What is krack alacking Hardwood NOx listeners, I am Dan for Valley coming out. You want more without my fantabulous co host Adam Brammel and your fantabulous co host Adam Brammel, who we will be wishing well. He has caught the COVID. He is doing fine. I've talked to him a bunch. I don't know if anyone knows this, but Adam and I throw and I are like, he's one of my best friends in the world. So if you're worried about chemistry on this podcast, or whether the illusion like when you're you're a fan of a band and you find out it's more of a business transaction and it ruins that illusion of just friendship and hanging out. If there are any Hardwood Knox groupies, Adam and I are actually very good friends. So we wish him well. He will be gone this week. Hopefully he'll be back next week. We have a lot of stuff lined up this week, and that's beginning with another mailbag. Don't run the Usually these back do these back to back, but we decided to make it where I decided to make it a trade deadline themed week, and so we're gonna do a trade deadline mailbag, and we had a ton of questions. I brought on Brian Poporrek from Bleacher Report. He also covers the MBA at large for Forbes Sports. Check out his work there, and he is the co host of the MBA podcast. You can follow the NBA podcast at the NBA Pod. Also follow Brian on Twitter at b to Parek. That's at bt O p O r e K. We get through. I kept him for longer than I thought, but we went through all the questions that I called. I didn't choose everyone's questions because we had so many, but I think we did like between fifteen and twenty questions and topics, and there were tangents that we got through here. It's a lot of fun. I don't want to keep you any longer through this intro than I have to, but I have to plug our discord join the Hardwood Knocks and discord. The link is in your podcast bio. Again, I have not promoted it in an official capacity on social media. I want to give the more loyal listeners or just plug it through this first. See what we're going to eventually use it for. See what the discussion is like, we've already had a few awesome listeners. People come in and we've had chats, we've had mailbag questions already thrown in to the discord. It will be a blast. Maybe we'll do run things where I'll hop in there and maybe addam two, or we'll just all sit and you know, we'll answer questions during a game. Doesn't necessarily have to be about that game. But we want to build the community, not just for us to talk to you, but for you guys to talk to each other. We think that'd be really cool. We have chat rooms for every team. There's a mailbag chat room. It's already seems like it's going to be a lot of fun. So get in the Hardwood Knox discord channel. Again, link is in the bio. For some reason, you can't access it. 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With all of those housekeeping notes now out of the way, we first and foremost wish Adam promo well a speedy recovery. Can't wait to have them back. Dude is awesome. Next, let's get two lots and lots and lots of NBA trade deadline questions with Brian to Porrek. Brian, welcome back to the Hardwood Knox podcast. Is your second appearance of the season already, and we're only midway through, so you better hope that I don't come calling too much more often. Over How are you doing? I'm doing well. I feel like I've got a third appearance lined it up in roughly three weeks. Either way, regardless of what the say, what could possibly what could possibly happen or not happen that would make me span your DMS, I don't. I think we'll probably get into it at some point today. But thank you for having me on, happy to be here and excited to talks of trades. Yeah, so this is I've never done a mailbag with a guest, but you're just as obsessed and intrigued by trades as I am. So I threw out the mail bag explicitation on Twitter and in our discord channel, which just another puck here. I'm gonna note when the discord questions came you receive top priority at this point if you submit a Discord question for anyone listening. But yeah, and we had a ton of questions and so that you were the perfect person to have on for the first ever guest mailbag, and we had, like I thought, some interesting more more for Kundo composito questions than I thought. We were gonna get surprised by that. But that that does seem to be the pet cause of duggets Twitter this year, so I guess it makes sense let's start with and this is I feel like it's not from Discord. We're gonna start here ever, anyway, from Ladulceps Vita, can Grayson Howard Allen be traded to Hell? I wanted to get your thoughts really quickly on that. By the way, someone responded John in the mention saying they'd sent him right back. What were your thoughts, Alex Crusoe gonna be out at least sixty eight weeks, needs right or had right risk surgery already? Did you watch that play? What were your thoughts? Yeah, it's so hard to say, because, like I know, he has the history dating back to college, so that is just going to influence your perception of it one way or the other. Like I don't think. I mean, we haven't heard if he's gonna get punished beyond you know, we got the flavor so he got ejected, Like we haven't heard if he's gonna get suspended for a game or two. I saw some Bulls fans sailor he should be as suspended as long as Alex Caruso is out, which no, that's just not how the NBA works. Like, I don't know that he went into the game with the attention of like, oh yeah, I'm gonna injure Alex Caruso tonight, let me just figure out the perfect time to do so. But I mean, there is there is a track record with him, so I think, you know, it was very much correct that he got the flagrant too, that he got ejected. I wouldn't mind if he got suspended for a game or even two games, just to kind of send a message of like, hey guy, we're we've seen this before, like you got to cut this stuff out. We're all about player safety year. But you know, I overall, I can't be too mad about it or like want to want to trade him to Hell. But then again, if he did that to Joel Embiid, I probably would. So Yeah, the play was just dirty, that's and I don't know what the right punishment would be. And there was there was a play on the face and on like the shoulder, there wasn't really a play on the ball. So I'll be interesting if there's any follow up. That's just a huge And we have a question on the bulls I think for later, so I won't dive into it. But it's between that the Lonzo injury. I know you're getting exact or being back soon. You have to kind of wonder. The Bulls have been good this year, but is it worth making the all in trade now for them? With Patrick Williams knowing this stuff, and I think I would lean towards no anymore. Their timeline is more urgent and I think some people have given them credit for But Alex Cruso out for almost two months, I can't even remember how long Lonzo ball is going to be out for. This just doesn't feel like the year to do it. And it also feels like Patrick Loomis's trade value could just technically be higher over the offseason because he'll just be deemed healthy and you're training for him with the intention of using him right away rather than waiting until next season. Right, Yeah, I think Lonzo is four to six weeks if I remember correctly, But yeah, I mean they're you know, the East is so bunched up at the top that right now as we record this, they are only point five games behind the nets, but you know they are only three games separating the first through the sixth, or only three point five separating the first through the seventh. So without Lonzo, without Caruso, their defense took a hit earlier this year, you know, when half a league was out, Like, it wouldn't surprise me if they go from you know, they've been close either first or second to the East for most of the season. They wouldn't supply to me if they end up not even having home court advantage of the first round the playoffs. This question is a discord question and it comes from Christopher so with the Cavs currently sitting in fifth place in the East and looking to make the playoffs for the first time without Lebron since nineteen ninety eight, shout out for the specifics here. By the way, what do you think is a realistic trade if there is one to make them be a serious contender this season? That's tough, Like, I don't know that there is a trade that would make them a serious contender. Like I think they can get stronger and they can boost their chances of winning one playoff series. But it's it's just hard for me to think of them as beating fully healthy Brooklyn with the caveat of who the hell knows what Kyrie's going to be up to in April, if he's going to be available for you know, the entire series or only road games, if the Bulls all come back healthy, and if they make a move, if Miami is fully healthy, if Milwaukee's fully healthy with Brook Lopez, if Philly trades Ben Simmons, like, there are so many question marks that you know, I can't imagine as time where Cleveland is like one of the top or two top teams in the East. With that said, if they aren't going to resign Ricky Rubio, which I like, I honestly think they should consider it, depending on the price point because he was so good for them this year. But if they if they aren't planning to do so, that is seventeen point eight million dollars in expiring salary that it would be a crime to waste. So I forget where I saw someone float this out. It might have even been you everything together at this time of year, but someone mentioned like Ricky Rubio going to Houston for Eric Gordon and maybe a throw in, like a very heavily protected first or probably even a second, because you're just getting if you're Houston, you're giving them yeah, yeah, and like tell mean Fatita, He's like I could save twenty million dollars deal, could I give you picks, so like something like that feels right where it would make them stronger this year. I honestly don't think I would move Colin Sexton. I know that's also been a popular like could you package Rubio and Sexton for something? But I would guess now with the injury, Sexton's price might have gone down a little bit compared to where it was heading into the year, And there are just so few teams projected to have cap space this offseason. You know, if those teams decide to spend their money elsewhere, Cleveland either could get Sexton back at a much discounted price relative to what they expected, or he might just take the qualifying offer and then they can, you know, consider what to do moving forward next year. So Rubio, like using Rubio is expiring to get some upgrade, I think is the right play. But honestly, like part of it too is, you know, these guys just don't have playoff experience really outside like the main pieces don't. Kevin Love obviously does, but you know, Garland's never made the playoffs. Evan Mobile obviously has never made the playoffs. Jared Allen, I guess with the nets did once memory serves right, So like it's hard to be a contender the first time you make the playoffs. Anyway, I think just getting into the playoffs, getting these guys experience, and continuing to incrementally build would be more important than doing an all in move, because I don't think they're at that point. They're rebuild they don't need to do the all in move yet. And I'm with everything you said there. I think the two things that also stand out is there in the similar situation of the Bowls, where if you view Rubio and Colin Saxon important to what you're doing, then why make a trade and how when they're both out? And I agree with you on Colin Sexton's value because even if he's healthy, just these players on rookie scale deals make so little relative to what they're doing. I still would think given how, and this is sort of a separate question unto itself, but given how confined the cap space market is this summer, it feels like there could be a hotbed for signing trades. And to me, in that scenario, he'd be more valuable as a higher outgoing salary than he would even if he was playing right now. With the salary he's currently on. And the other thing here is I just don't think the player they need is available. If it was, if Bradley Beale, Jalen Brown or Brandon Ingram seemed like even remotely gettable, I would say, you know what, maybe they should consider giving up some future picks Isaac Ocorro as well. But there's that player, isn't there, And so Eric Gordon would be fine with me if you're still looking. You want to ensure you make the playoffs this year. He gives you rim pressure and really deep three point shooting, and they could use that around Darius Garland for sure, as from a perimeter put from a perimeter player not named Jetty Osman or the other name I thought of. And I think this one has been bandied about. A Ton would be a carouselvert. Yeah, I guess you could run into issues. Okay, he's making seventeen million or whatever. Next year we have to pay Colin Sexton. I don't really think that's a big deal because he comes off your books before you have. You have Darius Garland's extension or restricted free agency kicking in. And I don't know what Indie would want for him, but if you can use Rubio's expiring salary, and it's if it's a first but it's protected to maybe where there's a chance that it doesn't convey unless you're really good. That's the type of move I would consider, but I wouldn't. I one don't think the market is conducive to them making this leap right now. And two, just under the circumstances, I doubt you're giving up You're either still soldering on for the rest of the season without Rubyo n Sexton, or you're trading one or both of them when their value is probably super low because they're injured. Right, And I think I want to say, is Mike Scotto of Hoops Hype and then our br colleague Jake Fisher have reported the Pacers I believe are looking for multiple firsts for carous Labert and I I'm not giving up multiple first for carous Labert. I'd still with Miles Turner injured, I would still be more likely to give up multiple first for Miles Turner. Yeah, right, exactly. So if that's the price, would I would pass? But yeah, I'm with you. If it's just Rubio's salary and a protected first, I'd be open to that. Yeah, I'm for sure with you there. T Bloom, also from discord ass. Given the amount of teams fighting for a playing spot, do you forst see this trade deadline being relatively quiet due to the lack of sellers. If so, how do you think underachieving teams Nick Celtics, Hawks, Lakers talk about hitting? Then now I'm the head there with that list, how do you think those teams react to that? Do they overpay for slightly available players or just stampack? T Bloom You thank you for the opportunity to do a shameless plug of one of my columns at Forks because I wrote about this. I think actually, because there are so few sellers, that opens an opportunity for teams that might not consider selling. They could look at this and say, like, oh, you actually might Like maybe that's Indiana's rationale with these multiple firsts for Lavert and Miless Turner. They're like, no one else is selling good players, like it's Eric Gordon and Terrence Ross. But otherwise, like who's actually available that's going to be an impact player? So I know we'll get to a question later about like which teams should consider that pivot. With that said, I mean, you know, Darryl Murray didn't interview Thursday in Philly, where he said there's been a lot of chatter and he actually expects this to be a pretty busy trade deadline. I think right now we're probably in a holding pattern to see what they do with Ben Simmons, because I think a lot of teams are holding Ben Simmons is available. Well probably not honestly, but you know, I think we've heard reports out in Minnesota in particular, it said like they aren't going to make another move until they know they're out of the Ben Simmons running. So I think once we get into those final few days before the deadline will really start to see some of these dominoes fall into place here. But I think I would be surprised if we don't see a lot of activity, in part because there are so few teams projected to have cap space this summer, like this might be your last best opportunity to upgrade in the calendar year twenty twenty two. Like, I know, signing trades have become more popular, and I'm sure we'll see some this offseason as well, but you know, teams may be looking at this as kind of de facto free agency. I am with you there too, and I actually think it's gonna be busier than normal, and so I expect it to be slow as hell now because my opinions on these fronts, But it's I think they are going to be teams that talk themselves into selling, like you said, because they have a chance to capitalize on the market. And that's why when I've generally been asked this has been like a gage question for me is does Eric Gordon get the rockets of first round pick? And my guess is yes, I don't think right now. And if they don't, I could see them just holding onto him because he's not hurting them in a good way in the standings, and then they can accept the lower price over the summer if they really want to, because there are just so few there, and there are a bunch of teams that just don't know what they're doing either, So it's not even a matter of maybe teams are trying to I do think there's the issue of some teams are just want to save their assets. If you're in Minnesota and you're sort of on the fringe or even the Kings, but you still want to be in on the ben Simmons speepstakes. But you have the Sixers who might hold on to Ben Simmons because they want to be in on the Bradley Beal slash Damian Lillards steep stakes. But we have the Blazers who are holding on the Damian Lillard because they still believe that they can win with Damian. And so there are these teams that are in a holding pattern because they're either waiting for other targets or think they can do better themselves than become sellers. So I think we see like medium scale moves. And I would be curious if I had to put you on the spot and you were on prepare for this question, if you had to guess who the best player traded at the deadline is, who would that be? I mean, according to Jake Fisher, it's probably gonna be Jeremy Grant him or Harrison Barnes. Feels like the answer, right, Yeah, Like I don't think Sabonis gets moved, No, and they would be unless you're getting someone who's gonna now just operate from the point of attack and run your offense. I don't know why you would move the bonus if you're indian to be honest right, right, Well, yeah, I mean they're apparently asking for like an all Star caliber player in return, so I mean, as they should, because the bonus is an all Star caliber player. But that's what gets tricky, Like when you're trying to trade a win now player for a win now player, it becomes harder because then it's like, well, all right, we're just swapping guys who don't necessarily fit well with our timeline or whatever, like fit with the rest of our pieces, because you know, like a Ben Simmons first SA bonus trade value wise might make sense, but it doesn't help either team in my opinion, not at all. Like Joel Ebiad's gonna kill himself if he has to play with another big like that is not going to solve the Sixers issues. So yeah, I think it's gonna be, like I just based on what More said the other day, and just based on kind of how these conversations have been going, you know, at this time of year as well, it's important to remember everyone is full of crap. So like More went on the radio for a reason the other day, like to say, it's less likely than likely that we trade Ben Simmons. He's sending a message to Sacramento in particular that like, hey guys, we're not messing around. We're not going to settle for whatever crap package you're offering, Like, we have our demands and if you don't meet it, we're going to keep this guy through the deadline. But you know, right now, the word out of Philadelphia is that they're willing to keep him beyond the deadline. That they are, you know, again more or less likely than likely to trade him. So I think, yeah, it's like someone in that Jeremy or Harrison Barnes tear feels like the next realistic target. It's acquirable, And I mean, as you said, the Bulls, we'll see how these injuries impact what they do, but they would be a very logical landing spot for either player. The dark horse candidates that I would have if we were looking for a leg up is and outside of Ben Simmons, maybe de Aaron Fox or John Collins. I don't think the Kings maybe could trade dear Fox as a seller. The Hawks aren't trading Collins as a seller, and so that's where it gets weird. But those would just be if you're hopeful for like an All Star caliber player to be moved. And now it's harder because even if you say that Turner, because I don't consider Barnes or Grant all star caliber. I think Turner, probably because it's relative to his position, is closer to that. But now he's injured enough, I'm a Pacers. I'm not even moving him now because I get unless you're gonna that asking price is gonna be met. And I'm sure there'll be teams that are skeptical of, like, oh, big with a lower body injury? What is what becomes of this? Let's get into the Ben Simmons stuff though a little bit with this is a this is a team specific question, so we'll start there. But this question comes from main Ben Simmons to San Antonio good or bad move? And I think you can look at it from either end of the spectrum spectrum where is it worth it for the Sixers to engage in San Antonio? And then if you're the Spurs, is Ben Simmons a player worth consolidating other players and assets into. I've been dating back to the suburb saying if there was a two team deal to be made, san Antonio is on my short list where I think they could haven't made sense for both sides. I think honestly that ship has probably sailed at this point because Dejontay Murray would have been one of He would have been the main guy that you would want to come back in that deal. And I think his value has risen enough this season that you know, now it's probably not realistic. I mean, I don't know, Like all right, I guess the question is, like, what does Ben Simmons do for the Spurs, like if you especially if they're keeping Murray as part of that a question, right, Like I don't think he elevates them into I mean maybe this year because the race for the ten seed in the West is comically sad, but like, I don't think he elevates them high enough that they would ever become championship contenders. Like I think Ben Simmons, I keep saying this, but he's like perfect for the Sacramento Kings because all they care about is getting into the playoffs. Like they'll they'll say that they care about winning championships. They don't. They've missed the playoffs for fifteen straight years. All they want to do is just make the damn playoffs. Ben Simmons is a great regular season player, especially when he's surrounded by enough talent, and depending on who the King sent out in that deal, like you know, he could play with like maybe Tyrese Halibert and still there, maybe Rashaun Holmes is still there, like there could still be the core of an interesting, fun King's team in the regular season. It's good enough to get the ten seed and then they'll get their brains beat in the playoffs, but they don't care because they made it. But so like I think from the Sixers side, if the jan te Bury is still on the table, is absolutely worth engaging. I just don't think san Antonio would seriously consider that at this point. I have nothing to add to that. So this is terrible podcasting at the moment. But if and if you're san Antonio, I would And I know this is gonna sound a lot like it's gonna sound like a lot to Spurs fans, And I already know what Darren Moorey would say. He would say nor to the offer. But if it's Derek White, Devin Missel, Josh Primo and let's say two first in a swap, I'd probably do that if I'm Philly, But what I took away from Darren Moorey's radio interview, and this is how he's always thought. Regardless, the Sixers deserve a ton of shit for how they've handled part of the situation. I also think that Ben Simmons deserves a ton of shit. And I also don't think that we need to comment or infer anything about his mental wellness, because if there is an issue there, I hope you know he's able to work through it. So I'm not even gonna I know people think that he's like lying about that. However, to the Sixers credit, I don't think that they should just settle because this is their last best chance at getting a co star for Joel Embiid, and so you either need to trade for that co star using Ben Simmons as the anchor centerpiece, or you need to get a return good enough that you believe you can turn around and flip for that other player once he becomes available. And Daryl Morey, his credit, has always thought along the lines of I want the star because that's going to give us the best chance to win a title, and that's why I think he would say no to that offer. Do I think that maybe that's an offer because of the picks and you know Vascell and Primo that you could turn around and maybe dangle future ones. Yeah. Sure, but it becomes very hard to construct framework that I think makes sense for both sides if dejan Day Murray is not involved. Yeah, I completely agree. I like going into the season, I thought Murray one of Johnson and Vassell and then that young as Sally filler for Ben and I would even throw in a first round pickback of needed. Like that's how much I was a believer in Murray even before the season. Again, now I don't think it's on the ta able from what I've heard from the Sixers folks like they engage with san Antonio, they never really got traction there. And I think part of it is, you know, I think Fit is going to calm down, like what we're hearing out of Philly. They just do not want Darren Fox, and I think it's just I think that's by the way, I do too. I do too, But I think it's a large part is they are just looking at Fit around Joel Embiid, and I think if they're bringing in a point guard, they want a point guard who could shoot and for as good as Murray is, and I know he's taking you know, four threes a game, but he's only shooting thirty two point six percent from deep. Like I think they want someone in the high thirties and low forties, but you know, good luck finding someone who fits that criteria, right, And look, Murray has a real mid range game, I think, but you know, Darren Fox, he still remains a great finisher even with poor shock quality. He's shooting like forty five percent from mid range on the season and Latin not this year. Last year he hit like I can't even remember the percentage, but I'm gonna say, and even if it's too high, it was closer to forty plus percent than not of his step back threes. And so like, I would absolutely trade for Dearn Fox, especially if there's other stuff involved that's your chance of like it's sort of to me would bridge the two ideals of Okay, we're not sure if Daron Fox and the player that we want a pair with Jowell and Bede long term, but by acquiring him we help our chances now without damaging our ability to make monster offers on other players later. Right, Yeah, Like there was the Athletic round table, and then Sam A mc had this the other day where he's like, you know, the Sixers are trying to attach Tobias Harris now to Ben Simmons trades. If they can't get that superstar in return for Ben Simmons, they at least want to get off of Tobias Harris's contract, which is very wise. And he was saying, like, you know, salary wise, you can do those two guys for dearon Fox, Buddy healed Harrison Barnes, and then he added, but the Sixers would probably want more. And I tweeted that out because I was like, dude, if that is on the table, you call that in right now and you run away. Like, even if you view Fox not being the optimal overturn for Ben, there's not much difference, if any, between Tobias Harris and Harrison Barnes, I honestly might prefer Harrison Barnes right now to Tobis. What would be the arms may A Ford Tabot. Maybe he has a little bit better ball skills, but they're not. You know, his decision making has just been terrible this year. Horrible. Yeah, And I mean that's even without remove the contracts from the equation. Then you take the contracts of the equation and like the the upgrade in terms of flexibility from going from Tobias to Harrison Barnes offsets any you know, potential quote unquote selling low and for like Fox and Buddy, healing for Ben is already pretty decent value. Like that is more than anyone reasonably expected the Sixers to be able to get heading into the season. So again, we don't know what has or hasn't been offward. Darryl Mori is smarter than all of us, and he knows more than all of us behind the scenes. Like I'm half convinced given the rumblings coming out from Brooklyn about James Harden potentially want to I'm sold on it. I don't try and buy into that stuff. I'm I'm ready. James Harden's leaving Brooklyn this summer winner Loser title. He wants out. I'm there, and like, honestly, you know, who knows what the world is going to be like ten months, So it's hard to will exist either that too. But like, if if the rules are the same and Kyrie has still not gotten vaccinated, why would you want to reside there? Of course, you don't want to deal with that nonsense next year. This is already like you're already putting on way too much of a minute slow this year because your teammate is being an idiot, right, And so it's and then it's look, he's tight with Kevin Durant, But Kevin Durant, he missed half of last year, still has coming off the achilles injury two years in his rearview, gets injured again now not his fault, but and he's still one of the five best players in the league. But do you want to deal with that after being And the other thing also is Kyrie Herring he's a get vaccinating doesn't make it more likely that he leaves in free agency to go play for a team in a market where he can actually appear in as many games as possible. Oh am I wrong about that? Though It's well, I don't know. I mean, he's still getting paid for the games that he's not playing, right, and he might hate basketball at this point, right, Like if I if I could get paid and just not show up for half of my shifts, that would be I kind of I'd want to stay there forever. He's busy being the voice of the voiceless without saying, right, that's what he's busy doing. This is I want to get into this question because I'm gonna tie it to the Ben Simmons discussion, but it comes from Kayden. What should the Timberwolves look to change improve this coming trade deadline? Who would be the assets to move if they made moves? And I want to frame it with this first is I I personally think they're still lead average on offense. Still lead average is above the break three point shooting. They can't make a corner three to save their lives when they're taking them. I think that's what they need. And I'm just curious as to whether you think I do the idea of Ben Simmons karl anthy Towns in the front court, like forget about the cost of getting him. Is that what they need? Like is Ben Simmons? What that team? Because my gut would say, you only get Ben Simmons if you just don't buy into your defensive returns so far, because your defense has been maybe it's overachieved this year, but it's otherwise. And I know you can't grab a defensive rebound to save your life apparently, but it's been fantastic for most of the season. Ben Simmons doesn't augment your shooting. He's going to shrink the floor in most cases. So I'm just curious as to whether you know if they're waiting for Ben Simmons. My argument would be, I think it's time to move on. I just don't know if he is. I don't know if he is the guy. Yes, I want Karnthy Towns of Ben Simmons makes so much sense together. I just don't don't know if he is the answer for them, right right, And I mean it depends on what the prices they have to give up, Like if they could do it without giving up Edwards, Towns or Russell and you know it was like Beasley and Beverly and van Do or Jaden McDaniels and like, you know, some heavily protected at first, Like if you are able to convince Philly, like you have them back into a corner and are able to convince on the cello on Ben Simmons, yeah, sure, then the price is right. But I agree with you that the fit with Edwards and Russell would be more of my concern than with Towns, because I just don't know, And I mean, this is going to go for any team the trades for Ben Simmons, you have to build around his specific strengths and weaknesses. But I think in Edwards and Towns in particular, the Timberwolves already have two long term keepers or two guys who they should hope are long term keepers. So I don't know that they'll be able to fully build on Ben Simmons. I also don't know if Ben Simmons is a good enough player to deserve that kind of treatment unless you're just starting from scratch, and you know, is he willing to operate off the ball more than he did in Philadelphia or does he still fancy himself as this full time point guard? Is he going to take away touches from Russell and Edwards? Like maybe that helps optimize Russell. Maybe he can operate more as a catch and shoot threats. So I could see the appeal there. But you know, in the possessions where Russell or Edwards are handling the ball and toallenges in the post, what does Ben Simmons do? And I don't have a good answer to that question. Yeah, and I would guess that Russell has probably gone as part of that deal, because how many picks are you including if it's McDaniels an essentially salary filler after that, if you're not giving a Russell for that to work. So what do you think the Wolves? Is it what I outlined? Like? Can they just get someone who's gonna hit threes consistently and then to augment their their offense is climbed to lee average. So it's been better of late. But the name that springs to mind here it was Harrison Barnes. I thought it would be a perfect fit for this team. That's the type of player that, no, he's not Ben Simmons, doesn't have the same ceiling, but I'd be willing to. I mean, don't even know if you have to give up the Ben Simmons dream to get Harrison Barnes. How much is he actually costing you? You're still probably being And my guests would be you're moving Malik Beasley or Tory and Prince is part of the primary salary anchor would be the Kings want the expiring salary of Prince or do they actually want to have Malik Beasley, who in theory is a good player, just hasn't been great this season, and then you're you're building out from there. My guess is you have Jade McDaniels like you said you have Van, do you also have nas read there too? And then picks? And I think it would be My guests would be for something like that, you build out from salary filler and then maybe a player end to pick. Is it depending on the player, does Jade McDaniels alone get you Harrison Barnes, But I guess it's probably no, But maybe it be Jaden McDaniels ended heavily protected first or is it Naz Reid and a more loosely protected first. That feels like if you're including Malik Beasley as the other part of this deal feels like a you know, a fair price to pay and also not something that forces you necessarily to punt on higher level trade talks in the future. Yeah. No, I like that idea, and I think Harrison bart like, well here Barnes and Grant. I think banding around a lot over the next couple of weeks. And I think, you know, I said Grant earlier in terms of like the best player on paper to be traded, but I would like if the price is equal for those two guys, I would rather have Barnes. I think Barnes is a much more plug and play guy, and especially given what Jake just reported about Jeremy like a wanting to go to a team where he's still one of the primary offensive vocal points and be wanting a four year, one hundred and twelve million dollar extension. Like those two things are they might be red flags enough for me to just be like, Nope, I'm out, thank you, but I'm gonna pay it to the plan b. He was probably seeing that the Dallas gave Tim Hardaway Junior, a very more of a one point five dimensional player four years and the seventy six million whatever, basically the same contracts he signed with the Knicks, the one that he had just came off. So I kind of get where and he might have the leverage to get it veris go. But I agree you I'd prefer Barnes. There's the extension moving for Grant, of course, but even if you had to money being semi equal or whatever, I would prefer Barnes just because, like you said, he's more scalable, I think than Grant is. Yeah, so let's wrap up the bend. Well, maybe he'll tangentially come up. But the two questions would be one. Do you think he gets traded? What would be your prediction? And it almost makes me uneasy how many insiders are predicting a trade because my stance is I don't think he's getting traded. Yeah, I don't think so either. I think I mean, this is full conspiracy theory, Like I have no proof of this, no insider connection, No one from the Sixers is leaking this to me or anything. But like, given the stuff coming out about Harden, just from all corners of insider world, it wouldn't surprise me if Darryl and you know, not to suggest that Darryl Moray and James Harden have any contact right now, because that would be illegal. Absolutely can't do that. But it wouldn't surprise me if he has some inkling that a sign in trade as possible, or I wrote about this at Forbes earlier this week, like an opt in and trade would actually be the best case scenario for Philly because then they wouldn't have to worry about the apron at all. So I just the way that he's going about this without having the urgency of like, yes, we must get rid of Ben Simmons by the deadline makes me think he has something in his back pocket for the offseason, but I couldn't be totally wrong, and maybe he you know, doesn't trade him by the deadline, hopes he's going to get a bal or a Lillard or a Jalen Brown or James Harden, strikes out on all those guys and has to sell lower in of why than what he could have got in February, Like that is the risk of not Cashigan right now. I would argue it's probably a risk worth taking because whatever decision he makes, it's probably not necessarily because maybe it's part of the reason. By the way, for anyone who's wondering Brian's recording this from Dalmorey's office, he said, said that, yeah, at gun point. Yeah, but it's not even just about the heart you mentioned them. It's also a what if beal what if Lillard or maybe Jalen Brown, What if someone else becomes available? And if they don't, you said, the risk is they could settle for less. But when there's other when there's more than just the James Harden scenario at play, which Pernyone didn't. Brian published an article too at Forbes about how the Sixers could do it while staying under the apron and not having to get Tobias Harris. But of course the opt in and trade would be a more ideal or let's say more it's ideal, and then it's definitely more convenient for Philly. But that was he figured out a way to do it without having to include Tobias Harris. Yeah, that was well because I just that was like when all of this stuff started, I was like, all right, it just mentally it felt like they would have to get rid of Tobias. But no, they can if they would have to wave Danny Green and then trade Ben and trade for a gun cork Mas and they would have like less than two hundred thousand dollars under the projected apron right now, so that the cap cannot come in any lower than projected or this plan goes to hell. But there is a way to do so. Again, like I just go back to if they can get off of Tobias Harris at the deadline, and it is that King's deal of Fox Healed and Barnes for Ben and Tobias, I do it. I don't wait for James Harden because sure, maybe there's a chance that you could have gotten him this summer. There's also a chance that then that's when the title he resigned for five years. And like, as you said, Fox, I think if you're not totally sold on him long term, you'll be able to move him. I also think, like those guys, you know, when I floated this at first, some of the action was like, well, why why are you trading for like the core of the Kings. It's like, well, if the Kings don't have Joel Embiid, like the Kings suck right now and with these players, but there's a pretty good chance that if Darren Fox is playing with the Joel Embiid, if Buddy Healed is playing with the Joel bad they are better, They win more, their value increases. So I understand the Sixers concerns about you know, as Darren Fox is that much of an upgrade over Tyrese Maxie there. They are just super super high on Tyrese Maxie. I get it. But at the same time, if you're just looking at it this season, because Ben Simmons is not playing for this team this season, even if they go past the deadline, I would be shocked. So you're effectively swapping Tobias Harris for Darren Fox, Buddy Yield and Hart Harris and Barts like three. Right, You're not going to find a more laughsided deal at the trade deadline if you pull this off. So that's where I would stand. If they could get off at Tobias, I would do it. I don't know if they're gonna be able to get off at to Bias, so I think it probably goes into the offseason, and I would By the way, you could do that trade if you're Philly this season and if James Harden or Bradley Beale or someone else would like, you can still turn around and then try and make another trade because the Nets, if James Hardon wants to leave, the alternatives losing him in free agency or like they could build a den, whether it's Deanren Fox like, you could still you still have the assets too, unless you know James Harden's coming for sure. This wouldn't be a reason for me to not make that deal, and I did. I wrote something where I don't know if I would make this deal as the Kings to where I would endorse the saying one hundred percent do this. But I could imagine Tobias Harris just being better on a team that plays a little faster, and when he's gonna have Halibert and Simmons, two players who could simplify his role, I think more than anyone's simplifying it in Philly right now. And I also for the Kings, there's the argument to be made that based off how deanren Fox has played for much of this season, and then also Buddy Heeled that those are two players who are not on net positive contracts. Maybe they're closer to net usual than net negative, but you're not like giving up these steals, and so I don't think it's egregious for the Kings to think that way, especially if by moving these players and taking on Tobias Harris, you're not giving up picks and swaps, because that's the most dangerous asset to give up. If you're the Kings, based off the track record, and I'm not even trolling them, it's just a matter of fact. Yeah, no, you're totally right. I hope my demagary is listening to this podcasts. He calls up Darryl Moore as soon as we're done. I just, yeah, I want to see Ben Simmons play basketball again, and just as I want him to get traded. I just don't think it's going to happen. It's just where I'm at with this. The Sixers also want to see him play basketball coincidentally, It's just the thing. The way I framed it is, I think it's more likely he sits up for them this season than he gets traded at the deadline. Would you agree or do you think it's more like so you think it's more like he gets traded because he'll just punt on the entire year. I don't think. I don't think he's playing. I don't. I would be surprised if he ever plays a game in Philadelphia again, like home road. Just I don't think it's gonna happen. We have two questions that are like nice parallels to each other, and this one you kind of hinted at before. It comes from Hoop Informatics. With the lack of sellers, what team currently eight seed or better in the standings would be better off becoming sellers this season? You have to pick one top eight team per conference. I will say, what makes this tough, and I'm willing to extend it, and I hope Hoop Informatics is not mad about this. I'll give you two teams from each conference, but from extending it to the top ten seeds because they're so jumbled together. But I think you could cut even if you limit yourself to the top eight. I don't think there's necessarily a shortage of options. Yeah, I struggled with this more in the East than the West. So I'm curious to hear who you have in the East, because I couldn't like Brooklyn has obviously no Chicago despite the injuries. No, they've already gone like pretty much all in. You know, Miami, No Milwaukee, no Cleveland. You're not unless like, like, I don't think you have anything to really sell, So no for them. Philly's got the Ben Simmons situations. So it's like, comes down to Charlotte or Toronto just by a process of elimination based on where we are right now standings wise. And I can't really make a good case for Charlotte either. I was trying to figure out, like who who even do they have two? So I guess, Gordon Hayward, if you're willing to just like shuffle some pieces around there. But the one point I did want to bring up, because I like Toronto, is my pick just by process of elimination. But mort and I have been having this debate really all season on the NBA podcast, but we just got into it this past episode as well. Miles Bridges is, you know, unbelievable season, Like should be among the favorites for most improved player this year, retricted free agent this offseason. If you're Charlotte, what is your walkaway price for Miles Bridges? Are you willing to go a full max for Miles Bridges? You might have to. I guess there's not Is there a team When you're looking at those that have cap space, most of them don't project. I think Memphis, unless I'm mistaken, is the only good team that has cap space this summer, and it's not even max room. I think you could fear the Detroit Pistons getting weird though, and give growing him the max offer. So if you're not going to trade him, you need to be prepared to pay him max money. Yeah, that's that was my only thinking of Like, I don't think they should trade him, and I think they should go in their restricted free agency and just pray to God that someone doesn't max him. But I'm nervous about that. If I'm Charlotte, Like I think Miles Bridges is looking at John Collins, you know, five years, one hundred and twenty five million, like he's seeing that as his floor, and I bet Art is looking at that. It's like, we're willing to do that, but not much more. I would be so curious to know what he wanted in extension talks, because I'm thinking probably a deal like John Collins has influenced how negotiations went down a ton, and maybe Charlotte thought, look, rather than pay him around that now, if he earns it this season and we have to pay him max money, at least that means that he put together this huge season. What's tough. I thought about picking them in part because of the Miles Bridges thing where it's like, oh, could you just trade him? But like what are you? He makes so little? And excuse me? Like what is is there a team that would give you an unprotected like collection of picks that would even make you want to give up Miles Bridges. So I went with the Raptors as well, just because I could see Massah Jerry saying I were eighth and maybe we have the potentially get to six or fifth that's not what we're competing for. I'm gonna look at moving and I don't I'm not saying they're not going to move out and OBI not gonna move Scottie Barnes, and I'm not saying they would move in Fleet or Saga. But maybe because they're older, I can even see them be like, look, we're gonna trade Gary Trent Junior. Like we're just gonna We're building this thing as we go, and we want to straddle two timelines. But you know what, this isn't the year. I think they could do some damage in the playoffs. Like I was talking before all the injuries at Chicago Throw and I were talking and I asked, if Toronto faced off with Chicago in the one eight matchup, who would you pick? And I wasn't convinced. None of us, neither of us are convinced that we would pick Chicago. So I do think I want to make this clear. If I'm the Raptors, I would actually try to be buyers at the deadline. But we've gone through this whole thing of a lack of sellers, and I do think you Jerry is the type of thinker to maybe look at the market and say, if we were to trade even at Gary Trent Junior, now, like we could recoup a ton of value, right yeah, no, I right with you there, And like I mean, they do have the expirings of Gore and Drag and Chris Brouche, So they have some options to you know, if if I like, maybe they could just get you know, drug. It is just in purgatory right now. So if they could get anything for him, doesn't even have to help them this year, that is an option they should explore. And for whatever reason, Nick Nurse just hates Chris Bouche, So if they can't anything for him, I would I would explore that, Chris, please. And also if you're extending it to tenth, and I do think on paper or in theory, this team should be in the top eight or even top six by the time the season's over. It's time for Boston to blow it up beyond Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum. Like, it's keep those guys blow it up. You probably keep Robert Williams the third two just because it's hard to trade players on the poison pill. Blow that thing up. But they are not eighth, which is why this exercise was so challenged, and also the Knicks need to take a stick of dynamite to this shit storm of a team that is builded on a nightly basis. Yeah, Boston also came to binding. I know we might have a question later about the teams that they're trying to duck. The tax I think Bust is very clearly in that mode right now with the you know, they got in on the Britt Forbes Bull Bull trade where they dumped Hernancovez. So now I think they're like a Dennis Shrewder salary dump away, and they're not going to keep Dennis Shrewder. There is absolutely no reason for them. They have non bird rights on him. They can't resign him this summer. Realistically, they absolutely you know where given where they are in the standings, there is no reason to hold on to him. Trade him for whatever you can get for him. Who did you pick from the West. The West is interesting too because it's just like, whereas the East is such a log jam even really down to twelve, Like you know, there are twelve teams with realistic aspirations of making the playoffs this year, the West, it's like there are nine and then someone is going to stumble into the tenth seed. I don't I don't know or care who it is at this point, but yeah, like Phoenix, Golden State, Memphis, Utah not going to be sellers. I don't think Dallas or Denver because Jamal Murray is coming back to the Lakers just by virtue of Lebron James being in his age thirty seven season, they can't be sellers. So again, it's like process of elimination. But I land on the Clippers with Paul George sideline, with Kawai sidelines. You know, Jake Fisher br had an article recently where he mentioned the Clippers these could be one of the surprise sellers at the deadline, and they could take advantage of the dynamics that we talked about earlier, where you know, there are just so few teams willing to sell. Like what if the Clippers are willing to dangle Marcus Morris out there, Like I'm sure they'd be happy to dangle Eric Bledsoe. I think only like three point nine million of his contract next year is guaranteed, so you get some potential cap savings there. Sergebaka is nine million, nine point seven billion, and the expiring contract and trading him with trim I think like forty million dollars off of their luxury tax bill, so that you know that they're clearly not a contender unless they have Paul, George and Kauai back. It sounds somewhat uncertain if we're when either of those guys is going to return. So I would not be surprised to see them say, you know what, we're gonna take kind of a gap year. The only problem is they, oh, they're fully unprotected twenty twenty two first round pick to the Oklahoma City thunders that they're on like Portland, where there is incentive to tank with dame out like the Clippers if they wind up in the top six of the lottery and you're just sending a top six pick though, kay see yeah, and the objects of that are bad. But if you if he doesn't look like you're going to even be able to make the you know, playing at that point because George just missed so much time. In addition to you know, Kauai is not going to come back. Can you get first round picks for anybody? And like you said, cutting your tax bill feels like it'll be a focus because they're gonna continue to get more and more expensive, and maybe you get a first round pick in addition to cutting your luxury tax bill, and you can get involved in cooler trade discussions like buyer discussions over the off season. They were might pick as well, but I had this jotted down because I assume that you were going to pick the Clippers. Dallas should sell. They need like an organizational cleanse beyond Luca don Chich. I know Jalen Brunson has been spectacular, Chris stops Porzingis has moved so much better on defense this year. Up, It's just there's no one on that roster that I'd probably hold on to. Jalen Brunson just because if you wanted to, I think he would be more valuable in to sign and trade than he would be of just flipping him at his like yo packing peanut salary. Right now, But what is this. I know you've had some cool playoff moments with this core, almost beating the Clippers is not something to hang up banner for them. I'm just like, you need to aim higher. And we're already at the point where I looked at them as buyers too, Like if you it would have to be a three and four team scenario. But if like you were willing to give up Christops Porzingis and picks and swaps until Kingdom come because you can't convey a first round pick until twenty twenty five, So you're looking at twenty twenty five and twenty twenty seven and then three swaps with Porzingis, And do you try and get in on the Ben Simmons sweepstakes and hope that there's a team that really values Chris stops Porzingis so that stuff they could send something to Philly that Philly wants. And look, you're already stashing Luca don Rich in the corner for possessions at a time under Jason Kidd. But that's just not the answer and the type of player that they need. And I should just mention this question since we had it, and we talked about trade targets or the magic on our Mavericks in our last podcast, But Paul asked Tart what trades would make Dallas a title contender and my answer is, I don't see one. I don't think they have the assets to do it. And I think I'll throw all these starts to you in a second. I think The way I looked at this question and the MAVs in general, is what do I think they have enough assets to realistically do and who would be the best player that they could acquire with those assets. I topped out at Jeremy Grant or Harrison Barnes, and I don't I think Jeremy Grant, if he wants to have still a featured role on offense, the maps make a lot of sense for him. But if you're the Pistons you really want, you'll have to value having Jalen Brunson's cap hold since you have caps faced anyway, and then a distant first in twenty twenty five from a team that has to be good, And so I don't think there's a trade that makes Dallas as contender. So I would be looking at what can we get for Tim Hardaway Junior? How much is the cost of getting out this getting off this Dwight Powell deal? Who is he blackmailing within the organization that he continues to be on the team in the first place? What can we get for christ als porzingis what can we even get for Dorian Phinney Smith Maxie Cleveland and Phinney Smith is going to be a free agent this summer, right, and that's someone who probably ends up getting paid. I and you probably don't punt that appearing in the playoffs, by the way, by selling if your Dallas, unless you're trading literally everyone Luca don Chich plus whoever's left over, whoever you're getting back, probably get you into the play in at worst. But they would be the team that if I were in charge of, like I said, they need like this, They need to just cleanse the soul of that organization beyond Luca don j Yeah, it's a it's an interesting perspective because, like I wouldn't view them as sellers more than just like we need to retool, Like I'm not trading these guys for like first round picks and young players, are you, I guess what they're retooling for, Like, well, who were they getting off the retool? Yeah, I mean, I guess that's the problem. They just don't. Yeah, I mean, I guess it's a fair point, Like none of these guys have enough value, Like you would love to get off the Reggie Bullock deal because he that has just totally facebook that hurt. I was so upset when the Knicks let him go, but he is uh, he's declined. I actually thought they had a sneaky good offseason between obviously and he's probably been their best free agent addition Frank Nil Keena and then Sterling Round and I was like, this is under the radar. They didn't do any of these flashy but it hasn't panned out. I was wrong about that for sure. I wonder, do you think Reggie Bullock could actually be a Lakers target for or talent? Horton Tucker, Like, how are you getting to? It would have to be none plus two players, basically to Ford Regid block the Lakers. Yeah, yeah, I would God, Oh, Lakers, your cap sheet, it's just a crime scene. Yeah. The thing the thing I thought about with Dallas too is do they have a and let's just assume there's a I'm gonna move beyond Ben Simmons because it feels like Philly's asking price is way too high to even make it three or fourteen trade work. What if they were just like they went the picks and porzingis route picks and swaps, Like, can they get is one John Collins an upgrade? Probably not? Could they get? So let's let's even say they don't if it's just picks, swaps, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Phinney Smith and they're willing to mortgage that to the hilt, come up with the necessary salary? Can you get in? I'm like Collins or Daron Fox the one that I thought about, and I know they wouldn't do this, but if they were going to be sellers, if you dangled Kristaps, porzingis all the picks and swaps possible? Well, and let's just say Dorian Phinney Smith or maybe Jon Brunson. Let's say Jon Brunson there too. Fred van Fleet would be still perfect for this team, and he would be really good. I just you know, two first round picks, three swaps, and porzingis like, does that get that? Seems wild? But would that get Toronto to be like, well shit, if Jon Brunson's involved too, where we kind of have the replacement even though they do very different things. I don't think I wouldn't do that. I don't think I want the Raptors to buy. So there any Raptors fans listening, please do not like. That's the only scenario in which I envisioned the MAVs being able to make a measurable upgrade. And even in that scenario, I just traded away their second best player, right right, right? Yeah, I mean that's what's And I don't know how the Raptors would have to set back Siaka just to make the salary work. If porzingis is involved, well, if it's Fred van Fleet, I'm saying he would be the salary. That's okay. Well, and still isn't He's only at like nineteen million right, Oh my god, I forgot how cheap he was. Yeah, he's low. I mean, drag is there, and I think I should probably like, they want it right now, so they're just gonna run nothing but guards. They're tallest player will be Luca. This is the it's this is like the complete inverse of this these questions. But Clippers versus Health asked shout out to the handle on that one. Are there any realistic moves that can be made by any team in the second tier to vaultam to contention? So if you're to pick like one or even two interesting Yeah, I mean I guess that depends on what where you view. The Bulls would be my first instinct, because if you don't view them, if you view them as being in that second tier. Like let's say we are saying Phoenix, Golden State, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, and then maybe Miami, probably not probably those four, all right, the first tier. I think Harrison Barnes to Chicago, assuming the rest of those guys come back healthy, and that wouldn't least make me give me some pods against or about picking against them in the playoffs, even if they go against Brooklyn and Milwaukee, given the questions that those teams have, you know, Philly again, it's like, tell me what's on the table for Ben Simmons, Like if they are willing to move him, potentially if they don't move him, they're not at contender, Like they just they do not have enough pieces. Joel and Beat's playing amazing, But the rest of he gets a statue if they somehow come out of the East without trading Ben Simmons, he gets a statue immediately. Not post playing, he gets a statue immediately. Yeah. Absolutely, Memphis, I guess, is the other one in that group because they have some expirings to dangle that wouldn't really hurt them moving forward to look like if you get rid of Kyle Anderson, fine, but like then they can what like how much trade value does Kyle Anderson have? You would have to package him with some you know something else and that like I feel like Memphis is just so far ahead of schedule. The question is do you continue to push or like, are you just cool with where you are right now, knowing that you've still got some time before you know you really need to be called? They could? Yeah, And I still think without you know you hold on a dosn't Maine Darren Jackson Jr. And John Morant. I thought this was pre injury. I thought Miles Turner would be a sneaky great fit for this team, like him next to Triple J. Grizzlies fans disagree, disagreed and overwhelming fashion. I still but they could. I think they could still make while holding on to most of their top assets if they wanted to. A Barns or a Grant type deal would work for them. I think even on a lower scale, because I still believe they need consistent shooting. Buddy Healed would be great for this team, given out well they've defended the issue with them and this is part of what it would take the vault into contention. I still don't think it's ultimately harder to come out of the West than the East, just because the Sun's the Jazz and the Warriors. I think you could make a pretty strong case that they represent three of the top four title contenders right now, and it depends on how you feel with Brooklyn. I'm there on Milwaukee. They should be the favorites in the East to me going away, but I'm just like Chicago Brooklyn. Miami's been you know, I am ready to say some like pretty blasphemous things about Miami. I've been holding it, but I've come very close to thinking they're just going to be the best team the East during the playoffs and it's not even close. So yeah, I'm not ready to be that haphazard just yet. So my team for this is the Raptors. And oh okay. My thought process there is, can you keep your let's say, top six guys. So it's Siakam, n Fleet, Ananobi, Trent, and Barnes that I just named six players, maybe that's only five. I named five, So can you keep your top five guys and go out and get a Barns or a Grant or some people like Turner there, or a Lavert or a Gordon, and I'm the way I'm looking at this is because you'd be expanding your rotation by keeping your top five guys since none of those names should cost you. Like if if they want Barnes or at a Nobi, like you tell them to fuck off for a Harrison, barn or Grant. So I think that a player of that caliber could do wild things to their trajectory when they've already been sneaky good this year, especially when they're at full strength. And that's a team if they wanted to buy and acquire a maybe Eric Gordon or Carres Lavert is being too generous, but like if you went out and got a Grant or a Barnes, like, this is a team that I'm ready to consider like one of the three best teams. Means see, I didn't even think of them because I have them like lower than that second tier. But I agree they they're a team that like could vault into still have them even if they make that kind of a move. I still have trouble putting them on the Milwaukee Miami tier, but like I could definitely put them right with the Bulls for in like the Cavs. I mean, how I could put them with the Cavs right now. Honestly, like, I think you're right. They are better than what their records suggests. And this like just let's play a bunch of It's like Fred van Leet and let's just play a bunch of six eight to six, nine, six, ten guys. Let's just get wild. Like Nick Nurse is one of the most creative coaches in the NBA. I have full faith in him. And honestly, I mean, you know, I joked about it earlier with Ricky Rubio, but like Goren Draggage is nineteen point four million dollars of expiring salary. You're telling me Tilman Fertito would not take go drag plus something a pick like either protected first or second round pick for Eric Gordon to get twenty to protect that thing for a couple of years. Or maybe it's like maybe the benefit would be like really shortening the protection length where it's yeah, top twenty one or twenty two protected this season next and then it's seconds. Because we want to be able to make trades like really soon. We don't want to have to deal with this. That would be a trade. If I'm Toronto, I would have made yesterday, assuming Houston would accept it. Yeah, do they okay, they don't have any picks in coming and they owe, uh, all right the second the second one it's gone. Would they even say if you're getting the pure cap relief And maybe fans I know, Delano Banton has showed a lot of flashes like if it's a Malakai Flynn and Banton like or Banton excuse me plus drag like if you're getting at a second like how about that you held out of your first so Banton or Malakai Flynn plus drag for at a second for Eric Gordon that I mean hell, like drugs could either help the Rockets like if I mean, he's cheaper than John Wall at least, so maybe they're willing to play him, and like they're not concerning reround them to Dallas for salary filler and second round pick like a couple of Secon round picks or something. If this deal goes through a day or two before the deadline, you don't have to keep druggage, like maybe you could just regrap them elsewhere. So you probably need to warm up to having Dwight Powell on your books for another year. But that's true. This is the question that was made for you. It's almost like this person knew you were coming on the podcast. Aside from the sixers question, dost net to don I apologize if I butchered the hell of that pronunciation? Pronunciation? Are there any teams over the luxury tax right now that will want to trade to get under You already mentioned Boston and they're within three million? I think I have them at two point eight in my spreadsheet over the tax. They are they are the given answer you already mentioned them. Are there any others that springs them? Mind? Yeah? Who? So? Golden State Brooklyn are way too far over. The Clippers are way too far over. The Clippers would be a team that's probably definitely looking to like slash that I spill though, if they were, Brooklyn and Golden State are playing for something. Philly is not super far over, right, I've thought about that. Would they at six point three million? If you could fall if you're not getting off to bias Harris's deal, Boo could still fold getting out of the tax into this trade. I wonder if that wouldn't sentivize a Ben's demonstrated all I know it wouldn't for Daryl Morey. That would definitely be a Harris mandate, it feels like, but I did think because like six point three is not egregious, Like if you get Okay See involved as a third team helper, it's possible. Yeah, I mean, because they just don't really have an easy move to do it, Like you can dump Danny Green is a ten million, but you know he's fully not guaranteed next year, so he's not like hurting you in terms of long term financial damage, like you can very easily get out of that deal. And like Seth Curry's at eight point two, would you as sure as hell are not trading Seth Curry. So it would have to be as part of the Ben's demonstrate unless yeah, I mean, if you just like Salary dump Danny Green, that would do it. But that would send a very bad message to Joel and being so I don't I don't think Philly would do it. Who else? Lakers? They already they basically Salary dumped Aux Cruz someone you think, right right right? Yeah, that would said such a bad message to the fan base after what they've done. I can't imagine they do it. Bucks, No Wizards, how far they're about I think they're one and change under if I'm not mistakes. Oh are they okay? Okay, those would be teams, by the way, the teams I have circled that we need to watch. They're not going to take on money at the deadline because I don't think they want to pay the tax. Denver's within a million Indies, within three million, Miami is like within four hundred thousand dollars. Minnesota is about eight hundred k under. I guess if you're getting Ben Simmons, they probably won't care. Toronto's within three hundred k of the tax. So those were the teams then. Also, I thought kind of in the same Flippers category. I remain unconvinced that Utah is prepared to remain fifteen million dollars over the tax. I'm not unconvinced, I should say, but maybe I'm wrong. That was the other team. I don't know if they'd be able to get fully under because you'd have the dump. Are they just trading like Jordan, like Boyan Madonovitch to Oklahoma City for nothing? Is that okay? Right? Right? Right? Yeah? Or you'd have to trade like one of mcdonovitch ingles or Clarkson mcdonovitch gets them under but Ingles and Clarkson don't see you would have to include someone else, right, you know, as you I've actually I want to go back to this because we got a couple of Jazz questions too. I'm surprised to hear you say Utah is one of the top four title contenders right now because the vibe I get like coming out of people who follow Utah closely. They don't seem sold on this team this year. They seem like they are fully expecting another playoffs face plan. So one, I'm insulted that you don't think I religiously follow the Jazz. I wrote a sentence about Rudy Gilbert Rudy Gay's post up volume, So okay, that's clearly they're the only team I watch. I'm trying to buy less into the ebbs and flows of the season this year. I think the Jazz are gonna Their offense is thermonuclear, and they're in this situation where I kind of expect them to make a move and they're also able to. And we have a couple I think what'll be quick questions. I wanted to save my real like I have really off the rails trade idea that I wanted to run buy you. But I think they their offense can withstand the departure of literally anyone that you suggest that they trade, and you're not gonna trade Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell. Maybe it gets iffy, I'm not. I can't spoil this, so I think that's that's why I'm still And I also think, yeah, the problems defensively that they've had. Someone I talked about this in the previous episode. Someone suggested, I think it was on the Dunked On podcast, but I think they were siding locked on Jazz or whatever that the jazzill necessarily need to get more athletic on the perimeter so much as if they're gonna have Rudy Gobert come out, they need like a better help rim protector behind him. And I thought that was fascinating because then that kind of opens up the spectrum of moves that they could make, because I think the player everyone thinks they need is the player that twenty nine other teams are also looking to get, right like Serge of Vaca from five years ago, right and so like, instead of trying to go after first of all, you can't even get in the Jeremy Grant sweepstakes or how arison if you're them, like, it's just it's unrealistic. They can't trade a first round pick till twenty twenty six. But instead of having an aim for something like that, maybe all of a sudden, does it Chris Bruche help you, just because that's someone who, in theory can either chase and try and close out on jump shots and allows gooberts stay back, or it could at least help you. I mean, maybe he's too reckless or I'd call it like pleasantly unhinged, because I still think is awesome, but I found that I don't know if it's right, But like I kind of thought about I was like, that kind of makes sense. Yeah, now that's interesting, that's interest. Yes, all of this is subject to what happens at the deadline and if teams actually do make major upgrades. I'm just I'm at the point with Utah where it was with Milwaukee last year, where I'm like, we've seen this story before and now a couple of times, and you know, I don't want to go into the meme of like, oh, it's all Rudy Gobert's fault, because it's not like it is. Their perimeter defenders are just so bad that Gobert can't cover up for everyone. But you know, it seems like they got Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside where they're two big offseason additions, and neither one of those guys really seems to have solved anything for them. So it feels like Hassan white Side is the NBA's leader in points per touch this season. There you go, Okay, I stand corrected. But you know, especially assuming Phoenix and Golden State are going to get through the first round, that means Utah is going to play one of those two teams in the second round, and both of those teams could pose major matchup problems if they do go small. At some point, the segue is too perfect. We can't stave off the Jazz questions any longer. So we had two questions from Karagan asked the Jazz need to improve their defense outside of Rudy and Royce O'Neil. Is there a Marcus Smart trade that makes sense. You mentioned Josh Richardson before maybe Ingles and Clarkson for Smart and Richardson just tell me there's a trade out there that makes the Jazz better. Crying phase emoji. Raoul dm me and said, so what about Utah trading for Marcus Smart? They clearly need more perimeter defense and they have enough shooting to accommodate him. Not sure who would make sense for Utah to send back. It doesn't seem like Clarkson or Ingles would be enticing enough. But as bogdanovitch, too much for you taw to give up? Would Boston have to include something else in that scenario? And so I'll throw it to you in the sense first, don't I think Clarkson and Ingles for Richardson and Marcus Smart would be a dumpster fire of a trade for Boston. I do believe Clarkson would help them because they need shock creation, but they also need playmaking and rim pressure. He provides neither, right, Yeah, I mean, I know Marcus Smart has not been shooting well this year, but five point four effective field goal percentage on pull up jumpers. That is the worst in the league among anyone who has taken at least fifty auto dribble jumpers. Good, So, yeah, they might be having some buyer's remorse with that extension. That said, I still think he's kind of the like the veteran leader of that locker room. Is the impression that I get just based on some of the people, like close to the ground in Boston, and he's like one of the guys trying to hold Tatum and Brown accountable, whether it's working or not. But I don't think they're like trying to get rid of him, Like I'm sure they're exploring moves, but if they are trying to trade him, it wouldn't be for something lateral. It would be for a clear upgrade. And I feel like this at best is a lateral move. But like, at this point, does Jordan Clarkson have positive trade value? I think he. I think he could have net neutral trade value, which is just if he makes things happen. His three point shooting is mostly improves the season went on. Actually, even I haven't seen the Jazzes past couple games, so maybe it's dipped. I haven't seen any of it. And he makes stuff happen when he's inside the arc. I do think people have debated who's the player Utah should be looking to move. I got to him by process of elimination because I do think their offense to end. By the way, I'm not shitting on your idea, Karagan, that was I appreciate you proposing one, and I think, as I mentioned, Josh Richardson or Marcus Martin be great targets for the Jazz. So nothing personal on the trade idea that you proposed me, but as where I will mention, I think they could move boyon mcdonovitch and their offense will be fine. I don't know why Boston would do that when they're trying to cut their tax bill. I do think he really would help their offense, So is there a way to make the salary even there? But I also think that the Jazz are kind of not getting screwed because Smart is younger and a better defender. But there's the element of Okay, there's this six eight dude who has proven he can you shoot it in the playoffs and he has a true shooting over sixty this season. Let's not overthink this and move him. Is sometimes where I get at with bobdonovis. But I do think they could in fury move him and be fine. But I think it would have to be Marcus Smart plus salary, Like do you like it that maybe it's one of instead of a pick, is it just one of the young players? Like, take your pick from Peyton, Pritchard, Langford or Nie Smith? What is it? Would this? Let me make sure this works. I think it would be close Smart and Shrewder for carks and Angles. Actually you might need this row On a little bit more. Take any whichever of Boston's underwhelming young players you want. And it's also they could use Dennis Shrewder's not a jazz player. And if you have him, you sent out Clarkson in that deal, you said, right right, right, right, Okay, So that so you're like swapping one detrimental freelancer at times, right, because otherwise I could you imagine Dennis Shrewder Jordan Clarkson the same roster. Like I love this idea because I hate the Celtics. So I would love for Dennis Shrewder Jordan Clarkson to play together. That would be great. Yeah, I'm so curious as to what it would cost just to get Josh Richardson alone. And I think Jordan Carson would help the Celtics enough to where he's basically making what they're paying Josh Richardson. Next year, but he has the extra year left on his deal, and so it's like, would you do Clarkson and Jared Butler in a second for Josh Richardson If you're Boston ooh ooh, I think youthah fans are already vomiting, but we don't know what Jared Butler is, right, Yeah, I mean that's that would be my hesitation Clarkson whatever or yeah, fine, but my hesitation would be Jared Butler and Casey turns into anything because I've seen the Josh Richardson. It's just it sounds better on paper than it is in reality. I know he's been better in Boston this year than he was in Dallas last year, in Philly the year before, But I don't know would you do? This isn't even my trade. I'm just I'm trying to see, like, if you're the Jazz, would you you definitely make that deal for Marcus Smart? Hands down? Correct? If your Boston I don't think you do. Would you do? Let's say it's Angles or Clarkson, who did Boston want? Are you going to give up your twenty twenty six first for Marcus Smart? So it's if you could, if it was Clarkson and the twenty twenty six first for Smart that and that would be like, I don't fit. I think that would have to be like your starting point. I don't know. Boston would just be like, yeah, we're down right. Maybe it's Ingles or twenty twenty six first. I think Ingles is passing is more important to Utah given their back up playmaker situation. But you know Smart by the way I know he's and he has problems like protecting the ball and picking rolls. He does lead the Celtics and assist per game, Like you can't just trade him and not get like not planning around his departure, especially if you're gonna get rid of Shrewder because I think I think Jason Tatum has improved a lot as a playmaker for the past couple of seasons, but him and Jaalen Brown, I think it was the best. I think it was seth part now the phrase the best to me, like they are most creative for themselves, like that's where their value goes. Yeah, well, don't worry. Al Horford's got this average like help me the nxiok okay, all right, so are you ready for my trade? Damn I'm very excited. I feel like in my head I already hate it. But Utah would receive Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker, she already know shit's going down, and then Romeo Langford or Aaroni Smith because I'm assuming Boston would punt on Peyton Pritcher here, but maybe maybe they wouldn't. So let's say one of those three young players goes to Utah Charlotte's twenty twenty two second round pick. The Knicks received Josh Richardson and Elijah Hughes. The Jazz can trade somebody else if they want to, like who's cheap, but they need to make the money work in this deal. And then Boston gets could you even guess at this point you couldn't because it's Mike Conley? Oh I do that for Boston? Do you do it? I thought? Would you also give up this year's first if you're Boston for Mike Conley? If it's protected let's say top let's say top twenty, So maybe giving up Smart this year's first? And then one of the young guys pick, like, I don't, does Langford have AMBI trade value? If it's Langford? Sure, if it's we could make this work without I've actually remained intrigued by Romeo Langford for anybody who cares. But that looks, that take looks it looked a lot better like two months ago. I feel like, so you can think without the young players. I was just curious just to so one, if you're Utah, let's say the return then is since you seem to have warmed up to it. If the return is Marcus Smart, Kemba, Charlotte's second, and then a first A protective if like you're not getting it's at least lottery protected, probably tighter. Are you giving up Mike Conley for that return? I don't think it's crazy. I think what's tough because I actually kind of I thought about just doing Smart and Richardson like you do Smart and Richardson to Utah and Commley and be done. But you're you're already sort of like taxed at the playmaker spots, and I don't think Smart addresses that you have angles still in that scenario, So that would be one frameworks answer. I think for the Knicks, they actually need like to load up on true wings. So I like the Josh Richardson play move Kemba. While I think he's been really bad at points and injured this year, but he would be health of it in Utah if he's healthy, and you have Josh Rison well, I think has quietly been you know, there was like I can't I was watching a Celtics game. They had like no shooters on the floor and crunch time and Josh was sitting there. He's defended well this year in his shooting, like thirty nine or thirty eight percent three whatever it is. So I think there's incentive for New York to there to do this, and then for Boston Mike Conley's I know he's older, but you talk about connective tissue to sort of just run your offense, and you have Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown there. I don't know. I flooded Conley as like a sneaky Could he be that top forty player that Darren Morrior is looking for it? Oh, you've expanded it. I think John Morrey wants top twenty five and you've just decided it's time. No, No, he moved it. He moved it the other day. He said because Joel Epeat his playing so well, maybe they could do it for like a top forty guy. Who's a great fit. That was pretty generous of him. Yeah right, I know, And people were quote waiting bes like this is more He's way of saying my praise was too high for but like Conley. Yeah, I mean, Conley would be a great fit for eight team that needs both point of attack defense and a point guard, an actual playmaker you could play on end off the ball. He's a great shooter, Like I think he would be a phenomenal fit in both Boston and Philly. And to be clear, it was not just Ben Simmons for Mike Conley straight up that I came up with. It was a three team framework that is now dead because Cameronish is no longer on the Atlanta Hawks. So who did get asked? Not for this one? We got to ask a question of whether you talk and get in the Simmons peepstakes. And I'm just straight up, it's like you would have to do both picks twenty six and twenty eight plus Conley. How many swaps? Like two swaps? And I don't even know if that are you also getting Yard Butler? Are you sending Joe Ingles to Philly? Utah? The vibe I get from people who I don't know. I don't people who cover the jazz and in certain fans, a lot of more than I expected seemed to be really out on Joe Ingles really and more protective of Jordan Clarkson. Oh why what I think he has to do with vibes, which I guess Jordan Clarkson gives off really good vibes. But when I talked to this is not I'm not talking to like you know, bizarre of almost in Danny Ainge in Utah. I'm just the I've the impression I have gotten is that would be the feeling. And Joe Angles has not been great this year unless he's really starting and he had he did get better at one point, but then he had COVID, so but that is apropos of nothing like that's and look, there are other frameworks of my deal where if you really want Josh Richardson in Utah, like you could send out Joe Angles as well get him. But the return is basically, would you give up Mike Conley for smart kema a first and Charlotte's second? And do you need more than that? From like Conley's thirty four, which is tough. I think he's clearly the best player involved in the deal I mentioned, But I do think I think Utah becomes a more balanced team. But I don't know what you would think about their title chances after making that, because Kemba is not going to solve the perimeter defense if you issue but Marcus Smart is there is my point, so right right right, yeah, And you're also probably closing really small, but that would be the case regard if you kept calmly you got Marcus Smart, that would still be like Marcus Smart would be your If Royce O'Neil's on the core, is Marcus Smart, you're four. Yeah, I mean that's and that's the problem with Utah overall. It's like I think, ideally you would prefer to get Jalen Brown back, but Jalen Brown is not available at all from then if I also, I don't think like Clarkson and Ingles plus the twenty twenty six first would get it done for Smart would be my gut feeling. And so that's why I went this route, because unless you're gonna get to a point where you're trading out and even further pick, I just don't I was trying to figure out way to get Marcus mart to Utah. This was the best way I came up with. It was to divest Mike Conley essentially. Yeah, unless I mean if BOSSA is really having like that degree of buyer's remorse with Marcus Smart and they don't want him on their books for that next decade. Maybe, But again, hey, I questioned, you know how much value Clarkson really has and angles this isn't expiring, So like, what value is that going to bring for a Boston team this year that realistically is probably going to get you know, best case scenarios a first round knockout. I still think Connley would probably make them more of a threat to do something in the East this year, like to win a playoff series or two. And I'll go ahead, Well, I was just the East is just so wide open this year. And I mean that goes back to the buyers and sellers question as well. I wonder if that influences what teams do, and like how many teams convince themselves they're only one move away from either cementing themselves at the top sixteen or like, you know, could Toronto, for instance, say, like we make one big upgrade, like we're right there. Why couldn't we win the East this year? Given the questions at the top with like all of these teams like Kyrie with the nuts and what is brook Lopez going to play basketball this year? Like we see him again? What will the final destiny should claim all of the Bulls by the time the playoffs start? Or that have they finally gotten all the injuries out of their system? Like I'm with you on Miami at this point, I feel like they're probably going to end up as the number one seed. And you know, going into the year, I thought depth would be their big issue. I figured Jimmy went down, like all right, that's it. Like I really liked their top six, but that was about it. And now freaking hil Martin was the most improved player candidate basically yeah, and gave Vincent Max strus Omer your seven who I like, I'm yeah, man, Like, it's unbelievable. The contributions are getting far down the roster. So I do wonder how many teams talk themselves into some moves that they otherwise shouldn't. And Boston right now, you know, they're forty seven games into the season, you're under five hundred, like you probably shouldn't you should be a seller more than a buyer. But I could absolutely see them, especially given the questions hovering around the tape and Brown carrying long term like maybe they do view this as a potential last stand for those two guys. I wouldn't one hundred percent trade for Mike Conley if I were there, but I don't h thirty four. I don't give a shit. I would do it because I think that he would. I know. Now you have Horford and Conley and it's just like, all right, how are raging out this roster? But by the way, the other thing that could happen. And I only didn't do this because I assumed that one they don't want to become the Utah Celtics and two they care about their tax bill. You could trade Mike Conley for Josh Richardson and Marcus Smart and let's say a first round pick, and then they could just send in a separate deal Dennis shrewder into what's left of the Derrick Favors trade exception. So now you've addressed your point guard Isssue while getting both Richardson and Smart. You're almost too deep at that point, because it's like, even just by making the move for Ken and maybe it's actually easier with Kemba because he doesn't have to close. So you could go Royce Smart, Donovan, Mitchell, angles are Bogdanovitch and then Rudy Gobert. But if you had Josh Richardson and Marcus Smart and then also Dennis Shrewder, Okay, Dennis Shrewder doesn't close. You can close with Richardson, Smart, Mitchell, Royce O'Neill if you want to play small. But then there's also Ingles and macdonovitch there plus like the only the locks for the closing unit. I think if you have Smart, are Smart unless you really think he's a liability on offense, Smart, Mitchell, O'Neill, and Gobert, and then that fifth spot would be very much up in the air. But that would be if Utah I was worried about a fifteen million dollar tax bill, If they're like, oh, we don't care about having a twenty five that's not even their bill. That's how far than the facts they'd be. That theoretically would be The other route to go is you're addressing the you're losing and condly playmaking. But now you're getting Smart and Dennis Shrewder plus Richardson and you're not going to kemba Walker route. That would be something else to consider. Yeah, And that's just where it just gets so prohibitively expensive. Once you get like, really about twenty million over the tax is where it's like, that's where you really start to feel the pain. So I would be surprised if you're always willing to go that route. But just give Joe Angles away at that point, Yeah, you probably could, and that would you. But like the point about Conley just in general as a trade target, hepens some condition year too, by the way, I recognize that. But like I when I mentioned him as a possible Simmons target or as like a piece of a demonstrate, I got a lot of pushback like age injury history, and I'm like, couldn't we make the same argument about Chris Paul a couple of years ago and look at the impact that Chris Paul has had on Phoenix. Now, Chris Paul is a better player than Mike Conley, but Chris Paul, like the contract, was also seen as a huge liability for CP three at the time. Mike Conley's on a pretty reasonable deal because you know, twenty one million this year, twenty two point seven, next year, twenty four point four, in twenty three, twenty four. I think it's only some of that is guaranteed. Like I'm not afraid of that contract with Mike Conley. You just have to hope he stays healthy. But like I think, if he is, if Utah is making him available, I don't know if they are. I'd be surprised if they are, frankly, because I think they probably are not. I would argue that they just looking at their point guard hierarchy. I don't think I didn't fix anything really with Kemba because you have to bank on him being healthy. Smart and Shrewder together don't equal like Conley as a connective tissue in the half courter you're putting. I think either way, you're putting a lot on Donovan Mitchell. I'm just like, if you want Marcus Smart, I just don't think you're getting it done with Ingles and or Clarkson. Plus either no first or just the one first would just be my gut. I like my I guess and I think here I haven't really but like Boston isn't going to dump Marcus Smart, it is really my overarching point here, I would think not just given his importance to them off the court, even on the court defense, you just don't care about what he brings defensively, I guess, No, I know I do, but like, also, no, he sucks, they should get rid of No, No, like he's yes, obviously he's valuable on the court as well, but I think like his importance off the court is why they wouldn't be looking to get rid of him, because, like you know, you look at like, yes, the defense is great, but he's shooting below forty percent of the field thirty percent from three, Like you might be nervous about that, you might be nervous about committing to that for the next half decade. If you're like, we need to bring in a real playmaker next to Tatum and Brown because those guys haven't taken the leap, the playmaking leap that we wanted them too this year. But I don't think I think, you know, they'd be more willing to move Shrewder obviously Horford, who they can get only I think it's fourteen point five million dollars of his contract is guaranteed next year, so it's almost at that point it's like, just bring him back though, right, are you really paying I'm saying like some team might, oh, yeah, as potential salarily if if it's you know, if they really need to dump twelve million dollars next year, they like, I'm sure they'd be willing to move Josh Richardson. I think they have other pathways to acquire players before moving Smart and less Like, yeah, for a guy like Comley, I think it would be a within the realm of Yeah, they at least have to consider it. But like, I don't think they want to move Smart for a potential lateral move. Do you have to I didn't expect to spend that much time on the Jazz. You have time for a couple more before Yeah, yeah, let's do it. We have to go. We had two questions off with Kudo Composos, but we can't skip over those. Nick asked which team wants to trade for Composo, and then Rice asked what would the Nuggets have to give up to offload Composo. That question is very emblematic of Nuggets man right now, because to ask what it takes to unload somebody who's making three point two million dollars on sparing contract. I assume a more likely question would have been, what is it going to take to unload Jamichael Green? Who has that player option for eight point two million nuts? I love I was, I'm like a Jamichael Green og. I loved him when he was first starting out with the Grizzlies, and I've loved him ever. Sayce, this season has definitely been disappointing, though, Yeah, I don't understand how Capacho has just generated this much hatred from Nuggets fans, and like I do, just because of the injuries, but like a fully healthy Nuggets team and I don't know if we're ever going to see that this year. But even when Jamal Murray comes back in theory, Monte Morris slides to the bench, like Capacho is going to be your issue for another month and then you're not gonna have to think about him again. Don't don't worry about him now? What's good? Maybe maybe Nuggas fans are just this high on Brent Forbes. They don't want anyone. Maybe gotta get in his minutes, maybe like he's gonna be your third strick point card a month. So like, why I know it's been a rough watch so far, but like, that's what happens with two of your three best players are hurt. You're gonna get reinforcements soon. Just just ride it out with him and then you know, forget he's forget. Your team is paying him three point whatever a million dollars, so it's not your money. Yeah, and look, if they had to get off of him, it'll take a second round pick. But if that and but I do have I do have in the spirit of this, I do have two Composo trades that I'm gonna run. Okay, all right, so the Denver has their twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five, and twenty twenty six seconds. They can't trade a first until twenty twenty seven, so just throw the first round pick out of the equation. Uh fakuno, Composo can char and then two seconds for justin holiday. Okay, Poso was like a a like a Super Beggars straight to DVD version of t J McConnell for the rest of the year in Indie, just because they're not gonna have to the actual t J McConnell. And then two seconds and you're selling anyway. I thought maybe they would consider it. Yeah, I thought you were going like straight composito Celery dumps here, and I thought that there's no reason for Denver to do that. But yeah, if they're actually bringing in someone with help, I'm more open to that. Would you do this is so it's either going to have to be I think this would have to just be the trade Zeke Naji Vakuda Composo and then a second if it takes it four. Can you guess where I'm going with this? I feel like you can. I can't. Ken Rick Williams, Oh, someone needs to steal him. Oh, Zeke been good but not necessarily could. I think would be more important what Okasey is doing. I also think ken Rick Williams is better, but yeah, right now, definitely, But he's also kind of exactly what Denver could use in its perimeter rotation too. Zeke Naji is kind of a fringe five. I feel like I would call him so Kenrich Williams helps you more. I'm not giving up at first, but Zeke Naji. The other thing would be this is so off topic. But the Thunder don't need to take back Compozzo in that deal, and they don't necessarily have the oh we're gonna wave this guy on the roster to do it. So if the cost is Zeke Nagy and a second for ken Rick Williams, I think I would do it. If I'm Denver, if you're that desperate to get rid of Composo, I would I would include another one too. But I've thought about Denver being one of my favorite destinations for ken Rich Williams. I needed to figure out a way to force that in here. That's fair. My hesitation would be just cost control because Kendricks is only under contract for one more year after this, and the same was Zeke. But Zeke is a rook like, he's on a rookie scale deal, so you've at least got he's got two more years, right, oh yes, two yeah, yeah, so you know he you have more team control over him. And I mean, based on what we've seen so far, I don't think he's gonna costic who's orbited not to resign. But also just know, with mpja's extension kicking in next year, Murray's extension already kicked in Yo kitches up for a Supermax most likely twenty three. I think keeping as many cheap players under contract long term is important for Denver. Wow, I can't believe you wouldn't do that. I wout one hundred percent do it. And one thing, Look, they're gonna have the salary dup Michael Porter Jr. At some point. I'm just that's That's my other hesitation here is like, do we think MPJA comes back at some point this year? Because if not, I mean, I guess you have ken Ridge for next year. But like, I don't think Kenrick Williams this year turns of it to a title contender. So if you ask me if it's more likely that Michael Porter Junior comes back this season or catches COVID for the eighth time, I'm gonna go with the ladder. So yeah, yeah, I would agree with that. So these are gonna be three questions rolled into one because they're all about the Lakers, and one of them I didn't send you, but it's just tied in. So we have Burbs or anyone. Is anyone actually taking the Lakers serious at the deadline? John asked, is there a chance the Lakers trade Russ? And then old friend Bear, this is the one that wasn't on your prep sheet that I sent you. Well, the Pistons get a better deal than Jeremy Grant for the Lakers twenty twenty seven first first round pick and THHT and there would have to be none involved in that deal as well. My gut says the Pistons will keep Grant past the deadline and overpay for his next contract. Face palm. So let's start with let's start with the Jeremy Grant element of this too. I guess sort of outline the Lakers problems. Do you think one do you think Jeremy Grant gets moved? And two do you think the what they get for him will be more than THHT and twenty twenty seven Lakers picks as the main compensation? I would think he gets moved again, going back to way I said earlier, like Jake's report would make me nervous about trading for him. So I do wonder if that cool has interested him a little bit. But from the Pistons perspective, it makes absolute sense to trade him. Now in the second year of that deal, you're still very early in rebuilding. By the time you get even close to relevant, you're going to have to resign Jeremy anyway, And you know, if he wants that kind of money, will let that be someone else's problem. I also think there should be some team out there that is willing to pay for than a very distant Lakers first and THHD and you know, whatever salary nut or any other salary failure you need. I will say that twenty twenty seven, it's like easy to just laugh off that twenty seven first for the Lakers, it yeah, that presuming it's fully unprotected. By that point, Lebron is forty two, right, like he's out of the picture. Anthony Davis is probably out of the picture, retired because his body has just broken down by them and Russ. Maybe maybe the Russ is still playing, just like collected in the paychecks, but it's just hard to see the Lakers way out of this self created mess. So like that pick could be valuable, but I don't think any general manager has the job of security to bet I'm going to trade my best player for a pick that isn't going to convey for five more years and that's the main prize that we're getting. So that's why the Lakers are kind of drawing dead. I think at this deadline, like they might be able to get like Eric Gordon or Terrence Ross feel like in their best case scenarios. I don't think Jeremy Grant, I don't think Harrison Barnes. But the healed like they had their chance of Buddy Healed, they blew that. I think a lot of trouble here. I don't see the way out the live live news on what we just talked about Grace and almost suspended one game. Oh there we go. Okay, Okay, that just sort of feels like it was the weekend and they didn't want to be bothered to make a real decision type of punishing the I'm with you on everything you said. The front office. I think that pick could be valuable, but there's also the Lakers exceptionalism is real. Outside of the Lakers stand base, they've they didn't do anything to deserve like position themselves for Lebron James, other than have the cap space and be in Los Angeles. That's so there's a chance they're good, but it's the job security thing for me. I think really the only GM president you know at Brer of Basketball Operations whatever they're called, that might make that move is Sam Presty. And I don't think there's a non shaped player that LA is really gonna want on that roster and be willing to give up a pick so distant, right unless okay, see or someone and then reroutes them to LA somehow. But yeah, I totally agree with you. I mean, I don't know, man, like the Lakers. It's just so funny because I feel like anyone who has paid attention to Russell Westbrooke in recent years saw this coming. And it's just I don't know what they expected to have happen. But when you and the thing is just like when you're gonna make that type of consolidation trade, nothing is ever a given, but you have to see the clear path to it working. And there was never that vision, right, There was never that vision. There was, oh, maybe he helps when Lebron is off the floor not playing, And that's such a mind boggling way to look at a fit for a player making this much money. And on you know, you're addressing the question of will they move him this season? I think they would love to. They He has a forty seven point one million dollars player option for next season. I think it's more likely to happen over the summer because he's an expiring contract for forty seven point one million dollars is like four mid level exception. It's just yeah, it's hard to couple together that. I mean. Stein reported recently that Houston will be willing to do it for John Wall, but I think he doesn't. Is he a better fit Let's say John Wall's fully John Wall. Is he a much better fit than Russ for the Lakers? I don't think he is. He's a he's a better off ball shooter. Yeah, And I think he'd be less destructive in the sense that he would be more willing to take a back seat than Russ will after not playing for most of the season. But what is it? By the way, the two things that I think could help them, and this one is of my old thought, is there a team? I've made the argument that I'm not sure that Taylor Horton Tucker is actually an asset. What he has two years and twenty one point three million left on his deal, But he is quietly shooting fifty fifty plus percent on two's outside the restricted area over the past couple of weeks. And so if you really think that they have something there, does that drum up the appeal of your offer at all? Or and this is from both of us. He's been on our podcast. Mason Ginsburg came up with the idea of can you give something to New Orleans betting sure that they're going to take their pick in twenty twenty four, because then not only can you trade a pick in twenty twenty six, but you could trade two first round picks. And I don't know what the target is, and that's the area. But if you're a front office exec or a team, when you're looking two picks that laid down the road, that to me that I don't know what it gets you. I'm not doing it for Eric Gordon either, Like I want to be clear, I don't even think I would do the twenty twenty seven pick. By the way, for Gordon, I just I feel he's too old. It just feels like a but it does to me drum up the appeal of the Lakers offer significantly. If yes, the first allowable draft is for almost a half decade away, but two two, yeah, well, I mean the other problem for the Lakers is just hard for them to put together enough salary to make an impact move, like it has to include Thht because he's the only guy not earning between six and thirty four millions o this Lakers Rochester like they have to. You know, I don't care how high you are on Taylor Horton Sucker like that's their only move. So it's got to be him plus Kendrick nine, who's at five million, and that gets you to fourteen point Five's all right, cool? You can bring what nineteen point six back? I guess, but that's still I don't think that gets you. That doesn't even get you to Harrison Barnes, does it. I think he's at a little bit about twenty I want to say, buddy, heals a little bit about twenty two. So you have to include a third guy to make this work as well, Like it just gets it gets messy. But if it's a Harrison Barnes or even I thought, you know who might sneakily have the job stability to do this would be Kevin Pritchard in Indiana. And oh if that's what they were offering for Miles Turner. I don't know that he actually addresses and he came playing next to a d Lebron gets to play less five, but that would be interesting. I don't think it's an unreasonable especially now that he's injured. What about Lavert. Does not give it two first round picks for Lavert. No, it would be th htem none and the twenty twenty seven first. So you already have some problems with Russell Westbrook not I don't think Avert is the answer there. I know, yeah, I just put all of the inefficient chuckers, said Jordan Clark. Sit there, said Dennis Shrewder. There. Let's get them all back in the offseason. If they could make the two first round pick framework work for Malcolm Brogden would be exactly what this team needs. But I'm so I'm so mad at the Pacers for extending Malcolm Brogdon because I feel he was the skeleton key to the trade deadline and they screwed it up. And all these teams are like, cool, we were so close, we can almost dissemble the perfect trade, but we did Malcolm brod Did it there? Or couldn't they be even extended him sooner said he would be eligible to be traded to the deadline. They didn't side it on the day that he was extension eligible, right, I can't rememba they waited until October. This question is fascinating. I think it's our last one so you stuck it out through all the questions. I appreciate this. Brian mod Wyry asked the Warriors may have to move on from some players in their rotation, particularly be Elitza. Who are some players in the league they they can pursue who can help stabilize their front court Roco Vanderbilt Bomba. I will the thing I want to note here, and I know you know this, but I just want to note this. The Warriors are only built to make mega trades. Their four highest paid players are dre Clay, Wiggins and Steph Their fifth and sixth highest paid players are Cominga and James Wiseman. So those none of those players are getting I think you could argue three of those players aren't getting moved period. The other three Wiggans, Kaminga, Wiseman are only being moved as part of a blockbuster. And so after that, you're looking at Kavan Loody at five point one million dollars, And that's assuming you even want to move him, knowing what he has given you during stretches this season, and his familiarity playing with Draymond Green and just the Warriors in general, moving him and what are you getting back with his five point one million, right, and then yeah, go down it's Moses Moody is at three point six, Jordan Pool's at two point one. So like Damian Lee at one point nine million, is their best realistic trade ship I think so. Yeah, it sounds like you are equally skeptical that they're going to be I don't think they need to be super active at the trade that life. They have the second best record in the league, and you know, we'll see knock on wood Draymond will be back sooner than later. But they feel like a completely perfect eye out landing spot, Like I honestly think they might be the premier, but like they might be the choice of any team again given all the uncertainty in the East, and like it's you know, you get to play with Steph and Clay and Dre and they were looking like world beaters for a while. I guess the other the consideration for them is are they able to add anyone, Like how willing is their ownership group to go even deeper into the tax because a minimum signing I think at this point it's going to cost them like at least ten million dollars in terms of additional tax as well, So it wouldn't totally shock me if they just stand relatively pat for the rest of the year and say like, we're gonna rock with this group and we can reevaluate bigger moves in the off season if we need to. And I even tried to figure out a way could they step ladder to get a Chris Bouchet, But they don't even have three guys making sub two million that they could actually I think give up, Like in that deal, if you don't want to move, you could move Kevon Loody because they're they're nearly a perfect match and salary. But let's say you're willing to move Bolita and you're willing to move, it seems like they'd be willing to. I love wants conno Adderson, but it feels like he would be the automan out. But after that, it's like, you're not moving Gary Payton, the second you're not moving out of Porter Junior. You're not moving Damian Lee, you're not moving Andre Goodala. You're definitely not moving Moody or Pool in a trade like that. So, and I don't know if Chris Bouche provide you with more than Loody does so like that was just the name that I was like, if you're looking for someone to sort of bolster the and even it's like, oh Bouche comes in, or you're just trying to take away playing time opportunities for Kaminga essentially, So I'm with you. I think they're the buyout and I actually was one off on this. This is our actual last question from Kyle Thoughts on the Bulls acquiring Mo Bamba for the backup five spot. I like it conceptually, but I don't think they would want to do that. I think if they're going to fashion some of the Patrick Williams Kobe White chips, it's going to be more for Barnes or Jeremy Grant type. Just because Bomba's up for a new contract after this year. You're already paying Booch twenty four million this year, twenty two next year. You know the Lavigne's going to get Max this summer. You've got the Mark twenty seven point three next year. Lonzo's at nineteen point five next year. Like this, Bulls teams about to get very expensive, and I could see Bamba like it doesn't sound like a sexy target in free agency, but for the few teams that have cap space, Detroit being one of them, Okay, See being another. I could see both of those teams potentially pursuing Bomba if you know, I'm guessing Eton will be first on both at their boards. One of them will probably throw a big offer sheet his way, the Suns will presumably match, and then maybe they train their sights on Bamba. So I don't think you want to give up a ton of value for him, Like, if you can do it for Troy Brown, would be Troy Brown and Seconds is the Yeah, Yeah, like I was gonna say, I don't even think i'd want to give up the you know, Portlandos them that protected the first Yeah, I wouldn't do that. So yeah, if you can do Troy Brown and Seconds, sure, But otherwise, knowing that you're about to have to pay him, and unless I mean unless you're willing, like you're so intrigued by Bamba moving forward that you're ready to move voos next year, then it's more of a conversation. So the thing we've already said that I very sea. I don't think they should make the all in play. I I I'm ready to reticent to say this, but a fun challenge trade might be vouch and to make the money work, like maybe it's is it Troy Brown Jr. Or does it need to be Kobe White in this deal? But vooch and money for Josh Richardson and alhor for it. No, no, no, no, no no no, I would not. There's so low on richesting because I'm like you, which has not been great this I know, I know, but no, I'm we're moving forward than I am on fair enough Lyer was reticent to say it. I'm pretty much with everything you said. I'm wondering if they could go. But by the way, Bomba's shooting forty five point five percent from three since the new year started, and that aligned with him re entering their lineup. But he shot the ball really well to start the year then was terrible. Was that all just from the Sixers game? Or shot freaking seven? Mostly it's propping it up. I'm wondering if I could you do the framework that we were mentioning, since I don't since Orlando seems at least a little bit interested in keeping Bomba or he conceptually could cost more. When we look at Bomba Street, you see is like does that same framework get you Chris Bouche from Utah, who there were reports that said he's very much available, and look, they just need finding it, Like they just need to upgrade the backup five rotation in any way possible, because they've had Tony Bradley, Derek Jorg Demartin Rosen has officially logged time at center. It's like barely any but it has happened. And like you had Alisa Johnson at one point was in the center rotation. So yeah, I think someone like Bouche would probably be more realistic for them and might make more sense when you're looking at paying someone to be a backup being moving forward. I don't know Obamba's market is going to be, but like could he. I think Chris Bouche is less likely to get let's say mid level money at this point that a Mobamba would. Yeah, I completely agree with that. I mean I could see Bamba even getting more than mid level money depending on how why. I know. Again, he's like and he's not when you watch like some of his like rotations for rim protection, he's really scrawny, but he can be really physical when he's protecting the basket. Opponents are shooting fifty seven percent at the rim against him, He's contesting more than six of those shots a game. I see a path to him if his three point shot could fall with consistency, But like, why are you paying Mo Bamba eight figures in a single season? Ever, it would be a bet on the talent and just like the pedigree and just knowing that it takes takes longer for bigs in general to come around unless their name is Evan Mobley. And also I mean the injury history, like we just hadn't seen a ton of him consistently. Like maybe okay, see bets pairing him with SGA or Detroit Bets pairing him with Kate Cunningham can bring the best out of both of those guys. Does that bet require paying him like twelve million dollars? Probably not so, I mean maybe that's that could be the upside, like if you can get him for cheaper by all means, But I mean, Bouchet at this point, like he feels like a biannual guy or like maybe a taxpayer mL E. Like I can't imagine he even gets close to the non tax He still has like high highs, but his lows of you know, we're talking sub like basement level subdudgeon level low is for him this year, right right right, Brian, this was great. Thank you for sticking around so long. We got through every single question that I selected. We had others that I just I didn't think we were gonna get through this many, so I didn't bother putting them in the dock. Can you tell our listeners where they can find you and all the great work that you do. Yes, you can find me at Forbes Sports. I cover the Sixers there and just salary stuff in general, so there will be a lot on the trade deadline in particular over the next couple of weeks. You can also find my podcast the NBA Podcasts wherever podcasts are found, so please download, listen, subscribe all that good stuff. He's also selling imitation Harrison Barnes Tobias Harris on Etsy. It won't cost much to get. We just need to be able to pay his salary. Right, I'm selling Tobias Harris NFTs. They are going at a sky high rate right now. So but no, thank you for having me on. This is a ton of fun that I am. I am willing, begrudgingly willing to come on after the trade deadline. Even if the Sixers do not trade Deadsie, we'll rest ashore that I'll be festering you. Thank you so much again for hopping on, and again make sure you follow him on Twitter just to re iterate what he said. It's at B toporic, that's t O p O r e. Kay