HOUR 1 | Utah Jazz: What’s the Plan? | Reddick or Not, Here He Comes | Technical Fouls
[Music] welcome back welcome back welcome back welcome back yeah man how you doing you good I know you like welcome into the Saturday show everybody hope you’re doing well on this Saturday morning I’m Jay catch and we kind of got a new era of the Saturday show getting underway today now we’ve been off the last two weeks that’s obviously coinciding with me being off on some parental leave so uh thank you for bearing with us on that but I am still here but we’re making a little bit of a change in the lineup as they say and we’re going to have a little bit of a trio of co-hosts now so uh going to have two of our fellow produc two two of my fellow producers I should say uh here at the Zone joining me on a regular basis uh we’re going to do an hour with both of them today so first up Alex naphos what’s up dude how’s it going doing well thanks for doing this by the way absolutely thank you uh excited to have you be a part of it now Christian as spars will be the other individual whose voice you people will hear pretty regularly and I figured you know what we’re going to launch this let’s do it the right way have both you guys on let you guys kind of explain who you are Etc now you’ve been with the station are we at a year yet not yet okay it’ll be one year on in August so in a few couple weeks okay so uh so you haven’t been here that long but you’re a veteran at this point because we have some turn over from time to time and it seems like our producers we turn over fair fair amount but uh Alex you’ve been uh pretty well known I think in soccer circles with your work on the RS SL show which is uh partnered with KSL Sports it’s actually house on KSL sports.com right yes that’s right uh you do a great job with that you guys actually had who was it that you had on recently um it was um uh DJ um ocalypse right yes yep we did we did something with ir Rock uh a while back and he’s such a cool guy such an awesome guy to get to know and like sit down and talk to super funny guy so yeah we just like to you know sit around and have fun like that so well you guys like to ch it up and that’s what kind of what we do here on this show so it’s been fun uh I guess first thing for me and we’ll I as we typically do on the Saturday I like to start off the show with the your highlight of your week anything you got in mind that was the highlight of the week so far I think for me obviously I’m a big Sports nerd but I’m also a big music nerd you work in you work in sports radio breaking news everybody nonetheless go ahead uh big music nerd as well on top of that and so I think my highlight of the week had to be Wednesday night watching the soccer game and then on the other screen having the Kendrick Lamar concert that everybody’s talking about because it’s a it was a big historical moment in hip-hop and it was awesome to just be able to watch it now he put Drake on blast once again as part of it but it was it was in like one of those iconic concerts it’s still being talked about it’s kind of crazy and I was doing the RSL game that night and I was seeing tweets about I’m like why did Kendrick like release a new diss track cuz initially I didn’t see that he was having a concert I’m like oh great are we are we back with the diss tracks and I found out that he was doing a concert and he essentially did a diss track like five straight times yes yes he closed the show with five with not like us five times yeah which uh yeah that moment’s just going to go down and music history good stuff so all right so music music all right uh are you a hip-hop connoisseur or is that all types um if I VI if if I Vibe with it I Vibe with it like you know I’ll I’ll throw in some classic rock in there I’ll some some uh some indie some pop you know just depends if if it’s if it’s good if if it’s if it gives you the the emotions of vibing with it I I okay so all music then ESS okay very cool all right so let’s get into the meat and potatoes portion of today’s show let’s talk a little about the NBA Utah Jazz in particular now NBA finals are over so we’re kind of in that weird lull right now where it’s like okay the drafts next week but we haven’t necessarily had a ton to talk about but we do have some movement going on I want to start off uh with your thought thoughts on the Jazz let’s start off local we’ll go National here in a minute uh give me your feel now the Utah Jazz have three picks uh two of them in the first round one early on in the second round I want first answer from you Alex what I’ll give you my answer too on this what are the percentage chances you think the Jazz take all make all three of those selections I give it a 5050 oh I’m not even that high I’m like 30% really yeah I I think that they trade at least one maybe two of those well the there’s room rumor sand for sure sure and but there always is this is this is the Liars Club that’s going on right now like Hey we’re interested in this player sure you are okay no but the thing about it is the Jazz took three guys last year and all three of them are still on the roster today Bryce sensah Taylor Hendricks as well as keontay George I just don’t see them having another three rookies on this roster now I can also acknowledge the fact that this is a team that’s in flux to a very large degree who knows what ultimately looks like by the end of free agency and the like so you think it’s 50/50 on them taking all three picks which one do you think they’re most likely to move if they move it though I think the one that has the most value right the one that’s going to get you like a a good player if you decide to trade away has to be that 10th pick I think yeah I think if if teams are calling the Jazz and talking about potential trades I think teams are going to be looking at that 10th pick just because it has the most value and it’s it’s going to be the highest pick obviously in this upcoming draft okay so with that we’ve been talking about this on DJ and PK as well and I know you filled in for me for they talking about probably when you were filling in too is that there’s a whole the the quote from Danny a we’re going big game hunting now there’s the rumor out there about Zack LaVine stuff there’s all rumors about them potentially wanting to move off Walker Kesler uh I had a conversation with a buddy of mine who is he is as big a jazz fan as anybody not that we had that conversation on Thursday day and he he thinks that he’s like there’s one sacred cow that’s the ter there’s one sacred cow on this roster and it’s Lowry marinin but even Lowry’s been rumored to be on the move so I guess Alex let’s let’s dive in what what do you let’s say at the end of this let’s say by September when training Camp’s about to get going what in your mind would constitute the Utah Jazz having gone quote unquote big game hunting this is a league that’s fueled by Superstars right this is a team this is a league that you you have the top top players on playing you know top tier basketball so I think what constitute big game hunting is finding another Superstar to coincide with the superstar that you already have in Larry Markin and I think lar is a piece that you have to hold on to I would agree with you on that and then you have to get him support you have to bring in another Superstar quote unquote to help Lori Markin in that’s the way I see big game hunting okay is that is I don’t know if it’s realistic yeah sure I I you’re come from but here’s my question for me Zack LaVine ain’t it no but we had David lock on with DJ and PK yesterday was DJ PK was out but he said that you want to have top 100 players that’s what you need you need to have talent on the roster and Zack LaVine is a top 100 player in the NBA and I I agree with that and Lock’s whole thing was you need talent there I just look at it and DJ came up to a very good point that the next media right still for the NBA is going to if unless they do the smoothing of the cap with the NBA Players Association which they didn’t do last time that 40 some odd million dollar contract annually for LaVine actually is palatable under the future salar caps the projections of those I just don’t know if Zack LaVine is the guy you want here right now if he is going to be a part of a core that’s supposed to in theory make you a playoff SL Contender does that make sense yes no 100% and I think it comes a lot to do with the fact that you know Zack lven over the course of the last couple years has kind of built himself a reputation of being a little bit of a of a Deva right there was situations in Chicago where him and dear weren’t on the same page there were situations where him and the head coach weren’t on the same page and he made his his frustrations uh visible he made his frustrations known to the media that you know he was frustrated in those situations and so I don’t know if that’s necessarily a guy you want to bring into the culture of the Utah Jazz but at the same time he Zack LaVine isn’t the same Zack LaVine he was three years ago um his his game has definitely declined and I don’t know if it’s because of the situation that Chicago was just you know had and and and made um with bringing in d rozan i it was supposed to make him title contenders it was supposed to make him a very good team and I just don’t think it’s worked out that way for Chicago well and they’re blowing it up yes like they traded uh Alex Caruso to OKC they got Josh giddy in return and Josh giddy’s G’s a fine player don’t get me wrong but I’m hardly looking at that saying hey you know what Chicago just got better I just Oklahoma City got better I think with Alexus absolutely and they should be even better than they were cuz he is a very very good especially on defense like he’s a lock down guard I I think they essentially they’re pushing the eject button in Chicago they’re they’re gonna blow it up niika vukovich uh they’ve got talk about Demar like you just look at you’re like okay they they tried you’re right they brought in like they brought in dear and they were like okay but a bunch of guys over the age of 30 and you’re not going any anywhere I think they’re looking at the reality they are at best fifth fourth if they get lucky third in the Eastern Conference and they just had the Boston Celtics run Ru sha through the playoffs and they’re like we on that level no we have Milwaukee’s level no all right well time to start over let’s reset so that could yield I gu see Zack that’s the one of the rumors we’ve heard out there now you talk about wanting to get a superstar to pair with L marketing I have been a person and I’ll just inject my thought right real quick I’ll get your reaction to it is that low is the perfect compliment to a true number one now Lowry has been playing in that number one role and I think he’s been fine but I think the Jazz to in theory do what they want to do which is emulate what Boston is doing and just winning that title like they did and by the way congratulations that was a really cool to see them do that CU remember there were so many people doubting them it’s like okay but Jaylen Brown Derek white you look at Jason Tatum obviously doing their thing I feel like Lowry is perfectly suited to play the quote unquote Jaylen Brown role where you have a superstar alongside you and I’m not saying Jaylen Brown’s not a he could he could be number one I think in certain circumstances but if you can go out and find that Alpha whatever the the top tier player and make l the the robin to their Batman I think that’s the ideal scenario now that’s easy said right actually doing that and finding that because who knows what player or players come available that’s a big question mark in of itself how many draft assets slash players SL salary you’ve got to give up to make that happen but David lock said it last year there were rumors about Luca donic being unhappy in in Dallas and David said if Luca dones comes available the Utah Jazz have to cash in everything that they can they can to get him now they making a run to the NBA finals this year it looks like Luca is sticking around in Dallas for a while so is there somebody out there in your mind Alex that they’re that Alpha that the Jazz could go get in theory or you’d like to see them pursue that is out there cuz I I’d like to think that there’s somebody out there but I just don’t the the cost maybe prohibitive if that makes sense oh absolutely and you always have to look at cost you always have to look at salary before making those moves but I think I think we’re both in agreement that you have to hold on to lari yes he’s he’s the consumate modern forward he’s seven feet he can shoot the three he can play inside out he fits exactly with the modern NBA demands of a of a player of his caliber I just he doesn’t have number one material to me like he just he has the ability take over games at times but he can’t seemingly do it at will and you need to have somebody out there Jason Tatum when he wants to go get a bucket he can get it I keep going back to the Celtics conversation but there’s there are multiple guys like that and I want to see the Jazz have one of those guys because I think low would be the perfect compliment to one of them I think look at the end of the day like Chicago isn’t going to be the only team that’s going to be looking to kind of reset start over there’s there’s a couple of teams in the NBA that have kind of built their roster and hasn’t really worked out for them so I think that where the Jazz need to start I think that’s where the Jazz need to look because there’s going to be quote unquote Superstars that might be looking to move on teams might be looking to move on from them and I think Phoenix might be a good Market to look at it hasn’t really worked out for Phoenix well who Devin Booker might a little bit yes exactly Deon Booker might be a little bit unhappy down there with the situation building a super team and not really having it work out those are the teams that the Jazz has to look at in order to pick off a a a superstar a top tier caliber player who can potentially come in and help lry marinin now Deon Booker is a bit of a lightning rod but I just you mentioning his name brought something to my mind you know who his favorite coach when he was with the Phoenix Suns was who was that some guy by the name of Kevin young oh interesting who may currently be the head coach of the BYU Cougars and Danny a obviously has a relationship with BYU so it does Ryan Smith so I’m not saying it’s impossible Devin would fill that role as that true number one in my mind now I know that there are Jazz fans and NBA fans who are listening to Today’s Show saying are you kidding me I really think he has that in him he is you talk about maturing like his game is matured he’s no longer the the conate bucket getter remember he scored that he had that 70 some odd point game like those days for Deon Booker seem to be in the past he seems like he’s understood okay I got to play more in the framework of having a team around me and you’re right Phoenix Matt ishia went all in with a big splash thinking okay I’m going to get my Trio together we’re going get our group of the triplets to use that Dallas Cowboys reference from the from the ’90s I’m going to bring in Kevin Durant we got Bradley Bill we got Deon Booker we’re going to be great and it’s you’re right it is not worked and let’s just put it this way the way the salary cap is structured that second apron we’re getting into some really technical jargon if you want to learn about it go listen to Bobby marks or somebody from ESPN who can explain it far better than I can but essentially they’re in trouble like they they have no ability to move and oh by the way to make the moves that they made they mortgage the future with their draft picks and the like so you’re right you’re probably looking at a phoenix saying all right what are you guys gonna do are you gonna are you gonna claim that everything’s hunky dory when we know it’s not do you make a phone call down there if you’re Danny a or Justin xanx saying okay let’s be real you guys know that you need to make a move what’s going to take to get book and it’s going to take a lot trust me if you want to leverage a player of his caliber out of a position like that that draft War chest that all those picks you’re going to be partnered with a number of them as well as some fairly decent players on this Jazz roster may it may necessitate a keontay George or a Taylor Hendricks going in that deal because they want young players in return is it worth it though I think if you want to go big game hunting now yes yes but if you’re still if you’re still in the process of trying to really rebuild with these young Stars then then maybe you know that’s not a situation you want to look at but if if if the big game hunting is now if you want to win kind of head more towards a direction of win now then that is a move that you’re probably looking to make now I’m with you on that because it’s all dependent on the philosophy of Utah Jazz are pursuing but Danny AG doesn’t tuck a lot he just he doesn’t he does he doesn’t go out and talk to every media Outlet out there it’s just not how he operates but when he’s made that statement he didn’t make that statement I think I think just for making a statement sake he he wants to turn this around I and I think that Ryan Smith and the Jazz they pay attention to the fan sentiment as well social media has its place let’s be very Frank about that I don’t think they want to be stuck in a Perpetual rebuild because they understand it will turn off Jazz fans now they also were adding in the the fact that you’re bringing an NHL team to town that’s going to probably take some eyeballs away from the Jaz so you want to obviously you got to those all those options but it’s all philosophically what they have in mind and I would love to see them go all in like just jump start this right now get Lowry Marin in a compliment to be your top two players see what keontay George evolves into I think Taylor Hendrick DJ talks about he thinks Taylor Hendrick ceiling is a Scotty Pippen type player and if he gets anywhere near that that’s phenomenal but it’s going to it’s there’s a lot of intrigue with this offseason but I don’t want to come September and be sitting there saying well the Jazz didn’t make any moves really they drafted a bunch of guys and we’re in for another 20 to 30 win season and another lottery I I do not want to see that yes yeah and look I think I just just having this conversation um earlier this week with a with a buddy of mine and we were talking about how obviously the Boston Celtics are the NBA champions sure Danny a had a big hand in that but you go back to where it all started and that was back in 2013 when uh garnet and Pierce were traded away and they brought in all these picks from Brooklyn Leed the Brooklyn yet yes exactly that started in 2013 but how long did it take for them to get to where they are today I don’t think Boston were a good team again in the NBA until probably maybe 2021 and that trade happened in 2013 where you get Jaylen Brown where you get Jason Tatum so it’s a process it’s going to take a while it’s going to take a little bit of patience and we’ve heard this before from the Utah Jazz brass it’s going to take some patience and the project I think that they’re trying to build right now is trying to replicate a little bit of what we just saw with the Boston Celtics well and I’m with you on that they want to have a lineup That is versatile it can play inside out it can play five out it can just they want to be able to play positionist basketball and that’s inv vog trust me every NBA team every college team every high school team would love to have that have that capability and you’re right right now it’s all about accumulating talent for the Jazz but the talent it comes in different bunches you talk about draft picks Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum are homegrown talents for the Boston Celtics for Danny a and by the way he has made he made some he has made incredible moves throughout his run as a front office executive to essentially move out of the number one pick still end up with possibly the best player in that draft class by jumping to three was just a master stroke and I think he’s endeavoring to do as you mentioned similar things here with the Utah Jazz but Jazz fans I think that they’re grumpy about like how long is this going to take well you’re right the the initial move or moves that led to the 2024 NBA title as you mentioned a decade plus ago yes 11 years ago can you jump start that in any way shape or form that is to be determined but that that’s how long it can take at times and yeah and like I said it requires patience but definitely like we’re talking about if you go big game hunting you bring in a big player now you definitely give a little bit more give a little bit more of a jump start to that rebuild to that adding that talent to that roster and now you’re looking you maybe accelerated your your potential to be a title Contender by maybe five years if you bring in a guy like Booker yeah and it’d be interesting to see what they ultimately can pursue and now the other thing about it is I I talked about the conversation I had with my friend and he’s I think he’s right there’s only really one sacred cow on this roster and I and I retorted to him I’m like the only other guy that I I I’ll say guys that I say you let it ride on a little bit you don’t necessarily want to move them are keontay George and Taylor Hendricks I I think you want to see what you have with both of so there essentially three guys I would say if you don’t have to move them do not do that but everybody else Jordan Clarkson included are all options everything’s on the table and they have to be at this point like you you you can’t you can’t just sit back and be like all right let’s you you’ve got to be proactive in this circumstance oh absolutely I think as fans we kind of get we obviously we kind of gravitate and levitate to the players that are on the roster and we they become fan favorites and it’s hard to let them go but in the case of like Jordan Clarkson there there also has to be an internal clock where maybe it’s time to say hey we can get something out of him let’s move on right and it’s it it’s unfortunate because Jordan Clarkson is a fan favorite and the the people of Utah love Jordan Clarkson yes and you know trust me the ownership loves Jordan Clarkson yeah yeah and sometimes even I’m I’m a I’m a victim of that because like a guy like Colin seon absolutely love Colin seon sure and I would love yeah I would love to hold on to him but if if the deal is right and if a situation if a if a team comes calling for him and and the deal is right you got to take it it feels that way uh and obviously there are all kinds of unrack negotiations that are going to happen I know low Market I’m just looking this up uh he has he is eligible for a long-term extension but not until early August so free agency will have died down by the time he’s eligible now I think you lock him up you just you do it he he’s too good of a player unless let’s say this the whole Devon Booker situation or another team calls up and says we have this grade a number one option but to get him you got to give us Lowry and maybe you consider at that point but if you if you can avoid it I think you keep lower around you give him the extension you max out however long you can with him and see what you’re capable of uh the other thing about this is I just was reading this do you know how many starting lineups Utah Jazz have used in the last two seasons how many have they used 54 different starting lineups over two seasons there is not a lot of consistency and continuity nor has there been able to be because they’ve jettisoned a bunch of guys at the trade deadline the past two years so I think you’re right you have to both be patient but the second that phone call comes that the deal is there for you move you you you you push all those chips in to use the the gam you you say yeah we’ll do it yep it’s that may come this offseason may come next off season it may never come but you have to be ready for it I just I I get the feeling that Danny a he did not make that statement for nothing he he knows that there is pressure out there to do something Zack LaVine is not it for me that’s just that that’s personal opinion aside but there are going to be other options you’re right Dallas no not Dallas Phoenix is going to have to do something because they’re they’re stuck in a big big way and they’re going to be other teams just like that they’re going to find themselves with that second luxury tax apron saying oh crap we have no ability to do anything hey who’s got some assets out there okay Oklahoma City’s got some the Jazz got let’s make some phone calls and see what we can do and if you’re the Jazz you you sit and find find what you can get now uh real quick actually you know what let’s come back on the other side I want to talk a little bit about JJ reick okay his hire with the with the Los Angeles Lakers makes me chuckle I just that was a bit of a baffling deal but hey we’ll get into more of that also want to talk some soccer with you as well we’ll get all that next coming up right here on 975 the KSL Sports [Music] Zone welcome back to the Saturday show here on 975 the KSL Sports Zone J catch as well as Alex Anapolis breaking things down now the Los Angeles Lakers made a curious move Alex they hired JJ reck from the analyst chair they’re trying to pull their own version of Steve Kerr now yesterday DJ put up a poll question during our show on DJ and PK and essentially asked how many full seasons it’s a forear deal reportedly how many full seasons will JJ Reddit complete with the Los Angeles Lakers I can tell you the majority the overwhelming majority pick two I think that’s right in the realm because if you look at the history of the Lakers that’s kind of what coaches get JJ reick is an interesting higher end of himself but then David lock came on and he thinks he’s gonna go seven years yes Alex’s face what what now he he did clarify saying that essentially uh let’s say that he has an immediate run with LeBron and AD and see what he does that’s two years essentially in theory then LeBron moves on that gives you a little bit of a reprieve maybe to to see what you can rebuild there then ad potentially moves on that’s the way locky is he gets essentially he’s going to find himself with a second contract at some point I’m sitting here I’m like seven years no no offense to JJ reck I just think that the Los Angeles Lakers they are fundamentally flawed as a franchise in terms of the roster in particular and they’re just they’re not patient so give me your thought do what do you think JJ red is going to be as a head coach I think he’s right around in the realm of two three years I I think I think would agree with you I’m not sure about seven but it does seem like the Lakers are in a in a weird situation where at one point the Lakers was probably the most lucrative coaching job out there in the NBA Market Jackson exactly as Pat Riley yeah and now it’s like I don’t know if anybody wants to like really get over there and touch it with the 10- foot pole because it’s just kind of a mess at the moment for the Los Angeles Lakers well it is it is a mess and that that is the problem if you’re the if you’re La is you’re you tried to go and get Dan Hurley and awesome you took a big swing at that and Dan Hurley entertained it talked with him and ultimately decided you know I’m better served to stay where I’m at and good for Dan Hurley but the other thing about this I look at and say I’m like like JJ reic I think he’ll do fine but is he going to elevate the Lakers to a championship level in my heart of hearts no but that may be the jazz fan who can’t stand the Lakers in me that’s saying that I I don’t know am I wrong in saying that no and I I think I think it comes with Merit because the way I see the JJ High the JJ reic hire is it just reminds me of of Vogal it just reminds me of of um ham who just obviously Darin ham who just got fired it it just it read it it reads the same thing to me right it reads kind of the a similar hire Plus in this situation like JJ reck does not have the the coaching experience he has never been a coach he’s never been an assistant he’s never been on a staff he’s he’s never experienced that so you’re bringing in essentially another Vogal to the Los Angeles Lakers but without the experience and you’re and he’s going to have to hire some pretty dang good assistants to help him navigate this there there’s something to be said that he played as long as he did in the NBA and the whole conspiracy theory out there they started this pod with LeBron with the whole notion that behind we’re going to work this and you’re going to end up like here’s the deal I LeBron yeah LeBron manipulates a lot of stuff that one’s a bit of a stretch for me that you decided to create a podcast with the whole golden hey JJ I know you’ve been doing this analyst thing I think you you could be my head coach no I just that does not square up for me but he is he is a neoy when it comes to NBA coaching experience period I think he can get it done but just with how the Lakers are built like that job JJ that’s not the job to take there are other jobs in the NBA you could have pursued but at the same time nobody said Common Sense was all that common I also think it makes a difference and I’m glad you bring up the podcast because I think it makes a difference that he is buddies with LeBron it I think the Lakers wanted to bring someone in with the relationship to LeBron James in efforts to make that LeBron decides to stay in LA because there’s there’s still no 100% certainty on LeBron’s future okay that’s the thing about this Dan Wii from the LA Times he was reporting yesterday if I recall correctly that he expects LeBron to opt out of his current deal now they still expect him to resign with the Lakers now that would be be the same thing it’s always been it’s a two-year deal player option on the second year so it’s in essence a one-year deal it’s just and the whole thing with Brony like Rich Paul I do this with all my clients that we only work out for no you don’t you’re trying to gain the system we it’s not it’s not hard to see the future with LeBron is murky and if you’re JJ like yeah your buddies with him but how long are you going to have him on your roster with two years maybe like that’s that’s the thing about it you’re looking at he’s buddies with him but JJ’s got to come in and he’s got to get it done now there is no like long-term down the road future with the LeBron Le Los Angeles Lakers it is get it done and you get it done next year and if it and if you don’t then you’re looking at a probably an early dismissal for JJ reck and we’re just back to the same situation we are now hey it’s The Never Ending Story with the Los Angeles Lakers that’s what it seems like the Lakers is now unfortunately and you know they went from being one of the most historic storied franchises to now it’s just rinse and repeat rinse and repeat of going through one coach and then getting impatient not meeting expectations but if there’s a franchise that can fa up it’s always the Lakers I mean hey they won the n Season tournament hey what they calling the Emirates cup now whatever they’re calling it because it’s got a sponsor on it do I remember when they when they won that thing all the chat are oh my goodness the Lakers watch out and it fell apart oh absolutely hard absolutely I just I I look at what JJ is stepping into and I I typ of the cap sir like you go do your thing man I and I wish you nothing but the best I I truly I wish him truthfully nothing but the best as he goes forward because he’s taking a gamble because I thought he was pretty D darn good as an analyst and let’s also be real Doc Rivers if he can continue to be an analyst and going coach and then be an analyst and going JJ reck’s going have that opportunity he’s going to be like a Jeff Van gun he’s going to be like a Steve Kerr who have the ability a morph between the two the two worlds in the NBA but I just this is an interesting time for him to step into coaching and to step into a team that the pressure cooker that is LA and the Lakers and LeBron and AD and potentially bronny coming on board and I just I look at this and I wonder how much of a shelf life it really has and I I wish him nothing but the best obviously I want people to succeed and I want him to do good but the reality is like like what we were just talking about the Lakers are kind of a mess so we’ll we’ll see how long he how long it takes for them to be successful if they can be successful that’s the million-dollar question with Los Angeles Lakers can they actually pull it off and it’s like well you can see it you like you can see ways it would happen but let’s also be honest the the recent past for for La it’s been a whole bunch of mirages like oh hey they won the inseason tournament they look really really good it’s like no no that’s that’s one thing putting together over an 82 Game season and being able to prove it in the playoffs like if you’re the Lakers are you’re looking at it saying okay we’re in the tougher conference like in theory how many teams would you say are playoff contenders in the west next year I would say at least 11 Lakers included I’d have to think about it and break down kind of every team but I think you’re right about you’re right about there in that ballpark number 12 I just like I’m just it’s it’s doggy dog out there there are good teams who are not even going to sniff the play in that’s just and I’m not the Jazz right now for all intents and purposes they’re not in that conversation for me they could by the end of the summer become part of that conversation but I’m talking right now and we haven’t even hit NBA free agency yet we haven’t gone through the draft but I think there are 12 teams in the Western Conference the Lakers I’m going to say 11 and I look at it and say those are the best teams in the conference and are you gonna if you’re LA are you going to climb over all those teams I’m hardpressed to say you’re going to do that because it just doesn’t seem likely no it doesn’t especially with the kind of like I said the situation that they are now there there’s no there’s so much uncertainty to this Lakers team’s future there’s so much uncertainty to the roster to the team to the obviously the staff with Reddit coming in there’s so much uncertainty and it’s you know for I feel feel like for younger guys that kind of that might hinder the development of these younger guys that are with the Lakers the Lakers are not here for development they’re they’re here to win win right now and the whole thing with Brony coming in have fun with the South Bay Lakers Bud yeah it just it seems that’s the way it’s going to go because I’m looking at OKC Denver Minnesota the the playoff teams from this past year every single one of them they’re going to run it back like even the Warriors they’re going to make another run they still got Steph still got Draymond who knows what’s happening with Clay but they they’re gonna do it and then I think you add the Houston Rockets to that mix and the 12th team if I were to add the 12th team to it it’s probably the Memphis Grizzlies you think that jaw being healthy and not being a knucklehead off the court will Fe I think that’s the 12th team the Spurs the Jazz the Trailblazers probably the three odd teams out right now man I just have a hard time believing the Lakers are going to be any better than where they were this year and that’s seventh there it’s even even looking at you just naming those teams right now they’re I think they do have a better potential of making the playoffs than the Trailblazers sure then the Spurs but uh at the same time I don’t know if they go anywhere past the the playing tournament as they did this year that’s the seven yeah that’s the seventh spot so it’s it’s just like okay well we’ll see and I just now Paul George leaving the Clippers that weakens that if he does he’s going to be a free agent and like but it’s the western conference is deep it is absolutely going to be a very tough slog and yeah JJ you may be with a fairly short tenure might find yourself right back in the analyst chair pretty quick we’ll see but it’s going to be an interesting conversation now uh before we uh take a break I did mean to talk some soccer with you so I’m making like oh you know like we’re just going to jerk the wheel to the right here and and and and you and I are going to be on the broadcast cast tonight with Real Salt Lake uh but there’s another La team that’s going to be the connection between these two Los Angeles Galaxy making the trip to America first field tonight now Real Salt Lake is in first place uh two points clear both lafc and the galaxy in the standings give me your sense RSL 15 matches unbeaten Wednesday night was a wild wild game it could have ended up 76 87 ended up 43 in the end give me your sense going into tonight La coming in I feel good obviously I think ril like have kind of found a new confidence at home right it’s starting to feel the the fans are selling it out it’s starting to feel like a fortress again and I think that’s super important considering you’re taking on the third place team with no center backs keep in mind that that’s going to be super important tonight the fact that Brian ver is suspended the fact that Justin glad is still questionable heading into this one you know who’s who’s going to play center back let’s go so I think that’s going to be super super important is to have that home crowd behind you being the 12th man being you know clamping down on that Galaxy team because it’s going to be a difficult match this is a Galaxy team who has a very very good offense even without Ricky B B is also questionable heading into this one right yep so it’s it’s going to come down to it might just come down to that to that home field advantage because no matter what real Lake’s going to score no matter what they’re going to score they have one of the best offenses right now in Major League Soccer but those center backs it’s scary considering now you’re taking on one of the other better offenses in Major League Soccer we’ll see uh it is fun to have a team that is better than the LA teams right now and that is RA Salt Lake so we’ll see what happens but you’re right it it could be one of those if any of you I know there’s a lot of NBA that just that don’t Soccer World those two don’t mix but if you want to watch games that could be end to end action well Wednesday night with Sporting Kansas City was exactly that and yeah with the deficiency with the injuries in particular for El like on defense could be that tonight as well we’ll see what happens all right so Alex we’ll Round Up Round out your hour on the program hour one of the program with one of our old Staples technical fouls and we’ll get to that next coming up right here on 975 the KSL Sports Zone if you’re coming from the street with dirty shes on your feet that’s foul if you switch the radio to some modern music show that’s foul if you touch the you’ll get hit with a bat cuid a technical foul you will feel my w a technical foul personal file 69 office he was giving him the business a teal [Music] fou as you just heard it is time now for technical fouls and we got some doozies this week can I start with mine first cuz yours is the better one I think of the two Alex so J catch Alex Napolis okay uh Browns practice squad player Cleveland Browns practice squad Cleveland Browns practice player Lonnie Phil Lonnie Phelps was arrested for DUI after allegedly crashing his SUV into a Florida restaurant leaving it wedged in the building terrible now uh he was also uh combative with police like was refusing to comply so I took him into uh took him into custody uh he allegedly is caused $300,000 in damage to this restaurant I’m trying to see what the name of the restaurant was but he in Florida he’s no longer a member of the Cleveland Browns as you might imagine as a practice squad player you do something like this and they’re like hey thanks but you’re gone see you thank thank you for coming and have a great day uh and it is like watch out for buildings first off don’t D drive while you’re drunk and second watch out for buildings but yeah he is now going to be looking for his next opportunity in the NFL but as a former I think he played it like uh let’s see he had no regular season snaps his rookie year in Cleveland last year yeah I think he may be seeing Zero snaps for their foreseeable future young former Kansas jhawk yeah so good luck to you but gez come on now like let’s be a little bit better about that all right anyway so that’s one thing but let’s talk about Championship parades how about that the Boston Celtics had their Championship parade yesterday MH and who else but the president of Marshall Sports Dave portnoi on the team bus with the Boston Celtics just showering himself with all the alcohol and all the champagne as if he’s a part of the Boston Celtics team Dave stop it no we ain’t doing this like it’s a bad luck what what what did you do to help them win the championship root them on BET some big money cuz you trust me if you pay attention to Dave on social media he loves nothing more than flaunting how much money he bets oh yeah who who been the Bost in Cel was like you know who we need on the team bus with us Dave porner we need bar stool it was probably Joe missula it might have been I come on now like okay I got nothing as Dave pornoy he’s built something that trust me he’s making a lot of money with with barol there’s no you can argue that it’s everything under the sun misogynistic and all that stuff but you cannot argue the fact that it is it’s printing money but why why does he need to be on the team bus you’re a fan you’re nothing more than a fan you don’t need to be on that team bus showering yourself in Champagne with the team as if you had just helped them win the title because all you did was sit Courtside a couple of times and yelled at a couple of players that’s all your contribution was it I don’t think it’s good luck to be up there showering yourself in Champagne with with the Boston Celtics that’s my take on it what yeah just no why who first off whose hairbrain idea was this to put him on the team bus and then second Dave Porto acting like he’s a member of the team like I’m one of the boys like no dude no you’re not you’re you’re a fan stop it oh geez okay way to go guys um I got another one real quick here is it a technical foul that ESPN is apparently well as of now not going to bring uh Pat McAfee back for college game day absolutely absolutely Pat McAfee I think brought a new injection of life to the the college game day and he’s a fan favorite I don’t see why ESPN would not want him back and I you know maybe the dollar Mount is right there per se right now but if ESPN wants to continue having those ratings and having the success uccessful year that they had as far as college game Day broadcast go you got to include Pat yeah I it’s just it’s it’s baffling to me that I know that he’s had his issues with ESPN’s management and whatnot and ultimately got one of them who was a apparently a conniving you know what fired and all this stuff but you need him on that I know they’re bringing Nick Sabin in this year and that’s that that may be the thought we’ve got Sabin it’s like K you know realize I can tell you point blank I I’ve got a he’s a cousin-in-law he’s a cousin of mine who’s a who was a freshman last year the University of be a sophomore this coming year when College gab day went to Utah this past year he probably wouldn’t have gone except for the fact that Pat McAfee his show and he him on game day was there my my cousin he showed up and he was there he’s like I was like why’d you go like Pat McAfee man just a mcafe become an icon absolutely become an icon and I think it would be I think it would be a bad move on ESPN’s parts to not bring him back because really he did help boost the rating so much for a show that you know two years ago was was was struggling a little bit for ESPN yeah I I it doesn’t it doesn’t make sense why they’re not bringing him back but I guess really comes down to how much you having to pay Nick sa maybe to do it that’s true that is true I don’t know one of those interesting Parts all right uh Alex thanks for stopping by man hey absolutely thanks for having me on and can’t wait to do this again more often but so so this is going to be thing be kind of a rotating cast just between the three of us so it should be a lot of fun it’s summer so it we just we kind of just talk about whatever is out there in The Ether now when it comes to football season and basketball season there’s a lot lot more focused stuff but we’ll have some fun along the way so thanks for being a part of it and thanks for stopping by absolutely again thank you for having me all right coming up next I’m going to switch out the co-host chair we’re gonna have Christian aspar is stepping in uh we’ll round out we’ll get into hour two of the program talk a little bit we’ll probably talk some of the same topics with him as well we’ll get into all that next as the Saturday show rolls on right here on 975 the KSL Sports Zone
In the first hour Jake Hatch and Alex Napoles talk Utah Jazz and their plan for free agency and the draft, how JJ Reddick might do as the new HC of the Lakers and share their Technical Fouls for this week.
