Best Of - Mavs contenders with Flagg? Durant traded to Rockets, Haliburton made "right decision"

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode Title: What's Wright - Best Of - Mavs Contenders with Flagg? Durant Traded to Rockets, Haliburton Made "Right Decision"
Release Date: June 29, 2025
Host: Nick Wright
Guests: Kevin Durant

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1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with Nick Wright introducing the week's best moments and key discussions from the show, setting the stage for an in-depth analysis of significant NBA trades and player decisions. The primary focus revolves around Kevin Durant's recent trade to the Houston Rockets and Tyrese Halliburton's critical injury decision.

2. Kevin Durant's Trade to the Rockets

Trade Details and Initial Reactions ([02:22] - [04:21])

Nick Wright delves into Kevin Durant's move to the Rockets, highlighting the trade mechanics and the elements that align with his previous trade proposals on the show.

Kevin Durant (02:22): "He's headed to his fourth team in four years."

Nick clarifies that the trade involves Jalen Green, Dylan Brooks, and Phoenix's 2025 first-round pick returning to Phoenix, along with additional second-rounders, mirroring his earlier trade suggestions.

Nick Wright (02:32): "The trade that just happened was Jalen Green, Dylan Brooks and Phoenix's 2025 first going back to Phoenix, plus some second rounders. It was the exact 100% trade."

Discussion on Trade Strategy and Team Impact ([03:46] - [09:57])

Kevin Durant questions the Rockets' contender status post-trade, comparing them to Durant's previous teams like the Nets and Suns, which did not achieve lasting success.

Kevin Durant (04:21): "Since his injury in 2019, he's won a grand total of two playoff series. Do you think the Rockets does sound like you think the Rockets are a real contender or do you think they'll end up like previous teams that he's ended up landing on, like Nets or the Suns?"

Nick Wright counters by analyzing the Rockets' current roster, emphasizing the potential of integrating Durant with players like Fred VanVleet, Klay Thompson, Jabari Smith, and Alpern Sharun. He praises the team's depth, coaching, and defensive capabilities.

Nick Wright (04:36): "I think that right now, this moment, I'd pick the Rockets to win the West."

Durant expresses enthusiasm about joining the Rockets, citing past rivalries and the potential for a compelling team dynamic.

Kevin Durant (09:01): "And I love that he went to the Rockets. The team that the Rockets couldn't get over Golden State. And so there is some nice kind of storylines there. I think it's a perfect fit."

3. Tyrese Halliburton's Injury and Decision

Injury Analysis and Decision-Making ([15:46] - [29:13])

The conversation shifts to Tyrese Halliburton's decision to play through his Achilles injury during the playoffs. Nick Wright defends Halliburton's choice, explaining the nuances of calf strains and the aggressive playstyle required in high-stakes games.

Nick Wright (18:03): "He was playing. And in game six, he was so fluid and so good. I thought, okay, like, he's... his Achilles tore in game seven."

Durant probes the implications of such decisions on a player's career and team dynamics.

Nick emphasizes that while the decision was risky and ultimately led to a severe injury, it was made with the team's championship aspirations in mind.

Nick Wright (27:55): "Never underestimate the awful luck that your bad luck saved you from."

He reflects on the philosophical aspect of facing setbacks and the personal growth that comes from adversity, referencing Cormac McCarthy's quote.

Nick Wright (29:13): "The road not taken for Halliburton is don't play, keep the Achilles intact and for the rest of your career wonder what if?"

Halliburton's own sentiments are shared, highlighting his emotional and psychological state post-injury.

Tyrese Halliburton (via Nick Wright) (17:23): "Words cannot express the pain of this letdown... God never gives us more than we can handle."

4. Philosophical Insights on Mistakes and Decisions

Nick Wright delves deeper into the philosophy behind taking risks and learning from mistakes. He shares personal perspectives on viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth, linking it to Halliburton's situation.

Nick Wright (27:55): "Never underestimate the awful luck that your bad luck saved you from."

He discusses the importance of mindset in overcoming challenges, drawing parallels between personal experiences and professional sports decisions.

5. Dallas Mavericks' Contenders and Future Prospects

Roster Analysis and Contention Potential ([32:18] - [41:56])

The discussion transitions to the Dallas Mavericks, focusing on their roster moves, including the acquisition of Cooper Flagg and the health status of key players like Kyrie Irving.

Kevin Durant (32:18): "Took Cooper Flagg with the first pick, so they extended Kyrie and Gafford. Question is, if Kyrie ends up healthy, do you think the Dallas are contenders?"

Nick Wright provides a critical analysis, expressing skepticism about the Mavericks' immediate contention prospects due to reliance on an 18-year-old Cooper Flagg and concerns over Kyrie Irving's injury recovery timeline.

Nick Wright (35:12): "I do not think it is rational to expect the Mavs this next year with Kyrie playing. I don't know. I would say 30 games at best and I would take the strong under on that with Anthony Davis."

He cites historical examples of rookies and the challenges of building a championship-contending team around young talent and injured stars.

Kevin Durant, however, remains optimistic about the Mavericks' potential, highlighting the team's balance of defense and offense.

Kevin Durant (32:37): "I think they have quite the squad on them right now."

Nick counters by emphasizing the lack of reliable primary ball handlers and creators, which he believes hinders the Mavericks' ability to compete at the highest level immediately.

Nick Wright (38:45): "As long as Kyrie is out and I do not think Kyrie. I think expecting Kyrie to be back before the all-star break is foolish."

Power Rankings and Future Outlook ([41:56] - [44:06])

Nick Wright concludes the Mavericks' segment by providing his power rankings for the Western Conference, placing teams like the Thunder, Rockets, and Lakers ahead, while positioning the Mavericks as more long-term prospects rather than immediate contenders.

Nick Wright (41:56): "If I am power ranking the west going into this coming season, I personally would power rank it Thunder, Rockets, Lakers with an asterisk... Nuggets, Minnesota, Golden State and then Dallas alongside the Clippers."

He underscores the potential for future growth, contingent on player health and strategic additions during the offseason.

6. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with reflections on the discussed topics, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of sports trades and player decisions. Nick Wright leaves listeners with thoughts on resilience, the impact of critical choices, and the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA.

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Notable Quotes:

• Nick Wright ([27:55]): "Never underestimate the awful luck that your bad luck saved you from."
• Kevin Durant ([04:21]): "Do you think the Rockets does sound like you think the Rockets are a real contender or do you think they'll end up like previous teams?"
• Tyrese Halliburton ([17:23], via Nick Wright): "Words cannot express the pain of this letdown... God never gives us more than we can handle."

---

Key Takeaways:

• Kevin Durant's Trade: The move to the Rockets is analyzed as a strategic fit with the team's depth and defensive prowess, though historical performance of Durant's former teams raises questions about long-term success.

• Tyrese Halliburton's Injury: Halliburton's decision to play through his Achilles injury is defended as a calculated risk aligned with championship aspirations, highlighting the balance between personal career goals and team success.

• Dallas Mavericks' Future: While optimistic views from Durant posit the Mavericks as potential contenders, Nick Wright offers a counter-narrative focusing on current roster limitations and the uncertainties surrounding key players' health.

• Philosophical Perspective: Emphasis on resilience and learning from setbacks underscores the broader theme of navigating challenges both in sports and personal life.

---

Final Thoughts:

This episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" provides a comprehensive analysis of pivotal NBA developments, blending strategic insights with personal philosophies. Whether debating trade strategies, player decisions, or team prospects, the conversation offers valuable perspectives for both avid basketball fans and casual listeners seeking a deeper understanding of the sport's dynamics.

Transcript

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[Nick Wright]

Welcome to the Best of the Week for what's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. Let's get to Kevin Durant.

[Kevin Durant]

He's headed to his fourth team in four years. Is that correct? Third team? Sorry team, the Rockets. Even they borrowed your strategy to land them that you pitched on your show.

[Nick Wright]

I mean, it was my exact trade. Just just to be clear, everybody was throwing out. Do they have to include Jabari Smith? Do they have to include Tar east and the trade that I put out on First Things first that was roundly mocked was Jalen Green, Dylan brooks and Phoenix's 2027 first going back to Phoenix. The trade that just happened was Jalen Green, Dylan brooks and Phoenix's 2025 first going back to Phoenix, plus some second rounders. It was the exact 100% trade. And for the record, the trade that I put out there for the Timberwolves to offer was Gobert, DiVincenzo and Dillingham for Kevin Durant. What was reported today was the trade the Timberwolves offered was Gobert, DiVincenzo, Dillingham and one first round pick for Durant.

[Kevin Durant]

Just got first.

[Nick Wright]

I'm not trying to, I'm not, I'm not trying to infringe on Bill Simmons territory of the Picasso of the trade machine. But if, you know, some are saying the torch has been passed, some are saying it like you just go, go and check the archives of what the actual teams were offering and compare them to all the trades I came up with on First Things first and see what other people were describing on their platforms and just, you know, let history be the judge. All right. But go ahead. Sorry about that.

[Kevin Durant]

Since his injury in 2019, he's won a grand total of two playoff series. Do you think the Rockets does sound like you think the Rockets are a real contender or do you think they'll end up like previous teams that he's ended up landing on, like Nets or the Suns?

[Nick Wright]

So listen, it's different situations, right? The Nets, he was unbelievable in 2021 postseason with the Nets, unbelievable. Lost a historic series to Giannis. Giannis goes on to win the title. Since then, nothing's gone right and the Suns never were going to be a contender. It was a terribly built team. It was him and Booker and Beal never made sense. And listen, Katie is older, he's not the defender he once was and his injury concerns are real. With that said, Daman, I think that, I think that right now, this moment, I'd pick the Rockets to win the West. Now that might change, most notably if the Lakers are able to handle their center situation. But your starting five is going to be Fred Van Vliet. I'm in Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, Alpern Shangun. Off the bench, you are going to have Terry Eason, Stephen Adams, who we saw Adams and Shingoon play really well in that two big lineup. Cam Whitmore and Reed shepherd, who was a top five pick last year, that is a sniper from three and that Udoka just didn't play because he couldn't defend and was a rookie. So now you go from a team that didn't have shot making, that has Kevin freaking Durant and potentially Reed shepherd getting minutes. They are deep, they are well coached, they are great defensively. Jalen Green was an abomination in the playoffs and now Kevin Durant steps in for him.

[Kevin Durant]

There was a trend. It was Halliburton. I can't. I remember. I forget the other guy. But I mean, what if, what if Jalen Green turns out to be a star? Like, you know, if he just needed a little bit of. A little bit of a track way and he just ends up being, I mean, Katie, what. He's like 36 years old.

[Nick Wright]

He's 37. I, I am not a Jalen Green believer. So I, the. I am.

[Kevin Durant]

Oh, it was sga. It was Halliburton and sga. Those are the two players because they, they traded him for old stars. It was Paul George, I think.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, I got you. I, yeah. So I, I think Jalen Green is a bit of an empty calories guy. He's a decent shooter. Not a great shooter. From threes. 35% last year, 34% for his career. He's not that efficient outside of his threes. He's 42% last year and the year before and the year before that. And I don't love when my young players aren't showing market improvement. He. Year two, Jalen Green, 22 a game. Year three, 20 a game. Year four, 21 a game. So I, and I certainly don't see what Phoenix is like. Phoenix is just like they have a hundred guards and nothing else, but they don't know what they're doing. That's fine. I. It is a short term bet for sure, Daman say. But it's a short term bet that I think could net them a finals now for Durant. Durant, his last six years in Oklahoma City made four conference finals and one NBA Finals. His three years in Golden State obviously made all three conference finals. Made all three NBA finals. He. He then leaves there and as, as you mentioned, has won two series total and not been out around two. I would love to see Kevin Durant with one more deep playoff run. I would love to see Durant remind people how great he still is. Because he is, man.

[Kevin Durant]

And I love that he went to the Rockets. The, the team that the golden, you know, the Rockets couldn't get over Golden State. Katie's like, I'm gonna go over there and help you guys.

[Nick Wright]

And, and here's the other thing. The Rockets couldn't get over Golden State. And who are the Rockets trying to get over now? Oklahoma City, Katie's old team. And so there is some nice kind of storylines there. I think it's a perfect fit. And they didn't give up too much. They kept their depth, they kept their flexibility. I think oddly, they actually still, if he were to come available mid season, might have the ability to still trade for Giannis and like that. I don't think that's off the board. The.

[Kevin Durant]

Who are you saying trade for Giannis?

[Nick Wright]

The Rockets.

[Kevin Durant]

The Rockets.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. I th, I, the. Let me, I, I can try to do this on the fly real quick and then we're gonna have to move on, but I think we can make the salaries work because you. So let me turn this off. Fred van Vliet is 44 million, Giannis is 54. So if you, if, if you were to send, for instance, Fred Van Vliet, Reed Shepherd. Let me just see if that, if that works. So the salaries, I believe Fred Van Vliet and Shepherd work. And then Houston would have to include all the Phoenix picks that they have, 2029 and 2027, the Brooklyn pick that they have in 2027, like you could make a trade that is if you are, if you're the Rockets, where you are sending out Fred Van Vliet, Reed shepherd and the following picks, you could send them the. What picks would they probably want? Yeah, there we go. You could send them. If I'm reading this properly, Fred Van Vliet, Reed shepherd and Brooklyn's first in 2027. Phoenix is first in 2027, Dallas is first in 2029, Phoenix is first in 2029 and Houston's first. Their own first in 2030. Those are valuable prime first round picks and you. So my point is I don't think they're going to do that. But the point is it's not like by going for Durant, they hunted on any chance at Giannis and I think that's very useful. Let me tell you guys. Hotels in Vegas may be booked solid this weekend, but there's one vacancy left to be filled. At UFC317, a new lightweight champ will be crowned. Grab your. Grab your own crown. At DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of UFC Tapuria takes on Oliveira. Oliveira. Pardon me. To fill the vacant men's lightweight title. And Alexander Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Kai Kara France in the co main event. Who you taking first time betting on UFC at DraftKings. Just pick something simple like a fighter to win and make your pick that is kind of the easiest way. Just straight winner not but you don't have to necessarily decide by submission or knockout or anything. Just straight winner. It can be that easy. And if you're new to DraftKings, check this out. New customers who bet $5 will get 150 bucks in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now. Use Code Wright W R I G H T. That's Code Wright for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours.

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And try the OG degree Cool Rush for yourself. Tyrese Halliburton tried to play through that injury obviously tore his Achilles. You committed him on first things first for playing through that is his injury in game seven. The single biggest story of the finals or playoffs included.

[Nick Wright]

No, I. I don't think so. The story has to be the champion. But the most memorable piece of this is his injury. And so I said almost all of this on tv, but I want to reiterate it here. It's two things. One Is, you know, I am not going to run from. Or pretend that after Game 6, I didn't have real questions. No, I definitely. Hold on. That. That didn't happen. I did. I. At no point did I call him soft.

[Kevin Durant]

No, you. You didn't call himself, but you were like, if you're. If you're moving around like, you. You got to play in.

[Nick Wright]

And I. What I said was he didn't look hurt.

[Kevin Durant]

Right.

[Nick Wright]

That it seemed like. Like it was. I said that for a guy to have a calf strain and supposed to be out a month or a few weeks, which is what the reporting was, he's pretty much right to. To. To injure it and then play after the injury in game. In game five, played 27 minutes after the injury and then in game six was awesome. I said, like, is unlike any cap strain I've ever seen. Now, I actually was watching Game 7 with some active NBA players, and when it happened, everybody all reacted the same. But I. I just said. I was like. I was like, if it was that close to tearing, how did he move like that in game six? And what one player in particular said to me was. Said two things that I thought were fascinating. He said, in our. In our league, the calf strains the new torn MCL like a scary precursor of a potential devastating injury. And the other thing they said was the calf strain, it's not. It's not like a hamstring where it be. When it happens, you just simply can't move as well.

[Kevin Durant]

Right.

[Nick Wright]

Right. But it's. It's that he's like. With a hamstring or a groin, you can see that impact it has. Because of how NBA players move. They can't move as well. They're like. With a calf, you can move a lot of times, like, okay, and you won't see it, but the only way to get it to heal it is to stay off it.

[Kevin Durant]

Right.

[Nick Wright]

He was like, it has. If you get a calf strain, it's got to be. What I was. What he told me was three or four weeks of nothing, of just flatly staying off it or else you risk that. And so I listen. I didn't know that. And so when I saw Halle moving around like he was in game six, like the timeline of my Halliburton takes were game five, I and demanze disagreed with me on it. I didn't really cut him a lot of slack for a zero field goal. Oh, for six performance. Because he was playing. And in game six, he was so fluid and so good. I thought, okay, like, he's you know, dodged the bullet here. Of course he's gonna play game seven. Of course he was gonna play game six. And then in game seven minutes and he tears his Achilles. So all that happened, right? And people can judge it however they want. Like, that's fair is fair. The here is my updated, if you will, opinion that maybe people will judge this as well. It's good that he played. He was supposed to play. He wanted to play. And he took a risk that he was supposed to take. When you and people were like, well, it cost them. It cost him and them all of next year. If the goal of team sports is to win A championship, Games 6 and 7 of these NBA Finals, Damanze had more championship equity attached to them the next season in its entirety for the Indiana Pacers. Like, when you are that close, like, those games are worth more in your chance to win a championship than the entirety of next season. They just are. And your mindset, the goal, your mindset. And also just for your teams, like for the Pacers, that what Halliburton's performance in game six and even just the five minutes of game seven added more to the Pacers championship probability than him having a full all NBA season next year. Because even if that happens, like, you still have to get through the whole tournament and get there. And so they were there. So the only and qualifier I think that one would put on it is, yes, that's all true, the goal of team sports to win a championship. But the goal of anyone in what they do for a living is to make a living for them and their family. So if Tyrese Halliburton were in the final year of a rookie contract and hadn't been, you know, resigned, then you do have to do some personal math on what this means for me and the people I care about and all of that. But when you are Tyrese Halliburton and you are in the first year of a five year, $250 million contract and you can play and play well through the injury while risking catastrophe, which is what happened. Playing is the right thing. He made the right call. It went terribly for him, but he made the right call. And by the way, I said this on TV yesterday. And then he today or last night tweeted this. Well, tweeted a lot. But one of the things he wrote is the following. I'll just read you the whole thing, man. Don't know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I'VE worked my whole life to get to this moment, and this is how it ends. Makes no sense. Your heart breaks like, for real. Now that I've gotten the surgery, I wish you could count the number of times people will tell me I'm going to quote, come back stronger. What a cliche. Lol. This shit sucks. My foot feels like dead weight, fam. But what's hurting most, I think, is my mind. Feel like I'm rambling, but I know this is something I'll look back on when I'm through this as something I I'm proud I fought through. It feels good to let this out without y' all seeing the kid ugly cry. At 25, I've already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I'll come out better on the other side of this, a better man and a better player. And this is the part that I speaks to what I was saying. And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don't regret it. I do it again and again after that to fight for this city and my brothers for the chance to do something special. And he goes on from there. And everybody, like people can check it out on Twitter. I that's right. That's right. And the point I made at the top of the show that Brew made yesterday that I think is worth revisiting is I always go back to that quote the and it's Guy it's from the guy who wrote the Road ever under who wrote the Road. The road author Cormac McCarthy. And the quote is never underestimate the awful luck that your bad luck saved you from. And that has I the that to me is like a very from like a mental well being standpoint, a very useful quote that I and for me as a parent, I it has helped me a ton of the only really tough instance in my life since I've started really kind of leaning on that kind of mind frame that that didn't help at all with was last year when our friend passed because there's no, there's no like silver lining to that. There's not like, oh well, because it is it. The, the sudden death of a friend is, you know, it's as rough as it gets. But I had some, you know, the anything bad that's happened to a loved one, I've thought I've tried to use that as a silver lining or bad that's happened to me. And when I when I bring it up with Halliburton, is this the.

[Damanza]

The.

[Nick Wright]

The road not taken for Halliburton is don't play, keep the Achilles intact and for the rest of your career wonder what if? And did you let your teammates down? Did you let the city down? Did you? Was that your Would you have gotten through it without getting hurt? What did you leave your championship on the board? And when I say never underestimate the awful luck your bad luck saved you from, Would that Damanze have changed him fundamentally as a player, a guy whose rep for this postseason was the most cold blooded assassin at the end of games, Would that decision tree have altered him and while his Achilles would have been intact, would have changed him forever? Maybe. Absolutely. Maybe so. I so I think that he clearly made the right decision, even though it was a tragic decision.

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[Damanza]

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[Chris Broussard]

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[Kevin Durant]

Took Cooper Flag with the first pick, so they extended Kyrie and Gafford. Question is, if Kyrie ends up healthy, do you think the Dallas is contenders or Dallas are contenders?

[Nick Wright]

Do you think they are?

[Kevin Durant]

Yes, I do.

[Nick Wright]

I knew you did. I could tell just from the look in your face. So go ahead.

[Kevin Durant]

Yeah, I mean I was just telling the guys this morning the balance of defense and offense on that team also paired in with the way I know it's your guy, but the way that Luka was looking in the playoffs last year, it just kind of seems like Nico might have had a grasp on the situation and what was going on over there. And I like that team. Like if Cooper Flag pans out nicely, I hate that it worked out for him and you know, he got they ended up with the number one pick, but with that number one pick, that's a. That's a squad right there.

[Nick Wright]

So. So that. Let's talk about the Nico piece of this and then we'll get to the team because Nico had a quote. Nico said fortune favors the bold and on behalf of Mavs fans everywhere, I wanted to break a tv. Yeah, you do not. You do not get to trade Luca hold a press conference saying we did this for this year because we think we are better right now to win a championship this year or next year and then end up bad enough that you're in the lottery and fall ass backwards and into the number one pick and then be like all part of the plan. If at that, listen, honest to God, if at that press conference he had said, listen, we, we are all about championships. I even though we thought last year's finals appearance was fool's gold and we traded for Anthony Davis knowing he's injured and by the way he's going to take some time to come back this year, this is not about this season and we may or may not even be back in the playoffs this year. We're okay with this because this is a long term play and then you end up with Cooper flag. Then you can say told you part of the plan. Didn't expect number one pick but we were going to add an impact player. Fine. You don't get to be like we are doing this to contend right now. You fall into the and and then be in the play in and be trying to win the play in, lose fall into the lottery, get the number one pick and be like bang. Told you so. That's first of all. But they are where they are. Go ahead.

[Kevin Durant]

Well, yeah, just to be clear, I don't want to give Nico, I don't want to give him any credit for this. Like no, the, the Luca, the Luca piece of it. Like I, I, I kind of can see he was a little bit onto something. It was a crazy trade. But with it work, it panning out the way it did and them getting that first pick, I think they have quite the squad on them right now.

[Nick Wright]

Okay, so that's the real question is do they and my answer to that question is I think right now they are more than a touch overrated. And here's why. Listen, I heard not and again this is not picking on him. I think other people thought this, but I heard this from I heard Stephen A yesterday say that they think that he thinks they could be Oklahoma City's biggest competitor. I, I disagree and the reason I disagree is this. I do not care how good you are, how what your profile is in the modern NBA in particular, rookies that have to be the focal point of a team's offense do not contribute to winning flatly. They just don't like I understand Magic was great as a rookie. He was not the focal point of the team's offense. Kareem was LeBron. As unbelievable as he was, that Cavs team missed the playoffs. Michael Jordan as A rookie I think averaged 28 points a game. That Bulls team won 38 games. Okay, like asking rookies hell take the Mavs with Luca the Luca's first year he was Cooper Flag's not going to be better than Luca. Year one Luca when year two Luka was first team all NBA they won 33 games. Now obviously those guys didn't have an Anthony Davis on that on their team and eventually Kyrie Irving. But so they will. They. They should be better than those records. But the point that I am making is as long as Kyrie is out and I do not think Kyrie. I think expecting Kyrie to be back before the all star break is foolish. I think Kyrie Irving dealing, given his, you know, knee history and injury history and his size and his age and you just signed him to an extension rushing him back would be foolish. And until Kyrie comes back, you are going to be asking your primary ball handler and your primary creator to be an 18 year old. Like I love flags upside because of his age. But he's 18. He turns 19 in December and you know, maybe Clay has a bounce back year. He is not creating. Anthony Davis is awesome. He is not creating. Gafford and P.J. washington and Derek Lively are all useful players. They are not creating. You traded away a guy who could create a bit in Quentin Grimes for reasons I don't totally understand to bring in Caleb Martin. So like your secondary main creator is going to be Max Christie. The other part of the ad trade until Kyrie gets back.

[Kevin Durant]

What about Spencer?

[Nick Wright]

Yeah.

[Kevin Durant]

Is he not. Is he just not good at creating shots?

[Nick Wright]

No, I don't. Dinwidd. Am I wrong? I thought Dinwiddie was a free agent. Maybe I was the. I don't. So I think Dinwiddie right now is the. Maybe they bring him back. But he's so. He's not on the roster right now. So they. I mean so. And Dinwiddie is. I mean there's a reason that Dinwiddie's last few last contract was for the league minimum. You know what I mean? Like he. He can be a microwave offense, but.

[Kevin Durant]

Right.

[Nick Wright]

He is. Yeah.

[Kevin Durant]

I was about to say if it's. If it's for the purpose of making it to where Cooper Flag isn't your main guy, then you know, if. Well, Dinwiddie's the alternative.

[Nick Wright]

Sure. And maybe that's something. And free agency hasn't happened yet and they obviously will, you know, add some, some pieces. They will add to things. I understand that but I, I do not think it is rational to expect the Mavs this next year with Kyrie playing. I don't know. I would say 30 games at best and I would take the strong under on that with Anthony Davis. And you know if you, if you right now as a Mavs fan, if you were like hey AD's gonna play 65 games on the nose, you would be like take it. Like, you know I'll sign up for that immediately. And with Cooper Flag being the youngest kid in this draft class and you know, having a lot on his plate, I don't think in 2020, this coming season the Mavs are contenders. I do think that if Kyrie comes back from that knee injury and looks like he did before the knee injury and Cooper Flag is the guy that a lot of people think he can be that in the season after this one they can be really good. So I don't I if I am power ranking the west going into this coming season, I personally would power rank it Thunder, Rockets, Lakers with an asterisk. The asterisk being I'm assuming they are going to add a major piece in the next 10 days. Nuggets, Minnesota 4 5, Golden State 6 and then Dallas alongside the Clipper. Clippers 78. That's where, that's where I think they will be for next year. Now in two years I think that could be different.

[Chris Broussard]

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[Damanza]

Okay. Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant. Their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listened. That doesn't happen often they admitted that they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rush scent back. And it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant and is back in Walmart, Target and other stores for under $4. So try it and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local stores to try the OG Cool Rush for yourself.

[Chris Broussard]

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[Nick Wright]

This is an iHeart podcast.