Clippers & Knicks heading in opposite directions + Bronny James ‘NOT A PRO’? 👀 | NBA Today

Clippers & Knicks heading in opposite directions + Bronny James ‘NOT A PRO’? 👀 | NBA Today

it’s been another great summer league so far so let’s take a look at who stood out last night in Las Vegas first up are we calling him Jared Tik Tok McCain now he continued to get a summerly green light from the field he scored 11 points three of 16 shooting in this one so perk is he going to continue to post up a big number from Beyond The Arc for a Sixers team that was 19th in three-pointers he he is and I can see him getting heavy minutes this upcoming season to be honest with you Malika this good this young man mckain could flat out play I could see Nick nurse taking a uh chance on him coming in off the bench as a role player and then gradually uh graduating from there well then on the other side perk Donovan kinging eight points 11 rebounds three blocks including a poster against the 76 or so Zach should cling and get the starting job on opening night I’m saying no it’s still going to be DeAndre Aon but the Blazers know who they are they know who’s in the 2025 draft he’s going to play a lot I’m more interested in scoot Henderson Anthony Simons and Shaden sharp and how that all shakes out interesting Reed Shephard he has been so impressive in summer league 15-point performance last night and a loss in this one to the Pistons the third overall pick he’s now averaging 25 and five at Summer League perk are the Rockets going to avoid I’m not even going to say the lottery this season are they making the playoffs uh they might they might I think they’re going to make the postseason and look Malika they got got a sand down here in the htown they go hey man say man look hey man say man they got a Hooper right here and re shepher not a basketball player a Hooper Park you’re going to have to pull up in htown to see him all right the Lakers they were in action led by a 19point performance from Dalton connect this one in a loss to the Celtics connect has averaged 22 points a game in Las Vegas he’s hit 41% from three that would have made him the best Laker from that range last season I know it’s summer league defense it’s a little bit different but his fellow rookie class member bronnie James struggled a little bit here in this game scored two points three rebounds and assists bronne has yet to hit a three in Vegas he falls to 0 of 15 from Deep so it’s just been a little bit of a rough start to the summer for bronnie here on offense look at this he’s averaged just under five points as previously mentioned yet to make a three but the defensive effort it’s been there when he’s played eight combined Steals and blocks through four games so in attendance last night at the Lakers game was Finals MVP P Jaylen Brown hey Angel Reese as well but watch this the lip reading folks online saying that he’s saying I don’t think bronnie is a pro and that because of his name he’s going to be with the Lakers all right so later Brown posted on social media he said it’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA it reflects greatness it reflects longevity Brony has all the tools around him to be successful and I look forward to watching his growth again this is what Jaylen Brown posted responding to folks saying oh okay well looks like camera’s caught you saying a little something something there BR he he’s facing unprecedented pressure here perk to start any career uh but do you think what do what do you think of what Jaylen said here what do you think of his comments well one he’s entitled to his own opinion Malika and and the fact of the matter is let’s be honest bronny he hasn’t played well in the summer league that that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be a pro or find his way through hard work um I think the he has the ition of a number one pick but his production has been the production of a 55th pick and that’s okay that’s why he was drafted uh 55th by the Los Angeles Lakers because it is going to be a process right but I will say this kudos to LeBron James kudos to Savannah James because as parents they have done everything and more for Brony James now as a Young Man a grown man at that the ball is in his court and he knows now he got to continue to punch in the clock and keep chipping away at it again we have to remind the folks he was drafted 505th for a reason I know he gets the attention of a number one pick and I know he’s struggling right now it’s going to be a process let’s see what he looks like in a few months when he’s played a couple games in the G League or when the season start let’s see like let’s see his growth from there but I have no problem what Jaylen Brown said because it’s his opinion well and he even said bronnie even said you know what I feel like I’m in a little bit of a slump right now and bronnie has given us every indication that he is more than willing to put in the work put in the time spend the time in the G league and just figure out what it’s going to take look we’re trying to win a championship that’s why we brought this group together that’s why we gave up so much to get Paul and kawhai the unfortunate part of it we only had one healthy postseason that’s not anybody’s fault but that’s the reality the other reality is that they are opening up up a brand new Arena here that now there’s no Paul George to play in he’s a 76er and you heard what Lawrence Frank had to say the expectation is still to win a championship what direction do you think they’re going in here Zach uh not towards a championship and I don’t think Lawrence Frank was talking frankly about this year I think he was talking about the past and the gamble to bring Kawai and Paul George together which by the way was a th% worth it he’s right you can acknowledge that it was a disappointment and it was a failure but they shouldn’t regret going for it that’s the point of being in the NBA and getting all these draft picks to turn them in to players like that in their Prime but if he’s talking Championship I think that’s code for we’re sort of reorienting our cap sheet and our roster to give us more flexibility in two three four years to bring in a free agent whoever that might be to make better trades I don’t think Lawrence Frank or anyone with the Clippers imagines that the team they have right now is a championship level team I frankly think it’s more likely that if things stand that the way they are now that the Clippers miss the playoffs then get like a top four seed in the playoffs that’s where they are now and I think they know that Malika can you can you tell me what Lawrence Frank said again on that sound B because soon as he mention the word Championship I took my ifb out my ear because I didn’t want to hear nothing else well perk he said expectations remain the same remain the same for as what winning the championship look Frank listen here’s the thing right Lawrence Frank he got to be wishful thinking or he got to he has lost his damn mind here’s the thing right you lose Paul George you get back absolutely nothing you have a kawhai Leonard that you you don’t know if he’s going to be available when it matters the most you go on the offseason and still to this day the Clippers didn’t do anything that was like groundbreaking like for us to say oh yeah they legitimate threats for us winning the championship they’re not even a legitimate threat for as coming out of the Western Conference they’re not better than the right now they’re not better than the Los Angeles Lakers they’re not better than the Denver Nuggets they’re not better than the Minnesota Timberwolves they’re not better than the Memphis Grizzlies they’re not better than the Houston Rockets in my opinion all the Phoenix Suns like the list goes on they’re not even better than the Pelicans so what is Lawrence Frank talking about you know what they need to do one I think Steve balber he needs to have evaluation right you have tou you just signed him to a contract extension he’s there for the Long Haul they have to really sit down and have a com to Jesus meeting and say which direction are we going in and it’s damn sure not winning the championship they need to go into a rebuild mode and if I’m the Clippers I would consider really consider trading kawh lonard right now because they’re just stuck in the middle I was it’s no it’s no like oh we’re going to huh you’re you’re preaching perk I’m just going to get out your way no but but what I’m saying is is this Malik and Zach what like where are they going at this moment kawh Leonard has set them back 10 years ever since he arrived and put on a clip of uniform he set them back 10 years you bring in Paul George right you have to give up sgaa in a million draft picks first round draft picks Sam presy is doing his thing right now in the same conference so now you’re you’re back to square one you have kawhai Lind you have a James Harden that you cannot trust when it matters the most because history tells us he’s going to fold like clean sheets at this point if I’m the Clippers I feel like tra I feel like I should consider trading Kawai and rebuilding well I was with Steve Balmer yesterday and I asked him in his first public comment since this trade what sort of he was thinking when he evaluates the team now and he said you know I think I have proven that I’m always willing to pay if it’s just about the tax but when he was looking at getting docked those draft picks particularly when you’re talking about the picks that they gave up that is something that the Clippers ultimately decided that they just could not stomach perk all right we got a lot to get to on our show the Nova Knicks they’re whole and it could be for a long time Jaylen Brunson he agreed to a 4-year $16.5 million contract extension over the weekend W reported 113 million less less guaranteed that he’s eligible to sign a year from now so that will give flexibility to a Knicks team who hasn’t won a title since 1973 and now Jaylen Brunson will be the face of the Knicks he took to Instagram yesterday in an empty gym except for the person who took the photo saying nothing changes so let’s welcome in our senior writer Chris Herring to the conversation Chris thanks so much for making the time Brunson he just did something that we have never seen in the modern era of the NBA we don’t see a whole lot of folks saying yeah give me13 million and less what does this tell you that he took this massive pay cut here I I think it just tells you that he he really wants to take seriously the role of being this team’s leader and being in a position where he Embraces the idea that I want to win more than anything else in this situation you at this point they’re obviously conceding to build a team in a way that has people that he’s extremely comfortable with that he’s played with that he knows their games as well as you really can in the league and he’s kind of already fit the profile of a leader from the standpoint of the way he’s carried himself on court the fact that he’s going to sacrifice his body and kind of have essentially kind of a a Willis read sort of moment at one point in the playoffs of coming back in the second half um he’s done everything I think that he needs to do on the court this is something that he’s doing off the court to allow them to build the team and really an ideal way and kind of help them avoid some of the restrictions that would hinder a team in their position otherwise be honest would would you do it would would you take that pay cup perk hell H hell no hell no he better than me but look he still got 156 thoughly he still got 156 but I ain’t I I ain’t leaving 113 on the table that’s like me that’s like you asking me if I’m going to finish my food I’m cleaning my plate every single time how long do you think though this opens up the Knick’s Championship window though perk doing what you said you would never do oh four years four years for sure three to four years and and why I say this you look at jayen Bronson Dante and Mel Bridges all of 27 years of age so they’re just scratching the surface of their Prime OG is 26 uh Josh Hart is 29 so the core Julius Ry is 29 the core of this group still are either knocking at the door of their prime or right in the middle of their Prime so they have a three to four year window and guess what their books are not cooked they still could go out and do what they need to do so say that Julius round he does come back or when he comes back they’re going to give him an opportunity right to go out there and see if he can fit in with those guys if he don’t all of a sudden Julius Randall is our candy to the open market now you could possibly move him in the middle of the season and continue to get better and add to the villain NOA Knicks or is it the Nova Knicks we can do both Zach yeah there’s like a 12 or 13 million gap 12 or 13 million between what jayen Brunson could have made in those three seasons of this deal and what he’s actually going to make and that Gap is a massive difference for the Knicks staying under that new thing we always talk about called the second apron I had an agent tell me yesterday put it like this they essentially create an extra salary slot that right now is represented by Julius Randall maybe it is Julius Randall but now they have the flexibility if they want to trade Julius R for a player who makes a lot of money that fits better they also have access to the midlevel exception the little one which they would not have had if Jaylen Brunson was making everything he could have made it definitely widens their window it gives them more flexibility to add to this team that Championship window is open and look it’s a huge Sacrifice by joen Brunson it’s easy for us to sit here and say well he can sign his next max max deal and recoup a lot lot of what he theoretically gave up you just don’t know what life is going to be like in 3 four five years down the line it’s a big sacrifice although he banks the money today it’s a big sacrifice to play with his college teammates in the biggest city in the country in the biggest Market in the country and he’s a star there yeah and and the way I view it too is that he this is a franchise that is so hungry for a title the fan base I live here in New York when you think about it I had some people asking me on Twitter when I tweeted about this well like they haven’t won a title yet they might not win a title he’s just going to end up taking the pay cut for no reason uh this is a city that I think really tends to glorify people even if they come up short when they’re giving everything everything they can to get one Patrick Ying was an example of someone that often did that as well Jaylen Brunson gives up his body he plays for a demanding coach in Tom Fido as I said before he came out after being injured in the first half of a playoff game against the Pacers this is about the biggest sort of thing you can do in today’s NBA when we’re seeing the contracts escalate to the level that they have you can put the statue up for him now I think in the eyes of most Nick fans this is a huge huge step for them yeah this is a guy who wants to win who is putting literally his money where his mouth is and saying you know what I will do whatever it takes to put a contender in place that can go toe-to-toe with the Boston Celtics in the East and then you know from there it’s gravy and we’ll see what happens there’s no denying it right Chris the Knicks they had a very strong off season [Music] he

On NBA Today, Kendrick Perkins and Zach Lowe join Malika Andrews to discuss their biggest takeaways from NBA Summer League, Bronny James and the LA Clippers before Chris Herring joins the conversation to explain where the New York Knicks go from here after Jalen Brunson’s big $100M sacrifice.

0:00 Summer League Standouts
1:35 Dalton Knecht
2:02 Jaylen Brown on Bronny James
4:41 What direction are Clippers heading?
9:12 Jalen Brunson’s paycut

✔️Subscribe to ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/youtube
✔️ Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔️ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔️ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV

#ESPN #NBA #lakers