Will Cain

No, I'm sorry to notify you. I do not agree with you. I think this first 100 days is exactly what he promised the American people.

No, I'm sorry to notify you. I do not agree with you. I think this first 100 days is exactly what he promised the American people.

I could debate you on each and every one of those things you just laid out, but I don't think you can call it whatever you want. I think that's an incorrect statement, Congressman. I think words have meaning and they matter. And I think you know that.

I could debate you on each and every one of those things you just laid out, but I don't think you can call it whatever you want. I think that's an incorrect statement, Congressman. I think words have meaning and they matter. And I think you know that.

I think we have to be careful with our words, especially if we're not trying to inflame the public and most certainly if we're trying to arrive at the truth. And after four years of having us gaslighted over the...

I think we have to be careful with our words, especially if we're not trying to inflame the public and most certainly if we're trying to arrive at the truth. And after four years of having us gaslighted over the...

competency, the mental acuity of the previous president, it's absurd to question, even if you disagree, Congressman, and clearly you do with much of the president, the competency of the sitting president today. I think the accuracy and truth of those words do matter.

competency, the mental acuity of the previous president, it's absurd to question, even if you disagree, Congressman, and clearly you do with much of the president, the competency of the sitting president today. I think the accuracy and truth of those words do matter.

No, I'm sorry to notify you. I do not agree with you. I think this first 100 days is exactly what he promised the American people.

I could debate you on each and every one of those things you just laid out, but I don't think you can call it whatever you want. I think that's an incorrect statement, Congressman. I think words have meaning and they matter. And I think you know that.

I think we have to be careful with our words, especially if we're not trying to inflame the public and most certainly if we're trying to arrive at the truth. And after four years of having us gaslighted over the...

competency, the mental acuity of the previous president, it's absurd to question, even if you disagree, Congressman, and clearly you do with much of the president, the competency of the sitting president today. I think the accuracy and truth of those words do matter.

Big basketball podcast. Let's do it. Luca to the Lakers. Everything that I've been able to piece together and why I think one part of this I will never be okay with. We've got Will Kane. Politics and pick and roll. Probably more just on Luca. De'Aaron Fox also on the move to San Antonio. So a few on that.

Big basketball podcast. Let's do it. Luca to the Lakers. Everything that I've been able to piece together and why I think one part of this I will never be okay with. We've got Will Kane. Politics and pick and roll. Probably more just on Luca. De'Aaron Fox also on the move to San Antonio. So a few on that.

How do you feel?

How do you feel?

His range is probably at best the second best player in the world. At worst, the third best player in the world. I think he's better than SGA. I'm sure there could be an argument. So let's say the worst you could rank Luka today is the fourth best player in the world at 25 years old. Guys like this do not get traded. And again, it's the most stunning trade of my lifetime.

His range is probably at best the second best player in the world. At worst, the third best player in the world. I think he's better than SGA. I'm sure there could be an argument. So let's say the worst you could rank Luka today is the fourth best player in the world at 25 years old. Guys like this do not get traded. And again, it's the most stunning trade of my lifetime.

Yeah, you touched on a bunch of good things there. The ownership part of this, because none of this stuff happens, like the number of times that you'll hear about something and then, you know, like a week later, somebody's like, wow, the owner, you know, did or didn't want to do this. Like, there's just so many deals that either happen because the owner's

Yeah, you touched on a bunch of good things there. The ownership part of this, because none of this stuff happens, like the number of times that you'll hear about something and then, you know, like a week later, somebody's like, wow, the owner, you know, did or didn't want to do this. Like, there's just so many deals that either happen because the owner's

like behind it or a deal that doesn't happen because ultimately everybody in the basketball side, the coaches, the front office are like, we want to do this. The owner goes, you know what? We're not doing that. And that's it. Like ultimately you work for the owner.

like behind it or a deal that doesn't happen because ultimately everybody in the basketball side, the coaches, the front office are like, we want to do this. The owner goes, you know what? We're not doing that. And that's it. Like ultimately you work for the owner.

Even if we believe there's some sort of fake hierarchy of like the GM can tell the guy that actually owns the team that writes his checks, that he is going to do something that he doesn't want to do maybe early on with owners. And maybe that's the lesson in this.

Even if we believe there's some sort of fake hierarchy of like the GM can tell the guy that actually owns the team that writes his checks, that he is going to do something that he doesn't want to do maybe early on with owners. And maybe that's the lesson in this.

maybe that the new ownership part of this, even though that whole Cuban timeline has been so strange where it was, wait, you sold the team, but you get to keep running it. Like that doesn't really ever happen.

maybe that the new ownership part of this, even though that whole Cuban timeline has been so strange where it was, wait, you sold the team, but you get to keep running it. Like that doesn't really ever happen.

And I don't know that that's even necessarily true or maybe they were being nice to Cuban for the year or whatever, but it, it's the opposite of what a new ownership group would want to do in their own backyards. You would think even if Nikos convinced them, hey, he doesn't get it and he's going to age fast and we don't want to pay him all of this money and all these things.

And I don't know that that's even necessarily true or maybe they were being nice to Cuban for the year or whatever, but it, it's the opposite of what a new ownership group would want to do in their own backyards. You would think even if Nikos convinced them, hey, he doesn't get it and he's going to age fast and we don't want to pay him all of this money and all these things.

I would think most ownership groups in this situation be like, you know what we can't do, though, is we can't trade this guy right now. We can't we can't do this because every sales guy.

I would think most ownership groups in this situation be like, you know what we can't do, though, is we can't trade this guy right now. We can't we can't do this because every sales guy.

is motherfucking the organization right now all the pr people like all the community stuff and the money part of it although the local product here suffers in in such a way like their approval rating which again all that stuff can be totally bullshit and if they have a deep playoff run maybe it doesn't really matter i think i saw something where the instagram page for the mavs lost hundreds of thousands of followers i don't know if that was real or not

is motherfucking the organization right now all the pr people like all the community stuff and the money part of it although the local product here suffers in in such a way like their approval rating which again all that stuff can be totally bullshit and if they have a deep playoff run maybe it doesn't really matter i think i saw something where the instagram page for the mavs lost hundreds of thousands of followers i don't know if that was real or not

But the thing that influences so many basketball decisions, the dynamic that I kind of despise is usually the kind of thing, though, that would prevent an organization from doing something like this because it is so immediately unpopular.

But the thing that influences so many basketball decisions, the dynamic that I kind of despise is usually the kind of thing, though, that would prevent an organization from doing something like this because it is so immediately unpopular.

So since Saturday night, I probably, just because people can't stop talking about this, maybe half the teams, someone for half the teams in the league, because you keep trying to put this together. And now I don't know that there's much more of a mystery. It's like, have you heard from anyone that knew that he was available.

So since Saturday night, I probably, just because people can't stop talking about this, maybe half the teams, someone for half the teams in the league, because you keep trying to put this together. And now I don't know that there's much more of a mystery. It's like, have you heard from anyone that knew that he was available.

The other thing that I have a hard time with is Like, you want to say Luka, like, oh, you know, he's gotten all these stats, whatever. Like, there's so many other players that have huge numbers and could potentially obtain all these individual accolades. There's going to be a couple guys that make the Hall of Fame where I go, like, cool. The fact that you would have

The other thing that I have a hard time with is Like, you want to say Luka, like, oh, you know, he's gotten all these stats, whatever. Like, there's so many other players that have huge numbers and could potentially obtain all these individual accolades. There's going to be a couple guys that make the Hall of Fame where I go, like, cool. The fact that you would have

this Finals run, just a couple seasons after the Western Conference Finals run, where that team wasn't that good, but they knocked off a really good Phoenix team that had just been to the Finals. You look at the Phoenix Suns during that regular season, and for whatever reason, they just took their souls. They take their souls in that Game 7. they had no chance against the Warriors.

this Finals run, just a couple seasons after the Western Conference Finals run, where that team wasn't that good, but they knocked off a really good Phoenix team that had just been to the Finals. You look at the Phoenix Suns during that regular season, and for whatever reason, they just took their souls. They take their souls in that Game 7. they had no chance against the Warriors.

I was going through the other offensive options there, and you're like, Luka dragged this team. And I do think there are conference finals appearances that can be fool's gold and maybe gets a team thinking about themselves in a way that they shouldn't be thinking about themselves.

I was going through the other offensive options there, and you're like, Luka dragged this team. And I do think there are conference finals appearances that can be fool's gold and maybe gets a team thinking about themselves in a way that they shouldn't be thinking about themselves.

Like, hey, you guys actually aren't that close, and you're not as good as you think you are, even though it says you're one of the Final Four teams still standing. But Luka getting to the finals, again, with a different roster, that quickly after getting to that Western Conference Finals appearance, like, tells me that you actually are close. And again, this isn't some empty stat guy.

Like, hey, you guys actually aren't that close, and you're not as good as you think you are, even though it says you're one of the Final Four teams still standing. But Luka getting to the finals, again, with a different roster, that quickly after getting to that Western Conference Finals appearance, like, tells me that you actually are close. And again, this isn't some empty stat guy.

Did you hear from any team where Niko just kicked the tires and like, hey, what would you do in theory if we were willing to trade Luka Doncic? Because a lot of times, this is how all this stuff happens. These guys talk to each other nonstop. They know which front offices like their players, which players that they don't like, who could be available, who might not be available. It's just a big...

Did you hear from any team where Niko just kicked the tires and like, hey, what would you do in theory if we were willing to trade Luka Doncic? Because a lot of times, this is how all this stuff happens. These guys talk to each other nonstop. They know which front offices like their players, which players that they don't like, who could be available, who might not be available. It's just a big...

This isn't just the most talented guy in the league that even with his deficiencies on defense, there wasn't enough happening negatively with his game that put a ceiling on who you were, where I think there's like five to seven other guys in the league where I'm like, oh, cool, he had 30 again. Yeah, I mean, let me know when they're out of the play-in.

This isn't just the most talented guy in the league that even with his deficiencies on defense, there wasn't enough happening negatively with his game that put a ceiling on who you were, where I think there's like five to seven other guys in the league where I'm like, oh, cool, he had 30 again. Yeah, I mean, let me know when they're out of the play-in.

And that's the part with Nico where it's very clear they were completely over him. And Windhorse, when he did his rant last year during the playoffs, it just, I mean, that was like vicious. He made a point today where he's like, you know what's crazy about that? He's like, nobody, or maybe I just saw the clip again. He's like, nobody from Dallas called me to defend their guy.

And that's the part with Nico where it's very clear they were completely over him. And Windhorse, when he did his rant last year during the playoffs, it just, I mean, that was like vicious. He made a point today where he's like, you know what's crazy about that? He's like, nobody, or maybe I just saw the clip again. He's like, nobody from Dallas called me to defend their guy.

So I think what we're putting together here is that whatever the day-to-day Luka dynamic was, it was still so egregious to Nico and the rest of the group that they were willing to do something like this where on the outside you're going, you're complaining about this dude as the face of your franchise because you actually have team success.

So I think what we're putting together here is that whatever the day-to-day Luka dynamic was, it was still so egregious to Nico and the rest of the group that they were willing to do something like this where on the outside you're going, you're complaining about this dude as the face of your franchise because you actually have team success.

Granted, not the title, but like real runs in recent seasons to point to is this guy is not somebody that gets in the way of a team success despite his flaws.

Granted, not the title, but like real runs in recent seasons to point to is this guy is not somebody that gets in the way of a team success despite his flaws.

It was also a bad basketball matchup too, with like the way they would execute. So sorry, I interrupted, but keep going.

It was also a bad basketball matchup too, with like the way they would execute. So sorry, I interrupted, but keep going.

big run of months and months of dudes on phones talking about hypotheticals they do it in their own front offices where they rank all of the players and then they revisit those rankings they argue over the rankings just because they want to know like how their group sees the value around the league in comparison to maybe how another team would see the value right um

big run of months and months of dudes on phones talking about hypotheticals they do it in their own front offices where they rank all of the players and then they revisit those rankings they argue over the rankings just because they want to know like how their group sees the value around the league in comparison to maybe how another team would see the value right um

I have more work to do on the ratings thing because I think at times the way the ratings cycle gets treated is there'll be this downturn, right? And then that downturn is supposed to tell you the future, right? Yeah. Because remember when the NFL had had a dip. It was, well, it's concussions, right? Concussions were going to end football and no kids were ever going to play football again.

I have more work to do on the ratings thing because I think at times the way the ratings cycle gets treated is there'll be this downturn, right? And then that downturn is supposed to tell you the future, right? Yeah. Because remember when the NFL had had a dip. It was, well, it's concussions, right? Concussions were going to end football and no kids were ever going to play football again.

I think you and I were doing shows back then. And I was like, have any of you ever been to the South? Okay. Like, I think people are still going to play football. And then it was because it was Kaepernick, right? And then it was because it started to become like a bit of a political divide where if you were on the right,

I think you and I were doing shows back then. And I was like, have any of you ever been to the South? Okay. Like, I think people are still going to play football. And then it was because it was Kaepernick, right? And then it was because it started to become like a bit of a political divide where if you were on the right,

you wanted to see the ratings go down a little bit because it kind of justified some of your political beliefs. And I just felt like that kind of falls to this like pulling of one stuff that'll happen. You're like, oh, my uncle doesn't watch it anymore.

you wanted to see the ratings go down a little bit because it kind of justified some of your political beliefs. And I just felt like that kind of falls to this like pulling of one stuff that'll happen. You're like, oh, my uncle doesn't watch it anymore.

So the first take. So like when we look at the ratings- part of it, I need, I need a little bit more data, but ultimately Because I am working on something on this. I'm not done yet. And it sounds like as an NBA guy, I could potentially be pushing it back against the idea that there's declining ratings. But here's what we do know.

So the first take. So like when we look at the ratings- part of it, I need, I need a little bit more data, but ultimately Because I am working on something on this. I'm not done yet. And it sounds like as an NBA guy, I could potentially be pushing it back against the idea that there's declining ratings. But here's what we do know.

Any declining rating or any declining rating forecast is irrelevant to the bigger business deals because you could have, as long as you have the live rights program and you have all of these games, you can say, all right, year to year, this is where we're at. Go back 10 years. This is where we're at. Why would you invest this? They just did the TV deal.

Any declining rating or any declining rating forecast is irrelevant to the bigger business deals because you could have, as long as you have the live rights program and you have all of these games, you can say, all right, year to year, this is where we're at. Go back 10 years. This is where we're at. Why would you invest this? They just did the TV deal.

So to me, the TV deal and the ratings and the fact that it's been renewed, it tripled again. And it was beyond the projections because there was a long time we were like, why are some of these teams changing hands? Oh no, is the TV deal coming in way lower than they thought? Or some of these guys deciding to get out now because this is the decline.

So to me, the TV deal and the ratings and the fact that it's been renewed, it tripled again. And it was beyond the projections because there was a long time we were like, why are some of these teams changing hands? Oh no, is the TV deal coming in way lower than they thought? Or some of these guys deciding to get out now because this is the decline.

The franchise acquisition bubble is finally starting to happen. And then none of that happened because the TV deal came in massive. So The reason I think it's important to go through all this stuff is, okay, fine.

The franchise acquisition bubble is finally starting to happen. And then none of that happened because the TV deal came in massive. So The reason I think it's important to go through all this stuff is, okay, fine.

So there was speculation that there was this one other mystery team that was at least asked about what they could do for Luka in a trade. I don't know who that team is. And Tim McMahon does a great job, ESPN.com, covers basketball nationally, but very plugged in with the Mavs, said in his piece, quote, they did not discuss potential Davis trades with any franchise other than the Lakers.

So there was speculation that there was this one other mystery team that was at least asked about what they could do for Luka in a trade. I don't know who that team is. And Tim McMahon does a great job, ESPN.com, covers basketball nationally, but very plugged in with the Mavs, said in his piece, quote, they did not discuss potential Davis trades with any franchise other than the Lakers.

Maybe it is a declining product in the way that we equate like what is successful and what is not successful based on, I think at times, some very outdated and domestic television numbers. But I can't sit here and say that anybody's wrong that's looking at it that way. The point is, is 350 million to Luke is irrelevant because the money's already backed in.

Maybe it is a declining product in the way that we equate like what is successful and what is not successful based on, I think at times, some very outdated and domestic television numbers. But I can't sit here and say that anybody's wrong that's looking at it that way. The point is, is 350 million to Luke is irrelevant because the money's already backed in.

In four years from now of whatever that extension would have been, Luka's making less the same way the quarterback renewal cycle happens. We're like, I can't believe Jared Goff is making all this money. Look at that guaranteed money. And then three years later, you're like, that contract isn't even that bad anymore.

In four years from now of whatever that extension would have been, Luka's making less the same way the quarterback renewal cycle happens. We're like, I can't believe Jared Goff is making all this money. Look at that guaranteed money. And then three years later, you're like, that contract isn't even that bad anymore.

At 25, whatever your concerns are about Luka, there's no financial conditioning argument that I would hear. Here's the thing. then you could just trade them. So I don't know if you want to follow up on that because I still have a couple other questions.

At 25, whatever your concerns are about Luka, there's no financial conditioning argument that I would hear. Here's the thing. then you could just trade them. So I don't know if you want to follow up on that because I still have a couple other questions.

Two things that we finish up here. What I cannot understand is if you were going to make him available, why you would make him available to only one team. And the answer to that, as I've talked to enough teams and I talked about in the open, is that Nico Harrison looked at Anthony Davis as like the guy he wanted more than everybody else.

Two things that we finish up here. What I cannot understand is if you were going to make him available, why you would make him available to only one team. And the answer to that, as I've talked to enough teams and I talked about in the open, is that Nico Harrison looked at Anthony Davis as like the guy he wanted more than everybody else.

But it still does not justify like he couldn't get another pick. You couldn't figure out a way to like, hey, I need just a little bit more. I need a sweetener here. I'm going to get destroyed. I'm trading this guy. Give me a little something here. If you had heard... I already know the answer to this.

But it still does not justify like he couldn't get another pick. You couldn't figure out a way to like, hey, I need just a little bit more. I need a sweetener here. I'm going to get destroyed. I'm trading this guy. Give me a little something here. If you had heard... I already know the answer to this.

But if you had heard he had canvassed the league for a couple of weeks and we had the normal cycle of... of a Shams or a wind horse up on TV going like, there are rumblings that Luke is available. Then we get like the two week runway to talk about all the different hypotheticals. Like you almost get to like have an appetizer to that moment on Saturday night where you're bracing yourself for it.

But if you had heard he had canvassed the league for a couple of weeks and we had the normal cycle of... of a Shams or a wind horse up on TV going like, there are rumblings that Luke is available. Then we get like the two week runway to talk about all the different hypotheticals. Like you almost get to like have an appetizer to that moment on Saturday night where you're bracing yourself for it.

Like a content appetizer. If you had known that this wasn't just about one team he negotiated with, which I can't understand, would you feel better about it today?

Like a content appetizer. If you had known that this wasn't just about one team he negotiated with, which I can't understand, would you feel better about it today?

So that feels like Maybe there's this one. We'll hear something later on like, oh, they actually kind of called. But like, who knows? Because apparently this wasn't like a two day thing. It goes all the way back to like prior to January 7th. And then Nico and Rob Blanca met up January 7th when they were both in Los Angeles.

So that feels like Maybe there's this one. We'll hear something later on like, oh, they actually kind of called. But like, who knows? Because apparently this wasn't like a two day thing. It goes all the way back to like prior to January 7th. And then Nico and Rob Blanca met up January 7th when they were both in Los Angeles.

We're going to make that a YouTube only.

We're going to make that a YouTube only.

That's for subscribers. That's for subscribers. You have to really want this content.

That's for subscribers. That's for subscribers. You have to really want this content.

Last thing. Um, as we said at the beginning, we'll be on every day, Fox news for Eastern. I was with you earlier, the ESPN days, like who's this fill in, you know, we've told the story before, like full head of hair. Shit. He's pretty smart. I think he's smarter than I am. Uh, And then we became friends and we did a bunch of shows together and who knows, like things have gone a different way.

Last thing. Um, as we said at the beginning, we'll be on every day, Fox news for Eastern. I was with you earlier, the ESPN days, like who's this fill in, you know, we've told the story before, like full head of hair. Shit. He's pretty smart. I think he's smarter than I am. Uh, And then we became friends and we did a bunch of shows together and who knows, like things have gone a different way.

Maybe we would have done shows together for a long time, but we, uh, we both had goals. We both had goals. And, you know, I'm looking at you realizing that you're reaching a goal, you know, something you're like, am I one of these guys? Like you have those moments where like, could I potentially, and then once you decide like, yeah, I think I can be one of those guys.

Maybe we would have done shows together for a long time, but we, uh, we both had goals. We both had goals. And, you know, I'm looking at you realizing that you're reaching a goal, you know, something you're like, am I one of these guys? Like you have those moments where like, could I potentially, and then once you decide like, yeah, I think I can be one of those guys.

Well, you have now become one of those guys. What does this mean to you?

Well, you have now become one of those guys. What does this mean to you?

So if there's one constant that I can, which you already know, but the constant is that Nico Harrison loves Anthony Davis, loves him. And I get it. He's awesome. He's 31. 32 in March. He's been great again this year. All NBA second team last year. I voted him as an all-star starter this season. Last season, though, was his first year at 70 games since 2017-18. He wants to be a power forward.

So if there's one constant that I can, which you already know, but the constant is that Nico Harrison loves Anthony Davis, loves him. And I get it. He's awesome. He's 31. 32 in March. He's been great again this year. All NBA second team last year. I voted him as an all-star starter this season. Last season, though, was his first year at 70 games since 2017-18. He wants to be a power forward.

Maybe you have bigger aspirations than I, than I thought. Maybe I'll, I don't know. I might have to get some sort of hair updates and transplant. I'm thinking secretary of commerce.

Maybe you have bigger aspirations than I, than I thought. Maybe I'll, I don't know. I might have to get some sort of hair updates and transplant. I'm thinking secretary of commerce.

What is last question? What's the biggest, what's the biggest difference between ESPN and Fox news?

What is last question? What's the biggest, what's the biggest difference between ESPN and Fox news?

So maybe I should have asked this in a better way because I think it's the headline of like, oh, what's the biggest difference? And I think that the difference, at least the way that you're treated...

So maybe I should have asked this in a better way because I think it's the headline of like, oh, what's the biggest difference? And I think that the difference, at least the way that you're treated...

is that if somebody's watching you on Fox news, they want to watch you on Fox news where I felt like, and I even warned you against this, the role that you were being teed up on at ESPN at first take, I was like, Hey, just be careful. Like you can't go on and be the, this actually isn't racist guy every day of the week.

is that if somebody's watching you on Fox news, they want to watch you on Fox news where I felt like, and I even warned you against this, the role that you were being teed up on at ESPN at first take, I was like, Hey, just be careful. Like you can't go on and be the, this actually isn't racist guy every day of the week.

Like, cause then it becomes like, Hey, cause I just know how, cause they did it to me one time. They were like, Hey, this Yaki way thing, you want to defend them keeping the name of the street Yaki way? I was like, no, I was like, I don't give a shit. I was like, why would I? And they were like, really? They're like, you're from Boston, the Yawkeys. I went, well, I'll go on.

Like, cause then it becomes like, Hey, cause I just know how, cause they did it to me one time. They were like, Hey, this Yaki way thing, you want to defend them keeping the name of the street Yaki way? I was like, no, I was like, I don't give a shit. I was like, why would I? And they were like, really? They're like, you're from Boston, the Yawkeys. I went, well, I'll go on.

And then I was watching it happen. And I was like, oh no. And then we talked about it a little bit, but you're so good on the show and it's this massive platform. So I think when you're, when the setup is, hey, we're going to roll out Will Kane for this. There's no way anybody's going to like you. There's no way anybody that's watching first tape regularly is going to be like, I like him. Okay.

And then I was watching it happen. And I was like, oh no. And then we talked about it a little bit, but you're so good on the show and it's this massive platform. So I think when you're, when the setup is, hey, we're going to roll out Will Kane for this. There's no way anybody's going to like you. There's no way anybody that's watching first tape regularly is going to be like, I like him. Okay.

Yeah. So I, I, you know what I mean? I mean, I'm not saying you had a zero approval rating, but it's, you're, you're digging yourself out of a hole at the start of every single segment, I think is, and maybe it looks like you still want to disagree with my wife. That's fine.

Yeah. So I, I, you know what I mean? I mean, I'm not saying you had a zero approval rating, but it's, you're, you're digging yourself out of a hole at the start of every single segment, I think is, and maybe it looks like you still want to disagree with my wife. That's fine.

Cool. He's a lot better and more valuable as a center. If you start trying to map out what the rotation will be, maybe how they would close playoff games. I do worry a little bit of like the power forward center, non stretching the floor, two bigs Cleveland thing that I kind of worry about at times, even though Mobley's just been lighting it up. So you understand what I'm saying?

Cool. He's a lot better and more valuable as a center. If you start trying to map out what the rotation will be, maybe how they would close playoff games. I do worry a little bit of like the power forward center, non stretching the floor, two bigs Cleveland thing that I kind of worry about at times, even though Mobley's just been lighting it up. So you understand what I'm saying?

I actually like that. And I think that's why the show and the dynamic works. But I think the question I'd like a better answer on, because I didn't ask it the right way, is that are there more similarities, perhaps? Are there more similarities navigating the dynamic of becoming somebody who's a regular part of the television rotation? Is it just like every other place in TV?

I actually like that. And I think that's why the show and the dynamic works. But I think the question I'd like a better answer on, because I didn't ask it the right way, is that are there more similarities, perhaps? Are there more similarities navigating the dynamic of becoming somebody who's a regular part of the television rotation? Is it just like every other place in TV?

I listened to, by the way, the other day I mistakenly hit play on one of my own episodes and it had been a really long time since I'd listened to myself do an entire show. So I was like, you know what? It's been a long time. Listen to the whole show. And then I got done and I went. I was like, I'm fucking awesome.

I listened to, by the way, the other day I mistakenly hit play on one of my own episodes and it had been a really long time since I'd listened to myself do an entire show. So I was like, you know what? It's been a long time. Listen to the whole show. And then I got done and I went. I was like, I'm fucking awesome.

Serena and I run through the no list of Luca trades and the Lakers future with Yovan Buha and life advice. On Saturday night, Luka was traded to the Lakers. Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, and I, we all did an emergency pod because this deserved an emergency pod. It's one of those trades. It's the biggest trade of my NBA lifetime. It's the kind of trade or news that I'll remember exactly where I was.

Serena and I run through the no list of Luca trades and the Lakers future with Yovan Buha and life advice. On Saturday night, Luka was traded to the Lakers. Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, and I, we all did an emergency pod because this deserved an emergency pod. It's one of those trades. It's the biggest trade of my NBA lifetime. It's the kind of trade or news that I'll remember exactly where I was.

That ended up being a great answer because I don't know if it's something where it is the surrounding area you know not not really nailing the terminology here but you could say like is it the dynamic is it the setting is it the people or is it where you're at and really the answer is usually like where you're at because for me espn was an angst filled experience and is that specific to them

That ended up being a great answer because I don't know if it's something where it is the surrounding area you know not not really nailing the terminology here but you could say like is it the dynamic is it the setting is it the people or is it where you're at and really the answer is usually like where you're at because for me espn was an angst filled experience and is that specific to them

Like the two bigs that don't really stretch the floor. Maybe it's just about defense and providing two incredible interior defenders behind your perimeter guys. But now you're moving P.J. Washington to the three, where he's probably better as a four. And then I don't know what you do with Clay, who's been starting, because he probably shouldn't be guarding two guards.

Like the two bigs that don't really stretch the floor. Maybe it's just about defense and providing two incredible interior defenders behind your perimeter guys. But now you're moving P.J. Washington to the three, where he's probably better as a four. And then I don't know what you do with Clay, who's been starting, because he probably shouldn't be guarding two guards.

Or is that about your own security and kind of where you're at in your own head? And it's kind of mirrors your law school thing of like just the Zen moment of, all right, I'm not going to worry about any of this stuff anymore and I'm going to be fine. And it's an awesome place to get to.

Or is that about your own security and kind of where you're at in your own head? And it's kind of mirrors your law school thing of like just the Zen moment of, all right, I'm not going to worry about any of this stuff anymore and I'm going to be fine. And it's an awesome place to get to.

It usually takes a little bit longer and it usually takes even longer if you're going to try to be on TV in front of everybody.

It usually takes a little bit longer and it usually takes even longer if you're going to try to be on TV in front of everybody.

Yeah, but again, it wasn't going to happen until I had gone through all the other stuff to go, okay, well, this isn't the way to do it. And then you want to blame everybody else and all these different things. But look, none of that. We've talked about that. We don't need to share that a ton with the audience because I think I've done a million versions of it already. But I'm really happy for you.

Yeah, but again, it wasn't going to happen until I had gone through all the other stuff to go, okay, well, this isn't the way to do it. And then you want to blame everybody else and all these different things. But look, none of that. We've talked about that. We don't need to share that a ton with the audience because I think I've done a million versions of it already. But I'm really happy for you.

You deserve it. You're terrific on television. Like I said, I'm happy and I'm also biased because I got to know you personally. So thanks, man. Well, thank you, man.

You deserve it. You're terrific on television. Like I said, I'm happy and I'm also biased because I got to know you personally. So thanks, man. Well, thank you, man.

Yeah, no, I have notes. I have notes. Good. They're not fully formed yet. Not 100% sure where I'm at yet. Thanks, Will. Thanks, Ryan. Another piece that I want to just spend a few minutes on, and we're going to bring Cerruti in here, but De'Aaron Fox on the move here. We had heard that's how trades are supposed to work. Rumblings that he's available. Sacramento exploring opportunities.

Yeah, no, I have notes. I have notes. Good. They're not fully formed yet. Not 100% sure where I'm at yet. Thanks, Will. Thanks, Ryan. Another piece that I want to just spend a few minutes on, and we're going to bring Cerruti in here, but De'Aaron Fox on the move here. We had heard that's how trades are supposed to work. Rumblings that he's available. Sacramento exploring opportunities.

Other teams listed as potentially monitoring the situation. So De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio. Sacramento gets Zach Levine from Chicago. they get a first-round pick in 25, top 14 protected, a 25-second round pick, a 27 first-round pick from San Antonio, a 28-second round pick from Denver, and then they get their 28-second round pick back. So we're looking at a couple firsts in three seconds.

Other teams listed as potentially monitoring the situation. So De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio. Sacramento gets Zach Levine from Chicago. they get a first-round pick in 25, top 14 protected, a 25-second round pick, a 27 first-round pick from San Antonio, a 28-second round pick from Denver, and then they get their 28-second round pick back. So we're looking at a couple firsts in three seconds.

So I guess you could say this is where the Max Christie piece comes in, and maybe they close with Max Christie defense. He's been pretty good lately. And then you have Kyrie at the one. I thought this Dallas team, with Luka, was a pretty good team. OKC on, to me, it's a toss-up if everybody were right and everybody were healthy. That's a big it because Kyrie's got a back issue.

So I guess you could say this is where the Max Christie piece comes in, and maybe they close with Max Christie defense. He's been pretty good lately. And then you have Kyrie at the one. I thought this Dallas team, with Luka, was a pretty good team. OKC on, to me, it's a toss-up if everybody were right and everybody were healthy. That's a big it because Kyrie's got a back issue.

The Bulls moving Levine out end up with Zach Collins, Trey Jones, Kevin Herter, Sad day, sad day for us on the pod and a 25 first round pick, which is their own pick back this year. That remember was out at San Antonio. It was top 10 protected. So they get control of their own pick back.

The Bulls moving Levine out end up with Zach Collins, Trey Jones, Kevin Herter, Sad day, sad day for us on the pod and a 25 first round pick, which is their own pick back this year. That remember was out at San Antonio. It was top 10 protected. So they get control of their own pick back.

So, um, you know, Sacramento, once Fox was going to do the extension, they were stuck and they want to get in front of this now. It would be great if the player wasn't Zach Levine that they were getting back. Some of you are going to think I'm nuts. Some of you are going to see the scoring, the first step, which is incredible, the three-point shooting, how steady he's been.

So, um, you know, Sacramento, once Fox was going to do the extension, they were stuck and they want to get in front of this now. It would be great if the player wasn't Zach Levine that they were getting back. Some of you are going to think I'm nuts. Some of you are going to see the scoring, the first step, which is incredible, the three-point shooting, how steady he's been.

He's been healthy this year, and you like him. That's fine. I don't. I think he's a losing player, and I'm not going to move off of that. I think there's tons of evidence in my favor, but he's probably going to score like 48 one night, and then people are going to tell me that he's awesome. I think Sacramento was stuck, but

He's been healthy this year, and you like him. That's fine. I don't. I think he's a losing player, and I'm not going to move off of that. I think there's tons of evidence in my favor, but he's probably going to score like 48 one night, and then people are going to tell me that he's awesome. I think Sacramento was stuck, but

the saddest thing I think out of all of this is just Sacramento's window of, of like, look at what Sacramento's doing. Like they're doing a good job, but putting together a really nice starting five. And then maybe a couple of years ago, when you look at a really high seating in the West, it's like, well, they were the healthiest unit. Their top five played this percentage of possible minutes.

the saddest thing I think out of all of this is just Sacramento's window of, of like, look at what Sacramento's doing. Like they're doing a good job, but putting together a really nice starting five. And then maybe a couple of years ago, when you look at a really high seating in the West, it's like, well, they were the healthiest unit. Their top five played this percentage of possible minutes.

Like it's off the charts, incredible health luck. Um, but good for them, you know? And now, uh, It just feels like they're moving further and further away from all that stuff. I don't have a problem with the DeRozan thing at all.

Like it's off the charts, incredible health luck. Um, but good for them, you know? And now, uh, It just feels like they're moving further and further away from all that stuff. I don't have a problem with the DeRozan thing at all.

I've said numerous times, if you want to close a game with Harrison Barnes or DeMar DeRozan, although I really do like some of the Harrison Barnes stuff, believe it or not, with San Antonio. Do you want to close with DeRozan with the four other guys, with Sabonis, with Keegan, with Monk, and with Fox? Or do you want to close with Barnes? Well, no. It makes sense.

I've said numerous times, if you want to close a game with Harrison Barnes or DeMar DeRozan, although I really do like some of the Harrison Barnes stuff, believe it or not, with San Antonio. Do you want to close with DeRozan with the four other guys, with Sabonis, with Keegan, with Monk, and with Fox? Or do you want to close with Barnes? Well, no. It makes sense.

It makes sense to have DeRozan in there. Maybe DeRozan, despite getting up there in age, a bit of an insurance against something like this. Once they could kind of read the tea leaves on the future with the Aaron Fox. So San Antonio gets somebody real. Uh, they also have to move castle, which I don't think he was even, I don't even think there was any way any of that was even going to happen.

It makes sense to have DeRozan in there. Maybe DeRozan, despite getting up there in age, a bit of an insurance against something like this. Once they could kind of read the tea leaves on the future with the Aaron Fox. So San Antonio gets somebody real. Uh, they also have to move castle, which I don't think he was even, I don't even think there was any way any of that was even going to happen.

Even if a lot of us are probably overrating castle, uh, today, but that's what we do with guys who are 40 plus games into their rookie season or NBA career. In this case, same thing, redundant, but, didn't profile as like this massive offensive guy.

Even if a lot of us are probably overrating castle, uh, today, but that's what we do with guys who are 40 plus games into their rookie season or NBA career. In this case, same thing, redundant, but, didn't profile as like this massive offensive guy.

And I think from what my expectations were from him, from what I see, saw offensively of him at Yukon to where he's at now, like, I think it's, it's really nice. And it's not a guy that you want to be in business or trading on top of being in the rookie contract, everything else. So I just liked Aaron Fox. And sometimes I just want to be allowed to say, I like a player.

And I think from what my expectations were from him, from what I see, saw offensively of him at Yukon to where he's at now, like, I think it's, it's really nice. And it's not a guy that you want to be in business or trading on top of being in the rookie contract, everything else. So I just liked Aaron Fox. And sometimes I just want to be allowed to say, I like a player.

So yeah, he's not a bunch of other guys. And yeah, he's not perfect. And two years ago was filthy how nice he was. And there's some numbers that you could go through and be like, well, is he ever going to be that guy again?

So yeah, he's not a bunch of other guys. And yeah, he's not perfect. And two years ago was filthy how nice he was. And there's some numbers that you could go through and be like, well, is he ever going to be that guy again?

My guess would be maybe not the counting stats, but the efficiency and the fact that you have some defensive options, including the best defensive option in the NBA and Wemba Nyama behind him. So I think it does a lot of things with San Antonio where even though Chris Paul's been so good at dictating a lot of the stuff they can do, I mean, there's only so much tread in the tire there.

My guess would be maybe not the counting stats, but the efficiency and the fact that you have some defensive options, including the best defensive option in the NBA and Wemba Nyama behind him. So I think it does a lot of things with San Antonio where even though Chris Paul's been so good at dictating a lot of the stuff they can do, I mean, there's only so much tread in the tire there.

He can be limited at times offensively. So now you're adding in somebody who De'Aaron Fox, like when he's going, he's just really, really tough to deal with. And you have... financial commitment coming up here, but waiting around for perfect, waiting around for the person that's better than De'Aaron Fox, hoping that some guy in his 30s is going to want to play in San Antonio with Wemba Nyama.

He can be limited at times offensively. So now you're adding in somebody who De'Aaron Fox, like when he's going, he's just really, really tough to deal with. And you have... financial commitment coming up here, but waiting around for perfect, waiting around for the person that's better than De'Aaron Fox, hoping that some guy in his 30s is going to want to play in San Antonio with Wemba Nyama.

Does that even make sense for them? So I like the trade. Bulls fans, though, probably looking at this collective group and saying, now after trading DeRozan, Caruso, and Levine, that's zero first round picks coming back. Technically, they do get control of their own back, but it's not like adding an extra first. So I like the trade for San Antonio. I understand it for Sacramento.

Does that even make sense for them? So I like the trade. Bulls fans, though, probably looking at this collective group and saying, now after trading DeRozan, Caruso, and Levine, that's zero first round picks coming back. Technically, they do get control of their own back, but it's not like adding an extra first. So I like the trade for San Antonio. I understand it for Sacramento.

PJ's got a knee issue. Gafford missed a game recently, not that big of a deal. Lively's out indefinitely with a stress fracture. So maybe it works or maybe they never get fully healthy and we can't judge Dallas on this trade anyway. I think all of those possibilities are on the table at this point. I also worry a little bit about the dynamic of Kyrie as the true one. I think he loves the role.

PJ's got a knee issue. Gafford missed a game recently, not that big of a deal. Lively's out indefinitely with a stress fracture. So maybe it works or maybe they never get fully healthy and we can't judge Dallas on this trade anyway. I think all of those possibilities are on the table at this point. I also worry a little bit about the dynamic of Kyrie as the true one. I think he loves the role.

They're picking a guy that I don't like, and then they're Chicago. And all you really need to understand here, if that's what Chicago got back, that's how bad the market was for Levine. So I think the market backs my feelings about the player. I want to bring in Cerruti here really quick.

They're picking a guy that I don't like, and then they're Chicago. And all you really need to understand here, if that's what Chicago got back, that's how bad the market was for Levine. So I think the market backs my feelings about the player. I want to bring in Cerruti here really quick.

because it's one final exercise in this Luca thing, which I could probably do a Wednesday pod on it too, but we will not do that. We'll be back to football Superbowl week. Did not expect to do a Monday NBA podcast, by the way, the week leading up to it. So as I've said, and it feels like it's been backed up, it's just,

because it's one final exercise in this Luca thing, which I could probably do a Wednesday pod on it too, but we will not do that. We'll be back to football Superbowl week. Did not expect to do a Monday NBA podcast, by the way, the week leading up to it. So as I've said, and it feels like it's been backed up, it's just,

Nico Harrison wanted Anthony Davis so badly, he didn't even want to know who else was available. So if we did the just hypothetical here, like where do we draw the line? Like are there no's? Are there no's where Nico calls the other team and offers Luca for that other team's best guy? How many teams are actually saying no?

Nico Harrison wanted Anthony Davis so badly, he didn't even want to know who else was available. So if we did the just hypothetical here, like where do we draw the line? Like are there no's? Are there no's where Nico calls the other team and offers Luca for that other team's best guy? How many teams are actually saying no?

Which is again why I think this entire thing was ridiculous to do it this way, to have a market of one team. maybe Nico didn't want to get a yes from some of those other teams and have to have the internal debate of this guy over clearly one of his favorite players in the league in Anthony Davis. So what do we got, Cerruti?

Which is again why I think this entire thing was ridiculous to do it this way, to have a market of one team. maybe Nico didn't want to get a yes from some of those other teams and have to have the internal debate of this guy over clearly one of his favorite players in the league in Anthony Davis. So what do we got, Cerruti?

I think it's a no, okay, because it's a health thing. And even though I don't think there's a good day, I've thought SGA's better than Luka, but he's the next guy on the list, right? So SGA's healthier. And that group. You would be disrupting this group, and when they get Chet back, we think they can win an NBA title with that group right now. And so...

I think it's a no, okay, because it's a health thing. And even though I don't think there's a good day, I've thought SGA's better than Luka, but he's the next guy on the list, right? So SGA's healthier. And that group. You would be disrupting this group, and when they get Chet back, we think they can win an NBA title with that group right now. And so...

Then you're thinking about Luka and you're going, what am I bringing in? These guys are trading. I'm like, what's the stuff that I don't know about Luka? And meanwhile, like this Thunder team acts like a high school team. They seem like they love each other.

Then you're thinking about Luka and you're going, what am I bringing in? These guys are trading. I'm like, what's the stuff that I don't know about Luka? And meanwhile, like this Thunder team acts like a high school team. They seem like they love each other.

I've spent, what, three different segments this season just raving about the personality of this team and the buy-in and everybody understanding. So I think it's a no-no. only because there's a disruption part of that that you're not sure about. You can't, if you're Presti, you couldn't say, hey, if we bring Luke in, all of it's fine. It's awesome. He picks right back up.

I've spent, what, three different segments this season just raving about the personality of this team and the buy-in and everybody understanding. So I think it's a no-no. only because there's a disruption part of that that you're not sure about. You can't, if you're Presti, you couldn't say, hey, if we bring Luke in, all of it's fine. It's awesome. He picks right back up.

even though I believe Luke is the better player and the health part of it. That's why I think it's a no. Do you disagree?

even though I believe Luke is the better player and the health part of it. That's why I think it's a no. Do you disagree?

Yeah, that's a different conversation because then you can also look at it from the Dallas side of like all of these teams that I can't believe they didn't reach out to. And you're like, well, right. But Dallas clearly didn't want to just reset and rebuild and then picks and they've got to move these other guys and all this stuff.

Yeah, that's a different conversation because then you can also look at it from the Dallas side of like all of these teams that I can't believe they didn't reach out to. And you're like, well, right. But Dallas clearly didn't want to just reset and rebuild and then picks and they've got to move these other guys and all this stuff.

Like they were not in the deal of like, let's get a marginal player and some contract filler. But now we have control of your next four drafts. What I would say is get a swap in there. Get a swap. Maybe get a second first if you're trading somebody who, when we heard it, no one believed that it was actually true. So ask for a swap.

Like they were not in the deal of like, let's get a marginal player and some contract filler. But now we have control of your next four drafts. What I would say is get a swap in there. Get a swap. Maybe get a second first if you're trading somebody who, when we heard it, no one believed that it was actually true. So ask for a swap.

I just would love the idea that Palenka's like, no, sorry, can't do a swap.

I just would love the idea that Palenka's like, no, sorry, can't do a swap.

So I, I think about it all the time. Like just the hypothetical, if you had that job and the other guys like, all right, we're still, you can have Luca, but I need, and I, you know, you say no at first, you try to figure out like where the middle is. And then he's like, okay, well I need the two first. Sorry. Okay. Well, when I say no, like you're not getting Luca. Yeah. No, no problem with that.

So I, I think about it all the time. Like just the hypothetical, if you had that job and the other guys like, all right, we're still, you can have Luca, but I need, and I, you know, you say no at first, you try to figure out like where the middle is. And then he's like, okay, well I need the two first. Sorry. Okay. Well, when I say no, like you're not getting Luca. Yeah. No, no problem with that.

I think he likes being mic'd up. I think he likes it kind of being his team, despite staying all the right things and playing some really good basketball and being drama-free here for two years. But The weird part about Kyrie's playoff run last year is that when it was great, it was just universally praised as great, and when it was bad, it didn't really matter because Luka was there.

I think he likes being mic'd up. I think he likes it kind of being his team, despite staying all the right things and playing some really good basketball and being drama-free here for two years. But The weird part about Kyrie's playoff run last year is that when it was great, it was just universally praised as great, and when it was bad, it didn't really matter because Luka was there.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, credit to Palenka, man. Or he's like, yeah, so who? I'm not bidding against anybody and you're thanking me for keeping a secret?

I mean, credit to Palenka, man. Or he's like, yeah, so who? I'm not bidding against anybody and you're thanking me for keeping a secret?

I think I'm an incredibly loyal friend, but if you're friends with somebody in the NBA and you're worried about their feelings, then you shouldn't have the job.

I think I'm an incredibly loyal friend, but if you're friends with somebody in the NBA and you're worried about their feelings, then you shouldn't have the job.

I think those guys all understand that ultimately they're all competing. There's guys that are really good friends with each other, guys that can't stand each other, but you can't. I don't think you... When you're given the... The honor, really. I mean, it's like you're this elected official, but you're not elected. And all of the millions of people care about the outcome of these games.

I think those guys all understand that ultimately they're all competing. There's guys that are really good friends with each other, guys that can't stand each other, but you can't. I don't think you... When you're given the... The honor, really. I mean, it's like you're this elected official, but you're not elected. And all of the millions of people care about the outcome of these games.

Like you owe it to them to do the best and at times the most ruthless version of the job.

Like you owe it to them to do the best and at times the most ruthless version of the job.

It's worth, it is worth repeating as I did in the open, just in case, you know, you're driving around, you could miss it.

It's worth, it is worth repeating as I did in the open, just in case, you know, you're driving around, you could miss it.

people rave about nico okay yeah this is not the gm where there have been guys over the years and there's just not that many of them anymore if i don't even know who like the top of my head who i would think of as like the gm everybody else makes fun of but nico is praised okay and i do wonder like if the of the the mob moving all in one direction like is there any scenario where this dude at the end of it all goes

people rave about nico okay yeah this is not the gm where there have been guys over the years and there's just not that many of them anymore if i don't even know who like the top of my head who i would think of as like the gm everybody else makes fun of but nico is praised okay and i do wonder like if the of the the mob moving all in one direction like is there any scenario where this dude at the end of it all goes

I was right. I still can't imagine only calling one team and then being like, I'm psyched that Palenka kept us quiet.

I was right. I still can't imagine only calling one team and then being like, I'm psyched that Palenka kept us quiet.

That wasn't great. That was a long time ago. Different job. So, all right. Look, I still can't stop talking about the trade. I've done like four segments on it already. So let's go back to it.

That wasn't great. That was a long time ago. Different job. So, all right. Look, I still can't stop talking about the trade. I've done like four segments on it already. So let's go back to it.

That one might be closer to a yes. Only because the irony of the Giannis-Luca thing is that Giannis has been somebody now for like two plus years. Where others are going to be like, watch out for that one. like pay attention to what's going on there. Oh, the reason they did the Dame deal is because of him. And like, you know, ownership didn't want it. You're just like, okay.

That one might be closer to a yes. Only because the irony of the Giannis-Luca thing is that Giannis has been somebody now for like two plus years. Where others are going to be like, watch out for that one. like pay attention to what's going on there. Oh, the reason they did the Dame deal is because of him. And like, you know, ownership didn't want it. You're just like, okay.

All of the things that have been theorized, like behind the scenes with Giannis, that just happened with Luca. So, and we've never, we had never heard any of those things. So it feels like a bit like the Tatum one. I don't know if Tatum's next. So it might be a no. Cause he's their guy. But would you be trading Giannis uncertainty for Lucas certainty?

All of the things that have been theorized, like behind the scenes with Giannis, that just happened with Luca. So, and we've never, we had never heard any of those things. So it feels like a bit like the Tatum one. I don't know if Tatum's next. So it might be a no. Cause he's their guy. But would you be trading Giannis uncertainty for Lucas certainty?

It would depend solely on like, you know, how a conversation you'd have to be like, we have to make sure that we're going to be able to sign him. Is he going to be happy here? Is he going to go like, I don't want anything to do with this place.

It would depend solely on like, you know, how a conversation you'd have to be like, we have to make sure that we're going to be able to sign him. Is he going to be happy here? Is he going to go like, I don't want anything to do with this place.

Where Kyrie could have bad stretches and big playoff moments that just kind of became hidden because he was the two and not the one, and the one gets... the brunt of all that criticism. When you're the one and your team doesn't win in the playoffs in the NBA, it's like, oh, what's wrong with this guy? And Kyrie's able to avoid a lot of that stuff because Luka was there. Now he won't.

Where Kyrie could have bad stretches and big playoff moments that just kind of became hidden because he was the two and not the one, and the one gets... the brunt of all that criticism. When you're the one and your team doesn't win in the playoffs in the NBA, it's like, oh, what's wrong with this guy? And Kyrie's able to avoid a lot of that stuff because Luka was there. Now he won't.

If it's a yes, if, if it's a yes, that Luca would be there long-term, then I think Milwaukee would do it.

If it's a yes, if, if it's a yes, that Luca would be there long-term, then I think Milwaukee would do it.

Oh, that's different, then. That's different. I'm dealing with uncertainty and made-up certainty. It might be made-up uncertainty, too.

Oh, that's different, then. That's different. I'm dealing with uncertainty and made-up certainty. It might be made-up uncertainty, too.

Because they just won, and he plays every game, and... like this is the most fun I've ever had watching Tatum. I mean, what he was doing last night, granted that Sixers team super beat up, but they had to come back from 26 down. I mean, he's playing point guard. Nobody really seems that it doesn't get like talked about enough nationally that he's basically their point guard.

Because they just won, and he plays every game, and... like this is the most fun I've ever had watching Tatum. I mean, what he was doing last night, granted that Sixers team super beat up, but they had to come back from 26 down. I mean, he's playing point guard. Nobody really seems that it doesn't get like talked about enough nationally that he's basically their point guard.

And then he's playing center defensively against Dallas. Um, you don't have to deal with any of the conditioning injury stuff. You don't have to deal with any of those things and you just want it with your guy. So Luca is the better player. Um, But I think they'd say no. I think Ainge would have said yes. I think Ainge would have gone, thanks for the championship. Fuck it.

And then he's playing center defensively against Dallas. Um, you don't have to deal with any of the conditioning injury stuff. You don't have to deal with any of those things and you just want it with your guy. So Luca is the better player. Um, But I think they'd say no. I think Ainge would have said yes. I think Ainge would have gone, thanks for the championship. Fuck it.

Because Luka's a better player.

Because Luka's a better player.

We're just having fun here. We don't have to worry about trade machine grade. I would do it if I were in Minnesota. Wouldn't have to think very hard about it. I think I would, too. I think I would, too. I don't know. There's many people that like Ann as much as me, and I don't even have to think about it.

We're just having fun here. We don't have to worry about trade machine grade. I would do it if I were in Minnesota. Wouldn't have to think very hard about it. I think I would, too. I think I would, too. I don't know. There's many people that like Ann as much as me, and I don't even have to think about it.

I have another teammate that can't stand me.

I have another teammate that can't stand me.

Yeah, I would say whatever you guys want to do. Would you do Paolo and Suggs and then figure out the rest?

Yeah, I would say whatever you guys want to do. Would you do Paolo and Suggs and then figure out the rest?

What if it was Franz and Paolo?

What if it was Franz and Paolo?

Like, all right, I know you guys like centers. Can we interest you in a little Wendell action? Goga?

Like, all right, I know you guys like centers. Can we interest you in a little Wendell action? Goga?

And to be honest with you, it's not going to be because AD can overshadow. Kyrie is the focus of attention here because AD is kind of the same way. As great as he is, he's a deferential personality. He probably works better with somebody else who's perceived more as the face of a franchise, a popularity superstar like LeBron James, despite the fact

And to be honest with you, it's not going to be because AD can overshadow. Kyrie is the focus of attention here because AD is kind of the same way. As great as he is, he's a deferential personality. He probably works better with somebody else who's perceived more as the face of a franchise, a popularity superstar like LeBron James, despite the fact

It's basically like the... Would Knicks fans do Brunson and Cat? Like if the money worked? Brunson and Cat and then you get Luka. How would you not? Oh, I don't know. I think Knicks fans love this fucking team.

It's basically like the... Would Knicks fans do Brunson and Cat? Like if the money worked? Brunson and Cat and then you get Luka. How would you not? Oh, I don't know. I think Knicks fans love this fucking team.

The original one's unbelievable. I could watch those guys. I was mad I ran out of videos from those guys. I wanted more. You know what my new one is? I was on Instagram. Cool. And... There was this guy that was just posting his VR chat visits to everybody. I got caught in like eight or nine of those. It was unbelievable. All right, anyway, back to reality.

The original one's unbelievable. I could watch those guys. I was mad I ran out of videos from those guys. I wanted more. You know what my new one is? I was on Instagram. Cool. And... There was this guy that was just posting his VR chat visits to everybody. I got caught in like eight or nine of those. It was unbelievable. All right, anyway, back to reality.

So the no's are what? So the no's are Wemby, Jokic. SGA. SGA. That's like the hard no's. I still think SGA is I got to think about it. No. Jokic is a hard no. Wemby's a hard no just because of the possibility and where you're at in the timeline and all that kind of stuff.

So the no's are what? So the no's are Wemby, Jokic. SGA. SGA. That's like the hard no's. I still think SGA is I got to think about it. No. Jokic is a hard no. Wemby's a hard no just because of the possibility and where you're at in the timeline and all that kind of stuff.

I think we did some good work there.

I think we did some good work there.

He covers the Lakers. I see him every time I go to the games there. I've seen him around LA for a while. He does a great job on the NBA. Jovan Buha joins us from The Athletic, who covers, as I said, the Lakers. Again, Buha's block, his podcast, which I was checking out clips of this morning. So Saturday night, all of us, are you serious? This is happening. So like normally I would ask why?

He covers the Lakers. I see him every time I go to the games there. I've seen him around LA for a while. He does a great job on the NBA. Jovan Buha joins us from The Athletic, who covers, as I said, the Lakers. Again, Buha's block, his podcast, which I was checking out clips of this morning. So Saturday night, all of us, are you serious? This is happening. So like normally I would ask why?

Well, that's an easy yes. It's Luca. How? I think we know those pieces, but I'll ask more. Is there anything that you've been able to, learn, gather like a piece that you've put together since late Saturday night till today that gives you a better understanding of this deal?

Well, that's an easy yes. It's Luca. How? I think we know those pieces, but I'll ask more. Is there anything that you've been able to, learn, gather like a piece that you've put together since late Saturday night till today that gives you a better understanding of this deal?

Look, the last two years, Anthony Davis was the better basketball player between the two guys. For the Lakers, it's a franchise reset, and it should be. Who cares about 2025? I don't like their defense on the perimeter right now. Who cares? Because once Luka becomes available to you, you trade for Luka, and you worry about the rest of it later.

Look, the last two years, Anthony Davis was the better basketball player between the two guys. For the Lakers, it's a franchise reset, and it should be. Who cares about 2025? I don't like their defense on the perimeter right now. Who cares? Because once Luka becomes available to you, you trade for Luka, and you worry about the rest of it later.

Maybe that's the most interesting part of this because I've spent so much time on the Mavs thing. It's pretty clear. It resets 2025. It probably changes what you're capable of doing. They've been playing better, but it's just a reminder that when somebody like this becomes available, none of your 2025 plans mean anything. And it's, it's a shift into whatever the Luca phase is.

Maybe that's the most interesting part of this because I've spent so much time on the Mavs thing. It's pretty clear. It resets 2025. It probably changes what you're capable of doing. They've been playing better, but it's just a reminder that when somebody like this becomes available, none of your 2025 plans mean anything. And it's, it's a shift into whatever the Luca phase is.

And maybe there's some other little piece here at the trade deadline, but you know, on the perimeter defensively between LeBron Reeves and Luca, it was like, Oh my God. But it's like, well, you can't, no one would ever go, well, you know what? I'd say yes, but I don't like our perimeter defense. And now we only have Jackson Hayes at center. So this doesn't make basketball sense right now.

And maybe there's some other little piece here at the trade deadline, but you know, on the perimeter defensively between LeBron Reeves and Luca, it was like, Oh my God. But it's like, well, you can't, no one would ever go, well, you know what? I'd say yes, but I don't like our perimeter defense. And now we only have Jackson Hayes at center. So this doesn't make basketball sense right now.

It speaks to just hit the reset button because you would hope, to get one of these. Granted, Lakers is a little bit different with their history, but as I've said earlier, big franchises could go 25, 30 years and never get somebody like this, and they just got it.

It speaks to just hit the reset button because you would hope, to get one of these. Granted, Lakers is a little bit different with their history, but as I've said earlier, big franchises could go 25, 30 years and never get somebody like this, and they just got it.

You know, we talked about it on Saturday a little bit. I've seen it discussed like, oh, well, you know, LeBron is so great on the ball, which is true. I mean, he's, he's brilliant. And it's one of my favorite things about his entire career.

You know, we talked about it on Saturday a little bit. I've seen it discussed like, oh, well, you know, LeBron is so great on the ball, which is true. I mean, he's, he's brilliant. And it's one of my favorite things about his entire career.

And it's kind of funny where it's like, well, some of these stupid podcasts, it'll be like, well, he doesn't actually have the scoring mentality of like, whatever. You're like, dude, whatever, you know, just the guy's a brilliant, brilliant basketball player. and he's put up plenty of scoring numbers.

And it's kind of funny where it's like, well, some of these stupid podcasts, it'll be like, well, he doesn't actually have the scoring mentality of like, whatever. You're like, dude, whatever, you know, just the guy's a brilliant, brilliant basketball player. and he's put up plenty of scoring numbers.

It would tell you he's a scorer, but he's just such a terrific passer and his vision and all these different things. Like that's the bonus on top of everything else. All right. But with Luca now at this phase, like I think if LeBron stays for a couple more years, now granted, like the other day, I think it was last month. They were like, how much longer could you play?

It would tell you he's a scorer, but he's just such a terrific passer and his vision and all these different things. Like that's the bonus on top of everything else. All right. But with Luca now at this phase, like I think if LeBron stays for a couple more years, now granted, like the other day, I think it was last month. They were like, how much longer could you play?

And he was like at a high level. It was like five to seven years. I mean, it was insane, but whatever. I would expect him to answer it that way. So if he looks at his window with the Lakers and says, okay, this actually makes a little bit more sense.

And he was like at a high level. It was like five to seven years. I mean, it was insane, but whatever. I would expect him to answer it that way. So if he looks at his window with the Lakers and says, okay, this actually makes a little bit more sense.

I think this is, this is actually a really good basketball fit now for him with where he's at in his career because like Austin Reeves has been running point guard even if I probably like

I think this is, this is actually a really good basketball fit now for him with where he's at in his career because like Austin Reeves has been running point guard even if I probably like

the LeBron stuff now the Knicks thing was a little different because OG hurts his foot so he's out so now Josh Hart is on LeBron LeBron was brilliant his execution late in that game and Hart was also physically just overmatched on top of everything else so there's all these LeBron on ball initiating the offense possessions that I love but it was just a lot to ask of him to do that at this stage of his career so that's why Reeves is doing it so much so I do think that there's a basketball fit

the LeBron stuff now the Knicks thing was a little different because OG hurts his foot so he's out so now Josh Hart is on LeBron LeBron was brilliant his execution late in that game and Hart was also physically just overmatched on top of everything else so there's all these LeBron on ball initiating the offense possessions that I love but it was just a lot to ask of him to do that at this stage of his career so that's why Reeves is doing it so much so I do think that there's a basketball fit

That makes way more sense as opposed to like LeBron and Luka in his prime. So there's another part of the LeBron future that I'm going to ask after that. But from like the basketball standpoint, I know it's an incomplete roster and everything, but would you agree that it actually is an assist to him as opposed to being redundant early in his career?

That makes way more sense as opposed to like LeBron and Luka in his prime. So there's another part of the LeBron future that I'm going to ask after that. But from like the basketball standpoint, I know it's an incomplete roster and everything, but would you agree that it actually is an assist to him as opposed to being redundant early in his career?

Some have said the Lakers got sick of LeBron and Clutch.

Some have said the Lakers got sick of LeBron and Clutch.

I'll hear you out. But, you know, you were so sick of Clutch and LeBron that, what, you gave LeBron a two-year, $100 million extension with a player option? You drafted his son. You hired another new coach, this time it being J.J. Redick. And I don't want to be dismissive of J.J. by saying, oh, you hired his podcast co-host, because I love the J.J. Redick hire. And again, I'm biased. I like J.J.

I'll hear you out. But, you know, you were so sick of Clutch and LeBron that, what, you gave LeBron a two-year, $100 million extension with a player option? You drafted his son. You hired another new coach, this time it being J.J. Redick. And I don't want to be dismissive of J.J. by saying, oh, you hired his podcast co-host, because I love the J.J. Redick hire. And again, I'm biased. I like J.J.

Okay, two LeBron questions there. is he still on the Lakers at the end of the week? Yes.

Okay, two LeBron questions there. is he still on the Lakers at the end of the week? Yes.

Okay. Do you think that he opts out and then wants to do an extension with the Lakers this summer. I do.

Okay. Do you think that he opts out and then wants to do an extension with the Lakers this summer. I do.

Okay. I touched on this in the open too, where I heard it said, whether it was, you know, in, in reports or people talking about it on shows or just phone calls that you're making, it's like, oh, the Lakers, you know, starting to get sick of this whole clutch thing. And my point would be like, well, yeah, they got sick of it to get Luca. Like this is not, I don't think that that's,

Okay. I touched on this in the open too, where I heard it said, whether it was, you know, in, in reports or people talking about it on shows or just phone calls that you're making, it's like, oh, the Lakers, you know, starting to get sick of this whole clutch thing. And my point would be like, well, yeah, they got sick of it to get Luca. Like this is not, I don't think that that's,

the time like you can tell me that they're tired of clutch this is not a great example to show that they now have this backbone where they're going to push back against all of this stuff and that's why they traded Anthony Davis they traded Anthony Davis because they just got Luka fucking Doncic right but what is What is accurate about that dynamic, the angst that goes along with it?

the time like you can tell me that they're tired of clutch this is not a great example to show that they now have this backbone where they're going to push back against all of this stuff and that's why they traded Anthony Davis they traded Anthony Davis because they just got Luka fucking Doncic right but what is What is accurate about that dynamic, the angst that goes along with it?

Redick. But, Recent history tells us you weren't that sick of them. So this week you got sick of them? You got sick of AD? You got sick of LeBron? You're going to take some power back? No. You can say those things to people and be like, ah, you know, it's starting to get a little old here inside the building. No, Luka was available, and that's why you did this.

Redick. But, Recent history tells us you weren't that sick of them. So this week you got sick of them? You got sick of AD? You got sick of LeBron? You're going to take some power back? No. You can say those things to people and be like, ah, you know, it's starting to get a little old here inside the building. No, Luka was available, and that's why you did this.

Because, you know, some people are kind of going back and replaying it of like, well, when Anthony Davis asked for help and then, you know, that's LeBron 101. And then this trade deadline, you know, all the passive aggressive stuff that you know that you're signing up for here, which I think ultimately is like really easy to ignore and super pointless. And we make a big deal out of it.

Because, you know, some people are kind of going back and replaying it of like, well, when Anthony Davis asked for help and then, you know, that's LeBron 101. And then this trade deadline, you know, all the passive aggressive stuff that you know that you're signing up for here, which I think ultimately is like really easy to ignore and super pointless. And we make a big deal out of it.

I think the people that do it for a living are like, oh, cool. You want us to trade for a better player? Awesome. Thank you. Awesome. Yeah. Like, we'll see you with 710 for tip. What do you think is fair about that dynamic?

I think the people that do it for a living are like, oh, cool. You want us to trade for a better player? Awesome. Thank you. Awesome. Yeah. Like, we'll see you with 710 for tip. What do you think is fair about that dynamic?

Because play it out on the other side. What if everybody got along? What if the Lakers are the front office and ownership and everybody was like, we love Clutch. It's awesome. No complaints. You would have turned this offer down? Of course not. You would have traded for Luke because you can't believe Luke is available and available only to you. Why would Dallas do this? sure.

Because play it out on the other side. What if everybody got along? What if the Lakers are the front office and ownership and everybody was like, we love Clutch. It's awesome. No complaints. You would have turned this offer down? Of course not. You would have traded for Luke because you can't believe Luke is available and available only to you. Why would Dallas do this? sure.

Yeah, that's why I chuckled. And we don't need to stay on that because we're talking about somebody in high school where I think it's just entirely different. Once you have an NBA jersey on, you're getting a contract, you're part of the conversation now, and we're going to talk about it. But I did think after that Philly disaster, it was nice to see JJ Redick get him out there from the MSG game.

Yeah, that's why I chuckled. And we don't need to stay on that because we're talking about somebody in high school where I think it's just entirely different. Once you have an NBA jersey on, you're getting a contract, you're part of the conversation now, and we're going to talk about it. But I did think after that Philly disaster, it was nice to see JJ Redick get him out there from the MSG game.

I thought it was really smart by Redick to just do it so quickly. Like, hey, get another game. They had taken control. It was really a phenomenal Laker performance from start to finish, their defense and everything, and the crowd's chanting. And I think other coaches would just be defiant, be like, oh, you're going to make a mockery of this whole thing. Like you're chaining Bronny.

I thought it was really smart by Redick to just do it so quickly. Like, hey, get another game. They had taken control. It was really a phenomenal Laker performance from start to finish, their defense and everything, and the crowd's chanting. And I think other coaches would just be defiant, be like, oh, you're going to make a mockery of this whole thing. Like you're chaining Bronny.

We're not going to put him in. And instead he puts him in. And again, the basketball part of it's fairly irrelevant, um, because he probably not an NBA player right now. All right. That's all I want to do on that. So I don't even want any followup to any of that stuff. Let's stay in the AD thing. Cause you know that he wants to play power forward. Um,

We're not going to put him in. And instead he puts him in. And again, the basketball part of it's fairly irrelevant, um, because he probably not an NBA player right now. All right. That's all I want to do on that. So I don't even want any followup to any of that stuff. Let's stay in the AD thing. Cause you know that he wants to play power forward. Um,

And it's funny because in theory now with the roster, with Dallas, granted it's dependent upon Gaffer and what Lively's availability could be if he's even going to be available towards the end of the year. that there are centers on paper that he should be playing with.

And it's funny because in theory now with the roster, with Dallas, granted it's dependent upon Gaffer and what Lively's availability could be if he's even going to be available towards the end of the year. that there are centers on paper that he should be playing with.

My guess would be Dallas and Jason Kidd will close with him at center the same way the Lakers did when they told him he wasn't really the center, but it just made way more sense. And if you look at that heat finals, when they won it five years ago, I was going through the minutes this morning. LeBron led the team in minutes of 236. Davis played 229.

My guess would be Dallas and Jason Kidd will close with him at center the same way the Lakers did when they told him he wasn't really the center, but it just made way more sense. And if you look at that heat finals, when they won it five years ago, I was going through the minutes this morning. LeBron led the team in minutes of 236. Davis played 229.

The only other big that's on the radar here is Dwight Howard at 71 minutes in that series in particular. So, I understand his point, and some of it's a bit like I've had these injuries. It's like, dude, you've had injuries. Wherever you want to pretend that you were aligned and how you were introduced and everything, you were around him for years. What is this about when every number tells you?

The only other big that's on the radar here is Dwight Howard at 71 minutes in that series in particular. So, I understand his point, and some of it's a bit like I've had these injuries. It's like, dude, you've had injuries. Wherever you want to pretend that you were aligned and how you were introduced and everything, you were around him for years. What is this about when every number tells you?

And the reality is Dallas is going to close with him at center, I bet, in playoff games, even if they have the options of Lively and Gafford.

And the reality is Dallas is going to close with him at center, I bet, in playoff games, even if they have the options of Lively and Gafford.

Johan, I'm glad that you gave us that timeline because the examples that you're using are really easy to forget, especially if you want to push the idea that they've only gotten what they've wanted. I guess in the Post-Donchich trade stuff that I don't really have a ton of time for is that all of a sudden it's like, this doesn't work anymore.

Johan, I'm glad that you gave us that timeline because the examples that you're using are really easy to forget, especially if you want to push the idea that they've only gotten what they've wanted. I guess in the Post-Donchich trade stuff that I don't really have a ton of time for is that all of a sudden it's like, this doesn't work anymore.

When it's like, dude, you've gave three things in seven months that I can point to that are fairly in Clutch's favor. And it says, this trade has nothing to do with the relationship, is my point.

When it's like, dude, you've gave three things in seven months that I can point to that are fairly in Clutch's favor. And it says, this trade has nothing to do with the relationship, is my point.

We can talk about his conditioning, his injury history. Fine. We can talk about the contract. He was eligible for five years, 348 million super max. He's not eligible for that now that he's been traded. There's a way if you were to opt out after 10 years in, he can make some of that money back. Um, did they maybe offer him less?

We can talk about his conditioning, his injury history. Fine. We can talk about the contract. He was eligible for five years, 348 million super max. He's not eligible for that now that he's been traded. There's a way if you were to opt out after 10 years in, he can make some of that money back. Um, did they maybe offer him less?

Yeah, when I was running through those minutes too, JaVale didn't play. But his numbers, as far as his playoff log, even for that year when they won it, you could point to, well, AD played more because JaVale wasn't available and they were only playing Dwight and all this different stuff.

Yeah, when I was running through those minutes too, JaVale didn't play. But his numbers, as far as his playoff log, even for that year when they won it, you could point to, well, AD played more because JaVale wasn't available and they were only playing Dwight and all this different stuff.

But JaVale was declining minutes as those playoffs kept going the entire time, whether it was health or just the fit and all that stuff. So I think what they'll do is AD will play. He'll be next to a center. Everybody's going to be all smiles. He's going to talk about how awesome the whole thing is.

But JaVale was declining minutes as those playoffs kept going the entire time, whether it was health or just the fit and all that stuff. So I think what they'll do is AD will play. He'll be next to a center. Everybody's going to be all smiles. He's going to talk about how awesome the whole thing is.

And then I can't wait to see him in the playoffs when it's like, all right, here's the six minutes to go group.

And then I can't wait to see him in the playoffs when it's like, all right, here's the six minutes to go group.

like we need more like we need more spacing and we're good enough defensively with just ad depending on this matchup but look dallas with with two guys and ad against joker and and then playing off of gordon because gordon doesn't provide any spacing kind of like what we saw with the cat and rudy dynamic with minnesota like there's there's something there for dallas but i i have to finish with la just because you know that's the perspective that you're giving us here on this um what do you think of this team now for this year

like we need more like we need more spacing and we're good enough defensively with just ad depending on this matchup but look dallas with with two guys and ad against joker and and then playing off of gordon because gordon doesn't provide any spacing kind of like what we saw with the cat and rudy dynamic with minnesota like there's there's something there for dallas but i i have to finish with la just because you know that's the perspective that you're giving us here on this um what do you think of this team now for this year

Did they kick the tires on like, Hey, since we can pay you more than everybody else, could we potentially do some of that kind of stuff? Um, Did Lucas say that he didn't want to sign it? Did he hint at not wanting to be there? Like none of that's really come out. Right? Did new ownership think this contract could be potentially a bad deal? Man, it's not like any of these new owners are broke.

Did they kick the tires on like, Hey, since we can pay you more than everybody else, could we potentially do some of that kind of stuff? Um, Did Lucas say that he didn't want to sign it? Did he hint at not wanting to be there? Like none of that's really come out. Right? Did new ownership think this contract could be potentially a bad deal? Man, it's not like any of these new owners are broke.

Saturday night, not very wild. Back home, laying in bed. Paul catch fire on TV. Excited about it. And then you see the first piece of news start traveling in. Your phone starts blowing up. Is this real? What are you talking about, man? And then you see Shams' tweet that Luka Doncic has been traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.

Saturday night, not very wild. Back home, laying in bed. Paul catch fire on TV. Excited about it. And then you see the first piece of news start traveling in. Your phone starts blowing up. Is this real? What are you talking about, man? And then you see Shams' tweet that Luka Doncic has been traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.

The only reason he was even available is clearly Dallas, Nico Harrison. They had to have a under, I would say, like not understood level of disdain for Luka's entire thing, whether it was a conditioning, injury projections, personality. Like, look, it got pretty rough on the court at times. I can't imagine factoring in how often he complains.

The only reason he was even available is clearly Dallas, Nico Harrison. They had to have a under, I would say, like not understood level of disdain for Luka's entire thing, whether it was a conditioning, injury projections, personality. Like, look, it got pretty rough on the court at times. I can't imagine factoring in how often he complains.

There'd be a reason why you don't want to give a guy a five-year extension when he's arguably at best the second best player in the world. But is there anything that you've uncovered? And it's early here where the Lakers, because everybody does this.

There'd be a reason why you don't want to give a guy a five-year extension when he's arguably at best the second best player in the world. But is there anything that you've uncovered? And it's early here where the Lakers, because everybody does this.

There's all these Pelicans players where other teams would be like, if I can just get that guy into our system and their track record, all these different things. Whether it's a wake-up call to Luke himself and all the motivation he needs, or I think there's another part of it where it's like, maybe it just doesn't matter for this guy and you can worry about that north of 30.

There's all these Pelicans players where other teams would be like, if I can just get that guy into our system and their track record, all these different things. Whether it's a wake-up call to Luke himself and all the motivation he needs, or I think there's another part of it where it's like, maybe it just doesn't matter for this guy and you can worry about that north of 30.

But is there anything you think is interesting that you've uncovered about the preparation of The only reason he was available is because of some of these longer-term concerns.

But is there anything you think is interesting that you've uncovered about the preparation of The only reason he was available is because of some of these longer-term concerns.

And if the first thing you would want to do, like the transition of power from Cuban to the new group, like, yeah, let's get rid of Luka. I can't believe a new ownership group would even sign off on something like this. I still can't believe Nico didn't talk to other teams. I can't believe he brought up that he was worried about other teams loading up for Luka.

And if the first thing you would want to do, like the transition of power from Cuban to the new group, like, yeah, let's get rid of Luka. I can't believe a new ownership group would even sign off on something like this. I still can't believe Nico didn't talk to other teams. I can't believe he brought up that he was worried about other teams loading up for Luka.

I can't either, man. Enjoy, though. It's going to be a lot of fun. If you want to check out more from Jovan, you can check out his work on The Athletic and his podcast, Buha's Block. Thanks, man. Thank you.

I can't either, man. Enjoy, though. It's going to be a lot of fun. If you want to check out more from Jovan, you can check out his work on The Athletic and his podcast, Buha's Block. Thanks, man. Thank you.

Voltron, man, we're back. Fully formed here. You've got Cerruti back from Mexico. Kyle Wargon hanging out in the shadows around the rim. Will Kane style, perhaps. And my name's Ryan. I'm your host. It's LifeAdvice. LifeAdviceRR at gmail.com. Some are surmising that I'm just happy to have Cerruti back. Do you have any statements?

Voltron, man, we're back. Fully formed here. You've got Cerruti back from Mexico. Kyle Wargon hanging out in the shadows around the rim. Will Kane style, perhaps. And my name's Ryan. I'm your host. It's LifeAdvice. LifeAdviceRR at gmail.com. Some are surmising that I'm just happy to have Cerruti back. Do you have any statements?

It's good to have you back. We saved a couple for you. We saved a couple. Oh, good. Okay. You don't want to read these. Calling Teenagers Virgins. Six foot, 230. Huge ass and barrel chest. Player comp, Bruce Brown. I'm 38 from the Maryland, D.C. suburbs. Have two kids. I want to give feedback on a recent discussion about insulting minors. I'm a Commanders fan.

It's good to have you back. We saved a couple for you. We saved a couple. Oh, good. Okay. You don't want to read these. Calling Teenagers Virgins. Six foot, 230. Huge ass and barrel chest. Player comp, Bruce Brown. I'm 38 from the Maryland, D.C. suburbs. Have two kids. I want to give feedback on a recent discussion about insulting minors. I'm a Commanders fan.

Went to Philly for the NFC Championship game. Fans were tough and mean, but fun for the most part. After the game, my friend and I were walking away from the stadium in a large group of mainly Eagles fans. We started getting pushed repeatedly and pretty soon were surrounded by about six 16-year-olds. They were at an age... It's a nightmare. Yeah, where they just went through puberty.

Went to Philly for the NFC Championship game. Fans were tough and mean, but fun for the most part. After the game, my friend and I were walking away from the stadium in a large group of mainly Eagles fans. We started getting pushed repeatedly and pretty soon were surrounded by about six 16-year-olds. They were at an age... It's a nightmare. Yeah, where they just went through puberty.

So we're pushing 5'10". And, uh, so these guys are pushing five, 10 had half grown in mustaches. Yeah. So they're describing a gang of 16 year olds for the most part. They weren't strong, but excited about their new pubes. Oh, the loudest of them grabbed my shirt and got nose to nose with me. I shoved him off and told him to get your virgin hands off of me.

So we're pushing 5'10". And, uh, so these guys are pushing five, 10 had half grown in mustaches. Yeah. So they're describing a gang of 16 year olds for the most part. They weren't strong, but excited about their new pubes. Oh, the loudest of them grabbed my shirt and got nose to nose with me. I shoved him off and told him to get your virgin hands off of me.

And then I told his friends to get ahold of this dork virgin and This sent him into a rage, repeatedly yelling at me that he was not a virgin. At that point, the argument is over. His friends knew it and pulled him away. I will attest that calling an aggressive 16-year-old a virgin is the best thing you can possibly do.

And then I told his friends to get ahold of this dork virgin and This sent him into a rage, repeatedly yelling at me that he was not a virgin. At that point, the argument is over. His friends knew it and pulled him away. I will attest that calling an aggressive 16-year-old a virgin is the best thing you can possibly do.

Six of those dirty guys around you.

Six of those dirty guys around you.

Because if there's one thing that I keep reminding you about, like, think of all of the players, like, you know who the Heat are going after. Let them worry about their cap space that doesn't really work out. Run through the rest of this year. Call other teams. See potentially what could happen this summer. Dallas had to be so sick of him, man. They had to be so sick of him.

Because if there's one thing that I keep reminding you about, like, think of all of the players, like, you know who the Heat are going after. Let them worry about their cap space that doesn't really work out. Run through the rest of this year. Call other teams. See potentially what could happen this summer. Dallas had to be so sick of him, man. They had to be so sick of him.

I think in a road rage incident, you would just start dying laughing. Like you in particular because of you bringing this.

I think in a road rage incident, you would just start dying laughing. Like you in particular because of you bringing this.

Wow, you have that, Kyle?

Wow, you have that, Kyle?

I know. Cause you're so laid back in so many other things too. All right. Well, speaking of conflict, I lived in Wyoming my whole life. That's not the reason. I'm in my 40s, 6'5", 260. Wow. I own a deli slicer and can touch the net. All right.

I know. Cause you're so laid back in so many other things too. All right. Well, speaking of conflict, I lived in Wyoming my whole life. That's not the reason. I'm in my 40s, 6'5", 260. Wow. I own a deli slicer and can touch the net. All right.

So we're working on it. I like it. Keep us updated. On a recent ski trip with my family, we found ourselves waiting in line with a large group of people. I started helping my eight-year-old daughter get a few things organized. I accidentally bumped into a guy standing nearby and knocked his gear over. Watch what you're doing, virgin, I heard from behind me.

So we're working on it. I like it. Keep us updated. On a recent ski trip with my family, we found ourselves waiting in line with a large group of people. I started helping my eight-year-old daughter get a few things organized. I accidentally bumped into a guy standing nearby and knocked his gear over. Watch what you're doing, virgin, I heard from behind me.

I told him I was sorry, but he could settle down with the virgin stuff. I gestured toward my daughter and told him that my daughter was proof that I've had sex at least once. He responded that she must be adopted because there was no way any woman female would let me touch her. Oh, man. By this point, I was taking off my watch.

I told him I was sorry, but he could settle down with the virgin stuff. I gestured toward my daughter and told him that my daughter was proof that I've had sex at least once. He responded that she must be adopted because there was no way any woman female would let me touch her. Oh, man. By this point, I was taking off my watch.

Through the red mist of my rage, a glimmer of recognition shone through. Could it be? Was this guy a fellow Russillo fan? I knew that I had to test the theory with a reference, and only a true Russillo fan would understand. That's big talk coming from a guy with shamit face, I said to him with a knowing look in my eye.

Through the red mist of my rage, a glimmer of recognition shone through. Could it be? Was this guy a fellow Russillo fan? I knew that I had to test the theory with a reference, and only a true Russillo fan would understand. That's big talk coming from a guy with shamit face, I said to him with a knowing look in my eye.

The instantaneous connection we had in that moment as our solo fans melted away any hostility between us. He said we were cool. We could keep it moving. I said it was a simple misunderstanding. We should just charge it to the game. We had a laugh and parted in good terms. Thank you for solo. Thank you for solo show. You're solving problems, helping dudes find common ground.

The instantaneous connection we had in that moment as our solo fans melted away any hostility between us. He said we were cool. We could keep it moving. I said it was a simple misunderstanding. We should just charge it to the game. We had a laugh and parted in good terms. Thank you for solo. Thank you for solo show. You're solving problems, helping dudes find common ground.

I don't think that's necessarily real, but I hope it's real. the deli slicer and the charger to the game thing makes me think it might not be. Yeah. Okay. Uh, let's do two quick ones. Basketball comp, Lou door, six foot, 200 pound, Ludor with no three-pointer, but I'm a menace on the defensive end and will drive through your chest. Sounds like you're terrible to play with.

I don't think that's necessarily real, but I hope it's real. the deli slicer and the charger to the game thing makes me think it might not be. Yeah. Okay. Uh, let's do two quick ones. Basketball comp, Lou door, six foot, 200 pound, Ludor with no three-pointer, but I'm a menace on the defensive end and will drive through your chest. Sounds like you're terrible to play with.

This might be a little touchy for you guys, but I have an interesting dilemma. For the past month or two, there's been a special needs guy that has started coming to my gym. He gets dropped off. He's typically there for an hour and a half, then waits outside to get picked up. The problem is that he spends his entire time on his iPad in the locker room, never comes close to a dumbbell or treadmill.

This might be a little touchy for you guys, but I have an interesting dilemma. For the past month or two, there's been a special needs guy that has started coming to my gym. He gets dropped off. He's typically there for an hour and a half, then waits outside to get picked up. The problem is that he spends his entire time on his iPad in the locker room, never comes close to a dumbbell or treadmill.

He looks to be in his mid to late 20s and is definitely overweight. Should I continue to do nothing or should I approach him and offer to walk the treadmill with him? Wow, what a great guy this is. Yeah. Without his parents' supervision, this is clearly a window for playtime for him. This isn't meant to be a God complex thing for me or anything like that.

He looks to be in his mid to late 20s and is definitely overweight. Should I continue to do nothing or should I approach him and offer to walk the treadmill with him? Wow, what a great guy this is. Yeah. Without his parents' supervision, this is clearly a window for playtime for him. This isn't meant to be a God complex thing for me or anything like that.

I just feel like he might need someone to give him the push rather than leave it to himself. Would you feel any compulsion to help the guy out? I probably won't end up doing anything, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts. If your suggestion is to say something to his parents, I don't really care enough to go out of my way like that.

I just feel like he might need someone to give him the push rather than leave it to himself. Would you feel any compulsion to help the guy out? I probably won't end up doing anything, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts. If your suggestion is to say something to his parents, I don't really care enough to go out of my way like that.

And Nico had some telling quotes in his availability. He said, quote, as we turn the page, I think it's important to know that Jason Kidd and I, we've had a vision and the culture that we want to create since we've been here. The players that we're bringing in, we believe, exemplify that. We think defense wins championships, and we're bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league.

And Nico had some telling quotes in his availability. He said, quote, as we turn the page, I think it's important to know that Jason Kidd and I, we've had a vision and the culture that we want to create since we've been here. The players that we're bringing in, we believe, exemplify that. We think defense wins championships, and we're bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league.

I love that this guy has a really, he's got a streak of a heart in him. The idea of having a good heart is strong. Yeah, the concept. But ultimately, he knows. I really want to do any of that. Yeah, because we really want to game this out. Like if I'm, you know, full transparency on this pod. I think it's a really incredible thought. Are you willing to fuck up your routine for this?

I love that this guy has a really, he's got a streak of a heart in him. The idea of having a good heart is strong. Yeah, the concept. But ultimately, he knows. I really want to do any of that. Yeah, because we really want to game this out. Like if I'm, you know, full transparency on this pod. I think it's a really incredible thought. Are you willing to fuck up your routine for this?

Because it'd be so nice if you were like, hey, buddy. I don't know why I just started the sentence that way, but I think everybody, you know. Hey, buddy. You know, you want to go on the treadmill with me. And you want to, you know, maybe try a couple machines with me. you know, you're, you're deciding and, you know, look, man, it'd be unbelievable. Like I'm going to, it's just a day.

Because it'd be so nice if you were like, hey, buddy. I don't know why I just started the sentence that way, but I think everybody, you know. Hey, buddy. You know, you want to go on the treadmill with me. And you want to, you know, maybe try a couple machines with me. you know, you're, you're deciding and, you know, look, man, it'd be unbelievable. Like I'm going to, it's just a day.

I'm going to give up my day for this guy to give him a little bit of direction. I think you could probably, you know, worry potentially about the long-term things like this guy. I think I'm working out with him every day. Um, then you're coming home and your wife's like, you're gaining weight. Like I got a new, I got a new gym partner. Uh,

I'm going to give up my day for this guy to give him a little bit of direction. I think you could probably, you know, worry potentially about the long-term things like this guy. I think I'm working out with him every day. Um, then you're coming home and your wife's like, you're gaining weight. Like I got a new, I got a new gym partner. Uh,

Yeah, I think what you're asking here is incredible, but I think anybody that is like a normal gym routine person, you probably, and I don't know that it's selfish, but in a very practical way of like talking about all the potential scenarios here, are you willing to sign up for something that is way more than you actually want to sign up for?

Yeah, I think what you're asking here is incredible, but I think anybody that is like a normal gym routine person, you probably, and I don't know that it's selfish, but in a very practical way of like talking about all the potential scenarios here, are you willing to sign up for something that is way more than you actually want to sign up for?

Plant the seed of fitness.

Plant the seed of fitness.

That translates as we're really sick of Luka. And maybe it's a bit like that relationship of like, they broke up. It's like, you're not living with that other person. You don't know what it's like. Maybe all of us on the outside who are not living with Luka don't know what it's like. But here's what I do know. It's not great basketball business to get sick of guys like Luka Doncic at 25 years old.

That translates as we're really sick of Luka. And maybe it's a bit like that relationship of like, they broke up. It's like, you're not living with that other person. You don't know what it's like. Maybe all of us on the outside who are not living with Luka don't know what it's like. But here's what I do know. It's not great basketball business to get sick of guys like Luka Doncic at 25 years old.

They're probably psyched to get the break.

They're probably psyched to get the break.

I think what Kyle said is the right move. Hey, buddy, what's going on? What are you doing today? You know, if you ever want to go walk on the treadmill with me, let me know. It also probably wouldn't be the worst idea to ask some of the trainers to you know, some trainers can be like, absolutely not. If I can't sell them three sessions, I got, you know, I got sessions to sell.

I think what Kyle said is the right move. Hey, buddy, what's going on? What are you doing today? You know, if you ever want to go walk on the treadmill with me, let me know. It also probably wouldn't be the worst idea to ask some of the trainers to you know, some trainers can be like, absolutely not. If I can't sell them three sessions, I got, you know, I got sessions to sell.

There's probably somebody else considering that trainers are usually people that want to help people. Um, that's something in their core. You go up to one of the friendlier trainers and be like, Hey, have you noticed this guy? He's just kind of like chilling. Maybe he is to your point, Kyle, like to be dropped into that setting without any background, without any like warmup to it.

There's probably somebody else considering that trainers are usually people that want to help people. Um, that's something in their core. You go up to one of the friendlier trainers and be like, Hey, have you noticed this guy? He's just kind of like chilling. Maybe he is to your point, Kyle, like to be dropped into that setting without any background, without any like warmup to it.

And just now you're, you're at the gym and he doesn't have any idea like how to use anything. And it's all probably like super intimidating, but I'm sure he's just fucking pumped to be on his iPad too for 90 minutes unsupervised. So I do think, yeah, but I think your original thing, like there's probably some version of this where there's a compromise where the emailer feels like,

And just now you're, you're at the gym and he doesn't have any idea like how to use anything. And it's all probably like super intimidating, but I'm sure he's just fucking pumped to be on his iPad too for 90 minutes unsupervised. So I do think, yeah, but I think your original thing, like there's probably some version of this where there's a compromise where the emailer feels like,

hey at least I did something here which I think is the most important lesson in all this is that you're thinking about it but I also think like a lot of people regular gym routine people like I get in and get out to do my thing and I I don't like I want to help but I don't know how much I can help and You know, I'm not going to have like a new gym partner the entire time.

hey at least I did something here which I think is the most important lesson in all this is that you're thinking about it but I also think like a lot of people regular gym routine people like I get in and get out to do my thing and I I don't like I want to help but I don't know how much I can help and You know, I'm not going to have like a new gym partner the entire time.

So yeah, I think the hello, how's it going? Ask about the treadmill thing. And then maybe there's a trainer that's like, oh, I didn't even realize this guy's sitting in the locker room the whole time. Yeah, absolutely. Like I have a little window here and then somebody else. Next thing you know, you get a team of people. And you're just the Wednesday guy, right? Yeah, right.

So yeah, I think the hello, how's it going? Ask about the treadmill thing. And then maybe there's a trainer that's like, oh, I didn't even realize this guy's sitting in the locker room the whole time. Yeah, absolutely. Like I have a little window here and then somebody else. Next thing you know, you get a team of people. And you're just the Wednesday guy, right? Yeah, right.

You're the Wednesday warmup guy, but you're going to do treadmill for 90 minutes. I do it for five and then I lift weights and then I'll see you here in 90, buddy. Right. I'll do my last five with you. That's perfect. Yeah. Hope that iPad's charged. Okay.

You're the Wednesday warmup guy, but you're going to do treadmill for 90 minutes. I do it for five and then I lift weights and then I'll see you here in 90, buddy. Right. I'll do my last five with you. That's perfect. Yeah. Hope that iPad's charged. Okay.

I love those 10 minutes.

I love those 10 minutes.

Yeah. Okay. All right. Long time listener going back to Tariqo and Van Pelt. Russillo replaced Tariqo and I learned to appreciate the dulcet tones of Ryan's voice while driving around in my service rig. 48 years old, no gym stats as I am self-employed in an extremely physical job repairing broken swimming pools in the Sacramento region and going to the gym would feel like torture. Yep. Look, man.

Yeah. Okay. All right. Long time listener going back to Tariqo and Van Pelt. Russillo replaced Tariqo and I learned to appreciate the dulcet tones of Ryan's voice while driving around in my service rig. 48 years old, no gym stats as I am self-employed in an extremely physical job repairing broken swimming pools in the Sacramento region and going to the gym would feel like torture. Yep. Look, man.

Anything that has anything to do with concrete, stone. You guys are... You're in the gym every day, man. Yeah. Super sets. How long did you work out today? Eight hours. All right. Basketball comp, the guy or female who wipes the floor after one of the Sacramento Kings hits the deck. Light the beam. All right. Big Sacramento guy. The names have been changed so far away.

Anything that has anything to do with concrete, stone. You guys are... You're in the gym every day, man. Yeah. Super sets. How long did you work out today? Eight hours. All right. Basketball comp, the guy or female who wipes the floor after one of the Sacramento Kings hits the deck. Light the beam. All right. Big Sacramento guy. The names have been changed so far away.

The problem stems from my neighbor four houses away here in an older... part of Sacramento. Tyler and Kristen were an unmarried middle-aged couple living down the road. Tyler's a very nice guy who does not work due to inheriting Silicon Valley money from his father years ago. I want Kyle. I would love that for you. That would be sick.

The problem stems from my neighbor four houses away here in an older... part of Sacramento. Tyler and Kristen were an unmarried middle-aged couple living down the road. Tyler's a very nice guy who does not work due to inheriting Silicon Valley money from his father years ago. I want Kyle. I would love that for you. That would be sick.

Nico also said, quote, I don't do anything scary. When he's talking about transactions, you traded for Kyrie two years ago. That was the single most available scary transaction to make in the league at the time. But it worked. And I think that's another important thing if we're talking about Nico here, because there's a lot of quotes from like, God, they must have just hated Luca.

Nico also said, quote, I don't do anything scary. When he's talking about transactions, you traded for Kyrie two years ago. That was the single most available scary transaction to make in the league at the time. But it worked. And I think that's another important thing if we're talking about Nico here, because there's a lot of quotes from like, God, they must have just hated Luca.

Can we just do that? Fully blown younger Rich Kyle would be like one of my favorite characters ever. But All right. So this guy's got that kind of cash inherited from the father years ago, owns a house in the Bay Area, but currently rents it out as he's lived with Kristen here in Sacramento. Kristen works from home in a lucrative commercial real estate job. She generally sucks.

Can we just do that? Fully blown younger Rich Kyle would be like one of my favorite characters ever. But All right. So this guy's got that kind of cash inherited from the father years ago, owns a house in the Bay Area, but currently rents it out as he's lived with Kristen here in Sacramento. Kristen works from home in a lucrative commercial real estate job. She generally sucks.

And some of the neighbors have a difficult relationship with her as a result. I like this straight to the point. Kind of like the first take thing Will Kane was saying, just take start at that. start at the conflict. I've always got along with her due to my ability to get along with most assholes. It's a gift.

And some of the neighbors have a difficult relationship with her as a result. I like this straight to the point. Kind of like the first take thing Will Kane was saying, just take start at that. start at the conflict. I've always got along with her due to my ability to get along with most assholes. It's a gift.

Um, yeah, I think people, oddly enough, like the rough edge construction home services, that kind of, like you've interacted with so many different people that, um, you probably, you probably learned a skill despite people thinking like you might not get along with everybody because of sometimes I feel like laborers get typecast as difficult people. And it's like, in reality, they probably are,

Um, yeah, I think people, oddly enough, like the rough edge construction home services, that kind of, like you've interacted with so many different people that, um, you probably, you probably learned a skill despite people thinking like you might not get along with everybody because of sometimes I feel like laborers get typecast as difficult people. And it's like, in reality, they probably are,

more conditioned to deal with so many different personalities because of their background. Eight months ago, Tyler and Kristen took an extended vacation, if you wanted a mini rant on the laborer personality. Eight months ago, Tyler and Kristen took an extended vacation to Colorado as they are outdoorsy types and the terrain around the region was enticing to them.

more conditioned to deal with so many different personalities because of their background. Eight months ago, Tyler and Kristen took an extended vacation, if you wanted a mini rant on the laborer personality. Eight months ago, Tyler and Kristen took an extended vacation to Colorado as they are outdoorsy types and the terrain around the region was enticing to them.

During this vacation, they employed my 12-year-old daughter to take care of their two socially awkward cats. Interesting

During this vacation, they employed my 12-year-old daughter to take care of their two socially awkward cats. Interesting

description do you guys know a lot of non-socially awkward cats yeah they're out there i know they exist i just don't know how you get one like that like i i don't know how you win the cat lottery to be fucking normal i don't know how it works i have a cat there's some days i don't even see it like i just you do have a cat i forgot about that yeah when i tell people i forget that i have it half the time he's pretty low maintenance what's his name holly

description do you guys know a lot of non-socially awkward cats yeah they're out there i know they exist i just don't know how you get one like that like i i don't know how you win the cat lottery to be fucking normal i don't know how it works i have a cat there's some days i don't even see it like i just you do have a cat i forgot about that yeah when i tell people i forget that i have it half the time he's pretty low maintenance what's his name holly

Yeah, that's the part about cat. Yeah, not a cat guy, but there is something to be said of an animal that's like, I don't need you right now. I'm surprised. People are probably surprised I don't have a cat. Yeah, I don't think you have to worry about that anytime soon. All right. Considering this couple has no children, they treat the cats as if they are children.

Yeah, that's the part about cat. Yeah, not a cat guy, but there is something to be said of an animal that's like, I don't need you right now. I'm surprised. People are probably surprised I don't have a cat. Yeah, I don't think you have to worry about that anytime soon. All right. Considering this couple has no children, they treat the cats as if they are children.

My wife and I, along with our daughter, I had to go over to receive specific instructions on the care and maintenance of these cats while they're gone. They agreed to pay my daughter $10 per day to go over and feed, care, and spend time with the cats.

My wife and I, along with our daughter, I had to go over to receive specific instructions on the care and maintenance of these cats while they're gone. They agreed to pay my daughter $10 per day to go over and feed, care, and spend time with the cats.

We're all in agreement.

We're all in agreement.

She's a union.

She's a union.

It's like this is ridiculous. Let me see here. All right, so they agreed to pay my daughter $10 a day, feed, care, spend time, along with picking up the mail and packages. Upon returning from Colorado, the couple decided to start looking for homes as they fell in love with the area. Ultimately, Kristen... bought a home that needed some work and began to make plans.

It's like this is ridiculous. Let me see here. All right, so they agreed to pay my daughter $10 a day, feed, care, spend time, along with picking up the mail and packages. Upon returning from Colorado, the couple decided to start looking for homes as they fell in love with the area. Ultimately, Kristen... bought a home that needed some work and began to make plans.

People around the league think Nico's terrific. They think this front office is terrific. It's been nothing but praise. And a consistent deal of Nico loves Anthony Davis. And the relationship keeps going back. I get it. But I still can't believe they didn't at least call other teams. There is a kind of like, as everybody agrees, like, I can't believe this trade happened.

People around the league think Nico's terrific. They think this front office is terrific. It's been nothing but praise. And a consistent deal of Nico loves Anthony Davis. And the relationship keeps going back. I get it. But I still can't believe they didn't at least call other teams. There is a kind of like, as everybody agrees, like, I can't believe this trade happened.

The problem started when Kristen started fucking the electrician she hired and thus ending relationship with Tyler. Tyler returned to Sacramento broken hearted but made the best of it. He's continued to live in the house he shared with Kristen who is actually the owner because his house is currently rented in a long term lease.

The problem started when Kristen started fucking the electrician she hired and thus ending relationship with Tyler. Tyler returned to Sacramento broken hearted but made the best of it. He's continued to live in the house he shared with Kristen who is actually the owner because his house is currently rented in a long term lease.

Tyler now travels extensively and is frequently gone which leaves us to the cats. You could do worse than banging an electrician though. I've got like two plugs that don't work. My daughter, and thus my wife and I, are now the main caregivers to the cats.

Tyler now travels extensively and is frequently gone which leaves us to the cats. You could do worse than banging an electrician though. I've got like two plugs that don't work. My daughter, and thus my wife and I, are now the main caregivers to the cats.

Tyler continues to pay my daughter whenever he is gone, and we dutifully send her over once a day to feed and give attention to the cats, along with cleaning litter boxes and doing the occasional laundry, as the cats are sometimes incontinent. Oh. Recently, Kristen decided to show up at the home.

Tyler continues to pay my daughter whenever he is gone, and we dutifully send her over once a day to feed and give attention to the cats, along with cleaning litter boxes and doing the occasional laundry, as the cats are sometimes incontinent. Oh. Recently, Kristen decided to show up at the home.

We were excited to finally get the cats out of our lives, except she didn't take them back to Colorado with her. My question is, what do I do? We are generally tired of taking care of these cats, but our daughter has amassed a small fortune for a 12-year-old, literally over $1,000 so far in cash payments. Do we tell Tyler to figure something out?

We were excited to finally get the cats out of our lives, except she didn't take them back to Colorado with her. My question is, what do I do? We are generally tired of taking care of these cats, but our daughter has amassed a small fortune for a 12-year-old, literally over $1,000 so far in cash payments. Do we tell Tyler to figure something out?

While he's truly a good and decent man, he does not care about the cats because they and the house are a reminder of his broken relationship. Do we continue to let him help fund my daughter's college fund and middle school lifestyle? I love middle school lifestyle. Fruit roll-ups on me. Damn, girl.

While he's truly a good and decent man, he does not care about the cats because they and the house are a reminder of his broken relationship. Do we continue to let him help fund my daughter's college fund and middle school lifestyle? I love middle school lifestyle. Fruit roll-ups on me. Damn, girl.

Yeah. Like, what is that? 10 bands? Yep. All 10s. Do we try to contact Kristen and tell her to deal with the goddamn cats? Do we start stealing some of the better artwork and decor from the house out of spite? I'm joking, but they do have some sick antique stadium seats in the house that I would gladly take. Any advice would be appreciated.

Yeah. Like, what is that? 10 bands? Yep. All 10s. Do we try to contact Kristen and tell her to deal with the goddamn cats? Do we start stealing some of the better artwork and decor from the house out of spite? I'm joking, but they do have some sick antique stadium seats in the house that I would gladly take. Any advice would be appreciated.

shout out to steve kyle and morgan go ducks um damn i yeah look i think we've all agreed right now collectively on your behalf we've been your own union here you're gonna go hey dude this cat thing kind of annoying um 50 bucks a day so is that then worth it to your daughter can you stomach it um $10 a day is nothing. You're right. That's 90s wages.

shout out to steve kyle and morgan go ducks um damn i yeah look i think we've all agreed right now collectively on your behalf we've been your own union here you're gonna go hey dude this cat thing kind of annoying um 50 bucks a day so is that then worth it to your daughter can you stomach it um $10 a day is nothing. You're right. That's 90s wages.

That sounds like something when I would go over and check on some dude's house when I was in high school. I'm like, we're going to pay you $10 a day, buster. I think you raise the price or he gets... Look, when dudes are this devastated, they don't care about this stuff. This is the first thing they don't care about. And again, to your point, they're not even his cats. But you know what?

That sounds like something when I would go over and check on some dude's house when I was in high school. I'm like, we're going to pay you $10 a day, buster. I think you raise the price or he gets... Look, when dudes are this devastated, they don't care about this stuff. This is the first thing they don't care about. And again, to your point, they're not even his cats. But you know what?

When I got dumped, the bank didn't stop sending me a mortgage statement. So like deal with your shit. And I think you go to him and say, this is brutal. She doesn't want to be there every day. It's turning into like a care thing.

When I got dumped, the bank didn't stop sending me a mortgage statement. So like deal with your shit. And I think you go to him and say, this is brutal. She doesn't want to be there every day. It's turning into like a care thing.

I understand you're going through a ton of stuff, but like you need to come up with a solution that has something to like, and then, you know, whatever, everything's got a price. And if he feels like he's being shook down at a time of despair, fuck it, man. Welcome to the world. And 10 bucks is just low. 10 bucks is fine.

I understand you're going through a ton of stuff, but like you need to come up with a solution that has something to like, and then, you know, whatever, everything's got a price. And if he feels like he's being shook down at a time of despair, fuck it, man. Welcome to the world. And 10 bucks is just low. 10 bucks is fine.

It was kind of like a neighborhood daughter down the street thing, but it's turned into way more work. We're doing laundry. No one cares for the cats anymore. So maybe there's a number. Maybe there's a number. He'll understand if he inherited all this money. His dad was a Wheeler dealer. Putting on Trump YouTube videos, be like, one day, son.

It was kind of like a neighborhood daughter down the street thing, but it's turned into way more work. We're doing laundry. No one cares for the cats anymore. So maybe there's a number. Maybe there's a number. He'll understand if he inherited all this money. His dad was a Wheeler dealer. Putting on Trump YouTube videos, be like, one day, son.

So yeah, you've got to get a bit aggressive with him to shake him out of his funk. Because he will continue to do this day after day after day. Right. Because this is the least of his problems right now is this cat deal. And you were just a simple solution to it as he tries to work his way towards wherever the next chapter of his life takes him.

So yeah, you've got to get a bit aggressive with him to shake him out of his funk. Because he will continue to do this day after day after day. Right. Because this is the least of his problems right now is this cat deal. And you were just a simple solution to it as he tries to work his way towards wherever the next chapter of his life takes him.

I can't believe this is the way that was executed. Why would you do this? You don't want to trade a guy like Luka. This is a generational talent. You've helped out the Lakers, all these different things. I guess there's a version of this that ends up on like some page. It's like, look at all these idiots getting this thing wrong.

I can't believe this is the way that was executed. Why would you do this? You don't want to trade a guy like Luka. This is a generational talent. You've helped out the Lakers, all these different things. I guess there's a version of this that ends up on like some page. It's like, look at all these idiots getting this thing wrong.

It's pet sitting prices on WAG vary by location, number of pets, the type of pet. For example, pet sitting typically costs 50 to 110 per night. So look, this guy, this guy understands tech. Look at his dad. Start pointing out some prices. You can give him the low end because it's not.

It's pet sitting prices on WAG vary by location, number of pets, the type of pet. For example, pet sitting typically costs 50 to 110 per night. So look, this guy, this guy understands tech. Look at his dad. Start pointing out some prices. You can give him the low end because it's not.

How much is that cost? Yeah, not great. Rabbits should be more, right?

How much is that cost? Yeah, not great. Rabbits should be more, right?

You find the receipt and it shows that your wife is like, will you read Alice in Wonderland to the rabbits?

You find the receipt and it shows that your wife is like, will you read Alice in Wonderland to the rabbits?

Where if everybody's healthy and the Mavs make some kind of run and say they get to the NBA finals, say they win the whole thing. And it's like, look at you morons. Niko was right. You're like, yeah, maybe. But you know what they never do? You know how like when they'll show a playoff

Where if everybody's healthy and the Mavs make some kind of run and say they get to the NBA finals, say they win the whole thing. And it's like, look at you morons. Niko was right. You're like, yeah, maybe. But you know what they never do? You know how like when they'll show a playoff

10 is low. You're getting a host. Your daughter's getting a host. And you were trying to be nice. It was convenient. Something for the kid to do. Activity, saving money, learning about responsibilities, all those things. Triple it, at least. Invest in a deep seek.

10 is low. You're getting a host. Your daughter's getting a host. And you were trying to be nice. It was convenient. Something for the kid to do. Activity, saving money, learning about responsibilities, all those things. Triple it, at least. Invest in a deep seek.

Good for you. I like that. Well-rounded. Thanks. Appreciate it. All right, that'll do it for us today. Thanks to Wargon. Thanks to Kyle. And a big welcome back to Cerruti. Normal schedule, I guess, this week. We're just going Monday, Wednesday, Friday. And then I'm not doing Trade with Bill today. Because they're doing a special show.

Good for you. I like that. Well-rounded. Thanks. Appreciate it. All right, that'll do it for us today. Thanks to Wargon. Thanks to Kyle. And a big welcome back to Cerruti. Normal schedule, I guess, this week. We're just going Monday, Wednesday, Friday. And then I'm not doing Trade with Bill today. Because they're doing a special show.

Okay. All right. So I'll do my trade recap stuff on Friday, which already started, obviously, with the huge news this weekend and then the Aaron Fox Spurs deal late on Sunday night. So check out our YouTube page. And as always, subscribe to the Reiner Sillow Podcast for your spot. Must be 21 and older.

Okay. All right. So I'll do my trade recap stuff on Friday, which already started, obviously, with the huge news this weekend and then the Aaron Fox Spurs deal late on Sunday night. So check out our YouTube page. And as always, subscribe to the Reiner Sillow Podcast for your spot. Must be 21 and older.

Present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org forward slash chat in Connecticut. Or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts.

Present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org forward slash chat in Connecticut. Or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts.

Or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPE-NY in New York.

Or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPE-NY in New York.

panel it's a pre-game show and you show all the studio hosts you show all their picks they put up the little helmet it's like man everybody picked that team on monday night or everybody picked that team for the playoff game and everybody got it wrong and then everybody posted like morons you know they never do they never post it when everybody picks it right it's just like yeah i think the chiefs are going to beat the texans in the playoffs chiefs chiefs chiefs chiefs you never see that one posted um

panel it's a pre-game show and you show all the studio hosts you show all their picks they put up the little helmet it's like man everybody picked that team on monday night or everybody picked that team for the playoff game and everybody got it wrong and then everybody posted like morons you know they never do they never post it when everybody picks it right it's just like yeah i think the chiefs are going to beat the texans in the playoffs chiefs chiefs chiefs chiefs you never see that one posted um

And I, like everybody else, is like, this doesn't make a lot of sense. And Shams had to say, this is not fake. Like, I haven't been hacked. And Bobby Marks had to be like, he's not hacked. That's how unbelievable this trade was. Call Bill. Bill's like, I guess we do an emergency pod. I'm like, yeah, I think you have to for this one. And we did it. We sorted through it.

And I, like everybody else, is like, this doesn't make a lot of sense. And Shams had to say, this is not fake. Like, I haven't been hacked. And Bobby Marks had to be like, he's not hacked. That's how unbelievable this trade was. Call Bill. Bill's like, I guess we do an emergency pod. I'm like, yeah, I think you have to for this one. And we did it. We sorted through it.

Everyone's still stunned. How do you not call Boston and at least make them say no about Tatum? How do you not call Milwaukee and be like, is there any part of this where it makes sense for you to move off of it? I mean, those are a little bit more difficult because they're guys that are in-house and they've won championships with already.

Everyone's still stunned. How do you not call Boston and at least make them say no about Tatum? How do you not call Milwaukee and be like, is there any part of this where it makes sense for you to move off of it? I mean, those are a little bit more difficult because they're guys that are in-house and they've won championships with already.

I don't know how you don't call and I don't know how you don't call Houston, San Antonio and the picks. But maybe if you're Dallas, you're like, look, we're not in the pick business right now. But the way the rest of the roster shapes out, we're not doing a reset. We think we're right back in the hunt here in the West. So I don't want to hear about all of Houston and San Antonio's potential picks.

I don't know how you don't call and I don't know how you don't call Houston, San Antonio and the picks. But maybe if you're Dallas, you're like, look, we're not in the pick business right now. But the way the rest of the roster shapes out, we're not doing a reset. We think we're right back in the hunt here in the West. So I don't want to hear about all of Houston and San Antonio's potential picks.

I guess you would look at it and say, well, Booker isn't as good of a fit as AD is with this roster. I just don't understand how you don't call. Because usually these negotiations all start with an absurd request. Something so tilted in your favor as a general manager, it's almost embarrassing to make that offer. This trade started with the other GM laughing.

I guess you would look at it and say, well, Booker isn't as good of a fit as AD is with this roster. I just don't understand how you don't call. Because usually these negotiations all start with an absurd request. Something so tilted in your favor as a general manager, it's almost embarrassing to make that offer. This trade started with the other GM laughing.

With Palenka being like, wait, are you serious? I also thought it was hilarious hearing about how Palenka was able to keep this quiet. You're like, no shit, really? He didn't want to tell other people that Luka was for real available? Because I've heard some people in the media talk about how like, well, once it gets out, then Dallas loses their leverage. You don't lose leverage.

With Palenka being like, wait, are you serious? I also thought it was hilarious hearing about how Palenka was able to keep this quiet. You're like, no shit, really? He didn't want to tell other people that Luka was for real available? Because I've heard some people in the media talk about how like, well, once it gets out, then Dallas loses their leverage. You don't lose leverage.

when you're potentially trading Luka Doncic. The market increases your leverage. So even if there's an outcome from a team success standpoint, where months from now, or maybe a year and a half from now, we'll be looking at this going, man, remember when everybody felt this way and crushed this thing? And now look at the maps. Yeah, I do think that that is a potential scenario.

when you're potentially trading Luka Doncic. The market increases your leverage. So even if there's an outcome from a team success standpoint, where months from now, or maybe a year and a half from now, we'll be looking at this going, man, remember when everybody felt this way and crushed this thing? And now look at the maps. Yeah, I do think that that is a potential scenario.

But what I'll never defend is the execution. To talk to one team, that part of this will forever be indefensible. The FanDuel Kick of Destiny is back, and this time it's every manning for himself. This Super Bowl, two legends will take the field in a sudden-death field goal showdown. Peyton versus Eli, live from New Orleans. One kick to claim ultimate family bragging rights.

But what I'll never defend is the execution. To talk to one team, that part of this will forever be indefensible. The FanDuel Kick of Destiny is back, and this time it's every manning for himself. This Super Bowl, two legends will take the field in a sudden-death field goal showdown. Peyton versus Eli, live from New Orleans. One kick to claim ultimate family bragging rights.

Pool rise of the moment. Pick your winner now on the FanDuel app, and if you back the right brother, you'll earn a share of $10 million in bonus bets. It's the FanDuel Kick of Destiny 3. Make your free pick. And don't forget to tune in to watch the showdown live during the Super Bowl 59 pregame show on Fox at 3 p.m. Eastern. May the best Manning win. FanDuel, official partner of Super Bowl 59.

Pool rise of the moment. Pick your winner now on the FanDuel app, and if you back the right brother, you'll earn a share of $10 million in bonus bets. It's the FanDuel Kick of Destiny 3. Make your free pick. And don't forget to tune in to watch the showdown live during the Super Bowl 59 pregame show on Fox at 3 p.m. Eastern. May the best Manning win. FanDuel, official partner of Super Bowl 59.

Must be 21 and older in present select states or 18 plus and present in D.C. No purchase necessary. Bonus issued is non-withdrawal bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-health.com. This is exciting. I hate having them on.

Must be 21 and older in present select states or 18 plus and present in D.C. No purchase necessary. Bonus issued is non-withdrawal bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-health.com. This is exciting. I hate having them on.

perhaps his most depressed weekend of his fandom. But it's Will Kane, who, by the way, you can see weekdays every single day on Fox News, The Will Kane Show, 4 p.m. Eastern. Will, it's good to see you again, man.

perhaps his most depressed weekend of his fandom. But it's Will Kane, who, by the way, you can see weekdays every single day on Fox News, The Will Kane Show, 4 p.m. Eastern. Will, it's good to see you again, man.

And I was hoping by Monday morning of this taping that I would have more info for you. So let's just try to work through it a little bit because the league is still shocked by all of this. So I think it still works today. My reaction was like everybody else. Why would you trade someone like Luka Doncic at 25 years old? He's already made five all NBA first teams by 25.

And I was hoping by Monday morning of this taping that I would have more info for you. So let's just try to work through it a little bit because the league is still shocked by all of this. So I think it still works today. My reaction was like everybody else. Why would you trade someone like Luka Doncic at 25 years old? He's already made five all NBA first teams by 25.

All right, so before we get to this Luca stuff, this Tariff stuff is wild. Yeah, man. No, no, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. All right, look. I went through the open, and we've talked about this already. I did the pod. I just wanted your perspective as a lifelong Texan, lifelong Mavs fan. I know that you've been super into it. It's been a couple days. Luka is gone.

All right, so before we get to this Luca stuff, this Tariff stuff is wild. Yeah, man. No, no, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. All right, look. I went through the open, and we've talked about this already. I did the pod. I just wanted your perspective as a lifelong Texan, lifelong Mavs fan. I know that you've been super into it. It's been a couple days. Luka is gone.

Big basketball podcast. Let's do it. Luca to the Lakers. Everything that I've been able to piece together and why I think one part of this I will never be okay with. We've got Will Kane. Politics and pick and roll. Probably more just on Luca. De'Aaron Fox also on the move to San Antonio. So a few on that.

How do you feel?

His range is probably at best the second best player in the world. At worst, the third best player in the world. I think he's better than SGA. I'm sure there could be an argument. So let's say the worst you could rank Luka today is the fourth best player in the world at 25 years old. Guys like this do not get traded. And again, it's the most stunning trade of my lifetime.

Yeah, you touched on a bunch of good things there. The ownership part of this, because none of this stuff happens, like the number of times that you'll hear about something and then, you know, like a week later, somebody's like, wow, the owner, you know, did or didn't want to do this. Like, there's just so many deals that either happen because the owner's

like behind it or a deal that doesn't happen because ultimately everybody in the basketball side, the coaches, the front office are like, we want to do this. The owner goes, you know what? We're not doing that. And that's it. Like ultimately you work for the owner.

Even if we believe there's some sort of fake hierarchy of like the GM can tell the guy that actually owns the team that writes his checks, that he is going to do something that he doesn't want to do maybe early on with owners. And maybe that's the lesson in this.

maybe that the new ownership part of this, even though that whole Cuban timeline has been so strange where it was, wait, you sold the team, but you get to keep running it. Like that doesn't really ever happen.

And I don't know that that's even necessarily true or maybe they were being nice to Cuban for the year or whatever, but it, it's the opposite of what a new ownership group would want to do in their own backyards. You would think even if Nikos convinced them, hey, he doesn't get it and he's going to age fast and we don't want to pay him all of this money and all these things.

I would think most ownership groups in this situation be like, you know what we can't do, though, is we can't trade this guy right now. We can't we can't do this because every sales guy.

is motherfucking the organization right now all the pr people like all the community stuff and the money part of it although the local product here suffers in in such a way like their approval rating which again all that stuff can be totally bullshit and if they have a deep playoff run maybe it doesn't really matter i think i saw something where the instagram page for the mavs lost hundreds of thousands of followers i don't know if that was real or not

But the thing that influences so many basketball decisions, the dynamic that I kind of despise is usually the kind of thing, though, that would prevent an organization from doing something like this because it is so immediately unpopular.

So since Saturday night, I probably, just because people can't stop talking about this, maybe half the teams, someone for half the teams in the league, because you keep trying to put this together. And now I don't know that there's much more of a mystery. It's like, have you heard from anyone that knew that he was available.

The other thing that I have a hard time with is Like, you want to say Luka, like, oh, you know, he's gotten all these stats, whatever. Like, there's so many other players that have huge numbers and could potentially obtain all these individual accolades. There's going to be a couple guys that make the Hall of Fame where I go, like, cool. The fact that you would have

this Finals run, just a couple seasons after the Western Conference Finals run, where that team wasn't that good, but they knocked off a really good Phoenix team that had just been to the Finals. You look at the Phoenix Suns during that regular season, and for whatever reason, they just took their souls. They take their souls in that Game 7. they had no chance against the Warriors.

I was going through the other offensive options there, and you're like, Luka dragged this team. And I do think there are conference finals appearances that can be fool's gold and maybe gets a team thinking about themselves in a way that they shouldn't be thinking about themselves.

Like, hey, you guys actually aren't that close, and you're not as good as you think you are, even though it says you're one of the Final Four teams still standing. But Luka getting to the finals, again, with a different roster, that quickly after getting to that Western Conference Finals appearance, like, tells me that you actually are close. And again, this isn't some empty stat guy.

Did you hear from any team where Niko just kicked the tires and like, hey, what would you do in theory if we were willing to trade Luka Doncic? Because a lot of times, this is how all this stuff happens. These guys talk to each other nonstop. They know which front offices like their players, which players that they don't like, who could be available, who might not be available. It's just a big...

This isn't just the most talented guy in the league that even with his deficiencies on defense, there wasn't enough happening negatively with his game that put a ceiling on who you were, where I think there's like five to seven other guys in the league where I'm like, oh, cool, he had 30 again. Yeah, I mean, let me know when they're out of the play-in.

And that's the part with Nico where it's very clear they were completely over him. And Windhorse, when he did his rant last year during the playoffs, it just, I mean, that was like vicious. He made a point today where he's like, you know what's crazy about that? He's like, nobody, or maybe I just saw the clip again. He's like, nobody from Dallas called me to defend their guy.

So I think what we're putting together here is that whatever the day-to-day Luka dynamic was, it was still so egregious to Nico and the rest of the group that they were willing to do something like this where on the outside you're going, you're complaining about this dude as the face of your franchise because you actually have team success.

Granted, not the title, but like real runs in recent seasons to point to is this guy is not somebody that gets in the way of a team success despite his flaws.

It was also a bad basketball matchup too, with like the way they would execute. So sorry, I interrupted, but keep going.

big run of months and months of dudes on phones talking about hypotheticals they do it in their own front offices where they rank all of the players and then they revisit those rankings they argue over the rankings just because they want to know like how their group sees the value around the league in comparison to maybe how another team would see the value right um

I have more work to do on the ratings thing because I think at times the way the ratings cycle gets treated is there'll be this downturn, right? And then that downturn is supposed to tell you the future, right? Yeah. Because remember when the NFL had had a dip. It was, well, it's concussions, right? Concussions were going to end football and no kids were ever going to play football again.

I think you and I were doing shows back then. And I was like, have any of you ever been to the South? Okay. Like, I think people are still going to play football. And then it was because it was Kaepernick, right? And then it was because it started to become like a bit of a political divide where if you were on the right,

you wanted to see the ratings go down a little bit because it kind of justified some of your political beliefs. And I just felt like that kind of falls to this like pulling of one stuff that'll happen. You're like, oh, my uncle doesn't watch it anymore.

So the first take. So like when we look at the ratings- part of it, I need, I need a little bit more data, but ultimately Because I am working on something on this. I'm not done yet. And it sounds like as an NBA guy, I could potentially be pushing it back against the idea that there's declining ratings. But here's what we do know.

Any declining rating or any declining rating forecast is irrelevant to the bigger business deals because you could have, as long as you have the live rights program and you have all of these games, you can say, all right, year to year, this is where we're at. Go back 10 years. This is where we're at. Why would you invest this? They just did the TV deal.

So to me, the TV deal and the ratings and the fact that it's been renewed, it tripled again. And it was beyond the projections because there was a long time we were like, why are some of these teams changing hands? Oh no, is the TV deal coming in way lower than they thought? Or some of these guys deciding to get out now because this is the decline.

The franchise acquisition bubble is finally starting to happen. And then none of that happened because the TV deal came in massive. So The reason I think it's important to go through all this stuff is, okay, fine.

So there was speculation that there was this one other mystery team that was at least asked about what they could do for Luka in a trade. I don't know who that team is. And Tim McMahon does a great job, ESPN.com, covers basketball nationally, but very plugged in with the Mavs, said in his piece, quote, they did not discuss potential Davis trades with any franchise other than the Lakers.

Maybe it is a declining product in the way that we equate like what is successful and what is not successful based on, I think at times, some very outdated and domestic television numbers. But I can't sit here and say that anybody's wrong that's looking at it that way. The point is, is 350 million to Luke is irrelevant because the money's already backed in.

In four years from now of whatever that extension would have been, Luka's making less the same way the quarterback renewal cycle happens. We're like, I can't believe Jared Goff is making all this money. Look at that guaranteed money. And then three years later, you're like, that contract isn't even that bad anymore.

At 25, whatever your concerns are about Luka, there's no financial conditioning argument that I would hear. Here's the thing. then you could just trade them. So I don't know if you want to follow up on that because I still have a couple other questions.

Two things that we finish up here. What I cannot understand is if you were going to make him available, why you would make him available to only one team. And the answer to that, as I've talked to enough teams and I talked about in the open, is that Nico Harrison looked at Anthony Davis as like the guy he wanted more than everybody else.

But it still does not justify like he couldn't get another pick. You couldn't figure out a way to like, hey, I need just a little bit more. I need a sweetener here. I'm going to get destroyed. I'm trading this guy. Give me a little something here. If you had heard... I already know the answer to this.

But if you had heard he had canvassed the league for a couple of weeks and we had the normal cycle of... of a Shams or a wind horse up on TV going like, there are rumblings that Luke is available. Then we get like the two week runway to talk about all the different hypotheticals. Like you almost get to like have an appetizer to that moment on Saturday night where you're bracing yourself for it.

Like a content appetizer. If you had known that this wasn't just about one team he negotiated with, which I can't understand, would you feel better about it today?

So that feels like Maybe there's this one. We'll hear something later on like, oh, they actually kind of called. But like, who knows? Because apparently this wasn't like a two day thing. It goes all the way back to like prior to January 7th. And then Nico and Rob Blanca met up January 7th when they were both in Los Angeles.

We're going to make that a YouTube only.

That's for subscribers. That's for subscribers. You have to really want this content.

Last thing. Um, as we said at the beginning, we'll be on every day, Fox news for Eastern. I was with you earlier, the ESPN days, like who's this fill in, you know, we've told the story before, like full head of hair. Shit. He's pretty smart. I think he's smarter than I am. Uh, And then we became friends and we did a bunch of shows together and who knows, like things have gone a different way.

Maybe we would have done shows together for a long time, but we, uh, we both had goals. We both had goals. And, you know, I'm looking at you realizing that you're reaching a goal, you know, something you're like, am I one of these guys? Like you have those moments where like, could I potentially, and then once you decide like, yeah, I think I can be one of those guys.

Well, you have now become one of those guys. What does this mean to you?

So if there's one constant that I can, which you already know, but the constant is that Nico Harrison loves Anthony Davis, loves him. And I get it. He's awesome. He's 31. 32 in March. He's been great again this year. All NBA second team last year. I voted him as an all-star starter this season. Last season, though, was his first year at 70 games since 2017-18. He wants to be a power forward.

Maybe you have bigger aspirations than I, than I thought. Maybe I'll, I don't know. I might have to get some sort of hair updates and transplant. I'm thinking secretary of commerce.

What is last question? What's the biggest, what's the biggest difference between ESPN and Fox news?

So maybe I should have asked this in a better way because I think it's the headline of like, oh, what's the biggest difference? And I think that the difference, at least the way that you're treated...

is that if somebody's watching you on Fox news, they want to watch you on Fox news where I felt like, and I even warned you against this, the role that you were being teed up on at ESPN at first take, I was like, Hey, just be careful. Like you can't go on and be the, this actually isn't racist guy every day of the week.

Like, cause then it becomes like, Hey, cause I just know how, cause they did it to me one time. They were like, Hey, this Yaki way thing, you want to defend them keeping the name of the street Yaki way? I was like, no, I was like, I don't give a shit. I was like, why would I? And they were like, really? They're like, you're from Boston, the Yawkeys. I went, well, I'll go on.

And then I was watching it happen. And I was like, oh no. And then we talked about it a little bit, but you're so good on the show and it's this massive platform. So I think when you're, when the setup is, hey, we're going to roll out Will Kane for this. There's no way anybody's going to like you. There's no way anybody that's watching first tape regularly is going to be like, I like him. Okay.

Yeah. So I, I, you know what I mean? I mean, I'm not saying you had a zero approval rating, but it's, you're, you're digging yourself out of a hole at the start of every single segment, I think is, and maybe it looks like you still want to disagree with my wife. That's fine.

Cool. He's a lot better and more valuable as a center. If you start trying to map out what the rotation will be, maybe how they would close playoff games. I do worry a little bit of like the power forward center, non stretching the floor, two bigs Cleveland thing that I kind of worry about at times, even though Mobley's just been lighting it up. So you understand what I'm saying?

I actually like that. And I think that's why the show and the dynamic works. But I think the question I'd like a better answer on, because I didn't ask it the right way, is that are there more similarities, perhaps? Are there more similarities navigating the dynamic of becoming somebody who's a regular part of the television rotation? Is it just like every other place in TV?

I listened to, by the way, the other day I mistakenly hit play on one of my own episodes and it had been a really long time since I'd listened to myself do an entire show. So I was like, you know what? It's been a long time. Listen to the whole show. And then I got done and I went. I was like, I'm fucking awesome.

Serena and I run through the no list of Luca trades and the Lakers future with Yovan Buha and life advice. On Saturday night, Luka was traded to the Lakers. Bill Simmons, Rob Mahoney, and I, we all did an emergency pod because this deserved an emergency pod. It's one of those trades. It's the biggest trade of my NBA lifetime. It's the kind of trade or news that I'll remember exactly where I was.

That ended up being a great answer because I don't know if it's something where it is the surrounding area you know not not really nailing the terminology here but you could say like is it the dynamic is it the setting is it the people or is it where you're at and really the answer is usually like where you're at because for me espn was an angst filled experience and is that specific to them

Like the two bigs that don't really stretch the floor. Maybe it's just about defense and providing two incredible interior defenders behind your perimeter guys. But now you're moving P.J. Washington to the three, where he's probably better as a four. And then I don't know what you do with Clay, who's been starting, because he probably shouldn't be guarding two guards.

Or is that about your own security and kind of where you're at in your own head? And it's kind of mirrors your law school thing of like just the Zen moment of, all right, I'm not going to worry about any of this stuff anymore and I'm going to be fine. And it's an awesome place to get to.

It usually takes a little bit longer and it usually takes even longer if you're going to try to be on TV in front of everybody.

Yeah, but again, it wasn't going to happen until I had gone through all the other stuff to go, okay, well, this isn't the way to do it. And then you want to blame everybody else and all these different things. But look, none of that. We've talked about that. We don't need to share that a ton with the audience because I think I've done a million versions of it already. But I'm really happy for you.

You deserve it. You're terrific on television. Like I said, I'm happy and I'm also biased because I got to know you personally. So thanks, man. Well, thank you, man.

Yeah, no, I have notes. I have notes. Good. They're not fully formed yet. Not 100% sure where I'm at yet. Thanks, Will. Thanks, Ryan. Another piece that I want to just spend a few minutes on, and we're going to bring Cerruti in here, but De'Aaron Fox on the move here. We had heard that's how trades are supposed to work. Rumblings that he's available. Sacramento exploring opportunities.

Other teams listed as potentially monitoring the situation. So De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio. Sacramento gets Zach Levine from Chicago. they get a first-round pick in 25, top 14 protected, a 25-second round pick, a 27 first-round pick from San Antonio, a 28-second round pick from Denver, and then they get their 28-second round pick back. So we're looking at a couple firsts in three seconds.

So I guess you could say this is where the Max Christie piece comes in, and maybe they close with Max Christie defense. He's been pretty good lately. And then you have Kyrie at the one. I thought this Dallas team, with Luka, was a pretty good team. OKC on, to me, it's a toss-up if everybody were right and everybody were healthy. That's a big it because Kyrie's got a back issue.

The Bulls moving Levine out end up with Zach Collins, Trey Jones, Kevin Herter, Sad day, sad day for us on the pod and a 25 first round pick, which is their own pick back this year. That remember was out at San Antonio. It was top 10 protected. So they get control of their own pick back.

So, um, you know, Sacramento, once Fox was going to do the extension, they were stuck and they want to get in front of this now. It would be great if the player wasn't Zach Levine that they were getting back. Some of you are going to think I'm nuts. Some of you are going to see the scoring, the first step, which is incredible, the three-point shooting, how steady he's been.

He's been healthy this year, and you like him. That's fine. I don't. I think he's a losing player, and I'm not going to move off of that. I think there's tons of evidence in my favor, but he's probably going to score like 48 one night, and then people are going to tell me that he's awesome. I think Sacramento was stuck, but

the saddest thing I think out of all of this is just Sacramento's window of, of like, look at what Sacramento's doing. Like they're doing a good job, but putting together a really nice starting five. And then maybe a couple of years ago, when you look at a really high seating in the West, it's like, well, they were the healthiest unit. Their top five played this percentage of possible minutes.

Like it's off the charts, incredible health luck. Um, but good for them, you know? And now, uh, It just feels like they're moving further and further away from all that stuff. I don't have a problem with the DeRozan thing at all.

I've said numerous times, if you want to close a game with Harrison Barnes or DeMar DeRozan, although I really do like some of the Harrison Barnes stuff, believe it or not, with San Antonio. Do you want to close with DeRozan with the four other guys, with Sabonis, with Keegan, with Monk, and with Fox? Or do you want to close with Barnes? Well, no. It makes sense.

It makes sense to have DeRozan in there. Maybe DeRozan, despite getting up there in age, a bit of an insurance against something like this. Once they could kind of read the tea leaves on the future with the Aaron Fox. So San Antonio gets somebody real. Uh, they also have to move castle, which I don't think he was even, I don't even think there was any way any of that was even going to happen.

Even if a lot of us are probably overrating castle, uh, today, but that's what we do with guys who are 40 plus games into their rookie season or NBA career. In this case, same thing, redundant, but, didn't profile as like this massive offensive guy.

And I think from what my expectations were from him, from what I see, saw offensively of him at Yukon to where he's at now, like, I think it's, it's really nice. And it's not a guy that you want to be in business or trading on top of being in the rookie contract, everything else. So I just liked Aaron Fox. And sometimes I just want to be allowed to say, I like a player.

So yeah, he's not a bunch of other guys. And yeah, he's not perfect. And two years ago was filthy how nice he was. And there's some numbers that you could go through and be like, well, is he ever going to be that guy again?

My guess would be maybe not the counting stats, but the efficiency and the fact that you have some defensive options, including the best defensive option in the NBA and Wemba Nyama behind him. So I think it does a lot of things with San Antonio where even though Chris Paul's been so good at dictating a lot of the stuff they can do, I mean, there's only so much tread in the tire there.

He can be limited at times offensively. So now you're adding in somebody who De'Aaron Fox, like when he's going, he's just really, really tough to deal with. And you have... financial commitment coming up here, but waiting around for perfect, waiting around for the person that's better than De'Aaron Fox, hoping that some guy in his 30s is going to want to play in San Antonio with Wemba Nyama.

Does that even make sense for them? So I like the trade. Bulls fans, though, probably looking at this collective group and saying, now after trading DeRozan, Caruso, and Levine, that's zero first round picks coming back. Technically, they do get control of their own back, but it's not like adding an extra first. So I like the trade for San Antonio. I understand it for Sacramento.

PJ's got a knee issue. Gafford missed a game recently, not that big of a deal. Lively's out indefinitely with a stress fracture. So maybe it works or maybe they never get fully healthy and we can't judge Dallas on this trade anyway. I think all of those possibilities are on the table at this point. I also worry a little bit about the dynamic of Kyrie as the true one. I think he loves the role.

They're picking a guy that I don't like, and then they're Chicago. And all you really need to understand here, if that's what Chicago got back, that's how bad the market was for Levine. So I think the market backs my feelings about the player. I want to bring in Cerruti here really quick.

because it's one final exercise in this Luca thing, which I could probably do a Wednesday pod on it too, but we will not do that. We'll be back to football Superbowl week. Did not expect to do a Monday NBA podcast, by the way, the week leading up to it. So as I've said, and it feels like it's been backed up, it's just,

Nico Harrison wanted Anthony Davis so badly, he didn't even want to know who else was available. So if we did the just hypothetical here, like where do we draw the line? Like are there no's? Are there no's where Nico calls the other team and offers Luca for that other team's best guy? How many teams are actually saying no?

Which is again why I think this entire thing was ridiculous to do it this way, to have a market of one team. maybe Nico didn't want to get a yes from some of those other teams and have to have the internal debate of this guy over clearly one of his favorite players in the league in Anthony Davis. So what do we got, Cerruti?

I think it's a no, okay, because it's a health thing. And even though I don't think there's a good day, I've thought SGA's better than Luka, but he's the next guy on the list, right? So SGA's healthier. And that group. You would be disrupting this group, and when they get Chet back, we think they can win an NBA title with that group right now. And so...

Then you're thinking about Luka and you're going, what am I bringing in? These guys are trading. I'm like, what's the stuff that I don't know about Luka? And meanwhile, like this Thunder team acts like a high school team. They seem like they love each other.

I've spent, what, three different segments this season just raving about the personality of this team and the buy-in and everybody understanding. So I think it's a no-no. only because there's a disruption part of that that you're not sure about. You can't, if you're Presti, you couldn't say, hey, if we bring Luke in, all of it's fine. It's awesome. He picks right back up.

even though I believe Luke is the better player and the health part of it. That's why I think it's a no. Do you disagree?

Yeah, that's a different conversation because then you can also look at it from the Dallas side of like all of these teams that I can't believe they didn't reach out to. And you're like, well, right. But Dallas clearly didn't want to just reset and rebuild and then picks and they've got to move these other guys and all this stuff.

Like they were not in the deal of like, let's get a marginal player and some contract filler. But now we have control of your next four drafts. What I would say is get a swap in there. Get a swap. Maybe get a second first if you're trading somebody who, when we heard it, no one believed that it was actually true. So ask for a swap.

I just would love the idea that Palenka's like, no, sorry, can't do a swap.

So I, I think about it all the time. Like just the hypothetical, if you had that job and the other guys like, all right, we're still, you can have Luca, but I need, and I, you know, you say no at first, you try to figure out like where the middle is. And then he's like, okay, well I need the two first. Sorry. Okay. Well, when I say no, like you're not getting Luca. Yeah. No, no problem with that.

I think he likes being mic'd up. I think he likes it kind of being his team, despite staying all the right things and playing some really good basketball and being drama-free here for two years. But The weird part about Kyrie's playoff run last year is that when it was great, it was just universally praised as great, and when it was bad, it didn't really matter because Luka was there.

Yeah.

I mean, credit to Palenka, man. Or he's like, yeah, so who? I'm not bidding against anybody and you're thanking me for keeping a secret?

I think I'm an incredibly loyal friend, but if you're friends with somebody in the NBA and you're worried about their feelings, then you shouldn't have the job.

I think those guys all understand that ultimately they're all competing. There's guys that are really good friends with each other, guys that can't stand each other, but you can't. I don't think you... When you're given the... The honor, really. I mean, it's like you're this elected official, but you're not elected. And all of the millions of people care about the outcome of these games.

Like you owe it to them to do the best and at times the most ruthless version of the job.

It's worth, it is worth repeating as I did in the open, just in case, you know, you're driving around, you could miss it.

people rave about nico okay yeah this is not the gm where there have been guys over the years and there's just not that many of them anymore if i don't even know who like the top of my head who i would think of as like the gm everybody else makes fun of but nico is praised okay and i do wonder like if the of the the mob moving all in one direction like is there any scenario where this dude at the end of it all goes

I was right. I still can't imagine only calling one team and then being like, I'm psyched that Palenka kept us quiet.

That wasn't great. That was a long time ago. Different job. So, all right. Look, I still can't stop talking about the trade. I've done like four segments on it already. So let's go back to it.

That one might be closer to a yes. Only because the irony of the Giannis-Luca thing is that Giannis has been somebody now for like two plus years. Where others are going to be like, watch out for that one. like pay attention to what's going on there. Oh, the reason they did the Dame deal is because of him. And like, you know, ownership didn't want it. You're just like, okay.

All of the things that have been theorized, like behind the scenes with Giannis, that just happened with Luca. So, and we've never, we had never heard any of those things. So it feels like a bit like the Tatum one. I don't know if Tatum's next. So it might be a no. Cause he's their guy. But would you be trading Giannis uncertainty for Lucas certainty?

It would depend solely on like, you know, how a conversation you'd have to be like, we have to make sure that we're going to be able to sign him. Is he going to be happy here? Is he going to go like, I don't want anything to do with this place.

Where Kyrie could have bad stretches and big playoff moments that just kind of became hidden because he was the two and not the one, and the one gets... the brunt of all that criticism. When you're the one and your team doesn't win in the playoffs in the NBA, it's like, oh, what's wrong with this guy? And Kyrie's able to avoid a lot of that stuff because Luka was there. Now he won't.

If it's a yes, if, if it's a yes, that Luca would be there long-term, then I think Milwaukee would do it.

Oh, that's different, then. That's different. I'm dealing with uncertainty and made-up certainty. It might be made-up uncertainty, too.

Because they just won, and he plays every game, and... like this is the most fun I've ever had watching Tatum. I mean, what he was doing last night, granted that Sixers team super beat up, but they had to come back from 26 down. I mean, he's playing point guard. Nobody really seems that it doesn't get like talked about enough nationally that he's basically their point guard.

And then he's playing center defensively against Dallas. Um, you don't have to deal with any of the conditioning injury stuff. You don't have to deal with any of those things and you just want it with your guy. So Luca is the better player. Um, But I think they'd say no. I think Ainge would have said yes. I think Ainge would have gone, thanks for the championship. Fuck it.

Because Luka's a better player.

We're just having fun here. We don't have to worry about trade machine grade. I would do it if I were in Minnesota. Wouldn't have to think very hard about it. I think I would, too. I think I would, too. I don't know. There's many people that like Ann as much as me, and I don't even have to think about it.

I have another teammate that can't stand me.

Yeah, I would say whatever you guys want to do. Would you do Paolo and Suggs and then figure out the rest?

What if it was Franz and Paolo?

Like, all right, I know you guys like centers. Can we interest you in a little Wendell action? Goga?

And to be honest with you, it's not going to be because AD can overshadow. Kyrie is the focus of attention here because AD is kind of the same way. As great as he is, he's a deferential personality. He probably works better with somebody else who's perceived more as the face of a franchise, a popularity superstar like LeBron James, despite the fact

It's basically like the... Would Knicks fans do Brunson and Cat? Like if the money worked? Brunson and Cat and then you get Luka. How would you not? Oh, I don't know. I think Knicks fans love this fucking team.

The original one's unbelievable. I could watch those guys. I was mad I ran out of videos from those guys. I wanted more. You know what my new one is? I was on Instagram. Cool. And... There was this guy that was just posting his VR chat visits to everybody. I got caught in like eight or nine of those. It was unbelievable. All right, anyway, back to reality.

So the no's are what? So the no's are Wemby, Jokic. SGA. SGA. That's like the hard no's. I still think SGA is I got to think about it. No. Jokic is a hard no. Wemby's a hard no just because of the possibility and where you're at in the timeline and all that kind of stuff.

I think we did some good work there.

He covers the Lakers. I see him every time I go to the games there. I've seen him around LA for a while. He does a great job on the NBA. Jovan Buha joins us from The Athletic, who covers, as I said, the Lakers. Again, Buha's block, his podcast, which I was checking out clips of this morning. So Saturday night, all of us, are you serious? This is happening. So like normally I would ask why?

Well, that's an easy yes. It's Luca. How? I think we know those pieces, but I'll ask more. Is there anything that you've been able to, learn, gather like a piece that you've put together since late Saturday night till today that gives you a better understanding of this deal?

Look, the last two years, Anthony Davis was the better basketball player between the two guys. For the Lakers, it's a franchise reset, and it should be. Who cares about 2025? I don't like their defense on the perimeter right now. Who cares? Because once Luka becomes available to you, you trade for Luka, and you worry about the rest of it later.

Maybe that's the most interesting part of this because I've spent so much time on the Mavs thing. It's pretty clear. It resets 2025. It probably changes what you're capable of doing. They've been playing better, but it's just a reminder that when somebody like this becomes available, none of your 2025 plans mean anything. And it's, it's a shift into whatever the Luca phase is.

And maybe there's some other little piece here at the trade deadline, but you know, on the perimeter defensively between LeBron Reeves and Luca, it was like, Oh my God. But it's like, well, you can't, no one would ever go, well, you know what? I'd say yes, but I don't like our perimeter defense. And now we only have Jackson Hayes at center. So this doesn't make basketball sense right now.

It speaks to just hit the reset button because you would hope, to get one of these. Granted, Lakers is a little bit different with their history, but as I've said earlier, big franchises could go 25, 30 years and never get somebody like this, and they just got it.

You know, we talked about it on Saturday a little bit. I've seen it discussed like, oh, well, you know, LeBron is so great on the ball, which is true. I mean, he's, he's brilliant. And it's one of my favorite things about his entire career.

And it's kind of funny where it's like, well, some of these stupid podcasts, it'll be like, well, he doesn't actually have the scoring mentality of like, whatever. You're like, dude, whatever, you know, just the guy's a brilliant, brilliant basketball player. and he's put up plenty of scoring numbers.

It would tell you he's a scorer, but he's just such a terrific passer and his vision and all these different things. Like that's the bonus on top of everything else. All right. But with Luca now at this phase, like I think if LeBron stays for a couple more years, now granted, like the other day, I think it was last month. They were like, how much longer could you play?

And he was like at a high level. It was like five to seven years. I mean, it was insane, but whatever. I would expect him to answer it that way. So if he looks at his window with the Lakers and says, okay, this actually makes a little bit more sense.

I think this is, this is actually a really good basketball fit now for him with where he's at in his career because like Austin Reeves has been running point guard even if I probably like

the LeBron stuff now the Knicks thing was a little different because OG hurts his foot so he's out so now Josh Hart is on LeBron LeBron was brilliant his execution late in that game and Hart was also physically just overmatched on top of everything else so there's all these LeBron on ball initiating the offense possessions that I love but it was just a lot to ask of him to do that at this stage of his career so that's why Reeves is doing it so much so I do think that there's a basketball fit

That makes way more sense as opposed to like LeBron and Luka in his prime. So there's another part of the LeBron future that I'm going to ask after that. But from like the basketball standpoint, I know it's an incomplete roster and everything, but would you agree that it actually is an assist to him as opposed to being redundant early in his career?

Some have said the Lakers got sick of LeBron and Clutch.

I'll hear you out. But, you know, you were so sick of Clutch and LeBron that, what, you gave LeBron a two-year, $100 million extension with a player option? You drafted his son. You hired another new coach, this time it being J.J. Redick. And I don't want to be dismissive of J.J. by saying, oh, you hired his podcast co-host, because I love the J.J. Redick hire. And again, I'm biased. I like J.J.

Okay, two LeBron questions there. is he still on the Lakers at the end of the week? Yes.

Okay. Do you think that he opts out and then wants to do an extension with the Lakers this summer. I do.

Okay. I touched on this in the open too, where I heard it said, whether it was, you know, in, in reports or people talking about it on shows or just phone calls that you're making, it's like, oh, the Lakers, you know, starting to get sick of this whole clutch thing. And my point would be like, well, yeah, they got sick of it to get Luca. Like this is not, I don't think that that's,

the time like you can tell me that they're tired of clutch this is not a great example to show that they now have this backbone where they're going to push back against all of this stuff and that's why they traded Anthony Davis they traded Anthony Davis because they just got Luka fucking Doncic right but what is What is accurate about that dynamic, the angst that goes along with it?

Redick. But, Recent history tells us you weren't that sick of them. So this week you got sick of them? You got sick of AD? You got sick of LeBron? You're going to take some power back? No. You can say those things to people and be like, ah, you know, it's starting to get a little old here inside the building. No, Luka was available, and that's why you did this.

Because, you know, some people are kind of going back and replaying it of like, well, when Anthony Davis asked for help and then, you know, that's LeBron 101. And then this trade deadline, you know, all the passive aggressive stuff that you know that you're signing up for here, which I think ultimately is like really easy to ignore and super pointless. And we make a big deal out of it.

I think the people that do it for a living are like, oh, cool. You want us to trade for a better player? Awesome. Thank you. Awesome. Yeah. Like, we'll see you with 710 for tip. What do you think is fair about that dynamic?

Because play it out on the other side. What if everybody got along? What if the Lakers are the front office and ownership and everybody was like, we love Clutch. It's awesome. No complaints. You would have turned this offer down? Of course not. You would have traded for Luke because you can't believe Luke is available and available only to you. Why would Dallas do this? sure.

Yeah, that's why I chuckled. And we don't need to stay on that because we're talking about somebody in high school where I think it's just entirely different. Once you have an NBA jersey on, you're getting a contract, you're part of the conversation now, and we're going to talk about it. But I did think after that Philly disaster, it was nice to see JJ Redick get him out there from the MSG game.

I thought it was really smart by Redick to just do it so quickly. Like, hey, get another game. They had taken control. It was really a phenomenal Laker performance from start to finish, their defense and everything, and the crowd's chanting. And I think other coaches would just be defiant, be like, oh, you're going to make a mockery of this whole thing. Like you're chaining Bronny.

We're not going to put him in. And instead he puts him in. And again, the basketball part of it's fairly irrelevant, um, because he probably not an NBA player right now. All right. That's all I want to do on that. So I don't even want any followup to any of that stuff. Let's stay in the AD thing. Cause you know that he wants to play power forward. Um,

And it's funny because in theory now with the roster, with Dallas, granted it's dependent upon Gaffer and what Lively's availability could be if he's even going to be available towards the end of the year. that there are centers on paper that he should be playing with.

My guess would be Dallas and Jason Kidd will close with him at center the same way the Lakers did when they told him he wasn't really the center, but it just made way more sense. And if you look at that heat finals, when they won it five years ago, I was going through the minutes this morning. LeBron led the team in minutes of 236. Davis played 229.

The only other big that's on the radar here is Dwight Howard at 71 minutes in that series in particular. So, I understand his point, and some of it's a bit like I've had these injuries. It's like, dude, you've had injuries. Wherever you want to pretend that you were aligned and how you were introduced and everything, you were around him for years. What is this about when every number tells you?

And the reality is Dallas is going to close with him at center, I bet, in playoff games, even if they have the options of Lively and Gafford.

Johan, I'm glad that you gave us that timeline because the examples that you're using are really easy to forget, especially if you want to push the idea that they've only gotten what they've wanted. I guess in the Post-Donchich trade stuff that I don't really have a ton of time for is that all of a sudden it's like, this doesn't work anymore.

When it's like, dude, you've gave three things in seven months that I can point to that are fairly in Clutch's favor. And it says, this trade has nothing to do with the relationship, is my point.

We can talk about his conditioning, his injury history. Fine. We can talk about the contract. He was eligible for five years, 348 million super max. He's not eligible for that now that he's been traded. There's a way if you were to opt out after 10 years in, he can make some of that money back. Um, did they maybe offer him less?

Yeah, when I was running through those minutes too, JaVale didn't play. But his numbers, as far as his playoff log, even for that year when they won it, you could point to, well, AD played more because JaVale wasn't available and they were only playing Dwight and all this different stuff.