Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest episode of Hardwood. Not because this is out of the problem on here with my fantastic co host Dan Fatality, we're getting closer and closer to the February tenth trade deadline, which means it's only natural that we have an all trade content episode for you this time around. Dan and I have each prepared five questions that we have. We're trying to avoid the super obvious ones like will Ben Simmons get traded because that at this point has been discussed at nauseam, and then some in favor of questions that still intrigue us are still going to have a significant impact on what actually happens at this season's trade deadline and ultimately are just more fun to talk about. But before we get to the trade pertinent questions, I do have one for you, Dan, and that's how was it going then? My God of Sparkles T shirt? So it's obviously going fantastic. I'm also relieved because as you started talking, I realized I didn't have my mic plugged in, so we almost had another sound quality snapphoo on this podcast, but not this time because I like a semipro. What's less than a semi pro, a step below a semipro. Realized that my mic, I think that's amateur. I amature, like a seasoned amateur that I am. Realized that my mic wasn't plugged in. How are you doing? I too have a microphone this episode thank you to everyone for bearing with the Xbox Game Sound whatever you want to call it, episode that we put out last time while I was dealing with some some broken and lack of headphones aside from the gaming headphones set. I hope the sound quality is significantly upgraded today. There were some people who liked it last time. They said on Twitter they were don't know why, but we appreciated it. There was something we didn't like it, but even the most complaints weren't. I tried to edit it out, but there was just you were so much louder than I was, no matter what I did. And so even if like you were chiming in on a thought of mine, or if it was just I'm happy you're not in the headset either, but I think it was. It was a listenable podcast, is all I'll say. Still, so look at you. You trudged through some technical difficulties we appreciate it. I appreciate it, but you're looking at what is a podcast if not a way to overcome technical difficulties. I have no idea at this point after doing this for how many years have we've been doing this? I don't even want to think about it. Random question though, like when when did we officially start this? Because we like way back when, if you searched for like super old hardwood knocks YouTube videos, they're out there like where that's where we were hosting the podcasts, like super cheaply made graphics and yeah, the sound qualities awful and it was it was an adventure. Look at us now though, I definitely I definitely remember one had like Russell Westbrook in an Oklahoma set thunder Jersey. So it was a long time ago. Not really because Russ that was like three or four years ago. There's maybe we had like Serge Ibaka in an Oklahoma City, Jersey that was a long ago. The thing is Russ over the last few years, like he's aged us all so much that you can't it's not like it's relative, right, Like one calendar year is still like four years shot selection alone in the Lakers Jersey. Either way, as shoddy of an operation. As we spearhead here, it is noticeably better, so much so that we're on YouTube and Discord, and you should subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast, but also head over to YouTube, subscribe to hardwar Knox there. Follow us at Hardwood Knox on Twitter, at Hardwood Underscore Knox on i G and our Discord link is in the bio. We have a few we have a couple dozen people in there already. I have not heavily promoted on social media yet. I'm waiting. Still want this, stragglers, so come join us in Discord. The link is in the bio, so how are you up and do that. I'll also encourage people right off the top, just if if you want to do us a favor, go ahead and follow the Sports Math Network on Twitter. It's at sports math Net, no underscores or anything. We are getting closer and closer to having that full fledged website up and running. I believe our technical director, our June has told me that we're targeting a launch on Super Bowl Sunday, if not right around then, so get ready for stuff about all sports, including the NBA. We will have Hardwood Knocks access on that as well, and we might be transitioning like a lot of stuff over from the NBA math website, So do us a favor and subscribe there so you can keep up to date with everything we're doing. This intro is way too long, so let's dive into the questions. I'll allow you go to first, because I'm a good human being, obviously. Yeah, So you know, I have to start with an Atlanta centric question because Hawks fan and all that, and we're not coming off a shocking win over the Phoenix Suns. What's next for Atlanta after the Cam Reddish trade? Because I think in the immediate aftermath, we both viewed that trade as just a stepping stone that was never going to be the only thing that the Atlanta Hawks did at the deadline, And as you so astutely pointed out, acquiring that Charlotte Hornet's first round pick was essentially an admission from the Hawks that they believe they can get more for that pick than they could for Cam Reddish at this deadline or else why make the deal? So what's next? Where are they going from here? It's tough because they've been playing so well, They've won eight of nine now and during that time, their defense is ranked firmly in the top seven. I think and look on Niko Kongu, He's helped them. Delan Right has been good for a while for them. DeAndre Hunter's return has been a big deal. I think even when you watch trade, Young just like not sort of disappearing whenever there's a screen or in front of him. That's really good for Atlanta as well. I think they have to ask themselves how real this it's a snapshot of their season. I know they're at fuller strength than they were before. They have to ask themselves how real it is and whether it's worth just doing nothing or do they need to do something a little bit more aggressive. I still think they're built for a consolidation trade. The thing is, those consolidation trades tend to happen over the off season, just when it's easier to finagle the lopsided roster spot transactions. I would, if I were them, just be on the prowl for point of attack defense. I know a lot of people said they could use a bigger wing like Jeremy Grant. I guess if the price is right on him, I don't mind his fit and in Land, I'm not saying he's a bad fit, but I do think point of attack defense, like specifically with the playoffs in mind, would be more important for them. Someone who can play in tandem with Young and if that point of attack, I also can do that on the offensive end, where maybe he can anchor some of the non Trey lineups, which I look when it's bogged on mcdonovitch sort of leading those units without Trey. They have done pretty well, So I don't based off this current stretch, and just I think even when they were bad, we understood that they could still be good technically if they were fully healthy. That's what I would most be looking for for them. And if you're not, if you can't go to the point of attack round like getting a Jeremy Grant, where that's not a consolidation trade, but it's still fairly significant. Just looking at all the teams in front of them, the ground they have to make up, and then just who you have to go through if you want to come out of the east anyway, a move of that caliber, and if you need to do something more drastic, and that's where you can look at the John Collins stuff. I just really quickly there I think John Collins become one of the most underrated players in the NBA, so I wouldn't be looking. I definitely wouldn't be looking to move him for less than like a star trade or something. I still think, insofar as that star trade is even out there, and it has to be the right star because you already have so much talent, do that over the offseason, the seize Mike shit save for the summer right now, Like, can you get a different type of like someone to I don't want to say like Gallow can still be good for them on offense, but can you upgrade the Gallow defense of minutes or can you just upgrade your point of attack defense in general? My dream target for them is Derek White. I just we know how the Spurs are with you know, their blockbuster deals or trading Bryan Forbes to Denver and then getting back on hern And Gomes in his second round pick in the process. I think that the last time the Spurs made a trade of note during this season was like him Gregg Popovitch's childhood. Maybe not even then, that seems that seems soon, that seems reason. I was trying to be reasonable. No, I think I agree with all of that, the name I can't get out of my head, here's Eric Gordon. If you can turn that Charlotte pick and like Gallo or something similar into Gordon that it feels like it fits because he gives you He checks all of the boxes that the Hawks are looking for. He's not an ace point of attack defender, but he can operate in that role and it is still an upgrade while also having some off ball chops. He can fill an off ball roll next to Trey, he can lead some second units. It feels like it makes sense. But you can also make that same case for just about every team When it comes to Eric Gordon, I just I struggle to think of a better player, realistically available, who can be parlayed into with just that Charlotte pick and basically matching salary, because if you're going for Jeremy Grant, you're you're giving up a piece of this core to get there, And I just I don't know if it makes sense, giving how given how hot this Hawks team has been, and given the potential that we knew was lying dormant throughout the duldrums of this disappointing season. Maybe maybe if we're really swinging for the fences. I still think that, like as unlikely as it is. The Ben Simmons fit makes sense here, but I don't think it's a move you make in season. Yeah, I would agree with that. I like because you're playing so well. It's sort of like why rattle the cage year Gordon's interesting. I think DeAndre hunters selexibility to where he could probably guard some point of attack that Latin Gordon can guard up. That that is good, and I'm right you're right about it should cost less than Jeremy Grant. But if if these were the options, Gallo and first whatever first, or gallow and two first for Jeremy Grant, or it was Gallo and a first for Eric Gordon, you would pick Eric Gordon over Jeremy Grant. That's an Erica. I don't know. I think I would. If we're not involving another player and it's multiple first round picks, then yes, go for Jeremy Grant, because ultimately this Hawks core is pretty set there. There's only so many first round picks you can integrate into a roster, especially one that's ready to compete coming off in Eastern Conference finals. Appearance dreaming of something even bigger already like DeAndre Hunter, Kevin herder On, Yuka Kongwo, with John Collins, Trey Young. You have your core pieces. So I think if you're if you're not giving up any of those, then you should be free to give up as many first round picks as you want to right now because you have so many young, controllable assets. The interesting thing with them is they're gonna have to figure out. They just don't feel like a team that will cannon ball into the tax And so if you go from Gallows like five million partial guarantee to guarantee Jeremy Grant twenty million, or Eric Gordon, I think is in the eighteen they're close to twenty. The other thing with Gordon two, I think this could probably help good teams, and I would put the Hawks there. I was thinking more so the Suns or I don't even know what other can Maybe they're though, but like his two years left on his deal, only one is guaranteed, and the second guarantees if he hits a certain minister threshold and you win the title before that year happens, you have to then be committed to paying him nearly twenty million dollars now objectively, if you're good with that, if you win a title, yes, but team governors just don't think that way. And we know it's Sarver and Phoenix that would give him pause, and you told him that. Maybe it's the same thing in Atlanta. But I will say, maybe that sort of lowers the asking price. You don't even need to give. If you don't need to give up a first round pick or a real core player to get him, then that's almost just as attractive because you're still sort of loaded. I ultimately don't expect the Hawks to do anything significant. If anything significant happens over the offseason happens. I think it happens over the off season, not just because of does Collins become involved they know a little bit more about the Charlotte pick, but also because you sort of figure out that Danilo gallon art situation. Do you waive him, do you just guarantee the contract to move it as an expiring deal. That's what I would bet on with Atlanta. I do think they're good enough, though we're shown enough that they could be more aggressive than even the above average team on the trade market. Right now, my guess is that there's a little bit of regret right now that they pulled the trigger a little prematurely, a little too far before the deadline on that Reddish move without getting a piece in return, and then went on this hot streak that almost no longer necessitates the move that might have been anticipated. I might still push back there, just because Reddish isn't barely playing for the Knicks in most of his performances, and they were barely playing Reddish at the time, so I don't know that any I don't know that a first round pick still would have been around for Reddish. Now, I don't think it's you might be right, I might be right. I kind of feel like it's mostly inconsequential unless Reddish was going on a tear during this ten game stretch, which you know, who knows if that would have happened. Let's get to my first question, and I'm going to focus on the many I sent you. Let's start with the Raptors, since they just had a thrilling win over the Chicago Bulls. They are now four games over five hundred for the first time all season. My question is does Toronto buy and it's not or stamp hat And we kind of answered this and buy holder sell with Grant Hughes. But they're interesting because you don't. I think people were banking on them to be like, not a prominent but a team that would be open to selling, and that's just off the table right now. This is this team is too good. They are very top heavy. We talked about before the top of the podcast. Van Fleet, Siakam and Ogian and Obi are your three leaders in minutes per game for the league. For the league, you're three leaders in minutes per game. A Scotty Marnes is tenth. You need to figure out to deepen. You need to figure out a way to deepen this rotation. My question is more so Massiu. Jerry's not the type of executive to aggressively try and maintain the spot in the middle or move up semi significantly. If he makes a deal, it's because he thinks this team can do something. And I'm not talking about, oh, should they consider moving Barns for somebody or even Gary Trent Junior. I'm basically asking like, if you're moving going on drag, are you doing it to take on a longer term salary and get draft equity or a prospect, or are you now moving going Draggage in a first round pick to elevate your team. Maybe put yourself in the Eric Gordon discussion. Maybe Carouse Lavert might be a good fit here. I know people have mentioned Biggs like Miles Turner Rashaun Holmes, but are you thinking by or are you really just thinking when we're gonna this has found money for us? We always kind of view this is our second transitional year. We're gonna stamp Pat. I would I would buy and I don't know what going to first get you, But knowing how the Raptors think, and I'm not saying this is wrong, it's a little disappointing because I predict that they want to playoff series. I think on the left podcast were recorded, They're probably gonna wind up just buying out Draggage and he signed somewhere. I think they should be buyers. I'm just curious as to where you sort of land on this entire situation. I'm right there with you. I but conditionally I wouldn't give up more than God in the first round pick, a second round pick, whatever the pick situation may be, because I think Toronto, as much as this is an Athemamsa two Massiah Jerry's typical strategies is built to straddle the gap between two rats. It's a it's an intensely competitive team right now that still has a young enough core with enough upside that it could theoretically become a leading championship contender with only the incumbent pieces. I mean, if you're building around Fred van Vleet and Gary Trent Junior, an O g n and Ovi and Scotty Barns and star Fred VanVleet and Chris Bouchet, and you still have the potential of Malachi Flynn and Delano Banton and now other pieces on this roster who could still give you more precious Achioa might actually make a shot at some point. You have the ability to elevate your ceiling without doing anything. So it's almost inconsequential because if they do buy out Dragic, he's not providing anything right now, they're already a threat to win at least one playoff series with internal development almost guaranteed. But I would transition from just accepting that he's going to be bought out and go somewhere to aggressively shopping him as salary matching fodder and attaching a first round pick, because much like Atlanta, what are you looking to invest that first round pick on. You have so many players you're going to eventually need to sign to significant extensions that adding one more into the mix almost only complicates things. So if you can go out and get that veteran like Laverton, if you can parlay it into Rishawn Holmes, awesome, because that would fill another big need for this team. So I do think that they should be conditional buyers, as in aggressively looking to buy, but with a capped price. You know, they need to go in with a spending limit and do not draw anything more out of that ATM. I would agree if it's in there where if I'm in Atlanta, and because I think Derek White would be good for Toronto's imagine Derek White leading the bench like for this team. That would be just way fantastic. If I'm the Raptors, yes, I give up salary a pick and then the young player that's not Og or I consider Og young and he's already on his second deal, but Og. Can you imagine Van vleet Og, Derek White and Scotty Barnes and Pascal Siakam playing defense together I'm sorry to interrupt, but like whoa right, And but if I'm Toronto, because of what you outlaid and because of the way the East is set up, like there's more of an opportunity for the teams are on different timelines too, but because the way the East is set up, because you're kind of still some relying on Barnes. And also just Siakam's contract is two years left after this one, so you gotta start thinking about his next deal. My main point is like if I were them, yes, I give up a young player, a pick and dragicch or maybe even two young players if it like if it's Malachi Flynn and you know Banton plus a pick and filler and that's the Derek White structure. Yeah, but unlike Atlanta, where I say, go give two picks, I wouldn't do that. I think this is also one part. They don't have any extra picks. It's like Atlanta has that Charlotte pick that they can also include. I'm with you, but I will say, and I don't know if this is an argument for or against them buying because the fact that I'm asking this so high at the top of the roster, who is the seventh best player on this team. So we have Van Vleet, Trent, Ananobe, Barnes, Sam and Bouchet. Are how many was that right? There was that? So we have their top five or van Fleet, Scotty, Barnes, Trent, Siakam and Ananobe. I would say Bouchet's pretty clearly, especially over the past like month plus, pretty clearly number six. Yeah, is it already Flynn? No, he doesn't. He barely even plays for them. Does that rule him out? Given the minute allocation here? I think like, is it Watson? Is it? I mean in theory point at the throwing playing time out the window, I'd say Wanton abby, But like I think it speaks volumes that they're seventh and eighth most played players this year are SphI, McKay luke and Precious Achwa, neither of whom I would say has been good enough to be considered their seventh best player. Now, injuries a factor have factor into that, but it's almost is another interesting one just just as a trade value. He's the only one who hasn't hurt his trade value. Certain it might be it could be Ken Birch too, who's been limited in his availability this year, but My point is it's almost an argument of both sides, because it's like, Okay, you're so shallow, you need to deepen this. But then it's like, well you become shallow, so like this isn't oh we need a ninth or tenth guy or someone who we know is going to be part of our playoff rotation as the eighth man, like we need a sixth or a seventh guy. Almost then it's like, well, what's kind of the point then, because you're still gonna have problems at eight nine. So I could see if that's why I wouldn't That's why I wouldn't even want to consider moving Flynn in a package like oh I would get it. I would's expendable at this point. To me, I think I don't know that you want to do anything if it's more than draggin picks just because you need the bodies. You just said that you would do Flynn Benton and a pick Flynn Banton and a pick for for Derek White as long as it's a player of that caliper. But I'm not just throwing them around Willy Nully. So if the Rocket said we'll do Gordon for dry En, Flynn to me, that's fine. If you're also throwing in Banton, then it becomes more of an issue because you're further cutting into that depth. So it's situational, which I think you can argue is every case. So you're just like, doesn't count as a player right now because he's not playing for them. So it's once you get into including him plus two people who are actually at least somewhat in the rotation for one player, that you get into tricky territory. Right it's just when it's not one of your top six guys already. I view maybe Banton just long term is the biggest like miss there, unless you still are just seeing a lot from a sure I just view everyone outside of the top six at this point is eminently expendable. I would be reluctant of all of them, and I know he's going to be a free agent. I still remain highest on Wanton Abby, So like that's where That's where I'm at with Toronto. But it seems like you would be a very done brand. You would be a little bit more conservative than I would approaching it, I think, so I'm a little bit more like, no, just just go do it. But we both in agreement that, like, this isn't a team unless you are for some reason acquiring a start that we don't even know it's available right now, You're not going the two first round picks plus salary round No, I agree with that second question for me. Per report from Joe Calley of the Chicago Sun Times, there's quote growing momentum and quote that Patrick Williams will be back in action this season. Which team is that going to be for? It's going to be fun. Go ahead, sorry, you gotta let me keep framing this. Come on, No, I mean, obviously, he's such a big part of their future and it was such a disappointment when he went down with injury very early in the season. But if Chicago is truly looking to go all in on this season, which you can realistically argue that it should given the ages of the core members, It's not like Vukovic and Derosan and Lavine are particularly young at this point. Even if there are young players bolstering the case to be at the top of the Eastern Conference, if you can turn Williams and picks because he is still going to have so much intriguing upside into a big name player, who is a current contributor. Are you considering doing that to make that push the Chips straight into the middle of the table. We're gonna win a title this season. Play I'm not because the Lonzo and Caruso injuries change things for me a lot. I know they're projected to come back this season, but what do they look like when that'll be so close to the playoffs and the players you're talking about, who is the realistic best player your best package is getting you. It's probably Jeremy Grant, Jon Harrison Barnes, and I don't It's not that I don't think if Lonzo and Cruzo never got injured, I might feel differently. If Iodasunmo never emerges, I might feel differently. And the fact that he can guard like every position, he's amazing, right, And it's just in general, his defensive energy is it's an injection of adrenaline and he's so fun to watch. And I'm not saying that he's like, Oh, this fixes everything they need on like the wing types. I think it just buys them a little more time, because this feels like a strategic league where it's Oh, because he could play again this season, he theoretically has more value and it's like, no, the team that's acquiring Patrick Williams this season is not acquiring him at all for this season, and so to me, he has more value over the summer when teams are like, oh, we just get him and we know he's coming back right away. And the other thing with Chicago is just like the Crusoe injuries, the Lonzo injuries. I guess those would be reasons to go all in more, but I almost view it as like, all right, we need to take a step back. Let's see what these guys look like when they come back, and we can read like reevaluate, reformulate over the off season. I also think like, can you aim a little bit lower? And you know, would you be Do you view Kobe Wise been playing amazing for like the past twenty something games or so, shooting like averaging fifteen something points a game and shooting a high clip from three? Do you view him as having more or less trade value than Williams? And he is extension now was all of this summer, so there's one fewer year left on his rookie scale, Like, are you open to moving him? I think it's significantly less though, so yeah, and so it's like answer that part and he in fury, isn't he more expendable because you have Lonzo and Caruso and Demarduos and and zach Lavine assuming he comes back, and maybe it's a matter of like let's wait, I think he will resign with Chicagoan makes this clear, like let's wait, teach sure zach Lavine is back and then go from there. The other thing you just also can't like wing isn't the only need they need a backup five that like vuev Vujevich has been fine as a passer still and even as a screener, but like he's just not the same shot maker he was. And I know he's never been super efficient. This has been like the last efficient season of his career basically, So I would I might aim a little bit lower. And it's like, can you get instead of giving up Patrick Williams, Like can you use that first round pick and end up with Josh Richardson from Boston? And like that would be sort of a stat move. Yeah, you lose that first round pick, but you still have Williams and White in future talks. So I would I would tell the line but my prediction is to your question, I would I would be at this point, maybe that's shocked because the Bulls are good. We need to mention that so they can and they've acted like a team that wants to win now. But given who's available and what's happened in Chicago lately, I would be a little bit surprised if Patrick Williams finishes the season on a different team. I agree with you. I thought it was an interesting thought experiment, just because the Bulls are good enough that they can reasonably consider it. And to me, it's and I love Williams's potential. I think that he can develop into a multi time All Star, even without injury replacements factoring in. I feel like I have to throw that in now for you, But I think it's it's more because of the limited availability on this year's trade market than anything on the Bull's end. In a typical year, maybe without the Plan Tournament, where there were more teams truly willing to sell prominent pieces than we're seeing this season's trade deadline. This is more realistic. But to me, now, I think you hit the nail on the head. This is a report that's coming out in a desperate attempt to up his trade value to unrealistic levels, and it's not really going to happen. Would be. Here's an interesting question, will Patrick Williams be a Which team is Patrick Williams or is he starting next season in Chicago or on another team? Yeah? I think he starts next season in Chicago. I mean imagine him with this core, just the defensive versatility that he brings, the growing offensive game. He checks a lot of boxes for them. I do think the playoffs could dictate how they view that, because if it's just clear that they're missing like more certainty, he's still not providing that, Like this isn't someone who we know is a lockdown defense. You're just banking on it because of the positional spectrum he can cover. Essentially my next question, and I'm just I couldn't figure out why you texted me dag anything in the text because I texted you dag anything, didn't realize it. So are the Pelicans going to dag anything significant? It's do anything? And what I find interesting about this is they've been dislike isn't They've just been pretty consistently By bleacher Ports Jake Fisher by Brian Winnhorse over at ESPN. I think the athletic because mentioned a few times they're being billed as buyers, and so like, this is a team that isn't guaranteed a playing spot. We have no idea when Zion Williamson is coming back. We know it's going to be after the All Star break, if at all. At this point, I find that intriguing. I know they do have that huge trade exception because of the Steven Adams trade, and you're not gonna have a ton of time to use that over the off season anyway, So I would get the logic there. But they seem to be very much in the hunt for backcourt help. They've been linked to CJ. McCollum, They've been linked to dearon Fox that was poor per Winners, And look, they do have a need, like they need a backcourt upgrade. Their backcourt this year ranks twenty ninth in three point percentage, ahead of only the Thunder and they're dead last inefficiency on pull up jumpers. So like, I don't like, does it make sense for them to go to buy now route? And then I think people can counter with no, you sell because you don't know what's the up with Zion this season, But what and who are they selling? You're not you're not moving brand. You're not moving on his valid Judas And then at that point it's like, I guess you could sell low or sell medium on a key Alexander Walker. You're not moving cayro Lewis junior. He has no trade value. There's also okay, you have said Ranski's expiring contract with what can you use that to anchor to to get I don't I don't know what they should do, but it seems like they're prepared to be aggressive, and I buy the idea that they might be because David Griffin c have to be fairly hot at this point, just given everything that's unfolded over the past year and a half two years, I'll buy that they'll be aggressive in the off season. And I'm sure that there's valid sources being used on on these reports, because because Jake Fishers, you know, sourcing and everything has always been awesome. But I just I don't see anything actually happening for this team at the deadline in either direction, just because it doesn't make sense. You know, I don't know why you want to give up the asset equity that you have for the uncertainty of the remainder of this year. If you if you knew that Zion was going to be in the lineup at any point, then maybe you can convince yourself that you're a team no one wants to face if you can even make it into the playoffs. But when you're not even positioned for the play and tournament right now, I just I can't see the motivation in season. In the off season, I think a lot changes because optimism is refreshed and you're you're more convinced that Zion is going to be a big part of the picture for the upcoming campaign. You're you're trying to figure out where you can go from here because you've had a full season to look at the many, many young pieces in play here. I just I don't know what the motivation would be to do that right now. It almost feels like you're you're limiting your options, trying to make a move as a buyer at a week deadline where not too many younger players are being shocked. I would be interested they were linked to Eric Gordon, which is functionally makes a lot of sense because of what he does, and he wouldn't know your defense given the what do you mean why he would help the team a lot? I think given his history he would, but he would he would help the team a lot. But why, like if you have if you add Eric Gordon to this core, like, okay, we might make the play in tournament. Eric Gordon alone is not elevating this team into a position that it should be giving up things of value for him right now, what I'm saying, like, Eric Gordon is not a name. A CJ. McCollum or dearon Fox probably cost you like one of your extra first round picks or multiple of those. Eric Gordon, I would imagine, would not like you're looking at a lower end asset. Just Houston have any interest in Nikki, Alexander Walker or Jackson Hayes. So if they're willing, if like the hatchet is buried there and Eric Gordon like likes Newer Leans and they're all cool. Now because it's a different front of I don't know, it's a different front office regime, I think he would help the team. I also like, because you have that Steven Adams trade exception, So what does that seventeen million dollars? The thing I thought about and I think he just fits in to It would be like would you take Evan Fournier from the Knicks if they were just offering him under the guys that were knowing that Evon Ford has played really well over the past. However minute he's feel like thirty trillion percent from three the Knicks could stand open up some minutes in their rotation. And even if he doesn't fit, because I need to do the math here, it's very close. Even if he doesn't fit, like you have the I guess the salary flots him to really make that work. Would that be even a movie you could say, where you're not giving up an asset, you're just taking on what would be a let He has two years and thirty six point eight thirty six point nine million dollars left on his deal after this one versus Eric Gordon, who let's say he doesn't cost you a first round pick, it's salary plus someone like a younger player. Is that too much? Is the kill Alexander Walker? Too much? Is Jackson Hayes? No? I think if you can, if you can acquire someone for that low of the cost, basically just accepting their salary into your cap space, that you can do that because we know that having better players around helps foster better player development, which is what they should be focused on. It's when we get into territory where you're moving a pick of significance or a young player of extreme significance that I would be more hesitant because I just don't know that it elevates you enough this season. I would rather wait for the off season and make the move. Then in theory, someone like like Darn Fox's timeline, the contract structure, that's what you would do it for. I loathe the idea of Zion brandon Ingram and Darn Fox together. Maybe you're giving up brand Ingram as part of that. I still don't love the Aaron Fox and Zion Williams and to get not ideal? Not ideal? What's your next question? Next question is should the Golden State Warriors finally consider trading James Weissman? You know it's the I feel like it's the question the back of all the Warriors fans minds, because this team has been so good and is so obviously auld title a title contender, especially now that it's integrating Clay Thompson back into the mix. And as Andrew Wiggins playing at an All Star level and being rewarded with an All Star Starters selection. Steph Curry is eventually going to break out of the shooting slump and showing signs of doing so. Draymond Green should eventually get healthy and has proven that he can still be a defensive lynchpin when he is. The depth on this roster is just unbelievably talented at this point. The impact that Gary Peyton has made, the impact that Otto Porter Junior has made this team is that good. And it has been able to accomplish all of that with James Weisman ramping it up for months at this point. So if you can get something of significance for it for him, are you doing that? Now? You know? Is if do you run the risk of him developing into a far less appealing asset or showing that he is not a future star if you hold on to him too long? And is this the time to do it? A Wiseman once said that the Warriors are the Warrior. That's why I said it because it's a very Adam joke. The Warriors are light years ahead of the game. I look, there are a couple of things you could be concerned about with the Warriors still secondary ball handling and scoring, even though you've seen the moments from Clay. You have Jordan Poole Andrew Wiggins. What's an issue for the Warriors is they are only because you're you do have that equity invested in Wiseman. You're almost only built to make this huge trade because so many of your guys are on basically minimum contracts. So like and yes, Moody, you're not moving him. Who's Moody has played like he's shown flashes lately too. You're not trading Wiseman or Moody or Commit. You're not trading Commiting at all. At this point, it's pretty clearly, at least this season, you're not trading them without getting back a star essentially, and some of those scenarios just don't exist. Where is the if you want to worry about the secondary offense for Golden State, who is the player you're targeting? Using James Wiseman's bait. I think you could have made the case, and maybe now even more so because of Draymond Green dealing with his back injury, that Miles Turner would have been a good fit for this team. And then he goes and has a foot injury. So now the conversation is shifted not to Okay, big guy foot injury, what does he look like? But is he going to play this season? Not? You know, if he was healthy and the cost was Wiseman and either a couple of the minimums or Wiseman and Looney, even though I think you still need Biggs on the roster, I would have done it because I think I know you liked Sabonis for the Warriors. I would argue Turner is more likely to be in a closing lineup alongside Draymond Green than Demonta Semonas ever would be, and so I think you could have made a case for that. But that's essentially just off the table. And I would absolutely move Wiseman and be more open to it than we know the Warriors are. I just you're so good already, and the trade market hasn't developed in a way where he can either be the main return on a package or be part of an even larger package for a player who's worth it, And so you're almost better off not letting him play this season, because then the mystery box appeal persists a little bit where if he comes back and he doesn't make any progress defensively. Maybe they still can't figure out a way to fit him into the offense or as cleanly as they should have last season, Like, let's simplify the offense for him, is what I'm getting at. Then his trade value gets hurt on top of the injury history. Now it's at least sort of just the injury history. The NBA samples so tiny. He could still be this But I, like I do think the Warriors are too closed minded when it comes to the idea of improving their roster. And I understand why they're enamored with what they've seen from Comingo, where friend of the podcast Samis fin Yari hosts a Light Years pod, which is great. I said that he like thinks this could be like the next Pascal Siakam type player, and so I totally get that. And Pascal Siakam, actual Pascal Siakam is not available unless the Raptors surprise that move. Right. Yes, the Warriors, I would almost bet an obscene amount of money would not give up coming on to Pascal Siakam deal. And I think that that, to be clear, I think that is dumb, but that is the stance I believe they would assume, and so independent of that, though I've been very the Warriors should buy now there's just nothing for them to buy. I think the trade deadline should be dedicated to them probably moving the elites that to get a roster spot so they can make a wave on the buy out market and maybe you luck into a big a doubt you're going to get a ball handler, so and they could win the title is currently constructed if they're healthy. That's the other thing that makes this so tough. But I would be in a vacuum more open minded than it's clear that they are to moving Wiseman. It just seems like every even semi plausible, polar applausible scenario on which that might have made sense, because you know, right now, if you're Indian, you have the Turner injury, and I don't know if you're going to get two first round picks for Miles Turner. They're definitely not gonna be good first round picks if you get them. And so like Wiseman plus just salary framework, like that's not that's not egregious to think about. If you're Indian, you're really going to rebuild or Wiseman and like a really protected first that is just not going to be good. So if that was on the table, maybe you still consider it. But I also do think for the Warriors, specifically, knowing how good Draymond can be in spurts if not long stretches at the five, maybe you don't want to play that best hand. And again you're just certainly not playing it now, which might render this mood. I think your question, though, is one that we need to think about a lot leading into the offseason. Depending on how their their year ends. If they want a title, they're probably pretty free to do whatever the fuck they want. Then it's like, oh, we already, we've done it. We've bridged two errors. We have all these young guys on the roster, and we just want a title. Who's the worst player who you would move Wiseman forward? Right now? The worst player? The worst player you're moving forward? Like, if you're in charge of the Warriors, who's like realistically available? Like are you moving him for Jeremy Grant? Are you giving him up for Harrison Barnes? No, just because Barnes comes close, or maybe if some people like talking, I would really think about it with Barnes, which I don't think is going to be a popular answer in Warriors circles, but like, I would rather have that versatility on this obviously title contending roster than keep the hope alive that I can turn Wiseman into something my whole thing. I think what also makes is tough for the Warriors is a Wiseman is like I think he's there. Is he their fifth highest paid player, and so like that is his salary is not insubstantial. But if you were to go get a Harrison Barnes, who is making this season, he's still over twenty this year twenty point three million, you have to give up Loony and then someone else as well. And that's what makes it unrealistic. And so when you're saying, well, the worst player for Wiseman, it's almost that they could afford, and it's it's probably Miles Turner. And maybe that holds true now because of the his injury. I'm trying to think of anyone springs to mind, just like, how what if you can what if you can give up Looney and Wiseman to get Harrison Barnes, You waive the Elitza with the guarantee that you're going to end up with like Paul Millsap on the viol market. That's interesting. So it would be be Elitza. You're essentially turning be Elitza Looney and Weissman into Millsap and Barnes. You would have to literally to make the money work with Barnes. So that would be like the three Yeah, wow, Wow, I would think about it. It's the thing is, though, is that you're still like, you're not set at center now and then you're getting rid of two centers and Draymond Green and Paul Millsapper now you're Biggs. So it's still more tenuous, and that's why Barnes would be interested. Barns would be interesting. Though. Here's a question that's not part of our questions, but who do you trust more as an offensive player, Barnes or Grant? And I will preface this by saying, I think Jeremy Grants, like on ball attack mode, is probably better than Barnes is at this point. But you can easily trust Barnes to be more of a knockdown shooter and maybe do some stuff in the post. Is it too much of a copoud answer to say, like, it strongly depends on the situation, Like for the Warriors, I would trust Barnes more because I don't need that like single game upside the Grant brings, because he's more likely to explode for like a game winning scoring performance. And with Barnes, I know that the baseline is a lot harder as a lot higher, and I only need that baseline when I have Steph Curry, Clay Thompson, and Jordan Poole already on her roster. That's a good point, I would say, And Barnes is probably the right player for the exercise. The worst player I'm giving up Wiseman for in a deal is someone who is going to be the fifth choice in our closing lineups. Like it can't be someone who's gonna be on the bench and crunch time. And you know Draymond, Clay Wiggins and Steph are in your closing unit, right, So Barns, My rebuttal to your earlier point about Sabonis, by the way, is that he might not be a part of the closing lineup, but if he's on the roster, you don't need to worry about having a closing lineup. There's yeah, you do when you get to the NBA finals, Like there's going to be sure, yes, this is not like adding Kevin Durant to the seventy three win Warriors. It's adding demand to Sibonis to a very good Warriors team. That was a that was a longer question than I anticipated us or discussion than I anticipated us having on that. Let's move on to the Grizzlies, who will not be part of my fifth question, because maybe they should be. But I'm gonna I want to a question needs to be dedicated to the Grizzlies and even the Jazz to themselves, but I'm gonna ask about it. WILLI Grizzlies consider making a semi substantial addition or hold serve And by semi substantial, don't shake your head. They have they're they're like they're third in the West. They have a top ten offense and defense. Now they have been proven like the Vibes are great. They're so versatile. Jaren Jackson Jr. Is probably I think he would make one of my all defense teams right now. He's improved a great deal. I mean, there's only ten spots and I haven't thought through it yet. Give me some like, give me some wiggle room there. The Desmond Baine jump even though he went for like just twos across the board on two twenty twenty two. That's been real. Steven Adams has really helped out this team as well. Zayi or Williams is looking pretty feisty. If he could play the Knicks every single night, he'd probably be a top ten player in the NBA. Apparently. My whole thing here is I understand if you're not you don't want to get into giving up core players to go after that someone. But they don't need to do that, which is why I that's my argument in favor of the mind. I know they're head of schedule, I know the season has found money. I know there's also the room for internal growth here. But you do have a few expiring contracts, all of whom are flight risks this summer. When you're looking at Kyle Anderson, Jared Colver, even Tayas Jones, even though he might be tougher to give up just looking at the structure of your roster depends on who you get back. You can trade two expiring contracts plus picks, or maybe it's a pick and a Brandon Clark or a pick an Xavier Kilman. And I'm just going to use that move as an example here. If that is, if it's expiring contract a pick and Brandon Clark for Miles Turner and you're thinking something like you wouldn't that's that's a move that's also geared towards the future because you want know what Miles Turner is gonna do for you the rest of this year. It doesn't need to be him. Eric Gordon makes sense for this team. Any The other thing is anyone makes sense for this team. It doesn't have to be someone who can literally it doesn't have to be someone who's a part of your closing lineup, although it could be because you have all this vast array of assets on different scales where you could go. It could just be a very like you can go after ken Rich Williams, probably without giving up a first round pick, like definitely without giving up a first round pick. Okay, so he wants a first round pick, but because like if you had Tilman or if it was Clark in a second for ken Rich Williams, maybe Grizzly Stands would't even want to do that because year Clark's having to be like you. My point is there are just moves on all different planes that you could make, and I would be a little bit disappointed if they don't do something. And that's just a testament too. I think they are good enough to make noise now, it's just as currently constructed. I would argue they're probably missing a very significant piece from joining the title discussion. But if you even make a medium sized move without mortgaging your future in any way, because you have three firsts in this year's draft, by the way, all of which like aren't going to be that good, and yours is going to be the worst of them at this point because you're so good. So you're looking at picks just like in the well, I guess the Lakers pick could be fairly mid end. There are just so many things you could do that it would be nice and encouraging to see them kick the tires. And I know people will make the case against that sort of wrinkles the chemistry, YadA, YadA, YadA, But I think they could find someone who's more plugin play than not, and it just makes their team that much more dangerous. Before I talk about the Grizzlies at all, I just want to point out that you used the same noise to quiet me that my wife, and I use when my toddler is talking way too much, which is roughly always, and I just really appreciated that it was a great moment. I didn't mean to be condescending about it, but I know how you feel about the Grizzlies, and so I needed to interject and get my take off. No, I'm right there with you where I think that they could reasonably acquire basically anyone, and it would make sense the word you use though while while setting this up with vibes, and that's the only reason that I'm like slightly hesitant. I do think that the chemistry argument has validity to it because this team does play with that edge, It plays with that chip on its Should you hear the postgame quotes from Desmond Bane from John Morant, this team believes in itself as currently constructed. It views itself as underdogs, as up and comers like bursting onto the scene in the Western Conference, and thinks that it can beat anyone. And I don't know that you want to fiddle with that unnecessarily right now. So from a pure basketball perspective, from a pure XS and O standpoint, from a basketball strategy perspective, yes, you could probably find a ton of different ways to upgrade this team without doing anything too significant, and you could also justify doing something fairly significant. This is one of those rare situations where, purely for chemistry reasons, I would be hesitant to rock the boat because something special is happening in Memphis right now. I get it. But it's also like you're gonna have to make the move at some point if it's available, Zaire, seriously, like I genuinely think, I genuinely think that with the pieces on this roster right now, that this is a title contender without anything changing. Maybe not this year, but like next year, given how Jared Jackson Junior is playing, John Morant ascending to an unquestioned MVP candidate level, Desmond Baine becoming a realistic All Star threat, still a lot of depth up and down the roster with young pieces waiting in the wings. I don't know that you need to make any changes for Memphis to be a full fledged title contender in a year or two. You have to make changes because, like you have guys entering free agency, you're either gonna need to pay or they're not gonna come back. And if you pay that it's gonna get harder to pay your other guys. And that's what I'm saying. It's like it's sort of a similar situation that the Hawks are going to eventually find themselves. They've already made one of the moves by moving Cam Reddish. There's gonna have to be something like that. And unless it's because you think you're already so good, you're divesting those players into picks, and I don't think they're need to move Desmond Baine. My point is because you don't have to touch your three most important players. I'm gonna say you're the four most important players on this team long term, long term our Jamorant, Desmond Baye, Jarreen Jackson Junior, and Zayer Williams. Like you moved up to get Zeyer with the intention that he was going to be that swing on the wings, and if you hit on him, you have someone really special. So you don't move him for just anyone. The fact that you can do something for maybe you're not even giving up You're not giving up tangible equity beyond this season. Really, if you're trading picks from this year and expiring salary, that's just nut that up that price of admission is too enticing for me not to want them to make even the middle end swing, and I understand why they wouldn't this year, but you absolutely need to be looking at it over the summer unless you win a title this year, which I wouldn't expect them to. And now I feel like I'm down playing their season, But I'm really being so aggressive here because I believe in them that much and it feels like they're so close. I wouldn't bank on it happening left alone over the next two years, but they can do fusing and fiddle to whether either getting really close, and maybe they don't have to be the team that gets really I mean, they've I don't want to say lucky in the draft, because they've they've drafted pretty well, but like you're not You're you're straddling both timelines. You're not waiting a few years. It's more more so my point. I think if there is a move coming, sometimes you see the trades that the front office makes and it catches the players by surprise because they didn't really know what was coming. This feels like one of those situations where the front office almost needs to go to the locker room and get buy in from the team, like at least the star players, because I maintain that the chemistry aspect is so vital here to this team's identity, because if it's not playing with that swagger, it's not quite as effective as it's been. I will it's easier to do this over the offseason because there's guys are a gatling to get into free agency. But then if you do do something over the off season, it's who are you moving now because you've lost like the salary mat stuff, which is why. But yeah, interesting exercise. What is your next quarry? This is a short one because a lot of these have been longer discussions. I just want to know a number here. How many more picks are the Oklahoma City Thunder going to get at this deadline because they already have roughly eight hundred over the next seven years. They're twenty three million dollars roughly below the salary floor, so they could very easily absorb into their roster just because of the salary cap space. While taking picks to get like Sergebaka, Dario Sharich, Ricky Rubio. They could also move veterans like Derek Favors, Mike Nostala hen Rich Williams to get picks, so how many more are going to be added to the coffers? What I do think makes this interesting and twenty few million dollar blow the salary floor is just wild, and I think in terms of pure cap space, they can take on thirty five point three plus million in money just sending no one out. They will have to send players out. They don't have a roster spot right now. I believe maybe they have one on the double ch that but that's why I'm reticent to say like plus three or four because of the roster mechanisms in this you still need to send players out. And I don't think they're in a rush to move like Kenrick Williams or Mike Muscala because it's not like those guys are ruining their tank. And it does feel like Kendrick william has been very good, Mike Muscala has even being good, and like they don't have a lot of options at center or a lot of shooters on this team where you're looking at Kenrick Williams is lower volume three point shooting. I will say though, that they exit the deadline a plus two in in picks, a plus two I'm gonna say plus two and a half. Two first rounder is one more second rounder. No, you have to pick an exactly. If the over unders a two and a half, are you going over under? I'll go three picks, three picks, I'll say, let me just three four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven twelve three four eight. They do have an hour? No, I thought you were counting their picks. Maybe I'll go over to just I didn't realize that. Why do I keep forgetting the team, this team as a roster spot. If yeah, I'll I'll go over to They'll finish plot. They just have so much money to throw around. I guess what makes it tough, though, is they are gonna have to send out players at points or wave them and it's like, who are you giving up on on the team already? And so you go through like whatever. But I'll take the over just because it's okay, see fair enough the Jazz will did utah Jazz go all in. No, it just and we touched on this in the last episode more more. Reacting to the Joe Angles ACL tear, I don't know, I just don't know what that looks like. It looks like it's Les Jordan Clarkson a twenty twenty six and twenty twenty eight first round pick, and you're going for that, You're Jeremy Grant, Harrison Barnes. That's the names of either of them cover So I mean you need you know, Kassa fookies looked better, but you still need a backup big man. You still need wing defense. You still need another offensive initiator and play acre. Like, I don't know that Jeremy Grant or Harrison Barnes alone covers up enough of the holes here. I think. The more I've thought about it, Yeah, the more I've thought about it, though, Like, I don't know that I want to make those sacrifices, knowing that if it goes poorly, I'm still looking at a situation in which I have to realistically consider splitting up Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. I would almost just rather ride it out with this core. Will they even make the medium size swing the Josh Richardson doing what I started to get some that's that's more likely to me, Well, they do it, yes, I think so. I think so. That's I think we see Danny Ainge as part of that organization, now, and he is the caliph of almost. I think we see a lot of almost on the big swings and we end up seeing like more of that that patchwork, piece meal trade. But all in all in is a step too far for me with this this team in it, in its situation, I would probably agree with you based on the players that are available on the market, but I think that their window is also so immediate, and they're gonna lose Joe Ingles's expiring contract as a trade ship after this season that you do need, you need to do something. I would argue you can't win a title right now, as I would pick them as they were higher up before the angles injury, but then they were also kind of I know, Rudy Gobert, miss time, Donald Mezzo, YadA, YadA, YadA. By the way, Mike Conley's been a bike. Conley's been absurd this season. Shout out to him. I what would you how would you rank them on your title rankings? Right now? I'll tell you the teams that are ahead of them for me right now, it includes Memphis Golden Things. They're they're falling into that that tiered justice outside the top five is what the issue is. They're in the teams where my job wouldn't hit the floor if they want a title, but it would drop. I do think acquiring someone like Josh Richardson, even though he only is one of those holes, would make just a huge difference for them. If they're able to do Joe Ingles and like picks. Maybe Mitchell and Gobert are good and Conley too are good enough that they can beat anyone in a playoff series. It's just it's harder to string together the back to back to back to back playoff series necessary to win the title. And I don't they probably care about their tax bill, which is fairly upsturred, and so that sort of a specter like that's moving in the background of all this is my point. And they do have over seven million dollars from the Derrick Favors trade exception left. But are you willing to tack onto a tax bill where you're fourteen point seven million over which is a twenty seven point nine million dollars tax bill. I would be mostly with you. I where I land on them is that this trade deadline camp pass with them doing something or doing nothing, or even something tiny like it needs They need a double at least I would say between a double and a triple seems fair. So my final question, I want you to rank the following fourteen from most likely to least likely to become full fledged sellers. So the Boston Celtics, and I don't mean moving Jason Tatum or Jayalen Brown, but basically everyone else. The Washington Wizards, which does mean putting Buel back on the market, the Portland Trail Blazers, which means finally moving CJ. McCollum, and the Sacramento Kings, which I do not mean moving Harrison Barnes, I mean moving dearon Fox. So from most likely to least likely to be a seller, Celtics, Wizards, Blazers, Kings, I'll go Blazers, Wizards, Kings, Celtics. Just the Celtics could be you're not including Jayalen Brown and Jason Tatum, so I actually I'll say Blazers, Celtics, Kings, Wizards. I don't even know what's selling looks like for the Wizards at this point. I don't even know what the Wizards are doing. To be like, I have no idea, are you, which is why I'm not like totally willing to rule out a Bull move, well, yeah, I would rule out the Bill move. That's why I have them last is because we're selling entails moving Beal full fledged anyway, that's weird that they're selling entails moving Beal, But the Celtics selling doesn't entail moving Brown or Tatum, which they shouldn't. I guess it speaks more to Washington just doesn't have a lot to sell. I mean, Kreuzman KCP have been good, the Harold's been good. But yeah, i'd put them last if Bills included in that. The Blazers, everyone but Dame I would think is available, even if they're not ready to hit the seller. The Blazers are the obvious most likely of that group. The Kings you can't put there because I don't know that they would be looking to move to Aaron Fox as an actual seller I think would be part of as part of a buy for Ben Simmons, or if there was another player that maybe a Sabonus in Indy, if that was something that interested them. So they do have other players where it could be Barnes Healed and Homes if they're listening, if they're listening on all those guys, if you count of that is selling. I might vault them to the top of this list because I do think that they've reached the point where not even the fucking Kings can ignore how aimless and law they are that they have to do. And that's why I would have Sacramento number two here, because I do think there's at least some chance that Fox is moved in a rebuilding oriented transaction just because it's not working again. And at what point do you have to start over again? And I just I have no idea what that front office is going to do at any point. Mike, you got to start over once before you can start over again. And that's been the Kings. What's ailed the Kings for like eighty years? Is there just refusal to actually start over? Who is the If I threw these four teams plus the Knicks in here, which of those teams is more likely to make a blockbuster type move it could be a buy or sell? I think I would I would throw the Knicks in last in that group. Honestly, the best think what does what does that look like? Right now? I think they're more My point with that is I think the Knicks are more likely to sell than the Celtics or the Wizards. I don't think they'll find a taker for Julius Randall. I think they would absolutely move if they could. Motivation, I'm with you, execution, I'm not because I just don't think that they have the pieces to actually move. Oh, I just between Alec Burks and Evan Fournier even playing that's not a full fledged selling, that's a moving off like full fledge selling to me into tales like moving your current centerpieces. Then then you can include Boston on this list and say that Brown and Datum Martin available. Fair argument because like fair enough, it's an inconsistent criteria. Hey, because I would like the Knicks between Newrlands Nowell, Mitchell, Robinson, Fourier, Burks. I would say, there's a chick you can't move. You could move Rose, but he's injured. You're not gonna move the youngsters. But like I could see the moving. Literally every no one's gonna trade for Randall. They will I I they're not going to give you value for Randall, but if you moved, I would absolutely move Julius Randall as part of Russell Westbrook trade. If you want to move Julius Randall. But you're talking yourself into the possibility because you want to know. I'm saying his salary is not large enough, Like it's not this, it's not albatross enough to say that he's as difficult to move as a Wall or Westbrook. It's not even close. If you wanted to move Julius Randall and not give up a first round pick like a buffer, I would bet that you can do that. I would bet that you could. I don't think think we'll see that, but I hear it. Yeah it does. But you're asking me to rank the likelihood. I'm just saying I put them based off the criteria we had. They should sell, though, is my overarching point of all this. My final question is will any of these top contenders make a big move? Which one's most likely? Who has the biggest need, need or reason? To frame it that way, the bulls, heat Sons, and Bucks. I'll put the Jazz and the Grizzlies in here, because I do think that they belong in this sort of same tier. But then you have to throw the nets in there that don't really have assets. So I just want to stick to I'll throw all the top tier contenders in there. Then of the Bulls, Heat, Sons, Bucks, Warriors, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Nets. That is eight teams. I'm not including the Sixers because the major move is Ben Simmons and it's just it's fucking Ben Simmons, and I'll throw the Hawks in there. I'm gonna go with the Bucks because to me, they're the obvious contender that has the obvious holes to fill and is just buoyed by the absolute superstardom of Jannatan da Cumpo and the top end of the supporting cast, but with no guarantee that Brook Lopez is going to be healthy enough to play this season, and with pieces like Pat Connaughton and Dante DiVincenzo who could be moved as the salary matching pieces, I can see them getting in on a bigger play more so than I can the other contenders. That said, I don't know that we see those big moves of significance for the top end teams unless we're talking about like the Eric Gordon Carris Lavert range. I don't know that we see the Jeremy Grant move for one of these contenders, just because it's so hard to parse out this market. Because the play in tournament, and because there are so many teams that fancy themselves contenders that we don't know whether prices are going to get drummed up or if not enough people are going to be available and wonky things happen. But I do think that because Milwaukee has the clear cut need and the ability to match salaries without losing truly vital pieces, that they are my pick here. I don't know what that move looks like for the Bucks because even on a scale of like like what would be like what would constitute who are they moving for, like does Brook Lopez, Dante DiVincenzo and then whatever other I don't know if that alone that that's not enough salary. I don't think they get you, Barnes, if that's the framework, are you one doing that if you're Milwaukee when that doesn't address I probably would, But like you're already kind of hard up for bigs now beyond Portis and honest, do you expect Barnes to play the PGA Tucker five man type role? Absolutely? And I think you expect your honest to spend even more time at the five and in the postseason, I Bobby Porteris. We have seen some limitations so that defensively, just because he's best when he's roaming and even when he's playing next to Bobby Portis, Bobby Portis is not Proklopez. Even look the Bucks, they're still I think there's still top ten defense on the year. I haven't checked in a couple of days. They might have dropped out. The other thing is, though I'm not doing that deal from Sacramento because Deven Gentel has been injured and is entering restricted free agency. What is like, what is that package getting you? Though? Is like who is the best player that package is getting you? I would almost argue it wouldn't constitute a big move. And again that's why this is so tough and general, because I just I don't know that the big moves are out there. I feel like, to me, like Phoenix is the most likely to make like an Eric Gordon level move way to steal my answer, I think just to basicallyar Eric Gordon is shooting forty four plus percent from three, putting an up scene amount of pressure on the rim, and we've stung his praises so many times on this podcast. I'm not trying to downplay his impact, but I don't think he's a significant enough name right now to qualify as like a blockbuster trade, I would say, if you're if we frame this in terms of who is which of the main contenders would be most willing or most likely or has the most reason to give up a first more than one first round pick, so it's a first round pick in a prospect, or first round pick in another first round pick, the equivalent of let's say two first round picks, or just the equivalent of more than one first round pick. I would say that it's going to be the Suns, and then the Jazz would be number two for me, because I think those teams sense there's urgency and you there's not as much urgency in Phoenix, but at the same time, it's the same urgency because Chris Paul has yet to miss a game. You're this good now. You have the younger pieces to still be good later really kind of unlike the Jazz, but like, you're the best team in the NBA right now. So those are the two teams that stand out to me as the answer to this question. This is the bonus question, the best the best team in the NBA aside from the Hawks, because we're recording this right after a Hawks over Suns win. You know, the Hawks, if we were going to throw them into this, which I guess I kind of did, I almost want to pick them. But I think that if push came to shove, even if it was for Derek White, I think that they would just get like asset pocket shy. That's just my guest with them. I did too. I think the Hawks are the most likely to come out of nowhere and make like the Ben Simmons move. Yes, the and which leads us to our bonus question. Who is the I don't know if you want to make as a prediction, but who is the best player that is most likely to get moved at the deadline? And I'm gonna put draw most likely. Let's call the shot. Who's the best player to get Let's do all right? Fine? Who was yours? I don't think Jeremy Grant moves WHOA I don't. I don't think it's gonna happen. Well, I don't feel like the market is set up for it right now. So my answer is going to be Eric Horton. My point was that you're pretty low on who the best player to be moved is going to be. If you think it's Jeremy Grant was my point. You're just do you disagree lower than yet? No, I agree with that that assessment. I just I think this is one of the more pouring deadlines we're gonna see. I get that. I'm going to say I'm gonna call I'm gonna say that it's the Aaron Fox. Like Kings are either gona The Kings are either gonna do the Ben Simmons dance or they're finally gonna lean into the rebuild. But if it's gonna do the Ben Simmons dance, I should probably pick Ben Simmons. But I think I do think the Aaron Fox is more likely to be moved in other scenarios, whereas Ben Simmons. It seems like Philly is they need, they need a star coming back or something like something that's gonna wow them. If there was just a name that no one's talking about that's really good, that you could just see coming out of left field, that might just shock everything. I feel like there are one of those, like vootch going to Chicago last year kind of came out of nowhere. Would there be any name that springs to mind for you there on the spot, I have not. This is not a premeditated answer that the first name that is popping in mind is Malcolm Brogden. Can't be moved because there's an extension, so please try again, fair enough, it is no longer Malcolm Brogden. Do you have one. I've spent a lot more time thinking about trades than I do. Yeah, I think it's for the easy answer. Would because the only people who tense the easy answer is Derek White, because we're the only one. We're the only people who spend time talking about He's already been mentioned on this podcast multiple times, so that doesn't count. I want a name who has not been mentioned at this point. I'm about to give you one if you let me speak. I said, I would say Derek White because only we talk about him. But we talked about him, so I won't say Derek White. Was my point. I could see like a Christops Porzingius trade happening. I could also see the Nets moving on from Kyrie Irving or James Harten. That would be like the this that season's kind of imploding. Maybe they just decide to do the Ben Simmons deal now, Maybe they just maybe they find out that the Kyrie Irving vaccine mandate is never going to be lifted. It's not a Kyrie Irving vaccine mandate, but the vaccine mandate in New York is never going to be lifted. I wouldn't put that high, but I could just see looking at Dallas's situation where they're just like they've gotten solid, their defense is great, but like they're still they don't have a ton of assets, and they're still kind of just far away from the top. I could just see a Christaps Porsini's trade kind of materializing. That's interesting. I could see it too, just because of Dallas's situation. Another name that we just didn't mention but I think could factor into the trade deadline is Terrence Ross. That's not a big enough name for this exercise. It's no, no, it does not qualify as the answer to this question. I'm just as I'm scrolling through these depth charts, it jumped out as like a guy who does reasonably fit with a lot of teams can reasonably be had. But we have not mentioned his name at all on this podcast. Three more names that I think could qualify smart. I do think he's been talked about in circles at least more. I feel like that's more of an offseason. So I think like him and Brunson have been mentioned enough that I didn't really consider that with about Norman Powell. Yeah, I mean in so far as like every one of the Blazers is available, but is every one of the like his is the name that comes up the least among the non Dame players. Even Dame's name comes off more than him. The I guess one that could, like real, here's the one, the Jonathan Isaac trade. Orlando decides like he's so limited offensively, We've got Wendel Carter Jr. We have Chumo'kekey. Jonathan Isaac is a defensive system onto himself, but now he's gonna be like basically not playing basketball for two full seasons. At this point, I could just see, like is that they're they're like selling low to kind of stock up their asset to a team that's not as invested in this season. You look you're laughing at me, but that if I'm no, No, I'm just I'm just laughing because I'm so far on the other end of the spectrum with respect to this year's trade deadline. We're just the top seed turvy nature of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic that is ongoing, the many many teams in each conference that are in contention for the play in tournament. I just I do not anticipate that much significant movement. I get no, no, no, I'm gonna be clear, I don't. But I'm saying, if that left field, big name trade happens, I'm trying to identify the names, then we can take a victory lap because they were mentioned on this podcast. But you've been shipping on every single one that comes out because you're trying to make it too real. By saying I don't expect it to happen, I'm not making predictions. I'm just saying I have no imagination. We've established this, yes, absolutely you have. Your imagination is really holding this podcast back. I think that's a good place to end it, because Adam is making me sad and I can I can feel the creative juice is just being drained from my body because Adam is being so rigid. Right now, follow us wherever you consume your podcast. Subscribe if you haven't already, especially if you've made it this far, not subscribe yet. We do a pretty good job covering in the NBA around these parts. What do you say? So myself discord join it. The link is in the podcast description. 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Tell people about our podcast, shout us out on Twitter, quote record our clips and put them on Twitter and we'll retweet them if you tag us anything to help. I don't want to say that we deserve it, because we deserve absolutely nothing, but if you if you could do that anyway, we'd really appreciate it. Follow all the sports Math network accounts at NBA Underscore Math is the big one right now, at the sports Math what is sports math now? At sports math Net at sports math Nets. Sorry I got that wrong. That is also in our podcast description, So follow all our social media accounts for the podcast description, follow all of them. Thank you as always for listening to us. This is fun. We have a bunch of like last minute trade deadline content coming and then AB and I will be doing the trade deadline grades that night to coming live for you either late Thursday or they'll definitely be out by Friday. We're excited and then we get to move on to like a post deadline world. However, until next time, we leave you a shout out to the one the only the real star could come out of left field, be traded and change the trajectory of a team's entire season for the better. Franking the Keeper