June 30, 2022 • 35 mins
Jason and Mike reacts to the Spurs still trying to rebuild and content after six years, Bradley Beal may just be leaving the Wizards and Ric Bucher - FOX Sports 1 NBA Analyst and Long Time NBA Insider joins the guys!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
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(00:23):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Fox Sports Radio The
Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Harmon Live
from the Fox Sports or Radio studios. Where before we
get into the Freddie Freeman situation, here, just think about
this for a second. Alright. We talk a lot about
(00:44):
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and who won the breakup,
and you know, there went Brady to go in Super Bowls,
and here's Belichick trying to stay a great coach and
build the Patriots up. In the first year without Tom
Brady was terrible. The second year was okay. You know,
I look, Mac Jones was okay. Not doesn't look like
the Patriots of building a juggernaut to compete with everybody
(01:06):
Like Belichick's a great coach, but they're struggling. And when
we look at who the winner of the war is
right now it's Tom Brady looking at things. It's it's
kind of the same. But how much has the genius
of Greg Popovich taken a hit in the last few years? Right?
Because once the once the you got to and Tim
(01:33):
Duncan retired. What has happened with San Antonio? They traded
Kawai Leonard, you know, Monto Genobli retired a right, Tony
Parker left. They traded DeMar DeRozan, who's turned into a
really good player in his early thirties. Again and now
today they traded de Jontay Murray, who was their all star.
And you cut LaMarcus alt right, you you've done all
(01:53):
of these things and this is you know, the genius
Greg Popovitch, that was a great head coach for a
long time time. Five championships. How much of this can
you say? Boy, he had Tim Duncan, he had the
big fundamental how much can you say now maybe Tim
Duncan was the guy and he was more responsible than
here's the the system what Greg Popvitch has built, because
(02:16):
what we've seen is he's not been able to get
along with stars and he's not been able to utilize
stars to make his team better. Right, good, DeMar de Rosen,
who was an m v P guy for for the
first half of last year, he had he had a
two week span when he had a game winning shot,
like seven consecutive games. Right, then, here's de Jon T. Mury. No,
couldn't win with him, couldn't win there, couldn't get along
(02:38):
with Kawai. Leonard had to wind up trading him away.
Still has not been able to make that trade into
something big. You've brought in star players and you said
goodbye to star players, and where are you So you
talk about a guy who's whose reputation has taken a hit.
It's Greg Popovich. I mean, look, they trade de Jon T. Murray.
Today's all right, Well hasn't worked. Oh pop Itch is
gonna build. No, this has been six years of the
(03:00):
Spurs continuing to reload and rebuild and you are not
seeing them at the level they should be at. If
Bill Belichick gets a lot of flak for not being
able to turn the Patriots into a good team, maybe
it was Tom Brady. You could say the same thing
for Greg Popovich in the Spurs. Yeah, I got no
argument with that. I mean, certainly you had a convergence
of events and you know, continuity and consistency when it
(03:25):
comes to the coaching and your star players. Right, we
we talk about it all the time. You and I
talked about it Monday through Friday. Uh, it's certainly a
mainstay in talking points and a lot of issues that
that I do with Bucky Brooks on Sundays. Jason is like,
if you've got an organist stability in your front office
coaching staff, and then a nucleus of players that isn't
(03:46):
training out, don't miss significant time due to injury, You're
you're more more than likely to have some run of success.
Doesn't mean you win titles, maybe maybe not, but you
you certainly are in the mix. And for the Spurs,
everything coalesced. And obviously Tim Duncan is a guy whose
name gets debated a bunch, right, and with Steph Curry
(04:07):
winning his fourth title, Duncan was one of the guys.
All right, if you're doing your top ten or fifteen,
let's go pull question who goes out? Is it? Tim Duncan?
Is it? And it certain you know, Kobe's name comes up,
shocks name comes up. People start trying to figure out
who the odd man out and Duncan is always going
to be included because he wasn't very exciting to people.
(04:29):
People kind of denigrate what the Spurs were. Were they
great basketball to watch if you were a fan looking
for high flying action? No? Were they great for television ratings?
Hell no? But they had consistency and they had a
guy who goes down, at least from my eyes of
what I've watched in my forty plus years here on
(04:49):
this earth, one of the greatest players and consistent players
that we've seen. And so for Greg Popovic, Yeah, you're
trying to go into that next spot and you much
like we we've surmised and you know, I think part
of it is the truth serum for coach k obviously
age but walking away from from Duke uh, and then
(05:12):
you're looking looking at other retirements. Right when we we
look at um different movements in college football and college
basketball that maybe the n i L and the changing
of all of those rules. You know what, it's a different,
different world, right Jay right? Walking away uh this year?
(05:32):
How much of that he wasn't a big believer in
the change of structure and adding in all sorts of
elements of variables right. He liked consistency. So when we
look at Popovich, maybe the more player agency becomes an issue,
and I mean an issue in a positive way. Right,
guys are deciding what they want to do for their
(05:54):
futures free agency or in the occasional, hey, I just
want out of here. This isn't working for me. And
I know the fans in that local market, the media,
they're gonna be mad and portrayed whatever. But the reality
is everybody else has agency in your job. If you
want to go do something else, might have to negotiate
a buy out or something, depending on how your work
is structured, but you're gonna be able to move uh. Likewise,
(06:17):
may maybe for Gregg Popovich this era, especially when you
look at the players who were either traded, released, whatever,
there were guys that were starting to talk. We've talked
about that with Bill Belichick the same way right now,
as soon as guys left, I mean Rob Gronkowski, uh
and and Brady and some of their stuff and talking
about their time in New England. Edelman going down the
(06:38):
line talk about where you know, the No Fund League
extended into the locker room. Successful, winning, but also stressful
and a whole other thing that you know, once you
see the other side, whether it's retirement or another team,
maybe it's like, well maybe that's not the best, you know,
not the way that has to go. And I wonder
if Popovich is feeling some of that. So yeah, he
(06:59):
put him in the same buck it with Belichick in
that regard Twitter. And how about a fresca Mike gets
swollen down the Jason Smith Show with my best friend
of Mike cammerent So just something to think about there
for Greg Popovitch when we're talking about the genius pop Yeah,
maybe it's the genius of Tim duncan. Just think about
that for a second. System coach. Now, I can't do
(07:19):
any interviews in San Antonio again, I can't. I just
thought it was funny. I just did the summary statement
for you there. Hey, you know what, I actually have
a great story about the San Antonio Spurs. I'll tell you,
I'll tell it. Yes, it's a great is it Charles Barkley?
No no, it's a fight with people? No? No, no no,
it's a great story. Well it may be a Draymond
Green Charles Barkley story where you wind up fighting with people.
But let's get to this here for a comments. Who
(07:40):
are Rick Buker coming up in a bid? Who's gonna,
you know, help us get set for everything going on
in free agency? Jalen Brunson and James Harden, DeShawn Ty
Murray uh a big story out of Major League Baseball today.
Doug Gottlieb here on Fox Sports Radio earlier today tweeted
out the Casey Close, agent for Freddie Freeman, UH never
presented Freddie Freeman with the final offer from the Braves
(08:03):
last season before Freddie Freeman left for the Dodgers. This
has been a big story the past few days because
Freddie Freeman's crying press conference in Atlanta and Clayton Kershaw saying, Hey,
I hope he likes us. So you know, hey, Freddy,
you played for us. Now and Freddie Freeman had to
fire his representation and look for new people. Is looking
(08:24):
for new agents to help him going forward now since
this was reported earlier today, now Molly Knight reporting that
Casey Close, the agent in question, just released a statement
Tom Verducci saying that there is no truth to that
story and that he would testify to it under oath
that he didn't replace or that he didn't report the
final contract offer of the Braves to Freddie Freeman. So
(08:47):
now this is something that's going to be looked into
and adjudicated. We have more steps coming this with that,
with the report that Doug had earlier today, and now
here's Casey Close saying no, I didn't do that. The
bottom line is this, this Freddie Freeman story or is
an absolute disaster for the Dodgers. Right. It's one thing
to come back and and be teary eyed. Hey it's
(09:07):
a press conference, but now you now you know he
didn't want to leave, and you wonder how happy is
he being a Dodger, right, because Clayton Kershaw wouldn't say
anything unless he felt he had to. Clayton Kershaw is
not gonna get involved in in daily minutia, every day
stuff like this. But for him to say, hey, we
hope Freddie likes it here because you could tell Freddie
(09:29):
Freeman's on that that Braves hangover and he never wanted
to leave. So if everybody's giving it, you know now
that Freddie Freeman doesn't have representation, I can help Freddie
Freeman with what the next step should be is because
like I said, this is a disaster for Freeman and
the Dodgers. Right now, I would tell Freddie, dude, suck
it up, smile, have a press conference, tell everybody you
(09:52):
love being a Los Angeles Dodger. Decisions have consequences. In
the end, you could have gone back to Atlanta because
they did have an offer on the table that we
know you knew about. It wasn't what you wanted. But
if you wanted to go back and take a hundred
million instead of a hundred and sixty million, you could
have done that. You didn't do it. You went, Okay,
suck it up, tell everybody how happy you are to
(10:14):
be a Dodger, and go forward, because this is what
you should be doing. Because decisions have consequences. I'm gonna
say it again, because that's the thing. Nobody's no. Nobody
told you all you gotta do this. Um. This is
where you could have made a different decision if you
wanted to. But right now, what you have to fix
is the perception that you're only playing with the Dodgers.
(10:34):
Because you gotta go out there and tell everybody, I
am happy to be here, I love my team, I
love my teammates. Maybe it's one of those things where
you talk right before a game or you are on
an off day, but you make sure people know how
happy you are to be a Los Angeles Dodger. Put
this thing to bed and move on, because right now
he's like I really I feel like he's like Wesley
(10:56):
Snipes his character from the fan who signed a free
agent d with the Giants but wasn't hitting, so he
wore his Braves jersey under his Giants jersey for good luck.
Like like it's it's Freddie Freeman wearing his Braves jersey
under his Dodgers jersey just to hit. Well, yeah, you
got a home run tonight. I mean I wanted Freddie
take that jersey off. Are you wearing your Braves jersey under? Yeah?
(11:17):
You have to fix this and suck it up and smile.
That's what I would tell Freddie Freeman. Yeah, I think
you know, for those that missed it, when this first
came up on Friday and we discussed it, you know,
one of the big talking points. At least, you know,
I tried to bang the drum off with Clayton Kershaw's
number one. He normally doesn't inject himself into things that
aren't that he doesn't have to deal with right. So
(11:37):
being asked by the A j C about the Freddie Freeman,
he could have said that first line, hey, you know
obviously meant a lot. He means a lot to them,
they mean a lot to him, and could have left
it at that. But the fact that he decided, you
know what, I'm putting it out there. Let's put that
out there. That was kind of interesting from when we
look at Clayton Kershaw's career as a whole, right, because
(12:01):
he showed a little bit of emotion when he helped
unveil Sandy ko fax is Uh statue outside Dodger Stadium,
but otherwise he's generally a guy who's pretty quiet, goes
about his business. I mean, he does interviews and and
does it, is good with his time and everything, but
normally doesn't delve too deep into things outside of his
regular routine and where the team is in the moment.
(12:24):
So that was kind of interesting as related to the
rest of this. Yeah, for Freddy Freeman, you had the
full weekend statement. Plash Key, our guy from the l A.
Times and and our friend here on the show, whoever
it's got to be with, sit down and talk about
how great the clubhouse has been and at this point
you can lie, but you have to are great friends.
(12:48):
But but and and that. I don't mean that in
in Clayton, but but it could be. But just in general,
the idea of coming to Los Angeles, what it's meant.
And obviously, you know what, just say I had a
great time in Atlanta. It's done and I have to
accept that and move on and put it out there
is just show your humanity, which you did with crying.
(13:09):
But then it dragged on. And whatever the truth is
and how negotiations broke down, something was missing, something in
the discussions was lost in translation years dollars, this guy
said this. This guy said that whatever that truth is,
I don't know. Unless we get full transcripts, we're never
gonna know. But the reality is he got a guy
(13:32):
who's in the middle of a season and look, he
hit well this past week, but still clearly his his
psyche is is a bit damaged from what went down.
So but someone's got to be in that clubhouse, whether
it's Dave Roberts someone else too, just said, you know what,
we need to move past this and be done with
this and getting out in front of the good people
of Los Angeles to put this to rest once and
(13:52):
for all. Freddie, you gotta do it because the All
Star Games coming here. What are you gonna get? Freddie
Freeman's third amongst first basement dude, you signed a big
contract here, man, this is your team. Now, I'm sorry,
this is your team. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at
ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific Fox Sports Radio. The
(14:12):
Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Harman. True
with prices soaring at the pump Discovers, Got your back
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Learn more at discover dot com. Slash rewards limitations they
(14:34):
do apply well. Joining us now on the hot line
for a big free agency primer. Fox Sports one NBA
insider on the Ball podcast. He's on Twitter at Rick Buker.
It is Rick Buker, and I say to you, Rick Buker,
nix Yo, here we come, It begins again, Here we come,
(14:57):
and there we go. You know I have this look
everything is pointing towards the Knick's landing Jalen Brunson one
of the big prizes in free agency. Right every day
it's happening. Uh, there's nothing out of Dallas. It's the
relationship that the Knicks have had with Jalen Brunston, Rick
Brunson for a long time. There's it's a fad, a
(15:17):
complete which makes me think it's not gonna happen. And
and something is gonna and it's gonna be the most
embarrassing Knick's headline of the last decade that a guy
they made trades for that they went all in four
dago sign is gonna wind up playing someplace else. I
that's not my fear. My fear is that they actually
get it, and they get it. Come on, come on,
(15:40):
ra wow. I celebrated the hell of a Cell Mankind
and Undertaker anniversary yesterday. Rick, you just topped it. Well,
I do what I can actually done. Look, that's why
you guys allowed me to be on your show on
a weekly basis. I had missed that. I have to
bring it. I have to bring it in a new
(16:01):
and different way. Now here's that this is the issue
and and we see this time and again you can
sell me on all the things that Jalen Brunson can
bring to the Knicks. Is Jalen Brunson going to change
the knicks fortunes based on what you are paying him.
(16:21):
He has to be darned near a franchise changer. He
has to be a pivotal player. Now. I love Jalen Brunson.
I love everything about Jalen Brunson. I think he's a
gritty tough player, but he's in that Fred Van lee
Lee camp of gritty, undersized, tough, mentally tough point guards
(16:47):
who don't necessarily draw double teams or force a team
to really change how it how it defends you. And
so look, I think it hurts the Dallas Mavericks in
a big way because I thought he's a great accompaniment
to Luka Dontitch. But having him stand alone with the
(17:09):
New York Knicks, unless you're looking and you're telling me
what r J Barrett or Julius I can't even say
that started with a straight face. Julius Randol or some
other element with them is going to be not Luca Donsitch,
but is going to be a star of the magnitude
of Brunson or better. Now I'm paying attention because now
(17:32):
I have a point guard who can distribute and get
everybody involved in all of that. But it's always about
in free agency, it's not just about getting the guy,
it's what it costs you to get the guy. And
they cleared a number of look nerlands. No, well, it
was a very useful player last year had had his moments,
like they lost a couple of players that were contributing
(17:56):
pieces in order to make room for for Brunson. And
now you're paying him where it ultimately is going to
cost you some other pieces down the line. Can you
afford them? That's my concern is that there it's so
fits with tips and they so need a point guard
and Brunson is the best available out there. That they're
(18:19):
gonna end up spending U way too much in assets
in pure cash, and that Brunson is not going to
be able to live up to it. And then we
know how that plays in Madison Square Garden, we know
how that plays with Knicks fans. Never will and that
is my concern. That's why I honestly, if they didn't
(18:40):
get him, based on what they're they're they're they want
to spend on him what they've already spent on him.
I'm more concerned about that than them not getting him.
There you go, there's your knicks. Uh. Well, it had
to happen. And Rick's the guide to come in and
and kind of patch you on the back and tell
you straight while making you feel good about bad news. Okay,
(19:04):
now we're moving on with opt ins, opt outs and
shuffling of money. And then we have James Harden today saying,
you know what, I want to win. I want to
do this for the good of the team and I
in our first hour, Rick, I said, hey, I'll grab
some popcorn and sit back and watch it. Do I
believe in his heart of hearts he's changed, Well, not really,
(19:26):
but it'll be a fun experiment to see, come to
fruition what Doc Rivers can do with that squad. Yeah. Yeah,
And look, do I believe that Harden opted out in
order to uh to save the team money? I'm not. Yes,
he's a team guy now, Rick, he's a he's completely
turned over a new leaf. Now, of course that's what
(19:49):
he's not that guy from the podium in Houston at all.
Oh and you know what, I just got a call
Shalen Brunson just grew six inches. I change my feelings
about everything now. I um, I look, it's it's gonna
benefit him in the long run. What scares me a
(20:09):
little bit is if you opt out and then you're
gonna sign a team friendly deal, but you're signing a
long term deal. What do you know about your physical
situation that prompts you to say, you know what, I
need to have guaranteed money? And I would assure you
that whatever deal he signs is going to be worth
(20:29):
more than the money he would get on a one
year deal. And so this is hardened. I mean, look,
it does give the Philadelphia seventy six is a little
more flexibility for sure. But I would also think that
it gives him a little more security because as we've
seen over the last couple of years, he has a
hard time staying healthy. He and and what is the
(20:52):
guy when he knows where his body is? And that
may be the case. Let me load up now, let
me load up one more time, because I don't know
that a year from now that he would be able
to get the same kind of deal that he that
he's getting right now. So I think he's being very shrewd.
I do think it works in the Philadelphia seventy sixties
favor to a certain extent. I just don't know that
it's enough that it's going to change their fortunes dramatically
(21:15):
because Hardon is still at the heart of this team.
And who is your leader? Okay, if it's Joel Embiid,
can Joel Embiid hold James Harden accountable in the way
that Kevin Durant did not and has not held Kyrie
Irving accountable? See that this whole thing about I love
(21:36):
playing with this guy, I'm open and all that stuff.
That's all well and good. But what makes the Warriors
special is that Steph, Draymond and Clay all hold each
other accountable and they hold the rest of the team
accountable as a result. That's what made the Boston Celtics
different is when Marcus Smart held Jason Tatum and Jalen
(21:57):
Brown accountable and they wind up in to finals. You
never have to worry about accountability in Miami. That comes
down from the top, and that's why you get a
guy like Jimmy Butler. So that's my real question as
we as we move these pieces around, who how does
it change the structure, the leadership structure of these teams
that have shown leadership laws and whatever Harden does with
(22:20):
his contract, I don't know that it changes the intrinsic
dynamic or lack of leadership that the Philadelphia seventies sixers half.
I would hope that Embiide would get to a point
where he would say, look, I just want to win,
and I need everybody to be committed to this deal
and and and holds them accountable. But I haven't seen
(22:41):
it yet, and some guys just don't have it within
their temperament to do it. And that's what concerns me,
regardless of what James Harden does with his contract. Rick
Buker our guest to Jason Smith Show with Mike Carmen,
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. All Right, the
third big news of the day, Jon Murray, I feel
like the cock stole him, Danilo Alinari three first round
picks and you're you're talking about a five year old
(23:04):
All star that you're gonna team up with Trey Young.
How much do you like this deal for Atlanta? I'm
okay with it. Um. This is what makes me nervous
with san Antonio is that they m they always create
(23:24):
value with players, and one thing or another, it's are
you going to get the same player that they had,
And if they're moving off of the John Te Murray
at this point in his career, at just becoming an
All Star, it says to me that they don't believe
(23:47):
that he's his cornerstone piece, so let us go get
a bunch of first round picks to continue to try
to get it. Or either that or they were concerned
that he was going to stay there, that they could
keep him there at the price point that they wanted.
Because that's one other One of the other smart things
san Antonio does is that they don't unlike the Knicks,
they don't overpay for players. They don't. They they'll move
(24:09):
them before they have to overpay for them. Um. And
the beauty of the Knicks is it's not even with
their own players that they overpay, although Julius Randall says,
thank you very much, they'll even go and get somebody
else's player and overpay them. Alright, let's just focus on Ray. Okay, sorry, sorry, okay.
The Knicks are like what the Knicks do is like
(24:31):
a magnet. It's just you want to get away from it,
and then you're just you. It's like a car crash.
You just you're fascinated. You know you shouldn't look, you know,
you shouldn't pay attention to it, but you just can't
help because you know, there's that carnage, it's that sick human,
twisted element, and all of us like, oh my god,
did you see that? Oh that's horrible. The Knicks did what? Yeah?
(24:54):
Um so uh look um. The problem I see with
the Hawks and what I saw last year is not talent.
It's chemistry. There's a there's a chemistry element missing there. Now.
I do think that gent will will help them, uh
in terms of their defense, certainly, But three first round pick,
(25:17):
three first round picks for de Genente Murray, first time
All Star. I I don't know, I don't, I don't.
I'm not looking at it like it was a Hawks
feel by any any means. And I'm still wondering, Like
the the Trey Young, the mean, Look, this is what
I've heard with with with the whole chemistry there. Trey
takes a lot of shots, does a lot offensively. They
(25:40):
appreciate that. They don't appreciate that he doesn't play a
whole lot of defense, and there's guys on that team
who can score, like Bogdanovitch was like, uh like, I'd
like a few more shots because I put a little
more effort in on the defensive end. Uh So, And
it's one of the reasons why they feel that they
need to move John Collins because he does and see
(26:00):
all the touches that he wants. So adding the John
Murray it's I don't know whether it's the panacea that
everybody is portraying it as, because it's one more guy
who's going to expect to have the ball in his hands.
And again, this is what I'm I just when the
Spurs where they are right now, sort of in a
rebuilding mode, move off of a five year old, first
(26:25):
time All Star, I'm like, what do they know that
they're not telling anybody else, because I don't know about
you guys, but that just seems that like an odd move,
especially since the advertisement was they wanted somebody like they
wanted a a big time player back in exchange, and
they didn't. They didn't get that they got futures. So
there was something that was pushing them to get off
(26:47):
into John Murray. Yeah, I mean, obviously maybe something comes
out in the wash. But something Jason and I were
talking about earlier, Rick was just you know where yet
with Popping the organization given the last five years ted
place to place, eleventh place, couple, seventh place finishes, with
losses in the first round, three straight non qualifiers, and
(27:08):
and now you trade away a guy who at least
looked to be a piece. And maybe there's a big
backstory you'll uncover for us. But in the interim, it's
all right with popovicy is it still in Pop we Trust? Well,
it's it's yeah, that in in uh and God we
Trust is on the penny and it's minted into the penny.
(27:29):
And that's sort of where Pop is right now, Like
he's minted into the San Antonio Spurs. Well, there's no judging,
like Pop gets to the side when he's going to leave.
And yes, I mean in some ways we were really spoiled,
like San Antonio for decades played well above their weight,
(27:52):
their their consistent success, the players that they were able
to acquire like they were what they were accomplishing normally
does not happen in a market with a team like
San Antonio. And now you're left sort of with the
pop mindset, which is we run the show and you
(28:17):
follow us. I mean it's a little bit like Salt
Lake City and like they just have a way of
this is the way our organization operates, and you can
either operate the way we operate or you need to
go someplace else. But nobody here is bigger than the team,
and it's really difficult to attract stars when when you
have that approach. But because of what Gregg Popovitch has
(28:40):
given them over the last twenty years, he gets he
gets a free ride there as long as he wants it.
I just don't see anyway anyhow that at any point
they are they're gonna they may have a conversation. Hey, Pop,
might be time, but it's still going to be left
to Greg pop of Itch to decide when he goes,
(29:01):
regardless of how many trips consecutive trips to the lottery
they make. He's on Twitter at Rick Buker, that is
at Rick Buker Fox Sports one NBA Inside of Checkout
is on the Ball podcast and a special one that's
gonna be a daily one about the Knicks. It's gonna
be a three hour podcast. It's gonna be him and
Draymond Green talking just about the Knicks every single day. Well,
(29:25):
you know, if they it could be that, it could
be that I don't have a feeling you will not
be listening to that podcast. No, No, that'll be something
where I will let you wrap it up for me
and then I'll go on from there. You know, I'll
give you the highlight every week. Rick, did I need
to listen? Oh no, you did not need to listen
this week? Okay, great, thank please, you better not listen
(29:49):
to the best for your health not to listen. Take
it easy, buddy, We'll talk to you next week. All right,
you got it. Be sure to catch live editions of
The Jason's It Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten
pm Eastern seven pm Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
(30:10):
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat. Every day. Straight
Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,
accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book,
and all the best guests. Do yourself a favorite and
listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the I
Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
(30:39):
All Right, when you die, when you die of a
lack of protein sometime in your early thirties, you're gonna
go to hell, and your hell is going to be
me playing the least favorite song that you hate the most,
(30:59):
and I'm to play it over and over and you
have to just listen to it, and every time you
listen to it, it's gonna feel like you're hearing it
for the first time. Jokes on you. I don't like
I don't dislike any song. I wish you're It's such
a liar. Could have been worse. Could you're not Belichick
where you hate everything? He could have could have could
have played Running up that Hill. So I guess we're
okay now you spoken into existence. It's too fast. He
(31:24):
can't find it that fast. The Jason Smith Show with
Mike Carmen Live from the Fox Sports Radio Studios. Big
news in the NBA thing we're continuing to roll through
and and and guys are opting out of deals and
hoping to opt back in. And one name that's a
big name today was Bradley Beale, who declined his thirty
six million dollar option with the Wizards. Wait a minute,
(31:45):
blas talked about wanting to be a Wizard, he's also
not happy with the team, So wait, what is this?
Why is he opting out? Is he actually leaving? Is
he going to sign a five year max deal which
he can do, because those are the two choices. Hey,
he's opting out to sign a five year max deal
or he's opting out to go someplace else. Luckily, I
can tell you exactly what this is and what's happening
(32:08):
right now with Bradley Beale. Ex this has teached me
like I'm five. This is tell me like I'm five.
This is Bradley Beale telling the Wizards. Hey, so I'm
gonna opt out, but I'm gonna resign right, We're gonna
do the five year max. Yeah yeah, okay, great? Yeah,
So Bradley, you want to do that the first day
of free agency? Yeah? Yeah, yeah. Listen, I got a
(32:28):
busy day, um going to the beach and then I'm
going out to lunch with my family. But you know,
a few hours after free agency opens, I'll call you
and and we'll figure it out. Okay, okay, bro okay,
Bradley Gregory, Well, I'll call you, and then it's gonna
go on first day of free agency and the team
is gonna start calling him and they're gonna start calling
(32:49):
his agent, and there I can't get in touch with him.
You know, he's at the beach, he's somewhere else. And
then either one of two things is gonna happen. Bradley
Beal is gonna call back, and he's gonna go, hey, yeah, sorry,
I've been out of pocket all day. I I didn't
you know, you know, but I'm ready, yes, send send
the paperwork over and I'm ready to sign. Or he's
gonna call and say, uh yeah. You know when I
(33:10):
told you this the other day, I was all set
ready to go, you know, the five year max. But
before I could call you and tell you, I got
a phone call from Team X and I think I'm
gonna go with them because they're offering me a lot
of money and I can make it up in other places.
So yes, sorry, I'm gonna go. This is Bradley Beale
(33:32):
completely playing both sides of the coin where it's going
to be uh yeah, I'll resign unless I get a
better offer. Well, why can't we get in touch with
you on the first day of Frazie. I don't know.
I'm gone. I'm gone. I'm gone. This is all it is.
Bradley Beale will go back if they if he doesn't
have a better offer. That's all that's going on right now.
(33:52):
Because if he was going to opt in and go back,
he would have said that. They would have said, no,
I'm signing the long term max. And that's what's gonna happen.
He's just doing this because he knows no matter where
he goes, he's gonna get paid more than just the
thirty six million dollars for this year. He's either going
to get the MAX with the Wizards, or he's gonna
be able to get paid someplace else where he wants
to go, where he wants to play more. That's all
that's happening right now. This is not he's going. This
(34:14):
is not he's definitely leaving. This is Hey, we're gonna
figure things out very quickly, and I can do either one.
This is not free agency where a guy chooses free
agency and he's gone, or Hey, I'm doing this specifically
so I can stay. I'm gonna opt out. You send
me that paperwork right away. No, he's simply gonna wait
and see how the very beginning of free agency goes
and sees if teams Nicks call him to say, hey,
(34:37):
what would you think to doing about coming coming here
and playing basketball here for the next four years. Now
this is off of Fox sports dot com Fox Bet. Uh.
This was from the so predicting a this is where
it's gonna end. So the favorite are the Wizards and
and a return next the Heat Lakers, Hawks, Celtics or
(35:01):
other so Wizard's favorite heat uh bet tend to win
sixty five, Lakers bet tend to win seventy five, Hawks
tend to win a hundred, Celtics tend to win one twenty,
and then any other team tend to win a hundred. Now,
the Lakers is always just the pie in this guy.
You want a couple light for six million, We could
(35:21):
make that happen for this year. Uh. The Hawks probably
uh well not anymore. Uh. And then the others, Yeah,
I would think eventually you go home, but you want
to at least be courted for a minute. That's all.
People just want to be loved. And if he doesn't
see the love elsewhere, he'll come back to to home,
(35:44):
even if it's not what he really loves. Twitter and
out about a Fresca Mike and swollen dome Coming up next.
An NBA story that's got me scared out of my mind.
It's next right here, Fox Kyrie, next stop. Not that
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight
ten pm to two a m Eastern seven to eleven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station
for The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon at Fox
Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every night
on the I Heart Radio app by searching fs R.
(00:23):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Fox Sports Radio The
Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Harmon Live
from the Fox Sports or Radio studios. Where before we
get into the Freddie Freeman situation, here, just think about
this for a second. Alright. We talk a lot about
(00:44):
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and who won the breakup,
and you know, there went Brady to go in Super Bowls,
and here's Belichick trying to stay a great coach and
build the Patriots up. In the first year without Tom
Brady was terrible. The second year was okay. You know,
I look, Mac Jones was okay. Not doesn't look like
the Patriots of building a juggernaut to compete with everybody
(01:06):
Like Belichick's a great coach, but they're struggling. And when
we look at who the winner of the war is
right now it's Tom Brady looking at things. It's it's
kind of the same. But how much has the genius
of Greg Popovich taken a hit in the last few years? Right?
Because once the once the you got to and Tim
(01:33):
Duncan retired. What has happened with San Antonio? They traded
Kawai Leonard, you know, Monto Genobli retired a right, Tony
Parker left. They traded DeMar DeRozan, who's turned into a
really good player in his early thirties. Again and now
today they traded de Jontay Murray, who was their all star.
And you cut LaMarcus alt right, you you've done all
(01:53):
of these things and this is you know, the genius
Greg Popovitch, that was a great head coach for a
long time time. Five championships. How much of this can
you say? Boy, he had Tim Duncan, he had the
big fundamental how much can you say now maybe Tim
Duncan was the guy and he was more responsible than
here's the the system what Greg Popvitch has built, because
(02:16):
what we've seen is he's not been able to get
along with stars and he's not been able to utilize
stars to make his team better. Right, good, DeMar de Rosen,
who was an m v P guy for for the
first half of last year, he had he had a
two week span when he had a game winning shot,
like seven consecutive games. Right, then, here's de Jon T. Mury. No,
couldn't win with him, couldn't win there, couldn't get along
(02:38):
with Kawai. Leonard had to wind up trading him away.
Still has not been able to make that trade into
something big. You've brought in star players and you said
goodbye to star players, and where are you So you
talk about a guy who's whose reputation has taken a hit.
It's Greg Popovich. I mean, look, they trade de Jon T. Murray.
Today's all right, Well hasn't worked. Oh pop Itch is
gonna build. No, this has been six years of the
(03:00):
Spurs continuing to reload and rebuild and you are not
seeing them at the level they should be at. If
Bill Belichick gets a lot of flak for not being
able to turn the Patriots into a good team, maybe
it was Tom Brady. You could say the same thing
for Greg Popovich in the Spurs. Yeah, I got no
argument with that. I mean, certainly you had a convergence
of events and you know, continuity and consistency when it
(03:25):
comes to the coaching and your star players. Right, we
we talk about it all the time. You and I
talked about it Monday through Friday. Uh, it's certainly a
mainstay in talking points and a lot of issues that
that I do with Bucky Brooks on Sundays. Jason is like,
if you've got an organist stability in your front office
coaching staff, and then a nucleus of players that isn't
(03:46):
training out, don't miss significant time due to injury, You're
you're more more than likely to have some run of success.
Doesn't mean you win titles, maybe maybe not, but you
you certainly are in the mix. And for the Spurs,
everything coalesced. And obviously Tim Duncan is a guy whose
name gets debated a bunch, right, and with Steph Curry
(04:07):
winning his fourth title, Duncan was one of the guys.
All right, if you're doing your top ten or fifteen,
let's go pull question who goes out? Is it? Tim Duncan?
Is it? And it certain you know, Kobe's name comes up,
shocks name comes up. People start trying to figure out
who the odd man out and Duncan is always going
to be included because he wasn't very exciting to people.
(04:29):
People kind of denigrate what the Spurs were. Were they
great basketball to watch if you were a fan looking
for high flying action? No? Were they great for television ratings?
Hell no? But they had consistency and they had a
guy who goes down, at least from my eyes of
what I've watched in my forty plus years here on
(04:49):
this earth, one of the greatest players and consistent players
that we've seen. And so for Greg Popovic, Yeah, you're
trying to go into that next spot and you much
like we we've surmised and you know, I think part
of it is the truth serum for coach k obviously
age but walking away from from Duke uh, and then
(05:12):
you're looking looking at other retirements. Right when we we
look at um different movements in college football and college
basketball that maybe the n i L and the changing
of all of those rules. You know what, it's a different,
different world, right Jay right? Walking away uh this year?
(05:32):
How much of that he wasn't a big believer in
the change of structure and adding in all sorts of
elements of variables right. He liked consistency. So when we
look at Popovich, maybe the more player agency becomes an issue,
and I mean an issue in a positive way. Right,
guys are deciding what they want to do for their
(05:54):
futures free agency or in the occasional, hey, I just
want out of here. This isn't working for me. And
I know the fans in that local market, the media,
they're gonna be mad and portrayed whatever. But the reality
is everybody else has agency in your job. If you
want to go do something else, might have to negotiate
a buy out or something, depending on how your work
is structured, but you're gonna be able to move uh. Likewise,
(06:17):
may maybe for Gregg Popovich this era, especially when you
look at the players who were either traded, released, whatever,
there were guys that were starting to talk. We've talked
about that with Bill Belichick the same way right now,
as soon as guys left, I mean Rob Gronkowski, uh
and and Brady and some of their stuff and talking
about their time in New England. Edelman going down the
(06:38):
line talk about where you know, the No Fund League
extended into the locker room. Successful, winning, but also stressful
and a whole other thing that you know, once you
see the other side, whether it's retirement or another team,
maybe it's like, well maybe that's not the best, you know,
not the way that has to go. And I wonder
if Popovich is feeling some of that. So yeah, he
(06:59):
put him in the same buck it with Belichick in
that regard Twitter. And how about a fresca Mike gets
swollen down the Jason Smith Show with my best friend
of Mike cammerent So just something to think about there
for Greg Popovitch when we're talking about the genius pop Yeah,
maybe it's the genius of Tim duncan. Just think about
that for a second. System coach. Now, I can't do
(07:19):
any interviews in San Antonio again, I can't. I just
thought it was funny. I just did the summary statement
for you there. Hey, you know what, I actually have
a great story about the San Antonio Spurs. I'll tell you,
I'll tell it. Yes, it's a great is it Charles Barkley?
No no, it's a fight with people? No? No, no no,
it's a great story. Well it may be a Draymond
Green Charles Barkley story where you wind up fighting with people.
But let's get to this here for a comments. Who
(07:40):
are Rick Buker coming up in a bid? Who's gonna,
you know, help us get set for everything going on
in free agency? Jalen Brunson and James Harden, DeShawn Ty
Murray uh a big story out of Major League Baseball today.
Doug Gottlieb here on Fox Sports Radio earlier today tweeted
out the Casey Close, agent for Freddie Freeman, UH never
presented Freddie Freeman with the final offer from the Braves
(08:03):
last season before Freddie Freeman left for the Dodgers. This
has been a big story the past few days because
Freddie Freeman's crying press conference in Atlanta and Clayton Kershaw saying, Hey,
I hope he likes us. So you know, hey, Freddy,
you played for us. Now and Freddie Freeman had to
fire his representation and look for new people. Is looking
(08:24):
for new agents to help him going forward now since
this was reported earlier today, now Molly Knight reporting that
Casey Close, the agent in question, just released a statement
Tom Verducci saying that there is no truth to that
story and that he would testify to it under oath
that he didn't replace or that he didn't report the
final contract offer of the Braves to Freddie Freeman. So
(08:47):
now this is something that's going to be looked into
and adjudicated. We have more steps coming this with that,
with the report that Doug had earlier today, and now
here's Casey Close saying no, I didn't do that. The
bottom line is this, this Freddie Freeman story or is
an absolute disaster for the Dodgers. Right. It's one thing
to come back and and be teary eyed. Hey it's
(09:07):
a press conference, but now you now you know he
didn't want to leave, and you wonder how happy is
he being a Dodger, right, because Clayton Kershaw wouldn't say
anything unless he felt he had to. Clayton Kershaw is
not gonna get involved in in daily minutia, every day
stuff like this. But for him to say, hey, we
hope Freddie likes it here because you could tell Freddie
(09:29):
Freeman's on that that Braves hangover and he never wanted
to leave. So if everybody's giving it, you know now
that Freddie Freeman doesn't have representation, I can help Freddie
Freeman with what the next step should be is because
like I said, this is a disaster for Freeman and
the Dodgers. Right now, I would tell Freddie, dude, suck
it up, smile, have a press conference, tell everybody you
(09:52):
love being a Los Angeles Dodger. Decisions have consequences. In
the end, you could have gone back to Atlanta because
they did have an offer on the table that we
know you knew about. It wasn't what you wanted. But
if you wanted to go back and take a hundred
million instead of a hundred and sixty million, you could
have done that. You didn't do it. You went, Okay,
suck it up, tell everybody how happy you are to
(10:14):
be a Dodger, and go forward, because this is what
you should be doing. Because decisions have consequences. I'm gonna
say it again, because that's the thing. Nobody's no. Nobody
told you all you gotta do this. Um. This is
where you could have made a different decision if you
wanted to. But right now, what you have to fix
is the perception that you're only playing with the Dodgers.
(10:34):
Because you gotta go out there and tell everybody, I
am happy to be here, I love my team, I
love my teammates. Maybe it's one of those things where
you talk right before a game or you are on
an off day, but you make sure people know how
happy you are to be a Los Angeles Dodger. Put
this thing to bed and move on, because right now
he's like I really I feel like he's like Wesley
(10:56):
Snipes his character from the fan who signed a free
agent d with the Giants but wasn't hitting, so he
wore his Braves jersey under his Giants jersey for good luck.
Like like it's it's Freddie Freeman wearing his Braves jersey
under his Dodgers jersey just to hit. Well, yeah, you
got a home run tonight. I mean I wanted Freddie
take that jersey off. Are you wearing your Braves jersey under? Yeah?
(11:17):
You have to fix this and suck it up and smile.
That's what I would tell Freddie Freeman. Yeah, I think
you know, for those that missed it, when this first
came up on Friday and we discussed it, you know,
one of the big talking points. At least, you know,
I tried to bang the drum off with Clayton Kershaw's
number one. He normally doesn't inject himself into things that
aren't that he doesn't have to deal with right. So
(11:37):
being asked by the A j C about the Freddie Freeman,
he could have said that first line, hey, you know
obviously meant a lot. He means a lot to them,
they mean a lot to him, and could have left
it at that. But the fact that he decided, you
know what, I'm putting it out there. Let's put that
out there. That was kind of interesting from when we
look at Clayton Kershaw's career as a whole, right, because
(12:01):
he showed a little bit of emotion when he helped
unveil Sandy ko fax is Uh statue outside Dodger Stadium,
but otherwise he's generally a guy who's pretty quiet, goes
about his business. I mean, he does interviews and and
does it, is good with his time and everything, but
normally doesn't delve too deep into things outside of his
regular routine and where the team is in the moment.
(12:24):
So that was kind of interesting as related to the
rest of this. Yeah, for Freddy Freeman, you had the
full weekend statement. Plash Key, our guy from the l A.
Times and and our friend here on the show, whoever
it's got to be with, sit down and talk about
how great the clubhouse has been and at this point
you can lie, but you have to are great friends.
(12:48):
But but and and that. I don't mean that in
in Clayton, but but it could be. But just in general,
the idea of coming to Los Angeles, what it's meant.
And obviously, you know what, just say I had a
great time in Atlanta. It's done and I have to
accept that and move on and put it out there
is just show your humanity, which you did with crying.
(13:09):
But then it dragged on. And whatever the truth is
and how negotiations broke down, something was missing, something in
the discussions was lost in translation years dollars, this guy
said this. This guy said that whatever that truth is,
I don't know. Unless we get full transcripts, we're never
gonna know. But the reality is he got a guy
(13:32):
who's in the middle of a season and look, he
hit well this past week, but still clearly his his
psyche is is a bit damaged from what went down.
So but someone's got to be in that clubhouse, whether
it's Dave Roberts someone else too, just said, you know what,
we need to move past this and be done with
this and getting out in front of the good people
of Los Angeles to put this to rest once and
(13:52):
for all. Freddie, you gotta do it because the All
Star Games coming here. What are you gonna get? Freddie
Freeman's third amongst first basement dude, you signed a big
contract here, man, this is your team. Now, I'm sorry,
this is your team. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at
ten pm Eastern, seven pm Pacific Fox Sports Radio. The
(14:12):
Jason Smith Show with my best friend Mike Harman. True
with prices soaring at the pump Discovers, Got your back
with cash back. He was discovered to earn five percent
cash back at gas stations and Target now through June
on up to FI dollars and purchases when you activate.
Learn more at discover dot com. Slash rewards limitations they
(14:34):
do apply well. Joining us now on the hot line
for a big free agency primer. Fox Sports one NBA
insider on the Ball podcast. He's on Twitter at Rick Buker.
It is Rick Buker, and I say to you, Rick Buker,
nix Yo, here we come, It begins again, Here we come,
(14:57):
and there we go. You know I have this look
everything is pointing towards the Knick's landing Jalen Brunson one
of the big prizes in free agency. Right every day
it's happening. Uh, there's nothing out of Dallas. It's the
relationship that the Knicks have had with Jalen Brunston, Rick
Brunson for a long time. There's it's a fad, a
(15:17):
complete which makes me think it's not gonna happen. And
and something is gonna and it's gonna be the most
embarrassing Knick's headline of the last decade that a guy
they made trades for that they went all in four
dago sign is gonna wind up playing someplace else. I
that's not my fear. My fear is that they actually
get it, and they get it. Come on, come on,
(15:40):
ra wow. I celebrated the hell of a Cell Mankind
and Undertaker anniversary yesterday. Rick, you just topped it. Well,
I do what I can actually done. Look, that's why
you guys allowed me to be on your show on
a weekly basis. I had missed that. I have to
bring it. I have to bring it in a new
(16:01):
and different way. Now here's that this is the issue
and and we see this time and again you can
sell me on all the things that Jalen Brunson can
bring to the Knicks. Is Jalen Brunson going to change
the knicks fortunes based on what you are paying him.
(16:21):
He has to be darned near a franchise changer. He
has to be a pivotal player. Now. I love Jalen Brunson.
I love everything about Jalen Brunson. I think he's a
gritty tough player, but he's in that Fred Van lee
Lee camp of gritty, undersized, tough, mentally tough point guards
(16:47):
who don't necessarily draw double teams or force a team
to really change how it how it defends you. And
so look, I think it hurts the Dallas Mavericks in
a big way because I thought he's a great accompaniment
to Luka Dontitch. But having him stand alone with the
(17:09):
New York Knicks, unless you're looking and you're telling me
what r J Barrett or Julius I can't even say
that started with a straight face. Julius Randol or some
other element with them is going to be not Luca Donsitch,
but is going to be a star of the magnitude
of Brunson or better. Now I'm paying attention because now
(17:32):
I have a point guard who can distribute and get
everybody involved in all of that. But it's always about
in free agency, it's not just about getting the guy,
it's what it costs you to get the guy. And
they cleared a number of look nerlands. No, well, it
was a very useful player last year had had his moments,
like they lost a couple of players that were contributing
(17:56):
pieces in order to make room for for Brunson. And
now you're paying him where it ultimately is going to
cost you some other pieces down the line. Can you
afford them? That's my concern is that there it's so
fits with tips and they so need a point guard
and Brunson is the best available out there. That they're
(18:19):
gonna end up spending U way too much in assets
in pure cash, and that Brunson is not going to
be able to live up to it. And then we
know how that plays in Madison Square Garden, we know
how that plays with Knicks fans. Never will and that
is my concern. That's why I honestly, if they didn't
(18:40):
get him, based on what they're they're they're they want
to spend on him what they've already spent on him.
I'm more concerned about that than them not getting him.
There you go, there's your knicks. Uh. Well, it had
to happen. And Rick's the guide to come in and
and kind of patch you on the back and tell
you straight while making you feel good about bad news. Okay,
(19:04):
now we're moving on with opt ins, opt outs and
shuffling of money. And then we have James Harden today saying,
you know what, I want to win. I want to
do this for the good of the team and I
in our first hour, Rick, I said, hey, I'll grab
some popcorn and sit back and watch it. Do I
believe in his heart of hearts he's changed, Well, not really,
(19:26):
but it'll be a fun experiment to see, come to
fruition what Doc Rivers can do with that squad. Yeah. Yeah,
And look, do I believe that Harden opted out in
order to uh to save the team money? I'm not. Yes,
he's a team guy now, Rick, he's a he's completely
turned over a new leaf. Now, of course that's what
(19:49):
he's not that guy from the podium in Houston at all.
Oh and you know what, I just got a call
Shalen Brunson just grew six inches. I change my feelings
about everything now. I um, I look, it's it's gonna
benefit him in the long run. What scares me a
(20:09):
little bit is if you opt out and then you're
gonna sign a team friendly deal, but you're signing a
long term deal. What do you know about your physical
situation that prompts you to say, you know what, I
need to have guaranteed money? And I would assure you
that whatever deal he signs is going to be worth
(20:29):
more than the money he would get on a one
year deal. And so this is hardened. I mean, look,
it does give the Philadelphia seventy six is a little
more flexibility for sure. But I would also think that
it gives him a little more security because as we've
seen over the last couple of years, he has a
hard time staying healthy. He and and what is the
(20:52):
guy when he knows where his body is? And that
may be the case. Let me load up now, let
me load up one more time, because I don't know
that a year from now that he would be able
to get the same kind of deal that he that
he's getting right now. So I think he's being very shrewd.
I do think it works in the Philadelphia seventy sixties
favor to a certain extent. I just don't know that
it's enough that it's going to change their fortunes dramatically
(21:15):
because Hardon is still at the heart of this team.
And who is your leader? Okay, if it's Joel Embiid,
can Joel Embiid hold James Harden accountable in the way
that Kevin Durant did not and has not held Kyrie
Irving accountable? See that this whole thing about I love
(21:36):
playing with this guy, I'm open and all that stuff.
That's all well and good. But what makes the Warriors
special is that Steph, Draymond and Clay all hold each
other accountable and they hold the rest of the team
accountable as a result. That's what made the Boston Celtics
different is when Marcus Smart held Jason Tatum and Jalen
(21:57):
Brown accountable and they wind up in to finals. You
never have to worry about accountability in Miami. That comes
down from the top, and that's why you get a
guy like Jimmy Butler. So that's my real question as
we as we move these pieces around, who how does
it change the structure, the leadership structure of these teams
that have shown leadership laws and whatever Harden does with
(22:20):
his contract, I don't know that it changes the intrinsic
dynamic or lack of leadership that the Philadelphia seventies sixers half.
I would hope that Embiide would get to a point
where he would say, look, I just want to win,
and I need everybody to be committed to this deal
and and and holds them accountable. But I haven't seen
(22:41):
it yet, and some guys just don't have it within
their temperament to do it. And that's what concerns me,
regardless of what James Harden does with his contract. Rick
Buker our guest to Jason Smith Show with Mike Carmen,
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. All Right, the
third big news of the day, Jon Murray, I feel
like the cock stole him, Danilo Alinari three first round
picks and you're you're talking about a five year old
(23:04):
All star that you're gonna team up with Trey Young.
How much do you like this deal for Atlanta? I'm
okay with it. Um. This is what makes me nervous
with san Antonio is that they m they always create
(23:24):
value with players, and one thing or another, it's are
you going to get the same player that they had,
And if they're moving off of the John Te Murray
at this point in his career, at just becoming an
All Star, it says to me that they don't believe
(23:47):
that he's his cornerstone piece, so let us go get
a bunch of first round picks to continue to try
to get it. Or either that or they were concerned
that he was going to stay there, that they could
keep him there at the price point that they wanted.
Because that's one other One of the other smart things
san Antonio does is that they don't unlike the Knicks,
they don't overpay for players. They don't. They they'll move
(24:09):
them before they have to overpay for them. Um. And
the beauty of the Knicks is it's not even with
their own players that they overpay, although Julius Randall says,
thank you very much, they'll even go and get somebody
else's player and overpay them. Alright, let's just focus on Ray. Okay, sorry, sorry, okay.
The Knicks are like what the Knicks do is like
(24:31):
a magnet. It's just you want to get away from it,
and then you're just you. It's like a car crash.
You just you're fascinated. You know you shouldn't look, you know,
you shouldn't pay attention to it, but you just can't
help because you know, there's that carnage, it's that sick human,
twisted element, and all of us like, oh my god,
did you see that? Oh that's horrible. The Knicks did what? Yeah?
(24:54):
Um so uh look um. The problem I see with
the Hawks and what I saw last year is not talent.
It's chemistry. There's a there's a chemistry element missing there. Now.
I do think that gent will will help them, uh
in terms of their defense, certainly, But three first round pick,
(25:17):
three first round picks for de Genente Murray, first time
All Star. I I don't know, I don't, I don't.
I'm not looking at it like it was a Hawks
feel by any any means. And I'm still wondering, Like
the the Trey Young, the mean, Look, this is what
I've heard with with with the whole chemistry there. Trey
takes a lot of shots, does a lot offensively. They
(25:40):
appreciate that. They don't appreciate that he doesn't play a
whole lot of defense, and there's guys on that team
who can score, like Bogdanovitch was like, uh like, I'd
like a few more shots because I put a little
more effort in on the defensive end. Uh So, And
it's one of the reasons why they feel that they
need to move John Collins because he does and see
(26:00):
all the touches that he wants. So adding the John
Murray it's I don't know whether it's the panacea that
everybody is portraying it as, because it's one more guy
who's going to expect to have the ball in his hands.
And again, this is what I'm I just when the
Spurs where they are right now, sort of in a
rebuilding mode, move off of a five year old, first
(26:25):
time All Star, I'm like, what do they know that
they're not telling anybody else, because I don't know about
you guys, but that just seems that like an odd move,
especially since the advertisement was they wanted somebody like they
wanted a a big time player back in exchange, and
they didn't. They didn't get that they got futures. So
there was something that was pushing them to get off
(26:47):
into John Murray. Yeah, I mean, obviously maybe something comes
out in the wash. But something Jason and I were
talking about earlier, Rick was just you know where yet
with Popping the organization given the last five years ted
place to place, eleventh place, couple, seventh place finishes, with
losses in the first round, three straight non qualifiers, and
(27:08):
and now you trade away a guy who at least
looked to be a piece. And maybe there's a big
backstory you'll uncover for us. But in the interim, it's
all right with popovicy is it still in Pop we Trust? Well,
it's it's yeah, that in in uh and God we
Trust is on the penny and it's minted into the penny.
(27:29):
And that's sort of where Pop is right now, Like
he's minted into the San Antonio Spurs. Well, there's no judging,
like Pop gets to the side when he's going to leave.
And yes, I mean in some ways we were really spoiled,
like San Antonio for decades played well above their weight,
(27:52):
their their consistent success, the players that they were able
to acquire like they were what they were accomplishing normally
does not happen in a market with a team like
San Antonio. And now you're left sort of with the
pop mindset, which is we run the show and you
(28:17):
follow us. I mean it's a little bit like Salt
Lake City and like they just have a way of
this is the way our organization operates, and you can
either operate the way we operate or you need to
go someplace else. But nobody here is bigger than the team,
and it's really difficult to attract stars when when you
have that approach. But because of what Gregg Popovitch has
(28:40):
given them over the last twenty years, he gets he
gets a free ride there as long as he wants it.
I just don't see anyway anyhow that at any point
they are they're gonna they may have a conversation. Hey, Pop,
might be time, but it's still going to be left
to Greg pop of Itch to decide when he goes,
(29:01):
regardless of how many trips consecutive trips to the lottery
they make. He's on Twitter at Rick Buker, that is
at Rick Buker Fox Sports one NBA Inside of Checkout
is on the Ball podcast and a special one that's
gonna be a daily one about the Knicks. It's gonna
be a three hour podcast. It's gonna be him and
Draymond Green talking just about the Knicks every single day. Well,
(29:25):
you know, if they it could be that, it could
be that I don't have a feeling you will not
be listening to that podcast. No, No, that'll be something
where I will let you wrap it up for me
and then I'll go on from there. You know, I'll
give you the highlight every week. Rick, did I need
to listen? Oh no, you did not need to listen
this week? Okay, great, thank please, you better not listen
(29:49):
to the best for your health not to listen. Take
it easy, buddy, We'll talk to you next week. All right,
you got it. Be sure to catch live editions of
The Jason's It Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten
pm Eastern seven pm Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
(30:10):
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat. Every day. Straight
Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,
accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book,
and all the best guests. Do yourself a favorite and
listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the I
Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
(30:39):
All Right, when you die, when you die of a
lack of protein sometime in your early thirties, you're gonna
go to hell, and your hell is going to be
me playing the least favorite song that you hate the most,
(30:59):
and I'm to play it over and over and you
have to just listen to it, and every time you
listen to it, it's gonna feel like you're hearing it
for the first time. Jokes on you. I don't like
I don't dislike any song. I wish you're It's such
a liar. Could have been worse. Could you're not Belichick
where you hate everything? He could have could have could
have played Running up that Hill. So I guess we're
okay now you spoken into existence. It's too fast. He
(31:24):
can't find it that fast. The Jason Smith Show with
Mike Carmen Live from the Fox Sports Radio Studios. Big
news in the NBA thing we're continuing to roll through
and and and guys are opting out of deals and
hoping to opt back in. And one name that's a
big name today was Bradley Beale, who declined his thirty
six million dollar option with the Wizards. Wait a minute,
(31:45):
blas talked about wanting to be a Wizard, he's also
not happy with the team, So wait, what is this?
Why is he opting out? Is he actually leaving? Is
he going to sign a five year max deal which
he can do, because those are the two choices. Hey,
he's opting out to sign a five year max deal
or he's opting out to go someplace else. Luckily, I
can tell you exactly what this is and what's happening
(32:08):
right now with Bradley Beale. Ex this has teached me
like I'm five. This is tell me like I'm five.
This is Bradley Beale telling the Wizards. Hey, so I'm
gonna opt out, but I'm gonna resign right, We're gonna
do the five year max. Yeah yeah, okay, great? Yeah,
So Bradley, you want to do that the first day
of free agency? Yeah? Yeah, yeah. Listen, I got a
(32:28):
busy day, um going to the beach and then I'm
going out to lunch with my family. But you know,
a few hours after free agency opens, I'll call you
and and we'll figure it out. Okay, okay, bro okay,
Bradley Gregory, Well, I'll call you, and then it's gonna
go on first day of free agency and the team
is gonna start calling him and they're gonna start calling
(32:49):
his agent, and there I can't get in touch with him.
You know, he's at the beach, he's somewhere else. And
then either one of two things is gonna happen. Bradley
Beal is gonna call back, and he's gonna go, hey, yeah, sorry,
I've been out of pocket all day. I I didn't
you know, you know, but I'm ready, yes, send send
the paperwork over and I'm ready to sign. Or he's
gonna call and say, uh yeah. You know when I
(33:10):
told you this the other day, I was all set
ready to go, you know, the five year max. But
before I could call you and tell you, I got
a phone call from Team X and I think I'm
gonna go with them because they're offering me a lot
of money and I can make it up in other places.
So yes, sorry, I'm gonna go. This is Bradley Beale
(33:32):
completely playing both sides of the coin where it's going
to be uh yeah, I'll resign unless I get a
better offer. Well, why can't we get in touch with
you on the first day of Frazie. I don't know.
I'm gone. I'm gone. I'm gone. This is all it is.
Bradley Beale will go back if they if he doesn't
have a better offer. That's all that's going on right now.
(33:52):
Because if he was going to opt in and go back,
he would have said that. They would have said, no,
I'm signing the long term max. And that's what's gonna happen.
He's just doing this because he knows no matter where
he goes, he's gonna get paid more than just the
thirty six million dollars for this year. He's either going
to get the MAX with the Wizards, or he's gonna
be able to get paid someplace else where he wants
to go, where he wants to play more. That's all
that's happening right now. This is not he's going. This
(34:14):
is not he's definitely leaving. This is Hey, we're gonna
figure things out very quickly, and I can do either one.
This is not free agency where a guy chooses free
agency and he's gone, or Hey, I'm doing this specifically
so I can stay. I'm gonna opt out. You send
me that paperwork right away. No, he's simply gonna wait
and see how the very beginning of free agency goes
and sees if teams Nicks call him to say, hey,
(34:37):
what would you think to doing about coming coming here
and playing basketball here for the next four years. Now
this is off of Fox sports dot com Fox Bet. Uh.
This was from the so predicting a this is where
it's gonna end. So the favorite are the Wizards and
and a return next the Heat Lakers, Hawks, Celtics or
(35:01):
other so Wizard's favorite heat uh bet tend to win
sixty five, Lakers bet tend to win seventy five, Hawks
tend to win a hundred, Celtics tend to win one twenty,
and then any other team tend to win a hundred. Now,
the Lakers is always just the pie in this guy.
You want a couple light for six million, We could
(35:21):
make that happen for this year. Uh. The Hawks probably
uh well not anymore. Uh. And then the others, Yeah,
I would think eventually you go home, but you want
to at least be courted for a minute. That's all.
People just want to be loved. And if he doesn't
see the love elsewhere, he'll come back to to home,
(35:44):
even if it's not what he really loves. Twitter and
out about a Fresca Mike and swollen dome Coming up next.
An NBA story that's got me scared out of my mind.
It's next right here, Fox Kyrie, next stop. Not that
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Jason Smith
Mike Harmon
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