What is up, fellow sermon Nuclear A efforts. I am Damn Valley coming
at you with an episode where I'm going to dig into what I believe to
be the twelve best free agents left on the NBA's board and then go through
some potential fits for them. Hopefully we'll be quick, but it's me and
I have about eight hundred, eight hundred and fifty words worth of notes and
destinations and just not scouting reports, but notes on players and what I thought
about their season. Before we get started, Please remember to rate, review,
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the YouTube and podcast descriptions, follow us on all the socials which are in
the YouTube and podcast descriptions as well. And before we cannon ball into this
as I tried to expedite it. A few notes that I missed, the
most important of which when I did the two episodes I've recorded this week rest
in peace to Bill Russell. I went down to Bill Russell Highlight rabbit Hole
when I saw the news. I think that was on Sunday. Man,
he was a spectacular player, even more so just sort of this hallmarked person
off the court and everything he did during that time, and said the courage,
the gall that it took to stand out in that way, and you
know him and guys like Kareem as well too. I just can't imagine how
hard that was while also balancing maybe some hostility from the fans who didn't value
off the court, but then just also doing all those things on the court.
The most winning player ever in professional sports, certainly team sports, and
when you go back and watch him, I do think we tend to forget
about It's hard. I would say that it's hard to judge from era to
era, especially when you're decades removed from each and you know, Bill Russell
was like how many different errors of basketball? Again ago, excuse me,
but like you watch him grab rebounds, run the floor with the ball in
his hands like that dude could play on offense in addition to like he was
moving all over the place on defense. Seriously, just go back watching Bill
russell highlights if you haven't. They are a joy to watch. Rest in
peace to him. And I do recommend a couple of pieces that I read
on it. Jamal Hill did something for The Atlantic that I thought was really
good, and then Vince Ellis of Yahoo Sports I think that was where Yeah,
that was where he wrote it. That article was also very enlightening and
if they touched on like the off court stuff, and I think Gallis specifically
mentioned how he might just be like the most important person in professional sports history
when you remove like the actual sports from the equation, He's certainly up there
so that it sucks. Rest in peace to him. I feel bad that
I didn't mention it. I get, you know, when I'm by myself
putting all these notes, I get to all business. Sometimes I need to
like step back and be like, oh, okay, like this shit actually
matters. Also, on a much lighter note, yes, when we did
the last podcast, I totally forgot to include Jaellen Noel and my Timberwolves rotation
I had him, I did not have him. Excuse me in there,
I got called out on Twitter and in DMS. That's fine, come talk
to me when I make that mistake. I did not see that Chris Finch
basically guaranteed him a ton of minutes leading into next season. I still,
personally, I know that Jordan McLoughlin is smaller, but I appreciate his defense
and creativity a little bit more. But maybe this is just McLoughlin still plays
because the Wolves in these secondary playmaking and Rivers is the outoman out more so
than Noel. But just wanted to give the maya culpa there. I've now
also had at least a half dozen complaints over the past month that I need
to say New Orleans instead of New Orleans. I'll try and remember. Might
just refer to them as the Pelicans, because I know that I'll I'll forget
if I have to think about it in real time. So trust me,
I hear everybody. I'm listening to YouTube commenters as well. They said something
about not having Jaillen a well and the Timberwolves ten man spot. That was
a brain fart by me. It happens. I probably did beat myself up
about it too much, but I have learned to at least just it's easier
when you get a little bit older for me at least to admit when I'm
wrong and be like, oh, all right, Like yeah, you fucked
up there, but I really did not see Chris finnch basically guarantee Jaellen a
well minutes and yes, New Orleans. I'll try and say that I always
did think, and I've had this discussion out with multiple people that it was
almost insulting if you weren't a New Orleans native to say it, so you
should say New Orleans. I'll try to keep that in mind. There was
also a Trey Murphy the third complaint. I was just I know that Trey
was a nickname, but he's listed as Tray Murphy third on all the sports
sites. Someone called me out on that on Twitter as well. I'll take
that into account. Maybe we could just call him team Murf or Tripp Dub
t Dub whatever is actual name or new NBA nickname is now, I think
we're free to get into the free agent elements of all this. You might
have some different views. I tried to steer clear of just name recognition.
Although I think some guys certainly why we went twelve deep is out of respect
for the not out of respect for the name, which just because they are
big name. But like I'm not going into Paul Melstapp, I'm not going
into Miles Bridges at all, because he was arrested on a felony domestic violence
charge. I think it was June twenty nine. I don't fucking care what's
happening with him on the court. I just wish his girlfriend and his son
well and we have to wait for the news on that and seeing what's what's
happening. And I also did not include andre Adala because he's just very clearly
I'm going back to the Warriors or retiring. There's also someone on here that
I don't believe you should be a free agent, and I'm convinced that he's
not, that I saw that he wasn't anymore, and that I'm gonna go
through all this and be wrong and then catch shit for it. I'm hoping
that I'm right. I asked people for confirmation, but I'm still convinced that
I'm wrong by people. I don't mean, like I contacted like a league
source would have into know knowledge. I just smart people I trust in the
business who confirmed. Yes, Let's start with Carmelo Anthie. I'm going at
alhabetical order here. These are not in rankings. I'm not I rank enough.
Shit, I don't need to rank this. Melo could still play.
He just hit thirty seven plus percent of his threes on almost six attempts per
game. He has aged more gracefully than a Russell Westbrook moving into that role
player niche and it didn't happen overnight. There were some pushback and okay,
see and even in Houston a little bit. But to his credit, like
he has did what was asked of him. He goes to Portland. Good
team guy, can score, can still shoot. You need to have I
guess either the bandwidth to withstam some mellow going mellow where he's gonna want a
jab step or post up or take just bad off the dribble jumpers. At
the same time, like he is emerged as this legitimate catch and shoot weapons
of view of the defensive infrastructure around you, or just needs shooting, he
should certainly be on your list. I think the Lakers should still look at
bringing him back. I don't think they have enough shooting on the roster just
yet even enough quote unquote wings males not a wing anymore, you'd probably playing
with the four. I have Miami there, like, they certainly have the
defensive infrastructure for him and could use him maybe in that PJ. Tucker role,
And it also kind of preserves your bench, or maybe you bring him
off the bench a little bit if you think he helps your half core creativity.
In anyway, Miami ended up having one of the best benches last year,
and now because PJ. Tucker's not there, we're gonna have to move,
like promote somebody's I think a lot of people assume it's like a Max
Strus. I've seen some people float like, could we see your seven and
Bama a Bio start together? That would be absolutely wild. So I think
that would be a good fit. I also have, like I have as
a joke, Philly would be funny if he didn't hate more like I don't
hate that fit. I would love to see him on the Raptors. He
goes against really everything they stand for, but like, just have someone who
can shoot, maybe give you some half court creation. They do need another
guy of that ilk. Those were just two I wrote off and I even
have Golden State where it's like he can't play the auto port role on defense,
but can he give you that role on offense? And you know you
are banking on COMINGA and Moody and even Wiseman to step up. You signed
Donte DiVincenzo. But if Igodala is not coming back, could there be room
for him there? I know Mellow to Golden State was like popular in the
ether. The two that I actually like that I don't think would happen.
But Memphis, I think you just need to look at like the and we'll
get into this with some other guys like the Jaren Jackson or I think one
other guy that I had listened for them. Jared Jackson Junior is supposed to
be out four to six months. The end of that timeline puts him back
sometime December January, maybe after that stretch fracture. And you know you got
rid of where you let Kyle Anderson walk, and so now you're putting I
know, David Roddy six six placed forward, but you're putting an awful lot
of pressure on him. Xavier Tillman Senior, Brandon Clarke, even zay Or
Williams as well, and it's just like, yeah, does that work?
And part of the appeal with Triple j is you could play him at center.
You're not doing that behind Steven Adams with you know, if they do
that with Roddy, you know, kudos to them. We're going super small
there, like, yeah, you can try that with Hilman and Brandon Clark.
It just feels like they could use some more reinforce. Vincent, I
want to do a deeper dive into the Grizzlies off season before we even get
to report cards. I just don't think I have the courage to do it
after missing on them for three years running. I have a feeling I'm overthinking
it. But just to have Mellow if he was willing to again play the
same role that he was get as a floor space or as a knockdown shooter
to help you sort of at the four, specifically bridge the gap until Triple
Jay's back or you know what you have in some of the youngsters. And
then also just you know, John Rank gets injured a lot and now you
lost Kyle Anderson. I'm not saying Mello's going to carry you during those nights.
You want a healthy Triple Ja and Desmond Baine and even Zaye Williams at
that point, Tys Jones to do the same just feels like they could use
someone like him. And then I also just have Milwaukee. I was talking
to the euro Steps Tie Windish on the side about how I still think they
really need to fill the fifth spot in a Yannis as the loan big lineup,
and it does feel and he noted this to me, like based off
what they paid Bobby portis they're gonna get away from that entirely with a healthy
Brook Lopez. I still think that's going to be their best weapon in close
were their most dangerous weapon to me, offensively and closing you into the playoffs.
Whever you want to slice it, I wouldn't mind seeing Mellow there to
sort of round out. Okay, you have Drew Middleton and Janice and then
there's Mellow and then you know, futs around with Connaughton or West Matthews depending
on the matchup. May mean Melos not even a member of all those lineups,
but just some bench juice for Mellows, more of a like a combo
forward than a wing at this point, but like the bench is kind of
low on combo forwards and wings at this point, especially until Joe Angles returns
from his ACL injury. Eric Bledsoe, you know last year he wasn't great,
and he has not been great for a while. Point six four points
per possession as the pick and roll initiator. If you expect him to be
sort of a floor general or give you consistent offense like that is a recipe
for disappointment if not, if not disaster, I will say he's still hit
fifty one point five percent of his looks on drives, and he had a
ten plus percent assist rate on that. And when you look at players who
used or finished more than four hundred last year, shot at least fifty one
percent or better on them while having an assist rate above ten. There's only
it's it's fewer than it's fewer than ten players. It's some county right now,
it's it's seven, Eric Butzzo, Steph Curry, Brandon Ingram, Malcolm
Brogd and Chris Paul Drew Holiday and Luca Danjich. Some of this is cherry
pick. The list expans if you just go a flat fifty percent, but
like it's still talking about like fewer than a dozen players. So if you
can have spacing around him, I think he'll still give you some rim pressure
and some finishing. He also shot thirty eight point six percent on catching shoot
threes last year. Not super high volume, under three attempts per game.
It was more than two point five attempts per game, I believe, unless
I'm completely misremembering off of what I looked at. So a team like Brooklyn,
they just need defense in general, and they're trying to win. Who
knows what happens with Kyrie is Patty Mills, like he kind of faded towards
the end of last season. Just as insurance there, and I just think
they need especially with Bruce Brown out. You don't trust Bledzo to guard bigs,
but like, just give you someone that's going to be strong defensively.
I have Charlotte list as well. They have Terry Rozier, they have LaMelo
Ball, but like they're you know, backup point guard rotation, Like that's
that's kind of it, Like Tera Rozier should be your second best point guard
on the roster. And if you actually go look at their depth chart on
I tend to use if I'm trying to get a feel Rodo Worlds or NBC
Sports Edges whatever it's called now they don't even have a backup point guard listed
behind the football right now. So like maybe you think it's like a Bryce
McGowan's or a book. Now you can hold that row and then Terry Rozier
can do it, Like just give Steve Clifford someone who will defend. And
you do have lineups if you're gonna put PJ. Washington at the five at
all, where you can surround Bletso with shooting and so I don't think that
would be a bad flyer, depending on what he costs. I have maybe
Philly, they do have Melton, and they have hard and Tyrese Maxie.
But if you're not going to play Shake Milton or if you're trying to get
away from Matisse Thybole or even firk on Cork Mosman, it's depending on how
they're playing. Just having someone who could defend his butt off and then either
you're using him next to Maxie or next to Harden and bench heavy units.
I don't think that's necessarily unsustainable. And as a you know, like a
minimum salary, and by the way, I did not take into account roster
spots at this point. I'm just assuming every team, and I did look
into it, I didn't name a team that doesn't have options by virtue of
like being able to get rid of players that maybe shouldn't necessarily be on the
roster. So I did try to take into account roster spots somewhere. But
this is just we're far away enough from opening night that I did not consider
that. Should have mentioned it at the top, but oh fucking well,
and that was that's like pretty much it for Butts. So I did have
I don't even want to. I have Toronto, but like there's not enough
creation there or shooting for him to be maximized on offense, although he would
sort of fit their mold on defense. And it's just like they don't have
unless they all of a sudden have this faith than mal Kai Flynn. They
don't have a clear backup point guard behind Fred van Fleet. You're probably just
banking on having Barnes and Siakam and even Gary Trent Junior as like playmakers who
can work with the ball in their hands. You're going to go that route,
even though Giannaoby a little bit there's more self creation to his game than
people credit. If they were just looking to have like some one who can
chaperone some sets. If you have enough shooting on the floor, you're not
expecting to score efficiently out of the pick and roll. But maybe just drive
and kick, get defenses in rotation a little bit. That's an option that
they could look at. DeMarcus Cousins is on this list. I was a
little bit surprised that though some people have talked about maybe he wore out as
welcome in Denver, I thought he was good enough and much better than DeAndre
Jordan an option for them. But again, maybe that just the dynamics all
of a sudden didn't work out between he and Michael Malone anymore. Last year
though, he and this fell off a cliff with the Nuggets. But he
was at one point two two points per possession out of the pick and roll
with the Bucks. So while he did get worse in Denver, like the
pick and pop aspect of his game, and he can't even get you like
some downhill juice if he's catching it on the run, and like the one
two dribble decision making. He also shot in Denver twenty of twenty eight on
post up possessions seventy one point four percent. I don't think you should be
building up like building your offense or any set around Cousins in the post,
but it is it can still be a ay bailout option. He does need
to be one comfortable and a more complimentary role. When we talk about like
a Dwight Howard who seems very much okay with not playing anymore, like when
he's on an actual roster, Cousins doesn't seem there just yet, and he
has to bring up the catch and shoot percentage. He was below thirty percent
on his catch and shoot threes and his three point shot. Really since his
injury is not really recaptured any any of the form I have the Clippers for
him. I don't know if that's something that like again the personality fit or
his role, Like if you're talking about not playing, we went through the
Clipper's rotation on the last pot. There's like twelve or thirteen dudes under guaranteed
contract that should should play. But if a Visa Zubots gets injured, or
if you just want a truer backup five, that's not you know, Robert
Covington at this point, and Cousins could just be a cheaper option there.
Maybe that's a decision you make mid season. I have the Blazers listed too,
maybe too similar to like maybe you want more of a lob catcher behind
use of Nurkich, but right now like their bigs or Drew u Banks projects
as like their primary backup pick. And so I actually really liked Drew U
Banks. But if you're looking for another type of option there again, how
does he handle maybe not playing consistently. I'll trust a locker room with Damian
Lillard though, and he see him looked to Cousin's credit, they didn't bring
him back. He seemed to be fine Milwaukee with Jannis and so like give
me the And even in Denver, I thought everything was hunky doory, like
give me the either the leaders that set by example like a Nakole Yokich or
just like someone you would follow to hell and back in Jannis and Dame and
try to try to make it work. This is the one I was convinced.
I didn't think he was a restricted free agent coming off a two way.
I could have sworn that after Summer League he earned one. I am
apparently wrong, But David Duke Junior and I have like eighty teams. There
are two free agents on here that I have listed a whole bunch of destinations.
David Duke Junior is one of them. Go back to Brooklyn certainly a
quality fit, but his Summer League performance for me going back and watching a
lot of that stuff, Yes, the three point shot is still a question.
He did hit this like side i'd step three against Boston. That was
like, oh, it was kind of slow motion, but he still hit
it. And he did shoot forty point three percent from deep over his final
two years at Providence two hundred and thirty one total attempts. Make of that
what you will at Summer League though, fifty five plus percent on two's average
over four assists. When you're looking at the actual playmaking, I think his
handles like a little bit wide to work for higher uses at the NBA level.
But he was super quick going downhill, seemed very comfortable using his left
hand, attacking going left through some nice entry passes and look ahead passes as
well. Seems comfortable making decisions in transition. We all know he had that
monster finish over FIANDU Gelly at Summer League, and Cavin Yelly did sign.
By the way he got I think he got a standard contract or he least
durned a contract coming out of Summer League. Duke. I read up Brian
Lewis and The New York Post wrote that he's rolling the dice on himself.
After that, I think it's smart and actually surprised that some team hasn't come
come in here and tried to do something there. He looked stronger too,
Duke when he goes downhill that he had some really tough finishes in Summer League,
and he can hold up like sturdy. When you're looking at his body
type, they're a bunch of different matchups. You could play with him defensively.
I don't know if the nets would view him. He's definitely not on
par defensively with the Bruce Brown role, but like on offense specifically, could
he play the Bruce Brown role where you sometimes you're see him even set screens
hang out in the dunker spot, or you're really just getting him slicing down
the middle or trying to set up set up others teams that I have,
I have Indian san Antonio here just because it's like, hey, take the
flyers, you're the teams with cap space. What does it cost to bring
him in? And someone who scales to a bunch of different perimeter positions on
offense or defense. I have Miami too, they have not I don't think
like you know, when you look at them, this is a team that
seems very concerned about their tax bill. They're within two million of the tax
right now, I believe, And so are they gonna go into the tax
because they do still have their mid level exception. Are they gonna go into
the tax for David Duke Junior. No, but that would be I have
them listed as an interesting fit. I have Milwaukee as well. I don't
know, you probably want more shooting out of if you're gonna go with this
perimeter spot, but just having another body sort of move around. I again,
the shooting would come in question here. But if you give Orlando Paalo
bank Caro and then just like a shit ton of really good like either decision
makers around him or guys that could be moved around defensively, that would be
intriguing to watch for me. I also Sacramento listed just anyone who scales as
like a you know, if you consider if you're one of those that consider
David Duke Junior like more of a pure guard, I totally get it six
four and if he has like more of a wing body type to me,
not in the not as built in the same vein as lu Dor, but
like that's how I would consider him. I wouldn't mind seeing him in Sacramento,
either of them taking a flyer on him. Portland for sure, just
other types of strong bodies there. I have Utah's well, since they're in
a rebuild, and I thought about Washington into I don't know. Again,
the shooting would be a concern for me. How does he fit in the
rotation when you have the lawn right Monte Morris and Will Barton there, Kyle
Kuzma as well, Denny Avdia. But just like, let's get deeper and
let's get guys who look like they could play physical defense, just based off
what I saw in Summer League. So those were the teams. Like I
said, I had a ship ton for him. I have the most for
someone we'll get to later. I'm Blake Griffin on this list. If we
were starting to make tough cuts, I don't know if he'd beat here,
but he shot thirty. He looked cooked athletically, but he shot thirty nine
point one percent from three after February first, you should probably give anyone who
was on the nets just to pass last year, given that every all that
was happening, he can probably give you just some quality spacing as as a
pure five, maybe some just like non explosive rebounding as well, and the
passing acumen from a stand still is still really there. I don't it does
take like sort of a specific team. I think you need to have other
good defenders around him, and you really need to have a need for like,
oh can we space the floor? We try to unlock a specific lineup
type. That's why I do have Milwaukee listed where it's like if you're looking
for just something different from what if you're worried about Brook Lopez's back, Sergebaka
isn't cutting it, do you go with like Blake Griffin Jannis in the front
cord. They're not my favorite destination, but they were listed I did.
This is a joke because when you talk about roster spots, they're not gonna
be able to get to it. But okay, see has become like this
fountain of youth in recent years, so can he go and get a little
bit of like the Chris Paul al Horford juice going over there didn't necessarily work
for Derek Favors, but Mike Mscala has been hugging along and okay, see
before he had surgery this offseason. As also kind of a joke, I
had Phoenix just I don't see him reuniting with Paul, but if they were
looking for another floor spacer to who could potentially log minutes at the five,
that's Dario Sarich And they have DeAndre and of course Bismack Biyombo. But I
had them just though to be funny, funny joke. I have Portland if
they want to go all offense as the backup five, Miami as well.
I think you could play him with Metta Bio if you wanted to, and
so does he slide in or you starting him just to preserve the integrity of
your bench, but just someone who could hit threes. I don't know that
you want to go to him in the post or trust him to create all
that much. I thought about Boston too, because it does feel like they
need another big and like, yeah, they just signed Brutal Cabaclo Noa von
Ley, so it seems like they are going that route. But as of
right now, like they are three bigs and they play two of them at
once. For the most part al Horford and Grant Williams. I think they
were the team that gave Kevin Gelly the contract too, So you have Horford
Williams and the Williams is after that, it's still sort of wide open.
Just food for thought there. I believe that was the last team. I
oh, no, this is the last team I have for Griffin, and
it's Memphis, and it was the I was using the Triple J's just the
justification if he's coming back in like December or January, and after they lost
Anderson, do you just want someone who can hit threes in your front court?
That's not Clark or Tillman, It's not Steven Adams at this point,
And if you have the rest of your crew available, looking at Dylan Brooks
and Desmond Bane, even even Zier Williams and Tias Jones and John Morant,
Miranda doesn't fall into this some real as much. Maybe you're just comfortable enough
defensively to try it. I don't know how this is the mellow situation.
How does he feel about his role there? He's not once Triple J is
back like you're going to see those minutes just sort of disappear. In Memphis,
seems very invested in going the developmental route, but sort of looking at
their frontline rotation after Steven Adams was kind of played off the floor in the
Minnesota series, played a bunch more against Golden State. To his credit,
I would have liked to have seen them diversify there from court line up a
little bit more. And yeah, David Roddy does do that to some extent,
but again you're shouldering, You're putting a lot on his shoulder. It's
for a rookie that you took twenty third overall. And I wasn't even necessarily
the biggest fan of that trade. But you're talking about, you know,
forty three point eight percent of his threes at Colorado State last year, sixty
two percent of his twos. I just you know, that was the first
year, by the way, that he shot better than he was at nineteen
point five percent from three in his first year Colorado State, twenty seven point
eight second year, and then all of a sudden skyrockets to forty three point
eight while shooting below seventy percent at the foul line. There could just be
if venus there. I'm not saying sein Blake Griffin is like this mission critical
component, but relative to what we know about Jaren Jackson Junior to this point,
it feels like it could be I don't even want to call it like
necessary insurance, but just potential insurance. If you're thinking along these lines the
next three agent, I think you can make the case objectively he might be
the most productive of the bunch, well, the second most productive of the
bunch, also the hardest to place for me. Mantras Harrold. He looked
like he was in early contention for six Man of the Year, then finishes
the season in Charlotte just sort of going out with a whimper. He did
average one point two six points per possession as the Roman and one point four
eight points in transition. That was the ninety fifth percentile of efficiency. That's
someone who could help if you want to get up and run the pace or
just rampage towards the basket. Not going to help out you're rebounding a ton.
That's a problem because I think he's probably best suited at the five.
He could give you some like downhill directionality where it's not like he's necessarily putting
the ball on the floor, but we have seen him make like two and
three gribbled decisions and work out of the post. Some not something you want
to make a primary component of your offense, but just options there. And
if you have enough defensive talent around him, or you just don't care and
you're looking to get off to the races, he's still someone that can put
up numbers. I think Portland depending on what they want to do with their
backup five spot, if you're playing him with Jeremy Grant and Josh Hart at
the same time, and maybe even GP two, Like do you trust what
do you how do you feel about the shooting of that lineup? But do
you trust that being good enough defensively? Should Simons or Dame be the other
player that's involved there? And then I also just have Miami. I don't
love the fit. I don't want to see him play next to bam Adebaio,
But if they're not, like could you play him next to Dwayne Dedman
or even you're at seven who like chucked up threes? And maybe you do
play him next to Adebaio. Anyway, we're still like Bam has the mid
range game is able to put the ball on the floor and go north south
work from the side in could that potentially work? This is just like if
it's super cheap and you can plug a player who's potentially productive. You know
you're Miami dealt with injuries this past season, anyway, do you try it
out? Those are the only two teams that I felt strongly enough to list
for him, And I don't know that there's like I thought about Phoenix for
a minute, who could use like the rim pressure and even someone who's just
gonna go you know, all out in transition. Don't don't love it though,
Like I would just rather see more minutes with charts and then you have
eight and taking up a line chair of them anyway, plus Bismock biumbo.
I know, Harold's been linked to Toronto in the past. That's just not
If they're gonna go after a big it should be someone who rebounds better.
Preferably spaces the floor, but certainly rebounds rebounds better. And that's like sort
of it, you know, if Utah's rebuilding and they just want like sort
of a heart and soul of someone to go towards the basket and they don't
want to only have Walker Kessler and vand but that's not even something I could
doors indoors don't really like him in Boston. That doesn't really make sense for
him to go back to Charlotte when they have Mason Plumley, Kai Jones and
Mark Williams. If you were going to trade one of those guys maybe and
if anyone's gonna coax defense out of him, like sort of just this base
decision making and drop coverage as a rim protector, is it? Steve Clifford,
Like, yeah, sure, why not? Could you try going that
route if your Chicago is like your third big now that you have Drummond and
Vouch. But like that is such a weird big man rotation with Drummond,
Vooche and Harold these very recognizable household names that are all sort of underwhelming at
the moment, and so like you really start to run out of options here
rather quickly. I don't. I did briefly think about a reunion with the
Clippers, but he didn't seem to enjoy like the Kauai Paul George Eric Clippers.
And yeah, if they want another big like Zoobots and Harold being their
primary fives, I'm sure, I just can't see that necessarily happen and you
just start to run out of options pretty quickly there. So still like a
useful player takes a very specific situation. I'm very curiously where he ends up.
But like I said, Portland and Miami were the two that stood out
to me. I've Dwight Howard on this list too. Room protection slipped quite
a bit last year with the Lakers. To his credit, opponents did shoot
only fifty four point five percent at the rim against him. Uh I can't
even remember what the date was filtered, but like, yes, his his
rim protection like certainly slipped last season. I think that that absolutely needs to
be a factor into the decision making here if you're if you're a team or
as I'm you know, going to go through what I think of the best
fits. He still does provide you though with like a moti it's more than
a moticom of of presence on the glass. He was efficient enough out of
the uh as the rollman finisher last year, and like it's not the the
end when you look at so like go back just a season in twenty twenty
twenty twenty one, when he emerges like this valuable backup for Philly opponent shot
under fifty seven percent against him at the rim, and so the fact that
he allowed Apont shoot sixty two point seven percent against him at the rim last
year, Yeah, that's not that's obviously not great. I still think if
you're relying on him for sort of lower level minutes, maybe you're just using
him to get through the regular season, not anticipating him in the playoffs,
or you want the rim running element part of your offense and the other bigs
on your roster don't give you that for whatever reason why or other backup biggs,
I should say, I think that it's a reasonably he's reasonably worth a
flyer, and I do believe that like it helps. This is not you
know, you know, and it's fucking Canner thinking that he can still play
when he's terrible and saying it's unfair that I'm not in the league or whatever.
Dwight also, like Canner, mentioned that he could see himself going tough
the WWE. At the same time, he seems okay with like being someone
who's on the roster not playing all the time. We've seen it the past
few years. I have Portland for him again if you just want a veteran
presence as as your backup, and it's sort of just a change of pace
big relative to what you're getting in your primary minutes from Nerd Kitch, I
have the Clippers as well, the other LA team just behind Zobots. Again,
maybe Dwight Howard's not playing all the time. I don't think that's really
a problem, and he gives you probably more of a like there's like a
simi An element to Zoobots there, who's just very clearly better. But there's
like a different build to Howard obviously, especially when you're looking at on the
offensive glass, which maybe you just don't think that you need that type of
presence there. And then finally I have it as Boston, where it's just
yes, they have all these flyers on other bigs, but if you're gonna
play Horford in RW three together a ton to get the you know, the
rim running and rebounding element from Howard. Again, how many times I'm gonna
say again during this segment, I don't think he was good last year.
I don't think he's necessarily cooked, and I just if I'm Denver, I
would have preferred going the Dwight Howard route than then DeAndre Jordan route. Food
for thought there. Jeremy Lamb is next up. He did not have a
good season. He's kind of fallen off the radar ever since his ACL injury.
But there were like some flickers with the Kings. I went back and
watched because I was surprised that the numbers were this high and like it was
slower paced stuff like moving at the speed of Kyle Anderson almost He averaged one
point one seven points per possession out of the pick and roll as the ball
handler shot fifty two point eight percent nineteen of thirty six, so a rather
small sample size, but it was there. And while his mid range shooting
dropped, and he's never been like this, I'm gonna shoot eighty percent from
mid range. He can mozy and get to his spots still with the ball
in his hands. Doesn't provide any rim pressure or free throw opportunities. If
you want him to be like a wing defender, he's going to get cooked.
He can probably stay stationary and contest kickouts from two stand still shooters and
get his hands up when they're actually taking their books off the catch. Beyond
that, you're asking for trouble, so there needs to be the right infrastructure
there. He did shoot. His three point shooting has always been like,
why isn't it higher? For most of his career. He shot thirty five
point four percent on catch and shoot threes with the Pacers. That dropped to
twenty six point seven percent with the Kings. I think a lot of it's
gonna have to do with shot quality, and then like, what's the surrounding
floor geography look like? So I have listed this was another one I did
strug before. But like Dallas is, spacing is pristine. He doesn't replace
the rim pressure you lost in Jaen Brunson. You're gonna hope Spencer Dinwood he
does that. But I actually like him more on ball than I would have
Tim Hardaway Junior. This is not to say you should play Lamb over Tim
Hardaway Junior, but if you're just looking for a cheap another person who could
put the ball in their hands, you probably trust him to run a pick
and roll more than frank Nielikeina. Just kidding. Frankie Lakina is a god
and he should be starting over Luca don Chich or alongside him, whichever.
The Mavericks prefer, but I might trust Jeremy Lamb and not Mike. I'm
gonna trust Jeremy Lamb after Spencer Dinwoody and Luka don Chich. Who am I
trusting to run pick and rolls more for this team? Is it? Yeah?
Frank Niel. We all know how I feel about Frank nil Kina,
But like someone who's actually gonna look for his shot, I'm gonna trust probably
Jeremy Lamb over Tim Hardaway Junior. There, maybe you're a Jaden Harvey guy
here. I would I would not be, at least not in season number
one, and I didn't need to watch. I need to go back and
probably watch more of him in Summer League. From what I seem, I
wasn't like blown away, at least not as blown away as Mavericks fans seems
to be. You're giving up a defensive element here, But I'm looking at
the catch and shoot percentage he had an indie. You're all of a sudden
getting the wide open looks. Lucanachi's just going to create. You can probably
pump fake your way off the three point line, and there are still defenders
that bite on his three point shot off the catch and even just like his
slow dribble pull ups, He's going to get into the lane, maybe put
up a floater or mid range Jay. I just think it could work,
and you need I don't think you need offense on this team because you have
Christian Wood and Don chich but and Dinwitty. You do need guys. I
think that could serve as an on ball outlet while also being able to work
off it. And he does that, so it's it's not a substitute for
Jalon Brunzon. He doesn't really replace anything that Jalen Brunson does. Let's just
be honest. But I thought that the off ball shooting in Indiana coupled with
sort of the and he's showed this in the past when you look at other
P and R scoring numbers, like there's just something there. I wouldn't even
call it secondary, but just as like a step below that tertiary. Why
not give it a shot. So Tim Hartway Junior's working his way back from
pre serious injury, Spencer din what he has injuries in his past, and
this team is ripe for a trade when you look at some of the salaries
and just the fact that they are slated to regress from last season. By
losing Brunson, it feels like they could make a midseason move. Dennis Shrewder
is next up. I also have them as listed for him. Spoiler alert
season was the Seesaw. His entire just basketball career has gone essentially off the
rail since he arrived with Los Angeles. Turns down that huge extension, ends
up signing for the minimily with Boston, gets flipped to Houston. Closed the
season. They're shooting thirty seven point two percent on drives. I don't think
the spacing or the requisite threat level of the players around him were good enough
to help him capitalize on like that speed when he's going downhill. He shot
fifty one point five percent on drives with the Celtics. Needs to bring up
the catch and shoot three point percentage. I feel like that's sort of a
broken record. Thirty three point eight percent on spot up three's with the Rockets,
thirty five, thirty three point eight percent with the Celtics, thirty five
point one percent with the Rockets. His finishing the rim, it's I don't
want to say it's always been topsy turvyfel off a cliff last year, but
it's always kind of hovered around like average, just like between just below average
to average to slightly above average, like never having these like super ridiculous peaks
for more than a season, but like if you want someone with just to
give you downhill pressure, who you can trust to manage some of like the
second unit minutes, if you surround him with enough shooting, or just have
a void at like the point guard spot where it's no, we don't want
an off guard or a secondary guard. We want someone we could put the
ball in their hands. I have m MAV's list to hear for him.
I think the Lakers could use him. He becomes the aside from Lebron James,
it's the best point guard on their roster. At this point, it's
like it's a better fit than Russell Westbrook. I don't know what you want
me to say right now. He's definitely gonna give you more defensive than a
Russell Westbrook at this point, I have Phoenix as well, because I do
think they need sort of this third creator. I don't love the fit.
Would you prefer Cameron Payton to Dennis Shrewder. I think you would. He
might even prefer Landry Shammitt at this point but just the he's an above average
rim pressure guy for his position, and I do think that the Suns don't
really have that when you look at Payne Paul or Devin Booker, and Devin
Booker doesn't really factor in, like although I would like to see more Devin
Booker at point guard lineups this season. Just throwing it out there, Monty
Williams, just in case you're listening, which I know you obviously are,
so don't. I don't love that fit. I also don't. I have
Orlando listed just because if you're looking for an alternative to mark el Folts,
someone who is like mark El Folts can finish around the basket like Dennis Shrewder,
gives you more like abruptness getting towards the basket, and it's even more
of like. It's not he's not going to bail out like a Colan thing
as much before the basket, more proven than r J. Hampton. Of
course, maybe you're just trusting jail and Sucks to make that leap. And
you have Paalo ban Caro if you just want to have I wouldn't even call
him like a veteran influence. But if you want a different element of offense
at that point guard spot without necessarily skewing too far to the off guard or
combo guard role. I'm shrewder could be interesting there, I don't I don't
love to be clear at the fit with Phoenix or Orlando. I like it
much better with the Lakers or Dallas. But we're talking about at this point,
like very little money it costs to get him a flyer, can't hurt.
Colin Sexton would be quick about. I did an entire podcast on Collin
sext and go check it out on YouTube or and your podcast feed. Just
he can hit catch and shoot threes. Do you want him to up the
volume there? Sure? Do you want him to be a better on ball
defender? Sure? If you don't need him to be your point guard though,
and like run the offense and outside of the second unit, at least
there's a place for him. I think he would still be a good fit
on the Pacers. I'd like to see him in Haliburton play together. And
they also have cap space the Magic. If they could strike a sign and
trade with Cleveland, that's something that still works there for me. And then
I think that the fit is still there in Cleveland, even though they have
Ricky Rubio and carras Lavert. I trust probably Lavert Moore as an on ball
passer, and like the shots he'll take as a self creator might look a
lot better. I Colin Sexton to me, is the more useful and malleable
player overall at this point, Lavert is bigger. Maybe that's going to make
a difference to a lot of people as well. So Cleveland, Indiana Orlando
for Colin Sexton and just it's the same theory with Orlando that it was with
Dennis Shrewder, only you're getting better off ball shooting here. And so you
could play Sexton and Faults together like when Suggs is off the quarter or if
you're going super small, which I don't know why the magic would would ever
do. And then your second unit I don't know why. No, you're
not gonna want to play Colanthony and Colin Sexton at the same time, but
he can give you a lot of second unit creativity or just having the always
as that second or third on ball outlet, whether he's playing with Suggs or
Ben Caro or markl Faults or just some combination of the three. That's something
you could look at. It so I like that, and if you can
trust him to fire off threes off the catch or make quicker decisions with the
ball, which I think last year he kind of started too. I know
that was if he only played in eleven games before his tearing his meniscus.
I actually like the fit on the Lando. I definitely love it more than
the Shrewder fit. This is I don't want to say he's my highest upside
free agent on this list. That's clearly the Colin Sexton's here. And if
you want to make the case for like, you know, really, if
you want to make the like maybe after him, it's like, I guess
you could go Shrewder, you go with anyone, really, But this is
my favorite free agent on the list, and I think I have the most
teams listed for him. Utah Watson Abe he has been I watched some feeble
highlights he's been looks like he's been tearing it. He tore it up there.
I like him. We saw his three point shot dip last year and
he fell out of Toronto's rotation. He's still shot thirty five point five percent
on catch and shoot threes. He's always been sort of like an unreliable finisher,
but he makes really good decisions when he's moving with the ball, whether
it's like dump offs or kickouts, or forcing defenses to get in two rotation
then just making the right pass from there or finding the guy who's going to
make the next pass that leads to a bucket. He can be moved around
a lot defensively. I like his help activity around the basket. It doesn't
feel like he's only like when I watch him play with Torontos and not something
I'm taking away from Fiba. I always feel like he plays a lot bigger
than six nine, and so why not take a flyer on him if you're
a rebuilding team or if you just need to plug some just like back of
the rotation wing minutes, someone who is plugging play at both ends. I
just don't understand why there hasn't been more interest in him. He's twenty seven,
gonna turn twenty eight and October. Maybe that has something to do with
it. He's not like super athletic, but he has these strides that will
get him up and down the floor, and he kind of knows how to
use space to his advantage on defense. I have him for every team,
but like I would love to see him in Sacramento because I do think he's
hues more like true wing than a Keegan Murray or Harrison Barnes. At this
point, he probably still falls too close to the well. I'd like to
see him defend like fours or be a combo forward, but like he can
guard threes and like switch a bunch Cleveland. I think he would be really
good there. Chicago needs more like bigger wing depth Milwaukee Kubili's try him out
as like the four in those units with Jannis when Portis and Lopez are on
the bench. I'd rather see Utah wants an Abby than and Jannis than Abaka
and Yannis. At this point, I'm just gonna be flat out there Utah
like they just need wings. Where are all the wings? Utah? I
don't like, are we including like we have to call Malik Beasley a wing
at this point. That's what Utah has has done to us is we have
to call Malik Beasley a wing even though he is not. They have who
is the wing on Utah? So they trade away Royce O'Neill. Is it
Malik Beasley? Do you think Boy and Madonna is not a wing? He's
more of a combo forward. Uh is it nikkil Alexander Walker? Like?
Is he the closest thing you have to a wing? It's between him or
Malie Beasley at this point, where are all the wings? Utah, I
don't care. At he's twenty eight, you have minutes to spare. Bring
him in, let's see what happens. Washington. I just think that they
need more good players on the team. Nuts isn't have to say that they're
bad, but like they have Kuzma, they have Ruby Hachimura, they have
Denny Avdia. I think it feels like they need someone who's a little bit
more plug and play to like, like on both ends of the floor.
Where will Barton is? He still he brings a lot of creativity on offense,
but he could be you call him plug and play there. Kuzma,
he's plug and play at both ends. That's fair for Kuzma. I think
Denny Ava can be plug and play at both ends. We just haven't seen
it. Uh, there is he needs to be more aggressive on offense,
but I think he also needs to be empowered on offense as well. Ruby
Ha Chamora is just like two iffy on both ends. For me, It's
like, let's just throw Utah Watanabbi there, get some solid defensive bodies and
then if he can hit catches the threes, he's fine. Portland as well,
Like they're they have a lot of talented perimeter players on their team,
they're still like small because like you have Simons, Damian Lillard and GP two
and those are all guards, and then you have Josh Hart is a wing,
but he's not super big. You've Jeremy Grant of course not little,
but let's throw Utah Watanabe six nine in there. So I think he can
play the three, the four. If you really wanted to down size him
and Grant in the front court for certain lineups, you could try that.
So I would love to see him in Portland. I fave that Indiana again,
just a team that actually does need wing bodies. They probably want someone
who counts as more of a truer wing, but like, let's just go
with the plug and play guy. He could make sweet sweet music in any
lineup that includes Tyrese Haliburton and if Miles Turner is still there, I'm just
saying, and so like he's more of a wing than Buddy Heald, who's
probably your starting three at the moment, unless it's you know, is it?
However, you're structuring it like he's more of a three than Benedict Mathren
or Buddy Healed, certainly more so than Christaarte as well. So I would
like him there other teams I've listed the Golden State Warriors. Ifigodala doesn't come
back, why not someone who's just higher end wants to Scano Anderson not his
probably not his JT is definitely more explosive, but just like to play that
role. Maybe he's not playing all the time, but he's gonna make you
think smart decisions with the ball. And if you can get him to subsist
on enough offensive volume, because I do think he's not a enough either,
why not. And then I also have Charlotte. They need wings too,
Kelly. They have kellyer Bridge Junior. They have Gordon Hayward, they have
Cody Martin. That's like, are any of those players I just named would
you consider them a you know, a truer wing than wanton Abe. I
guess you could go with like Gordon Hayward and even kellyer Bridge Junior, and
you could say all three of them, but just like they have Gordon Hayward,
Kellyer Bridge Junior or Cody Martin and then it sort of falls off a
cliff there, James Book, Knight, Priceman, Gawan or not wings PJ
PJ. Washington. If Myles Bridges comes back, is is not a wing,
so just a solid guy who I think helps you on defense and then
doesn't muck up or monopolize anything on offense. The nets I haven't listened here
too. Just get me solid guys who profile is fringe wings on this team.
They do have Kessler Edwards and t J. Warren, Joe Harris,
Ben Simmons. Now I don't consider Ben Simmons a wing. I would consider
more of a big Kevin Rant still there for the time being, but that
would just be sort of fun to add him to a rotation that has Royce
O'Neill or All of a sudden, you went from a team that just doesn't
have these wingish types to oh, we have Harris and Warren and Kessler,
Edwards and Royce O'Neill not to mention Durant, and then you don't want an
abby just feels like it gives you a lot of different lineup optionality. I
think honestly though, you could tell me any team, like if I like,
do I think that the Nuggets instead of like paying flat go Kanchart should
have taken a look at you don't want an Abbia absolutely would say something like
that. So you can put him on any team Detroit as well, if
they if they're willing to hammer out the minutes for him. Is he too
old for that? They saw in Kevin Knox, you bring back comed Udayala.
They have Sadiq bay alc Burks, by the way, is still on
this roster right now. Isaiah Livers looked really good, So if they are
willing to actually play him, and I think he would be like a nice
alternative because I don't trust Marvin Bagley plus any of the bigs, like whether
it's Stewart Noel, if he's stall on the roster or Duran, I don't
want to see that. Maybe Bagley an Olynk together, but that would be
a defensive nightmare. Wants an obbyist sort of. That four spot would be
really fun where Kelly Olynic is at the five or any Isaiah Stewart, Noel
or Jalen Duran is at the five. So I had them too. I
did not Houston listed, but I guess they could go that rout. I
just want to make sure that kJ Martin and Usman group a play in a
front court rotation that also includes Jabar Smith Junior and Alpern. Shane Goun at
this point can't give him to dimension the Lakers. By the way he should
be on the Lakers would work, but they have wantedsconnoy Anderson already doesn't need
to be on the Clippers. They already have all the wings. And then
Memphis is the final team that I have listed for him, I believe,
and you could again throw him on any team. I'll be happy someone who
could fill in for some of those four minutes. And that's actually not someone
like a Mellow who I suggested, or even a Blake Griffin won't compromise your
defense. Our final free agent, the one and only Hassan Whiteside, Utah
has still makes sense for him since they have Walker Kessler and Van do And
that's it. Really. If you're looking at like, I mean, do
you still believe in Udoka as a bookie? Maybe so. If you still
believe in him, that's fine, But like they don't have like anything about
their center rotation. Really pinned down in Stone right now it is Rudy Gay.
That could be like so like I just named all the technically bigs on
their roster and no Gay as a bookie and Walker Kessler I would love,
Like I'm not love. I think white side. If you're just looking to
depending on what happens with the Donovan Mitchell trade, you're not looking to win.
But if you want like another lob threat for Donovan Mitchell, if you
trust him to develop that chemistry or just the sort of film minutes like eat
like an innings year as they would call him baseball, I could see even
though at the time I bringing him back and he was just like he was
fine last year, one point three nine points per possession out of the pick
and roll, one point three five points in transition. He also opponent's shot
just fifty three point one percent against him at the rim, so he's playing
a lot of second unit minutes there. That was still an incredible That was
the eighth best mark in the league among everyone who contested at least two hundred
and fifty shots at the basket. And so like that's legit company to be
and he still provides you. I think if it's coming down to and I
was having conversation with someone I worked with before I recorded this podcast or currently
work with, I should say, if I've done to Hassan white Side or
Dwight Howard right now, I think I'm going with Hassan Whiteside pretty comfortably.
That's what I'm reticent to say. Like pretty comfortably is really where we're at
here at this point. So I'm like, I think it would be him.
And so if you're the same teams we name for Dwight Howard, the
Hassan white Side train would still be on them. And by the way,
the players that are in front of him. So here's every player who contested
at LEAs two hundred fifty shots at the rim and allowed a better or a
stingier opponent shooting percentage at the basket. Then Whiteside Yannis Isaiah Stewart shout out
you, stew JaVale McGee starting center for the Mavericks for some reason, Jared
Allen, Rudy Gobert, Jaren Jackson Jr. And Isaiah Hartenstein what is signing
by the Knicks and being dead serious? So like eight, you rank eighth
in that that's a really good spot to be. The teams I have listed
for him aside from Utah, I really could only come up with four.
I wanted to come up with more because I thought he was so useful,
and that's also sort of like maybe a Harpinger. How I feel about his
fit relative towards the Clippers, for sure, I don't know if he's someone
whereas Howard I think is okay if he just doesn't play. I don't know
that White Side is gonna feel the same way. And there's a chance knowing
if they want to play Roco Slash Marcus Morris type front courts or just go
without a big and then you have zoobots to really just cannibalize like twenty five
to thirty plus minutes of game. I'm not sure how he would fit into
that type of ecosystem. The Blazers, for sure, I think we've I
guess there's the been there, done that aspect, but there's still sort of
a need if you want like the lob the proven lobcatcher, veteran lob catcher,
element, rim runner and rebounder, so that could work for them.
And he also just like he's gonna give you rim protection as well, and
then also Boston they played dual big, So if you're gonna be interested in
Howard, why not take a look at Whiteside. I don't think him or
Howard or is dynamic on offense. Is Boston seems to skew with their bigs
like Robert Williams the third in addition to being able just like to fly above
the rim and rim run and then also a lot more switchable on defense,
like he can make really good passes and you don't trust us on Whiteside to
ever put the ball on the floor, make one intruder, bolt two dribble
decisions. You're not gonna want to see that from White Howard. Now,
still we're talking about who would be their fourth big at best with Grant Williams
RW three and Horford already in front of them, something they consider and the
final one I have is just Brooklyn. They have Nicholas Claxton and day Ron
Sharpe. That's kind of it for them on like the centers that you envisioned
playing a bunch of minutes next year. So maybe they're just been going really
small with Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant in their front court. If they don't
move Kevin Durant still Hassan Whiteside. I think you can make the case that
Dwight Howard might work there then as well too, But I think Cassan my
favorite fit for us on Whiteside. I say Portland is that weird, I'm
just gonna say it's probably Brooklyn for me. I'm just gonna say it's Brooklyn
because I don't want to. I feel like Ikey saying it should be Portland.
That does it for me. I hope you enjoyed this podcast. If
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description until next time. And as always, he went to shout out to
the one the only he didn't get the free agency this summer because he was
so valued by the Mavericks, Frank Nilikia