The Mismatch - Should Teams Tank for Cooper Flagg? Plus: Lakers’ Future Post-LeBronn, and the Cavs’ Potential in the East.

Episode Date: August 23, 2024

Verno and KOC open up the mailbag to answer more of your questions (03:50). Is Jalen Brunson’s style of play sustainable? What are the chances the Pistons can reach the play-in? Are the Nets even worth watching? The guys answer these questions and more. Got a question for Verno and KOC? Send them an email at [e-mail]!Or you can send the guys a tweet @ChrisVernonShow and @KevinOConnorNBA! The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Producer: Jessie Lopez Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the summer of 1999, thousands attended what would be the final iteration of the Woodstock Music Festivals. But unlike its namesake, Woodstock 99 was not about peace and love. Joining me as I dive deep into this story about music, mud, violence, and tragedy. From Spotify and the Ringar Podcast Network, I'm Stephen Hayden. And this is Breakstuff, the story of Woodstock 99. Available Tuesday, August 27th. Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon and joining me as he does every Thursday night from the ringer.com is Kevin O'Connor, A.K.K.A. Kevin O'Bomber, Kevin O'Bomberton, A.Kee, Kevin O'Blesserner. How are you doing, man? What's up? I'm great. I'm taking this very short amount of time out from my week of watching Zach Edy, Jaman, uh, practice videos together to do this podcast.

So you're welcome. You're welcome. I've just been watching it on a loop. I have become a full-fledged Edie it like you. And John Morant showing incredible leadership inviting Zach Edie to work out with him in Texas. It looked like they were working out at SMU. But honestly, there has been, it's crazy. That clip came out this week.

And it got a lot of talk simply because we're, in that total dead period, right? We're now, I think I saw yesterday, media day is going to be roughly, I think the one here is September 30th. So teams, it'll be right around that area when teams are doing their media days, either the week before or that week, and then we'll get into training camps and then we'll get into the preseason soon after that. But we are really, I mean, when it's John Morant

practice videos and Zion Williamson weight loss, you know, well, I guess that's good for that draft class, right, with those two guys who were expected to be the future of the NBA. Guns and buns. Stop it. They have gone the wrong way for a couple of different reasons over the last year and a half. Yeah, we're kind of that, we're kind of that time of year where there is, we're just going to be,

and then, and then we'll get the inevitable, you know, Ben Simmons is making some shots, videos. Of course. Because that's a, that's a right of passage for August of every year. My only recommendation to Zach Eadie is when John Morant says, hey, man, what are you doing tonight after practice? Stop, stop. He's grown up now. Just tell him you going home. You're going on up.

That's all, Zach. Just go home. Grown up. He's grown up now. All right. Mailbag went great on Tuesday. Unbelievable response to the mailbag. Obviously, we got some personal questions.

We addressed said personal questions. But it was super inspiring to me to hear that people like the stories we told. And so hopefully, I don't know. We probably won't get as personal in this mailbag. But inevitably, we will have some great questions because it's got questions from all over. We've asked you for them this summer at NBA Mailbag at gmail.com. You have come through with the question.

So what do we got this week, Kev? Let's start out with a basketball question after we ended last podcast with personal stuff. From Doug, Doug writes, Janlon Brunson has been amazing. But do you guys really think this is sustainable? Bill Simmons has always talked about small guards and their durability. Outside of Chris Paul, not many players. have done that into their 30s. I'm having flashbacks to Isaiah Thomas's time with the Celtics.

Small guard, very dependent on his mobility and shot making in order to be elite. What do you guys think? We've got a while. That would be my first inclination. Like, why are we talking about the end of Jalen Brunson when we're in the absolute prime of Jalen Brunson? Also, to, well, let me just let me interject. had a catastrophic injury. He had a catastrophic injury that destroyed his career.

Okay? So that's not fair. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I think to Doug's point with the question, Isaiah Thomas was 27 when things did begin to go downhill. Brunson is 27 now. Brunson listed at 6 to 190 pounds. Here's a difference.

Isaiah Thomas only 5 foot 9 listed at 185. He was strong for his height. But Brunson is bigger. I think Brunson has a stronger frame body and he also doesn't have much injury history at all really and his entire career. Like, dude, I don't worry about it with Brunson like I did with IT. IT, I think Doug mentions small guard dependent on mobility,

but Isaiah Thomas was also very dependent on elite athleticism. You look at Isaiah Thomas as finishing at the basket. He would get up at the rim. He was a high flyer for a five foot nine guy. Also have a really long arms so he could finish in traffic. Exactly. Jalen Brunson, I think, is a little less reliant on that. He's so much on finesse and quickness in small spaces that I don't,

I think Brunson's one of those guys that could be built to last for a long, long time is my take on Brunson. an obvious non-nicks fan that is projecting and hopeful that this is so there is a much he might be he might be dug from brooklyn for sure he's dug from brooklyn or maybe Doug from Dallas so he doesn't have to think about it every day for the rest of his life how they let an all NBA player walk but I think there is a much better chance that jaylon brunson by the way I'm just saying he really is Doug from Brooklyn. Of course he is. Okay.

It's like Kanye's, I'm not saying he's a Jewish doctor. I'm not saying Doug's from Brooklyn. Yeah. I am, all right. So here's what I'm saying. Jalen Brunton, there is a much better chance that Jalen Brunton is absolutely awesome for the next eight years. Yes. Then he is for the next three and it craters.

He's 27. Yep. He's absolutely a guy that you could still see being fantastic at 35. And so also doesn't have all the things you said. He's got he's got the frame, whatever. Like people can use one small guy that had a catastrophic injury. These guys that have like hurt their hips, it even, it's happened to, you know, it's, it's ruined careers. You remember there was a guy, there's one, there's a blast from the past.

I saw him in person in college on his team's run to the elite eight and was part of that Steph Curry, Ricky Rubio, James Harden, that whole draft, right? Johnny Flynn. I will forever believe Johnny Flynn would have been an outstanding NBA player or could have been, right, if given the time. But again, catastrophic. catastrophic injury very early into his career. Never got to become whatever he was going to become. And so I think that we can't, we can't, to me, you need to use guys that cratered for some other reason.

And that's not what happened to IT. And so I don't think it's fair to project that onto Brunson. I, uh, it just enjoy his prime right now. Yeah, I think he's I mean, we're watching Steph Curry do what he did we just watched him do what he did in the Olympics

at what, 36. I'll tell you what, Brunth, Brunthon, maybe he's part of that 2028 team. Maybe. Right, right? He could be. Totally reasonable chance that that's true. He was part of the Olympic team last year. 31 years old, very, very strong possibility. He could be.

I think the Knicks are going to be a championship contender this season and probably the next handful of years. And Brunson has gotten better every single year of his career. Who's to say he can't even a little bit better right now in his prime years? Question from Andrew. The Cavaliers extended Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jared Allen. So they locked up their core four for a few years and they hired Kenny Eckinson. However, they only signed J.T. Thor and didn't address any wing slash fit issue. What moves do you guys think they need to make to become a bona fide contender in the East?

I mean, the easy answer is always that you want to be able to have more, you want that roster to be evened out more. I think what you're going to see is they're going to take a run with it with a different coach, and they're going to see, okay, how can you mix and match this in order for it to be fantastic? And, you know, they lost Mowgli for a long amount of time last year. they lost Garland for a long amount of time. Garland was never himself last season. Never. And I think Darrys Garland is an all-star, all-star caliber player who could very well take a big leap at some point.

I don't think the fit with him. I don't think you get the most out of the players because of the, and you've talked about this a lot, roster overlap. But I think that Allen is the most likely candidate. I know they just resigned him, but it was, as you and I both said, amazing contract. And so I think you look at it and you go, all right, they have committed to Mobley and they have committed to Mitchell. Obviously, they committed to Darius Garland. As you said, they've re-signed all of these core four guys.

But I do think that if they get to where they need to even out that roster a little more, they still need to figure out the wing thing. Max Struce is a good player, but I mean, and Isaac O'Coro is fine, but and Karras Lever, obviously gets some buckets off the bench, but they need to, they need to figure out that wing thing. They need to have, I think somebody that is a little more, I think Struz is a really good player. I think they need somebody that is more of a wing defender, especially that they can move around to cover for the other two because neither Garland or Mitchell's ever going to be Gary Payton out there. Okay.

And so I think maybe some wing defense and I think you know, you're trying to find the ideal fits around to me. you've committed now, and I think it's Mowgli and I think it's Mowgli and Mitchell is how I would look at it for the next three years. I always thought they should just build out around Garland. They're a team that sped up a timeline that did not need to. We talked about the perils of this.

I think they sped up their timeline. And I don't think they needed to. You know, that team with Garland and Mowgli, when they first got their playoff run, it was like, boy, I remember tweeting, you've got this, you've got your two. Now just find your third guy. And Mitchell's not ideal with those two.

And Alan is not ideal with those two. And so I think you see what Kenny Atkinson could do with them, mixing and matching them. And then from that point, I don't think there's any way out of it, except for moving one of those players. I disagree with one point of Andrew's question. He said they only signed J.T. Thor.

That's not 100% true. They also drafted Jalen Tyson with the 20th pick. Tyson is just a rookie, 21 years old. You can only have so many expectations for rookies. But he was tremendous for the Cavaliers. In Summer League, he had 25 points in their final game. He's 6'6 foot 6. He's a versatile player who spent this last season as a guy who played more on the ball.

but in years prior to that, he showed that he can do some, you know, off ball, wing style stuff, spot up shooting, moving, defending multiple positions. And so it's not that you can expect a rookie to solve your wing issues, but Jalen Tyson being a little bit older, having success in different types of roles. And if you project his fit next to the core four, Jalen Tyson makes a hell of a lot of sense. And so I think Jalen Tyson internally could be one of those answers. And maybe he ends up being one of those rookies that makes a difference right away.

Otherwise, I think you made a lot of good points. And I agree with you, Chris, that it could have to come down to a move. Garland absolutely needs to be significantly better than he was last year. I still think the Mobley Allen fit. Maybe that gets split up at some point. Mobley was tremendous better than he's ever been to close the year without Jared Allen. But we'll see how Kenny Atkinson does with this crew. Kenny Ackinson has been highly successful in the past.

So I very much look forward to seeing what he does with this class. It's a great point. And let me just say this for all the Cavs fans out there, there is a chance that it is because of, and I don't want to blame my guy, J.B. Bickers. J.B. is more old school guy and is a defense first coach and maybe not as offensively creative, certainly not as Kenny Ackinson. We've loved Kenny Atkinson.

We love the culture that he builds. And we also love that Brooklyn team is one of our most fun teams to watch that he had over the course of. And I'm talking pre-KD and Kyrie. I'm talking about that last Delo, Jared Dudley, Carislevert, Jared out, that whole crew, right? There's a chance that it's not that these guys don't fit that great together. It's that they need a system. in order to accentuate the individual talents of each of them. And actually, they could all be at their best or inevitably sacrificing to, but be highly efficient,

great players in their roles and playing with each other in a system that accentuates all of them much better than we have seen thus far. that's a real thing that could happen. And then it's just like, oh my God, they've got crazy talent. Like they got one of the best four-man lineups there is. And then you throw Max Struce in there with them. And it's like, what if Kenny Atkinson figures it all out and figures out for them to all be able to play together simultaneously

and be at their best and play as a unit? I mean, that's a contender. It's a contender. It's that much talent that it could be a contender. And so I do think a lot of it, if Kenny Ackinson can't get it right and it still looks a little clunky and it's like, man, I don't know, you got Garland and Mitchell and you've got Allen and Mowbly. Then you get clarity as the front office. Yeah. Right. Yeah. But I think you give it a crack with this new coach. And there's a chance. It looks amazing. For sure. Yep. I agree. I mean, I think we're on the same. page there with them. I have a feeling we'll be on the same page with this next question from John. Like if I told, hold on, if I told you that calves would be absolutely awesome, they come out the gates and they start 25 and 6, that's not the crazy. You, you could foresee a six is

pretty insane. I'm saying you could foresee a world where we're two months into the season talking about, wow, did anybody see this? The favorites in the east. Yeah, did you see this? coming? It's not insane. Yeah. John from Rochester Hill. He says he's another listener from day one. And he mentions that he ran into me

at Summer League two seasons ago. We talked about the Pistons for a little bit. And he reminded me that he was wearing a Killian Hayes jersey. At the time, a jersey that was gifted to him. So to be clear, he did not purchase the jersey with his own money. Good for him. But what a crappy

gift. John ask the question about the pistons, he says, can you guys see the pistons making the play in this season? What? I think you got a hope for 20 wins. That's the

the playing. Playing. Playoffs. Play in. All right. Before I... We're trying to win a game. Yeah. All right. So before I sound like a real jerk to this guy.

36 was the lowest amount of wins in the plane in the east last year. Just hold on. Let me see. All right. We know. So look, we know Detroit and Washington and Brooklyn aren't going to try. There's no way.

There's no chance they make the plan. I'd be shocked. I'm going to say. I'm going to, I'm, look, I'm not trying to give this guy massive hope. You're giving it a shot?

No way. No way. Hold on now. Brooklyn, Washington, and Detroit are all tanking. Yeah. So that leads you, Toronto and Washington is the only other teams that didn't make the play yet. Okay? Chicago's falling back.

For sure. I think. For sure? Are we sure? Are we sure for sure? Then you always have an entry. Wait a minute. Are you really sure with Chicago?

Yes. Kobe White with more shots than our. opportunity. They bring in Josh Giddy. Now after you couldn't stand Josh Giddy, now you're going to love Josh Giddy? You can't do this. What are you talking about? I couldn't stand Josh Giddy. They lost to Martin Rosen. The guy like, how many games did he win them just in the last four minutes of a game?

When did I never, when could I not stand Josh Giddy with the Thunder? Except for the fact that he doesn't fit that team and he wasn't worthy as part of the fit with that rotation. You fell out of love with Josh Giddy. You're making stuff up. You did. That's not true. No, you did. He makes a hell of a hell of. a lot of sense for the Bulls. You can listen back to

our podcast when we talked about the trade. I'm not saying the Bulls are going to be good, but they have never tried to be bad. And you could easily see Zachal Bean playing 70 games next year after playing only 25 last season. Vouch isn't horrible.

Patrick Williams is still a solid player. I-O-Dosun was really good. The Bulls, like, they have way more talent than the Pistons do right now. And they're not trying to suck. They're not trying to suck. If it's Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivy, Tobias Harris? To me, I think the real, the real... Allow me to remind you, Tobias Harris is a Piston?

The real way to look at this, in my opinion, is can the Pistons get to 30 wins? Can they double more than double their wins? They had 14 last year. Can they get to 30 to 35 wins? I don't think so. Because that's what it's going to have to take to get, you know, the 12 seed. Brooklyn had 32 wins last year. They could be better than that.

Yeah, but the Hawks at 36. I got you. The Hawks were the one in the playing, not the Nets. I got you. What I'm saying? Like, again, if you're right there on the cuss, you've got a chance. I'm going to redo mine.

Yes, you have a chance to make it the play. The question is, can you see the Pistons making the playing next season? No, I cannot. Okay. Do they have a chance? Sure, every team has a chance. I'm way more towards 30. than 20, though.

Okay. And you thought they could win 20-something. I think they could win 30-something. Okay. Right. 20-something. I'm going with 20-something for them. Yeah.

So I'm going to say, yes, a chance. I mean, what's a point of tanking again, seriously? Oh, you get the friggin fifth pick

every year. The point, let's move on to the next question. Here's the point. Here's BK in Chicago. He says he has a three-week old baby, and the pod is helping him get through late nights. I appreciate you listening to know us in the middle of the night, BK.

He says, given the perpetual mediocrity and current trajectory of the Chicago Bulls, do you think it would make more sense for the front office to dismantle the team and tank for a shot at a generational talent the next year's draft? And then he says he presents our exercise here. The Bulls should poop for coop and fumble the bag to capture the flag. That's true? that might be true, that's ridiculous.

I don't, you certainly don't start the season that way. I think you catch an injury, you know, like to the aforementioned Kobe White or, I think you start out for the first, like the rest of the, this, to me, that's a second half of the year decision. That's what I'd say. I'd say it's a second half of the year decision. I think you look at it and you go, all right, how competitive are we going to be, you know, and you're probably going to get some clarity through the first 50 games, and that's a

decision you make for the last 32 games of the year. Okay. And I think, I think this is, that's to answer your question. The reason why to tank again is for Cooper Flagg. It's for getting a top prospect again, the chance at a top prospect. To me, that's the reason why. The Pistons getting the eighth pick just keeps them in the middle for longer. The Pistons getting the number one pick and getting Cooper Flag, pairing him with Kate Cunningham and Duren, and having all the that young talent there and Osar Thompson, that's what sets you on a path towards being a contender. So to me, I think the bull should be trying to suck. The piston should be trying to suck.

But aren't they a great example of, it doesn't matter if you've got the worst team. They just won 14 games last year, and they still got a crappy pick. It can happen. But then next year, you might be luckier. But also, sucking doesn't mean have 14 wins. Sucking might mean having 23 wins or 24 wins. and then moving up. But I just don't think the pistons should be...

I mean, at some point, you're just destroying all that young talent. The pistons should not be making any effort to try to make the plan. That would be bad for them long term, in my opinion. Jared asks one more Cooper Flag question. Kind of. Jared says, besides rooting for them to lose and get Cooper Flag, are there any other reasons you could give me to watch my favorite team? The Brooklyn Nets play basketball next season?

Are there any other reasons, Chris? the resurgence of Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas going off for 50 bombs. Yeah, I mean, Cam Thomas scoring a ton of points as a small guy. Boy, this is a hard sell, brother. You have put me in a tough spot.

This is the hardest sell in the league, I think, right? The Nets, maybe some Jalen Wilson spot minutes off the bench. Are you into that? Oh, my God. You into that? No, I'm not into that. No, okay, okay.

Oh, my God. I saw your Williams is there. Yeah. I like Dairon Sharp as a rebounder and a passer as a big man. I love Dairon Sharp. Maybe watch Daryon Sharp get some minutes and. You look up and down their roster. I mean,

that's as bleak as it gets. It is. I mean, at least the wizards, at least the wizards have some like, you know, first three years players, right?

And I know that that's going to be brutal as well. You can get excited about anything that Kula Bale does or anything that Alex Sarr does or anything that, or I'm sorry. Wait, is it Sarr? It's Sarr. Yeah, yeah. Alex Sarr. Or Kula Bale or any of their young players. You could get excited about that.

Oh, Bub, Carrington, right? Get excited about him with the Wizards. I don't, I mean, there's not one player on the Nets that I, yeah, just find a different team. bro. I hate to be cruel, but I mean, seriously, this is not the, you know, it's not going to bring you any joy watching this. There's just no way it's going to bring you joy to watch that team. That's miserable.

It really is miserable. It really is. I mean, in the words of my beloved friend, rest in peace, Bert Sugar, if they were playing in my backyard, I wouldn't raise the blinds. that's how I feel they're just brutal brutal yeah sorry buddy question from Sean

this is a good one Sean says I joined the bald brotherhood after a few years of receding and regretted not making the choice years sooner but it was a tough plunge to make as two distinguished gentlemen with full heads of hair

throwing out a purely hypothetical situation for you if you were an NBA player and you began going noticeably bald. How would you play it? Multiple choice. A. The Michael Jordan immediately embrace it and go with a shaved head.

B. The Alex Caruso. Hang on as it slowly continues to get worse and in some cases finally conceding the battle and shaving it or in other cases keeping the wisp going. The C. The Carlos Boozer attempt quick fix remedies that look horrible. or D, the Tom Brady Visit a Hair Restoration Hair Clinic.

Okay. 100% ruling out 2 and 3 or A, B, and C. Ruling out Caruso, ruling out Boozer. I'm with you. Yeah. It's A or D without a doubt. Correct. I

much more likely to do A. You know, most summers, I shaved my head anyway, not all the way bald, but down to like a two guard. You go with like a zero, a Oh, you go with a two? Two. Yeah, like a two. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I didn't this summer, but most summers I do because it's so hot where I live. And I don't have to be on TV anything, so I don't want to worry about it. If I did the hair plug thing, I would do it before everybody knew. Like, I'd nipped that in the butt. I would not allow everybody to see me, you know, going bald and then be like, oh you know what I mean like I I would try to do it like stealth um I think probably I think probably a is my answer I think I would just let it go and be bald because the thing I love about when I shave my head in the summer is not thinking about it at all like I

don't have to worry about how my hair looks I don't have to do nothing to it I don't have to it it doesn't not to, it doesn't get nested. You need sunscreen, right? No. You protect them? No, you're not using sunscreen? Come on. I don't care about my head.

Come on. Yeah, so I, yeah, I think I would go with, uh, I mean, I would if I was bald, but yeah, I think I'd just do this. Because then I don't have to think about it at all. I don't have to think about it at all. Obviously, I got to shave my head. I got to, uh, run a bick over it or whatever, but yeah. I think I, I think I'm a. I'm a. I'd go D the Tom already.

Okay. Yeah. That's what I'd do. You would get the hair plugs. Oh, for sure, without a doubt. But all at the same time, though, I can grow a good beard. And I think bald dudes with nice be a good look. Are you in danger of being bald one day?

Your dad was a bald? No, my dad wasn't bald. I mean, I think I think I. What about your grandpa? I think, well, my grandpa on my dad's side was bald. My grandpa on my mom's side had pretty much the same exact hair line that I've developed to have, which is kind of like a little bit of crown. But that's what he had until the day he died.

It just kind of stayed that way from when he was in his 20s and 30s until, you know, he was, he died in his late 70s. So I think I have his hair line. But if it continues, I will get plugs or look into it. And I'm not an NBA player, but I would look into that. I've never done the research before. I respect it. I don't mind. I don't mind the plug thing.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I think A or D is my answer. Definitely not B. Definitely not the Carlos Boozer C. that's ridiculous. Hell no. I ain't trying to paint on a Caesar. Awful.

That's terrible. That was terrible. Another non-basketball question here from Lewis from Scotland. Hopefully he hears this podcast in time because he says on Saturday he's getting married to his girlfriend of almost 10 years. And he says, I'm wondering if you have. So long, bro. All right. But congratulations.

Yes, congratulations. That's what she's saying. I hope he plays his pod for her. Yes. She'll give him a hit on the arm when we say that. I know you. But he says, I'm wondering if you have any advice for my wedding speech and how I can calm my nerves.

Oh, wait. He's giving a wedding speech? I thought the best man gives the wedding speech. I mean, maybe this is something lost in translation, perhaps, but I don't know. But he says my wedding speech,

maybe his vows, regardless. Maybe this is something in Scotland. where the man getting married gives a speech, I don't know, but regardless. Be funny and be and make sure everybody. Well, what if he's not funny? I mean, what if he's, what if he's, what if he's, what if he's. To find somebody funny to help you.

But the wedding is on Saturday. Sure. There's only so much time. Yeah. Come on. I think every couple has inside jokes that you can reference and play into. Humor. Humor wins.

and the other thing is on a wedding day, I would make sure that everybody that's there that is supporting both me and the person that I'm marrying, that everybody that's there knows how special and how loved they are and how grateful you are that they are part of this with you. Because I will say, you truly never know

when the collection of people is going to be there like it is again. And in my case, it's never been. The collection of people that were there on my wedding day have never been in the same room ever again. Not because of, well, one of the few people in my wedding, I don't want to get dower here. One of the few people in my wedding was my best friend. And my best friend passed away when we were young. But it was after my wedding. My wedding is one of the last moments that I have my fully healthy best friend.

Like he's in all the videos with me. He's in all the pictures with me. He was, you know, we went out the night before my wedding for a quasi-batchelor party. And I hold on. Huh? You would go out the night before you're late. No, no, no, no. It was two nights.

It was Friday night. Friday night, yeah, because Saturday night was a rehearsal dinner. So Friday night, we went to the casinos and then Saturday night. Oh, man. Saturday night was a rehearsal dinner. Sunday. We got married on a Sunday, actually. But I look back at like some of those pictures and obviously I see them hanging up in the house and whatever.

And I think you've got to, you've got to check. that day. I don't know everybody's situation is different, but at least in my situation, I look back at that day so fondly for a reason I never expected to look back on a day so fondly. Never in a billion years would I imagine, you know, if there was somebody that was in my wedding that was not, you know, plus my dad has been in a wheelchair for a long time now. My dad's like in those pictures standing. My kids have never, my kids, don't even know what it's like for my dad to be up and walking around. You know what I mean?

They only know my dad from being in a wheelchair. And so they see those pictures and they were like, Pop could walk. I'm like, yes, he could walk. Like, what? Like, he said, what? My whole life he could walk until he was like 60 something. So like they,

um, yeah, I think that you want to make sure that all those people and even in a speech, you know, make everybody know how grateful you are. and how happy you are that you're sharing it with them. And then throw in some jokes in there because I think that at least from my perspective, and again, I come from a weird one here.

But like, I think that, from my perspective, knowing that it's not, that that day could one day you look back on that day and it becomes infinitely more special than even just it being a wedding because of the collection and collective health of everybody that is there at that present time that, yeah, I'd say sincerity always wins. Humor always wins and sincerity and authenticity always wins. So don't be afraid to bear your soul, you know, to your mate and to your friends and family. And then, yeah, dude, get some jokes. And if you don't, if you're not funny, find somebody funny.

Well, I mean, I think being your authentic self is most important more than anything else, more than jokes, is just speaking from the heart, like you said, thanking everybody that's there and, you know, being present in the moment, that's what you're really speaking to is cherishing the day and, you know, not taking for granted everybody who's there in that potentially last time with all those people in that same room. It reminds me of, I forget if this is a photo from, I don't think it's from their wedding day, but a photo of my mom and dad with both their parents. And my mom recently said to me, like, maybe it was just like a month ago.

She's like, I'm the only one alive in that photo. It's like her husband, you know, my dad is on one side with his parents and her parents are on the other side next to her. And she's the only one living in the photo. And she's like, that's just weird to me. It's just an eerie feeling. And it's also crazy. You know, now that we're talking about this, Kevin, when I was just telling you that

whole story about everything and seeing the pictures around my house, whatever. It does not feel that long ago. And yet, I know because in four days. So, yeah, yeah, four days, because it won't be, it'll be the day we record. Oh, we might have to figure that out, not that we're talking on the air. The 26th? Yeah, it'll be 17 years. Wow.

It's my 17th wedding anniversary. Wow. on uh yeah on monday so we um and then and as i'm talking to you about it and like i was telling that story does not seem that long ago at all but now that i say that 17 years for 17 years forever i mean that's a long time ago now your boy just started high school well no all goes by so fast it really does trust me trust i mean you you got a you got a you got to take advantage of the time that's just the truth in life i mean yep You gotta take advantage of the time.

It does not feel like that for sure. Yeah. It's crazy. The next question. Only last thing I'd say to Lewis with that question is, if you're nervous, if you need to calm your nerves, just breathe.

Like take some really conscious, deep breaths, deep into your lungs, hold it for two or three seconds, and just exhale it really slowly. Damn, your own. Instructor or a podcast host.

Abdominal breathing. Just do some of that and your body will immediately calm down. Just breathe and focus on your breaths. It's true. It helps. Oh, boy. Sometimes I wish my anxious mother would listen to my advice when it comes to breathing. All right, this is getting too heavy.

Let's get back to why the Brooklyn Nets suck. All right. From Stanley. You could give De Ron Sharp accomplice. man. I didn't even call you out on that. God bless. When we're getting done, I like the Derron Sharper can rebound. I'm like doing the, you know, the masturbation sign over here.

Okay. All right. Stanley. Stanley says, as a lifelong Lakers fan, we're spoiled, but what should the Lakers be planning for post-Lebron? Is 80 the right guy to continue to build around, or shall we wait for another superstar? It feels to me like the NBA landscape isn't as easy as a star will just fall into our lap because we're a Los Angeles. That's Stanley's last point. What do you think the Lakers should be thinking about now right now, Chris?

But I would say that they clearly are thinking about post-I-Bahn. That's the history of your whole franchise is a star falling into your lap. So enough with that. But they clearly are thinking about that already. I've reported on this podcast and on the Ringer how they have their site set for Luca in the future. We'll see if that works out. Dallas just made a finals.

Dallas is looking better than ever with their supporting cast. that may not work out. But the Lakers by not trading their future picks, clearly they're still thinking long term at this point. They're not going all in like you might expect many teams to do with the Bronjams. You do have AD and then you're just going to get somebody else to force their way there. The last thing I want to hear about as a worried Lakers fan. I mean, oh, boo-hoo, you had a couple of bad seasons post-Cobie, like enough already.

And then you end up with LeBron in your lap. So, I mean, you're going to end up with another huge superstar. And then they win the title in 2020, but they haven't since. You could argue, as many have, that this has been an underwhelming LeBron era, in part because of some of the mistakes, including Russell Westbrook, by the Lakers' front office, by what clutch pushed for. So I think you can say that with LeBron James still performing at a top 10 level, still dominating in the Olympics, that the Lakers maybe should feel submerged. which is why Brian asked a similar question.

He says everyone keeps saying the Lakers need to go for it all and capitalize on surrounding LeBron 80 with championship level talent. My question is for who? Who can they actually get with their assets? He says it seems easy to make, it's easy to say they should make a trade, but no one can answer what the returning package should be. And I think that's the issue that the Lakers have really been presented with here. Who has become available that has made complete and total sense.

to throw all of their future assets at, I don't think that guy has made himself available yet completely. Do you? Or you don't have to throw all your assets at it. You know what I mean? Like, what is the cost of somebody like a Levine now? Like, it's nothing. Yeah, but is Levine really turning you into that?

Maybe. Maybe. Better than what you got. Yeah. I think Levine is in that mode of like, I could see, Zach Levine be like one of those guys that has always been, he's been a career loser for that matter,

but he's put up a ton of points. He is mega talented. And then it's late in career, falls into a role on a team and then ends up almost like a super Wiggins. You know what I'm saying? Where how that happened with it? Like again, career loser, mega talented,

also part of that team for that matter. And then kind of falls into a role where it's, like you end up looking at that guy very differently. You know, years and years and years ago, there's that documentary. I don't know if you remember that bad boys documentary on that team. But like they did this whole bit about Mark Aguier. Mark Aguier was like evidently like this malcontent, but he like scored a million points on this miserable Dallas Mavs team, whatever. And now if I say Mark Aguier, people say, oh yeah, bad boys pistons, you know, heater off the bench, you know, this kind of guy, whatever.

I just think there's going to come a day. Zach Levine has played in four playoff games in his life. It was a sweep against Milwaukee. Okay. And we know he's like super talented. I think there's gone. I think the destiny for him is we will inevitably see him on a really good team one day, helping a really good team actually win.

I think it could probably happen with him. So whether it would be the Warriors or whether it be the Lakers or whether it could be whoever. I haven't given up completely. on a guy like that, being able to be a piece in winning, especially not after I saw Wiggins friggin become the second best player on the Warriors in a title run. So could happen. And so, yeah, I mean, I think there's,

there's going to be guys like that that come available that you actually don't have to give up a ton of assets in order to get. That's what I'd guess, you know, I think you're maybe dealing in that until, unless you want to wait on a star that's, you know, wants out. from Chris. I've sat at NBA games from the nosebleeds to luckily enough court side for one game. You guys have seen hundreds of games in person. With the schedules out and at being time to buy tickets,

what do you think generally is the best seat in the house? I like the top of the bottom section. Yeah, I have a lower bowl. Yeah, it's actually where I sit now. I sit there now. 10 to 30 or however far back it goes. I think 10 rows back. is like the lowest you want to be.

That way you can see over the players when they're standing up and all that. But higher up is perfectly fine load section. And preferably to me, the corners or like closer to half court, kind of the broadcast view, the better. I am not a fan

of the baseline view. I have a hard time watching games from the baseline view, especially when you're down lower. But I very much love, very much love anywhere, you know, corners or middle, you know, 10, 10 to however far back the rows go, 40 rows back, whatever. I would say for over 10 years, I was like on the scorers table.

And I did like that just because I could hear everybody. Yeah, it's such a big difference. But it is. So that and gave me a different perspective. But in terms of like watching the game and watching everything, I like, my favorite is like the top of the bottom. section because I agree in the lower bowl, but I'm, you know, I'm in the lower bowl, but I'm

a little higher so I can see everything developing. And you could still hear things that take place on the court as well. You know what I mean? You can still hear things. I think along those same lines, like let's say somebody listening, that's still too

expensive. Sometimes in certain markets, certain cities, those tickets can be unaffordable for a lot of people. In that case, I think, you know, similar concept, but in the upper bowl. Like if you can get first two, three, four, five rows in the upper bowl and the, you know,

half quarter to corners. First row of the upper deck is great. It also feels super cool just sitting up there. For sure. I like it a lot. I like the first row of the terrace. Like if I go to college games, a lot of times, I'll sit up there. And I think in the upper bowl,

I'm more open to sitting baseline. Upper bowl, because you kind of get like that NBA 2K view, whereas down low, down low, I do not like baseline, but upper bowl, I'm completely happy with, with baseline seats. So I hope that answers your question. We kind of agree on this, I think. Yeah, we do.

I think we have a similar, you know, but I think that's probably pretty common. There's also why those tickets are typically more expensive. That's right. So that's part of the reason why. Let's go with one last question here from Zach. the DNC this week. It was the RNC a few weeks ago. Zach from San Diego says, I think it's amazing how a great coach can inspire and motivate a diverse group of men to come together in pursuit of a greater goal.

With election season coming up, I was wondering if you all think an NBA coach could do a good job leading the country. Having grown up at San Antonio, I've always admired Greg Popovich's leadership abilities, and I think he would make a great president. Do you all agree? or am I looking through fiesta colored glasses? Greg Popovich for president? Popovich Kerr, baby. Okay.

I'm not a big fan of politicians. I also think that Greg Popovich is incredibly blunt. Yes. You know, served his country. I did. I have a lot of respect to her. I have a lot of respect for him as basketball coach. I don't know.

I mean, we're this day and age. Who couldn't? I mean, who might just say who couldn't be anything. The host of the apprentice was the president. Yeah, he was the president. I mean,

like, I guess who, it could be the rock someday. The rock someday could be president. I don't know. I don't know what makes a good president or not. I just know politicians are typically slimy. Yeah.

And Popovich also does not have the type of demeanor. The whole job is in politics. Like, go watch his press conferences and you tell me how you think he'd handle, you know, Jake Tapper up in his face every day. I don't know. I don't think it would go great. He doesn't have the demeanor to be able to do it. Of the guys that, like, have. One note on that, Chris.

One note on that, like, like coaches get it easier with like the way sports journalists present questions compared to political reporters when they yell questions at you. Like there's no order to at a lot of time with political reporters. I kind of look and see who I think could actually, yeah, who could actually like handle that. Well, how about President Brad Stevens? If he moves back to the coaching box, President Brad Stevens. Yeah, I don't think he's got a big enough personality. I don't either. I agree.

Doc Rivers. Doc Rivers kind of has like that. I could see Doc Rivers like being able to handle that. you know yeah doc rivers is an interesting one he's kind of got a politician's attitude right yeah i mean he dealt with don't sterling yeah he did yeah how about how about j j redick i mean he's i mean i don't i think jay he can talk yeah he's smart very bright i'm trying to look up and down here to see if there's anybody else that I think that I could. Maybe Willie Green

could do it maybe. Mike Brown, maybe. How about email Doka next Clinton? Oh, yeah. Oh, everybody loves Tyloo. He is a politician. Oh, my God.

Because everybody loves them. Yes. Oh, if you want to, look, you can talk to Tyloo for an hour tonight. There ain't a media member. It doesn't have Tyloo's cell phone. So Tyloo is a politician. Yeah, I think Tyler is a good one, actually. Tyloo.

There you go. I think it'd be a runoff between Tyloo and Dock Rivers. Yeah. Two amazing politicians. Yes. Those are good ones. Yeah, amazing politicians. Certainly.

I think we landed on it. Yeah. Those, in fact, it could be Lou Rivers. that could be the ticket or Rivers. I don't know. We might be putting this idea into the universe. Who knows?

Get rid of your Popovich courage shirt and Lou Rivers or Rivers Lou. I'd say this. It could be, it could be by 2028 if Kauai wants to sit out 50 games again. Ty Lou may just say, man, I'm going to go be the president.

Maybe someday president. If it's players, President Stephen Curry, he's mentioned potentially running for office someday. Who knows? Who really knows? Wasn't Ronald Reagan an actor, right? He was an actor for years, right? Yes.

So it's not like Trump was the first, you know, non-politician going to politics. You may know that there are about a thousand buildings that say Trump on him and golf courts as well. Like he wasn't just a TV star. I know that. I know. I know. But like Ronald Reagan was an actor. Yes.

That's true. Yeah. Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah, man. Who wants to get involved in politics? I know. Exactly.

You just got to lie your ass off for the rest of your life. You know what I mean? It just doesn't feel super. I mean, it's changed their own. I'm sure a lot of people get into it and like with good intentions, but it just feels like just so slimy to me. I don't know.

It is so slimy. I'm happy to be podcasting about basketball. You and me too. You and me too. All right. That's going to do it for our show tonight. Thank you to our executive producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. And Kevin, I will talk to you on Monday.

Have a great weekend.