[FULL] NBA TODAY | Perk on Kawhi & Durant OUT in Team USA; Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark in WNBA

[FULL] NBA TODAY | Perk on Kawhi & Durant OUT in Teams USA; Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark in 2024 WNBA All-Star Game 🥳

Andrews live from Los Angeles breaking news today out of Team USA how will Kawai Leonard surprise withdrawal shake up the men’s Olympic basketball roster we discuss plus Sabrina uncu Caitlyn Clark Angel Reese All In Action already today in the W so we’ve got some musty highlights coming at you hot and what does the future hold for the Suns of K and book leading the charge find out in our exclusive interview with Kevin Durant NBA today on a Wednesday starts right now we begin our show today with breaking news kawh Leonard will not play in the upcoming Paris Olympics for Team USA the Clippers forward will be replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derek white and in a statement released on Wednesday USA Basketball implied that Leonard’s decision it was influenced by the Clippers and Team USA officials after observing training camp in Las Vegas over the past three days so the statement read in part quote Kawai has been ramping up for the Olympics over the last several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas he felt ready to compete however he respects the USA basketball and the Clippers determined it’s in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season meaning the NBA season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris so with that Tim bontemp is joining us from Las Vegas where he’s been embedded with the Olympic Squad as a prepare for Vegas here for Paris rather Tim Kawai said recently he’d been rehabing his knee over the past two months and he wasn’t sure whether or not he’d be able to play up until about two weeks ago when his tune changed and now it’s changed again so so what happened here well Malik I think as we as you laid out in that statement I think this was a joint decision made by the Clippers and timio and even Kawhi Leonard potentially himself with his situation with that knee coming off that playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks where as you remember he was out there in games two and three of that series and looked bad enough at that point that the Clippers had to sit him down for the remainder of that first round Series against the Dallas Mavericks because they did not like the way kawhai looked in that game three when he didn’t look like himself frankly at all and over the past few days here in Camp obviously Terron Lou Clippers head coach is one of Steve Kerr’s assistants with Team USA Lawrence Frank the president of basketball operations and Mark Hughes another senior member of the Clippers front office was on hand here in Los Angeles to watch kawhai closely with Team USA and he showed up with a big sleeve on that right leg he had a bit of a limp when he walked in and as you said it was only a couple of weeks ago when kawhai felt like he was going to be in a good enough shape to participate in these Paris Olympics and that’s why a month ago our agent wowski reported that Derek white was going to be the replacement for Kawhi Leonard if he was not able to go so it’s not exactly a shock that we’ve gotten to this point where as Team USA is about to depart for Abu Dhabi on Thursday that this is the moment when if you’re going to make a decision like this this is the time you would make it and clearly after Qui Leonard gave it his best to try to be ready to play in the par Olympics and decied right to do was to have him home get ready for the Clippers going into their new season in their new Arena the Inuit Dome this fall and have Derek white replace him on this Team USA roster yeah shock I don’t know is is what I felt seeing that this morning Tim maybe a little bit of disappointment for kawh Leonard knowing that he absolutely wants to be able to represent his country and now this is the decision that has been made you mentioned Dereck white the replacement of course for Leonard here what what can you share about the process that he’s now going through needing to ramp up for Paris yeah Malik I hadd Echo that just really quickly on kawhai too we spent time around him this weekend you know getting him getting here getting with Team USA doing a bunch of Media stuff he seemed very excited his teammates seemed excited about being around him they several guys joked he’s the you know the guy who’s the funniest guy on the team which is not really what people think about with Kawai so it is a shame he’s not able to play but as for Derek white this obviously been a whirlwind several weeks for him he just signed a massive extension few days ago to remain with the Boston Celtics for the next several years he obviously won an NBA title last summer and this week he’s been in Parker Colorado his hometown running his Camp his annual camp in the summer and he was supposed to go to the esps tomorrow in Los Angeles and obviously he will not be doing that now as he’s getting ready to join Team USA in Abu Dhabi on the next portion of their journey through this five-game exhibition schedule he won’t be with the team tonight here in Las Vegas but as we saw during the playoffs and throughout the season with Boston Derrick White one of the best two-way guards in the NBA he and he and Drew holiday both on the all defensive team this year and he will slot right into this group as an elite player on the defensive end guy who could space the floor and play off the ball and hit threes really should fit in seamlessly with this group replacing kawh ler but as we said obviously disappointing for Kawai he’s not able to finish out this run and be part of this group going to the Paris Olympic Games in a few weeks well the sb’s red carpet loss is the US men’s roster gain Tim bonm thank you so very much we’re going to see you a little bit later in the show I want bring in Chan gum Zack low into the conversation this is disappointing it’s just a bummer here for Kawhi Leonard Zach what was your reaction to learning he would not be able to head to Paris with the Team USA here disappointment but certainly not surprise and it just reinforces my confusion about the Clippers drawing a line in the sand in the fourth year with Paul George because it just seems unlikely at this point that you’re ever going to get more than 60 whatever games out of Kawai in a season if that and in the past when that happened you could lean on Paul George or Paul George and James Harden to keep your team afloat Paul George is gone James Harden is back a host of role players are in Paul George’s place what happens now if and when Kawai is out for 20 or 25 games and by the way you don’t even control your own draft pick for the next several seasons because of the OKC trade that paired Paul George and kawhai and then the James Harden trade on top of that I just will never really fully understand what the Clippers were doing deciding yeah we’ll pay you in the end what Kawai got for three years but that fourth year no no no and we’re willing to risk going into mediocrity or worse in the meantime I just never really understood it and this just reinforces that and on Kawai he’s one of the best players of the last 15 or 20 years you want him to play when he’s a two-way Force at his best there’s just nobody like him in the NBA and I just wish we could see that guy consistently because one of my favorite players to watch yeah and Zach what you mentioned you’re a teacher so I know you didn’t do calculus but what you added in your answer the calculus to this and to his past and future is this idea that he likely is going to miss 20 or 25 games per season but they want him healthy when it comes to May and June but if you’re thinking about that reality someone that has historically missed that amount of games typically you don’t have the runway to compete in the Olympics because that’s when you rest that’s why even though he was named a lot of us were sort of holding our breath like oh is he going to be healthier enough to play will this be the right thing for him to do if the goal is to necessarily win a championship I think the hardest thing to reconcile why this is a big bomber for Kawai is that for a pro athlete there are two things that you really want you want to win a championship and you also want to win an Olympic gold and represent your country but one thing we have also realized especially on the men’s side they are so talented that it’s not necessarily a requirement for your legacy to win an Olympic goals it is something that is icing on the cake something that has separated a lot of Legends but I think there is a prior to ation on him winning an NBA championship given the sacrifices and all the different ways that the circumstances have have you know built themselves up to with the Clippers the investment they made in him the investment the Clippers have made overall in themselves I think that’s hard and also he’s won championships before but still the pressure is on him and it’s hard when you come off of a difficult season ending the way you did to go and expend yourself more knowing that there’s more to come 82 more games and then trying to fulfill those expectations that’s a tough one exactly and I think I think we’d feel differently if he never went to join the Olympic roster at all right if he’ bowed out earlier and said you know what I think we’re just going to focus on this it just feels like it’s adding insult to injury again here for the clippers for a guy who hasn’t been able to finish the season by finish the season I mean be able to play through the playoffs since the bubble and what happened in the NBA bubble well he got four months off beforehand essentially to be able to rest his body so that he could Gear Up midseason again essentially to be able to complete the season yeah and In fairness he has won NBA championships in two different organizations whether it’s the Spurs or the Raptors and he’s trying to do so with the clippers but we do as athletes have recency biased and the last few years it’s been hard because I think that’s what people remember the falling short the not being available and going to the Olympics probably is is would be great but if it was detrimental to the overall goal of winning a championship with the Clippers I think that’s where the scrutiny comes right and as Zach said opening up a new Arena all of those factors for the Clippers it’s just hard to feel good about that Pursuit right now um speak speaking of in the world of of social media it’s always a little bit of a it’s risky business if you wanted to send out a tweet or something before maybe checking around your surroundings ask Eric bledo you could be in a hair salon saying you don’t want to be there and then people make a whole big thing out of it but it it was rather curious that less than an hour after Mark Spears reported that Dereck white would be replacing Kaw Leonard on Team USA I’m not say he might have been busy he might doing teammates too yeah booked and busy Jaylen Brown this is what he posted me uh what do we call this the pondering monacle emoji yeah I was going to say like it’s like the Monopoly man yeah there you go there there are three Celtics on the Olympic Squad none of them are the finals MVP so CH do you think that Derrik white was the right choice to round out this roster I do think that availability is a very important thing and if jayen is not there you know it’s a little bit easier to go with what you know it’s like hey can you come here but also it’s easy when Derek white is someone that is the ultimate plug-and-play player per se you know he led the Celtics in plus minus it may not be the sexiest because Jaylen Brown is literally the finals MVP but he also had a career high year on the Celtics with 5.2 assists so he’s the type of guy that you don’t have to worry as a replacement that you know it changes the calculus of the nucleus but still like it’s a win-win scenario Dereck white is going to be in a position to succeed Jaylen Brown would have been in a great position to succeed as well as someone who has been in the pool like some of these factors are not so easy to decipher it’s like oh like I should have gotten the call but it’s like we sort of have this guy right here in our back pocket that can join us right here tomorrow like sometimes that happens especially when it is Replacements multiple factors here Zach what do you think first of all which of us or which NBA player is going to bring back the monacle let’s make somebody’s look be the monacle every day you’re going to be the monacle guy okay second of all this comes down to Jaylen Brunson Jaylen Brown and Derek white as for Brunson we’ve got Steph we’ve got Tyrese Halbert I don’t think we need another small guard Jaylen Brown might be a better player straight up than Derek white he is the finals MVP if you want to default to that that’s fine but I actually think given all the bald dominant Wings Team USA already has Tatum Durant Edwards and on and on I think Derek white is the right choice I think his passing his cutting his screening his playmaking just the pace with which he gets things moving is exactly what Team USA needs it’s why pop loved him it’s why Steve cerr loves him I think he’ll fit right in I think this is a perfectly fine choice and Derrick White is on his way as Tim B have just reported to Abu Dhabi where he will join the team but while team us let’s go Angel Reese she entered today’s game against the dream with the longest double double streak in D she is working she’s been putting in that work I can’t even lie history okay the jumper is coming y’all knocks it down the no jump jumper is here and it goes in but then later in the first year Kennedy is fast a little Euro Step Up tough tough lays it in and then in the second quarter here the sky down 2620 watch Camila cardoso here I mean this lineup is not fair finds Reese beautiful touch pass I it’s just cool to see like based off of college now on the pros their teammates their rude you know what I mean they’re just we’ve seen her offense though how about some defense oh we know this and then it’s a s down afterwards yeah exactly every single time and then again ree here just some great Rim protection yep she plays on both ends she shows up in every game because she knows the fans are there to see her so she’s delivering but now the question is is she going to get that double double again the sky up here Carter finds Reese layup speaking of fans they were rooting for it I know right on the edge here one point away from the double double she’s searching okay she gets fouled she heads to the free throw line it hits every part of the goes down you’re living well when it goes in that way see the basketball Gods 19 points five rebounds five assists for Carter 11 12 and two blocks for Reese here so Angel Reese keeps her record-breaking streak alive 14 Straight Angel leads a league in double doubles with 15 on the season which is already tied for the fourth most in league history for a rookie and this pace gives her a chance to surpass the rookie record of 22 that was set by Tina Charles in 2010 and look who is here the record-breaking rookie herself Angel Reese thank you so much for stopping by the show thank you so much for having me I mean Angel book it at this point another game another double double how the heck do you keep doing this we see you calling for the ball down the stretch how how do you keep making this happen I got lucky on that last stretch actually shout out to Kennedy and Marina because I I don’t I didn’t think I was gonna get it I was going to get it today and obviously I mean obviously the basketball guyss came through and luckily I was able to knock down my free throw and come through so I’m I’m happy and we won so I’m happy see there you go and the LA the the first free throw touched every part of the rim and then said you know what basketball Gods got you today uh Angel you were recently named the player of the week the first Sky rookie to win that honor since Elena Del Dawn in 2013 and to me it seems like you’re just scratching the surface but from where you sit from where you are now to your full potential the best player you can be I mean what percentage do you think you’re even at yeah I don’t even think I’ve even scratched the surface coming into the league I didn’t have any goals for me individually I just wanted to come in and try to make an impact as best as I can take a roll on that my teammates and my coaches needed me to do and just learn and grow and obviously I’ve surprised myself um a lot and just being able to have no limits to myself and just being able to be me and continue to just try to strive for greatness I have a great support system here in Chicago so I know I’ll be great here and I’ll be here for a while well one of my my personal favorite moments of the WNBA season so far it was watching you getting named to an All-Star team you were clearly just so emotional when you found out has it fully sunk in for you yet no it probably won’t sinking until actually I get to um get to Phoenix um being able to kind of enjoy the moment um I didn’t think obviously I would be there being pick seven coming to Chicago um and just being able to build we were building this team back up from the players that left last year and only having a couple from last year being able to be on the team this year so I was I my emotions are still high obviously because I still don’t really know how to feel and I think I’ll just feel it when I get on the court and stop on the court in Phoenix yeah when you’re kind of soaking it all in when you’re in Phoenix obviously there there’s been a ton Made right you Caitlyn Clark you’re going to be teammates for the first time during the allstar game next Saturday what’s that going to be like for you both to be sharing a team after you all have helped to grow this sport so much it’s going to be really cool I mean I know so many fans are going to come out to watch both of us but I know a lot of people are just going to be able to come to Phoenix I’m sure it’s already sold out so being able to be in that environment we’re going to be playing together for a while so this is not going to be the first time I know all stars again I know hopefully 20128 will be Olympians together too so being able to enjoy this I’m going to Paris to to go watch the Olympics so I’m excited for that too so I’m going to enjoy my little Olympic break star and with Allstar see there you go I love it and manifest it manifest that 2028 in Los Angeles how clol I know you say it’s not about individual accolades for you it’s about continuing to build as a team but individual success it helps that team success as well how closely are you keeping tabs on the Rookie of the Year race um not really I mean my teammates always say stuff about it but I really just try to have tunnel vision and focus on what the M thing is and getting into the playoffs or something that I want to do coming in Chicago a lot of people didn’t think we would get there get here or I think we were seed 12 coming into the League this year so just being able to have that mindset of going in every day just to want to work and just want to grind every day is just something I look forward to see but that’s the best part when you have teammates it’ll gas you up so you don’t have to kind of keep constantly looking over your shoulder let’s just end here angel we’ve heard Asia Wilson say you know what if anyone could have a residency in Las Vegas she wants Beyonce to come to a game who is it that you want to pull up to a Chicago Sky game this series this season rather okay I’m gonna say Michael Jordan and then I’m Beyonce and Megan EST stallion she gonna come soon that’s my girl so she gonna come all three boom boom boom thank you Angel so much for spending a little bit of time with us here on WNBA today thank you so much oh she’s the best all right coming up on NBA today just how important is it for Team USA to avenge last year’s upset against Canada why tonight’s game could have a major impact on their chances at Gold but it’s for sure these guys are having fun I’ll tell you what this guy named uh Steph Curry is phenomenal to play with he was on my team today and I got so many open like looks you know so uh but it was fun man it was a good day good ball felt good to get out here run through some drills run through some plays play with mean some of the best players in the world so it was it was a good job did a good time playing with some of the best of the best coach by some of the best of the best you know I’m just happy to be here I mean I’m playing with Hall of Famers Curry KD Lebron and be I’m just happy to be here guys it was 10 months ago today that team Canada got their biggest win in program history defeating Team USA in the bronze medal game in the FBA World Cup but that American roster was not this American roster right it’s the Avengers have assembled LeBron James de Curry they will be rocking the red white and blue and then they helped recruit Joel embiid to join the squad team USA’s all-time leading scorer Kevin Durant is back for more the reigning NBA champ Jason Tatum is ready to go too so they look a little bit different for these Olympics so welcoming back here our Tim Tim bonbs who is in Las Vegas Tim what should people expect tonight when they watch these I’ll put it in air quotes Avengers play against Team Canada well Malik I’m really excited to see these guys get in a full game on the court against one of the metal favorites in Paris in Team Canada should be really fun to watch this is really our first opportunity to see what this group is going to look like we’ve seen little Snippets of scrimmages over the past few days but this is going to be a full 40-minute game against an elite team and we’ll find out say for example outside of Steph Curry LeBron James and Joel embiid the three guys that are locked into the starting lineup who are the two guys that are play next to them to start this game tonight against Canada Kevin Durant one of the possibilities be one of those spots he is injured he’s been dealing with this CF stre that’s kept him out of Camp he will not play tonight but could Jason Tatum be in one of those spots could Drew holiday or Anthony Edwards could Devin Booker it’ll be interesting to see how Steve Kerr manages that and just the rotations in general in this game Steve CER has so many options at his disposal for how he wants to put these guys together you could play virtually any way you want with this group that’s how much talent there is and how versatile it is and so that’s what I’m going to be watching for throughout this game how do the Team USA start to look against one of the teams they’re going to be competing for with medals in Paris and we’ll start to really get a sense of what Steve Kerr wants to do with this team as arguably the most talented team since the Dream Team takes its first onstage look tonight here in Vegas and you’re going to have to start working with we have the redeemed team we have the dream team we’re going to have to start working on the nickname for this 2024 team Tim Bon Tims thank you so very much and what’s interesting about this game right is remember when the US lost to Canada there was this whole discourse and discussion about okay watch out the rest of the world the talent is catching up here with the United States Ramona shelburn dressed appropriately for this discussion in the red here how important do you think it is Ramona for Team USA to come out make a statement tonight against Canada even though it’s a different roster I I think it’s hugely important because aot team Genet is a lot of the reason why all these stars came out and said we need to play for Team USA this is why Steph Curry and LeBron and and Kevin Durant all these guys have said we can’t lose like this anymore on the world stage and we’ve heard this before with the redeemed team but this is probably the most talented international team the US has had since the Dream Team in ’92 and maybe even more talented than that team so this is throwing Talent at the problem but let’s see if Talent is enough because Canada is a team that knows how to to play together they know the they know the feba style they’ve been with each they have chemistry this Team USA they’ve been together for a couple of days I’m sorry I was distracted because you’re trying to find a new name for this team I was thinking and actually search what rhymes with dream and redeem is it like this team is very talented so they’re the extremely they’re the Extreme Team they’re the team that you can’t scheme the scheme team sorry yeah they’re kind of the monstar they are the monstar but like we got to make it rhyme we got to make it rhyme so I kind of like Extreme Team because they’re extremely talented uh to me I don’t think they have much to prove other than them going out there and winning and also understanding that they have to build chemistry what makes Team USA so unique as someone who has been in the pool is that you are typically assembled I know I just have to say it for context because I know you’re you are assembled and you have to play together in this Camp because especially in the NBA these guys typically don’t play together in the competitions leading up to it you have a mini training camp a mini boot camp and then you’re playing games and then your your games are up for medals so as talented as you are you still have to build the right chemistry you have to understand the principles the philosophies you have to know who gets the ball at this certain situation as much as you play against each other in the NBA you’re still learning each other as teammates so that is not necessarily so easy but they do have the talent to win out already yeah it’ll be more competitive than we’ve ever seen before they can’t take that for granted they don’t have much to prove they just seem to go out there win but most importantly build chemistry Zach how important do you think that this just one game and and we’re talking about an exhibition game by the way how important do you think it is for them to set the tone here guess what if they lose tonight I am not going to care at all unless they lose by like 20 or 30 it’s an exhibition game this is the first step in a long long journey this is about okay let’s see how this lineup combination looks let’s see how that lineup combination looks let’s see how we can use Joel embiid on offense are we going to post him up or we going to pick and pop how is that going to look yes they should beat Canada yes I expect them to beat Canada but this is step one we are all going to forget about this game real quickly No Matter How It Ends I’m just curious to see what Steve Curran Visions for this team what lineup combinations does he like and not like and how everybody fits together this is just the stage one of the journey let’s just sit back and enjoy it don’t fret just have some fun so in all that not fretting and just having fun those two remaining starting lineup spots that Tim bondam was discussing who would you slot in there me yeah yes yes you well if you don’t say Anthony Edward you’re gonna have a problem I mean but my start my starting five is is Steph Tatum Durant and beid let’s go he and LeBron yeah and LeBron I mean look I think Anthony Edward’s got to go in there he’s the guy that’s been in that program he was the best player on Team USA last year he’s self-proclaimed I guess this year but I mean he’s the guy who’s earned it and I also think he’s the best defender on the team right now in that in that point of attack defense well and he did say that he knows that his defense that would be the calling card to get him a little bit more playing time I have found the name does that matter yes is this the meme team no America we’ve had the Dream Team we’ve had the redeemed team this is the Supreme Team there go the Supreme oh she did it did the Supreme welcome so on the Supreme Team who who do you think is the best player on the floor on the floor I’m always going to go with LeBron the same way those guys are are voting are playing but when they play against Canada tonight I think Shay is the best player I think I think Shay right now number two in the MVP voting number two I mean and probably could have won it depending on how if he didn’t get hurt at the end of this season and I know I know joic deserved it of course he did I voted for joic but Shay was right up there they won the West and he got hurt the last the last part of the season and I think that hurt his case but he was amazing in the FBA tournament last summer and I think he’s familiar with the FBA game I think he’s going to be the best one out there tonight look Team USA is the only team that this does not apply to every other team you can go and say this player is their best player it can be anyone on Team USA On Any Given night particularly whether it’s LeBron James did you hear what ad was saying about playing with Steph he’s like man this guy is just different I think he was manifesting a three-point shooter for the upcoming season ants had a great performance and we’ve seen the Le he’s made they have a revolving door on who could be the best player on Team USA no other team can say that and that’s why I think per circumstance you’re going to see a different guy be the best on their squad Zach what do you think tonight USA Canada who’s the best player on the floor Chan just said in in a lot of fancy words who cares it doesn’t matter we have 12 guys who could be the best player on the floor that’s the whole point of Team USA but there’s one guy I want to watch tonight and this whole Olympic Journey this is the missing piece of Steph Curry’s career we’ve never seen Steph Curry on an Olympic team with this level of talent around him and the way his shooting stretches the floor and by the way the FEA 3 is like a layup for him somewhere along the line tonight A qualifying game a quarterfinal game whatever he is going to have a flash B Olympic moment where he goes bananas and hits like seven threes in three minutes and I can’t wait to see that well the three-point line is a foot shorter inba than it is in the NBA also I also want to watch Joel embiid in this this role because he’s the re he’s the missing piece from last year they all summer long last year what we say they need size they need size well he’s the best center that they could have gotten yic is already playing for Serbia so Joel embiid is that guy now listen I don’t think he is in Peak Joel andb condition he took some time off after the season he himself said he’s ramping up this this exhibition season is going to be his ramp up for to be good in Paris but Joel embiid is the guy that they’ve needed on this team for a long time yeah and I double down on that not necessarily just because you think about joid being that missing piece but it’s also what will this mean for the big season that they have upcoming there’s a lot at stake for Joan beid he just declared for Team USA a lot of eyes were on him based off of picking somewhere else potentially he chose Team USA but also we all know he probably would have liked to rest too given the circumstances in which he exited so I’m going to keep eyes on both sides of that and we just talked about this with Kawhi Leonard Joel embi was talked about in sort of a similar light a similar fashion how can he complete the NBA after going through a summer like thisly going to be something that he is going to have to he is out tonight against Canada with a half strain it’s kept him out the entirety of the national team’s training camp so far in Las Vegas tonight though marks the first of five friendlies for the US ahead of the Paris Olympics but let’s talk a little bit more about Kae he has a case hear me out to be referred to as the most decorated men’s Olympic player in United States history no one in the history of the US men’s Olympic play has more points than Durant he’s LED Team USA in scoring in all three Olympic Games he’s participated in with all three leading to gold medals and recently he sat down with our Tim bontemps and talked about his expectations for this year’s Olympic Squad I’m not trying to make you feel old but you’ve also been around a minute so of LeBron so Steph you guys are all playing together here does it sort of feel like I don’t want to say necessarily last harah but like you know no n no I mean these guys are still playing at Elite level you know like Bron could play four or five more it might be here in 28 in La you know Steph still playing great ball doing all right too you know so I don’t want to look at it that way I think we still got some good ball in the tank uh try to contribute and impact the game still and want to be just like a a fair World Tour or like make it just about us three it’s about you know trying to win this fifth in a row is there any extra significance though to be doing it with those guys after all the stuff you guys have all collectively been through you yeah you could say that I mean yeah you know there just nothing but respect for these guys and you’ve seen their careers for the last 15 20 years and you know so to finally be teammates and it’s not just them I feel that same way about ad like just admiring them for so long and now being able to be in the same locker room with them is pretty cool just to just to sit and observe what they do admiring them from afar now just to be around them every day and see how they approach life and the game of basketball is going to be cool the suns are just trying to keep the season alive anony Edwards and take over mode we reflect back on the season we just was inconsistent with our play and the style of play that we wanted I know you watch as much hope as anybody obviously the West is loaded a lot of stuff moving around I know you guys aren’t able to necessarily do a ton with the roster but so where do you see where you guys sit right now compared with everybody I like our team we got me Brad and book who can go off and do a lot of different things on the basketball court it starts with us I love what we are I felt like we gave away a lot of games last year and we won 49 of them but every team has gotten better I feel in the west and some teams in the east as well you know so it’s going to be a competitive league but I like who we are so the Suns they only have the 10th highest odds to win a title heading into the season that is the lowest for a Kevin Durant anchored team since his third season in the league when the Thunder went on to win 50 games so Zach it seems like as all these teams in the west your Oklahoma City Thunder are making all these moves the Phoenix Suns are a little bit hamstrung here they can’t do anything with Bradley Bill’s contract he’s one of now two players in the NBA who has a no trade clause so do you think that the sun is already setting if you will on Phoenix’s window with KD Zac look I’m never going to count out a team with Kevin Durant and dein Booker Mike buer is a fresh voice Royce O’Neal’s back the mo is signing is a nice signing but this team is facing an uphill battle they just didn’t look right for really any stretch last season season in terms of the chemistry on offense the fit on offense more time together for the Stars would help that hopefully they get that this year Bradley Beal hasn’t played 60 games or more since 2019 more than 60 games since 2019 so we’ll see Minnesota just bullied them in the first round physically overpowered them and I’m not sure they’ve done anything to address that to address the fact that they were kind of a shaky defensive team for the most part in the regular season but if they’re healthy and they’re together they have a chance to beat anyone in a series and maybe win a round or two but it’s going to be an uphill battle that those odds I think correctly reflect where they are entering the season yeah I agree I mean look they still have not really solved their point guard problem I I I need Monty Morris is a good point Zach but but that’s not to the level that where you can count on that night in night out I’d love to see them figure out a way to go get tus Jones or go get somebody a starting caliber point guard who can play 82 games or even even just 65 games because when you put Devon Booker at point guard it takes away what he does best when you put Radley Beal at point guard it takes away what he does best I was wondering if there would be a way to reunite with Chris Paul this summer but they can’t come up with $1 million like the Spurs could and and so that’s where going in going into the over the tax going up against the hard C the way that they have and they restricted their ability to go out and make trades has really hurt the Suns because they’re counting on players to come for veteran minimums on minimum contracts D Jones is better than that and and the the kind of players they need to fill out that roster are better than that I think they did well in the draft but uh it’s going to it’s going to take some time for them to get that roster in shape now if Kendrick Perkins was here I was going to try to do his voice you know Park was here he would say that they don’t need Stars they need people that are stars in their roles that’s all they’re looking for I can’t do perk that that’s all right I was sorry I can’t do perk that well sis we love was all right app some weird metaphor but like the idea is true they need a point guard truly and they also need depth at the center position they don’t necessarily need big names they need people that can do the job alongside their big names because those the big Mark Spears would hear he would say b b is that guy yeah yeah you’re right that is true he has believed in him the West is not I don’t know what just I think an earring just fell out of my ear the West is not getting any weaker right this is a conference that is getting better the Oklahoma Thunder at the top of the conference got better the San Antonio Spur near the bottom got better and so this is not I hear you Zach on winning a series or two Kevin Durant did not come to Phoenix to win a series or two yeah but the truth is is if you look at the numbers they just need them on the floor they were 26 and 19 when the big three played those three averaged 72 points per game last season they’ve got a good core they didn’t have the chemistry leading in to the season to know what they had and how to scheme around it right they also didn’t know what that would mean with the other players in their needs now they have time and I think you have to make sure that they make the most of it and that availability and de ER and and Kevin Durant have a little bit of time to gel over the summer as well to sort of talk about how they want to go through all of this all right we’re going to take a break so I can get my earing back for V e First Blood our Dragon Lane Tower is under attack an enemy has been defeated [Music] our Dragon Lane Tower is under attack my command executed dragon and Slayer have appeared our Dragon Lane Tower is under attack an ally has been defeated our Dragon Lane Tower is under attack our Dragon Lane Tower is under attack an enemy has been defeated our Slayer Lane Tower is under attack the iron defense line has disappeared your team has destroyed a tower ultimate on slot an enemy has been defeated double kill an ally has been defeated an enemy has been defeated your team has destroyed a tower dominating double kill our Dragon Lane Tower is under attack executed your tower has been destroyed your team has destroyed a tower