The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Zion Williamson, Kawhi Leonard, rivalries, and the Lakers

Episode Date: June 27, 2019

Colin defends Zion Williamson and doubles down on why he will be a star. He's not sure on where Kawhi Leonard will land while feeling bad for the Los Angeles Clippers. Colin also doesn't mind the Tom Brady-Peyton Manning friendship and breaks down the breaking news for the Los Angeles Lakers. Guests include Doug Gottlieb, Rob Parker, Chris Haynes, and Ian Bagley. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio. We're on FS1. Going forward, here we are. Our hiatus. Our sabbatical is over. Joy Taylor is joining me today. Joy, how are you? I'm great.

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Doug Gottlie, this hour. So I talked about this briefly yesterday that it's not hard to spot the next great superstar in America. And we get one about every four or five years. A Serena, a tiger, a Bryce Harper. They don't happen very often.

But about every four or five years, if you collectively combine all the sports, we get a superstar. And they're fun. And they're not difficult to find and spot. The media mostly gets that right. The next is Zion Williamson. Now, he played at Duke. He's unbelievable. Number one picking the draft.

It is remarkable, though, as I watch the media and listen to players, even people I like. A lot of pushback. He's overrated. He's not that big of a deal. People don't. Okay, time out. Listen to this. He's already the most popular NBA draftee of all.

time. This is with the Pelicans. Not with the Lakers, not with the Celtics, not in a major market in a football city where the football owner owns the NBA team. I mean, they had NFL people running the organization. It was a two months ago, it was a hazmat spill for the NBA. According to fanatics, Zion shattered the record by selling more Pelicans, jerseys, and shirts than any drafty in history. But here's the stunner. In the five days after the draft, people purchased more Zion shirts and jerseys

than they did for the entire first round class. Excuse me? You've got to be kidding me. Folks, yesterday Enos Cantor, Ennis Canter, one of my guys, very good NBA player, was the latest to doubt, Zion Williamson on our chair, on our couch. Here's what Anna's Cantor said.

I kind of feel like he's overhyped. I feel like he's Julius Randall with hops. Some players are even scared to say it, but you know me. I'm not scared to say anything. You know, I'm outspoken. Okay, so I want to talk about Julius Randall with hops. So 18-year-old Julius Randall averaged 15 a game at Kentucky, averaged one assist a game and shot 16% from three-point land.

18-year-old Zion at Duke averaged 23, shot 68% from the field, 34% in threes, twice as many assists, and he's a better ball handler. Now, it's not the first Julius Randall comp I've heard. Both are lefties and both look like men at 16 years old. But talent announces itself, you don't have to search for it.

You kind of had to search for Julius Randall at 17 years old. At 1617, Zion was an internet sensation. At 18, he was an American sensation. And I want you to think about this. There are late bloomers all over life. There are Hall of Famers who are late bloomers in all sports. But it is almost unheard of. You got a search to find a late bloomer.

Bloomer that becomes a legend. Okay, Serena, Eddie Murphy and comedy. Legends. I'm not just talking funny. I'm talking legends. Almost always, you can spot it early. Magic, Tiger, Serena, LeBron, Bryce Harper on the cover of SI at 16.

Kurt Warner was excellent. He's not a legend. Now, people will say, Colin, Michael Jordan, cut from his high school team. Overplayed. He was a McDonald's high school. American and offered a scholarship to at the time the number one program in America, UNC. By 17, he was great. Colin, what about Tom Brady?

He was offered a scholarship and played quarterback at Michigan. At the time, a top five program in America. And, oh, by the way, by the year two of the NFL, he won a Super Bowl. That ain't late blooming. What about Steph Curry? At 23 years old, he's a real late bloomer. At 23, the Warriors traded an all-star guard for Steph. next year he averaged 24 a game.

If those are your late bloomers, then they don't exist. Jerry West made a trade with Charlotte to get Kobe Bryant. Kobe was 1819. Jerry West told Shaq before Kobe played a game. You two will win multiple titles together. He is an all-time talent. Gordy Howan hockey was a 23-time all-star. He was invited to training camp with the New York Rangers at 15.

15. 15. Derek Jeter's high school scouting report, according to Dick Grouch, April of 92, a Yankee, a five-tool player. He will be a major league star, a plus five. Okay. Zion's an easy one, folks. Talent announces itself. Julius Randall at 15 was an anonymous high school sophomore.

Zion at 16 was an internet sensation. looks, pizzazz, style, strength, power. Now, this morning, Zion Williamson is not as good as Julius Randall because Julius Randall is 24 and it has taken him to 24 years of age to be a 20 point a game guy. This morning Julius Randall is better. In one year, they'll probably be even. From that point forward, Zion will be a significantly better basketball player than Julius Randall. Don't outthink the room on Zion Williamson. This is what Tiger Williams was, Tiger Woods was, at 1718.

There were some doubters. I heard them. Swings too hard. This is what looks like, folks. Crazy. And I love Ennis Canter, but crazy. Zion just sold more jerseys and shirts than every other first rounder in the draft, first round combined. All right, let me shift to this. Oh, Canada. 50-50, if they're going to keep Kauai Leonard. If they don't, they'll rebuild. It's the height of the franchise.

It'll never be the same. That's what I'm being told. 50-50, clippers, raptors, I have no idea. Now, Lou Williams, smart veteran guy in the NBA, once played in Toronto. He was six-man of the year there. And he was on a podcast, and he was talking about why Canada is simply

different and tougher for NBA players. Once you're there, you'll love playing for the Raptors, you love playing for the country, because it's just you. It's the whole country. Like, that fourth, fifth month into the season, you're like, I want to go home. When you play in Toronto, you feel like you're playing overseas.

Oh, it does? It feels like it, bro. Like, we can't wait to go on the road sometimes, just to be in America. You know what I'm saying? It's like a little shit you don't think of, like the channels on your TV, your phone bill,

you got to get, you got to get a Canadian bank account. Like, it's like that that people don't think about, like that shit is hard. And then you have kids, you're raising your kids out of, in Canada.

You know what I'm saying? So once you're there, you're like, oh, this is dope. But the hard part is keeping guys there. It's very interesting. In my life as a sportscaster, you would think that all the big markets

and all the rich people win. That's the way it should work, right? Better resources. better geography, better weather. But in my life as a sportscaster, if you are excellent at everything, you win regardless of where you're at.

That's why I think Kauai stays and the Raptors who do everything well. They're training staff. They're GM. They're scouting staff. They found Pascal Seyakum. They do everything well. They coach well.

They GM well. They scout well. The training staff. They market well. Folks, in theory, TCU football should not win 11 games a year. TCU. Texas Christians, small private school.

They're surrounded by the University of Texas. Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma's a three-hour drive away. They win 10 to 11 games a year. There is no reason Nebraska football dominated a decade. Why? There's no players there. They're in the middle of nowhere. There's not a major airport. There's no reason Yukon became a basketball dynasty.

The men won four titles in 15 years. They were the toughest team Duke had to face in the tournament. The women became a dynasty. you've been to Stores, Connecticut? I lived in Connecticut, and I never went. It's a pasture. There was no reason it would become the best basketball school in the country for a decade and a half. You know why it did? Two legendary, willful coaches. There's no reason Gonzaga is a top five, six program in the country. It's closer to Idaho than Seattle. There's no players there. The St. Louis Cardinals are in the middle of the country. It is, by most accounts, a fairly boring city, would not be attractive to players.

It's a medium to small market and sort of a dying American city. It's a furnace in the summer. You might as well play inside of a microwave, and yet they have 11 World Series titles. And probably the best baseball fans in America. Players love playing in St. Louis. Nebraska football, TCU football, Gonzaga basketball, Yukon basketball. There is no... Say this out loud.

The most Tony nominated musical of all time is a rapping musical about Alexander Hamilton. That makes no sense on paper. But excellence cuts through. Yes, a rapping musical about Alexander Hamilton is the most nominated musical in American Broadway history. Folks, excellence wins, regardless if you're in Boise, Beijing, Syracuse, Singapore, it doesn't matter. Kauai Leonard, great GM, great training staff, great owner,

great fans, great marketing, free penthouse, free private jet, free food. Be very, very careful about leaving a place that does virtually everything well. Because about 90% of these programs, these franchises in America have major holes and don't do things well. By the way, Lou Williams, I think I get it.

It's cold. The taxes are bad. And it is different living in another country. I am not denying any of that. I'm not. I mean, David Beckham comes over, lives in the States. He's from England. You know, you talk to them.

America kind of feels different than Europe. It's fine, but it always still feels like London's his home. I get it. It's different. But, man, in all my years of sportscasting, the teams that dominate sports and the people all overcome obstacles. But excellence always cuts through. Coming up next, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are buddies.

We're buddies. Have always been buddies. How's that land for you? I'll tell you how it lands for me coming up. Be sure 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. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

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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.

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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 first, 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, after 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. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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? Quarterback on office blue 42.

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Casper.com. Good to have you in a Thursday. Now, of course, by Monday, this weekend, there's going to be a lot going on in sports. Tomorrow on Fox Sports, is it FS1 or is it Fox Sports? It's a Fox. It's the United States women's national team takes on France in Paris. Fox also has this weekend.

The Yankees facing the Red Sox in London. I saw the plane the Red Sox traveled on there. It's a hotel with wings. It's incredible. So a lot going on this weekend. And then, of course, this weekend, you're going to hear a lot of stuff on the internet. Sunday NBA players are allowed to pick their teams. So we're kind of in a two-day holding pattern, a one-day holding pattern for the weekend to explode with sports.

But we'll have Doug Gottliebond to talk about it because there's a lot of stuff kind of breaking in the NBA, but not the big stuff yet. here's a story that came out yesterday that warm my heart. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were on Tom Brady. They took a picture of them. If you look at the trees, it looks like Northern California. I'm guessing here, but it looks like Northern California. That style of tree, yeah, it looks like Pebble Beach. And they're both in suits.

And Tom says, spoiler alert, we were friends this whole time. Always great to see you, Peyton. And I was driving in this morning, listening to talk show hosts who didn't love this and they were like it kind of spoils it and I'd rather they beat arch rivals. Folks, sports athletes, all these guys used to be rivals about 15 years ago. They were in the 30s, the 40s, the 50s, the 60s, the 70s, the 80s, the 90s, 2000. And in about 2000 something changed. Everybody got rich.

And now they're all friends. In Michael Jordan's era, stars were fighting for their slice of the financial pie. I'll give you an example. Nike and Converse were about the only shoe companies paying NBA players. Now, let me read the list. Nike has shoe deals with the NBA. Adidas, Under Armour, Puma, Pek, New Balance, Reebok, the Jordan brand, and Onta, which is a Chinese brand for Clay Thompson. That's nine. My bad, big baller brand. Ten. Used to be a game of the week. It's now on NBA TV. Regional networks, ESPN, TNT, everybody's getting love, everybody's getting marketing, everybody's getting shoe deals. There's so much money to go around. You're not fighting.

You're not losing a game and then losing market share. And also something else has happened. Sports has never been bigger on TV because of the Hulus and the Amazon's and the Netflix. The only thing that works on linear TV now is politics and sports. That's why it's a good time to be a sportscaster and a good time to be an athlete. Because these networks now, they have to. spend on leagues. It used to be wrestling wasn't considered legitimate to go on a sports network. Now they're fighting over it. A year ago, two years ago, we created the big three out of thin air.

Ice Cube did. Now networks fight over it. The XFL spring football, networks, the two top ones. ESPN Fox have a joint venture. So these athletes now, this is the future. They're all friends. They have about six different agents. They're all making money on. on shoes. Now, we've always known Magic and Bird were close. Fetter and Nadal are incredibly respectful. But I think a lot of it started, to be honest

with you, it feels like to me a lot of it started with LeBron and Kevin Durant about nine, ten years ago when it was like, these guys train together. Everybody is so wealthy now. You know what it really is? It's a swapping jersey culture. Soccer was way ahead

of everybody. You play the game, you swap jerseys. That's what you do now. There is no fighting as the two teams converge to go into the locker room after the game. It's over. This is not, it's not the zero-sum game. If I

win, you don't necessarily lose anymore. I win and you win. They're all winning. All pro athletes are winning today. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

I'd tell you before, beef is dead. What's that? I tried to tell you before. Beef is dead. Beef is dead. It's not a real thing anymore. Yeah. It's fun to discuss.

Yes. But it's all hypothetical because at the end of the day, everybody's friends. I think the only thing where it exists is probably like boxing. That feels like it's still. I actually don't even think there because there's so much respect in boxing because it is such a violent sport that even when it is all over. Like, I mean, you've got the feeling that like Mayweather and McGregor really hated each other. And at the end of it, I don't feel like they hate each other. No, that's true.

got all of us. Like, they were totally in on it. They got in a room, like, I'll say this, and you'll say this, and people go crazy. And at the end, we're going to make a bunch of money. That'll be it. I mean, you're right. If you look at most boxing matches, when it's over and they both have black eyes. They hug.

Yeah, they're like, it's like the highest level of respect because it's so barbaric. Yeah. Beef is dead. So we talked about this yesterday. The Celtics are reportedly the front runner to land Kemba Walker when he becomes an unrested free agent Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern. Yeah. After Sham Sharania noted that Walker and the.

the Hornets have reached a stalemate in their extension talks. Woge reported that Boston can continue to clear up some cap space, create a number that gets up to Kembo Walker's max. But right now, Boston and Kemba Walker are focused on each other. And there's a very strong possibility that Kemba will replace Kyrie Irving as the point guard, as a centerpiece in Boston. Now, Terry Rozier would probably have to go, but I got to be honest with you, if you look at Brad Stevens history, college and pro, every point guard,

including, by the way, Kyrie's numbers go up. If I'm Campbell Walker, I've always thought about this. If I was a quarterback in high school, I would go play for Oklahoma. Because Lincoln Riley takes every quarterback and they explode. Like if I was a linebacker, I'd go play for Nick Saban, because they always end up in the NFL. If I am a point guard, and I don't have to be the world's best point guard, but I want my numbers to go up,

Mike Dan Tony and Brad Stevens, your numbers go up. They're good for guards. If that's what you're mostly concerned about, the issue is Kamba would forfeit $81 million. Yeah, don't love that. To join the Celtics. Don't love that. That's a whole lot more than 40 or 30. That is a lot of money.

Now, that's assuming that Charlotte is willing to offer the five-year, $221 million max. Now, that's the thing, Joy, they're not. So, like, from what I'm reading, they're not. They're much more comfortable in the 161,70. So the 80 million is closer to 25. Right. Well, if they're closer to the 16, 170, then that's good news for Boston because Boston can offer a four-year $140 million max, although he might be willing to take less money because we talked about yesterday. Kemba kind of disappears in Charlotte.

Like, he should be, have a way bigger profile, and he would in Boston. I saw more of him in college because when he was at Yukon, I mean, seriously, the Big East tournament, the NCAA tournament. Canva had a bigger profile as a collegian, it feels like to me, that he does as a pro. And I do believe he would have a better chance of winning in Boston, despite them having to move so many pieces around. I do think it's a better situation. So the Rockets have been in pursuit of Jimmy Butler for almost a year now. We all kind of forgot early last season. They offered the Timberwolves four first round draft picks for Butler.

Remember that? I completely forgot about that. So they've been after him for a while. And this week it was reported that they're interested in a sign and trade with Philly. So the rumor mill will heat up even more. more when Woj reported that the Rockets are now offering Eric Gordon, Clint Capella, and PJ Tucker to clear up cap space. They really want him. He's also from Houston. I know, but I don't like it. I do think that the locker room situation makes it interesting

because that's that's a bunch of personalities, a bunch of strong personalities in one room. But you need stars to win in this league and the Rockets have not been able to get it done. They're right there every single year and they can't get over the hump. So they have to make some sort of move. And if you're going to make a move, you might as well get somebody who can also play defense because they're losing all their defense if they do move Clint Capella, B.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon. Yeah. Especially PJ Tucker.

Yeah, I got to be honest with you. I like Gordon and I like Tucker. I like him as players. By the way, those are the kind of guys that Toronto has won the title. It's a bunch of those smart veteran guys that can play big in the, you know, they have playoff experience. No, they're huge X-factor pieces. Yeah, I love those guys.

But they haven't been able to make the move. So I think that you have to be aggressive, especially this year, especially considering that Chris Paul and James Hardin, it seems like this train can only go so much further. You got to be aggressive this year, especially with the Warriors kind of being out of commission. And finally, it didn't take long for Zion Williamson to break his first NBA record. He sold more jerseys and T-shirts than any other rookie in history

in the first five days after the NBA draft. Now, not to be Debbie Downer, but I do think we should keep us in perspective. as far as the history stuff goes. We do have a lot of, you know, online purchasing available now. You don't have to actually physically go into the store and buy it. I don't know how far back these numbers go, but I'm sure that probably also plays a role. He did sell more than all of the first round picks in the 2018 NBA draft combined. That's according to Fanatics.

That's unbelievable. And RJ Barrett became the second highest selling rookie in history, which makes sense because he's with the Knicks. The Pelicans have probably the smallest fan base in the league. that's what's amazing about this. Can you imagine if he was a Nick? I mean, the NBA is a global league. No, no, no, no question about that. The brand is so huge now and global that this doesn't surprise me.

Zion is already a household name. By the way, let's just put Zion on the back of the jersey. Williamson, really? Zion on the back of the jersey would be fun. It would be fun. Zion and RJ more than doubled the previous rookie sales record set by Lanzobal. Really? Yeah.

Lonsa doesn't surprise me at all. Well, it's a big baller brand. I mean, once you get that momentum behind you. A joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. Doug or Doug Gottlieb Sports Radio, after my show on Fox Sports Radio.

Let's bring him on, Doug Gottlieb. Good to have you in. So, okay, so yesterday. I get a bigger round of applause. I don't know. No, you get. It's very, I can hear it in my ear, very popular. So yesterday, N.S. Canter was the latest guy to come

the show. I don't want to be hype man. But I watch Zion, the game, the look, Duke, the brand, relatable, crying, mom, velocity. I'm like, oh, Lord, that's Bryce Harper at 16. It's just, I don't have to look for it. It's coming to me. It's breaking through my TV. Now, a lot of people are giving me this Julius Randall thing because they were both lefties and they're both muscular. I don't really see it. Well, they are both left-handed. They're both African-American. One played for the

Pelicans last year. I want to play for the Pelicans this year. And, you know, they're both very talented lottery picks. But no, I, I, there's some Julius Randall in him, but there's also some Draymond Green. There's also some Blake Griffin. And there's a, there's a magnetism to him. I love, by the way, can we give a little bit of credit to Julius Randall? This might be tweet of the year, right, where he's clearly watching your show and says, hey, and it's last time you guarded me, I gave you 45.

So it's not exactly a burn to say, oh, he reminds me a Julius Rand. I was like, yeah, I just gave you 45 last time. And Julius is a nice, efficient player. He's, look, his stats were up. He opted out. I don't think he's as good as his stats. Those were kind of a little bit of empty stats because it was on a bad team. The Pelicans added him and got worse.

On the other hand, like, look, he can score. The other part that I think Ennis may not be wrapping his head around because he actually, the reason Ennis has been on the market so much, as talented he is in offense, he's been a sieve on defense. And that's where Zion is a 2019 and beyond superstar. He can guard positions one through five. He's strong enough and has a great base to where even against seven footers,

he should be able to body them up and make them play over his length. And he's athletic enough to contain point guards on switches. Like he's the perfect small ball center in an era in which everyone's looking for the next version of a Draymond Green. So, yes, I think he's underselling him. I do think that NBA players, like in any industry, our industry, baseball, whatever.

When the newest, latest, greatest comes out, they're like, yeah, great, that's against college kids, show me against grown men. But I do think he'll show them. I think he has the chance to be a breakthrough superstar. And I love what they're building in New Orleans.

Yeah, gosh. I mean, Lonzo Ball and Drew Holiday in the back court are as good defensively as anybody you're going to find. And then you have Brandon Ingram with great length. And you have him. And then I love the Jackson Hayes, who eventually, you know, three years down the road, has a chance to be a dynamic big guy.

I really like what they're doing in New Orleans, building from defense. And they have Drew Holliday is a great passing, too. He's not a point. And then you have a good passer as your small ball five and starting power forward in Zion. They value passing. They value defense, athleticism. I think he's in a great position to succeed. We were talking about the Brady-Tomom-Pa-Pa-Pa-Manning picture.

And it's funny. I was talking about this. Rivalries are kind of dead. Like Yankees Red Sox is big. I'm not denying that. It's not what it used to be. No. And they just play so many times in baseball.

Well, no. I mean, it used to be the hammer and the nail. One team hadn't won 86 years. Now they won a bunch of World Series. It's kind of different. But I don't, Duke Carolina is obviously something. I watch it when they play every year, two, three times. But I don't feel like there's a ton of NFL rivalries.

I don't feel like there's a ton of NBA rivalries. And I think part of it is players aren't fighting for their slice of pie anymore. Fifteen years ago, kickers started making $2 million a year in the NFL. Everybody's wealthy. Yeah, a little bit of this, though, is it's like presidents, once they're out of office.

Like Bush and Clinton now get along. Right. Right. And I mean, Michelle Obama's like best friends with George Bush. Like, once you're beyond that and you realize how wealthy you are and how successful you are, like Peyton's not playing anymore,

so there's not the competitiveness. There are still rival reasons. George. Aaron Rogers hates Russell Wilson. Really? Is that a good one? They do not like each other. So Russell Wilson and Aaron Rogers. Aaron Rogers does not like or respect Russell Wilson. Why not?

I think he thinks he's kind of a fake God guy. I just think he thinks he's a phony. He's not being who he really is. Whereas Aaron Rogers, like him or dislike him, he's his authentic self. This is who I am. I mean, he's worked for his new coach for like a month and he's like, you know, this offense really doesn't work for me. Right? Like, that's where Aaron Rogers is. And he just doesn't, I just don't think he enjoys phonies,

and I think he thinks Russell Wilson's a phone. But does Russell not like Aaron? Don't know, because you're never going to get a real straight answer on Russell. Okay. Russell's going to give you the, like, you know, I respect him. I admire him. He's amazing. He's, you know.

So that's a rivalry. That's a beef. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think Steph Curry and LeBron James particularly like each other. I just don't. I think there's a lack of respect from LeBron's people because he's always thought like, look, LeBron impacts the game at both ends so much more than Steph,

and Steph's able, step, you know, is able to get away with kind of hiding defensively. And I think Steph Curry's like, all right, dude, we won three titles here. We beat you. You know, why aren't we getting our due? I do think there are, that's a, that's a legit rivalry. I mean, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, right? That seems to be a legit rivalry. I still think it exists.

Max Muncie and Madison Bumgarner, right? Right. You don't like me. If you don't like how I Cadillac around the base pass, go get that ball out of the ocean. So you sense more rivalries? I do. I think this is, do I think that some of it is make nice, nice,

and we're all rich, and at the end of the day, I'll understand that this is the one percenters club? Sure. But we had this magic and Isaiah used to kiss each other before they played in the NBA finals. They were best friends. And of course, you know, post career, they actually had to have to split up

and now they're back together as best friends. So I think this is more par for the course for post careers, much like post presidents, they all become friendly again. Okay, Doug Gottlieb, stick around, a lot of stuff. We'll talk some NBA stuff, obviously, the free agency, Saturday, Sunday, Sunday's the day, Saturday and tomorrow they'll start leaking. That's coming up with the Dugger. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

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 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 SportsLice 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. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

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

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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, after 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. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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? Quarterback on office blue with 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. Welcome back, Doug Gottlieb. So the whole KD thing, you were asking me during the break and we were talking about where guys are going. And the one guy that I guessed yesterday, I put jerseys on all the players, the one guy put a question mark is Kevin Durant, because I think Kevin's really struggling.

And I think Kevin is emotionally, Lee Jenkins told me this when he used to work at SI now with the Clippers. He said he didn't want to give it away, but he said he's a wanderer. When you sit down and interview him for a couple days, you follow him for a week. Marcus Thompson said this. you can convince Kevin Durant day to day to change his mind. He's just emotionally a wanderer.

I honestly believe he doesn't have his mind made up. I think this is very much a LeBron leaving Cleveland going to Miami, where I remember talking to people close to LeBron. And in 72 hours out, they didn't know. Like his boys did not know. I think Kevin Durant right now, he's looking at the James Dolan. He's looking at Kyrie's kind of flaky. I mean, I really feel.

Plus it's the Nets, right? Like, do you really go to live in Brooklyn? And Brooklyn is amazing. Yeah. Right. Like to anybody who doesn't understand, Brooklyn has undergone this renaissance, it's an amazing place to live. That's an amazing arena.

You know, they have incredible culture within that franchise. And they were absolute rubble before this current group took over, right? Right. So, like, all of that said, it's still the nets. Like, they don't move the meter at all in New York, whereas the Knicks do anything. And they do. On the other hand, you're going to be the first one to play for the Knicks. and they're going to be bad for another year.

And then you've got to work for James Dolan, which I think a lot of these guys, especially guys like Kevin Durant, that are so active on social media, they kind of are overreact to the idea that Dolan is involved. Dolan has nothing to do with day-to-day basketball. But once a year he does something, you're like, oh, yeah, James Dolan,

the A-hole that still owns the New York Knicks, right? By the way, Phil Jackson's a legend, bombed in New York. Larry Brown's second worst year in New York. Pat Riley won everywhere, but the Knicks. Isaiah Thomas has succeeded everywhere. Bad next day. They leave a stain.

Mike Dan Tony, by the way, one in Italy, one in Phoenix, one in Houston. Yes. A mess in New York. Yes, Pat Riley. Pat Riley has got, you know, and Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, and I know they went to one NBA finals. But it's a... Yes, and then there's been players, right?

Marie Stodemeyer and Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd. Like, you go through him. You're like, they've had dudes. They just haven't able to figure it out. Look, he's trying to figure out who he is. That's it. That's the thing. And I do think that's relatable.

He doesn't necessarily know who he is, right? Grew up without a dad. Dad's kind of back into his life, but he has an agent who's a business manager. There's that weird relationship with Rich Kleinman who, you know, like is a New Yorker, and I'm sure selling him on New York and all the virtues of New York. I do think there's this one interesting part, which we may be missing on. There's this kind of old school, widely held belief, and there's some reality to it, which is, hey, you do it in New York and you're big everywhere.

Right. Right? Like, Jeremy Lynn is not Jeremy Lynn if he didn't do it to New York. That's true. It is true. On the other hand, you do realize that there's been a movement in real money is in Northern California. The most expensive city to live in in the country is San Francisco.

Why? Because all that tech money, right? Like in our industry, we're just waiting when is Apple or Google going to decide, hey, I'm going to buy that. No, listen, Jason Whitlock was on this two years ago. He said, really, the new power base, it's not New York. The media is largely, I mean, look at the algorithms. Look at what our government is concerned about in terms of voting.

They're concerned about Silicon Valley and information. It's become the new New York, San Francisco, and he's leaving that. Yes. And you also, like, you don't actually need to go to New York to be big in the NBA, right? Big globally. Like, Russell Westbrook is in Oklahoma City. Yeah. And he's huge.

He's massive. Quiet Leonard doesn't say a word, right? No one can, other than ha, ha, ha. And he's huge. No one can quote anything he said. But he's, he's getting. big. Why? Because he won. So I just, look, at

the end of the day, if you're not happy in Golden State, and you're pissed off because you think they mis-evaluated your calf strain, probably had a partially torn Killie's tendon, and they didn't find it. If you're mad, like, okay, I understand. But if the idea is, I need relevance, at the end of the day, if you come back,

if you come back in a year, and Clay comes back in a year, and you go out and win another couple of titles, who cares what they say on social media, what they say all of our shows. You got five, six rings. You put yourself in an elite company, and I think now everybody has realized just how important he is to the team and to the league. It'd be great. The NBA needs him in the East. They need a big name. They need a big story. They need the East

to be relevant. It's good for our show. It's good for our show. But the idea that he needs it, I would disagree with it. So let's talk about a couple of things. In terms, I'll throw this out to you. So this is so funny to me. So Golden State during their dynasty was paying KD, Steph, Clay, Drayman, Iggy, even Sean Livingston made $8 million. They had enough money to add Boogie Cousins. Back-to-back Miami Heat Dynasty. LeBron made 19, D-Wade 18, Chris Bosch 19. They paid Ray Allen, Badiye, Edanus Haslam.

Mike Miller made $5.8 million. Joel Anthony made four. Eight guys made money. Okay. With the Lakers, they have. only five guys on the roster and only 23 million left and I'm told they can't afford

another max and if they do sign DiAngelo Russell for under the max they'll be out of money. That tells me despite what the Lakers and their PR people are shoving, they messed up the cap thing. I don't think there's any doubt but let's be honest

about the Golden State thing thing, okay? Yeah. Like the what helped them was Draymond was drafted in the second round so it was a limit to what they pay him. Steph Curry's second deal, second contract was, was it four years, $44 million because he had so many ankle problems, he didn't get the huge deal. And so that allowed them to go and make some of these other deals.

And then once you have a player, now you can pay them whatever and go into the luxury tax if you want, whereas that's not the way it worked out in L.A. So, and there's still a chance here for a sign-in trade, even with Kamba, because, like, look, it's been widely reported today that even if Kempa leaves Charlotte and goes to Austin, which is his rumored preferred destination, Charlotte still has to act like they're over the cap, whereas if they sign and trade him, now they can have assets back in return, they can kind of But if the Lakers signed a Canba or DeAngelo, they would virtually have no money for a fifth starter.

Well, no, you have a mid-level exception. There's other ways in which you can manipulate the cap. And look, do I think it's a bad look for how it looks like the cap? yeah, but also remember that on some level, Rich Paul screwed this up. You screwed it up by being so verbose about how much Anthony Davis wanted to be there and by pushing it and the pressure that Rob Polinka was under,

they had to make that deal. And you can't, this idea that New Orleans was going to trade with you July 30th, that's not, there's no reality to it. You got to make the trade before the NBA draft. That's how it has to work. because they want Lonzo Ball working out with them all summer. They want Brandon Ingram working out with them. They want their number four draft pick or what they traded the number four draft pick working out for them, and so does any other person.

So I understand it looks bad now, but look, they're going to roll out there with Darren Collison at the point, maybe JJ Redick at the two. You think so? Lakers will land those guys? I think they got a great shot. They're going to, J.R. Smith is going to get bought out. Kyle Corver's probably going to get bought out. This is how they're going to fill out their roster. I don't know if it works.

You know, Javelle McGee will be their backup center to start Anthony Davis in the starting center. But I, like, let's not, let's not kill the Lakers until we see what their roster looks like. At the end of the day, they're fired up. They got Anthony Davis and got LeBron James. Okay. Houston, who's, you know, they're, it's like, they're like Marissa Tomey, right? They think their clock is ticking over here, right? They're looking at blowing it up again and bringing in Jimmy Butler because that's going to work,

because everywhere he goes, they seem to love Jimmy Butler, right? Chris Paul's overpaid. James Harden doesn't play defense, and Mike Dan Tony is on a one-year deal with a whole new staff, right? The Warriors are done, at least for a year, maybe then to reestablish themselves. Nobody really believes that Utah win a championship. Denver's a nice story.

Portland, we've seen their ceiling. They're two great players in a nice franchise. They're not beating the Lakers, two great players. End of the day, they got Anthony Davis, they got LeBron James. They get some shooters, they'll figure it out. And, oh, yeah, by the way, you know, they think that Kyle Kuzma has a chance to be a star playing alongside those two.

I don't think it's a terrible plan, especially considering what they inherited. Right. Lou Aldang was a terrible contract. They're still paying it. They had to get rid of everybody else. And they have two of the five best players in the league. Okay. Kauai Leonard, Lou Williams said it's still Canada.

Your kids are in schools in Canada. You know, you're in a Canadian bank account. You turn on the TV. It's Canadian news. Yeah. you think, I mean, what's your take away in his opinion? I mean, Lou Williams is only working for $8 million. And his, if you listen to the podcast, he talked about it.

He's like, look, I was happy. I love playing for Doc. Can I fight over more money? Sure. But he took a very minimal kind of extension. And he didn't fight it. So, I mean, again, I know I'm biased. I'm from Southern California.

Yeah. Kauai's from Southern California. But he's from the end of the empire where it's like 140 degrees in the summer. And if you're from the IE and somebody goes like, hey, what if you can make $30 million, live at the beach and play for the Lakers, never have a winter coat, or play for the clippers, never have a winter coat, or you can play where they have their dish, their country's dish is Putin. I'm going to take L.A. and tacos every day.

No, I get it. No, I do get it. I think there's a certain, New Yorkers, you can't ever get New York out of the body. That's who you are. You grow up in Los Angeles. Man, it's cold everywhere. There's no question. Doug Gottlieb hour to Rob Parker, Chris Haynes,

in L.A., it's 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. 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 Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so rapidly. 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, is we have real conversations about How 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, 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. and 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 would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball like, after 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. 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. I want you to wave at her. What? Quarterback on office blue with 42.

Hey, Brett. 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. Ah, this is the herd.

Wherever you may be, hour two, however you may be listening, in Los Angeles, Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. It is great to have you in. We're back on Fox Sports One. Now, tomorrow on Fox, the big channel, 2 Eastern, 11 Pacific. USA Women Take on France and Paris. It is the Women's World Cup game of note. The ratings have been fantastic.

Soccer is growing. I watched the Gold Cup last night, by the way. United States blanked Panama. Ten goals, no surrendered goals into the knockout stage. So despite some soccer haters, it's here. It's here to stay. It knocked me off TV for a couple of weeks. I've watched a ton of it. I love the World Cup.

Men's Women's. I absolutely love it. So congratulations to all those teams. Congratulations to the United States men's national team. By the way, congratulations to Vanderbilt Baseball. They were a nothing burger forever, and they hired this new manager. And they are just like now at Oregon State Baseball and Vanderbilt Baseball or dynasties. If you don't think coaching matters in college sports, at least, it is a big deal.

Congratulations to the Commodores, Vandy. I think Skip Bayliss went there. Yes, he did. Clay Travis, I think, got a law degree there or something. It's a great journalism school, law school. So congratulations. And Joy Taylor, of course, is joining me for hour two. It's kind of the two or three days before the storm.

Yes. Before the free agency in the NBA. Let me just start with one that I think works. Sham Sharanya, who we've had on the show, says Campbell Walker and Charlotte aren't close. Charlotte doesn't want to pay him. And the Boston Celtics, according to Wosch, have emerged as a leader. this one works for me. Listen, not all NBA stars are great teammates.

A lot of them are just great talents. Steph Marbury is not Steph Curry. A lot of times guys are just talented. And the problem with a point guard, a good wing, a good center, a good forward almost makes everybody better. But a good point guard's different because they have the ball. And we have a different culture in America. It used to be a great 17-year-old basketball player in America.

This is the way it was for most of my life. He had a high school coach bark at him. And then he went to college and stayed for four years and had a college coach bark at him. And then he came into the NBA and he didn't make any money until about year seven. Our culture has culture's changed. Now at 16 years old, he has AAU coaches begging him to play for him. He has recruited at 15, 16, 17. Then he goes to college where they're begging him to play for one year.

Just come to Kentucky for one year. We love you. We'll do anything. he goes to the NBA and he's rich. He's rich at 19 years old. There's nothing wrong with this. Same things happen in Silicon Valley. We've got 20-year-old billionaires.

I got no problem with it. But it has changed the dynamic of the coach-player relationship for not all but some. Players are a little more entitled. They're a little more gassed up. Now, Zion handles it well. I think most players handle it well.

But Kauai Leonard, Greg Popovich, never had a problem with any star. He didn't work with Kauai. Brad Carlisle, Rick Carlisle gets along with everybody. He didn't get along with Rondo. David Blatt and Spolstra struggle with LeBron. Scott Brooks struggle with Westbrook. Brad Stevens struggled with Kyrie.

90% of athletes, it doesn't change things. They love basketball. They like to be coached. Most players, I think, in all sports, like to be coach. But we have a different culture today. The culture in America for basketball is very much about loving the player, worshiping the player, giving the player, find the talent, get him paid.

Doesn't work that way in baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball. There's a developmental process. That's all gone now. Players go to college one year out. College is valuable. So Kyrie's a one in Dunner. Kyrie comes into the league. AAU coach begs him.

A college coach begs him. He gets rich immediately. And some of these guys are a little tougher to coach. And by the way, there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, not every NFL guy or baseball guy is easy to coach. I think Kimball Walker is more of an old school player will fit Brad Stevens better than Kyrie Irving. So I think this actually works.

Campbell Walker works. By the way, Nick Nurse worked much better with Kauai than Greg Popovich did. Greg Popovich is old school. Greg Popovich is a legend. And Kauai's like, dude, little much for me. Back off. Nick Nurse coach in the G League forever. I mean, he's like a camp counselor.

Everybody loves Nick Nurse. He didn't bring in the ego, the vanity, the daunting legacy. And Kauai liked that. So it's just a different world we live in. And I do think Kyrie's talented and it'll probably be better off going, playing with a star, regardless of a coach in Brooklyn. But I don't think it worked in Boston. It doesn't mean Brad Stevens can't coach.

It doesn't mean Rick Carlisle can't coach. It's just the world. It's just the way basketball and the culture for American domestic basketball has changed. Kyrie will be happier elsewhere, and I think the Celtics will... Remember last year, they were 12 and 3 when Kyrie didn't play. Now, that goes counterintuitive to what we think basketball is. Like, if your point guard's great, you should win more. He sat, they won more.

It was just the numbers. So this is a situation where not every great player who has the ball in his hands is a great fit with the team, the players, the coach, the city, the system. Kyrie will make a lot of money go and do great. And Campbell Walker, finally, America, will be reintroduced to Kimball Walker, who's a really good player and a really good kid and pretty low maintenance

and had a college coach who barked at him and now we'll have a NBA coach who has a system and I think they'll fit perfectly. I saw this yesterday. People get freaked out about this stuff. LeBron was in a pair of shorts and he's a professional athlete so he would be in good shape.

But there was this picture that came out and, you know, Laker fans are freaking out. Look at LeBron. James. He's in great shape. A guy, look at him right there. Oh, my God. LeBron is amazing. It's unbelievable. I can't. We not wait for the season. I will say this about LeBron. I felt he had a very bad year. But I was sitting around this morning and it's going to be a very interesting season next year. Now, think about this. Think about the players who have either regressed are not as good as we thought, have injury issues and won't play. Kevin Durant next year will not play. Clay Thompson, most of the regular season, will not play. Russell Westbrook's own team now acknowledging he's their second best player. Chris Paul's injury has taken him out of a top 15 list. I think it's fair to say Ben Simmons has regressed. So as much negativity as LeBron faced this year,

and he stopped following me on my social media because I badgered him all year because I said it's a bad year for optics. It was a bad year on the court. There was too many businesses. You were too distracted. I was thinking this morning, who are the 10 best players next year on the NBA? You know who I have, number one? Number one's LeBron James.

Now, I know y'all love Kauai, but he's a better ball handler than Kauai. He's a bigger athlete than Kauai. He'll be more rested than Kauai. LeBron's a best player in the league. I think Kauai is the second best player in the league, and he's a very good second best player, but he's going to take 20 games off. LeBron's rested. He won't take 20, 25 games off. I think Yonis is the third best player in the league.

and probably along where Rudy Gobert, the best defensive player in the league. I think Steph Curry, I know everybody's selling him because he struggled some in the finals. Steph Curry's an absolutely impactful player and has changed the way we play basketballs for. I think James Hardin and Anthony Davis go five and six. Hardin controls the ball, so I give him a nudge over Anthony Davis. I think Damien Lillard 7 had a great postseason. Joel M. beat is 8, although I worry about his injury concerns. I think the Joker in Denver, who finally America figured out is a.

fascinating player. Acknowledge he's got an odd NBA body, but he's a great player, and I think Paul George is 10. And so those are the beat to the 10 best players in the NBA. I think LeBron's number one again. And I know everybody's in on Kauai Leonard, but Kauai is very comfortable now. If he stays in Toronto, taking 22 games off, he's not the ball handler of LeBron. He's not the rebounder of LeBron. He's not the passer of LeBron.

Frankly, I don't think he has LeBron's leadership qualities. And also, LeBron's going to have Anthony Davis right next to him. So that's going to help LeBron because there's going to be some double teams on Anthony Davis in the low post. So in the end, it's been a choppy year for LeBron. But if you're honest about it, he's probably the best player in the league with KD out, Clay out, Chris Paul's injury. Westbrook's been sort of unveiled. I mean, Ben Simmons regressed. It's kind of where we're – and I didn't put Kyrie in the top 10 because, as I said, I think he's a great individual talent.

but I think he's difficult. I think Kyrie is the current NBA star that I'm much lower on than everybody else in the league. It's just a little flaky for my taste. It's just certain guys work for me. Certain guys don't. Kyrie, I'm sort of out on. Maybe he'll reel me back in.

I'm kind of out on him. Much like, by the way, I was out on Westbrook, much earlier than people, out on John Wall, much earlier than people. I'm kind of out on Kyrie Irving. But LeBron's still the best player in the NBA. There you go. USA, France tomorrow.

I want to remind everybody about. that Rob Parker's around the corner. He's going to argue because that's what he does for a living. He'll be joining us coming up next. If you've ever used your bank's digital payment service to send somebody, let's say money, listen to this, cyber thieves have found ways to steal from bank accounts by using this popular banking service. Scammers are using a combination of spoofed phone calls that look like they're coming from a customer bank. By the way, I got a weird phone call yesterday from my own number. How's that for crazy? I was literally taking a nap, I put the phone next to me so I can feel it buzzed. I looked up, it was my number. And I was like, all right, this is a Matrix deal.

I'm not Keanu Reeves. I'm not answering this thing. Have you ever been called by your own number? No, that's true. It could have been me from a time machine. Good call on that. Yeah, in the future. 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 Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't 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. 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, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, fam. This 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 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, after 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. 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? Come on out. Quarterback on office blue of 42.

Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Palm. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The FIFA Women's World Cup continues with quarterfinal action on Fox. Today, Norway takes on England. Coverage begins at 2 Eastern.

Then tomorrow, the U.S. puts their title defense to the test as they battle France. Coverage begins from Paris at 2 Eastern on Fox or watch live on the Fox Sports app. Megan Rapino says she's not going to the White House. It's very controversial. very controversial. I don't think it's controversial. You can go or not go. Who cares? But that's what this country's about. That you're supposed to have the right to do what you want to do.

It's called dissent. How dare you have an opinion about what you do with your own life? I know, crazy. By the way, that's what makes America America. Public dissent. I would go because I would go for any president. But if you don't want to go, don't go. All right, Rob Parker joining us. Okay, first of all, I drove to work this morning,

knew you'd be on the show, and I knew you'd have trouble with this. You and I are on the opposite sides of the spectrum on this. Brady and Peyton Manning have been friends all along. I think it's wonderful. I think it's a con that you think everybody's fighting. There's so much money now. Nobody's taking anybody else's money off the table. There's 10, there's nine shoe companies in the NBA paying players.

Used to be like Nike and Converse, and that was it. You don't like this. I don't like it because I still think there should be a competition. We've gotten to the point where guys used to try to take food off each other's plate. Now they're eating off the same plate. And you're right. And the money has blurred the lines for a lot of people because of that. But here's the thing.

Just think about one of the all-time rivals with Isaiah Thomas and Michael Jordan. It got to the point where it wasn't. Remember, Isaiah got the best of him early on. Michael then got him at the end. And during it, Michael was the one who kept him off the dream team. Just think about this. how deep rooted that was and how much they didn't get along and like each other. And you like that.

I do from the standpoint of, I'm just saying, that there was real rivals you really wanted to beat guys. You didn't work out with each other during the off season. And then you go play. It's too much friendly, friendly, buddy, buddy. It's a jersey swapping culture. Yeah, and all that. Why would you do all that night? Maybe years later after you retire and whatnot.

But that was like the fraternizing. You see with baseball, you're frattingizing with the other. guys, you would have a fight in the old days if a player from another team tried to come into your clubhouse? It wouldn't happen. Players wouldn't allow another guy to come in. I think the American public overwhelmingly agrees with you. I think most people don't like my opinion on this, which is, listen, money changes everything. We've got 20-year-old billionaires now because of Silicon Valley. It's life. The NBA guys are all making money. But I'm just saying from, it's just like the AAU mentality we talk about all the time.

You don't like it. I hate it. You all agree. great players in the city all gang up on one team, beat nobody, and then beat their chest like, oh, we went undefeated. Of course you did. You didn't beat anybody. No, so the Brady Manning thing, it just pulls a little bit of emotionally you wish they hated each other. Exactly. More like they wanted to beat each other's brains in and wanted to be that guy during that era, not let's share this. And you win a few, I want a few. This is great. And we both get paid. That's the way I like. All right, Zion, let me guess. Let me guess your take on Zion. You're going to follow Ennis Canter and tell me he's Julius Randall. I might not go that far,

but the hype over him is way overboard. Here's a guy, this is the thing that gets me, and I'm not, he can wind up being a great player. I don't know. I got to see how he transitions into the NBA, but think about it. The hype is we. from this standpoint. He was in college basketball. There's no other players. The third, right? The third pick in the draft. He was first. The third was a teammate. Who did he play? You couldn't even name the fourth player in the NBA draft this year prior to the draft because there was no other player. So he played at Duke, a high profile legendary school. And then there are no other big stars around. So of course he stands out bigger than anybody. Your eyes don't tell you he's dynamic? Yes, but I didn't see him against anybody else to really know where he fits in. And when you get to the NBA, everybody's good. Everybody.

So, everybody. So until we get to see him in those situations, I'll be able to tell. Just because he has Instagram followers and they're selling more merchandise, you know why he sells more merchandise than anybody else? Why? Because people have access now to be able. In the old days, you had to be in that city. that town to buy that stuff. Now you go online.

Now you can get anything. You can watch any game you want. It wasn't like that when Michael Jordan and other people were coming along. It's totally warped. Do you think he'll be a good player? Yeah, I do. But I'm just saying I'm not ready. People are ready to send him to the Hall of Fame and this and that.

He's going to be the next LeBron James. I'm not there yet. I just have to see him. I don't think he's as good as LeBron. I don't think that. They're like he's the next it. I've heard that over and over. I'm not sure he's as good.

I'm not sure he's going to be as good as Charles Barkley. I think he's going to be better than Blake Griffin and better than Larry Johnson. He won't score as many points as Carl Malone because he won't have a John Stockton. I think he's going to be a 10-time All-Star. He's going to be the face of the league within about three years. And he'll be a great, great 24 and a half to 25 and a half-point player. But I don't think he's going to be LeBron James. I'm just not convinced yet.

I just have to see him with the better talent. I think he played against nobody in college. And when you're a dominant big guy like that, like he was, he's going to shine bigger than everybody else. All right. LeBron and Anthony Davis, you must be overwhelmed. You live in Los Angeles. You can get season tickets. And favored in Vegas to win the championship, LeBron and A.D.

No way, no how am I buying into this? First of all, I'm not even sure that this is the perfect match as everybody else is making it out. Because look at the last two big guys who play with LeBron and what were they reduced to. Chris Boss and also Kevin Love will put up unbelievable numbers in Minnesota. No, they were both 24 a game. I mean, they were dominant NBA players. And they didn't turn out to be that way. And I'm more convinced that maybe Kyle Kuzma winds up being that second option, not Anthony Davis.

Kyle Kuzma is passing the ball, Anthony Davis. I'm not sure. I don't think he passes it to anybody. But they went bent over backwards to keep Kyle Kuzma for a reason. They think he has stark quality. Yes. Correct? I do too, yeah.

So he could wind up being the Dwayne Wade, the Kyrie Irving. He could be in that mix that LeBron has had with his three big players. You don't think they'll win games? I'm not convinced so far from this standpoint. Look at the West. It's stacked. I try to find out who's falling out that made the playoffs a year ago to allow the Lakers to move in. Pelicans in Utah are better.

That's indisputable. Utah's better. Pelicans are better. And Denver's better from an experience standpoint. They had a good team last year. I think they'll win the West. And then I do think Portland Nurkich is back, so they'll be better. So I'm trying to look.

And the only spot I would say is the A spot with the Clippers. But if they get Kawhi, then they leap all the way to the top. So the Lakers could be left out in the cold. Are the Lakers better? Yes. But you would have to give me a team that's falling out. And I don't see it so far. Who's falling out?

Is Golden State not going to make a team? the playoffs? No, they will. Okay, so I'm looking. Is Houston not going to make the playoffs? They will. So who's throwing out? Golden State will. Houston will. Utah definitely will. Portland. Denver. I have Denver winning the West. That's five. O'K.C.

They're out. Out. I'd go Lakers. I would go Pelicans are fascinating, maybe a bit young. If Minnesota got DeAngelo Russell, I'd put Minnesota in. The Clippers? 148 games. Oh, Clippers. My bad. Clippers are in. Spurs? Yeah, Spurs are probably in.

So I'm looking around and saying. There's not a lot of openings at the hotel. There's not a lot of hotel rooms open. And that's why I'm not buying it. And then I don't know, Anthony Davis is there a transition year trying to figure out we're playing with LeBron. Don't forget. LeBron is year 17.

And you could talk about 27, 8, and 8 all you want. But they weren't impactful numbers as they were a year ago. When he went into playoff mode, activated, do you remember? that? Yeah. They lost to bad teams and LeBron played. Their record was 28 and 27 with LeBron. That's what the Lakers were.

They were, a 500 team. By the way, you're a baseball guy. You do my Inside the Parker podcast on the Hurd podcast network. You're also a baseball Hall of Fame voter. Explain something to me. The Yankees, everybody's been hurt. And there's still, I think, seven games in front in their division. Now Judge and John Carlos Stanton are back, favorite to win the American League.

and they've literally had nobody healthy. How do you explain that as a baseball Hall of Fame voter? Because now they play this weekend in London. By the way, did you see that airplane? The Red Sox traveled on. Oh, my goodness. It's a hotel with wings. Unbelievable.

Explain it to me. It's been unbelievable. The Yankees have had so much depth and got so much production from a lot of different people. And it's incredible. The thing that you look at the Dodgers, as good as they are, have 55 wins. Yankees have 51.

And nobody's been healthy. And nobody's been healthy. They lost their number one starter, Severino, D.D. Degorius was out. Judge, Stan, I could go on and on and on. The team that was on a disabled list or the injured list now was as good as the team that was playing. But LeMayhew and all these young kids, Gleiber Torres and all these guys have just come up and been big for them. Luke Voigt at first base might be the starting first base in the American League. So they've just gotten their depth is great.

They have a really good bullpen. And the Yankees, if they go out and get one more pitcher, they will be the favorite to win the World Series. Good senior, Rob Parker. Always. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. So the Raptors just won their first championship in franchise history. They're trying to convince Kauai to stay, trying to win a few more. And NBA vet, Lou Williams shared some interesting insight on why it's so difficult for the Raptors the key players. He played for the Raptors in the 2014-15 season, and he was on the no-chill podcast with Gilbert Arenas and said this. Once you're there, you'll love playing for the Raptors, you love playing for the country because it's just huge. The whole country. Like that fourth, fifth month into the season, you're like, I want to go home. When you play in Toronto,

you feel like you're playing overseas. Oh, it does? It feels like it, but like we can't wait to go on the road sometimes. Just to be in a man. America. You know what I'm saying? That's going to be the problem. It's like little shit you don't think of. Like the channels on your TV, phone bill, you got to get a

Canadian bank account. Like it's a shit like that that people don't think about. There is a lot to what he said that you forget about. There's the little everyday things that are different that, you know, affect your psyche, especially for routines, which athletes are very big on. But I will say this is kind of a unique situation. because Kauai is going to be the biggest star.

He has an opportunity to be the biggest sports star maybe in Canadian sports history. If he used to win another championship, which is totally possible, they're a well-run team, and there can be some moves made in the East. You know, one of the losers in this is hockey, is that when you looked at the sales and the TV ratings of the Raptors, the NHL, the Canadian team,

Joy, are kind of struggling to win playoff series because of the pay structure and a lot of guys, a lot of great hockey stars feel they can make more money. You know, I mean, Canada is smaller than California. And so the endorsements are better here. Canada, not since the Vancouver Canucks, they're not getting to the Stanley Cup final. They're not winning it. If the Raptors maintain Kauai, can you make an argument? They'll become the country's number one team, an NBA team in a hockey country.

because I think, you know, Toronto is obviously the biggest city in Canada. It's also the most noteworthy global city in Canada. It's the most discussed global city in the country. The interesting part about this is if Kauai stays, the NHL's got to be looking at this thinking in Canada. We thought we had that real estate covered. They've got to be a little nervous. Yeah, because I think the Raptors, they're really the country. I mean, not only obviously they're the country's team, but they're an incredibly embraceable NBA team.

team with a lot of veteran players. No, I thought they were fun all season. And Drake's connected to them. Right. And the only real negative that was surrounding the team during the regular season was, is Kauai going to be able to perform in the postseason? Because he was out for so many games. Nobody really knew what to expect. But they do know what to expect now.

And the endorsements are going to be incredible. And let's not forget, this isn't forever, you know. Like everybody's motivated by different things. if he can build a legacy or a dynasty or even just sustained success with the Raptors, that's going to live on forever. So it's a different factor than just being a free agent and staying for a few more years in Toronto. So Josie Alcador returned to the U.S. starting lineup yesterday in his first start for the national team in 20 months. My wife's gone, kids gone, dogs gone.

That's what I did, Joy last night. Such a soccer all day. You were doing amazing things because you have an amazing life. I was home with crickets watching this game. Well, here's the goal here. Yeah, bicycle kick. Yes, bicycle kick lifting U.S. over Panama won nothing. Now, Joy, this is bigger than people think for a couple reasons.

We were beaten by Panama. This United States men's national team was in the toilet. After we lost to Trinidad Tobago, didn't make the World Cup. A huge national disappointment, got the coach fired. This team didn't surrender a goal in the knockout round. This was their backup roster. So they beat a Panama team with their backups. This was a significant win for them last night.

So they're at the top of the 2019 Gold Cup Group B. And it was also the U.S.'s 11th of the tournament tying the program's Gold Cup record. So they'll now face the Cinderella story, Curacao, and the quarterfinals on Sunday at 8.30 p.m. Eastern on FS1. Now, Greg Berkhaulzer is the new coach. his whole theory is Clint Dempsey's gone. We're going young. So he is playing a lot of kids. And his whole thing is

listen, we just got to be ready for the 2020 World Cup. I got to be honest with you, offensively, it's the best they've looked. They really are humming. A lot of shots on goal. A lot of opportunity. I'm very excited. Any kind of positive momentum right now. They were in the toilet a year ago.

In the toilet. They definitely deserve credit for that. So finally, we talk a little bit about this this morning. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning had some legendary showdowns back in the day, but apparently they ran into each other and it was all just a lie. Brady snapped a selfie with the caption, Spoil alert. We were friends this whole time. Always great to see you, Peyton.

Look at that. Well, okay. So there's a lot going on here. One, as I've been saying for a long time, and I told you earlier, beef is dead. I just don't believe it anymore. I don't get caught up in it. if it's really genuine, you will be able to tell. And it just doesn't exist anymore.

Everyone was freaking out, oh, Draymond and Drake. They're having dinner in a few hours. Yeah, you're right. It's not that deep. It's just not anymore. And it's okay. I'm okay with it because sometimes those beefs and rivalries would get a little ugly. It's not as fun for the fans because, you know, you have all these memories of these great battles.

And then he posts a selfie and says we were friends. We never really took it that personally. And it kind of takes the buzz out of it. Now, do they really ever take it personally? I don't think so. Unless something is personal is said. I can compete against you, but not consider you an enemy. And by the way, I can want to beat you in tennis.

But Federer and Nadal. Nadal wins on clay. Federer wins hard court. They're clearly, they've both made $125 million or plus. They have too much respect for each other. The money changes things a lot. The money makes a big difference. When everyone's making hundreds of millions of dollars,

it's hard to go and climb into your silk sheet, fluffy bed. and be angry about it. You know, it's not saying that they're not competitive people, but you're not, you don't have the animosity for your opponent that I think used to exist before. Now, there was some other kind of underlying stories. You remember in the middle of the flake gate, that email came out with Brady kind of, you know,

taking a little shot at Manning. He was saying he has another seven or eight years, and Manning's basically done. It's the final chapter. I didn't even really think that that was a big deal. Neither did I. It was just, like, revealed that he was talking about it. Yeah, it was, it wasn't, again,

It wasn't that deep. And the thing that's annoying about it is like this whole time, you know, if you're a fan, you were really getting into it. And then he puts the picture up like, oh, we're just friends. Like, oh, it's so silly for wasting your time, being mad about all that. That's kind of the part that's like, that's annoying for fans. I feel so lucky. I would love what is the next Manning Brady?

So for 12 years, I got Peyton Manning and Brady. It was Ollie Frazier. It was. I mean, I was kind of hoping it was going to be Bahams and golf. I think it could be Mahomes and luck. My guess is today it'll be Patrick Mahomes and Andrew Luck for the next eight years. I don't think it'll ever feel as big as Brady and Manning because I think Manning... I don't know, though.

I mean, Mahomes, I can see, but these are two huge personalities. Like, luck, obviously, incredible talent. He's boring. He's boring. But they're not the personalities that Brady and Manning are. So... Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. Chains will stop by, give you the very latest, and all the stuff with free agency, that's coming up. 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 athletes 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,

or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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 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. What's up, guys?

This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42.

A rep. My mama want you to 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. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. By the way, go further than ever with a Discover at Miles card. Match the miles you earn at the end of the first year.

35,000 could become 70. Limitations apply. New card members only, discover.com slash travel. Chris Haynes, FS1 NBA analyst, Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Insider. So I'm looking on the internet yesterday. My wife's gone for the weekend. So it's a lot of me and watching whatever I want and internet stuff and naps. And that Kevin Durant's got his arm around, Charles Oakley.

But everybody's telling me that Kevin Durant still hasn't made up his mind. And I thought about this, Chris. LeBron struggled with every move. Okay. I remember Maverick Carter and those guys saying, three days out, he did not know he was going to Miami. It shocked us when he went back to Cleveland. I think we as consumers and media think these guys have all this stuff figured out.

My feeling on Kevin Duran is this is hard. He's a good listener. Do you think he's got it figured out? I do. In this situation, I do. That doesn't mean it's not hard. Remember when he signed with Golden State Warriors, then it came out later on that he was kind of upset. at one point, you know, asking his manager, why did you let me do this?

Why did you, why did I do this? So, but I think, look, this connection with New York, I'm talking about the Nix, you know, we've been known about this for a while. And the way things happened, the way things ended abruptly for KD in Golden State this last year, it couldn't have came at a, at a, at him, it couldn't come at a worse time for Golden State with hopes of retaining him. That's why I think, you know, he's going to meet with some teams out there. the Knicks included.

I just don't, I just don't feel good. If I'm a Warriors fan, I just don't feel good. He's selling his Malibu House, so he is moving off his West Coast real estate. Now, there are varying reports, Chris. It could be Kyrie Irving and Nets, the second most popular team, or it would be the Nix. You're saying it's Nix. I think it would be more so the Nix than Brooklyn.

But obviously, I think he's definitely looking into it because Kyrie looked like that's a foregone conclusion with Kyrie ending up in Brooklyn. So it's something he's going to listen to, but I ultimately think the Knicks have the upper hand. Okay, so that's where we stand on that. Let's go to Kauai Leonard. And at this point, Kawhi Leonard's been the one player. I don't know that anybody truthfully knows it. He's a very quiet, reticent guy.

Do you have a gut feeling on Kauai Leonard today? I think, look, I think he's going to meet with a handful of teams I reported that. And, you know, I spoke with Uncle. Go ahead. No, you reported, no, what teams did you report? I reported, I didn't report the teams. I reported a handful. We have an idea what the teams are going to be.

But it's going to be a handful of teams. I spoke with his uncle, Uncle Dennis Robertson, right before the finals started. He was telling me about just the trust that was built in Toronto, with the medical staff, with the front office, and how they didn't initially going over the Toronto, they didn't want to do it. They had no desire to be there. Obviously, things have changed.

Trust was built, something that eroded when he was in San Antonio the past year. So I think, man, Toronto has a great shot of retaining him. But, you know, he's going to listen to other teams, you know, particularly the L.A. Clippers. We all know they've been going after them all year behind the scenes. So I think it's going to be tough. But ultimately, I like where, I like where. Toronto is at right now.

Explain to me, I hear the J.R. Smith stuff to the Lakers. So, A.D. and LeBroner in, Kyle Kuzma, who I thought they needed to keep his in. I hear a lot of DeAngelo Russell stuff. Is that just internet stuff, or do you buy DeAngelo? Because I think Minnesota is desperate. Here's my theory on DeAngel. Minnesota's got Carl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins and had been really disappointing. The fans are getting tired of it.

The owner's getting tired of it. And the GM's going to go all in on DeAngel. Now I got three All-Star-Level guys. I think you can't keep selling me Andrew Wiggins and Carl Anthony Town and not making the playoffs and the West is stacked. I think they back the truck up for DeAngelo. And frankly, I think they're a playoff team. I don't think the Lakers can pay everything. Because DeAngelo Russell, to me, I mean, if you got AD, LeBron, DeAngelo, and Coosma, that's a bunch of good players.

That should be favorites in the West. So he's kind of a linchpin to me. Where do you think he goes? Minnesota is a good spot. Look, the Lakers, there is interest in him returning to the Lakers. You know, that part is true. That is true. I would expect him to meet what the Lakers doing free agency.

You look at the fit. I know people are a little bit concerned about the fit, but you look, DeAngel, he's matured since he left L.A. He's a bona fide all-star now in his right. And he's somebody who can play on the ball or off the ball. He can. That's a very good point. He can be a two-guard.

And that's very beneficial. playing alongside LeBron James. And so, you know, obviously it's not the marquee free agent that, you know, the Kevin Durant, Kauai, Jimmy Butler, here. Yeah, but you already got one. You already landed one. I agree. I agree.

And that's why I think it makes all the sense in the world if they were to make that work. But going to the Minnesota, I don't know how much better they would be in Minnesota. Because I still have my bones to pick with Andrew Wiggins. I just don't know. I don't know about that kid. But it definitely, point guard, spot for Minnesota. That would feel that. I would feel that void immensely.

By the way, Zion Williamson sold more jerseys and T-shirts than the entire first round combined. When you talk to people through the league, I think he feels like Tiger Woods when he was winning juniors. I think he's going to be a star. Now, I don't think he's going to be an all-star level player out of the shoot. I think he's going to have to figure it out. They're a very young team. There's a bunch of new parts there. So I think the Pelicans will be interesting post-trading deadline.

good in February, March. I think he's going to walk into this league and be a star, though. What are you hearing from your people? What are they saying about Zion? Well, I think he's going to be a star from the get-go. But I think based off – I think he's going to be a star just for the status that he has right now. Not necessarily star player. But with that being said, Kyle, I remember when I – you know, my first season covering the league full-time was the 11-12 season.

And there were two teams that when you would go to their games – the fan base or the butts in the seats were just abysmal. The Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans. Yeah. And it was still that way, considering the fact that they had Anthony Davis, who's regarded as the top five players. It's a football city. Yeah, it's a football city.

But I think that's all going to change with Zion being there. You know, the buzz, the hype that's around him, and he's embracing the city. You know, he's going out there doing community events already. Hasn't even signed his New Orleans Pelicans contract yet. but he's out there, and you can tell he's going to embrace this, and I think they're going to be, that tennis is going to skyrocket from the world.

And it's good for them because they've been suffering for a while. But no, I think he's going to be a star in that regard in season one. I don't think he's going to be a bus. I just don't know the extent of the start of him he's going to be as a player in the league, but I think he's going to be fine. So we've got all this, you know, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, say Boston not interested, and there is sort of a feeling a lot of players, especially Rich Paul guys, don't love Boston.

Now we hear the Kimball Walker stuff. I think he actually is a good fit. I don't like players taking pay cuts, but Charlotte's not going to offer him a max. So the pay disparity is not as huge as a lot of the reports. What do you hear about the Celtics now? Because they got money, and Horford and Kyrie are gone. So and being able to get Kimba,

and there's a lot of people who feel like that's a done deal. with Kim going to Boston four years, $140, $41,000. He's going to get that regardless of if he goes to Boston, New York, Dallas. But like Boston has the upper hand for sure. But with that being said, what it does is it keeps them in that hunt right now. The championship contendant hunt.

Yeah, and the east it does. And then look, you look at all that they would have lost would be Al Horford. And so I reported, you got, you had them on yesterday in his canter. Yeah. I reported that, you know, Boston is looking at Ennis cancer. Boston, Los Angeles Lakers. Oh, he'll give you 17 points.

And, N.S. gives you 17 points tonight. And what Kimba does and why he's not better than Kyrie, but he may be a better fit. That's everything. Yeah, for Boston. And so it makes all this sense in the world. They can get this done. They hit a home run, considering they're going to lose their top two players this offseason. Yeah.

Kema's a really good player. Kamba, and I was telling Joy this earlier, Kamba's got a bigger brand for college basketball for me. I remember the Madison Square Garden stuff than I've watched them play. I don't see Charlotte play much. I'll be honest with you. I just don't.

It's not because I'm just on the West Coast, but they've never been a team that I set my TV schedule for. There's about eight teams I watch regularly. They're not one of them, and he's a terrific score. And what Charlotte did, they kind of messed up the situation. We knew for a while that it was a good chance that Kimball Walker was going to get one to three all-MBA team spots. And so you knew you were going to have to, he was going to be elderly.

eligible fast supermax. Why did they not try to trade him at the deadline to try to get something for him? Now he's going to walk for free. And they'll get nothing. They'll get nothing in return. And for a Charlotte Hornet franchise who overpaid for a lot of players they have on their roster, waiting for those contracts to expire, you need some more assets coming in. So they messed that up.

Jimmy Butler, where does he land? I think Jimmy ultimately lands back with the Philadelphia 76. Yeah, so do I. I think it works actually for it. does work. I mean, he was a key piece for them in the playoffs. We were saying this yesterday is that because Ben Simmons is not a shooter and he's more of a passer, that

Ben Simmons doesn't really get in the way of Jimmy Butler's game in that Butler gets the ball at the end of the shot clock and at the end of possessions. And Jimmy likes that. Simmons is one of those rare NBA players who has the ball in his hands but really does want to accentuate

your game. And I think Butler in a weird way, he and Simmons kind of oddly fit. They do. You know, I'll say this. I think the only way that Jimmy interferes with Ben Simmons' game is down the stretch. And you've seen like in the fourth quarters, Jimmy started bringing a ball up.

He was playing point. And it worked to the Sixers' benefit because he's somebody who can catch and shoot from the outside. And that's what you need down to playoffs at that point. So that's the only time where Ben Simmons has to try to play a game. He's not that accustomed to doing. All right. Chris Haynes, good C&U. FS1 NBA analyst.

Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Sider, and his phone is ringing for the next week. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeard radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Okay, here is reasonably breaking news, broken news. According to Wojj, Anthony Davis is waving his $4 million trade kicker. That means it gives the Lakers a little more cap space. The Lakers are now also trading Mo Wagner, Isaac, Bunga, and Jamario Jones to the Wizards as part of the Anthony Davis deal with New Orleans. League sources tell Zach Lowe, he's a respected reporter and podcaster.

So the deal clears contracts and creates more cap space for free agency. So now the Lakers. They can sign a max player now. Yeah, now they have 32 million. So the Lakers can now afford a max player. So they have LeBron, they have Anthony Davis, and now they have space for a third. What is really interesting in all this is the well-run clippers are fighting for their life. They've done everything right.

Chemistry, owner, GM, brought in Jerry West, went to the playoffs. Doc Rivers had his best coaching year, arguably. They're fighting for their lives in a tug-of-war with the Raptors to get Kauai. and the Lakers have LeBron, Anthony Davis, and now officially AD waves his trade kicker. The Lakers have $32 million, so here you go. They must know something, right? Well, I mean, this is big news because they were not going to be able to be realistically in the running for any of these max players. All right.

So let's go to Ian Begley. Ian, of course, S.N.Y in New York covers the Nets and the Knicks. so let's go to our phone for this. So Kyrie Irving is one of the players that has been mentioned. But Ian, give me your insight. I've been told he's going to be a Brooklyn net. What are you hearing about Kyrie and the Nets? Because if this Laker story just came out,

Kyrie is one of the big names mentioned. What do you hear with Kyrie? Well, listen, the team's chief. Somebody who is connected to Kyrie said before the Anthony Davis deal went down that the only way the Lakers would have a shot at Kyrie is if they did the deal before the draft and were able to create enough cap space to bring them in. And obviously they did that. So, you know, I wouldn't, you know, people are in the league.

Don't see the Lakers out of it on anybody as far as Max Starris, though, particularly after this transaction that you guys just mentioned. But everybody who's paying attention to Irving's free agency, again, sees the Nets as the on favorite as we head towards Sunday evening. Kevin Durant, not a Laker. Nobody thinks that. What are you hearing about Durant on the East Coast? Well, you know, I have now because I think they've gone pretty silent,

Durant and the people around him. But no team believes they're out of it. And that includes the Knicks. I think the Knicks believe that there still have a shot here with Kevin. Obviously, the Nets think they have a shot. And then you have Golden State looming. with that monster offer that they can offer, Kevin, if they so choose. And then you have the clippers.

So, I don't think any team has been given any indication one way or the other, that they're fully out of it. Again, heading into Sunday, here we are, four days from the start of free agency. Okay, you covered this year DeAngelo Russell. So if I was a Laker fan, I would say, well, if he's so great, why are you letting him go? Can you give us the truth with DeAngelo Russell? because Ian, when he was in Los Angeles, Magic didn't like him.

Major maturity issues. It did not go well. Was not liked in the locker room. Is he a different young man this morning? I can only speak to my experiences with DeAngelo covering, especially the latter part of this season. He was polite with the media. He was a gentleman with us. People around that organization said he was mature.

They said that they were well aware of the red flame, but that was not. their experience at all. And I think that, you know, the veterans on that net team, Jared Dudley, DeMarie Carroll, taking care of his body. And that was a part of... Well, stories coming out, Anthony Davis has waived the kicker. So the Lakers now have $32 million. All your sources around the league, I know you're on the East Coast, but, you know, you're also tri-state area around Jimmy Butler. Butler's going to be one of the four guys. Butler, Kyrie, DeAngelo, Kauai Leonard are the four guys the Lakers appear to be interested in. What do you hear about Jimmy Butler?

The interesting other day, you know, Jimmy Butler and pairing those guys up and have that space outside of those three. All right, Ian, we got to run. Thank you very much. We appreciate you stopping by. Here we go. This is the big story. This is the breaking news. So Anthony Davis has waived his kicker.

and they've traded parts to the Washington Wizard. So that means LeBron, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, they have money for a max player. The four players, and I'll just tell you my gut feeling on this, the four players that have the highest percentage chance to land there are Jimmy Butler number one. I don't think it's Jimmy Butler. I think Philadelphia is going to max him. I think Philadelphia needs a shooter and a score. So even though Jimmy Butler is in Los Angeles,

all the time. About two weeks ago, I saw a video of Mark Wolberg and Jimmy Butler hanging out at his home in Los Angeles. I don't think it's Jimmy Butler. I also think Houston is desperate to get Jimmy Butler. I think Houston's more desperate than the Lakers are for Jimmy Butler. So I think between Philadelphia and Houston, even though Jimmy likes Los Angeles, I think that's where Butler lands. Kyrie Irving. I've never bought into it. Anthony Davis and LeBron are a little less flaky. Kyrie's injury prone. He is an East Coast guy. The source I trust told in me Kyrie wanted to stay in the east. His dad wanted him to stay in the east. I'm told it's the Nets. I would eliminate him. Kauai Leonard. I think the Clippers have the upper hand. I think

it's a two-team race. I think he may give the Lakers an interview. I believe that to be true. But I think it's Clippers and Toronto, though I have no insight with Kauai Leonard. My feeling on this is DeAngelo Russell. That's what my gut tells me on this. DeAngelo Russell, I don't know if you'd have to pay him 32. If you could convince him to come for less than that and then get a bench guy or a fifth starter,

I also think DeAngelo is a shooter. Now, he's more of a mid-range guy than a three guy, but he can play point when LeBron hits the pine. He can move over to the two when LeBron has the ball. Their games probably work pretty well together. You know, immaturity, he left L.A. He comes back. Reportedly, Magic was not a fan of DeAngelo.

Everybody else was okay with him. Everybody else in-house was okay with him. Magic didn't like him. Magic, though, mature for his age, very much about business. Magic's not into the nonsense. It's all about the commerce, so Magic was just tired of his nonsense. This feels to me, I know it's late. I think DeAngelo Russell feels like the fit here.

And I wonder if you'd have to pay him 32, because you pay them a little bit less and then convince him to take just a tad less. And then I think, then I do believe, if your team is LeBron, top one or two player in the league, Anthony Davis, top five or six player, DeAngelo, top 20, 25 player, Coosma, one of the 15, 20 best young players,

then they would be favored for the NBA championship. What really takes me back, and I feel bad for the Clippers. The Lakers, and I don't think this is even an opinion, they've had a great deal of dysfunction for the last two to three years. I mean, magic joining, magic quitting, Rob Polinka, magic not getting along, losing record. There's just been a lot of chaos around the Lakers for two and three years,

but it shows you the power of the brand is that when a Michigan football, a Yankee baseball, a Laker, a Celtics, a Dallas Cowboy. You can be down. Alabama football was down for a while. But when you get the right coach or the right people, you rebound incredibly fast. It is going to be so painfully ironic

if the Lakers land AD and DeAngelo Russell and the Clippers don't land anybody. I mean, that's going to be like, you talk about the power of branding because between Steve Balmer, Jerry West, Doc Rivers, the locker room. year. Clippers did everything right.

Probably the most overachieving team in the league. They did scouting right. I mean, they want to trade with the Lakers on Zubots. They want everything. They did everything right. The Lakers did virtually everything wrong. And the power of the brand, they now have room for another max player with the Lakers.

Well, I mean, you could say it's the power of the brand or LeBron. Rich Paul doesn't look all so crazy now that all this is playing out. But I think they still need shooters. Well, DeAngelo is shooter, but he's more on mid-range. He's a score. He's not a natural shooter.

He's like Kyle Kuzma's a score. I wouldn't call him a shooter. Clay Thompson's a shooter. No, they need a shooter. They really should get JJ Reddick. Oh, I'd love to see that. And JJ, I ever tell you, Jay-J. Reddick found my, I lost my dog one time, and JJ Reddick found him.

No, in Manhattan Beach. I was looking at a house with my wife and my dog got loose, and JJ Reddick was looking at a house in our neighborhood and came and said, hey, I found somebody's dog. He was very nice. JJ was very nice. Well, I think he was upset that it was my dog.

He was upset. It was your dog? No, no, no. I'm joking. Yeah, let it go out into the street after that. But no, Reddick has had a house in Manhattan Beach. Very much an L.A. guy likes it here. I don't think it's, he loved being a clipper.

I don't think it's crazy. I said this a week ago. Darren Collison, Patrick Beverly, J.J. Reddick, I would love to get. Now, do you sacrifice that and go get a four? I got to be honest with you. This is suddenly very interesting. Yeah. I don't think it's Kyrie.

I don't think it's Butler. I think Houston and Philly are desperate for Butler. Lakers aren't desperate for him. I think Kyrie is going to stay on the East Coast. And I think Kauai Leonard has two teams. He may visit the Lakers. I don't think he'll be sold on the Lakers. Joy with the News.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. NBA agency is so fun. It's crazy. You know, it's funny. Didn't I just say, I said 10 minutes ago.

I said, we may have a breaking news story, and then it popped. You also said these next few days are like the calm before the story. And here they go. Our first wave hit shore. It's already started, yes. So the Celtics are reportedly the frontrunner to land Kemba Walker when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Sunday at 6th, 6 p.m. Eastern. And Sham Sharania noted that Walker and the Hornets have reached a stalemate in their extension talks. Well, Woj reported that Boston can continue to clear up some cap space, create a number that gets up to

Kemba Walker's Max. Right now, Boston and Kemba are focused on each other, and there's a very strong possibility that Kemba Walker will replace Carrie Irving as a point guard as a centerpiece in Boston. And Vegas agrees they just released Kemba's free agency odds. And the Celtics are favored right now to land Kemba Walker. We haven't really seen how great Kemba Walker can be because we haven't seen him with a high level amount of talent around him. This would be a nice save by the Celtics. This would be a nice save. This would be huge for the selfish.

Yes. Because in their current, they're going to lose Al Horford, too. So in their current situation, they went from being what we expected to be Atinas in the NBA finals to what do they have, a complete young core. I was just texted something by a source. The Lakers feel like they are in the lead for a current free agent. They feel like they're in the lead for it. Which free agent?

That part. my source is not telling me. My source is telling me the Lakers feel like they are in the lead. So that must mean they're either in the lead for Butler, Kyrie, DeAngelo, or Kauai Leonard. That's why they made this. They think they're in the lead. See, I'm going to go DeAngelo.

That's my feeling. It's DeAngelo Russell. I mean, DeAngelo is the one that makes the most sense. He is, I tell you, that's a fun team. LeBron, DeAngelo, Anthony Davis, Couss. You know, remember when everybody was just saying, get rid of Cozma? I'm less interested in the fun. Well, yeah, I'm getting me.

No sense. Cusma's free. They're paying him nothing. Yeah, that doesn't make any sense. I don't think that the Lakers should go for fun at this point. They are in a win now situation. So they need to go with the pieces that work for what LeBron, at least, was. Because remember, we are going to see a new chapter of LeBron.

This is him coming off his first major injury. And I'm not saying that I don't think he's going to come back at 100% or better, but his game may have changed a little bit. I mean, he is going into what is 17th season. So the Rockets are in pursuit of Jimmy Butler, as you just mentioned. They do really want him. They offered four first-round picks at Timberwolves for Jimmy Butler earlier last season,

and it's now been reported that they're interested in a sign trade with Philly. And the rumor mill he ended up even more yesterday when Roge reported that the Rockets are now offering Eric Gordon, Clint Capella, and P.J. Tucker to clear up cap space. Clint Capella actually would fit very well with Kimba Walker in Boston because they're losing Al Horford. He can defend above the rim, and he plays to vend the rim on defense and he plays above the rim on offense.

Let me tell you something. Let me tell you something. If you lose Al Horford and Kyrie and you get Campbell Walker and Clint Capella, that is a great save. Yeah. That's a really good save by Boston. That's a solid team. Now, we put it all together because Boston's had these issues of fitting stars in there, but they feel like they could work into that system. And then, of course, you have Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker.

Jimmy Butler would add some defense there. not Gordon's not on the on the on the defensive end p j Tucker obviously is but those those two would work in Philadelphia they're gritty and they're great shooting and that would fit perfectly there so a lot of moves that the rockets need to make in order to get jimmy butler he is from Houston the locker room element of it with all the personalities and the rumors of how things ended in Houston with the the arguments and the not speaking and stuff could be interesting but how about this can i throw something at you yes There is gaining steam.

This is shady but fantastic. That Anthony Davis waived his $4 million trade kicker because he's getting it through Space Jam 2. Oh, yeah. I mean, of course. That's a given. So they're paying him through the movie deal. This is delicious. Yeah.

This is Gordon Gecko. Colin Chris Haynes also just reported that LeBron is giving him the number 23 next year. What in the heck? Hold on. Okay, continue on, please. I have to. I don't know what's happening right now. This is live television folks. All right.

So the Raptors won their first championship in franchise history, and they're trying to convince Kauai to stay. It's pretty much between the Raptors and the Clippers of Kauai at this point, so we assume. Well, Lou Williams had some thoughts on why it's difficult for the Raptors to keep players. He said this on the No-Shill podcast with Gilbert Arenas. Once you're there, you'll love playing for the Raptors. You love playing for the country because it's the whole country.

It's the whole country. Like that fourth, fifth month into the season you like. I want to go home. When you play in Toronto, you feel like you're playing overseas. Oh, it does? It feels like it, but like, we can't wait to go on the road sometimes, just to be in America. You know what I'm saying?

It's like little shit you don't think of, like the channels on your TV, your phone bill, you got to get a Canadian bank account. Like, it's shit like that that people don't think about. It is a big adjustment, but I do think that what's on the line for Kauai Leonard is slightly bigger than just a free private jet, free print house. Yeah, I mean, he has an opportunity to be a legendary Canadian athletes and not just for the city of Toronto. I think we may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves with being the greatest athlete in Canadian history.

You know, there are a few other names out there, Wayne Gretzky, you know, Gordy Howe. There's this few other guys that have placed their mark on Canadian sports history, even Steve Nash. but I do think that if they were to bring another championship, even just one more championship to Toronto, he would be up there. And it's, I mean, the endorsements that he would have, it's just, it feels so much bigger. Unfortunately, the Clippers did everything right, but it feels so much bigger, Kauai in Toronto.

So I'm told the Lakers believe they're a frontrunner for one of the free agents. Doesn't mean they've landed him. They believe they're a frontrunner. Holy moly. But which free agent? Huh? Did you ask him which free agent or her? That part, I don't think the Lakers know.

No, no. The Lakers know. But the Lakers don't want to make it public because if they don't land them, it looks foolish. Yeah, that's true. The Lakers believe they're a frontrunner, I'm told, for one of the free agents. That's their belief.

I got to be honest with you. I don't know Rob Polinka. Okay, I've said on the show many times. I've never met a guy who gets badmouth more, but if he pulls this off, I mean, you talk about talk to the hand. That is the ultimate facial. He's going to go, all right.

Magic laugh. I think as much as the blame went around for the dysfunction, I think the credit should probably go around as well. I don't know that they've streamlined their decision-making yet as far as that goes. I've got to tell you this, I've been ripping the Lakers for a year. No, if they pull all this off, they deserve credit for turning it around because that's what you need to do when you have a dysfunctional year. Chris Haynes reporting LeBron's giving Anthony Davis his number 23 jury.

to six? I like six with LeBron better anyway. Of course. Of course six is better. Of course six is better. Why would you wear 23? Kobe wore eight. I like eight better.

Six is better. Jeter wore two. I like smaller numbers. Zion wears one. Well, it's also because he said he didn't wear 23 out of respect for Jordan. Then he started wearing 23. So it just made a set. Let's go back to six.

Lakers like that. It's a new jersey to sell. It's craziness. Crazy town. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lod.

Life could be good for LeBron coming up next, though, why LeBron and Zion should file a major complaint with the NBA that's coming up. Be sure 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. Two legendary rivals will make history when they face off in the first Major League baseball game in England as the Yankees take on the Red Sox live from London, Saturday at 1230 Eastern 9.30 a.m. Pacific on Fox. The breaking news is Anthony Davis has waived as $4 million trade kicker, and the Lakers are trading several young players to the Washington Wizard. So they now have $32 million in cap space. This is a real story. We've got breaking news.

So the Lakers who have been, I mean, there's no arguing, even if you're a Laker fan, they've been kind of a mess. They draft the Angela Russell, they get them out of town, they put magic in, He quits on television. He doesn't tell his bosses. They move up Rob Polinka. Their flow chart, we don't know who really runs the organization. It's been kind of mayhem, man overboard.

But I say this all the time is when you have a big brand, and there's maybe 15 in American sports, Duke basketball, Notre Dame football, Ohio State football, Lakers, Celtics, Yankees. There's just not many of them. Dallas Cowboys are obviously Steelers, Packers. These are just, these are ingrained brands, right? Like they're just

bigger brands. They go down. Packers had 20 years. Steelers in between Super Bowls. Alabama football, Ohio State football. Like they all dip. There's no question. They all dip. Lakers have been a mass for five years. I think they have the second worst

record or worst record in the NBA for five years. But in a star-driven league, and there's two sports in the world that are really star-driven. Soccer and the NBA. Those are global sports where Real Madrid can go into the tank for seven years. If they get a Ronaldo, then suddenly they're the hottest brand in America. The power of memory, the power of us growing up with certain brands, Oregon football,

will never be as big as Michigan football as long as they both have the big coach. It doesn't matter. Michigan was so relevant in the 50, 60, 70s, 80s, 80s, 90s, you can't catch up. And you just got to remember with the Lakers. Between the Lakers and Celtics, you got like 35 titles since 1950. These are the two brands of note. Now, L.A. was always sunnier than Boston, but the culture has changed.

NBA players now are doing movies. They don't have to be great. You've got average guys doing movies. So the culture has benefited entertainment towns. And L.A. is the number one entertainment town. Boston's not. and this shows you the power of sunny weather. It shows you the power of LeBron James.

Don't kid yourself. LeBron's got a lot of power. It shows you the ability of LeBron to make a movie, maybe give you a little kicker here, a little kicker there. You know, people will say it's shady. I just think it's good business. I just think this is what it's recruiting. This is what you do.

By the way, in college basketball recruiting right now, and I'm not taking a shot at anybody, but a real trend is all these high school stars that go to universities, they all end up their parents move to Durham, North Carolina. They're moving to the, and I'm not picking on Duke. I'm just saying it's a real trend. Am I saying it shady? No, but I'm saying it's like a trend where high school stars end up going to universities

and the parents move to the town. Now it may just be for support, but it's like a trend. All of this is business. These are all businesses. It's just things change. We have an idea that there's some level of purity to it, because it's sport and competition, but it's a business at the end of the day.

It's the entertainment business. Yeah, this is a massive story. So now the Lakers have cap space. There's four players I believe they want. I think Kauai is who they want more than anybody. I don't think they're a leader in the clubhouse for Kauai. I think the Clippers and the Raptors are. That's who they choose first.

My next guess is they would choose Kyrie Irving. next if they had a choice. It wouldn't be my second choice. I think it would be LeBron's because of familiarity, and he is a pure shooter. I don't think they're going to get Kyrie Irving. I think their third choice would be Jimmy Butler because he's athletic, and again, spot-up shooter.

I think DiAngelo is, Giangelo Russell, is probably if you ask them their fourth choice, he's younger. I don't really see him as a max player. You gas him up with all that money. He had some immaturity problem. I do think he's a pretty good fit. I don't think he's nearly as good as good as Kauai.

I don't think he's as good offensive player as Kairi. I think he's the fourth-most-taloned guy. So my guess is the Lakers, DeAngelo would be their fourth choice in terms of, if we've got to pay somebody 32, Kawhi's your one. DeAngelo is your four. But I think DeAngelo is the one that they would be the leader in the clubhouse.

And I also think DeAngelo Russell, he liked L.A. He didn't like being traded. He liked L.A. He was a one in Dunner, came to Los Angeles, kind of a hangout guy, a little bit too much of one, but I think he liked Los Angeles. So, yeah, it's fascinating, right?

It's crazy. And we kind of knew what was happening because Sunday's the day, so I kept saying, watch Friday and Saturday, the rumors start to ramp up. Here we got one today. It does concern me, though. Like you're talking about getting DeAngelo Russell and Kai,

what does that do to Anthony Davis's game? Like we've seen this. Well, remember, LeBron won titles with Bosch and Kevin Love as their games were marginalized. I mean, the end game is winning titles. Right. He won those titles, but what were the other pieces that were around him when he won those titles? Let me ask you this. If you have LeBron A.D. and DiAngelo Russell, I don't think that's quite as talented as LeBron Bosch and D. Wade.

but it and because LeBron was in his prime and he's not in his prime. Right. But is LeBron, I think I think LeBron, Anthony Davis and DeAngelo Russell and Coosma is more talented than LeBron, Kevin, Kevin, Love, Kyrie Irving and Tristan. Yes. I just think that there's a, I think they need some some other very key X factor pieces. They need a J.J. Reddick and Darren Collison. They need those extra pieces. They need it.

They definitely need, listen, I, I, they wanted to keep Josh Hart. You know, they knew they were going to have. have to give up Lonzo. And we told LeVar Ball this on the set. Your son's going to get traded. I knew I was told that the Pelicans wanted Lonzo and one of the two forwards. The Lakers

thought Kuzma had greater leadership skills and was a healthier body than Ingram. The Lakers really ideally would give up Lonzo and get LaVar circus out of town. All right, here's another one. This isn't shocked me. Kauai Leonard plans to meet with both the Lakers and

Clippers. during free agency. That doesn't shock me. I think he would, if he's in Los Angeles, he would meet with the Lakers. Sure, especially now they have the space.

That's kind of out of respect to LeBron. You'd meet. You'd meet the Lakers. I'll tell you, though, this is, God, the poor clippers. God, the poor. But who knows? There's a lot of things

that can still happen. Jerry West will officially retire. He'll just, I'm done with it if Kauai signs with the Lakers. Let's not count the clippers out yet. What if they just get Al Horford? God, that would hurt.

That would be a kick to the solar plexus. So Kauai, according to Chris Haynes, going to meet the Lakers. The rest of the league is so pissed. They all hate the Lakers. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories,

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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 walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

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Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hiring. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game 7, Mark keep coming to. 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. Guaranteed Human.