Podcast appearances and mentions of jonas valanciunas

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley open the second hour with a very skeptical Mike Evans after seeing all of the preseason rankings for the Broncos this year compared to last year. Is Jokic becoming the global face of the NBA? Are you still worried about Jonas Valanciunas? Mike and Stoke debate how much pressure Sean Payton is under this season. The whole morning crew has a heated debate about the newest addition to the Big Board of BS. What’s Trending? One of the great Broncos villains finally goes away, Jerry Jones continues to suck, and does Scottie = Tiger?

0:00 ... Show Open ... Ross welcomes the panel and makes his dedication of show #166 to Jonathan Kuminga and Russell Westbrook who both shot just 66% from the free throw line last season.  Bruce registers his disappointment with Ross's choice and suggests someone else. 1:54 ... The Charlotte Hornets are the NBA Summer League Champions ... Rookie Kon Knueppel led the way for the Hornets and we all learned the proper pronounciation of his first and last name.  The future looks promising for the Hornets after a string of losing seasons, but health will be a huge issue for the "Bugs." 7:53 ... Bruce wants to give some love to Bronny James, who looked like a different player in the Summer League and could be poised to do well this season. 9:04 .... The WNBA All Star Weekend made all kinds of news, especially with their warmup T-Shirts that said "Pay Us What You Owe Us."  The crew examines why the players in the "W" deserve more money and make suggestions on who should pay it. 13:09 ... As for the WNBA All Star game itself ..... it was a big bummer ... Rookie All-Star Paige Bueckers and ABC's Elle Duncan both trashed it on the air for the lack of defense and effort .... OUCH. 15:29 ... Bradley Beal certainly got paid and also got a ticket out of Phoenix to Los Angeles.  His departure from the Valley leaves lots of wreckage behind as the Suns will need to stretch $97 million of his salary over the next 5 seasons, causing a major financial hurdle for a team that needs more talent.  As for the Clippers, they have a lot of old dudes and are a textbook example of a "Win Now" team.  And with the addition of 40 year old Chris Paul, the clock is definitely ticking on the veteran team's "window." 22:00 ... With all the old guys on the Clippers, the crew suggests sponsors whose logos can appear on the uniform jerseys of the team.  Everyone took a shot and Ross's choice of "Depends" adult diapers was the clear winner among the crew. 23:40 ... 35 year old Damian Lillard is returning to the Portland Trailblazers and with the recent acquisition of another 35 year old guard, Jrue Holiday, the 48 Minutes crew is scratching their collective heads as to what the strategy of the team will be.  Does it mean that Scoot Henderson is on shaky ground with the Blazers? 28:56 ... Ross leads a discussion on Giannis and whether any of these moves might make him appreciate being in Milwaukee. 31:42 ... Former Celtic Marcus Smart will soon join the Lakers after being bought out by the Wizards.  Bruce and many other Celtics fans are all "up in their feelings" over this move. 35:05 ... Victor Wembanyama has been cleared to play again after suffering from blood clots in his shoulder last season.  These are exciting times in San Antonio with Wemby joining Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on a team that will be a "League Pass Obsession." 37:53 ... The New Orleans Pelicans are looking like a hot mess tossed into a dumpster fire.  They've spent the entire off season making one questionable move after another.  Over the weekend, their top rookie Derik Queen suffered a wrist injury that will sideline him for three months.  New boss Joe Dumars is off to a "bumpy" start to say the least. 42:35 ... Good news in Denver .... recently acquired Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to stop his pursuit of a deal with a team in Greece and will play for the Nuggets as the backup for Nikola Jokic.  It's the right thing to do and the Denver fans deserve his best effort, even if he just plays one season for the Nuggets. 45:24 .... This week it's Ross's turn to try and stump his partners with this week's "Card Challenge."  Some of the players that Ross used to put Bruce and "World B" on the spot were Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, Yao Ming, David Lee, Gary Payton, Andre Iguodala, Bruce Bowen, and Dwight Howard. 53:48 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ... TRT 54:05      

Aniello Piro and Brandon Stokley with Mark Schlereth kick off the fourth hour unpacking their guest spot with James Merilatt, discussing the pressure that Barron has to perform immediately as they set expectations for the rest of the defense. Stink gives his take on the Nuggets’ offseason after Cam Johnson was introduced as a member of the Nuggets and he gives his read on the Jonas Valanciunas situation after some good news from Ben Tenzer. All three guys air their grievances against Mike as Stink gets to see how big the Big Board of BS has gotten. They chat about the Broncos’ skill positions. Aniello, Stink, and Stoke finish today’s show breaking down everything on Marvin Mims’ plate between his duties on offense and special teams.

Shea and Jason salute the best of NBA Summer League in Vegas, and scratch their heads why so many rookies are sitting out with injuries. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns give Devin Booker a record breaking two-year, $145 million contract extension, Jonas Valanciunas is actually trying to leave the NBA to play in Greece, and Celtic coach Joe Mazzulla wants to “escape the room.” Plus, the guys get pumped for what's shaping up to be a WNBA All-Star Weekend for the ages.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Six Trophies on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/six-trophies/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's Mortcast, Jeff talks about the theory of depth behind the Nuggets approach to this offseason. IF it works correctly the Nuggets should win 60 games (knock on wood). Jeff also goes over the VERY public messaging to Jonas Valanciunas about his role from the Nuggets and what that means. Enjoy the show!

0:00 - Ben Tenzer joined PHD yesterday and offered his side of Jonas Valanciunas situation. 17:04 - The MLB All-Star game is still the King of Exhibitions. Last night's game was awesome, and no other leagues have a comparable All-Star game. Not even close. Why is that?34:45 - Broncos first round draft pick Jahdae Barron finally signed his rookie deal! RJ Harvey is the last remaining unsigned rookie. That Texans 2nd-round draft pick who signed a full guaranteed deal really muddied the waters for everyone.

0:00 - Pat Surtain II signed the most expensive Cornerback contract in NFL history like a year ago. Now, it's maybe 4th highest? People keep one-upping our boy!12:33 - Jokic has a special relationship with his brothers. They had a large part in turning Jokic into the player he is today. A bond between brothers is specially, espeically when it comes to sports. 26:20 - Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Jon Wallace joined us to offer more clarity on the Jonas Valanciunas situation. And even after all the moves him and Tenzer have made so far, what deficiencies does the team still have? We asked him what his next move(s) will be.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene following DaRon Holmes II's glorious return to NBA Summer League. Among the topics discussed: + Nikola Jokic caused a stir in NBA circles by ... doing nothing?! Denver's MVP center became extension-eligible last week but declined to sign on the dotted line, according to league sources. Here's why Nuggets fans need not freak out — yet. + Jonas Valanciunas caused a stir in NBA circles by ... visiting Greece?! The recently acquired backup to Jokic was offered a three-year contract by EuroLeague power Panathinaikos, and Valanciunas signaled mutual interest by visiting Greece. Yet the Nuggets hold all the cards. What happens next? + Nuggets big man DaRon Holmes II returned to NBA Summer League a year after rupturing an Achilles tendon at the very same venue. How did the second-year player look? And how might he slot into what's becoming a deep Nuggets rotation? + With the Cam Johnson-MPJ trade now complete, the fellas ponder if the Nuggets might now have a better starting five than when the franchise won the NBA title in 2023. What's Denver's best public park? You better believe the fellas have some opinions. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

MLB All Star Game, Nuggets Summer League and Jonas Valanciunas

Richie Carni and Brandon Stokley without Mark Schlereth kick off the fourth hour getting up to their runner-up’s on their Daily Top 5: Sports Rants. The Broncos have a lot of question marks in the wide receiver group and Richie is wondering if the Broncos are missing one of their ex’s right about now. Stink gets all caught up on the Daily Top 5: Sports Rants, including an unhinged rant that the boys behind the scenes had to work overtime on. Richie, Stink, and Stoke finish today’s show discussing the impact of Jonas Valanciunas now the trade is official before rounding out the Daily Top 5: Sports Rants.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to ESPN’s list of top 10 offensive tackles in the NFL. With Garrett Bolles and Mike McGlinchy not making the list or honorable mentions, should they feel disrespected? We dive into the trend of many NFL second round picks not having signed their rookie contracts yet including Broncos second round pick, RJ Harvey. How will veteran players view rookies “holding out” without playing a down of NFL football yet? The Nuggets trade for Jonas Valanciunas finally went through over the weekend and yet we still have uncertainty if he will play for the Nuggets this season. Should the Nuggets play hard ball with Valanciunas and make him honor his contract in the NBA? We look at one of the best defenses in NFL history in the ’84 Bears and question if the Broncos can match or better the all-time sack record.

On the latest Mortcast, Jeff talks about the Jonas Valanciunas trade being official. Unfortunately that doesn't mean the saga is over but it does mean that he is now officially a member of the Denver Nuggets. In the second half Jeff talks about LeBron James and his very public frustration over his inability to direct the Lakers moves and how that is playing out publicly. Enjoy the show!

0:00 - Now that Jonas Valanciunas is officially a Nugget, Moser wrote a letter to Greece to express some deep feelings he's having.18:23 - Anthony Edwards is running his mouth again and talking trash about the Nuggets. But the worst part is...we can't really say anything about it. Also, the Rockies drafted Ethan Holliday in the MLB Draft. If you're Matt, how do you feel about your son going to the Rockies given the current state of the organization?33:53 - Brett experienced something this weekend that's completely unacceptable in America. We used to be a country. A proper country. 

00:00 NBA High Five.15:40 Latest on Jonas Valanciunas.31:30 More on the Nuggets.

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley open today’s show with a new Friday tradition before they take some time to bash Russ again. Mike answers some “Is It Just Me’s” as they highlight DaRon Holmes’ performance in the Summer League coming off of his Achilles tear and get an update on the Jonas Valanciunas situation from the coach’s mouth.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Phil and Richie cross talking with Aniello and Danny. The guys discuss the expectations and pressure on Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels as they head into their second NFL seasons. With Broncos training camp right around the corner, Phil and Richie ask if/when the team will sign Sutton, Allen, Bonitto or JFM to contract extensions. Would paying some and not all of the players looking for extensions cause issues in the locker room? What did the guys make of the first Nuggets summer league game? How did DaRon Holmes look in his first NBA action after tearing his Achilles last year? What did we make of David Adelman’s latest comments on the Jonas Valanciunas situation?

David Adelman made some, uh, interesting comments about Jonas Valanciunas and his role with the Nuggets during Summer League game one. Jeff talks about that and Cam Johnson's perfect 'fit' with the Nuggets and how it's probably more about defensive dexterity than it is offensive fit. Enjoy the show!

On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the news that Nikola Jokic will wait until next offseason to sign an extension with the Denver Nuggets. He also shares a Jonas Valanciunas update before pivoting to DaRon Holmes II and the Nuggets Summer League squad.

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley open today’s show hearing all about Stoke’s tomahawk steaks he grilled up last night. Nikola Jokic turned down an extension this year, is there a cause for concern or is there nothing to see here? The guys introduce the Daily Top 5: Favorite Meals before giving an update on the Jonas Valanciunas situation that has Stoke worried about the worst case scenario. Stoke closes the first hour calling Mike out for being a teacher’s pet and for his unfulfilled promises to the rest of the morning show.

In hour 4 of The Drive, Phil and Richie dive into the Broncos and if Bo Nix will be trending upward this season. How confident are the guys in the Broncos offensive weapons as we head into the season? Is there room for Vele, Harvey, Mims and Franklin to grow into legitimate roles on the Broncos offense?  What is the latest in the Nuggets and Jonas Valanciunas saga? Is Valanciunas’ desire to play in Europe have more to do with a non-guaranteed contract in 2026-2027? What are Valanciunas’ priorities when it comes to him wanting to play in Europe instead of Denver next season? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com’s Will Petersen joining the show to discuss the Avalanche’s offseason moves. With a slow start to free agency, will the Avs still make a splashy move?

In hour 2 of The Drive, Phil and Richie react to Jonas Valanciunas’ comments on potentially being a member of the Nuggets. Is Valanciunas not appreciating the opportunity he has of playing on an NBA championship contender and playing with the best player in the world? What are Valanciunas’ priorities when it comes to him wanting to play in Europe instead of the Nuggets next season? Today’s “Three Count” features the MLB using the ABS system for challenges in the All-Star game, Abdul Carter having a very interesting signature, and TSA announcing they will no longer require passengers to take off their shoes while going through security. We react to Coach Prime’s comments from Big 12 media day today. What should the expectations be for the Buffs this season and how will Deion handle his first quarterback competition in Juju Lewis and Kaidon Salter?

0:00 - Moser's really taking this whole Jonas Valanciunas situation personally. Yesterday, Katy Winge said it might be rooted in some deeper issues...14:59 - Ex-NHL player Nick Tarnasky was golfing this weekend and someone picked a fight with him on the course. Terrible idea. Turns out...former NHLers are still tough dudes.30:55 - The Greeks have completely and totally invaided our show across Twitch, YouTube, Twitter/X, you name it. Their onslaught has been swift and fierce.

00:00 NBA High Five.18:30 Patrick Mahomes body-shamed.33:55 More on Jonas Valanciunas.

00:00 Marvin Mims comments.14:50 Update on Jonas Valanciunas.33:40 Rockies lose big in Boston.

Verno and Jacoby recap the latest string of free agency news, including Paolo Banchero's contract extension, where Jonas Valanciunas will play, and more. Next, they discuss which offseason moves they think will turn out disastrous and which moves are perfect fits. (0:00) Welcome to The Mismatch!(0:50) Summer League Takeaways(4:20) Reaction to the Norm Powell-John Collins Trade(8:55) Expect Jonas Valančiūnas to Play for the Nuggets?(13:53) Paolo Banchero Signs Extension with Magic(17:08) Grizzlies Trade Away Jay Huff, Sign Jock Landale(23:50) Why is Malik Beasley Still Unsigned?(28:15) More Free Agency & Trade Reactions(31:17) Disaster Fit: Pelicans Draft Derik Queen(34:17) Disaster Fit: Deandre Ayton Signs with The Lakers(39:15) Disaster Fit: Jrue Holiday with the Blazers(44:03) Disaster Fit: Bucks Waive Dame to Sign Myles Turner(46:35) Disaster Fit: Spurs Sign Luke Kornet(50:48) Disaster Fit: The Brooklyn Nets(53:12) Perfect Fit: DFS on the Rockets(55:35) Perfect Fit: The Atlanta Hawks(57:48) Perfect Fit: Former Grizzlies on the Magic(59:48) Perfect Fit: Mike Brown Coaching the Knicks(1:02:30) Perfect Fit: Kyle Lowry Signs with the 76ers(1:05:40) What's Next for Chris Paul?(1:07:15) Perfect Fit: Nuggets Offseason Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! (323) 389-5091 Hosts: Chris Vernon and David JacobyProducers: Jessie Lopez and Tucker TashjianSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley open today’s show recapping a very sore Mike’s return to the softball field as well as highlighting the wonders of Sam’s Club. Mike tells the 6am listeners why he’s hoping the Jonas Valanciunas trade falls through. They introduce the Daily Top 5: Non-Super Bowl Broncos Memories as well as the Top 25 movies of this century. The guys read an article about the Chiefs that makes the bile rise in their throats to end the first hour.

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley with Mark Schlereth enter the third hour banging the table for Al Horford over Jonas Valanciunas. They discuss the Nuggets’ core four and Jokic’s new supermax options. Stink hops on the show to share some of his own Sam’s Club stories while Mike shares a story from Brad Pitt. They get Stink caught up on the Daily Top 5: Non-Super Bowl Broncos Memories. Zach Allen got onto the NFL Top 100 list and the guys hear what his peers have to say about him to finish the third hour.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to ESPN listing Marvin Mims as a “luxury player”. Has Mims proved himself beyond just a gadget player and should he be considered a true number two receiver? We react to Nikola Jokic reportedly not signing his contract extension this offseason. Is Jokic leaving his options open or waiting for the bigger pay day next summer? What did Jonas Valanciunas have to say about his ongoing situation with the Nuggets?  What can we expect from Deion Sanders at Big 12 media day tomorrow? With the NFL’s top 100 players list coming out, we debate where Patrick Surtain will be ranked. Does Pat Surtain have a chance at winning the defensive player of the year award in consecutive seasons? Will Surtain be ranked as the highest defensive player in the NFL on the list?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil take a deep dive into the Broncos history at tight end since 2015. Will the addition of Evan Engram be the solution the Broncos have been looking for at tight end? Will Engram be able to top Noah Fant’s production from the early 2000’s? We react to the latest with Jonas Valanciunas and the Nuggets. What did Valanciunas have to say about the situation, and could the Nuggets have a better option at back-up big? We have NBA news as Bradley Beal intends to sign with the Clippers after being waived by the Suns. Does this move change the guys’ opinion of the Clippers? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com’s Will Petersen joining the show to discuss Jokic not signing an extension with the Nuggets this offseason and what we can expect from Deion Sanders at Big 12 media day tomorrow.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross talking with Aniello and Danny. The guys react to the Broncos low ranking when it comes to offensive weapons. Will another wide receiver make a jump in their game, or will the Broncos bring in a veteran option at wide receiver? Zach and Phil share their stories from golfing over the weekend and Phil losing his putter on the course. Today marks the first day Jokic can sign a three-year $206 million extension with the Nuggets, but will he sign this offseason or wait a year? With the Jonas Valanciunas situation with the Nuggets still up in the air, we look at alternative options and debate if Al Horford would be a better fit with the roster. With the NFL’s top 100 players list coming out, we debate where Patrick Surtain will be ranked and if he will be the top defensive player.

0:00 ... Open animation ... Ross Geiger welcome and introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer. 0:33 ... Show #164 is dedicated to Phoenix guards Jalen Green and Bradley Beal, both of whom stand 6-4. 0:52 ... Norman Powell is traded to Miami, John Collins is traded to the Clippers, and Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson go to Utah ... we'll discuss the deal from the perspective of all three teams.  Everyone agrees that Miami won this trade. 6:37 ... Kevin Durant is finally in Houston after an historic 7 team trade.  Besides the Rockets and Suns, five other teams get spare parts and second round picks while Houston moves closer to OKC in the west and Phoenix "embraces the rebuild." 9:58 ... The Rockets made another significant trade, sending Cam Whitmore to Washington where he will have a chance to play near his Maryland home.  The Wizards have made some bold moves and Bruce thinks they may be this year's version of the Pistons who could double their win total of 18 from last season. 14:28 ... What is Bradley Beal's future in Phoenix?  Bruce thinks he could be a dynamic 6th man for a good team since whichever team picks him up after his buyout in Phoenix will not be paying him max money since Phoenix will be paying most of his salary. 20:53 ... The Pacers lost Myles Turner, who signed with Milwaukee as a free agent but they acquired Jay Huff from Memphis.  Standing 7-1, he's not a great shot blocker or rebounder but makes 40% of his three point attempts.  It will be his 5th team in 5 seasons. 24:02 ... Paolo Banchero signed a huge rookie max extension on Monday with Orlando for 5 years and almost $240 million.  There will be great expectations with all Orlando's young stars signed to long-term deals. 26:22 ... Jaxson Hayes re-signs with the Lakers after being benched in the 2025 playoffs which is somewhat surprising.  Will he have a good relationship with LA coach JJ Redick?  It should be an interesting storyline moving forward. 29:46 ... The Knicks have officially locked up Mike Brown as their next head coach.  Everyone likes the hire and his style should work well with a mature veteran team that won't mind being challenged. 32:07 ... Summer League action is underway and some of the young guys are impressing everyone right out of the gate.  VJ Edgecombe of Philly scored 28 in his debut and could make an immediate impact for the 76ers.  Ace Bailey of Utah had an uneven debut but showed ability at both ends of the court. 36:33 ... Nikola Topic of OKC finally made his debut on Saturday and had 14 points against Memphis.  Finding minutes as a rookie with the defending champs won't be easy, but Topic has the goods to make it in the NBA. 39:08 .... The Memphis Grizzlies have a loaded Summer League roster with three rotation players participating.  Ross predicts they'll be the Summer League champions. 42:31 ... It's time for the Classic Card Challenge where Bruce pulls random cards of former players and quizzes Ross and World B.   Those dudes show serious knowledge and a great sense of NBA history. 51:05 ... Final Thoughts ..... Bruce on Jonas Valanciunas, who was traded from New Orleans to Denver but is trying to bolt for a Euroleague team in Greece.  Bruce has always admired Valanciunas but this move shows that winning an NBA title just isn't that important to him. 52:26 ... World B on James Wiseman, who signed a one year deal with Indiana after missing last season with an achilles injury.  World B is rooting for him in his comeback. 54:03 ... Ross feels the Las Vegas Summer League will be spectacular this month. 54:56 ... Ross says goodbye TRT 55:10              

JR on the Kevonte Turpin arrest over 4th of July weekend. | The Nationals clean house with their manager and general manager. | JR on the MLB All-Star rosters and horrible broadcast schedule. | JR on Paolo Banchero's extension and Jonas Valanciunas not wanting to be in the NBA. |

00:00 NBA High Five.15:30 More on the Jonas Valanciunas situation.37:00 More getting to know Matt Moore.

Another professional player is under investigation for gambling. This time it's in baseball again. Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians is on leave right now as the league looks into a few pitches he threw. That's right… this is on PITCHES! Jonas Valanciunas has to honor his contract. That's what the Denver Nuggets said after trading for the center. He wants to play in Greece. Oh well! Big Beautiful Bill talk. What happened in Texas over the weekend is incredibly sad, and terrifying. My time at the San Siro in Italy. What a stadium. An old stadium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Mon.'s No Dunks, the guys discuss some early Summer League standouts, breaking news of the Clippers-Jazz-Heat three-way deal, the Rockets trading Cam Whitmore to the Wizards, the Suns discussing a possible Bradley Beal buyout, Jonas Valanciunas contemplating playing for Greece, and the best free agents still available.

Another professional player is under investigation for gambling. This time it's in baseball again. Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians is on leave right now as the league looks into a few pitches he threw. That's right… this is on PITCHES! Jonas Valanciunas has to honor his contract. That's what the Denver Nuggets said after trading for the center. He wants to play in Greece. Oh well! Big Beautiful Bill talk. What happened in Texas over the weekend is incredibly sad, and terrifying. My time at the San Siro in Italy. What a stadium. An old stadium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley open today’s show with a recap of Mike’s vacation to Cabo as they talk about, what else, golfing. They discuss golfing with the missus before they dig into whether the Nuggets did the right thing playing hardball with Jonas Valanciunas. Mike tells us about his precious time with Stink, they highlight the lone Rockies All-Star, and they rant about the bean counters at Coors Field. They debate the efficacy of Mike’s head as a floatation device before Mike builds up some hope that maybe the Broncos’ boogeyman is going away.

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley open the second hour with some proof that the Broncos are on the rise. Mike takes a victory lap about his sustained hatred of Michael Porter Jr after seeing all of the big moves the Nuggets made and how it has affected their title odds. Mike and Stoke discuss disgruntled employees; are the Nuggets playing with fire playing hardball with Jonas Valanciunas and are the Broncos running the risk of holdouts with their pending extensions? What’s Trending? The lone All-Star from the Rox, Joey Chestnut’s intro, Brad Pitt’s new blockbuster, and a friend of Jokic’s dominance.

Mike Evans and Brandon Stokley with Mark Schlereth enter the third hour wondering if the Nuggets just opened themselves up to a locker room cancer after strong-arming Jonas Valanciunas to honor his contract. They discuss whether Mahomes is still the boogeyman or if he has fallen back to the QB pack. We get story time with Stink featuring a brand-new story about a M.O.B. during his vacation cruise. They have a very relaxed James Merilatt on to get his thoughts on the Nuggets’ free agent moves, the Valanciunas situation, bad contracts, and impending deals for the Broncos to finish the third hour.

In hour 3 of The Drive, Zach and Phil react to the first batch of the NFL’s top 100 player rankings. Zach Allen was featured in the #90-100 list, is this disrespectful and should he have been ranked higher? We dive into the odd situation between the recently added Jonas Valanciunas and the Nuggets. What is the likelihood that Valanciunas does not play for the Nuggets this season and instead in Europe, as he reportedly wants to? Does Valanciunas have any leverage over the organization for the Nuggets to allow him to play overseas? What do the guys make of Myles Garrett advocating for Joe Flacco to be the starter in Cleveland over Shedeur Sanders? We wrap up the hour with the Broncos and Zach asks if John Franklin-Meyers is an underrated and underpaid player that the team should be looking to keep in Denver.

Hour 1 of The Drive kicks off with Zach and Phil cross talking with Aniello and Danny. The guys discuss the ongoing story of Jonas Valanciunas reportedly wanting to return to Europe to play basketball and not honoring his contract with the Nuggets. Will the Nuggets be the “nice guy” and allow Valanciunas to play in Europe? Zach and Phil recap their 4th of July weekend. How bad of a loss would Valanciunas be for the Nuggets’ second unit? We pivot to the Broncos and Zach asks if John Franklin-Meyers is an underrated and underpaid player that the team should be looking to keep in Denver. If the Zach and Phil were the GM of the Broncos, which looming contract extensions would they prioritize?

In hour 4 of The Drive, Zach and Phil continues their conversation about John Franklin-Meyers and his future with the Broncos. Could there be a difference of opinions on Nik Bonitto and the value he brings to the team? Is there enough money and cap space for all four major Broncos looking for contract extensions? Will we see any contract extensions before training camp starts? How important is it for the Broncos to re-sign George Paton as he enters the final year of his contract? We wrap up the show with DenverSports.com’s John Davis joining the show to discuss the odd situation between Jonas Valanciunas and the Nuggets.

0:00 - Vic keeps finding snakes in his house. Yikes. Why'd it have to be snakes? Also, why would Jonas Valanciunas choose to play basketball in Greece instead of the NBA?18:02 - The NFL is releasing their annual Top 100 list, and Zach Allen came in at #90. If he's the 90th best player in the NFL, you're gonna have to pay him, right? PAY him.33:36 - A Texas Tech player signed a 3-year FULLY GUARANTEED NIL DEAL. Yet again, the line between college sports and pro sports continues to blur. 

0:00 - Jonas Valanciunas is a Nugget now...or is he? Supposedly, he wants to play ball in Greece instead. That would require the Nuggets to buy him out of his NBA contract and free him up. That was a weird story that emerged over the weekend. If Valanciunas doesnt want to be here, do we want him?15:09 - DMac called the cops on some kids who set off fireworks in his neighborhood. Was he justified? The Man Himself joins our show to defend himself.33:28 - Brent Burns is now a member of the Avalanche. Do we like the addition? Can Burnsie help with the defensive depth?

00:00 Matt Moore is in with Nate talking about the Jonas Valanciunas situation.

NBA's first 7-team trade l Jonas Valanciunas l Tarik Skubal l Paul Skenes l HR Derby l NFL's Top 100 list l TJ Watt l Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the surprisingly complicated situation between the Denver Nuggets and Jonas Valanciunas, who no longer wants to play in the NBA and appears to have signed a contract in Greece. Where do the Nuggets go from here? Ryan discusses a variety of backup center options for the Nuggets in his stead.

On the latest Mortcast, Jeff talks about the weird saga of Jonas Valanciunas, his (reported) desire to play in Greece and questions the Denver Nuggets brass needs to answer after this whole saga concludes. Enjoy the show!

For the final hour of the show Danny White and Marcello sit in. Who would you rather have at QB, Bo Nix or the rest of the field. Caleb Willams or Justin Herbert. The conversation is rehashed on whether Jonas Valanciunas stays in Denver or looks for greener pastures to play ball.

On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the latest moves by the Denver Nuggets to sure up their bench unit, trading Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas and signing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a veteran minimum. Both are incredible deals for Denver and have suddenly turned Denver into a much deeper, more put-together roster. Is the 2026 NBA Title on the table?