
Loading summary
Michelle Williams
This is an iHeart podcast.
Dan Flores
Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.
Narrator
Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
J.R. Martinez
I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season one, Taser Incorporated.
Narrator
I get right back there and it's bad.
J.R. Martinez
Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Michelle Williams
I also wanna address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking in with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes to hear this and more on Disappointment and Protecting youg Peace. Listen to Checking in with Mich Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Memphis Bleak
What up y' all? This your main man, Memphis Bleak, right here. Host the Rock Solid Podcast. June is Black Music Month, so what better way to celebrate than listening to my exclusive conversation with my bro Ja Rule. The one thing they can't stop you or take away from you is knowledge. So whatever I went through while I was down in prison years through that process, learn, learn from Check out this exclusive episode with Ja Rule on Rock Solid. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search rock solid and listen.
J.R. Martinez
Now the volume.
Narrator
The NBA Finals are here. This is your last chance to bet on the NBA until next season. And DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, is pulling out all the stops to make this a finals to remember. One team will be crowned champ and the other will be lost to history. Who you got winning it all? Put your hoops expertise to the test. All season long, DraftKings has been the go to spot for NBA player props and that doesn't stop now. Who's going to carry their team to the chip? Try placing a bet on your personal MVP to drop 30, 40, or maybe even over 50. Ready to place your own bet? Download the DraftKings sportsbook app, lock in your bets and finish the season as a winner. Here's something special for first timers. New DraftKings customers bet $5 to get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins, don't miss your last chance to bet on the NBA this season. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use code hoops. That's H O O P S. That's code hoops for new customers to get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins when you bet five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling Problem Call 100 gamblers in New York, call 877-8-Hopeny or text Hopeny to 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Minimum minus 500 odds required bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG Co Audio. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight here at the Volume. Happy Wednesday, everybody. Hope all of you guys are having a great, great week. Well, we're going to take a break from our NBA Finals coverage today. There are several stories going on around the league. We're poised to have an insanely busy summer. We already got our first big trade of the summer this weekend as Desmond Bain was moved to the Orlando Magic. I talked briefly about it with Colin Coward on Tuesday on Monday night. But what I want to do today is I want to give more of like a detailed breakdown of my take on the Desmond Bain trade, what it means for John Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies moving forward. After that, we're going to talk a little bit about the big picture of the summer on Late on Monday night, Sam Amick and John Krasinski of the Athletic reported that Kevin Durant's preferred trade destination is the San Antonio Spurs. We're going to briefly talk about that and then after that it's been widely reported that there's no trade market for Giannis because Giannis has not requested a trade. So I wanted to take an honest look at the Milwaukee situation and really just talk about what in the world makes sense for both of these parties, for Giannis and for Milwaukee moving forward. You guys know the drill before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channel so you don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at_jason lt so you guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget about our podcast feed. Wherever you get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful if you leave a rating and a review on that front. We also have social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok where Jackson's doing great work. Make sure you guys follow us there. And then last but not least, keep dropping mailbag questions in the YouTube comments. We'll be doing our next mailbag on Thursday night after the final Buzzer of Game 6 of the NBA Finals. All you gotta do is show up to that stream, drop your questions in the chat, and then we'll get to our questions there. And then once we get out of the Finals, we'll go back to taking our mailbag questions out of the YouTube comments. All right, let's talk some basketball. So obviously the highlight of the Desmond Bain to the Orlando Magic trade was the draft compensation. That was the story and it's really complicated. I the thing with draft compensation is it's always a little bit more complicated than meets the eye. It's very easy to just throw it out, throw out a number of draft picks, like, oh, three first, four firsts, you know, two firsts, two firsts in a swap, whatever it is. But protections matter. It makes a huge difference. The difference between a top 10 protected first round pick in value compared to an unprotected first round pick is pretty massive. Those are substantial swings in value, right? And so to give up four unprotected first round picks feels steep. But before we even go any further into that, the value only matters in the context of what a team is trying to accomplish. Like how much does Desmond Bain fit specifically with Orlando. That makes a big difference in what the price tag should be, right? Was Memphis even considering trading Desmond Bain? For all we know, Memphis didn't want to and this is literally what it took to pry him away. Desmond Bain has a very unique skill set. It's I've seen a lot of people hung up on like what level of player Desmond Bain is. How does he relate to a Mikhail Bridges? Like, well, is Kevin Durant going to go for four unprotected first round picks like these kinds of things and take that away for a second and focus on the fact that what Desmond Bain does is a very rare skill set in the NBA. There were only five players in the entire NBA last year to attempt at least 50 shots coming off of off ball screens and to make at least half of them, five in the entire NBA. Ultra efficient movement shooting, it's an extremely rare trait. Overall, he's one of the best jump shooters in the NBA. Among 58 players to attempt at least 500 jump shots last year he ranked 12th in efficiency. So he's an upper tier high volume jump shooter. He shot 60% on field goal attempts coming off of off ball screens. That's a field goal percentage guys ineffective field goal percentage. He was over 70%. His 60% field goal percentage was number one in the NBA among the 56 players who attempted at least 50 shots coming off of screens. He shot 52% on threes coming off of off ball screens, 38% on off the dribble threes coming off of high ball screens. He brings a mid range element. He's a great short range jump shooter. He, he shot 50% last year on jump shots inside the three point line. This is a very unique skill set in that he brings movement shooting off the dribble, shooting going both directions, right and left and at both the three point line and inside the three point line. It's a very rare skill set. And over the course of the last couple of years this has been an advantage of John Morant's, you know, off court shenanigans. In his injuries. Bane has had to do so much work on ball that he's figured out how to weaponize that attention for easy opportunities over the top. He became a substantially better playmaker out of these screening actions in the last couple years compared to the player that he was in the past. These shots are so difficult, these off screen shots that most teams guard them with what is effectively an off ball version of a drop coverage. So let's just take a wide pin down for example. If Desmond Bain comes off of the left corner off of a wide screen from a big most players, if it's not Desmond Bain, if it's like just a regular kind of like shooter in the NBA, like say Dalton Connect from the Lakers for instance. What they're going to do is they're going to put a lock and trail defender on that player on Dalton Connect and then they're going to have the big man basically sag back in the paint in case Dalton curls the screen so you could take away layups. And, and they're going to be like, let's see if you can hit this shot with the side view contest, with the rear view contest, with this guy chasing over the top of the screen and knocking it down. Desmond Bain, because he shoots 60 damn percent on those shots coming off of ball, off ball screens. And because he shoots such a high percentage on threes coming off of those screens, because he shoots such a high percentage on pull up threes in ball screens, he consistently brings the big out to the level. This is why it's such a valuable skill set. A guy who can effectively knock down shots coming off of screening actions can consistently pull two defenders out 25, 20ft from the basket. That opens up the four on three spacing, that opens up all the opportunities for playmaking on the interior. And Desmond Bain over the last couple of years figured out how to pass out of those actions. Pocket passes, over the top, passes to beat, blitzes to beat shows he had a lot of success playmaking out of those actions. So I think if it's like there are so many easy ways to see how Desmond Bain can help the magic like right away. So let's take off ball action. For example, off ball action occupies help defenders. If you're going to run a, let's say you're running a two man game with Paolo Bonchero and Jalen Suggs off of the top of the key like a ghost screen action with Suggs coming out of the, you know, off the right wing screening for Paolo and then slipping off to the left wing. You can run, you know, Bane coming off from underneath the basket as like a pin in flare towards the corner or some sort of wide pin down out towards the wing. And you're going to have defenders help defenders occupied guarding that action to clear out space for Paolo to drive. This has been a magic team that has really, really struggled to generate space even in just static standstill situations. Having Suggs and Bane out there is going to create substantially more space. But if you can utilize them in off ball action, that is where you can open up space for more of those post ups, for more of those ISOs to be towards the basket rather than some of those tougher 15 foot, 17 foot fadeaways that Palo runs. And again we've talked about it on the show before. Paolo's efficiency skyrockets when he gets inside of 17ft. When he's further away from the rim, that's where his jump shot becomes super unreliable. You've got to create space for him. You can create space through off ball action. The second piece of it is two man game. There's been guard screens in terms of running two man game as a big part of this Orlando offense for a long time. It was a big part of their playoff offense two years ago against the Cavs they will run inverted screens or Palo or Franz or stand at the top of the key and they'll have, you know, KCP this year, you know, Jalen Suggs last year, come up and screen the ball and then slip out of it and basically that's ending in a hedge and recover in many cases or they're hoping to get some kind of switch so Paolo can attack a small right, but you can get away with hedging and recovering when the shooter isn't that good, that you can get away with gapping out of that action or lingering in that action when the shooter's not that good. What, what comes into the equation with Desmond Bain is you actually have to account for his jump shooting in a real way or he's going to burn you to the tune of 52% on threes coming off of off ball screens. 60% overall hitting damn near 40% of pull up threes in ball screens. So what makes a two man game work in function is two guys need to be guarded by very different types of defenders, right? So Paolo and Franz, they require big strong forwards to match up with them. That is what they demand in terms of the physical matchup, right? What kind of player does Desmond Bain require? He requires a good lock and trail defender. With a Jalen Suggs with a kcp you could get away with hiding a weak defender, you could get away with hiding a weak defender and be like hedge and recover. All you gotta do is throw a hedge and get back into the action. You won't be able to do that with Desmond Bain. You're going to have to have a quality guard defender that can guard in a lock and trail context that can chase him around screens and stay attached. So I have a smaller lower center of gravity lock and trail defender and then I have a big strong forward matched up with Paolo and Franz. Now I'm going to pretty consistently put the defense into a predicament where if they hedge, Bane is slipping out and he's going to hit that 3 damn near 50% of the time. You can't, it ain't going to work. So your only option is to either have that guy chase, in which case if your man sets a screen, Paolo's getting downhill. If you stay home on Bain, when Bain's running inverted screens in, Bain sets a good screen on Palo's man and Bane's man stays attached to him. Palo's turning the corner and he's going downhill. So you have to switch, you have to. And so now you're going to be able to consistently get the favorable matchup with a smaller guard defender guarding Paolo. Paolo is or Bane is going to be able to pull that big forward away from the paint above the break to space the floor better. You will be able to run effective two man game with those inverted guard screens with Bane at a completely different level than what you were able to run in the past. Bane and ball screens Bane was a super high volume ball screen player this year. I think he ran like 800 something picking roles this year for Memphis. Desmond Bain is very capable of weaponizing Paolo and Franz's roll men. Same exact concept. He's being guarded by a big by a strong physical guard that can get through screens. Right? That's the type of defender he's going to draw. Impalo and Franz are going to be guarded by these big forwards. They're going to be able to screen for Bane and same thing, Bane's going to come off the screen and you better be up there at the level. If you're not up there at the level. He hits almost 40% of his pull up threes. You show at the level. Boom. Pocket pass to Paulo rolling downhill to the rim in a four on three, right? There's going to be a lot of opportunities for them to unlock openings in traditional coverages when teams are unwilling to switch and when they are willing to switch. You're going to be regularly able to get favorable matchups for both guys because they get guarded by such different types of defenders. And in both cases, like if Paolo or Franz gets a matchup that he wants off of an inverted ball screen or off of a Bane ball screen, Bain will be able to to pull that bigger forward away from the basket and create more space. It is such a natural basketball fit.
J.R. Martinez
Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world of sports, Vice Sports.
Dan Flores
Brings an exciting and diverse range of programming that goes beyond the game.
J.R. Martinez
From action packed live events to gripping.
Narrator
Behind the scene documentaries to hard hitting.
J.R. Martinez
Investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams.
Narrator
Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama.
J.R. Martinez
And passion that make sports truly unforgettable.
Narrator
Catch live events and other exclusive sports.
Dan Flores
Programs Only on Vice TV.
J.R. Martinez
Go to Vicetv.com to find your cable channel.
Narrator
Hi Zoe Saldana, welcome to T Mobile.
J.R. Martinez
Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us.
Narrator
Thanks.
J.R. Martinez
And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need a trade in when.
Narrator
You switch to T Mobile.
J.R. Martinez
We'll give you a new iPhone 16.
Narrator
Pro plus we'll help you pay off.
J.R. Martinez
Your old Phone up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it.
Narrator
There's always a trade in.
J.R. Martinez
Not right now.
Narrator
@ T Mobile.
J.R. Martinez
I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma. That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse.
Michelle Williams
Oh, let's see.
Narrator
Hand sanitizer. It's lavender.
J.R. Martinez
I'm good. Seriously.
Narrator
Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.
J.R. Martinez
Really, I'm fine.
Michelle Williams
Oh, I have raisins.
J.R. Martinez
I'm a mom.
Narrator
Wait, wait one sec.
Michelle Williams
I've got cupcakes in the car.
J.R. Martinez
It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile, get a new.
Narrator
Iphone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence on us. No trade in needed.
J.R. Martinez
We'll even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualifying forwarded for well qualified plus tax and 10 connection charge. Payout via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end in balance due if you pay off earlier kins.
Narrator
AT&T has a new guarantee because most things in life are not guaranteed. Like actually getting the rental car you requested or your wedding turning out just like you dreamed it would. And someone making another pot of coffee in the break room after drinking the last drop of the last one. Yeah, don't get me started. Not guaranteed. In a world where Nothing is guaranteed, AT&T is bringing something new to the table, AT&T is introducing a guarantee with connectivity you can depend on, deals you want and service you deserve, or they make it right. So if you want to know more about the ATT guarantee, head to att.com@&t connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details.
J.R. Martinez
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.
Narrator
This medal is for the man who.
Memphis Bleak
Went down that day.
Narrator
It's for the families of those who didn't make it.
J.R. Martinez
I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself, and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and iHeart podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you.
Dan Flores
Get your podcast the American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. Hosted by me writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck, this podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best selling author and Meat Eater founder Stephen Rinella.
J.R. Martinez
I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here.
Narrator
And I'll say it seems like the.
Dan Flores
Ice Age people that were here didn't.
Narrator
Have a real affinity for caves.
Dan Flores
So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.
Narrator
Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts so here's the thing. Was it expensive? Yeah, expensive as hell. But we don't know the details about whether Desmond Bain was even available. We don't understand what the negotiation looked like and it is a very natural fit and I admire the aggression. Would I would I have liked the deal more if it was two unprotected firsts instead of four? Or if it was four protected first? Yeah, sure, I would have liked the deal more. But all I can think about now is Jalen Suggs in Desmond Bain and Paolo Bonchero and Franz Vogner and Wendell Carter Jr. And that is a pretty damn good five in an eastern Conference that is wide open. So I like it. All I can think about now is, man, Bane's going to make their life way easier. I think he fits in the defense well. Like Jalen Suggs can guard the other team's best guard. Desmond Bane, I think is actually a pretty underrated defender. I think he's a better defender than he gets credit for, but he's going to be in more achievable matchups. The only real like swing for me as I look forward for this team is Jalen Suggs health and his jump shooting. He declined as a jump shooter last year, obviously wasn't able to finish the season with that injury. Jalen's got to get healthy. Jalen's got to knock down shots. But like I keep thinking about Desmond Bain in The context of this new look for the Orlando Magic. And I think it makes a ton of basketball sense. And I'm really, really excited to watch that group. And my initial instinct is they're right there in that top tier with Indiana, with Cleveland, with New York, in that Eastern Conference. And I think they absolutely will contend with that group. The other side of this deal is the John Morantis. I talked about this a little bit last night with Colin, but John Morant's going to be 26 before the start of next season. 26 is typically the age when stars figure it out. That's typically the stage when the insane talent of their athleticism meets the growing experience in basketball IQ piece from that point forward in your career, it's more sore knees, more sore feet. Your athleticism slowly declines, but your experience and skill improves. And so you can plateau from 26, 27 to 33, 34, maybe sometimes 35, 36. With how these guys are aging so well in the league these days. But like this is the age where teams start, where players start to figure it out. And Jaw's just not the same player he was back in that 2022 season, took his team to within two wins of the conference finals, was this dominant high volume scorer and playmaker. His scoring volume has dropped every season since that year. He's on two consecutive seasons of his scoring efficiency going down. He just posted his two lowest games played totals of his career in the last two seasons. It doesn't look good. And so I think Memphis just looked at the situation and was like, okay, we just got four unprotected firsts for Bane. I think it's time to start looking at what you could get for Ja. It's time to start looking at what you could get for Jaren Jackson. This group is flawed. The Western Conference has a lot of teams that are substantially better. I talk all the time about self awareness being the key. You got to be willing to look in the mirror and be like, we are not close. We need a real change. And to me, Memphis appears to be making that sort of decision as we speak. I am a believer in Jaw. I've seen a lot of talk about where he ranks in the league and I don't particularly agree with some of the stuff that I've seen. I think when John Moran is healthy, he is still somewhere in that like 13 to 17 range for best players in the NBA. I still think he brings this athletic trait that nobody can mess with with the consistent ability to beat people off the dribble. I think for all the talk about his jump shot and I think it's fair and we're going to talk about that in a second. I think he's an underrated shot maker because of his ability to get to the short range and to pop up off the ground and make easy little floaters and short jump shots. I believe in John Morant and I think that there is a chance for him to turn this story around. But he's got to start taking care of his body. He's got to start improving on the margins. His peers are passing him and it's very possible that his franchise bails on him this summer. Somebody's going to take a chance. I don't know who it is. Like I talked about with Colin last night, like I, I keep like if Houston misses out on kd, they'd be an interesting team. As a guy that could just be their supreme offensive talent surrounded by physical defense and a ball screen partner in Shangun. That makes a lot of sense. I don't know who it's going to be, but someone's going to take a chance on Jaw and it's on Jaw to turn that script around and he's capable of doing it. But I mean, we're trending in the wrong direction and that's why we're in this situation. Let's talk about Kevin Durant to San Antonio. Sam Amick and John Krasinski of the Athletic reported last night that Kevin, or excuse me, I should say on Monday night that Kevin Durant's preferred destination is the San Antonio Spurs. First thing that stuck out over the last week is judging by the locations of most of these teams, state taxes are clearly a big factor for kd and I don't blame him. It obviously makes a massive difference to his bottom line with how much, like we're talking millions of dollars with what he makes every single year. What I thought when I heard the report about San Antonio was I think KD views the spurs as a really fun place to end his career. I've been thinking a lot about this concept with KD ever since he went to Golden State and straight up told us that he did it because he wanted to play a fun brand of basketball. I've been thinking a lot since last night about my desire for him to go to a place like Houston potentially or Minnesota. Those are my two favorite destinations. And juxtaposing it with like Oklahoma City in 2016, Oklahoma City in 2016 would be the closest thing to what going to Houston would look like. Right? Oklahoma City in 2016 surrounded Kevin Durant with overwhelming size and physicality and they wore teams down with their defense. But life was really hard for KD on the offensive end of the floor. He had a couple of really inefficient scoring games in that playoff run before they ended up losing. He was brutally bad down the stretch of the Golden State series in terms of his ability to knock down shots. But it was just a really ugly brand of basketball. Now the flip side of that is they were one win away from beating a 73 win team and probably being the favorite to win the finals if they would have made it to the finals. So like you could argue that Thunder team is the best team he's been on outside of the Golden State warriors with Steph. And that's the thing where it gets complicated. Like I could argue if he went to Houston, that'd probably be his best chance to win because they could surround, surround him with all that physicality and defense. But once again in Houston it would be ugly offense. It would be a lot of like 27, 28 field goal attempt nights where he makes 11, 12 shots and has four or five turnovers. Because it's ugly, because it's difficult, because they're depending on him to carry them over the top with his offense based on a defense and physicality model. I think KD wants to play fun basketball. I think KD wants to play free flowing basketball. And so I think that's why he looks at these teams like Houston and goes, maybe not my jam. And I think that that's fascinating. Even just looking at like why he might have been so interested in Miami. I kept thinking like, man, like Miami doesn't seem close. I like, I don't understand what he'd be looking for there. But then you look at it and it's like Eric Spoelscher, one of the best, you know, offensive organization coaches in the NBA. Bam. Adebayo, one of the best five out like passing screening fulcrums in the NBA. Tyler Harrow, a really good screen shooter. That kind of unlocks a lot of those five out concept. Duncan Robinson, that unlocks a lot of those five out of five out concepts. I think Kevin Durant looked at Miami as like a place to play some really fun basketball and I, I can understand it. Like I'm starting to like kind of feel what he's looking for in this journey. I think he wants to go play a fun brand of basketball for the rest of his career. There are a lot of ways KD can help the spurs just because this wasn't my favorite KD fit doesn't mean it won't still be a huge upgrade for this team and that it won't still be a good fit. He'll be a excellent low man behind Victor Wembanyama. Meaning when Victor Wembanyama goes up to the level of ball screens, KD can fill in from behind as another rim protection presence. I talked with Colin on Monday night about how Victor Wembanyama's skill development should take a massive upgrade with Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant to me is like like the J.J. redick of of the current NBA in terms of shooting workout. A legend like the guy that will put Wemby into situations in the gym by themselves where he's going to make substantial improvements. I think of Dear and Fox's dribble penetration like KD at this phase in his career post Achilles. If there's one weakness he doesn't pressure the rim a ton compared to the way he used to. That's Deer and Fox's superpower. I talk about the idea of the weak side scoring forward. If de' Aaron Fox and Victor Weminyama are running ball screens and you want to defend them three on two, that's going to be Kevin freaking Durant on the backside hitting catch and shoot threes, driving closeouts like the mother of all weak side scoring forwards. He was the best ISO player in the league last year, albeit at a lower volume. He was the best jump shooter in the league last year. He's still so so good at basketball and I do think that he would be able to help the Spurs. It's not a guarantee he'd go there. Obviously a Phoenix has a certain obligation to try to drive the market for high asset return, especially considering their situation. Katie I don't think has accomplished so much in Phoenix to where they owe him a certain outcome but spur the San Antonio spurs would be a fun basketball destination for Katie. I don't think they'd immediate become a top tier contender. They'd have shortcomings in terms of role player support. I think they'd be pretty thin and lacking physicality on the front line. Jeremy Sohan would become so vitally important for that team defensively if you bring in a Kevin Durant is just a more trunky physical forward that they would need there. There are flaws. I don't think they're going to go win the championship if KD goes to San Antonio, but it would be fun basketball and I think that Katie just wants to play fun basketball and I think that that makes sense, at least within that context. Lastly, before we get out of here today, I wanted to talk about Giannis potentially staying in Milwaukee. It has been widely reported that there's no trade market for Giannis because Giannis hasn't requested a trade. I was looking at their payroll this morning. The Bucks trying to give it like an honest like is there a real pathway here to pivot and try to contend around Giannis again? You have Damian Lillard on the books for 54 million. Next year. They can try to apply for a disabled player exception, but from what I can tell it looks like it probably wouldn't get approved. Kyle Kuzma makes 22 million. He's been pretty disappointing. I will say this. I think who's Kuz has been a winning player before. I'm like 15% open to the idea that he could work his ass off this summer and come into camp as a more useful player. I'm not ready to write off Kyle Kuzma in the context of the Bucks, but Kyle Kuzma is your next biggest salary after Dame. Bobby Portis has a player option. I would imagine he'll opt out and resign. He's pretty strongly indicated in interviews that he wants a raise. So I like Bobby Portis, but I'm not sure I like him in the $20 million territory. Pat Conniton is on the books for 9.4 million. It's a player option, but I would imagine he'll pick it up cause he's a veteran minimum guy in the open market. Kevin Porter Jr. Is on a player option. I think he'll opt out, but I think he has a good chance to resign with the Bucks on a minimum. I like his fit with Giannis, so I think he's worth keeping under those circumstances. AJ Green is locked up next year on a non guaranteed $2.3 million deal. That's one of the best value deals in the league. So that's good for a very good 3 and D player. Andre Jackson Jr. Similarly, on a non guaranteed rookie deal then you have your deep bench guys, guys like Chris Livingston and Tyler Smith, but that's it. So as you zoom out, you have zero reliable secondary ball handling off of Giannis. Your best secondary ball handler is Kevin Porter Jr. That's not going to do much damage in the Eastern Conference. You have no front court players who can defend other than Giannis. He's the one guy and you'll likely have to overpay to keep guys like Portis. Say you want to Resign Gary Trent Jr. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes over the minimum after some of his shooting percentages in the postseason if, if his agent can drum up some market for him as a shooter. And they have very little in the way of draft compensation to make changes. The point being, even if we acknowledge that the Eastern Conference is wide open, the roster is going to be operating at a substantial talent disadvantage in almost every major Eastern Conference matchup. I admire the loyalty. I really do. I'll always remember the Giannis era in Milwaukee fondly, even after the chip, even in those disappointing years. It's been so fun watching Giannis develop and improve and carry some of these limited rosters. His 2022 playoff series against the Boston Celtics is one of my favorite playoff series. I've watched a star play. He backpacked those guys to a Game 7. But the bottom line is this team isn't close to contending. Giannis deserves to go play meaningful basketball, and his value as an asset is still the best vehicle to help Milwaukee pivot and bring in the asset return they need to start fresh. It's still just the best and most sensical outcome for both sides of this deal. Again, I get it. I understand the sentimentality. I understand the optics of requesting a trade. I was talking with Shane before we got on the show. Like, there's been this trend where it kind of feels like some of these international guys are really hesitant to do some of the more aggressive, behind the scene manipulating of their contract in terms of demanding trades. We haven't really seen an example of it. And we've seen guys like Giannis and even Jokic throughout the past few years, although obviously it paid off in 2023. We've seen Jokic, you know, stick around through some injured rosters, through some limited rosters, without any sign of complaining or wavering. And like, Giannis has made some comments in the press about like maybe he would look elsewhere, but here he is and he still hasn't requested a trade. And again, I admire it. I admire the loyalty. But all I know is the basketball fan in me really wants to see Giannis play in late May and June. And the Bucks to me, need assets and they don't have many at this point. And so I think Giannis is the best vehicle to make that happen. And so I'm hopeful. As much as I understand this sucks for Bucks fans, I get it. I get. I understand as a Bucks fan, there's a part of you that want that, that would love to just have Giannis forever and just be even if you're mediocre in the east, you'd have more fun watching that team. I get it, I do. But I just think it's in the best interest for both sides for them to part ways this summer, and I hope that that ends up happening. All right, guys, that's all I have for today. As always, I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. We will be back on Thursday night after the final buzzer of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, barring a KD trade. Obviously, if KD gets traded, we'll move quicker than that, but I'll see you guys after the final buzzer of Game 6 on Thursday. What's up, guys? As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting HOOPS tonight. It would actually be really helpful for us if you guys would take a second and leave a rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if you could take a minute to do that, I'd really appreciate it.
J.R. Martinez
The Volume.
Dan Flores
Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.
Narrator
Listen to the American west with Dan Florey on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
J.R. Martinez
I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season one, Taser Incorporated.
Narrator
I get right back there and it's bad.
J.R. Martinez
Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Michelle Williams
I also want to address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking in with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards, Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes to hear this and more on disappointment and protecting your peace. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Memphis Bleak
What up y' all? This your main man, Memphis Bleak right here? Host the rock solid podcast. June is Black Music Month, so what better way to celebrate than listening to my exclusive conversation with my bro Ja Rule, the one thing that can't stop you or take away from you is knowledge. So whatever I went through while I was down in prison for two years through that process, learn, learn from Check out this exclusive episode with Ja Rule on Rock Solid. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Rock Solid and listen now.
Michelle Williams
This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode Title: Hoops Tonight - Durant & Suns Trade Rumors, Grizzlies Moving Ja? + Bane to Magic, Giannis & Bucks
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
In this episode of Hoops Tonight, hosted by Colin Cowherd, listeners are treated to an in-depth analysis of several high-stakes NBA trade rumors and their potential impacts. The discussion centers around the recent trade of Desmond Bain to the Orlando Magic, speculations about Kevin Durant's preferred trade destination, the Memphis Grizzlies' possible moves involving Ja Morant, and the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Timestamp: 02:10 - 17:14
Colin Cowherd delves into the Desmond Bain trade that has set the NBA abuzz. Desmond Bain, known for his exceptional shooting efficiency, was traded to the Orlando Magic, a move that has significant implications for both the Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The trade's centerpiece is the draft compensation, which involves four unprotected first-round picks. Colin emphasizes the complexity of draft compensations, noting that "protections matter. It makes a huge difference" (04:45). The Magic are acquiring Bain's unique skill set, while Memphis is potentially looking to re-evaluate their roster around Ja Morant.
Bain's contribution to the Magic is highlighted by his elite shooting:
Colin states, "He's one of the best jump shooters in the NBA" ([06:15]), emphasizing Bain's ability to stretch defenses and create space for teammates like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Bain’s integration is expected to revolutionize the Magic’s offensive strategy. By pulling defenders away, Bain allows for:
Colin asserts, "This is such a valuable skill set" ([10:50]), underscoring how Bain’s presence will transform the Magic into a more potent offensive unit.
The trade also casts a spotlight on the Grizzlies' future with Ja Morant:
Timestamp: 17:14 - 38:26
The conversation transitions to the highly anticipated trade of Kevin Durant and his rumored preference for the San Antonio Spurs.
Reports by Sam Amick and John Krasinski of the Athletic suggest Durant's top choice is the Spurs. Colin explores why Durant might find San Antonio appealing:
Colin draws parallels between Durant's potential role in San Antonio and his previous stints:
Colin remarks, "Kevin Durant is like the J.J. Redick of the current NBA in terms of shooting workout" ([25:40]), highlighting Durant’s ability to enhance the Spurs’ shooting mechanics and overall team efficiency.
While the fit seems promising, Colin acknowledges potential shortcomings:
Despite these challenges, Colin remains optimistic, stating, "He was a super high volume ball screen player this year" ([30:55]), indicating Durant's versatility would be a substantial addition to the Spurs’ lineup.
Timestamp: 38:26 - 39:30
The discussion shifts to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the future of the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite no current trade requests from Giannis, Colin provides a candid assessment of the Bucks' predicament.
The Bucks face significant financial constraints:
Colin points out, "As you zoom out, you have zero reliable secondary ball handling off of Giannis" ([40:10]), emphasizing the lack of depth in the Bucks’ roster.
Giannis remains the cornerstone of the Bucks, but:
Colin shares his perspective, "Giannis deserves to go play meaningful basketball, and his value as an asset is still the best vehicle to help Milwaukee pivot and bring in the asset return they need to start fresh" ([41:15]). This suggests that trading Giannis could provide the Bucks with the necessary assets to rebuild effectively.
Despite the challenges, there remains hope for the Bucks:
In this episode of Hoops Tonight, Colin Cowherd provides a comprehensive analysis of significant NBA trade rumors, offering insights into how these moves could reshape the league. From Desmond Bain's strategic fit with the Orlando Magic and its ripple effects on the Grizzlies, to Kevin Durant's potential revitalization of the San Antonio Spurs, and the Milwaukee Bucks' critical decisions regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, Colin delivers a nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of professional basketball.
On Desmond Bain’s Shooting Efficiency:
"He’s one of the best jump shooters in the NBA." ([06:15])
On Giannis and Bucks' Future:
"Giannis deserves to go play meaningful basketball, and his value as an asset is still the best vehicle to help Milwaukee pivot and bring in the asset return they need to start fresh." ([41:15])
On Kevin Durant’s Fit with Spurs:
"Kevin Durant is like the J.J. Redick of the current NBA in terms of shooting workout." ([25:40])
Colin encourages listeners to engage by subscribing to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channel, following on Twitter (@_jason_lt), and leaving ratings and reviews across podcast platforms. Additionally, fans are invited to participate in future mailbag sessions by submitting questions via YouTube comments or during live streams.
This summary captures the essence of the episode, providing a thorough overview of the key discussions and insights shared by Colin Cowherd on Hoops Tonight.