1 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,199 What he's up, fellow thermal nuclear affors. I am Dan Valley, coming 2 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,920 at you finally without an NBA team. Look ahead. That series is done, 3 00:00:23,039 --> 00:00:26,160 but this podcast releases. It releases on a Tuesday. Most teams will 4 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:28,600 not have played their first game until the end of Wednesday, So go check 5 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,800 out that series YouTube. Wherever you get your podcast, Spotify, Apple, 6 00:00:31,839 --> 00:00:35,479 the whole nine. We have forty five to ninety minute podcasts on every single 7 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,479 NBA team, But this podcast is about the flurry of extensions that went down 8 00:00:40,799 --> 00:00:45,759 on Monday. I am joined by first time guests David Brandon, freelance NBA 9 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,840 writer contributes to Daily Thunder. He's also a CBA extraordinary Follow him on Twitter 10 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:55,079 if you do not already at Bird Rights NBA spelled exactly as it sounds. 11 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,600 The link to it will also be in the YouTube and podcast description. David, 12 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,880 thank you so much for joining me on a very late Monday night. 13 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:04,799 I very much appreciate it. How are you doing doing great? Man, 14 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:11,120 doing great? Excited to be here the extensions. Before we get into I 15 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,599 want to start with the honest one. There was I feel like more at 16 00:01:14,599 --> 00:01:17,840 the buzzer over the final two days than I was expecting and we had what 17 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,439 we end up with thirty three players signed extensions or what was it? What 18 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,799 was the rookie extension number? It was like something crazy. I don't have 19 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:27,920 it off the top of my head. It's a lot. I was surprised 20 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,599 how many actually there's there's I don't know. It feels like it's been an 21 00:01:32,599 --> 00:01:38,760 extra busy time coming into the season this year. So I'd honestly wondered whether 22 00:01:38,879 --> 00:01:42,840 the infusion of TV money coming down the pipeline was going to, you know, 23 00:01:42,359 --> 00:01:47,359 not forced, but convinced players to reach restricted free agency. And now 24 00:01:47,359 --> 00:01:49,560 I'm sort of wondering if it had the opposite effect, whereas we've seen teams 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,120 very hesitant to throw their money around a restricted free agency, and so I'm 26 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:57,200 wondering with a lot of these guys, you know, even the Devin Vessells, 27 00:01:57,319 --> 00:02:00,519 Jade and McDaniels, but also just like the Aaronie Smith's, you know, 28 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,359 the Zeke Nagies, maybe guys who aren't as proven, like they just 29 00:02:02,359 --> 00:02:05,640 decid, hey, I'm going to get my money now. Because teams aren't 30 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,439 throwing out offers, especially the players who aren't non stars, and even some 31 00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:12,080 of the higher end ones in RFAs, and so I don't know if that's 32 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,280 a trend, that's just something that I was expecting not to happen that actually 33 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,520 did happen, that these guys just decided, Hey, I'm not I'm not 34 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,639 going to RFA. I do actually have some thoughts on that. I think 35 00:02:21,759 --> 00:02:30,039 teams may be more interested in offering extensions right now because of the trade restrictions 36 00:02:30,039 --> 00:02:32,960 that have come into play where they need they need guys that they can salary 37 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,800 match with, where the salary matching is more restrictive than it used to be. 38 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,120 So I think you may see some of these guys on extensions where teams 39 00:02:40,159 --> 00:02:45,080 are willing to lock them up for a for a price longer term so they 40 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:46,759 have a guy that they can move down the line, especially some of these 41 00:02:46,759 --> 00:02:52,800 teams like you mentioned Minnesota, where they don't have a lot of like movable 42 00:02:53,599 --> 00:02:55,599 salary, They don't have a ton of things that they can that they can 43 00:02:55,639 --> 00:03:00,199 get deals done with. Some McDaniel's being locked down is really useful for them 44 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:05,120 long term. So you might see some guys teams being more willing to take 45 00:03:05,159 --> 00:03:10,879 on guys for a longer period of time on extensions than they would normally so 46 00:03:12,039 --> 00:03:14,520 yeah, that was something that would bring to mind. It wasn't so much 47 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,120 like the higher profile guys like that, but a Danyavdia or even Zeke naj 48 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,199 like those guys who got the I think they both got four years. I 49 00:03:21,199 --> 00:03:23,240 know Dannyavdia did, and you had Zeke Naugy at four and thirty two with 50 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,439 like and then including player options for some of these guys like Nausea getting a 51 00:03:27,479 --> 00:03:30,639 player option. I think you look at it as it's such a small percentage 52 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,080 of the salary cap. And as you mentioned some of these teams, especially 53 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,400 the Nuggets, who are getting to the point where like they're going to technically 54 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,000 be in tax. Hell, if you just need dollar for dollar matches on 55 00:03:39,039 --> 00:03:43,280 the trade market, like maybe having some of these guys under you know, 56 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,199 contract where they're making eight nine, you know, sub ten percent of the 57 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,080 salary cap, but still you know, more than three percent or whatever of 58 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,400 the salary carap, maybe that ends up being useful. Yeah, No, 59 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,000 And it's it is interesting, like you bring up looking at things as a 60 00:03:55,039 --> 00:04:01,280 percentage of the cap. It's really interesting. So like if you started really 61 00:04:01,319 --> 00:04:05,599 following stuff back in so for me, like I was really into the League 62 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:10,000 around. I really got hardcore into it around the time that the Thunder went 63 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,520 to the finals back in twenty twelve. Back then, the salary cap was 64 00:04:13,599 --> 00:04:19,800 fifty eight million. Just I'm looking at the real GM the salary cap history 65 00:04:19,879 --> 00:04:24,720 right now. So twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, it was fifty eight million, 66 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,560 twenty twenty three, twenty twenty four, it's one hundred and thirty six 67 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,920 million. So we're over twice what we were back then. So people are 68 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,160 still looking at these deals and saying, man, that's a lot of money. 69 00:04:34,639 --> 00:04:40,000 The cap is more than doubled. You know, it's going to triple 70 00:04:40,199 --> 00:04:43,120 by the time, you know, within the next five years, probably from 71 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,759 what it was in twenty twelve. Yeah, and I've tried to do a 72 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:47,079 better job. I still don't do a great, like a perfect job of 73 00:04:47,079 --> 00:04:49,560 it. But we have to frame these and when people get sticker shocked, 74 00:04:49,879 --> 00:04:53,879 it's fine to get sticker shocked. But let's use the Jaden McDaniel thing as 75 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,600 an example. I think a lot of people look at that five for one 76 00:04:56,759 --> 00:04:59,800 thirty one. Guaranteed. I found the reporting. I didn't really want to 77 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,600 begin with him, but I found the reporting absolutely hysterical, where the initial 78 00:05:01,639 --> 00:05:04,399 number that comes out as one thirty six, which is one million dollars more 79 00:05:04,439 --> 00:05:09,360 than Devin Vessel was guaranteed. So I'd like to think there was gamesmanship there, 80 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,959 but they'll look at five for one thirty one and be like, for 81 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,639 that guy Jade McDaniels, and they don't really let him dribble all that much, 82 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:16,560 even though maybe he can. It's that deal will never be twenty percent 83 00:05:16,639 --> 00:05:19,560 of the salary cap. It might hover around fifteen percent of the salary cap 84 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,680 on average, and so I think it is getting more important to frame things 85 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,639 that way. But the first one I wanted to ask you about had nothing 86 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:30,639 to do with rookie extensions. It was a Giannistentha Kupo extensions he signed for 87 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,519 three years at the max, which ended up being about it's up projected, 88 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,720 excuse me, to be one hundred and eighty six point six million dollars. 89 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,560 It starts in twenty five, twenty six, and then it'll have a player 90 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,920 option in twenty seven twenty eight. Were you surprised that he signed this at 91 00:05:46,959 --> 00:05:51,600 all? The framing was he wants to get back into free agency a little 92 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,319 bit sooner, which works, But there's also I just want to add this 93 00:05:56,399 --> 00:05:59,480 very quickly before I throw it to you. I find it absolutely hysterical that 94 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:06,759 he went on this aggressive yet salient postgame response to Eric name of the Athletic 95 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,600 saying last year wasn't a failure. I bounced the first round. Then he 96 00:06:10,639 --> 00:06:14,399 spends half the summer, does a many podcasts toward kind of telegraphing that I'm 97 00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:16,720 not gonna be happy unless we're committed to winning. And so they go out 98 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:18,839 and make the Dame trade. So I found that kind of funny. And 99 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:24,079 then this just feels like the first line of consistency with him where it's okay, 100 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,639 just like they did with Threw Holiday, Like you go out, you 101 00:06:26,639 --> 00:06:29,399 make this movie, prove this to me. I'm then going to sign the 102 00:06:29,439 --> 00:06:31,920 extension. But what did you make of this entire thing? I mean, 103 00:06:31,959 --> 00:06:38,000 I'm kind of right there with you. I feel like having been on the 104 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:44,759 bad end of a Superstar labing before with the thunder thing. You know. 105 00:06:45,439 --> 00:06:48,199 I was looking at the Bucks this summer and just seeing I'm going to get 106 00:06:48,199 --> 00:06:54,199 crucified for this by Bucks Twitter, just the little trial balloon thing, and 107 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:59,079 being like, oh, that's scary. You're a Box fan, you know, 108 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,879 And then like, kudos to the Bucks front office, Like over the 109 00:07:01,959 --> 00:07:06,839 years, they've proven themselves consistently willing to do what it takes to keep Jannis 110 00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:10,720 around, to keep him happy and to make sure that there's a good team 111 00:07:10,759 --> 00:07:15,240 around him. They've done Yeoman's work over the years. It's really good work. 112 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:20,000 And kudos to them for getting him to recommit for that, because that's 113 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,839 a big deal. I mean, it's a massive extension. It's worth it 114 00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:30,160 for him, it's great money for him, it's life changing money. But 115 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,600 you know, it's really good work by the Bucks to get this done. 116 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,800 Yeah, I think I was surprised. I know the framing is he wants 117 00:07:40,839 --> 00:07:44,079 to get back into free agency sooner. I'm very I'm not doubting him. 118 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,399 I'm just very interested to see how someone like Jianna's ages and so I always 119 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,120 just thought that he was going to sign when he could tack on firmly in 120 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:55,319 his prime, can tack on the most years possible. He's electing to play 121 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,240 sort of the over thirty eight rule game and try and get a bigger deal 122 00:07:58,519 --> 00:08:01,800 at the back end of this one. I think even the two things was, 123 00:08:03,319 --> 00:08:05,040 it was never like, oh, he's gonna leave Milwaukee. The fact 124 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,199 that he didn't have an extension before the Dame trade, it was just this 125 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,360 made if he wanted to make the most of his next deal, waiting made 126 00:08:11,399 --> 00:08:13,319 the most sense. But also signing this he could still turn around in a 127 00:08:13,399 --> 00:08:18,519 year whatever and then request out. I think the show of good faith by 128 00:08:18,519 --> 00:08:20,040 both him and the organization is a big deal. They went out, they 129 00:08:20,079 --> 00:08:24,519 got Dame, and he responds by signing a contract that takes him past Damian 130 00:08:24,519 --> 00:08:28,439 Lillard's current contract right now. Even if you you know, let's throw out 131 00:08:28,439 --> 00:08:31,319 the player option year like be just more use it, I think that still 132 00:08:31,319 --> 00:08:33,559 takes him past when Damian Lillard would enter free agency. So I think that 133 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,639 winds up being a win just for both sides here. He is one of 134 00:08:37,639 --> 00:08:41,080 the players, though when you look at when this deal is slated to expire, 135 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,200 he'll only be I think he has a player option at the age of 136 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,879 thirty two, so I'm not talking about someone who will be ancient by them 137 00:08:45,919 --> 00:08:48,919 by any stretch, just his game. I'm very interested to see how well 138 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,159 it ages, what adjustments he makes as the athleticism starts to decline again. 139 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,480 I would have signed him to this deal. I think he is one of 140 00:08:54,519 --> 00:08:58,120 the two or three best players in the league right now. But he's just 141 00:08:58,159 --> 00:09:01,399 one of the players I've always looked at as fascinating what does his aging curve 142 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:05,039 look like? And this deal in that way almost benefits the Bucks a little 143 00:09:05,039 --> 00:09:07,840 bit because as of right now, you're not going into his mid thirties like 144 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,559 the next deal may have if he elected to wait, would have taken him 145 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,399 through. It's okay, he's under contract to his age thirty two season. 146 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,080 Will still be pick poor at that point, but we'll be able to sort 147 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,720 of be on a rolling basis and look, some of their first round picks 148 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,000 will be unlocked by the time this deal comes towards its tail end. So 149 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,080 I think it was I was just a little bit surprised. I thought he 150 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:31,120 was going to prioritize the longer term, just guaranteed payday, rather than prioritizing 151 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,000 getting back into free agency sooner. That's the only thing that took me back. 152 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:39,600 I think Giannis is one of those guys I mean, like we've not 153 00:09:39,759 --> 00:09:41,159 we you and I specifically, but I've talked a lot of people over the 154 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:46,159 years about like Kevin Durant being one where it's like it doesn't matter that he 155 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:50,639 blew his achilles. The man will make max contracts as long as he can. 156 00:09:50,039 --> 00:09:54,360 I mean, if he can put up twenty points a game, he's 157 00:09:54,399 --> 00:09:58,879 going to make max contracts as long as that's possible. You know, like 158 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,519 it doesn't really matter, or you know. I think in Giannis's case it 159 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,039 probably makes a little more sense because like he can say, look, you 160 00:10:07,039 --> 00:10:11,360 know when that player option hits, you know, when that contract runs out. 161 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,360 I you know, if I want to walk, I can walk anywhere 162 00:10:15,399 --> 00:10:18,200 and get max money even if he blewes, even if he broke his leg, 163 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,279 even if he blues me out, he would still get max money somewhere. 164 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,000 Yeah, that's a good way to look at it. I think I'm 165 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,639 probably just overstating age thirty two, Like that's not ancient like age, it's 166 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:33,080 just thirty three. What's that? Lillard's what thirty two? Thirty three? 167 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,279 I think he's thirty four? Is four? Let's say no, no, 168 00:10:35,399 --> 00:10:37,879 you're right, he's got to be younger than thirty four. He is thirty 169 00:10:37,879 --> 00:10:43,240 three, So just thirty thirty three? So is there what's the I'll throw 170 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,960 it to you, what is there another deal player that you wanted to talk 171 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:54,559 about I'm really interested. So so Minneapolis is fascinating to me. I already 172 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,600 brought it up. But Jaden McDaniels is really interesting. I watched some Minneapolis 173 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:03,679 last year, or not many, but Minnesota, you know what I mean. 174 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,200 Uh, with the classics, some people might appreciate that. Yeah, 175 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,759 but I watched some Timberwolves and it still felt like things weren't gelling on the 176 00:11:13,759 --> 00:11:18,360 court. It's just it's a really it's a really expensive team. It's so 177 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:24,960 expensive and there's nothing really proven there yet. McDaniels is a good player. 178 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,360 He's a really good defensive player. Like it's you know, I feel like 179 00:11:28,399 --> 00:11:33,559 it's probably fair money, maybe a little over, But I don't know the 180 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,559 team well enough to say for sure. Yeah, you know, I would 181 00:11:37,639 --> 00:11:41,360 say that they got really lucky here. They have. They have some future 182 00:11:41,519 --> 00:11:45,320 questions now about what I think is more interesting to both of us, the 183 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,559 implications of their payroll moving forward when you look at the teams that have cap 184 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,559 space next summer. I just talked about how teams are reticent to throw out 185 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:58,759 these offer sheets and restricted free agency. There was a chance that Jade McDaniels 186 00:11:58,799 --> 00:12:01,679 was gonna get like Desmond Bane type money if they let him hit the open 187 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,559 market. I think there is when you watch him. I don't know that 188 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:09,799 we'll ever see it in Minnesota because of the hierarchy with Anthony Edwards, you 189 00:12:09,879 --> 00:12:13,519 have Karl Anthony Towns, you even have Mike Conley in there. But like, 190 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,840 he can do things on the ball, and I think he's probably one 191 00:12:16,879 --> 00:12:20,720 of the three best perimeter defenders in the league right now, and he's not 192 00:12:20,799 --> 00:12:24,159 three. So yeah, get him on that. To get him on that 193 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,360 money, even if you don't look, I think it's fair to question the 194 00:12:26,399 --> 00:12:30,159 value of it. But when you look at players who could have reached restricted 195 00:12:30,159 --> 00:12:33,200 free agency next summer, and you're kind of looking at the Detroit So we 196 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,679 know that Philly has this cap space plan and maybe we'll get to them with 197 00:12:35,759 --> 00:12:39,440 MAXI later. Like, there are teams that could have talked themselves into being 198 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,399 like, well, here's thirty million dollars a year for Jade McDaniels pretty easily, 199 00:12:43,399 --> 00:12:48,200 and so I think I think they got extremely lucky here. The one 200 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,519 the one thing that I think about that though, is you know, I 201 00:12:50,759 --> 00:13:01,600 feel like defensive defensive players who are not centers, there are diminishing returns it's 202 00:13:01,639 --> 00:13:05,639 it's something like the running back position. I think it's the running back position 203 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:11,279 in the NFL, where it's sort of like unless you're like the pinnacle of 204 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:16,879 it, you know, there's there's diminishing returns when you get to a certain 205 00:13:16,919 --> 00:13:20,480 point. So I do wonder with that team, like, yes, McDaniels 206 00:13:20,519 --> 00:13:24,440 is an incredibly good defender, but also can you get by with a little 207 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,519 bit less on that side of the ball. I don't know. That's one 208 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:33,679 of those things that like it comes down to replacement value too, is like 209 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:37,120 can you turn McDaniels around and flip him into other stuff, you know, 210 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:43,000 down the line too, and maybe get a good defensive wing and like pieces, 211 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:48,159 it's I'm really fascinated to see what many what a Minnesota looks like long 212 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:54,960 term because it's it's just so expensive. Yeah, I think with Rudy getting 213 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:56,919 older and you're not sure whether heeps me want to be moved, and if 214 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:58,080 you're gonna play a lot with the two bigs where Towns is gonna be on 215 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:03,840 the floor, you almost it maybe necessitates paying McDaniels more. But this leads 216 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,639 into the discussion we start looking ahead to the summer of twenty twenty four, 217 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:11,720 they are, with Mike Conley's cap hold, about a two hundred million dollar 218 00:14:11,759 --> 00:14:15,039 team. That is, I'm rounding it's not including any of the other contracts 219 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,159 that'll be on the books. But my point is that is I'm not saying 220 00:14:18,159 --> 00:14:20,960 Comley will command thirty six million or whatever his cap hold is. I don't 221 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,639 think he would. But they are going to be a second Apron team if 222 00:14:24,639 --> 00:14:26,559 they keep anybody. I do not think. I'm not trying to throw rain 223 00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:30,440 on the parade of this season, where actually I'm pretty high on the Timberwolves 224 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:35,639 this year. I do not envision these five Comley, McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, 225 00:14:35,759 --> 00:14:39,879 Cat and Gobert being together next year. And I think by making this 226 00:14:39,919 --> 00:14:43,080 commitment now you've kind of almost not guaranteed that. But is there a chance 227 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,039 they speed it up if things aren't going according to plan and teams are interested 228 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,080 in Cat or Gobart at the deadline, notably Cat? Again, I think 229 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,639 this team is gonna be good. I'd bet against them shaking up their starting 230 00:14:52,639 --> 00:14:56,879 lineup Bar and Disaster, but his cap hole's about to shoot up by like 231 00:14:56,919 --> 00:15:00,679 thirteen million dollars a year. It'll be easier because the the Wolves will be 232 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:05,000 so financially inflexible to make a move involving him sooner rather than later. Again, 233 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,639 once more, wouldn't bet on it, but I would bet heavily against. 234 00:15:07,799 --> 00:15:11,440 You know, even if my comley just leaves, you're still looking at 235 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,840 an incredibly expensive team and you're probably sitting here going go bear kat McDaniel's Anthony 236 00:15:16,919 --> 00:15:20,240 Edwards aunt is guaranteed to be here long term because he is the timeline. 237 00:15:20,399 --> 00:15:24,320 I would probably put Jaden McDaniels if I called him Josh McDaniels, I apologize. 238 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:28,120 I don't know why I would keep doing that. Jaden McDaniels at number 239 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:33,000 two there, but like after that, after Anthony Edward's basically like it's so 240 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,679 up in the air. Yeah, I like I said, it is just 241 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,320 a really fascinating situation because they're one of the teams there's a handful of teams 242 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:46,519 that I'm keeping an eye on for the next like year or two where it 243 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:50,080 feels like there's so much in flux with them. And it's not because they're 244 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,600 like a young team like a Hustoner or Oka. See, it's like they're 245 00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:58,559 just they're in They're a team that's like good, right, now and has 246 00:15:58,639 --> 00:16:06,159 a lot of questions about where they're where the cap situation sits for them long 247 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:12,480 term. I think Memphis could be in that conversation next year. Mini's up 248 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:17,480 there right now. Golden State is another one that's going to be really really 249 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:22,320 interesting to watch moving forwards. Clay Thompson, you know, that's that's a 250 00:16:22,679 --> 00:16:26,960 I know, we don't necessarily want to get into everything like go too far 251 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:30,679 field from the extensions today, but Golden State's one that I'm really watching too. 252 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:36,840 Uh. Yeah, They're just perpetually interesting. Although it's funny that Draymond 253 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,159 Green said he probably wouldn't be on the Warriors this year, and he's on 254 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,000 the Warriors this year. So I'll be curious to see where the Clay Thompson 255 00:16:42,039 --> 00:16:45,919 number whenever he signs, like his next deal lands at. But I'd be 256 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,720 pretty forward if he left. But you know, maybe not. It's a 257 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,080 new front office in there, so maybe Mike Dunleavy Junior and Kirk Lacub they've 258 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,799 been around, maybe they're not as married to keeping these guys together as as 259 00:16:55,799 --> 00:17:00,879 Bob Myers might have been. You know. Another extension that kind of fascinated 260 00:17:00,919 --> 00:17:04,000 me was Josh Green at three years and forty one million. I don't see 261 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,960 the full details on it yet, so I'm just assuming it's fully guaranteed, 262 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:11,559 but it's straight three years, forty one million. I thought that was pretty 263 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:17,640 good value for him. I do think it speaks to kind of how important 264 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,519 he is moving forward. But it's also a bet on what we need him 265 00:17:21,559 --> 00:17:23,079 to do, the types of stuff that maybe he's not so comfortable doing. 266 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:26,640 Like we saw him improve at points last year his three point stroke and he 267 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,039 can get to the basket like in attack closeouts, but he really likes to 268 00:17:30,079 --> 00:17:33,400 operate on ball like most of the time, and that's not something you're gonna 269 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,920 have the opportunity to do with Luca and Kyrie. And then on the defensive 270 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,119 end, he might be their most I know people want to frame Hi his 271 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:45,559 Grant Williams, but he's probably their most important perimeter defender unless you care you 272 00:17:45,559 --> 00:17:48,119 think Derek Jones Junior is gonna play, and yet he's not really wing sized. 273 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,240 So it's just I don't have a problem with a number, it's just 274 00:17:52,279 --> 00:17:55,440 an I'm interested. It's an interesting bet to say, hey, he's now 275 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,640 basically off the table in trade talks this year when they're a team that might 276 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:03,160 need to push some chipshit chick to maximize their timeline. The Poisonboo provision makes 277 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,039 a little bit harder to include him in any deal, so they've not taken 278 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:07,480 him off the table. I just I just found it an interesting decision, 279 00:18:07,519 --> 00:18:11,440 not a bad one, just interesting. Yeah, I think that kind of 280 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,200 had to I think it's I think it's decent value for him. Just I 281 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:22,000 like I'm on record over the last several years, it's just not like pretty 282 00:18:22,079 --> 00:18:26,559 much forever, not really liking anything that Dallas has done in terms of like 283 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,960 team building. It feels like they tend to bet on free agency a lot. 284 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:33,640 They do a lot of big swings, and they whiffed a lot of 285 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:38,880 them. They get some good guys around the edges. But this year's team 286 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:45,440 just really I don't like it. Man. I like they need maxi Cleeber 287 00:18:45,519 --> 00:18:49,240 to be really good again, Like they need him to be good, healthy 288 00:18:49,519 --> 00:18:55,440 and healthy. They need Grant Williams to like Grant Williams's best if he's not 289 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,319 your best defensive player, like they need him to be. Like they put 290 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,799 him in a situation from Boston where he was not the best defender on the 291 00:19:02,799 --> 00:19:07,720 floor. He's not He was not the main guy in that defense. He's 292 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:12,279 a guy that's like good in scheme. But when you've got Luca and Kyrie 293 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:18,240 and like Tim Hardaway, like the guys on the stand, there's not a 294 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,920 lot of good defenders on this team. And Williams is gonna be asked to 295 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,119 do a lot. Clearan's gonna be asked to do a lot. Green's gonna 296 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:29,319 be asked to do a lot. That team scares me in terms of like 297 00:19:30,519 --> 00:19:36,079 how it performs this year. They missed the playoffs last year. They're better. 298 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,799 They made smart moves generally over this summer, but I think they've kind 299 00:19:40,799 --> 00:19:45,000 of paid themselves into a corner. Yeah, I was doing predictions for Bleacher 300 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:45,920 Report. I don't even know if this article is probably gonna be live. 301 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,960 By the time this goes live, I would think and I predicted that the 302 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,599 Masters are going to trade their twenty twenty seven first rounder this year, just 303 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,279 because the urgency surrounding Luca, the fact that they need like to just infuse 304 00:19:56,359 --> 00:20:03,359 their rotation with more perimeter defense. I really Kirk Henderson from MAVs money Ball 305 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:04,839 sold me on Omax long term, went and dug into him. I like 306 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:08,400 him, but to lean on that as a rookie that's gonna be really tough. 307 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,640 Like you said, they have Grant Williams. I saw people frame his 308 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,839 addition as them getting a wing. He's not a wing, not an incredibly 309 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,599 switchable small or big who's probably best like, yeah, he can hang with 310 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,160 some wings, but that's not someone who's go check the opposition's best player, 311 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,960 Like no, he's probably gonna be better against explosive guys who go downhill, 312 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:27,839 but they're not gonna move as much latterly with the ball in their hands in 313 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:33,319 those situations. And then there's Josh Green, and like they clearly they understand 314 00:20:33,319 --> 00:20:36,519 their deficit. They went after Matisse Thibel before they got went out and got 315 00:20:36,559 --> 00:20:40,200 Grant Williams. But I think they're a team. I don't know what putting 316 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,400 you know now that trade offer, assuming Josh Green is not part of it, 317 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,839 your twenty twenty seven first in salary's a lot less attractive if you can't 318 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,519 include Josh Green in it. And so if you included Derek Lively or if 319 00:20:49,559 --> 00:20:52,680 you included Omax, two guys you do seem invested in, especially o Max. 320 00:20:52,759 --> 00:20:56,799 You took on money to get him like, I don't know if that 321 00:20:56,839 --> 00:21:00,279 gets you. I don't think twenty twenty seven in salary gets you. O 322 00:21:00,319 --> 00:21:03,640 g Ananoby, I think that he would probably net more. I know Dallas 323 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,480 is twenty twenty seven pick is interesting, but if that's the guy, I 324 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,160 don't I think that they would be outbid by a team like the Kings, 325 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,839 maybe even still the Grizzlies or the Knicks at this point. Yeah, I 326 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,640 think I think there's a lot of teams that could beat a Dallas offer for 327 00:21:15,839 --> 00:21:22,960 most guys. Yeah, that twenty twenty seven I do think is is like 328 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:29,000 a good that's a good swing, you know, like you take the risk 329 00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:34,039 of like if Don leaves, like that team could be real bad for a 330 00:21:34,079 --> 00:21:40,960 hot minute. You know, we'll see. I Yeah, I don't know. 331 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:45,200 Is are there some guys that are like sort of in that second tier 332 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:51,759 like under like an Ananobe that would be gettable for them even because you build 333 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,799 I mean it would be tough maybe, but like in Atlanta, and maybe 334 00:21:53,799 --> 00:21:56,720 this would be a good segue into Nyuka Kunglu. But like if you get 335 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:02,119 a Capella DeAndre Hunter type mega trade. Oh and I think do they want 336 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,160 more? Like they're not gonna want picks in that scenario, they're like, 337 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,720 maybe they're fine washing off of Capella's deal now, but they're not gonna be 338 00:22:07,759 --> 00:22:11,240 looking to move DeAndre Hunter, like for Tim, like to use Tim Hardaway 339 00:22:11,279 --> 00:22:14,920 Junior and like other stuff in that scenario. But that would be like the 340 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,440 second tier of type names I'm trying to think of, like other guys that 341 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,599 they could maybe take a swing on. I wonder what it would cost. 342 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,599 He didn't get an extension, but I would assume they can't even get in 343 00:22:23,599 --> 00:22:27,680 on like a Patrick Williams week State Sweet Steaks if that, if that takes 344 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:33,079 place. Williams is interesting. Was Williams was extensional eligible today? Wasn't? 345 00:22:33,559 --> 00:22:37,039 Yeah? I mean he was one that I didn't. Yeah, so you 346 00:22:37,079 --> 00:22:40,839 know, we'll get into absences or maybe we could. Yeah, we'll get 347 00:22:40,839 --> 00:22:44,000 into absences in a little bit. But he's like a name that stands out. 348 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,079 But yeah, I mean the second tier, even the guys like if 349 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:51,480 they're lower level three and D guys, it's still cost stuff to get them, 350 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,759 and so you know, like they would have been a team. I 351 00:22:53,799 --> 00:22:57,880 don't even know, Like there's just I just don't understand. I don't know, 352 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,119 in a not even in an insulting way. I don't know what their 353 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,119 best trade package, Like, who's the best player that they can realistically get 354 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,799 with their top trade package? Right now? I thought og an Anobi would 355 00:23:07,839 --> 00:23:11,319 be like within the realm of possibility because of some of the sweeteners they could 356 00:23:11,319 --> 00:23:14,680 put on. And look, maybe if you're willing to give up O max 357 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,680 and that twenty twenty seven first and you throw some swaps in there, maybe 358 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,200 that does it. That's not you know, it's not a laughable offer. 359 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,799 No, But also as you're looking at like, hey, can we reacquire 360 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:29,559 Dorian Phiney Smithitt somewhere after the years off those lines, he would help. 361 00:23:29,079 --> 00:23:33,000 He would maybe another another Nets wing. Oh O'Neill's are good. That's a 362 00:23:33,039 --> 00:23:37,200 good name. Actually, the Nets have a bunch of like really useful role 363 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:41,240 players that people should put Like that whole roster is basically guys who should be 364 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:48,160 like a second to seventh man somewhere. I like a lot of guys on 365 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:53,400 that team, but not as a like cohesive team anyway. Did we want 366 00:23:53,400 --> 00:24:02,119 to talk about Onyekakungu gets a four years and sixty two million that is never 367 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:03,519 going to be ten percent of the salary cap. Under the current projections, 368 00:24:03,559 --> 00:24:08,279 keeping a theme of okay, that's backup big money. I don't envision him 369 00:24:08,279 --> 00:24:12,119 being a backup big for long. He's a lot more mobile than Capella at 370 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,960 this point, not as big, but he's still really valuable on the offensive 371 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:21,279 glass. There's probably more dynamism to his offensive game, whereas like, I 372 00:24:21,319 --> 00:24:23,160 don't like you're gonna trust him to put up those pushots and floaters more. 373 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,400 I don't know if he'll ever meaningfully expand his range beyond that, but that's 374 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:30,559 more than Capella can do right away. Better playmaker, like kind of in 375 00:24:30,599 --> 00:24:33,599 the those same situations, not a capslock, a plus playmaker, but just 376 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,359 more versatility. I know they're looking to win now, and you could, 377 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,400 in theory, you could just keep both of them, but I kind of 378 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:45,640 felt like this poortended that he is the heir apparent to that center spot, 379 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,640 and we could see it not come after this season, but maybe closer to 380 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:52,960 the trade deadline, especially because they're considering their books and having Okungu as your 381 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,160 starting center at a cheaper rate than Capella makes if you want to have Dejonte, 382 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,519 Murray, Trey Young, DeAndre Hunter all on the books at once, 383 00:25:00,039 --> 00:25:03,880 Don Madonovich too. It makes it easier to do that and stay. I 384 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,279 won't even say outside of the second apron, they're not a team that's going 385 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,799 to pay the tax. They've made that quite clear. Yeah, it makes 386 00:25:08,839 --> 00:25:11,400 a ton of sense for them to move Capella. I was actually kind of 387 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,119 surprised it didn't happen this summer. But uh, Okolen, we're getting that 388 00:25:15,279 --> 00:25:21,559 money. I think definitely moves that further along. I think that's a good 389 00:25:21,599 --> 00:25:26,640 deal. Like I haven't watched that much Hawks, I will say like I 390 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,559 I kind of familiarize myself with them a little bit today going back and like 391 00:25:30,599 --> 00:25:33,400 looking at some of the numbers and things, and and like he's he's a 392 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:38,319 good player for that, Like nas Reed, I think got more money than 393 00:25:38,519 --> 00:25:42,720 that, Like there's several guys like backups, it's not as good. I 394 00:25:42,759 --> 00:25:45,839 think he got four and forty two. If I'm not mistaken, maybe he 395 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:49,200 got less. That is a good deal for him. I think they still, 396 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,920 in my opinion, they stole him. I think it was four and 397 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:56,119 board they stole him, was how I how I framed it. Yeah, 398 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:59,799 but I feel like that backup big to like fringe starter market as anywhere, 399 00:25:59,799 --> 00:26:06,119 but between like just like over em L money to like, because Emily's about 400 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,960 ten million right now if I remember right, and it's it's like over em 401 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:15,519 L money is so like twelve million ish to like, you know, fifteen 402 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,799 seventeen per year, and you were right ish on Nadre you got three and 403 00:26:19,839 --> 00:26:25,000 forty two. Misremembered that. It's like that's right around mid level because that's 404 00:26:25,039 --> 00:26:29,599 mid levels having between twelve and thirteen at the moment, is it okay? 405 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:33,599 Yeah, it was pretty half next year if I'm not mistaken, or was 406 00:26:33,599 --> 00:26:34,960 twelve and a half this year? I thought it was ten this year, 407 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,319 but I'm oh, twenty twenty two to twenty three is ten ten and a 408 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:42,640 half. Yeah, so twenty four is a little higher. Yeah, you're 409 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:47,359 right, So yeah, I would I would agree that I think they did 410 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,319 well on a Kongo, But I do wonder if it, like, what 411 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:52,839 does this mean for that sort of center Gulagh. Maybe that's not you know, 412 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:56,880 maybe that's not something they decided to hit until the end of this year 413 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:00,480 because look at the Congo station and kicked Intil right now, they did elect 414 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,720 against extending Sadik Bay. I don't really think that's a big deal. But 415 00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:07,759 it is kind of funny that part of the reason the Pistons were believed to 416 00:27:07,759 --> 00:27:10,839 move him was because he of his extension number. But he was like more 417 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,480 than a year out from being extension eligible, and then he doesn't get one 418 00:27:14,759 --> 00:27:17,880 from Atlanta, even though they're a team that could probably use his his three 419 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,720 point shooting, it can be inconsistent, and he's a wildly inconsistent player himself. 420 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,319 But maybe he was looking just for more. Maybe he viewed himself as 421 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,279 just like I consider myself a three and D wing, even though I don't 422 00:27:27,319 --> 00:27:32,319 consider him much of the D in that right. Yeah, I mean, 423 00:27:32,319 --> 00:27:37,400 there's definitely the guys that go the kind of bet on yourself route. I 424 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,880 mean, I remember was Butler that did well. Butler was a different situation. 425 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,480 I don't remember there was something with his deal. It's been a minute, 426 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:48,720 but Jimmy Butler famously that on himself and made a ton more money in 427 00:27:48,759 --> 00:27:56,079 his contract year. Maybe that maybe they did that. We don't unless they 428 00:27:56,119 --> 00:28:00,839 negotiate through the media, you don't really know. Were there any other extensions 429 00:28:00,839 --> 00:28:07,160 that stood out to you? Cole Anthony feels good, Uhlin, Cole Anthony 430 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,799 feels fair. I keep waiting for Orlando to break out. They have a 431 00:28:10,799 --> 00:28:14,559 bunch of guys that I really like. That team feels like it's on the 432 00:28:14,559 --> 00:28:18,079 cusp of being real good. Anthony's a solid player. I think they did 433 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:22,559 good work getting him team option on that too. Three years thirty nine point 434 00:28:22,559 --> 00:28:27,720 one. That's basically money and it's only two guaranteed years. I was were 435 00:28:27,759 --> 00:28:30,960 you surprised he settled for that. I know there's sort of the stigma against 436 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,880 These dudes aren't big, they're volume scores. I would have thought he had 437 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,480 more leverage on Orlando, and maybe he doesn't, because they're pretty facible moving 438 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:44,799 forward. Their half court offense needs just these kind of players who can shoot, 439 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,279 dribble, and pass all together. He is one of I would say 440 00:28:48,319 --> 00:28:51,920 three players who can maybe do that, and that's im Poalo and Franz Wagner. 441 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,200 The shooting for Polo is very much theoretical at this point, but so 442 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:56,640 now you have three players that could do that. But Cole Anthony is someone 443 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:00,599 who as a shot maker and like someone who can actually put the ball on 444 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,920 the floor in the half court is proven. So I'm a little bit that 445 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,000 it only cost about let's call it mL ish money to keep him for two 446 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,920 guaranteed years. I wonder if that says more about the archetype of player that 447 00:29:12,039 --> 00:29:17,200 he is though than maybe his internal value to Orlando. Yeah, I feel 448 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:22,880 like that's probably the case there. He's like he's a solid player too. 449 00:29:23,039 --> 00:29:26,519 I you know, I feel like I feel like they got they got a 450 00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:30,759 good deal on that. There's a chance he significantly outperforms that, or maybe 451 00:29:30,799 --> 00:29:36,680 not. It's like significantly significantly, but like there's a pretty good chance that 452 00:29:36,759 --> 00:29:40,319 he's worth more than that to them, which I think is a win for 453 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:44,119 Orlando and maybe a win for him because you know, sometimes the guys want 454 00:29:44,119 --> 00:29:45,799 the guaranteed money. You never really know what can happen in the NBA. 455 00:29:47,519 --> 00:29:49,240 And look, if they're gonna be good this year, I don't know. 456 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,279 There'll probably be a point I think where they could technically out grow his skill 457 00:29:52,319 --> 00:29:55,960 set. But just how important he is as a floor spacer. Looking at 458 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,279 them after they added Anthony Black, I don't know how much Jet Howard is 459 00:29:59,319 --> 00:30:00,640 going to play right out the gate. How many minutes can Joe Ingles give 460 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,920 you that someone else who helps with the spacing. I mean, I know 461 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,200 Jet Howard is bigger, but Anthony. I think this season specifically, if 462 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,519 they're looking to make a play in or postseason push is massively important. And 463 00:30:10,559 --> 00:30:12,240 now you have him. I don't look, we don't have to frame every 464 00:30:12,279 --> 00:30:17,039 extension in terms of trade value. But that's a very movable deal for someone 465 00:30:17,079 --> 00:30:19,599 who can come in, pump in a bunch of buckets and stretch the floor 466 00:30:19,599 --> 00:30:22,640 for you on or off of it. If they do look to eventually make 467 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,640 these consolidation trades where it's, hey, they actually don't have a ton of 468 00:30:27,519 --> 00:30:30,359 you know, movable money that's not core pieces, where it's like they have 469 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,640 all these kind of you know, Gary Harris's expiring this year, Joe ingles 470 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,400 like they have those shorter term deals, but this gives them something else to 471 00:30:37,519 --> 00:30:41,319 use as salary matching tools. It's also, interestingly enough, a mini safeguard 472 00:30:41,359 --> 00:30:45,920 I know, you have Black as well against what happens with Martel Fultz, 473 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:49,680 who's also went during the final year of his deal. Yeah, Folts is 474 00:30:49,759 --> 00:30:55,000 fascinating because, like, I feel like he's low key. I mean he 475 00:30:55,039 --> 00:30:57,559 plays on Orlando, and Orlando's been out of the spotlight. Folts is actually 476 00:30:57,599 --> 00:31:00,440 low key, like a pretty good player. Now, oh yeah, he's 477 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:03,440 and I feel like without the spotlight on him, people are kind of sleeping 478 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:07,160 on the fact that Folks is gonna get good money. Yeah, he's what 479 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:11,640 is he at this year? He's at like seven seventeen, I would be 480 00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:15,519 I don't want to use the word shocked because that might be inflammatory. If 481 00:31:15,519 --> 00:31:18,720 he gets less than that or signs for less than that, I'd be pretty 482 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:22,880 He's still pretty young. His defensive valuability is big time, and like I 483 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:26,000 do get a little aggravated where I've had I normally don't respond to them, 484 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,079 but they are magic fans in the YouTube comments that'll say he hits mid range 485 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,000 jumpers, that's floor spacing. No, it's not. That's not floor spacing. 486 00:31:33,039 --> 00:31:34,279 That's someone who has a mid range jumper on the ball. That is 487 00:31:34,319 --> 00:31:38,519 important. He's valuable to your offense. He's he is their best passer right 488 00:31:38,559 --> 00:31:41,440 now. I really think that Palo is eventually gonna usurp him, and we'll 489 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:45,039 have to see what happens with you know Ingles is there now, and we'll 490 00:31:45,079 --> 00:31:47,680 see what type of ron Anthony Black gets. Yeah, he's a very good 491 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:51,880 player who it would not surprise me if his next deal is in the range 492 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,519 of like eighteen to twenty three million a year if it was five years, 493 00:31:55,559 --> 00:31:56,400 Like yeah, okay, I might be a little floored by that, but 494 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,480 that feels like where his value he's gonna wind up being. Folts is a 495 00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:06,599 guy that like, Orlando's a team that I'm looking at this year and I'm 496 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:08,400 looking at the number. They don't have a single guy on that roster over 497 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:14,319 twenty million. They've got a ton of really good young players. They feel 498 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,559 really right for a consolidation trade. And I wonder if they're the kind of 499 00:32:16,599 --> 00:32:23,359 team that does the sort of like Sam Presty special, either trade for trade 500 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:28,799 out a guy that's on the last year so they can get their extension in 501 00:32:29,799 --> 00:32:35,279 on their new team. Like where Folts you get like faults in somebody makes 502 00:32:35,799 --> 00:32:42,400 gets you into like close to max money, if not into max money, 503 00:32:43,039 --> 00:32:45,240 depending on the guy that you move, Like he could be a guy that 504 00:32:45,279 --> 00:32:51,119 I could see, you know, you package him with expirings and some other 505 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,759 incentives and it gets you in the door for like a guy that you can 506 00:32:53,759 --> 00:32:59,759 say, Okay, Orlando's back on the map now. I don't know, 507 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,200 would be interesting to see. They're a team though, that I will say. 508 00:33:02,839 --> 00:33:06,359 And I think about okac in this vein too, and okay, SE's 509 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:09,240 clearly further along, and I'm higher on their future where I wonder what do 510 00:33:09,279 --> 00:33:14,599 they need to make the move to reach that level because I think that between 511 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,440 Palo and Franz and then at the level that Wendell Carter Junior is already at, 512 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:21,400 like that's a fringe all star center and I'll die on that hill. 513 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:22,720 Who might be on the bet contract in the league, by the way, 514 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:28,799 at like one of the five best. Your team has so many guys I 515 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,279 love and like just smart contract, Like they've done a bunch of things right 516 00:33:32,279 --> 00:33:37,400 and it just has not broken for them yet. And like last year, 517 00:33:37,559 --> 00:33:40,039 after they're like they're pretty bad start, they end up being before their last 518 00:33:40,079 --> 00:33:43,920 four games of the season that they kind of just punted on. They end 519 00:33:44,039 --> 00:33:46,599 up being like a top six defense during that stretch. And it just comes 520 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:51,359 down to, Look, we've even seen some people are really low on him 521 00:33:51,359 --> 00:33:54,000 still, and this is maybe it's because you said Orlando's not in the spotlight. 522 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,640 People aren't watching him. I get accused of not watching the Orlando Magic 523 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,240 all the time. Jalen Suggs is like loke he good now, like his 524 00:34:00,359 --> 00:34:04,400 shot came a long way. Think he makes better decisions in space. I 525 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,920 don't think he's ever going to become that complicated ball handler, facilitator, self 526 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:10,360 creator. But you go look at who he's defending and how he's defending. 527 00:34:10,639 --> 00:34:15,440 That is a real valuable NBA player. And so yes, Orlando in the 528 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:17,480 same vein as Okac, Maybe they do decide because they have this very clear 529 00:34:17,519 --> 00:34:22,079 need, probably more so than Okac, where it's we need like to really 530 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:27,800 infuse versatility and spacing reliability into our half court, maybe to go out and 531 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,480 get that guy. But as I'm sitting here right now, could I guarantee 532 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:34,920 that, you know, the combination of Jet Howard, Anthony Black's development, 533 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,960 maybe Suggs gets a little better as Palom and France continue to get better. 534 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:39,800 Well, I sit here and say they definitely don't have enough to just keep 535 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:44,920 rolling it forward. I will absolutely not say that because they might right. 536 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,280 But I do think it's one of those things where there's also off the court 537 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:52,199 side that plays into it too. I mean, I don't know if sometimes 538 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:54,320 ownership gets impatient. You know, sometimes it's like we've been out of the 539 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:58,320 spotlight so long, we got to do something, and you saw it with 540 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:01,559 the Wolves. I remember it happening with the Pelicans with Anthony Davis. You 541 00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:05,400 know, there's there's a few teams that you've seen around the league where it's 542 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,960 like, you get to a certain point, it's like all right, uh, 543 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:16,360 Philly, uh in the Colangelo era, Collegiate collogi whatever the like, 544 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,920 where where they say, Okay, we need to get a guy in here, 545 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:23,000 we need to be relevant right now just because like ticket sales or like 546 00:35:24,079 --> 00:35:28,760 just being part of the overall NB A discussion, we need to make the 547 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,639 playoffs, you know, anything like that. So I do wonder if that 548 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:34,320 might be a factor in it too. But it is interesting just in the 549 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,000 light of the the extension there, I think they've got. It's a smart 550 00:35:38,039 --> 00:35:44,199 extension. It's a good They've got a good foundation in place. And it's 551 00:35:44,199 --> 00:35:46,760 the other thing you mentioned this with Minnesota, they might just get too expensive 552 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:50,320 because then you know, you get to next summer, Mark el Foltz needs 553 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,840 a new deal, and then we're talking about an extension for Franz Wagner, 554 00:35:53,079 --> 00:35:58,199 We're talking about Jaalen Suggs is Extensionaledgable the year after that, pallow is extension 555 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:00,440 eligible. So from next summer, they probably about like, okay, two 556 00:36:00,519 --> 00:36:04,360 years because Mindel Carter Junior is eventually not going to be worth you know, 557 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:07,159 seven percent of the salary cap whatever he is now, So they probably have 558 00:36:07,159 --> 00:36:09,960 another like two summers where they can be ultra flexible and play it a little 559 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:13,960 slow. But as you get more expensive, We've seen it with teams including 560 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,440 the Thunder in the past, like you start to make these wholesale decisions and 561 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:22,159 these these bigger swings. So they're on probably still more gradual timeline and there's 562 00:36:22,159 --> 00:36:24,559 a chance that it breaks without them doing anything, which is super intriguing. 563 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:29,159 The other one of the other deals that I I don't want to say was 564 00:36:29,159 --> 00:36:31,480 surprise. Actually I was surprised Denny Avia gets four years fifty five million. 565 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:37,400 It declines. He's not Michael Winger or Dawkins's guy, So I was I 566 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:38,760 didn't think he was going to sign one, and I thought his role was 567 00:36:39,159 --> 00:36:44,880 a little bit confusing. But I think again I mentioned it's declining, so 568 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:47,400 that's big. This is also someone who is younger than you think, so 569 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:52,320 this this extension takes him through his age twenty sixth season and he'll never he 570 00:36:52,679 --> 00:36:55,400 might make ten percent of the salary capping a year long of one of the 571 00:36:55,440 --> 00:37:00,800 extension might at fifteen point six million. I think he is I don't want 572 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:05,480 to say underrated defensively, but overlooked defensively for the breath of assignments he can 573 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:07,920 cover. He's very physical, has pretty good foot speed for his size. 574 00:37:08,039 --> 00:37:12,760 Offensively, the big question everyone wants to focus on, can the stand still 575 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:15,079 threes falls? I think that's fair. I think you also need to question 576 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:19,360 maybe the three dozen fall? But can he be aggressive on drives? More 577 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,239 like that comes and goes? And he's a pretty good facilitator when he gets 578 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,000 when he gets moving, and he can have some of these gritty guys are 579 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:30,039 bouncing off my shoulder. Physical finishes when he really sets himself to it. 580 00:37:30,719 --> 00:37:35,000 The offensive consistency and I guess roll clarifications the big one with him. But 581 00:37:35,039 --> 00:37:37,960 I think at four years and fifty five million, he's not someone that you 582 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:39,880 were going to net a ransom for it if he moved him this summer, 583 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:43,880 as you mentioned at the top of this, as a salary matching piece, 584 00:37:44,199 --> 00:37:46,480 if they eventually want to move on from him, or if it hits because 585 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:49,880 I'm assuming he's gonna have a ton of agency this year, even with Jordan 586 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:53,400 Poole and Kyle Kuzman Balal Kilbali in the fold, maybe he hits for you 587 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:57,679 finally, and now you just have this guy who's on a pretty team friendly 588 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:00,840 contract, and even based off his body of work, if you're just basing 589 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:04,199 this solely off what he's done and not trying to project forward, I don't 590 00:38:04,199 --> 00:38:07,559 even know that this is It might be an overpaying year one and then because 591 00:38:07,519 --> 00:38:10,679 it's one. I mean, that's that's kind of how I feel about the 592 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:15,480 Doork deal that they did a couple of years ago, and for the Thunder, 593 00:38:15,559 --> 00:38:19,880 which is around the same money. If I remember right where, it's 594 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,039 like, you got a guy who's a good defender. You know, the 595 00:38:22,159 --> 00:38:25,800 rest will you know, either come or it won't. It's a little bit 596 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:30,119 of an overpay, you know, to start with, and then the cap 597 00:38:30,199 --> 00:38:32,400 goes up. You've got a salary matching piece. You have a guy that 598 00:38:32,519 --> 00:38:38,679 could still pop for you, and it could be plus value. I think 599 00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:45,880 that's that's an extension that usually is not going to be even if it doesn't 600 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:51,760 go well for you. It's unless the guy like destroys his leg. It's 601 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:57,079 almost never one of those like Black Eye contracts, it's solid. No, 602 00:38:57,159 --> 00:39:00,840 I'm with you there. The other one that was sort of he signs it 603 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:05,039 and he's not really yet proven, at least relative to them. Zeke Nagy, 604 00:39:06,119 --> 00:39:07,800 it's such a pittance that I don't know how you could have I know, 605 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:10,000 I actually saw some people wondering, oh, how to get thirty two 606 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:15,119 million for over four years? Maybe that's sticker shot. Yeah, it's nothing. 607 00:39:15,119 --> 00:39:17,079 And the other thing is just like I I go back and forth because 608 00:39:17,079 --> 00:39:21,679 the Nuggets have been hyping up a Zeke Nagy breakout for like eighty years at 609 00:39:21,679 --> 00:39:25,639 this point, but when we've seen him play like he's not as of right 610 00:39:25,679 --> 00:39:29,960 now, he can't play a ton of center. There's questions about his rebounding. 611 00:39:30,159 --> 00:39:32,519 He is actually one of the most switchable bigs on the defensive end. 612 00:39:32,639 --> 00:39:36,400 And if his three point stroke is gonna fall, and we've seen it fall, 613 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:38,360 we've seen it come and go, but we've seen it fall. That's 614 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:43,880 like so someone who you can like, that's like Grant Williams, but potentially 615 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:45,519 better when you kind of look at what he can. He's got a little 616 00:39:45,519 --> 00:39:49,079 bit more downhill juice, I will say when he's off the ball than a 617 00:39:49,119 --> 00:39:52,679 grant Williams would so four years and thirty two million. I'm hoping and this 618 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:55,239 is why I'm putting out there that this sort of signals, Okay, they 619 00:39:55,320 --> 00:40:01,079 are invested in Zeke Naji actually playing this year. And I think that that's 620 00:40:01,119 --> 00:40:05,599 a reasonable like assumption for me to make because when you look at who they're 621 00:40:05,639 --> 00:40:07,880 relying on after their top five guys, Okay, Christian Brown, he's he's 622 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,079 proven for what he did in the playoffs last year. Yeah, but after 623 00:40:10,119 --> 00:40:13,679 that, it's okay, I know you like Peyton Watson. I know you 624 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:15,760 signed Reggie Jackson. I know you have Julian Strouther. I know you maybe 625 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:19,599 want to look at Jalen Pickett. A lot of people think Hunter Tyson will 626 00:40:19,599 --> 00:40:22,400 be the most played rookie that they have, but Zi Nashi might be the 627 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:27,320 closest thing after your top six to a sure thing that you have in your 628 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:30,840 bench rotation. Yeah, so there's a lot of question marks there. Yeah, 629 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:31,880 and it's I mean, it's always been that they had a bad bench 630 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:36,320 last year, and maybe Mike Michael Malone will mess up with some of his 631 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:39,039 substitution patterns where we see three bench players put Jokis and Murray more than we 632 00:40:39,079 --> 00:40:43,199 have in the past. I like the deal because I think na she is 633 00:40:43,239 --> 00:40:45,079 a really good player, and I don't think this isn't a matter of well, 634 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:47,920 you know, Kole Jokic is burying him and he's not because he's not 635 00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:52,719 a center. And I think that's been that's been proven time and time again 636 00:40:52,760 --> 00:40:54,360 here. So I thought that was good money and a good gamble to make 637 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:58,480 by them, and I'm hoping that it shows. Okay, we are actually 638 00:40:58,519 --> 00:41:02,280 married to the Zeke Naji experiences this year. Yeah, I pretty much one 639 00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:08,320 hundred percent agree with you there. I'm I'm really the Nuggets are an interesting 640 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:15,719 team this year, like nause Like you said, it's it's Nausee and Christian 641 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:22,559 Christian Brown and then like, yeah, it's you've got like an eight man 642 00:41:22,639 --> 00:41:27,119 rotation. Reggie Jackson's fine. Like they're very high on Peyton Watson and as 643 00:41:27,159 --> 00:41:30,239 am I Calvin Booth thinks Peyton Watson is gonna be like a future Hall of 644 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:32,519 Famer. I actually I think he could be really good. I think there's 645 00:41:32,519 --> 00:41:35,960 probably more ball handling he has to offer, and it wouldn't shock me if 646 00:41:36,039 --> 00:41:38,760 like maybe not this year, but is there there's a I called a non 647 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:42,840 zero chance that we're like, oh, you don't need like to rely as 648 00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:45,239 heavily on a Reggie Jackson in order to ask Christian Brown to develop more ball 649 00:41:45,239 --> 00:41:49,159 handling skills or rely on jell and pick it because Peyton Watson just gives you 650 00:41:49,199 --> 00:41:52,320 sort of that secondary stuff. We know how long he is as a wing, 651 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,320 so I I think he might be their seventh best player this year. 652 00:41:55,559 --> 00:41:59,199 Like that's I am pretty I'm Peyton Watson. But if you're trying to go, 653 00:41:59,559 --> 00:42:02,280 we need to count certainties or guys who might be bankable, it's your 654 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:05,880 top six because I think Christian Brown has earned the right to be there. 655 00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:07,840 And I mean if you want to include Reggie Jackson, I don't know why 656 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:13,000 you would after what happened last season, but these Naugy definitely belongs in that 657 00:42:13,039 --> 00:42:16,960 discussion. Yeah, I mean, I'm just thinking, like playoff rotation, 658 00:42:19,599 --> 00:42:23,440 there aren't a lot of rookies that like come in and are immediately impactful in 659 00:42:23,480 --> 00:42:27,519 the playoffs. They do have one of them. They do have one of 660 00:42:27,559 --> 00:42:32,440 them. Crazy they've done it before, So I mean you gotta have, 661 00:42:32,679 --> 00:42:36,559 Like, if you're in the Nuggets, you're hoping one of those guys pops. 662 00:42:36,679 --> 00:42:44,400 You're hoping nausey pops and you need one other guy to pop because they 663 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,000 kind of have enough flyers to where okay, you could envision it happening, 664 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:50,000 but it's it's fair to question they bet on themselves. I did a video 665 00:42:50,079 --> 00:42:52,199 on this, and I think it's a fair bet to make, but it's 666 00:42:52,199 --> 00:42:53,800 a risky bet. It's a risky bet to make, and so I don't 667 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:57,960 think this deal like is a gamble. It's like you said, even if 668 00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:01,599 it goes like belly up poor, it's it's going to be fine. I 669 00:43:01,679 --> 00:43:05,480 was I'm not surprised he signed it. I was just like, oh, 670 00:43:05,559 --> 00:43:07,320 so they actually are kind of invested in him, But it didn't really seem 671 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:10,679 like they were the past, especially because in the playoffs you might just see 672 00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:14,719 some more. Was it like kind of Aaron Gordon at the five stuff. 673 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:16,239 There wasn't a ton of that this past year, but they did experiment with 674 00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:21,079 it, as you're shortening your rotation, so that'll be something to monitor. 675 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:27,920 Are there any other extensions that you wanted to touch on? I I don't 676 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:31,719 think there's any others that came through today that were that. I mean, 677 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:36,320 there's there was a lot of like smaller there's a lot of smaller stuff. 678 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:39,239 I think we covered most of the major stuff. I think the two that 679 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:44,840 we haven't hit on that I found surprising that they were just deemed priorities a 680 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:49,239 little bit so the Zach Collins veteran extension, not a rookie extension. I 681 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:52,039 want to make that queer, but that was they got him on a steel 682 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:55,360 and then they now extend him for two years and thirty four point eight. 683 00:43:55,719 --> 00:43:59,639 Now Zach Collins at his peak when he is healthy, which is not all 684 00:43:59,679 --> 00:44:01,920 the time, but he was fairly healthy this year. He stretches the floor, 685 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:07,079 he protects the rim. I think he showed really good mobility. This 686 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:10,199 just feels like this might have been the one where it's like, oh, 687 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:14,840 is it maybe an overpay because you're gonna bet on him to stay healthy if 688 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:17,920 he is healthy, though, he makes so much sense next to Victor Webbinyama, 689 00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:22,400 who you don't want to play the five. Yeah, that's a big 690 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:28,760 swing in Collins's health. I'm on record on with a couple of people talking 691 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:35,039 about the Spurs stuff that Collins that extension scares me a little bit. If 692 00:44:35,079 --> 00:44:40,920 he is if you're getting like sixty games at least a year of Zach Collins 693 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:47,639 and he's healthy in the playoffs, he outperforms that. Yeah, I mean, 694 00:44:49,559 --> 00:44:54,320 but you look at the injury history and it's it's scary. Yeah, 695 00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:58,679 it's the injury scary and even sort of just like when you look at the 696 00:44:58,800 --> 00:45:01,519 Okay, he's shown that he pen space the floor, but it's never been 697 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:06,800 Wow, look at how many threes Zach Collins just made, Like this is 698 00:45:06,840 --> 00:45:08,639 someone who you know, let's break it down per minuix. I know he's 699 00:45:08,639 --> 00:45:13,079 go play the most Like he's never attempted four three pointed deeps per thirty six 700 00:45:13,119 --> 00:45:15,719 minutes and so early on when you're dealing with a half court Spurs offense, 701 00:45:16,039 --> 00:45:20,440 that will be in a deficiency in playmaking unless I'm a believer in Devin Vessel 702 00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:22,840 and Jeremy Sowen and Victor Wimbanyama. Of course, but you have Trey Jones 703 00:45:22,840 --> 00:45:25,920 and that's kind of like now you're leaning on a bunch of question marks there 704 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:30,880 unless you think Devonte Graham plays a bigger role, but like you need him 705 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:35,119 to take and make more threes than that. But the question comes into play, 706 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:37,119 are you giving him this money again? This season doesn't matter because how 707 00:45:37,199 --> 00:45:39,440 o of a capit he is. Butre you're giving him this money just to 708 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:44,440 play, you know, twenty minutes a game. He played twenty two to 709 00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:45,840 nine last year. I guess that's fine if he's playing that, but can 710 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:50,199 he get up a little bit more threes? That was the one. It's 711 00:45:50,239 --> 00:45:52,320 again, the number is so tiny when you're like we're talking about like twelve 712 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:55,719 ten percent of the salary cap whatever, But it was just like did you 713 00:45:55,760 --> 00:45:59,280 need to do this? Like did this make sense for you right now? 714 00:46:00,159 --> 00:46:04,199 So, and that's like the strongest All these deals look so okay to great 715 00:46:04,559 --> 00:46:07,119 in the context of a rising salary cap. But that is the biggest insult 716 00:46:07,119 --> 00:46:09,000 that I can work critique. I can kind of hes like, did you 717 00:46:09,039 --> 00:46:14,239 need to do this now? Like did you need to? Yeah? I 718 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:19,800 do think and I think this is a thing with kind of anyone from that 719 00:46:19,920 --> 00:46:24,840 GM tree. I'm just thinking opressed you as well. Like the Spurs like 720 00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:30,679 to lock guys up early if they want to keep him around. It's a 721 00:46:30,719 --> 00:46:35,719 great point, especially in some of the very small markets. I think that's 722 00:46:35,760 --> 00:46:40,000 something that you don't want a guy to test free agency. You want to 723 00:46:40,039 --> 00:46:45,239 make sure that he feels appreciated as soon as possible, you know, don't 724 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:49,440 hardball the guy. Take care of your players, otherwise you wind up with 725 00:46:49,480 --> 00:46:54,840 the Haywood situation right where they let him test free agency, they matched him, 726 00:46:54,840 --> 00:46:58,920 and then a couple of years later he just leaves anyway, you know. 727 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:02,880 Like, I think that's why a lot of these smaller teams tend to, 728 00:47:04,719 --> 00:47:06,840 you know, even if it's a little bit of an overpay, they're 729 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:13,440 fine with locking a guy up early just to make sure that like he doesn't, 730 00:47:13,519 --> 00:47:16,920 you know, test free agency. Because I don't know. That's that's 731 00:47:16,920 --> 00:47:20,760 the big question mark for me. I can't believe I forgot Zach Collins because 732 00:47:20,760 --> 00:47:24,159 I was because everyone was clowning his his extension announcement for looking like a funeral 733 00:47:24,159 --> 00:47:29,079 invitation. Oh I didn't see. It wasn't really that bad. It's really 734 00:47:29,119 --> 00:47:32,760 bad. You need to go look it up on Twitter after this. But 735 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:38,679 yeah, he he's just a big question mark. Like I love the ideal. 736 00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:42,599 I loved him when he was drafted. I love the idea of Zach 737 00:47:42,679 --> 00:47:46,639 Collins, the platonic idea of Zach Collins playing at least sixty games and being 738 00:47:47,159 --> 00:47:52,280 the player that I know he can be. It's just does that happen? 739 00:47:52,599 --> 00:47:58,239 That's the big question. Yeah, it's the available enough is really what it 740 00:47:58,280 --> 00:48:00,159 is. I think they probably have him in the good role, and I 741 00:48:00,159 --> 00:48:04,679 think the final one before we get to players that did not sign extensions that 742 00:48:04,719 --> 00:48:07,679 would be noteworthy, aaron Nie Smith was not. I know the Pacers need 743 00:48:07,760 --> 00:48:09,920 they have a wing deficit, and he's someone who could play a lot of 744 00:48:09,920 --> 00:48:13,400 the four for them. Three years, thirty three million, it's a fine 745 00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:16,719 number. Someone who's gonna hit threes. He's probably overmatched defensively with a lot 746 00:48:16,719 --> 00:48:21,159 of assignments they put him up against, does have quick hands. I don't 747 00:48:21,159 --> 00:48:22,840 know if they saw him like he was kind of dribbling more in the preseason, 748 00:48:22,840 --> 00:48:25,039 they were like, you know what, like we're gonna bet on this, 749 00:48:25,119 --> 00:48:28,000 like we've seen him like now, it's like, okay, this is 750 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:30,679 more than just someone who's like three ish and d ish is what I would 751 00:48:30,719 --> 00:48:34,840 call him. So I think that I just was like, oh, that's 752 00:48:34,920 --> 00:48:37,239 that's just interesting that But it could just come back to, hey, we 753 00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:40,360 want to roll these deals over into having these assets to move as money matchers, 754 00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:44,840 but they also they are it's such a wing deficit that it did. 755 00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:47,760 It surprised me a little bit. Yeah, well, Indy's another one. 756 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:51,599 I think that's like it's another small market thing. Is like they like to 757 00:48:51,679 --> 00:48:58,119 like lock their guys up early, you know, Nie Smith. I honestly 758 00:48:58,679 --> 00:49:01,199 I did not watch a ton of Pacers last year. I know I see 759 00:49:01,199 --> 00:49:05,440 some stuff. Yeah, I see some stuff come through from Kaitlin Cooper. 760 00:49:05,480 --> 00:49:10,360 I know they're they were fun. I just didn't get to see a lot 761 00:49:10,360 --> 00:49:14,679 of them, So I don't really know. On the Nie Smith one, 762 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:19,559 I can look at the numbers, and I can look at the extension dollar 763 00:49:19,599 --> 00:49:22,960 amount and say, yeah, it looks fine. I mean, same as 764 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:28,039 a lot of the other ones that we talked about here. The pacers have 765 00:49:28,079 --> 00:49:35,760 got some questions. One of them's buddy Healed. You know, how happy 766 00:49:35,800 --> 00:49:39,880 is he long term? And like you said, it's like the wings, 767 00:49:40,039 --> 00:49:47,000 the wings are so thin there, I could see them. Yeah, they 768 00:49:47,079 --> 00:49:52,559 need me Smith, I think, just to play, even even just as 769 00:49:52,559 --> 00:49:54,679 a body. Yeah, and I mean he will play and he'll probably be 770 00:49:54,679 --> 00:49:58,760 effective for them. We'll see if they look they like to play really small 771 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:01,119 based off their personal all right. Now, I think he's arguably so important 772 00:50:01,159 --> 00:50:06,039 how they're doing that when you want to play Hallie Brown and Benedict Mathrin together, 773 00:50:06,119 --> 00:50:07,679 like you need Naismith to be like, okay, he could play a 774 00:50:07,719 --> 00:50:10,320 bunch of four, especially if and this, I think this will be someone 775 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:13,480 who appears on the Oh he didn't get an extension, You don't really know 776 00:50:13,480 --> 00:50:16,559 what you're gonna have in Obi Toppin Yeah, Rick Carlisle Kaitlon Cooper just wrote 777 00:50:16,559 --> 00:50:19,880 about this. Seemed to telegraph that Jars Walker is going to be spend a 778 00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:22,559 lot of time in the G League, maybe more than the big club rotation. 779 00:50:22,639 --> 00:50:25,159 And so like you need reliable bodies that are going to be at not 780 00:50:25,239 --> 00:50:28,719 just at that spot, but that can function in these lineups that are going 781 00:50:28,719 --> 00:50:30,280 to give up a ton of size. And I think Nie Smith is one 782 00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:34,199 of those guys. I just didn't expect him to. Again, this comes 783 00:50:34,239 --> 00:50:37,599 back to the theme of we might just be seeing guys sign extensions more often 784 00:50:37,679 --> 00:50:40,360 from here on. Yeah, I mean, I think that's a general theme 785 00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:45,079 around the league, Like, is we're going to see more extensions as guys 786 00:50:45,400 --> 00:50:51,039 like number one, the incentives for extensions are higher than they used to be. 787 00:50:51,039 --> 00:50:53,800 Being able to sign with your team and make more money is a big 788 00:50:53,800 --> 00:50:58,920 thing, especially for like Max Supermax players. You know you're gonna see a 789 00:50:58,920 --> 00:51:02,519 lot more guys who are just their extensions and then asking for trades if they 790 00:51:02,519 --> 00:51:08,360 want out after that. Damian Lillard, you know, some of these smaller 791 00:51:09,159 --> 00:51:13,159 salaries you know you're going to see because teams want to have them for salary 792 00:51:13,199 --> 00:51:15,280 matching. They don't know exactly what the cat picture is going to look like 793 00:51:15,320 --> 00:51:21,000 long term, so they're stockpiling assets and guys at various numbers so that they're 794 00:51:21,039 --> 00:51:24,599 able to do trades. They're getting guys locked in now so that they're prepared 795 00:51:24,639 --> 00:51:29,440 for the cat going up. I think especially the next like two years, 796 00:51:30,679 --> 00:51:34,239 we're going to see a lot of this. Did you want to talk about 797 00:51:34,239 --> 00:51:37,840 some guys that you were shocked and not get or just you figure noteworthy that 798 00:51:37,880 --> 00:51:42,119 they didn't sign an extension. Well, obviously we have to talk about my 799 00:51:42,119 --> 00:51:47,280 boy Poku. Yeah. I don't know this is that pokuo is worth the 800 00:51:47,320 --> 00:51:53,320 max. I actually posted on Twitter earlier today that I'm I was dreading them 801 00:51:53,360 --> 00:51:58,679 signing him to a big to a larger money extension than I thought was worth. 802 00:51:59,039 --> 00:52:01,400 He's one that he's still dice roll. I don't know. I don't 803 00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:05,239 know if you know this, its like you should try careful him like a 804 00:52:05,280 --> 00:52:07,760 Poku die hard. I think that there's like we've seen the outlines of a 805 00:52:07,880 --> 00:52:13,360 really complimentary NBA player, especially last season, that if he's going to stay 806 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:16,159 healthy, someone who knows kind of where to be off the ball now can 807 00:52:16,199 --> 00:52:19,400 do crazy stuff on the ball and get into the lane if you have enough 808 00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:22,599 space. But even some of his defensive rotations last year, they felt you 809 00:52:22,639 --> 00:52:24,719 watched more OKAYC than I did. But I went on the Uncontested podcast a 810 00:52:24,760 --> 00:52:29,480 few weeks ago and I campaigned once again extremely hard for my God Poker. 811 00:52:30,519 --> 00:52:36,199 No. I like Poku. I'm just I I think it was smart not 812 00:52:36,440 --> 00:52:39,639 locking him in yet. I'm just even if it was like the Zeke Naogy 813 00:52:39,800 --> 00:52:45,400 special, I'm so I'm so gumshy about thunder rookie deal guys at this point, 814 00:52:45,519 --> 00:52:47,840 there's been so many guys over the years that I've been like, this 815 00:52:47,880 --> 00:52:52,599 guy is going to be really good. And then just like so I love 816 00:52:52,639 --> 00:52:58,480 the idea of Poku. He's shown flat like he's still a magic eight ball. 817 00:52:58,880 --> 00:53:02,159 On offense, you shake the eight ball sometimes it comes up, you 818 00:53:02,159 --> 00:53:07,039 know, and he just throws the most insane pass you've ever seen, to 819 00:53:07,760 --> 00:53:10,960 like bullet right to the hoop, a weird lob or something like that, 820 00:53:12,079 --> 00:53:15,639 somebody catches in the perfect spot whatever, and then sometimes he just throws it 821 00:53:15,679 --> 00:53:20,079 in the stands, you know, like that's still the guy that you're getting. 822 00:53:21,159 --> 00:53:23,480 I think there is a productive player in there, but I am real 823 00:53:23,559 --> 00:53:29,480 scared of him just not ever being the guy that he's that we hope he 824 00:53:29,639 --> 00:53:34,920 is. I was pretty surprised that the Pistons didn't give a nice payday to 825 00:53:35,000 --> 00:53:37,159 James Wiseman, because at some point they're gonna have fewer than eighty centers on 826 00:53:37,239 --> 00:53:39,960 the roster and I just don't I don't know how they're gonna deal with that. 827 00:53:40,079 --> 00:53:44,199 I don't I don't understand the Pistons. Oh no, I don't even 828 00:53:44,239 --> 00:53:46,760 think we need to find have you been? I'm pretty I follow a bunch 829 00:53:46,800 --> 00:53:52,599 of people from Pistons Twitter and just between Laz Jackson Homie of the Pod and 830 00:53:52,760 --> 00:53:54,719 you know, following these other people who are in there. They seem so 831 00:53:55,000 --> 00:54:00,800 down on the Pistons direction, to the point of not that they're predicting catastrophe, 832 00:54:00,800 --> 00:54:04,639 but they don't understand what's happening. And so it's they have a bunch 833 00:54:04,639 --> 00:54:08,280 of these exciting young players when you look at Kay Cunningham j andn ivy Asar 834 00:54:08,400 --> 00:54:14,760 Thompson. But when you're fans, when you're people who are really like the 835 00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:17,880 bloggers and the podcasters who are very plugged into the team, don't really seem 836 00:54:17,920 --> 00:54:23,239 to support or understand your direction, it's very uncomfortable. I think when I 837 00:54:23,280 --> 00:54:27,119 was doing win totals with my co host Grant, they were the team that 838 00:54:27,159 --> 00:54:29,679 I kept ripping. I ended up with too many wins. Surprise, surprise, 839 00:54:29,719 --> 00:54:31,840 I had to subtract fifty wins. I'm always too optimistic. They were 840 00:54:31,840 --> 00:54:35,320 the team that I kept stripping away from because I'm just like, I'm not 841 00:54:35,400 --> 00:54:37,639 saying they're not going to try to win games at some point, But I 842 00:54:37,639 --> 00:54:40,119 don't understand the theory of this team just yet, even if I like a 843 00:54:40,119 --> 00:54:44,920 lot of the individuals. Yeah, I think it's one of those things where 844 00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:53,199 just knowing that the history with the Thunder, like they're stockpiling a bunch of 845 00:54:53,280 --> 00:55:00,400 guys for like athleticism and speed and power and size, and just like get 846 00:55:00,480 --> 00:55:04,480 all the guys in, see what we have and then figure it out from 847 00:55:04,519 --> 00:55:10,400 there. I just there's a level of winnowing there and like on the court 848 00:55:10,519 --> 00:55:19,880 logic that I'm not seeing. Yeah, like they can't play. Maybe you're 849 00:55:19,920 --> 00:55:22,000 seeing stuff, Maybe you're seeing stuff in the locker room, maybe you're seeing 850 00:55:22,039 --> 00:55:27,119 stuff on the practice court. You know of how guys are doing, but 851 00:55:27,159 --> 00:55:32,840 they can't play everybody at the positions that they want to play anyway. Sorry, 852 00:55:32,880 --> 00:55:36,159 it's frustrating to me because I like it. I like a bunch of 853 00:55:36,239 --> 00:55:38,039 guys on that team, and I don't see it making sense. I think 854 00:55:38,079 --> 00:55:42,320 the most encouraging harbinger for them is that Manti Williams has said, like they're 855 00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:45,440 not aside from the stewart during minutes, that they're not going to play a 856 00:55:45,440 --> 00:55:47,039 lot of duel bigs. And I think that's encouraging because we don't need to 857 00:55:47,039 --> 00:55:52,559 see Bagley Wiseman together ever again frankly, But you still know, it's tough 858 00:55:52,559 --> 00:55:54,519 if you ever want to get to lineups where it's you know, kid, 859 00:55:55,159 --> 00:55:59,360 let's say plus three shooters, so you'll have Duran in there. Let's just 860 00:55:59,400 --> 00:56:00,760 assume well, it's, well, can you play J. N Ivey, 861 00:56:00,880 --> 00:56:04,840 endors R. Thompson as part of your three shooters? We don't really know 862 00:56:05,480 --> 00:56:07,960 about that. Can you play kit if you want to surround j n Ivy 863 00:56:07,960 --> 00:56:10,559 with shooters Keg Cunningham, I think he will. I'm pretty high on him. 864 00:56:10,639 --> 00:56:14,760 Yeah, But so that's the they've run into some functional questions. That 865 00:56:14,840 --> 00:56:16,880 was not actually the extension that we didn't see. I was gonna throw you 866 00:56:16,920 --> 00:56:21,559 Emmanuel quickly. I think is probably aside from Tyrese Maxi, who we can 867 00:56:21,639 --> 00:56:24,400 get into after this, is the most notable one who didn't sign a deal 868 00:56:24,400 --> 00:56:29,800 if I'm mistaken, and I think I get it because of what happened in 869 00:56:29,840 --> 00:56:31,719 the playoffs. But at the same time, when you look at what he 870 00:56:31,760 --> 00:56:36,239 did in the regular season defensively, how he kind of turned his offense around, 871 00:56:36,280 --> 00:56:37,840 and I was going through just some of the numbers to see, okay, 872 00:56:37,840 --> 00:56:40,280 well, like who played a bunch and put up some of these numbers. 873 00:56:40,440 --> 00:56:45,599 And so since twenty twelve thirteen, there are thirteen guys who have averaged 874 00:56:45,760 --> 00:56:51,599 while playing over two thousand minutes. They've averaged per thirty six eighteen points, 875 00:56:51,639 --> 00:56:53,840 four assists, and then shot at least fifty percent on twos and thirty seven 876 00:56:53,880 --> 00:56:58,679 percent on threes. You have IQ and Andfrey Simons who did it last year, 877 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:01,840 you have Darius Garland, Trey Young, Brandon Ingram, Colin Sexton, 878 00:57:02,159 --> 00:57:07,639 Jason Tatum, Brandon Ingram again, Zach Lavine, Bradley Beal, Nikole Jokic, 879 00:57:07,840 --> 00:57:09,920 Kyrie again, and then Kevin Durant to round out that list. So 880 00:57:09,920 --> 00:57:14,719 it wasn't thirteen players, but it's happened thirteen times eleven players. I don't 881 00:57:14,760 --> 00:57:16,880 think he's on the level of anyone I just mentioned. I want to make 882 00:57:16,920 --> 00:57:20,960 that clear, But if he had another season like he did, you might 883 00:57:21,000 --> 00:57:22,639 look back and say, if you had the chance to wrap him up for 884 00:57:22,719 --> 00:57:27,199 twenty five million a year or whatever, that could come back to bite you. 885 00:57:28,119 --> 00:57:31,480 Yeah. No, he's He's definitely one. I actually I drafted him 886 00:57:31,239 --> 00:57:35,199 on my fantasy team this year because I do think he's gonna be good. 887 00:57:36,320 --> 00:57:44,639 I just I don't get not locking him down. Yeah, he's one of 888 00:57:44,639 --> 00:57:47,559 the ones. It's not even it's not even like it's a rookie guy who's 889 00:57:47,639 --> 00:57:52,039 like not played a ton and you don't really know what you're getting. He's 890 00:57:52,119 --> 00:57:57,760 proven, like he's proven even that he can play. And I do wonder 891 00:57:57,760 --> 00:57:59,960 if it's maybe something like we talked about at the beginning, where you know, 892 00:58:00,079 --> 00:58:02,559 maybe it's like, Okay, you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna better 893 00:58:02,599 --> 00:58:08,119 myself and I'm gonna make more money. Yeah, I'm I'm very curious to 894 00:58:08,119 --> 00:58:12,519 see and I was going through. Fred Katz wrote something on this for The 895 00:58:12,559 --> 00:58:15,559 Athletic. It doesn't seem like there was a number unless I missed it that 896 00:58:15,639 --> 00:58:17,639 was just like being that would have done it for them, or the number 897 00:58:17,639 --> 00:58:22,760 that they were throwing out that he just didn't want to sign for. I 898 00:58:22,760 --> 00:58:25,239 would need to know again, are they that were they basing it on? 899 00:58:25,280 --> 00:58:29,760 Okay, we didn't really see his breakout come until this year, especially defensively, 900 00:58:30,159 --> 00:58:31,719 and then we see what happens in the playoffs where he just falls off 901 00:58:31,760 --> 00:58:36,360 a great deal on offense. Is it that trepidation or is it just he 902 00:58:36,800 --> 00:58:38,480 you mentioned bet on himself where he just decided like, no, I'm a 903 00:58:38,480 --> 00:58:42,639 thirty million dollar a year player or somewhere I'm a twenty seven million dollar a 904 00:58:42,719 --> 00:58:45,400 year player. And you're kind of at the point where it's, well, 905 00:58:45,400 --> 00:58:46,880 well, then wait, because we think that you'll if we have to pay 906 00:58:46,880 --> 00:58:50,159 you, that'll be the money we have to pay you later, So we 907 00:58:50,239 --> 00:58:52,280 might as well work with your smaller cap hold, right, next summer. 908 00:58:52,960 --> 00:58:58,000 The only thing there, the only thing there for him. I wonder if 909 00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:00,679 this is one of those situations where he should have signed it, if it 910 00:59:00,719 --> 00:59:05,159 was anything near like twenty million twenty one million a year, because what if 911 00:59:05,159 --> 00:59:08,440 you don't just between you know, they have they have John Brunton, obviously, 912 00:59:08,679 --> 00:59:12,360 they have Quentin Grimes, There's R. J. Barrett, There's Josh 913 00:59:12,400 --> 00:59:15,960 Hart. You add Dante DiVincenzo went to the fold. There's all these guys, 914 00:59:15,000 --> 00:59:17,480 are you know, moving around? They're not all gonna play guard. 915 00:59:17,559 --> 00:59:22,320 But like, could you get with the addition of Dante DiVincenzo, is your 916 00:59:22,400 --> 00:59:25,519 chances of closing games even lower? And that's not something that necessarily he was 917 00:59:25,559 --> 00:59:28,719 doing every game. But like you look at it, are we gonna pay 918 00:59:28,719 --> 00:59:31,719 this guy x because he is one of our four or five most important players? 919 00:59:32,039 --> 00:59:35,880 Is there a chance to just not because of this sheer pecking order now? 920 00:59:35,880 --> 00:59:37,639 And so should you have locked down the money? I find it. 921 00:59:37,840 --> 00:59:42,239 I find it fascinating from both perspectives. Obviously I could see the risk in 922 00:59:42,320 --> 00:59:45,719 IQ not signing on IQ's behalf, but I could also see the risk in 923 00:59:45,760 --> 00:59:51,280 the Knicks saying, damn, like what the heck like, I don't know, 924 00:59:51,800 --> 00:59:54,960 like what number is he gonna end up actually getting and then are we 925 00:59:55,000 --> 00:59:58,920 gonna match it or we gonna end up letting him walk because the number is 926 00:59:58,960 --> 01:00:05,119 just too high. Yeah, I'm I was listening. I was also just 927 01:00:05,159 --> 01:00:10,480 like looking at the NIXT cap right now. Even if they I mean even 928 01:00:10,519 --> 01:00:17,079 with a lower cap hold for quickly, there's still they're still over the cap 929 01:00:17,400 --> 01:00:22,239 next year. So it's definitely not to go like free agency hunting, right 930 01:00:23,320 --> 01:00:28,000 is it to keep their optionality open via trades? I just struggle. My 931 01:00:28,119 --> 01:00:35,320 thing there is he makes so little and then like with him approaching extension eligibility 932 01:00:35,440 --> 01:00:38,280 or rather a new deal, how much value does he add to any trade 933 01:00:38,280 --> 01:00:40,760 package? Is it worth saying, hey, we're not going to sign you 934 01:00:40,840 --> 01:00:45,000 to an extension because we might want to include you in a bigger trade package. 935 01:00:45,480 --> 01:00:49,039 Yeah, I don't know. I mean I could, I could see 936 01:00:49,039 --> 01:00:51,960 that because obviously, like if you sign it to an extension, now he's 937 01:00:52,079 --> 01:01:00,159 poison pill and you know that becomes its own, you know, issue to 938 01:01:00,199 --> 01:01:05,679 deal with. I don't know, I don't get it. I mean, 939 01:01:05,719 --> 01:01:12,360 he's he's he's a bargain right now, formally in a year, I just 940 01:01:13,000 --> 01:01:16,079 the Knicks. I'm not going to knock the next too much because it just 941 01:01:16,159 --> 01:01:23,559 feels nice to see like competence out of that front office. They've just been 942 01:01:23,599 --> 01:01:28,159 going for big swing after big swing, you know, year after year after 943 01:01:28,239 --> 01:01:35,239 year after year after year and just whiffing. It feels weird to knock them 944 01:01:35,239 --> 01:01:40,800 for being too conservative, Like this is the sort of thing that like it. 945 01:01:45,519 --> 01:01:47,079 You know, if this was the mix of a few years ago, 946 01:01:47,639 --> 01:01:50,800 you'd be like, oh, yeah, one hundred percent. They're just like 947 01:01:51,000 --> 01:01:52,760 they're keeping his capital back so they can clear the books and go big game 948 01:01:52,840 --> 01:02:00,559 hunting and free agency this iteration the next. I'm really not sure Kats would 949 01:02:00,559 --> 01:02:02,079 have a better idea than I would because he watches more of their stuff. 950 01:02:02,440 --> 01:02:07,119 But yeah, I don't get it, Tyreeks. Maxie we knew was not 951 01:02:07,159 --> 01:02:09,320 going to get an extension, and he might be unless there's anyone else you 952 01:02:09,360 --> 01:02:13,920 want to talk about where we wrap up there. I don't think they're taking 953 01:02:13,960 --> 01:02:16,639 a risk there, to be honest with you, just because he probably would 954 01:02:16,679 --> 01:02:20,360 have commanded Max or near max money and like if he was going to give 955 01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:22,599 you the Devin Vessel or Jade McDaniel's deal right now, but if he's going 956 01:02:22,679 --> 01:02:25,960 to get you the Desmond Bane like, if that's just what his number was, 957 01:02:27,480 --> 01:02:30,760 they as long as they don't believe they're risking goodwill by leaving him on 958 01:02:30,800 --> 01:02:35,440 time, because I do think that's important between him and his agent. I 959 01:02:35,440 --> 01:02:38,000 don't really think we expected it. We understand what they're doing with his capital. 960 01:02:38,039 --> 01:02:42,039 I think they have the ability to get sixty five plus million in cap 961 01:02:42,079 --> 01:02:45,119 space right now for next year. That's being able to keep Tyre's MAXI giving 962 01:02:45,159 --> 01:02:49,480 out a pretty expensive max and then still having a whole bunch of money left 963 01:02:49,519 --> 01:02:53,000 over depending on what you get back in the James Harden trade, assuming that 964 01:02:53,039 --> 01:02:58,719 he actually does get get traded. So if you're if you're them though, 965 01:02:59,000 --> 01:03:00,960 just based off how everything is gone right now, are you actually comfortable going 966 01:03:01,000 --> 01:03:04,840 this route? Knowing I talked to Brian to Porik about this a lot. 967 01:03:05,639 --> 01:03:08,119 We're talking about capspace, cap space, capspace for Philly. What about free 968 01:03:08,159 --> 01:03:13,199 agency the past few years makes you think that like cap space, cap space, 969 01:03:13,280 --> 01:03:15,400 cap space matters a great deal. And if the guy you're circling is 970 01:03:16,079 --> 01:03:20,599 if it's og Ananobi, like, that's not the guy you plan your franchise 971 01:03:20,639 --> 01:03:22,840 around. I know Pastco Siakam will be a free agent, and it doesn't 972 01:03:22,920 --> 01:03:25,960 you know, the whole stuff with the raptors, that's real and we've seen 973 01:03:27,000 --> 01:03:30,440 the raptors like guys leave for nothing already in Fred Van Fleet, I just 974 01:03:30,480 --> 01:03:34,199 find it it might be more independent of the MAXI discussion. You just maybe 975 01:03:34,199 --> 01:03:37,800 you want to maximize your flexibility anyway for trades until he he signs. But 976 01:03:38,079 --> 01:03:42,719 I find it fascinating that they seem to be banking so much on cap space 977 01:03:43,599 --> 01:03:45,519 doing so much for them, quite frankly, when it hasn't done a lot 978 01:03:45,639 --> 01:03:51,880 for most teams lately. Yeah, well and More too. I mean cap 979 01:03:51,880 --> 01:03:55,320 space isn't just useful for for a free agency too, because I think I 980 01:03:55,360 --> 01:03:58,840 think, like I know, you know that, but like just for the 981 01:03:58,880 --> 01:04:02,559 benefit of the of the viewers listeners, you know, like you can just 982 01:04:02,639 --> 01:04:05,559 you can absorb bigger deals back and that sort of thing, which can be 983 01:04:05,599 --> 01:04:09,800 helpful. And I think More is kind of trying to keep his options open. 984 01:04:13,079 --> 01:04:17,119 But yeah, I look, I'm a thunder fan. I live in 985 01:04:17,159 --> 01:04:21,079 Oklahoma City. Like, I don't get the mindset of doing big swings for 986 01:04:21,119 --> 01:04:27,719 free agency because I don't follow a team that will ever get big names in 987 01:04:27,760 --> 01:04:30,440 free agency, you know, unless they're already on the team, Like that's 988 01:04:30,639 --> 01:04:36,960 just you know, unless you're in like four or five markets, usually free 989 01:04:36,960 --> 01:04:42,559 agency is bad idea for you. So Philly might be one where you where 990 01:04:42,599 --> 01:04:45,239 free agency might be a good idea. They have a superstar, they have 991 01:04:45,360 --> 01:04:50,000 a very very good player, maybe star in MAXI I think you call him 992 01:04:50,000 --> 01:04:57,320 a star. He's at least has that trajectory to where you could envision him 993 01:04:57,360 --> 01:05:02,639 making multiple All Star appearances pretty easily. Yeah, So it's it's it's it's 994 01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:09,719 a roll of the dice and More is a gambler. He'll he'll take that 995 01:05:09,800 --> 01:05:15,440 swing. I would not be comfortable taking that swing. But I'm also not 996 01:05:15,519 --> 01:05:19,599 in charge of the team, So I get it though. If it was 997 01:05:19,719 --> 01:05:23,039 the ask was just what we want one of those fots like the Desmond Bane 998 01:05:23,079 --> 01:05:25,239 Special I just called like because that was the one where it's like, oh, 999 01:05:25,239 --> 01:05:28,079 there was just no we're just going straight five years like that things getting 1000 01:05:28,360 --> 01:05:31,480 this money. If that was the ask, then I understand waiting and being 1001 01:05:31,519 --> 01:05:33,320 like, well, you know we're gonna have to pay you this anyway, 1002 01:05:33,320 --> 01:05:35,639 so we're going to wait. If he actually the one other player I want 1003 01:05:35,639 --> 01:05:40,079 to touch on you mentioned him already. Was Patrick Williams no extension for him 1004 01:05:40,679 --> 01:05:44,880 that I thought he made strides defensively last year help defense got a lot better. 1005 01:05:44,920 --> 01:05:47,719 He's always been someone that you could throw on maybe the opposition's best player, 1006 01:05:47,760 --> 01:05:51,320 or at least move him around a bunch. I'm very curious to see 1007 01:05:51,320 --> 01:05:55,719 if he has any sort of just I don't want to say offensive breakout, 1008 01:05:55,719 --> 01:05:59,280 but material offensive progression where it's, oh, he's taking more threes in the 1009 01:05:59,320 --> 01:06:01,760 efficiency hole and we're seeing him create a little bit, even though it's kind 1010 01:06:01,760 --> 01:06:05,400 of tough to get the lineups that will allow him to do that. Did 1011 01:06:05,440 --> 01:06:10,360 the Bulls kind of not understanding where they are in the pecking order Derozans hitting 1012 01:06:10,400 --> 01:06:13,760 free agency next year. I know they've kind of they've built their team like 1013 01:06:13,760 --> 01:06:15,760 they're all about now, but they are also a team that you could very 1014 01:06:15,800 --> 01:06:20,480 easily envision just pivoting into a rebuild or a tear down at midseason if it's 1015 01:06:20,480 --> 01:06:25,320 not going well. Did that factor into this at all? I know Zach 1016 01:06:25,360 --> 01:06:28,480 Low had said that he wanted an astronomical number, and so if he really 1017 01:06:28,519 --> 01:06:31,199 wanted like Desmond Bain money, or if he wanted twenty five plus million dollars 1018 01:06:31,239 --> 01:06:33,679 a year. I get it. He is someone though, just based off 1019 01:06:33,679 --> 01:06:40,320 the archetype of player that he is. If he has any reasonable progress being 1020 01:06:40,360 --> 01:06:43,840 made offensively this year, that would be a player, just like I said 1021 01:06:43,840 --> 01:06:45,880 it with Jade McDaniels. If you let him into restricted regency, I really 1022 01:06:45,920 --> 01:06:50,159 do think someone will tie up their cap space to give him an offer sheet. 1023 01:06:53,199 --> 01:06:56,679 If there's anything we know about Chicago is that if there is a cheap 1024 01:06:56,719 --> 01:07:01,239 route to be taken, they will take it. You know, I can 1025 01:07:01,320 --> 01:07:05,199 one hundred percent like, and that's that's not a knock on their front office, 1026 01:07:05,199 --> 01:07:08,719 that's a knock knock on their ownership. The book is out in rhinstor 1027 01:07:08,800 --> 01:07:14,880 if we all know what he's like, one hundred percent believe that the mandate 1028 01:07:14,920 --> 01:07:19,119 from ownership is make him prove it. You know. And look, if 1029 01:07:19,119 --> 01:07:23,679 he's asking for like twenty five twenty seven million a year or whatever it is, 1030 01:07:23,679 --> 01:07:27,320 I I get it, that sounds high. Yeah, Like I love 1031 01:07:27,360 --> 01:07:30,360 Patrick Williams, but I would say prove it too, just because he has 1032 01:07:30,400 --> 01:07:34,079 not shown the same level of defensive impact as Jane McDaniels, nowhere nowhere close. 1033 01:07:34,199 --> 01:07:38,000 He might be seeing those deals for Devin Vessel and Jade McDaniels and saying, 1034 01:07:38,039 --> 01:07:41,599 oh, but like he has just not shown he has not shown anywhere 1035 01:07:41,639 --> 01:07:45,159 near the offensive influence that Devin Vessel can have, and he's shown nowhere near 1036 01:07:45,239 --> 01:07:48,280 the defensive influence that Jade McDaniels has have. I think he can count himself 1037 01:07:48,280 --> 01:07:53,199 as a two way ish player. But it's just like, what do you 1038 01:07:53,280 --> 01:07:56,280 pay that person? And if he again, if he's asking for that much, 1039 01:07:56,360 --> 01:07:58,920 yeah, you know, I'll roll the dice because I don't know what 1040 01:07:59,039 --> 01:08:00,599 type of year is past. Does Patrick Lams need to have that the team 1041 01:08:00,639 --> 01:08:03,519 that does give him an offer sheet is given him more than thirty million dollars 1042 01:08:03,559 --> 01:08:08,639 a year or something? Yep, Yeah, I mean he'd have to have 1043 01:08:08,800 --> 01:08:14,320 like he'd have to have a Jimmy Butler like references before it's Jimmy Butler going 1044 01:08:14,320 --> 01:08:17,840 from like a million a year to like, what was it twenty five thirty 1045 01:08:17,880 --> 01:08:24,439 whatever at max contract, Like he'd have to have that kind of year to 1046 01:08:24,520 --> 01:08:28,680 get that kind of money. Yeah, you're talking like Baine money, Like 1047 01:08:28,680 --> 01:08:30,880 you said, you already named some of the names of Wassel, McDaniels, 1048 01:08:30,920 --> 01:08:35,880 Baine, Like they've all shown more than he has. Yeah, he just 1049 01:08:35,960 --> 01:08:40,319 he hasn't yet to maintain. He's showcased, but he's yet to maintain like 1050 01:08:40,359 --> 01:08:44,199 that elite skill set in any area. Before I let you go, Is 1051 01:08:44,199 --> 01:08:47,000 there anyone else or anything else that you wanted to talk about? Uh? 1052 01:08:47,039 --> 01:08:49,319 Nothing that comes to mind off the top of my head. I mean we've 1053 01:08:49,359 --> 01:08:54,079 covered a lot of ground here. Obie Toppin was never getting an extension. 1054 01:08:54,079 --> 01:08:56,720 He's my guy, but like the Pacers need to see the theory of Obi 1055 01:08:56,800 --> 01:09:00,079 Toppin with their best players before you pay him. Yeah, we touched on 1056 01:09:00,159 --> 01:09:04,119 him briefly when we were talking about Nie Smith, but yeah, Illian Hayes 1057 01:09:04,199 --> 01:09:09,039 is kind of just like he's there's no path to him, like staying in 1058 01:09:09,560 --> 01:09:13,119 Detroit. Quite frankly, at this point with Jay and Ivy and Kid Cunningham 1059 01:09:13,119 --> 01:09:15,279 and Arsara Thompson, there prescious a chew after the year he had. That 1060 01:09:15,279 --> 01:09:19,720 didn't surprise me. Isaaca Coro. I'm wondering if that was a situation where 1061 01:09:19,760 --> 01:09:24,439 Tay bet on myself because I hit three that No K clip by the end 1062 01:09:24,479 --> 01:09:27,319 of last year and I'm so important defensively, but if I'm Thecalves, I 1063 01:09:27,359 --> 01:09:30,920 don't know what you know if he would have done Like, I don't even 1064 01:09:30,920 --> 01:09:31,840 know if I would have given him the NAS read Like if it was three 1065 01:09:31,880 --> 01:09:34,119 years and forty two, I might have done it, but he might be 1066 01:09:34,159 --> 01:09:41,119 thinking like maybe, So I'm just curious as to what the number would have. 1067 01:09:41,159 --> 01:09:43,479 He's probably of the ones we didn't talk about. I looked at him, 1068 01:09:43,520 --> 01:09:46,119 going, okay, like they do still need him defensively, but are 1069 01:09:46,119 --> 01:09:50,159 they kind of saying we need to see what you are offensively on this team 1070 01:09:50,439 --> 01:09:53,760 kind of translate to the playoffs, even if it's going to come in the 1071 01:09:53,800 --> 01:09:57,520 regular season. So even more so than a Sadik bay not getting one, 1072 01:09:57,600 --> 01:09:59,880 even more so than Patrick Williams was not getting one, I'm actually a little 1073 01:09:59,880 --> 01:10:06,399 bit fascinated by Isaaca Korro not getting an extension. Yeah, he yeah, 1074 01:10:06,399 --> 01:10:12,800 he's he's one that like I could see him getting something like you said, 1075 01:10:12,880 --> 01:10:16,479 like at the read level, but I don't. Yeah, he's a guy 1076 01:10:16,479 --> 01:10:19,600 that I want that on the team can say, well, let's go see 1077 01:10:19,600 --> 01:10:21,640 what team is coming in even if you have a great year and trying to 1078 01:10:21,640 --> 01:10:25,600 pay you based off what we just saw in this year's restricted free agency. 1079 01:10:27,159 --> 01:10:31,079 Yeah, there's a few guys that I think will probably test. I mean, 1080 01:10:31,119 --> 01:10:34,279 well, I guess now they kind of have to test. You know, 1081 01:10:34,359 --> 01:10:42,840 this is like Quickly's one, a Korra's one. Hayes I really Hayes 1082 01:10:43,000 --> 01:10:48,199 I low key like a lot. Really, Yeah, that is we might 1083 01:10:48,199 --> 01:10:51,560 be I like him. Defensively, I don't aside from like one month a 1084 01:10:51,640 --> 01:10:56,720 year. Offensively, I don't really know what to make of him. Yeah, 1085 01:10:56,800 --> 01:10:59,960 he's He's a guy that I'm kind of intrigued by the idea of if 1086 01:11:00,039 --> 01:11:02,479 he puts it together and he's done a few things, like I've just seen 1087 01:11:02,520 --> 01:11:06,119 him a few times in Pistons games and been like, hmm, that's a 1088 01:11:06,159 --> 01:11:11,319 guy. But he I feel like he'll get traded this year. That seems 1089 01:11:11,359 --> 01:11:14,359 like someone's gonna try to take the flyer on him and he'll get traded. 1090 01:11:15,239 --> 01:11:20,159 Yeah, Detroit needs to consolidate. David, thank you so much for coming 1091 01:11:20,159 --> 01:11:23,159 on. Are you able to tell our listeners where they can find you on 1092 01:11:23,159 --> 01:11:26,399 social media and perhaps any work that you might be planning to put out in 1093 01:11:26,399 --> 01:11:30,880 the future. Yeah, absolutely, I am that at bird Rights NBA on 1094 01:11:30,920 --> 01:11:36,000 Twitter. I'm on a couple of other platforms as well, but that's where 1095 01:11:36,000 --> 01:11:44,079 I'm most active and then I occasionally write for Daily Thunder. Hit me up 1096 01:11:44,079 --> 01:11:46,960 on Twitter, you know, shoot me a DM, you know, drop 1097 01:11:47,039 --> 01:11:53,000 something in my mentions. Always happy to chat basketball. I don't know, 1098 01:11:53,239 --> 01:11:55,840 like I haven't done a ton of basketball writing in the last little while, 1099 01:11:55,920 --> 01:11:59,520 but that I've had a couple of podcast invitations lately and it seems like there 1100 01:11:59,640 --> 01:12:02,560 might be some opportunities so I may get back into it. So I support 1101 01:12:02,600 --> 01:12:06,720 it and thank you for coming on and wrapping about extensions at in the dead 1102 01:12:06,760 --> 01:12:11,600 of night on a Monday, as only you could. So thank you so 1103 01:12:11,680 --> 01:12:15,199 much. And guys, you don't follow him already after it writes MBA on 1104 01:12:15,239 --> 01:12:16,760 Twitter, go check it out. And until next time, I'll talk to 1105 01:12:16,800 --> 01:12:18,720 you soon, David, thanks so much, appreciate it. Dain