Best of The Herd

Live from Chicago, best time of year outside football season: free agency and the draft, and we’ve already got a fresh one — Buffalo swinging big for DJ Moore while the Rams keep proving there’s more than one way to build, flipping firsts for stars and still stacking wins.

I like Buffalo’s clarity here: Allen, backs, line, tight ends, slot, and now a true No. 1 who knows Joe Brady’s system, while Chicago frees space to chase blue-chip defense and reminds everyone picks aren’t a religion when you can land proven difference-makers like Max Crosby or a prime Ramsey.

Feels like a rare win-win, especially with New England losing Stefon Diggs; DJ Moore is a strong get for Buffalo, and Chicago’s still deep at wideout and tight end.

Do not bury Kansas City for dealing Trent McDuffie; two firsts lets them climb for a back and a tackle, and when you have Reid and Mahomes, you heal fast.

Buffalo still needs stops, and I’m curious if Chicago adds a veteran receiver or just lets the kids roll.

Bears need an edge and a center more than another headliner at receiver, and their staff has found skill talent just fine.

Patriots moved on from Diggs, he’s older with baggage, so do they toss a big offer at AJ Brown or make a run at Alec Pierce?

Pierce fits, but they should fix the offensive line and add edge help first; if a Mike Evans type lands, great, but trench play will decide their season.

Team USA is smashing baseball tune-ups and hits Brazil next; the star power will pop on TV.

Smart buy in an Olympic year because patriotism sells, and this tournament will rate better than people expect.

Mark, Patino told me adaptability keeps him going; with NIL and the portal spinning, what did you have to change most?

Continuity vanished, so we’ve gone from redshirts and three-to-five-year guys to one-year rosters, and you have to fight every day to protect culture with players who haven’t lived it yet.

Your frontcourt has carried more of the scoring load; does the guard-play-in-March thing worry you?

A bit, though our backcourt has flashed, and the bigger story is injuries to key bigs like Braden Huff that forced Gram E.K. to anchor us while we kept grinding through unusual adversity.

The sport looks deeper and bigger; how did Michigan hit you?

Their size is pro-level and they shot it great that night, and while prep is tight in multi-day events, once we’re healthy I like us against anyone.

Has the international mix changed how you coach, especially with language and defensive habits?

It’s individual, not a stereotype; USA Basketball taught me to adapt when rosters churn, and the real headache is the no-rules offseason where players can bounce at any time, which means a little more patience and a little less bark.

Gonzaga’s brand is low-maintenance, buy-in guys; did you show that off to this group?

We screened a new Zags documentary about family, work, and no divas, and it even reintroduced some players to Adam Morrison, which was a perfect reminder of what this place stands for.

How long do you keep doing this, and who’s the best player you saw?

As long as I’m helping guys grow, I’m in, and Lexan Borg was a load with his physicality and shot-making.

I hate tournament expansion; where are you?

Keep it elite and protect the regular season so Selection Sunday still means something.

Durant’s aiming for the Olympics; what’s he like to coach?

An awesome teammate whose pull-up is as iconic as it gets, and watching Ant defer to him with joy was special.

Breaking news: Bills-Bears is finalized, Chicago gets a future second and more, and that’s a steep price for Buffalo’s No. 1, but I’ll pay for a durable producer.

A second is rich for DJ Moore’s recent numbers, which makes this feel like a need move for Buffalo.

He’s reliable, had his best work with Brady, and proven beats a coin flip when you’re in a title window.

On Aaron Rodgers, for one season I still take him top ten; he turned a broken Pittsburgh offense into a functional unit, and with Mike McCarthy and a No. 2 receiver, they could win that division.

At his age he’ll only play in his language, with his verbiage and control, not on a wristband in a new system.

Shams says Jason Tatum is back against Dallas; does he make Boston the East favorite right away?

Tatum unlocks their switching and protects their centers in pick-and-roll while easing deep-drop looks on Jalen Brown, so after a brief adjustment they’re scarier on both ends.

Are the Knicks for real or just hot?

They create a ton of spot-ups, defend better, and match up well with contenders in the East, and if the bracket breaks their way they have a real title path.

SGA’s free throws spark outrage, but I see a crafty manipulator like JSN who wins with timing and IQ, not raw hops.

Foul-baiting is a league-wide TV problem, not just Shay’s, and his footwork and mid-range wizardry connect more with hoops diehards than casual fans chasing highlights.

Luka’s catching heat; fair or not?

It’s fair at the very top tier because his floor drops when the step-back isn’t falling, his rim pressure has trended down, and his defense is targetable, which complicates roster builds.

Why do LeBron and Luka feel clunky together?

Both lack off-ball shooting punch and LeBron’s jumper has dipped, so the best versions come when each runs his own groups.

Great stuff from Hoops Tonight, and as always with LeBron, a stretch big like Love or Bosh clears the lane when the jumper’s not there, which is why AD’s preference to live near the rim has always been a tug-of-war.