It is! The JR Sport Brief Show here on the Infinity Sports Network. I'm coming to you live from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you to everybody tuned in all over North America, coast to coast, over oceans, over borders, wherever you might be. Thank you for being here.
I'll be rolling with you for the next three hours. This show gets started every weekday. That means Monday through Friday. At 6 p.m. Eastern, Pacific.
Thank you to our producer in New York City, Ryan Botcher, and thank you again for tuning in. We've been hanging out for an hour already. And we've discussed a lot. We talked about Giannis to the Cumpo, is he happy in Milwaukee? Why?
Because Damian Lillard. was waved.
Okay, you got the Milwaukee Bucks who said, We're going to pay this guy for the next five years just so we don't have to pay him big money for two. As a result, the Bucks decide to bring in Miles Turner, The Pacers are now missing a big man. We talked about the return of Darren Waller to the NFL. Hopefully, it'll keep him out of the recording studio. He's not good at music.
And then, somebody who's not going anywhere. Shagogus Alexander comes to an agreement with the richest contract extension in NBA history, SGA. In another two seasons, this guy is going to be making on average of $71 million plus. per season through twenty thirty one. It's big money in basketball.
Can you grow? Can you be 6'5, 6'6 ⁇, 6'7? Can you put the basketball in the hoop? Yeah, go go get some cash.
Well, at least teach your kids to. Anyway, if you want to be a part of the show, you can. You can call me up at any time. The phone number here is 888-710-4ISN. That's 888-710-4.
four I S N. You can also get a hold of me, I'm everywhere. At J.R. Sport Brief. As we continue on with the show, uh of course uh basketball and free agency news is dominating everything and everywhere.
Matt Moore is going to join us. From the Action Network. He'll be here with us in about 20 minutes. And then next hour, I got to show love to this team, because I think they've done absolutely amazing. Danielle Lerner's going to join us from the Houston Chronicle.
She covers the rockets. And when you take a look at what the Rockets have been able to do and the depth on their roster. Absolutely. Amazing. If I'm a Rockets fan, I'm excited.
If I'm a Rockets fan, hey, get me to the Western Conference Finals. Get me there. as soon as possible. I think that's the potential for the Rockets. Damn, the potential for the Rockets is an NBA championship, okay?
They got to get past the thunder. First. In Do time. Eight eight eight seven ten four I S N is the number. That's 888-710.
4ISN. You know, next hour we'll get into the Houston Rockets and we'll have that chat with Danielle. And I think the Knicks have done ha had some good moves here picking up Jordan Clarkson. The Knicks might even have a new head coach sooner than later down the line.
So we got a lot to discuss with Matt Moore in about twenty minutes. But I gotta tell you, it's been about 24 hours. since the legal tampering period opened up, And the last time I checked, uh the Los Angeles Lakers Still don't have. A censor.
Okay, I mean this is a team that was trying to get a center from pretty much the minute that they acquired Luka Doncic. It was the one hole in their roster. They traded for Mark Williams, who's now a member of the Phoenix Suns, and they said, no, thanks. I don't know what they saw on an MRI, on an X ray, but they think Mark Williams' body is made of twigs and and glue, and they said no, thank you. And so the Los Angeles Lakers, as we are here in free agency or the legal tampering period.
The biggest move for the Lakers? is the fact that LeBron James opted into his contract. that he is not leaving, that at minimum he will play one more year For $52 million.
Now, is he going to finish out his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers? That's to be seen.
Okay, LeBron James is obviously the biggest name, biggest free agent, biggest player, billionaire basketball, this and that. We know what the deal is. and his agent Rich Pole has spent the last few days letting everybody know. Yeah, LeBron James is happy to be back in Los Angeles, and LeBron James appreciates the partnership. I mean, how many players can say that a partnership with the team?
They appreciate the partnership with the Bus family. But now we got more from Rich Ball. Dave McMeniman. It feels like has covered Lebron James since he fell out of the womb. He spoke to Rich Paul.
And Dave McBeniman translated this to us, or shared it. He told me that he has had not excuse me he told me that he has not had any discussions with the Lakers about wanting a trade. Speaking of Rich Paul, he did say that four teams have contacted him in the last twenty four hours wanting to talk trades, but Rich didn't have any substantive conversations with those teams either. The four teams were not named. Why would this be out?
Like, why would this be out unless they want it to be out? Like, Rich Ball is not stupid, and neither is Dave McMenamin. He is sharing the gospel of LeBron James. To Curry favor. And Rich Paul is sharing this information with Dave McMenamin to let him know that, hey, if the Lakers don't move, then LeBron might leave.
Like this is how you say it. without actually going forth and saying this is just the art of negotiation. That's just what it is, flat and simple. And so when you bring in Lebron James for one more year no trade clause, by the way Dorian Finney Smith leaves. You just traded for this man.
Now he's a member of the Houston Rockets. You need a center. Brooke Lopez says no to the Lakers. He goes to the Clippers. Who does that?
Nobody. Clint Capella. He could have been a good option if he was healthy. For the Los Angeles Lakers, he's also going. to the Rockets.
And so what's left from a big man perspective? Miles Turner just signed with the Milwaukee Bucks today. They're gonna rely on DeAndre Ayton? Does he like basketball? Maybe he'll go to LA and like basketball.
This is the same damn guy who was trapped in his house and couldn't get to a Portland Trailblazers game. They tried to get him help. to get out of his damn house, and he just still couldn't get. to a basketball game. They may bring in DeAndre Ayton and he may be laying out on Santa Monica Beach.
I have no idea. And when it comes down to why the Lakers aren't spending, Oh, they did sign a Jake Laravia. That most people probably never even heard of this guy. Sham Shirania was on ESPN. and he said they're they're trying to save money For next year, or the year after that?
What? Right now, LeBron James understands the Lakers are prioritizing the future in a lot of ways that really centers around Luka Doncic. They are really prioritizing two-year contracts right now. They want to have max salary space in 2027. LeBron James is very closely evaluating essentially how this goes with the Lakers and where he would want his career to be as he winds down, whether he has one year left, two years left, or three years left.
But if if you're the Los Angeles Lakers, why the hell aren't you looking at right now? You have one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He would tell you that he is the greatest basketball player of all time. I don't know if he really believes that deep down. You got LeBron James.
You have a transcendent player who could finish his career as one of the greatest of all time, and Luka Doncic. Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of something right now? And we know the Los Angeles Lakers are in the process of being sold. They're moving on from the Bus family. Mark Walter, who owns Guggenheim Partners, also owns the Dodgers.
This guy has never been shy. and spending money. I don't know if it's a matter of keeping the books clean as they move through move towards an ownership. Restructure? I I don't know.
Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to strike it rich come February. Maybe the roster isn't done yet. I had mentioned the fact that LeBron James, at that point in time, both he and Giannis at Tekumpa, might say. I'm out. from their respective teams.
I don't think LeBron James is going anywhere right now. These are all just warning shots. These are all just hey, FYI, we have to do something between now and February that makes me feel good about us winning. If not, I'm going to push. the Eject button.
I don't think that's out of the realm of possibility for LeBron James. He is someone who we've seen. He left home. They hated his guts. Had a whole T V special to leave.
Regretted that. Went to Miami. Ultimately didn't leave with the the the greatest taste in his mouth with Pat Raleigh and some of his rules. Goes back to Cleveland, wins a championship, says I did what I needed to do, says I'm going to Los Angeles. And and now LeBron he he's not beholding the LA.
You don't have to stick around. If he wants to finish his career in Cleveland for one or two years after this season, I would not be surprised. At all. Brian Winhorse was on ESPN. and this is what he had to say about Lebrun's future as it relates to the Lakers.
I don't mean this to be controversial. It's just true. This is the beginning of the end with the Lakers for LeBron. I mean, when you're turning 41, that's, I think, an acceptable thing to say. Again, for the first time in his career, he is on the end of a contract, okay?
So how is that end going to be? Is it going to be with some sort of really impressive playoff front alongside Luca next spring? Maybe. Is it going to be something that happens during this year? Maybe.
That's what essentially I take from this statement. Yeah. Yeah, it's a warning shot. Warning, warning, warning And oh yeah, by the way Even if they get DeAndre Ayton. Whoop thee freaking do?
I would say this guy is a disappointment after being selected first overall. I don't know. He's gotten paid. Where's the motivation? I don't think there is any.
And it's kind of crazy. Kendrick Perkins, everybody. Everybody's favorite talking head. Going at Bill Simmons, going at Bron Scalabrini.
Now Kendrick Perkins is going after DeAndre Ayton. This is what he had to say about the man on T V this morning, the SPN. The word around the league is not good about DeAndre Aiden. The Portland Trailblazers were happy as hell that they got to this point with him. Right now, he's been labeled as a diva, as a counselor in the locker room.
And if I'm DeAndre Aiden, I gotta have a moment. I gotta have someone speak the real to me because we're talking about a former number one pick. And I believe that he's one situation away. The next situation or next organization that he lands to, even if it's the Lakers, he has to change a lot about himself or he will find his career being shortened.
Well, I don't know about all that. Kendrick Perkins basically putting a kibosh on the guy's career. I don't I don't know about all that. The guy is seven feet tall. He can get you a double double.
Is he the most passionate guy? No. Is he going to get you over the hump? No. But I think if he is on the right team, maybe his buttons can be pushed.
We did see him go to a championship with the Phoenix Suns. And playing with Chris Paul is not the easiest thing in the world. That guy likes to grate on everybody. That he plays with. But DeAndre Ayton on the Los Angeles Lakers, I could see just one big ol.
Shrug. That's it. As a matter of fact, this past season he only played forty games. Count him forty games. with the Portland Trailblazers, that's half the season.
If you're the Los Angeles Lakers, can you afford to bring him in and pay him half of his salary? I mean, no, it doesn't work that way. Uh but DeAndre Ayton is not necessarily going to move the needle. For the Los Angeles Lakers. And if I were LeBron James, I wouldn't be all that enthralled, enthused.
I wouldn't be all that thrilled. If you brought in DeAndre. I would still look at the rest of the roster and go Where the hell is everybody else? Where the hell is our help? LeBron James is going to start the season in purple and gold.
You'll have a big press conference. For his twenty second, twenty third season, he'll sit around and tell everybody how much and how happy he is to be there and that he's hoping to win a championship with the Lakers. And when it comes down to whether or not he's going to see his career through the rest of the way in LA, He's not gonna answer that one. He's gonna say I wanna I wanna win titles. I hope it's here.
He's goin' leave it open. The seeds have already been sowed, For Lebron James's exit out of Los Angeles. Los Angeles Lakers looking like duds. looking like losers so far here. in this offseason.
And and must I say, Does LeBron James need the 52 million? Does he need the $52 million? Could he have taken on less? The answer is yes, he could have. But hey, man, the money is there.
How many more years is LeBron James going to be fluid just to have a guaranteed 52 coming in? We know he has a Nike contract, but hey, 52 coming from the league. You might as well take that money. Why, you can. An' speakin' of money, It's pretty sad, too.
I feel bad for the Celtics. Not really. But you got the Celtics and the Lakers. These are two teams trying to battle out for who has the most titles. Right now, the Celtics do.
Man, they've lost Drew Holliday. They got poor Zingis gone. They traded him. Luke Cornett went to the Spurs yesterday. Big back up center.
Al Hofford could potentially be leaving. They lost Tatum for the year. They brought in Luke Garza, though, how exciting Yeah, things not looking good uh for the Celtics, and we know why this is the case. It's Jason Tater. He went down.
And the idea that they were going to go out there and repeat or win anything next year. went out the window. This is nothing but a gap year. for the Boston Celtics. This is what Brad Stevens had to say on Thursday.
The biggest challenge for our team is our First team all NBA players in a boot. That's number one. Right, so we know that going into next year. And then everything else is another, you know, is second to that.
Well, you guys have certainly uh saved some money in the process. You have a new owner who's coming in. Are we talking about the Celtics being cheap or are they being smart, Brad Stevens? Our owners Old and new are committed to spending. There's a lot of things that go into these moves and a lot of things that are really important.
And listen, again, it goes back to prioritizing our flexibility. And I think the second apron basketball penalties are real. And I'm not sure I understood how real until they were staring me in the face in the last month. Yeah, he's like, Hey, we're we're gonna suck. We why are we gonna pay to suck?
We can take a year off and come back the following, okay? That's basically what it boils down to. Boo hoo. For the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Not really.
It's the JR Sport Reef Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. We're going to take a break. When we come back, we're going to have a chat with Matt Moore, covers all things NBA from Denver, Colorado, as well as nationwide for the Action Network. I'm going to ask him about all things going on in the league. You're listening to the JR Sport Reef Show on the Infinity Sports Network.
You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. It is the JR Sport Re Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity. A sports network. It's been about 24 hours since the legal tampering period has opened in the NBA. We've seen some moves today, like Damian Lillard being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.
DeAndre Ayton is still floating around. We saw a trade last night with Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Johnson. LeBron is opting in and conda sort of warning the Los Angeles Lakers. There's a lot going on in the league.
The Rockets are getting better. Denver is trying to You know, maybe recapture some of its past glory with Bruce Brown. Anyway, joining us right now is someone who's covered the NBA. For years. He's currently a senior writer at the Action Network, podcast host, and does it all.
Joining us now is Matt Moore. Matt, how are you? Doing well, man. How are you? Absolutely well.
When you take a look at everything that's taken place over the past 24 hours, what captures your attention the most? You know, I think there's a couple of teams that you can kind of identify as having made the biggest jumps. And obviously, I think the Houston Rockets start there with adding. Kevin Durant, but they also pick up Clint Capella as a backup center option. They've really, I think, improved themselves.
Pick up Dorian Finney Smith. The Rockets are going for it. They think they can compete in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder and and they obviously I think I've taken some big steps forward. I think in the east, you look at Orlando and you look at Atlanta. Atlanta getting Christav Porzingus in a trade and then adding Nikhil Alexander Walker, an elite defender.
We go with Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson. Trey Young's obviously still there. They're pretty loaded. The magic trade for Desmond Bain, then pick up Tyus Jones. Um some really good additions for Orlando.
It looks to be better in that Eastern conference with a lot of the teams at the top. Kind of in You know, turmoil. Obviously, the big news today is the wave of Damian Lillard after they signed. Miles Turner in Milwaukee, huge news. Nobody saw it coming.
Real, a real shocker. uh that opens up a a host of questions about Yantan and Kempo. And then finally the Denver Doggets. Who at Bruce Brown trade for Cam Johnson, break up their core four, add a backup center, add another wing in Tim Hardaway Jr. You know, this is a league of parody, and we have seen teams definitely load up, make a run at it.
outside of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Well, Matt, when you talk about, I want to get back to the nuggets momentarily. When you talk about what took place earlier today with Damian Lillard and Miles Turner on his way in, what do you think this means for Giannis? Is it not a little too late in the game for him to say, I want out? It'd have to be throughout the course of the season or next year, no? No, 'cause he's made it very clear that He wants to keep all options on the table.
Um, I don't think it's likely that Giannis leaves. I think it's probably 70-30 at this point. But one of the things that was interesting is when the meetings were held between him and the front office. No result came out of it. And we were all like, usually this gets reported: either he's in or he's out.
And with nothing being reported, kind of the follow-up has been. Yeah, he's here. For now, and I think he wants to see the entire board. I think he wants to see exactly what the Bucs do to the rest of free agency. He wants to see what the Russia looks like come August, September.
and then be able to make a decision based off of that on what he wants to do. with his future. The team obviously moving on from game Getting Miles Turner. He reportedly was in contact with Turner throughout this process. I think that's promising.
But I also think that you won't really know with Giannis that he's there until we're in training camp. And it's all good to go. He can pretty much change, he's earned the right to change his mind at pretty much any point. With where this team is at.
So, a lot of question marks. I think the Bucks still probably are looking to do a few things on the edges to shore up the support, to be honest. Matt Morris joining us from the Action Network. You mentioned the Denver Nuggets and some of their changes around Nikola Jokic. I know you're based in Colorado.
What do you think? Have they done enough to kind of keep things status quo? We know Westbrook is likely gone, but what do you think about the additions that they've made? I think it's huge upgrades. They took Michael Porter Jr.
and effectively broke him down into smaller contracts.
So They take one of their core four, making 30 million, and they break it into. Cam Johnson making 23 million. And then Ionis Valenciano's making about five. And in doing so, they get more versatility, a better defender, still a great shooter, a guy with way more floor gain. And they add a backup center to hopefully mean that when Yan Nikola Jokic steps off the floor, the team won't absolutely melt down into a radioactive meth.
And that's a big addition for them. Adding Tim Hardaway Jr., big. Adding Bruce Brown, massive for the locker room. The guys love Bruce, and they're all going to be thrilled that he is back. He provides a lot of what Russell Westbrook did last year.
So Russ was honestly kind of the Bruce replacement, Bruce Brown replacement a year later. And now a year later, Bruce Brown is replacing Russell Westbrook. Uh, Tim Hardaway Jr. comes in and can replay be a veteran component. They got given into that Justin Holiday two years ago, didn't have that last year.
These players all fit with their young guys. They fit with their starters. They can all play with Jokic, except for Valentinas. Uh it it's All of it is extremely good refitting around Jokic, the Nuggets. or lock to make another run at the title.
Well, Matt, you talk about being refitted or retrofitted. We just talked about this prior to you joining us. The Los Angeles Lakers, outside of adding LeBron James opting in and picking up Laravia, it's kind of like, well, what's next? And apparently, there doesn't appear to be anything next unless they bring in somebody like DeAndre Ayton. What do you think we're going to see from the Los Angeles Lakers?
And is LeBron James going to be sticking around with the Lakers at this point next year? Yeah, a lot of questions. That LeBron quote that he put out after he opted in was sent a lot of ripples throughout the league, but there's just not a lot of opportunities for him in terms of teams that can actually physically make the trade or in a position to trade for him and compete immediately.
So no one really knows how this is going to go. The eight thing is especially interesting. Because of what happened today, Miles Turner signs with the Bucks. The team that had put in a massive Restricted offer sheet for DeAndre Aiden when he was with Phoenix. was the Indiana Pacers who all of a sudden have a big need at center.
So a lot of there's a lot of questions in the league about Are they going to be the team that maybe swoops in and and grabs up Aiden now? There's still an expectation that Aiton's going to go ahead and sign with the Lakers. Everyone's expecting that. But until it's done, I think it's a big question mark here. And the Lakers are looking at Not a good roster.
Like they traded, they lucked into a Luca Donchas trade, and the idea was: well, we're not going to do anything of the deadline because we're going to build around him this summer.
Now they're talking 2027. Uh no one knows what's going on with the Lakers, but it can't be good. To be putting this position where Luca Donch is just not going to have enough help around him next season, regardless of what happens with LeBron. LeBron James isn't the only guy we're trying to figure out a future with. Ioannis.
We talk about Dame Lillard. We know that he's going to be out, if not the entirety of the season. We might be lucky if he comes back at the end. Is he finally now going to set up shop in Miami? He's going to have options.
Yeah, he'll have a lot of options. If he wants to stay closer to where his kids are in Portland. Then he can look at something like maybe Los Angeles signing on with one of those teams for a year and then joining them next season when he's rehab. He's going to have a lot of options because teams will look to sign him. For him to for them to be ready, like to already have him locked into a multi-year deal, even with the Achilles, basically.
Killing off a year of the deal. just to have his rights on. Miami, I think, has to be the most likely. There's got to be a better than 60 to 70% chance. the game winds up in Miami.
I think those lot those West Coast teams Not just Los Angeles, though. I'd also keep an eye out on the Golden State Warriors, even though their cap sheet is very tight, depending on what kind of offer he can get. Makes a lot of sense with Dan being from Oakland. Matt Moore joining us covers all things NBA for the Action Network. As we move on, you mentioned Russell Westbrook and him being out last night.
We saw that Jordan Clarkson likely to be joining the New York Knicks together on some scoring off of the bench. Where the heck does Russell Westbrook fit in in this NBA landscape? Is he going to be a free agent until, I don't know, September, October? Could be late. He might be a guy that teams realize they don't have a better option, they go in for him.
You know, there's still a lot of, I think, time left though in the calendar. We're just a day into free agency.
So I think we'll probably see him grab on with the team maybe later in the process. He'll still have opportunities, I think, with several of the teams that are looking in contention standpoints. But he is a lot to deal with, and both in the locker room and on the floor.
So finding the right fit might be one. It'll be interesting to see maybe if he's an option for the Detroit Pistons who lost in a shooter today as he signed a deal with the team. Man, Matt, you talk about the Kings. And it's not just over the course of today or this week, over the past bunch of years. It's just.
So many questionable decisions. Is there a team that you look at here over the past several days that you just go, What the heck are they doing? Yeah, I mean, I think the Lakers are one. The Kings are a big question mark. Why would they add Dennis Schroeder when they've got Marta Rosen?
Zachaldine. Keon Ellis, all these guys. It doesn't make a lot of sense, which is one of the reasons why. I think there's a lot of questions about whether DeMar DeRosan will be the one that winds up in Miami. Uh but the demon volunteer situation might complicate that.
Otherwise, you know, I think as you kind of look around, the Pelicans have made some weird decisions. I like the Kevin Looney edition. I liked the guys that got in the draft, but directing that 2026 first rounder was super questionable. That didn't look good at all. There's a lot of stress around Detroit right now, but I've.
Been told by pretty reliable sources they're likely to get a wing upgrade. here in the next day or so, they're close to a deal for Duncan Robinson. That could be a good addition for the Pistons and that'll make them feel a little bit better after losing probably losing a lot of the guys that helped them make the playoff last season. You're mad, all things considered, We get to July, we get to August. Have we seen the biggest of the moves?
SGA gets a deal today. Great finding gets paid for the next four or five years. Are we done with the big moves for now? I don't think so. I think that we've still got kind of some different.
mechanisms to to figure out um is it possible yannis is Is going to be around? Yes. Is it possible? That he could get moved, yeah. What's gonna happen to LeBron?
That's a big question here. Um, I still think the Warriors are shopping for a major move, I still think the Bulls have a lot of pieces that they're looking to trade.
So I think that there's um still a number of moves left on the table. that we have to see figure out. I don't think we're done with the NBA drama yet. Wow What could the Warriors possibly do? They're saddled with all their old guides trying to hit a grand slam.
Like what could they possibly do? Move Kaminga for something? Yeah, so I think the idea is moving Jonathan Comingo, although it does sound like Miami is maybe not going to be an option for them. And if that's not the case, then it's going to be hard finding somebody to take on. Is money, but that would probably be the move that gets them some new kind of life in there.
But I do think that they're going to continue to look at all options. I think they want to assemble something close to a super team because. Try and build around Steph. I don't know what the contracts for those are going to have to look like, especially under this new CBA. All I know is the Warriors have not seemed like they are happy to just go ahead and go along.
Seems like they want to continue adding because they really want to make one more push to get Stephen Curry, that fifth ring. Yeah, they're they're they're trying. It's gonna take a whole hell of a lot more. Hey, Matt, thank you so much for the time and for your insights. Please tell everybody where they can follow you and all your work with the Action Network.
Yeah, you can download the Action Network app. It's got great information in there. You can also catch me on Locked on NBA daily on YouTube. Just go to youtube.com/slash locked on NBA. Hey, Matt, thank you for the time.
We'll catch you down the line, okay? Anytime, man. Take care. No doubt about it. You just heard from Matt Moore.
Yeah, what this there still could be more? Yeah, we still have to figure out what happens with Jonathan Kuminga. He might be the guy who helps unlock things. He's a restricted free agent. And we have already heard about the beef for years now between he and Steve Kerr and his usage.
His usage was up and down in the playoffs until there was an injury, that injury to Steph Curry. And so Jonathan Kuminga, you know, he is itching to probably get out. Of the Bay Area, and the Golden State Warriors are probably itching to find that right deal that would actually get them over the hump to being a competitive basketball team, and not just competitive, but out there competing for a championship. I'm just not so sure. It gets tougher.
When you start hitching your wagon to dudes who are 36 and 37 years old, Steph Curry might be one of the greatest shooters, one of the greatest players of all time. But Jimmy Butler? Oh, no, he gon' get better as he gets older. Can't say the same thing for Draymond. Steph certainly isn't going to get better.
Nobody gets better as they get older when it comes down to professional sports. You just try to hold on and max out what you got and switch things up a little bit. The Golden State Warriors got to figure out how he can go ahead and fix that roster. Good luck. to them.
Thank you so much to Matt Moore. eight eight eight seven ten four I SN is the number. That's eight eight eight seven ten four I SN. When we come back, I I do want to point two things out. Matt brought up an excellent point.
The nuggets are set up again. To go on a championship run? It was only a couple of months ago that Nikola Jokic sat on the stage and said, Hey, I don't think this roster is good enough to win, because obviously we didn't.
So there we have that, and then the New York Knicks. Men over here picking up players. The New York Knicks still do not have a coach. They might get closer, though. I'm going to tell you about that on the other side.
It's the JR Sport Reshow on the Infinity Sports Network, and right now it's time for a news flash with Rich Ackerman. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you on the Infinity Sports Network. Thank you so much to Matt Moore for joining us from the Action Network. Covers all things NBA has covered all things NBA for years.
and he came through to have a chat with us about everything that has taken place so far. in NBA free agency, or at least the legal tampering period, including a lot of the trades uh that we've also seen take place. That will be consummated real, real soon. In in a little less than a week, Sunday, I believe, is the day Everything can become official. And as we continue on with the show, I'm going to get back to your calls.
You can hit me up. Easy. 888-710-4ISN is the number. That's 888-710-4ISN. And a couple of things he brought up.
He said the Denver Nuggets, he feels, are right back on. On path to being championship contenders with some of their moves. And then the New York Knicks, I can't believe they've added a player. and adding talent and they still don't have a head coach. But maybe, just maybe, they're getting a little closer.
And we'll talk about them. as well. 888-710-4ISN. That's 888-710-4ISN. Let's go to Toronto, Canada and talk to Bob.
Bob, you on the JR Sport Reef show? What's on your mind? The Raptors, just so confusing. Why would you let Besides Take care of the drops and then fire them the next day. That makes no sense.
I actually was hoping with him there and his relationship with Jonas, like there were rumors of him maybe coming, and that would have been nice. in a later Eastern Conference, Johnnis and Scotty Barnes and Ingram, that would have been a nice nice try to act at the start of the year, but Yeah, we discussed that last week. I don't have too much clarity on why that's the case. I still look at the roster that's been put together and I just say, hey, it's a. It's a bunch of young guys that I don't know if any of them will ever fit.
I don't know if any of them will ever kind of break through the glass ceiling to be the guy. I know the expectation was for Scotty Barnes to be that. I don't see it happening. I think he's a good piece, but I don't think he's going to be head and shoulders above everybody else. No, I see Akam version 2.0.
He's a good 1D or 2, right? Like. Yeah, but if he grows into that, I mean, if you look at it one way, he's still only twenty three years old, but I I don't see his game evolving too much more than than what it already is. Yeah, I know and um I mean, I I still think they're gonna make if they had made at least a a good strong move, I I would have been. confident of that them not being in the play in, but in the actual playoffs.
They'll be pushing like they finished eleventh this year. They'll be between eighth and tenth. That's where they'll end up. If guys are healthy, I mean, to count on Brandon Ingram to be healthy is that's a hell of an exercise in and of itself. Their draft last year was really good.
I like do have a lot of good good young guys, and I don't know how much you guys pay attention to them down there, but. Grady Dick, I was I hated that they drafted him because I wanted them to take um Uh uh over to Yukon uh gosh sh Oh, it's true. Dawkins, because I'm a big UConn fan.
So I was, Dawkins went the next pick.
So I was like, wow. Yeah, well, Grady Dick can go out there and get buckets. He's a great shooter. It'll be no time. It'll be no time before he's averaging 20-plus a game, and it may not be in a Raptors uniform.
Hey, Bob, thank you for calling. Yeah. Go ahead, Bob. What? Last thing really quick, and the Jays beat the Yankees today in order within one game.
So I'll let you go with that, brother.
Well, thank you so much, Bob, for calling from Toronto. Yeah, the Blue Jays beat the hell out of the Yankees. The final score was twelve to five, twelve to seven. Yeah, the Yankees have been on a a little bit of a slide recently. It seems like both teams in New York are trying to figure things out.
The New York Mets and their pitching and the bullpen and the New York Yankees, it's it's not looking good uh for either one of these teams. I know fans in Toronto certainly hoping for something You can't count on the Raptors for squat right now. Maybe the Toronto Blue Jays will be able to go on a little bit of a of a run. Yankees is I don't know what the hell is going on in in New York. Hey, Bocce up there.
H how you feeling about those Mets, man? very scared just because you turn your head and then another pitcher gets hurt.
So uh It's not a code red right now, but it is getting there. It's pretty close. Yeah, how how much longer before we get there? Uh I'd say a week or two, if it's continued losing? Yeah.
Yeah, damn it. The only thing that may be uh helping or save them and it's still like a week or two out is the actual All Star break. And so uh yeah, people people kinda on pins and needles right now with both New York baseball teams. They spent so much money and uh let's just say the results are not there right now. And speaking of spending a A crap ton of cash and not necessarily having the results.
The other team in New York, the basketball team, not the Nets, but the New York Knicks. They still don't have a coach. We learned that they're going to add Jordan Clarkson on a minimum contract. Great for the Knicks to get him to go out there and just get buckets. The Knicks needed somebody who can just be a microwave scorer.
That is all Jordan Clarkson does. But the idea is There's still no coach, and apparently Mike Brown is now on his second interview. With the New York Knicks. Yeah, Mike Brown, the last time we saw him on the sidelines as a head coach, was with the Sacramento Kings. Ian Begley covers the New York Knicks for SNY, and this is what he had to say about the odds of Mike Brown taking over.
Ian, is this now Mike Brown's job to lose? I don't know if I would go that far because I think there may be other people coming in for second interviews in addition to Mike Brown's second interview, which will be this week. And so Knicks are saying we could have more people coming in.
However, in that first round of interviews, Brown did make a good impression on people he spoke with. And he did garner support internally after that interview. And so it looks like he's in good shape. Still always the wild cards out there, Billy Donovan, Jason Kidd, probably even a few others. But yeah, it does look like Brown is in good position at the moment.
And I think something should get done here by the end of the week. I'd be surprised if it drags into next week. No, my good, we're still doing this with the Nicks. still don't have a coach and Mike Brown and and still throwing Jason Kidd's name out there. This is just a Bacha, has it been a month?
It's probably been a month now since they fired Thibodeau, right? I think at the end of the week it's... Month exactly. Because it was, I think it was either June 4th, June 3rd or June 4th. June 3rd.
That's two days Thursday. Yeah, that's like. Yeah, so this week. Oh my god. Only the New York Knicks could fire a guy who led them to so much success.
And then thank him by by giving him the boot because they didn't Go to the NBA Finals. It's just.
It's nuts. And so they're out here adding players before they even necessarily get to their head coach. But we know talent trumps all. Unless you're Tom Thibodeau, and they say that he mismanaged the talent. This is what Ian Begley had to say about Jordan Clarkson bringing his buckets and his scoring to the next listen.
Mm-hmm. Depth and scoring off the bench, two things that they didn't have enough of last season. Clarkson, veteran scorer, you know you're going to get points from him. Maybe not consistently night in and night out, but you know more often than not, he's going to give you something off the bench. That's what the Knicks needed.
Bench scoring last in the NBA, really struggled to score off the bench.
So he gives them that, and that's big because now, look, if you put a Mikhail Bridges with the bench lineup or you put, you know, a Towns with the bench lineup, you have a scorer out there in Clarkson who's going to attract attention from defenses. And it also, you know, leaves the Knicks with some money left over to try to entice some other free agents to come over. Ugh. Good good luck to the Knicks. And let's be honest.
If Mike Brown becomes the head coach of the Knicks, Is that is that moving the needle for Knick fans? All the Knick fans who wanted to scream up and down for years about we got to get rid of Tom Thibodeau, and Tom Thibodeau is the reason why we didn't win. And this is Mike Brown moving the needle? And what coach would have moved the needle outside of fans just looking for their pound of flesh? I think in most cases You take a look at the roster.
You look at the talent. And I think in the next case They maxed out. I think they maxed out because of the head coach. And unless they made some roster changes, like I don't know, maybe if Jordan Clarkson was on the team last year, I'm not saying that that was a reality, but if they did have some bench scoring, maybe Tom Thibodeau. wouldn't have to play his starters as much as he did.
I don't know, maybe he knows his players a little bit better than the fans who just want to see, I don't know, Deuce McBride and Landry Shamett go out there and chuck up some shots or go into some holes. Oh well. And everybody's so focused in on the head coach, people forget. about the talent. It's the Chair Our Sport Reshow here with you, Coast to Coast on the Infinity Sports Network.
888-710-4ISN is the number. When we come back, we'll talk some more basketball. We're going to chat with Daniel Lerner from the Houston Chronicle. And then here in Atlanta, people are hyped about the Hawks. We'll talk about them too.
It's the GR Sport Break Show Infinity Sports Network. Yeah.
