1 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:21,839 What is up, fellow thermonuclear affers. I am Dampa Valley and I am 2 00:00:21,839 --> 00:00:24,679 with Grant Hughes. I'm also joined at this time by Thorn Wade. We 3 00:00:24,679 --> 00:00:31,000 will hopefully be extremely quiet during the recording of this Southeast Division offseason report card 4 00:00:31,359 --> 00:00:35,280 podcast before we cannon ball into all the fun stuff or maybe not so fun 5 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,079 stuff, depending on which team you route for. We have the most important 6 00:00:38,119 --> 00:00:41,280 question of the podcast, Grant, how are you doing? It feels like 7 00:00:41,799 --> 00:00:44,799 maybe a full day since I last spoke with you, could be. I 8 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,759 feel really good. I'm glad I got to wear the hat today. This 9 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,240 will only make sense to the people looking at this on YouTube, but it 10 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,799 was my turn for a hat. We've agreed to joint custody, not the 11 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,399 same hat, but we can't both wear a hat. I don't think. 12 00:00:57,799 --> 00:01:00,119 So it's my turn, and it's gonna make me smarter in my grades. 13 00:01:00,159 --> 00:01:03,319 I feel confident about that. All your grades are just gonna be right. 14 00:01:03,359 --> 00:01:06,959 So I had them on the had on the first two podcasts. You have 15 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:08,879 them on for the next two. Well, we'll leave it to chance on 16 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:15,200 the final two as usual. Before we cannabill in. Let me get through 17 00:01:15,239 --> 00:01:18,840 the criteria very quickly. We are grading teams relative to the tools that were 18 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:23,159 at their disposal this offseason, so not every team is graded in the same 19 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,120 terms. If you are a delusional Homer, this is not the podcast for 20 00:01:26,159 --> 00:01:30,680 you. The Southeast. I don't actually wasn't too cruel on the Southeast, 21 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,159 but like we're not here to act like I didn't go into this wanting to 22 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,000 fuck with your team if you disagree with the grade. And the other thing 23 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,799 is remember that a C is not a bad grade. C is passing. 24 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,560 So like the d's and the I haven't given out an F yet spoiler alert, 25 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,359 I don't know if you have, but like that, like those are 26 00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:53,159 the bad grades. So with all of that context there, we begin with 27 00:01:53,239 --> 00:01:59,599 the Atlanta Hawks. Their notable moves include they acquired de Jante Murray and Jack 28 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:05,599 Land for Niel Gallinari Charlotte's twenty three first which is top sixteen protected, then 29 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,199 it's Lotto protected in twenty four and twenty five. They also gave San Antonio 30 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:15,319 their twenty twenty five first round pick unprotected. Atlanta also gave a first round 31 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,759 swap to San Antonio and twenty six unprotected twenty twenty seven first round pick out 32 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,879 right unprotected, and that was it. I was about to go through the 33 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,280 Rudy Gobert trade package and included a twenty twenty nine pick. There. The 34 00:02:25,319 --> 00:02:29,639 Hawks drafted at A. J. Griffin at number sixteen. They traded Kevin 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,479 Herder to the Kings from moharklest Justin Holliday and the twenty twenty four first round 36 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:39,319 pick that's protected until Kingdom come or it's Lotto protected in two thousand and twenty 37 00:02:39,319 --> 00:02:43,319 four, top twelve and twenty twenty five, and then top ten in twenty 38 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,240 six. Then it turns into two. It turns into one second after that. 39 00:02:46,439 --> 00:02:50,919 They also created a three point seven million dollars traded player exception. They 40 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,759 signed Aaron Holliday and Frank Kamiski to one year VET minimum deals. They traded 41 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:59,240 the number forty four pick Ryan Hollins to the Warriors for Tyrese Martin, the 42 00:02:59,319 --> 00:03:02,319 number fifty one pick and two million dollars in cash. They didn't signed Tyres 43 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,319 Martin to a two year or two point seven million dollars deal partially guaranteed, 44 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,719 and they signed Trent Forrest to a two way contract. Their notable exits they 45 00:03:09,759 --> 00:03:14,919 waived Sharif Cooper. They done on right sign with the Wizards, Kevin Knox 46 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,719 signed with the Spurs, Gorgie Z Kevin Knock signed with the Pistons. Excuse 47 00:03:17,759 --> 00:03:23,120 me, Gorgie Jang signed with the Spurs, and Lou Williams remains unsigned. 48 00:03:23,199 --> 00:03:25,000 That is not even the longest transaction withsk for me to get through in this 49 00:03:25,039 --> 00:03:29,800 podcast. But Grant, what is your grade for the Atlanta Hawks? So 50 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,159 just as you were going through it, I decided to lower it a little 51 00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:37,439 bit because so I'm down and I might be higher than you, still, 52 00:03:37,439 --> 00:03:42,879 I don't know. I'm down to a B minus, which I which I 53 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,919 can imagine it's too high for a lot. Just see the pick outlay that 54 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:50,120 went back to San Antonio for de John Say Murray, who's someone that when 55 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:53,159 we talked about San Antonio before, is probably gonna need a Max Steel in 56 00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:57,439 a couple of years. So you gave up all that pick equity. Those 57 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,080 unprotected ones especially are you know those are hard to get and you have the 58 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,400 likelihood of having to pay this guy like a real superstar, which I don't 59 00:04:05,439 --> 00:04:09,159 personally think he's quite on that level. He's really good. I like what 60 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:12,560 he does and the fit. I guess we should talk I should talk about 61 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,479 that now. The fit makes sense, right. You need a guy that's 62 00:04:15,479 --> 00:04:19,360 going to guard the best backcourt offensive player because Treyng can't do that. We 63 00:04:19,439 --> 00:04:26,680 can go deeper into or not how much point guard defense matters versus We know 64 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,399 it's not as important as as having a good big man on the back line 65 00:04:30,959 --> 00:04:33,000 or some switchable wings, but it's still an issue. It was a glaring 66 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:39,079 issue. So Murray's a great defensive player. He's a great I mean primary 67 00:04:39,079 --> 00:04:42,120 playmaker. So as a secondary playmaker, I like him a lot. I 68 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:45,000 have some questions about what you do with him when he's off the ball. 69 00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:50,120 I think what probably happens is you stagger him and Young a lot. They 70 00:04:50,199 --> 00:04:54,439 both had I think they were in the top five in you know, seconds 71 00:04:54,439 --> 00:04:57,439 per touch and touch time generally, so there's like some stuff to work out. 72 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,279 But at the end of the game, they're going to play to other 73 00:05:00,319 --> 00:05:03,800 and so I'm not sure what Murray's value is offensively if he doesn't have the 74 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:09,360 ball, and certainly Young should have the ball. So all that said, 75 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,720 I think Atlanta is better, and just talking about the big things, you 76 00:05:14,759 --> 00:05:16,560 know, I don't I don't mind the Herder move. I like getting Kings 77 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,959 picks just full stop, even if there's a bunch of protections on it. 78 00:05:21,439 --> 00:05:25,959 And like, the only guy that that the Hawks loss that I think might 79 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,720 actually, you know, they might feel the loss of is is Dylan, 80 00:05:29,879 --> 00:05:32,120 Right. I just I think he fits everywhere. I think he's just a 81 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,000 good, you know, seventh eighth guy. But other than that, I 82 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,360 think, you know, they added a star level player, a guy who 83 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:42,160 was an All Star last season and who kind of fills some of their needs. 84 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,399 So I dropped it to a B minus just because of what they gave 85 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:51,160 up and what they'll be committed to going forward financially. But you know, 86 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:57,040 B minus is still in above average grade. So so I'm I guess I'm 87 00:05:57,079 --> 00:06:00,319 a little something more than lukewarm on the whole on the whole deal, So 88 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,600 I am higher than you. I went with a B and I basically agree 89 00:06:04,639 --> 00:06:10,519 with everything you said. I'm just more pro risk for teams in this sense 90 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,839 where players are not changing in free agency at least right now. Maybe it 91 00:06:15,079 --> 00:06:18,240 maybe that changes because of the cap spike and players you know they're not gonna 92 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,199 like Dejante Murray, for example, is not going to extend off this number 93 00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:25,319 because one hundred and twenty percent raise off that final year is going to be 94 00:06:25,319 --> 00:06:28,399 close to his max. But would he have just left for Atlanta outright in 95 00:06:28,399 --> 00:06:30,439 free agency even if they created the cap space. And if we want mid 96 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:35,079 market and smaller markets or non glamor markets depending on because Atlanta is like Atlanta 97 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,160 is a real market, I don't need to call them a small market. 98 00:06:38,399 --> 00:06:42,720 But if we want these non glamor franchises to actually compete for titles or to 99 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,000 take swings or to feel like they have a chance, these are the moves 100 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,360 you need to make. And you know, Jante Murray all of a sudden 101 00:06:47,399 --> 00:06:53,000 going from the best player on the Spurs to the second best player on the 102 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,079 Hawks, Like, that's a big difference. I am worried about the offensive 103 00:06:56,079 --> 00:07:00,279 fit more than anything that you laid out everything. The other thing is Nate 104 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,480 McMillan has said that they're gonna get Trey Young moving off the ball and put 105 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,399 the rock in Desjante Murray's hands. That's fun to think about in theory, 106 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:11,199 like Trey Young hasn't done that through his first you know, half decade in 107 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,480 the league, basically in part because the Hawks weren't built to do that. 108 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,839 But one is Dejante Murray a good enough playmaker to warrant doing that. And 109 00:07:17,839 --> 00:07:20,600 then the bigger question is just what does Trey Young look like off the ball? 110 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,160 He can't look he can't set screens like Steph Curry. That's just not 111 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,639 going to happen. Can you envision him coming off screens and flinging up these 112 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,040 these daggers for sure? Is that something he's going to be comfortable doing, 113 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:35,839 because that's what we'll separate him from Steph Curry versus Luca or James Harden, 114 00:07:35,879 --> 00:07:39,120 where like they sort of need to be ball dominant. I would say, 115 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,759 even though James Harden did a good job accommodating a Russell Westbrook and even a 116 00:07:42,839 --> 00:07:46,519 Chris Paul So I just I appreciate the swing. I think he feels what 117 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,560 was their biggest need when you really look at the roster, what I was 118 00:07:50,639 --> 00:07:55,000 uncomfortable with and I considered like a C plus B minus for a second, 119 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,720 they've kind of just decided that they're gonna punt on a bunch of shooting. 120 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,199 They go from Kevin Hurder to Moharkles and Justin Holiday, both of whom are 121 00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:05,639 inferior shooters to him. You have John Collins still, but you're at a 122 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,800 point where if you Clint Capela and Dejanta Murray on the court at the same 123 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,399 time, that's two I would categorize them as two non shooters. Even with 124 00:08:13,439 --> 00:08:15,680 Murray's mid range game, and we don't really know what he looks like. 125 00:08:15,759 --> 00:08:20,120 Is a higher volume set three point guy. That does concern me, But 126 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,000 I like the idea that they took this risk, and I don't care about 127 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,879 the Charlotte pick. I think when you're looking at these picks now, all 128 00:08:26,879 --> 00:08:31,320 beginning after the Hawks picks, after this current Dejanta Murray deal, that's something 129 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:37,519 fair to quibble over, because that's like you've given the Spurs control of three 130 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,039 of your picks. But that swap, you do have to sort of wonder, 131 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,120 well, how much value will that actually have because you presumably you're gonna 132 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:46,840 keep Dejanta Murray and are you going to be worse than the Spurs who are 133 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,799 entering the early stages of a rebuild. So it's really like I kind of 134 00:08:50,799 --> 00:08:54,000 think it's the twenty twenty seven first to really just quibble about, and I 135 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,440 didn't think that was worth really lampooting them for I also like, finally that 136 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,600 they didn't just move John Collins for the sake of moving John Collins. And 137 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:07,159 maybe that changes once Kevin Durant Donovan Mitcheller moved, but the way the market 138 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,759 was shifting for him and some of the packages rumors that were out there, 139 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,600 if even an iota of them were true or accurate, like the value for 140 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,440 John Collins wasn't there, and I frankly don't understand it. I think he's 141 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:18,080 one of the most underrated players in the league right now, and he's also 142 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:22,399 a really good outlet if you want to go with him at the five, 143 00:09:22,759 --> 00:09:26,320 maybe because you can build stronger defensive lineups now, or just having another floor 144 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,159 space around the court when Clinton Capella and Jean Day Murray are there too. 145 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,919 So I wasn't in love with their offseason, but I think I appreciated it, 146 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:35,039 is the best way to phrase it. And I do think there's an 147 00:09:35,039 --> 00:09:39,039 outcome where what I categorized them as an Eastern Conference finalists. No, but 148 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,559 could you look at this team and say, if everything breaks right, they're 149 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,600 a top four team in the East. Absolutely, yeah, And then in 150 00:09:45,639 --> 00:09:48,879 that case, all those picks are in the twenties theoretically or you know, 151 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:52,799 mid to high twenties, even if it really goes right for them, and 152 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,759 then it's probably worth it. I mean, you gotta talk about opportunity costs. 153 00:09:54,799 --> 00:09:58,159 Maybe those picks could have been used for something else, but I don't 154 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,240 know if you would have been able to find something that you said. Murray 155 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,080 just fills the holes. Like for how long did we talk about how well 156 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,679 when Trey Young's off the floor, you know, the offense falls apart because 157 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,120 there's just nobody making plays. A Bo'donovitch addressed that to some extent, But 158 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:13,879 I feel so much more comfortable now that whatever happens, Atlanta is just gonna 159 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:16,600 have a guy on the floor that can run the offense. And so you 160 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:20,639 know, and Ann with Murray, it's someone that at least as a point 161 00:10:20,639 --> 00:10:24,480 of attack defender and kind of a passing lane ballhawk like he's gonna make a 162 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:28,159 difference. So yeah, it's it's it's tough, but I think we generally 163 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:33,279 agree. I think I maybe just him a little more concerned about the fit 164 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,480 and the idea that you're gonna take Trey Young, who's one of four or 165 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,360 five guys that is just an offense unto himself, and you're gonna make him 166 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,480 do something like a little bit different and you don't know if it's gonna work. 167 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,120 So so that's that's that's the only difference I think, Yeah, you're 168 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,679 you're talking. I'm lowering mine to would be minus you talk me into would 169 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,720 be minus. There just that there's that risk in the opportunity, coach, 170 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,080 you gave up. But the flip side of that also is too, you 171 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:58,320 gave up none of your core to get to John day Murray, who is 172 00:10:58,879 --> 00:11:01,240 a top thirty five I've forty. Like he's definitely a top fifty guy at 173 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:05,759 this point right he was an all star injury replacement. It's like to have 174 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,600 that and John Collins and Capella and on Yeko Kungu and hey, Jalen Johnson, 175 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,279 Like that's still in your chamber. Plus the I don't does that king's 176 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:16,039 pick ever convey that's a fair question. But you have a king's pick. 177 00:11:16,279 --> 00:11:20,519 That's something you could dangle in trade packages too, So b minuses across the 178 00:11:20,519 --> 00:11:26,039 board you sold me. I'm there. We're on to the Charlotte Hornets. 179 00:11:26,639 --> 00:11:31,159 Miles Bridges, who was arrested on felony domestic violence charges was not part of 180 00:11:31,159 --> 00:11:33,879 my grade. I know for a fact. I didn't ask him about this, 181 00:11:33,919 --> 00:11:35,960 but he was definitely not part of Grant's grade. The only thing I 182 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:39,440 will mention is go ahead and look at the Katie Heinel's done some great stuff 183 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,039 at the Basketball Feeling sub Stack on this. She wrote a great article and 184 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:46,639 she also went on the Lockdown Hornets podcast and did an episode about the coverage 185 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,440 of domestic violence in sports or also lack thereof. That's just all I really 186 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,360 have to say on the situation. And would I demerit them if they just 187 00:11:54,399 --> 00:11:58,120 sort of throw caution to the wind, if they're gonna pay him anyway, 188 00:11:58,159 --> 00:12:00,639 and like those charges are still floating around out there, or there's not enough 189 00:12:00,639 --> 00:12:05,080 discipline or I will get into that when it comes. But Miles Bridges did 190 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:09,600 not factor into either of our grades their moves. Though they drafted Mark Williams 191 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,200 at number fifteen, they traded number thirteen Jalen Duran to the Knicks for Denver's 192 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:18,000 twenty twenty three first round pick, which is Lotto protected through two and twenty 193 00:12:18,039 --> 00:12:20,679 five then turns into two seconds. They also got three second rounders from the 194 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,480 Knicks. The Knicks's own in twenty three, Utah's two and twenty three pick, 195 00:12:24,519 --> 00:12:28,320 and then the least favorable of OKC, Dallas, Washington and Miami second 196 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,600 round pick. They acquired Bryce McGowan's the number forty pick from the Wolves for 197 00:12:33,919 --> 00:12:37,000 josh My not the number forty five pick, and then Knicks's two and twenty 198 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,360 three second rounder that they got as part of that Jealen Duran trade. They 199 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:45,279 then signed McGowans to a two way contract. They fired James Murrego, and 200 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,279 after their dalliance with Kenny Atkinson, who backed out of a deal, they 201 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,440 signed a familiar face, Steve Clifford, to a three year contract with a 202 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,279 team option on that final season. They guaranteed Jalen mcdaniels's salary, and they 203 00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:01,080 signed Cody Martin too a four year, thirty one point six million dollars deal. 204 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:03,360 The final season is non guaranteed. He will never make more than eight 205 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,360 point seven million dollars and the full scope of this deal would take him through 206 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:11,720 his age thirty one season if he finishes it out. They're notable exits. 207 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,720 Like I said, Myles Bridges, Isaiah Thomas, and Montras Harold, they 208 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,440 all remain unsigned. That's all I have right now, Grant, what was 209 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:22,320 your grade for the Hornets off season? So this is about as low as 210 00:13:22,759 --> 00:13:26,840 this is as low as I'm gonna get to on this division. At least, 211 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:33,000 this is a D plus for me that I guess I would frame it 212 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:37,159 this way, other than the Cody Martin deal, which I think we both 213 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:41,440 agree, like that's that's a good deal. I think we both you know, 214 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,360 the Martins. The Martins were kind of guys. It's you know, 215 00:13:43,879 --> 00:13:46,600 kind of like Auto Porter or whoever else. When we were going through free 216 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:50,720 agency, it's like, you know, who would be a value signing either 217 00:13:50,759 --> 00:13:52,519 of these guys. And I think that's a fine signing. I think that's 218 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:56,000 a that's a good rate for a good player that's not a star or anything 219 00:13:56,039 --> 00:14:00,360 close to it. But that's that's fine to me. Everything else else is 220 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:05,799 either uninspiring or like downright like depressing. And I'm focusing specifically on the Clifford 221 00:14:05,879 --> 00:14:11,799 Higher It's just like like, maybe you know, Charlotte's needs someone I think 222 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,639 like Clifford to you know, it's just this, it's an old school coach. 223 00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:18,600 He's gonna focus on defense, he's gonna be detail oriented. He's gonna 224 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:22,960 sort of, but I don't know how different that is from James Brego and 225 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,120 just the whole the optics. I know the optics shouldn't matter, but it's 226 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:31,480 what they signal here of just bringing back a coach that you've already had, 227 00:14:31,519 --> 00:14:33,879 like recently, not ten years ago. This isn't like Don Nelson coming back 228 00:14:33,879 --> 00:14:37,120 to the Warriors, you know, with a decade off or whatever it was. 229 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,120 It's like this guy was just here and he has since lost another job 230 00:14:41,799 --> 00:14:46,720 in the interim. So I just am so it just I don't know how 231 00:14:46,799 --> 00:14:50,080 Charlotte fans feel. I imagine there's one, you know, there's a contingent 232 00:14:50,159 --> 00:14:52,600 that is cool with this, and a contingent that feels like I do. 233 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,120 But that's just it. Just I just don't like it. I don't. 234 00:14:56,159 --> 00:15:00,320 I don't feel like it's the sign of a team that is like serious about 235 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,600 doing anything. And I would extend that to this is still a team that 236 00:15:03,639 --> 00:15:07,679 needs a center so badly and just didn't do anything. You know, maybe 237 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,600 Williams that they got at fifteen is going to make a difference down the line, 238 00:15:09,639 --> 00:15:11,679 But like, I don't know, don't we want to do something? 239 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,720 Now? You're paying Gordon Hayward a bunch of money. LaMelo Ball is ready 240 00:15:15,759 --> 00:15:18,360 to be like a bigger star Terry rose Years and talking about underrated players, 241 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,039 I really like Terry rose Year. They have enough bridges. Kind of throws 242 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:26,279 that all out of whack by taking that big piece out of the rotation. 243 00:15:26,799 --> 00:15:28,960 But you know, this is a team that I think should have been looking 244 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:35,279 to kind of make some steps forward and just didn't do anything to follow that 245 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,600 path. And specifically like, we're just gonna play Mason. It's another plumbly 246 00:15:39,679 --> 00:15:41,279 season at center. This is what we're doing. We're gonna hope PJ. 247 00:15:41,399 --> 00:15:45,960 Washington can play a little more. I just I just I don't know. 248 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,759 I'm super down on this. Nothing excites me about it, and Martin is 249 00:15:48,799 --> 00:15:52,600 about is about the best thing they did, And that's kind of like an 250 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,919 on the Margins move to me. I want with a C minus, I 251 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:00,559 really like anyone who listens to pockets and with Bryce McGowan's I do under if, 252 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,080 like, are you that confident that Nick's second round is not going to 253 00:16:03,159 --> 00:16:04,320 end up in the thirties that you were willing to give it up to move 254 00:16:04,399 --> 00:16:10,200 up five spots in the second round. I like the Cody Martin contract. 255 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:11,720 I know some people thought it was an overpay. I don't understand that, 256 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,200 and so I liked those I don't have a problem with Mark Williams at fifteen. 257 00:16:17,039 --> 00:16:19,039 They do have sort of these hodgepodgs of youngsters there though. So there's 258 00:16:19,039 --> 00:16:23,399 Mason Plumley, you also have Cod Jones, JT. Thor and now Mark 259 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,159 Williams is part of this center carousel, so I don't know what the direction 260 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:32,000 is there. That's definitely a knock against them, for sure, but I 261 00:16:32,039 --> 00:16:34,360 don't have a problem with the Mark Williams picked specifically. This is also a 262 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,519 team where it's like, Okay, I understand that, well, I don't 263 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:41,720 know if I should say I understand, but like, yeah, they're worried 264 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,639 about staying far enough below the tax and as of right now, this is 265 00:16:45,679 --> 00:16:48,879 not factoring in like Miles what Miles Bridges might get. It's just as cap 266 00:16:48,879 --> 00:16:52,120 hold, they're thirteen million dollars away from the tax. But what sort of 267 00:16:52,159 --> 00:16:55,039 message does it send in the mailball that you didn't or anyone on the team, 268 00:16:55,279 --> 00:16:59,120 they just didn't use your like even try to use your mid level exception 269 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,919 this year. And that's something that presumably could have gotten you an upgrade at 270 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,440 the big Man spot. And it's fine that you guarantee Mason plumby salary. 271 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,200 I get not paying him basically half of it to go away, but that 272 00:17:08,319 --> 00:17:14,759 just that rubs me in the wrong vein too. So I there, and 273 00:17:14,759 --> 00:17:17,359 look, I actually don't have a problem with the Clifford higher. It's Kenny 274 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:22,160 Atkinson chose to stay with the Warriors over going to like perennial mediocrity and Charlotte. 275 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,160 I get it. And at least Steve Clifford cares about defense. I 276 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,759 just don't think you've given him the tools to build a better defense. And 277 00:17:27,799 --> 00:17:30,799 what are you doing, because right now you were in the sub middle still 278 00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:34,920 like you didn't it's not even a matter of they didn't get better. They 279 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,599 didn't pick like a concrete direction. So you're still sort of just existing in 280 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:44,000 that eight nine, ten, eleven, twelve spot in the Eastern Conference. 281 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,279 And the East is going to be more if you think the Knicks and the 282 00:17:47,319 --> 00:17:49,599 Wizards are going to be better and that the Calves are going to be right 283 00:17:49,599 --> 00:17:52,119 there, like the East is going to be maybe a little bit deeper or 284 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:57,440 if not at least more difficult than last year. So I'm just very disenchanted 285 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,200 with their off season. I felt like I couldn't go as low as a 286 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:03,599 D because I really did like the Martin contract, and like I said, 287 00:18:03,599 --> 00:18:07,880 I'm a big fan of Bryce McGowan's and but the other thing, and am 288 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,799 I gonna talk myself in the same grade as you again? Just why you're 289 00:18:11,839 --> 00:18:18,480 trading number thirteen and you're getting back a first round pick that's never never has 290 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,920 the potential to be as high as thirteen, right, And I guess it's 291 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:23,680 fine if you think, like, well, we're gonna nail that next pick, 292 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,799 but like those Denver picks, it's gonna convey next year and it's gonna 293 00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:30,920 be in the twenties. That's like a weird thing to have. The three 294 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,160 second rounders is the only buffer there. I think I'm lowering mind to a 295 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,759 D plus as I say this, because I didn't wait that trade enough. 296 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:45,279 So I just I'm very uninspired by what the Charlotte Hornets are doing, and 297 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,359 like this is a DP plus where I'm not even like, I don't even 298 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:52,000 think I'm penalizing number what happened with Kenny Atkinson and pivoting to Steve Clifford. 299 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:53,759 Yeah, yeah, that did a lot of that. That did a lot 300 00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:56,200 of the work for me. But yeah, it's just you know, what 301 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:59,359 are we what are you trying to be? What are the Hornets want to 302 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,480 do? Like if you if you just were judging them on this offseason, 303 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,000 there would be no clarity at all on like what the what the plan is, 304 00:19:07,039 --> 00:19:08,880 what's the five year plan, what's the two year plan, What's what's 305 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,640 the goal this year? There's just no reason to there, there's no there's 306 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:17,079 no signal of like what the what the plan is? And they always hate 307 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,400 to see that. And I think a good harbinger of this is that this 308 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:25,400 is not sourced. But like there were people who were erroneously proposing Charlotte as 309 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,279 a Russell Westbrook landing spot, either because they wanted to get off of long 310 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:33,160 term money in Gordon Hayward and or maybe Terry Rosier, but also just people 311 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,559 that were like, oh, it's Charlotte, And I think that that's lazy 312 00:19:36,599 --> 00:19:38,839 thinking. But it's also like, if that's how people are viewing the direction 313 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:42,720 of the franchise, like that sends a lot about their inability to clarify just 314 00:19:42,759 --> 00:19:45,839 what the fuck they're doing. The next team is the Miami Heat. Their 315 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:51,240 notable moves include drafting Nikola Yovich at number twenty seven. They signed Caleb Martin 316 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,920 Cody twin brother too a three year twenty point four million dollar deal player option 317 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,200 on that final season. They signed Victor Oladipo to a two year eighteen point 318 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,759 two million dollar deal player option on year two. Signed away deadman too a 319 00:20:00,759 --> 00:20:04,519 two year, nine million dollar deal twenty twenty three two twenty four is completely 320 00:20:04,519 --> 00:20:08,279 non guaranteed. They signed up point guard Marcus Garrett to a two way contract, 321 00:20:08,319 --> 00:20:12,680 power forward Darius Days to a two way contract. They signed Jamari Bouye 322 00:20:12,839 --> 00:20:15,880 to an Exhibit ten, and they signed Jamal Kane to an Exhibit ten as 323 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,720 well. Their notable exits include PJ. Tucker, he went to the Sixers 324 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:25,000 and then U don'tus has them and Mark Keith Morris remained unsigned. But there 325 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,279 was the report at the beginning of free agency that they Heat sent a quote 326 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:33,680 contingent to convince Udonis Haslem to come back, and so it's just like, 327 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:37,759 are they trying to keep their roster spots flexible for now and if there's a 328 00:20:37,759 --> 00:20:41,519 trade with Kevin Ranner, Donna Mitchell or someone else. I also thought, 329 00:20:41,559 --> 00:20:44,680 like, could we see udn'tus has them moved in like a sign in trade 330 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,440 to like help like beef up the amount of outgoing salary they could, and 331 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:52,559 that would be like his last like helpful boom to the franchise. But I 332 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,640 just I find it weird that there was the report udn'tus has them had a 333 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,240 contingent of Miami. He people recruiting him to stay, and we haven't at 334 00:20:59,319 --> 00:21:03,319 least I haven't or heard anything official about his contract. Well, great, 335 00:21:03,319 --> 00:21:07,920 did you give the Miami heatls? So this is a very uncertain C minus. 336 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:15,400 And I don't I don't necessarily like think of every great I'm giving in 337 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,480 these terms, but this is the how it makes the most. This is 338 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:22,480 the easiest way for me to justify it. So like, if you're a 339 00:21:22,519 --> 00:21:26,119 Heat fan, do you feel better today about the team than you did at 340 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:30,680 the end of last season? And and that so I knew it was going 341 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,799 to be in the C range and and I don't think you should if if 342 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:37,319 I think a Heat fan would would just say, well, we lost PJ. 343 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,960 Tucker to a conference rival, and yeah, like there's a great chance 344 00:21:42,039 --> 00:21:45,400 that that Tucker because of his age is just like that was the right move, 345 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,519 Like you shouldn't commit the years it may have taken. It might have 346 00:21:48,599 --> 00:21:52,960 taken three years to keep him and get you know, you always want to 347 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,039 move on from a player too early than too late. Maybe they did that. 348 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,680 I don't know. I'm just looking at the roster today and I'm seeing 349 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,319 and the absence of a key guy that they don't really seem like they have 350 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:08,160 the ability to sort of backfill that specific position. So I like the Martin 351 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:12,440 signing. I'm fine with Oladipo and Deadman. I like those as kind of 352 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:18,240 trade ballast salaries of nothing else. They did well to get a non guarantee 353 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,720 on Deadman's second year. The player options are a little sketchy, especially for 354 00:22:22,799 --> 00:22:29,079 Oladipo, but those are okay. It's really just for me. The team 355 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,319 is worse now than it was, I think, unless somebody pops or they 356 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,000 figure out a way to replace what Tucker brought, which is weird to think 357 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,720 about because he's such a unique player. So it's a c minus. It's 358 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,079 not the end of the world. But just based on the simple kind of 359 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,799 metric, I went with that that felt right to me. Yeah, So 360 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:53,279 I went with a B minus and see I see to C plus range. 361 00:22:53,319 --> 00:22:56,680 I don't know how to critique them for losing PJ. Tucker. They could 362 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,039 have offered him the same contract that feels he did. It would have hard 363 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,559 capped them, of course, and it seems like they wanted that flexibility under 364 00:23:03,559 --> 00:23:07,039 there. They also wound up like there. I guess there's other things they 365 00:23:07,079 --> 00:23:11,119 could have done, but they ended up using like the mid level exception to 366 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:15,039 keep Kayla Martin, which I think he was an important player too. Do 367 00:23:15,079 --> 00:23:17,240 I think he could play some four? No, But it really just seemed 368 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:18,720 like PJ. Tucker wanted to go to Philly and I don't know how, 369 00:23:18,759 --> 00:23:22,000 and like that was just done beforehand, So I don't know. I didn't 370 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:26,720 really hit them hard for that. It doesn't seem like they did or even 371 00:23:26,759 --> 00:23:30,400 tried to do anything to like replace that front court spot alongside bam Ata Bio. 372 00:23:30,519 --> 00:23:33,839 Now, this is all sort of muddied by their involvement in the Kevin 373 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,119 Durant and or Donovo Mitchell sweepstakes. They're not gonna get any bigger as part 374 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,599 of a Dono Mitchell trade, though I guess they could take on someone else 375 00:23:40,599 --> 00:23:44,440 from Utah but even like I guess it was Boyon Badanovitch or something. Yeah, 376 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,000 he could play the four, but that would just be a massive trade 377 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,599 at that point. And of course Kevin Durant is a perfect PJ. Tucker 378 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:56,000 replacement, I would argue, but so and I liked the deal that they 379 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,319 gave Victor Oladipo. Like to keep him. That's just sort of upside kaked 380 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,599 in and it's more shot creation to go along with Tyler Hero, Kyle Lowry 381 00:24:02,599 --> 00:24:07,680 and Jimmy Butler. He might be there's a there's a scenario where he is 382 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,400 like their best off the dribble three point shooter next season. That's also kind 383 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,839 of harrowing because it's not gonna be Butler, he doesn't take them. It 384 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,039 could be Lowry, it could be Tyler Hero, even though he's more disposed 385 00:24:18,079 --> 00:24:22,119 to taking mid rain shots off the dribble. But Victor ldip will be in 386 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:26,559 that conversation. I do think that's an important creation element when you're looking at 387 00:24:26,559 --> 00:24:30,039 teams that want to compete deeper into the playoffs. So I didn't and then, 388 00:24:30,079 --> 00:24:33,519 like Nakole Yovitch at twenty seven, I thought was perfectly good value there. 389 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:37,000 I like bringing Dwayne Deman back he had a good year omer You're at 390 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,119 seven also showed some flashes and it seems like they're actually gonna use him, 391 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,799 and so I get maybe not trying to be more aggressive and like changing up 392 00:24:44,799 --> 00:24:47,960 the front court. At the same time, there just feels like there's that 393 00:24:48,799 --> 00:24:52,119 gaping hole at the just next to Bamata Bio in your best lineups, I 394 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,880 would say, and are you gonna play super small where Jimmy Butler's your day 395 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:00,599 Facto four? Or is it Caleb Martin, is Yovich getting min it's right 396 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,920 off the bat. Are we gonna see like You're at seven and bam Adebayo 397 00:25:03,039 --> 00:25:07,920 played together. I don't really want to see that. So I just given 398 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:11,759 how good their bench was last season and they lose a major starting piece, 399 00:25:11,759 --> 00:25:15,240 I didn't really know how to reconcile that, but I liked too much of 400 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,279 what they actually had control over, keeping Kayla Martin, bringing back Victor Oladipo, 401 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:22,920 and I do I actually do legitimately like the Jovich pick and that even 402 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:27,000 the Dwayne Deadman contract, it felt like nothing detrimental, and that there was 403 00:25:27,079 --> 00:25:32,880 no opportunity, other opportunity that they passed out of but again the fact that 404 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:38,480 it clearly wasn't a priority to acquire or find someone to fill that spot that 405 00:25:38,519 --> 00:25:41,799 PJ. Tucker vacated, who's more properly sized or at least has like the 406 00:25:41,839 --> 00:25:45,839 girth to do what he was doing. That's something that I think you can 407 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,039 absolutely hit them for, and you look, if you really want so, 408 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:49,720 you can also say, well, I would have rather of them spent the 409 00:25:49,759 --> 00:25:52,839 full mid level. We don't care about the tax. Yes, it would 410 00:25:52,839 --> 00:25:56,680 have hardcapped to them, and maybe we could have gotten a better player. 411 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,039 I don't know necessarily who was out there, Like, would you have rather 412 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:03,799 have given money to TJ Warren over Kayleb Martin? Were you in the mix 413 00:26:03,839 --> 00:26:07,359 for Otto Porter Junior at all? It's even that much of an upgrade over 414 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,160 Kayla Martin and the aggregate, I think Kayleb Martin is certainly is just going 415 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,680 to have higher upside at this point. But if you want to quibble over 416 00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:17,279 well they didn't actually use all of their best bending tool, I understand that, 417 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,400 but it does at least keep them more flexible on the trade market them 418 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,319 being not hardcap, so I wouldn't call it like an encouraging offseason, but 419 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:27,000 I think it was an eminently okay one, which is reflected in my B 420 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:33,000 minus. Yeah. No, I think I think because it's the Heat one, 421 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,640 and because of the types of deals they chose to do and then things 422 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:40,200 they chose not to do, it feels like we should be expecting this to 423 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,440 be a setup for something bigger, or at least they're positioning themselves so that 424 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:47,079 if something bigger is out there, they can capitalize, whether that's a Mitchell 425 00:26:47,079 --> 00:26:49,599 trade or something else like. That's just always I always am suspicious that the 426 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,519 Heat are, you know, thinking about a move that they may all you 427 00:26:53,519 --> 00:26:56,319 know, that's a couple steps down the line. So that gives me the 428 00:26:56,359 --> 00:27:00,319 most pause with the C minus because this could all just be you know, 429 00:27:00,599 --> 00:27:03,079 stepping stones to the bigger move they want to make just until that happens. 430 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:07,640 That's just I'm just gonna be slightly below average. But I totally get the 431 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:11,119 B minus or even higher if you are really confident that this is all part 432 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:14,960 of some plan that is just we're in phase one of four or something. 433 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,079 I'm not confident about that, which is why just in general, I could 434 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:22,519 I could, I could hear that argument. What do you think about could 435 00:27:22,519 --> 00:27:26,000 you sweeten a deal enough to get Boyar Bardonovitch for Duncan Robinson here and then 436 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:32,400 slot Boyan Bardonovitch into that starting four spots, So be Bam boy On, 437 00:27:32,559 --> 00:27:37,440 Kyle Awry, Jimmy Butler, and oh my god, whom Well, I 438 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:40,079 guess it would be. It wouldn't be Tyler here always coming off the bench, 439 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:41,440 like it could be Victuality Bok, could be Max Strus at that point, 440 00:27:41,759 --> 00:27:44,880 all right, Struce, Yeah, I don't know. I don't know 441 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:48,920 what you I mean, Bogdanovitch is so clearly a better all around player. 442 00:27:51,279 --> 00:27:52,880 I don't know what you've got to throw into I'd I would be into that. 443 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,799 I mean, let's just blow it all the way out, though, 444 00:27:55,799 --> 00:27:57,680 and try to make it for Mitchell and get a third team in there somehow. 445 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:02,519 I mean, that's that's just a satisfying me based on what they've set 446 00:28:02,559 --> 00:28:04,519 themselves up to do as of right now, I don't think they'll have the 447 00:28:04,519 --> 00:28:08,319 best trade package or even the second best trade package for a star. I 448 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:11,400 did think about, like, if you're going lower end, even at Jake 449 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:15,200 bringing back Jake Crowder, they never should have let him go in the first 450 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,000 place. When you're talking about the twenty twenty offseason, and there are just 451 00:28:18,079 --> 00:28:19,839 sort of like Kelly Brady Jr. Even though he's not the best shooter, 452 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,400 but John Collins would be very interesting fit here the Miami's one of my favorite 453 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:27,799 John Collins desensations. That feels like if the Hawks want to sort of like 454 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:33,359 pot stockpile some picks and they're willing to take back Duncan Robinson, that could 455 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,319 be a route that they go. So would you do though, Like is 456 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:42,480 Yovich and your twenty three pick for boy and Bardonovich and then'd be Duncan Robinson? 457 00:28:42,559 --> 00:28:48,319 Is that too much? It feels like you would be the time maybe 458 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,680 just based on the timing, I think, because Robinson's value is about as 459 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:55,960 low as it's been, you know, for several years, and I think 460 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:00,720 Bogdanovich might you know, at his age, and I mean Robinson gets killed 461 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:06,680 defensively, but Bogdanovitch like lately has been bad, So I don't know if 462 00:29:07,039 --> 00:29:10,640 has dropped off. Yeah, for sure, that feels like a lot if 463 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:12,680 it's just Yovich and Robinson, for sure, But I don't know why Utah 464 00:29:12,759 --> 00:29:18,680 does that if it's if it's Boganovich In the twenty three. I mean, 465 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,200 we keep talking about how these picks don't really matter if they're going to be 466 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,240 in the twenties, which you assume the heats would be, so that that 467 00:29:23,319 --> 00:29:26,119 might I might think about that. And then you're I think you're off of 468 00:29:26,119 --> 00:29:30,680 bogdanovitch Is money much sooner than Robinson's. I think there's at least aspiring So 469 00:29:30,759 --> 00:29:34,480 yeah, and Robinson's four years left on his deal. Yeah, so understatement 470 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,480 by me, you're off of his money sooner. Yeah, I'd probably do 471 00:29:37,519 --> 00:29:41,960 that if. I mean the savings just and the flexibility that might afford you 472 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:47,039 alone might be worth it. And what wasn't part of this it could be 473 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:48,680 is what happens with the Tyler Hero extension. I just don't think they're gonna 474 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:52,519 sign him to one because maybe they'll want the flexibility mid season to move him. 475 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:56,039 Yeah, that does it. So I ended up with a B minus, 476 00:29:56,079 --> 00:29:59,920 you ended up where C minus. I'm gonna stick with the C minus. 477 00:30:00,839 --> 00:30:03,799 The Orlando Magic are next. Notable moves include drafting Palo ban Caro at 478 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:10,240 number one after everyone and their mother thought that they were going to take Jabari 479 00:30:10,319 --> 00:30:15,079 Smith Junior. That was such a fascinating just looking at the way, there 480 00:30:15,119 --> 00:30:18,559 was the reporting and whoag backtracking at the last minute, But I digressed there. 481 00:30:18,839 --> 00:30:21,680 The Magic drafted Caleb Houston at number thirty two and then sign him to 482 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,640 a four year, eight point two million dollars deal. First two years are 483 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,839 guaranteed. They resigned Gary Harris to a two year, twenty six million dollar 484 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,799 deal. The second season is non guaranteed. Mobamba signed a two year, 485 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,279 twenty point six million dollar deal. The final season is non guaranteed. They 486 00:30:34,319 --> 00:30:37,079 signed bull Ball to a two year or four point four million dollar deal. 487 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:41,319 Guess what. The final season is non guaranteed. They signed Admiral Schofield and 488 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:45,279 Cavan Harris to two way contracts, and they signed Drake Jefferies to an Exhibit 489 00:30:45,279 --> 00:30:51,599 ten deal. Their notable exits Robin Lopez signed with the Calves. That was 490 00:30:52,039 --> 00:30:56,559 That was just some really hard hitting transactional recapping. Grant, what is your 491 00:30:56,599 --> 00:31:00,680 grade for the Orlando Magic. This is B plus and it's closer to an 492 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:04,720 A minus than a flat B. But I'll just leave it there. The 493 00:31:04,799 --> 00:31:10,440 bank Hero, like the Bank Caro decision was, like you said, a 494 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,519 surprise, but you know, not just because of Summer League, but also 495 00:31:14,599 --> 00:31:17,359 just thinking about like what kind of player he's going to be In theory, 496 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,079 I think he actually makes This is an odd take. I think a lot 497 00:31:19,079 --> 00:31:22,319 of people think this. He makes sense, especially for a team that you 498 00:31:22,359 --> 00:31:26,240 know they're young guards both sugs, Cole Anthony and even folks throw him in 499 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:30,519 there. I'm not confident that you've got an elite like on the ball playmaker 500 00:31:30,799 --> 00:31:33,160 in any of those guys, and just talking about it in like a two 501 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:37,599 or three year time horizon, I just don't know. So if you can 502 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:44,079 get you a significant portion of your offensive initiation from a big wing forward, 503 00:31:44,119 --> 00:31:48,720 really I like the idea of what that opens up for you roster construction wise 504 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:52,759 at other positions. So now you're not stuck just hoping Jalen Sucks learns to 505 00:31:52,759 --> 00:31:56,000 make a shot once in a while, or you know that Cole Anthony is 506 00:31:56,039 --> 00:32:00,160 becomes more of an empty calories guy, or can finish two point that all 507 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:05,200 that stuff. So I like the Bank Carol move. I think it was 508 00:32:05,279 --> 00:32:07,960 kind of bold, and so they get extra credit for that, and then 509 00:32:08,039 --> 00:32:10,680 just the other stuff. One of the best ways to get a high grade 510 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:15,119 for me is just to have a bunch of non guarantees and so the Magic 511 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,759 definitely ticked that box three times. I like the Harris number. I like 512 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:22,839 the Bomba number even because he really showed that he's far from a bus, 513 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:25,279 Like this is a quality backup center now, and I think you know his 514 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:29,720 profile is unusual. He is gonna make some threes, he is gonna block 515 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:31,759 shots. If that's your backup five for ten million a year and you're not 516 00:32:31,839 --> 00:32:37,839 on the hook really at all beyond this season. Great, just making them 517 00:32:37,839 --> 00:32:42,200 non guarantees instead of instead of player options, like, because all those guys 518 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:45,559 could have justified asking for that, and that would have swung this grade totally 519 00:32:45,599 --> 00:32:49,039 the other way. Yeah, I like that offseason. I don't mind losing 520 00:32:49,119 --> 00:32:52,279 Robin Lopez because you've got two centers and Carter and Bomba and you're fine there. 521 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:57,759 So yeah, I think it's a B plus, but if you make 522 00:32:57,759 --> 00:33:00,200 a strong case, I might move it up. Although I don't know where 523 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:02,240 you are on them, I have any minus for them, which is I 524 00:33:02,279 --> 00:33:06,279 think people might think that's weird because they were a bad team that didn't do 525 00:33:06,359 --> 00:33:09,079 much. I think I would have I had Ben Caro was my top pick, 526 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:13,400 and I think even if he doesn't pan out, and you alluded to 527 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:17,240 this. They just needed that guy who profiles as the offensive pollstar, and 528 00:33:17,319 --> 00:33:21,559 that wasn't it could I guess in theory it was never gonna be chet Home 529 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,640 Grin. People are trying to scale out and yes maybe. And then Jabari 530 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:28,599 Smith Junior was supposed to be more polished, but after Summer League gets like, 531 00:33:28,599 --> 00:33:30,720 well, he's very clearly more versatile on defense than he is on offense, 532 00:33:30,759 --> 00:33:34,759 which isn't like a bad thing by any stretch. They went with the 533 00:33:34,839 --> 00:33:38,279 guy who was just going to check every single offensive box possible. He could 534 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:44,599 end up being their best passer. And they haven't had that guy in forever, 535 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,680 Like we're talking about like since Team AC or Grant Hill. Who's been 536 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:52,160 the last time they've had like that primary just like offensive centerpiece that was worth 537 00:33:52,559 --> 00:33:58,759 being dubbed such. So I love that they went that route. And then 538 00:33:59,279 --> 00:34:01,680 Gary Harris for anyone who wasn't watching the Magic or wasn't BEng closes off attention 539 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,400 had a really good year last season, shot like fifty percent on drives. 540 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,800 His three point shot was back solid defense. Your spot on with Mo Bamba. 541 00:34:08,119 --> 00:34:12,199 It does feel like I almost went to an a. It still feels 542 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:15,719 like this team skews too far towards having not enough wings because they have Terrence 543 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:20,800 Ross and Jalen Suggs who are like two's and swingman. Even Mark cut Holes 544 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:22,239 he's bigger for a guard, but he's not a wing. You have Franz 545 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:27,519 Wagner, but I view him and Chumokeke is combo forwards more than two threes 546 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,480 or even a pure three. Maybe Caleb Houston turns into that for you, 547 00:34:30,599 --> 00:34:34,639 but that's like if we're throwing eggs in the basket of Caleb Houston. Gary 548 00:34:34,639 --> 00:34:37,800 Harris just a little small. So like Gary Harris or Franz Wagner is their 549 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:42,000 best wing, and I don't think that either qualify as a like a true 550 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:46,199 wing to not go he like more aggressively after that type of player. Again, 551 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:49,519 I didn't really hit them with that hard. I gave them an a 552 00:34:49,639 --> 00:34:52,480 minus. And also when you look at Oh, it feels like they have 553 00:34:52,519 --> 00:34:55,239 so many bigs. Wendell Carter Junior. That contract is a fucking steal. 554 00:34:57,039 --> 00:35:00,400 I have him as just a potential all start to watch next season because he 555 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:04,519 was so good last year. And look, we don't know when Jonathan Isaac 556 00:35:04,559 --> 00:35:07,920 is coming back. He had another setback their hope was that he was going 557 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:09,880 to be ready towards the beginning of the season. But we've heard zilch zip 558 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:14,239 not a about his timeline, so it all is going to kind of work 559 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,400 out. And by the way, I'm not advocating they do this all the 560 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:20,920 time. They were a team that played dual biggs a lot Bomba and Wendel 561 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:23,320 Carter Junior played a bunch together. Now you have Ben Caro into that so 562 00:35:23,519 --> 00:35:27,719 and when Jonathan Isaac when he eventually comes back. But they can play big 563 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,159 still, so it's not like they're actually overloaded with bigs. I just feel 564 00:35:30,159 --> 00:35:35,280 like they're sort of a wing deficit. That being said, I loved what 565 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:39,760 they did this offseason, and it also I think showed further commitment to the 566 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:44,000 rebuild, where yes, what could they have done that wouldn't have shown that, 567 00:35:44,039 --> 00:35:45,599 but like they didn't go out and they could have had a ship ton 568 00:35:45,639 --> 00:35:49,480 of cap space, They didn't sign these long term contracts. They didn't go 569 00:35:49,519 --> 00:35:52,679 after an Anthony Simons or you know, like even a Colin Sexton or get 570 00:35:52,679 --> 00:35:59,360 into Miles Bridges sweepstakes that don't exist at this point. So I like respect 571 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,360 that graduate will approach because It's something that they ascued for so long that I'm 572 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:06,039 just very appreciative of it, and so it was it was actually a pretty 573 00:36:06,079 --> 00:36:08,400 easy A minus for me. Yeah, I think too, there's some upside. 574 00:36:09,079 --> 00:36:14,679 There's definitely upside with both Harris and Bomba as trade ships, because you 575 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:16,440 know there's gonna be a team everybody, you know, Like you said, 576 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:21,400 Harris isn't quite the right size, but he's gonna fit anywhere, and you 577 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:23,280 can. I mean, look what Dallas gave JaVale McGee because it decided it 578 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:28,280 needed rim protection like Bomba's. If there's a playoff team that's like, man, 579 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:30,840 we gotta have the option of someone in there just to shut things down 580 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,599 around the basket. So I don't know if either of those guys individually is 581 00:36:34,639 --> 00:36:37,440 worth a future. First at the trade deadline put protections on it, but 582 00:36:37,519 --> 00:36:42,039 like you know, neither of them I don't think feature prominently in Orlando's like 583 00:36:42,079 --> 00:36:45,440 biggest of big picture thoughts, and I think those are They're both flippable and 584 00:36:45,679 --> 00:36:51,119 the non guarantees make it even better. So they they they didn't play the 585 00:36:51,119 --> 00:36:53,519 cap space game, but they also kind of did because they're still in position 586 00:36:53,639 --> 00:36:58,239 to take back some bad money with a pick and send out you know one 587 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,719 or two of these guys that is the future piece. So I think short 588 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:07,320 of just leaving the cap space open like say Indiana or San Antonio, this 589 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:09,880 was this is how. This is how a bad team should sort of allocate 590 00:37:10,519 --> 00:37:15,119 its room, I think, And they roll over their flexibility just next summer 591 00:37:15,159 --> 00:37:17,000 where they could have fifty five plus million in cap space again. And look 592 00:37:17,039 --> 00:37:20,800 the other thing they can do. You already mentioned it because they have those 593 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:25,519 Harris and Bomba like basically expiring deals like there is an option on the table 594 00:37:25,519 --> 00:37:29,760 if everything works out and all parties involved agree to it, you're taking back 595 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,039 bad money attached to other assets too. Or by the way, this is 596 00:37:32,079 --> 00:37:36,039 a team because of the type of salaries they now have, and then the 597 00:37:36,079 --> 00:37:37,960 pick commitments that they have. They have a future Denver pick, they have 598 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,480 a future Bulls pick, they have all their own picks. If they're better 599 00:37:40,519 --> 00:37:44,400 than expected and Donovan Mitchell is still floating around out there or something like, 600 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:46,159 they could get involved in that type of deal. I'm not saying they will, 601 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:50,960 but they're just built to go any direction at this point, and even 602 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,000 more so than they were last season when we knew they'd already detonated everything, 603 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:59,280 and look, Terrence Ross expiring contracts still floating around in there too. So 604 00:37:59,519 --> 00:38:01,719 I think this was just not a picture perfect offseason. But the Mavericks are 605 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:07,760 sort of heading in a picture perfect direction because of the flexibility and the optionality 606 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,840 that they've afforded themselves. Yep. Agree, that was a very quick just 607 00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:15,719 a bunch of positive thoughts on the Orlando Magic ron to the Washington Wizards. 608 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,159 I have a feeling will be less positive on this team. Notable moves include 609 00:38:19,199 --> 00:38:22,480 drafting Johnny Davis at number ten. They signed Bradley bealble a five year, 610 00:38:22,519 --> 00:38:24,719 two hundred and fifty one million dollar deal, and then they included a fifteen 611 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:28,599 percent trade kicker, and then they included a no trade clause, and then 612 00:38:28,599 --> 00:38:31,800 they included a fifty seven million dollar player option in the final season when he 613 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:36,320 would be entering his age thirty three campaign. They signed a Lon Right to 614 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,159 a two year, sixteen million dollars deal. They signed a FI Guild to 615 00:38:38,199 --> 00:38:42,599 a two year eight point three million dollars deal. They acquired Wilbarton and Monte 616 00:38:42,679 --> 00:38:45,440 Morris for Ish Smith and contabious called Will Pope. They signed Taj Gibson to 617 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:50,239 a one year VET minimum, and then they signed mccore maker to an Exhibit 618 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:53,119 ten deal. Notable exits include Howel Netto, who signed with the Calves, 619 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:58,400 and Thomas Bryant, who signed with the Lakers. Grant, I'm very curious 620 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:02,159 to know what grade you gave the Wizards. So this is a d I 621 00:39:02,159 --> 00:39:09,119 am totally open to the f argument and maybe so just frame it this way, 622 00:39:09,159 --> 00:39:14,800 so the only thing that the Wizards did this offseason that has like that 623 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:20,559 will fundamentally affect this whole operation for the next five years and maybe beyond that, 624 00:39:20,559 --> 00:39:22,199 because sometimes when you get a deal like this, talking about Bill, 625 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:28,039 the fallout is it's more than the length of the contract because once it's over, 626 00:39:28,599 --> 00:39:31,679 you're sort of like, well the dust is only just settling and you're 627 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:37,840 at zero. So the beal contract, I think is like is a fatal 628 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:44,199 decision. And like, again, we spent previous pods saying, well, 629 00:39:44,239 --> 00:39:51,079 maybe we shouldn't be punishing the team for positions that prior decisions liked forced them 630 00:39:51,119 --> 00:39:54,079 into, and speaking specifically about Bill, he shouldn't he should have been traded 631 00:39:54,159 --> 00:39:58,199 two years ago, or you know, slightly worse than that. One year 632 00:39:58,239 --> 00:40:01,679 ago or last just you have to trade him because you get into this position 633 00:40:01,719 --> 00:40:07,079 and now you've maxed out a guy who I think his best years maybe behind 634 00:40:07,159 --> 00:40:09,559 him, and his best years topped out as like he was an all star. 635 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,880 He scored a bunch of points, but the team was no good with 636 00:40:13,960 --> 00:40:16,039 him playing just as well as he possibly could not all his fault. But 637 00:40:16,119 --> 00:40:22,320 we're just not talking about a cornerstone. We're not who's ever been a cornerstone. 638 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:24,199 So it's not even like we're paying him for past performance. We're paying 639 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:29,159 him more than his past performance at his peak suggested he was worth. And 640 00:40:29,159 --> 00:40:32,719 so the trend line of his career is either flat or heading down. I 641 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:37,280 just you just can't do. Like the no trade claus is like kind of 642 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:42,119 we're all everybody's joking about it, but it's just like it just speaks to 643 00:40:42,119 --> 00:40:46,039 me of a franchise that is not operating like other franchises, and like in 644 00:40:46,079 --> 00:40:50,559 a bad way. It just it doesn't It doesn't make sense. Nobody gets 645 00:40:50,599 --> 00:40:55,519 these, let alone someone that is not a top ten player is maybe a 646 00:40:55,559 --> 00:41:00,599 top twenty guy. I don't know. So I like the Delon Right signing, 647 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:05,440 like everything else is Okay, the Barton and Morris for ish Smith and 648 00:41:05,519 --> 00:41:09,960 cacyp trade, you know, different types of players sort of you could talk 649 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:13,800 yourself into it. Morris fills the real need as a point guard on this 650 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:17,719 roster. Those are fine. I just they don't really matter because it's because 651 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:22,400 what's happened now is this franchise is committed as much as it possibly could to 652 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:25,960 a player who is not going to return, you know, sufficient You're not 653 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:30,920 going to have a sufficient return on that investment, and it just hamstrings your 654 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:36,599 whole operation for a very long time. And so like, if all you 655 00:41:36,639 --> 00:41:38,480 cared about is that it's an F, I only give the D, give 656 00:41:38,559 --> 00:41:43,840 the bump up to the D range just because there are a couple other things 657 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,239 that were like logically defensible. So I don't know, it's just it bums 658 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:50,559 me out. I just don't understand. I don't like it when teams make 659 00:41:50,559 --> 00:41:52,400 these decisions because we just know what we're in for, right, we know 660 00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:55,880 what this is gonna look like. I think, yes, I gave him 661 00:41:55,920 --> 00:42:00,480 a D plus and I did consider a C minus because I like the delaun 662 00:42:00,599 --> 00:42:05,119 Right signing. And then you can I think there's debate as to who's the 663 00:42:05,119 --> 00:42:07,559 best player in that Nuggets Wizards deal as a KCP or Monte Morris, but 664 00:42:07,599 --> 00:42:12,639 you took what was one NBA rotation player and turned him into two basically in 665 00:42:12,679 --> 00:42:15,000 Monte Morris and Will Barton, who could still he's regressed the past two years, 666 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:20,199 but he's still better than as Smith and now another person that can give 667 00:42:20,239 --> 00:42:23,559 you some secondary playmaking on top of Bradley Beal. And then I hope they 668 00:42:23,599 --> 00:42:28,360 give Denny Avia more responsibility and you have Delaan right and Monte Morris now this 669 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:31,159 season. I'm also fine with the Taj Gibson contract. I think after losing 670 00:42:31,159 --> 00:42:35,920 Thomas Bryant to get him on the Vets minimum is good. I actually thought 671 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:39,360 bringing back Anthony Gill was smart. I don't have strong thoughts on Johnny Davis, 672 00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:43,440 but they are sort of banking a lot on oh his offensive Roman College 673 00:42:43,519 --> 00:42:47,719 was so complicated and over taxing. That's what accounts for his diminished efficiency, 674 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:52,599 particularly last season. So there's an element of risk there. But they also 675 00:42:52,639 --> 00:42:55,079 didn't trade the number ten pick for Malcolm Brogden. The D plus is entirely 676 00:42:55,119 --> 00:43:01,320 because they have put themselves at the mercy of Bradley Beal. I'm not. 677 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:04,440 I don't have a problem. If they would have just given him the five 678 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:07,320 year or two hundred and fifty one million dollars deal, this would have looked 679 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:12,119 drastically different if that player option was there. This looks drastically different. But 680 00:43:12,199 --> 00:43:15,159 because and even fuck the trade kicker, I don't know, there's always workarounds. 681 00:43:15,159 --> 00:43:20,440 Maybe he even waves it or whatever. The no trade clause gives him 682 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:23,400 just carte blanc over not only where he goes, but when he goes. 683 00:43:23,719 --> 00:43:28,280 And yes, we know how it works. Players can ask out whenever, 684 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:30,880 and teams sometimes or most of the time, in good faith, are going 685 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:35,199 to take into account their their preferences. Look what's happening with Kevin Durant right 686 00:43:35,239 --> 00:43:37,639 now, though, and Kevin Durant's a better player than Bradley Beale. They're 687 00:43:37,639 --> 00:43:40,599 on similar age trajectories. When you think about it. Bradley Beale is substantially 688 00:43:40,679 --> 00:43:44,280 younger, but Bradley Beal requests out. After a year or two of this 689 00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:46,559 deal, it'll be closer to the age that Durant is headed into now. 690 00:43:47,920 --> 00:43:51,400 Like the Nets, we don't know what they're gonna get for KD, but 691 00:43:51,480 --> 00:43:53,960 they have more leverage in this situation than the Wizards would have with Beal because 692 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:58,360 they just can't send bal wherever they want. And it's just I don't know 693 00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:00,039 what it speaks to. I don't know why they felt they needed to do 694 00:44:00,079 --> 00:44:02,320 this. And if Bradley Beale said, well, I'm just going to leave 695 00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:06,239 all this money on the table and go elsewhere at that point, if he's 696 00:44:06,280 --> 00:44:08,280 willing to burn the bridge, when you've shown that you're going to give him 697 00:44:08,320 --> 00:44:12,239 this money. And I'm not saying they were doing him a favor even though 698 00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:15,920 I review him as a sub Supermax player. I'm an agreement that they should 699 00:44:15,920 --> 00:44:17,480 have moved him seasons ago, which is why I think they needed to resign 700 00:44:17,559 --> 00:44:21,760 him now. Yes, Bradley Beale had all the leverage at some point, 701 00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:24,000 though the market had to dictate some of that lead bridge. And if he 702 00:44:24,039 --> 00:44:25,920 said he was going to go leave a bunch of money on the table and 703 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:30,320 head elsewhere, do it like when it gets to that point of contention, 704 00:44:30,360 --> 00:44:32,360 when you're already putting a five year max on the table, I wouldn't have 705 00:44:32,360 --> 00:44:36,960 a problem with teams doing that. Good for Bradley Beale that he's gained ultimate 706 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:39,320 control over his fate while he's under contract good, great for him. I 707 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:44,079 don't understand why the Wizards did it, and now they can't. They can't 708 00:44:44,119 --> 00:44:47,760 even they don't even get to decide how or when they would detour or deviate 709 00:44:47,800 --> 00:44:52,480 away from this direction. You're basically either saying, well, we're gonna just 710 00:44:52,639 --> 00:44:55,159 run the treadmill of mediocrity toil Beal's done with it, or they're obligated. 711 00:44:55,320 --> 00:44:59,679 They've been mentioned that Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes. I actually think their package, if 712 00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:01,559 they can finagle it. I don't think the Knicks are gonna unprotect that pick 713 00:45:01,599 --> 00:45:05,360 THEO, but if you trust that that pick's going to convey in twenty three 714 00:45:05,480 --> 00:45:09,079 or twenty four, they can offer some really aggressive star packages featuring Denny Avdya, 715 00:45:09,159 --> 00:45:13,760 who I know we're both fairly high on, especially defensively, but like, 716 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:17,599 you've just limited your options in what was already a situation where you didn't 717 00:45:17,639 --> 00:45:22,400 have a ton of leverage or malluability to begin with, and now you're just 718 00:45:22,679 --> 00:45:24,960 the rigidity is off the charts here, and I just don't understand how he 719 00:45:25,039 --> 00:45:29,920 had the leverage to get it. No trade clause. That is a fundamental 720 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:34,960 franchise mail practice. Yeah, I agree, it's so I just just to 721 00:45:35,880 --> 00:45:40,880 think of it, try to like reframe this. What is the if everything 722 00:45:40,920 --> 00:45:45,480 goes right, Like, what's your upside? You finished fifth in the East, 723 00:45:46,239 --> 00:45:51,639 I mean four, and that's your peak, Like that's what you did 724 00:45:51,639 --> 00:45:55,639 this for. I just don't you know. But it's like with that's assuming 725 00:45:55,679 --> 00:46:00,159 the alternative was just losing bal for nothing or an assign and trade, which 726 00:46:00,159 --> 00:46:04,159 I think you could argue wasn't the worst outcome. It's just it's going a 727 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:07,440 step too far after knowing you were probably are already gonna have to go a 728 00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:12,199 couple of steps too far. And I just the logic here is just brain 729 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:15,360 bendingly dumb. By the ways. This isn't I think Bradley Bills. But 730 00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:19,880 and he also he negotiates this after he has like one of the worst seasons 731 00:46:19,920 --> 00:46:23,679 of or the worst season of his prime. Right, I just I don't 732 00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:28,679 understand it. I would rather, I would rather it would have been to 733 00:46:28,719 --> 00:46:31,159 get into this position. That's that to me, that's the that's the total 734 00:46:31,199 --> 00:46:36,039 failure, up and down the executive ladder and ownership, whoever else, whoever 735 00:46:36,119 --> 00:46:40,920 factored into the decision getting less. And you should be disappointed, Tommy Shepherd. 736 00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:45,159 Two. But this definitely falls on ted leonsis so all I'm saying is 737 00:46:45,599 --> 00:46:49,039 you got into a shitty position where you sort of felt you had to pay 738 00:46:49,119 --> 00:46:51,880 this much forget the no trade, forget it. You just had to pay 739 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:54,360 this much for bial I would rather if I'm the Wizards, he just walked 740 00:46:54,599 --> 00:46:59,199 and and like it's a terrible look because all this stuff about you should have 741 00:46:59,239 --> 00:47:04,000 traded him still applies, but you've just compounded the error now. I mean, 742 00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:07,280 it's so I would rather just go into this season without him on. 743 00:47:07,719 --> 00:47:10,519 Again, great for him, We're just let's let's be one hundred percent clear, 744 00:47:10,639 --> 00:47:14,440 super glad he got this money, Like, great for him, great 745 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:19,000 negotiating, awesome, just get what you can. But like, if I'm 746 00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:22,199 the Wizards, I would just rather have the roster spot and not be committed 747 00:47:22,199 --> 00:47:24,360 for a quarter billion dollars. Like that's just And when you put it that 748 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:28,920 way, it's like, well, no shit, but that's just I mean, 749 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:30,960 how how damning is that when you're talking about a guy that just signed. 750 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:35,280 It's not like this is Russell Westbrooks starting last year. It's like he 751 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:37,880 hasn't even collected a check yet, and we're saying this is a catastrophe, 752 00:47:38,159 --> 00:47:40,639 like, that's been a long time since we've had a deal like that. 753 00:47:42,119 --> 00:47:45,159 And with Russ, Yeah, we didn't even say it with Roster, like 754 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:47,719 when John wall signed it. Ironically the Wizards gave out that you should know, 755 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:52,639 but the Wizards. But it's it's not even so much about the return 756 00:47:52,679 --> 00:47:55,880 of value on the contract of like now you just don't even have the authority 757 00:47:57,280 --> 00:48:01,360 to change directions at all. And that's like the more you could talk me. 758 00:48:01,400 --> 00:48:05,519 It's like Bradley Beale becoming an All NBA player for the next three years. 759 00:48:05,840 --> 00:48:07,880 It's the no trade clause when he is not. Yes, there was 760 00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:10,920 only a handful of players eligible for one, he is not even in a 761 00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:15,440 vacuum. How many players are you genuinely willing to give a no trade class 762 00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:19,760 too? In the NBA? Maybe ten, it's not slightly more. Bradley 763 00:48:19,800 --> 00:48:21,920 Beale is not one of them. The thing is, though, even even 764 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:24,320 if there are those guys, the fact that nobody does it means you don't 765 00:48:24,360 --> 00:48:28,719 have to. Like even if like Steph Curry doesn't have a no trade clause, 766 00:48:28,760 --> 00:48:30,320 Yokis doesn't have no trade clause, you just you don't have to do 767 00:48:30,360 --> 00:48:32,960 it. No, it's not done. It's so if those guys had it, 768 00:48:34,239 --> 00:48:37,719 and then on down the line, fine, like maybe, but that's 769 00:48:37,760 --> 00:48:39,960 a long ass line until he gets to Bradley Bill needing a no trade clause. 770 00:48:40,239 --> 00:48:44,760 And this is just to be clear, it's different from us criticizing the 771 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:47,039 Calves run office for not paying Colin Sexton. And it was pointed out to 772 00:48:47,039 --> 00:48:50,519 me by Justin Row into the Chasdown Pod that the Calves were also need to 773 00:48:50,519 --> 00:48:52,800 clear a roster spot that not technically for the off season, but they're ready 774 00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:58,280 fifteen players. But my point being like they're low balling him. You were 775 00:48:58,320 --> 00:49:00,960 already giving Bradley Beale his acts in addition to a player option, in addition 776 00:49:01,000 --> 00:49:06,719 to the trade kicker like it just too many steps too far. To recap 777 00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:09,320 the grades that we gave out on this podcast, I gave the Hawks a 778 00:49:09,440 --> 00:49:13,800 B. Both Grant and I gave the Hawks a B minus. Charlotte got 779 00:49:13,840 --> 00:49:16,639 a D plus from the both of us, although I thought I did, 780 00:49:16,639 --> 00:49:21,599 I put mine to a C minus whatever same difference that one. Oh you 781 00:49:21,639 --> 00:49:22,760 did, Okay, so there you go. D plus is for the Charlotte 782 00:49:22,760 --> 00:49:25,199 Hornets from us. The Miami Heat got a B minus for me. And 783 00:49:25,239 --> 00:49:28,880 is C minus from Grant. The Orlando Magic got an A minus for me 784 00:49:28,880 --> 00:49:30,559 and a B plus from Grant. I gave the Wizards a D plus. 785 00:49:30,719 --> 00:49:35,599 I love Monte Morris that much, and Grant gave them a d H. 786 00:49:36,519 --> 00:49:38,480 Please remember to follow us on all the shows socials. Grant is at GT 787 00:49:38,679 --> 00:49:43,559 Underscore Hughes. It's in the podcast description as is mine and in the YouTube 788 00:49:43,599 --> 00:49:46,039 description as well. Join our discord the links to that they're in the podcast 789 00:49:46,079 --> 00:49:51,400 on YouTube description and subscribe to YouTube and the podcast. And this is your 790 00:49:51,400 --> 00:49:53,159 first time checking us out, and feel free to go over and throw likes 791 00:49:53,159 --> 00:49:57,559 and nice comments our way on YouTube because we're getting hammered right now since this 792 00:49:57,639 --> 00:50:01,599 is not all hunky dory pech keen everything when we're talking about single teams until 793 00:50:01,639 --> 00:50:04,880 next time. And like always, we can shout out to the one, 794 00:50:05,239 --> 00:50:09,320 the only, the real player who deserves a no trade claus in the NBA, Frank Yokino