first take

Stephen A. Smith Slams Ja Morant’s Suspension Apology

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Ja Morant has been suspended for 25 games by the NBA. While the punishment for flashing a gun on Instagram Live feels light to some, Morant will be sidelined until at least early December. However, the 25-game suspension is in line with both what pundits expected and how the NBA has treated suspensions in recent years. Miles Bridges was suspended for 30 games in April after pleading no contest to felony domestic violence charges.

In the wake of the suspension announcement, Morant released a statement. “I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making. I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I’m so sorry I won’t be out there with you at the beginning of the season. I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you over time I’m a better man than what I’ve been showing you,” the statement read in part.

Stephen A. Doesn’t Buy Morant Apology

“Nobody believes you,” Stephen A. Smith began on First Take. “Nobody believes you. I don’t say that flippantly, I’m a fan of Ja Morant. He’s a superstar that I want this game to celebrate for years and years to come. Me, speaking for everybody here, I believe, not just here at ESPN but in the world of sports. Why would we root against you because it’s better for all of us that you put your greatness on display with no troubles whatsoever because I belive this man is going to win a championship some day.”

He continued. “The reason why you’re not believed is because you already lied. [Morant’s statement] sounds somewhat similar to what you already said on camera months ago with your first suspension. You have to understand that you’re not believed, nobody believes you. You’re at a show and prove point. We know what you can do on the basketball court. But now it’s a show and prove point when it comes to your character. Because you not only looked Adam Silver in the face. You went on national TV, got interviewed by Jalen Rose, and you clearly lied. We hope you’re telling the truth. But if you ask someone to bet money on the veracity and truthfulness of your word…ain’t nobody betting money on that, bro.”

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Rick Ross Supports Kendrick Perkins “Ja Morant To Miami” Take

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There has been a lot of debate surrounding the future of Ja Morant. The NBA is expected to announce a punishment for Morant in the coming days after he was caught on Instagram Live flashing a gun last month. Despite claims from Morant’s team that the gun was fake, the league is expected to hand out a significant suspension.

2023-24 marks the first year of a five-year, $194.3 million extension that Morant signed with the Grizzlies. Furthermore, there is a poison pill trade restriction in place until July 1, if the Grizzlies wanted to trade. However, that hasn’t stopped speculation. Speaking on First Take, Kendrick Perkins said that he wanted to see Morant playing in Miami. “We just got talking about the Miami Heat. That’s the culture and the organization I think he should go to,” Perkins said. “They got the godfather, Pat Riley. There’s nothing that goes down in that city without him knowing about it.”

Rick Ross Offers To Mentor Morant

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Morant to Miami is an interesting, if unlikely, proposal. While the organization would likely be a good informative culture for Morant, it’s hard to see them swinging a trade. First, there are Morant’s behavioral issues. Riley runs a fairly no-nonsense organization, so it’s difficult to see him bring in a rehabilitation project like Morant. Second, Miami is already $87 million over the salary cap and eyeing a blockbuster trade to acquire Bradley Beal.

However, the proposed move has gotten very prominent vote of confidence. Taking to Instagram, Rick Ross posted a simple message to his story. “I can mentor #jamorant in Miami’. While somewhat unorthodox, especially given the recent news of Morant rejecting outreach from the likes of Lil Wayne, it could be just what Morant needs. An influential figure like Ross could get through to Morant in a way that an exec or cultural administrator like Riley couldn’t. So, while the move is unlikely, it’s good to know that there are people willing to help facilitate Morant’s rehabilitation, even if that means moving him away from Memphis.

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Stephen A. Smith Heaps Praise On Skip Bayless

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Stephen A. Smith is one of the most famous men on sports talk television. However, there is no doubt that he got to where he is now with a lot of hard work. Overall, the road has not been an easy one for Smith. He was let go from ESPN back in the 2000s but was ultimately able to come back on First Take. The show was co-hosted by him and none other than Skip Bayless. Although, Skip left the show in 2016, where he joined forces with Shannon Sharpe and formed the show Undisputed.

On Tuesday, Shannon Sharpe had his very last show with Bayless. Weeks prior, Sharpe had made it clear that he would be moving on. Subsequently, this led to plenty of rumors about his relationship with Bayless. However, during his final episode, he expressed gratitude toward Skip as he ultimately gave Sharpe a platform to be successful. Now, Stephen A. is weighing in on all of this. During an episode of his podcast, he revealed just how much Skip did for him at ESPN. Moreover, he noted that his career would look a lot different if it weren’t for Bayless.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Doubts Jimmy Butler’s Star Power

Stephen A. Loves His Former Broadcast Partner

“And I can relate because I am sitting here right now with this podcast feeding off my success and what I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to achieve at ESPN,” Stephen A. explained. “And knowing that it starts with Skip Bayless. […] There’s a whole bunch of brothers and sisters – Black people – that Skip Bayless has helped out and looked out for. And I know people try to question his intent. I’m highlighting his results.” 

At this point, a lot of fans would love to see Stephen A. and Skip join forces again. However, this doesn’t seem quite likely. In fact, it probably makes more sense for Shannon Sharpe to join First Take. Although, that doesn’t seem imminent either. Let us know what you want Sharpe to do next, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Berates Paul Pierce For Recent Behavior

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Golden State Warriors Can’t Contend Without Draymond Green, JJ Reddick Argues

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The Warriors’ season ended in humiliation. They were bullied out of the playoffs by the Lakers in the second round. A lot has been written, and said, about this season for Golden State. Steve Kerr said the team never felt like a championship roster. Furthermore, Kerr placed much of the blame in regard to team dynamics on the fight between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole last October. Green agreed, stating that he lost the locker room after the incident. Despite this, Kerr is eager to have Green back on the team

Furthermore, while questions remain about the Warriors’ future, there is hope. Both Steph Curry and Klay Thompson both have at least one year left on their contract. Additionally, Green has the option to exercise a player year for $27 million. However, sources have confirmed that Curry, arguably the leader of this team, wants to run it back with the Big 3 for one more year at least. Now, another voice is advocating for the Warriors to do everything it takes to keep Green on the team.

Reddick Argues Warriors Don’t Contend Without Green

“Absolutely not,” Reddick began when asked if the Warriors can contend without Draymond. “Draymond is so important to everything they do on both sides of the basketball. And defensively specifically, what we saw last year was a non-elite defense from the Golden State Warriors…And yet, Draymond Green had another elite defensive season. He is the anchor of that defense. When the Golden State Warriors have contended, it’s because they have had an elite defense. You lose him, with really no way to replace him, you’re not winning an NBA championship.”

While Chris “Mad Dog” Russo sees the Warriors as a top-tier contender next season, Reddick is more reserved. To him, the Warriors have the potential to contend if they play the draft and free agency correctly. However, to him, getting rid of Draymond is getting rid of the team’s championship chances. Green has not yet been the focus of much speculation yet, with many believing that he will pick up his player option. However, what do you think Draymond should do? Do you think the Warriors will let him leave? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Stephen A. Smith Berates Paul Pierce For Recent Behavior

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Stephen A. Smith is someone who can be extremely blunt with his opinions. Overall, he has never cared who he may offend with his commentary. Consequently, there are some people out there who straight up don’t like him. However, there are plenty of others who appreciate his approach to sports journalism. At the end of the day, he and Skip Bayless are pioneers of the industry, and it has been a pleasure to watch them anger people for over a decade.

That said, Stephen A. now has his very own show where he speaks on whatever he wants. Recently, he decided to comment on the recent antics enacted by Paul Pierce. This past week, he appeared drunk on a livestream with Kevin Garnett. He derailed the stream and while some thought it was funny, Smith felt like it was a bad sign. In fact, he went off on Pierce, claiming that this behavior has dated back to his dismissal from ESPN. Overall, Stephen A. believes this behavior is simply beneath Pierce, and he should strive to do better.

Read More: Paul Pierce Takes Shot At Richard Jefferson

Stephen A. Speaks

“Things started to go off the rails quickly because fans noticed that Paul Pierce was apparently drunk, or at least his behavior seemed to be that of an individual who was drunk, slurring his speech, and all of this other stuff,” Stephen said. “There’s certain stuff that you just can’t do, not when you’re working in corporate America, damn sure. Not when you’re working for Disney [which owns ESPN]. Don’t act like you didn’t know what the moral clause is. You looked like you had a lot of strippers in your house. You have some weed going on everywhere in, alcohol and all of this other stuff.”

Overall, it remains to be seen whether or not Pierce decides to actually listen to Stephen A. and his advice. At this point, Pierce seems to be enjoying life and doing things his own way. Let us know what you think of this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

Read More: Paul Pierce Reveals Story Behind The Wheelchair Game

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Stephen A. Smith Doubts Jimmy Butler’s Star Power

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Jimmy Butler had modest expectations when he entered the NBA. Coming out of mid-major Marquette, Butler was the 30th overall pick in 2011. While he was played sparingly during his early years in Chicago, he was a starter by his third season. Butler has defied those modest expectations to become an eight-time all-star and five-time All-NBAer. Furthermore, he has earned the nickname “Playoff Jimmy” for his habit of absolutely balling out in the postseason.

However, is Jimmy Butler a true superstar? It’s a tough question. He certainly doesn’t rank in the same tier as Jokić, Embiid, Giannis, LeBron, etc. But Jimmy Butler has always been a hardworking contributor and a backbone of a lot of teams. Despite this, Stephen A. Smith went hard on Butler’s reputation during a recent episode of First Take.

Stephen A. Smith Goes Off On Jimmy Butler

“You think about superstars and what we usually get from those superstars in terms of offensive production, that’s not Jimmy,” Smith said on First Take. In four seasons with Miami, Butler is averaging 21.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. In six seasons in Chicago, Butler averaged 15.6 points per game. Smith is right that Butler isn’t an offensive powerhouse. You don’t win a championship if Jimmy Butler is the primary offensive weapon at your disposal.

But has anyone ever thought otherwise? For real, has anyone genuinely looked at Butler’s output and said “This is the guy who we can exclusively rely on to win us a championship”? No, of course not. And that’s because Butler’s skill set is one you build around. Butler doesn’t shoot threes so you need a guy who can shoot threes. Jimmy Butler isn’t some Swiss-army knife player who can do everything. However, if you can build the right team around him, you don’t need him to be that player. NBA observers have seen the rise of Jokić, Embiid, and other superstars and decided that every team needs a one-man army. Jimmy Butler is a great player, but isn’t and doesn’t need to be the guy who drags a team to a championship. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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Stephen A. Smith Puts Caleb Martin On Blast

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Caleb Martin has become the face of the Miami Heat’s playoff run this year. People have latched onto the story of the guy who went from being cut by the Hornets to starting for the Heat. Furthermore, the central part that rapper J. Cole played in proceedings only fueled people’s passion for it.

Additionally, Martin has played a vital role in the Heat’s playoff run. He averaged nearly 20 points a game in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. Furthermore, he averaged 11.2 and 10.5 points per game against the Bucks and Knicks respectively. However, Martin has so far been unable to replicate that success against the Nuggets. Through three games, he’s averaging just 5.3 points on 26 minutes a night. Furthermore, the Heat find themselves down 2-1 in the series and still missing Tyler Herro for at least another game. Now Martin is getting heat from the media.

Smith Roasts Martin

Speaking on First Take, Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back about Martin. “Where the hell are you? … He has been a virtual no-show in these Finals,” Smith asked of Martin. Martin played 32 minutes in the Heat’s 109-94 Game 3 loss. Despite the extensive floor time, his most in the Finals so far, Martin had another quiet performance. He put up 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and 2 steals. He went 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-5 from three.

If the Heat wants to stand any chance of taking down the Nuggets, Martin and the rest of the Heat bench really need to step up. Through three games, the Heat’s bench has scored 28.9% (86 of 298) of the Heat’s points. Martin has contributed just 16 of those points. That is a lot of scoring pressure to put on the starting five. By comparison, the Nuggets’ limited bench tactic has netted them 49 points during the series so far. Despite these struggles, the Heat will attempt to even the series in Friday’s Game 4. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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JJ Reddick Reveals Chris Paul’s Best Championship Chances

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Chris Paul is one of the greatest players to ever grace the NBA. Drafted out of Wake Forst in 2005, Paul is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBAer, seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team player, five-time NBA assists leader, and six-time NBA steals leader. He has gone from prospect to star to veteran leader. However, injuries derailed his 2022-23 season, his third with the Suns. The only things missing from Paul’s resume are an MVP and an NBA title.

On June 7, it was reported that Paul had met with Suns’ leadership about his future with the team. As part of those conversations, Paul was informed that he could be waived before June 28th. Paul is owed $30.8 million if he is on the roster on June 28th. He is only owed $15.8 million if the Suns cut or trade him. While it is not a done deal, many experts expect the Suns to move on from Paul.

JJ Reddick Weighs In On Chris Paul’s Next Move

Speaking on First Take, JJ Reddick shared his thoughts on where he thinks Paul should go, if Paul wants to retire with a ring. “The two best places I think for him to win a championship is Phoenix … and the Los Angeles Lakers,” Reddick said during a two-minute monologue. Both options are valid and intriguing choices. The championship window for the Suns is closing fast and this offseason could very well shut it completely. They are $79 million over the salary cap and have a lot of bloated contracts, like Paul’s on the books. The Suns went all-in to win 2023 and came up well short. While Reddick’s logic makes sense, there are a lot of balls in the desert area.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have shown what they can do at full strength, running all the way to the Western Conference Finals. There are championship aspirations, sure. However, the ability to get past teams like the Nuggets remains to be seen. Paul is 38 and doesn’t have that many years left most likely. Is he, and his contract, something the Lakers want to take on? Furthermore, where do you think Chris Paul will go? Let us know in the comments below.

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Stephen A. Smith Encourages Damian Lillard To Leave Portland

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Damian Lillard has been the cornerstone of the Portland Trail Blazers for over a decade. A rare four-year collegiate player, Lillard was drafted sixth overall out of Weber State in 2012. He has since gone on to become a seven-time all-star, seven-time All-NBAer, and Rookie of the Year in 2013.

This past season, Lillard put up the third-most points per game (32.2) in the NBA. Furthermore, he was tenth in assists per game (7.3). Despite this, the Blazers missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, going 33-49. However, the Blazers are reportedly in a “win now for Lillard” mode. This includes going as far as to indicate that the third-overall pick in the NBA draft is up for grabs. Also up for grabs? Damian Lillard. Rumors are steadily increasing that the Blazers could trade Lillard, with the star himself indicating that he wouldn’t mind a trade to Miami.

Smith Supports Lillard Leaving Portland

Speaking on First Take on June 7, Stephen A. Smith revealed he was all in on Lillard getting out of Portland. “I have been BEGGING Damian Lillard to get the hell out of Portland. … He’s not winning in Portland. It will not happen,” Smith said during a three-minute monologue on the topic. Furthermore, Smith revealed that he had advocated for Lillard and former Blazer CJ McCollum to both get out of Portland for many years. McCollum, also appearing on the show, also gave his thoughts about the situation. “The market will dictate what happens here. … If I was a betting man, I would say this is the last that we’ve seen of him [in Portland],” he said.

It’s a damning, yet fair, indictment of the situation in Portland. In Lillard’s tenure with the team, they have made the Western Conference Finals once (2019). Beyond that run, they have made the Conference Semifinals two other times (2014, 2016). However, they are simply not a championship-caliber team and it would take the moon, their stock of future draft picks, and a healthy dose of luck to build a one-and-done championship machine. Regardless, what do you think – should Lillard get out of Portland? Let us know in the comments.

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Stephen A. Smith Clarifies Shannon Sharpe Comments

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Last week, Stephen A. Smith waded into the drama surrounding Shannon Sharpe’s abrupt exit from UNDISPUTED and Fox. Smith’s comments were taken as something of a backdoor invitation to try and woo Sharpe into joining him on First Take, Smith’s massively popular ESPN show.

“I don’t know what his plans are, I don’t know what he’s trying to pursue, I don’t know what he’s after. But if Shannon Sharpe needs me, I’m happy to be here for him,” Smith said on the Stephen A. Smith Show on June 2. “And if that included him wanting to come on First Take, the bosses at ESPN know that is something that I would support.” However, Smith has now clarified his comments as rampant speculation in recent days.

Stephen A. Smith Shouts Out ESPN Team

Speaking on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith clarified that he had not been looking to rustle any feathers with his comments. “Let me revisit a conversation that I had last week about Shannon Sharpe,” Smith began. “I meant what I said. I respect the brother. If he wants to come on First Take, I’m here for it. I support him. He wants to go elsewhere, that’s fine. He wants to get his own show and he’s got his own aspirations. I’m fine with that, too. Got a lot of respect again for Shannon Sharpe. But make no mistake about it, I love my crew.” Smith then proceeded to list all the various personalities that contribute to ESPN‘s coverage.

However, Smith continued. “And I would never ever ever sit up and tell anybody that I want anybody more than I want Michael Irvin. I welcome Shannon Sharpe to First Take. But it would be in the mix of being part of the family. I like the potpourri of contributors. I like the action and the excitement and the fun of the show. Adding people into the mix is one thing. Changing the complete makeup and formula of the show is entirely different and that ain’t happening for anyone.” Smith’s words make two things clear. Firstly, Shannon Sharpe moving to First Take would not see another personality leave. Secondly, if Sharpe wanted to join First Take, it would be on their terms and expectations, not his. Sharpe is yet to announce his next move but you can follow all the latest updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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