Draymond Green reacts to Jimmy Butler trade to Warriors & impact on Steph Curry | Baron Davis

What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show with my dawg BD. What's happening, my brother?

What's up, my bro? What's going on?

Yeah, just chilling, bro. Good to be back, my G.

Yeah, it's good to have you back.

You working. I'm feeling like I'm back.

You working.

I'm feeling like I'm back.

You working. You working. Everything is up. All antennas, all antennas is up, right? How you feeling though?

I feel great, brother. You know, it's been a while since I've gone into basketball games like with that feeling of like, oh yeah, we gonna go just win. And it's been 2 games here and nobody's getting ahead of themselves, but I can only tell you how these 2 games have felt.

Yeah, let 'em know.

That's just how I'm feeling, man. It feel great, bro. Mm-hmm. You know, and stuff gonna get harder. We gonna have to figure stuff out, you know, but I know when it's right.

I could see it. I could see it. I could feel it. In the Bucks game, you got up for the big time block against Gary Trent Jr. You know, they talking about Defensive Player of the Year conversations is back up. Steph got the Steffin', got the Sheffin'. Jimmy Butler got to serving Willie McDilland. Post-game, Steph said Jimmy Butler's impact on him, every possession doesn't feel as hard. What is the biggest takeaway from these two games since Jimmy has joined the team?

That's a fact, bro. And that's on everybody though, bro. Like that's on everybody, offensively and defensively. Jimmy draw, it's crazy because in a weird way, he draws so much attention.

Yeah.

But obviously I've played with Steph for 13 years. So drawing attention to me looks a certain way, you know?

Yeah.

With Klay for 12 years, drawing attention. And obviously with KD for 3 years. But Jimmy draw attention differently than any of those guys. In a different way. Draw a lot of attention. And it's crazy because Jimmy is interesting, man. Again, playing with Steph, one of the most incredible things that Steph does is play without the ball. Jimmy has that same thing. When Steph said, "Yo, we have like opposite games." Like, it's on so many different levels. Like, when Steph is running around, like to find an opener to get the ball. Jimmy is like just working on the backside, like nudging it.

Yeah.

Like it's crazy. They break the defense down the same way, but different. Like, hey man. And so yeah, I understand what Steph is saying. I agree with what Steph is saying. Like Steph just looked more free, but I'm gonna tell you.

Yeah.

He looked, He looked like he got belief. That's all it is.

He energized.

Steph, he looked like he got belief. He said to me in Utah after the trade, he looked at me and he said, "Man, it's crazy 'cause it just dawned on me that like, this is it." This is the last ride. Last ride. And I said, "Yeah, let's do it." Let's ride.

Let's ride to the wheels fall off. God's blessing.

It was an emotional moment. But yeah, like Jimmy, man, it's crazy, brother. Wait, it's crazy because people draw, as you know, in this league, people has learned how to draw bullshit fouls. This dude Jimmy, he really like, he really make people foul him. Like they are actually real fouls. Yeah. And he just got a knack for it, man. It's brought this, this balance of like, we can really slow our offense down because you got somebody that's like, like Steph says, Steph dominates from the perimeter. Like we all, everybody in the world knows that. You got somebody now that's dominating inside the 3-point line, which naturally slows the offense down. Which I think we needed to slow the offense down some anyway, because we don't have the same talent and IQs that Andre, AldeSean Livingston, David West.

It's not the same weapons.

And so it's a little different. And Jimmy allows us to slow down. So one, will you go run? Great. But if not, it's cool to slow down. And man, and then defensively, it's incredible. Jimmy, Jimmy, we call him, Jimmy already earned his name Megatron. Jimmy told us, he came to me before the first game with Chicago. He said, hey man, throw me the ball high. He said, if you throw me the ball high, I may not finish it, but I'm gonna get it and bring it down. He said, but nobody else gonna get it. If you just throw the ball high, bro. So I just throw the ball up, he go grab every one of 'em.

For sure. That's his play. That's his play.

Yeah. And man, he literally, he made good. He's just throw it up, I will go get it. Man, it's been so fun. Competing with Jimmy. And I must tell you, BD, he been kicking my ass in dominoes, bro.

For real?

Yeah, he been kicking my ass.

He trash at it.

That's not true. That's not— It's been a very competitive game.

How's it pass?

It's been very competitive games, but then he pulled away. He got a little luck on his side too. Like, I'm up 20 points, he pulled 5-5. Like, he got a little luck on his side too, but he— He been, I gotta give him his credit.

Okay, okay, Jimmy, okay. You know, I don't really be speaking on Jimmy. I try not to speak on him and his situation, but now that he with the Dubs, I can tell you what my observation is. And it hit me before he got to the, like before he played his first game. 'Cause you sitting there, you like, damn, how is this gonna work? And then they was showing highlights and then they showed a couple games that he played in the finals. And I realized something, Jimmy Butler is the superstar that's always open. He's always open. Always open, right? He's always open.

Yep.

Also, he always has a, he never gets double-teamed.

Yeah.

He's always in the scoring position. He's always 1 or 2 dribbles away. And all the little bullshit shenanigans that come with defense, deflections, steals, turn it, like, like that's Jimmy's magic.

Absolutely.

You feel what I'm saying? That's his magic. And then when you take that to what the Warriors haven't had, free throws.

Absolutely.

Y'all never went to the free throw line, bro. Y'all, y'all was winning championships not going to the free throw line. Which was like crazy. Now you add free throws. This dude gets fouled all the time and they really be fouling him. They really be fouling him. Right? He a bully, right? Not just on offense, but also on defense, right? He's an incredible help defender.

Yeah.

And on top of that, he got a new life. And so him being the villain, right? With Draymond Green, who's already a villain, who was just waiting for another villain to come into the room to wake up. And Steph Curry, who's a supervillain. And people don't understand that Steph Curry is in his best mode when the odds are stacked against Steph Curry. And so now you got this kind of, this villain mentality. This hungry mentality and nobody's gonna punk you guys. Nobody's gonna IQ, out IQ you. And you can't just chase Steph around because Jimmy gets twos.

Mm-hmm.

He gets twos and ones, putbacks, right? He don't need the ball for a long amount of time to go get 30, you know, 30, 40, man, I'm watching this, I'm like, oh my God. Hey, when y'all, what was it? Was it the Bulls game? Steph went crazy, right?

Mm-hmm.

Just him catching fire like that, right?

Yeah.

But then you got Jimmy on the back end getting 2s, getting and-1s, getting putbacks. I'm excited. He bring a lot. He bring a lot that all the intangible, All the intangible, all that shit is what people don't value, but what makes superstars, superstars.

Shout out to Mike Dunleavy, man, 'cause I'm so happy Jimmy didn't end up in Phoenix. Oh my God, that would've been awful. And what Jimmy has brought here, when you talk about like two bullies, it's crazy because he's brought that sense of, back of, oh, we, we can win. And everybody feel that. And so the bar has been raised and we know what that bar need to be raised to. Like, we know what it is. Mm-hmm. And so the bar has been raised so much so that you talk about Steph these last 4 games, we all feel that and excited. I got a warning apparently from the league the other day that the last few games I've been playing too aggressive. And that they're warning me.

What?

What does that mean? I don't know.

What does that mean? I don't see nothing wrong. Exactly.

But apparently me being in go-win mode is a problem. So another thing we've never seen in a long time, we haven't seen it. Steph went out the game, it was a 2-point lead or 4-point lead. When he checks back into the game, it was 17.

Yeah.

He checked back into the game like 7 to 8 minutes to go in the 4th quarter.

Yep.

The league 17. That's the impact of Jimmy.

That's the relief.

Yeah.

Steph gets to really look at the game, right? Steph Curry has had the biggest responsibility of having to make in-game decisions and change his pattern, right? I would say this year has been, you know, trying because all eyes on Steph. If Steph don't Steph, then nobody else is really open. Or if people not open, then Steph don't get the shots. And so you see him making a lot of in-game adjustments. And you brought this to my attention, how people prepare game plans for Steph. And so that's, you know, to switch your style up in the middle of the game to be effective, right? A lot of great, like only the greats can do it, but it's hard.

Mm-hmm.

Absolutely. To have that relief, to be able to sit on the bench and say, oh, okay, now I know when I get in, all I gotta do is a little bit more mid-range to the hole. Like seeing Steph play, not just 3-point basketball, but mid-range, getting to the hole, rebounding. He playing, he playing like he playing in his Jordan era.

Yeah.

Right? These last few games he been in his Jordan era where it's like, I wanna play winning basketball. And I can see that. I can feel that watching you guys.

100%. Everybody on the same type of time, falling in line. I told the guys after the Lakers game, I said, yo, listen, that second half, we don't do moral victories around here, but this is about to look different now with Jimmy coming in here. I told the guys, I said, "This about to look different." Him and Steph, Jimmy's locker was right here. Jimmy wasn't there, but then Steph was right here. I was like, "So listen, this is what we on. We gonna follow these two guys." I promise you, if we follow these two guys, we gonna get there.

Promise." Yep.

And from that point, the bar has been raised and you can feel it. Everyone around feels it. Right? And it's what we needed. Jimmy, like I said, Jimmy on that same type of time is good. I like it.

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Before we get more into this episode, uh, I want to let y'all know what else we'll be talking about. Uh, more insight on playing with my new Golden State Warrior teammate Jimmy Butler III. And I put quotation marks and an emphasis on the third. Jimmy's first game with us was the one-year anniversary of the passing of his father, which he had in Chicago where he started his career.

Amazing.

He would not have had that game that he had. So put an emphasis on the third. Saying goodbye to Wigs.

Yep.

Winning a championship with Wiggs. I think Wiggs has been here for 6 years.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, 6 years, man. And you know, to see him go, that always sucks. That is the business. DS, Kyle, Lindy, those guys.

Yep.

It's been a lot going on around the league. Also, Luka's first game with the Lakers. So make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don't miss any of the episodes.

That's right. Follow the show on all social media platforms @DraymondGreenShow so you don't miss any of these, I mean, huge announcements, right? Steve Kerr talked about Jimmy's passing and how he was hitting you with some nice passes in the Bucks game. Are you surprised with that part of his game?

You know what? I'm not surprised because Jimmy's a guy who, you know, all his career has gotten triple doubles, has always been a willing passer, can always pass the hell outta the ball. And so I'm not surprised at all. And I'm telling you another thing that Jimmy does is teams going in that zone, Jimmy go to the middle of the zone now.

He go right in the middle of the zone, sit right there.

He hit me with some backdoor passes, working the dunker. He hitting guys for threes, but most importantly, he turned around and shoot the little mini.

The fadeaway.

Right. Every option with Jimmy.

That was my role. Yeah, that was my role with Nelly in the zone. Get in the middle of the zone, right underneath the elbow. They can't do nothing about it. You one dribble away from a layup, fadeaway, dunk, ghost person, outlet.

Yeah.

I like that. His basketball IQ is like, y'all just automatically sync, man.

Yeah, his basketball IQ is top tier. I've been learning from him these, just these past few days and couple games playing. Like you just hear different things he say. He's so locked in, bro. Like he locked in and he's smart. So I'm happy to have the opportunity to learn from a guy like Jimmy. But I'm not surprised at all by the passing. I know he's a great passer, but I tell you what I did. He came to the sideline yesterday. And he had passed up a shot and he was like, "I should have shot that." I said, "Brother, let me tell you something. This team don't need your passing at all. What this team need is you to score. Like, we need you to go score 25 or 30 points. You're a great passer like Steph. So you're naturally gonna see the pass when it's there. But we need you to think shoot first, score first, 25, 30 points. Like, that's what we need you to be." He was like, "All right." He went back out there, foul. Get fouled, bucket, and one. That's what we need, bro. We need you to be like—

Yeah, you need Miami Jimmy. And shout out to the Heat for that type of basketball and the way he played that basketball fits directly into what you guys need because he can be the playmaker, but him being aggressive on the offensive end is, all one-on-one matchups.

Yeah.

He get more one-on-one matchups than any dude I know, any superstar I know in the league, right? And his is always 15 feet away from the basket, catch, 2 dribbles, get in the paint. You know, he is tough to guard.

Yes, he is.

One-on-one when he is below the free throw line.

You know what, something I wanna throw out there about Jimmy also, and just what you just said about Miami Heat Jimmy, the dopest thing about that to me is, We actually do need Miami Heat Jimmy. And I think every day he's figuring that out more and more, which is fine.

Yeah.

Because we, we here at this place, we encourage you be exactly who you are, bro. Like don't come here and try to like, oh, I need to like be exactly who you are. And I think he's figuring that out each day. Everybody like, no, just go. Like, no shot. Nope, just go. And he's figuring that out more and more. But I'm gonna tell you the dopest thing about that whole dynamic. Like he is about to be here and be the Miami Heat Jimmy for sure. I'm gonna tell you the dopest thing about that to me is the lack of insecurity of Steph Curry.

Right.

Just like, "Oh yeah, come on, bro." Like—

Yeah, Steph on a party. Open arms.

Like, so many people would lack the self-confidence in themselves to be in that position that Steph Curry in and have another alpha, like number one option like Jimmy come in and be like, "Oh yeah, bro. Like, go do your thing. Like, it's cool." Like, that is the power of Steph Curry, man.

I look at it like this. Steph is the DJ. He want to party, right? Now you got Draymond, Draymond security making sure nobody mess with the DJ and nobody get outta line. Now you got Jimmy and then Steph play the music. Jimmy can dance to any rhythm or song.

Absolutely.

So now you got, You got the party promoter, you got your security, and you got your DJ. And like, man, and you know, that mechanism of Steph running the party, meaning, you know, he encourages success.

Yes.

Right, he encourages happiness. He needs that. He needs everyone else to do their job and someone else to do extra work to take some pressure off of him.

1000%. And it's fire, bro. I love it.

I'm hyped for you, bro. Can you take us through, one, the news and then the emotional rollercoaster? You know, what did Steve Kerr say in the meeting when he broke the news? And then I do want to talk about Andrew Wiggins. Shout out to Wig and the impact you know, he had on you as a teammate, both on and off the court? 'Cause I know you both were extremely close.

Absolutely. Man, getting the news, like, man, like, we got Jimmy Butler. Like, this is no small feat. Like, this is no small deal. Like, it's Jimmy Butler. Like, you know, people get caught up in all the stuff that was going on in Miami. You know, as I had said last podcast, remember I had said like, I just don't want Jimmy to end up in the spot where they use that against him. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah.

Or saying like, yo, he's the problem.

Yeah.

The reason I said that is because it's a guy that I respect as a winner. I've been victim of people trying to take a winner and tear 'em down through all these false narratives. And so I've been a victim of that. And that's why I said what I said. And as you see coming out of it, you're seeing exactly who the Jimmy Butler that I know, you know, like that I knew. And so finding out that information, you like, man, a part of you is obviously excited, you know, like, man, we got a chance now.

Yeah.

It's switched, like the flip, switch flips fast. We got a chance now. And then you set into reality like, man, "All right, so who gone?" Wiggs, Dennis, Kyle, and Lindy. He like, "Dang." Because regardless of how this year has gone, what had been going, like the vibe of that, the team was still great.

Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? Like you enjoy being around them every day. You start building with them. And Wiggs obviously has been 6 years, you know, where, we've been playing together and watching his growth, you know, from coming to a place and everybody saying like, yo, this dude's a bust. He never gonna be it. To earning the name Two Way Wigs and helping lead us to a championship. Another NBA Finals. Right. Collecting his first NBA Finals. Like NBA ring. Like that's, you know, to go through that with someone like there's an obvious relationship now. I rock with Wiggins on a different level. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, in Toronto every summer kicking with him, you know, like been through some real stuff with Wiggs, you know, living a couple years and him dealing with his father being sick and being away from the team and keeping that low. You know what I'm saying? But, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Been through some real stuff.

Brother to brother type shit.

He's had 2 kids since I met him. You know, like, he's become a brother. And to see him go, it sucked. It's like, man, I tried to make a joke just like, bro, you going to Miami, it ain't that bad of a place.

Still, right?

You gonna save some money in taxes, like send me some bread. But just like, just not knowing what to say, you know what I'm saying?

It's always awkward. You know, it's always awkward.

You know, man. But in saying that, it's a great opportunity for him to continue to build. You know, he's a champion. I think he gonna go to Miami and have great years. Guess what? I like Miami now. Also, don't be surprised if Wade's in the All-Star Game next year.

I like Miami now. I like Miami. You know, I like what they added. I think with what they had, you know, obviously losing Jimmy, but the way that they were playing without Jimmy, you know, this big old tall kid, Ware, the discovery of him, you put Wiggins right in the mix with Hero, Bam, right? He's gonna fit right in. And I think for Miami, watch out for Miami 'cause they just, They just moved themselves up. Both teams benefited. Both teams benefited and both teams are gonna go on to have better records and be real bona fide teams in the playoffs. If you ask me.

I agree 1000%.

There was a picture of you and Jimmy together before the Lakers game. What was the first conversation like?

Oh man, I had, you know, I had hit him up and he was, And I went up to him like, "What's up, bro? Welcome." And he was just saying like, "Thank you, bro.

Like, thanks." Wait, hold on, hold on, hold on. Before you really answer this, I have to preface this because I think the whole social media and world was waiting for this first interaction. So I wanna start back by saying the anticipation, you know, they had the memes of John Wick, It was like, yeah, what's gonna happen? And the Warriors lose a game. Here go Draymond and here go Jimmy Butler. Everybody, hey bro, people were nervous. They was like, yo, what is Draymond and Jimmy Butler relationship gonna be like? Okay, so now here's the question. What was that first conversation like in that photo?

Oh man, it was great. You know, I think people forget me and Jimmy won a gold medal together.

Right, right.

This ain't really our first rodeo.

Right, right.

You know, all y'all favorite players out there be like trying to win gold medals. We actually did that already, you know? So, saying that, there was already a familiarity among us. Jimmy and I also share a ton of mutual friends. I mean, a ton of mutual friends. Uh, and so just like, what's up, bro, welcome. Like, he like, go out there and get it done. Like, and that was just it. Like, nothing too extreme, but like, the respect is there. I think, I think people, you know, people saying that, like, they were asking me like, yo, when's the first time you and Jimmy like gonna have him in Twitter practice? Like, I don't— The only chance we get into Twitter practice is if we're going back and forth on like talking shit.—

Coverage.

Back and forth. But that's not a get into it in practice. Like that's a level of competition that of course we gonna— But the reality is, you know what I told them? They like, when that's coming? Next October in training camp. This the NBA, you don't practice like that. Like, 50 games in. That's October.

You getting some work, some lifting. —running through some plays, walkthrough, you know, you may get a run in.

Exactly.

Probably not.

Not likely.

Not likely. Young dudes can get some runs, some more. Stay red again. But it's more about that maintenance, right?

Yeah, no, I think, you know, listening to people, that's funny. But when you wanna win the way that we wanna win, like that's all we all wanna do.

Right, that's it.

When that's the main goal, like nothing else matters.

Yeah, talk about the defensive IQ, the communication. Y'all already out there talking. What are y'all talking about?

We're talking through coverages because we're learning like, you know, like Jimmy's a great defender, right? Although you're a great defender, just like Steph Curry's a great shooter, you have a preference of a shot, right?

Yeah.

You have a preference of a guy that, yeah, I'm a great defender, but I'm stronger in guarding these types of guys. Not that I can't guard everyone, I can, but I'm really strong in guarding these type of guys. Maybe a little weaker in doing this. Again, just like a great offensive player. And I'm trying to figure out, also trying to figure out Jimmy's weaknesses on defense. And I know he's trying to figure out my weaknesses. Weaknesses so that then I can cover for his weakness and he can cover for my weakness. Like that is a great partnership and we are both guys who cover for people. So I think what we're both doing is trying to figure out where each other are weak.

Yeah.

Wherever that we can cover for each other in that aspect.

Right.

Just talking through different things, coverages and stuff that he see and how he like to go about it. Like you talked about all the little nuanced stuff that Jimmy do on defense. He's telling me, "Yo, if you make this guy do this, I'm gonna come and do that." Right? And he's telling me how to put my guy in a bad position and make him vulnerable to Jimmy.

Yeah.

Which is very interesting, man. And I'm like, that's like high-level stuff, man. So to have someone on my team that I can have those types of conversations with.

That you can run stunts.

It's crazy.

Yeah, it's on the fly. It's in real time. So the adjustments, it's not just a mano a mano thing. Or you not saying like, damn, like what am I missing? Somebody is telling you like, yo, send him this way, I got you. Do this, I got you. To have that communication is, you know, they call it defense on being on the string. Right. Everything on the string on kind of one accord. Like, I love that. Melly used to tell us to, on defense, to hide everybody's weaknesses. So you would never be caught on the island. You would never be posted up without somebody there to help, right? 'Cause you never wanted to expose your teammate's weakness. If you can mask that and cover that, then it'll be hard for the offense to figure out who to attack and how to attack.

1000%. We got 2 more games on this trip. We started the trip obviously 0-2, lost that tough one in Utah that we shouldn't have lost again. But—

Oh, that was tough.

You know, we've stabilized the trip at 2-2. Now we got 2 games on this tough Texas swing. Dallas tomorrow. Houston on Thursday, which, you know, for us, I think to go on the break on the 4-game winning streak, you know, with our team that we got moving forward, I think will be really big for us going into this break.

Yeah.

You know, I think you always, always say you wanna, you wanna go on the All-Star break strong. You wanna go into the playoffs strong. You don't wanna limp into the All-Star break. You don't wanna limp into the playoffs.

Yep.

I think it's really important for us to finish strong these last 2 games in order to come out the All-Star break rolling. We don't got no room for error. We gotta, we got a lot of games we gotta make up.

Gotta lock in. It's time to lock in, baby.

Absolutely. That's how we rolling. Let's move around this league a little bit. Travel around the league. Luka Dončić debuted last night, scoring 14 points. LeBron posted a picture of the new Big 3 in LA, Luka, Draymond Green, and Reeves. What is your first impression on the new Lakers with Luka?

It's cracking out here. 'Cause you got two LeBrons.

Yeah.

Luka rebound, he passed the ball, right? Obviously, you know, the game, it was a blowout. But just to know, that Luka got all the little Luka magic things.

Yeah.

And it's cracking. Like he was missing some of them shots, some of them and ones, you know, missing some passes. Oh man, once this dude lock in, you think about same thing with, with Steph and Jimmy. LeBron goes out the game, now you gotta worry about Luka. And Luka pace is much slower than LeBron's. And so when you match their pace together. And then you include Austin Reeves, who been playing stellar at the point guard position.

Mm-hmm.

Right? He just, he been doing whatever he wants, score, get to the hole, shoot the 3. And now he's starting to really find reason and make the right plays, the right assists. JJ Redick got him rolling. They got some potency, you know, they got a 3-headed monster. Um, in LA, and they all are creative.

Mm-hmm.

And so you powered up in the backcourt, you powered up in like your backcourt or frontcourt. It's really about the other guys that's on the floor for the Lakers who gonna do the hustling, the scrapping, you know, getting, um, getting deflections, getting offensive rebound, putbacks. But you ain't gotta worry about too much, uh, the way I'm looking at how this Laker thing gonna shake out. 'Cause with Luka, you ain't gotta ask for too much for too many people. Give me 5, give me 7. I need, you know, I need, I need 11 from you. Like you ain't asking for much and you gonna be wide open.

That's true.

What more was, you know, what more could you say about Luka? And they gave him a name out here in LA. They call him Luka. Luka, the Crips done already fucked you.

Definitely.

All right, Luka.

Yeah, sorry.

And speaking of Luka, we got Dallas tomorrow. Talking about an emotional rollercoaster, the Mavs fans are going through it, even going as far as getting kicked out of a game, Draymond Green style. They crashing out. Yeah.

All right.

It's crazy also because people have come up with this theory and I don't know if it's real, but there's this theory floating around and it's a conspiracy theory. I don't get off into it unless it come from Shams, I don't believe it. They traded Luka because they wanted the fans mad so they can move the team to Vegas. Clearly conspiracy theory. Shams have not reported that. It ain't real, but. Come on, yo. I think they're just so baffled and puzzled. I saw that this is the first time that the Dallas Mavericks has played a game without Luka Dončić or Dirk Nowitzki on the roster since 1998. So coming, there was a Dirk, you did a Luka, you like, oh, we got it for the next.

We know how to do this.

Yeah, like.

We know, yeah, yeah. We know how to market this. We know how to work this.

Absolutely. And then you look up and, All of a sudden, Luka not there. I think they just don't know how to process it.

Dirk was at Luka first game too.

That's what, exactly. And so I just, I think they just don't know how to process it. And so this conspiracy theory is flying around because I think they're just trying to find a way to make sense of it. I don't know.

You just don't trade a superstar. You just don't trade a, like, if you trade a superstar, then it's gotta, like, usually it's some type of beef. Yes. Anytime a superstar at that capacity is traded, either you're blowing up your franchise or you like, you know what, I can't get over the top with this dude. You just made it to the top, homie.

Yeah, it's crazy.

You was just right there. Are you kidding me? There is something in the water. In Dallas that got people crashing out.

We need to check the temperature.

Whatever water people are drinking in Dallas, please stop crashing up. 'Cause they are in crash-out mode. Fans getting kicked out the game, conspiracy theories. And what they are missing out on is, you know, they did get, You know, Max Christie is showing up and showing out. And you know, outside of AD injury, you know, we saw what he was getting, what he was gonna get or go give him.

But now speaking of the injury, do you think AD wasn't ready to come back, but just so much turmoil that he got rushed back a little bit?

Absolutely. Usually, you know, I think the media had a lot to do with that. The hype, the angst, the emotion. And you know, teams probably are pushing him saying, man, they just need to see you. They just need to see you out there. Then they understand. And also as a player, you want to get out on the court. Like if you've been injured, you like, man, I want to get out and put on for this new city and let them know like they got a dog too. So I think it's a combination of both.

Yeah.

But if it was up to me, I would've let, I'd have just let AD sit and sit at least to let Luka make the first debut. 'Cause he was already hurt.

It's interesting, man. Hopefully AD can get healthy. Obviously not wishing that on anyone. So looking forward to him getting healthy, man. Speaking of AD, over the weekend involving the Los Angeles Lakers, who they were trying to fill AD's glaring hole that he left behind with Mark Williams, failed the physical. And they said, not because of his back that sidelined him for most of last season, but because of multiple other issues of concern, sources said. Hornets are protesting the trade being rescinded. They are, the Hornets are protesting the trade being rescinded.

Right.

What is your reaction to this whole debacle?

This is like Watergate. It's like old school Watergate. This is like when they was messing up the voting polls. Something is not right. This is tricky. Okay, I just dealt you a player knowing damn well he don't pass the physical, but he just played 2 games ago.

Absolutely.

So that's tricky, meaning, hey Charlotte, you may be prone to some type of investigation on your damn own, right? Depending on what Mark Williams said. Now, the Lakers, how do you not pass a physical in the middle of the season when you're already playing. What are the Lakers qualifications? And so the Lakers may have had cold feet and knowing that, ah, he didn't pass. Like, it could be anything. It could be anything, bro. It could be anything. It could be a sprained finger. It could be a, uh, uh, Ozzie Slaughter. Remember that?

Dude.

Oh, you got Austin Slaughter. Nope, he don't pass the physical. So who knows what type of injury or back injury or whatever it is. But it, you know, we all play. I played with herniated disc my whole career and you know, it is a problem. So it's gonna be tricky to see how this all unfold, but it's definitely a unsolved mystery. Yeah. And the cold part about it is the players got to go back to the teams that just traded them, and now you're gonna ask them to perform for you for the rest of the year. So what are you gonna do, especially if you don't connect? Like, if you don't connect, what do you— what, what— how do you feel?

If you don't connect, you have to do your best job to be the best professional you can. Yep. If you're Don Cunnect's lawyer, you have, excuse me, if you're Don Cunnect's agent, you have to have your client's best interest at heart come this Sunday. Like, I don't know how he walks back into that locker room as a shooter and be like, "Oh yeah, now you gonna put me in this game and I'm about to go shoot that thing." Like, I mean, hopefully he can break this out because this can, like, going through something like this can really like derail this kid's career.

Yeah.

Like it could do that because it could kill his confidence. Like, and when you lose confidence in this league, you don't get it back. And so this could really derail, this could really derail Darnell Connect's career. It's tough. I got, Mark Williams is one thing, but Darnell Connect, he was hoping. Like they just like, go ahead, bro. Like. Yeah. And apparently, he was gonna be in the AD trade. So they kind of was just off him anyway from what it sound like. So his, and then now you gotta go back there. That's tough.

He gotta go back. He gotta go back and kill.

That's tough.

He gotta go back and kill. Gotta try to kill. Well, he gonna be open. He gonna be open.

He definitely gonna.

He gonna be, he gonna be wide open. That's for Luka out there. So, you know, make a name for yourself. Take advantage of the opportunity. If you gonna hoop, hoop. But like Dray say, you gotta make sure, now that you know that you are a disposable piece to the Lakers, then you should be, you gotta look out for your own best interest.

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Shout out to Brandon Ingram. Gets a contract extension, 3 years, $120 million in Toronto. Talk about him going to Toronto a little bit.

Big bag for B.I. I'm always happy to see guys get their money. I'm happy to see B.I. get his bread, $40 million. In the year, that ain't no little bit of chicken. So happy to see B.I. Toronto is a long ways away, but very happy to see B.I. Deserve that. And shout out to the young fella getting another battle.

That's right.

Yeah, but yeah, Toronto, that's about all we need to discuss with this. It's, I got his back. Salute my dog. Salute. Salute. Another one.

Let's go.

But that's Toronto.

Get your paper, man. Gotta get your paper. All right, big shout out to the old and new NBA fans. This segment is called NBA 101. Today's lesson will explain the buyout market from a player's point of view. Draymond, take it away.

The buyout market from a player's point of view, I obviously haven't experienced it from like being in the shoe but I have experienced it in watching the buyout market and being like, yo, we can get that guy. And the buyout market is after the trade deadline, you got guys going to teams or staying on bad teams, à la Ben Simmons, or getting traded to a bad team that's not in the playoff race. And they're in the last year of their contract. They take a buyout, meaning they negotiate with the team, hey, you owe me $15 million, you can pay me 'If 14.5, I'm gonna take the buyout and I'm gonna go somewhere else.' Go somewhere else. Most cases, sign a minimum deal, make up that money that they miss, and they play for usually a contending team, a playoff team. Yep. And so that is kind of my view on the biomarkers from a player's perspective as someone who's never really worn the shoe. But—

Yeah.

But been watching.

You've seen it happen.

Absolutely. The biggest biomarker signer so far this season is Ben Simmons to the Clippers.

Uh-oh.

Ben said he signed with the Clippers because they were transparent on how they would use him and he feels wanted. What can Ben Simmons bring to help elevate the Clippers?

Y'all got some competition, buddy. Okay, here is my Ben Simmons assessment. If the Clippers Can count on him, count on him for anything. Whether he comes to play hard, they gonna be super successful. If he comes and wants to be a defender, they'll be super successful. If he comes and wants to be a playmaker, they'll be super successful. All he has to do is just commit to playing basketball. And if he can be the best version of any one of those things for the Clippers, oh man, the sky is the limit. 'Cause I mean, you sitting on somebody who has high basketball IQ, loves playing defense, right? And just hasn't figured out his when. Now, you know, you in a short window of, all right, can you do it? Can you do it? Like, 'cause you know, you show glimpses, or can you be that ultimate glue guy? Yeah. And so if I look at Ben Simmons, I look at him being a Boris Diaw for the Clippers. Like he can be important. He can be the guy off the bench that can help them sustain and cover a lot of ground. Now you got him, Kawhi, Norm, Zubac, right? You got defenders, Derrick Jones, you got defenders. You know what I'm saying? He could be integral, man. What are your thoughts?

No, I agree. I think if he can tap back into half of what he was, you know, the potential that he has shown to being a multiple-time All-Star, I think that's beneficial for the Clippers. Another playmaker, you know, another switchable defender. So I think it could be beneficial, but he gotta go be Ben Simmons. And like I said, ain't gotta be The all-star Ben Simmons. Now, no one's expecting that, but he gotta be somewhat of Ben Simmons.

He gotta be something.

Yeah, and I think—

Show up. Come on, bro. If he show up, he gonna be all right. I think—

And I think as a coach, it's gonna feed him, huh?

Yeah, it's good.

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah.

I think it's a low-risk, high-reward possible move.

All right, all-star weekend is this week, this weekend coming up. You'll be competing. In the Skills Challenge with Moses Moody. We know you're gonna try your best to beat out Mitchell and Mobley, Zach Richthofen, and Alex Sar, and Chris Paul and Wemby. Who do you think would be your biggest competition, the Skills Challenge?

I think the biggest competition is CP and Wemby. I'd imagine they're the favorite to win, but we coming for that title.

All it is is the passing. And you're a good passer.

Yeah.

So you just gotta focus on the passing. Don't get caught up on the passing thing.

Mm-hmm, for sure.

You know I won the skills challenge record time.

Word.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, come on, man. Woo-hoo-hoo, ah-ah. That was too easy. They need to put one of the passing things like somewhere in the stands or something for me. You know, focus on the passing. You got everything else, the passing is just perfect that. And you gonna do that.

No doubt. No doubt. Okay.

But you don't think Mitchell and Mobley present any type of true competition for y'all too?

No, they both good passers. Good length, good speed. But I think CP and Wimby is the favorite.

They the front runners? For sure.

Okay. They the front runner for sure. "You judging the slam dunk contest. Who you got winning? You got Montrezl Buzzeles from the Bulls, Stephon Castle, Andre Jackson Jr., Mac McClung." I'm gonna say you should not comment on who you got winning because that—

Yeah, I should be asking you.

Yeah, I definitely think it's probably best that I answer. So I got Mac McClung. With a Bama dog horse, there's Stephon Castle.

Man, I'm excited just to see, you know, these young dudes, you know, Matt McClung, he won before, but you know, Stephen Castle, Andre Jackson Jr., shout out, I mean, that dude can fly. I'm excited, I'm excited, I'm excited to even be judging the dunk contest. Yeah, man, I'm so lucky to be a part of this and be a part of this All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. All the dope stuff we got going on and all the dope stuff the NBA got going on, to be a part of the dunk contest and to be a judge. I just hope I'm good at giving the right numbers. Don't be out there like, you know, being a judge, man, is like jury duty, you know? After they dunk, they looking at you like, What you gonna go get me, dog? But you, you know, so I gotta, I'm gonna go with the vibe of the fans and I'm gonna go with, and I'm gonna judge based on could I have done that? Wow.

Well, you got the criteria, guys, to do dunks that Didi couldn't do.

I can't do none of them anyway.

Like I said, don't be out there judging like Draymond Green.

Love Doc.

OG. I've watched countless of dunk contests and like guys get a 10 and Doc gives somebody like an 8. It's like, Doc, how they get all 10s and a 7, Doc? Oh, you know, don't feel bad.

I won't be that bad. I'll be more consistent.

Hey, before we get outta here, shout out to Kyrie and Draymond Green for being that year's All-Stars, replacing Giannis and AD. Well deserved to both of those guys.

My dawg.

Still no LaMelo. Like I said, I think that has a lot to do with representation. When you have nobody that can fight for you, it don't end well. So I hope these young kids are paying attention. Representation matters. Representation is everything. But thank you to fans. We appreciate y'all. Because of y'all, this show is doing great. Because of y'all, Y'all got my boy BD out here popping. Popping again. Come on, man. Again, like BD in Charlotte. BD out here, dunk contest. They honor BD weak-ass dunks in the dunk contest. Love, nah, we love y'all. We appreciate y'all. Y'all make this show. Can't thank y'all enough. That's a wrap from this episode.

All-Star Weekend, see y'all soon.