Welcome back to another edition of Unplugged.

The NBA season has come to an end again.

Shout out to Okac Man.

We've had the Draft since we last sat down.

Free agency is on the way.

So the one thing I love about the NBA, and I think what's helped its growth over the last handful of years, is just almost like and I said, it's almost like a reality TV show.

Once the season ends, there's so much movement and talk and we still steal headlines from other sports that the fun has just begun.

I know there's gonna be a lot of movement already.

KD to the Rockets love it.

There's gonna be more explosive movement, as Sean said a couple of weeks ago.

But I'm excited for that free agency officially starts Nady.

It used to be July first, now it's the sixth.

I remember a quick story my last year in Clippers, when we let Houston come back three to one.

Me and Doc almost fought in the playoffs because he was on some bullshit.

And when I tell you I got traded is tomorrow the first So I got traded tonight in twenty fifteen, ten years ago, tonight at like twelve two am.

I was the first motherfucker out of there, gone me for uh me for Lance Stevenson, and then Lance ended up in motherfucking Memphis with me later that season.

It was crazy.

I was pissed.

But anyway, Gino, the neighborhood hater, we're bad now.

You keep trying to say people don't call you that, but they still do.

LA's find it anyways, finding how you been?

Man off season is starting to move a little bit.

Bron for the first time, opted into his second year.

I know there's a lot of pressure on management.

Finny Smith maybe out Austin Reeves turns down his four for ninety.

They got him on a bargain.

He's gonna get a lot more than that, which Paul is saying.

They're going to make every move strategic from here on out, which they need to.

Bro's going into year twenty three.

What's going on with the Lakers right now?

Where we at?

What's happening?

Oh, a center may be on the way.

Someone that gave himself his own name, dominating DeAndre Aiden, the former number one pick, is rumored to the Lakers.

Man, talk to me, I know this is this year is definitely raising your blood pressure.

Oh absolutely.

Let me Let me just start with Lebrin man like him opted into fifty two million.

That's unlike him to opt into a last year of his contract, which says a lot to me, Like it's saying that.

I feel like he knows Father Time is onunching out his cell phone to him.

Okay, and father Time's been good to me.

It's nothing wrong with meeting Father Time.

No, you know what I mean, He's been great to him.

Absolutely, But I believe this possibly is last year, we hope, you know what I.

Mean, last year, last year with the Lakers, the last year period, last year.

Of his career.

I think this is it for him, Like I don't think.

I don't think he has really any twenty three years man, lot, and we're giving him grace to let him do it here, let's just uh, let's let's move on from Lebron.

Wasn't he an All NBA selection this year?

Second team?

That's cool, bro, it's forty one years old.

He's going to year twenty three.

This is how the LA streets feel.

Yes, and lucas the new sheriff in town.

Okay, I think, yeah, I think I don't think there's an issue with that.

Yeah, I don't think there's that.

But suicide watch when lucat for me?

Yeah you hated Lucas.

Yeah, but I'm ready to buy his jersey now that's my guy now, like we're ready to go with Luke.

I respect when you know you're absolutely I always come back and say, but I'm happy for Lebron.

He's been a great ambassador for for the league, for the Lakers.

But it is time to move on and let Luca run the show.

Now.

We want to win a chip here?

Okay, So how can that happen?

I mean, obviously you need to address this situation in the middle.

They've been soft in the middle for a while.

Is Aiding the answer?

I don't think Aiden is the answer.

But we'll take him, like we need a big on our team.

Can can he come here and have a chip on his shoulder and get his career back moving?

We hope?

You know, can we get him for cheap?

You know that's part of it?

But is he the is he the?

Is he the guy for us?

May hold?

Is he?

Howldes Ayton?

So Aiden is entering the primer's career and I don't talk bad about or like to talk bad about anyone.

But I've just heard a lot of bad things about him from Phoenix from Portland.

You know, guys talk that used to play and it's his energy, his ego.

Some say it's a cancer, But what I will tell you is someone who's twenty six and has.

The talent he has.

If he can get his mental off the court together, I think he could be very valuable for the Lakers, because what's the alternative an aging Horford who's touching forty.

I like him, but he doesn't necessarily bring that middle.

He'll stretch the floor for you, but the Lakers don't.

I don't see that.

Who else is out there?

Richards Brook Lopez is older.

Clinton Coppela had a great run.

I think he's a little bit older, So I think aiden at twenty six, if they can grab him and Lebron runs some game and is just on the mental side, I think he can be a value ad.

Something you've been adamant about so much, and I was Business weekend.

Every time I peek in the group chat you're on Austin Reeves.

What can I say?

Man, I'm not even gonna tell everyone the disrespectful conversation I will tell you how you that's okay, how you compare them to a couple other white players.

Let's just keep it keep let's keep it one hundred thoughts.

So what's Austin?

What is Austin reeves to you?

Let's keep in mind now there's times where he was the leading scorer on this team.

There's a guy that you can throw the ball to him for sure, get a game winning bucket, hits big shots, tough as a motherfucker.

Maybe not the best on defense, but there's not too many people out there that really locking up like what is He has a chance and I don't know if he'll get this to extend for a five for four, two forty six.

I don't know if he'll get all that, but he'll definitely get more when he hits the market.

Your thoughts on him.

Let me just start with ar On.

Fuck with you?

You my guy?

Man, So don't get it twisted.

But I will say this is he untouchable?

That's really how all this he has been.

That's for the team, and I'm not I'm not.

I don't know if he is now because I think this team is in a hurry up mode for we need to try to get the best players around Brown.

But I really name a better third option that could be a two really, you know what I mean?

He could be a very valuable second option because he just doesn't get rid of He's a fucking dog.

I fuck with ar.

But what's the deal?

He has one more year left on.

His deal, turn it down ninety one million from the Lakers.

I mean, that's that's pretty big shit.

We seen somebody do that.

What's his name, Schroeder, right, and it still ain't been the same.

Absolutely, and whether injury or just not able to play at at his height to lose money, I mean, this could fall.

He could fall on this one, and I don't want to see him do that.

I think, barring injury, he'll definitely get more on the open market.

I think there's no question about it.

You know, some people are saying close to two hundred million.

I thought the one sixty to two hundred.

I don't know what the exact numbers are, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's.

Close to May.

It may be a team that's not in contention.

You know, a white stars are valuable, you know what I mean?

He is definitely a white star and said that would all due respect.

So it'll be really interesting to see how this season he is now.

Worth two hundred million in a Laker uniform, which is all that I care about, right, So if we're not talking about the Lakers, I'm happy for him to go get that, but you're not getting that here.

I like the way you spun that, because you've saying a lot of other disrespectful shit off camera.

So I like the way.

You you tightened up, why you bring your personal I like the way you tightened up for the camera.

I like the way you type professional camera.

I see it.

Luca is extension eligible this summer.

He can go four for two twenty nine.

But that's a bad business deal.

The numbers aren't adding up when you look at what Sga is going to get for his extension.

Since going to the Lakers, he lost a lot of money from his original his original situation.

So if he waits, what were we talking about, maybe a two or three year deal signed with the Lakers, and then hit that extension off of that or hit freegency off of.

That the league so you're thirty the cap.

Yeah, it's a bump, right, A five year, nasty work deal.

I'm sure we sold.

I'm sure the team selling the percentage that they sow had something to do with them signing Luca, because I don't know if they were up.

I don't know what they if they knew that Luca was going to sign with us now because he's able to just walk away from there's no question.

I don't think this was a strategic move.

I think they only made this move knowing that this is this is his last.

Stop, absolutely and we have to get Luca on it, no question.

What leads me to new management, new ownership?

You know we're on watch right now because you know the Lakers management situation.

I love all of them, from Linda to Genie.

I want to put this out there Rob.

I know Rob through Cole, but you always hear this.

I kind of like a lot of handshake, buddy buddy stuff, kind of running the plays and the calls up there.

But with new ownership, who's office he tied to Magic Johnson?

Which Magic is tied to Rob?

And the Commander's deal?

Do we smell with the rock is cooking?

Or or am I am?

I crazy to think that Magic could be on his way back to the Lakers at some point with Bob Myers, a fellow Bruin, the great mind behind the Golden State Warriors teams, who's sitting at home just collecting checks, looking good at ESPN and in ownership and NFL.

Like, as a Laker fan, what would you think?

We'd love to have Magic back?

But how are we going to have Magic and Politica colors justing together?

They don't.

Yeah, so until they worked that problem about which they just signed Pulink into a whole bunch of money, right, I don't know.

Yeah, I think he just signed.

He resigned any night, like you just resigned a big contract last year.

Yeah, absolutely, So how are Magic and Gun?

I don't I don't think there is a world contract.

A lot.

Absolutely.

I know you're you're almost trying to sound like business wise.

I like that about but.

I don't want to know what the streets are saying.

Though, No, the streets won't Magic back.

We know what about Bob.

We love to have Bob and we love to possibly like we're kind of tired of point, are you?

Is that what the streets is on?

Okay?

You know because we because we're behind IRB, like we love with IRB.

You love the magic absolutely and everything you touches moves forward to a chip, like I can see what he's doing with Washington.

With the Dodgers, we defern a whole lot of money.

Like I hope we can defer money here too.

That'd be interesting if that ever came into Hell Yeah, hell yeah.

I mean, I know, guys get paid after they retire, but defering the bread that the baseball de first.

Yeah, let's find the Loopo's all I'm saying, you know, and be man speaking of the Lakers since we own that.

Man, you know, guys out here talking crazy about being right now, you know, like all of a sudden, you know, it's what they could have done.

And I'm like, you know, I don't like the injury around the energy around him.

Yeah, man, I saw you.

I saw you made the post Man and it kind of took off.

Men.

What's your feeling on I just don't like the because none of this weird talk was going on while he was here.

And I also think I want to also say something else, like I work for ESPN, I work for Fox, some of these big machines.

When you have people talking about the greatness of players, it's not that I don't respect it.

I just don't go by it.

And I think a lot of former players don't go by it.

You got to listen to what your peers are talking about.

It's crazy how when you look at ESPN, Kobe's always on the outside of ten.

But when you talk to there's plenty of clips on YouTube when you're talking to some of the guys that went to war before or after or with them like he, yeah, coach some Kobe's two, Kobe's three, Kobe's top five.

So my whole thing too is don't listen to there's so many athletes.

And again I'm not saying don't listen to the people outside, because there's some very qualified people.

But when it comes to like legacy and greatness in a sport like I would tend to learn lean towards the players because you see it day in and day out and know what it takes to lace him up every single day and play through what he played through and do what he did.

So I say all that to say, like, there's with the bigger companies and machines and talking heads, there's favorites, there's narratives they stick to, there's dislikes they have, and let's keep it real like before Code died, like he was a hit or miss as far as kind of popularity with some of the shit he had been through and the way he people perceived his energy at times, So there was already a lot of kind of uh.

But I think after he died, like the real one spoke up to speak about his greatness.

But I feel like there's a lot of other people that will speak to stir shiit up.

And it's crazy that it's former players, you know what I mean.

So I just said what I said because like, none of you guys was talking this shit when he was here, and the kudda would it should have and the in the disrespect with the power should have won the five.

Like it's just like, come on, y'all, let's really remember let's look at the numbers and we've all been there with him or against him, Like let's keep the real and obviously this is all opinion based, you know what I mean.

Like to me, Kobe is the second greatest player of all time, agreed period period, like everyone tries to.

For some reason, people want to knock his greatness because he played with Shack, but they don't knock magic greatness when he played with Kareem.

They don't knock Lebron's greatness when he played with D Wade and Bosh.

They don't knock Lebron's greatness when he played with a D.

They they knocked Kobe's greatness because of Shack and he was the rock.

But go look at the fucking numbers, you know what I mean.

That doesn't say Robin to me.

That just says a more mature, older, fucking dominant Shack and a bad young motherfucker on his way.

That's all they told me.

So I was just saying I actually ran into Shade this weekend too, and she kind of gave me a hug.

She's like, I appreciate what yeh she cause she we were at the Yeah, we were at the Where the fuck were we at?

We were at the Uh, I'm tripping?

Where am I at?

Blame it on my the weed, not my heart.

We were at a little hotel in oc because the Twins had a tournament out there, and then she stopped by because her son was playing out there, and she's just like, what was it?

What was the noise about my brother?

She's like, I caught on late, but she thank you.

It's just like and I just told the same thing.

I was like, they wasn't talking this weird shit when bros here, you know what I mean.

So it's just like, why talking now for clicks?

You know what I mean?

If we're debating and debating, like, come on, man, don't be disrespectful if when it happened.

So that's why I just kind of said what I said, bro.

Speaking of the Lakers, got some breaking news here, uh oh, Jordan clarks a contract flyout with the Jazz, looking to sign with a playoff contending team.

Mmmmm.

I like Jordan clarks I think he's a great six man.

I liked Jordan Clarkson.

I don't know what he's done.

I don't know.

I don't know what he's on lately.

It's all I'm saying, you mean on or off the court.

On the court, that's all I don't care about.

Solid Off the court, right, he's been, he's been a bucket in and he's a fucking dog.

He might put his hands up the most ready to scrap for since.

Me put his hands up, but not scrapped.

Don't get it.

It's okay most Yeah, come on, you can't use that off.

The bench with it, Yeah, we get him for cheap, yeah the low.

Yeah, we're getting for cheap.

I can dig you, I can dig it.

Uh.

Moving on, Malik Beasley has the federal allies on him, and once the federal allies are on you, it's a little different than than just ESPN or Fox or all the sports smoke saying some ship like the Boys is on thoughts and now all these little videos are calling.

He looks bad at that motherfucker got a rebound and when Game seven speed it dunked the ball when they was down nine, and.

It looks stressed oh right before?

Yeah, absolutely, he looks stressed out.

The internet doesn't let you play games.

But why you didn't hit me up beat so I could put my money down?

Man?

Anyway, though, what are the I mean?

And let's not take away from how instrumental he was.

They had the Detroit had him on a nice deal last year.

Sixteen points a game, knockdown a gang of threes like he was looking impossible talks and could still be three year, forty two million dollars, you know, to bring him back to Detroit.

But this gambling shit.

Michael Porter junior brother I forgot his name, Johnny go to order.

I don't know, but I mean.

He's out the he's out like these.

I just don't get why.

I don't get it.

Yeah, why do that?

Why because you're getting too much money in this game to jeopardize that.

I can see if feel was back in the day when dudes weren't really making money, you could hit a parlay or whatever the fuck else they called the big licks, and I'd be like, okay, you would.

But dudes are getting bred now.

I'm gonna be honest.

I don't think it'll just come down to him.

I bet you a lot is moving like that across sports because it's easy.

It's easy work you're seeing.

I mean, obviously we're with draftings, all these gambling, all this betting is now legal, and it's people are it's crazy too, Like athletes and student athletes are getting death threats now because they're not covering shit and not playing with It's like, it's a crazy world we live in, So why are we crazy to think that some dudes have been reached out in touch?

And I don't mean that in the funny way.

I mean it in a let's get this outside money type way.

I mean it's a new way man it's easy to gamble.

You do it from your cell phone now, and you just get caught up in that environment.

And I feel bad for him, but man, you risk your career.

Man, you're gonna have to sit in that.

You have to suffer that.

Yeah, man, I hope it's not true.

But again, once the feather are on you, it's a little past speculation.

It's like, Nia, we got this, and don't forget Twitter and Instagram and go investigation.

Worse.

They're probably worse than the Fed, Like get you get a woman this looking some boy?

Don't absolutely man, what's the best man?

Anyone else who's involved in that ship?

I mean you hear the old boy from Miami.

They went to chart from Charlotta.

Rosie man out of game and his game went weird for a man, Like if there's anybody like, cut that ship out, man before it's too late.

Like this, this, this life and this money and this this opportunity is just way too too good to risk on that ship.

CP three, Man, that's your guy.

Man.

My daughter just with him this week too.

Really?

Oh yeah it was.

It was the Cali live out and so all the high school teams.

This is high school in June, so shout out a little CP three.

I saw you got to offer too, man, he's doing it.

Yeah, I'm not mad at that three.

Yeah.

But speaking of CP three, man like, I think I don't think he's done.

Man Like how you feel about your boy, I don't.

Think he's done either, But I think he wants, he needs, he needs to be in California.

I think his last handful of the years, and obviously being so close with him and the twins and little Chris are best friends and we live right down the street from U He's missing a lot of time with the family and I know that's starting to wear at this age.

What is hell does he forty close to forty shout out played all eighty two games last year for San Antonio.

I'm sure he was a great mentor.

For them young dudes, but obviously his priority and let's keep it real, one of the greatest point guards of all time.

I hope there's an opportunity for him to get to an LA team first and foremost, but if not, maybe the Kings.

They already did the Golden State things.

I don't think the Golden State thing is going to happen, but hopefully just get him closer to the family.

Low Chris is sixteen now and has really developed his game, and his daughter's growing up and you know, just the whole family dynamic.

And I know, for me, when I decided to retire out the Blue like, it was because I was missing the kids so much, you know what I mean.

So I just know how hard that shit becomes a job when you're gone half.

The year and you don't live with It's a lot.

Man, what young players do you see out there that he should mentor like Wimby or like you know, a aunt or who you see him mentoring right now?

I mean, we probably have to obviously be a team that he has a chance to play for.

You know, there's rumors that his sons or the Clippers can have a reunite reuniting situation with him.

But cep At like CP is, is weird because he's old school.

He's the going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.

And that's what I was kind of the bridge and on that Love City team with Blake and DJ being so young and CP kind of give him the cold truth, and sometime I'd be like, yo, all he's saying is this.

So I'm not sure what his leadership is like these days, but when I tell you, he's one of the absolute best leaders I've ever played with and been around, and I've been around some great ones.

So man, who, whatever team, it'll probably be a more mentor type.

Obviously he could still play, but it would be more if a team brought him in.

It would probably be for the mentorship and his ability, you know, to still do his thing.

Uh and and you know the minutes he has, So I just want him to end the way he.

Wants to end.

You know, we're seeing the ends of guys that you know, I came in with with Lebron and and CP three, and Kd's on the backside and Stepf's on the backside.

So I think we saw the passing of the torchs this past playoffs, Like all young dudes came and ran with that shit and did what the playoffs did.

So I want all these guys that are on their last hoorah Katie and Houston to rock out.

I want Lebron to figure out his situation.

You're here, the Knicks could be your room.

I want him to rock out wherever the fuck that is.

And be happy.

I definitely want to Seep and Steph and again kind of the guys that they deserve it to be able to go out the way they can.

Moving forward, the WNBA is expanding to eighteen teams over the next so what's that three new teams of the next five years, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia will.

All join the league.

The growth of the game is beautiful.

You're hearing that the game is going to make more money than it's ever made.

There's a lot of debate for what reasons, and to me, I don't really even care about the reasons.

What I care about is these girls are getting there just do The money continues to go up.

People are starting to appreciate.

However, you started watching the game, whether it's Caitlyn Angel, you already knew about the game.

You only started coming to the game because the hyper the negativity around it.

Some really talented women in that league, and I love that.

It's just they're starting to do the thing.

If you think about us after Lebron, Steph, KD like name male or female, that the next biggest athlete has to be winby right, I think it's gonna be Kathin Clark you think, so.

I gotta adm miss she's got she's a baller, like she can play like she she handles the heat like they try to punk her constantly and she just stands up on it.

I would advise her to take boxing classicaluse I know something she might have to throw.

These girls are outrageous.

Ship to her, absolutely, but she'd be talking the ship out there too, like it.

But hold on, she has a bodyguard now over there.

She handled it like what's her name name?

Oh yeah, pretty bro.

Yeah, I like that.

I like that, and that's why I'm watching.

Yeah, guys just smoking the game now.

Women have a lot, probably more smoke than the men, to be honest with you.

But for some reason, when we start finally paying attention, I say we as everyone's kind of watching now, like, oh it's a big deal, Like I love that ship.

Talk your ship.

Oh yeah, push them throwing if you have to, that's part of the game.

But they got to make I think they have to have more games per season, Like I think it's time that I.

Think expanding teams, and but you it's you know, they got to take capture their window too.

So it'll be interesting to see if if they do expand, but I think adding more teams that the growth is inevitable.

And you know whether that's financially or more games.

And shout out to Andrews.

She's been making a lot of noise lately, breaking records left and right.

I'm excited.

The season has been fun, So Gino, I appreciate your time.

Man.

I wish you and the Lakers and and and Geno for the streets the best, and we'll have to follow the news.

I appreciate you.

Yeah, No, no.

Gms and teams with bad moves of late.

I think there's a bigger magnifying glass on teams now with so much player movement and decisions they make, from Luca to the Aaron.

Five teams have done well and teams have done poorly.

So we're gonna touch on a few of these teams real quick.

But I also want to know what you guys think down in the comments, So this is going to be an open discussion.

Don't custom me because I'm an cuss back.

I'm just gonna tell you you got to be fucking up.

They be shadow banding my Instagram now because I have to respond to some muting I'm playing.

But GMS in the league, whether we want to say worst bad moves management.

Let's start with the Bulls ran by Holy how you say that?

Name our tourists in the GM, Mark Everageley since twenty twenty, so pretty much five years in the front office, ero top ten picks, one playoff appearance with one win.

This is the definition of kind of you're just floating in the middle, so you're not really able to get better.

You're good enough to be kind of be at that bottom, but not bad enough to be getting valuable picks.

They've lost They've recently just traded a Lonzo Ball for a corps in Cleveland.

They've also lost ach Lavine, DeMar Derozen and Caruso for Giddy.

Right, yeah, Giddy solid, but Caruso impacts winning more than Giddy does.

So, uh, we'll have to see what's going on and how much longer those two gentlemen that are making decisions over in Chicago will be around.

But let me know what you guys think that.

Could you just speak to what it is in the NBA being in the middle of the pack and how that's like, not that you either want to be great or you want to be terrible.

Yeah, being it's it's it's messed up too, because that is exactly what they just said.

Do you either want to be a really good team or you want to be bad and try to build stock at the bottom and at draft picks and opportunities and being the lottery.

But being right in.

The middle is just like on your your your your mediocre, so you don't give yourself a chance to win or advance in the playoffs.

And then again, you're not giving yourself a chance to advance through the draft.

And that's where Chicago's been sitting for a while.

So it's a nasty place to sit.

Uh, it's been a while since these guys have been good.

And that's a you know, it's a landmark franchise.

It's the house that MJ bilt.

So we're gonna have to see how much longer, uh that situation will be going on.

Uh.

Moving on to the Suns, which is great fan base, one of the best places in the United States to live.

Matt Ishbia has came in and taken over ownership and and we know the moves that have been made over the last handful of years with you know, bringing in kd uh, bringing in Bradley Beal his contract.

You know, James Jones, who did a very solid job for seven years, has kind of transitioned to a different office position.

UHIA has brought in Brian Gregory, who was a coach, an assistant coach, doesn't have a ton of obviously, player management.

Maybe that's the wrong word, because when you're a coach, you play, you manage players experience as far as GM and moving guys.

Uh he was an assistant coach when ish Bia was at Michigan State, so he's keeping that in the family.

But it's just gonna be interesting to see, you know.

Obviously, this Bradley Beal situation.

I mean, he's got two years left on his deal.

I don't know if you can buy that out.

But I think both sides are unhappy with that.

KD broke free and was able to go to Houston.

And I feel bad for Book because Book is a loyal dude to his core.

I know that about him and he wants to ride this wave.

But hopefully management, for the sake of him and the sake of that city can can put some stuff together, put some stuff around him, and have the ability to get back in those winning conversations.

And if you go take a look at the Sun's roster right now, it's and I don't mean nasty, but like nasty players, but it's not They're not positioned out.

They got a bunch of two guards and they have big fours and fives, like there's no point guards.

There's no you know, threes on that team.

So they have a lot of work to do this off season with not much flexibility.

So we'll have to see how Phoenix does with that movement.

Obviously, moves they've made in the past to get the Kevin Durants and the Bradley Bills have left them really handcuffed when it comes to the draft until twenty thirty two.

Twenty twenty six, no first round picks, twenty seven a swap you get the worst pick of Utah, Cleveland and Minnesota twenty eight similar but it's Brooklyn, the Knicks and the Wizards twenty nine, no draft picks at all, thirty you get a swap with the worst picks again with the Wizards in Memphis twenty thirty one, no first round picks.

Twenty thirty two, they finally get their own first round picks, so management has their work cut out moving west and this hurts my soul.

The Sacramento Kings have been the bulls of the East ninth.

That's fucked up.

I'm Ron Burgundy.

I'm just reading what's on the prompter.

That's Cole the bulls of the West, the Kings, you know McNair.

If you think about what the Kings have done, and I'm not even saying that the Halliburton, the Halliburton situation, that trade had to be made, and I remember they were back and forth.

To be honest with you, a lot of people wanted Deer and Fox to go, and when Halliburton left a lot of people were surprised.

I was actually working for the team at the time on the broadcast.

But if you think both those guys are gone, now, what do they have to really show in young capital.

Obviously they got some older players now that you know that are a little bit older, that aren't obviously the same younger players they were before.

So obviously out goes Moni McNair and incomes Scott Perry, who I like.

I think Scott Perry was with the magic right with the Knicks before they started popping.

But I haven't you know, you normally hear stuff, and I haven't heard too much negative.

I actually no negative about him, so hopefully that situation over their works.

You're hearing some bonus baby on the move this offseason.

I don't know what you do.

You got some aging guys and DeRozan and Levine that's still got some left in the tank.

But you know, as far as that seems constructed, they don't have enough to get over the hump or really make.

Noise in the Western Conference.

Shout out to my man Doug Christy who's the head coach over there now and brought my man Bobby Jackson back, so they got ebony and Ivory over there.

Salute to my dogs.

But yeah, we're gonna have to see what this what Scott Perry comes in and does.

Because the Kings fans are some of the greatest.

What is that one playoff appearance in twenty years?

It's been bleak out there and Sacramento ain't got nothing else or they got the A's right now, I got to get out there and check a A's game out.

If you look back with the Kings, I mean they missed I think obviously the first one of the bigger first miss that come to mind is obviously Phoenix and Sacramento choosing DeAndre Ayton and then Marvin Bagley respectively over the third pick Luca and then Deer and Fox a high draft pick nothing in return.

And then Halliburton, what he's been able to turn into arguably top five, top seven guard in the NBA, led his team to the finals this past year.

And and hope you get wetter better.

With the Achilles tear bro So, Sacramento's in in some ugly places right now, but hopefully they can rebound and get it back together.

It's been a minute, but we're hoping.

The Mavericks.

Nico and DeMont.

Fans have been all over Nico, but now they're starting to see the vision what some fans are thinking.

Somehow, I don't know how, somehow the Dallas Mavericks, with all that talent and giving up one of the best players in the world, bounce back and get the number one pick.

That's crazy.

But we're not even going to talk about that.

We're going to talk about it's pretty much.

Man, it's his job not to fuck this up.

Now.

You know, you got to get Kyrie healthy.

Ad will be back.

You get a young they're saying generational talent.

I love to see it.

I love Cooper Flagg's motor.

I love what he does on the defensive end.

I think he's going to bring a lot to that team, a very versatile player, and I don't know what the limit for him is.

I think the sky's the limit with his talent, his motor, and his skill set.

One other bad.

Thing, and I've been talking, I've been calling Phoenix on their bullshit.

And another thing that came out recently that the mav workers were stiffed playoff bonuses, which normally goes around the league gets traditioned, playoff money gets cut up, staff and staff gets money.

Then normally players, we cut our playoff money up and pay the people we need to pay.

But it was recently reported that the MAVs stiffed people on playoff bonuses, which is another representation of bad business.

So management's job in Dallas is just not to fuck it up.

You guys got a lot to work with for the sake of the city, for the dudes on the team, man management, get it together.

Let's see what you guys got.

You know, obviously, with guys or excuse me, workers being stiffed, their bonuses is keep in mind what Mark Cuban did.

Mark Cuban threw thirty five million dollars out there and split it up like Mark Cuban built that from the ground up and treated people the right way and was rewarded with the championship.

So the ownership has got off to a tough start, but I hope they're able to rebound and move forward.

Last, but not least, the Pelicans.

What's up with Zion is he's staying?

Is he going?

Du Mars is over there now running things.

They recently traded CJ.

McCullum and Kelly Olennok for some future second round picks in Jordan Poole, Sadek Bay and Micah how you say his last name, Pevy?

Forgive me bro in the fortieth overall pick in the twenty twenty five draft that just passed.

Interesting situation.

Jordan Pool over there now, my guy Willie Green.

I think the reason and people are saying, how come Willie Green still there?

I think the reason why they haven't fired Willie is because they know they haven't given them shit to work with.

To be honest with you, like, there's been a lot of inconsistency and players in and out and guys not playing and guys being hurt.

And Willie is a good dude, think of a solid coach, and I think they're trying to put some stuff so he can really if they could see, if you know, what he could really do.

So it's gonna be interesting to see what's going to happen.

Troy Reaver was brought in by Joe Dumars and someone who was with them over in Detroit, so two, you know, great basketball minds over there.

DC guy.

There's been some DC movement obviously with the acquisitions they've made.

So I want to know what's going to be up with Ion this year.

I mean, I think this is I mean, we think every year is a big year, but something needs to happen.

He's looking in shape.

I hope he's healthy.

O'b be interesting see if he's on the move at some point.

They're saying a lot of big names can.

Be on the move.

So Zion has only played in two hundred and fourteen games out of a possible four to ninety two in six season, which is forty three percent.

Has this run come to an end?

Do you stick with them?

I don't know, because when he's out there.

He's a bad motherfucker bro.

I might even lie to you.

He's a twenty and ten guy, and I feel like he's still is learning how to play the game.

This is just pure athleticism, speed and strength.

I think he's super talented, but the best ability is availability, and that's something he hasn't had.

But this team has talent.

I mean, you look at Zion, Trey Murphy, Irb Jones, Deshon Tay Murray coming back, Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, the seventh pick.

There's some talent over there.

So I hope, somehow, some way, for the sake of my boy Willie g and just being a fan of Zion, that they're able to fit figure that out.

So some franchises have been struggling of late that I hope, you know, they're all able to bounce back and be contending in the next few years.

But that shit ain't easy.

And that's why I've been saying with all these new ownership, teams are going like crazy of late, I hope there's a little bit of hangover from a standpoint of people just think they can come in with no experience and run franchises and build winners, and that shit is not an overnight success.

There's no more three star dominant teams.

You need depth teams are built now, homegrown draft picks, great trades, and a lot of these owners need to take notes before they jump in and just think they can do what they want to do because it's their team and they got a lot of money.

The New York Knicks made waves this weekend, obviously, with the coaching vacancy still up in the air, they reached out to the great Don Staley, which I think would be incredible for the game.

One of the hottest seats in sports.

But she's a proven winner on and off the court, which she's been able to do in her career in obviously coaching.

So I'd be really interesting to see if the league What is that?

What was what was the movie called with Woody Goldverer with the NIXT coach.

That shit was good and it had all the NBA players in it, Eddie, Eddie, And I'll mean that in a disrespectful way.

It just it just reminded me that I love the movie.

I'm sure I would love if Don Staley got the opportunity.

So we will see what happens with the next situation.

But that's a wrap for this week's plug.

You can catch us on all the Smoke Productions, YouTube, and the DraftKings Network.

We'll see y'all next week.