How Many Players Will Be Traded At The NFL Draft? (Hour 3)

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$10 minimum per order. Additional terms apply. Our number three of our radio program, that's right, Zach Gelb's show, CBS Sports Radio. So let's get into a little speculation right now of players maybe getting traded during the NFL draft or maybe even outright released. I know that Joe Mixon, he did plead not guilty to menacing charges, but Joe Mixon, there was a report the other day that I was reading, he could be released by the Bengals if he doesn't accept a pay cut. Now, there's things that are going on off the field as well, like we just said, what he pled not guilty to. But you would think, and I know for running back, it's different. He's still only 26 years old.

You're not that far away from being considered old as a running back, but it's still in the prime years of his career, you would think. And it's been bizarre, Mixon, the last two years with the Bengals, where you go back to the Super Bowl and they had Samaje Pirain on the field the late, which I didn't really get. And then this past year, Joe Mixon, he was fine when he was on the field, but you look back at it, you just look at it. Really, you know they're going to pay Burrow. You know that they're eventually going to pay Jamar Chase.

Duke Tobin has made it clear he wants to keep T. Higgins as well. Someone's going to have to eventually go, and without quickly running backs to expire in this league, and how a lot of times the teams that win, it's running back by committee, Joe Mixon is expendable for the Cincinnati Bengals. I don't know how much the off-the-field situation does factor into teams wanting to bring him on or not, but it would impact what a team like the Bengals would get back with the uncertainty for Joe Mixon as well right now. So it would not shock me if Joe Mixon doesn't want to take a pay cut, and then that report ends up being true and he gets released, but you would think, Hickey, that someone, if the Bengals are about to cut him, and how many times do you see a report, oh so-and-so is on the verge of getting released, and then like four hours later, actually he's getting traded at the 11th hour when you're in the 11th hour and it's about to hit midnight. I would think that there would be at least a team or two that would be interested in giving a late round pick up for someone like Joe Mixon.

If you only get like two good years out of him, it still would be worth it, you would think. Fifth, sixth, seventh round pick, right, very low risk, absolutely. And you look if he does be made available, and if it's released it's totally different than getting traded because if it's traded there's just some teams that won't be interested in it.

I look at a team like Buffalo. If he gets released, I know that you have James Cook, Devin Singletary no longer there, you just brought in Damian Harris as well. I feel like we keep on throwing Buffalo out there as a team that should be in on deals and they end up not being so. Maybe they'll be, and I know another player on this list is DeAndre Hopkins, but we'll get into other potential suitors as well.

If you ask Von Miller, it seems like Von Miller's doing everything in his power to go get DeAndre Hopkins, and I guess they work out together, they talk a lot. I would think Buffalo would probably prefer Hopkins over Mixon, and Hopkins a much better player than what Mixon is, but if you look at the actual fit, you get an established running back in there, which is something that Buffalo does need. Now Harris is solid, but I would not say he's anywhere close to the ballpark of what Joe Mixon has accomplished in this league, but the Bills keep on saying how they want to take the burden off of Josh Allen, and Josh Allen has to slide more, and Josh Allen has to protect his body. Well you could also protect Josh Allen as well by getting him a running back that you could actually trust on the field, and Joe Mixonhickey would definitely be one of those players. Catch the ball to the backfield too, so he's not only tougher than the tackles, which is definitely what the Bills are missing, but again it's also a good safety valve if you need. Again, you can make the argument at least 10 running backs could easily fit right now with the Bills' need.

We've been talking about it now that the bigger question is not who will fit, but will they make an actual move? Now even with what I'm just saying with fit, if you're still Buffalo and it came down to one or the other, Hopkins over Mixon, I still think you gotta go Hopkins. Just because he's more elite than, I wouldn't even, like Mixon's a very good back. But DeAndre Hopkins, when, I would say healthy, when he's not on the juice, let's just say, with the six game suspension last year, DeAndre Hopkins is still a top five, top ten wide receiver in the NFL, more so in the top five. You saw what he was able to do when he came back with basically like no quarterback in Arizona. Plus longer shelf life and also more trustworthy off the field.

And more boom potential too. Because you look at DeAndre Hopkins, even though they already have Staphon Diggs and Gabe Davis, it just gives you another more explosive weapon for the Buffalo Bills to pair up with their young quarterback in Josh Allen. I'll get to the other running back and there's a few more on this list. But Dalvin Cook, I did see, and this was a few days ago, Jeremy Fowler say that all options are on the table regarding Dalvin Cook and the Vikings. He could be released closer to the draft if things don't work out. They had talks to at least one team about a trade in the past closer to free agency.

So he's certainly a name to watch. And Barry Jackson, a little while ago, he did report that Barry Jackson down in Florida, that the Dolphins actually had interest and they still do have interest in Dalvin Cook. But whatever the trade compensation was at the time when Barry Jackson and them had these discussions, that it just didn't end up going anywhere. So I would think, and really you look at the Dolphins, they are giving you that approach the last two years that they're all in with the trades that they've been able to pull off. Whether it's Jalen Ramsey, you have Tyreek Hill, the move that they made to go and get Jalen Waddle as well, even Bradley Chubb at the deadline.

I would kind of expect at this point that eventually, whether it's cut or a trade, that Dalvin Cook ends up finding his way to South Beach. Now, I don't know how this all works from a salary cap standpoint, but what do we say all the time? The NFL salary cap, I feel like we all complain about it all the time and bitch about it. How is this team going to get under the cap?

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And teams end up finding a way to do so. Well, for Miami Toofies released and we'll see what the market is, but that can almost help dictate in a way of lowering the value right there and not really giving Cook an option.

So it kind of works in their favor of getting a lower price. You go to other players. What about Austin Eckler? We haven't really heard much on that front. He wants a contract extension. He's acknowledged that he may still have to play for the Los Angeles Chargers and he has no hatred or animosity towards Los Angeles Chargers. He just wants to get compensated with the value that he should be compensated with what he does bring to that football team. Because outside of Justin Herbert, he's the most valuable player on the offensive side of the ball for the Los Angeles Chargers. Like I like Keenan Allen.

I like Mike Williams, but they're always in and out of the lineup. And you look at the base salary this year for Austin Eckler in the final year of his deal at six point like two something million, something around that range. Six point two, six point three. And his cap hits only seven point seven million dollars. So it is an easy person to trade in terms of a salary standpoint. But if he wants a new deal in Los Angeles and he's already tried to get that new deal and talk to other teams and see if they could get two to ten go and then they would work out the compensation going back to the Chargers.

Since nothing's happened yet, it's not as if, OK, you're going to go trade. The Chargers are just going to trade Austin Eckler to just trade him. You may as well, if he's not going to get a new deal anywhere else, you may as well just have him be on your team for one more year.

And whether it's a franchise tag after that, or if you give him a long term deal after that, or just let him walk in free agency and get the compensatory pick. You're better off on on that road because this is a Chargers team that they're expected to win this year. Like there's expectations on them this year. Last year they had to make the playoffs.

Now this year they got to go win a playoff game or two. And it's almost malpractice to your young quarterback and Justin Herbert. Sure, you've been able to retain with the restructure of Keenan Allen. You've been able to keep Mike Williams last year when no one thought you would be able to keep Mike Williams.

But from a touchdown production standpoint, it pales into comparison what Austin Eckler's done. So if I'm the Chargers, it's almost like you have to get this deal worked out. But if you don't, I'm not feeling all that good about trading him. And if he could get another deal from another team, you may then say, okay, we let you seek out a trade.

So go ahead. You got that deal work up the trade compensation, but I'm not giving away for nothing for the player that is the caliber of Austin Eckler. I know he's 28 and that's up there in age for a running back, but it's not as if he's been playing throughout his entire career at the level that we've seen the last two years or so. Yeah, I think if you're the Chargers, you can't trade him. I'd rather take the risk of playing this year out and having him leave for a competitive pick compared to trading him and trying to get something.

What are you going to get? If a team wants Austin Eckler, you're going to have to pay him. You're trading him, you're trading for him, and also have to give him a contract extension.

What does that mean you're going to get in a trade return? Is a fourth round pick worth it? No. Depends what team. Oh, you're saying for the Chargers standpoint.

I'm the other team, absolutely. If you're the Chargers and you're debating, do we keep them this year? Do we give them a new deal? Should we trade them? Unless you're getting a first round pick, I don't know if there's any. You're not getting a first round pick for a running back. So then it's really no reason, makes no sense to trade him. I would think at best you get a third round pick and then I know you have a formula to work out in the free agency depending on how many guys you bring in and how many guys you leave as well, but you may as well get the compensatory pick back at that point.

Even if you could get a third round pick and let's just say the formula works out where you get a fourth round pick, so it's a round different whether you trade him or keep him, isn't getting one less round in terms of value better and keeping Ekler for a year compared to trading him, getting a third round pick and losing him for 2023? I guess the only way that you would trade him is they granted him permission to seek a trade and talk to teams. So he's granted that permission. Clearly no one has bit yet in terms of giving the deal that he wants. But then just from, I guess, and it's also the NFL, so this could be a contradiction a little bit, but if you give him that power and he comes back to you and says, I agreed with, let's say the Eagles on this contract. And then all of a sudden the charges go, ah, we don't want to trade you. I think that's bad business. I do. Now you could match it. If you like, if you want to say Austin, we'll give you that deal.

Okay. But if he gets that deal with Philadelphia, I'm just throwing Philadelphia out there because it would actually be a very Halloween Roseman type of move. And they just lost Miles Sanders as well with him going to Carolina. And it would be an upgrade from what Miles Sanders was.

And Miles has had a really good year this past year. If he gets that deal with another team, it's almost like you have to trade him at that point, unless you're going to give him that deal that the other team is willing to give him. Also, the NFL is not prayer player friendly, so it's fair, but you let him seek that deal.

You did, but you can also at the end of the day, you have the power if you want to say no, you do, but I don't think that would be the case. Now, DeAndre Hopkins. I feel like we've just been fooled too many times and trick too many times by saying a player is going to land in Buffalo.

And it doesn't happen. I probably would have said yesterday, okay, yeah, Buffalo. And it should be Buffalo. Like Buffalo should definitely go get DeAndre Hopkins. But with how many times a name gets floated out there with Buffalo, I know Buffalo is different now with the team that they've been able to build. But I would think that until I see a player that is a star like DeAndre Hopkins go to Buffalo and want to go to Buffalo. And I love Buffalo. How many times I tell you about going there, wings, food, family, football, all that stuff. Like I love going to Buffalo. But how many times that we hear a player is going to go to Buffalo and then doesn't.

It's almost like it's a fool me type of situation where they're lowering the bait and I keep on taking the bait. I think Kansas City is more likely. And then also, I do think the Ravens are starting to try to smooth over this relationship with Lamar. And if that report is true that Lamar said, I want Odell and DeAndre Hopkins, you already got Odell. Now that doesn't really move that that may move the needle for Lamar. But for us, it doesn't really move the needle because Lamar Odell is still a fine player.

But he's not great. You will then go get DeAndre Hopkins. So they get a deal done with Lamar Jackson. But if Lamar asked for those two players, you've got to be back this upcoming year. If you ask for those two players, they give them to you.

You've got to find a way to be back. And even if you play out on this franchise tag and you don't get the long term deal, then you end up doing that this upcoming year. The more and more I think about this, the more and more I keep on leaning that DeAndre Hopkins is going to be a Baltimore Raven hot ticket.

Wow. I will say the Chiefs. Which is fair. The Ravens. If I didn't say the Ravens, I would go Kansas City. Because that's such if you want to say and they still have to win a lot more championships, but if you want to still put the the Chiefs now in that like Patriot kind of category. How many times did I see my team get the disgruntled player that's still really good or that player wants to go play with someone that is of the caliber of of a Patrick Mahomes where it does feel like bare minimum each and every year. You know, Kansas City, even if they don't end up getting the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl, bare minimum, they're going to be playing that AFC title game. And for Hopkins, the farthest he's ever gone is what? The divisional round?

When they had that big lead up against Kansas City and then choked it away. What about Trey Lance? If Trey Lance gets traded when you have this report from Ian Rappaport that teams have been calling and they've had conversations, Niners have been calling teams, but teams have been calling them. If you had to guess one team right now, I know Florio said that the Vikings had a phone call with the 49ers. Where do you think Trey Lance winds up? Where are the potential Trey Lance trade destinations? And you better say one team because we have takes.

We have takes from you. You better say one team. Well, if you're talking about the Colts, I am in. I would my ranking is is not exactly Trey Lance number one, but I would it would be C.J.

Stroud one, Trey Lance two. Those are the rankings of quarterbacks I would like the Colts to get. Not Lamar. Well, Lamar's not realistic. They're not going to get him.

But why isn't it realistic? You just have to give him a contract because it's not going to do that. They're not going to give him a contract. They're not going to trade draft capital. They basically said it multiple times in terms of they are looking at the draft. They want to get a quarterback in the draft. They have I know the only team that right away did not say no, but they have made every indication that they're going to take a quarterback in the draft. So that probably rules out Trey Lance.

Fair. But we're talking about low draft capital, very low risk. If you're going to take Anthony Richardson, you like Andy Richardson. I don't see a difference between Richardson and Lance. I would just go Trey Lance.

But that's me. But you were at one point this offseason in the camp that you'd rather have Trey Lance and not Lamar Jackson. We have questions on Lamar draft picks. You should have questions about Trey Lance.

I have plenty of questions. I have a lot more answers on Lamar Jackson than I do have Trey Lance and the answers on Lamar are a lot more positive. Lower price for the gamble, which is why I'm okay with it. Okay.

I'll agree to disagree on that one. But if you had to give me one team here in terms of Trey Lance, a few teams, who would they be? Colts?

This is tricky because it's in division. I see a team like the Seahawks being very interested. They have been rumored to be very interested in Anthony Richardson and they're again from the same mold.

You can't trade him in the business. You got Gino Smith there. I'm not saying the 49ers will. I think a team that makes sense right now would be a team like Seattle in terms of what you got with Gino Smith and what you could have in Trey Lance.

I would absolutely love if Trey Lance ended up going to Seattle and playing well, because I will say this, Shanahan and Lynch, the way that people talk about them. I feel like they get. They are obviously, let me be clear, I'm going to word this.

They're obviously very good at what they do. And we've seen them with no clear answer at quarterback, which is the most difficult and I mean difficult position in sports, an important position in sports. We've seen them consistently get to the NFC title game without any consistency at the quarterback position.

But with the way that people are like, they're the greatest things. That's kind of like that's the conversation I feel like is often had with Trey, with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. And they've done a really good job. I would love to see them give up on Trey Lance this early and then somehow they would never do this because of this potential part of it and be so wrong. And then Trey Lance ends up resurrecting his career with the Seattle Seahawks. That would be fun because it is weird to me how quickly they have given up on Trey Lance. And I don't think Shanahan, and I think this is a fact by now, Shanahan was even all in on Trey Lance to begin with, but the guy is barely played and you're already having conversations that they know for sure that Brock Purdy is the guy over Trey Lance. So it would not mind me, Hickey, if that did end up happening. But I do think a team like the Vikings would definitely be of interest. And they've already been of interest and it wouldn't surprise that that ends up happening.

What about this team, the commanders? I know you already have Sam Howell there and they love Sam Howell, but does anybody believe that Sam Howell is going to be this great quarterback? From a competition standpoint, I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to go basically give up nothing for Trey Lance. And even if it is something, what is it going to be like?

We talked about this earlier, third round pick maybe? I got one for you. That's realistic. I'll admit the Seahawks is unrealistic. Can I try to predict which team you're going to get me? Sure. They are an NFC team? No.

Oh, wow. I was going to think you were going to go Tampa Bay. No, I thought about it.

I thought about it. They have Kyle Trass, I thought you would go Tampa Bay because you love throwing quarterbacks in Tampa Bay. Well, I also like Baker, he's my guy, so I'll give him. So they're an AFC team?

AFC team. Okay, I have two thoughts on this one. Okay. Here's what I think you're going to say.

You're going to say Miami. No. Not as a little backup for, well, they just got Mike White, but not a little backup.

But I do like the idea. Tennessee? No. Okay, give me the team. Same division. Texans. They're not taking a quarterback at two. They're probably taking, or they're probably trying to get Caleb Williams next year. You still don't think they're going to take a quarterback? They're not taking a quarterback. I promise you right now. I feel very confident saying that.

I don't know. They're not taking a quarterback. It's weird how that's popped up the last week and a half, and now there are a lot of people like you that are saying they're not going to take a quarterback. I'm not sold yet. It's clear they wanted Bryce Young.

We all know that. I'm not sold that they're going to actually have the Cajones. Now, Casario does operate from the Belichick tree, and it's very tough to predict people that learned under Bill Belichick. I'm not ready to say that it's a lock, that they're not going to take a quarterback at two. But it is fair that you bring them up, because if you think it's a day three pick, if it's a day two pick, it's still only a third round pick. I think you risk a third round pick if that could potentially be your franchise quarterback. Especially if the Texans trade down from two and not even stay there and take a Will Anderson or Tyre Wilson. They trade down, they get extra draft capital, almost a free pick to throw at the 49ers to get Trey Lance.

What the hell? If he stinks, you're going to get Caleb Williams next year. If he shows signs of development, maybe that's your franchise guy. You think they would trade down from two, even with already being there at 12? If the team comes calling with the right offer, absolutely. If the Raiders come with a first round pick, I think they would do it.

Okay, and then they fall back to seven. I think if you're passing up on a quarterback there, I really think you've got to take whoever you have ranked as your best player on the board that's an on QB. I'm not convinced that they're going to pass out a quarterback, but it'd be fascinating if they would do so. Because then that Schefter thing does come in play, where Schefter said he's not convinced that there's going to be two quarterbacks in the first three picks. And then you're sitting there, oh see, that's all marinated. The Texans not taking a quarterback and your mind is all marinated with, oh then the Colts get CJ Stroud.

I got you originally didn't want. I will tell you this, we had Aaron Wilson, who's been on the show on the podcast this week. Hold on, Aaron Wilson?

Yes. Same guy that like after six minutes, the last time I've had him on, he's like, oh, I got someone calling me, I got to run. I don't know about Aaron Wilson.

I'm not a big fan of Aaron Wilson. But continue. I'm trying to remember, that happened on our... I don't think you were here. Huh. Because I brought this up to you before and you've done that same thing. You know what, can you be a foxhole guy? You're on this show...

If I wasn't here, how am I supposed to know? I don't care. You should say screw Aaron Wilson, it's actually offensive that you've had Aaron Wilson on your show.

I know this has actually allegedly happened. Maybe you should listen more, more intently. But he was someone who covers the Texans and the NFL on a daily basis.

Boo! And he said by multiple sources, he's been told the Texans will pass on a quarterback or two. This is not just some Colts hysteria that I'm stirring up here to try to get CJ Stroud at four. This is, this is my, again, unbiased beliefs coming through.

Okay. I'm rooting for the Texans. They had a quarterback. I want Aaron Wilson to be wrong.

Has nothing to do with you. I just want Aaron Wilson to be wrong. And then finally, Buddha Baker. A lot of Eagles talk for Buddha Baker. Eagles are another team. It seems like they're in every deal as well. It's very Seattle Seahawks vibe where they may not get everyone, but they, they do often pull the trigger on trades, but they're at least in every deal as well. As it should be.

It's a credit to Harry Roseman, but there's no reason not to be sniffing around a guy like Buddha Baker without all his talent. Right? A hundred percent. There's two years left in that deal.

If I'm Arizona, I'm saying, yeah, we got to get something that blows our socks off in order to trade you. Zach Gilchos, CBS Sports Radio. Surgeons keep our hearts beating. They do the amazing. Help save lives.

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Donate today at your local CSL plasma center and be rewarded for your generosity. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show. So the athletic did this poll. And it was one hundred and eight current players. And they asked them a bunch of different issues and rankings. And here are some of the results. Hickey, you give me the award or the topic of conversation, the results, and I'll end up giving you the answer to it.

All right. Let's start with MVP. The big one. The one hundred and eight anonymous players voted. Joel Embiid, the MVP of the one hundred and two votes. Fifty percent of them went to the process. Nicole Jokic was second. Twenty five percent. Followed by Giannis, who got 15 percent. I'm not surprised that Embiid is the winner here, but I'm surprised by how much the distance is of twenty five percent from Embiid to Nicole Jokic, especially with how this award all throughout the year.

It seemed like it was just a new flavor each and every week, rotating between three names. Like that's to me how big I don't know. When was this poll taken? Just wondering, like, was this when exactly was this poll taken? Do you know?

Do you have the answer on that? No, I think it's been throughout the last two or three weeks. OK, so that does then I guess that does make sense, because the last two, three weeks, the the feeling has really shifted towards Joel Embiid as well.

Final three weeks of the regular season is the official timeline. Yeah, I guess then it does make sense. But still, you know how people usually are when they are locked in on thinking one way. It's very tough for them to change their opinion, but I'm more than fine with Embiid winning the MVP. I didn't just think it would be by that wide of a margin in just this athletic poll of one hundred and eight current NBA players. All right, I'll give you the next one.

How about starting a team from scratch? The first player you want on your team is the Greek freak was the vote getter or was the winner, I should say, of the one hundred and four votes. He got one hundred and eight.

Come on. Well, no, it's each one. Not everyone voted for every category. Oh, really? Yeah, there was only one hundred and two voters for MVP.

One hundred and four votes for best player, player you want to start your franchise with. Do you think some players just like they probably gave him the same ballot each and every player? Did some players just skip over some of the questions? They didn't read all the questions here? No idea. Maybe not. You would think they'd be they'd be voting for each and every one.

But OK, go ahead. So Yanis won by fifty two point four percent of the vote. Second place is Nicole Jokic, eight point seven percent. So a whopping margin between Yanis and everyone else. It was the top three Yanis number one, Nicole Jokic to Luka Doncic third in terms of players you want to start your franchise with.

Now, I'm sure that there's more spots here, but I'm surprised. But where's Jason Tatum on that list? Jason Tatum is tied with Steph Curry and Embiid for fourth. OK. And I would say right now, if I was like building a team and you would think when you're building a team, you're thinking for like the next decade, I would then take between those three players with Steph being older, with Embiid with all the injuries and the wear and tear on that body, too. I would then if I was between those three players, I would take Tatum. Now, Luka is tremendous.

But Luka's got to get in better shape. But it's not surprising that Yanis on to the Kumpo is the top answer here because he is the best player in the NBA. And he's also it's so wild with all that he accomplished. The two MVPs, the finals MVP as well. How young and how much he's accomplished with not even being 30 years old yet. What are you laughing about over there, by the way, Hickey? Just some of the voting for the next award cracks me up.

OK, go ahead. It is the most overrated player. Now, this is tricky because the winner is not a person.

It's other. Now, there's about 20 names in the other category, but one of them included the question was most overrated player. Someone, I guess, wrote in the Grizzlies.

That's what I'm laughing at. It's like DeAndre Ayton is in here, Patrick Beverley, Devin Booker, Tamar Rosen, the Grizzlies in quotes. So who ended up winning? So the player, by the way, Draymond, if he was voting, probably definitely to the Grizzlies.

I would imagine he maybe he made that trick. That is too funny. But the player that got the most votes was Trey Young. Fourteen point eight percent of the vote, which is fair for overrated players, Trey Young.

And that's fair. And he's become like a coach killer now. And Trey Young had that great postseason run. But this year, that team has been disappointing.

And ever since that postseason run, they've been disappointing as well. Who else is on that list after that quickly? Go ahead.

So there's a ton. There's Julius Randle and Pascal Siaka that were tied for second. Jimmy Butler's in the top five. Rudy Gobert.

Wait, hold on. Jimmy Butler's in the top five? Jaren Jackson Jr, Rudy Gobert, Jimmy Butler tied for fourth. That's someone that just hates Jimmy Butler because for years we talked about Jimmy Butler being underrated. So now people are saying he's overrated. That's someone that just doesn't like that Jimmy Butler all the time talks about how much he works.

And right in the in the bubble, he was dribbling his basketball, which I really don't believe. That's why he got a noise complaint and how he drives a minivan and likes to listen to country music. I think that's someone just having an issue with Jimmy Butler, a personal issue, not actually thinking that he's overrated. That's ridiculous. And now he's in a lot of commercials.

Maybe they have a problem with that. He's not overrated. Let's go from overrated to underrated.

Other one again. Again, a mix of like 20 players. Real quickly, wasn't Dame? Didn't Dame also get a vote or two I remember reading the other day? Damian Lillard, 3.7% of players out of 54 votes in this one voted Damian Lillard. So that's about, quick math, one or two that voted Dame Lillard overrated. So one or two idiots right there. Dame Lillard overrated.

Give me a joke. He also is on the underrated category as well. Austin Reeves and Damian Lillard, both overrated and underrated according to NBA players, but the most underrated player according to 97 votes by Nana's NBA players is Drew Holliday.

17.5% filed by Shea Gilges Alexander and Mikhail Bridges. Now Drew Holliday is a phenomenal player, but I look at his own team, I don't even think he's the most underrated player in his own team. Closer Chris Middleton I think is extremely underrated. Was Middleton out on that list, just wondering? 17.5% is a big number right there.

Chris Middleton got 2.1% of the vote. Okay, so there's still some people that think he's underrated. Alright. Or maybe just one person. That is for sure. Do you want to talk about fighting? Which player would you want to least likely fight?

Least likely fight? Yeah. James Johnson, runaway, 41%.

Okay. Followed by Steven Adams at 27%. And the third player is Joel Embiid and Eudonis Haslam, each 3.3%.

Yeah, I would not want to, Dexter Henry, I would not want to fight Eudonis Haslam. I just want to note that on the list at number two there was Steven Adams from the great University of Pittsburgh. Oh, okay. There we go.

Hail Pitt, baby! But you don't want that smoke with James Johnson. No, no.

He's 36 years old, but you don't. And who was starting that list, Tiki? Embiid tied with Eudonis Haslam. Embiid I would not want to fight. I remember when Carmelo Anthony tried to start some stuff with him. And I was at the press conference and Embiid goes, no one throws punches anymore in this league.

And if they did, I'm 7 foot 2 and African, so try me. I would not want to fight with Joel Embiid. Yeah, I'm going to stay away from that. I wouldn't want to process that punch.

All right, give me, real quickly, give me like two or three more of these and then we'll hit the break. All right, coach that players most want to play for, 95 votes, Greg Popovich. Really? 25.3%, the winner, followed by Steve Kerr and Eric Spulster to round out the top three. Now, I'm surprised. Like, we all know how great Pop is, but I'm surprised still that players would want to play for Pop.

Because he does kind of give off that Belichick vibe where I could see why, even though he's so great, there would be some players that would just want nothing to do with him because he is more old school. So I'm surprised by that one. What else we got? And let's finish with biggest problem plaguing the league. Number one, officiating 25.8% according to 70 votes. Second is load management.

At least the players actually realize it because the load management is an absolute joke. And one more that I'll bring up, coaches you least want to play for. I don't know if you saw this list, Dexter Henry. I did.

Tom Thibodeau. I saw that. Yeah. Well, that's not surprising. I like Tibbs, but it's not surprising with the demanding style that he does have.

Got that. And people always talk about how he runs players into the ground. But did you realize Tibbs did not have a player? There's not one Nick that was in the top 17 of players in minutes played. I think at 18 was Julius Randle. And then Brunson's at 23. So he kept his players around 35 minutes a game.

Actually, he's done better this year. Well, I remember when he was out of a job, he came on the show and I said, are you going to change your coaching ways? And he goes, find me a coach that isn't demanding. He goes, I'm going to be who I'm going to be. I hear that. But I guess he got altered. And sometimes it's also front office maybe making some of those decisions.

That is true. This is Zach Gelb's show on CBS Sports Radio. We will come on back.

We'll give you an update on the poll question. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show. It is Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. So, so far lopsided game between the Grizzlies and the Lakers. Grizzlies are up 59 to 44. Now, last year, the Memphis Grizzlies without Ja Morant. This is the 2021-2022 season. We're 20 and 5 without Ja Morant.

And in this season, the Grizzlies are 11 and 8, I believe, without Ja Morant as well. But they're a big so far. And it's the NBA.

This could change so quickly. But they are up at halftime 59 to 44. They did outscore the Lakers in the first quarter, 30 to 19. And they're trying to even up this series before this series goes to L.A. at one apiece.

We'll see if they can do that in the second half. When you get to the other games tonight, Heat and Bucks. No Giannis on to the kumpo tonight.

Bucks are down 0-1. I'm shocked by this that Giannis isn't playing. Because we've seen before players been doubtful. They end up playing.

The MRI was clean. Today he was upgraded to questionable. And then he was ruled out about an hour ago. So no Giannis and Nuggets and Timberwolves. Will the Timberwolves have a pulse?

That's my question. Because the Hawks haven't had a pulse in the Eastern Conference. Up against the Boston Celtics.

And I know that's a 2-7. And the Nuggets and Timberwolves is 1-8. Heat have had a pulse and an 8-1 in the Eastern Conference. And we're just waiting to see if the Nuggets and Timberwolves tonight after what happened in Game 1. If Minnesota is going to show up or not. Just with the talent that they have. Clearly everyone believes that Denver is going to win the series.

But it would be nice if they could make this a series. But we'll have to wait and see after tonight. And then in hockey right now. I saw that right towards the end of the second period. The Islanders tied up the game against the Hurricanes 2-2. Panthers are up 1-0 against the Bruins. Bruins did take Game 1. Bruins are the most points and wins in NHL regular season history. But they are down 1-0 in the second period.

They're on this evening. You have Wild and Stars which was a wild overtime in Game 1. Where the Wild ended up getting the victory. And you do have Kings and Oilers. Oilers lost in overtime as well. So LA on the road looking to take a 2-0 series lead.

And also Hickey, how about last night? Like you talk about the mental side of sports. And how many times you look at a team and they're expected to win and they don't end up winning. Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won a playoff series since 2004. And they have one of the more talented rosters in the NHL. And I know no one's ever going to count out Tampa Bay until Tampa Bay is out because of their history and what they've done.

But you've seen Toronto this year have 111 points. If it wasn't for the fact that Boston was in their division. Toronto would be one of the teams we talk about the most in the NHL. But this year it's been Boston and then it's been everybody else. And Toronto gets grouped in with Carolina, New Jersey, the Rangers as well. But Toronto has so much talent.

And they end up losing Game 1 last night 7-3. And they tease you too. Because they come right out of the gate with no effort.

No effort whatsoever. And you're like, uh oh, here you go again. And when you're sitting there after Kucherov gets that goal right at the end of the first period and it's 3-0. You're like, alright, they're going to lose this game. Then they make it 3-1, then they make it 3-2. When he gets a 3-2, when Nylander scores that goal, back to back power play goals.

You think to yourself, okay, you got a shot here. And then by the end of the second period it was 6-2. Turn out the lights, the party's over. They end up losing 7-3 to Tampa Bay. Now the series isn't over after one game. But if you're a Maple Leafs fan. And I think if you're a Maple Leafs fan, you went into this series even though it's tough to have confidence. But you should win this series. But how many times have we said the last, what, 20 years or so that they should win this series? They don't end up winning this series.

But this has got to be mental. If they don't win this series, it just has to be mental. Because they have so many talented players across the board on that team. And I know Tampa Bay is such a respected team. But they're not as lethal as Tampa Bay in the last 3-4 years. Out of all the teams in the first round. And I know that you say that the most pressure, right, without being said is on Boston in every game they play. Just because of what they did historically in the regular season. But for Toronto, if this happens again, I just don't know how you survive.

I really don't. And it just, all I could chalk it up to at this rate is it's just a mental lapse. Now, it's one. It's one game.

It's not the end of the world. But, man, you have to feel just miserable today if you're a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. They're the Dallas Cowboys of the hockey. Of NHL.

You can't trust them. Come playoff time, doesn't matter who's on that roster. Doesn't matter what they did in the regular season. There is no reason to believe that they will come through and win a big game. For the Cowboys, it's getting back to the NFC title game. And for the Leafs, it's as simple as getting out of the first round.

Both cannot do it. It's one of those things where, until you actually see it happen, either you can have any faith or give the team the benefit of the doubt that they will get it done until you finally see it come to fruition. And we had someone call in the other day and they said that they thought Toronto was going to go to the Stanley Cup. And I was like, I think they'll win the first round, but I don't get how you could go any further than that just with how many times this team has disappointed in the last, what, 15 years or so. David and Buffalo.

More so. Had an all-Canadian finals, which both these teams right now are 0-1-1. Yeah, the Oilers. The Oilers isn't crazy to say. But Toronto, even with how much talent they have and how good a regular season it has, it is crazy because they can't even get out of the first round. They can't even win a playoff series since 2004. Poll question right now.

At Zach Galbatt, CBS Sports Radio. Do you think the NBA made the right call in suspending Draymond Green for Game 3? 68.5% say yes. 31.5% say no.

I am surprised by the results to that poll question. I understand why they suspended Draymond Green, the NBA. I didn't think it was necessary, though. I don't defend what Draymond did. I just thought it was enough with the ejection, and then you carry, as Kendra Perkins said, carry the hell on into Game 3, and you still have Draymond on the court. With how soft the NBA usually is and lenient they are, and how they usually don't punish a lot, I was surprised that they did end up punishing here. But I also think that it did play a factor that you do have Draymond Green doing this right in front of the commissioner while the commissioner was in the building. Zach Galb Show, CBS Sports Radio. Noah Eagle, the play-by-play voice of the Clippers, will join us next.