What’s Wright - Luka Doncic and JJ Redick LAKERS FEUD? Giannis RETURNS to Bucks & NFL TRADE reaction | Nick Wright

Good morning, it’s a slow patch on the sports calendar, but we’ve got one juicy NFL and media story and a stack of NBA topics. Quick straight to voicemail notes we’re skipping include Trae’s ejection saga, a courtside mishap, and Doug Christie’s smelling salts, and a shout to the Volume crew on our one year anniversary.

Giannis came back and lost to my Celtics without Jalen Brown, and Milwaukee’s creeping toward the play in; what’s the Bucks’ real objective now?

Boston rolled even without Brown, which boosts Mazzulla and slightly dings Brown’s awards buzz, but the bigger story is Milwaukee looking cooked for a run with Charlotte hot and Atlanta steadier. Giannis wants to stay and contend, yet if this finish turns ugly the Bucks should at least explore a summer trade even if neither side wants to be the one to end it.

Would a rough finish wake up Giannis or the front office more?

The front office seems set on only moving him if he asks, so any epiphany would have to come from Giannis.

Tatum said he’s not coming back to be a role player; how do you read that with his return looming?

That line came early in rehab and means he wants to be the same player once fully back, not on day one. I expect a brief ramp from role player to high quality starter, star level by round two if all goes well, and the short term bumps are worth it because this Boston group without him tops out as a good story, not a champion.

Luka turned 27 and torched the Warriors, then had a sideline moment with JJ Reddick; where are you on that and on the Lakers panic?

Luka’s moodiness happens, but JJ has to be the adult and credit to Vanderbilt for cooling it down; despite flaws, Luka’s offense is monstrous. The critique gap between Jokic and Luka is way wider than their impact gap, and for all the noise the Lakers have the same loss total as Denver.

Draymond also chimed in about media takes and the Luka trade; thoughts?

Reframing that trade is revisionist, the grade is still an F, and Draymond should probably holster the lectures during a season where his play and the Warriors’ defense have sagged.

OKC fans pushed back on your Lou Dort take and want you to go at Jokic’s antics too; are you holding both?

Jokic flopped a bunch against Utah, but that’s not in the same galaxy as Dort’s away from the ball hip check on him, which was dangerous because Jokic wasn’t braced for contact. Dort has a file of borderline stuff, this one crossed it, and I think the spotlight tightens OKC’s whistle the rest of the way, trimming a real edge for them.

Do the Knicks have a Spurs plan after snapping the streak?

New York’s physicality bothered Wemby and San Antonio bricked threes; the Spurs are legit but shooting droughts can sink a series, while the Knicks look like real East contenders with their defense back. If Tatum weren’t returning I’d like New York to win the East.

David Montgomery to the Texans, what matters more, the move or how it was reported?

Nice value for Detroit and Gibbs, but it’s a steep price for Houston, and the reporting was sillier than the trade; you can’t call a package of a fourth, a seventh, and a player fifth round value just to paper over an earlier tweet, own it and move on.

And the Chiefs’ right tackle move?

Cutting their penalty magnet right tackle frees cap space and they’ll piece together the spot because the interior is strong and tackle depth exists; receiver is the real need, not offensive line at their draft slot.

Mailbag: is Lamar a Hall of Famer if he retired today?

Yes, two MVPs and multiple first team All Pros make him a lock, with guys like Mahomes and Rodgers in that same automatic tier while others still have work to do.

Kaminga is rolling on the Hawks; any takeaways?

It reflects poorly on Golden State’s handling of him, and he deserves credit for the jump; like, rate, subscribe, I’m on with Cowherd shortly, and we’re back Thursday before I head to Japan.