LeBron's Non-Decision & Conference Top 4 Seeds

·39 min·3 clips

Evan Turner says he knew LeBron's announcement was 'Fugazi' and didn't watch, calling it a troll move.

Chris Mannix hosts the Open Floor NBA podcast, introducing former NBA player Evan Turner as a new weekly guest. The episode begins with Turner reacting to LeBron James' 'Decision 2.0,' which turned out to be a Hennessy ad, with Turner calling it a troll move. They then analyze LeBron's role on the Lakers alongside Luka Dončić, with Turner suggesting LeBron will be a '1B' rather than a true number two. The discussion shifts to Lakers roster pieces like Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, with Turner questioning Ayton's fit and mental readiness. Turner shares a personal story about humbling himself in 2014 free agency, relating it to Ayton's need to adapt. Mannix and Turner evaluate Western Conference contenders, with Turner giving the Warriors a top-four chance due to Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. They debate the Thunder as the team to beat, the Rockets' potential with Amen Thompson, and the Nuggets' bench additions. Mannix presents a hot take that Cade Cunningham is a top-10 NBA player, comparing him to Luka Dončić. The conversation moves to the Eastern Conference, with Turner favoring the Cavaliers and discussing the Knicks' new offense under Mike Brown. They also touch on the Magic's defensive strength and the Celtics' situation without Jayson Tatum, advising against his return from injury. The episode concludes with Mannix thanking Turner and looking forward to future discussions.

As heard by us

A brisk NBA outlook discussion finds its best edge in Denver's bench reset and Houston's young-core pressure points.

Open Floor makes Evan Turner's weekly guest spot feel most useful when it stays with roster mechanics instead of broad preseason guessing. Chris Mannix and Turner land on Denver first, where Turner's confidence in a rebuilt bench around Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a sharper read on Denver's bench and Houston's room to survive a long season?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Open Floor: SI's NBA Show