LeBron's NEXT TEAM?! Kawhi Trade STALLED + NBA Free Agency Chaos

In this episode of THE WARM UP, we break down the biggest storylines from another wild day of NBA Free Agency.

We discuss the latest rumors surrounding LeBron James and the teams that could realistically be in the mix, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors. Which destination makes the most sense, and where could LeBron finish his legendary career?

We also dive into the latest update on Kawhi Leonard's reported trade situation, including why the deal has not yet been finalized and how the current off-court allegations have impacted the process.

Plus, we recap the biggest signings, trades, rumors, and league-wide reactions from around the NBA as free agency continues to reshape the championship picture.

If you're looking for the latest NBA news, trade reactions, and offseason analysis, we've got you covered.

THE WARM UP
Real Talk. Real Sports. All The Time.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:12

What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to the warm-up. Today, you know, free agency has died down a little bit. Um, we had some Kawhi news. Um, the trades on hold, him going to the Raptors. We're gonna talk talk some LeBron James destinations. He's still unsigned. Um, joining me to break it all down today is Ben. Ben, how you doing?

SPEAKER_02 0:32

Doing good, man. Side to be here.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Yep. Um, before we get into it, please like, comment, subscribe on the YouTube video. Please keep subscribing to the uh YouTube channel. You guys have been unbelievable these last couple weeks, and can't do it without you guys. So I really appreciate it. Um follow our social media um at the warmup talk on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. And yeah, let's get into it. So, Ben, today we had some um breaking news from Shams. Um we got the Kawaii trade tweet last week early in free agency, and then today um we we were kind of like on the fence just because they haven't had a uh solution on the whole aspiration case, right? So the whole aspiration case has been going on. Um, this trade goes through but hasn't been completed yet because Shams tweets um I can add that. Uh developing the Los Angeles Clippers Toronto Raptors trade centered on Kawhi Leonard will not be complete until the NBA investigation into the Clippers is over. And then the statement uh the Clippers release a statement. They go on for the past 10 months. Our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, yada yada yada. So they're basically just covering their tracks, right? But I mean, today was the first time I felt like there was a chance that Kawhi might be actually penalized in this sort of trade because at the end of this, the c the Raptors have a choice to just have the trade go through, and whatever happens with Kawhi's contract, they just have to live with. And so it was my the first time I kind of looked at it, was like, oh, Kawhi could really his contract could get voided, something really big could happen here. So, Ben, tell me what's your thoughts on this.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

Yeah, I think this is a very risky thing for both sides to try and do a trade before this was um the investigation was completed. Um, didn't initially think it was gonna be a big deal based on what I heard. And so now seeing this and that, it's not gonna be completed until after the investigation. Um, obviously very risky for both sides because if you have to veto the trade, um, it's a very um sensitive situation for the players involved. Um the biggest case we can think of is the Mark Williams trade that got vetoed, um, sending back to the back to the Lakers and Mark back to the Hornets. So I uh I think it's a very sensitive situation here, and especially with a player of Kawhi Larren's caliber, um, there's a lot more at stake, especially for Toronto, um, who's gonna be the one that's acquiring this player? So um, hopefully this investigation is over soon and that this trade can be uh pushed on through and that both sides can move on here. But I I have a bad feeling too that Kawhi might be getting penalized.

SPEAKER_01 3:17

Yeah, and it's so crazy too, because we got wind of this story back in early set middle September last year from Paulo Torre, right? And he has this whole investigation on aspiration that night. Steve Bomber has like an emergency segment on Sports Center on ESPN. It's just like a super weird, like he's trying to cover his tracks before um something came out, right? And then Adam Silvers uh at the beginning of the season said, Oh, we we should have a decision before, or around all-star break. Around all-star break, that it was ironic. The Clippers were absolutely bawling. Kawhi was out of his mind after that horrible start, and they had a horrible start to the season. I think, in part because of this aspiration cloud hovering over them. I think it was on everyone's minds. And then, you know, fast forward the NBA playoffs come and then the finals over, and it's like, okay, we'll for sure get a ruling on the aspiration case before the draft because um draft picks are involved, and the Pacers or the Pacers traded their pick to the Clippers and got Keaton Waggler with the fifth pick this year. So there's like a whole bunch of stuff that's like a lot. I seen a lot of people are like, they shouldn't have been even allowed to draft Keaton Waggler at five. I'm like, well, that was more the Pacers fall, I thought more than the than the Clippers, right? But it's just like a lot of moving parts right now, and then I mean, like you said, like this trade should have the trade should have gone through, and if they weren't allowed to trade Kawhi, this should have been uh settled a long time ago. So yeah, I don't I don't know what what's gonna happen, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

Yeah, we'll have to kind of just wait and see here. It's it's one of those wait and see things. I think either way it's gonna be interesting for Kawhi Leonard, but we'll have to just see how where the cookie crumbles here.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Yeah, do you think I mean I mean you brought up the players, so like Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick, a player that fell out the rotation last year. Like, do you think like for Brandon Ingram? I feel like he won't be effective as much, but I feel like for Grady Dick, there was such a good situation to be like, oh, um, I go to a new team and I can kind of rebuild my value, let alone like this trade, because they made the trade, it allowed them to be in conversations for a sign-in trade with restrictive free agent Peyton Watson. Because of this trade, they were allowed to sign Rui Hachamara. Like, if this trade gets vetoed, like Rui's all of a sudden a free agent. Like, does Rui sue because he was promised money and now he's not allowed to sign that contract anymore because they actually don't have the space? Like, there's just so many moving parts I feel like that could go with this trade.

SPEAKER_02 5:52

Yeah, I think regardless, Leonard's gonna be on the move at some point. I don't know how that would affect Rui. I think, especially for Grady and uh BI, they'll be on the move too. I mean, I I don't really at some point these players will not be on these teams. I think it's just a matter of of when, not if, um, as far as like what this trade looks like. If this one gets vetoed, more trades will happen outside of that to make the right moves happen, I think.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, yeah, it's just crazy because like I mean, all their flexibility, like I I feel like the penalty will have something to do with like um like they get suspended a couple of their picks, but like if this is truly cap circumvention and Kawhi was involved in it, like I do think there's a high chance he's suspended for like the first 25-20 games of the season. Yeah, um, I I could see definitely a path like that. Um I don't think his like to your point, I don't think his contract will get voided. And if it was voided, would the Raptors even be allowed to sign him? Like yeah, yeah, there's so many different things to it. But yeah, um, yeah, that's all I got on the Kawhi situation. Yeah, same here. So I mean we can move on to LeBron. LeBron. Um, LeBron James, year 24 is still the the hype of free agency, still has no idea where I I think he knows where he's going, and there's all these like tea leaves out there um where he's gonna go. But we're gonna talk a couple LeBron James situations. Shams has come out over the last couple days, and he said it's really narrowed down to or actually before the Shams came out with that, we had Rich Paul on like Sunday or Monday have a whole whiteboard of all the potential destinations. It was like like Rich Paul's an NBA agent. It was one of the most mind-boggling things, like what universe are we living in thing. Like he had the pros and cons to each team, like Timberwolves had like LaMelo and Um Gobert and McDaniels, and like Dallas had Cooper Flag and Oil, and like it was just such a weird, it was just such a weird thing that like a this is a real player's agent, and to Rich Paul's credit, he's one of the most famous uh player agents in the world, not only because he's the agent of LeBron James, but he's kind of put himself out there in a way where it's like it's kind of hard not to look. So as as I was saying though, Shams had made a tweet, it's probably narrowed down to the Sixers, to the Cavs, to the Warriors, and then to the Miami Heat. So I feel like at first, tell me, Ben, like, what are your thoughts on LeBron going to the Sixers? The Sixers just got Jalen Brown, they have BJ Edgecombe, they have Tyrese Maxie, they have Joel Embiid, um, Leverion Phylon, who just played a couple hours ago, absolutely balled out in his first summer league game. Tell me your thoughts. Give me the argument on why it should be and why it shouldn't be the 76ers.

SPEAKER_02 8:51

Yeah, so to kind of talk Philly, I think um there's it's very complete, right? It's it would be the most complete starting five in basketball. You have Maxie, Edgecomb, Jalen Brown, LeBron, and Joel Embiid. I really can't think of a more complete lineup than the one that I just I just listed out. Um he would honestly fit like a glove right into the four. Um I think it's a as far as a basketball fit is concerned, I think it's a matter of not what LeBron, this may sound weird, but not what LeBron can add, but simply what LeBron can do amongst the others. I really think we're at that stage because it's not like LeBron has to come in here and do all this stuff to win. It's LeBron has to fit in, not fit out. So I think um that's what makes Philly a really attractive destination. They have youth um that can come off the bench. I have obviously got VJ going into his second year, and then obviously Maxie's a stud. Embiid's not healthy, but I think this is even more of a bonus if Embiid's not healthy because now you've got LeBron Brown, Maxie Edgum. Like you can easily win any basketball game with those four, even if Embiid's not on the floor, which it just it just adds more incentive to this destination for LeBron. I really like it. I I think it would work very well.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Yeah, I'm no, I I completely agree. The only thing that kind of concerns me with the Sixers is that you're asking LeBron to play that four position when your five isn't a defensive anchor, like how he was it earlier on. You know what I mean? Correct. If this was like MVP Joel Embiid, I'm like, totally, I think this should be number one. But like I think we saw in the playoffs last year, Embiid could be great, but defensively, he's just not laterally quick. And LeBron on a night-to-night basis is not the best defender in the regular season, right? But come playoff time, you're you're completely right. This is the best starting five in basketball. Um, they have Simmons or Simons coming off the bench. Um, I think they do they still have Bona? They still have Bona, right? Uh yes. A damn Bona. Yeah. So they still have him as a backup center. They lost Quentin Grimes. But yeah, this would be an absolutely slam dunk for the Sixers. Um, I've seen around that like the politics of it where it's like, okay, LeBron adds a fourth jersey to his collection. Does that hurt anything? What are your thoughts on like him being in another jersey on another team? Or is it at the point where it's like, okay, he's just going for the best situation to win?

SPEAKER_02 11:23

Yeah, I'm not, you know, not particularly wild about that. I think when you look at his LeBron's career and you look at the very end and you see Philadelphia 76ers, I think that's gonna hurt a little bit. But like, you know, um, if he goes there and has success, I don't think it's gonna hurt his legacy. Obviously, if they go there and they're an absolute failure while he while he's on that team, I think then you can start to have that conversation. Um, but yeah, I would I would partly agree with you there. I think it could tarnish things a little bit, but I don't think it would be too severe because I I do think if he goes there, they have a legitimate chance to win it all and he would add a fifth ring to his resume.

SPEAKER_01 11:57

Right. Um, and then just with the whole Jalen Brown aspect, I feel like Jalen Brown, I feel like this is a player who usually plays with a chip on his shoulder. He's came out on his Twitch and he was been on iShow Speeds channel as of today, just talk about how messed up the league is, it's super disrespectful, don't become a basketball player. Like already gonna try to try to control the narrative and like be this super impactful force where it's like is Jalen Brown willing to take kind of a step back because like regardless how old LeBron is, he'll always have that dominant force, and like he will be controlling like the narrative and the ball, where it's like I think Jalen Brown kind of is like, Oh, look at me. I'm the I'm the best player uh on the team right now. I'm the finals, most recent finals MVP. And then you still have Tyrese Maxi who's like, no, this is my team, and then you have Joan Bede, like, oh, I'm I was just an MVP three or four years ago. Like, do you think there's too many like personalities there? You think it'll fit? You think everybody would be bought in? Because I'm kind of hit or miss on the Jalen Brown part. I know LeBron is a super big fan of Tyrese Maxie, so I don't think there would be any like ill ill blood there, but like the Jalen Brown part is kind of what intrigues me.

SPEAKER_02 13:18

Yeah, I I do think there's a possibility of that for sure. I think it all comes down to this is LeBron willing to fit in or fit out? Yeah, that's that's kind of where it is. If he's willing, if he wants to fit out, then it's not gonna work. If he just if he wants to continue to be, you know, what I know LeBron to be for the rest for his career, it's not gonna work. It's too many personalities. But if he decides to fit in and play basketball and just be happy, I think it's gonna work. Um, you are right, Jalen Brown's a big personal, and bead's a big personality, so is LeBron. Edgecombe's just kind of there, and then Maxie is you know, all gas, no breaks. So yeah, um, you do make an interesting point there. I do think that could be something to be concerned about.

SPEAKER_01 13:56

Yeah, and just because like I love Jalen Brown, but like I do think in a weird way, this is kind of like his Westbrook MVP type year, where like they all doubted him, right? He now, but now he's the one leaving, and it's like I think he's really gonna try to have a narrative to his name in a more positive light. Like, I don't think his numbers will be as good as in Boston, but if he impacts winning, I don't think anyone will care. And if you add LeBron James to it, like LeBron hasn't played with speed like this in what since maybe Kyrie Kyrie, but even Kyrie's not Tyrese Maxie, Vijay Edgecomb fast. And um, I mean to Jalen Brown, he's a two-way player, so LeBron wouldn't have to guard these the KDs of the world, the the Paul Georges, the Kawaiis. He won't have to guard these bigger players, the Anthony Edwards, the Shays. Like, they have a Vijay Edgecomb, they have a Jalen Brown. Like, you're right, like LeBron would probably take the fourth best offensive player on the floor any given night, or even the even the big, if depending how they want to play with MB. Correct.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

Yeah, it's it's it's a very he he can do a lot of things there, and that that's I think that's why it's so attractive. But you you are right, there is a lot of blending that would have to be done there, so it'll be interesting.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Yeah, so um just out of the four teams we that we will talk about, like where do the Sixers kind of land on your list? Like out of the case.

SPEAKER_02 15:23

Uh for me, they're number two, okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

I think but behind the next team that I'd want to talk about, but yeah, they're they're number two for me. Cool. Yeah, I mean, let's get into the next team. Um, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Home. This is for you, Cleveland. You know, famous 2016, right after the the 3-1 comeback against the Warriors and Steph and Company. Um I I was told about a month ago that this was the most likely outcome. They want to Netflix wants to do a whole big um farewell tour with LeBron James going back to Cleveland, like a docuseries. I think it would be amazing. Um, I think the Cavs would definitely trade for Bronny. Um, even Bronny's first couple games in Cleveland, they had like a whole like haul of Bronny James growing up and now in the league. Um for me, this is the most storybook. I think this is the one place where he could go back to and truly have fans that love him. Where in Philly, like those fans really don't love you. Where in Miami, those are those fans love you, but they're not like die hard fans. Like Miami, there's a bunch of other stuff to do in Miami. Um, Golden State, those are Steph fans, right? So I feel like going back to Cleveland is the one place where it's like, okay, this is this is my home. I will be loved every home game for 42 uh home games a year. I think it'd be huge. He's back on the East Coast. Um, I think that is all these teams but the Warriors are on the East Coast, which I think is super interesting for like the TV deals and all that. But Ben, tell me your thoughts on Cleveland, him going back to Cleveland for a third time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:05

If we're talking about legacy, I think you look no further than Cleveland. I think the 18-year-old kid from Akron, Ohio should go finish where this all started. Um, I think it's really I think it's really that simple. So um, you know, I'm hoping that this is where he ends up now. Basketball fit-wise, gonna kind of have to wait and see there. It depends on Harden. Um, I I'm gonna be honest with you, I do not see James Harden and LeBron James together. Um absolutely not. But um, we'll kind of wait and see what happens there. I like him and Mitchell together and it's like him and Mitchell a lot. Yeah, I like him and Mitchell a lot. I think that'd be good. Um, but if I I just think this would be perfect, it'd be a gift to the fans. And you know, who's to say they don't make a deep playoff run? I mean, like Cleveland went to the conference finals this year. I mean, like you add LeBron James, I mean, like, you know, you could potentially find yourself, you know, back in the finals again. You have no idea. So, you know, um, if LeBron's able to somehow deliver a second ring to Cleveland, I mean, like, you couldn't ask for a better end to the story. So I think it's a really intriguing spot.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

Yeah, and then also, too, like I mean, I've seen the things that like if LeBron wants to go to Cleveland, they'd have to get off Jared Allen, which I feel like that makes Cleveland's like how I outlook Cleveland look a lot worse. Because I like the idea of LeBron playing the three with Twin Towers behind him. I don't want him really playing the four with Mobley as my five. You know, like what are your thoughts on them potentially having to get off Allen to make the LeBron move fit?

SPEAKER_02 18:29

Um, I think the Jared Allen experiment's kind of over in Cleveland, if I'm being honest with you. Um, like, you know, I think it's worked out well, but it's not, I don't know. It hasn't been the greatest. I don't think I don't think it's the greatest fit alongside Mobley or anything like that. So, you know, um, I don't know. Um, it's it's a very interesting concept. I I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to get off Allen if it means bringing in LeBron. Um Allen is, you know, he's a good interior guy, can't really stretch the floor that much. I think that's where you leave that to Mobley and then kind of you know do your thing. So I don't really know. I I think it's an interesting concept, but I'm you know, I'm not I'm not opposed to that idea.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

Yeah, no, I love the Cleveland fit. Um I I think Harden opting out in that trade kind of made stuff a little bit tricky. Like I do expect Harden uh to re-sign back, but if I'm LeBron, I really don't want to play with Harden. Like I just stayed behind Luca. I played with Austin, like I mean, I rolled this idea. You're a Mavs fan. What are your thoughts on like a potential sign-in trade with Kyrie Irving? I think Kyrie going back to Cleveland in this case would be absolutely historic, and like that's a storybook ending. Kyrie rewrites, you know, leaving LeBron in the first place. I know Kyrie's in in Dallas, that's where your fandom is, but like what are your thoughts just from a Cleveland situation? Like, if they could pull that off.

SPEAKER_02 19:57

Um it would be storybook. I mean, like, you know, I it would be incredible. I really don't think uh I really don't have much else to say. I I mean like that'd be cool. Obviously, I'd love to keep Kyrie Irving around, but you know, um that could technically work. I'm I'm I'm with you there.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

So I don't know. I'm I mean because LeBron would play point, you would have Mitchell, you would have Kyrie who's a pseudo point guard. Like there's a bunch of ball handling, right? And then you still have Mobley and Allen, you have Stru, Sam Merrill. I mean, I that is a very good team. Yeah, so and I do think LeBron, I think LeBron wanting to like if it's not Kyrie, I mean I do think Harden not being there and kind of letting LeBron orchestrate it will help Mitchell a lot, but also just help Mobley and Allen because LeBron's still one of the best passers in basketball. Um and you could just see the difference even when he was on the Lakers last year, like Austin and Luca were great playmakers. Luca's one of the best, but it adds another level when you have a guy like LeBron that can also post up fine guys on lops, find guys on cuts. Like I think that would that make everybody's job a lot easier, and it'd be super hard to double team that team.

SPEAKER_02 21:10

Yeah, no, I I I think uh you can make it work, but but if LeBron came, there would have to be adjustments made, whether that's Harden, whether that's Allen. You can't keep that team the way it is because they won't win. I Harden and LeBron together, I think, is the worst potential fit you could possibly imagine in basketball. So I I just I don't see that at all.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Yeah, and you know, with that too, like it like it doesn't make sense from a defensive standpoint. Like like LeBron guarding threes scares me in general, right? At this stage of his career. Harden guarding anyone in general scares me. Then you're asking Donovan Mitchell to be this point of attack defender he's never really been. That scares me. Like, like, where's the defensive point of it? Like, they still have Schroeder, but Schroeder's not like a lockdown, and you don't want to start Schroeder if you're a legitimate title contender. Like, what do you think? They could get some of that defensive point of attack because they have the rim protection, right? But they don't have a lot of perimeter defense.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

You got to get some wings, man. I don't know if that's like a a Trey Murphy, like you know, I don't know. You get you got to get a wing that can play defense because they simply don't have one. I mean, I think Trey Murphy's the only thing I can think of, but the Pelicans' front offense wants like nine million first-round three scores. So, you know, I mean, like you got to try and see what you can do there, but like, you know, I get a defensive wing. There's plenty of them out there. Peyton Watson, I mean, like, do do what you need to do to go get a guy that can play defense on the wing.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

Yeah. I mean, paying Watson would be hard. They couldn't afford them just because they're up on that second apron. But yeah, you're right. Like, if they could get a Herb Jones, a Trey Murphy, anybody that could just play a type of because I when I look at it, like they need somebody to guard ones and twos, but on offense, LeBron could still be your one. He could be your point guard. So yeah, that that would be clean. I think Cleveland, too, like you said, it it's like more than storybook. Like I said earlier, I think it's the one place he'd just be undeniably like just showered with love. Correct. And I think if it was like his farewell tour, like that's the move. Um, it's my favorite uh destination. If they do the Netflix documentary, I think that would be absolutely crazy. Like if we had like week like two days a week episodes of like like just LeBron getting followed around, and I think that would be absolutely amazing. No, for sure. And the money that would come with it, you know, you you could argue he could just sign for a minimum because the money made from that docuseries would be way more than any team that could pay.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

Yeah, facts.

SPEAKER_01 23:42

Yeah, I'm there. All right. So what's the what's the next team we're gonna talk about?

SPEAKER_02 23:46

Yeah, let's talk Miami real quick. Uh Miami, yes, go back. Another one of another one of uh LeBron's former. Um, I can go and give you my thoughts on this. Um yeah, not my favorite basketball fit, gonna be honest with you. I think that um Bam Atabay and Giannis and LeBron is a bit clunky. Um I also think that Miami doesn't really have that roster filled out yet. So I just I think it would be really top heavy, which top heavy rosters in the NBA simply don't win. That's just kind of the reality of the situation. So um, yeah, I I think um if LeBron wants comfort, peace, and a nice warm beach, this is the this is the place you go. Um if you wanna if if you want to compete and win, I don't think this is the right fit. Like, yeah, it's gonna look good. Like LeBron, Giannis, bam, big three. Who's after that though?

unknown 24:40

Right.

SPEAKER_02 24:40

Like Tim Hardaway Jr., you know, like you don't have anything else. So I think the smarter move for Miami, if I'm talking just Miami, is to properly fill out that bench and fill out that roster around Giannis and Bam. I don't think LeBron's the answer there, but that's my opinion.

SPEAKER_01 24:55

Yeah, no, I I totally agree with you. Like, I think this is probably this is probably fourth on my list of the teams that we'll talk about. Like, I don't think Miami's close enough where there are LeBron age 40, I think it'll be 41 or 42 next year. One of those away where it's like, okay, let's go. Let's go play um New York, let's go play Cleveland, let's go play, you know, Philly, all these uh contending teams in the East where you look at it too. Um, it's so funny. I was looking at the potential starting five. Um, if LeBron would go. So it'd be Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, LeBron, Giannis, and Bam. Absolutely. And from the look of it, no, no, hear me out. It looks crazy, right? But in a lot of ways, it reminded me of lot a lot of the 2020 team when they won with the Lakers. Where you have LeBron just running point guard, Davion Mitchell's that Avery Bradley that's just wreaking havoc. You're leaning totally into defense, Andrew Wiggins is that pseudo Kyle Kuzma, and then you have Giannis is the AD, and then Bam is better than Jael or Dwight that they have. So, like, I think offensively it would work enough, but I think the enticing thing for LeBron if he were to go there is the defensive side of the ball. We're like, okay, we're holding teams to 101 points per game, and we're just gonna rim pressure you to death, right? But at but to your point, like there's just not enough shooting on the floor. Um, does Tim Hardaway instead of Davion Mitchell, do you get enough stops where he could close games with you? Um, I do love that they have Andrew Wiggins, though. I think that's huge for them. Um I thought Andrew Wiggins as well, every penny he got in that uh contract extension, he just got, but you're right. I think fit-wise and offensively, um, this is the worst fit, but defensively, I think this is probably the best defensive team out of all the options we'll talk about.

SPEAKER_02 26:53

Yeah, I um yeah, correct. Defensively, it's great. I just think, yeah, it if you look at that offensive side of the basketball, it's just a very interesting fit. Um, but you know, I'm not gonna rule it out because LeBron likes Miami. I mean, like, you know, it's a great destination. Um, I'd have a lot of questions for Pat Riley if if they did do this, but well, we'll I we'll just have to wait and see what happens there. But yeah, fill out that bench. That that's the only thing I'd say on that.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

And I think the important thing that too is no, like um Giannis was on Neon's uh Twitch stream the other day, and Neon was joking. He said, Oh, LeBron signed back with Philly, and LeBron and Giannis was like, Oh, wait, what? And like you could see there was a genuine like, oh, he wants to play with he wants Bron to come. Yeah, you know what I mean? Um, Giannis has always talked very highly of Braun. He's always said he's my favorite player to watch, what he does on and off the court. Like, this is kind of his position where he's left uh Milwaukee and it's like I can go for some of these guys. Like, when's the next time? Like, if this truly is it for Braun, when can he be when can I ever play with Braun again? I think if Giannis, like you should be a little bit of a fan and try to recruit LeBron because I I do think as much as I think how bad the fit would be, like if you're not you're Giannis, like are you gonna adapt to change? Because Giannis is kind of who he is. Like, Giannis, are you gonna set better screens? Are we like Giannis wants to have the ball in his hands get downhill and just kick out the shooters? Yeah, I I don't know the fit with Ben, because I as great as Bam made strides as a three-point shooter last year. I don't think that's the he's not that Porzingis floor spacer that Carl Anthony Towns floor spacer where you're like, okay, yeah, let me let me dump it out. Um it's kind of like, oh, if he gets hot tonight, cool, we're totally gonna win tonight. But I mean, you're asking a lot from Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, Tim Hardaway, uh Ventecchio, Jovic. Like those are all players that kind of have to have good, decent shooting nights every single night for them to have a chance.

SPEAKER_02 28:51

So uh yeah, I think uh, you know, when you look at like when you look at their depth, obviously they got rid of all of their young prospects for Giannis. Right. So like for LeBron, and I know I feel like I'm repeating myself here, but like for LeBron, if you truly want to compete, like you have to take a deal in Miami that allows you to compete. Like, you know, that that's the biggest thing when it comes to dollars and cents, because right now they're just not there yet. Like, yes, you added Tim Hardaway Jr., you've got Davion, but they're gonna need to make a few more trades just to fill out this roster a little bit. Defensively, I think they're there. Like, I I think they're good defensively, but I think we said this about the Lakers because the Lakers have had some great defensive teams, but I've always said they've got to get some more shooting. Yeah, and that's exactly what they did this offseason. They got some more shooting, got a look, got, you know, they kind of stood pat on. Yeah, you get younger. So it's like, you know, you've got to get some wings around Giannis and Bam and potentially LeBron if you go this route. But I do agree with you defensively that they're there. Um, and yeah, like you know, Fontecchio and you know, Mitchell, like these are guys that like, you know, they're developing, but they can't handle all that pressure right now playing with Giannis, Bam, and LeBron. They're just not thinking they're there yet.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

So well, and to your point to making more trades, like they emptied the clip to get Giannis. Like, I they don't have much to give up. Like maybe Jovich's contract is tradable, but I don't know anybody that's really oh, we need Jovic. Like, I think he's kind of viewed as a negative asset right now. And yeah, like I think it'd be hard. And they only have around $14 million left to spend before they're because they're hardcapped. Correct. At one of the aprons. So like they don't have a lot of like if LeBron to come, you're begging and hoping it's for that minimum. So that's around four million dollars. So then you got only $10 million to to make it happen, and it's just like yeah, and that's that's without including Bronny. You know what I mean? I think whatever team I mean, I should have said that to start this. Whatever team gets LeBron is trading for Bronny. Correct. Yeah, it'll be like one second, two seconds, uh, or it could be a top 55 second, which doesn't convey to anything ever. Um, it will be something of that ilk. So yeah, Bronny will definitely be following LeBron.

SPEAKER_02 31:08

No, for sure. Yeah, I agree. He will he'll he'll be following, and it'll be cool.

SPEAKER_01 31:11

Uh it would be super cool if it is like, and you know, unlike the Philly situation, you we've seen LeBron in a Miami jersey. We've seen LeBron in a Cleveland jersey. We're not seeing him in another jersey where it's like, oh, you're adding that to your to your closet, right? It's like, okay, we we've seen this before. So I think I do think there's a lot to say with that type of stuff because it's like it's like him adding, he already gets like the the whole super team thing and the perception of all that. I I do think adding a jersey he's already worn will go a long way for him. Correct.

SPEAKER_02 31:47

I I agree. Yeah, I certainly agree. I think now now, like now we've talked about the two like jerseys he's worn. Let's bring up one more that would be very intriguing. Let's go ahead and get into Golden State. Uh, give me your thoughts on the Golden State fit.

SPEAKER_01 32:02

Yeah, I mean, the Golden State fit, I mean, it's rumored that he'll only go if Anthony Davis goes and he gets traded. And that trade it would revolve around Jimmy Butler, maybe Moses Moody, who's out probably this year with that uh kneecap injury, and probably some first. So, from a Warriors point of view, it's like, why am I trading for Anthony Davis who's not really that healthy all the time? I'm trading future first when Steph will be retired. Like, I just don't think that's a smart move on the Warriors uh front, and I understand why they haven't made that point with the constructed roster right now. You have Steph, they need a shooting guard, or they have Pajemski, but whatever. I'm not a Pajemsky guy. Um, they have they have Draymond, they have Jimmy, and they have Borzingis. So I think from LeBron's standpoint, we saw this in Team USA, like him and Curry very complement each other's games very well. So I think offensively it would be awesome. You had and you're playing basketball in the system with your best friends. We've all been and played and pick up games, um, Sunday league, where you're on a bad team and you're like you only play for an hour, and you get in the car and you're like, Well, that was a waste of time. I hated all that. Where this situation, and then we've also played where we've played for two to three hours on a good team, and we get in the car after, we're like, wow, what a fun hoop sesh today! Like, that was awesome. Um awesome. And I think that would be him playing with Golden State. It's like I'm playing in this awesome uh Steph Curry, Steve Kerr offense. I'm playing with all my friends and Steph Curry, um, and Draymond Green. Yeah, him and Draymond are super close. If they were to get AD, it's really all his bet best friends. Um, I I do think the fit would be awesome. I I I am super concerned on the age, they'd be super top heavy. But I oh yeah, I mean, I mean, watching them, if they could, I mean, it's always if they're healthy, you know. I hate saying that, but like if they are healthy, that is a team where it's like, okay, Curry's still got enough in the tank, he could go 50 tonight. LeBron's gonna orchestrate the game in a way. You have 80 and Draymond in your front court, which is absolutely insane. I mean, that would be awesome defensively. And if you look at like this playoff run, like you look at a team like the Timberwolves, I would pick the Warriors over the Timberwolves this year. I would take um, I mean, you look at the Spurs, as great as the Spurs were, like, Stefan Castle can't just hug up on Steph Curry because Steph Curry plays without the ball, right? It's not a it's a different type of uh perimeter defense. So I do think there's a lot of benefits. I would just preface on saying they're super old. Curry hasn't been healthy really. LeBron missed 20 games last year, 80s day to day. Draymond is a backspasm away, like they're just a super old team, and that's what terrifies me the most. What's your thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 34:53

Okay, um, I have a much deeper thought on the goal of state fit. All right, I'm gonna propose a question to you.

SPEAKER_01 35:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 35:01

Um, we're all we're all big NBA guys. If Magic and Bird at the end of their career decided that they wanted to team up, what would you say? Like, see, look, look, look, look at look at this right now.

SPEAKER_01 35:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:14

See this? You know what I'm saying? If Magic and Bird at the end of their career decided they wanted to team up, would you would you be down for that or no?

SPEAKER_01 35:21

I wouldn't.

SPEAKER_02 35:23

See, here's so here's my point with Steph and LeBron. Okay, cool. You're friends, you won an Olympic gold medal together. I think that's great. Yeah, you and you went to drink like you, you're all you're all at the weddings together. Cool. On the basketball court, us as NBA fans were blessed of four straight years of this, and four straight years of LeBron and Curry going head to head, literally, like with deep hatred in their hearts for each other because look at this. Hating each other. They hated each other. Yes. So it's like this is what, like, you know, and I'm not I'm not for hatred or anything like that. That's not what I'm saying. But what I am for is competitiveness. I'm for what we're literally what we're watching right now. And so it's like, you know, this is what makes the NBA special is competitiveness. So if I look at it from that perspective, I don't want LeBron to go to Golden State because I feel like that just tarnishes that four years of legacy of LeBron versus Steph Curry. And here's the block right here in game six. Talking shit. LeBron's a toxic mess. You know what I'm saying? Like you know, it's just gonna be all right, we're best friends, and yeah, we won the gold medal together. It's like, you know, I will this is what I want to remember. You know what I'm saying? When I think of LeBron and Steph Curry, I don't want to really think about them playing together. But that's just my opinion on that. Let's actually talk about realistically if it did happen.

SPEAKER_01 36:39

Well, well, just just to add on to that, LeBron and the whole 2016 Cavs just you know had their whole 10-year reunion and they looked like they were having the best time of their life. You don't think they talked about them playing against the Warriors? Oh, yeah, 3-1, talking big shit. Like it's not like as yeah, yeah, go ahead. Yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_02 37:01

This is the this is the legendary game where Kyrie and LeBron both had like 40 plus. I mean, like, you know, they were great. This team really just put it all together to get to make it happen. And then um, you know, yeah, just to talk about the basketball fit, though. So, yes, it would be cool. Um, if it is true, he's only going if AD goes, it's probably not gonna happen because the wizards don't want to get rid of AD. Um, I'm laughing because all they're all they're doing is talking mess, bro. Um, so yeah, so if like, you know, if AD goes, then then cool. You've got AD, Curry, LeBron, and Draymond. I think that's you know, that's a pretty good lineup you can roll out if they're healthy. Um, but you know, uh seeing Steph and LeBron play together from a basketball perspective would be cool. We've seen it in the Olympics, you know. I mean, like, um wouldn't be horribly opposed to it. I just think the legacy thing is the biggest thing for me. Um, do I think they'd win a ring? No, um, I don't. Uh Steph, Steph is just getting up there. I do want to see Steph get one more. I don't think this is the answer, though. I don't think this is the answer to that problem. LeBron's not the answer. Um, and certainly if LeBron wants to win, he's not going to go anywhere near this team because the Warriors lack size, they lack depth, um, and they lack assets. Well, they they have actually they have assets, but you know, um, I don't really see them unloading those for a guy like Anthony Davis um in Washington. They've got those four unprotected, correct? Because those were the ones they wanted to trade three now. Three now. Uh, where'd the other one go?

SPEAKER_01 38:23

Uh Yaxel. They took it with Yaxel.

SPEAKER_02 38:25

Okay, yeah, yes, correct, correct. Um, so yeah, they now they've got three. And um, you know, I just think they need to start building for the future here. Uh, there may be a chance for Steph to get another one. I don't see it, but I don't think LeBron's the answer.

SPEAKER_01 38:37

Yeah. No, I totally agree with you. And and not to make this like a Warriors like podcast or anything, but like if it's not, like, we all love Steph Curry, he's one of the top 10 players of all time. Like, if it's not LeBron, hey, we're a week in a week plus in the free agency. What are you gonna do to make this team better for for Steph Curry? Because now I'm like, they've been so they try to do the whole team two timelines thing. I always thought was the dumbest thing I've ever heard when you have a generational player in Steph Curry. Why did like there was they could have got OG and Anobi, they could have got Pascal Siakam, they passed on both those players. Both those players, one has a ring, one was in the finals last year. Like, I just feel like if it's not LeBron, where's your big move? Are you gonna do the three first for Trey Murphy? But even with Trey Murphy, like, I don't think that's a championship contender. Like, I just feel like they're not doing what they need to do. Like, make what I feel like what I'm trying to say, make whatever move you need to make now, and if LeBron comes, it's a plus, right? But try to do as much as you can to help Steph Curry win before before it's too late. Because I I'm telling you, I just see in like 2033 when Steph's retired and Draymond's retired and Clay Thompson's retired, and they're gonna be bad, and it's they're gonna be like, Well, why don't we try a little harder? Why don't we just give everything for 80 or why don't we try to get LeBron that year? Like, there's gonna be all these like what if questions. I think they're gonna mess out.

SPEAKER_02 40:05

Um, this is my thing. Um, I think it is if the Warriors want to look long term, don't build around Steph. Stick where you are. I think I I honestly like if it means curry and everyone's another one, then fine because you've got those three unprotecteds. I either think I think you use those and you draft. I I I honestly do. I think that is the way that championship teams are built in this league. Yes, you could trade one maybe for a rotational guy that can be a really good piece for you, like a Trey Murphy. But you know, I really think you hold on to these picks. And as far as their decision making, I honestly like this may sound like a hot take. I think they need to trade Jimmy in any way that they can. Um, I thought it was smart for them to trade for Jimmy Butler until five minutes later when they gave him $120 million for two years. That that's the part where I was like, okay, now you have completely hardcapped yourself and you're spending, you're paying a 35-year-old guy 60 million a year. He just tore his ACL. Um, you were successful with him, but not as successful as you anticipated. So it's like, you know, you've you've got to find a way to get off Jimmy because he's not gonna be the same production. Their depth is terrible. I mean, they don't have any size. You lost Looney, and I mean, you've got Misi, but like, you know, you're not tall. Well, you have Porzingis, but Porzingis, you don't know when he's gonna be on the floor. Yeah so um, and then of course Moody just wrecked his knee. Yeah, and um so you know it's just a very odd situation right now, and Steph is just left there sitting like this. I think the Yaxel pick is a great start. I think Yaxel's gonna be a great player in the NBA. Um obviously you're gonna bring back Draymond, but if they didn't, I wouldn't be opposed. I honestly don't, because I think Draymond is a placeholder at this point. There's only so much he can give this Warriors team at this age. Um I honestly think you home grow this basketball team. That's how you did it from the start. That's how you need to do it again. You you you drafted Clay, you drafted Steph.

SPEAKER_01 41:55

I think if that's the case, though, I feel like they should really consider trading Curry. Just because if like, what's the point of having Curry if it's like we're not even gonna be a play-in team or a playoff team? You know what I mean? Like, that's that's the thing. Like, you have all these picks, you have this great player. Draymond's still a top five defensive player, like if he gets to the playoffs, like I love Draymond, but like on a night-to-night basis, you can't ask him to guard Jokic, Wemby. No, um, he's too old for that. All these centers, like, I think he'd get a stop. We saw when they played the thunder, like he was awesome against Shea, right? But they they need a lot more size, they need to reevaluate how they even build a roster because I love Yaxel, right? But I don't think Yaxel's ceiling is too much higher than what it is now. He's a 24-year-old work uh rookie. You know what I mean? So I think that's where I get scared for the Warriors, and then they they're down two starters, like you said, Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler. I think to get off Jimmy Butler's contract, they're probably gonna have to attach it first, so then you're down to two first. Yeah, unfortunately. And then I'm like, okay, yeah, Moses Moody. Like, they're I think they're they're in just a hard situation right now, and then I'm super concerned for them. I I really am.

SPEAKER_02 43:12

Why 60 million though? I never understood that.

SPEAKER_01 43:15

Well, and and and when they traded for him, they knew that's what he won because that's the whole reason why he wanted out of Miami, because they wouldn't pay him. So, yeah. I don't get it. I don't get it either. Because my whole thing is to like to your point, like, if they didn't give it to him, what was he gonna do? Make shit awkward, and then who was he gonna get it from? You know what I mean? Like, yeah, exactly. He wasn't gonna get that money from anywhere else. I feel like there was a little there was some bad thing on their part.

SPEAKER_02 43:42

That's why I think they just should not have pulled the trigger. Like, if Jimmy Butler was below 30, I'd be like, give it to him. Fine. Right. We saw what we saw what Jimmy was from age 30 to 35. Awesome. Taking my two finals, like, you know, sure, that's fine. But like 35 years of age, there was already injury history going into that. Trade, I mean, like, I don't know, that just felt like a panic move, and it did not, it is not panning out at all, and it's it's hardcapping their ability to spend as well.

SPEAKER_01 44:08

Yeah, and and you know, it'll work, but I thought they had one of those runs where it's like, oh, we're playing after the trade deadline, our schedule's weaker, we just won 18 out of our last 20 games. Like, I didn't think it was actual real, real um, like substance, and then even before the Jimmy Butler injury, they were ninth in the West last year, midway into January, right? Or December. So like they weren't like this, oh my god, it's working, this looks amazing, right? Uh-huh. Like it's just one of those things. But I do think for an old guy to go play with his friends, Steph golfs, LeBron's in the golf now, Draymond is his bodyguard. Um, you see the embrace with AD, him and AD are super close, with or without AD. I think it'd be super special. But back to what I was saying at the beginning, Warriors fans don't like Braun like that, especially what you were showing, those four years battling with Cleveland. No, if you're gonna do a farewell tour, you're not gonna be showered with love. They're gonna shower Steph with love.

SPEAKER_02 45:14

LeBron is responsible for ruining the greatest Warriors team ever assembled, literally ruining that. And like, you know, I that's why I'm saying, like, again, I don't want to see Magic and Bird together. I don't want to see, you know, Kobe and KG join forces. And like, you know, I don't want to see Dirk and Tim Duncan. Dirk and Tim, you know what I'm saying? I don't want to see these rivalries join forces. That's not, you know, I don't want to see Westbrook and Bede play together, you know. Right. No, I'm good. So it's like that that's kind of my argument there, but you know, intriguing option, probably not gonna happen, but still worth talking about.

SPEAKER_01 45:51

Yeah, no, um, yeah. So if you had a rank them, so you had Cleveland first, we're in agreement there, you had Philly second, correct. You had who do you have? Miami, Miami. So Miami third. Okay, so we have the same orders, yeah. And then Golden State. And then Golden State fourth. So yeah, I mean, if you're LeBron, you're looking at all these teams, you're whiteboarding it out with Rich Paul, you know, whatever team you go to is gonna get Bronny. Yeah, hey, I mean, he's not in a rush, like these teams aren't gonna do anything to not have him sign there, right? Like, they're not gonna make some dumbass trade where it's impossible for LeBron to go there and jeopardize that. But like, I think if you're a team like the Timberwolves, who is rumored to be in on him, um, like those that that that's a team where I'm like, I can see the fit, but it's like LeBron's not going to Minnesota. Like, let's be real honest. Like, he's not sorry, Wilder. He's not going to Minnesota, but uh yeah, but yeah, like LeBron, he can he can wait till late July. Yeah, he's got time. Early August. He has time. I don't think that'll happen, don't get me wrong, but I think we'll have an answer in the next week or so. But yeah, I I do think whatever it is, he has the right to do whatever he wants. I do think this should be his last year. Um, he posted him on the golf course the other day. He looked gray as shit. I was actually shook by it. Um, and but if it it's hard for for a guy that just won a first round series without his two best players next to him um against the Houston Rockets. Like, I understand why he wants to keep playing, he still has it in him. And if you pair him with the right people, like why not him? Especially in the Eastern Conference. Like, I love the Knicks. I think they got worse losing Mitchell Robinson. And I mean, that's all they lost, but I thought Mitchell Robinson was a big loss for them, right? And I mean, we talked about the Kawhi situation earlier. I think that's an awesome team. If but it's always a what if with Kawhi, right? Like there's I think there, I think the Cavs just made the conference finals. I think if you add a LeBron, if you can somehow get something for Harden and not have Harden, I think that's a good team, right? I think their bench needs to be improved. Um they have Jason Tyson, right? Is that his name? Jordan Tyson.

SPEAKER_02 48:12

Jordan Tyson, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:13

Um, he's good, but they have Dennis Schroeder.

SPEAKER_02 48:18

Yeah, just straight it for him. He's been on half the league.

SPEAKER_01 48:21

It's it's a team you could get behind, right? And I just think I just keep coming back to the point where it's like this is the only team where he'll be undoubtedly showered with love. Um I remember years ago, someone told me when LeBron went to the Lakers, it was a discredit to the league because um when he would play on the East Coast and then he would be on the primetime game, that he would play first, so everybody would just naturally stay and watch the the second game instead of waiting for that. Yeah, then he's the last one. Yeah, exactly. So they skipped the first one, exactly. So I think this would help a lot with like just TV revenue, MBA, um everything.

SPEAKER_02 49:03

So yeah, I mean, every game at Cleveland would be a must see TV. I I'd I'd fly out there and go to one myself, you know, honestly. So I I'd be down for it. I think, and I'll bring up this one more thing. I do think the jersey matters. Um, because we look when we look at some NBA players and like when they're washed where they go, it's like you know, you don't remember them for those places. Like, I think the best example is Michael Jordan. We don't remember Michael Jordan as a wizard. We'd like to forget that he was a wizard. So it's like I think wherever LeBron goes, I wouldn't like to be like, oh yeah, I remember LeBron as a Cav, my uh a Miami Heat, and a Laker. Yeah, then he was a Sixer, but we don't talk about that. Yeah. Or like then he was a warrior, but we don't talk about that. I'd like to be like LeBron started in Cleveland, went to forge his own destiny, came back to Cleveland, went out to LA to do his thing, and finished it off where it all started. I think that's the best, I think that's the best way. Or if he's just like, I'm gonna go finish it off in South Beach and you know, do it my way, cool. But like, you know, I think finishing it in Cleveland would be absolutely historic.

SPEAKER_01 50:00

Yeah, no, 100%. Last question, non-historic, like heartwarming, like good, good vibes. What do you think out of those four teams is the best to just win the championship?

SPEAKER_02 50:13

Philadelphia. Okay, yeah, it's Philadelphia. I mean, like, you know, pure basketball, delete everything else, Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_01 50:20

Okay. Yeah, cool. Yeah, no, I I I'm I'm torn between Philadelphia and Cleveland, but I do think it's like Philadelphia is by far the most talented. They're just loaded. Yeah, they're just they're just absolutely loaded. I just get scared of the embi factor, but I do think in the regular season you wouldn't have to really worry about it. I think of uh four of Brown, Braun, VJ, and Tyrese, that is that is a handful to guard on a nightly basis offensively. And you know, year two, VJ, who knows what he looks like. Um, so yeah, I am excited. Umce LeBron you know picks his decision, we'll probably end up going live, we'll do something like that. Um, I'm planning on going doing a live either tomorrow or Saturday, just talking about tonight's Darren Peterson versus AJ, just some of the first rounders that we'll see. Darius Acuff versus Keaton Waldo.

SPEAKER_02 51:16

Shout out Morez.

SPEAKER_01 51:16

Shout out that that's my guy. Uh, you know, that's my guy. Shoot, man. Hey, hey, listen, I'm there. He looked good tonight, boy. He looked good. I'm excited. I think him and Cooper, oh god, and Kyrie, they're gonna be a monster, dude. If we get if they could get lively back running and jumping again, I mean, I saw that that lively video kind of scared me, but yeah, yeah. If he's good to go, I don't know. We'll excited. But yeah, we'll be here. We're gonna talk some summer league. Um, Ben's actually going out to summer league next week. Yes, sir. Um, behalf of SBC. If you guys are ever looking to do anything in the sports NBA industry next year, you guys should totally consider doing sports business classroom with Bobby Marks. It's one of the most life-changing things you'll ever do. It was super fun. It's how Ben and I met, and we've done this podcast for over a year now. So it's uh it's an amazing experience for sure. But yeah, as soon as Bron has that decision, we'll be here. Break it all down. Um, comment below on the YouTube channel. Let us know your thoughts on where you think LeBron should go. Um, you know, keep keep subscribing. I you guys are are subscribing away. I am absolutely astonished on the growth we made in the past two weeks, and I am honored with it all. Thank you, Ben, for joining me today. And as always, we'll see you next time. Peace and job bless.

SPEAKER_02 52:45

Have a good one.