The Ringer NBA Show - Parsing the Rumors Surrounding Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers | Real Ones

Episode Date: December 9, 2021

Logan and Raja are back to discuss all the rumors looming over Damian Lillard and whether or not he wants to continue playing for the Portland Trail Blazers (0:50). Then they have a little story time with Raja concerning some of the poor advice he’s gotten from team realtors (28:30) and Logan and Raja each award their Real One of the Week (38:00). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, it's Bill Simmons. Did I tell you that we relaunched our TV podcast that is now called The Prestige TV Pot? We did it in time for Succession, which is launching in October. But there's so many good shows this fall. We got Yellowstone and Billions and Insecure. We have the shrink next door. Is Mayor of Kingston going to be good? We're going to be breaking all of it down. The morning show season finale. We are going to be here. Like, we're treated like we treat the NBA playoffs. If there's a really good prestigious TV show, we're breaking it down in this feed. Check it out. The Prestige TV Pod from the Ringer podcast network. What's popping? Logan Murdoch here, Roger Bell, there.

No guest this time. Just us. Just the vibes. Arah. So we had our little pre-pod meeting, and we talked about a lot of stuff that we will talk about probably later and about. Maybe this pot. I don't know, man.

We'll see. But after that pre-pod meeting, I told you what I wanted to talk about today. And you immediately said, what's fucking pot? That's pot. I was at the... Warriors Blazers game last night. It was just a wash man. Like, Steph

was chucking. We had a running tally among media members, how many threes who would hit last night if he would break the record. And guess who won that tally? It was all the media members and also all like this any official around the organization. Guess who won that shit? You got the dub?

Raymond Ritter got the dub. Because of course he did. Raymond Ritter got the dub because he had Steph going seven of 17 from three point range. And he went six to 17. He had six to 17. So, of course, and Raymond, you know Raymond was juiced on that one.

You know he was, he was, he was gas on that one. So, you know, let me just say something real quick. Let me just say something. What's up? You spent so much time with people when you're in an NBA, on an NBA team. Yeah. And the people that work with the team, it's corny. But you really do know people inside and out because you're with them that much.

Like you got, you just, you have the vibe. Like, you know, all right. yes, this is what it's going to look like. We talk about this all the time. It's really a community, especially on a local level, right? Because I know you, it's especially when it comes to media and teams, local media and teams, where you got, you know, y'all, y'all go at us and we go at y'all. But at the end of the day, it's a community, you know?

It is, that's all it is. It really is all it is. So, yeah, but last night was born to take off. Just to keep it a stack. Nobody was playing on the Blazers. No, Steph was chucking and bricking. He was shooting like me. But Damian Lillard spoke at shoot around yesterday.

He's injured. But, you know, there's been a lot of stuff that's really in our wheelhouse, in our bag right now, Raja, about the back and forth between, you know, is Dame Lillard going to stay in Portland? Is Dame Lillard going to go to Philly? Is Dame Lillard disenchanted with the coaching staff? Is he disenchanted with Chauncey Phillips? All this stuff.

Everybody got something to say about Dame. And so, you know, it was shoot around yesterday. There was only a couple media members. It was me. You know, Rosgolden Wooda was there. You know, we had like a local Krona for reporter was there. And, you know, we just talked, we had like some FaceTime with Dame. I was asking him, I asked him, you know, how does it feel?

This is one of the first times you are in trade rumors and in. things like that, and even the thought of disenchantment, you know, of you in the organization. And I got quotes. I made sure I made a transcript of this because I want to run this by you, Raj. We'll just dissect this interview and this availability throughout this pause. So I asked him straight up, man. Like, how does it feel? You're not usually in this type of stuff. We don't really see Dame even, you know, talking about these types of thing and being in these types of rumors. So I asked him, what's it like? And he says, You know, I think this summer, when I was more outspoken than normal or usual about wanting to have a chance to compete in us making changes, I think people looked at it as a typical thing.

Like he's going to ask out in all these things. But I was in contact with the team, and they knew my true feelings. And I think because of that, now that we're off to a new start and we're struggling, we have some commotion around our team. Everybody's just speaking on me. Oh, Dame's asking out. Dame is just waiting to see how it goes. Dame this, but I know the truth. I'm not asking for a trade. I don't know how many times I got to say it. It's gotten to the point in this era where people can write stories and say things and I heard this and that. And because of who they are, people take this as credible. That this is probably true. Me, on the other hand, I don't feel like I got to defend myself against that and come out and challenge everything that people say until I'm asked about it because I know the truth. I sit in the office with Chauncey Billups every day and we try to find solutions. And I'm dealing with these people. every day that I walk into our facility

and try to find solutions. So why would I try to find solutions if I'm planning to exit? That's not what's going on. I mean, made a compel. There's more to it and we'll get to that at a second, but made a compelling case. And he is talking speaking out.

There was two reports that came out this week, Roger Bell. There was an athletic report that reported some discontent between the players and Chauncey Billups. And there was also an ESPN report, and I think you're going to laugh at this. Roger that said that Damien Lillard needs to sell the Blazers in order for him to get a two-year extension on his contract.

Damian Lillard has to sell the organization on getting a two-year extension. Sell them to other free agents? Like he's got to be... No, no. He has to sell himself to the organization in order to get an extension. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Damian Lillard. That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard.

I mean, my question to you clearly came off as stupid, but it's because what you said was so stupid that it confused me. That's just, that's assidine. What did Stephen A say? Asa nine, ass a 10, ass a 11, ass a whatever you wanted to be. Yes. I just want you, just respond to all that. Let's just, let's have a conversation, Roger.

I don't even have questions down right now. Let's just have a conversation about what's going on right now. When you hear what I just told you and laid out his comments into the reports and to all that, what do you have to say to this? Let's have a conversation. There's a lot to unpack here. So I'll try to do it, but bear with me and forgive me if I get lost in thought. Let's start with Chauncey Billups.

Chauncey Billups is just learning how to do this job. Chauncy Billets has been successful. Just about everything he's touched. And things weren't necessarily given to him in terms of being a player. He had to learn, right? he had to fail, get up off the mat, figure it out. And so even if he were to not be great off the bat, and I'm not saying that he isn't great,

I'm just saying that if he were not great, I have the utmost confidence that Chauncey could figure that out and learn and grow quickly and get to a point where he would need to be. I don't think it's a Chauncy issue. Now, could you convince me that Chauncey's style because of the way he came up in the NBA, the coaches that he played for, the hard nose, no nonsense,

this is the way it's got to be done almost second run of the bad boys type of mentality on his championship teams. He may speak another language than those young cats. I deal with that as a high school coach, and I don't mean to draw a parallel, but these young cats are just different, so they don't respond to the same stimuli that we did. You could maybe tell me that. I don't know that that's true either, but maybe you know,

maybe you could sell me on a little bit of that. Again, I think Chauncey's a smart enough dude and accomplished enough to learn and figure that out. The Blazers are a great place to play Portland in general. It's a really cool city. They got a great fan base. It's one of those places that you love to go play as an opponent. Never played for the Blazers, but just looking at, they don't ever seem to really get it right in terms of personnel. You know, it's another team that, you know, you've got these pieces and you've been kind of right there.

You've almost been there, but you've never really gotten it right. you know, Neil O'Shea out. You got Joe Cronin in. I don't know whether he keeps the job or if he's good enough. And this all brings me to my bigger point. It's about Dame. Yo, Dame, I appreciate your stance, brother. I know you don't have to defend yourself.

Yeah, people got your name in their mouth all the time. It's what people get paid to do. I'm not reporting the Dame once out or anything like that. What I'm saying is I want for Dame Lillard and the greatness that is Dame Lillard for him to get the hell out of Portland. And I'm sorry. I don't mean any disrespect to the Portland fan base. I don't think there's anything wrong with the trailblazers.

I just don't think that he is going to get the type of support that he would need to get in his prime to take a real run at a championship in Portland. And so for him, this has nothing to do with Dame wants. I hear you, Dame, like Soldier. Like I think I know the cloth that he's cut from. I seem to understand from everything he puts out

what type of dude he is. I got respect for that. Like, that's a stand-up dude. So, no, you don't want out. But as a big fan, I want you out. Now, let's go into the part of, because you've been a player, you've also been in the front office. Let's dissect these articles that are coming out, right?

Let's just dissect this. And there's no disrespect to anybody that wrote these articles. I just want to say that. I just want to cover my butt. But I just want to do this and kind of get, you know, peel the curtain back because you've both been in the front office and you've also been a player. in these things. When you see reports like this,

and I also think, I mean, with the Chauncey stuff, might there be discontent, probably, but also is December. And dude, your GM,

the person that hired Chauncey, is gone, right? Right. He's inheriting a roster that probably doesn't fit what he wants to do, right? And he's trying to coach through that.

At the, KOC, Kevin O'Connor, had a great thing on, I believe the boy talking about the changes in defensive, defensive mindsets from this team and like how they're trying to play defensive sets. They're trying to go up on the screen and trying to do these different things. All that's fair and well, but it comes to a systematic change of your scheme. And when you do that, what's going to happen when you try to drastically change something?

There's going to be pushback, bro. But we also know that that could be out of context. when you just say something is disenchantment, you're not saying anything. You're not saying tangible examples. You're just saying there's disenchantment at that point. So I think that's a bit unfair, at least at this particular time.

We don't know the full scope of that, right? On any given roster, Logan, at any given time, there's disenchantment. There are people that are disgruntled. Even on good teams, on great teams. On every single team at every single moment. On great teams, right now and throughout history, there's a guy sitting on that bench not playing as much as he wants to that's fucking mad about it.

Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's feeling like I should be playing more. That's getting screwed in his mind. And so by the definition of that, like, that's going to exist all the time. So I agree with you. There's no utopia in the NBA. There's no utopia in life.

And so when you, when I see that, I'm like, eh, I mean, I'm not going to say it's not disincha. There's nothing, no beef because the people who reported it are really good at their job. So I'm not going to say that they're not wrong. I'm not going to say that they're not right in their reporting. But I just say it could be a little out of context, right? And then you see the other one, the ESPN article, where it says Dame has to prove that he's worth the money that he or the extension. That doesn't make any sense because Dame Lillard, other than Bill Walton, Dame Lillard is Mr. Blazer. If you really got, he doesn't have to prove anything. But when you see those articles,

what does that mean to you? From a front office standpoint, and from a player standpoint, what does it tell you when you see an article like that? Because Dame has always been on record saying, if I ain't say it, if I didn't say it, then one of the things that he said, I'm just going to make sure,

because I have the transcript right in front of me. He says, anything that I would say to somebody, I would say it to, I would say it to front office. I would never say nothing. I would never speak out to both sides of my mouth on this. So if you ain't heard it from me,

it ain't happening. So how do you, when you see those two articles of out there's disenchantment, but on the other end he has to prove to get his worth to get an extension. What does that tell you from both a front office standpoint and then a player standpoint? Usually when there's smoke, there's some fire. So, you know, you got what you have going on with Neil O'Shea or had going on with him. Like we have to also talk about it was a little messy when Chauncey got the job, right?

The situation was a little sticky. there have been a lot of rumors even prior to all of that taking place about Dame one and out and whether this team needed to make a big move to get where they wanted to go and could you bring it? I believe it's really messy

behind closed doors. And when you start hearing people put out articles about disenchantment, I think there's something there. Now, I don't know to what degree. I don't know what players or what parties are involved, but I mean, Portland seems a little messy

internally right now. if I'm looking at it from the outside. That's just my... They don't got their shit together in house. They don't have their shit together right now. Now, as far as having to prove that he's worth the extension, I don't know who wrote that article. I'm sure they're a great journalist.

So it leaves me one of two conclusions. One, you're not as good as I think you are. You weren't really sourced on that, and you made a bad call. I'm not saying either one is true, right? But the other would be, Someone within that organization leaked that to you, right? And that's about as asinine as a comment as I've ever heard coming from a front office about a player, the ilk of Damien Lillard. So I got to try to figure out which one of those two things is true.

If you're asking me, I would say it's probably the latter because I don't know what journalist comes out and writes something like that without really being sourced on it and having their eyes dotted and T's crossed, Logan. how does a player think when it seems like I'm not going to say that the article I'm not I'm on the same line as you like if they got that sourced right which I believe that they did from some side do you as a player do you feel like do you feel like you're getting maybe bullied or you feel like you're getting like not bullied but maybe that you're getting targeted on this thing something's coming that something's coming your way that you probably weren't expecting and that there's like there's maybe it's just bad vibes right now. It doesn't feel good. Would you have rather something like, yo, man, can you get my side of the story too? Like, it seems like you're getting the side and like you could hit me up and see what's up.

Do you feel that way? Maybe the third possibility that I didn't really factor in could be that maybe the source is Lillard's camp that feels that way about the way he's being treated by the organization, right? Like the way they're making us feel is that Dane is going to have to convince them that he's worth the extension. So those would be the three, you know, possible scenarios.

What I would say from a player's perspective is when people write stuff like that, first of all, you shouldn't be focusing on what's in print or on the TV. Again, we talk about trying to just have these blinders on and being about our business. But the NBA has gotten messier, messier and messier. And now it's a soap opera. So it's harder to do that now than it was when I played. But if Dame has this relationship that he says he has, the way you handle that is you go right to the source.

Like you go right to the general manager. You go right to the ownership. And if you really have a question and want to concern yourself with that and you can't really focus and do your job effectively because this is looming over you, then you go have that conversation like a man. Like I always felt that's the best way to handle stuff. Like some people call me confrontational, you know, still to this day,

I don't really want confrontation or conflict, but I want to get that shit out. Like you let me know how you feel. I'll let you know how I feel. If our relationship is strong enough and we disagree and we're mad at each other, we'll get over it. If it's not strong enough, this shit wasn't meant to be anyway, kick rocks. You know what I mean? But that's the way you handled it.

Hey, man, listen, this is the report. What's up with that? Yeah. Look the man in the face. Now, sometimes you don't get what you think. Like I told you, I asked the dude straight up one time. They asked me if I wanted a trade in Utah. I told them I did not want to trade.

They said, well, we assume that you're going to ask us for a trade. And I said, no, you've assumed wrong. I don't want to trade. Like I can work here. Like there was a mistake made. You know, a lot of that on me, some of that on the other party. I was like, but I'm a big enough man to sit here and admit that. And I can work with him moving forward.

If he can work with me moving forward and if he can't work with me moving forward, let me know now and I'll ask for that trade. But as far as me wanting the trade, I don't. And they looked me in the face and said, the other party said, no, I'm fine. I can work with you. And then they buried me. Right? So, like, you're not always going to get the right answer,

but that's another conversation about people's integrity and shit like that. But the way you handle that is you go ask the source, and you have a man to man and hope everybody's, you know, keeping it a buck with each other. Yeah. And on the athletic story, there was one of the things that I want to, I want to get your take on this one. So also on the athletic story,

it says that Dame would really like to play with Ben Simmons, right? Would really like to play with him. And that would require, as we know, it would require a trade to trading C.J. McCollum. I know there was a, I know they reported, their athletic reported that the Sixers just basically acts for the house. Just the house, the baby's in the house, the refinancing, all the shit, everything. They asked for all of that, including C.J. McCollum, though. What do you think of, because, you know, the first thing, we've seen this with superstars in the past where they'll be like, well, I want the superstar to come. where I'm at. You know, I want the other, if you're going to trade, trade them where I'm at.

Like LeBron has said that he wanted guys to come to Cleveland, they wouldn't come. And things like that. What would you think? Do you think that, one, is that feasible in your eyes that Ben Simmons goes to Portland and plays alongside Dame? And two, what is a more likely scenario that Dame is playing somewhere else by the end of the season or that he gets a Ben Simmons or gets someone to get traded to play with him? Because if he wants to, I know he wants to play in Portland. Like I just, he wants to. What do you think is the most likely scenario? I think it's more likely that someone winds up joining Dame in Portland. I don't know who.

I don't know how. I don't know how much they have to give up to get it done. But I think that's the more likely scenario because I do believe Dame to be a dude of his word. Like I believe it when he says he wants to be there and that's where he wants to play. I can have my own personal feelings about that. But they're just that. They're mine.

They're not dames, right? So I think Dame winds up getting someone or they find a way to get someone to play with Dame. As far as CJ McCollum goes, one of my favorite players in the NBA, it's not CJ's fault that this shit isn't going to get over the hump as currently constituted. Like it's not his fault at all. He's one of the pieces that gives it a chance to do it. But if you have to move that to acquire enough talent to get you over the hump, I think you probably have to do that if you're the blazers when push comes to shove. right? Like you've got a, you've got enough of a sample size now. And, and I hate to do it. It would, I would do everything I could to avoid having to give that up, but you might have to.

But now, if you have to sell the farm to get Ben Simmons just to bring him in to play with Dame Lillard, that doesn't get you over the hump either. No. They need pieces, right? Like, I look at their roster right now, and I don't mean any disrespect to anyone on the roster. But it's not good enough. It's not a good enough roster, Logan. I think they were like 10 and a, they were hovering around five. right now. You got, I don't,

I don't know that the record, but they're hovering around 500 right now. And that's a credit to just how great dame is and great C.J. is, but, like, I looked at the roster without both of them on there. They have Anthony Simons, who's really good.

I really like Anthony Simons. But, like, they, their roster just isn't, you saw it last night. The Warriors were, Steph was throwing up bricks and throwing up air balls. And it's one of those games where you never thought that the Blazers had a chance.

Even though they were within striking distance the whole, the whole night. Because they were, you know, it was one of those games where the other team does cardio. It was just a hard team to watch. Let me ask you a question. I do this. I do this. I mean, I like Amphredi Simons too, right?

Yeah. And some of these players, I'm not, let's take Anthony Simons out of the equation. It's not even about Anthony Simons, right? We talk about these teams and we need more and more talent on these teams. Like, do you know what I mean? We need people. Yeah. 10 points a game, nine points a game, unless you're just a hell of five.

lockdown defender and you're supplementing with nine points or ten points on limited shots. They become threes that stretch the floor. Those pieces help you win championships. A 10-11 point a game score that's volume and don't play no deed, that shit don't help you win championships in a lot of instances. Do you understand what I'm saying?

There's a difference in, and so I like, I like Anthony Simons as a player, but you need more players that are going to come in and play a definitive, role in terms of defending, supplementing offensively, keeping the floor space. Like you don't need guys that are just can get you a bucket to the tune of 10, 11, 12 a game. Like that's, I mean, they're good to have, but you got to have other pieces. Anthony Simons is great.

You need more. Yeah. No, and also like you need, what I've learned, you know, it's not all about scoring, man. You have to have people that, you know, help the helper and shit like that, you know, and guys that, like, kill on the men. minimum guys, you know, and you got to, it's, it's all encompassing. But I say all that to say, man, it was, it is another scenario I'm going to throw at you. And I'm going to, this is the story I'm going to tell you.

You, and I know you are a hip-hop head, and you're so you're going to appreciate this. Irv Gotti was at the game last night. You know, he was chopping it up with Mark Jackson before the game and things like that, and Dame comes over, you know, because, you know, legend, you know, hip-hop legend, right? Right. You know what I'm saying? You want to say, what's up? And you know Irv Gotti.

Irv Gotti is going to sell something And Irv Gotti was pushing hard To get Dame to the Knicks Hard. He had the Tims in the air Come to New York. What's up? What's popping? You know we need you in New York In the garden.

Dame was, you know, doing the laugh-off thing. You know, he didn't really, he wasn't doing But I'm just saying, it was right there. It was we need you in the garden. Ra, we know you got all the affiliates in New York. We know you got, we are, already know you plugged in. We already know you tapped in in all the boroughs.

We already know, we already know what's up. Do you want to see, where would you want to see, Dan? Would it be in New York or where would it be? I would, I would, I would love to see Dan in New York. I just saying, I would love to see them in the garden. Where would you want to see him? Would you want, would you want him to be, you know, Irv, Irv front row, you know, Spike front row with the Dame Nick's jersey?

When you go to Madison Square Garden as a player, the energy in that building is like, it's unlike the energy in any other building. Now, Staples has an energy of its own too, but it's different. It's not like, it's not like the garden. When you go under the garden, you feel like you're on a stage, you know? Like, when you go to Staples, you feel like you're at an event, right? And you're in that bad boy and you're performed. like you don't really get the feel of being like on a stage like Madison square you're on a stage stages require stars they need stars and so if you ask me if I'd like to see Dame Lillet in a in a in a New York Knicks jersey fucking right I would like to see him in a New York Knicks jersey that's a star that's a superstar that's that is that is the type of energy that of a building like that deserves. Now, you know, it's a bigger conversation than just bringing Dame to the garden. Like, what do the Knicks have to give up?

They got a really nice squad. I'm not squashing or trying to, uh, uh, marginalize anything that any Nick has done. Shout out. Shout out R.J. Barrett. Shout out R.J. Barrett. We see you. We see you. We see you. Orange Blue skies.

We see the vibe. Randle is like all of y'all. Like I'm not, and so I'm not saying. Tips doing a great job. Yeah. bet but they're also missing a piece. Yep. They're missing a piece.

Let's just keep it a buck. Like they're good. They're really good. But you're missing that. You're missing that guy. And so to answer your question, yeah, I'd love to see Dame in a Nick jersey on the brightest stage in the NBA. I don't give a damn what anybody says. Like, yes, the Knicks haven't won anything.

I'm just saying. Garden is a, it's a production. Bro, you were on a stage. And so Dame would be great on it. But if you had to, if you had to give up everything to get Dame, you're back in another organization that doesn't have a great track record of being able to find the pieces

that put around you to help you get over to hump. I'm gonna just be real though. Oakland dudes don't like that much tension, man. I don't know. I don't think it's gonna, I don't think it would happen. I don't think it would happen, bro. I want it to happen, but I just,

I don't see it, dog. I don't see it. Personality and fit is another conversation. Like, you would know that better to me, right? Like, but I know he's a performer. But I know I want it. He's a kid. He's a killer.

I haven't seen him on a national TV game against a contemporary or a rival that he hasn't stepped up to the plate and performed. Like, Rob, what if he hits a three? What if he, like, does the Paul George three? Remember when he wave goodbye? What if he did that at the garden? What if he did that at the garden, man?

No, what's the, what's the garden thing? What is? The bing bong? Is that what it is? Is that what it is? Bing bong. Bing bong. It's not even, that's a no-brainer.

It's a, it's a slam dunk. Sorry, it was so corny, but I had to say it. It just makes sense, but, you know, I mean, this all goes back to me to Portland over the last five years. And trying to get it right, there's some respect that I have for their front office and the people that have been in charge there for sticking to your guns and really believing in the vision and almost trying to will the dame, CJ combination. to a championship, trying to get the recipe right around them. It's just, I don't, I've always said this, and I don't mean any disrespect.

I don't know how many teams have won championships with two small guards like that, that neither one of them is hell of defensive-minded. And they're both brilliant offensively, they're stars in their own right, but I think they held on to that a little too long. I've said this on record. I thought they should have moved somebody a year ago,

a year and a half ago. it's tough man let's take a quick break when I have story time when we get back all right and we are back so the prepod

meeting we were talking about um roger how should I put this talking about team realtors and how they be fucking the game up for for new

for people that get traded and people that are signies to teams and either they overpriced you or they put you in a neighborhood where you ain't got no business being in Roger, do we do need a PSA message for team realtors out here? No, because NBA teams have all involved.

Like my last few years in the league were a time where some people had taken a step into like the next century of the way an organization should be run. And some people were really dragging their feet on doing some of the things that needed to be done to support the team. I'll say no names on that. But what we started talking about were these cool. areas to live in the bay, right? Of course. And so it got me to the point of when I got traded to Golden State, I can't speak for right now.

I can only speak for what they had in place then. That particular realtor amongst a lot of realtors that I had dealt with because I had been traded and I had signed with a lot of different teams, they were at the bottom of the list because they only showed me. See, most realtors in the NBA, because you're dealing with guys that make as much money as they do, they will start. on the high end of the scale. And you will have to tell them,

no, well, you know, it's just me. My family's not moving out. So I don't need nine bedrooms or 15,000 square feet. So let's scale back. And you keep scaling them back until you hit a sweet spot. The person in Oakland was like, yo, I'm going to take you to this like 800 square foot two bedroom for you, your wife and these two kids.

And oh, by the way, a lot of crime takes place right there. Ra. They told what he told me where they were trying to put him. It was five minutes from where I grew up. And I was like, I don't want to live over here. You shouldn't as an NBA player. Absolutely not. Like, where they told him, and I don't, he didn't tell me the street names, but the general area, there have definitely been, we've gotten stories, both of us have gotten stories of NBA players getting robbed around that, at that part of Oakland. And when he told me that, I'm like, what the, Raja, why do, why are they trying to

do you like? Were they trying to be cheap? What the fuck? What were they doing? Um, I, yeah, I don't know other than maybe they weren't really prepared for me to come out. Like, I'm, I guess a realtor has to have a little bit of time, know someone's coming out, know their background, and then go look for like places for them to live. But like, when I left there, I told my wife, I was like, look, I don't think you guys can be able to come out here. Because if this is all they really have to offer, like, I was left feeling for a whole day. We saw a bunch of apartments like that. And I'm like, I mean, I'm 30 some years. years old. I'm like, man, Oakland,

this all Oakland has the offer? Like, damn. You said, you said, you said, I ain't going back. No, and you guys can't come. Like, there's nowhere safe for us to really, you know, be. And these places aren't big enough for these two little boys that are, that are like five and four. Like, we just, we can't do it, right? And so it's okay. Like, once I had enough conversations with the people and told them what I was looking for, I wound up in Piedmont and Jason Richardson's old crib. and it was perfect for us.

But like, you know, like it's just funny when you go around with different realtors and different spots and the pressure that it is to find a crib, like these are just little things that NBA players... What's it like? You told me another story. What's it like for like NBA players to go to new cities that are kind of rough and tumble?

What are the vibes like when you're at one of those cities? Especially in the late 90s. What is it like for, you know, a 20-something with hell of money? but like you're not that far removed from my first my first spot i went to like there are different points in your career you need different things from a realtor so like my first spot fresh off the 10 day getting signed to philly on the on the on the on the year and a half deal i didn't know shit about areas to live or anything like that so i needed some real tutelage and in and some real guidance like i

didn't know what i was looking for so the the person who helped me at that point put me in a place where I wound up getting robbed, like, because that is not a place where an NBA player should live. Where were you at? Where were you at? I was just off mainline back in some apartments behind the Fridays off of 276 right there. Like, I don't know what it's called, something green or something like that. That don't sound, that don't sound. It was an unsafe place for me to be, and no one told me that. Like, so I was promptly robbed.

But as I got older, Hey, listen, those muffolds saw me move in and they were like, Yeah, we got one. Hey, fellas, give it a month, what we got him. But as you get older, like, you know what you're looking for and you can better articulate kind of where you want to be and stuff like that. But what I found interesting in what most people, I don't know that they'd be interested in it,

but it's behind the scenes of NBA stuff. When you get traded, most times you're not happy about being traded. You know, there are times where, like, someone might be. But a lot of times you've developed, like, relationships, that's kind of like a family for you. And so you have some sort of... You don't necessarily want to get traded all the time, right? You don't.

Why would you? Yeah. Well, because a lot of times you feel like it's an indictment on you, you know? And it's a life thing. You got to pick up your life and go somewhere you never been before. I've told this before. When I got traded from Phoenix, we had just opened a business on a Scottsdale waterfront. My second son had been born, I don't know, three weeks prior to me getting traded.

So there was a lot of going on in my life, right? So I had to pick up and I had 48 hours to report to Charlotte. So, you know, you're in now in Charlotte. You're a little salty you got traded. You're not playing well off the bat because it takes a while to adjust. You're learning everybody's situation. But now the pressure is on to find an apartment. So in your downtime, the time that you would usually use to be like shooting Js

so that you could actually make a J in a game or diving into the film so that you could, you know, better run that offense, thus being, you know, a. better piece that they traded for, you got to spend that, like, home in the city with the realtor for, like, five or six hours a day to find a suitable living arrangement for you and your family, because you don't want to be without your two young boys and your wife. Like, you know what I mean? And so those are just things that... And then you got to call back to wifey and be like, yo, you got to have those conversations stuff that you would probably be focused on basketball, right? Yeah, and it's not a complaint.

Like, I'm not complaining about it. But a lot of times when you see someone struggle right when they got traded for that like two week period of time and it just doesn't look like the trade was worth it or the players not fitting in you have to factor in they got a lot of stuff like that going on behind closed doors it's not just about playing on the court uh there was another athletic story that i read because i'm really into this blazers uh thing right now jacquick wrote it it was on c jac mccullum and one of the things that cj was saying because you know it was another report that you know dame would love to have been simmons on the team all right and so cj's like, bro, I don't want to get traded, dog.

I just had, my wife is, I think, I think either his wife is due or has just had a baby. He was like, I don't want to leave right now. It's through COVID and stuff right now. I don't want to go to a new place. I've been here my whole, like, Portland is home. Right. And so for that to happen, that's

what the mindset you're going through when you're getting traded, and then to have the realtor conversation is just, it's a lot to handle, right? Yeah, it's bugged out. And I'm talking about like Cleveland, we had a great, I mean, Cleveland. But Cleveland, I had a really good realtor too. But, but, uh, Charlotte, we had a really good realtor. Logan, this isn't like you're looking at five, like I looked at probably 20 to 25 places.

Like, you're spending hours every day when you got a little downtime, you know, and these square footage, little nukes, you know what I mean? Schools. Like, what do the schools look like? Like, what's the community? Is it diverse enough for us to live in? Like, are you, you know, there's just a lot of shit. So, you know, I guess I would say all of that to say, man, when your favorite player gets traded to your team, if they don't look, even if they're not your favorite, then you just think they're a piece, cut them a little slack for like three weeks until they get their life balanced out because it's hard. Why don't they like what they're good? Why don't they like us? Why don't they like what's going on? Why don't they like the team?

Why don't they like this organization of the city? Bro, I just got my life is upside down right now. Yes, my life is upside down for sure. Yeah, man. Well, damn, realtors, come on, man, hold us down. Hold them down. Yeah, listen. Oakland got a lot of good stuff to offer, man.

Like, realtors shoot high, man, scale people back. That's what I say. Give me the good shit. Send the NBA players to like Montclair or something, bro. send them to East Oakland in the middle of it. Don't do that, dog. Don't do that. But generally speaking, Logan, if I'm a realtor,

I'm taking you to nicer shit first because maybe I'll get you to jump out of your price range. That behooves me. They're going to take you to some nice shit. Why would I take you to like, we're going to like any negotiation. I'm not shooting low. I'm coming in high. You got to tell me no. I'm in high.

Oakland realtors. Shoot for the stars with NBA players, with NBA players. Not for normal people, bro. I'm trying to, you know what I'm saying? Trying to buy a house one day. But, Raja, we have news. We have news. We have some news.

All our real ones out there. We have some news. Sasha, get the flex bombs ready. The real one of the week is now presented by Hennessy. Flex bombs! Flex bombs! Flex bombs! Hennessy is collaborating with the NBA

to give a real look into the lives of different personalities, including one Russell Westbrook friend of the show. and literally bawling artists, Victor Solomon, and Hoop York City founder, Alex Taylor. So, I'll start this off. Real One of the Week, Raja. You know we love our real ones out there, our real ones fans all out there.

I just want to give a special shout out, Real One of the Week, to Jake from San Francisco. Saw him at the Warriors game. He tabbed me, he was like, yo, big fan of the show. Can I be Real One of the Week? I said, of course, what's your name? He says, I'm Jake.

say, where are you from, Jake? I'm from here. I said, what's here? I'm from San Francisco. I was like, oh, damn, I am at Chase Center right now. My bad. So, shout out to Jake from San Francisco. Keep listening, bro.

Do you say you're a long time listener? So, Rewan of the week. Jake from San Francisco. Who is your real one of the week, Ra? I have co-reil ones of the week. Co-reil ones of the week. Bill Belichick. Oh, yes.

Josh McDaniels. Oh, okay. All right. I'm not going out and saying that this was like the most unique and and just brilliant coaching move of all time. But they kept it real when they said we ain't throwing the ball tonight against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Nope. Stack the box, right? We don't give a fuck.

We don't give a shit. We're running the ball to the tune of. 46 rushes, their quarterback through three passes in the modern era of football. He's one of the best young rookie quarterbacks in the game. The man threw three passes. He was putting the Y-A-Tiddle numbers. Great reference. But for that, like for sticking to your guns and being unashamed to be who you are

and stick to that game plan, Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick, real ones. Hey, I'm not going to, you know, I'm from the Bay and I was groomed. I was grown up to hate the Patriots. Hate them. Hate the Patriots. Damn, I love what they're doing. I love Mac Jones. I love Mac Jones.

And you saw Buffalo on Monday night? It was windy. Did you see the uprights were all over? Yes. You know what I mean? You saw that? You knew it was freezing up over there. You knew it was and that was football.

That was football on Monday night. That's what it is. Run it down the throats. We're going to win this game. They punished them. They punished them. I love that. I love that. I love that. Yo, fucking give me another flex bomb.

Give me another one. Because the real one of the week was presented by Hennessy. In partnership with the NBA, Hennessy's new film depicts the journey of basketball to reveal the places the game can take us. Make moves that start movements. Hennessy, the spirit of the NBA. Discover more at Hennessy.com. Please drink responsibly. Imported cognac, Hennessy is 40% alcohol by volume 80 proof. copyright 2021

imported by Moet Hennessy USA Inc. New York, New York Hennessy is a registered trademark. Yo, we out here, Raja, we out here. We got a heem sponsor. Should that yak. We got that yak.

Dude, got that yee. Boy, you made me spill my yak. Uh-huh, you know what I'm saying? Real classy beverages. Everybody know that everything great out of Oakland has been sponsored in one way or shape or form by Oakland. You know what I mean?

Marshawn Lynch's whole football career. Hennessy had a part of that. You know what I mean? Marcus Peters. Hennessy had a part in that. You know what I mean? Great things come from him,

from him. Okay? We out here. So, Rearwin of the Week, presented by Hennessy. That has been another edition of Reelons. This was the Thursday edition. Make sure you,

we'll be here next Monday. Make sure you check out in the meantime. Mismatch. Make sure you take out group check. Make sure you check out. Check out the answer. Ooh. Hey, Ra, Ra.

Rai. Also, make sure you check out KOC's new Wednesday show on the mismatch. And we have a new Ringer NBA Tuesday show with Tarkson, Jay Cowell. Man, make sure you check that out, too. We locked in, baby. We got content for you all week here on the Ringer NBA feed. We locked in. Make sure you check out R2C2 with who, Roger Bell.

Yeah, Vallejo legend. The Chris-Ey clown. Cici Sabatia. Make sure you check out Black Girl's songbook with who, Roger Bell. Town legend, too much damn propaganda. I hate to do this in the middle of your name is Danielle Smith, but she's a town legend, Danielle Smith. We're in the motherfucking building.

Holla!