You were in the market for free agent? Who do you want to get in that group three? Are you getting a cut? I think he's getting a cut. This Welcome into what's vernon? I'm fresh off of plane from Denver, right and chipper and cheery after forty five minutes of sleep. But the Nuggets are NBA champions. Matt Barnes, boogy cousins, welcome in. Look is this what you expected? Is this going into this finals? I think you both picked the Nuggets? So would you think.
First of all, let's just talk about your night. I hit so Nate hit me last night, asked him, I'm coming in. I'm like, yeah, I'm coming in. Who am I working with? Because I just saw Rachel getting champagne nearly poured on her, Like she's in Denver in the locker room, right, yeah, in Denver in the locker room. He's like, no, she's catching an early fight. So what was your give us your last twenty four hours?
All right? So flew out to Denver, you know, there for the game and kind of you know, we expected, Okay, we're because we think the championship could happen. And Miami jumps out to that sizeable lead. At the start of the game and you're thinking, Oh, okay, now I gotta make plans for Thursday. What's happening? This is what happens. Everybody in the media section.
Do you pack for? What to do you pack for? You have to pack for Denver?
And I was gonna come home between either way, but some trips you do, right, So it just kind of depends. But yeah, everyone in the media section is partly concerned about the game and partly concerned about how it will affect their plans to go home or not. And then as Denver kind of makes the comeback and it just Miami to me. I don't know, you guys thought it just thought. At some point you run out of legs, right, like just Jimmy Butler looked like he couldn't elevate, like
the team BAM couldn't do everything. And it felt like Denver was settling in. And then those last two minutes were absolutely bedlam and the arena was going crazy. It was so much fun. And then postgame wants they're awarding the trophy. It takes really long time. All the stuff is happening, and they've never won a title in Denver before. For the nuggets. Obviously they've won a bunch of other stuff.
So the streets were bananas. I saw people were like, you know, honking everywhere, traffic everywhere, out in the streets.
I saw Aaron Gordon out in the streets with his people.
Aaron left the arena in a very good place. That's good is that it's a final champagne.
There you go, as he should big So.
Yeah, and then you know they were letting off a lot of fireworks. And then I wake up this morning and hear that one of those fireworks was sadly a shooting. So you know it's rough when that happens. But yeah, I was four thirty in the morning in a car on the way to the airport so I could come be and hang out with you good people with dedication.
Boom, that's serious. Okay, Now back to the game. As you were saying, yeah, exactly, I just thought, obviously Miami had a hell of a run, historic run in my opinion. I mean, you didn't finish with the championship, but where they came from to what they did, and I say they had the most heart and just everything you need to win. Denver just had more talent at the end of the day, Like I said, I think Miami got
as far as they could possibly got. Jimmy was great the entire time, struggled the entire game until the last two minutes and and made it interesting and only the way he can do it. But at the end of the day, you know, Jokic was incredible, Murray fairly consistent. The others that stepped up, Aaron Gordon was huge, Porter Junior played well in a few games. So I just think Denver overall had more talent and and got the job done. But man, hats off to Mike Malone and
those guys. First championship. I saw something that said stan kronky' is the first owner that had what for American sports titles in the last two years. That's not he's making money across I had played. Still that's still you're winning money.
Man.
But yeah, shout out to Denver, man and congratulations for sure.
But would you think of the way the finals went overall?
I mean, I think we can all say nobody expected this to be, you know, the finals this year. Yeah, Miami was you know, a super big dark horse, and you know, on a version not even making the playoffs, they going to like Matt said on story where in the wins. Obviously Denver wasn't the favorite to come out, especially with the big trade happening with Kadie earlier in the season. So just a lot of things didn't really
go as expected. Boston was expected to come out of the East or the Bugs or you know, a team of that nature, and you know nothing when is playing. But I will say I felt like this was the finals that you know, us as basketball fans and just fans of the game in general, had needed to see. And with that being said, it's a different look. It's something we haven't seen. We saw where to a big man's now down to nating the game. And again, I mean I would say for the past decade it's been
dominated by mostly guards. So I believe is the NBA is now on the verge of making another shift in its playing stop because we all know the NBA is a trendy league. Uh you know, want to go to State went on their run the entire league when small yep. And one thing that stood out to me about this finals matchup.
Is dem is just a big ass team.
A gentlemen man. Right.
You got a seven foot center playing the point, you got a power forward that sixteen spreading the floor. You got another small floor power forward at sixteen spreading the floor, and athletic. You got a championship guard in KCP. And then you know the icing on the cherry on top of Jamal Murray as.
Your big shot maker.
So it's the perfect combination. And it's now a time where the league has to adjust again. So I think the league has to start going big again. You know, we have to see what just to match up with just different team because they're locked in for a few years down the line, and this is a team that the league is gonna have to continue to see.
Well, yeah, I love that take. But is it is it a new age big? I don't think it's a back to the basket bang big. Is it Is it a like like your style, Big Jokic style, embad style, just big that can do everything or do you feel like guys are going to be effective just dropping it down again and going to work.
I think it's both.
I mean, he's a new style Big, but let's be honest, he's doing on the offensive end. He does most of his damage in the posts, and I think that plays into the factor of teams of garden a seven foot offensive, a three level scoring offensive big at seven foot with a small forward or power forward or today's power forward. It's just the matchups don't make sense. So, I mean, the last time we saw Jokic actually be held to you know, decent or average numbers the championship LEGAC team
and they had Dawhite Howe, a traditional big. So I think you got to put all that into, you know, in the play when it comes to how did we defend this championship thing.
Because they're gonna have a nice little run.
Well yeah, yeah, what you're talking about with the bigs. The three finalists for MVP this year all big men, right, and who's the highest rated prospect in years and years about to come into the league victor another big and who does play in a different style. Right, he's taking the ball off the floor and you know, duck and weave it all. Yeah, So I think we're going to
see that shift absolutely, kind of absolutely. There was a bunch of times last night where Denver was having trouble hitting the three, where I was screaming like, why don't we just go to the basket. And by the way, on both sides with the Heat too. There was a period on some of these games where the Heat were struggling to get their shots to fall, and I'm like, just go to the basket. Three is more than two,
but two is more than zero. And you know, Jokic goes down there like a freight train can get the team out of that slump and going again. So I do think, I just I think we're gonna see more and more of that for sure. And look, Yokic well deserved finals MVP. These were his numbers, guys, thirty point two points per game, fourteen rebounds a game, seven point two assists per game, uh, steal in a half per game. He's only twenty eight years old. I mean, it's bonkers.
He also showed again why he's a different kind of superstar. Did you guys see the clip of them asking him about the parade?
He wanted to go home, right right?
Did you see this? Billy? They really go were you excited to be in your first parade? And he got very agitated and looked to the PR guy and was like, wait, when's the parade? And probably Thursday, news man, I got to get home.
Yeah, no, that's funny. Yeah, shaking the champagne either. He looked kind of uncomfortable doing that. But I think Rachel, there are so many amazing storylines from a standpoint of obviously Jokic getting over that hump two times MVP again, we got a chance to, you know, interview his agent and kind of tell how he was found in the newspaper,
which is crazy. Now you look at him and he's, you know, a two time MVP Finals MVP and a champion Jamal Murray, you know, thinking he was damaged goods, you know, trying to live down bubble Jamal, and he was able to win a championship. Aaron Gordon out of nowhere. I mean, he played incredible.
And accepting a different role, yes than he had.
He was twenty one, twenty point game score over in Orlando and he sacrificed. But to me, that's one of the dopest ones because I started playing with Aaron Gordon when he had just turned fifteen years old. He used to come to San Francisco and playing the keys Oar Summer League, and I was throwing this little fifteen year
old kid lives. I'm like, yo, this kid's gonna be a fucking monster, and I got a chance to meet his family and everybody, and then to see him grow through high school, go to college for a year, and then you know, do what he did in Orlando, and then like you said, you know, accept a role of you know, being being a star in his role on a championship caliber team. So that was dope. Michael Porter Junior,
all the back trouble he's had. And then guys like my brother DeAndre Jordan, you know that the first one out of the Lop City trio to get a ring maybe the only one. You know, I'm hoping out. I'm holding out for Blake and Chris. You know, Jeff Green a former teammate of mine who I think we'll talk about later. You know, had a long career of battle with former teammate. Everyone almost died, you know what I mean, had had the heart condition and bounce back from that.
So it's just a bunch of different guys. Ish Ish Smith has played on as many teams as years, So I mean, I was just really happy. Like Boogie said, it wasn't the team we expected to be there, either team, but when you look at it and the way they played, the way they handled the business, and then the character of guys on the team along with Mike Malone, great guy. You know, I couldn't be happier for them.
Yeah. I was talking to Michael Porter Junior after the game and he was bringing up those surgeries. He just said, he's like, yeah, he's like threes back surgeries.
It's serious. People don't come back from him.
Before twenty four years old. He's like, no one expected me to be here. And Aaron Gordon, I will say that I've I've covered him off, you know, pretty don't know as well as fifteen years old, my lord, but covered him in Orlando and then through this and I frankly not just at the finals, but I have not seen him happier, oh man, than he has been in Denver. He had like a weight lifted off of him, which is pretty cool to see. I want to put you guys in the company that Nikola Jokic is in right now.
So players with two MVPs and a finals MVP, Michael Jordan, Kareem Lebron, Wilt, Magic Bird, Moses Jannis, Steph, Tim Duncan and now Jokic. That's the lists, all greats.
What is that? Fifteen people? I can't count that fast. You know, I finished school, but I wasn't pay attention. How many is that name? Eleven eleven? So only twelve people in the history of the game. That's incredible, man.
That's pretty insane. So how much better do you think he could get? Buggy man? Like, have we seen this?
Fact?
Is the fact that this is?
It's crazy because if you really think about him as a person, in his personality, it's like he doesn't even really like basketball.
So you sit here and ask the question, how much better could he get?
Like imagine if he actually liked or loved basketball, that's how much better he could get at this game. But I mean, the dude is an incredible talent. I mean he's shown it on a nightly basis. He's in an elite company, and now these conversations do start. I spoke on it earlier in the years, like when he came to the three MVPs, was he that caliber of a player yet? And I felt like things were still up in the air. I felt like he still had improved.
You shut me up. He proved everything literally about four to five months later. So he's now an the League company, and you know, those conversations start and you.
You think about it. I mean, as athletes, this is when we hit our prime as far as just our body, our strength, or you know what I mean, all that kind of stuff. So his touch can is going to continue to get better, his craftiness is going to continue to get better. I mean, he's clutch. I think he has a nice and if they can keep this core together, this is a nice and everyone don't be a prisoner of the moment. But you just look at it, as
Boogie said, as just basketball. When you look at this team, this is a really good basketball team that is kind of changing the dymanic naming of the game as we speak. So to me, this team has a nice three or four year run, you know, an opportunity to win a championship. I feel like in the next three or four years a couple of them if possible. So it's gonna be fun.
Well, if you look at the roster, they've got their top five guys locked in for the next two seasons at least. And I think this is a little bit of what was going on with Lebron after that last game the Lakers played. I still I'm gonna say it again,
I do not think Lebron is retiring. But I think after you get your ass swept by a team that you know is just going to keep being that same team for the next couple of years, I think you look forward to what is ahead of you on that Lakers team and you think, what we clearly I mean, they didn't even win a game off of them, right, So you think, Okay, well, we clearly don't have enough to beat them, and what's going to be different next year except the Lakers will have gotten older. So I
get it what that thought process was in the moment. Now, obviously, the summer happens, and moves are going to get made and all that stuff, But it's it's I get why. It's demoralizing for the rest of the league.
It's the jokers time. Quit playing. God damn it, it's the Joker's time.
I mean, what do you think? But do you think that? I mean, they're Do you think they're the team to be now in the NBA?
Absolutely are.
They're the champions As of next season when it starts to they will be the defended champions. So they're absolutely the team you have to go through. Like I said earlier, it's the NBA is gonna have to adjust now because over the past five six seventy seasons, let's just say the decade that go to States domin, every team has built their team to match up with Golden State, and most teams are.
In this in this structure.
So now teams are going to have to defunct, go back to the drawing board, and now have to build a plan to match up with this Denverson for the next as of right now, two to three years. But who knows how it plays out contract wise for these guys. Let's say they all get extended, then this is something we got to match up with for the next couple of seasons.
So I think it is.
It's gonna send a shockway through the league obviously, and you know, teams now have to start adjusting.
And I think, as as Rachel mentioned, having your core five sign for the next two years, you're not out having to make desperate moves in the summer. They're gonna get good pieces. They're going to help them. They don't have to be crazy number expensive, but they're going to get good, solid pieces because they don't have to make any desperate moves. Their core is set. So now they're strategically picking out like, hey, who are the two or three guys we can bring in. I think obviously that
the obvious sign is to resign Bruce Brown. I think he played well. But it'll be interesting because I was about to say it's gonna be interesting because I think obviously they're going to throw the bag at him. So you know, you got to find strategic pieces that can kind of come and fit in with our core. And you know, I have a lot of confidence they're going to be able to do that. So yeah, I definitely feel this run is a two or three year, four
year run. Yokic has a nice four or five year run in him, so it's it's going to be his time for a minute.
Well, if mister Cousins is correct, and teams around the league are gonna have to restructure a little bit to face this, it sounds like someone's gonna have to go out and get to Marcus Cousins.
If they're smart, they might.
I can tell you that, what did you think of your guy Mike Malone?
Super happy for him.
I mean, like Matt said, there's so many storylines that play into this championship team uh and and Mike Malone is just one of the many. Uh It's well documented. He's one of my favorite coachs ever played for. He came into the game with me as a head coach, so we have our history, we have you know, our
connection or whatever. So just knowing how his story played out in Sacramento and you know, being able to move on to Denver and find you know, a foundation and a home and to be able to be on this run from the beginning, the building this championship team.
It's not a storybookinding.
So I mean happy for him, well deserved, hell of a coach, and this is just he's also building his legacy as a coach along with you get building his He's you know, on the verge of building his as well. You know, I mean well deserved. So the flowers of you, Coach Malone.
One of my favorite things was before Game one, both Mike Malone and Eric Sposo spoke and they both made the point that there are years that other franchises would have fired either one of them, right like coach both said, He's like I would have been fired four or five times in another franchise. This is a patient franchise in Denver's the same way with Michael Malone and I interviewed Stan Krunky last night and I asked him about it. I said, what made you stick with Michael? What made
you stick with Jamal Murray? When some people would have been like, oh man injury prone, or you know, oh this acl we got to figure something else out or something like that. He's just I just believe if we're doing the right thing, we're doing the right thing. And you just wish maybe more owners in sports will this will rub off on them instead of panicking every five seconds when not every team can win a championship. Yeah.
I just think it's a chain reaction with the media now that we live in such a what have you done for me lately? Society? You know, you look at Monty Williams his winning percentage in Phoenix and you fire money Williams like what the fuck like? And then he goes and breaks the bank for head coaches. So I agree,
I mean there's something to be had. You look at Golden States run, how they kept their pieces together, kept their coach together, you know, did and refined until and that's why they were able to sustay and have run. I just don't know if it's that kind of game anymore, unless you build foundationally. You know, you look at Oklahoma City, they're building foundationally. It will be interesting to see who
continues to run them. But you know, there's a handful of teams that are doing it the old school way, and the old school way is the way you not to just sneak in and get won school ways to have a sustainable run. It's like Golden State did.
Yep? All right, Well let's talk about what some other teams should do. Right, So I want y'all to play GM for me for a minute here. First up, the Celtics big choice ahead of them. Do they extend Jalen Brown. It's almost three hundred million dollar contract that they're talking about, which means they're also in line to extend Jason Tatum next summer, also for a nearly three hundred million dollar contract.
So the Jalen Brown decision, because Tatum seems pretty automatic, the Jalen Brown decision is are you going to lock up six hundred million dollars over the next five years into players? And remember Grant Williams as a free agent also sort of the factor there. So I don't know what would you do, BUGGI if you're a Boston.
I'm paying the money.
I think it's I think it's you have you have two all NBA guys locked in together for five six years, like it only makes makes sense.
They're young.
You can find another Grand Wing so I think Grand Williams is the hell of the player. But you can find another guy to play a Grand Williams role. You keep those two guys together and you build that foundation, the same thing you're speaking out speaking about, you know earlier. Yeah, start the foundation with these two guys and build it. I think they're the correct pieces. So I was gonna think you can go on the market and find something better.
Yeah, I agree. I'm signing both of them, and we just spoke to This is about building and again this will be what you're five or six for them together coming up.
They're twenty four and twenty three's right, and they're.
Still so.
Babies.
Hell, yeah, you lock. My question is, and I love what Marcus Smart brings for that team, but is he the wild card that you dangle after this possibly see what you can get to kind of mix up that flow.
Obviously you have Brogden still, who is a very capable, uh you know, starting point guard, and I don't ever want to take anything away from a Marcause to me and Marcus smartest similar to a Draymond Green in Golden State, I really But I feel like Draymond is the one that really makes them go, and you know that's why he'll I feel like he'll continue on. Marcus mart has been a great piece, defensive player of the year. I feel like he's their heart and soul. But I think
that something needs to tweak with that team. If you're going to keep Brown and Tatum, which you definitely should, and I you know, Marcus mart could be back, but I think Marcus Smart is the one player you could possibly get some good pieces for to kind of shake up and and and bring some new life to that team. What is your thoughts?
He'd have to change the green hair, which would be distressing.
He needs to cut that shirt off anyway.
But I love I.
Mean, he's one of my favorite guys to cover.
What do they need?
He's the kind of guy that you want to see on your team, right Marcus.
Yeah, I mean, I love Marcus Smart. He's one of my favorite players. I don't like he flopped sometimes a little too much for me, But the dog, the heart, the big shots the big nuts. He takes big shots and is not afraid to miss him. So I really like Marcus Smart. Boot your question, what do they need? I mean, obviously, I think I like what Robert Williams brings to their team. He's the type of center that team needs. It's not gonna get a lot of touches.
He works with what he gets. I'm thinking possibly a solid power forward. It would have been interesting to see, although older, it would have been interesting to see what Gallinari could have differ for their team this year, you know what I mean? Him going down to that ACL, I think through a little wrench in the plans, but I think a solid power forward who can can shoot, run and rebound, you know, so there's not a ton of those out there. I like what's his name over
in Minnesota, nas Reed? Is that his name? He's feel like he's one of these players that can go and really put a team over the top. But yeah, like I said, again, love Marcus Smart everything he's done for that team. But I think he's the one piece you can still get quality pieces for So I think you you know, you put him out there to kind of see what you can get.
All right, let's move on to the Suns. They got a question out there, is CP three you going to play for that team next year? There's been kind of conflicting reporting. It does seem they're working toward maybe moving him on. There's the DeAndre news right that he was on the block, maybe a little less on the block now that Frank Vocal is there. But how are they going to get the depth and the defense and the
pieces they need. I mean, they got to move and change something because we saw they just they weren't deep enough in the playoffs. They gave up all that stuff for Kevin Durant, which by the way, I would do too, is Kevin Durant, but this is this is the time. You got to make that up. So what do you think they should do with Chris and DeAndre?
Well, it's no question one of them has to go.
And it's not that any one doesn't bring value to that team, because I think they both do. But you got to hopen up some money so you can add depth to that team and fill in the holes that you do.
You know, yes you do have to fill in, but you can't keep both of them.
Obviously, with Kevin being up in age, it will kind of lean you more towards keeping Aiden because he is younger, he will be more available than a guy CP's nature, So it just kind of only makes sense to lead towards eight. But freeing up I think it's all about freeing up the money and just trying to fill into depth. Those are the clear two answers of which one do you go with to make that happen?
Yeah, no, I agree. Unfortunately, Chris will be the odd man out because of his age. But if you think about they have their two superstars. They have Aiden who's on the verge of being something. He's got so much talent he could be an All Star if he wants, or he can just blend in if he wants. I mean, that's how much talent Aiden has, right And then outside of that, like you said, but if you can free up some money, you got to go get pieces that fit because you have their two go to guys and
those are two cod boys right there. So again I think CP will be the odd bamp. But then I also think, you know, we've been seeing across social media there's gonna be a lot.
Of takers for one of the rumored takers could be the Clippers.
Clippers, Clippers. I heard Clippers, Warriors, I heard Lakers. Yeah, you know, you hear a lot of different things. I mean, Chris has made a ton of money. I've never count nobody's pockets, but he's made a ton of money. So I think at this point he would probably strategically fit into a place for lesser money obviously, so it'll be interesting. I mean, I'm sure coming home could be a priority.
You know his Yeah, he lives in LA and he's been gone the last you know, handful of years, and his kids are getting older now, so I'm sure that could be a priority. Uh, you know, you hear Golden State, you know what that could be like. So if he doesn't end up in Phoenix, which I don't think it will happen, I think he's going to end up somewhere he's still happy with.
I don't know if he goes back to the Clippers. Maybe you've got to go back to the Clippers.
No, I'm too old for that. But I'll definitely be there chair back here, Yeah, I definitely there. The band back together.
The Sons. Six guys under contract right now.
All I need to sign as well. Yeah. Producer Nate Letting us know that Sons have six guys under contract, so that is a thin roster. They need to need to do something. So let's get to the Lakers, right. You've got Austin Reeves, Rijachimura. You could sign technically both resigned both of them, but then you really can't do anything else, or you can keep one of them. There's still rumors that they're going after Kyrie Irving. What would you do that?
M tough. I would love to see the Kyrie and Lebron reunion, but I just don't know. We were just talking about Phoenix. That would be such a top heavy team with older stars in Lebron, and you know, I just don't know if that's the move you make that youth the injection of youth in February is what got this team over the hump.
You know.
Obviously Lebron and a d being healthy and being available was key, but the injection of youth is what really you know, probably say some jobs over there in that Laker office, you know. So it's yeah, it's you know, I'm here. You know you're hearing people are gonna throw the bag at Austin Reeves, and I think that's dope. Hachimore was super, super solid. I still think has a lot of potential. You know, these what is the fourth or fifth year, He's still really young player in this league.
So both guys were great. If you sign both those guys, and are you gonna be able to fill out the an adequate roster with Vetman's you know, I don't really know numbers and ship like that, but you definitely I would try to keep both. Who knows if they are going to be able to afford to keep both, but they need youth, plain and simple.
I agree. I don't really know what angle they should take either.
Ria. It's like confusing. Do you go all league You're gonna be super top heavy, You're gonna build and give them some help.
Again, they just got spanked by Denver, so that's sort of the standard you got to hold yourself to. What what team could you build that would compete with Denver in the West?
I mean, obviously, if you if you decide to keep ruining, you would feel like they would be going up to Kyrie. And if they decided to keep off, and that would kind of could Kyrie out right?
Uh, Angel Russell's the odd man out if they go after happening anyway.
Well, we know, obviously, we know they're gonna have to put some size next to a d uh to match up with Denver. Man I could say this, I would hate to be the GM and the Lakers right now.
Man, I don't know what I mean.
Obviously, Lebron's gonna want to, you know, finish out his time then compete for a championship, so you have to kind of by his wishes as well.
It's tough, right, yeah, they the Lakers are in a very tough situation. Let's just.
Here's the other wild card with the Kyrie factor is Kyrie, Anthony Davis and now Lebron who used to be an iron man. But you know, we all get older. None of those guys has played more than sixty five games last season. So you're getting into a situation if those are your top three guys and they all have an injury history at this point, who's gonna be on the court from right tonight? What are you getting?
I'm getting nas read I said it earlier for Boston. He's a free agent. He just told me he's a free agent. What if you let Ruy slide, which you know, good luck, go get your money sign Austin signed nas Red. He's a monster. Versatil could play the four and the five, has a nice handle, could stretch the floor. He's a dog, and then fill around with what else you could fill around with.
Well, it'll be interesting to see.
Seriously, Like to me, he's my favorite, and I just I didn't know he's a free agent. He's one of my favorite and he doesn't even have to be a superstar. I just know his motor, how he plays. He's a dog. He's gonna make any team a lot better. So I would risk I would, And to be honest, this is not a knock on Kyrie. I just think for the Lakers, I would take a nas Read first to go out there,
and there really a lot of fire. Bobby portis type, you know, guys that can really just kind of bring that grit, but also give you numbers because it's important they get numbers too. They can't just have dogs that are just dogs. You need something to give you numbers too. So yeah, I think you know, like you said, but it's not going to be an easy job for whoever's making those decisions over there this year this summer, and.
Kyrie is going to get offered a lot of money by Dallas, so we'll have to see how that factors into it too. By the way, if he's looking for not looking for a new agent.
Man, right here, bro, you already know what it is.
We know who gotcha Blazers. Big question marks up in Portland. Right So, Damian Lillard, you know, kind of hinting he might be open to a trade already, Like talking on another Showtime program about his possible favorite trade destinations, He's like, well, I could go to Miami, but that sort of thing. I don't you know. I don't know this for sure. My opinion is that he will not go ask for a trade. I don't think that that's really the way his relationship with Portland and the Blazers are set up.
But I do think he's sort of making it known if that's what they want to do, he's not going to fight them on it. And then the question is if they did that, they'd obviously be going toward a youth movement or they've got the number three pick, which is not on Dame's timeline. So do you keep Dame and do you trade the number three pick for to finally get this man more help?
I said this a while ago, and they have to love Dame enough to let him go, to trade him out of respect for everything he's done. I just think it's time. He's been tremendous. But tell me that there's one player in the league that can make Portland a championship team, especially going through the West. Is there one player that that third pick can get you? I don't necessarily think so, So I think it's time to let Dame,
you know, spread his wings. And the fact that Dame has never talked about the shit, and if he has talked about it, he's always talked about being loyal to the soil, still is loyal to the soil. But the fact that he's even entertaining other ideas. I think that's all the signs of Portland need to, like, respectfully, like, you've been amazing. We're gonna hang your jersey up here.
You're one of our all time Portland Trailblazers. But we want you, we want you to finish your your your your the rest of your years in another spot that can.
Possibly, yes, But let me let me ask mister DeMarcus Cousins, is it your experience the teams do generous wonderful things. What's best for the player at their own expense, because I do not see any NBA franchise but what they But.
Can they trade for him?
Right?
They could make a trade, like make trades.
Right, But who are you getting?
You're getting quick A youth movement, a youth movement, and it to me, I mean, obviously a Sacramento organization is a lot different now. But you can't compare Portland to Sacramento, you know what I mean as far.
Just saying Sacramento. But you play for a bunch of teams, Matt, You played for a bunch of teams.
Yeah, but I was never a superstar though, you know, like.
Did you see the team putting the player's best interest above their own team building for the next five years? They trade Damian Lillard, they got to answer to all those Blazers fans.
What about you can't get picks and and all? Like I said, like the it's TAM's run out there.
I don't think obviously that's not a common thing in the NBA, where you know, they look out for the interests of the player. But just knowing the issue between Dame and poor Linn and their long last relationship I do think they'll, you know, kind of grant his way, and I hope you'll in Miami knowing they have Hero, knowing they have three first round picks, I think I think they'll be happy with that. You get a hero, you draft a guy like Schoove Henderson or you know,
it's a lot of talent in his draft. You got a foundation moving forward, you got a hero, you got school, or whatever the case may be.
I think I think you got something moving forward.
I always ask, though, when you're trading a guy like Dame for picks, it is because you hope one of those picks will turn into eventually maybe a Damian Lillard.
You have Dave Lillard, right, but you know you can't do nothing with him though.
The other thing that's complicated about Dame is he makes fifty million dollars a year.
That's a lot of motherfucking money, so.
Good Trading him is also a little bit of a complicated dance because that team has to be able to absorb his salary and for him to actually be in a better situation as opposed to not just be like again the loan superstar somewhere where we've seen that's not quite enough he's got to have a co star who will be making a lot of money. I mean, it's just it's it's copkn It's deep.
Yeah, it's deep. I hope it works out.
Though, Yeah, no for sure, and by the way, where it works out with him on the Blazer still, I mean, I just you want him to find some success either way. Sixers, James Harden, how hard you working to keep him? Buggy?
I think you have to because what other option do you have?
Because if you lose James, then I think you have to start thinking about blowing things up because going to what's going to replace that production? What's on a match up with MB's timeline, the other core pieces been around it, Like, I think, I think you have to. If not, it's gonna be troubling, Uh.
Paradise.
So yeah, what's What's so? Harden is a is a restrict unrestricted free agent?
Does he have a player options? He's just out He's gonna But.
I mean, yeah, I think you go hard on him, but you also got to think, boogie is it is it not time to cut Tyrese Maxi free and really allow him to not not let him go, but allow him to like really be the guy. I mean, he proved he can do it in the playoffs, He's done it in the regular season. He's young. I think he's next in line obviously. You know, James is a twenty and ten guy now and shows you at times he can do more. But do you break the bank for him?
Is the question? How many years do you give him as is another question. H I've never heard it come out of James's mouth, but everyone's saying there's possibilities in Phoenix or Houston. So where is his heart at? You know, he went to college in Arizona, and you know Houston is He's nice on and off the court out there, so it'll be interesting to see. You know, like I said, the the the years and the amount of money, I'm.
Just gonna let all of that pass and move on to the next team. Miami Heat. We're just talking about them. Kyle Lowry is said to make twenty nine million dollars next year, Dunke Robinson eighteen million. So you can keep them, you can trade them. I have to think they're gonna try to move Duncan.
Can you move Kyle? As great as Kyle Lowry was, he's just in a with all due respect. He'll be thirty eight next year making that kind of money.
Can it at.
Once Dame leaves to mentor the younger guys.
He'll be a grave veteran for the.
You can't play golf in Oregon year round the way you can in Miami. I don't know how Kyle's going.
To take bad money. He could build some indoor shit.
Yeah, knowing he'll figure it out. He'll figure out I think.
You know, obviously, Duncan Robinson one of the premier shooters and he just needs time and opportunity. That the amount he's making. I'm never going to talk about no one's money. But he did a good job. You know, he went in there with no mask on and and got that money from them, you know, so that's great, But I would you know, I'm sure there's a ton of teams that would they would take him. I mean again, he's one of the best shooters in the game, and he
just needed time. You saw he went, he didn't play pretty much at all during the regular season. Then when he was called upon in the playoffs, he stepped up and did what he was supposed to do. But he's not someone that's going to be a twenty to twenty two point a game score based off the money you give him. But he can definitely be a guy that can change momentum, you know, twelve to fifteen points if he has the right opportunities.
Yeah. I mean there's people who are mentioning Kyrie's name with that team this.
Morning, Miami. Yeah.
Oh, those might be Kyrie's agents. I don't know. You mentioned the Warriors the Draymond question, right, So Draymond has a player option, and when I talked to him after the Warrior's season it ended, he said, He's like, we haven't talked about it at all. He's like I At one point, he said, a month or two ago he tried to have a conversation with Rich Paul, like, Okay, what do you think we should do? What should we do? And Rich was like, I refuse to speak to you
about this while you're still playing. We got plenty of times talk about it. Once the season is over. I don't get I'm not getting into it. So he's like, I promise you, I haven't any decisions because my own agent won't even talk to me about it. But he's got to decide does he pick up the player option, does he opt out and try to do a new deal with the Warriors. Does he put himself out on the market. You're very close to him, and yeah.
I mean I don't know anything, just like no one else knows anything. But if I'm just thinking Draymond, I mean, obviously you think there was some attractive things outside of the Warriors that sounded cool, you know, Lakers playing with Lebron or them going to Dallas. There's there's some stuff
that sounds cool. But I just think for his legacy, what he's been able to do, what he's meant for that organization, how close he and Steph are, how another year probably under their bell will hopefully mend the relationship, because you're hearing that the Golden State's not actively looking to move pool. Hopefully they can mend that relationship over
the summer. I think dra opts out and takes less money for more years, So I think he'll do a three year for I don't know what the number, maybe sixty millions, you know, seventy million for three years something like that. So obviously they'll be less money per year, but stretch those years out and just see what you have with this. You know, these three core guys until it's time just to say Okay, it's it's over.
I agree with Matn you you got to find a way to let these guys right off on the I said, they've been the foundation for this organization.
They literally made it.
Took this organization from being about worth four hundred million to about seven billion dollars.
The core guy.
Yeah, just that right along. You should figure out a way to let these guys ride on. They should not have to uplift their families, They should not have to address to a new organization. They shouldn't have to find a city that's fitting for them. Lets you be able to ride off in the sunset in the Golden State uniform until they decide to ain't get their sneakers. That's how much value they brought to this franchise.
It's a great part.
A year by year contract still doesn't match up to what they turned this entire franchise into it. So it's literally a global brand because of these guys.
So you have to.
Figure out Kobe, right, Absolutely, you have to figure it out.
You have to, and I mean I think book, I mean we talked about it earlier. I mean not saying that their way of the game is leaving, but it's it's also changable. I think they changed the trajectory of basketball as basketball has been played the last ten ten years, you know what I mean. So you can never put a dollar amount on that for any of those three plays.
So they've been able to put a good dollar mount on Steph, but as far as right, and it's still not worth Like like you said, they went from a three four hundred million dollar team to six billion, seven billions, so you can never pay them what they're worth. But yeah, I definitely agree, they got to They got to keep these cores until I think it would be dope if they just all three retired at the same time or
close to the same time. Like, hey man, it's been cool, like another three years, four years, mid thirties, We're going to live the rest of our lives. We've got the whole Silicon Valley and investments like this fuck around and run to run the business world. Now.
I don't know. Steph told me he wants to play as long as his dad did at least, which was into like I think thirty eight or something, so well.
He's Steph's like thirty thirty five isn't.
He is he thirty five the other movie, they yeah, right there, there you go, you got it, boom boom with that Clay extensions on the horizon too, So they do have questions. I thought Bob Myers leaving might influence the Draymond thing a little bit because he was Dre's biggest champion. But I saw I was at the final press conference for the Warrior when they got knocked out of the playoffs, Steph made a point of lobbying for Draymond continuing on the team, and you saw that Clay
made a point of saying it. So I think they. I think management, even if Bob's not in that chair, management knows it's not just a decision about Draymond or his deal, it's about your other two guys and how they're going to react.
And I think that was maybe Bob's last act maybe you know, obviously it's not publicized, but that, you know, let's just make sure we take care of Draymond and obviously Clay's extension coming up. And then you know, it's been a good run because it has been well.
Now that we've solved all of the problems of all the teams around the NBA, which I really appreciate for us. Let's get on the radar presented by DraftKings. Look only sportsbook you need, and the season is done. But DraftKings, because they're on top of things, they already have next season's championship os out there. Crazy, not shockingly, as you guys both said, the champions get you know, first t that kind of thing. So they're the favorites plus five hundred.
Who do you think is next? You don't look at the screen, give you a guess. Boston nice plus five fifty, right behind them, right, Bucks at plus six fifty, Suns after that at plus eight fifty, Lakers at plus twelve hundred, Warriors at plus twelve hundred, six Ers at plus thirteen hundred, MAVs at plus thirteen hundred, which is a stunning bout of optimism.
That's how you really feel.
I'm sorry, but they didn't make the playoffs. I don't think we're talking about them for a title next year unless they make some big changes. Look, who knows who they bring in. I'm a preserving judgment obviously, and I think that team has potential. But let's not put them in a title conversation as constructed at the moment. Do you think the Celtics are the biggest sort of threat to the Nuggets next year or do you think I
don't know. I think the Suns are a little bit of a dark horse, depending on who they get this summer.
I think I agree with you.
The Signs are a dark horse because just along with their two man guys, you put pretty much anything around it, they're gonna be contenders.
So obviously they're a dark horse.
But I mean with Boston and them being a title contented, it all falls on what they decided to do with Jaylen Brown.
If the odd guard, that's.
Kind of leaning towards Jayalen Brown being themselves with uniform next year. So if that's the case, with the team constructed, I think they got a chance.
I think, uh yeah, I mean I liked well, I think everyone liked Boss in this entire year. I think we underestimated how good ema U Doka was.
Though.
This is the one thing I'll say is obviously, and it's so players got to play, and there were times where Tatum struggled, Brown struggled. They struggled together. They're both great. They're both great separately. Joe Mizzoula, it was a learning year for him because I feel like, and I say with all the respect, I think it's going to be a good young coach. He was getting taken to school a lot of the playoffs with his decision making and inability to adjust on the fly and all that kind
of stuff. So I think, you know, obviously they thought, man, this team is so good, we're gonna risk email and let him go and we can just hire him and it's gonna and and and it didn't work like that. So talent wise, I think they got a lot of talent. I would love to see if they can, you know, again, if if Marcus Smart happens to be the guy that they may sacrifice to shake things up. No, like I said, I like Marcus Smart, but I think something needs to
be shook up. And again, a ton of teams would take Marcus Smart, but if he's the one guy that can possibly shake that roster up and bring some some fresh blood in there. But yeah, I still like Boston even if Marcus Smart returns. But I just think, you know, Jonazula needs to you know, get studying this summer because I think, again, great potential coach. But he definitely we saw his hand a lot in the playoffs.
Well, look, I've said this before. I was in Florida when Eric Spolscher was first starting as a head coach, and he may.
Mistay everyone's going to everyone's going to.
Now we consider him one of the best tacticians in the game. So you know, I think I think you got to give Joe Mizzoula that room. What about Milwaukee, DeMarcus, what do you where do you put them in?
This man?
For some reason, Milwaukee just kind of became a forgotten team. I mean, obviously you have you know, Janni's and building around that the foundation, but I think this year coming up will be a decision for Gianni's with.
What he wants to do with his future.
And obviously don't know the timeline and timeline and his uh, his deal, but.
I definitely think if they're.
Not a team contending or you know, in the finals this year, this becomes you know, where's my next destiny?
Imagine him leaving Holy Ship.
Well that's why, that's why you never know who's going to become available in the summer. Like, okay, so here are the free agents that we know of this summer. Right, You've got James Harden, Kyrie Porzinga, US Chris Middleton. While we're talking to Miami, He's got a player option, Dre Mom we just talked about has a player option, right, Brook Lopez, Who do you think is the most attractive guy if he were in the market for free agent? Who would you want to go get of that group?
Are you getting a cut? He's getting a cut?
This promo is phrase, But nah, I think obviously the only when I look at that list, it's only one guy that that's literally a game changer. And I'm gonna say that's Kyrie r A and and I think Chris Middleton is a great piece to any championship team. But the biggest game changer on our list is Kyrie IRV. So I'm picking him as you know, the biggest free agent of it.
Absolutely especially I don't know, like I said, we've never we never wont insinuator or trying to figure out what he's thinking. But I just think like he hears the noise and he wants to and he showed it times last year, like don't forget who I am as a player. You know, I may march to my own drum off the court, but I'm one of the baddest dudes ever to you know, put the ball in his hand, So I think he it just looks like that's on his mind. You see him out working with kids a lot more
in the summer. That's something he probably got from Cobe. Cobe was doing that, so you see him pouring in and spending a lot of time. So I think, you know, the Kyrie that everyone loved, that the amazing, incredible basketball player. I think hopefully it looks like that is kind of coming back to one of the top priorities. And if that's the case, like like Buogie said, he is a franchise changer.
Although I do think for him Nico Harrison being there and Jason Kidd, who I mean, Kyrie Irving went to Jason Kidds Hall of Fame induction on his own because he was just such a big Jason Kidd fan and wanted to go pay some respects and show some love. Like that shows the relationship there and the respect that
he has for j Kid. So to me, Kyrie, when he has these moments where some of his off the court stuff threatens to eclipse the on the court stuff, I don't think there's a better front office coaching duo for him than the two people who he can really trust, who know him and know how to sort of talk to him in a way that they understand each other. I just it's gonna be interesting to see if he stays there.
Does Dallas have any wiggle room too, if they do give him what he wants or what he's looking for to move or get anybody.
It's really tough. I mean, they're in a tough spot. They may they have backed themselves into some difficult positions with the brunts and decision, the trade that they made for Kyrie, what they gave up like, it's been a tough It's a tough roster there.
To tell them if they end up signing Kyrie, just to call me about Nas. I'll see if we can get him over.
There, right the agency over here. Do but come back from Puerto Rico soon. Please. I know you've got a championship to win out there. I know y'all are marching through getting ready for getting ready for some serious playoff action, but please come home soon. We miss you absolutely.
I planned on it.
Excellent. All right, Well, thank y'all. This wraps up what's vernon for the season. Available every week on Showtime Basketball, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok. We'll be showing some clips and stuff out there, but we'll be back when the NBA is back, well, you know, summer League, but that's different. No one's ever off around here, all right. See y'll