The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Nets, NBA draft, Manning

Episode Date: June 23, 2022

It's starting to look like the Nets may be stuck with Kyrie Irving When you should take chances in the NBA draft Remembering the great Tony Siragusa Arch Manning has committed to the Texas Longhorns �� Guest: Ric BucherSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app,

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You're listening to Foxxport's. Sports Radio. Here we go on a Thursday live in Los Angeles. It's the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. The NBA draft is tonight. It's a good draft. There's some really interesting players, at least in the first 20 to 25 minutes of the draft.

And it's a bunch of guys that most of you didn't watch in college. Nonetheless, bad teams. getting rising stars is always fun. Joy Taylor, looking very academic and scholarly, is joining me as I get set for a big vacation after today's show. Well, I am a doctor. You're not going to have me to push around anymore. I'll be on the beach somewhere.

I know. I'm very excited for you. Very, very fun. So the draft is tonight. That's exciting. Yes. So we have two stories I'm going to start with today. And I know some of you are saying the NBA season's over, but listen, when the NBA season ends, you got the draft, you got the free agent period.

This is our reality of late June, early July sports. So Adrian Ward Genowski, Woj, is reporting. What a shock. The nets are trapped. The nets are freaking out. They've got KD and Kyrie. And according to his story, they don't want to alienate KD by not signing Kyrie, but they don't want to sign Kyrie because he's just not available for enough games.

he could literally sign a contract and retire, and he's talked about that in the last four or five years of not wanting to play basketball forever. Yikes. So the Brooklyn Nets are really, really in a bad space. And it also feels like they don't have their priorities in order. I don't think winning. In fact, I don't think basketball is the number one priority to Kyrie Irving. I've said this for years.

People get offended too often by words. I watch actions. Like I'm watching Kyrie Irving's actions. He wouldn't get vaxed. He knew it would force him to miss half the games. So you are not committed to winning. Lots of people got VACs that didn't want to if they wanted to show up to work or fly an airplane. Right?

You made that decision. So winning is not a priority. Also, you were the loudest player during the bubble to want to cancel the season. So you have leaned into twice moving off playing basketball. Both times, you're like, I'm shutting it down. I have nothing against players pursuing social causes. But LeBron in the bubble, and he's got social causes he cares about, he created a school. LeBron's like, no, we got to play basketball.

That's what we're paid for. That's our job. That's where you get into a space where I'm not down with it. I'm paying you $25, $30 million a year. The job has to be a priority over causes because LeBron is shown you can do both. We've seen that with all sorts of athletes, Olympic athletes, tennis athletes. they're into causes, but they also understand there's a responsibility to be an employee. And Kyrie, he'll shut it down.

And that's what his resume. I got two examples now. So the other thing, I just don't think Brooklyn checks boxes. I do not believe Katie and Kyrie and Simmons will ever win a championship. I think it's Fantasyland. It'll never happen. There's enigmatic injuries, forget it. But if you look at the Rams or the Kansas City Chiefs or the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors,

the spurs in their prime, or the Patriots in theirs when Brady was still there. There's three things they had. First of all, there was always one mission and everybody got it. The mission was winning and you did whatever it took to win games. Winning was number one. Again, with Kyrie, it's not. Second thing is there's an alignment between players and management, right? You know, they get along.

We understand what we're both trying to do here. And the third thing is there's a real. understanding of not everybody can make the most money. You know, there's a salary cap. The RAM players know it. The warrior players know it. Although warriors now all get paid. But there's an alignment.

There's a belief. There's a mission. And I don't think Brooklyn checks any of those boxes. I think it's fear-based and panic. And what happens historically is when you have organizations like the Cleveland Browns that are fear-based and they're backed into a corner. They overspend and overreach. So my hunch is they're just going to pay Kyrie whatever he wants.

and this, by the way, this organization is run by a very smart guy named Sean Marks. He's from the Popovich San Antonio system. But what he's finding out is it's much easier to build a coalition with Tim Duncan than it is with Kyrie Irving. Because if you look at Kyrie's history, this is what I do not get about sports executives. Go look at the resumes. Kyrie Irving has worked briefly when he has a stabilizing force, leading him. Coach K at Duke worked briefly. LeBron and Cleveland worked briefly.

Well, Katie doesn't want to be that. Katie wants to hoop with his friend. Kevin Durant has told you, it's not what I'm about here. I want to go play basketball with my friend. And so to me, this doesn't work. And even when Kyrie has worked, he's worked briefly, briefly. Then he bailed on LeBron. Didn't play many games for Duke. So this is not going to work. It's never going to work over a season, over a playoff run. I think they are missing so many things that equal championship basketball, coaching and chemistry and bench and alignment and defense. They're just not even close on like seven different boxes, and we all fall in love with this fantasy land. I said yesterday, it's the, it's the vacation you never go to and talk

about. Winning in the playoffs for Brooklyn, they talk about it all the time. It's fantasy land. It's never going to happen. Ben Simmons, question mark. Kyrie, Mrs. Too, many games won't defend. Kevin Durant, he's older. He gets hurt. So I think what you're going to have, Chris Mannix talked about this earlier this week in our show, is I think Kyrie right now, a lot of stuff's getting out there. Kyrie's leaking it because he's trying to manipulate the nets, create fear and panic, and I think it's going to work. It's very clear that Brooklyn has drawn its line in the sand. You knew that back in May when Sean Marks, the general manager, came out and said, look, we want guys that want to be here.

We want guys that are committed to be here. He wasn't singling out Kyrie Irving, but everybody knew what he was talking with this team. So this to me feels like Kyrie's side trying to create some leverage, get other teams involved, so the Nets panic. So there's a sense here that Kyrie is manipulating the Nets. But who is the most calculated player in the league, the best player the last 15 years in the league, the most measured? player, the richest player, the most powerful player, the player with the most leverage. It's been LeBron James. And LeBron James is still great. He may not be playing 82 games. When he's on the floor in any NBA game, he is usually the best player. He still

remains fantastic. Had he played two more games, he would have won the NBA scoring title. He is still a great distributor. He can be a great defender. We've seen him in spaces. So I just want to throw this to you. Smart guy, calculated guy. Kevin Durant with the right team could still win multiple finals. He could go back to Golden State. You could put him on Milwaukee, put him up with Luca. Don't kid yourself. And it wasn't that long ago that a lot of you out there were arguing

as Kevin Durant was winning the MVP in the finals, a lot of you were arguing, and LeBron hears it. KD is better than LeBron. KD screwed it up. Had he stayed with Golden State won two more finals, half this country. Forget the M.J. LeBron debate would be on the KD's better than LeBron debate. Katie's not done.

He is still often the best player on the floor in 99% of the games he plays. He could win three or four more titles. LeBron's only got four. He's already got two. LeBron knows that. Braun's thinking, I can keep my eye. Keep my eye on KD and my legacy.

Then there's K. who bailed on LeBron. LeBron doesn't have any love loss with Kyrie. That hurt, right? That's the one guy that's... Guys don't bail on LeBron. LeBron's always bailed on guys. Nobody bails on LeBron.

You can't tell me in that reservoir of his emotions, LeBron's not thinking, I owe you one, Kyrie. So the most calculated player in the league, my guess is LeBron knows basketball. And he knows that KD. Kyrie and Ben Simmons is not championship material. Two of those guys aren't even serious about winning basketball or playing basketball.

Kyrie and Simmons. LeBron practiced, played, traveled with Kyrie. He knows basketball is not a priority. So is LeBron thinking to himself, I'm going to flirt with Kyrie? I'm going to talk to Kyrie. I'm going to make sure those Kyrie Lakers stories get out, which, by the way, they're out today. Lakers are the number one destination potentially for Kyrie Irving. They're out today.

And LeBron knows that Brooklyn will freak panic, sign a long, massive deal to Kyrie, and that's who KD is stuck with. KD. stuck with Kyrie. Basketball is not a priority. And Ben Simmons. Good. I don't even know what a priority is. I've given up.

He shouldn't have a number. He should just like a riddler, have a question mark. I don't know what he is. Listen, don't kid yourself. Had KD stayed in Golden State, he'd have four titles, maybe five. You would be arguing. I never did. You did.

KD's better than LeBron. You know confirmation bias, recency bias. I think LeBron looks at this thing and says, you know, flirting with Kyrie, I know what Brooklyn will do. They'll sign Kyrie to a long check. Because I, LeBron, I think, thinks like I think. He'll say it publicly. Oh, it's a great team.

Kevin Durant, Kyrie, and Simmons, all your money in three players? No bench. Can't depend on guys. Is Steve Nash the right coach? He certainly got worked by E. Mayo Dukkah in the playoffs. Dan Wojke was on yesterday. Great reporter. Been covering the Lakers, Clippers for years.

We talked about this, about this idea that LeBron's done competing, and it's just now about making movies and money. not so fast. You do get the sense that he wants to sort of age into a more I'm comfortable with whatever's around me. I can be good with that. He told us at the start of last season, he's like, I'm going to be patient. I know that we're going to take lumps with Russell and with AD and getting everybody together.

I don't think he handled that very patiently. I think he tried. The level he was playing at and then it wasn't resulting in wins and then it wasn't resulting in contention, and I think burned. You really think LeBron's rooting for Katie to win three more titles? Routing for Kyrie to have success. I'll buy that.

LeBron is going to play for several more years. And I think deep down he is smart enough in basketball to know what wins championships. Defense, coaching, commitment, availability, somewhat of a bench, all the things we just saw with the Warriors. And most of those we just saw with the Celtics. and all of them we saw the year before with a box. You're not getting that with Katie and Kyrie and Simmons. It's a circus. I'm just saying,

LeBron, it's still burning. He's still great. I think he likes all that. Lakers, Kyrie talk out there. Remember, stuff gets out, as we always say, when people want it out. Kyrie to the Lakers is now out. Interesting.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years. from black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. You're now entering the No Bull Zone, sponsored by credible great rates and none of the Bull. So the NBA draft is tonight, the belief is number one, Orlando's got one first round pick. They're going to go with the Jabari Smith. safe bet, long can shoot.

It's going to be a nice NBA player. Very little bust there, hardworking kid. Number two pick, it's Oklahoma City, who has so many picks, it's hard to believe. It feels like Google's making a mistake. Like they have like 17, 18 picks on the next five years. They're going to go, Chet Holmgren, the towering, young, thin, center swing forward, whatever you want to label him, number two. And then number three, that's Houston's going to take Paolo Bankeros,

is a Duke kid who looks like he's still growing. And so there he go. I do believe if you have lots of picks, you owe it to yourself to take big swings. And I'll give an example. You know, they call them angel investors, these people, wealthy people that put 100,000 on this company and 100,000 on this company, and they take big swings. And you owe it to yourself if you've got a lot of money because you can afford to make that mistake. And if you're rich, you can take bigger swings.

right on some unknowns. Well, the Oklahoma City Thunder are rich with draft capital. They have so many picks. They have more picks than entire divisions. They have 17 to 18 picks in the next five years. Where you don't want to be in the NBA is in the middle. And if you don't take some big swings when you do have top three and four picks, you're going to end up back at the top of the draft.

Or you're going to be worse, you're going to be in the middle of the draft. The only way to draft at the end of the first round, is take big swings. Janus was the 15th pick. Steph was the second guard taken. Yokic in the second round. Kauai Leonard, 15th pick. Luca, by the way,

and this is, I've made this mistake a lot of times, is that you focus and fixate on the flaws. When Luca came out, I'm like, I see no athletic ceiling. I'm like, ah, it just, it's lumpy. Well, Dallas didn't see that, took a big swing, and look at Dallas now. Look at Dallas now. prime example, Steph Curry.

I don't even remember anything about him in college, but a lot of people were paralyzed by his size, a small school. I remember hearing he's tiny, he won't be able to defend anybody. You got to look at the upside and the ceiling. This is why people passed on Josh Allen. And Josh Allen has changed the way a lot of coaches and executives now look at the draft. People were paralyzed by certain things about Josh Allen. He was wild.

He wasn't under control. And they weren't paying attention to the fact he was. 6-6, ran like a wide receiver, had a massive arm, and when he did get all lined up, the throws were unbelievable. They looked like Dan Marino on HGH. So we were just picking him apart, and that's my thing with Chet Holmgren. Dude is like 7-1 and can shoot like a forward and can put the ball in the deck. And I got so many picks here.

Oklahoma City's a college town, more than a pro town. They're going to be supportive. You can sell hope and hype. I think they owe it to themselves in Oklahoma City to take a huge sweep. wing here. And Mark Few, who is a guy I trust, who's put a lot of guys in the NBA, he just thinks this kid is different. Got a great feel for the game. It has that great ability to take the ball off the backboard and lead a break. I mean, he is physically tough, even though maybe his body doesn't belie that. I think it'll end up being a guy who shoots over 40% from three.

From day one, he's going to go in and alter shots. And if he's not blocking him, he's changing them. And what I came to find, if he's not changing him, he's literally deterring people from even running plays around the rim. It's always easier to go safe in a draft. Marvin Bagley went number two. Luca went three. Marvin Bagley, I fell for it. He was productive.

He went to Duke. He went to a big school. He was big. He ran the court. I remember being on the air at another place. And it may have been here. I forget when the Bagley draft was like five years ago. I was here.

And I was like, he's big, he's productive. He went to Duke. Yeah, I was into the safe zone. And Marvin Bagley, because it's easy to go safe, because if it doesn't work and he flops, nobody cares because everybody was going for the Duke guy. And so to me, I think Oklahoma City with all those picks absolutely owes it to themselves to go for a big swing. I do think with his body, Porzingis body,

Brandon Ingram body, Durant body, you know, skinny legs, slasher. I think you have to go in realistically and say, you're going to play 55 games, you're going to play 24 minutes, because I think fatigue is when you get hurt. The old saying you get hurt in the last run of the ski run. You ski all day, it's the last run. You're tired, fatigue, you get hurt. So I think you have to come in with realistic expectations.

But OK, see it too. I take Hungry and Joy with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, Bradley Beal recently said he has made a decision about his future, but he's not telling anyone yet. Tease, tease, tease. Well, we might have a slightly better idea.

Reports are indicating that Beal has declined his $36.4 million player option for next season. Oh, interesting. Now, you can still re-sign with the Wizards, five years, 248 million, which I'm sure the Wizards would be happy to give him. Right. But if he decides to move on. On from Washington, stadiums Jeff Goodman believes that the Celtics are at the top of the list. I do think he forces his way out. I think he's tired of it.

I know Shepard got his buddy Contabius called Walt Pope over there in Washington, which kind of made Beal happy. But again, I think a year from now, he and his agent, Bartolstein, say that they want to be somewhere else. And then Boston goes to the top of the list. And then it comes down to, again, what happens? this season and can Brad Stevens give enough? Can he give enough for Tommy Shepard to make that deal? By the way, if he gets traded the week

I'm gone, you know how bitter I'm going to be? And I'll tell you something. I would do this. Boston, you wouldn't have been to the finals without if Milwaukee has Chris Middleton. Absolutely I would trade Marcus Smart for this. You've got enough good defensive players. Not even close. I mean, Marcus Smart is a great, he's a great player.

I mean, he's a defensive player at the year. That's fine. But Bradley Beal is different. Now, keep in mind also, Bradley Bill and Jason Tatum are very close. Very good friends. This isn't even an argument. I have a rim protector in Robert Williams. I have two good wing defenders.

It's a luxury to have Marcus Smart. It's a luxury. But you know what you don't have? A 26-a-point-game guy at the guard position. I think it's a no-brainer. I saw last night people freaking out about Marcus Smart. Folks, you've got more than enough defense. you watch the finals. Your offense dried up the last three games. You need another score.

They need some depth and they need another score. It's very obvious what Boston was lacking in that finals. But now Beale can opt in or he can take this deal and ask for a trade. When it comes to basketball contracts, there's no telling what kind of contract you can move. So he can still do that. But he's going to be the one to watch this offseason because everyone would love Bradley Beale on their roster. So the Warriors are fresh off their fourth NBA title in the last eight seasons, but now they turned their attention to free agency. So they have multiple players that are unrestricted free agents, including Kavana Looney, Otto Porter Jr., and Gary Payton II.

They are also making it a priority to extend both Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole. Bob Myers said free agency, unrestricted especially, it is in our control to certain extent, but in some ways it's not. Our goal, our hope is to bring back all those guys and try to do it again. They were all great in different ways and all fill different needs for us. A lot of our free agents had big moments in the NBA final. which means they're pretty important. So they would obviously like to bring as many of this core back.

But they have until October 17th to sign Jordan Poole to his rookie extension. Wiggins is entering the final year of his five-year contracts from Minnesota. So there's no deadline. Looney can avoid free agency and extend with the Warriors for four years up to 55.6 million. They can offer pay in 105% of the season's average salary. So there are some moves they can make. And obviously they are willing to spend well into, the luxury tax.

So I, but I don't doubt what they're able to do. Even if they are going to lose a few of these pieces, they're so well run and so researched, they can find replacements for the depth that they had. When they have the quorum place and they have Andrew Wiggins and they have this, you know, the culture that they have, I don't have big concerns about what they're going to do in free agency. When I watch the confidence of Clay and Wiggins in the finals,

it's like they're going to be better next year. Wiggins was so happy and so fortified by this culture. It's like I wouldn't dare move him. He is so athletic. Oh, no, you have to keep him there. Now, Kaminga is going to join him on that on the floor sometimes next year. I don't know. I just, I am usually move off championship teams.

There's not a lot. Maybe Kvon Luni at the All-Star break, but if Wiseman's really as good as you think, but I, this feels like a bring-em-all-back franchise. There are our current dynasty right now. And I think once you become a dynasty, you've earned the right for us to take you seriously year and year out. So Ben Rothesberger's retirement at the end of the last season has left Mike Tomlin and the Steelers with a new quarterback under center this year. They already had Mason Rudolph, but they signed Mitchell Tribusky and added Kenny Pickett in the draft. They haven't named a starter yet, but Tomlin is excited about the uncertainty.

He said, I just view the challenges of what lies ahead in that way. First of all, I'm looking forward to the anxiety associated with that uncertainty to have to stay. and deliver to live out what we believe in. The standard is the standard, so it doesn't matter who puts their hands underneath the center as far as I'm concerned. But with all that cool stuff being said, it's scary but exciting. He had so many great quotes in that. He is the single best quote in the NFL, and he has been for years. Everything he says, I'm like, I would run through a wall for him.

Well, I mean, it's part of the reason why he's been so successful. He's a very thoughtful and intentional guy. And I don't think that he's lying here. I think he's going to enjoy the challenge of the next chapter of his coaching career. It's been this entire time with Ben Rathesberger. Now you have the opportunity to, you know, kind of shift and reinvent yourself in some ways with a different chapter in the story of the franchise. You're moving on from your Hall of Famer. I don't know what's going to happen with the Steelers this year.

Again, because of Mike Tomlin and the cultures that they have there, they're always going to be competitive. Always. But it's an interesting division. I'm with you. I think Cleveland's at the bottom. injuries, different ways that things can play out. I'm very excited to see who wins

the job, whether they go with Mitchell Trubesky this year or they give it to Kenny Biggap. It's a great story. Yeah. Great story. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. Let's bring out Rick Buecker. We get him in studio covering the NBA for almost

30 years. His podcast on the ball with Rick Buecker. Bukes. Great seeing you as always. Thank you. Got one person out there clapping. But let's At home, they're going nuts. Golden State situation, because you know it well. I am generally a, we want a title upgrade. I am an O is an upgrade.

Boston has clear needs. Golden State, you could argue, has needs. But I watch Wiggins and Clay and Looney's size, and I'm like, I'm not sure I'd move anything. Am I falling in confirmation bias? Am I falling in love with the moment? Is there a move that you think they are contemplating with this group? The only move I could see potentially is trading James Wiseman.

to get somebody that they believe they know is going to be healthy. If there's questions about Wiseman's health. But other than that, no, it's a matter of holding on to everything. And this is the great value of having won the championship, is that they now have this whole group. Jonathan Combinga and Moses Moody didn't play a whole lot, but they were around that experience. They got to see firsthand what it takes to win a championship.

Andrew Wiggins is now a championship caliber player. The flip side is, is if you lose, much like when they lost after being up 3-1 against the Cavaliers, like you'd say, oh, you were right there. They changed everything. Now, they had the opportunity to get Kevin Durant, so obviously you take advantage of that, but Harrison Barnes was gone. They remade that team. I believe that they would have done the same thing if Boston had won the series in spite of them being on the cusp.

But having won it now and having these younger pieces that are coming up, it's the the biggest challenge is going to be as Jordan pool gets better and wants a bigger role how do you fit him with Clay Thompson like guys are going to Dremont green and Andrew Wiggins wiggins becoming a more important defensive player Dremond has to make room for that now I'm not saying he won't or they can't but the egos now have to shift and you have to accept that in spite of being a four-time champion and you may be making room for the next guy. Right.

And are you willing to do that? But that, with Steph Curry leading the charge and the culture that they've created, I would fully expect that they're capable of doing that. So, no, keep it together if you can't. Losing Kavanaugh-Luny is, I know there are teams out there that are very much want to get him and may overpay. And while they are paying a ton in luxury tax, at some point you've got to go, okay, is it really worth?

If I got to pay $30 million for this guy, is it worth doing that? So it's impossible when I lived in New England. I'm not somebody beholden to tradition. But when you live in New England like I did for 10, 11 years, you feel it. The prep schools, the churches. It just the labyrinth of things that weren't. I went to school in New England, so I know that feeling. So in Boston, you cannot live in Boston, whether you're driving by Fenway, the churches, the Cape.

people have been vacationing for 100 years. Teams become their cities. Los Angeles teams are acquisition teams. L.A. is an acquisition city. We tear stuff down. We just go buy new stuff. So Boston, I think, struggles with making big moves with basketball because they got to the finals.

They got their guys. This is what we do. We draft develop. We trust our acumen and our IQ. And I was last night fishing around on the internet. And everybody's like, you can't move, Marcus Smart. And I'm like, time out, time out, time out. To some degree, a lot of this is the stock market.

by low, sell high. Marcus Smart. This is a loaded team with a rim protector defensively, two elite wing defenders. You don't need more defense. You need a score. You didn't have enough scores. Your offense dried up against the Warriors, who, by the way, next year, bringing Cumminga, Wiseman size, more athletic moody.

Warriors could be better defensively next year. And I look at the Bradley Beale thing and I'm like, Boston, this is not you. This is not of you. I would move Beal for Smart and Picks to, tomorrow if I was Boston. I would not. And it's not a matter of you're looking at it on paper and saying we need to get, we need to add something offensively because our offense bogged down and defensively we were really good. But Marcus Smart is the spiritual leader of that team. He is what Draymond Green

is for the Golden State Warriors. He infuses a lot of their toughness. He is the guy who called Jalen Brown and Marcus and Jason Tatum. out to say we need to play a different way. But Draymond translates to rings. Marcus doesn't. It's easier for me to move off, hey man, he's the spiritual. Okay. Show me the bag.

What do I get for that? Okay. But as much as Marcus Smart wasn't everything that I would expect, or I expected him to be in the finals, Jason Tatum was a greater disappointment. But I can't move off him. Why not? Oh, he's your best young athlete. He's your best young player.

better than Jalen Brown? Jalen Brown, to me, demonstrated that at least he was going to be aggressive in his mistakes. Listen, you know they're not moving off Tatum. That would be so unboston. They just couldn't do it. They couldn't bring themselves. But you're saying they're not going to move off of Marcus Smart. Markis Smart gives me a good offensive game in an offensive league every third or fourth game.

Jason Tatum gives me 27 on most nights. Okay, but so you're doing that for Bradley Beale. Because he's an elite score. He's an elite score, but what I need is a playmaker. That's where Marcus Smart comes. comes up short. Or when he disappears, that's what I'm missing. It would be great to have an elite playmaker.

The perfect player's not on the market. You have Kyrie, but he was a nightmare chemistry-wise. But if you told me that I was going to get Bradley Beale for Jason Tatum, I would make that trade. I would go with Jalen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Bradley Beale. If Robert Williams isn't on the floor, Horford's old. You get small fast. You're small. Yeah, but it's not as if Jason Tatum demonstrated defensively that he's willing to be that guy too.

I watched the Kevin Durant Brooklyn series. I thought he was terrific. He was in the first round. Well, yeah, but can you not argue? There's an argument to me made if you look at the minutes played. Tatum just wore out. Seven game series. Seven game series.

Be the best player. He was up and down in the Miami series as well. It's a matter. Look, if a guy wears out, that's one thing. He got tentative. Don't you believe that Marcus Smart? This is the best of Marcus. You are talking to the wrong guy, because I,

I'm a mark a smart guy. I like him too. Well, but I like him because of the grit that he brings to that team that they can't get any place else. And by the way, at least from what I've heard, I would not count on if Boston is the place that Bradley Beale would go. If he's going, it's not happening. So by that, I've heard that he's still torn. I know it's been reported that he's decided, but all indications, at this point, if he's torn, he's probably staying in Washington.

And based on my intel, if Boston is the place that he would go to, it's not happening. All right, let's get, listen, I think LeBron's very calculated and measured. Yep. I don't think he's, I think that's safe to say. Okay, so he's still an elite player when he's on the floor. The idea that, you know, he's just going to sit back and watch, I think some of this Kyrie going to the Lakers stuff, I think in a, in a, he knows Kyrie really well. And he knows I briefly made it work.

KD's just a hooper. He's done a stabilizing force. He's his friend. LeBron knows, I work with everybody. Even I couldn't corral this guy. I think he likes Kyrie rumors out there. The Nets overreacts, sign him to a long deal and Katie's tied to Kyrie forever. You're not winning a title with those two.

I think a lot of this Lakers stuff, I think it'd be fascinating to watch AD for Kyrie. It's probably not going to happen, but that's what we do. We speculate. All these Lakers-Kyrie rumors, do you buy any of them? No, I don't. It doesn't make basketball sense to me, and it doesn't make sense for LeBron James. LeBron James is what he is elite at at this point is as a scorer. Yeah. He was at his worst as a playmaker. He's not a defender anymore. He can score. Yeah. What does Kyrie do? Score. He scores. So I know that there's two things on LeBron's.

And I don't know which one is first, but one is obviously the scoring list. Passing Kareem. And I would assume he'd still like to play for a title if he can. Yeah. Well, how does Kyrie get you any closer to that when defense was your great issue? And while, yes, you're going to add scoring, but you're also going to take away scoring opportunities from LeBron. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense, basketball-wise, or for LeBron James in terms of what he's trying to accomplish. NBA draft tonight,

Chet Holmgren, I would take him at two because I got a bunch of picks, and I think in order to not be back at the top of the draft, you've got to take some big swings. Even if you miss, you owe it to yourself with 18 picks in five years. Would you take Chet Holmgren too? What do you hear?

I would take him two before I take him one. Because the one thing that's being ignored in all of this is the pressure on a number one. It doesn't matter where you are in your evolution as a player, you're expected to be the best player in the draft, and you're expected to be the best player in the draft right now.

Ted Holmgren is not going to be that. Now, everything I've heard is he's a gym rat, he has a great work ethic, but physically he has to improve. And the challenge is that he's a, and Mark Few kind of gave it to you. He's an interior defensive player. He's a perimeter offensive player, which means he's always going to be. be switching and cross-matching. You don't ideally want that, especially for a guy coming in. You want to say, this is where you're going to play, this is what you're going to do,

we're going to figure everything else out. So that's where the challenge is, Chet Holmgren comes in from Gonzaga, and he's now the number one pick. And now he has to be better than Boncaro and Jabari Smith and Jaden Ivy. And if that doesn't happen, then the chances that it's going to negatively affect his development. development is great. So going to Oklahoma City and being part of that where they're low expectations. College town. College town and nobody's going to pay attention if you have a bad game. I mean, who really paid attention to anybody having an off night in Oklahoma City? Right? Nobody. So that would make the best thing. That's great. That's great stuff today. We got to let Rick go. He's got things to do.

That's it? Well, I was told you have to be out at like 41, 42. That's what I was told. That's what management told me. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way.

We talk to coaches. We talk to players. We tell you stories. You download it. You listen to it. I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jette. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way 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. Trip 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. 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 Hardway and listen now. The great Tony Saragusa passed away yesterday at the age of 55. Goose was a central cog in the legendary Ravens defense that led them to the title, the Super Bowl in 2000. He was also a central cog here. A big personality. A sideline analyst for over a decade. Hit Fox Sports Family Hard yesterday.

Tony Saragusa passes at 55. He lit up every room he ever walked into. Sad day for us here at Fox. Interesting story. Joy just tipped me on. and it's fascinating, probably the most celebrated high school quarterback ever. A lot of this is the family, and a lot of it's his talent, Archmanning. He has decided to go to Texas, which I think is a brilliant decision because for a lot of reasons.

He would never be able to hide in the SEC. Peyton was a star at Tennessee, Eli, a star at Ole Miss, Arch a star at Ole Miss, and he's carving his own path. I love this decision. I absolutely love this decision. You can get lost in Austin, Texas. And as Texas moves into the SEC, I think, in three or four years, he'll be in the NFL by then. Unless something initiates a faster move, Oklahoma, Texas moving quicker.

I'm not sure how that's all going to work out. But they're supposed to be in the Big 12 for the next three years. So he may never plan the SEC. First of all, I love the idea of the Manning family not putting pressure. We knew they wouldn't. there's some of the smartest people I've ever met in football, not putting a lot of pressure on him to follow in their footsteps. I think that can be so hard on young people. Secondly, Austin, I've said this before. If I was a college athlete, I was a great high school football quarterback and I could go to any school, I always said,

USC and Texas are fascinating. Cities, I can get lost. I don't have to get suffocated by the college experience. Sometimes Arch Manning is so big and so disgust, he would be doing. selfies all day long if he went to some of these most of these SEC schools he can hide a little bit he can chart his own path so this is a gigantic get i've told you to this for years college football is better when miami's good USC is good and texas is good um and with the new nil texas good luck oklahoma good luck alabama good luck auburn good luck competing against texasas money and texas an m money That's big oil money.

That is big booster money. This is what Nick Saban is terrified about. This is what Oklahoma should be concerned about. The days of you walking in and getting the best players in Texas, if they want them, they're getting them. And so I love this decision. I think it's going to be great for him. College football is better with Texas.

This kid is just an unbelievable talent. You know he's smart because he's, you know, dad's smart brother's smart Arch Manning smart so this is on so many levels this makes me happy he's I've never met I know Cooper really well

I know Eli a little I've talked to Peyton I think once I don't know Peyton very well although he needs to know me better I think that goes without saying Peyton Manning needs to know me a lot better but this is a great this is great for the kid and I love it I think it's terrific I'm so happy

Texas is a glamour brand. He's a huge name already. I mean, obviously, you have the Manning last name. Your football royalty. Austin's absolutely, arguably the best. Top three college town easily could be the best. Austin, Texas is a great. You know why it's a great college town?

Because it's not all about college football. You got Sixth Street. You got the music. You got the restaurants. You got technology everywhere. Dell's base there. It's just this is a great day for our. Arch Manning. Good for you, good for the Manning family. It really makes me happy.

And you knew the Manning family wouldn't force him to go anywhere, but our two next. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey,

or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliver Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.