1 00:00:13,839 --> 00:00:18,320 What is crack a lack in all the Woodknox listeners. I am Dan for 2 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:23,879 Valley, coming at you with a quick NBA Draft rumor round up ahead of 3 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:30,480 Thursdays Prospect pageant. Just want to go through the latest news speculation, give 4 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,000 my interpretation of it what I think it was titled by ourselve. That's basically 5 00:00:35,039 --> 00:00:38,920 what we're doing, not commenting on the reportings. I'm only using rumors that 6 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,960 I deem valid enough to or we should deep valid enough to discuss before we 7 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,359 dive in quick programming. Though, We're gonna be publishing probably daily, if 8 00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:51,159 not maybe sometimes two pods daily right up until the start of free agency, 9 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,119 so make sure you're downloading every episode if you have subscribe. We're going to 10 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,640 have division look aheads coming out. I'm doing that with my good friend and 11 00:00:58,679 --> 00:01:02,039 colleague Bleacher Reports Grant, and we decided it would make sense to just wait 12 00:01:02,119 --> 00:01:03,879 until after the draft to begin all of them. So it is going to 13 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,760 be a ferocious publishing schedule over here at Hardwoo Knox, which is why you're 14 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:12,840 also not hearing from us until the middle of this draft week. And I 15 00:01:12,879 --> 00:01:15,480 wasn't even gonna put out a pod, but decided I didn't want to go 16 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:21,799 that many days without publishing a podcast, which is probably a sickness I would 17 00:01:21,879 --> 00:01:25,799 argue. If you have not subscribe to Hardwooknox yet, please consider doing so 18 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,599 right now, especially if this is your first time listen. 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All 27 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,719 the links to this social's, YouTube and discord are in our podcast description. 28 00:02:02,719 --> 00:02:07,599 That is the best way to help the pod is to subscribe downline every episode, 29 00:02:07,879 --> 00:02:10,199 follow us on all those social media channels. There is original content being 30 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:15,960 posted on ig TikTok YouTube as well. That's not specific to just these pods 31 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,280 that are going out and also word of mouth. Please recommend us if you 32 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,960 even mildly enjoy us, retweet our promotions that are on Twitter. Where else 33 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,840 would you retweet anything. We appreciate all of it and love each and every 34 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,599 one of you, But it feels like it's time to try and dive through 35 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:36,199 this rumor mill that I have. I've been pillaging through and we're just gonna 36 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,879 stick to like the biggest moves. It's not Look the Lakers want to buy 37 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:40,520 a second round pick, that's awesome. We're not going to go through that 38 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,479 type of stuff. I'm focusing on the meat and potatoes of the rumor mill 39 00:02:45,759 --> 00:02:50,039 here. This one is only tangentially related to the NBA Draft, if not 40 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,000 at all. There was the report to start off the week from the Athletics 41 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:58,240 sham Shrania that the Nets and Kyrie Irving are at an impasse in their discussions 42 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,800 on his next deal. He holds that player option ahead of free agency. 43 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:07,439 Wog also as of Wednesday, Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, was talking about 44 00:03:07,479 --> 00:03:13,680 how the Nets are worried to unfasten themselves from Kye. Th unfastenating was the 45 00:03:13,719 --> 00:03:16,800 word that he used. They want to draw a line sort of in the 46 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,840 sand on his contract talks, but they don't want to risk alienating Kevin Durant, 47 00:03:21,879 --> 00:03:25,199 who is a good friend of Kyrie, and the whole reason Kevin Durant 48 00:03:25,199 --> 00:03:29,080 is in Brooklyn is not twin in Brooklyn. It was to play with Kyrie 49 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,159 Irving in the first place. He's not really had ample opportunity to do so 50 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:37,520 to this point, there was I think Nick Fredell. I didn't read the 51 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,919 article, so I don't want to. I hope this wasn't taken out of 52 00:03:38,919 --> 00:03:45,520 context, but ESPNS Nick Fredell had apparently said that the friendship between them isn't 53 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:51,879 as close as it seems sometimes. I don't like it matters that they're still 54 00:03:51,919 --> 00:03:53,719 friends, though, and that Kevin Durant publicly has been supportive of Kyrie for 55 00:03:53,719 --> 00:03:55,960 the most part. I think even hinted in an interview we did that there 56 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,000 have been frustrations, especially with Kyrie's availability season, but I don't doubt that 57 00:04:01,039 --> 00:04:04,680 these two are on good terms. The James Harden situation doesn't end the way 58 00:04:04,719 --> 00:04:09,680 it does if Kevin duran and Kyrie Irving aren't still in this together. That 59 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,159 thirty six point seven million dollars player option, it lose large in this entire 60 00:04:14,639 --> 00:04:19,120 discussion. I do think that Kyrie's camp was probably trying to create some leverage 61 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:24,920 here that he would really consider leaving. If I'm the Nets, I might 62 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,000 think about calling his bluff. At the same time, this feels like a 63 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,040 marriage out of necessity for both teams. Where is Kyrie going to go? 64 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,600 As a fair question to ask, He's not going to sign outright with the 65 00:04:34,639 --> 00:04:40,759 Pistons or the Magic the Spurs maybe, but even that would be just like 66 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,680 a little bit surprising at this point, given where they are at the stage 67 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,879 of their development. You can go to sign and trade route, but one, 68 00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:53,519 who are the Nets going to do business with where they're getting adequate value 69 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:58,160 for Kyrie in return? And two, a lot of the teams that he's 70 00:04:58,199 --> 00:05:00,519 going to want to go to are gonna have a hard time completing assigned and 71 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,000 trade while staying within the hardcap and the Clippers, just as an example, 72 00:05:05,079 --> 00:05:08,959 assign and trade is not going to work for them. They're just too far 73 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:13,000 over the luxury tax apron as it stands. Even if you might like a 74 00:05:13,079 --> 00:05:18,800 package if you're Brooklyn built around Terrence Mann, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, 75 00:05:18,879 --> 00:05:24,040 is there as well, Norman Powell. Of course, it could be ditto 76 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,879 for the Lakers. I know they've propped up. If the Nets decided, 77 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,360 hey, we want their twenty twenty seven and twenty twenty nine first, and 78 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,879 we'll take back Russell Westbrook, and they would like, I guess, like 79 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:36,759 the Lakers have a little bit more. I don't guess the Lakers do have 80 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,800 a little bit more flexibility there than the Clippers. I just don't see a 81 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:46,879 pathway then flushing out the rest of the roster competently, and the math on 82 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,839 Tyree Irving's next contract and design and trade would absolutely matter as well. Since 83 00:05:51,079 --> 00:05:57,800 the Lakers already have leading into next season more than eighty million dollars committed to 84 00:05:57,879 --> 00:06:00,800 Lebron and ad alone, and the luxury tax aprons one fifty five point a 85 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,439 little bit over one fifty five point six next year, so you would have 86 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,720 in essence seventy six million. Let's now would be about seventy five million, 87 00:06:09,879 --> 00:06:13,720 let's say to pay Kyrie his max salary, flesh out the rest of the 88 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,319 roster, which that gets pretty hard pretty quick, and you have town Horton 89 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,639 tuck around that ten point three million dollar deal Kendrick Nunn picked up his five 90 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:25,079 point three million dollar player option. There's a lot of logistical gymnastics involved there. 91 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,600 There are some other teams that could more easily do this. Of course, 92 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,000 Kyrie has to want to go there. There's also been the speculation maybe 93 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,879 he would opt into his contract and that would help facilitate a trade. Again, 94 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:40,399 it still matters what the Nets are getting back for him. And also 95 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:45,439 if you're Kyrie irving the money that you've made, and a thirty six point 96 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,600 seven million dollars salary is nothing to just sort of slouch at, but you 97 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:53,839 have the ability to sign for forty two point seven just next year, that 98 00:06:54,079 --> 00:06:58,160 is a pretty substantial increase. It's almost six million dollars. And also given 99 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:02,720 your not just his vaccination status costing him games last year, which just throughout 100 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,839 his career always with the injuries that he has dealt with, you probably want 101 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:12,079 to lock down some longer term money he could still leave outright, or maybe 102 00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:15,839 there's a signed tradeossbility if a team is willing to go nuclear. The Knicks 103 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:18,240 would be an example. Are they willing to just dump a bunch of salary 104 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,319 for a cat's an excellent job? Laying out the steps they would have to 105 00:07:21,399 --> 00:07:24,519 get there. I don't even want to go too deep into it, just 106 00:07:24,519 --> 00:07:28,120 because I don't view it as a realistic option. Kyrie leaving the Nets at 107 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,720 all, to be honest, but a team like that, if they can 108 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,279 clear cap space, the Knicks would also have an easier time getting involved in 109 00:07:33,319 --> 00:07:36,120 assign and trade. That being said, if you're Brooklyn, are you sending 110 00:07:36,279 --> 00:07:42,480 Kyrie like to the Eastern Conference to someone in your division? Insofar's divisions even 111 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,199 matter at this point? Is the offer good enough to do that? It 112 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,959 feels like even if the Knicks were giving their top dollar offer, or even 113 00:07:48,959 --> 00:07:53,279 if they were smitten with the Lakers twenty twenty seven and twenty nine. First, 114 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:59,959 this requires third fourth team facilitation for squads that might actually place more immediate 115 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,839 value in those picks, because the Nets are going to want impact players, 116 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,480 And that, to me is what this all comes back to. Is if 117 00:08:05,519 --> 00:08:09,319 you're the Nets, you can't move on from Kyrie Irving and think you're going 118 00:08:09,399 --> 00:08:13,279 to get better, especially if you've already lost James Harden the mystery box that 119 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,199 is Ben Simmons and his back right now. You also can't move Kyrie Irving 120 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:22,000 and just assume that Kevin Durant will want to stay. We can get into 121 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,639 whether you think he should have went to Brooklyn in the first place. If 122 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,160 you're making this decision from your own perspective, the answer is no, Kevin, 123 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,000 why would you leave the Warriors to the Nets. But Kevin Durant wanted 124 00:08:31,519 --> 00:08:33,639 this, and that's fine. I don't. I don't have an issue with 125 00:08:33,639 --> 00:08:37,399 that, and wanted to play with his friend, wanted to play in Brooklyn. 126 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,759 I really don't. He wanted to go there, and players have agency. 127 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:45,320 That's that's great. He should play where he wants to. I'm sure 128 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,279 he considered that. Maybe that was costing him a few titles. Maybe he 129 00:08:48,279 --> 00:08:50,240 didn't even consider it, Maybe he doesn't care. Maybe he still thinks the 130 00:08:50,279 --> 00:08:54,799 Nets are championship contenders, which news flash. Kyrie Irving's healthy, Kevin Durant's 131 00:08:54,799 --> 00:08:56,919 healthy. I've been Simmons his healthy. Next year, they're absolutely just that. 132 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:03,679 I still say calculus could change, not trying to project my feelings onto 133 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,120 Kemn Durant. I still feel his calculus could change if Kyrie Irving's not there 134 00:09:07,399 --> 00:09:11,120 anymore. And so you have to take that into consideration. If you're Brooklyn 135 00:09:11,519 --> 00:09:15,519 this all feels like it will end with a middle ground. I don't know 136 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:20,039 if it's just a shorter deal that the Nets are signing with Kyrie. Maybe 137 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,279 it's a a two plus one or something that gets him to free agency soon 138 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,240 or doesn't tie them down to him as long. Maybe it's just a full 139 00:09:26,279 --> 00:09:31,720 boat at this point. But because of the nets lack of other options, 140 00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:35,000 I would argue they have less leverage in this situation than Kyrie Irving because they 141 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,919 have to be committed to possibly rebuilding and starting over. If you let Kyrie 142 00:09:39,919 --> 00:09:43,840 Irving go or move him, that's doesn't you would tenderly have to trade Kemn 143 00:09:43,919 --> 00:09:48,519 Durant. But that all of a sudden just becomes an issue if you're trading 144 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,519 the primary reason that he came to Brooklyn in the first place. So I 145 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:56,120 expect all this to end with Kyrie playing in Brooklyn next season. Worst worst 146 00:09:56,159 --> 00:10:00,080 case scenario, he starts the season there after signing a new deal, and 147 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,320 then they can move him once he's trade eligible if this marriage is that far 148 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:07,919 gone, which again, this just feels like a public game of chicken that's 149 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:13,240 being played more so than anyone else. One of the other biggest or the 150 00:10:13,759 --> 00:10:18,879 Probably the biggest draft rumor right now is John Collins will be moved at some 151 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:24,879 point. It's just like this known thing. Wode said during an appearance on 152 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,759 Sports Center that the Hawks are was motivated as any team the league to make 153 00:10:28,799 --> 00:10:31,799 a significant deal or deals to improve their team, to try to find a 154 00:10:31,799 --> 00:10:35,879 co star for Trey Young. I think it's very likely John Collins is going 155 00:10:35,879 --> 00:10:37,320 to be part of any of those deals. I think he's very likely on 156 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,799 the move somewhere this week as they try to do something big in Atlanta this 157 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:48,240 week. Verbiage caught me there. Bleacher Reports Jake Fisher also reported that Collins 158 00:10:48,279 --> 00:10:52,120 is view just the most likely trade candidate among impact veterans around the league, 159 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,399 and that there's mutual interest between him and the Hawks organization and finding him a 160 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:01,480 new spot. Sam Amick, also on the Athletic NBA Show, had said 161 00:11:01,519 --> 00:11:03,960 the Hawks have been tied to Jeremy Grant. They've talked to the Kings about 162 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,440 the number four picking a deal that would likely involve Harrison Barnes. I have 163 00:11:07,519 --> 00:11:09,919 to assume there are third and fourth teams there as well, because unless the 164 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,840 Hawks are giving up Trey Young, I don't know how you're getting Harrison Barnes 165 00:11:13,919 --> 00:11:16,759 and number four and a John Collins deal. Fisher, though, did say 166 00:11:16,799 --> 00:11:20,440 that the talks between Sacramento and Atlanta have actually not included the fourth selections to 167 00:11:20,519 --> 00:11:26,320 this point. Anarchy, that's what it is right now. John Collins trade 168 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,240 feels fad to complete. I gave my thoughts on that in the last podcast. 169 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:33,440 Hawks fans destroyed me for that. In the YouTube comments, I got 170 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,080 shipped from Suns fans for saying I don't think the Hawks should be moving John 171 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,720 Collins for DeAndre Eten. I don't think it makes them better when you have 172 00:11:39,759 --> 00:11:43,480 Clint Coppela and Yaka Kongou as well. Even if you think DeAndre Ayton is 173 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,559 the better player than John Collins, I don't know if DeAndre Ayton is the 174 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,480 better fit alongside Trey Young. I don't know if Deandredon's gonna have a more 175 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:52,840 self sustaining offensive game if you give him even more responsibility, which you might 176 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:58,639 not because Trey Young is Super Bowl dominant himself. People pointed out, well, 177 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,200 then you move Clint Capella and or Onyeka Kungwu, like part of the 178 00:12:01,279 --> 00:12:03,559 value in a trade is not oh, I have to get rid of at 179 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,159 least this other guy to make room for DeAndre, and if it is that 180 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,720 player needs to be an absolute megastar, which DeAndre is not. I still 181 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:16,000 think John Collins is incredibly underrated. His offensive game is so scalable. I 182 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,759 think a lot of at least Hawks fans in the YouTube comments were underrating what 183 00:12:20,879 --> 00:12:24,080 his floor game could be. To me, there's not like a super high 184 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,480 processing speed there. I also don't know that the Hawks have given him a 185 00:12:26,799 --> 00:12:31,240 realistic opportunity to plumb the depths of that in his current role really ever since 186 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:35,919 the Clint Capella trade. You also turn him into more of a spot up 187 00:12:35,919 --> 00:12:39,600 guy because of the Capella trade, since he can't be the primary screener and 188 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,120 finisher rim runner on as many of those plays anymore. A better situation, 189 00:12:43,159 --> 00:12:46,360 I think he probably looks better, or even if you kept him with Cappella 190 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:52,159 gave him some more offensive responsibility. It is crowded though, within Atlanta's pecking 191 00:12:52,279 --> 00:12:56,279 order. You have Trey Young and then you have Bogdan Mgdanovich, you have 192 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:00,120 Kevin Hurder, so there are names that are going to be in front of 193 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,840 him. Gallo maybe won't be there next season. Perhaps that opens up opportunities 194 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,320 for John Collins, but this sort of feels too far gone. I'm not 195 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,519 saying the Hawks shouldn't trade John Collins. I think it would just be a 196 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:13,200 mistake to trade him for the sake of trading him, and they're clearly doing 197 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,639 their due diligence, otherwise this deal would be done. I'm more so fall 198 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,600 on the side of I'm not moving John Collins for draft equity. Yeah, 199 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,159 if it's a top four pick, reconsiderate, I guess, but Jay and 200 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,879 Ivy Trey Young unless you think one of those bigs are going to be there, 201 00:13:26,159 --> 00:13:30,360 which case you still have to worry about the Capella fit. Unless you're 202 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,039 going to take a more gradual approach. I don't want to say completely start 203 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,960 over, but retool, quasi rebuild, whatever you want to call it. 204 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:41,639 I don't think that moving Collins and getting better is easy, because you have 205 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:48,360 to target players who are worth Collins and then other stuff, other players that 206 00:13:48,519 --> 00:13:50,480 actually improve your team. There's a case for me that Rudy Gobert is that 207 00:13:50,519 --> 00:13:54,600 guy. I don't if I'm the Hawks and it's costing me at least one 208 00:13:54,639 --> 00:13:58,080 first Cappella and Collins, any Rudy Gobert trade, not even saying it's straight 209 00:13:58,159 --> 00:14:03,120 up it's not a complete deal breaker. It's something I have to think about. 210 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,200 It's not a no brainer from the Hawks, as good as Regal Bear 211 00:14:05,759 --> 00:14:11,600 is, So I do now expect John codes to get moved. The Woges 212 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:16,240 language with mentioning this week. I thought maybe it would be something I'll be 213 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,879 addressed, like before the season, but it feels like regardless when the trades 214 00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:22,399 completed. While the better idea of where he'll be playing basketball by the end 215 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,840 of draft night, I just I'm fully prepared to be disappointed in what the 216 00:14:26,879 --> 00:14:31,080 Hawks do with John Collins at this point. And if this even screams or 217 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:37,120 hints at any semblance of oh, they're trying to save money given their proximity 218 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:43,480 to the luxury tax, I will be furious because that's just to be a 219 00:14:43,519 --> 00:14:48,559 misallocation of what's a really good player. And look, let's give the Hawks 220 00:14:48,559 --> 00:14:52,000 a benefit of the doubt here. The trade has not been made yet and 221 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:56,039 they're clearly not dealing him willy nilly, Otherwise that might have happened already. 222 00:14:56,159 --> 00:15:00,240 So John Collins trade, I don't know that I buy the idea, yeah, 223 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:05,080 that you have to move him but it certainly seems like he's going to 224 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:11,480 be moved this week New Orleans. This comes from Jake Fisher or Bleach Report 225 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:16,240 as well. If they cannot get Benedick Mathren or Dyson Daniels, excuse me 226 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,639 at number eight, they're reportedly open to moving down the draft ladder. That 227 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,080 was per Fisher. I'd buy it. I mean, Benedick Mathren is a 228 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,399 great fit just to provide motion shooting and another wing on that team. I 229 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:31,080 really like Dyson Daniels sort of this do everything wing who I don't know if 230 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:35,480 he's going to be super great off the dribble or hitting jumpers, but he 231 00:15:35,639 --> 00:15:41,080 is a really good playmaker. He can defend his butt off it's six to 232 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,679 eight. He gives you a lot of positional flexibility. I think that the 233 00:15:43,679 --> 00:15:46,960 passing and defense alone will have an instant impact. He is one of my 234 00:15:46,039 --> 00:15:52,159 draft favorites, along with Marjehan Bochamp. That being said, I don't expect 235 00:15:52,159 --> 00:15:58,120 that Benedick Mathren is still be on the board at number eight. Bleach Report 236 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:02,480 Shathan Washerman has him off beforehand did over Sam Vassini of The Athletic. I 237 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,720 believe Adam Spinella of the box and one has him off the board before number 238 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,519 eight as well. Tyson Daniels is sort of all over the place. Jonathan 239 00:16:08,519 --> 00:16:12,480 Wasserman has him last thing until the number eight pick. Sam Massini has him 240 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:17,279 going I think at number seven right now, but as before the number eight 241 00:16:17,279 --> 00:16:18,320 pick, and so moving down if both of them are off the board makes 242 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:22,399 perfect sense. If those are your guys, can you work out something with 243 00:16:22,519 --> 00:16:26,399 Okase's number twelve Charlotte has thirteen and fifteen. Maybe you would even prefer to 244 00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:30,159 get Usmanjang instead and just keep the number eight pick. I expect he get 245 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,440 Murried to be off the board by then too, which is probably why he 246 00:16:33,519 --> 00:16:37,559 wasn't mentioned alongside New Orleans. But yeah, why not trying to attempt to 247 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,639 move down? I would be curious what teams were looking to get into that 248 00:16:40,679 --> 00:16:45,720 spot if the players that New Orleans is targeting, specifically benned Ic Mathin isn't 249 00:16:45,759 --> 00:16:48,879 there, But maybe they're trying to get a jail and Dern like, maybe 250 00:16:48,879 --> 00:16:52,320 that's a team that's trying to leave up and get him. But I think 251 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,879 New Orleans should absolutely just be flexible on how they view this pick. They 252 00:16:55,879 --> 00:16:59,759 could use sort of another I don't know, say the developmental project, but 253 00:17:00,159 --> 00:17:03,879 use another infusion of lottery talent, of course, but they're also already good 254 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,759 enough. Is Zion's healthy to compete for one of the primary playoff spots in 255 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:11,480 the West, which gives you just some maaluability leading into draft night. I 256 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,720 wouldn't you know, I would want something immediate out of this pick, whether 257 00:17:14,759 --> 00:17:18,319 it's actually using it on a player at eight lower in the draft or flipping 258 00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:21,240 it for a veteran. I wouldn't be trading it for a distant first round 259 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,480 pick, but I think that they have more options on the table than a 260 00:17:23,519 --> 00:17:29,160 lot of other teams in this situation. Jeremy Woo from si dot Com had 261 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,960 two interesting tidbits and among others, but the twos that stood out to me 262 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,440 in his latest mock draft. The first was that the Grizzlies are looking to 263 00:17:37,559 --> 00:17:41,319 dangle number twenty two and the Anton Anthony Melton in an attempt to enter the 264 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,400 teams. They also had the number twenty nine pick. I don't think the 265 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,160 Anthony Melton. The number twenty two alone gets you into the teams just looking 266 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:53,359 at the draft order, I guess, like would a team like in Atlanta 267 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,960 I want to give up sixteen. Would Houston be open to moving back at 268 00:17:57,079 --> 00:18:03,359 number seventeen? Charlotte does have fifteen. I don't know if the Anthey Mountain 269 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,279 alone is enough to do that. I guess if you think that you're primary 270 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,400 target is still going to be available and number twenty two, that changes the 271 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,119 calculus. The Anthy Mountain is also really good. He's owed eight point three 272 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:17,079 million next year, only a one point five million guarantee on his eight million 273 00:18:17,079 --> 00:18:21,799 dollars salaries the year after, and he's become like this three indeed guard essentially, 274 00:18:21,799 --> 00:18:26,079 and he can defend some wings, but he is just a a pesky 275 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,920 defender. And he has shown that he can hit threes over the past two 276 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,279 seasons without working with the ball in his hands a ton, and so that 277 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:38,640 makes him extremely plug and play if you're a team that has more immediate aspirations, 278 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:44,440 and maybe it's like a team like Charlotte would make so much sense, 279 00:18:44,599 --> 00:18:48,720 but they have Terry Rosier there already, and I don't know, like why 280 00:18:48,759 --> 00:18:52,839 you would want the Fte Mountain as well. I mean, I could see 281 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,440 what you would want him, but is that is he worth dropping back seven 282 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,000 spots if you're giving up fifteen the fthy Mountain is certainly not enough to get 283 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,000 at the twelve fourteen with Cleveland. I think they probably need more of a 284 00:19:04,079 --> 00:19:08,400 connective tissue passer than the Anthy Melton is going to provide. I mentioned Atlanta, 285 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:14,839 I mentioned Houston, Chicago at eighteen, perhaps Minnesota at nineteen, and 286 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,119 then we're out of the teams right there. I think they would if you're 287 00:19:18,319 --> 00:19:21,880 if you're Memphis, you probably need to dangle the twenty nine pick as well, 288 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,720 and perhaps that catches the attention of like a you know, Washington could 289 00:19:25,759 --> 00:19:27,400 really use the Anthy Melton. Would you do twenty two twenty nine? A 290 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:33,359 Melton for number ten if you can't move up, because we know the Wizards 291 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,359 will get to that in a second, want Jade and Ivy or you know, 292 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:37,960 they can't take a swing like if Shayden Sharp. Some people have them 293 00:19:38,039 --> 00:19:42,720 going as long as ten at this point. Maybe that's something that they consider. 294 00:19:42,799 --> 00:19:47,640 It feels like Memphis needs to include a little bit more than Melton and 295 00:19:47,759 --> 00:19:51,000 number two to jump up into the middle of the teams. It's it's like 296 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,119 number nineteen then yeah, that's you know, they're that worry they need to 297 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:59,880 move up three spots and strike a deal with the Timberwolves, then yeah, 298 00:20:00,039 --> 00:20:03,039 more power to them. I suppose. The other thing from Jeremy was he 299 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:08,240 mentioned that the Warriors would be looking to move the their first round pick in 300 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:14,599 this year's draft, that's number twenty eight. I think it was. This 301 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,240 is spun is in service of them being able to just cut their their tax 302 00:20:18,279 --> 00:20:23,680 bill. I don't I would just use the pick. I don't care about 303 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,880 saving Joe Lake up and crew like actual luxury tax money. If the player 304 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,240 you want at twenty eight is going to be available in the second round and 305 00:20:32,319 --> 00:20:34,279 you can trade down and then you're not holding to the rookie scale. But 306 00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:38,200 at number twenty eight, they're so cheap to begin with, unless you're going 307 00:20:38,279 --> 00:20:41,759 the draft and stash like route, in which case, why do you even 308 00:20:41,759 --> 00:20:47,880 need to necessarily get rid of this pick? So I just don't think it 309 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,759 makes a big enough of a dent. If you're moving it and just getting 310 00:20:51,839 --> 00:20:52,839 rid of the pick, what are you getting for it? No team is 311 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,559 giving you a future first in exchange for number twenty eight right now? Are 312 00:20:56,559 --> 00:21:00,839 you then moving that for a future second? So if you want to move 313 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,839 down and just escape being beholden to the rookie scale. I get it. 314 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:07,559 I don't know why you would move this pick otherwise, especially when you're trying 315 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:11,039 to straddle the two timelines and you've done it well thus far. Obviously as 316 00:21:11,079 --> 00:21:15,079 the reigning champs, who also have Jonathan Cominga, Moses Moody, Jordan Pool, 317 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:19,359 and James Wiseman, I wouldn't be a big fan. Maybe the Warriors 318 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,160 surprise us and try and acquire some media talent. Again, I don't know 319 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:26,880 how they do that with this pick. They don't have like salary flots. 320 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,599 I'm just to include in trades. They haven't seemed like a team that's wanted 321 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,119 to shake up anything. And this pick is going to be worth as a 322 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:40,880 capital like two point one it's less than two point two million dollars. I'm 323 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:45,079 just I don't know the logic necessarily, aside from getting out of it outright 324 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,079 and trimming your tax bill that way, again, if you can get an 325 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:52,680 earlier second round pick, or maybe you know, Adams Panalo from the Box 326 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,839 that One did come on this podcast and said that there's just like this log 327 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,680 jam of talent where if it's like between twenty two and fifty five and if 328 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,359 you think that the guy you wanted twenty eight is gonna bevailable number fifty one 329 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,160 for some absurd reason, I guess you could punt on this pick entirely. 330 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,359 Otherwise use it on a player that can help you, like down the line, 331 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,480 whether it's draft and Stash, are actually bringing him into your program and 332 00:22:14,559 --> 00:22:22,000 trying to develop him from here Jay Nivy when you talk about him, The 333 00:22:22,079 --> 00:22:26,480 Knicks have apparently ramped up their pursuit of what is considered the consensus number four 334 00:22:26,839 --> 00:22:32,880 prospect. Ian Begley of SNY wrote, as of mid morning on Tuesday, 335 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:36,359 I believe that the Knicks can get up to number four to select j Nivy. 336 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,839 That is some pretty strong language from Ian, who is as plugged in 337 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:45,039 his Knicks coverage as it gets and doesn't use language like that lightly. He 338 00:22:45,079 --> 00:22:48,240 also wrote, it would take a significant piece. People in touch with Sacramentos 339 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,599 say that in the club's conversations with New York, the Knicks have talked about 340 00:22:51,599 --> 00:22:55,920 offering you multiple first round picks. He doesn't know what players are offered, 341 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,279 but it wasn't enough to lock a deal in he closes with For the Knicks, 342 00:22:59,319 --> 00:23:00,440 I think it will come down to whether they are willing to part with 343 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,960 one of their homegrown young players. Manuo, Quickly you'll be topping Quentin Grimes 344 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,519 in addition to multiple picks. This is interesting, we know, and we'll 345 00:23:07,519 --> 00:23:11,119 talk more about the number four pick in the Kings of General in a second. 346 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,400 I buy the hell out of this idea for the Knicks. This is 347 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,839 the swing you make when you're wandering through the NBA's boondocks of mediocrity. Yo, 348 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,440 more, here's your future to clear enough cap space to sign Jalen Brunson, 349 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,960 a fantastic player who is not going to accelerate your position up the Eastern 350 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:33,720 Conference. He's really more of to improve while staying in place sort of player. 351 00:23:33,799 --> 00:23:37,039 When looking at how you project your team moving forward, you certainly don't 352 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:41,160 hit your wagon in any way. To Kyrie Irving. You do what you've 353 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:47,200 ostensibly never done, and that's go after the potentially transcendent floor general who doesn't 354 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:52,119 accelerate or impede your timeline, but actively defines it. And so the idea 355 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:57,279 that the Knicks are considering going all in on Jay Nivey pursuit pursuit is actually 356 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:02,799 encouraging because they have of alternatives contingencies in place that I wouldn't be a fan 357 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,200 of. I like this aggressive move comes down though to cost. I think 358 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,720 the Kings are going to be the team that says no first here. Clearly 359 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:12,920 a lot of people think they should just move this pick because Jay and Ivy 360 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,559 and d Iron Fox don't make too much sense. I've come a little bit 361 00:24:15,559 --> 00:24:21,119 more around on Jay Nivey's off ball offense, like his utility there and that 362 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:22,640 it could work. I just take him anyway and you figure it out later. 363 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:27,119 If he is the best player on the board. And I understand that 364 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:32,279 Kings are looking to end their playoff route spanning since two thousand and six, 365 00:24:32,559 --> 00:24:33,559 I don't know if the Knicks are the team to help them do that. 366 00:24:33,599 --> 00:24:37,000 They can include the number eleven pick, they can include the Dallas twenty twenty 367 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,079 three pick. They have all their own first round picks moving forward. But 368 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:45,920 then you're looking at sort of role player guys Neurlands, Noel Alec Burks who 369 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,359 actually just had foot surgery, Kema Walker, Like that's not going to get 370 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:55,119 your juices going. They have Evan Fournier. Those are like the impact players 371 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:56,559 they can give you. You're not gonna Waant Julius Randall. They're probably not 372 00:24:56,559 --> 00:25:00,759 giving up R. J. Barrett in this deal. The impact players, 373 00:25:00,799 --> 00:25:03,000 immediate impact players they can give you. I don't think they move the Kings's 374 00:25:03,079 --> 00:25:07,039 needle enough to what they would want in a package for number four pick Now, 375 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,680 maybe the Knicks are offering so many future first, it doesn't matter if 376 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:15,880 they're offering number eleven and like two to three additional first. If you're Sacramento 377 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,759 to move down seven spots, yeah, maybe maybe you consider it. Perhaps 378 00:25:18,799 --> 00:25:22,480 you're smitten with some players around that area. Perhaps you know that those assets 379 00:25:22,519 --> 00:25:25,799 can be rerouted in another deal. They should certainly have interest. If the 380 00:25:26,079 --> 00:25:30,279 Knicks are willing to include IQ or Topping or Quentin Grimes. IQ is not 381 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,160 redundant, but you're still running into a lot of guard questions with Fox and 382 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,599 Damian Mitchell already there. Quentin Grimes, the Kings need defensive wings. He 383 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:41,000 can. He's a little bit like he's not super big, but he can 384 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:44,319 defend up and defend on the wings, capably of three and D type. 385 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,640 It seems like some people think he has a little bit more ball skills. 386 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:48,960 I just don't know that we saw enough of him in New York oh, 387 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,160 we topping high energy guy. A front court with him and Samonis, though 388 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,480 would be probably pretty terrible on defense. Maybe they just plan not playing them 389 00:25:56,519 --> 00:26:00,920 together. It feels like the future picks would be just a total of lore 390 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,720 for the Kings in this package, and I don't know how many Knicks would 391 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:04,880 have to include to get to that point. But if you're a Knicks fan, 392 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:08,880 you should absolutely be encouraged that this is the terms in which they're thinking, 393 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:14,279 and you shouldn't be discouraged if it winds up costing a small ransom to 394 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,079 get this pick. If Jay n Ivey is the guy, and he looks 395 00:26:18,079 --> 00:26:21,880 like he's pretty clear, I mean, he's pretty clearly the best just advantage 396 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,480 point of attack creator in this draft. But if you think that he is 397 00:26:25,519 --> 00:26:27,359 going to be able, his finishing is going to translate, that frenetic pace 398 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,759 is going to translate that he's going to even hone a mid range game. 399 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:33,559 You could trust him to hit maybe off the dribble threes moving forward, or 400 00:26:33,559 --> 00:26:37,759 at least set threes off the ball. If you're giving RJ. Barrett Slash 401 00:26:37,799 --> 00:26:40,599 Julie's random room to operate. If you believe that he is the guy, 402 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:45,039 you should absolutely be going after him. That is something this organization is just 403 00:26:45,079 --> 00:26:47,720 not done. Even when they've had higher lottery picks than they do now, 404 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,839 they're not you know, go back to the Shake Gil Just Alexander draft, 405 00:26:51,839 --> 00:26:56,200 where it seems like that was just a no brainer for them to draft the 406 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,480 guard with really good like who could who projected as a fair a good ball 407 00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:04,480 handler could defend, but maybe a primary creator the Tyres Halibert and stuff that 408 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:08,279 is a little bit more obvious his creation at least than Jake Las Alexander's at 409 00:27:08,279 --> 00:27:12,000 the time. I like that the Knicks are thinking in these terms. I 410 00:27:12,079 --> 00:27:17,640 just don't think they're going to have the juice to get up to number four, 411 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,160 because if I'm the Kings, I'm looking at probably what other teams can 412 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,359 offer, or maybe I don't want to fall back that far, which brings 413 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,720 us to reporting from Bleach reports Jake Fisher. It's not just the Knicks who 414 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:30,480 were trying to pry number four away from the Kings. The Pacers, Spurs, 415 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,960 and Washington Wizards have all been linked to that pick. The sheer volume 416 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:37,920 of this interest doesn't necessarily increase the chances that the Kings will trade out of 417 00:27:38,079 --> 00:27:41,359 what's deemed the Jay and Ivy spot, But the redundancy of having bold, 418 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:47,960 Ivy and Fox was Davion Mitchell does sort of increase to anything's possible factor here, 419 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,720 as does also the Kings's obsession with ending their playoff throughout. Maybe the 420 00:27:52,799 --> 00:27:56,160 Kings keep this pick and go in a different direction, like a Kick and 421 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:00,440 Murray or a Benedict Mathrin. There they can deviate from what has been consider 422 00:28:00,519 --> 00:28:03,480 the script. Maybe you just take Ivy figure like I said, and figure 423 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,359 out the Fox and Ivy stuff later. Inasmuch you even need to choose between 424 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:11,039 those two. A lot just going to depend on the deals that are presented 425 00:28:11,079 --> 00:28:14,880 to them. I would guess that this just goes down to the wire right 426 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,559 before the pick is made. I think you could argue though, that Indiana 427 00:28:18,759 --> 00:28:23,119 just being two spots behind Sacramento. If you're willing, if they're willing to 428 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:27,920 give up additional equity on top of number six, maybe even a future first 429 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:32,680 round pick, that deal might be easier for the Kings to make. The 430 00:28:32,759 --> 00:28:34,759 Spurs can offer flat out more at number nine. I don't know if they 431 00:28:34,799 --> 00:28:38,000 would be willing to. You would certainly like a lot of their young players 432 00:28:38,039 --> 00:28:42,119 more than you would what the Knicks are. There's just more establishment there. 433 00:28:42,799 --> 00:28:45,960 If it's a Keldon Johnson, if it's a Devin Missell, that just seems 434 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:52,400 a little steep for the Spurs to move up those five spots. If Washington 435 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,000 gets involved, they have KCP, they have Kyle Kuzma, the Kings need 436 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,319 wings. They can include a future first. I don't Denny Ava to move 437 00:29:00,359 --> 00:29:03,519 up to four. That's a lot. I loved you. Everyone to listen 438 00:29:03,519 --> 00:29:07,559 to podcast knows. I love Denny Abbia. The defensive progression he's shown over 439 00:29:07,559 --> 00:29:11,759 his first couple of years has been really incredible. Just a lot more positional 440 00:29:11,839 --> 00:29:15,720 versatility there than I expected, And I do think there's more of his just 441 00:29:15,759 --> 00:29:18,400 looking at the physicality and some touchy show and putting the ball on the floor, 442 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,160 I think there's more of a there's a lot better of an offensive player 443 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:26,000 in there. If the if they Washington Wizards are willing to explore the depths 444 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:30,519 of his skill set. But in theory, like a lot of those, 445 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:33,720 if you're building something around Denny Abbia or a KCP and clues about a pick, 446 00:29:33,759 --> 00:29:36,559 that might just be more enticing than what the Knicks are offering you, 447 00:29:37,279 --> 00:29:41,359 especially given how much Sacramento needs wings. I don't have a feel for what 448 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,960 the Kings are going to do here. I'm a sucker for adventure, so 449 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,839 I just I want to see them create chaos and move out of the spot. 450 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,839 But it feels like it's going to come down to the wire. And 451 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,359 even though Jane and Ivy may not be the perfect fit, you can't take 452 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:59,640 moving. The number four selection. Lately, by any measure, somewhat obscured 453 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:03,799 within that bombshell Kyrie. Every report from Shams to the start the week was 454 00:30:03,839 --> 00:30:07,200 an odd towards the Knicks. Continued interest in Malcolm Brogden, who's clearly a 455 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:11,400 contingency as to the Ivy stuff. Maybe he's even a contingency if they can't 456 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:15,720 get John Brunson in free agency. The reporting on John Brunson though, is 457 00:30:15,759 --> 00:30:21,279 that he's you know, his return to the MAVs is set in stone. 458 00:30:22,039 --> 00:30:25,599 ESPN. Brian Windhorse also reported on NBA Today that Brogden couldn't land with the 459 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:30,480 Wizards quote possibly for that tenth pick, possibly for not I'm just gonna go 460 00:30:30,519 --> 00:30:33,400 out on, which would be a pretty sturdy limb here. I don't think 461 00:30:33,519 --> 00:30:37,519 the Pacers are getting number ten or number eleven from Malcolm Broughden. They're not 462 00:30:37,559 --> 00:30:42,160 getting a lottery pick from Malcolm Brogden. They've essentially been hawking him around the 463 00:30:42,279 --> 00:30:48,039 entire league since April. That's when Mark Stein reported on his substack. The 464 00:30:48,039 --> 00:30:51,039 Pacers made it clear they would they would jettison Brogden in the off season. 465 00:30:51,319 --> 00:30:53,359 That's how long he's been on the market, given his injury history, in 466 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,559 fact that he's old three years and sixty seven point six million over the next 467 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:02,680 three years. This is not someone who's on a value contract, a positive 468 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:06,079 value contract. He has earned that money. The Pacers side him for it. 469 00:31:06,279 --> 00:31:07,720 Teams are going to view that, I would argue, for the most 470 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:11,039 part, as a net negative asset for at least another year before they can 471 00:31:11,079 --> 00:31:14,960 really see the light at the end of the tunnel. I do think he 472 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,759 has shown that his offensive game is broader than the catch and shoot, pump 473 00:31:18,759 --> 00:31:22,720 and drive stuff that to find it in Milwaukee. But he's also not this 474 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,880 orthodox initiator in the half court or someone who's proved to knock down off the 475 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:30,680 drive looks at high clips. His defense is fine across ones and twos and 476 00:31:30,799 --> 00:31:34,720 some more stationary threes like He's not going to torpedo or submarine your defense, 477 00:31:34,759 --> 00:31:38,200 which has value in itself, that's not worth a lottery pick. He also 478 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:42,440 turns thirty in December. We have to remember here, so this contract is 479 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:48,079 taken him to his age thirty thirty one and age thirty two season. You're 480 00:31:48,119 --> 00:31:49,599 not, You're just I would be floored if you're getting a lottery pick for 481 00:31:49,599 --> 00:31:53,680 Malcolm Brogden a lowe. Now if you're including other stuff in there, this 482 00:31:53,799 --> 00:31:57,440 is part of a larger Miles Turner trade. Are you willing to move christa 483 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:01,319 war Day's part of that? But I saw initially not lately that Pacers fans 484 00:32:01,319 --> 00:32:05,880 are hoping Brogden could be the primary mechanism through which they move up to get 485 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,599 number four. That's not happening. And I really just don't think he's going 486 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:14,480 to net you a lottery pick. And if either the Wizards or the Knicks 487 00:32:14,559 --> 00:32:17,599 do that without getting other stuff in return punting on a top twelve pick, 488 00:32:19,119 --> 00:32:22,799 they should be rightly shame in the trade reactions because I just don't think that 489 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:24,319 that's a great. Yeah, Malcolm Brod's is a really good player. He 490 00:32:24,359 --> 00:32:29,640 can help a lot of teams, but there's a difference between giving up it's 491 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:34,839 not a high lottery pick, but a top twelve pick for someone who may 492 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,480 not be available. He's only missed fewer than fifteen games once in his career, 493 00:32:37,559 --> 00:32:43,119 and that was in his rookie season, So that's something that you have 494 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:45,480 to consider with him as well. I will be, just to reiterate, 495 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:50,759 shocked if the Pacers are only trading Malcolm Brogden and getting back ten from the 496 00:32:50,839 --> 00:32:53,799 Knicks, eleven from a ten from the Wizards, eleven from the Knicks. 497 00:32:53,839 --> 00:32:57,640 I'll be shocked if they even if for some reason Cleveland wanted him and they 498 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,119 were willing to give up fourteen as part of that package. Look, I 499 00:33:00,119 --> 00:33:05,000 mean, if we want to be brutally honest, what's the Is there even 500 00:33:05,039 --> 00:33:08,559 a like, what's the earliest first round pick you're giving up for Malcolm Brogden 501 00:33:08,759 --> 00:33:13,200 in this draft? Forget about the team fit, but are you giving up 502 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:17,319 fifteen? Are you giving up sixteen? Seventeen? The teams that own these 503 00:33:17,359 --> 00:33:22,920 picks make it difficult. When Minnesota give up nineteen for Malcolm Brogden, I 504 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,119 don't think that. I don't think that they would be in part because Dangel 505 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:29,160 Russell's there but maybe they know that they're moving him or something. I just 506 00:33:29,359 --> 00:33:30,839 I think if Malcolm Brownen gets trade, it's going to be for a lot 507 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,240 less than people think. And if it's a first round pick, it's certainly 508 00:33:34,279 --> 00:33:37,200 not. I think it'll be outside the lottery, either this year or a 509 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:43,079 lottery protected pick in years to come. This I'll wrap up with this because 510 00:33:43,119 --> 00:33:49,440 I find this report hysterical. Brian Winhorse had said and hat tip Basketball newses 511 00:33:49,519 --> 00:33:54,160 Evan Sidery for rallying this. But win Horse has said the Hornets are looking 512 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:59,119 to trade one of their first round picks alongside Gordon Hayward to clear cap space 513 00:33:59,559 --> 00:34:05,319 to re signed Miles Bridges. The Hornets do not need cap space to resign 514 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,840 Miles Bridges. He's a restricted free agent. They can match whatever offer he 515 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:15,199 receives. You want to dump Gordon Hayward to clear some runway beneath the luxury 516 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:19,840 tax. That's how this needs to be spinned. We got to stop giving 517 00:34:20,119 --> 00:34:23,199 MBA governors teams this ballout of oh well, well, we need to figure 518 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:27,039 out a way that some of these contracts don't count for the full amount against 519 00:34:27,039 --> 00:34:30,039 their books so that they're more inclined to sign their players. No, you 520 00:34:30,079 --> 00:34:34,519 get players for the most part. This is Miles Bridges, not Gordon Hayward. 521 00:34:34,679 --> 00:34:37,800 You had them on a four year rookie scale below market value. You 522 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:42,760 don't need another benefit after that. You should not be controlling an NBA team 523 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:46,039 if you're not willing to pay to field a good NBA team and retain good 524 00:34:46,079 --> 00:34:52,239 players. So we need we need to stop this spin, this billionaire empathy, 525 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:57,639 billion dollar entity empathy on these Teams's behalf on these team Governor's behalf. 526 00:34:57,679 --> 00:35:00,480 I just don't. I'm not a fan of it. They it's also have 527 00:35:00,519 --> 00:35:04,800 to worry about resigning Cody Martin, a restricted for Asian as well. Guess 528 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,599 what they can resign Cody Martin. And look, I don't have a problem 529 00:35:07,599 --> 00:35:12,800 if the Hornets, I think it's dumb given the point of their development that 530 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,639 they're in to use any first round equity just to get off money. But 531 00:35:15,679 --> 00:35:19,559 if you want to duct the tax, that's fine. That's how this needs 532 00:35:19,559 --> 00:35:22,440 to be peddled, That's how this needs to be presented. Is the Hornets 533 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:24,760 want to make sure that they don't go into the luxury tax next season for 534 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:29,119 team that we know is not going to be good enough necessarily to justify paying 535 00:35:29,119 --> 00:35:31,400 in the luxury tax. Do I think the one first round pick is enough 536 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:35,159 to get off Gordon Hayward. It depends on what you're looking to do. 537 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:38,960 If you're the Hornets, I wondered if Cleveland would consider Love for Hayward. 538 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:45,679 Straight up, you are saving a few million bucks this season if you're Charlotte, 539 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:51,679 and then you have the added benefit of Kevin Love being expiring contracts. 540 00:35:51,679 --> 00:35:55,559 You're getting out of the entire final year of that Gordon Hayward contract. The 541 00:35:55,599 --> 00:36:00,159 issue there is you're looking at like a less than two million dollars difference year 542 00:36:00,199 --> 00:36:02,920 in salaries. That's not going to give you much breathing room. Can you 543 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:07,519 move other salaries part of that? If you're really looking to cut down on 544 00:36:07,639 --> 00:36:12,280 salary, you look at the cap space teams. I don't know if maybe 545 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:15,360 Orlando Detroit would be willing to take on Gordon Hayward for the first round pick 546 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:21,280 that feels like something them or the Spurs would consider effort going through free agency 547 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:24,360 and deciding whether or not to spend their money. So, I don't know. 548 00:36:24,559 --> 00:36:28,480 If you're looking to get off all of his money, it's one extremely 549 00:36:28,519 --> 00:36:34,199 difficult without taking anything back just because there are so few teams with that type 550 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:39,159 of cap space. The other thing here is you can't just trade Gordon Hayward 551 00:36:39,159 --> 00:36:44,519 for nothing. It's not additioned by some subtraction. Gordon Hayward's availability is an 552 00:36:44,559 --> 00:36:46,679 issue. He doesn't seem to have much pep off the dribble, but he 553 00:36:46,719 --> 00:36:50,159 can still score, get through his mid range game, a good shooter, 554 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,559 a really good passer, hold his own against some of the bigger, slower 555 00:36:53,679 --> 00:36:57,280 forwards, and there are teams that would be able to use him really well 556 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:01,239 defensively when you look at their surrounding personnel. Replacing him is not just a 557 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:05,679 matter of like doing nothing, and so you have to get value back as 558 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:07,760 part of this. Would you where the first round pick comes in is can 559 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:12,519 you attach Gordon Hayward's thirty point one million dollars salary to this pick and then 560 00:37:12,599 --> 00:37:15,800 get back a cheaper player or collection of players who deepen your team A team 561 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,960 to sort of watch out for. There would be the mix just because of 562 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:23,480 their level of mid end contracts, and they have a bunch of would be 563 00:37:23,559 --> 00:37:29,159 expirings. When you're looking at Alec Burks and new Land's Noel and the non 564 00:37:29,199 --> 00:37:31,880 guarantees on their final year. Burks's surgery recently, that of course changes the 565 00:37:34,119 --> 00:37:36,719 how you would consider that there. But that could be a team that maybe 566 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,239 doesn't even need the first round pick to roll the dice on Gordon Hayward. 567 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:43,400 If you need the first round pick to get off Gordon Hayward, I don't. 568 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:45,880 I don't think it's worth it for Charlotte, just because he is still 569 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:50,880 a helpful player and when he's healthy, and the question mark surrounding his health 570 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,559 unless they know something that has just not been made public yet doesn't really make 571 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:59,559 like isn't urgent enough to be like, hey, let's punt on draft equity 572 00:37:59,639 --> 00:38:02,679 that we we actually need. I thought about whether the Grizzlies could figure out 573 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:06,360 a way to take on the final two years of Gordon Hayward. He would 574 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:08,679 be a really good fit with their team. I just don't think they're going 575 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:12,480 to give up. They probably don't want to trade Steven Adams, and they 576 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:15,039 have cap flexibilities to win. Theory, depending on what happens with Tayas Jones 577 00:38:15,079 --> 00:38:19,400 and Kyle Anderson, they could work out something there. I don't think they're 578 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,960 gonna want to get rid of Steven Adams, I would probably guess that he's 579 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:25,280 more likely to get extended by them than moved. For Gordon Hayward specifically, 580 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:31,559 not that he's untouchable. So look, if you're Charlotte and you're actually using 581 00:38:31,559 --> 00:38:35,599 Hayward salary to upgrade your roster and training for shoun picks, fine, you're 582 00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:37,000 not going to be doing that because you're looking to cut cash, not to 583 00:38:37,039 --> 00:38:40,039 resign Miles Bridges because you don't need to do that, but to avoid the 584 00:38:40,079 --> 00:38:44,039 tax. I don't have a feeling for how that Gordon Hayward stuff is going 585 00:38:44,039 --> 00:38:46,239 to end. I don't see clear fits for him. This might be something 586 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:50,920 that gets tackled closer to free agency when teams have a better lay of the 587 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:54,440 market and who they can or cannot get, and maybe Gordon Hayward becomes a 588 00:38:55,199 --> 00:39:00,000 contingency for someone who needs a good player trying to win now. But apparently 589 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:04,000 they can also get a first round picks as part of the process. So 590 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,079 monitor that this was great. Hope you enjoy it. If you've made it 591 00:39:07,079 --> 00:39:09,199 to the end, please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to us 592 00:39:09,199 --> 00:39:12,880 where you get your podcasts. This is your first time listening. Please again, 593 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:16,119 throw us that permanent subscription. Refer us to your friends, family members, 594 00:39:16,119 --> 00:39:19,800 acquaintances, co workers, random people on the internet who you know like 595 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:24,760 basketball. Follow us on YouTube and discord those handles or those links. Excuse 596 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:29,519 me, we're in the podcast subscription. Follow us on hardware Knocks at hardware 597 00:39:29,599 --> 00:39:31,880 Knocks, on TikTok and Twitter. We are at hardward a score Knox on 598 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:35,639 Instagram. Until next time, I would you with a shout out for the 599 00:39:35,679 --> 00:39:37,960 one the own rate Frank deal people,