The Hoops Rehab Show
The Hoops Rehab Show is a basketball podcast where sports and exercise medicine meets die-hard NBA fandom. Hosted by a seasoned physical therapist and a passionate NBA super-fan, the show dives deep into player injuries, recovery timelines, and how health impacts team performance. Don’t get it twisted though, this show will be about your favorite teams and the drama that comes with the NBA. Each episode breaks down the latest injury news, updates on your favorite players, and teams around the league. The Hoops Rehab Show gives you an inside look at the intersection of sports medicine and hoops culture.
The Hoops Rehab Show
The Lakers Go All In On Walker Kessler And A New Bench Core-Was it the right move?
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Two first-round picks, multiple long-term contracts, and a league-shaking trade rumor mill all in one day. We jump into the Lakers’ biggest roster pivot in years and ask the uncomfortable question behind every flashy move: is this smart team building around Luka Doncic, or the kind of short-term gamble that leaves you stuck when the next problem shows up?
We start with the headline move, the Walker Kessler trade to Los Angeles, and why rim protection and true size are suddenly back at the center of the NBA arms race. We talk fit next to Luka, what Kessler changes for the defense, and why the price in picks and swaps matters more than ever under the new CBA. Then we break down the rapid-fire signings and deals around the Lakers’ new bench core, including Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, plus the big debate: how much do these guys help in the playoffs if they’re not closing games?
From there, we zoom out to the move that stunned the league: the Boston Celtics trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and two first-round picks. We dig into what that means for Boston’s direction, the pressure it drops on Jayson Tatum, and how Philly’s defense and wing scoring could look if Joel Embiid is healthy. Finally, we close with LeBron James free agency, the latest reports, and our best guesses on the most realistic landing spots, including Cleveland and Golden State, plus a true sleeper scenario.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share the episode with a friend who lives for NBA offseason chaos, and leave a quick review telling us which move you think changes the title race most.
Rapid-Fire Agenda And LeBron Tease
SPEAKER_02All right, everybody, welcome into the hoops rehab show. Eric, we have some action for the Lakers. How you doing, bud?
SPEAKER_00Good, good. I think on what is it, Wednesday on Monday night? We left the show with in 24 hours. Will we know anything about LeBron? And wow, do we know things? And do we know a lot of other things now about the Lakers? So much that we're not gonna even lead the show uh with him, and that's kind of what we maybe feel about him a little bit now. So at least at least me a touch, we'll which will I know we'll get into.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um, do you know the last time when LeBron signed with the Lakers, it was in 16 hours. So he definitely went over he's way over that. So it's gonna take him some time. He said he's not he's gonna not rush any decision right now, but we're gonna get into it at the end of the show. First, we got to get into some of the Lakers transactions, obviously a big trade for the Lakers and some signings.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_02Then we're gonna get into some of the I don't know if I want to say this is one of the worst trades I've seen, but we gotta talk about Boston Celtics trading Jalen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Yeah, and then we'll finish off with LeBron and kind of see where he's going, what the reports are saying, and what do we think will be the best landing spot for LeBron? Um, as always, uh, we're gonna have this podcast out tomorrow. Uh, you can get it at Apple, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast. The YouTube will be up too. If you want to watch it on video, check it out. But Eric, let's get the show cracking. So let's get it. Let's do it.
Why Free Agency Went Quiet
SPEAKER_02We came into today. Obviously, it's only been one day of free agency, and Lakers are completely silent, right? But in general, free agency was pretty silent. And we talked about this being the new CBA, the extension of players that have already been able to talk to their own team and sign, and then also just the extensions that players have signed over the last two or three years that basically have taken them off the free agency market, so there wasn't really any big free agent people. Um, but we got some big news. Not only we got one piece of news, but it came in a damn flurry.
Walker Kessler Deal And The Cost
SPEAKER_02So we had Walker Kessler traded to the Lakers. He was a restricted free agent, so we had to make the decision whether or not to sign him to the offer sheet, and Utah would match, or likely do some sort of trade, and the Lakers chose the trade because they figured they needed to get him locked in. However, they gave up two first rounds, Eric, and two pick swaps. And now the Lakers are left with what is it, no draft picks essentially that they can trade for the next seven years, or at least the seven years of uh picks. Um how do you feel about let's first talk about Walker, right? How do you feel about that signing? Because we got to get into the signing, but then how do you feel about the trade on top of that?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, I guess I'll let me I guess first touch on the full free agency thing. So I think for the longest there, we were so accustomed to bam, free agency starts, and all of a sudden we start getting all these alerts of people being signed. But I think the NBA kind of caught on to that, and obviously there was a little bit of tampering, and so um, by letter of the law, if you're starting free agency, how are you all automatically you know in agreement to with with guys, right?
SPEAKER_02They made sure this year, yeah, be like, nope, nope, not gonna do anything for at least an hour, right?
SPEAKER_00So I think it was getting a little ridiculous. So I think that's partially why it actually probably went like normal, right? So yesterday was the first day of free agency, they actually were talking to teams, and then we saw a flurry, and we'll probably be able to get some more tomorrow, too. And so I think that's kind of what happened there a little bit. Plus, as we talked about, it wasn't um a huge uh free agency class. Um, Walker Kessler, it's interesting. It's we've been hearing about Kessler now for a couple seasons, and yeah, we know our Lakers, we know when things are talked about, it just rarely ever happens. Like obviously, Luca was never talked about, it just happened on a whim. And so um, I know AD was was obviously kind of talked about, so I don't want to say it's the first time ever, but it's just so rare that it it something comes to you know fruition when when it's just talked about like a lot, right? Now, um, you know, Lakers, the they have like they, you know, they have their squad, right? And and we'll see, you know, I mean I'm sure you can make some minor changes the next few seasons as as it kind of rolls along. And I think there is you know hope that the guys that they do draft, um, like a Cameron Carr, you know, uh a Deuthiro from last year, that hopefully they kind of turn into like really good role players. Sure. Um, you know, I I know we're not talking about that right now, but um, yeah, I mean in an in a you know vacuum, I I like just just on the like take out the trade, take out like what we paid them. I I do like the the signing a lot. Um, I think this is the type of player that just plays well with Luca, and and when you have a star, you gotta get players that fit his style of all. And I think that was important. I mean, we we it was well documented that he wanted an A-less center. I just think it's so incredible how the more things change, the more they stay the same. We are now back almost to like having wanting to get a big man, isn't that crazy? Like every time positionless basketball, everybody the same height, like we did not want a big guy like that slowing down the pace of the game. Isn't that I don't know, I don't know if you thought about that at all, but like it just it's not crazy. But I do like it, but we'll obviously see they gave up a lot for him. Let's let's just say that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah,
Why Size Matters Again
SPEAKER_02no, I for sure thought about that because I was like, and you know who changed that, right? Wimby Wimby essentially Wimby has changed the idea of what teams need to get, right? Used to be like, hey, a couple years, let's just roll with that power forward that plays the center, go with Draymond at center, you can go with anybody at center, but now you got Wimby, right? Who's huge? You got OKC that when they play big, they got Chet and Holmgren, right? Those are the two top teams in the West, and that's not changing.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, hard, yeah. Hartenstein and and and and Chet, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's not changing. You even go, say you go to Minnesota, they got Gobert, right? You mean you can go down the line, right? And then you go to the east, they got Big Cat in the middle, and they were using Mitchell Robinson too, as well. So you had some big guys that you had to deal with there. And and I don't think I think teams are gearing up to hey, if we're gonna try to win a championship, we have to get a player that can defend that caliber of a player because Wimby's gonna be there, and likely OKC is gonna be there with Chet. So you got to have somebody that can defend. And Walker Kessler is probably arguably the second best big center defender behind Wimby. I mean, he averages uh when he was healthy, he averages over two and a half blocks essentially, and so that's right behind Wimby. So if you know you're getting a guy that plays defense, you're getting a guy that can rim roll. Um, he has some offensive ability with his jump shot. And I just think that Luca is essentially got his best big man that he's gonna be able to play with, and that's Walker Kessler. So, I mean that's I think that's a win right there. Um, especially when you have two guards that do similar things with him and AR. They run the pick and roll, he can run it on both sides. Um Walker Kessler in the middle, I think that's a great addition. Um, and you know, still having Aiden as your backup at A million, it's not a bad proposition either, right? Like, do if there's a trade that can be made to add some other talent, yes, but at the same time, having those two bigs, if one goes down, you gotta have somebody um to back him up.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I mean, hopefully Ayton kind of um you know relishes kind of like that bench roll. And um, you know, his contract is is is even looking better now, and it with obviously hopefully just being able to like not be the the main main guy how he was last year, but we'll see. Uh we know how his kind of his personality is and things like that. Um, I'm sure they'll figure something out if it's not gonna work. But the fact that um, you know, obviously those are the two big men right now, and uh they'll they'll probably roll with that. Uh we know Jackson Hayes, um, which I didn't I I guess we didn't I didn't know we were gonna get Walker Kessler, of course, but I just figured we're gonna re-sign him because I think he was gonna be like on the on the um the national team from uh Slovenia, right? Um wasn't he getting like citizenship from Slovenia?
SPEAKER_02Uh uh Oh yeah, he is on the he is he is on that.
SPEAKER_00Yes. So, you know, I thought uh Luca's Slovenian brother was gonna stay, but obviously you you know you don't you don't need him now. But uh yeah, they you know size does matter, as you said. If you're gonna go toe-to-toe with the likes of OKC, um, which we saw. We saw last year how Chet just dominated, and he didn't dominate against San Antonio, but he dominated against the Lakers. And so yeah, I mean you you you you need size uh once again in today's NBA.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and like and to be honest, to me, they're trying they're they're almost rivaling the Dallas Mavericks that made the finals with Luca and Kyrie, right? So you look at the lineup, you obviously got Luca, that stays standard. You got Kyrie, that's AR, right? You got another point guard that can do multiple things, can score and has handles. Um, you had a big guy in Derek Lively, that was great, right? Like that was a big person in the middle. Then you had Tim Hardaway Jr. and you had uh what was it, Derek White, or not Derek White, um uh what's his name? Um the one that went to Derek Jones Jr.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the one that we had, right? Or yeah, I think with it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, Derek Jones Jr., who essentially was like your wing defender, right? So I I I think they're trying to mimic a team that's similar to that. And you know, I'm not mad at that, right? Like I feel like you added a center that's way better than lively is, right? And so I think that is a plus. Now, you still need to get some wings, right? And that's gonna be hard because you don't have pretty much any money left over after the the next three signings that we're gonna about to just talk about. So you're gonna have to figure out if you can trade like a Vando and Connect and get about 16 million off the books and and get somebody back. Obviously, a person like Jonathan Kaminga, I think that would be amazing, but it has to be a way where we got to get these guys off a roster, be able to take absorb uh coming a contract, which would you know maybe three years, 15, 16 million dollars, let him kind of build up his um his game again, build up his status again uh in the NBA. So I mean that would if you saw something like that, I think we would be very much happy as a team as far as getting somebody of that caliber.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean they they did it, they did quite a bit, obviously, it's a big uh overhaul. And so um, you know, we we did ask for hey, we need something, and they did that, and so now we obviously got to kind of just live with it, and hopefully it ends up being um, you know, uh it leads to some success. And yeah, I do wonder, like obviously with uh Mavs, they had PJ Washington, and as you said, Derek Jones Jr. Like, I'm just wondering, do we have a couple guys like that that you're gonna need? And so I mentioned it earlier. Hopefully, we do, and some of the young fellows, you know, that we got younger.
SPEAKER_02He's that prototypical six, seven wing, you know. Let's see if he can get some more minutes and things like that. Um, he can definitely fill that role. Um, but yeah, you you're gonna you're gonna need some veteran signings as well, so you're gonna have to do the minimum contracts coming out. But let's get into the three other players that went one, two, three, right off
Grimes Sexton And Mamu Signings
SPEAKER_02the bat. And even I don't know if you saw that clip of Shams on Sports Center, and he was talking about the Kesla trade, and then he's like kind of fumbling over his words, and it's like, all right, hold on, we got um a free agent signing, and that's my man Mamu. I don't want to butcher his name, um, but we got the guy from Toronto, which you know was kind of rumored. It was rumored for him and Grimes, and and to get Sandro to get Grimes, that was kind of already talked about. Now we did give Mamu four years 52 million, which is you know, not a little bit of money. Uh and Grimes got four years 60 million, right? So these are still young guys. I mean, I think Sandro Mamu is 27 years old, and Grimes is roughly probably 26. I haven't really looked at his age.
SPEAKER_00Uh Reeves is Reeves is the oldest at 28.
SPEAKER_02So Reeves is oldest at 28, right? So they're still in their 20s, still in their prime. Um, and I think they're great bench players, right? And you also added Colin Sexton, who is somebody that can get you 13 and 17 off the bench pretty easily in 20 minutes. Same with Gripes. And and I think Sandro is that Maxi Kleber kind of center where he's gonna be shooting threes. He can set really he's a big body, he can set really nice screens. Yeah, not sure how much he moves defensively. I didn't see too much of that before, but he's kind of in that Kleber role. That's why I'm I'm telling you, like they're really trying to rival that Dallas Mavericks team. Problem with with those sightings to me. In my opinion, none of those three are starters. So we just gave how much million 60 plus 50. What is that? 125 million dollars to players who'd be coming off the bench. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, what are your thoughts on it? I mean, you comfortable starting Walker Kessel, Mandel, and Quentin Grimes as the rest of the trio there?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I you know, like for it being a new um kind of era of Laker basketball, um, it I they uh it was a little interesting to me. Like I hope it works, and and maybe maybe we needed that like a that aggressiveness that we haven't had as of late. Um but you know, I do remember signing uh Timothy Mosgoff and Lual Dang, which I know I know they were older players and they we were we were expecting a little bit, we're expecting like quite a bit out of those guys, which were not with these guys, but they were paid like hey, they gotta perform, right? And so to answer your like I'm just like uh to answer your question, like, yeah, I I I don't know. Yeah, if if they're gonna be off the bench, I think it's good. It's I think we got some depth, and I know that you gotta, even though I know that it's all about the playoffs and all that, but you gotta get through a regular season, it is like a line. 82 games, you need depth, people are gonna be in and out of the lineup, you're gonna have to get 53 to 55 wins um to be a top you know three seed, probably you know, 52 to 50, depending on the year, you know, 52 to 54 wins. So I I I I think they're kind of suit right getting ready for that, and then obviously we'll see what happens in the playoffs. But um but yeah, it's I I wasn't sure what how how this new, you know, and then again, it's it is Polinka running the show now, right? So is he like he doesn't care about 2030 and 33 and all that, right? Like, I don't know if his job's on the line, but you know what he what they do the next few years and his moves that he makes, that's gonna be telling for him. Oh it is interesting. Like, we did not we did not slow play this at all. Um, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, the clock starts now on Polinka. Like, honestly, LeBron's out, Lucas trade already happened, and now he's made this trade for Walker Kessler, and they have new ownership, right? So, like they don't really owe Polinka anything, right? So, like I I'm not saying that he makes bad moves, he always figures out how to make a good trade, and and I've always respected that, right? Like, we got Walker Kessler, we got the person that we really wanted. Now, uh the Grimes and Colin Sexton, like you said, you have to have players that can play throughout the whole season and kind of score when when called upon, right? Like, we have to have players that can actually get buckets when needed, um, if somebody's out or whatnot. When you look at starting lineup, you go, Luca's gonna easily get you 32, 33. Austin Rees is probably gonna uptick to that close to that 27-28 now without LeBron. Um, so that you know, you're essentially getting 60 points out of your backcourt. Um, you figure Walker Kessler, I mean, you should be able to get six dunks a game easily. So you should be able to get 15 and 11, 12 every single night. That should not be a question. Um, and then you got a bunch of guys that are probably gonna be, you know, in that 14, 13, 12, 11, 10. So you might have a lot more spread out points than we've ever had on a team, which I think is nice. Um, but you're gonna have the two mega heads that are getting like 30 and 30 or whatnot. Um now the question is when those guys are out, or if you got an injury or somebody's out like that, what is this team gonna look like with just one of them? Right, that's gonna be the tough, tough nights, right? Yeah, um, because it's not like you can ask Walker Kessler to carry you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02You know what I'm saying? Like if you got if you got Austin Reeves and Luca out like they were this season together, you're just gonna Walker Kessler and uh Quinn Grime, you know, like so the call in Texas and makes sense, right? Like, all right, cool. We got a we got a pretty good, I wouldn't call him a starting caliber guard. Like, I think he can start on a bad team. You know, let's say he could start on a bad team, right? Um, and you can see how he played with Charlotte. He was great in those in the play-in tournament, and then also just like towards the end of the season, he was averaging 17 points a game. So that is somebody that can come in and have a 20-something night, right? Easily when those players are out. So I I do like those moves in that sense. I just think the money of like a mammu is shocking to me because I feel like that could have been easily given to Rui, and Rui fills that role. I mean, we know how great of a shooter he became last season, especially over the last four seasons up three-point line. And he's a guy that easily can get you 20. Um, and just has been so solid
Overpay Fears And Playoff Lineups
SPEAKER_02for the Lakers. And I just don't know if Mammu is gonna be able to fill that type of role. Like, I don't think he's gonna be like a Rui, to be honest with you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it is, it is. I mean, the more we kind of talk about it, it's definitely uh could be an overpay on all these guys. I mean, thinking about Walker Kessler, and you know, I don't you don't want to seem like negative Nancy. Obviously, we were wanting moves, as I said, but like for somebody you're signing, you know, for 35 million a year and stuff. I mean, is he gonna be in like a close game towards the end of games? You know, um probably depends on who the they're playing, obviously.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, but it the question is when you get to the playoffs. Regular season, yes. But when you get to the playoffs and you gotta go small, quick, or you know, you're trying to change the pace of a game, then that's when you see the you know, probably where it makes sense to have a guy like Manmoo, who's 6'10, 6'11, right? Um, who can shoot the three from the five and can kind of be a pick and pop type of guy and play that type of role. Um, but then again, what do we see this offseason? What do we see this playoffs this season? Right? When they took Hardenstein out, how did OKC look against Wimby? Right? They didn't look good. Right. So they they had to bring that big body back in. And I think that's what we're gonna see, right? Like, I don't think Kessler's a type that's gonna be playing 38, 40 minutes a game at all. Like he's gonna probably always be in that 28 to 32 minutes per game, right? Like the big guys don't play that much, right? Unless you're uh you know, significant um, you know, like a cat, like somebody that's more mobile and things like that. Um, they'll play more minutes. But when you're looking at traditional bigs, they're not gonna play heavy minutes. Like, if I were to look at his minutes, I would guess he's never played more than 32 minutes a game, but I'll I'll take a look on that in a second.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I can't imagine like I can't imagine him being like a 40, you know, like sure there might be a night or whatever, but not consistently. And then and it is gonna be like probably depends on the like what once the playoffs do come. It's gonna be the uh like matchup dependent. If it's they're facing a team with size, he's gonna play more minutes. If they're facing a team with not as much size, he could get run off the floor. And so I I we'll be we'll we'll see. We'll see how it works out. Obviously, it is a guy we that uh was has been um been looked at for some time, and they got a guy to fit the Luka mold, but uh we'll see, and it and it's just kind of like if it kind of doesn't go the way we think, it's just tough because Lakers don't really have assets to really do much. We just hope that this team kind of you know it's kind of one of these things like we next year we may, you know, may take us a season to kind of or half a season or whatever to just really um get some rhythm and whatnot. But it all you know, it's gonna all stem on the health of of Luca if he can if he can if he can be out there, you know.
SPEAKER_02And and you know, I think the good thing is we still have JJ Redick, and you gotta look at the first 15 games of last season when it was Luca and AR and how they ran, how the team was an up and running team, and how they played through those two, and did really, really well on those fit first. 15 games, right? So I think we got to look at that and say, hey, like, you know, that's
The Wing Problem And Trade Ideas
SPEAKER_02our sample size. Um, the Lakers, when they played with AR and Luca, they were a lot better record than when they played with essentially all three. So I, you know, we got to look at the positive side, but it time will tell. But I I they're gonna have to add some wings because they don't have that size at the small forward position. And so when you look at you know, who's gonna guard somebody when we look at some of the best players in the NBA are usually those small forwards and guards currently, right now, Quinn Grimes. What do we put in the 6-4 guy? Like, we don't have that guard um defender or that small forward defender right now, you know, unless a Deuthereal is you know, stepped his game up and is ready to kind of contribute this season.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I mean, we it was it was like, hey, there was a lot of thought of running it back, and you know, we've talked about it, you know, whether if it was on here or on the side, uh, like do we run it back? I mean, we we've seen the is it we're gonna see the same song and dance next year, same thing. I think what like that month of March is kind of what keeps like piqued everybody's interest because it's like, wait, was that really the Lakers? Or you know, we didn't get to see it obviously because of the injuries to AR and Luca, but no, it's it's just been a complete, you know, uh uh you know facelift, and it's it's we got the whole the DNA of the kind of team is just completely different, and so um I think a lot of people got what they asked for. Um and uh like just like everybody else, I'm just so curious to see if if it's gonna work.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, you know who would be a great small forward, power forward on the scene? LB, uh LeBron James. So yeah, I I know it's not gonna happen. I know we're not gonna, but you know, if he can't find a uh a true contender, like he can always come back for a veteran minerum. So we'll see.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we'll talk about that in a second. But yeah, I know. Yeah, yeah. He would be so ideal.
Celtics Shock Trade Jalen Brown To Philly
SPEAKER_02Let's get into some shocking news today. Uh, the Boston Celtics trading Jalen Brown. I mean, I know it's been talked about, and we were pretty much, you know, the way that they reporting it, that he was likely not going to go back to Boston, and they were working with a lot of teams to kind of trade for him. But the report said that they're expecting like four first-round picks. And instead, Eric, you got Paul George and two first-round picks. Uh what's Paul George? 35. Right? Paul George is about 35. So he got 35-year-old Paul George and two first-round picks for Jalen Brown. Somebody that was in MVP conversation.
SPEAKER_00Just turned 36. He just turned 36. Okay.
SPEAKER_02MVP conversation. And literally dragged the Boston Celtics to a number two seed this year. Yeah. Finals MVP. Been to the final twice with Tatum. And you really couldn't mend the relationship. I I get it if like I get it, but I don't get it. But with the Giannis, I understand trying to include him in the Giannis trade. I'm not saying that you don't got to you do your due diligence and see if you can get Giannis. But I'm not trading him for Paul George, Eric. And on top of that, you gave him to Philadelphia, who's going to be a powerhouse right now with those three. You got Maxie, VJ Edgecombe, and Jalen Brown. And hey, at least have Embiid. I mean, if Embiid somehow figures out that he's healthy, I mean that team is like defense in the East right now. So uh what were your thoughts on it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I uh I I was look like I I understand it doesn't always work that that this way. We see like a Rudy Gobert get five get traded for five first round picks. Um, you know, we've seen things like that, and a lot of that is like because it's because a team has so many picks, so it's just kind of it is what it is, and so I don't think we've seen a lot of that as of late. And I just think that there must have been something up with that relationship before the Giannis trade. Because I feel if it was just about the Giannis trade, it we can you can say, hey, like look, I we were just uh I mean, we not that you can't blame us, but like I mean, we were going for Giannis, right? And maybe he feels he's better than him right now. I I have no idea. Maybe he does at his age, I don't I don't know, um uh which is arguable, but um, I just think it got like so bad, and other teams caught you know glimpses of it, or they kind of found out about that, that it just made his trade market just like a little bit tough out there, and so um now it doesn't mean that Boston probably should have panicked and uh made the move, but they were probably were just like let's like we just gotta move on sooner than later. And so, yes, I my thing is like also I I'm a believer, like you know, it's like oh you know, Lakers in Boston will never do a trade, or Lakers in this. Like, I think you should like trade for the best package out there, you know, doesn't matter who you trade him to. Yeah, I just don't know. Was this the best package out there? Um, maybe like a little bit more patience, you know, and it's you know, it's it's the Celtics too. And so I like I don't know if they're trying to like flirt with like we need somebody to kind of be decent coming in, but also get some draft picks, you know. But the thing is, Paul George, I mean, he's obviously had a great career, but I mean he hasn't like the last few seasons, right? He's been um not healthy, not healthy, yeah.
SPEAKER_02So he had this he had the suspension obviously last year, but um and he looked good when he came back, but he's not reliable to stay healthy right now, Eric.
SPEAKER_00I know, and Brown, and you know, it does make a difference, like trading him to Philly for sure, because it's yeah, I'm sure they wanted to probably trade him out west, you know, but it just wasn't wasn't happening, but I think they could have been a little bit more patient, let's just say that.
SPEAKER_02I mean, we we gave up two first rounds for Walker Kessler, yeah. I know well that I want to try to see what we can do for uh Jalen Brown. I mean, I don't even know. Like, would you have traded, say, for example, you could have traded Austin Reeves for assign and trade Austin Reeves for Jalen Brown. Would you do it right now?
SPEAKER_00I mean, they're the same age, right? Jalen Brown's 29, or he's a 28.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you would do that in the heartbeat, right? Yeah, of course, yeah. Right? So two first and and two first and AR, and then you're you know, say you're able to sign another bit, you know. But Luca and and Jalen Brown, like that combo would be pretty deadly, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I know.
SPEAKER_02And and if I'm Boston, I'm like, ooh, like you know, AR, it's different type of player than Tatum, all that type of stuff, right? You're essentially just doing a copycat trade, but uh for a player that's like seven years older and coming off lots of injuries. So I I mean they're trying to get the most out of this year, probably, and see how much they can and let them let Tatum be let it be Tatum's team.
SPEAKER_00Um what does what does Tatum think about this? You think that's what I kind of wonder. I wonder what Tatum is kind of thinking now.
SPEAKER_02I don't think he likes it. Yeah, because I'm gonna tell you right now, you know the pressure's gonna be on, Eric. And I've told you this before.
SPEAKER_00Head coach?
SPEAKER_02No, Jason Tatum. Oh completely on Jason Tatum. He has to now live up to all the hype. He does not have he came into the league with Jalen Brown. Jalen Brown was already on that team for a year, yeah. Right? So he has never had his own team. He's coming off an Achilles tear, right? That's not something that's easy to come off of. He looked okay when he came back last year. This will be his first full season back. Your first full season back is now going to be your most important season. They they're gonna want you to be MVP, Jason Tatum, because that's what Jalen Brown just did last season without you. So if he does not lead you to a two seed, right? Yeah, arguably, you can say Jalen Brown as a leader and as a number one would have had a better year. So I for me, the pressure is high on Jason Tatum right now. And if you're setting up for future, you know, having draft picks, and then you know, maybe a joker comes loose and you can get Jokic neck year or something like that, you know, whatever it is. Paul George has a player option for the second year, Eric. Yeah, he's at two years. Do you think he's not gonna pick up 59 million dollars on that last year?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so he's got two more. I think, including the season coming up, he's got two seasons. Yep.
SPEAKER_02Wait, yeah, right. Two, I mean, but he's gonna take the player option, right?
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah, yeah, and I'm sure Boston knows that, you know, but yeah, at 59 million dollars there.
SPEAKER_02So I I don't know. Uh it's I am sure Bill Simmons is gonna go on his podcast and just absolutely I'm really wondering what he's gonna say, you know, and absolutely rip the self-defination.
SPEAKER_00They should have at least gotten like you know, if you're gonna if you're gonna give us George, uh, and I'm sure they asked for it, but you know, I think if it's like three first rounders in George, you're hey, you're like, hey, you know, you gotta suck it up in match contracts and all that, you know, like that was a big part of it too, right? Is you gotta you're gonna probably get take on a bad contract. Like, I do understand that. Edge comb, but would you rather?
SPEAKER_02I'm you know, would you have rather have like edge comb and I mean I know they gotta match contracts and all that stuff.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I don't think that would have, but but obviously, yes, yes, I would but like throw an edge comb or something like that, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and they probably tried, and and it doesn't mean that they had to do it if they said no, sure. Um, but you know, obviously Maxi would probably that that was a no. Um that's not gonna happen. But um, I I shoot. If if you're taking the same Philly team that's that was there last year, and then you're replacing um Brown with uh or sorry, uh PG uh sorry, but yeah, Brown with PG, obviously. Um yeah, Philly, you know, Philly should be good too.
SPEAKER_02Philly beat them as a seven seed.
SPEAKER_00I know that's right. I forgot they put it in the play.
SPEAKER_02Like, what the like what do you think is gonna happen? Like they are now way better than you, and they beat you at a seven seed. Like that just seems weird. That's like us doing a trade. I don't know. I mean, it just doesn't make any sense to me.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, I mean, I know Boston's kind of confident in their system and their guys, and you know, they obviously always have guys that you know don't uh you wouldn't expect to like kind of be the the the players they are, and they they're they're high on um a couple of the the players that they have there. They obviously they picked up what's his name, right? Um, which the day started off pretty good for them, yeah.
SPEAKER_02That was like Mitchell, right? Again, Mitchell. Yep.
SPEAKER_00Yep. And so, you know, like I I feel like they're gonna be one of these teams that are always gonna be competitive, and I'm sure they're gonna be good, you know what I mean. Like, don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting here saying it just it's gonna be a train wreck, but you know, with the Boston, you're trying to win championships, and I just don't know if they're better yesterday. Actually, I do know, I don't think they're better yesterday than than than or better today than they were yesterday, right? Uh I I don't believe so, but maybe they're not done. We'll see. Yeah, we'll see.
SPEAKER_02Uh, but it's shocking trade to say the least, and I'm sure a lot of Southeast fans are not happy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, I would imagine. Yeah, I've heard some you know mixed things, but I'm looking at it, I'm like, come on, I don't think there's any positive.
SPEAKER_02Like, I don't think there's yeah, you got two first round picks, but I don't think anybody's in a Boston fan, like, yeah, we got Paul Jordan.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So, um, anyways, so last topic we want to get into is obviously LeBron James and where he's going to sign.
LeBron Next Team Predictions And Sleeper
SPEAKER_02He's gonna take his sweet time. But I don't know if you saw that clip, Eric, of Rich Paul talking on the um podcast he has with Max Kellerman. And he talked about you know how what two to three weeks ago he was 80% returning. You know, talked to him a week later, it was down to 60. I don't know how you get you get these numbers, by the way.
SPEAKER_0065, yeah. Like what's 60?
SPEAKER_02Like, like, come on. So, and then it got down even further, right? 50-50. 50, yeah, whatever it was, 50 year, whatever it kind of got down to. And then it became about happiness, and so essentially he decided that he was not happy being a Los Angeles Laker, which is fine. And I think we've saw all the articles that came out and everything that we've seen, all the tea leaves that we've been seeing, um, and some things that he feels that you know rub them the wrong way, and that's fine. And he and he gave us eight eight years, and you know, we won a championship and all that good stuff. Yeah, now do you think the Austin Reeves contract uh when they gave the Austin Reeves that contract, do you think that truly affected his feelings on returning?
SPEAKER_00I look, I'm gonna, you know, we're gonna like you said at best, we're gonna skip. I mean, it was a uh we'll probably talk about it one day. It was uh, you know, good eight years um won the championship. Um, I was you know a little surprised at the decision. It was kind of sad, you know. But like I kind of quickly uh two things could be true, right? I kind of quickly turned to like really like I mean, all that you know everybody was talking about all season, and maybe that's part of it, but was that you know, hey, AR is gonna obviously opt out, he's gonna you know get X amount of dollars. I mean, the Lakers have been, I mean, he's been stringing along the Lakers for three seasons, if like it was whether if he was gonna retire or not. And we had to like not make moves or make moves with not really knowing if he was gonna or not. And even this year he said, Oh, like probably like you know, August, late July, August, like I'll kind of know, which we all kind of were like, Well, I mean, that's that's impossible because free agency starts, you know, June 30th. And so I I just I don't think it's fair that it's like I mean, I get your LeBron, but you know, you kind of put us through like a roller coaster the last every offseason the last few years. Now that the Lakers have a little bit of leverage, they're gonna use that. And so I don't think it should have been a surprise to LeBron that they're gonna prioritize like maybe to somebody younger. We talked about this before. Like pure basketball, crazy to think LeBron is probably still a better player than AR, and maybe that's what it maybe I guess should come down to it, come down to, but we know that there's more than that. There's the age, there's the thought that it's like uh like there's gotta be a time where I mean there's been already times, there's a few seasons where he runs out of gas in the playoffs and things like that, right? And um, or you know, big games, big fourth quarters, things like that. So I don't know. I I just to answer your question, it's like if that was the case, it's a little bit of a surprise to me. And I think I've mentioned it many, many times. Relationships rarely end gracefully. There's gonna be little jabs on the way out. I just think at this time both parties are are happy, and I think maybe LeBron might might be a little bit butthurt um about the Lakers not really wanting him back, to be honest with you. You're on mute.
SPEAKER_02And to be honest with you, like this probably ended as gracefully as possible, right? Like him telling them. It wasn't mad at all.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it wasn't bad at all.
SPEAKER_02Um, you know, genie bus thanking him, him thanking Genie Bus, right? Like, so it's like there's some things at least that portrayed in the media that look good on both sides. And it happened the quickness too.
SPEAKER_00That was so quick.
SPEAKER_02It was super cool.
SPEAKER_00That just told me, like, meaning the the decision came out and then genie's thing came out, like it was like that's it, we're done.
SPEAKER_02You know, so they it's been spewing for a couple weeks, and we all we all know that, right? And probably go for going on for much longer than we all we all know. Now, if I were to ask you where you think he's gonna land over the weekend, because I think it's gonna be done by the end of this weekend.
SPEAKER_00Fourth of July.
SPEAKER_02Fourth of July. I think we're not going, you know, we're not gonna go too much longer with this. Where do you think he ends up? Or like you can give your top two teams what you think is gonna happen. Um, and then maybe a little sleeper if there is one.
SPEAKER_00You know, you say this weekend, and you could be right, but I think LeBron is like relishing this. This is his last chance to kind of be in the news. I never thought at 41, gonna be 42 in December, that he would be in a situation where he's kind of sought out, you know. Now, the reason that is is because he's decided that he doesn't really care now about in terms of the with the money, right? For the contract. That's the only reason it's really like this, or else it'd be like between just maybe one or two teams, and that would be a stretch. Um, and so I think he I think he's like, you know what, one last hurrah, he likes it. We hear rumors about him. It's probably his last season coming up. I know we've said that for three years, but it feels like it is. He I think he's gonna be recording, right? His that's what it kind of came out.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it sounds like it'll be his last documentary, documentary kind of thing.
SPEAKER_00Um, and so I I think he's gonna play a little bit of cat and mouse. How long it lasts, we'll see. Um, you know, the Warriors obviously stand out. That's when we first were like, oh shoot, he may not be coming back. Because I think we thought that all year, they had the great march. Um, he led them, you know, to the first round win. And I think we were thinking he's probably gonna come back, and then all of a sudden you hear the Golden State news. But then you're like, wait, you know, they probably are not gonna get AD. So obviously you got to throw them. Um, Cleveland, right? It just makes all the sense in the world going back home, last dance. They got a pretty good team, right? Um, I just we'll see. Does he want to play with James Harden and you know to Mitchell and all that? But um, I don't know. I just like, is he gonna really go to like Denver or like somewhere like random, like Minnesota? You know, uh it looks like San Antonio is not gonna happen. I would if Knicks wouldn't have won the championship, I would have had them as a pretty um like standout possibility, but he can't go there now. Yeah, um, but yeah, I'm gonna kind of either stick with like not a sexy pick, kind of Golden State um or Cleveland. And um, I mean, maybe outside chance, I I know I just said Minnesota, um, an outside chance of maybe them. I just like really, like, is he gonna go to Minnesota? Denver, like I said, obviously there's Miami. Um, I don't know. Are is there somebody that you're that we haven't talked about that you can kind of see?
SPEAKER_02I I I I I don't see this happening, but if I were to give any sleeper team, like where everybody is like, oh, yeah, you know, we didn't even have that on a radar. To me, that's the Washington Wizards. Like, because if you get a chance, you get to go play with AD again. You already added Trey Young, so you got the point guard there too. And then you have the number one pick in AJ, right? So you have like and you also have the other big guy, Sarr. So, like, if you added LeBron to that lineup, like to me, that's a pretty damn good team. Now, obviously, you know, can they really just turn one year into magic and and really get out of the east? Probably not. And to be honest, the East has gotten so strong now when you look at it. I mean, you look at Toronto, got better, right? At a quai, Philly's better. New York is still gonna be there, right? There's a champions. Boston, I mean, I think you put them down a notch now, but they're still gonna be in the contingent, right? Yeah, and then I would say if you know you got the Cleveland Cavs that are still gonna be good, like they're not gonna be a bad team. Um, and then say, like a wit, like if you added him to a Wizards team. So you'd still probably be in the mix for the top six.
SPEAKER_00Miami, Miami.
SPEAKER_02Uh oh Jesus, gosh, yeah, Miami too, right? So yeah, you got a lot going on. Indiana, Indiana, yeah, they'll be back. But if Indiana gets through all that, they'll be the most amazing. Tyres Highardburn would be known as the best player, like, I don't know, whatever he does to create this magic, right? You're gonna have much better quality teams. You're gonna have eight to nine to ten deep in the east now.
SPEAKER_01It's gonna be pretty strong.
SPEAKER_02It's gonna be pretty strong compared to the west, too. Right? The west is always gonna be strong, but it's gonna be more top heavy, I think. The west is gonna be two teams deep, and then you got other teams that are good, uh, maybe not so great. Uh, so that would be my sleeper. But to be honest, Eric, you talk about the documentary, you talk about things that are coming out. To me, that states he's going back home to Cleveland. He's been hanging out in Cleveland. If you check his posts, they're all back home, or whatever. What did it say? Going home, come home, or whatever it said.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, go bigger, go home.
SPEAKER_02Go bigger, go home. Uh, everything's in his backyard in Cleveland. Signs are there. To me, that's that speaks he's gonna go home and return and finish his career where it started. And to me, that's what I want to see. As a just a fan, as a viewer, I want to see him finish his career in Cleveland. And to be honest, on that team, yes, he gives him a high chance of getting through the Eastern Conference.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, because it's like, is he gonna, you know, sure he can go to like an up-and-coming team, but that's if he was like, I'm gonna play a couple years and we're gonna kind of you know mold, uh, get mold together and and whatnot. And so, yeah, I I think he's gonna want to play on a team like like he was saying, is that what is gonna be playing what was the word? What kind of basketball? Not quality basketball, but uh competitive basketball or whatever. And so I don't know if he cares about legacies and things like that. I'm sure he does, or like what people say about him, probably not because people are gonna say things regardless. But him going back to Cleveland, couldn't hate on that, right? Yeah, um, you know, uh it's it's kind of a nice way and uh to to kind of end a career, and so that would be my guess as well. If I had to choose, maybe the Warriors thing is maybe a little overblown now. Um, but yeah, I I would imagine probably favoring the East Coast and Cleveland would make kind of the most sense, but yeah, for sure. We'll see, you know. Um but crazy, crazy that he's gone. Obviously, a good good eight years and longest stint. He was actually about to if he was nine years, it would have been a longer stint than Shaq was with the Lakers, and uh Shaq was with the Lakers eight seasons.
SPEAKER_02So um, he's been a long time with um purple and gold. So we appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00Right, eight times three, twenty-four, third of Miss Career.
SPEAKER_02That's amazing. Um, all right, so we'll find out probably, I don't know, within the next couple days, within the next week. Um, and we'll be back on air to kind of talk about it and debrief it. But until then, Eric, the hoops rehab team is out. And you guys have a good fourth if we're not on before that. Take care, guys.
SPEAKER_00Big birthday tomorrow, too, huh?
SPEAKER_02And the game injury dogs birthdays tomorrow. Another year where I think another year older. I'm 21 over again. Peace out, guys.
