The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Straight Fire - The Lakers' Can't Extend AD, the Uncertain Futures of Giannis and Tatum & CP3's Poor Fit in The Bay

Episode Date: July 11, 2023

Jason discusses the case for and against the Los Angeles Lakers offering Anthony Davis a maximum contract extension this offseason, the possibility that guys like Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo could make the move to LA as free agents in 2025 and if Golden State Warriors fans should feel confident about Chris Paul's fit with the club moving forward.  Follow Jason on Twitter and Instagram. Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes.

Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith ruling. of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind on the Iheart 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 IHeard 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. The volume. This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up straightfire fam? It's me, Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire for Tuesday, July 11th. Again, it's MLB All-Star Week. Pickings are thin in the sports world. But, ah, Laker fans, Laker fans, listen, this is a difficult time period approaching for you. We're going to dive deep into this Anthony Davis saga.

It's starting to bubble up. There's a lot of people taking vacation now. So there isn't as much talk about this Anthony Davis situation as there should be. We'll get to it shortly. Also, you know, Chris Paul, how much of a big fan I am of CP3, Chris Paul, the point God, as everybody likes to call him. Warriors fans, just, I know you're excited. Jordan Pools out of the building.

I'm going to put a little bit of cold water on the Chris Paul excitement because of an interview he gave over the weekend. But first, I've got to start with Anthony Davis. Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here with Anthony Davis and the Lakers is a window, just a tiny window into the future in Lakerland. And Rob G. has been calling a certain NBA star. Yes, he's a star, despite what Cowherd tries to sell me on the herd that this guy's not a star. He is a certifiable star.

Rob G calls him Future Laker. And I just, I'm not going to say the guy's name, but just think in your head, Future Laker, Future Laker. I'm going to get to him in a second. Anthony Davis can be extended. His contract is eligibility for the extension begins August 4th. And websites are starting to write about this, that Anthony Davis probably is not going to get the extension that he's looking for. They can extend him beginning in August, and it would take his deal. So instead of, at the end of next season, him being a free agent, he can then get an extension with Lakers.

And, you know, he would stick around and be like a foundational piece. But what you need to remember is LeBron is in the final year of his deal. And LeBron has said to everyone, I want to play with my son when he's drafted. Now, we don't know if Bronny's going to be first round pick, second round pick. I can't imagine that he's going to be like an unsigned free agent. I don't think it'll go that far. Someone will gobble up LeBron. Because with...

Someone will gobble up Brani. With Brony comes LeBron. And now you're instantly selling tickets. You're going to be merch left and right. You're going to be on the news everywhere. I mean, this is a bigger than sports story. Father playing with son. Like, that can reach anyone.

I don't care if you're an NBA hater. That's like a pretty cool story. Right? Like LeBron and Brani playing together. That's going to work wherever he goes. Whether it's the... Utah Jazz. Do they take a flyer?

I don't know. Don't tell me Bronny's going to be able to pick where he goes unless we're talking about him being like a top five pick. I don't see that at the moment. Next year's draft does not look great. So maybe he's a middle of the first round pick. But at some point, he's going to be drafted by someone.

And LeBron will say, okay, I will come there. I can't imagine the team rejecting LeBron. I think he'll be in like a more of a senior role. I'm not putting him an old age home yet. But LeBron and Brani will be gone. Okay? Next summer, they're going somewhere as a package. So now, Lakers, you're left with Anthony

Davis and then we got Austin Reeves, Ruiz, Rue Hachimura. I think DeAngelo Russell, Rob, can check this. I think he has a player option for year or two of his contract. Should he exceed expectations, win a title, maybe he thinks he could chase bigger money, whatever. What the Lakers are doing

is setting it up so LeBron and A.D. come off the books next summer. Why would that be? Think about it. If LeBron walks, do you think Anthony Davis and his injury history, I've called it up right here, Anthony Davis missed 26 games last season. The year before that, missed 42, and the year before that

missed 36. He's only 30, but he's aging in an ungraceful manner, mostly because of his body. Remember, this is a guy who in high school was like a 6-1 guard, and then seemingly overnight, he grows like nine inches in one year and instantly becomes like the best high school player in the country is shot-blocking menace, so he's got some handles. That's why he floats on their perimeter a lot. This was a guard in youth basketball. early high school basketball, he was a guard. Anthony Davis could handle. And now he is this giant who doesn't really like to mix it up inside.

I can't blame him. I don't like to go mix it up inside. And Anthony Davis is, I don't want to say the fadeaway jumpers, but like it can get annoying how he doesn't want to go inside and body people and just dominate. And I'll remind everybody, Yokic ate his lunch in the sweep in the conference finals. Now, obviously, Yokic is the best player in the league.

But Anthony Davis is supposed to be an elite defensive player. And Yokic kind of dominated him. So if he doesn't get the extension, Anthony Davis will look at the Lakers and say, well, guys, what are we doing here? I don't want to be a lame duck without a contract. I'm still one of the top 20 players in the league, 15? I mean, when he's healthy, he's the top 15 player, but that hasn't been the case. I just laid it out.

So now you start thinking, well, what do we do with Anthony Davis? And I think the question is the Lakers, Rob Polinka, has to be firm. Guys, we want to keep our powder dry in the future because of LeBron walks, which he almost certainly will. Now, there is the scenario, what if Brony goes to the Lakers? Could work. I'm not ruling that out.

Then I guess you write out LeBron and AD. But the more likely scenario is LeBron leaves. Anthony Davis, you say, AD, sorry, we don't want to extend you. And he opts out of his player option so he can get a longer-term deal elsewhere. And now the Lakers books are clean. Well, Jay, what's the end game here?

Ah, this is where you get smart. Free agents in 2024 are not great. You got James Harden, Tobias Harris, Kauai Leonard, Paul George. I think that would be kind of an awkward fit going after PG and Kauai. Jalen Brown, we'll see what happens with his Supermax this summer. And Pascal Seacum, no big names. But take a look at 2025, 2025.

Jason Tatum and Janus Atanakumbo. Jason Tatum is the guy who is like the biggest Kobe fan on Earth. Rob G has been calling Jason Tatum future late. Laker for years on this podcast. I didn't know what that was all about, and then he starts telling me about this Kobe stuff. He did a commercial, and he was wearing a Laker jersey. Celtics fans got ticked.

Playoff game, Jason Tatum, wearing a Kobe wristband, Celtics fans, what gives. So, like, Boston Celtics fans know that something's up. Tatum, for my money, is a top five player in the league. Without question, top five player. I'm taking Tatum over Embed any day of the week. Like, Tatum is in that class for me with Janice, Luca Donchich

Nicola Yochich like Tatum for me for sure top five players Steph Curry I would put in there even though he's 35 quick reminder Curry at 35 like you don't worry as much

about his health AD at 30 you worry about his health given the injury history and Tatum's still in his prime so if 2025 comes around Tatum has let it be known

Kobe is his favorite player tell me the Lakers don't swing big and go after Jason Tatum that makes all the sense in the world could the Lakers go big go after Janus? That makes all the

sense of the world. I mean, at one point, the Lakers did sign an Antunacompo brother. Rob probably remembers. He's a bigger Laker fan than I am. And I just, folks, I just look at this strategy the Lakers are employing. And Anthony Davis has to be looking at it. Remember, he's represented by clutch. And

AD's probably not feeling great about his future in L.A. He rocks up to Palinka, Rob, with the extension and says, yo, guys, what are we talking about? Two plus one, three, four, what are we? Supermax? What are we up? What are we talking about?

And Rob Polink is probably going to look him in the face and go, TBD, AD. Can we circle back next summer? I don't know. AD, unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot of leverage except having clutch in his corner. But Rob, this to me is shaping up like Anthony Davis is not going to be long for the Los Angeles Lakers. Well, there's a lot to unpack there.

And to put his perspective, in order for Anthony Davis to get extended, he'd have to opt in to the 2024. 2025 season at 43 million. So his total number would basically be four years about $210 million. So that's a, you know, a lot of money until you consider. Is that 52? About $50 million. Yeah, 52.

When you consider guys like Tyreys Halliburton and Lamello Ball got like 260. So it's really, I guess, not that big of a deal. But on one hand, I love where your head's at. Look, people think I'm crazy. But if anyone's been following this podcast or you and I even from way back on the weekend radio show. My hashtag future Laker predictions is like 70% from the field. Okay.

So it might seem crazy now. But ultimately, most of these guys end up coming. You go back to LeBron James, called that one Future Laker, Anthony Davis, Future Laker. I'm going to take credit for the Dwight Howard, DeMarcus cousins, future Lakers, even though we got them at the back end, they weren't good anymore. Still predicted that one. Russell Westbrook, wish I had that one back, even though I did predict Future Laker, Russell Westbrook, I'm even going to take credit for future Laker Chris Paul, even though he was only a Laker for like two hours and then they ultimately got canceled.

But, but David Stern, yeah. Outside of like Kauai and Paul George and to be determined on Clay Thompson, I'm pretty accurate with these future Laker things, right? And I've had my eye on Jason Tatum for years. And I think that to your point, there's been a lot of smoke about whether or not he is, you know, conceivably an option for the Lakers, where I don't. where I disagree with you, though, is I think in order for the Lakers to be in the running for a Jason Tatum or a Janus or whatever, a second tier star, you know, Tray Young, whatever, I don't care, whoever. They need to keep Anthony Davis in order to be attractive because I've been around this entire time and I remember in the Cold War days when the Lakers would clear all this cap space every single year and say, hey, we got enough for two spots. We have nobody else on our roster, but LeBron and Carmelo, you guys can come. And if not him, then, you know, it's Lamarcus Aldridge and Carmelo.

And if it's not him, then it's, you know, it's Dwight Howard and somebody else. And we have no caps. We have nobody on our roster, but we have tons of cap space. We can get one star or two stars and a bunch of vet minimums. And we've seen repeatedly that does not work when it comes to attracting free agents. These guys want to go where either there's another star in place or there's. there's flexibility to add another star when they get there. If the Lakers are serious about making a run at Jason Tatum or Janus or anybody of that ilk,

the key is having your second star, in this case Anthony Davis, already in your back pocket. So I think they got to extend them. 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 suits.

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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver 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 a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. 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 you 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brain. new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away,

such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You didn't mention Austin Reeves in your little rant. Is he not a second star potentially in a couple years? I know he only gave him a $56 million deal, but I mean, you look at their contracts, Rob.

Like, the Lakers are going to have room for that second start. Now, I love to go to this website Hoops Hype, which breaks down the salaries for the teams. And the Lakers, they've done a pretty, I've got to give it to Polinka. Like, they've done a pretty good job structuring the deal, so they purged bad contracts. The only guys, after this season, locked in Rui Hachimura,

Gabe Vincent and Austin Reeves. That's it. Hood Schaffino, the rookie, okay. But like, Jared Vanderbilt, one-year deal. Torrein-Prince, one-year deal. Jackson Hayes player option. Cam Reddish player option. Max Christie, who, by the way, is absolutely slaying in Summer League.

I haven't believed, I'm surprised you haven't put him in the Lakers rotation. Him being the next in a long line of Caruso, Austin Reeves. What do they call him the Hillbilly Kobe? That's right, Hillbilly Kobe Austin Reeves. What is Max Christie? What is his nickname? He doesn't have one yet. He hasn't played enough.

But he'll get one soon enough. He's got to be in the rotation. It's going to come quick. Yeah. December? By like December, he's going to have a nickname. He's going to be of a crowd favor by December. So who's going to soak up Dennis Schroeder's minutes?

Gabe Vincent. Okay. Vincent, Russell, Reeves as like the combo. And then so the next guard, like the Lonnie Walker. Will be Max Christy. Okay. I think Christy's going to be a factor in the rotation. I know Hood Chafino is nice.

But again, that's a bit of a longer-term deal. So, you know, you look at these projects that they have on the books, and it's not that bad, Rob. Like, they're going to be able to afford two stars. Vincent and Hachimura, you know, combined their 28 in two years. I'm sorry, 28 next, no, no, 25 this year, 28 and then 29. That's manageable. That's movable. Now, the one thing that I found interesting, Rob, is this draft pick situation that get, if I was the Lakers, I'd be a little concerned.

In the Anthony Davis deal, they gave up the rights to their 2024 pick to the Pelicans who can say, we don't want your 2024, we're going to punt and take 2025. If they do that, then they have to take the 25 regardless. there's no like, oh, we'll take 26. So next season, AD and LeBron, let's say they're healthy. Rob, what do you think they're win totals? Like in the 46 to 48 range? How many they win this year? Well, I mean, this year was hard because they had a whole new roster after the trade deadline.

But I think, you know, factoring health and all that stuff, I think anywhere between 45 and 50 sounds about right. 50 seems high, man. LeBron. Well, they went 18 and 8 down the stretch with a new roster. Right. they also did have a deeper playoff run. The year prior, they had no playoff run. That's right. So,

it's like, that's an extra 20 games, and those are hard games. You know, AD's minutes are up, LeBron's minutes are up. So I don't know. I think they would slow play. I'm going to go ahead and guess like they're a 45-win team. Okay. And so the Pelicans will say, we don't want that traffic. We'll take 2025. Well, what happens if LeBron

and AD leave next summer and you get nobody and you're waiting on Tatum and waiting on Janus. Is there a world where that 2025 season is really ghastly and they have to give up the pick? Now, it's not the end of the world if you get Tatum or Janus,

but you got to get Tatum or Janus first, right? So there is a little bit of shaky roll of the dice. I don't know. You love to get him Polinka's head when it comes to future Lakers. More likely for the Lakers to land, Janus or Tatum. I think if you would have asked

any reasonable Laker fan when Darvinham was hired, they're going to say the reason he was hired was because they think they have a shot of Janus. Yep. And that's, you know, call that tea leaves, call that rumors, call that being an unreasonable fan, but that's what it was. Seeing the way all this... Go ahead. Well, I know a lot of people will say, oh, Janus, why would he want to leave Milwaukee? He signed the extension.

Stay there won a title. What's a big... Let's just settle down, okay? these players grow, they mature. Like, Janice has a great run of Milwaukee. Yes, he won a title, but do you wonder, huh, maybe I could dip my toe in some other interesting things in life? I don't know, maybe, I'm not saying he wants to go Hollywood.

They did make that movie about him on, was it Disney Plus? I thought it was good. Like, I think there's a world where Janus just decides, you know what, I'm a little more mature, I'm a little grown-up, I'm ready to go. Like Shaq started in Orlando, loved it. They had a great team. the finals. And the Lakers came calling and he was like,

yo, Hollywood, okay, here I come. I don't know, Rob. Was Janice at that white party in the Hamptons? I don't think so. I don't know if I saw him in the picture. I don't think he was either. Wonder, you know, feel a little fomo missing out on that? Maybe.

Tobias Harris got a frigging invite. Maybe. I know Michael Rubin obviously has a connection to the Sixers. You still own the team. But like, a lot of stars there. Janus is a massive star. And again, I don't, I don't want to say the wrong thing here, but when you watched what Denver has built around Yokic, I think there's got to be players around the league who are kind of pissed off. Like, holy cow, Denver did it that quickly?

Like, they've got the perfect supporting cast. They did a great job with Jamal Murray. They did a great job with KCP, Aaron Gordon. Like, every move they're making is hit. They draft Christian Braun and he's a factor. And now there's a lot of chatter about the young kid Watson being the next. guy coming up and it's like, damn, Denver's doing a good job. And then Janus looks around. He's like, hey, what's going on in our front office? And Jason Tatum's like, guys, I mean, I've been to like,

what, is he even a five conference finals and he's won one of them or maybe it's four? I know he's been around for a while and he was young and one team was Isaiah Thomas is and, you know, Marcus Smart's been in the building as the leader. It's like, I don't know, I think we've got to consider like Tatum and Janus looking around and being like, all right, well, are we getting better. I mean, the Miami Heat just lapped both those teams, shockingly, this past year. Now, who the hell knows what's going to happen?

You know I have an affinity for the Atlanta Hawks. I think I was a little I loved them irrationally last year. They did not deliver, but I was probably early on them. They got a new coach, Quinn Snyder. I'm a stick with the Atlanta Hawks. I think they're probably top four seed next year in the East. That's a little bit of a surprise, but

I like them a lot. You know, I'm a tray young guy. I really like DeJont-Tamore. That roster sick. Like, are the Hawks going to pass him. Darryl Morey's cooking up something. I don't know what they're going to do, but like there's a world where Janice and Tatum look around and suddenly like teams have passed them in the east. I don't know if the Knicks have a massive war chest. Can they get Carl Anthony Towns? Cleveland Cavs have put something together nice. Like I don't know if they could take the next step, but I don't know, Rob, you think, and it's tough to get in the head of Tatum and Janus,

but do you think those guys are looking around being like, damn? Because I know that's what LeBron did. I know that's what Kevin Durant did. Like those are guys. who sought teams and players past them and get angry and they're like, I'm out of here. I'll tell you what, I don't think right now they're looking at that kind of stuff. I think right now both of their teams are at worst, what, the top three or four teams in the NBA in terms of chance to win the championship. Where I think it's going to get interesting is if, in Milwaukee, in Milwaukee, if Drew Holiday is serious about retiring as soon as his contract is up here in two years,

that's going to be a big thing. in Boston, if it turns out that this Joe Mazula, all gas, no breaks transition that they're making, where they're loading up on offensive players, getting rid of their defensive identity, and stacking up oft-injured players in the rotation, getting rid of Grant Williams for no good reason because of it's a salary dump, if this backfires, which a lot of Boston Celtics fans think it could because they don't like the way that the culture has shifted under Missoula, then you start having that wandering eye a little bit. Then you start saying if you're Jason Tatum,

look, I've reached the precipice or right up to it in Boston, and they've totally changed everything. This coach is kind of in over his head, it seems like me and Jalen Brown were good friends, but we're not exactly a great fit on the court. We don't have a point guard still that we feel real confident about. Maybe it's time for me to link up with a star big man or a star point guard that can really accentuate what I do well. Maybe then, but until then, it's just, you know, wishful thinking.

I'm still confident at some point, Gaystayton will be a Laker. I just don't know if it'll be 2025. Last word here, it's interesting. I was reading about the Celtics idea that they're like stockpiling picks and how they're maybe big game hunting. So it sounds like, and I could be wrong, some of these Boston beat writers believe that Grant Williams was for some reason, in a Missoula's doghouse.

They didn't get along. He just didn't like him. And that's why he wasn't playing him a lot. And then eventually he starts playing against the heat. And it sounds like Marcus Smart was one of these like, I got to listen to this guy. Like, you know, and I think there was an incident where he checked himself into a game.

The Boston riders are painting it like, listen, Missoula was a young coach, probably in over his head. But the two guys who he may be beefed with in the locker room. I don't know, beef might be too strong. But let's just say didn't see eye to eye with. Smart and Williams, they're now gone. So Missoula kind of has his locker room.

Porziggis is going to slide and be like, you know, let me know how high to jump, coach, because he ain't ever won anything. And he's certainly the third banana behind Tatum and Brown. So there's a world where the Celtics are fine and don't lose ground. But that's why the NBA so fascinated, Rob. Like this idea that teams can, the Warriors literally came out of nowhere. I mean, you have to go back about 10 years, but Lobb City was the jam in the NBA. It was Chris Paul, Blake Griffin.

I remember being on the East Coast, and I would have to stay up late because the Clippers were playing. I remember, fact, like, Blake Griffin was such a big deal, and so fun to watch, it's such a good dunker. I got a Clippers T-shirt, Blake Griffin T-shirt. This is way back. I have since cut the sleeves off, you know, where when I'm doing yard work, but I don't do yard work, so I never wear it.

But, like, they had next. Blake and Chris Paul, they were supposed to be the next great team in the West, and the Warriors come up and zoom past him. And Blake Griffin, you know, never won. Chris Paul still hasn't won. So NBA moves fast, man. The league's, the ground is shifting constantly. And I did mention Chris Paul, Rob, because I want to quickly wrap up with this.

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'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clever 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-tapped 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 a little kill?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. 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 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

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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brink. new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away,

such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Not a lot of people want to pay attention to what's happening in Summer League, and that's fine. A lot of it's overblown. But Rob, an interview caught my eye over the weekend where a reporter asked Chris Paul, so how do you feel coming off the bench and working with the second unit?

Something along those lines. And Rob, Chris Paul turned and looked at her and goes, you coach it? And it was like, whoa. You know, it wasn't in like a derisive manner. He had like this smirk like, you coached? I haven't talked to the team about what the game. plan is, you know, like, I don't know. And then someone else followed it up with, have you had that conversation, blah, blah, blah.

He's like, you know, we'll probably sit down before the season and talk about it. But this idea that Chris Paul was going to lead the second unit, walk in and be a good soldier. Let's just remember, Chris Paul was in Houston, got James Harden to push the warriors very hard. And that was the good warriors, the KD Curry Wars, pushed him hard, couldn't get over the hump. Then he goes to OKC. Like from the jump, Chris Paul's like, we're not tanking here.

We're not going to stink. Get some, I think they got to the bubble playoffs, right? With Lou Dort? Or maybe it was, yeah, bubble playoffs. Casey, Chris Paul then gets moved to Phoenix. Goes right in. This is the wingman, Devin Booker needed. They go to the NBA finals.

Chris Paul's bounced around a lot. Okay? Everywhere he's gone, he's been a game changer, an infusion of talent, energy, leadership. Great stuff. but now he goes to a place that doesn't need that. And this is why I go back to, I didn't understand the trade, Rob, it never made sense. This idea that they needed Chris Paul to, like, save them the Steph Curry minutes on the bench.

Like, what? That was working fine with Jordan Poole before Draymond Green sucker punched him. And yes, it was a sucker punch. This idea that Chris Paul is going to be like, come in, never come off the bench. once in his entire career, over 1,300 games. And now Rob, he's supposed to just come off the bench? Like, are we really to believe that that's going to be Chris Paul's M.O. With the Warriors?

Hey, guys, I'm going to be a cheerleader for much of the game. Probably going to play 16 to 20 minutes. And they're going to save me for the playoffs. Like, I don't see how that works for Chris Paul. Now, Chris Paul is a very proud individual. He's accomplished a lot. This idea that he's suddenly coming off the bench for a word. Warriors team that has a stack starting lineup.

Like maybe eventually he concedes, but it's pretty clear from that interview, Rob. He's essentially saying, that's not determined. We'll see. And now that's surprising me because I thought he would just say, okay, hey, I'm coming to a winner. I'm going to help this team anyway

we can get back to the finals, blah, blah, blah. He said nothing of the sort, Rob. I'm on record. I don't love this move. Yeah, the whole situation was kind of funny. It was reminded me of the Carmelo Anthony introductory press conference, with OKC and they ask him about it and he just starts laughing.

He goes, hey, P, they wanted me to come off the bench and he's just cracking up. And then, like, a year later, he was a bench player, like, because that's just what it was in his career. That's what it felt like with Chris Paul. And I agree with you. I didn't like the move at first. I knew that they had to get rid of Jordan Poole. And that seemed like it was more of an addition by subtracting situation because the Vives obviously weren't good there in Golden State.

If I'm Golden State, though, and I needed to make a trade with Washington to get rid of Jordan Poole, I would have tried to get Tyas Jones before I would have went with Chris Paul because it's a guy who you know knows his role is a similar type of player. I don't think it's good as Chris Paul, but he's a very similar style of player. But most importantly, to your point, the Golden State Warriors starting five, Steph Curry, Clay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Raymond Green, Kevin, Kevon Looney. Cording of Cleaning the Glass, plus 22.1 net rating, that's 10 points per 100 possession. better than the vaunted Denver Nugget starting five. Like that warrior starting five is fantastic. Their problem was as soon as Steph Curry left the floor,

things all went to shit. In an ideal world, Chris Paul will come off the bench and just stabilize. You don't got to win those minutes, but just tread water. But I don't know if he's at a point in his career yet where he's able to accept coming off the bench. And this, I'm not going to say it's going to get ugly because he's too professional, but this, I don't think it's going to work out too well for Golden State. Yeah. So I think mostly the year prior, Jordan Poole had come off the bench in that Energizer

Roll, six-man, and he was fine. The problem was his teammate punched him in the face and the friction in the locker room, they couldn't get past it, and it ruined the season. To your point about the stat with the best starting lineup, Rob, I do wonder, is there a glass half-full option where you're like, hey, you know what? Andrew Wiggins missed like 25-30 games. Steph Curry missed a few weeks. Clay Thompson was coming off the injury.

We're going to be okay. We're going to be fine. We get our great starting five back. But then you look at the bench and you're like, all right, who are the top three guys off the bench? Devinchenzo's gone. Jonathan Cumminga, we'll see. I like him, but we'll see.

Chris Paul, they have nobody on their roster over 6'10. And then don't tell me that this rookie is going to come in and be the eighth guy. Like, all of a sudden, I guess Moses Moody would be ahead of him. But it just, I don't see how this Warriors team is better, man. We'll do a full post-mortem once the dame deal is done and the Hardin deal is done. But right now, I don't have the Warriors top six in the West. Wow, that's shocking, considering you are like one of the biggest Steph Curry fans in North America.

I think you would expect that him by himself would be able to keep him in the top six. Not at 35, Rob. At 35? I mean, by the way, we got the screener early for the Steph Curry documentary that's coming on Apple. I've watched about half of it. Very good stuff. I don't know if it's going to be for everybody. Nothing really earth-shattering yet.

We'll see when it gets later in it. But you guys know I like Curry. The problem is, Rob, if you're talking top six, I would certainly go Denver, Phoenix, for sure. I think Sacramento is going to be back. I think they're going to be very good. I don't know if Minnesota will be there. I mean, Memphis was the two-seat, and they'll be okay without John Morant.

I think you've got to put Memphis younger, less injury risk. I think you have to put them ahead of Golden State. I'm not saying they're better, but they were the number two seed, Rob. Am I missing someone? Lakers, clippers. I mean, the West is pretty, Dallas. Oh, Dallas.

is certainly better than Golden State. Dallas is that a slam dunk, home run, whatever you want to say, hat trick of an offseason. It has been incredible. They're certainly top six. I don't think the clippers have gotten better. And I just,

I'm just going to pencil in 25 games out for LeBron, 25 for AD, and that's why I only have them at like 45 wins. 45 wins maybe seventh or eighth, you know? Yeah. Am I too low on the Warriors? I mean, when you frame it that way, I guess not.

The issue with this Western Conference, It's not like the Western Conference of the early 2000s where there were eight teams with 50 plus wins. The issue here is that now that Wimbunyama is in the Western Conference, outside of Houston, I can't think of any team. We're like, I'm just going to roll over. Like, one through 13 is competing at least. So that's where it could get tricky,

where I think you're going to see, you know, spots, even one through five, I think is going to be really tight heading down the home stretch next season. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Let's back up a little. did you just say Houston? You think Houston's the worst team in the West? Probably.

Wow. Who do you think is worse than them? I've got Houston like ninth or tenth. Wow. Okay. I mean, dude, I know that's irrational. You know, whatever. I just think this Ime Udoka is incredible higher.

I think he's the most significant coaching move in the NBA this offseason. I don't want to hear about Nick Nersen, Philly. The new Phoenix guy, whatever. I think this Udoka, remember what he did in Boston with a pretty damn good team that was floundering. He got them to clean up their act, spoke to the young guys, called people out, help people accountable, and then turned that team

and they went to the finals. I think he's at least worth 10 wins, just him. And then you toss in Van Vleet. Will he be able to control Dylan Brooks? I like Jalen Green a lot. Sangoon is pretty damn good. Jabari Smith opening eyes in Summer League. Now you finally get Kevin Porter,

coming off the bench, who's ridiculously talented, but, you know, has his issues. I like Tari Easton. I'm just telling you, if you're looking for a sleeper over wins total, I haven't seen it yet, the number, but I'm going over on the sun, on the rockets, for sure. Like, I don't even think there's any doubt. They're going to be good. Now, I know the West is stacked, but this to me, 35 to 45 wins. Now, before you scoff, the Kings, I believe made a leap of like 18 wins year to year.

and that was good coach, Mike Brown, and Deerrin Fox, who was there. Sabonis was there. The only addition was basically Keegan Murray. Malik Monk, I mean, Malik Monk was an addition, but like the coach really matters in the NBA, and I'm all in on Nudoka. And they were healthy, Sacramento.

Their guys all played over 70 games. So, you know, we'll see. But this Western Conference is going to be a bear next season. I don't think even Denver, as good as they are and I looked in the close season. I don't think you're going to see any runaway one seed this upcoming season at all. I would agree.

And the parody in the league is, like you said, eight teams of 50 plus wins. The bottom of the league back then was horrible. Yes. I mean, listen, I don't want to make this a Jordan LeBron thing. Go look at the bottom of the league in like the early 90s. It was putrid. I mean, there were some laughably bad teams.

Now, there's really nobody bad in the West. Like, one been yamma on the spurs? I don't, I think, I wonder if there's a world where the team that wins the West has like 52 wins and the worst team in the West has like 26, like the Spurs win 26 games or something. That's possible. I mean,

I wouldn't be shocked if it was that tight. Absolutely. Yeah. For sure. All right. We've run really long here on a Tuesday. Everybody talk to you tomorrow. 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 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics

from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tantons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, 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. 84 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.

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