Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Summer League

This episode is brought to by Netflix. The T mobile homeome runun Derb is right around the corner. might be one of the best showcases of pure power and off sports baseballs Biggest slugggers. along with some legendary Announcers, Puhos, Rizzo, Bs, Sabbathia L Duncin Yeah Hunter Pence, Matt Fas Kirzian, a whole bunch of people. And it's the one night where you don't swing to make contact You swing. to make history. Im interested is see what Bond says about this actually. Anyway, it is all live from Citizens Bank Park In Philly, Watch the T mobile homeome runun there we liive on Netflix this Monday, july thirteenth at eightM Eastern five PM Pacific. Welcome to the Mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon, and join me as you us every week from the wringer dot com is Dave Jacobi, Jacob. B' no free agency has begun, but it does also feel like it has just begun You know, it's weird because I think we were all expecting. I think for so many years we got used to as soon as free agency ticker hit You were ready for the Wage tweets to just start dropping one after another and Sam's tweets and Mark Stein tweets des and that is just not the experience we have nowadays and things have changed. It's like drip, drip, drip. Ke on Ellis eighteen million bucks with the n. I mean, Kobe Sanders has signed with the clippers. It's like drip, drip, drip. And it's obviously look and I think that's in large part because of the restructuring of NBA finances and the way teams do this team building that now trades are the thing and we have seen now off season that included an incredible amount of movement. It is not going to be via the free agency market But as teams are restructuring their own rosters We're going to have Lameello Ball on a different team. John Morant on a different team Kwi Leonard on a different team, LeBron James on a different team, Janesanta Dumo on a different team. So that is not while free agency has not been some big splash and we didn't necessarily expect it to be What has been a big splash is the trade market and it very well may continue to This episode of the mismatch is presented to you by Weather Tech. Everyone knows winter is the NVP in making a mess. You don't need Weather teech floor liners in the summer unless you hit the beach or go camping then you'd want a cargo liner Or a road trip goes sideways, Ketchup goes roadue. Ice cream drips. Yeah You'd be ' pretty happy about those Weather teech seat protectors So just to be clear, as the mud you're inevitably going to step in this summer donon't need weather tech. unless you plan on doing summer So vis it. Weather tech . com de We'll start with one that is not a trade yet, but will eventually be a free agent signing And that is the news that came down that LeBron James inform the Lakers, he's done with the Lakers. I saw many opine that he should be awarded Father of the year Bronnie James contract. two point three million dollars became guaranteed yesterday. And then he informed the team today that he was no longer going to be a part of the Lakers, but You know, where there's smoke, there's fire. There's been a bunch of this warriors stuff. There was the the warriors have their sights on, you know, fancy themselves as maybe a landing spot for both LeBron and Anthony Davis and all this kind of stuff. And so I think by the time we got to today Though it was breaking news It wasn't surprising to anyone after the Reeves contract last week and then the news that had been slowly trickling out Bron James could very well be wearing a different uniform Uh that that's where we're at. and I now everybody will just sit around and wait to find out where the biggest name of the free agents ends up So you know I producce Game overver with Mas Cim and Rich Paul. Oh, you did, and I do And this information came out And obviously you start scrambling And u Rich is in London He's at Wimbleton And I'm sure he's working his phone. I don't think it's a vacation day for mister Paul But he did sort of like a ten minute hit with Max about this decision and how it worked And you could all listen to that tomorrow morning. There's a social clip out already. But one thing I found really interesting about it is, you know, Rich chooses his words carefully And I think the Lakers were the team that could offer him the most money. Bird's rights Yada yada, cats space, Yada, yada And I think that He said that in the Braz decision, he's going to Prioritize happiness. And again, none of this is something you can't len to on game over. I'm not like violating Prioritize happiness. money wants to compete for a championship None of this is crazy. But I think the prioritized happiness part is interesting because Th about LeBron, which makes this off season so tricky, which is why I've said on this podcast so many times, there's no like natural dance partner is he's worth a lot of money Like his production level and locker room leadership and on court intelligence And just like numbers he puts up, like he is like a thirty million dollars basketball player If you pay LeBron thirty million dollars, then you sort of take them out of that compete area You know, like there's not a lot of teams that could take in LeBron and still have a competitive roster to compete with the two thousand six Champion Kicks and other teams that might also compete with the championship So I found that to be interesting. It just sort of felt like a a little bit of a concession of, you know what? maybe we're not going to get paid what we're worth Hiness is the priority. and they start thinking about happiness in the potential teams We all know who they are We'll walk through them. But there are some leaders in the clubhouse. Well's start to that pro by just putting a bow on. ending of this. in LA If you could all go back in time The day after Luadantich got traded out It was the end B. It was like LeBron and Luca together and it was Good. You know, they got they got mowed by the Timber wolves. And then this past year in the worst basketball series I've ever watched in my life The hobbled Lakers versus the hobbled Rockets. They were able to get past them only to get mowed down by the thunder Lca was hurt though. So I would call L LeBron a dud. I don't think that's fair. No, no, no, but because Lu it wasn't Luca and LeBron. But that is the way this goes though, Jacobi. L somebody is going to get hurt. somebody like I'm saying When they first got together, it's like, oh my God. they're going to have Luca and LeBron and what it netted was I mean two veryer mediocre season And now when there's vol to the There's a good reason why they were mediocrre. understand of like Kyrie and James Harden and Kevin Drant on the nets like Yeah. never worked out, but they never played together. R It's not the player's fault doesn't mean theyt work together. Yeah. It's just they didn't play together. Luke who got hurt And Now it will be a Luke operation, I guess a Luca and Reeves operation in LA. I disagree with the reigning, but whatever we can And regarding what you think about LeBron James going forward and which of the teams you think would be whichich is the best Tour Winning And which is the best for us as the viewer. And are those those are two obvious two obvious answers. Okay. Winning is the sppurs it Vibes and like the NBA is the warriors. those are obvious clear answers And you are not persuaded at all by a possible homecoming The wrapid up in Cleveland The the third G her homecoming Flyn. U I'm not inspired. No Are you I am very intrigued by this whole warriors thing which was out there. and then We were dealt. a bunch of news this afternoon saying Wizards aren't tring Anthony David So it's like What? What was that all about? Like I think everybody opined. Oh Cutch had something, you know, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green and the b Draymond out had this idea Leron Draymond and Ay are all clutch clients Right And we had this idea and we're going all whatever. and like the Maybe what was forgotten is the wizards would have a say in this Yeah like take Jimmy Butler. Yeah No actually we don't want to do that. We would actually rather have Anthony Davon That's what you would prefer to do And so you do wonder if these like talks that you feel like were obviously had maybe when they were filming their Hilarious prank video of Draybond Green point on Anthony Davidis' hit Turner show Um, whichich no one can name including myself. Mbe. those conversations. It all sounds great. And then even when it was being reported, it was like, o, they're all going to team up. But there was like never like this acceptance that like actually they're going to get cooperation from the wizards wizards. And then by this afternoon It's very clear There's no cooperation from the wizard. And then it turned into Okay, well, LeBron' just going to He's just going to sit back and hear everybody's pitch. He's going to be a legitimate free agent and then he's going to lay it all out then he's going to decide, but be clear based on happy. Not Money So donon't try to offer him more money because this is a happiness decision And so he's going to lay it all out and say where will make me the most happy And I do feel Just given as a follower of his This guy is so Hcn into golf right now Oh, I think he needs to go somewhere he can gol. No. So said on the p it's like there is indoor golf. So everything's on the table He literally said that on the pot. He did. I mean, It seems like his passion right now. veryery clearly this sport that he has dove head first into. Yes. And so I think just having who can offer him best membership I golf course available. You are putting together a deck. So right Rbert said he spoke to twelve to fourteen teams. If you're putting together a pitch deck, there's page one should be like here are your golfing opportunity. Yes. These are the courses I can get you to. We have a helicopter. These are the other course I get you to within thirty to forty minutes This will be your golf life. Okay, next page, let's talk about basketball. Right So I think the warriors have the lead It unbelievable course no or no wine country And the other thing is another passion. No, you're right. And he loves Curry And you know, love second all the basketball stubs, whatever. Oh here's the other thing I will tell you as someone who had friends on that Golden State staff for many years guysys, That's one of the very few teams even when they would come to Memphis They would They would be at one of the local courses Yeah, I think it was like an Igadala led thing and Curry obviously from like if you're from a Carolina state you're great at gol. if' just born great a.. having jump shopping from Indiana. Kur was part of it too before the b stuff. Yes. Oh yeah. they were even when they were at their apex This is one of the teams that like they had a bunch of guys carry their club. and they would go and play even when they were on the road. they would play after shoot rounds or they would just cancel shoot rounds and they would go find all or something month in advance, of course would get a call. So I mean ye I think we fase the work could very well see LeBron James and Steph Curry playing just all that only in NBA markets and filling up every arena they go to if they're healthy Also appearing on local golf courses in every NBA market throughout next season Because I' kind of convincedre players. I'm kind of I have no inside information. I'm kind of convinced it's the warriors They sign Porzinggas, they sign Horrorord Rraymond decline, clutch client The jimmy part's interesting because to have that much money tied up in an asset that is as distressed as he is, no fault of his. is a little tricky for a LeBron James Championship run Like is it's going to be healthy Come late regular season. I don't know. Okay, what if I sold you on this What if I sold you on? And again, I understand they're older now. Who knows What you could say is Hey, LeBron James gets you by for a long time and then You can nurse this Jimmy Butler injury back and then he's back for when it matters As long as you can get a getting the Get in the mix. and then by the time you get to last playoff run The only thing that matters is that you've got four of them outalthy. And even then, if you lost somebody by then, now you got Jimmy Butler coming back I mean I think warriors do. I do. It makes a lot of sense I'm honestly like I'm not about the golf thing As someone who has gotten the same bug Take over your life he's prioritizing happiness. That's it. And that's what makes would right above family, but second You know what I mean? She's playing every day every day at a golf course or at a range or someere. It's become a passion. So I think so too and the AD thing obviously They weren't That the warrior' front office be like theseese are cute rumors and everything. but like what's the package? Inure Jimmy Butler and what now? Right for Anthony Davis What Like it it's almost good for everybody else and everyone forgot to talk to the the wizards and be like, yeah, What's in it for us Okay, then I will say one quick thing So it's very interesting is Brian Wyinhorse had gone on like a Cleveland radio station earlier today. It said something to the effect of Cleveland is bigig game hunting. I'm paraphrasing here, but like, you know, they they got some big things on the horizon but I can't really say they're trying to make some stuff happen And then I watched this ESPN free agency special that they put on tonight because I just wanted to hear at what Is Windhorse going to say some about this And then it got like They do this perk big board and Kendrick Perkins is you know, giving where he thinks guys should go. And at one point he says Jaylob Brown to the Houston Rockets and then Winmorse stops him in and he's like What if we changed that? Tat And I was like Well hold on now And then he's like, And they have been reluctant to give up Evan Mobble. Even Evan Mobile in like a Jalen Brown D deal But what if I told you that you were they were trading Evan Moby and I think Sam Merll was the other guy to make the money work to Boston and they would be willing to give it up because D give them the opportunity the table with LeBron James and say, is this something you would like to do and then they could give him the mid level, whatever, the six million bucks or whatever. But the finances are really tricky for the kid. It is, but they figured it out and I was like it almost it sounded like Wind horse was throwing out there. was throwing out there that the calves a line of thinking. like you don't just come up with that out of nowhere, right? That a line of thinking would be if we could extract Jalen Brown would intrigue LeBron James when he's making his free agency decision because if he's trying to win a championship and going back to home and you know, that's the the Sans home is like he ends it in Cleveland and maybe and not only ends it in Cleveland, but ends it in Cleveland with a chance like a very real chance of a title rightight If he's if he's got that crew. So I thought that was intriguing and it was it was worthwhile bringing up because that was because I do not think he would go to Cleveland as currently constructed. It takes a ton of maneuvering. Right Un Cleveland side that I don't even want to get into to do that. It also decimates the front court to a point And it makes it difficult to resign James Hard and he'd have to take like way less money. There's a lot that needs to happen for that to happen. It's not impossible But it just does feel like The warriors are sitting right there. and if you're LeBron James, is that a better situation in terms of happiness, not money? friend than the warriors. The warriors seem like a Steve Kerr Cry It's Raymond Green you knows relationship there And you know, Hoorford Przingis Pachemky and, you know, the young pieces that they have, like the posts and the You know I think I would be surprised if it's not one of those two I love Bill's idea about the spurs, to be honest with you. I just love it. I love it I love it so much. It doesn't make sense But I absolutely love it. But just like let me just pitch so they could They can give the same amount of money, like the fifty million dollars the worst can give, this person can give explain this to me. whyy not a little bit like Chris Paul did when he joined the spurs. be like This is going to be the future face of League. This is going to be sort of like the next goat conversation guy. This is a Future topop ten all time player projected Why not get a little piece of that Why not Get yourself involved with this young, young nucleus that just is looking for veteran leadership piece that's not Harrison Barnes to be the adult on the floor I thought youth was a big problem for them in the finals. especially wemb And I just feel like They were missing what LeBron provides And he fits into that team so well. And they are poised for a championship run without him add him probablyrobably favorites be a nice swan song to LeBron's career I mean, Certainly would be an intriguing watch It justust feels odd. Why becausecause of the because he is the culture. he is you know, he sucks the air out of the room you know, because of his I mean, he's all time leading scorer in NBA history. that it becomes a LeBron preparation And that is maybe that's good for Wemby. Maybe that's what Wemby that is not what the spurs have been Their whole thing is no one is bigger than the program That's their whole thing And every star they've had has adjusted to that Every player they've had has adjusted to that. and anyone that wants to get outside of those lines is no longer within those lines So It's not They don't function in the same way that other organizations do And he would be by far. I mean, it is There's a reason why Today, everything on the timeline is about LeBron James and why ESPN has done literally five consecutive hours of programming On my TV right now. This is our fi Probably longer. That's just when how long it's been on my th programming about LeBran What's interesting is like I, you know I talk to Rich Paul and he said this to my microphes, I'm not violating any privacy It's going to be a process Like it's not like they know what's going to happen and it's like All right, free agencies open. Everyone put together your little decks and your toys and your monogram pillows and invite me over and putut it together Some mehere' be playing gol The only thing about San Antonio from a happiness standpoint, like I really had a great time there and I enjoyed it. It is a smaller town Th then San Francisco Los Angeles This summer, Fandoo is the best place to bet on goals. Including equalizers. Uhh Vollies? Yep, headters. Every goal is worth more on fandou. So let there be goals. New customers get up to one thousand dollars in bet reset tokens when you bet five dollars daily. Carter one plus and present in select states, often required. Refund issued does non withdrawalable bonus bets that expire seven days after receivt. M minimum five dollars wits are required for five consecut days. Max refund two hundred dollars hundred per day. Restrictions apply including token expiration, seafulullurns at fan du dot com slash sportsook Gambling problem, call one eight hundred gambler or one eight hundred My reset Cui Leonard got traded. And LeBron James just like trumped that by telling the Lakers he's no longer going to be a Laker, but like which is that surprising news. like I didn't seeim staying with the Lakers. But on any other day it was it would be like Noge tryer back where he won a championship C why Leonard is going back to Toronto. like Yeah, I know he won the title and then just w and then leftugh You don't usually leave the place that you won the title and were fininals MPP, right And it was like Now he's going back Toronto And it was like he just If he's going somewhere, he wants to be somewhere he's already been. I thought that was so funny. It was like, so San Antonio or Toronto because he trying to he trying to learn a new city Well, I also think that he wanted to go somewhere where he was going to be offered an extension. For sure But also I think that's where his heads are also funny that they mentioned the two teams that he had played for before, right? He is he does not seem like a, Hey guys, I'm new in town kind of guy. No but also unceeremoniously left both places. like he right No, he he obviously won in Toronto but it was kind of like all right You're welcome, peace. You know what I mean? And we all know how San Antonio ended. So it's not like He has great relationships with both of these franches Brandon Ingram who had just a like Mumental flame out in play off That was tough. It was tough. just tough U Dig. We'll talk about Jalen Duran later, but yeah att least we'll get dick jokes in LA now. Love dick jokes Grady Dick has been a H huge first round of disappointment so far. But dicking the dome is a whole different thing, You know what I mean? It's a whole different sensation, you know, dic in the dome. Two first, two seconds and a big swap It thatge it. I mean, I just don't even Am I wrong here? I don't care about anything the clippers got in that traade Honestly, I'm gonna to say something wild. I don't care about either sides of this trade. I don't think this moves the needle really that much in either way For Toronto, it does for It does. Toronto will be better this year than they were last year. They they will be better, but I don't see them as competing for I don't see in Easter Congce finals, to you I mean B to you Are they still rolling out Jacob Purdle. They're still rolling out. RJ. Barrett and they're still rolling out and they all Mary Boyles quickly was hurt Love CMB A lot you know, you know,ark you know like dargo. Barn C and being and Cire kind of like Different versions of the same player at differentes. I like it, but they are very unique This is like then from three years ago, they were all six eight wings. They put up five of them like real around. Yeah, I mean, like It is like I swear have got s kind of un need Barnes. If you squit CMB Barnes and Coire just the same player four years apart from each other. I will miss Matt Devlin sayank The notorious BI three. I'm going to miss that. But that will the only thing about F and Inroup no longer being a rapp. longonger flight for Glob Really to get to games. But she'll be in LA. more. So yeah. it will be in L.A. more. Yeah. So it's probably going to she'll be a frequinter to the into it down But this one didn't really like really change how I feel about each franchise very much see it does change how I feel about Toronto If you could workplace quietly had a career I'm saying to people anything like that? That's a lot of good players they've got around him. And if he plays anything like he did last year be a high sea I really wish they had someone I believed in in the front court, like just a rim protecting big didnt have to score L you put like go bear there, like no one's scoring on them Po contract is just abomination. Hillar honestly. It's an abomination Hayor It really is honestly. And I think quickly coming back is a good point because they were missing him and they missed his guard playay in RJ two I think that team will be fun. I think that team will be pretty good I think so too I would not surprised if there were number three in the Easter Congerence at the end of the season. W somebodyed Somebody posted the graphic of like the first lineup for next year. I was like, that sucks. Well I think the cllippers are not necessarily trying to contend this year. I think they're just trying to like get out. they're just trying to age they're trying to downgrade and age W you seen these two things about he's trying to flee the country All the all the Kawi jokes about him trying to flee the country. I mean, this investigation is just ongoing. God damn And then guess what? guuilty. They did it Investigation over. Jacob the law firm of Jacoby Inerno says it's over. He did it, Punish him. Do you see Pabo Torory? obviously, you know, he started all this. But he posted One reminder about Kauai and Toronta going Rap's owner, Larry Tannenbaum is the chairman of the NBA Board of Governors. Her Michael Graange in last year, he wrote this will be Tannenbom who will presumably have a voice in what, if any sanctions are leveled against Balmer and the cllippers. I don't hear anything about sanctions level against Kawai and his ability to play for the Raptors. I don't think they make this deal. I think that you don't make this deal unless you have some sort of understanding Not a guarantee, but an understanding that he will be playing for the Raptors next season. And I think if there are sanctions levied, which there will be They'll be against the clippers, there'll be draft capital and fines and whatnot, But it won't be like Kaai can't play basketballore What I'm saying is do you think there is any coincidence that that's the team he went back to when When They The original owner No, the original thing that was floated. was that And this is what is alleged first gave him the biggest contract they could give him madeade him whole of what he would have gotten if he would have resigned with his team This Kckamami D I see what you're saying. that it's coincidentalion. I think it is coincidental. And so now it's like A's with the Toronto Raptors back after all. and The owner of the Toronto Rors happens to be the board of governors who it was written a year ago is going to be the one decides whether or not the clippers should be leveled for What happens with Koalen or what happened with Kalen? It is understandably suspicious, but ultimately coincidental Understandably suspicious, but ultimately coincididental. I'm not You ain't the only one with fingers win horse As fingers too Wendy has a little more, you know forty five degrees. He's a little more antler vibes There's a two. I know we live in a world of conspiracy theories, but that is not option. No, it's not a big reach. It is suspicious, but ultimately I don't I think when get to like high levels of collusion, I just don't buy it sometimes. You know what I mean I don't buy it This isn that hot. I mean, this is this is a This ain't that many steps, brother. the team that lost him got him back and the guy that is making the decision on whether or not to demolish their franchise S. These sins ins to be the guy Okay Jamarant got traded For normal layout. I know this is emotional for you, and I know this means a lot to you and your fans and the people of Memphis. just speak on it start in motion Um You know? very well that there was a long time I was hanging on and just wished it weren't so saying I wish this wasn't so And I think that There will come a day where Everybody takes a step back and wishes it would have all been different. And maybe the answer is it could have never been different The crazy thing is Gord Three straight years. How do I want to sum this up It's a very sad ending was in in ense amount of fun. Right going up until twenty twenty three. twenty twenty three in the spring And Then gun video comes out Keep in mind, they're like the two seed at that point. I mean, they're cracking. He's cracking. the whole thing' going great And then the first gun video comes out. And then he gets suspended for eight games and then he comes back, but everything's weird And then I think Adams got hurt and they end up getting run out by the Lakers, right? in that at the end of that series And then they come back and then in the summer, does it again Adams Sover says enough with that. That's twenty five games So he suspends him for twenty five games And then of that twenty five games, he comes back. He's unbelievable again And then he hurts his shoulder And then he's out for the season Then he came back the next year And he hated the offense. I was with you in New York City, watching him stand in the corner playing thumb wars with Macau Bridges. and I'm like, what is going on? I mean, he was just down. the whole year. He hated that La Roche offense He just was not himself. Not himself at all. notot like the happy go lucky guy thenen I think in the midst of all of this, Desmond Bane got an extension, Jaron Jackson got an extension and I think he wanted an extension And so he went, you know, him and his representatives went to them and they did not give him an extension and he wass pissed about it And All the while God You know, it was like prove yourself because you haven't been out on the court, lead us to victories, whatever. And that Egos get involved, the whole thing falls apart honestly like You know as well as I do. Three years is a long time And it's been so that's going back to twenty three. It hadn't been fun in three years. And he has not been himself. three year whether it is in his ability to stay on the court And then The happy go lucky. the guy doing the gritty. the guy bouncing around. the guy like I mean He was the most electric thing going in the NBA to watch it all deteriorate the way it did And it played out for a long, long time. And then time they got to basically January I was I was on the air locally like every day, like bro like If he if they're not going to like sit down and work this thing out, this is This the train is coming. because They went and played those games in Europe. So Memphis always has a Martin Luther King dayay game Always, we started biggest thing I mean, we take great pride in that every year. It's national TV and a market that very rarely gets on national TV. So they went over and played in Europe. They are featuring J. I mean, they've got Jh Nike stuff, Ja stuff everywhere They are featured in Berlin playing against the Vinner brother. Bro, he just fails doesn't play doesn't play in the game. when they went overseas wasn't like he just failed on it And Adam Silver I mean, there's a video of Adam Silver going and talking to him and his people And he played the second game 's like a good soul and he played great and they beat Orlando. And it was like, wait Is this going to be okay? And then obviously came back and got hurard again and I mean, he's play you know, seventy games in three years. You play over two what of that over two hundred and forty something games. So he has not played U But it was just a super sad ending because that it's like The highs were so high. byy far the biggest name and the most famous player we have ever had in what is a small market And well also just like yeah Marcus Saul And like Zach Randolph, but Job would light up building and electrify a crowd and put butts in the s and not to energize the youth. Like Job was just different from like a It no cultural impact standpoint. hundred percent coached my kids basketball teams. Jersey Day there would be a fight over twelve. There's wasn't if they had like a day at school, a jersey day I would say no lie. There was a time probablyrobably seventy percent of the kids at any given school had at least o Maranchers and a lot had the shoes too likeike he You know, and it was their guy. He was the guy And to watch it all deteriorate and then end the way it did I mean, it truly sucked. It was the longest breakup ever And as someone who was always a believer in him Um I hope. that he is able to. I think he has gotten Fragically bad advice, many, many times has l and I think that He will look back and regret things one day and the way it all went down But I that the situation he's in now is Not good . he went to a place where he is not going to be able Two be himself, he is not going to be able to earn that contract probably He is never going to be the most beloved or famous person there because that's Damiian Lillard City. Make no mistake. Who's coming back to play And this owner who is Now today rumored to now they're worried about him Moving the team elsewhere. I mean, the whole thing is just like This is not It's not the place and most importantly, the basketball situation When they said yesterday, there was like that tweet that came out that said Joh Morrant and Damiian Lillard, they fancy them playing in the back court together. I mean, So your holiday doesn't start And also that is a Whs horrendous idea? like in the other blink car. It's a horrendous idea Honestly And also, he's a guy that needs a ball in his hand Um The real arera because they both do. But I mean, if you would have told me and everybody that listens to this show knows, I've defended him for a lot of years because I know him and I know all the people around him, and I don't think he is nearly as bad a guy as he has been portrayed to be. I think he has made A lot of mistakes. There's no way around. Um But also particular basketball situation is like If you were going to do the comeback season back to be in yourself to show and, you know, everybody like They've got Drew and Scoot and again this can all d it out. see I mean it's the beginning it' get the beginning of free. see. Yeah, we will see. I mean But if you would have told me canan't imagine if you would have told me four years ago Three years ago You're going to say You're going to look up at three years Joh Morant's going to be traded for Jeremy Grant and Chris. was Chris Murray Chris Murr Oh my go I mean Kind of like the Jeremy Grant Fit. You could you could n with the Jeremy Graant Fit. kindind of like the Jeremy Grant Fit. Look, he's certainly a three and D wing that they could just put in the line upp and play and and and the weird thing is . that work in Detroit We're texting me how much I'm going to love and how everybody at the building loves Isaiah Stewart People in Portland all hit me up yesterday and they're like, you're gonna love Grant. He's the best. And I'm like, what reallyally? Yeahbe I don't know. M no, if healthy, Stewart Grant Foozer, foozer Okay Ter Id Cot, I think more wing. I'm thinking like four fivees like Yeahah, but like, Oh yeah Okay. Well, right That's a front court. That's a front court. Edie gets hurt. That's fine. got beefs through there. Everybody look, everybody, especially after the boozer thing was all excited about the future. This maranth thing has been hanging out there And so it finally felt like Yesterday the bandaid was ripped off R do. R watching from afar. I'm not as involved. I don't go to the games. I'm not watching every Chrisas game What it feels like is one of those things where you're just kind of like This has to happen, but how do we get here? Hey, it's Bill from the Bill Simmons podcast, FIFA World Cup twenty six fans. Listen up is the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup twenty six. Micol Bltra is giving away one million dollars worth of FIFA World Cup twenty six tickets and prizes. Enter out Micolobltra dot com slash superior acccess slash FIFAorld Cup twenty six. C Ca Faor Cup twenty six, superior access, purchase necessary.ope US. residents twenty plus begins december first, twenty five, ends on july thirty first, twenty six multiple hundredure periods visit WW doticlb Ultrot com slash Sior acc slash FF Wor Cp six for free entry deadines prizes and details this has to happen, and I recognize that it has to happen. but Why and how And I also think that's a pretty good transition to the Jayen Brown situation Yeah, Well, I actually think there is something very in commommon in this. and that is egos And I say this, because I am one. Now you were one that was at a place for like twenty something years I have hopped around a lot, like during my career And I will tell you, I ran hot I felt disrespected, I felt, you know what I'm saying? Like I left places I left places because I was the door behind you. So I relate to the guys get mad about that stuff You're trying to trade me. You're trying to like you saw Jay the Brown these people doing this, you're gonna create a monster, right? Like I relate to that, right? I relate to the guy that takes great offense I understand And I know me and you've been texting and you're like, whyy trade Jaylen Brown? Because it's going to be untenable because you know what Jalen Brown thinks Jayalen Brown think that you're shit for even trying to put me in a Yanest trait I was the Eastern Conference Finals MVP I was the finals MVP And you are trading me. What Do you want Someone for a whole. I mean speak on this. No, I'm not done Mother P want to deliver a championship. What? Oh, you think he could deliver you a championship? I already delivered you a championship I would understand being like I got it. I would alsoso it's like it's like this was a gap year. Like we were supposed to like soft tank And we started off really poorly. It looked like we were going to be of the playion And I turned it on And you know what was my favorite year because we had no expectations and we ended up as the two seed. We ended up as a lot of people's favorite to come out of the East at the end of the regular season. And do you know why that was two letters M E. It was me And I'm an MVP as my best year and I I didn't just us afloat while Jason Tatum was coming back. We thrived with me and a bunch of white dudes all the time and it didn't always look pretty, but it always won and we were short Three games behind the pistons is the number one seed And now and now I'm on the block. I am just saying I I got it. I I understand people getting their feelings hurt and This is why I say that they are This is what happens when egos get involved. in and business can be messy There's no question that I understood. I did not think. I thought and I think everybody would have thought that if the Grizzlies gave John Moran a contract extension before he proved, he could stay on the floor and be his old self be silly. That is a wise decision to not do that decision also madeade a guy look around and go. Gam telling you that I don't it's not this has not been verbalized to me I am just telling you how I understand how a guy could feel around There's one U Jaon Jackson, Jersey Oh look, there's a there's a desesmond Bain jersey over there. Now look at the twenty thousand Mirander. I'm the guy paying everybody else but me. I'm the God. and I understand And this is how this all happens. This is how every Jimmy Butler breakup happened Jimmy Butler goes team does not give him the money. They pay this guy, they pay that guy. and he says, Oh, you got money for him and you got money for him, but you ain't got any money for me to hell with it and then he n palms the whole thing. This happens all the time. The Jayalena Brown one's different because he's looking at it going, why me Why are you again I think it If you're If you're a guy like Jaalen Brown, he thinks he's P promise you Jayen Brown thinks he's better than Yach He should and certainly more available. It's if he is himself, so he's not going to be a one hundred percent objectively self aware. But a case could definitely be made that he's more valuable than pretty much everybody outside of like Shenu. So he, I think People that don't understand why he would be pissed off about that. is what I understand that part, but I'm of on the that's If you're the organization and you're looking at these trades like I went through it today like some of the stuff The return that they could possibly get back in the main teams like the rockets, the Blazers, theawks, the Kings, and the nuggets and like I guess the calves or whatever. But like when you look at this, like so we're trading out Jalen Brown Let me look, who's the best player? I guess Moby would be the best player involved in this. but look at the Howks package. like so we get Caminga and Nikil Alexander Walker and some stuff Jalen Brown No I wouldn't make any of these trades. I went through the internet looking at all the potential trades. I wouldn't make any single one of them, notot a single one Shangon I just think it's always very hard to have somebody in very public Trade discussions. And then it just Be okay It's it's just, it's personality management. You know, it's personality management and it's just like, it's not what you do, it's how you do it And there is I just feel like there is a way the self is can fix this and keep him. Because what's being offered According to the Inter Weebs, I think it was like CBS sports, I wish I had the thing where I found these potential trades What's being offered? is just No. I'm saying no to every one of these deals of I myself.. And you know what you sound like Chris Vernon in february twenty twenty six when you and I recorded and I was like, I don't want this cp I know where you were. You were emotionally invested as well. You just didn't want to see him go. But I also didn't want those deals. I know. And you think It was Jeremy Grant the one you were holding out for? Oh, we get Jeremy Grant and H Chris Murray. Trust me. trust me. it went so far that it was like look, by the time it ended up happen I didn't bring him back. I know. By the time it ended up happening, you're like at least I didn't give up a f Yeah. I know. that it's like didn't attach a pick. Like what just happened here? I just like listen, we'll pay attention to this Brown thing and I think that it's always important to recognize that I don't know Jalen Brown. I haven't spoken to Jaylen Brown. I don't know what his relationship is like with Tatum and with Missoula and with the owners in the front office and Stehvens and I don't know what he's expressed off mike. You know what I mean? I think that those are the things that really guide these decisions, information that we don't have So I'm I'm certainly saying, why would you trade him But he might have said something private conversation that made that said like, listen, this is untenable And that's to the point where you're like, I guess we have to do something becausecauseuse you hang up the phone, you're like, that guy's not be in the team in October You know, because because look, when you are like smaller names, you got to deal with stuff like that Al going always going to hold that over their head. It's like if you went home tonight And you found out that J' calling some dude all the time I mean, what are we doing Berno? No, I'm serious though. What are we doing? Hey Yeah I find his address and I br ring his doorbell and I meet his ass Right And you wouldn't just let it go. No no, I'm not's what I'm saying when it comes to that. I understand I let go. And I'm telling you, Jalen Brown is not gonna just let it go There was a phone call where they said not Hugo Gonzalez. Nowhere I love the idea that Brown is so disrespected, but Shireman and Gonzale are walking into the locker room being like, I'm the one that they wouldn't give up for.p. Shermman is like, I'm the reason that Janis is not on this team because I am so valuable I mean, and if I were Jalen Brown, I'd be a prick about it too. I just train again be like, Oh, you sure they're not starting Cover me. cover me practice. We're scrimmaging, cover me. I' go get the backups. Hey, Ill. I'll run with the backups because that's who y'all don't want. That's who you got to make sure stays We got to make sure those guys are good I againain, like I always want to recognize there's information and conversations happening that we are not privy to. but on its surface, biggest instinct about this is are we sure we have to trade Jayalen Brown ty cents on the dollar. Are is it that we is that really where we are? Is that really where we are? I don't think it'll be fifty cents on the dollar. I think that about lookook at these trades. We want Shagoon. I know. Shigoon's like probably the best player you can get back or mobly I guess broke it's a bonus Cinemaese are fine players. No dis I feel like They're just not as productive as J Brown. He you want your own team? Welcome to Sacramenta You know what mean U God. One of the big things about free agency, so we didn't have that many of these, but the You know where feelings really get hurt did free agency It seems like Jayalen Duran's already gotten missed off because unfortunately the pistons reviewed the playoff tapes and decided they did not want to give him the full boat And so now he's got to run around and try to get a biggest offer sheet he can get from somebody and then have them match it, which they have said they're going to match it. I mean, that's been all the re. just said they're like whatever it is we're matchhing it. Okay, but I I got to tell you something I feel like I am in bizarro world here. Thank you. I'm on the same page. What I know you're going to say I'm the same page. go. How are we talking about Jayen Duran's got to run around town? finding A Uh find in a deal somewhere when he is young and he was just on a sixty win one seed and was an all star and I got it. had a rough playoffs for sure, right? But he was also part winning as their second best player all throughout the year for a team that won sixty games And there are reports that Walker Castlers getting in the high like what . Planet am I on Planet am on that people are offering Walker Kessl thirty something million dollars a year and Jayalen Turren's like trying to go fight to get somebody to sign him to an offer sheet Well, it's not what I thought you werere going say. Really What happened to Verno that was like you only have so many maxes that you can put on your team? Are we sure that Jalen Ver Dern is worth one? because that's kind of where I'm at too. I'm like, are we sure like we have to match whatever any other team? No no, I don't for Jen Der. I don't mind them being responsible about this and saying, Hey, man, like life is leverage, go out Becauseuse I don't think it's probably going to be. I don't think the offer sheet is going to be like the full boat. but They made their offer. He didn't like it. And in fairness Part of this, I would think is the Kessler thing I would be Enraged Enraged If Walker Kessler was getting I think it's because it's been established that Jayalen Dern is a more valuable basketball player than Walker Kessler.. I think it's been established. I think that's been established. Walkl by the games of basketball that they played not just winning because they' G players and bad teams don't get opportunities to play, which is happens a lot of time especially in Utah But like I mean I think one hundred hundred people tr Chairman Durn over Walker Kessler. Well, I'm also a bit like Myth And this even happened with Chad. it happened with Darin. it happened It's happened with other guys too where it's like You understand we're talking about their their failings in the playoffs because teeam is good enough to be in the playoffs because they are good. L Well also you just drafted guys that are his age You know what to me Like a couple guys in the first round went that are his age. Like there's room to grow here if you're Jayalen Der. All right. put me on record Put me on record gives Walker Kessler over thirty million dollars is crazier than hell. D thirty million for three years don'll take it. thirty million for three years don't take it. Inane You mean annually, obviously. That is insane Fine player But LeBron' gonna be playing for fifteen and Walka is going to be playing for thirty. Like what No way And if I were that is the one time where I was like, you know what? I don't think necessarily they should be You know unloading every bit of money. likeike if the price of doing visit, there might be a limit So where do you just say, you know what betteret for us Do not sign that contract going forward. I am typically one that says go ahead and match it. Everything is tradable Yeah youpt it d you can't lose the asset. You're invested. You can't los it for nothing. Yeah, I get it. But there is a thing like I've only been like a few like charity auctions or auctions Sometimes it get to a point where you're like you' bidding against somebody,re like, I'm out Go ahead You get the hotel in Barbados because I'm out thing is what then what then becomes of the center position in Utah because everybody has projected this out. I'm saying everybody that's project I'm telling you Jereren Aint a center brother No, I know that, but it's more like they're not competing for a championship next year. They're a great story. They're going to compete. They're going to be good They can make the playoffs You're not a championship team. so you run it, you run it through And you see where you stand You just got to od that we've gotten to this moment where free agency starts and there's all these stories about how there's people Evidently At least a few lining up to give Walker Kessler this kind of money and these are the kind of offers he's going to get. And than the other stories are Pistons are telling Jalen Dern like bring back an offer sheet But they already said they're they preemptively said they're going to match it, which is weird becausecause you were on a team, you're like, Can't we just screw the pistons here Yeah mean. It's exactly what you would try to do But that's a gamble in itself. It does it also feels like The center market is skewed because the Lakers have such an obvious hole there You know, it's like all these all these players O taking meetings are being rumored with the Lakers. Mitch Kessler, Duran. if you're over six ten and you might be available The Lakers are interested Walker Kessler and Deandre Ayton as your center rotation. Okay All right. All right I'm a rapid fire all these that have happened. You stop me if you care about one of them Zach Collins to the Chicago Bows. What in the world This happened since we been on the air That was big breaking news Boy, You ready for the Zach Collins and Clxton frontline in Chicago D era N leving Clxton. But you told me to stop you when I care. so I haven't stopped you yet. This is not reminiscent of Samson and Elijah on to you, Collins and Clexton I like cly The new Twin Towers. Kanard signed with the Phoenix Ss. I love Luke Kanard. I like that They lost grace and they're like, we need we need we need the w shooter from LA. Yeah, yeah. we need to replace that. Well they do need somebody to could shoot because they just They just made that deal for Miles Bridges and it's like Jeeese man like Booker didn't shoot threeZ Well last year And you like look around and be like, all right, how he' facing the floor here? Likeice O'Neil just stood in the corner and all he took was threes. There's a game against the Rockets where Luuconard was the best player in the floor that includ the K L Brunames Kean Ellis to the Brooklyn Nets I like Ke on Ellis. It's just the n' part that was my interest Kobe Sanders thought the keey on Ellis thing was going to be better in Cleveland. Okay, Kobe Sanders racid to the cllippers. Brandon Carlson one year two point five million dollars to the Portland Trailblazers to go along with Rob Williams and Clingon Tim Hardaway? That's That'sim Haway junior. Yeah. I did TV with his dad for months on end. sock I rock with Tim Hardaway junior. One of those guys where it's like you put him in the first quarter at the end of the first quarter, you put him in and he either makes his first one and he's gonna to hit seven or he misses his first one. he's going miss seven. It's just like it's just like one of those real hot or knot guys and I love him for that For one year, six point five million dollars as a guy it. You feel like he will be able to do that until he's to score twenty like seven times during the regular season. Guaranteed. Yes and hit a game winner Oh yeah. and and he always really is you're coach. If you're coach, it's like either has it or he doesn't and if he doesn't pull him if he does a min Bones Highland back to Minnesota, Deandre Jordan back to the Pelicans, Usman James. What's De Andre's number The unknown Okay. And you know, he's just there to make sure D just They should say onk instead of his Jeordan in the back of his number. Yes Jersey. Uman Jang three years seventeen five for the to the bucks Sure. Okay. God A guy that I did love when he in his short time in Memphis But I when they came across this time When in room When it came across the timeline, I was like White ro Jack Landell got one year fourteen million dollars. I love Jack Landell. That's what Leron James going to get paid next year. It is certainly That' what Lebrons gonna paid year, and Jacqu Lindell's gonna get paid the same brok This is broken. This is broken. I do like Jocoline Mil. How about Tim Lord getting three years forty four billion dollars? If you squint Tim Lord lookooks like a really good player Like it went healthy. like he he contributes. fifty nine games last year T stay with the stay with the bllazers, right? Yeahes. stay with the bllazers. Is that three forty four' going to get you to what like fifteen a year, a little less than that. fourteen point three a year. sure. Harison B going back. Good deal Bs Por Zingus going back to the wararriors. I like that. I like Pzinggus going to the warriors's like They're obviously going to add some sort of peiece, Lebron James. And you know, if PorzZiggas is healthy, like there's something there Kevin He her back with the pistons Three years, twenty seven million dollars They gave up assets to bring them in. so I think they have to kind of sign them Three years twenty. seven So it's seven oint three. Yeah. I mean, he was supposed they say he was injured during the playoffs or whatever but both you can't get on the floor there You know what I mean? Yeah, it's like we needed you. They need shooting and he was the guy brought in to be the shooter and he didn't shoot. So no like I need you to space the floor and knock down shobs badly that Julian Champanney back with the Spurs on a great deal Three years, forty five million dollars for Chhampetti is k fifteen in two years, I could see that being one of the best contracts in the M. That guy if he like really develops You could I mean, He started on the finals te. If they win a championship and he's like knocking down threes and huge spots making fifteen million dollars a year That could be a great deal. That's potentially be one of the best deals. Were you glad Sham it wasn't a casualty I've had a tumultuous relationship with. I know you have. had a very tumultuous relationship with Landard Simman. notot I mean, this predates the nextick tenure Um, I'm I I'm very happy that he got paid based on his performance in a single series in the playoffs to conference files. Bro, he was like thirteen official from three. It was thirteen for fourteen dude. He missed one shot in the entire series. I think that's three point shot. I think that's worth six million a year And there was a couple times like he was getting closed out and he would upbake and drive and look like a cable offensive player. He also was good defensively. Yeah. He justt like a He's like Brigito. He's like Timu brridges. You know what I mean? It's like sure All right longong e plays defense. When Frit is out, you put them in We won't go through all of these, but were you surprised? I door are the ones we went through for as much conversation This next player that I'm about to mention and as much airtime as he took on every NBA podcast Imagine that we got to the point where it wasn't even a big story or deal when the Atlanta Hawks said now, we'll just decline the comminga option well you guys like put in this thing the Hwks package for Jayalen Brown is like based around Kaminga. I'm like, what are you talking about? I'm hanging like, what are we talking about? Kaminga and Jayalen Brown in a deal together? What The team declined The option And I mean We went from Hold on Was this just a Steve Kerr problem And then by the time it was done, it was like, o, wait Remember cou games in Atlanta? Steve Kurse probably like smiling like a Cheshire cat watching the way this is playing out because now they don't want him either Why it just What a wild deal. I would not have expected that when they made that trade. I would have thought like It'll be there for another year. They just declined the option. Re no We're good. He had some very productive games and he had some very forgettable games. and I always say that they know more about Kaminga than we do. And they decided to dec clline the option The rest of these are boring. I'm not even going to go through all. Most of those are going to begin. We talk about Joc Landell for thirty seconds, please. Well, those are just the ones that happen like today. You know, mean the other ones happen like veryer quick. whereere do you think LeBron plays next year Golden state Where do you think C stopen Brown Jalen Brown plays next year. Ple I'm only saying that because why did Wind Horse bring that up? That was you get mobly back. If you get moobly back, that's probably the my thing if I'm the sell stach if I'm trading get back. Yeah, tos give me back because we're not going rebuild. I don't want a bunch of picks And like a young prospect that makes the most sense. I first of all, I wouldn't trade him but like Getting Mobly back, you can convince yourself that you are Diversifying your stars because Brown and tatum are a little bit redundant I can convince myself that it's going to make us a better basketball team I just don't the reason I'm saying that is because I was watching that show and I was like And when do, you know he's tied into the calf Yes And he walked right up to the board and he's like, how about we switch this to Jayla Brown to the cabs? And I was like, what S Brown of the Kids Chris Vernon is reporting Jam That's a report. that is just about fingers. He he's confirmed it with three independent sources. It's gone through the mismatched newewsroom, which is basically Jesse Lopez and the And he's reported it. There I am conf I the only thing I am confirming is that when you see this Walker Kessler news come down, it is going to be Boerrific That's what I am confirmed. There's always somebody that it's like And there's going to be nerds out there that like it. and I'm telling you, they're nerds. That is stupid as hell You know what I got? And I'm not against Walker Kessler as a human being This I don't even want to discuss this, but this Bobby Marks thing just blew way out of proportion way out of No the analytics Yeah. So this se best player in the team. It's like that's just ridiculous. it's ridiculous. I like old school Socks versus nerds. I love it. I do too I love it. It's just so objectively not true that Jalen Brown would be the seventh best player on any team in the NBA. It's just like, I don't need to even like parse this out or open up a roster Like there's no team that he would be the sevent best player on the. That's when you know, that's when you know he's running hot He'd had just ignored that Years ago. Yeah, yeah He wasn't he had time He had time for that one. He does. I every buddy. Wh's Jayalen Brown's best friend? Oh Jalen Browns he needs a best friend to pull sideide to be like Hey man, You know what? let the internet just like the discourse just like They'll back you up. likeike the the environment will have your back. You don't need to have your own back here Ready. I promise you this, you are never gonna to see me say one false word about that cat after seeing his dad Bobby Marks I never seen Bevy Markson Jaylen Br If you've not seen this Now I you tryg toical it. Have you ever heard of Jaylen Brown'sstad? No Jayen Brown's dad. who a boxer. Oh whoa, okay. lots lotots of results are coming up here I had no previous awar M side Brown. How do we say this frages? I had no previousam. He was twenty five knockouts. Yeah, he's debo. He's debo. if you're listening to the podcast, it's basically a human debo who's a boxer. He went on talking about rap. Hey, he went on talking crazy about St A Smith and Kendrick Perkins. And then Kendrick Perkins was like fire him back. And then I think everybody was like,, Kendrick, you might need to Oh wow. You might need to look this guy up Yeah Yeah I don't think that they were close But maybe they're rekindling their relations. I'm just telling him I'm not familiar. I can't I can't report on his relationship with his dad. but I can report on the fact that he's big and he looks bad He was the WBO worldor Champion. I' never heard of this until this past week Looks mean as hell when he's talking about these guys too. I'm like Yeah, Dad is not the guy. When when Perk is like, I'm easy to find. I'm like bro, this is the I don't want him to fight He might find last guy. mightakesself a little bit more difficult to find in again and you're going to find out a guy got stabbed in a parking lot over a parking spot Lgsic all right. Ohost' This is not Don't trifle with this guy bro This is the wrong This is the wrong one. Perk this is the one where you just gota be like, you know what? I'm done Woof becausecauseuse this guy It's like the cop with Justin Porrier is like, let's fight. She's like, no, thank you Yeah, that's a I'm afraid to tasee you? Yes. Big mistake. All right, we've had a ton of names already moving around the MBA inevitably will have a lot more. We will reconvene nextext week, you know? This week we got both California and Utah Summer Leagues going on this weekend before Vegas now Oh. Oh, I did not know that Oh yeah, by this weekend, Camboozer versus Darren Peterson. This week. We got a bunch going on this weekend for july fourth weekend And then we will reconvene next week before Summer League in Vegas Thanks to Dave Jacoby. Thanks to Steph Jeff And Jesse as always, and we will reconvene next week