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  • I want to ask you guys about Anthony Davis because he can sign that long term extension we've been talking about with the Lakers.

  • All rows, of course, Lied to him staying in L.

  • A.

  • He does have some choices, and, as you heard, won't stay in our last block.

  • He's not expected to commit in the immediate days.

  • Brian, can you explain a little bit about what's going on here to our audience, what his options are, and is there any point they should start getting nervous?

  • Well, there's some speculation out there, Rachel that one of the reasons why he's going to delay his decision is because the Lakers have some other free agency moves to make and he just wants toe.

  • Let him know he's watching now.

  • I don't think there's any stress out there.

  • He will be a Laker, but one of the guys they have to make a decision on, and it's a tough decision about how much to pay him is contagious.

  • Caldwell Pope, who was represented by the same agent Rich Paul.

  • Now I think Caldwell Caldwell, Pope is going to have some interest out there in the market, whether or not he can get enough money out there.

  • To actually leave the Lakers is a different story, but this is somewhat reminiscent of when J.

  • R.

  • Smith was a free agent back in 2016 in Cleveland, represented by Rich Paul, and LeBron took his sweet time over that summer before signing.

  • Now, having said that, LeBron did sign before J.

  • R.

  • Smith did.

  • But while I think Anthony Davis has been well aware of his contracts options for months now, um, maybe it's just a little bit of, Ah, check game that he's playing.

  • Paul.

  • If you were Anthony Davis, would you commit two years plus a player option?

  • Do the one and one where you where you're only committing for another year.

  • We've seen that be, ah, strain on teams.

  • Like when Kevin Durant kept doing the one on ones and the one and ones that just brought all these questions about whether he was really going to stay.

  • Or do you want to keep your flexibility if you're Anthony Davis?

  • I think it's important for the players these days, uh, to keep their flexibility.

  • I was lying my contract up directly with LeBron's because, as you could see, he could sign for 35% of the cap after that.

  • 10 years on DSO.

  • You know, LeBron LeBron.

  • He could probably retire in 23 years.

  • Who knows, you know, but I'll line my situation up with his.

  • But what Anthony Davis gotta understand is you're a Laker.

  • You want a championship.

  • Now, if you decide after two years, you don't wanna be a Laker or three years, you don't wanna be a Laker.

  • It's like to me, Where do you go from there?

  • And so I really would start thinking long term, I would think, even for a five or six year deal, I mean, because after you might win another championship as a Laker, there's nowhere else you could go after being a Laker after winning two championships and be in the face of the franchise long after LeBron has left.

  • So I mean, his options are open, and that's a good thing that have these type of options for Anthony Davis toe to make these types of decisions because he's one of those players whose game is injury proof.

  • Also, he's 7 ft athletic.

  • He could do so many things with the ball.

  • He could shoot soft touch, handle the ball.

  • So, uh, Sky's the limit for this kid.

  • Whether he stays healthy or not, he's still going to get a great deal.

  • So maybe two is the way to go.

  • I like what you're saying.

  • Paul and I agree He really has some flexibility.

  • I think lining his contract up with LeBron is a great thing to do.

  • Uh, you know, when is much as possible and then down the line, Obviously, you could do the one in one's back at home.

  • I know that was talked about, uh I think Chicago a couple other teams where he could possibly go back, uh, that he could do is one and ones then.

  • But right now you wanna win a much as possible and he could make a lot of money on a very good team with the chance to win another championship back to back.

  • Possibly so.

  • I think right now I don't walk away from that opportunity.

  • I mean, I think you know, at the end of the day, he's gonna be a Laker, and that's just they're just given all these, you know, just doing like you said, playing the game a little bit.

  • Yeah, I know.

  • I'm signing their outside later.

  • You know, just for the drama.

  • You know, what's life without a little bit of drama?

  • And by the way, Paul, I know that you have your number retired in Boston, right?

  • Exactly.

  • I know Paul, you have your number retired in Boston Garden.

  • But you're clearly always in l a kid.

  • If you're saying what could you possibly want besides playing for the Lakers, that there's not even a consideration of another team?

  • That's the most L.

  • A thing I think I've heard.

  • Just say in a while.

  • If you want to move on to the Sixers basketball anyway, yes, for sure.

  • I need a house here before he even came to play for the Lakers.

  • I wanna move on to the Sixers, guys because they made trades to acquire Danny Green.

  • Seth Curry on draft night.

  • So, Brian, what is Phillies next move?

  • After what they have done to address their shooting concerns?

  • Because they at least opened up some space on the floor here.

  • Yeah, and by training Al Horford.

  • They also opened up some move from some room on their books.

  • They were facing a pretty significant luxury tax penalties and the Al Horford trade gave them some airspace.

  • And so they now can, you know, dip their toes into free agency.

  • But of course, that's not what you're asking about.

  • What you're asking about is are they going to trade?

  • I'm asking about our friend thes trades.

  • These trains really don't help improve their asset base for for harden.

  • It's not like the the Rockets like, Oh, they have Danny Green.

  • Oh, you know, uh, you know, this is something we're interested in.

  • Most people in the league believe that if if they're gonna get serious about James Harden, it's gonna take putting Ben Simmons into the deal.

  • Now Daryl Morey has not made any indication at all that he is willing to do that.

  • And he has been very clear, as he's talked to the media about how valuable it is to have two young superstars in their prime.

  • Uh, but if James Harden wants to go to Brooklyn, the way to trump any Brooklyn offer is to put in a player that Brooklyn can't match.

  • And so that's what we're gonna be paying attention to.

  • It could be weeks.

  • It could be months before something like this would happen.

  • Vince, would you do a deal if you were the Sixers?

  • And would you do a deal that included Ben Simmons to get James Harden with l and B?

  • It's just a tough question.

  • Is this What do you What do you looking for?

  • What do you want out of your team?

  • And e think for Houston.

  • First of all, let me say they they're they're doing it right.

  • You know, if you're gonna let somebody like a like this go who's who's the stars of stars, you better make sure you're gonna get something close.

  • Now, if I'm the Sixers, if you could get James Harden for sure, you're gonna do it.

  • And it is just who I think James Harden and the Embiid would be something special.

  • And you just put shooters around them And this let these guys do what they do.

  • Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

I want to ask you guys about Anthony Davis because he can sign that long term extension we've been talking about with the Lakers.

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