Sports
Fool'd Ya
In this episode of 'Fool'd Ya', the hosts discuss the latest developments surrounding NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo's potential trade to the New York Knicks. With insights from in...
Fool'd Ya
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Maybe 15 years, 20 years, maybe by now,
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we're just lovely mixed and career.
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It takes more than skills to be great.
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That's what people don't understand.
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You can be the most skillful person of...
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Still don't make that NBA.
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The NBA is not about skills.
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When you think about LeBron, you think about Consistence.
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It's not about learning.
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He's been great for 20 years.
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Think about MJ.
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Edge, about getting better in obsession.
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Kobe obsession.
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Stan.
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And it's not just skills.
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The thing that makes me a step further than people is the obsession
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and the distance I have towards the game.
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Why do you fight?
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To the back.
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To the back.
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Welcome to NBA today with Malika Andrews, live from Los Angeles.
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Happy Tuesday, everyone.
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We're going to start our show with a developing story.
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Our senior insider, Shabb Sharania, reported early this morning
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that Yannis Atenta Kumpo expressed questions about the
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flexibility to truly contend over the summer to his front office.
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Now, Shabb's also reported that as the two sides discussed
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and passed forward, it became clear that there was another place
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that Yannis wanted to play outside of Milwaukee.
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And that was the New York Knicks.
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So, Shabb's here alongside our front office insider, Bobby Marks.
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Shabb's, let's get into the details here.
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Just how serious were these talks between the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks?
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Malika, they were serious simply for the facts that sources told me that the New York Knicks
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emerged as the team in August that Yannis Atenta Kumpo wanted to play for
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if you were to be traded outside of Milwaukee, if these two sides could reach agreement on a deal.
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And so, the Bucks also picked up that phone call that the Knicks made.
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And I was told, essentially from one source, that this was an exclusive negotiating window
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that the Knicks had over multiple weeks in August.
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Leon Rose, the Knicks president, called John Horst.
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The Bucks General Manager, these sides had multiple conversations, offers were made.
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But there are two sides to this.
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The Bucks I'm told believed that the Knicks did not even offer a deal strong enough to continue.
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These conversations, the Knicks believe I'm told, that the Bucks never seriously considered a trade of Yannis Atenta Kumpo.
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This summer, and this all stems from the facts that Yannis Atenta Kumpo, the Bucks still believe,
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is a guy that can help them right now when a championship they still want to win with Yannis Atenta Kumpo.
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That's what I'm told.
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John Horst told Yannis Atenta Kumpo in their face-to-face meeting in late July that we can still win here with you.
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But clearly, Yannis Atenta Kumpo aired his level of concern as well with the roster.
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And so that's where these two sides are at.
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And people in New York have known, going back to 2024, that if this point ever came, Yannis Atenta Kumpo might actually want to play in New York.
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So they've had knowledge that this is a possibility for a little bit of time here.
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They had a window, no deal.
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I think we're about to get to a moment of truth.
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And I think we've got basically a one-year timeline when you look at the future of Yannis in Milwaukee here.
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Here's a player if we fast forward to next summer is extension eligible.
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And that is going to show a lot of us what his commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks is going to be.
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Because we know that four-year, $275 million, Yannis Atenta Kumpo will be there next summer.
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And if he doesn't sign that extension, or maybe if this team struggles during the course of this year,
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that Milwaukee front office is going to have to make a decision before Yannis comes to them and forces their hand.
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Well, and something that Shoms laid out in his story is that Yannis signed an extension with the Bucks in 2021.
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He signed another extension with the Bucks in 2023.
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But is the window closed here?
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We're heading into training camp. Yannis is just joining this team in Milwaukee.
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He said when he got there, he told reporters, meaning with him in person for the first time, he's excited about the youth of this group.
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Is there still a pathway?
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So for the Nick's exclusive window, that window has shut.
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When we talk about windows, let's shut that window because if this ever comes about where Yannis did the Kumpo going into the season,
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he's going to start considering his best external options.
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That window with the Nick's has closed.
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So you look around the league and he's going to continue.
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I'm told to keep his options open and see how does the Bucks season start?
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The first quarter of the year is going to be very, very important.
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Stakeholders within the Bucks organization know this is somewhat of a make or break season for them.
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And his agent Alex Ratzas-Arachion, he's been fielding rampant interest in Yannis since the May draft combined.
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He's going to be at the center of fielding and navigating this situation if it plays out into this season.
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Yannis, we know when the year begins, he's going to be focused.
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His numbers are going to skyrocket this year with the burden that he's going to have.
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But it's going to come down to wins and losses.
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John Horst and the Bucks, they believe this is a championship quality roster.
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There's been some questions. Yannis has raised.
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Results will show themselves.
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And John Horst and Wes Edens is who you were just seeing on your screen right there.
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It's one of the Bucks brass and decision makers.
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As we say hello to our brass, Brian Winnhors, an NBA champ, Kendrick Perkins joining us here with a little bit more reaction to Shams reporting.
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Brian, how are folks around the league digesting the idea that Yannis may be at some point available,
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depending on this first quarter, right? So that puts us in about December.
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Yeah, there's been an expectation for quite some time that Yannis's days in Milwaukee one way or another are numbered.
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Whether that was going to happen this year, whether it's going to happen potentially during this season,
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or whether it could happen next summer as Bobby laid out there.
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And when you get to situations like this, I find it very useful to focus on actions over words.
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Let's look at the actions of the parties that we have discussed here.
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The Milwaukee Bucks waved and stretched Damien Lither.
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That cost them $100 million in dead money on their books.
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Then they spent an additional $100 million to sign Miles Turner this summer.
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Those are not the actions of a team that is about to trade the best player they've had since Kareem Abdul Jbar.
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Then you look at the New York Knicks.
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Obviously they knew it was possible that Yannis would be available.
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And we saw some teams this summer potentially hold back on moves with the idea that Yannis could be available.
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So the idea that you wouldn't be prepared for this kind of phone call, I don't think is true.
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And despite knowing that, the Knicks went ahead and extended Mikhail Bridges,
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which significantly limited their ability to make a major trade.
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Again, that action indicates that they didn't think they were in position to make this type of trade right now.
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And let's go to Yannis.
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If you want to be traded as a star player that makes over $50 million a year in the apron era, especially if you have a small selection of teams
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that you want to be traded to, you do not ask for a trade or discuss a trade in August.
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Those discussions happen before the NBA off season begins.
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That's not to say that a trade couldn't happen, but certainly he would have to understand that.
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So I definitely think the actions that we see indicate at some point Yannis could again be discussed with the Knicks or elsewhere.
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But I look at the actions here and I don't think they were ever going to lead to a deal over the summer between New York and Milwaukee.
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Not to mention listening to what Yannis has said since he joined the team via,
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or during media day via Zoom, joined the team, he said what is important to him is winning a championship.
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And that's sort of been the same story for Yannis for the last, since I covered him, for the last eight years.
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Perk, what do you make of this?
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That he's out.
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Really?
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Listen, I'm about 100% sure.
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And this is just me assuming this is just coming straight from Perk, no sources.
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That we will not see Yannis onto the cupo in the books uniform by the end of this season.
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I believe he's giving the books an opportunity right now, privately, before he goes publicly.
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Now, if you'd asked me this a week ago, before my God Shalves did this reporting today,
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I would have said now Yannis is going to be in the books uniform.
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You know why? Because they signed his brother, the NASA's back, right?
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But that was a sign of desperation to say, you know what, Yannis?
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Here, we're doing everything we possibly can.
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But I believe it's time.
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And if I'm the books, I also believe with this report coming out,
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that the books phones are going to be ringing here shortly.
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Because we are talking about Yannis onto the cupo.
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In my opinion, already a top five greatest power for it to ever play the damn game, the basketball.
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One of the most dominant players to play generational talent that is in the middle of his prime.
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The phone is ringing. I do not expect Yannis onto the cupo to be in the Milwaukee books uniform,
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and about the end of the season.
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Okay, well, I'm going to pick up my phone and I'm going to ring Mr. Bob Barbs here.
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Because Shalves reported in this story, right?
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And you mentioned this a little bit earlier on our show, that maybe the best deal wasn't fully put forward here from the New York Knicks.
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Because also there was a thought by the, that they didn't think that the Milwaukee books maybe were fully two feet in into making this discussion.
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So, so let's dive in, Bob.
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What could this look like if they were to, to make this?
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Well, look at the history of Leon Rose, their president, as far as going out and trading for O.J. and O.B.,
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McEl Bridges, and Carl Anthony Towns. Big ticket moves here.
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Now, the problem is when we look at the trade machine, what leaves them with one first round pick?
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Remember, they are our first apron team. They cannot take back more money.
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So when you look at a player like Yannis is making 54 million, they can't take back more money here.
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They can aggregate contracts in a deal that you can put O.J. and O.B. and McEl Bridges, who can't be traded until February 1st in a deal.
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But that's roughly 63 million dollars. Now you're getting a third team involved.
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But look at, where we're looking at it from a pick standpoint.
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One first available to go out and get probably the top three player in the NBA.
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That's where it gets complicated. You're getting a third team or a fourth team in here.
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I would say this from the New York's perspective, when a player like Yannis becomes available, you basically have everybody on the table.
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You're basically saying pick for what you want.
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Now it's a matter of getting the money to work in a, in a type of deal when you're looking at it from, certainly from Carl Anthony Towns, O.J. and O.B.
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and CalBridge. They have the sweet spot contract, but it's now it's a matter of getting a third team involved and it certainly does get complicated.
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They can't be traded until the first and the deadline is the fifth.
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And here's the other thing. Yes, correct. Here's the other thing.
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We all can agree. This team in Cleveland are probably the prohibited favorite in the Eastern Conference.
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Do you want to tinker what you already have with this roster to go out and get this shiny toy here?
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And that's the two lane approach that the mix has taken, right? On one hand, the next one like, we have a chance potentially to get Yannis into the couple.
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Something we've been eyeing and something we've known is a possibility since last year, as I reported earlier today.
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But on the other hand, they've made these move, McHale, Bridges, Carl Anthony, Towns.
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They've depleted most of their asset base. Their non-player assets are pretty much decimated to try to win a championship now.
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And so they feel like they have the pieces right now where they can compete clearly for a championship, which is why there are some people in Milwaukee that feel like they didn't put their best before it in this potential deal scenario in August.
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But that excuse a window shut. I will say this. Yannis and Ducuomo, his camp, they are going to have a grip on this league to an extent.
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Now, their teams are going to continue to monitor it and they're going to ensure that they don't exhaust themselves in other ways if this seismic trade possibility is still available for them in January or February.
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Perk, last word here.
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I mean, and also you look on the Milwaukee Bucks side of things, right? It seemed like, you know, Yannis, you know, heartless elsewhere in my opinion, like he eat.
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In my opinion, if you look at this roster, all their championship roster, no. Does Miles turn the help them? Absolutely.
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But at what point do you start to consider if you look at Milwaukee Bucks from moving on from Yannis?
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And I know that's a hard thing to to find them and think about, but at the end of the day, you want to do his best for the organization.
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But also why Yannis is how you want to make sure you're able to get back the pieces. But I do think the end is near.
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I don't expect Yannis to be in the Milwaukee Bucks uniform by the end of the season.
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Well, the video you were just seeing is Yannis back on the floor with the team here in Miami where he rejoined this group.
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If you listen to what Yannis has said, he has said all of the right things. He has complimented the moves they have made over the summer.
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He said, yes, I like that we have gotten younger and let's see what happens here. This is what we know for sure. Yannis wants to win another championship.
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Where and how that happens? That's what is going to play out here.
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I'm John Quignones, Vanessa Guillen, a 20 year old soldier, vanishes while on duty at an army base in Texas.
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What investigators finally uncover is horrifying. Find out how one soldier, a beloved sister and daughter, ignited a movement and sparked a reckoning in the US military.
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Listen to vanished. What happened to Vanessa? A new series from ABC Audio in 2020. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
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John Aries has arrived.
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Hostiles! Repeat, we are hostiles!
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Meeting, meeting! Oh my God, there's hundreds of them.
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On October 10th, we came here from the digital world. The war for our world begins.
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What in God's name is that?
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Unimax. This is the end of the world.
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No, it's not. I can help you.
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John Aries, we did beachy 13, maybe inappropriate for children under 13. Only in theaters on October 10th. Get tickets now.
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Welcome to an ESPN special presentation. They decision.
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And this farm will take my town to South Beach and join the Miami Heat. It's going to give me the best opportunity to win.
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15 years later, LeBron James teased his social media followers with the second decision.
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But everyone can relax. It was just a commercial. But that didn't stop basketball fans around the world.
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I've freaking out a little bit. Just for a couple of hours. This is just a snapshot of some of the reactions.
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And it gave us all a moment to consider what the moment will eventually look like.
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Because immediate day, LeBron said, quote, I don't know when the end is. But I know that it's a lot sooner than later.
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And for a hot second, fans thought that sooner might be right now.
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Because the Lakers final game of the season, it's at home against the jazz on April 12th.
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And the least expensive ticket for that game, it jumped from $82 to $580 after LeBron's post, according to Bip and Sees.
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Our Dave McMendanman is at the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo.
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That was one heck of a fake out by LeBron Dave. How many, how many text messages did you get from folks wondering?
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What was that? I was wondering what this was. 20. 30. Yeah, it was in the 20 to 30 range for sure.
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30 range for sure. I was one of those text messages. But the real question, it's going to come at some point, right?
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What has the reaction been so far to this decision 2.0?
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Well, listen, Malika, if you think back to the summertime, there was another ad that LeBron was a part of.
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Where the tagline was what's next? And now that with the of the decision 2.0, it shows that LeBron and his decision makers are playing with the idea of the unknown perception of what is going to be the end of his career.
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His retirement looming this year is you going to extend with the Lakers, or is he going to go somewhere else and play season 24 and beyond?
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And I think the fact that they are toying with it and acknowledging it through these ads is saying something in itself.
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That is why you're having Rob Polinka going into the season saying stuff like I think it could be a great thing if LeBron James would be to retire a Laker.
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Because it's so imminent that you can't even avoid it in his commercial, you know, opportunity has off the court.
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Right. There was a time in which it would be inconceivable not to quote the Princess Bribe, but it would have been inconceivable to think of LeBron making a joke about the decision something that for years afterwards, he spent a lot of time thinking about whether or not that was the right mechanism.
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And now that that time has arrived. Let's turn the page to something that we know is happening right now, Dave. And that's Lucas' first full training camp with the Lakers.
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He hasn't played yet in the preseason, but what are his plans for the remainder of camp here?
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Well, certainly the Lakers expect to have him on the court for maybe two or even three of the remaining four preseason games.
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And he'll get some reps with his new teammates and also get reacquainted with the guys he played with the end of last year.
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But part of the thing that Luca lamented at the end of last year, there wasn't enough practice time for this team.
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And there wasn't enough time for them just to get to know one another and build that camaraderie.
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And so he's taken upon himself to work on that this summer, him and about a half dozen of his teammates went out to Las Vegas to the sphere to see a Backstreet Boys concert.
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And today, after practice, he's taking all this team on his own dime to the poor striving experience in Southern California.
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They're going to be going around the lap in 9-11s and GT3s.
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It's going to be the type of thing where you get your mind away from the basketball court.
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You get to see each other in a different environment, have some fun doing it and build some memories that hope can take you through the lean times that are going to, you know, of course, occurred anytime over an 82 game season.
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Okay, going around and driving some sports cars. That sounds like a lot of fun.
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I would love to do that for the NBA today team building, but it may be more like go cards, not quite sports cars. Dave McMenderman, thank you very much.
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All right, here's a look at the Lakers remaining preseason schedule. They have four games left, including what should be a fun matchup against Lucas former team in Vegas on the 15th.
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Hopefully we see him in that one. You could catch it right here on ESPN before we move on from the decision part to you were a part of the decision, the original, the OG Brian.
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What was your reaction to this little fake out here?
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Well, we've heard of no show endorsement deals. This is the exact opposite. This was requiring LeBron to go not only do the endorsement, but also access something in the decision that for years well over a decade was a third rail topic around him.
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The fastest way to end a conversation with LeBron or his close associates between about 2010 and maybe about 2022 was bring up the word the decision because they were so deeply scarred.
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So as Dave referenced, the idea of LeBron joking about retirement makes it feel like he's getting more serious about it.
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The idea that LeBron will now basically joke about the decision, even if it comes with probably a pretty good check indicates that he's gone to the point his career where he could laugh with something like that.
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It has been 15 years. It's been a long time. But if I had told LeBron he would have been doing this commercial in about 2012, he would have laughed at me.
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Yeah, there's some serious scar tissue that had to be worked through there. Let's talk about a more imminent decision here.
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And that is when we could see LeBron on the floor because he's been dealing with that glute issue. Shoms, what more can you tell us about his plan to get back on the court for the Lakers?
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Like I'm told LeBron James has started to ramp up here. He's doing a little bit on the court, but I'm told the expectation is still that he's likely going to be out for the preseason, the gold being to be ready for opening night on October 21 against the Golden State Warriors.
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So he's doing more and more on the court starting to do more basketball activities, but we'll see if he's able to get a game in before the regular season.
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Okay, and we're really hoping that we're going to see him in that opening night matchup between him and Steph Curry because we don't know how many more we're going to get.
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That's a decision that we could see coming down the pipeline here.
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Eight years ago I blew my football career. He dropped it at the one yard line. Chad Powers has arrived on Hulu. If I can't play his rust, I'll play as someone else.
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My name's Chad. And last name.
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The death from executive producers E. Ryan Peyton Manning. Remember, he wearing a prosthetic mask. This is acting and starring Glenn Powell.
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The Hulu original series Chad Powers is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus for bundle subscribers, terms apply in new episodes Tuesdays.
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Welcome back to NBA today.
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We got our first official look at Victor Wemba Nyama year three last night.
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The San Antonio Spurs in action and he's doing a little bit of everything here on Monday night.
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Off with the Kelden Johnson miss. He's right there for the Bobby.
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I mean, the sun. I mean, it's like, it's like just tap and tippin.
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Oh, you recognize him. Frank, the tank Kaminsky.
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Nope. Victor shutting him down. Huge block there, Bobby.
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And the ability to kind of rot. This is my concern a little bit. The turnovers there, but unfortunately gets it.
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When be dunk off the miss there.
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Yeah, big dunk off of the miss there by Sham Penny.
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And then going ahead here, a little bit later in the first his head. It's barely, you know, is a way above the rim.
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Victor Wemba Nyama. Well, two man action there.
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Like a quarterback, make it perfect pass.
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Big to big to loop. Cornette. And then the second quarter here, you know, when many of them lurking in the pain a little bit comes over massive rejection off the glass.
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A big time block there and then head in the other way, defensively into offense for the San Antonio Spurs.
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And then if you think it's, it's just his game around the rim. Well, no, pulling up for three in transition there nails it.
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And that's what he's looking to do. Kind of kind of play out on the perimeter less than the paint.
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Wemba gets in the lane, finds Cornette there for another lob. It could be a fun little connection this year.
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Here's Wemba Nyama after the game on getting his teammates involved.
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You know, there are some shots. Of course, I operate turnover shot I could make with my eyes closed, but that was to get one of my teammates to a shot he could make in his sleep.
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You know what I mean? So we have 24 seconds, you know, to find the best solution offensively.
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And this is what we're trying to do because this is what great teams do.
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In just 16 minutes of action, he put up nine points when we had 10 rebound, seven assists, three blocks, six turnovers.
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So as you mentioned that we're keeping an eye on here, he also made all three of his shot attempts there.
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So for the combination of Wemba's size, his ability, it makes it so he can kind of shoot from anywhere on the floor.
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But how did you want to see him approach this game offensively?
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Well, how he's approaching it overall, Malika, a player that was sideline because of health issues.
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And when you're on the sideline, you missed the game of basketball and you appreciate it more.
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That's what we're seeing right now that joy out of Wemba along with his work ethic and his desire to want to be built and be great.
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But on top of that, I want Wemba to be a big man that has guard skills playing inside out.
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And he is showing that right now on both sides of the floor, not afraid to mix it up, using himself a lot more in the screen picking raw action as the picker and also establishing himself on that low block mid post area.
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And then he's taking it to the outside when we see him pushing the rock, looking like a Jamal Crawford and KD at times.
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Well, Malika, the spurs were missing. There are three lead guards last night due to injury, Deer and Fox, Dylan Harper and Stefan Castle.
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So they started four wings and Victor Wemba, and as a result, he essentially played Point Center.
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You saw in some of those highlights, he looked kind of like Dremon Greed getting the ball at the center of the court distributing it.
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And look, he can do a lot of different things, but create with a ball far from the hoop is something that is on the list.
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I don't know how much you want to do it, but I'm just going to tell you coaches have been trying to talk Victor out of playing on their perimeter since he was 11 or 12 years old.
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He has never listened to them. He's not going to listen now. So the game plan last night, be it a one off style game plan against a Chinese team, could be instructive and how Victor wants to expand his game more this season.
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I looked at almost like a young, honest last night as far as him initiating the offense, bringing the ball up the core.
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Of course, the six turnovers is a little bit of a concern. North of three of the last two years as far as turnovers, my question is going to be what happens when Darren Fox and Dylan Harper come back.
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And as far as him having the ball less, how does he kind of fill up? How does the offense kind of evolve around Victor here? That's the biggest concerns. You're going to be in a corner standing.
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I'd love to get him just around the paint more, right? Instead of less kind of floating around the perimeter, but I like him bringing the ball up his Bay.
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I said it yesterday. His base is a lot stronger than it was two years ago when we saw it. And it's just so nice to see him back on the floor and the expectations from the Spurs is they're not going to be without Dylan Harper and D.
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And I think that's why Victor Fox that far into the regular season if at all, right? They're trying to get him back kind of on the early side of all this so that they have plenty of time to gel before we get down to the brass tax.
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You guys probably spotted this in those highlights, but in case he didn't, when he wasn't the only Victor on the floor last night, a friend of the show, Victor Wembenyama and Victor Oledipo, the former second overall draft pick in the 2013 draft, lighten it up here for the Lions, dropping 20 points, adding five steals.
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He said his story would inspire the masses. And certainly all of us here at NBA today are rooting for him as he takes his next steps in trying to return to the NBA, but it was just great to see him out on the floor here.
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We also got the long anticipated debut of Cooper Flag last night, and he looked pretty good. I know Bobby, there was not a whole lot of rotation players out there for the defending champions, but Flag as soon as we should be keeping an eye on huge block there.
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We could have gotten five on one last night, and I still would have been excited.
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Anthony Davis there for the slam and then going ahead a minute later, Flag gets it at the top of the arc, drives.
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This is it to lively for the reverse day.
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Great ball movement.
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Later in the first year, we've been wondering how much Cooper with the ball in his hands playing point guard we were going to see here.
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This is it off once again. This time to Dwight Powell with the flush. The maps he would leave by nine after the first second quarter, less than six to go.
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Mabs getting out in transition a little bit here. A nice pass to PJ Washington and one.
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Well, and here's the thing, even though they didn't have most of their guys, they still had case in wall, scouting Cooper last night, bringing the ball to court.
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Absolutely, and that is not an easy task. Flag, nice finish, the maps, you know what? The score is not what's important here. It's the step back three, Bobby.
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That is that is NBA ready right now. Absolutely. Youngest player in the league and looking so mature beyond his years. Flag drains the pull up three.
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He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists. Here's Cooper after the game.
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I mean, I had a lot of fun. This is a great team. We got a lot of really good guys, a lot of great players, but I thought we just played together really well.
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And you know, I fun brand of basketball to play. The balls moving around. Everybody has each other back. So it was fun.
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I thought he did a great job of finding guys. I found PJ for am one and then also being able to play off the dribble and shoot the three.
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So, you know, for 18 year olds kind of special and kind of fun to watch his ability to handle the ball in those situations and he's only going to get better.
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It's time to say howdy to our partner, Tim McMahon, who was in Fort Worth to see Cooper Flag's debut last night. So Tim, you were there. What stood out to you from the map or except for seeing him in action?
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Howdy, Malik. I thought Cooper Flag was as advertised and his value as a guy who impacts the game in a variety of ways and extremely versatile player.
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I thought it was fitting that probably his most spectacular highlight was on the defensive end of the floor when he swoops in from the weak side, swats that shut off the glass gets a fast break started.
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He might make a bigger impact defensively as a rookie than he will on the offensive end. You don't hear that very often about a teenage player coming to the league.
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And then on the offensive end, all 10 of his points came in a glory. But I thought the biggest test that he passed was like Bobby said bringing the ball up the court against Kasey Wallace.
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There weren't a lot of court players for the Thunder who made the trip. Kasey Wallace was one of them though. This is an elite defensive player, an elite on ball defender, an elite playmaker.
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If you can bring the ball up the court comfortably, patiently against the final like Kasey Wallace, you could do it against anybody in the league.
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You see Cooper Flag here bringing it up, getting to his spot, making the right lead, which he did over and over again.
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He didn't see him force anything in this game and finding his teammate for an easy bucket. That's the kind of play that the matter of the grass and Cooper Flag to make over and over again throughout his rookie season.
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Throughout what they believe and he believes will be a rookie of the year campaign.
spk_0
Yeah, the odds makers say the same. Look at you, Timmy tapes in his bag there. I want to bring Kendrick Perkins into this discussion as well. Perck, what were your early impressions here of seeing Cooper running with the other Maverick starters?
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Well, it was a lot, but on the defensive side of things, he showed his impact because he saw versatile. What it mean in that he could go up one through five. But if you need him to play out of position.
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I mean, if you need him to anchor the defense, he's a hell of a remprotect him. We got to film right here, Maliko. I broke down a couple clips. I want you to see.
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Hell of a hell of a defender. High cue. Look at him as a rookie, pointing, communicating, seeing ball, seeing man. Watch here. The actual Russell gets in trouble, get back cut, and Cooper Flag is there.
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And watch how he's running the floor. Although this lot went to Anthony Davis, Cooper Flag sprinting the floor, being out there just in case. And then offensively, this was just a beautiful thing to see.
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Pick and roll with him and Anthony Davis. God, sagging back, watch Cooper step right into this three point shot and knock it down. I believe we're going to see a lot of that two man action.
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And it's good for him to start feeling comfortable right now at that point for a position. Yeah, especially with Anthony Davis while we're in preseason. Brian, that lineup though, it was huge here for the Dallas Mavericks.
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Yeah, they have a lot of depth on this team. We know that Nico Harrison has prioritized size. That was part of what the Luca Doncic trade was about.
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And I think there's going to be stretches this year where Cooper is the peer point guard on the floor more and more and more. And you know, McMahon and Perk broke down the nuances that he was doing.
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This is what gets so many people excited about Cooper. And this is what Jason Kee was talking about when he says as an 18 year old to see him play like this.
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As I watch him to play with such confidence to be given so many responsibilities, you saw in that film. They want him with the ball in his hands, making a bunch of decisions on offense. They want him being that low man on defense, guiding their defense a little bit.
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You don't see that with 18 year olds. And so he may knock out there in average 25 points a game. Malika, especially the team that's got this much depth, but those new wants decisions. That's what gets people so excited about his future.
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It's also so rare to see a number one pick come into a team that has the expectations, even with the injury to Kyrie Irving that the Dallas Maverick have here. But Brian, you've mentioned a couple of times the depth here of the Dallas Maverick. So let's dive into that depth just a little bit more. Bobby, what do you got on that friend? Well, it's one thing to say it, but when you see it on the on the touchscreen here, this is what jumps out on me. This is we saw last night, Jason kid roll out this lineup, certainly with Kyrie Irving out the angel Russell starting at the point guard, but look at this column right here. When you're looking at Max Christie.
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The Naji Marshall Caleb Martin, PJ Washington, who started 56 out of 57 games last year. Look what you could do with this line when Kyrie comes back out goes.
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So, the angel Russell here when you want to start Max Christie, maybe you could take out Clay Thompson here. This is probably the deepest team in the NBA. We haven't even talked about Daniel Gaffer who's out right now with that ankle injury.
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Brandon Williams, you can give you some bench minutes here, but when I look at the D in Dallas, it starts with depth with this team.
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So the Eastern Conference reserves last reserve is chosen by the coach Tyler hero.
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I've always had my mindset set on you know, being an all star.
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Coming off, obviously my best season of my career and like I'm going to get right back to that level.
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We are 14 days away from the start of the NBA season. Let's go to some preseason action north of the border last night.
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We almost almost had the play of the night Bobby in the nuggets and raptors game here. Nicola Yokech making passes like only he can.
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Look at this time across the floor. The passes money. The shot not so much.
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Cam Johnson saved someone's life there. He's still got some time to build some chemistry with Cam Johnson before the season tips off.
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So before the real we get under the real games. We thought we would give a little love to some of those almost highlights.
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This is the top of the top. What could have been number five Larry birds iconic over the backboard shot.
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It was waived off though Brian Winhorse in 1986.
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Absolutely ridiculous. Just on principle that look at that that main he should get two points for that.
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Just for the main. Well this was one of my favorite almost highlights. This is last season. His dunk on Victor Rambonyama but it was after the whistle.
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That was like steak dinner. He saw his eyes with Victor trying to block that. That was so good.
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The highlights delivered our hearts forever. And then Jason Williams elbow pass Perks 2000.
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Ricky sophomore challenge. But it was a foul. White chocolate.
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Everybody was trying to back in the day to that. I remember growing up trying to do that.
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I want to see you. I want to see you. You could do that. All right. And then Shannon Brown gets away up.
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Snatches the ball from Mario. What's called for a foul?
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What's that? There's no real back. That would have been overturned.
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Well, John Miranda something very similar in that building too. And then number one LeBron getting all the way up on the alley you attempt.
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But he couldn't quite throw it down. Look how high he jumps though. I don't know about number one.
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You're building a jump set. We have a little bonus here. Same season LeBron the reverse double clutch alley.
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But it was after the whistle. This was prime LeBron. Thanks.
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He was just looking just to check. All right. We got some more preseason action on Sunday in the NBA.
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A double header on ESPN deportess and they all knew ESPN app. The Celtics hosting the Cavaliers at 70 Stern.
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And then the nuggets there in LA, squaring off against the clippers.
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We also have game three of the WMBA finals as the series ships here to Phoenix tomorrow night on ESPN.
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Game three the Mercury they're hoping to get back into the series against the aces.
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Asia Wilson though looking every bit like an MVP with biggest storming back from an early deficit in game two.
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28 points for her not to mention Jackie Young had 32 in this game to take that two O series lead.
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As we say hello to our WMBA reporter Kendra Andrews who is in Phoenix for us covering this series Kendra you've been around both teams heading into this game three here.
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What's the message as they each get ready for this game in Phoenix?
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Yeah, Malika for both teams. It's all about comfort for the Mercury. It's knowing that they're comfortable being down.
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You know, Nate, Nate Tivett said what gives him confidence in this team is that they've had to climb back in to a game a series of stash of the season before.
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He said we have been overlooked, but we always bounce back and Kalea Copper said being able to bounce back.
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It's part of our identity at this point. And then she also joke Malika. She's like, I'm a little bit psycho.
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So I like to have that extra little bit of tangible motivation. So please keep counting us out.
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That's cool. It's going to give us an edge then on the aces side Malika. It's about not being comfortable up to zero in a series.
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Becky Hammond is challenging her team to handle success very well.
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She said, I don't want to know if we're coming off of a win or a loss. I shouldn't be able to tell with the right veteran approach and veteran mindset.
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She said we cannot let up an Asia Wilson said, yeah, we have to approach every single game.
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What at a time and not get too caught up where we're at in the series when you're talking about comfort.
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We know it's 93 degrees in Phoenix. So we saw you with the Kendrick Perkins.
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Girl, I'm getting into this. Let me hook this. See it's her own personal beyond.
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Get it get where you're coming from with this stuff. It's a game. It's a game changer.
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Enjoy Phoenix. Candy will see you soon. We've got that pivotal game three in the best of seven WMBA finals tomorrow night.
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The Mercury looking to protect home court and cut the Vegas series lead in half.
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That's an eight o'clock Eastern five Pacific on ESPN and the all new ESPN app WMBA countdown tips off our coverage at seven o'clock.
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When I go on the court, I'm going to go 100% this is what I am.
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So, Yannis has been a buck for quite a while now. He's already entering his 13th season in the NBA with Milwaukee making him the third longest tenured player with a single franchise
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trailing only Steph Curry and Drey Won Green with the Golden State Warriors. So here was Yannis on Saturday after arriving to Bucks training camp on his one priority for the rest of his career.
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You got to play to win. I'm not playing. I don't play to just be an out of get paid. I'm very blessed.
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You know, take it on my family. I can live with nothing but I play for to win. I play to accomplish stuff on the court.
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So clearly, Yannis wants to win and Shoms earlier you reported today that Yannis over the summer.
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There was a conversation that the Milwaukee Bucks had with the New York Knicks about a path forward there.
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Is the window for those two teams to make a deal for Yannis closed?
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Yeah, remember I reported that the Knicks had an exclusive negotiating window for Yannis to the Cumpo in August.
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That window is obviously shut. We're not in August anymore. We're now in October.
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If it does reopen in the season, this whole Yannis into the Cumpo element to the NBA season, that window is no longer exclusive just to the Knicks.
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And that's going to include other NBA teams. I expected to go beyond just the Knicks. Yannis into the Cumpo, his agent Alex Horatsus of Octane.
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They've been figuring out which teams. If this does get to a point of a trade request, which team could find its way?
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Which multiple teams could find their way?
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And I think that process will continue into the season if it lends to that.
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But the quarter mark of the year, 2025 games, I'm keeping my eye on in that for the Knicks and the rest of the league.
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Okay, because that could put us in the sort of December range. If there were to be other teams that get involved, Bobby, who has the assets to be able to do this?
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Well, San Antonio still does. Even after acquiring Deer and Fox, they still have tradeable picks to go out.
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Remember they have that Atlanta pick. They have a swap in 2027. They still have tradeable contracts.
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When you're looking at players like Dev and Vaselle, you know the one team that still does Houston.
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They went out and got Kevin Durant, but they still have a lot of draft picks to go out and make a deal.
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Of course, a player like a men Thompson would be mentioned if they ever became available here.
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I do think Shoms hit it right on the head of that quarter mark. Remember this is a Milwaukee team that has 11 out of their 15 players that can't be traded until December 15th.
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Right. If they struggle, is there a way for them to improve their roster in the next two months? There isn't.
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So they're basically in a holding pattern, right? Well, and as Shoms said, you know, right now it's going to be what does it look like for the next couple of weeks here for this team?
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But whenever Shoms has this sort of deep reporting, that means there's going to be ripples around the league. And of course, head coach of the New York Knicks, Mike Brown.
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He was asked about the reporting at Knicks trading camp this morning. Here's what he had to say.
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Yeah, I don't get it has to work in great spot right now.
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Or guys, the plane that tailed off. Micah said I love her guys.
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And I think they're starting to enjoy playing the way that we're trying to play in all things.
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Sufferk from a player's perspective, how can hearing about a potential blockbuster deal impact a locker room here for a New York team that is trying to compete really compete in the Easter conference?
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Where can obviously because you know, you go ahead with the rumors, you go watch television, you go watch us and me, you know, Kendra, probably say some stuff as well.
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So it can affect the locker room. But again, it's a business and we always say that in the locker room. Remember, it's a business. So your name can be brought up.
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But I want to say the quiet thing out loud. Okay, the quiet thing out loud is is that to me, Yannis, auntie, to Coupo is just scared.
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He knows he don't want to be in Milwaukee. He's just afraid to see it. And on the other side of it, I feel like the Milwaukee books, they know it. They're just in denial.
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I want to say two things here. I think number one, any player on any team, whether it's the NYX or elsewhere, would understand if their team was interested in acquiring Yannis, Santa Coupo.
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If he became even the whiff of being available, you owe it to yourself as an organization to investigate that. That's just reality. Everybody would admit that.
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The next thing I will say is when you talk about teams that would pounce on the Yannis situations who was available right at the top of the list for me as a Golden State Warriors.
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And look, one of the reasons why they fought so hard to get that Jonathan Kominga contract into a spot where it could be traded.
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So they could go big game hunting, not necessarily just for Yannis, but that's what they want to do towards an organization.
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So to me, if it's not New York, Golden State is at the top of that list. I know the Texas teams can make strong offers as well.
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And I will also say, Malika, I was in Abu Dhabi with the NYX last week. I will echo what Mike Brown said.
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I do think organizationally they're in a good place. They're excited about this new offense. I think they have momentum.
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I think this will probably not bother them. They always knew if Yannis became available, a lot of them would know that their names would be connected.
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Just echo in regarding what Brian said regarding that's why the Jonathan Kominga signing was so important.
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It doesn't work if Jonathan Kominga is on a qualifying offer. It does not have big contracts.
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Okay, so let's all just take a breath here, right? Because what Shams you're saying is that 20, 25 games into the season, we may hear more at this point.
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But in the last 30 seconds, what's the most important thing to know today about Yannis and the Milwaukee box?
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I think it's a situation where the Bucks wholeheartedly believe they have a championship roster.
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Yannis and the Ducuumpo made it clear where he felt on this matter. His real moment of leverage is next summer.
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Does it get to that point or is he moved in season?
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And that is the best way to sum that up at least for today.
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Thank you so much for spending a little bit of your afternoon with us here on NBA today. And we will see you right here tomorrow.