The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 07/04/2019

Episode Date: July 4, 2019

Colin celebrates the 4th of July by declaring independence and gaining back our freedom from several oppressive forces in sports! Kawhi has been so quiet with his upcoming free agency decision that its creating commotion among the three NBA teams impacted the most with his choice. Kevin Durant's vibe wasn't the right match at all with the Golden State Warriors creating constant tension and if Kevin Durant couldn't get along with Steve Kerr, a true players coach, then who will be able to please him?Guest : Cuttino Mobley - 11 year NBA veteran Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Rhett, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. And we have been joined at the hip since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger.

hips. This is a podcast we're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey with all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got it. Listen to soccer moms on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to the best of heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Herd. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, happy 4th of July live in Los Angeles. This is the herd. Wherever you may be, we're hoping a great day, chilling out and watching us. IHeart Radio, we're on Fox Sports Radio, XM, Sirius, Channel 83, and right here on FS1. obviously on Kauai Leonard Watch. I'll give you the very latest. This is what I do for a living. I'll tell you what I've been told.

I have been told it is a coin flip Raptors Lakers and the Clippers are third. My friend Chris Broussard reported this morning that the clippers are officially out of the running. Now, this entire process, I have only made one prediction. I made it a month ago. Kyrie Irving would go to the Nets. and the reason I made that prediction was because I had an NBA player in the Eastern Conference and a former All-Star who knows Kyrie both tell me he'd made a decision a month ago. That's the only one I felt strongly about.

The rest of this stuff, we just don't know. I read something in an article this morning from Wojj. Teams have simply been told this. If information on your presentation gets out, you are really imperilling your chance of signing Kauai Leonard. They want it to be private. Oh, okay. That's interesting because the only team that's kept it quiet and private has been the clippers and they're out. That's why free agency is so unpredictable. These are 27 and 28-year-old young men making career-altering eight-figure, nine-figure decisions. You don't think it's hard? I've made several of these decisions in my 40s.

And it was, and I didn't have nine figures. They weren't life-altering. and it was hard for me every time, every single time. I mean, could you have guessed KD, the world's best basketball player arguably would choose the second most interesting team in New York, 30th in attendance nets? Kauai would be still considering a Laker circus. Jimmy Butler would go from NBA championship contender Philly to a seventh seat in the east Miami. Al Horford would bail on the Celtics. Paul George chooses Westbrook and Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City over L.A. He's from California. Yeah, NBA free agency, coincidentally on Independence Day. These guys are independent thinkers. You don't know what you're getting. Let's talk about the Raptors and Kauai Leonard. So he's still considering Toronto. Did you watch yesterday? It's like the Bronco chase, the OJ treatment, following all over Canada. And his cameras following all over the country. We know they had a final meeting. How do we know that? It leaked.

We had fans and people waiting outside of the office building. Kauai and his people were going to meet the Raptors. How did that get out? It leaked. Drake, apparently, was in the meetings. I thought he was quiet and covert and wanted to keep it under wraps. You're not going to keep anything under wraps with Drake involved. How about the Lakers situation?

We found out, five minutes after Magic Johnson and Kauai talked, we found out about the phone call. It was like we had a transcript. I found out everything they talked about. Chris Broussard went item to I. him story to story. How did that get out? Leak. Yesterday, a story broke, leaked. He's already decided on a two plus one deal with the Lakers. Nobody's quite sure where it leaked from. Some are suggesting it's clutch sports. LeBron's agency, AD's agency. I don't know. But Toronto's been noisy. The Lakers has been a circus. The Clippers? Not a peep. Steve Ballmer, the owner,

not a peep. Jerry West, not a peep. Doc Rivers, not a peep. Covert, just like Kauai. And they're out. they're out if keeping it quiet was really crucial the one team that has kept it quiet the clippers who by the way also have a great culture and a nice young roster and a bunch of young kids they feel like Toronto

they get all the elements in place they just need a face they just need a star and you won last year with Toronto you could argue you could certainly argue the clippers are just a warm weather version of the raptors they're out So when people try to predict, I mean, I was told Kevin Durant love the people in the Knicks front office. He didn't even give him a meeting.

Did anybody think Jimmy Butler was considering Miami? I mean, the Clippers are going to finish third on this thing. They've been the most professional. They've been the quietest. We don't know anything what these kids want. These are hard decisions. Free agency has been. a guessing game outside a Kyrie to the Nets who could figure out any of this stuff.

I've been told Raptors, Lakers, Kholyker's, Klippers are third. Broussard said clippers are out. And they've been the one that's done it right. All right, so I saw this story. Kevin Durant, quote, wasn't too fond of Steve Kerr, according to Stephen Aisman. They did not have a great relationship. He wasn't fond of Steve Kerr at all. Okay. So who wasn't Kevin Durant offended by? The Bay Area Media, Draymond Greem, the medical staff, and now Steve Kerr. Steph Curry has been there for a decade. He's never had a bad afternoon. He's gotten along with everybody. He had to go through a coach being fired. Kevin Durant joining the team. Boogie Cousins comes in. He got along with everybody.

I mean, Tom Brady's been in New England 19 years. He had one dust-up about a year ago with Bill Belichick and they solved it. KD, three years in Oakland, and I mean, a perfect team, a perfect owner, a perfect coach, a former player, a perfect teammate star, a perfect

chemistry. And he didn't get along with Steve Kerr either. I mean, folks, this is like staying the night at a Rich Carlton and complaining that the pillows are too soft. if you can't boogie cousins worked with the warriors Nick Young worked with the warriors we all thought Jabal McGee was kind of goofy

he worked with the warriors everybody works for the warriors I mean the warriors walked on eggshells for three years with Kevin Durant and now we find out he didn't like the coach I think Charles Barkley had it right KD is just really, really absurdly sensitive.

Wonderful man. But he's one of those guys, the one thing you can't. The Warriors catered to KD. They did everything for KD. They walked on eggshells for KD. And the NBA media too often just panders. These are grown men. Some of this is on Kevin Durant.

And oh, by the way, do you know who he's chosen to spend? the next five years of his career with. Kyrie Irving. Kevin Durant is 6'11.1.1 of turbulence. Kyrie Irving is 6'2 of turbulence. That's an airline, I'm not going to fly. Even on clear days, it's bumpy. Because if you couldn't get along with Steve Kerr,

I've been covering the NBA for years. I don't think there's anybody in the league that doesn't like Steve Kerr. He went out of his way to get along with you. So did Steph and Clay. I mean, Draymond a couple of times, poked you in the ribs, said things that were a little personal. It's pro sports. Guys argue.

Peyton Manning used to scream at his buddy, all-pro center, Jeff Saturday. It's on NFL films. You yell, you scream, you get over it. Nick Wright on First Things First this morning, trying to explain Kevin Durant's displeasure with all things warriors. The other thing that he really wanted was a close, deep, almost familial friendship with someone on the team, and that didn't come either.

So you had Kevin Durant after that first title feeling almost according to the people that know him, worse than before because he actually finally grasped the thing he wanted and realized, well, if that don't make me feel whole, then what the hell can? At some point, to be loved, you got to love. Some of this is on Kevin Durant. Warriors did everything you could do. They all flew cross-country to meet him. Like on a holiday weekend and all these rich guys in an off-seat,

they flew to meet him. And they come back and the star, Steph Curry, over and over, he's the best player on this team, we need him. Everything. They let him have his own medical guy and the other medical staff. They gave him everything he wanted. They won. I mean, this is, again, this is the four-s.

seasons of hotels. This is the Ritz Carlton. If you're struggling with the warriors, Nick Young and Boogie Cousins worked. Andre Aguadallo was an all-star player. They told him, you got to go to the bench. And they were able to sandpaper that. Iggy never complained. I mean, this is one of the smart organizations. At some point, we got to stop pandering. Some of this, frankly, and he's not a bad guy, but some of this is just on Kevin. He's turbulent, even during clear skies. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies,

and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games,

from buzzer beaders to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more,

follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast.

Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. A rep. My mama want you to weigh better.

What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. American Soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the Chip. I'm Tad Ramos.

I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Polisic. I'm not worried about Balligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions.

If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, inside American soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabram.

most on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. So today is 4th of July, and I thought I would have on Independence Day some declarations of independence. This is the day we declared our freedom from the tyranny of the British Empire. And I want to declare our freedom from several oppressive forces in sports. These are my four declarations of independence on the 4th of July. My first declaration of independence, we need to declare our freedom from the unwritten rules of baseball. These tyrannical rules are draining the fun out of our national pastime.

Let's be honest here. We should be able to live in a country where you can celebrate a home run without somebody throwing a 96-mile-an-hour heater at your skull. every player should have a right to celebrate a home run, especially if they play for the Orioles because they need all the support they can get. My second declaration of independence, we must declare our freedom from the NFL Pro Bowl. For years, it has bored us with its irrelevance. I say no more.

Can you remember who won last year's Pro Bowl? I'll tell you who won, the people who didn't have to watch it. It's a disgrace not only to our flag, but to the game of flag football, which is more entertaining to watch. The biggest stars don't want to play in it. It's not an all-star game. It's more of an alternate star game. My third declaration of independence. We must declare our freedom from the weak college football schedules in separate.

Good Lord, this is embarrassing. These schedules are rough to watch. The September, this Labor Day, starting this Labor Day, this September, Alabama will subject us to the watching of them facing Duke, 28-point favorite, New Mexico State, 38-point favorite, Southern Miss, that punishment is cruel, and yet all too usual. If I wanted to watch that much garbage being devoured, I'd watch Nathan's hot dog eating contest. We must demand that our September schedules are strong like our proud country. And finally on this 4th of July, we must declare our freedom from the fear of super teams.

For years, we've been warned about them. They'll take over the world. When we didn't have free agency, the Celtics won 11 titles and the United States. 13 years. When players in college didn't team up together and they didn't have a transfer portal, UCLA won 10 titles in 12 years, give our superstars, our fans, and most importantly, woge the freedom to talk and discuss super teams. I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which is why nobody wants to play

for the Knicks. We must not fear super teams. What we should fear is the hawks and grizzlies playing on television on a Tuesday night. My declarations of independence, no more unwritten rules in baseball, no more pro bowl, no more embarrassing September college football schedules. And for the love of you know what, no more fear of super teams. Since 2010, seven different teams have won titles. free agency

creates parity it doesn't end it one more herd the herd streams 24 hours a day seven days a week within the iHeart radio app search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like last night a blown call changed

a game this morning the internet lost its mind highlights are trending opinions are flying and nobody's telling you exactly what happened that's where sports slice comes in I'm timbo every episode we're cutting through the noise breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness

month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't really really that we are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th.

And on my podcast, The Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Brett, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Where's she at? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam?

It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows.

Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson,

we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We have three teams battling for Kauai Leonard. I am told he will make a decision in the next 24 hours. that's what I've been told. Love Kauai if you're watching to break it anytime now. Next 24 hours, I'm told Toronto and the Clippers and the Lakers all battling, but it's really the Raptors and the Lakers, the Clippers are third, despite an excellent season and a terrific presentation and keeping quiet. My only guess on this for the Clippers, and I'll ask Rick Buecker about this,

the one thing we've talked about is the fact that he can rest 20 games in Toronto, He said that was why he was so good in the playoffs. He could rest in Los Angeles because they have two stars, LeBron and AD. He couldn't do that. The West is too good for the Clippers not to play Kauai Leonard 25 nights, the load management thing. That's my guess because I think the Clippers did everything right. The West, you've got Portland's going to be better, probably Utah, Lakers, Dallas, Denver, all better. Denver's just going to be older.

Golden State, Houston, incredibly viable. Oklahoma City, keep your eye on them. They're a tough out. you know, so I'm guessing. I'll ask Rick Buecker about that. But here's, here's the three teams, and here's what I think happens to each if they don't land Kauai Leonard. Let's talk about the Clippers first. They won 48 games last year. It ended up being an eight seed. They snuck in. Now, the downside is this would be soul crushing. The downside is they're still very young. The West is better. Their best player is the worst best player of the playoff teams, Lou Williams,

like, but he doesn't even start. I thought they also got a little lucky last year. They didn't have any major injuries, and many teams in the West did. I don't think they're a playoff team. I don't think, and I think this is just soul crushing. So I don't think the Clippers are a playoff team in an improved West. The team sharing the building, the Lakers is better, Utah's way better. I think Portland can be better.

Dallas is way better. The Pelicans are better. Denver's better. And frankly, with John Morant, Memphis is better. Let's talk about the Raptors without Kauai. I think they're a playoff team, and I think they could be a fairly high seed without him. The bottom of the Eastern Conference is atrocious. The calves are awful.

The Chicago's bad. Atlanta's young and talented, but bad. D.C., Washington's horrible. Charlotte's a mess. The Knicks are terrible. Toronto is deep, well-coached, has a top GM to make a move at the trading deadline. You know, when you have a good GM, I always count that. Can you make a move at the trading deadline?

A good coach. experienced, winning culture, now a winning pedigree. The East is incredibly weak. I don't think the Boston Celtics are as good. I don't necessarily think Philadelphia's as good, but they'll be better defensively. And Milwaukee lost Malcolm Brogden. So I think they're a playoff team. Now, I don't think they're a one or a two seed, but I wouldn't be shocked if they got to a four or a five seed and hosted a first round playoff series.

Let's talk about the Lakers without Kauai. This lineup, if Kauai doesn't choose them, here's what I'm. I'm being told. Rondo resigns, Javail McGee, resigns. So you got Rondo, LeBron 80, Kuzma, Javale, McGee, and an incredibly weak bench. Jared Dudley is an old guy. Kyle Corver may come here, an old guy. Neither can give you a lot of minutes or defend at this point in the playoffs. I think it would be one of the weaker benches in the NBA, and I'm not sure again how LeBron with AD you'll need, it's the best duo, but they've got a new coach. the GM situation is not ideal.

They don't feel like a title team. Anthony Davis has a history of injuries. So I think they're a playoff team. I don't think they're much of a playoff team without Kauai Leonard. They've waited too long. I also think all three of these teams are kind of desperate. The Clippers are desperate because they did everything right and couldn't land one big time guy. That's a bad look.

Jerry West is not getting younger. I think it's a bad look for the Raptors. If you can't keep Kauai Leonard, who are you going to keep? He's the guy that's built perfectly for you. He's not into Flash. He doesn't care about all the branding stuff. He's just like a guy that wants to play basketball. Toronto's perfect.

If they don't land him, that's bad. And I think the Lakers, frankly, you're going to have no bench. And as Chris Manick said about a week ago, I think it means LeBron's last hurrah in Los Angeles is unfulfilled. Not to be too hyperbolic, but it's the difference between maybe winning multiple championships and winning zero championships in that era. Simply because if they don't get Kauai Leonard, they're basically scrapping for whatever's left over.

That's not going to get you a championship this year or even close to it. And next year, we look at the 2020 free agent class, there isn't a star. Next summer, you could flesh it up. out with some solid role players, but it's also another year with LeBron's older. And it's another season that goes by where he doesn't win a championship. So I think there's a sniff of desperation for all of them. And I'll say it again, the team that's not desperate is the Golden State Warriors. I like them.

I'll say it again. Draymond's still there. Steph, Clay by February, Steve Kerr, Bob Myers, Kavon Loney. They just signed an All-Star DeAngelo Russell. They can keep or flip him for somebody at the trading deadline. Willie Colley Stein, a 12-8 guy, they got lengthen a rim protector. When you wait this long, I mean, the Warriors didn't wait an instant once Kevin Durant left to rebuild quick. Raptor's waiting, clippers waiting, Lakers waiting.

There's a sniff of desperation for all of them. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays and noon Eastern. 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. We're, of course, here on 4th of July. Our staff will be celebrating it tonight with their families and friends, the fireworks. It's my favorite holiday. And just great to have you in. You know, I don't think there's any question that Kevin Durant was a basketball fit in Golden State. But I read a story this morning that he wasn't that fond of Steve Kerr. what he wasn't is a mentality fit.

And I think it matters. I'll give you an example. I used to live in Oregon, and Nike is the big company in Oregon outside of Portland, Beaverton, Oregon. And there's a very strong vibe and a very strong culture to Nike. And they hired an outsider to be their CEO, William Perez. It lasted a year. It was a disaster. He was an outsider, and they had such a strong brand and a strong vibe and a strong.

culture than an outsider, even a very talented outsider, didn't work. This reminds me of Chip Kelly with the Philadelphia Eagles. Chip Kelly turned Oregon into a national power. They were leading Pac-12 games 44 to 7 at half. They had to put on the brakes second drive into the third quarter. He goes to the NFL in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia is blue collar and cheese steak and all about tradition. And here's Chip Kelly with a newfangled offense.

Every player has a different smoothie that aligns with their personality, and it just didn't work. Chip Kelly was a bad fit in Philadelphia. He was a quirky kind of arrogant, up-tempo college guy from the West Coast, Oregon, and their million uniforms. And Philadelphia is all about tradition, and he didn't fit. Kevin Durant, when you have a really strong culture, it's difficult to be an outsider. Chip Kelly didn't fit the Eagles. William Perez didn't, talented guy fit Nike. The Warriors have probably the strongest brand in the league.

They talk politics. They're not apolitical. Kevin Durant doesn't want to talk politics. Kevin Durant is aloof. Kevin Durant is prickly. Kevin Durant just wants to talk basketball. Kevin Durant's kind of an emotional wanderer looking for the next thing. The Warriors brand is family.

chill. We all poke each other in the ribs. We talk politics. We think we're sort of the way you should play basketball or culture and style. And Kevin doesn't fit it. He's just, I mean, they want a title. He was restless first year. And I think fit matters. I think it's very, very big. I've seen it all through my life in sports. That dynasties generally start from above the shoulders. Do you fit? Brady and Belichick work. because they both have two things. They're workaholics. They're into family and football, and they're both incredibly willful. Phil Jackson and Kobe mostly worked. Phil aspirational, all about winning. Kobe, the killer, all about winning. So I think you can make an argument that Kevin just never really fit,

this incredibly strong culture, where it's not about wandering. It's about family. That's what Draymond Grain gave him crap about. I mean, they won 73 games without him. They won a title without him. They were a family without him. They went through a coaching change without him. And Kevin never quite felt like this is the downside of free agency. Like everybody freaks out about free agency. I love free agency. I think mobility helps parity. And that sounds counterintuitive. But since 2010, just nine years ago, we've had seven different NBA champions. College football, Bama and Clemson

are going to play for the title again next year. For like the four straight year, right? I mean, Bama's in that thing every year. Clemson feels like they're in it every year. In the NBA, we've had seven different championship teams in nine years, eight, if you go back two more years, because people have choices, but then they also get burned out and eventually get restless

very quick. We talked about this yesterday. It's kind of the American way. We're a country of options and choices, and we get bored, even when life is perfect. I mean, half these NBA guys are choosing to go to inferior teams, inferior coaches, inferior brands, inferior cities. But I just don't think Kevin Durant ever, ever fit. I mean, remember how testy he was with the media this year? This is just one instance.

I have nothing to do with the Knicks. I don't know who traded Porzengis. They got nothing to do with me. I'm trying to play basketball. Y'all come here every day. ask me about free agency, I ask my teammates, my coaches, you rile up the fans about it.

Let us play basketball. That's all I'm saying. And now when I don't want to talk to y'all, it's a problem with me. Come on, man. You're talking. You're talking. So, who are you?

Why do I got to talk to you? How are you playing? How's a team playing in the last couple weeks? I'm done. You know you don't care about that. And for the record, the San Francisco meet West Coast Media is not as feisty as East Coast

media. It's just not. We're not Boston. We're not Philadelphia. You know, we're not as cranky. I don't know. It's, the Bay Area media has been generally pretty soft and he struggled from day one. So listen, it was never an ideal fit. Chip Kelly, by the way, people forget this. Went 10 and 6, 10 and 6, and they couldn't stand him. They wanted him out. They were a bad team. They got good. They still wanted him out. It wasn't because he wasn't a good football coach. He wasn't them. Chip wasn't them. He wasn't them. He was. was quirky. He wasn't into tradition. He wanted to blow stuff up and do it differently. He just didn't feel like Philadelphia. He didn't feel like Philadelphia. He was 10 and 6, 10 and 6, and everybody

hated him. You know, I mean, it's like, that's just the way it is. When you go to, listen, I'm a guy that's bounced into new companies and bounced out of companies. When you go into a new company, you got to watch the temperature of the room. It's, it's, I've been East Coast, West Coast, in the South Pacific Northwest, you go to strong brands, you're an outsider, there's a chance. When I lived in New England, it's a great place to live, but I told people

that are from New England, like they have a saying in New England, fences make good neighbors. I wasn't from New England, I didn't go to high school there, I didn't go to a prep college there, I was an outsider. I liked the people, I had fun, I raised my kids there, I was always an outsider. I was always an outsider in New England. I mean, they say that about St. Louis.

You go to a party in St. Louis, everybody's like, where'd you go to high school? People that live in St. Louis have chosen St. Louis. They're from St. Louis. Everybody else is an outsider. Certain cities like that, certain brands like that, the Warriors are like that. Kevin never fit perfectly. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app.

Search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Cotino Mobley 11 seasons in the NBA. So, I mean, here we have this mystery of Kauai Land. I'll tell you. My sources say Toronto and Lakers, either one. I do think it's funny. The Clippers have been totally quiet, no leaks, not a peep. And apparently they're third.

Jerry West, baby. Not a peep. Is there a place you hope Kauilands? Okay, so for me, because I have a love for the Clippers, I would love for Kauai to go to the Clippers. I just think he fits well with him. Jerry West, Doc Rivers, Patrick Beverly, who I love to death, Montres, Harold, Lou Williams.

You know, they have a great bench. You know, I just loved for him to be at the Clippers. It's kind of like, if you think about it, it's kind of like the Toronto team on the West. It's a younger version of Toronto. Right, on the West, right? I just think if he fits the best there. But the problem being

The Clippers were an 8 seed last year He can't take 22 games off The West is better He could take that time off in Toronto Because the East is so bad the bottom half And the Lakers have two stars in Kuzma He could probably take 12 to 15 off there I think that's the load management issue

You know Kauai admitted Ketino He's like listen the days off help me Yeah And even with the days off He looked gassed in a couple of games late For sure Listen it's a cardio league I think it's tough.

I will say this, though, is that if you worried about the big picture, I don't mind him going to Los Angeles. Best place for him is Los Angeles. In terms of basketball? Lakers. Why? Well, there's a couple of different reasons, right?

If he signs with Toronto is 190. If he signs with anyone else is 140, right? So you're losing $50 million if you're not with Toronto. Now, you made an amazing point. It's a cardio league. So if I'm with the clippers, they're scratching the 8. eighth, seventh, we don't know what's going to happen this next year. Teams has gotten better in the West.

It's hard if I sit out. But if I'm with the Lakers, I'm with LeBron James, who has the best body in the world, right? The best conditioning in the world, right? Out of 16 years, he's only been injured once. I want to go there. I'm going to get on his regiment when it comes to my body, my conditioning. That's one.

Two is I can take off some games, even when I'm playing because I have AD LeBron. and you know what I mean? Like LeBron's just that type of guy. Now the third one is, if I go to the Lakers and I say I get the 140, whatever I get, I'm saying the magic and LeBron,

listen, if I come here, put me in your businesses. So that $50 million that I lost against Toronto, I don't care. I'm making it up with you guys in perpetuity the rest of my life and companies. By the way, Kevin Durant did this with the Warriors. John, you remember this

because John used to work in the Bay Area. the warrior said in their pitch, we'll get you into the Silicon Valley crowd. And he was able to invest in a lot of these Bay Area companies. And he's still invested. So he can leave now and go to Brooklyn. It doesn't matter. But that was part of the pitch.

Yep. So, no. Do you, I want to shift to Kevin Durant. I heard this morning he doesn't like Steve Kerr, or didn't get along with Steve Kerr. And I'm like, dude, at some point, you didn't get along with the Bay Area media, which is pretty soft.

You didn't get along with the medical staff. If you didn't get along with Draymond Green, isn't some of this on Kevin Durant? Maybe he just doesn't get along with people. Listen, Draymond Green is the one who recruited you first. That's the first thing. And I heard that he, you know, I guess he jumped on Stephen A. Smith

about what Stephen A. Smith said. He jumped on, you know, Skip Bayliss and he jumped on you, you know, jump on me and Kris Bisch. So who, what's the common denominator here? Right? Like, at the end of the day, you know, you got the matches in your pocket. The only reason places are getting on fire is because you keep striking matches. It's nothing about everybody else.

That's just my point, right? It's like you don't get along with these people. Let's look in the mirror and figure out why, right? It must be deep-rooted. Something else is going on, right? It's not about basketball. It's about our inner self, my opinion. You know, I always had this theory.

Let's talk, and Kevin Durant certainly qualifies as one of the seven or eight American sports stars. He's in that top dozen, right? Tom Brady. Just hear me out. It's my theory on this. Because I've seen this happen in the media. Tom Brady, married lots of kids. Steph Curry, married kids.

Right. Russell Wilson, married kids. Right, right. You're too busy. Who are the guys that get into media skirmishes? Yes, yes. Kevin Durant, not married, no kids. Aaron Rogers, not married no kids.

Kyrie Irving? Kire Irving, not married no kids. OBJ, not married no kids. Yeah. you're on this all day. I can't be on this all day. I got kids screaming at me. I mean, it's ridiculous.

You got your wife, you got your kids. Married. I've seen this in the media. I have seen people blow up their careers. It's never people that are married with kids. It's the single talk show host. It's the on this, getting into skirmishes all day with people. Listen, listen, I think you're 100% right.

I'm telling you. They always say, idle time is a devil's playground. Right. And he has too much time. Cotino, the next year... He's in trouble. He's going to do two hours of rehab and go to this and watch shows like this all day.

And he's going to be... Listen, you're in Brooklyn. Okay, you're not with the Knicks. You're still in Brooklyn. You're still in New York. Like, that's tough. You can't go outside if you're a seven-footer and you're a superstar. You can't hide.

Mike Trout can hide in Anaheim. Puts on sunglasses. Nobody knows who he is. NBA stars can't hide. You're in. side in the winter, done with rehab at 10 in the morning, sitting around until 11 at night. Brooklyn? I had nothing against Brooklyn.

No, I don't either. But the history of New Yorkers. 30th in attendance. Go ahead. I don't think it's going to be. Vegas thinks it's going to be first or second best team in the league going forward. I think it's going to be incredibly turbulent. Oh, I got to ask you about this, because this reminding me of you.

So we always like to bury people. I remember as a kid growing up, Muhammad. Ali's done. George Foreman's going to beat him. And then they go to Zaire. And you just, the heart of a champion, Muhammad Ali, rose, we bury the Patriots. Every time they have a bad system.

Warriors, we buried him. But Kevin Durant was restless, and they knew it. They didn't come home one day and the wife left you. She'd been complaining for two years. Yes. So the minute Kevin Durant leaves, they get Willie Colley Stein, they solve their big problem. I love it. Kavon Luni takes a pay discount.

I love it. And DiAngelo Russell. Now, I love DeAngelo Russell. He actually reminds me of your game, a crafty playmaker, a little lefty. See, I think it works for at least a year. Yes. Now, everybody's telling me their styles, Stefan, DeAngelo don't work. What do you see with their styles?

Well, I don't know. Listen, I'm not saying that people don't know what they're talking about. But if you look at DeAngelo Russell and the history of how he plays the game, he's a playmaker. No question. Right? and he's a great offensive one-on-one player. So if you think about Stefan Curry, who's amazing off the ball, right? It's impossible to keep up with Steph.

You can't. By the way, James Hardin, if you go back to when Kevin Durant didn't play for the Warriors against the Rockets, their offense without Durant ran so much. I think Chris Paul and Hardin wore out chasing Stefan. That's exactly what it is. Because, see, psychologically, what you have to do is, and I deal with this with the big three. You know, we play weekends in the Big Three. I think about players, we'll play on a Saturday or a Sunday.

We play on a Saturday. I start thinking about them on Sunday and Monday. After that, I erase my brain from them and then focus on myself. So a lot of players become worried of other players they have to play before they're playing. When you have to play Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant or this person or that person, you're thinking about them throughout the week. That's mentally draining in itself. So now you have to play Stefan Curry, Clay Thompson.

you're running around all day long, you yourself are not going to be 100% on the office event or 100% on the defense event, right? You're going to be in between, which takes away from a lot of your strengths if it was just a regular game. It's not a regular game. You're playing Stefan Curry.

You're playing Clay Thompson. Now you have DeAngelo Russell, who's running around, passing the ball, can score on anybody by himself. So now you can't leave Steph. You can't leave. To me, it's a lot more dangerous to have those three on a court together.

Well, to your point, step is so good off the ball and he's so good he's pretty eagoless so i i kind of think that step's the kind of guy like james hardens game he needs the ball yeah yeah okay kairi irving's game he needs the ball think about it like this brooklyn he had dim whitty you had lavert and you had um de angelo o'resle de angelo russle did well right and dim willie and lavert no disrespect to them are not better than Clay Thompson and Stephen Curry, right? When DeAngel Russell goes to play with these guys, with Stefan

Curry and Clay Thompson, the way they move without the ball, his game will elevate so much. Stephen Curry shot one more field goal than Kevin Durant last year. Just one more field goal. And was super efficient. Now he has somebody that's going to be a true point guard.

That's a combo guard that literally on the floor with him. I just feel bad for defenders. No, I mean, Curry has shown an ability to play with other stars, surrender the basketball. All day long. All day long. Cotino Mobley, good seeing you, man. Leads the big three in scoring, by the way.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athlete's. themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlicse on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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