The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Super teams, Lakers, Kawhi Leonard, and the Warriors

Episode Date: July 2, 2019

Colin believes people overreact when it comes to super teams, while saying the NBA will be fine if Kawhi Leonard signs with the Los Angeles Lakers. He feels the Golden State Warriors will be fine next season with the pieces they have. Also the latest news on where Kawhi Leonard may sign. Guests include Doug Gottlieb, Howard Beck, Jim Jackson, and Ric Bucher.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to her, he's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, crowded, loaded again today, jam. This is The Hurd. On a Tuesday, live in L.A., wherever you may be and however you may be listening,

we're on iHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1 News could break today, and we will be live. No tape delay, baby. We are live for news that is breaking. Joy Taylor is joining me. so much fun yesterday. And we still got, we got Kauai out there, we got Boogie Cousins out there, we got a lot of Danny Greens out there, still stuff that could happen in the next few hours. Lots of moves we made.

Just keep speaking that into existence. Now's it during our show, please. All right. So let me start with this, and this is a thing hanging over everybody. Who's Kauai Leonard going to pick? On the phone last night, dinner with a heavyweight, here's what I can tell you. Nobody leads. don't believe what you read on the internet.

Nobody leads. Clippers have had a great meeting. Lakers are telling certain members of the media they lead. They don't know that. And a lot of people I talk to who I trust say Toronto's going to get him for a year. I do. I was last night, I'm texting him on the phone. I'm with executives.

I'm with scouts. I go to dinner. I'm not hearing what everybody's reporting on the www. bandwidth.com. Okay? Let me start with that. But if the Lakers do. sign Kauai Leonard. Oh, you can just see it coming from Riles. The NBA sky is falling crowd.

Oh my God, there's a dynasty. It's not fair. Ah, shut up. When did golf explode in this country? When Tiger Woods for a decade seemingly won every major. Highest ratings in NBA history, MJ's Bulls won six of eight titles. The Women's World Cup has a favorite, the United States, that's so dominant, they've allowed one goal and only a handful of good shots against goal. The dynasty of the Patriots is the longest and greatest ever, and NFL ratings are the envy of every league. Come on. You're telling me in the South, people aren't geeked up for the SEC football season?

We all know Alabama's going to win it. They've been winning it for eight years. Saturday mornings, people now are turned off to SEC football. You love what you love. I got buddies in Portland, in Utah, in Denver, in Dallas, in Philly, in Boston, in Los Angeles. They're completely energized today. They all think they won free agency. Just like everybody in the South thinks they had the best recruiting class.

That's what we do is sports fans. We don't follow these sports just for winning a championship. If our team is good, our team is growing, our team is ascending, and I think half the league is, you don't think people in New Orleans are geeked about the Pelicans? Or people in Memphis aren't geeked about John Morant. And the other thing, even if the Lakers do land Kauai, these dynasties never last as long as we think. Kevin Durant of the Warriors won two titles.

Ended with two horrible injuries. And oh, by the way, they were lucky to win the second one because they trailed Houston three to two until Chris Paul got hurt. The Healds needed a Ray Allen miracle shot to win two in four years. The big three in Boston, one-one. Shack and Kobe broke up early. Stop with the sky as falling nonsense. Plus, because everybody's getting scooped up by all these teams,

if Kauai, LeBron, and AD are together, they'll have no bench and one of the league's weakest fifth starters. They'll be one injury away from being a borderline playoff team. They got no bench, none. They're going to have the league's worst, oldest bench. Cheapest, worst, and oldest bench. And a weak fifth starter. They still don't have any great shooters.

And by the way, Kauai's been hurt before. A.D. has injury issues. And LeBron came off the first and worst injury of his career. One of those veteran players, they've all got a bunch of miles on their legs gets hurt. They're not winning the championship. So you, you, 70% of this league this morning, minimum in you. Utah, in Denver, in Dallas, in Philly, in Boston, in New Orleans, they're energized. I don't think Maverick fans, Jazz fans, Blazer fans, Sixer fans have ever had more hope.

I think they're celebrating wildly in Boston today, getting Kemba Walker and Ennis Canter. I think they feel great about it. They didn't like Kyrie. They like the new guy. So there's no sky as-falling nonsense. Dynasties, villains have always worked in sports. Are Working. Bama's working. Mayweather gets huge pay-per-view numbers. So did Connor McGregor. Tiger Woods drove us to TV sets on Sunday. Kauai'll do the same. All right. So the team that's getting buried, and I think this is all very comical, because I think they're going to be a great team. The Golden State Warriors. By the way, did you see yesterday, Kvon Looney signed? They squeezed him in. Dude took a discount. Took a discount. So correct me if I'm wrong. But do you remember, the team that swept the Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, it was Clay Thompson, Steph Curry, Kvon Luni,

Draymond Green, and they're now all back. Clay will just be back in February and March. All right. Okay, so you're, you're, you're, you're, you're, you don't think they're any good. Uh, I'll take them this morning with the K. Mon Looney signing. I'll take my chances with the Warriors in April and May and June. Now, DeAngelo Russell got signed and that's freaking everybody out. Oh, DeAngelo,

Russell's an attitude. Mark Stein, friend of mine, very respected New York Times NBA guy, doesn't like it at all. DeAngelo Russell doesn't fit there whatsoever. They just wanted to make sure that they did not see Kevin Durant, arguably the best player in the league when healthy, walk out the door for nothing. They got a 23-year-old All-Star, and they will trade him. It's just a matter of when. He does not like to move. Rick Buecker on my show yesterday. He also does not like the DeAngelo Russell acquisition. This,

that's the smell of desperation. Oh, my goodness. He does not fit their DNA whatsoever. He's a younger Nick Young. He doesn't play D. He's a me guy. He doesn't play with a high basketball IQ. I'm not feeling this whatsoever.

If Draymond Green doesn't end up killing, him, Steve Kermite. One of those guys is going to go, De Anzlo, come on. It's just, it's not a good fit. Okay. Pump the brakes. He's going to be there three months. There's no marriage here. There's no photo albums here. They're dating to the trade deadline. Are you telling me DeAngelo Russell, a 23-year-old, great ball handler who can hit threes at the trading deadline, nobody going to want him. Excuse me. Have you seen the money being doled out to average guys? Nobody's going to want DeAngelo Russell. By the way, can he be in his best behavior for three months? Do you realize his bad reputation comes from what? His two years were the Lakers. A week ago,

who wanted DeAngelo Russell? The Lakers! Even they wanted him back. Everybody's looking for 23-year-old guys who can put it on the deck, create opportunities, and hit a three. His bad reputation comes from Los Angeles. They desperately wanted him last week if they couldn't get meetings with Kauai. Folks, Boogie Cousins had the worst rep in the league. The dynasty said, you want to play for us?

Here's what I know about the NBA. It's a guard wing league. And if you're in your prime and can shoot threes, people will talk themselves into your talent. And the other thing is, he's only got to be in his best behavior for three months. Even people you break up with the first couple of months always feel great, right? You kind of attracted. It's like, oh, my God, you overlook their flaws.

It's kind of cute. She's really attractive. And you kind of know it's not perfect. And then in about third, fourth month, you're like, I got to get out of this relationship. That's all this is. Steve Kerr makes everybody better offensively. Steph Curry is the easiest star to play with. everybody wants to make this work, including DeAngelo Russell, and ask yourself at the trading

deadline. Will there be a good NBA team at the trading deadline? That's good. But if they had a scoring guard, they talked themselves into being great. I'll give you one, Philadelphia. They got Al Hortford, and they got Ambid, and they got Ben Simmons, and they got Tobias Harris, and they got all these big guys, and they draft another big guy. You know what?

They don't have a dynamic guard that scores. Would they be willing, maybe at the trading deadline, to send a big out west to get DeAngel Russell, who by the way, over in Brooklyn, they watched him have all sorts of success. People talk themselves into talent in this league. The Warriors said basically, we lost Kevin Durant. Let's just go get an All-Star because All-Stars in our system, the Patriots and the Warriors are great at this. They bring in guys with a little rub.

Draymond Green would never be Draymond Green outside of the Warriors. Randy Moss worked for two and a half years in New England. They just make it work. You're dating for three months. Everybody's on their best behavior. Boom, trading deadline. Some team in the NBA is going to be like, you know, if we just had a guard that could shoot threes,

and they're going to make a move on him. It is much easier in this league in 2019, 2020. People still want Andre Igwadala and Kyle Corver. And these guys are close to crushes because they can hit threes. DeAngelo's in his prime can ball handle and hit threes. All good. Everybody's bailing on the Warriors. Trust.

Smart. Smart. Always overtime wins. I still think the Warriors are a top four or five team in the NBA. They're just going to have to wait for Clay to get healthy. The closer he gets to being healthy in February, March. And they watch and they see him every day at the facility. Okay, he's about two weeks out, two and a half.

Boom. You move DeAngelo. Russell. Coming up next, living in Los Angeles, I can really sense it, even though I always knew it living outside of Los Angeles. The Lakers are a political machine. Will their politics get in the way of landing Kauai Leonard? That's coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports

Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife 12 in the

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

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app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes,

hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue of 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying.

He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's a real living organism. It's called Who Gets the Credit? And it happens a lot with males. I don't know if this is part of the women's ecosystem, but I can tell you for men with egos, alpha males, everybody always wants to get credit.

And credit blows up. Boy, it's a lot of it in sports because you get the alpha male and then you get they're rich. The coach is rich. The GM is rich. the owner is really rich and the players are now rich and guys got to get credit. Seattle Seahawks Dynasty. It was going to last forever. Oh, Pete Carroll wanted to get credit.

Richard Sherman and the defense wanted to get credit. And Russell Wilson didn't say anything, but he wanted to get a little credit. And it blew up. And then the 49ers with Jim Harbaugh went to the Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick and everybody wanted to get credit. And Trent Balke, the general manager, wanted to get credit. And Ned York said, what about me? I want to get credit.

And Jim Harbaugh said, I'm tired of not getting credit. And Colin Kaepernick's like, I'm pretty good, too. and it blew those two teams up. The 49ers and the Seahawks were humming. They were good. They were young. They had the coach. They had the...

And they got blown up because of credit. Magic Johnson reportedly had a positive phone call yesterday with Kauai Leonard. Oh, that's funny. Who leaked that story? It ain't Kauai. He barely talks. That's Magic Johnson. Because Magic wants to get credit.

Why? Because Magic Johnson has a massive brand. And when he quit, it was a really bad look. Remember that press conference when he quit? He didn't tell anybody and he started out living. Everybody's like, is magic crazy? Is magic nuts? He didn't tell his bosses.

Remember how bad that press conference was? Have you really not told me? No, I haven't. Did you tell Ralph Lincoln? Nope. Have you had any communication with LeBron about this? No, no. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. Magic quit didn't tell anybody.

And then the Lakers were able to land Anthony Davis without him. Ooh, it's time for Magic's brand to get a little resurrection so it moves back and he's on the phone with Kauai. He's going to save the Lakers because Rob Polinka badmouthed him. You don't badmouth magic in Los Angeles. So Magic is going to make sure this gets out so he can say, I got you LeBron and I got you Kauai Leonard.

I'm not knocking magic for this. I'm just telling you how it is. He's got a big brand. I said when it happened, Magic has a right. He has worked very hard to craft this brand. He has a right to protect his brand. Facebook right now trying to protect their brand from the government.

We got companies all over the place trying to protect their brand. Why can't an individual? Magic Johnson has a right to protect his brand. It's the strongest sports brand in Los Angeles. I mean, it's the strongest individual sports brand. Now, the Dodgers or USC, but I'm talking as an individual. Magic's got the strongest brand in the city, and he's protecting it. So he's leaking these stories to let you know, I got you LeBron, and I'm going to get you Kauai.

And by the way, this credit thing, why did the Dallas Cowboys break up? Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones. It was a dynasty because Jerry Jones wanted more credit. Why did Tiger Woods and his swing coach and his caddy break up? Because the caddies and the swing coaches wanted more credit. Yankees, Tori, Cashman, Randy Levine, Steinbrenner, I got to get more credit. For the record, if you don't live in Los Angeles, this may not be something you're aware of, but Pat Riley, Jerry West, and Phil Jackson are not buds.

Why? Because they all thought the other guy were getting too much credit. That's why they broke up. There was always a fight for that. Now, I'm not in the credit business. That's Visa. Okay? But these sports teams and the GM and the coach and the star player and the owner.

So all this thing with Magic and this story with Kauai and the phone call, the only reason that leaked because Magic's like, time out. My brand took a little ding here. The quitting, you landing AD without me. I look crazy and kooky. Magic gets right back in there. I'm going to save the dynasty. I'm actually defending him here.

if I had the biggest personal sports brand in a city the size of Los Angeles and it took a ding for about five, six, seven, eight, nine, twelve weeks, I'd probably try to protect it too. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. While speaking of not getting enough credits, Kevin Durant shook up the NBA landscape Sunday night,

leaving for Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, and the Nets. Yeah. And there was quite a level of drama with the Warriors, including a well-publicized argument with Ramon Green that may have played a part in his decision to head to New York. And according to Mark J. Spears of the undefeated, when asked about all the negative things that transpired with Durant and the Warriors over the past year,

a close source to Durant said, all that showed a lack of respect for one of the greatest players to put that uniform on and the fact that he took all that abuse, and still put his career on the line to help them win. Now remember, this video is getting a little circulation now because he left, obviously.

It was kind of a slap in the face from Bob Myers, a little comment he made at the 2018 NBA championship parade. And then I heard you tell Kevin Durant he can have whatever contract he wants next year. Yeah, that was just for the media. He can't have anything like that at all. Mid-level.

Yeah, mid-level, behind closed doors. Because I think last year he took. told Steph he could have any contract he wants too so well yeah that was different he's been here from the run you know the way before days he's ended the warrior's cohesion right there

I don't classify that as abuse though it's just a that's a strong word to use to classify that situation but I will say I mean that's that's tough to watch considering the fact that he left no that could have to have nothing at all to do with it

me personally, as I like to say, I'm petty, which is a very nice way of saying that I hold judges forever and ever. So watch what you say because I never forgive you. I don't know if Kevin Durand is like that, but we do know he does care about what other people say. So if he cares about what people on Twitter say, I have to kind of imagine that he may care about his GM taking a jab about how he's not as important as Steph Curry on stage at the championship parade. I remember we both talked about this on the air. When Draymond did that and said those things. There's a lot of things your wife or your husband could say

you in a fight. There are certain lines that are very dangerous to cross. And I did think calling Kevin Durant what he called him. You can go look it up on the internet. You and I both talked about this. I said... No, no. There's certain things you just can't come... You don't... You can forgive, but you just don't all the way

come back from. I thought Draymond just cross... Even with friends, there's lines I'm not going to cross. I thought when he said that with Draymond, I'm like, dude, you can rip a guy's game. but when you get personal and call him that B word, I'm like, Kevin Durant, that that's going to leave a mark somewhere in some indelible mark somewhere in the head. Now, we're all just looking for breadcums to try and figure out why it is he really left and, you know, maybe at some point he will reveal what his actual motivation was. And maybe it was this and maybe nothing to do with it.

But it's just every little thing matters when it comes down to the way that these free agency moves go down. So it's been more than two years since Charles Oakley was a little bit. arrested and escorted out of Madison Square Garden following a verbal altercation with James Dolan. So surreal. It's one of the worst moments in sports history. It's so bad. Easily. Easily.

And the Nick's legend believes that the incident is still impacting the team's ability to track top down. A lot of them is still upset about what happened two years ago. I don't know, you know, people respect me. And a lot of stuff went on, went right from the commission on down. nobody's trying to dress it, but the players think it for themselves. And, you know, they're not trying to go on a vibrant, like, where someone says something, somebody's going to come over the top of him with an act, or somebody going to come and, you know, do whatever, put handcuffs on them.

They don't want that kind of vibrant. So for the fan, New York is New York. But for the playoffs now, it's just, it's a different ball game. I mean, they don't want to be around no bad toxic situations. It's so hard to watch. It's brutal. It's embarrassing. I'm saying Oakley was beloved.

He still is beloved. And that's what he's saying. And he's not wrong. Look, he is a legendary Nick. He's a player's guy. He's old school. He's also a fan's guy. Yes. And he revealed

what was just the underlying situation there in New York. And look, I don't think it's all James Dolan. Like, I think that the way that the Knicks have gone through their business of tanking every single year, I don't think top talent is interested in going to a team like the Sons or the Knicks that are constantly

in the lottery. Because like I say all the time, and top players know this. You can't just go to a situation that has been toxic year after year after year after year and stuff like this is happening to your legends. And then all of a sudden, flip a switch because you have a superstar and now all of a sudden we're winners and we know how to behave. LeBron was the best player in the league, and the Lakers, to their credit, had drafted pretty well. I mean, Lonzo can play, Cusman can play, Josh Hart and Ingram can play. They drafted pretty well, and look at LeBron's season. The Knicks haven't drafted nearly as well as the Lakers.

And so Kevin Durant's not going to solve anything by himself. Right. And this was the best case scenario for the Knicks. You had the space. You have a great front office, which I'm saying front office, not including the owner, like the actual executives are a great assembly of executives. you have the space, you have RJ Barrett, you had a good draft. The problem is still there.

It's still the owner. And when there's that much smoke, there's fire. And I think the injury changed everything because Kevin Durant felt like if he was healthy and rolling out of a championship, him and Kyrie could team up and make it happen. But the injury changes things because he's gone for a year and the Brooklyn, that's in a better situation. One of the reasons I chose Fox is because I looked at Rupert Murdoch and everything he, Fox News, Fox business, Fox Sports. You do, owners do matter, though. Like if, by the way, Clippers for years with Donald Sterling,

and they don't want to get star players go there. Like, in the end, I've said this before, Chase Good Management, because there's a sea of money. In the end, I think Dolan, I think there's just a stink over the organization. It's too much to overcome. Yeah. So finally, the Sixers weren't able to resign Jimmy Butler in Free Agency, but it wasn't because he didn't try.

And according to Tom Haberstrow, Butler made it known he wanted out so much so he flew down to Miami to begin free agency and make it clear that's where he wanted to be. Butler's trip to Miami was not a leverage play. A source close to situation says Butler was indeed offered the five-year $190 million full max from Philly, but Butler

wanted to move on. I actually love this move for the heat. There's some conversations about a possible trade, Bradleyville. I don't think the heat have enough to make that happen. Although Pat Riley's pulled off some crazy stuff before, so who knows, not counting them out, but it's not something that I'm going to count on

happening. But People want to know why Jimmy Butler would leave a situation like the Sixers for the Heat. Players can't win. If Jimmy Butler goes and wants to be the guy, which he will be in Miami, then he gets accused of being selfish. If he stays with a bunch of players that are good and they have a super team and players get called soft, there's no win for players anymore. I don't know. I love it for Miami. I do.

I don't like it for Butler, but I love it for Miami. I mean, look, it's not like it puts them in championship contention. No. But there's only so many players. that are going to come to your organization and immediately put you in championship contention. Kevin Durant, Hawaii, Leonard, Bron James. If I live in Miami today. Who else is there?

This came out of nowhere. I'd feel happy. I'll talk more about Jimmy Butler later. But Miami, if I live in Miami in Fort Lauderdale, I think it's, you know, I woke up and I'm like, I didn't even know we were in the, we weren't even in the race. Joy, with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News.

Doug Gottlieb, my buddy, Fox Sports Radio, the contributor for the. athletic college basketball analyst for us, the dog Gottlieb show, joining us today. By the way, it is, you know, people move for a variety of reasons. I do think it's interesting, though. Is so Kevin Durant had a ball-centric, fun, flashy guard, and he kind of felt like, I'm not getting the love.

And he goes to Golden State, and he's got a crazy, fun, flashy guard, and he feels like, I'm not quite getting the love. Now he goes to Brooklyn with Kyrie, who's a fun, flashy guard, has the ball in his hands. Is he just going into the same relationship? It does feel a little bit that way. But I would also point out, you know, when he was in Oklahoma City early on,

they were all super tight, right? They would do everything together. And it was actually a fight for Scott Brooks to get them to not play and work out together so much. And then Russell Westbrook got married and they started to get some new faces. And obviously they lost. And there were some other reasons why he left.

I mean, the biggest reason was he wanted a shot at LeBron James in the NBA finals, and he got it two times in row. But I think when he was at Golden State, I think it was another story out that he and Steph never had a great relationship. It wasn't a bad relationship. It was just Steph's married, he's got a couple kids. His wife has reality shows and cooking shows. And when they're done, they shake hands and Steph goes home and Katie goes to his spot.

They don't live close to each other. So I think when you look at Brooklyn, Brooklyn's culture last year was maybe the best in the NBA, where you're watching guys on the bench, watch guys, you know, Spencer Dinwiddie comes in off the bench and lights it up, and everybody's cheering for him. I mean, it was a beloved culture. And I think at the end of it, KD, probably thought, hey, I want to get back to how it was when I was in Oklahoma City early on.

That's, you know, your memories of the past. We all have this when we started working together. Yeah. How many years ago was that? Man. Long time ago. Okay, right? This is O-3, 14.

A long time ago. Oh, 3, we started working together, right? Same place. that place became different. It became more corporate. People's lives kind of veered off. It wasn't all in one location. And then I remember when I came here,

the first thing I thought of was it was a lot like 03. I think that's what KD's thinking. I don't know if it makes sense or if it works. And you point out Kyrie Irving could ruin that culture the way that people believe he ruined the culture in Boston. But I think that's part of what drew KD to go to Brooklyn. So, you know, there's always villains work. Tiger

was polarizing and the United States at the Olympics is polarizing but the most watched and New England's polarizing. And Alabama dominates the SEC and they're still in the South wake up every Saturday morning and can't wait watch their Tennessee volunteers and Auburn Tigers. So I look at Kauai to the Lakers and I think, listen, there should be the favorite.

But I think most of the league today, my buddies around the country, loved free agency. Everybody feels energized. I don't think it ruins the NBA. No, I don't, well, I don't think it ruins the NBA. Does it make it hard to identify who's where? Yeah. Free agency.

There was a stat I saw the other day where I think, what is it, only four players or eight players remain on their same team that were All-Stars going back just two years ago. Like there's been that much movement of the elite players. And that's the distinct difference between the NFL and the NBA is this mass player movement. But just for Kauai Leonard, if. If he stays in Toronto, I don't think that changes the league for the better. Like, the NBA needs something in New York. They got Brooklyn. It's not really a drawing card, but it'll do.

Boston's still very much alive. I'm sure like to get Chicago going. But Philly is legit and they'll be real. And so you have some star player, some stars in the east. And now that New York is very much alive and well with Brooklyn, it doesn't change the NBA for the better or the worse in terms of the ratings. If he goes to Toronto, it doesn't help because it's north of the border. the Clippers, it would provide, I think, more competitive balance, and that's probably the best fit for him.

I mean, like, one thing not being pointed out was, I'm not sure how it all fits together with the Lakers. Like, I think it's cool. Like, we'll have three of the top five players in the NBA. This is my thing. I don't think it's as easy as people think. Doug, if you get that, you will have without question, even if Iggy came, one of the worst benches in a league in a bad fifth starter.

You're one injury away. Well, not necessarily. You still have the mid-level exception. Who's going to get that? Well, I guess we'll just have to kind of find out what they can do creatively. I mean, look, you'll have three of the five best players in the league. I'm not doubting that. Why Leonard is the best player in the NBA?

People are going to have to, even you're going to have to kind of swallow hard and go like, yeah, he was the best player, especially with KD out with injury, and LeBron wasn't what he had been going back to last year. LeBron's still in that discussion. Anthony Davis, by everybody's estimation still. And they both can play both ends of the floor. Maybe LeBron's the worst defender of the three. So that's incredible.

And then Kyle Kuzma fits perfectly with Lebron. So I guess LeBron becomes the point guard. Yeah. And then they, you know, J.R. Smith gets bought out. Andre Godalas shows up. Like, that's a pretty, and they get a mid-level exception guy. Like, that's a pretty good seven or eight. But I don't know, like, Kauai still needs the ball to be Kauai.

Anthony Davis, is he going to stand in the corner and be a stretch five? I don't know what his role is. I don't either. Like, I get that he's geeked about being in L.A. And he'll be in Space Jam and that'll be cool. But I'm not sure he should really want Kauai. than they're going to win a lot of games. And, you know, generally in the NBA, when you have the best players, you have a tendency

to go far. But fit is interesting. I think Kauai actually fits better with the clippers, even though it's still the clippers. And now you're drawn in by the drawing card, which is the Lakers. And look, they said we get Anthony Davis. They got Anthony Davis. Got LeBron James. And now it's your turn to kind of join that threesome.

It's going to be fascinating the next 2448 hours. Okay. DeAngelo Russell to the Warriors. have to talk about. I think there's a team being totally overlooked in the NBA. Doug Gottlieb, stick around. We'll bring him back after this. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to The source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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, 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? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys?

This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref. My mom won't want you. you to wave at her. What? Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, point game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin

Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball.

Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We were just talking during the break. One of the craziest things that happened that got virtually no press, a very good three-point shooting veteran who people like Darren Collison, quit. And Lakers wanted him.

I mean, that was one of the worst kept secrets on the West Coast. Lakers wanted Darren Collison. So he's gone. And then Seth Curry goes to Dallas because they pay him a ton. That's kind of an interesting story that didn't get any press. No, it is interesting. And if you talk to these teams like many of us do, they have sheets. They have sheets.

All right. Here's the max contract guys. Here's the, you know, 8 to 12 million guys, which is where Darren Collison won. And then there's the minimum contract guys or mid-level exception guys. well. And they've done some background. They know which guys they want. They know which guys they don't. And it's a lot like recruiting, which you and I

follow in college sports. You know, you can't get everybody, so you have to have a list of hey, here's our five best options. Well, you take Darren Collison, you don't put him on the Hornets. You don't put him on the bull. You completely take him off. He's like, I'm good. I quit. Remember, there's a kid who played at UCLA,

grew up in L.A. and they're like, you got a chance to play for the Lakers, or maybe the Bulls. So now a sudden, you combine that, with Kauai waiting. And so it kind of screws the whole thing up. Right. Whereas had Darren Collison not committed to go anywhere, the Lakers could have sat at the other than go,

all right, well, listen, we're going to get, if we don't get Kauai, we'll get Darren Collison. Or had he committed to going somewhere else, maybe then there's another point guard that's available. As it is now, there are very, very few guys. Patrick Beverly is now, is now off. He signed a $40 million deal. So Danny Green's going to get paid?

You think maybe he's, Maybe he's going to wait to see what Kauai does. And maybe he follows Kauai to L.A. But the Lakers, maybe he stays in Toronto. There's a lot of different options. So Darren Collison, a guy we don't talk about much, was going to be valuable. DeAngelo Russell, a guy we've talked about a lot, makes twice as much. I like what the Warriors did.

I think they're going to move him. Well, there's a litany of things. He does not fit with how the Warriors have played. Remember, one of the things that's talked least about, people talk about ball movement and player movement. really it's are you isocentric, are you ball movement centric, or are you ball screen? So when he was in Brooklyn, that's a ball screen offense. Put a big guy at the top of the key, he set a ball screen, and he gets a mismatch, drive, create, kick a lot of threes.

He's one of the tops in the NBA during his time in Brooklyn in the amount of ball screens he's involved in. The Golden State Warriors, since Steve Kerr has been there, have had the fewest number of ball screens in the NBA. Right. Okay. And part of that is personnel-based. When you have Draymond Green, when they play the Hampton 5 lineup, you have five small players, just playing in small ball. There's not the mismatch created.

So some of that will change with Golden State now going with Kvonne Looney more often. But it's a bad fit from how they've played. On the other hand, here's why it makes sense, not just that he'll be an asset that they can trade eventually. But one of the big concerns you had to have, your Warriors fan, you're an NBA fan, is, would you wear Steph Curry out? Yeah.

Like, look, Steph Curry is going to have to, before they signed DeAngel Russell, remember, you don't have Clay, you don't have KD, now you don't have Iggy. You know, Dremont's not a score. Like, he's going to have to score at 35, 40 a night. Right. And that will wear you out.

Sure. And it doesn't matter for this year, but you can't have a worn out Steph Curry where this year is like a year and a half off of his body when the Warriors want to be competitive for a title next year. I think DeAngelo Russell is the answer for the short term, not just in terms of retaining trade value because he'll be in his early to mid-20s,

but also because he's a guy who can play some point, Steph can be off the floor, he's a little bit of a pig offensively, that's okay, they need somebody to score. And the big concern with DeAngelo Russell isn't just the volume of shots, it's that he can be a hangout guy off the floor and bring other young guys with him. The Warriors don't have that problem. The Warriors have mostly veterans who have their own lives.

they're not worried. If DiAngelo Russell wants to go out and hang out, that's fine. He won't drag others with him. By the way, you see this story. The Warriors are going to retire after three years in the Bay Area, Kevin Durant's jersey. I was told last night that was Golden State's way of saying, please don't sue us. What did you make of that? I thought it was odd. I did have Max Hazard, who just he transferred from UC Irvine to Arizona. He tweeted at me something interesting. What about LeBron? the Bronn was only in Miami four years you'd retire LeBron's jersey why wouldn't you retire KD's jersey it's a pretty good argument keep in mind that when LeBron got

to Miami they'd only won 40 games the two previous years and the brah was the reason Chris Bosch got there but it's a pretty good argument you know four finals versus three finals they both won two championships and KD won two MVPs it does like it's just too soon

maybe in the future but if the guy plays 20 years and only three years are in Golden State. I don't know about the lawsuit thing. That one doesn't make... I think Golden State protected themselves from the lawsuit by bringing in Kevin Durant's guy. They brought in a third-party guy.

And look, I'm of the belief it was a partially torn Achilles tendon when he first heard it. But when you talk to orthopedic surgeons, they'll all say it's really, really hard to tell on an MRI. And if it was partially torn, he was going to have it surgery prepared to begin with. I'll just say this. Do I think Jim Dolan is bad for the Knicks,

bad news for their PR, yes. But if it was his decision to go, look, I've been down this road before. Eddie Curry, Amari Stottemeyer. Like, you go to Penny Hardaway. Yes. You go to all the different guys they've been burned on injuries.

Burned on injuries. So I'm going to bring in Kevin Durant, not have Kyrie Irving who didn't want to go there. He's going to have to carry my franchise, I have to pay him for a year, and then I'm hoping that he's the one guy in his 30s that can come back and be as good as he was before he tore his Achilles tendon?

Yeah. I actually don't think it's a crazy decision to go, you know what? I don't have to spend all of my money on a guy that I don't know will be a good return on investment. By the way, it should be noted if R.J. Barrett's a young star, and I think he will get his buckets. Yes. They'll be in the lottery again next year.

You get one more R.J. Barrett. You got Julius Randall. It's not the world's worst thing. If they draft a little better, they'd be in a better spot. Yeah. I actually kind of. And I actually think they have, look, they've had so many different management pieces. Remember, Prisengis was a star before he got hurt.

No question. And that was a Phil Jackson draft pick. Other draft picks haven't panned out as well. But the draft is hit or missed. I like Mitchell Robinson, who's going to be a state, very, very young. Very good player. Elite shop blocker, rim runner. And Julius Randall's a solid pro.

He's fine. You know, they are kind of collecting power forwards there. But I don't think this is the end of the world for the Knicks. This is how you have to build. is you have to build organically and have some good graphics and then add in a free agent or two. Listen, if R.J. Barrett hits, they have a center who they believe is a star. And by the way, not only do the Knicks believe that, my sources, my guys love Mitchell Robinson. And then they'll have another star in R.J. Baird.

It's not the end of the world. It's just that it's in New York. That's what Memphis is. I like that plan a lot better than what Charlotte's doing. Like, Terry Rozier is a backup point guard that is going to be a starter on a bad team. You can pay $18 million to him. Like that doesn't, that one doesn't make any sense to me. All right.

So Magic had a big phone conversation with Kauai Leonard. Why do I know about that? Because my takeaway is Magic wants some credit and everybody to know that he may have been crazy for quitting, but he did land LeBron and he's going to land Kauai. It's kind of genius of magic. It's diabolical genius, right? I mean, to leak the same stories to Ramona Shelburne into Brad Turner. I mean, it's pretty obvious where their sourcing is.

But it's kind of genius here because he's, a no-lose spot. Hey, you know, I'm not even part of the Lakers, and he called me, and I sold him on anything you want, we'll take care of it. It'll be just like the old days. Magic will get credit for that. He will get credit. And if they don't get Kauai Leder, who's going to get the blame? Rob Polinka. Correct. Correct. I set it up for you. Rob Polinka couldn't close. Coffee is for closes. See, and this is where I've supported magic. People are banging on magic, but let me, this morning I'm driving in, people are banging on magic. If I had the biggest personal individual sports brand in the city. I'm not talking team brand. That's Lakers or USC or whatever.

But if I had the biggest personal sports brand like Jeter had for 10 years in New York, I have a right to protect it. I have a right to magic's protecting his brand. Well, look, there's very much ego at play here. And remember, there's a little bit of hurt ego in that Polinka's Kobe's guy, people love Kobe. The younger generation would disagree with you and that this is a Kobe town more than a magic town. And if If it comes through, if it hits, Magic will get credit,

and he'll take credit, and Magic will feel like I'm still the world's greatest Laker by ever, because not only was I the player, but then I was the front office executive that cleared out the cab space. I was the one that got LeBron. I was the only one that met with LeBron, and I was the one that I wanted to talk to. So our Magic and Kobe close at all?

Yeah, yes and no. I just, look, they're two huge egos. And you don't have that kind of success without a massive ego. Both have it. And Kobe, of course, is kind of laid in the cut. Does his Mamba Academy, has his own TV production thing, and quietly plays behind the scenes.

Well, his magic has been much more out in front. Doug Gottlieb the Dugger Fox Sports Radio after our show. Great stuff. Listen to him. Hour two coming up. Up, down even. Who got better or worse and stayed the same next. One more herd?

The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Last night, A blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo.

Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer. or beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking.

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 a good person because you're a free 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 Kear Gaines is we have real conversations about healing growth

fatherhood pressure and purpose on my new podcast learn the hard way open your free our heart radio app search learn the hard way and listen now what's up guys this is cliverteller the fourth and on my podcast the clivert show I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff like being an internet famous referee

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What?

Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is. coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart

the chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried

about Polic. I'm not worried about Balagan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back.

The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team.

And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us.

Listen to Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcast, wherever you get your podcast. This is The Herd, wherever you may be and however, you may be listening. We're live in L.A. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, Joy. Taylor is joining me. We have just started a third the way through the show. We're barely even trying.

Now we... Speak for yourself. Yeah. Now I'm going to really go all in. I just poured myself a fresh cup of coffee. I'm ready to go now. No Red Bull today. No Red Bull today.

Don't need Red Bull. Slept very well last night. Just me and the cats. Everybody's gone. Everybody. I've been in the house by myself for four days by myself. Three more. It's a long time.

It's a long time for me. Yeah. All right. So we thought we, you know, we're still waiting for Kauai Leonard. And then Boogie Cousins is the second best player available, maybe Danny Green third, but most of it is kind of sorted out. So I thought we would play a game on where are teams trending. How should you feel about your team today headed to next year? The game is called Up, Up, Down, and Even. Now that the Dust is settling an NBA free agency, Colin is going to tell us, which teams are trending up, down, or just staying even. It's a segment called Up, Down, or Even.

Wow, Cowherd. How long did it take you to come up with that? About 45 seconds this morning at the meeting. Up, down and even. You give me the team, Goulet. The Jazz. Big Up. I actually thought they did better than any single team.

Listen, I watch a lot of jazz games because I go to Utah a lot and ski, and I turn their games on. They needed a point guard who could score. They added Mike Conley. they needed outside shooting. They got Bojan Bogdanovich, and they lost Derek favors, but they got Ed Davis, you know, much cheaper, who's a great rebounder and a tremendous locker room guy. I don't know if they're good enough to win a championship, but you give me a team now with Mike Conley,

Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingalls, Bogdanovich, Ed Davis, and Rudy Gobert. That is six legitimate NBA players. I also think Quinn Snyder is a tremendous coach. They did really well. I don't think any team upgraded more than Utah. That feels like a 55-win team. And by the way, Conley, Bogdanovich, and Ed Davis are great culture guys. You want them in your locker room.

They're spectacularly cool guys. The Milwaukee Bucks up down or even. I would go slight down, although I still think they're a top six team in the NBA. Listen, they lost Malcolm Brogden, and they replaced him with Wesley Matthews. Brogden's better than Matthews. Matthews had a torn Achilles. He's never been the same player. They also lost Merytich over to Europe, a big who could shoot.

So listen, this team's about Janus and Chris Milton. But they had a lot of little ancillary parts that were very important. And Merytich and Malcolm Brogden were both important parts. And they're both shooters and they're both gone. And in 2019 in the NBA, I don't think that's a great thing. So a slight, slight downgrade. The Los Angeles Lakers. I think Anthony Davis makes them better.

And I thought they did a good job to keep Kyle Kuzma, of all their young players, the best leader, the best defender, the most mature, and he's never hurt. LeBron A.D. Kyle Kuzma, they're going to probably add a J.R. Smith and Andre Aguadola. I'm not even counting Kauai Leonard yet. There's no question. They have two of the top six players in the NBA. Lakers are a trend up, potentially a spectacular trend up in the next 48 hours. How about the always disappointing Dallas Mavericks? I thought they trended up. I've never understood why this team isn't more attractive. No state tax. Middle of the country.

Decent winter weather. A very well-heeled owner who supports the players. Nice arena, nice fans, great sports city. They added Seth Curry. Seth Curry's a real player. Lakers wanted Seth Curry. He's not Steph, but he can shoot. And Christop's Porzingis, when he is healthy,

is a spectacular 7-4 slasher. and Luca Donzich may have been the surprise in the NBA last year. So I think things are really, really looking up for Dallas. It makes me happy. I think, to show you how deep the West is, I'm not sure they're a playoff team, but my gut feeling, if Porzingis is healthy for the season, it's going to be hard to keep them out of the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors.

Well, they lie down. I don't think there's any question. You can't lose KD and your best bench player, Andre Iguidala. I think they did a very good job of a life preserver with DeAngelo Russell who will get them to the trading deadline until Clay returns. I also think that it did a very good job to get a discount deal on Kvon Looney. So you're going to have by April by the playoffs, Looney, Drayman, Clay, Steph, and arguably one of the top two coaches, three coaches in the NBA. They also have one of the best GMs who's a deal maker. So I think the Warriors are not nearly as big a dip down.

By the way, the team they'll bring to the court next year by the end of the year is the same team, minus Andre Aguadol that swept Portland. So I don't believe it's the end of the earth. The New Orleans Pelicans. You know, I've never seen a team do that much and that short of time. David Griffin is, I said this yesterday. He's a politician who gets elected into the office. And three weeks in, he's passed like six bills.

Zion, Drew Holiday, Lonzo, Brandon Ingram, Derek Favors. And I just think they did a great job. And they also drafted. My scout said Jackson Hayes was the sleeper in the draft, and they got him too. I just think they've done a tremendous job. It literally three months ago, I'm like, they're owned by an NFL owner, nobody cares. Now, I live across the country, and I care. Plus, they added JJ Reddick.

I don't know if they're a playoff team in the West because they're still really young, but they're a fascinating club. Speaking of Reddick, his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers. I will go even. Okay, they lost shooters. Jimmy Butler and J.J. Reddick are good shooters. Last couple of years, they've given up a lot of shooters. Dario Sarge. They gave up.

They've given up way too many shooters. But maturity matters in this league. Chemistry matters. Jimmy Butler, not the most mature player. Al Horford, maybe the league's most mature player. They'll be one of the best defensive teams. I think they did their locker room of favor. I think at the trading deadline, they're one of those teams.

I wouldn't be shocked if they had a little cash. They'd go after Danny Green. They need shooters. And I think they'll know that by the trading deadline. But I'll say even. They got bigger and better defensively and more mature, but they lost some outside threes. The Houston Rockets.

I'm going to go down. I don't like the vibe I get. It's not that they didn't, you know, they kept Gerald Green. they kept Austin Rivers, but I got an owner who's not in love with the coach. I got a GM feeling pressure from the owner on the coach. The coach has a brand new staff because the owner wanted him out. I've got Chris Paul's knee, which is not getting better with age. And I've seen sort of a pattern here.

Ball-centric James Hardin looks exhausted by May. So it's a slight downgrade. I still think they're a player in the West, but there's younger teams, more dynamic teams like Utah, that I think could unseat them. the Brooklyn Nets up downer even. They're up. DeAndre Jordan does feel like just an older version of Jared Allen.

That I don't really get. I guess he's a buddy of Kyrie and KD. Kyrie's absolutely better than DiAngelo Russell. They're a better version. They're way more interesting than they were last year, way more interesting. And I do think Kyrie generally when he comes to a team's on his best behavior. He was fine in Boston for a couple hours. so I think for a year they'll be more interesting,

but I don't agree with Vegas. I mean, they're way more of a favorite than I would make them. How about the Boston Celtics? Downgrade. Ennis Canner and Kimball Walker are a nice kick save, but you lost Kyrie, you lost Al Horford, and you lost... Rosier.

Terry Rosier. That's a lot of buckets. That's a lot of buckets. Those are a lot of guys that can make shots. And so I think they did a terrific. job to save what could have been an utter disaster. And as Canterax ends up being a really nice get, but they're not a championship team. They are not a championship team. They don't have the size. And I don't think they have, you know, I will say this, Jason Tatum's interesting because

I love Jason Tatum. I thought last year he plateaued. I think he will work better with Kemba and we'll see a better Jason Tatum. So the downgrade is not horrific. And finally, the Portland Trailblazers. I would say they're actually an even. Now, Hassan Whiteside is better than Myers-Lennard. No question.

Little immaturity issue last year of a contract, hopefully he behaves. But they did lose Seth Curry. Now, 10 years ago, losing Seth Curry wouldn't have mattered. In the three-ball era, Seth Curry's a real guy. They also lost Aminu, who everybody told me as I watched him this year, how great he was. So they lost a couple of guys, a couple of good locker room guys, and they gained a little bit of a headcase in Hassan Whiteside. Damien Liller runs the locker room, so it'll be fine. Their culture can withstand that.

I don't think they're significantly better, but I still think they have a great GM, a great coach, and a great star, so I love their culture. I think people in Portland think, oh, White Sides the answer. There's a reason Pat Riley parted with him. He's a little difficult. Hopefully he's on his best behavior. But Seth Curry is one of those guys that nobody talks about. But when I watch Portland, what did I say all year in the playoffs?

They got a bunch of dudes that can get buckets. And Curry was one of those guys that could get buckets. And Amino could get a bucket, and they're both gone. So there you go. Up, down and even. Tremendous production values here at the herd. Some of the best work we've ever done. We're very clever here.

We spent hours on this stuff. Jason Whitlock said something yesterday. Now, he doesn't love LeBron James getting Kauai Leonard. Here's what Whitlock said yesterday. He thinks it's bad news for LeBron. James and his legacy. Remember, there's a lot of questions about LeBron. Here it is. I just don't know if this will be a good look for LeBron James. If he adds Kauai to himself and Anthony Davis, I think that cheapens his legacy to some degree. I know some people will

celebrate what a great recruiter and he restored the Lakers, but I'm not sure if this is the best thing for LeBron's legacy landing Kwai Lutter. I disagree on that. First of all, Michael Jordan couldn't win with a second team. LeBron would win a title with a third. I think we'd forget about that. The other thing is, what is Magic Johnson's sort of legacy? Greatest Laker, greatest teammate.

And Michael Jordan, greatest player, killer, and Shaq, dominating physically and all sorts of laughs and fun, big personality. You can't, those are impenetrable legacies. A video could come out, Shaq being a jerk tomorrow. He's still Shaq. We give him a pass. Michael Jordan, quit twice, punch the teammate, petty Hall of Fame speech.

Still the goat. We still love him. We still buy his shoes. LeBron's legacy is impenetrable. And his brand is mobility. What does he do with his TV shows and movies? Bring stars to sit in a room together. What does he do with basketball?

he brings stars to Miami and Cleveland and Los Angeles together. This is his brand. His brand is not an ISO act. It's not Jimmy Butler. I want to be the man. That's not his brand. LeBron's versatility and mobility. And so I actually think this place right into his brand.

And I also think when you're as big. I mean, think about Tiger Woods how popular he was and now how unpopular he was. And then we all sat in the couch and cried as he won the Masters. We generally look back at greatness with great. fondness and we just forget what a pain in the butt you were. Brett Farrv walks into any room in America. Everybody loves Brett Farr. But man, he threw a lot of bad picks and big games. A lot of them. And you screamed at him and you yelled at him. But now you see him do those Ford commercials and those Gene commercials. You just love you some Brett Fav. That's just the way it is. And I think

LeBron's legacy is cemented and impenetrable. And I really think this plays to his brand. He's, let's get a bunch of stars to be in my movie, to be on my TV show, to be on my team. This plays right into that, not out of it. We played with three Hall of Famers in Miami, and Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosch, and then he had Ray Allen, play with two great players in Cleveland,

Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. This is not only his brand, this is also the league now. The only reason why people don't want Kauai to go to the Lakers is not because it's going to cheapen LeBron getting another ring, because this is already who LeBron is. It's just going to be a continuation

of what we've been dealing with for the past couple years in the Lakers. I mean, in the Warriors, and people don't want to see that anymore. They think they don't. Yeah, Howard Beck, Jim Jackson, Rick Buecker all stopping by today. That is coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed the game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. On Timbo, every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer

to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth. 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 Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up

to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue of 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic.

I'm not worried about Balligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge support.

prize if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen to Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogan and Tabramos on the IHeart radio app, Apple podcast, wherever you get your podcast. Today on Fox, the U.S. faces red hot England in an epic semifinal clash at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Coverage begins today at 2 p.m. Eastern on Fox or watch it live on the Fox Sports app. Can't wait for that today. USA. They thought they had a goalie issue. They haven't. I think they've surrendered one goal. They've been completely dominant. Megan Rapino has been absolutely unbelievable. I mean, like messy Ronaldo dominant at a World Cup, just unbelievable. Howard Beck has been covering the NBA for

over 20 years. During the Lakers 3 Pete, he covered it for the LA Daily News. Now a senior NBA writer for Bleacher Report via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Okay, let's start. You've got the story inside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the plot to team up in Brooklyn. So let's start with this. How long, Howard, when you're writing your story and doing your homework, how long was this in the works? Well, it's put it this way. The conversation between them about playing together started last summer, started last off season. Now, how concrete it was at that point, Colin, I don't have that level of detail. I did not have a spy actually in the room. But what I was told was I've reported what I wrote is that the conversation began before the season.

They both knew they were going to be free agents this summer. They knew that they have this budding friendship that goes back a couple of years. They liked the idea of playing together, and they were just trying to figure out where that might be. And at the time that this conversation first began, I'm told, Boston was still among the possible destinations because things hadn't gone south there yet for Kyrie Irving. And so, no, they don't have cap room. But, you know, as we've seen with Jimmy Butler in Miami, you can always find a way to get a guy somewhere if the motive is there on both sides. And so they talked about Boston.

They talked about New York. They talked about Brooklyn. And then as the season starts to unfold, it became much clearer to them where they thought they were best off. Why leave Golden State? Were there problems we didn't hear about? No, I don't think there are any problems we didn't hear about Colin. And I want to also dismiss right off the top any sense that people think it's about the Achilles and how that was dealt with. If you go back and look at just all the things that have been written about Durant and the Warriors for the last basically six months, maybe longer, the Warriors had always felt or feared that he was going to leave them after this season. In fact, as Zach Lois reported, the Warriors feared that he might even go last summer.

So there was always a sense that the clock was ticking, that Durant was eventually going to move on, that for all of the success that the Warriors had, he felt there was something else to pursue elsewhere. You know, listen, it didn't work with flashy fun, ball-centric point guard Westbrook. Could I argue that Kyrie Irving's a flashy, fun, ball-centric point guard, that he's divorcing one relationship and entering the same relationship dynamic? Yes, I mean, fair in the abstract, and that certainly was a huge part of why Kevin Durant left OKC a few years ago. This is a little different. Durant and Kyrie are friends first, and listen, that can cut both ways to be friends and teammates.

But I think that that for them is a foundation where there's a trust, And they're also going into this at a different time. Kevin Durant now has two championships and two finals MVPs to his credit. Kyrie Irving has a championship to his credit from Cleveland. And so as these two get together, they're not under the same scrutiny, the same pressure. They can, I think, feel their way through this relationship as both friends and teammates in a way that maybe you don't earlier in your career where the pressure to perform individually is higher, where the push and pull is a little bit different.

This is a more mature Kevin Durant, and this is a, you would hope, more much more mature now, Kyrie Irving, who, you know, maybe is humbled a little bit by having forced his way to Boston, having it not work out and is now having to start over again just two years later. Why the Nets over the NICs? I mean, the NICs is the big brand, right? That's like choosing Mets over the Yankees, right? Like, why the Nets? It's an interesting question, Colin. And, you know, I wrote about this a couple months ago when I was writing about just both L.A. and both New York teams all being in free agency at the same time. And I surveyed a bunch of people around the league. And the conclusion from people around the league was that the clippers and nets, these stepchildren in their markets, were actually the better positioned to get the stars.

And now we have seen at least in one case that's the case or held true. And it's really, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out. You look at what the Nets did last year, making the sixth seed, overachieving by six, seven, eight, ten games over where they were expected to finally fall, making the playoffs when no one expected, a promising young core, a great foundation, really. smart front office led by Sean Marks, a great young coach in Kenny Atkinson, and then you look at the Knicks who have really none of that. The foundation isn't there. They had a 17-win season, tying their franchise worst. There really just was nothing alluring about the Knicks other than the brand name and the Garden. And at this point in their careers, Katie and Kyrie, if they're going to go somewhere together, presumably to contend, the Nets provided the obvious pathway sooner

than the Knicks ever could. When you live in Los Angeles, and you lived here for a while and covered the Lakers during their three-peat, so you know the dynamics of the city. USC football and Laker basketball have always been very political. Who gets credit? The AD, the football coach at USC, the president. Same thing with Pat Riley, Jerry West, Phil Jackson, who takes credit? Cowboys, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry, who takes credit?

My theory has always been the bigger the brand, the more the credit matters. When you look at Magic Johnson, clearly leaking a phone call to Kauai Leonard, that feels like Magic's trying to usurp kind of Rob Polinka. What do you make of that story getting out that Magic, not part of the team, is now involved in the recruitment of Kauai Leonard? Oh, boy. I mean, listen, let's start with the fact that even if Magic had never been team president, he would have probably been involved with this in some fashion. He's friends with Jeannie Bus. He's, you know, maintains close ties to the franchise. And he's a Laker icon.

And of course, you're going to bring to bear all of your best assets when you're trying to recruit the best free agents. So, of course, you'd want magic involved. But that's in an alternate universe where he never was team president and didn't resign on national TV before telling Jeannie and didn't throw Rob Polink under the bus multiple times and then come back to do it more. So it's weird. I don't think this is necessarily about credit so much as it is. Jeannie Buss probably said, hey, Magic, look, I could still use you. We could still use that influence and that magnetism that you have. And Magic is always going to be willing to help the Lakers, despite what happened between him and Rob Polinka.

So, you know, I don't think we should be shocked by it. We'll see if it works or not. I tend to think that the sales pitches aren't as important as the overall framework, right? The Knicks could have put on the best presentation in history. They were still going to lose Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to the Nets. And in this case, the Lakers, the clippers, the Raptors, they all have a strong case to make. And Kauai Leonard and his group, I think, can read what the best situation is without necessarily needing anybody to sell them on it. By the way, if I said this morning, Kauai, where's he go?

What would be your gut feeling? I don't have a gut feeling on it. I think that while we're all trying to put ourselves in Kauai's head and I'm not about to try to, to me, the most logical path is to stay put. But you've got a phenomenal franchise in the Raptors. You just won a championship. Why wouldn't you want to stay, see it through, defend that title? Yes, they're getting old in a couple of spots, but they've got an incredible front office with Masayu Jiri.

They'll figure out a way to keep improving on the fly. That to me is the most logical choice. But if you're going to leave, if the allure of going home to Southern California is that strong, I think it's clippers over the Lakers only because going to the Lakers and being essentially the third star in after LeBron. and Anthony Davis. It'd be a great super team, and they would be the instant favorites for the foreseeable future. But Kauai Leonard just led the Raptors to the championship as the far and away best player. He led the Spurs to the championship as clearly their best player. Why is he going to

go now at this stage of his career when he might actually be the best player in the NBA at this moment and put himself behind LeBron, James, and Anthony Davis. It doesn't make sense to me. Senior NBA writer Bleacher Report, Howard Beck. Howard, great stuff. Good talking to you. Check out his article on Kyrie and Kevin Durant. Thanks, man. Thanks, Colin. Yeah, I mean, there will be some sort of pity party for whoever doesn't land Kauai Leonard,

but I'll talk about this in a couple of minutes. I think they'll all be playoff teams, regardless if they get him or don't get him. Joy with the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Heard Line News. There were some rumors in recent weeks that Kyrie could reunite with LeBron

and join the Lakers, but now it's looking like that never was really even a possibility. according to Joe Varden of the Athletic. We thought that was a dumb rumor, right? I mean, I think it was a possibility in that, you know, he is a big time free agent. He is Kyrie Irving. He's played with LeBron before,

and the Lakers needed a third star. So I don't think it was something that the Lakers weren't actually considering. But Kauai Leonard is the better option there, and you've got to go all in on somebody. So Kyrie Irving and LeBron James have spoken since the end of their respective seasons, according to the athletic, but the conversation while cordial and casual sources said never elevated the level of LeBron trying to convince Kyrie to rejoin him on the Lakers because of one unmistakable truth.

Irving was always headed to Brooklyn. Now, I don't know if that's entirely true because maybe in the past couple weeks that became true, but I do believe that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were going to the Knicks before the injury happened, and then it shifted to him always going to Brooklyn. So within the last couple weeks, this would have been valid. but it worked out for everyone. The nets are a better spot for Carrey Irving. It wouldn't have been a good look for Carverie Irving on top of everything else to get back with LeBron and the Lakers.

Like the Lakers are a side part of it, just coming back with LeBron. The whole reason that you left and went to Boston is because you wanted to be the guy. And going back, like, teaming up with Durant makes sense. That's not, it's not that it's a good move. It's just you wanted to get away from LeBron. And now coming back to him just kind of. feels like you're admitting that you're not capable of doing it without him. It's just not a good fit.

And, I mean, regardless of whether the land Kauai or not, I don't know that Kyrie was the piece that was going to fix that situation. And sticking with Kyrie and the new look nets, much has been made about Kyrie's personality and his ability to get along with teammates. So now we'll have to wonder how he's going to gel with KD. Well, KD's former teammate, Kendrick Perkins, totally undefeated. It's not a problem. I have no doubt they will coexist.

Kyrie needs to be able to play freely and just be himself and let Katie be the leader and the playmaker. I think Kyrie will fall in line. After he left Cleveland, he called Ron to apologize to him. He realized he's not that dude and he needs to play alongside a guy like KD. KD will do great. Finally, he got his own team. Good luck, but I don't think it's his own.

It feels like Kiree's team to me. He doesn't feel like Karee's team. He's the Jersey kid. Isn't he the guy that selected Brooklyn first? But Katie is so much larger than Kari. Well, he's a better player by far. But it just his presence. his star quality, his reputation, championships, like status, everything is big.

Like, he will loom over the team while he's injured. Like, the conversation is still going to be all year. What's going to happen with Katie when he comes back? What if he comes back 75, 80 percent? Then he will be a great player in the NBA as opposed to the greatest player in the NBA. I don't have, I'm not concerned about how Katie is going to come back and play. I think it's going to be a little bit. bit of an adjustment period for sure. It's a very hard

injury to come back from. It might be some bumps and bruises along the way, but I think they're going to win a championship. Do you? I don't. No. Vegas does too, by the way. Vegas has them as a favorite. I mean, I think in three years. They're obviously not going to win it this year.

I don't think it'll be the year that KD comes back. I think in three years they won a championship. If Kauai doesn't go to the Lakers, I was told that next year, Vegas would have them as the favorite when KD's back. I think it's fair. Finally, because what's going happen is with KD is exactly what happened with Kauai. He's going to be away and everyone's going to forget how great he is and start doubting if he's able to come back from that injury. It's going to be the

same conversation that happened with Kauai and he's going to come back and be great. Finally, the DeAngelo Russell trade hard-capped the Warriors, meaning their salary can't exceed 138.9 million next season. That limited them to a below market offer for unrestricted free agent Kavon Looney, around $5 million as a first year starting point. So considering what some other centers got Thomas Bryan at three years, $35 million, Ed Davis and Ennis Canter, two-year, $10 million. A lot of the Warriors were concerned that Lennie would be too far out of their price range. This is a steal. They agreed on a three-year, $15 million contract yesterday afternoon.

Wow. So one team source told The Athletic a little shocked, so huge for us. He was a very important part. A priority for them to get back. It's huge for them that he was able, he chose to take a discount because this is not a, this is not a max guy taking a discount. So this is a big deal. Yeah. He plays real defense.

He's a legit big. He runs the floor. By the way, Looney, Clay, Steph, and Dremon swept Portland. He's also 23 years old. Yeah. I mean, it's, I can't believe the number. Like, you could argue he's worth double that. I think they got a, I think this is a huge deal for them.

If they can move DeAngelo at the deadline, when Clay's healthy, they're going to get a piece for, it's a smart front office. They're not going to get hosed. Yeah, I think everyone's kind of freaking out about the words. I probably needs to pump the brakes a little bit. Obviously, KD is a massive loss, and you feel that way mostly also because Clay Thompson is injured. By the way, Clay Thompson doesn't get injured in the final. That's going game seven.

Don't kid yourself without Kevin Durant. Yeah. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. By the way, there's three teams in on the Kauai Hunt. Toronto, Clippers, Lakers.

No pity party for the team that doesn't land him. Let's talk Toronto first. they're still a playoff team. Have you looked at the bottom of the east? It's atrocious. The bottom of the east is horrible. The Knicks, the Wizards, Cleveland, Charlotte. By the way, Atlanta's talented, but a bunch of kids,

they're not going to be very good next year. There are five teams that are not playoff teams. So, you know, the best five teams in the East without Kauai are Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Indiana, Boston, and Toronto. This is Pascal Seacom's getting better constantly. they're well coach, good GM. They'll add somebody. Danny Green will come back probably.

Toronto's still a playoff team. Let's talk about the clippers if they don't get Kauai. They won 48 games last year. They're young and deep. Three of their starters are under 21 years old. They're very deep. They got a great culture, smart front office, good owner, and Doc Rivers. They'll also probably find a way to add a piece somewhere along the line if Kauai

doesn't land there. Let's talk about the Lakers. All right. Kauai doesn't go. Ron A.D. Kuzma, Rondo, probably Javelle McGee and Iggy, and a J.R. Smith. That's a playoff team. Okay, so I don't want to hear the pity party. The sky is falling. All these teams. And by the way, the Raptors, the reason they're okay if Kauai doesn't sign, they've drafted well. The Clippers, the reason they're okay if Kaua doesn't sign, they've drafted well.

The Lakers drafted well enough Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball to trade to get Anthony Davis. So the Knicks problem is they don't land a star, but they haven't drafted well enough. You know, Charles Barkley talked about that yesterday on our show. If you don't draft well, you are done if you don't land the free agents. That's why nobody wants to go there. That would be my preference. No, I mean, the Clippers will be fine. I mean, obviously better with Kauai, but they've drafted well.

They've scouted well. The Raptors have scouted well. And the Lakers scouted well enough to get Anthony Davis. The next problem is they just don't scout well. They haven't drafted well. Jim Jackson's around the corner, former NBA, or for a decade and a half, his thoughts on all the mayhem and where Kauai Leonard should go. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories. behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games,

from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardaway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer 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? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

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

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

Quarterback on office blue with 42. A rep. want you to weigh better. What? Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Bo. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Polisic.

I'm not worried about Balagan, I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals

or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. All right, welcome back. Away Luggage. Joy's got a way luggage.

I have a way luggage. Go to AwayTravel.com slash Colin Promote Code C-O-L-I-N. That stuff is really good. You don't have to check it in. You can put it on the overhead. Here's a guy who's had people carry his luggage his whole life, Jim Jackson. I moved a lot, too. No kidding.

You have moved a lot. I needed that luggage right there. I'm telling you. Okay, so I mean, I want you to think as a former player, You can get more money in Toronto, but it is Canada. Clippers got a bunch of young guys, but not another star. Well, hell, I can go to the Lakers. They're nights.

I can just take the night off and watch LeBron and AD play. Where would you go? The challenge is it's, you know, Kauai has won in San Antonio. It's probably we didn't know what kind of player he was going to be, but he was surrounded by greatness with Tony Parker, Genobley. Of course, Duncan. Gets to Toronto, you're never going to win in Canada. You don't know what's going on.

really want to be here and he's one okay now is this whole thing about okay where do you want to go next and what kawai the beauty about kawai is that he doesn't talk so we don't have a clue on what's going on me personally you know i like to be comfortable in a place that i know people okay that i feel that i can continue to do what i love to do in a way that makes sense now what kawai is it that he wants to get back to the west coast probably i don't know i think the perfect fit is still in Toronto because of what they've been able to do, how he's been able to win. He owns a country, basically. Now, it may not be as many people as it is in California, but you've got a country behind you. So from a legacy perspective, I don't know, but I always tried to get into

the mindset of a player, but it's extremely tough because you don't know the thought process and kind of what drives and motivates them. Yeah, a lot of people have said he'll do a one plus one. Like he'll come back for a year and then a player option. So then he can kind of test the waters. Well, here's the thing too, but I think a player, I can't speak from, knows what they want to do. Okay? Now, probably with the Lakers, they wanted to dig a little bit deeper to understand the dynamics of the front office because that still was in question with Jeannie and everybody. Yeah, Cole, I wanted to know about that. He wanted to know. So you've got to give him that credit. But I still think he understands where he wants to be. The question is, if you're with the Clippers, you don't have that second guy.

What does that mean? Now, the low management is an issue because you can't go to L. And that in the West. You can't do it. Jimmy, you take 20 games off. You're not making the playoffs. Well, here's the thing. You can probably, you have more leeway to do it with the Lakers than you do with the Clippers. Or the Raptors. Or the Raptors. You don't have it. But even with the Raptors, you have something built in where in the East, I think with the teams that kind of step back a little bit.

You can navigate through that. Maybe you don't get home court, but you're in the playoffs and now you've got a chance. With the Clippers is no way that you can take off 20 games. Absolutely. But I think you can with the Lakers. I was thinking about this. So, Kauai Leonard talks to Magic, and he asks him one question. We had two, but the first one was,

did you try to get me in San Antonio? Kawhi Leonard was overlooked by PAC 12 schools. And it bothered him. Then he goes to San Antonio, and he didn't choose Toronto. He was traded there. This is his first recruiting trip. This may be one of these that's as simple as

who shows him the most love. And it's my turn to make a decision, okay? I remember when Houston waived me, and where they tried to trade me to New Orleans, okay? And at that point, I was just like, you know what? I'm doing what I want to do. I don't care what it costs. I'm not going somewhere somebody's sending me.

I want to make a choice of what's going to happen for the rest of my career. Actually took a hit from a penalty perspective pay-wise, but I ended up in Phoenix. And I was able to get to the playoffs and have a great run. But that was the moment I took control of my career. And I didn't worry about what else was going on. And to me, that gave me the free. to finally take control, which I didn't have, you know, since I got drafted. So Kauai is in that situation a great point.

Well, now I got an opportunity where, okay, I didn't really choose to go to San Antonio. Didn't choose to go to Toronto. I had really no choice to go to San Diego State because a lot of other schools didn't want me. Yeah, Paxwell. But now I have an opportunity to say this is where I want to be for the remained or the next four or five years of my career. Yeah, it is interesting about the east, the bottom of the east is so bad. He can take 22 games off, which, by the way, that's like the thing he likes to do, right? Toronto's still a playoff team.

I'd argue without Kauai, they're still a playoff team. In the East, yes. Lakers without Kauai are probably still a playoff team. The West, Utah's better, Denver will be better, Portland's going to be good. And by the way, do you go, if you're Kauai and go to the Clippers, the culture there is one for all, all for one. Yeah. You're taking off 15 games? I mean, they would allow it.

They would allow it. But it's more ramifications for that, too. And you have to keep in mind, those teams you talked about were already good teams that improved. Denver, from the perspective, they got a year older. Thank you. And that was the big thing versus Portland was their youth and how to win. Portland knew that they needed to have some size inside, some other kind of defenders

on the perimeter and guys that get knocked down shots. So those in Utah, heck of a job of what they've done out there. Utah and Denver will absolutely be better next year. No question. So the margin for error in the room, like even with the Lakers, if you get those three together, again, once you get into playoffs and you're healthy, you've got to give them the edge, okay? But even in the east and you're talking about this, if you miss those games as a key guy, especially with the clippers, it's hard to recover when you're in the sixth, sixth eighth seed, and you've got to play seven, eighth seed. Back to back. If you're a fifth, sixth seed, it's back-to-back road series. That's what I'm saying.

That's rough. That's rough. Jim Jackson joining us. Vegas loves KD to the Nets. Joy loves KD to the Nets. I think it's Kevin Durant in one year after the injury coming back not as good but really good

and playing with a ball-centric guard who can be tough. I don't see it as just this I don't even think of Kauai goes to the Lakers. I think their bench is weak. I don't think winning as easy as we think. KD to the Nets, Kyrie to the Nets, Ray Jordan of the Nets. Is it a title team?

Contention, depending on how those young guys kind of filter out and grow. But winning is never easy when you get personalities that come together that never play. Look at LeBron and what happened in Miami. Who's a guy that you thought you'd play well with and didn't? Tracy McGrady. I do. Two different personalities, though. You know, because I off-shoot for me was I can defend, I can score, but I can set things up for him. But it just didn't work out.

You know, and to me, here's the thing about. about KD. One, I think the injury itself with him because he's not overly explosive in the way he plays, doesn't affect him as much as it would be as a player that was just lights out jumping out to gym. Because his game can be manufactured to pull up jump shots, catch and shoot, in transition, doing little things. So even if he's not the KD that we saw before the injury, that 80% is still better than 90% of the league. So I think that'll be fine. The question is, Is it a good move for KD? And I always say this, Colin,

personally, what do you want? Does that make you happy? If that makes you happy, then it's a good move for you. Now, you've got to deal with the ramifications or whatever happens, okay? He went to Golden State. It's been questions about his legacy, and did you really deserve to win it? Because that's something he has to deal with.

But it gave him something, two finals MVPs and two championships. Semented his legacy. So what do you? What matters to you? Always quick. Like, Colin, for you, you were at your other employer. Yeah. Great tenure there.

Yeah. You had an opportunity to come in. I'm sure people were saying, now, you're crazy for going over there. While you got this made. But now you made, it was something inside of you that said, you know what, I need something different. I just wanted to work with Joy Taylor eventually. Oh, that's what it was? I don't blame you.

I got you. But you know what I'm saying? No, no. I mean, we all, we're all driven by different stuff. I will say this about KD. It's going to be a top 20 player. You can't take any of that stuff away from him. Jim Jackson, great having you. Hour 3 is coming up in the herd.

One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. By the way, Joy Taylor's going to have breaking news in about 10 minutes. Go further than ever. Discover it Miles card. They'll match your first miles. 35,000 becomes 70 in the first year. Limitations apply. Discover.com slash travel. Discover match for new card members only. Rick Buecker joining us. senior writer bleacher report covered this league since the early 90s. Okay, by the way, Warriors retiring Kevin Durant's number.

What do you make on that? Don't sue us? Don't sue us. Right, right? At the very least, it is trying to wrestle the narrative because I've never seen a team in all the time that I've covered the league. And if I go back and even prior to that, when I think historically, I've never seen a championship team that was looked at as the model of the entire league fall as precipitously as this one has.

The amount of bad publicity that they have received over the last three, four weeks in how they've handled KD's injury, in KD leaving, in Andre Iguodala throwing their medical staff under the bus. All of it is... I've never seen it this dramatic. Steve Kerr is run to the internet, love players on Twitter. You think they'd protect him. Yeah, well, and you would hope that they wouldn't. Everything just seems like a massive overreaction.

This KD thing being the exact thing. Why do you have to announce now that you're going to retire his number after, what, three years? He just went out the door. He just left you. This seems so dramatically like, no, no, no. Everything's okay. Our relationship with KD is okay. Andre Iguidal has done more for this franchise. You could argue than KD has.

There's no whisper of retiring his number. Let's just go ahead and retire Steph Clay and Dremont's numbers too. I mean, it seems like a massive overreaction to try to create a sense of all is good when clearly all is not. Yeah, you don't like the D'Angelo Russell move. I do not. Look, it's not, people are taking this like I don't like DeAngelo Russell. I actually love the fact that he's restored his image and showed that he can't play somewhat.

I'm not discounting that. And I think he could be serviceable in a lot of places. He had a good year last year. He just doesn't fit the Warriors whatsoever. As a ball dominant guy who doesn't play the way they play with a read-and-react offense, and they desperately need defense, he's shown mild interest in that end of the floor. It's just it doesn't fit. for what they are. If it's pure asset

and they're convinced they have suitors out there, okay, maybe. But as far as him making them significantly better right now, I think they've got a lot of things to work out. Listen, you know, when you have all these stars, guys, try to find that video of Bob Myers

when he stuck his foot in his mouth about two years ago. Try to find that and I'll bring it up in a second. You know, listen, everybody wants stars. The downside to having stars in the NBA, specifically more than any sport. It's It's the only sport in America that is star-driven. There's stars in football, baseball, but it's really star-driven.

You've got to take care of them. They're gassed up. AAU, one year of college, they fire coaches, not players. So one of the things, one of criticism I heard of Steve Kerr about six months ago from somebody who's in the NBA. He said, you know, Kerr has become like Mr. Pro Player to a fault, watch his Twitter. They're like, we don't doubt Steve Kerr as pro player. He was a player. He's a good dude.

But somebody questioned, now I'm not saying I believe this, but they question Kerr's authenticity, very pro player. And so the downside to having stars is you got to be careful what you say always. This little piece of tape would not be a big deal for the average NBA team. But it's uncomfortable for me to watch, roll this tape. And then I heard you tell Kevin Durramp. he can have whatever contract he wants next year. Yeah, that was just for the media.

He can't have anything like that at all. Mid-level. Yeah, mid-level, behind closed doors. Because I think last year he told Steph he could have any contract he wants too. Well, yeah, that was different. He's been here from the way before days. He's earned it. He er-ended the warrior's cohesion right there.

And by the way, again, on almost every team in the league, it would just be a joke and you'd move on to the float. in the parade. But I watch that and I'm like, hey, that's not great. No. If you're watching Kevin Durant's facial expression. I didn't like it. No, that was, without question, that was awkward. And it's one thing to have an awkward moment when you're having conversation within the team or in a public. Oh, on a stage. I mean, and I love Bob Myers. So, so, so again, this feels like to me when you have these super, These are Hall of Fame guys.

Just like retiring Kevin Durant's jersey, it is a constant PR play. For sure. Well, and what happens is you can start to get glib and you can get a little too comfortable. And now you can start making jokes that don't land. And when they don't land in public with someone that you're not rock solid with. And with Kevin, that was always the case. He was always an interloper. And that never quite changed.

So then to joke with a guy on that level, it's rough, publicly. It's a mistake. It would be uncomfortable at a dinner with you and him publicly. Yes, yes. It's 10 times worse. That joke having dinner with him, he'd be like, dude, not cool. Ryan crossed.

Or you can, like, you can text him afterward. go, hey, look, you know, that probably was sorry about that, you know, that was probably out of line or whatever. This, this you can't take back. No. By the way, I trust my source. I'm told Toronto's meeting Kauai today. That, I suppose everything was expedited because originally he was, there was, he was willing to meet

with New York, and they were given the third as a date, and they thought that's way too late in the process. So now that he's got L.A., if he's got everything in LA out of the way. I'm told he does. I would think that meeting today and then being able to wrap this up before the 4th of July is the timeline now. Now, everybody is telling me Lakers have seized control of this. Now, maybe, you know, I'm not foot on the ground locker room guy like you. I'm told Toronto still has a very viable shot. I have been told the same thing.

This is what's interesting, and I'm sure you've been through this. I'm sure the viewers have been through this. When you are going to on-job interviews and you interview in a place and you walk out of it, everybody feels good. Yeah. That sounds good. Hey, thanks for the time. We'll get back to you, whatever.

And you can walk out of it thinking, hey you know what we got a shot and everybody's feeling good and then you go to the next one you go oh oh I didn't consider that this looks better than this and it's not necessarily that you lied to the previous place it's just you were presented with something new and different or you had something to measure by until he sits down with everybody I genuinely believe Kauai Leonard has has not made a decision yet and it's really hard and look we we do this who's in first who is in second and there may be some real legitimacy to that in who's in the position, but that

those positions are still flexible and movable. And I think that's the case here. I still, from everything that I've heard, I have to believe that Toronto has the opportunity to make a convincing case and still keep it. Remember, PAC 12 schools overlook

Kauai. He didn't have a choice. He was traded out of San Antonio. I can make the argument. This is the first time the big boys have shown him love. Could this just be, and I wouldn't blame him, whoever shows me the most love wins. The difficulty here is that we don't know what the motivation, the primary motivation for Kauai Leonard is. Now, we're all assuming that it's, well, he wants to win. Well, if he wants to win, he's staying in

Toronto. Does he want to go home? Well, then it's to L.A., and it's one of those two teams. Does he want to play with another superstar caliber player, well, then it's going home and it's going to the Lakers. So it just depends on which one is his priority and then how does everything else stack up? And that's what has made predicting what Kauai Leonard is going to do the most difficult thing because I've heard people say, Kauai is the kind of guy who says, oh, you want to play with me, cool. You don't want to play with me? Cool. I'm going to do what I'm going to do. And which would lead me to believe he's good with going to the Clippers or the Raptors. On the other hand, I've also been told, after winning a championship and being the lead dog

and carrying that weight, he's like, you know what, I wouldn't mind having somebody else who knows how to carry that weight on the championship level, right? In that case, there's really only one play, I mean, I guess you could make the argument that Kyle Lowry and those guys carried the weight with him. But true superstar, I can lean on somebody else. That means he's going to the Lakers. You know what's interesting is Joy had a story earlier today where LeBron did not sell Kyrie on the Lakers. That he knew he was interested. It was not a big sales pitch. Yeah. It's very funny. Rich Paul's been telling me all year. He's been, and I've been saying, Rich, give me a break on this. All year, Rich, and that's LeBron's guy, and Rich is, and we get along really well.

But I have been on him all year. I'm like, stop telling me LeBron doesn't have any sales pitch. And he has said all year, he has guaranteed me. He goes, LeBron's not doing that. He is not. And then I see Joy's story earlier and I'm like, is it possible that LeBron now moving to L.A.,

a lot of business, got a lot of heat for controlling the calves and making deals and like in Shabazz Napier in Miami? Is it possible that LeBron is really did? disengaged on even the Kauai stuff. LeBron has not recruited as much as people have made it out to be. Historically has not done it. Now, and this is what makes it difficult working with LeBron at times, because he has sort of a passive-aggressive approach.

He does. You have to guess at what he really wants. And if you don't deliver that, then you might be in trouble, and you might be at cross-purposes with him. but he's not going to tell you directly. And some of that people have suggested is because now he's on the hook for this is what you asked for. I mean, David Griffin went through it with Cleveland where he was like, I got this idea, I got this idea. And LeBron was like, oh, you can't do that?

And David Griffin goes and do it. It wasn't like, hey, can you do that? Or, hey, this is what I want. It was, oh, you can't do that. Well, ultimately, it's still a matter of it has to work out. What David Griffin's doing has to work out. And if it doesn't, LeBron can say, well, I never signed off on that. I never asked for that.

So it removes him from being directly responsible for whatever transpires, unless it goes south and then he's going to let you know, I'm not happy with this. It's a tough, it is a tough spot to placate LeBron without knowing exactly what it is that he wants. Well, what it does is what you said. It creates confusion. I've also said for years, Aaron Rogers is a little passive-aggressive, and what does it create?

Confusion. Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Mike McCarthy. Kobe Bryant never had passive-aggressive. He didn't like Smush Parker. He did like Derek Fisher. Michael Jordan punched a teammate.

When you're passive-aggressive, it creates confusion. Sure. The bronze created it. Aaron Rogers in Green Bay has created some of this. Is Aaron on my side? Does Aaron like me? Is Aaron mad at me?

It's a reality of that. sort of personality trait. Well, yes. And what it does, the troubling part is then there's no accountability. Like, I want a guy who says, this is what I want, and I go get it. And then if it doesn't work, they're willing to accept, okay, gave me what I wanted and it didn't work. That's on me. If you can get people to do things and try to please you, and then you can kind of sit back and say, well, I like that or I didn't like that based on how it turns out, not what you initially wanted, well then you're in the driver's seat. You're never culpable for when things go south. Rick Buecker. You're in town all week. I am here all week.

Well, there's a lot going on in this big city. There is. A lot going on here. Good fish in the city. Good fish. We just talked, we've been talking fish. Joy, I'm working with a couple of weirdos, she says. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So here is the breaking news. The U.S. Women's National Team obviously plays England today. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. Eastern on Fox, but they've released their starting lineup for the game,

and there's a surprising omission. Megan Rapino will not be in the starting lineup. Rapino has scored all four goals in the U.S.'s last two wins. She will begin the game on the bench. Kristen Press will start in her place. And Grant Wall of Sports Illustrated says he is not hearing any indication that Rapino is injured, so this looks like a tactical move with Ellis going for more speed and defensive cover. Now, obviously, there's going to be some conversation about whether she's been, she's not in the starting lineup because of the back and forth with Trump over the last week.

Why would that get her? I don't understand. That's just a... Well, because people are, you know, people want to assume that there's going to be some retaliation or, you know, punishment for that. She's the best player. Right. Well, Dan Wetzel of Yadou Sports tweeted that a U.S. soccer spokesman will only say that Rapino not starting is not a disciplinary decision. No other information presumably until Jill Ellis speaks after the game. So, I mean, she has scored all four of the U.S.'s' goals and knockout play. So this is a very big deal. So she's not warming up.

No, she didn't warm up. I'm just watching some of the stuff come in. She didn't warm up at all. and someone is saying that she was seen yesterday with tape on her leg. So it could be just an injury. Yeah, it could be an injury. Hopefully it's not, obviously, because she's been tremendous for the U.S.

It's just bad timing optically, obviously, with everything that happened with her and Trump. But as Stan Wessel tweeted, as spokesman said, that it is nothing to do with disciplinary action. So I guess we'll find out after the game. She is available to be subbed, but I guess, as Gle said, she's not warming up.

So we're all assuming it's an injury right now. But game starts at 3 o'clock on Fox, and I'm sure we'll find out more. If USA with Rapino wins, without it's a real, that feels low scoring than me. That feels like a lot of drama. That is a huge, huge loss. She is a dynamic playmaker. I mean, she is a tremendous force. So we were just speaking about it with Bucher.

Kevin Durant shook up the NBA landscape Sunday night, teaming up with Kyrie Irving and D'Andre Jordan with the Nets. There was a lot of drama with the war. including a very well-publicized argument with Draymond Green. And we played the video of Bob Myers making a joke about the contracts. Plunky. Well, according to Mark J. Spears of the undefeated, quote, when asked about all the negative things that transpired with Durant and the Warriors over the past year,

a close source to Durant said all that showed a lack of respect for one of the greatest players to put that uniform on and the fact that he took all that abuse and still put his career on the line to help them win. Abuse? Come on. Abuse is a strong word to use in this situation, but I will say you have to know your audience. And some people are not with the jokey jokes. Some people you can joke with.

Some people you know that the sarcasm and the jokes are wasted and often taken the wrong way. Kevin Durant seems like the kind of guy that you probably don't joke with unless you have that sort of cachet with him. Especially about something as sensitive as money and contracts and whose team. it is and what the hierarchy is and probably not on stage at the parade for the championship in front of the entire world. I'm not saying this is the reason why he left or did even play to role at all, but we're all trying to follow the breadcrumbs of why he would leave a warrior's dynasty and take a year of, I mean, basically not have a year of playing because of the injury and then

be in a new space with new teammates. But we got to, listen, these are grown ass men. man, okay. They can handle a team called owner, not a governor. They can handle a job. Like, I don't like this joke either. I think it's incredibly uncomfortable. But these are guys worth $200 million.

Colin, how much time have you spent around men? Yeah, a lot. A lot? Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, like you always say, I won't speak for men. I'll speak for women. Yeah.

People listen to what you say, and everything matters. And when you are the prize of the. the NBA when you are what everyone is going for and it's this free agency market where people are doing these incredible pitches and researching everything about you and setting up the special kind of smells you like when you walk in the room. Even the reporting now. Abuse. Oh, God.

Stop pandering to the NBA stars. Abuse. I mean, look at, normally I'm with you. Abuse. But you just got to know what you're doing in these situations. No, no, no, no question. The amount of. money that LeBron James

brought to the city of Cleveland. Yeah, I'm not doubting that. Just by making that decision. He is worth every extra thing, like, however extra you want to be, you want to line the M&M's up in a special way that aesthetically pleases him, do it. When Tom Brady and Josh yell at each other, nobody

thinks it's abuse on Tom Brady. And by the way, he has made that the most lucrative NFL franchise ever. I don't know that the NFL, if we can compare the situation, because it's such a star-driven league in the NBA. I know, but it's like, we're getting to a, point now where it's like, I mean, again, I think it's a really clunky thing. And I thought when

Draymond called him the B word, I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. There's just certain lines you can't cross. Right. I'm not worth a billion dollars yet to any company or city. But if I was, I'm a pretty humble person. I think after a while, I might be like, yeah, maybe not joke about how much you're going to pay me in front of the entire world. I don't know. Maybe it had nothing to do with it, but it's not the best luck. Finally, it's been more than two years since Charles Oakley was arrested and escorted from Madison Square Garden following a verbal altercation with James Dolan, one of the, I mean, probably the worst moment in next history, in my opinion, one of the lowest sports moments of all time.

Optically, it was awful. Awful. And the Knicks Legend believes the incident is still impacting the team's ability to attract top talent. A lot of them is still upset about what happened two years ago. I don't know, you know, people respect me. And a lot of stuff went on, went right. From the commission on down, nobody's trying to dress it, but the playoffs seen it for themselves. And, you know, they're not trying to go on vibrant, like, where someone says something,

somebody's going to come over the top of him with an act, so somebody going to come and, you know, do whatever, put handcuffs on them. They don't want that kind of vibrant. So for the fan, New York is New York. But for the playoffs now, it's just, it's a different ball game. I mean, they don't want to be around no bad, toxic situations. He's totally right. He's totally right.

Everything that I just said about how the environment of recruiting free agents and the money that these guys bring to franchises and the way that they elevate cities, you have every right to make the best decision for your career. I'd never send a player to James Dolan. And going to a situation that is as toxic as that, I mean, I can't even begin to understand the reasoning that would lead you to allow that situation to happen if you're James Dolan. Like at no point did it ever cross your. mind how badly this was going to play. At no point we're just like, everyone stop putting

hands on Charles Oakley. This is a disaster. Like, I'm sorry, we'll sort it out later. Well, he's an insecure guy. Remember he was bothered when a fan, like a young boy, he was leaving the arena and he kicked a kid out for saying. I mean, it's a complete lack of self-awareness, obviously. But these kind of things matter.

And Charles Oakley's totally right. You don't want to, you don't want to put your career in a toxic situation. Players don't, they know that if it's continuously years after years after years of you being in the lottery and tanking and situations like this and banning fans for being for throwing insults, it's like I'm going to put my career in this situation and just roll the dice and see what happens. But we have to at some point. These are grown men. I mean, good God. It's like we don't have to

rush to Twitter. Like the governor owner thing, I had somebody inside the league like a heavy, heavyweight, say, that's just LeBron. It's like, LeBron, you own nine companies. Are you a governor of them? Or it's like at some point, I respect all these guys. I mean, I'm a big NBA guy. But I'm also, you're culpable for being a man. Draymond Green called you a B word.

That's way worse than Bob Myers on a platform joking. Like if a teammate of me called me that, like, and it got out to the public? I mean, I think it really depends, though, on your relationship. and the environment of that situation. Like, I'm with you. I wouldn't do that.

And if someone called me that, my reaction would not be very pleasant. But that's on the court in the moment in emotions, so maybe easier to look over than an executive kind of insulting what you're worth to the team. I'm with you. At some point or another, there's got to be some level of reason. I just think the way that the free agency market is and the impact that one player moving to another city has,

everything matters. And it just has to make everyone has to elevate their game, so to speak. Joy over the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. Coming up, Vegas says the Lakers are basically, they're going to win the championship if Kauai Leonard lands,

and I think they should be a favorite. But I'll give you seven things in sports that are more of a lock than that. Because I think the Lakers would be favored, but I don't buy the worst bench in the league in a bad fifth starter. Is anything more than an injury away from dysfunction? That's coming up. door to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Welcome back. Our guess on this Megan Rapino thing is there's an

injury here. Well, yeah, a U.S. spokesperson, the U.S. soccer spokesperson said it's not disciplinary actions. It's just like the timing of everything. Everything is out there about her right now is the interaction with Trump. But it's not that. Like they've said that it's not that. So she's not in the starting lineup, Kristen Presses. There's reports that she's had tape on her leg yesterday and she's not warming up. So it's likely that she's injured. They just didn't want to say it leading up to the game.

Let England prepare for someone else. Right, right. Okay. So according to the latest Vegas odds, if Kauai goes to the Lakers, they'll be the second greatest NBA favorite ever. And my takeaway is the Warriors were not only great, but Henri de Guadala want an MVP off the bench.

They had a bench, Sean Livingston, Andre Gwadala, like Bogot about four years ago, like three years ago. So like I don't think they'll have a bad bench, they'll be old. And all these guys, LeBron's in his 17th year. Steph was in his prime, Clay was in his prime, Draymond in his prime, Kevin Durant in his prime. I don't think this team is unbeatable with Kauai, though I think they should be the favorite. And so let me give you, I believe, seven guarantees greater than Lakers win a title with Kauai. Let's start with number one. The women's soccer team winning the World Cup.

They've outscored their opponent 22 to 2 in five matches. They've won 10 straight women's World Cup matches. Longest streak ever. Even without Megan Rapino, they're minus 240 in Vegas, meaning you have to bet $240 just to win $100. They should win today, although she is their most dynamic player. Number two, Patriots winning the AFC East. The Dolphins have a second year quarterback.

The Bills have a second year quarterback and the Jets, although talent that have a second year quarterback. They've won 10 straight division titles. Only the Atlanta Braves. That's it. Four major sports have won 10 straight division titles. It's unheard of, and they're overwhelming favorites to win their division and win the AFC East this year.

How about number three? Raiders missing the playoffs. I know you hate me. But the Chargers and Chiefs tied for the AFC's best record at 12 and 4, I think the chargers are better. And if Tyreek Hill plays, I think Kansas City is still daunting. Also, a lot of dysfunction, a lot of chaos. I think this is a chemistry nightmare potentially.

Number four, Alabama and Clemson, one of them is playing for a national championship. Three of the last four national championships have been Alabama Clemson. They returned the best two quarterbacks and the best coaches in the sport. Urban Myers now retired. And by the way, the one championship that wasn't Alabama Clemson was Alabama, Georgia. there one or both will play for the national championship. Number five, Trevor Lawrence, the Clemson quarterback, will become the number one pick in the NFL draft in two years.

He's the best college quarterback I've seen, I think, since Elway. I think he's better than Andrew Luck. And you know how much I loved Andrew Luck out of college. He's got a better arm. He won't be eligible until the 20-21 draft. As a freshman, he had 30 touchdowns and four picks. The kid is incredible. Number six, the Dodgers are going to win the National League West.

You know they've won it six straight times, made the World Series back-to-back years. They currently have the best record in baseball. They have the best young talent in the game. Their pitching staff has the lowest ERA in the National League. They already have a 12-game lead in their own division over the Rockies. It's early July. They'll win the division by 25 games. And number seven, and this is the most guaranteed Rafi Nadal,

will win another French Open. Okay, he's won three straight. He's won 12 of the last 15. He's won 93% of his matches on Clay. He rarely loses a set at the French Open. So I know everybody thinks, and everybody's assured, that LeBron, Kauai, and Anthony Davis are going to win a title. LeBron's coming off his biggest injury.

Kauai missed a season with an injury. and Anthony Davis has been pretty fragile in his career, and they'll have a way below average old bench. And for the record, the West is really, really good. There's five bad teams at the bottom of the east. I don't even know outside of Memphis, who's the bad team in the West? So I don't think it's the end of days if Kauai goes to the Lakers. My sources tell me that Kauai is talking with the United.

Toronto today. That does not mean he'll decide it by 4th of July. I'm not told that. I'm told Toronto and Kauai are meeting today. The Clippers had a good meeting. The Lakers had the magic phone call. Both L.A. teams feel very good about where they're at. There are others on the internet reporting it's over.

That is not what I'm told. Now, I may not have the best source. So, all right. Megan Rapino, United States Women, speak for yourself on FS1 is coming up. Whitlock, you are all over-trending. the internet yesterday. Jason Whitlock and Jason Whitlock's new do were trending big on the internet.

He'll discuss that, I'm sure, at length the day. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the action. athletes themselves.

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