Kurt Helin: LeBron James Isn't The Center Of The Lakers Attention Anymore

0:00We all know Saturday's game time can get a little messy. Your crew just came over to watch. Snacks on the table, drinks in hand, and somebody's celebrating like they just won the whole season and beyond. And when that energy gets going, your walls can end up taking the hit. Whether it's a big spill or a noticeable scuff, that's where Behr Ultra Interior Paint comes in. It adds an extra durable, stain-blocking finish that helps your walls hold up for the whole season. It also delivers outstanding coverage and hide in fewer coats. with easy application and a smooth, even finish that goes on clean from the first pass.

0:34Plus, that easy, clean finish helps walls stay looking new longer. So before the next kickoff, give your space game-ready defense and coverage that goes the distance. Bear Ultra, only at the Home Depot. This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for.

1:11From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook. I'm living my best life. Yeah, yeah. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Here's the other surprising part. With guest host, Brian Weber. Yeah, big shoes to fill. Eisen's a legend. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. The Rich Eisen Show. Do you know who I am? I'm a guy on television. I have my own show. And now, sitting in for Rich, here's Brian Weber.

1:40Kurt Helin:It is another hour of the program, and it's great to have you with us nationwide. Brian Weber, always enjoying every moment whenever I have the opportunity to sit in for Rich and the guys. It's 844-204-7424 is the phone number. I appreciate the feedback, both positive and negative, on the X platform. Let's maintain that momentum. It is B.W. Weber, Weber with two Bs. Some of you wonder why I say Weber with two Bs so often, because you could spell it with one B. Some of you wonder when I say B.W. Weber, Weber with two Bs, why am I not acknowledging the B in the B.W. Weber, my first name? Okay, if I said Weber with three B's, then you misspell my last name, and now you know the rest of the story.

2:27Kurt Helin:We were guest-free in the first hour of the program. With a reminder, if you miss any portion of any show, you can listen anytime on demand. The podcast will be posted shortly at the conclusion of today's show. We talked primarily about the NFL. Detailed thoughts on the expectations for Aaron Rodgers at 41 years old. Old in Pittsburgh. A lot of college football, which we'll revisit coming up in the third and final hour of the show when we're joined by Pete Futek of collegefootballnews.com. In 20 minutes, NBA analysis will be provided by Curt Heelan of NBCsports.com. Let's jump right in. Talking more NFL.

3:13Kurt Helin:my focal point was scheduled to be the AFC West using the foundation of the glorious news we've all been waiting for. Training camps are about to open up. In fact, here in Southern California, as I come to you from our Regal Studios in Los Angeles, and thanks as always to our great friends at Westwood One for the Hospitality, the Chargers rookies report on Saturday. So football is back. I am aware that the entertaining series on Netflix, Quarterback, has dropped for another season. Like season one, I'll be transparent with you. I consume so much sports media. I get a little choosy on inside, quote unquote, with the NFL productions while this is excellently produced and they get total access to big names.

4:10Kurt Helin:I feel like I know a lot about Kirk Cousins. And while I give him credit for being transparent in yesterday's program saying he felt misled after the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr., my pushback would be, well, Kirk, it was pretty clear Minnesota didn't want to make a long-term commitment to you, understandably so, given your age. And I keep saying Achilles injuries. I feel like I'm an orthopedic surgeon, but for Kirk to feel betrayed in any way, I think is just naive. Now, maybe the team gave him a tacit wink, wink, nudge, nudge. We're not going to bring anybody else in, but it's a tough business.

4:56Kurt Helin:And speaking of business, nobody has navigated the financial world of professional football better than Kirk Cousins. First ballot, Financial Hall of Fame. But even somebody with hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank is human and they have their frailty so I can understand the emotional component of feeling blindsided that your successor has been drafted. And I think it was all the more magnified because it was in the first round. Because if you're cousins, you're thinking bolster the offensive line or get me a playmaker on defense so I don't have to come out onto the field as often. So yeah, I get that that would sting, but I didn't think that was an earth shattering development because I realized my style can be heavy handed.

5:49Kurt Helin:I want to try to make sure we keep it light. It is the summer after all. I did like Joe Burrow talking about, unfortunately, in the wake of a robbery at his home in Cincinnati, he decided to change his mind and did not go through with the purchase he had planned of a fully functioning Batmobile. because I just want to close my eyes. You don't close yours if you're driving. I'm Brian Weber, in for Rich. I'll throw you the keys later on on social media, B.W. Weber, Weber with two Bs, or you can pick up the phone, 844-204-7424. I would just love the visual because we know how it works every Sunday, especially when Rich is in studio on NFL Network.

6:38Kurt Helin:You get the walk-in shot. all of the stars making their way inside stadiums across the country. And a lot of that comes down to the fashion evaluation. Who's wearing what? But if I got a dude in a Batmobile, that is going to get my attention. Now, if I truly was Hackey Magoo, and I know several of you probably think I am, I could throw it out there because we have some rules. Who's your favorite Batman? Give me a call. 844-204-7424. I'm an Adam West guy, but I'm old. I'm aware there's a new Superman movie coming out because clearly we need another Superman. Now I'm here in Southern California.

7:23Kurt Helin:I can tell you because I know some script writers were officially out of ideas, but if you needed your own independent evidence, the fact that they are dusting off another Superman is just outrageous. But since I mentioned Joe Burrow, let's follow that path and focus on quarterbacks because it is very interesting how we evaluate marquee QBs in the NFL. And so much of it comes down to perception. So if I say Lamar Jackson, what comes to mind? Multiple MVPs arguably should have won last year. I have no problem with Josh Allen getting the trophy. And remember, Lamar got the consolation prize of Offensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors.

8:13Kurt Helin:But if I'm thinking about Jackson, what else immediately is going to hit your brain? Underachieving in the postseason. And I realize if we think about last year in the divisional round of the playoffs, Baltimore against Buffalo. That game is forever going to be remembered as the Mark Andrews game, but facts matter, Lamar also committed a couple important turnovers. For whatever reason, when he gets to the playoffs, things change. So to alter his legacy, and I realize that's more of a media-generated topic. If you talk to athletes, they are so laser-focused, it's a cliche, but we have these bromides because there's truth behind them.

9:02Kurt Helin:They're just trying to get through practice and then get to the game. They're not thinking body of work, but they're aware of how they're perceived. So for Lamar now, after stacking the MVP awards, it's all about what he does come playoff time. It is interesting to me, and the disparity is he's younger, and I keep mentioning I'm here in Southern California just to give you a sense of my perspective and hopefully balance what is a legitimate development. East Coast bias is real, I can tell you because I grew up there. What is a fair assessment of Justin Herbert at this stage of his career? Certainly an ascending star.

9:41Kurt Helin:The one thing you cannot critique when it comes to Herbert is his toughness. That guy gets beat up and finds a way to stay on the field. So I'm not trying to troll a star in the making. I think as he gets better and I love the fit with Jim Harbaugh. What did Jim say on this show? He has to get Justin Herbert to the Hall of Fame. He said it like he was a zombie in The Walking Dead. So that just reflects Harbaugh's quirky personality. And I realize the Michigan connection between the host, Mr. Eisen. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich. Hit me up on the X platform, BW Weber, Weber with two B's. And Rich is such a skilled interviewer.

10:27Kurt Helin:He makes people feel comfortable and you get wonderful responses like that. later on during mandatory minicamp, Harbaugh was asked about what needs to occur for Herbert to take the next step this year. Now, that's a pretty obvious softball. That's verbally placed on the tee. And the majority of NFL coaches would just go to the cliche of, well, we win as a team, we lose as a team, but you know, Justin more than anybody wants playoff success. You say nothing, there's a soundbite you move on because Harbaugh is such a unique cat he went into this weird dissertation about my quarterback doesn't have to change anything we have to change we have to give him even more support because he's just that special I get it that's part of the appeal of Jim Harbaugh he is one of one and however you view his personality you'd be a fool to critique his body of work.

11:27Kurt Helin:This guy has won everywhere he's coached, going back to San Diego, not San Diego State, before he took over Stanford. You know about all of the achievements with the 49ers, a national championship at Michigan. Some would say there could be an asterisk attach. I will not because I want Rich to bring me back on Labor Day. And year one, immediate results with the Chargers feels like they're a year ahead of schedule, but that's what Harbaugh does. And if you go through every one of his previous stops, his teams get better in his second year on the job. So if you are a Charger fan, and I've lived in LA since 2003, I have yet to meet an LA Charger fan, but I have empathy for all the San Diego fans because they had that team stolen from them for no reason other than the Spanos family is relatively broke in NFL parlance.

12:24Kurt Helin:Yes, you gotta be very optimistic about finally having an impactful head coach. To me, and I know this is gonna seem like I am yada yada yada-ing my way through the regular season based on his latest flameout. I know we're talking about small sample size, but because he was so abysmal in that playoff loss to the Texans, We're talking grotesque. I need to see Herbert show up now in a high-leverage situation. Now, first, you've got to get there. And here is the challenge. I think it's pretty clear the AFC West is going to be the best division in all of football. If you go back to last year, looking at the win percentage from the top to the bottom, it was the NFC North.

13:10Kurt Helin:And think about the majority of that division making their way to the postseason. I don't have a great handle on the Packers heading into this year, so I'm going to just keep thinking about that, and I'm going to talk about that division tomorrow or the day after. It's just a little bit challenging to figure out where they are. Again, talking about ahead of schedule, very young team. I just want to process my thoughts more before I give you a firm conclusion. But if we're just going with what's intuitive, the partnership between Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson seems like a natural fit because I know a lot of people seem to have an issue with Caleb because they view him as different than with his personality or they care about the fact that he wore a Hello Kitty man bag.

14:03Kurt Helin:I don't care about any of that stuff. The guy's a generational talent. And think about what he endured with coaching malpractice last year. It got so bad with Matt freaking Eberflus that the whole nation was watching on Thanksgiving and the Bears had to fire him. And if you know anything about the history of the Bears, they never whack a coach midseason. That's how atrocious it was. So Chicago will be better. Even if Green Bay maintains status quo, they'll be in the playoff hunt. You think about what's happening with Minnesota. I need to see what J.J. McCarthy is going to be, but he certainly has the full complement of wide receivers around him, led by Justin Jefferson.

14:47Kurt Helin:He's got a quarterback whisperer head coach and friend of the program, Kevin O 'Connell, all connected to Kirk Cousins. Why do you think Kirk put up such big numbers towards the end of his run in Minnesota? Because he was working in that offense with that head coach. My only question about J.J. McCarthy is, what is he going to be in the NFL? Now, here's my bias. What I saw at college was a high-end game manager because he leaned on the defense that Michigan had that was formidable. And he gave the rock to Blake Corham because they had a powerful ground game. Doesn't mean he can't do it in the NFL.

15:24Kurt Helin:In fact, I've heard a comparison to Brock Purdy. There's nothing wrong with being Brock Purdy. The difference would be Minnesota invested a first-round pick in that historic quarterback class a couple years ago. So that's my only what-if about Minnesota. And then Detroit, to me, comes down to two things. The brain drain, losing both coordinators. I mentioned Johnson and Aaron Glenn going to the Jets where he played years ago. And I think Jared Goff was exposed to a degree in that stunning playoff loss to Washington. I realize how battered Detroit was defensively. Most notably, no Aiden Hutchinson.

16:04Kurt Helin:He's back. That'll change everything up front. But as much as I appreciate the redemption story of Jared Goff left for dead and I think scapegoated, If you make a statement like, we will throw you away for a bag of balls, effectively, is how he left the L.A. Rams, I'm rooting for Jared Goff. I'm impressed by his ability to dig deep and the fortitude he demonstrated. But that performance against the Lions felt like the Jared Goff that I saw for the majority of his time in L.A. You could tell me it was just one game. We'll find out during the season. And the other issue for the Lions is, is the championship window now sliding close to being closed?

16:54Kurt Helin:Because they blew the halftime lead on the road in San Francisco in the NFC title game. They blew the opportunity of being the top seed last year with home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. So, let's find out when we get to games that matter. Contrast that with the AFC West. Yes, I want to see what Herbert does when this team makes the playoffs. but I think they're making the playoffs. If you're reading NFL previews, the chic pick for an improved team that made the postseason last year is the Denver Broncos. I get the rationale behind that. I'm not as much of a Bo Nix fan as many people are, but if you think about a quarterback who maximizes his possibilities with the right coach, that is Bo.

17:40Kurt Helin:He is limited, but you put him in a situation like he was in at Oregon, with Dan Lanning's offense and what we saw last year with Sean Payton. I think he's only going to get better year two. So that's another team that made the playoffs last year, probably ahead of schedule, that is in position to do it again. The Raiders will be better because Geno Smith is an upgrade over everything they've had under center the last couple years. And that gets us to the reigning AFC champs, who I believe are overdue to take a step back. I'm not saying they're going to crater. I'm just concerned about the state of that offensive line.

18:19Kurt Helin:But when you still have, to me, and I'm just going by talent, and you can prefer Josh Allen based on his athletic ability and his ruggedness in the pocket. Some people like vanilla ice cream. Others like raspberry. To me, nobody spins it like Mahomes, and that's not a lava-filled hot take. So, if you have the Raiders, or you pick whoever you think is the worst team in that division, I think it's the Raiders, but I think the Raiders will be vastly improved. Tell me a more complete, a more balanced division than the AFC West. We can have that conversation on the telephone. Pick up the phone, 844-204-7424, or if you want to lurk in the shadows of social media, it's B.W.

19:09Kurt Helin:Weber, Weber with two Bs. Coming up in 30 minutes, just a little bit of baseball as we head into the All-Star break on Sunday. And again, maybe this is where I am situated. Why are we not talking more about Cal Raleigh and what he's doing in Seattle? It is historic. I'll give you the specifics. Straight ahead, on this 15th anniversary of LeBron saying those words that still resonate for many fans, taking his talents to South Beach in what appears to be his last year here in L.A. How are things going to play out on the floor? We'll find out when we check in with Kurt Heelan of NBCSports.com. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich.

20:01Replace your worn-out wiper blades during O-Rewards Member Appreciation Month at O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Receive two times O rewards points and save$10 when you purchase a pair of Rain-X Latitude Wiper Blades. They will even install them for free at O 'Reilly Auto Parts. The greats don't shy away from change. They attack it head-on with confidence, preparation, and a clear strategy. KPMG LLP and their transformation professionals work with organizations across industries using their advanced AI to help them move faster, work smarter, and adapt with purpose. because in today's business environment, winning teams don't react to change, they shape it.

20:38Learn more at visit.kpmg.us slash velocity. Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an audible with a SoFi personal loan. It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast. Call an audible on your debt today at SoFi.com slash debt play. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. Fast funds terms apply at SoFi.com slash debt play.

21:13Kurt Helin:844-204-7424 is the phone number. You can slide over to the X platform. B.W. Weber. Weber with two Bs. We'll get back to the NFL to kick off the final hour of the program. Let's talk NBA with an old friend. Be sure to check out his excellent work at NBCSports.com. It's Curt Halen. Kurt, I cannot believe we've made it this far into July with all the film-in shows I've hosted, and this is the first time I've had a chance to talk to you. How are you? I'm doing well. I suppose that's on me. They kept dragging the NBA Finals out and missing the travel a lot, so I missed a bunch of stuff just because of the logistics.

21:52Kurt Helin:Those pesky scriptwriters keep getting in the way. Well, let me throw you into the hot tub time machine because you're well aware of this. 15th anniversary of LeBron's decision. I am a hacky fill-in host, so I'll spin it forward. What do you think his basketball future looks like? And let's be even more immediate. What's the likelihood he gets traded by the Lakers this year?

22:18But first off, by the way, it's just kind of weird to think. Remember, all the dominoes had to wait for him to, you know, back 15 years ago for him to make this decision today. hey, now free agency's been basically wrapped up for four days.

22:33Kurt Helin:Well, by design, right? And we could talk about the owners killing free agency because they don't want to have the ability to spend. They want to have handcuffs placed on them. They very much do, and it's turned into much more of a trade market than a free agent market. And that's the case with LeBron, who theoretically could have become a free agent if he wanted to and can't again next year. but if he wants to switch teams at anything close to his current salary he's going to have to get traded there's just nobody he's going to want to go to is going to have the cap space to take him in anymore and and especially considering with all due respect to him still being a top 10 player in the league he's not the guy you're building around going forward you're a bunch of assets to get him for some long-term thing he's the number two or three guy kind of like he is with the Lakers, where this is not the future anymore.

23:27I will tell you, Brian, I think it's unlikely he gets traded, but if you would ask me that three weeks ago, I'm like, there is no way he's getting traded. He's just going to come back to the Lakers. He's going to be fine. Now the vibe is just different. It's just a little weird. He's not the center of the Lakers' attention anymore. Obviously, they're trying to build around Luka going forward, but I don't think there's it's kind of like Giannis you can want to leave but there's not really a great option you're going to gut any team in the east of talent that you go to and it's going to be really hard to win with you even Cleveland if you give up Darius Garland like I don't think you get dramatic better and you do this for a short-term boost and in the west you can go wherever you want you know Kevin Durant certainly makes Houston better but Denver and Oklahoma City and everybody else are still sitting there like this is still a soda and on down the line.

24:19This is a really deep conference. So I can't imagine he's going to look at the scenario and say, well, this is where I got to go because this is just better.

24:26Kurt Helin:Well said. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich. We're talking hoops with Curt Halen of NBCSports.com. With a reminder, the NBA is returning to its rightful home, the NBA at NBC. You can check it out this fall. I'm based in Southern California, as are you. There's another team that plays here in L.A. People don't talk about them, the Clippers. Kurt, I don't want to overreact to the John Collins pickup, but people who follow hoops closely realize this is a legitimate power forward and give you 18 points and the rebounds you need. I'm also going to concede the top of the West got much better. We can talk about Houston and Denver momentarily, but where would you slot the Clippers overall in that rugged Western Conference?

25:10It's funny. I was just putting that stuff together for future power rankings, And I've got them in a tier where they could go through about seven or eight where I think the teams are really bunched up. I think what we forget, they won 50 games last year. They finished with the five seed, and they got bounced in the first round because they ran into Denver. Well, because James Harden remembered it was game seven. Yes. Yeah, exactly. James, that's the thing with the Clippers. I legitimately – they actually really had a nice offseason, even losing Norm Powell, who they're going to miss and is going to be great in Miami.

25:44they have had a really nice offseason. This is another team that's going to flirt with 50 wins. I just absolutely don't trust them when they get to the playoffs. Like, they're 50 wins. They're the five, again, the five, six seed. And then they get bounced. It's kind of unlike Lakers, where I'm, like, assuming they keep this roster together. I don't know if they're really built for the regular season. I don't know how much I trust their depth. But I do trust their guys in the playoffs way more than I trust the Clippers.

26:09Kurt Helin:I mentioned that it's official in New York, and we knew it was heading that way. I didn't think Mike Bryan was going to turn down the opportunity to be the new head coach of the Knicks. So as we think about how everything has changed in recent weeks in the Eastern Conference with both Tyrese Halliburton and Jason Tatum going down with those ruptured Achilles, when you look at the Knicks roster, as long as Mike Brown doesn't get in the way, is this their best shot at a championship since, say, 1999? Yeah, certainly a best chance at a returning to the finals, too. We'll see what happens when you get there and you run into whoever comes out of the West.

26:46But I think this is their best chance. And I think Mike Brown is a good coach. Is this a sexy hire? Like, oh, we got rid of Tom Thibodeau, but we brought in this guy because he's a clear upgrade. No. The question I've really got is simply this. Is having a different voice in the room what they ultimately need? is being different than Tibbs, who kind of wears on everybody, what they ultimately need more than – because I don't think this is some massive tactical upgrade or whatever, but it's just a different personality in the room enough. Because you're right, they absolutely have an opportunity.

27:23I mean, Orlando is going to be good, but Cleveland is kind of the bar you've got to clear. They did win 64 games. But this is a good chance, right? This feels like if the Knicks are going to do it, this is the year.