Best of the week on The Herd

Right, here we go—Where Colin was right and where Colin was wrong. Pittsburgh signing Aaron Rodgers to a one‑year flyer is very on‑brand for a franchise that overspends on defense and treats quarterback like a patch, not a plan, and I thought SGA’s MVP was deserved off the regular season even if Wimby or Jokic felt more valuable to me; also, the NFL’s holiday and international slate is the best I can remember, so all the doomsaying about the league aging out looks silly.

Detroit’s defense traveled but they had too few bucket‑getters; when they’re down 12 it feels like 24, and that’s the problem. I’ve said for years the international surge in MVPs exposes a me‑first American hoops culture that leans AAU sizzle over development, while other sports still build team and craft.

Dallas moving on from Micah Parsons gave them flexibility and depth, and the market is already nudging their win total up; one superstar can handcuff a deal‑maker like Jerry. The Lakers’ real fix is a grown‑up front office around Rob Pelinka—big staffs draft well, the Rams and Eagles proved it, while thin scouting rooms like Cincinnati’s get exposed.

Nick, last night felt like May of 2007—LeBron’s I’m‑the‑guy moment—but for Wimby; does that change how you see SGA’s MVP versus who’s actually the best player alive?

Shai earned the trophy on the season, but that game said Wimby might already be the top player even if the series is far from over. Big picture, I like San Antonio’s big three more for the long run, and even if OKC repeats, the Spurs could enter next year as the team to beat.

Watching that, if you’re the Lakers you can’t just run it back—Giannis is the antidote; you need overwhelming size and force to bother this kid.

Giannis is one of the few with the length, pop, and strength to make Wimby work, and that makes him even more attractive if the Spurs, not the Thunder, become the standard. Wild thought, but if San Antonio keeps owning this matchup, even OKC could justify going all‑in for Giannis.

You can’t take picks with you—at some point you cash the stash. OKC’s depth beats almost everyone, but against this specific problem you may need to spend big.

Depth helps if injuries hit, but last night also hinted at a sneaky winner in the East: the Knicks could be fresh while the West champ crawls out of a two‑week slugfest. By the way, Castle bullied on defense, Dylan Harper was icy as a rookie starter, and Caruso was amazing—still wild the Lakers let him walk.

Castle on Brunson would be a fistfight, and Harper played like the best rookie point guard I’ve seen in a big spot in a long time.

On the LeBron chatter, if he’s open to the mid‑level or less, every contender has probably called Rich Paul to kick the tires; if you can get LeBron for a discount, you take the meeting.

Only a handful have felt truly singular in my lifetime—think Magic’s size at point, Shaq’s power, LeBron’s speed at that frame—and now Wimby slides into that club; he’s not just great, he’s unlike anyone.

There was poetry to it—like Hakeem in ninety‑five answering an MVP slight by torching David Robinson, Wimby met the moment with a near‑mirror stat line and took the court back; that’s how legends announce themselves.

RG3, I’ve defended expanding the playoff; with NIL costs exploding, what’s the smartest way to get to twenty‑four without wrecking the sport’s soul?

Expansion is necessary to fund non‑revenue sports as football payrolls swell, so I’d give auto bids to all ten FBS champs who don’t hit four losses and fill the rest with the top fourteen at‑larges, no league quotas. Finish by early January, keep the calendar clean, and let football keep the whole athletic department alive.

About the rookie in Atlanta, starting at home against Miami is the softest landing they’ll get; does that push you to play Fernando Mendoza over Kirk Cousins if he’s close?

Coaches say they ignore it, but they know the opener matters; if the rookie’s not ready you start Kirk, but if Mendoza outplays him you roll with the kid like Seattle did with Russell over Matt Flynn and let the young core grow together.

Are camps and preseason overrated for established quarterbacks, given Lamar and others skipping some voluntary time?

For proven vets it’s a non‑issue—Lamar’s a two‑time MVP, he’s been around enough this offseason, and missing voluntary days while giving back shouldn’t be a story; perception matters, but the tape does the talking.

Kansas City’s schedule is vicious late with a run of star quarterbacks; does that kind of back‑loading change anything?

It matters and it looks intentional—the league likely stacked the tough ones later so Mahomes can heal and have the offense peaking when it counts.

Aaron Rodgers told Pittsburgh media this is his last season; what’s the real ceiling there?

They can win the North and chase a ring if they play the two thousand fifteen Broncos card—defense and run game first, Rodgers protecting the ball and closing late—and those big new targets give him the profiles he likes.

Pittsburgh’s opening stretch sets them up to start fast; the Ravens have the best roster, the Bengals’ slate helps, and Cleveland quietly drafted four day‑one starters—going to be a brutal division race.