1 00:00:15,519 --> 00:00:21,559 What is up, fellow thermonuclear hey efforts. I am damn valley thing ready 2 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,320 to plunge in to another hardwood and Ox mail bag. I will say, 3 00:00:25,559 --> 00:00:28,359 I'm gonna try and do these two a week. We'll separate them into discord, 4 00:00:28,399 --> 00:00:31,399 which I think will be Fridays, and then maybe Monday, Tuesday, 5 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,640 Wednesday, just midwek for Twitter and YouTube. I said this on the past 6 00:00:34,679 --> 00:00:40,200 podcast. I am humbled and thankful, grateful, gracious, however you want 7 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,600 to phrase it, that we actually can get enough questions to tackle two epper 8 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,560 mail bags in a week. I also this time of year when we're not 9 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,759 dealing with anything mission critical, and I'm really trying to delay doing any offseason 10 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,920 grades at the moment to see if anything kind of happens with Donovan Mitchell or 11 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,200 Kevin Durant. I think that they're good material. And I also, you 12 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,600 know, I don't know why podcasts don't do this more if they don't have 13 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,519 the engaged listener base. I totally get it, we're lucky enough to have 14 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,640 it. But I want to talk about what you guys are asking, and 15 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,239 if you're asking questions out of pity, I appreciate that too, but I 16 00:01:12,599 --> 00:01:15,760 like some of these questions or thought exercise I never thought of, or you 17 00:01:15,799 --> 00:01:18,840 know one that's coming up in this podcast, like sort of oh, you 18 00:01:18,879 --> 00:01:21,480 would think about it, but we haven't gone into detail with it. And 19 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,959 I do think, like you, the audience is the most important part of 20 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,879 podcasting, writing, or whatever we need to. I need to put out 21 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,480 stuff that you guys want to talk about, and so it means the world 22 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,120 that you want to asking questions again, even if it's out of pity, 23 00:01:34,359 --> 00:01:37,560 but also just like I want, I would do mail begs every single day 24 00:01:37,799 --> 00:01:41,799 if if we had the material, or if that's what the audience really wanted. 25 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,079 It's fun to dive into what you all are thinking or the questions that 26 00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:49,079 you have, and then to my incorrect answers on them. It's fun. 27 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,319 These are some of my favorite episodes. I love everyone knows I love good 28 00:01:52,359 --> 00:01:56,879 like not necessarily hypothetical trade episodes, but like analyzing new fits, whether it's 29 00:01:56,879 --> 00:01:59,319 signing or trades. But mail begs are by far and away some of my 30 00:01:59,319 --> 00:02:01,280 favorite content. And so if you're wondering why we do two a week or 31 00:02:01,319 --> 00:02:04,760 why there was a week where I did like eight of them, like that's 32 00:02:04,799 --> 00:02:07,159 just why I love them, and I think if the questions are there, 33 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:12,759 why not utilize the audience and hopefully you all enjoy them back. That's way 34 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,280 too much rambling for an intro, but I will put in. Finally, 35 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:16,759 remember to rate, review, and subscribe to us where you're getting your podcast. 36 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,840 If you're on YouTube, hit that subscribe and it would be absolutely spectacular. 37 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,800 As we build up the community. Closing in on one point five k 38 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,919 YouTube subscribers, I really want to get to like a zillion YouTube subscribers. 39 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,120 But if you can help us juice up those numbers, let's go two k 40 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,280 before the season at minimum. But I would like to, like, can 41 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:36,000 we flirt with three k or five k? Like really get the word out 42 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,680 there. So you haven't already, or if you're watching on YouTube, please 43 00:02:38,719 --> 00:02:40,000 it would mean the world if you hit that subscribe button, like comment to 44 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,599 break the algorithm. And of course, if you're listening to this on your 45 00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:46,520 podcast player, download every episode. Subscribe to us if you haven't already. 46 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:51,360 Obviously, if you're new around these parts and ratings, help us a ton 47 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,080 and word of mouth. Retweet our promos, tell friends, family members, 48 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,240 acquaintance as co workers about us. If you know they enjoy hoops or random 49 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,439 people on the internet. We appreciate shout outs whenever we get them, when 50 00:03:00,439 --> 00:03:02,759 we see them in our mentions. If there's a solicitation for oh, can 51 00:03:02,759 --> 00:03:07,439 you name a podcast that people should listen to for basketball or sports? Or 52 00:03:07,479 --> 00:03:12,280 that's underrated because we are underrated, AF I am or I guess we keep 53 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,439 using the we're gonna go. We still with the pronoun there, and you 54 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:21,120 all are underrated AF two for listening and slogging through these three minute introductions. 55 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,120 Let's move on though, Let's dive into the mail bag. I'm gonna have 56 00:03:24,159 --> 00:03:28,199 one discord question here because it's related to something that came on Twitter, but 57 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:34,080 this was through Twitter and YouTube. Let's start with Jay Childers from YouTube asking 58 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,439 what are the potential best benches in the league going into next season. This 59 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:43,240 was like a thinker and there are some teams that I think this could change 60 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,879 depending on how the rest of the off season shakes up. So some of 61 00:03:45,919 --> 00:03:49,479 the first ones that came to mind, Boston and I'd like snuck up on 62 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,479 me because I'm sure there'd be people that make the case that they're shallow just 63 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,759 looking at their rotation now coming off the bench, Danilo Gallinari, Malcolm Brogden 64 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,639 and still have and Grant Williams there and let's not forget about Peyton Pritchard as 65 00:04:02,639 --> 00:04:05,840 well. I guess, you know, do you want a different type of 66 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,599 They did signed Bruno Caboclo. He has a chance to make the training camp 67 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,280 ross apparently, as well as Noah von Ley. It does seem like they're 68 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:15,759 a little concerned about having that. I would call them a third big because 69 00:04:15,759 --> 00:04:19,600 Horford and RW three are gonna start together, like that nine man rotation is 70 00:04:19,639 --> 00:04:24,720 just and Derek White I didn't even mention him, So that nine ten man 71 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:30,199 rotation is just chock full of guys who are all really ridiculously good defensively, 72 00:04:30,319 --> 00:04:33,279 and maybe look Jason Tatum, Al Horford, Jalen Brown, Maltom Brogden, 73 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:38,040 Derek White, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams the third and Grant Williams. So 74 00:04:38,079 --> 00:04:41,000 that's your eight man rotation right there, and they're all really good defensively. 75 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,000 And then I didn't mention Deaniel Gallanari's like, you have four strong bench players 76 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:46,879 at least they could be there. I'm wondering if I'm taking a risk just 77 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:53,439 because their bench skews like small or it's a Daniela Gallanari or Grant Williams, 78 00:04:53,439 --> 00:04:55,600 where it's both of those are both kind of one position players. Do you 79 00:04:55,639 --> 00:04:59,160 want Grant Williams at the five? They could be in there. This deal 80 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,199 is weird because I'm not high on their off season at all. But Dallas, 81 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,920 if they're really going to start JaVale McGee and Christian would you have so 82 00:05:06,959 --> 00:05:10,800 you would have coming off the bends, Maxie Cleveland and Spencer Didnwoodie, which 83 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,480 is a great start right there. You all know how I feel about Frankielina. 84 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:17,000 Reggie Bullock is probably also part of that equation. It's Tim Heartaway Junior 85 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,879 coming off the bench as well. I think it would you're looking at. 86 00:05:19,959 --> 00:05:23,480 So let's assume they're going to start would in JaVale McGee, which I think 87 00:05:23,519 --> 00:05:27,600 is fucking stupid. But wood McGee, don Chich, Dorian Phinney Smith, 88 00:05:27,879 --> 00:05:30,959 those are your four? Are you putting in didn'woody in the starting lineup to 89 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,600 try to replace Brunson or do you just put Tim Hardaway Junior there because he's 90 00:05:33,639 --> 00:05:38,399 such a quintessential fit with Luca. But then if you have him coming off 91 00:05:38,399 --> 00:05:40,639 the bench or did Woody coming off the bench. I could just I could 92 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,959 see it. We have to. This was the first team that I think 93 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,319 came to my mind was the Clippers. They're just so deep, there's so 94 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,560 many wings. To the point that myself and also Brandon from Discord, we've 95 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,000 been trying to find Marcus more senior trades so that we can ensure that I'm 96 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,279 your Coffee plays and he wants to see more of Brandon Blond Junior as well. 97 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:01,160 They're starting lineup. I think it's gonna be Reggie Jackson, Paul George 98 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,199 Kawhi Hodard, and then a Visa Zubats who gets the starting other four spot, 99 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,079 I guess you would call it. I assume it's gonna be Marcus Morris, 100 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,600 and then you're looking at Norman Powell, Luconard, Robert Covington, John 101 00:06:14,759 --> 00:06:17,279 Ball, Nick patoum all coming up, Terrence Man, that's eleven fucking players. 102 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,120 They can't play eleven. We need to shorten this rotation up. I 103 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,959 didn't even mention Brandon Boston Junior and mir Coffee are gonna be on that bench 104 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,680 too. This team is so deep they're probably going to have as of right 105 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,600 now, I'd say the best bench in the league. I mean, look 106 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,360 it, let's just name these players. Forget about let's start. We know 107 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,959 some of them will start, but Paul George Kawhi, Marcus Morris, Norm 108 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:39,879 Powell, Luconard, Robert Covington, Reggie Jackson, a Vita Zubats, Nick 109 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,959 Patum, John Wall, Terrence Man and if you really end, then a 110 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,120 mereor coffee like, that's twelve. If you feel differently about Brandon Boston Junior 111 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,360 and thinkin needs to play, that's just twelve guys. And so only five 112 00:06:48,439 --> 00:06:51,240 of those twelves are gonna start. That gives you just like a very intriguing 113 00:06:51,319 --> 00:06:57,480 seven man bench rotation. The other team that I have here and I have 114 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,319 questioned marks witting around them because I'm not sure if they should be here. 115 00:07:00,639 --> 00:07:03,000 I have the dubs. I think you look at the kids and they're kind 116 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,199 of the swing pieces there. But you have Dante de Vincenzo that's gonna be 117 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:11,600 a perfect addition, Jordan Pool coming off the bench already. And then if 118 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,759 you're getting cominga moody Wiseman, what if two of those guys hit, that 119 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,839 just becomes like incredibly absurd. And so I don't know, I think they 120 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:23,040 could work their way into the discussion even if one of the kids hits this 121 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,879 seasons. This Moody looked just looks ready, feel like he's just gonna be 122 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,120 plug and play. Cominga had some nice moments. If James Wyatt is healthy. 123 00:07:29,399 --> 00:07:30,800 I don't expect them to go all bench guys at once. That's a 124 00:07:30,839 --> 00:07:35,120 lot of pressure on Jordan Pool and Dante Devincenzo. But kind of having dv 125 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,519 and Pool as your top two guys off the bench, you probably want. 126 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,959 And then I just Moody, it's probably the guy I'm not highest on long 127 00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:47,199 term, but just immediately Moody comingo Wiseman. I think they deserve an honorable 128 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,519 mention there. One that I'm sure, I'm not sure is getting enough Shoine, 129 00:07:51,519 --> 00:07:55,480 I mean, are We've been talking about benches in the discourse at this 130 00:07:55,519 --> 00:08:00,279 point of the offseason. The Pelicans, so you're starting five should be Ion 131 00:08:00,639 --> 00:08:05,319 valanciunists Ingram CJ. McCollum, and I would say Herb Jones that you don't 132 00:08:05,319 --> 00:08:07,360 need a point guard in there, and so you're looking at off the bench, 133 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,439 DeVonta Graham could have a better year. Larry NaN's junior Jackson Hayes, 134 00:08:11,879 --> 00:08:16,480 Trey Murphy the third, and then does Dyson Daniels crack this rotation? Does 135 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,199 Kyra Lewis crack this rotation? A lot of intriguing guys when you're looking at 136 00:08:20,319 --> 00:08:24,839 basically roster spots one through twelve, still at least one through eleven. So 137 00:08:26,439 --> 00:08:31,199 there I could see their bench just being incredibly potent. I like, individually 138 00:08:31,279 --> 00:08:33,159 all of their talents. How do they colace if you're looking at you know, 139 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,639 I don't. I'm not in love with Jackson Hayes, but Larry Nance 140 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:41,120 Jr. Specifically, everyone who listens podcast knows that I am like incredibly sky 141 00:08:41,279 --> 00:08:46,480 high on Dyson Daniels and then also Trey Murphy the third, So that just 142 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,840 right there is is a great baseline. And then, like I said, 143 00:08:50,879 --> 00:08:54,960 DeVonta Graham is a better basketball player than he showed last year. And then 144 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,320 you're assuming they're always going to have like one of Ingram McCollum and Zion on 145 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,720 court. At one point, I actually I want to see I guess it 146 00:09:01,759 --> 00:09:03,200 depends on Yeah, I think I want to see a lot of Zion. 147 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,720 Let's go full bench here, or at least close to it, because Larry 148 00:09:07,759 --> 00:09:09,559 Nance Jr. That's your front court stretched the floor there. I guess that's 149 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:15,080 sort of we'd doubt Jackson Hayes certain instances. Dyson Daniel's not the best shooter, 150 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,919 but having Trey Murphy in there in the DeVante Graham that would be a 151 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,919 five minute it out absolutely faith that I fave that that's the Zion plus bench. 152 00:09:22,919 --> 00:09:24,679 I want to see it in New Orleans. Finally, I don't know 153 00:09:24,759 --> 00:09:28,960 if this is going to hold, but the Knicks, their bench was basically 154 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,720 a high point of what they did last season, and so it's tough to 155 00:09:33,799 --> 00:09:35,360 I get I guess pinned down exactly what their bench will look like. But 156 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:41,080 let's just assume that Mitchell Robinson Randall runs in and RJ Barrett or guarantee your 157 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:45,679 starting spots is the third one going to Fourgnier? Is it going to go 158 00:09:45,919 --> 00:09:50,639 to cam Resch or Quentin Grimes if they want to lean defense. The caveat 159 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,960 to all of this is what if Dono and Mitchell is acquired. There's probably 160 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,559 more Fourna in that deal, probably no more Quentin Groves, I think factor 161 00:09:58,639 --> 00:10:01,600 than the best rotation. But I'm gonna get a possible bench. Guys here, 162 00:10:01,399 --> 00:10:03,559 d Rose has been good for them. But Isaiah Hartenstein, we're a 163 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:09,080 fantastic pick up by the Knicks, Obi Toppin, Manuel Quickly and then Cam 164 00:10:09,159 --> 00:10:11,919 Reddish or Quentin Grimes and or Quentin Grimes. And even if look two of 165 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:15,360 these three you're gonna be coming off the bench and Cam Reddish, Grimes and 166 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,759 Fournier, that's fine. That's a great spot to be in. And so 167 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:20,720 if the Nick wind up not in acquiring Don and Mitchell, I could very 168 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,840 easily see their bench being a bright spot yet again. And I really hope 169 00:10:24,879 --> 00:10:28,480 we get to see basically RJ. Barrett plus your four best bench players let's 170 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:31,519 say, or maybe not even four best. But give me RJ. Barrett 171 00:10:31,639 --> 00:10:35,639 at this who I project to start. Give me RJ. Barrett and then 172 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,559 off the bench with Grimes quickly, Hartenstein and Toppin give me that five men 173 00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:41,960 unit. I favor that too. I'm faving a lot of things right now. 174 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,720 Those are my if I had to predict the I wanted to win it 175 00:10:46,799 --> 00:10:50,240 down to five, and I think I have six here. I'm gonna say 176 00:10:50,279 --> 00:10:52,159 Boston, Dallas, Golden State, the Clippers, the Pelicans, and the 177 00:10:52,279 --> 00:10:56,080 Knicks. There are definitely more that could creep in there, but those are 178 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,480 the ones that stood out. I can tell you right now the Lakers bench 179 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,519 is not making the cut for me, insofar as anyone cares about that. 180 00:11:01,039 --> 00:11:05,360 Nathan Stock from YouTube ask, I know you already responded through this before, 181 00:11:05,399 --> 00:11:09,159 but which team will we hire in seatings next year? Magic or Pistons and 182 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,799 long term, say five years? The five year questions really tough here because 183 00:11:13,879 --> 00:11:18,200 Kate Cunningham is my favorite player on both of these teams, even acting in 184 00:11:18,279 --> 00:11:22,039 Palo ban Caro, Jalen Suggs and Jay and Ivy in Detroit. But it 185 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:28,360 does feel like the Magic have more ready made, slightly more proven NBA level 186 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:33,639 talent that fits in long term to where Oh, okay, we know that 187 00:11:33,879 --> 00:11:35,840 okay, aside from Ban Carroll, but we know that Folks works. We 188 00:11:37,039 --> 00:11:41,120 know that we're still invested in Joen Suggs. We know Franz Wagner is already 189 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,720 really good. We know if Jonathan Isaac is ever healthy, what we could 190 00:11:43,759 --> 00:11:46,919 potentially have at him. We know Wendell Carter Jr. Is good, Bamba's 191 00:11:46,919 --> 00:11:50,440 good. So I think Orlando looking at next season specifically, will be higher 192 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,240 in the standings. The pathway to that not happening is one Kate is a 193 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,679 fucking superhuman, which I'm just gonna pencil in anyway. And then two, 194 00:11:58,039 --> 00:12:03,080 oh band Carroll's not good right off the bat, and Wendel cler Junior regresses, 195 00:12:03,159 --> 00:12:05,440 Jalen Suggs doesn't improve from the last year. Maybe we see a drop 196 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,519 off from Franz Wagner and even Mobamba. I'm not predicting any of that, 197 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,559 So injuries, I'm like, throw that out of the equation. Long term, 198 00:12:13,279 --> 00:12:18,240 oh man, in five years, I'm still probably going with the magic 199 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,279 here. It's just the Pistons with a Nivy and Jalen Duran. I for 200 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,320 me, it's hard to project having not seen that in action yet to where 201 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:31,279 I can look at the baseline of this Orlando team and know that Franz Wagner, 202 00:12:31,399 --> 00:12:33,840 Suggs, Wendel Carter Junior, Mo Bamba, even mark El Folks after 203 00:12:33,919 --> 00:12:37,919 he was not injured anymore last year, like I watched those guys play together. 204 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,679 Like Gary Harris is still on this team too by contract that's built the 205 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:43,480 trade that he signed, but he was very good for them, had a 206 00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:48,519 story of an offensive renaissance. Right now, I think you have to go 207 00:12:48,639 --> 00:12:52,360 then because there's more guaranteed talent there, but the Pistons have a better chance 208 00:12:52,399 --> 00:12:56,600 of being the five year answer, I think than the immediate answer, because 209 00:12:56,639 --> 00:13:00,639 Kaide still needs a lot of these other pieces around him to develop. I 210 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,279 think you could just also argue though, that, like the top end talent 211 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,519 of Orlando could end up being better in Franz Vogner, Jew and Suggs and 212 00:13:07,279 --> 00:13:11,360 Pala Bancaro versus k J. Nivey and Duran or unless you want to put 213 00:13:11,399 --> 00:13:15,320 to Deep Bay and Durn's placed there. I'm assuming no one's gonna put Billion 214 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,240 Hayes there. I'm gonna go with Orlando. I don't feel great about the 215 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,519 five year answer next season, though I definitely think it's it's the Magic. 216 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:24,919 We do have another Magic related questions, so let's get to that. Drew 217 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,799 asked the Magic question mark and so the Welcome Wagon and Discord asked the Orlando 218 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,840 Magic have a bit of a log jam at guard. Who's their point guard 219 00:13:33,919 --> 00:13:37,240 now? Is Sug's definitely the point guard of the future. I'm not. 220 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,600 I'm gonna let's answer the second one first. I don't think Sug is definitely 221 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:43,039 the point guard of the future, because maybe he's not a point guard. 222 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,960 You can easily play him at the two. I don't think the magic we're 223 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,799 ever gonna be in this position. Because of how big they are, you 224 00:13:48,879 --> 00:13:50,879 could get away. I think in certain matchups with playing him at the three. 225 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,919 I liked what I saw from him last year, looking at the fundamental 226 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,200 aesthetics of his game. I think the self created jumper is going to be 227 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,399 fine. I think this is someone who has the strength to really make plays 228 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,320 when going downhill, and they gave him the opportunity the agency over the offense 229 00:14:07,399 --> 00:14:11,879 to really explore and basically drive things. Maybe that's not his best role. 230 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,879 Maybe the team just wasn't talented enough around him. Let's see what he looks 231 00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:20,120 like when there's Bank Taro and Franz Wagner surrounding him. That could be super 232 00:14:20,159 --> 00:14:22,360 helpful. I still believe that jals Suggs is going to be an All Star 233 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,639 in the league. I guess asked me in a year and see if I 234 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,960 still believe that. But that's where'm at with Jalen Suggs their point guard right 235 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:31,279 now. If we're just looking at I mean, the answer is whether it's 236 00:14:31,399 --> 00:14:35,720 for starting or long term purposes. I think it's mark el Folts. I 237 00:14:35,879 --> 00:14:39,639 caught ship from Orlando Magic's fans on I think it was Twitter, maybe it 238 00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:41,440 was YouTube o Kado. Remember at this point, I didn't cite mark el 239 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,360 Folts as a building block for them. I just don't think that's him. 240 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:46,960 Like it's good that he can. You know, we've seen him like snick 241 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,679 pick and rolls, hit me and range jumpers get going downhill. I think 242 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,279 his rim volume still leaves a little bit to be desired. Can he hit 243 00:14:54,399 --> 00:14:56,559 more of his free throws? Can he get to the foul line more often? 244 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,639 The three point shot is can there be like sort of a slow moving, 245 00:15:01,679 --> 00:15:05,399 methodical release where defenses are dropping and he's making him pay, or just 246 00:15:05,519 --> 00:15:09,759 sort of a set three point shot where he's getting hit with the ball from 247 00:15:09,799 --> 00:15:13,720 Ban Carro or Sugs maybe even Wagner Wendow Carter Junior a good playmaker as well, 248 00:15:13,559 --> 00:15:18,679 and you see like that stuff happen before I say that he is their 249 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,000 point guard of the future or even like a cornerstone in the same breath as 250 00:15:22,639 --> 00:15:26,720 not just Ben Carro and Vagner and let's say Suggs, but even as a 251 00:15:26,759 --> 00:15:30,159 Wendell Carter Junior. When I'm looking at the long term value of the roster, 252 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:31,600 I do think Folts might have a better chance of being a building block 253 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:35,919 for this team than Isaac at this point. I also think you just start 254 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,639 him this season. He's probably Ben Carroll could end up being the best passer 255 00:15:39,759 --> 00:15:41,440 on your team right now. But you look at what Folks does defensively, 256 00:15:41,559 --> 00:15:46,320 he's no worse than your second best passer. Could Sugs or Wendell Carter juniors 257 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,600 or pass him this season. Maybe Cole Anthony's not going to that's just more 258 00:15:48,639 --> 00:15:52,840 of a microwave scoring sixth man, I think. And then r J Hampton, 259 00:15:52,919 --> 00:15:56,960 who the aesthetics of when he gets going, I'm still sort of smitten 260 00:15:56,039 --> 00:16:00,480 by he has yet to really put it together. So I don't like those 261 00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:04,039 are your only other options. I don't know that you're gonna hope to find 262 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,240 someone else. Now. The real answer could be that the point guard, 263 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,399 let's say, the floor general of the future, is not on this team. 264 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,480 I think that might be a fair thing to say, because perhaps it 265 00:16:14,799 --> 00:16:17,960 doesn't. I'm gonna kill a bug that's flying around me at the moment. 266 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:22,039 How's that for podcasting? If you're on video, there's a chance that, 267 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:26,399 like you needed either need a draft your floor general or acquire them via trade. 268 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:30,480 I think that's why Donovan Mitchell has been sort of a popular name here, 269 00:16:30,519 --> 00:16:34,120 or even a shake Hill Soxander for whimsical thinkers. Even if you don't 270 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,679 view those guys as floor generals, the combination of them, Ben Caro and 271 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,720 Suggs feels like it makes a lot of sense there. But Foltz has the 272 00:16:40,759 --> 00:16:42,960 best chance I still think of being the long term answer on this roster, 273 00:16:44,559 --> 00:16:47,720 but I also might tilt toward Yeah, even if I think ban Caro's the 274 00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:49,440 best passer, are going to be the best passer on this team, the 275 00:16:49,559 --> 00:16:52,679 answer might just be, Oh, that player is not currently on the roster, 276 00:16:52,759 --> 00:16:55,840 and that's not an insult to the Magic's rebuild. Like I said, 277 00:16:55,919 --> 00:16:59,960 we've named off a lot of great talent that they have there. Gracious Hope 278 00:17:00,559 --> 00:17:03,720 from Twitter asked what's the best rotation for the Timberwolves going to be with their 279 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,599 current roster? That's a good question, I think. Look, the starting 280 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,039 lineup is etched in Stone Dlow, Anthony Edwards, Jane McDaniels, karn Anthy 281 00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:15,880 Towns, and Rudy Gobert. How are you gonna mix and match the bench. 282 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:19,039 I think what happens, I'm not including him in the bench rotation, 283 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,039 but you want to see more of Cat I think with the bench players, 284 00:17:23,039 --> 00:17:27,240 just because of what he does offensively, and like your secondary creation isn't necessarily 285 00:17:27,279 --> 00:17:30,039 all that strong at the moment, and it gets weaker if you trade. 286 00:17:30,079 --> 00:17:34,279 Decide to trade D level though maybe you're bringing back another passer in that scenario. 287 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,720 So I think that what this is all to say. I don't know 288 00:17:37,799 --> 00:17:41,720 where naz Reid fits into all this. Maybe they decide to still stay duel 289 00:17:41,759 --> 00:17:45,160 Biggs with Kat and naz Reid in second units, but I could see him 290 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,160 getting squeezed out of the I'm trying to build a ten man rotation here or 291 00:17:48,279 --> 00:17:51,680 nine man rotation. If you're asking me, who are you going to be 292 00:17:51,759 --> 00:17:55,680 like the most used bench players Kyle Anderson for sure, that's why you sign 293 00:17:55,759 --> 00:17:59,799 him. I think Austin Rivers is gonna play really were not really important, 294 00:17:59,839 --> 00:18:03,359 but fairly pivotal role on this team, just as someone who can give you 295 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,079 some wing minutes and space the floor. Perhaps I think Jordan McLoughlin, who 296 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:11,359 really shout over forty percent from three to close out the year last season. 297 00:18:11,599 --> 00:18:14,000 That's someone you need to keep in the rotation as well. Just like I 298 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:18,319 said, you don't have a lot of secondary creator here, which is sort 299 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,720 of the sacrifice of giving up Patrick Beverley, and then you weren't even deep 300 00:18:21,839 --> 00:18:23,960 in that area to begin with. Maybe you thought Blie Beasley could do more 301 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,200 of that than an Austin Rivers. But you have Anderson. I think Torrian 302 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,359 Prince, he had a fairly good season for them, so you need to 303 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,039 play him. So I would have Anderson, Rivers, McLoughlin, and Prince 304 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:37,279 is my foremost used bench players. And then I'm assuming that we see a 305 00:18:37,319 --> 00:18:40,680 lot of cat there. If not, then Naz Reid for sure. Pencilman 306 00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:44,160 is that tenth maybe at least Brent Forbes being the odd man out. I 307 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:49,279 can't imagine we'll see McLoughlin or Rivers get squeezed for him. Maybe if they're 308 00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:52,079 not hitting their threes, that's where you would put Forbes in because he's just 309 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,720 a pure fucking score. That's how I'd probably structure my rotation, though I 310 00:18:56,799 --> 00:19:00,759 want to see the most with the bench mob. You could tell me if 311 00:19:00,759 --> 00:19:03,720 you disagree, but I think that's the route to go. Given there I 312 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,960 don't want to say dearth of offensive secondary offensive creation, but it's like sort 313 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,480 of what they have is they have all these tertiary creators, but no one 314 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:12,640 you would look at and say, oh, that's that's like a second primary 315 00:19:12,759 --> 00:19:17,359 or a third primary behind Delo and Edward. I think McLoughlin comes closest to 316 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:22,079 that. Maybe it's Kyle Anderson, so Delo Edwards, Jane McDaniel's Cat and 317 00:19:22,079 --> 00:19:25,319 Golbert in the starting lineup, and then my most used bench player is Kyle 318 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:29,400 Aderson, Austin Rivers, Jordan McLoughlin, Torrian Prince. I have Nazrid after 319 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:33,119 that, But again I'm just curious to see if they are going to Pencil 320 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:34,920 and Cat or even Golbert to a lot of solo big man minutes, which 321 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,359 in turn would kind of Nazri can stretch the floor and play with either one 322 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,000 of them. But in theory, if you want some of those one big 323 00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:47,599 minutes, he's going to be the player that gets squeezed. Siddo Cinematic Universe. 324 00:19:47,759 --> 00:19:51,839 What does a Trey Young buy de Jenday Murray backcourt look like at its 325 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:56,200 best and at its worst? Same with Gobert and Cat front court in Minnesota. 326 00:19:56,599 --> 00:19:59,599 So for Trey and Dejean Murray, I think what it looks like is 327 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,519 we see the Hawks having their point of attack defender against really every single team. 328 00:20:04,839 --> 00:20:07,759 It makes it easier to not only move around Trey Young, but then 329 00:20:07,799 --> 00:20:12,319 move around DeAndre Hunter, who his assignments are all Now I'm trickling down to 330 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,880 the number two or the number three option, and that ends up being a 331 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,519 no brainer fit. On offense, the best version is Trey Young gets moving 332 00:20:19,559 --> 00:20:23,519 off the ball, you're setting screens from He's flying around knocking them these quick 333 00:20:23,559 --> 00:20:27,839 fire looks off the catch, while Murray sort of orchestrates push some pressure on 334 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:32,079 the basket and on defense maybe hits some mid range jumpers coming out of the 335 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,559 pick and roll. At its worst, though, I think they struggle to 336 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:40,799 find the ball off ball dynamic between them. Trey Young probably can't set screens 337 00:20:40,799 --> 00:20:42,359 on his own away from the ball for others. But what if he's just 338 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,759 not a guy who can get moving off the ball. What if he's more 339 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:51,440 Luca don Chick or James Harden in that regard than he is Steph Currier Damian 340 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:53,640 Lillard who's not really used in that capacity. Still, I think he could 341 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:57,799 be. And then John Day Murray. If you need Trey Young on the 342 00:20:57,839 --> 00:21:00,720 ball, can he hit enough of his set threes, Maybe it uses as 343 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,799 a cutter, can use him as a screener. That would be at its 344 00:21:03,839 --> 00:21:08,559 worst to where your offense with these two actually regresses from the tray centric offense 345 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:12,839 that you've had these years. Also on the best version is Jean Day Murray 346 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:18,480 is able to elevate your tray list lineups two and we saw some combinations work 347 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:21,920 for Atlanta last season. But if you have Dejan Day Murray and John Collins 348 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,200 and maybe is bogged on Madonovitch starting no like if you have those three as 349 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:27,319 sort of your base and you're filling out the rest of the bench there, 350 00:21:27,599 --> 00:21:30,519 you're hoping you win the tray minutes now all of a sudden. So best 351 00:21:30,559 --> 00:21:37,400 case, you've really elevated your defensive pet order and while also enhancing your offensive 352 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,640 structure, especially with tray off the court. Worst case, they just don't 353 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,720 mesh on the offensive end, And I do think that's a possibility, which 354 00:21:45,759 --> 00:21:48,400 is why it was a gamble sort of buy the gamble by Atlanta. For 355 00:21:48,759 --> 00:21:52,559 Minnesota, the best case is just that they're a top seven defense and a 356 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:57,119 top seven offense. Maybe it's top five five, but Karlenthy Town's the way 357 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,480 he spaces the floor and can be used. I don't think there's a problem 358 00:22:00,559 --> 00:22:04,920 making him your day facto for on that side of the ball. And you're 359 00:22:06,039 --> 00:22:08,680 getting, like, you know, all having Delo and Anthy Edwards and those 360 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,160 lineups as well, you should be able to get enough shooting, including with 361 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:17,000 Jade McDaniels. And then on defense, it's just you're allowing Carllythtowns to be 362 00:22:17,079 --> 00:22:21,200 hyper aggressive playing up Gobert's behind him if players get by him. Maybe Towns 363 00:22:21,279 --> 00:22:23,880 is just smarter because now he's learning from Gobert or practicing with Gobert and just 364 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:26,880 becoming more nuanced on on defense. Is he all of a sudden just a 365 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:32,440 much better rim protector when it comes to making reads on help? But I 366 00:22:32,519 --> 00:22:36,279 think the Wolves specifically now we're built to be even more aggressive on defense to 367 00:22:36,319 --> 00:22:38,680 where you have Jade McDaniels and Auntie Edwards and Carlathy Towns sort of flying around 368 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:42,480 and taking chances. You're meticulously carving out the Angel Russell's matchups, and all 369 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,680 the while you know Gobert's behind cleaning up everything, and if he needs to 370 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,960 come out, you have Auntie Edwards are more likely Jade McDaniels to come in 371 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,200 as just your helper and muck up plays should they happen around the basket. 372 00:22:53,759 --> 00:23:00,559 Worst case, we're just looking at the defense, maybe not being the defense 373 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,640 is gonna be I think the offensive fit. Maybe where is there some sort 374 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:08,400 of crimped spacing. Karnathy Towns can space the floor great, but like Anthy 375 00:23:08,559 --> 00:23:12,839 Edwards, even De'angelo Russell and Jane McDaniels are all those guys above average enough 376 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:19,039 shooters that Gobert has ample opportunity to be so devastating when he's rolling out of 377 00:23:19,079 --> 00:23:22,759 the screen and rolls and making those dives to the basket. If you can't 378 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:26,839 count on those guys did a very high percentage of their catch and shoot clips, 379 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,000 or if it's Deloon and Edward's running the primary pick and roll, I 380 00:23:30,039 --> 00:23:33,839 could see the offense more so than the defense actually being worse than expected. 381 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,640 I am hoping this is apropos of nothing. I want to see big on 382 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,519 big pick and roll. I just want to see Karnathy town running pick and 383 00:23:40,599 --> 00:23:45,000 rolls for where with Rudy Gobert as the screener. Will it work? I 384 00:23:45,039 --> 00:23:47,400 don't know. If the other players are shooting the ball well enough, then 385 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,960 sure, But yeah, the offense could be just fickle, especially if like 386 00:23:51,039 --> 00:23:52,759 how is kyl Anderson fitting in? Are you ever playing him with Gobert at 387 00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:56,519 the same time and then him and Golbert and Kat at the same time. 388 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,680 There are some certain questions there. It's it's weird that I have the more 389 00:24:00,079 --> 00:24:04,359 on offense for a team with Towns and Edwards and Dilo. The next question 390 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:08,240 is also Timberwolves related. Kayden yoss thoughts in the lack of Anthy Edwards talk 391 00:24:08,319 --> 00:24:11,079 this summer. Seems people are forgetting about him. He's been working on his 392 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:15,200 floater and short mid range game, which are expectations be for him and the 393 00:24:15,279 --> 00:24:19,160 Timberwolves as a whole this coming season. I don't think it's weird that there's 394 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:23,000 been a lack of Anthony Edwards talk. Everyone sort of has accepted that he's 395 00:24:23,039 --> 00:24:26,279 just like this certified star ascending, which is a great place to be. 396 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,960 And then the Wolves just went all the way in not just on Rudy Gobert 397 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,799 looking at that shade, but Karl Anthony Towns because they gave him that Supermac's 398 00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:40,160 extension, and there's sort of been the trickle down effect of one the conversation 399 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:41,680 of was it worth giving up the extra draft that could need to keep Jay 400 00:24:41,759 --> 00:24:45,119 McDaniels, And what's gonna happen with Delo. He's in a contract here, 401 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,279 very expensive salary at the moment. Is he Is he someone that they're able 402 00:24:48,319 --> 00:24:52,799 to move divest into deepening their rotation a little bit, or are they going 403 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,519 to move forward just with this I don't want to say very top heavy, 404 00:24:55,559 --> 00:25:00,319 but a very intriguing tippy top of your nucleus. But for Edwards, if 405 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,519 he's working on his mid range game and floater game, that's huge for the 406 00:25:03,599 --> 00:25:07,599 Wolves to have someone who aside from below and can do it, maybe hopefully 407 00:25:07,599 --> 00:25:11,440 more efficiently than Nilo have that in between touch, and it adds just another 408 00:25:11,759 --> 00:25:15,039 dimension to Edwards offense where he's putting real pressure on the basket and he is 409 00:25:15,079 --> 00:25:19,079 a dangerous shooter. His catch and shoot threes have been mostly fine. He 410 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,799 did shoot thirty four point four percent after the All Star Break on off the 411 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:26,240 bounce triples. That's huge And so if you're gonna progress as an in between 412 00:25:26,319 --> 00:25:30,960 scorer there you just become a threat, not just at every level but sort 413 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,599 of in every form. He shot fifty percent on drives, and I actually 414 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:37,799 think he has like a lot of room to grow as a finisher when you're 415 00:25:37,839 --> 00:25:41,279 kind of looking at his angles and takeoff points. Something to watch for is 416 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,240 he's definitely made improvements as a packer. His decision making after he can leave 417 00:25:45,279 --> 00:25:51,319 his feet or throw those jump passes and those like eleventh hour decisions, they're 418 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:55,200 really good and impactful. But when you watch him and he I liked it, 419 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:56,839 he's sort of he's making quicker. It feels like the swing passes where 420 00:25:56,839 --> 00:26:00,599 you guysn't holding on to the ball as long if he's not attacking. Can 421 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,880 he be more of that methodical setup man envelop the chemistry in the half court 422 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,119 with Gobert, because a lot of the assists that he's racking up, they're 423 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,680 not coming out of passing guys open. It's he's passing to guys who already 424 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:15,599 open because he collapsed the defense, and there's going to be some more complicated 425 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,079 reads he has to make if you want him to connect with Ruey Gobert. 426 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,319 I also think it's important that he sort of makes that jump because if you 427 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:26,559 don't think Delo Delo is long for this team even beyond next year, well 428 00:26:26,599 --> 00:26:32,240 you don't have that guy like that primary floor general type to slow things down 429 00:26:32,279 --> 00:26:34,279 and make those plays. And you might even argue that Dealo's not the perfect 430 00:26:34,279 --> 00:26:37,960 solution should he stay there. Anyway, I think Edwards is capable of making 431 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,680 that type of a leap as a playmaker, just because he's still so young, 432 00:26:42,039 --> 00:26:45,279 and we've seen someone who's willing to get rid of the ball and he's 433 00:26:45,319 --> 00:26:47,400 not going to put it on the floor. And again after he's leaving his 434 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:51,519 feet finding guys, and he already looks comfortable just Towns specifically, he just 435 00:26:51,599 --> 00:26:53,480 knows where Towns is going to be and throwing passes behind him. So he's 436 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:59,920 made some difficult passes. But in terms of making more complicated reads or pass 437 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:04,039 seeing guys actually open outside of transition, maybe I'm just saying I'd like to 438 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:08,920 see him not rely less, but Kenny passed outside the context of well, 439 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,720 the defense is giving me so much attention as as I'm going downhill or I'm 440 00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:15,799 catching the ball and throwing that touch pass or that swing pass. I'd like 441 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:21,079 to see him make those more conventional floor general type reads, and I think 442 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,799 it's going to be important to him actualizing his ceiling. I look at him 443 00:27:23,799 --> 00:27:26,440 defensively, though maybe he'd like to see a little bit more one on one 444 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,680 improvement. He is what I would call a defensive disruptor or playmaker where now, 445 00:27:30,839 --> 00:27:34,680 especially with Gobat and Jade McDaniels there, even Lane's with Kyle Anderson, 446 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,519 this is someone can force turnovers away from the ball in bunches. If you're 447 00:27:40,559 --> 00:27:42,839 asking for his ceiling in general, and I've mentioned as many times before, 448 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,839 it's all NBA top ten player in the league material, that's where he's at. 449 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,039 For me, I don't know if I would go top five that far, 450 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,599 but like if you told me he was the second past two guard in 451 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,799 the league last year behind Devin Booker. Let's use an example where it's Devin 452 00:27:57,799 --> 00:28:02,960 Booker or Jellen Brown. Let's say just say top three with those two there. 453 00:28:03,839 --> 00:28:06,359 I'm not I'm not gonna push back. He's probably already a top five 454 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,440 two guard or off guard wherever you want to call it. If you want 455 00:28:08,559 --> 00:28:11,480 him to be the top ten player in the league material, I think he 456 00:28:11,519 --> 00:28:15,240 does need to make the biggest leap at as that primary offensive engine, not 457 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,519 as a score but as a passer, and I do think he's capable of 458 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:21,960 it. Does he get there this year? I don't know. There's a 459 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,079 lot of moving parts here with Minnesota's roster, but I will say we should 460 00:28:26,079 --> 00:28:29,440 expect him to be in the All Star discussion, if not fringe all NBA 461 00:28:29,599 --> 00:28:33,319 material. And the Timberwolves as a whole, I don't want to even tether 462 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,440 them to a playoff context because I just don't know. But I think in 463 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,880 the regular season this is a team I don't want to say, I'm gonna 464 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,480 say it should be a top five team in the West because you have to 465 00:28:42,519 --> 00:28:47,440 recognize Phoenix in Golden State shouldn't go anywhere. The Clippers and Nuggets are going 466 00:28:47,519 --> 00:28:52,200 to be healthier, so like they should be around that same The Timberwolves are 467 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:53,400 the Pelicans to me or the teams that I look at and say, okay, 468 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,599 even more some of the Lakers right now, they should be hovering around 469 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:02,079 that that four team tier of Phoenix, Golden Date, Denver in LA. 470 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,960 If the LA Clippers, both of them are both those squads are are healthies, 471 00:29:06,759 --> 00:29:08,160 That's where I'm at. Timbers, I think they're going to be dominant 472 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,759 during the regular season. I just have questions with the playoffs. And I 473 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,400 think Anthony Edwards is a future top ten player in the league. I think 474 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,079 he will be closer to All Star slash all and I think he will be 475 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:23,000 closer to all NBA consideration than outside it this year. And by that I 476 00:29:23,079 --> 00:29:26,240 mean like, this should be someone who's probably a decidedly top twenty five, 477 00:29:26,519 --> 00:29:30,720 top twenty guy in the league consensus by the end of next season. And 478 00:29:30,759 --> 00:29:34,720 I apologize if that insulted any timber Wolves fans, because I know there are 479 00:29:34,759 --> 00:29:37,799 people who support teams that get mad when you know and say, oh, 480 00:29:37,839 --> 00:29:41,279 we'll best in the league for each of these guys. Tom asked, here's 481 00:29:41,319 --> 00:29:45,000 the proposal. Make the half court line at four point line. Your thoughts, 482 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,480 fuck it, do it. I'm all for just innovation to see how 483 00:29:47,519 --> 00:29:49,920 it works. I don't think we get players, at least other than Steph 484 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,160 Curry maybe trying to take those during real game time. It might add an 485 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,680 element of intrigue to the end of games, though, where teams are trailing 486 00:29:56,759 --> 00:30:00,640 by four and it's all of a sudden it's a one possession game. Can 487 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,559 we make that like the final two minutes or something. The half court like 488 00:30:03,759 --> 00:30:07,200 line is worth four points. I would absolutely try it, though, because 489 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:11,960 I don't really think it would impact shot selection for the first forty three minutes 490 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:15,480 of games at least, and maybe you'll only make it again during a final 491 00:30:15,599 --> 00:30:19,519 time there. But I think the league in general talk is cooled on the 492 00:30:19,519 --> 00:30:22,400 addition of a point line when they see how far these guys are taking shots 493 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:26,440 anyway, and I do wonder how people would feel knowing like, Okay, 494 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:30,319 well, what does that do to when we're trying to provide context across history 495 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,880 when it comes to scoring. That's also some of the same issues running too, 496 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:37,160 when you talk about shortening a season. I favor it, though it 497 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:38,480 wouldn't be the top of my priority list, tom, but give me, 498 00:30:38,599 --> 00:30:41,200 give me a four point half court line, even if it's only again for 499 00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:45,640 the end of games. Luke Angelica asked what metrics slash statistics do you think 500 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:49,599 hold the most weight in predicting future success of a player? Objectively, there 501 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:56,440 have been studies done where steel rate and free throw percentage from college pretty much 502 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,039 translate well to the pros. It's the same as true shooting percentage. If 503 00:31:00,039 --> 00:31:03,359 you're looking for an advanced metric that trust to project moving forward. I don't 504 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:07,319 know that there is one. When we look at regularized adjusted plus minus RPM, 505 00:31:07,599 --> 00:31:11,440 being able to look at that at a three and five years scale, 506 00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:17,599 maybe that allows me to project impact at least, you know, mentally, 507 00:31:17,759 --> 00:31:21,160 like when I'm thinking about it critically a little bit more. But that might 508 00:31:21,279 --> 00:31:25,000 just be more of a better version of like recapping, recapping impact other and 509 00:31:25,039 --> 00:31:27,599 projecting. I will say, when I'm trying to assign future value to a 510 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,519 player, I'm looking at context a lot more now, Like, yes, 511 00:31:30,559 --> 00:31:36,079 the efficiency matters, but I'll go by this. When I'm looking at college 512 00:31:36,079 --> 00:31:38,960 guys going to the pros, or if I'm just looking at players who are 513 00:31:40,079 --> 00:31:44,079 young, are they scaling upward or they're just being talked about more, I'm 514 00:31:44,119 --> 00:31:49,039 looking at the criteria or the manner in which they are. Let's say shots 515 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,279 are coming, and that's like the biggest one for me. If their efficiency 516 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:56,160 is holding really well and most of their baskets are coming off assists and their 517 00:31:56,160 --> 00:32:00,519 play finishers catch and shoot guys, that's great, that's fall I am looking 518 00:32:00,559 --> 00:32:04,640 at. Though. Let's you Shay Gilaxander as an example. Not the most 519 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,160 efficient player ever, but when you've seen the past two seasons, like eighty 520 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:12,079 five percent of Maine field goals have gone assisted. It matters that he's been 521 00:32:12,119 --> 00:32:16,599 able to prop up any sort of league averagesh efficiency when he's responsible for generating 522 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:20,680 so many of his own looks. And it's the same thing with RJ. 523 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,279 Barrett, although that's difficult more difficult to discern, just because we've seen his 524 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:28,440 role change so much. And that's another thing you're looking at is how does 525 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,960 their usage change, not just in totality, but the context of it. 526 00:32:31,519 --> 00:32:35,160 We've seen RJ. Barrett towards the end of last season he was taking more 527 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,599 self generated looks. That matters when you're talking about whether you're worried about his 528 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:42,880 efficiency numbers right now. But it also matters that this is someone who buy 529 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:45,279 and large throughout his career has done a promising job of hitting his catch and 530 00:32:45,279 --> 00:32:50,240 shoot threes, because it implies that he is more plugging play than people give 531 00:32:50,279 --> 00:32:52,400 him credit for. This isn't Damark Rosen who needs to have the ball in 532 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:55,200 his hands to make an impact. You can trust him right now to hit 533 00:32:55,279 --> 00:33:00,079 those set jumpers. I would say definitely more than a Derozant. Maybe this 534 00:33:00,119 --> 00:33:02,559 point even more so than a Jimmy Butler, given as how his career arc 535 00:33:02,599 --> 00:33:07,200 has panned out. So I know that's not a quintessential or the perfect answer 536 00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:10,640 to your question, but those are the context of someone's role usage. The 537 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:15,079 way that their shots are coming is something that I use a lot when I'm 538 00:33:15,119 --> 00:33:19,240 trying to evaluate, not what just happened when I'm watching, what I'm seeing, 539 00:33:19,279 --> 00:33:22,599 what I'm feeling, but what could happen moving forward? And so for 540 00:33:22,839 --> 00:33:24,640 RJ. Barrett, and we had this question on a previous mail bag, 541 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:30,319 No, he has not finished the year as league wide efficiency of the average 542 00:33:30,319 --> 00:33:32,720 efficiency yet through three years that could be concerning, but we've seen it happen 543 00:33:32,839 --> 00:33:37,160 with other players like a Bradley Beal or even a Kema Walker. And with 544 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,079 Bradley Beal specifically, there's the parallel of their role. It's not even just 545 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:45,400 the types of shots they're taking, but their role changed flip flopped a lot 546 00:33:45,519 --> 00:33:47,880 throughout those first three years. And the fact that we know a little bit 547 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:51,640 more about r J. Barrett is a catch and shoot guy that we saw 548 00:33:51,839 --> 00:33:53,200 specifically towards the latter end of the season. What do you could do as 549 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,359 an on ball creator? What we've seen in the past two years when you 550 00:33:55,400 --> 00:34:00,359 plug him as sort of the main guy in bench mob units, if that's 551 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:04,000 valuable, and I try and look at those things, and it doesn't mean 552 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,160 I'm throwing efficiency out the window, but if you're gonna say that R. 553 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,599 J. Barrett is super inefficient, I do think it's important early on to 554 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:14,679 understand why for fast forwarding five years, he's been in the league for seven, 555 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:16,599 eight, nine seasons. Then you can get into the macro taste of 556 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:20,960 well, maybe this guy and even before then, but that's where you get 557 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:22,639 to, well, maybe this guy is who he is, and there's not 558 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:30,760 that much room or runway for growth overall, though Luke, free throw percentage 559 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:35,000 and steel rate have been this I've read and I think Seth part now of 560 00:34:35,119 --> 00:34:38,039 the athletic nurdersy ropepod is banging this from a lot like those are two good 561 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:44,480 predictors of NBA success, but like really only in those categories. You can't 562 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,599 extrapolate free throw shooting though, to see whether a player might have more range 563 00:34:47,679 --> 00:34:52,639 or more consistency from beyond the arc. Eric, how much better is Donovan 564 00:34:52,679 --> 00:34:57,639 Mitchell than Dwayne Wade? I, Eric, are you like a Jazz fan, 565 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,199 or would you be a Nicks or he at this point just curious Donno, 566 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:06,559 Mitchell not better than Dwayne Wade. Definitely a more dynamic jump shooter. 567 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:09,840 But you look at there. I went with their age twenty five seasons specifically, 568 00:35:10,199 --> 00:35:15,480 and let's break it down per thirty six minutes, Donovan Mitchell twenty seven 569 00:35:15,519 --> 00:35:19,039 point five points per thirty six minutes, five point seven assists, fifty three 570 00:35:19,079 --> 00:35:23,360 point three percent of his two's and thirty five point five percent of his threes. 571 00:35:23,519 --> 00:35:28,440 Last year. Wade twenty six points per thirty six minutes, seven point 572 00:35:28,519 --> 00:35:32,719 two assists, and he was he hit less of his free throws shot forty 573 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,679 nine or excuse me, shot fifty one point one percent on two. So 574 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,119 Mitchell has the edge there as well, twenty six point six percent from three 575 00:35:39,159 --> 00:35:44,440 on substantially less volume. Their shot profiles are drastically different here when you look 576 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,280 at just what's coming at the rim for Wade versus what was for Mitchell, 577 00:35:47,639 --> 00:35:52,559 I will say what stands out differently, Dwayne Wade at this stage was actually 578 00:35:52,599 --> 00:35:57,920 the better playmaker, definitely the better rim pressure guy and finisher. Would I 579 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:00,840 would think at least better at putting pressure on the backst so better passer, 580 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:06,119 better room finisher, getting to the line more, almost like he doubled Donovan 581 00:36:06,159 --> 00:36:09,159 Mitchell's free throw attempts per thirty six minutes and his age twenty five season, 582 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:14,320 So we're talking about someone who his drives, his attacks, they don't bell 583 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,519 out as much as Mitchell, who was more likely to settle for is more 584 00:36:16,599 --> 00:36:20,079 likely to settle for those mid range jumpers. And then also the thing that 585 00:36:20,199 --> 00:36:24,639 we can't discount is like Dwayne Wade at age twenty five was better defensively than 586 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:30,079 Mitchell is right now, and not like the best defensive player in the MBA 587 00:36:30,519 --> 00:36:34,079 material, but this is someone and we didn't have the same metrics or maybe 588 00:36:34,159 --> 00:36:37,119 i for talent that we did then he was a three time member of All 589 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:43,199 defensive teams, and like Mitchell hasn't even hinted that he might be on like 590 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,880 that type of trajectory. And Wade made an All defensive team I think it 591 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:51,480 was in his second season. Yeah, two thousand and four, two thousand 592 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:54,480 and five, I'm right. So I don't think don Mitchell right now is 593 00:36:54,519 --> 00:36:58,079 better than Dayne Wade. Do I think he has a ceiling where he could 594 00:36:58,119 --> 00:37:04,159 be better than Dwayne Wade looking at the versatility behind his offense, where he 595 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,400 could be more of an every level score those off the dree those off the 596 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:13,440 dribble threes, and then even just like as a mid range guy, maybe 597 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:15,800 you would trust him more. Overall, I do think there's an outcome where 598 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:20,719 he's the better offensive player than Dwyane Wade. But overall, it's tough without 599 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:23,320 Mitchell making like this monster leap on the defensive end. And maybe we see 600 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:28,280 that with his next team or or next season. But like you know, 601 00:37:28,519 --> 00:37:32,760 or maybe there's just like a draftic improvement at getting to the line. There 602 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:38,760 needs to be I would say a semi seismic improvement somewhere in one area of 603 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:44,159 Mitchell's game for him to be on that kind of trajectory. With all due 604 00:37:44,199 --> 00:37:51,840 respect Eric that here's our last question. NBA Chicken asked, what are your 605 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,679 thoughts on a no conference system? Just have playoffs of one to sixteen by 606 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:59,480 record plus play in and go from there. Could have the opportunity to have 607 00:37:59,559 --> 00:38:04,400 some wild playoff matchups. Yeah, I'm all for fuck divisions and conferences at 608 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:07,880 this point. I understand though, that travel is something the league is worried 609 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:12,320 about. Then better that much when you get to the postseason and you can 610 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,320 space games out a little bit more. The other thing is just like it 611 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:20,280 would be really cool the playing could get wild then, so you're having all 612 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,239 these sort of different teams in there, and I'm wondering, could we do 613 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:25,239 it this way in the intern if they don't want to go for the significant 614 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:30,480 appreciable chinge. Let's keep it like the top six teams from each conference guaranteed 615 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:35,280 a playoff spot. But then do we have seven, eight, nine, 616 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:38,440 ten from each conference those eight teams are thrown into the same playing pools that 617 00:38:38,519 --> 00:38:43,599 something is that unfair at all? And maybe you could even say the teams 618 00:38:43,639 --> 00:38:47,199 with the best records there like the two best or let's say the two best 619 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:52,039 records get to pick their opponent for the like, let's do something creative like 620 00:38:52,119 --> 00:38:54,320 that. I would be all for no conference overall. I do. I 621 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:59,800 don't know if the league ever get there. I'd be more optimistic on something 622 00:39:00,039 --> 00:39:01,760 on these lines, And it seems like they're not as focused on it when 623 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:06,159 you're looking at this mid season tournament that they're going to implement down the line. 624 00:39:06,639 --> 00:39:08,079 But can we get a taste of it a little bit like, can't 625 00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:12,199 we use the playing to that degree or is that just a hard no because 626 00:39:12,199 --> 00:39:15,159 we're talking about single game elimination and think of the travel there, space them 627 00:39:15,159 --> 00:39:20,079 out more. I want to see just something a little bit different, and 628 00:39:20,199 --> 00:39:22,280 like, yeah, you're looking at them like the Grizzlies would have played, 629 00:39:23,519 --> 00:39:28,960 which, by the way, wild and just under the radar. The Grizzlies 630 00:39:29,039 --> 00:39:30,440 had they weren't just a two seed in the West last year, they the 631 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:35,360 second best record in the NBA. That is just wild when it's framed that 632 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:38,119 way. But we were like Grizzlies Calves. That's been a hell of a 633 00:39:38,159 --> 00:39:40,159 playoffs here. He's like, that's what it would have been if we just 634 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:45,199 went with the the best teams, although the playing technically would have happened, 635 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:47,280 so maybe it wouldn't have been, but like, yeah, there there would 636 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:52,039 have been a bunch more fun matchups, the heat versus the nets in the 637 00:39:52,079 --> 00:39:57,960 first round. Maybe i'm, i'm the matchups would be a lot cooler. 638 00:39:58,039 --> 00:40:00,559 And then it gets you out of theoretic a point where it feels like maybe 639 00:40:00,599 --> 00:40:05,000 we would be watching the NBA finals sometimes unfolding the conference finals. But people 640 00:40:05,039 --> 00:40:08,440 often too much oversimplify that in general, So I don't have like a major 641 00:40:08,599 --> 00:40:15,760 issue with conferences, and like there's been when you're going ten deep in each 642 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:19,360 conference, at the moment, there's less egregious of oh well, all these 643 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,800 mediocre East teams are getting in still generally speaking, like the I'm more intrigued 644 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:25,639 by the bottom half of the West than I am the bottom half of the 645 00:40:25,679 --> 00:40:29,280 East, and in a given season thus far. So yes, I'm all 646 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:30,840 for getting rid of conferences, But could we maybe get rid of it for 647 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:35,119 the play in because that would like does that correct a little bit? And 648 00:40:35,199 --> 00:40:37,880 I can tell you right now that there are so many teams that pushed back 649 00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:39,880 against it. I believe the loudest one would probably be the Charlotte Hornet, 650 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:44,960 who exist to finish under Michael Jordan between seven and ten in the Eastern Conference. 651 00:40:45,039 --> 00:40:47,280 But maybe even the Wizards would have object that. But yeah, can 652 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:51,199 we at least get to that point? This mail bag was fun, It 653 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:52,880 was great. I hope you enjoyed it. We'll have another one later this 654 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,599 week just for Discord. Thank you everyone for their questions. As always, 655 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:59,960 if this your I'm listening to the pod, please subscribe. It's subscribe button 656 00:41:00,039 --> 00:41:02,920 on YouTube subscribe button wherever we get your podcast players, And until next time, 657 00:41:04,039 --> 00:41:09,079 I leave you with the shout out to the Womp, the only Frank Mueli Cheap