- 14 hours ago
NBA Free Agency action got underway Tuesday with news of tLeBron James leaving the Lakers and the Hawks re-signing Jock Landale - a key role player last year before an injury ended his season prior to the playoffs. Dukes and Bell break down the Hawks roster, how the pieces fit and what else Onsi Saleh & Co. need to do in the coming days.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00What's going on? It's Dukes and Bell on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game.
00:03We start off every day and every hour by saying,
00:05Hey, man!
00:06We know that the NBA free agency begins tonight, 6 o'clock, guys.
00:11All this news is out there, Mike, and there is a ton of it
00:14when it comes to where guys potentially are going to land.
00:18There are a lot of rumors out there. I don't start them.
00:20I just talk about them once they're out.
00:21But what we do know is that the Hawks are bringing back a guy we really like.
00:25Yeah, man, Jock Landale.
00:27And again, his toughness was missed.
00:28Not that we were going to beat the Knicks, but hey, we took the Knicks to 6.
00:32I mean, you've got Jock Landale throwing his weight around.
00:35I mean, you know, maybe things change.
00:36Well, one thing for certain, you wouldn't have seen that punking of the Hawks in Game 6.
00:40We might have lost by 25.
00:41We would have lost by 50 and not in some of those moments.
00:43But no, Jock's a tough guy.
00:45Dyson Daniels is a tough guy.
00:46Dyson stepped up.
00:46He got kicked out of the game.
00:48But Jock is a guy that we didn't know very well, and he came in here.
00:51And I think we were all amazed his first game was a Hawk, his three-point shooting.
00:54We're like, whoa!
00:55This guy was like having a career night.
00:57So they're keeping him here a one-year, what I see, $14 million to keep him here for a year.
01:01I like it.
01:02Now, I said to you guys today, for those of you who get a chance to watch our pre-show,
01:06Behind the Curtain, thank you,
01:07that I would have loved, and I still would love, for them to go get Walker Kessler.
01:12Yeah, right on.
01:13But as we talked about, I just mentioned this to Dede, like, you know, his bottom, the floor for him,
01:19is four years, 125.
01:20That's probably what it's going to take.
01:22But I'd still love to try to see if we could bring that guy here because he's a restricted free
01:27agent, but he's leaving Utah, guys.
01:29There are a bunch of bigs that are going to be out there potentially.
01:32But people are saying, you know what, he's probably going to end up in L.A.
01:35because he's got other options.
01:37But bringing Jock back, Mike, it kind of says, all right, look at this team now.
01:41Look at your draft picks.
01:42Look at your core, which we knew they weren't, you know, nobody was leaving.
01:45These guys are locked up.
01:46We're talking about Dyson and Jalen Johnson, Okongwu.
01:49And then you added Jock to this.
01:52You went and made a deal yesterday, brought in another guard, right, the trade from Sacramento.
01:56So now all of a sudden you're looking at this roster and you're going, okay, and no Kaminga, by the
02:00way.
02:00What else do you need to complete this?
02:02And I still feel like, size.
02:04Guys, let's go get another big, man.
02:05Do you think that they are into, not that it's going to have to reinvent the wheel,
02:09but do you think they would move double O to the four?
02:11Yes, I do.
02:12Because that's, now all of a sudden you've got athleticism, you know, Jalen Johnson.
02:16And, of course, then the great debate becomes, well, who's sitting, right?
02:19I mean, well, that's a good problem to have.
02:20I mean, C.J. would be the starting guard, Dyson for defense, you know, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka, and a Walker
02:25Kessler.
02:26I'll take my chances with that in the Eastern Conference.
02:28Me too.
02:28And then you've got all these guys coming off the bench.
02:32You know, we're going to develop the point guard game.
02:34You've got Aaron Wiggins coming off the bench.
02:36I mean, that's, yes, please.
02:37I'll take some of that.
02:38We're going to see.
02:39But the good news is that they bring back Jock.
02:42And, again, you know, for what Mike said, the shooting was key, but he also just was a nice fit.
02:47I mean, some guys you bring in, and, Mike, we talk about the fit mattering.
02:51It's not necessarily he's going to give you 25 a game.
02:53He's going to have a game or two like that during the season.
02:54But it's the fit, and he can do a bunch of things for you.
02:57Meanwhile, the real story and the big story around the NBA is that LeBron is leaving the Lakers.
03:02Where is he going to play?
03:04Now, we know that there are rumors out there about Golden State.
03:08But, Mike, he's got options.
03:09But this guy is going into his 24th season.
03:1524.
03:16And so, you know, the NBA's all-time scoring leader, look, he is the greatest player of his generation, hands
03:22down.
03:23But he still can play.
03:24And the thing about it is, last year, you know, soft body Luca was out of the playoffs with him.
03:28Everybody was hurt.
03:29Austin Reeves was hurt.
03:31And he carried him as far as he could carry him.
03:32But the dude's 41.
03:33He's got to go somewhere, Mike, where he can also get help.
03:37Where's the best place for that if you're chasing a chip?
03:40One more for LeBron.
03:41He's looking for five.
03:42The city by the bay.
03:45Yeah, man.
03:46A little dirty for you there, Day-Day.
03:47Yeah, man.
03:48I've got to go with the Golden State.
03:50Makes the most sense.
03:50Now, you could argue, I'm going to show these young bucks how to win a title.
03:55Go down to San Antonio.
03:56Oh, good luck with that.
03:57But, you know, you'd have to play for the league minimum.
03:59I'm not sure LeBron's going to do all that.
04:01But, no, I would say it makes the most sense to have, like, the wild hogs that we talked about.
04:05All the old guys on motorcycles.
04:07But, yeah, Steph Curry, Draymond taking a little off the top to save some money.
04:11Don't know how Jimmy Butler would fit into that.
04:12They'd probably have to jettison.
04:14Some say Jimmy.
04:15In what I've read.
04:16And then Anthony Davis.
04:17But then, again, can Anthony?
04:18See, you're right.
04:19LeBron on a pitch count.
04:20You manage his minutes.
04:21You can be a top three team in the West.
04:23Make your run.
04:24Right?
04:25Yeah.
04:25But you've got to keep him fresh.
04:26And Anthony Davis, you've basically got to keep him bubble wrap the entire season to make sure you get three
04:30months out of him.
04:31Well, look.
04:31I think LeBron wanted to play with Steph Curry.
04:33Remember, they are Olympic teammates.
04:35And, you know, that was great and fun to watch.
04:38But this is as close as it's been to ever happening.
04:41Like, for all these years, they've competed against each other.
04:43We know, you know, 15, 16, 17.
04:46It was LeBron's team and the Golden State Warriors.
04:49But this is as close as he's been to maybe playing with Steph Curry before it's all over.
04:53The other team, though, guys, is Cleveland.
04:56Going back to Cleveland, is it better to go to the Eastern Conference, Mike, and team up with what Cleveland
05:03already has, which I think is a pretty good roster, and make a run there?
05:07Because I think it's tougher to come out of the West.
05:09Well, I mean, the thing is, how much is LeBron going to get paid?
05:12I mean, is he going to basically say, I'm going to...
05:15Because he can basically pay for a penny, if you're honest.
05:19He could.
05:19You know, if he wants to go be a part of something.
05:20If he wants to go play with Giannis and Bam Adebayo in Miami, yes, please.
05:26I mean, there's a couple of things he could do.
05:27But, I mean, yes, you're right.
05:28Going back to Cleveland, we're going to play with the beard, though.
05:30Yeah, I mean...
05:31Calvin Mitchell, I mean, look, anywhere LeBron goes, you're an instant contender in the East.
05:36But how much would it work, and how cap-friendly deal is LeBron willing to take?
05:41It's a good question.
05:41For the farewell tour.
05:43The thing out on the street is right now that he is not going to take a deal based solely
05:47on money.
05:47And why would he?
05:48Look, here's a secret.
05:49He's already a billionaire.
05:51Right.
05:51Okay?
05:52So, LeBron is doing this because he wants to.
05:55He still feels good.
05:56He still enjoys.
05:57He didn't have to do a damn thing!
05:59So, Mike, whatever the offer is or whatever it's going to take to get him, for him, this is about
06:04where can I position myself to make another run?
06:07And, you know, this deal with the Lakers, it was nice.
06:10Eight years, great run, they won a chip, okay.
06:12But now to end his career, because this will be the last stop, guys.
06:15This will not continue to go on.
06:17But that is really the interesting thing today is where he thinks that might be.
06:21The Golden State's been discussing.
06:22You think he's been talking to Steph, everybody from the Olympics and all that, from the Dream Team?
06:25I do.
06:26That's the one that's getting the most traction, but you're right.
06:28He doesn't need to spend, I should have a team spend all that money on him if he wants to
06:32have one final blaze of glory.
06:34And he's got to be a little dissatisfied.
06:35He won the championship in 2020 in the bubble.
06:38And then, unfortunately, him and Luka, either one's hurt or just Luka is what he is.
06:42You said it.
06:42Soft body Luka, you can't count on him.
06:44Well, how is the 41-year-old dude healthy and available for the playoffs, and the dude that you're allegedly
06:49building the franchise around is hurt again?
06:51Like, this was Dallas' issue when all the Mazz fans were complaining.
06:55Luka is always hurt.
06:57Right.
06:58Well, remember, he did his, same guy who oiled up Zion Williamson a couple years ago, oiled up Luka.
07:03You had the pictures of him in the gym, and it was like, they must have had, like, Andy Leibovic
07:06shoot that with some backlighting to make him look like he was cut.
07:09Wow, look at Luka.
07:105% butt?
07:11No.
07:11No.
07:13Luka's like 20% nougat, and he breaks down.
07:15Yeah.
07:15Look, I told you guys those were Photoshopped.
07:17You didn't believe me.
07:18404-726-0929.
07:20You guys can hit us up.
07:21Lots of NBA news.
07:23And how do you feel about our Hawks?
07:24That's what I want to know.
07:25404-726-0929.
07:27Text us, and you can also call us.
07:29Day-Day, behind the glass.
07:30O will be here as well today.
07:32But I feel good about where we're at.
07:34But if you feel like we do, all right, there's still something missing.
07:37What else is it, and what do you need to add?
07:39Here's the other thing.
07:40We talked about the Kaminga situation.
07:42And they didn't use all that money, guys.
07:45There's still exemptions to use, and they still have an additional money.
07:49We talked about being $35 million away from that first apron after the decision was made yesterday.
07:55So there's still room to make a deal with one of these potential free agents.
08:00And I'm curious to see if that happens between now and certainly the end of the day.
08:04Because it starts at 6, but a lot of this stuff is going to get leaked.
08:07Well, a lot of guys are asking us, and we said yesterday, yes, they technically could bring Kaminga back,
08:11but why is Kaminga going to come back for less money?
08:13He's going to shop around.
08:14God, his agent's going to shop him around.
08:15Makes no sense.
08:16Would you?
08:17Well, no.
08:18I mean, but yet everything we said yesterday also flips the other way, that Ansi Saleh is familiar with him.
08:23And they could be feeling that, you know, let him kick the tires on some deals.
08:29He was linked to Sacramento and the Kings.
08:30If he doesn't get anything, would you be willing to bring Kaminga back for cheaper?
08:33Okay, so my question is, is it also a one-year deal?
08:36Is that what you're talking about with him?
08:37And I don't know how his agent would feel.
08:39A 24-year-old signed on a one-year deal?
08:40You've devalued yourself.
08:42I agree.
08:42So that is the issue there.
08:44But if you're telling me, yeah, he'll come back for $14 million like Jock, and you're not paying him $24,
08:49okay, that's a different conversation.
08:51But look, I just think guys in the NBA and their agents know this.
08:56Because the reason why I say this all the time, guys opt out is because they can get more.
09:00Teams just make that decision.
09:01When it's a team option, then you have other options to go other places.
09:05But like for LeBron, this is LeBron's decision.
09:08He's not returning to L.A.
09:09They would have made it work, Mike, if you wanted to go back there.
09:11Sporting news reporting that LeBron waited until today to tell the Lakers he was leaving, and apparently LeBron, his contract
09:16became guaranteed today?
09:17That is correct.
09:17$2.3 million.
09:21That is correct.
09:21Oh, man.
09:22Well, LeBron, you scammed the Lakers.
09:24You played them.
09:25You played them.
09:26I mean, that is what it is.
09:27I mean, he's a great, and his legacy is secure, but that was nice work on that one.
09:31Get your money, man.
09:32You know, the other guy that's interesting is Jalen Dern.
09:35Reportedly, you know, at odds ends, or at end, should I say, with Detroit, don't know if he's going to
09:40end up there.
09:41People thought he lost money in these playoffs.
09:43Right.
09:44So whatever, he played so soft.
09:45I mean, this is a big, we talked about the rough and tumble Pistons, all of a sudden looked like,
09:49uh-huh.
09:50Yeah.
09:50Like, every moment was too big, and he, from missing free throws and bunnies and just really high-percentage shots
09:56he could not make in the clutch.
09:58I, uh, reportedly, he's going to meet with the Lakers and the Kings, but I keep saying, and Mike, we
10:03talk about this in football, right?
10:04Oh, he won't sign.
10:05And then they end up signing back where they were, or franchise tag, right?
10:08Oh, they won't get a deal.
10:09And they end up signing a long-term deal, like Kyle Pitts.
10:12That's kind of how I see this.
10:13Detroit would love to have Jalen Dern back, but they want him at a specific price.
10:18And he's like, yo, look what I am.
10:19Look what I did for you guys.
10:20I'm an all-NBA guy.
10:22We'll see how that works out.
10:23By the way, Kevin Herter, yeah, Red Velvet, plans to sign a three-year deal, $27 million to return to
10:28Detroit.
10:29Remember, I don't know if you guys remember, he got traded during the season.
10:31He was with Sacramento, all that stuff.
10:33But, and then you mentioned Julian Champagne yesterday, new year, three-year deal with the Spurs.
10:38So there's lots of stuff going on.
10:39Lou Dort gets his money with OKC, but I am more curious about if the Hawks are going to do
10:45something else between now, Mike, and before we get to the 4th of July.
10:50Because, look, you're in this now, like, this is like the first day of free agency in football.
10:55If you got money, you're doing it right.
10:57You're not waiting for the market to shake out.
10:59You're going to go get your guy, and if they've targeted one of these guys, then we'll see.
11:03And, again, there's a good breakdown out there.
11:06I think ESPN's got all the different aprons for the different teams.
11:09It's a long read because, I've got to be honest, the NBA salary cap makes the NFL look simple.
11:15I mean, it really does.
11:15It's really a lot of levels to this.
11:18But I think most Hawks fans, and we've had it explained to us by the general manager, he doesn't feel
11:22we're one player away.
11:24Now, adding a guy like Walker Kessler, from Noonan, by the way, would be great.
11:28Because now we've talked about the frontcourt.
11:30We're just talking about a dynamic lineup with tremendous bench.
11:33And you're going to have guys who can play point guard.
11:35Well, the young point guard learns his way.
11:37You've got athleticism.
11:38You know, I mean, all these guys we picked up.
11:41I'm excited about it.
11:42But a big really puts us over the top.
11:44I mean, because Landale is a bench.
11:46He's coming off the bench.
11:47Now, we assume, though, if they go get the big, as I asked you, a Kongu can be the four?
11:53He can.
11:54I've always felt he's better suited than anyway.
11:55Yeah, he absolutely can.
11:56He'll still give you rebounds.
11:57He'll still shoot it.
11:58Play D.
12:00Yeah, I think so, too, Mike.
12:01But, you know, again, what is the big overall picture in the plan for Ron C.
12:05Saleh?
12:06We're going to find out today.
Comments