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You heard the big voice guide is the JR Swirp Parif right here on the internet. Infinity Sports Network. Tapped into the youngest in Charles Lynne L. Willingham out of Washington, D.C., sitting in. Very got Jadar.
Number to call us 888-710. Full 476, and that is 888-710-477-877. 4476. You can tweet at me as well. It is at N-E-L-L underscore BTP.
A lot more to get to. Top of the seven o'clock hour on the East Coast. Coming up in exactly one hour. Our first guest is going to stop by the program, Greg Washburn. of the Boston Globe, longtime NBA reporter.
Gonna join us. We had his thoughts on NBA Free Agency. Speaking of NBA Free Agency, Schumsbaum. Am I allowed to say that? Did we did we graduate from I was just joking, Ryan.
I knew I could say that. Yeah. But we go from Wogebombs Tajama's bombs, Gary Washburn, excuse me. of the Boston Globe. I've got to join us coming up top of the eight o'clock hour.
But There are Woge bombs.
Now there are Schumps bombs. Jackson Hayes. Returning to the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal. uh assuming that that he is going to be the backup. For DeAndre Ayton.
who, you know, The Lakers shocked the world by signing the other day. Look, they This is just another Okay. Another nothing burger. For The uh the the Los Angeles Lakers. I'm just not I'm not a fan of what they've done.
I don't know what the direction is right now, and it's what we've talked about. Throughout the first hour plus of this program. What is next? In La La Land. And I think as we sit here Day before the 4th of July.
People out on the grill People are are going to the beach. It's that time of year. Supposed to be vibing. The Lakers are doing everything but vibing right now. They are 110%.
I feel like I'm about to go into panic mode. That that's what I feel like is next for the Lakers. Panic mode. But I'll stop joking on the Lakers here momentarily because it's look, it's too easy. You all heard all of the loads of things I had to say about them in the opening hour.
It's too easy to me. in terms of piling on Rob Palinka and Jeannie Buss. Best of luck to them. Hopefully. They don't go back into the stone ages of the Los Angeles Lakers.
When I say stone ages, I mean life before LeBron James and how miserable they were as a franchise for that stretch of time. Hopefully, for Laker fans out there. That that does not happen. I do want to get into Mike Brown. New head coach of the New York Knicks.
Um I've long said If New York did not advance to the finals, I probably would have to Hit the eject button. On Tom Thibodeau and shout out to Leon Rose and company for doing it. It's a tough decision. When you think about What Tom Thibodeau did for the Knicks and where he got them to. relative to what they've been able to do Over the course of the history of this franchise here in the last twenty, thirty years It was a throwback.
New York was vibing. The garden was buzzing. It was great. But it wasn't good enough. And when you think about all of the Gambles and all that they have invested into this roster.
Trading Buku draft capital for bridges. Trading for Carl Anthony Towns. Getting OGN and OB paying him. This is a championship level payroll.
So coming up short. Especially when you consider the circumstances of the Easter Conference last year, the way the injury bug hit that group. There's no excuse for the Knicks to to fall short. They did so because of their head coach, talking about Tom Thibodeau. And I look at what the Knicks had and go, Okay.
You could argue that they were a day late and a dollar short, I guess, from a personnel standpoint is why You know, Tibbs was a little bit reluctant to to play guys off the bench. They were able to and it hasn't gone final yet, but Uh the Rumor has it Jordan Clarkson Now going to be a member of the New York Knicks. I love Love, love, love, love, love that move. New York. It's exactly what the doctor ordered from a player personnel standpoint.
There are two things the Knicks clearly needed. They needed a five-man that can allow Carl Anthony Towns to play power forward. and really use his advantage offensively. They need that bad. And then they needed some punch off the bench.
Campaign indeuce McBride ain't cutting it. But it's not. Jordan Clarkson is a bona fide bucket getter. A guy that just can score 20 points in his sleep. And he should have the runway.
With that Nick second unit To have the green light to just go score and go try and get buckets. That's the beautiful thing. about the addition of Jordan Clarkson. I love it for the New York Knicks. What I love even more though, as I continue to say.
I love hiring Mike Brown. I do. I think Mike Brown is not the sexy hire. It's not a hire that I think people looked at and go, Yeah, this will be the one that moves the needle. I don't think that was this move at all.
But I do think the Mike Brown hire gives New York A sense of stability. And it gives them a guy With with a pretty decorated resume. Right? This is someone that's coached under Greg Popovich. It's coached under Rick Carlisle.
That's coached under Steve Kerr.
So three of the best coaches this game has ever seen. In terms of the New York bright lights being too much for him. He's been the head coach. of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant before. Right?
He is coached. A number one defense before. He has coached a number one offense before. with the Sacramento Kings. This is a two-time NBA coach of the year.
So I know the way the Knicks went about their process was a little bit unorthodox. But do not turn your nose at the ultimate result. You got Mike Brown. And think about where Mike Brown comes from. Think about the amount of time Mike Brown spent.
In Golden State. And think about the issues that the Knicks had last year during the postseason. They got stagnant offensively. I studied a bevy of different times here on the network. They were treating Jalen Brunson.
One like Carl Anthony Towns didn't exist as his co-star. at times. And then two. If you're old enough to remember 0-1 Alan Iverson. The MVP Allen Iverson.
They gotta make it to the finals. If you're old enough to remember that version of AI and how they used the hell out of him. That's what it felt like in terms of Jalen Brunson's usage. And that's no slight and shade to Jalen Brunson. He is a phenomenal player.
But that didn't make sense in terms of how they were using it. And I think A more balanced offensive approach. In the long run, it could be beneficial for the Knicks. I get it during the regular season. JB gonna boogie, point blank.
He's going to get his buckets, gonna draw his fouls. We saw how that whistle changed though in the postseason. We did. We saw it, we saw it, we saw it.
Now, with Mike Brown being able to Scheme things up via the pen, via the clipboard. They should get easier buckets. Mike Brown also is a guy that gets people to lock in and compete on the defensive end of the floor.
So I love it for New York. And To me, the big thing that really stands out about this Is the current state of the Eastern Conference? The current State of the Easter Conference, the landscape out east. It's it's a war zone damn near. in terms of all the attrition that the top teams from a year ago are dealing with.
In in Cleveland. A team that Last year finishes What is the is the is the the top three seed in this conference? No Darius Gollin for them to start the season. Dagger. We saw what has been happened to Jason Tatum.
He's going to miss a chunk of time next year. or all of next year.
So Boston. Bye-bye, out of the contender equation, in my opinion. You look at the Indiana Pacers. No Tyrese Halliburton. Right?
Miles Turner.
Now playing elsewhere. The Pacers are going to take a step back. To me, the two frontrunners right now of the Eastern Conference are the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. I know that second team Me mention in Philly. It's going to rub some people the wrong way.
If Philly can stay healthy. There are not many rosters on paper. That I like better than the Sixers. But this isn't about them right now. This is about.
How I think the New York Knicks Knock this thing out of the park. In terms of this higher. I think they knocked it out of the park. The question is going to be Can Mike Brown, get this group over the hump. And in terms of what they have done, because this is a very uniquely built team.
I keep seeing, you know, they're always in the Annas rumor, Mill, and we'll talk about the Greek freak coming up here momentarily as well. But New York consistently mentioned As a team that's got the assets to go acquire a guy like Giannis. You can't give up on this core yet. I don't think so. They have made they've swung for the fences, is is how I would put it, in terms of how aggressive they have been in trying to put this thing together.
And as a basketball fan, if I was a fan of the Knicks, I'd love it. This is what you want your team doing. You want your team. Aggressive. Consistently trying to find a way to get an edge over their opponents.
And that's what the Knicks have done. I know this hiring process. has been a wee bit unorthodox. I get that. But The end result?
I I think is is the best case scenario maybe for the New York Knicks. I don't know who else I would have wanted to have this job outside of Mike Brown. I know they interviewed Taylor Jenkins.
Okay. But he's gonna get you prolific offense. I they need I w I was r you know advocating for a guy like Scott Brooks. Scott Brown. Brooks.
Former Thundercoach. In terms of a guy that can draw up good offense, that's all the Knicks need. I think defensively As long as the coach comes in there and preaches it, they have the personnel. With OG Ananobi, with Mikkel Bridges, with Josh Hart. They have the personnel to be good on that end of the floor.
Now, I get having Carl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson stick out like a sore thumb is definitely detrimental to your team defense. I get that 100%. But They got to be better than what they were last year at times. I kept saying it was the worst Tom Thibodeau-led defense I had ever seen. Almost any question: what the hell is Tibbs doing?
Because we know Tibbs isn't known for his offense. We know that's the case.
So it'll it'll be fascinating to see. I I will s put them atop the Eastern Conference though. Even ahead of Philly, because their situation is not dependent upon health. We know the Knicks are going to be healthy. Cats been nicked up here and then here and there, but We know that the Knicks are going to be healthy for the most part.
It's funny to me though Hearing some people talk about this. And maybe this is Because you fired Tom Thibodeau, there's kind of some sizzle. Lacking with this higher. I get it. But it doesn't always have to be sexy.
It doesn't always have to be glamorous. It's about substance, and I think Mike Brown. Bring substance. I keep reminding you all, this is a multiple-time NBA coach of the year. Think about what he was able to do.
a couple of seasons ago Turning around the Sacramento Kings. An organization that had been bottom feeders. Dust bunnies. Think about it.
So He's got the star power in New York. You think about the roster he inherited in Sacramento. And the roster he's now inheriting in New York in the big apple. Much, much better.
Now, there's one piece I still think needs to be added. I mentioned they needed a scoring pop off the bench. I think Jordan Clarkson for sure gives you that. The other thing they need is a guy that they can put at center. to allow cat to play the four.
And you saw what he did at Tom's last year and how much of a mismatch nightmare he could be. But when you're asking him to bang and Squabble up down low trying to grab rebounds. That's not him. That's not where he's at his best. I think, as a coach, as an organization, that's your job.
Put your guys in the best position possible. Is it a scenario where You start Mitchell Robinson and you're now. Playing a different big off of the bench. I don't know what they're going to have to do. Are they in potentially on Al Horford?
Who knows? The thing to me about New York. It's almost a gift and a curse. For Mike Brown. I think there are expectations.
are going to be sky high next year for good reason. For the reasons I just mentioned, because of the current state of the Easter conference. Will the pressure be too much for them? Will they be able to live up? to those expectations.
That's the question to me. But overall, I like the higher And if we're looking at the frontrunners and the teams that should be looked at, As okay, they're probably going to be in the finals. They have a real good shot. Atop these next year? It's the Knicks.
It's the Sixes. Clear as day to me. Knicks and Sixers. 888-710-480-0. 4476 is the number.
888-710-4777-7777777. Full, four, seven, six is how you reach us. Right here on the Infinity Sports Network. It's the J.R. Sport Brief.
Linnell Willingham out of Washington, D.C., sitting in for my guy J.R. You can tweet at me as well. It is at N-E-L-L-underscore BTP. Just mention Jackson Hayes, now a member, or returning rather, to the Los Angeles Lakers. Joining DeAndre Ayton as they try to bolster that front court to appease Lukadoncic, I think.
And I can't wait to. We'll re-rack the combo a little bit later on in the show because I'm fascinated. To hear what a lot of you all think. And I know as we get into this eight o'clock hour, We get some more people joining us here, but Man. The Lakers in a real, real peculiar situation.
And right now To me, I have to be considered one of the losers of the offseason. I gave you a couple offseason winners, I gave you Houston. Uh before we took the last time out. Another clear-cut NBA off-season winner to me as well. I mean, and they really, really went for it.
And I think they may be my biggest winner of the offseason to this point. The Denver Nuggets made shrewd move. After shrewd move. After shrewd move, they're starting to line up. It's always going to be one of the best in the sport.
But the ancillary pieces that they've been able to add here since the offseason has started. Trading for Cam Johnson from Brooklyn, getting off of that Michael Porter Jr. deal. A guy that's probably a better fit. In Cam Johnson.
You get back Bruce Brown Jr., which I think was massive. When you think about what he meant. uh to that finals team that they had. Getting him back, I think, is huge. You're now in a position where You know, Jonas Valentunas.
is on the board for you as well here potentially. Tim Hardaway Jr. being brought in Like Think about what the nuggets are and whether they're at their best. What's the best way to build around Nikola Jokic? Depth?
and shooting. That's it. You surround him with three-point shooters. And four other guys on the floor at all times that can shoot the basketball, he is going to make the right play. Nine times out of ten.
I know we saw a couple of playoff games. Where he didn't share the rock properly. And he turned it over a bunch. But we know him as one of the greatest passers this game has ever seen at the big man spot. You give him shooters, you will have success.
I know I was giving Houston their flowers. It's hard. When you're in the moment, it's tough. You get recency bias, right? Based on the way Denver played OKC in the postseason.
If they would have been able to sneak out of that game seven. Talking about the nugs? I think they would have won the finals. I firmly believe that. I firmly, firmly believe that.
Now for them It's about how do we retool. How do we continue to put a quality team? Around Nicole Jokis year in and year out, because he's not going nowhere. His dominance, his reign of dominance, I think. is going to continue because he's that special.
of an NBA player. But if you're Denver, if you're a Nuggets fan out there, you gotta feel really, really good. about where things currently stand with you. And what you've been able to accomplish to this point in the offseason, you gotta feel like you're right on the doorstep. of being right back you know, in poll position in the Western Conference.
Question is, is it going to be health? Can God stay healthy? Can guys play a little bit better? Because they're on the floor with Nikola Jokic. I'm thinking about Tim Hardaway Jr.
Who is as lethal of a sharpshooter As there is. Uh i in the association. Having him On this team? With Cam Johnson. With Jamal Murray and the plethora of other shooters that they've got.
I love what Denver's doing. Would I dare put them Would I dare put them ahead of OKC already? Probably not. I give them the benefit of the doubt. They had a special year last year, so I know it's going to be easy to try and crown a new team in the West.
But for as much praise as I give OKC, for as much praise as I give Houston. Excuse me, for as much praise as I give Houston and as much praise as I give Denver, OKC is still the class of. of the Western Conference. I don't think anybody could argue with that. They are still very much the class of the conference.
They've got the best player. Talking about Nicole Yelkich. For my money at least. But if you are Denver If you are at Houston, For as much of a log jam as it was, like one through six. In the West last year.
You gotta feel like if you're Houston and Denver, you have done at least. Enough to separate yourselves from those other teams. The question is: have you done enough to catch Oklahoma City? That's the big question. 888-710-4476 is how you reach me.
888-77777777777676. 710-4476. As I reached, you can tweet at me as well. It is at N-E-L-L underscore. BTP.
A lot more to get to. Here on the JR Sport Brief, as we take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Leno Willigham out of Washington, D.C., sitting in for a guy, JR, coming up in about 40 minutes. Our guy Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Going to join us.
We'll get his thoughts on NBA free agency, as well as the moves that have been made in the Western Conference. As Houston Has Houston done enough, has Denver done enough to potentially dethrone the Thunder? We'll talk about that as we continue to roll throughout this hour. We'll take your calls on, if you like, Mike Brown as the head coach of the New York Knicks. But when we come back, though.
Talk a little bit about Giannis Attinta Kumpo and what the Bucs have done to this point in the NBA offseason. And is it enough? to keep the Greek free capping. That is next here on the Infinity Sports Network. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.
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Take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern time. Lynell Willingham out of Washington, D.C., sitting in for a guy, JR. Number to reach us: 888-7104. 4476, that is 888-710-4476.
You can tweet at me as well. It's at N-E-L-L-underscore BTP. Gary Washburn of Boston Globe. Going to join us in about a half hour. We'll get his thoughts on NBA free agency.
Get his thoughts on LeBron James as well. And something I was thinking about during the break. And we're getting the odds to tit the Cookbo here in a second.
Something that I thought about with LeBron James is Well, how does LeBron's future in Los Angeles impact Bronnie's future. In Los Angeles. That to me is a massive question as well. Maybe not enough people. are paying attention to.
If what I said is true, that LeBron has played his final game. as a member of the Lakers Does it mean Bronny's played his final game as a member of the Lakers? I'll even take it a step further. And maybe it calls on this as well. Can LeBron, or excuse me, can Bronny sustain an NBA career if he's not on the same team as his father?
Can Bronnie James sustain an NBA career? If he is not on the same roster as LeBron. And I have been One of the bigger Bronnie James advocates. in sports radio. In terms of Mean not piling on the kid, understanding what he was at the high school level, understanding that he had a heart attack at USC.
Some of the details that people just. And I'll conveniently omit When they're building their hate piece against Bronnie. hollering nepotism and things of that nature. The bottom line is this, if you watched Bronny at all last year, there were some clear signs of hey Maybe this guy could do it. Hey, maybe this cat belongs it can hold his own.
I've always felt that way, by the way. I've always felt that way. See People are upset. At how he got to the Lakers. And LeBron James pulled strings and forced him there.
I always said it the entire time last summer when we were discussing this. I I could really care less If You know, LeBron forced his son to the team. But but don't sit here and act like Bronny wasn't a draftable player. Don't sit there and act like there was not... Upside in reason and logic to take a flyer on him as a second-round pick.
And that's what we argued till we were blue in the face last summer. But now that LeBron potentially could be on his way out of La La Land. How confident are you that Bronnie James can sustain his career if Pops isn't around? Bronnie James. Actually, he spoke yesterday as the Lakers wrapped up their first summer league practice.
Here's what he had to say about all the swirling rumors surrounding him. And Papa James. No, we don't really talk about much, but I think when stuff like that does come up, he just tells me to not worry about it, not even pay attention to it, just laughing at what you had going on right now. And that's. What's gonna get me better and stay keep me focused.
So I think it's good that he, you know, told me to not pay attention to that.
So Answer like a true pro. Say what you want about the the basketball ability. of Bronnie James, but the way he handles himself. On the floor off the floor with the media. Whoosh.
A stand-up individual. He handled that perfectly. He didn't take the bait. from the LA media, and I'm not surprised that he didn't. But what I am surprised about Is That he even said that much.
The pran tells them, oh, don't worry about stuff like that. I would have been like, we don't even talk about it. What rumor? What are you talking about? That's the real LeBron James Carr, Bronnie.
That's what your papa really wanted you to say. It's push. Rumors? What what? What rumors?
Turn a blind eye to what's going on right now. Act as if you're above it all. We know LeBron James has No shame in doing that. But look. In terms of The question, I think it goes back to last year and last summer.
And what Bronnie was, and what the projections were. Before I saw him play a second of Summer League basketball. I thought Man, Bronny at six two could turn into like maybe an Eric Bledsoe. Or like a Davion Mitchell. You see Kayson Wallace getting big minutes with O.K.
Z because he can flat out defend. Like, that's the type of trajectory and career arc I see for Bronnie James. That's something that could be a starter in this league and allow you to have a really, really long career. No shame in that at all. No shame in that at all.
People aren't even willing to give him the benefit of doubt when it comes to him turning into at least that. But I know last summer Whether you whether it's fair or not. Right, last summer I think a lot of people formed their opinion on what Bronnie James is going to be as a pro. Because they're the struggles in summer league. Because he got off to a slow start in summer league and He had a couple of nice performances, but you know, all in all, it was kind of underwhelming.
That allowed people to cast judgment on what they think he could possibly be. What will he ultimately turn into? And I think clearly, right, it's premature. Uh he got marketably better Throughout the G League season. and the NBA regular season.
So the work he is putting in, the plan that they have in place for him, I think, is working. He got better. from game one to game eighty two. Yeah. This summer though, one of the most Non talked about storylines, he's gonna play Summer League again.
And a year older in summer league, knowing what to expect. My expectations are a little bit higher for Bronny this time around in Summer League. Because you've dealt with all the pressure already. People are going to be on your ass. You know it.
You're the son of the greatest player of all time. Heavy is the crown That that's on the head. But you get what I'm saying? Like he is always going to have pressure on them. And I think The sooner he embraces that, and I think he has.
the better he'll be. And when I say embrace it, I don't mean feed into it. I mean, understand that it's part of the fabric of who you are. Right? You're the son of LeBron James, of course People are going to over-criticize your game.
Of course, people are going to have. uh a ton of negative things to say about you. as to what comes with the territory. And to his credit, Right, he's a young cat that has social media and streams and does all that Bronnie James could have been crashed out, so to speak. in terms of the way he's being treated online and on social media.
It could have been snapped and sent out a series of angry tweets or put out a video that was confrontational or what. He hasn't moved that way at all. And at times We all know it. He's deserved to.
Some of the commentary surrounding Bronnie, you would have thought. that that he was like a a charity case, a YMCA uh Try out kid. A make-a-wish kid. Like that's the type of that's the way people are talking about Bronny James. And I think it's totally unfair.
I think it's hyperbolized. And I think if you actually understand the sport And understand what brand of basketball he's trying to play. He's not some flashy 25-point per-game scorer. That's not who he is. He's a 6'2 point guard.
He's not LeBron. He's not. But he has his own style of play. And I think you started to see it slowly but surely last year. He is mastering his style of play.
He's unselfish. He gets his teammates involved. He competes. I think for him it's just about getting bigger, faster, stronger. And with the genes of LeBron?
Shouldn't have any problem doing that. I don't think he will. I'm really super eager to see what he does in Summer League. I am. I sure as LM.
Because there was I forgot, was it Dave McMenamin? I was listening to. um who spoke about Bronnie saying, Yeah, the Lakers expect you know, he may be a part of their rotation next year. Huh? That was back when they were still trying to kiss LeBron's ass, I guess.
I don't know if he'll crack the Lakers' rotation and be. a significant member, a a consistent a mainstay.
So on and so forth, and their rotation next year. But I do know this summer league. Whether it's You know, fair or not, this Summer League is going to have A big impact on how we view him and judge him. He's now a year into this thing, he ain't a rookie anymore. How much work did you put in during the course of the season?
How much work did you put in to this point in the summer? And oh gets exposed.
sooner rather than later. And when I use the word exposed it comes off as like cynical. Is that at all What I'm trying to do here. But you know, when it comes to Bronnie If he struggles in summer league, there's going to be a lot of loud conversation about it. If he plays well, I think it'll also be a lot of loud conversation about it.
The ball is in his court, no pun intended, right? It's up to Bronnie. I think he'll, you know, fare well for himself. I think the kid's talented. I just think our expectations.
Because of who's his his dad is. are probably unfair. Just a little bit. Right, obviously being sarcastic when I say this, it's totally unfair. Totally unfair.
Because they're two different players. We're not evaluating Not box score watching with Bronnie James. You'll miss it. He plays with too much thought. Too much IQ, too much nuance.
You gotta watch everything he's doing, or you'll miss it. Can't look at a box score and see A two for eleven from the field to think that oh, he was awful last night. It's not the way real basketball hoop heads evaluate stuff. If you wanna be, you know, a a a casual and Boxcore watching. Smack talk Bronnie James for a bad shooting, I'd have it.
You have it. Do what you want to do. I think this summer goes a long way in terms of him establishing respect amongst his peers and amongst media members as well. Because he survived it to his credit. He survived last year.
It was a media circus. And and and Pops isn't making it any better. By him and Rich Paul releasing statements to Shams. It is messy in Los Angeles, but A brony. As LeBron says, got to put all that behind him.
None of that can be relevant. It's all about how can I get better? How can I help us win? Can I earn myself a spot? in this or or someone else's rotation next year.
That's what the goal should be for Bronny James. And I think. Coming up in It's like a week. Are we even a week, two weeks out from the start of summer league? We're close.
About a week. We're close. In about a week, you'll figure it out. We're going to know. It's either what's the old adage, crapper, get off of the pot.
Put up or shut up. Go hard or go home, however, you want to describe it. Bronnie James is going to be heavily scrutinized. And people are going to have opinions about how he plays in Summer League. For his sake, I I hope he plays well.
And I'll even take it a step further. Like I've said. I think he will play well. It and if you're box score watch, I don't think you should have an opinion. 'Cause it could be a poor it could be a poor shooting night.
where he defended his ass off, got a couple of steals, a block. rotate it well Hockey assist, all that man. He is a student of the game. His IQ is sky high. I just think things need to slow down for him a little bit and he needs to stop reading the press clippings.
I would love to know, and I know Brian is telling me don't read that stuff, man. We above that, man. Does Bronnie James read the comments? Does he read the nasty things people say about him? I think that we get it harsh on social media sometimes in sports radio.
Imagine what the hell people are tweeting at Bronnie James. after an 11-minute performance where he turns it over twice. and shoots one for four from the field. The people are probably going berserk. Say all types of rude.
derogatory comments toward the kid. Gotta have thick skin, gotta embrace it. I think this summer, though, as loud as the whispers were last year. And people questioning whether or not he belonged, I think he quieted some of those doubters coming up here in about a week in Las Vegas Summer League and the L.A. Summer League as well.
888-710-4476. It's higher reaches right here on the J.R. Sport briefer. Tapped in to the Youngest in Charleston at William Hambata, Washington, D.C. We will take you up to 10 p.m.
Eastern Time coming up in about 20 minutes as we've been teasing all show long. Longtime NBA insider, NBA reporter for the Boston Globe, Gary Washburn. Gonna join the program. We'll get his thoughts on what is next for LeBron and the Lakers, plus some of his winners and losers of the offseason at this point as well. We'll do that coming up top of the 8 o'clock hour on the East Coast when we get back, though.
Yanis attempt to cook ball. Have the Bucs done enough? to keep him happy. That's next here on the Infinity Sports Network. But first the Sports Flash with Rich Ackerman.
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You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. It is Jerry, our sport brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network tapped in. The youngest in charge, the Nell Willingham, out of Washington, D.C. will take you up to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
Number to get at me, 888-710-4476. Tweet at me as well. It's at N-E-L-L underscore B-T-P, same handle on all social media platforms. A lot more to get to. Gary Washburn, national NBA rider for the Boston Globe, going to join us.
Coming up in about twelve minutes. We get his thoughts on Alright, what's going on at NBA Free Agency? Uh, I know out there in Beantown A lot of folks keeping their eyes peeled as to whether or not Brad Stevens and company. Choose to bring in Damian Lillard. Wouldn't that be.
you know, a shot in the arm offensively. for the Boston Celtics when he's able to return. But next year For Boston, as I continue to look at it. Really uh pretty much a nothing burger. In terms of what my expectations are.
I don't think they'll be good. I think they will definitely struggle. And Maybe they're better off for it. Can they have a situation where You know. They're bad and they end up in the lottery and then You never know what could happen from there.
That's where this is all fascinating to me when it comes to Boston. Uh we will ask our guy Gary Washburn All things self-takes coming up. uh in about 11 minutes right here on the Infinity Sports Network.
Now I want to get into the artists that's in the compo. Real quick while we got a second here. And Ryan, I just shot you over something here, but I the oddest thing It's a bigger picture. It's a bigger fundamental issue that I have right now. With the NBA, because I don't think you see this in the NFL or in other pro sports as often as you do in the NBA.
For whatever reason It feels like when Major Super talented players are being traded. In the NBA. It's almost as if The team. has zero leverage. That that's that's kind of how it's starting to feel.
When it comes to Marquis guys being on the move. The teams don't have a bunch of leverage. What do I mean by that? I continue to believe That if you're Giannis right now. Right?
If your yacht is You're in a situation where If you do get traded for Milwaukee, Because they drafted you. 'Cause you want him a title. I think there's this thought amongst these athletes And I'm on the side of the teams, by the way. There is this thought amongst these athletes that, hey, You know, the team owes me something. They don't owe you a damn thing.
They pay you? They feed you, they do whatever they do within the contract. Nothing in that contract says when they choose to get rid of your ass, that they got to send you to a preferred destination. And that to me. Is What's been annoying when it comes to the NBA?
Specifically with this genre situation. A guy like Giannis. First of all, Milwaukee is done at this point. And we'll. Pick back up on the ANA's combo right after we hop off with Gary Washburn because this is fascinating to me.
What Milwaukee has done to try and prove themselves worthy of being a contender to Giannis, I don't think is enough. But if you're Milwaukee, like You know it's not enough. based off of financial constraints. The best team that you could probably feel is going to be a championship caliber team.
So then the ball is in Giannis' court after you watch what they've done. You watch the moves. That's what he says is happening. And I'm vetching to see what they do. I'm vatching to see if they could be able to put together a a roster for me.
or be able to go compete for a championship. That that is what that is what Giannis is waiting on right now. And Around the box. I'm saying, hey, look, man, I'm looking myself in the mirror. See, honesty doesn't happen enough.
amongst NBA front officers. I'm looking myself in the mirror going, you know what? We're probably not going to be able to compete for a title with Giannis, but. Because of his age And How dominant he's still playing. We could get a pretty sizable return.
For Yanis's services. But you know what Milwaukees probably if they do choose to trade Giannis You know what? Mm-mm-mm. You know what they're gonna choose to do? You know what I see happening here?
If I'm Janice, First and foremost, You gotta be honest with yourself. Like I said, not enough people look in the mirror. Yannis also has to look himself in the mirror and go, okay. Is this really what's best for me? And then this is where the Bucs have to man up and and and make big boy decisions.
Giannis, I'm not letting you choose your trade destination because you want us a title. I'm trying to flip you to the highest bidder so that we can continue. It's a business, right?
So that we can continue to you know, uh be be Have a good reputation, I guess. Be formidable. And life after Giannis. That's what would matter to me if I'm Milwaukee. Not trying to But make sure I'm kissing Giannis' ass and treating him.
the exact right way. You're to hear first. Bucks got a trade Giannis. Both parties are due for a split. Top of the 8 o'clock hour coming up.
On the East Coast, right here on the Infinity Sports Network. It is a JR Sport Brief. Linel Willingham sitting in for JR. We come back. NBA reporter, NBA writer for the Boston Globe, Gary Washburn.
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