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You need Indeed. Hello

1:10

Lakers Nation. Welcome in the Lakers nation.com

1:13

podcast. I am Trevor Lane and I'll

1:15

tell you what, I'm already missing

1:17

Lakers basketball. That's probably not a good sign.

1:20

It's only been like a couple of days and I'm

1:22

already missing Lakers basketball, but we do have

1:24

a lot to talk about today. We got to talk

1:26

a little bit about Darwin. We've got to talk about

1:29

the situation, blaming coaches versus blaming players. We

1:31

got to talk about the Lakers roster bill

1:33

for next year, which I know is going

1:35

to be a big, big topic of importance

1:37

for this summer as we see the next

1:39

iteration of the Lakers built and really come

1:41

together, whether it be via the trade market,

1:43

via the draft, via free agency. Talk a

1:45

little bit about that as well. Also need

1:47

to dive into the mail bag. But before

1:49

I get to all that, make sure if

1:51

you're not doing so yet, hit the subscribe

1:53

button over on the YouTube channel, subscribe to the

1:55

channel. We are going to be keeping you up

1:58

to date on everything at newsworthy about the. the

2:00

Lakers heading across the summer. We've got a

2:02

lot of stuff going on. It's going to

2:04

be a big, big summer. So make sure

2:06

you subscribe, stay in the know, and of

2:08

course, turn on those notifications as well. If

2:10

you want to be part of our channel,

2:12

membership programming, click that joined button and check

2:14

out the perks that we have to offer.

2:16

Do have a members only live coming up

2:18

tomorrow. All right. Let's get into it. Oh,

2:20

speaking of life, we're going to be releasing

2:23

the live show schedule. Live shows do not

2:25

stop just because games are ending for the

2:27

Lakers. We are still going to be doing

2:29

live shows. We'll be releasing that schedule shortly.

2:31

So you guys will know consistently what evenings

2:33

we go live on. You can come join

2:35

us. We'll talk all through the

2:37

Lakers. We'll take questions, comments, all that

2:39

sort of stuff. We'll have a live

2:41

show schedule coming up real soon, but

2:43

you know, first, let's talk a little

2:45

bit about building this next Lakers team.

2:48

So there are a

2:50

few different paths for the Lakers to

2:52

go down. And I talked about this

2:54

briefly on a live shorts video

2:57

that I did yesterday, but you

3:00

know, first and foremost, I don't want to get

3:02

into the cap sheet, what that looks like for

3:04

the Lakers. Some questions that are still hanging over

3:06

the team, that sort of thing. But before we

3:08

get to all of that, I think the big

3:10

question is who's coaching the team

3:12

and then is very much still up

3:14

in the air and I've got a lot of people saying, well, why,

3:17

why is Darwin still the coach

3:19

right now? Why is this move not been made?

3:21

Who knows by the time, by the time I

3:23

actually published this, maybe, maybe Darwin's not the coach

3:25

anymore, but I would imagine if they're going to

3:27

make that move, it's going to happen sometime pretty

3:29

soon. Um, I don't think the

3:32

Lakers have to, like people are looking at it,

3:34

at it. I'm seeing a lot of negativity that,

3:36

that, oh, they're, you know, they're not, they're just

3:38

not going to do it. They would have done

3:40

it already. No, not necessarily. You have to remember

3:42

the last time the Lakers moved on from a

3:44

coach, last time they changed coaches, but what happened?

3:47

Well, the Lakers came out looking

3:49

really, really bad because Frank

3:51

Vogel got word that he was being let

3:53

go on the podium after

3:57

their final game. So like he had just walked off

3:59

the floor. Or. And the reporters

4:01

inform him that news it just broke that he

4:03

was being. My. Go. That's

4:06

that's not how we want the coach

4:08

of the team to find out. that's

4:10

for sure. That's a bad The that

4:13

that doesn't make the coach look bad.

4:15

That makes the team with bad the

4:17

makes the organization look bad that that

4:19

information leaked out when it did. Now

4:21

obviously there was an article from Athletic.

4:23

There was more stuff coming for me.

4:25

As good a lot of stuff. The

4:27

came out shortly after our the Lakers

4:29

final game. Still, but it wasn't. That

4:32

darwin him as out but there was a lot

4:34

of negative stuff the came out about daughter which

4:36

were going to talk about a bit. How much

4:38

was it on the coaches? How much is of

4:40

the players do think the Charles Barkley said the

4:42

frankly rubbed me the wrong way. I'm not super

4:44

thrilled with it, will get into that in just

4:46

a few moments but. It I'm

4:48

not surprised that the Lakers haven't just come

4:50

out and gotten rid of of Darwin him at

4:52

this point, and I still think things are

4:54

pointed in that direction, but they want to

4:56

make sure that they let everything settled. They.

4:58

Take a look at what's going on. This is

5:01

all the reporting that we've seen, especially stuff coming

5:03

in from Yes Be and a big met him

5:05

and said the Lakers players were going to be

5:07

doing their exit interviews with the team obvious know

5:09

the media but with the team they did their

5:11

media eggs interviews after that file Game five against

5:13

the Nuggets. Up. And that there

5:15

were still going to be evaluating the season and trying to

5:18

figure out what they want to do with our been him

5:20

one way or another. We. Have also

5:22

gotten confirmation that if the Lakers believe that

5:24

the best past path forward and someone else

5:26

as a coach. That. They will do

5:28

that despite the financial ramifications of during that meeting

5:30

that you're going to be paying two coaches at

5:32

the same time you be paid garbage and bestows

5:35

two years left on his deal. If

5:37

you say you're not the Cozzi more,

5:39

you still have to finish paying out

5:41

that contract. So that's an issue too.

5:43

But again, we already got confirmation that

5:45

if the Lakers feel like that's what

5:47

they need to do in order way,

5:49

basketball games, the great. That's. What

5:51

they'll do, they'll hire another coach. We also

5:53

have to factor in one of the players

5:55

say right? The players went through their exit

5:57

interviews yesterday would have you imagine that during

6:00

those Eggs interviews that kind of stuff was

6:02

going to come up. What did you guys

6:04

think about the coach You? How does this

6:06

go? How did that go? Particularly when it

6:08

comes to Le Bron James. It comes to

6:10

Anthony Davis of the the decision makers on

6:12

the team, there's going to be those conversations

6:14

at going to be important that that takes

6:16

place and then you really have to get

6:18

away the land and figure out okay if

6:21

it's if it's not Darvon, let's say we

6:23

move on from drivers. Are. We

6:25

certain. That. We're replacing him

6:27

with someone better. And that

6:29

answer needs to be a yes. right?

6:32

Yeah, it's or needs to be a yes. So there

6:34

are some boxes you have to check. Before.

6:36

You can go and just remove a head coach

6:38

or together think the Lakers learned their lesson the

6:40

last time they moved on from a coach. they

6:42

did a very quickly and. The.

6:45

Frank Vogel mess. The.

6:47

Only ones who came out about look bad it

6:49

was the Lakers, so I'm not entirely surprised that

6:51

it hasn't happened yet again. Who knows. maybe we'll

6:53

have happened by the time I publish this, but.

6:56

I still think that's ultimately where this is gonna

6:58

land the Lakers going to be looking for a

7:01

new head coach. But. I'm.

7:03

Not overly surprised that a lot of people are saying

7:05

oh my gosh, how why have they not made this

7:07

move already? It's taking too long will that? Be

7:10

patient. I think they're aware of the optics

7:12

and they also want to make sure they

7:14

do their due diligence. Talk to the players.

7:16

Figure all that out. Le Bron

7:19

today that the Davis you know that that's or

7:21

is that all those things up the happen first

7:23

before that are going to just jump into this

7:25

sub or it building the let the next Lakers

7:28

team so. I talked about

7:30

this new Voyagers cab see the Soviet

7:32

Saw tracked but. I. Talked about this

7:34

little be yesterday or the channel. Adds

7:37

a sense of the Lakers have to decide

7:39

what kind of a roster they want to

7:41

have. Are. They going to build

7:43

out a three star model of that

7:45

means chasing the likes of Try Young.of

7:47

and Mitchell whatever other stars may appear

7:49

out on the market if they're on

7:51

the market at all, or do they

7:53

want to go with a depth. Build.

7:56

What? Is it that they really want to do? with

7:59

this team And part

8:01

of that is going to be determined by

8:03

who's actually available and who isn't. Are there

8:06

depth pieces they think work? What

8:08

is their assessment of this team? Do they

8:10

believe this team is simply not good enough

8:12

and drastic changes needed? Or do they believe

8:15

minor changes are needed and they weren't that

8:17

far off from beating the Denver Nuggets?

8:19

That's going to be an important hurdle to

8:21

clear as well. How exactly do they see

8:24

the team that was assembled right now? On

8:27

the side of consistency, Rui

8:29

Hachimura, after game five, this is

8:31

what he said. He said, I think

8:34

this is the team. We can be

8:36

in the championship. We just got to keep building. You

8:38

guys see all these teams that are winning,

8:41

they've been building for years, years, years. It

8:43

depends on the team. Every team has a

8:45

different situation, but those are the ones winning.

8:47

We just got to keep building it. Like you

8:50

said, this past 30 games, we had a great

8:52

stretch. I think we'd beat most of the teams

8:54

in the league except for them. Let's talk about

8:56

Denver there. Our chemistry was so

8:58

good. I think playing with these guys, I

9:00

had a lot of fun just on the

9:02

court with them and off the court. I

9:04

felt very comfortable around these guys and I

9:06

had fun. I think we have a lot

9:08

of chance next year. I think we're

9:10

on the right track. So

9:13

here's Rui Hachimura asking

9:15

for consistency, saying we've

9:18

got something here. I

9:20

don't think we need to make big moves. We

9:23

have something here right now. We ran into the

9:25

team we couldn't beat, but I think anybody else

9:27

we would have beat. I

9:29

think he does have a fairly good argument

9:31

there. I think when you look at what

9:34

this Lakers team did, once they were relatively

9:36

healthy, and I'm talking about Rui

9:39

at least being available to be in the starting lineup

9:41

and then making that decision at the coaching level, they

9:44

did. They finished the season strong. I

9:47

thought they really should have. I

9:50

mean, could have should have would have, but

9:54

we're talking about two Jamal Murray shots away

9:56

from being up 3-2 in the

9:58

series coming back. to LA for game six,

10:00

right? Like, and I know it was probably a little bit

10:03

more than just those two shots, but still they're

10:06

right there. They were, I mean, a

10:08

couple of mistakes here there and that series looks

10:10

extremely different. Now the challenge is we said the

10:12

same thing last year. We said

10:14

this last year because it looked the same. We

10:16

got the same result. Some of the games felt

10:18

the same, felt like in some ways, like we

10:20

watched the same game play out 11 out

10:23

of 12 times, right? They all went kind of the

10:25

same way. So

10:27

do changes need to be made. Yes. But

10:30

does really have a point that you don't

10:32

need to burn this whole thing down? And

10:34

this honestly reminds me of

10:36

the 2020 2021 season. I thought the Lakers

10:38

made a

10:41

big mistake then at the

10:43

exit interviews, the players almost

10:46

to a man, just about

10:48

every player at the podium said,

10:51

run it back, said, run it

10:53

back. We are good. We just got hurt.

10:57

And that is indeed what happened in 20. I

10:59

firmly believe the Lakers would have gone back to

11:01

the finals in 2021 had Anthony

11:03

Davis not gotten hurt in round one. He got hurt

11:05

in round one. The Phoenix sons went on to win.

11:07

I think the sons could not

11:09

handle Anthony Davis in that series. The Lakers

11:11

were controlling things. The

11:13

Lakers were going to win that series. AD got hurt

11:15

and it changed everything changed the outcome. I believe of

11:17

the series and then Phoenix made their push all the

11:19

way to the finals and then they didn't

11:21

win in the finals. But I think that

11:24

Lakers team would have gone back. They would have gone back

11:26

to the finals. The Lakers would not have followed that up

11:28

with the Russell Westbrook trade. And over the summer when

11:30

the Lakers were looking at what are we, you know, what are we going to

11:33

do here? I think they overreacted.

11:35

They overreacted. They burned that team

11:37

to the ground, a team

11:39

that had won a championship and

11:42

they had added some pieces. Everybody said they

11:44

had the best off season coming

11:47

after the championship when they added Marcus all they

11:49

added Montrez Harold. They had a Dennis Schroeder. They

11:51

had a West Matthews. The Lakers were seen as one

11:53

of the teams that actually made the best moves of

11:56

the summer. Now you can argue they should have brought

11:58

back to bail McGee should have brought brought back Dwight

12:00

Howard. Sure. Hindsight being 20-20. Yeah, they probably should have

12:02

done that. But but that

12:05

Lakers team was very, very good and

12:07

could have continued to be very, very good

12:09

with KCP. Hell, if you just

12:11

flipped Kuzma for Buddy Heald, which was on the

12:13

table for them to do with Sacramento, rather than

12:16

go all in and go get Russell Westbrook, would

12:18

that have still been the right move? Maybe

12:21

not long-term. Maybe it would have. Who knows what

12:23

Buddy Heald would have done with the Lakers three

12:25

years ago. But the bottom

12:27

line is you could have kept the bulk

12:29

of that team together and continued winning. The

12:31

Lakers overreacted, tried to overcorrect. They go and

12:34

trade for Russell Westbrook and that

12:36

goes down in infamy. It becomes one of the

12:38

worst trades we've ever seen in sports,

12:42

most devastating trades we've ever seen in sports in

12:44

terms of upending a franchise. So then

12:46

when we're looking at this roster right now and

12:49

you say, well, gosh, they weren't that far off

12:52

from beating the reigning

12:54

champs. Do

12:56

you blow this up? Do

12:59

you make minor corrections? What

13:02

do you do here? A

13:04

three-star build would require

13:06

blowing this up, essentially. But

13:09

there's a lot more to this decision

13:11

than just, do I believe in a

13:13

depth roster? Do I believe in a

13:15

three-star build roster? Because LeBron's

13:17

going to be 40. Anthony Davis

13:19

will be turning 32 next year. Both

13:21

guys are playing with Team USA. I don't

13:24

think either guy is going to play 70 plus games

13:26

the way they did this year, next year. So

13:30

do you need a third star to help

13:32

keep you afloat when those guys are out?

13:35

Is that what you need? And this is

13:37

assuming LeBron returns. And that's the other bit to

13:39

this. What does LeBron want? He's

13:41

going to be potentially a

13:43

free agent and the Lakers have already made

13:45

it known that they'll do whatever in order

13:47

to keep him, that they will give

13:50

LeBron whatever kind of contract he wants. Is it

13:52

a three-year deal, two-year deal, one-year deal? You want

13:54

a player option? You want a no trade clause?

13:57

What do you want, LeBron? You tell us. your

14:00

own contract. That's the approach the Lakers are going to have. Right

14:03

or wrong, that's going to be their approach. So

14:06

if that's the case, what

14:08

does LeBron want? LeBron's probably

14:10

going to want the team to use future draft capital,

14:12

whether it's this year's pick, if they, assuming they keep

14:15

it, which I believe they will. I

14:17

mean, the Pelicans won't take this year's pick. This

14:20

year's pick, 2029, 2031, using those picks in trades to try

14:22

to get

14:25

better. But are you going to trade

14:27

away a bunch of players? Are we talking

14:29

really Hachamurrah? Do you let the Andrew Russell

14:32

walk? What about Austin Reeves, Jared Vanderbilt? What

14:34

does that look like? Gabe Vincent. How

14:37

many of those types of guys on

14:39

those salaries, those mid range salaries, are

14:41

you putting into a deal in order

14:43

to go try to get Trey Young

14:45

or Donovan Mitchell or whoever? Are you

14:47

better off trying to hang on to

14:49

most of these guys, maybe trading one

14:51

of them or something in a smaller

14:53

move, attaching a first round pick, adding

14:55

somebody there, and then you

14:57

add some guys on bedroom minimums and things of that

14:59

nature and off you go. Is

15:01

that the plan for the Lakers?

15:04

And again, I will break down

15:06

as we get into, as the summer goes

15:08

on, as we, I mean, we're not even

15:11

into summer yet, but I'll break down different

15:13

options, different players. And once we have a

15:15

better sense of who's really going to be

15:17

available, things of that nature, what trade possibilities

15:19

might be out there and things like that,

15:21

we'll break down a few different roster builds,

15:23

but that's the

15:26

heart of the Lakers decision making. It's what

15:30

kind of a roster do you think is going to

15:32

work best? That's important. And

15:36

informing that decision is going to be what does

15:38

LeBron want to do in order to get him

15:40

back? Cause we know it's a priority for them

15:42

to bring him back and

15:45

who's actually available? Like

15:47

could your hand be forced? I mean, we saw it back in the 2019,

15:51

2020 season, the Lakers wanted a three star

15:53

build. They want to Kawhi, they

15:55

want to LeBron, they wanted AD, Kawhi picked

15:57

the Clippers and That.

16:00

Pushed. The Lakers into a depth

16:03

build. Because. They didn't have

16:05

a choice and it worked out great. But.

16:08

That was a situation where they that choice was

16:10

not. Was simply. Taken away from them

16:12

right what they would do if they had their choice.

16:14

Will do a three star built. So.

16:16

What's actually available will also pushed

16:19

the Lakers one direction or another.

16:21

Maybe. They want to do a three star build

16:23

and that player just isn't available. or they get

16:25

our bid. Maybe Donovan Mitchell by the pretty young

16:27

stays in Atlanta.with Mitchell's the only player on the

16:30

market, And. Seems. Go all inform

16:32

in the Lakers get our bit. Maybe something like

16:34

that happens that pushes them into a depth built.

16:36

Maybe go the other way. They wanted your build a

16:38

roundup. But. All the guys that they

16:40

would target in free agency or on the trade market. they're

16:42

not able to get it done and that pushes them say

16:44

okay what we need to make a change. Let's

16:46

go after Star instead. Now this is very

16:48

nuanced conversation. There's going to be a lot

16:50

more for us to talk about with this

16:52

and as we get young, deeper deeper into

16:54

the summer will be doing roster bills and

16:56

things like that. But. The. Other thing

16:59

they have to explore is. What? Is

17:01

the future look like? What is the post

17:03

the brown future look like? see that's the

17:05

other piece. This if they feel like we

17:07

can get the guy that's going to be

17:09

a one a star for us. After Le

17:12

Bron. Whether. You.

17:14

May say that's not for a young. Maybe say it

17:16

is, Maybe say that sort of image, or maybe say

17:18

that somebody else completely. If.

17:20

They believe whoever it is that

17:22

guy is available does. that also

17:25

changed their thinking because they know

17:27

as a team that as prioritize

17:29

stars for so many years they

17:31

know. That. At.

17:34

Some point, they're going to be building a team

17:36

without Le Bron, and they're going to want a

17:38

reason for people to tune in. And.

17:40

So they can get that guy right now and

17:42

surrender assets to do with. That would help appease

17:44

the brawn. Well. You're

17:46

kind of killing two birds with one stone. There are two. So.

17:50

A lot for the Lakers to way the summer, but

17:52

all of this is sort of. What?

17:55

They're walking into right the the questions they're

17:57

gonna have to deal with as we had

17:59

a do. The. Off season and it's

18:01

going to be. A. Huge! I feel

18:03

a a say it every year. But. It's a

18:05

massive off season that it's going to

18:08

set the Lakers course. For. The

18:10

Future. So. A lot for

18:12

us to get into For sure to get just

18:14

real quick look at the captured you can see

18:16

Le Bron James does have that player option for

18:18

this next year. Once again this is be out

18:20

of contract. Le Bron does have

18:22

that player option or fifty one million

18:24

I think if whether he's. Staying.

18:27

Or going. I. Think the Bronx going

18:29

to opt out. That's. My guess is

18:31

going to opt out. At any to

18:33

sign a new deal, protect perhaps of the no

18:35

trade clause or whatever whatever he wants on it.

18:38

Or. He'll. Opt out and leave.

18:40

I think he's gonna stay, but. That's

18:42

that's where that's at. An idea to Russell has

18:44

a player option I don't see below picking up

18:47

the player option. Maybe

18:49

if the Lakers find the right team to trade

18:51

him to or something, he would. But.

18:54

I. Say he's got. You.

18:56

Know he's got a player. Option is deal for

18:58

a reason. I would have to think about the

19:00

edge or russell. eighteen million is. Probably.

19:03

The minimum I'd be getting on the market. So.

19:05

Why not stretch out that the of you're you're

19:07

going to get eighty million anyway. when I get.

19:10

Three. Four years on the contract rather than just

19:12

one year than you risk. You know what happens

19:14

about while my knee or something like that so any

19:16

could very well get paid more? Not again. It

19:18

depends on what the market looks like for him. But.

19:21

Yet or Russell's player option is another thing to

19:23

we'll be keeping an eye on. Those have to

19:25

be decided by June twenty ninth and then we

19:27

also player options for Cam Reddish for Christian would

19:29

for Jackson Hate. They're going to have to make

19:31

some decisions there. So we're looking to trade ships

19:34

potential for the Lakers were trying to stack of

19:36

salary. You've. Got seventeen million brew?

19:38

How chimera you've got. Austin's almost thirteen

19:40

million Gibbons said at eleven million Bando.

19:43

Was. Not trade eligible. His past season will be

19:45

tracked trade eligible the summer. He. that

19:47

almost eleven million you've got four million jail

19:49

in which athena would have to imagine he's

19:52

probably a candidate to get tossed into a

19:54

trade of we're talking first round picks up

19:56

future talent that's where jail and hood should

19:58

be no He obviously did not have a

20:01

good rookie year. There's

20:03

teams that would still like to have a guy like

20:05

that on a rookie contract. I don't know how much

20:07

value they'll give him, but potentially

20:09

putting something in there. And then, restricted

20:11

free agent, Max

20:13

Christie. What does that look like?

20:16

Can the Lakers retain him? Do they like

20:18

the number they retain him at? That's going

20:20

to be another thing to keep an eye

20:22

on. Again, Max had those comments after

20:24

the final game about how he wishes he was out there

20:26

and he thought he could have helped and everything in Lakers

20:28

fans were beside themselves

20:30

for a reason. Right? Because

20:32

we were hoping to see Max

20:34

get some more opportunities. I still like his skill set

20:37

a lot. I think he's going to be really good.

20:39

And I think the Lakers should definitely hang

20:41

on to him this summer. Okay.

20:44

So before we get

20:46

into some of the other stuff,

20:49

especially when we get into the mailbag and all of

20:51

that, Charles Barkley,

20:54

after the Mavs put

20:57

the Clippers on the brink of elimination, they're now up

20:59

3-2. The Mavs were red hot from 3. Man,

21:02

I mean, Luca, Kyrie, everybody, everybody was

21:04

just lighting it up for the Mavs.

21:07

It was an incredible performance. But after that, I

21:10

had some people tagging me on X

21:12

asking me to respond to Charles Barkley's

21:14

rant on TNT in

21:17

which, you know, I'm not going to read it verbatim

21:19

or whatever. But his central thesis

21:22

in this one minute rant was

21:24

that the Lakers and Suns are

21:27

bad because of their players

21:29

and the people who are criticizing Darvin

21:31

Ham and Frank Vogel are cowards because

21:33

they're both. These are not

21:36

Darvin Ham's words. These are Charles Barkley's words that

21:38

Darvin Ham is a hell of a coach and

21:40

Frank Vogel is a hell of a coach. Funny

21:44

because, you know, infamously, Darvin

21:46

Ham has called every opposing team a

21:48

hell of a ball club all season

21:51

long. It's been his go-to phrase. So

21:54

Charles is saying, look, they're bad because

21:56

of the players. He's saying, if you're blaming the

21:58

coaches, you're wrong. You

22:01

can't blame the coaches. These are good coaches. Darvin

22:03

Ham's trying to make a name for himself, trying

22:05

to get his feet under him as a coach.

22:07

Frank Vogel's a good coach in this league. It's

22:09

not their fault. It's on the organization for the

22:11

rosters that they gave them. That's

22:13

the problem. It's the teams they put

22:16

together. Those teams suck. It's the players

22:18

that suck. That's where the blame should

22:20

be. You can't blame the coaches. That's

22:23

his argument. And I'll tell you what. If

22:26

you're a basketball junkie, then you know

22:29

there's no better time of year than

22:31

the NBA playoffs. Twice a week, JJ

22:33

Redick is cooking on his podcast, The

22:35

Old Man and the Three. He has

22:37

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22:39

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22:41

and share stories you won't hear anywhere

22:44

else, including Devin Booker on why he

22:46

talks so much trash, Ray Allen's epic

22:48

free throw competitions with LeBron in Miami,

22:50

and the moment Tyrese Halliburton knew Pascal

22:52

Siakam would be a good fit in

22:54

Indy. In addition to player interviews, every

22:57

Monday, JJ breaks down the top three

22:59

things happening around the NBA with unmatched

23:01

analysis, not outlandish takes, and is often

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joined by masterminds of the game like

23:06

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23:08

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23:10

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24:40

He's. right? And Wrong.

24:43

At the same time. And here's what. Here's.

24:46

Why Charles Barkley is both. right?

24:48

And a said but also overall he's wrong

24:50

and I've been saying this. For.

24:52

Years now we been talking about this for a

24:54

while when it comes to the Lakers. Because here's

24:56

what happens is what happens whenever a team underperformed.

24:59

This is and is not unique to the

25:01

Lakers. This is fandom In general. We tend

25:03

to converge. On one thing. And

25:06

say that thing. That's the

25:08

problem. This is what is

25:10

holding the team back. It's

25:12

Russell Westbrook. right? It's it's.

25:14

Russell. Westbrook is. right? Mobile.

25:17

It. Was injuries It's Darvon

25:20

Ham. The.

25:22

Problem is. If

25:24

you say it's one saying. You're.

25:27

Wrong. If you say

25:29

it's not any one thing. You're

25:33

almost always wrong in that case, too,

25:36

Because. What happens is for a team to

25:38

come up short sick the team that's expected with.

25:41

It. Takes more than one thing. Going.

25:43

Wrong for the team to end up in the

25:46

situation there. It's so if you are. Just

25:48

trying to get attention and your sanity says

25:50

people are being cowards. Because.

25:53

They're not call it out, the team that are call it

25:55

out the front office and all that we would talk about.

25:57

that. there's a lot of buzz around

25:59

dot him right now and there's a lot

26:01

of reason why fans are frustrated with him but

26:03

if you're just saying it's just on Darvin Ham,

26:06

no that's not correct. There's plenty

26:08

of blame to go around. Same thing

26:10

for the Suns if you're saying it's all on

26:12

Frank Vogel. Hey go figure! A

26:14

Suns team with Frank Vogel as the coach

26:16

struggled when they put together a roster where

26:18

the primary players are not defensive players. Shocker!

26:22

Right? Who would have thought? Didn't

26:25

we just see the Lakers do that? What?

26:27

A couple years before? Frank

26:29

Vogel was given a team with a bunch of

26:32

terrible defensive players and told here you go coach

26:34

you're a good defensive coach you're gonna raise the

26:36

floor for all these guys. Frank

26:38

Vogel's at his best when he's got a great defensive team which we

26:40

saw in 2019-2020. That's

26:42

where he's going to thrive. He let

26:45

LeBron, he let Rondo take care of the offense,

26:47

they ran the offense and Frank Vogel handled the

26:49

defense and it worked just fine.

26:51

Now if you give Vogel a team that

26:54

doesn't have defensive players on it like the

26:56

Lakers did after the Russell Westbrook trade he's

26:58

not going to do well. So

27:01

surprise surprise Kevin Durant doesn't like

27:03

Frank Vogel's offense. Yeah no kidding

27:06

he isn't known for his offense. You

27:08

give him a bunch of guys KD now

27:10

at this age KD is not the defensive player

27:12

used to be. Devin Booker is not known as

27:14

a good defender. Bradley Beals not. Eric Gordon it's

27:16

not. DeAndre

27:18

Aiden is not back there now it's Yusuf

27:21

Nurkic who's fine probably maybe better than Aiden

27:24

right but you gave Frank Vogel a

27:26

team that doesn't have defensive

27:28

players on it not the way that he would want

27:31

and you're surprised that he's struggling no you shouldn't

27:34

be. So in that sense is

27:36

Barkley right? Yeah is

27:39

he right about Darvin Ham that it's

27:41

not all on him? Yeah he's

27:43

right. Some of it's on the players some of it's

27:45

on health the Lakers couldn't stay healthy some

27:48

of it's on a brutal schedule. We know

27:50

based on all metrics the Lakers had one of the most

27:53

difficult schedules in the NBA this season some

27:55

of its players playing below standard

27:59

there's a lot of things. Did you complain the

28:01

problem I have though with charles saying all

28:03

that is he is also inherently wrong When

28:06

he criticizes people he says well It's all

28:08

these other networks these other networks that just

28:10

want to be buddies with the players and

28:12

that's why they're putting it all on the

28:14

coach That's what he

28:17

that's his argument Okay,

28:20

can't you flip that around and just say well

28:22

charles? Does that mean that you're just trying

28:24

to be buddies with the coaches and you don't want

28:26

to and so you're blaming everybody

28:28

but them? Right.

28:31

I mean that is the next logical step

28:33

if his argument is well Nobody's

28:36

blaming the players These guys are blaming the

28:38

coaches because they only want to be friends

28:40

with the players and that's it And so

28:42

they are blaming the coaches and that's not

28:45

right Charles

28:48

goes the other way and says there

28:51

is no blame on the coaches none.

28:53

It's all on the players It's all on the front office. Okay, so

28:56

then does he want to just want to be friends with the coaches

28:59

Because he's also wrong. There's plenty

29:01

of blame to go around That's

29:03

the truth That's the truth

29:05

is darvin ham to blame. Yes If

29:08

you watched the lakers at all this season You

29:11

saw that he made mistakes and you know what? It's

29:14

impossible to get through a season without making I don't

29:16

care if it's eric spallstra You're

29:18

going to make mistakes throughout a season That's

29:21

going to happen. Some of the blame for

29:23

losses is going to fall on the head

29:25

coach period. That's true in any sport Doesn't

29:27

matter there's always going to be so if you

29:29

come out up here and say it's not on

29:31

these coaches It's on these players. It's on the

29:33

front office. It's on everything else. That's just not

29:35

true It's false

29:40

That's the issue that i've got with him coming

29:42

out saying because I think the central idea that

29:44

it's not all on the coaches That's

29:46

fine. That's true But to

29:48

say that And eventually lead

29:50

to it's not on the coaches

29:52

at all. It's on everybody else Well,

29:55

you're just as bad as all the people that you're

29:57

criticizing For putting it all on the coaches.

30:00

Because. You're doing the same thing just and

30:02

the other direction. And. Again, it's

30:04

not true there's plenty of blame to go

30:06

around is Frank Vogel, the blame is somewhat

30:09

for what's going on in Phoenix. Absolutely.

30:12

Is Darwin him right when he says the

30:14

team was not healthy? Yes. The.

30:16

Lakers last I looked had the second

30:18

most games missed due to injury in

30:20

the and be a. The.

30:22

Season second most. That's.

30:26

Not Debenhams fault. It's

30:29

not. Would. Ruin talks about chemistry, consistency

30:31

in how they had they they weren't able to

30:33

get that for was some of that's due to

30:35

injury summer that it's also not. Some.

30:38

Of that on the coaching staff for the

30:40

decisions that they made, what they were running,

30:42

the players they gave leeway to the players

30:44

they didn't. So. Again, you

30:46

tried to deflect everything away from

30:48

any one piece. Of.

30:50

This puzzle. Not

30:52

accurate. Is plenty of blame to

30:55

go around players, coaches and you can divvy up

30:57

that blame pie as you want. I.

30:59

Still think the Lakers coaching staff deserves

31:01

a d Pretty decent chunk of that

31:03

blame pie. I. Don't think it's fair to put

31:05

it all on them. But. That's

31:08

where I'm at. Sub. Charles

31:10

or that ran out to be buys me to respond to it.

31:13

Notice. There's the truth. For. Y'all.

31:16

Are at last thing. Before

31:18

I get into our the mailbag we

31:20

did have the Lakers jersey drawings. I

31:22

went ahead and did that. I know

31:24

a lot of you were of were

31:26

asking about it. It.

31:29

All goes back to that bet that I had was shot of

31:31

beauty of season We decided to of us were going to place

31:33

a bet on who's going to play more games Where that was

31:35

going to be Anthony Davis or the brawn James. I.

31:38

Picked Le Bron. Sean. Picked a

31:40

Anthony Davis and we decided that the benefactor was

31:42

going to be a Lakers Nation viewer or listener

31:44

and so for a couple shows are put out

31:47

there the people's had a d m me on

31:49

twitter or on Instagram or that follow me that

31:51

follow the Lakers Nation accounts and they would get

31:53

other name entered into a drunk I had. Way

31:57

more than that. I expect this

31:59

so many. entries. Ultimately

32:02

too many to fit into a hat.

32:05

That was my initial idea. I'm gonna put these

32:08

all on paper and I'm gonna put them into

32:10

a hat and I'm gonna draw it. What I

32:12

ended up doing because there were so so so

32:14

many blew me away. There were so many I

32:16

wound up just assigning everybody a number and

32:19

then used a random number

32:21

generator. That drawing took

32:23

place. I contacted the winner and

32:26

the winner has selected the jersey that's gonna be sent

32:28

to them. So congratulations to the

32:30

winner. You know who you are and I

32:32

do appreciate everybody who put your

32:34

name into the mix. We will do more

32:36

giveaways and things like that in

32:38

the future. I thought that was pretty fun to

32:40

do that that way over the course of the

32:43

season. We'll do some more short-term ones and things

32:45

like that so you guys can get some stuff.

32:47

I always like that when we do something we

32:49

have a little friendly rivalry or something like that

32:51

but ultimately the people who benefit from it it's

32:53

you guys. The people who are watching and are

32:55

listening. So once again congrats to the winner of

32:57

the Lakers jersey. If you didn't get contacted by

32:59

me that means it was not you but

33:01

the winner already responded selected a jersey.

33:04

All that it is on its way

33:07

to the winner right now. So again but

33:09

stay tuned make sure you're subscribed. We'll be

33:11

doing more stuff like that over the summer.

33:13

We'll be keeping things interesting and all that.

33:16

So again congrats to the

33:18

winner of the jersey. Okay

33:20

let's get back into the mailbag. We still

33:22

have some questions some comments coming in from

33:26

the fallout of game five. By

33:29

the way with these Super Chat

33:31

questions that come in the mailbag questions we

33:34

don't always get to them all in a particular show.

33:37

Depends on how many come in. So if

33:39

we're doing a live show and you submit one and we don't

33:41

get to it that just means we're gonna get to it on

33:43

the next show and we'll move on

33:45

from there like that. AW said been

33:48

consistent with the team for most of the

33:50

season two Murray game winners in both games

33:52

where you could have handled it way better.

33:54

Ham, Rui, Dilo, LOL. I

33:57

mean Rui had some defensive miscues for

33:59

sure. He struggled. Darvin

34:03

Ham had a few

34:05

games where I thought he was struggling

34:07

a bit too. I

34:11

mean, we talk about it's ironic the timeout

34:13

usage that Darvin at

34:16

the end of the game needed a timeout and didn't have any left

34:18

in this pivotal game. When all season

34:20

long we've been begging him to use

34:22

timeouts, that's irony for you. There's

34:27

plenty again, plenty of blame to go around,

34:29

but yeah, they were right there. I

34:31

still, I still contend. I think if

34:34

one of these three things happen, the

34:37

Lakers win game five and we're talking game six in

34:39

LA. One of these three things, and

34:41

it just takes one of them. The Lakers

34:43

shoot slightly better from the free throw line. They miss nine

34:45

free throws in the game. That's it. Okay. That's

34:48

easy. That's just math. Austin

34:51

Reeves takes five minutes away from Spencer Dimity. Austin

34:53

only played 34 minutes. He played 39 minutes

34:56

in this game and instead of 14 minutes, then when he

34:58

plays nine, I think the Lakers

35:00

win the game. I was shocked that

35:02

Austin played so few minutes in a must win game. I

35:04

think that would have been enough to win the game for

35:07

the Lakers. And then the third

35:09

thing, Anthony Davis doesn't get that stinger because

35:11

he was not able to do

35:14

much on the offensive end of the floor for

35:16

the. I

35:18

mean, from the time it happened in the third

35:20

quarter on, he essentially was a

35:23

non factor on the offensive end because he couldn't

35:25

lift his arm. He was

35:27

in pain. So, AD doesn't get

35:29

hurt. I think they win. Austin

35:32

Reeves plays five more minutes instead of Dinwiddie. I

35:34

think they win. You shoot a little

35:37

better from the free throw line. That's just math and they

35:39

win. Michael said, yeah,

35:41

those missed free throws, fire, Darwin, scam.

35:44

Again, I think that's ultimately what's going to happen. Lakers

35:48

did all they could go. Timberloaves, you know, that's

35:50

an interesting thing. Like, who

35:54

are you rooting for at

35:56

this point? Who do you

35:58

root for? I know there's some. people that just say

36:01

nobody. I just, I root for

36:03

the Lakers and that's it. I don't want anybody

36:05

to win now. Right? I get it. Personally,

36:08

my number one, my most important, the way I

36:10

handle this now, the Lakers are out the way

36:12

I handle it now. Most important, not

36:15

the Celtics, not the Clippers. That's most important

36:17

for me, not Celtics, not Clippers. Anybody

36:20

else I'm largely okay with, like

36:22

I'm not going to lose any sleep if it's anyone else.

36:25

Anybody else. That's fine. Not the Celtics,

36:27

not the Clippers teams that I would like to see

36:29

though. Teams that I would be a little bit excited

36:32

to see them win it. It's the Knicks. I

36:34

love the way they play. It's the

36:36

wolves. Again, love the tenacity that they

36:38

play with the defense they play with.

36:41

And OKC, those three teams are the

36:43

teams that in particular, I

36:45

would be pretty happy to see them win it

36:48

really though. Get the Clippers. If

36:51

the Clippers and Celtics are eliminated at that point,

36:53

it's a stress free playoffs for me. Whatever result

36:55

happens happens and I wouldn't be too worried about

36:57

it. That's how I view it. How do you

36:59

view it? What would you do? Let

37:02

me know in the comment section. How do you see things

37:04

now? Is there a team that you hope wins it? Do

37:07

you transfer allegiance temporarily? How does all

37:09

that go? Let me know. All

37:13

right. Everything Lakers said

37:17

Lakers are going to most definitely

37:19

make changes this summer. LeBron, AD,

37:21

Reeves, untouchables, and

37:24

all the picks better be traded. Goodbye, Darwin.

37:26

And we need another big with AD. Stay

37:28

Lakers strong. Yeah. I think you need a,

37:31

I think if you're going to

37:33

go depth build, you need a defensive

37:35

backcourt garden. You need

37:37

probably a true two way wing and

37:40

you need a true big, a

37:43

true, like bigger than Anthony Davis physical

37:45

presence. You get those three things. You're

37:48

in really good shape. And that,

37:50

that, that is, I think how you maximize this team. If you

37:52

can find a way to get those three things, obviously, depending on

37:54

what you have to give up in order to get those things,

37:56

but that's what you're looking for. As far

37:59

as Those. The Being Untouchable Le

38:01

Bron eighty reeves. I

38:03

think Reeves is not untouchable. Le Bron a

38:05

d they would need to go tell the

38:07

Lakers trade us for them to be traded.

38:10

I think of the right move if. Austin

38:12

raised with the Daves difference between getting say

38:15

Donovan Mitchell or something. I think

38:17

they would make that move. I

38:19

don't think the Lakers will move unless they have to go.

38:22

But. I don't put him, I don't think he would

38:24

be the same categories. Le Bron Lady, Thomas.

38:28

Said. How can we didn't get our

38:30

time out back? Okay so this is a big

38:32

question during the game. The Lakers. They. Are

38:34

use the time out on a challenge. They won

38:36

the challenge and the bidding at the time out

38:39

back. It. Is a be a

38:41

rule. It's is kind of convoluted thing, but. Part.

38:44

Of it was, There was a time out there were

38:46

going to lose. Any way, dude, you are. You lose

38:48

one when the game, When you get deep into the

38:50

game and then you've got. I

38:53

think it's It's just the first challenge that you

38:55

get. The time are back for a second when

38:57

you don't have. That's the way. The rule initially

38:59

was that you would. It would cost you a

39:01

time out in order to challenge so. There's.

39:03

That. Too. But it's the it

39:06

it is. Ah, the rules. Go. I know it

39:08

feels weird, I think ultimately. The. And

39:10

be a the summer one of things ever do is

39:12

fix the review system. Fix. It.

39:14

And. It's not just the do you get your time,

39:16

a bag or not, it's a mess in a lot

39:18

of ways. Of what you can

39:21

review, what you can't is really

39:23

messy and and honestly I am

39:25

right now. I'm. More

39:27

lean towards just get rid of it. Just.

39:30

Get rid of refs are. Fallible.

39:33

But. I think it looks even worse for

39:35

the refs. When. They

39:37

go to the review and they still get the call wrong

39:40

which we've seen happened a number times. That's

39:42

when like uncomfortable questions start getting asked.

39:45

And the review system itself Again, what you can

39:47

challenge, but you can't. It says.

39:51

It's. It's just messy. It's

39:54

just messy. It's. Confusing.

39:56

It's not a good look when fans at home

39:59

see stuff happened. The out on oh well why

40:01

yes that happened but that's not the part where

40:03

looking at were only looking at this point. It.

40:07

Probably is easier just to scrap. It

40:10

just. Scrap it. And move

40:12

on. That's probably the best way to go

40:14

about. It. But. If you are

40:16

going to keep it. Making just make

40:18

it so if they get so if

40:20

a guy clearly travels and then the

40:22

foul that you're reviewing is is being

40:24

looked at that you can say oh

40:26

yeah obviously he traveled a sort of

40:29

this review but that that's it right.

40:31

Stuff. Like that. Needs to be. Ironed

40:34

out If you're going to keep the review system. Brandon.

40:38

Ah, Honestly, they

40:40

are far off from Denver, maybe Davidson and

40:42

really for miles bridges to sign and trade.

40:45

Remember if you accept the player to sign

40:47

and trade situation then you are triggering that

40:49

hard job. The Lakers or even right now

40:51

their salaries out what they are. Are.

40:54

Right there at that line. That's.

40:56

Without a full team, they may be a

40:58

second apron team this year depending on how

41:01

these salaries shake out. So yeah, That.

41:04

Taking on a player be a sign and trade

41:06

and much the and are also walks away is

41:08

probably not going to happen. They

41:10

need another way to rebound. Yes, I do think

41:12

that it it's gonna be tough guys. Look at.

41:15

Let's say Depot comes back. Or

41:18

let's or if you'd trade deal of for somebody let's a

41:20

dealer picks up his option in you trade him for somebody

41:22

makes the same amount. Even

41:25

then, you're going to be right at that second

41:27

tier apron once you figure out what you do

41:29

with Max Christie. Let's say, Cam.

41:31

And would and ah Jackson he's or

41:33

pick up their options. You can be

41:36

right there because you have start stacking

41:38

up some veteran minimums the Raw.your roster.

41:42

In. That scenario, the Lakers won't even have

41:44

a taxpayer mid level exception to use to

41:46

go spend on the market. They

41:48

would have a. They. Would have

41:50

veteran minimum so that's it. So.

41:54

It's. Going to be interesting to see how

41:56

the Lakers navigators. They. Don't have

41:58

a lot of breathing room. They don't.

42:02

I. Don't know. People say all the brown should just take less. Even

42:05

if Le Bron took a minimum is that wouldn't force

42:07

them to have like a max salary. So.

42:11

That's other considered to like. And

42:14

that's abroad. Think playing on a minimum he's going to

42:16

do that. But. I.

42:18

See that argument a lot. That. Oh, liberals

42:20

get so much money he should just. Take.

42:23

Whatever the teams they go pick up another star. I

42:26

know it seems like that's how it should work. But.

42:29

With the rules, the salary cap the where they are.

42:31

That's not how was What Woodward. Even if you got

42:33

Le Bron for four million instead of fifty million, that

42:35

doesn't mean you suddenly have forty six million to go

42:37

spend. Their. Too far over the cap anyway for

42:39

that to be the case. Ricky.

42:42

Said hims a great basketball coach. But.

42:45

The be is silent out. The

42:48

ready showtime. Summer

42:50

starts with a fall guy. Sciences

42:57

are falling in love with the most

42:59

entertaining soon as ear for the have

43:01

I go guys supposed to sense be

43:03

Ryan Gosling and Emily. Difference in a

43:05

movie critic safe exists to make you

43:07

happy to make our lives since I

43:09

don't in a that when him into

43:11

a no point in talking. Fall

43:15

guy on the theaters meter. It really busy

43:17

thirteen. Ah,

43:19

Take that said, boys, it's time to

43:21

sag for flag. Let's get Cooper Flag.

43:23

Why think? that's why. The.

43:26

Pelicans are very unlikely to take the

43:28

Lakers pick this year. Instead, they'll take

43:30

the twenty twenty five thick and hope

43:32

the Lakers collapse in on themselves the

43:34

summer. And. They can get a lottery pick from

43:36

the Lakers next year, that is. If I was the

43:38

Pelicans, that's what I would do. I.

43:42

I. Will be and I know some people would be

43:44

sad. If the Lakers didn't have a pick

43:46

this year, I think the twenty twenty five pick is

43:48

more valuable even right now, even if you say the

43:50

Lakers need to trade the pick, whether it's twenty twenty

43:52

four or twenty forty five, I. Think the

43:54

twenty twenty five pick will have more value in a

43:56

trade. Even. Right now then that,

43:59

Twenty. Twenty. Orpik will have right now that

44:01

even with people looking at Twenty forty Four prospects, you

44:03

fall in love with the guys that are right here

44:05

Right now, I think the twenty twenty five pick will

44:08

still have more value. So if. The.

44:10

Pelicans come back which they have to buy the

44:12

beauty and june and they say. We're

44:14

going to take your twenty. Twenty four

44:16

will take seventeen. Overall. I.

44:18

Think that would be a win for the Lakers because

44:20

they would get their twenty twenty five traffic. It's

44:23

fiddled said party at my house when him gets

44:26

fired. Love ya Lakers nature will be back All

44:28

right Are those your you heard of their body

44:30

party at his house and I agree. I think

44:32

the Lakers will be back. And.

44:35

We're going to have a big summer. Sir.

44:37

And said I'll be a piece of the

44:40

Lakers fire. Darwin him a sap again. It's.

44:42

I think it's going to happen. Is

44:45

it's for shirt now but I believe it's.

44:47

Probably. Coming. Ah. But.

44:52

It's. Not a sap. Michael. Said.

44:54

So it's always been a rule if you

44:56

challenge and you when the child you lose

44:58

your time outs. I think that confuses the

45:00

first challenge is that way the second challenge

45:02

specially after you pass the point where you're

45:05

gonna lose your time out anyway that's where

45:07

it's It's not as the same side killer

45:09

said let this be a lesson all Le

45:11

Bron. He calls me different able abroad know

45:13

goat lakers or first round exits. Taken.

45:15

It over with a grain of salt like. Why

45:21

would? why? But

45:23

what does it matter? What

45:25

do we care? Okay

45:28

in. The Bronx the

45:30

go abroad not to go. With. I

45:33

don't know, I just I don't look at the game through

45:35

that lens I get some people do. And

45:38

some people are player first fans and that's that's

45:40

how they see the game. And there are a

45:42

lot of people that I love. Le Bron. And

45:45

wondered. What? You shudder for the

45:47

mountaintops every time There's any shred of evidence

45:49

that he's great. and he's the greatest ever.

45:52

And there's also people who wanna do

45:54

the opposite any time Le Bron struggles.

45:57

They. Want to run around? Its remark see to get out of

45:59

the first round seized. The above water Watergate Le

46:01

Bron. Here's

46:04

the problem. Or is a problem.

46:08

If somebody believes Michael Jordan is the greatest

46:11

while time. He. Doesn't matter

46:13

what your argument is, you're not going to convince

46:15

them that it's Le Bron and vice versa. Someone

46:18

believes the Browns the greatest of all time. Doesn't.

46:20

Matter what you say about Jordan, you get it.

46:22

So you get these people that are arguing and

46:24

arguing it arguing and are you a good beds?

46:27

That's the know, all this stuff that you put

46:29

together. To. Determine who's the

46:31

best ever. Does.

46:33

It. Matter. Know there's not

46:35

going to be a universally accepted. Answer.

46:40

That's. The problem. People. Just

46:42

going to argue and argue and argue with where

46:44

does get You know it. did you change the

46:46

mind of the other side? Know. That.

46:48

Look, if it becomes insurmountable. Liked

46:50

Le Bron. Place. To age

46:52

forty five and with the next

46:55

five titles in doing so straight.

46:58

Okay, maybe that's just becomes insurmountable that she's a

47:00

bit about everyone's my. But right now as things

47:03

stand, You know

47:05

could get a by to come off of their

47:07

position. especially the die hards that are really in

47:09

French. like I love Le Bron, I hate Le

47:11

Bron. it's I'm going to be pro George just

47:14

like. Just. Like there's

47:16

you. I can explain. Over and

47:18

over and over again. Why? The

47:20

Lakers would have a free throw Discrepancy: The weather do.

47:23

And the haters out there. He. Does about

47:25

item. That. The facts can be

47:27

waived written for their face. It doesn't

47:29

matter. So. Going to say the league is rigged

47:31

for the Lakers. Sligo.

47:34

Sometimes. So. I just

47:36

think it's funny we get people that are that are

47:39

like say this is proof this is not have club

47:41

rods not not to go to or whatever. That.

47:46

In a convincing anybody. Yoga.

47:48

Change any any minds the Me: it's more

47:50

at stake We say well you know this

47:52

is this is actually what's good You take

47:54

i a long held belief. And. You say?

47:56

Well, this is actually what's going on. This is what the numbers say

47:59

this with the ice or says. And you dive into it.

48:01

That's. More interesting. For. People

48:03

to take the victory laps. Some. Everyone.

48:06

Not the lines that I look at it through again

48:09

for. Be up for me to tell anybody how to

48:11

enjoy the game. and if your fandom is based on

48:13

a on a player first few more power to yeah

48:15

that's great. it's not. It's so much the player for

48:17

spans on mean talk about it's the people feel the

48:20

need. To any Le Bron, it's a great shot. See

48:22

he's the greatest ever Le Bron mrs a free throw.

48:24

Oh my gosh see that's proof that he's that is

48:26

that. The.

48:29

Press the press. Jed said I don't see

48:31

a scenario for a deal of sign and

48:33

trade with no time space to the Lakers

48:35

resign him and hope for a deadline train

48:38

trade. best for like throws. Yeah,

48:40

I think that's where. That's

48:42

real to be really careful. right? Because.

48:45

If. You sign of do a new deal with

48:47

the idea that. He's. Not it. He's.

48:50

Not our guy moving forward or get asylum

48:52

to new deal because we are losing for

48:54

not them or the those already said that

48:56

he's going to use as leverage. He knows

48:59

if he walks the Lakers can't replace him

49:01

again because that cap situation he walks away

49:03

doesn't mean the Lakers suddenly have eighteen plus

49:05

million to go spend. Now

49:07

they won't the probably have like five million to

49:09

though that be able to use the taxpayer mid

49:11

level exception. That. Okay,

49:14

that helps a little baby not going to get

49:16

a deal. Oh caliber player who as most would

49:18

agree was the third best player on the team

49:20

of season. So. Dealer knows that so he's

49:22

going to push the Lakers. If he's going to stay

49:24

with the Lakers, he's going to want top dollar. He's.

49:27

Gonna want extra years? He's gonna want to player option.

49:29

He's gonna want that kind of stuff. On. His

49:31

deal and he's gonna use that leverage to

49:33

his advantage. As. You should. As

49:36

you should. He. Took a contract last

49:38

year. He. Waved is no

49:40

trade clause of the Lakers could explore trading with

49:42

the trade deadline. The trade off was he was

49:44

gonna have this kind of leverage this summer. But

49:47

again if you the Lakers you gotta be careful. Because.

49:50

If de los yet to be. Great

49:52

negotiating this. And dealers

49:55

leverage does kind of go away run determine. I talked

49:57

about this. If there isn't a team out, there are

49:59

the market that. That interested in him fan

50:01

is leverage goes away. but if there is.

50:04

You. Gotta be careful you the Lakers if you don't

50:06

want to lose and for nothing but you also don't

50:08

want to give him a contract that. On.

50:10

December fifteenth when it becomes tradeable.

50:13

Is going to be seen as a negative value when teams

50:15

are going to want to trade for him anyway. See.

50:18

Gotta be careful with as at this is going to be

50:20

one of the trickier situations. For. The

50:23

Lakers front office to handle the summer. Judo

50:26

got a really serious in his work

50:28

on his defensive awareness. Michael Porter Jr

50:30

pretty much only shoot threes and he

50:32

continuously whilst i'm yeah. That. Was

50:34

one of the biggest shortcomings of Ruiz game

50:36

the season and it really just gets exploited

50:38

when you're playing up against the shooter like

50:41

Michael Porter Jr. Are you just. A.

50:44

Came back to haunt the Lakers number of and I thought

50:46

really had a good season. I. Think really is

50:48

right. When he came into the starting lineup you

50:50

had that chemistry that's will push the Lakers to

50:52

the next level. But M P J. Really?

50:55

Defending him is a very exploitable match up

50:57

within the Nuggets did just that. For.

51:00

A blue Kevin. Sounds.

51:02

Like a lot of contact on the last eve

51:04

or seemed like a lot of contact on the

51:06

last. He but the buzzer. no foul. I agreed.

51:08

I thought story and actually got fouled. But.

51:10

I also understand. That

51:13

that typically is gonna get called right there. But.

51:17

Yet like if it did I think I probably would have been

51:19

justified of until I would have been shooting free free throws. Either.

51:22

Way hartshorn out again. Might be the end

51:24

of the Le Bron arab. He.

51:26

Could be and we we don't know if the Bronx come

51:28

back. He. Might. He. Might not.

51:30

I think he will. I feel pretty strongly that he

51:32

will come back. You will play again. He wants to

51:34

be a Lakers. He's not going to reveal that. You.

51:37

Know he's going to use the leverage that he's got

51:39

with his player option would become your free agents. He

51:41

knows the Lakers won a back. He's.

51:43

Gonna use that to get the Lakers to do some

51:46

stuff or this summer terms building out the next team.

51:48

So that's why we look at the roster belt. What?

51:50

Is the broad one? Who's. The brawn

51:53

want as the couch and I know the

51:55

team shouldn't and I don't think they will

51:57

just completely. Seed. All controlled

51:59

of. The on a date Le Bron you

52:01

pick the coach. you tell us what players

52:03

you want and will go make it happen.

52:05

But. I. Think he going to have. A.

52:08

Sizable amount of input. Into.

52:11

What goes on with the team the summer?

52:13

especially? Given the fact that we already know.

52:15

They're. Going to be willing to give him

52:17

whatever contract he wants in order to make

52:20

sure he stays. The Lakers won him to

52:22

retire. As. A later. And

52:24

I think they will accomplish that. The question will be

52:26

what does the rest of the seem look like. And

52:29

be a Big summer everybody Big Summer! Or

52:31

it's make sure you subscribe to the Lakers

52:34

Nation, You Tube channel, you Tube that Com/lakers

52:36

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52:40

as well. and over on Spotify In addition

52:42

to Apple podcasts are at everybody. Appreciate all

52:45

of you. Till. Next time see up!

52:47

And stay safe.