Because obviously the story of the week with James Harden getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets.

When you first learned that that deal had been made, what was the first reaction you had, Charles?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, it's gonna be the best soap opera ever.

Probably.

I can't wait toe watch it.

I actually said it like when they were started talking about a month and a half ago.

I think it's gonna be fascinating watching those three personalities try to mess in New York City.

I think it's gonna be amazing TV to watch.

I cannot way toe watch it.

Eso I'm excited.

Do you think it's gonna work out with the big three in Brooklyn?

How do you feel that's gonna work out?

I do not think it's going to work.

Um, Kyrie and James Harden have not shown me, and they don't have to show me number one that they're do willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Kevin has done it.

When he went to Golden State, he partnered with Steph and Klay and Dray took a lot less shots, play defense rebounded.

James and Kyrie have not shown me that.

They're like, Okay, I'm gonna get a lot less shots.

Um, I gonna play defense, Rebound, do things like that to help the team win.

I can only go by the A track record, and their track record tells me they're not going to be selfless.

And my biggest concern also is What are they going to do in the interior?

I think they're gonna have a tough time rebounding the ball now.

They're gonna be great offensively, but defensively and rebounding, I think they're going to struggle.

Let's compartmentalize it a little bit Or at least individualize it.

James Harden first, What do you felt?

How did you feel about how he handled things in Houston?

In the end, we all know that James Harden doesn't engage in load management.

He shows up to play.

We know he's averaged 30 over the last three games, one of the greatest offensive players this game has ever seen, as far as I'm concerned.

But he's taking a lot of hits from people because of how he handled things prior to his exit out of Houston.

Basically, the force his way out of Houston.

What were your thoughts about that?

Well, hey deserves to hit Stephen A.

James Harden went four straight games with less than 20 points.

I said two years ago, and people thought I was crazy.

James Harden might be the best one on one player I've ever seen.

He is the best.

He's not a greater players of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but it's four story.

He's the best one on one player I've ever seen.

Those guys couldn't shoot threes like him, Uh, going to the basket.

He is pretty much unstoppable.

And so for him to go four straight games and get less than 20 points, he had checked out physically and mentally.

So I had a problem with the way he handled that.

Clearly, the Rockets.

He told the rocks he didn't wanna be there.

They should have traded him sooner.

But I was disappointed the way he finished his career in Houston, cause he completely checked out he was wrong.

Do you think they made a mistake and not trading him to Philadelphia and getting somebody like Ben Simmons, maybe a younger player in a pick?

Do you think they should have done that?

with Philly, as opposed to moving him to Brooklyn.

Well, listen, I actually thought if I was to Houston Rockets, if they had given me Jared Allen, then Witty and Levert, you know, maybe my Joe Harris.

I think that would have been a much better trade for the Houston Rockets.

Because I'm a big Jared Allen fan.

I love Den Witty.

Obviously, he's hurt, but Laverty and Joe Harris, I think they could have got a better package from from the from the Nets.

But listen, James is a hell of a player.

I just thought the way he handled the thing in Houston was just very unprofessional.

Let's transition to Kyrie Irving, because that thing is that his situation has been bizarre, to say the least, started the year off telling the media that he didn't want to talk to anybody called a bunch of people peons in the media, obviously played the first few games, averaging about 26 a game, but then took off for personal reasons.

Initially didn't highlight why, and then he's been gone court on social media, trying to engage with elected officials to help social justice issues or what have you what do you make a Kyrie, Irving?

Well, it's time for contrary to grow up.

You know, Stephen A When you become ah, professional and you're making 30 $40 million a year, you are held to different standards than most people.

Hey, has to show up the work.

You know, we had the game on when the coast got up there like, Well, I don't know where Kyrie is.

You have, ah obligation to tell your employer, Stephen, that you cannot show up.

Listen, is terrific as you are on television, you do have to tell Espen when you ain't gonna show up for work.

You can't just not go.

So that's really unprofessional.

And it's time for Carrie.

Listen, it's time for him to grow up and be a great player, not just a talented player to be a great player and be professional.

And listen, I personally think I have no crew that the nest just said, Listen, we've had enough, are worried about Kyrie.

I think that's personally why they made the James Harden trade because they don't feel like they can trust Kyrie.

And listen with Katie and James, they're gonna be a tough team to beat anyway.

But if Kyrie comes in and gets in line, they're gonna be fascinating to watch.

Charles Barkley.

But going back on the court, who is your favorite to win the championship this year?

Give it to me.

You pick Portland.

Last year, you said guarantee and had your brooms out and they got they lost.

What's up, Charles?

The way I'm looking at it right now, I thought the big winner and the James Harden sweet states was the Philadelphia 70 Sixers.

You know Ben Simmons, Uh, just talking to everybody in Philly that the restrictions have been on pins and needles for the last month.

Worried about what?

They're gonna get rid of Ben Simmons.

I think now they got a new coach officer in Doc Rivers.

I think the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sixers are the teams to beat in the East and in the West.

I haven't seen anybody to put any fear in the Lakers.

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