right
now in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Steven A, this is something you know, I'm tracking pretty
heavy right now.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
But there's no doubt.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
If there is no deal today, it's because if there's
no long term deal, it's because Kyrie Irving has deemed
that they had just offered well below market value.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Well, clearly they were going to do that.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I know they were going to do that the second
he went down with his ACL injury.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
There was no doubt about that. But I will say
this to add this.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
When he before he had that torn ACL, I'm talking
to teams around the league, and the consensus was was
that he was going to be in line for a
contract in the range of fifty to sixty million dollars
year on a three or four year deal.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
That's what he was on track for.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
That's what his numbers justified, That's what his leadership, everything
he's brought to Dallas justified. But then he has a
torn ACL, and clearly in the Mavericks eye. So far
in these conversations, the value has not gotten back to
that point.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Well, I think what he was targeted for he was
absolutely justified. I think he's been outstanding in Dallas. He's
been out of a standing leader as well. Players throughout the
league love him. He's not a cancer or considered a
cancerous effecting side of a locker room. They don't believe
that at all, So I definitely believe he deserves his
money in that regard. Also, the biggest argument for him
Sean should be, you wouldn't have let go of Luka
(22:19):
if you didn't know you had me.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
There's nowhere on.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Earth you would have let go of Luka Doncic if
you know you had me. So that's a story for
another day. Just a couple more questions because I know
you got a busy schedule and I really really.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Appreciate your time looking at it.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
You know, I'm not gonna let you get out of
here without asking about my New York Nicks.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
What the hell is going on?
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I mean all of these coaches they're asking about, I
mean everybody.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
It seems like they've asked for permission to talk to every.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Damn body, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks obviously
email you Doka before he got his extension.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Even Quinn Snyder, I'm losing it.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
So Billy Donovan email Udoka, Quinn Snyder, Chris Spinch, Jason
Kidd all for five.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Their request permission on all five of those coaches. Some
of them are gonna end up with contract extensions. And
I will say a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I put out Ema Yudoka's deal and he signed a
very big contract extension.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
He's got an eight figure deal annually.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Obviously well deserved there. That was in the works well
before the Knicks reached out. That's why when the Knicks
reached out, it's like everyone in the league knew Ema.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Udoka was gonna get the bag.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
So that's, you know, it's kind of surprising that way,
very unorthodox. I have never seen them. I've never seen
an NBA team operate like this. But again, they felt
like they had to do their due deal. Just let's
see who's out there, Let's see who we could potentially
slither our way in their homes to see if we
can talk them into coming to the Knicks. So now
where it's at is they interviewed Taylor Jenkins and Mike
(23:42):
Brown last week. I'm told they interviewed mikeah Nor, the
Minnesota Timbers lead assistant this week, and Mike and Nory
served as an essentially an acting head coach for Timbers
last year in the playoffs. A lot of people think
he's he's destined to be a head coach at.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Some point in the league.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
So this is not a no name or guy in
the NBA. But again, you just fire Tom thibde Oh,
a guy that led you to the conference finals for
the first time in twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
He's his big name of an NBA coach. As you're
gonna get.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
And you're looking, you know, these are the these are
the options. They're still knock on any of these three.
Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown very very well regarded in NBA circles,
Mike and Norriy very well regarded to NBA circles. But
we're at the NBA Draft week and there's still no
head coach. I think the way they're operating right now
is they're going to be patient. Let's see what the
market is. We're not in any rush, Let's talk to
(24:28):
the candidates. I think there could be even more interviews
in the next few days.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
This makes it a mess as far as I'm server.
That's me talking, not you.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Last question this draft, this NBA Draft, it's all about
Cooper Flag and everybody else.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
We all know he's going to number one of the
Dallas Mavericks.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Is is there anything that we should be looking forward
to for this upcoming NBA draft outside of him?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Of course, there's a pooper Flag one, Dylan Harper.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
By all accounts, on my end, number two to the Spurs.
The Spurs feel like at six foot six is aim
what he brings on both ends of the floor, positionless
basketball as we saw in the NBA Finals with the
Thunder and the Pacers. That's in right now, and they
feel like, even though they have Stefan Castle and Darren Fox.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
He'll fit right in there.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
But the draft starts at three, four, five, and I
would say what people can prepare for. I think there's
gonna be a lot of movement this year in the draft.
I think there'll be picks flying across the board, could be,
you know, as early as the top six, could be
in the lottery.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I just I'm hearing so many.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Conversations that start really at pick three, four down, and
a lot of teams are telling me, even when we
get to the pick, we're not just making a selection.
We're listening to a bunch of teams making calls. And
so I think that will be a theme of the
draft as well.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Any particular team in the draft we should be keeping
our eyes on more than anybody in terms of movement
in Utah.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Is interesting to me at five. Toronto's interesting to me
at nine. Oklahoma City's got a few picks in this draft.
What do they do with those picks? Brooklyn's got a
few picks in these drafts? What do they do there?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Their teams are gonna you know, those are particularly teams
that could even consolidate, look to potentially add all that
picks up, move up high in the draft.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
And then what does Philadelphia do with three?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
We know Daryl Morey's always gonna be opportunistic, but you
know the likelihood probably you keep that pick at three.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
You know your draft bj Edge come a Ace Bailey.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
So we'll see what they do at three and then
you depending on who falls. I think four or five
is just waiting to see which dominoes fall.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Does Philly surprise everyone?
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Take Ace Bailey and then that kind of will shake
up the draft. So I think there's a lot of
unanswered questions right now the inside.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
The extraordina himself Sean, I'm Sharania right here on the
Steven Aismith Shaw. Appreciate you, my brother man. Go back
to work, man. Thanksful taking the time out of your
busy schedule. Really appreciate it. And I'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I say, appreciate your the best.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I take it, no doubt that's the man, Seam Sharania.
He knows what the hell he's talking about. And you
heard what he said. He's keeping his eyes on the
Kyrie Irvin situation in Dallas and what that could materialize into.
Because you're I gotta remember something about Kyrie Irving. This
(27:02):
ain't the same dude that was making noise for all
the wrong reasons several years ago. He's been a model
citizen in Dallas. He's been a spectacular player. There are
times that he has led without Luka Doncic on the
floor and the Dallas Mavericks didn't miss a beat. Kyrie
is that spectacular of a talent, and by the way,
he's universally loved by players around the League. So this
notion of him being a cancerisk effect in the locker room,
(27:25):
nobody's believing that nonsense anymore.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
Make no mistake about that.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Of course, you knew that the Dallas Mavericks were going
to try to low ball him once he suffered the
ACL injury. But the bottom line, his injuries are a
part of the game, and you have to believe that
he's going to come back. And his game isn't predicated
on his athleticism, playing above the room and all of
that nasty ball handling skills and his ability to dance
on you that can easily return. And I suspected well,
(27:48):
and when you went out the way to acquire Anthony
Davis to unleash or let go of a luka doncik,
you don't let go of luka doncik if it was
not for you having Kyrie Irving, you let go up
Luka donci because you knew you had Kyrie Irvin, who,
by the way, is a champion. We keep forgetting that
the brother's a champion. You got a chip, got a ring,
and had a lot to do with Lebron James helping
Cleveland E race that curse from fifty two years because
(28:10):
this brother averaged twenty seven in that series. We keep
forgetting that stuff about Kyrie Irvings. So I think he
deserves his bag. And if Dallas doesn't, if they low
ball over whatever. Got to remember the way Kyrie's makeup
is all about. He's the kind of person they ain't
gonna forget it. And so if you low ball him,
it ain't like you can come back and play links
at a later date. If you don't treat him right
(28:31):
up front, He's gonna have a problem with that.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
That's just how he is.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
He's big enough to overcome it, but he's gonna have
a problem with it. Okay, So this is new ownership.
This is not Mark Cuban. Chances are is not Nico
Harrison because if it were up to Nico, Nico got
a lot of love for Kyrie, long standing relationship.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Ones gotta believe that's real. Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
In terms of Phoenix, they had to make the deal
for Kevin Durant because you had to make it before
the tray, before the draft.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
You got two starters.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
You got a young cat and Jalen Green, who are
I was not impressed with in the postseason, But overall
he is impressive and he's only twenty two years of age.
Is upside as tremendous. He just has to get some discipline,
so we got to know that about him. When you
look at Dylan Brooks, he's a rough rider and Devin
Booker needs somebody like that as a teammate and instigator,
a troublemaker, etc. And you got five second round picks,
(29:19):
so you were cooping some of the assets that you
gave away in acquiring Kevin Durant from Brooklyn years ago.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Not all of those assets, but some of them. And
who knows if.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
You'll be able to pull off get rid of Bradley Beal,
which Phoenix clearly wants to do. As it pertains to Giannis,
there's no indication that he wants to leave, but shitn't he.
Where's Milwaukee going? They don't have their own first round
picks for the next five years. They're limited in what
they can do. And Damian Lila is a huge question mark.
In all likelihood he'll miss next season because of the
torn achilles. Yeah, technology says you could come back soited
(29:50):
than that, but when is he going to return to
being Dame Dollar. Chances are it's not going to be
until the season after next due to health.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
So I'm just of that mindset.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
I just don't know if you're Yianni said, you want
to stick around for that. The Knicks this haphazard. They
need to coach. They should have had a plan. This
has James Dolan written all over it. I thought it
was just Leon Rose, but this has James Dolan written
all over it. Because how the hell are you push
Tom Thibodeaux out doing you don't have a damn plan.
It's ridiculous. So that's where I'm at with it. That's
(30:21):
how I feel about it, no doubt. So we'll see
where that goes from there. Boston just a damn shame.
I expect them to be formidable if kristaphs Porziggis was healthy,
with the rest of the team that they have in place,
I expect Boston to be able to make some noise.
The problem is it's not just Jason Tatum being out
with the achilles tear for the whole season, as is
(30:42):
anticipated next season. The problem is you don't know what
the hell is up with kristaves Porziggis because he doesn't
know what the hell is up with him in his health.
So there's a lot of question marks. Meanwhile, Houston's on
the rise. Houston's on the rise, Orlando getting Desmond Baine.
You got to pay attention to them. Cleveland trying to
resurrect themselves and make up for the doldrums they experienced
(31:03):
in the postseason. Can't dismiss them. Dallas eventually is gonna
get back healthy. Luca might be in shape when this
season starts for him and Lebron and the Lakers. Okay,
san Antonio went biyanna, what if san Antonio Spurs gett.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
An additional asset.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
I mean, there's a lot of stuff going on, and
I can't wait because I think we're gonna find out
a lot at the NBA Drafts. I think a lot
of moves are gonna be made, at least a few.
I really really think that's gonna happen. We shall see,
We shall see. That's it for this edition of The
Stephen A. Smith Show. I just wanted to give you
a special off day edition. Obviously, I'm traveling. I'm doing
(31:42):
a lot of stuff, you know, as we prepare for
the NBA Drafts. Had a long NBA season, was on
the road for the last two months, covering Minnesota and
ok Seed and ok See and ND going back and
forth between Minnesota and OKAC and New York and I mean,
it's been real, real hectic. And the culmination is tomorrow
Knight's NBA Draft. That's what we're gonna do. So I
(32:03):
can't wait to get that over with to see what happens.
I mean, Cooper Flags going number one overall. Okay, we
know pretty much who the first and the second picks
are going to be in the NBA Draft. After that
is a crapshoot. Gonna be really interesting to see what
the Sixers do with a third overall pick. Can Joel
and Bed and Paul George gets some help other than
Tyreez Maxie Really? Can Tyreese Maxi get the help? But
can they get some help? Can I can want? You
(32:24):
know what, I'd give up the number three overall pick
for an elite orthopedic surgeon that could heal and Bed
and Paul George.
Speaker 4 (32:31):
I'll tell you that much. I do that, but that's
just wish for thinking.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Either way you slice it, I'll holler let you in
the next couple of days.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
It's a stephen A. Smith show.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I'm signing off after giving you this quick one, but
i'll be back with more in a couple of days.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Don't worry about it. I'm not going away. Talk to
you later. Peace of love.
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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