Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Joel Lorenzi talks new-look Bulls, Celtics trading Jaylen Brown to 76ers (Hour 4)

Episode Date: July 2, 2026

In the final hour, Leila Rahimi and Chuck Swirsky were joined by Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic to discuss the Bulls' moves this offseason and the latest high-profile trade in the NBA. Later, Rahimi and Swirsky got a chuckle out of a great back-and-forth on a recent Cubs Radio broadcast on The Score.

Norman Powell with the Eurostep and a floater with right hand good from three feet. Norman Powell in 22 minutes has hurt the Bulls with 13. Powell, unattended, topside three good. Wow. I mean, Bill, this is the second time he's having an open triple. The guy's shooting 45% from three-point range and 48% over the last 10. I know that voice. Well, he was wide open, Leila.

You can't give Norman Powell a good look. That's the guy named Chuck. Swirsky on the call. He's here in studio right now and Bill Whittington on the Bulls Radio Network. It's a great way to introduce our, and yes, you are, Joelle Lorenzi, a valued guest of our show. Yes, he is. The Chicago-based C, the Chicago-based beatwriter for the athletic covering the NBA. He joins us on Twitch.tv slash The Score Chicago. Hey, Joel. What's going on, guys? Feeling very valued. Yeah, see, you got backup. That's three hosts now who told you this on our station.

I will keep going. I will keep building numbers for this. No, Joelle is great. I always tell him that. I love his work. In fact, during the finals, or the Western Conference finals, I saw him at Courtside. I told him the other day. He had a great seat at midcourt right there. I mean, that speaks for itself, Joelle. Yeah, the world can see NMTV. We are always happy to talk to you. What a day to be able to catch up with you after just a massive day in the NBA. We discussed the Jalen Brown Tray.

We wanted to get your thoughts. We played highlights of Norm Powell, thanks to Chuck and Bill, that you heard there. So what is on your mind first? What would you like to start discussing? Bulls are just what you've observed in the league so far? Yeah, I think it's the craziest offseason of my lifetime. I don't know how Chuck feels. I think it's the craziest offseason I've ever witnessed.

Certainly the craziest since I've been on the NBA beat. It's just been so explosive. Like even before Free Agency started and then. And, you know, I just thought that, you know, free agency couldn't be that crazy because we got some stuff out of the way before then. And it's exceeded expectations. The sheer, the level of surprises, the volume of like, oh, my gosh, headlines. It's been crazy. Like, Janus is kind of like a backdrop to this whole thing.

Now, I mean, obviously, that thing's not official yet. So maybe that's part of the reason. but like Jalen Brown just got traded for a horrible package man. So like this is what we're talking about. Kauai is like a fall in the background. The east is like the east is no longer sneaky, man. Like I'm kind of waiting on LeBron to go to the east so this thing can really be back.

Well, I think he's going to Cleveland, Joel, to be honest with you, unless Washington parts with Davis to Golden State and somehow they'll make it work with LeBron going to the Warriors. But for now, my. thought process is that LeBron has headed to Cleveland and that will bookend his career with the cavaliers. But, Joelle, you know,

you don't, not mentioning not necessarily you, we don't know a player unless we're with them day and day out. And I've dealt with Jaylen Brown a few times. He's always been great, very professional, very thoughtful, very considerate,

and I like him a lot. Something happened in Boston that made Brad Stevens and ownership make this deal. And there's a lot of stuff on the internet about their personality. They had clashes. They weren't sold on them. So on and so forth.

I want to know why they move Jalen Brown. Right. Yeah. I mean, upon first seeing the Shams suite, my first thought was this was not, you trade a guy like Jalen Brown who like at any point could be like a top 10-ish player, like it's on the table. For Paul George, who we know his best days are behind him, he's maybe a top 30 player, had his moments in the playoffs last year.

But by most accounts, on all facets of worst player than Jaylon Brown. And the picks were not all that great. They did not get their best assets. They did not get a lot of assets. I get that. But this was really not an NBA trade. That's what I'm saying. I said all that to say that my first thought was this was not a basketball trade.

This was, I've read about their ownership, their new ownership that is, and the involvement of private equity. Yes. And their priorities. And I do think that was a good chunk of it. Obviously, you get deeper into Jaylen Brown's contract. He's paid, like, much more than a top 10 player. He's paid, like, a top three player.

I would agree. If you are greedy and you do sort of prioritize profit and really have no no skin in the game on the basketball front and that's not your priority, then I could see why you do that. Also, like, this is speculation, but I imagine once it becomes public that Jalen Brown's name is, like, firmly being tossed in trades, even if it is for a guy like Yana Sancta Kumpo, I imagine it rubs him the wrong way. I mean, I've seen posts on Twitter. I haven't verified this myself, but I don't know, I mean, the videos are in front of us. I don't know why people would doctor this of, of Jaylen Brown liking comments on

Instagram where, you know, people are commenting, well, he should go to an organization where they actually respect him, and he's liking those comments on Instagram. So I imagine at some point this summer, some of these things rubbed him the wrong way, and it was this culmination of all these things where somebody forced Brad Stevens' hand, I had to imagine. I don't just think he, I guarantee you of mine as great as Brad Stephen. did not make this trade with the Boston Seltz getting back to Tier 1 in mind. Like this, it feels like his hand is kind of forced.

Yeah, I mean, that's kind of where I sit with it, Joel. And Chuck and I were talking about this, both on the show and then during the break, is I get why your name would be brought up for Janus. You're talking about some of the biggest names in the league who were brought up for Janus. But then the fact that it stayed there, that's what made it so shocking. And then to see him move in, I agree with you, Paul George, being part of the return and George had that suspension too if you guys recall. 25 games.

Yeah. So that I also think that that may have factored into the return on this in a way where we as a man are looking at this saying, you know, what was the move here? Yeah. Well, Paul George's market, it's well documented. Paul George's market was poor. Like it was not great. And it was, I mean, there was talk out there to Jalen Brown's market was not what it would be

for a player of his caliber, mostly because of the contract. But yeah, I mean, mostly because of the contract. And so, like, neither of these players' market was where you would want it to be. And it's all about leverage. And I think you've, I think, I think you've seen that across this whole free agency slash off-season period where, like, people are, people are comparing that return to the Walker Kessler return, because obviously I do think Danny Aege fleece the Lakers. But like these trades are not one for one, man.

All trades are not created equal. Like leverage is different based on decision makers and team settings and cap. I mean, there's so many things involved here. But it is safe to say like neither of these guys markets were what they should have been. I mean, Paul George's was especially poor from what I understand. So, Joelle, here's my question. I think we can all agree. Great signing by the Bulls for Norman Powell.

and they have a team option for you or two, so in case things don't work out, the Bulls can pivot and move on. But they've got this mid-level for $9 million. What are you expecting with that? Do you think the Bulls are going to use it? Do you think they could revisit Anthony Simons? Or where do you see that going?

Yeah, it's interesting. We'll see, right? I do think Anthony Simons is a very, It's not unlikely. I do know there are other shooters. Like, I believe Dallas is one. Clearly, he can be more useful to teams than I think the Bulls, which is like when I see people drawing certain targets to the Bulls is offseason,

it's like my first thought is, well, how much more useful, like Isaiah Joe, how much more would Isaiah Joe serve Detroit than he would the Bulls? That's where my mind goes. And so I think Anthony Simons could better serve. And it's not like he's on contract like I said, Joe. He's a free agent. So while I do think it's not unlikely, I don't know. I mean, there's also the possibility.

I don't know if people are talking about this, like leaving the spot open for flexibility. Like every time I was around in Thunder, the Thunder always did that because they would leave themselves some room to sort of do something at the deadline if that was what they wanted to do, if they wanted to help facilitate something. Like, there's always that possibility. But, yeah, I think this could go a bunch of different ways.

We're talking to Joel Lorenzi of the Athletic, covering the NBA. He's based here in Chicago on Rahimi Harrison Brody, Chuck Swirsky, fill it in for Marshall. You can see Joel on Twitch, twitch.tv slash the score Chicago. And, Joelle, what do you think of just the whole way the Bulls got put together that we've seen? Claxton, then you see the re-signing of Zincolk. Zach Collins, Norm Powell gets outed, which addresses the shooting conversation that a lot of us wanted to have. What are your impressions of this whole picture now that we get to see of this team? Yeah. In totality, I think the offseason has been fine. It didn't blow me away,

but it did not hamage the Bulls either. I think they have a lot of flexibility and optionality, especially with the three deals you mentioned, the extension of Zach Collins and Norman Powell and obviously Nick Claxton, like those are those are guys that potentially, like, if you decide, one, I think they serve two purposes. One, if you decide that, you know, should they be healthy, mostly in the case of Claxton and especially Zach Collins, if they're healthy, if they serve their purpose, can you flip these guys at the deadline or next summer? Can you give them a short-term look and get value at this? Because I do think the priority for this front office is still future assets.

So that's one purpose. But I do also think in the short term, specifically with Claxton and Norman Powell, you get a couple guys, a couple archetypes of players that should be beneficial as you're trying to develop Caleb Wilson and Dalyland Swain and play with a team that also involves Josh Giddy. like Norman Powell, like by no means is the shooting like completely addressed. Like this is still, this is a team full of guys who don't have reputations as shooters. They're still going to play Isaac O'Coro, still going to play Josh Giddy. They're still going to play Trey Jones. I want to see what a Senge can do, you know?

Sure. As far as I know, he's not a shooter either, Chuck. No, he's not. But I want to see him on the floor just so I can evaluate his skill set. Yeah, fair enough. And so I do think Norman Powell, while the shooting is not completely addressed, he is this volume of shooter, this historically efficient shooter, both on off the ball. He can attack closeouts. He can create a little bit.

He can get you 20 if that is what that night requires. He gives you this versatility as a shooter that, frankly, like, if Caleb Wilson is going to play in a post sum or create inside the arc, like he needs that space. And this team needs that space and to sort of grow into the things they need to grow into. And then Nick Claxton, as far as I can tell, like, Zach Collins has only played so much. Even still, Nick Claxson, the idea of him is that he can be a sort of lob threat and vertical spacer, which this Bulls team, this core, has not really had yet. So it'll be something I think Caleb Wilson and really Josh Giddy can use as they sort of develop. No, I think that's fair. It's trying to kind of put this all together.

and Chuck and Joel, I feel like we're on a three-man weave here trying to envision how this picture gets put together with the Bulls. I do want to ask you, since you are the NBA guy, and there have been so many moves. Like Chuck and I didn't even get to them all. Like, Kauai being a part of this, for example, is an afterthought in all of this, like you just said. What else have you noticed that has been notable?

Like Mitch Robinson going to the Celtics to me is also pretty big, leaving the Knicks after they just won the title. What stands out to you both? start with Joelle and then check obviously fill in the gaps. I think two things. I've been wondering about this. I do think it's amazing to see how much really strong executives are really kneeling to the new apron rules. Like it's like I'm watching Sam Press you do things.

He never have to do at a rate I've never seen him do. To trade. I mean, look, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. they did not feature all that much in their playoff run. But those are guys who are like regular season innings eater, like king value rotational players for them. Ooh, usually they could just stash and covet and not be bothered. But now they're trading them for scraps and they have no leverage

because people know the situation they're in. I'm seeing that across the league. And there's a sort of different value in picks now, as far as I can tell, like, it seems kind of hard to just shed contracts and be able to, you know, like teams, teams can't, as far as I can tell, acquire bad contracts, and get good draft conversation out of it. Like, it doesn't seem like teams are doing it this time around. There are some weird trends kind of being buried by the sheer names that are being dealt here. Well, I'll say this. I've been covering the NBA for five, maybe six decades. It's hard to believe that it's true. And I will say this. I have never seen an offseason. I think Joelle is right like this. I mean, there are superstar trade after superstar. Now, the Raptor's ownership has a great relationship with Kwai. You know, he went a championship there in 2019. They have a good relationship with their alums like tomorrow, too.

Yes, they do. So I'm not surprised like why I got moved, but I will say this. I think with, and people, and I'm not a capologist, but the aprons have changed the mindset of owners who are going to their GMs and say, this is as much as I can go, and you're not going over it. I mean, think about this, Joelle. The Knicks win the championship. Two days after they win the championship in an interview, James Dolwe, the owner of the New York Knickerbockers, probably the number one revenue producing franchise in the NBA says,

you know what, not going second apron. And here they just won the title. And I was taking aback. I'm thinking, okay, they're going to go over. They're going to get in the second apron. And yeah, it'll probably tie their hands for a pick. Who cares? They're going to draft like 27, 28.

Yeah. And, but no Mitchell Robinson. I mean, like, what do you think, Joelle? Yeah, I agree. I mean, Mitchell Robinson is a Boston Celtic. And what world would that happen without these restrictions and owner who can unabashedly say something like that, like James Dover? It's a strange, strange world, man. And you're seeing stuff like that all around the league.

It's actually scary. And it's why I really tread water when I try to critique. like throw a blanket on my critiques of decision makers because the job is is already hard to like team build but like now even when you get like close to the finish line it's becoming especially hard so so we'll see we'll see what happens in the league this next year but it feels like the teams like let's say you like what the Sixers did

I mean they are a better team than they were yesterday I think they're probably in Sierra One of the East right now. But their runway, I don't know that it's all that great. Like you're kind of walking into these things, knowing that your runway is not all that sustainable because of the apron, because of these restrictions, because other teams can sort of act on the leverage of the thunder and the spurs and all these other teams who are eventually going to have to deal with that same thing. Like there are teams, if you're sitting in the back,

If you're sitting in the proverbial bleachers, you can get good off leveraging these teams who are facing an apron. Like that might be the best way to net assets, waiting on the thunder, waiting on the Celtics, waiting on the Sixers. They'd be like, okay, like, you're going to have to get off a Payton Pitchard pretty soon. I need a Paden Pitchard. Like, it's really weird stuff. Well, and that's, I want to give you credit, Joelle, for putting that out there because the way you said it, you know, we're seeing these sea change moments. in the league. You know, whether it's the Thunder Pacer series last year in the finals or whether it's, I thought it was going to be, the Spurs are going to be a dynasty again. And I growing up in Dallas

just to have to accept it and deal with that. And I was not emotionally ready for it. So I'm very happy the next one. But I think you're right. Like these trades are, there's some sort of warning. I just can't figure out what it is yet. So I credit you for also kind of seeing that in advance how you guys are talking about. Yeah. Again, Layla, we're starting to see a trend. Yeah. And I don't know if it's healthy or not, but when major players in their prime are getting moved, with the exception of Paul George.

Yes. Yonis is still in his prime. The needle is going, but he still in his prime. Paul George also got moved in his prime. Yes, he did. That built the thunder as we've talked about. Twice, by the way. Yeah, yeah. Twice.

And Joel knows about that all too well. Yes, he does. But I'm saying these trades are not, as Joel and I discuss with you, they are not basketball trades. There is financial reasons for this, and I do believe that the owners are going to their general managers and say, we need to talk. Okay, where are we at right now? Are we a first-tier team, second-tier team? Are we on the cusp? Because if you can't look at me in the eyes and say, we need to make this move to go into the top five or six in the conference, I don't want to do this, because I don't want to pay the tax.

And so do your best. Come to me. Look at the roster. Tell me what we have. And then go from there. Yeah, Joelle, I'll give you the last word on that, too. And it makes me wonder, I do think, like, Isaiah Stewart and no other summer gets dealt for second round picks.

Correct. I love Isaiah Stewart. I love Isaiah Stewart, too. And so, and I know that I was the critique of Bryson Graham from a faction of Bulls fans. And the summer, which is like fair. Like, why couldn't you go get, I just do it? To me, it's kind of signals that I do think, because Isaiah Joe was also dealt for a second. One, I do think there's this perspective.

I can only speak to San Presby here. But San Presby, I know, would make it a priority to get his guys to a destination where they can continue to compete. That's a priority. That's why Aaron Wiggins is in Atlanta. And that's why Isaiah Joe is in Detroit. It's a big part of it. but also they really had less leverage to. And I just think it makes me wonder if bison Graham liked any of these guys who were from these teams.

Like Isaiah Joe, you would think is a seamless fit. Why would you pass on him? But it makes me wonder how far ahead he's thinking. And if he's looking at the teams who are going to be up against the apron next year and saying, well, we can pluck this guy from them. I mean, he's sort of on our age timeline. Can we make a push for him? That's what that makes me believe.

If you did not want Isaiah Joe, or if you could not even get into Isaiah Joe race or beef stew, maybe beef stew wasn't your kind of player, then who are you eyeing a summer from now? Because it's going to come for all these scenes eventually. Yes, and don't think for a moment they aren't thinking about already the summer of 27. They are because the Collins contract alone tells you there. Just based on how it's structured.

Well, I mean, Joe, how about this? I mean, there are team options now on many of these contracts. In the old regime, it was a player option. Yeah, this is true. I don't have to remind Bulls fans of that. So that optionality is, I suppose, refreshing for somebody who wants to be a good team build. You know what's refreshing about this whole thing is that Bryson Graham has come in and been as transparent as one can possibly be in the position?

he is. He's not going to tell us everything, and I respect that. I get it. He's told us a lot, though. But yeah, and you know what? I already appreciate the fact that he is speaking for the organization and not sending out his head coach to be the face of the franchise. I love Billy Donovan. I think he was put in some very difficult, tough, awkward situations. Absolutely. That's all I got to say, Joel. That's far, Chuck. But I will say this just in a Shams tweet. Anthony Simons is a Sixer.

Whoa. Wow. Oh, man. What a savvy move that is for them. Bob Myers. You can't tell me Bob Myers. You can't tell me. I know Mike Gansy's the guy, Joelle, but listen, everything runs through Bob Myers.

I just got the text from Ray because the Wi-Fi here is spotty in my chair. Damn. That's good stuff. Joel, thank you so much for being a part of this. You see? You're awesome. Well, you know that. I tell you that all the time.

I know. How many times do we need to tell you you're a valued guest? Now you're breaking news, too. I know you, right now. Man. We love it. Joel, thank you so much. You're welcome anytime.

You know that. That is Joelle Lorenzi, who really is a valued guest. And there he is telling us about the Anthony sign. We, oh, this is, this is the time, Chuck. July 1st, July 2nd, things are just cooking. Yep. How about that? We'll address this a little bit on the other side.

And then there's also an article that came in. Just a lot of trade talk. NBA trades happening. The MLB trade deadline is coming up. The athletic reported about the Cubs. We'll do it all next. You're listening to Rahimi Harrison Grody on Sports Radio 1043, the score. Doors closing.

We just talked about CTA etiquette, and there it is. This is your CTA crew right here. Actually, the midday show is because Grody takes it, Marshall takes it. Chuck Swirsky is in today. on Rahimi Harris and Grotie. And just an awesome conversation. Every single time we have Joelle Lorenzi on from The Athletic. He does a great job.

And then at the very end, he reported this. And we were just talking about this guy, which is why I'm so lucky to have Chuck here on July 1st and or second because this is NBA time. Okay. It's baseball time. But most importantly, it is also NBA time. Sham Sharania, local guy.

Local guy made good. I knew when he was in college at Loyola. And he's, you know. And he'd hang around you. I am so proud of him. And he also still goes to Bulls games. He just chats it up with people. Like, Shams is not this untouchable guy.

No. Like, he's still, like, he's put together, but he's a man of the people. Yes, he is. So shout out Shams for also breaking. We love you. For breaking this. Although we wish Shams had reported it differently. We do.

Free Agent Guard, Anthony Simons, has agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the Philadelphia, 76-arts. I'm shaking my fist. with a player option in a second season. Sources tell ESPN. Simons chose the Sixers over other suitors. That's a big part of this tweet, believing his fit is perfect with the revamped 76ers roster. That now has Jalen Brown.

Look at that all come together. We were just talking about him. Turns out we're not the only ones who thought that Anthony Simons would be a good fit with the team, Chuck. Not with the Bulls. Well, again, he's going to a Philadelphia ball club that's ready to win now, right? And did you say the second year is a team option or a player option?

I believe that's a team option. Let me see. With a player option. So it's a player option, which is not what we've been seeing recently. So that's a nice deal for him. It's a nice deal. And I like how Bryson is handling the roster regarding the options. Because let the team decide what's going on compared to the previous administration

where players had the option, and God bless the players, I will never, ever, ever complain if a player can get more cash. You know what? It's a two-way street, and if the contracts negotiated in good faith, go for it. And we've seen, you know, when you pay players, you get a better version of the player, which means we get a better version of the game. Yes. So, yeah, it benefits everybody to have that happen. Yes, it does. But I think the big wild card here, and we talked about some of them with Joel. And he's right.

He's right to say that there's some names he didn't expect to see moving, that this is a different offseason, one that's wild in some of the big names we see and move, and how they've moved, not necessarily where they were empowered under free agency, is that the fact of the matter is you can't outright tank. Something had to be done after a third of the league was trying its hardest last year to get to the bottom. So I understand that part of it. But we don't know how teams are responsible.

as to how they need to be good, but not bad enough to be in the bottom three of either conference. So that, to me, is the wild card in this, too. Well, you can already tell in the Eastern Conference, unless a catastrophic injury curtails their progress, I mean, Lately, you can look right now. If you go in the Eastern Conference. Yeah. Okay, so let's say New York, obviously, right? Yeah, who just lost Mitchell Robinson, as we discussed, which you and I think is significant.

Okay, so you got New York, Detroit, right? You got Boston, which will be interesting to see where they're at. But healthier Boston. Healthyer Boston. But they got Tatum. Yeah. Okay. So you got New York, Philly, Boston, Detroit.

Correct. Yep. And then you've got Cleveland. I was going to say Cleveland. That's five. I don't count their success as a flash in the pan. Okay. So we're already at five teams, right?

Easily. Okay. So then you've got Miami. Miami with Yonis. Yep. So, and then you've got Orlando. You've got Atlanta. Yeah.

So we're, what now? About eight, nine, whatever the case may be. You're at like nine, yeah. And then you're trying to figure out with Charlotte. They're going to be in it. Charlotte, who just gave Kobe a big deal. And I love what Charlotte. You know what?

Their front office evaluated LaBello and they also, you know, we're looking at the big picture with Bridges and they're saying, you know what? let's do it let's move on with an eye towards 27 yeah now they may take a step back this year but they've got Kobe now signed for three years right and so I really like what they've done they made the trade with Phoenix and so you know what I think the east right now the interesting team is going to be Washington yes completely agree the the trade you know Anthony Davis being a part of that. And then obviously getting DeBanza, like, how are they going to put this all together in a way that makes sense for them? And again, they can move Anthony Davis any time they want.

Yeah. The myth is that teams don't want Anthony Davis. The reality is teams very much do. Yes, they do on a short-term deal. But I think that's important to note here is as much as, for example, as we've talked about Paul Pierce being traded in his prime and now even being a center piece in one of the biggest deals in the league. You know, Anthony Davis is just a good of an example of, yeah, you may have the reputation for injury. But we saw him be healthy with the Lakers and he was an absolute force when he was. Yeah, for a stopgap for 40 games or 40 games and then the following season, you've got to make that deal if you feel that you're right there.

But the cap, the cap is everything. And Major League Baseball, if there's a lockout, it'll be because of the cap. Players don't want a cap. Yeah. But for the good of the sport, you need a cap. You really do. Or else we wouldn't have, if we didn't have a cap, there are no eight different champions in the NBA.

I can tell you that right now. I think what you're looking at, though, is a cohesive ownership understanding in the NBA. Like everybody's playing by the same set of rules because of the cap. But in Major League Baseball, the owners had all previously been playing by a similar set of rules. And then the Dodgers deal happened where the ownership changed. And then Steve Cohen bought the Mets. And that's where you started to see ownership get, get fast.

Not fast, it is the right word, fractured. Ownership got fractured. So then you have ownership like the pirates in practice disagreeing with ownership of the Dodgers. And I think that's where the issue became. Players don't want a cap. It had worked for decades where you didn't need a cap in baseball. But within the last few years where ownership doesn't agree. with themselves.

That's where the issue is as much as anything. It's not even players. And the Dodgers can get along with the Mets. I'd love to see the contracts of the players with the Dodgers. And maybe you have it available, Lela, about deferred payments. Well, that's the thing. We know Otani has like millions deferred. Kyle Tucker.

A Kyle Tucker, millions deferred. Some of their pitchers probably have millions deferred. Justin Turner is still getting paid multiple millions of dollars by the Dodgers this year because of deferral. According to a brief quick search, the Dodgers owe over a billion dollars in deferred payments to nine players, including Shohei Otani, Mookie Betts, and Edwin Diaz. Now, the list that I got quickly and I need to check it, I don't trust just the AI overview. Yep. Blake Snell, according to this, 66 million. Shohei 680.

680. Mookie bets at 115. Freddie Freeman. 57, Will Smith 50, Tay Oscar Hernandez, 32. Tommy Edmund of the Tommy Edmund going to the Dodgers because of the Eric Feddy trade, if you recall.

That was a three-team deal. 25 million, Tanner Scott 21, Edwin Diaz undisclosed. But those are just those. Like I mentioned Justin Turner, for example. There's more than that on their books that's deferred. Think about that. They're paying Turner this year, but that is a previous contract

that was deferred. Yes. I made this note, and you being of Team Rhinstor, you probably know this well. Everybody talks about Bobby Bonilla Day. Right. But people forget that Dennis Gogo Gilbert was a reason that Bobby Bonia Day happened. That was his agent. That's true. And Dennis and

Jerry Rinesd are very close. I met Dennis briefly on the fourth floor of the sweet level of a socks game with Ozzy one day. And Ozzy is the one who told me that Gogo was Bonilla's agent. Yes, he was. So everybody forgets about that, the agent who did the deal. Yeah, Bobby

Bonilla was stripped for Jose de Leon. with the White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates when that deal happened. And actually, Bobby Bonilla, when he was in Chicago, had a great relationship with the media. But then he went to New York and it went down to fast. All bets are off. But you know what's funny is a lot of times people loop New York and Chicago and together when it comes to media relationships. But I feel like we have our favorites here too. Like we're kind to the people who do the work.

I would say the Chicago media is very kind. Yes. Yeah. And I think there are some people that we particularly like. like Johnny Quedo comes to mind. We appreciate the veterans who put in the work who are underappreciated elsewhere. The Mike Talkman's, the Johnny Quitos of the world, people like that. The Anthony Simons.

See, one thing I'll say this about whether it's a columnist, a talk show host, if you criticize a player, if there's a column that is, you know, just from one opinion to another regarding a player, if you show up in the in the locker room every day, I can deal with that. I think it's great. Yeah. Because it's not going to be perfect every day with people.

You're exactly right. That's a true relationship, actually. Is when sometimes on a day-to-day basis with a team, you're not always going to have a pleasant conversation with every single person every day. Right. You're going to, we annoy people. I do. Well, I'll say, I'll say this.

When I first came to Chicago, there was no sports talk show. And I had the first on a nightly basis from 7 to 11. And believe me, that was a forum where we talked everything. And there were players, and I'm not mean-spirited by any stretch of the imagination. But I had to make opinions. But I would always go in to the locker room. Because I was working at night, I couldn't show up at a game, but I would be there during the weekend. And there were players who said,

I want to talk to you, I heard about something. Now, sometimes they got the facts straight. Sometimes, well, we heard. Well, if you didn't hear it, I'll tell you exactly what I've said. But they at least wanted to have a conversation. They wanted to have a conversation, and they were totally professional.

Yeah, I mean, that's a lost relationship now. So I think that's pretty cool too. But yeah, shout out to Bobby Bonilla and also Dennis Gilbert Go-Go for putting together what is now considered kind of the tem. for the ideal deal. Pretty cool stuff. I think Paul Karnerko also had... Did he? Yeah, if I'm not mistake, you can Google that, but I think he had deferred payments. Yeah, and Lawrence Holmes yesterday, I know they did a segment. He and Matt Spiegel, where they went over a lot of the deferrals

to just celebrate Bobby Boney and A. Yeah. Caller 6 and 7 to our score contest line. 312 540 0670 will win two general admission tickets to Moe and Umfrey's McGee at Hunter Pavilion on August 15th provided by Ravinia. For tickets and more info, visit ravinia.org. Now you know, Chuck Swirsky's in the house, we do have some fun with the Chuck and Bill Whittington, play-by-play, back and

forth. How about we turn the tables a bit, Chuck? How about we listen to some fun with Pat and Ron and Zach Zadman? Rahimi Harris and Grody. We are family here. We are family. Middays 10 to 2 on 1043, the score.

Oh, I I see what you did here. This is a throwback to the Disney channel. You said this is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Oh, my goodness. Nicely done, Tyler Faringle. And, you know, it's that season.

It's season for hot dogs. Because you're everywhere tomorrow, right? Yeah, you know what? You're speaking of hot dogs. Good idea, Chuck, because I need to tell the people about this. Join me tomorrow. I lead Budweiser's Celebration Road Show to commemorate America's pastime in 250th birthday.

with your chance to win tickets to see the Cubs and Cardinals. Saturday night at Wrigley, a holiday weekend. Cubs and Cardinals, one of the best revelries. Come on now. That's at Riggily. I will have five locations. We're going to try to be at five locations in two hours, guys. Let's see if we make our deadlines.

So it starts at Billy Goe Tavern at Navy Pier at 5, Crossroads, Bar and Grill, West Madison at 540, okay? So we've got like 20 minutes in between and 20-minute windows. Rabbit Hole on North Wells at 620. the reveler on North Damon at 7 and Gaslight on North Clark at 740. Come out, drink fresh Budweiser. Register for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Cubs Cardinals Saturday night, courtesy of Budweiser, the official beer of the Chicago Cubs.

Now, Chuck, you know that during basketball season, we love the back and forth with you and Bill winning. So baseball season, let's have some fun with Pat Hughes, Ron Kumer, and Zach Zamen discussing hot dogs and more. Pat, have I got a treat for you? On Saturday, July 18th, the Cubs take on the Twins at 120 in the afternoon. Up to the first 4,000 early arriving fans in the Budweiser bleachers will receive a Cubs National Hot Dog Day cap presented by Vienna Beef.

Be sure to arrive early. Is that one key question? Would that be a dry dog? For you, anything can be arranged. Oh, yeah. We get all the dry dogs you want. First pitch to Miguel Amaya is outside. from Walker Bueller.

Second pitch in there for a strike one-on-one. You know, folks, there's a lot of argument, you know, whether you go Chicago and what you put on your hot dog, the New Yorkers don't know what they do, but it's kind of odd, but we'll go with it because Zach's in the boot. And then my partner, straight try dog. The drier, the better. Here's the one-two pitch from Walker Bueller to Miguel Amaya.

And folks, I am not kidding. And it's outside for a ball. A little bit about Zach, because we've all eaten dogs in New York. You know, we've had to give that a sample. But Pat likes his hot dog on the bun, and that is it. Swinging a foul back. I used to put a little mustard, sometimes a little ketchup, sometimes both. But I found that with the dry dog, you're never really disappointed.

I think putting the ketchup on it probably was the reason for some of the disappointment. Could be. But that's just the Chicago enemy. And mixing the ketchup and the muster was probably not the smartest thing either. I'm sure glad we're having this conversation. You're on to something. This conversation is long overdue.

Yeah, I think we could do this maybe on the off day tomorrow. It's real. You bring the dry dogs. I'll be there. Here's a pitch, swang, and a miss. And Amaya is out number one. One away in the batter, Dansby Swanson. Yeah, the dry.

dog thing was the originator of the dry dog was our executive producer Mitch Rosen during the World Series. That was what our diet consisted of at the ballpark from 1 o'clock to about midnight every day during the World Series on the road. He would always

put about 10 of the dogs in a carton with the gray cardboard, I guess you'd call it, and he would have a smile on his face. I got food for us. Let me guess. I'll never forget Len Casper at the end of the world series.

You know, we've been celebrating for a while, and he's like, I can't wait to go home and just have something good for him. The hot dogs. The quote was, this is the worst I've ever eaten in my entire life. What do you make of that, play-by-play, man? Well, speaking of hot dogs, Joey Chestnut, he's the guy every July 4th. It's kind of disgusting, to be honest. with you. I've been very opinioned about that. Some people disagree with me, but he forces,

he's hot dogs, like, stuffs in his mouth and his ears. It's just crazy. It's an athlete thing now that he does the competitive. I'm surprised he hasn't just had a heart attack on the air. Yeah, there's that. I mean, they do train for it, you know. They train for it? Oh, yeah. What do you do? You put dry dogs and you eat it? I don't, I don't exactly know what the process is, but you can look it up. They do train. Bill Wennington, my main man, you know, puts mayonnaise on his hot dog. Wild. I'll tell you why.

When Bill, people failed to realize and don't understand. Bill grew up very poor. And mayonnaise, his mom would put mayonnaise as a sandwich. Yeah. And that's why he, to this day, puts mayonnaise on his hot dog. Rich Wyatt will verify this. But on your hot dog, what do you like? I so I am believe it or not you don't have to be from here to like like mustard on your hot

dog okay there's always a mustard on my hot dog girl no catch up no I I I love the Chicago dog like I give you the celery salt the aramatics the peppers the whole thing I'm into it yep so yeah that that was a nice fit but yes there are people from outside of Chicago who also love mustard on their hot dogs well I love mustard I just don't go ketchup no ketchup it tastes it tastes weird. It just does. But, you know, I'm not here to tell the people how to live their lives. No, if people want to do that, but they're wrong. Anyway.

I love it. Chuck, this has been so much fun. Thank you so much. Thank you for filling in, especially on a busy NBA day. Hey, we got, we got two of, we got two of the crew coming in. I think you know them from a little network called CHSN. Yes. Cam Smith and Gabe Ramirez are next. Bull Station here attending this game to get a sandwich.

No, I think it's a hot dog. I'm pretty sure it's a hot dog. You got bread and you got meat and it's a sandwich. And let's see what George can do. It is up and it is good.