00:00So, now we know at least, and this is like the most LeBron fashion.
00:04He is, the language here, is inform the Los Angeles Lakers
00:08that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere.
00:12Yeah, I'm playing, but not for you guys.
00:14I mean, just the ego involved to inform the organization they can move on.
00:20Because he's in charge of everything, right?
00:23Like, it's just so rich.
00:24But LeBron's not going back to L.A.
00:27There's a lot of speculation this is all about just getting another contract in L.A.
00:31He's not going back to the Lakers.
00:33Hard for me to see any situation other than LeBron going to the Warriors.
00:39Well, and that's what's funny about this whole Anthony Davis thing
00:42we heard from Windhorst earlier.
00:43You know, Windhorst is obviously a credible source.
00:46So is Shams Karania.
00:47And Shams hasn't backtracked on any of the stuff that he said from yesterday.
00:51He's kind of been radio silent since he's thrown out some of those reports
00:55about Anthony Davis potentially going to the Wizards' Kevin O'Connor.
00:59I haven't seen him necessarily backtrack anything.
01:01It's just been kind of windy that it was pouring cold water.
01:04But if LeBron is saying that I'm not going back to the Lakers,
01:07the Warriors are at the top of that list.
01:10And from other reports, we've seen that LeBron doesn't want to go to Golden State
01:14unless he's going to get Anthony Davis with him.
01:15So that's the weird part about where we're at here,
01:18is you're getting conflicting reports on the Anthony Davis side.
01:21But now that LeBron said he's not going there, how many realistic options does he have?
01:26I mean, anybody would be interested in LeBron.
01:28But I think for him, there had been speculation about maybe returning to Cleveland
01:32to finish things out.
01:33But I think it would make sense that the Golden State angle,
01:37it kind of fits with what LeBron likes to do.
01:40So then I kind of think that Anthony Davis ends up playing at Golden State.
01:44All right, so I believe this is fact.
01:49Rich Paul is also Anthony Davis' agent, correct?
01:53Yeah.
01:54So Shams, I think the language here matters.
01:58Shams just had this tweet, obviously, has this news.
02:01LeBron has told the Lakers he ain't coming back.
02:04But what's important to me on this, this was not per sources.
02:12This was per Rich Paul.
02:15I'm going to read the exact language from Shams.
02:18Breaking, LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 26-27 season
02:22and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him
02:26because he will play elsewhere.
02:28Clutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN.
02:33So if Shams yesterday is saying Anthony Davis to the Warriors makes a lot of sense
02:38and Rich Paul is AD's agent and LeBron's agent,
02:41and today he's literally quoting Rich Paul,
02:45he is at least speaking to the decision makers.
02:49Yes.
02:49And Wendy is saying, I don't see it happening.
02:52And I'm not doubting Wendy, but like,
02:56apparently the Warriors have told Jimmy Butler they're not going to trade him.
03:00We're not trading you right up until we are, man.
03:03Correct.
03:06So in the actual steps of this process, this is only step one.
03:12Step two is LeBron actually signs with the Warriors.
03:17We've been kind of vacillating on how we feel about this,
03:20about AD going to Golden State.
03:22Where are you now?
03:24Now we at least know this was not just some bluff to drive up to Lakers' costs for LeBron.
03:28I still felt pretty good that he could end up there.
03:31I mean, it's something that's difficult, JP,
03:33because we know who Shams' source is now, obviously.
03:36It's Rich Paul himself, and he's the agent of LeBron and AD.
03:40But is Wendy just talking to the front offices?
03:43And that's why it maybe doesn't make as much sense to him,
03:46and that's kind of where he's getting it from?
03:48Because it's just, it seems like there's a lot of smoke,
03:51and then you had Wendy throw cold water on it,
03:54and it's not taken away from Wendy.
03:55Obviously, he's been a credible source.
03:57But it's just something that's a little bit odd to see how this is all playing out,
04:00where it seems like the things don't go hand in hand,
04:03and yet we're moving more towards what Shams reported.
04:07I don't know.
04:08I also have a hard time believing,
04:11and after we hear that there's a chance that AD and LeBron could link up again
04:15in Golden State,
04:16that LeBron's just going to go to Golden State without AD.
04:21I don't think LeBron's going to get what he wants.
04:23That's kind of how...
04:24Paul's going to get what he wants.
04:25Yeah, so LeBron's going to get exactly what he's looking for,
04:28which I think is Anthony Davis to Golden State.
04:30It's just a matter of when, not if, it feels like to me.
04:33Because if this is going to be the case,
04:34and I mean, I guess there's still a chance that LeBron doesn't go to Golden State
04:37and goes elsewhere, but I mean, unless it's Cleveland,
04:40I don't know the other landing spots for LeBron.
04:44I mean, Spurs?
04:47Maybe.
04:48I mean, he can kind of go wherever he wants,
04:50because like we said earlier,
04:51it's not like he's looking for a max contract anywhere,
04:52but I don't know.
04:54I don't know either, man.
04:56It's also so LeBron, by the way, like you said.
04:58Let's just...
04:59Totally.
05:00No one's in love with himself more.
05:02But this is what Windhorst said this morning, right?
05:08Anthony Davis thing off the front burner.
05:10I do not have data that says that that's likely to happen.
05:14Now, I could change.
05:15My information could change.
05:17I do not see traction from the Wizards to want to do that.
05:22The Warriors told Jimmy Butler they're not trading him.
05:25I think the focus right now is,
05:26can they get LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers?
05:29I'm taking the Anthony Davis thing off the front burner.
05:33So, Windhorst certainly poured cold water on it.
05:36And we also now know that Shams is talking directly...
05:40Not that that's a surprise,
05:41but for him to actually quote Rich Paul in this is interesting.
05:47Windhorst literally said in the clip,
05:49that's from this morning, like 8 a.m.,
05:51says that he's taking it off the front burner,
05:53but things could change.
05:54Their focus is make sure LeBron doesn't go back to L.A.
05:57Well, number two is accomplished.
05:59Right?
06:00Like, the number two thing on the checklist there
06:02that he mentioned has been accomplished.
06:04So, now do you just pivot back and go,
06:06all right, well, now that we know LeBron's not going back to L.A.,
06:08all right, let's get back in on this Anthony Davis thing.
06:11I mean, things could happen quickly.
06:13What happens with Bronny?
06:15Wow.
06:16Do the Lakers just kind of release him quietly
06:19and let him sign with the Warriors or wherever Dad goes?
06:22I don't know, man.
06:23I don't know.
06:25Or do they try to develop him
06:26and they don't feel like they're forced to have him on the NBA roster
06:30and he can play in the G League or get sparing minutes?
06:32I don't know.
06:35The Bronny thing, subplot, I do find interesting.
06:38But whatever, we'll see what happens there.
06:39I, um, the language is just so rich.
06:45I'm taking my talent from the same man that brought you,
06:47I'm taking my talents to South Beach.
06:49LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 26-27 season
06:53and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers
06:56that the franchise can move on without him
06:58because he will play elsewhere.
07:02Like, it's just so extra.
07:05That's your guy, Stallion.
07:07Just so extra.
07:08I mean, this is the LeBron experience.
07:11Like, and I'm not going to like,
07:12this is stuff I kind of hate about him.
07:14Is that, like, there's always an announcement
07:16about an announcement.
07:17Like, he's announcing that he's not coming back
07:19and then it's like, there's going to be an announcement
07:20that there's an announcement coming
07:22that he's going to join a new team.
07:23And this is just the LeBron experience
07:25that I personally hate.
07:27And I'm also going to hate when he joins him.
07:29But you're a Braniac.
07:29I am a Braniac.
07:30So, I made this bet, I'm going to lie in it.
07:32And right now, I'm like, that's kind of what LeBron is.
07:35And he's going to join the Warriors.
07:37I'm going to hate it.
07:38I'm going to hate every second of it.
07:39But this is just what it is.
07:41This is it.
07:42The memes are so good.
07:44Somebody posted a picture with Steph, LeBron, Draymond,
07:47and AD in Warriors jerseys.
07:50And they said, who's stopping this?
07:52And someone quote tweeted it and said, arthritis.
07:58Arthritis.
07:58I've seen people take pictures of all of their knees.
08:00He's like, it's going to be a, that's a weird way to go about it.
08:06I guess you're chasing a ring one last time with that team.
08:10But I don't fully understand LeBron's thought process there.
08:16I guess just to play with Steph for the fun of it,
08:18bring AD along for the ride.
08:20It's weird.
08:21I guess you're going to be a little bit.
08:21I guess you're going to be a little bit.
08:21I guess you're going to be a little bit.
08:21I guess you're going to be a little bit.
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