- 02/07/2025
🚨 **NBA Today exclusive** — Shams Charania reports the **Lakers are still weighing DeAndre Ayton** after his buyout from Portland, but are also exploring other **centers via trade and free agency**.
🏀 In this episode, we examine:
- Why Ayton is a top target for L.A. after his buyout :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Alternative options like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Al Horford :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Lakers’ roster needs and cap implications post-LeBron’s opt-in
- What this means for LeBron, AD, and the team’s championship window
📌 Drop your thoughts: Should the Lakers prioritize Ayton, or go with a veteran center?
👍 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for daily NBA Today analysis and breaking updates!
#NBA #Lakers #DeAndreAyton #Shams #NBAFreeAgency #NBAToday #LakersOffseason #NBATradeRumors
Lakers Ayton rumors, DeAndre Ayton buyout, Lakers trade options, Shams Charania Lakers news, Lakers free agency 2025, Brook Lopez Capela Horford Lakers, NBA Today Ayton update, Lakers center search, NBA Lakers offseason
🏀 In this episode, we examine:
- Why Ayton is a top target for L.A. after his buyout :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Alternative options like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Al Horford :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Lakers’ roster needs and cap implications post-LeBron’s opt-in
- What this means for LeBron, AD, and the team’s championship window
📌 Drop your thoughts: Should the Lakers prioritize Ayton, or go with a veteran center?
👍 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for daily NBA Today analysis and breaking updates!
#NBA #Lakers #DeAndreAyton #Shams #NBAFreeAgency #NBAToday #LakersOffseason #NBATradeRumors
Lakers Ayton rumors, DeAndre Ayton buyout, Lakers trade options, Shams Charania Lakers news, Lakers free agency 2025, Brook Lopez Capela Horford Lakers, NBA Today Ayton update, Lakers center search, NBA Lakers offseason
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SportTranscription
00:00Welcome to day two of the NBA Today Free Agency special. We're going to have you covered for not one, not two, oh yes, three hours, my friends.
00:07Joining me here in our Los Angeles studios, the three-time champ, Udonis Haslam, our wonderful analyst, Tim Legler, our front office insider, Bobby Marks, and our senior insider, Brian Windhorst.
00:18I'm Malika Andrews. We're 25 hours into free agency. There have been over 50 agreements made so far, and fellas, this morning, Milwaukee sent shockwaves through the entire league.
00:28So for more on the Bucs, let's welcoming our senior insider, Shams Sharanya. Shams, Miles Turner reached an agreement to join the Bucs today, but it's how they made that flexibility that's so fascinating.
00:38What can you tell us about what went into this deal?
00:40Malika, they reached an agreement on a four-year, $107 million deal with Miles Turner as a free agent.
00:46That's not possible under their current salary restraints, but what they're doing is they're waiving and stretching Damian Lillard and his $113 million left on his deal.
00:56And it was made possible, all of this, with Miles Turner because as the longest-tenured pacer, he wanted to be back in Indy, but he believed that they had given him several offers below the market value and just wanted to avert from the luxury tax.
01:11And so John Horst, the Bucs general manager, Turner's agent, Austin Brown in the last 24 hours, worked to figure out a creative pathway on this wild-card type of move that allowed Miles Turner to go there.
01:23And so remember, in 2020, we saw John Horst pull off Drew Holiday.
01:272023, Damian Lillard.
01:29And now here in 2025, they go and get Miles Turner in a way that no one in the league expected.
01:37Yeah, creativity, I think, is a good way to put it here, Shams.
01:39We're going to be hearing much more from you throughout the show.
01:41Back with you in just a moment.
01:42Bobby, before we dive into this a little bit more, waving and stretching is not just what I was doing at the gym this morning.
01:48Can you just explain what that exactly means?
01:50It wasn't what I was doing either.
01:52So Damian Lillard had $113 million owed.
01:56He had two years left on his contract.
01:57We're not going to get into the semantics as the formula.
02:00You take that amount of money and you stretch it over five years.
02:03There's a $22.5 million cap hit.
02:06It's the largest ever in NBA history.
02:08This is the largest waiver and stretch in NBA history.
02:11That sits on your books forever.
02:14That's not a live person.
02:15So that money will count against the cap.
02:17Damian Lillard would get that here.
02:19And when you look at it, this was Milwaukee's get-out-of-jail-free card.
02:23At the expense of Damian Lillard,
02:24as far as how they were able to go out and add a player in free agency like Miles Turner.
02:29There is the human element to this all, too.
02:31Remember, this is a player that tore his Achilles in the first round against Indiana.
02:35Indiana is one of the 75 probably greatest players of all time and is now probably going to be one of the most sought-after free agents when he does recover from this injury.
02:44There's so many layers to this.
02:46I'm glad you brought up the human side for Damian Lillard because the first time I saw this news,
02:49when the news from Shams broke across my screen this morning, I said,
02:52Dang, this is just a reminder of how brutal this business is.
02:55Damian Lillard, a top 75 player, one of the greatest guys to be around in the league.
03:00But now there's a series of decisions that had to be made.
03:03Milwaukee, in the short term, Brian, they didn't have any flexibility.
03:07How would you rate their ability to go out and build now?
03:10Well, you've heard the concept of robbing from Peter to pay Paul.
03:13This is mortgaging Peter's condo and rating his 401k.
03:17They are taking, they've already traded away their draft control and they've already used up all of their available salary cap space for this year and next year.
03:25So they are borrowing from salary cap space of years deep into the future.
03:29We've never seen anything like this.
03:31Now, I've seen people today say that this is insane.
03:34I don't think it's insane.
03:35As I've talked to more people in the league, they don't think it's insane either.
03:38They think it's audacious, okay, because they have taken something.
03:42You know, there's even a strategy component to this because the salary slot of Dame Willard for this year was $50 million.
03:48Now they take it down to $23 million and they bring in Miles Turner's $27 million.
03:53Now you have $50 million and instead of having a guy that's not going to play, you have a $27 million player.
03:58That's efficiency.
03:59It's not efficiency that's going to feel good in 2028, but it's efficiency that helps them this year when Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the roster and is looking for reasons to stay in Milwaukee.
04:09And so it is an audacious move.
04:10Here is my concern.
04:13I'm not sure that it moves the needle a lot.
04:16Miles Turner is an excellent player.
04:18He's a franchise center.
04:20He's in his prime.
04:21He is comparable to Brook Lopez.
04:23He is better than Brook Lopez at this point in their careers.
04:27He fits very well with Giannis.
04:28He stretches the floor.
04:29He will defend the rim.
04:30He dominated Brook Lopez when they played each other in the playoffs.
04:33However, this move doesn't take them from, say, fifth in the East to second.
04:39It doesn't look like, oh, my gosh, this is a changing move in the balance of power in the East.
04:43It's a great, aggressive move by their front office, supported by their ownership.
04:47But I'm worried that after you get over the shock and awe that the Bucs aren't really materially in a different place.
04:54I could be wrong.
04:55It's July 1st.
04:56We could get to January 1st, and I could say, oh, my God, this guy's an all-star.
04:59But I am worried about that that's the way it's going to play out.
05:02I agree with you 1,000%.
05:03I love the fact that they got Miles Turner over there, but you're looking at two similar guys.
05:07It really doesn't change your style of play.
05:09My concern is the defense on the perimeter.
05:12What are you going to do with the defense on the perimeter?
05:13Who's going to be your point guard?
05:14There are so many different things that you have to work on with this team, but I do like the Miles Turner trade.
05:18You trade a guy that gets in 1.9 blocks, and you bring in a guy that has two blocks a game.
05:23You get a guy that's a two-time all-defensive player.
05:25You get a guy that was a two-time blocks leader.
05:26So this is perfect for Giannis.
05:28This move was made for nothing more than to keep Giannis happy.
05:30But does this put them in a position to win a championship?
05:34I don't think they're any closer at all.
05:35I don't think it's the answer, but it's definitely an aggressive response for Giannis,
05:39and it's about as good as you're going to do to replicate what Brooke Lopez did.
05:43I think he's a significantly better offensive player than Lopez right now.
05:46You saw the numbers we put up similar.
05:48That's not Brooke Lopez now.
05:50Brooke Lopez's offense has dropped back.
05:52Now, rim protection, that's a different story.
05:54Brooke Lopez's still one of the best in the league.
05:56Miles Turner does that at a pretty high rate as well.
05:58The one thing for Miles Turner right now, I'm glad he got his money because he did not finish the season well.
06:03He really struggled to shoot the ball in the finals.
06:06Everybody was talking about that.
06:07It was hanging in the air.
06:09I think it helped Indiana kind of decide what they wanted to do with him.
06:12And the Bucs get a guy in his prime, Brian, to your point, that can really play.
06:17And his style fits very well with Giannis because he can space the floor.
06:21But what's the central question in Milwaukee right now?
06:23What is the central question?
06:24The central question is?
06:25How does Giannis feel?
06:26The central question is, how does Giannis feel?
06:28But the rest of it, ultimately, it doesn't – I don't want to say it doesn't matter,
06:31but it's all immaterial compared to how does Giannis Attentokounmpo feel about that.
06:35And Giannis is off right now.
06:37He always does.
06:37He goes to Europe in the summer.
06:39He takes a little time away.
06:40So I can't ask him.
06:41But we can ask the second-best guy, maybe our senior insider, Sham Sharanya.
06:44Sham, I would love to know, what are you hearing about how this move impacts Giannis and his future in Milwaukee?
06:49Malik, I'm told Giannis Attentokounmpo will continue to evaluate everything, the entire offseason.
06:56He took notice of this move today, no doubt.
06:59But sources tell me he will evaluate more than just one day.
07:02And at the end of the offseason, my understanding is Giannis Attentokounmpo will ask himself,
07:07he'll look in the mirror, he'll look around him and ask the question,
07:10can I win a championship, a second championship with this team as currently constructed?
07:15And the answer to that question faces and looms Giannis Attentokounmpo, the Bucs, and Milwaukee.
07:22And the answer to that question, it may not be decided here on July 1st
07:26because the Milwaukee Bucs may not be done.
07:27We've seen them make moves throughout the day.
07:29But ultimately, Shams, you're absolutely right.
07:31That is what is most important here, Bobby.
07:33Well, that is.
07:34And I think when you look at what they've been able to do, it's kind of like the old and the new.
07:37As far as who they've brought in, they brought back Gary Trent, they brought back Torian Prince,
07:42Kevin Porter Jr., they went out and got Gary Harris.
07:45So what you're seeing is a little bit of a trend in shooting.
07:47They're basically surrounding Giannis and Miles Turner with some shooting.
07:51The question, and UD and Tim mentioned this, who's playing point guard?
07:57Right.
07:57That's the biggest thing.
07:58I know you can play Kevin Porter Jr.
07:59Whenever you have a question with the Bucs, the answer is Giannis.
08:02Point Giannis.
08:03No doubt.
08:03Giannis will be playing more point guard.
08:05But when he's on the bench, now who's running the show?
08:07We saw how they were able to maneuver that with Dame in the game, where Giannis was able
08:10to run point, Dame was able to play off the ball, and that worked.
08:13That was one of the top-scoring duos in the league.
08:15It looked good.
08:16But now who runs the point?
08:18And honestly, as I look at that situation, I look at where the Bucs were, and even if
08:21Dame was healthy, there's no knock against Dame, but was that a championship-caliber team
08:25anyway?
08:26So to your point, somebody gave him a get-out-of-jail-free card for both of them.
08:30Because I look at Dame, and was he ever really happy to be the Dame that he needed to be?
08:34So I look at both sides.
08:35As he gets all his money, he can pick where he wanted to go, which is a situation he wanted
08:38to have a few years ago.
08:40So I look at both teams in both situations, and everybody can win here, even though it's
08:43unfortunate.
08:44Everybody can still win here.
08:45And that's their only get-out-of-jail-free card.
08:48Because how the rules are is that you can only have 15% of salary that's stretched that
08:51counts against the cap.
08:52They're right at it.
08:53Yeah.
08:53So this was their one big move.
08:56They traded a couple picks when they sent Pat Connaughton to Charlotte today.
08:59Those were the last of their second-round picks.
09:01They still have a future first in 2031 or 2032.
09:05And when you look at it, you have three players now, Miles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Giannis,
09:09making 85% of your salary cap.
09:11Sure.
09:11So that's who you are right now.
09:13So Milwaukee is one of the entities that is impacted by all of this.
09:17You mentioned Dame, though, and his ability now to maybe choose where he wants to go, even
09:21if this is a little bit of a bittersweet pill to swallow.
09:24Our Anscape writer, Mark Spears, has a little bit more insight on this.
09:29Mark, what more can you tell us about how Dame feels about all of this?
09:32Well, Malik, I'm going to take you back home right now.
09:35Dame's doing the Brookfield dance.
09:37He's ecstatic.
09:37His agent, Aaron Goodwin, told me this is an incredible opportunity for him.
09:42He gets to be a free agent two years early, choose where he wants to go.
09:47Money really doesn't matter right now because he's still getting paid by the Bucs.
09:52He's going to be in Portland, which is an important part for him to rehab, be around his kids,
09:58which is extremely important.
09:59Wherever he goes next, that team must know that he plans to rehab in Portland
10:04so he could be close to his family.
10:07But he'll be around.
10:09And how many teams are calling?
10:10Oh, they're calling.
10:12There's about double-digit number of teams calling, interested in him.
10:16So I think the big question, too, is like, well, when will Dame be back?
10:21There's some speculation that he could be back around the All-Star break.
10:24So if he signs with a team, it may well be a two-year deal, which gives him a very economical deal for that team,
10:36but also allows him to do a two-year kind of tryout, see how it is, see if it's a place he could be long-term.
10:43So this is – Dame's doing the Brook – I can't do it.
10:47He's doing the Brookfield dance.
10:48He's ecstatic.
10:49This is great news for him.
10:51A little bittersweet at first, but once the deaths settled and they figured it out, boy, this is a good day for him.
10:57Ecstatic.
10:57Does that surprise you at all?
10:59No.
10:59Legs that – no?
11:00Free money and freedom?
11:02You can go where you want.
11:03Best of both worlds.
11:04He gets his money, and he gets to handpick.
11:06This is a guy that's never been to the finals.
11:08He hasn't won a championship.
11:09This guy has never hit free agency either.
11:10Exactly.
11:11He can handpick now where he wants to go and, you know, find a team potentially that doesn't have necessarily that lead guard,
11:17dominant lead guard locked up.
11:19He can sit around and look.
11:20And, look, if he comes back by all-star break, that would be a little bit surprising to me.
11:24But if he's able to do that, you're talking about having a couple of months to find his timing, rhythm, his consistency,
11:30because that is going to take time, even if he feels great physically.
11:34By the time you get to the playoffs, you might have a formidable force on your hands for one of these contenders.
11:39Unless somebody else wants to give him more free money to let him rehab while he's not playing,
11:44which if they do, take it, I would just sit back and wait and see what happens in the league.
11:48For sure.
11:49And worry about your rehab.
11:50And if you get to the back end of the season, you could be a huge change agent on a team that's competing.
11:56But if somebody wants to give him free money today, it's Dame's world right now.
12:00We're all just living in it.
12:01And not saying it's going to happen, but imagine this.
12:03You can actually have a team that can sign Damian Lillard for the minimum.
12:06Yeah.
12:06That's unheard of.
12:09We would have never thought that a team would be a huge change agent.
12:10UD, why for the minimum?
12:11Ask for more.
12:12If there's so many people bidding, ask for more.
12:14Dame is riding hot right now.
12:15Hey, Wendy, I'm working on something here.
12:16Chill out.
12:17I'm just saying.
12:18I'm just saying something.
12:19I see.
12:19Come on now.
12:20We can't blow up a spot here.
12:22But, Wendy, there's certainly the Milwaukee side of this.
12:25Absolutely, Damian Lillard is a piece of this.
12:27And that's been the majority of the conversation, and I think rightfully so.
12:30But then, in the back of my mind, I'll say I've kind of been thinking about Indiana.
12:34Because weren't we just a couple of weeks talking about how they were willing to go
12:38into the luxury tax?
12:39Indiana does not like Milwaukee.
12:41You got that right.
12:42It's probably their biggest rival in the league right now.
12:45So I do think that their intention was to go into luxury tax.
12:49And by the way, they made offers to Miles Turner that would have put them in the luxury tax.
12:53And to be honest with you, $27 million a year is market value.
12:59This is what he signed.
13:01I mean, we had Jakob Pertl sign with the Raptors today for roughly the same contract.
13:05Nas Reed last week signed for roughly the same price, slightly less than this.
13:10This isn't a contract that is out of line.
13:12But clearly, the Pacers weren't willing to go that deep into luxury tax.
13:15And look, the Pacers are a team that has not been a team that has been willing or has
13:20clearance to spend into the tax.
13:22They have not paid the tax in 20 years.
13:24And if Tyrese Halliburton had not gotten injured, this may have a different outcome.
13:28But he did.
13:30And there was a line that the Pacers were not willing to cross.
13:33And to be honest with you, they didn't plan for this.
13:35When they were looking at seeing what they thought they might have to pay, they did not
13:38plan for the Milwaukee Bucks to be able to come in and make this bid.
13:41And I'm sure it hit them out of the blue.
13:43But if I'm Tyrese Halliburton, similarly to if I'm Jason Tatum, I'm looking around and saying
13:47who's going to be there when I'm ready to come back, Bobby?
13:49Well, that's right.
13:50I mean, and I think the timing of it really stinks for Indiana, that we're almost two
13:54days in and every free agent center is off the board already.
13:57We saw Brooke Lopez, Clint Capella, all those players there.
14:01And I think that's the biggest question as far as right now, Tony Bradley is their starting
14:05center right now.
14:06And you'll probably see Obi Toppin also.
14:09Well, you also, Isaiah Jackson tours Achilles in November.
14:12So he's going to be back to the early part of the season.
14:15He's a guy they really like.
14:16He's never really gotten more than 16, 17 minutes a game.
14:20They like him a lot.
14:21So there is another big body with bouncy legs.
14:23He's coming back from a major injury, but he's going to have most of the season to find
14:27his legs again.
14:27James Wiseman, too, who also tore his Achilles last year, coming back off injury.
14:31You know, the Pacers at this point, they've taken a pretty big step back.
14:35And with the big question that the league is asking, are they going to take any more steps
14:40back?
14:41Are there going to be any more players on that roster who might be available in the coming
14:44days?
14:45Remember, they got their pick back in that trade.
14:47We talked about that.
14:48They have their first round pick back.
14:48And it seemed like something that wasn't very important when it happened in the middle of
14:52the finals.
14:52But now, all of a sudden, that pick is looking much more favorable.
14:55So tectonic plates shifting here in the Eastern Conference.
14:57But yesterday, it was the West that was really shaking things up.
15:00Coming up here on NBA Today to the Nuggets.
15:02Where do they rank following their hot start to free agency?
15:06Tim Legler, he's going to break down the unique fit between Joker, Tim Hardaway, and Cam Johnson.
15:11Plus, in the midst of all the madness, the MVP inked a rather large extension this morning.
15:17Shobbs is back to spotlight how Oklahoma City plans to build their roster following the payday.
15:22Also, it's a little quiet here in Los Angeles.
15:25What are the Lakers going to do?
15:26Our insiders working the phones, trying to figure out what Rob Palenka plans to do at
15:30Center in particular.
15:32Find out what we're hearing next on NBA Today.
15:36Welcome to Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
15:39Every real Hooper wants to be on the stage and be in this moment.
15:42Porter drives between the legs.
15:44Layup is good.
15:45How did he get that to go in?
15:46He just showed what we're capable of on the biggest stage in the world.
15:50Murray, jumper, puts it in.
15:52Jokic drives down a lane.
15:54Layup is good.
15:55Jokic is having his way, feeling it.
15:57It's a good feeling when you know that you did something that nobody believes in.
16:02At last, the long wait is over.
16:04After 47 years, the Denver Nuggets can finally call themselves NBA champions.
16:10I told them I don't want to stay on parade, but I f***ing want to stay on parade.
16:14This is 47 years in the making.
16:16A re-chance for life.
16:17I promise it's not personal, UD, that we keep playing these highlights.
16:22It's just the only highlights we got.
16:23It's just because Denver's been busy lately.
16:25It's the only highlights we got at ESPN.
16:28Let's talk about Denver currently.
16:29How's that?
16:30They've made some moves.
16:31They brought back Bruce Brown.
16:33They added Jonas Valanciunas.
16:35They added Tim Hardaway Jr.
16:36And then also, in a huge trade yesterday, brought in Cam Johnson in exchange for Michael Porter Jr.
16:41All of these moves have allowed Denver to get out of any apron situations
16:46and have allowed us to use that dun-dun-dun type of music.
16:49So where do you think, UD, that the Nuggets stack up in the West now?
16:53Just a little bit behind Houston, Wendy.
16:55Just a tad bit behind Houston.
16:57A little hair.
16:58I mean, we bring in a guy like Valanciunas.
16:59Let's be real.
17:00The Joker averaged 40 minutes per game in the playoffs.
17:02There's no way he can sustain that.
17:04You bring in a guy who played 18 minutes a game last year
17:06and averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds in 18 minutes.
17:08You don't need him to play 30 minutes.
17:10You just need him to give Joker a little break.
17:11You also go get a guy in Tim Hardaway Jr. who is ignitable.
17:14Guy shot 40% from three last year.
17:16He's the guy who you see one go through.
17:17He's liable to hit five, six, or seven.
17:19That just opened things up.
17:20Fan favorite, Bruce Brown, who's a guy who's killed us in the finals,
17:23averaged 11 points a game.
17:25I hated him then, but I love him now in that position going back there.
17:28I like what Denver is doing.
17:30This is a team that was one game away from the Western Conference Finals last year.
17:34Well, excuse me, one game away from beating the champions last year.
17:37So I say they're a little bit behind Houston, Wendy.
17:39I don't know why you say they're not that close.
17:42I agree.
17:43Comparable.
17:43I thought you meant for their offseason.
17:45But let me just say that Ben Tenzer and John Wallace, their new front office,
17:48they've done a remarkable job in their first few days running the show here.
17:52Number one, they've gotten Coach David Adelman options.
17:57This is something that Michael Malone just didn't believe he had last year.
18:00They have options.
18:01He can go different ways.
18:02I'm not saying Jonas Valanciunas is going to play 82 games.
18:05There might be times when he doesn't play.
18:06There might be times when we see, you know, Hardaway come in and out of the rotation.
18:11But now he's got options.
18:12The second thing is, with Cam Johnson, they've got a guy who can really help them defensively.
18:16I think he's going to be an upgrade defensively on Michael Porter, and he saved his owner tons of money.
18:23This maneuver helped save the Nuggets money, and that will not only make a difference this year,
18:27but into next year as they try to keep this window for Jokic open.
18:30This, to me, is like a home renovation.
18:33Like, you put a fresh coat of paint on something, redo the kitchen.
18:37That's what this feels like to me.
18:38What did they lack?
18:39They lacked depth.
18:40Yep.
18:40And they lacked a serviceable big when Jokic is off the floor.
18:44They answered both of those.
18:46And they upgraded a starting position from a championship team.
18:50To me, you're right, Houston, to me, they clearly won the race of the offseason.
18:55Denver's certainly trying to run them down in the homestretch, and I think more than the offseason,
19:00let's just talk about prospects for next year.
19:02Denver is a contender.
19:04Denver is that team that potentially could give the Thunder all they can handle again
19:08and maybe even come out of the West.
19:10That's how much I like what they've done to give them additional depth.
19:14That team looked completely gassed at the end of the year.
19:17This answers a lot of that.
19:18Led the league in starter minutes last season,
19:20and you could just tell that that took a toll on this team by the very end
19:23because we put nothing past Nikola Jokic at this point.
19:26And even at the end, he looked tired.
19:27This is not a player that ever shows fatigue.
19:29And he said it after they were eliminated last year.
19:33Clearly, we're not a championship-caliber team.
19:34I've got to say, these moves have me rethinking that,
19:37even in a very crowded Western conference.
19:39In the East, however, there are many more questions,
19:42including how is Giannis feeling following all of this movement in Milwaukee this morning?
19:46Shams is back with the latest.
19:47That's next on NBA Today.
19:50Well, before we continue to look ahead to this free agency season,
19:54we thought we'd put a bow on 2025 with a little top of the top,
19:58the best plays from the playoffs.
20:00First up, UD, it's top posterizations.
20:02This is the East's first round.
20:03Miles Turner against his current team.
20:06Hey, that man, go ahead, Giannis, go ahead and try to get that block.
20:09Now he doesn't have to.
20:11To the West we go.
20:13Anthony Edwards driving.
20:16Woo!
20:17Yakim.
20:18Yeah, when this man go up, you've got to make a decision.
20:20Yeah, not everybody's elevator goes to the same floor.
20:22And everybody ain't worth taking a charge on.
20:24This is a lot of end of eras that we're seeing.
20:26That's Alexi Yakim.
20:27Atonic play right here.
20:28Well, that was also used to, that was the pregame moment where you had, you know,
20:31he was in the huddle and everyone was wondering what was up there.
20:33Next up, top winning time, first round in the West, Aaron Gordon.
20:37This was one of the most insane plays, Tim, I've ever seen.
20:40They looked at that more than the Zapruder film.
20:42I'll figure out if he got that off in time.
20:45Jalen Brunson.
20:47Great move on a great defender.
20:49Can't knock that.
20:50I know, we spent a lot of time on Halliburton's game winners, but that was cold.
20:54And then this clutch defensive play here.
20:57Two games in a row, the Boston Celtics did not get a shot attempt with the game on the line.
21:03Insane.
21:04Last, we're just doing an homage to the champs here.
21:08J-Dub really came into his own in these playoffs.
21:11With a torn ligament in his wrist.
21:14It's not easy to block Aaron Gordon.
21:18Isaiah Hartenstein throwing it down.
21:21And then Shea Gildas-Alexander doing the splits.
21:24Somehow still finding J-Dub.
21:25When that is the pass, you've got to be able to knock down the shot.
21:31And they went on to win, of course, the title.
21:33But speaking of the champs, let's welcome back in Shams.
21:35Shams, SGA coming off one of the most accomplished seasons in NBA history.
21:40But how did the Thunder reward him for that?
21:42Today, some big news.
21:43Malika, Shea Gildas-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, Finals MVP,
21:48and the Oklahoma City Thunder have reached agreement on a four-year,
21:52$285 million super maximum contract extension.
21:56That makes him the highest annual paid player in NBA history.
22:01He got every penny of that super max contract.
22:03And this is the second long-term contract extension that he has signed in Oklahoma City.
22:08Remember back in 2021, Sam Presti and Shea Gildas-Alexander negotiated, collaborated.
22:13They had to really reach an agreement on that max extension.
22:16This one was different.
22:18This was SGA's extension, and he got every bells and whistle possible in this agreement.
22:24I am told his deal includes an opt-out in 2030-31 season.
22:29But this agreement truly cements the partnership that both sides have had since joining forces in 2019.
22:36Shams, thank you.
22:37Some big news earlier today as well.
22:39You broke the news earlier that the Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard,
22:42used the space to sign Miles Turner away from the Pacers.
22:45Now, Lillard is recovering from tearing his Achilles in the first round.
22:48And this is the lasting image that sits with me, at least.
22:51It's him sitting on the court in the aftermath of the injury.
22:54And I understand that this is a business, but this is just a brutal side of it to me.
22:58As you look at this, this final image of him in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform.
23:01What does this mean for a member of the NBA Top 75 list moving forward?
23:06This means business-wise and financially, he's going to be paid in full $113 million.
23:12He's going to be able to rehab that torn Achilles in Portland, surrounded by his family.
23:18Of course, there's going to be that sudden shock of being waived, stretched, and released.
23:22But for the first time in his NBA career, he's going to be able to go and find a home and enter free agency.
23:29I am told that he welcomed the release once informed on Tuesday and that he's going to welcome a change of scenery away from Milwaukee.
23:39So that is the Damian Lillard side of all of this, Shams.
23:42But then on the other side, it's Milwaukee.
23:44What does this mean for the Bucks moving forward?
23:46You talked about the creativity that was required by John Horst here to be able to do something to try to upgrade this roster.
23:51For John Horst, the fact that you can now pull this lever of Damian Lillard stretch and wave, this is not something anyone had on their bingo card going into free agency.
24:02But he, Turner's agent, Austin Brown, they had to figure out exactly how to find a maneuver because they didn't have any salary space, didn't have the exceptions available for Miles Turner.
24:14And so once they go and reach an agreement on a deal, then it became about Damian Lillard's deal as well.
24:23But again, all of that stems from the fact that Miles Turner believed he was getting below market value offers from the Pacers going into his free agency process.
24:32He wanted to stay in Indy, but once the door was open for him, that's when the Milwaukee Bucks pounced.
24:37All right, so that's how it looked in the boardroom as all of these deals were trying to be figured out.
24:41But how is it going to look on the hardwood?
24:42Well, for more on that, let's go to Legler and UD. Gentlemen, what you got?
24:45All right, look, UD, let's talk about a big man that can score, shoot the ball, and protect the paint, something you did very well in your career as well.
24:52So we'll start off, this is what you're getting with Miles Turner.
24:55I can talk about shooting all day long.
24:56I'm not even going to put it in this tape in terms of his three-point shooting.
24:59He is more than that, and that's what we want to talk about.
25:02It starts right here, something UD noticed.
25:04He's a very good screener.
25:06What do you like about this right here, UD?
25:07I love the fact that he sets the screen underneath.
25:09Oftentimes, as big, and young bigs at home take note of this, oftentimes as bigs, we like to get on the side of the defender.
25:16Right here, Miles Turner gets underneath the defender, which ensures that your guard is going to get downhill, and you're going to most likely force a switch.
25:22Makes it a very difficult read for the defense.
25:24Now, as we continue this, the second part of it, you know he wants to get to that pick and pop, but look what the Knicks do right here.
25:31They're going to take that away by playing on the top side.
25:34So what Miles Turner is looking at right now is his teammate, Tyrus Halliburton, getting downhill, and he's looking at the defender.
25:40At this point, Carl Anthony Towns is completely sold out to protect the penetration.
25:44So, UD, at this point, what is available to Miles Turner?
25:48If I'm Miles Turner right here, I have two options.
25:50I'm looking at the fact that my guard is most likely going to get downhill against this big, so I have an offensive rebound opportunity,
25:55and I have an opportunity with the guard that's on my back to roll to the back seat and get an easy layup.
25:59That's exactly what he does.
26:01He seals, catches the ball.
26:02He's that rare combination of big that can shoot it but also finish with power.
26:06And then defensively, we always talk about his impact.
26:08The first thing he does right here, hangs out, hangs out to protect against this penetration,
26:13even though he knows his man that he's guarding right here, Chet Holmgren, is starting to drift out to the three-point line.
26:19So, UD, let's talk about what he is looking at right now defensively.
26:23You got the stop here.
26:24Walk us through this closeout.
26:26I mean, first things first here, he has to stop the ball.
26:28The ball is the priority.
26:29Second thing is you understand that you have a shooting big on the perimeter, so you have to close out.
26:33But close out with technique.
26:34No middle stance.
26:35You do not want to give up middle.
26:36And secondly, you don't want to go for a shot, but you have to be the second.
26:38You have to be the second guy off the floor when he shoots this ball.
26:40Which is exactly what he does.
26:41Great job.
26:42Incredibly difficult to time up, blocking the three-point shot.
26:45Miles Turner does it right here, but he's not quite done.
26:48Chet Holmgren runs this down, and Chet Holmgren looks up at that clock, and he knows we're deep clock.
26:52Miles Turner sees that as well, which means there's only one thing left for Chet Holmgren to do.
26:56Put this thing on the ground and watch Miles Turner, UD, walk us through the rest of this play
27:01and the great defense that he plays in the paint.
27:03If you're a big, all bets are off right now.
27:05You have to guard your yard.
27:06There is no help.
27:07He is getting downhill.
27:08You have to keep your chest in front, stay between him and the basket, and make him take a tough shot.
27:12If he makes it, he makes it, but he has to take a tough shot in that situation.
27:15This is what the Bucs are getting.
27:17Hopefully, Giannis likes that.
27:18Malika.
27:19That is the biggest question, Legs.
27:20Thank you so very much.
27:21That's how it's going to look on the floor, but let's take a little bit of a look behind the scenes here
27:25with Ramona Shelburne.
27:26Mark Spears back with us once again.
27:28Ramona, I want to start with you here.
27:29While we're talking about Miles Turner, Legs is right.
27:32Ultimately, what matters the most is how the Milwaukee Bucs can continue to build around their franchise star.
27:38How is this move reverberating?
27:40Well, they did inform Giannis Antetokounmpo they were doing this.
27:44This was a conversation with John Horst.
27:47Giannis is on vacation with his family, obviously.
27:50Now, did they tell him they were waiving Damian Lillard in order to facilitate this?
27:54I don't know the answer to that.
27:56But he did know about Miles Turner, and I think he was excited about Miles Turner
27:59because he's played against him.
28:01He knows how good he is.
28:02He does, as they just explained, he does so many things well that they need on this team.
28:07I think Sean said something very interesting earlier in the show.
28:10I keep hanging on what he said because I listen to every word that man says.
28:14He said, if by the end of the offseason, Giannis looks at what they're doing and likes where they are,
28:20he's going to look himself in the mirror.
28:21At the end of the offseason, that's the closest I've heard for anyone to put a date on when Giannis is going to have that conversation,
28:28when he's going to make it, whether it's a decision or have a conversation about his own future in Milwaukee.
28:34And that jives with what I've heard before.
28:36It usually moves of that stature.
28:38They don't take place until later in the offseason.
28:41People need to see how things settle.
28:42Right.
28:42And so I think when he said end of the offseason, that was something new to me.
28:45And let's see.
28:47As Brian said earlier, is that needle moving?
28:49Is that enough?
28:50Is this enough?
28:50But he did know about Miles Turner, and I think there was an alignment with the franchise and Giannis.
28:54Some excitement, maybe, that they were making a move there for another big.
28:57A big that can shoot.
28:57A big that can stretch the floor because that's been a patent of the Milwaukee Bucks offense.
29:01They've really, really enjoyed a big that can do a little bit of both.
29:05Both be a threat at the rim, but also be able to stretch the floor for Giannis.
29:08So you're saying, Ramona, can't answer whether or not Giannis knew exactly how this move was made,
29:13but liked the move.
29:14Did Dame know that this was coming?
29:16It was a card that Aaron Goodwin knew about.
29:22He just didn't think the Bucks were going to play this card.
29:26The Bucks have some amazing super nerds in their computer room, and somehow they conjured
29:31up this potion, and they brought it up to the GM, and the GM's like, sounds crazy, but it
29:38sounds interesting.
29:40We could really do this?
29:41And I think what they did, they brought it up to ownership, I'm told, and ownership signed
29:46off on it.
29:47And I give the super nerds in that room credit for coming up with this concoction to figure
29:54out a way to maximize a major issue.
29:57What do you do with an injured player like that?
29:59They stretched them.
30:01They figured it out.
30:02They got miles.
30:03And for the people that were initially going at the Bucks, like, why would you do that to
30:07Dane?
30:09Dane's going to be sending them a Christmas card or a ham.
30:13Thank you now.
30:13Right.
30:14Because he gets to be home.
30:16He gets to be a free agent two years early.
30:18He still get his money?
30:20You see John Horst and Doc Rivers, he's giving them a hug.
30:23They did him a major favor, and it all started with the super nerds coming up with this idea.
30:29We love the super nerds.
30:30Let's talk about the Pacer side of this, because we all just got done watching one of the most
30:33incredible postseason runs in anything I've covered.
30:36I haven't seen a team come from the fourth place position or any spot like that in a
30:41long time.
30:41And this is a blow for the Pacers, but in talking with them, they're proud of themselves
30:46for the discipline they showed here.
30:48They were talking more about three-year offers.
30:50I think they were $30, $40 million less than what this ended up being.
30:54So that's a lot of money.
30:55And at the end of this, they did ask if there could be a sign-and-trade.
30:59Could they talk to Milwaukee about a sign-and-trade?
31:01But they didn't need one, obviously, with this Damian Lillard thing.
31:03Could they get a player back?
31:04But this is about discipline for them.
31:06And this is about extending this championship window around Tyrese Halliburton.
31:09It's going to be hard to do.
31:11Brian outlined who they have on the roster.
31:13But they really feel like there was a sort of red line.
31:16And I know the tax, and they've never paid it since 2005.
31:212005.
31:22And there's a real vacancy in the Eastern Conference.
31:24Ramona, you've covered this league.
31:25Both of you have for many, many decades at this point.
31:29The moves, I can't ask you to get inside the mind of Giannis.
31:33But the moves that Milwaukee has made thus far, are they better, materially better today, than they were healthy last season?
31:42Are they better with Miles Turner than they were with Brooke Lopez?
31:45Than they were healthy last season.
31:46Healthy Dame, healthy Brooke.
31:47Not without Dame.
31:49And that's, I think, going to be the calculation.
31:50Well, I think we've still got to wait and see.
31:53Yeah.
31:53I feel like they're still working.
31:56Can't miss somebody who's not playing.
31:57I know, but she said healthy.
31:58Are they better than a healthy person?
31:59And I think that that's one of the calculations.
32:01They can end up regretting it if he's back sooner than expected.
32:04That's the thing I'm keeping an eye on.
32:05And you mentioned earlier that it could be even as soon as this season, which was surprising to me.
32:10I know.
32:10We've heard that with Jason Tatum and all that.
32:12And everybody's, they're going to get there and everybody's going to say, stop.
32:15Us people from Oakland, Ramona.
32:18I know.
32:19Still to come on NBA Today.
32:20Let's go a little farther south.
32:22Why Los Angeles free agency, period?
32:26You're watching the NBA Today free agency special presented by ESPN Pet Sportsbook.
32:32All right.
32:33So here's what we know.
32:34We know that LeBron James opted into his $52.6 million player option for next season,
32:38which could make it easier for him to move if there was a sign-in trade
32:43that would have been available, maybe?
32:46I don't know about that.
32:47The next order of business is extending Luka Doncic,
32:49who will become eligible to sign a projected four-year $222 million extension on August 2nd.
32:54With no extension, he could become a free agent next offseason.
32:57And then there's Austin Reeves, technically extension eligible,
33:00but he can only extend for up to $89 million over four seasons.
33:03That likely won't get done since next year he could sign for a projected $240 million over five years.
33:11A lot of money can change here.
33:13Rob Palenka certainly has his work cut out for him.
33:17Joining us now is our reporter covering the Los Angeles Lakers, Dave McMenamin.
33:20Dave, I just posted a lot of hypotheticals, could be, might be easier, sign-in trade.
33:25This is what could happen.
33:26This is what won't.
33:27Can you just shed some light on what the Lakers' plan is here?
33:29Because there has not been a whole lot of action.
33:30Well, we came into the segment talking about LeBron, who's a wing.
33:34Luka Doncic, who's a wing.
33:36Austin Reeves, who's a wing.
33:37The Lakers still need a center.
33:39And we're in day two of free agency.
33:40See, I spoke to a source with familiarity with what the Lakers are thinking today.
33:45And they're weighing several trade scenarios, I'm told, to try to acquire this center.
33:51One of which, and I don't have the name, so we just have to, you know, maybe rely on Bobby and the trade machine here.
33:57That they are talking to a team that they think will be going after another trade.
34:03And that other trade will end up having a surplus center for that team.
34:07And then the Lakers can approach them with that trade.
34:10Okay, okay.
34:10I follow that.
34:11Now we're playing Tetris with a team that could be making a trade.
34:14And then the Lakers can slot in with this trade.
34:16You called for Bobby Marks.
34:18Let's bring it in now.
34:19Bobby, make this make sense.
34:21I don't know what Dave just said we could do on the trade machine as far as going there and here and here.
34:25But we're going to bring it to free agency.
34:27First this, then that.
34:28Let's keep it simple.
34:29Free agency touchscreen here.
34:30This is where the Lakers are.
34:32This 182 number, because they signed Jake LaRavia to that exception yesterday, they cannot exceed 195.
34:38So we're playing with $13 million in salary.
34:42Here are your free agents that are left on the board.
34:45It has shrunk considerably.
34:46Mo Wagner, DeAndre Aiton, Al Horford, we think is spoken for already.
34:51Larry Nance Jr. has signed in Cleveland.
34:53He is off the board.
34:54And, of course, Tristan Thompson, who has been there already.
34:58DeAndre Aiton is the name to keep an eye on.
34:59He's the best available.
35:02Likely in this range here, the $7.5 million, because when you put Aiton in, that gives you enough flexibility, about $6 million under that hard cap.
35:13You are restricted, first apron hard cap, to go out and add players to your roster.
35:18From a trade perspective here, Dave, we want to talk about that.
35:21Yeah.
35:22You have all these expiring contracts.
35:24Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vinson, Maxi Kleber, right?
35:29Certainly you have young players like Dalton Connect.
35:32You have your 2031 or 2032 first.
35:35So you have the trade assets if you want to go out and try to get that center that might be available out there.
35:40Okay, so the simplest answer to this question, it seems like, right now, is DeAndre Aiton.
35:44UD, does that do it for you?
35:46And does it do it, in your mind, for Luka?
35:48DeAndre Aiton does it for me size-wise, but he doesn't do it for me when you want to unlock Luka,
35:53when you want to give Luka his best chance to be his best version.
35:56Luka thrives with vertical spacing.
35:57He needs a guy that's going to roll to the basket, make some lobs, get defenses to overreact.
36:02Then he can play his game in the pocket and do what he does best.
36:05And also, it opens up shooters.
36:07DeAndre Aiton is a guy who wants to get the ball in the post.
36:09He wants to get to the mid-range.
36:10He wants to play his game.
36:12He ain't getting the ball.
36:13The ball's going to be in Luka's hand.
36:14The ball's going to be in LeBron's hand.
36:15The ball's going to be in Austin Reeves' hand.
36:17You don't have to roll your ass to the basket.
36:19And that's what he needs to do, and that is not his game.
36:21I like the size.
36:22I don't like the fit.
36:23You know who needs a surplus center?
36:25The Lakers.
36:26Because they don't need just one center.
36:28They probably need two centers.
36:30Because if you look at the teams in the Western Conference,
36:32if you see Houston, Houston's got a bunch of centers.
36:35You see the Clippers, they got a bunch of centers.
36:37Even what Denver just did.
36:38Why do you think they'd do that?
36:40Because they need to beat the Thunder, to beat the Nuggets,
36:44to beat the Rockets, you've got to have size.
36:46Size and depth.
36:47So, yeah, they may be able to sign one of these free agents.
36:50Maybe they get DeAndre Aydin.
36:51The fact that Milwaukee ended up making this big move today
36:53was potentially helpful to the Lakers
36:55because the Bucs were a contender for DeAndre Aydin.
36:58But they might need to do a trade and a signing
37:01to build up the roster on this team.
37:02Brian, who ended the season playing the five for the Lakers?
37:06It was like a bunch of guys who were not five.
37:08Was it like LeBron, Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hutchinson?
37:10Yeah, Dorian Finney-Smith, exactly, who's on Houston right now.
37:13Yeah, I mean, look, they were one of the finalists for Brooke Lopez.
37:15We were all surprised that they didn't get Brooke Lopez.
37:18But from what I understand, the uncertainty around LeBron James' situation,
37:22that that quote caused, that everything is,
37:24that we've all been talking about for three days
37:27since the quote was issued, factored into Brooke Lopez's decision.
37:31I mean, when you're thinking about, look,
37:32Brooke Lopez is a starting center in the NBA.
37:34He chose a backup role with the Los Angeles Clippers.
37:37Yeah, I think it was a little more money.
37:39But they did Jake LaRabia first.
37:41They could have gotten Brooke if they would have prioritized Brooke.
37:46But in the back, no, uncertainty in Milwaukee factored into his decision as well.
37:50But the Lakers were thought of as the frontrunner for Brooke Lopez
37:54and didn't get him, and the Los Angeles Clippers did
37:56because there's been a lot of uncertainty around them
37:59after that statement was issued.
38:01I mean, somebody just help me understand this.
38:02Two things can be true.
38:03I understand where LeBron is in his career,
38:05and I understand what his priority is, rightfully so.
38:08I also understand where the L.A. Lakers are
38:10and what their priorities are, rightfully so.
38:12How realistic is it that LeBron leaves?
38:14Because I don't think it's a chance in hell LeBron going anywhere.
38:17So how realistic is that, people?
38:18Who has the assets and who has the money to actually make that work?
38:21Yeah, and if you're Brooke Lopez and you're making that decision,
38:25do you want to take a chance?
38:27That's visceral, right?
38:29So I also think it's important to note here, of course, you're totally right.
38:33The Lakers had very keen interest in Brooke Lopez.
38:36Once he came off the board, they are shifting towards an idea.
38:39I'm told the thesis is youth and athleticism.
38:43And so obviously DeAndre Ayton would fit that.
38:45Some of that thinking is look at the two teams that played in the NBA Finals,
38:49the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are in the Western Conference,
38:51the Lakers have to contend with, and the Indiana Pacers.
38:54Switchable young defenders about multiple bodies coming at you in waves,
38:58and they are trying to achieve a center that can play that way.
39:02But I got your back here, UD.
39:03We kind of circled around the question and didn't totally get to the nuts and bolts of it.
39:08But I'm kind of in the same boat.
39:10It's hard for me to see LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers
39:14just because we laid out all of the possible options here.
39:17There just aren't that many.
39:19And so if that's the case, then you're trying to do a path,
39:22building to make LeBron James happy now,
39:24building around Luka Doncic in the future.
39:25A lot of that comes back to a rim-running center that can catch lobs.
39:29There's a whole lot of questions the Lakers have to answer.
39:31Earlier we had Shams and Ramona talk about how Giannis was just chilling
39:37and watching the offseason.
39:39I am told LeBron's just chilling and watching the offseason.
39:42Do I think he's going to get traded?
39:44No, I do not.
39:45But if he wanted to get traded, there are teams who would step up and make offers.
39:49So those two things I think are true.
39:52And if LeBron speaks up for himself and has a different thing to say,
39:55then we could have some action.
39:56But I don't know if that will happen.
39:57What was that graphic on Luka Doncic?
39:59It's August 2nd he has a contract decision to make.
40:02So they should be looking to make Luka happy in the now as well,
40:05not just LeBron happy in the now.
40:07And that is the juggling act that the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to do.
40:10We can all agree on this, though.
40:12Summer League is coming up.
40:13The 10th annual Salt Lake City Summer League begins Thursday.
40:16Our doubleheader is the Grizzlies and the Thunder.
40:18That's at 7 Eastern.
40:19That's over on ESPNU.
40:20You've got the Sixers and the Jazz at 9 o'clock.
40:22These games are prepped for the NBA 2K26 Summer League,
40:25which starts Thursday, July 10th in Las Vegas.
40:29Coming up here on NBA Today, it's July, and the Knicks still don't have a head coach.
40:34We're going to tell you what we're hearing about their plans for their roster
40:38and their coaching vacancy after this.
40:40I asked Brian for a word to describe this free agency.
40:43He said expensive.
40:45I'll say so.
40:46Look at this.
40:46Over $2 billion has been agreed to since free agency opened about 26 hours ago.
40:51And one of the most active teams has been the Milwaukee Bucks.
40:54Brian, how would you grade their free agency so far?
40:56I got a new word.
40:57It's buyout.
40:58Because this buyout for Dame Lillard took the entire league by surprise.
41:02So it took the Indiana Pacers by surprise.
41:05It's given the Bucks an entire new outlook on their offseason.
41:08They've been able to re-sign a majority of their free agents.
41:11They're key players that they've had to be supporting players.
41:13The one guy that they've lost has been Brooke Lopez,
41:16who they've replaced with an excellent option in Miles Turner,
41:20an upgrade at that position.
41:21And they still have some money left to do maneuvering.
41:24And what they're hoping for is an engaged Yon Satenakupo,
41:27who very well could win his third MVP award next year.
41:30Are they a team that I would consider the favorite?
41:32No.
41:33Are they a contender?
41:35Yes.
41:35And let's remember a team that was in the middle of the pack this last year
41:39at the Eastern Conference that had depth and had great play at the top of their lineup,
41:43ended up in the finals.
41:44That's what the Bucks are dreaming of right now.
41:46Any team that has Yonis on it, you cannot count out.
41:48But the same could be said for a couple of other select stars in the league,
41:52including someone like, I don't know, Nikola Jokic.
41:54So let's go from the 2021 champs to the 2023 champions, the Denver Nuggets.
41:58They made the splash first.
41:59They traded away Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson.
42:03You can see their numbers compared here.
42:05But Tim Legler, on the floor, how is this going to look?
42:09Here's how it fits, and here's how it helps Denver.
42:11And this is why I think it was an upgrade.
42:13Let's talk about, first of all, some of the action you're going to see right here.
42:16And, Malik, let me ask you a question.
42:17Do you know any other teams in the Western Conference that like to run a two-man game?
42:21There's a couple.
42:22What about Oklahoma City?
42:23And maybe the Denver Nuggets, right?
42:25Yeah.
42:25So this is that action right here.
42:26You're going to turn the corner.
42:28You're going to get a dive.
42:29What I want you to focus on is here.
42:31This is Cam Johnson on the weak side of the floor.
42:32He's got great instincts for this.
42:34And he's a very good off-the-movement shooter.
42:37As you see the defense right here collapse on the paint, watch Cam Johnson circle back
42:44behind the basketball to create that space.
42:46Very good off-the-movement.
42:47And then, watch this.
42:48Little pump fake.
42:49Freezes him.
42:50Sidestep.
42:51Knocks it down.
42:51Does that at a high level.
42:53Perfect release.
42:54He also does this.
42:55You can run pin downs for him at a higher level than what you could Michael Porter.
42:59And you're going to see right here.
43:00A couple of screens are going to be set.
43:02Now, this is going to be a read.
43:03You've got a double screen coming off the corner.
43:06They're going to read their teammate in the corner and see what he wants to do.
43:09As you see right here, when this cut is made along the baseline, that tells now Cam Johnson
43:14he is going to circle back off this down screen.
43:17And watch how quickly he gets to the three-point line, even against an all-league defender like
43:22Lou Dort.
43:23He doesn't need much time.
43:24It's a great read.
43:26Watch how quick those feet get together, how quickly that ball is out of his hands off the
43:30down screen.
43:30Now, how does it fit with Nikola Jokic?
43:32He's also an excellent weak side cutter.
43:34How does that play in?
43:35Well, pretty much any time Jokic has the ball in the post, he is surveying everything on
43:40the weak side of the floor, as you can see right here.
43:43He's looking at all these eyes on the weak side, and he's also looking at his teammate.
43:48Any sort of weak side cut, Nikola Jokic is going to find you.
43:52Cam Johnson is a very good weak side cutter.
43:55When there's space, said it yesterday, I'm going to say it again.
43:58Cam Johnson is about to get the highest quality of shot he's ever gotten in his career because
44:03he's playing with Nikola Jokic.
44:04He's pulling a Beyonce, you're going to get an upgrade you type of situation.
44:08Thank you for painting that picture for us here, Legs.
44:10Really appreciate it.
44:11As we take a look here at the still available free agents, some notable free agent names
44:16that are still available here on the market.
44:17Of course, DeAndre Ayton at the top of this list as we're keeping monitoring that.
44:23But as we also look at some restricted free agents here, Jonathan Kaminga, Quinton Grimes
44:28come to mind.
44:29So now let's welcome in our reporter who spent a whole lot of time covering the Golden State
44:32Warriors last season.
44:34I mentioned Jonathan Kaminga here.
44:36What is the plan for him, Om, for the Golden State Warriors?
44:39Malika, it almost feels like we're in a little bit of a holding pattern because we have to
44:42wait and see what kind of market Jonathan Kaminga can get outside of Golden State.
44:48Can he find another team that will want him and then pay him and then also perhaps work
44:53out a sign and trade with Golden State?
44:54Or does he want to remain in Golden State?
44:56Does he want to take the qualifying offer and then maybe become a free agent next season
45:00and bet on himself?
45:01Those are all things we're going to see.
45:02Now, look, the Warriors, GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.
45:05has said, hopefully we get this done sooner than later.
45:08But it looks like they're going to wait.
45:09All league sources around the league are telling me they still hear Al Horford's name
45:14with the Warriors.
45:15They can do that before Kaminga.
45:17But as far as filling out the rest of the roster and what else Golden State can do,
45:21they're going to have to probably wait and see what Jonathan Kaminga does.
45:24All right.
45:24And a little bit of a holding pattern here.
45:26Om Young Masuk, thank you so very much.
45:27As we head back to the desk here with our wonderful panel.
45:30I'm curious, Udonis, when you hear that we're in a little bit of a holding pattern for
45:33Jonathan Kaminga, what should Kaminga want here?
45:37He should want to go be his best version.
45:38And I don't think that's going to happen in Golden State.
45:40And it's nothing against Golden State.
45:42It's nothing against Kaminga.
45:43It's just not a good fit.
45:44And especially when you bring in a guy like Jimmy Butler.
45:46Jimmy Butler is a damn good basketball player.
45:49He needs the ball in his hands.
45:50He's going to make other guys better.
45:51He's going to defend on the other end.
45:52His basketball IQ is out of the roof.
45:54And I think that's where he gets the edge with Kaminga, where you put him in the game
45:57and you put him with Steph, you put him with those other guys, and you don't miss a beat.
46:01You put Kaminga in, and it's a little bit of a standstill offensively.
46:05He gets the ball in his hands.
46:06He wants to do his thing.
46:06So Jonathan Kaminga should look for a situation or opportunity to be his best version.
46:12It is his time, and he should not feel bad about that at all.
46:15Because oftentimes we make guys feel bad about wanting to step into their light and be their
46:18best version.
46:19I don't think he should feel bad about this.
46:20He's played the game.
46:21He's been in Golden State long enough.
46:23This is a guy who's 15 points per game, 45% from the field.
46:26He's a damn good basketball player.
46:27It's his time to shine, and he wants his opportunity, and I don't blame him.
46:29What I'm hearing from different people is, like, where is he getting his money from?
46:35What has he proven?
46:37We've seen splashes.
46:39Yeah, we saw it when Steph went out in the playoffs last year.
46:41But not something consistent.
46:44One GM said, I think he needs to worry more about the fit than the money right now and take
46:50care of the money later with his play.
46:53So I'm hearing the Warriors are still optimistic that they're going to re-sign him.
46:57But if they re-sign him, maybe that's for a sign and trade.
47:00Another thing I'm hearing of the many teams that reached out to Damon Lillard, the Warriors
47:08were one of those teams.
47:09This is a guy that grew up going to games at Oracle Arena, sneaking in the media room,
47:16getting sodas.
47:17Grew up a Warriors fan.
47:20That's interesting.
47:21I know Kaminga's big, but, you know, hearing that the Warriors do have interest in Dame,
47:26I know that's very interesting to Bay Area people.
47:31Well, it wouldn't necessarily be an either-or, although that is interesting, Spears.
47:34If this isn't the worst market for restricted free agents in the last generation, I don't
47:40want to see it.
47:41There's just no money out there for a cap space.
47:44And sign and trades are very tough to pull out.
47:46I know that they happen routinely.
47:48We just saw one with Duncan Robinson, as a matter of fact.
47:50But they're very hard with restricted free agents because the team that has the rights
47:53isn't motivated to play ball.
47:55And so Kaminga is in a tough spot.
47:57Josh Giddey is in a tough spot.
47:59Quentin Grimes is in a tough spot.
48:00In these situations, what you tend to get is stalemates.
48:03And so what ends up, might end up happening, is the best thing for the Warriors is to retain
48:07Jonathan Kaminga, to use him as an asset later on in trade.
48:11The best thing for Jonathan Kaminga might be to do something similar, even if these two
48:15sides probably are primed for a breakup.
48:17Okay, so play this out for me, Lex.
48:19Yeah, listen, I think personally at this point, I think that the Warriors need Jonathan Kaminga
48:23more than he needs them.
48:25And here's what I mean by that.
48:26Where are the athletes on this team?
48:28He does represent an athletic wing.
48:30The guy does have something from a skill standpoint and just a physical standpoint they don't have
48:35on their roster.
48:36I understand he's got warts.
48:37I know that.
48:38They wish he was a little bit more locked in, like defensively with his concentration.
48:42They wish that he was more consistent with his rebounding effort.
48:45I get all of that.
48:47The guy has played almost 6,000 minutes for the Golden State Warriors, and he's still auditioning.
48:51But I think at some point, you've got to come to the realization it's not going to happen
48:56for him in Golden State, where he's going to break through.
48:58And guess what?
48:58It might not happen somewhere else either.
49:00But I think Jonathan Kaminga, to find out, I think he needs to go somewhere where he doesn't
49:05have such cynicism looking at him all the time.
49:07Right.
49:07Waiting for the bad habits to crop themselves so he can go back to the bench.
49:11That's what I mean by that.
49:12They need him.
49:13They need the physical specimen that he is.
49:15He needs a fresh start somewhere else to see what this guy can actually become in this
49:19league.
49:19And that's so well put when you're constantly saying, you know, this is who I am.
49:22This is who I am.
49:23This is who I am.
49:24If people don't want to believe you, then that at some point ends up on the team.
49:28Can we just, real quick, Damian Lillard potentially getting calls for him from the Golden
49:35State Warriors, Eudonis, does that address a need?
49:38As he should.
49:38You're talking to a hometown kid that took multiple pay cuts just to stay at the crib.
49:42As he should.
49:43As he has the opportunity to play at home, that's a lifelong dream for a lot of people.
49:47And at his point in his career, you want to have an opportunity to win a championship,
49:51you get a chance to play against Steph.
49:52I don't know if you win it, but you got a damn good opportunity when you play against Steph.
49:55I ain't never betting against a chef over there.
49:57So if he has the opportunity to start over there and go play with chef, at least take a look
50:02at it.
50:02At least take a look at it.
50:05Greatest range of any backcourt in history.
50:07I can tell you that.
50:08They would put on a show.
50:09There's going to be a lot of switching on pick and roll.
50:10I don't want to be the one calling W.
50:12You got that one.
50:12Don't call me up.
50:13You go.
50:14Not me.
50:14But you did say there were a dozen or so teams who were making these calls with Damian
50:18Lillard.
50:18He's going to take his time.
50:19Yep.
50:20But that has to.
50:22But that's interesting to think about.
50:23I mean, you know, that's home.
50:26I have one point, and to piggyback off you said, it makes all the world to a basketball player
50:30when you feel wanted.
50:32I know we big.
50:33We got tattoos and we athletic.
50:34We're sensitive.
50:35We want to feel wanted in the locker room and by the coaches and by that organization.
50:40And once you don't feel wanted as a basketball player, it's hard to go back.
50:43It's hard to go back mentally as much as you might want to.
50:46It is hard to go back mentally when you don't feel wanted somewhere.
50:48His cousins are still Warriors fans.
50:51Oh, yeah.
50:52When you're from Oakland, that's how it is.
50:53Of course.
50:53Your cousin's going to be worse.
50:54Just as our former NBA players over here, just so you guys know, you're always wanted
50:59here.
50:59Oh, thank you.
51:00Still to come on NBA Today, our marathon is going to roll on.
51:03We're going to.
51:04We're going to.
51:04We're going to.
Recommandations
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