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00:00One game in the association tonight, Joe, 8 p.m. start.
00:03Minnesota Timberwolves on the road to take on the San Antonio Spurs.
00:072-2 series, best of three to see who's going to advance to take on OKC
00:11in the Western Conference Finals.
00:13This line opened up, Joe, at a minus 10.5 point spread.
00:16We still sit, as you see the graphic, at minus 10.5,
00:19and a total up slightly from 217.5 in the opening number to 218.5.
00:24Wemby's going to play tonight.
00:26Double-digit favorite for the Spurs, Joe.
00:28What is your spread line tonight here?
00:30T-Wolf Spurs.
00:31Well, we'll start with the injuries.
00:33Interestingly enough, De'Aaron Fox has landed questionable in this game
00:38for San Antonio.
00:40He will see what it's going to be there.
00:44But, you know, you also have Ant-Man there also has had some questions
00:48about the knee.
00:49But, listen, him and McDaniels are playing nearly 40 minutes a game
00:53over the last couple of games.
00:54So it's clear that injuries are no injuries.
00:57The Timberwolves are going to leave it all out on the court.
01:00They're going to need it here tonight with Wemby back on the road in San Antonio.
01:05This thing is hovering around 10, 10.5,
01:08and it looks like it's pretty much split down the middle at this point.
01:11I think the total is interesting, Donny, because that thing has been bet up
01:15from 216.5, 217.
01:18Now we're seeing 218, 218.5.
01:20And outside of that game one, Donny, every one of these games has gone flying
01:24over the total.
01:25We've got a lot of overs so far in this series.
01:29And it would not shock me.
01:30It feels like this is more offense.
01:32Everyone thought this was going to be about lockdown defense.
01:36All of these games have landed in the 220s.
01:39It feels like we're going to have another one of those here tonight.
01:41Joe Ranieri, Donny, right side, right here.
01:43Early line for a Tuesday morning on the Sports Grid Network.
01:47Topics flowing in.
01:48And Joe, sometimes we say to ourselves,
01:49the NBA can be more entertaining off the court
01:52than actually on the court.
01:54Sham Sharania yesterday sends out a tweet.
01:56How about this, Joe?
01:57The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls
02:00and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo
02:04entering the NBA Combine over six weeks away
02:07from the draft now at this point.
02:09We've heard all along they're open for business.
02:11He wants to be traded.
02:13He says publicly he doesn't want to be traded.
02:14Behind the scenes, he says he wants to be traded.
02:16Then comes back out and says he doesn't want to be traded.
02:19Now the business is open.
02:20And also, let me ask you this question.
02:22Does Giannis Antetokounmpo get traded here
02:25before draft night upcoming?
02:29Well, I mean, that's what Jimmy Haslam said, right?
02:32You know, that, yes, that Jimmy Haslam,
02:34you know, the Browns fan.
02:35Yeah, yeah, he's in charge of basically
02:38what happens to Giannis.
02:39How's that working out?
02:40He said he wants it all resolved right before the draft.
02:43All right, there you go.
02:45Now's the chance.
02:46They're open for business.
02:47Now the question is, what are they asking
02:49and what is it going to take
02:51in order to be able to get it done?
02:54And this is going to be interesting here.
02:56I think that Giannis,
02:59will he sign an extension with a new team?
03:02Because that is the question
03:04because that's going to determine
03:05who's in and who's out with this.
03:07It's not as easy as just,
03:09ah, train him or he's good to go.
03:11Giannis has got a lot of money coming his way soon.
03:14And what teams can afford him
03:15and are willing to write that check?
03:18And by the way, I understand this too.
03:20He's been injured quite a bit over the past couple of years.
03:22But also, they win a championship
03:24when he's in his prime.
03:25I mean, it feels like the organization did everything wrong
03:27to try to put a great team around them,
03:29tried superstars, tried free agents.
03:32Nothing worked here.
03:33And now it looks like his time with Milwaukee is up.
03:36The question now in Philadelphia is,
03:37Joel Embiid's time up in Philadelphia.
03:40Now understand this.
03:41Most people look at that Sixers roster and say,
03:43Joel Embiid is an aging guy at this point,
03:45even though he's in his early 30s.
03:46Big men age incredibly quicker
03:48than let's just say shooting guards
03:49or power forwards at this point.
03:51But understand this.
03:52In the NBA during your timeline,
03:54it's like, when are you going to maximize
03:56on that contract and be in the middle of it?
03:58Joel Embiid had many years here.
03:59Second round exit after second round exit.
04:01Injured at all the wrong times.
04:02And now you look forward and say,
04:04is prime Joel Embiid moving forward
04:06for the Sixers, Joe, playing 30 games a year?
04:08And you go, oh, we'll save him for the playoffs.
04:10He's going to miss one to two games
04:12every single playoff series
04:14because he's just not durable enough.
04:15And how do you get around that?
04:17But the issue in the NBA,
04:18unlike other sports, Joe,
04:19you got to match contracts up
04:21to get equal value back,
04:23which is kind of stupid.
04:24So if the Sixers go, Joe,
04:25let's blow it up and move on from Embiid.
04:27You got to take like $60 million a year
04:29in contracts back,
04:30which are probably expiring contracts
04:32for aging bums,
04:33when it's usually trash for trash.
04:35The Sixers and Joel Embiid are married,
04:38at least for another year and a half
04:40to two years, Joe.
04:42Yeah, and I mean, listen,
04:44I wouldn't be pulling the fire alarm here.
04:46I mean, let's not forget,
04:48two seasons ago, Donnie,
04:49you won 24 games, the Sixers did.
04:5224 and 58, it was embarrassing.
04:55You kept Embiid, right?
04:57You retold, you got some young guys in there,
04:59you retold it.
05:00You won 45 regular season games.
05:02You went from 24 wins to 45
05:04and made it to the second round
05:05of the postseason.
05:07And you did it still without Embiid
05:09for a lot of the regular season.
05:12And of course,
05:13with the appendectomy and everything else,
05:14you know, I think that's a huge success
05:18from a year ago.
05:19I think now you,
05:21like you said,
05:22he's not going anywhere.
05:23You're married to him.
05:24So you better figure out
05:25how to put the pieces around him
05:27in order to be able to compete.
05:29I thought they did a very good job
05:30of doing that this year,
05:32but that's never going to be enough
05:33for Philadelphia fans.
05:34And by the way,
05:36understand this also.
05:37You look at the Knicks roster
05:38and James Dolan
05:39and Madison Square Garden.
05:40They built a team
05:41with superstar players
05:43in their starting five
05:44and spent $50 million
05:46over the cap in luxury
05:47to fill out their bench.
05:49Now go back to Philadelphia.
05:51Very good starting five.
05:52Sold everybody
05:54to stay under the luxury tax.
05:56And you might say,
05:56man, I can't believe it.
05:57Yes, the Sixers lost.
05:59When you are $50 million
06:00in payroll,
06:01better than the next team
06:02and spending to win,
06:03you're going to beat teams
06:04that go,
06:05we're only playing five guys
06:06because you have no money
06:07for our bench at this point.
06:09Come on, Sixers.
06:10Step up to the plate
06:11or maybe Josh Harris.
06:12Like, hey, man,
06:13what a great investment.
06:13We're not going into the tax.
06:14Just put more money
06:15into my back pocket.
06:17It's the way it is here.
06:18Got a video here, Joe.
06:19Bryson Graham discusses
06:21getting the fourth pick
06:22in the draft.
06:23Where are we spending it, Chicago?
06:24So, like,
06:25let's not sit here and say
06:26because we have the fourth pick
06:27and all of a sudden,
06:28like, this franchise
06:29is like, it's back.
06:30You know what I mean?
06:31But this is just
06:31a good opportunity
06:33to add high-level talent
06:35to our group
06:36and build this,
06:37and like I keep saying,
06:38layer it, you know,
06:39appropriately.
06:39And so, it's exciting, man.
06:42I can't believe it.
06:42I just got the job
06:43and I got the fourth pick.
06:44This is crazy, man.
06:45This is crazy.
06:48I'll tell you what
06:49is crazy out here.
06:50That team's stinking
06:50at basketball
06:51since Jordan left
06:52in a major market
06:53that loves basketball, Joe.
06:56Well, you know,
06:57I love the honesty, though,
06:58and I love the authenticity.
07:00The guy's like,
07:01listen, just because
07:02I got the fourth pick
07:02doesn't mean we're going
07:03to win 60 games this year.
07:04Like, everyone's settled down,
07:06but hey, you know,
07:07it's, we just cleaned house.
07:09We get to start from scratch.
07:11And I got news for you, Donnie.
07:13Every draft, you know,
07:14mock draft I'm seeing,
07:16yeah, you know,
07:17could be Boozer going there,
07:19and they know a little something
07:20about the old man Boozer
07:21there in Chicago.
07:22So, they might have,
07:24they might have landed
07:25the best spot here
07:26on the board.
07:27By the way,
07:28if you are selling
07:29season tickets for teams,
07:31you never sleep on it, Joe.
07:32Why?
07:33Because you never know
07:34when a sale could be available.
07:35But I think the approach
07:36is wrong here for the Clippers.
07:38So, we get a tweet here
07:39from Ed Martinez.
07:40It says,
07:40the Clippers ticket reps
07:41never stop living
07:43that grind life.
07:44Take a look at what he said.
07:45Hey, Eduardo.
07:46This is Kurt with the LA Clippers.
07:48I don't mean to reach out
07:48on Mother's Day,
07:49even though you did,
07:50but we just landed
07:51the fifth overall pick
07:52in the lottery
07:52for the first time since 2009,
07:54the year we drafted
07:55Blake Griffin.
07:56So, he's reaching out saying,
07:57do you want to re-up?
07:58Because since they got
07:59the fifth overall pick,
08:01everybody wants tickets.
08:03Now, you know what
08:04a better approach would be?
08:05Be a used car salesman.
08:06Reaching out to your Mother's Day.
08:08We're slashing the hell
08:09out of these ticket prices
08:10and I want to give you a deal.
08:12It looks like now,
08:13it's like,
08:14hey, by the way,
08:14ticket prices are going up
08:16for a team that never does anything,
08:17doesn't win anything,
08:19is sure to disappoint.
08:20We can't tell you
08:21whether or not Kawhi Leonard
08:22is even coming back,
08:23but we got the fifth overall pick.
08:25Tickets are going up here.
08:26You might as well get in now.
08:28Well, I think it was probably safe
08:32to assume that, you know,
08:34he's not a mother.
08:35Jump on a call.
08:36So, yeah, I'm assuming
08:38sending it on Mother's Day,
08:39really, I think he was safe there
08:42for that one.
08:43But also, listen,
08:44the Clippers have,
08:45they have not been in the basement
08:47in a long time.
08:48They've been perennially worth watching.
08:51It is LA.
08:52They're going to sell out.
08:53I mean, and by the way,
08:55I like what the Clippers have
08:57going into next year,
08:58and I think getting the fifth pick
09:00from Indiana is priceless,
09:03and I think they can add
09:04to what's going on.
09:06I mean, they got Garland.
09:07They're going to have Kawhi back
09:08because they just opened up
09:09another tree company,
09:10so he's going to be fine.
09:12They've got a lot of very good pieces there
09:14where the Clippers did,
09:15and they got rid of the dead weight
09:17in Harden.
09:18So, I'm okay with the Clippers
09:20moving into next year.
09:22How about the Clippers
09:23probably going to court, Joe,
09:24and saying, you know what?
09:25We should get an NIL together here
09:26for the Clippers,
09:27like name, image, likeness.
09:28Like, hey, attach Kawhi
09:30to a tree company.
09:30We can pay them $40 million more,
09:32and that will excite her.
09:33How about this?
09:34You're going to pay
09:35for your season tickets
09:36as if you're a Florida Gators fan.
09:37We want $100,000
09:39as a donation
09:40for the right
09:41to buy your tickets here,
09:42which will then help us
09:43improve the pay coaches,
09:45assistant coaches,
09:46and players
09:46just a little bit more.
09:47How about the Knicks?
09:48They're getting paid well.
09:49They just smashed
09:50the Philadelphia 76ers.
09:51And here's Brunson
09:52talking about the Knicks.
09:54Jalen,
09:55I know you don't love
09:56talking about yourself,
09:56but this franchise
09:58has recently started winning again.
10:01The time that you got here,
10:03I think 47 wins,
10:0550 wins,
10:0551,
10:0653.
10:06They'd only won 45 once
10:07since 2002.
10:09Is it surreal to you
10:12just how your career
10:14has played out
10:15in being able to help
10:16turn around a franchise
10:17that obviously very historic
10:19but hadn't always won
10:21and is now kind of known
10:23for its winning
10:23as opposed to just
10:25the city it plays in?
10:28I think that's a question
10:29I would love to answer
10:31once I retire.
10:35this place means
10:36a lot to me.
10:37And
10:41we're still writing
10:42their story.
10:43So
10:45I'll answer that
10:45another time.
10:47I'll write the story.
10:48You'll probably be competitive
10:49in your next round.
10:50They get smashed
10:51by OKC
10:52in the finals here, Joe.
10:53Just the way it is.
10:54Go New York,
10:55go New York, go.
10:57Hang something in the rafters?
10:58Yeah.
10:59You might end up just hanging
11:00a championship out of this year.
11:01Maybe you don't.
11:0272 forever, people.
11:04We'll be back.
11:05Holding home court advantage
11:06very important in sports here
11:08and you saw it last night, Joe.
11:09We now have a 2-2 series
11:11in the NBA Eastern Conference.
11:13Why?
11:13Because the Cavaliers
11:14won 12-103 victory
11:15over the Detroit Pistons
11:17last night,
11:18tying that series up
11:19at 2-2
11:19before going back
11:20to Detroit.
11:21Donovan Mitchell
11:22with an absolute explosion
11:24in the second half.
11:25Finishes
11:26with 43 points
11:27in the Cavaliers' victory
11:28last night, Joe.
11:30Good,
11:32because he was nowhere
11:33to be found
11:33in the first half, Donnie.
11:35It was kind of
11:37laughable,
11:37but
11:39who had
11:39Karis LeVert
11:40at 24 points
11:41last night?
11:42Not me for Detroit,
11:44but it looks like
11:45finally Cade Cunningham
11:46had one of those games
11:47where he wasn't
11:49the center
11:49of the offense
11:50for Detroit,
11:51but the disparity
11:52between free throws
11:54was huge
11:56in this game,
11:58so much so
11:58that the Pistons
11:59even called it out.
12:00Donovan Mitchell
12:01had more free throws
12:02than the entire team
12:04for Detroit,
12:05and Detroit's
12:06not a jump-shooting team.
12:08They're taking it
12:09to the basket,
12:09they're taking it
12:10inside the paint,
12:11so it's going to be
12:12interesting to see
12:13if the home whistles
12:14continue in this series,
12:16but so far,
12:17if you can't win
12:18a road game,
12:19you're going to have
12:20a problem winning
12:21this series.
12:22Talked about
12:22prediction market's edge
12:23yesterday.
12:24Could James Harden
12:24get to that 20-point
12:25plateau after scoring
12:2619 points?
12:27He did,
12:2724 points last night
12:28as well.
12:29Player props
12:30cashing all the way around,
12:31but a 2-2 series here,
12:32you know who's the big
12:33victory last night?
12:34Not necessarily
12:34the Cavaliers, Joe,
12:35it's actually
12:36the New York Knicks
12:36getting that rest
12:37while this series
12:38goes extended time here,
12:40but also,
12:41let's take a look
12:41at Donovan Mitchell
12:42and JB post-game
12:43from last night.
12:44Go back in the locker room
12:45and read Twitter
12:46or something like that
12:47about your first back
12:47and got into you
12:48in the second half.
12:49What was it?
12:54I haven't been on Twitter
12:55in so long, Chris.
12:58No, I just told the guys
12:59like, hey,
13:00I wasn't getting downhill.
13:02Still, like I had
13:03in game three,
13:04you know what I mean?
13:05Sure, yeah,
13:06I scored a lot of points,
13:07but just trying to find ways
13:08to get early offense
13:11and the shots started to fall,
13:12but just kind of
13:12maintaining my stuff
13:13and the biggest thing
13:14was just trying to
13:15create a vengeance
13:16wherever I saw them
13:16for the group
13:17and not force things.
13:19It's unacceptable.
13:21It is.
13:22We didn't do enough,
13:24obviously,
13:24to help ourselves
13:25and I'll start there,
13:28but ever since
13:30we came to Cleveland,
13:31the whistle has changed.
13:33There's no way
13:34that one guy
13:35on their team
13:35shoots more free throws
13:36than our team.
13:38We're not a settled team.
13:39We're not a jump shooting team.
13:40We drive the ball,
13:42attack the paint.
13:44So what was done
13:45out there tonight,
13:47it's frustrating,
13:50but we can't allow that
13:52to be the reason why
13:53because we didn't play
13:55well enough
13:55and play to the best
13:56of our capabilities,
13:57but again,
13:59you look at the foul count,
14:00you look at the disparity,
14:02and that's hard to overcome
14:03and you wonder,
14:04you know,
14:05the reason why.
14:07It's interesting,
14:08you know,
14:08since Kenny made his comments
14:10publicly about,
14:11you know,
14:11us,
14:12the whistle's changed
14:13in this series.
14:15You know,
14:15it's hard to overcome,
14:16Joe,
14:16having to lead at halftime
14:17then coming out
14:17for the third quarter
14:18going to beat 38-21
14:20on your way
14:21to another loss there.
14:22The Cavaliers,
14:22as we said,
14:23Joe,
14:23evening that series
14:24is at 2-2,
14:25but last night
14:26they had a doubleheader
14:27in the association.
14:27The second game
14:28was the Thunder
14:29and the Lakers.
14:30What would we get
14:31out of the Lakers?
14:31Well,
14:32they were competitive.
14:33They didn't win.
14:33They got the cover,
14:34but OKC,
14:35a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers
14:38and LeBron James
14:38moves on to the Eastern Conference
14:40finals,
14:41Joe.
14:42Yeah,
14:42I mean,
14:43listen,
14:43it was,
14:44they left it all out there.
14:45The Lakers gave everything
14:47they had.
14:47They didn't get run
14:48off the court.
14:49They didn't throw the towel
14:50in like the Sixers did
14:52and down three games
14:53to none.
14:54Yeah,
14:55they made OKC work.
14:56But again,
14:57this was such a lopsided series
15:00just simply for the fact
15:01that the Thunder
15:02have so much more depth
15:03than what the Lakers have.
15:06I mean,
15:06the Lakers are rolling out,
15:07you know,
15:07guys that just should not be
15:09in a round two
15:10of a playoff series.
15:12So LeBron did everything
15:13he could.
15:14But again,
15:15now the question
15:16is going to turn from,
15:17all right,
15:18what do you do now,
15:19Lakers,
15:19to is LeBron coming back
15:21for another year?
15:22And he didn't know
15:23last night either.
15:24Let's hear from him
15:25right now,
15:26Joe.
15:26Let's see what he's got.
15:27Well,
15:27I think you guys
15:29asked me about it
15:30and I've answered questions.
15:31Yeah,
15:32I don't think I've come out
15:32and was like,
15:33oh,
15:33retirement is coming.
15:34Yeah,
15:35so,
15:37I mean,
15:37what about future?
15:38I don't know.
15:39Obviously,
15:39I mean,
15:39this is obviously
15:40we're still fresh
15:41from,
15:41you know,
15:42obviously losing,
15:44you know,
15:45and I don't know.
15:47I mean,
15:47I don't know
15:48what the future holds
15:48for me,
15:49obviously,
15:50as it stands
15:50right now tonight.
15:52I got a lot of time.
15:54I'll sit back,
15:54like I think I said
15:55last year after we lost,
15:56I think to Minnesota
15:57to go back
15:58and recalibrate
15:59with my family
16:00and talk with them
16:01and spend some time
16:03with them
16:03and then when the time
16:04comes,
16:05obviously,
16:06you guys know
16:08what I decided to do.
16:10All right,
16:11let's understand
16:11this point
16:12of that question here.
16:13Now,
16:13I've always been steadfast
16:14on this,
16:15There's no way he's retiring
16:16because when you are
16:17a superstar player,
16:17you play that long,
16:18you want a season
16:19to let the people know
16:20and you want your flowers.
16:22It's not just going to come out
16:22with a press conference
16:23in two weeks saying,
16:24I'm hanging it up
16:25and I want to be an NBA owner
16:27at this point,
16:27but also understand this,
16:28Joe,
16:29second part of that equation
16:30comes in.
16:31If he does play,
16:32Joe,
16:33is it going to be in LA?
16:34I don't think that's the case.
16:37I don't think so either.
16:39I also don't know
16:41that he's going to play here.
16:42I really don't.
16:44You got to lock it out
16:45between now
16:46and the start
16:47of next season
16:48and if it's not LA
16:51and if it's not Cleveland,
16:53where's he going?
16:54Who's he playing for?
16:56The Wizards?
16:58You know what the interesting
16:59part about this is too,
17:00Joe,
17:01is LeBron James
17:02has more money
17:03to say like God
17:04out here, right?
17:05It doesn't like,
17:05oh,
17:06everybody wants to make more,
17:07don't get me wrong,
17:08but LeBron James saying,
17:09all right,
17:09I'm still market share here.
17:11Wherever I go,
17:11I want to get paid.
17:12Like if he really wants
17:14to win rings,
17:14like he could go,
17:16Joe,
17:16on a veteran exemption
17:17for like $5 million
17:19that doesn't account
17:20against a team's cap
17:21and go right away
17:22and say,
17:22you know what?
17:23I can be that third
17:24or fourth option
17:25in your starting lineup
17:26and, you know,
17:27help you win a championship,
17:28which will help me
17:29technically in my legacy,
17:30which people will not.
17:30Oh, he's just,
17:31he's riding for championships
17:32at this point.
17:33So for me,
17:34it'll be very interesting
17:35where he does go
17:36because let's just say,
17:37I don't know,
17:38Joe,
17:38Giannis gets traded
17:39to South Beach
17:40and LeBron goes,
17:41I'll go back there
17:42and you know what?
17:43I'll take 5 million bucks
17:44and we'll build a roster
17:45with Pat Riley,
17:46make one more go round
17:47at this thing
17:48or he can do the,
17:50well,
17:50I'll go here
17:51and I want $30 million
17:53because I want money
17:54and my legacy
17:55is not going to equate
17:55to any more victories.
17:58Yeah,
17:58it's not.
17:59And listen,
18:00the problem with the Lakers
18:01is they're going to have
18:01to pay Reeves now.
18:03They've got Luke on.
18:04They got a lot of money
18:05going to be tied up here
18:07with a couple of guys.
18:08Are they really going to
18:09drop that kind of money
18:10to bring LeBron back?
18:12Can they afford
18:13to bring LeBron back?
18:15I don't know.
18:16You're going toe-to-toe
18:17with OKC.
18:18That looks like
18:18it's going to be a dynasty.
18:20LeBron is going to win
18:20anything in the Western Conference.
18:22Maybe he moves on.
18:23More hot topics next.
18:25Come on now.
18:26Who's not having fun
18:27here on a Tuesday morning?
18:28Rise and grind,
18:29rise and shine,
18:30have some fun.
18:31It's the early line.
18:32Man,
18:32it sounds tremendous right there.
18:34Put that on a t-shirt.
18:35DRS Joe Ranieri.
18:36Kevin Walsh joins us
18:37early.
18:38And by the way,
18:39Glass is back on today,
18:40which you know
18:41he means business.
18:43Love to see it.
18:44Absolutely.
18:45Couldn't go two in a row.
18:47People would actually start.
18:48I assume you're like,
18:49yeah,
18:50Kev got his eyes fixed.
18:51At some point,
18:51I'm going to get a phone call.
18:52Like,
18:53Kev,
18:53you know what?
18:54We're really happy
18:54that you decided
18:55it was time to move on
18:56from the glass.
18:57We're like,
18:57what?
18:57No,
18:58I can't see.
18:59I need those.
19:00Now,
19:01you know,
19:01you've really got to
19:02shake things up.
19:03Go to the clear glasses
19:04there,
19:04Kevin,
19:05as opposed to the
19:05darker ones here.
19:06That'll really get some
19:07phone calls going,
19:08but phone calls are going
19:09to be placed in the
19:10offseason.
19:11I need to start here.
19:12Now,
19:12granted,
19:12your boy DRS told you
19:13to take the Lakers
19:14last night.
19:15Nobody wanted the Lakers.
19:16They hung around,
19:16but just like the Lakers
19:17do,
19:18let's be really competitive
19:19until when the game
19:20means something
19:20and fold up shop
19:21and get beat 115 to 110.
19:23But yesterday,
19:24we played a clip
19:25from this morning,
19:26Kevin,
19:26about LeBron James
19:27talking about
19:28what's the next steps
19:29in the process
19:30at this point.
19:31So it's fresh.
19:32It's a hot topic.
19:33The Lakers did get swept here.
19:35Forget about what that means
19:35with LeBron's legacy
19:36and where he sits
19:37with Michael Jordan.
19:39What's his legacy
19:40with the Lakers,
19:40which I saw you tweet out,
19:42and also,
19:42what does this mean
19:43moving forward?
19:45Yeah,
19:45he saved this franchise.
19:47There's no other way
19:48to describe that.
19:49People think
19:49because they won
19:50a bunch of championships
19:51before he got there.
19:51That's not true.
19:53They were the worst team
19:54in the NBA
19:54for a half a decade.
19:55They were pathetic,
19:56embarrassing,
19:58consistently drafting
19:59inside the top three,
20:00not because the lottery
20:02was rigged for them,
20:03because they were awful,
20:04horrendous,
20:05and he saved them
20:06from obscurity.
20:07They were driven
20:08into the ground.
20:09We don't have to get
20:10into all of those specifics.
20:11And quite frankly,
20:13they still ran
20:13incredibly incompetently.
20:15They didn't land
20:16Anthony Davis.
20:18LeBron did.
20:19That's how this works,
20:20right?
20:20Lay GM,
20:21he makes all the decisions?
20:23Well,
20:23then make sure
20:24when you hang the banner
20:25for one or two numbers
20:26for him,
20:27not only give him credit
20:29then for AD,
20:30give him credit
20:30for Luka Doncic,
20:31you can give him
20:32all the demerits
20:32for Russell Westbrook
20:33that you want,
20:34but make sure
20:35you also give him credit
20:36for apparently
20:37finding a podcast partner
20:38who also,
20:40two years into
20:40his NBA career,
20:42is two for two
20:42on 51 seasons
20:44and postseason appearances.
20:45So LeBron has given
20:47this Lakers team
20:48more quite frankly
20:49than he should.
20:50I was desperate
20:51for him to leave
20:52this offseason
20:53because they simply
20:54didn't deserve
20:55this season out of him.
20:57They got it.
20:58He gave them
20:59another series victory
21:00while for,
21:02again,
21:03the actual
21:04supposed to be
21:05best player on the team
21:06wasn't there
21:07in Luka Doncic
21:09in this instance here.
21:11I hope LeBron leaves.
21:13I don't think
21:13the Lakers deserve
21:14to see the final stages
21:16of his career
21:17because I think
21:18he still would like
21:19to have his
21:20number one priority
21:21be winning a championship
21:22and the Lakers
21:23have proven
21:23that is not close
21:24to their number one priority.
21:28Well,
21:29if it's not the Lakers
21:31and I mean,
21:31they got to sign Reeves,
21:33they got a lot
21:33of other things
21:34they got to do here.
21:35Is it Cleveland?
21:37Is it,
21:37is it the Warriors?
21:38Like where,
21:39where does he go
21:40if he goes anywhere?
21:41I think Cleveland
21:43is a,
21:44a decent favorite
21:45over the,
21:46over any other team.
21:48It's just,
21:49it,
21:50it checks every box,
21:52right?
21:53Like he doesn't
21:54then have to get
21:55a fourth franchise
21:57kind of on his resume,
21:59right?
22:00Cozy up to a new fan base.
22:02He will forever
22:04be the greatest Cavalier
22:06of all time
22:07and
22:09they seem like
22:10they can't get
22:11over the hump
22:12without him
22:13and
22:15if you put him
22:16on that team
22:18with or maybe
22:19more likely
22:19in replacement
22:20of
22:21James Harden,
22:23I think the Cavs
22:24will be seen
22:25as one of the
22:26first or second choices
22:27to win the Eastern Conference
22:29next year.
22:29I do think
22:31the Knicks have,
22:33I think the Knicks
22:34are on the board
22:34assuming they don't
22:35win the finals.
22:36If they win the finals,
22:37they're not an option.
22:38He's not Kevin Durant.
22:40And I know you could say
22:41that they lost the finals,
22:42you know,
22:43the year Katie went.
22:44Yeah,
22:44they also won
22:45the year before that
22:46and then won 73 games.
22:47So I think the Knicks
22:49are in the mix.
22:49I don't want to see
22:50LeBron go to Golden State
22:51for a million reasons
22:54that we probably
22:55don't have time for,
22:56but I think the Cavs
22:57are the favorites.
22:58I think the Knicks
22:58are the second team
22:59on the list.
23:00And understand this as well.
23:02Like I was also trying
23:03to like level
23:04what LeBron James
23:05is going to do.
23:06There's no,
23:06he's not retiring here
23:07because he's earned
23:08the right to say,
23:09I'm going to retire
23:10at the end of the
23:11following season.
23:11I want my flowers here.
23:13I want to make
23:13those round trips.
23:14I want to make sure
23:14everybody is there
23:15to see what I'm going to do.
23:17But also understand this,
23:18Kevin,
23:18the NBA is a business
23:19and so is LeBron James.
23:20He's got billions
23:21of dollars now.
23:22He's going to end up
23:22owning an NBA team.
23:23He's going to have
23:24an unbelievable,
23:25you know,
23:25media career
23:25once it's all said and done.
23:27But answer me this question.
23:28You're not getting
23:29a 40 plus year old
23:30LeBron James.
23:31It's like,
23:31hey man,
23:32I can be the ninth player
23:33on your team.
23:34Just let me ride.
23:35I'll give you five minutes
23:36a game.
23:36Just let me try to hang on
23:37for another ring.
23:38LeBron James last night,
23:39once again,
23:4040 minutes,
23:4124 points and 12 rebounds,
23:43which means he's going
23:44to go to a team
23:44and be a quality starter.
23:46I don't care how talented
23:47that team is.
23:48But Kevin,
23:48the question I need
23:49to ask you is this.
23:50Is it LeBron James
23:51going like,
23:51well, yeah,
23:52man,
23:52I'm box office.
23:53Two years,
23:54a hundred million dollars.
23:55That's what I want.
23:56Where's LeBron James go?
23:56You know what?
23:57I could go to the Knicks
23:58who win luxury tax hell
23:59and take a $5 million
24:01veteran waiver
24:02that doesn't even count
24:03against the cap
24:04and will win championships.
24:05How does he approach
24:07the next stage
24:07of his career
24:08if he doesn't retire?
24:10So as far as
24:11the financials go,
24:13the way that this
24:14awful cap works
24:15is sometimes guys,
24:16Donnie,
24:17could go from making
24:1835 million
24:19to 5 million
24:20and save teams
24:21absolutely nothing
24:22in terms of cap space.
24:24You can save money
24:25on luxury tax bills,
24:26but quite frankly,
24:27who cares about that?
24:29And I think the difficult
24:30thing for LeBron
24:31is,
24:32Donnie,
24:33at 41,
24:33in theory,
24:34he's not supposed
24:35to be worth max money.
24:36Well,
24:37Austin Reyes is going
24:37to be getting max money
24:38this offseason.
24:40LeBron's better than him.
24:41That was on display
24:43all postseason long,
24:44in my eyes,
24:45all regular season long
24:46as well.
24:48And here's the other
24:49piece of it
24:49that is going to,
24:52I've been prematurely
24:54bothered by
24:55for like two or three years
24:56and I know that
24:57that's a reflection
24:57on me a little bit.
24:59Let's just live
25:00in the world
25:00where LeBron
25:01takes the veteran
25:03minimum
25:03to join the Knicks.
25:06How do you think
25:07that decision
25:08will be discussed
25:09on this show?
25:11Right?
25:12Oh,
25:12he's cooking the books,
25:14ring chasing,
25:15two million dollars,
25:16all that,
25:17like,
25:18that's what's going
25:19to happen
25:20if he,
25:20because nobody
25:21actually thinks
25:22that LeBron
25:23is only worth
25:24a vet min,
25:24right?
25:25A vet min
25:26is for Chris Paul
25:27on like not working
25:28retirement tours
25:29and I don't know,
25:31maybe Al Horford
25:32at the end
25:32of his Warriors tenure.
25:34Like,
25:34LeBron is worth
25:35a lot more
25:36than a veteran
25:37minimum right now.
25:39What do you mean?
25:40LeBron's not going
25:40to get sent home
25:41in Atlanta?
25:41Hey, kid,
25:42catch your own
25:42commercial flight home.
25:43Don't need me anymore.
25:45That's coming tonight
25:46with Gabriel Morenci
25:47on GTD,
25:486 p.m.
25:48on the Sports Grid
25:49Network.
25:50We'll be back.
25:51Now,
25:51let's see what the people
25:52are digging on.
25:53It's our fave
25:53to public poll,
25:54Joe.
26:04Easy, people.
26:05Easy as it gets.
26:06We asked a question
26:07on a Sports Grid account.
26:08Should LeBron James
26:09play another season
26:11in the NBA?
26:12Simple,
26:13easy.
26:14He's not retiring
26:15one bit here.
26:16I hope so
26:17for the haters.
26:18It's time for the haters.
26:19I don't like him
26:20for the haters.
26:20He can't retire.
26:227.1%.
26:23Yes,
26:24I am fading
26:25the public,
26:25Joe.
26:27Yeah,
26:28I,
26:29it's so hard,
26:30Donnie.
26:31It really is.
26:31Like,
26:32part of me thinks
26:32he's just going to have,
26:33like,
26:33a movie deal.
26:34He's going to open up
26:35a studio or something
26:36and, like,
26:37he's going to be good
26:37to go,
26:38but it's,
26:41it just feels like
26:42they're,
26:43I don't know how much
26:44more he wants to deal
26:44with it,
26:45quite honestly,
26:46but I don't think
26:47it's going to take
26:47as long to find out,
26:49Donnie.
26:49I think we'll know
26:50sooner rather than,
26:51you know,
26:52just before the season.
26:53So it's like,
26:55Aaron Rodgers here,
26:56but I tend to agree
26:57with you.
26:57Let me ask you a question
26:58on this,
26:59Joe,
26:59right?
27:00What's going to happen
27:01first here?
27:01Is there a calcium
27:02marketplace for this?
27:03Aaron Rodgers commits
27:04to the Steelers
27:05where LeBron James
27:06commits to coming
27:07back to the NBA
27:08one more season?
27:09What happens first here?
27:11Oh,
27:11I think LeBron
27:12way more than Aaron Rodgers.
27:14I don't think
27:14you'll find Aaron Rodgers
27:16before LeBron
27:17makes the announcement.
27:18For me,
27:19Joe,
27:19last night,
27:20I took 10 and a half
27:22points as a home team.
27:23That was the Los Angeles
27:24Lakers.
27:25They were getting 12
27:25and a half by game time.
27:26Didn't matter,
27:27covered that spread.
27:27Tonight,
27:28Joe,
27:28there's another 10 and a half
27:30and I'm laying it tonight
27:31with the San Antonio Spurs
27:33taking on the Minnesota
27:34Timberwolves.
27:35Wendy will be back in.
27:36That line opened up
27:37at 10 and a half,
27:38still sits at 10 and a half
27:40despite only 35%
27:41of the ticket count
27:42coming in
27:43on the San Antonio Spurs.
27:45It's a public fade
27:46tonight with a favorite.
27:47Let's go Spurs
27:48by 11 plus points.
27:50Let's go Rays.
27:51Just win the game.
27:52Let's go 2-0,
27:53Joe,
27:53which would mean
27:54a 4-0 start
27:55to the work week here.
27:57Let's do it,
27:58Donnie.
27:59I love that play
27:59because,
28:00yep,
28:01time to get a little
28:01trendy dog
28:03out of our system.
28:06Prediction Markets Edge
28:07next on the early line.
28:09Stay tuned.
28:10Prediction Markets Edge
28:11on the early line.
28:12It's a Tuesday.
28:13More fun here.
28:14We got so many hot topics
28:15to get through,
28:16so many games
28:17to get through
28:17and a different way
28:18to invest your money.
28:20From sports books
28:21to the prediction markets.
28:22We got you covered
28:23on the early line.
28:24It's time to get started,
28:25Joe,
28:25giving the people
28:26what they want.
28:27Yeah,
28:28I mean,
28:28listen,
28:29we're getting to that point,
28:30Donnie,
28:30where we'll have
28:31some opportunities
28:32for some hedging
28:33or doubling down now
28:35in some of these
28:35predictive markets
28:37in the postseason.
28:38We still have two games,
28:40two series,
28:41that are tied 2-2.
28:43Which one has the value here?
28:45We got a lot to go over
28:47here today.
28:48The Knicks
28:49and OKC
28:50sitting back waiting
28:51going,
28:52take your time,
28:53other series.
28:54We're going to rest up
28:54and get ready
28:55for our finals run here.
28:57But Joe,
28:57there's always that term.
28:59If you can't beat them,
29:00join them.
29:01Let's use it right now.
29:02Front Office Sports
29:03sent a tweet out.
29:04DraftKings and FanDuel
29:05are pushing further
29:06into the prediction markets.
29:08Critics say
29:08their market-making moves
29:10show there is a,
29:11quote,
29:11house in prediction
29:13market trading.
29:15DraftKings,
29:15FanDuel,
29:16trading markets.
29:17How about that?
29:20Don,
29:21it is,
29:21I mean,
29:22they've been talking
29:22about it forever.
29:23I think they just
29:24kind of held off
29:25to see what was
29:26going to happen
29:26in the courts,
29:28if anything was
29:29going to happen there.
29:30But now that
29:30professional sports leagues
29:32are partnering
29:33with predictive markets,
29:35it's not going away.
29:37So you either,
29:38if you can't beat them,
29:38Donnie,
29:39you might as well join them
29:40and the market is real.
29:42And yeah,
29:43there's going to be
29:44a lot more
29:45coming up here.
29:46There is.
29:47Dustin Galker
29:48sent out a tweet here.
29:48Combos and parlays
29:49are close to becoming
29:50a third of Kalshi volume.
29:52Here is the mix
29:53of volume
29:53by market type
29:54over the trailing
29:56seven days here,
29:58which is exotics
29:58and combos.
29:59Effectively,
29:59Joe,
30:0085 to 90%
30:01of volume at Kalshi
30:02is still sports.
30:03If you hear someone
30:04say sports
30:05as a category
30:06is decreasing,
30:07nonsense.
30:09Oh no,
30:10it's just,
30:11it's growing
30:11and it should here.
30:13But again,
30:14the key
30:14is don't treat
30:16the predictive markets
30:17like a sports book.
30:19There's a lot
30:20of better avenues
30:22and markets
30:23that you can
30:24very quickly
30:25double,
30:26triple your bankroll
30:27here if you do
30:28it the right way.
30:29By the way,
30:30Dustin Galker
30:31going to appear
30:31today on the
30:31Sports Grid Network
30:33in the noon hour
30:34with Craig Misch
30:34on Newswire.
30:35Make sure you check
30:36out all the latest
30:36information coming
30:37out there and get
30:38even more information
30:39on these predictive
30:40markets.
30:40Let's flip it over
30:41to the games
30:41on the court tonight.
30:42I told you,
30:43Joe,
30:44I like those Spurs.
30:45They're going to take
30:45on the Timberwolves
30:462-2 series tied
30:47back to San Antonio
30:48we go 8 p.m.
30:51Standalone game.
30:52Love to see that here
30:53and a heavy favorite
30:54for the San Antonio Spurs.
30:56Wembe will play
30:56in this game.
30:57No suspension
30:58for the elbow
30:59of all elbows
31:00in the last game
31:01which had an ejection
31:02and showed the Timberwolves
31:03the light
31:04to win that game.
31:0576% chance
31:07here currently trading
31:07here on Calci
31:09for the San Antonio Spurs
31:10to win this game.
31:11But if you look
31:12at the 10.5 points show
31:13which I do like,
31:15how about this?
31:16Win by 11
31:17for San Antonio.
31:18It's plus money.
31:19$100 investment
31:20that pays back
31:21$205.
31:22Get it done, boys.
31:24Yeah, it's interesting,
31:26Donnie,
31:27because we've seen
31:28now, you know,
31:30San Antonio
31:30did win one game
31:31rather easily, right?
31:33Game two,
31:33they bounced back
31:34after a slow start
31:36in game one.
31:37They won that one
31:38rather easily.
31:39You know, game three
31:40was closed
31:41for a little while.
31:42It feels like
31:43these games
31:43have been a little bit
31:44closer than what
31:46the markets
31:47have portrayed
31:48San Antonio
31:49to be this big juggernaut
31:50and run over everyone.
31:52But where they've
31:52really missed the boat,
31:54Donnie,
31:54is in the totals.
31:55Because outside
31:56of that first game
31:57where we were still
31:58trying to figure out
31:59who was hurt,
32:00who wasn't,
32:01with Anthony Edwards,
32:02you know,
32:02that was the lowest
32:03scoring game
32:04of this series.
32:05Everything else
32:05has gone flying
32:06over the total.
32:07And I think
32:08that's the market
32:09to look.
32:09I would begin
32:10to ladder up
32:11the total here,
32:11Donnie.
32:12I would not be shocked
32:13if we get
32:14mid-220s
32:16in this game
32:17at all tonight.
32:18And also,
32:19if you want Minnesota
32:19to win this basketball game,
32:20yes,
32:21Anthony Edwards
32:21probably has to have
32:22a great game.
32:22But also,
32:23Julius Randle.
32:23Take a look at Randle
32:24only to score
32:2415-plus points tonight.
32:26It's a little juice
32:26at a $100 investment
32:28pays back $164.
32:29But Julius Randle
32:30goes for 12 points tonight.
32:31That's a blowout victory
32:32for the San Antonio Spurs
32:34tonight.
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