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Use promo code HomeRun for 20% off. Welcome aboard the JR Sport Prief, right here on the Infinity Sports Network to tap in to the Youngest and Charles and L. Willingham out of Washington, D.C., sitting in. for JR on this day before the Fourth of July. I can smell the hot dogs sizzling.
Cheese melting over burgers. Buckle up. We got a lot to get to as we take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Greg Washburn.
Of the Boston Globe, gonna join us top of the 8 o'clock hour. On the East Coast. We'll get his thoughts on what has been a wild and wonderful start to NBA Free Agency. We'll get to it all. He can call us at 888-788.
710-4476. That is 888-710-4476. You can tweet at me as well if you want to keep the party going. Off the air. It is at N E L L underscore.
BTP. Ryan behind the glass taking your calls. It has been a crazy, crazy start. to NBA Free Agency. I was with you Sunday.
10 to 2 a.m. Eastern Time right here on the Infinity Sports Network for the after party. And. We talked to a couple of different NBA guests, but what I said at that time. remains true Here tonight at 6 p.m.
Eastern Time, the day before the 4th of July. LeBron James has played his last game. As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. I said it then. I will recite it.
Here this evening. We'll get to it. I'll give you my explanation coming up here momentarily. We'll also talk about what is next for the New York Knicks. Mike Brown, officially named the head coach of the New York Knicks.
And if you have been listening to me here on the Infinity Sports Network throughout the postseason, I was very critical. of Tom Thibodeau. Very critical of Tom Thibodeau. And quite frankly, when you think about. How the Knicks went out.
And you think about what happened in the landscape of the Easter Conference With Jason Tatum going down. With Tyrese Halliburton going down. For New York to come up short the way that they did, something had to happen. You all know how I feel about NBA postseason basketball. In terms of all of the second seasons, Throughout pro sports, the NBA playoffs.
is The one postseason to me where people get frenetic. People get People get giddy. When you don't reach expectations, the seat gets hot. And Tom Thibodeau. Uh unfortunately His job, you know, reached its expiration date because of the Knicks' inability to advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Now, I have long said. For New York? I know they didn't do it right. And I understand a lot of people were, you know, scratching their head at. You know, just how long it took for them to make this hire.
Mike Brown was not hired until the day after free agency started.
So when you think about their timeline, And the way things have gone, it was abnormal. It's the best way that I would put it. And when you fire a coach like Tom Thibodeau, They got you to where he got you to. You better come up with a Flashy, sexy. Substance filled name.
And on its surface, I'll be real. Mike Brown is not that. He's not. But I think when you look at his resume, And what he can help them do on the offensive end of the floor, where things really got sticky for them. In that series against Indiana?
I think that's where he helps you the most. And he's been around the block before. He's coached LeBron James. He's coached Kobe Bryant.
So the bright lights of New York City. From my vantage point, pssh. Small thing to a giant is what they like to say, right? I think Mike Brown's the perfect man for the job. We'll talk about the Knicks hiring Mike Brown and what it all means coming up top of the 7 o'clock hour on the East Coast.
Uh I'll give you my NBA off-season. winners and major loser as well. Because now that the draft has passed, we've kind of got through the meat of free agency with some big knob with some big time names being on the move and more expected to move as well. I'll give you a couple of winners and one team that I really feel like is missing the boat. Uh when it comes to this NBA offseason.
And then uh Irony, right? It's crazy. I'm back on with you here this afternoon, or here this evening, rather, sitting in for JR, always. A pleasure. One of my favorite guys to listen to.
here on this network, but the last time I was with you, tended to here on the Infinity Sports Network. You can catch me back there this Sunday as well. uh for the after party. But The last time I was here, the Malik Beasley. Gambling scandal was really just getting underway.
We were starting to find out some of the details and. Just how much hot water the Piston Star guard was actually in. Earlier today. About 11 o'clock AM? Jeff Passen, David Perdum of ESPN report that Cleveland Guardians right hitter Luis Ortiz is under investigation by Major League Baseball after a betting integrity firm flagged a pair of pitches that it received unusual gambling activity.
Uh that according to ESPN Earlier this afternoon, sources said betting integrity firm I see three sixty. Sent an alert in June to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz, whom MLB has placed on the non-disciplinary paid leave list. through July 17th.
So two weeks on the shelf. Uh for Luis Ortiz of the Guardians. This is messy. We'll get into the details coming up a little bit later on, but real quick here, just to touch on it as we start the show off here. I said it Sunday, I'll repeat it here again.
I feel the same way. About every gambling inquiry, every gambling scandal. Uh to me Because Major League Baseball The NCAA. Uh UFC Boxing Okay. National Football League, NBA, all the major professional pro sports, and even the collegiate sports now.
Are in bed with these sports books.
So, to me, I'm not surprised when I hear about Malik Beasley. I'm not surprised when I hear about Luis Ortiz. You can say. That I'm a cynic. You could say that I'm being a conspiracy theorist.
Wake the hell up! If we are not careful And I guess when I say if we are not careful, I'm not talking about us common folks. We don't have anything to do. with the NFL and FanDuel's multi-million, multi-billion dollar deal. We don't have anything to do with that.
But if these pro sports leagues aren't careful. We're right now, to me, playing a very, very dangerous game. when it comes to sports betting, in sports. Sports betting in the actual game itself. I think we're at a point.
where we're really in jeopardy of ruining the integrity of pro sports and sports across the country. because of the heavy influence of sports gambling. I genuinely feel that way. And look, I understand. It feels like something's coming up every six months.
It's the best way that I can put it. That's what it feels like. Last summer, what were we talking about this time? Last summer, the show Hail Tanny stuff. with his interpreter.
Right? It feels like every six seven eight months Something comes up with this stuff. And I I really do believe in it, and I love sports as much as an X-Men does, so it would kill me. If I found out that sports were rigged or sports were scripted. But I also say this, right?
I'm a guy. The only reason, and I'll be very open, honest, and transparent with you, right? The only reason. That I am into sports talk radio that I'm into pro sports. The way that I am is because of my grandmother, right?
My grandmother. Introduced me to professional wrestling. And at a young age, I love professional wrestling. Ryan, I know you love you some pro wrestling as well, brother. And the one thing about pro wrestling That even as I got older and I found out it wasn't real, And it was scripted, I still was glued to the television set.
Why? Because of storylines and intrigue and things of that nature. We'll take your calls on this a little bit later on in the show. You can reach us all show long at 888-710-4476. You can tweet at me as well.
It's at 888-767-767-766. N-E-L-L underscore BTP. Storylines, intrigue is the reason why a lot of fans out there in the WWE still so popular. Globally, and is continuing to expand because storylines and things like that keep people's attention glued, it keeps you dialed in. I think the same thing can happen in professional sports.
And I know people are probably thinking, what the hell is he talking about right now? Just bear with me here for a second. Playing hypothetical Harry here on Fourth of July weekend. If you found out professional sports was fixed. And the result was predetermined Would you still tune in?
That's a question that no sports fan out there, I think, is man enough to answer or woman enough to answer. And if you want to, hit us up: 888-710-4476. If you knew. That the result of pro sports was fixed Would you still be glued in? Every Sunday.
at one o'clock PM Eastern Time. Watching the National Football League every Thursday night at 8 o'clock, watching Thursday night football. Would you still be doubting?
Something we could chew on. A little bit later on in the show. I want to get to the lead, though, and I said it off the top. I said it Sunday. I'll repeat it here again.
LeBron James, to me, has played his final game as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. And here tonight, I would have taken it a step further. Sunday, I told you I thought LeBron had played his last game as a Laker. People thought I was crazy. People thought I was cuckoo.
And now, look at what we're reading on the tea leaves.
Now, listen to the conversation around the water cooler. People are seriously questioning. Whether or not LeBron James has a future in Los Angeles. I've seen all types of reports come out since Sunday night. Oh, the Lakers don't want LeBron.
The Lakers have been working to move around LeBron. The Lakers are treating LeBron as an expired contract. All of this is extra writing on the wall to tell you. What's going on? What exists right now?
In the relationship between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. I'm willing tonight, though, to take it a step further. Not only do I think LeBron has played his final game as a member of the Lakers, I think the Lakers should be. Trying to build this team around Luka Donchic. But it would be something that's temporary.
It wouldn't be something that is in ink. The Lakers shouldn't be trying to build this team around Luca. But if the right deal came If my phone rang, if my hotline. Continue to bling. Right?
What I really do feel that The Lakers probably should be willing to trade him too. That's just how I feel about it. I feel like At some point If you are The Los Angeles Lakers. You got to look at. What is next for you as a franchise?
Because I think the writing is on the wall. And I'll go back to Sunday's quote. For Rich Paul to Sham Serrani of ESPN. This was the quote that came out. Sunday afternoon.
About noon Eastern time. LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance at winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeannie Bust and Rob Polinka, and consider the Lakers.
as a critical part of his career. We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do, though, want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life. and career. He wants to make every season he has left count And the Lakers understand that?
are supportive And what's best for him. End quote. Rich Pole. to Sham Serrani of ESPN on Sunday afternoon.
So that is where things Stand with the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James. And that has been the scenario over the past couple of days. We've now had very prominent NBA insiders. Come out and say, yeah. Kind of true.
It's it's it's kinda true. And we're at a we're at we're at a point right now. We're at a point right now where, hey, Something's gotta give. We've seen some of the ancillary moves that LA has made. Since the start of free agency.
Right? We've seen some of the moves that the Lakers have made. Since starting free agency. Right? DeAndre Ayton.
You're in trade conversations for guys. You brought in Jake Larivia. You did messy business with Dorian Finney Smith.
Now he's out of the door. and in Houston This has been a mess. This has been a mess. to start free agency. for the Los Angeles Lakers.
I truly do feel that. This has been a mess. But the saving grace, the interesting part about it. And what's honestly amazing about all of this. They can still They can still fix this.
Because I think what's happened now and based on the reports that you're hearing The Lakers have come to the realization and and and look t credit to them LeBron and Luca can't coexist. And I raised my eyebrows when this trade happened in the wee hours of the morning back in February. I said, what the hell is going on here? One, I was stunned. by Nico Harrison getting absolutely finessed at the trading table.
Giving up a 25-year-old future Hall of Famer Essentially, for a pack of peanuts. No disrespect to what Anthony Davis is and what he's accomplished. But when you think about the age, What the kid is, Nico Harrison got finessed. I'll continue to say it. But If you're Rob Palinke and company.
If you choose to blow this up. You don't have to be like Nico. You can do it the right way, you can genuinely feel trade-offers for Luka Tachic if you feel like that's the move you need to make, but like I said. The ball is in Lucas Court right now. We're going to see exactly how folks feel about the Los Angeles Lakers because I continue to say it.
And you can roll your eyes at it. You can act as if. You know, I'm I'm I'm bluffing, I guess. But like in in reality LeBron James came in and saved the Los Angeles Lakers. And if they choose to ship him out, and build this thing around Luka.
That to me is the saving grace for them. That's what they have to do at this point. It is very clear anybody that watches basketball, anybody that understands basketball And you understand the style of play. That Luca plays. And the style of play that LeBron James plays, those two.
Styles to me cannot coexist together. Both guys need the basketball in their hands. And playing Having Luke and LeBron on the court together, to me, you cannot get the best out of both of them. And that's a problem.
So it almost makes you wonder, well, what the hell was Rob Polenke and Company thinking anyway by pulling the trigger on this deal? Like what was What what What was the point of it? Why did they move this way? Why was this something that happened? Why did they make the move for Luka Doncich?
'Cause according to reports and it's all coming out now. See, this is what's beautiful. About pro sports and Specifically, the NBA and the NFLs. I talked about storylines, right? They keep you glued to the television shit.
They know how to keep eyes on their product. We're starting to hear reports come out now that When the Lakers traded for Luca, it was the beginning of the end. Of their relationship with LeBron James. And in hindsight, Looking at the way things are playing out. Looking at the decision that LePron made.
It's probably accurate. That is probably accurate. It probably is a situation. Where we've seen the beginning of the end. But I told you this on Sunday.
Yeah. In combination with the Rich Paul statement. Told me everything I needed to know about where this relationship stood. What I want to get to here tonight, though. Should the Lakers try and blow it all up?
Or rebuild around Luka Domch. Because if you look at the moves they've made to this point. Why would LeBron, and this is what's so funny about the narrative and the messaging. about what's happening here. You really think DeAndre Ayton.
And take Larivia? Are going to move the needle for LeBron James and the Lakers in the Western Conference. Let's be real. When you look at the offseason that Denver's had to this point, when you look at what Houston's done to this point. You look at what Minnesota returns next year, bringing back Nas Reed, bringing back Julius Randall.
The Lakers are at best With LeBron, with Luca, with Jake Larivia. I mean, are you kidding? That that's that's what's so and it's almost funny because Rob Polinka and Jeannie Bust are going to start getting exposed as basketball decision makers. Before LeBron James gifted Los Angeles with his presence, what was the last good basketball decision? That Rob Polinka and Jeannie Buss made.
Crickets. Crickets. It's not a rhetorical question. You can hit me up. If you know better than I do and you can defend the Lakers and their decision-making, please do so.
888-710-4476. You can tweet at me as well. It is at N E L L underscore B T P. I just I I I don't know, man. I don't know where things go next.
When it comes to The Lakers I keep telling you what I think they should do. But it's a two-fold thing here. You can try and build around Luca, but Luca also has. A decision to make him damn self. Looker.
It's not signed to Los Angeles long term.
So you're not only auditioning, this is why they can end up with their pants down. It'd be a Comical situation. It really would be. What if Luca decides that the moves that you're making aren't good enough for him either? And he wants out of Los Angeles.
Now, what are he left with? Rob Palenka, Genie Buss, J.J. Redick? Who I think is a casualty in all of this, because J.J. Redding, I thought, was brilliant.
in his first season uh as the head coach of the Lakers. But look at the mess that he that he has on his hands right now. And if you're a basketball fan out there describing the situation in Los Angeles as anything other than a mess. You are not being genuine. We got folks reporting that Austin Reeves and LeBron don't want to play with Luca.
It's a mess already in Los Angeles. The interesting thing is this though. What Were the Lakers ultimately do. Once again. Like it has been many times.
Throughout their tenure. The ball is now in Rob Palenke and Genie Buss. their court. It's in their court. How are they going to move?
Because I spilled it to you. It's the worst way that it could happen. We could see a scenario. Where Two years from now. Not only does Los Angeles not have LeBron, they cannot have Luca as well.
Everything to me is on the table. But I want to hear from you at 888-8008. 710-4476. You can tweet at me as well. It is at N-E-L-L underscore BTP.
It's a JR Sport Brief here on the Infinity Sports Network. You're tapped in to the youngest in Charles and L. Willingham out of Washington, D.C., sitting in for my guy, JR, as we take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. We'll take a quick timeout when we come back.
Should the Lakers try and blow it up? Or should they build it around Luca? Plus, I'll give you some of my biggest winners of the NBA offseason thus far. All that more coming your way next, right here on the Infinity Sports Network. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.
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Willingham out of Washington, D.C. We'll take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Remember to call us 888-710-4476. You can tweet at me as well.
It is at N E L L underscore. BTP coming up about an hour and a half from now. Good friend of the program. Our guy, Greg Washburn. Longtime NBA reporter for the Boston Globe.
Gonna join us. We'll get his thoughts on the crazy start that it has been in terms of NBA free agency, the NBA offseason off to a crazy start. couple of different shake-ups in the draft, but really The past forty eight to seventy two hours. In the NBA, have really been. Groundbreaking.
And some teams.
Some teams have really showed hey look We're gunning for it. in 2025. We're not going to stand Pat. And let Oklahoma City run a rough shot in the Western Conference. I'm talking about teams like Denver.
Houston.
Well off what they did. We'll get you some winners of the NBA offseason coming up here in a moment. Um but I want to continue. To expound upon what we were talking about here in this opening segment. If you're just now tuning in.
I said it Sunday, I'll reiterate it here again, and I'll give you. I'll give you a cherry on the top. I think LeBron's played his final game as a member of the Lakers. And What that means, where he goes, what potential destinations make sense. That's a whole nother conversation that we'll get to.
As we roll throughout the show here. But let's focus on the main thing because I do think. It is something that is going to be viewed as controversial. And I haven't seen anyone leap out there with any. Sweeping judgments about LeBron's legacy or LeBron's character based off of these reports.
But I know that it's going to happen. LeBron James for a guy. That is a four-time NBA champion. A four-time finals MVP, a four-time league MVP. 21 time all-star.
21 different all-NBA teams. For for a guy with those accolades. He to me is still the most disrespected player of our time. In terms of the way people talk about him. and and the the career moves he's made And if he chooses to leave Los Angeles, if LeBron chooses to exit Los Angeles.
I don't think it says anything. About His his legacy Or it doesn't change how I view him moving forward. I actually applaud LeBron James for this. Think about what's in between LePron And being considered the greatest player of all time, hardware at this point. That's all it is.
It is a chase. For rings at this point, and you're damn skippy, Rich Paul and LeBron. I love the fact. That they're putting Ralph Palinka and Jeannie Buss's feet to the fire. Say, hey, look, man.
I'm a LeBron freaking James. I am revered and looked at as no worse than the third greatest player of all time. You think I want to be competing? I'm still putting up twenty-five, eight, and eight. In in year 23 or you're twenty two and you think You think that I want to be on a team that's going to be fighting to make the play-in tournament?
And I know what last year was, I understand how they finished. And how they played with look at look at how they looked in the postseason. See, it doesn't matter where you finish at. In the Western Conference standings. If you are LeBron tapes, you are judged.
By if you are hoisting That trophy at the end of the year. If you're talking to Commissioner Silver on the floor filled with confetti at the end of the year, that is what LeBron is being judged by. And Rich Paul said it. LeBron has said as much. Father Tom is undefeated.
No man's ever beat him. LeBron James is starting to feel it. And LeBron James knows he's only got so much time left.
So why not spend the rest of his career No matter how long it is, it should be a must. The rest of his career, no matter how long it is, He should spend That time being in legitimate championship contention. And I think that's where we're at right now. And I think the Lakers The Lakers are like, okay, pssh. If you're Rob Palinke and Genie Bust, if you're smart.
And I don't think that they are. I'm going to lay that out there and be very honest about it. I think they are the worst executive tandem in the NBA. But If they were smart. If, if, if, if, if.
If they were smart. LeBron James moving this way? It's honestly a blessing in disguise. Because let's be real, what their focus should be on, you got to make a decision here. I guess they don't have to.
Luca does, as I keep saying. A decision's got to be made here. If you are Luka, Are you are you set on Los Angeles long term? And I think that should be Rob in Jeannie's mindset right now. What can we do?
to ensure no matter what No matter what, that Luke assigns that Supermax extension. That is what the Lakers' sole focus should be right now. And honestly, this is where it's it's so Interesting to me. We'll have a conversation about A certain star out in the Eastern Conference a little bit later on in the show that the organization is doing right by him, and we want to send him where he wants to go. I I am so tired.
It's pro sports, man. It's cutthroat. There are millions of dollars on the line. It is the industry that that drives our damn economy. Stuff gets dramatic.
It's cutthroat. It's vicious. I can't wait till the team chooses. To say that the hell with being loyal to a player, I'm going to ship him where I get the best assets possible. And if I'm Rob Palenke and Jeannie Buss and I even have an akling, That Luca's not going to sign on that dotted line.
I ship them out. I ship 'em out, I ship 'em out, I ship 'em out. And I don't do it. I don't do it like Nico Harrison did it, Sam. Hey, Rap.
I'm thinking about trading Luca. You want him? I'm not just making this exclusive to one team. I still, and we're it's five months removed from it now, I guess. It still rubs me the wrong way.
What the hell was Nico Harrison thinking? And it's so funny anytime I hear him with a microphone in front of his face. Just the process, we just trusted our plan. You couldn't have planned for this. This is why the NBA is beautiful.
That's why people are glued to it and are addicts to it, like I am. Because you never know what's going to happen. But for the ping pong balls to bounce the way that they did For Dallas, that's their saving grace.
So I do get annoyed when I hear Nico talking funny. But if you're Rob Palinke, if you're Genie Puff, do not do what Nico Harrison did. Make this. Not just some secret. Make this the Luka Donchic Sweepstakes if you choose to go that way.
888-710-4476 is how he reaches. Look. And I know I'm kind of maybe I'm jumping the gun here because I I have I will admit, right, I have no clue How Luka Dantic is viewing his basketball future long term right now. I wouldn't trust the front office in Los Angeles. I'll tell you that.
I I am just Same. I would not trust The plan in the vision of Rob Polinka and Genie Buss. I just wouldn't. Their track record tells you you shouldn't. That's what's so baffling about this.
Am I the only one sounding the alarm on what's going on in Los Angeles? Am I the only one viewing it this way? I think i it could go one of two ways, man. You can either pfft. That kiss Luca's ass enough and do what he wants you to do.
Or he could hold your feet to the fire, and you can end up with nothing. And think about. Hmm. I know Laker fans out there, this is like It's like how Americans look back on COVID. Think about life.
before LeBron James in Los Angeles for the Lakers. Think about it. Think about how miserable it was, how irrelevant you were as a franchise. The embarrassment in which you set Kobe Bryan out. God rest his soul.
I it's it's I have my popcorn ready. I got my popcorn ready. Um I'm I'm sipping a sprite. And I'm sitting back with my feet up, just watching. How uh Drop Palinka and Genie Buzz are going to vomit on themselves once again.
If we got it ready, Ryan. I want to let you hear from a guy that I consider The LeBron Maestro? ESPN's NBA insider Brian Windhorst. Had this to say. About where things currently stand between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron as an expiring contract. And what happens to expiring contracts in the NBA? They're viewed as trade pieces. For all those reasons, the money, the fact that LeBron and Luca are still a very formidable duo, the fact that the Lakers are not done with their offseason, the fact that trading him is crazy, the fact that this is being built around Luca and they've got to maintain their cap sheet, and all of those things, everything that makes sense. But I'm just unlocking the door because I'm not as convinced as before of its impossibility.
That's Brian Windhorse. When the big man talks, I listen when it comes to LeBron James. He has the skinny. on what's going on with LeBron. normally does.
Normally is pretty well tapped into his thought process and how he's choosing to move. Wendy kind of tiptoed around him. Uh John Gambaro Gambadoro, rather, uh up in Phoenix. Took it a step further. It had this to say about LeBron.
And whether or not he's fond of his teammate, Luca Dantrich. LeBron does not like playing with Luca. Reeves does not play like playing with Luca. Reeves does not like getting the ball with two seconds left on the shot clock. LeBron is not fond of playing with Luca.
The Lakers are going to turn their attention to build around Luca, not LeBron. Of course.
So this is Luca's team now. I would not be shocked if he'll probably come back, but I wouldn't say it's a guaranteed no-brainer LeBron comes back to the Lakers because there are guys that don't like playing with Luca. And and and there you have it.
So so if you're Los Angeles If you're Los Angeles, what what what do you do here? What do you do here? It's all of a sudden the number one question of the NBA offseason, in my opinion. What the hell? Do the Lakers choose to do?
Because this is a mess. And I told you a moment ago how bad it could actually go. Let Luka Doncic. Let Luca Dodgers say Ah Los Angeles? Push.
Nah. Maybe I'll go to the Clippers. Wouldn't that send Lakers fans into a frenzy, into a tizzy? I th this thing to me it's it's messy. It's messy, it's messy, it's messy.
And What's been very evident to me The Lakers and LeBron. I don't think anyone's got the leg up here in terms of leverage. I think. LeBron put them in a sticky spot because I think he's made it very known that He is there on thin ice with him. There are reports coming out that he was not fond of the Anthony Davis trade, and he was indeed blindsided by that.
despite what you know public opinion may say.
So if you i if you look at that And you're mad that the team traded AD. Then they traded AD for a guy that you can't coexist with if you are LeBron. I you're you're not you're not happy with the Lakers right now. You're not. And my whole thought was this.
I keep seeing the Austin Reeves trades out there, like where they can. I saw a trade. Austin Reeves goes to Minnesota, and the T-Wolves are willing to move off for Rudy Gobert. DeAndre Ayton is A nice consolation prize, I guess. But in reality, the Lakers have not made any moves yet to this point in the offseason.
That move the needle for you. They've gotten worse. They've gotten worse. Replacing Dory and Finney Smith with Jake Larivia. Leg La Ravia is it's not an upgrade to me.
888-710-4476 is how you reach me. 888-710-4476. Full four seven six is how you reach me. We'll take a quick timeout. We'll be come back.
We'll take your calls on what the Lakers should do. I'm putting it out on the table right now. Should the Lakers try and blow it up? Or should they try and build around Luka? We can take your calls on that plus.
I will give you my biggest winners. Of the NBA offseason thus far, and we'll give you a big fat loser as well. That's all coming up next here on the Infinity Sports Network, but first the Sports Flash with Rich Ackerman. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue.
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You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Sale rocking and rolling. Here on the JR Sport Brief, right here on the Infinity Sports Network, you're tapped in. The youngest in charge, Lynell Willingham, out of Washington, D.C. We'll take you up to 10 p.m.
Eastern Time. And number to call us, 888-710-4476. That's 888-710-4476. You can keep the conversation going with me off air as well. It is at NELL underscore BTP.
Same handle on all social media platforms. It is at NELL underscore BTP. A lot more to get to. We will keep the conversation on the NBA as we ease our way into the 7 o'clock hour. Remember top of the 8 o'clock hour on the East Coast, Greg Washburn.
Uh, good to join the program. Longtime NBA reporter for the Boston Globe will give us his thoughts on the crazy start that it's been to NBA Free Agency. We've been talking a lot about LeBron James here to start. how I think he's played his final game as a member of the Lakers. As we get into the 7 o'clock hour, we will sneak over into the Western Conference, or excuse me, into the Eastern Conference, talk a lot about the West.
I'll give you a couple of Western Conference off-season winners here as well, here momentarily, but We'll switch gears, move to the Eastern Conference, and talk about the New York Knicks and. For a guy and me that's been as critical of the Knicks. Is anybody really critical of Tom Thibodeau? Uh in terms of You know, the way that they fared this postseason. They seem like, based off the way the coaching search went, a lot of people can view it like, oh, they don't have the ducks in a row.
I think it's the exact opposite. And I'll tell you why, coming up top of the 7 o'clock hour on the East Coast, I love. The Mike Brown hire. Before we get to that. Real quick, while we got a second.
If The Los Angeles Lakers choose to blow it up. Should they be applauded for it? 'Cause I think it's a very risky thing to do. It's not the sexy move. It's not going to be box office.
like everything that LA is supposed to be. But realistically speaking, If You're going to move LeBron. And you have this inkling or feel that Luca may not resign, the hell with him, too. Sell them off to the highest bidder. And get the assets necessary.
to kickstart your rebuild. A complete teardown is probably what's needed for the Lakers. Unless you gotta build around Austin Reeves and and and Rubi Hachimura. Give me a damn break. The Lakers are not one of my winners of this NBA offseason.
A couple of teams. That I gotta give some moonshine to, that I gotta put under the spotlight for just how shrewd they have been. And their decision making. look no further. Then M.A.U.
Doka and the Houston Rockets.
So think about what Houston did last year. Two seed in the Western Conference, a 52 win team. One of the best home records And all of the NBA defensively They were amongst the league's best. You saw it in the postseason though, and playoff basketball is just a little bit different. stylistically in terms of What you got to be able to do.
What's a non-negotiable? in NBA playoff basketball. Gotta be able to score in a half court consistently. Rockets couldn't do that. Jalen Green was, I believe, their leading scorer during the regular season.
He could hit the wide side of a barn. During the playoffs, during that opening round. Against Golden State. He was awful. Awful, awful, awful, awful.
But Houston? Didn't have a problem.
Well they did and they solved it. They send him to Phoenix, and you get back Kevin Durant. That was just the beginning of things. And rumor has it. That Kevin Durant deal far from finalized as a record-setting 17-team NBA trade potentially on the horizon here.
But Let's just talk about it on the surface. The Rockets acquiring Kevin Durant. directly answers their biggest problem from last year. Directly answers it. with a guy that say what you want about Kevin Durant.
I think Him and LeBron James, man. I think K D more than Bron. Probably the two most disrespected guys of this era right now. And I know people are going to disagree with the LeBron thing, but the Kevin Durant thing, argued with somebody you love, not me. Hope you love me.
But you pick up what I'm putting down. Like the way Kevin Durant is talked about Amongst NBA Twitter, which is just a toxic cesspool in and of itself, you'd think he's a bum. But what Houston did Acquiring KD. Signing Dorian Finney Smith. to a four-year, $53 million deal.
Bringing back Clint Capella. On a team-friendly deal. Getting Fred Van Vliet back on a team-friendly contract. Jabari Smith getting signed to a nice extension. Like the moves that they've made here is the Stephen Adams signing as well.
I mean, they have set themselves up to where they have Legitimate depth in the front court. And if you saw the way that they looked in the playoffs. With that two-big lineup of Stephen Adams and Alpery and Seng Goon. They said, Okay. Stephen Adams, who knows if he can hold up for eighty two games during a regular season.
So let me bring in Click Capella. A guy that can spell him, they can split minutes, and then come playoff time, the best five man. is gonna play next to St. Goot. I love what Houston's done.
And I think I'm so high on Kevin Durant. and what he still brings to the table at this point in his career. That man, I look at I look at Houston as one of the if if not the biggest, one of the biggest threats to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston isn't fearful at all. They match up perfectly.
With OKC. And it just makes me excited and it makes you on the edge of your seat thinking about what next year is going to be. I think the Houston Rockets have closed the gap between themselves and Oklahoma City. There's another team out west that I feel like did the exact same thing. My biggest winners of the NBA offseason to this point coming up on the other side of this breaker.
Tapped in to the JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network. The Youngest and Charles and O. Willingham out of DC sitting in for JR. We'll take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern time.
Let's take a quick timeout. When we come back, top of the seven o'clock hour on the East Coast, we'll talk a little bit about the New York Knicks and what the Mike Brown hired means. Plus, I'll give you more winners of the NBA offseason next. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. What if comparing car insurance rates was as easy as putting on your favorite podcast?
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