1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,120 What's up, y'all is Drewski and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,679 a hilarious new basketball podcast called The du Zone with Drewsky. Learn the backstories 3 00:00:08,679 --> 00:00:11,880 of your favorite balls and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a 4 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:14,720 favorite team? Wasn't the Raptors at the time? Or no, was the 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,160 Raptors even started around the top? Come on, bro, I had that 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,839 old talk like I'm fifty Tailor Rogues, Asian Wilson and many more. You 7 00:00:21,879 --> 00:00:24,800 won't want to miss this. Listen to The Duo Zone with Drewski on Apple, 8 00:00:24,839 --> 00:00:32,039 Podcast, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. In two thousand 9 00:00:32,039 --> 00:00:37,479 and three, Nike signed thirteen year old Freddy Adoo to a seven figure contract, 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:42,079 but Freddy didn't live up to the height. He has turned down every 11 00:00:42,119 --> 00:00:48,439 single documentary project looking closely at the details of his career until now. People 12 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,359 are gonna look at everything you did because of the hype surrounding your arrival and 13 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:57,560 what they think you can be. I'm Grant Wall and this is American prodigy 14 00:00:57,679 --> 00:01:11,159 freddie Ado from Blue Wire Podcasts, What is Krack Oak and Hardwood Knocks Listeners 15 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,719 I'm Damp Valley coming at you without my co host Adam Promo this time who's 16 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:19,480 on vacation. And yet an emergency podcast was necessary because Russell Westbrook and John 17 00:01:19,519 --> 00:01:25,200 Wall were traded for each other. So I've brought on my good friend and 18 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,280 colleague from Bleacher Report, Grant Hughes. Follow him on Twitter at gt underscore 19 00:01:29,359 --> 00:01:30,920 Hughes. Before I pick his brain, just a quick shout out to our 20 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:36,239 sponsors as always, but online and indeed you'll be hearing from them shortly and 21 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,959 together since this will be an abridge to podcast. But without them, this 22 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,799 podcast would not be possible, So shouts to them, Grant, how are 23 00:01:42,799 --> 00:01:52,319 you doing? I am gobsmacked? Is that thunder? Thunderstruck? It's this 24 00:01:52,439 --> 00:01:59,400 is nuts. This is a wild trade and it's kind of like it makes 25 00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:04,799 sense, except it also makes no sense, right because like, I mean, 26 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,680 we can get into it, but it's just my initial reaction was, 27 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:12,159 wow, that's shocking. But then like, if you're going to trade one 28 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,960 or the other of these guys, it sort of had to be for one 29 00:02:15,039 --> 00:02:16,599 or the other, right, that was the only way that this was going 30 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:21,599 to happen. Well, so quickly the terms of the trades as it wasn't 31 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:24,960 just a straight up swap was Westbrook goes to Washington, and then the Rockets 32 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,879 are getting John Wall and their dollar amounts, by the way, for the 33 00:02:28,879 --> 00:02:30,639 next three years are about dead. Even John Wall is slated to make he 34 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,759 has a trade kicker, but that will be paid by Washington because I don't 35 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,280 think he waved it. But their salaries are basically dead even I think Wall 36 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,840 makes like four hundred k more over the life of those three years. So 37 00:02:40,879 --> 00:02:45,960 Toby Fertita's probably a little bit pissed off, but basically identical. The Rockets 38 00:02:46,039 --> 00:02:49,919 also get a first round pick from Washington in two thousand and twenty three. 39 00:02:50,039 --> 00:02:53,919 It's lottery protected, then then it's top twelve protected in twenty twenty four, 40 00:02:53,199 --> 00:02:57,479 top ten protected in two thousand and twenty five, and then it's top eight 41 00:02:57,479 --> 00:03:00,800 protected in two thousand and twenty six. If not conveyed by that and it 42 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,719 turns into two second rounders. That is significant because when you go that far 43 00:03:04,759 --> 00:03:07,759 out, it makes it harder to trade future picks just down the line, 44 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,639 like you can't guarantee they'll convey basically, and so I don't know what the 45 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,599 best way to do this. Is, let's maybe we should break it down 46 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:15,840 by team, like what would you you know if you had a grade this 47 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:20,199 rate this, what were your impressions of it? For let's start with whatever 48 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,960 team you want? Start with one team you're pick? All right, well, 49 00:03:23,039 --> 00:03:27,800 so let's let's start with Houston. Uh So, I mean, obviously 50 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,840 this, the fact that Houston is getting the pick suggests I think correctly that 51 00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:36,960 you know, for all as flaw as Westbrook is a more valuable asset than 52 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,039 wall is, right, like, you know, whatever, what however you 53 00:03:40,039 --> 00:03:46,159 want to value that pick. It's like it wasn't straight up, So I 54 00:03:46,199 --> 00:03:49,960 think that's I think that's right. I think and and but but I would 55 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,759 say that so for the Rockets, uh, I guess basketball issues aside, 56 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:00,000 the Westbrook thing was just not feasible to continue because he wanted out. And 57 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:04,400 I guess maybe this is reading too deeply into it, but or could be 58 00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:10,120 reading too deeply into it that you know, Harden wanting out may have had 59 00:04:10,159 --> 00:04:12,919 something to do with Russ being there. I don't, right, because he 60 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,000 did say Rus said he wanted to go back to like being more of a 61 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,360 floor general, which is like, you know, there's gonna be some Bradley 62 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,600 Beal's more plug and play than most stars, but like that's still like you're 63 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,160 not going to be necessarily the unquestioned alpha and Washington. But also, if 64 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,160 he wanted to play that way, there's a good chance that you'd eventually be 65 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,079 able to play that way in Houston once they inevitably trade Harden. But sorry 66 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,560 to interrupt you, that was my non't know. I'm this is going to 67 00:04:33,639 --> 00:04:40,800 be a very meandering set of opinions just because I told you before we started, 68 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,959 like I deliberately didn't read anyone else's opinions on this because I wanted to 69 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,839 kind of approach it sort of fresh, and so I guess as I'm sort 70 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,480 of talking it out, I think if you, if you want to make 71 00:04:51,519 --> 00:04:56,680 the case that this move, one of the effects of this move is that 72 00:04:56,759 --> 00:04:59,879 James Harden is now happier and is going to stay or at least make few 73 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,160 waves. I mean, that's I guess you probably have to label that the 74 00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:08,879 biggest win by any party, right because I mean, however you feel about 75 00:05:08,879 --> 00:05:12,680 Harden, but like, if he's happier with this setup than the previous one 76 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,879 and is more likely to stay, then you know that's not technically a part 77 00:05:15,879 --> 00:05:18,759 of the trade. But if that's the ultimate effect and that's a massive win, 78 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:21,079 I we you know, I guess I could throw to you on like 79 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:26,040 the actual fit issues on the floor. I think some of the problems that 80 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,240 Westbrook presented will similarly be presented by Wall, assuming he's healthy enough to play, 81 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:35,439 which obviously is maybe the biggest overarching unknown of this whole thing. Right 82 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:42,040 it seems like it seems like Houston is taking on more risk here because of 83 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,240 Wall's health, even though Westbrook has you know, injuries in his past, 84 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,879 multiple knee surgeries. But Wall hasn't played since December twenty eighteen, and we're 85 00:05:48,879 --> 00:05:53,079 talking about you know, he's dealing with bonespur issues, Achilles issues like those 86 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,639 are a red flag key Like Westbrook relied a lot on his athleticism, but 87 00:05:56,639 --> 00:06:00,079 he's coming back from an injury where it's supposed to basically sap you of it. 88 00:06:00,639 --> 00:06:04,120 And then you're also dealing with James Harden's future, so you have to 89 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:08,839 factor those two things in. I do think there will be a similar fit 90 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,079 issues, but there are two ways that I think it could improve. One 91 00:06:12,199 --> 00:06:15,920 John Wall Westbrook is probably the better cutter, and particularly if he's going to 92 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,839 be more athletic than Wall. But Wall over his last three seasons, so 93 00:06:19,959 --> 00:06:25,560 we're talking about between two fifteen and twenty eighteen shot thirty eight point seven percent 94 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,800 on catching fire triples and it was on appreciably more volume than Russell Westbrook, 95 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,480 who since twenty seventeen his last three seasons is that thirty one point six percent. 96 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,920 And so if you're going to have him off the ball, I think 97 00:06:36,959 --> 00:06:41,639 the spot up shooting from the outside is way more important than his ability to 98 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,199 cut. And if you're gonna play four or five out anyway, he'll find 99 00:06:44,199 --> 00:06:46,319 seems so I think he's a better fit that way. I also, if 100 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,800 you're willing to play differently, I think he's a better fit then Russell Westbrook, 101 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:55,079 who is like a good passer, but I feel like he does it 102 00:06:55,279 --> 00:07:00,160 as a last resort where Wall like lives to pass more, and so are 103 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:01,879 gonna put the ball in his hands and you're willing to get James harden one 104 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:06,439 moving more or just to take more catch and shoot shots in general, because 105 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:12,920 I think eighty five percent plus percent of his baskets went unassisted last year and 106 00:07:12,959 --> 00:07:15,680 that was actually I think he had more the season before I think even a 107 00:07:15,759 --> 00:07:19,160 higher percentage of them were unassisted. So I like the fit better. But 108 00:07:19,199 --> 00:07:25,480 it's like only in theory because it's prodded upon Houston playing differently, like Harden 109 00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:30,160 has dominated the ball as much as anyone statistically other than John Wall over the 110 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,240 past half decade. When you look at possession time, that was per Kevin 111 00:07:32,279 --> 00:07:35,680 Pelton of ESPN. I'm not coming into this as blind as as you are. 112 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,800 That is the only thing I read, though, how dare you? 113 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,360 So? I like it from that perspective. And the final thing I'll say, 114 00:07:43,439 --> 00:07:46,000 I'm not saying this is a flat out win, but if you were 115 00:07:46,079 --> 00:07:49,319 to trade James Harden now, John Wall is going to have less of an 116 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:55,240 impact on your bottom line win total without Harden than I think Westbrook would like. 117 00:07:55,279 --> 00:07:58,000 There's a chance that if you had Westbrook without Harden and whoever you get 118 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,759 in a return, not that you're a playoff team in the West, but 119 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,600 that you sort of amble your way into a play in seed where I think 120 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:05,399 if you have John Wall and let's just say whatever return you get from the 121 00:08:05,439 --> 00:08:09,439 Nets, if that's the team Harn goes to, I actually think you could 122 00:08:09,439 --> 00:08:13,480 classify the Rockets as one of the three or four worst teams in the West, 123 00:08:13,519 --> 00:08:16,120 without question, and so they would really drum up their lottery odds there. 124 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,360 I'm not trying to, you know, poke at John Wall, but 125 00:08:18,399 --> 00:08:22,680 he's coming back from a bigger injury, and just because he's not as polarizing 126 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,600 of a scoring presence when he's on his own, if you're going to rebuild 127 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,199 in your Houston, that's like better bad money to have on the books. 128 00:08:30,399 --> 00:08:35,559 Does that make any sense? So you're saying that, I don't want to 129 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,279 put words in your mouth, but it's like, essentially Westbrook is the better 130 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,320 floor raiser, Like Westbrook will get you to the playoffs? Is that whereas 131 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:48,559 Wall with a you know, theoretically identical supporting cast like Wall plus players X, 132 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,120 Y and Z versus Westbrook with players X, Y and Z, the 133 00:08:50,159 --> 00:08:52,840 Westbrook version is better. Is that what you're saying? Yeah, but like 134 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,679 Westbrook without other stars is going to go further than a team that has Wall 135 00:08:56,759 --> 00:09:01,080 without other stars. And when I think Wall might be a better fit to 136 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:05,240 actually play beside other stars. Twenty twenty has already reshaped how we work and 137 00:09:05,279 --> 00:09:09,120 it's almost over. 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Right now, Indeed is offering our listeners a free seventy five dollar 146 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,159 credit to boost your job post, which means more quality candidates will see it 147 00:09:46,399 --> 00:09:50,360 and fast. Try indeed out with a free seventy five dollar credit at indeed 148 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,679 dot com slash blue wire. This is their best offer available anywhere. Go 149 00:09:54,799 --> 00:09:58,840 right now to Indeed dot Com. Slash blue wire offers valid through December thirty. 150 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,279 First terms and condition to apply. Yeah, I think it's been fairly 151 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,039 clearly demonstrated that Westbrook does not improve the play of other high end players around 152 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:11,320 him. You know, I think I feel like Westbrook is the type of 153 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:16,120 player that at least this version now. I mean, it's maybe not fair 154 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:18,399 to you know, what was age twenty five or twenty seven Russ, Like 155 00:10:18,759 --> 00:10:22,919 that could have been different. But but now it's kind of like if you 156 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,279 have Westbrook in charge of a team, it's sort of gonna be the I'll 157 00:10:26,279 --> 00:10:31,240 get the years wrong. Do the eighteen nineteen thunder right, like whatever they 158 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,600 won? They were the sixteed or something like that. Oh yeah, it 159 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,679 was that sixteen seventeen is like you're talking about with al Paul George or with 160 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,759 Paul George. Oh jesus, I don't even remember the last the last uh 161 00:10:41,799 --> 00:10:45,720 whatever, you know what I mean, like after left right, yeah, 162 00:10:46,159 --> 00:10:50,960 seventeen yeah, so so and even really after that, you know, there 163 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:54,320 there's I don't think anyone would argue that Westbrook, uh, you know, 164 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,000 really elevates the level of play of other guys around him. I think it's 165 00:10:58,039 --> 00:11:01,759 more like if you're good enough, like a Kevin Durant or whatever, you 166 00:11:01,799 --> 00:11:07,799 sort of learned to stay great despite Russ, uh, you know, playing 167 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:09,279 the way that he does. I hope that doesn't sound unfair, but you 168 00:11:09,279 --> 00:11:11,840 know, you know what I mean, And I think Wall to your point 169 00:11:11,919 --> 00:11:18,840 earlier, I'd go a step further in essentially agreeing with you that Wall is 170 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,559 kind of like peak. Wall is a genius passer, right, and you 171 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:26,200 know, you can look up these reels of him hitting you know, the 172 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,919 opposite corner three. There were stats that you know, back when we used 173 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,279 to write about John Wall because he was playing basketball. It's just like the 174 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,159 percentage of corner threes that he assisted was like off the charts. He led 175 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,799 the league one year. He was always way up there just finding that guy. 176 00:11:41,159 --> 00:11:43,759 And that's that's a sort of a microcosm of the way that he sees. 177 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,559 He sees the angles and he is He's reacting and reading in ways that 178 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,120 I think. I totally agree. Westbrook is like head down, barrel into 179 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,000 a crowd, and because I've drawn a crowd because I might dunk on three 180 00:11:56,039 --> 00:12:01,159 guys someone's open, I'll crazily throw it back and that's an assist like those 181 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,039 are not. You know, Westbrook has had some has had several really high 182 00:12:05,039 --> 00:12:09,120 assist totals. I would and the fantasy basketball crowd would disagree, like he's 183 00:12:09,279 --> 00:12:13,840 actually I don't think Westbrook is a good passer like full stop. I think 184 00:12:13,919 --> 00:12:18,200 Wall is one of the best passers in the league over the last decade or 185 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:22,240 so, so that, to your point, is why I think maybe he 186 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:26,720 gets a little more out of the whatever hypothetical supporting cast you might build around 187 00:12:26,799 --> 00:12:31,559 him a post Harden trade. But yeah, I think I don't want to 188 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:37,080 just make this whole conversation about one issue, but John Wall has not been 189 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:41,080 good since twenty sixteen seventeen for a full season, because you're looking at the 190 00:12:41,159 --> 00:12:43,279 last two years that he was healthy. It was thirty two games and forty 191 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,639 one in seventeen eighteen when he was an All Star, but the numbers were 192 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:54,159 way down over the previous year. Then Anyway, I mean like there is 193 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,519 a strong possibility that the version of John Wall that we see resembles like basically 194 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:03,240 nothing, you know, that of what we're familiar with, And so from 195 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:07,879 Houston's perspective, you know, the potential loss there is is just massive because 196 00:13:07,919 --> 00:13:13,120 I think heading into this season you would have said John Wall was probably the 197 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:18,720 league's worst contract, and then I think the Russ hate kind of I don't 198 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,639 know, push people too far one direction on him, like these are not 199 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:28,159 equally bad contracts, and it's strictly because of the massive downside risk with Wall's 200 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,320 health, right, and I don't know if that's like if Harden stays in 201 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,919 Houston, that might be the last element to talk about with Houston and all 202 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:41,960 this is does it help or hurt their chances of convincing Harden to stay at 203 00:13:41,039 --> 00:13:46,799 least through the entirety of next season. But Wall is inherently lower usage to 204 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,320 begin with, I think just because he's more of a pass or even though 205 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,559 if you look on like drives and stuff, Westbrook might actually pass on a 206 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:54,639 higher percentage of his drives. I think over the past few years. I'm 207 00:13:54,639 --> 00:13:58,320 looking at their healthy seasons, but because Wall is lower usage, I mean, 208 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,039 if you're looking at this is since Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City, the 209 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:05,600 two highest usage players in the league, James Harden is one, Westbrook is 210 00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:07,600 two. Wall comes in at twentieth and so that's a only one hundred and 211 00:14:07,639 --> 00:14:13,080 fifty one game sample. But he's also played beside. I wouldn't say Pete 212 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,840 Bradley Beal, but a really good version of Bradley Bale. So there's like 213 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,279 more of an element of being used to trading off during this time and if 214 00:14:18,279 --> 00:14:22,120 you are injured or not yourself. Maybe it makes it easier for him to 215 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,879 acquiesce to Harden than it would for Westbrook, which in turn, I think 216 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,000 just makes the Rockets better by default, not addition by subtraction wise, but 217 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:35,919 just you're going to optimize your team's play style on more possessions with John Wall, 218 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:39,440 regardless of what quality of player he is. Then if you have Russell 219 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,799 Westbrook, it puts more of an onus on James Harden. But like that's 220 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:46,080 a better way to play than to kind of split time with Russell Westbrook At 221 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,000 this point, in my opinion, I think too that you know, we 222 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:54,080 have to assume that if Wall is healthy enough to play like a normal minutes 223 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:56,200 load, that they'll stagger the two of them, him and Harden. And 224 00:14:58,679 --> 00:15:03,639 I wonder, now, you know, Houston was really sort of is habitually 225 00:15:03,879 --> 00:15:07,960 really thin because they just have one guy dribble and then everybody else, you 226 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,639 know, is standing around shooting. And that's maybe not fair to previous iterations 227 00:15:11,679 --> 00:15:13,840 of the team. But like we forget that there was a Chris Paul era 228 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,879 of the Rockets. It feels like that was ten years ago. But man, 229 00:15:18,039 --> 00:15:20,000 think about what they turned Chris Paul into by the way, they turned 230 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:26,840 Chris Paul and four first round picks into twenty twenty three protected first and John 231 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:28,799 Wall, Like that's just we can go back to look at what they used 232 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,720 to acquire Chris Paul, which I think was like super reasonable price when you're 233 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,639 looking at the role players they give up. But like that trade tree is 234 00:15:35,679 --> 00:15:39,559 bizarre, and you could probably also throw like Daryl Morey and Mike D'Antoni, 235 00:15:39,639 --> 00:15:45,159 and the opportunity costs there as well. Right man, there's the tentacles of 236 00:15:45,159 --> 00:15:48,399 this thing are real long. No, I mean just mean I think so 237 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:54,240 Houston, I think depth is now a premium because so if you have Wall 238 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,639 essentially being the primary ball handler, and when Harden is not on the floor, 239 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,000 I think it's I guess it's you know, you're always just going to 240 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,200 be like, well, we need shooting in defense around our guy, you 241 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,879 know, our primary ball handler. But but it's sort of like I kind 242 00:16:08,879 --> 00:16:14,480 of like the idea of Wall running like a quote unquote second unit more than 243 00:16:14,519 --> 00:16:18,840 Westbrook, just because I think there is the chance that you know, Wall 244 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,879 might I think, no, not might. If he's healthy enough to play, 245 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:26,960 Wall will sort of get guys more good shots then Westbrook would have and 246 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:33,399 I and I also think that Wall's defensive reputation has been a little overblown, 247 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,279 but he was on an all defensive team, and Russ I think, I 248 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,639 mean, one of the most frustrating aspects of his entire career is that he's 249 00:16:40,639 --> 00:16:45,039 just never committed to being a good defender. And so Wall, I think, 250 00:16:45,399 --> 00:16:48,679 especially if if you subscribe to like always got something to prove kind of 251 00:16:48,679 --> 00:16:52,559 angle to this comeback, I think Wall should. It would be difficult to 252 00:16:52,559 --> 00:16:56,120 give less value than Russ Gabe defensively, so I think Wall maybe helps there 253 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,639 too. They also can maybe hide him a little bit better, just because 254 00:17:00,639 --> 00:17:04,240 you have if David Nwaba is healthy, you have Sterling Brown, you have 255 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,920 Daniel House, you have PJ. Tucker, So like you can kind of 256 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,359 play matchups more so with Ball because he is on the bigger side for a 257 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,720 guard, so you can maybe I mean when he's on the floor with hard 258 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,480 and you have to consider that, but you can set in second unit you 259 00:17:17,559 --> 00:17:19,960 might be able to stash him better than you would rest Brook. And then 260 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,960 the other thing I'll say to your point before I let you continue, was 261 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,079 just I like it better when you look at the players that are in Houston. 262 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:27,359 The idea of Wall running a second unit where it's like, yeah, 263 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:33,359 Christian Wood and Eric Gordon, like they can work alongside Russell Westbrook, but 264 00:17:33,799 --> 00:17:36,960 I feel like they make more sense next to John Wall, particularly someone like 265 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,799 Eric Gordon who wants to put the ball on the floor every once in a 266 00:17:40,839 --> 00:17:42,440 while, and even Christian would like that's something he did really well in Detroit 267 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,599 the latter part of this season, so that, in theory, just makes 268 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,319 more sense. I agree. I mean, I'm sort of shocked that the 269 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:53,039 more I kind of roll this around in my head, the more I sort 270 00:17:53,079 --> 00:17:57,720 of intrigued and maybe like the Wall edition of the Rockets more than the Westbrook 271 00:17:57,759 --> 00:18:03,680 one. The weight is finally over. Football is back. You might not 272 00:18:03,799 --> 00:18:06,759 be at a game this year, but you can still be in on the 273 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:10,480 action at bet online. Bet Online is going the extra mile to make sure 274 00:18:10,519 --> 00:18:14,000 you can get in on every possible chance to win this season, from game 275 00:18:14,039 --> 00:18:18,039 spreads and totals to team player and coaching props. That online gives you more 276 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:21,759 options to wager on than anywhere else. 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For you know this, you know they've got Denny idea. 285 00:18:55,680 --> 00:19:00,440 Now, I mean not that you want to consider a rookie what's going to 286 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,920 happen to this rookie when you're making a superstar trade? But what are your 287 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,119 thoughts on the Washington endo? Unless you have more on Houston? No, 288 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:11,119 I think that's just for Houston. It comes down to was just they're taking 289 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:12,680 the bigger whisk because you don't know what Wall looks like. But there's a 290 00:19:12,759 --> 00:19:17,720 chance that this ends up paying off for them. I think regardless of like 291 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,400 it could be worked, I think they straddle two lines better now with Wall, 292 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,759 where it's we don't know what's going to happen with Harden, but in 293 00:19:22,799 --> 00:19:25,119 the event he leaves, I think you've set yourself up a little bit better 294 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,799 to rebuild without being stuck in the middle during that time. And that's equally 295 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:32,359 huge for Washington. Really quickly on my end before I throw it you, 296 00:19:32,559 --> 00:19:36,480 I get the logic here, because Westbrook should in theory because of how he 297 00:19:36,519 --> 00:19:40,000 scores. And you know, the reason Houston gave up so much to get 298 00:19:40,039 --> 00:19:41,519 him in the first place was his durability, and you can say that he's 299 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:45,519 more durable than John Wall. You've now lifted up the minute you will play 300 00:19:45,559 --> 00:19:52,400 without Bradley Beale without necessarily crippling the minutes that include Bradley Beale, just because 301 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,720 again he's used to playing with John Wall, who's someone who I think you 302 00:19:55,759 --> 00:19:59,640 would argue is going to look to generate shots for others more often even and 303 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,519 again this does go against like some of the passing numbers when you look at 304 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,640 passing per game, percentage of passes thrown on drives, but a lot of 305 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,920 that has to do with just the sheer volume of it all. But Bradley 306 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,720 Beale, I think is one of those guys who can play alongside. He 307 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,039 had the fifth highest usage rate in the league last year. But he is 308 00:20:14,039 --> 00:20:18,240 one of those guys who can play alongside everybody. Last year, specifically, 309 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,200 he shot thirty eight percent on catch and shoot threes, which accounted for almost 310 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,039 a fifth of a shot attempt. So increasing that type of shot type for 311 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,720 him is hardly a bad thing. I just and look, the opportunity cost 312 00:20:29,839 --> 00:20:33,279 is fairly reasonable if you end up not being in the lottery like during this 313 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:34,559 time. But when you look at how far the pick conveys out, there's 314 00:20:34,599 --> 00:20:37,720 a chance that you are in the lottery, because even if Beie eventually wants 315 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,200 out, you have these two years after this, one of westbrook who could 316 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,119 still kind of keep you in the middle, but like not super close to 317 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,880 the playoffs, Like maybe Russell Westbrooks gets you to the playoffs in the East 318 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,440 to where that pick is you know it will convey, but also maybe he 319 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:56,880 doesn't, So there's a ton of risk there. It feels like they I 320 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,839 would have liked to have seen them give wall And one more chance. It's 321 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,559 basically where I'm landing with this. I don't know Wall's their ability was too 322 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,240 much of an issue. He seemed disenfranchised with the organization. You wrote about 323 00:21:07,279 --> 00:21:11,720 it. He requested a trade on the first night of free agency basically, 324 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,920 so that factored in. I understand it. I just don't. I really 325 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:19,599 don't love it because like, what if does this convince Bradley Beal to stay. 326 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,359 If it does, then maybe that's the win. But if it doesn't, 327 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,880 like now you're you're in the spot that Houston was where if you trade 328 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,839 your best player, you're sort of consigned to I call it like the subflooring, 329 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,599 like it's not quite the basement, but like you're not good enough to 330 00:21:33,599 --> 00:21:38,640 do anything special. Yeah, I I you know, we're talking a lot 331 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:44,079 about floors, but I think I think this is a hot floor talk podcast, 332 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:49,200 talk about some laminates, some some underlayment they know, like he so 333 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:53,680 I think Westbrook raises the Wizard's floor. And I don't even know what that 334 00:21:53,799 --> 00:21:56,599 really means because I don't know where it was before. But it's like if 335 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,880 Wall had just not been able to stay Hell and you're just basically the same 336 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,680 team you were a year ago, which was like great for Bradley Beal because 337 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,440 he got thirty a game, but you know, they were just they couldn't 338 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,359 defend there. And I still don't think they're going to defend. They may 339 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,759 be even worse. But but like Westbrook, I think is going to be 340 00:22:14,759 --> 00:22:18,559 on the floor. So if that means that they have him, you know, 341 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:23,160 X percent chance a better chance of you know, being the get I 342 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,039 mean, they're gonna I would be surprised if Washington was not in the play 343 00:22:26,039 --> 00:22:30,519 in scenario. That's also the terms we have started thinking of like our right 344 00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:33,880 playoff team in now. So you know, I think whereas the downside with 345 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,240 the Wall version of the team was lower than that, I think it could 346 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,559 have been the worst team in the East, you know, depending on what 347 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:45,000 Cleveland and the Knicks and whatever else happened. But I guess like this all 348 00:22:45,039 --> 00:22:52,319 just sort of a rose out of a circumstance which has never made sense and 349 00:22:52,319 --> 00:22:56,480 will never make sense to me, which is that Wall having like zero leverage. 350 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,160 I mean, I guess he had less leverage, you know, the 351 00:23:00,559 --> 00:23:03,720 day after he had surgery. But like, this is a guy that hasn't 352 00:23:03,759 --> 00:23:08,160 played, as we've said, in more than a year and wanted out. 353 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,759 Suddenly it just goes to show we don't really know what's happening behind the scenes 354 00:23:11,759 --> 00:23:15,720 with any of these teams, because you know, this didn't just arise out 355 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,519 of nothing. But it's it's gonna be difficult for me to sort of wrap 356 00:23:18,559 --> 00:23:22,279 my head around the idea that he had. He not only had the like 357 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:26,440 I don't know what you want to call it, the goall I guess, 358 00:23:26,559 --> 00:23:30,240 or something less strong than that to demand a trade or ask for a trade, 359 00:23:30,599 --> 00:23:32,880 but then he got it like yeah, I mean, I just I 360 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,720 mean, of all the of all the contracts that are just impossible to move. 361 00:23:37,559 --> 00:23:42,359 So I don't know, I guess. I guess. The Bial angle 362 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:47,079 to me is kind of maybe the most concerning because it did sort of seem 363 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,279 like outwardly that he was down to play with John Wall again, if not 364 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,799 like excited to do it. Maybe that was all fake. Two. Yeah, 365 00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:56,519 I mean you had Tommy Shepard kind of coming out and calling it Bel's 366 00:23:56,559 --> 00:23:59,720 team, and it feels like, yeah, that's something that could have definitely 367 00:23:59,759 --> 00:24:03,759 rub the Wall the wrong way. Yeah, I guess. I again, 368 00:24:03,799 --> 00:24:07,680 Like, but so from the Bield perspective, the question is, because Bill 369 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:12,079 has been pretty consistent in the messaging and like I want to be here, 370 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,480 if that had a lot to do with Wall, then like this might not 371 00:24:15,559 --> 00:24:19,279 be great because then you're looking at the possible scenario you were talking about, 372 00:24:19,319 --> 00:24:22,920 which is this is just a Russell Westbrook and a bunch of dudes if they 373 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,000 have to move Bill, although you're gonna get plenty for Bal so that's a 374 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,519 positive. But but I don't know that if the goal is to retain bal 375 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,519 if this is a good step. Although if Wall wants out, then he 376 00:24:33,599 --> 00:24:36,519 wants out. You know, I don't know. It's it's kind of a 377 00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:38,839 mess. They've definitely raised their immediate ceiling where I think I would be more 378 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,839 likely to pencil them into the top six teams in the East. Now I 379 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:47,160 wouldn't, but I'm saying they're more likely to get there and not have to 380 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:48,880 deal with the play in then they were with Wall, who would probably look, 381 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,359 we could probably write him out of every single back to back this year, 382 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,960 so that's like thirteen to fourteen games. The other thing that's interesting to 383 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,640 me is immediately like I don't know, I mean, in Houston they definitely 384 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,119 had the war balance, but Washington does have like a ton of shooters. 385 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:07,319 They have, Yeah, you know Garrison Matthews, two white player who I 386 00:25:07,319 --> 00:25:10,960 think is actually going to be on an NBA roster one day. He shot 387 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:14,440 fifty four point five percent in a small sample on wide open threes, Davis 388 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,640 Burton's forty seven point seven percent, and he's launching those bad boys from like 389 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,640 thirty plus feet out. Is Schmid forty four point three, Thomas Bryant, 390 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,599 who turned into a really viable three point shooter last year forty three point four, 391 00:25:23,599 --> 00:25:26,960 and actual volume Bradley Beal forty one point eight, Troy Brown forty one 392 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:32,240 point eight, Essak Banga thirty eight point six. So like he's gonna be 393 00:25:32,319 --> 00:25:34,440 around plenty of shooting and there will be four out lineups around him because Thomas 394 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,279 Bryant can shoot threes, and maybe you're more likely to go to Davis Burton's 395 00:25:37,319 --> 00:25:41,279 at the five and just never defend anybody again. So I think immediately it 396 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,079 helps, But does it have a chance of helping to the extent where Bradley 397 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,559 be able to look at this team be like, you know what, there's 398 00:25:47,559 --> 00:25:49,920 a clear path to something really special here, And I don't know that it 399 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:52,680 does, unless I'm curious to see what you think before we get you out 400 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,319 of here, because I know you have to go, unless like Ruey Hachimura 401 00:25:56,519 --> 00:26:00,119 or Denny Avia, like really just pops like those are now your only swing 402 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:04,440 pieces because you're not going to have a top draft pick this season, and 403 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:08,480 that's regardless of whether you keep or trade Bradley Beal. Yeah, I think, 404 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,480 just as you're talking, I think there's a really good case to be 405 00:26:11,519 --> 00:26:15,960 made that this is a better situation to get more out of Russ for the 406 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:22,880 reasons you mentioned, just specifically the shooting a second star that actually and again, 407 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:26,759 Bale is just the super rare, high high high end player that really 408 00:26:26,799 --> 00:26:30,680 makes a lot of sense as like a one A. Even if he's I 409 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,119 think he's a better player than Russell Westbrook right when Westbrook's on the floor, 410 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:37,000 it's just you play a certain way. So that makes I think Westbrook is 411 00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:41,519 set up to succeed better than he was, better than he was in Houston. 412 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,160 But the Beal thing is, you know, all that spacing helps Bial 413 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:49,799 too. But I do think what you're losing is, you know, maybe 414 00:26:49,839 --> 00:26:52,599 there was some synergy between he and Wall, Like you know, there are 415 00:26:52,599 --> 00:26:56,160 some pretty solid Wizards teams as Bill was kind of coming up and Wall was 416 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:02,759 clearly the better player there for a while. I just I don't, I 417 00:27:03,279 --> 00:27:07,200 don't I feel like Bill would have benefited more from the passing of Wall from 418 00:27:07,319 --> 00:27:10,480 from the You know, look, I think you might have to say, 419 00:27:10,519 --> 00:27:14,839 Brad, you got to guard the other team's best backcourt player now, whereas 420 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,720 in theory that would have been Wall's job. But you can't give that assignment 421 00:27:17,759 --> 00:27:22,240 to rus because he's just never been any good at it. So I think 422 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,559 Bill is probably in a worst position than he was, which if we're worried 423 00:27:25,599 --> 00:27:29,839 about, you know, the trade request coming up, but at some point 424 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,519 that's something to consider. But but I do think Westbrook. I would expect 425 00:27:33,559 --> 00:27:37,079 Westbrook to have like a really good statistical season, wouldn't you, Yes, 426 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:42,200 assuming he's healthy. I'm just I'm I can't wrap my head, Like this 427 00:27:42,279 --> 00:27:45,000 is just so hard for me to Like, if you had a pick, 428 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,119 who makes out better in this deal? Like is it to you like right 429 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:49,279 now, just you know, we have to see the games play, But 430 00:27:49,319 --> 00:27:53,279 is it Washington or Houston? Like who's who stands to come out the better 431 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,640 better end of this? I would think Russell Westbrook has a huge statistical season, 432 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,559 but does it come at the expense of like, you know, Bell 433 00:28:00,039 --> 00:28:03,359 has just been said he's the franchise. We know that Russell Westbrook wants to 434 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:07,160 play a style where he has a monopoly on the offense. Does Bill necessarily 435 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:08,200 Yeah, I'm sure he wants more help than he had last year, But 436 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,920 does he want to go back to being you know, he was probably still 437 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,839 the better player to point, definitely in twenty seventeen twenty eighteen with Wall, 438 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,559 but likes his uses was just it was lower and like he didn't have as 439 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,519 much influence with the offense. Does he want to go back to that? 440 00:28:25,319 --> 00:28:29,799 Well, So I think to answer your question, and this I feel crazy 441 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:33,319 saying it, but I do think that Houston. Houston has a broader spectrum 442 00:28:33,319 --> 00:28:37,480 of possibilities. The downside of injury, but the upside for Houston, I 443 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:41,680 think is that Wall is pretty close to as good as he was. Let's 444 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,400 say, not like sixteen seventeen, but maybe he's seventeen eighteen Wall that played 445 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:49,720 half a season and you know it's like nineteen and nine and actually shot shockingly 446 00:28:49,759 --> 00:28:52,559 well from three. That was his best three point shooting season of his career 447 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,799 thirty seven point one percent. Let's say he's maybe maybe those numbers, those 448 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:02,359 counting stats at like thirty four percent from three, Like I really do think 449 00:29:02,359 --> 00:29:06,920 he can do more for Houston fitwise than Russ could. So I would say 450 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:11,559 Houston's floor got lower, ceiling got higher. And I think that because of 451 00:29:11,559 --> 00:29:17,720 where the Rockets sort of are, the value of having that tiny chance of 452 00:29:17,759 --> 00:29:21,400 a much higher upside matters, and so I actually kind of think that the 453 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:25,279 Rockets might have gotten the better of this. But it's it's also sort of 454 00:29:25,319 --> 00:29:29,799 moved because if Westbrook wanted a trade and maybe Harden wanted him gone, like 455 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,400 you had to do it. So it's you know, I don't know how 456 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,759 to sort of factor that into the calculations. Do you have a strong opinion 457 00:29:36,839 --> 00:29:38,000 one way or the other on that? I think I just tend to agree 458 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:41,079 with you, though. The spectrum of star players who have wanted out of 459 00:29:41,119 --> 00:29:45,200 Houston or left Houston after James Harden matters, like Dwight Howard, Chris Paul 460 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,160 Now Russell Westbrook, who was the closest to him among them. John Wall 461 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:52,400 and Harden have apparently been working out together during the off season, so like, 462 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:56,319 maybe that helps a little bit. Doesn't help that the Marcus Cousins is 463 00:29:56,319 --> 00:29:59,960 in Houston, so now we have those Kentucky Wildcats reuniting. I honestly don't 464 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,759 No, I think it's safe to say the winner of this deal might actually 465 00:30:03,799 --> 00:30:07,799 be the Brooklyn Nets because two of the stars they would have targeted Bill and 466 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:14,160 Harden. I think they're in a noticeably more combustible situations because now the range 467 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:17,440 of outcomes feels so stark. Where the shacop in Washington. Yeah, they 468 00:30:17,519 --> 00:30:21,279 raised their ceiling, but now is it enough to where Bradley Bill wants to 469 00:30:21,319 --> 00:30:23,240 stay or was he just more content so he knew that he would have more 470 00:30:23,279 --> 00:30:27,319 control over the direction of the team with Wall than he does with Westbrook and 471 00:30:27,319 --> 00:30:30,920 then Harden, you know, doesn't improve the chances. Maybe he wants to 472 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,119 stay in Houston, perhaps, but like it also maybe doesn't. And there's 473 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:37,240 a chance that the Rockets are actually just substantially worse, which would then accelerate 474 00:30:37,599 --> 00:30:41,160 his trade requests. So I think Brooklyn makes out pretty good here. And 475 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:45,400 my final note would be there are six players in the NBA slated to make 476 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,240 forty plus million dollars this year. Four of them are point guards, and 477 00:30:48,359 --> 00:30:52,759 three of them have been traded within a month of each other, Chris Paul, 478 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,480 Russell Westbrook and John Wall. Russell Westbrook has now been traded for both 479 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:59,200 of those guys, by the way, and Stephen Curry is the fourth one 480 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,880 in case you care. But and all three three of those four point guards 481 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:07,680 have now been on the rockets. Like that's just that's just wild. And 482 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,319 I think it speaks to the matter of, you know, there's no such 483 00:31:10,319 --> 00:31:12,160 thing as an a movable contract in the NBA. People talk about Wiggins, 484 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:15,440 they talked about while they're talking about Thompson. Now, any contract can be 485 00:31:15,599 --> 00:31:18,839 can be moved. I was just gonna, I was gonna button it up 486 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:22,720 with that exact point, like, never tell me again that, oh, 487 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:26,799 this is untradable, which just like because at the very least you can trade 488 00:31:26,799 --> 00:31:30,119 it for the other contract everyone thinks is untradable. That I think that's the 489 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,720 takeaway from all this. Yeah, it's I don't it's gonna be fun to 490 00:31:33,759 --> 00:31:37,599 see how it plays out. Last last thing I'll ask you don't even need 491 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,240 to justify it. Who is less likely to finish next season with their current 492 00:31:41,279 --> 00:31:48,200 team now, James Harden or Bradley Beale. Ooh uh, I'm gonna stay 493 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:53,960 hardened and I won't justify it beyond anything other than I think he's gonna realize 494 00:31:55,000 --> 00:32:00,400 that he should play for an owner that is going to spend some money again. 495 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:02,160 Yeah kilo for Tita spending an extra like three hundred k over the next 496 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:05,920 three years. Here, he's got to be fuming. Grant, thank you 497 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,039 so much for coming on. You said you can give me twenty minutes. 498 00:32:08,079 --> 00:32:12,720 You gave me twenty nine. I really appreciate that. I will be pesturing 499 00:32:12,759 --> 00:32:15,279 you again in the future, without question and again. Everyone follow him on 500 00:32:15,319 --> 00:32:20,400 Twitter at gt Underscore at US Broken Record Style. Grant, thank you so 501 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:25,599 much. I'll be talking to you soon. Thank you. Sugar, Ray, 502 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:31,279 Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvelous, Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hearns legends 503 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:37,480 whose four way rivalry define one of the greatest errors in boxing history, relive 504 00:32:37,519 --> 00:32:42,200 their decade of dominance in the new Showtime Sports documentary The Kings, a four 505 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,559 parts series premiering Sunday, June sixth, only on Showtime