Pablo Torre Hobnobs With Oprah Winfrey In Cannes | Hour 1

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show – June 25, 2026

Episode: Pablo Torre Hobnobs With Oprah Winfrey In Cannes | Hour 1
Live from the Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Episode Overview

This lively episode kicks off with the regular crew broadcasting live from Miami, dissecting recent NBA blockbuster trades, diving into league and media dynamics, and exploring the ongoing saga of NBA stars' movement. The first hour also brings a hefty dose of trademark humor and in-studio banter, pivoting to Pablo Torre's viral moment hobnobbing with Oprah Winfrey at Cannes—all while keeping sports and pop culture at the forefront.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. LaMelo Ball Traded to Minnesota Timberwolves

[00:23 - 08:52]

• News Recap: LaMelo Ball traded to Minnesota in exchange for Nas Reed and a 2033 unprotected first-round pick ("whoever gets picked is 12 years old right now").
• Panel Confusion: Dominique Foxworth questions the logic: “I’m trying to understand the reason for this move... Does it make sense for them?” [01:10]
• Minnesota’s Rationale: Jeremy Schaap suggests it shows "supreme belief in Jaden McDaniels" and addresses their need for a playmaking guard. Tony Reali highlights the shift away from size and toward athletic offense: “What really helped the Knicks was being able to outrun the Spurs.” [02:22]
• Heat Angle: Mike Ryan drops a nugget—Anthony Edwards has "flirted with the Miami Heat" and could be open to joining them in the future [03:14], fueling Miami’s perennial search for a new star.
• NBA Media Cycle: The group jokes about how the NBA media builds storylines to move stars, noting Edwards as the next target:

  “We understand the way the NBA, especially the NBA media operates... And it feels like Anthony Edwards is going to be that guy.” — Mike Ryan [04:11]

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2. Assessing LaMelo's Fit & Player Value Debates

[06:42 - 08:52]

• Charlotte’s Decision: Dominique Foxworth defends LaMelo’s time in Charlotte, while Mike Ryan expresses doubt about LaMelo as a “winning player.”

  “There's a big enough body of work where I don’t believe this is a winning play.” — Mike Ryan [07:39]

• Heat Culture: Joking debate on why Miami wouldn’t pursue LaMelo.
• Roster Impact: Dan wonders if Charlotte has gotten weaker (good news for the Heat), but Jeremy and Mike argue Charlotte remains in the playoff mix.

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3. Banter: Mike Ryan’s New Look & Studio Atmospherics

[09:06 - 10:25]

• Lighthearted segment as the crew roasts Mike Ryan’s new glasses and style. Dominique:

  “You look like a 60 year-old Fred Durst... if Ben Franklin had a mixtape.” [09:07]

• The group riffs on radio nicknames (“radio host Malone”), with lively audience engagement.

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4. Salary Cap & Money Talk

[11:02 - 19:27]

• Austin Reaves Gets Paid: Dominique is “uncomfortable how happy I am for when players get big, big checks.” [11:09]
• Max Contracts:
  • The group unpacks max contracts and unintended effects:

    “They wanted the max contract to be able to control the superstar players... What ends up happening is you pull a lot of people up to it who aren’t superstars.” — Dominique Foxworth [17:02]

  • Jeremy and Dominique debate Jalen Brunson’s “pay cut,” highlighting unique trust factors in player negotiations inside the Knicks family.

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5. Cannes Podcast Festival & Pablo Torre Meets Oprah

[19:27 - 24:22]

• The group reacts to Pablo Torre’s viral photo with Oprah in Cannes:

  “There isn’t a knob right now that isn’t getting hobbed by Pablo Torre.” — Dan Le Batard [20:35]

• General disbelief that a podcast convention is in glamorous Cannes:

  “Podcast convention should be in Lawrence, Kansas, not in Cannes.” — Dan Le Batard [20:12]

• Dominique theorizes on how to secure celeb selfies without direct asks, with the crew riffing on etiquette for meeting icons and getting the perfect live-photo facial expression.

  “I also don’t want to miss the opportunity to point out Oprah hated this experience... She’s like, ‘I hate this. I don’t like this man. I know he wants to hop on all the knobs. I don’t like it. I’ve been hopped too much.’” — Dominique Foxworth [21:55]

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6. Jaylen Brown, Celtics Discontent, and NBA Star Power

[25:28 - 39:47]

• Jaylen Brown at Cannes: Discussion of his public feud with ESPN/Stephen A. Smith, following Brown’s comment about the Celtics as “salary dumps.”
• Panel’s Stance:
  • Dominique empathizes with Jaylen, listing years of fan/media doubts:

    “Every year, ‘We want Kawhi. Let’s ship out Tatum. We want Durant. Let’s ship out Tatum.’... Then he wins Finals MVP, and they’re dangling his ass again.” [29:10–35:38]

  • Dan argues Jaylen is orchestrating ‘disgruntled star’ noise to force a move, similar to media narratives with other stars.
  • Jeremy pushes the idea that perhaps Brown isn’t liked inside the locker room, noting fit and personality can drive organizational choices.
  • Tony Reali draws parallels to Kevin Durant’s time in Golden State, where one star is always seen as ‘the extra’ regardless of performance.
• Notable Quotes:

  “If you have all those medals and accolades... but you’re still an asshole... it’s tough for you to stick around.” — Jeremy Schaap [35:38]

• Meta-Game: The guys debate whether the Celtics or Brown are more justified in their positions, with the consensus being Brown is justified in feeling slighted—even if his reaction is polarizing.

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7. Ja Morant "Flagrantly Available"

[40:44 - 41:22]

• News breaks (via Brian Windhorst) that Ja Morant is “flagrantly available” in trade talks.
• Mike and Jeremy joke about what “flagrantly” means:

  “The door is off the hinges right now. Just come in and get whatever you want.” — Jeremy Schaap [41:27]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On catastrophic future picks:

  “Whoever they select there is currently 12 years old right now.” — Mike Ryan [00:50]

• On the NBA media manufacturing drama:

  “Who's going to be the next guy the NBA media says has to force his way out? It feels like Anthony Edwards.” — Mike Ryan [04:11]

• On Pablo's photo with Oprah:

  “There isn’t a knob right now that isn’t getting hobbed by Pablo Torre.” — Dan Le Batard [20:35]
  “I also don’t want to miss the opportunity to point out Oprah hated this experience... I’ve been hopped too much.” — Dominique Foxworth [21:55]

• On Jaylen Brown’s Celtics experience:

  “He has been underappreciated and disrespected considering what he's contributed to that team.” — Dominique Foxworth [31:25]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• LaMelo Ball Trade & Analysis: 00:23 – 08:52
• Mike Ryan’s Glasses/Riffing: 09:06 – 10:25
• Austin Reaves Contract & NBA Salaries: 11:02 – 19:27
• Pablo Torre Meets Oprah at Cannes: 20:12 – 24:22
• Jaylen Brown, Celtics, & Disgruntled Stars: 25:28 – 39:47
• Ja Morant Flagrantly Available: 40:44 – 41:22

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Episode Tone & Language

• Signature Blend: Fast-paced, irreverent, and insightful mix of deep sports analysis and comedic banter.
• Straight Talk & Sarcasm: Hosts directly challenge each other and the wider sports narrative, loaded with inside jokes and self-aware commentary.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential hour of the Dan Le Batard Show: big NBA trade reactions, playful group chemistry, meta-commentary on sports media hype, and a hilarious breakdown of how sports, celebrity, and culture intersect—from Minnesota’s roster calculus to the art of getting your picture with Oprah. Whether you’re a heat diehard, a Celtics skeptic, or pop-culture enthusiast, this episode offers sharp insight and plenty of laughs for the initiated and the uninitiated alike.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You are listening to the Dan LeBatard show in partnership with the DraftKings Sports App. Now live in all 50 states.

[Dominique Foxworth]

This episode of the Dan Lebatard show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[Chris Cote]

Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

That was excellent. Excellent job, Dominique.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

So LaMelo Ball has been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. New running partner for. For Anthony Edwards and Nas Reed goes back to Charlotte and an unprotected first round in 2020, in 2033, which, if you want to do the math right now, whoever they select there is currently 12 years old right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's right. That does open up a whole new portal to improve this roster that I hadn't considered trading picks from a decade from now.

[Mike Ryan]

Isn't that funny, Dominique? Whoever they select is 12 is likely 12 years old right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

They did give up a lot of picks for Rudy Gobert, so I was wondering how. When I heard that they were in the mix, I'm like, do they even have picks to. I didn't know that you can do so from the, you know, well into the next decade.

[Mike Ryan]

This is interesting. Go ahead, Dominique.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Can I ask a question?

[Mike Ryan]

So you're very distracted. I could tell right now.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm not distracted. I. I think what's distracting me is I'm trying to understand the reason for this move. It seems like this time of year, we see all the teams addressing the issues that they had last season, and I'm looking at Minnesota, and I thought that they moved on from Kat because they thought Nas Reed was. Was like a better, cheaper version moving on from Nas Reed to bring in LaMelo Ball. I guess maybe they feel like they need more ball handlers, which that wouldn't be the thing that. Or. Or more playmakers. They want to move Ant off the ball. Is there someone else who has a theory about this that makes more sense? That makes it clear to me why they would want to do this, because it doesn't seem like it makes a ton of sense for them.

[Jeremy Schaap]

They have supreme belief in Jaden McDaniels. That's what it tells me. Like, they were missing a point guard last year. They had all these bigs and all these movable pieces that could play the three, play the four, play the five, and Julius Randle and Nas Reed, they didn't have a playmaker at the. At the one. They. Dante DiVincenzo tore his Achilles like they were looking around saying, all right, who can get Ant Edwards the ball in space, allow him to create. Now they have one of those guys who's also a great playmaker on offense, creating and getting his own shot. But now they have Jaden McDaniels who'll slot in there and be like, all right, we don't really need Nas Reed at a max number.

[Tony Reali]

I think it was also shown that size wasn't what beat the Spurs. Like if you're in the Western Conference. What really helped the Knicks was being able to outrun the spurs and be athletic enough in the way you moved your offense. They still have Rudy Gobert to anchor the center of that defense. He'll still be the guy that squares up with Wemby. But in moving off of Julius Randle, moving off of Nas Reed, they probably feel like they can fill their big rotation from there in a different way and be able to just now run with both LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. I think it's combustible, but I get the leverage play that part.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think they probably.

[Mike Ryan]

We like that down here. Right?

[Dan LeBatard]

We'll revisit this. They. They probably just destroyed their chances of keeping Anthony Edwards by bringing in LaMelo Ball.

[Mike Ryan]

Anthony Edwards is a guy. I can tell you. I know. I happen to know. I happen to know Anthony Edwards. Do we have. I happen to know.

[Chris Cote]

He happens to know.

[Mike Ryan]

Anthony Edwards is a guy who has flirted with the Miami Heat. Like this is a guy who the Miami Heat obviously would be interested in and a guy who through back channels has told the Miami Heat there could be a time where he'd be interested in Miami.

[Chris Cote]

So wise.

[Dan LeBatard]

So a couple, couple days after this trade, we have found our lane. It is developed some talent, trade picks from two decades from now and get Anthony Edwards after LaMelo Ball ruins all the team chemistry.

[Tony Reali]

Would you rather do that or would you rather now convince Charlotte to unlock that other pick, use a first round pick, Jovich and Wiggins to go get Kevin Durant and then sign LeBron in the MLE.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, my, my brain isn't big enough to understand what you just told me. I, I'm just happy for us in the audience because we're back of a Giannis pursuit. You'd think that would finally be over. No, this marks the end of that, but the start to the Anthony Edwards chapter of our program.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, and, and look, this sounds ridiculous what I'm going to say, but it is true. We understand the way this machine works. We understand the way the NBA, especially the NBA media operates. And for a few years before, Damian Lillard was the guy. Lillard's the guy that we have to talk about, you got to get out of Portland. And then eventually it happened. And then for a couple of years, it shifted Giannis. Giannis then became the guy you got to get out of Milwaukee, and he did. And now who's going to be the next guy that the NBA media says has to force his way out of his current situation? And it feels like Anthony Edwards is going to be that guy.

[Dan LeBatard]

It does. Anthony Edwards hasn't really played ball there. I know you happen to know he's flirted, but he hasn't done the disgruntled superstar thing quite yet. And I know this seems like a go for it move, and I think we should salute Minnesota. They know that they can't get guys via free agency, so they develop guys and make impactful trades that work for them, their team and their market. So that's a good job out of them. But if I'm Boston, I'm floating Jaylen Brown around that franchise and being like, all right, what's a. What's the plan here? Are you worried about long term Anthony Edwards? Because we have one of the few stars in this league that is available that while he's not the same kind of talent level, he's still a star, he's a Finals mvp. We can put him in a package.

[Mike Ryan]

I want to talk about the lamelo ball side of this for a second, which I think is interesting. Number one, this trade kind of came out of nowhere. And when I say it kind of came like it broke last night. Shams Charania, who, by the way, you know, and I went on a whole rant a few days ago how the NBA media has embarrassed itself during this whole stretch with Giannis and Miami. Shams really just showed up from his slumber a few days ago on Monday, I believe, and was dropping the Giannis bombs. Shams has been a star this week. Like, he's been all over it. Everyone else, I think, has embarrassed themselves for the most part, but Shams is having a great week. And last night he breaks the news that there, there's serious engagement, serious interest in Charlotte moving LaMelo ball. And they do today. So the first part that's interesting, Dominique, is why, like, why did they do it before the draft? Because did they, do they not want or maybe, maybe they couldn't. Maybe Minnesota was not willing to give a pick in this year's draft, or Minnesota's pick, I'm sure, was very low in the first round. But you don't normally have a superstar being moved, you know, after immediately following the draft. You would want it right before the draft, you know, so there's that part that's weird, right?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah, that's a little weird. And also, I mean, I get the criticism of Lamelo Lamelo Ball style of play, but the Hornets were, like, good and interesting and exciting for the first time in a long time, and LaMelo Ball was a part of that. So the decision to move off of him, I guess this does make them a little bit more of a complete team, but it does, like, break up the little bit of motion that they did have. And I know LaMelo Ball is not. Mike already made this point. He's not. He's a unique personality, and it may not work out in Minnesota in the same way that eventually it didn't work out in Charlotte. But I was excited about watching LaMelo Ball, and we haven't. You guys talked about potential players on

[Mike Ryan]

a better team now.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah. And you talk about potential players coming down here. Why didn't you guys get excited about bringing LaMelo Ball down? He's not a heat culture guy. You don't want. You know, that's not. No. Everybody laughing, looking crazy at Melo. No, no, no, no.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't think Lamelo ball is a winning player. And. And I understand Mike, like, the last half of this past season, he started to change his style of play, and the direction of the team went way up. Like, for the first time, this Hornets team felt like, okay, maybe we have something going. But I feel like there's a big enough body of work where I don't believe this is a winning play.

[Dominique Foxworth]

You also hate him because he hurt. Bam.

[Mike Ryan]

That's true. I am biased against.

[Tony Reali]

Totally Right.

[Mike Ryan]

But I felt this way before anyway.

[Jeremy Schaap]

And he almost ran the guy off the road the second time, too.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's a liability behind the wheel, so we'll see how that plays out. I do think that this could be spun into a win for Charlotte. I understand why people don't think Lamelo is a winning player. We were workshopping back here. This probably means Colby White, who's developed quite nicely, killed the heat. He's. He's your PG1. This also shows a distinct belief in them that con can Apple is their guy. Nas Reed is going to be a

[Mike Ryan]

nice piece, and Brandon Miller is a nice enough player, too.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. I was wondering, like, what's. What's my heat prism on this? Did Charlotte just get weaker? Because Charlotte bounced Miami from the play in, and I was worried about their ascension. I think you still got to be worried about them. They're going to Be in that playoff mix.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah. I got to be honest. If you're not watching on YouTube, please, just for today, like, I. I don't know if you could sense that I've been a little bit distracted so far, but I can't look as. As one. I can't, man. You.

[Mike Ryan]

You look at me.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Look at me. You look like. Like a 60 year old Fred Durst. It's the. The glasses make you look like if Ben Franklin had a mixtape. I can't. It's insane. I love it. It looks great.

[Mike Ryan]

I've never worn glasses before. This is my new look. Now I'm wearing glasses. I always like when my wife wears glasses. She normally wears contacts.

[Tony Reali]

Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

But every now and then, I guess she gets, you know, she doesn't want to put the contacts in pain in the ass. And so she wears the glasses. I like when she wears the glasses.

[Tony Reali]

That's how my wife reacts to me when I do what I'm doing right now.

[Mike Ryan]

She doesn't like it.

[Tony Reali]

She loves it.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah.

[Tony Reali]

Loves it.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. I like a girl that wears glasses. Every now and then the chat says

[Chris Cote]

you look like an insurance salesman. That DJ's in his free time.

[Mike Ryan]

Right, But I'm not. I'm a sports talk show host.

[Dominique Foxworth]

No, no. You got a mixtape coming out that's called High as a K. I like this.

[Mike Ryan]

This might be my new look. I'm not sure yet. I'm still workshop.

[Jeremy Schaap]

The glasses have motions as I like it.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, man. That's what I'm saying.

[Dominique Foxworth]

The combo with the back. The baggy back. Who has a baggy backwards hat? It's great.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a little bit baggy backwards fit.

[Dan LeBatard]

It is. There's a reason why no one else in the industry does it.

[Chris Cote]

Zez, they say you look like a washed speakeasy poet.

[Mike Ryan]

If I was wearing a Kangal, I don't know why.

[Dan LeBatard]

This looks like a real world audition tape.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, that's not bad. If I was wearing a Kangal, I think I would fit both of those profiles.

[Tony Reali]

Radio host Malone.

[Mike Ryan]

Juju put it on the pole. Juju put it on the pole. Do I look like radio post Malone?

[Tony Reali]

Oh, radio host Malone.

[Mike Ryan]

Radio host. That's why I said radio host Malone. Listen, better guy, listen better for your ears. So Lamelo Ball traded to Minnesota. I'm not willing to sit here and tell you exactly what seed I think Minnesota is. Now, this is not fast take, all right, but that is obviously a huge move with Lamelo Ball being moved. Did you see Austin Reeves's new contract yesterday? Holy moly.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I.

[Mike Ryan]

What was that like?

[Dominique Foxworth]

I mean, I get. When guys get paid, man, it makes me so happy. It brings me joy.

[Mike Ryan]

Is that right?

[Dominique Foxworth]

It may.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Dominique Foxworth]

It's uncomfortable how happy I am for when players get big, big checks. It's. I get even more happy when it seems like they don't deserve it. When people are mad that guys got that money. Oh, brings me so much joy. But that seemed like it's an interesting thing. They got Luka and we all thought that they would be championship contenders soon and they would make the moves. And I guess this is the cautionary tale for the Heat excitement. Although the Heat have a different track record than the Lakers, but they got Luke and we're like, you got this piece. You're going to be a championship contender. And it seems like in the the second apron era, it's a lot harder to build a team. They have to resign Austin Reeves, and it makes them a very good offensive team with some defensive liabilities in a very difficult west. It doesn't seem like they many options for how to become like a real threat. Although I'm super happy for Austin Reeves. Getting that paper, folks.

[Chris Cote]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Tony, you know that moment at a party or a tailgate where everything just sort of clicks.

[Jeremy Schaap]

I know it well. It's usually when I show up, everybo goes crazy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, you usually take all the credit for it, but it's because Tony usually walks in with Cuervo. Walking like this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cuervo is a thing that turns hanging out into this is the night.

[Jeremy Schaap]

It has that effect on people.

[Dan LeBatard]

It does. You usually take the credit for it. But again, it's the Cuervo effect. It's like that moment in a big game where everyone in the crowd just starts standing up, hootin and hollering. Keep it Cuervo.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Keep it cuervo, baby.

[Dan LeBatard]

For 22 years on this show, we've debated the greatest athletes of all time. Who's the goat in football? Who's the goat in soccer? Who's the goat in hoops? One thing that we all know is Dan's the goat of finding the worst possible take. But there's another kind of MVP goat that doesn't get enough credit. The friend who knows to show up with enough Miller Lights plus extra ice because they just know the one who already has seats at the bar when you walk up. That is a Miller Time nvp. I've been on this show long enough to know that Dan is going to make everything about his feelings and Jeremy is going to push back on whatever I just said. But here's something nobody on this show will argue with. Miller Lite is the summer beer. The original light beer since 1975. This summer, recognize your MVPs. We all have that one friend who makes every game better. Now it's time to give them their moment. Head over to Miller Lite's social media pages to learn more about being a Miller Time mvp. You can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces down Levitar.

[Chris Cote]

For five minutes, I was watching everyone just like, nope, not letting you in. Not letting you in. So when I got up there, I had to say something and I said it. Cheaters never prosper.

[Mike Ryan]

Chris Cody, my buddy was saying, not today.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah, but you're not today.

[Chris Cote]

I think that was what he was adding.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah, that so much better.

[Chris Cote]

I'm telling you, the response I got from this guy, what I said was amazing. Cheaters never prosper. This guy yelled as angry as he could.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I ain't cheating. This is the Le Show.

[Mike Ryan]

There is A cool photo that his wife or girlfriend showed when he, like, looked at his phone and saw that the deal was done and he was on the golf course and she snapped a shot of him just, like, lying down on the green, and he was super excited. That is cool. All right. But what's not cool is the Lakers backcourt next year doesn't play any defense, and they're making a combined $90 million. And I. The place that I go to is, like, I feel like. I'm not saying that the Knicks. The Knicks. That the Lakers should have let Austin Reaves walk. All right? But what I am saying is it's not a coincidence that the Knicks did what they did when their best player was making $33 million. And if you're. I just. I don't understand how we got to the place where if you're a good player, and certainly Austin Reaves is a good player, where if you're a good player, it means you. You have to be paid the maximum amount of money in a salary cap sport. The maximum amount of money that you're allowed to be paid. Because we just saw with the Knicks, you need to have players outperforming the value of their contracts. And we could say Austin Reaves deserves his money, but he ain't going to outperform that contract.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So I think sometimes I run the risk of going, like, too deep into the nerdy stuff, especially when we get. So stop me if I do. But, like, this is a basic psychology thing is, like, when you make the. The league instituted these max contracts in order to try to reduce salaries. But when you introduce this, like, landmark of a max contract, what do you mean by that?

[Mike Ryan]

In order to. Meaning we don't go above that number.

[Dominique Foxworth]

They wanted the max contract to be able to control the superstar players from being it. From being able to take up the entire salary cap. But by doing it, and this always happens in CBA negotiations, is that there are some unintended consequences by putting this particular landmark. This is a max contract. This is what the best players get. You pull people down like LeBron through the course of his career, people who would have made more. You pull them down to it, but what ends up happening is you pull a lot of people up to it who aren't at the level of superstar because they're like, this is the number. There's nothing to negotiate. This is what you pay one of your big. Your top two guys get this money. So it's going to happen. It's a result of CBA negotiations. So if you didn't have that then. Some great players would get paid more. Guys, as they age and their performance decline, they will get paid less, not more. Which happens now is like your play starts to decline, you pay more. And now people would look at Austin and say, all right, you're really good. You're not as good as this guy, so you should get a little less. But this is like they've. They've asked for and they've gotten it. They put that out there, and it's going to drag a bunch of people up.

[Jeremy Schaap]

You know what helps, too? When you talk about outperforming your contract, $184 million is going to be tough. You talk about the Knicks and what they're doing. Jalen Brunson took a massive pay cut to be the best guy on that team to help.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, not a pay cut. He left money on the table.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Left money on the table, but that's basically a pay cut. Like, he would have. He would have had all that money. That's easy, because obviously Luca is not going to take a pay cut. Austin Reeves is like, I'm going to get this money. So that's a once in a generation type thing that happened in New York that ended up winning a championship.

[Chris Cote]

Right.

[Dominique Foxworth]

But I mean, his. The general manager of that team was his former agent. His current agent was the son of the general manager. His dad is on the coaching staff and his godfather, president of the team. If it comes down to, like, trust is why you'd be willing to do something like that, it's pretty easy to trust your whole damn family. Like, I understand why no one else would do it and he would be comfortable doing it, but, yeah, get popped.

[Jeremy Schaap]

What are you alleging? What are you alleging there?

[Dominique Foxworth]

I'm not alleging anything.

[Jeremy Schaap]

You sound like you're alleging something.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Are you? You. If you want to allege it, you can allege it.

[Jeremy Schaap]

I'm not alleging it.

[Dominique Foxworth]

You're alleging it. I'm only saying that in order to do a move like that, it requires a lot of trust. You know who I trust? My dad, my former agent, my agent's son, and my godfather. I trust them. That's all I'm saying.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Bank of the Cayman Islands?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Nope. Just saying I trust them. Good. That's all. Did I pass? Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

All right, what's going on in con right now? Because this is not the con. This is not the film festival con.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Caniple. There's a lot of stuff going on.

[Mike Ryan]

No, no, no. I'm talking about France. Con France. This is not the film Festival, Right. What's. What's going on in Con right now? Yes. I look a little bit like ed Harris in Mr. In the Truman Show. That is true.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I don't know. I don't.

[Dan LeBatard]

This isn't the film festival.

[Mike Ryan]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

They can't possibly have two events in that city.

[Mike Ryan]

They do.

[Dan LeBatard]

They cannot.

[Mike Ryan]

This is something with, like, podcasting.

[Chris Cote]

It's some creator.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. This is not the Con Film Festival. It's going.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Why aren't you there?

[Mike Ryan]

Great question.

[Dan LeBatard]

This doesn't make sense.

[Chris Cote]

I thought Trista was there as well.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, Trista's there because she. She has her daily W Sports. Trista Crick is doing a whole thing.

[Dan LeBatard]

Podcast convention. Should be in, like, Lawrence, Kansas.

[Mike Ryan]

Not in Con. It's in Con. Everybody's having a great time there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Austin, Texas. There's a good spot. Perfect Con.

[Chris Cote]

Can only. Can only imagine how obnoxious Pablo looked there. Oh.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I mean, that's his element, right? Like, I've never met someone who hobnobs like Pablo. He is the best hobnobber in the history of hobnobs.

[Dan LeBatard]

There isn't a knob right now that isn't getting hobbed by Pablo Torre.

[Chris Cote]

Look at this photo with Oprah.

[Dominique Foxworth]

He met Oprah. That's the biggest.

[Dan LeBatard]

Pablo Torre.

[Mike Ryan]

That's the face that Pablo makes for the video audience who can't see it. Like, that's. That's the face that Pablo makes when he's taking a photo with Oprah Winfrey.

[Jeremy Schaap]

You get one picture with Oprah in your life, and that's what you look like.

[Mike Ryan]

That's the face.

[Chris Cote]

Can we play the live photo just so we saw how this really happened? I love this. I love a live photo.

[Mike Ryan]

Me too.

[Chris Cote]

The countdown in the background.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I like that.

[Dan LeBatard]

It feels like a dirty secret you're being invited into.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, I love when you hear something.

[Mike Ryan]

It's like, oh, I could see you move. You didn't intend that because it's just a still.

[Dan LeBatard]

Don't get that millisecond of me actually posing.

[Dominique Foxworth]

But how many faces.

[Chris Cote]

Faces did he make in this live shot?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah. Let's see it again, guys.

[Dan LeBatard]

Out. Two, three.

[Mike Ryan]

At least three.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know what's going on there, because if you do the live photo, you can then scroll your finger through all the action and you land on a good face.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Oh, so you think he did that intentionally? And I thought that maybe he was panicking.

[Mike Ryan]

He was. So he has multiple photo options.

[Dominique Foxworth]

He was, like, scared happy.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're not going to ask Oprah to do it again because you don't like the photo. So you might as well throw a bunch of faces in there and land on what's best once you interesting.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I also don't want to miss the opportunity to point out Oprah hated this experience. You could tell by her body and her face and her hands. She's like, I hate this. I don't like this, man. I know he wants to hop on all the knobs. I don't like it. I've been hopped too much.

[Chris Cote]

Not everyone gets to meet Oprah at this thing. I'm wondering if there's like a certain little, like, maybe pull surprise section that she finds herself in so she'd be

[Mike Ryan]

more willing to take pictures of the Pulitzer Prize winner.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's got the wristband. She doesn't need one.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Her wristband appears to be her face.

[Mike Ryan]

Can you imagine her walk into the area where you need the wristband and they stop. Are like, where's your wristband?

[Chris Cote]

I mean, you get fired now, you get fired.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Talk to my supervisor really quick.

[Tony Reali]

I.

[Dan LeBatard]

What's a last name? Winfrey with a W. I would be.

[Mike Ryan]

I'd be intimidated to ask Oprah Winfrey for a picture.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I feel like the more famous the person is, I'm not a picture guy. It's like insecurity and ego, I think.

[Dan LeBatard]

But you can't. In that situation. You need to have a friend with you that's like, hey, guys, get together for a picture.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, you can't be. His producer definitely went up to her and was like, here, Pablo would like to meet.

[Dominique Foxworth]

No, no, no, no. I think, no, no, no.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's get a picture.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah, I think you're a pro, because I wouldn't have done it. But I would always, of course, appreciate a picture with a famous person. But I would never ask. But if someone else, it like, puts you on the same plane as them. If someone's like, hey, you guys are together, cool. You gotta have somebody with you.

[Chris Cote]

Pablo, Oprah's ready for you now.

[Dan LeBatard]

It needs to be a coordinated effort.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah, no, I think, Chris, you're doing something different.

[Chris Cote]

Pablo's in a corner of the of, like, over in this little roped off area. He's just looking away. And then his producer Chris is like, pablo, she's ready for you. Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Chris Cote]

Like, he's just looking off into a corner.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So you walk up and you're like, hey, hey, Oprah, I don't want to bother you. Just wanted to say, big fan. Love what you're doing. And then you have.

[Mike Ryan]

You have to say, big Fan.

[Dominique Foxworth]

You don't have to. You just have to make the acquaintance. You have to engage her, and then you can't ask. I think that's what Mike is doing is you don't ask. You have someone walk up and pretend as if this is a great opportunity, that these two celebrities are next to each other and you're like, hey, let's get this pick, guys, because you don't want to be the one. Like, hey, Oprah, can I have a picture?

[Mike Ryan]

Juju, put it on the poll. Would you be nervous to ask Oprah Winfrey for a picture? And also, please, Juju, put it on the poll. Is Pablo the greatest hobnobber?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Oh, yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

I would be like, I, I think I, I don't think I like, I feel like there's this aura around Oprah Winfrey. There are very few people that I would be, like, nervous to talk to. I mean, like, I work in sports for the last 20 years, you know.

[Dan LeBatard]

God, I would love to see that interaction. Lord, let there be a day. Hey, Oprah, let there be a day. Oh, the color purple.

[Jeremy Schaap]

You like these glasses?

[Mike Ryan]

She would see these glasses. She'd be like, this is someone I'll take a picture with. He looks sophisticated.

[Dan LeBatard]

I love big game. Not a big game.

[Mike Ryan]

She would say that to me instead of me having to go up to her and say, I'm a big fan. She's like, I love big deal. Not a big deal.

[Dan LeBatard]

Huge fan of your work. Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

One time or two time championship broadcaster.

[Mike Ryan]

Two Oprah. Two.

[Dominique Foxworth]

You think Oprah would say, like, hey, know about that book club?

[Mike Ryan]

Well, and I would say, yes, I do, Oprah. Yes, I do.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Have you seen weapons

[Dan LeBatard]

kids?

[Mike Ryan]

So speaking of Khan, Jaylen Brown is in at con, you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Jaylen Brown is doing like, I don't know if he's doing an episode of his, his podcast or I don't think he's on Twitch and Con, but he's doing a sit down with someone. He's doing a live, like, interview kind of deal. And Jaylen Brown, he decided to continue the conversation about Stephen A. Smith being, you know, Stephen A. Smith going after him for his comments that he made about this, being his favorite season leader

[Dominique Foxworth]

behind that was espn. ESPN is unethical. And Stephen A. Smith is the head face of that. But, you know, the organization, the players, they were all in agreeance. They all knew what I meant by that. Our team was basically salary dumps. You know, we lost a lot of players.

[Mike Ryan]

How about, how about, how about the, the, the lonely clap after Stephen A. Smith is the the leader.

[Chris Cote]

That person didn't even feel that strongly about the topic, but they were like, oh, we're all going to clap here. Oh no, no one's okay.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Does that person know what he's actually even talking about?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Not in con.

[Chris Cote]

I do love at a setting like this. Not that I've ever been there, but in like a speech setting. I love to be the person that starts the applause that gets the whole crowd going. I love that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you realize that the Boston Celtics were just a salary dump team? No expectations for them whatsoever. They were just this franchise. Hey, give us all your bad contracts. That's what they were.

[Mike Ryan]

That's right. Jaylen Brown. Jaylen Brown's teammates this past year should feel really good. You're a salary dump team, all you guys. This is a salary dump.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Am I the only one who like finds myself on Jaylen Brown's side in this?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, no, the guy that clapped.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Oh yeah, me.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Me might hate Stephen A. Smith.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Was that you during that clip, girl?

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I'm sorry, woman.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Definitely not the Stephen A. Smith part.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hello listeners.

[Tony Reali]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

I hate that Carolina is going to get this moment just because they waited us out. Jonathan Sasselo But I love that Buffalo

[Dominique Foxworth]

is going to replace the Panthers in this situation because those fans absolutely deserve it. Not going to the playoffs.

[Jeremy Schaap]

What?

[Dan LeBatard]

14 street years deserve it.

[Mike Ryan]

We deserve it. I don't care.

[Dan LeBatard]

We won twice already.

[Mike Ryan]

I deserve a third one. Before they deserve anything, I just started

[Dan LeBatard]

paying attention to hockey. I live in a swamp. Give me three in a row.

[Mike Ryan]

Buffalo deserves. Eat shit, Buffalo. I care about Buffalo. This is the Dan Levatar show,

[Dominique Foxworth]

But it feels like up until this point, the general consensus around Jaylen Brown is like, he's annoying and kind of spoiled and grumpy and like, he shouldn't have said this was his favorite season. Like, I'm thinking back over the course of his career in Boston and like, he has a right to be upset. Like, he was the third overall pick in 2016, and the Boston Celtics fans booed him when he was drafted. They followed a year by getting another player at a similar position in Jayson Tatum. Then every time they go to the playoffs or lose in the playoffs or lose in the finals, the reason why they lost is Jayson Tatum can't dribble with his left hand. Or not Jason Tatum. Jaylen Brown is the problem. He can't dribble with his left hand. Every year, it's like, we want Kawhi. Let's ship out Tatum. We want Durant. Let's ship out Tatum. He's a part of every single trade rumor. He gets snubbed for the all NBA team. You know what? Kawhi drops off of the the USA team, and they're like, yeah, let's find a player. Let's get a Celtic. You know, Kawhi Leonard, a real rangy, great defensive wing. Let's get Derrick White from the Celtics. He just gets snubbed and snubbed. Then he's the mvp, the finals MVP for this team. You know how they reward him with that Giannis looking like, we got a Jayson Tatum for that Giannis. And then the man does a couple twitch streams, and we're all like, huh, he's kind of mean. He's, like, selfish and whiny. Like, I would be upset, too, if I did all of this stuff. And no one seems to want to appreciate me, and they want to shit me out at every chance they get.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, you're. You're talking about it in totality.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. You're also talking about it like someone who has totally fallen for what he's been trying to do this entire offseason.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Exactly right.

[Dan LeBatard]

Which is garner sympathy. And this is what it looks like. This is what the sausage looks like when the disgruntled star actually wants his way out. Of there. But kudos to you for falling for it.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Is. Is it falling for it? If there's a line of facts that,

[Dan LeBatard]

by the way, I don't think I need all, like, the window dressing that he's doing right now. I'm team JB here. I think they're backing Jason Tatum. Like, this seems like it's a me or Heath, me or him thing. And I'd side with Jaylen Brown here. More proven commodity not coming off an Achilles. I get where he's coming from.

[Dominique Foxworth]

That's the only point I'm making is, like, I'm not saying that I would behave the way he behaved or I think that having a twitch stream or saying this was your favorite season was right. I'm just saying that we are missing the point while we focus on the way that he demonstrates that he feels, like, underappreciated or disrespected. Maybe you don't like that, but he has been underappreciated and disrespected considering what he's contributed to that team. That's all I'm saying. And we keep going like, hey, he's picking on Stephen A. Smith or he's doing this thing that's weird. He's doing that thing that's weird. None of us seem to be willing to say, you know what, the Celtics, the organization that ran Isaiah Thomas into the ground and told him to get missing, is the same organization that is now treating him this way.

[Jeremy Schaap]

You're working for PR for him or what? What's going on here?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Again, no one is directly refuting anything I'm saying. We're just, like, going this sideways.

[Jeremy Schaap]

No, you made good points. You made good points. Also. Points that he would make.

[Chris Cote]

Right?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Like, so you want to make the points that Brad Stevens would make. Knock yourself out. We're all making points that one side or the other would make. I just happen to be on the side of the people.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, I'll. I'll refute the part about, you know, and defend, essentially, ESPN and Stephen A. Smith in that. Me, too.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I love ESPN and Stephen A. Smith. He's dead wrong about that.

[Mike Ryan]

But. But I'll. I'll like. I'll refute the part from Jalen Brown. I'll refute the part from Jaylen Brow around where he's calling ESPN and Stephen A. Smith unethical because they. They took like, he's doing the move where he says something and then if other people react unfavorably to the thing he said, that means it was taken out of Context. No, no, no.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, we.

[Mike Ryan]

We heard what you said. We watched the whole thing. You claimed that a year that ended in embarrassment. For the first time ever, the Celtics lost the series after leading three games to one. You called it your favorite season when just two years prior you won a championship and were Finals mvp. But this one was your favorite season. A season also, mind you, when all these years it's been Jalen or Jason and do they get along and can they play together? Your favorite season wasn't when the two of you won a championship together. This is not being taken out of context. You said this. Your favorite season is the one where Jason didn't play and you got to be the man.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So to me, that sounds like you've decided what side you want to be on and you found the thing to grab onto and make the point. Because I think that considering the track record, I won't run through it again that I just gave you. It's reasonable. Maybe shouldn't have said it, but it's reasonable for him to say that at every turn. Even after I was the Finals mvp, that felt like a notch in the belt of Jayson Tatum. We still talked about Jason Tatum. Jason Tatum did an off season interview where he's like, I'm chasing people like Larry Bird. He's thinking, I was the third overall pick. Also, I was the wing that put the Finals. Put the finals in Boston again, that brought the Boston to championship again. I'm the guy. I'm the guy. And at every turn, they're like, you're the guy that will ship off for a better guy. And he's like, no, I'm doing the things that you want him to do. I'm doing it the one year that he's out. You know what? We're a three seed. It's not just him. Out is we lose Porzingis, lose Jrue Holiday, lose Al Horford, we lose all the pieces. And everyone's like, boston, gap year. Maybe they'll get a high pick. You know what? We're third, and I'm in the MVP conversation. And then the result of the off season is maybe we'll see if we can ship him out of town. Okay, maybe he shouldn't have said exactly what he said. But the point is, if anyone in all of this is wrong, I don't really think it's Jaylen Brown for his reaction to doing all this shit you said he couldn't do. And then you say, all right, if you do all this, we'll treat you like a superstar. We'll treat you with the respect that you deserve. He did it all. He got better every offseason. He addressed the issues, and then he wins the championship. Tatum gets hurt, he balls out. And then in the offseason, they are dangling his ass around to trade again. And he's pissed. That's all I'm saying. He's right to be pissed. That's it.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Dominique, all that stuff. Agreed with. Okay, fine. The issue is we don't know what he's like on a day in and day out basis inside that locker room, inside that front office, inside that building. Right. If you have all those medals and all those accolades and all those things, but you're still an asshole. Not saying he is, but I'm saying if you're somebody that people don't want to be around in the office, like, it's tough for you to stick around.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's stop making a Manny Diaz. When Miami was approaching Mario Crisbal, he was dangling that ass on his own, I think.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So I guess my point is now you guys are willing to say, all right, the way he's acting, it's okay for them to shop him. Why don't we extend him the same grace that we are extending to the team? But it's okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's what he wants. It's his intention to be dangle.

[Mike Ryan]

He wants to be the guy.

[Dan LeBatard]

And he gets to point a finger at the team saying, oh, this is unfair. Garner sympathy.

[Jeremy Schaap]

This is what.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is what the superstars in that league do. They. Outside of James Harden, this is how you garner. They want to be victims here, so that's fine.

[Dominique Foxworth]

But it feels like to me that we are not. We're more critical of Jason, of Jaylen Brown for doing that thing, than we are of the Celtics for saying, so I assume that Jaylen Brown was not this difficult to deal with. I think that some of this is a part of who he is, and some of it is a part of the way that they've treated him. We don't treat other superstars this way when they want to dangle that ass, and we do not treat teams this way when they want to dangle a player. That's all I'm saying.

[Jeremy Schaap]

The issue with us, at least with me, is I feel like Jaylen Brown always tries to be the smartest guy in the room just to ask him about it.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Right?

[Chris Cote]

Right.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Like he's trying to outsmart everybody at every turn. That's like you've. You've. On the court, you've done what you've needed to do. Granted, you've been incredible. You worked on your game. You actually ended up getting a left hand. You became Finals mvp. You helped the Celtics through a team that are a bridge year where they thought they were going to be a lottery team. And you got into the playoffs, but then you lost to the Sixers and Joel Embiid and the carcass they had. And now it's all of a sudden like, oh, now I got to get out of here because I want to be the man. Like, when you try to outsmart everybody all the time, people kind of lose your lose the like on that.

[Tony Reali]

But to Jaylen Brown's credit, like, he led them to that. And then Jason Tatum came back, and then they lost in the first round as he deferred to Jayson Tatum throughout. At different moments, he deferred to him throughout their championship run. But then he stepped up in the Finals and won Finals mvp. And ultimately, all he said was, this was my favorite season. I got to play as the lead guy. And as a team that overachieved, they had a ton of expectations. Every other year that he was in the league with Jayson Tatum. This year, everyone said, oh, man, maybe they're going to be a playing team. And then he led them to more success than they anticipated. That's allowed to be a fun year, even if you fall short of the ultimate goal, especially if you've already been a champion. I feel like the way that we're treating him in, the way that he's handling this and the lack of credit that that he's getting in Boston, it feels more like Kevin Durant and the way he was treated with the Golden State warriors, where it's like, you' not our guy. You're not our lead guy. We're going to heap the credit onto Jayson Tatum regardless. And Jaylen Brown, I said two weeks ago he should be asking out, and he's not even doing that.

[Mike Ryan]

Jeremy, it's not allowed to be his favorite year on the franchise. That routinely tells you the only banners we hang, not division, not conference banners, are the championship banners.

[Tony Reali]

Totally fair. Like, that's totally fair. That's totally fair. But it can be his favorite season. Like, it's fair to say he didn't meet expectations and it's not their favorite season, as he did individually.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So I think all I want is for everyone to accept what Tony said. Y' all don't like him. You're looking for a reason to pile on him because you don't like him.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I've got my reasons.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I like him. That's. I mean, that's what it comes down to.

[Dan LeBatard]

I had my reasons and I could

[Dominique Foxworth]

understand that and accept it. I think the part that frustrates me is the move that Zaz is doing. And it's not just Zaz. It's like. Like we're gonna focus on this one thing and say, this is the reason. No, like it's because you don't like him.

[Dan LeBatard]

How do people not like Jaylen? Like, he's been a quiet guy for most of his career. Outside of social causes, he's the perfect guy to pair with. Maybe that's what's going on with some people. But, like, this is the first time he's ever been vocal. Really. He has he always been Twitch streaming. This is the only time it's ever made news. That's why I'm not overthinking this. This is. You know, there are some long term relationships where a person doesn't have the heart to break up with the other person, but they start behaving in a way that makes it seem like it was the other person's idea.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

So they can throw their hands up and say, you know what, you're right, this is probably for the best. I think that's what's going on here. It's meta. It's working, by the way, especially with this news cycle, which is how dare they do this to Jaylen Brown, a finals mvp. Pursue Giannis. You guys know you're good enough to win a championship, so he gets to be a victim. And it's all because the original sin, which was what we keep referencing. This was my favorite year. This was my favorite scene.

[Chris Cote]

Whoa.

[Mike Ryan]

We another breaking news.

[Tony Reali]

Brian Windhorst has called John Morant, quote, flagrantly available. He says his two year contract is making teams hesitant to take on the risk. Flagrantly available.

[Dan LeBatard]

Miami passed on an opportunity to get him on the chief.

[Mike Ryan]

He makes like 50 million a year,

[Dan LeBatard]

doesn't he, in terms of giving stuff up? Like they don't have assets. I mean, I would review it.

[Jeremy Schaap]

It would be the opposite. It's negative, it's sunk costume. Memphis would had to attach a pick to John Moran to move.

[Dominique Foxworth]

That's right.

[Mike Ryan]

Now how do you go from available to like, what then makes you flagrantly

[Jeremy Schaap]

like the front door? Like it could be locked.

[Chris Cote]

Right.

[Jeremy Schaap]

And then you have the front door that's unlocked that you can walk in the.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I feel like it'll be. If there was no door.

[Jeremy Schaap]

Exactly. Right. The door is off the hinges right now. Just come in and get whatever you want.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jovic is behind that door, too. It's like New York City.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Come get anything, dangle that assemble.