1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,120 What's up, y'all is Drewsky and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,640 a hilarious new basketball podcast called The due Zone with Drewsky. Learn the backstories 3 00:00:08,679 --> 00:00:11,839 of your favorite balls and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a 4 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:14,679 favorite team? Was it the Raptors at the time or no? Was the 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,199 Raptors even started around the topic? Come on, bro, I had that 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,559 tell you like I'm Vifty, Taylor Rogues, Asian Wilson and many more. 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,480 You won't want to miss this. Listen to The Due Zone with Drewsky on 8 00:00:24,559 --> 00:00:32,960 Apple, Podcast, Spotify and wherever you listen to podcasts. Pile leaned in 9 00:00:33,079 --> 00:00:36,520 and said something to Freddie, don't let them change you. Keep working on 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,840 what makes you different and what makes you special. It was great advice, 11 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,759 but it calls me some problems. But what could change Freddie Ado? Soccer 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,520 is going to explode it and it's going to be around this kid. We're 13 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,520 the Beatles. Everywhere we went it was the Freddie Show and with that came 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:58,880 the expectation, and with that came the pressure. New episodes of American Prodigy 15 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:11,040 drop Tuesday from Blue Wire Podcasts. What is Kracoac and Hardwinknocks listeners, I 16 00:01:11,079 --> 00:01:17,599 Am Dampa Valley coming at you once more, without my fantastic co host Adam 17 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,560 frommel I Am, however, super pleased to be joined by two more guests 18 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:27,120 for this podcast as we continue our NBA Team look Ahead package. First up 19 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:33,799 is going to be Greg Whissinger. He covers the Sacramento Kings for The King's 20 00:01:33,879 --> 00:01:37,760 Herald. He's the managing editor over there. He's also a freelance contributor for 21 00:01:37,879 --> 00:01:44,359 the Sacramento b Follow him on Twitter at gwiss That's at GWI s S. 22 00:01:44,599 --> 00:01:49,519 After that, we are moving on to the rating champion Los Angeles Lakers. 23 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:55,640 We're bringing on Jabari Davis. You can follow him on Twitter at Jabari Davis 24 00:01:55,760 --> 00:02:00,439 NBA. That's at jab A RII, DA v I S and b A. 25 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,400 He is the co host of the Dunks and Discourse pod, which also 26 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,879 happens to be a Blue Ire podcast, So check them out over there before 27 00:02:07,879 --> 00:02:14,280 we get started. As always, please please please, please please please subscribe 28 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:20,039 to our podcast. Download every single episode wherever you are consuming said podcast, 29 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,919 and regardless of where you are consuming said podcast, please head over iTunes search 30 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,960 Hardwood Knox throw us that five star rating, write a review. The reviews 31 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,080 help just as much as the rating, so please do all that. We 32 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,520 really appreciate it. We hope you're enjoying these daily pods that have like two 33 00:02:38,599 --> 00:02:42,400 or three episodes worth of content in there. And even if you're not necessarily 34 00:02:42,479 --> 00:02:45,960 a religious fan of any of the teams we're talking about, just make sure 35 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,240 you're subscribed and downloading the episodes if we want to make sure we're covering this 36 00:02:49,319 --> 00:02:53,639 league thoroughly, and I in particular, in my totally unbiased opinion, think 37 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,919 we're doing a bang up job. We've had some fantastic guests coming on over 38 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,479 the past couple of months, and we will continue to do so without further 39 00:03:02,719 --> 00:03:07,199 delay. Though. Let's talk Sacramento Kings first with Greg whis Singer and then 40 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:13,639 move on to the Los Angeles Lakers with Jobari Davis. Greg, welcome back 41 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,960 to the Hardwin Knox podcast. Emphasis on back because you were unwise enough to 42 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,840 return since you came on way back when in a pre pandemic world. I 43 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,960 do appreciate you giving me more of your time though. How are you doing 44 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:28,919 tonight? I'm doing great. Thanks for having me back. Are you already 45 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,319 talking about some Sacramento Kings. Oh always, So, I think the first 46 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:37,439 question, and I would probably start with, like normally going through the rubrics 47 00:03:37,439 --> 00:03:38,759 of these is like what was your general impression of the off season? But 48 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:43,560 I think the entire off season was kind of aside from the d Aaron Fox 49 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:50,719 extension, was probably centered around the decision not to resign Bogdan Bardanovich. What 50 00:03:51,639 --> 00:03:53,360 do you make of that now? Like, I do think it's been it's 51 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,919 definitely been lampooned by the national media. The decision not to imagine it does 52 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,360 feel like a level of mishandling of assets. But at the same time, 53 00:04:00,439 --> 00:04:04,759 like it's a new regime who didn't have the option of trading him before now, 54 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,080 And so I'm just is there, like, is there a middle ground 55 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:13,520 that we can find on this? Yeah, I mean I've kind of come 56 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,000 to terms with it, right because in the day's leading up to my position 57 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,639 was I would have matched. I think the Kings should have matched, But 58 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:26,120 that doesn't mean that I don't understand why they didn't. I think that ideally 59 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,079 they could have matched and then tried to trade him later. I don't think 60 00:04:29,079 --> 00:04:34,279 the eighteen million a year was that outrageous, but it would have complicated things, 61 00:04:34,759 --> 00:04:38,879 right, Bogdanovich would have had a no trade clause for the first year, 62 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,839 so any trade they found he would still have to sign off on, 63 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,879 so it's not just the ability to find the best deal. He would then 64 00:04:45,959 --> 00:04:48,839 have a trade kicker, which could impact the cap unless he was kind enough 65 00:04:48,879 --> 00:04:53,959 to waive it. But he doesn't have to and may be a little frustrated 66 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,560 that he didn't get to go play where he wanted, so he may just 67 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,279 say, no, you gotta pay that trade kicker. Anyway. It's how 68 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,240 many people just assume players will waive their trade kickers, and then John Wall 69 00:05:03,319 --> 00:05:06,360 gets moved and he's like, nah, I respect that. Definitely, don't 70 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,279 wait for trade kicker. You negotiate it for a reason. I mean, 71 00:05:10,319 --> 00:05:15,720 if I was a player, I wouldn't like, oh, you mean you 72 00:05:15,759 --> 00:05:17,879 want me to not take the extra couple million that you owe me? Like 73 00:05:18,199 --> 00:05:21,279 yeah, like this based into the seven figures. So that's a hard note 74 00:05:21,319 --> 00:05:27,199 from me. But thanks for writing. But so, I mean, it's 75 00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:30,560 not easy to move him now. It gets easier the longer you have him. 76 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:35,399 But I do think that if they had matched moving Bogdanovich would have only 77 00:05:35,399 --> 00:05:39,360 been one of several things the Kings were then trying to do. I mean, 78 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:45,800 the Kings have other contracts that don't make a lot of sense for what 79 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,199 we think Monnier and the Kings are trying to do. Yeah, I mean, 80 00:05:49,199 --> 00:05:55,680 it seems like from his comments in you know what limited press availability he's 81 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,439 had, as well as some of the moves that we've seen them try to 82 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,399 pull off and you know, not able to pull off, it seems like 83 00:06:02,399 --> 00:06:08,319 they're really trying to focus and get younger around Deer and Fox. So that 84 00:06:08,399 --> 00:06:12,040 presumably means that they might be looking to move Buddy Healed this season, they 85 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,879 might be looking to move Harrison Barns this season. And they've also got some 86 00:06:15,959 --> 00:06:20,399 expiring guys or essentially expiring guys like Corey Joseph is a big cap number this 87 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:25,800 year, he's only like two or three million guaranteed next year, Nem and 88 00:06:25,879 --> 00:06:29,759 you be Elitz is expiring, where Sean Holmes is expiring. So those are 89 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,600 other things that they're trying to move, and adding Bogy to that list just 90 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,879 is one more thing. And it's not like if they matched Bogdanovitch that's their 91 00:06:36,959 --> 00:06:42,199 only move they have to make. Right, it seems I guess where I've 92 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,959 landed where you did. I think I haven't posted it on Twitter that I 93 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,759 would have matched because I feel like you what you could have because what it 94 00:06:47,759 --> 00:06:49,879 does seem like they're doing is that they want to get younger around Fox, 95 00:06:49,879 --> 00:06:51,759 like you said, and so what you could have done, I think Bogie's 96 00:06:51,759 --> 00:06:56,399 contract looks better now than the Buddy Heel contract, and so you could have 97 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,319 moved him where maybe you're taking back another larger salary from a team and that's 98 00:07:00,319 --> 00:07:02,839 just upping the type of assets you're getting back, and it feels like they 99 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,319 would it would have been easier for them to eventually do that than whatever becomes 100 00:07:06,319 --> 00:07:11,600 of this Buddy Heeled situation should they move him. At the same time, 101 00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:15,480 I don't I don't want to use the word like respect or appreciate because that's 102 00:07:15,519 --> 00:07:17,560 like the bare minimum for whatever team should be thinking. But their decision not 103 00:07:17,639 --> 00:07:23,040 to match it at least seems like this front office regime has a longer, 104 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,279 larger game in place, and if you want to get to from scratch mode 105 00:07:28,319 --> 00:07:30,560 as quickly as possible, that might be the way to put it. Not 106 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:32,519 having him on the roster at all, you don't have to deal with that. 107 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,120 You know, trade restriction for the first year might be the quickest way 108 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:42,000 to do it. Yeah, And the other piece just kind of comparing contracts, 109 00:07:42,199 --> 00:07:45,040 is that but Doanovitch. I mean, we don't know all the details 110 00:07:45,079 --> 00:07:47,600 of how the Hawks set it up, but we think it's kind of level 111 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:53,360 eighteen million a year at least how I've seen it reported. I don't know 112 00:07:53,399 --> 00:07:57,800 if anyone's got the final details, but we do know that Buddy Healds contract, 113 00:07:57,839 --> 00:08:01,120 even though it's a bigger number, it decreases every year. So the 114 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,759 longer you have that contract, the easier it's going to get to move. 115 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:09,560 And you know, in the first year of the extension, which yeah, 116 00:08:09,639 --> 00:08:11,639 it is like twenty four or something like that. So it's a big number, 117 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,040 but it falls pretty quickly, and it's easy to forget that when he's 118 00:08:16,079 --> 00:08:20,600 not being misused by Luke Walton. Buddy Heals still one of the best shooters 119 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,439 in the league, especially at a high volume. So I don't think Buddies 120 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,759 as unmovable as he might seem on the surface. No, And if you're 121 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,679 gonna overpay for anything, you overpay for shooting Like that's just kind of where 122 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,519 I land on it, and so I totally get that few point. Also, 123 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,559 look, Buddy Healed. Bogey is one of the players that Buddy Healed 124 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,519 is allegedly younger then too, so there's that he's on a declinic contract and 125 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,399 younger. So I guess, So where do you land on the buddy situation? 126 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:50,039 I think I don't like from Afar, like, you know, a 127 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,279 million miles away. I look at this and think, like, he clearly 128 00:08:52,279 --> 00:08:56,000 doesn't want to be there. He actually ended up. I'm sure you saw 129 00:08:56,039 --> 00:09:00,480 that he liked that a tweet that I made in Jess from a brand account 130 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,399 that I run, where it said the King's thought that he was still part 131 00:09:03,399 --> 00:09:05,679 of their core, and that caused like a little bit of an uproar, 132 00:09:05,759 --> 00:09:07,519 which I thought was hysterical. And then I saw like people going through the 133 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,799 motions of trying to justify it, like, oh, maybe he thought those 134 00:09:09,799 --> 00:09:13,799 were happy tears. I don't know that he's like, is it possible that 135 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:18,600 he's more open minded or will want to stay in Sacramento, won't be as 136 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,320 much of like a I don't even know what the word would be, but 137 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,360 like, won't be as unhappy there if he has a bigger role on the 138 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,039 heels of Bogey's departure or is this just someone who's as loyal as his options 139 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:33,399 right now and he would just prefer to not be in Sacramento. So the 140 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:39,000 tricky thing with Buddy Heeled is that he has very little filter. So like, 141 00:09:39,039 --> 00:09:43,440 whatever he's thinking or feeling at the moment is what's going to come out 142 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,759 for the most part, and he just kind of says what's on his mind, 143 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:50,840 and that's not always going to be something that comes across. Well, 144 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,200 he probably saw the tweet and thought it was funny and maybe agreed with it, 145 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,320 and so we hit like, I don't think he put that much thought 146 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,159 into it. I don't he was trying to send a message or anything like 147 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,559 that. Like, you know, it might have been just something that he 148 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,879 thought was funny. It might have been something like he did just to stir 149 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,000 up a ship storm. Like that's the type of thing I hope players do 150 00:10:11,039 --> 00:10:13,759 that, by the way, I want I want him to search his name 151 00:10:13,799 --> 00:10:18,519 on Twitter with the intent to like something that he knows would cause an uproar. 152 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:26,600 But but I mean that's just kind of who Buddy Healed is. And 153 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,879 you know, sometimes it's good sometimes it's bad, it's just gonna you know, 154 00:10:28,879 --> 00:10:33,559 a double edged sword. When the season starts, though, I mean, 155 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,919 Buddy, heals the type of guy who's going to show up and play, 156 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,320 and he's gonna play hard, and he's gonna play to the best of 157 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:41,240 his ability no matter what else is going on, because I mean, the 158 00:10:41,279 --> 00:10:46,440 guy is one of those quintessent child night I just butchered that word, quintessential 159 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,559 Jim Rats, who just loves the game. He loves work now and he 160 00:10:52,639 --> 00:10:56,159 loves playing. He is all about it. So when the game's tip off, 161 00:10:56,159 --> 00:10:58,399 he's gonna be there. He's gonna do his thing, just like he 162 00:10:58,519 --> 00:11:03,120 was before that part. You know, no one's really concerned with Now. 163 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,200 There's times he's gonna be unhappy, you know, if he isn't starting. 164 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,679 I don't know how much that matters so much as closing games. He likes 165 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,200 to close the games. He likes, you know, being the guy taking 166 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:20,080 the big shot at things like that. It's possible he could end up happy, 167 00:11:20,159 --> 00:11:24,000 but I don't think that really matters. If he ends up happy and 168 00:11:24,159 --> 00:11:26,200 is playing better, that's probably just going to increase his trade value and make 169 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,679 it easier to move. And I still think that's ultimately where it ends up. 170 00:11:30,919 --> 00:11:33,960 And so that would be my two like twofold question would be. One 171 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,000 is how do they like, I don't want to say rebuild, but up 172 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,039 his trade value. Let's say, is it just a matter of hey, 173 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,720 like, maybe we don't have him running a ton of pick and rolls with 174 00:11:41,759 --> 00:11:45,759 the intent to facilitate like Luke Walton was doing, or is there something else 175 00:11:45,799 --> 00:11:48,759 that needs to go into that? And two do you think that they ultimately 176 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,919 move him just season because if you are, this isn't even an age joke. 177 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:54,080 If you're aiming to get younger around danon Fox like Buddy Healed, is 178 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:58,080 not like does not fit into that that mold. Yeah, I mean, 179 00:11:58,159 --> 00:12:01,600 I think part of it is that they're looking to move him because he's a 180 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,200 big contract and he doesn't really fit the Fox timeline at this point, which 181 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:09,679 is what the Kings are trying to build around it. It seems like as 182 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,679 far as we're building is value. Yeah, I mean a big part of 183 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:16,320 it is just getting Luke Walton to stop trying to make him a creator. 184 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,200 It's interesting because when you break down his stats from last season, there are 185 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:28,440 two distinct things that happened, both of which kind of tanked what is overall 186 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:33,720 season numbers looked like. The first was Darren Fox missed seventeen games with injury 187 00:12:33,759 --> 00:12:35,919 early in last season, and it feels like two years ago at this point. 188 00:12:37,519 --> 00:12:41,720 But during those games, those seventeen games, but he healed only shot 189 00:12:41,759 --> 00:12:46,360 like thirty six percent from three. And then the other thing is the bubble. 190 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:52,440 During the bubble, but he had come down and was symptomatic with COVID 191 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:56,440 and there he was back in the bubble, but there seemed to be some 192 00:12:56,519 --> 00:12:58,879 lingering effects, whether it was conditioning, shoot him, whatever it might have 193 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,440 been in you know, maybe it was a layoff, maybe it had nothing 194 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,039 to do with COVID. We don't really know, but he played bad in 195 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,879 the bubble if you take out those two times, which I know that's kind 196 00:13:09,919 --> 00:13:11,279 of starting to nitpick a little bit as far as like, okay, if 197 00:13:11,279 --> 00:13:15,240 we take out this section of games and this section of games, but if 198 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,960 you look at everything that was quote unquote normal, he still had a really 199 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,480 good season. So rebuilding his value might just be as simple as he has 200 00:13:22,519 --> 00:13:30,120 a normal off season. He isn't recovering from a really bad infectious respiratory and 201 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,799 has a point guard next to it. It might be that simple, right, 202 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:35,840 I mean, like, look, he was still he shot Like maybe 203 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,639 it's not astronomical, but he shoots over forty percent on catching shoot threes last 204 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,120 year, and like that's gonna always be the crux of his game. He 205 00:13:43,159 --> 00:13:46,720 was still in I've looked this up before. The seventy eight percent tile of 206 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,200 points per possession coming off screens, Like that's that's still a pretty good season, 207 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,200 even if it's weighted down by like numbers that hurt him at the beginning 208 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,120 of the year. Yeah, I mean, even with those averages, he's 209 00:13:58,159 --> 00:14:01,559 still shot over forty percent from the year on, taking like over nine threes 210 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:07,840 a game, And the only player in the NBA last season who made more 211 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:13,759 threes than Buddy Healed was James Harden. I mean that seems good, Like 212 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,960 it's a valuable skill. I think teams are gonna want that. There's a 213 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:20,200 certain point. Yeah, I wouldn't. I don't know that they if they 214 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,440 moved this contract now, which is the four he's the first year is the 215 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,000 four years and guaranteed for ninety four million, at least has the ability to 216 00:14:26,039 --> 00:14:30,440 go up. I don't know that they get guaranteed numbers lower than that. 217 00:14:30,759 --> 00:14:33,000 Is it? Is it eighty eight? Is that what it was? Yeah, 218 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:37,919 like eighty six eighty eight is the guaranteed number six million and likely incentives 219 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,840 I have and then the rest is unlikely. It looks like I might I 220 00:14:39,879 --> 00:14:45,080 might have that wrong. But now some of it depends on where he goes, 221 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:46,600 because if he goes to a playoff team, some of his incentives are 222 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:50,000 playoff based and things like that, So yeah, that could factor into the 223 00:14:50,039 --> 00:14:52,960 math as well. I would just I guess my point would be, like, 224 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,480 I don't know that they get like like actual value for him, but 225 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:00,200 this feels like something they should fairly. He feels like a player. If 226 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,039 they moved him now, they should fairly be able to do so without having 227 00:15:03,039 --> 00:15:05,759 to take like to They're definitely not going to give up something to move him, 228 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:07,559 but they shouldn't have to like move him for like a ton of negative 229 00:15:07,639 --> 00:15:11,080 value unless it's part of like this huge asset play where it's you know, 230 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,759 we're getting first round picks into the future and taking back this bad deal like 231 00:15:13,799 --> 00:15:16,440 this. I feel like if you actively try to move him now, they'll 232 00:15:16,519 --> 00:15:20,360 be teams that were looking to acquire buddy heel to like help push them over 233 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,960 the top, because what he does on offense best is very plug in play, 234 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:28,200 and he does it at such a high level that it's don't maybe not 235 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,159 worth dollar for dollar, but it's I would think it's worth the higher number 236 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:37,480 for certain teams that at least view themselves as like legitimate postseason threats. Yeah, 237 00:15:37,519 --> 00:15:39,960 I mean, like, I don't think he's like a positive value to 238 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,480 his contract right now, but I don't think he's a terribly negative value to 239 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,679 his contract either. I would say he's closer to the value of his contract 240 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:50,559 than Tim Hardaway Junior was for the life of his most of the life of 241 00:15:50,559 --> 00:15:52,960 his, and his is substantially more expensive looking at heals. So that's the 242 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,919 biggest compliment I guess I could give him. Twenty twenty has already reshaped how 243 00:15:56,919 --> 00:16:00,399 we work and it's almost over. This is across the globe or challenge to 244 00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:04,440 be their most efficient, which means every hire is critical well indeed is here 245 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:08,559 to help Unlike other sites. Indeed, gives you full control and payment flexibility 246 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,879 over your hiring. 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This is their best offer available anywhere. 255 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,799 Go right now to indeed dot com. Slash blue wire offers valid through December 256 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:56,440 thirty first terms and conditions apply. So the Fox extension five years, no 257 00:16:56,559 --> 00:16:59,759 player options. I think that ends up being huge for the team in general, 258 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,399 just because I look at him as an actual, you know, tent 259 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,680 pole guy to build around, and it seems that even this new regime does 260 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,599 as well by you know, giving him that deal, and just based off 261 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:14,200 the moves that they're making, so one like, what are you looking for 262 00:17:14,319 --> 00:17:15,759 from him next season? Aside from you know, we hope that he could 263 00:17:15,799 --> 00:17:19,200 stay healthy. Is it's a over my I think someone like me who's not 264 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,440 watching as many King James as he was, like, you know, could 265 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,799 we get him to have more consistency on his off the dribble jumpers and just 266 00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:29,279 catches shoot threes in general, because that makes him more of a great fit, 267 00:17:29,559 --> 00:17:32,880 like alongside like other players that they might want to bring in and easier 268 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,680 to develop other guys. I would think, is it you know, if 269 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,839 he's gonna go get to the free throw line? Is often it seems like 270 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,039 he was last year, Like can he shoot a higher clip from there? 271 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,920 There's is there's something you view as like a swing skill that will determine the 272 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:48,319 extent of his stardom. So I think the the outside shooting or you know, 273 00:17:48,319 --> 00:17:52,119 the shooting you know, long twos or threes, threes ideally that's been 274 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,480 a big thing with him kind of since he came in the league. He 275 00:17:56,519 --> 00:18:00,519 hasn't really been consistent there. But I also don't know that he necessarily needs 276 00:18:00,599 --> 00:18:03,079 to get that because I mean, you think about it, there's a lot 277 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:07,799 of really great point guards, star point guards who can't shoot threes and don't 278 00:18:07,799 --> 00:18:11,359 shoot very much, especially when you have his speed, you know, you 279 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:17,000 can you really push it, and yeah, he can break down a defense 280 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:22,559 even if he doesn't have the shooting to make people respect it and kind of 281 00:18:22,599 --> 00:18:25,680 play up. If he can start to hit those threes, it's even harder 282 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,880 to stop him, So that'd be huge. But really the biggest thing is 283 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:34,359 just the level of aggressiveness and his willingness and ability to take over games. 284 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:41,119 He only played six games in the Bubble, but in those six games we 285 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,240 saw kind of a glimpse of what that could look like. In six games 286 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,279 in the Bubbly Shot, he averaged like twenty six points a game, seven 287 00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:53,240 assists, two and a half rebounds, like and a steeler two. I 288 00:18:53,279 --> 00:18:56,240 mean, he was phenomenal in the bubble. The Kings were trashed, so 289 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:02,079 no one noticed, but he played really really. I mean, he wasn't 290 00:19:02,079 --> 00:19:04,039 deferring to anyway. He was trying to take over. He was really trying 291 00:19:04,039 --> 00:19:07,880 to do something and it was incredible. I Mean, very few guys put 292 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:12,119 up like twenty six and seven for the season, and I'm not expecting him 293 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,759 to suddenly be that guy for you know, seventy two games as opposed to 294 00:19:15,799 --> 00:19:19,279 six games, But if he can kind of close that gap between what he 295 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,640 was doing in the bubble and what he did for the rest of the year 296 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,720 last year. It'd be a nice step forward, you know, if he 297 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,799 can be at twenty three twenty four points a game. He was at a 298 00:19:29,799 --> 00:19:32,880 little over twenty last season, so it's not a huge leap, but just 299 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,160 kind of incriminal growth. You mentioned the free throw rate. He gets to 300 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,200 the line at a phenomenal rate. He was like twelfth in league and free 301 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:45,640 throw temps last year. His percentages aren't great, but even with his offenesse 302 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:49,880 he gets the line. Even if he raised his percentages, it doesn't change 303 00:19:51,039 --> 00:19:53,160 that much as far as his point totals for the year. So I think 304 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,519 that that's probably a little bit less vinitie than people might think. And he 305 00:19:56,519 --> 00:20:00,839 would look even like from January first on, like his numbers like dovetailed pretty 306 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,440 nicely or almost aligned with what he was doing in the bubble. He did 307 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,799 shoot forty six point four percent on pull up twos from January first onward. 308 00:20:07,839 --> 00:20:11,400 And the thing that I noticed about him is that he doesn't let's just say, 309 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,559 he never develops like the consistent jump shot. He doesn't seem as inclined 310 00:20:15,599 --> 00:20:19,160 to take like those looks as a John Waller Russell Westbrook would where they accounted 311 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,000 for you know, those in between twos off the dribble account for such a 312 00:20:22,079 --> 00:20:26,240 large share of their shot attempt totals that it becomes an actual problem. Fox 313 00:20:26,279 --> 00:20:29,799 seems I don't know if it's just he's aware of his limitations or he's just 314 00:20:29,839 --> 00:20:33,119 not inclined to shoot those. I think that helps him. Should he not 315 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:37,880 turn into like even let's just say, consistent stand still shooter or someone who's 316 00:20:37,319 --> 00:20:41,319 can be trusted to knocked down those those off the dribble jumpers, It doesn't 317 00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:44,359 seem like that was that he intends them to be like this huge part of 318 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,079 his game anyway. Yeah, I mean, I think he's pretty self aware 319 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:49,400 of like what he's good at and what he's not. Like he'll talk about 320 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:55,039 his free throw shooting all the time, you know, so he knows the 321 00:20:55,079 --> 00:20:57,400 areas of his game that he needs to working. But he's also kind of 322 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:03,000 got that pure point guard mentality where he can score a lot, but he's 323 00:21:03,079 --> 00:21:07,799 very willing to set up other guys like he has doesn't feel like he needs 324 00:21:07,799 --> 00:21:10,319 to always be the guy taking the shot. So yeah, if all the 325 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:14,119 defense has given him is a twenty foot or he's probably more likely to pass 326 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,119 out of it than anything else. So Luke Walton head coach of the King 327 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:22,880 still for reasons unbeknownst to me, to be honest with you. But so 328 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:26,680 the way they played last year, if you look at before January first, 329 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,640 they were twenty fourth per impredictable and average time of possession and they were eleventh 330 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:34,039 after January one. How much of that is just like those numbers are skewed 331 00:21:34,079 --> 00:21:38,079 because Fox was injured at the beginning of the year. How much of that 332 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:42,079 is just due to Luke Walton not being in touch with the makeup and how 333 00:21:42,079 --> 00:21:47,799 this roster should play for so long? And is this you know, Kennis 334 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,960 team in your opinion, like actually begin it's rebuild around Fox? Or can 335 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,680 it take like a step forward if Luke Walton's the coach, Like do you 336 00:21:55,799 --> 00:21:57,839 envision him using players properly this year? Does do you feel more confident now 337 00:21:57,839 --> 00:22:02,119 that Alvin Gentry is there? Where is this just a situation where you view 338 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:07,039 it as the Kings are gonna like almost forever be capped so long as Walton 339 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:11,079 is running the show from the sidelines. I think it's a bit of both. 340 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,039 I mean, I think the Kings can be better than they were last 341 00:22:14,079 --> 00:22:18,960 season. I think bringing in someone like Gentry can certainly help with the offense. 342 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:25,799 I think that it was so weird last year because before joining the Kings 343 00:22:25,799 --> 00:22:30,319 with the Lakers, Walton ran a high paced system, and it was so 344 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:36,720 baffling why a coach who had traditionally played in high pace before the Lakers, 345 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,279 he'd been with the Warriors, who obviously got up and down the floor, 346 00:22:38,279 --> 00:22:41,839 shot a lot of threes. How he went from that to trying to do 347 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:48,319 a slow it down offense to instill half court sets. It did not play 348 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,680 to the strengths of the team. It didn't work like. It was a 349 00:22:52,759 --> 00:22:56,200 disaster, and the team never really recovered from it. And the way that 350 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,920 they started the season, they definitely picked up the paces time went on. 351 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,880 We're paying close attention to it the whole year and it would be nice and 352 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,599 they're saying all the right things about playing faster again this year. So I 353 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,759 don't really know what happened there. I still think though, even if they 354 00:23:11,799 --> 00:23:14,480 play faster, yeah, it'll help out with some of the issues. But 355 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,880 I don't think Luke Walton is the coach who will take the Kings to the 356 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,319 promised Land, right, I think that, you know, as far as 357 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:26,960 why he's being kept, I mean, there's gonna be a lot of turnover. 358 00:23:26,759 --> 00:23:32,640 The Kings are have definitely had some of their other business interest hurt financially, 359 00:23:32,799 --> 00:23:37,720 so you know, eating three years of Luke Walton's contract was probably a 360 00:23:37,759 --> 00:23:41,799 tough pill to swallow when they also had to eat Floody Devots contract that had 361 00:23:41,799 --> 00:23:49,240 three years left on it. So I think that I think there's probably some 362 00:23:49,319 --> 00:23:53,960 financial things there, but also just you give Monny McNair time to see, 363 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,319 you know, maybe he can make it work. And if he can't, 364 00:23:56,759 --> 00:24:00,839 you know, maybe it's midway through the season he lets them go, maybe 365 00:24:00,839 --> 00:24:03,720 it's the next offseason, you know. But kind of instead of just throwing 366 00:24:03,799 --> 00:24:07,039 him out at the same time as as Vlady, you know, you let 367 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,079 McNair decide when he's gonna look for a new coach, if he wants to 368 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:14,839 look for a new coach, right, And so maybe maybe he's about giving 369 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,680 me a shop, but maybe it's more so like give Monnie time to actually 370 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,279 tear down the roster to the studs or at least where the roster reflects what 371 00:24:21,319 --> 00:24:23,720 he wants it to look like before instilling the coach that he wants to have 372 00:24:23,839 --> 00:24:26,839 it because at that point, like, what is if you think that the 373 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:32,200 Kings are going to at least noticeably alter the makeup of the roster around the 374 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,440 Aaron Fox, what is necessarily the point of getting rid of Luke Walton right 375 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:40,200 now? Exactly? And also, I mean it was a condensed offseason. 376 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:45,039 There was so much change happening already. I mean by the time McNair was 377 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,480 hired, I mean, I mean, we were already into the coaching carousel, 378 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:53,240 Like it just probably wasn't the best time to also replace a head coach. 379 00:24:55,759 --> 00:25:00,519 I mean, just my kind of dream scenario is McNair obviously came from 380 00:25:00,519 --> 00:25:04,920 Houston, Mike D'Antoni spending a year as an assistant. You know, maybe 381 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,359 he kind of tears things down, gets a young, fast team that's exciting, 382 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,319 and then you bring in a guy like Mike D'Antoni to you know, 383 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:17,440 do his point guard thing with jar and Fox, Like maybe that's a plan 384 00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:21,839 for next off season as opposed to something you try to pull off this season 385 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,559 when you don't really have the footing to make it happen. Yeah, I 386 00:25:25,559 --> 00:25:27,759 mean I think it's always I guess in this case it doesn't hold as much 387 00:25:27,799 --> 00:25:30,160 weight. But if you're going to get rid of a coach, the question 388 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,279 is like, well, you have to have the upgrade. I guess, 389 00:25:33,319 --> 00:25:36,680 just in this case, it's like pretty much anyone they install could maybe technically 390 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:38,359 be like an upgrade. Like there was Alvin Gentry in front of Luke Walton. 391 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,039 That's just a much better fit as well. Well yeah, I mean, 392 00:25:42,319 --> 00:25:45,680 like so that's the other thing they brought in, uh, you know, 393 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,680 assistance, And they brought in good assistance last year as well, and 394 00:25:49,799 --> 00:25:55,759 some of them just left for various gigs and different job opportunities. But you 395 00:25:55,799 --> 00:25:59,839 know, if they aren't happy with Walton and get rid of them, you 396 00:26:00,079 --> 00:26:03,920 have an experienced person who has been head coach and runs the type of system 397 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,440 you say you want to play, and you can insert him even if he's 398 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,519 a stop gap, even if he's there for half a season or in the 399 00:26:11,559 --> 00:26:15,880 next season whatever that might look like. Gentry's probably an upgrade, even though 400 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:21,880 he has his own flaws. So how get anyway from Luke Walton? They 401 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:26,200 get tyres Haliburton in the draft. I think that was like everyone loved that 402 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,720 pick and I was. I thought Phoenix should have taken him. I thought 403 00:26:29,759 --> 00:26:33,440 the Knicks should have taken him. So how do you you know? I'm 404 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,440 not sure how much you covered him beforehand or have looked up or about him 405 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,720 since then, But do you like his fit on the roster more than that? 406 00:26:40,839 --> 00:26:44,400 What type of role do you envision him playing as a rookie? Does 407 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:47,839 you know Bogey's departure make it more likely he gets heavy minutes? Is he 408 00:26:47,839 --> 00:26:49,680 gonna play with Daron Fox? Is there a chance that he might start? 409 00:26:49,759 --> 00:26:52,640 Or is that just gonna default to the buddy healed? At this point, 410 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,240 I'm just very curious to see how the King's work him in because it's this 411 00:26:56,839 --> 00:26:59,680 I don't want to say it's a weird situation, but I think, well, 412 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:00,920 the other one is like Halibert probably wanted to be on the Kings, 413 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,319 right like that was just in the argy and want other teams that drafting so 414 00:27:04,319 --> 00:27:07,359 we can go to Sacramental. So also, how does it feel to know 415 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:11,599 that a player wanted to be in Sacramento from the jump? I mean I 416 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:18,279 have trouble believing that. It feels like agents spin to me because I mean, 417 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,039 let's be honest, if teams wanted him. They're not going to care 418 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,279 that he's saying, like, I want to go to Sacramento. And that's 419 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:30,200 unless they're like, well, clearly this kid's got judgment issues like poor decision 420 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:34,839 making, honest guy from poor that Like, I mean, is it possible 421 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:38,319 he really wanted to play next to Fox? Sure? Maybe? Yeah. 422 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,160 It feels a little like spin to me, but I'll take it right. 423 00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:45,039 It's nice to hear that a guy is at least smart enough to spin it 424 00:27:45,079 --> 00:27:48,400 in the right way. But I was thrilled when he fell to the Kings. 425 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,960 I mean, everyone thought he was gonna go a lot higher. I 426 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:53,880 mean, you know, it seemed like a lot of boards had him, 427 00:27:55,079 --> 00:27:56,759 you know, anywhere in like the four to ten range, and you get 428 00:27:56,839 --> 00:28:00,359 him at twelve. That's great. And the Kings didn't overthink it. They 429 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:06,839 seemed excited about it. You know, he can kind of fill a lot. 430 00:28:07,079 --> 00:28:11,839 Obviously he needs to develop. He's not at the same level as Bogdanovich, 431 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,400 but he can kind of fill that same role, like the kind of 432 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:18,200 the secondary ball handler, you know, versatile guy. He can score, 433 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:19,519 he can shoot, he can create, he can do a little bit of 434 00:28:19,559 --> 00:28:23,680 everything. I'm excited. I think he's a really nice fit next to Fox. 435 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,319 That being said, I've seen this before. We're a promising rookie slides 436 00:28:30,319 --> 00:28:34,200 to Sacramento and they grab him and it doesn't work out. So I've orchestrated, 437 00:28:38,359 --> 00:28:41,319 so I'm excited to see how it works out. But I mean, 438 00:28:41,359 --> 00:28:45,720 I think it's going to be a solid pick, and I think that having 439 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,240 him fall to them in the draft may have made it easier for them to 440 00:28:49,319 --> 00:28:53,400 decide not to match on Bogie as well, because if you do match on 441 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,880 Bogie, now not only is but a healed in front of Haliburton, but 442 00:28:57,039 --> 00:29:00,440 Bogie is as well. Do you think that they and I'm just I'm assuming 443 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,200 with the direction of this team, although there has to be a connect as 444 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,039 well between the front office and Luke Walton, But are you assuming that he 445 00:29:07,119 --> 00:29:12,599 gets like meaningful minutes this year and that they'll give him like a fairly long 446 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,039 rope when he's on the court, since it doesn't you know, I don't 447 00:29:15,039 --> 00:29:18,920 think the only team in the West that has steered itself completely outside the playoff 448 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:22,559 discussions so far as Oklahoma City. I don't know if the Kings intend on 449 00:29:22,599 --> 00:29:25,359 doing that. If you already view them as having done that. But do 450 00:29:25,359 --> 00:29:30,200 you think that with the course that they're on, Halibert ends up playing meaningful 451 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,480 minutes this season. Yeah. I don't think the Kings have fully completed that 452 00:29:34,519 --> 00:29:37,960 shift, but I think that we're going to see moves that continue moving them 453 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,839 in that direction this year. I mean, I mentioned guys just before, 454 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:48,079 like Beelitza and Holmes and Court Joseph, guys that are, you know, 455 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,960 potentially trade chips because they're essentially expiring. I think that you'll see at least 456 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,519 one or two of them move, you know, at least by the trade 457 00:29:55,519 --> 00:29:59,720 deadline. I think there will be meaningful minutes available for Haliburton. Now, 458 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,400 right off the bat, they might try to slow play it because he didn't 459 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:06,640 really get a real training camp. He's not getting a real preseason. Yeah, 460 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,640 these rookies, when's the last time His last game is probably in February 461 00:30:10,839 --> 00:30:14,000 or something, and so that's ten months without playing and now of a sudden, 462 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,680 you're in the NBA and training camp was two minutes. Yeah, and 463 00:30:17,799 --> 00:30:22,759 you might may or may not have preseason games because Portland has COVID, you 464 00:30:22,799 --> 00:30:26,720 know, right, right, So we're he's definitely gonna get like baptism by 465 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,000 fire as far as being thrown right into the thick of it. So I 466 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:34,640 don't know that they're gonna give him heavy minutes like you know, December twenty 467 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,000 three, but I think, you know, within a month or two, 468 00:30:38,039 --> 00:30:41,640 I think he'll be seeing some regular minutes in the rotation. 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Don't 478 00:31:18,279 --> 00:31:22,000 forget to use promo code blue wire all one word at bet online dot ag. 479 00:31:22,559 --> 00:31:27,160 That's blue wire all one word bet online. You're online sports book experts 480 00:31:29,359 --> 00:31:33,359 Marvin Bagley. Last time you're on this podcast, I waxed poetic about how 481 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,400 I felt about Marvin Bagley, and maybe I thought I was being trendy because 482 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:38,680 he was catching so much ship because his name isn't Luca don Chich. I 483 00:31:38,759 --> 00:31:42,319 proceeded to then rank him as a top seventy five player in the NBA for 484 00:31:42,359 --> 00:31:48,519 this past upcoming season because I was so high on how he shot towards the 485 00:31:48,599 --> 00:31:52,880 end of his rookie year. This season was disastrous. Injuries obviously played a 486 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:57,319 role, but it seems like perception of him nationally has soured. Are people 487 00:31:57,519 --> 00:32:00,759 like, do you get the sense that the Kings still committed to him? 488 00:32:00,759 --> 00:32:02,200 I'm assuming yes, they picked up his team option, which is more than 489 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:07,119 they did for Harry Giles. Of course, so twitch the knife Man. 490 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,359 Just I'm sorry that was I thought that move was Blastemouth. I don't know, 491 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,839 I'm assuming. I mean, I'm assuming you did as well. But 492 00:32:14,119 --> 00:32:17,319 it seems like they're still invested in Marvin Bagley. Do you have any sense 493 00:32:17,319 --> 00:32:22,640 of how committed they are to him? Though? You are you still like? 494 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:27,119 Is there optimism there even after what happened this year? Do you you 495 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:30,160 know what is best for him moving forward with this team and they actually test 496 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:35,519 him out at the five more designing Hassan Whiteside like infer that they're probably not 497 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,200 going to do that. I have a very I think he's my toughest read 498 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:42,400 for this team, just because I don't I don't want to read too much 499 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:45,279 in last season because of the injuries, but just the way this team is 500 00:32:45,319 --> 00:32:47,400 built, I'm not even sure how they plan to use him at this point. 501 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,119 Yeah, what's funny is I mean, obviously he lost most of a 502 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,400 season to injury. Last year he played I think it ended up like thirteen 503 00:32:55,519 --> 00:33:00,480 sixteen games something like that, But is averages weren't that far off from what 504 00:33:00,559 --> 00:33:05,119 he did as a rookie. I mean, his per thirty six numbers were 505 00:33:05,119 --> 00:33:07,480 similar, His per game numbers were similar. Like, it's not like he 506 00:33:07,519 --> 00:33:12,359 took a huge step back as far as his production when he did play, 507 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,359 like so all those things that people were excited about after his rookie year and 508 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,400 I was, I mean, I didn't think he was Luca, and especially 509 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:23,359 after last season with the leap that Luca took, that's obviously still very painful. 510 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:28,720 And you know, I was very much on the draft Luca Bandwagon. 511 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:32,720 I thought that he was the clear choice at number two, but questionable Dad 512 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:40,039 though, So if we don't compare him to Luca, though, I think 513 00:33:40,039 --> 00:33:44,279 that there's still a lot to be excited about. I mean, he is 514 00:33:44,319 --> 00:33:47,039 a really good finisher around the rim. You know, he's you know, 515 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:52,640 got some rebounding abilities, some scoring ability. He has athleticism, at least 516 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:59,240 he did before all his injuries, So I think people I think just the 517 00:33:59,279 --> 00:34:04,119 fact that he was never on the floor has soured people on him potentially too 518 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,599 much. I'd still really like to see him stay healthy for a full year. 519 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,679 But a lot of his injuries were a little freak injuries. They weren't 520 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:15,639 like the same thing over and over. I mean, the first injury was 521 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:19,920 a broken thumb. You know, It's just kind of weird little things that 522 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,360 happened to him. And I think that there's still plenty of reason to think 523 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:27,000 he could be a productive part of the future. Now, whether or not 524 00:34:27,039 --> 00:34:30,039 he will be, we'll have to just wait and see. But I think 525 00:34:30,079 --> 00:34:32,360 the Kings are still hopeful that he could be part of a young core with 526 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:37,519 Fox and Halliburton and you know, whoever they draft in the coming year. 527 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,280 I forgot that he had missed time. I think it wasn't really have a 528 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:43,679 left knee injury his rookie year. I forgot that he missed time then too, 529 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,039 So the health is obviously fair. He does seem like if he can 530 00:34:46,039 --> 00:34:50,400 shoot the white, because he did his shooting percentage, like you know from 531 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,199 the perimeter plunged last year was the one that people looked at and he was 532 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,559 really he shot well towards the end of his rookie year. So if he 533 00:34:55,599 --> 00:34:59,199 can like come close hitting that, and then you look at what he was 534 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:01,639 able to do running the floor, it's a perfect fit for how the King 535 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:07,119 should be playing. Do you think we get to see him more at the 536 00:35:07,199 --> 00:35:09,800 five this year or is that do you think that they view him more as 537 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:14,360 a four? And I think the question has always been like because he has 538 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:16,360 like he could be he could play either position offensively, I think that's pretty 539 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:20,119 clear. He does have the floor game to be a four, I think, 540 00:35:20,159 --> 00:35:22,840 But it's always been about like defense is like where is he going to 541 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:24,559 be? Maybe it's gonna be the lesser of two evils is the best way 542 00:35:24,559 --> 00:35:27,800 to put it, but like where is he going to be best off? 543 00:35:28,039 --> 00:35:30,159 On that end? Of the floor and if they just decided Yeah, like 544 00:35:30,199 --> 00:35:32,599 I look at their roster, feels like they might end up treating him as 545 00:35:32,599 --> 00:35:35,480 a four. But at the same time, like, the only center you 546 00:35:35,519 --> 00:35:38,039 should be married to at this point is Rashaun Holmes, and so maybe there 547 00:35:38,039 --> 00:35:42,239 should be a lot of time there to have Marvin Bagley test out some run 548 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,559 at the five. Yeah, I'd be surprised if we didn't see them try 549 00:35:45,639 --> 00:35:49,760 him some at the five. You know, whether or not he spends the 550 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:53,000 majority of his minutes there just looking at how the roster's constructed, I don't 551 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:57,079 know. I mean, I think to your point, I think he'll spend 552 00:35:57,199 --> 00:36:00,000 time at both four and five and they'll kind of figure out what it's working 553 00:36:00,119 --> 00:36:02,719 in. Yeah, I mean, the big issue, like you said, 554 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:08,480 was defense. You know, if if he's on the floor guarding a legit 555 00:36:08,599 --> 00:36:14,199 center. His rookie year, he didn't have the size, he wasn't bulked 556 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,760 up enough. Came into a sophomore year and didn't look like he put on, 557 00:36:17,119 --> 00:36:21,000 you know, much weight or much muscle mass like we were hoping to 558 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,239 see coming to this season. We don't know yet. We haven't really seen 559 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:30,119 him yet, so it'll be curious to see what he looks like. You 560 00:36:30,159 --> 00:36:31,599 know, if he's put on some mass, you know, if he's been 561 00:36:31,639 --> 00:36:35,440 able to bulk up a little bit, because that could go a long way. 562 00:36:35,559 --> 00:36:38,679 If he can, you know, physically stand toe to toe with a 563 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:42,719 legit center, that makes a big difference as far as how you can use 564 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:47,400 him. Do you think that it's more likely that he can bulk up and 565 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:52,280 survive defensively as the five, or that he's that it might just be better 566 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:54,480 off to use him as the four. They're not rely on him to defend, 567 00:36:54,519 --> 00:36:58,119 you know, even positions are meaningless, YadA, YadA, YadA. 568 00:36:58,159 --> 00:37:00,920 Now, but where I'll have to go up against a lot stronger players, 569 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:06,599 I mean, some of it also depends on how his offensive game develops. 570 00:37:06,599 --> 00:37:09,920 I mean, if he can develop any sort of an exterior shot, you 571 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:14,079 know, whether that's you know, just being able to hit from the free 572 00:37:14,079 --> 00:37:16,519 throw line, you know, on offense, you know, the elbow, 573 00:37:17,119 --> 00:37:21,880 or if he can hit threes with any consistency. That opens up a lot 574 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:25,480 of ways you could use him as a four, just from an offensive standpoint, 575 00:37:25,519 --> 00:37:30,639 because the problem is when you're trying to capitalize on Fox's speed and his 576 00:37:30,719 --> 00:37:34,159 ability to break down defenses. The Kings are talking about trying to play a 577 00:37:34,159 --> 00:37:38,280 lot more like five out and open up the paint. But what we've seen 578 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:43,320 up to this point, Bagley hasn't consistently been able to do anything other than 579 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:46,440 when he's in the paint and having heavy usage with the ball in his hand. 580 00:37:47,039 --> 00:37:52,239 So that that's where it gets tricky with you. How he develops offensively 581 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:57,360 dictates a lot of what position he can play as well, because that dictates 582 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:02,079 who you have to put him on the floor with. Do you think that 583 00:38:02,159 --> 00:38:05,760 he I'm assuming he's going to They're gonna receive a lot of trade calls for 584 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:07,280 him, is what I would assume. He's in the final year of his 585 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:10,800 contract. Do you think that they are going to be interested in keeping him 586 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,960 long term when they've already paid Yes, they could move some of these guys, 587 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:19,000 But now you've paid Fox, eventually that will kick in. You've paid 588 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,039 Buddy Heals, You've paid Harrison Barnes. Does that factor into the equation? 589 00:38:22,519 --> 00:38:27,159 And do you I mean, do you want do you think that he's a 590 00:38:27,159 --> 00:38:30,239 good fit in Sacramento long term? I would say that he's still I don't 591 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:34,119 know how people feel about us on Whiteside. I've always thought his like defensive 592 00:38:34,159 --> 00:38:37,559 impact is like kind of it's too limited, and so I would still call 593 00:38:37,639 --> 00:38:39,760 Homes their best defensive option at the five now, But I'm also not really 594 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:43,880 sure how much that's that's saying. But he seems like, you know, 595 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:45,920 just what he did as a rollman last year, like he can do some 596 00:38:47,079 --> 00:38:51,719 rotations around the rim and he can give you some rim protection. I kind 597 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:54,440 of really like his fit in Sacramento, but it's just complicated by Okay, 598 00:38:54,519 --> 00:38:59,199 he's heading into a contract year, Like how do you treat this situation with 599 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:04,440 him? Yeah, I mean the problem. I love Rashaun Holmes, I 600 00:39:04,519 --> 00:39:07,639 love rooting for him, I love having him on the team, But realistically, 601 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:10,800 he's a little too old for the timeline that they say that they're trying 602 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:17,599 to build around. And with his contract and his production and the things he 603 00:39:17,639 --> 00:39:22,679 can do, I think that he's one of their best trade chips, and 604 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:24,639 so if you're looking to build for the future as opposed to right now, 605 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:30,679 I think that you probably end up moving him this year because he could help 606 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:32,719 a lot of contenders, and a lot of contenders will be willing to give 607 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:37,960 you a decent asset in return, and whether that's a younger player with some 608 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,920 potential or a draft pick or whatever, that might look like. It's a 609 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:45,519 very movable contract. He's not expensive, you know, he's a you know, 610 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:49,760 like you said, he is an active defender, he's a good role 611 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:53,440 man, he's an explosive athlete. He does all sorts of fun little things 612 00:39:53,519 --> 00:39:59,159 that I enjoy having on the team. But I'll also understand if they end 613 00:39:59,239 --> 00:40:01,159 up moving him why they did that, just because it makes a lot of 614 00:40:01,239 --> 00:40:05,880 sense. And this is and it's obviously coming from the team perspective. I 615 00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:08,360 won't never players get paid like I want players to get paid. But they'd 616 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:12,199 be watching like the big man market this year, and maybe you thought, 617 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:15,280 like if Biggs ended up getting squeezed like I thought I thought they would, 618 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:19,440 and it seemed like predominantly most people thought they would maybe feel a little bit 619 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:22,119 better about letting it roll away, right that huge offer isn't coming around. 620 00:40:22,199 --> 00:40:24,840 But then you watch like, oh, Mason Plumby getting three years twenty five 621 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:28,519 million, Tristan Thompson got two years guaranteed at the full mid level, Like, 622 00:40:28,559 --> 00:40:31,760 no, those aren't astronomical costs, but in theory, Rashaun Holmes is 623 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:37,000 better than both of them, I would say, and he's younger than both 624 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:38,159 of them. And the other thing would be he's heading into a market where 625 00:40:38,159 --> 00:40:40,679 there's going to be more tap space available. So it's not, oh, 626 00:40:40,679 --> 00:40:44,079 it only takes one team. It might take you know, it's half a 627 00:40:44,119 --> 00:40:46,079 dozen teams that might be willing to pay him sizeably. So you even look 628 00:40:46,079 --> 00:40:49,639 at that and it's like, you know, keeping him get a little risky, 629 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,440 risky or just from the perspective of, oh, these bigs were not 630 00:40:52,639 --> 00:40:57,119 just squeezed dry in this year's more limited market. Well, and I mean 631 00:40:57,159 --> 00:41:00,840 you look at a lot of the big men who who did go at discounts 632 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:05,599 this year. I mean, I'm not the biggest Hossan Whiteside fan, but 633 00:41:05,679 --> 00:41:08,400 the King's got him on a one year minimum contract, like it's a very 634 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:13,519 much approven deal. And the guy was, you know, fifteen thirteen and 635 00:41:13,559 --> 00:41:16,119 like three blocks again last year. I mean a lot of those stats are 636 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:22,719 kind of empty. I'm not again, I'm not excited about what he's gonna 637 00:41:22,719 --> 00:41:27,000 do necessarily, but there's always centers. I mean, there was good centers 638 00:41:27,039 --> 00:41:31,159 out there that didn't end up on any roster right. I mean we talked 639 00:41:31,159 --> 00:41:35,599 about not keeping Harry Giles, but he signed on a minimum deal. I 640 00:41:35,599 --> 00:41:39,440 mean there's always young, big men, you know, big men with potential. 641 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:44,639 I mean those guys are out there. I mean the center mark at 642 00:41:44,639 --> 00:41:47,079 the past couple of years have been pretty brutal, where randomly a few guys 643 00:41:47,119 --> 00:41:51,639 will get way overpaid, but a lot of guys can be had for cheap. 644 00:41:52,079 --> 00:41:54,800 Yeah that It clearly is the easiest position to approximate if you don't need 645 00:41:54,840 --> 00:42:00,000 something like super specific there. Yeah exactly. I mean the guys get paid 646 00:42:00,079 --> 00:42:07,920 because they differentiate themselves in that way yea, or they're yeah totally, or 647 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:12,480 they're a plumb lea yeah, or a Zella or something. It seems like 648 00:42:13,079 --> 00:42:16,400 those teams, teams are always playing Zella or plumbly bingo some I think this 649 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:21,159 is the most interesting thing for me for the Kings from a team dynamic is 650 00:42:21,639 --> 00:42:24,280 how do the wing minutes get dolled out here? Because they don't you know, 651 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:28,639 if you look at their roster and like it depends on what you're going 652 00:42:28,719 --> 00:42:30,440 to define as a wing, like, they don't really have a true wing. 653 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:35,239 I consider Barnes like more of a four at this point. If Jabari 654 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:37,840 Parker is gonna end up playing any small forward for them, that's going to 655 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:40,199 be a disaster. I like Grin Robinson the third, I'd be interested to 656 00:42:40,199 --> 00:42:43,880 see. I don't know if you guys have heard anything, but I'm assuming 657 00:42:43,880 --> 00:42:45,719 he's just not as healthy as people thought, because there's no way he was 658 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:51,679 floating around on the market for that long and they got him for basically nothing, 659 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:54,679 Like he only has one hundred thousand of his contract guaranteed, So like, 660 00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:58,239 if he's healthy, is he going to be playing a heavy role? 661 00:42:58,320 --> 00:43:00,880 Like what is this? How does this wing rotation and shake out for the 662 00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:05,719 Kings when you're looking at like that that three spot. Yeah, that's a 663 00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:07,880 good question, and I don't really know what the answer is going to be. 664 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:14,519 But yeah, I mean Harrison Barnes is presumably the starting small forward, 665 00:43:14,599 --> 00:43:19,800 but to your point, he plays a lot of four and is probably better 666 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:23,760 used as a four instead of a three. Yeah. Outside of that, 667 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:30,679 Yeah, Robert Woodard the second, he is one of their second round picks, 668 00:43:30,679 --> 00:43:32,559 but he was considered by a lot to be a first round talent. 669 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:36,639 Wouldn't be surprised to see him get some time there. But I think you're 670 00:43:36,639 --> 00:43:38,760 going to see a lot of the Kwan Jeffers. He was really good in 671 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:44,360 the bubble, really stepped up. He had been a two way player last 672 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:47,159 year. He's now on a full contract with the team. Younger guy, 673 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:52,199 just kind of a He can play multiple positions, but I think he's most 674 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:53,840 natural at small forward. I think you're going to see a lot of minutes 675 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:58,480 from him there. What did he end up shooting again in the bubble. 676 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:00,280 I can't even remember what that was if like a zillion years ago, I 677 00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:02,119 should have looked that up before I started. I know he did. He 678 00:44:02,119 --> 00:44:06,960 shot sixty eight point two percent on two pointers last year, so lots of 679 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:09,039 the Kwan jeffrees though. That's I guess that's something to like super look forward 680 00:44:09,079 --> 00:44:14,519 to. But it's is that fair to say that it's like the biggest question 681 00:44:14,559 --> 00:44:16,760 mark for this team, like looking long term? I guess if you're if 682 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:21,199 they're planning on tearing it down, like you're just you're more worried about acquiring 683 00:44:21,239 --> 00:44:23,639 talent. But because they do have like that north star of a building block 684 00:44:23,679 --> 00:44:27,920 and fox, I feel like it's also fair to start like wondering, like, 685 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:29,559 you know, how do you flesh out the rest of the roster, 686 00:44:29,599 --> 00:44:31,719 and you concern yourselves with fit and so it's like kind of shoring up the 687 00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:38,039 ring rotation to the point where you have, like I easily identifiable long term 688 00:44:38,119 --> 00:44:42,639 guys. There is that like the most pressing issue for this team moving forward. 689 00:44:44,119 --> 00:44:45,400 I mean, I think it depends a lot on what they have. 690 00:44:45,599 --> 00:44:51,000 But I mean, so like Woodard, for example, he's six seven, 691 00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:55,079 two thirty five, like he is a rookie, but won the bench press 692 00:44:55,119 --> 00:45:01,360 competition in training camp today. Dude definitely has an NBA body and shot over 693 00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:06,239 forty percent from three in college. Now he can play the three. He 694 00:45:06,719 --> 00:45:09,280 might be more of a four when all is said and done, but I 695 00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:13,880 think he can definitely play the three. And he's, you know, in 696 00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:15,079 college, he was very much like a three in D type of guy. 697 00:45:15,159 --> 00:45:20,119 He So I think that that's the type of wing that the King should be 698 00:45:20,159 --> 00:45:23,119 looking at, and it seems like they are looking at now. I think 699 00:45:23,239 --> 00:45:27,800 a guy like Glenn Robinson there, I think that's more kind of a stop 700 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:30,719 gap of you know, filling in the minutes type of deal, you know, 701 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:34,440 But he's similar as well. I mean, he's a guy who can 702 00:45:34,639 --> 00:45:37,760 hit a shot at a decent clip from Deep, and I think a lot 703 00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:40,039 of it is going to be around getting guys who can defend and guys who 704 00:45:40,039 --> 00:45:45,079 can space. I think that that's really what you need to have around Fox, 705 00:45:45,199 --> 00:45:49,679 because you need spacing to give him room to operate on offense, and 706 00:45:49,679 --> 00:45:53,760 you need defense because he hasn't been the greatest defender. He's not gonna shut 707 00:45:53,800 --> 00:46:00,079 down someone else as far as the op poision point guard goes, so I 708 00:46:00,079 --> 00:46:05,199 see some of it. I also think that what the roster looks like going 709 00:46:05,239 --> 00:46:08,920 into Game one is probably gonna be wildly different than what the team looks like 710 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:14,039 at the end of the trade deadline and even into next season. I think 711 00:46:14,079 --> 00:46:16,840 that the Kings are far from done reshaping what that team is going to look 712 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:22,639 like around Fox, So there might be a hole there now, but I 713 00:46:22,679 --> 00:46:28,199 don't think that they're overly concerned with filling it in today. I think it's 714 00:46:28,199 --> 00:46:30,559 more one of those things where they're going to try to find pieces that work 715 00:46:30,599 --> 00:46:35,119 and then they'll fill it in when they can. This is, as you 716 00:46:35,119 --> 00:46:37,719 said, the roster could change a bunch, so maybe the answer this question 717 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:39,599 would change the season progresses. But if you had to pick right now, 718 00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:44,320 what do you think ends up being the starting lineup for the squad, And 719 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:46,880 do you think that lineup also ends up being their most used its closing unit? 720 00:46:49,719 --> 00:46:52,920 Are we talking like day one starting lineup? It could be like what 721 00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:55,480 do you think ends up being like their preferred starting five or the one that 722 00:46:55,519 --> 00:47:00,199 they lean on most throughout the course of the season. Obviously assuming like no 723 00:47:00,800 --> 00:47:06,960 huge wholesale change. So I think that the most likely, at least from 724 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:15,280 the jump, would be Fox, Buddy Healed, Harrison, Barnes, Beelitza, 725 00:47:15,519 --> 00:47:21,159 and Holmes. I think that that's going to be day one unless Badley 726 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:24,039 just comes out on a tear like in camp and you know, the two 727 00:47:24,039 --> 00:47:28,960 preseason games or whatever, like, I mean, he could potentially take over 728 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:31,880 that four spot or five spot, but I think that more unlikely he'll kind 729 00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:36,320 of come off the bench to start the year. As far as how they 730 00:47:36,440 --> 00:47:42,400 close it, I would suspect that more often than not you'd see a closing 731 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:51,719 lineup that had Barnes at the four instead. And you know, I don't 732 00:47:51,719 --> 00:47:58,039 really know who would be the three I guess, I mean it depends. 733 00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:02,719 I mean, it could be Jeffreies, it could be you know, if 734 00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:06,840 I assume the Kings are down a lot, you know, they may not 735 00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:09,519 be looking at defensive oriented closing laps. It might be Yeah, so like 736 00:48:09,559 --> 00:48:12,519 if it was a tight game, I mean like would if so, I 737 00:48:12,559 --> 00:48:14,880 would see I think bars at the four probably the best way to go if 738 00:48:14,880 --> 00:48:17,280 it's like a game they're trying to win and crunch who's the best? Like 739 00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:21,280 and I think you could probably just fill out the three with who's playing better? 740 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:23,559 Like is it Woodard? Was it Jefferies? Is it Glenn Robinson the 741 00:48:23,639 --> 00:48:27,679 third if he's healthy. Who's like the optimal five in that scenario? Is 742 00:48:27,719 --> 00:48:30,440 it be Elitza? Is at Holmes? Please tell me it's not Whiteside. 743 00:48:30,679 --> 00:48:34,239 I mean again, I think it depends who has the ball, right, 744 00:48:34,320 --> 00:48:37,800 I mean, as bad as it sounds, I mean, if you know, 745 00:48:38,159 --> 00:48:42,400 if you're worried about, you know, the other team scoring a bucket 746 00:48:42,400 --> 00:48:45,000 at the end of the game. I mean, Whiteside's a much bigger body 747 00:48:45,079 --> 00:48:50,159 than Holmes. He's just a much larger human and you know, has a 748 00:48:50,239 --> 00:48:53,320 not knack for shot blocks, and he might be better. I don't know. 749 00:48:53,440 --> 00:48:59,440 I don't like saying that doesn't make me happy, but it's possible. 750 00:49:00,119 --> 00:49:02,480 Is there like a completely out there lineup that you're just hoping they test out 751 00:49:02,480 --> 00:49:06,400 at some point for the season for whatever reason, something that wouldn't be on 752 00:49:06,519 --> 00:49:08,679 like someone's radar right now, or maybe even a lineup that Luke Walton would 753 00:49:08,719 --> 00:49:14,079 never even dare to trot out, but he should totally try it. I 754 00:49:14,159 --> 00:49:20,159 mean, I would be really excited to see some time with Fox, Haliburton, 755 00:49:21,079 --> 00:49:28,400 Jeffries Woodard and you know, give me Holmes at center, Like that's 756 00:49:28,440 --> 00:49:30,840 just a I don't know how good that lineup would be, but it'd be 757 00:49:30,960 --> 00:49:36,280 young and interesting and exciting. I mean that's, you know, four really 758 00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:39,000 young guys and then Holmes, who isn't old by any means, but he's 759 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:43,320 a little older than the rest. But that type of lineup would be the 760 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:45,239 type of thing I'd like to see, even though it may not be the 761 00:49:45,320 --> 00:49:50,760 best lineup. And I don't know that we'll see that five man combo at 762 00:49:50,800 --> 00:49:54,159 any point. Would they consider or maybe this is like something that they'll definitely 763 00:49:54,199 --> 00:49:59,880 do, like Fox, Haliburton, Healed Barns and you could put in what 764 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:01,000 ever center you like in etc. If you just give me. I want 765 00:50:01,039 --> 00:50:06,679 to see those four play together so badly. Oh yeah, that that actually 766 00:50:06,679 --> 00:50:10,679 wouldn't surprise me as much as the lineup I just listed, because you know, 767 00:50:12,719 --> 00:50:15,559 Barnes would be a little bit more traditional as far as the four goes, 768 00:50:15,679 --> 00:50:17,199 and you know, whether you put in Holmes or white Side, you 769 00:50:17,239 --> 00:50:22,440 know that gives you a kind of that defense inside. Yeah, I mean, 770 00:50:22,519 --> 00:50:27,760 I could totally see that happening. Just because there's not that clear depth 771 00:50:27,880 --> 00:50:31,039 of small forwards. It wouldn't surprise me if we saw at least a few 772 00:50:31,079 --> 00:50:36,440 minutes of that type of lineup. Who is more likely to these are the 773 00:50:36,679 --> 00:50:37,559 two? Says the question I kind of just for me, who's more likely 774 00:50:37,639 --> 00:50:42,679 to be on this roster at the end of the season between Rashaun Holmes and 775 00:50:43,880 --> 00:50:51,599 Blitza? Rashaun Holmes, Really, I can't imagine a scenario where Belits is 776 00:50:51,639 --> 00:50:54,920 still around, Okay, I mean so, I mean you think about what 777 00:50:55,199 --> 00:51:00,920 Belitza brings to the table. He's a stretch four who shot forty two percent 778 00:51:00,079 --> 00:51:04,920 from three last year. He has shot over forty percent for the past two 779 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:09,559 years, and he's cheap and he's expiring. Like what playoff team doesn't want 780 00:51:09,599 --> 00:51:13,199 to pick him up at the deadline? Yeah? There was was it? 781 00:51:13,400 --> 00:51:16,920 NBC Sacramento or something had the report where they said that the Kings weren't going 782 00:51:16,960 --> 00:51:20,639 to guarantee his salary for this year is at the start of the off season. 783 00:51:21,119 --> 00:51:22,920 That was I don't know if you saw that, Like that was the 784 00:51:22,039 --> 00:51:27,079 wildest things I read leading into free agency, where it was that guy shot 785 00:51:27,119 --> 00:51:30,199 what from three and if he's not worth like six and change whatever he's being 786 00:51:30,239 --> 00:51:35,239 paid this year. Yeah, I mean his contracts like six million this year, 787 00:51:35,480 --> 00:51:37,440 and he's a bargain for what he does. I mean, he's a 788 00:51:37,519 --> 00:51:40,519 limited player in his own right, Like he's not a great defender by any 789 00:51:40,599 --> 00:51:45,400 means, you know, but he is better than Davis Berton's if that's a 790 00:51:45,400 --> 00:51:52,079 consolation to anybody. But I mean, any contender would love to have that 791 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:58,639 kind of power forward at that contract with no long term commitment, Like that's 792 00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:05,079 a perfect plug and go piece for any contender. That is a useful player 793 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:08,320 to have available. Yeah, at seven two seven point two million is salary 794 00:52:08,360 --> 00:52:10,480 for what he does, I'd say that's worth it. Maybe this is maybe 795 00:52:10,519 --> 00:52:14,400 this is the time he finally ends up on the sixers somehow for real. 796 00:52:15,719 --> 00:52:19,559 The other two players I wanted to ask was between Buddy healed and Harrison Barnes. 797 00:52:19,599 --> 00:52:22,159 Who do you think is more likely to finish the year on the roster? 798 00:52:22,639 --> 00:52:27,480 Probably here are some Barnes. Is that because you think Buddy Hills has 799 00:52:27,519 --> 00:52:32,400 more trade value or because he wants out or like is what would be the 800 00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:37,519 reasoning behind that? Yeah, I mean I think that Buddy Hill will He's 801 00:52:37,559 --> 00:52:40,960 going to have him a little bit more trade value. He wants out. 802 00:52:42,159 --> 00:52:45,599 You know, Barnes is not going to disrupt anything. Barnes is an amazing 803 00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:50,440 king. He enters the market at the right time every single time. He 804 00:52:50,599 --> 00:52:53,880 absolutely does. And I mean he he's overpaid, but honestly, like, 805 00:52:54,719 --> 00:53:00,880 you have to pay someone right there's so if you're going to have someone who's 806 00:53:00,079 --> 00:53:05,719 a little too expensive, like and you've got a team full of young guys 807 00:53:05,800 --> 00:53:07,719 kind of finding their way in the league, you can do worse than an 808 00:53:07,800 --> 00:53:13,599 overpaid veteran mentor than Harrison Barnes. Like a guy who's won titles, a 809 00:53:13,679 --> 00:53:17,320 guy who's one Olympic medals, like you can tell everyone what it takes to 810 00:53:17,400 --> 00:53:22,440 be a pros pro like good locker room guy, good community guy. Like 811 00:53:22,199 --> 00:53:28,159 I don't think that he's going to be the first priority to move that's fair. 812 00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:30,199 His contracts declining as well, and I actually, to me, I 813 00:53:30,599 --> 00:53:34,119 don't like it's not even just because it's a shorter deal. I actually, 814 00:53:34,320 --> 00:53:36,760 if I was a team, I guess it depends on your need because they're 815 00:53:36,760 --> 00:53:39,320 two different players. But I like the idea of Harrison Barnes better in part 816 00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:43,000 because that's the cline and contract, and I think he's gonna give you more 817 00:53:43,079 --> 00:53:45,320 options, a boatload of more options, I just to say defensively. And 818 00:53:45,400 --> 00:53:49,639 I think what people kind of remember about him is how he was playing in 819 00:53:49,800 --> 00:53:52,079 Dallas. That's not how he's playing in Sacramento. And so he's been more 820 00:53:52,119 --> 00:53:55,800 plug and play and then opportunistic with his on ball stuff. And if he's 821 00:53:55,840 --> 00:54:00,360 willing to do that for a King's team, that's like not like knows it's 822 00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:04,760 not necessarily going to be contending. Like if he's willing to be plug and 823 00:54:04,800 --> 00:54:07,320 play for a team like that, he should fit right on to a contender, 824 00:54:07,400 --> 00:54:10,960 like you don't have to worry about him griping about his role or something. 825 00:54:12,039 --> 00:54:15,719 And so I feel like he ends up becoming like a more coveted trade 826 00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:19,760 commodity than people would think leading into the trade deadline, which I think is 827 00:54:19,800 --> 00:54:22,280 like March twenty fifth or whatever this year. Yeah, I mean I could 828 00:54:22,320 --> 00:54:24,960 totally see him Teams being interested in him as well. Like you said, 829 00:54:24,960 --> 00:54:30,880 I mean the declining deals that Sacramento is made like a habit of, and 830 00:54:30,159 --> 00:54:34,639 that's Ken Kenton. Hell at their cap grew and he stayed on. He 831 00:54:34,800 --> 00:54:38,719 did not leave with the rest of Vladi's departure. But so he's still in 832 00:54:38,760 --> 00:54:43,440 the front office. And you know, they've done a great job with how 833 00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:47,800 they structured deals with you know, decreasing salaries with non guaranteed final years. 834 00:54:47,920 --> 00:54:53,039 They've been really smart with how they structured deals for several years now. So 835 00:54:53,239 --> 00:54:58,800 even though Barnes is probably overpaid, it's a much easier pill to swallow when 836 00:54:58,960 --> 00:55:01,440 every year that con trek gets better for you, you know, so as 837 00:55:01,559 --> 00:55:07,400 other guys need to get paid, Barnes's numbers going down, And yeah, 838 00:55:07,519 --> 00:55:10,239 he can do a lot for you. He's never gonna be what Dallas wanted 839 00:55:10,360 --> 00:55:13,519 him to be when they signed him, which is, you know, be 840 00:55:13,639 --> 00:55:16,280 the focal point of the offense. That's not where Barnes is going to thrive 841 00:55:16,360 --> 00:55:22,000 for you. Yeah, he's a good team defender. He is willing to 842 00:55:22,039 --> 00:55:25,440 play a role he doesn't need to have all the touches. So I'm a 843 00:55:25,519 --> 00:55:29,559 big fan of Barnes. I like having him around. He's one of those 844 00:55:29,599 --> 00:55:31,719 guys that I think should have a little bit more trade value. I get 845 00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:37,800 why he doesn't, but if he did get dealt I wouldn't be surprised either. 846 00:55:37,039 --> 00:55:40,800 I also think he should either have his own podcast or narrate books on 847 00:55:40,880 --> 00:55:46,239 audio. It's my hot day for Harrison Barnes. So what's a realistic win 848 00:55:46,360 --> 00:55:51,880 total and Western Conference finished for this year? And that's a loaded question because 849 00:55:51,880 --> 00:55:52,760 we don't know what's going to happen, So he could factor you know, 850 00:55:52,760 --> 00:55:55,360 if you're assuming they tear it down or trade certain players, you could factor 851 00:55:55,480 --> 00:55:59,880 into it whatever you think. And you're also free to base it off in 852 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:04,000 eighty two game season because I'll just plug it into my spreadsheet because that's something 853 00:56:04,039 --> 00:56:06,880 else. I haven't been able to think of win totals in the vein of 854 00:56:06,960 --> 00:56:09,719 a seventy two game season because it just doesn't make sense to me. Yeah, 855 00:56:09,840 --> 00:56:14,800 and I've thought a lot about this in a seventy two games season. 856 00:56:15,159 --> 00:56:19,559 Wouldn't be surprised at all to see the King somewhere around twenty to twenty five 857 00:56:19,599 --> 00:56:22,559 wins. Wow, So that's twenty would be the equivalent of twenty three and 858 00:56:22,639 --> 00:56:24,920 twenty five would be the equivalent of twenty eight. So you're looking at like 859 00:56:24,920 --> 00:56:28,039 a twenty three to twenty even team over of course, for eighty two game 860 00:56:28,079 --> 00:56:30,480 season, which I take that to mean that you think there's gonna be like 861 00:56:30,599 --> 00:56:37,079 some significant roster turnover mid season for this group. I fully do. I 862 00:56:37,519 --> 00:56:40,559 think that they are in the process of tearing it down. I don't think 863 00:56:40,599 --> 00:56:45,519 they're gonna rush it. So I don't know how many guys are going to 864 00:56:45,559 --> 00:56:46,880 be gone, but I think that we're going to see at least a couple 865 00:56:47,000 --> 00:56:52,199 more of the more proven players get shipped out of as the season goes along. 866 00:56:52,760 --> 00:56:55,079 And there's like there's also a chance where they don't not that they don't 867 00:56:55,119 --> 00:56:58,639 need to tear it down, but there because the way the West is set 868 00:56:58,719 --> 00:57:01,119 up right now, like they could just be organically bottom of the barrel. 869 00:57:01,199 --> 00:57:04,800 Because I think the only team you look at and say, right now, 870 00:57:04,960 --> 00:57:07,079 let's say the King's changed nothing, I'd put them in front of the Oklahoma 871 00:57:07,159 --> 00:57:10,000 City Thunder. I don't know who else I would put them in front of. 872 00:57:10,239 --> 00:57:15,079 If any team. Yeah, I mean the only other teams really are 873 00:57:15,239 --> 00:57:20,280 like maybe the Timberwolves, but yep, I'm not confident about that, Like 874 00:57:20,840 --> 00:57:24,559 it just kind of depends how each team's year goes. Yeah, I mean, 875 00:57:24,639 --> 00:57:29,119 I think there's a really good chance they're like the second or third worst 876 00:57:29,159 --> 00:57:31,199 team in the West. Even if they're not that bad, I think the 877 00:57:31,239 --> 00:57:35,440 West is just going to be that tough, and with it being such a 878 00:57:35,519 --> 00:57:39,360 weird season and the King's being geared more towards playing younger players, I think 879 00:57:39,400 --> 00:57:45,920 that there's just a chance that they end up at a really bad record that 880 00:57:45,079 --> 00:57:50,000 may not reflect the talent on the roster. And that's kind of like a 881 00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:52,800 like the great market inefficiency right now that I think, you know, I 882 00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:57,440 think everyone romanticizes the idea of a rebuild, but the Thunder I feel like 883 00:57:57,480 --> 00:58:00,360 timed it right. Like no one else is doing what they're doing, so 884 00:58:00,400 --> 00:58:02,800 they're just bottoming out from the jump. And if you're in a Western conference 885 00:58:02,840 --> 00:58:07,440 where all thirteen other teams are trying to make the playoffs aside from the Thunder 886 00:58:07,480 --> 00:58:09,320 now and you're the Kings, like why not make this the time to kind 887 00:58:09,360 --> 00:58:12,880 of try and tear it down because it's all you're gonna do is, Yes, 888 00:58:12,960 --> 00:58:15,599 the lottery's turbulent, but like if you don't even think you have like 889 00:58:15,639 --> 00:58:19,119 a semi feasible shot at the play in spot, like you're going to have 890 00:58:19,159 --> 00:58:22,559 an easier time of getting the highest lottery odds possible because there are so few 891 00:58:22,639 --> 00:58:24,599 teams right now that are competing for that, and the play and has something 892 00:58:24,679 --> 00:58:28,480 to do with it. I don't even know that I fully grasped like how 893 00:58:28,519 --> 00:58:30,920 to view the way teams operate now in that vein, because there will be 894 00:58:31,079 --> 00:58:36,360 some hashtag Charlotte Hornets that are going to view finishing tenth as like a real 895 00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:39,880 goal because that's considered basically a playoff spot and gives you a semi plausible chance 896 00:58:39,960 --> 00:58:44,840 of getting in, which opens the door for teams that have the stomach for 897 00:58:44,960 --> 00:58:47,079 it to do what the Thunder have done and what it seems like just based 898 00:58:47,119 --> 00:58:52,000 off what this front office did by just letting Bardanovitch walk that they're at least 899 00:58:52,119 --> 00:58:54,800 open to doing. I don't know if they'll necessarily do it full stop, 900 00:58:54,880 --> 00:58:58,800 but they do at least appear open to it. Yeah, I mean, 901 00:58:58,840 --> 00:59:00,920 I don't think that the Kings are going like full thunder or anything. Because 902 00:59:00,920 --> 00:59:05,119 they have Fox, they you know, they've got badly, they've got Halibert, 903 00:59:05,119 --> 00:59:07,719 and they've got pieces that are already there. They don't have to strip 904 00:59:07,760 --> 00:59:13,800 it to the studs to start over. But you can also kind of retool 905 00:59:13,960 --> 00:59:16,639 a little bit on the fly. And because the West is going to be 906 00:59:16,679 --> 00:59:20,559 so tough, you can end up with a really bad record even if you're 907 00:59:20,639 --> 00:59:24,119 not that terrible. And this is a great traffic class to be bad for 908 00:59:24,239 --> 00:59:29,639 it like and with the new lottery odds, you don't need to be the 909 00:59:29,760 --> 00:59:34,280 worst team. You can be bottom four or five and end up with really 910 00:59:34,440 --> 00:59:38,599 great lottery odds. And I think that's kind of the way that they're going 911 00:59:38,760 --> 00:59:43,239 is, you know, we're going to get off our bad long term money. 912 00:59:43,960 --> 00:59:46,239 We're going to pick up another good young player. We're going to have 913 00:59:46,360 --> 00:59:51,679 financial flexibility that you know, once this starts moving in the right direction. 914 00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:54,159 We've got all our draft picks, We've got a lot of you know, 915 00:59:54,320 --> 01:00:00,480 different deals that are movable. They're basically setting themselves up to may a big 916 01:00:00,559 --> 01:00:05,760 swing and try to do a quick turnaround as opposed to just take chasing that 917 01:00:06,519 --> 01:00:10,280 right at tenth seed. You know, playing tournament, which Vladivos absolutely would 918 01:00:10,320 --> 01:00:14,639 have been doing right now. Yeah, if he was still in charge, 919 01:00:14,639 --> 01:00:16,800 I'd be anxious to I'm not anxious, I'd be interested, intrigued, maybe 920 01:00:16,880 --> 01:00:21,199 morbidly so, to see what they ended up doing with their mid level exception, 921 01:00:21,360 --> 01:00:23,800 like who's in Sacramento right now? If if Loddi Devas is in charge, 922 01:00:24,440 --> 01:00:27,960 I mean, let's be fair, there's a chance it was still Hassan 923 01:00:28,039 --> 01:00:32,320 Whiteside just as yeah, definitely would have. He probably wouldn't have. There 924 01:00:32,320 --> 01:00:35,719 would have been no matching Bardanovitch because there would have been a four year, 925 01:00:35,719 --> 01:00:37,639 one hundred million dollars offer on the table for him at the start of free 926 01:00:37,639 --> 01:00:42,079 agency too. Oh no, he loved Bogie. He would have matched that 927 01:00:42,239 --> 01:00:45,800 in a heartbeat, and he would have dealt Buddy for pennies on the dollar. 928 01:00:45,960 --> 01:00:50,679 I know, this, is there anything else that we didn't cover that 929 01:00:50,760 --> 01:00:52,679 you want to talk about? Something about this team that's just undercovered or being 930 01:00:52,719 --> 01:01:00,360 overlooked. And he really spicy Kyle Guy takes. No, I don't have 931 01:01:00,440 --> 01:01:05,159 any spicy Cole Guy. It takes the biggest thing that I noticed about this 932 01:01:05,280 --> 01:01:08,320 offseason was that, you know, well, they went really cheap with their 933 01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:12,159 free agent signings, like you know, cheap deals for Glenn Rampson, the 934 01:01:12,239 --> 01:01:17,920 third Frank Kamenski and uh, you know, Hassan Whiteside. They they did 935 01:01:19,039 --> 01:01:22,800 some longer term and you know a little bit bigger financial commitments to guys like 936 01:01:22,239 --> 01:01:27,639 Woodard and also Jamias Ramsay, I mean, their other second rounder that it 937 01:01:27,719 --> 01:01:30,079 seems like they feel like they've got something there and they're they're willing to They 938 01:01:30,159 --> 01:01:34,320 give them both longer deals than the normal rookie deal, like three or four 939 01:01:34,400 --> 01:01:38,440 year deals. And I think that both of those guys had the potential to 940 01:01:38,559 --> 01:01:43,400 surprise. You know, obviously with later picks, you never know, it's 941 01:01:43,440 --> 01:01:46,320 a total crapshoot, But I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of them 942 01:01:46,400 --> 01:01:50,840 turned into you know, at least, you know, regular bench guys on 943 01:01:50,920 --> 01:01:52,599 a team. Well yeah, I mean and Wood's case too, Like what 944 01:01:52,800 --> 01:01:57,480 is the there's no, you're not losing any opportunity by paying him like one 945 01:01:57,519 --> 01:02:00,960 point five or whatever it is this year and then attaching to non guarantee years 946 01:02:01,119 --> 01:02:05,199 to it, Like if that's the opportunity cost to get an extra two guarantee 947 01:02:05,239 --> 01:02:07,280 years of having him under a team control. That seems like a smart move 948 01:02:07,360 --> 01:02:09,800 and speaks to how you said, like it seems like they're getting smarter about 949 01:02:09,840 --> 01:02:15,000 the way they structure deals, Like I mean, even the Corey Joseph disaster 950 01:02:15,239 --> 01:02:17,039 that I thought it was, like, having that partial guarantee attached makes it 951 01:02:17,440 --> 01:02:21,840 a lot more palatable and easier to move. You know, I don't think 952 01:02:21,840 --> 01:02:22,760 if any team is going to acquire him as an asset, but if the 953 01:02:22,800 --> 01:02:25,679 Kings are willing to take back money with an asset attached, like that's one 954 01:02:25,679 --> 01:02:29,800 of the deals that pops up, as you can call it, like honorably 955 01:02:30,000 --> 01:02:34,800 expiring or however you want to frame it. Yeah, I mean the other 956 01:02:34,880 --> 01:02:38,360 piece to just be to watch the Kings of the trade deadline, because if 957 01:02:38,400 --> 01:02:43,480 the right opportunity came along, the Kings have something like forty million dollars in 958 01:02:43,559 --> 01:02:47,400 expiring deals. That's a ton of money. And would you assume that they're 959 01:02:47,400 --> 01:02:53,119 willing to take on money that leaks into the long term if it fits the 960 01:02:53,239 --> 01:02:57,519 overall goal, right, So, I mean, we never know which guys 961 01:02:57,559 --> 01:03:00,920 are going to become available or anything like that, but they've got money for 962 01:03:00,119 --> 01:03:05,960 days that whether it's inserting themselves into a deal to take on someone else's bad 963 01:03:06,039 --> 01:03:12,000 money in exchange for draft picks, or you know, the next disgruntled star 964 01:03:12,239 --> 01:03:15,960 is available and they feel like it's the right fit. Like it wouldn't surprise 965 01:03:16,000 --> 01:03:20,280 me at all of the Kings made a big swing if the right opportunity came 966 01:03:20,360 --> 01:03:23,280 around. Greg, this was great as usual. Thank you so much for 967 01:03:23,400 --> 01:03:27,880 giving me over in or almost over an hour of your time. What are 968 01:03:27,920 --> 01:03:30,480 we at almost an hour of your time? I really appreciate it. If 969 01:03:30,480 --> 01:03:34,159 you guys are not following him on Twitter, he is at GWIS. That's 970 01:03:34,199 --> 01:03:37,960 at j w I s S. He's a managing w SS. What did 971 01:03:38,000 --> 01:03:43,960 I say? You said? Ja? Oh my god, Io g w 972 01:03:44,280 --> 01:03:47,239 I S S. I cannot talk. He's the managing editor at The King's 973 01:03:47,280 --> 01:03:52,119 Herald and he is also a freelance contributor for the Sacramento b He's a fantastic 974 01:03:52,519 --> 01:03:59,000 Twitter follow so again at g w I s S not j G following on 975 01:03:59,039 --> 01:04:03,199 Twitter. Greg, thank you so much. This was great. Thanks Jabari. 976 01:04:03,440 --> 01:04:08,119 Welcome back to the Hardwoo Knox Podcast. As I say, emphasis on 977 01:04:08,239 --> 01:04:11,960 back, because you've decided to return after experiencing what it's like to come on 978 01:04:12,519 --> 01:04:15,000 HWK in the first place. So I really appreciate that. How are you 979 01:04:15,079 --> 01:04:18,800 doing tonight? Not bad at all. And let me just say I appreciate 980 01:04:18,880 --> 01:04:23,039 that you invited me back. I mean you're saying welcome back, thank you, 981 01:04:23,480 --> 01:04:27,159 thank you for the invitation. I feel like I'm wasting your talent bringing 982 01:04:27,159 --> 01:04:30,800 you on just to talk about the Lakers, because you've covered the league nationally 983 01:04:30,840 --> 01:04:32,280 and so i'd like to like it's more intriguing to cover a whole range of 984 01:04:32,320 --> 01:04:38,199 topics. But we are in team look ahead mode and the Lakers just want 985 01:04:38,239 --> 01:04:42,840 a title and that you cover them fantastically. So are you ready to talk 986 01:04:42,960 --> 01:04:45,760 some some Lakers? I'm always ready to talk like you. You know, 987 01:04:45,840 --> 01:04:48,400 I'm a Hollywood homer. Well, so I think the best place to start 988 01:04:48,480 --> 01:04:53,760 here is like, what was your general sentiment of the off season? And 989 01:04:53,840 --> 01:04:55,920 it's not even like a question of was it good or was it bad? 990 01:04:55,960 --> 01:04:59,679 Because it was objectively, I would say a fantastic offseason, even if you're 991 01:05:00,119 --> 01:05:02,280 wondering about the fits of some of the new editions. You don't normally see 992 01:05:02,760 --> 01:05:08,199 a championship team at as much value in a vacuum. I'll call it as 993 01:05:08,280 --> 01:05:12,960 the Lakers did and so were you taken aback at all by how successful it 994 01:05:13,119 --> 01:05:15,800 was. Was there a particular move that surprised you, one that you view 995 01:05:15,920 --> 01:05:19,920 is going to be especially impactful, anything along those lines. Yeah, honestly, 996 01:05:20,039 --> 01:05:23,480 you know, my overall feeling was kind of sort of what you just 997 01:05:23,559 --> 01:05:27,559 alluded to. Like most title teams, especially in their first run, they 998 01:05:27,639 --> 01:05:30,519 don't seem to make as many moves as these Lakers have in pursuit of a 999 01:05:30,599 --> 01:05:32,679 second crack at it. But all in all, on paper, you know, 1000 01:05:32,760 --> 01:05:35,360 it looks phenomenal. It looks like a phenomenal offseason. I have to 1001 01:05:35,400 --> 01:05:40,199 agree with you again for a group that if we're being honest group, I'm 1002 01:05:40,199 --> 01:05:43,519 speaking of the front office that has been much maligned over the last few years 1003 01:05:43,760 --> 01:05:45,639 or in years past. You know, kind of you're regardless of whether they 1004 01:05:45,840 --> 01:05:50,719 you know, they earned it or not. And so, as you stated 1005 01:05:50,800 --> 01:05:55,119 in a vacuum, I love it, but we have to see how these 1006 01:05:55,199 --> 01:05:58,440 pieces fit. Like like, you know, there's a reason why they say, 1007 01:05:58,519 --> 01:06:00,400 you know, the championships aren't one off, because you know, they're 1008 01:06:00,440 --> 01:06:05,199 not one In any offseason, A thousand different things could and likely will take 1009 01:06:05,280 --> 01:06:11,599 place between now and in the time we get to the postseason play. But 1010 01:06:11,679 --> 01:06:14,840 and you know, but all in all, I think they did a fantastic 1011 01:06:14,920 --> 01:06:17,000 job, in fact, better than I could have anticipated. And in terms 1012 01:06:17,039 --> 01:06:19,800 of the actual moves, it isn't And believe me, it's not that I'm 1013 01:06:19,800 --> 01:06:23,039 trying to deduct the question. But you know, these moves much like the 1014 01:06:23,079 --> 01:06:26,559 ones that we saw of last year's it was sort of next man up. 1015 01:06:26,679 --> 01:06:29,960 You know, everyone contributed at different times depending upon the matchup or simply how 1016 01:06:30,000 --> 01:06:32,079 the flow of the game went. And I could absolutely see these new additions 1017 01:06:32,199 --> 01:06:34,840 kind of doing the same now, you know, make no mistake about it. 1018 01:06:34,920 --> 01:06:38,639 I think the Schroeder deal and I'm sure we'll get into it more, 1019 01:06:38,800 --> 01:06:40,639 you know, but I think that has the potential to be the most you 1020 01:06:40,679 --> 01:06:43,719 know, they have the most impact, or be the most impactful overall, 1021 01:06:43,719 --> 01:06:45,480 because you know, obviously, not only does it add like another playmaker and 1022 01:06:45,559 --> 01:06:48,960 scoring threat that they've obviously you know that they've clearly needed, but in theory, 1023 01:06:49,039 --> 01:06:54,119 it should significantly limit the added wear and tear from Lebron uh and you 1024 01:06:54,199 --> 01:06:56,559 know, it should just make it easier so that everybody, you know, 1025 01:06:56,599 --> 01:06:58,960 so that everything isn't entirely on his shoulders, you know, when you know 1026 01:06:59,000 --> 01:07:00,679 when it comes to being able to gener read offense for others. So while 1027 01:07:00,800 --> 01:07:03,960 all of the moves excite me, and I think all of them will be 1028 01:07:04,039 --> 01:07:06,960 beneficial, especially if you know, if if this staff can find a way 1029 01:07:06,960 --> 01:07:11,239 to make all the pieces fit. The Schroeder moves probably the one that I'm 1030 01:07:11,599 --> 01:07:14,079 I'm headed into the year thinking like it's going to be the biggest one, 1031 01:07:14,320 --> 01:07:16,760 And I think what helps about that is I'm sure people will some will think 1032 01:07:16,760 --> 01:07:21,360 that it's Mantras Harold, but I just view and I'm not trying to like, 1033 01:07:21,440 --> 01:07:25,480 I'm not trying to insult what Mantras Harold does. I think someone with 1034 01:07:25,599 --> 01:07:29,079 his skill set in the league now, it's just easier to approximate what he 1035 01:07:29,199 --> 01:07:31,320 does. And so someone like Dennis Shrewder, I think he's there just the 1036 01:07:31,639 --> 01:07:35,039 objectively the best player that they acquired this offseason. Like, yeah, I 1037 01:07:35,119 --> 01:07:39,199 do, like Harold has a case and we're not dealing with peaque Mark Kasol, 1038 01:07:39,239 --> 01:07:42,599 So I don't even think he's really in the conversation there and West Matthews, 1039 01:07:42,639 --> 01:07:44,880 like, I don't think he belongs there, even though he he did 1040 01:07:44,960 --> 01:07:48,000 a fantastic job guarding Jimmy Butler in the Buck series. Actually don't know why 1041 01:07:48,000 --> 01:07:50,159 they didn't play him more in the fourth court. Never mind, they don't 1042 01:07:50,159 --> 01:07:54,039 want to get into the Bucks there. But it SE's like Dennis, like 1043 01:07:54,079 --> 01:07:56,159 Shrewder. Even if you don't think maybe he's the best player right now, 1044 01:07:56,159 --> 01:07:59,519 I would say he has the highest ceiling of anyone they added on this team. 1045 01:08:00,519 --> 01:08:02,119 Yeah. And and this isn't to take anything away from Herod, because 1046 01:08:02,119 --> 01:08:06,800 I do. I actually am higher on the Herold acquisition than it would seem 1047 01:08:06,920 --> 01:08:11,159 that I would be considering how you know, like I've spoken very honestly about 1048 01:08:11,239 --> 01:08:14,800 him in particular, you know how he played in the bubble. But yeah, 1049 01:08:14,960 --> 01:08:16,359 like you got a twenty six year old guard, you know, you 1050 01:08:16,439 --> 01:08:19,199 know kind of you know coming you know, coming into his own uh, 1051 01:08:19,359 --> 01:08:21,960 you know, finally tasting you know, you know, tasting what it's like 1052 01:08:23,119 --> 01:08:25,520 to play for. And this is I'm not being a homer here, but 1053 01:08:25,560 --> 01:08:28,159 you're playing, you know, playing for an organization that's playing for something, 1054 01:08:28,319 --> 01:08:32,319 you know what I'm saying, Like those first few years in Atlanta that was 1055 01:08:32,359 --> 01:08:35,439 a Hawks. I mean, you know, no disrespect, I'm very excited 1056 01:08:35,479 --> 01:08:38,880 for what they've got, you know, going on now, and I mean 1057 01:08:38,880 --> 01:08:42,720 I'm anticipating when you're I'm anticipating your positive things from them this year. But 1058 01:08:42,880 --> 01:08:45,520 a few years ago they were a complete dumpster fire and everybody knows that. 1059 01:08:45,920 --> 01:08:48,279 So he wasn't even happy there like when they were winning, because he was 1060 01:08:48,359 --> 01:08:53,399 backing up Jeff Tigue like he didn't want to do that. Yeah, yeah, 1061 01:08:53,560 --> 01:08:56,640 you know, young not you know, not quite there yet in terms 1062 01:08:56,680 --> 01:08:59,800 of being mature and accepting a role. But no, honestly, on this, 1063 01:09:00,119 --> 01:09:02,199 on this particular team, with this group, I do believe that he's 1064 01:09:02,239 --> 01:09:05,039 going to happen the most empire and so you know, I had this written 1065 01:09:05,079 --> 01:09:08,439 down later on our outline. But let's you're on Dennis Shrewder now, like, 1066 01:09:08,560 --> 01:09:12,159 let's talk about him. Do the Lakers half court offense it was shaky 1067 01:09:12,199 --> 01:09:15,199 about league average when Lebron was on the court last year, it ranked to 1068 01:09:15,239 --> 01:09:18,359 the twenty fifth percentile of efficiency with him off the floor, and it was 1069 01:09:18,439 --> 01:09:23,079 even worse, ironically when when Rondo was in the game. You look at 1070 01:09:23,119 --> 01:09:28,800 what okay See did and their offense was a dumpster fire when Shrewder played without 1071 01:09:29,680 --> 01:09:31,720 Chris Paul. Does that worry you at all? Or is this situation where 1072 01:09:31,760 --> 01:09:34,239 it's like, well, you know a lot of those no Lebron minutes in 1073 01:09:34,319 --> 01:09:39,119 Los Angeles are gonna come with Anthony Davis and Dennis Shrewder wasn't playing with Anthony 1074 01:09:39,199 --> 01:09:42,239 Davis when Chris Paul was off the floor in Okay, see, and and 1075 01:09:42,359 --> 01:09:44,560 that's exactly where I was going to take it, like, okay, So 1076 01:09:44,680 --> 01:09:46,840 am I concerned? Of course, it's always a concern, Like I'm not 1077 01:09:47,000 --> 01:09:50,399 one of those ones that did completely disregards data or anything of that nature, 1078 01:09:50,399 --> 01:09:55,159 even even if on the timeline O I'll mess with you about it or or 1079 01:09:55,199 --> 01:09:58,680 poke your poke fun attic. I can appreciate, you know, what the 1080 01:09:58,760 --> 01:10:01,800 trends say. But like you said, he wasn't playing with any Davis and 1081 01:10:02,239 --> 01:10:05,640 and and let's be clear, even though uh you know, I know he 1082 01:10:05,760 --> 01:10:09,640 came out and said that, you know, he's he was planning on starting, 1083 01:10:10,079 --> 01:10:13,319 and but even whether he starts or comes off the bench or whatever the 1084 01:10:13,399 --> 01:10:15,199 case may be, he's still also going to share the court with even Lebron. 1085 01:10:15,560 --> 01:10:19,680 So so the shouts of the matter is, I you know, while 1086 01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:23,800 it's a concern, it's only because I haven't seen it yet. It's only 1087 01:10:23,840 --> 01:10:26,720 because I haven't seen what the you know what what this group will look like 1088 01:10:26,800 --> 01:10:30,119 together yet. My yeah, so I agree with you, And my bigger 1089 01:10:30,159 --> 01:10:34,760 concern would just be, like he shot a career high percentage from pretty much 1090 01:10:34,880 --> 01:10:39,439 every imaginable range, like he separated by short mid range, long mid range, 1091 01:10:39,439 --> 01:10:42,920 all mid range threes, like at the rim, basically a career high 1092 01:10:42,960 --> 01:10:47,039 from everywhere. And so if he doesn't replicate that his value without Lebron on 1093 01:10:47,119 --> 01:10:49,199 the court, Like, that's where it goes down, because I still think 1094 01:10:49,199 --> 01:10:54,319 he'll get the dribble penetration, You're still playing with a d and his playmaking, 1095 01:10:54,520 --> 01:10:57,279 Like I don't think he's the best passer, but like if the defense 1096 01:10:57,359 --> 01:11:00,439 is going to collapse, he can make the right reads. So I consider 1097 01:11:00,439 --> 01:11:03,560 would just be more so his like can he replicate that level of scoring threat 1098 01:11:03,600 --> 01:11:06,079 he became, because look, if he also regresses, it's not even just 1099 01:11:06,119 --> 01:11:09,640 a matter of the no Lebron minutes. I think you want to play him 1100 01:11:09,880 --> 01:11:14,079 next to Lebron because you never had the opportunity to play Lebron alongside that level 1101 01:11:14,079 --> 01:11:15,960 of playmaker last year where okay, yeah, he spent some time with Rondo, 1102 01:11:16,079 --> 01:11:19,800 but like Dennis Shrewder, isn't like defenses are gonna be twelve to fifteen 1103 01:11:19,800 --> 01:11:23,680 feet away from him when he's launching a three, like they'll respect him from 1104 01:11:23,720 --> 01:11:26,000 there. That opens up lanes for Lebron, and it gives you actually more 1105 01:11:26,000 --> 01:11:29,199 of a reason, I think, maybe even to put Lebron off the ball 1106 01:11:29,359 --> 01:11:32,600 at points. So if those numbers don't hold, or if he doesn't come 1107 01:11:32,680 --> 01:11:36,760 close to replicating those, I think that's probably where the problem is more so 1108 01:11:36,960 --> 01:11:40,720 than oh, is Dennis Shrewder just capable of running units on his own? 1109 01:11:41,399 --> 01:11:45,079 And and I agree with all of that, And then ultimately is he going 1110 01:11:45,159 --> 01:11:46,840 to accept and this is this is a question I'm not I'm not you know, 1111 01:11:46,920 --> 01:11:50,119 asking you know, as though he's like some known malcontent simply because you 1112 01:11:50,159 --> 01:11:53,960 know, he didn't necessarily love things in in Atlanta, But is he going 1113 01:11:54,000 --> 01:11:56,359 to be willing to accept his role? Because like, really that was what 1114 01:11:56,680 --> 01:12:00,199 was the key for last year. Like we went into the year, you 1115 01:12:00,239 --> 01:12:02,319 know, for everyone including Lakers fans, including myself, was questioning, like, 1116 01:12:02,439 --> 01:12:05,159 what's Dwight, what's Dwight going to do on this team? What's you 1117 01:12:05,239 --> 01:12:08,720 know, you know, Crusoe's role going to be? How you know, 1118 01:12:08,800 --> 01:12:12,079 how much of an impact is you know, can Rondo actually have the fact 1119 01:12:12,159 --> 01:12:15,399 that that this staff and their organization was able to get everybody to not just 1120 01:12:15,520 --> 01:12:17,960 accept the rule, but to really truly embrace it. Was you know, 1121 01:12:18,159 --> 01:12:21,039 I honestly think that that is the reason why they ended up winning last year. 1122 01:12:21,079 --> 01:12:25,640 Because if they don't and they're still they're as disjointed as they looked like 1123 01:12:25,720 --> 01:12:28,840 they were going to be, I think that, you know, there's a 1124 01:12:29,000 --> 01:12:30,920 very good chance that they don't, they don't end up winning. Uh. 1125 01:12:31,079 --> 01:12:34,560 If Shrewder and Harold and all of those guys are able to go, they're 1126 01:12:34,560 --> 01:12:36,960 able to get them. Then when I say fall in line, I don't 1127 01:12:38,000 --> 01:12:40,640 mean just excealed and you know, just be guys on the sideline. I'm 1128 01:12:40,680 --> 01:12:45,159 saying accept the exact carved out role that you know that that this coach of 1129 01:12:45,159 --> 01:12:47,439 staff ass form. I think once again, yeah, and again, of 1130 01:12:47,560 --> 01:12:50,520 course, like a I stated earlier, you can't get ahead of yourself because 1131 01:12:50,560 --> 01:12:54,479 you know nothing's going on paper. But once again, I would feel very 1132 01:12:54,560 --> 01:12:58,880 confident about this. And look, I would assume who knows what happens in 1133 01:12:58,920 --> 01:13:01,399 the playoffs is because Ron was a completely different player, but Shrewder is aside 1134 01:13:01,479 --> 01:13:06,359 from the passing, which I Rondo is clearly a better playmaker, but because 1135 01:13:06,399 --> 01:13:09,800 Shrewder is more of a scoring thread, he actually might just have more value 1136 01:13:09,800 --> 01:13:12,840 as an offensive point guard overall, where Rondo's not that same level of scoring 1137 01:13:12,880 --> 01:13:15,520 thread. You're going to get better regular season defense from Dennis Shrewder than you 1138 01:13:15,600 --> 01:13:18,720 ever will from from Rondo. At this point, it's like, that's sort 1139 01:13:18,760 --> 01:13:23,920 of I think an upgrade aspect of this that really hasn't been explored since it 1140 01:13:24,000 --> 01:13:28,640 happened. And you know, that's the thing I didn't I'm trying not to 1141 01:13:28,720 --> 01:13:31,680 be disparaging, you know, when it comes to Rondo. I'm very happy 1142 01:13:31,760 --> 01:13:34,560 that the six weeks you know, straight six weeks stretch that he had in 1143 01:13:34,640 --> 01:13:38,680 the bubble worked out the way it did. The whole playoff ROUNDO thing. 1144 01:13:38,720 --> 01:13:41,479 I leaned into it, you saw it. I enjoyed it, and I'm 1145 01:13:41,560 --> 01:13:44,039 very happy for him that he went, you know, went to Atlanta and 1146 01:13:44,119 --> 01:13:47,479 got paid. Think I think that's the best way to cap that. But 1147 01:13:47,680 --> 01:13:50,079 yeah, so for the folks out there that were saying, like, oh, 1148 01:13:50,239 --> 01:13:51,720 well, you just got a younger Rondo's like, no, no, 1149 01:13:51,760 --> 01:13:55,119 no, you've got a significantly better player. Than what you got out of 1150 01:13:55,319 --> 01:13:59,760 you go out of Rondo, and honestly, even and if the shooting carries 1151 01:13:59,800 --> 01:14:01,760 over even better than what you saw out of Rondo in the postseason, but 1152 01:14:01,840 --> 01:14:04,680 you know, to your point, agreed, you know, not only would 1153 01:14:04,680 --> 01:14:06,560 you you know, not only do you hope that it works out in the 1154 01:14:06,600 --> 01:14:09,800 postseason, you know, and we'll see what happens, you know, once 1155 01:14:09,880 --> 01:14:13,319 you get there, but you do expect him to be an eighty two game 1156 01:14:13,319 --> 01:14:15,439 player, which you know, quite frankly, they haven't had that at that 1157 01:14:15,520 --> 01:14:17,880 position outside of you know, when they had Lebron there. The treads fit 1158 01:14:18,000 --> 01:14:20,560 is the one that I'm more I don't even know if you could say concerned, 1159 01:14:20,600 --> 01:14:24,760 but like that's the one I would question more so than the shrewder one. 1160 01:14:24,840 --> 01:14:27,159 And so I'm curious how like you feel about that? And I don't 1161 01:14:27,159 --> 01:14:30,039 know, is it just even pointless to ask because Ad played with like alongside 1162 01:14:30,119 --> 01:14:33,279 less dynamic bigs last year and Howard and McGee where they're not going to give 1163 01:14:33,279 --> 01:14:36,560 you the ability to put like Harold can put the ball on the floor and 1164 01:14:36,760 --> 01:14:40,319 just you know, blitz toward the rim. He even has I would say 1165 01:14:40,319 --> 01:14:43,000 at this point he has a much better post game than either of those two. 1166 01:14:43,039 --> 01:14:45,039 I don't really want the Lakers to work it, but he's gonna be 1167 01:14:45,279 --> 01:14:49,239 like more powerful rolling Probably He's definitely not the rebounder they are, But like, 1168 01:14:49,319 --> 01:14:53,600 do you need him the rebound if he's gonna be playing alongside Anthony Davis 1169 01:14:53,680 --> 01:14:58,239 at the same time unless Davis is shooting like he is in was in the 1170 01:14:58,279 --> 01:15:01,359 bubble where he was basically Kevin Duran on long twos and was hitting threes. 1171 01:15:02,199 --> 01:15:08,920 Now you you are still like shrinking the floor again. And I guess the 1172 01:15:09,680 --> 01:15:13,119 where I would really question is you took what was your best spending tool in 1173 01:15:13,199 --> 01:15:15,279 this offseason and you spent it on that type of a player, And so 1174 01:15:15,439 --> 01:15:18,600 was it fair to question that fit or you're just not as as concerned about 1175 01:15:18,640 --> 01:15:20,880 it. No, I think it is fair to, you know, to 1176 01:15:21,239 --> 01:15:24,159 question it. Look, I'm not gonna lie to you about this. I 1177 01:15:24,279 --> 01:15:27,640 was absolutely stunned when the news of his accusation, your acquisition, not accusation. 1178 01:15:28,800 --> 01:15:31,359 There happening some montres Harold accusations lately, when you just look at how 1179 01:15:31,479 --> 01:15:35,560 terrible the Clippers were behind the scenes. That yeah, which is also funny 1180 01:15:35,600 --> 01:15:40,479 because it's like, Okay, so all these Clipper fans and even the pundits, 1181 01:15:40,840 --> 01:15:43,680 you know, they're dogging out mont you know Montres and saying like he 1182 01:15:43,760 --> 01:15:45,680 was the problem. He was a problem. It's like, but wait a 1183 01:15:45,720 --> 01:15:48,479 second, he was like your six guy off the bitch what any anyway? 1184 01:15:48,600 --> 01:15:51,079 Yeah, that's neither here nor there. You know, Yes, there are 1185 01:15:51,119 --> 01:15:54,920 accusations, but no, like when when when the news came out, I 1186 01:15:55,039 --> 01:15:58,399 was shocked, you know, not not because I was allowing you know, 1187 01:15:58,520 --> 01:16:00,119 the bad stretching the bubble to completely cloud my judgment on you know, on 1188 01:16:00,199 --> 01:16:03,359 the guy, you know, because we've seen him be very productive for several 1189 01:16:03,439 --> 01:16:05,960 years now, but just basically just because I didn't see it coming, you 1190 01:16:06,000 --> 01:16:09,279 know, all of that to say, you know, I am curious how 1191 01:16:09,319 --> 01:16:12,319 they're going to utilize him and whether he shares the bulk of his bidets alongside 1192 01:16:12,359 --> 01:16:15,880 a d or bark at the five. But the one thing that I keep 1193 01:16:15,960 --> 01:16:19,000 on reminding myself when you when it comes to having all of these questions, 1194 01:16:19,159 --> 01:16:23,199 is I just have to consider that, you know, how good of a 1195 01:16:23,279 --> 01:16:27,279 job this coaching staff did with last year's roster. Now now you could you 1196 01:16:27,319 --> 01:16:29,840 know, people can say, you know that that's being pie in the sky. 1197 01:16:30,239 --> 01:16:32,920 But they really did a fantastic job of adjusting and you know, playing 1198 01:16:32,960 --> 01:16:35,880 to strengths, and they really put guys in positions to be successful. I 1199 01:16:35,920 --> 01:16:41,079 don't feel like Tress received quite that consideration last year. Quite frankly, when 1200 01:16:41,119 --> 01:16:44,800 he was when he was exposed attempting to defend the bigger body centers. Uh, 1201 01:16:45,239 --> 01:16:47,079 even though that roster had Zubats on it, he'ls a back on it. 1202 01:16:47,600 --> 01:16:50,439 Uh. You know, basically, basically I have more faith in this 1203 01:16:50,560 --> 01:16:54,479 Laker staff than I did. You know, I like say, in docs, 1204 01:16:54,880 --> 01:16:57,319 you know staff last year, you know, to the point where yes, 1205 01:16:57,359 --> 01:17:00,840 there are legitimate questions, and I think your concern is legit. They've 1206 01:17:00,880 --> 01:17:03,359 earned the benefit of the doubt for me at least, and look, you 1207 01:17:03,439 --> 01:17:06,199 know, let's I don't mean to oversimplify this, but they did just had 1208 01:17:06,239 --> 01:17:10,239 the two living bench scorers in the league last year, and so it's like, 1209 01:17:10,680 --> 01:17:13,600 how can you absolutely hate that? And it's again, I don't know 1210 01:17:13,600 --> 01:17:15,560 if they're the perfect offensive fit, but last year's team, I don't think, 1211 01:17:15,600 --> 01:17:20,039 when you look at the personnel was very comfy like of an offensive fit. 1212 01:17:20,119 --> 01:17:24,720 And they're definitely not any worse or more complicated I would say they're at 1213 01:17:24,760 --> 01:17:28,560 least a little bit better as a worst case scenario compared to the personnel that 1214 01:17:28,600 --> 01:17:30,880 they had last year. Look, we can be straight up about this. 1215 01:17:31,039 --> 01:17:34,720 This roster is better, and yes that's on paper, and yes they're still 1216 01:17:34,720 --> 01:17:36,239 gonna have to make it, you know, make it fit. But this 1217 01:17:36,399 --> 01:17:40,560 roster is better, and it fits, and the pieces fit at least they 1218 01:17:40,600 --> 01:17:45,079 appear to fit better. It might get funky with the treads fit, especially 1219 01:17:45,279 --> 01:17:48,199 you know, with what you alluded to is if especially if Ad isn't shooting 1220 01:17:48,319 --> 01:17:50,600 now I didn't necessarily have to shoot like you know, like vintage KD, 1221 01:17:50,920 --> 01:17:54,520 but especially if he like if he drops back down, if you know, 1222 01:17:54,760 --> 01:17:57,119 if he if he if he totally regresses, uh, you know, that 1223 01:17:57,239 --> 01:18:00,880 might get tricky. But you know, I think there, I honestly think 1224 01:18:00,920 --> 01:18:04,079 they're going to be Okay, they're gonna be fine. Like there, we'll 1225 01:18:04,119 --> 01:18:06,800 get we'll get to that like a little bit labor like they're obviously gonna be 1226 01:18:06,840 --> 01:18:10,520 fine. The actual fits that I love for this roster, at the cheaper 1227 01:18:10,600 --> 01:18:14,279 players that they added, Mark Gasol, like he's someone who I think my 1228 01:18:14,359 --> 01:18:17,439 extension is gonna help you navigate the let's call him the no Lebron minutes because 1229 01:18:17,439 --> 01:18:20,800 of just the passing that he does from everywhere on the court. And yeah, 1230 01:18:20,800 --> 01:18:24,560 maybe it's a problem that he still seems like afraid to shoot when he 1231 01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:27,880 catches the ball, but because of that facilitation, if you pair him with 1232 01:18:28,000 --> 01:18:30,840 a he can he is actually like there he's the big and I guess Anthony 1233 01:18:30,920 --> 01:18:33,479 Davis worse with whatever big, but like he can play alongside any of their 1234 01:18:33,520 --> 01:18:38,239 bigs, Like if it's Tres if it's Anthony Davis, if you just want 1235 01:18:38,279 --> 01:18:41,039 to go small, and it's like for some reason, Mark Gasol and Kuzma, 1236 01:18:41,439 --> 01:18:44,279 like you can do that. So he helps those minutes a great deal, 1237 01:18:44,359 --> 01:18:45,399 so long as he's healthy, not dealing with a hamstring injury, and 1238 01:18:45,439 --> 01:18:48,039 he's just a smart defender, Like, yeah, he can be played off 1239 01:18:48,079 --> 01:18:53,359 the floor in certain matchups, but like if you're going up against a Joel 1240 01:18:53,439 --> 01:18:56,399 Ebid, if you're going up against a you know, Rudy Gobert, he 1241 01:18:56,479 --> 01:18:59,279 can still handle those guys. And now Anthony Davis doesn't have to because I 1242 01:18:59,279 --> 01:19:00,560 don't know how much you trust, you know, you're still gonna put those 1243 01:19:00,600 --> 01:19:03,680 bodies if it's McGee or Dwight Howard on them. But you'd rather have Mark 1244 01:19:03,720 --> 01:19:08,960 gasol on those guys than you would McGee or Howard exactly. And that's the 1245 01:19:09,000 --> 01:19:10,520 funny thing. I heard a lot of folks saying, like, hey, 1246 01:19:10,560 --> 01:19:12,439 you guys, you know he's thirty six, right, you know that. 1247 01:19:12,520 --> 01:19:15,520 It's like no one is expecting him to be twenty fourteen Mark Saul, that's 1248 01:19:15,560 --> 01:19:18,760 not the expectation. If anybody's expected that, they're you know, honestly, 1249 01:19:18,760 --> 01:19:21,560 they're they're a little bit clueless when it comes to this stuff. Like all 1250 01:19:21,680 --> 01:19:25,119 he has to be able to do, all he has to do is just 1251 01:19:25,239 --> 01:19:28,279 play smart veteran basketball. Don't get in the way, and don't get in 1252 01:19:28,439 --> 01:19:32,199 arguments with the kids, span like, just be a good vet. But 1253 01:19:32,359 --> 01:19:35,760 I can't wait to see big big passing, Like like, okay, look, 1254 01:19:36,439 --> 01:19:40,079 you know that I've been watching this game for a while. I still 1255 01:19:40,239 --> 01:19:44,279 miss the traditional bigs And it's okay. I appreciate where the game is gone, 1256 01:19:44,279 --> 01:19:46,119 and I actually like that, you know, I like the adjustments that 1257 01:19:46,159 --> 01:19:48,920 have been made. But there's a part of me that will always appreciate big 1258 01:19:49,079 --> 01:19:53,560 big action. So I can't wait to see MARKT Saul playing with which whichever 1259 01:19:53,680 --> 01:19:56,520 big man they have next one, whether it's him swinging it around, kicking 1260 01:19:56,560 --> 01:19:59,359 it out to you know, it's kicking it out to Mark Keith or catching 1261 01:19:59,439 --> 01:20:01,399 a d on lob or catching Trais on a on a roll or whatever the 1262 01:20:01,439 --> 01:20:04,239 case may be. Like So to to your point, actually kind of like 1263 01:20:04,359 --> 01:20:09,399 going back to your question from earlier, I actually don't have any worries about 1264 01:20:09,399 --> 01:20:13,119 when Lebron is off the court because I, for whatever reason, I Mark 1265 01:20:13,159 --> 01:20:15,039 Gasol wasn't in mind the fact that you had, you know, like that 1266 01:20:15,159 --> 01:20:19,720 that that second line up in particular can have multiple guys in in you in 1267 01:20:19,920 --> 01:20:26,439 your I was gonna say Trais in struder as well as Gasol that can get 1268 01:20:26,520 --> 01:20:29,960 can both absolutely generate offense, not just you know, make a pass here 1269 01:20:29,960 --> 01:20:32,760 and there, but actively generate offense. Like it's it's part of why I 1270 01:20:32,880 --> 01:20:35,439 have some you know, such confidence in this roster, you know, being 1271 01:20:35,479 --> 01:20:40,840 significantly improved. And so this is just I'm just trying to It's not going 1272 01:20:40,920 --> 01:20:43,600 to be the same situation, but I was trying to just like find a 1273 01:20:43,680 --> 01:20:46,079 comparable level of talent that was coming off the floor in Toronto. So when 1274 01:20:46,119 --> 01:20:49,439 he played without and it's a limited sample, but when he played without Siakam 1275 01:20:49,479 --> 01:20:54,399 and Lowry. Last year, Toronto's overall offensive branding was in the eighty first 1276 01:20:54,439 --> 01:20:58,680 percentile and their half court rating was in the ninety nine percentile. So he's 1277 01:20:58,760 --> 01:21:00,920 bringing that like again, as it's not going to be a perfect like context, 1278 01:21:01,039 --> 01:21:04,000 Like a lot of those minutes came with you know, Norman Powell, 1279 01:21:04,199 --> 01:21:08,399 and I'm sure some of them came with not many of them apparently, as 1280 01:21:08,399 --> 01:21:11,000 I'm looking at Kame reflect Fred van Fleets, that's even better for the Lakers 1281 01:21:11,039 --> 01:21:14,039 because they're probably gonna have it. They'll have at least just as much talent 1282 01:21:14,119 --> 01:21:16,800 around Gasol if he's playing without Lebron, if not more, because you know, 1283 01:21:16,880 --> 01:21:18,920 there'll be some minutes where you don't have Lebron or a D on the 1284 01:21:18,960 --> 01:21:24,520 court, and Gasol is probably like the player who's likes best suited to help 1285 01:21:24,520 --> 01:21:27,560 you navigate those minutes, even more so than Dennis Shrewder. And look, 1286 01:21:27,600 --> 01:21:30,000 even he might be close to his suit it because what we didn't really touch 1287 01:21:30,039 --> 01:21:33,000 on is, like I don't it won't be the same because Shrewder's not the 1288 01:21:33,079 --> 01:21:38,000 same type of free throw generator in the regular season anyway, when you look 1289 01:21:38,000 --> 01:21:41,319 at Lou Williams or just you know, shot like shot Taker as low Williams, 1290 01:21:41,600 --> 01:21:44,840 like that pick and roll combination. If Shruder's hitting his jumpers, that's 1291 01:21:44,880 --> 01:21:47,399 going to be absolutely devastating. Probably, no, it really will. And 1292 01:21:47,680 --> 01:21:51,439 honestly, here's the here's the craziest thing about this roster. And I'm not 1293 01:21:51,520 --> 01:21:54,479 being I'm not being funny when I said, you know, when I say 1294 01:21:54,560 --> 01:21:58,239 this cool's is like absolutely forgotten. And and it's the thing. I don't 1295 01:21:58,239 --> 01:22:00,199 know if you were going to come to him later, but the funniest thing 1296 01:22:00,239 --> 01:22:03,079 about him is, Look, he was probably you know, he was overrated 1297 01:22:03,279 --> 01:22:06,680 and not you know, not to any fault of his own by fans early 1298 01:22:06,840 --> 01:22:11,840 on. And I actually believe that he's become a more an underrated player at 1299 01:22:11,880 --> 01:22:15,520 this stage because of just how how poorly folks you'll like view him, uh 1300 01:22:15,840 --> 01:22:19,119 like and I and and the truth of the matter is you can, and 1301 01:22:19,159 --> 01:22:24,000 speaking generally, you can dislike his personality on Twitter or dislike like the silly 1302 01:22:24,039 --> 01:22:26,520 stuff and all that stuff. I would encourage you to dislike some of his 1303 01:22:26,640 --> 01:22:30,520 personality on Twitter one hundred hundred percent. But let's not throw the baby out 1304 01:22:30,560 --> 01:22:33,760 with the bathwater. He can still be a productive player and if he like, 1305 01:22:33,880 --> 01:22:36,880 think about it, last year, we went into the year saying Ko's 1306 01:22:36,960 --> 01:22:40,880 probably needs to be their third most productive player. He needs you're like on 1307 01:22:41,000 --> 01:22:43,359 on on a night end night out basis, they're gonna need They're gonna need 1308 01:22:43,439 --> 01:22:45,840 a third Score's gonna need to be coops. Right now, you can probably 1309 01:22:45,960 --> 01:22:49,960 name six or seven players that are likely you know, the first you know, 1310 01:22:50,840 --> 01:22:55,520 are likely options ahead of him. So if if if Kyle Kuzman has 1311 01:22:55,560 --> 01:22:58,640 gone from being your third most expected you know, like you know, like 1312 01:22:58,720 --> 01:23:01,159 the player that you expect the third most up to a rotation, a true 1313 01:23:01,279 --> 01:23:06,119 rotation guy seven, eight, even ninth guy in a rotation again, you 1314 01:23:06,199 --> 01:23:10,119 know, you know, hey, burst my bubble. If if if I'm 1315 01:23:10,159 --> 01:23:12,800 going overboard, because I really like I said, like, I look at 1316 01:23:12,840 --> 01:23:17,159 this roster and I say like, hey, you know legim Ron, Pulinka, 1317 01:23:17,319 --> 01:23:19,800 Klutch, whoever wants to get you know, let you know, you 1318 01:23:19,880 --> 01:23:23,600 know, you know the credit for it, they deserve credit. Yeah, 1319 01:23:23,680 --> 01:23:26,159 look, I don't think you're going overboard with him at all. I think 1320 01:23:26,199 --> 01:23:30,520 there's still there's probably like that disparity in how some Lakers fans view Kuzma and 1321 01:23:30,000 --> 01:23:32,600 an example of this would be not to use this own podcast, but like 1322 01:23:33,159 --> 01:23:36,960 we recorded a podcast where we were talking about the Kuzma trade rumors, and 1323 01:23:38,760 --> 01:23:42,720 like we proposed like he was being given up in the Derrick Rose trade and 1324 01:23:42,840 --> 01:23:45,720 like that, I still don't think that would have been a ridiculous trade to 1325 01:23:45,840 --> 01:23:48,920 make. And like Lakers fans down voted the podcast like they flooded us with 1326 01:23:49,560 --> 01:23:53,039 which kudos to Lakers fans. You have that type of cloud. I'm not 1327 01:23:53,079 --> 01:23:57,479 even insulting you, but no, no, like you're there as a subsection 1328 01:23:57,520 --> 01:24:00,399 of Lakers fans and I think are probably too high on Kyle Kuzma, and 1329 01:24:00,520 --> 01:24:04,600 that's probably adversely impacted how the national perception of him is held right now. 1330 01:24:04,680 --> 01:24:10,119 But you're absolutely right that he's improved. He's not better defensively than he now 1331 01:24:10,239 --> 01:24:14,399 is offensively, but he's gotten like average defensively, Like when you're looking at 1332 01:24:14,399 --> 01:24:16,960 the assignments that they've given him and where you can probably just pinpoint on that 1333 01:24:17,039 --> 01:24:20,199 side the floor what he does better, even more so on offense in this 1334 01:24:20,239 --> 01:24:23,479 point where it feels like everything he does there is like, yes, he 1335 01:24:23,560 --> 01:24:26,800 can make an impact, but there's so many different wildcard spots. But the 1336 01:24:26,840 --> 01:24:30,600 fact that his defense has seemed to even out, particularly against wing assignments, 1337 01:24:30,600 --> 01:24:32,239 so not even looking at oh, we're hiding him on these bigs, that 1338 01:24:32,359 --> 01:24:38,119 winds up being absolutely huge for the Lakers. And this, you know, 1339 01:24:38,199 --> 01:24:41,000 this entire roster, I think it's still it's not built. Last year you 1340 01:24:41,119 --> 01:24:43,920 I don't think you could pick on any given knight who the third best player 1341 01:24:44,000 --> 01:24:46,359 would be. And I think that and it ended up being it worked for 1342 01:24:46,479 --> 01:24:49,880 them. I think this roster will be the same, but in a more 1343 01:24:49,960 --> 01:24:53,600 pleasant way where it's like, well, the only reason that you can't pick 1344 01:24:53,600 --> 01:24:56,880 who will be the third best player is because there's four of them that like 1345 01:24:57,039 --> 01:25:00,640 legitimately factor into the discussion where Gasol, Truder, Tress, and then I 1346 01:25:00,680 --> 01:25:02,359 do believe Kuzma belongs there. And look, they're gonna be nights where it's 1347 01:25:02,399 --> 01:25:08,079 caseyp like that's the type of talent the Lakers have. And in this case, 1348 01:25:08,399 --> 01:25:10,920 and I even think it shook out like this last year, and I'm 1349 01:25:10,960 --> 01:25:13,840 not even trying to be over complimentary, is that it just ended up being 1350 01:25:13,960 --> 01:25:16,279 like a balanced amount of uncertainty where it's like, you know what, we 1351 01:25:16,399 --> 01:25:18,960 can't say who was going to be number three to step up, but like 1352 01:25:19,079 --> 01:25:21,840 we know, we have enough players to where there will be a viable number 1353 01:25:21,880 --> 01:25:27,079 three that emerges. Absolutely and as and look, I was nervous, like 1354 01:25:28,199 --> 01:25:30,760 I picked the Lakers to go to the finals last year, But that was 1355 01:25:30,840 --> 01:25:34,640 heart. That was my heart speaking, I thought, I deep down I 1356 01:25:34,840 --> 01:25:39,000 was worried about the Clickers. I absolutely thought, Okay, this is going 1357 01:25:39,079 --> 01:25:42,439 to be the battle that we've all wanted, and it's going to be embarrassing 1358 01:25:42,479 --> 01:25:45,520 as all hell. If you if younger brother excuse my language, if if 1359 01:25:45,560 --> 01:25:47,159 younger brother beats big your big brother, but it is what it is, 1360 01:25:47,239 --> 01:25:49,520 and would you would just have to see what happens, you know, when 1361 01:25:49,680 --> 01:25:54,880 you know when things shake out. But the fact that you know the fact 1362 01:25:54,920 --> 01:25:57,840 that they like you know, it's like you said, it really was like 1363 01:25:58,079 --> 01:26:00,960 a next man though, like if it wasn't KCP, it was Dwight having 1364 01:26:01,000 --> 01:26:04,319 a crazy night. If it wasn't Dwight, it was Alex Caruso having you 1365 01:26:04,319 --> 01:26:06,199 know, like making an impact on both ends. It would you know, 1366 01:26:06,439 --> 01:26:10,560 and with this and with this you know, particular team, it's basically like 1367 01:26:10,760 --> 01:26:14,520 that, but just supersized like it truly is. But just going back quickly 1368 01:26:14,600 --> 01:26:19,239 to your your question that you asked about Kuzma or or or what you post. 1369 01:26:19,279 --> 01:26:23,319 You know, with Kuzma, I do agree with you. He's he's 1370 01:26:23,359 --> 01:26:27,079 still better on offense than on defense because of course, like like most young 1371 01:26:27,119 --> 01:26:29,720 players, so like you know, most people in general, we like scoring 1372 01:26:29,800 --> 01:26:31,039 more than we know, more than we love you know, getting down the 1373 01:26:31,119 --> 01:26:34,720 defensive stance. But he is a viable player. He's you know, he's 1374 01:26:34,720 --> 01:26:38,680 a guy that you can play on, you know, like at different positions 1375 01:26:38,760 --> 01:26:43,920 now because he's he's no longer a turnstyle. So look on on threes, 1376 01:26:44,119 --> 01:26:46,159 it's still touching go because there are times where he locks in and it's like, 1377 01:26:46,199 --> 01:26:48,760 hey, Kyle Kuzma, where the hell did this? Where did this 1378 01:26:48,880 --> 01:26:51,680 come from? But then there's other times like you'll see him, you know, 1379 01:26:51,840 --> 01:26:55,560 bite on every single pump, fake, like you know, in a 1380 01:26:55,640 --> 01:26:58,439 situation where he's playing up against him, where he's messed up against Michael Porter 1381 01:26:58,560 --> 01:27:00,600 Junior, or whatever the case may be. So you know, you know, 1382 01:27:00,720 --> 01:27:04,399 like with with most young you know, young ish you know players or 1383 01:27:04,680 --> 01:27:09,680 players, gets still continuing to develop on especially on that on that particular end, 1384 01:27:10,319 --> 01:27:12,680 it's still a work in progress, but at the very least he's a 1385 01:27:12,760 --> 01:27:15,840 willing body out there. Yeah, and so look this will let's just get 1386 01:27:15,880 --> 01:27:17,159 to the Kyle Kuzma part of this. I love that we're jumping around my 1387 01:27:17,159 --> 01:27:20,159 outline. I love what it never goes No, it feels like it's more 1388 01:27:20,600 --> 01:27:27,079 organic. So with Kuzma is what is like what is the role for his 1389 01:27:28,279 --> 01:27:31,680 like now for this team? And also do you think that he gets an 1390 01:27:31,720 --> 01:27:34,920 extension or do you think they'll kick that can down to restricted free agency? 1391 01:27:34,960 --> 01:27:39,119 Because while they are hardcapped, and I think they're like they're super close to 1392 01:27:39,159 --> 01:27:42,039 the hardcap, like I think they're inside two hundred thousand dollars or or whatever 1393 01:27:42,079 --> 01:27:44,279 it is. I'll double check my spreadsheet in a second. But like, 1394 01:27:44,359 --> 01:27:47,640 by having him not having signed an extension where he's a poison pill, it 1395 01:27:47,720 --> 01:27:51,880 does keep your trade options open because I'm not saying this is the route that 1396 01:27:51,960 --> 01:27:57,319 they should go, but like you do have sizeable salaries now to move even 1397 01:27:57,359 --> 01:28:00,640 if you have to match at dollar for dollar, Like you know, Dennis 1398 01:28:00,640 --> 01:28:03,560 Shrewder sixteen million KCP like his new deal I think in the first year is 1399 01:28:03,600 --> 01:28:08,720 twelve point one. Uh yeah, so tres nine point three once he's eligible 1400 01:28:08,720 --> 01:28:12,359 to be moved. So to have Kuzma still is that sweetener after you've you 1401 01:28:12,399 --> 01:28:15,399 know, you've traded like all the first round picks. Basically, is there 1402 01:28:15,439 --> 01:28:18,399 an element of well that's actually more valuable than signing him to what could be 1403 01:28:18,479 --> 01:28:23,920 a discounted extension. Now, I okay, so I'm there with you on 1404 01:28:24,079 --> 01:28:26,880 that, like, and and as much as I was just singing, Kuss 1405 01:28:26,920 --> 01:28:30,239 praises and I would love to see him have the opportunity to get that second 1406 01:28:30,279 --> 01:28:31,800 you know, honestly, you know, go at least compete for a second 1407 01:28:31,840 --> 01:28:35,880 title. It's this feels like one of those situations where they did set themselves 1408 01:28:36,000 --> 01:28:40,600 up perfectly if if if, in fact, someone does come calling, you 1409 01:28:40,680 --> 01:28:43,560 know, for KU's as the sweetener in the deal, like let's like, 1410 01:28:43,680 --> 01:28:46,680 let's just just beyond about it. You know, it could go either way. 1411 01:28:46,800 --> 01:28:49,680 And and they've also set themselves up to where they can just you know, 1412 01:28:49,840 --> 01:28:53,720 just utilize their depth all throughout the season and you know just kind of, 1413 01:28:53,920 --> 01:28:56,720 you know, kind of boat race this thing. But you know, 1414 01:28:56,960 --> 01:29:00,159 a part of me does feel like ultimately, if your cou while you've a 1415 01:29:00,359 --> 01:29:03,720 since you've already won a ring, is and and and that I'm trying to 1416 01:29:03,760 --> 01:29:06,520 get my put myself into a twenty five year olds head right now. But 1417 01:29:06,600 --> 01:29:10,319 since you've already won a ring, you've already had the you know like you 1418 01:29:10,359 --> 01:29:13,319 know, multiple runs with Lebron and you you know, you played alongside a 1419 01:29:13,439 --> 01:29:15,880 d it's it's time to get paid now. In a perfect world, Kyle 1420 01:29:15,960 --> 01:29:19,119 Kuzma does do the you know, the team friendly you know deal, you 1421 01:29:19,159 --> 01:29:21,680 know, in order to stay and continue to compete for titles. I do 1422 01:29:21,800 --> 01:29:25,760 not think that's going to take place. I think I think ultimately, if 1423 01:29:25,800 --> 01:29:28,479 he's not moved, you like, if he's not moved at some point during 1424 01:29:28,520 --> 01:29:30,439 this season, then Kuzma is going to get it paid a somewhere else the 1425 01:29:30,520 --> 01:29:33,840 truck. Honestly, the biggest the biggest problem, honestly is the fact that 1426 01:29:34,119 --> 01:29:38,560 he's best played at the four. Even though yes, you know, yes, 1427 01:29:38,720 --> 01:29:40,600 you know, we just spoke of him being able to you know, 1428 01:29:40,680 --> 01:29:43,560 step out on threes and you know, and play at the three, he's 1429 01:29:43,640 --> 01:29:45,319 best played at the four, and he's and he's just in a situation where 1430 01:29:45,399 --> 01:29:50,119 he's probably the fourth option at that position. So ultimately, while yes, 1431 01:29:50,199 --> 01:29:54,000 I think it's great to have like in you know, in your you know, 1432 01:29:54,119 --> 01:29:57,319 break glass in case of emergency, you know, Kuzma, I think 1433 01:29:57,359 --> 01:29:59,920 he would be better suited, you know, on another team, able to 1434 01:30:00,039 --> 01:30:01,720 showcase, enables to you know, really earn you know, that next big 1435 01:30:01,840 --> 01:30:04,520 country. Look, if he's shooting, I don't know how valuable he'll be, 1436 01:30:04,600 --> 01:30:08,119 because again, his next contract is coming up. But if he's shooting 1437 01:30:08,159 --> 01:30:11,000 well from three and defending like he is now, where it's again, I 1438 01:30:11,039 --> 01:30:12,840 think a lot of people just viewed him as, Oh, he's only going 1439 01:30:12,880 --> 01:30:15,279 to be able to defend the four, and I actually think he's probably better 1440 01:30:15,319 --> 01:30:17,600 off defensively now against twos and threes. I don't know if you agree with 1441 01:30:17,680 --> 01:30:19,800 that. But if he's doing that, and he's just hitting his catch and 1442 01:30:19,840 --> 01:30:23,359 shoot threes at a consistent clip, I'm not saying it needs to be like 1443 01:30:23,359 --> 01:30:25,600 absurdly high like it was at one point in the bubble where it's like a 1444 01:30:25,720 --> 01:30:29,920 jillion percent. But if it's thirty seven thirty nine percent on catch and shoot 1445 01:30:29,960 --> 01:30:31,840 threes, that's a valuable guy. And you know, maybe he's helping your 1446 01:30:31,840 --> 01:30:33,920 team so much, or the Lakers are so far out in front of everyone 1447 01:30:34,000 --> 01:30:39,279 you don't move him. But it's just perception on him too. I think 1448 01:30:39,279 --> 01:30:42,159 it's diverged because in his rookie season he shot the hell out of the ball 1449 01:30:42,279 --> 01:30:44,920 in isolation, and like, I don't know that that was ever meant to 1450 01:30:44,960 --> 01:30:46,800 be the player he was supposed to be. But when you set that tone 1451 01:30:46,840 --> 01:30:51,000 as a rookie like that just lays the groundwork for the expectations to run rampant. 1452 01:30:51,039 --> 01:30:54,960 I think that's a little bit of what has happened here too, which 1453 01:30:55,039 --> 01:30:57,800 is also a part of when like it's you know, it's part of that 1454 01:30:57,880 --> 01:31:00,039 old conversation where they say, like is that productivity on a bad team or 1455 01:31:00,159 --> 01:31:01,560 is that you know, what is that? You know what I'm saying, 1456 01:31:01,560 --> 01:31:04,600 like because somebody asked the score to points like it was that why he was 1457 01:31:04,640 --> 01:31:08,520 comfortable And I'm not I'm not in any way trying to take anything away from 1458 01:31:08,560 --> 01:31:11,680 him because like, like like a lot of other people, I saw that 1459 01:31:11,800 --> 01:31:14,399 rookie year and said, well, hey, maybe we do have something here 1460 01:31:14,479 --> 01:31:15,960 that you know, I wasn't going And you know, nearly as far as 1461 01:31:16,000 --> 01:31:18,159 others when they were saying like hey, they ended up with a lot of 1462 01:31:18,199 --> 01:31:20,399 you because like no, let's pump the brakes. They just get they got 1463 01:31:20,600 --> 01:31:25,239 they got a great value pick and it's what it was at twenty seven and 1464 01:31:25,399 --> 01:31:28,199 and and there's nothing and there's absolutely nothing, you know, nothing wrong with 1465 01:31:28,319 --> 01:31:32,720 that. But ultimately, I think he's somewhere between, you know, that 1466 01:31:32,880 --> 01:31:35,359 first and second year, you know, because the second year was a down 1467 01:31:35,439 --> 01:31:39,520 year. Yeah, I don't think he's as bad as he was in his 1468 01:31:39,600 --> 01:31:42,960 sophomore year. I don't think, you know, at least shooting wise, 1469 01:31:43,079 --> 01:31:45,159 we should expect necessarily what we saw as a rookie. But if he can, 1470 01:31:45,239 --> 01:31:46,479 like you know, kind of you know, kind of what you know, 1471 01:31:46,520 --> 01:31:49,520 where this conversation has been going, if he can continue to develop defensively, 1472 01:31:49,760 --> 01:31:54,560 and I won't live you I don't like I don't love him on twos. 1473 01:31:54,680 --> 01:31:57,119 I do I do, you know, like him on on a lot 1474 01:31:57,159 --> 01:32:00,279 of bigger threes. And I do agree with you that defensively, his best 1475 01:32:00,319 --> 01:32:03,600 matchup is the three, not the four, you know. But if if 1476 01:32:03,600 --> 01:32:05,680 he can just continue to you know, to develop on that side, or 1477 01:32:05,760 --> 01:32:09,720 just continue to put put forth a consistent effort on that side, like you 1478 01:32:09,800 --> 01:32:13,239 said, that's a valuable piece. And ultimately, what this circle's back to 1479 01:32:13,479 --> 01:32:15,039 is the Lakers have put themselves in a position to where they have the option 1480 01:32:15,119 --> 01:32:18,159 to whether, like think about what we're saying like it, you know, 1481 01:32:18,600 --> 01:32:21,359 essentially, if they can get you know, turning him into a three and 1482 01:32:21,439 --> 01:32:25,199 D guy, they'll have the option as to whether you know, whether to 1483 01:32:25,239 --> 01:32:29,439 move them or not. What did you think about the you know, KCP 1484 01:32:29,640 --> 01:32:31,039 deal. I thought there was a lot of jokes made about, oh, 1485 01:32:31,239 --> 01:32:35,319 like clutch strikes again there, but it's only like to guarantee. It was 1486 01:32:35,359 --> 01:32:39,239 three years in about thirty nine million, but in the final year, I 1487 01:32:39,319 --> 01:32:43,039 think under four point five million is guaranteed. It's like you can kind of 1488 01:32:43,079 --> 01:32:45,000 look at it as you know, it was really like a two year, 1489 01:32:45,119 --> 01:32:48,199 thirty million dollars deal essentially if the Lakers want it to be that, and 1490 01:32:48,279 --> 01:32:51,439 I don't. The thing with KCP is like, yeah, there's the level 1491 01:32:51,600 --> 01:32:56,760 of like, let's call it misadventure with him on offense, where is he 1492 01:32:56,840 --> 01:33:00,039 gonna take like an ill advised like pull up transition jumper. But he was 1493 01:33:00,520 --> 01:33:04,960 so valuable to them, especially on defense for a team that just wasn't flushed 1494 01:33:05,039 --> 01:33:09,399 with guys because you don't necessarily you don't want Lebron to do this, like 1495 01:33:09,960 --> 01:33:13,840 they just weren't built to have all these players be thrown at bigger wings defensively, 1496 01:33:13,920 --> 01:33:15,359 and you look at just the assignments he was taking on in the playoffs, 1497 01:33:15,800 --> 01:33:20,359 just the sheer breath of his positional range on defense where he's guarding, 1498 01:33:20,640 --> 01:33:24,079 Yeah, you know what, he faced Jamal Murray and Damian Lillard, but 1499 01:33:24,159 --> 01:33:28,039 he was also guarding Jay Crowder. He spent possessions on Nicole Yokich, like 1500 01:33:28,239 --> 01:33:31,159 he spent possessions on James Harden too. You could move him around so much, 1501 01:33:31,319 --> 01:33:34,319 and so just looking at that, and then just statistically, he's always 1502 01:33:34,319 --> 01:33:38,680 shot good enough on catch and shoot threes where it's like, why not have 1503 01:33:38,880 --> 01:33:42,199 him here? And it's so short term at this point where you could get 1504 01:33:42,239 --> 01:33:45,119 out of that third year for you know, a song like I didn't understand 1505 01:33:45,279 --> 01:33:51,640 the criticism, and I'm just wondering if the perception outside of LA is off 1506 01:33:51,800 --> 01:33:55,279 with him because it feels like he's no. I don't think he's now this 1507 01:33:55,439 --> 01:33:58,439 third teams, this team's third best player anymore. But if you asked me 1508 01:33:58,520 --> 01:34:02,159 to look at last season in some in review, KCP is their third most 1509 01:34:02,239 --> 01:34:05,680 valuable player. To me, without question, I was That's exactly where I 1510 01:34:05,760 --> 01:34:08,239 was gonna go. I was like, look, people, can say what 1511 01:34:08,279 --> 01:34:09,920 they want. They can you know, they can make fun of the you 1512 01:34:09,960 --> 01:34:14,000 know, the the ankle monitor, they can make fun of the you know 1513 01:34:14,159 --> 01:34:17,199 sometimes wayward shots or what did you say? I like it? Wayward shots. 1514 01:34:17,239 --> 01:34:20,640 Now we're going with that because say there are some where you're like, 1515 01:34:20,760 --> 01:34:25,640 what are you two? Okay? All right, that's fine. You know, 1516 01:34:26,319 --> 01:34:28,479 we can laugh at all those things, you know, as much as 1517 01:34:28,520 --> 01:34:31,439 we want. But KCP was was in all likelihood the third most consistent Laker 1518 01:34:31,560 --> 01:34:34,359 last year. Like while yes, you know, like there were plenty of 1519 01:34:34,399 --> 01:34:38,720 games where a bunch of different people stepped up in terms of across the board, 1520 01:34:38,960 --> 01:34:42,359 and especially in the postseason and definitely in the finals, he was there. 1521 01:34:42,399 --> 01:34:45,039 You know, he was that guy. So like I had no problem 1522 01:34:45,119 --> 01:34:46,399 with it. You're only paying a guy at thirteen million the first year, 1523 01:34:46,439 --> 01:34:48,119 and to go like, if I'm not gonna saying what it goes up to 1524 01:34:48,279 --> 01:34:50,800 a total of what, like, you know, fourteen or fifteen. You're 1525 01:34:50,880 --> 01:34:55,840 like, he's like, it's barely even, Like it's not. It's twelve 1526 01:34:55,960 --> 01:34:58,960 point one the first year, thirteen and change the second, and then he 1527 01:34:59,079 --> 01:35:01,920 slated for fourteen in the third. But only what is he at? I 1528 01:35:01,960 --> 01:35:04,199 don't even know what the I don't know what the guaranteed number is in the 1529 01:35:04,239 --> 01:35:08,800 four point nine is guaranteed in the in the final year of his deal. 1530 01:35:09,279 --> 01:35:11,680 Yeah, folks are saying, folks, you know, we're all syn you 1531 01:35:11,720 --> 01:35:14,000 know, cynical jerks, and we all like to get our jokes off. 1532 01:35:14,039 --> 01:35:16,399 And that's really what that is. Because k KCP was a valuable, a 1533 01:35:16,520 --> 01:35:20,079 valuable member of last year's championship team. And look, the Lakers can afford 1534 01:35:20,199 --> 01:35:23,800 to pay a player who's not Like, no, do I think if they 1535 01:35:23,880 --> 01:35:25,800 end up let's say they end up waiving him. I don't know if they 1536 01:35:25,800 --> 01:35:29,399 will, but like, do I think that KCP is worth between twelve and 1537 01:35:29,479 --> 01:35:30,880 fourteen million a year, So let's say you finish this out the contract. 1538 01:35:30,920 --> 01:35:34,119 I actually, that's probably closer to fairer value than not that I'm thinking about 1539 01:35:34,119 --> 01:35:38,439 it, Like I would put him after the last year above the mL so 1540 01:35:38,520 --> 01:35:41,840 about ten million a year. If it's an overpay, then it's not by 1541 01:35:41,960 --> 01:35:44,760 all that much. And he's shown that he fits, so I just didn't. 1542 01:35:45,119 --> 01:35:46,920 I don't know if it's just because it's the Lakers or because KCP has 1543 01:35:46,960 --> 01:35:50,640 been like kind of a low key meme since he was in Detroit. But 1544 01:35:50,720 --> 01:35:55,199 I didn't understand it seemed like, I don't want to say majority, but 1545 01:35:55,239 --> 01:35:58,279 there was more of a negative reaction to his deal than I thought there would 1546 01:35:58,319 --> 01:36:01,720 be. All of the above. It there's a Lakers tax. There just 1547 01:36:01,920 --> 01:36:05,600 is. And and that's okay, Like see this thing like I'm not one 1548 01:36:05,640 --> 01:36:08,640 of those fans. It's like, so that's gonna tell you, like, 1549 01:36:08,920 --> 01:36:12,640 oh man, woe is me because nobody likes my team. I don't care, 1550 01:36:12,760 --> 01:36:15,920 man, Like trust you, team just won the championship. I have 1551 01:36:15,039 --> 01:36:18,960 lived a charmed life. I'm forty one years old. I'm aging myself here. 1552 01:36:18,960 --> 01:36:23,520 I'm forty one years old and so and I grew up in Los Angeles. 1553 01:36:23,800 --> 01:36:26,720 You can you can do the math on how many on how many rings 1554 01:36:26,760 --> 01:36:30,119 I've been able to experience and how many playoff runs, you know what I'm 1555 01:36:30,119 --> 01:36:32,279 saying. Like it so I'm not I don't care if people if people don't 1556 01:36:32,319 --> 01:36:35,920 like my team. The reality is this, KCP is a valuable player, 1557 01:36:36,000 --> 01:36:39,680 and I'm very happy that they resigned him. I was actually worried that he 1558 01:36:39,760 --> 01:36:42,439 was going to you know that that some I was worried that some you know, 1559 01:36:42,520 --> 01:36:45,840 some silly GM was going to do I actually give him, you know, 1560 01:36:45,920 --> 01:36:47,640 like a foolish deal, and I'm glad they didn't. Well, yeah, 1561 01:36:47,640 --> 01:36:49,600 I don't know if, like I mean, he signed so early that 1562 01:36:49,640 --> 01:36:53,159 maybe it wasn't a concern, but like, what if the Hawks just decided 1563 01:36:53,159 --> 01:36:57,119 that they didn't have a chance at Bodanovitch and they decided to give money to 1564 01:36:57,199 --> 01:37:00,319 KCP, like he would have fit there, and they had more tap space 1565 01:37:00,479 --> 01:37:03,039 than anyone in the league, So like that was kind of a real risk. 1566 01:37:04,199 --> 01:37:08,840 The other big it's well addition that they made on the perimeter since KCP 1567 01:37:09,039 --> 01:37:14,159 was resigning Wesley Matthews, I think that's just a great objective fit. Looking 1568 01:37:14,199 --> 01:37:17,640 at it in terms of replacing Danny Green, he gives you more defensive optionality 1569 01:37:17,680 --> 01:37:20,560 because he can cover some of those bigger wings where I think you want Danny 1570 01:37:20,560 --> 01:37:25,000 Green predominantly on ones in twos and some threes, where Wesley Matthews it's like 1571 01:37:25,560 --> 01:37:27,880 you can get one through three out of him and then some you know, 1572 01:37:28,000 --> 01:37:32,000 small ball fours like he can defend those types of guys. But Lakers fans, 1573 01:37:32,079 --> 01:37:33,960 or at least some of them, and I'm not even talking about the 1574 01:37:33,960 --> 01:37:36,600 ones that you know, gave him death threats after the finals game, which 1575 01:37:36,680 --> 01:37:42,239 was just ridiculous obviously, but he shoots under twenty nine percent from three in 1576 01:37:42,279 --> 01:37:45,960 the finals, and it did seem like Lakers fans turned on him. I 1577 01:37:45,079 --> 01:37:48,960 will say that I think they're gonna be moments where the Lakers miss Danny Green 1578 01:37:49,199 --> 01:37:54,039 relative to what Wesley Matthews is doing, because you know, you mentioned wayward 1579 01:37:54,079 --> 01:37:58,159 decision making with KCP, like Wesley Matthews will try and put the ball on 1580 01:37:58,239 --> 01:38:00,560 the floor and do things that Wesley Matthews he was posted Achilles injuries shouldn't be 1581 01:38:00,600 --> 01:38:05,640 trying to do. And Danny Green very much so played within the confines of 1582 01:38:05,720 --> 01:38:09,439 his game on offense, like it was I'm gonna shoot, catch and shoot 1583 01:38:09,479 --> 01:38:11,880 threes. I'll run around a little bit or I'll cut, but like, 1584 01:38:12,079 --> 01:38:14,880 I'm not gonna try and do more unless I, you know, really have 1585 01:38:15,079 --> 01:38:18,319 to. Wesley Matthews is gonna give you moments where you're gonna wonder like, 1586 01:38:18,560 --> 01:38:23,439 oh, why did we get rid of of Danny Green? And that's the 1587 01:38:23,479 --> 01:38:25,680 funny thing because a lot of yeah, I did see that. I saw 1588 01:38:25,680 --> 01:38:29,199 a lot of folks Yola immediately either saying like if Danny Green's like, come 1589 01:38:29,239 --> 01:38:31,359 on, guys, like relax, and the guy just contributed to your team 1590 01:38:31,439 --> 01:38:36,560 winning a title. Yet I recognize he miss set opportunity for the game winner, 1591 01:38:36,840 --> 01:38:41,399 but they still won. It doesn't matter. It's also not a coincidence. 1592 01:38:41,520 --> 01:38:44,239 So now he's won three titles, one with the Spurs, one with 1593 01:38:44,239 --> 01:38:46,119 the Raptors, one of the Lakers. He's missed a ton of big shots. 1594 01:38:46,279 --> 01:38:49,600 I said this on Twitter. It's not a coincidence that he's been in 1595 01:38:49,680 --> 01:38:54,680 a position to miss so many big shots. He's on so many good teams 1596 01:38:54,720 --> 01:38:58,760 for a reason, because he helps those teams exactly. It would be like 1597 01:38:58,880 --> 01:39:01,079 getting upset with Robert sorry for those threes that he missed in the last run. 1598 01:39:01,199 --> 01:39:03,560 You know, you know with with the Lakers, you know where they 1599 01:39:03,600 --> 01:39:09,399 had the opportunity and it and it just didn't fall down. Look you got 1600 01:39:09,800 --> 01:39:15,000 you got the winds. The winds. No, honestly, for for that 1601 01:39:15,199 --> 01:39:18,119 subset of of of fans of any fan base really, but you know, 1602 01:39:18,399 --> 01:39:23,680 of in particular of the Lakers fans, there's never going to be any satisfying 1603 01:39:23,760 --> 01:39:26,520 them. I have been told, like, you know, so keep in 1604 01:39:26,600 --> 01:39:28,680 mind, I grew you know, you know, came up you know in 1605 01:39:28,720 --> 01:39:30,760 the eighties, you know, came of age and in the mid nineties at 1606 01:39:30,800 --> 01:39:33,880 the same exact time when Kobe being Bryant you know, you know went there. 1607 01:39:34,159 --> 01:39:38,600 So it was like for obvious reasons, you know, I was a 1608 01:39:38,880 --> 01:39:41,880 I was a Kobe guy. I have been told by some of the crazies 1609 01:39:41,920 --> 01:39:45,000 on Twitter. You you know, you always just respect Kobe. You were 1610 01:39:45,079 --> 01:39:47,079 the worst, you said the other like and it's like, guys, I'm 1611 01:39:47,119 --> 01:39:51,880 actually a homer, Like this is this is friendly fire here. But it 1612 01:39:51,960 --> 01:39:56,079 doesn't matter. Like there's just no satisfying certain folks. You know, there 1613 01:39:56,119 --> 01:39:58,119 are certain people that are always going to like, you know, go, 1614 01:39:58,279 --> 01:40:00,640 you know, react negatively or or crazy or whatever the case may be. 1615 01:40:00,920 --> 01:40:05,359 All of that, all of that said, I agree with you if Wes 1616 01:40:05,600 --> 01:40:08,600 has, you know, situations where he's trying to, you know, do 1617 01:40:08,720 --> 01:40:11,600 too much, I have a feeling he will be he'll he'll be reined in 1618 01:40:11,720 --> 01:40:15,439 pretty quickly. But Lakers fans, you should be ready for it because if 1619 01:40:15,479 --> 01:40:17,720 you'll get those of you that didn't watch a ton of Milwaukee basketball, i'd 1620 01:40:17,760 --> 01:40:20,039 say once or twice a game, they're you know, like there are things 1621 01:40:20,079 --> 01:40:23,359 that West does where you're just like, what what the hell is this? 1622 01:40:23,479 --> 01:40:28,119 What are we doing here? Yeah? You take the good with the bad, 1623 01:40:28,199 --> 01:40:29,880 but you know, you just hope that the bad isn't you know, 1624 01:40:30,000 --> 01:40:32,840 isn't a last This does bring me to another question I have. How does 1625 01:40:32,920 --> 01:40:39,000 the wing rotation for this team like shake out? Because there's and it depends 1626 01:40:39,039 --> 01:40:42,479 on who you consider wings, Like Lebron is basically your point guard at this 1627 01:40:42,600 --> 01:40:45,439 point, So there's West and there's KCP, And it does get a little 1628 01:40:45,520 --> 01:40:48,359 murky after that, Like is Kuzma couldn't get just the majority of his time 1629 01:40:48,399 --> 01:40:50,640 at the you know, the three and some of the two spots, Like 1630 01:40:50,720 --> 01:40:55,119 where is Markith Morris factoring into this? I don't think you want him playing 1631 01:40:55,199 --> 01:40:58,239 the three? Could we see? Is this the year that als Caruso? 1632 01:40:58,359 --> 01:41:00,640 Like does he play up a little bit just because he has the size like 1633 01:41:00,760 --> 01:41:03,720 to get away not just at the two, but like against some threes? 1634 01:41:03,760 --> 01:41:08,159 And so how does this wing rotation for the Lakers shake out this season? 1635 01:41:08,920 --> 01:41:11,960 I think you'll see exactly that, like and and to your point, yeah, 1636 01:41:12,039 --> 01:41:14,119 Keith, you don't want him at the three. I think you'll see 1637 01:41:14,199 --> 01:41:17,239 him at more four and five, depending upon you know, depending upon who's 1638 01:41:17,279 --> 01:41:21,560 on the floor with h I could see you know, KCP being you know, 1639 01:41:21,920 --> 01:41:25,640 getting the bulk of the minutes West also getting the bulk at the minutes 1640 01:41:25,920 --> 01:41:28,760 Caruso because they're going to need to carve out minutes for him as well. 1641 01:41:29,720 --> 01:41:32,399 You know. Actually there were there were periods where there weren't stretches, but 1642 01:41:32,439 --> 01:41:35,760 there were situations where some of them came off of switch. Some of them 1643 01:41:35,840 --> 01:41:38,760 came off of you know, like you go straight out of a time out 1644 01:41:38,760 --> 01:41:41,840 where they put Caruso on threes. So you're right, you know, he 1645 01:41:41,920 --> 01:41:44,039 you know, he does possess the you know, the strength and the size, 1646 01:41:44,399 --> 01:41:45,800 uh you know, and in some of the bulk that he needs, 1647 01:41:45,840 --> 01:41:49,880 you know, depending upon the matchup. Yeah, I honestly think it's going 1648 01:41:49,960 --> 01:41:51,920 to be kind you know, kind of like what we saw last year where 1649 01:41:51,960 --> 01:41:57,079 it you know, it's they the coaching staff really did a good job of 1650 01:41:57,520 --> 01:42:00,359 playing playing the situation like you know, yes, they had a certain rotation, 1651 01:42:00,680 --> 01:42:02,479 but if it's you know, like if it didn't work, or if 1652 01:42:02,520 --> 01:42:05,239 the matchup call for something else, or do there was just a situation where 1653 01:42:05,279 --> 01:42:08,960 it was it was time to try somebody else out, they'll it was it 1654 01:42:09,079 --> 01:42:13,960 really everyone on everyone on that roster embrace that next man up your mentality, 1655 01:42:14,039 --> 01:42:17,079 and I think these guys will honestly do the same. So who's the who's 1656 01:42:17,119 --> 01:42:21,479 the most like, who's the most interesting non marquee player on this team? 1657 01:42:21,560 --> 01:42:25,560 I guess I should phrase it, I'm guessing I'm assuming that it will be 1658 01:42:25,760 --> 01:42:28,800 Caruso. And I'm just wondering now for our listeners, like, can you 1659 01:42:28,920 --> 01:42:31,760 just like maybe outline his value, like what he does for this team and 1660 01:42:31,800 --> 01:42:35,600 maybe if his game is, like is his role going to be amplified this 1661 01:42:35,720 --> 01:42:39,640 year? What is it that he can bring to the table for the Lakers 1662 01:42:39,720 --> 01:42:41,720 this season more so than last year? And I look, if it's not 1663 01:42:41,840 --> 01:42:44,800 him, if you're gonna go with Dylan Horton Tucker, I'm absolutely here for 1664 01:42:44,880 --> 01:42:47,159 that. Well, okay, so if you're asking me who I'm int who 1665 01:42:47,199 --> 01:42:50,960 I'm interested in watching, like in particular early in the season, Kylant Horton 1666 01:42:50,960 --> 01:42:54,680 Tucker, is that is that guy? But honestly, no, no, 1667 01:42:54,800 --> 01:42:58,520 no, no, I mean, look, he's the mystery box. Like, 1668 01:42:58,680 --> 01:43:00,600 yes, you saw a little bit, you saw little bit of him 1669 01:43:00,680 --> 01:43:02,680 last year. In fact, Frank Vogel, he messed around and put him 1670 01:43:02,680 --> 01:43:08,079 out there against the rock against the Rockets in actual meaningful basketball and I and 1671 01:43:08,199 --> 01:43:11,000 I loved it. But you know, looking, is it really meaningful if 1672 01:43:11,039 --> 01:43:15,920 it's a James Harden team in the second round? Damn, excuse my language. 1673 01:43:15,000 --> 01:43:17,439 Yeah, you have a point there, You have a point there. 1674 01:43:17,960 --> 01:43:20,840 Well, I look at it like this. You know, he's the mystery 1675 01:43:20,880 --> 01:43:24,920 box. He's the guy that everybody's raving about. Uh. You know, 1676 01:43:25,840 --> 01:43:28,520 I don't know if you paid attention to him. He's significantly you know, 1677 01:43:28,640 --> 01:43:30,399 changed his body from even you know, like the start of his rookie year. 1678 01:43:30,920 --> 01:43:32,920 Uh. You know, he's one of those guys that came back from 1679 01:43:32,960 --> 01:43:35,920 you know, came back from the quarantine, like down thirty pounds and ready 1680 01:43:35,960 --> 01:43:39,399 to go. So it was nice to see him rewarded with you know, 1681 01:43:39,439 --> 01:43:43,279 even the minimal amount of time that you know that you received. But you 1682 01:43:43,319 --> 01:43:45,720 know, I'm very intrigued to see, you know, what he can develop 1683 01:43:45,800 --> 01:43:47,640 into, you know, with with another year, you know, with the 1684 01:43:47,760 --> 01:43:50,560 under the tutelage of you know, you know, the Phield Handies of the 1685 01:43:50,600 --> 01:43:54,439 World and Mike pen Birthdays of the World and Miles Simons, all all the 1686 01:43:54,520 --> 01:43:56,960 guys that you know, the player development guys. You know that the Lakers 1687 01:43:57,000 --> 01:44:00,560 have. I I'm very into you know, but you know, really Caruso, 1688 01:44:01,159 --> 01:44:03,880 what you asked me to break down what he can do. I mean, 1689 01:44:04,000 --> 01:44:06,880 anybody that's Watson play. As long as you were able to watch and 1690 01:44:06,960 --> 01:44:11,760 appreciate a guy that just goes out there and gives it hiss all, you're 1691 01:44:11,800 --> 01:44:15,640 gonna like Alice Caruso like you don't have to like us, like silly Lakers 1692 01:44:15,720 --> 01:44:18,199 fans. And I say us, you know when we're literally just trolling you, 1693 01:44:18,359 --> 01:44:20,439 just trying to you know, trying to make you mad on the timeline. 1694 01:44:20,760 --> 01:44:25,079 But if you watch his game, he does all the stuff that you 1695 01:44:25,239 --> 01:44:27,840 know, all the stuff that you want. And and let's be real, 1696 01:44:28,000 --> 01:44:33,520 Okay, I'll go here. If Alex Caruso was named uh you know Andre, 1697 01:44:33,840 --> 01:44:40,279 you know Andre Carter. I honestly think a lot of the vitriol and 1698 01:44:40,359 --> 01:44:42,560 a lot of the pushback that you know that we see, you know, 1699 01:44:42,680 --> 01:44:45,520 you know from folks, it wouldn't be there because he does all the different 1700 01:44:45,560 --> 01:44:48,119 things that you want out of that scrappy, you know, tough nose, 1701 01:44:48,439 --> 01:44:51,880 you know, setting your first or second guard off the bench. Uh, 1702 01:44:53,000 --> 01:44:55,640 you know where he's willing to get into passing. Lani's willing to stick his 1703 01:44:55,680 --> 01:44:59,319 nose in there against against bigger guys. He's you know, he accepts, 1704 01:44:59,439 --> 01:45:01,439 you know, whatever ever role, you know, whatever role and whatever minutes 1705 01:45:01,520 --> 01:45:08,199 or whatever, you'll u a place in the rotation he's given. I genuinely 1706 01:45:08,239 --> 01:45:10,479 believe that if, if, if folks could you know, would get past 1707 01:45:10,680 --> 01:45:13,159 you know, you know, the distaste of us, you know, gloating 1708 01:45:13,199 --> 01:45:15,560 about him, they would actually love, would actually love what el was still 1709 01:45:15,600 --> 01:45:18,159 brings to the table. Yeah, I mean, look, the shot needs 1710 01:45:18,199 --> 01:45:20,680 to be more you'll be more consistent. I would love that. But then 1711 01:45:20,760 --> 01:45:25,359 again, it's you know that that feels like I'm nitpicking because he brings everything 1712 01:45:25,399 --> 01:45:28,359 else consistently. Yeah, and look, the motor is just there and he's 1713 01:45:28,399 --> 01:45:31,199 gonna play like he's just solid Defensively, it just feels like you're not looking 1714 01:45:31,239 --> 01:45:33,880 at him where it's like, oh he was just beaten away from the ball, 1715 01:45:34,039 --> 01:45:36,399 or he's overmatched when he's on the ball, like he has that type 1716 01:45:36,399 --> 01:45:40,479 of value. I find myself wondering if he can be a little bit more 1717 01:45:40,560 --> 01:45:44,720 plug and play for them offensively, because like maybe that would lead to more 1718 01:45:44,760 --> 01:45:47,119 minutes he shot under thirty five percent on catching shoot threes. He's not a 1719 01:45:47,159 --> 01:45:49,880 guy who's gonna hit a ton of his shots pulling up off the dribble. 1720 01:45:49,920 --> 01:45:53,680 He can definitely, we know, get above the rim and look to your 1721 01:45:53,720 --> 01:45:55,520 own point. I don't even know if you have to say, like let's 1722 01:45:55,600 --> 01:45:58,720 change his name if he's not on the Lakers, Like, if this is 1723 01:45:58,800 --> 01:46:00,840 something like you're you're probably not getting so much vitral for him. And yeah, 1724 01:46:00,840 --> 01:46:03,880 there are social media managers who have taken it wild, but it's because 1725 01:46:03,920 --> 01:46:08,039 he's on the Lakers and he draws the reaction, so it's like it's not 1726 01:46:08,159 --> 01:46:11,439 really his fault there. But I'm just I'm wondering if you think that he 1727 01:46:11,560 --> 01:46:14,840 has the ability to be And maybe I'm just off base by saying this. 1728 01:46:14,960 --> 01:46:16,479 You watch more Lakers than I do, can he be more plug and play 1729 01:46:16,520 --> 01:46:20,800 for them on offense? I honestly, i'd have to see it, and 1730 01:46:20,920 --> 01:46:24,520 and I don't want to I'm not trying to be disparaging. I'd have to 1731 01:46:24,560 --> 01:46:28,840 see it with consistency. It's kind of like like he's the guy out of 1732 01:46:28,920 --> 01:46:30,399 nowhere in the half course said he'd know he drops a dime, and it's 1733 01:46:30,439 --> 01:46:33,640 like oh man, what the where did that come from? And then you're 1734 01:46:33,680 --> 01:46:36,039 waiting to see more and you're waiting to see it more and you don't see 1735 01:46:36,079 --> 01:46:39,680 it, so like, you know, and some of that can be that, 1736 01:46:39,760 --> 01:46:42,119 you know, he's still a guy that's developing as a player, and 1737 01:46:42,640 --> 01:46:45,119 he's still you'll still you're still obviously you know, learning how to play alongside 1738 01:46:45,159 --> 01:46:49,560 Anthony Davis and Lebron James and simply understand what his role would be. So 1739 01:46:49,760 --> 01:46:54,960 maybe we'll see more of it this year, but honestly, I can't bank 1740 01:46:55,079 --> 01:46:58,399 on it until I see it, and and there's no and there's no shame 1741 01:46:58,520 --> 01:47:02,640 in just being what he was last year. Like to be clear, not 1742 01:47:02,760 --> 01:47:05,640 to just jump back to tylent hornon Tucker there, but I would imagine that 1743 01:47:05,640 --> 01:47:09,399 he's probably not gonna get maybe look, actually, so maybe he gets more 1744 01:47:09,439 --> 01:47:12,880 minutes this season because this will tie into a question I'm eventually gonna ask you. 1745 01:47:13,000 --> 01:47:15,039 But you know, we don't know how many players they're like we'll have 1746 01:47:15,119 --> 01:47:18,640 to sit out because of COVID, or how many players will get scheduled rest 1747 01:47:18,760 --> 01:47:23,520 on non national TV nights let's just just call them. So maybe that will 1748 01:47:23,520 --> 01:47:26,439 be an opportunity for him and get minutes in the regular season. I just 1749 01:47:26,600 --> 01:47:29,600 don't know what to expect from him. I actually haven't seen enough of him 1750 01:47:29,600 --> 01:47:30,680 at the NBA, but every time I watch him, I'm like, he 1751 01:47:30,800 --> 01:47:34,720 kind of feels like a version of Julius Randall who won't suck something offul on 1752 01:47:34,840 --> 01:47:39,479 defense. Is that like app or just not? Is it completely wild? 1753 01:47:40,119 --> 01:47:42,600 It's not? Well, I mean, I mean he's smaller like, and 1754 01:47:42,680 --> 01:47:45,720 that's a thing like I always have to remind myself. He looks super long 1755 01:47:45,760 --> 01:47:47,840 because his arms are like, you know, damn, they're down there was 1756 01:47:47,920 --> 01:47:50,640 you know, down to his knees. But he's only like six four, 1757 01:47:51,079 --> 01:47:55,359 so he has to like he's he's he's a tweeter, like I don't know 1758 01:47:55,399 --> 01:47:57,920 why. I'm like, you know, I'm sure he's a tweeter that I 1759 01:47:58,079 --> 01:48:00,600 don't know yet. I don't know if he's gonna if he's gonna, you 1760 01:48:00,600 --> 01:48:02,000 know, be maximized at the two, or if they're you know, they're 1761 01:48:02,000 --> 01:48:04,880 gonna play him up because he's still even though he got in the shape he 1762 01:48:04,960 --> 01:48:09,680 still has he still has a very sturdy body. You know. I'm interested 1763 01:48:09,720 --> 01:48:13,680 to seeing if they play him some three minutes. But the as a team, 1764 01:48:14,000 --> 01:48:17,079 as an organization. They they're at least making the making all the sounds 1765 01:48:17,119 --> 01:48:21,479 as though they expect big things from him, participate him being a part of 1766 01:48:21,479 --> 01:48:24,600 the rotation. Yeah, Frank Vogel said he was gonna be a part of 1767 01:48:24,640 --> 01:48:26,039 it, I think, or at LEAs said, I'm like, he's been 1768 01:48:26,079 --> 01:48:28,840 fantastic. He's gonna help us immediately, and I'm coaching the harder than everyone 1769 01:48:29,119 --> 01:48:31,079 where they really can't afford and well this is this is an aside, but 1770 01:48:31,079 --> 01:48:34,680 I would like to see him and mcail bridges just you know, put their 1771 01:48:34,760 --> 01:48:39,159 arms together, just to see who has i mean seven foot one wings man, 1772 01:48:39,239 --> 01:48:42,119 I think is what uh Horton Tucker has it at six four. That's 1773 01:48:42,159 --> 01:48:45,760 just that's gonna bend your brain, I don't. I think what they can't 1774 01:48:45,760 --> 01:48:47,560 afford to have is like if he's not if he's going to play like the 1775 01:48:47,720 --> 01:48:50,760 two or the three, there needs to be some re semblance of a spot 1776 01:48:50,800 --> 01:48:54,319 up jumper there because with the way that their front court is set up, 1777 01:48:54,359 --> 01:48:57,159 and then even with you know, some of their wings where it's you know, 1778 01:48:57,159 --> 01:48:59,920 if you want to consider Alex Caruso there, just their perimeter players, 1779 01:49:00,199 --> 01:49:03,159 even Lebron Kuzma. Where you can't guarantee those guys are going to be above 1780 01:49:03,199 --> 01:49:09,319 average from three, you can't afford to nestlely necessarily throw in another like perimeter 1781 01:49:09,439 --> 01:49:14,079 player who's going to shoot a suboptimal clip from deep that's an excellent point and 1782 01:49:14,239 --> 01:49:16,840 that and you know that right there is probably you're going to be the determining 1783 01:49:16,920 --> 01:49:19,960 factor and how much of you know, a part of the rotation he is, 1784 01:49:20,279 --> 01:49:23,960 because I honestly believe you know, Caruso is going to be a part 1785 01:49:24,000 --> 01:49:27,039 of it. And you can't have both of them out there if neither one 1786 01:49:27,039 --> 01:49:30,079 of them can shoot, if neither one of them are at least a threat, 1787 01:49:30,359 --> 01:49:32,760 if neither one of them at least can can get somebody to shade towards 1788 01:49:32,880 --> 01:49:34,800 them, you know what I'm saying, So like yeah, no, like 1789 01:49:34,920 --> 01:49:39,399 I you know, like I said, mystery Box, I can't wait to 1790 01:49:39,439 --> 01:49:43,880 see I'm I'm very excited about him, but I it would be disingenuous. 1791 01:49:43,880 --> 01:49:45,840 It would be disingenuous for me to like try to say like, oh, 1792 01:49:45,920 --> 01:49:48,399 yeah, he's this because I have no idea. And this sort of ties 1793 01:49:48,439 --> 01:49:53,359 into that, like what should we expect from the Lakers players management? This 1794 01:49:53,520 --> 01:49:56,439 year, like they finished the season fewer than two months ago. There was 1795 01:49:56,479 --> 01:49:58,840 the report that came out of the enemy is gonna find teams if they're sitting 1796 01:49:58,880 --> 01:50:00,359 guys. It's really only now for national TV knights. And I know that 1797 01:50:00,399 --> 01:50:03,159 the Lakers have a bunch of national TV games, but I think only like 1798 01:50:03,319 --> 01:50:08,159 a third of their games less than that on national TVs. Like, I 1799 01:50:08,239 --> 01:50:11,560 feel like they will have an opportunity if they want to. I'm certainly assuming 1800 01:50:11,600 --> 01:50:15,239 they're gonna rest Lebron. Are they going to give rest Knights to Anthony Davis? 1801 01:50:15,279 --> 01:50:17,600 And how like should we expect it to be stark like where they're just 1802 01:50:17,720 --> 01:50:20,479 giving you know, even a guy like Wesley Matthews who's had an achilles injuries 1803 01:50:20,520 --> 01:50:24,439 and his thirties, Like, should we expect that type of approach from the 1804 01:50:24,520 --> 01:50:27,800 Lakers where they're not they're not punting on the regular season, but they're like, 1805 01:50:28,079 --> 01:50:29,880 you know, as long as we have a top four seed, like 1806 01:50:30,079 --> 01:50:33,239 we're fine. Is that like sort of the lays far approach approach that we 1807 01:50:33,279 --> 01:50:36,239 should expect from LA Or do you think that they'll be a little bit more 1808 01:50:36,359 --> 01:50:39,920 committed to the regular season because you have guys like, you know, Montros 1809 01:50:39,920 --> 01:50:45,479 Harrod wants to play all eighty two games. I absolutely think see what you're 1810 01:50:45,520 --> 01:50:48,119 saying makes total sense, And that's actually the approach I anticipated last year. 1811 01:50:48,560 --> 01:50:51,359 And part of me wants to say that I expect Lebron the load manage a 1812 01:50:51,359 --> 01:50:54,600 bit, you know, but the truth of the matter is he if he 1813 01:50:54,680 --> 01:50:58,479 didn't do it following the catastrophic growing injury, it's probably not going to happen 1814 01:50:58,560 --> 01:51:01,680 this year unless it actually needs. Now the types of minutes, however, 1815 01:51:01,920 --> 01:51:04,439 you know, those should be different. I think, you know, like 1816 01:51:04,520 --> 01:51:08,399 you guys like Lebron and a d I think where their rest is going to 1817 01:51:08,479 --> 01:51:11,159 come in is going to be in the form of taking a back seat whenever 1818 01:51:11,239 --> 01:51:14,000 he can, especially Lebron taking a back seat whenever he can, and allowing 1819 01:51:14,119 --> 01:51:16,479 others to kind of do more of the heavy lifting throughout stretches, especially in 1820 01:51:16,520 --> 01:51:20,720 particular of the regular season, before ramping it up as he customarily does right 1821 01:51:20,760 --> 01:51:24,279 around the you know, the like well, this year would be around game 1822 01:51:24,359 --> 01:51:26,279 fifty, you know, like so that he you know, so there's a 1823 01:51:26,399 --> 01:51:29,840 he's ready to go. I don't anticipate guys sitting at you know, sitting 1824 01:51:29,840 --> 01:51:31,199 in a ton of games and you know, look, I was, I 1825 01:51:31,359 --> 01:51:33,880 was, I was, I had a flipped last year. This year watched 1826 01:51:34,039 --> 01:51:38,359 He'll ride out the gates. They'll probably they'll probably be citing, but no, 1827 01:51:38,520 --> 01:51:42,479 But honestly, I don't think so, because specifically, particularly because of 1828 01:51:42,560 --> 01:51:45,960 the depth that they have, as well as because a guy like Trez, 1829 01:51:45,159 --> 01:51:47,560 like you said, wants to play all Lady two, a guy like you 1830 01:51:47,600 --> 01:51:50,720 know, a guy like Shrewder for obvious reasons, wants you know, you 1831 01:51:50,760 --> 01:51:54,239 know, wants to get in there and go to work. A guy like 1832 01:51:54,359 --> 01:51:57,880 Kal Kuzma, for obvious reasons, needs to get in there and show and 1833 01:51:58,000 --> 01:52:00,760 continue to showcase what he can do. So because of their death and because 1834 01:52:01,119 --> 01:52:04,359 because of the like you know, very specific guys that have you know, 1835 01:52:04,479 --> 01:52:08,680 a lot of different reasons you know, to be motivated, I honestly don't 1836 01:52:08,680 --> 01:52:10,600 think that they're going to have to sit out a ton of games. I 1837 01:52:10,680 --> 01:52:13,359 think, you know, I think you're going to see a lot of games 1838 01:52:13,399 --> 01:52:15,279 where it looks like Lebron is coasting and then you know, he'll he'll pick 1839 01:52:15,319 --> 01:52:17,720 and choose when he wants to turn it on. But if he doesn't have 1840 01:52:17,840 --> 01:52:20,399 to, you'll see a lot of Lebron, you know in a d on, 1841 01:52:20,479 --> 01:52:23,439 the on the bitch and the fourth quarter, you know, with their 1842 01:52:23,439 --> 01:52:27,119 hoodie on. I think it's gonna happen with Lebron this year for some reason, 1843 01:52:27,239 --> 01:52:30,319 because I really do think. Look, he's about to turn thirty six, 1844 01:52:30,479 --> 01:52:32,680 and I think that we could that kind of like went by us because 1845 01:52:32,920 --> 01:52:35,800 the off season was so short and last season ended so late that you're used 1846 01:52:35,800 --> 01:52:39,640 to having more time before you know, his next birthday rolls around. But 1847 01:52:39,680 --> 01:52:43,479 he's about to turn thirty six. And the other thing with that is like 1848 01:52:43,720 --> 01:52:46,479 the Jordan conversation, like we know he cares about it, like I feel 1849 01:52:46,520 --> 01:52:49,520 like he vaclates on whether he admits it. You now have four rings, 1850 01:52:49,640 --> 01:52:53,039 you're probably favored to win a fifth this year, and if you get a 1851 01:52:53,079 --> 01:52:56,399 fifth, that's where the conversation, it's not even starts to turn. I 1852 01:52:56,439 --> 01:52:59,800 think that's where Lebron starts to get get to consensus, because what does the 1853 01:53:00,079 --> 01:53:03,720 argument then become against him because he has one fewer ring than Jordan, and 1854 01:53:03,760 --> 01:53:06,119 you're gonna look at his record in the NBA finals and then at that point 1855 01:53:06,199 --> 01:53:10,119 it's almost at five hundred, and how are you going to penalize him for 1856 01:53:10,159 --> 01:53:14,199 being to eleven NBA Finals at that point and just the stakes there to the 1857 01:53:14,239 --> 01:53:17,319 bigger picture, and just knowing how recently he finished last season and how it 1858 01:53:17,479 --> 01:53:20,159 was kind of stop and start for him. We know no one takes care 1859 01:53:20,199 --> 01:53:25,359 of their body better than him. I just expect that to happen with him, 1860 01:53:25,520 --> 01:53:28,279 and then maybe it happens less with Anthony Davis, because I could see 1861 01:53:28,319 --> 01:53:31,560 him if it does happen with Lebron like sensing the opportunity to maybe really enter 1862 01:53:31,680 --> 01:53:36,159 the MVP discussion this season. Hey, honestly from your lips, honestly, 1863 01:53:36,239 --> 01:53:40,399 from your lips to the basketball God's ears, because I'm serious, that's what 1864 01:53:40,439 --> 01:53:44,119 I would love to see it. I would love to see him that, 1865 01:53:44,239 --> 01:53:47,039 like really scale back and then, like I said right around Game fifty, 1866 01:53:47,079 --> 01:53:49,000 just ramp it up and you get it. You'll get his body to where 1867 01:53:49,000 --> 01:53:51,560 he needs to be, you know, head into the postseason. I just 1868 01:53:51,920 --> 01:53:57,680 I don't believe it. I just don't believe in And I agree for all 1869 01:53:57,760 --> 01:54:00,479 of the reasons that you just mentioned. It makes sense. It would, 1870 01:54:00,520 --> 01:54:02,359 it would totally make sense. But I thought last year it would have made 1871 01:54:02,359 --> 01:54:04,880 sense, especially when they when they got out to that twenty four and three 1872 01:54:04,960 --> 01:54:08,159 start and it was like, Okay, well you don't have to push them, 1873 01:54:08,399 --> 01:54:10,880 push the pedal to the middle quite as much. But he still didn't. 1874 01:54:11,239 --> 01:54:14,560 But no, yeah, you to your point about Anthony Davis. It's 1875 01:54:14,600 --> 01:54:15,840 funny, I you know, that was my bold prediction. I don't even 1876 01:54:15,840 --> 01:54:18,079 remember what show it was on, but that was my bold prediction, was 1877 01:54:18,159 --> 01:54:21,159 that Lebron would take a back seat, not because he was load managing, 1878 01:54:21,359 --> 01:54:25,199 but simply because he didn't, you know, he wouldn't need to and that 1879 01:54:25,239 --> 01:54:27,720 would you know, that that would kind of like open up that opportunity, 1880 01:54:27,840 --> 01:54:30,319 you know, you know, to your point, so that Anthony Davis could 1881 01:54:30,399 --> 01:54:33,399 you know, actually enter the MVP conversation. Now, Lebron's teams, I 1882 01:54:33,399 --> 01:54:38,640 would say, are maybe not so much in Miami, but definitely since leaving 1883 01:54:38,680 --> 01:54:42,800 Miami and even his first go around in Cleveland, they're generally fairly aggressive. 1884 01:54:42,840 --> 01:54:45,760 It seems like at the trade deadline or leading up to it, because it 1885 01:54:45,760 --> 01:54:47,079 always seems like they have one glaring hole. And I think that you could 1886 01:54:47,159 --> 01:54:51,720 argue on this roster like they would like to have more wing depth or like 1887 01:54:51,800 --> 01:54:56,319 functional ball handling from the wings that that they do have not even just bodies. 1888 01:54:57,560 --> 01:55:00,840 But because you're looking at like sort of they're hardcap situation, do you 1889 01:55:00,880 --> 01:55:03,920 expect them to be less aggressive at the trade deadline or do you still think 1890 01:55:03,960 --> 01:55:09,840 that this is a team that uh will be And it's tough to say without 1891 01:55:09,880 --> 01:55:12,239 watching the games, like because maybe they're so far out in front of everyone 1892 01:55:12,239 --> 01:55:15,319 you can't even sense a weakness. But what do you kind of expect from 1893 01:55:15,359 --> 01:55:18,800 them looking at mid season transactions where oh, well, they maybe just monitor 1894 01:55:18,880 --> 01:55:24,880 the buy out market to see what happens. Or are they going to be 1895 01:55:25,039 --> 01:55:27,960 actually active like looking for a trade or are they more likely to do like 1896 01:55:28,079 --> 01:55:31,039 really even nothing like not even some like granular nuts and bolt stuff. I 1897 01:55:31,239 --> 01:55:33,439 think you hit it on the head. I think it's by our market guys, 1898 01:55:33,760 --> 01:55:36,359 unless they're they're in a position where they need to make a move, 1899 01:55:36,800 --> 01:55:40,960 and and and since, like you said, we have to watch the games, 1900 01:55:41,199 --> 01:55:43,439 but you know, just looking at it, I don't see a situation 1901 01:55:43,520 --> 01:55:46,119 where they would need to I don't. I don't necessarily expect them to be 1902 01:55:46,239 --> 01:55:49,159 you know, you know, to be extremely aggressive. But then again, 1903 01:55:49,439 --> 01:55:54,000 I didn't expect them to be this aggressive this offseason, right, I did 1904 01:55:54,079 --> 01:55:56,760 not expect them to be this aggressive. So I guess you just never know. 1905 01:55:57,159 --> 01:56:00,000 Like the one thing that Polinka had and this you front office has shown 1906 01:56:00,079 --> 01:56:05,239 me is that like expect to unexpected and and and honestly you'll save your questions 1907 01:56:05,279 --> 01:56:09,600 and just kind of watch. So, uh, you know, my gut 1908 01:56:09,680 --> 01:56:13,359 tells me it's a it's a buyout situation where you know, like like I 1909 01:56:13,439 --> 01:56:15,840 said, like in case you do you in case down the line, you 1910 01:56:15,880 --> 01:56:17,319 do need to you know, use Kuzman a deal. You know, you 1911 01:56:17,359 --> 01:56:21,720 can explore that you depend upon how things go. But you know, I 1912 01:56:21,880 --> 01:56:25,239 really have no I really have no way of knowing because like you said, 1913 01:56:25,239 --> 01:56:27,000 we haven't seen the games. We don't know how the pieces are going to 1914 01:56:27,079 --> 01:56:29,399 fit. We don't know, you know, like if if if after you 1915 01:56:29,439 --> 01:56:30,159 know, twenty five games, it's just like, oh no, this is 1916 01:56:30,199 --> 01:56:33,000 a very Glarian weakness or a very you know, a spot that they're going 1917 01:56:33,039 --> 01:56:35,439 to need to solidify. So we're gonna kind of have to wait and see. 1918 01:56:35,560 --> 01:56:38,880 But going in, I think it's going to be more of the buyout 1919 01:56:38,920 --> 01:56:43,680 situation. Would you like to hear my hot perhaps unhinged take on that give 1920 01:56:43,720 --> 01:56:45,560 it to me, give it to me. I would not be surprised if 1921 01:56:45,680 --> 01:56:50,520 Montrez Harroll finishes the year on a different team. I think just looking at 1922 01:56:50,640 --> 01:56:54,439 his like what they can do with him for salary matching purposes, and again 1923 01:56:54,479 --> 01:56:57,600 the hard tap within this matters like that seems the one if they want to 1924 01:56:57,640 --> 01:57:00,319 take a bigger swing, Like you look at Shrewder salary, I don't think 1925 01:57:00,319 --> 01:57:03,359 they're gonna move KCP and you know he's represented by by By Clauch and just 1926 01:57:03,399 --> 01:57:05,960 signed that launchter Beeally, Also, they just don't have the wing banwidth to 1927 01:57:05,960 --> 01:57:09,720 be like, hey, let's just trade you know, our best wing basically 1928 01:57:09,840 --> 01:57:14,760 like outside of Lebron, of course, it seems like I feel like they 1929 01:57:14,840 --> 01:57:16,880 would make some sort of a middling like mid tier move. And knowing that 1930 01:57:16,960 --> 01:57:19,600 you have Gasol and that you probably didn't know that you were going to have 1931 01:57:19,800 --> 01:57:26,640 him before you signed Tress, that gives them some leeway to make a move 1932 01:57:26,920 --> 01:57:30,399 with Tress, I think, because he's not going to be someone unless you 1933 01:57:30,479 --> 01:57:31,880 disagree, and this would be my next question. He's not going to be 1934 01:57:31,920 --> 01:57:35,159 closing most games for them, and so that's the area that I look at 1935 01:57:35,159 --> 01:57:38,479 and I'm like, that's the player. I'm just looking at a salary I'm 1936 01:57:38,520 --> 01:57:40,560 looking at what they kind of need. I'm looking at teams that just might 1937 01:57:40,600 --> 01:57:44,119 be interested in him because he's not too old. Can maybe get you both 1938 01:57:44,199 --> 01:57:46,199 to four in the five spots. Yes, he could be a free agent 1939 01:57:46,239 --> 01:57:48,600 if he has the player option, but also like maybe he won't be in 1940 01:57:48,680 --> 01:57:51,119 We just saw his market with Squeeze this year. So if he, if 1941 01:57:51,119 --> 01:57:56,359 he commands more money, how much, how expensive will actually be. I'm 1942 01:57:56,399 --> 01:57:59,479 just looking at him, and it would not just like I sort of and 1943 01:58:00,000 --> 01:58:00,600 a lot of people did this, but like you saw the end of the 1944 01:58:00,600 --> 01:58:03,359 Clippers season, You're like, it wouldn't surprise me if he left the Clippers. 1945 01:58:03,720 --> 01:58:06,640 I'm in that sort of situation boat right now where it wouldn't shock me 1946 01:58:08,640 --> 01:58:12,479 if he ended the season on a team other than the Lakers. So here's 1947 01:58:12,479 --> 01:58:15,399 the thing. First of all, half the rosters is represented by Clutch as 1948 01:58:15,479 --> 01:58:19,600 he is resented by Correct. Okay, no, no, no, literally, 1949 01:58:20,000 --> 01:58:21,800 I'm not joking when I say half. I think I think it's half. 1950 01:58:23,520 --> 01:58:25,880 So we like, really, they need to you know, they need 1951 01:58:25,960 --> 01:58:28,479 to get the wish app or the wish logo off and just go ahead and 1952 01:58:28,560 --> 01:58:30,680 just you know, drop that Clutch logo, right you know, right, 1953 01:58:30,720 --> 01:58:32,279 they just an emoji of Rich Paul's face. Yeah, like just ay, 1954 01:58:32,399 --> 01:58:35,479 I would be here for it because it would it would make so many people 1955 01:58:35,600 --> 01:58:40,239 upset. I caught myself at that time, so many people upset. No. 1956 01:58:40,600 --> 01:58:45,720 Uh so you know when you prior to you you opposing this, I 1957 01:58:45,840 --> 01:58:48,520 would not have seen it. But I can see it, Like I feel 1958 01:58:48,600 --> 01:58:51,239 like I can hear Jimmy now and yes, this is a white man can't 1959 01:58:51,319 --> 01:58:55,720 jump. I feel like you have opened my eyes and like, oh, 1960 01:58:55,800 --> 01:58:58,520 you know what they did kind of they did kind of set themselves up that 1961 01:58:58,600 --> 01:59:01,079 way. And you're right, it isn't And I guess it's more of a 1962 01:59:01,119 --> 01:59:04,640 testament to the deal to the depth that they were able to compile they don't 1963 01:59:04,800 --> 01:59:08,720 have to keep him, and specifically to you know, to your point about 1964 01:59:08,800 --> 01:59:11,279 him not closing. You know how in the notes you asked me, you 1965 01:59:11,319 --> 01:59:14,520 know, you know what the most common closing lineups would be. I wrote 1966 01:59:14,560 --> 01:59:16,159 three different ones and he wasn't in any of them. Oh wow, you 1967 01:59:16,239 --> 01:59:19,720 wrote three different ones and he wasn't in any of them. That's actually surprising. 1968 01:59:20,279 --> 01:59:23,640 Yeah. And and and it's not a knock, it's not a slight 1969 01:59:23,800 --> 01:59:27,039 and of course there will be games that he's on the court and he does 1970 01:59:27,119 --> 01:59:30,119 close. But for whatever the reason, he didn't show up in he didn't 1971 01:59:30,119 --> 01:59:34,439 show up in in my rotation when it would specifically when it came to closing, 1972 01:59:34,479 --> 01:59:38,439 you know, closing things out. Now am I anticipating to taking place? 1973 01:59:38,520 --> 01:59:41,479 No, but you met, you make a strong case. And and 1974 01:59:41,600 --> 01:59:45,680 honestly it does make sense in particular, not just because they were able to 1975 01:59:45,760 --> 01:59:47,319 you know, to bring the soul in, but they were also able to 1976 01:59:47,399 --> 01:59:53,119 retain Mark Keith. So they they've got some flexibility and different bodies and different 1977 01:59:53,119 --> 01:59:56,439 looks that they could show it that they can throw it folks, and you 1978 01:59:56,479 --> 01:59:59,760 know, hey, and in particular, like if Kuzman ends up staying, 1979 02:00:00,159 --> 02:00:01,560 like say Kuzma is not a part of that deal, then all of a 1980 02:00:01,600 --> 02:00:04,159 sudden that opens up minutes at that position for him as well. So no, 1981 02:00:04,520 --> 02:00:09,439 like I didn't necessarily anticipate talking about a trist trade, but here we 1982 02:00:09,560 --> 02:00:11,960 are. Well, look, it was the Gasol signing is the one that 1983 02:00:12,079 --> 02:00:14,520 kind of led me to it, because it's like they don't Harold. Yes, 1984 02:00:14,640 --> 02:00:16,840 maybe he'll spend some minutes beside Anthony Davis, but like there's not like 1985 02:00:17,000 --> 02:00:20,159 he doesn't need to be log anytime as your day facto four. Like, 1986 02:00:20,199 --> 02:00:23,760 however you want to consider maybe Davis is considered the four in that situation, 1987 02:00:23,880 --> 02:00:27,319 but you have like that's covered between Kuzmi, you could throw a Lebron in 1988 02:00:27,319 --> 02:00:30,159 there. You have Mark Kif and Anthony Davis, of course, and then 1989 02:00:30,199 --> 02:00:31,640 at the five it's like, all right, well you need a good backup 1990 02:00:31,760 --> 02:00:36,199 five and he was it, and maybe you want to try some Markiff like 1991 02:00:36,600 --> 02:00:39,880 at the five when any Davis isn't on the court, but you're not gonna 1992 02:00:39,880 --> 02:00:42,800 be closing that way anyway, But now you have Gasol, And so it's 1993 02:00:42,840 --> 02:00:45,720 like I would assume, and like, let's just lead that into the question 1994 02:00:45,760 --> 02:00:48,039 of what closing lineup she wrote down. But I would assume they're still gonna 1995 02:00:48,199 --> 02:00:51,239 want to close. It's matchup based. But in a lot of them, 1996 02:00:51,279 --> 02:00:54,199 I think Davis is still at the five. So if you're not going to 1997 02:00:54,279 --> 02:00:58,479 have Gasol or Mantras Harold on the court, one of them at least becomes 1998 02:00:58,520 --> 02:01:00,319 expendable, and the Saul is making the minimum, so you're just not like 1999 02:01:00,439 --> 02:01:03,960 you're not moving him. And so that's what like led me to that I 2000 02:01:03,960 --> 02:01:08,079 don't I wouldn't predict it, like maybe come back to me in a month 2001 02:01:08,199 --> 02:01:10,520 or something. I think he's gonna be I think he's gonna be good for 2002 02:01:10,560 --> 02:01:13,520 this team. And people remember how he was playing in the bubble. He 2003 02:01:13,680 --> 02:01:15,479 just wasn't healthy and he had been dealing. He was grieving the loss of 2004 02:01:15,880 --> 02:01:18,279 was it his grandmother? I think it was. I don't want to miss 2005 02:01:18,359 --> 02:01:20,840 the truth. I think who passed away. I think you're right. But 2006 02:01:20,960 --> 02:01:25,079 also that entire team didn't want to be there. That's actually what I was 2007 02:01:25,119 --> 02:01:27,479 alluding to, Like, it's funny that they want to point the finger at 2008 02:01:27,560 --> 02:01:30,800 him, which yes, he was bad, but also misused and also going 2009 02:01:30,840 --> 02:01:32,239 through all of the different things that you just laid out, But nobody on 2010 02:01:32,319 --> 02:01:34,640 that team wanted to be there, and that was very clear. Yeah, 2011 02:01:34,680 --> 02:01:38,600 and look, I mean there was also just the dynamics in that locker room. 2012 02:01:38,640 --> 02:01:41,039 I feel like maybe we should have seen this coming, knowing how lob 2013 02:01:41,079 --> 02:01:44,359 City ended, where Doc Rivers like couldn't really get that under wraps. And 2014 02:01:44,399 --> 02:01:46,640 then also you had Lou Williams, Tres and Beverly these you know, we 2015 02:01:46,720 --> 02:01:50,680 want to play eighty three of eighty two games every year to Paul George and 2016 02:01:50,800 --> 02:01:54,239 Kway Leonard, who are just very much not only are they superstars, but 2017 02:01:54,279 --> 02:01:57,439 like Kway has been on a load management even before he was injured, because 2018 02:01:57,439 --> 02:01:59,840 the Spurs like just operated with, oh, we're not going to play him 2019 02:02:00,000 --> 02:02:01,840 thirty eight minutes of game. That's just not going to happen outside the postseason. 2020 02:02:01,880 --> 02:02:05,800 So maybe we should have predicted, like the drama in LA more than 2021 02:02:05,920 --> 02:02:10,359 more than we did. But for the Lakers specifically, what again, we 2022 02:02:10,439 --> 02:02:13,000 know it'll change on matchups. What do you think will be their most common 2023 02:02:13,039 --> 02:02:15,439 clothing lineup or what are your what are the three that you wrote down for 2024 02:02:15,520 --> 02:02:19,319 them? Okay, so I basically just talked myself through it in my answer, 2025 02:02:19,399 --> 02:02:23,039 But basically it was I look at it as Eighty at the five, 2026 02:02:23,159 --> 02:02:27,039 Lebron at the four, probably West at the three, KCP at the two, 2027 02:02:27,439 --> 02:02:31,119 and Shrewder and Schroeder at the one, or Caruso at the one or 2028 02:02:31,279 --> 02:02:36,079 instead of instead of West, you know, and KCP. Basically, it 2029 02:02:36,159 --> 02:02:39,960 just depends on the matchup. But that first lineup is kind of what I 2030 02:02:40,039 --> 02:02:42,520 see it as. I know they love Caruso, especially down the stretch, 2031 02:02:42,560 --> 02:02:46,000 and he absolutely locks in defensively, So you know that if shrewders not if 2032 02:02:46,000 --> 02:02:48,720 shooters not getting it done, or like if for whatever reason, Caruso's a 2033 02:02:48,800 --> 02:02:53,079 better a better matchup, I can see him being there. But like say, 2034 02:02:53,159 --> 02:02:55,520 for instance, you needed a bigger body out there, perhaps you could 2035 02:02:55,560 --> 02:02:58,960 look something like Gasol at the five eighty, at the four, grown at 2036 02:02:59,000 --> 02:03:02,439 the three. That's a very big front court. Obviously KCP and either Caruso 2037 02:03:02,600 --> 02:03:05,600 or Shrewder. But like that, it's like, you see where I'm going 2038 02:03:05,680 --> 02:03:09,119 with this. I honestly believe that those are going to be those, you 2039 02:03:09,159 --> 02:03:12,399 know, the main guys, especially down the stretch of games. And you, 2040 02:03:12,560 --> 02:03:13,880 I mean you just sit on the head. Is like, so, 2041 02:03:13,960 --> 02:03:15,560 if there's gonna be dual bigs at the end of games, it's more likely 2042 02:03:15,640 --> 02:03:19,079 to be a Gasol and a D than it is to be a D and 2043 02:03:19,159 --> 02:03:23,720 Tress Well because if yeah, because in particular, if you need that bigger 2044 02:03:23,720 --> 02:03:26,319 body out there, I don't necessarily know why you would put a D. 2045 02:03:26,640 --> 02:03:29,279 Like say, say, for instance, you've got a situation where you need 2046 02:03:29,479 --> 02:03:31,960 a stop against your kids down the stretch. Do I think that a D 2047 02:03:32,119 --> 02:03:35,520 can guard him? Yes? Would I feel better if you know you're putting 2048 02:03:35,640 --> 02:03:42,600 your marcusol on him with a D shading Yes, do I want tres On 2049 02:03:43,079 --> 02:03:45,640 on your kids down the stretch? I think we know the answer to that. 2050 02:03:45,880 --> 02:03:48,560 Thank you, Doc. The one thing that I think can get interesting 2051 02:03:49,119 --> 02:03:53,479 that you I think you alluded to indirectly, is you didn't have Kuzma and 2052 02:03:53,560 --> 02:03:57,760 any of those lineups and with him sort of looking at his future and it's 2053 02:03:57,800 --> 02:03:59,760 not just a matter of getting paid, but the role he's playing on the 2054 02:03:59,800 --> 02:04:03,279 team. Him if he's just not even factoring in to their regular closing rotation, 2055 02:04:03,399 --> 02:04:06,159 I wonder if that just becomes a thing where maybe they're more likely to 2056 02:04:06,199 --> 02:04:09,800 move him because he doesn't Yeah, he just want a championship, but it 2057 02:04:09,840 --> 02:04:12,319 seems like he likes being there. But look, he's in the prime of 2058 02:04:12,399 --> 02:04:14,680 his career. You want to be on the floor that matters most. And 2059 02:04:14,760 --> 02:04:17,479 he's another one that you look at after I would say he's more likely to 2060 02:04:17,560 --> 02:04:20,760 close games than Harold, But after Harold, it's like you look at their 2061 02:04:20,760 --> 02:04:25,800 main players in their rotation and he's probably the next most likely to consistently get 2062 02:04:25,840 --> 02:04:30,000 the shaft man. Honestly, and I again, he's the forgotten man. 2063 02:04:30,359 --> 02:04:34,159 And I mean no disrespect because I didn't even realize that I had forgotten him. 2064 02:04:34,640 --> 02:04:38,680 Of course, there could be situations where who's does blows out, especially 2065 02:04:38,720 --> 02:04:42,640 in games where you know where he's got it going or and in particular you 2066 02:04:42,680 --> 02:04:45,000 know, you know he's doing well on the defensive end. I could absolutely 2067 02:04:45,039 --> 02:04:46,760 see it taking place. But yeah, like you know, I mean no 2068 02:04:46,880 --> 02:04:51,479 disrespect, it's nor any shade you know by leaving him out. Is there 2069 02:04:51,680 --> 02:04:55,680 like a quirkier lineup that you would like to see this team tried out, 2070 02:04:55,720 --> 02:04:58,840 not in crunch time necessarily, but just at any point over the season that 2071 02:04:58,880 --> 02:05:03,119 you're hoping they try out. I honestly I haven't. I haven't given it 2072 02:05:03,279 --> 02:05:06,039 enough thought yet. Like now I'm in that mode where it's like, okay, 2073 02:05:06,079 --> 02:05:09,840 let's let's get to the preseason. What we we're starting on Friday, 2074 02:05:10,000 --> 02:05:12,319 Let's get to the preseason and see what the pieces kind of you know, 2075 02:05:12,439 --> 02:05:15,319 kind of look like. But I don't know, a quirky lineup. Maybe, 2076 02:05:15,560 --> 02:05:18,119 uh, you in the event, like say you have a situation where 2077 02:05:18,159 --> 02:05:20,680 you know, for whatever the reason is, you've got a D and Lebron 2078 02:05:20,880 --> 02:05:24,880 not on the court, all right, or or or say they're not available, 2079 02:05:25,199 --> 02:05:29,720 maybe Gasolo the five with uh, Gasolo, the five key fitt the 2080 02:05:29,800 --> 02:05:32,600 four that that that's an interesting you know, that's an interesting alignment. You 2081 02:05:32,680 --> 02:05:35,479 can even throw coups at the three at that's in that situation because you're gonna 2082 02:05:35,479 --> 02:05:39,560 have that is and and those are the games like and I'm sure I'm sure, 2083 02:05:39,560 --> 02:05:42,079 I don't know if you watched any of the games where they were either 2084 02:05:42,199 --> 02:05:45,279 Lebron or a DC you know ended up sitting last year. Those were the 2085 02:05:45,359 --> 02:05:47,640 games where Cools with the Best basically said like, Okay, this is my 2086 02:05:47,760 --> 02:05:50,680 time to shine and he and he stepped up to the plate. So in 2087 02:05:50,800 --> 02:05:55,439 the in those situations are where you honestly a guy like who's is gonna have 2088 02:05:55,439 --> 02:05:59,239 to just steal his opportunities? Just really is you kind of stole my vibes 2089 02:05:59,279 --> 02:06:00,800 on that one because I wanted to see, like I was looking at look, 2090 02:06:00,840 --> 02:06:03,479 there'll be a few minutes where Lebron and a D are sitting together, 2091 02:06:03,920 --> 02:06:09,199 like let's go Gasol in the middle and then just downsize like across the board 2092 02:06:09,279 --> 02:06:14,520 where it's I want KCP, West Caruso and Shrewder just as the four behind 2093 02:06:14,640 --> 02:06:16,600 him, and like let's just get weird and see if you can you know, 2094 02:06:17,000 --> 02:06:19,079 push the pace a little bit, like Marcusol is not gonna run, 2095 02:06:19,119 --> 02:06:23,640 but he could toss outlet passes if he needs to. It's funny that I 2096 02:06:23,680 --> 02:06:26,840 feel like you can't really get too quirky with this team because so few minutes 2097 02:06:26,880 --> 02:06:30,560 are gonna be played without both Lebron and a D. Like you almost picked 2098 02:06:30,600 --> 02:06:32,439 it, Like for the closing line. For me was like, maybe you 2099 02:06:32,479 --> 02:06:36,039 don't include Dennis Shrewder in there, and it's Lebron, A D West, 2100 02:06:36,159 --> 02:06:40,960 Matthews, KCP and then go with Kuzmo or Caruso, Like if we're looking 2101 02:06:41,000 --> 02:06:43,600 at a serious line that you could go more off beat, but like that 2102 02:06:43,680 --> 02:06:45,880 just didn't seem weird enough, so like give me Gassol with I'll call them 2103 02:06:45,920 --> 02:06:48,960 four smalls, Like I don't even want Kuzma on the floor there, then 2104 02:06:49,039 --> 02:06:54,479 let's just go Caruso, Dennis, Dennis Shrewder, West and KCPA and Marcusol 2105 02:06:54,920 --> 02:06:58,720 in some like second unit heavy type lineups KCP at the four. I'm here 2106 02:06:58,760 --> 02:07:01,600 for a D. Honestly, KCPO feel like Luke's Luke's coaching them begin because 2107 02:07:01,640 --> 02:07:08,159 that used to take place, So what would be You could factor anything you 2108 02:07:08,239 --> 02:07:12,239 want into this rest nights, will they make moves? What's the realistic win 2109 02:07:12,359 --> 02:07:15,960 total for this team during the regular season, And you could base it off 2110 02:07:15,000 --> 02:07:17,800 of eighty two because I know it's hard to think of it in seventy two 2111 02:07:17,840 --> 02:07:19,760 games, but I will convert it to eighty two if you do come up 2112 02:07:19,800 --> 02:07:23,159 with a seventy two game one. And then also, what's the realistic finish 2113 02:07:23,239 --> 02:07:27,840 for them in the Western Conference standings? Because I think they're deep, because 2114 02:07:27,920 --> 02:07:30,760 I think I don't think they're going to skip a beat. I've got them. 2115 02:07:30,800 --> 02:07:32,479 I'm I bet the over on this one. Let's say, let's just 2116 02:07:32,520 --> 02:07:36,439 say if I were on bet bet online, uh dot ag, I would 2117 02:07:36,439 --> 02:07:41,319 bet the over. I've got them somewhere between fifty two and fifty five wins. 2118 02:07:41,760 --> 02:07:45,159 So you know, what is that fifty two and twenty pace over the 2119 02:07:45,239 --> 02:07:49,399 course of an eighty two game season. Yes, yes, I think I 2120 02:07:49,479 --> 02:07:53,760 think legitimately that that's that that's where they're going to fall, uh, you 2121 02:07:53,800 --> 02:07:57,600 know, barring anything crazy, and you know, probably the top seed. 2122 02:07:58,319 --> 02:08:00,960 So I have them in like the forty eight twenty nine range, which is 2123 02:08:01,079 --> 02:08:03,079 fifty five to fifty seven, and I just I'm questioning. I feel like 2124 02:08:03,600 --> 02:08:07,319 one of the Clippers and Lakers are not going to care enough about the regular 2125 02:08:07,319 --> 02:08:09,600 season to go full bar after the one seed. And I just think it's 2126 02:08:09,600 --> 02:08:13,039 the Lakers because they don't have as much to prove anymore as the Clippers do. 2127 02:08:13,159 --> 02:08:16,119 And maybe they both just end up like sort of punting at the same 2128 02:08:16,239 --> 02:08:20,159 time. Like we talk about their depth, I kind of feel like they're 2129 02:08:20,800 --> 02:08:24,000 they're so built for the regular season now with Shrewder and Harold, and that's 2130 02:08:24,000 --> 02:08:26,600 where this team is better. I don't know if adding them necessarily makes the 2131 02:08:26,680 --> 02:08:28,520 Lakers a lot better for the playoffs. I also don't know that they needed 2132 02:08:28,560 --> 02:08:31,359 to get a lot better for the playoffs because one of the maybe it's not 2133 02:08:31,439 --> 02:08:35,600 an understated storyline, but one of the biggest pluses for the Lakers this summer 2134 02:08:35,920 --> 02:08:41,439 is that the teams that were nearest to them, none of them got significantly 2135 02:08:41,520 --> 02:08:43,119 better. Most of them, you could argue, got worse relative to the 2136 02:08:43,159 --> 02:08:46,760 postseason, like Denver. Regular season fine, but not having Jeremy Grant or 2137 02:08:46,800 --> 02:08:50,479 Tory Craig defensively, unless they make a move mid season, they're gonna be 2138 02:08:50,520 --> 02:08:56,159 worse in the playoffs. The Jazz are probably lateral. They'll have Bayan Magdanovitch 2139 02:08:56,239 --> 02:09:00,000 back, but they don't match up like particularly well defensively against the Lakers. 2140 02:09:00,439 --> 02:09:03,479 I don't think the Clippers. I think losing Ja Michael Green ends up being 2141 02:09:03,520 --> 02:09:05,159 a big hit for them. They're still probably they're a threat, but are 2142 02:09:05,199 --> 02:09:09,359 they better and last year I'm not. I'm not going to say that by 2143 02:09:09,399 --> 02:09:11,239 any stretch. I'm Portland got a lot better, but they weren't close enough 2144 02:09:11,279 --> 02:09:15,960 for the Lakers too for me to worry about. So in Dallas too, 2145 02:09:16,039 --> 02:09:18,239 Like, I think they got a little bit better, but you can't trust 2146 02:09:18,359 --> 02:09:22,279 k KCP wow KP's health and you know, if he's matched up against Anthony 2147 02:09:22,399 --> 02:09:26,479 Davis, like that's a matchup he's gonna lose any look, and so like 2148 02:09:26,560 --> 02:09:28,119 that really helps the Lakers too. So they might be more built for the 2149 02:09:28,159 --> 02:09:31,800 regular season than I'm giving them credit for, which is why I don't think 2150 02:09:31,800 --> 02:09:35,000 that you're too high on them. I'm just anticipating them not caring as much 2151 02:09:35,000 --> 02:09:39,439 about picking up regular season wins. Yeah, I mean, like, like 2152 02:09:39,560 --> 02:09:43,079 do I think they should care? No, because this team showed that they 2153 02:09:43,359 --> 02:09:46,039 does. It really doesn't matter. Just get to the the in the line 2154 02:09:46,279 --> 02:09:50,600 in a healthy state or you know, relatively healthy state, and I'll take 2155 02:09:50,680 --> 02:09:52,680 my chances with them. But kind of to your point, did you know 2156 02:09:52,760 --> 02:09:58,039 that you're just making that's the roster? Is why I'm so confident. It's 2157 02:09:58,079 --> 02:10:01,239 not because I'm just like, oh yeah, just beat everybody. I don't 2158 02:10:01,279 --> 02:10:05,239 see any holes. So unless they run in, unless they were unless the 2159 02:10:05,279 --> 02:10:09,199 pieces simply don't fit, or they forget how to play basketball for whatever, 2160 02:10:09,560 --> 02:10:13,359 for whatever reason, I see them as that you you know, that dominant 2161 02:10:13,359 --> 02:10:15,439 of the team. Do you think they're the one seed? Then I would 2162 02:10:15,520 --> 02:10:18,000 argue fifty nine win pace would probably put them there. Is that what you 2163 02:10:18,000 --> 02:10:22,840 would then be predicting one or two? Yeah? Yeah, I I do. 2164 02:10:22,760 --> 02:10:26,319 I think that's totally fair. I mentioned I was gonna ask you this 2165 02:10:26,359 --> 02:10:28,399 at the top of the pod. What do you make of like the contracts 2166 02:10:28,439 --> 02:10:31,239 that Lebron and a D side this summer? To wrap this up, I 2167 02:10:31,319 --> 02:10:35,680 think the Lebron extension surprised a few people, even though when you look at 2168 02:10:35,680 --> 02:10:39,640 the timing now with BRONI potentially coming into the NBA and then the over thirty 2169 02:10:39,680 --> 02:10:41,079 eight rule, like it kind of makes sense. Were you a little bit 2170 02:10:41,079 --> 02:10:45,880 surprised that maybe ad went for five years and what's the importance though, of 2171 02:10:46,000 --> 02:10:50,359 having these two now under contract beyond next season? So Lebron's, Yes, 2172 02:10:50,439 --> 02:10:54,439 it was a surprise. I didn't I didn't anticipate it, especially because he 2173 02:10:54,520 --> 02:10:58,399 jumped the line like the word was out about a D and then all of 2174 02:10:58,399 --> 02:10:58,880 a sudden it was like, oh, yeah, by the way, Lebron, 2175 02:11:00,680 --> 02:11:03,680 Oh that's why five he's trying to take the headlines back. Yeah, 2176 02:11:03,760 --> 02:11:07,199 that's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. No, So Lebron's is 2177 02:11:07,319 --> 02:11:09,840 huge for the present and near future obviously, uh, you know, but 2178 02:11:09,920 --> 02:11:13,119 like on the flip side, you know, a D you know, and 2179 02:11:13,279 --> 02:11:15,880 specifically getting that sort of a commitment that you just you know that you know 2180 02:11:15,960 --> 02:11:18,640 that you just mentioned, you know, that could lead to you know, 2181 02:11:18,000 --> 02:11:22,439 that could lead to moving pieces you know, like around him, uh you 2182 02:11:22,520 --> 02:11:24,279 know, you know, to you know, to get a future running mate. 2183 02:11:24,319 --> 02:11:28,279 So like they both obviously they both take care of the current and the 2184 02:11:28,399 --> 02:11:31,399 near future. But for a D being you know, you know, basically 2185 02:11:31,479 --> 02:11:33,720 saying like yeah, I will give the rest of my you know, the 2186 02:11:33,279 --> 02:11:37,359 bulk or whatever of my conceivable crime, you know, to you it's it 2187 02:11:37,479 --> 02:11:41,760 means like, oh, I'm dedicated to this franchise and and honestly, I 2188 02:11:41,119 --> 02:11:45,920 you know, while as you mentioned, they may be close to being hard 2189 02:11:46,000 --> 02:11:48,159 capped, part of me feels like, you know, this is a this 2190 02:11:48,359 --> 02:11:50,520 is a front office, and this is a group that has shown that they're 2191 02:11:50,520 --> 02:11:54,880 savvy enough to you know, to make whatever deals and make whatever moves they 2192 02:11:54,960 --> 02:11:56,600 need in order to in order to in order to alleviate that you know, 2193 02:11:56,680 --> 02:12:00,920 they alleviate that situation. And if ultimately you know, okay, y'all kind 2194 02:12:00,960 --> 02:12:01,760 of to you know, you know, to the point that you blew my 2195 02:12:01,840 --> 02:12:07,199 mind with earlier, if ultimately they they determine midway through the year that let's 2196 02:12:07,199 --> 02:12:09,680 go ahead and package up some of these guys and and and and swing for 2197 02:12:09,760 --> 02:12:11,479 the fences and just and just go ahead and make this really ugly. Maybe 2198 02:12:11,520 --> 02:12:15,199 sacrifice some of the death. Maybe sacrifice some of the death, but be 2199 02:12:15,319 --> 02:12:16,560 you know, you know, you be the type of top heavy team that 2200 02:12:16,920 --> 02:12:20,039 you know, honestly, like, you know, let's just see how how 2201 02:12:20,159 --> 02:12:24,640 how special and how fun that can be. You know, I'm at the 2202 02:12:24,720 --> 02:12:28,079 point now where nothing would shock me. Again. They don't have to do 2203 02:12:28,199 --> 02:12:31,560 anything like as is. I think I think they're solid, but it is 2204 02:12:31,760 --> 02:12:35,880 nice. It's a nice place to be for that organization or for the fans 2205 02:12:35,920 --> 02:12:37,960 of that organization to have the options that they do have. Yeah, and 2206 02:12:39,000 --> 02:12:41,640 it's it's big in the short term because it's big for the long term where 2207 02:12:41,640 --> 02:12:45,399 they don't have to operate an AD had signed a one plus one or something, 2208 02:12:45,720 --> 02:12:46,640 they don't have to kind of like be like, well, do we 2209 02:12:46,720 --> 02:12:50,479 need to plan to like try and actually hat and wehear Lebron let's say they 2210 02:12:50,520 --> 02:12:52,680 thought he was gonna opt out next summer, Like, do we have to 2211 02:12:52,720 --> 02:12:54,880 plan, like we need to try and keep our books flexible because we want 2212 02:12:54,880 --> 02:12:58,479 to try and add another star or even just you know, maybe AD signs 2213 02:12:58,479 --> 02:13:01,840 of two plus one, Like that's still just so short and it's like, 2214 02:13:01,880 --> 02:13:03,800 well, then how long do we plan out for now? It's like, 2215 02:13:05,199 --> 02:13:07,199 well, AD is under contract, whether we don't know what's going to happen 2216 02:13:07,239 --> 02:13:11,239 before the next player option, but four years and we know that we have 2217 02:13:11,399 --> 02:13:15,800 Lebron like beyond next season now too. Like it allows you to think if 2218 02:13:15,840 --> 02:13:18,359 you include this year and next year, like that's two years ahead at least, 2219 02:13:18,560 --> 02:13:22,159 and that's more than a lot of other teams can plan for because that's 2220 02:13:22,439 --> 02:13:24,760 look that's basically the length of title windows right now when you look at what's 2221 02:13:24,760 --> 02:13:28,199 happened to some of these teams where it feels like these title windows are open 2222 02:13:28,279 --> 02:13:31,079 for you know, two years maybe for some of these really good teams, 2223 02:13:31,119 --> 02:13:35,520 like since like you know, the Warriors being the exception there and like even 2224 02:13:35,560 --> 02:13:37,520 them, like their dynasty just came crumbling. So to have that type of 2225 02:13:37,560 --> 02:13:41,319 stability, it allows you to, I think, make bigger swings in the 2226 02:13:41,359 --> 02:13:43,800 short term because you know what you have in place in the long term, 2227 02:13:43,880 --> 02:13:48,039 and that's right now, you know both of your stars beyond next season and 2228 02:13:48,119 --> 02:13:52,359 Anthony Davis as your north star for almost a half decade. Yeah, it's 2229 02:13:52,399 --> 02:13:56,399 not it's let's just say it's not a bad thing to have two and dependent 2230 02:13:56,479 --> 02:13:58,920 upon wherever you look at them, two to top five or top teen. 2231 02:13:58,039 --> 02:14:01,600 However, I think they're the top both top five, two of the top 2232 02:14:01,680 --> 02:14:03,600 five players in the league, Like, you know, to start off with 2233 02:14:03,920 --> 02:14:05,600 those are those are good bones to start, you know, to start the 2234 02:14:05,680 --> 02:14:09,199 structure. Uh, do you have anything else that you wanted to talk about 2235 02:14:09,239 --> 02:14:13,239 that maybe we didn't cover something that's undercovered or misinterpreted about this team. An 2236 02:14:13,279 --> 02:14:16,760 He's strong, I don't Quinn Cook or Coast attend the Coupo takes that you 2237 02:14:16,800 --> 02:14:22,000 need to get off your chest. Not really the only thing. The last 2238 02:14:22,000 --> 02:14:24,760 thing that I will mention about that is the first thought that I had, 2239 02:14:24,880 --> 02:14:26,319 and I mentioned it on the timeline. The first thought that I had when 2240 02:14:26,840 --> 02:14:31,000 we when both both of them reuptu and extended in that way, was what 2241 02:14:31,279 --> 02:14:35,800 is this? What? What? What is the CBA going to look play? 2242 02:14:35,239 --> 02:14:37,960 What? What? What are they anticipating? Is it possible that they 2243 02:14:39,039 --> 02:14:43,520 are you know, they're in tune enough. Is it possible that they're anticipating 2244 02:14:43,880 --> 02:14:46,920 maybe the elimination of the Supermax or the you know, the limiting of the 2245 02:14:48,000 --> 02:14:50,920 Supermax, or you know, renegotiations all together down the back. If if 2246 02:14:50,960 --> 02:14:54,000 I were them, it's not a bad it's not a beat, you know, 2247 02:14:54,079 --> 02:14:56,319 like even though yes, you still want to keep that, you know, 2248 02:14:56,359 --> 02:14:58,800 continue to play together and you're in a perfect situation, it's not the 2249 02:14:58,840 --> 02:15:01,680 worst of ideas to go ahead and in and make sure the make sure, 2250 02:15:01,720 --> 02:15:03,760 you know, just in case are the last you know, you know, 2251 02:15:03,840 --> 02:15:07,159 one of the last of you know, the big deals like that. Jabari, 2252 02:15:07,239 --> 02:15:11,199 thank you so much for giving me over seventy minutes of your time on 2253 02:15:11,319 --> 02:15:13,239 this podcast. This was a great conversation as per usual. If you guys 2254 02:15:13,279 --> 02:15:18,199 are not following him on Twitter, remedy that post taste at Jabari Davis NBA. 2255 02:15:18,319 --> 02:15:24,399 That's at jab a Rii Davis NBA. He is the co host of 2256 02:15:24,479 --> 02:15:30,319 the Dunks and Discourse podcast. Follow that on Twitter as well at Dunks Discourse. 2257 02:15:30,439 --> 02:15:33,399 That's spelled exactly as it sounds. I think, as you can know 2258 02:15:33,560 --> 02:15:35,119 by now, that I will be bothering you again in the future, but 2259 02:15:35,359 --> 02:15:37,199 at the moment, thank you so much for your time. This was a 2260 02:15:37,239 --> 02:15:41,199 lot of fun. Absolutely never bother I'm not joking when I say it. 2261 02:15:41,319 --> 02:15:43,640 I love Dowey, I love Potting, and you're great to do it with 2262 02:15:43,720 --> 02:15:52,119 your greater would you do so? Thanks for having me, Sugar, Ray, 2263 02:15:52,239 --> 02:15:58,840 Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvelous, Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hearns legends 2264 02:15:58,039 --> 02:16:03,039 Who's four way ival redefine one of the greatest errors in boxing history, relive 2265 02:16:03,079 --> 02:16:07,720 their decade of dominance in the new Showtime Sports documentary The Kings, a four 2266 02:16:07,800 --> 02:16:11,119 part series premiering Sunday, June sixth, only on Showtime