Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd: "Best of The Herd" Episode Summary

Release Date: July 10, 2025

Introduction

In the "Best of The Herd" episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by Jason McIntyre and Alex Curry from iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, the discussion centers around significant developments in the NBA, particularly focusing on the Los Angeles Lakers' recent moves and the broader implications for the league. The episode also delves into an insightful conversation about the evolving landscape of college football, featuring perspectives influenced by Deion Sanders' remarks.

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1. Lakers Acquire Deandre Ayton: A Bold Move

[02:29]

Jason McIntyre opens the discussion by highlighting the Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of Deandre Ayton, a move that has stirred conversations among fans and analysts alike. Ayton, previously with the Portland Trail Blazers, is characterized as a "malcontent" due to his tumultuous tenure in Portland, which included missed team flights and rehab sessions.

Notable Quote:

"Deandre Ayton leaves Portland for the Lakers. Now, I know a lot of people instantly poo pooed this deal as this is no big deal." — Jason McIntyre [02:29]

Yovan Buha counters the initial skepticism by emphasizing Ayton's impressive statistics over his first seven seasons, positioning him among the league's top eight centers. Despite his off-court issues, Ayton's performance metrics—averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds, and shooting 50%—underscore his value on the court.

[03:59]

Key Points:

• Ayton's transition from Portland to the Lakers for a significantly reduced salary ($8 million compared to Portland's $32 million).
• Assessment of Ayton's defensive prowess and offensive contributions.
• Potential impact on the Lakers' frontcourt dynamics alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

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2. LeBron James and Team Dynamics: The Quest for the Missing Piece

[04:05]

The conversation shifts to LeBron James' current standing within the Lakers organization. There's speculation about possible tensions between LeBron and the team's management, especially concerning the allocation of resources and the focus on Luka Doncic.

Notable Quote:

"LeBron's feelings are probably hurt. He's in his feelings a little." — Jason McIntyre [05:04]

Jason McIntyre suggests that LeBron might be observing the organization's prioritization of Luka, potentially feeling sidelined in favor of building around Doncic. This situation raises questions about the Lakers' strategic direction and LeBron's role in future team decisions.

Key Points:

• LeBron's historical pattern of being the central figure around whom teams are built.
• The Lakers' possible shift towards a Luka-centric approach.
• Implications for team chemistry and championship aspirations.

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3. Bradley Beal's Potential Arrival: A Game-Changer for the Lakers

[28:04]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the potential acquisition of Bradley Beal by the Lakers. The discussion revolves around Beal's current contract situation, his performance metrics, and how a possible free-agent signing could reshape the Lakers' lineup.

Notable Quote:

"Bradley Beal making $50 million a year is not a great part of your team. He's overpaid at $50 mil." — Jason McIntyre [28:04]

Yovan Buha explores the feasibility of the Lakers securing Beal at a reduced cost (estimated $4-5 million annually) and the strategic advantages it would bring. The conversation also touches upon alternative destinations for Beal, such as the Clippers or Milwaukee Bucks, and the potential roles he would play in those teams.

[30:09]

Key Points:

• Analysis of Bradley Beal's performance: Averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, and a 39% three-point shooting rate.
• The Lakers' offensive potential with Beal teaming up with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
• Defensive concerns and how Beal's addition might address or exacerbate them.
• Comparative advantages of signing Beal versus his remaining with the Phoenix Suns or moving to other contenders.

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4. Deion Sanders on College Football: The Shift Towards Pay-to-Play

[11:25]

Transitioning from the NBA, the episode delves into college football, heavily influenced by Deion Sanders' recent comments. Sanders critiques the rising trend of "pay-to-play," where significant financial investments by universities are becoming pivotal in securing top-tier talent.

Notable Quote:

"The team that pays the most, is going to be that it. It's kind of hard to compete with somebody who's given 25, $30 million during freshman class." — Deion Sanders [11:25]

Jason McIntyre and Yovan Buha discuss the ramifications of Sanders' viewpoint, particularly focusing on Texas Tech's aggressive spending strategy facilitated by a billionaire donor. This approach has led to unprecedented success in the transfer portal, positioning Texas Tech as a formidable contender within the Big 12.

[15:10]

Key Points:

• The influence of financial investments on college football's competitive balance.
• Texas Tech's rise under substantial financial backing and strategic acquisitions.
• The potential need for systemic changes, such as salary caps or collective bargaining agreements, to address the disparities.
• Predictions on how this financial arms race might affect the future of college football playoffs and national championships.

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5. Looking Ahead: Lakers' Prospects and the NBA Six-Pack

[35:25]

In the latter part of the episode, Jason McIntyre and Yovan Buha outline their predictions for the upcoming NBA season, identifying a "six-pack" of teams poised for championship contention. The Lakers are positioned as key contenders, contingent on successful roster adjustments and acquisitions like Beal.

Notable Quote:

"If Bradley Beal hits the market and the Lakers can grab him at four or five million dollars a year, well, who's better than the Lakers?" — Jason McIntyre [28:04]

Key Points:

• Evaluation of the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder as top contenders.
• The strategic moves each team has made during the offseason to bolster their championship bids.
• Specific focus on how the Lakers' potential new signings could tip the balance in their favor.

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Conclusion

The "Best of The Herd" episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the NBA, with a particular emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers' strategic maneuvers. Additionally, it provides a thought-provoking examination of the shifting dynamics in college football, underscored by significant financial investments shaping the competition landscape. Through engaging discussions and expert insights, Jason McIntyre and Yovan Buha deliver a nuanced perspective on the evolving sports narratives of 2025.

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Notable Quotes Overview:

• Jason McIntyre [02:29]: "Deandre Ayton leaves Portland for the Lakers. Now, I know a lot of people instantly poo pooed this deal as this is no big deal."

• Jason McIntyre [05:04]: "LeBron's feelings are probably hurt. He's in his feelings a little."

• Jason McIntyre [28:04]: "Bradley Beal making $50 million a year is not a great part of your team. He's overpaid at $50 mil."

• Deion Sanders [11:25]: "The team that pays the most, is going to be that it. It's kind of hard to compete with somebody who's given 25, $30 million during freshman class."

---

This detailed summary encapsulates the critical discussions from the episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the topics covered, even if they haven't tuned in to the actual podcast.

Transcript

[Jason McIntyre]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Alex Curry]

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[Deion Sanders]

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[Katie Couric]

On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the Union. I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alex Curry]

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific Monday. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Welcome back to the herd. It's me, Jason McIntyre filling in for Colin Cowherd who is jet setting as usual. I can't say where he is, but trust he is in a good spot enjoying his two weeks off. We've been off for a little while due to the women's FIFA World cup, but we're back today. It's me, Jason, joined by Alex Curry. I know you guys are waiting. Alex is close. It's getting close. Don't put that out there. We're definitely in the red zone, but we're doing great. We're feeling great. We're excited to be here today. Fantastic show. Listen, when you take a, when you're off for a few days, you got a lot of news. We got Albert Breer coming up next hour. Jovan Buha with our big Lakers update here in about 20 minutes, Eric Manini, final hour. Boy, shout out to my guy, Eric Manini. He's sick of Aaron Rodgers. Yes, I knew I could get other people to the place where I've been for a while. Anyways, I want to start the show with text messaging. Well, not totally, but kind of, sort of. The Lakers made a big splash here in the last week, picking up deandre Ayton, the disgruntled center who was cut loose by the Portland Trailblazers. And I know a lot of people instantly poo pooed this deal as this is no big deal. Ayton's a malcontent. Jake, did you see the story in the Athletic about deandre Ayton?

[Yovan Buha]

A guy.

[Jason McIntyre]

Guy was a jerk last year. He would come out of games and slam chairs down. He'd be late to rehab, he would be late for team flights. I said, guys, guys, guys. This is how much Deandre Ayton hated it in Portland. He forfeited $10 million to get out of town on a bad team. He saw that they drafted his replacement. He wasn't feeling it. And deandre Ayton leaves Portland for the Lakers. Now, I know you guys, even if you want to say Ayton's not that good of a player, I, you know, we have a great staff who comes up with some amazing stats. And let's just say deandre Ayton through his first seven seasons is kind of sort of a top eight center in the league. I mean, listen, look at these stats right here. 15 and 10 and 50% shooting in the last seven seasons. Jokic is a MVP. Giannis is an MVP. AD is all NBA. Joel Embiid has an MVP. Kat and Sabonis. These are all great players. Deandre Ayton's in that class with them. He just obviously was in Portland, so nobody paid attention. I wanted to start with Ayton because it gets me into where I'm about to go, folks. So it's understandable that Ayton hated life in Portland. And at 32 million, Portland probably hated him too. However, Deandre Ayton's making $8 million with the Lakers. I looked this up. Rudy Gobert's at like 36 million on any planet in the solar system. Is Rudy Gobert four times the player deandre Ayton is? Hell, no. He's not even two times the player. Ayton is a great defender, obviously, but Aiden's a better offensive player. But it was telling this week when Ayton had a interview about arriving to the Lakers, and they asked if he's heard from LeBron, and he said, no, not really. You either hear from someone or you don't. He probably realized he stepped in it by saying no. And then he quickly followed up with, but I heard from Luca. Luka texted me, and that kind of put the antenna up. Okay, okay, okay. When we last left this show, LeBron was sending cryptic messages to the Lakers. Remember the welcome home hat in Cleveland? Alex and I got a good chuckle out of that playing golf in Ohio as free agency started. He's kind of gone radio silent otherwise on social media, and it's like, well, what's going on with LeBron? Does he want to be traded? Does he want out? Nothing's making sense. I was able to put it all together last night. He's waiting for one piece, guys. There is one missing piece on the Lakers. Before LeBron is fully bought in, is he probably a little perturbed that the Lakers are catering to Luca and not him? Well, yeah, that's natural, right? LeBron's been the alpha on every team he's been in since he joined the league. He goes to Miami. Even though Wade was a legend, that was LeBron's Heatles. He goes back to Cleveland. I know Kyrie was the number one pick there. It's about LeBron. He goes to the Lakers. Even when they brought on ad it was still LeBron's show. It's pretty clearly going to be Luca's show going forward. And LeBron's feelings are probably hurt. He's in his feelings a little. That happens. But I have the answer and it came to me last night. Now, I will warn you, when I presented this missing piece to the Lakers in the morning meeting, I got a couple groans and a side eye. And let's just say not everybody was feeling it. But if you've been following what's going on in Phoenix right now, the Suns cannot find a taker for Bradley Beal. And by all accounts, they're going to have to wave and stretch him. The same way Milwaukee dumped Damian Lillard. Well, listen, Bradley Beal making $50 million a year is not a great part of your team. He's overpaid at 50 mil. Now Bradley Beal gets bought out and waved and stretched and suddenly he looks like Russell Wilson. You guys remember Russell Wilson, right? He signs this lucrative deal in Denver. Sean Payton quickly realizes this ain't gonna work, not at 37 mil. Ask him to take a pay cut. Russ says, not happening and they dump him. Russell Wilson, 37 million? No. Russell Wilson had 1 million a year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sign me up. And the Steelers got to the playoffs. They lost to the Ravens, but they still made the playoffs. And you had a quarterback at $1 million. Which brings me to Bradley Beal, folks. I get it. You think Beals washed. I. I Disagree. He's only 32. His numbers last year, 38% on threes, 49% from the field. Those are good numbers. On a bad team at 50 million, they're not great numbers. Now, if Bradley Beal hits the market and the Lakers can grab him at four or five million dollars a year, well, who's better than the Lakers? And don't say okc. You can be closing games. I don't. Starting whatever closing games. Ayton, LeBron, Luca Beal and Reeves. Who's stopping that offense? The Lakers need catch and shoot, guys. Hey, Austin Reed, go spot up. Hey, Bradley Beal, go spot up. Catch and shoot. Threes. Bang, bang. Now, the defense is obviously gonna be a question, but you look at that Minnesota series, they could not hang offensively. Couldn't get to 100 in three of the games. Now, LeBron was banged up. He's old. I think Bradley Beal is the missing piece for the Lakers to win the West. Obviously, Houston is elite. We know that. Obviously Denver, very, very good. Much improved. And OKC should be very good again. Although, you know the history of teams trying to get back to the finals the year after winning, it hasn't happened in, I believe, since the 2019 Warriors. So the Lakers are missing one piece. And I think at that point, LeBron will buy in that piece is Bradley Beal. Now the Celtics kind of want him. The Clippers are going to make a hard push and they've got a starting spot to offer him and the Milwaukee Bucks. Hey Beal, come and take all the shots you want with Giannis. We have no backcourt, but do you have a better chance to get out of the East? Sure, but it's the Lakers, Beal, do you know what you can make off the court? Do you know what LeBron and Luca are going to do to your numbers? I think it's a no brainer. The Lakers get Beal. To me, they become right there one of the favorites in the Western Conference. Now I want to shift to college football because the Big 12 media days are happening this week and something interesting was said by Deion Sanders about the state of college football. Now let me give you a quick little backstory. Obviously we know Deion hits Colorado and oh my gosh, what an impact on college football. Obviously having shedur Sanders and Travis Hunter to elite players that helped Deon was getting everybody he wanted. Colorado was on the rise, the program was back. How about them Buffaloes? And then Nil has really changed the equation and I mean at a pace that nobody foresaw. And some of these numbers that we're seeing now are becoming astronomical and it's becoming pretty clear. College football is, if you didn't believe it before, it's now pay to play. If you spend the money, your chances of getting to the playoff and winning a natty in in increase greatly. Oregon last year, look how much money they spent. Look at the result. Ohio State, Texas. I mean Texas is budget for this year. I mean it's crazy. They're looking to spend in excess of 35 million. So Deion Sanders was asked about it at media days and here's what he had to say.

[Deion Sanders]

I wish it was a cap. You know, like the top of the line player makes this and if you're not that type of guy, you know you're not going to make that. This is what the NFL does. So the problem is you got a guy that's not that darn good, but he could go to another school and they give him a half a million dollars and you can't, you can't compete with that. It don't make sense. All you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent and you understand darn near why they're in the playoffs. It's kind of hard to compete with somebody who's given 25, $30 million during freshman class.

[Yovan Buha]

Right.

[Deion Sanders]

It's crazy. The team that pays the more, pays the most is going to be that it.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah. I'm sure a lot of baseball owners and general managers seeing this right now are like, hey, we could use a salary cap. Not going to happen. But I, I mean, what's next? Are we going to get a union for college football players? Is that on the horizon? Listen, I'm not going to lie. I saw this idea from Dion. I was like, that's not terrible. I don't hate it. However, I think the real reason Deion is going off like this is because of something small that happened on the 4th of July. You guys probably missed us celebrating with hot dogs and fireworks. But there's a young man named Felix Ojo who is one of the best offensive tackles in the country. And he was ticketed to go to the Texas Longhorns. Everybody thought, oh, that's a lock for Texas. And then out of nowhere comes big spending Texas Tech, the Red Raiders. And all of a sudden they steal this elite offensive lineman. Now Texas fans, I wasn't on the message board, but we got a staffer who's a die hard Orange Bloods guy and Texas fans are melting down. Hey man, our offensive line is a huge reason we got to the playoff in back to back years. Obviously we need skill, position guys and a quarterback and defense, but offensive line sets the tone. You win in the trenches and Texas Tech stealing this offensive tackle is a huge sign to college football. Wait, how did Texas Tech do that? Well, there was a great story written back in December. Now December is a tough time, guys. I'm not going to lie. When the transfer portal opens up, it's like, oh, who's in the portal? Who's leaving? It's all like rumors. And you know, buy the rumor, sell the news. So you may have missed this article. December also, NFL starting to heat up. You got the NBA starting to get to Christmas games, which matters a lot. You got the holidays, life, a lot of stuff. So you may have missed this article, but the Texas Tech Red Raiders have a billionaire donor who seems to not care about how much he's spending on players. And they have an infrastructure at Texas Tech right now where they've been doing incredible research. And wouldn't you know it, but of the top eight teams in the transfer portal, the rankings that came out for getting the best players in the portal, guess who was the only non sec team in there? The Texas Tech Red Raiders. Take a guess who's going to lap Dion and Colorado in the Big 12 this year, the Texas Tech, Red Raiders. Deon can see the writing on the wall. Damn Texas. Where are they getting this money from? They got a billionaire. They're getting all the players. They've got an amazing general manager who's crushing it to the point that Notre Dame made a run at him because he absolutely destroyed the transfer portal. Texas Tech, ladies and gentlemen. When was the last time you heard them relevant, Mike? You got to go back 15 years to those Mike Leach teams. Texas Tech has not finished in the top 25 in 15 years. But now because there's no salary cap, they are spending and spending wisely. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Cowboys. He has now chimed in, here he is on Dion's salary cap idea. College needs to instigate and to build that type of system so we don't.

[Alex Curry]

Have the same four or five or.

[Jason McIntyre]

Six schools that pay the most money in the. At the end of the season.

[Alex Curry]

You got to restructure the system and you got to admit that the players are employees.

[Jason McIntyre]

And then you can build a, a collective bargaining. We've all talked about it, but you have to admit their employees. And then you need an entry salary cap like you need an entry level for a high school player coming in because it's not sustainable. He's not wrong and Deion's not wrong. I just, I have a hard time believing the phrases collective bargaining agreement, you know, and salary cap are going to really be into college football anytime in the next two years. Basically, if you haven't hit up the billionaire graduates from your college already and set up an nil infrastructure, you're way behind. And I have this feeling, folks, obviously losing Shador and Travis Hunter hurt, but I have a feeling that Deion sees the writing on the wall. Damn. We're like maybe a five win team and Texas Tech's going to spend the money and make all the money. I'm not saying they're going to the playoff, but college football right now is in an awesome moment. If you like disruption like I do. All right, we got a great show ahead. And coming up next, we got a Lakers insider. Are the Lakers going to get beal? Is it going to be the Paperclips? And is Deandre Ayton going to clean up his act? That's next year on the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Deion Sanders]

Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three time Pro Bowler Levar Arrington and I couldn't be more excited.

[Alex Curry]

To announce a podcast called Up On Game. What is up on Game?

[Jason McIntyre]

You ask?

[Deion Sanders]

Along with my fellow Pro Bowler TJ.

[Alex Curry]

Hushman Zada and Super Bowl Champion. Yep, that's right, Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with.

[Deion Sanders]

That type of talent on it.

[Alex Curry]

Up on Game, we're going to be.

[Deion Sanders]

Sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments.

[Alex Curry]

Listen to Up on game with me.

[Deion Sanders]

Lavar Arrington, TJ Huch, Manzada and Plexico.

[Alex Curry]

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[Katie Couric]

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[Alex Curry]

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[Jason McIntyre]

The Lakers have been in the news all the time. Yovon Buha, formerly of the Athletic. He's got a new job coming up. He's got his Boo Haas block podcast. Hasn't invited me on, but whatever. He's going to open invite whenever you want. He's going to the summer league tonight.

[Yovan Buha]

To watch within like an hour. Yeah, I'm going straight to the airport.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, Bronnie versus Cooper Flag, huh?

[Yovan Buha]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Is that how it's being built, Cooper? Flag versus a 58? 55th.

[Yovan Buha]

50.

[Jason McIntyre]

55Th. Sorry, apologies. We'll get to that soon. But we've got to start, obviously with deandre Ayton giving his first interview since going to the Lakers. And I think people are already past his failures in Portland and forfeiting $10 million to get out of town. He said LeBron has not texted him, but Luca has. Now, you had a great nugget last time that Austin Reeves and Jake Laravia share an agent. Doesn't Luka share an agent with DeAndre Jordan? So maybe that's like agent or is there something. Should we read something into this?

[Yovan Buha]

So I've heard they have a good rapport, but like, by NBA standards, a good rapport between Luka and deandre Ayton. So they share an agent. They were the top, you know, two top three picks in the same draft. 2018 draft. Ayton went first, Luka went third. Their families have met each other. Like they have a rapport. So Luka, I've been told, was on board with Ayton coming on and like, he got the stamp of approval. So Luka's excited to have a pick and roll partner. And like deandre Ayton, for all of the discourse around him, we'll say has been statistically one of the most efficient pick and roll threats. Pick and roll finishers, lob threats like over the last few years. So I think Luka's excited. Like, he's certainly an upgrade over Jackson Hayes, we'll say. So, like, I think like, this is a guy who's been double, double every year of his career. Obviously there's been some questions with the motor and whatnot, but like, I think like, he's effectively in a contract year, so he's got a lot to prove. And he talked about like this situation fueling him and like, yeah, I thought the best line of his whole press conference was, I can't run from this. Like, I picked this platform. I can't hide from this now. So this is going to be the most scrutiny and spotlight he's dealt with in his career playing for the Lakers as their starting center. So we'll see what he's made of.

[Jason McIntyre]

And it feels like maybe, you know, he had always been saying, I just got to get that second contract, the big one. He got that. So he's been paid. And now they lost in the finals when he was like 22 in Phoenix. Does he marginally change the Lakers or significantly change them? Because I mean, again, they had nothing at center last year.

[Yovan Buha]

I think it's probably somewhere in between just because again, like if you go back to the playoffs a couple months ago, they literally could not play a center like J.J. redick lost all trust in Jackson Hayes and it got to the point where they were through Maxi Kleba in a game five after he missed like three months with a foot injury and foot surgery. So it's like that showed you that the level of. Now it's interesting. Jackson Hayes is back and I think as a backup he's fine. He also does share an agent with Luka and Deandre Ayton, so they're. Yeah, I mean, but I think these are all positive signs for Luka's upcoming extension on August 2nd.

[Jason McIntyre]

Okay, so a lot of Luka talk. Yovan, you're not talking about LeBron a lot. What's going on?

[Yovan Buha]

It's been quiet and you know, I came on here and we talked about it like I don't think he's going to get traded. I think this has been just him putting some pressure on the organization because he sees the finish line and he's trying to get them to move that first round pick to invest in this year's roster and not look ahead to 2026 or 2027. Because there's the report by ESPN that they're trying to keep the cap sheet clean for the summer of 2027 when Giannis could potentially be available or Jokic available either for trade or to sign one of those guys. Jokic would still be under contract, but like does someone want out at that point? And then the Lakers have the flexibility with multiple picks, some expiring contracts and maybe some young players at that point that like you could flip that for the next star post. LeBron. So I think he's been trying to put some pressure on them to do something and we'll see, I guess the rest of this month if they do it.

[Jason McIntyre]

Let's ask, is there a deal to be had right now with their 2026 first? By the way, the 2026 draft class is pretty damn good. A lot of good players. But like Dalton connect in the first, that's not getting you much.

[Yovan Buha]

So they can't trade the 2026. It has to be the 2031 or 32. So I guess the upside there is like you are betting on what are the Lakers going to look like in six or seven years, which Luka will be, I guess what, 32, 33 should still be in like maybe the tail End of his prime, but still probably in his prime. I think that pick has value. I think the issue has been, like, we've seen teams start to value first round picks again in a way that they hadn't for the last few years. So if you look at it like some of these trades that have happened, like Guy, the prices for guys have dropped with the exception of like The Michael Porter Jr. Trade with Cam Johnson, like, first round picks aren't flying around anymore. So I do think if they put Dalton connect and the first on the table, they could get in some conversations that, like, on paper, maybe you wouldn't expect them to, but it doesn't seem like they want to do that. It seems like they like having a first going into the season and having that flexibility to maybe make a move or make a move down the road. So I'm a little skeptical right now, but it's fluid, so.

[Jason McIntyre]

So you reported LeBron and the Lakers management not getting along great. Is this because maybe LeBron, he's just upset that he's no longer the guy to build around and it's Luka, Is this him pouting? Does he have a player in mind? What?

[Yovan Buha]

I think it's. It's a little bit of all that, right? Like, this is the first time you could say in LeBron's career he hasn't been the sole focus or the primary focus of his franchise that he's been on. Like, even with AD, it was all, like, it was always LeBron trying to pass the baton to AD Luka just came in and got the baton right from owner like he was handed it on a golden pillow. So. And understandably so, because he's a top, at worst, top five player in the league, if not top three, with the upside to be the best player, in my opinion and win an mvp. So, like, I get it. He's a guy who's about to enter his prime, has already led a team to the Finals. But LeBron's just, I think the big thing is like, he sees the finish line, whether it's another year, two years, and he wants to win that fifth ring. And it doesn't feel like the Lakers are going all in on this year's roster. They're trying to kind of split the baby. Not yet, but even if, I mean, I guess if they trade the first, I'll say that's going all in. But anything short of that, it is kind of like a half measure in terms of, like, trying to make this year's roster better, but also keeping that flexibility like Those two things are kind of at odds and but it seems like they're prioritizing the future.

[Jason McIntyre]

Remember with like the James Wiseman two.

[Yovan Buha]

But they won a title. Like they kind of did the best version of it. Obviously the Wiseman pick didn't work out but they were able to rebuild quickly, get back to the finals, win a championship and then now obviously you know, we'll see with them.

[Jason McIntyre]

So that brings me to Bradley Beal. So the Suns cannot seem to find a taker for him with that contract. So they'll have to wave and stretch. Yeah and I was saying at the outset, Beal at 50 mil, not really good. Beal at 5 mil. Amazing. Do you anticipate that to happen? Beal and then who are the main contenders for him?

[Yovan Buha]

Sounds like the Clippers are the main above the Lakers.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Yovan Buha]

Because they could offer him a starting spot. With the Lakers. It gets a little dicey if you look at like luka Austin, Beal, LeBron, a lot of firepower but defensively that's going to be.

[Jason McIntyre]

But their closing lineup would 100% have Beal 8.

[Yovan Buha]

But again, but then I just think that defense isn't good enough. If you just look at right.

[Jason McIntyre]

Like but wouldn't the offense overcompensate for it with Beal and Reeves on the perimeter?

[Yovan Buha]

Maybe. But I think we, we, I mean we kind of saw Phoenix try to do that approach with Katie Booker and be and be like, you know, like they tried to go the all wing offensive approach and it just didn't really work. So I'm personally skeptical like I'm of two minds. Beal at $5 million, great value and the Lakers I think need a talent upgrade. So like from that perspective you could talk me into it. I just think he would have to buy into probably a six man role and selectively close. Like there might be some matchups where it's like we need more defense. So you're not closing tonight. And is he okay with that? I think he's still trying to get back to being a starter and because you also got to think about his next contract. Right. So like in the NBA once you accept eventual once you get bought out, like there is like a stamp on you that I think affects like your perception and like your next deal. Like very few guys are able to get bought out and like rehab their value. So I think once you now you're making $5 million now you're coming off the bench. Maybe next contract's like a mid level contract. So I think for him maybe going to the Clippers or going to like Milwaukee? I think would be. Not from like a competition perspective, but like, he could be the number two guy in Milwaukee and like, really show.

[Jason McIntyre]

What does Bradley Beal want? He's made a, I can't say that word. He's made a lot of money.

[Yovan Buha]

A lot of money.

[Jason McIntyre]

What does he want? Has he been to a conference finals?

[Yovan Buha]

Not tomorrow, no.

[Jason McIntyre]

Second round with the Wizards, like.

[Yovan Buha]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Does he want to win or make more money on top of the, you know, he's probably made 200 million in his career. I'm just guessing. Probably more than that.

[Yovan Buha]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Do you want to win like also going to the Lakers versus going to the Clippers? Like, the Lakers are going to be on more TV games. They're the most high profile team in the league.

[Yovan Buha]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

I mean, the money he could make off the court with the Lakers, I don't know. Where is his wife from?

[Yovan Buha]

You have to sell. I agree with you. Like, I understand the arguments for the Lakers. I just think if the Clippers are offering a starting role in like 30 minutes a night and the Lakers can't quite match that, I think at that point, you know, that's a potential differentiator.

[Jason McIntyre]

What is, who is the Beal Harden backcourt stopping? I mean, come on.

[Yovan Buha]

I think we could run some pick and roll against that.

[Jason McIntyre]

I would like to think so. I just. Listen, I think Beal at 5 mil.

[Yovan Buha]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Might be the best contract in the league, given what he, I mean, if he could put up 17, I mean.

[Yovan Buha]

He'S still better than like, people have given him. Like, I think he's gotten a little too much flack because of the contract and because of how much a failure that Phoenix situation was where he still averaged like 17, 4 and 4 last year. 39, 3 point shooter. Like, he's still, he's still good. It's just not $50 million good.

[Jason McIntyre]

So basically, in a perfect world, the Lakers get Ayton at 8 and Beal at 5. Two, you know, awesome rotational players for 13 mil. That would be a home run. They'd get an A. Would that get LeBron, you think, to buy in and get out of this funk or whatever he's dealing with right now.

[Yovan Buha]

I think he's gonna buy in. I think, like, I think it's gonna work out. I don't know if that's enough. Like, I, I, LeBron's always trade the picks. Like that is like LeBron's motto is, is trade the picks. So if you don't trade the picks and you're not, you know, exhausting all resources to improve the roster because you could still sign Beal and trade the picks and improve the like, you know what I mean? Or trade the pick and then they got a few pick swaps. So I think for LeBron, you know there's a lot of things going on with the situation, but I think he will be a Laker starting whenever late September.

[Jason McIntyre]

All right, let's get to tonight's game. Cooper Flag making his debut. It's against Bronnie. Bronnie has been up and down, fair to say in the summer better lately. You know these guys online just put together clip reels of all the bad.

[Yovan Buha]

I mean that dunk was incredible.

[Jason McIntyre]

The dunk was incredible.

[Yovan Buha]

Like I hadn't seen that bounce from him.

[Jason McIntyre]

Wasn't great as a Laker. Just your thoughts on, on what Flag, what are reasonable expectations tonight?

[Yovan Buha]

20 yeah, I, I like I want to see the, the versatile skill set from him because I think he's someone I've, the more I've like studied his game and tried to come up with like an NBA comp. I think it's more like an alpha. Sean Marion, which, which is like Sean Marion, really good player, multi time all star and Olympian. Like and but I said out like I think he's got more of that like number one or number two type score gene that, that Marion was more of like a number three but he's got that Marion skill set of like I think he's going to be a guy at his peak, can play three through five, can do just defend multiple positions, can bring the ball up, run pick and roll, but also attack and come off screens and stuff. So he can do a lot of different things in terms of tonight. I mean this is arguably the most exciting day tonight.

[Jason McIntyre]

It's a big one since Zion, right?

[Yovan Buha]

I would say Zion 2019. There was an earthquake that night, so we'll see. But yeah, 20, 20 points we'll say.

[Jason McIntyre]

Be sure be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Alex Curry]

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[Katie Couric]

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[Alex Curry]

Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when so if you've never tried it, it might Be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart target and try the OG degree. Cool rush for yourself. Hey, everybody. You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the herd podcast. And if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly.

[Jason McIntyre]

We're back. Our number two here on the herd, it's me, Jason McIntyre, in for Colin Cowherd. He's enjoying an extended July 4th holiday. Boy, that guy's living the dream, baby. So it's me and Alex Curry in the salt mines. Alex, how we doing? Holding up. By the way, how was your July 4th? Any firework activity or.

[Yovan Buha]

Not really.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, I mean, I did the standard, like I think I. You told talked about it when we were on the show last week. The Strand is just like immaculate vibes in Hermosa Manhattan. And I have a couple friends with strand houses, so just. Yeah, just, just hanging out with Matt Stafford. Just did the walk down the Strand, like seeing, seeing everybody else rage and have a good time and just waving from afar because I've officially been pregnant for every holiday since Thanksgiving. Wow. So that's been great. All right, well, that's exciting. You know, you got, you got a big summer ahead. Big summer. We're in the red zone. We're feeling good, we're feeling happy. Just hopefully she cooks for another week or two. All right, we got Albert Breer coming up in five minutes. He's jet setting as well. All these guys taking summer vacations, we're, we're just work. We grind. All right, let me, let me quickly go. So a lot of NBA free agency has been decided. Not everything. Bradley Beal could still move. You've got big guy Jonathan Kuminga. I don't know if he's adjusting the odds of anybody, but we decided to come up With a J max six pack. As of now, the six pack of NBA teams that can win the championship next year. Now as I was reminded this morning, if we had done this last year at this time, it would have been Boston Celtics 1 through 6. Everybody thought they were going to repeat. They had a loaded team, they just won the chip. I mean they were absolutely stacked and didn't get out of the second round. So keep that in mind. No defending champ has gotten out of the second round since the KD Curry Warriors. Let's have the six pack. Let's get started with. I think we're starting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the east mostly because they retain almost everyone on their team. They did lose Ty Jerome rotational guy had a good season but when you keep the core garland coming off the toe injury in the in the playoffs, Mobley Allen Mitchell is a good team. DeAndre Hunters now had will have a full season. Listen, I know Cleveland, it's tough to think of them winning a chip without LeBron but guys, the pieces are there for sure. I think the Cleveland Cavaliers are one or two in the East. Let's go to the next team and that is the New York Knickerbockers. Yep. Do they still call them the Knickerbockers? Either way. So last year the Knicks added two new starters in Towns and Bridges. Obviously very difficult to dominate right out of the gate with two new starters. Well now this year the Knicks I'll have a new head coach but it looks like they're going to retain everyone else in the starting lineup. Added two guys to the bench. I, you know, listen, Mike Brown, I like him. If he plays his cards right and uses more bench and keeps his guys fresh for the postseason. I don't see why this isn't a 55, 6 win team, 60 win team. And I think they're top two in the East. Maybe number one. And the Garden home court advantage would be sick in the postseason. All right, let's go to the west because nobody else is good in the east and we're going to go Lakers. I know, I know J Mac, you're crazy. We doing well. Let's see if they add Bradley Beal. They're for sure in the six pack and I'm going to put them here out of respect to, I don't know, two of the five best players in the league in Luka and LeBron. Oh, Jay, what happened against Minnesota? Well, I don't know. They had like 20 games together to work out the kinks. They had no center. Can we just take a deep breath and say, like, they lost to the Timberwolves and nobody really saw it coming. They're going to be fine. The Lakers are certainly one of the six best teams in the league. Next up, Denver Nuggets. I like the off season they've had. They're putting all their chips in for now. Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. Feels like a slight upgrade. Not a huge one because MPJ is a much better scorer. But I think Cam Johnson will be good. I like Bruce Brown coming back, getting off Russell Westbrook. I think they added Tim Hardaway to. Yeah, Tim Hardaway. I, I, they've done a good job. And remember, Aaron Gordon was hurt in Game 7 with the ankle. Or maybe they beat OKC. Next up, the Houston Rockets. I think they've won the off season more than anybody. I mean, they added Kevin Durant. Look at this. They added Clint Capella and they re added Dorian Finney Smith. Essentially the Rockets got better than anybody and they lost like nothing. Dylan Brooks and Jalen Green and a first round pick. I think you could look for guys like Reed shepherd to step up big time. I would not be surprised at all if Shen Goon is an all star once again. Jabari Smith, less pressure. Amen Thompson, rising star. Houston's good. I think the team to beat in the West Houston Rockets in the J Max 6 pack. And I know you're waiting on one last team, OKC Thunder. I'm not gonna lie. I had for a moment Orlando in this spot over okc. Yeah, that's real. I could see Alex looking at me like, j Mac, what's wrong with you? I'm just gonna remind you guys, SGA got paid. Chad Holmgren got paid there. It's a different mentality and mindset among the players. And history bears this out. If you haven't won the chip, haven't gotten paid, it's front, front of office. That's a top priority. That's everything. Well, now they got the title. SGA's got all the accolades. He's got all the money that hunger desires. Not quite there. Yes, they're young. Yes, they're probably going to win 50 to 60 games, maybe 62. I don't know that they're going to win the championship again. You guys can bet him. Go for it. I'm not doing that. So there's the J Mac 6 pack heading into next season. Oh, my gosh. Who's doing these graphics? For everyone listening, you guys, There is a photo of J. Mac on the screen that is so on brand. I'm in a tank top and your sunglasses. Yes, that's a good job. I think that's Trish or. Or Scott. Shout out to those guys. All right.

[Alex Curry]

Okay. Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listens. That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's any purse grip. And it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.

[Deion Sanders]

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[Katie Couric]

On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union. I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank.

[Jason McIntyre]

You like they will punch back.

[Katie Couric]

Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

Summer's here and with the kids home and off to camp, it's easy for moms to get lost in the shuffle on Good Moms Bad Choices.

[Katie Couric]

We're making space to center ourselves with with joy, rest and pleasure. Take the kids to camp.

[Jason McIntyre]

You know what? It was expensive, but I was also.

[Katie Couric]

Thinking, you have my kid.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is kind of priceless. Take her, feed her, make core memories. I don't have to do anything. Main thing, I don't have to do anything. To hear this and more.

[Katie Couric]

Listen to Good Mom's Bad Choices from.

[Jason McIntyre]

Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio.

[Katie Couric]

App, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is an I heart podcast.