00:00that LeBron James is not going to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
00:05For several days, there had been chatter.
00:08He made it official, I guess through Rich Paul,
00:12that he was not going to be returning to the Lakers.
00:15He did a thank you to the Lakers.
00:16He was there for eight seasons, delivered one championship,
00:19made all NBA every season except for one,
00:21had a good run with the Lakers.
00:23He is going to come back.
00:25And now the question is, where will he land?
00:28But the favorites, at least from the media,
00:31seem to be Golden State, Miami, Cleveland.
00:34He's been to two of those spots.
00:36Golden State, there was the rumor,
00:39trying to engineer some massive deal
00:41where Anthony Davis ends up in Golden State,
00:45and LeBron joins him.
00:48Here's the thing.
00:49The Washington Wizards gave them the Dikembe Mutombo.
00:53They said, no, no, no.
00:54We are not going to trade Anthony Davis.
00:57Yes, so, that's the question.
01:00Trying to lure LeBron?
01:01I'm sure LeBron wants to play with AD.
01:03If LeBron wants to play with AD, he's here.
01:05I mean, J.P. Finley pointed that out last night.
01:07He's like, the easiest thing for LeBron now
01:08is just come join the Wizards.
01:10If you want to play with Anthony Davis so badly,
01:12he's right here in Washington.
01:14You could come play with him.
01:16You're a free agent.
01:18You can sign wherever you want.
01:18So what's the ultimate reason he wants to leave the Lakers?
01:23Don't know.
01:23I'm sure part of it is they brought in Luka.
01:26Because Luka's kind of the focus now.
01:28It's not LeBron anymore.
01:29I would think.
01:30I mean, LeBron, let's be honest.
01:31LeBron likes to be all about LeBron.
01:32But they were a damn good team this year.
01:34When Luka and LeBron were both on the floor,
01:36they were a damn good team.
01:37They had a great record this year, didn't they?
01:38Yeah, I think when all three, it wasn't that much,
01:41but I think when all three were on the court,
01:43they were 20-9.
01:44I might be off by one or two.
01:46Or is it just because he wants to play his last year
01:48with his boys and give it a great run with Steph or AD?
01:52Maybe that's the reason.
01:53I think it's more that he doesn't want to be the third guy.
01:58Now, remember, he was hurt.
02:00He came back.
02:01And they went on a run where he slipped into that third role.
02:06They were, I believe, 15-2 for a stretch.
02:10Remember, Luka was averaging 40 points per game.
02:12Right.
02:14And then Luka got hurt.
02:15And Austin Reeves got hurt.
02:16And LeBron showed he could still play.
02:18I mean, he put up numbers in the playoffs.
02:19They beat the Houston Rockets in the first round.
02:21They got swept in the second round by OKC.
02:24They actually were all pretty close games.
02:26But he showed he can still play.
02:28So maybe he wants to have a more pivotal role.
02:32So he wants to be the focus as opposed to number two.
02:37Or maybe he wants to put a bow.
02:38Like, if he ends up in Cleveland, say,
02:40maybe he wants to put a bow on his career
02:42and try and deliver a championship to Cleveland.
02:44Right.
02:45Maybe he doesn't think that, you know,
02:47yes, they were good.
02:48But in the Western Conference,
02:50the Lakers were not in the class of San Antonio or OKC.
02:53So maybe he thinks he can't win a championship.
02:55Yeah.
02:56But if he goes to Golden State and plays with Steph,
02:58he's going to be the number two there.
03:02Yeah, he would have to take backseat to Steph.
03:04Right?
03:05I mean, Steph.
03:05Yeah, but they fit.
03:06They played together in the Olympics.
03:08Yeah, I know they're buddies
03:09and they know each other's games.
03:10He could almost play kind of a point-forward role there
03:12and have the ball in his hands more
03:14because Steph, you know,
03:15is not a guy that necessarily needs the ball in his hands.
03:20So Luka is a very ball-dominant guy.
03:23But the favorites are Golden State and Cleveland.
03:27Yeah, but I think you've got to throw Miami in there.
03:29Just because that's what the media's throwing out there.
03:32Maybe Miami, yeah.
03:33But the reports are there's at least 10 to 12 teams
03:37that have shown interest
03:39and bring in LeBron James.
03:41And, you know, we keep talking about the Wizards
03:44and we talk about the Wizards having
03:46Trey Young and Anthony Davis,
03:48vets who can kind of teach the young guys.
03:51Well, who better to teach the young guys
03:53than LeBron James?
03:55I think the Wizards are a very dark horse candidate.
03:58They could be in the mix.
03:59I mean, like you said,
04:00playing with AD,
04:01well, who has AD?
04:03The Wizards.
04:03And he's been very...
04:06He's complimented Trey Young
04:08on Mind the Game.
04:09I mean, yeah, he was very...
04:10He's been very complimentary of Trey Young.
04:11Is that the pod he was on with Steve Nash?
04:12Yeah.
04:13Yeah, he was definitely talking about the Wizards
04:15in glowing terms
04:16when he was talking about them.
04:18And, you know,
04:18if you think that maybe
04:20you can't get a ring
04:21because some of these teams
04:23are too stacked
04:24and you don't have the ability
04:25to build a super team anymore,
04:28you know,
04:29what better way to cap off your career
04:31than do something that Michael couldn't do?
04:33Take the Wizards to the playoffs.
04:35Perhaps you're kind of selling me on it, Valdez.
04:38The only downside would be
04:40I'd be forced to root for LeBron.
04:43I've never been a big LeBron guy
04:46since he's been in the league.
04:47But if he's wearing a Wizards uniform
04:49and he's playing here,
04:51he would have my unwavering support.
04:53I mean, I have to root for the Wizards
04:56no matter who they bring in.
04:57And if they bring in LeBron James,
04:59the biggest superstar
05:00of the last 20-plus years in the NBA,
05:03of course I would root for him.
05:05Of course I would.
05:06I would put aside my previous biases
05:08and I would root for LeBron in the Wiz.
05:10There wouldn't be much offensive opportunities
05:14for A.J. DeBonsa
05:15if you have Trey Young, LeBron, and A.D.
05:18That is true.
05:19According to his agent,
05:20you probably take five shots a game.
05:23According to his agent,
05:24Rich Paul said that LeBron
05:26just wants complete happiness,
05:29is the quote.
05:30He came to a conclusion
05:32that it can't be about money
05:34for his next team.
05:36So there are teams
05:37that could only offer $5 million
05:39that are apparently in play.
05:41Because I think Golden State
05:42might be one of those teams
05:43that can only offer
05:44like $5 or $6 million.
05:46According to Rich Paul,
05:48LeBron was 80% of returning the Lakers.
05:51But as the weeks went on,
05:52it got lower and lower
05:53until he decided to officially leave.
05:55Don't understand exactly why.
05:57We're speculating why.
05:59But he's out there.
06:01Should the Wizards make a play
06:03for LeBron James?
06:04We can throw it out to callers.
06:051-800-636-1067.
06:08So your lineup would be
06:12Trey Young at point guard.
06:14Let's put A.J. DeBonsa
06:15at your two.
06:18LeBron James is your small forward
06:20with Alex R. and Anthony Davis.
06:22That's pretty strong.
06:23Keyshawn George off the bench.
06:25Bilal off the bench.
06:27Trey Johnson off the bench.
06:29It'd be pretty strong.
06:31It's a strong unit.
06:331-800-636-1067.
06:35But do Wizards fans
06:36want to see LeBron here
06:37or do you want to see
06:38more opportunities
06:39for your young rookie stud,
06:41A.J. DeBonsa?
06:43Which is kind of what I want to see.
06:45I mean, I understand LeBron
06:47coming here is a huge story.
06:48It would be huge
06:49if he wants to play with A.D.
06:51Wouldn't you like A.J.
06:53to maybe learn from LeBron
06:54a little bit?
06:55Yeah, maybe.
06:56Maybe.
06:56Pick up some of his knowledge.
06:58Absorb it.
06:59I'm sure he'd be good
07:00for the young players.
07:02Will needs to get creative
07:03and get all the country clubs
07:04in the area
07:04to offer free memberships
07:06to LeBron
07:06and go and really lean
07:08into his love of golf.
07:09Oh, is that what it is?
07:11Oh, you don't...
07:12LeBron's...
07:12LeBron...
07:13He does love golf.
07:14Big golf guy.
07:15Big golf guy.
07:15Take me to it.
07:16I mean, all the premier ones
07:18just lean in
07:19and offer up
07:21that free membership.
07:22Yeah.
07:23Honorary member.
07:24Guaranteed tee times for them.
07:25Yeah.
07:26You have the pick of the
07:27tee time sheet.
07:29What's the downside?
07:30I don't know that there is a downside.
07:33For short term, there's not.
07:34No.
07:34No doubt.
07:35I mean,
07:37if you're going to say
07:38that you're going to
07:39stutter the development
07:40of a young guy
07:41because he's not getting
07:42as much playing time,
07:44it's temporary.
07:45It's temporary.
07:46He's going to play
07:46one or two seasons.
07:48That's it.
07:49He's not going to be here
07:50for eight years.
07:51Just wondering if Wizards fans
07:53want LeBron here.
07:55I think Wizards fans
07:56want a winner.
07:57If LeBron James
07:58joined this team,
08:00they're better.
08:01Yeah.
08:02They definitely are.
08:02So all we're doing is saying
08:03we're going to take LeBron James
08:05and he's going to take
08:06Keyshawn George's
08:07spot in the starting lineup.
08:07I mean, if LeBron comes here
08:09and Davis is here
08:10and Trey,
08:11I mean,
08:11they're not the favorite
08:12to win the East
08:13because the Knicks are.
08:14But they have to be considered
08:16amongst the favorites.
08:17Top three or four.
08:18Yeah.
08:19If healthy.
08:19The problem is the health.
08:20I know.
08:21They've got a bunch of old guys.
08:21That's the problem.
08:22They would be a bigger favorite
08:23than he would if he went
08:24to the Warriors.
08:25Nobody thinks the Warriors
08:27are going to win
08:27if LeBron goes there.
08:28That's just a fun last year
08:30to play with his buddy.
08:30I don't know where that started,
08:31but I was thinking
08:32if he wanted to go to Golden State
08:34and play with Curry,
08:35but A.D. would have to be there.
08:37Yeah, A.D. would have to be there.
08:38Yeah, the Wizards have said
08:39we're not interested
08:40in trading Anthony Davis
08:41at this point.
08:42By the way,
08:42it was not just LeBron's
08:44decision to leave.
08:45The Lakers were done
08:46with LeBron as well.
08:48I think so.
08:48As the reports came out yesterday,
08:50it was more mutual.
08:51They just had their time together
08:53and they were both ready
08:53to move on.
08:54Were there also reports
08:55coming out that he was,
08:56that this is alleged,
08:58that LeBron was sleeping
09:00with one of his teammates' moms?
09:02Brawny James joke.
09:04I asked a question.
09:07I wasn't treating it as gospel.
09:09Sometimes you gotta pause
09:10and think it would be a case.
09:10No, you look like you believed it.
09:12I was putting it out there.
09:14He wanted to believe it,
09:15that's for sure.
09:15I did want to believe it.
09:17I was desperate to believe it.
09:19I wanted it to be true.
09:21Well, he was.
09:22He was sleeping with Brawny's mom.
09:24Yeah, you know what?
09:24You do have to look at those.
09:25You do have to look
09:26and look at those Twitter addresses.
09:30It's the best of us.
09:32I told you my brain
09:32was foggy today, Valdez.
09:34The fog still hasn't lifted
09:36at 7.17 in the morning.
09:40Sometimes these things happen.
09:42Now, he was posting videos
09:44a few days ago
09:47of himself in Cleveland.
09:50See, that's what I,
09:52like if I had to bet,
09:54I feel like Cleveland's the play.
09:55I just don't want
09:56all the credit games from him.
09:58Cleveland,
09:59just pick a spot.
09:59Now, they were disappointing
10:00in the playoffs,
10:02but Cleveland,
10:03you had,
10:04much like Golden State
10:05had Draymond Green opt out,
10:07Cleveland had James Harden opt out.
10:09So, I don't know
10:10the whole salary cap deal
10:11and supposedly
10:12it's not about the money anyway,
10:14but he would slide
10:15into Cleveland
10:16with James Harden,
10:18with Donovan Mitchell,
10:20with Evan Mobley,
10:21with Jared Allen.
10:23That's probably a better roster
10:24than what the Wizards have.
10:27That's a true contender.
10:28Well, he clearly wants
10:29to go somewhere
10:30where he feels like
10:31he can win a championship.
10:32So, it's got to be
10:33one of those.
10:33I mean, maybe it's Miami
10:35and he goes play with Giannis.
10:37Giannis and Bam.
10:38And Bam.
10:39I mean, Bam scored 83.
10:40That'd be a great joke.
10:41Hey, we don't like
10:42to bring that up, JP.
10:43We like to kind of
10:44just let that,
10:45let's sleep the dog's lie.
10:46About the Bam Adebayo outburst.
10:48Let's take a break.
10:48When we come back,
10:49we'll take calls
10:50from Wizards fans.
10:50Do you want to see LeBron here
10:52with A.D.,
10:53Trey Young,
10:53and the Young Studs?
10:55800-636-1067.
10:56Give us a call.
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