What is crack a lacing fellow thermonuclear a efforts. I and Dan Valley back
at Long Last with my certified fantabulous thermo nuclear af handy as fuck co host
mister Grant Hughes, installing dishwashers, taking care of kids, handling his own
work. Dude is a is a superhero? Solo parenting or was solo parenting
For a few days. We are here to do our NBA trade deadline primers.
We're doing something a little different this year. We normally split it up
by division and publish it a six separate episode so that we can maybe make
some money off the audio. We said fuck that. This year, We're
doing it by conference. We're doing the entire Eastern Conference. And so I'm
asking all of you, whether you're listening for the first time, you're probably
not listening, give you this long intro. If you are a first time
listener, returning listeners, share the ever live in hell out of this however,
you can like it and comment on YouTube, link it to other people,
tweet it, bump our tweets on Twitter. Make this thing the most
engaged with episode we have because it's a bear and we are making some sort
of concession by not separating it, and we're also forcing ourselves to be a
little bit more prudent with the time as well, because now we can't spend
ten minutes on every team. Otherwise you'd be sitting here for ninety hours.
That's about it, Grit, How the heck you doing? Though? Before
we get started, jin Well, I like to think, based on what
you were saying earlier, that there must be It's fun to imagine that there
are people that just pick out new podcasts and only listen to the intros just
to see, like, am i going to be into this? That's what
I'm supposed to do? Skipping right to whatever the SEO buzzwords are. We
probably, i think, because we talk about ourselves at the beginning, which
is more of like that's how we interact with listeners about this on discord,
we probably do miss out on newcomers who are sitting here and it's oh or
one hundred and twenty seconds in they've said jack shit about the NBA trade deadline.
So I'm skipping. I do time stampateous so I don't feel bad,
and that just fits with the mounting motif of me not giving a fuck whereas
podcast is fun, we want to do it. I like talking to you
and this look, this intro could be longer if Granton I didn't spend like
forty to fifty minutes every single time wrapping off air. Yeah, that's all
behind the paywalls. Welcome everybody for keeping this tight. So which division did
you want to start with? We're still gonna do. We'll separate them by
divisions, but there's gonna be one giant easter commerce podcast. What division do
we want to start with here? Let's go Southeast just because that also gets
us to the letter A for the Atlanta Hawks to start that division off.
All right, So the Atlanta Hawks. This is just gonna be pretty free
flowing. We'll talk about numbers, cap situations, if we need two trade
targets, whatever. What are your thoughts about the Atlanta Hawks leading into the
too the trade deadline? What do they need? What should they do?
What are they gonna do? I mean, it's almost a shit since I
was gonna say, it's all almost a shame we're starting here, except I
just decided that we would start here forty seconds ago because I think, why
are you making a story? I think, well, we gotta just if
we can go with Letter A to start, we have to, I think,
so it would have been more interesting maybe to hit them after we got
through a couple of other teams, just because had we randomly selected them,
chances are they would have been buyers, because that's what most of the league
is right now. I think, with a few exceptions and I and by
contrast, I think Atlanta, I was just thinking about this more today,
could be pretty uniquely positioned as a team that should sell and happens to have
like a handful of pieces led by de Jonte Murray that because of the way
the market is, you might get like really good value or even like above
market value if there's enough of a bidding war for some of these guys like
Bogdanovic, I think is someone that fits anywhere. Murray, you could say
that about as well, Like even guys like Capella and Hunter are both you
know, not on ridiculous contracts that last and they've they're proven starters. But
the Hawks should be looking to move all of those guys, and that's what
all the reports indicate they're doing. So I think they're kind of unique,
not totally uniquely positioned, but sort of uncommonly positioned as a kind of maybe
a very you know, high leverage seller with a bunch of buyers out there
that they could maybe you know, gin up some pretty good offers from yeah,
And look, they should be sellers because they are bad and they are
not really that fun to watch, and they do have quality players on the
team. They've been banged up at points, but they specifically, even though
ownership will never cop to this, care about not paying a luxury tax.
And they I think have like nine million dollars in room under the luxury atacks
for the next season before factoring in the Sadik Bay contract if they want to
keep him. And it's not just about next season, it's about oh,
Jalen Johnson's gonna be on a new deal in twenty five twenty six. You
have Dejeon Frey Murray's extension kicking in next year. That's reasonable enough. But
on Yaka Congu's money's kicking in next season, you're gonna get at progressively more
expensive. And they don't want to pay the tax. They're not Frankly,
they're not good enough. I don't I'm not gonna try and save billionaires money.
But this is not a team that should be paying the tax anytime soon.
I'm interested they could be the team that defines the deadline, just because
there's a dearth of sellers as you mentioned, and Toronto may have already just
played its selling chip. There's no guarantee we'll get to them that they move
Pascal Siakam, if the offers aren't great for Zach Lavine, or even if
they move Zach Colvine. It feels like there might be a market of one
team being the Lakers there and the Hawks have multiple players DeAndre Hunter. They
basically the report was everyone but Trey Young can be had, which really mean
to believe. I think they also mentioned Jalen Johnson's being untouchable. Probably smart,
but if they could probably move him for if they're worried about money in
the coming years, they probably get really good value for him, so they
could even move in Yekakungu. They have Clint Coppela, they have Bodna Magdonovich.
I personally don't think Trey Young should be off the table, but if
you're looking to reorient your roster around him, I do. Do you think
the Dejonte Murray partnership it hasn't panned out, I would say, in large
part because I don't think the personnel around it is built to help it pan
out. But if you need to be that ultra specific, and you think
the backcourse too small, and you're treating Murray too much like your primary wing
defender while also asking him to shoulder this you should be primary point of attack
defender while also asking him to shoulder this massive burden on offense. And he's
been great on offense this year, you should move him, I would.
I would just throw to you, is what are you looking for? Then?
In return? Is this a team they're no longer linked to Siakam like,
are they gonna be looking for actual guys? Or is this a team
that should just load up on picks, especially because they have some of their
own picks oh to san Antonio in the company years. Yeah, I think
you kind of can't have it both ways. And so since I'm since I'm
making the case that they should be really opportunistic sellers. I don't think a
seller in their position should be looking for how do I get someone that's like
as good as Dejonte Murray but plays a position that makes more sense on this
team? You know that's in his late twenties or whatever. I think.
I think it's and this is maybe the you know, most analysts that we
oversimplify, but it's like, just get picks, get young players, strip
off a bunch of this salary that you don't want, which is not that
easy because you've got to make the money match generally speaking. So but I
would I would just be pivoting towards like, Yeah, if you're going to
keep Trey Young around, what kind of young pieces make sense next to him?
How do we get the picks that we can maybe package together for a
current star that makes sense next to him. I'm not looking to kind of
reshuffle. I think I'm looking to kind of trim the fat and do like
a soft rebuild, I guess, is what you might have to call it.
And I think regardless, even if you need Murray, the wings are
where it really needs to be upgraded. I think you can get by with
your big man rotation of having Jalen Johnson, a Kunglu and even Copella there,
but like the DeAndre Hunter, you have Badanovich, you're not playing aj
Griffin. Is that someone a team could buy low on or buy medium on.
At this point, I feel like, you know, he's least intriguing
as an offensive prospect. Who do you think is the most likely player to
be traded on this roster? It's a deep bay penciled in just because he's
headed towards RFA, And I don't know, necessarily know why you pay him
when I don't think he gives you enough defensively. I think I'm maybe being
a little bit too much a prisoner of the moment in saying it, But
like it seems like the momentum is building towards Murray. I think Fisher,
Jake Fisher recently, I don't know when, when are you gonna put this
up tomorrow on Friday or so, like Jake Fisher on Thursday basically made the
I think it's an interesting point, and it's kind of right, like Siakam
might just make sense for Toronto to keep him and try to resign him,
and Levine has no market and so Murray might just be like the biggest name
that moves. And so again that's good for the Hawks because that means you're
gonna get probably more than you would have otherwise for him. So he's as
much as they gave up for him, though well, that's a great question.
I don't know. I don't know if the value of first rounders has
changed enough in like the intervening what is it been less than two years?
But like in a post Donovan Mitchell post Rudy Gobert post Murray trade world,
I don't know if teams are throwing three and you know, three first in
a swap in deals anymore. I don't know if you can do that.
Yeah, there's like there are some teams and first of all, compared to
Zaqueene is so easy to find intriguing to Jonte Murray trade destinations. I even
like him the thing that you didn't spoil. I love him in Golden State.
I think that's a perfect fit. I have a three team trade.
I'll say it for the West because I brought the wrong phone upstairs with me,
so it's on my phone. But I think he would talk about a
lot. But like the two teams that I'm looking as if you were really
just looking to what we want a goola like just this, like stew of
picks Utah because they can trade out like these lower leverage picks if they want
or protect the hell out of them. Or even Orlando would be kind of
interesting because he is an offensive upgrade over Markel Foltz when he's healthy, Anthony
Black, even Jaellen Suggs type minutes. So maybe you could get three or
the equivalent of two plus first round picks for him from They're not going to
be like those Hawks twenty five and twenty seven picks. And I don't know
if you saw the report that San Antonio might be interested in Murray. Murray
doesn't seem like he enjoyed it there too much. That feels more about like,
well, we can get him for less, and we're also gonna make
this team worse in the process, and we own their picks. That's what
that felt like. Yeah, I don't think they're gonna get even a single
pick that's as valuable right now as the twenty five or twenty seven Hawks pick.
Is. No, I mean, they might get one, it's hard
to say. I think, well, I think among the many things that's
interesting about this deadline is I think we will get sort of a referendum on
what first round picks are worth now. Yeah, because it's been kind of
at least in flux over the last couple of years, and you know,
who knows, maybe maybe you know, with the thunder in Utah just sitting
out there, like not knowing what to do with all their first Like,
we may see another big trade that involves four or five first, but like,
I don't know that those two going nuts with their picks would reset the
market. I'm just I'm really curious to see, Like the Ananobe trade was
really instructive because like for a while, they're the stupid number was four first,
so they were given you know, we don't know the nature of those
first We don't know how legit that report was, but it wasn't uncommon to
hear mchail bridges, Oh there's offers for three or four first or something like
that, and then you know anterob goes for like players instead, which is
like a weird thing on its own, given the recent like nature of a
lot of big trades. But yeah, I think I think Murray is likely
to move just based on the reporting and based on like the logic of it.
It's just it. The Hawks might just really be in a lucky position,
ironically, because they've been such a disappointment this year. But like,
if you've got the guy that everybody wants and can fit and like is making
a really reasonable salary, like you're just in a good spot and so not
only like is he likely to be traded? I think they they really like
just should because I don't know that his value is going up from this point.
I will say to wrap them up because we want to get in specific
targets for a team. This team is just impossible to do it without knowing
what they sort of look like. After if you're gonna move mur it should
be you know, if you're moving him to the Lakers, you should really
push for Austin Reeves. I don't think they give him up for Murray though.
If he's moving to the Warriors, I actually would push for Moody over
Kaminga. Just you have Jalen Johnson, you have a conglu Do you really
need Kaminga if you can get both, sure? Uh. And then if
you're gonna set him the Knicks, you need to like Quentin Grimes needs to
be in that deal for you. And then there's like I don't really know
if like they're probably not gonna love ak Boaji from Utah, you're gonna want
to build that around picks like those are kind of the three prospects where if
you're moving Murray. I don't think Orlando would give up Anthony Black for Murray.
I probably wouldn't. I So, uh, next team, though probably
a lot easier team to tackle LaMelo Ball is returning. We're on to the
Charlotte Hornets, by the way, in case anybody didn't see that one coming.
Uh, they are I have them listed, So we we didn't do
buyers or sellers. We have the Hawks as sellers. The Hornets they're sellers
and I think they should be. So they're bad like they just but they
don't actually have too much to sell. Tyro Zier is balling right now.
In the fact that he's been doing it without lam Ball, which is not
really something that happened last year, that's going to drive up his trade value,
even on a contract that it's a little steep for someone who does what
he does. He has after this season. Excuse me, he has two
years and what is it like forty something million dollars left and mostly one five
fifty and most of it is is guaranteed. So but there are teams that
just like the way he's shooting this year, and he'll he'll at least try
on defense. I think you absolutely should try to move him if you can.
Gordon Ayward's expiring contract, it feels like they're going to be tracking towards
a buyout because I don't think they want to take on bad money. But
if there's a team out there that's either willing to send you some seconds with
another expiring contract or just like as an example, if the Nets want to
get off of Ben Simmons's money and they're willing to compensate you for it,
you should be in a position to consider. And you should be listening on
anyone who's not LaMelo or Brandon Miller. And that includes Mark Williams who's dealing
with the back injury, so his value might be at the the Nader.
I just be on Rosier and Gordon Hayward. Are there many interesting players that's
like, you know, a healthy Cody Martin or maybe a Nick Richards.
Is someone looking to take a fly or a backup five. And then my
dark horse would be I know they have Miles Bridges on this team, but
his his bird rights don't transfer, and so if your team that's trading for
him, it's probably as a rental unless you're gonna have cap space this year.
PJ Washington then becomes more interesting for me, someone who can toggle between
the four and the five. For you. Yeah, I think I'm glad
you mentioned Rosier off off the bat, because like I was just thinking of
him as like you think about Murray this way a little bit too, as
like an alternative to zach Lavine. If you're just not interested in the remaining
three years and what is it one hundred and thirty something one hundred and forty
million dollars left on that deal, Like Terry Roger is gonna make fifty one
forty nine point eight guaranteed over the next two How much worse is Terry Rosier
really than Zach Lavine, especially if what you're asking both of them to do
is be like a third option, like not that much. Like it's Exactlyvin
is a better player than Terry Rogier, like full stop. But I mean,
if you're concerned about that money, which obviously everyone is, or else
the Levine would be on a different team by now, Rosier is like a
pretty sweet like consolation prize or you know, poor man's version of that will
actually defend. Like that's that's the thing, Like I mean, as an
alternative to Levine, I think anyone that was like remotely interested in him has
to be looking at Rosier. But yeah, I also like the PJ.
Washington pick too. I think he also has a lot of that like he'll
fit kind of whatever you need him to be, as long as he's between
somewhere between like your fifth and you know, eighth guy, which he's paid
you know, reasonably enough to sort of occupy that. Right. Yeah,
that's like that's that's not even like that's not that's not starter money. It
just isn't. So I think I think he's a nice fit too. I
would be curious what he fetches, though, because his efficiency is just all
the way down. Well, plus, the market over the summer kind of
told you, right, I mean restrict, he was restricted, but it's
like nobody it didn't seem like anybody was coming into Bowl Charlotte over with an
offer sheet they wouldn't match. So I don't know what his value is to
be frank And the priority for this team just needs to be picks. They
don't have an extra first round pick. They deficitely owe a first round pick,
but it's not it's lottery protected the next two years. It's not headed
anywhere before it turns into two seconds, and so I think Rosier gets you
a first round pick even with the balance of his money there I don't know
about maybe PJ. Washington would get you a lower level one. So like
those, you're not getting a first round pick for Miles Bridges, You're not
getting a first round pick for Gordon Hayward unless you're taking back really really bad
money. But that needs to be the priority. And if you're looking at
actual players, I understand that they basically need everything at this point, Like
can you get another is Brandon Miller the second creator alongside the mellow or do
you still need to find that guy? I would just target like you have
Brandon Miller, Like let's get in some just like defensive minded perimeter players and
it's you know it is Isaaca Corro available in Cleveland. Or you know the
fact that they even just punted kind of on like the Dennis Smith Junior minutes
this year, Like should they be the team that just takes a flyer on
Killian Hayes because they didn't bring back the SJ just to give him some especially
mel is not going to be hurt anymore, but just to try them out
on offense, but they get their defense in there, get a look before
restricted free agency. It's like they should be in the sort of the the
second draft mode because I don't even think, let's say, if the Knicks,
I guess you could get someone like a quent and Grinds from the Knicks
if you're trading Terry Rose here. That's that's probably fair to say, but
it's just like, that's what you should be. You should be in the
market more so for tangible picks. In my opinion, I agree with that,
but that's funny. I was thinking, like, gosh, who's like
a distressed like high draft pick recently that it would be worth the second draft
kind of theory. Flyers like someone like James Book. Oh right, they
have James Book, and I like someone someone like that that just their team
is ready to call it quits, and it's like, hey, he's got
the draft pedigree. Why not, right, Like just the James Wiseman theory
for the Pistons like that kind of thing, like, oh, what the
hell, Like we're gonna be bad, Let's just see if this guy figures
it out someplace new most likely there to be traded for you on this team
before we move on it would have been Hayward for a while, But I
think that's just like you said, that ship has sailed. I guess I'll
go I guess I will go Rosier. I just think he has the broadest
appeal you know, and Hayward. Do you think this is a larger question,
so it's not really it's Hornets related, but the fact that he can't
sign with like teams past the first apron once he gets the buyout market,
since he's making more than the mid level, do you think that makes it
less likely that he's bought out or is it kind of just like well,
I mean I look at a bunch of these teams that are still like like
he could still help in there, like the Lakers could technically fit him in
off the Battle, the Knicks could, and that might be a team that
he helps. So I think he still gets bought out if he's not moved.
But I'm just wondering from your end, do you think that those limitations
on what would be the upper tier teams that a lot of these guys might
decide to sign with you if it was a Milwaukee or the Quippers. I
look at it as though if you go to those teams you're minutes to Milwaukee
this year, maybe not, but like for a lot of these teams you
wouldn't play a lot of minutes. So you find the balance of all,
right, well, the teams that can actually sign me are the ones that
could probably play me in the most minutes too. Yeah, it's interesting like
that. You know, you're always looking for what are the unintended consequences of
CBA changes, and it might be that it's like it's kind of punitive.
I mean, this is not like a no one's gonna weep for Gordon Hayward
because like, oh, your team wants to pay you money. Did not
have to play, Like that's too bad. You don't have a lot of
options that feel sorry for you. But like that does seem like maybe one
of the unintended consequences is like maybe it doesn't make as much sense to to
proceed how you maybe would have under the old rules. If like, however,
many teams that you know just can't sign them because it like that's that's
that's gonna be an interesting thing to track with the CBA. Yeah, Like
I bet he gets bought out just because like who's who's got the who's got
the salary and the and the assets to like make that work. I don't
want to spoil I don't want to spoil the team because I actually like him
on a certain team that's trying to get better but shouldn't be getting better,
So you could get him and get better without harming your future. And that's
just that's the mystery teas that is I'm onto the Miami Heat, onto the
Miami Heat. So basically my thought on them is they're buyers. Obviously,
I think they need to target a guard. I think it's a guard,
but like a shot creator really just an offensive someone on offense, like you
know, past dribbleshoot. That like one of the quiet reasons behind the Heat
being as solid as they've been this year, just bite injuries to a lot
of key guys as Kyle. Maybe I was talking to you about this I
can't remember, is that Kyle Lowry has been good and like durable and I
don't know, well it was I don't know how much you want to I
guess actually I do know how much you want to bank on that, which
is not very much at all continuing. So that just exacerbates the need for
someone that can come in and create shots in the back court. I don't
think they are in a position where they would look. I don't know.
I was gonna say, like flipping hero seems like we're kind of past talking
about that, but maybe that's something we're gonna go away. Well, So
the Donovan Mitchell rumors, which I did tackle on a previous pod, if
he did ask out this year, which I don't think he will. I
know people think he wants to be in New York Miami. Maybe he does.
I just think the Cavs will revisit that over the off season because they
might have some other decisions to make with their dual big set up. Let's
let's let's put a pin in Mitchell till we get to Cleveland, because I
know that's all we're gonna talk about. I have thoughts on that too,
Okay, but so I think that is, like that's the type of movie
move hero in as salary matching on a team that could use him. Otherwise,
they're also up. They're only like four and to a half million dollars
away from the second apron. It's like that's something that's going to factor into
how they operate with their business. I'm with you, on biggest need I
could see. I mean, I look at it him like they really do,
like a frontline partner next to Bam. But it's just like a lot
of the stuff they're thrown out there is working anyway, and like Kayla Martin
will presumably eventually be healthier at some point. Also wild cause you mentioned Kyle
Lowry, I may leads this team in total minutes this season. Lowry and
Duncan Robinson are second and third, and like the heater, are still just
chugging along. And so do you even expect them to make a move because
everyone's mentioning like they could be a rosier team, and in theory, yeah
they could. But as you mentioned with Lowry, what is there truly expendable
salary matching fodder in a deal that's not for Yeah, you trade Hero or
Robinson or Kyle Lowry's expiring if you're getting a star, But if you're not
getting a star, is it like you know, let's say Boyan Bogdanovitch would
be very interesting here, Like how the fuck are you getting there with the
That's the thing, Lowry, is the salary that you're talking about just under
thirty million expiring, Like but but one if he does continue to matter for
you, like you know what is like guys want a title like he's he's
who you want in a playoff series in theory, even if he's like closer
to forty than you want your lead guard to be. But that's the salary
that's got to go because like if it say Bogdanovitch or whatever, and the
Hawks want off long term money, like I don't know, I guess,
I guess Bogdanovic is probably a better player, but like he's got his own
durability concerns at least, you know, in years past, like I do,
I wanted to fall to say the heater gonna make a move because they're
just they always seem to figure out how to do something. But it is
like it is a little trickier than maybe it seems like it ought to be
because like you said, there's not a lot of great options that one they
would give up and definitely get better by, you know, swapping them for
whoever they're getting in that same salary bracket, and two, like how much
do you want to mess with this? Because like Hawkes has been great and
like Duncan Robinson is reborn and that like, I don't know. I think
I want to add on the margins. I guess maybe that's the answer,
is we don't just go try to get the guy who's going to be our
third or fourth best player or something like that. Maybe you're going for an
eighth guy or something. I generally agree, except Jimmy Butler's thirty four.
So it's like, if it's not now, when, And so that's what
this team has to answer. Who do you think is their most likely player
to be traded so hard? I guess I'll say lowry, But I don't
like what do you think? I don't I don't love that pick. I
think it has to be lowry too, because they're only they're weirdly Or is
it sneakly like Caleb Martin just that mid end salary and that's how you're gonna
futon fiddle on the margins or is it well, why would we do that
when his values probably dipped and he was so important during the final run and
just like Duncan, Robinson's too important right now, So it almost it has
to be lowerry unless you think it's going to be hero as part of some
move that we haven't for seen and like the Heat, I think they can
do a better job this summer of dictating the buyer's market where it's they can
throw more aggressive offers on the table. Is right now, their best offer,
their most aggressive offer is not going to get them Lowry Marketing, who
I also think would be a perfect fit. Like it's sure they don't.
I guess my point is right now, they don't have the assets to make
players who aren't available available like some of these other things would I do.
I mean, I like this for a lot of teams, but I like
the idea of Murray there, I just don't. I just don't know how
what you're giving the Hawks that that gets them interested. And I don't think
Cowry and Picks gives them cap relief after this season. But you actually need
to send back more money to Miami because Murray's so cheap, right, That's
that's part of the thing. Well, I can already tell I'm gonna mention
Murray like all the time on this just because he's in my head. Who's
next Orlando, the Orlando Magic? I have them as buyers. I think
they're one of the teams though in the vein of the thunder where it's like,
we don't expect them to do anything big because it's still very early in
their timeline, but they need to just get someone who can open up the
floor for everybody else in the half court, specifically make things easier on Pala
bank Cao, who just the fact that he's as good as he is operating
within the confines that he is is wild to me. I know people harp
on his efficiency and like that's been perking up anyway lately. But the way
that the do can get to the foul line or even generate his own shot,
I'm just I'm all in on the Palleo Banco experience. I think you
could go so many different routes here. It's just Dejan Dey Murray could help
them if you wanted to go, like, let's upgrade the point card.
Terror's year be a really good fit here, Buddy Healed if he gets sent
out in a Seakham trade to Toronto, like can you latch out? If
they don't want heel, can you latch onto that? Could they take a
flyer on Gary Trent Junior. Just someone who's gonna get you up threes in
volume, and they just they have the expendable salary to do it just so
much. Sorry to jump in, but like it blows you over, Like
how many like nice mid tier type of salaries they can they can toss into
deals. Yeah, and you should be willing to move. Like even Folts
just feels like he's gonna be a free agent. Is he really gonna stay
in Orlando when you have black and sugs and you just know that Wagner,
Cole Anthony and Ben Caro gonna do a lot of ball handling anyway. What's
also odd is they now with a sudden Wendell Carter Junior, I know he's
hurt all the time, might be expendable because of Mo Wagner. That's someone
who might get you more assets or could be viewed as a net positive in
a deal. So and just you know this goes to your salary. Meant
like they don't even have a contract that's tough to move right now just because
of how loosely guaranteed Jonathan Isaac is. The technically the toughest contract to move
is Cole Anthony, just because he's poison built. That's the only reason why.
Even though that's not that bad move it under the new rules. So
I just I don't even know who the most likely player to be traded as
I might just put that like Chuma Okeke just maybe a team wants a flyer
on him, or they're just they need a smaller matching salary. I'm just
curious one if they do something and to what's the scale? We know it's
not going to be on the I would be shocked if they were a Murray
team. But are they willing to go like the Rosier route? Are they
going to think even lower level they could take it? Just because he's a
team option for next season. Luke Canard helps his team out a bunch.
Kevin Hurder seems like he's going to a rutt and Sacramento, but he's eminently
available. Can you do something there? There's a lot of different routes that
go, and every single person that I just named would make me feel at
least three times better about their ability to want to make the playoffs and then
do some damage once they get there. Yeah. I don't know if you
mentioned maybe because everybody makes sense there. If you're a decent guard like Malcolm
Brogden, even just as like a stop gap, especially if if the Blazers
want off of some money just folks for Brogden is really easy. I think
Anthony Simon's if we're gonna stick with the Blazers, is someone that like,
why couldn't Orlando put a package together to do that? That might be the
best name fits their timeline. Yeah, yeah, I mean you could.
You could send back expiring salary, you could give them. I mean like
Gary Harris and Mark el Folt's done. Uh you want? I mean even
I I would you train Anthony Black for Simons? No, I don't think
I would either, but just but like that's not ridiculous, Like you could
at least start a conversation there too, So just Orlando could like are you
getting Matisse thaibleback and that deals? Like could is there something Kamani Kamara is
there are other things that are exchanging pans there? But my guess would be
no, that they're just there. They wouldn't do that little early I think.
But like just Wendell Carter's a really interesting piece too. It's kind of
on the Murray theory of like maybe the market isn't like so full of options
and if Carter I think we're like we're just jumping to the idea that Carter
is like speculatively available just because like Gogo Pitase, like you know, it
was an injury, but then Goga kind of kept starting for a while,
and Carter suddenly seems like slightly less important, but his contract is still so
good and he's still like a starting caliber center and he's young, still like
sneaky young, So like, I don't know that you need to trade him,
even if you do view him as a backup, because he's kind of
paid like one. So I mean, like, but if you want to,
like New Orleans, doesn't Wendell Carter if he's gonna shoot threes, you
know, at all, it makes sense in New Orleans he can do.
He's a good defensive player. We all thought Orlando's defense is gonna fall apart
when he got hurt, and it didn't. Like. He's also cheap enough
to where some teams could, like the Knicks, technically, I know that
Robinson's coming back to syear they have heart and stein like they could just get
him if they wanted to. And it's okay, we'll figure this out the
rest leader, because Harton's time to leave. If he has to be our
second big, that's how we'll treat him, and even he's value well because
you mentioned would you give up Black for so and so? Like throwing Wendell
Carter Junior a team like the blazer He's not he's young, his contract is
great. It's like the Blazers. If Wendell Carter Junior is a part of
the Anthony Simon's trade, that might be the asset that's coming in and it's
maybe it's a heavily protected like that Denver pick or something, and you're adding
protections to it. Uh, there's a lot of stuff they could do if
I had to bet, though, Uh did you agree with By the way,
they're most likely player to be traded. I just they have so many
different ones. I would like to say that it's Falter Isaac because that means
they're thinking bigger. But this lends itself to what I'm gonna say now.
I think it's more likely the move they make might be on the scale of,
Oh, this was the Alec Burks team, like they just wanted they
got someone who could like give them those reserve filler minute or Jones Tyas Jones,
but would trade Why would you trade for? This is gonna be my
Tias Jones take across the board is like, why are you trading for him?
I guess, like unless you think he's the missing piece to your title
run this year when you could just sign him. You know, there's gonna
be a lot of teams that can sign him in the off season, right,
but if you can't get you don't need to give a first round pick
to get him then, And also if you want to send your cap space,
Like I don't know, but you know, when you said Alec Burks,
I got like viscerally disappointed because it's like, Oh, he's right.
That's all it's going to be, isn't it. It's not going to be
Simon's or Murray or anything like really exciting. I think you're probably right.
My most likely player to be traded I think is probably I would say Fults.
I think it should be false. I like, but I think that
do you get the sense that like he's like pretty well liked there and like
as like a veteran, he's weird veteran, but we don't know what his
market's going to. They can still just bring him back. It's not like
they've invested heavily in any other guard right now. Cole Anthony came cheap with
his extension, but they need to focus on opening up the floor. And
as skilled as he is on the ball, as much as he has developed
his offensive skill set as a passer, isn't in between, guy, he's
not doing that. No, No, so I I guess it's got to
be him, But man Orlando's and such. By the way, we don't
even really talk about their picks. They don't owe anybody a pick, like
how many How that's true for how many teams in the league. They got
a bunch coming in and none going out. That's yeah, they have When
they have denvers twenty twenty five, that's top five protected through twenty twenty seven.
By the way, is that their only extra No, they have another
first round pick in twenty sixteen coming from Phoenix or oh no, that's a
swap, So they have one totally extra first round pick. It looks like
unless I'm misreading my own research, hopefully I'm not. So they have stuff
they looked. Even some of their seconds might be interesting though, And they
have all their own firsts as well too. And just that you mentioned already
this year salary matching this next team's I guess sort of fun just because they
could sell a lot of people. The Washington Wizards are sellers. The degree
to which they're sellers will be interesting, But they have just a bunch of
players where and they're firmly before we get into most likely be traded or whatever,
they're firmly just in the extra first round picks, second draft guys,
whoever they are as part of those deals. And I do think they have
at least interesting enough players on this roster to where maybe you can get someone
interesting for Tias Jones or I think Kuzma is not being talked about nearly enough
that contract's declining, and he's improved enough defensively to where it's do you worry
about how he'll fit on offense as a third wheel maybe, but he did
kind of play that already in LA and figure out a way to do it.
He's a name might be looking at. I know, Danny obvious poison
pill, and I think he's probably playing too well for them to be like,
let's move him. But that's just someone almost any team I go,
do we need sort of combo forward defense or someone who can give us little
bit of ball handling or just a little bit of just these girthy drives even
though he's not super aggressive all the time. Still, the only untouchable player
on this roster is blow Cool Bali future MVP. Ala Cool Bali is there.
Like I will say, if I had to focus on a need,
if you were targeting someone delonn right by the way, I don't like some
of these guys. Might Delon Write is maybe a buyout candidate. I'd be
shocked if they move Jordan Poole mid season. I don't know who is that
you would have to compensate? Would that? Yeah? Uh, I think
that if they're gonna target Actually, Daniel Gafford don't even mentioned Like there's players
on this roster that are intriguing for other teams. If you're gonna target something,
and I know they kind of need everything, I do think it should
be. Is there a young primary ball handler type, even if they're a
distressed asset, we just take a flyer on because that's what we're gonna need
moving forward. If you know Tias Jones isn't gonna be here, they could
obviously draft one, but they don't even have that necessarily. As good as
tyas Jones have been this season, it ain't Jordan Poole, Like, you
don't want Kyle Kuzma running your offense and maybe Ballab gets there one day.
We haven't seen that type of usage from him, but that would be the
archetype of player I'd be targeting if you are actually looking to get players I
don't even yeah, Like positionally the position doesn't even matter to me, Like
this is such a ground floor of a rebuild that like it's almost like having
the first pick in a draft. It's like with most most times, you're
just like, who's the best, Who's got the highest upside? Okay,
I want that, Like of whatever their options are, it's just got to
be high upside. I think some of the names you listed as targets are
really great, like Pokeshevski why not, Like I don't know, like Killian
Hayes, Tire Williams, all that, all those make it. Let me
ask you this between so, I mean, we can zero in on the
number one guy if you want to, but like I think exceptionally likely to
be traded Gafford, Jones, Kispert, Kuzma, Delon right, Like five
guys, right, betwe of those five or of however, many of those
guys they trade. Do you think they can get two firsts, like two
good like legitimate firsts out of all that, because where's like maybe Kuzma's one,
maybe Jones is like a fake. I just like that's the cutoff is.
I don't know if they get to two, and that's kind of the
problem because that's what they should be targeting. Yeah, you might need to
step ladder your way there where it's are you sending out Tias Jones and Gafford
in the same deals or even a team that could do that. I think
Kuzma. Could you attach Kuzma to maybe Delon Right or Tias Jones. I
know that becomes kind of you're in the million dollar range now, like over
thirty, but there could be a team that could use both of those dudes,
and that's how you get your two first round picks. I do think
just because he's expiring and he has no business returning after the season, Tyas
Jones has to be the most likely to be traded. I think that's right,
and like there are a number of teams, Like do you do hear
that he wants to be a starter, So I think you would have to
view him as a rental probably because if you're trading for Tyas Jones, chances
are you're a veteran, like you're a Minnesota type team that's just like,
we need a guy that's gonna make sure the wheels don't fall off, you
know, if we if if Mike, if when Mike, where would he
start? Though? Aside from Washington right now, San Antonio trade Jones finally
starting. Shout out to your brothers coming in to take that spot. I
hope you enjoyed it. Tough break. Yeah, well, I think they're
kind of like I was surprised when I was looking at the numbers. They're
not on Orlando's level. But all those guys I mentioned, Gafford, Jones,
Kisspurt, especially Kuzman Wright, those are all like, you know,
nothing, who's makes the most Kuzma three year sixty four like there, and
at the very bottom end of that, you've got Kispert making five point seven
like come on, like between those two numbers, all those guys are movable.
It's just I just like I said, I'm concerned that the pick equity
may not be there when you have like good players on decent salaries, but
nobody that's like teams are clamoring to get could you get a first for Johnny
Davis? Maybe? I mean, at one point he was he was worth
a first because they used one on them, you know. Just and before
we move on, I was singing the praises of Kyle Kuzma, and it's
so hard to find a good Kyle Kuzma team. I thought of Sacramento is
a good one. I had the Grizzlies on there until their season just went
in the absolute gutter with the jaw. And now Marcus Smart increas he can
still be a good long term fit. But I don't know why you give
a value for him now and then it's just okay, could he work in
Indiana if they want to pay less than like not go all in because you
hear from the reporting on Indiana's well, they don't want to give up X
amount of first or thread or walker for Pascal Siakam. And it's kind of
like, well, guess what you don't get Pascal Siaka Like that, I
was maybe it's just because I got Bobby Portis on the brain because I was
watching the Bucks earlier tonight before we started recording What a Terrible night of hoops.
We should have recorded earlier. Dan was it though, because you could
check out of those games having gotten all the knowledge you needed from them pretty
early, like both I did. I ended up editing. I said I
wasn't gonna post a YouTube short today. I was like, well, fuck
this Boston Milwaukee game, I'm just gonna edit it now, and I did.
And okay see, I can't even remember who okay see was playing.
They were just crushing him. So that one was done early too. In
contrast to the games the night before, Holy shit, there were some good
games on I guess it'd be Wednesday night. Now. We don't need to
get off on that tangent probably, So that's that's one division rap. Good
job by us, right, not really, because we said we were gonna
do average five minutes a team and we're already already over that. All right,
let's pick it up. Let's do Let's Central next, which puts us
on the Chicago Bulls. Not a lot to say, they're right, yeah,
I mean, what are they doing? Yeah, they should be sellers,
but there's there's a non zero chance that they view themselves as buyers if
like our Taurus is trying to keep his job, or maybe it's just a
matter of we're gonna move Levine and we're gonna target players kind of like Massa
did when you move out and Obe and hope that that continues to improve our
trajectory. I don't have a feel for what we know what they should do.
They should be sellers. Damars headed towards free agency. He's been super
great in the clutch again. The Bulls have started winning close games again.
But it's like you've capped your ceiling if you just continue down this path and
I get the whole, don't trade Zachlovine for just for the sake of trading
Za Lvine. I understand that, but it should be just open season here
because I do think between Levine, the Rosan, and Caruso, you're probably
looking at if you traded all those guys, you end up with four first
round picks, right, four as the number. I think you get maybe
two for well, I don't know where they're all coming from, but Caruso's
definitely one. I think he should be one. I don't know if it's
like a high high end one. I think the Rozan's worth one, and
then two for Levine probably, but like I don't know the indications on his
market are so bleak that I don't know, but yeah, four is the
number in my head. My only note on them, independent of your write
up, is just trade everyone, Like I guess if you want to exclude
White, I'm sorry, a contractual obligation, which like he's on a good
contract. If you're going to start rebuilding, like that's sure that makes sense
to keep him around. Maybe he's your starter. I don't know. He
might he might be that good on a on like a you know, more
functional version of this team. But like I mean, if they don't,
I'm not I'm just not persuaded by there being no market for Levine. I
think if it's the case that, like the teams are the teams that are
interested want you to take back salary, that's like almost as bad and isn't
isn't offering you know two first, then like I guess, but like if
you trade Levine, it's not just the assets you're getting back, it's also
just he's not taking up your cap space anymore. So like if if you
could just get that money off of there, you know, you can't give
them away, like there are some big contracts like the Warriors might give Andrew
Wiggins away right now, Like if they could like just erase the money the
Wizards might give Jordan Poole. What the trade is? What's the trade Andrew
Wiggins for Harrison Barnes. Well, let's just turn back the clock. Let's
go back to the original time. I think Kings fans are desperate for any
type of true wing And because Mike Brown is there, I bet you Kings
fans might be even Kings fans in here on YouTube and our discord or on
Twitter and you're listening. Would you do Andrew Wiggins for Harrison barn You have
the room underneath the tax I think to just do that. If you want
to get off Davion Mitchell too, we can find another team for him as
well. Like that's the totally not the Western Conference, right, Who's what
is this? So? I have a Lavigne trade? But I want to
ask you what's the Levine team aside from the Lakers. That's my question.
I I just like I don't know who it is besides the l like just
the need. Like, so you're okay, who are the teams that need
an off an expensive offense only shooting guard, or or are dumb enough to
think that's what We're dumb enough to think that they need that. That's the
answer. Sorry, Weaver coming in. Oh, we're gonna get to the
Pistons soon because we're in that division. But like, well, I'll save
my pistons. Thoughts, I do you feel do you have a team in
mind? I don't feel like I have a great Like I don't know who
needs zach lavine that for for the price that it's gonna cost. I do
pardon me, still thinks that Toronto could work, but I don't like it
anymore. Quickly there, I thought a little bit about Minnesota just like uh,
Karl Anthony Towns for zaq lavine challenge trade because they need the extra offensive
creation, But I don't. They're just they're so good defensively right now that
you don't want to inject zaq lavine into that that culture. I mean,
we just we spent some time talking about how Miami needs shock creation scoring in
the back court. Like, do you that's not a Miami move though,
I don't think do you want Hero and Levine? I think Levin is better
than Hero. I know Zach Lowde necessarily doesn't, but like Levine has had
these caps lock seasons where he's a legitimate top twenty top heroes never touched that
level. No, but do you want them on the same team? I
also don't know if you're the heat, though, is it reasonable to say,
well, do we want to pay sixteen million more a year for zach
Lavine? Matt is the is Levine sixteen million dollars better than Tyler Hero?
I mean in the playoffs? I don't know. I don't know. I
just said, like, how much better is zach Lavine than Terry Rogier?
Question mark? So if we're talking about Hero in the same context, it's
kind of a similar thing. And so, I mean, there's Miami,
it just feels like it should be the Lakers, which then kind of neutralizes
one of your Demardro's in destination because that's also another player we say we'll get
a first from who first of all the Lakers? Should I think Demarro is
a terrible fit for the Lakers. Yeah, if you're worried about the non
Lebron minutes, But guess who's probably going to be on the floor when it
matters most. And guess what theory of building the Lakers roster has never worked?
Oh, we gotta like get an innings Zeter for when Lebron's not in
the game. Does That's just sorry. We can't keep thinking that that's like
the solve for LA. That's not how it works. I tried to find
a trade with the Lakers that would make sense for both teams, and I
don't think the Lakers give up Austin Reeves, which I think is a reasonable
line to draw on the sand, even though there could be get some like
functional overlap defensively between the two or just like you don't want to play them
together? Would you do if you're both these teams? Who says no Ruy,
d Lo, Jalen Hood Schafino first round swaps in twenty twenty six in
two thousand and thirty, and then a top three protected pick in twenty twenty
nine that you could also protect into twenty thirty. It would then just delete
that swap. So you're looking at two swaps a twenty twenty nine first Jalenhood
Chafino, Rui and d Lo for Zach Lavine. The Lakers, in my
opinion, should absolutely do it. You don't think that's the the pick equity
is? Yeah, I know what if anybody says no, it's I guess
it's yeah, I think I do that. If I'm the Lakers, I
think I do take a meal to the Sun situation where it's it's a lot
for the Lakers to give up because it's all they have, But who are
you getting that's better than zach Lavine for that package? Yeah, I think
that's probably right. I think that's right. And if you're the Bulls,
I think, well, you may just not have a choice. If you
want to trade him, that's probably about as good as you're gonna get because
you're it's not really right to call it three first because it's like one and
then I don't know what we consider swaps really, but uh, I don't
know, like what because because again we're just going in circles like where's the
team that's coming out with the like three legit firsts for zach Lavine? Like,
I don't This is just not I don't think it's happening. I don't
think some people like Orlando I wouldn't hate it because they have the timeline to
where his money doesn't torpedo it. But I'm just kinda and that would test
their defensive resolve for sure. I just don't if it's not gonna cost you
anything really in terms of pick equity. Maybe, but I don't love that
fit because I just questioned whether he would buy in. I also hate the
Sacramento fit. By the way, I don't love that. Kudos to the
Kings for being on his list. That shows a lot about Sacramento, but
yeah, I don't like it. Not on Sam's list, but they got
on Zach Levine's list. Final question on Chicago. Okay, Zacklyvine the most
likely player to be traded for sure? Right, yes, let's let's go
through these two really quickly. Will DeMar DeRozan be on this roster after the
trade deadline? I don't think so. Expiring, not a lot of shooting,
but he could maybe make some sense in Minnesota back up point guard minutes.
I don't love it either. That's I don't love it. I just
think, like any any like xact Lavine, you may be stuck with.
But like, if you don't trade DeRozan, he's leaving. He's leaving.
You're not like it would be. It would be and that would be the
least bad outcome is if he left, Like if you re signed him for
you know, market rates and You're just like hopping back on the treadmill.
That would be worse. Alex Caruso, will he be on this team?
Has to trade deadline again? He I don't think he should be. I
think the Bull should move him. But he's third on that list. I
think he's more likely to still be there than Deroze or Levine, knowing that
he's coming up on his next contract. Would you trade Patrick Williams, Yeah,
I'd trade him. I think I think we don't you feel like we
like how much longer are we gonna hang around with this? You know what?
There are two teams that interest me for him. If the Clippers called
you right now and it was their twenty twenty nine pick for Patrick Williams,
are you doing it? I'm gonna have to money. It could be a
mere coffee or whoever it is, to make the money work like they have.
I'm taking a Clippers first six five years from now for Patrick Williams absolutely,
although like Karnisovas is not gonna be there in five years most likely,
so hard to say. But in Utah just has all this pick equity.
I know they could maybe structure their books so they could go after him restricted
free agency. But if you could get I don't know what the package is
like that might be. Is he is he like an interesting Indiana fit if
you think he can just be a four and really defend, like I don't
feel will be a three to four, and I think you'd want someone with
more offensive volume, but just like the defensive intensity that he could bring would
be I think would be good for that. He's kind of like the anti
toppin. It's like they're they're the two sides of a of a coin or
something like these all defense and you just don't know if he's gonna ever like
score with high efficiency. I don't know that's interesting one. All right?
Are we good Onland? Yeah? So there's the Donovan Mitchell rumors from Mark
Steine where it's they're all coming from rival execs. So I just don't buy
it as much. And they've played well enough through injuries, including when Donovan
Mitchell's miss miss time that I just feel like you see this season through.
So I know you said we talk a lot about Mitchell. What is the
team? I actually don't like him in New York still just Jamel Brust and
don Mitchell's to do for me Brooklyn was mentioned. What is the team that's
coming in with an offer that would force you to consider after what you gave
up for Donald Mitchell to move him. Now, I don't think the officer's
gonna be material different in the office, materially different in the offseason. So
I'm just I'm not even gonna they might play well enough in the postseason where
he wants to stick around. I'm more focused for this team. Can we
get another type of stretch big I know they have George and Yang and Dean
Wade in there, but can we do that to really lean on these one
big lineups and then we'll address the Jared Allen Evan will be dynamic over the
offseason if you're gonna look at moving out and or just another three and D
type wing just because I don't know if Isaac o Core is gonna hold up
offensively in the playoffs. That's to me, this team is buyers until or
unless Donovan Mitchell asked for out. It's like, that's why I don't really
think we need to spend time on the Mitchell stuff. Am I wrong?
Well? It was more than just like I'm kind of having like a what
do I think about this situation crisis with him, because a lot of times,
you know, I feel like it's kind of hacked to just say,
like the Knicks are looming, or maybe it's Brooklyn, maybe it's Miami,
but just this idea that he is a short timer in Cleveland is just like
it's too pervasive to just pretend that that's not a thing. And so that
triggers in me the thought of like, well, okay, so if the
Cavs don't move him now, he's basically an expiring contract next year, and
then maybe his value diminishes, And you're kind of dealing with the same thing
of if you try to trade him at say the twenty twenty five deadline,
you've got the you know who's who's trading for Donovan Mitchell, the like three
month rental or four month rental at that point, and what are you getting.
So it's like his value is diminishing right now on the assumption that Cleveland
will not have him after twenty twenty five. So it's like I'm starting to
panic. I want to move him. But then at the same time,
it's like all the logic is just like this kind of was like a bummer
of a year already, like there's been too many injuries. Let's just see,
let's see what we can add to the team this offseason, and we
really make a run next year and see how good this core can be.
Maybe that convinces Mitchell to stay if he's already eyeing other places. But like
I can't kind of square those two ideas because like you want to be patient,
but it just happened too many times where you don't you know, Toronto's
done it time and again, where you just like don't act, you don't
want to act early. But like sometimes if you don't do that, your
only alternative is like acting way too late or not acting at all, because
you've lost the ability to do that. See Fred van Vliet, you know
last offseason, So like what what do you what do you think about that
kind of juxtaposition of of sort of like team building ideas, right, because
there is a chance you just you know, you're you're you're getting less for
Donovan Mitchell every day you wait to move him, and you're gonna run into
the possibility of losing him for nothing. So like you're not for you to
action, no, because you're not gonna you have It's franchise malpractice if you
don't move him by next year's trade deadline, if he has not indicated he
will stick, and you are so pot committed to him right now that suffering
whatever the offer is now versus what it will be in July. Yeah,
I'm just I'm gonna see this through, and I'm I'm gonna you know,
I'm not gonna double down. And they can't really double I mean like double
them down for them, as would we trade a twenty thirty pick swap.
So like, I just I can't bring not that, I can't bring myself
to care. If they are actually worried about him leaving, then yes,
it's a conversation to have. I don't see the team right now that's gonna
come in and bowl them over with an offer. I do think Brooklyn and
Miami might be the likely ones. Would a sneaky one be Houston. I
mean, I I don't know. I just I'm I'm concerned that, like
they're never gonna get bowled over like that. That's an impossibility because everyone's afraid
that if I trade for this guy, I have to price in the fact
that I might only get him until he decides to opt out and leave like
that, you know what I mean, Like if it's not I guess a
team that's on his quote unquote list for sure, but like you're gonna get
multiple first round picks if you adhere to his wish list, will probably have
three or four teams, would be even if as one team, you will
still get multiple first for him over the summer or at next year's trade deadline.
Even I mean though, because if it's like Brooklyn, for example,
Brooklyn's gonna have cap space in twenty five and they'll be thinking, like why
am I trading anything to get him? I can just sign him and he
wants to be here. Here's my thing. Now, you're acting like Messi
EUJII is the lead basketball executive for the Cavaliers, and that these teams know
like when to players of Dono Mitchell's caliber leaven free agency anymore? Yeah right,
good point, Good point. So I'm just I wouldn't move him.
I would probably can you get like they have some money to move around actually
buying out Ricky Rupe. They are very close to the luxury tax, like
inside a million bucks or maybe more post Ricky Rubio buy out. Then you
have some mid end contracts they could move. I'm curious as to what you
think about this type of deal. One who do you think is the most
likely player to be traded on this team? And you view them you didn't
even choose. I have them as buyers, you have them as like trade.
The Mitchell thing is the Mitchell thing's messing with me, as is,
like, what if we did just trade Jared Allen now and give Mobiley the
rest of the year to like figure out if he's a center or not by
himself. But no, I think they're probably buyers. But like, so,
who's most likely to be traded if we're ruling out the like selling option
of Allen? Like I think LeVert LeVert a Koro maybe as an expiring some
team might want to have bird rights, Like I don't. I don't know
what I thought was interesting, And I think it depends on how you value
this player. He is a better offensive spacer than would you move o'corro salary
and maybe Golden State second this year for DeAndre Hunter. I don't love Hunter,
Yeah, I mean he can't. He doesn't rebound, he doesn't pass,
and and Acorra is an underrated passer. But he better defender too,
Like, I mean, I think no, I think it's who's gonna whose
offense will hold up in the playoffs better? Yeah, maybe it's more.
I wonder if you just talked to Brooklyn about, like, what what do
we need to do for a Finny Smith or and then or Royce O'Neill or
something one of those two guys, maybe I mean give up. Like if
so, let's say it's what is the best second round pick that this team
owns. Is a Golden State's twenty twenty four second round pick? Probably well,
they have Milwaukee's in twenty twenty five or Denver's in twenty twenty seven.
None of those are any good. It is the Warriors pick. I think
it's probably better. So, like, if you included a twenty thirty swap
to Brooklyn and that pick, does that get you Dorian Phinney Smith, Is
that who you're? Well, I guess you. I mean, then maybe
you don't need the second round pick or like, I don't think a coral
alone is going to get you Dorian Phine Smith, a coral plus salary alone
anything. I also don't know why Brooklyn wants a coral. It would be
the other thing yeah, no, I I although I just mentioned Brooklyn.
I just I'm trying to get another big wing. I guess maybe since we're
in the buy mode and I just go to Brooklyn whenever. I'm trying to
do that. Other than is it a qral for you? Who's most likely
to be traded here? I had Ricky Rubio at one point and now it
just kind of feels like carousel Vert has the one year left on his deal.
He becomes a human trade exception next season? So is that the guy?
But they kind of need him for backup ball handling with all the injuries.
They do have Craig Porter Junior. So and so it's like, is
it Dean Wade just like sort of that minute or is it a quarrel becau
at those mid end salaries? And can you can you figure out a way
to upgrade like does like straight up does Isaaca Coro and Dean Wade? Is
that enough? And that second round pick or a twenty thirty does that get
you? Dorian Phiny Smith? Does that move you if you're the Cavaliers,
Like like Dorrianfhinnie Smith's a good shooter, but is he creating this space necessary
in the Mobili Jared Allen lineups that you're gonna be playing at that point,
doesn't Lavert also, profile is like a nice you know, one third the
cost alternative to Levine, like something, you know, if you're, oh
my god, we need someone who can score, you know, maybe he
can start. He could definitely be a six man, you know if the
Lakers are just like I can't deal with I can't deal with the Bulls anymore.
Calls up Cleveland and says like, I don't know, We'll give you
Hachimura and Hucha Fino, give us Caros Lavert. You know, we can
talk about the picks or something like, I don't know, Like Lavert would
help the Lakers. He's not a great shooter, but like he would help
that offense, that's for sure. I'm just looking for more cost alternative to
the stars I think are not going to get traded potentially. So actually the
one player act really for the team of Simony Fontecio from Utah, it is
gonna be an early bird RFA this year. Like let's get that motion shooter
in here, like combined with Max Shrews and Sam Merril, you really just
open up the floor and whatever line up you want, he's got better size
than a than a sam Merle a sam Earl a sam Merril. Excuse me,
since you compared Zack Levine to Karsl Bird. I feel like it's time
to move on to the Detroit bisiness. I'm just gonna keep looking for cheap,
non Zach Laban players. Uh yeah, so the Pistons, Okay,
I just want to start with the idea that won't go away from multiple reports
over like I don't know months now of the Pistons are considering like adding veteran
talent or being buyers or you know, you throw the name out there,
Tobias Harris Siakam, I think his name like they've been at least linked in
discussions or interested in Uh. I just like I can't wrap I can't wrap
my head around it. I can't understand how so like other than like you're
Troy Weaver and you're maybe getting fired and you want to finish with seventeen wins
instead of twelve or or something like that. Like it's it's just like there's
no scenario where unless what you're getting as a buyer is picks attached to bad
money, because that's not really buying in the sense that you know, you
typically think about it. You can't just be bringing in veteran town like you
just can't do it. You can't be doing another Bogdanovic another you know that
kind of thing, like I just can't get my head around that. I
would actually argue, I guess if you're worried about will they continue to divvy
up minutes poorly? I get that, But like the Bogdanovic and even Alec
Burk's acquisitions didn't cost them real equity. When you're talking about Tobias Harris Tyaka,
they were linked to Ogi Ananobi. You are not. You cannot trade
your young like this is not. Don't trade Dayton Ivy, don't trade a
Sara Thompson or Jaln Dirt like these are not. That's those are and because
or don't trade jo ome first round picks because you don't have any extra first
round picks. Those are the picks you got to trade if you want to
get in on a on a Pascal Siakam so, I would target second draft
guys or young players, and can we get value for Bogdanovich still, can
we get value for for Alec Burks? I would say though I'm not opposed
to if they just want more veterans that they think actually fits the roster,
if it doesn't cost you anything, and you're just combining James Wiseman and Joe
Harris to get Gordon Hayward, this was my Gordon Hayward team. You want
another sort of playmaking, connective type wing in there, who's gonna help you
space the floor, I'm okay with That's that's an aspiring salary above all,
right, Like that's that's the Hayward. The feature of Hayward, who gives
a shit how many more games he helps you win this year? Like the
value anyway, which is why I'm fine with it. So if he helps
streamline the development of just opening up room for Kade, okay, yeah,
he's been playing. K's been playing a lot better. Their turnovers are down
before his injury anyway. And also they have other expiring contracts, so you're
sort of just folding those in to one. The smart move is probably to
do nothing if you really are interested in buying, because Bogdanovic and Burks,
I mean, you should probably get rid of Burks. I feel like he
hijacks their offense a lot. And also let's just weed out as many guards
as possible that are gonna play over some of the younger guards. Is a
little too good and like justifiably probably should play if you're trying to win games
over some of the young guys. But like take the club out of it's
like the old take the club out of money Williams bag, Like, don't
let him have that option. I do think the players that are mentioned that
we think they should not be targeting because of the opportunity cost outside of free
agency, because Detroit will be a cap space team this summer if they want
to be, and so they can, they can go after those guys,
then they at least seem to have the architect archetype excuse me downright of what
they need because you still do presumably you're invested in Jane n Ivy or sar
Thompson has a little bit of that secondary playmaking. You have caids. You
don't necessarily need a floor general, but you need like these dynamic three four
types that will allow you to play some of these lineups where the space and
gets a little squishy, because when there's a when everyone's health, there's just
what your best youngsters if you're playing which don't play together really, but your
best youngsters include two to three non shooters at this point. Yeah, so
they at least do seem to have that. And I'm just I think people
are like, well, why would you keep Bugdanovic? That's franchise malpractice.
They can still move him over the offseason. So I'm more concerned about this
team deciding to buy in the sense of we moved off our own first round
pick or young player X that's not Killionnaise or James Wiseman to get this player
right now when it doesn't do anything for us. Yeah, short term or
long term. Yeah, I think there's a lot to I mean, it's
it's it's Inadmittedly it's not a simple situation, but I really feel like the
Pistons cannot overthink this, like it's just draft picks, flexibility, youth,
and they don't actually need extra first I just don't know, does mcdonoviac get
you a first I just even thought about a team like the Heat well,
and it's like they were willing to protect the hell out the first but even
we just went through this, if they give you Kyle Lowry for Bogdanovich and
Burks or whatever. It's like Kyle Lowry matters to them right now and Jon
Duncan Robinson and so it's just are you getting who's giving you a first for?
You know, the way to get that would be, oh, Nets
you want to get off that Ben Simmons contract or Warriors you want like,
well we need a wing, let's take some Andrew Wiggins, We'll throw Bogdanovitch
and you can have Berks or like we go that route. So like me
and would they even give you a first and that's an earra of the Warriors
probably wouldn't. So so that's the thing, Like I think to your point
about you know, this year doesn't really matter and it matters you take that
both ways, like for Bogdanovitch specifically, it doesn't really matter what the Pistons
get back this year, but also like in defense of like maybe waiting until
the off season, like take a team like Memphis where Bogdanovitch might help hypothetically,
like they're not trading for him this year, They're not going to give
you first this year. Maybe in the off season when they're kind of retooling
the roster. That makes sense, and you do have throw them in as
like, well, they weren't willing to give up a first in February,
maybe now they are in July. Like there may be a handful of teams
like that. So like it's I guess for me, I'm more concerned with
the Pistons just I don't know if they go try to get veteran talent just
because they want to be better, Like that's indefensible like in the short term.
But if it's bad money, like you said, like if it's Hayward
and he also happens to facilitate for the youth, great And at the same
time, like you can't just we got to get off Bogdanovitch just because what's
he doing here, Like you don't hurt your tay ultimately, probably because you
want to get something for him, but it can be in the summer or
next year. Yeah, and I or you could just let him walk if
you want to use cap space. And I don't think given what you paid
to get him in the first place. Yeah, we're talking about over his
last fifteen games, he's shooting forty brillion percent from three on like seven attempts
a game. Yeah, you don't want to leave that, and he can
create for himself a little bit. So maybe I'm on he's just in his
age thirty four season, and so I'm just like, yeah, well that's
when they're fourteen with him balling out over those fifteen games. That's like so
we were just pinging back and forth because maybe his age does say you better
move him now because like, who knows what he's gonna look like down the
stretch of the season could just fall off and no one will want him unlikely,
But like that's another concern. Let's move to what do we got Indiana?
That's next alphabetically good job by us. Yeah, what we talk about
here other than what we talk about all the time with Indiana. Do you
think they're I'll ask you this in a vacuum where they buyers or sellers?
And does the Tyres Haliburton injury change that in any way for you? I
think they can be. I think if they probably need to be a buyer.
But like, and I know the Haliburton thing doesn't really change it for
me because it's a grade one, right, So there. I think Jeff
Stotts had something like the averages thirteen days, twelve or thirteen days with that
that like we've seen that the Pacers, except for the other night when TJ
McConnell ran wild, Like they tend to lose with Halburton out, but you
know two weeks ish is not crippling, I don't think so. I still
think they should be a buyer, like within reason because we were talking off
air, because these are the real it in conversations we tend to have like
they could be a cap Space team if they want to. They don't need
to just take on a bunch of salary. Uh, but to get right
down to it, like this is my Sacam team. I think in terms
of just fit and what I think makes sense of the mentioned destinations for Siakam,
I think I like this one the best. It's not perfect, but
uh I could I just you know, this isn't a new take, but
like I think he makes sense there. You're at least addressing the power forward
spots somehow. I think if you're Indiana Andrew a buyer. So I have
a couple other get from backup five minutes there as well. Yeah oh yeah
sure, but like that's the the just upgrade the top end spot and make
it so Nie Smith doesn't have to play so much for you know that kind
of thing. So if you're buying, that's what you're looking at. I
have a couple of other names I like other than Siakham, but like I
guess, maybe are they your team if you have one? If he's got
I've come around on it. I think I thought they need to skew more
towards someone who can slide down to the three, like the emergends of Aaron
Eie Smith. Like you, I think you would probably still prefer which is
why I like the idea of especially if they don't want to give it.
And let's put the ball in the Siakam discussion. This is what I honestly
believe unless he has told Toronto he is leaving that like why would you move
him for pennies on the dollar? If you're Indiana? Are you willing to?
And I think what's problematic is that their salary matching tools when you look
at Bruce Brown and Buddy Heald matter to their team. And so I understand
that element of it. Junior a third team who would give you value for
those guys, or maybe just Toronto view Buddy held as an actual asset,
but like in an I not an ideal world, but I actually think if
you did the if you proposed like if Toronto was willing to do this,
and I don't think they would be to be clear, where they're getting one
first round pick, Jalen Smith, Buddy Held and Jarris Walker. I don't
think Indiana would do that, and I think it's gonna take more than that
in my mind to get Siakam where if I'm Indy and I believe he's resigning,
you only do these all these deals would soon to be free agents.
Don't trade for them if you don't think they're gonna like that, simple as
that. I go to first round picks, the second of which like this
season's first round pick in twenty twenty six protected and Jarres Walker for Siakham.
Now, the problem is you are giving up Buddy Heal who matters, or
Bruce Brown who would also matter, and like Jalen Smith is playing for them
too. So can you substitute Obi Toppin in there? But Obi Toppin plays
a little bit more than Jalen Smith depending on the week, so and depending
on the week, he's also shooting better than Jalen Smith from three. I
just it feels like it's unnecessarily complicated to get Sam to Indiana, and so
I think what's best for the Pacers is because they're just historically conservative anyway,
you look at the alternative alternatives which I have as mattis Stiebel, Jeremy Grant
could be good here. Kyle Kuzma, I don't love it, like that's
another name that you could look at, though, I did think about if
everyone in Golden State really is touchable aside from touchable, that's the very touchable
aside from Steph. Pacers fans gave me shit when I think I mentioned this
in an offhandedly to you, like as a joke. I don't hate Draymond
Green in Indiana. I mean he's got a spacing five, you got a
dynamic on ball lead guard. I mean there's worse fits what I mean,
like, unless you just don't like Draymond Green. And I can't imagine why
anyone would feel that way, Like what's not to like about that fit?
The money? About three years and seventy five million left on his deal.
But I'm just like, so the alternative is giving up equity for Siakam and
then giving him the four year or five year max. A couple of alternatives
I kind of like where he's like I and again maybe I'm I'm a little
too interested in flipping matherin for someone that is going to help you defensively really
well lately though I know, I know, but I just think with Haliburton,
you can get a total replacement value shooting guard and it'll be fine.
Like I just so if I'm balancing the roster at like I'm calling Houston and
I'm interested in, like, what's it? Maybe it's not Mathering necessarily,
but it's like Tarry Easton Jayshaun Tate, Like let's have a conversation about both
of those and see which I mean Tate perfect pacers to where when like is
it it might cost him Andrew nem hard? Which might you know stomach that?
Like I don't. I don't. Actually I love Tarry Easton. There,
I just can't picture Houston moving. That's the thing is I don't.
Yeah, I mean, ultimately, Patrick Williams, if the bulls are actually
yeah, I think I think that. Yeah, that's I mean, how
who's ever said great great one when someoneh someone mentioned Patrick Williams as a fit.
We just broke new ground. I think I meant it like Yeah,
No, that's that's if you're looking at like how do we how do we
upgrade a position of need? I mean, I don't know that Williams look
like Williams is like kind of falling out of favor and no one's sure what
he is for a reason. But like if it's if the alternative is you
give up a bunch for Siakam who you pay a bunch to keep, Like
maybe Patrick Williams is worth the upside flyer. I don't know, like that,
there are a lot of that's all to say, there are a lot
of lower costs like alternatives for the Pacers. If even though if if Siakam
is getting traded and you can like this to the roster fit, it makes
it makes sense to me, especially if you compare it to some of the
other teams that are interested in Siaka. This doesn't necessarily fit the bill,
but what if because the Pacers just kind of have the guards in excess.
And I'm not talking about giving up Mathin or Haliburton here, if you could
get Kyle Anderson from Minnesota, that's funny, smart like this, it feels
like this is how it all ends for Indiana, is they're gonna trade for
Naji Marshall or someone would be a good fit, but it's just not someone
who's gonna move the needle that regard. I do feel like the perfect middle
ground of all the names we mentioned. I don't know if you have other
ones. Just feels like matist Thaible because he's been shooting well enough for most
of this season. But I don't, I don't. I don't know how
you feel about that. I mean, I get I feel like he would
be just another guy that is playing up a position in Indiana, probably like
because he's not a four, like I get, so you know you're playing
and if you're playing him with Nie Smith. Oh, by the way,
I try. I trust Neesmith now, like I just when he's on the
floor, like I just a bet value contracts in the word feel great about
him. He can he plays so hard. This is our hardhitting analysis port.
That's why you can go towards a more of a four, because I
go, we got we have nees Smith right now, there's our three,
and like in a pinch, Nee Smith can just be like enough of a
chaos generator to like give you five minutes at the four if you need it.
So I mean, you don't want to live that way, but but
I think here's one. This is just perfectly low level TJ. McConnell for
nos Little and Utah Wantonaby. I think I think the Pacers would prefer McConnell.
I think he matters so much to their self, especially if Aliburn's out,
like I think he loves. But it's just sort of like, what
are we doing here? Like you all have between him and nem Hard and
Mathren Haliburton and Bruce Browns, like we you need to get some properly sized
perimeter. That's part of the issue for me is is McConnell is a Gabe
Vincent All Star for me, which is he only every time I watch he
has a great game and I never see his bad games. So I had
this year for you. Now, I haven't watched a lot of game vinsin
so as far as I know, I assume he's been great. What's the
next team on the Dogget Oh, let's see, we did Indiana that leaves
Milwaukee. This is our last team in the Central Division. Dan they need
point of attack defense and it's just and or anyone who cares about getting back
in transition I will say, I'm just so done with the Malik Beasley slander.
Here. Who's shooting the hell out of the ball, and he's handling
defensive assignments. Uh, like that he shouldn't be and oh he's not faring
well in a lot of them. I actually think he's done a better job
against switching on to bigger players. But like, this is just Malik Beasley.
You got him for the and people are harping out, Oh, they
promised him to start, and now that's going to impact that they wanted to
trade for someone. No, it's Molique Beasley. At the end of the
day, you could break that promise. They already did break that promise on
the minimum. On the minimum. Like we're complaining about this guy as the
problem. He's on the minimum. He's been one of the best offseason signings.
Like we got to move on. That's not He's doing everything Malik Beasley's
supposed to do for the mid I'm just I just I've had people in my
dms after I tweeted stuff about it, and it's just I'm not a fan
of I mentioned this in the podcast you Weren't on. I don't know why
people feel the need to well, actually something that's not like debatable where it's
like I get, as you've watched the video, you're familiar with social media,
right. I'm not a fan of people who like to tout their knowledge
or that they might have sources, even though that they're probably a mouthpiece for
the team that they're speaking on behalf of, and they just don't realize it.
That's just I'm I'm over those in my dms, and if you DMed
me this week, I'm not talking about you. So there you go,
Like anyone, I've got a bunch of dms this week, so we're fine
there or in the last week and a half, whatever it is. But
they don't really have stuff to move. This is a short topic that the
Bucks don't have a flexibility. I do. I do think that they probably
have enough to get like a Javon Carter back who they probably should leave.
To be honest, Javon Carter would would the Bulls be willing to trade Io
de sun Mu? I think he's trade eligible January fifteenth done. He's been
kind of like ever since they pulled thht out of the lineup in Utah,
he's had some good moments for them, Dennis Smith Junior would be another one,
like that's the level of stuff you're looking at, and then you have
to ask, well can we get by playing them next to Dame And that's
where you get into some weird stuff. I will say, if you're not
invested in developing and Jackson, we've seen him get minutes. Livingston hasn't gotten
enough. Mar John bo champsman has been all over the place. Do you
think Bochamp and salary and maybe like what seconds do they have? Like can
that get you? In the Dorian Phinney Smith discussion, does it get you
Royce O'Neill. Maybe O'Neill. I just don't know what bow Champ's value is
anymore. I feel like in the past we've talked about him as like,
oh, he's the sweetener you'd throw in or maybe a team. You know,
he just hasn't been consistent enough this year. For sorry, they do
have Portland's twenty twenty four second round picks, So it was Bochamp and that
pick and let's say Conaton or even Portois for Tyble. Is that enough or
no? I mean, by the way, I will say, anyone you're
freedom call me an asshole anyone who thinks that that offer was stupid Buck fans.
I'm not trying to be like condescending here. You don't have enough to
get Alex Caruso. It's just I'm sorry, it's not if they figured it
out away, I mean, that'd be something. Yeah, I don't know.
I mean, like I think I hadn't thought of like the Dennis Smiths
of the world or the Chris Dunns. But I don't know. If you
read the Eric name and uh seth part now, you know, just kind
of discuss like what the hell is wrong with this defense? And it's a
complex article with a lot of interesting stats jerseys, and it's on the equipment
manager quite frankly. Well, I mean, aside from the jerseys not being
you know, fresh and clean, it's just point It's just like the blowby
drives are like through the roof, and it's just point of attack defense.
Like if you if you could fix one thing like Brook Lopez is fine,
Giannis is maybe not in the optimal position tactically with Adrian Griffin. Now defensively
that's an issue, but it's just like they're getting cooked on the perimeter,
and so Dennis Smith Junior would make that happen less, and obviously Javon Carter
would, Obviously Alex Caruso would, obviously Chris Dunn would, But like you're
only really realistically having any kind of shot at like the dun and Dennis Smith
junior level of guys. So I mean, like, I just if they
do anything, I think this is probably just a buyout team ultimately, even
though they may be limited, and they will be limited, it's just the
guy that's getting bought out that's gonna come in and fix it. No,
nobody, that's the thing. There is not a fix, Like it's gonna
have to be internal. They'll just have to figure it out. But like
sure or done is about as good as you can do. I'm almost I'm
just gonna double check this to make sure they have it. Like the Portland
twenty twenty four second round pick is gonna be in the low thirties, And
so if you're just attaching that to Pat Connaton, like, isn't that something
that's certainly enough to get you Javon Carter right, you'd hope. So,
I mean that's more than you know that it might be better than like some
protected first that you're not even sure when you're gonna get it, you know,
as as an acquiring team, you're getting the thirty pick or whatever with
this one, so like they could that might be dfs Is Probably You're right,
that's like a stretch and I'm not giving that up for a Dun or
a dentistman if they have to give that up for Adun or dentnis bete a
while, but maybe even Portland's like, that's gotta be semi. I think
I would do Bowchamp and that pick and salary, especially if it's Bobby Portis.
He's not had the best season and I know he's kind of important to
the team, but I just I wouldn't flinch it trading Bobby Portis. I'll
approximate that the backup big spot with someone else on the buyout marks in your
in your tyble package. This is like I kind of like this as a
Tible team. Am I crazy? No? I think the only the only
issue with him is like, I don't know, maybe you have a different
impress everyone better from three in Portland. I hear you. No, it's
not that, it's like I don't know that he's like the on ball point
of attack defender he's kind of like he swoops around and surprises you with blocks
and like jumps passing lanes type of thing like for I mean, I'm not
saying he wouldn't be an upgrade, like he would absolutely help them in transition
to like where they have so many problems. But like I think, I
think you do that trade. But I'm just saying, like he's not the
I'm gonna go guard the ball handler and he's not getting by me. He's
not really that kind of defender by reputation, But I mean he would be
an upgrade on basically everybody that they've tried to use in that role. So
I was just trying to think of someone with more size than a Javon Carter
or even like I would assume it might actually be the guy. I don't
know if Chicago wants to move him, but that would be really really interesting.
I don't know that I give up I wouldn't give up bow Champ and
the Portland pick. I give up the Portland pick for him, though.
Yeah, I think I think who's most likely player to be traded on this
team? I mean, I guess it's there's so many bad options. I
guess it's Beauchamp, Right, I guess I don't know who. Like I
was gonna say Conaton just because you have to match salary somehow. Yeah,
I think I'm just trying to think like Conniston actually kind of matters for them,
But like when day Crowder's healthy and Malik Beasley is there, does he
like as much matters less? Yeah? Yeah, I certainly compared to Bouchamp,
You're getting more for Connatent because Connaistan's like a rotation guy on a good
team, like they've just been that for a long time. I'm probably more
intrigued by Bouchamp, though for the teams that are gonna be selling, I'd
be more intrigued by bow Champion. Right. If you're if you're trying to
get your your seventh guy hammered down, like you say, you're this would
never happen, but like we're you're the Celtics, and you're trying to because
there someone that's, like, you know, maybe a little better than Peyton
Pritchard, but like not as good as as Sam Hauser. Like maybe that's
your connistant team. Whereas like if you offer bou Schamp to Boston, they'd
be like, we don't We're not like he can't play for us like that,
you know, So that kind of I guess that settles to your point
that Contant probably is the guy to move. Good job on the Central We
did the Central Division and we were on to the Atlantic with Brooklyn Correct Boston,
Boston. Oh my god, I've got you. I was just talking
about him. They need like a their eighth or ninth best player. That's
about it. You're not gonna mess with anything else right like this. I
don't know, Uh, although looking good, shaver Set's played better last couple
of games that I've seen, So maybe maybe maybe they don't need anything.
I don't know. We probably don't discussion. I know people think that they
need a big and they do have. Look, if they were willing to
pay, they have the six point two million dollar trade exception from the Grant
Williams sign in trade. Yea that Like, I don't know who is just
going to give away a player for that. But if you're looking for a
different type of guard or a big I like Davon Carter for this team,
Naji Marshall for this team, maybe even an Aaron Wiggins type, like kind
of a shot of adrenaline that'll give you some rim pressure. I don't know
what it cost to get him from Okay. So specifically, those are the
types of needle like nudging moves that're like very marginal. I can't just and
I saw a report that they're interested in Kelly Olynik or Chris Bouchet, and
I'm just like, what's the matching salary? They can't sign these guys if
they were bought out? Uh, because well, actually Kelly Olynick might be
right on the line once he making this year and he's too good to buy
out, like he could be about it if you trying to do him a
solid. But so what are you like you don't have salary matching I know
millions, so they could sign him. I think the names are like you
know, the salaries, we have to figure it out. But like someone
like Otto Porter Nos Little Sadik bay Jalen McDaniels, like that type of player
is if you're looking for on a championship team who's back baa count which the
Buck's gonna help you even further after getting making don't think those two teams are
gonna collaborate on a trade. But like, I'm just thinking of the big
wing that Brad Stevens has expressly said they need as like that's the only thing
they really don't have in you know, a third one. Obviously you have
two great ones, but like someone that could be the eighth or ninth best
player on Boston and that you could for like actually see playing seven minutes in
a playoff game porter little Bay mcda like something like that. You know,
it could be interesting. I don't know if Boston would do it because it
would cost a shit ton. But if you're willing to take Kyra Lewis into
that traded player exception to get New Orleans out of the luxury tax, and
they were gonna then gonna send you Naji Marshall, who's basically making them minute,
you don't really need to worry about that. I might consider that.
I know that's very expensive for Naji Marshall, but he has some really good
moments this season, and if I don't know if New Orleans is gonna keep
him in free agency, they got they got luxury task concerns themselves. No,
I think I think Boston should absolutely do that, Like just I mean,
you're you're trying to win it now right now. You just need like
one more guy maybe, and Marshall is like more than good enough to be
that again, like the seven minutes, not even every game in a playoff
series like twice you need him out there, like you know, you can
play him from five, like just in a pinch, just to try and
see what happens. Yeah. No, I mean, this is the best
team in the league to me, and they just like you know, they
don't need to do anything, and and if they do something, it's gonna
be just the absolute back end of the rotation who might not even play if
you shrink it in the postseason. We are now on to Brooklyn. Uh,
this is interesting. We know the Celtics are buyers, what are the
nets? They gotta be sellers, don't they. I mean, I think
that's the only way to go. I mean, the way that their picks
are set up. So it's just sort of if they were going to be
sellers, then it's right time to gauge the market on Michael Bridges, who
I just don't buy into this regression talk from him. It just happens that
teams have a sample size on him and his role and like he probably needs
to be the number two rather than number one, and that's not really a
problem. I would still give up everything for mckel Bridges. I don't care,
Like I'm looking at teams. If it was Foss Houston, if I
was OKAC, if I'm the Knicks, I would throw the kitchen sink just
at mckel Bridges. But I don't, like, I guess you do look
at moving during Phinney Smith and Royce O'Neill. To what end? Maybe Nick
Claxton, he's also gonna be a free agent, Spencer Genwiddy to what end?
Though? Yeah, I mean, like you said, it's tough because
they owe that twenty twenty four first to Houston. It's unprotected, so like,
oh, let's strip the whole thing for parts and try to lose as
many games as we can, like even though some teams have such a head
start, like that's not gonna get you anything. So I still think,
I mean, I want to keep bridges. I think if you're a seller,
you got to draw the line somewhere. This isn't like, you know,
even though trading bridges, if you could get all those first and just
make it so you're operating like a normal NBA team that has first, Houston
gave you back all your first and because how many, well, let's see
how many. I constantly forget how many. I can't keep its trade either.
But while you're looking that up, I think it's like, clearly you
try to trade Phinney Smith. Clearly O'Neill. Dinwitty, sure, I mean
maybe Dinwitty again. We're looking for the low cost alternatives. Like I don't
know, does Dinwitty help Orlando as a rental? Like if you're talking about
Brogden going there, I mean Dinwitty hasn't shot it well. But like you
know, there are places that need point guards and send them to I don't
know. Go ahead, you have something you want to say. I can
see at this. I'm just laughing at for I forget it. Just how
many picks they have owed to Houston. So let's I'm looking only the first
one. So they owe this year's and twenty twenty six, and then they
have swap rights owed in twenty five and twenty seven. And so if Houston
said, hey, we have the expense, I think they have the expendable
salaries that they can step ladder their way to get there where it's not oh,
we need to give you Dylan Brooks or Street or somebody if they said,
here's Tari Easton, all of your own picks back so to first some
protected and two swapops and Tari Easton for McHale Bridges. I said, let
me get Jalen Green too. Honestly, even playing better? Would you do
that? If you're Houston, I get Bridges? I mean, I can't.
That seems like so much. You said Easton. Also Eastan's in this
trade. Well, I wasn't. You were including Jalen Green. I wasn't.
I just I was just trying to slip that in there. I mean,
I think, well, is that too much for Bridges? Though it
might not. That's the thing is the Rockets need to believe that they're they're
ready. I think the issue they would run into it, well, I
mean, we're gonna be talking about like an eight for one trade at that
point, because like, you're not trading Brooks. I would assume, I
mean you, I guess you would if it be getting McKell Bridges, but
Van Vliet and and then after that, your third highest paid player this season
is the nine point nine million dollar Jailen Green. So you do have Oladipo's
expiring salary at nine point five plus Jacques Landell at eight. So you're already
and you got plenty of room under the luxury tax right now. So I
mean like you could get there with three players, so easan those two players
and those picks. Who says no, that's a pretty good one. I
think, I think maybe, And Brooklyn says no, Brooklyn consider including another
first or Jalen Green. This is just we've exploded this trade. Let's see.
So if I'm Brooklyn in this scenario, I got all my picks back.
I got Jalen Green now, which actually, like on a team full
of guys that don't really know how to create offense. Like you know,
Jalen Green is a nice flyer in there, and I got we kind of
saw that version of him over the first couple of years in Houston. It's
a pure upside play. It's a hope that like he figures it out and
justifies the draft pedigree. I feel pretty good if I'm Brooklyn there, and
then if I'm Houston, I think they both we've cracked it. They both
say, yes, a good job. Take a laugh. So wait,
what did we settle on Jalen Green to first to two first and two swaps?
For Britain and you had to have Landale or somebody else in there.
If Brooklyn said you can keep Easton if you throw us another first, would
you do that? I really like Tari Easton and those just so you have
Bridges Brooks, aman Thompson, Jabari Smith Junior, Fred Van Fleet, Shane
Goon. Are you starting to run out? Jayshawn Tate is still there?
You're starting to run out of minutes on the pri those first aren't going to
be any good, So I'm taking Jalen Green. I think the Rockets first
are not going to be good after a while with that lineup, so you
would rather if you're Brooklyn, you prefer Tar Easton over the other pick.
I think so. I really like Tari Easton. Uh So I was said
too. I'm just saying he's not a star cornerstone and there's the could be
anything element to the draft pick. That's true. I would just be banking
on the fact that Houston's gonna be picking in the twenties unless you go way
out, so call it in that Houston one. However, if you're gonna
keep mcal Bridges, should there be a consideration of lightly but like should this
be a Dejonte Murray team. That's interesting. Then you're then you're just pivoting
in to buy. You could certainly provide salary waiting for Donovan Mitchell make sense
for this team if you're keeping Bridges. I guess he does. Oh yeah,
because that puts Bridges in his proper offensive spot. Because I think what
you're doing is you're trying to trade how do we get extra first in here?
And so that involves what can we get for Claxton d fs Royce O'Neal
specifically. Yeah, if you're trying to two step it to Mitchell, eventually
you need to recoup them first. And you I mean, I think Claxton
should get you first, although the next team is gonna have to pay him.
But I pause, Okay, see, I don't for sure. He's
not like as bulky as you might want. In an ideal situation, rebound'll
protect the rim. Though. Yeah, it works fine because Chet is a
check at a revelation. Chet's a guard at all that that is the potential
defensive player of the year, but he but also he's a guard, So
like that's a fine fit. If Claxton doesn't space for you, you can
you can more than survive offensively if that's your four or five, and defensively,
like forget about it, that's ridiculous. But yeah, so you try
to find some firsts and then that gets you, That clears the decks a
little bit, and you build around Mitchell and bridges eventually like that's I mean,
I don't hate it. But what is interesting though, is that the
Cows might want DFS any Mitchell deal this summer, so you probably have to
be cognizant of that. And that leads me to my final question on NETS.
Who's the most likely player to be traded Finny Smith, just because I
think he's gonna He's kind of the most universal fit type guy, and I
think, yeah, yeah, this team is kind of the mother of all
hedges too. With we said they could basically buy or sell, or at
least plan for the for the buye uh. We are on to the your
New York Knicks, My New York Knicks. I'll take claim to them.
They're playing well enough, that's fine with me. They're buyers. But I'm
just wondering. You know, Mitchell Robinson's probably coming back this year. Isaiah
Hartenstein looks like he They have early Bird rights on him, and so like
you think around fifteen million or whatever, it's gonna be enough to keep him
playing well enough where it's did you know he's only twenty five. He's gonna
get two more good NBA contracts before it's all done. So. But nonstar
centers, the market's always fickle. It's just we know what they need.
There's the set, like another ball handler. Even with Dante DiVincenzo getting those
threes up, even with having Deuce McBride filling in fairly well, I think
that's something you probably still look at because you want that third guy aside from
Randall, especially given out Randall's fair fair to the playoffs and Brunson who can
just get you the frump scratch bucket. But it comes to the question of
the star that fits or makes sense for this team still isn't available, at
least as far as we know. Although I would love mckel bridges here,
like that's the should be talking another kitchen sync trade there, which is like
you're throwing the picks and Evin Fournier for mckail bride. I don't think you're
allowed to have Anenobian Bridges on the same team. I think there's a rule.
I would, honestly, I'd probably orgasm if that t right happen if
you have a Gananobi and mckalbridge on the same team. So do you think
there's a I think a lot of people are like, well, the Jenttey
Murray has been mentioned, Terry Rozier has been mentioned, Malcolm Brogden has been
mentioned. I like the idea of rolling Evan Fournier's contract into someone who's on
the books for next year, who's more functional for your team, and they
could still be flipped as part of salary matching. It's about carrying that salary
over. You could do that with Evan Fournier's team option, but that's not
him at seventeen eighty millions, not moving anybody. It's just an expiring contract.
I just what else does it cost to get these guys? Is where
it gets awkward, and it's do you want to expend any first round equity?
And even look in the case of Terry Rozier, it's like we're giving
up Evan Fournier and Quentin Grimes if we're the Knicks and other salary to match
or I don't even know if they need to match I haven't even plugged this
in, but maybe they don't need to matter, like to get terror or
a year into play one of your you know, like one two of your
better trade chips left. That just feels a little awkward. And so I
don't know that the perfect acquisition within reason exists. And so it wouldn't shock
me if, like obviously saying og had always going to be their biggest movie
and spicy, but just wouldn't shock me if they don't really do anything.
You wouldn't shock me either, because they've been really you know, commendably careful
about keeping the powder dry, like even getting Anonobi without you know, giving
up the pick haul. Then you have ten to half million under the hard
cap. So like that's that's room that they could work with. I just
think, like you said it, like that you know, another ball handler
whatever, like a you know, shot creator, Like can you get to
uh uh bogged On Bogdanovic or like brogged in or you know, I'm trying
to think Jordan Clarkson, Like can you get to those guys using you know,
Fournier and one of your shitty incoming first round picks, Like you probably
need more than that for you know, someone like Clarkson maybe, but like
you can really offer legit salary relief, and you can the acquiring team can
say we got a first because you know, even though there's an asterisk next
to some of the ones, I think the Knicks should be willing to trade.
There's there's definitely ways to go get that ball handler. It's just a
question of like, can you do it without you know, throwing McBride or
throwing Grimes or whatever in there. I think the problem with that logic,
because both of us have it, is well, go get that ball handler
Grimes. His minutes are going to mc toilet anyway, right, so that
you're just yeah, yeah, you just use him, so you maybe give
it even worse pick because Grimes is more desirable in a vacuum. I think
for the the mode of operations that Nicks are trying to follow, Jean say,
Murray makes the most sense off the court as an asset play, but
we don't like it on the court. Actually don't hate him on the court.
But if it's now gonna it's gonna infringe upon your three point volume.
And Dante Divincenzo's taking mega difficult threes in high volume right now, and just
like like, and then you have Josh Hart as well. So unless you're
planning on playing really small at points with Julius at the five, which this
season, okay maybe because of the Mitchell Robinson injury, that's where the Dejontay
Murray thing. But if if the cost is low enough where it's Grimes and
salary and like a second or one of your like if it's just Grimes one
of your crummy first and Evan Fournier for de Jontay Murray, Like, if
it's the Mavericks pick Grimes in Fournier, you're really do you turn that down?
Just because at the Hawks turn that down? They probably should, but
would they I don't know, get real quickly. We got to move on,
but like I want to, I don't know if we've talked specifically about
this, the Murray fit with New York. We've talked offline about how it's
like, you know the issues with it? Is it tell me what you
think about this? Like I know that the reason you traded quickly principally because
og Anobi is really good and we would like to have him. So that's
that's the cost of doing business. But is it also fair to say that
a factor was we're not in love with the quickly brunts and pairing, particularly
if we are paying Quickly his next deal of twenty five to thirty million dollars
a year, Like that's a factor, right. It was kind of like
they sent that issue to Toronto, who's probably more willing to pay that money
and is a better spot for him, Dido for Antonobe going back, because
it's like just makes more sense for the acquiring team to pay the guy.
So like part of it was the quickly brunts and fit for what it was
going to cost, right, Yeah, for sure. And I think just
also they decided paying Oji Annobi at they could also decide we'd rather Paydjonde and
og Ananobi let's say sixty million dollars combined, than pay fifty something for RJ
and Quickly. It's still I think that's right, but it's still it's still
like you just make the Quickly to Murray compare Garrison, and they're kind of
really really similar where and we have talked about this where Quickly is a more
efficient scorer, he's three years younger, He's probably gonna make comparable money.
And if you didn't love that fit, I get it like Anonobe is the
variable right like you. It's not just it's not you know, Quickly or
Murray. It's like Anonobe is there now because Quickly's gone, so it changes
it. It's not a one to one. But if you didn't love the
Quickly brunts and fit, why do you love the Murray brunts and fit?
Because the Murray has been You can't bank on this, but Murray has been
one of the most efficient pull up three point shooters in the league this year.
I'm not banking on that. I think. I think I think the
way you get there for me And I'm not saying this would be my logic,
but if I'm trying to like argue against myself on it, it's that
I and I'm the Knicks now. I think Murray has the capacity to get
back to like an all defensive level that he hit like five years ago or
something, if he's on a team with and maybe not all defense, but
if he's on a team with og Ananobi and Jalen Brunson and Julie Randall and
then these like Dante Evincenzo is a complimentary player and even Hartenstein stuff. They
can run through him like you don't need to do as much on offense,
right, and he also gives you someone We've seen some of their like one
star minutes have been weird at points. He's done well for the most part
in the one star minutes with Atlanta this season. So I think there's more
there's more of a fit risk, but I do think there's a higher upside
than saying, well, we'll just take Brogden or Terry Orsi or oh,
opportunity costs to the biggest one, as you mentioned, if the Hawks or
don't want, like if it's two firsts, or if it's Grimes in a
first and you might as well just capitalize on the opportunity. Or even if
it's Grimes in the Detroit and Washington picks, it's just kind of like,
are those going or maybe one of those in the Dallas pick, because that
doesn't look like it's gonna be very good this year. I'm more inclined to
think about the swing than I think a lot of Knicks fans are, and
knowing that they are probably a lot of Knicks fans who watch the team more
than I have, that's fair. I just I don't view Murray as necessarily
this ball stopper who's impossible to fit in. I think last the last thing
is we, or at least I started this out talking about how like it
might cost way more than you think to get Murray because he might be the
best player available and several teams will be like bidding up for him. That's
the reason for the Knicks not to get involved, because they got to keep
the powder dry. I will say, though, the final thing here,
for real is this could be more about, Okay, it's awkward this season,
but like, we don't want to deal with Julius Randalls next deal,
so we're gonna look at moving him as good and important as he's been to
us, and so we want to make sure we still have at least that
second creator, yeah, or someone who could be used as part of the
star trade. So I'm more aboard the Murray train if the price is lower
than you expect, which is kind of a stupid thing to say, but
we're talking about Murray maybe netting the most first of any player available, and
if he's not at that level, if the Hawks are just that like all
over the place, I'd be in on it. If I was the nick
Our next team, the Philadelphia seventy six ers. They are clearly buyers.
Joe Ebids dealing with left knee problems going hard after that second MVP award for
some reason was pretty stupid, and it seems pretty stupid now. He's currently
on pace to play in fewer games than he needs to. I do think
is there more urgent? Oh? Really quick? Who's the most likely player
to be traded on the Knicks? This is just fortnite because if they make
a deal, he's their only expendable salary matching five a team million expiring or
I mean, like team what is is a team option right for the last
year of it so expiring? So I think it's got to be him because
that's the way you can improve the team with with that money. And like
a pick that you you know, a pick you can spare. I think
that's got to be the one with Philly. I know a lot of people
have said they're gonna have more, that they're not gonna have dual max space.
Everybody shut up about that. Police, They're gonna have more than max
space this summer. But they can get to like a twenty million dollar player
or so and then still carve out max space. Will holding on to Maxi's
cap hold about And I think this is why I'm hijacking the discussion at the
beginning rather than throwing oh, this is because I was gonna be the one
that's like, well, but what about the cap space and do they want
to tack on? Here's here's my whole thing is we've like over romanticized what
they did to get rid of James Harden, just like whatever happened behind the
scenes, they're at least somewhat at fault, And like, you got these
picks, okay, and you're touting this cap space at a time when no
one unless they play for Masai U Jiri, leaves him free agency for nothing
when they're on that level, And so what are we doing here? If
you want to preserve it for flexibility in trades? Fine, yeah, Like
don't pretend like we might poach og Ananobe from the Knicks. No, you're
not fucking doing that. And so who's the free agent? Paul George and
Kwi Kwi has already extended, Paul George is gonna extend. You've been there,
done that with James Harden. Who are you going after? Like,
who do you really want? At this point, I do think this is
not where I was headed with this, with the embead injury, them coming
back down to earth a little bit. I think there needs to be more
urgency to make a move this season, and if you still want to preserve
your cap space, then it's and I'm not saying go get Zach Lavine,
That's not what I'm saying, but I'm thinking about, you know, if
it infringes the up on your max base, Terry Rozier could work. The
one that makes a lot of sense because I think you could still get to
Max's room with him would be Bo dab Bardanovic if he's on your books next
season. Those are all names. You don't have the assets. By the
way, though, as much as we talk about like Philly might have the
powder to get a star, no, I don't like and they might be
able to get to Jante Murray because he's a fringe star. But like I
use this analogy, do you have the assets to make players who weren't available
available? And the answer is no, no they I was looking through their
inbound picks on your right up here, thinking like, how do we get
to bridges level of pick equity? And since we just established it's two unprotecteds
and two swaps and a bunch of young players, like they're not getting there.
But so that's interesting. So I definitely have viewed the Sixers as like,
how do they thread the needle between preserving that flexibility that Daryl Morey has
you know, been so interested in and then also upping their championship equity which
is like the thing that Daryl Moury has always been most interested in, And
how do you how do you do both? But I think your point,
it's kind of reframed it for me, like cap space and free agency just
doesn't mean anything anymore, like and especially this class, like there's just not
like the guys are just they're they're they're the options are dwindling all the time
like that, And so it's not even about maybe the new CBA changes this
over time, Yeah we're not going to feel that effect. No summer at
some point maybe because things always change like this, like cap space will matter
again, but like it doesn't seem like we're gonna approach that anytime. So
then this is just like a buyer that's trying to figure out how to combine
you know, a bunch of their mid level salaries like the Batombs and Morrises
and Covington's and that kind of thing together to get what like a two way
wing that's like bigger than de Anthony Melton. Like that's that's kind of what
you're you're after, because we've established they don't have the juice to get like
a clear third star, right. I just don't because if we're saying Murray
is the best guy that's maybe available, it's going to be traded. I
don't love him here to MAXI so like, who is that guy? I
think it's And it's also just if you're trying to thread the needle, though
it's still like threading the needle. If you get Bogdanovic, I assume that
would cost you a first round pick. If if you get Kelden Johnson,
he'd be kind of interesting for this team. That cost you a first round
pick, and so you've preserved the ability to get to one max slot.
But now you've expended at least one first round pick. And I don't know
honestly what Kelden Johnson's value is. He would just intrigue me as a fit
on this team. Threading the needle would be like really threading the needle or
catering to the cap space, and your picks would be can we get Tias
Jones without giving up a first? And you could do that and that's fine,
but I just don't know what that does for you this season. And
I think Joel Embiid is a dominant player, but the window is both dominant
and fickle. Yeah, how long is it going to be open? Who's
the most likely guy to get traded here? I'll ask you probably. I
just think Marcus Moore a senior, he has such like a huge expiring contract,
and but toom can be useful. I think Roco not playing a ton
someone who could probably still be useful, but they have they do have a
ton of expirings if they're willing to take on money, and it's you know,
even if this eats into you, you can't get to a max slot
unless you're gonna do some other things. I guess like Terry Rozier might make
a lot of sense for this team if you're Oliver someone bigger. I mentioned
Kelvin Johnson. That's where you start to run into issues. Now that ogn
and Obi's off the market, is where's the Because they're not going to be
a Jeremy Grant or Kyle Kuzma team. So where's just like this bigger hybrid
two three four guy coming from I wonder if he weren't hurt, if Marcus
Smart might be someone that they could put salary together for. But he plays
up, He plays up pe Can guard center. Do you remember, Like,
yeah, should it be a DeAndre Hunter team if they I don't think
they would trade him without giving up a first But if you were just able
to send out expiring contracts and like your highest level seconds available or something,
Yeah, does he and but would he? Does he make a little too
much to where he forecloses on your Again we've just shipped on cap space,
but like just he knocked out of the salary the mac space he is.
So he's at like twenty million this year, so that's called money basically,
right, But so next year he's at twenty one seven. That's like right
on the borderline. That's what I was thinking, is I knew it escalated,
but you could always The other thing is it's like if you're especially you're
not giving up a first ro, you can always just move him later.
Someone take Dedre Hunter's money. Yeah, and it wouldn't be hard to get
off some of these other you know, other deals ahead of the deadline.
Like you said they got a million expiring guys like ranging anywhere from like what
Kelly u brayon and Kenny Martin Junior, like right around two million, and
you get all the way up to Morris's expiring. So yeah, like there's
there's ways to try to get on markel Foltz. See he's up to see
if he wants to come back, try it again. Yeah, they're DFS
team. Like that's someone who's on the books, doesn't fuck with your cap
space, he doesn't give you any creation. Yeah, what's that trade look
like? Though? It's like trading the Nets one of your expiring three four
combo veterans. Like Oh, it's just like like who's what pick? What
pick is moving? And where's it going to get that? I guess you've
got to give the Nets a pick? Would you very quick on him?
Would you be in on de Jontay Murray for them? How do you feel
about Murray? MAXI? Hmmm, I just I I I'm increasingly convinced that
Murray is This is more from Murray's side of it, like he should be
the primary point guard, I think probably as opposed to splitting it with another
guard like Mai Defer though, Yeah, which, you know what you just
gave Maxie the reins. Do we really need to bring in another guard?
That's no, I don't know, I don't I don't love it. My
counterpoint would be dejent Dey Murray has changed the way that he plays a lot
more than Tree Young has, and so I don't know, if you're I
think you might be underselling his adaptability. Maybe that's true, Maybe that's not
fair. Yeah, it's very very possible that all of the issues we're having
with Atlanta, like why doesn't it work is because of Trade Young and like
that's the guy that they're not, you know, gonna move. Probably,
Yeah, I just I think, like I remember doing like biggest regrets for
every team. Maybe we did a pot about it. I can't even remember,
but like for the Sixers, I think it was like this market sucks
and they have a lot of options and they just say there isn't anybody that
justifies them, like really going for it with who's out there, and that's
kind of too bad. I mean, that's just maybe that's a cop out
since we're supposed to be coming up with solutions, but like the problem for
them is really conspicuous, Like they've got we could even name surprise candidates that
up here we've named Mikal Bridges, who I think is being viewed as untouchable
in Brooklyn, like he's been talked about must at the same with Larry Market
and like the Sixers don't have the assets to get in a bidding war or
to win a bidding like war. I mean I did the idea, like
forty five degree head turn. I had an idea. We're just you said,
like pie in the sky guys, like could you just send some expiring
salary to the Warriors with like a pick for Wiggins, like not even a
first Like would they just there? Are you really burning your max cap space
that you can have Andrew Wiggins on your team? Well, I guess yeah,
he is a little bit over, huh because he's in the twenties,
why Thompson, Yeah, just a waits expiring. You know, I didn't
mention with Orlando because I was afraid, And now I'm just sure that Orlando
Magic fans probably aren't listening. But like Johnan, if they're just looking at
like Jonathan Isaac and Markel Foltz for Kway Thompson. Just do you want to
get your shooter in there? Here's your shooter there is He will shoot it,
not a problem. You'll get your three your per thirty six three point
attempts up, that's for sure. Yeah. I think that's a good.
That's good. On the sixers, do we forget anything with them? No?
The raptors are extremely interesting. Uh Are they buyers or sellers? That's
the eternal question, Dan, because how would you categorize the Anonobe trade.
It's a little bit of both. I guess it was. It was a
win win trade, and so that you would call it a recalibration. I
think the only well, it's kind of you could reframe the question of should
they trade Siakam or not? And that determines whether their buyers are sellers.
I guess least he's sellers or not sellers. Here's my stance. Yeah,
cook on the cook on why they should keep Siakam because I'm very interested in
the fucking good. That's why you can like that's done. He's an All
he's two time All NBA player who's been playing very well lately. He was
kind of. And he's still like shuttled to and fro in the pecking order,
still finding ways to contribute. I think on the right, like he
can slide up to the five. He's not going to compromise your defense.
He can lead the fast break in transition he's learning to or he's learned over
the years, like play off the ball if he has better spacing around him,
the move for the Raptors. Well, here's my caveat if Yakama is
communicating that he doesn't want to be here or he will only stay on a
five year max, which as of right now, based off the salary cap
projections, is like five years two hundred and forty seven million, I understand
the hesitance. If we're quibbling over giving him a four year max at like
one ninety that takes him through his age thirty three season, Cry me a
fucking river. Pascal Siakam is an All NBA player. The first two or
three years of that deal are going to be fine. Deal with the rest
later, especially if you're not getting value from other teams. So unless he
has communicated that he is leaving unhappy there, or that he only wants a
five year max and it can't even be five years two hundred million where it's
below the max and okay, we have him for five years, but it's
even like four in an option. I mean, like just if so you're
saying, I guess that's interesting. We haven't had like that reporting yet because
that is that determines like what they should do ultimately is like, if you
can retain him, this is what you're getting to. I think at a
number that's not absurd, then just fucking keep him. Because my whole thing
is I don't think a four year max for him is absurd. And the
report from AMIC was that he's going to be looking for a max wherever he
goes. Well, one duh. Players want to make the most money possible,
go fucking figure. And that's not a shot at Amy. It's just
a shot of people that think he's not get look the five year max stuff
I get. Or if he's unhappy, then you move him if you know
where the actual play is here, and you could it's it's I don't know
if it'd be selling or if it'd be buying it. Probably Another recalibration is
we need to get away from Yaka Pearl and we stretch the floor even more
around him, and we have some more offensive dynamism around him right now,
Like this can work. And I think that there is redundancies with him and
Scottie Barnes, but overlap doesn't automatically equal like inability to coexist, and I
just don't think the Raptors are closer to them co existing now we're kind of
seeing it nudget further in that direction. Now, who wants Yaka Pearl's contract,
That's a whole different story. But like if you just subbed out Yaka
Pearl's contract like nas reed or something, I'm not saying trade Yaka Peartl for
nas read. The Timberwolves don't need another center, Like who doesn't shoot?
They everybody Gobert so, but like that is I think the Raptors should be
Maybe it's not buyers, but like they do have Gary Trent Chun your salary,
and I think it was discord user Rome eighty one eighty said they'd be
a Mitchell team if he becomes available, and it's like, I don't know
if they have the pick equity, Like they do have some salaries that could
make it work, and if you involve a third and fourth team I'm not
opposed to them. They're not gonna make like the mega consolidation blockbuster trade.
But if it's to just bring in another floor spacing, big who is Look,
we all know I love him, Chris Bouchet forever, but like someone's
gonna be more consistent and not look so clumsy on you know, every other
night or every night for weeks at a time and then goes through like a
mini hot streak. Can we get some more floor spacing in the front court
to split with Siakam? I'm keeping him, like you you've already telegraphed that
you want actual players, actually good players. You know who's an actually good
player, Grant Pascal Siaka right right? And I think something something feels off
there. It feels like they've treated him poorly. There was the report that
there wasn't communication between them, So if there really is something sinister going on
behind the scenes, then yeah, you can't. The disaster scenario is keeping
Pascal Siakam and not extending him, and so I'm very curious. We've not
seen definitive reporting on this. But he can sign an extension with the Raptors
like the four year, one night you whatever. It's gonna be if they
haven't offered that, I'm not gonna say I think that's lunacy, but like
I would offer that well, And like we haven't really talked about this,
but like we talk about it all the time with other players, just as
that preservation offer that to him, because it certainly seems like a lot of
teams are interested in him and are at least you know, it's not like
it's not like the Kings backed out of talks because they didn't want to pay
Siakam what it was going to cost. They seem to have backed out of
talks because he wouldn't say I'm gonna stay here. So it's like there aren't
Murray stuff too, But I'm sure was Herder Barnes and picks, which is
just like maybe the cost of Pascal Siakam is a lot cheaper than I thought,
and that's why he want to give up jars or teams overvalue their own
players all the time. And that's just it's the free agency element too,
like you mentioned, That's what I mean. So I think I think if
you could, yeah, like you said, whatever it is four for one
ninety or like one eighty four, whatever, it is, just pay him
that and then if if you want to move him, you're gonna be able
to move him for more when he's in the second year of that deal or
whatever. Then you can right now because there's just more security and he can't.
You use the thread of not re signing as a way to dissuade teams
from giving up stuff, like you're just team control is an asset like on
its own. So like I just I was always again, I always skew
this way. I'm like, you have to move him because the risk of
losing him for nothing is like terrifying and I just can't couldn't live with myself
if I'm the GM and I let that happen, because idiots like me are
gonna be like this idiot, like, can you believe you just let Van
Fleet walk? I'll never shut up about it. So if you let that
happen with Siakam, that's really scary. But like if you don't, I
mean, you can still offer him more than other teams, So like if
he gets a free agency, you have that option, but not Yeah,
I just I don't know. All that's to say. The longer this goes
on and the like the thinner, the options get in the worse the returns
look, the more sense it makes to just like just let him go to
free agency and hope you can keep him, I guess unless you can extend
him now. But it doesn't. It seems like they should have or would
have if they could. Yeah, So it's like if you offer him the
extension and he turned it down, that's there. You trade that. That's
where things get weird with that all being said? Is he the most likely
player to be traded? So the other guy you think about as a contender
for that is Gary Trent, right, Like that's the expiring Yeah, and
you'd think, I mean maybe Dennis Shrewder is in that conversation just because you
know, teams that need a point guard us their deal. We get throw
Kyle Anderson's expiring and shake Milton. Does that get you in a second?
Or pick swap is like a Denis Shruder that'd be interesting. Yeah, So,
like he's got a market. But I think even though we just belabored
this topic for several minutes, like I think it's probably still Seakham just because
you know there's enough smoke to be fire there. And even if he's not
fifty percent likely to be traded at this point, Like he's still probably higher
than like you know, think it's like a Fat Young or an Auto Porter
junior just because they're expiring. And like also this team, well Fat Young
is playing right now because of the injuries, as is Johntay Porter. Uh.
They also kind of need all of a sudden, like the team that
was too like size, feels like they need like wings. We're like,
well, once they get Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Cominga, they'll just have a
bunch of extras, so they'll be they'll be back to Project six nine ish
in no time. Uh that is the final team in the Atlantic Division,
which means we did Yes, it means we did it, but it also
means that it's time for uh stat paying guess a player. Addition, I
have a bunch for you. I think you said you have Do you have
any for me? I have one for you scale as always, So since
we have so few on your end, let's go to uh Be Riches.
He's got two for you. So you need to put what do you need
to do? Got I gotta get inside the mind of a psychopath? So
I didn't get Kelly Oubrey last time. Until you had to give me a
clue. I think so technically I was stumped. I think let the record
reflect. I believe that's where we are. Clue. Number one drafted in
the lottery in the late nineties. My top two most similar players are Kevin
Johnson and Russell Westbrook. Okay, so it's a guard, but those those
player comparisons are I hate them with every fiber of my being. Clearly averaging
just under twenty points per game for my career, I made more than five
All Star teams and was First Team All NBA twice. All right, late
nineties lottery pick five All Stars to All NBA first team. You said first
team twice? Wow? Yeah, all right, a bit of a chucker.
My career true shooting percentage was point five to one nine while taking sixteen
plus shots per game. As such, I didn't get out of the first
round of the playoffs in my first eight tries. Wow, so this guy's
in the playoffs all the time. Okay, eight tries. Wait, didn't
get out of the first round. I should get this now. This is
already bothering me. Eight tries couldn't get out of the first Oh god,
damn it. Who is this, Okay, give me the next clue.
Just despite my lack of playoff success, I'm a Hall of Famer and was
ranked fifty fifth in the Athletics Top five seventy five players of all time?
Is this just McGrady? Yeah, it's Tracy McGrady, Okay, because what
he had the series where he like said it feels so good to get out
of the first round or something, and they had not won the series yet
and then they lost, right. Yeah. The next two clues I think
you would have gotten was my Adidas's shoe in two thousand and two was absolutely
sick and write seventh all time by Slam Magazine. Grant you almost certainly owned
these. We've discussed the virtues of the t MAC shoes for sure. And
then there's my much more talented cousin is Vince Carter. Not a lot of
guys you could say have more physical talent and Tracy McGrady, but there might
be one who's the player comparison Kevin Johnson and who Russell Westbrook? Which is
what are we doing? Basketball Reference? Get this off the site. This
is the worst feature on a wonderful, wonderful resource that I use every day.
But this has to stop. Are you trying to get that sweet sweet
brand ambassadorship? And they keep with all that you're a great one, I'm
doing a public service because that stupid feature is more misleading than helpful at all
times. So me and rich as another one for you staying in the mind
of a psychopath. Yes, clue one. I was drafted in the lottery
in the early two thousands after attending high school in both Wisconsin and Maine.
Oh Maine. Okay, No, guesses that didn't do it for you.
That's weird. Cooper flag, isn't he from me? Was not born?
Clue too? An immaculate Grid All Star, I played for nine teams during
my fourteen year career. Oh nine teams in my fourteen years early two thousands
lottery pick, he said, correct, Wisconsin and Maine. Okay, continue
in immaculate Oh wait sorry, averaging fourteen points five boards in my career.
I was a two time All Star in the late two thousands. In both
my All Star seasons, my team got its ass kicked by Lebron's Calves in
the first round. To be fair, when we were swept in two thousand
and six two thousand and seven, I was hurt, which wasn't uncommon for
me throughout my career. Oh man, so a million teams. Yeah,
roughly, we're in the East playoffs in the in the six range. Lebron
keeps beating early two thousands draft pick. All right, I don't think I
have it yet. Oh that's a damn shame for you, isn't it?
Should I have it? I won one championship when I was midway through my
career. Surprise, surprise, I missed that entire playoff run with injuries.
Oh hmmm, so his team won a title. M hmm, we'll say
around like late two thousands. I'm just I'm not. I'm not. I'm
not trying to read your face for information. But he wasn't part of a
year. But that's just I feel like might be a giveaway. Say again,
I could tell you the year, but it feels like it might be
a giveaway. Well, because then I could just guess who won the title
that year. All right, go ahead, what's the next clue? My
sick nickname was used as a justification for why I'd make at least the corner
finals of an NBA wide one on one tournament by multiple roommates in Grant's college
apartment. It's Koran Butler. Yeah. We had a discussion once of like,
let's bracket out a one on one tournament of NBA players. I don't
know what year this would have been, but it was right at the peak
of like, oh my god, Koran Butler is like the most physically intimidating
two way player in the league, and he was like a one seed I
think in that uh, in that ill advised hypothetical tournament we made up.
The other thing I'll say is just google Koran Butler and Straws. Okay.
Oh he eats them, doesn't he? Or he choose on them all the
time. Yeah, what a weirdo. Yeah, he's the weirdo. All
right, rubikscal we have three from her. Let me need to catch up
on we've had the sash clue one. I wasn't highly recruited out of high
school and I got only one scholarship offer from a Division two college. Did
we do this one? Oh? You did? It's Duncan Robinson. I
apologize, that's right. I don't think I did. Danny Ainge. All
right, you're damn right we did. Danny Ainge. I got that in
one. I think you did really well in that one. Okay, so
there's actually only one from Rubiscal And oh and we got a trivia from I'm
just scrolling too far up. I thought I was further behind than we were.
Okay. Clue one. I won my first and only NBA championship as
the starting point guard of this Eastern Conference team, but most people remember me
from my first team, which went to the conference finals. That's interesting,
starting point guard, but most people remember him from a team that didn't make
it as far. All right, no, that well, that went to
a conference finals. Yeah, so wait, wanted to read that clue for
me again? I'm sorry. I won my first and only NBA title as
the starting point guard of this Eastern Conference team, but most people remember me
for my first team, which went to the to the conference finals. All
right, I'm not sure I understand that exactly, but let's do the next
one. So he won a title with an Eastern Conference team, but he
was on another team for most of his career that went to a conference finals,
and that's the team for which he's remembered the most. Okay, clue
too. I chose to play college ball at Marshall, but when my coach,
Billy Donovan, accepted a head coaching job at Florida, I transferred to
the Gators myself. Among my highlights in my one season at Florida include setting
the Gators singles game assist record with seventeen and getting suspended for cannabis abuse three
times. When the NBA announced this new anti drug program in two thousand,
guess who was the first player suspended for non compliance? The two number two
is I went to Florida, dished a bunch of assists, and was a
pothead. Yeah, why don't I have this immediately Eastern Conference point guard from
Florida. I'm already annoyed at myself that, okay, what's the next one.
Early in my career, I was very turnover prone, peaking a close
to three point five turnovers the game in my sophomore year, resulting in my
being benched at crucial points in tight games, including the fourth quarters of every
game in the conference finals mentioned earlier. But I significantly curtailed my extravagant playing
style in my later years. Oh uh no, it's not him. I
mean, you could guess you haven't cast once. I know, I know,
well, I just I had I was gonna make a guess, but
it would have been really stupid because the guy didn't go to Florida. Yeah,
that would have been a stupid guest. Yes, Why can't I think
of Florida point guards? All right? What's the next one? Clue?
Four? I had a decent but inconsistent outside shot, which I loved to
Nearly fifty percent of my shot attempts were from downtown, but I was more
interested in making a no look past and shooting my shot. I have one
point five times as many regular season assists as I do field goals, forty
six hundred plus assists to about thirty one hundred field goals. I am so
annoyed right now. They're just like, there can't be that many guys a
Florida point guard, and when Billy Donovan was there, so that gives us
the I keep thinking of like the Noah Horford Florida teams and this like,
this guy just can't be on those teams. I don't think or if he
is. I just can't think of the guy. And I'm kicking myself.
It's not Corey Brewer, uh, because he's not a point guard. All
right? Do you have another clue am, I just gonna miss it.
You got more, okay, Clue five. I was given my nickname by
a media relations associate who was so enthralled by my schoolyard slash streetball style that
was so atypical of someone who looked like me. Mmmm, why, I
just I can't think of Florida guards I can't do it. Well, then
stop thinking about that and start thinking about the other clue. Well, I
feel like that's the way to get there. I don't know, let's move
on. Best known for was seen only once in the Rookie Game at the
All Star Weekend, and since yif La Frentz never made a sorry sorry,
I don't know why I didn't do this way sooner as Jason Williams, Yes,
I'm white chocolate. Yeah, why didn't I? I the Marshall thing
triggered the West Virginia stuff, and like he played high school basketball with Randy
Moss, and Randy Moss went to Marshall. But then I don't, I
for some reason, like didn't associate him with Florida. I don't know why
I didn't either. I thought that was actually a tough one. But you
did get it on the clue that I would have gotten it on. So
the Eastern Conference team he won a title with was who he no? The
Heat? And I guess I blocked that out? Well, am I lying?
I'll walk? I thought it was the Heat? Well, then who's
that? I just think of him on the Kings and Grizzlies. The Kings
is what he was remembered for, and they did go to comm Yeah championship
in two thousand and six with Miami Man. All right, good clue,
good, good clues. I just got hung up on the Florida thing and
I wasn't gonna get there for Jason Williams. That's weird. The next one
that rubyscau has said to be aired on or after January twenty fifth, so
we have to skip that. Let's do a couple for Mike kernishing before we
skadadle. I want to get good. I got a Rubik skou guess a
player for you too. We can't forget that. Let's do Mike has a
bunch, let's do Let's do two, or if you do them quickly,
we can do three. Grant I'll like you. Well, we'll see.
I can't make any promises after this last one. Uh cool one. I
was drafted straight out of high school in two thousand. What's that guy's name?
Uh? Wasn't by the Hawks? What is his name? Okay?
Keep going. Clue two. I broke out in the last year my rookie
contract, where I ultimately was traded for Gordon Gearchick. Okay, so it's
not Jamar Johnson. That's the name I was trying to think of. Uh
out of high school for the Hawks in two thousand, traded for Who'd you
say? Well, I don't know where he got the Hawks from. It
says I was drafted out of high school in two thousand. You're just saying
the Hawks. Why did I say the Hawks? Maybe the sp I apologize.
I don't remember saying. I don't think so. I think I invented
that. Okay, drafted a high high school in two thousand, traded for
Gordon Gearcheck. You said yes. Clu three, that trade didn't work for
me, as I accomplished very little before signing up at minimum with the Gilbert
Arenas era Wizards. Is this Deshaun Stevenson? That is correct? Nice job.
You're eight clues and three unheralded out of high school guy are often forgotten
Clue four I think was the best one. My most notable accomplishment during this
time was getting into a feud with Lebron James and having my friend Soldier Boy
write a disc track about jay Z in a weird feud involving Lebron, jay
Z and a former Destiny's Child member. That's so funny because I'm working on
for br ahead of like a Lakers Clippers game coming up, players that have
had actual rivalries with Lebron, and I'm like, do I do Deshaun Stevenson?
Is anyone going to remember that? Because that's like, that's pretty getting
pretty old now. But now that there's been a it seems like fate I
have to conclude him now. So this one, I don't know if this
counts as a clue, but this is called the player turned coach portion of
Who Am I all Right? Clue one. I was drafted in nineteen ninety
seven to be John Stockton's backup. This is Earl Watson. That is incorrect.
Howard Isisley that is also incorrect. I played on the Jazz from ninety
seven to two thousand and one. That was the longest I played for any
team. And this guy. This guy became a coach is the idea here?
Yeah. I felt really good about the Earl Watson one and the Howard
Eisley one, even though I don't think Howard Eisley ever coached right Nick Young
heat check film one? All right, Jazz was supposed to replace John Stockton.
Uh played for ninety seven to oh one? Got it? Clue three.
I sent an NBA record for consecutive miss field goal attempts to open a
season, missing my first twenty two to start the two thousand and one campaign
with the Atlanta Hawks. There's the Hawks that you've been dying again. You
know it was coming. I still shot that year. Hmm, I don't.
I don't remember stuff like that. I don't misshot thing. Clue four.
I won my only ring in two thousand and seven behind another Hall of
Fame point guard, before ultimately retiring in two thousand and nine and joining the
coaching staff of the team. I once said it ring with Yeah, I've
just hung up on the Jazz supposed to replace John Stockton thing. I feel
like I should have it there. I mean it's possible. I don't,
I don't know for sure, but all right, what's the next clue.
Clue five, I've learned from one of the great coaches in the history of
the sport. But forgetting my first job as a head coach with the Magic,
it didn't go so well. Oh uh is it Jacque Vaughn? Correct?
Okay, forgot about the utire of Jacques Vaughn. Yeah, the clue
six was funny. There were seven clues, but I'm laughing at this.
It took five years and DeAndre Jordan for me to get my next chance as
head coach. That's a good clue. Let's do one more. She got
the first one so quickly, and he has a bunch in here. Appreciate
all of everyone taking the time to do these. If you want to participating
guests a player, join our discord. Email us hardware Knox at gmail dot
com. Best ways to do it? Okay, this is still player turn
coach who won. I was drafted as a defensive stalwart out of Clemson in
nineteen ninety eight by the Dallas Mavericks. Hmmm, all right, Clue two.
I made the playoffs six of my first years in the league, only
being a starter for two of those years, where I played on the wing
with Carmelo Anthony. Oh, on the wing with Carmelo Anthony. So I'm
what did he get a year for when he's playing with Carmelo? H.
No, he did not give me a year, all right. I was
part of the Oj Mayo for Kevin Love draft day trade. Okay, sorry,
go back to what's the I need to like reorient what year we're in
or whatever. So what's the first clue. I was drafted as a defensive
stalwart out of Cleinston in nineteen ninety eight by the MAVs ninety eight. And
so you said in eight he's playing with Carmelo or you didn't give made the
playoffs in six of his first seven seasons, And so you're looking ninety eight
through two thousand and four, eight and only being a starter for two of
those years where I played on the wing with Mellow. So it had to
be too Mellow was drafted in two thousand and three. Yeah, so it
had to be those those first two years, those Denver teams. Man,
that should do it, right there, guy on the wing with Denver.
I didn't know it when I saw it. If it's any consolation, you
didn't know it. No, I never would have gotten this one. Oh,
okay, on the wing in early Denver. I'm ninety eight out of
Clemson Clemson? Okay, sorry, what's the next clue? My first coaching
gig came under the tutelage of Kevin McHale. So we're in Why were we
in Minnesota or Houston? Uh? Okay, what's the next one? After
McHale was fired, I became attached to the hip of his then replacement,
as I have never coached somewhere he hasn't Ooh well, I still don't know
which where Kevin McHale is here. I still don't have it. How many
more clues do I have? Only one? Shit? Okay, let's hear
it. I got my promotion to being an associate head coach slash top assistant
last year. So two and twenty two or twenty twenty three, I'm assuming
where I let a surprisingly good defense. In fact, it was the top
defense in the league. Okay, So who this? God? This is
embarrassing. I gotta think who had the best? So Cleveland? Okay?
So bicker Staff replaces McHale in Houston, and this guy is on bicker Staff's
staff. I'm guessing because Cleveland was number one last year. I think you
are correct. Actually, you know what, I shouldn't say that because I
only look at the cleaning the glass stats, and I do too. I
think it's still Cleveland though it is. So it's Cleveland, and I didn't
look at the Ambida, but it's Cleveland per garbage time with filtering out garbage
time. Oh Man. So a guy that played with Carmelo on the Nuggets
early drafted by Dallas. God, I don't know if and he's a big
he's a quote unquote bicker Staff guy. So I'll add a clue here the
only that I can. All Right, his last name begins with with B,
just like with B. I that's not gonna get me Ei. There
there's a there's too many names would be do you concede? I think I
have to concede because I would just Greg Buckner the Dallas thing. Yeah I
did. I did not remember him with Carmelo and Denver or being associated with
picker Staff, but I do remember Greg Buckner playing for Dallas. I think
that was a good one. Yeah, that was That was right in Mike
Age's wheelhouse too, because he's a he's a coaching cicco oh Man. So
he's got more, but we'll leave him. Do you want to give me
Rubik scals before we ye? This is? This is so far out of
frame? Are your bag? I'm leaning, I'm leaning down. Do you
need me or you're you're gonna cut these up? Right? No, I'm
just laughing because you're like beaking out. I'm reclining, all right. So
I have not I have not vetted this at all. I'm learning. I'm
learning of this as you are. Except they did scroll to the bottom,
so I know who the player is doing this without knowing the answer, it
would be great. Yeah, I'll just play it along with you. Guess
the player. It's trade time number one. The defining characteristic of my NBA
career was established months before I was even drafted, when the pick that turned
out to be me was traded by the Bucks along with Ray Allen and others
to the Seattle SuperSonics for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. It was traded to
the SuperSonics, yes, with Ray Allen in the deal that brought Peyton and
Desmond Mason to a team that is uh by the Bucks. So to the
Bucks. So Ray Allen went to the Bucks or the Bucks traded Ray Allen
to the Sonics. Was traded by the Bucks with Ray Allen to the Sonics.
So this is the trade that gets Allen to the Sonics from the Lewis
No? Yeah? Uh? Number two? Five years later, I was
part of a three team trade that undid part of the trade and clue one,
sending Desmond Basin back from the Bucks to OKC and me back from OKAC
to Milwaukee. Oh man, I should know that, one, shouldn't.
I. There's gonna be a couple more just scrolling ahead that Like you,
you are good at remembering stuff like that is in this clue, So this
is a good guess a player for you. I still don't. I still
don't have anything. He was traded from OKAC to Milwaukee correct after initially being
traded from from Milwaukee to the Sonics. No, that doesn't line up with
Sean kemps. Did he ever play for the Bucks either? That's a bad
yes, go ahead, all right? Number three. I signed as a
free agent with the Tea Wolves in twenty ten, but the trade talks were
never too far, and in twenty thirteen, I was part of a three
team trade that sent me to you guessed it Milwaukee again. Michael Red is
it? No, it's not Michael Redd. What year? And you So
this trade we're discussing right now that sends this guy back to Milwaukee for the
third time. I guess was in twenty thirteen. All Right, you going
number four? The honeymoon period didn't even last the year and I was traded
again at the trade at the deadline to Charlotte, which was the Bobcats at
the time. That's probably not gonna help you too much. All right,
we're getting to where we're getting to where you're gonna get it. I think,
maybe not this one, but definitely the next one. Uh. In
the summer of twenty fourteen, I signed with The Magic, for whom I
featured in forty seven games. Oh, I was it. That's it.
The next clue is I think when you'll get it? And there's a nice
turn of phrase here because we just talked about the Magic and Rubik scal says,
but the real magic happened in June of twenty fifteen. Are you ready?
I remember being asked about this trade on the radio and not being sure
what the answer was. The question was where is this guy right now?
Like what team is he on? Because he got okay, so, uh,
take a deep breath here here. Grant Magic traded me to the Grizzlies
for the draft rights to Yannis Tima on June twenty fourth. The next day,
the Grizzlies traded me to the Hornets for Matt Barnes. Charlotte traded me
to OKAC for Jeremy Lamb later that day. Things settled for a week until
the Thunder traded me to the Raptors for the Right Hour. That's correct,
Yeah, that's right, man. I didn't really how far he dated back.
Yeah, he's super tonic. I was like, oh, I know
that was That was the clue I knew you would get because it was recent
enough and we were both like like in it at the time with br and
the last one, uh number seven. My nickname is frod O G.
I wonder why so like, yes, it is Lucrad Hour. I remember
being on the radio like right at the deadline or right after it. I
don't know why. I said, yeah, to do a radio hit at
the time, and the guy asked me, like very baldy of someone to
ask you to do a radio hit right after the deadline. I don't know,
I don't know. Why again. I don't know why I said yes,
because it's like your head is spinning back then, especially when we were
just like firing off, you know, ten things in a day. But
like he said, so like jokingly, like so where's Luke ridden? How
are now? And I was like, huh yeah, right, like we
quickly moved on. But you know, do you ever have that happen to
you? It doesn't happen that often where you're just like not sure. So
every year, they actually haven't asked me to do it this year, but
I'm assuming I'll do it. I do live trade grades for Bleach Report,
the fucking like pick protection details or the equity like they just announced these trades.
Oh you don't going to be Nicks without any assets, and so you
have to keep track of all this other information while their trades are going down.
I'm always paranoid that I'm forgetting major details and when there's like multiplayer trades
or if players are rerouted. So it happens to me every single year,
is basically my point. If someone's asking you a question live on air and
you're like, oh, boy, wouldn't I like to know? Do you
still get the text for the d MS every year where it's just like,
hey, just figured i'd ask you think you could come on at like three
h five and wrap up the trade deadline? Come on in like seven minutes.
No, yeah, yeah, obviously people don't know your schedule most of
the time, but like on a day like that, it's like no,
like you're you're still you still do more radio than I do. I started
just saying no too often, and I say yes to request that I can.
I've gotten better at saying like I was asked to go on a friend
of the podcast pod this upcoming weekend, but it just wasn't gonna work my
schedule, so I actually said, hey, I'll go on another time,
but I can't do it. I have gotten worse at like sometimes my work
phone will get messages from producers and I'll just forget to answer. I'm so
busy at the time. You think there's one pending from two days ago,
so I feel like, shit, it's just you get so busy. It's
not personal, believe Buried the lead, like, well, yeah, the
work phone is like as soon as the NFL playoffs start, like that's when
everything ticks up and like people start to or Christmas start to care about the
NBA, So I get all these requests, so I appreciate everyone who's nice,
and we'll give you like a hey, how are you? Rather than
if you haven't talked to me in a year and you're just like, can
I get you on it X? Sometimes I'll be like, I'll still do
it. But it's like, okay, cool. So I got a lot,
I got some work phone questions, but I do want to I don't
want to neglect this because Rubik Scale as she as often happens, has provided
other random facts about Lukerid and now that I haven't read, and I'm gonna
read them now because I would like to learn with you. Uh, other
random facts. Lukerid now was a McDonald's All American all right. He also
led the charge to the leit eight while setting a University of Oregon season record
for assists two hundred and eighteen. He was a starting point This will get
us our years and show how far back he goes. He was the starting
point guard for the four to five Sonics who lost the eventual champs San Antonio
and the conference semis oh four oh five. How about that? That's wild
stuff all in all, not a bad career for someone known for one week
of his final offseason. Yeah, that's for sure. That is the thing
you remember about Luke grid now was like he was traded four times in a
day. Basically, let's see, oh the work phone thing, because we
got nowhere to be right, we don't need to go to sleep or record
more pods? Do you take your work phone with you all the time or
do you leave it at home? If you're I've gotten better, like like
family events or like I'm trying to be more pre because I'm just like I
don't I say this all the time, and I know so I want to
give myself. I suck at giving myself credit or accepting compliments. I know,
even one of your best qualities your humility. So try to deflect that
compliment right now I'm about to be not humble, So there you go go.
I do know I work hard. I constantly feel like I'm not good
enough or I don't do enough. I'm probably trying to do too much.
But like, as I've gotten a little bit older and I've seen people like
you or just some other friends where it's like you're able to be in the
business that I am in, and you guys also have actual families, and
I'm just a shitty husband not being able to manage work. So I try
to be more present as stuff like that. But like when I got married,
I was dealing like I dealt with Jimmy Butler fallout fact. Not one
of our bosses, not not b K like actually reached out to me the
day of my engagement party to write about like and that I'd taken off one
I almost I almost like answered and said like, yeah I could, and
my my fiance, my wife now with my fiance, looked at me like
I will fucking she I was gonna say, you're married, so you obviously
said no. And she's like one of the most understanding people when it comes
to work. So I've gotten better at that. But like there's still if
I try to go on vacation, I'm gonna try go away after the trade
deadline to like catch a breather, just because not taking any time off mid
season when you do what we do is just a recipe for burnout. It's
just so last year and then I didn't take off any time like in the
off season. I did some traveling, but it wasn't like I was trying
to fit in all these visits to friends. So I'm just burnt out.
So I gotten better at leaving my work one but like I'll take it with
me, and like I have two phones at the gym, and it's just
it was a way to I thought it was going to create a separation,
but now it's like, well I have everything forwarded to each phone. Yeah,
why I'm I don't want to lie talk to people, whether they're producers,
podcasters or like some I don't have like super sources, but like people
who work for teams. I just wanted something separate for that. And also
I guess because I've allowed myself to be more accessible than you, Like I
get a lot of radio and podcast requests. Oh yeah, well when you're
more online than I am, just generally like I I don't I should I
I'm not. We're already it's the end of the I think I was gonna
say, should I admit I don't have Twitter on my phone? Like just
I just don't like and I don't have any I don't have TikTok, I
don't have any social media on my phone that I don't have phones. I
just have the one. I get it though, Like it's probably healthier to
do it that way. Like, and if I wasn't doing this podcast the
same Sometimes the podcast is the least profitable thing that I do in my life,
and it is probably the thing that consumes me the most when you factor
in, just like the editing and that team by team series. Yeah,
anybody who wants to know what the pre record discussions are, like, you're
hearing a lot of it right now. It's just talking. It's Grant by
trying to figure out work life balance, and I think Grant is a lot
better at it, and Grant for anyone. So when you're not on the
pod and I get questions asked about myself, you invariably come up where it's
like, well, who's your favorite whatever, And I'll always shout out you.
That was very nice. I did listen to what you said about it.
I really appreciate that. So, but like you've helped me, stuff,
criticism bounces off me more from social media since I've started podcasting with you,
because ever since you handled the j dub stuff. Whereas like I put
out that clipsuse, I thought you had a like an interesting take that went
viral. What did I say you should have been like you should we should
think about him as Rookie of the Year or something like that. You picked
him for Rookie of the Year. Yeah, so and it people shiit on
you, and I felt so bad and you you didn't even know what was
happening, and so it was just like you found out You're like whatever,
dude, like they're strangers, and so like that was a flashboll moment for
me where it's I still probably get impacted because when we put and it's probably
the same way though I recognize this when we criticizing players for being bad.
Most of these players aren't lazy, and so it's like they're putting in all
this time and effort to perfect their craft. So I do get sensitive when
people, even when they're innocuous. But like someone emailed us to compliment the
show, but it was like, your intro music sucks? Can my band
do it for you? Well, the answer maybe maybe it could have had
you not come in so hot with negativity. And also the music and the
intro is objectively great, and so that's a wrong opinion. So this happened
again recently for me. The and we'll get out of here eventually. Uh
So, like, yeah, I forgot. I straight up forgot about the
Jada stuff. By the way, I like Palo is great, but like
Jada has been pretty solid. That's not a ridiculous take. I'm gonna cut
this out. I'm not doubling down, but I but I do every so
often, like I'll still catch heat for an article I did that said demonas
Sabonis, we have ranking the most overrated players in the league. This is
like last year at some point, which is still like that's a setup for
failure because whoever's at number one, the fan base is going to be incensed,
and like being overrated is like what does that even mean? Anyway,
I still get shit about some bonus ranking first there. I contend that like,
yeah, anyone who's first there, that's too bad. But like re
read the slide I wrote, like there's nothing show me the lie in anything
I wrote. Still, but some of that still gets through on social media.
And I had the thought yesterday someone must have come up with this already,
but it was just like, because I'm starting to feel bad about it,
I was like, ash, shit, I don't like to hear like
just like personal attacks for like an opinion or like things like it's so stupid.
But it's like if a drunk asshole is yelling at you on the street,
like you're not obligated to listen or care. And that's basically what Twitter
is is drunk assholes yelling at you on the street, Like that's that is
really it's strangers that you'll never see, Like that's really what it is.
So like that's you just can't care. You can't care. Sometimes when you
kill them with kindness, they'll be like nicer to you back, Like I
got dragged nix Muse or whatever called that was a funny tweet saying for tampering
with Jalen Brunson, the Knicks as like recompense will stay on their treadmill of
mediocrity for eternity. So they quote tweeted it, Well, the Knicks were
like blown out. One of the teams with ow Jannonobi I retweeted it.
I was like yeah, and some people were being mean, so I quote
tweeted them and I was like, yeah, I was wrong. I was
really wrong. But like one of the people said, up, they'd be
like, you know, I was like, let's not pretend they were like
everyone knew that the Knicks were gonna be great. Last year, I was
like, let's not pretend that people weren't wanting Tom Thibodau to be fired through
like December, so like let's not rewrite like how rocky they they were.
But like I can accept being wrong. I've gotten better at that as I've
gotten older. I think a lot of people just get and I understand it.
I'm sensitive sometimes when I'm wrong. If there's a hill, I'm gonna
die on. We had some people in discord were saying that I disagreed,
and I probably still disagree on the level of defense he's played this year,
But yeah, Cejim McCall has been really good defensively in part because the Pelican
Capelkins have done a great job of insulating him. So like I can recognize
I'm wrong about that, I can recognize about other takes. But people are
just so aggressive and mean because sports, just like I guess it desensitized me.
Like I'm still attached to my sports team a little bit, like i
can never picture And when I was younger, I definitely I said something to
Steph on Marbury once that was just so out of pocket and disgusting, and
I regret it. It wasn't racist or anything, in case anybody cares about
that. It was just my assumption just knowing I mean, light of the
vasilene stuff that he was doing, and it's just like, look back on
that, it just wasn't cool. But like when I see I'll look at
profile pictures sometimes and it's like you see, like some of these people are
like teachers or principles and it's like, Okay, well you're not young,
and what are we doing here? Like I get that stuff's annoying, but
in large part because of you, like it's inspired me or it's enabled me
to just move past it. Oh like a little bit, I'm still definitely
more attached with than you are. Well, like that's great to hear.
I'm glad. I'm glad. I I I that's that's great. I Like
for me though, it's just like I have to detach from it because it
does bother me so much. So if I like let it, if I
like wait around in it for too long, it'll just like ruin my day.
And like that's ridiculous like that, like no one should weird how that
works. And it's even some of the stuff that's self inflicted that if people
are still listening and really want peak pine this podcast. I'm putting up like
five to six shorts a week, and some of them are really short,
but like these things can take me hours to make. Yeah, and I
almost didn't put one up today and it got so late I ended up putting
up at nine pm. But I was assuming so guilty that I didn't make
time to make this short that doesn't make us money. It might get us
some subscribers. I don't even know if they're going to listen to any of
our longer form content though, And like I'm just doing in guilt for so
long. So instead of doing something that I'm on a deadline for and like
getting ahead of the game, I did that And like that's just how twisted
my mind works. And I do think it's definitely I think everyone has this
aeeumbin degree, but there's definitely something about this industry that foments you're never doing
enough, and I think it might be true across every industry. But like
the work life balance is always going to be terrible because this is entertainment to
some people. So she's like even if I miss like I'm not responding to
every discord message, like if I take days to answer a DM because I
didn't see it, or like I'm not up to date on we have all
these rooms for different teams. If I'm not reading everything, I feel guilty
like I'm not doing enough. And that's the downside of me being less engaged
than you ares like. I feel bad that, like, oh man,
look at all these if piled up. I don't feel like I'm engaging with
all these cool people that are, like, you know, a big reason
that the podcast is doing what it's doing, But I just didn't fresh down
the bandwidth for it. I love all of the code. Well, I've
had some very good co hosts on this podcast and some fantastic guests, and
you, though have cared or put in the level of at least like feigning
to care more so than anyone, which makes it I always recognize, like
I never you've all talked about like, well, I should learn to edit
this stuff. I'm like, I'm not going to ask you to do that
because I'm the psycho that's deciding that we need to have three parts like this
week. You know what I felt guilty about. I did one podcast solo,
then I did like an emergency short one on a Ja Morant injury.
This one could have been a third, but I was like, on three
hours of sleep today, I was like, no, you know what,
that John Moran one doesn't really count. I got to get a third episode
up there, so they sat down prepped all the news stuff. So,
but you have been the person who's like most invested in it, which I
very much appreciated. So I mean, it's just gonna be a back padding
fest. I think at the end of these podcasts from around now and listen
when we announced that we're shuttering hard. All right, guys, this is
the last episode record in like five minutes. That'll go up later. Uh
No, I appreciate your work ethic. It's insane. You should be better
at moderating it. But it as a benefit to me because I get to
be on this podcast and you do all the social media work, and I
appreciate that. Oh now I'm gonna cry. He's out of here before I
cry. Everybody, thank you for listening to us, especially that last section.
We don't know what you're going to timestamp that we normally record for like
four hours together, but they're broken up two hours, thirty three minutes and
thirty eight seconds in counting so far without ads. This is definitely the longest
podcast you and I have ever recorded, and very quickly I used to what
I would do the team by team look ahead's combine them all so like there
were one time I tried to put up like a five hour podcast and it
broke people's podcast players by trying to include four teams at once. So I
hope this doesn't people like, we can't listen to this. It's five hours
long. How do we do two and a half hours on fifteen teams?
What's wrong with these guys? If you listen to all this, good job,
and I'm you had to have done it on two x so go like,
calm down because that'll always mess with your brain. Rate review, subscribe,
follow us on our socials, join our discord, buy our merch YouTube
and podcast description has the links for all that stuff. Tell your friends.
Word of mouth is very helpful. Dan always does a very good job.
Further compliments of laying all this out of the beginning. I'm sure you're not
listening still, but you know, if this wasn't a sufficient explanation of what
to do, just listen to the first like two minutes of the pod all
the time because you get the same information there. We close, as always
with a shout out to the one and only Frank Melakina, an apology to
Jared now Scotts, and particle by small a