Best of The Herd

It’s a Friday show from Chicago with the combine buzzing in Indy, but we open on the Lakers, who aren’t springing a leak anymore—the pipes have burst.

Three straight losses and five of seven have exposed a slow, thin, poor‑shooting group that can’t guard, and that’s actually useful clarity: this isn’t a contender, and the front office needs multiple real players and a LeBron decision.

I respect the resume, but it’s time; this should be LeBron’s last year with the Lakers.

LeBron’s production and burst have dipped, the leverage is gone, and the Hollywood pairing with Luca never fit on defense, while Austin meshes with Luca because he’s comfortable working off the ball.

Everyone’s eyeing the summer, and while the door is open for LeBron, building around Luca doesn’t include him, which is why the effort looks halting—they know they’re not title bound.

New ownership has the resources and stomach to move off big names the way the Dodgers have, so expect aggressive swings—Giannis chatter makes sense beside Luca’s defensive holes, and Reddick with Austin and Luca feel like the long‑term core.

They’ve slipped in clutch time and might fall toward the play‑in, but I’m keeping the vibe sunny—big offseason ahead, go get Giannis.

On the Cowboys: the defense is the issue, they’ve got two firsts and should spend both on that side, while George Pickens is getting tagged to sit next to CeeDee and Dak in a very pricey offense.

We want Pickens here long term, he wants security, and pairing him with CeeDee gives us two elite wideouts.

These negotiations are the business; my relationship with GP is steady, he’s competitive and he loves ball.

They pay top dollar for everyone, so they must hit those first‑rounders on defense with no second or third to cushion misses.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch joins as a team people say is built for the playoffs, and I ask how you handle Wemby when he tilts the court with his length and timing.

He warps your spacing on both ends—he closes gaps that shouldn’t be coverable, and when the three is falling he’s basically unsolvable, as we saw in that duel where he and Ant went off.

Does OKC’s defense stack up with the best you’ve seen?

Last year’s group did; this year injuries have hit, but their bigs challenge everything and everyone buys in, even their stars.

About that sideline moment with Ant—how do you balance a closer’s instincts with the need to make the right read?

We’re both fiery, he wins games for us, and we keep pushing him to lift others while taking the right shots; we jab, we move on.

How do you tune a team for postseason physicality when whistles tighten and the game changes?

After All‑Star the intensity rises, we welcome rugged games, and come playoffs you must play through contact and be smart about dishing it out.

Name a player who deserves more shine.

Jaden McDaniels—elite two‑way impact, sharper offense, over forty percent from three, and crucial to what we do.

With the sixty‑five‑game rule, could Cade Cunningham be MVP even with Jokic’s brilliance?

I’m fine with Cade if he meets the bar; the rule curbs load issues, creates edge cases, and Jokic still has massive on‑court gravity even in fewer games.

What’s the key to getting elite scorers like Ant to defend at a high level?

Ant can be elite—his MVP path is best two‑way version of himself, so we demand efficiency on offense and consistent commitment on defense, and he’s answering that call.

Quick one on Minneapolis winters—how’s the fit?

I love the seasons; people lean into winter, stay active, and embrace what it offers.

Great to see you, coach—Wolves keep stacking playoff trips and top‑tier defense—and as for the combine, I’ll watch less than I used to; teams can get plenty from pro days and scripted interviews dull the edge.

I’ll catch the clips and lean into hoops—Michigan at Illinois tonight, March is basketball time.