Howard Beck Rant on Ja Morant

sobin, Rin, Logan Murdock here, Rajerabel and Howard Beck in a minute. We go long on LeBron And then a little bit on Kwai, and then an epic rant from Howard Beck on Jama Rant all that next. Victoria Ben Letitay music Fobin, Rillins, Logan Murdoch here. Rogjer Bill there, Howard Mother fucking be in the cut Man I don't even know where to start. Yes, I actually do know where to start. LeBron James is a free agent again Oh You know, it was building towards this Everybody and you know there was so many rumors throughout the season. Will he be back in L.A? Will he be gone We finally got a little bit of clarity. One is that he's not going to he's going to play next season for the twenty six twenty seven season, but it is not going to be with the Los Angeles Lakers And there's Rumors abound. We are going to try to make sense of those and we are also going to try to talk about his legacy. And then we have another trade, you know, that we're going to talk about later in the program. Kui Leonard is going back to Toronto, but first Let's stay in the West cooast for now Le Bron James, leaving the Los Angeles Fakers. I want to start with Howard Beck here. U Why did it ultimately work out with LeBron in the lake This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a fifty page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responssees set upp required compatibility and availability varies eighteen plus afterfter eight seasons. I mean, it worked out for eight seasons Um, and they won a championship Th they were pretty good and they were relevant and he brought them back. So like before we talk about the ending and what went wrong ish I think we still need to at least acknowledge How how much? They These two parties needed each other. LeBron James needed the Lakers in twenty eighteen when he went there and the Lakers Badly, badly needed LeBron James in twenty eighteen, because it had been a long time since they had been good Kobe been retired. his last few years weren't so great like LeBron made the Lakers the Lakers again. Let's not forget. Um, So there's that and then he brings Anthony Davis there and they win a championship where things went, Ary, sideways some sort of direction that wasn't straight Is it? Out of the blue, Nico Harrison gifted them Lu Kadonich And nothing has been the same since And like that's it. L If Luka Dod just never becomes available and he never should have been, I think LeBron James is still laker right now. I don't think that's a stretch. I don't think that's hyperbole. I don't think that's a crazy narrative of any sort He became expendable. They've found their new tent pole, their new foundational piece in Luca And while they've played well together And while at times, the Lakers have still been very dependent on LeBron, especially with Luca and Austin Reeves out in that first round series a couple months back But the fact is you cannot Build cogently coherently And and sustainably around Luca, which you now have to do As long as thebron is still present, taking up a lot of oxygen and on the books at a really high cap number. And I think we should have all seen that this was coming a year ago at this time when The Lakers did not offer an extension. LeBron Opson to the last year of his deal makes him an expiring contract for the first time in forever Like it was all telegraphed then We were inevitably getting to this moment. where LeBron James and the Lakers were going to have to look at each other and say, you know what We had a great time. It's time to move on. The Lakers need to start building around Luca And LeBron needs to figure out where he best fits in this final stage, whether that's a year or two or whatever it is, but they don't make sense together anymore. I think this is the most logical conclusion This episode of the Ringer NBA showow is presented by Ferrera. the world is watching, Go all in for your team this summer with Ferrero Ener for the chance to win a range of prizes just by purchasing your favorite treats like Kinder Bueno with an irresistible chocolate wafer and creamy hazelnut filling, or Kibler Chips deluxe cookies with indulgent and rich chocolatey chunks, or Ferrera Rochet squares, with crunchy hazelnuts and milk chocolate wrapped in iconic gold Go all in. buy any two forerrero brands and you could win one million dollars official rules apply Learn more at go all inandwin. com Do you agree that Rja Yes, I thought LeBron was going to leave the Lakers. There was I mean, I've come on before and talked about how well I think he transitioned good soldier he was in terms of being able to kind of acclimate to new roles on the fly, both on the court and probably in the locker room, definitely within the organization That doesn't mean he had to love any of thatough U and I never got the sense that he loved that Everything that Howard said is true about the Lakers and what they need to do But LeBron LeBron had a choice and You know, it's It's not unlike Jalen Brown except it's completely different than Jalen Brown in that There's a level of respect that You think you should be shown or given Um that That's not what you're feeling There are times when you, if you have the opportunity, you may move on Um No. whereere he winds up is going to be very, very interesting. Like I, you know, I've heard a lot of a lot of things. I'm assuming it's going to be about chasing championships, but is it going to be about championships and desirable city to live in is it like what how he parses out what that next step looks like for him and what's important and what the priority is is going to be interesting. But I never got the sense that Bron was happy about the way it is unfolded there in LA. I thought he handled it gracefully. I thought he played phenomenally even better in some spots than I thought he would trying to make that adjustment. but I never got the sense that he was really, really excited and happy to be doing it I mean, we'll get to the reporting part of it at some point as the reports come out, right? But like my thing was, you know, going into this this free agency for LeBron was I know, the Legers offer everything that you could theoretically want as a even as a you know, second on the call sheet or however you want to put him on the call sheet behind Lua Dodchinson and Austin Reeves. He's still LeBron James and being a laker as you're on your way out has his advantages, right? And retiring as a laker has his certain advantages. And I always thought that, you know,, that had a big chance of winning out in this situation, right? You know, the new ownership would just say, Hey Brian, what do you want? We'll figure this out for one more year because you are a laker u for life in our in our eyes, right? And that's also going by the old The old guard, you know, the old guard in which Howard Beck is covered once upon a time. And I just thought that that that that could be the best option for him. Howard, How why wasn't that the way Be throughout our history of watching the Lakers You know, Karem is getting a farewell, you know, magic, Kobe U if you want one and you feel like you are a Lger for life and you are institutionalized as one of those guys. get that. Wh whyy couldn't LeBron and the Lakers just Figure that part of it out U in the end, right? And I know it's a weird set of circumstances, but why ultimately couldn't they just figure that part out I mean, not everybody got their like happppy romantic sendoff. likeike Chack got traded to Miami Heat and, you know, took years before he was like kind of welcomeed back into the fold with the statue and everything else. So like it doesn't always go that way I think Yeah, this is From a standpoint of just history and tradition and honoring your greats This isn't the ideal sendoff. You're right, Logan. Like this should have been his last stop And again would have been, if not for Luca because where they would have been instead was a team based around LeBron and probably still Anthony Davis. with some oK roll players. that was a first round out That wasn't going to go anywhere. and it would have been like the later Kobe years, right? Now the later Kobe years, to be clear Kobe had to overcome and Achilles and all the other stuff. So he wasn't himself. he couldn't carry a team. LeBron still kind of can, right? He's still better than ninety percent of players in the NBA on his best nights But eighty two games is a lot to ask of him But in a world where they don't get lookca, you've got a middling So maybe top fiveish top six is playoff team And and you ride LeBron until he retires And that's it. And maybe you hope somewhere along the way you find a guy to be his heir But that's really hard. it almost never happens And so in the scenario that they do have You now have to make hard choices that you would have never had to confront before And so I don't think anybody wanted this. I don't think Jeannie Bush orr Rob Polinka or the new ownership for that matter I don't think anybody would have wanted it to end this way where it's like we'll just shake hands and say it's been real, but our path and yours diverge now But I think everybody's a realist. L Bros's been in this league a long time Rich Paul's been around this league a long time. These guys understand it. I'm sure. I'm sure they're not thrilled But they got to understand it. likeike there's it's You just hit a fork in the road. It doesn't make sense for them to continue together, even if LeBron were willing now. I should stop there If Lebron were willing to take a fraction of what he's been making. and was okay with that in addition to being essentially a third wheel next to Lua and Austin Reeves, then maybe But that's still It's still a tough path for the Lakers to go down Because what they really need to do is completely reimagine this roster around Luca now, or around Luca and Austin Reeves And that's super, super hard to do with LeBron still there no matter what he's making, and especially if he's making a substantial amount. So U I don't think there's any good answer here. And we'll we'll, you know, drips and drabs of reporting will come out in the days and weeks ahead as to how they got to this exact conversation point What were the Lakers willing to do to keep him Would he have been willing to go there? How much was he, you know I think it's interesting the way this unfolded It came from Le Bronze camp that LeBron has decided to move on, not that the Lakers have decided to move on I think there's probably a hell of a lot of nuance and gray area there that we don't know yet. And I think it's fully possible that this was actually the Lakers letting him signaling to to LeBrone camp, listen We have to start rebuilding around Luca right now. We're on the clock. This dude's in his prime. He's a top five player in the NBA It we have to do this And you say it as respectfully as possible, and then LeBron and Rich Paul take the narrative and say, we've decided to move probablyably would Yes, I'm How does that make you feel? I mean you guys would know better. How does that dynic make you feel No, I mean, I'm not taed in like you guys are, I mean, I'm running around herea And I'm speculating Rog S vibes. Yeah, but I heard I heard that like He was unavailable to the Lakers or golfing reasons over the last week or so when they had the exclusivity of talking to him.. I mean, that's the report that I heard So I mean, I don't know it could I mean, I certainly don't know in any way, Kate shape or for, but as soon as I heard that, I was like Yeah, that That's not good I mean That's the interesting part of all of this though, Raja, right? because you were also like in the the twenty fourteen Wait and see like era of LeBron going to the Cavaliers, but it's like There's always two forms of LeBron and for agency. There's a very engaged LeBron in the off season. like I'm going to help out and then like there's also the hands off approach. Like I'm not going to answer any calls. You could just go to my representation. Like how do the what is it like being on the two sides of that I've been on I've seen that from every side. and before the twenty fourteen, I was caught in the whole Everyone's going to wait to see where LeBron goes. When was that? That was twenty ten twenty ten the decision? Was that when he went to Miami? Yeah So like I mean, myself and probably a large the league that wasn't a superstar was just sitting around and free agency was not moving. until that domino fell. So you know, that was frustrating. I mean, that was Yeah, I had some some real anxiety that time around the block just because I wanted to know where I was going to go. I wanted to know what my what my future was going to look like. That you're in the front office. don't really remember that one clearly because I was kind of in I was going to the cavves that year when he was going to the cavves. It was pretty quick. That one didn't strike me the same way as being a player basically having to wait until his domino a free agency fell and then the rest of us could kind of shuffle around and And but at this point in his career, I don't imagine It is that for that many guys. Now there're going to be some, I would imagine that If he can land with a really, really nice group he'd be attractive to some probably Finge guys that would come in and kind of supplement in that way, but You know, my most interesting time around the black with LeBron is a free agent obviously twenty ten Yeah. You brought a great point though, like the people circling the wagons for LeBrown, right? And I think it's like we're in this social media age in this new age that is very different from the other times a LeBron has been here, right? And I feel like his his agents and his side of of the story is trying to put out feelers in the old fashioned way of like, hey, we're going to scour the league and see who gives us the best opportunity in the best market in the best, you know, everything, right? And I don't know what the landscape is going to be for LeBron right now. Howard? Like what is your What is your gut telling you about what the landscape of like who actually wants him? Now we are going to get into the teams that like just we think he could be cool, a cool fit for later on in this segment. But like where is your gut telling you about the market of a LeBron James at this particular point Well the market isn't You know, like once upon a time the market was, u Are you important enough cool enough in a good enough city or with emotional ties to even get LeBron's attention, right So like in twenty ten, it's both LA teams It's Chicago, Big market, New York, Big market. New Jersey soon to be in Brooklyn, Big market. Miami, Glamour markarket Um Those are the teams and then Cleveland, of course, trying to keep them. So But the market for LeBron when it comes to like Um what you can pay him LeBron's not getting the max at this stage. he's forty one and a half Um, And I don't like the only place he could get anywhere near his old salary was to stay in L.A. That's obviously off the table now He's worth over a billion. I think he'll be okay. He is now having to weigh things like someone who has the taxpayer mid level versus the non taxpayer mid level versus the, you know, room exception vers like we're talking about a guy who's got who's worth over a billion is now in theory considering whether Miami versus Cleveland versus Golden State versus whoever can give him like ten versus twelve million or what it's almost like preposterous to even talk about. But the market in terms of teams that could use him that he be useful for Every team in the NBA. Every fucking team in the NBA I was just saying that so I'm hanging with friends out West right now and they're not all like you real keeten in the NBA. so I was trying to explain the landscape today. and I was like, list Here's what I can tell you about LeBron James at age forty one and a half. He's still better than four hundred and thirty out of the four hundred and fifty players in the NBA. and I'm still being a little conservative there because that number is probably even higher than that that he is still an impact player. and That said You know, he has to decide where he's going to be happy for his last, whatever it's going to be a year or two That was always L.A for the last several years for last eight years because his family liked it there. He liked it there. you know, he was able to get Bronnie on the Lakers. That was a thing that happened Um, like there were advantages to being in LA. Now it's about What do I want my my swan song to be And is it the emotional, you know, return to Cleveland and the sentim sentimental ties there Is it a reconciliation with Miami? and that's already been reported that they're open to it And look, they just get Yonis They got they got Yonis. likeike Yonis LeBron and Bam would be really interesting, right? LeBron with Donoan Mitchell and James Harden and Evan Mobley would be really interesting. LeBron in the wararrior scenario. That's the thing too. like this is not We know this is not necessarily sudden or leaving LeBron in the lurch because the we've been hearing warrior stuff for literally months Um and even some Cleveland stuff and even a little bit less than that Miami like the obvious teams have been kind of preparing for this for a while as a possibility. Now whether there's anybody beyond those three teams, U, I think Sam Emk just reported Minnesota u just before we started recording So and Minnesota, look, you know, Tim Conlly iss not afraid of chasing anybody, right? They may be the long shot in all this because LeBron has no ties there and it's cold But That's what I was saying. You know don't I mean, I sorry who says no, right? Yeah. But that's That's from no from being around him just a little bit That's why I said what I said before is like They're going that's a I couldn't see him in a city like Minnesota. Do you know what I mean? Howard? Like no disrespect to Minnesota, but that that one would just be really Weird for his career. sorry, anyway, hasn't no, no hasn't been his MO, right? Like Yeah Yeah, he was in Cleveland twice because he's from Akron and they first, you know, they got his draft rights initially in two thousand three and then he went back there out of, you know emotional and familial ties, right?? But that's the only city like that smaller market, cold weather market that I could kind of see him in. Like I don't see some scenario where suddenly he's going to like Not a cold weather city, but I don't see a scenaro where' suddenly to like, Charlotte to join, you know Brandon Miller and Cononnipple, right? Like like there's a I think we could cross out all the usual teams that we would normally cross out for a superstar of his caliber Um And the thing is even the ring chasing thing, normally you get to this stage of a career for a superstar and they're in play. it's well Go to the team no matter where they are that can get you the give you the best chance to win a championship He's got his rings. like I'm sure he'd love to have what would it be a fifth But like, I don't see him going to the Thunder or the sppurs, even if those teams wanted him I don't I know we talked about him going to the Kicks a thousand times especially back in twenty. Hey,'re mess up no, no, no, no, you're messing up the segment, man. Stop doing the negative stuff. We're about to have some fun in a second. Howard? Hold on. I got a question. I don't have a runown in front of me that tells me anything about you mentioning the Kicks Hey, man, we having fun. We're having a lot of fun. Let's That's why that's why we didn't do the ru downown. That's why I give it to you? because I wanted you to have some fun, man. I didn't know what. I can't know what I'moiling. I hope that's I hope that's a beer in your hand right now Oh Anyway, it's not I' trying to cover the label so we don't violate our advertising concerns Last question before we get to the teams that we would like to see LeBron on and like some fun scenarios. But I want to ask this. a few years ago I think that I made Raja almost blow a damn gasket when I said this. but I don't believe even now that LeBron is leaving the Lakers as a top twenty beloved Laker at this point I'm talking about beloved. I'm not even talking about best, right And I want to ask you, I want to put this question to the panel. Um, Is he that And what do we think that LA is ultimately going to remember him by? And then what are they going to remember him by and what should they remember by Howard Beck first When you say twenty, like, I mean, who's on this list? Like Devin George and Norm Nixon? like how I't talk about I'm tal about okay, okay, cool, cool Magic. Im talalking about Karene talking about Will Chamberlain, Jerry West. four.. That's four. Okay, Jerry West. and then Elin Baylor Oh Shaque O'Neill, six Uh, Michael, this is no in particular order. This is just twenty people that I think would be more belowved Kobeovert. Yeah Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant. Michael James Worthy Michael Cooper, nine. Byron Scott Bob Mcadoo. tenen, okay Bob McAoo, Eleven Pal Gassar P Rampus Heurt Rambus Oh. Who else? Rashher couldn't even say it without me. What the fuck are we doing? What are we doing? Robert Derek Fisher. Robert Dere Fisher. No you're Robertooking here. We're at sixteen right now, okay? We are at sixteen and you're like, e No George Mikeen. George Mikeen Lamar Odem Lamaro Sfujvichvu stop. Perhaps stop.' stop. Okay, but a legitimate list. Iven't had eighteen and there's two people that could be to be more below. Yeah All right, I'm not gonna to get into Mark Madon I'm really. I know you're saying beloved, not greatest. I'm saying beloved. I'm not saying greatest. Gail Goodridich. That's. I don't know Laker history well enough to participate in. Do I don't know. I will say as a former Laker beat writer, there's some stretches in there, Logan, but I get what you're saying. Brad Turner, Kim Kawakami, Howard Beck. Bill Flash J No, but I'm being serious. Okay, so but the question that I have though is that this is leading up to is how how will LA remember LeBron in the era and how should they remember I do think there was a lot of resistance when he first got there, right? There was still a lot of LeBron versus Kobe stuff. and the Kobe standans in particular were not all that welcoming And I'll never forget one of those early records that that LeBron got within his first couple years there And they like stopped the game or whatever. and it didn't even seem like like the applause was that loud, right? Is it when he passed Michael Jordan for for the scoring for the scoring record? I think that was what it was. It might have been. Yeah, but it was one of those those markers, one of those milestones and it just seemed like a kind of a tepid response. and you could just feel like, damn man, if that had been Kobe or even if that had been Shack, if that had been magic, whatever It would have been much different and because like the emotional ties to him were just different. He was already a made man before he got there. He had his three championships before he got there. He'd been in the league for a long time before he got there. like it's not the same as when it's your own guy Um, or if he'd come to you needing that that the power of the Lakor brand. Again, the Lagor brand needed LeBron as much or more than LeBron needed them at that time But the fans don't have to care about that. The fans just care about do we love you? Do we embrace you? And I think it took time. I think by the time this thing ends, which is now I think Lakredam kind of warmed up to him. I do think like he is embraced. I do think he is part of that. It's not the same tier as the guys who were Either Kobe who's home grown Magic who's homegrown or, you know, Karim who got there at a specific time and place that that that resonated and plus the partnership with magic, like These other guys occupy a different space. I agree with that Logan, But I do think he'll be remembered as a guy who put the Lakers back on the map after they'd been years in the desert host Kobe or just post his his his his final championship in, um, in twenty ten, right It had been a while It's and it's and it's ten years between titles. LeBron put them back on the map. LeBron got them another another banner It sucks that they never got to really celebrate that one right because it happened during COVID So no home you know, no home celebration for it, no parade Even Ring Nite, I can't remember Ring Nite was probably real muted too because we weren't putting everybody back in the buildings yet. It was still So but I listen, he'll still be remembered as an all time great Laker, but yeah, on a different tier than the other ones, someome of the other ones you mentioned. I think he's I think he's comfortably ahead of Mark Madson We'll see. Let's let's let the real ones aside in the comments. Rajer well, how should they remember LeBron James? Look, any I've said this before. here's what I will say to that question Anytime you as a fan get to regularly if you attend games orr if you're watching every night Watch bness. And and we're talking about a select few. We're talking about, I mean, that's a goat When you get to witness that and it's running around in your jersey U Championship or not You should cherish the time that you got to witness it performing for your team You didn't. u then shame on you, right? Because that doesn't come around Good shit, man. That wass very good Sos a quick break And we're going to play a fun game that Howard walk off the show for Yo, you know who would be, Joie Back on real ones You guys know why Broad. Prm, problem a probleom. What I even say bad You know, u ' been a hell of a run. I want to I can't say everything I want to say because It's down my show. You know, it's Logan, Raja N HBZs, but u I'll always remember the good tongs I'll always remember You coming down here when you didn't have to No, we was in the mud back then. You remember those days, man. Timae Mosgar Lle out dayang. You know, we was like, I was I was trying to give Kendall Marshall all star votes. You know what I mean? It It was a brutal time But you changed all of it for us You know, I know that injury on Christmas Day against the Warriors was tough Oh, but back. Got AD You made the run, man. That twenty twenty championship means a lot I always remember you standing there Uh, you know, after Kobe was Kobe died and You're crying along with us You know You did it for Bean. So that I can't I can't be mad at that. you know, hey first N se' tournament That was us, you know, like We did that. I say we as if I was on a team, but you know what So Thank you took the Lakers from a shell of their former selves, you know, irrelevant poorly run. This decrepit organization to be frank brought him back to what it is supposed to be You know, the highighight factory to the pinnacle. of basketball. That does that does mean a lot and uh, I Anybody else who disagrees. I know people may be upset The L fans who didn't want them here and all that stuff, but Friday The ocean shows you to save us all. The stories are true. The story has just begun rom Disney, Moana of Motunoui, daughter of the Chief. Let's save the well. Ready? It's Mauii I'm me gonna eat whatever that is. His name is Heyy. Batnut. Disney's Moana, In Theaters Friday, rated PG for rental guidance suggested. get tickets now. Tomorrow morning is knocking. Stock your fridge now. How about a creamy mocha for rappucina drink? or a sweet vanilla? Smooth caramel maybe, orr a white chocolate moocha. Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits Find Starbucks Pppino drinks fororever you buy your groceries Got a Sam's cafe pizz order up M You know the best part about this spicy Italian sausage I voted for this topic. Yeah, just another perk of being a member. Come join us. Sam's Club. Really all I can say is thank you Okay, boom. I have a list of teams some of which Howard is pooooled on, but it doesn't matter because it's about fit and if we would love to see it. The first name on the agenda is the Golden S Warriors who I've said this all along and me and Howard have talked about it M Raj have talked about it, but I feel like The Golden State words were always the team in the weeds. They were always that other person. I was like, yo, if that relationship don't work out, I'm right here, baby. I'm right here for you And now they're in prime position to be able to state their case U to LeBron James how how would this fit? How would we like to see? what would the pros and the cons of this move Howard Beck I mean, Logan already knows. I love the idea of LeBron and Steph playing together They were awesome together on the Olympic team. their're friends They, you know, they they compare notes on their careers. They're at similar stages of their careers Listen, like the old rivals becoming allies You know Rocky and Apollo, come on. this is awesome. We love this shit It's a little weird. I will say Longtime listener Honorary real one, friend of the show, my friend, Joan up in Portland, not happy about this possibility This is this is giving her a lot of angst U which she doesn't need right now because the giants, her baseball team have already been giving her a lot of angst because the giants are acting like idiots Um So like it's it's not perfect. If you're a longt timee Steph fan, longtime warrior fan, the idea of LeBron after all those battles in the finals coming in possibly overshadowing Steh in the final stages of their careers, right? Because they're both on farewell tours of some sort now We don't know when either of them's going to hang it up or if it's at the same time And like they're got to kind of like They're going to have to share that Much the same that Steph had to like share the spotlight with KDer for a couple of years, right? And Warriors fans weren't always happy with that. I love it I love it as a competitive thing too because I think they could actually make some noise if they're healthy in April, May and potentially beyond. no one's going to want to see Steph LeBron, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. I like I guarantee that. Will they be upright? We don't know But if they are, Nobody wants to see that So yeah, I love it. I understand Joanne and some of my other friends who are in a warriors's dom may not like it so much From a purely basketball standpoint, it would be weird in the case of you would have to be basically playing with two teams, right? Like you'd be playing first the stah Raymond LeBron Led Burson. and then you're going to have to bring in Jimmy Butler into the fold say like around January around All Star break From basketball standpoint, how do they fit in the first team and how do they include Jimmy back into the fold going in to assuming they're healthy. Look, I don't mean any Jimmy's a great player. So what I'm about to say doesn't discredit like anything that he's done, but I don't see him as a great fate. there I don't know that he is the player that he was when he was taking Miami to finals years ago And If you have a lesser version of that, that's not really a shooter You've got LeBron, Draymond, you know, Chris A's help, Steph is going to be the thing that just orbits and just flies around the court. I love LeBron and Draymon in that. I kind of I don't know how Jimmy fits into it. I would have to see it I would actually like them to get a more shot first T guard to play with with that group. Do you know what if that would make sense? Like Clay Thomps. So Yeah, ye, like Clay Thompson or you could give me a poor man's version, but like game that wants to do that, you know, the way Jimmy wants to the way Jimmy needs to play if we're being honest to like The Jimmy Butler from Miami. It's a contradictory style to what like LeBron's going to do. They kind of made it work with just sth, but like You're going to put it in there with LeBron and then you're going If you allow Jimmy to do Jimmy, then LeBron turns into what he was for the Lakers whichich is hey, man, get some rebounds run. you understand like you're not using him to be It's they just I don't see them looking like that as a forsome, if that makes sense, Can I push back slightly though, or just theorize? Sure, Rajah. S. Por Zingis a three point shooting center. So you've got the spacing there. Dramm's on shooter. Jimmy's an on shooter. and that was already a problem for the warriors, right? Like they were trying to figure that out on the fly just for the last year or so before Jimmy got hurt Um, But I also think like you know, and obviously Steve Kerr coaches this way. He likes a bunch of guys who are like really intuitive with the ball in their hands and You've got guys in Jimmy, Steph, LeBron, Draymon who are all like elite in the way they read the game I got to think there's a way when you've got them there, you do have still two non shooters and maybe you're going to stagger lineups and everything else and that's the great thing too, right? whether it's Jimmy or LeBron, somebody's always running that offense see when step's off the floor Um I don't know. a lot of intuitive high IQ basketball players together and with Steph and Porzingis as as the main shooters out there I don't know. seemems lausible I mean and Lerone a good shooter too Yeah, but that's not it. lookook again, if we're if we're talking about LeBron just becoming a three point shooter, then I'm out Not just a three point shooter. like right No, I understand what you're saying. and I'm not'm I'm plausible is what you said. Yeah I could it. But but look, you got Steph running around, right? and you got you got Chris Stes, right? Then you have three people that mostly want to operate likeike, well Jimmy and LeBron are Downhill kind of players although LeBron can shoot the ball, right Um LeBron at is best is is making plays as he's collapsed in defense. Now he doesn't do it to the same degree, but like he can still command a double. You have to throw the ball to Jimmy U And yeah, they could play off of each other I don't know if I'm explaining this well. so I'm not saying it won't work, but I don't see it being the type of clicking offense that it would be if you had something that wanted to just, you know streamline it and be more complimentary to that threesome, if you will, in a shooting capacity from a basketball standpoint, though, just running just watching the Warriors offense, like how much do How can the Wriors overcome the redundancy of DZraymond and LeBron both on the court at the same time. Not saying that they can't do it. I'm really just asking because, you know, like They basically functionally played the same role. The Bronzes a way better version of what Drakemont does offensively. So how do they kind of coexist in that offense for right now. like how do you see that happening? in June june thirtieth Look, I think when one of them has the ball and the other one is in some sort of action with Steph Curry, you have a problem you have a problem is the defense. there are three super high IQ players and to some degree, Howard, that's what you're saying, right? You add Jimmy Butler to that And those actions are on both sides of the floor and you don't it could be really problematic. So that that's what I, you know, that's what I would say to you, Logan, just Iven've done a lot of research on this and thought about it. You're asking me a question on the fly, but one of them is going to have the ball and the other one I'm going to put in an action with Steph as much as possible. And then we're going to see, you know, if if that defense can get that right over and over again and I've got at least two guys who've mastered it. And LebBron is such a genius. I don't think it's going to be far behind before he masters it too and that and they're in, you know, is going to be you know, how we incorporate both of them with relatively similar you know, kind of skill sets and passing the ball and seeing the floor. You add a fourth to that and I I don't I want to go back, Howard? like I don't feel you It would just be so dope if that fourth player and fifth player offenders that were guarding them had to be anchored to them Because if they're anchored to them, then there's nothing you can do when I'm telling you I'm playing these in a three man game all game U when they're not anchored to them, you bring in that fourth defender and look, they're probably good enough to get over it, but It just introduces another defender to the mix Yeah, man. On the court, I think best case scenario is the twenty two Warriors where they go on a major run to start the season and they kind of coast the rest of the way through. and then they get themselves ready for the post season. That's the best case scenario for this type of team in this vaunted of a Western conference So we'll see what happens just from an all court perspective. off the court U It's going to be very interesting. I kind of took a peek at like Warriors, you know, social media and They just want to take anything they can get. At first I thought there was the premise was going to be there there's going to be like a weird, you know, It is going to be a weird vi rooting for LeBron after all these years, but you know, it's late stage wararriors dynasty. so they'll take anything they can get. So we'll see what happens on that end. I think that U Steph will be obviously be amenable to this. that I think they will figure it out. I think it will be fun The only thing is the health. Like that is the big boogy man in here and the age from all of those guys.. Jimmy Draymond out of all these guys have been has been the healthiest guy, but you got to think about Steph's house. theirrege is going to be a real unction It's going to be like when Rajah hangs out with all of his former sons' teammates Ecept Ill see your brothers in Springfield. Straight like that. Okay. All right. haveave another team I'm thinking'm going to throw a wild card out there. Let's go with the nuggets How do we see him in the mix with the nuggets? What's you think? I know I see you I see a little parkking over a little bit. Oh I like. I like him with the. I mean, what are the nugs? What are we giving? Are we just incorporating him into the just incorporating him in the mix. Oh, dude, yeah all day U How does that work functional What do you mean Well, I'm asking you LeBron played the four this year in stretches of the season and look pretty good doing it. It's not unlike Golden State. like they run a lot of A a lot of feel actions. You know what I mean? Like where you just have to have a feel for one another, Jamamuri, Yokich, you know, there If you watch them play, it's kind of like poetry at times, right? Like they're just kind of They're kind of feeling each other and they've got experience in that. I think LeBron fits into something like that all the time Um You know, I think There's a motor that he brings to a team when he can when he can board the way he can and then be the break himself. You know what I mean? Like he's on the rim as a defensive rebounder and then he's two dribbles burst out You guys are flying up the court, I think that which unlocks some other players on Denver's team, if you will. and in the half court, you're going to be Yokich Murray. LeBron and then everyone else is going to eat off of that. I like him for for Denver Does that If he goes to Denver, Howard Just hypothetically we're having fun Um If he goes to Denver, does that basically solve all of their problems in terms of like what they have to do to retool and all of their concerns around retooling at this point or you think there would be another move that they would have to do Yeah. I mean, our friends Mark Sid and Jake Fisher have been reporting that, you know Yokich is hesitant once again to sign an extension. and it's not necessarily an indication that Yokich is upset and wants to leave, but just more of kind of like there's at least some part of that that's possibly kind of a let me see what you guys are doing here. Um, like the nuggets do need some sort of kind of like reset, not a tear down, but like and everything seems to be on the table right now, right? They're considering whether they move Aaron Gordon in a trade, even potentially Jamal Murray, it likeike they're considering absolutely everything other than, you know, Yokich himself, right If we're a scenario here where LeBron again, and it seems like we're pretty close to it And you guys remember, I brought this up months ago. if LeBron were willing to take whatever team has available. A mid level exception, a taxpayer, mid level exception, the minimum, whatever He can go wherever he wants. So I don't know if there's a sign and trade possibility here with Denver or any of these other teams, but if it's just whatever they have available in an exception And LeBron wants to go there without them giving up anything And you're keeping Aaron Gordon and listen, it's been hard to keep Earon Gordon healthy is a big problem. You're resigning Payton Watson still. Hopefully, presumably in scenario, you're keeping Jamal Murray Badass team I mean like Health matters, but like LeBron and Yokich are both fucking playmaking geniuses. You take the two of them plus Jamal Murray, score slash playmaker U some defense with Gordon and Peyton Watson like you're in business. Is that enough to knock out Oklahoma, San Antonio I don't know, but I don't know if they want to bet against them either Yeah How how would they fit Roger like between Um the San Antonio OKC hierarchy in the Western confonference would just be right plananted at third Yeah, I mean yeah, L look They were they were a year ago, not this year, but They were right there with OKC. they were toe toe Nikola Yokich is problem urt Anone. Now he didn't have a great I don't have a great series against against Minnesota, but 's still a problem. So like, yeah, if you added LeBron and they were able to stay healthy and retain their pieces. Yes, I do think they are right there. probably put them to start in a tier below those two teams, but If they were playing well You know, I if they were playing well and look like they were hitting their stride and health was going to be factored in all year long I'd give him as good a chance Like I will talk Um It's going to be again, like howard just I never I'm not in a habit of acc counting other people's money. That's not that's not what I do. So But I would say this, at this point, if I would like to see LeBron not worry about Like if you're going to keep playing Now, I'm not, you know, Whver makes you happy, bro, the happiest, whatever is important to you in terms of like winning or where you want to live or whatever that dynamic is Chase that. That mid level ain't doing shit for you You know what you know what I'm saying? I don't mean to at this point, it iss just real eo. It would just be that. It would just would that. Yeah, whereere would it be the most fun Or where would I have the chance to win the most and maybe would maybe get another finals right Whichever of those is the most important. I would really like it to be that for him. L I would I would Yeah That's a great fucking luxury. Like how many players get that at the end of their care. Its like, you know what? I don't need the ring, but if I can chase it, I will. I don't need the money, but if it's there, cool. I'm just going to go where it's going to be the most enjoyable and hopefully win a little bit, right? Like that's a that's a phenomenal luxury for a guy at his stage No doubt No M. he would help Denver Absolutely. Let's keep it messy, man. Let's go to San Antonio Spurs. Oh man. that how does that fit, Roger? Let's fucking go. Windby and Bron right now. Julian Champagneiin't given up that spot. I'm sorry. Yeah. You know what, you know what's you know what's weird about this because I just said he would help every team. If I'm the spurs now I'm good Yeah, Wow. Wow. you just told the goat you just told the goat to take a hike Yeah, no if I'm the spurs, I'm probably telling you, I'm good and only because could he help? Absolutely By I just think there's so many people on a rapid ascension in terms of their development Yeah that and it just got you rightight on the precipice ofinning a. Jooby weirdly like Houston. I don't want to stunt that. Yeah, I don't want to stunt that at all. But it was kind of Houstonish, but like OD Houston like with real results Yeah, like No and also with like real generational talent, not like, you know, like great looking prospects. Yeah, that sounds crazy, but I'd probably Yeah I'd probably pass. Okay, okay. It would be weird. Did you humor me though, of like how it would look though Come on, man, how would it look? U I mean I don't know how it would it would look. I mean, look I I keep saying this over again. He can play anywhere, dude Like it's just he can play anywhere. It's just what you're going to ask of him you know, as a player and how much of himself And again, I think this factors in sorry Howard. I think this factors in a lot and this is what I was watching with the Lakers You know, as much as it's about money of it all and feeling like you're undervalued there It's asking to give up parts of yourself that you don't feel like are completely gone yet to fit into certain situations that may not be appetizing for people. I don't mean to speak for him, but like I've seen that's a struggle sometimes But that's the part that I was and that's why I looked like I was about to talk Roger is like, I'm glad you're making this point because I just kind of wanted to note this part of it, which is at forty one and a half I don't think LeBron is insisting on on that old role at all. And I think one of the the the most, you know, notable things that happened this past season, more so even than when Luca for Scott there was that LeBron did find a way to just kind of integrate himself as essentially a third option, sometimes second option and then when necessary, could toggle into primary driver of the offense in the role that we've always seen him for decades. He's capable of that both, I think, intellectually and emotionally. and certainly intellectually. like he knows how to do that. I think he also knows his body well enough to know that I can't be old me at eighty two games. So playing on a team where you had in this case Stefan Castle Dyan Harper Dere and Fox, Weemby And you and it's not as much as asked of you you know, you you can maximize yourself as needed and he can Gauge that better than anybody I think that's fine. and it's the same thing as I thought in the wararrior scenario or some of these other other possibilities is that He will find a way to fit in and I don't think he's going to be leading with his ego at this stage of his career or with his usage rate. I just don't think he needs that All right, let's blow Howard's brain off off of his fucking head. Git. you want to just swar? Okay, okay, hold on. Okaykay, goo ahead. Okaykay let' spare him for like five I would I would I would agree with most of what you said, Howard I don't the eg leading. I No, no, no no. I don't think you're leading with your ego. I don't think he is at this point. I I'm not saying that and but I am saying that there's a fine line between Hey, come in here and Chase this championship with us and have a palatable role for yourself And Hey, come chase this championship with us and kind of stay out the way I don't, I'm not suggesting that No, I'm saying that you are, but like when I look at San Antonio, I guess it was the point that I was trying to make, which is like Hey, Wimby is Wimby Um We all talked about Dylan Harper and what he did in a playoff as a rookie Um Stehone Castle. I see less of a role there, if that makes sense Um because all of those dudes are just bursting at the seams to like figure out exactly who they are on this championship level team that is already championship level and you might be asking him to give up too much of himself in that s Wh you're asking those guys who need the room to grow that can't do that much. Yeah can't do that. Yeah. do thatair All right, let's book Howard up. The New York Nnakes What are we doing What are we even doing What are we even that's it. That's the question. Yeah. How you living thought there was more. I thought there was more set upp coming there, Logan. No, no Um It's funny because in twenty ten, LeBron dropped all these hints in that twenty nine ten season He wore a Yankees cap, I think at one point He was he gave a quote about how, you know, summer twenty ten is going to be really big one for Nicks fans. and he was doing all this cutesy stuff acting as if and there were a lot of people who thought it was a it was a done deal They thought it was a lock to New York And they were stunned when it ended up being in Miami They thought it New York and if it wasn' New York' because he was stay in Cleveland But you're trying to say the Nicks fans don't want him. That's what you building up to. That's what you say? No, I'm just slow. getting run up. No All right don't let me put wors, I've got credit. What I'm saying is It's kind of poetic and funny just at this stage to consider after spurning them all those years ago when he was in his prime to come back at age forty one and a half. Y. Well set Hey, remember here. Rember me. Wh you go? A couple of times Remember me? you wanted me really badly like sixteen freaking years ago. we got a title and now you're trying to act brand new. Yeah. I mean, that's the thing. likeike listen, if LeBron were in a position where he still needed the rings if if he was if he were ringless then hopping on board with the defending champs might make some sense, although it would still be kind of distasteful for a player of his caliber But at this stage like he's got his rings. He doesn't need a ring chase and joining the actual defending champs would be weird. Now he does have ties man. likeike Mike Brown Coached him once upon a time In Cleveland. Um Worldwide West in the front office. Even more even a stronger tie there Um all kinds of CAA ties and stuff from from Josh Hart former teammate, you know, you know Um So like No no Could it fit on court though Rajah? Could it fit on court at least It could f anywhere, but could like how would would it be weird a weird fit? Do they have to get adjusted to him Yeah, I don't see I mean, is he coming off the bench 't have to No can't do that. Josh. Josh hard scrash Chs go to the bench Josh Hark go to the bench. Yeahah, I mean I wasn't saying that to be funny either. but like that you just want a championship. likeike that's a hard Again, you're going to ask me does it work Yeah, man, you plug LeBron in, you run for you know, virtually six, eight and downs and then Carl Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson anyway. So Yeah, it could we're plugging him into that is is Yes, it could work. I just You're The next as much as anybody, to me are built as this like real delicate chemistry project and they got the recipe exactly right You know what I mean? and you I don't don't touch that. Yeah You know what I mean? Like I just don't think you You mess with that. interestnterestingly I hadn't I hadn't really heard it, but like I was just thinking, in a weird way You know, you said like you can't you can't go to the mix. They just won the championship. It's going to be hard to go to the sppurs like they just narrative wise, Championship wise. You can't go to the sppurs Could you go to, OK see You could hey, listen Narrative was like LeBron has blown all the narratives out of the water with leaving the Lakers at this point. He could he's gravy but yeah, he should. No, But I mean, but I mean, it's like like even as a story They had won a championship and fallen off the pace slightly And You know, it wouldn't be the same narrative. Oh, he just joined OK see, you'd be like, yo. He went to OC and got him back to the top of that. Yo. LeBron in Oklahoma City would be like big foot, bro. Every time he gets out of his house, he would attract a crowd. It would be crazy. craz nuts. How how long does it take to go around their downtown now? Howard? You've been there since now It's like like I think the last time we did this, I said that their downtown was like three blocks long and I got like a very detailed reply Anyways. I got the biggest hashtag will actually of all time. I got one more I got one more team before we actually get serious and I have serious the serious teams The Minnesota Temerableles was Rajabll because you haven't gotten your take on Lomeello going there. How would he fit Minnesota? What just a fun Lameello conversation. I needed. W you guys killing LameMello, you guys bashing Lameello I had to play I had to play the part of Rajab Beel last week without You werebello deffender Sord Logan is confirming he she's not sort of. I had to be devil's advocate. I had to like, I't least he's not going to work at all little. I think it's going to be go terrible. I think it's going to be awesome to watch. I'm going I'm going to make every LeBrono fix layers game. but could LeBron fix the Hubris, Rajah. Let me let me First of all, let's do this. Let me allow me to retroactively U defend Lello. Yeah. I mean, does every player has their flaws. He has his flaws, right? I have always said as it relates to Lameello, we must acknowledge that But we must acknowledge that he does shit with the basketball that very few people planet and even in a league full freaks with the basketball can do the basketball So there's real talent oozing from those pores. There is a level of dysfunction that He was brought into the league Recently, Charlotte has started to get it together Prior to recently, what was was why are we giving Charlotte this level of grace that would absolve them of playing any part in Lameello's like dysfunction that he was dropped into as a young player. And I'm always saying that because I've seen players in really tough spots to be The best version of themselves not be the best version of themselves I've seen that same player when taken out and extracted from that situation. and put in something really stable with real guidelines and expectations and and guardrails and accountability be a completely different version of themselves And I'm not saying that he is definitely going to do that, but I'm saying there's a possibility that he can and I do think you have to acknowledge what he was dropped into as a baby in Charlotte for at least playing some part in who he was as a player as it relates to like whether you're winning games and so on and so forth L wrong to the point that Howard made is automatic organizational culture at it's like LeBron is like just add water. Here you go, culture So You're telling me you're going to a place with with a young aunt who's still developing his leadership jobs. and a Lameto who suuper talented but clearly needs some guidance and some structure around him. And you said and a driver you could get you could get LeBron in you throw a driver in there. You get LeBron and there may a lot of tunnels in Minnesota. just li downtown. D, you just walk through I just said that. Yo, just live across the street, do a do one of those tunnels and go the are of, R? S skyways walk through the skyways. Yeah Yeah. But no. I mean, like I'm not even talking about on the court. I'm talking about what that would mean to a young duo like those two pain who both have Real gifts, you know? I also think And we talked about San Antonio, like San Antonio's got Wemby A Wemby, what's the next biggest thing that they were running out there in playoff games re hopefully he's doing Harper next year, right? Like that's the next. Yeah, no, no, But I mean, just in terms of pure size when we're talking about right for Nnesota, Minnesota got. Yeah, but he wasn't we weren't playing with Wby He was coming in for Wimby. So they both of those teams in the finals were basically playing four guards Big So In that world, yeah, you could incorporate LeBron You can bring you culture. He's going bring you some stability. He actually would add value like on the court and when you got Domu you still got Big fell up R too Berty? Yeah, like yes, yes But if you told me he wasn't going to have the type of role on the court Like let let's say it was a similar situation to San Antonio on court, which it's not. But let's say those are apples to apples in terms of what you're going to ask him to do. He's way more valuable in Minnesota just because of the culture that needs to be kind of in place and would be helpful to some of that young stardom that they had that be that I would that's my lead pass team if he goes to Minnesota. awesome. I will say this though, like this is just a little sidebar Having I watch him like I'm a fan like everybody else I remember when I got the golf bug And it was something that I did all the time and You just couldn't wait like after you left And you worked on your chipping and your putting after the round and then you couldn't wait to be back out there tomorrow Oh ye That's going to be interesting to see how he navigates that because a couple of these places, you're not you're only golfing on road trips. and he seems to really have a golf bug right now. It sounds crazy, but when you get it now it sounds crazy. But when basketball players get that golf bug, like it is It' could be whole factor for it. Yeah just be to see a guy of his caliber pick Minneapolis, right? It doesn't happen Yeah, yeah, yeah It would be cool,. U Speaking of a place with a lot of golf courses as Roger knows best, Miami Now, what do you think Let's get to Let's get serious The Miami Heat it, Raja, All. I was oned side of going back to Cleveland. I've been on that forever. You go back and listen to a pod. I said it really early. I thought he should go back to Cleveland Um Ha' given it some thought a lot of that had well, first of all, obviously Yonis wasn't in my hand, right? But Um I like the sentimentality of it. I like the Swan song of it all. I kind of like the career arc. Um There's a part of me that thinks it may be too much There's a part of me that thinks like emotionally just it may be too much for him for the team. like that's a You know, unless you live there and saw LeBron there in Cleveland, it's hard It' hard to articulate just how electrifying that city is when they're good and LeBron was part of it. You talk about Miami. talking about Miami. No I'm talking about Cleveland right now. Okay. So I'm saying now as it relates to Miami It might be my favorite destination I I like Miami. Pting in with Yonis and bam you know, youve didn't have a kind of a guy with the ball that's making plays out there on the perimeter and kind of facilitating in that way. He's going to do that. You still have work to do on a roster, but it's probably my favorite destination for him and you are big and you are physical and you are You're just going to basically be the antithesis of what I was talking about with like with San Antonio and the Nicks, you can kind of be like Maybe the rockets or or or okay, so we're big Yeah you better get big, m fone because we're big Yeah. and they got a shot They would have a shot in the Eastern conference Whereas if you talk about Golden State, they probably wouldn't. Another team would have a shot at Howard thoughts on Miami. I apologize. No. I think it would be really cool. like That's the thing. like I, you know, I'm going to think in terms of storylines as much as I'm going to think in terms of basketball, although I do want to see him on a relevant team, right? And Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, I think all check all those boxes, right? Fun story you know, homecomings in two of those places and I think all three of them are more than relevant If LeBron's there and maybe even without LeBron, but especially with him So I like the you know, LeBron Jonis Bam U the defense, the playmaking The D downhill attack Wigs Wigs as Wigs in there. Oh like can you find a couple of shooters? They just signigned Tim Hardaway junior or came to terms with him today. So like you you need a few more of those And they're well coached Very well coached So like I think it'd be really cool, but I do think like If you're going to do a homecoming Back to Cleveland to like book in the career. has a lot more resonidance than back to Miami. Like it just doesn't feel the same, right? L But also it's like one last washed run, th, you know what I mean? You know, one one for the Gipper, right? Just one last I'm about to just go have a have a sick one in Miami for eight months It would have It'd be cool. I think it's more interesting for him to go back toleve Do you think that like Rjid before I would agree I would agree with that. I know, I would agree with that. I would agree I would agree with that one hundred percent. likeike look ave the story mean that's Fantastic And maybe I'm too deep into it is just I mean, it's a spectacum When I was in the best way possible. like it is the city is on fire. if they're good And LeBron is a part of that Um And what you can't quantify is, you know, he hasn't LA is a different kind of town It doesn't revolve around The Lakers like that. You know what I'm saying? It doesn't reolve around any real sports team in that way The calves are playing And they're playing well. I mean it's what the city is about that day you know, as I remember it when I was living there and He's what ten years older than he was the last time he was there. You just like there's an emotional drain kind of that that we don't account for as fans that is that is on players at times. and players learn how to manage it. They don't even think about it It's just It's just, you know, par for the course, right? You learn how to like manage your battery in that way U But there's part of me if I am thinking a little bit about it too much is wondering if Like yo, thirty, forty fififty games into that. if you're like, yo, this is odd Pe are pulling at me in every which way, like the city. I don't know. I don't know. but I would agree with you, Howard, like That's a it's a phenomenal story, right? Cleveland chapter and we're going to end the book. Also, he's he's already reconciled with them, right? He came home like they hated him when he left. They embraced him when he returned. He won them a championship and all is forgiven forever. And when he leaves the second time for LA, they're like, cool man, debts's been paid. We love you. We're going to cheer for you every time you come back I don't think it's quite the same in Miami. Like You won a couple of championships. you left after four years. you spurned Pat Riley The Godfather, how dare you? And you can come back and they'll cheer. they'll be fine. but It's just not the same as with as Cleveland because the ties aren't as deep because he didn't already have the reconciliation and all the debt paying of winning a championship after the after the spurning. likeike it's just different That true. I you don't I mean you're in Miami, would they welcome them back with open arms right? Oh, Br. ourur fans are listen Our fans, if you're not good, they're not there As soon as you're good, they're all there So I mean, the sentimentality of it all You know, they're not going to have the attachment that the general Cleveland area has to LeBron. He's not a He's not a hometown like Be. If if he's running around in a heat jsey and they're good, I'll forgive it. So let's talk about real quick the fit for Cleveland versus Miami for him. No. Let's talk about the enct fit. Like how does it compare and contress How would it go? Um You know, there's more I think there's it's More of a ready made roster in Cleveland Like Yeah it's easier to see him in Cleveland and what it would look like in Cleveland because you just don't know what Miami's going to look like at this point Um, Yeah. I like him. I look. I like him in Cleveland. That's why I said it early. I like I like him in Cleveland with Donovan and and And James Harden You can move him around, can you can really move him all around the floor and do different things with him there that would unlock different people. Um, there's there's room In Miami Yeah, there's room too, but I don't even know how you want to play. Like I don't even know what they're going to look like. because of a roster So that's I'm sorry, Dude. that's probably not good potting. I don't know what they're going to look like. I can see him until you how I think he might fit Cleveland and that would be You put them in pick and roll a lot probablyably with James Harden at times if you were taking one of those other bigigs off the floor You'd also have him with the ball in his hands and pick and roll. He's another guy that would ignite break like there are a lot of things with that you could do with him in Cleveland moving him around the chessboard that you could in Mi, they don't the roster so I don't know what that's going look I'll just say this as an end of all the teams that are serious. I think The warriors in terms of like pre retirement would be amazing for him. I don't think that they're going to necessarily get to, you know, the heights that he would get in the Eastern Conference But in terms of like vibes golf courses, we have very nice golf courses in the Bay Aa of Rajah. I'm not sure. have a lot A lot, right in San Francisco down Silicon Valley all in the East Bay. It's really nice. You know, good food, good all of that stuff, right? Like you can really just have like a real send offff, a real bay arerea send off, right? But I don't think they will ultimately they have a ceiling Um, I think Cleveland and Miami, if he wants to like win and like actually be relevant come May and June, I think those are those are the choices. You know, you guys are the experts, but I think that that for me, I think that that's where we're headed. beforefore we get out of here, just in pure NBA fashion and pure clipper fashion, we're going to give them ten minutes right after we talk about the Lakers and what their moves are. Kwi Leonard has been traded Um to the Toronto Rapors. he is back to the six. U, for Brandon Igrram, Grady Dick, two unprotected picks, one pick swap, two second round picks Basically the rators They backslided and the clippers got picks in return. What are the thoughts on the on the u on the transaction. I mean Not quite the same like sentimental like, you know, swoon of a LeBron back to Cleveland Um With all due respect to Toronto, a city I love And I know Dude brought them a championship, but dude was there for One season like not even a full twelve month But but that's Toronto th. Like they didn't win a title before. That's how that's how you become a lege. He means Absolutely the world to them. By the way, shout out to whoever on our Ringer social channels posted the thing about quQuick Photoshop of Kauwai was, I think, the caption in a Toronto uniform. That was probablybably Jo me Probably Jo me. shhout out Jo me. That was great But no, like it's He means a lot to them, but based on like, you know, a one season cycle from seven years ago. Daddy' now putting up the kind of numbers and playing at a level that rivals his time back then improbably after all the injuries after all the games missed is incredible. And he's joining a team with Scottty Barnes and a bunch other very talented young dudes where In an easastern conference, like we we have to be careful here. We got through an entire season of saying the Easter confference is wide open And this team is the favorite. That teams a favorite. Detroit's got the best record. Boston without Tatum who Boston with Tatum. All this other stuff started not not trying to trigger Euraj with the Tatum stuff Um But like We don't we don't want to say the Toronto Raptors are like one ki away from unseating the defending champion, Nicks, That's a little disrespectful But I do think the margins are thin in the east. They were. That's why we said it was wide open in the first place And you know Kawai with an up and coming Raptors team. if Kawai stays healthy I don't want to de with them So yeah,m I'mm not dismissive of that at all. And again It's it's We're in the last hours of June Thtieth year, the last hours of June. There's a lot of summer to go Who knows what other moves may come behind this with Toronto? because clearly this is an all in move. This is a short term. Yeah, we're going to extend him probably a couple of years because we have to R You don't know how much more of Kawai you're going to get, but you're getting the final stage of his career And just as we talked about with LeBron or Steph or KD, these are guys who are still when they're playing ammong the best in the NBA. Kai is right there too And s he's going to be surrounded by some really great young talent that can carry a lot of the load And this is fascinating, man. L this is one ike it's I'm not saying we never saw it coming. There was always like a little bit of that kind of speculation, but this is not one you expected, Eespecially when it was such a big deal for him to decide to spurn them He's the first finals and only finals NP in history to win a championship and then say, I'm done. I'm going somewhere else See ya.'s been real Man. I mean, it's the most Kawai move ever. I will say this so just to add to your point about that one year though You had to be there for that Torano Raptors Championship run to understand how important that was and to understand why Torano was welcoming him back with open arms. It was electric Toronto, I don't think he's ever been the same since then. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. It was so much fun. It was it was it was it was just it was a sight to behold. Now on the basketball court, Raja Where does this put the raptors right now Um I don't I would disagree with Howard. I mean, I think Over the course of the last few years, you know, the parity kind of like and the inability for the teams that we think are going to have this dynastic run for the inability for them to keep that going. Um all lends itself to like, look, if you add Kawai to a group that was already really good They're young at this stage in his career. All the points Howard just made. I think you're in the mix I don't know that I have you you know as a top three team, but all you want to do now in the NBA is start the year saying I'm in the mix And O the last few years, I think it's's it's borne out. Like if you're in You're in the mix and you got a punch' chance. anybody could come out of that and that's where they are. You know, I and and so I dont I don't, I don't know that I could put it better than Howard did One last thing, man, and this is just something that I've been thinking about Um, this Jail end Durance situation in Detroit as we baffled Right. I don't know if it's fumbling the bag necessarily or I know this's getting leveraged to go with the pistons, but like As a former player, Raja and then Beck I want to hear your opinion like The fact that this is taking it's so hard to get done at this point this contract, is that going to have any ramifications on? Be I think The Pistas have all the leverage in in this deal. He's supposed to talk to Duran is supposed to discuss sign and trade scen areas with the Legers and and the kings Oh. But if he does eventually get back to Detroit, like what is the ramifications of this in that locker room and just how he feels after the contract dispute like this Um Yeah, I don't know that they're the same as like Jalen Brown when you're being dangled. He's restricted, right Yeah Is that what his situation is Yeah. that's a weird place to be man. likeike I don't Do you love it? No. Are there some Ridual feelings about it, probably Um But I think they're easier to get over. because that's I don't, I don't feels disrespectful to someone that that considers themselves like part of your fabric and thinks that they've done a lot for you. but U Contractually, you're in a weird place. there. So It I don't think that there's a Much of a hangover from that So It's clear there's a ton of interest for him out there. And it's I'm sure the pistons anticipated that. I think the difficulty here as just from a strategic point of view, from a front office trying to figure out Um what the state of the game is If somebody out there is going to max him out or even just go to wherever the threshold is that the pistons are uncomfortable And I think they've already signaled we're going to match any offer. And that's the right thing, right? He's your guy. You drafted him, you developed him. Um Yeah, struggled to the playoffs, but he's he's had an incredible trajectory We always say this and you hate to talk about players as assets but you protect the asset. You keep the asset. If you don't think he's worth that, you figure out later. You trade him later if that's what it takes But you don't let them walk for nothing. You have to match But by letting the market set his price, you then risk O, paying him an amount you didn't want to and two, having him possibly be a little bit hurt about the whole thing. up, I'm sure he'll get over it. It'll be fine And shit, he may live up to that contract. You may be perfectly happy to have him at that number. But you kind of need to know through your own intntel ahead of time Is somebody else out there going to max them? because if we think someone's going to max them and we're just going to match it anyway Well, then we should just go out and make that the first opport to him. right out the gate so that we don't have to go through all these vaccinations and hurt feelings Um That's some second guessing backseat bullshit by me, but I do think that's part of what, you know, your job is in the front office. You you need to anticipate this so that you're not in this position and then ending up paying him that anyway sure All right, sounds good. One thing that I just saw Butler is going to be hosting the NBA Cup Championship game O Vegas N N Jimmy Butler Not Jimmy Butler. It's going to be at the Hinkkel Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana really cool place to play. It was haveave you been there? you played there? It was good Yeah I played there in college. It was a cool place to play. I don't know looking for NBA ty up game, but' cool place. Does it make sense for an NB game at all? What's like capacity there? Yeah. Yeah, probably not. ye. Yeah. they were just I don't haven't seen the capacityBA of the communityions. YB is has overdosed on Vegas. so I'm happy to see them trying something else. Who hasn like Right. Yeah. I don't know, I don't know about this this whole like moving you know, you know, whatever traveling circus now that the NBA Cups is going to be going to college We got through this whole pot and we're not even to talk about the Jama Rant trade. What a bummer. I was just ready to blast away G go ahead fiveutes go ahead go go go go go go go. I hate this trade. I hate, I hate this trade. I hate it on every level. I hate it for Memphis because they finally had to cut ties with the guy who was the face of their franchise and excited their fan base It was electric was awesome was possibly the future of the league. I hate that it comes to this, even though it had to come to this. I hate the return they got, even though we all knew they weren't going to get shit for a return I hate it. much, much more for Portland Because no, they didn't give up anything to get them. That's not the point people They gave up nothing to get him, but now you're bring in Joharant to a back court that already has Dame Lily coming back off his Achilles and as a franchise legend, Drew Holiday. Oh, Scoot Henderson top three overall pick who is supposed to be your point guard of the future. All these guys in the ball in their hands. and oh, by the way, Denny Avda just had a breakthrough season as your primary ball handler playmaker score And now all these guys are supposed to be sharing the ball. By the way, Jh isn't what he was. Jh may never be that guy again. He's takaking a beating. He doesn't finish at the rim as well as he used to. He can't shoot threes. he can't defend. What are you doing Portland, Trailblazers? That's it. I'm done. Raja can go go go hate hate hate h hate hate hate hate Tacost hate hate hate go make Tacos hate great disclaimer voice That has been another addedition of realal onins. You know the mother fuckking bs. you know, we do it this all season, summer timee summer timee season. We go see you when we see you all the shits B. ust be twenty one years and older and present in select states. for Kansas and affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or eighteen and older and present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem callall one eight hundred gambler or one eight hundred, my reset. Call one eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit ccpG d. org backs slash chat in Connecticut or visit MDgamblinghel. orga Maryland. 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