What is kracklacing hardwock? Since there's I am day have a value interjecting very
quickly to say, this is part two of our two part Eastern Conference mail
bad. We did over two hours of questions on every single Eastern Conference team.
Thank you for your questions. Grant and I are about to wrap up
the second half of the podcast. Be sure to check out the first part.
The link is in the podcast and the YouTube description, and as always,
please throw us that permit subscription on your podcast player and YouTube as well
as tell people about us. Let's get into it. You got anything else
there? Should we go to Detroit? Let's go to Detroit? Baby,
alright, batter place here. Jesus Christ, It's from Jason Brennan. Outside
of Wimby and Scoot, who do you see the Pistons going after in the
off season through free agency and or the draft? Just as a starting point,
Detroit is still very much a best player available operation. And that's true
of almost everywhere. But I think it was kind of a mistake for the
Pistons to think, you know, that they we're going to beat for a
playoff spot this year. And you know, granted Bogdanovich has been great.
I think the idea that they want to keep him versus move him for future
assets remains crazy to me. So the Pistons just sort of need to know
where they are. And that's like, so if you if you fall to
second and Scoot Henderson's there, you don't think for a fraction of a millisecond
that like, well, I don't know if that's going to work with Ivy
and Kade being are you know primary, Like, no, no, you
just draft the best player. That's that's we're nowhere near ready to start thinking
about fit for the Pistons. So in terms of who else they can add
beyond those two guys, I think it's important to know that they got between
thirty three and forty three million in cap space coming up. I don't think
it makes sense for them to sign anybody for a decent chunk of that if
that player is like over twenty five or isn't someone you think is the best
days are ahead. This is not a veteran signing thing. I still like
the idea of using that space if you can't find the perfect guy as like
a dumping ground for bad salary and picks. It's just the Pistons just they
are where they are and it's still asset accumulation. Maybe people will disagree with
that. I just don't see enough present talent to justify a pivot. So
who should they sign. I'm just looking at younger guys, you know,
Cam Johnson, especially in the kind of in between the guard and center positions.
And Williams let's move to Washington again, he's restricted. That's tricky.
I don't know if I want to pay market rates for him. And it
looks like Grant Williams is going to be expensive too. I think justifiably.
I like that name though, even if you have to pay him Grant the
Grant Williams jayn Nern from Court. Yeah, and you can Grant Williams can
play some backup five if if Stuart's not someone you think, I mean,
even that rotation isn't workable. I think with those three guys, even if
if that's what you got, because you see it with you know, Horford
and Robert Williams and Grant Williams now, I mean Horford stretch makes that a
little different, but it's it's it's viable draft. I'll just fully admit I
haven't done a lot of draft research yet because it's January and the NBA is
hard enough to follow. But a couple of guys Wemby Scoot obviously, like
just if you're one of the first two picks, I don't know how you
ever deviate. Brandon Miller six nine from Alabama. He can shoot it.
I read a Paul George comp which is always enough for me. I think
that's just that's gonna be fine. And he fits in that little in between
area, like can we get a wing that can shoot and create a little
defend to kind of balance out what's sort of like a I guess top and
bottom heavy point guard center roster or playmaker center roster, Cam Whitmore from Villanova.
You're never gonna convince me that it's a bad idea to draft of Villanova
guard or wing. They just always are tough and defend. And this so
W Moore in particular six six super athletic listen at two thirties, so he's
not like the willowy, you know, knocked off his you know, flight
pattern athlete. He's like gonna maybe go through you occasionally. So those are
a couple names I threw in there, but it's all it's all wings and
combo forwards. I think those are those are your targets if you can't get
just the absolute you know, blue chip guy for the Pistons, I wouldn't
mind them. I know these are probably older than you would like, but
like I mean, Gary Shron Junior is pretty young. Yeah. Bobda Mardanovitch,
though, could be helpful for this team. Let's get and let's keep
both of Bogdanovits. Let's put them on the same roster. You wouldn't even
need a new jersey. It'd be perfect. Molik Beasley would kind of not
for the defense, but would be perfect. If I thought that the Jazz
would decline his team option what they which they won't, I'll be I'll be
floored if he reaches free agency. Yeah, the only other one we had
here is from Kevin Marsh. Just real quickly, do you think a trade
of og and and Obi for We're all just trying to trade Og right,
because he fits everywhere for kill, but and a twenty four first would work
for both teams. I do not think that that would work for the Raptors
because I think and I think very highly of An and Obi. I'm still
not sold on Hayes. Burke's in the first round. Pisop would be fine,
but no Og is too good to give up for that. Yeah,
Killian Hayes is just like if he continues to hit these step back jumpers.
His passing has always been there, as defense always been there. But if
this is the Killian Hayes that just finishes the season, I don't think Toronto
does it just because they probably want someone who I think is more of a
compy fit, or need someone who's more of a company fit. Off the
ball. Still, he becomes like a very very I know he'll be entering
the final year of his heal, but he becomes like a very interesting is
it trade piece? Is it? Do we try to work this with Kayden,
Jade and Ivy. But he's been really, really solid, if not
freaking good for Detroit. I think the fact that we're even discussing Killian Hayes
now as like, well, maybe there's something there is just like a momentous
you know salvage of where it looked like things were going for him, you
know for most of again, injury hit, all this other stuff, tough
adjustment coming over, but I just was I could not have been more out
on a player than Hayes and the fact that it's even a thought that he
could feature in a big way for the Pistons or anyone else's Like, would
would have lost a lot of money betting against that. You would be an
interesting team for killing him Hayes. The Magic Okay, maybe, but that's
like there's I mean, he yeah over faults, but like, I don't
know what the Magic have to offer unless they're want to get part of the
pick. But the Warriors would be an interesting team for killing him Hayes.
I don't know why Detroit would have any interest in like James Wiseman picks package,
but like if it was a Moses Moody picks package and then you have
to attach other salary to it. I mean, I'm gonna need to see
some I need to watch some more Hayes tape because you are out of your
mind if that's not even something I guess because you're trading a twenty twenty six
first round pick, I get it, but maybe in the off season when
like it's oh, you could trade it after you get this year's draft pick
or something. I wouldn't give up comingo for him. Oh hell no,
cominga's for him. I just I don't know, I need to be I
have so much Hayes skepticism, like accumulated that it's I just it's really difficult.
It's still like outweighs the good stuff that we've seen lately. Maybe that's
not fair, that's just where I'm at, but he's been really good.
I don't think the Raptors do that trade either. Just to be clear,
now, if it was Killian Hayes and like two Detroit first round picks,
that at least probably gets Toronto thinking maybe not you have to like Killian Hayes
still yeah, yeah, I mean, if you're getting too first with Hayes,
friend, this is Annaobi. Annobie is like young, and that's the
issue. Is just Killian Hayes definitely has the higher offensive ceiling. I think
that's just clear at this point. But like o Giannaobi is defensive player of
the year of potential who doesn't drag down your offense. And that's like probably
the least complimentary thing I could say about it. Like he's better than a
liability is what I'm saying, Like much better than that, So I don't
need to frame it that way. But just because he's so young still,
it makes it really difficult to figure out that. I mean, Killian Hayes
is young as well, but his next contract is coming up, so was
OG's just food for thought. We need to move on because I don't want
to keep saying bad things about Killian Hayes, all right, so we will
move on. And that brings us to z which is my team. We
have the Indiana Pacers. Everything blacks ass. No one believes Indiana when they
say they're negotiating an extension with Miles Turner right where you expect him to move,
if anywhere at the deadline. So I would say, I don't know
if no, I don't know if everyone believes it. I believe that they
are renegotiating extent talks with Miles Turner, and I wouldn't say I have it
on good authority, but from what I've heard, like that might be the
most likely outcome to all this. But the Pacers have never been a wholesale
rebuilding team. If they're willing to give Miles Turner he raised right now,
they can always move him later on this deal. But there also might be
trying to be really good by next season and Miles Turner can be a quintessential
part of that. And if you have him lockdown, you know how you
can build out the rest of your front court rotation. Whereas right now,
between the three and the four spots of legitimate three and four options, Aaron
n. E. Smith is a keeper and it's like, okay, who
else like o' shaber sets good, doesn't play enough? Probably gone after this
year? Jon Smith, former guaranteed starter Jon Smith, like no Isaiah Jackson
kind of his playing time which was all like, it's not where it wasn't
the early part of this season. So I think unless Miles Turner forces the
issue himself or won't sign an extension, it would not shock me. Now
I even call it the most like the outcome is he signs an extension.
Now that being said, do we have some Miles Turner trades? And the
answer is I do? And so are you willing to play? Who says
no with me? Yet? Again? Absolutely all right? This one is
tough, but okay, see gets Miles Turner, O'shaber sett and James Johnson.
This would have to be completed separately, but it works. Indiana gets
Jaylen Williams. This past year's lottery pick Jr. E. Muscalla Baisley and
a protected first round pick from the Clippers next year for the lottery twenty twenty
four lottery protected first round pick. And then it turns into two seconds immediately,
noakes, no extending after that, The Thunders say no, because Jaylen
Williams is going to make at least one All Star Game in his career.
I will say the Thunders should target Miles Turner in free agency this summer.
I want to make I just want to make that queer. He'd be great
exit chet Homebred. Next trade, Memphis receives Miles Turner. Indiana gets Danny
Green, one of Santi Aldama, David Roddy or JAKEO Ravia and a first
rounder. I think the Pacers say no because I don't know if any of
those I like Aldama, but I think I think Turner has more value to
Memphis than that. I think I think Memphis could squeeze the Pacers for more.
Would you do two? Let's say two of those youngsters, then take
your pick. Two of those youngsters and a first What if it's the Warriors
first in twenty twenty four that they're putting on the table I think he got
something there. I think that's doable. Two Pelicans trades. The first one
is New Orleans gets Miles Turner. Indiana gets Jonis Valancunis and Herb Jones.
New Orleans says no because they refuse to do the right thing and should have
traded for Miles Turner two years ago. No, this is great. Yeah,
I mean Indiana should Both teams should do this if there's no extension for
Turner in the offing. The other one is, let's just say that they're
not that New Orleans for New Orleans doesn't want to trade Yonis for whatever reason.
Indiana get DeVante Graham, who's another year left on his deal. After
this one, Jackson hayes Herb Jones at a twenty twenty four first round pick
that would be let's say, lotto protected or top ten protected for Miles Turner.
Pelicans should be all over that. The Pacers, I think, would
hope to do a little better her I wouldn't mind eating Graham if it gets
me Herb Jones and a twenty twenty four first, because they're already have three
first and twenty twenty three. I would do that one. I think final
one the Heat, get Miles Turner, the Pacers get Duncan Robinson Nikola Yovic
an unprotected pick this year from Miami, and then a twenty twenty four swap.
I really hate getting Duncan robinson salary on the books if I'm the Pacers,
and I'm not sure either of those first are gonna be super high value
because Miami is just never bad enough. If Miami went two first, so
it would be twenty three unprotected and then twenty seven because that's the plus Duncan
Robinson, would you do it? I like the twenty seven a lot better,
just because it's too hard to see the heat getting bad in a year
or two. But by then, you know, you never know, Jimmy
Butler will probably be done by then. So next Pacers question and our finals
one, came from a friend of the podcast, Rhett Bower. Rhett,
he says, who says, no, Chris de Arte Boston's first and Cleveland's
first for John Collins. He also added in parentheticals, he's not sure whether
he would give up both of those first to Atlanta. So let's say it's
even just the and Indiana can help you complete the lopsided trade because they have
cap space. Do you do Christa War Day in the first for Collins?
If you're Atlanta, is it Collins value? Well, this is our same
thing. I feel like Collins should be worth more. But if you're getting
first, and all this talk is that the Hawks are gonna have to give
up first to move Collins, and I guess this is a good return.
And I believe you're Indians. What's that you do it? If you're Indie
though, yeah, I think I do because those first aren't going to be
any good and Christa War Day can be good. But like you have Hallie
Bennedic Mathren, Buddy Heel's been amazing for you. Andrew dem Hard's there now.
And also Rhett did point this out too. You need John Collins to
be somewhere where he can be the four on defense and the five on offense.
Myles Turner is the perfect So you do this and then you pay Miles
Turner. Yep, yeah, I'm good with that. I like that four
or five combo. It beats the jail and Smith promised starter and Turner combo.
Are you ready to take us two? Let's let's go to Miami.
That's where we're at right alphabet and scouting report on us as alphabet is a
weakness, but that's where we are. This is from Kevin. What can
the Heat realistically get? Is this one you wanted to say, if the
Kyle Lowry thing? I think that's our Yeah, but you can roll with
it, all right, let's do it. It kind of ties into the
next one anyway. I'll be quick on the first part. It's from Kevin.
What can the Heat realistically get for Kyle Lowry in a trade? So
Lowry's making twenty eight million this year, twenty nine next year, it'll be
thirty seven in March. And he's having the worst season since he became a
starter over a decade ago. So if you're training for him, it's name
recognition, it's and the hope that he can be like Capitol letters Kyle Lowry
in a playoff series or two, which is not out of the realm of
possibility. But the trend line is what it is right now, So I
think, actually, you're more likely to have to pay somebody to take him.
You know, you're sweending this just because the numbers are he's been bad.
He hasn't been good, and he still does a lot of the little
things, and he's a you know, a good guy to have around,
good veteran, But like if I'm just comparing him to a somewhat similar guy
and Mike Conley, who's under forty percent from the field and he's scoring worse
than he ever has since he was a rookie and seven o eight, which
feels like it's impossible that someone's been playing that long that's not named Lebron.
But he's a year younger and has a non guarantee on twenty four million next
season. I think Conley is more likely to be a positive asset than Lowry
at this point age cost, additional year of salary you cannot get out of.
That's just that's just what it is. So that gives us to JT
Alexander, who says, who says no to this trade which you got from
the Bill Simmons podcast, and it is as follows. The Raptors receive De'angelo
Russell, Nikola Yovic twenty three first from Miami, the Timberwolves received Lowry,
the Heat received Fred Vanvley and Gary Trent Junior. So my first response to
this is, well, I'll say this, I don't think Minnesota says no
to this because you're moving Russell, who you may not want to resign anyway,
and you get Lowry, who might be the adults in the room that
you need to sort of help fix the situation. This is a really niche
scenario, one of few where I do think Lowry's intangibles might make it so
that the production, which has been poor, matters a little less. And
the fact that you're probably losing Russell for nothing anyway, this you could talk
me into this. So I think Minnesota is good with this because you're also
getting obviously they're just you're just getting off Russell, which you may lose for
nothing. I think the Raptors probably say no first, because I don't think
because they're getting Russell here, and I don't even though he's a point guard
and even though he addresses some of the like who's going to create shots and
that type of thing and run pick and rolls, I didn't. It doesn't
feel like Russell is a Raptors type, not just because of the size,
but I don't. I don't see it. And how much are they gonna
want to pay him? So I guess the Heat are the ones that are
good with this. Oh, they should be with getting van Fleet and GTJ,
I would say, yeah, they should be good. Problem is,
though, those guys could both just opt out. And so I mean,
you gotta do this knowing that you have a number that everybody's cool with.
It would only caught you one first round pick, and this is it.
I don't think. I think Rono would be like hell no, yeah no.
I so I don't know who you think. I don't know if someone
jumps out to you is. All I know for sure is that Minnesota is
doing this one hundred times out of one hundred. But but which just sounds
weird because I just said Lowry is a negative asset. But that's just that's
how it appears to me. I think the Clippers would still get in on
the Lowry sweep stace, and maybe there's something to be done with like John
wall and Marcus Morris or John all are, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris,
depending on what you think the value is. I think Washington could talk themselves
into it, like they might offer you Ruey Barton and not Kuzma. But
let's say Monte Morris for Lowry. That would be a team. But I
think you're looking at best you're probably not. You might get these guys might
be your rotation players, but I don't think you're actually getting an upgraded player
as part of a Lowry deal or a better fitting player, unless you're attaching
a whole bunch of stuff. I don't think my point would be though.
I don't think you need to attach stuff to him to get him. I
think you could get smaller contracts, expiring contracts even for him if you cast
him, or similarly long contracts, but maybe they're broken up into two or
three players rather than just Kyle Lowry himself get better, just a Bysmal start,
I would point out. Yeah, and I love Lowry. He's been
one of my favorite players. It's just I don't know it. So there's
so many It's just so much easier for me to imagine, like this is
the type of contract you have to get off of. It feels like right
now with how he's playing as opposed to we're going to bring back a bunch
of help. But I guess we'll find it, although we may not find
out because I don't know if they're going to trade him. I would be
shocked if it happens middle of the season, right, Yeah, it's an
offseason thing. It feels like, all right, we are onto the Milwaukee
Bucks. We have two questions on them. I'll start with the one from
Nikolo Chekolov part apologies if I mispronounced that. How concerned should Bucks fans be
about the most recent stretch? And so just some background on this. Since
the Bucks is four game win streak in December, they are twenty ninth in
offense overall, including in the half court twenty seventh and three point percentage.
Pat Connaughton, Javon Carter Grayson, Allen Brook Lopez have seen significant dips in
their three point percentage during this time. Chris Middleton, we know, hasn't
really played. Joe Angeles has come back. He looks a little rusty on
the offensive end. Of me Jannest, Drew and Middleton, this should be
a vote in favor of patients have played in just five games together. Drew
his mistime himself. I think Jannest people have made a lot of the range
stuff. I do think it's a problem. They account for thirty percent of
his shots, which isn't an outlier relative of the past few years. But
he's shooting twenty eight percent on them. He's actually been shooting thirty five percent
on them over this your most recent buck stretched since that December winning streak.
I think it's fair to have a moderate level of concern. You need to
see this team at full strength and also acknowledge that they might not give a
fuck whether they're there until the postseason. And I do think they've earned the
benefit of the doubt in that regard, like that's a team that they can
experiment. Now, find out more about their depth, find out things about
the limitations of relying on Grayson out or what you can get out of Marjan
Beauchamp in higher leverage situations. How the Bobby Porters, Brook Lopez Jani's lineup
is going to work. I do think, however, when you look at
this roster, there is a deficit of half court creation. Even when Chris
Middleton is there. The numbers might be fine, but you need like another
floor spaser who can work off the dribble. And I know that Jordan Clarkson
has been mentioned among ends, and I think bucks Chas might even preferm League
Beasley to that. I don't think they have asked that they would have to
go a twenty twenty nine Pick and mar Jehan bow Champ. I think they
get either one of those guys, and I wouldn't do that if I were
them. I don't even know if I would, Like there are the Jazz
taking a twenty twenty nine first and just giving you a league Beasley or Jordan
Clarkson. Maybe Clarkson because he's a free agent. Maybe maybe, I don't
know. I think just if I'm the Bucks, like, yeah, it'd
be cool to have a half court score like a spark plug guy, but
I want someone that I can see closing Game seven of the finals, like
that's that's where this team is. That's and to me, that's always been
the issue is where like where's the upgrade on the Wesley Matthews, Pat Conason,
you know, Grayson Allen, Joe Ingles, like fifth, fifth starter,
fifth closer spot. Where like, where's the guy that can play that
position that isn't just a stand still dependent score like you know, Allen's not
that, but Allen's a defensive liability like West Matthews and Angles at this phase
are just guy. Is that they're both too old, there are too immobile.
There's your you need a shutdown guy there. That's it just that's the
spot I need. And and I don't know where that comes from. And
I don't think Jay Crowder helps you unlock some lineups that I think become very
important in the playoffs. But given how good brook Lopez has been defensively this
season, I don't think you're looking to go y honest as the lone Bay.
You can still pay honest with Crowder and brook Lopez. That's fine.
Yeah, I eat some names. That's bringing to mind. Do they have
the juice like if you put Marjean bow Champ or that twenty twenty nine pick
on the table, do you have the juice to get boy On Madonovitch that
I don't. I don't think that's well. The fact that it's so far
out that first cuts both ways, because maybe the Bucks are bad by then
and that picks good. I don't feel like that's enough. I don't think
and that is I mean, that's the level of upgrade because I could see
him being on the floor at the end of games, whether Lopez is the
five or not, and feeling good about that. That's the that's the level,
Like, that's the minimum level of player I feel like they need.
Would you put both on the table for Bogda mcdonovitch. For this team,
I'd like some I'd like a little more size, I think, because again
I'm just like microscopically focused on who's my three, you know at the end
of the game, and I don't I'm not sure. I mean, he
would be really valuable if you're getting back to like, let's get the half
court offense running like he's a smart passery. He can make shots off the
catch, off the bounce, that all matters. I think that some of
the half court stuff too, by the way, is like, first of
all, we've seen the Bucks win a title with a lot of the same
concerns, But if you don't have the honest Middleton pick and roll, which
they really relied on a lot to get half court buckets lead in games,
I think if that were in play, and who's to say that if they'd
even be using it in January, like that might be just we know,
we have that for when we need it. But I think the half court
numbers can look a lot better when they have that, And that just underscores
the value of Middleton to this team, which is real scary considering his age
and the fact that you just like can't get on the floor. The other
name and I mentioned him before with the hornets. This wouldn't cost you a
first round picker Marjon bow Champ. It cost you probably three players in salary.
You can get there. I did the math, it'd be Grayson Allen.
Maybe you have to use Jordan ware in there. Are you getting?
Are you punting on the Angeles experiment? At that point you have George Hill
salary that might you know, kill my boonholes around the inside. But would
you give up just players for Terry Rosier smaller than you would prefer, but
you haven't given up your first round picker Marjan bow Champ there, and that's
someone who going to space the floor. I think it definitely this offense,
that would be his best role. But can also I wouldn't trust his pull
up like he will drive, yeah, and he has I would. I
agree, Like he's a little smaller than i'd want, kind of like Bogdan
Bogdanovitch. But we've also seen at points Rosier would be like a really kind
of disruptive defender. Maybe that's too far in the past, but like maybe
he can also summon that and add a lot of value that way, so
you don't just have Javon Carter out there as like the only guy that does
that in the backcourt other than Holiday. I could I could see my to
that for sure, especially if you're not giving up bow Champ or like premium
future assets. And the final question on the Bucks, and we kind of
touched upon this is Derek Williams, what should the Bucks do in the offseason
if they don't win the championship this year? And it's, look, I
think you'd be getting out, Well, should they look at breaking up the
Big three? Middleton free agent? No, you go all in and you
figure out the half court issue, and you fuck it's fucked the tax at
that point, I don't care what you're paying. You have you honest,
I know you already want a title, but you keep going, you keep
going, and it's do you aim for a higher scale move? You could,
because now you can trade a pick in twenty nine and thirties. You
could trade a pick in a swap if you really wanted to do it that
way, or at least protect to pick out to twenty thirty. Once the
league calendar resets and you have Marjan bow Champ, does it get harder to
match some salaries because Joe Angels is coming off the books that that could be
an issue. But if you like, if you don't make it to the
conference finals, because like, only two teams make the finals and only one
team to win the championship. I won't call the Bucks of failure if they
don't win the title. But if you don't make it to the Eastern Commerce
finals, or if the way you bow out in the playoffs isn't convincing or
eminently excusable, it's you doubled down like you should have in the first place.
Though, I think that it was too much of a flex to go
the Joe Angles route in free agency, and if you wanted to go to
the Joe Angles route, you should have been more aggressive on the margins in
the trade market. I mentioned this before. I think Jordan Clarkson would have
been more gettable before the season started, and the fact that the Bucks were
just kind of like and they knew that Middleton was gonna miss time, that
they had Angles on the shelf and we were gonna roll this into well,
we're just gonna be super aligned on West Matthews and Grayson Allen at points this
season it's just it's uninspiring to me. Maybe they shut me up in the
playoffs. That's again I think patience is fine here. They still need to
make some type of move I think to bolster the either the half court offense
or to just unlock. As you said, like what is your best five
man unit, because right now I think it's when they're healthy. I would
lean towards content is that fifth guy over angles, but like it might be
debatable depending on the night, Right, you'd hope it's not a debate.
But but to your point, before we go, I take us to the
Knicks, like the fact that they've mortgaged so much for for holiday and paid
so much to Middleton and they want they want a title. So it's proof
of concept. This is what you do when you have a generational talent in
Jannie who's smack in the middle of his prime. Like there's not tomorrow doesn't
matter, like unless tomorrow is a finals game, Like that's that's it.
You're not looking down the road because you have this guy that is almost impossible
to get. So it's like there's no like step back, there's no well
should we you know, should we quibble over like is Middleton, were should
we try to get like, you know, ten million less for this guy
or say no, it's just whatever costs the costs. And because you have
be honest, it's it's better to do that than to like really try to
overthink things. So we have the Knicks next. So this is from Key
with several ease uh Knicks play in or regular playoff spot. So I'm gonna
keep it simple the Knicks. I would not view the Knicks as having a
better shot at a playoff spot. So talking about the top six than Boston,
Milwaukee, Philly, Brooklyn, Cleveland, like, I just I don't
know. We don't need to have that discussion. I don't think for any
of those teams barring Crazy Injries. So that's down to Indian, New York
and Miami. Maybe Toronto seems unlikely, maybe Washington seems less likely for that
six playoff spot. And look, there's a lot going for the Knicks.
Their fifth when I last looked in simple rating system which Basketball Reference just kind
of MUSHes together strength of schedule and point differential among East teams, So that's
fair their seventh overall. So this is a very East heavy like top chunk
of SRS rankings. They're ahead of Indie, who's seventeenth in Miami, that's
twenty first. So you know, basically, I'm if I'm gonna say that
they're not a playoff team, it's gonna kind of be some gut stuff,
and I'm still gonna say that. I think my Ammy with Bam, Jimmy
Butler and Tyler Hero and just years and years of knowing that the Heat are
not going to be out coached, that they have just a reservoir of playoff
experience and just all the toughness, all the Heat culture, blah blah blah,
Like if you're giving me a coin flip between them and the Knicks,
which is kind of how I view it now. Even though some of the
standings and some of the advanced stuff say the Knicks are just better, I'm
going to trust in the history. So I do think the Knicks are like
a pretty clear, you know, not worse than seventh eighth. I think
if this were a normal pre play in scenario, they'd be a playoff team
and I wouldn't feel really any reservations about that. But if it's a specific
question of are they a top six team in the East, not quite just
not quite, not quite there. I have no argument there, and I
think you also you could just mention that the Pacers are in front of them
right now, there's no guarantee they go anywhere unless they sell the deadline,
and then there's always the chance of the teams behind them. Could one of
Chicago, Toronto or Atlanta really make a late season surge. I wouldn't rule
out. I'd rule it out for the Wizards, make no mistake, But
of those three teams, maybe not. Maybe not. Yeah, So we
got a couple more Knicks questions here do you want to do? I'm gonna
pick one of them. Let's do Do you want to do the Knicks Lavine
stuff? Do you want to do that one? If we got to pick
one of these two, let's take it we're interested in that. Yeah,
let's do it, all right? So this is from Dakota. Do you
think the Knicks should trade for Lavine if he becomes available before the deadline.
I hate to part with IQ, but but I think they should. Not
sure what they're going to do with all those draft picks anyway, So there's
a couple of ways, just you know, back of the napkin stuff that
this could work money wise. You could do Lavine for quickly, Rows Fournier
to make the money work. Quickly, topping fourty a reddish could make the
money work. And so for me it just comes down to, like,
what are we talking about? Pick wise? If you could get you know,
two good ones going out from the Knicks, I'm like legit ones.
I'm fine with that. If I'm the Bulls, maybe the top end quickly
plus a couple of good firsts does it for me because you're getting you know,
some some younger pieces. This all presumes that this is part of a
Bull's tear down, and you the Knicks could just go. You know,
no halfway intelligent team is gonna see this for anything but what it is.
But we like, let's do five first rounders, and three of them are
those like never going to convey with any kind of value Washington, Detroit,
what's the other one? Dallas? All in twenty three that'll just keep bumping
back potentially or just be shitty firsts. I would do that. I think
we've talked about I've talked about reservations about Lavigne, like not a great defender,
it's not an intuitive passer, a great score a great shooter would help
the Knicks certainly more than I think the guys they're giving up. But what
are your thoughts on either of those path Is it the picks that hang you
up? Is it giving up quickly and or topping? Like? Where where
are you on a Lavine to the Knicks trade? It's not giving up quickly
or topping and quickly has been really good defensively this year, and I do
like topping. But if they're just not going to move away from Julius Randall,
I do worry about. Okay, so you're having Levine Brunson, R.
J. Baron Julie's Randall on the same offense all of a sudden,
So that would probably be my argument against going after Leavine. But if it's
if he's going to be substantially cheaper than a Dona Mitchell trade where Chicago is
willing to take back Evan Fournier more willing to do that because they're worried about
Levine's contract a long term. You need to know the health on his knee,
of course, but if it's like if you're not giving up Grimes or
Barrett, and then the pick Hall is substantially less than what you tuck out
for Donovan Mitchell. Yeah, I would consider it. I don't know what
that means in terms of like how many of the Knicks' own picks unprotected?
What I include in zach Lavine trade. This has nothing to do with who
I think zach Levine is at his peak as a player. I'm not including
more than one protected pick beyond this season in his Zach Levine trade because of
the stuff with his knee. That's literally it. It's not the contract,
although it becomes about the contract if his knees an issue. And so if
you're and then if you're building multitudes of layers of picks with all those other
teams, conditional ones that you have, fine, go ahead and do that.
Are you giving up an unprotected pick this year? Is that? Like
even giving off two unprotected picks if one of them is this year, when
you're like kind of going to be in the play in territory, there's no
guarantee Leavin carries you out of there. I'm not giving up more than two
of my own picks and the second one of those is going to be protected
in his zacch Leavin trade. Yeah, That's where I'm at too. I
think It's it's an interesting like look into because a lot of times you know
it's a it's a bonus or it's a value add to trade for a player
that has a bunch of years left on his contract. Now, because it's
so high with annual value for Lavine, maybe that changes things. But like
the biggest what's the biggest risk of the Mitchell trade for Cleveland, it's that
he leaves in a couple of years when it's deals up. You know,
you're giving up all this stuff and it's kind of a mid term rental.
That wouldn't be the case with Lavigne. But because of the sheer dollar amount,
and because of the health stuff, and just because he's not as good
as a player as Donovan Mitchell, the length of the contract is actually kind
of like that's prohibitive too. That's like that would be the scary part.
So it's interesting that just because of the length of the contract is can cut
either way. I think is kind of the strange takeaway from talking about Lavine
deals. I know what you said, we just kip this one, but
can we do the Julius randol one, Yeah, let's do it. This
is from guarav Or guarv is there a case for the next to be sellers
at the deadline? Now, I don't want to finish, you know,
ninth, and he's perpetually there's a case for the next to be sellers.
So Randall is now back to getting on ironic m v P chance at the
Garden. He would likely be the best star caliber player available for contender looking
to make a move ahead of the deadline, and this might be the best
opportunity for the Knicks to get commensurate value for him. I would trade Randall
for any positive value at the first opportunity available, and if that is now,
then I'm doing it. I just even though he's been better and and
commentsively sure, right, okay, we have to qualify everything because you know
where I'm going, like, he doesn't fit anywhere on a serious winner.
I just you will never convince me that that's that player with his skill set,
defensive shortcomings, ball stopping tendencies, even though, like for a minute
at the beginning of the year, we're like, oh, his points,
his seconds per touch are way down. Maybe he's figured it out. No,
it's just that's not the type of player is so I think he's the
fact that he's been like a really damaging player as recently as last year and
basically all the time on defense this year and his twenty three twenty five twenty
nine million through the life of this contract, which ends with a player option
season, I think in twenty five twenty six. Like, if I could
get anything of that is like a value add I would do it so fast.
I don't even know if that's selling. It's kind of like escaping,
is what that would be. I think it might be for me. I'm
at the point where it's less about what Randall's doing to the team and more
about opening up your future and angling for something bigger than where you are now,
which is like they're probably close to their ceiling. In my book six
to seven in the East is just where I would see them settling in.
And now would be the time to move Julius Randall, because yes, it
opens the runway for others, but like you could get whereas before it was
both the duty the pick to get off of Julius Randall's deal, and now
it's like could they get a pick we'll get I would want to pick and
expiring contracts, and like I would probably move Julius Randall for just expiring contracts
because I think a Knicks fan has been pissed and some of them down voted
this podcast. So if you're listening and want to help us out, go
up vote this podcast on iTunes and Spotify. I would trade him for expiring
contracts and move on fire with the Knicks because I want to start basically over.
If you want to keep down runs in that's fine, Quentin Grimes,
RJ. Barrett. I want to completely just recalibrate his team. However,
from the NIXT perspective, like, yes, you want to pick and I'm
not taken on long term money. And so the deal that I've thought about,
especially in life the Devin Booker injury, is Jay Crowder Dario Sharich,
and then there's another I think you need, might need another contract to get
it done that might actually get it done on zone because what does Randall maker
first shamm it in there if you have to whatever, I mean, yeah,
I mean it's Randall's at twenty three point eight. And then if you
do Sharich and Jay Crowder, you're at I mean you're you're basically twenty So
yeah, you're I think you're there or you're close whatever, If you need
another negligible salary, fine, would they give you this year's first round pick
and a twenty twenty five first round pick. I don't know if I do
that. If I was, I would protect the shit out of the twenty
twenty five first round pick. But if you could get their first round pick
this year, and Jay Crowder like who kind of functionally helps your team,
if you're actually he might not want to play for you unless you're gonna pay
him. That's a whole another can of worms. But he could really work
at the four, and so like if you want Obie Topp and ever like
an Obie Topping Jay Crowder experimental front court. So that would be the type
of deal I would target. I just don't when I start to look at
teams, I don't know who else would want Randall And I'm not let's not
getting too issy and winning player or not. Just like what is the need
for Like the Clippers not really like they just had their half court offensive been
better lately now that Kawhi Leonard plays more Shocker go figure, and then it's
just like you start to run out of options, Like you can name teams,
but like there's no one that I think, with the exception of Phoenix.
Honestly, I don't know if there's anyone out there that would look at
Julius Randall as their primary target. We're Julius Randall away from really not even
winning a title but making a huge difference, a huge dent in this season
and beyond. Yeah, I agree, he's just a player type that I
guess he's a floor raiser. But like, if you're trying to do anything
legitimate and he's gonna make the money that he's making and have the usage rate
that he's gonna have, you're playing him a lot, I guess to justify
that cost. And then I don't. He's just such a negative defensively and
the ball stopping and it's just it doesn't work on a team that's trying to
win in a meaningful way. So like, and it's like even when the
ball stopping is like there's not as much ball stopping, right, He's just
he's been really good for a longer period of time, but it's so waxy
and wayney that's the thing. You don't know which one's gonna be. And
so even teams that could insulate defensively themselves defensively against him. It's can Memphis
talk themselves into Julius Randall And I'll say, I would actually say maybe Jaren
Jackson Junior and Julius rand on the front court would be a heck of a
thing you to watch. But they're not a team that's gonna give you real
value for him, Like maybe you get their first round pick this year and
that's it, and that's money. And if they might not even want to
get to the money to match Julius Randall's salary, they want to trade Danny
Green and that's it. Basically, maybe the Heat was the other team I
thought about. You're also they're not giving you like first round picks. On
first round picks, you're taking back Duncan Robbins in that deal. So are
you doing Duncan Robinson in two first for Julius Randall. I honestly don't know,
because one of them so far out. I don't know if the Heat
would do it and too then it's like, Okay, well now we're getting
into Duncan Robinson has a worse contract than Julius Randall makes less, but it's
just it's a worse contract. Julish Randall's a bigger value. It so's it
kind of feels like Phoenix or Bust. But I would make that deal if
Phoenix put a second first round pick up, even it's like top eighteen protected
and you get their pick this year plus salary that Jake Krab I'm doing it.
I jump on fire the next Yeah, that brings us to Orlando.
We have just one question on them. Thank you Daniel Morton's and the third
for coming through in the clutch. Who do you want to see as the
point guard of the future in Orlando? I will, so I'll start it
by this. I don't think the point guard of the future is on the
Orlando Magic right now. I think Fold has been good this year. Clanty
has been good this year. They've guided the Magic through some tough stretches,
some good fourth quarters. I don't view Jail and Sugs as a point guard.
I think people are way too low on Jail and Sugs though, and
so I don't know how to identify who the point guard in the future is
in Orlando because I don't think he's there. Yeah, if I had to
pick who is the best chance of becoming him, I would argue in favor
of maybe Paddle Bank Harro or Jalen substance will be my second best option.
Now. I think eventually they could go after a Donovan Mitchell type player.
I just think it was too early for them to get involved. Now.
I go back and forth and if Trey Young became available, whether they should
go after him, just because he's such a far departure from the way that
they play right now when you look at his heliocentrism, But like that could
that could be the way that they get their point guard of the future.
That or it Scoot Henderson. I think it's more likely the Magic draft or
trade for their point guard of the future than it is that he's already on
the roster. Yeah, I agree with that. I do. I have
to bring up every time we talk about the Magic Bank Harro was going to
be my answer. But I think you have so many options because Bank Harro
and Franz Wagner have proven to be like pretty certainly Bank Harro like via old
distributors, So you you don't even need a royal point guard necessarily. You
could just build out like this guy can guard and he can shoot, he's
a bad passer, like you could have like a Gary Payton, the second
type back there, and then you could have just a guy who's going to
knock down shots and defend like a I don't know, I don't again,
but I agree like he's not on the roster. I just don't think he's
there. So if you do make a trade for like van Fleet or for
Russell or for you know, whatever other potential short term fix, you might
be interested in pursuing. Alex Caruso is another guy, Like he's not a
point guard of the future, but you could get away with that type of
guy because you get so much playmaking from other spots. But yeah, they
just don't have that get And maybe it's more of an off season decision because
it might depend on what direction of Utah's headed, Like would you look at
the like, can we have Mike Conley is a stop gap if we're trying
to do something now and like you just have that job that Isaac numbers are
to floating around and we want to roll the dice on him. Might call
it be perfect for this was just sort of a steward. You have to
want to win now though, and that's not a long term solution. Yeah,
I'm not giving up anything remotely future of value for the future to get.
Yeah, it's just not gonna that takes us to the Sixers. This
is from Robin Plunder. What's your best guest on James Harden extension stay in
Philly, five year max, back to Houston? So I want to start
with the back to the did the back to Houston thing like blow your mind
as much as it did mind? I just couldn't believe that that, Like
everything about that, the fact that the report dropped on Christmas, the fact
that that was even I just couldn't get my head around that. What were
your thoughts there? Two things stood out. It blew my mind when I
saw it. Jake Fisher reported it over the summer that hardned considered Houston,
and so it blew my mind then. So we knew it was out in
the ether. I don't know if I knew how serious it was. The
timing was mind melting more than anything, because it doesn't work in service of
James Harden this far out from free agency. He's having a good stretch,
Sixer having a good stretch. We've used his contract leverage. That's something you
use closer to actual free agency when you've quelled the biggest doubt, which is
can I stay healthy the entire season and then play in the postseason. And
I think I settled on the fact that maybe this was like Houston flexing a
little bit, or this is what happens when you don't have an actual agent
and there's not someone out there kind of protecting your best interests. So that
do you think it came from Houston or do you think it came from Harden?
I answered, I don't know. I would say that it didn't come
from Harden on purpose. I believe it. I believe that he will look
at Houston. I don't believe that it was his side that would have leaked
this. I don't also don't know if it was Houston side. It could
have been another team like just trying to like like you know so, but
it could have been Houston like maybe trying to get the word out there,
like Oh. The thing I proposed is just like if Harden is going to
Houston, like then the Rockets probably wound up trading for Kevin Durant once he
gets there. I mean, your wife, but I'm dead serious. I
just well, I wouldn't put anything. So I'm gonna answer the question my
guess is he's gonna do like I think it's been out there that he's interested
in one plus ones. I think the weirdness of the opt out and the
resigning for a big pay cut to facilitate, you know, better role players
on the Sixers this year, rightfully, I think or probably didn't get enough
tampering attention relatives to some of the other stuff that got tampering probes. I
guess I think he's gonna do a one plus one to stay with the Sixers.
And that's all because because I want to get to this, like in
addition to all the other stuff, if I don't understand like what circumstances have
changed in a favorable way for Harden, that Houston is more appealing because it's
like Darryl Moorey's not there. He was your biggest advocate. So but you
still have the same coach that you quit on. Steven Silas is still there,
you still have the same ownership group. So is it just that like
you missed being allowed to fly to Vegas and do whatever you wanted all the
time. I'm like, is it that he has real ties to the community
there? Right that? And I think that matters I think the other thing
is is he doesn't seem like someone who's a cold weather climate type of guy,
and so being in Brooklyn and Philly through the winter, like, hey,
this came out during like the cold front, when the we were in
the fucking tundra. That's the Maybe, that's all it is is he was
having a bad day. He was twenty two degree weather and he said,
get me back to the Gulf Coast. The other thing is those you mentioned
it is like the I guarantee you the coach changes if he goes back Steven
Silas and may Paul Silas rest in peace, and he's not been I don't
think Steven Sie has been dealt a great hand. I would be shocked if
he might still be coaching Houston next year, even if Harden's not there.
But you kind of hit it like, yeah, Tillman Fatida is still there.
But Tillman Fatida is like not made of money quite frankly, and he
probably wants to win now, so he would probably fork over the moon for
Harden, who's also familiar with Raphael Stone, who is under Daryl Morey for
the for the longest time. And so you go back there, there's a
comfort level, maybe you know you're gonna have certain agency. And I don't
know if you saw within that woad piece it was buried at the bottom,
but it said that like James Harden basically doesn't have a great working relationship yet
with Doc Rivers Surprise surprise, or Joel Embiid and so there is you're like,
if that's if he's just not happy and like he's just longing for a
time in Houston. My British would be he signs a two plus one,
by the way, because I think that still gives you the leverage to force
a trade if you want out sooner, but it's not so far away and
you lock more long term security down, but it's not so far away that
you don't have options. So that will be my official guest. I'm curious
as the number, do you think he gets max or short of the max?
Honestly, I think a lot of that depends on playoff performance this year,
and that's like a stupid way to evaluate stuff. But if if for
the whatever a year in a row forty six nine, by the way,
I can't so here I'll tie this in. I'm gonna so no, I'm
not going that high. I could see another deal that looks like the one
he just signed where it's it's what it was like sixty eight maybe or six
something like that, thirty some odd million a year, you know, with
a player option. That's maybe. But here's the other thing that I wanted
to get to is like, all this is a Harden's interested in going back.
I don't whatever you think about that. If you're Houston, do you
want anything to do with this? Like you're not far along in your rebuild
and you're going to give some substantial amount of money to someone that will fundamentally
change how you play that that will you know, he's a great passer,
So maybe that's helpful for a team that turns it over more than anybody else
and is just disorganized and the offense sucks. And you know, because Kevin
Porter Junior is not a point guard and Jalen Green has his issues, maybe
you could talk yourself into this being helpful to what the Rockets need. But
I just think this is not the type of move that a Houston team,
being where it is, should even consider. Like, I just the coming
angle great, but like is it a home I guess I guess people would
be glad to have him back because he does have ties, but he did
force his way off the team like not long ago. I just and it
just don't know how that serves any of the like bigger picture interests for the
Rockets. It would feel like a it would feel like a move motivated by
all the wrong things. If the Rockets wanted or even thought about doing this,
I think you would do it because he's not coming back, and this
would have to be your interests. We need to align. He's not coming
back. We've we've seen this movie before where veterans, Oh yeah, I'm
good with growing with the young guys, and we'll get the title contentions sooner
than iverythink you'll get there, because you will blow it up. And that's
what will happen if James Harden comes back. I don't know how many of
Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Junior this year's pick Terry's Tarry Easton, Kevin Porter
Junior out for in Chaco. I don't know how many of them get traded.
More than one of them is getting trade if James Harden's coming back,
and so you ask yourself, then why Because James Harden is not this open
line of title contention. It's because James Harden isn't coming alone, and that's
the answer. He's coming with Kevin Durant. Is he coming with Lebron James?
Is that something like, yeah, you're really aging out your core then?
But also, how much does it cost to get Lebron James out of
LA at this point? If he really wants to leave over the summer,
might not cost you as much? Like you probably you probably exit any Lebron
James trade with two of Jabari Smith Junior Jaw and Green and this year's first
round pick still on your roster, you'd have to. But I just,
I mean, if you the only there's no scenario where Lebron James goes to
Houston, I don't care if I mean, unless unless Durant does come with
Harden and it's like let's go work, it's me that would be like now,
we're just now. So that's why I'm just I had to like back
way off of this and just say the answer to the question is he's gonna
stay in Philly. I think one plus one, you say two plus one.
The Houston thing is too bizarre and there are too many like why I
bet you people do. What's that? I bet you people thought the Brooklyn
scenario is too bizarre. I know, I just uh, I think it's
My prediction is with you. I think he's in Philly next year. I
think the Houston concept is very real. So I guess why I'm bumping on
it is because I also accept that it's very real and it seems like the
worst idea in history, and I can't like get my brain around it rationally.
So that's where it seems real and it seems insane. So like square
those two things. Let's get to the Toronto Raptors and so this one comes.
We have a bunch of questions there. So ss how good has Pascal
Siakam really been this season? By the number? So I have a couple
here, he's twenty fourth and estimated plus minus which given the amount of time
he's missed, and how just bad the Raptors have been overall, I would
say, is like, that's a win. Also, here's every non guard
or no, here's everyone in NBA history. Excuse me. I changed the
qualifiers to average twenty five plus points, eight plus three bounds, six plus
assist while shooting better than fifty percent on twos and thirty four percent on threes
for an entire season. Larry Bird, Lebron, Luca don Chich, Nicole
Yokis, James Harden, and Pascal Siakam is on pace too comfortably right now.
Join that club. And something else to consider with him is, I
think, and this is the part of his game that I would like to
highlight the most, is he has more of a diversified portfolio. When you're
looking at his drives, there's more directionality there, there's better decision making.
And so among there have been in the MBA, there have been a hundred
and sixty six players who have finished at least one hundred drives this season.
Pascal Siakam is scoring on more than or generating points on more than sixty percent
of his drives and has a turnover rate lower than five while getting to the
foul line more than ten percent of the time. Here's everyone in the league
minimum one hundred drives to match those benchmarks. DeMar Derozen and Kyle Anderson and
both Nicole Yokich and Lebron are very close to being him there, And so
like, that's that's good. That's just how good Pascal Siakam has been by
the numbers, he is not the issue in Toronto. I do think in
an ideal world, you need someone to be your number one or at least
your number one scorer in the half court. And I don't know that Fred
Van Fleet's game is dynamic enough. It stalls out too much for me.
His off ball stuff is good, like kind of everything else feels like it's
up in the air when you're looking at his finishing inside the ark and ability
to knock down difficult looks off the dribble. So I think Pascoe Siakam would
be in the All NBA discussion if the season ended today. Yeah, I
was just gonna say, I was gonna say exactly that he's had an All
NBA season, and I'm concerned that because the Raptors are viewed somewhat correctly as
being disappointing, that he's not gonna get that he's not gonna get fair consideration.
He's like, I think we both had him as a for sure All
Star, like he's been great. The injuries to Zion and Anthony Davis.
Now I think kind of open up the run if he stays healthy, open
up the runway a little bit, but a lot of that could depend on
what what is Toronto doing at the deadline and if they're selling. I would
be shocked if they trade Siakham. But is he gonna be shut down at
some point if they decide to go the bigger picture route? Maybe so,
But I agree like it when when a guy like him is having a season
this good and the Raptors have had just continue to have such a struggle creating
shots, it does tell you that the bar for like someone else to help
in that regard is pretty low, because if your second best guy is doing
what you just outline offensively, like, you don't need you don't need I
mean to be a contender. You need someone that's better, but to be
like just a passable offense that isn't floundering under five hundred. Like to get
into the next question about the Raptors, you like don't need a huge upgrade
in terms of in terms of like a steward for the offense. And I
think that's that I would I then misspoke, is that pass with Scotlan can
be your best player and be your best offensive player, you need a more
dynamic sidekick next to him. Whether it's however you want to face it Yeah,
let's do the next one because this ties into kind of what we're talking
about. Htt Bauer asked you the Raptors looking to Conley, I'm struggling to
see the gettable guard that can shoot and defend enough to warrant playing time the
Raptors. But maybe I need to lower the bar from starter quality. And
I don't like Mike Conley would be a really good fit in Toronto. I
think doesn't fit their Project Sticks nine model. I don't know what you're giving
matching the salary gets tough. Are you giving up? Are you step laddering
your way there? Are you just giving up Gary Trend Junior? And that's
the move, but you're taking on longer term money and you're worried about your
long term finances. Is there like a combo Malik Beasley Mike Conley trade there?
I mean, that's a lot of money going in and out, but
is there something to work work there? And a lot of that depends on
what Utah is doing. It's the deadline. I don't know how you feel
about the Mike Conley name though for Toronto. Well, based on this year,
he's not someone that can shoot, but I would trust in the larger
body of work and just the idea that he does. He does do a
lot of things that Van Fleet does not do. I really still like VanVleet
just because we've we've seen him be hugely valuable in big games, in playoff
series like his I think really for him, Like I think I looked it
up the other day, it's all catch and shoot threes for Van Fleet that
have just fallen off, and and that that's a huge factor. I mean,
that's a big thing to fall off for a guy like him because that
matters so much. But his pull up stuff is really valuable. That's part
of what's helped him. He's right around the loaf. I think thirty two
point eight percent is what I looked at, which is roughly what he did
the year before. Thirty two point eight. Oh yeah, But he's a
guy that he's kind of like Kemba Walker used to be, where just the
fact that he can get off so many you know, on the high pick
and roll like matters. But but yeah, Conley's fine. I mean,
you want to talk about Lowry, I feel like the long term money for
him makes that prohibitive. If you could, if you're trying to get what
if this is just spitballing now, But if we keep trying to everyone keeps
trying to trade Anna Obie, if you could get you know, maybe you
get a pick or two back Walker Ketler is kind of a big focus of
that deal. You maybe get a short term point guard, probably not getting
obviously not getting marking in, but if you could just I'm just obsessed with
finding like ones and fives for the Raptors now because because I think the tide
is now turning and we're all kind of out on the current roster construction plan
of no positions and everybody's tall but not tall enough and not quick enough and
all that stuff. Yeah, I don't know, Conley's fine. I wouldn't
want Angelo Russell to just throw another name out there that we've just mentioned,
but yeah, someone like that. You need someone that can run the offense.
And I'm not even sure. I'm not sure they like what if it
was moly Beasley instead to is that two Gary Trent Junior? Is Stree's gonna
say, how different is he offensively than Trent Junior. He's a better shooter
probably, but he's not as good a defender. So so here's two names
bog Bogdanovich. Sure, yeah, that makes sense. Both the other one
is given out like the Raptors. Yes, they like to get out in
transition, but their half court offense is slow. What about Monte Morris?
Doesn't he strike you as just a game manager, which I guess, like
that's kind of what we've said they need. But but if you're trying to
speed things up, maybe he moves the ball a little quicker. I'm okay
with that. He just was just thinking he kind of fits into the slow
motif and couldn't be like probably a little bit faster than like their op like
going through the motions of isolates, like to get rid of the ball at
least. Yeah, no, that I mean, that's not that's not way
off. I mean like trying to think who else, even I'm drawn blanks
on who else would make sense? Like what if it was just someone on
the level of like Taias Jones, Like would that make a difference or is
he almost two van fleet esque in terms of like his playing style? I
think you would make Again, I think having someone who's Van Fleets improved so
much as an actual point guard, I don't know that it make that much
of a difference, but it would it would certainly help your bench. We're
talking about Tias Jones and uh, you know, maybe even as Caruso.
But is he won't give you any volume? But is he someone who would?
But I still think it needs to be someone who's like a florist basing
shot creator, which is why Fudanovitch might be perfect. Yeah, I don't
know that you want him running point guard stuff, but he will get off
looks and he can put the ball on the floor and maybe you fold him
into a John Collins trade. And is that what? I don't know if
I'm giving up I'm not giving up og for Rodanovitch and John Collins, but
like you could try to do something like that. I don't know why the
hawksan want to get rid of Odanovitch after trading Kevin Hurder for what it's worth.
But yeah, I mean maybe like Orlando the point guard of the future
is not currently on the Toronto Raptors. Well, I think that's clear,
and it's also why like if there were ever higher level star discussions, I
don't know what star become available, but I even thought about, like if
Trey Young was available, there's probably a trade like around Fred van Fleet for
Trey Young, that might make sense for both sides, like where Atlanta's not
dropping off, but they're also getting future equity. And I think that Trey
Young would obviously elevate Toronto's offense. He is the opposite of the type of
player they target, even on the smaller end of the spectrum. But still,
yeah, all right, this is the world to our last team here
in the Washington Wizards. I think I'm gonna answer the second question first.
This is from Celtics Stoomer. How good can the Wizards be with the trio
treo that was a slip trio of Trey Bill and Porzingis. I mean,
the offense would be really good us. I don't know who you're guarding Porzingis.
First of all, Porzingis has been better than I and I think most
people thought he would be, and they're using him differently, they're posting him
up more. There's a really good art. I'm just like the audacity behind
some of the shot and they're going in, Yeah, he took a turnaround
over Jannis last night from like eighteen feet seconds left on the shot clock,
So you're talking you saw the same one I was just like Pap didn't put
it on Twitter. I was like, what the fuck? That is a
tough ass shot and he hit it. But yeah, so great offense.
Sure, I think Trey alone, I think put your floor pretty high unless
you're talking about this Atlanta season. And then Bill is, well he pulled
his hamstring again. But when he's on the floor and when he's right,
like, that's a luxury number two option. And then Porzingis as a third
guy that can just crush switches in the post and spread the floor. Awesome
offense. The health histories and all that other stuff, like, you know,
the likely outcome is probably not great, but I wanted to go to
this is spending more than Mark Cuban. What would need to happen for the
Wizards to win the East? They need to trade for trede Young without giving
up Porzingis or Bradley Beal probably right, right, but I figured it out.
Actually, do you want to hear It's there's multiple steps to the process.
Let's hear it. This is the Wizards winning the East, right,
So to me, that is not just finishing first. To me, that's
like you're in the finals, You're the East representative in the Finals. So
first there's a meteor strike that destroys half the western half of the country,
and so now the NBA has So this is that step one one A.
The NBA has to feel two full All Star teams. By the NBA pushes
on, you know, they push on because we have the bubble after COVID
and they're going to press on after the meteor strike. So the All Star
Game is comprised only of East players now, so you're doubling the East players,
you're taking unrelated Meanwhile, Brad Beale is bitten by a radioactive spider and
gains superpowers, but is still overpaid even with them. So then Kyrie takes
control of the flight to the All Star Game, flies to the edge of
the Earth where he proves it's flat and facetimes the next top ten vote getters
who aren't on the plane, and they're also stunned that they reevaluate their lives
and choices into side basketball is too trivial to continue to pursue. Porzingis is
also bitten by a radioactive spider, but a different one, which is a
wild coincidence possible pest control problem at Capitol and Arena. He then accidentally shares
water bottles at practice and transmits those powers to Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford.
So now you have four starters with superpowers from spiders on the Wizards. The
Bucks, who led by Chris Middleton who was not on the All Star plane
because he didn't play enough, are undone by a gambling scandal. They've been
betting on pickleball. Lebron James is pissed off because he's an investor. All
of the rest of the Bucks are suspended for life. Brad Stevens takes the
entire Celtics roster through an obscure loophole back to Butler where he coaches, and
they win twelfth straight national titles, which was his plan all along. And
then I guess the rest of the other East teams just don't play, and
that's how the Wizards win the East. So there are other explanations probably that
aren't as dickish and condescending, but that's kind of how I see it happened.
They can probably talk themselves into being buyers at the deadline or something,
but they they're not, and their only way they're gonna win is just the
exact way that you immediately outlined it, which was spectacular, and I don't
take it as a condesenting answer to the question. The question, actually I
think reflects how the Wizards would think, is that they're not looking at the
longer term Bison. They're like, well, how can we win the East
this season? This is this is the mid what do they call it middle
middle out building or no, that's from like Silicon Valley middle out something.
It's like, what do they call it middle build? That the term?
I guess it's the middle build. It's d you see that ever changing for
the franchise, The Bill, the Bill contract all in all seriousness, the
Bill contract was just we've been able to just beat it into the ground.
But it's just symptomatic of an approach to roster building that I just think puts
a cap on how good you can be. That is way below winning the
East or reaching the conference finals or anything like that. Because the best version
of Bill is awesome, I don't know if there's reason to believe we'll see
it. And then I also don't know if that guy with really good supporting
players, even if you throw Trey Young on there somehow without giving up like
every young wing or pick or any whatever. It's just not quite there.
Just take just to finish the thought, Like take last night's game we're recording
this on Wednesday, in which Porzingis hit a ridiculous shot over honest. To
win a conference or finish first in a conference, you need a y honest
type like you need the guy that is just I'm in charge, because how
many conference finalists don't have that guy or someone like that that's just overpowering,
undeniable. It doesn't have to be the way honest does it through like sheer
force, but you have that guy. And when the Wizards paid Deal what
they paid him, they paid him like that guy, and that prohibits them
from getting that guy and being able to pay him. So this just the
cap is just is on for this team, and it's going to be there,
you know, until this thing gets blown up, which to your point,
like may never happen. It's just kind of are just gonna ride this
to disappointing seasons. And I think the real answer here, though, is
that the Wizards need to acquire a player that they don't currently have the assets
to get until at least at least that pick obligation to new York expires,
which probably won't be this season. It's protected. It's out a long time.
I think it's two, two, twenty six, or is it even
twenty and twenty seven. It's protected until as they scrolled through here, twenty
and twenty six. Yes, and so like, you need that obligation to
convey so that you can if you want to. I don't know that I
would suggest it, but if you wanted to give the all picks and swaps
package, you can't have that on your ledger when you figure out a way
to unprotect it from the Knicks. Yeah, that's an interesting idea. No,
those picks with the long you know, year over year rollover things sound
like good ideas until they're not. Until they just can you do the conditional
dance? But when it's a team like the Wizards and you're not sure that,
you can't just say it'd be different. It's like, oh, we
know the first pick that they're gonna give us is gonna convey in two and
twenty five. If the Wizards didn't know it's not your twenty, they can't
trade their twenty twenty five pick right now because this year's isn't conveying to the
Knicks. Yeah, all right, that's gonna do it, I think for
our Eastern Conference mailbag. Apologies to anyone offended by my wizards slander, although
it's only slander if it's not true. Remember, please everyone, rate,
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to Jared Allen and give a shout out to the one and only best human
alive, Frankly the human