Podcasts about Cleveland Cavaliers

All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet. Nick Wright reacts to the breaking news that LeBron James will be leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons in LA. Will LeBron join forces with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the Golden State Warriors? Are Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat a possible destination? What about a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers to pair up with Donovan Mitchell? Nick breaks down LeBron's run in LA, the state of Luka Doncic and the Lakers, and what's next for LeBron! #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich weighs in on LeBron James snubbing a return to the Los Angeles Lakers to possibly play alongside Steph Curry on the Golden State Warriors, or a return to the Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers. Academy Award-winning actor J.K. Simmons joins Rich in-studio to promote his new MGM+ ‘The Westies' series, discusses his die-hard Detroit Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes fandom, reveals how much of his memorable ‘Whiplash' scenes with Miles Teller were improvised, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ken Carman and Daryl Ruiterdives into the latest LeBron James rumors swirling around Cleveland, from sightings at his old Akron gym to Scoop B Robinson's report on a possible Cavaliers sign and trade. Ken and Daryl debate how much the vacant GM job actually factors into LeBron's decision, with names like Brandon Weems and David Griffin in the mix. They break down the financial maneuvering the Cavs would need to pull off, including clearing the second apron and a James Harden contract restructure. The two also weigh whether a Cleveland return stacks up against a Miami reunion or a farewell tour somewhere else entirely.

Ken and Daryl Ruiter dig into whether a LeBron James return alone gets the Cavaliers back to a championship, and both agree it's not enough on its own. They play Channing Frye's pointed criticism from his Road Trippin podcast, where he argues the Cavs have chemistry and mentality issues that an aging LeBron simply can't fix. The conversation shifts into roster fit, with Daryl pushing back on Jalen Brown trade scenarios involving Evan Mobley or Donovan Mitchell and questioning whether this group has actually learned anything from four straight playoff exits. They close by previewing an in-studio visit from Guardians VP Curtis Danburg.

Bomani Jones is joined by Ethan Strauss to look back at the 2016 NBA Finals and how LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers came back to beat Steph Curry and the 73-win Golden State Warriors. On this episode of The Right Time, Bomani and Ethan break down what made LeBron's performance so overwhelming, why Game 7 still feels like one of the biggest legacy games in NBA history, and how the 2016 Finals changed the way people looked at Steph Curry, the Warriors dynasty and the Cavs' championship in Cleveland. They discuss LeBron vs. Steph, Kyrie's role in the comeback, Draymond Green, the Warriors' collapse, Game 7's defining plays, and why the 2016 NBA Finals still stands as one of the most important series of the modern era. Topics include: LeBron James' control of the 2016 NBA Finals Steph Curry's legacy after the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead Kyrie Irving's impact on the Cavs' championship run The pressure on the 73-win Warriors The biggest moments from Cavs vs. Warriors Game 7 Why Cleveland's title hit different Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A report from Brandon Scoop B Robinson adds fuel to the LeBron fire, claiming a return to Cleveland is genuinely on the table and would require James Harden to restructure his deal, LeBron taking less than max money, and a sign-and-trade with the Lakers that could involve moving Jarrett Allen or others. The David Griffin angle gets tossed into the mix as a fun subplot, with Ken admitting he'd love to see Griff back in Cleveland before Jason quickly pours cold water on the idea that LeBron would base any decision on who the GM is. Ken's central hang-up remains the same: coming back to Cleveland feels like a retirement tour admission, and he's not convinced LeBron is emotionally ready to make that concession while he's still physically capable of special things at 41. Jason pushes back gently, arguing LeBron has nothing left to prove and would be fine walking away on his own terms, championship window or not.

Ken Carman and guest host Jason Lloyd analyze the Cleveland Cavaliers' draft selection of Malik Thomas and the impact of the NBA second apron. They engage in a spirited debate over a rumored trade sending Evan Mobley to Boston for Jaylen Brown. Additionally, Mary Kay Cabot and Chris Mannix join to discuss the Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition and roster management. 02:10 - Malik Thomas Draft Analysis 06:45 - Ken's Raccoon Garbage Saga 12:10 - Callers Offer Pest Advice 16:50 - NBA Second Apron Explained 24:30 - Mobley For Brown Debate 34:40 - Cavaliers Trade Strategy Discussion 41:50 - LeBron James Return Rumors 49:30 - Shedeur Sanders Starting Debate 01:00:15 - Browns Locker Room Dynamics 01:11:45 - Guardians White Sox Recap 01:18:50 - Terryon Arnold Legal Issues 01:23:10 - Ken's Facebook Ad Nightmare 01:36:25 - Traffic Report 01:37:35 - Mary Kay Cabot Interview 01:52:40 - Sanders vs Watson Depth 02:06:50 - Chris Mannix Trade Analysis 02:25:10 - Jaylen Brown Fit Debate 02:36:40 - Final Wrap And Raccoons

Ken and Lima go to war over the Browns' quarterback competition, with Lima arguing point-blank that benching Shedeur Sanders for Deshaun Watson proves the team doesn't actually believe in him. Ken pushes back hard, comparing it to how a rookie like Fernando Mendoza would still need time to adjust to a new system, and says throwing Shedeur out before he's ready only sets him up to fail. The bottom line: Ken admits the leash is short if Watson struggles, but insists experience earns Deshaun the tiebreaker for now.

Ken and Chris Mannix debate whether the Cavs should pursue Jaylen Brown, with Ken pumping the brakes on the idea that adding a big name automatically makes the team better. The setup has Mannix arguing Brown fills Cleveland's long-standing hole at the wing position, while Ken counters that Boston giving up on a championship pairing should make anyone think twice about the fit. The bottom line: Ken admits Evan Mobley isn't quite a true "1 percent" superstar, but says that's not a reason to trade him away just to chase a star name.

Chris Mannix joins Ken Carman and Jason Lloyd to explore the possibility of a blockbuster trade sending Jaylen Brown to Cleveland for Evan Mobley. They break down the roster fit for the Cavaliers, James Harden's future alongside Donovan Mitchell, and the likelihood of LeBron James remaining in Los Angeles. The conversation concludes with a lighthearted look at Ken's home life and a debate regarding the Browns' quarterback situation. 02:15 - Chris Mannix Interview Begins 06:24 - Jaylen Brown Trade Fit 10:34 - James Harden Cleveland Dynamic 15:51 - LeBron James Lakers Outlook 20:21 - Trade Fit Logic Debate 24:13 - Evaluating Recent Cavs Success 33:05 - Ken Carman Garbage Story 39:40 - Browns Quarterback Future Debate

Mary Kay Cabot joins Ken Carman and Jason Lloyd to discuss why the Browns are unlikely to trade Denzel Ward despite interest from the Detroit Lions. They also evaluate the status of Grant Delpit and the heated quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders heading into the season. 01:50 - Birthdays And Social Algorithms 06:08 - Jason Lloyd's Midlife Crisis 11:47 - Terrion Arnold Arrest Impacts Lions 16:06 - Traffic And Sports Update 18:39 - Mary Kay Cabot Interview 25:34 - Browns Quarterback Competition Debate 34:46 - Starting Watson Versus Sanders

Ken Carman and Jason Lloyd react to reports regarding a potential LeBron James return to Cleveland and the possibility of David Griffin rejoining the front office. They debate the merits of drafting prospects with character concerns like Brenden Sorsby versus Shedeur Sanders. The discussion also covers the Guardians' trade deadline strategy and recent NFL legal issues. 01:50 - Brenden Sorsby Controversy 04:14 - LeBron James Return Rumors 08:43 - LeBron's Potential Retirement Tour 12:58 - Jarrett Allen Trade Scenarios 18:30 - Shedeur Sanders Draft Outlook 24:07 - Cleveland's Island of Misfits 33:30 - Guardians Trade Deadline Outlook 37:10 - NFL Character Concerns Debate

Ken Carman and guest host Jason Lloyd weigh the pros and cons of trading Evan Mobley for Jaylen Brown after rumors surface from Chris Mannix. They examine how such a move would impact Donovan Mitchell's future and the team's defensive identity. The conversation also covers a humorous early morning battle with raccoons and the drafting of Malik Thomas. 02:45 - Carman and Jason Lloyd Intro 06:00 - Ken's Garbage Can Raccoon Saga 12:03 - Solutions for Raccoon Problems 17:36 - Cavs Draft Malik Thomas 21:54 - Mobley for Jaylen Brown Rumors 26:11 - Importance of Big Wings 32:42 - NBA Front Office Perspectives 37:55 - Mitchell Future and Team Fit

Ken opens the show with Jason Lloyd sitting in for Lima, and the morning's first crisis has nothing to do with sports: a raccoon problem has reached a boiling point, with Ken calmly calling his 11-year-old son at 4:50 a.m. to clean up the garage, setting off a chain reaction of chaos that woke up the entire family and sparked a heated text exchange with his wife over whether to get a third garbage can. Listeners flood the phones with solutions, with ammonia emerging as the consensus answer, and Ken is already on the Target app by the end of the segment. On the actual basketball news, the Cavs used the 34th pick on Malik Thomas, a shooter out of Arkansas who projects as an upside play and a future trade asset rather than someone expected to contribute right away. Ken also explains the second apron constraints driving Cleveland's roster decisions, drawing a parallel to a similar move the 2015 championship team made when they traded out of the first round to manage tax penalties.

Ken and Jason Lloyd continue wrestling with the Evan Mobley for Jalen Brown scenario, with Ken gradually talking himself into accepting that this may be the only realistic upgrade available, even as he worries it just creates a lineup of three guards and Jarrett Allen. Jason makes the most compelling argument of the segment: if Ken doesn't believe Mobley can lead this team to a championship, and there's no other realistic trade partner, then saying no to Brown is essentially saying no to every Mobley trade forever. The Donovan Mitchell contract situation hangs over everything, with Jason noting the window is likely two years regardless, and Ken revealing he's been hearing whispers about Miami and Donovan's affection for Bam Adebayo as a potential landing spot if Mitchell doesn't re-sign. Ken closes with the James Harden analogy that keeps nagging at him: that move sped the clock up like cutting the wrong wire on a bomb, and whatever comes next has to be the right call.

Chris Mannix reported that the Celtics have been calling around about Evan Mobley as a potential return piece in a Jalen Brown deal, and Ken and Jason Lloyd dig into whether Cleveland should pick up the phone. Jason makes the case that wings win championships, that Mobley has never become the player the Cavs needed him to be, and that Brown is exactly the type of two-way wing that could finally push Cleveland over the top. Ken is intrigued but hesitant, arguing that swapping Mobley for Brown leaves the starting four as Dean Wade and creates a roster of essentially three guards, which he's not convinced is enough to beat Oklahoma City or San Antonio in a seven-game series. Both agree that Donovan Mitchell's relationship with Brown is a real asset in recruiting him to Cleveland, and Ken closes by noting that both OKC and Boston coveting Mobley says something important about how good he actually is.

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor evaluate Chris Mannix's comments on the potential fit of Jaylen Brown within the Cleveland Cavaliers roster. The discussion covers the defensive trade-offs of moving Evan Mobley and compares the value of elite two-way wings to other interior assets in the modern NBA. 01:00 - Guardians And Radio Banter 03:47 - Jaylen Brown Trade Fit 09:38 - Elite Wing Defensive Impact

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor discuss the World Cup madness, including a hex allegedly placed on England's Harry Kane. They revisit the John Beilein era with the Cleveland Cavaliers and debate the spooky nature of New Orleans voodoo and palm readings. 01:00 - World Cup Global Update 04:04 - John Beilein Era Memories 08:17 - Soccer Hexes & Voodoo

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report joins Afternoon Drive on The Fan. He talks about the potential of another LeBron James homecoming, the importance of the Cavs getting under the second apron, if Cleveland should be interested in trading Evan Mobley for Jaylen Brown, and more.

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor evaluate new MLB collective bargaining proposals aimed at curbing the spending dominance of teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers to create better league-wide parity. The discussion also features insights from Eric Pincus on a potential LeBron James homecoming in Cleveland, debating the trade costs and his fit alongside Donovan Mitchell. 01:01 - MLB CBA Proposals 03:17 - Baseball Financial Parity 06:58 - LeBron Return Rumors 10:03 - Potential Cavs Trade 14:21 - Roster Ceiling Analysis

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor analyze the Cleveland Cavaliers' draft selection of Meleek Thomas and the future of Evan Mobley. They debate Mobley's potential as an offensive force and discuss whether team construction or individual limitations are hindering his development alongside Donovan Mitchell. 02:08 - Intro With Chris Fedor 05:50 - Evan Mobley's Performance Ceiling 10:24 - Roster Construction Math Problem 14:04 - Trading Mobley Or Mitchell

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor evaluate the long-term offensive potential of Evan Mobley and the likelihood of Cleveland Cavaliers fans turning on him if his development remains stagnant. This discussion shifts to comparing Mobley's impact to that of Donovan Mitchell and whether the organization should run back the current roster or seek upgrades to reach the conference finals. 01:00 - Evan Mobley Offensive Development 03:48 - Donovan Mitchell Impact Comparison 10:54 - Running Back Current Roster

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor debate if Cavs fans will turn on Evan Mobley if he can't take his game to the next level. Then, they react to sound bites and storylines from around the sports and entertainment world.

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor explore the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster dilemmas, debating whether to trade Evan Mobley or Donovan Mitchell to reach championship contention. They analyze Mobley's offensive development and compare Mitchell's impact to potential trade targets like Jaylen Brown. 01:00 - LeBron And Mobley Trades 06:41 - Cavs Championship Window 12:12 - Mitchell Trade Debate

Nick and Chris revisit their debate about the Cavs dedicating their future to either Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley. Also, they reveal what Cleveland can learn from the Hornets trading LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves.

Nick Wilson and Chris Fedor explore potential roster overhauls for the Cavaliers, including a hypothetical blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown. They break down Evan Mobley's offensive evolution and the lessons Cleveland can learn from the Hornets' recent moves. 01:00 - Soccer and Golf Debate 02:51 - Cavs Trade Strategy Analysis 07:15 - Brown vs Mitchell Comparison 11:05 - Evan Mobley Development Plan

Fear the 'Fro is here to talk Meleek Thomas.  Joining Bob is Cooper Klein (@Alley_Oop_Coop) of "Upside Swings" to break down Meleek's game, and what to expect of his addition to the Cavs.  We also go over other draft prospects not taken, from Brazile to Veesarr to Koa Peat.  Then we discuss some other team's surprising draft strategies, and dive into the Jaylen Brown for Evan Mobley trade chatter. 

Live from the Bike Shed Moto Co at the Arts District, We play audio from ESPN Cleveland when Brian Windhorst went on and talked about the possibility of the LeBron going to the Cavs. Could we see Jarrett Allen on the move? How can the Lakers get a starting caliber big man? STRAIGHT UP WITH MIKE TRUDELL. SHOP TALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes hope to someday celebrate 10 years of BI like LeBron & the 2016 Cavs did. What does Minnesota salary dumping Julius Randle to Brooklyn indicate about the way NBA rosters will be built with the changing salary cap and lottery rules? Fran Fraschilla, the Jose Alvarado of the ESPN broadcast joins us in between rounds of the NBA Draft to revel in his memorable quote about Bruno Caboclo, explain why International prospects have more sex appeal and what first round players he loves. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Illuminati YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Count The Dings Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/countthedings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Basketball Illuminati! On⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠basketballilluminati@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bballilluminati⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@basketballilluminati⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 hours and 23 minutes The Sponsors Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com. Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Radecki Oral Surgery, Long Road Distillers, and Venue by 4M where recorded this. 1. What Dusty Just Done Did Starts at 0:51 Not only did we have this team come out of nowhere to be the best in the history Michigan basketball. The Dusty May Era is now a fever dream. Takes a little bit out of it. This is college basketball now. Understand why he wouldn't want to be a college coach today; he explicitly said he never got to feel like they won a championship. NCAA can be blamed for letting it get here but also they have no power whatsoever to fix all the things that mean the second you win a title you have to recruit your new team. Second time in a row the college coach the NBA took was Michigan's. This is not the Cavs; Dallas is a good gig. [The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]  2. The Future of Michigan Basketball Starts at 19:04 They're promoting Mike Boynton to interim head coach, with a possibility of permanence. Greater that 50% chance he's the HC without the interim title, but might execute a search. Five days after they announce a hire the portal is open for Michigan alone, which is probably what scared them into this now. McKenney is back, probably Cadeau back, direction of things is a battle to hold onto the transfer bigs. Boynton: got tagged by the FBI thing, can see his tenure as not successful, or successful for the Minnesota of the Big 12. He has a trademark, which is defense: five of six years with a top-20 unit. Still relatively young, can recruit. Program: "What option do we have?" UNNNNNGGGGGHHHHHH. Actual option: Josh Schertz! Trademark is twos, built a real roster there, is Dusty's best coaching buddy. Don't care as much about roster continuity (Brian Ellerbe, Sherrone Moore) because the players won't be around long. Also if you poach a coach you have access to another team's roster and coaching staff, whereas right now Michigan and the Mavs are competing for Michigan staff and Michigan and the world are competing for Michigan's players. Other names to look at: Niko Medved was our next pick two years ago, did as well as possible with Minnesota last year. Where is Michigan Basketball in program rankings? Would Purdue swap with us? Purdue built their fanbase over years of having a program, just like Michigan hockey. 3. The Warde Talk Starts at 53:17 What are you supposed to do with a guy who alternates between asleep-at-the-wheel scandals and national championships? Push back against Brian's assertion that people "don't want to work for him" because these are all individual situations. He's not a bad guy, but he's also not a guy who *does* things, unless that's milking the fanbase or turning Michigan Stadium into an F1 race of ads. His oeuvre is not doing anything, because that worked with Harbaugh in 2020, and now that's a modus operandi. Talking ADs history since Canham. Push back against Brian's lionizing of Canham: he was a visionary, but his record also includes Dr. Anderson and trying to prevent/undermine Title IX. We end up preferring Bill Martin of all our lifetime ADs—he built the boxes to prevent ads in the stadium. Don't think missing out on Les Miles was a loss. Brian's Warde assessment: He typed "how to AD" into ChatGPT. Does losing Dusty May like this change your opinion on Warde Manuel? No. But it's weird that he keeps surviving (no president to fire him). 4. 2027 Football Recruiting Starts at 1:20:46 Doesn't look any different from a Harbaugh class at this point. If you're good at scouting and developing you're fine. OL class is small but Lipsey stacks another elite tackle and they had to fend off ND for Louis Esposito, Rouleau is a Frey-type. Xavier Muhammad is a very good DT, Tavares Harrington a find at CB, and they held onto some important guys in-state in a good Michigan year. LB recruiting is still underfunded, Brian is fine with that because it's very a "what's in your head" position with no consensus on what schools want. State of the recruiting industry: Paramount got bought and 247 is getting raided as incompetent ownership sets in. On3 is more reactive to scouting this cycle, and almost universally rate M commits higher. White whales: #1 is CB Josh Dobson, Seth Tillman would be a big, big deal because DTs are hard to come by, Monsanna Torbert would be a big win over Ohio State. Lincoln Mageo would be a good OL to finish with. Would like to have more TEs coming in. 5. World Cup Starts at 1:50:04 Takes hotter than Dusty May's agent. Count how many times Brian calls USA "Michigan." Are the Americans the most pleased with their performance in Group Phase (2nd to Canadians). Freeman (son of Antonio) is very reliable defensively, main thing is you can put Dest at wing. Sauciest player in US history? McKenzie is everywhere, runs into the box from deep were especially effective vs Paraguay. Pulisic injury: not going to play him in the useless Turkey game, should be fine. Tim Ream has been trying to play soccer for us forever, always been the best guy on the ball. Decent draw, should be favored (when they make the field) for a couple of rounds. Success point is get to the quarters; they can go into a game against a world power and expect to compete, not win, and not win three in a row. Four years ago they were too young. Don't mind the 48-team format; it saps a lot of tension out of the Group Stage when three teams advance, but a lot of "small teams" have battled. Brazil is still working back to being BRAZIL. Germany is Ohio State but not a peak year Ohio State. France is super talented. Alex: If you play Bosnia and Herzegovina you play two countries at once. Seth: Actually it's more like seven point eight. MUSIC: "Hit or Miss"—Odetta "Take Da Charge"—Project Pat "Love on My Brain"—Jim Ford "Dog Has Its Day"—Toledo “Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra   

Fast Track! Andy Kamenetzky and Chris McGee circle back to the Lakers and Austin Reaves. More Fast Track! What is Ty Simpson dreaming about? What did Windy say about LeBron, the Lakers and the Cavs? Game of Games, plus Supercross Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ken and Anthony bring in producer John to rip the Guardians' lineup after another loss drops them a game back, pointing out the offense has fallen to among the worst in baseball in nearly every major category over the last three weeks. Ken argues firing the hitting coach is a symbolic move that won't turn struggling bats like Gabriel Arias into real threats, and floats suspicion that MLB's own baseballs have quietly changed. They also dig into the Cavs trading their 29th pick for second-rounders, with Ken shutting down a fan theory that Dan Gilbert is being cheap by walking through the actual second apron cap restrictions forcing the move. They wrap with some lighter banter on the World Cup and England's shaky tie against Ghana.

Ken and Lima break down the NFL's decision to bar Brendan Sorsby from the supplemental draft and the hypocrisy of league gambling policies. They are joined by Mike Florio to discuss the legal ramifications and Danny Cunningham to analyze trade rumors involving Evan Mobley. A heated debate with Brian Geltziler over the Cavaliers' future and the New York Knicks rounds out the discussion. 01:50 - Sorsby Draft Rejection 07:18 - Kessler Legal Strategy 14:33 - Collegiate Gambling Details 19:45 - Cavs Trade Pitfalls 31:58 - NFL Gambling Precedents 41:44 - Danny Cunningham Interview 58:45 - Heat Trade Threats 01:07:00 - LeBron Return Discussion 01:11:00 - Guardians Score Update 01:13:51 - NBA Draft Trades 01:22:33 - Bruce Pearl Controversy 01:30:49 - Sorsby Legal Outlook 01:34:14 - Mike Florio Interview 01:49:30 - Steelers Interest Rumors 02:03:20 - Mobley For Brown 02:11:18 - Knicks Overrated Debate 02:15:43 - Brian Geltziler Interview 02:28:50 - Harden Playoff Debate 02:35:10 - Segment Wrap Up

Ken backs Nick Wilson's proposed Donovan Mitchell for Jaylen Brown swap straight up, arguing Brown ages better and fits cleaner alongside Evan Mobley, even though he admits the Celtics almost certainly say no. He and Anthony keep circling back to an uncomfortable parallel: every "untouchable" guard from Jarvis Allen to Darius Garland eventually became the convenient trade chip, and now Donovan is getting the same treatment. They debate whether Evan Mobley has to be the actual centerpiece of any real shake-up after his strong playoff run, and whether the Cavs even have a realistic path to improve without getting older and shrinking their championship window. Ken closes by warning that Miami, not just Boston or Indiana, might be the team Cleveland should actually be worried about next season.

Brian Geltzeiler joins to weigh in on a possible Evan Mobley for Jaylen Brown swap and says he'd make the deal as Boston but isn't convinced as Cleveland, arguing Mobley's offensive ceiling has been capped by usage rather than talent. The segment derails into a heated argument when Anthony pushes back on Geltzeiler calling James Harden's Eastern Conference Finals performance "humiliating," comparing it unfavorably to Victor Wembanyama, and Geltzeiler abruptly threatens to hang up over the disrespect before the call actually drops. After patching things up, Geltzeiler argues the Cavs have a roster structure problem, with Mobley miscast next to Jarrett Allen instead of playing center outright, and says running the same group back next year guarantees the same result. He closes things out on a lighter note, confirming AJ Dybantsa was the right pick at number one in last night's draft.

Ken argues the Cavs front office quietly accepted at the trade deadline that the Eastern Conference Finals was this year's realistic ceiling, once Rich Paul effectively forced the Darius Garland for James Harden trade and left no time to build chemistry. He pushes back hard on fans wanting a "punitive" shakeup just to feel something, insisting a Jaylen Brown deal would only stack the backcourt, age the roster, and shrink the championship window without fixing anything real. Ken draws his line in the sand: as built, this team can't beat the Knicks, Thunder, or Spurs, but it can beat everyone else in the East, so patience matters more than a splashy move for its own sake. He closes the show thanking Brian Geltzeiler, Mike Florio, and Danny Cunningham for a packed morning of Sorsby and Cavs debate.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima debate the possibility of the Cavaliers trading Evan Mobley for Jaylen Brown following reports of interest from the Celtics. An interview with Brian Geltzeiler turns sour when he and Lima get into a fiery disagreement regarding James Harden's impact on the court. They wrap up by analyzing recent draft picks and the internal expectations for the Cavaliers organization. 01:55 - Cavs Trade Rumors 06:15 - Mobley Vs. Jaylen Brown 09:50 - Jared Allen and Callers 16:35 - Brian Geltzeiler Interview 21:25 - Geltzeiler and Lima Argument 27:15 - Interview Reaction Debrief 32:20 - NBA Draft Prospects 37:25 - Building Cavs Identity

Mike Florio joins to break down the NFL's decision to prevent quarterback Brendan Sorsby from entering the supplemental draft. They discuss the league's legal justification regarding gambling policy and how this serves as a warning to other athletes. The conversation also explores Bruce Pearl's comments on the NBA draft and the rising costs of youth sports. 01:50 - John's Miami Trip 05:30 - Bruce Pearl Tweet 08:40 - Youth Sports Training 11:53 - Brendan Sorsby Case 17:04 - Mike Florio Interview 23:30 - NFL Draft Eligibility 28:00 - Gambling Normalization Issues 34:30 - NFL Warning Shot 39:00 - Sorsby Lawyering Up 42:30 - Cavaliers Trade Rumors

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze the NFL's decision to bar quarterback Brendan Sorsby from the supplemental draft due to his gambling history. They debate the league's legal standing, the influence of attorney Jeffrey Kessler, and how this case compares to past controversies involving Maurice Clarett. The discussion also touches on the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster construction ahead of a visit from Danny Cunningham. 02:51 - Landmark Sorsby Case Analysis 07:13 - Jeffrey Kessler Joins Battle 12:22 - Sorsby Traits and Potential 21:10 - Cavs and Donovan Mitchell 28:25 - Maurice Clarett Precedent Comparison 39:36 - Listener Calls and Accountability

Danny Cunningham joins Ken and Anthony and shoots down trading Donovan Mitchell, arguing a top-10 player who actually wants to be in Cleveland is too rare to give up, and he's skeptical Jaylen Brown is even the right target if Evan Mobley were on the table. He flags Jarrett Allen, not Mobley or Mitchell, as the most realistic trade chip given his rising value, and warns that mid-season shakeups like trading for a new starter rarely produce a title that same year. Danny also pours cold water on a midseason fix-it strategy, pointing out the rest of the East is improving too, so simply running it back and being "better" may not be enough to get past Boston, New York, or Indiana. He closes by laying out the case for LeBron's return hinging entirely on whether LeBron prioritizes winning over comfort or money.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima debate the merits of a proposed blockbuster trade sending Donovan Mitchell to Boston for Jalen Brown. They are joined by Danny Cunningham to analyze the Cavaliers' roster flexibility, the impact of the NBA's second apron, and the ongoing rumors surrounding a LeBron James return to Cleveland. 01:50 - Donovan Mitchell Trade Scenario 05:08 - Darius Garland Comparisons 07:10 - Mitchell's Contract Sticker Price 10:14 - Evaluating Evan Mobley's Value 13:37 - Danny Cunningham Interview 18:12 - Heat Interest in Mitchell 20:35 - Jared Allen Trade Market 26:24 - LeBron James Return Talk 32:26 - Guardians Offensive Struggles 35:40 - NBA Second Apron Restrictions

Chris Mannix's reporting sparks a deep dive into whether the Cleveland Cavaliers should consider trading Evan Mobley for Jaylen Brown. Nick Wilson and Daryl Ruiter debate Mobley's offensive ceiling versus the immediate scoring impact of a veteran like Brown or Donovan Mitchell. Discussion also covers the financial implications of looming supermax contracts and how those deals impact the team's championship window. 01:00 - Mobley For Brown Trade Speculation 05:31 - Supermax Contracts And Roster Math 09:15 - Analyzing Mobley's Development Curve

Nick Wilson and Daryl Ruiter's discussion focuses on the trade rumors involving a potential LeBron James return to Cleveland in exchange for Jarrett Allen. They debate the merits of trading young assets for an aging superstar and reflect on the Cleveland Cavaliers' need to restructure their roster after consecutive playoff struggles. 01:00 - LeBron Trade Rumors 03:25 - Fiscal Responsibility Argument 08:22 - Reshaping Cavaliers Roster

Nick Wilson and Daryl Ruiter react to Ashley Bastock's analysis of Todd Monken's disciplined coaching style and its impact on the team's practice culture. They also review a tense on-air disagreement between Anthony Lima and NBA analyst Brian Geltzeiler over James Harden. This leads to a discussion about why certain basketball topics cause such intense reactions within the Cleveland sports media landscape. 01:00 - Todd Monken Coaching Style 05:06 - Lima And Geltzeiler Argument 08:32 - Analyzing The Radio Beef

Nick Wilson and Daryl Ruiter's discussion centers on the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster construction, specifically the long-term value of Evan Mobley versus Donovan Mitchell. They explore the potential of trading for Jaylen Brown and whether such a high-risk move is necessary to secure an NBA championship. The conversation also touches on historical examples of teams like the Bucks and Warriors sacrificing their futures for titles. 01:01 - Mobley and Mitchell's Future 04:08 - Championship Risks and Rewards 09:31 - Trading for Jaylen Brown

Nick Wilson and Daryl Ruiter debate the Cleveland Cavaliers' decision to trade out of the first round of the NBA Draft to prioritize financial flexibility. They analyze the impact of the luxury tax apron on future roster moves involving Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Additionally, they check in on the Cleveland Guardians during a rain delay following a string of tough losses. 02:21 - Hump Day With Daryl Ruiter 06:10 - Guardians Struggle In Chicago 10:26 - Cavs Draft Night Trade 13:34 - Navigating The Second Apron

Nick Wilson and Daryl Ruiter's conversation explores potential trade scenarios for the Cleveland Cavaliers, debating whether to move Evan Mobley for Jaylen Brown. They also react to a viral prediction from a Brazilian psychic regarding a mass alien abduction at a soccer match in Miami involving the Tartan Army. 01:00 - Cavaliers Trade Debate 03:48 - World Cup Atmosphere 06:48 - Alien Abduction Prophecy

Nick and Daryl get into what it would take for LeBron James to return to the Cavs this summer. Then, they're joined by former Cleveland pitcher Cody Allen, and they talk about their panic level for the Guardians.

PGA Tour golfer Wyndham Clark tells guest Host Andrew Siciliano how long he celebrated his 2nd US Open championship, what message he has for golf fans who openly root against him, why the Tour's upcoming relegation format will be “awesome” for professional golf, and the 2026 outlook for his beloved Denver Broncos. The Athletic's James Jackson and Andrew discuss the Miami Heat sending a bevy of picks and players to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the chances of LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to return to South Beach or the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the chances the Boston Celtics trade Jaylen Brown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fast Track! Ireland and Geeter discuss the media coverage of the World Cup. More Fast Track! Take a listen to Richard Jefferson telling the story of when he was let go from the Cavs. Game of Games, plus Supercross Talk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices