Rachel Nichols (4:24)

Yeah, well, Jason and I both agree that there's certainly enough worldwide talent to get some more people into the NBA. But I actually think relocation is the move that they should have considered. This is a money grab. Each current owner is going to get half a billion dollars in their pocket that they don't have to share with the players. By expanding to these two cities, it's not the best thing thing for the health of the league. You have Memphis, the lowest attendance in the league, New Orleans often right there. Both are in old arenas. New Orleans has recently like, you know, proposed some expansion to the arena, but you can add more seats. There's not enough people to fill them. Yeah, New Orleans population is not actually that big El Paso, Texas, has almost double the population of New Orleans. They just aren't cities that have been shown to support these teams. Vegas, Absolutely. So Seattle. Absolutely. They're predicted to be top 10 in terms of revenue generating. But I say move the other teams and move those to Seattle and Vegas. And by the way, to your point about the games and what it's going to be like, so the last expansion was 20 years ago, the Charlotte Bobcats, if you remember. And it took them six years to get into the playoffs. They were swept.04 and then another few years, and then they were swept again, and then another few years and they lost again. Only three times in 20 years. And they've never won a playoff series. So the quality of basketball is not going to be high with these expansion teams.

Colin Cowherd (5:48)

Yep, I agree. Listen, there's a story out that, and I think this is true, that the new Laker owners, they let great baseball players go in their prime. Like, you know, I mean, Manny Machado is like a, you know, great player in his prime. Trey, Turner, Seger, these guys go to teams, they're their team's best players. LeBron's not in his prime. They don't really need him for a draw with Luka, you know, popular Austin Reaves. I mean, there's a story out he's not coming back. I think that's the case, but I don't have it sourced. What are you hearing?

Rachel Nichols (6:32)

I think it's very dependent on the negotiations this summer. Certainly a month ago, it looked like there was no way he was coming back. Now that he's accepted this different role, it is more of a question. People are more uncertain. Because the question. First his money. Because if he's not willing to take a significant pay cut, the discussion's over. Right. We're talking about like 50 million down to 15 million a year. So if he's not willing to do that, we're not talking anymore. If he is willing to do that, then you got to have a real brass tacks conversation about role. It's one thing for the last month of the regular season and the playoffs for LeBron to be. I'm all for the team and I'll dive on the floor for loose balls. And I'm happy with my usage rate going way down. Yeah. It's another thing to sign on for that for what could be your last entire season.

Jason McIntyre (7:16)

Right.

Rachel Nichols (7:18)

I just, you know, at the end of important playoff games, game six of a series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it's still a defensive liability to have those three guys on the court, they've done a lot better over this recent streak, but it's still not your best defensive lineup. Is one of them going to sit for the end of games? I think LeBron will always start, but is he going to play at the end of games? I just think they have to have a real conversation about first, obviously the money, but then what would his role be and is he really willing to do that for a whole other year? He does love Los Angeles and I think his family would prefer if he days.

Colin Cowherd (7:50)

Yeah. So listen, Jason Tatum's back. You don't. It's not fair to say he's going to be great. He's very, very good. What's kind of the vibe with it now? The east is wide open, right? Like, there's defensive questions with the Knicks. Cade Cunningham's out now for Detroit. Orlando's very interesting, but not dominant. Where are they? Where are we on Tatum and the Celtics?

Rachel Nichols (8:20)

I am all in. I am picking them to get to the Finals. I just think that this team, what they did without Jayson Tatum was very convincing. And what they have done since he has been back, he doesn't have to ever get to 100% for them to get to the Finals to be the Eastern Conference champions. He is such. He's not a decoy, but he's such a threat from his positions on the floor, especially at 3, that you have to give him attention defensively and that lets the other guys work even more than they did during the bulk of the season. And by the way, his real issue since he came back, and I wouldn't even call an issue, but his working his way back is about the shooting. Jayson Tatum did not forget how to shoot. It's just timing and rhythm. And this is usually the last thing to come when a player is coming back from injury. It's exactly what we expected. But the footwork, the endurance and really the mental side of it where he is showing no the way we've seen with some players who were injured recently, that's what's impressed me the most. I think it's been hard for people to get to know Jayson Tatum. We know that he's a good dad, but that's kind of all the personality has been. I think we now have to add the word toughness to Jayson Tatum and say he is one of the toughest players in the league because what he has done, it's exceptional.

Colin Cowherd (9:29)

So we did something at the end of last hour. We went to number one draft picks in football that had Red flags. And they all bore themselves. They bear themselves out. Yeah, I mean, Jeff George character, Bryce Young, undersized jamarcus Russell, immature Jeff George character. Then you go to the NBA. Anthony Bennett wasn't super athletic, didn't have good competition. Michael Oluwa Candy, Greg Oden was injury concerns and wasn't very polished offensively. Ben Simmons, lack of passion. They all eventually played themselves out. We went up and down the list. And even Deandre Ayton was a great offensive player, but was not really engaged defensively. Kind of a lopsided player. So Darren Peterson missed 11 games. That's the first issue. And like ankles, hammy cramps. Cramps. 11 games and they were better when he was gone. They were nine and two. He played. He doesn't. The other thing I would worry about, little bit of a loner. And what worries me, Kawhi's got a little bit of this, too. Kawhi always had an assist issue where Kawhi was playing in a silo by himself. Darren Peterson didn't have an assist against St. John's and yet he takes the most shots of both teams. He kind of plays by himself and he's a great athlete. He'll probably go number one. But in a stacked draft, there's a lot of flags here, are there not?

Rachel Nichols (10:54)

I completely agree. In fact, I wouldn't say that he will probably go number one. I think there are huge question marks around him. I think a lot of teams are waiting for the interview with him. If he can come through with a really good explanation of like, oh, I had physical issues, but they are solved. And here is why. If he can come through with more of an explanation on his mental status. He said in that press conference after St. John's he's like, well, I was playing most of the year with an injury, but actually it was a lot mental, I think. So that is a huge red flag to me. And if you're one of these teams that has just thrown your season away tanking, hoping to get one of these top talents in the draft, I personally, he'd have to wow me in the interview for me to take that risk. You know, the Washington Wizards are of course in contention for that top pick. Their last number one pick was Kwame Brown. You can add that to your list of people who didn't work out. You can add Markelle Fultz. Right. There were questions about him that didn't work out. So I just. I don't know. There's enough really good other players. I think Peterson has the Biggest upside of any of these guys, he's the best shooter, he's the best defender. But the question marks that are riddled throughout any scouting report on him would scare me away. If I was one of these teams that had given up so much to get one of these guys.

Colin Cowherd (12:08)

Well, the other thing is Eric Mangino has a term and I forget what it is. Oh, he calls it a force multiplier. Is that you want players who make others better. Now, quarterbacks can do that, obviously, but in basketball terms, that was always my knock on Kawhi. Durability issues and a little bit of a loner and odd. And it does matter. And I've said this before, if Kawhi was an engaging personality and did not have durability issues, I think we would talk one of the five best players on takeout centers, maybe side one of the five best wings I've ever seen in my life. He's got mj.

Rachel Nichols (12:45)

No, you're absolutely right.

Colin Cowherd (12:46)

I mean, he's an incredible talent. So I don't know. I think. And this draft is so good. I'll tell you, the kid that, the Arkansas kid, Darius Acuff, he's 62 and he is not interested in defense.

Rachel Nichols (12:59)

No, he is not.

Colin Cowherd (13:00)

I mean, could he be number one? He's a sensational offensive talent.

Rachel Nichols (13:04)

I mean, he is sensational. I mean, you know, I am not at all comparing him to Luka Doncic. I think Luka is a singular talent. But one of the questions about Luka coming in is, hey, not really that interested in defense. And we have seen that hasn't really changed that much. He buckles down in the playoffs, but it's not the same thing. So you just have to know who you're taking with. And it also depends on the makeup of the team, right? That is taking him. If you've got a stellar defensive group, you want someone who's just going to shoot and shoot and shoot. But that force multiplier thing I think is so important. Steph Curry is obviously a huge, huge multiplier, making everyone around him better. You know, Jayson Tatum, we were just saying he is going to draw defenses away and enable other people to play better. His assist numbers are always high. You want a guy like that because they're not always going to be hot. And again, that is another sort of worry with Peterson. I don't know, maybe I'm just too scarred. I grew up in D.C. i've seen a lot of failed draft picks. But I would be very cautious taking someone like that and Maybe you're proved wrong and maybe it's like Luka, where he was picked number three. And of course, if there was a region draft, you would pick him number one. But I just, I don't know. I don't, I think, I think I'd rather be a little less of a ceiling, a little safer personally than being like, well, you know, we missed out on the biggest thing going. It's just a lot more of a crapshoot. And if you're one of these teams that's tanked and the tanking rules are going to change next year so you're not as guaranteed to get a high pick. I personally am maybe a little more risk averse on something like this, especially when there's so many good other choices. Aov.

Colin Cowherd (14:38)

I mean, incredible draft. Incredible draft. All right, Rachel Nichols. I, I, I said this to Nick Wright. We'll end it here. I would vote Wimby. Ooh. Mvp. Even though he's a B plus offensive player because he's the best defensive player maybe since Kareem in his prime.

Rachel Nichols (14:54)

Absolutely.

Colin Cowherd (14:55)

He literally changes the geometry. He leads the NBA with 39 blocks, but you can't measure it. I said this about Deion Sanders or Darrell Rivas. They're so great. You can't judge them on interceptions because they can't. Nobody, nobody wants to throw to him.

Rachel Nichols (15:12)

Right.

Colin Cowherd (15:12)

Wemby changes more than any player I've ever seen. He changes the way you play offensively. Yeah, it like Steph did that. Steph changed the way players viewed the three. I think Wemby's the MVP. They've won 22 at 24 and they dominate OKC. Who would you vote MVP?

Rachel Nichols (15:32)

Look, I am Victor Webanyama's biggest supporter out there in the media. I said before he was drafted, I think he's going to be a top 10 player of all time. Maybe a top five player of all time. I think the question with SGA versus WEMBY, I think it's close. I think SGA has been a little more consistent throughout the year. I think a lot of voters, and I'm a voter, will look at the final record. You know, the spurs were really threatening to overtake the Thunder in the standings. And I think if that had happened, I think if the spurs had been number one overall, a lot of votes would have gone to Wemby. Now that looks a little more shaky that they would overtake them. And I think a lot of people are flipping back to sga. We'll see. It's going to be close. It'll be fun.

Colin Cowherd (16:10)

Yep. Rachel, as always, great seeing you.

Rachel Nichols (16:12)

Thanks.

Colin Cowherd (16:13)

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled. What the hell are you doing in our studio?

Jason McIntyre (16:39)

Get him, Paulie. Ignore that fool.

Colin Cowherd (16:44)

Listen to the Paul and Tony Fusco

Jason McIntyre (16:46)

show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever

Colin Cowherd (16:48)

you get your podcast. He's still moving

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Colin Cowherd (18:50)

a commercial plumbing or H vac company isn't easy. You're driving revenue, managing payroll, coordinating marketing, juggling projects and keeping customers satisfied all at once. You need software that keeps up. It's time to upgrade to Service Titan, the all in one solution built to help companies like yours run smarter, grow faster and scale with confidence. See how the most successful contractors are doing it today with Service Titan. Visit servicetitan.com to learn more. That's servicetitan.com hey, it's Jonas Knox. Every sports season is built on preparation, studying the trends, making necessary adjustments to reach the ultimate goal. Investing deserves the same approach. With We Bull, you have access to real time market data, advanced tools and an intuitive app designed to help you make informed decisions. Trade stocks, options, ETFs and more, or set up IRA for the long term all in one platform. Get your financial portfolio game ready by downloading the Weeble app today or visiting webull.com Webull Financial LLC member SIPC FINRA investing involves risk. For more information, visit webull.com disclosures yeah, I mean it's there there. You know Wemby is one of those guys and there are not many is like when Magic Johnson came into the league, he was a six eight and a half point there had never been physically a Magic and he's the best transition player I've ever seen in my life. So it's like, oh, that's different. Steph Curry shooting range. Caitlin's got this like oh, I've never seen shots like that. It doesn't have Tim Duncan was great when Kareem came in. I mean literally the story about Kareem when he came in with Lou Alsinger when he went to ucla, UCLA was the national champions freshmen could not play back then Lu Alcindor goes to ucla. The freshman UCLA team played the sophomores, juniors and seniors. When guys didn't come out early the national champs and hammered them, there was nothing like Kareem Young. Kareem. There was nothing like him. And you know, you remember the old Kareem that didn't run the floor terribly well. The the younger player Milwaukee in early Laker days ran the floor better. A little better Magic. Different Steph, different LeBron like again, I'd seen Michael Jordan before. He wasn't as good. But David Thompson, I'm old enough to remember David Thompson, he was pre Michael. Michael and then Kobe was, you know, came into the league and he almost mimicked him. He sounded like him when he first came into the league. So like Michael, here's another player that played like nobody else. Dr. J. I mean, he was the hand size, the inventiveness, the creativity. Not all great players are unique. Wimby is. I mean, I guess the only guy in the league that's even remotely close to him is Chet Holmgren, who's a very good player. But I. Wemby is just physically, it's not just 7 4, it's 7 4, can hit threes. His ability to kind of adapt defensively, it's Nick Wright earlier, I would vote Wemby mvp. I think Luca is so atrocious defensively. You have to. And not. Wemby's not bad offensively. He's just inconsistent. He's not as polished. He'll be better next year. So I would go, wemby, my mvp. Here's Nick Wright. He'd go, luka Wemby is the best defensive player in the league and one of already the highest defensive ceilings. At the end of the year, we vote on the all NBA team, the 15 best players. And then as a sidebar, the all defense team. You know what? There's not the all offense team. You know why? Because they're like, yeah, that's the all NBA team. We have MVP and we have defensive player of the year. You know, we don't have offensive player of the year. You know why? Because that's the mvp. But when the offensive genius is a huge liability defensively, I just think that has to be considered. Just considered. I'd go, wemby, Luca, sga, probably thereabouts. But I think when Wemby's going to win several, for the record, I don't think there's any question about that. I'll tell you, the tide has turned on Darren Peterson. A month ago, it was like, get over it. He's number one. You know, I'm watching that St. John's game like the rest of you and doesn't have an assist, took the most shots, kind of, I use the term, kind of plays in a silo. He's kind of doing his own thing. I mean, and then you start looking back and you're like, okay, durability. He doesn't really elevate others. Calls himself a loner. It's like, I would just say you watch the St. John's game late and you're like, I don't know I mean BYU may have been bounced early but that kid, their star drops 38 like he is just unbelievably the best player on the floor.

Jason McIntyre (24:09)

Colin, sometimes picking number one is almost tougher. There's more pressure on you. The Bryce Young CJ Stroud is a perfect example. Carolina trades up for one, we get the pick, they do all the homework and they got the wrong guy. Now obviously Young rebounded this year but for the longest time it looked like hey, they made a mistake. I almost wonder if there's too much. There's so many good players at the top of this draft that you don't want the first pick because there's a chance you screw it up. Listen, Peterson. Yes, red flags and all. Colin, would you be shocked if he was putting up 26 a game in four years and was second team all NBA?

Colin Cowherd (24:43)

Was it an elite player?

Jason McIntyre (24:44)

I would not.

Colin Cowherd (24:44)

Let me ask you this. Name the last college football or college basketball star with college durability issues that goes to the pros and it just disappears.

Jason McIntyre (24:59)

Okay, well it's going to take more than 10 seconds for that. But you're obviously the first person that comes to mind is Michael Penn. Lennox had major issues again.

Colin Cowherd (25:08)

Yeah, he's already hurt Sam Bradford.

Jason McIntyre (25:11)

I mean didn't Tua get hurt at Alabama? Yep and he got hurt with the concussions and everything.

Colin Cowherd (25:17)

Find me a guy. Listen, the NBA is not only double the games but you're playing against NBA bodies. When Bama to buy you had 83 points. One of the things I talked about was dude's been in an NBA weight train and the Miami Heat, they'll fine you if you're not lifting weights every day. Bama to Bayou's body. That is a 10 year plus NBA body. He's playing the Wizards and they're throwing 19 year old and 20 year old kids against him. Part of the 83 points was the Wizards are a bunch of they're kids. Bam's like a grown blank man. Well and so in my take is, you know, Bam's not missing a lot of time. Bam is the body, the physicality. Some guys and I covered when I was in Portland there was a great player who got banged up. Some guys. Greg Odin just broke a lot.

Jason McIntyre (26:12)

You know he just would have a better is likely to have a better NBA career.

Colin Cowherd (26:16)

Darren Peterson or Cameron Boozer Peterson would be more spectacular. I could see Boo. You know Boozer's not a super athlete so I could see him being like a really good number three on an excellent team.

Jason McIntyre (26:29)

But wait, Jokic is not a great athlete. He's a one.

Colin Cowherd (26:32)

Jokic is the most skilled big man in the history of the Sport by,

Jason McIntyre (26:37)

by 28 years old, he was not at 19.

Colin Cowherd (26:39)

I mean, Boozer is not in the same class as Jokic offensively. Not even in the same class.

Jason McIntyre (26:44)

Not yet.

Colin Cowherd (26:44)

No, not. He's never going to be that good of a offensive player. First of all, he's not. I mean, you're taught Jokic is huge. I mean, I've stood next to Jokic. I've literally talked to him.

Jason McIntyre (26:55)

He's a mountain.

Colin Cowherd (26:56)

Come on. It's just a, just different, you know, I mean, if you get banged up in college, tell me. I mean, find me the running back in college who struggles to stay healthy, goes to the NFL and you get 12 years, he's never hurt. It just doesn't work that way. So if you got durability issues and. Well, it's hammy, it's ankle, it's. I don't know. I mean, you tell me. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's a litany of players who have been banged up and had durability issues collegiately. But man, when you get to the pros, these guys you're dealing with. Peterson is guarding 19 year olds. He'll now guard 30 year olds. Bigger.

Jason McIntyre (27:37)

Good luck on Donovan Mitchell.

Colin Cowherd (27:39)

And you know, because you're dealing with, you're dealing with guys who are using their. I mean, they're thicker, they're more physical. And by the way, and you see this a lot when you come into the NBA, they will test you physically. Even Wemby's first year, he got pushed around. Remember Wemby? That was the knock. He can get pushed. He did the first year.

Jason McIntyre (27:58)

Yanis too. You remember Giannis, what he looked like coming in first, like three years in the league. Giannis a non factor, skinny.

Colin Cowherd (28:04)

I mean, I remember when Joel Embiid came out and he went number three. I think when Embiid came out, there were like Greg Oden injury issues. I mean, so you can say, well, he's not breaking things. It's hamstrings, it's. I don't know, it just. I just think if Peterson goes number one, I'm fine with it. I get it. Because his ceiling so high, if he doesn't, I'm not going to berate somebody for not taking him. Yeah, he, you know, the red flags, you know, it's like anything else. You know, if you, if you date somebody and you hear things, you know, this, this, this, eventually you can put on a good face for the first three dates. Eventually, people are what they are.

Jason McIntyre (28:49)

Three months

Colin Cowherd (28:51)

in Chicago, be sure to

Jason McIntyre (28:54)

catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern Pacific

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Colin Cowherd (31:01)

a commercial plumbing or H Vac company isn't easy. You're driving revenue, managing payroll, coordinating marketing, juggling projects, and keeping customers satisfied all at once. You need software that keeps up. It's time to upgrade to Service Titan, the all in one solution built to help companies like run smarter, grow faster and scale with confidence. See how the most successful contractors are doing it today with ServiceTitan. Visit ServiceTitan.com to learn more. That's ServiceTitan.com every sports season is built on preparation, studying the trends, making necessary adjustments to reach the ultimate goal. Investing deserves the same approach. With Webull, you have access to real time market data, advanced tools and an intuitive app designed to help you make informed decisions. Trade stocks, options, ETFs and more, or set up an IRA for the long term all in one platform. Get your financial portfolio portfolio game ready by downloading the Webull app today or visiting webull.com Webull Financial LLC member SIPC FINRA Investing Involves Risk. For more information, visit webull.comdisclosures Good to have you back here on a Tuesday Yukon, Michigan State Hurley against Izzo Coming up Friday Tournament setting records. JMAC with a nose no, no, no, no.

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Jason McIntyre (32:17)

This is the Herd line News Tournament setting records. NBA setting records. People love basketball. Let's start there. Colin, obviously the NBA draft is at the front of your mind. You love talking about it. We get some great matchups in the sweet 16. And how about this? An anonymous GM is saying that Darius Akoff is now a top three prospect in the draft. Draft, yes, Colin, that's draft. Now listen, I don't want to go overboard with Acuff. We need to see his measurements. Is he six three? That's what they list him at. Is he six two? Is he six one?

Colin Cowherd (32:52)

He is going to be an NBA defensive liability. But can I say one thing about Acuff? He's a very athletic guy and he's a great passer and he's a great shooter. But he is something. Usually guys who are dynamic offensive players like super athletic are not necessarily great catch and shoot guys. They're rhythm shooters. He can do rhythm. He can do catch and shoot. He can pat. He is a, a player who elevates others. He is just going to solve a lot. If you are lacking sort of a dynamic presence in the backcourt, he can solve all of it. He can shoot. He can catch and shoot. He needs the ball, but he can play off ball. He's a great passer. He is going to be a liability on the defensive end. So you have to know that going in he would be a great player on a team that's got size but lacks pop in the backcourt and he would provide all of it. He'll make teammates better. There's, I mean he is just a special offensive plate. Now he's small, right? So again, you're, you're not. Small guys may not lead you to titles, but small guys, you Know, it's like if I said Kyrie Irving did not have. He's a better passer than Kyrie. If I told you Kyrie Irving had no durability issues. Issues. I mean, again, you're talking about a player offensively that is one of the best offensive players I've ever seen. Best closer for a size ever. Kyrie or best closer, I would say ever. Hit the basket from the perimeter. This kid's got some of that where you're just like, well, that is that. He brings so many qualities offensive. I think Kyrie's got a left, he's got a right, he's got a pull up. He can hit threes. He can. This kid is special.

Jason McIntyre (34:34)

Yeah, he. He's going to be a problem for Arizona. Amazing game. So when I do these NBA comparisons, I'm not comparing them to the best version of that NBA player, but the A cuff I'm watching looks like a young Derrick Rose. Not MVP Derrick Rose.

Colin Cowherd (34:48)

Better shooter.

Jason McIntyre (34:49)

Derrick Rose at 20 averaged 16 and 6. But Derrick Acuff is going to average out as a rookie, I'll tell you that right now.

Colin Cowherd (34:55)

Yeah, Derrick Rose with a. Was a rhythm shooter. Like, he got into a rhythm.

Jason McIntyre (34:59)

Yeah, yeah.

Colin Cowherd (34:59)

But he wasn't. He couldn't shoot from deep. Acuff shoots 45% from threes. And he can cat and shoot.

Jason McIntyre (35:05)

You can play on. Couldn't shoot threes either. Yeah, no, no, I'm with you. Acuff is a stud. Now, Caleb Wilson on that list is the guy to watch. He's the big kid at unc. If you go watch the UNC Duke game, he played Boozer to a standstill and he's more athletic. Jump out of the gym guy. This draft is. Here's the highlights of Wilson. I'm just telling you, he's got like, you know, the bag is a little limited, but athletically, you could just see, oh, this guy in three years.

Colin Cowherd (35:31)

Yeah.

Jason McIntyre (35:32)

Holy hell, he could be 25 and 12.

Colin Cowherd (35:34)

You know, it's also with basketball, you got to be careful because these are kids. In the NFL, everybody's played three years minimum. A lot of guys have played four and five years. You have a lot of film and you're getting men. A lot of NFL guys come into the league, they're married. Yeah. Like, these are kids. So, yeah, I mean, I. There are eight to nine players in this draft with the potential to be stars. And I'm not talking just like, make an all star team. I'm talking like the kid at Knippel, the kid at Charlotte like oh, you're. They will pop immediately.

Jason McIntyre (36:09)

Yeah. And there's a couple guys down on this list. Wagler at Illinois and then Kingston Flemings at Houston. They play each other Thursday night. Look how good that draft game of the tournament.

Colin Cowherd (36:17)

I mean look at those guys. I mean the funny thing like it like like Boozer is not a great athlete.

Jason McIntyre (36:24)

He's not.

Colin Cowherd (36:25)

Caleb is really raw. Acup is small and won't defend Peterson durability. You know the more I start reading and I'm reading articles, don't be shocked if AJ goes number one.

Jason McIntyre (36:37)

He's going to go. He's the leader right now.

Colin Cowherd (36:39)

I think he's going to go number. What's the red flag? He doesn't have a red flag.

Jason McIntyre (36:43)

So here's the thing.

Colin Cowherd (36:44)

What if the Indian shooter but that's not a red flag me. Ray Allen didn't shoot like that in college. I don't ever think inconsistent jump shooter. I don't think that's a red flag. I don't think that you have limit on practice time. Most young guys aren't great shooters.

Jason McIntyre (36:59)

He could play with Tyrese Halliburton in Indiana. They have the worst record in the league right now. That would be huge. I don't want DebonSA in Sacramento or something. All right, let's move on. Count to the NFL. We love the NFL draft as well and that's coming up next month. Todd McShay has dropped his latest. Not a ton of surprises in McShay's latest mock draft. Still has Mendoza at the top. Arvell Reese too. Jeremiah Love is kind of the guy to watch there at five for the Giants.

Colin Cowherd (37:25)

Oh no, they don't need a run.

Jason McIntyre (37:26)

I would agree. I don't think that makes sense.

Colin Cowherd (37:28)

Right tackle. Take the Utah right tackle.

Jason McIntyre (37:32)

Love is the buzzy guy because there's no second quarterback. It's not a great receiver class. Love is testing off the charts. He could go four to Tennessee. Brian D. Could say hey, hey, that's a Saquon Barkley I never had in New York because he was never helpful.

Colin Cowherd (37:45)

Okay. I'm going to tell you right now. You got the top 14 picks from McShay. One of those guys is going to be a bust. What I would say more than one. Well, no more than one but I mean like Jordan Tyson he has going to the Rams. He. He doesn't stay healthy.

Jason McIntyre (38:00)

He's got some durability. A good. I have that in my coming out mock draft. The Rams are going offense. That's very clear.

Colin Cowherd (38:05)

I cannot Believe that Spencer Pano would go 14. I would take him tomorrow.

Jason McIntyre (38:11)

That's a little low. Yeah, he's going to go top 10 for sure. Sonny Stiles is the interesting one. The great linebacker from Ohio State. You don't draft linebackers that high. I just. It feels a little rich. I. I don't see your guy, Tyson.

Colin Cowherd (38:24)

If David Bailey goes eight to the Saints and they get the number one plug and play edge rusher. The Saints had a great draft that he. Because I would. If I was the Jets, I would take him. You know exactly what you're doing.

Jason McIntyre (38:36)

Jets are going. Reese. It looks like he, he. Aaron, the, the, the new head coach, the cornerback Aaron Glenn needs like Swiss army guys who can move around in his defense. He's changing things up. I don't want to get too nerdy on the Jets. They stink. But Reese looks like the guy at 2 to the jets. All right, final story. Collins to the UFL kicks off the 2026 season on Friday, 8 Eastern. On 5.

Rachel Nichols (38:59)

Hawks.

Jason McIntyre (39:00)

Birmingham Stallions take on the newly minted Louisville Kings. Saturday. The Houston Gamblers versus Louisville.

Colin Cowherd (39:06)

A new team.

Jason McIntyre (39:07)

It is.

Colin Cowherd (39:07)

I was gonna say. I've never heard of the Louisville. Are they in the new team?

Jason McIntyre (39:10)

One of the new teams.

Colin Cowherd (39:11)

All right.

Jason McIntyre (39:12)

Houston, Dallas, four on Saturday. And the three new teams are the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings and Orlando Storm.

Colin Cowherd (39:22)

Look at the coaches.

Jason McIntyre (39:23)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (39:23)

Rick Neuheisel's a coach.

Jason McIntyre (39:26)

A.J. mcCarron, the former Alabama quarterback.

Colin Cowherd (39:29)

Ted Ginn Jr. How about that?

Jason McIntyre (39:31)

Former great wide receiver, Ohio State.

Colin Cowherd (39:33)

Yeah. I didn't know new Heisel took a gig. I don't know that.

Jason McIntyre (39:39)

Gotta get him on the show. Talk about it. Kevin Sumlin, who I think coached Arizona five minutes at a. M. Yes.

Colin Cowherd (39:47)

Good memory. No. J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news.

Rachel Nichols (39:52)

And thanks for stopping by.

Jason McIntyre (39:53)

The Herd lie news.

Colin Cowherd (39:55)

Yeah, the. I'm telling you, I'm trying to think of the. You know, there's been some really good drafts. I don't think I've ever seen a draft where the top five players are all exceptional. Like all of them. And there is. I mean, listen, what you're. You know, the other thing you're noticing is they're more domestic. And we went through a run here of. A lot of MVPs are international guys. A lot of your top picks are international guys. I mean, all of these guys are really good. Boozer's not an elite athlete, but I think he has great hands and feet. There's some pushback on. If he fell to 6, I wouldn't be shocked. AJ probably goes 1. I think Peterson you probably have to take him 2. God m a cuff is fun to watch. He is fun. You know a lot of guys that are hyper athletic small guys. John Wall, Westbrook, Derrick Rose. Not great natural shooters. Great athletes. They rely on their athleticism. Acuff, you get all the athleticism. Not only is he a great shooter, he's a catch and shoot guy. You can put him off into the wing, get the ball to him. He is really something. Top eight in the mock drafts, right? All freshmen all playing college hoops. We'll see you tomorrow.

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