May 30, 2022 • 37 mins
Chris and Rob talk about the teams Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant left making the NBA Finals while they were eliminated in the first round, are joined by Jovan Buha of The Athletic to talk about the Lakers hiring of Darvin Ham and their Russell Westbrook issue, and react to news of how the Pelicans want to structure a possible extension for Zion Williamson.
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(00:22):
R party. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. It is
the I Couple. I'm Chris. He's ribwere live from the
Fox Sports Radio studios. It's our number three of a
three hour show here on the Magic City Monday. And
(00:43):
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folks do apply. We got Jovin Buha, who covers the
(01:05):
Lakers for the Athletic coming up at the bottom of
the hour. You don't want to miss that. Lakers obviously
just hired a new head coach, Darvin Ham, and a
report out today from Mark Stein, former colleague over at
the Old Network he's saying that the Lakers are going
to keep Russell Westbrook. So we will talk to Yo
(01:28):
Vine about all of that. All right, rob, Let's get
into this article in the New York Post today pointing
out that, you know, all you had to do is
kind of look at it the situation. But they wrote
about it. Of course. Three years ago, Kevin Durant and
Kyrie Irving both left their teams. Durant left Golden State,
(01:53):
where they won two championships in three years. Kyrie left Boston,
where he had been since he demanded the trade from
the Calves. And they both said they were leaving to
go do something special. And now their former teams are
actually playing against each other in the NBA Finals, and
(02:15):
that's been trending today and you know, not lost on
a lot of people. So here's what I want to
throw out to you. Which guy you think it looks
worse in this situation between Kyrie and KDD Neither guy.
Neither guy. I don't think either guy was happy where
(02:36):
they were, so people make moves. If Kyrie was happy
in Boston, he would have signed there. He wasn't happy.
Kevin Durant didn't feel he was treated right I don't
think either guys looking back going oh wow, I can't
believe it. They got there. Maybe if you're Bryce Harper,
when you left the Nationals and then they won the
(02:57):
World Series the next year and you haven't won anything,
you might look back both of them looked bad. No, No,
I think I'm saying he might look back and go bad,
But think it was a bad look for him. Not
a bad look after he left. No, because if he
wins at some point, he won an MVP last year,
He's had a fine, you know time in Philadelphia. Um,
(03:21):
he's not the reason that they haven't won anything, Gona
going to the World Series. But my point is those
two guys felt like they've accomplished something. They both have
championships in their back pocket. They wanted to do something together.
I just don't look at it that way. I think
both of them were not happy in those places. So
to sit back and say they should have stayed, it's
(03:41):
just not realistic because I don't believe either one. Forget
about the basketball. I don't think either one were happy
in the situations, right Rob. I mean, but let's keep
it basketball because I agree, I mean, do what you
want to do, you know if you if you heck,
if Steph Curry wants to lead Golden State next year
(04:02):
because he wants to live in Charlotte, where he's from, fine,
I agree with you and personal reasons, guys can do
what they want to do, and I'll never be critical
of a guy for making a personal decision for his happiness, right,
But I'm talking about basketball wise, nobody's talking about personal
(04:24):
and I think, look, I've said last week, I think
it only looks bad on Durant if they win it
and people already kind of were looking sideways at his championships. Yeah,
everybody knows he's a great player, and he gave him
credit for being Finals MVP, and he certainly deserved it.
(04:47):
But if they win it without him and he hasn't
even gotten past the second round now one year he
didn't play because he was injured, But I do think
that that will cause people who have, you know, kind
of questioned those championships in the first place, to feel
even stronger that way. But that said, I don't think
(05:11):
there's any question this is a poorer reflection on Kyrie
Irving and again straight basketball, than it is on Kevin Durant.
Because even if the Warriors win it. Now, people would
look at it like, yeah, I mean, you know, they
(05:33):
just filled in Andrew Wiggins or Jordan Pool in for
Durant and they win the championship. You know. But I
don't think anybody robbed is going to say they're better
without Kevin Durant. Like, if Kevin Durant was still on
that team, this wouldn't even like this series wouldn't even
(05:56):
be in question. Them getting to the finals wouldn't be
in even in question. So even if you think those
championships were cheap or they could have won it without him,
and they may prove that they you know, will win
it without him, you still gotta admit they were better
with Kevin Durant because for those two years, I mean,
(06:17):
he got hurt the third year, but those two years
he was healthy, it was just pretty much a joke.
I mean, Houston did push him, and let's give him
credit for that, James Harden and Chris Paul, but for
the most part, it was a done deal. We all
knew who was winning the championship and they did. Kyrie,
on the other hand, and here's where basketball chemistry is important.
(06:44):
Fit and we've been talking about this robe with the
Lakers in Russell Westbrook. It's important. It is not always
just about gathering the most talent. And the Boston Celtics,
let me put it this way, Kyrie Irving is better
than Marcus Smart. I get that Marcus Smart is Defensive
(07:08):
Player of the Year and is a great defender and
is a you know, okay offensive player. Kyrie Irving's better
than him, period the end. But the Boston Celtics are
better without Kyrie Irving. They just are. And it's all
(07:29):
about chemistry, it's all about fit, because if Kyrie was
still there, it's very doubtful. I don't think Jayson Tatum
would have been able to emerge as the players he's become.
I don't know that Jaylen Brown would if he emerged
as the player he's become. And so I think that's
(07:53):
why if I had to choose one basketball wise, let's
keep it on that that it looks worse for it's Kyrie.
As great as he is individually, they're a better team
without him. I disagree. Kyrie is that kind of talent
that those guys, if he would have had time, they
(08:14):
would have all been able to adjust. If he would
have had time. Yeah, yeah, if they would have stayed there, Chris,
I'm trying to give you my point that time he
had time. No, all I know is I remember when
he first got to Boston and they ran off fourteen
or fifteen wins in a row or whatever it was.
(08:34):
They got off to a great start with Kyrie there.
And all I'm saying is, if those players are truly
gifted and talented, they would have figured out a way
to play together and win. So I don't believe that
one guy would have stumped their growth. And if Jason
Tatum is a star in the NBA, he would still
(08:55):
be a star. Of way Kobe found out to be
a star with Shack, and that other players wind up
being stars with other players. I don't I don't believe that.
I don't think I can look and say, oh, Tatum
would be a bomb if Kyrie would still living. Who said,
I'm just I mean, you keep it teams, but that's
(09:15):
not even but Rob, no, Rich, but no discuss an
expression and you're going to bump an expression. But he
said Jason Tatum would be a bum. I just Jason
Tatum showed he was a very good player. What I
said was he wouldn't even be. I don't think he
would have emerged as the superstar he is stark r
(09:37):
from a bomb. I just I disagree, I think, but
just if he was digree logically, But that's I'm just saying.
I think that it's too easy to just rub your
crystal ball and say, oh, if Kyrie stayed, they wouldn't
be there. I just don't believe that he's one of
the best players in the league, top seventy five player.
(09:58):
I think it's too easy. It's too easy. While in
my mind he is, I don't know, Okay, okay, in
my mind, in my mind yes, And I just I
just think it's ridiculous to believe that Kyrie irgin would
make this team worse if they had the same situation,
(10:20):
if if they had the same new coach and not
the other coach, and and and things were different, that
they wouldn't be where they are. Kywe's that kind of
a player. So I disa what kind of a player
he is? A big time does big shots that doesn't matter?
Yes it does, No it doesn't, No, it doesn't. No,
(10:41):
no talent out He asked me, my point, you made
a point. I just talent. I disagree. I just disagish.
I just think it's easy to sit here and and
throw your crystal ball out and say Kywe was the
problem Becau because he's not on a team, and they
made it. If they lose the championship, it was because
(11:03):
Kyrie wasn't on a team, or was it because Kyrie?
If they don't win, it ain't because they didn't have
a star player like Kyrie to make those big shots
in big moments. It'll be some other excuse. I just
think it's too easy to just point fingers at those guys.
Those are talented basketball players. Kyrie's made one of the
biggest shots in NBA history. He has a championship in
(11:26):
his back pocket. During the NBA Finals against these Golden
State Warriors, he averaged twenty eight points a game. He's
a really good player who played with a great player
in Lebron and was able to flourish. I just dismiss
this whole notion. Rob is called analysis. You said their
(11:47):
taste talented players, they would have figured it out, Okay,
Lebron James is talented, Anthony Davis is talented, and Russell
Westbrook is talented. Those really are three top seventy five
players and they can't make it work because it's not
always let's just grab the most talent. It's about chemistry,
(12:12):
it's about fit, it's about styles of play. And that's
what I'm pointing out. Nobody's saying Jason Tatum would be
a bum if Kyrie Irving was there. Nobody's saying Kyrie
Irving isn't a phenomenal player. I've been saying for years
he's a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he was
(12:34):
not a fit with that team. And I think largely
it was more personality and things like that, but he
wasn't a fit. They went. You can talk about all
you want a regular season run, Well that ain't what
it's all about. It's about a playoff run. And they
went to the conference finals to Cleveland's seven games with
(12:57):
Lebron without Kyrie. In the very next season when he's there,
they lose in five to Milwaukee. So we got evidence.
This is not a crystal you and crystal ball. Don't
belittle analysis like crystal ball. We actually can talk about facts.
And this doesn't mean Kyrie's not great, but it means
(13:18):
the fit was not right. And that's evidence because that
doesn't mean. But that doesn't mean because it didn't work
one year that it might not have worked down there
when you change coaches, when you look and you'll change philosophies.
All I'm saying is just because it didn't work one
year doesn't mean it couldn't work in time. A lot
(13:40):
of teams their first year through, or or second year through,
or third year through, they don't get there and then
they all of a sudden it clicks or they get
the white guy didn't rest. All I'm saying they got
demonstrably worse. I disagree with you, disagree with facts from
seven games and opinion, ain't it's not it's a fact.
(14:01):
Here's a fact. I disagree with you. That's fine, you're
disagree with facts. This is not. This is a pat
rob Can I finish? Did I interrupt you? No? Yes
you did? Yes you did two times? Go ahead. It
is a fact that without Kyrie irving, they went to
the conference finals seven games. It is a fact that
(14:24):
when Kyrie came back, they lost in five in the
second round. It is a fact that the very next
year after Kyrie left, they went back to the conference finals.
Did they win? No, But that that that mean that
maybe they would have won first, Maybe they would have
won with Kyrie those two years. What is Kye? Maybe
(14:47):
they would have won? What is Kyrie? I mean, we
didn't won Lebron. The biggest three to one come back
in the history of the NBA is what Kyrie won.
That's all I'm saying. Rob Kyrie was a great number
two to Lebron. Lebron was able to control that team
and help Kyrie shine, and Kyrie's great in his own right.
(15:10):
But without Lebron, James Kyrie hasn't won anything. He hasn't
even come close. He hasn't even been to the conference finals.
Cleveland was bad before Lebron got there, with Kyrie shining
All Star all that Lebron that Kyrie leaves Boston doesn't
do much. Kyrie's in Brooklyn. Brooklyn doesn't do much. So
(15:36):
these are facts. These are not feelings. You're you're getting
feelings and all that. That's cool, Chris. Whenever somebody disagreed
with you, no, not disagree noting down Bristol balling Jason
Tatum would be a bump. You're not logically because it
doesn't doesn't when they told you and when they lose
(16:01):
the finals you're gonna say that they're better without Kyrie. No, yeah,
because they are with No. If it's about winning, it
ain't about going persons about winning Kyrie one. This is
Rob's analysis, crystal Ball. Jason Tatum's a bomb, Kyrie's the
(16:23):
top seventy five player. No, I just don't cut your analysis.
No say every single thing. I just say. You said.
All I don't do is I didn't say anything that
was at is every time let's piel, Let's Polong Kevin
Duran talking about every time something doesn't go. You don't
(16:43):
want to forget the fact, lead forget an next. None
of that matters. None of that stuff matters. He ain't
haven't even had a healthy team for three years. And
you're gonna sit here and and try to paint a
picture that Brooklyn's but at this disaster because they've had
all the pieces, they've had everything, and they whatever, but
(17:06):
they have been a disaster. It's been terrible. It ain't
but it ain't apart for sure. Come on now, But
you know it's based on those do It's based on
hard is based on Simmons. I mean the one that
is really not based on is Durant. That's the one
that's not based on everybody else is based on eight
(17:27):
seven seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven nine
nine six sixty three sixty nine. You're turned away in
with the eye couple Chris and Rob Who's this look
worse for both of their ex teams are in the finals?
Boston Golden State look worse? On Kyrie or KD? You'll
turn away in a couple of Fox Sports Radio. Fox
(17:50):
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How do their former teams Boston and Golden State get
(18:31):
into the finals? Reflect on k D and Kyrie, if
at all your opinion, I cople Tyler and Sacramento. You're
on the couple of Fox Sports Radio. Hey, what's going on, guys?
What's up? Heyw real quick, I'm going to touch on
that last subject you guys talked about real quick. So
I'm in the military myself and personally, I don't have
(18:52):
a problem with anybody that decided to do to anthems,
to protests or anything like that. That's their God give
them right. In my opinion, thing, I got a problem
with people that get up, walk out during the anthem,
go get snacked and take their hats off. So you know,
we could focus on those. That's probably far more people. Yeah,
and there is. And as a service member myself and
(19:13):
almost serving a decade in the Air Force, I got
a far more problem with that than you guys that
wanted used the right to protest. So you know that
that just wants to touch on that real quick. But
as far as the current topic you guys are talking about,
I honestly don't think that either guys should be regretful
of the decision they made. I mean, at the end
of the day, when you went at Kevin Durant, he
won two championships, two finals MVPs. He got it done,
(19:37):
and when he left, the Warriors missed the playoffs the
very next year and then they right exactly, But you
can also say there's a lot of injuries and other
circumstances with him being on the nets. So I mean,
if it was a fifth, we'd all be drunk. But
when you look at when you look at Kyrie, people forget.
(19:57):
I mean, when he first joined the Celtics, they lost
game one of them Cleveland Counvalarys of that season, and
then they ruled off sixteen straight wins, and he also
got hurt. So who's gonna say, maybe if he was
playing with that team in twenty eighteen in that conference
final against Lebron and the Castle, he could have helped
propelled them to the next level. So I think he
played the next year. He played the next year, right,
(20:18):
I'm with and they went out in five, and Kyrie
was terrible in that series against Milwalker. Yeah, and I
got a bad series. Yeah, he definitely had a bad series,
and I think you're you're afforded one of those. But
I think if they would have read it back and
then who knows. But again, so many different variables. I
just wouldn't hang my head on it. And you guys
got an opportunity to continue right in the history in
(20:39):
the league, and I think we should just sit back
and see what they do with it. All right, Thank
you appreciate the call. Tyler spot On Felicia Michigan. You're
on the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Felicia? Hey?
How are you doing? Where you being Felicia? Hey? Hey, hey,
I got a lot to say on this subject. Get
(21:00):
into it. Kevin Durant, before he was with the Warriors,
he was not considered the greatest layer in the world.
When he's with the Warriors, he becomes. All of a sudden,
he's becomes the greatest player in the world. When he
was with um U Oklahoma um everyone had this Pete party. Oh.
We feel far for him because he could place for
where sports for We never got a chance to explorers personality.
(21:23):
He developed a personalities and he was with the Warriors.
All of a sudden, when he's with the Warriors, we
no longer like his personality. He leads the Warriors, his
capabilities become questionable. Um He's no longer longer able to
lead a team because we all know Stace Curry was
always the leader of that team, no matter what UM.
(21:43):
When it comes down to UM, the cast, we all
know Learon James was the leader of that team. We
all know that what's his name was in a in
a Mighty player in the twenty sixteen UM Final. He
was a comping his name Kyrie was a clutch player,
(22:05):
but mentally he was not developed. He's always been a
controversial player up until the day twenty twenty two. So
there you have it. So your point is tools that
are questionable. They have a skill set, but not the mindset. Okay,
all right there bye Felicia, where there it is. Be
(22:28):
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Broussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart
Radio app. We welcome into the Eye Couple. Jovine, How
are you? What's happening? I'm doing? All guys, how are
you doing? We're good, man, We're good. What this this
coach in search w was long finally is ended. They
(22:51):
got Darvin Ham. There were reports that, like Phil Jackson
and Kurt Rambis, you know wanted him because he was moldable,
if you will, because he's a rookie coach. Now there
are reports that he's going to get the freedom to
choose his own staff, which Frank Vogel didn't have, and
(23:12):
Kurt Rambas won't be in the meetings and coaches meetings
and all that, which means a lot, it seems, so
give us what kind of cover those things and tell
us about this hiring. Yeah, well, I think you know,
traditionally the Lakers have gone for the flashy star coaching name, right,
Like you look back, even the last couple of decades,
(23:34):
Phil Jackson, Mike D'Antoni, last coaching search, they were trying
to get tylu like they tend to gravitate towards the
bigger names because they are the Lakers. But that type
of coach wasn't out there. And I think if you
look at you know, yes, Terry Stotts, I think how
an underrated run in Portland, And you know, Kenny Atkinson
seems to be getting some buzz, and you know, there
(23:55):
were some solid candidates for sure, but I do think
Darvin Ham, you know, one of the longer ten yeared
assistant coaches in the league, someone who's won a couple
of championships, one as a player, one as an assistant,
and someone who's been a runner up in multiple you know,
coaching searches. I think it was his time. So I think,
like we shouldn't discount that part of it, where I
(24:16):
just think Darvin has been a top candidate for a
while and it was just kind of a matter of
time until he got hired. Now, there are clearly a
lot of chefs in the kitchen with the Lakers, right, Like,
I mean, there's close to you know, ten people kind
of involved in this process, so there are a lot
of competing interests. But I do think they realized they
(24:36):
botched the Frank Vogel situation and it ended up leading
to a championship, right And you know, it's hard to
say it didn't work out, but their top two choices
were Ty Lou and Monty Williams, and both guys passed
on joining the Lakers because they didn't come correct with
the money and the years, and you know, it was
(24:57):
like you have to have Jason Kidd on your staff,
and we're going to involved in coaching meetings and all
this stuff. So I think they realize you know, the
optics of that have obviously not been good when we're
talking about it right now. People have been talking about
it the last couple of months since the Frank vocal situation.
So I think they learned from that in twenty nineteen
and decided, Hey, we kind of need to take a
better approach. We need to be a more modern staff
(25:19):
of you know, coaches have a certain level of autonomy.
They get to pick their staff, they get to run
their stuff. So I think it was more of a
learning lesson from The Lakers have kind of tended to
operate a certain way for so long, and they've obviously
had that success, but as things kind of change, they
haven't really adapted. And I think this is finally them
kind of taking that step in the right direction. Now
(25:40):
help me with this, okay, So Darvin Ham, I'm all
in agreement. A new one. When he played for the
Pistons in two thousand and four, when he's on a
championship team, great guy, paid his dues, all good. I
love it. But tell me, was Mark Jackson really ever
interviewed for the Lakers job? And and what if he was?
(26:02):
What happened there? And it seemed like this is the
first time he even got any interviews, let loan or
in his name being mentioned. But it doesn't look as
if Mark Jackson will probably ever coach again. Like what
did you hear? What was this scuttle butt or Mark Jackson? Yeah,
I'm not I don't believe he interviewed. To my knowledge,
(26:22):
I know he was a candidate, but I don't think.
I think I'm asking because I remember his name, Yeah,
it was in it. There was like an initial list
of you know, eight ten names, and then they kind
of whittled that down and started doing some interviews and
then they and you know, got it down to the
final three. I don't believe he was in that initial
wave of interviews. That's just to my knowledge. So yeah,
(26:46):
I know, I think he was taken more seriously with
the Sacramento job, but between the two, but I know
he was mentioned with both of those. But yeah, I um,
you know, it's one of those things that it seems like, yeah,
I mean, he probably isn't going to coach again. Um,
you know, unfortunately for him, based on the way you know,
this is all played out. But um, you know, I
(27:07):
did I think he was more than the mixer Sacramento
though than the Lakers. There have been there have been
reports that the Lakers are gonna keep Russell Westbrook if
in fact, one today saying they are, you know, that's
the plan to keep him, not just they might keep
him in all that. Um, first of all, what can
you tell us about that? And secondly, do you think
(27:30):
it can work? Lebron if they're healthy, Lebron a d
Russ can it work? So to answer your first question,
I reported last week on The Athletic that from from
what I've been hearing, the current market right now is
teams are demanding a first round pick for Russell Westbrook. So, um,
you know, there are several teams that could take him,
(27:52):
and then several situations that could make some sense, you know,
Charlotte's one example, Indiana, Oklahoma City. But all these teams
are saying, if we're going to take Russell Westbrook's giant contract,
even though it isn't expiring, and we're going to do
you a favor and kind of give you a you know,
get out of jail free card, we want a first
round pick at a minimum on top of whatever else
(28:13):
you know you're going to throw into kind of make
the money work and make it make sense. So the
Lakers stance is they do not want to give up
a first round pick. They do not want to attach
an asset to trade Russell Westbrook. They think that because
he'sn't expiring, that should be enough. And you know, we
could take on some bad money from other teams, and
we're actually doing you guys the favor of you know,
you have multiple multi year contracts that you're getting off.
(28:35):
We're just getting off this Westbrook contract for one year.
So it's kind of a game of chicken right now.
I do think, you know, one of the two sides
is eventually going to fold, and it's either going to
be the Lakers attaching a first round pick or a
team kind of lessening their stance and and just taken
on Westbrook. But no team is incentivized to do that
right now. And obviously, when you start a negotiation, you
(28:56):
come in with your you know, you talked up and
then you see who backs down first. So I think
that's kind of where things are at right now. To
your second call, you're not buying, you're not buying the
Oh they're keeping Russ for sure, that's not I think
I think they will I think they will. I think
as of now, I still think he will be traded. Um.
I think it's just a matter of time, be it
(29:16):
you know, later in the summer or maybe even into
the season, but I expect by the trade deadline he
will be moved. I would be surprised to be the
Laker because to your second point, I don't think this
can work. I think if you look at the West
right now, to me, they're a playing team if they
keep Russell Westbrook. There's just nothing we saw last year.
I mean, these guys were eleven and ten when all
three three of the Big three played, when Russ played
(29:38):
with only one of them, they were twenty and thirty two.
And the biggest reason they brought Russell Westbrook in is
because they saw Lebron's man injured the last couple of years.
Eighties always injured. We need a third guy who can
help carry the load when one of those two is out,
and that just wasn't the case last year. And you know,
we can blame Frank Vogel, we can blame the roster,
but like he did not perform at the level that
(30:00):
we are accustomed to seeing Russell Westbrook perform at and
I don't see why. And you know, a thirty three
year old Russell Westbrook getting older to thirty four is
going to be any better. M You know, guys who
can't shoot tend to not age as well. So I
think for him, you know, the writing is kind of
on the wall in LA and I just think it's
a matter of time, be it sometime in the summer
(30:20):
or sometime in the first half of the season that
he ultimately gets traded. I'm with you one percent. I
can't see him coming back, I just said. And it
kills me that all of a sudden the Lakers will
worried about a draft pick, like like they've been given
away draft picks, you know, like forever, forever. Just now,
all of a sudden, they're gonna draw the line with
(30:41):
Lebron entering year twenty. They're gonna play hardball. I think
it's a Joe. I think it's a yeah, all right,
Joe Van Boo have the athletic great stuff. Man. We
appreciate the knowledge. Thank you, guys, appreciate it. Any guy,
YEA more I couple coming your way as we wrap
up A Magic City Monday, keep it lacked. A couple
of Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions
(31:02):
of The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker
weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. All right, it is
the a Couple, Chris Brussard and Rob Parker, and we're
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. And with prices
(31:23):
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(31:49):
all right, Rob, Zion Williamson, let's end with that. He
was cleared to play full bore practice, full contact. All that,
and the hope of course being that he'll be able
to play all next season. And obviously everyone outside or
(32:09):
even inside the organization in New Orleans he's holding their
breath and hoping that he can indeed play next year.
Interesting report from Brian Windhorse about Zion Williamson. Now, Rob,
you know he is eligible for a five year, one
(32:30):
hundred and eighty one million dollar contract extension. All right,
he said at the end of the season, he's ready
to sign it as soon as they put it in
front of him. Here's what wind Horse reported. From what
I've been told, this is Windhorse speaking. The Pelicans at
this point are not willing to offer a full five
(32:53):
year guaranteed deal, and a lot of it is flowing
down from ownership. Gail Benson, the owner is also the
owner of the New Orleans Saints, and I've been told
they're going to take a football style, Saint style mentality
with this contract negotiation. They will offer him a huge contract,
(33:16):
but will not guarantee all of it. Rob your thoughts,
It's totally ridiculous, and it's a different league, different Why
would he accept that? I mean, basically, she's running him
out of town. If she would have come to my
bargaining table offering me some bogus, terrible NFL deal And
(33:39):
even now you're starting to see players are getting guarantees,
So to try to turn the clock back and put
that on him if she wants to ruin the franchise
and have another person, another player disenfranchise and want to
move on or whatever. This is the way to do it.
I think it's a mistake. So you think they should
just offer him the five years, one day eighty one, Well,
(34:00):
I mean it's either that or tell him that. Uh uh.
Basically we're going to not and you you could probably
start making your designs on wherever you want to go out. Yeah,
because I believe that. I think there's another option. I
don't believe two more years. No, I get that, but
I'm saying he won't stay. I bet you if they
(34:21):
don't give it to him, I don't know what he'll do.
But at this moment, I'm not offering him five years
one eighty one. And I get I get both sides.
I get the Saint or the um Pelicans one team
to be like. Look, I mean, he's played eighty five
games in three years. We can't guarantee him five years,
(34:44):
one hundred and eighty one million. And I get him
though not re read not accepting a nine guaranteed contract
because rob to your point, that would that could set
the whole league back players wise, right team, other teams
(35:04):
would use that to try to, you know, sign other
guys to non guaranteed deal. So I think That's why
I ask you the question, like, what you think they
should do. They might Their best deal might be not
to offer him a contract this year and just say
if he approaches them, say hey, you know, let's play
it out. I mean, obviously we love you, we think
(35:26):
you're our future, but we just want to say you say,
see you stay healthy. The most important thing is let's
get you healthy. Let's get the team going in the
right direction, you know, couch it that way, and then
we'll we'll pay you, no doubt, but let's just make
sure you're able to play and you can be your
best the best player you can be. But then, but
that might be better than that might be better than
(35:48):
offering him a non guaranteed deal, because if you're offering
a non guaranteed deal, you're right, it might rub him
and his representatives the wrong way. And then they're like,
like you said, when they get a chance to go,
they may jet um. They still might. But you he
can only be a restricted free agent next summer, so
(36:11):
he can't go, so you could match any offer he got.
And in the following year he could be unrestricted, so
they got him for a while. I got news for you.
He can force his way out if he decides he
doesn't want to play there, he's not gonna give us all.
I think it's their playing with Look, no, I don't
(36:32):
give him. No, I'm not saying Chris, I get your point,
but I mean I don't think. I don't think. I'm
saying that if you're the Pelicans, you don't have a choice.
You've already had, so you got to get out on
five years one anyone? Yea, I think the Pelicans have
no choice. No, I really do. I think they have
no choice. Na. I disagree with that because even Anthony
(36:56):
Davis when he walked out, he still took the first
long term Like, we haven't seen a player not take
the first long term deal. And so I just think
he's been injured too much. I mean hack at this
point last year, we thought he was gonna be playing
the whole season, and then when you're throwing his body type,
(37:18):
it's just I would just wait. I agree it might
be offensive to offer a partial contract, but don't offer
it this year, let him play next year, and then
offered offered during the season, if you can, so, all right,
A couple signing off on the Magic City Monday, we
got Jason Smith and Mike Harmon next, and those brothers
bring fire.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s
(00:22):
R party. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. It is
the I Couple. I'm Chris. He's ribwere live from the
Fox Sports Radio studios. It's our number three of a
three hour show here on the Magic City Monday. And
(00:43):
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folks do apply. We got Jovin Buha, who covers the
(01:05):
Lakers for the Athletic coming up at the bottom of
the hour. You don't want to miss that. Lakers obviously
just hired a new head coach, Darvin Ham, and a
report out today from Mark Stein, former colleague over at
the Old Network he's saying that the Lakers are going
to keep Russell Westbrook. So we will talk to Yo
(01:28):
Vine about all of that. All right, rob, Let's get
into this article in the New York Post today pointing
out that, you know, all you had to do is
kind of look at it the situation. But they wrote
about it. Of course. Three years ago, Kevin Durant and
Kyrie Irving both left their teams. Durant left Golden State,
(01:53):
where they won two championships in three years. Kyrie left Boston,
where he had been since he demanded the trade from
the Calves. And they both said they were leaving to
go do something special. And now their former teams are
actually playing against each other in the NBA Finals, and
(02:15):
that's been trending today and you know, not lost on
a lot of people. So here's what I want to
throw out to you. Which guy you think it looks
worse in this situation between Kyrie and KDD Neither guy.
Neither guy. I don't think either guy was happy where
(02:36):
they were, so people make moves. If Kyrie was happy
in Boston, he would have signed there. He wasn't happy.
Kevin Durant didn't feel he was treated right I don't
think either guys looking back going oh wow, I can't
believe it. They got there. Maybe if you're Bryce Harper,
when you left the Nationals and then they won the
(02:57):
World Series the next year and you haven't won anything,
you might look back both of them looked bad. No, No,
I think I'm saying he might look back and go bad,
But think it was a bad look for him. Not
a bad look after he left. No, because if he
wins at some point, he won an MVP last year,
He's had a fine, you know time in Philadelphia. Um,
(03:21):
he's not the reason that they haven't won anything, Gona
going to the World Series. But my point is those
two guys felt like they've accomplished something. They both have
championships in their back pocket. They wanted to do something together.
I just don't look at it that way. I think
both of them were not happy in those places. So
to sit back and say they should have stayed, it's
(03:41):
just not realistic because I don't believe either one. Forget
about the basketball. I don't think either one were happy
in the situations, right Rob. I mean, but let's keep
it basketball because I agree, I mean, do what you
want to do, you know if you if you heck,
if Steph Curry wants to lead Golden State next year
(04:02):
because he wants to live in Charlotte, where he's from, fine,
I agree with you and personal reasons, guys can do
what they want to do, and I'll never be critical
of a guy for making a personal decision for his happiness, right,
But I'm talking about basketball wise, nobody's talking about personal
(04:24):
and I think, look, I've said last week, I think
it only looks bad on Durant if they win it
and people already kind of were looking sideways at his championships. Yeah,
everybody knows he's a great player, and he gave him
credit for being Finals MVP, and he certainly deserved it.
(04:47):
But if they win it without him and he hasn't
even gotten past the second round now one year he
didn't play because he was injured, But I do think
that that will cause people who have, you know, kind
of questioned those championships in the first place, to feel
even stronger that way. But that said, I don't think
(05:11):
there's any question this is a poorer reflection on Kyrie
Irving and again straight basketball, than it is on Kevin Durant.
Because even if the Warriors win it. Now, people would
look at it like, yeah, I mean, you know, they
(05:33):
just filled in Andrew Wiggins or Jordan Pool in for
Durant and they win the championship. You know. But I
don't think anybody robbed is going to say they're better
without Kevin Durant. Like, if Kevin Durant was still on
that team, this wouldn't even like this series wouldn't even
(05:56):
be in question. Them getting to the finals wouldn't be
in even in question. So even if you think those
championships were cheap or they could have won it without him,
and they may prove that they you know, will win
it without him, you still gotta admit they were better
with Kevin Durant because for those two years, I mean,
(06:17):
he got hurt the third year, but those two years
he was healthy, it was just pretty much a joke.
I mean, Houston did push him, and let's give him
credit for that, James Harden and Chris Paul, but for
the most part, it was a done deal. We all
knew who was winning the championship and they did. Kyrie,
on the other hand, and here's where basketball chemistry is important.
(06:44):
Fit and we've been talking about this robe with the
Lakers in Russell Westbrook. It's important. It is not always
just about gathering the most talent. And the Boston Celtics,
let me put it this way, Kyrie Irving is better
than Marcus Smart. I get that Marcus Smart is Defensive
(07:08):
Player of the Year and is a great defender and
is a you know, okay offensive player. Kyrie Irving's better
than him, period the end. But the Boston Celtics are
better without Kyrie Irving. They just are. And it's all
(07:29):
about chemistry, it's all about fit, because if Kyrie was
still there, it's very doubtful. I don't think Jayson Tatum
would have been able to emerge as the players he's become.
I don't know that Jaylen Brown would if he emerged
as the player he's become. And so I think that's
(07:53):
why if I had to choose one basketball wise, let's
keep it on that that it looks worse for it's Kyrie.
As great as he is individually, they're a better team
without him. I disagree. Kyrie is that kind of talent
that those guys, if he would have had time, they
(08:14):
would have all been able to adjust. If he would
have had time. Yeah, yeah, if they would have stayed there, Chris,
I'm trying to give you my point that time he
had time. No, all I know is I remember when
he first got to Boston and they ran off fourteen
or fifteen wins in a row or whatever it was.
(08:34):
They got off to a great start with Kyrie there.
And all I'm saying is, if those players are truly
gifted and talented, they would have figured out a way
to play together and win. So I don't believe that
one guy would have stumped their growth. And if Jason
Tatum is a star in the NBA, he would still
(08:55):
be a star. Of way Kobe found out to be
a star with Shack, and that other players wind up
being stars with other players. I don't I don't believe that.
I don't think I can look and say, oh, Tatum
would be a bomb if Kyrie would still living. Who said,
I'm just I mean, you keep it teams, but that's
(09:15):
not even but Rob, no, Rich, but no discuss an
expression and you're going to bump an expression. But he
said Jason Tatum would be a bum. I just Jason
Tatum showed he was a very good player. What I
said was he wouldn't even be. I don't think he
would have emerged as the superstar he is stark r
(09:37):
from a bomb. I just I disagree, I think, but
just if he was digree logically, But that's I'm just saying.
I think that it's too easy to just rub your
crystal ball and say, oh, if Kyrie stayed, they wouldn't
be there. I just don't believe that he's one of
the best players in the league, top seventy five player.
(09:58):
I think it's too easy. It's too easy. While in
my mind he is, I don't know, Okay, okay, in
my mind, in my mind yes, And I just I
just think it's ridiculous to believe that Kyrie irgin would
make this team worse if they had the same situation,
(10:20):
if if they had the same new coach and not
the other coach, and and and things were different, that
they wouldn't be where they are. Kywe's that kind of
a player. So I disa what kind of a player
he is? A big time does big shots that doesn't matter?
Yes it does, No it doesn't, No, it doesn't. No,
(10:41):
no talent out He asked me, my point, you made
a point. I just talent. I disagree. I just disagish.
I just think it's easy to sit here and and
throw your crystal ball out and say Kywe was the
problem Becau because he's not on a team, and they
made it. If they lose the championship, it was because
(11:03):
Kyrie wasn't on a team, or was it because Kyrie?
If they don't win, it ain't because they didn't have
a star player like Kyrie to make those big shots
in big moments. It'll be some other excuse. I just
think it's too easy to just point fingers at those guys.
Those are talented basketball players. Kyrie's made one of the
biggest shots in NBA history. He has a championship in
(11:26):
his back pocket. During the NBA Finals against these Golden
State Warriors, he averaged twenty eight points a game. He's
a really good player who played with a great player
in Lebron and was able to flourish. I just dismiss
this whole notion. Rob is called analysis. You said their
(11:47):
taste talented players, they would have figured it out, Okay,
Lebron James is talented, Anthony Davis is talented, and Russell
Westbrook is talented. Those really are three top seventy five
players and they can't make it work because it's not
always let's just grab the most talent. It's about chemistry,
(12:12):
it's about fit, it's about styles of play. And that's
what I'm pointing out. Nobody's saying Jason Tatum would be
a bum if Kyrie Irving was there. Nobody's saying Kyrie
Irving isn't a phenomenal player. I've been saying for years
he's a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he was
(12:34):
not a fit with that team. And I think largely
it was more personality and things like that, but he
wasn't a fit. They went. You can talk about all
you want a regular season run, Well that ain't what
it's all about. It's about a playoff run. And they
went to the conference finals to Cleveland's seven games with
(12:57):
Lebron without Kyrie. In the very next season when he's there,
they lose in five to Milwaukee. So we got evidence.
This is not a crystal you and crystal ball. Don't
belittle analysis like crystal ball. We actually can talk about facts.
And this doesn't mean Kyrie's not great, but it means
(13:18):
the fit was not right. And that's evidence because that
doesn't mean. But that doesn't mean because it didn't work
one year that it might not have worked down there
when you change coaches, when you look and you'll change philosophies.
All I'm saying is just because it didn't work one
year doesn't mean it couldn't work in time. A lot
(13:40):
of teams their first year through, or or second year through,
or third year through, they don't get there and then
they all of a sudden it clicks or they get
the white guy didn't rest. All I'm saying they got
demonstrably worse. I disagree with you, disagree with facts from
seven games and opinion, ain't it's not it's a fact.
(14:01):
Here's a fact. I disagree with you. That's fine, you're
disagree with facts. This is not. This is a pat
rob Can I finish? Did I interrupt you? No? Yes
you did? Yes you did two times? Go ahead. It
is a fact that without Kyrie irving, they went to
the conference finals seven games. It is a fact that
(14:24):
when Kyrie came back, they lost in five in the
second round. It is a fact that the very next
year after Kyrie left, they went back to the conference finals.
Did they win? No, But that that that mean that
maybe they would have won first, Maybe they would have
won with Kyrie those two years. What is Kye? Maybe
(14:47):
they would have won? What is Kyrie? I mean, we
didn't won Lebron. The biggest three to one come back
in the history of the NBA is what Kyrie won.
That's all I'm saying. Rob Kyrie was a great number
two to Lebron. Lebron was able to control that team
and help Kyrie shine, and Kyrie's great in his own right.
(15:10):
But without Lebron, James Kyrie hasn't won anything. He hasn't
even come close. He hasn't even been to the conference finals.
Cleveland was bad before Lebron got there, with Kyrie shining
All Star all that Lebron that Kyrie leaves Boston doesn't
do much. Kyrie's in Brooklyn. Brooklyn doesn't do much. So
(15:36):
these are facts. These are not feelings. You're you're getting
feelings and all that. That's cool, Chris. Whenever somebody disagreed
with you, no, not disagree noting down Bristol balling Jason
Tatum would be a bump. You're not logically because it
doesn't doesn't when they told you and when they lose
(16:01):
the finals you're gonna say that they're better without Kyrie. No, yeah,
because they are with No. If it's about winning, it
ain't about going persons about winning Kyrie one. This is
Rob's analysis, crystal Ball. Jason Tatum's a bomb, Kyrie's the
(16:23):
top seventy five player. No, I just don't cut your analysis.
No say every single thing. I just say. You said.
All I don't do is I didn't say anything that
was at is every time let's piel, Let's Polong Kevin
Duran talking about every time something doesn't go. You don't
(16:43):
want to forget the fact, lead forget an next. None
of that matters. None of that stuff matters. He ain't
haven't even had a healthy team for three years. And
you're gonna sit here and and try to paint a
picture that Brooklyn's but at this disaster because they've had
all the pieces, they've had everything, and they whatever, but
(17:06):
they have been a disaster. It's been terrible. It ain't
but it ain't apart for sure. Come on now, But
you know it's based on those do It's based on
hard is based on Simmons. I mean the one that
is really not based on is Durant. That's the one
that's not based on everybody else is based on eight
(17:27):
seven seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven nine
nine six sixty three sixty nine. You're turned away in
with the eye couple Chris and Rob Who's this look
worse for both of their ex teams are in the finals?
Boston Golden State look worse? On Kyrie or KD? You'll
turn away in a couple of Fox Sports Radio. Fox
(17:50):
Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot
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How do their former teams Boston and Golden State get
(18:31):
into the finals? Reflect on k D and Kyrie, if
at all your opinion, I cople Tyler and Sacramento. You're
on the couple of Fox Sports Radio. Hey, what's going on, guys?
What's up? Heyw real quick, I'm going to touch on
that last subject you guys talked about real quick. So
I'm in the military myself and personally, I don't have
(18:52):
a problem with anybody that decided to do to anthems,
to protests or anything like that. That's their God give
them right. In my opinion, thing, I got a problem
with people that get up, walk out during the anthem,
go get snacked and take their hats off. So you know,
we could focus on those. That's probably far more people. Yeah,
and there is. And as a service member myself and
(19:13):
almost serving a decade in the Air Force, I got
a far more problem with that than you guys that
wanted used the right to protest. So you know that
that just wants to touch on that real quick. But
as far as the current topic you guys are talking about,
I honestly don't think that either guys should be regretful
of the decision they made. I mean, at the end
of the day, when you went at Kevin Durant, he
won two championships, two finals MVPs. He got it done,
(19:37):
and when he left, the Warriors missed the playoffs the
very next year and then they right exactly, But you
can also say there's a lot of injuries and other
circumstances with him being on the nets. So I mean,
if it was a fifth, we'd all be drunk. But
when you look at when you look at Kyrie, people forget.
(19:57):
I mean, when he first joined the Celtics, they lost
game one of them Cleveland Counvalarys of that season, and
then they ruled off sixteen straight wins, and he also
got hurt. So who's gonna say, maybe if he was
playing with that team in twenty eighteen in that conference
final against Lebron and the Castle, he could have helped
propelled them to the next level. So I think he
played the next year. He played the next year, right,
(20:18):
I'm with and they went out in five, and Kyrie
was terrible in that series against Milwalker. Yeah, and I
got a bad series. Yeah, he definitely had a bad series,
and I think you're you're afforded one of those. But
I think if they would have read it back and
then who knows. But again, so many different variables. I
just wouldn't hang my head on it. And you guys
got an opportunity to continue right in the history in
(20:39):
the league, and I think we should just sit back
and see what they do with it. All right, Thank
you appreciate the call. Tyler spot On Felicia Michigan. You're
on the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Felicia? Hey?
How are you doing? Where you being Felicia? Hey? Hey, hey,
I got a lot to say on this subject. Get
(21:00):
into it. Kevin Durant, before he was with the Warriors,
he was not considered the greatest layer in the world.
When he's with the Warriors, he becomes. All of a sudden,
he's becomes the greatest player in the world. When he
was with um U Oklahoma um everyone had this Pete party. Oh.
We feel far for him because he could place for
where sports for We never got a chance to explorers personality.
(21:23):
He developed a personalities and he was with the Warriors.
All of a sudden, when he's with the Warriors, we
no longer like his personality. He leads the Warriors, his
capabilities become questionable. Um He's no longer longer able to
lead a team because we all know Stace Curry was
always the leader of that team, no matter what UM.
(21:43):
When it comes down to UM, the cast, we all
know Learon James was the leader of that team. We
all know that what's his name was in a in
a Mighty player in the twenty sixteen UM Final. He
was a comping his name Kyrie was a clutch player,
(22:05):
but mentally he was not developed. He's always been a
controversial player up until the day twenty twenty two. So
there you have it. So your point is tools that
are questionable. They have a skill set, but not the mindset. Okay,
all right there bye Felicia, where there it is. Be
(22:28):
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Broussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart
Radio app. We welcome into the Eye Couple. Jovine, How
are you? What's happening? I'm doing? All guys, how are
you doing? We're good, man, We're good. What this this
coach in search w was long finally is ended. They
(22:51):
got Darvin Ham. There were reports that, like Phil Jackson
and Kurt Rambis, you know wanted him because he was moldable,
if you will, because he's a rookie coach. Now there
are reports that he's going to get the freedom to
choose his own staff, which Frank Vogel didn't have, and
(23:12):
Kurt Rambas won't be in the meetings and coaches meetings
and all that, which means a lot, it seems, so
give us what kind of cover those things and tell
us about this hiring. Yeah, well, I think you know,
traditionally the Lakers have gone for the flashy star coaching name, right,
Like you look back, even the last couple of decades,
(23:34):
Phil Jackson, Mike D'Antoni, last coaching search, they were trying
to get tylu like they tend to gravitate towards the
bigger names because they are the Lakers. But that type
of coach wasn't out there. And I think if you
look at you know, yes, Terry Stotts, I think how
an underrated run in Portland, And you know, Kenny Atkinson
seems to be getting some buzz, and you know, there
(23:55):
were some solid candidates for sure, but I do think
Darvin Ham, you know, one of the longer ten yeared
assistant coaches in the league, someone who's won a couple
of championships, one as a player, one as an assistant,
and someone who's been a runner up in multiple you know,
coaching searches. I think it was his time. So I think,
like we shouldn't discount that part of it, where I
(24:16):
just think Darvin has been a top candidate for a
while and it was just kind of a matter of
time until he got hired. Now, there are clearly a
lot of chefs in the kitchen with the Lakers, right, Like,
I mean, there's close to you know, ten people kind
of involved in this process, so there are a lot
of competing interests. But I do think they realized they
(24:36):
botched the Frank Vogel situation and it ended up leading
to a championship, right And you know, it's hard to
say it didn't work out, but their top two choices
were Ty Lou and Monty Williams, and both guys passed
on joining the Lakers because they didn't come correct with
the money and the years, and you know, it was
(24:57):
like you have to have Jason Kidd on your staff,
and we're going to involved in coaching meetings and all
this stuff. So I think they realize you know, the
optics of that have obviously not been good when we're
talking about it right now. People have been talking about
it the last couple of months since the Frank vocal situation.
So I think they learned from that in twenty nineteen
and decided, Hey, we kind of need to take a
better approach. We need to be a more modern staff
(25:19):
of you know, coaches have a certain level of autonomy.
They get to pick their staff, they get to run
their stuff. So I think it was more of a
learning lesson from The Lakers have kind of tended to
operate a certain way for so long, and they've obviously
had that success, but as things kind of change, they
haven't really adapted. And I think this is finally them
kind of taking that step in the right direction. Now
(25:40):
help me with this, okay, So Darvin Ham, I'm all
in agreement. A new one. When he played for the
Pistons in two thousand and four, when he's on a
championship team, great guy, paid his dues, all good. I
love it. But tell me, was Mark Jackson really ever
interviewed for the Lakers job? And and what if he was?
(26:02):
What happened there? And it seemed like this is the
first time he even got any interviews, let loan or
in his name being mentioned. But it doesn't look as
if Mark Jackson will probably ever coach again. Like what
did you hear? What was this scuttle butt or Mark Jackson? Yeah,
I'm not I don't believe he interviewed. To my knowledge,
(26:22):
I know he was a candidate, but I don't think.
I think I'm asking because I remember his name, Yeah,
it was in it. There was like an initial list
of you know, eight ten names, and then they kind
of whittled that down and started doing some interviews and
then they and you know, got it down to the
final three. I don't believe he was in that initial
wave of interviews. That's just to my knowledge. So yeah,
(26:46):
I know, I think he was taken more seriously with
the Sacramento job, but between the two, but I know
he was mentioned with both of those. But yeah, I um,
you know, it's one of those things that it seems like, yeah,
I mean, he probably isn't going to coach again. Um,
you know, unfortunately for him, based on the way you know,
this is all played out. But um, you know, I
(27:07):
did I think he was more than the mixer Sacramento
though than the Lakers. There have been there have been
reports that the Lakers are gonna keep Russell Westbrook if
in fact, one today saying they are, you know, that's
the plan to keep him, not just they might keep
him in all that. Um, first of all, what can
you tell us about that? And secondly, do you think
(27:30):
it can work? Lebron if they're healthy, Lebron a d
Russ can it work? So to answer your first question,
I reported last week on The Athletic that from from
what I've been hearing, the current market right now is
teams are demanding a first round pick for Russell Westbrook. So, um,
you know, there are several teams that could take him,
(27:52):
and then several situations that could make some sense, you know,
Charlotte's one example, Indiana, Oklahoma City. But all these teams
are saying, if we're going to take Russell Westbrook's giant contract,
even though it isn't expiring, and we're going to do
you a favor and kind of give you a you know,
get out of jail free card, we want a first
round pick at a minimum on top of whatever else
(28:13):
you know you're going to throw into kind of make
the money work and make it make sense. So the
Lakers stance is they do not want to give up
a first round pick. They do not want to attach
an asset to trade Russell Westbrook. They think that because
he'sn't expiring, that should be enough. And you know, we
could take on some bad money from other teams, and
we're actually doing you guys the favor of you know,
you have multiple multi year contracts that you're getting off.
(28:35):
We're just getting off this Westbrook contract for one year.
So it's kind of a game of chicken right now.
I do think, you know, one of the two sides
is eventually going to fold, and it's either going to
be the Lakers attaching a first round pick or a
team kind of lessening their stance and and just taken
on Westbrook. But no team is incentivized to do that
right now. And obviously, when you start a negotiation, you
(28:56):
come in with your you know, you talked up and
then you see who backs down first. So I think
that's kind of where things are at right now. To
your second call, you're not buying, you're not buying the
Oh they're keeping Russ for sure, that's not I think
I think they will I think they will. I think
as of now, I still think he will be traded. Um.
I think it's just a matter of time, be it
(29:16):
you know, later in the summer or maybe even into
the season, but I expect by the trade deadline he
will be moved. I would be surprised to be the
Laker because to your second point, I don't think this
can work. I think if you look at the West
right now, to me, they're a playing team if they
keep Russell Westbrook. There's just nothing we saw last year.
I mean, these guys were eleven and ten when all
three three of the Big three played, when Russ played
(29:38):
with only one of them, they were twenty and thirty two.
And the biggest reason they brought Russell Westbrook in is
because they saw Lebron's man injured the last couple of years.
Eighties always injured. We need a third guy who can
help carry the load when one of those two is out,
and that just wasn't the case last year. And you know,
we can blame Frank Vogel, we can blame the roster,
but like he did not perform at the level that
(30:00):
we are accustomed to seeing Russell Westbrook perform at and
I don't see why. And you know, a thirty three
year old Russell Westbrook getting older to thirty four is
going to be any better. M You know, guys who
can't shoot tend to not age as well. So I
think for him, you know, the writing is kind of
on the wall in LA and I just think it's
a matter of time, be it sometime in the summer
(30:20):
or sometime in the first half of the season that
he ultimately gets traded. I'm with you one percent. I
can't see him coming back, I just said. And it
kills me that all of a sudden the Lakers will
worried about a draft pick, like like they've been given
away draft picks, you know, like forever, forever. Just now,
all of a sudden, they're gonna draw the line with
(30:41):
Lebron entering year twenty. They're gonna play hardball. I think
it's a Joe. I think it's a yeah, all right,
Joe Van Boo have the athletic great stuff. Man. We
appreciate the knowledge. Thank you, guys, appreciate it. Any guy,
YEA more I couple coming your way as we wrap
up A Magic City Monday, keep it lacked. A couple
of Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions
(31:02):
of The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker
weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. All right, it is
the a Couple, Chris Brussard and Rob Parker, and we're
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. And with prices
(31:23):
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(31:49):
all right, Rob, Zion Williamson, let's end with that. He
was cleared to play full bore practice, full contact. All that,
and the hope of course being that he'll be able
to play all next season. And obviously everyone outside or
(32:09):
even inside the organization in New Orleans he's holding their
breath and hoping that he can indeed play next year.
Interesting report from Brian Windhorse about Zion Williamson. Now, Rob,
you know he is eligible for a five year, one
(32:30):
hundred and eighty one million dollar contract extension. All right,
he said at the end of the season, he's ready
to sign it as soon as they put it in
front of him. Here's what wind Horse reported. From what
I've been told, this is Windhorse speaking. The Pelicans at
this point are not willing to offer a full five
(32:53):
year guaranteed deal, and a lot of it is flowing
down from ownership. Gail Benson, the owner is also the
owner of the New Orleans Saints, and I've been told
they're going to take a football style, Saint style mentality
with this contract negotiation. They will offer him a huge contract,
(33:16):
but will not guarantee all of it. Rob your thoughts,
It's totally ridiculous, and it's a different league, different Why
would he accept that? I mean, basically, she's running him
out of town. If she would have come to my
bargaining table offering me some bogus, terrible NFL deal And
(33:39):
even now you're starting to see players are getting guarantees,
So to try to turn the clock back and put
that on him if she wants to ruin the franchise
and have another person, another player disenfranchise and want to
move on or whatever. This is the way to do it.
I think it's a mistake. So you think they should
just offer him the five years, one day eighty one, Well,
(34:00):
I mean it's either that or tell him that. Uh uh.
Basically we're going to not and you you could probably
start making your designs on wherever you want to go out. Yeah,
because I believe that. I think there's another option. I
don't believe two more years. No, I get that, but
I'm saying he won't stay. I bet you if they
(34:21):
don't give it to him, I don't know what he'll do.
But at this moment, I'm not offering him five years
one eighty one. And I get I get both sides.
I get the Saint or the um Pelicans one team
to be like. Look, I mean, he's played eighty five
games in three years. We can't guarantee him five years,
(34:44):
one hundred and eighty one million. And I get him
though not re read not accepting a nine guaranteed contract
because rob to your point, that would that could set
the whole league back players wise, right team, other teams
(35:04):
would use that to try to, you know, sign other
guys to non guaranteed deal. So I think That's why
I ask you the question, like, what you think they
should do. They might Their best deal might be not
to offer him a contract this year and just say
if he approaches them, say hey, you know, let's play
it out. I mean, obviously we love you, we think
(35:26):
you're our future, but we just want to say you say,
see you stay healthy. The most important thing is let's
get you healthy. Let's get the team going in the
right direction, you know, couch it that way, and then
we'll we'll pay you, no doubt, but let's just make
sure you're able to play and you can be your
best the best player you can be. But then, but
that might be better than that might be better than
(35:48):
offering him a non guaranteed deal, because if you're offering
a non guaranteed deal, you're right, it might rub him
and his representatives the wrong way. And then they're like,
like you said, when they get a chance to go,
they may jet um. They still might. But you he
can only be a restricted free agent next summer, so
(36:11):
he can't go, so you could match any offer he got.
And in the following year he could be unrestricted, so
they got him for a while. I got news for you.
He can force his way out if he decides he
doesn't want to play there, he's not gonna give us all.
I think it's their playing with Look, no, I don't
(36:32):
give him. No, I'm not saying Chris, I get your point,
but I mean I don't think. I don't think. I'm
saying that if you're the Pelicans, you don't have a choice.
You've already had, so you got to get out on
five years one anyone? Yea, I think the Pelicans have
no choice. No, I really do. I think they have
no choice. Na. I disagree with that because even Anthony
(36:56):
Davis when he walked out, he still took the first
long term Like, we haven't seen a player not take
the first long term deal. And so I just think
he's been injured too much. I mean hack at this
point last year, we thought he was gonna be playing
the whole season, and then when you're throwing his body type,
(37:18):
it's just I would just wait. I agree it might
be offensive to offer a partial contract, but don't offer
it this year, let him play next year, and then
offered offered during the season, if you can, so, all right,
A couple signing off on the Magic City Monday, we
got Jason Smith and Mike Harmon next, and those brothers
bring fire.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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