July 2, 2024 • 39 mins
It’s Chris Haynes and Marc Stein bringing you an all-new #thisleague UNCUT as the free agency frenzy in the NBA has begun! They discuss Paul George opting to leave the Clippers for the 76ers and the new power structure of the Eastern Conference and Klay Thompson’s shocking decision to leave the Warriors after 13 seasons and 4 championships to team up with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic on the Mavericks.
Follow, rate and review #thisleague UNCUT with Chris Haynes & Marc Stein here!
https://link.chtbl.com/thisleagueuncut
#fsr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this League Uncut. In the rule of twenty
four hour NBA.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
News misters, you, Chris Haines, it's time, work's time, it's
some time.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This League Uncut is underway, and on five this should
be a good one. Paul George is a Philadelphia seventy
six er. Clay Thompson is a Dallas Maverick. Chris Paul
is a San Antonio spur Russell Westbrook might he become
(00:39):
a member of the Denver Nuggets. The Boston Celtics have
re signed Derek White and Jason Tatum to a three
hundred and fifteen million dollar deal, the richest in NBA history,
and the Celtics have put the team up for sale
just days after winning title number eighteen. I have barely
touched on I've barely scratched the surface of all the
(01:03):
things we are going to try to talk about in
this edition of this League Uncut. Grateful now to connect
to my pal in Atlanta. He has been basically on
twenty four to seven free agent duty for NBA TV,
But I found him in Atlanta. Now, not gonna tell
you how he's attired, but we got him. Chris Haynes.
(01:28):
Great to see you, my friends NBA free Agency. There
is we got to there's nothing like we gotta.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Clear this up style. You're not gonna put me out
here as if I'm doing this podcast in the nude.
I just got done working out. I was on the peloton,
and so I didn't have time to shower because NBA
TV is picking me up tonight, like in fifty minutes
to go do to go do some more TV shows tonight.
(01:53):
So that is why I am in a tank top
and shorts. I just want to put that.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Pretty sure, I said, I'm pretty sure I said what
you're wearing. I don't think I suggested that you came
to this podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Well, the way you said it, what you're wearing could
be as sinuated as I'm not wearing much at all
of anything. So I just want to put the get
the record straight.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
That's all all right, Let's get to the news man,
because it has been Look, it's been crazy, I know,
the start of free agency. It's so funny because every
year we get thirty deals in the first thirty minutes
and everyone is screaming tampering, tampering, tampering, tampering, and then
(02:36):
this year, a combination of a I do think teams
are trying to be a little bit more mindful about
the rules to avoid winding up in an NBA investigation.
But beyond that, remember this was the first off season
in the league's new collective barneying agreement that teams could
(02:57):
negotiate with their own free agents the day after the Finals,
So we did see some deals before the buzzer sounded
on free agency officially. So I think that's why the
first hours, the first hour of free agency on Sunday night,
no free agent change teams. But now we have seen
quite a bit of action. I reeled through a lot
(03:18):
of it off the top, but I mean, I think
this will not be a forgotten summer. When you talk
about Paul George leaving the Clippers to go to the Sixers,
Klay Thompson basically forcing a sign in trade to the
Dallas Mavericks Chris Paul, now is a spur you know
there and there will be you know, there is still
(03:40):
a lot of potential trade action. So there's it has
been a pretty wild, I would say, a pretty wild
start to free agency.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I remember a couple of weeks ago, when we were
doing this podcast, I talked about the forecast of this
free agency, and I said, I think it's going to
be like I think it. I think the forecast is
showing sprinkles. I think that's the way I say it.
I think it's gonna be showers of sprinkles. Nah, that's
(04:11):
that's not what has happened thus far. It's really been.
It's really been a significant free agency thus far. And
I'm sorry, guys, if you hear my phone going off
in the background, I gotta keep this thing on. I'm
pretty sure we're gonna probably hear that with Stein as well.
I want to. I don't want to miss anything.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
But I don't have a great bell though. When I
get a text like you do, I don't even I
don't even know how to set that up.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So how do you know you're getting you gotta vibrates?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, just yeah, just just a normal buzz. But man,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Maybe I need maybe I don't. I don't trust the
vibration because if it's not, if it's not on my body,
I don't know if I would hear it or not.
So you'll hear it. You're here a Dane. So that's that.
But nah, sign this has been. It's been an eventful
free agency. So let's let's let's get to it. Let's
break them down.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, look, Paul George obviously leaving the Clippers to go
to the Sixers. I mean, that is the headline. He
is a true difference maker. And look, I haven't even
mentioned DeMar DeRozan, who is still out there and could
possibly change teams. But Paul George, we knew the Sixers
were going to want to make a play for him,
(05:17):
and we've talked about it a ton how the Clippers
just would not move past an offer of three years.
They actually came out and explained even before free agency started.
After the draft, Lawrence Frank held a press conference and
basically kind of spelled out that there were going to
(05:39):
be limits in the talks with Paul George. But very
early in free agency, the Clippers released a statement basically
citing the CBA multiple times and saying, we know Paul
is going somewhere else, we have to do things differently here.
And it basically came down to the Philadelphia seventy six
Ers incredibly motivated, you know, Darryl Moore said after the draft,
(06:01):
We're gonna be one of the best teams in the
East next season. And that's not just a statement you
can throw out there with the moves that the Knicks
have made with the team that Boston has assembled to
just win the championship, but everything that the Sixers have
done here. They've signed Paul George, They've brought guys like
(06:23):
Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon in on minimums. They've re signed,
they've got agreement. Of course, all these are agreements. Nobody
has officially signed, no one can officially sign until July sixth,
but they've got agreements with Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, Kelly
Oubres coming back, and they've got George. Now they've got
Tyree Maxi. They used all the cap space, so they
(06:44):
gave Tyree Maxey his expected max deal. And now at
the top of the East, you just got Boston with
their very deep team, the Knicks who before the draft
made the trade for Michale Bridges, and now the Sixers
who have Tyrese Maxi and Paul George to flank a
(07:06):
very happy Joel Embiid.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Very happy understatement. When I didn't think it would get
to this point, Stein, I honestly did it, and I
knew because the first time I reported on the possibility
of Philadelphia being interested in pursuing Paul George. It was
at the trade deadline in February. That's when I was
hearing rumblings about Philly with their max slot, if the
(07:34):
Clippers didn't make things right with Paul George, that they
would go after them, and that Philly would be a
prime suspect. That was in February. You know, that was
a long time ago. So that just tells you how
long the Clippers have had to talk to speak with
Paul George and his agent Aaron Mince all this time,
(07:58):
back and forth, steal nothing, still unwilling to give to
give Paul George the fourth year, and Paul George in
this camp, still unwilling to not ask for the fourth year.
And so I didn't. I didn't think it would get
to this point. I really didn't. And going into that
into it down for next season, I kind of thought
(08:22):
the Clippers might be in a desperation mode and felt
like they had to acquiess to Paul George. But Starry,
I have a theory. Check this out. I don't know
if this is accurate or not. I don't have any
concrete evidence to suggest that this really happened. But remember
when Kawhi Leonard signed his extension back in January three years,
(08:43):
one hundred and fifty three mil. It was less than
Max took a pay cut, he didn't get the fourth year.
What if Kawhi asked for the fourth year back then
but they the Clippers refused to do so did the
Clippers do right? I'm asking I guess I'm asking for
(09:03):
your opinion. So, knowing that if that happened, could they
go to Paul George and give him four years? Will
everything be okay? Or did they have to hold their
ground and say, you know what, we didn't give this
to Kawhi back in January. We cannot give you the
fourth year. Paul. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I think that was the strategy they adopted in hopes
that Paul George would ultimately acquiesce and say, okay, I can't.
I know realistically, I'm not going to get more than Kawhi,
so I'll take basically the same deal he did. And
you know, again, the Clippers, the one thing you can say,
they've been very vocal and very open and very on
(09:45):
the record about the fact that they didn't think this
crazy high payroll that they've been carrying is sustainable anymore, because,
as Lawrence Frank himself put it, if money was no object,
he would have carte blanche, because that's the way Steve
Balmer has let him run the team. But carte blanche
doesn't matter anymore in the NBA because with the new
(10:07):
second apron it is so restrictive, and there are so
many ways that team building is curtailed. Once you go
into that second apron. It doesn't really matter what the
owner is willing to spend. If you can't aggregate salaries
and trades, and your draft picks are frozen, and you
(10:27):
can't use the buy out market, and all the restrictions
that I'm not even mentioning.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
So hold on style, hold on Stein. So I hear
you with all that, What I'm asking is if they
would acquiesce and gave Paul George that fourth year out
of desperation, would that have you think? Do you think
that would have caused problems with Kawhi if that was
something he asked for in January?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
You're only asking me to get into the head of
the most hard to read superstar of probably both your
career and mine. So I mean, I wouldn't think it
would go over great. But I would also say, like
I said, the Clippers have been so adamant, I don't
I just don't think they would have ever considered it.
(11:12):
And I think they proved it by the fact that
they let Paul George go for nothing, no compensation. Think
about we cannot forget how much they traded to get
this guy. And again, whenever you say that, you have
to remind people that the Clippers were not just getting
Paul George. By getting Paul George, they were guaranteed to
(11:36):
also get Kawhi Leonard, So they were really trading for
both of them, not just Paul George. But the basic math,
the way it's going to be recorded in the history
books is five firsts, two Pickswaps, and Shay Gildes, Alexander
all for Paul George to clinch the signing of Kawhi
(11:59):
Lennar and to now see Paul George go all the
way to the East Coast, which is something a lot
of us didn't think he would want to do, to
see him leave in this manner. To look at three
of the four California teams right now, the state of
the Clippers, the state of the Warriors losing Clay Thompson,
(12:20):
the state of the Lakers losing a free agent face
off with the Mavericks to get Clay Thompson. Is Sacramento
the only happy California team right now?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
You can make that.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
You could make that argument.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
But when was last time the Sacramental Keys were the
happiest team in California. I don't know that that's well, yeah,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
I think last season when they last season, when they
finally made the playoffs and ended a sixteen season playoff drought,
that was a pretty happy time.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, but you still can't consider them the happiest team
in California. The Lakers went to the Western Conference finals.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
And let's see if the Kings, let's see if they
can you know, they've been they've been looking around on
the trade front, so let's see if they you know,
they've been linked with Zach Lavine Kuzma. Again, do the
Kings make another move? But yeah, I mean, it's still
(13:19):
it's still quite shocking to just look at what's happening
two three fourths of the California teams and then just
like the top of the East next season.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
A sty on the Paul George front again, front again. Man.
We were having some communication right before free agency started,
and there were a few players that a few Clippers
players who were notified by Paul George that he was
indeed leaving. And at that time, that's when the narrative
was that Paul would meet with the Clippers, he would
(13:53):
meet with Orlando, and meet with Philly. When free agency began,
I was kind of suspect on Orlando because I knew
how much Orlando wanted KCP, like I knew they were
going to be hunting KCP. So and I was told
Orlando were looking for shorter deals. They weren't. They were
not necessarily trying to do four year deals. And so
(14:17):
that's what that what led me to believe that Philadelphia
would be the landing spot because if Paul George opted in,
I'm telling you right now, if he opted in to
his contract, he would have requested the trade that same
that that would have been the parameters opted in to
be traded. So you know, Philly, and you know, I
(14:39):
reported a couple hours before free agency free agency started
that you know, there was growing optimism that the Sixers
would land Paul George, and free agency and you know
it ended up being right. And when you look at
what Philly has done, how long they planned this attack
or this pursuit, they did it, they accomplished it. Have
(15:02):
a great team now. But again two of their three
main players have health injuries. I mean, excuse you have
health scares and they have a problem of being healthy.
So if they can stay healthy, that squad is a
legitimate championship contended team in Eastern Conference.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah. Look, they have not won anything yet. And as
we famously know about the Sixers, and we always bring
up this team has not been passed the second round
of the playoffs since two thousand and one, since the
Allen Iverson team that went to the NBA Finals. But
I mean Darryl Mory last summer they convinced Tyrese MAXI,
(15:43):
you gotta give us a year. We're gonna delay your extension.
You will be you know you're gonna get maxed. I
told you when I type MAXI into my BlackBerry, it's
this season auto correct was changing it to max My
auto correct news that MAXI was gonna get that five year,
two hundred and four million dollar, two hundred five million
(16:06):
dollar extension two hundred plus million, whatever it is exactly,
but they had to convince Maxi to wait. Maxi had
a cap hold of just thirteen million, and with all
that salary cap space, the Sixers were able to get
Paul George bring back Oubray. They've still got guys, They've
(16:27):
still got spots to fill on the roster, but they've
got Drummond and Gordon on a minimum. I mean, they
are putting together a team. And look, since you were
so kind enough to put me on the spot and
ask me to read Kawai's mind, which you asked that
question knowing that I can't answer it, knowing that I
have no shot to answer it. So I'm gonna ask
you now, who is the favorite to win the East?
(16:49):
Is it the Celtics who've just resigned? I should rephrase that,
who have just come to verbal agreements on new deals
with Jason Tatum and Derek White. And props to you
for breaking Jason Tatum's three hundred and fifteen million dollar
contract extension. Again, it will be the richest deal in
league history, at least until next summer when Luka Doncic
(17:12):
is up for his three hundred and fifty million ish deal.
But who's the favorite in the East is that the
defending champions. Is it the New Sixers with Embiid and
Maxi and PG thirteen or what about the Knicks who've
made this trade for Michale Bridges. Yes, they lost Isaiah
(17:33):
Hartenstein to Oklahoma City, and that's a story in itself
because the Thunder are not known for splashing the cash
on external free agents. That's the most that the Thunder
have ever spent on a free agent who wasn't their
own to do a three year deal worth nearly ninety
million with Hartenstein. But there it is. You tell me
(17:55):
who's favored to come out of the East next season.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Well, style, you can't disrespect the champs. You cannot do that.
And you know, I've spoken to a few Celtics players
since they won the championship and they felt like they
would have been more dominant had they had Chris Stops
healthy for the playoffs, because we know they pretty much
ran through the NBA during the regular season. Then they
had the health scare with Chris STAPs during the postseason.
(18:19):
Kris STAPs was never able to gain form, didn't have
really real time the game for him. You see, he
had offseason surgery soon after. So they still believe that
their best basketball is yet to come. And you know
how teams are after they win a championship, they just
they get that confidence, they get that swag about them.
So I'm still going with Boston. I like what Philly
(18:40):
has done again. If they're healthy, they should be cool.
But stide. I love I know they lost Isaiah, but
I love what the Knicks are doing. Love what the
Knicks are doing. They got that Villanova squad back together.
Those guys are they got they have confidence, Like I
New York is a scary squad. Also, the Milwaukee Bucks,
(19:04):
you cannot dismiss them, Dame will Be.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I was gonna ask you about the Bucks. You don't
think they're I mean, they've got to be worried seeing
all this crazy action now because the West was so
much better than the East.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, they were, and then you know they're losing their
starting shooting guard, Belie Beasley. I doubt that they I
doubt that the Bucks resigned Patrick Beverley. Well, I think
that's a fourgone conclusion now that they just agreed to
turns with the line, right, So, and that's a good
that's a great addition. The line leaves Miami one of
(19:36):
the best backup point guards we have in this league.
But they still need some they still need more work,
they still need some more addition. They're just they're due
to cap restraints. There's not much they can do unless
they're looking at some major, major trades. I should say,
But yeah, Milwaukee's in there, But I still put Boston
(19:57):
as the favorites.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Well, yeah, I don't think the Bucks are done. Question
will just be how much with the Bucks, with the
state of the Bucks trade assets, how dramatically can they
change their team to You know, we keep hearing these
rumbles that Doc Rivers would like to see some changes
to the supporting cast for Jannas Antitokumpo and Damian Lillard.
(20:18):
How drastic will those changes be? How drastic do those
changes have to be to get the Bucks in the
zip code of the Celtics and the Knicks and the Sixers.
I think you're right. I think you still have to
you have to favor Boston. They deserve that much after
winning it all and basically they've still got all their
main guys coming back. Yeah, I mean it's going to
(20:42):
be It's going to be really fascinating. Now just to
see who wins the East, who comes out of the East,
what the second round playoff matchups will be in the East,
because there's so much firepower now at the top, but
then the West. You know, it's interesting because well we
(21:02):
got to talk about Clay Thompson to the Mavericks leaving
Golden State. I mean, this story has been pretty much
all I've been wrapped up in since last Friday. And look,
I've been expecting it since last Friday. But even as
(21:26):
I say that, as we're talking here on Monday night,
and now that it's done, the Warriors, just before you
and I started recording, the Warriors came out with a
long tribute statement to Clay Thompson in which they noted that,
of course, his number eleven will someday be hoisted to
the rafters of Chase Center. Even though this thing is
(21:48):
now done and official and Clay is a Maverick, I'm
still struggling to believe it.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Man.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, you know me, I am an absolute sap. I
am a basketball romantic. My last three years at ESPN,
and the first year of our friendship was the last
of those three years when you and I got to
work together. My last three years at ESPN, I was
embedded with these guys. It was the first three years
of five straight trips to the Finals, and I just
(22:18):
I thought they would finish their careers together. I cannot
believe that Stephen Curry and Clay Thompson and Draymond Green,
they're not a trio anymore. It's gonna take some serious
getting used to.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Yeah, it is. I can't believe. I'm happy for you. You
get Clay now, that's your guy. You get Clay over
in your backyard, and so I'm excited for Clay. I know,
you know, I was told that he was seeking a
fresh start. He wanted to get away. I know the Lakers,
and during free agency they felt like, last minute, they
(22:53):
felt like they had a shot. I know Lakers, they
were offering a four year deal around the twenty million
annually ranged Uh. They thought they thought they had something.
And Klay Thompson stuck to his guns because initially, I
know you were hearing the same thing that Mavericks were
the team and the league for his services. So he
(23:16):
stayed true to that three year deal, sign and trade.
It was a little strange, stun a little strange because
you know, once the agreement was announced. You know, the
Warriors were like, hold on here, hold on, we didn't
agree to anything here. There's not a deal close because
obviously it would take a sign in trade for Clay
to get that number. But a couple hours later, the
(23:41):
whole sign and trade was complete. The Words got two
second round picks. Green goes to Charlotte, and so the
deal was, the deal was ratified. So yeah, still it's
gonna it's gonna be surreal for sure until you actually
see him in the we're in the Dallas Maverick uniform.
But yeah, definitely some some surprises early in this free
(24:03):
agency period.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Well, look, you said it, this was Clay's choice, and
the Warriors did offer him a two year extension in
the fifty million range before last season. He turned it down.
He felt like that was a sign of disrespect because
it was basically half the size of the deal that
Draymond Green got just a couple months earlier to re sign,
(24:27):
and he decided to bet on himself. Last season was
a rough one in the Bay, not just for Clay,
for the Warriors as a franchise, as a team. I mean,
it was just lots of chaos and ups and downs,
and of course they lose the playing game to Sacramento,
don't even reach the playoffs, and the Warriors made the
(24:48):
decision that they were going to prioritize the trade chase
for Paul George before and after the draft. Few days
before the draft, few days after the draft. That was
Golden State's leading into free agency, not hashing out a
deal with Klay Thompson. And that was pretty much it.
But you know, I was stubborn. I didn't want to
(25:08):
believe it. The signals really were there all season, and
I just I didn't want to buy into the notion
that we would not get the storybook ending with the Warriors.
But you said it. I think Clay does want a
fresh start, and I think the real reason that Dallas
(25:29):
appeals to him is because he's going to stay in
the West. He's going to take the Warriors on head on.
He wants to show them that he can still be
a difference maker and a key cog on a playoff team.
And I know in Dallas, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
are thrilled to know that Clay Thompson is on the
(25:50):
way to Dallas. And a lot was made about Lebron
James recruiting Klay Thompson. Well, Kyrie Irving played on two
national teams with Clay Thompson. I covered them both, twenty
fourteen World Cup team in Spain, twenty sixteen Olympic team
in Brazil. So the Mavericks also had a marquee recruiter
(26:16):
to help in their efforts, and they convince Clay that
this is the place he should be. And again, I
still can't believe it even as I say all this stuff.
And part of that also is I mean, you know,
I've lived in Dallas for basically the last twenty five
plus years I've covered this team. The Mavericks free agent
(26:36):
history is tortured. They never get their guy in free agency.
So even though this is Clay at thirty four and
not Clay at his splash brother's peak, for the Mavericks
to win a free agent faceoff against Lebron and the Lakers,
as you can imagine, there are a lot of happy
(26:58):
people in Dallas right now.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
When we when we get time our next episode or
maybe the episode after that, we need an oral breakdown
from you on what it was like covering that DeAndre
Jordan free agency where he was basically held captive. I
don't think I've ever talked to you about that, so
I would love to hear you praspect.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
I mean, look, that was I mean, it's funny, you know,
there was It's interesting, there was you know, there was talk. God,
I hope I'm not revealing too many secrets here. This
is this is actually now you tricked me into. This
is a Chris Haynes.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Okay, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
So you know, JJ Reddick had his production company, you know,
before he became the Laker coach. You know, for most
of this season, JJ Reddick was merely a podcaster and
broadcaster and a member of the media. He wasn't the
coach of the La Lakers. There were some pretty strong
rumblings that JJ's production company had interest in exploring some
(28:03):
sort of documentary on that whole DeAndre Jordan free Agent summer,
which if you go back and find the tweets you
can find that I was. I was covering that thing
from start to finish. When the Dallas Mavericks had a
verbal commitment, they thought they had won the DeAndre Jordan
(28:27):
free Agent sweep Steaks, only for DeAndre to change his
mind and return to the Clippers, and that was one
of the greatest and most unforgettable nights in NBA Twitter history.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
I don't and I don't. I don't be to laugh.
That's my guy. But I remember by guys tweet Chris
Bruss tweet the Mark Cuba. It was something like Mark
Suban is like drive the routeel looking for I forgot
(29:01):
the It's rama aimlessly around tale looking for the George.
I wasn't a national guy. I was a national reporter
at the time, so I wasn't I wasn't in on
that hut. So I was just watching from Afar. But uh,
that whole fiasco, man was It was definitely irritator.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
I will refrain from comment, but let's just say, yeah,
that was an absolute circus. But you know what the
truth is, I'm so damn old. I gotta go I
really gotta go back and look it all up myself
to remember everything, because I, like I just some things
I don't remember as well as I used to. And
(29:44):
that like I certainly remember putting out that first tweet
that you know, the Clippers are making moves to try
to get DeAndre back, and that just led to a
day of wow, wow was awesome.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Yeah, but that would be that would be a great documentary.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Yeah, maybe that's an off season version of Look, producer
Ryan's right in that one. He's like, in August, we
need to we need to do an off season version.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Let's uncut.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
But look, we haven't gotten nearly as deep into some
of this stuff as I was hoping. But I mean
I've explained what, you know, the Mavericks, what the Mavericks
are hoping. I mean, the Mavericks needed to They desperately
needed to add outside shooting. They obviously believe they've done
that by completing this sign and trade for Klay Thompson.
They signed Naji Marshall to replace Derek Jones Junior, who's
(30:45):
now parted the Clippers post George squad. The Clippers moves
to follow the departure of Paul George those a bit interesting.
Nicola Batoom back to the Clippers. Chris Dunne, as first
reported by Chris Haynes earlier Monday, He's going to the Clippers.
Dereck Jones Junior going to the Clippers. So they're definitely
(31:10):
taking an interesting approach to trying to fill the Paul
George Voyd. But naturally, lots of attention in the league.
Will now pivot to how does Golden State respond to
losing Clay? What does Steph Curry think about that? I
think we all are very interested to hear what Steph
will say about the situation, and frankly even what Clay
(31:33):
says in his first statements about switching teams and then
the Lakers. The Lakers tried to get in the mix
for Clay Thompson. They couldn't woo him. They couldn't convince
him to spurn Dallas and stay in LA which look
a lot. You know, the Mavericks were very The Mavericks
(31:57):
were very wary and very nervous about the Lakers entering
that race with not just Lebron as lead recruiter, but
of course Clay's father, Michael Thompson, the legendary Michael Thompson
still calls Laker games on radio. Of course, he played
for the Lakers, was part of title winning teams with
the Lakers, and Clay grew up a Laker fan. Clay great.
(32:19):
You know, when I see Clay is the OC goat,
that is what I call him. He is the best
player Orange County, where I went to high school as well.
By far the best player ever produced among Orange County
high schools, and so I'm sure the chance to go
(32:42):
to the Lakers it had to entice him on a
lot of levels. But now, of course, the question is
how will the Lakers respond DeMar DeRozan. I know you've
done some reporting on that. How realistic is it that
the Lakers could do a deal with DeMar Derozen, because
we know the Bulls. The Bulls are very open to
trading zach Lavine, but it's been chilly, to say the least.
(33:07):
When we talk about negotiations between DeMar Derozen and the
Bulls on a new deal, the Bulls clearly appear like
they're going young Chili.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
I would I would consider it frozen.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Yeah, I think I would.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Consider it frozen Antarctica, you know, so, I remember, I
remember a couple of years ago, Damar he was he
was led to believe that he was going to be
a Laker before he signed his deal with Chicago Bulls.
Something happened last minute. Damar is always kind of whenever
he's talked about it, he never gives too many details,
(33:44):
but he gives you enough to let you know that
something went down that he didn't appreciate. Uh, there's still
as a right now as we record this, there's still
nothing going on. Damars kind of in limbo right now
because Chicago they wanted they they're trying to move off
of Zach Levine's deal. And I said, I said some
(34:05):
things on there. I don't know if it was on
TV or on my Bleacher Report live stream. I said,
the Bulls are trying to move Levine and Lonzo Ball.
I stand corrected. You know, right now, it's the priorities
trying to move Levine, not Lonzo Ball. But that's where
the Bulls have stayed. That was there, that's been their
(34:26):
stance for a month over a month already, is that
they want to move Levine and then if Damar is
still available, they will, you know, shift focus to him
to see if there's something that can be done. But
the Damar DeRozan tenure in Chicago is over, so we
all know the cap space is very limited out there now,
(34:46):
and so it makes it tough. So a team is
going to have to get really creative if they want
to try to offer Levine, I mean, excuse, offer Derozen
something more than the the mid level exception. So you know,
with a sign and trade, you can get a three
year deal. I know DeRozan will probably be amenable to
(35:09):
taking on a one year deal. So the money, I
just don't see him taking a full the full mid
level exception, which is at thirteen meal. I don't see
him doing that right now. So teams are going to
have to get creative.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
All right. Look, I know you've got a flight to
catch to get back to the West Coast. Like I said,
this is the first time that things have slowed down enough.
I mean it has been since going back to last
week before the draft, since the draft, this has really
been the first lull where you and I could get
together and try to spend an hour to do a
(35:48):
pod because we've both been going NonStop chasing all kinds
of stuff. And look, there is still plenty more to go. Again,
tomar DeRozan, where does he go? Warriors? What move do
they make? Lakers? What move is next for them? Trades?
We've still got to keep our eye on trade possibilities
(36:09):
because again the Jazz, we know the price tag is
going to be high, but their phone keeps ringing. Teams
like the Warriors and the Spurs, they're checking in on
lowry market in to test Utah's resolve. Brandon Ingram. I
still believe he is going to be moved. I can't
tell you exactly when or exactly where, but I still
(36:31):
believe that the Pelicans move brandon Ingram again. DeMar DeRozan
is most likely going to need a sign and trade
to get to his next destination because, as Chris just said,
cap space is scarce. But don't forget that he was
in the same position a few summers ago and that
sign and trade to Chicago. Suddenly he was a bull
(36:55):
when it looked like the market was close on him.
So let's see, let's see, there's a lot more stuff
to Stein.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
We got to keep an eye out for the Los
Angeles Clippers. They are not done, and I'm talking about
a trade, maybe trades. We know Russell Westbrook. They're trying
to move Russ. They are working with him and his
representation to try to find the best home that's going
to fit both sides. So keep an eye out for
(37:25):
the Clippers and what they do. And you know we
didn't talk about Chris Paul Stein, Chris Paul moving over
to to San Antonio. You you called it Stein, you
were on top of that. From day one, you were
on top of lot.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
I need to give a shout out. I need to
give a shout out here to a Twitter before we go.
Last thing. There's a Twitter account called F five season.
I didn't even remember this, but F five season is
keeping track of all kinds of reports, and they found
that I reported San Antonio's interest in Chris Paul on
(38:01):
April twentieth.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
So thank you F five season for that coverage, because
you know, like I said, my man, my memory, my
memory is fading faster than I can keep up with it.
All right, that's gonna do it for this edition of
this league uncut Mark Stein with Chris Haynes. We will
get together again this week when we get our next
(38:26):
free agent lull. We got to work in July fourth
as well, but we will get together for one more
pod to talk about everything that has happened, everything else
that we can forecast about what might happen next. Still
lots of the NBA offseason, a common of course, Olympic qualifiers,
(38:47):
Summer League, the Olympics themselves. There will be no letup.
This is going to be a NonStop July. Remember, as always,
follow the show rate the show review the show. We
would love a five star review. Stay tuned, Chris and
I will be back with you again, very very soon,
(39:09):
and that'll do it for us. See you next time.
This league uncuta is and iHeartRadio production lock Chris Hanes
and Mark Stein
Welcome to this League Uncut. In the rule of twenty
four hour NBA.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
News misters, you, Chris Haines, it's time, work's time, it's
some time.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This League Uncut is underway, and on five this should
be a good one. Paul George is a Philadelphia seventy
six er. Clay Thompson is a Dallas Maverick. Chris Paul
is a San Antonio spur Russell Westbrook might he become
(00:39):
a member of the Denver Nuggets. The Boston Celtics have
re signed Derek White and Jason Tatum to a three
hundred and fifteen million dollar deal, the richest in NBA history,
and the Celtics have put the team up for sale
just days after winning title number eighteen. I have barely
touched on I've barely scratched the surface of all the
(01:03):
things we are going to try to talk about in
this edition of this League Uncut. Grateful now to connect
to my pal in Atlanta. He has been basically on
twenty four to seven free agent duty for NBA TV,
But I found him in Atlanta. Now, not gonna tell
you how he's attired, but we got him. Chris Haynes.
(01:28):
Great to see you, my friends NBA free Agency. There
is we got to there's nothing like we gotta.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Clear this up style. You're not gonna put me out
here as if I'm doing this podcast in the nude.
I just got done working out. I was on the peloton,
and so I didn't have time to shower because NBA
TV is picking me up tonight, like in fifty minutes
to go do to go do some more TV shows tonight.
(01:53):
So that is why I am in a tank top
and shorts. I just want to put that.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Pretty sure, I said, I'm pretty sure I said what
you're wearing. I don't think I suggested that you came
to this podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Well, the way you said it, what you're wearing could
be as sinuated as I'm not wearing much at all
of anything. So I just want to put the get
the record straight.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
That's all all right, Let's get to the news man,
because it has been Look, it's been crazy, I know,
the start of free agency. It's so funny because every
year we get thirty deals in the first thirty minutes
and everyone is screaming tampering, tampering, tampering, tampering, and then
(02:36):
this year, a combination of a I do think teams
are trying to be a little bit more mindful about
the rules to avoid winding up in an NBA investigation.
But beyond that, remember this was the first off season
in the league's new collective barneying agreement that teams could
(02:57):
negotiate with their own free agents the day after the Finals,
So we did see some deals before the buzzer sounded
on free agency officially. So I think that's why the
first hours, the first hour of free agency on Sunday night,
no free agent change teams. But now we have seen
quite a bit of action. I reeled through a lot
(03:18):
of it off the top, but I mean, I think
this will not be a forgotten summer. When you talk
about Paul George leaving the Clippers to go to the Sixers,
Klay Thompson basically forcing a sign in trade to the
Dallas Mavericks Chris Paul, now is a spur you know
there and there will be you know, there is still
(03:40):
a lot of potential trade action. So there's it has
been a pretty wild, I would say, a pretty wild
start to free agency.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I remember a couple of weeks ago, when we were
doing this podcast, I talked about the forecast of this
free agency, and I said, I think it's going to
be like I think it. I think the forecast is
showing sprinkles. I think that's the way I say it.
I think it's gonna be showers of sprinkles. Nah, that's
(04:11):
that's not what has happened thus far. It's really been.
It's really been a significant free agency thus far. And
I'm sorry, guys, if you hear my phone going off
in the background, I gotta keep this thing on. I'm
pretty sure we're gonna probably hear that with Stein as well.
I want to. I don't want to miss anything.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
But I don't have a great bell though. When I
get a text like you do, I don't even I
don't even know how to set that up.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So how do you know you're getting you gotta vibrates?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, just yeah, just just a normal buzz. But man,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Maybe I need maybe I don't. I don't trust the
vibration because if it's not, if it's not on my body,
I don't know if I would hear it or not.
So you'll hear it. You're here a Dane. So that's that.
But nah, sign this has been. It's been an eventful
free agency. So let's let's let's get to it. Let's
break them down.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, look, Paul George obviously leaving the Clippers to go
to the Sixers. I mean, that is the headline. He
is a true difference maker. And look, I haven't even
mentioned DeMar DeRozan, who is still out there and could
possibly change teams. But Paul George, we knew the Sixers
were going to want to make a play for him,
(05:17):
and we've talked about it a ton how the Clippers
just would not move past an offer of three years.
They actually came out and explained even before free agency started.
After the draft, Lawrence Frank held a press conference and
basically kind of spelled out that there were going to
(05:39):
be limits in the talks with Paul George. But very
early in free agency, the Clippers released a statement basically
citing the CBA multiple times and saying, we know Paul
is going somewhere else, we have to do things differently here.
And it basically came down to the Philadelphia seventy six
Ers incredibly motivated, you know, Darryl Moore said after the draft,
(06:01):
We're gonna be one of the best teams in the
East next season. And that's not just a statement you
can throw out there with the moves that the Knicks
have made with the team that Boston has assembled to
just win the championship, but everything that the Sixers have
done here. They've signed Paul George, They've brought guys like
(06:23):
Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon in on minimums. They've re signed,
they've got agreement. Of course, all these are agreements. Nobody
has officially signed, no one can officially sign until July sixth,
but they've got agreements with Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, Kelly
Oubres coming back, and they've got George. Now they've got
Tyree Maxi. They used all the cap space, so they
(06:44):
gave Tyree Maxey his expected max deal. And now at
the top of the East, you just got Boston with
their very deep team, the Knicks who before the draft
made the trade for Michale Bridges, and now the Sixers
who have Tyrese Maxi and Paul George to flank a
(07:06):
very happy Joel Embiid.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Very happy understatement. When I didn't think it would get
to this point, Stein, I honestly did it, and I
knew because the first time I reported on the possibility
of Philadelphia being interested in pursuing Paul George. It was
at the trade deadline in February. That's when I was
hearing rumblings about Philly with their max slot, if the
(07:34):
Clippers didn't make things right with Paul George, that they
would go after them, and that Philly would be a
prime suspect. That was in February. You know, that was
a long time ago. So that just tells you how
long the Clippers have had to talk to speak with
Paul George and his agent Aaron Mince all this time,
(07:58):
back and forth, steal nothing, still unwilling to give to
give Paul George the fourth year, and Paul George in
this camp, still unwilling to not ask for the fourth year.
And so I didn't. I didn't think it would get
to this point. I really didn't. And going into that
into it down for next season, I kind of thought
(08:22):
the Clippers might be in a desperation mode and felt
like they had to acquiess to Paul George. But Starry,
I have a theory. Check this out. I don't know
if this is accurate or not. I don't have any
concrete evidence to suggest that this really happened. But remember
when Kawhi Leonard signed his extension back in January three years,
(08:43):
one hundred and fifty three mil. It was less than
Max took a pay cut, he didn't get the fourth year.
What if Kawhi asked for the fourth year back then
but they the Clippers refused to do so did the
Clippers do right? I'm asking I guess I'm asking for
(09:03):
your opinion. So, knowing that if that happened, could they
go to Paul George and give him four years? Will
everything be okay? Or did they have to hold their
ground and say, you know what, we didn't give this
to Kawhi back in January. We cannot give you the
fourth year. Paul. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I think that was the strategy they adopted in hopes
that Paul George would ultimately acquiesce and say, okay, I can't.
I know realistically, I'm not going to get more than Kawhi,
so I'll take basically the same deal he did. And
you know, again, the Clippers, the one thing you can say,
they've been very vocal and very open and very on
(09:45):
the record about the fact that they didn't think this
crazy high payroll that they've been carrying is sustainable anymore, because,
as Lawrence Frank himself put it, if money was no object,
he would have carte blanche, because that's the way Steve
Balmer has let him run the team. But carte blanche
doesn't matter anymore in the NBA because with the new
(10:07):
second apron it is so restrictive, and there are so
many ways that team building is curtailed. Once you go
into that second apron. It doesn't really matter what the
owner is willing to spend. If you can't aggregate salaries
and trades, and your draft picks are frozen, and you
(10:27):
can't use the buy out market, and all the restrictions
that I'm not even mentioning.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
So hold on style, hold on Stein. So I hear
you with all that, What I'm asking is if they
would acquiesce and gave Paul George that fourth year out
of desperation, would that have you think? Do you think
that would have caused problems with Kawhi if that was
something he asked for in January?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
You're only asking me to get into the head of
the most hard to read superstar of probably both your
career and mine. So I mean, I wouldn't think it
would go over great. But I would also say, like
I said, the Clippers have been so adamant, I don't
I just don't think they would have ever considered it.
(11:12):
And I think they proved it by the fact that
they let Paul George go for nothing, no compensation. Think
about we cannot forget how much they traded to get
this guy. And again, whenever you say that, you have
to remind people that the Clippers were not just getting
Paul George. By getting Paul George, they were guaranteed to
(11:36):
also get Kawhi Leonard, So they were really trading for
both of them, not just Paul George. But the basic math,
the way it's going to be recorded in the history
books is five firsts, two Pickswaps, and Shay Gildes, Alexander
all for Paul George to clinch the signing of Kawhi
(11:59):
Lennar and to now see Paul George go all the
way to the East Coast, which is something a lot
of us didn't think he would want to do, to
see him leave in this manner. To look at three
of the four California teams right now, the state of
the Clippers, the state of the Warriors losing Clay Thompson,
(12:20):
the state of the Lakers losing a free agent face
off with the Mavericks to get Clay Thompson. Is Sacramento
the only happy California team right now?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
You can make that.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
You could make that argument.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
But when was last time the Sacramental Keys were the
happiest team in California. I don't know that that's well, yeah,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
I think last season when they last season, when they
finally made the playoffs and ended a sixteen season playoff drought,
that was a pretty happy time.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, but you still can't consider them the happiest team
in California. The Lakers went to the Western Conference finals.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
And let's see if the Kings, let's see if they
can you know, they've been they've been looking around on
the trade front, so let's see if they you know,
they've been linked with Zach Lavine Kuzma. Again, do the
Kings make another move? But yeah, I mean, it's still
(13:19):
it's still quite shocking to just look at what's happening
two three fourths of the California teams and then just
like the top of the East next season.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
A sty on the Paul George front again, front again. Man.
We were having some communication right before free agency started,
and there were a few players that a few Clippers
players who were notified by Paul George that he was
indeed leaving. And at that time, that's when the narrative
was that Paul would meet with the Clippers, he would
(13:53):
meet with Orlando, and meet with Philly. When free agency began,
I was kind of suspect on Orlando because I knew
how much Orlando wanted KCP, like I knew they were
going to be hunting KCP. So and I was told
Orlando were looking for shorter deals. They weren't. They were
not necessarily trying to do four year deals. And so
(14:17):
that's what that what led me to believe that Philadelphia
would be the landing spot because if Paul George opted in,
I'm telling you right now, if he opted in to
his contract, he would have requested the trade that same
that that would have been the parameters opted in to
be traded. So you know, Philly, and you know, I
(14:39):
reported a couple hours before free agency free agency started
that you know, there was growing optimism that the Sixers
would land Paul George, and free agency and you know
it ended up being right. And when you look at
what Philly has done, how long they planned this attack
or this pursuit, they did it, they accomplished it. Have
(15:02):
a great team now. But again two of their three
main players have health injuries. I mean, excuse you have
health scares and they have a problem of being healthy.
So if they can stay healthy, that squad is a
legitimate championship contended team in Eastern Conference.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah. Look, they have not won anything yet. And as
we famously know about the Sixers, and we always bring
up this team has not been passed the second round
of the playoffs since two thousand and one, since the
Allen Iverson team that went to the NBA Finals. But
I mean Darryl Mory last summer they convinced Tyrese MAXI,
(15:43):
you gotta give us a year. We're gonna delay your extension.
You will be you know you're gonna get maxed. I
told you when I type MAXI into my BlackBerry, it's
this season auto correct was changing it to max My
auto correct news that MAXI was gonna get that five year,
two hundred and four million dollar, two hundred five million
(16:06):
dollar extension two hundred plus million, whatever it is exactly,
but they had to convince Maxi to wait. Maxi had
a cap hold of just thirteen million, and with all
that salary cap space, the Sixers were able to get
Paul George bring back Oubray. They've still got guys, They've
(16:27):
still got spots to fill on the roster, but they've
got Drummond and Gordon on a minimum. I mean, they
are putting together a team. And look, since you were
so kind enough to put me on the spot and
ask me to read Kawai's mind, which you asked that
question knowing that I can't answer it, knowing that I
have no shot to answer it. So I'm gonna ask
you now, who is the favorite to win the East?
(16:49):
Is it the Celtics who've just resigned? I should rephrase that,
who have just come to verbal agreements on new deals
with Jason Tatum and Derek White. And props to you
for breaking Jason Tatum's three hundred and fifteen million dollar
contract extension. Again, it will be the richest deal in
league history, at least until next summer when Luka Doncic
(17:12):
is up for his three hundred and fifty million ish deal.
But who's the favorite in the East is that the
defending champions. Is it the New Sixers with Embiid and
Maxi and PG thirteen or what about the Knicks who've
made this trade for Michale Bridges. Yes, they lost Isaiah
(17:33):
Hartenstein to Oklahoma City, and that's a story in itself
because the Thunder are not known for splashing the cash
on external free agents. That's the most that the Thunder
have ever spent on a free agent who wasn't their
own to do a three year deal worth nearly ninety
million with Hartenstein. But there it is. You tell me
(17:55):
who's favored to come out of the East next season.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Well, style, you can't disrespect the champs. You cannot do that.
And you know, I've spoken to a few Celtics players
since they won the championship and they felt like they
would have been more dominant had they had Chris Stops
healthy for the playoffs, because we know they pretty much
ran through the NBA during the regular season. Then they
had the health scare with Chris STAPs during the postseason.
(18:19):
Kris STAPs was never able to gain form, didn't have
really real time the game for him. You see, he
had offseason surgery soon after. So they still believe that
their best basketball is yet to come. And you know
how teams are after they win a championship, they just
they get that confidence, they get that swag about them.
So I'm still going with Boston. I like what Philly
(18:40):
has done again. If they're healthy, they should be cool.
But stide. I love I know they lost Isaiah, but
I love what the Knicks are doing. Love what the
Knicks are doing. They got that Villanova squad back together.
Those guys are they got they have confidence, Like I
New York is a scary squad. Also, the Milwaukee Bucks,
(19:04):
you cannot dismiss them, Dame will Be.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I was gonna ask you about the Bucks. You don't
think they're I mean, they've got to be worried seeing
all this crazy action now because the West was so
much better than the East.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, they were, and then you know they're losing their
starting shooting guard, Belie Beasley. I doubt that they I
doubt that the Bucks resigned Patrick Beverley. Well, I think
that's a fourgone conclusion now that they just agreed to
turns with the line, right, So, and that's a good
that's a great addition. The line leaves Miami one of
(19:36):
the best backup point guards we have in this league.
But they still need some they still need more work,
they still need some more addition. They're just they're due
to cap restraints. There's not much they can do unless
they're looking at some major, major trades. I should say,
But yeah, Milwaukee's in there, But I still put Boston
(19:57):
as the favorites.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Well, yeah, I don't think the Bucks are done. Question
will just be how much with the Bucks, with the
state of the Bucks trade assets, how dramatically can they
change their team to You know, we keep hearing these
rumbles that Doc Rivers would like to see some changes
to the supporting cast for Jannas Antitokumpo and Damian Lillard.
(20:18):
How drastic will those changes be? How drastic do those
changes have to be to get the Bucks in the
zip code of the Celtics and the Knicks and the Sixers.
I think you're right. I think you still have to
you have to favor Boston. They deserve that much after
winning it all and basically they've still got all their
main guys coming back. Yeah, I mean it's going to
(20:42):
be It's going to be really fascinating. Now just to
see who wins the East, who comes out of the East,
what the second round playoff matchups will be in the East,
because there's so much firepower now at the top, but
then the West. You know, it's interesting because well we
(21:02):
got to talk about Clay Thompson to the Mavericks leaving
Golden State. I mean, this story has been pretty much
all I've been wrapped up in since last Friday. And look,
I've been expecting it since last Friday. But even as
(21:26):
I say that, as we're talking here on Monday night,
and now that it's done, the Warriors, just before you
and I started recording, the Warriors came out with a
long tribute statement to Clay Thompson in which they noted that,
of course, his number eleven will someday be hoisted to
the rafters of Chase Center. Even though this thing is
(21:48):
now done and official and Clay is a Maverick, I'm
still struggling to believe it.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Man.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, you know me, I am an absolute sap. I
am a basketball romantic. My last three years at ESPN,
and the first year of our friendship was the last
of those three years when you and I got to
work together. My last three years at ESPN, I was
embedded with these guys. It was the first three years
of five straight trips to the Finals, and I just
(22:18):
I thought they would finish their careers together. I cannot
believe that Stephen Curry and Clay Thompson and Draymond Green,
they're not a trio anymore. It's gonna take some serious
getting used to.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Yeah, it is. I can't believe. I'm happy for you. You
get Clay now, that's your guy. You get Clay over
in your backyard, and so I'm excited for Clay. I know,
you know, I was told that he was seeking a
fresh start. He wanted to get away. I know the Lakers,
and during free agency they felt like, last minute, they
(22:53):
felt like they had a shot. I know Lakers, they
were offering a four year deal around the twenty million
annually ranged Uh. They thought they thought they had something.
And Klay Thompson stuck to his guns because initially, I
know you were hearing the same thing that Mavericks were
the team and the league for his services. So he
(23:16):
stayed true to that three year deal, sign and trade.
It was a little strange, stun a little strange because
you know, once the agreement was announced. You know, the
Warriors were like, hold on here, hold on, we didn't
agree to anything here. There's not a deal close because
obviously it would take a sign in trade for Clay
to get that number. But a couple hours later, the
(23:41):
whole sign and trade was complete. The Words got two
second round picks. Green goes to Charlotte, and so the
deal was, the deal was ratified. So yeah, still it's
gonna it's gonna be surreal for sure until you actually
see him in the we're in the Dallas Maverick uniform.
But yeah, definitely some some surprises early in this free
(24:03):
agency period.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Well, look, you said it, this was Clay's choice, and
the Warriors did offer him a two year extension in
the fifty million range before last season. He turned it down.
He felt like that was a sign of disrespect because
it was basically half the size of the deal that
Draymond Green got just a couple months earlier to re sign,
(24:27):
and he decided to bet on himself. Last season was
a rough one in the Bay, not just for Clay,
for the Warriors as a franchise, as a team. I mean,
it was just lots of chaos and ups and downs,
and of course they lose the playing game to Sacramento,
don't even reach the playoffs, and the Warriors made the
(24:48):
decision that they were going to prioritize the trade chase
for Paul George before and after the draft. Few days
before the draft, few days after the draft. That was
Golden State's leading into free agency, not hashing out a
deal with Klay Thompson. And that was pretty much it.
But you know, I was stubborn. I didn't want to
(25:08):
believe it. The signals really were there all season, and
I just I didn't want to buy into the notion
that we would not get the storybook ending with the Warriors.
But you said it. I think Clay does want a
fresh start, and I think the real reason that Dallas
(25:29):
appeals to him is because he's going to stay in
the West. He's going to take the Warriors on head on.
He wants to show them that he can still be
a difference maker and a key cog on a playoff team.
And I know in Dallas, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
are thrilled to know that Clay Thompson is on the
(25:50):
way to Dallas. And a lot was made about Lebron
James recruiting Klay Thompson. Well, Kyrie Irving played on two
national teams with Clay Thompson. I covered them both, twenty
fourteen World Cup team in Spain, twenty sixteen Olympic team
in Brazil. So the Mavericks also had a marquee recruiter
(26:16):
to help in their efforts, and they convince Clay that
this is the place he should be. And again, I
still can't believe it even as I say all this stuff.
And part of that also is I mean, you know,
I've lived in Dallas for basically the last twenty five
plus years I've covered this team. The Mavericks free agent
(26:36):
history is tortured. They never get their guy in free agency.
So even though this is Clay at thirty four and
not Clay at his splash brother's peak, for the Mavericks
to win a free agent faceoff against Lebron and the Lakers,
as you can imagine, there are a lot of happy
(26:58):
people in Dallas right now.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
When we when we get time our next episode or
maybe the episode after that, we need an oral breakdown
from you on what it was like covering that DeAndre
Jordan free agency where he was basically held captive. I
don't think I've ever talked to you about that, so
I would love to hear you praspect.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
I mean, look, that was I mean, it's funny, you know,
there was It's interesting, there was you know, there was talk. God,
I hope I'm not revealing too many secrets here. This
is this is actually now you tricked me into. This
is a Chris Haynes.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Okay, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
So you know, JJ Reddick had his production company, you know,
before he became the Laker coach. You know, for most
of this season, JJ Reddick was merely a podcaster and
broadcaster and a member of the media. He wasn't the
coach of the La Lakers. There were some pretty strong
rumblings that JJ's production company had interest in exploring some
(28:03):
sort of documentary on that whole DeAndre Jordan free Agent summer,
which if you go back and find the tweets you
can find that I was. I was covering that thing
from start to finish. When the Dallas Mavericks had a
verbal commitment, they thought they had won the DeAndre Jordan
(28:27):
free Agent sweep Steaks, only for DeAndre to change his
mind and return to the Clippers, and that was one
of the greatest and most unforgettable nights in NBA Twitter history.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
I don't and I don't. I don't be to laugh.
That's my guy. But I remember by guys tweet Chris
Bruss tweet the Mark Cuba. It was something like Mark
Suban is like drive the routeel looking for I forgot
(29:01):
the It's rama aimlessly around tale looking for the George.
I wasn't a national guy. I was a national reporter
at the time, so I wasn't I wasn't in on
that hut. So I was just watching from Afar. But uh,
that whole fiasco, man was It was definitely irritator.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
I will refrain from comment, but let's just say, yeah,
that was an absolute circus. But you know what the
truth is, I'm so damn old. I gotta go I
really gotta go back and look it all up myself
to remember everything, because I, like I just some things
I don't remember as well as I used to. And
(29:44):
that like I certainly remember putting out that first tweet
that you know, the Clippers are making moves to try
to get DeAndre back, and that just led to a
day of wow, wow was awesome.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Yeah, but that would be that would be a great documentary.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Yeah, maybe that's an off season version of Look, producer
Ryan's right in that one. He's like, in August, we
need to we need to do an off season version.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Let's uncut.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
But look, we haven't gotten nearly as deep into some
of this stuff as I was hoping. But I mean
I've explained what, you know, the Mavericks, what the Mavericks
are hoping. I mean, the Mavericks needed to They desperately
needed to add outside shooting. They obviously believe they've done
that by completing this sign and trade for Klay Thompson.
They signed Naji Marshall to replace Derek Jones Junior, who's
(30:45):
now parted the Clippers post George squad. The Clippers moves
to follow the departure of Paul George those a bit interesting.
Nicola Batoom back to the Clippers. Chris Dunne, as first
reported by Chris Haynes earlier Monday, He's going to the Clippers.
Dereck Jones Junior going to the Clippers. So they're definitely
(31:10):
taking an interesting approach to trying to fill the Paul
George Voyd. But naturally, lots of attention in the league.
Will now pivot to how does Golden State respond to
losing Clay? What does Steph Curry think about that? I
think we all are very interested to hear what Steph
will say about the situation, and frankly even what Clay
(31:33):
says in his first statements about switching teams and then
the Lakers. The Lakers tried to get in the mix
for Clay Thompson. They couldn't woo him. They couldn't convince
him to spurn Dallas and stay in LA which look
a lot. You know, the Mavericks were very The Mavericks
(31:57):
were very wary and very nervous about the Lakers entering
that race with not just Lebron as lead recruiter, but
of course Clay's father, Michael Thompson, the legendary Michael Thompson
still calls Laker games on radio. Of course, he played
for the Lakers, was part of title winning teams with
the Lakers, and Clay grew up a Laker fan. Clay great.
(32:19):
You know, when I see Clay is the OC goat,
that is what I call him. He is the best
player Orange County, where I went to high school as well.
By far the best player ever produced among Orange County
high schools, and so I'm sure the chance to go
(32:42):
to the Lakers it had to entice him on a
lot of levels. But now, of course, the question is
how will the Lakers respond DeMar DeRozan. I know you've
done some reporting on that. How realistic is it that
the Lakers could do a deal with DeMar Derozen, because
we know the Bulls. The Bulls are very open to
trading zach Lavine, but it's been chilly, to say the least.
(33:07):
When we talk about negotiations between DeMar Derozen and the
Bulls on a new deal, the Bulls clearly appear like
they're going young Chili.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
I would I would consider it frozen.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Yeah, I think I would.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Consider it frozen Antarctica, you know, so, I remember, I
remember a couple of years ago, Damar he was he
was led to believe that he was going to be
a Laker before he signed his deal with Chicago Bulls.
Something happened last minute. Damar is always kind of whenever
he's talked about it, he never gives too many details,
(33:44):
but he gives you enough to let you know that
something went down that he didn't appreciate. Uh, there's still
as a right now as we record this, there's still
nothing going on. Damars kind of in limbo right now
because Chicago they wanted they they're trying to move off
of Zach Levine's deal. And I said, I said some
(34:05):
things on there. I don't know if it was on
TV or on my Bleacher Report live stream. I said,
the Bulls are trying to move Levine and Lonzo Ball.
I stand corrected. You know, right now, it's the priorities
trying to move Levine, not Lonzo Ball. But that's where
the Bulls have stayed. That was there, that's been their
(34:26):
stance for a month over a month already, is that
they want to move Levine and then if Damar is
still available, they will, you know, shift focus to him
to see if there's something that can be done. But
the Damar DeRozan tenure in Chicago is over, so we
all know the cap space is very limited out there now,
(34:46):
and so it makes it tough. So a team is
going to have to get really creative if they want
to try to offer Levine, I mean, excuse, offer Derozen
something more than the the mid level exception. So you know,
with a sign and trade, you can get a three
year deal. I know DeRozan will probably be amenable to
(35:09):
taking on a one year deal. So the money, I
just don't see him taking a full the full mid
level exception, which is at thirteen meal. I don't see
him doing that right now. So teams are going to
have to get creative.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
All right. Look, I know you've got a flight to
catch to get back to the West Coast. Like I said,
this is the first time that things have slowed down enough.
I mean it has been since going back to last
week before the draft, since the draft, this has really
been the first lull where you and I could get
together and try to spend an hour to do a
(35:48):
pod because we've both been going NonStop chasing all kinds
of stuff. And look, there is still plenty more to go. Again,
tomar DeRozan, where does he go? Warriors? What move do
they make? Lakers? What move is next for them? Trades?
We've still got to keep our eye on trade possibilities
(36:09):
because again the Jazz, we know the price tag is
going to be high, but their phone keeps ringing. Teams
like the Warriors and the Spurs, they're checking in on
lowry market in to test Utah's resolve. Brandon Ingram. I
still believe he is going to be moved. I can't
tell you exactly when or exactly where, but I still
(36:31):
believe that the Pelicans move brandon Ingram again. DeMar DeRozan
is most likely going to need a sign and trade
to get to his next destination because, as Chris just said,
cap space is scarce. But don't forget that he was
in the same position a few summers ago and that
sign and trade to Chicago. Suddenly he was a bull
(36:55):
when it looked like the market was close on him.
So let's see, let's see, there's a lot more stuff
to Stein.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
We got to keep an eye out for the Los
Angeles Clippers. They are not done, and I'm talking about
a trade, maybe trades. We know Russell Westbrook. They're trying
to move Russ. They are working with him and his
representation to try to find the best home that's going
to fit both sides. So keep an eye out for
(37:25):
the Clippers and what they do. And you know we
didn't talk about Chris Paul Stein, Chris Paul moving over
to to San Antonio. You you called it Stein, you
were on top of that. From day one, you were
on top of lot.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
I need to give a shout out. I need to
give a shout out here to a Twitter before we go.
Last thing. There's a Twitter account called F five season.
I didn't even remember this, but F five season is
keeping track of all kinds of reports, and they found
that I reported San Antonio's interest in Chris Paul on
(38:01):
April twentieth.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
So thank you F five season for that coverage, because
you know, like I said, my man, my memory, my
memory is fading faster than I can keep up with it.
All right, that's gonna do it for this edition of
this league uncut Mark Stein with Chris Haynes. We will
get together again this week when we get our next
(38:26):
free agent lull. We got to work in July fourth
as well, but we will get together for one more
pod to talk about everything that has happened, everything else
that we can forecast about what might happen next. Still
lots of the NBA offseason, a common of course, Olympic qualifiers,
(38:47):
Summer League, the Olympics themselves. There will be no letup.
This is going to be a NonStop July. Remember, as always,
follow the show rate the show review the show. We
would love a five star review. Stay tuned, Chris and
I will be back with you again, very very soon,
(39:09):
and that'll do it for us. See you next time.
This league uncuta is and iHeartRadio production lock Chris Hanes
and Mark Stein
Hosts And Creators
Chris Haynes
Marc Stein
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.