1 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:20,960 What is Kracklack and Varga Knox listeners, I am Daft Valley coming at you 2 00:00:21,039 --> 00:00:25,839 with Noahmgaro. George, thank you so much for hopping on to talk some 3 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,079 San Antonio Spurs with this podcast. This podcast, specifically I told you before 4 00:00:30,079 --> 00:00:34,960 we started recording, is endlessly fascinated with the Spurs after the Dejante Murray trade, 5 00:00:35,119 --> 00:00:37,399 which I said without a character, but it's like, all right, 6 00:00:37,399 --> 00:00:40,679 they signed and trade de Marduro's and last offseason they traded Derek White the trade 7 00:00:40,679 --> 00:00:44,679 deadline. Maybe it's time to start re evaluating the character of this franchise. 8 00:00:45,039 --> 00:00:49,880 However, before we belly flop into all things Spurs, the most important question, 9 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,600 Noah, how are you doing. I'm great, I'm really excited. 10 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,679 I'm getting prepared to go to Summer League soon so always enjoy being in Vegas. 11 00:00:57,719 --> 00:01:00,159 So just great, honestly, really really great. I hope you're doing 12 00:01:00,159 --> 00:01:04,040 well too. I'm spectacular over here. And the one as someone who is 13 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,560 whose employer wants them to go to Summer League and I constantly refused, I 14 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,239 encourage you to overreact to summer League. I think it's funny when people get 15 00:01:12,239 --> 00:01:17,319 mad when people are excited about summer League, like the Chet home grin stuff 16 00:01:17,799 --> 00:01:22,879 on Tuesday night or whatever that was, overreact, Chet Homer is gonna be 17 00:01:22,879 --> 00:01:25,760 the best basketball player in NBA history. He's gonna be honest and Pat and 18 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,159 Derek and Katie all rolled into one. I don't care what happened on Wednesday 19 00:01:29,239 --> 00:01:32,920 night, but thank you so much for hopping on before you go to Summer 20 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,319 League. And with regard to the Spurs, we have to start here, 21 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,840 and that's with are you still upset that they moved drew you bet less? 22 00:01:40,879 --> 00:01:45,400 No? Sorry? Is the Dejante Murray trade? Like? What were your 23 00:01:45,719 --> 00:01:48,799 thoughts about it now that you've had time to sort of ruminate on it, 24 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,319 And what do you think it says about their their overarching direction? Now? 25 00:01:55,319 --> 00:01:59,200 I think it was the right decision for the San Antonio Spurs. They were 26 00:01:59,239 --> 00:02:01,879 a team that if Jeante Murray's your best player and you didn't really have an 27 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:07,000 avenue to get another superstar anytime soon, you're not good enough to probably make 28 00:02:07,039 --> 00:02:09,360 the playoffs, or even if you made the playoffs, make a deep run, 29 00:02:09,719 --> 00:02:14,879 but you're also not bad enough to just outright tank and get a top 30 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:16,719 five pick without a ton of luck. So I think when you're looking at 31 00:02:16,759 --> 00:02:20,919 de Gante Murray, he's a guy who, Yeah, he's only gonna be 32 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,840 twenty six years old, he just came off of his first All Star appearance. 33 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:28,520 But did you really want to pay him in twenty twenty four potentially five 34 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,960 year, two hundred and fifteen million dollar max contract. And for me, 35 00:02:31,479 --> 00:02:35,599 the answer is no. And I think apparently the answer was no for the 36 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,360 Spurs two and for me looking at it from what they did, I think 37 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,599 they're ready for a rebuild. I mean they, like you said, they 38 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:44,560 moved on from Derek White, they moved on from Dejante Murray, they moved 39 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,560 on from Demarturoz and LaMarcus Aldridge. I mean, all these guys who were 40 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:51,360 pillars of this team for the last couple of years, and now they're left 41 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,639 with a team that right now is only an average age of about twenty three 42 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,439 point two years old. So it seems like a rebuild is on the way. 43 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:01,759 And that's just oring any other trades or moves. But that's very young 44 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:07,759 for the Spurs, who were consistently the elder statesman of the league. Do 45 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,280 you think that like the Derek White trade just because it happened in the middle 46 00:03:10,319 --> 00:03:14,039 of the season, portended any of this or do you think this was very 47 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,919 much You know, Dejan Dymurray became extension knowledgeable this summer. They're probably trying 48 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,520 to get a feel if he'd be open to one, and once he I'm 49 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,639 assuming says no, which for him, you absolutely say no, just because 50 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,879 based on the rays they could have given him, if he hit the open 51 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,840 market today, he would probably get a MAX. Well, there's very little 52 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:31,080 cafspace friendly, but if he hit the open market this summer, even with 53 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,960 limited cap space, he probably would have had a MAX offer on the table. 54 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,280 Do you think it was like sort of that type of situation or do 55 00:03:38,319 --> 00:03:42,080 you think that they were really kind of contemplating this right around when they made 56 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,919 that Derek White trade. Yeah, the Derek White trade is super interesting. 57 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,000 When I'm looking at the Derek White trade, I feel like the Spurs had 58 00:03:50,039 --> 00:03:52,840 a goal of making the playoffs, Like, regardless if they were going to 59 00:03:52,879 --> 00:03:54,039 make it, they were fighting for the play and they wanted to get in 60 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:59,080 the playoffs. Derek White probably could have helped them a little bit, but 61 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,120 he also has the second option next to de Jan tay Murray is a guy 62 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:05,879 who also is pretty streaky from three wasn't necessarily the biggest or best compliment next 63 00:04:05,919 --> 00:04:10,280 to DJ felt like it was right to move him. You know, he 64 00:04:10,319 --> 00:04:13,439 peak of his value, get some draft picks back, you get Josh Richardson 65 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,360 back, who's sort of a better fit off the bench or maybe even as 66 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,959 a starter. So I felt like when they moved him, it was sort 67 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:20,879 of to see, like, hey, what does Lonnie Walker have? What 68 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,639 does Josh Primo have to offer? And you know, depending on what they 69 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,879 show us, that might determine which direction we go this offseason. I felt 70 00:04:29,879 --> 00:04:32,480 like, you look, the Spurs missed the plan. Lonnie Walker became expendable, 71 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,480 Josh Primo looked okay in Spurts, I think they just looked at that 72 00:04:36,519 --> 00:04:39,600 and they said, hey, it's time for a rebuild. I don't think 73 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,720 that we can build around the gene while giving him that big contract number that 74 00:04:43,759 --> 00:04:46,000 we talked about a second ago. So maybe it was a little bit of 75 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,040 a precursor, but it did feel like at them in the moment, it 76 00:04:49,079 --> 00:04:53,000 felt like they were still trying to compete for something, even if that something 77 00:04:53,079 --> 00:04:56,800 was just the play game. And I think what probably wasn't talked enough at 78 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,680 the time of that trade, and we weren't that our movement. They used 79 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,639 to go seemed like out of their way before last season to not play denoted 80 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,800 de Jante Murray together, and so that's why I looked at it was just 81 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,040 like, yeah, maybe this isn't that. And I also thought that the 82 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:14,439 perception of Josh Richardson veered too far away from reality. I was like, 83 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:15,759 I thought he was good with the Celtics lash year. I thought he was 84 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,000 fine for the Spurs. But if you say Josh Richardson is good, I 85 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:24,879 feel like Celtics and Sixers fans, yeah, like you really. I like 86 00:05:24,959 --> 00:05:27,240 Josh Richardson a lot. To be honest with you, I think I think, 87 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,879 right now, give up a first round pick for Josh Richardson, not 88 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,399 like a super high one, but if you were a contender and the Spurs 89 00:05:31,399 --> 00:05:34,040 are tearing it down, like, yeah, give me, give me Josh 90 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,399 Richardson if I don't need him to do off the dribble stuff. He showed 91 00:05:36,439 --> 00:05:40,720 some of that in Miami. Clearly that must have been like the Miami sauce 92 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,319 where you don't want it to know necessarily rely on players the same way the 93 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,079 heat do. But yeah, is there the thing that I'm actually this is 94 00:05:47,079 --> 00:05:50,199 the question I was dying, and it's it's nice that I can naturally put 95 00:05:50,199 --> 00:05:54,480 it at the top because it's related. I just does this trade, say, 96 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,759 have any implications for Pop because it few even right now, like that 97 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,399 he could retire while we're recording this podcast, and I don't think anyone would 98 00:06:01,399 --> 00:06:05,120 textually be surprised, even if it was a little shocking. But like I 99 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,240 think last season specifically, when you listen to him and watch him on the 100 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:14,759 sidelines, he seemed it felt like he was reinvigorated and maybe really appreciates like 101 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:19,000 this opportunity to coach like the youth movement. At the same time, now 102 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:24,720 you've kind of just completely deviated from even chasing a play in birth? Is 103 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:27,720 this just like Pop is totally okay with it. He'll leave when he leaves 104 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,319 anyway, which could be after next season, or is there maybe and maybe 105 00:06:30,319 --> 00:06:34,079 I'm just reading or really don't ever want him to leave? Could he be 106 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,879 around just a little bit longer than we expected because he just wants to see 107 00:06:36,879 --> 00:06:41,079 this through to like, if not the end, like maybe the more middle 108 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,959 stages of what again clearly just looks like a full scale rebuild at this moment. 109 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:46,920 Yeah, I think Pop's gonna be here for a few more years. 110 00:06:46,959 --> 00:06:50,839 And I think you're absolutely right that he felt reinvigorated. That's something that he 111 00:06:50,879 --> 00:06:55,360 talked about in press conferences from the beginning of the season to the middle of 112 00:06:55,399 --> 00:06:58,560 the season to the end of the season that he really enjoys being able to 113 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,839 coach up these young guys in a way that wasn't really available for him when 114 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:09,160 he had David Robinson or Sean Elliott and Duncan Monu Tony Like competing year in 115 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,199 and year out for titles. Of course, those guys need coaching, but 116 00:07:12,279 --> 00:07:15,600 in a very different way than guys who are learning how to play basketball at 117 00:07:15,639 --> 00:07:18,480 the professional level, like a Malachi Brandam or a Josh Primo or even a 118 00:07:18,519 --> 00:07:23,560 de Gentte Murray. And I think the most interesting thing from all of this 119 00:07:23,639 --> 00:07:27,439 was Mike Finger from the San Antonio Express News said that it was confirmed to 120 00:07:27,519 --> 00:07:30,120 him that Popovich gave this blessing for the de gen Te Murray trade and that 121 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,120 he's completely on board for coaching a bunch of young guys this year. And 122 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,560 so for me, if he's on board coaching the young guys, and he 123 00:07:36,639 --> 00:07:42,399 spoke really highly and really just with a different demeanor than we've seen in the 124 00:07:42,439 --> 00:07:45,560 last couple of years. It feels like he's going to be around for maybe 125 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,040 a couple more years. But I would be a little bit surprised if he 126 00:07:48,079 --> 00:07:53,720 called it quits this summer. I really would. I feel like I'd be 127 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:57,720 heartbroken basically, And like that was the one My reaction to Gen Murray trade 128 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,319 was like, I think this is good for this Burs' future. Just I 129 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:01,879 didn't you had to be I'm assuming shocked. And how many first round picks 130 00:08:01,879 --> 00:08:05,560 they really get out in the Hawks in that deal? Right? Yeah? 131 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:09,079 Oh my god? Yeah, two unprotected a lottery protected a pick swap, 132 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,399 like, yeah, they got a lot for de Jean Tamar. I know 133 00:08:11,439 --> 00:08:15,079 that they were. I think Jake Fisher said that they were looking for something 134 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,160 like a Drew holiday package and they kind of got that. So I would 135 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:22,160 be happy if I'm a Spurs fan. Yeah, And that was my one 136 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,680 like lamentation was, Oh, if this is gonna be pops last season, 137 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,439 it would have been cool to see him coach for something, But if he's 138 00:08:28,439 --> 00:08:31,560 gonna be around, and I had not seen that, Like people thought that's 139 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,240 how I guess out of touch. I am with that sentiment that he was 140 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,000 going to be around a little bit longer. That actually makes me if moving 141 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:39,360 de Jean des Murrays would it take to get Pop for another two to three 142 00:08:39,399 --> 00:08:43,759 years instead of just one, I'm all for it are and I'm worried about 143 00:08:43,759 --> 00:08:48,279 even asking this question in this way. The Spurs clearly aren't done this offseason, 144 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,480 But do you expect any other like biggish moves in the sense of would 145 00:08:52,519 --> 00:08:58,039 you predict any of the veterans like a Peardle or Richardson or mc buckets is 146 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,279 on the move? Do you expect them to maybe you attached themselves to the 147 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,320 Kevin Durant trade that could happen at any moment where they're taking on salary that 148 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:09,320 some team doesn't want. I actually think that that's the perfect way for them 149 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,600 to go. You know that they could be that third party in a blockbuster 150 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,360 trade for Kevin Durant or you know, Kyrie Irving, and maybe they absorbed 151 00:09:16,399 --> 00:09:20,399 somebody Russell Westbrook from the Lakers, or they absorbed something else from the Phoenix 152 00:09:20,399 --> 00:09:22,919 Suns. Who knows, but I think that's the way to go. As 153 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:28,000 long as they can get some sort of draft draft compensation for doing that. 154 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:33,159 In regards to the Yaka Purdle and Doug McDermott and even Josh Richardson, I 155 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,759 think out of those three guys, probably Doug McDermott is who makes the most 156 00:09:37,759 --> 00:09:41,840 sense to move off from quickly. You know, he doesn't really make a 157 00:09:41,879 --> 00:09:43,720 lot of sense for this team. I think he provides the playmakers with a 158 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:48,080 lot of off ball shooting, some gravity there, but really he's thirty years 159 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,240 old. He's not a very good defender. Graded out it's one of the 160 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,799 worst defenders in the league last year. I think the Spurs are trying to 161 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,360 build a different identity and he feels like kind of the odd man out. 162 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,279 And if you could move him to you know, let's say Brooklyn, and 163 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:05,960 you end up getting a pick in some blockbuster trade for Kevin Duran or Kyrie 164 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,399 Irving something like that, not that they would be going to the Spurs, 165 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,919 but the third the Spurs would be the third party. I think that makes 166 00:10:09,919 --> 00:10:13,559 a lot of sense because you do have him on the payroll for I think 167 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:18,080 another two or three years, so it would be the best for them to 168 00:10:18,159 --> 00:10:20,879 move off of him and I also think they like to do right by their 169 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:24,440 players, and doing right by you know, Tug McDermott would not be keeping 170 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:28,519 him here for a rebuild. I mean, he's basically useless for a rebuild. 171 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,279 And love him, I think he's a good player, but he's kind 172 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,120 of useless for rebuild. I will say doing right by Doug McDermott involves giving 173 00:10:35,159 --> 00:10:39,320 him a contract that pays him thirteen point eight million dollars. Not think anyone 174 00:10:39,399 --> 00:10:43,919 was gonna match that. I would you think that they are going to try 175 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,840 and save a good chunk of, if not most, of the salary cap 176 00:10:46,919 --> 00:10:52,159 flexibility they have right now, for it's so much harder for teams to dump 177 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,440 salaries mid season, at the trade deadline or even look at the draft, 178 00:10:54,639 --> 00:11:00,679 Like what would it cost to get off of contracts around there? Do you 179 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,080 see that being a scenario or a priority for them, especially given how they 180 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,480 sort of have operated in the transaction game of Okay, Like we just talked 181 00:11:07,519 --> 00:11:09,879 about it, the Demard Rozen sign and trade, the Derek White, Like 182 00:11:09,919 --> 00:11:16,399 they're no longer opposed to making these these like bigger type of moves. Yeah, 183 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,639 I think so again, Like I for them talent acquisition is the name 184 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:22,279 of the game. They're probably not going to get a superstar. I know 185 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,799 some Spurs fans still want them to go chase for a guy like DeAndre Aiden 186 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:28,720 because they think, Okay, well you have the cap space, but does 187 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,679 it make sense. Probably not for them. I mean, if you want 188 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,960 to add him as a guy who's probably not much of a self creator, 189 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:41,840 mostly a play finisher, and you think he has on long term upside when 190 00:11:41,879 --> 00:11:43,960 you can get the superstar that you're looking for. Sure, But yeah, 191 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,480 I think along the lines of what you're saying, just sort of be that 192 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,000 that team that's looking to make you know, moves as a third party and 193 00:11:52,039 --> 00:11:54,799 just get as much draft compensation young players as you can. So that's what 194 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:56,919 I expect from the Spurs. We'll see what they do. I think they 195 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,559 still have I don't have the exact amount on the top of my head, 196 00:12:00,639 --> 00:12:03,080 like thirty nine million dollars in cap space right now, depending on the Danilo 197 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:09,039 Gallinari guarantee. So we'll see what happens there. But that's what I expect 198 00:12:09,039 --> 00:12:11,039 from the Spurs. Yeah, I have them at I think like this might 199 00:12:11,039 --> 00:12:16,200 be the low end at thirty two, just thinking like eleven million for Gallo 200 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,679 because they readjust as guarantee. That's just they keep twenty like that. I 201 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,159 mean, just look at what okay Se did and then he ended up not 202 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,559 using it at the trade deadline, but like they used it closer to the 203 00:12:24,639 --> 00:12:28,320 draft, that becomes a commodity in itself. The last sort of piece to 204 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,440 this will they make a move puzzle? Where does Keldon Johnson fit in? 205 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,200 Its all this? And this is not me saying I don't think Kelden Johnson 206 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,440 is good. I actually thought he did. Like his first two seasons, 207 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,679 it kind of felt like he needed to be the center of attention on offense, 208 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,759 so to speak, and he just felt a lot more complimentary this season 209 00:12:46,799 --> 00:12:50,720 and more well rounded on offense to me. But he's extension eligible. You 210 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,840 didn't want to pay Murray, you're entering this rebuild. Is that like someone 211 00:12:54,879 --> 00:12:58,120 whose future could technically be I don't even want to say in doubt but up 212 00:12:58,159 --> 00:13:01,639 for debate or is this very much? Look, he's young, he'll enter 213 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,879 restricted free agency if they don't sign him to an extension, we're just gonna 214 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,639 roll with him moving forward. I think it's probably the latter. Right, 215 00:13:07,639 --> 00:13:11,639 He's only twenty three years old, or he'll he'll be twenty three years old 216 00:13:11,639 --> 00:13:13,960 by the time the season gets going, and he feels like a guy like 217 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,519 you mentioned, really more complimentary, got really good as a stand still shooter 218 00:13:18,639 --> 00:13:22,279 off the ball, was a guy who was a pretty good cutter, straight 219 00:13:22,279 --> 00:13:24,360 line driver. He even you know, at the beginning of the season where 220 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,200 he had like the blinders on on every drive and I felt like every decision 221 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,080 was predetermined. He got a little bit better throughout the season, was making 222 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,000 some kickouts to perimeter shooters, making a little dump off passes to people in 223 00:13:35,039 --> 00:13:39,279 the dunker spot. So I like his developmental track. I know some spurs 224 00:13:39,279 --> 00:13:41,159 fans, and that's fair. You know, fans are allowed to be irrational 225 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:45,000 sometimes. But I think some people think that he's going to be, you 226 00:13:45,039 --> 00:13:48,120 know, the next phase of the franchise because now genre he's gone. But 227 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,279 when I'm looking at money for him, I think, if you look at 228 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,399 what my cal Bridges got from the Suns, I think you should be looking 229 00:13:54,399 --> 00:13:58,639 about somewhere around there. I just don't think he's a max contract guy. 230 00:13:58,919 --> 00:14:01,240 I don't think he's a guy who pay more than that, because I do 231 00:14:01,279 --> 00:14:03,639 think at the end of the day, He's mostly a complimentary player. He's 232 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,360 not much of a self creator, or at least when he is, he's 233 00:14:07,399 --> 00:14:09,799 not very efficient in that role. So we'll see what this season holds for 234 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:13,159 him, because I think he will be the featured option. We'll see how 235 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,360 that goes. But I think he'll be here for the rebuild. I mean, 236 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,720 who knows. I mean I thought dejan Da Murray might be here for 237 00:14:18,759 --> 00:14:22,440 the rebuild even if it made sense to move off from him. So can't 238 00:14:22,519 --> 00:14:24,799 guarantee anything, but it feels like he's a guy who's going to be here 239 00:14:24,799 --> 00:14:28,960 for the long haul. And you very rarely see like players who are worth 240 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,039 a damn on rookie skull contract just get moved before there, before they sign 241 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,919 their second deal. And I think a lot of people will get sticker shock 242 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,679 if they extend him or resign in restrict the free agency with the cap rising, 243 00:14:41,159 --> 00:14:45,440 it's just a lot different that being said, I would totally try and 244 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,960 extend him because I wouldn't want him getting into restricted free agency. We didn't 245 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:52,480 see people and played offer sheets this year. I think the cap is projected 246 00:14:52,519 --> 00:14:56,279 to jump by like ten million next year. I'd be terrified of that. 247 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,720 And if you didn't want to give de Jean day Murray max money two years 248 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:03,080 from now, whatever it was you don't want to give, You definitely don't 249 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,960 want to give Kellen Johnson that type of money. Maybe he maybe if there's 250 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:09,200 like more directionality to a self creation, like you mentioned a straight line drives. 251 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,440 If there's like more like directionality to that stuff that he's doing and he's 252 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,639 a little bit less predictable, that's still that becomes a much more valuable player. 253 00:15:16,679 --> 00:15:18,759 But that's the and I hate talking about players in terms of their number, 254 00:15:18,799 --> 00:15:22,879 but when you're beginning to rebuild and if you can't extend him, you 255 00:15:22,879 --> 00:15:24,720 do have to sort of project forward and think, like, if he hits 256 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,480 the restrict to free agent market, are we prepared to match an offer that's 257 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,639 just gonna be like that. Everyone thought that Andrey Aten was gonna get and 258 00:15:31,679 --> 00:15:35,360 still hasn't gotten at this moment. Yeah, that's that's a that's a really 259 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:39,559 good question to ask. That's something that Spurts are going to have to consider. 260 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,039 And personally, again, like I don't know if I see top fifty, 261 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,600 top twenty five player for Keldon Johnson, he is a little stiff off 262 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,360 the dribble. As we mentioned, mostly a straight line driver, and I 263 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,919 know that he kind of has this reputation as a bruiser. You know he's 264 00:15:52,919 --> 00:15:54,720 gonna will his way to the rim, but you know, since he entered 265 00:15:54,759 --> 00:15:58,399 the league, he's been below average at the rim, finishing in the half 266 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,000 court every single season. Like, I don't think he has a ton of 267 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:03,960 touch. His floater doesn't have a ton of touch in the mid range. 268 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,679 You look at his pull up numbers below forty percent, actually below thirty five 269 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:11,679 percent from there, So I don't know if I see that in just to 270 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,960 add something in there from three point range. Last year he took fewer than 271 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,639 fifteen pull up threes, Like, I just don't see him like that. 272 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,320 Like he's not a guy who's running off screens, who's really relocating that well 273 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,759 off ball. He's mostly a stationary shooter, straight line driver, cutter, 274 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:30,399 you know, threatned transition. I just don't know if he has that next 275 00:16:30,519 --> 00:16:33,480 gear to get to where we're talking about him as an All Star for so 276 00:16:33,519 --> 00:16:37,000 for the Spurs, there's a lot to consider. Maybe he makes the jump. 277 00:16:37,279 --> 00:16:40,399 Personally, I don't really think he's going to even if the numbers go 278 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,840 up. I think that's going to be more indicative of higher usage, more 279 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:48,000 touches, more shots, more minutes. We'll see what happens with him. 280 00:16:48,039 --> 00:16:51,960 He is fascinating. He's already exceeded expectations does a twenty ninth overall pick. 281 00:16:52,039 --> 00:16:55,080 But the Spurs have a lot of questions to answer, and luckily they're gonna 282 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,360 have all season to sort of answer those questions when it comes to Kelden I 283 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,960 think that helps too. It's just like they have the flexibility to kind of 284 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,559 plumb the depth of what his offensive skill set might be and if it looks 285 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:07,000 terribly like you know, even better for their draft lottery odds at that point, 286 00:17:07,039 --> 00:17:11,039 then but you at least have the flexibility to try it. The Spur 287 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,720 that I actually am highest on long term, and I think nationally he's viewed 288 00:17:15,759 --> 00:17:18,400 as more of an accessory to a really good team. I'm in love with 289 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,960 Devin Vassell, and they gave him more ball screens after the Derek White trade 290 00:17:23,039 --> 00:17:27,799 last year. His in between game really came along, particularly at the beginning 291 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:30,359 of the season. I love what he can do on defense, and he 292 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,279 is someone that you can count on to make, like to make plays off 293 00:17:33,279 --> 00:17:37,519 the ball on offense as well. What is like, what do you think 294 00:17:37,559 --> 00:17:40,599 internally is the view of him or what is your view of him? Do 295 00:17:40,599 --> 00:17:44,440 you view him as like a potential no, not the number one option cornerstone, 296 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:48,279 but maybe like, oh, this is the most important player on the 297 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,559 roster right now moving forward or is that somehow Keldon Johnson or Jeremy Sowen. 298 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:56,480 What is just a view for you of Devin Vassell. I really like Devin 299 00:17:56,559 --> 00:18:00,119 Vassell. I think I do view him as more complimentary kind of a guy 300 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,720 who can be your third or fourth best player in a championship team. I 301 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,480 just don't see a lot of on ball equity or self creation there not super 302 00:18:07,519 --> 00:18:10,480 shifty. One thing that I do really like from him is he is a 303 00:18:10,519 --> 00:18:12,079 threat off ball. You know, he can relocate, he can shoot off 304 00:18:12,079 --> 00:18:15,640 movement, he can shoot coming off screens, really good spot shooter, really 305 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,240 good from the corners. And another thing that he's gotten really good at is 306 00:18:19,599 --> 00:18:22,960 just allowing guys to attack. You know, he can attack those clothesouts when 307 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,319 guys are a little over aggressive one to dribble pull up. He has this 308 00:18:26,599 --> 00:18:30,599 move that I don't know if I see it too often around the league. 309 00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:33,279 It's sort of like a step back slash spin move that he really likes to 310 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:37,640 go to going to his left. He's knocked that down pretty consistently, and 311 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:41,839 he's a good finisher at the rim when he's able to get I guess like 312 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,160 mostly in open lane, as you should be if you you know, if 313 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,440 you have an open lane to the basket. But I just don't see that 314 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,319 he has a lot of on ball equity. He didn't get a lot of 315 00:18:48,319 --> 00:18:52,640 pick and roll possessions. Not a guy who really playmate for others. So 316 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,160 we'll see where his value is. But I think defensively he could be a 317 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,160 guy who could compete for all defense teams for years to come. I think 318 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,000 he's one of the most intelligent off ball defenders in his draft class in the 319 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:07,640 NBA, and I think he made some strides as an on ball defender last 320 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,759 year too. He added some muscle, he was able to take contact a 321 00:19:10,759 --> 00:19:14,160 little bit better. He's not a guy who fouls very often, so really 322 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,720 love him as both an event creator and also as a guy who just does 323 00:19:17,759 --> 00:19:21,720 really fundamentally sound making good rotations, you know, stunning near the nail, 324 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:26,400 digging near the nail. I just really love Devin Bassel that said, is 325 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,960 he the most important part of the team. Probably not, But I think 326 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,240 he's one of those guys that just fits regardless of the team makeup, right, 327 00:19:33,279 --> 00:19:36,920 He's just someone who can envision contributing to a contending team. Now the 328 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,640 Spurs aren't there, but he just fits with anyone. And that's why I 329 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:44,200 love him because he's such a steamless fit anywhere he goes. Yeah, that 330 00:19:44,319 --> 00:19:48,240 infinite scalability is important, and so is that just I think most people be 331 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:49,839 like, the most important player on the Spurs next year's first round pick, 332 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,319 But is that Jeremy so In now? Is that just? Like? Because 333 00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:56,359 there's the unknownness there? And I guess this needs to be my larger question 334 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,759 of since drafting Tim Duncan. And it's been in part because they've just been 335 00:19:59,759 --> 00:20:03,519 so good. The Spurs have kind of like brought their rookies along very gradually, 336 00:20:03,559 --> 00:20:07,319 even with Kauai. That's how it worked out. Are they like, 337 00:20:07,759 --> 00:20:10,839 is that going to be different this year because of the direction that they're headed 338 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,119 in When you look at the three first round prospects specifically that they added and 339 00:20:14,559 --> 00:20:18,200 Wesley Branham and Sohan, I would sure hope so I don't. I don't 340 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:22,759 want the Spurs to enter this rebuilding process going Okay, you have to earn 341 00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:26,599 your minutes over Kata Bates Diop, or earn your minutes over Gorgy Jang, 342 00:20:26,079 --> 00:20:30,640 or earn your minutes over you know, Doug McDermott, like those guys definitely 343 00:20:30,759 --> 00:20:33,119 deserve to play a little bit. But in regards to Sohan, I think 344 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,960 he should be playing from day one. You could make an argument that he 345 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,799 should start from day one, but if you don't want to put that pressure 346 00:20:38,799 --> 00:20:42,000 on, let ugs start. I know that Doug and Kiln think didn't work, 347 00:20:42,039 --> 00:20:45,799 and that's great for your lottery OTTs. If you want to continue to 348 00:20:45,839 --> 00:20:48,279 do that for a little bit, go for it. But I think Sohan 349 00:20:48,319 --> 00:20:51,680 should be starting by the All Star break. I think Malachi Brandam is polished 350 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:53,359 enough on offense to be a guy who can be a threat as a score 351 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,160 off the bench, maybe a secondary ball handler off the bench. And then 352 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:03,759 Man Wesley is the guy who I think probably the least polished, more tools 353 00:21:03,759 --> 00:21:07,319 than skills right now. I would love to see him be thrown into Austin 354 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,839 sort of in that premo role, same role that we got to see Lucas 355 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:12,440 Shaman a Chin. We got to see de Jean T. Murray and Lonnie 356 00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:15,400 Walker, and just let him be the primary option. Give him all those 357 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,160 on ball reps, touches, shots, pick and roll rests, like, 358 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:22,279 just let him get comfortable, let him experiment, let him explore without consequence, 359 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,960 and then maybe if he starts showing you something like Josh Premo did move, 360 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:30,039 move him on up. But I think at least for two of those 361 00:21:30,079 --> 00:21:33,359 guys, brand Him and Sohan, they should be playing from day one. 362 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,400 I just don't think there's an excuse not to play them, especially if you're 363 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,920 rebuilding what is and it seems like you've given this actual thought. And it's 364 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,119 so soon after the Draftsdale, and we haven't gone through the meet and potatoes 365 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,880 or summer league. What's most appealing to you about so En is fit on 366 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,440 this team or the type of role that you think he can play both next 367 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:57,200 season, but even projecting ahead, I think it's just his versatility and switchability 368 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,720 as the guy who can I mean easibly switch one through five. I know 369 00:22:00,759 --> 00:22:03,480 a lot's made of that, and that's maybe not fair. I think you're 370 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,400 more reasonably looking at you know, he can guard two, three, four, 371 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:08,799 small ball fives in a pinch, and if you need him to switch 372 00:22:08,799 --> 00:22:11,839 out on a point guard or a smaller player, he can probably do that. 373 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,119 But I just think having watched so many of his games at Baylor, 374 00:22:15,559 --> 00:22:19,480 he was I think could argue one of the anchors for one of those defenses 375 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,920 in college basketball for the fourth best team, or at least that's where they 376 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,839 finished in the AP Poll. As an eighteen year old, you know, 377 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,519 really good communicator, made timely rotations, could switch on to every position at 378 00:22:30,519 --> 00:22:33,160 the college level, didn't make a lot of mistakes. He was a little 379 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,839 foul happy at times, and I think sometimes he closed out a little bit 380 00:22:37,839 --> 00:22:42,000 too upright, But just his scalability as a defender going forward, I absolutely 381 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,720 love that. And then also just his ability to potentially be maybe not like 382 00:22:45,759 --> 00:22:48,559 your primary playmaking hub, but a guy who can run a little bit of 383 00:22:48,599 --> 00:22:52,279 pick and roll, who's going to be a good short role passer, who's 384 00:22:52,279 --> 00:22:56,160 someone who can run off of dhos or maybe stabbos as like a pseudo playmaking 385 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:00,000 hub. Like I really like that from him. I don't know how much 386 00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:02,119 that we're gonna get to see, but I think we're gonna get to see 387 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,319 a lot more of it now that de Jontay Murray is gone, because there 388 00:23:04,319 --> 00:23:10,160 really just aren't very many playmakers or proven playmakers on this froster, so I 389 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,599 expect to let them or I expect the Spurs to let him experiment at least 390 00:23:12,599 --> 00:23:15,880 a little bit with this playmaking because I think he has pretty good processing for 391 00:23:17,039 --> 00:23:19,920 a guy who's six ten, nineteen years old. I like what I've seen 392 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:25,799 from him. I could sort of un defensive him becoming like what if Jonathan 393 00:23:25,839 --> 00:23:29,519 Isaac didn't have dynamite in his body? Like he was play a less explosive. 394 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,200 His versatility there, and it feels like to me, he could be 395 00:23:32,279 --> 00:23:37,000 the best defensive, like almost assistant. I'm to himself, and Jonathan Isaac 396 00:23:37,079 --> 00:23:40,079 is a terrible comparison on offense because someone seems like he just has a lot 397 00:23:40,079 --> 00:23:44,680 more ball skills and this ceiling is so much higher there. Love his haircut 398 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,079 as well. By the way, reminiscent of it made me think of that 399 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:48,880 Pop moment with George Hill where he was making fun of George Hill's hair. 400 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,359 I was like, what Pop reacted that hair? Now? Alcai random, 401 00:23:52,400 --> 00:24:00,000 though, is that someone who's gonna drive Popovich just like crazy. That's interesting 402 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,559 because I feel like the last couple of years, especially young players have not 403 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:07,039 really gotten under his skin as much. Like when Lonnie Walker first got to 404 00:24:07,039 --> 00:24:10,759 San Antonio and he was getting spot minutes here or there, Pop was in 405 00:24:10,799 --> 00:24:12,519 his ear. Same thing with Dejonte Derek, like he was in their ear. 406 00:24:12,559 --> 00:24:15,559 He was yelling at them, he was chewing them out if they made 407 00:24:15,559 --> 00:24:18,680 mistakes and you're out of the game. I didn't really see so much of 408 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,000 that last season, like he kind of let mistakes go, turnovers go. 409 00:24:22,319 --> 00:24:26,240 Now. I'm not saying he's like no accountability to someone ran him. I 410 00:24:26,279 --> 00:24:30,079 think he might actually enjoy someone like Brandon, who's a little bit of a 411 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,920 wild card if you will, as as as a creator, you know, 412 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,039 out of the pick and roll. I think he's really fun. I think 413 00:24:36,039 --> 00:24:37,400 he's super polished as a mid range score. You know, he can get 414 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,039 to his spots. He's not super explosive, he doesn't have a ton of 415 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,519 like a great first step, he doesn't have a you know, much lift 416 00:24:44,559 --> 00:24:47,440 in the paint. But I just think he's one of those players that plays 417 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:51,720 at his own pace, really methodical, and I love I love Maliki Brandon. 418 00:24:51,759 --> 00:24:53,000 I had him seventeenth on my big board. So when the Spurs got 419 00:24:53,039 --> 00:24:56,759 him twentieth, I thought, that's tremendous value. So I hope that Pop 420 00:24:56,839 --> 00:25:00,039 loves him as much as I do, because I really want to see him 421 00:25:00,079 --> 00:25:03,799 playing from day one. I just don't want to see him, you know, 422 00:25:03,839 --> 00:25:06,519 sitting on the bench. I really want to see what he can do 423 00:25:06,759 --> 00:25:08,160 with the ball in his hands, too, because I think they're just again, 424 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,240 there's not a lot of guys on this team who are going to absolutely 425 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:15,279 command you know, those on ball reps, you know, or at least 426 00:25:15,279 --> 00:25:18,480 the majority of them. So I want to see him get a sliver of 427 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,079 the pie. I want to see him get some of that pie. Is 428 00:25:21,079 --> 00:25:22,680 there like a boom or bust element to him? And there was even that 429 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:27,440 on draft night because if some people had him like mocked, like comfortably in 430 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,920 the lottery at one point and then he slips, and it feels like there 431 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:34,200 were just questions about like his shot selection, decision making, or whether his 432 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,599 creation would actually translate. And it sounds like you're a believer that it will 433 00:25:37,599 --> 00:25:41,519 be able to not asking you to predict superstar him, but it sounds like 434 00:25:41,519 --> 00:25:45,960 you're that it can translate to the NBA. Yeah, I'm a little skeptical 435 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,799 of Malachi Brandham. I think some of my peers who do really deep dives 436 00:25:49,799 --> 00:25:53,200 into the draft they had him in the lottery as you mentioned. But for 437 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:57,359 me, one of the things that really kind of gave me cause for pause 438 00:25:57,519 --> 00:26:00,559 was his defense. I'm not so much worried about a shot selection. He 439 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,319 was really efficient. You know, sometimes he took some advice shots, but 440 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,359 he's really efficient, good spot up shooter. But it's the defense that kind 441 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:10,519 of gets me. He has some bad habits, stands upright, you know, 442 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,640 he's not a great athlete, and he has this tendency to get really 443 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,599 really close, like no space between him and his man, and guys blew 444 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:19,920 by him on the perimeter all season. One of the games that you can 445 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,759 see if you go back and watch the Nebraska game with Bryce McGowan's i mean, 446 00:26:23,799 --> 00:26:26,279 it was barbecue chicken every time. I mean, he just got past 447 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:30,279 him again and again and again. And he's a guy who ball watches miss 448 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:36,400 his rotations didn't always communicate on switches. So for me, if you're not 449 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,000 gonna be I mean, he's pretty much a net negative at this point, 450 00:26:38,319 --> 00:26:42,279 and with his tools regardless of you know, a six ten wingspan. I 451 00:26:42,279 --> 00:26:45,960 think you're the most you can ask of him is to be a net neutral 452 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,319 on defense. And so can his offense come to a point where he's making 453 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:53,079 up for those defensive deficiencies or can he become that net neutral on defense? 454 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:57,160 That's where I worry because if you can score a little bit, if you 455 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,519 can play make a little bit out of the pick and roll, great, 456 00:27:00,599 --> 00:27:03,079 But if you're a terrible defender, you're gonna get played off the floor in 457 00:27:03,079 --> 00:27:06,599 the playoffs. Like that's just going to happen. So I kind of look 458 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:08,000 at it through that lens. Can he be on the floor in the playoffs? 459 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,319 And right now the answer is no, But it doesn't matter. The 460 00:27:11,319 --> 00:27:15,519 Spurs are not going to be in the playoffs next season, so we'll see 461 00:27:15,559 --> 00:27:18,160 where he goes from there. If the Spurs make it to the playoffs next 462 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:19,920 season, I need to know what happened with them and then the rest of 463 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:25,160 the Western Conference. Do you have any like strong thoughts on Blake Wesley, 464 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:26,599 who I think, unless somebody whar's your mouth you sort of mentioned is the 465 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,480 odd man out here, which would make sense because it feels like there's some 466 00:27:30,039 --> 00:27:36,000 overlap with both his game and issues when it comes to Malkai Brandam, and 467 00:27:36,039 --> 00:27:38,119 you also have all these other the Spurs are sort of leaning into. At 468 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:41,119 one point we talked about how the years ago, oh the Spurs need more 469 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:45,359 wings and now they're like they can run out positionless lineups at this point. 470 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:49,559 But it's just like you have between having Trey, between having Devin Vassal, 471 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,920 Josh Primo, Malakai Brandam. It's just it does feel like he would be 472 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,759 the Oddoman out. But do you have any strong thoughts on his game and 473 00:27:56,759 --> 00:28:00,799 how that'll translate to this level. It's kind of funny. I think he's 474 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:06,559 somewhat comparable to a guy like Murray coming out of the University of Washington. 475 00:28:07,079 --> 00:28:11,200 Not super efficient, you know, really blindingly quick first step can get to 476 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:14,640 the rim, but doesn't finish well at the rim. Showed some playmaking flashes 477 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,720 out of the pick and roll can make some of these. I don't know 478 00:28:17,759 --> 00:28:18,880 if you would call the hammer pass because that's more of a set, but 479 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:22,839 those baseline drift passes where you know you're driving go baseline one hand of the 480 00:28:22,839 --> 00:28:26,079 opposite, you know, either opposite cornery. He can do live dribble passes 481 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:30,400 like that. Now, it wasn't like every play, but the playmaking flashes 482 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:33,759 are there, the ability to get to his spots in the mid range are 483 00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:37,039 there. He's just been really inefficient at Notre Dame, and I think that's 484 00:28:37,079 --> 00:28:41,279 what worries me. The number one thing that worries me was he only finished 485 00:28:41,359 --> 00:28:45,240 forty one point four percent of his shots at the rim and sure Dame, 486 00:28:45,279 --> 00:28:48,319 Like that's unacceptable, Like I hate to use that word, but that's awful. 487 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:55,319 That's really bad. But he's not crunch times. Yeah, it's it's 488 00:28:55,359 --> 00:28:57,000 not good. So I like him. I think he has similar tools to 489 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:03,160 de Gante, Murray, long lane, explosive, at least in terms of 490 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:04,400 first steps. So I think I'd like to see where he is in a 491 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,000 few years. But he to me, out of all of these guys, 492 00:29:07,039 --> 00:29:11,759 he's probably the most boom or bust because if he doesn't really figure out the 493 00:29:11,799 --> 00:29:14,680 shot, if he can never be efficient, and if he doesn't kind of 494 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,200 rain things in a little bit on the defensive end so that he can use 495 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:21,119 as a tool his tools and maximize those tools, I could see him being 496 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,599 a guy who's just not in the league, and you know, two or 497 00:29:22,599 --> 00:29:26,319 three years. But if he does hit that upside, I think he could 498 00:29:26,319 --> 00:29:30,559 be a guy who probably not an All star, but a strong, you 499 00:29:30,599 --> 00:29:33,599 know, maybe secondary tertiary creator, a guy who can fill value to your 500 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:37,200 team. So we'll see you with him. But out of all of those 501 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:38,799 guys, he was the pick that I was probably the most iffy on. 502 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,759 He was still higher on my big board than the actual pick, so it's 503 00:29:41,799 --> 00:29:45,720 good value. But I also had guys like Nikola Yovich who were still there 504 00:29:45,799 --> 00:29:49,079 higher on my big board, So I would be lying if I told you 505 00:29:49,119 --> 00:29:53,720 I wouldn't have preferred them to go maybe that route. But I'm excited for 506 00:29:53,799 --> 00:29:56,200 him. Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what he can do, especially because 507 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,599 I think he'll probably be in Austin. That's interest thing that you feel that 508 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,319 way about him being boom or bust because normally, and based off the very 509 00:30:03,359 --> 00:30:04,839 minimal footage that I've seen of him, So I'm just made that clear. 510 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,319 People who can pass off the bounce like he can almost feel like safer bets 511 00:30:08,319 --> 00:30:11,240 because if they're going to be able to get rid of the ball at a 512 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,680 at a high level or in this sort of creative way, even if they 513 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:18,640 can't like they're not a super valuable score or finisher. It feels like they 514 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,559 can stick. But I guess like you're that concerned about what is this like 515 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:26,119 guy's scoring forteg going to be in this league? Yeah, I think it 516 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:30,519 just it just worries me because if you don't have any like off ball equity, 517 00:30:30,759 --> 00:30:33,880 Like we saw him knock down shots off at screens and off movement and 518 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:37,200 stay in still, but it wasn't super efficient. You know, it was 519 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:41,079 below I think it was below like thirty percent from three sixty two point six 520 00:30:41,079 --> 00:30:44,640 percent from the line, really bad at the rim, Like I just wonder 521 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:47,960 what his role on offense is. Then you know, he's not a great 522 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:52,039 cutter, he's not a good finisher, not super efficient. He's a good 523 00:30:52,079 --> 00:30:53,960 passer. I think he has good court vision. He reads the floor well, 524 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,839 but it doesn't always make the right decision. So like, if that 525 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:02,440 guy is out there, how often, Like how long can you leave him 526 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:03,680 out there? Because like if he doesn't have the ball and like he's best 527 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:07,720 with the ball in his hands, what does he provide you off ball? 528 00:31:07,759 --> 00:31:10,000 Like if he can't shoot and he's not a good cutter and he's not a 529 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,079 good finisher. Like, that's that's the questions that I have with him, 530 00:31:12,079 --> 00:31:15,519 Like can he get better in those areas for sure? I mean he's gonna 531 00:31:15,519 --> 00:31:18,759 work with Chip England, one of the best shooting coaches in the NBA. 532 00:31:18,559 --> 00:31:22,920 He's gonna have plenty of time to beef up at some muscle. He was 533 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:25,920 frame and that helped to John Tay Murray. You know, Jontay is still 534 00:31:26,039 --> 00:31:30,240 very skinny, but he added that lean muscle was able to absorb contact. 535 00:31:30,279 --> 00:31:33,680 I think his rookie seasonally finished like fifty percent of his shop the rim. 536 00:31:33,799 --> 00:31:36,480 Last year it was just six four percent a half quote, So, like, 537 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,720 is a pathway from to become a good player. I just think you're 538 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,160 betting on a lot to happen, for it to be like a sure thing. 539 00:31:44,319 --> 00:31:45,440 And like again like no, no guy is a sure thing. And 540 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,440 for me, he's the biggest boomer bust. So we'll see with him. 541 00:31:48,519 --> 00:31:51,640 I'm sort of the jury is out, but I like him. I think 542 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:53,960 he has the tools to be a good player down the road. Probably not 543 00:31:55,039 --> 00:31:57,640 right away though. That's also in part why I was excited about the Sewer 544 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:00,440 and pick is knowing that he would get the chance to work with Chip England. 545 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:05,079 I think a lot of people thought someone would be good in New Orleans 546 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,160 because they have Fred Vincent there. Yea, like those are like two of 547 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:10,279 the guys of the three or four in the league where it's like if you're 548 00:32:10,319 --> 00:32:15,599 gonna know the names of just like these assistant or like these specialized coaches, 549 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,799 like it's them, and so you get excited about younger guys working with them. 550 00:32:17,839 --> 00:32:22,039 I am all for them taking a conservative approach with Blake Wesley because I 551 00:32:22,079 --> 00:32:27,160 would love for them to turn Josh Primo loose next season? Is that going 552 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,680 to happen at So much can change. We are very early in the off 553 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,559 season and the transaction game is not done. But if you had to guess 554 00:32:32,599 --> 00:32:37,559 right now, do you think that we're gonna see like real extended, consistent 555 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:42,400 run for him? I think so. You know, last year they started 556 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:44,880 him in that playing game. They didn't have to. Nobody was hurt. 557 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:46,119 You know, they could have gone with Lonnie Walker, they could have gone 558 00:32:46,559 --> 00:32:51,279 a number of different routes, but Greg Popovich went with Josh Primo. And 559 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:52,200 I know a lot of Spurs fans were like, oh, you know, 560 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:55,240 we hardly played, but Josh Primo played fifty three games, and it's not 561 00:32:55,279 --> 00:32:59,319 like he, you know, was playing twenty minutes per game or anything like 562 00:32:59,359 --> 00:33:00,640 that, and a lot of those games ended up being, you know, 563 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:04,799 blowout or you know, the game's all but decided. You know, they're 564 00:33:04,839 --> 00:33:07,000 just going to throw him in there for the last couple of minutes. But 565 00:33:07,599 --> 00:33:10,240 I can see him getting minutes because I truly believe he's one of the only 566 00:33:10,279 --> 00:33:15,640 guys on this roster who can consistently create advantages for himself and others off the 567 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:20,119 dribble. Like I just I don't see that from Kelden. I don't really 568 00:33:20,119 --> 00:33:23,079 see that from Devin consistently. I like Trey Jones. I think he's a 569 00:33:23,079 --> 00:33:27,599 steady hand, and we'll talk about him later probably, but I think out 570 00:33:27,599 --> 00:33:30,680 of all the guys you took him in the lottery, he's one of the 571 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:35,440 youngest guys on your team. He can create kind of something out of nothing 572 00:33:35,559 --> 00:33:37,480 in a way that other guys can't. I would expect him to get that 573 00:33:37,599 --> 00:33:42,640 kind of opportunity. Now, will he start, Maybe maybe not, but 574 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,640 he should at the bare minimum. To me, he should be getting like 575 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:49,000 forty fifty touch and he should be in the game at least twenty two, 576 00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:51,599 twenty three, twenty four minutes per game. There's just no reason for him 577 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:53,720 to be, you know, sitting on the bench during a rebuild. There's 578 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:57,200 just no reason for that. I didn't I expect the Spurs like Pop is 579 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,799 a smart guy. The Spurs are smart people, like they'll they'll figure out 580 00:34:00,839 --> 00:34:02,160 how to utilize him. But I'm excited to see what he can do. 581 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:07,519 He wasn't efficient, but he did have some really high end flashes, and 582 00:34:07,559 --> 00:34:09,840 that's what I'm excited for. Can he turn those flashes into more consistent production, 583 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,800 That's what I'm excited for. I really want to see him out there 584 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:15,360 and just give him the green light because he's fun. He's a lot of 585 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,800 fun. I'm in love with him, and look to this person's credit post 586 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,599 White Trade. He definitely playing from games that I watched and when I was 587 00:34:22,599 --> 00:34:25,800 working on something going back, he played some like higher leverage minutes. I 588 00:34:27,079 --> 00:34:30,039 just want to see him have full control, like cart Blanc over the offense 589 00:34:30,119 --> 00:34:35,079 next season. There's like a in anarchic shiftiness to his game, but it's 590 00:34:35,119 --> 00:34:37,960 also under control a little bit, and I just throw. I tend to 591 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:39,519 throw efficiency for the first two years of a player career out the window. 592 00:34:39,559 --> 00:34:44,559 Unless it's higher than expected, then I'm just go gaga over them, which 593 00:34:44,599 --> 00:34:47,719 is maybe inconsistent thought, but I'm gonna skew towards more optimistic when they're that 594 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,679 young. I really want to see him have that type of license. There 595 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:53,159 anything that you noticed about him that you really liked or what you want to 596 00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:58,480 see him aside from the overall efficiency improve upon going into two year two, 597 00:34:59,079 --> 00:35:01,480 Yeah, one of the things I'm actually really excited to see is the progress 598 00:35:01,519 --> 00:35:05,199 that he's made coming out of the summer, being able to work out because 599 00:35:05,199 --> 00:35:08,320 he's talked to it to the media or at least local media about shay Gil 600 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:13,360 just Alexander sort of being a mentor for him and being a player he aspires 601 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,079 to be like, and that shiftiness you're talking about sort of it's funky, 602 00:35:16,159 --> 00:35:22,079 it's out of control, but somehow it's also like not too widely, it's 603 00:35:22,079 --> 00:35:24,800 hard to describe it, but it does have some shades of shay Gil just 604 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:29,199 Alexander. I like that. I don't you know, he's not as big, 605 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:30,760 he's not as long. I don't think he's as good of a playmaker, 606 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:35,559 but I'd like to see what he can do just with a green light. 607 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:37,480 I think, out of all the guys on this roster too, he's 608 00:35:37,519 --> 00:35:40,800 probably the guy who's best at creating his shot from beyond the arc. Like 609 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,840 you can pull up from beyond the arc off the dribble, he can make 610 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,760 you pay for going under a screen. Teams dare de Jontay Murray to shoot, 611 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:51,239 you know they did. They didn't care if he's shot. I think 612 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:53,519 the same case could be said with like a Kelvin Johnson who rarely took shots 613 00:35:53,519 --> 00:35:58,159 off the dribble from three Lonnie Walker did so, but super inefficiently. Like 614 00:35:58,159 --> 00:36:01,800 I just want to see what this guy and do with just the freedom to 615 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:05,760 do whatever he wants, Like I don't care if he turns the ball over. 616 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:07,440 I don't care if he dribbles it off his foot, Like the Spurs 617 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:12,599 should just be invested in getting whatever they can out of this guy. I 618 00:36:12,639 --> 00:36:15,920 think he's exciting. I think he's fun and then defensively a whole lot better 619 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:20,039 than I thought he was going to be. Like some team defensive concepts he 620 00:36:20,119 --> 00:36:22,719 got lost. I get it, he's nineteen years old. He was the 621 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:24,639 youngest guy in the league. I'm not gonna judge him too harshly for that, 622 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:29,599 but he had some real high end flashes as a secondary rim protector and 623 00:36:29,679 --> 00:36:31,920 as a guy who really I thought read the passing lanes pretty well. Like 624 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:36,119 I'm excited for him. I don't know how else I can say it other 625 00:36:36,159 --> 00:36:39,719 than just ready to see him have control of the offense, even if it's 626 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:44,079 not pretty. I think it'll be fun and I think he'll be better for 627 00:36:44,159 --> 00:36:47,199 it in the long run, just being able to experiment without any consequences. 628 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:52,519 I also just think that he's gonna end up being a better like playmaking decision 629 00:36:52,519 --> 00:36:54,599 maker, even if these are not I mean, you sort of mentioned it 630 00:36:54,599 --> 00:36:59,159 with de Jean day Murray. I think he's going to be a better passer 631 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,559 than the Jean Murray. But even if it's not these fancy passes that I 632 00:37:01,599 --> 00:37:06,320 think people look for as a barometer for whether they're talented playmaker, I think 633 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,679 he's just going to be like a really smart passer and I'm interested to see 634 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:13,360 what happens if they give him more control over the offense in a setting where 635 00:37:13,639 --> 00:37:15,519 things slowed down and the look part of the reason I was in love with 636 00:37:15,519 --> 00:37:19,559 the Spurs this past year, completely out of character for them. They have 637 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:23,000 the quickest average offensive possession time in the league, like not even pace, 638 00:37:23,159 --> 00:37:27,159 just looking at their average offensive possession they were number one or two, I 639 00:37:27,159 --> 00:37:30,039 think it was, and I think he's a fit for that. But I 640 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:34,039 think is he like gets older and more experienced, I think he's gonna be 641 00:37:34,079 --> 00:37:37,159 able to really exploit some of the slowed down situations, and so he is. 642 00:37:37,519 --> 00:37:40,239 I think I'm still highest on Devin Vessel if anyone on this roster, 643 00:37:40,559 --> 00:37:44,639 but right now, and it's probably more so speaks to my ignorance of Jeremy 644 00:37:44,679 --> 00:37:47,719 Sowen or some of the other guys on like Malkai Brandam. I'm like the 645 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,880 second highest on Josh Primo, and it might be to the point where if 646 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,679 you told me by February, I'm driving the Josh Primo is the Spurs is 647 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:58,800 most important play of the future bandwagon, Like I wouldn't or even just a 648 00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:01,079 passenger on it, because put actual Spurs people on it first. I could 649 00:38:01,199 --> 00:38:06,719 envision myself boarding that, boarding that bandwagon. Yeah, I think I think 650 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:09,079 he could end up being the most important player for the Spurs because I think 651 00:38:09,079 --> 00:38:13,519 he does have real two way upside, and I think he also again is 652 00:38:13,559 --> 00:38:15,559 one of the only guys on this team who has real on ball equity as 653 00:38:15,599 --> 00:38:20,840 an advantage creator. I don't mean to sell the other players short, but 654 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:23,159 he's the only guy who showed you know, flashers are just flashes, but 655 00:38:23,159 --> 00:38:28,079 they were pretty consistent flashes, and so I'm excited to see what he can 656 00:38:28,079 --> 00:38:31,519 do in that role. Really young, and I think like people probably thought 657 00:38:31,519 --> 00:38:35,679 he was really small just because he has that baby face, but he actually 658 00:38:35,679 --> 00:38:37,559 has a really good frame, like he added a lot of muscle throughout the 659 00:38:37,599 --> 00:38:40,199 year. I just want to see what he can do. Like, I 660 00:38:40,199 --> 00:38:44,320 think you're right, he probably could be like the second or first most important 661 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,719 player on this team, and I wouldn't be surprised if, like everybody's on 662 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:51,920 that bandwagon by the end of the year. And also just really really pumped 663 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:54,000 to see him in Summer League because I think he's gonna get to do whatever 664 00:38:54,039 --> 00:38:58,559 he wants and that like that for me, that's the most ideal situation is 665 00:38:58,559 --> 00:39:00,639 just getting to see him do whatever he wants. So I'm super pumped for 666 00:39:00,679 --> 00:39:04,000 that. He will not hear a peep out of me if he plays poorly 667 00:39:04,039 --> 00:39:06,440 in Summer League, but if he looks too good to be in Summer League, 668 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:10,119 I will be among the loudest people talking about it. This So Trey 669 00:39:10,199 --> 00:39:15,199 Jones became a super interesting player for me because I was watching a subset of 670 00:39:15,199 --> 00:39:17,360 Spurs games at one point, like during the latter third of the season, 671 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:22,000 and I put a line in a larger piece that I was writing about every 672 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:25,880 single team just about Trey Jones is in between game mid range efficiency during that 673 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:30,239 stretch and his pocket passing just I considered to throw away. It was under 674 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:37,280 forty words and there were comments that were specifically happy about that. In the 675 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:43,480 bleacher Report app. Someone DMed me about it is Trey Jones the NBA's best 676 00:39:43,559 --> 00:39:46,800 kept secret outside of San Antonio, because I know Spurs fans really like him, 677 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:51,800 but I have never had like or maybe I'm just not hunting enough in 678 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:53,760 the comments because I tend not to read them. I just thought I wrote 679 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:58,719 so much about other like Devin Vassell, Kelton Johnson, Janata Murray, but 680 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,840 it was the Tray Jones thing people latched onto. Yeah, Spurs fans are 681 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:06,880 like, you're either you love Trey Jones or you hate Trey Jones. There 682 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:08,079 are a lot of fans who are like, oh, he shouldn't be playing. 683 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:12,320 He's too small. They kind of scapegoated him for some of the late 684 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:15,679 losses in the season. You know, he wasn't he wasn't able to replace 685 00:40:15,719 --> 00:40:17,639 Dejanta Murray too. Oh yeah, Jean Murray's an All Star and this guy's 686 00:40:17,679 --> 00:40:22,400 probably a career backup. Other people really loved him. I'm in I'm in 687 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:25,639 that group. I really loved Trey Jones. I still think he is probably 688 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:30,440 a career backup. But I brought a few just kind of fun numbers to 689 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:34,599 talk about when it comes to Trey Jones, Like last year he only started 690 00:40:35,079 --> 00:40:37,400 eleven games, but he averaged thirteen and a half points, four point six 691 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:40,280 rebounds, seven and a half assist, and just one turnover on forty eight 692 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:45,960 point eight percent shooting. Like it's probably, you know, not something that 693 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:47,920 he can do every single night, but he looked good in those spots starts. 694 00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:52,719 He was also second in the NBA only to his brother Tias and assist 695 00:40:52,760 --> 00:40:55,519 a turnover ratio. Like, when I look at Trey Jones, I think 696 00:40:55,559 --> 00:41:00,480 he's sort of the perfect fit for the Spurs going into a build. Like 697 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,239 we talk about how rebuilding teams, it's good to have young players and young 698 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:07,400 assets, but you need a few like steady hands and veteran presences on the 699 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,800 team. And while he's not really a veteran because he's only what like twenty 700 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:14,920 two twenty three years old, he is that guy that I can see just 701 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:19,320 sort of being the floor general, the game manager, if you will, 702 00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:22,119 if you want to talk about it in quarterback terms of an offense, just 703 00:41:22,639 --> 00:41:25,559 keeps things moving along, you know, not gonna really vow you very often, 704 00:41:25,639 --> 00:41:29,920 but really just level head on him. I think he's a guy who 705 00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:32,280 they should hang on to. But you know, I know other people don't 706 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:35,800 love him, but for me, Trey Jones is a guy who they should 707 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,239 start to begin the season. And that way you don't really have to pressure 708 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:42,960 Josh Primo to be that guy from the very beginning. Sort of ease Primo 709 00:41:43,039 --> 00:41:45,920 into that primary role, ease him into whatever you think he's going to be, 710 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:47,960 and let Tray Jones build his value. Like maybe you want to trade 711 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:52,320 him, maybe you think he's worth resigning. But I think Trey Jones is 712 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:54,360 one of those guys who, unless you're talking to me or a Spurs fan, 713 00:41:54,719 --> 00:42:00,239 people probably don't care about him or don't realize how productive he was San 714 00:42:00,239 --> 00:42:05,920 Antonio last year. I am like surprised that he's polarizing in a bad way 715 00:42:06,039 --> 00:42:08,760 amongst spans, because even if you don't love his game, like, he 716 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:12,719 doesn't play a style where it feels like if it goes poorly that you should 717 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:15,280 be that incensed by it. So I had no idea that he was sort 718 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:21,119 of just like this point of division within this burst fan base. Spurs Fits 719 00:42:21,199 --> 00:42:23,440 kind of needed someone to scapegoat every year, Like for the last couple of 720 00:42:23,519 --> 00:42:27,599 years, it was Brent Forbes, and then when they moved on from Brent 721 00:42:27,679 --> 00:42:30,199 Forbes, it was Doug McDermott for a little while because he wasn't playing good 722 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:32,639 enough defense for them, and like that's fair, he wasn't a very good 723 00:42:32,639 --> 00:42:37,039 defender last year. And then once Doug McDermott got sat, you know, 724 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:38,320 they were done. You know, he sprained his ankle, they sat him 725 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:43,760 for the rest of the season. The attention sort of shifted towards Trey Jones 726 00:42:43,880 --> 00:42:46,039 because he ended up playing a lot of minutes next to de Jante Murray, 727 00:42:46,079 --> 00:42:51,199 which is kind of a funky pairing. You know, they're both not very 728 00:42:51,199 --> 00:42:53,039 good shooters, they're both best with the ball in their hands. He wasn't 729 00:42:53,039 --> 00:42:58,199 always that valuable as you know, like an off ball player. Like I 730 00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:00,199 understand there were some frustrations there. You know. Again, when when DJ 731 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:02,880 was out with COVID for a little bit, he started in place. The 732 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:07,119 Spurs lost quite a few games with him as a starter, and fans were 733 00:43:07,159 --> 00:43:09,119 really like, there was a large contingent of fans who were gung ho about 734 00:43:09,639 --> 00:43:13,000 they need to make the plan, like they have to make the plan, 735 00:43:13,039 --> 00:43:15,519 and so every loss when he was starting was like, well, we know 736 00:43:15,559 --> 00:43:17,800 whose fault it was. You know who was the starting point guard, who 737 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:21,760 was running the offense. So like, I think that's what the where the 738 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:24,159 division came with Trey Jones. But I think if you had him on any 739 00:43:24,199 --> 00:43:28,280 other team, he wouldn't be quite so divisive. Like, I don't think 740 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:30,519 he's as important as some fans made him out to be. But I love 741 00:43:30,599 --> 00:43:35,079 him. I absolutely love Trey Jones. I wrote a like twelve hundred fourteen 742 00:43:35,159 --> 00:43:37,800 hundred word article about him why the Spurs should really just be, you know, 743 00:43:37,840 --> 00:43:40,400 married to him as their backup. That was when Dejante was here. 744 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,400 We'll see what they do with him. But I think he's a fantastic player 745 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:46,719 and great value. Forty first overall. Pick I had a first strong grade 746 00:43:46,719 --> 00:43:51,039 on him that year. I was ecstatic when they took him with the forty 747 00:43:51,079 --> 00:43:52,719 first overall. Pick I was like, Wow, they just got a steal, 748 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:54,480 and I think they thought so as well. I mean, they gave 749 00:43:54,559 --> 00:43:58,199 him well, I think, like a three year, four point one million 750 00:43:58,239 --> 00:44:00,840 dollar contract as a you know, second rounder, like that's not that common. 751 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:05,920 So I'm happy with Trey. We'll see where he goes though he could 752 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:07,880 be gone, he could be here for the long haul. Who knows. 753 00:44:07,239 --> 00:44:10,079 And look, even if you don't think that the Spurs currently have and I 754 00:44:10,119 --> 00:44:14,760 think the majority of people probably don't believe that the next Spurs superstars on the 755 00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:17,079 roster right now, which is fine because you could say that about the odds 756 00:44:17,079 --> 00:44:20,800 are in your favor of being right. That's just how Megan stardom works. 757 00:44:21,679 --> 00:44:24,480 They just have so many intriguing even throw away the rookies, like before we 758 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:29,760 got to this point, there's just so many intriguing like younger guys or bigger 759 00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:35,199 picture guys that could be really good even if they're not great NBA players. 760 00:44:35,199 --> 00:44:37,639 And again that is like I'm not talking about the draft. I'm not that 761 00:44:37,679 --> 00:44:39,760 they had this year. I'm not even talking about the future picks that they 762 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:43,360 have coming their way. Now, that's just looking at the Devin Vassell, 763 00:44:43,480 --> 00:44:47,400 Kelden Johnson, Trey Jones, Josh Primo. There's just so much like Injurgue 764 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:52,199 on this roster. Yeah, I think that the Spurs, even if they're 765 00:44:52,199 --> 00:44:54,800 not set up to contend, you have these players who you could see being 766 00:44:55,480 --> 00:45:00,519 part of contention, like not as the fulcrum, not as like the number 767 00:45:00,519 --> 00:45:02,719 one or maybe even number two guy, but just guys who could contribute to 768 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:07,599 winning. And I think that's what really intrigues me the most is maybe San 769 00:45:07,639 --> 00:45:10,000 Antonio doesn't have that superstar. I'm also of the mindset they probably don't have 770 00:45:10,039 --> 00:45:14,320 that guy on the roster, but they have a lot of good young pieces, 771 00:45:14,639 --> 00:45:15,440 and I think that's the place you want to be in, Like, 772 00:45:15,519 --> 00:45:20,320 whether you trade those guys for a superstar, you have the picks to trade 773 00:45:20,320 --> 00:45:23,280 to add a superstar to that core at some point. So I just really 774 00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:27,400 like what the Spurs have going on. And I think more so than anything, 775 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:30,159 I'm really may this may kind of come off as as bad, but 776 00:45:30,199 --> 00:45:36,480 I'm more so just relieved than anything, that they really suck to a definitive 777 00:45:36,519 --> 00:45:39,760 direction that they weren't really like happy to be in that gray area of we're 778 00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:44,519 a playing team, we're a lottery team. We're not good enough to compete 779 00:45:44,559 --> 00:45:47,400 for something important. We're not bad enough to you know, get a top 780 00:45:47,440 --> 00:45:52,360 five pick or four pick or whatever. So I'm just happy that it seems 781 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:55,639 like they've picked a real hard direction, and for me, that just makes 782 00:45:55,679 --> 00:45:59,159 the season easier to cover, Like there's not going to be this weight in 783 00:45:59,199 --> 00:46:02,159 my mind that you know, what are they doing? Is this the right 784 00:46:02,159 --> 00:46:07,239 decision? Are Spurs fans fighting in the comments like all day long? Like 785 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:12,039 there's just generally been less hostility in the comments section on Twitter, Like it 786 00:46:12,079 --> 00:46:14,880 seems like everybody's sort of on board for a rebuild, even if it means 787 00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:16,880 a lot of losses, because you already understood that that's what's going to happen 788 00:46:17,159 --> 00:46:22,599 heading into the season. So I'm excited for this next era of Spurs basketball. 789 00:46:22,880 --> 00:46:25,000 And look that shit matters. I know people think it's lazy analysis when 790 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:29,320 you say teams need to choose a direction. The kids have been following in 791 00:46:29,320 --> 00:46:32,599 the wilderness for like eighty decades at this point, even if there's more to 792 00:46:32,760 --> 00:46:37,840 running an NBA team than actually winning and contending for titles, there needs to 793 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:39,480 be like a rhyme or reason to what you're doing. And it's why I've 794 00:46:39,519 --> 00:46:43,559 been so critical of the Knicks, or even if you like some of their 795 00:46:43,599 --> 00:46:47,639 independent moves or don't think anything's been damaging, they're constantly like zigging and zagging 796 00:46:47,639 --> 00:46:52,159 and short circuiting their own decisions. It's very confusing and the worst place to 797 00:46:52,199 --> 00:46:55,920 be in the NBA. Whether you the endgame, yeah, when it's the 798 00:46:55,960 --> 00:47:00,000 Hornets, Michael Jordan just wants his two games worth a playoff date revenue, 799 00:47:00,039 --> 00:47:05,000 like, we get it. But there's even if the endgame isn't to make 800 00:47:05,039 --> 00:47:07,800 it to the finals. Like, being in the middle is legitimately the worst 801 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:10,760 place to be in the NBA. And the Spurs were just there, and 802 00:47:10,920 --> 00:47:14,280 yeah, if you threw them in the Eastern Conference, they might have been 803 00:47:14,320 --> 00:47:16,519 like a little bit. I mean the East was a lot deeper this year, 804 00:47:16,639 --> 00:47:19,840 but like some of the teams that were there, yeah, they might 805 00:47:19,880 --> 00:47:21,719 have been a little bit higher. So they're in the West where there's a 806 00:47:21,719 --> 00:47:25,519 lot more like it top end teams. I guess you could say if there's 807 00:47:25,599 --> 00:47:29,719 especially if the Nuggets and the Clippers are going to be healthy, choosing the 808 00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:32,280 direction matters, and it's it's clarifying for not just the fans, but for 809 00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:37,239 the organization, and it allows you to do things and make decisions and take 810 00:47:37,280 --> 00:47:39,239 swings. And that's why I was a big fan of Like, yeah, 811 00:47:39,320 --> 00:47:42,840 I love Dejante Murray. I might even it sounds like I might even been 812 00:47:42,920 --> 00:47:45,199 higher on him than you were. But I was also love the mind that, 813 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:49,960 like, unless you're gonna go out and get the guy who can be 814 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:53,159 above Dejante Murray, and you weren't gonna in all likelihood we've seen the Spurs 815 00:47:53,199 --> 00:47:57,719 mind gems from the draft before, you weren't drafting in the territory where those 816 00:47:57,760 --> 00:48:01,199 guys typically fall. And so that's why I shaded the decision that they made. 817 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:06,239 Absolutely no. I looked at you know, there are people who said, 818 00:48:06,280 --> 00:48:08,880 hey, they should go after DeAndre Aiden or they should go after Zach 819 00:48:09,000 --> 00:48:13,519 Lavine, and I think both of those guys are great. But when you're 820 00:48:13,559 --> 00:48:15,599 trying to compete for something real, you really want to go deep in the 821 00:48:15,599 --> 00:48:20,960 playoffs, it's probably not in your best interest to just have two like second 822 00:48:21,039 --> 00:48:25,239 tier third tier stars, like you need a superstar, and DeAndre Aiden would 823 00:48:25,239 --> 00:48:29,440 have been great next to de Jontay Murray, but that team's not going anywhere. 824 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:32,079 Same thing with zach Lavine, Like zach Lavine was the perfect player next 825 00:48:32,079 --> 00:48:37,559 to Demarda Rosen because he's so good awful and can also create for himself and 826 00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:40,480 stretches where DeMar is sitting or maybe he wants to defer. I think the 827 00:48:40,519 --> 00:48:45,559 same thing could be said for like he's the perfect complimentary player to Deontay Murray, 828 00:48:45,599 --> 00:48:47,840 but like for the money you were going to have to pay to get 829 00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:51,639 him, it wouldn't have been worth it, and then you would have had 830 00:48:51,679 --> 00:48:53,480 to pay de Jonta in two years, So like you would have had two 831 00:48:53,480 --> 00:48:58,559 guys taking up, if I have this correct, almost sixty five percent of 832 00:48:58,559 --> 00:49:01,920 your cap and two guys who are not superstars. So I just I think 833 00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:07,159 the Spurs made the right decision. And I know I probably was not as 834 00:49:07,239 --> 00:49:10,239 high on de Gante as some Spurs fans or even some other analysts, but 835 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:14,960 I just think there was a long way for him to go before you could 836 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:16,880 look in the mirror and say, yeah, this guy's the best player on 837 00:49:16,920 --> 00:49:21,280 a championship team, and there's probably a long way to go before they had 838 00:49:21,320 --> 00:49:23,320 a route to getting a guy like that to add next to him, So 839 00:49:24,119 --> 00:49:28,719 the right decision. It hurts a little bit because I love Degonta Murray. 840 00:49:28,960 --> 00:49:31,320 I was really happy just to see his progression from this guy who was overlooked 841 00:49:31,679 --> 00:49:35,519 to a guy who overcame an ACL injury, got better, you know, 842 00:49:35,599 --> 00:49:38,360 incriminally every single year until he became an All Star. It sucks to lose 843 00:49:38,360 --> 00:49:43,000 a guy like that, but it also sucks to watch a team be in 844 00:49:43,039 --> 00:49:46,800 this weird purgatory area where you know they're not going anywhere. So I'm excited 845 00:49:46,840 --> 00:49:51,800 to see what the Spurs can do with a rebuild, like they haven't done 846 00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:54,679 this since I've been alive pretty much, so I'm just excited to see something 847 00:49:54,719 --> 00:50:00,559 new. I was all for the zach Lavine pursuit, like when Murray tweeted 848 00:50:00,599 --> 00:50:02,880 and de leaded him in a Spurs jersey. I think in part because it 849 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:07,159 was at the point where if you were going to stick with Dejante Murray, 850 00:50:07,199 --> 00:50:09,119 like, it had to be a move like that where you were acquiring a 851 00:50:09,119 --> 00:50:13,039 big free agent v assign and trade. I do think your point is valid 852 00:50:13,079 --> 00:50:15,880 where if Zach Lavine is your one A on offense, all of a sudden, 853 00:50:15,159 --> 00:50:17,119 how good is that team? Mean, if you're surrounding him with the 854 00:50:17,159 --> 00:50:22,000 perfect complimentary talent, I would have still been much higher on that than I 855 00:50:22,039 --> 00:50:25,239 do not understand even people mostly I think it's nationally you're talking about, Oh, 856 00:50:25,239 --> 00:50:29,960 well, the Jazz should go after eight now or the Spurs should still. 857 00:50:30,199 --> 00:50:32,599 If you didn't want to pay Dejanta Murray thirty plus million eventually, and 858 00:50:32,639 --> 00:50:37,559 if the Jazz already had Rudy Gobert and didn't want to pay him like DeAndre 859 00:50:37,639 --> 00:50:40,519 Eton plus more first round picks, it's not really getting you like that much 860 00:50:40,559 --> 00:50:44,840 further. And I think DeAndre is really good. There's just the juries out 861 00:50:44,880 --> 00:50:46,920 on his self creation and so yeah, I'm with you on all of that. 862 00:50:47,199 --> 00:50:50,880 When you do look at this roster though, whether you want to frame 863 00:50:50,880 --> 00:50:52,960 it as well, if they were to acquire one type of player still for 864 00:50:52,960 --> 00:50:55,559 the rest of the off season or just even moving forward, what do you 865 00:50:55,599 --> 00:51:00,639 think just like the biggest need or void is for them right now? Yeah? 866 00:51:00,639 --> 00:51:02,079 I know this is probably gonna be a cop out answer a little bit, 867 00:51:02,119 --> 00:51:07,199 but I still think they just need like that high end foundational cornerstone piece, 868 00:51:07,360 --> 00:51:10,440 Like you're not really building anything until you have that. And like the 869 00:51:10,480 --> 00:51:15,079 Spurs can build towards that in a way by losing this year and getting other 870 00:51:15,119 --> 00:51:19,239 guys experience and getting them more on ball reps and getting them comfortable in different 871 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:22,519 roles and just kind of seeing what they have and guys, But until you 872 00:51:22,639 --> 00:51:25,400 really have that like cornerstone, like you get your I don't know, we'll 873 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:29,239 just throw names out there like a Luca don Chick or a LaMelo Ball or 874 00:51:29,280 --> 00:51:31,760 a you know, John Moran. Until you have one of those guys, 875 00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:37,800 yeah, yeah, for exactly, Like you're not really going anywhere. So 876 00:51:37,320 --> 00:51:40,639 I just look at this draft class that's coming up as like that's probably your 877 00:51:40,679 --> 00:51:45,639 best avenue towards finding that guy. Like I do draft stuff for pounding the 878 00:51:45,719 --> 00:51:50,440 rock every single year, and so I'm already starting to do draft stuff for 879 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:52,360 next season. And just from my point of view right now, probably like 880 00:51:52,400 --> 00:51:57,679 the top five six six ish guys in this twenty twenty three class probably could 881 00:51:57,719 --> 00:52:00,960 have contended for you know, top three picking this class, and arguably like 882 00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:04,159 the top three or four guys could have gone number one over Pawlow. So 883 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:07,159 we'll see where they am. I mean, nothing's set in stone, but 884 00:52:07,519 --> 00:52:12,559 if the Spurs are really committing to this rebuild and they want to find that 885 00:52:12,599 --> 00:52:15,679 superstar player, you don't necessarily have to you know, be bad and then 886 00:52:15,679 --> 00:52:19,519 oh it's it's a disappointment you don't get the first pick. You may still 887 00:52:19,519 --> 00:52:22,840 be able to find that guy with like the fourth pick. So I'm excited 888 00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:24,920 for that. I think that's their best avenue towards finding that missing piece. 889 00:52:25,400 --> 00:52:28,800 And after that we talked about it. I mean, they have some really 890 00:52:28,840 --> 00:52:30,760 intriguing players, you know, from Devin Vassell, the Trey Jones too, 891 00:52:32,000 --> 00:52:36,119 you know, Josh Primo to Jeremy so Hit, like they have some good 892 00:52:36,119 --> 00:52:38,719 compliment in your pieces. And if they decide to hold on to Yaka Purdle 893 00:52:38,800 --> 00:52:44,280 and Josh Richardson and they end up landing this like kind of foundational guy, 894 00:52:44,679 --> 00:52:46,719 like you could be building towards something pretty quickly. And I know, like 895 00:52:46,840 --> 00:52:51,639 quick fixes are not realistic, but if Spurs want to hold on to optimism 896 00:52:51,639 --> 00:52:55,199 there, that's an optimistic point of view. I guess I agree with everything 897 00:52:55,199 --> 00:52:59,119 you said. If they were to make or circle a need right now that 898 00:52:59,159 --> 00:53:01,199 they wanted to dress like during the season leading into the season, it'd be 899 00:53:01,199 --> 00:53:04,320 cool. I don't even know if cool is the word, but like to 900 00:53:04,400 --> 00:53:07,519 have like more of a mobile or explosive five on the roster than a Yaka 901 00:53:07,559 --> 00:53:12,239 Peardle or Gorgi Jang is like your primary biggs right now. And maybe look, 902 00:53:12,760 --> 00:53:15,119 biggs are just traded all over the place. If they're not stars all 903 00:53:15,119 --> 00:53:19,559 of a sudden, maybe that's like the type of player you're acquiring as part 904 00:53:19,559 --> 00:53:22,639 of like that Kevin Durant trade where it's like a it's a role playing big, 905 00:53:22,679 --> 00:53:24,079 but like just to sort of balance out the roster, give them a 906 00:53:24,119 --> 00:53:29,119 different look. I'm, like I said, I'm endlessly fascinated with this team. 907 00:53:29,239 --> 00:53:30,280 I do say that about every team. But after that, the John 908 00:53:30,320 --> 00:53:35,000 Ty Murray moved, like the idea of the Spurs like really rebuilding for the 909 00:53:35,039 --> 00:53:40,239 first time since Tim Duncan. Like that's just it really hadn't happen in my 910 00:53:40,280 --> 00:53:43,960 lifetime. I don't I'm not old enough yet to remember when they even drafted 911 00:53:43,960 --> 00:53:49,400 Tim Duncan basically, so just that's that's incredible to me. Two quick questions 912 00:53:49,880 --> 00:53:53,320 before we get you out of here. Our victor one Banyama Jersey is gonna 913 00:53:53,320 --> 00:53:57,920 be all over the AT and T s this year. I would love to 914 00:53:57,960 --> 00:54:01,280 see that. I think Spurs fans are already like really in on Victor win 915 00:54:01,320 --> 00:54:05,480 bin Yama, like potentially being their guy if they get the number one pick. 916 00:54:05,519 --> 00:54:09,119 There's also a ridiculous hashtag going on Spurs Twitter right now. I think 917 00:54:09,119 --> 00:54:14,320 it's like hashtag winking for Wim bin Yama. They really want him that bad, 918 00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:17,559 Like it's a terrible hashtag. It's awful, but like it's all over 919 00:54:17,599 --> 00:54:21,880 Spurs Twitter right now. So like I would love to see some of those 920 00:54:21,960 --> 00:54:24,199 jerseys there. I know he's no longer with Tony Parker's team, he just 921 00:54:24,239 --> 00:54:27,719 signed with I forget the name of the team, but he was with Tony 922 00:54:27,719 --> 00:54:30,440 Parker's team that he owns over in France this past season. So Spurs fans 923 00:54:30,440 --> 00:54:35,000 are already putting on there like tinfoil hats and they think it's like a done 924 00:54:35,039 --> 00:54:37,800 deal. You know, they're gonna have it twisted or manipulated in a way 925 00:54:37,800 --> 00:54:40,119 that he's directed to the Spurs. But like, yeah, it would be 926 00:54:40,119 --> 00:54:44,920 cool to see Win bin Yama jerseys at the Spurs at the AT and T 927 00:54:45,039 --> 00:54:46,400 Center this year. Yeah, it's like so the Spurs will get one of 928 00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:50,280 the top four picks, and then he'll tank his work out with every single 929 00:54:50,320 --> 00:54:55,159 other team because Tony Parker planted that seed. Is there anything about this roster, 930 00:54:55,280 --> 00:54:58,960 this team, this franchise is future. I did not ask you about 931 00:54:59,039 --> 00:55:01,039 that. You think needs to be just gus, you know, not really. 932 00:55:01,079 --> 00:55:06,199 I feel like we touched pretty much on every single base. We didn't 933 00:55:06,199 --> 00:55:08,199 talk a whole lot about Yaka Purdle, and I love giving him some some 934 00:55:08,239 --> 00:55:14,199 shine, but honestly, like just again excited to see what they do in 935 00:55:14,239 --> 00:55:16,440 a real rebuild. Like even with the Tim Duncan rebuild, it was like 936 00:55:16,440 --> 00:55:20,679 a one year thing, you know, like a bunch of guys got injured, 937 00:55:21,239 --> 00:55:23,079 they get lucked into the number one overall pick. But before that it 938 00:55:23,159 --> 00:55:27,840 was like David Robinson, the Spurs were like fifty five, fifty six wins 939 00:55:27,840 --> 00:55:30,239 for like a decade. So like, this is really new for not just 940 00:55:30,280 --> 00:55:34,119 like me or you, but probably Spurs fans who are even in their like 941 00:55:34,159 --> 00:55:37,559 forties right now. This is really new for everyone, and I think I 942 00:55:37,559 --> 00:55:42,440 think just new should be exciting and Spurs fans just knowing it's a rebuild, 943 00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:45,760 it's gonna be a lot easier to kind of swallow the pill of losses, 944 00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:47,800 you know, taking a bunch of losses, because the losses will come at 945 00:55:47,800 --> 00:55:52,760 the expense of development, and I think development is just the best thing that 946 00:55:52,760 --> 00:55:55,000 that could come out of this season, and that in like a number one 947 00:55:55,079 --> 00:55:59,480 overall pick, that would be great too, you know. Speaking of Purdle, 948 00:55:59,519 --> 00:56:01,280 really, I have thought like whether I don't know if he would sign 949 00:56:01,320 --> 00:56:05,760 it, just because it's it would depend on what the league's average annual salary 950 00:56:05,840 --> 00:56:07,599 is. But if like one hundred and twenty percent raise is actually going to 951 00:56:07,679 --> 00:56:12,159 be larger than that, an extension for him would look like somewhere starting between 952 00:56:12,199 --> 00:56:17,039 eleven plus and twelve million dollars. That's like not an egregious number for him 953 00:56:17,039 --> 00:56:19,960 to say if I could get long term money, and then if you're the 954 00:56:20,000 --> 00:56:23,239 Spurs and you did extend him, that becomes he's not someone who ruins like 955 00:56:23,320 --> 00:56:27,360 the development of anybody that's already on your roster, and then it becomes like 956 00:56:27,400 --> 00:56:30,440 this major trade asset. For years, I've just been curious as to whether 957 00:56:30,880 --> 00:56:35,440 I'm sure it's probably been offered or broached like internally, but I've wondered if 958 00:56:35,440 --> 00:56:37,880 he would accept an extension and if he doesn't like at that point, are 959 00:56:37,880 --> 00:56:43,440 you keeping him into free agency? I would say I would normally say no, 960 00:56:43,559 --> 00:56:46,360 But just watching the big man market this summer, where Kavan Looney got 961 00:56:46,360 --> 00:56:51,639 about as much guaranteed money as JaVale McGee, or about as much guaranteed money 962 00:56:51,639 --> 00:56:54,000 over three years on a three year deal as Mo Bamba got in a two 963 00:56:54,079 --> 00:56:57,440 year deal from the Magic, you could just be like, well, well, 964 00:56:57,519 --> 00:56:59,960 let it play in and we could probably match whatever in the contract. 965 00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:01,519 It will still be fine. I don't he clearly to me, he doesn't 966 00:57:01,519 --> 00:57:05,159 seem like he fits long term into the team, But I could also see 967 00:57:05,199 --> 00:57:07,360 him still being around for like quite a while. I do know that there 968 00:57:07,360 --> 00:57:12,360 will be quite a few teams and fan bases who will be pretty peeved if 969 00:57:12,360 --> 00:57:15,119 the Spurs do hang onto yakoperl though yeah, I know. That's the thing 970 00:57:15,199 --> 00:57:19,400 is, I'd love to see him long term because I think he is just 971 00:57:19,440 --> 00:57:22,920 such an underrated asset, Like there's a lot that's made about Oh, you 972 00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:24,320 know, he's not a lop threat. He doesn't dunk very often, but 973 00:57:24,639 --> 00:57:28,400 he's still finished like seventy percent of his shots at the rim. Was one 974 00:57:28,400 --> 00:57:31,320 of the best rim protectors in the NBA contested the most shots per game in 975 00:57:31,360 --> 00:57:36,719 the league. Like really good screener, really good short role pastor, like 976 00:57:37,119 --> 00:57:38,800 can hold his own on the perimeter to an extent, Like he had some 977 00:57:38,840 --> 00:57:44,280 really good possessions against Trey or Trey Young last season. Like I would love 978 00:57:44,320 --> 00:57:46,800 to see him here, But just thinking about it, for like his career, 979 00:57:47,039 --> 00:57:51,320 I think it probably makes sense to just try to get into a situation 980 00:57:51,360 --> 00:57:54,239 where you know he's contending or competing for something, just do right by him, 981 00:57:54,280 --> 00:57:57,280 because it does feel again, like I know it's kind of a cop 982 00:57:57,280 --> 00:58:00,760 out, it's probably lame, but it seemed like the Spurs do that pretty 983 00:58:00,840 --> 00:58:04,480 much with every single guy who they know they're just not gonna utilize. They're 984 00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:06,480 not going to hold them hostage, they're not going to keep them here, 985 00:58:06,519 --> 00:58:09,480 They're not going to make them play on a team that isn't with like in 986 00:58:09,559 --> 00:58:13,760 line with their goals. Like I really do expect him to be gone, 987 00:58:13,760 --> 00:58:16,679 but I would love to see him come back. I've really become like one 988 00:58:16,719 --> 00:58:22,199 of the number one yaka Peurtle supporters probably among the fan base and riders. 989 00:58:22,239 --> 00:58:25,199 But it's probably the right thing to try to get Like a first rounder or 990 00:58:25,199 --> 00:58:28,679 two out of him, because I think he is really valuable. I think 991 00:58:28,679 --> 00:58:32,400 he could start on hip team. He savon Looney do that like right, 992 00:58:32,519 --> 00:58:36,719 and it would be so much better. And you're absolutely getting at least a 993 00:58:36,800 --> 00:58:38,880 first for him, even with it being an expiring contract. I would just 994 00:58:38,960 --> 00:58:44,159 like if they did move Yaka Peartle before the season, what is your big 995 00:58:44,159 --> 00:58:47,159 man road Like, it's Gorgi Jang and Zach Collins is like, let's let's 996 00:58:47,159 --> 00:58:52,280 blaze on, yeah, and that is the tough thing. It's like Gorgy 997 00:58:52,360 --> 00:58:58,119 Jing is really just here, is like a veteran mentor in depth insurance option. 998 00:58:58,639 --> 00:59:01,280 And I like Zach Collins, I just don't think he's a starter in 999 00:59:01,320 --> 00:59:05,960 the NBA. So if those are your guys, like it even further signals 1000 00:59:05,960 --> 00:59:07,920 that, hey, like we're in a rebuild, if we're not afraid to 1001 00:59:07,000 --> 00:59:10,159 let anybody know it. I think that Yaka Pearl's kind of good for the 1002 00:59:10,159 --> 00:59:14,719 development because I think he is just such a steadying presence. But if you 1003 00:59:14,719 --> 00:59:19,800 can get a first round rounder out of him. Charlotte offered allegedly last year 1004 00:59:20,119 --> 00:59:22,239 a first rounder and Kai Jones and the first said no because they wanted two 1005 00:59:22,280 --> 00:59:25,840 first rounders. Well, like, if they can get that out of him, 1006 00:59:25,880 --> 00:59:29,079 I think that's good value. We'll see what they can get out of 1007 00:59:29,159 --> 00:59:31,280 him. He is a good player. I think he deserves to compete for 1008 00:59:31,360 --> 00:59:35,840 something meaningful. He is not old or anything. He's like basically the same 1009 00:59:35,840 --> 00:59:37,760 age as me. But once you start creeping towards thirty in the NBA, 1010 00:59:37,880 --> 00:59:40,840 especially as like a you know, a big man like, I think you 1011 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:45,079 gotta take into account where he wants to be in his career. So wouldn't 1012 00:59:45,119 --> 00:59:46,960 be surprised if he's gone by the end of the season. There's something to 1013 00:59:46,960 --> 00:59:51,639 be said about streamlining a development with someone who can cover up at the rim 1014 00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:53,880 for a lot of defensive miscuses of the youngsters. And then just like he's 1015 00:59:53,880 --> 01:00:00,320 gonna make life easier on the more inexperienced ball handlers or someone like Keldon Anson 1016 01:00:00,360 --> 01:00:04,239 who is going to get more ball handling responsibility just with his screening and the 1017 01:00:04,239 --> 01:00:08,679 reliability there. And like, is he the most veteran player on this team 1018 01:00:08,719 --> 01:00:12,519 right now? I didn't even consider that. I mean, there's Doug McDermott 1019 01:00:12,559 --> 01:00:15,320 and Josh Richardson and then it's there's him, And like, I don't know 1020 01:00:15,360 --> 01:00:19,079 if he's considered like the super vocal ra RA leader, but there's something to 1021 01:00:19,079 --> 01:00:22,239 be said about still having that that guy both on the court, Like on 1022 01:00:22,280 --> 01:00:27,360 the court at least with just the reliability that you're not going to get even 1023 01:00:27,360 --> 01:00:30,440 in some of your other players who are better just because there's higher variants right 1024 01:00:30,480 --> 01:00:35,199 now kicked into their performance and development. Yeah, I think he would provide 1025 01:00:35,239 --> 01:00:37,039 some value there. And he's also like again, I think he's like close 1026 01:00:37,079 --> 01:00:39,280 to my age. I think he's gonna be twenty seven in the middle of 1027 01:00:39,320 --> 01:00:44,639 the season, as will I, which is an interesting thought for myself. 1028 01:00:44,679 --> 01:00:47,039 I feel like I'm getting closer to thirty every year. But anyways, uh 1029 01:00:47,320 --> 01:00:50,880 yeah, I mean like he is a guy who I think can streamline as 1030 01:00:50,880 --> 01:00:52,119 you mentioned, like a little bit of development for them. I don't know 1031 01:00:52,159 --> 01:00:55,559 that he's super vocal, Like just watching him on the court, he does 1032 01:00:55,639 --> 01:00:59,599 communicate, but I don't really see him as like the guy in the huddle 1033 01:00:59,599 --> 01:01:02,000 who's really taking charge, like the guys who come to mind or you know, 1034 01:01:02,039 --> 01:01:08,079 Dejante Murray who's no longer here. And also Josh Richardson, super vocal, 1035 01:01:08,440 --> 01:01:12,920 really good leader, great presence in the locker room, really got along 1036 01:01:12,960 --> 01:01:15,880 with the young guys, did not complain once about his role, about his 1037 01:01:15,960 --> 01:01:17,880 touches, about you know, sitting on the bench when he first got here, 1038 01:01:17,880 --> 01:01:22,239 he got a bunch of dnps like the Spurs really hadn't decided if they 1039 01:01:22,280 --> 01:01:24,400 were going to utilize him or not. So like, just having a guy 1040 01:01:24,440 --> 01:01:28,960 like that I think is important. I don't know if Yaka is quite you 1041 01:01:28,960 --> 01:01:32,119 know, the vocal leader like that, but I think he would be useful 1042 01:01:32,280 --> 01:01:36,559 for the rebuild, even if, like you know, he's probably better suited 1043 01:01:36,599 --> 01:01:39,400 elsewhere, at least if you're trying to do right by him. No, 1044 01:01:39,599 --> 01:01:44,119 this was fantastic. You're able to tell our listeners where they can follow you 1045 01:01:44,199 --> 01:01:46,320 and all the great work that you do. Yeah, thank you again for 1046 01:01:46,360 --> 01:01:50,079 having me. I had a blast talking Spurs basketball with you. You can 1047 01:01:50,159 --> 01:01:53,239 find me at in Underscore Magaro m A G A r O on Twitter. 1048 01:01:53,599 --> 01:01:57,800 You can find my stuff under my name Noma gar George on YouTube. I 1049 01:01:57,840 --> 01:02:00,480 do film breakdowns. I do some breaking news breakdown stuff there as well, 1050 01:02:00,519 --> 01:02:05,599 and then you can find my writing at Pounding the Rock and also the pcast 1051 01:02:05,679 --> 01:02:08,280 album was City Limits pretty much wherever you get your podcast. So again, 1052 01:02:08,400 --> 01:02:10,880 thank you for having me. I had a lot of fun and I hope, 1053 01:02:10,880 --> 01:02:15,000 I know, taught your listeners a little bit about the scores. I 1054 01:02:15,119 --> 01:02:17,320 learned a whole lot. I'm sure they learned a whole lot, and rest 1055 01:02:17,320 --> 01:02:21,400 assured I'll be festering you again in the future. So thanks very much for 1056 01:02:21,440 --> 01:02:22,719 coming on, and I have a blasted summer league.