WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:08.439 This is the Baseline discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. Welcome everybody 2 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:13.199 here tuned to the Baseline Callie Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. 3 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.120 And we are finally at it, man, totally into the final week 4 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:22.920 of NBA basketball, and that means we'll have playing time, plenty of time 5 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:28.039 for us to weigh in all these things. But another awesome episode to be 6 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:32.600 rolled out for you. Regarding the Autopsy Report series, you know, we 7 00:00:32.679 --> 00:00:37.600 love doing it, so I'd be remissed if I wasn't able to get it 8 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.960 down to get in on it with my lab partner in crime, you know, 9 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.679 my man fifty grand Www Dot Shaw's whatsat net? Big Hunapi and see 10 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:50.039 my man, mister warren Shaw. What's good my man? How are you 11 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:57.679 living? And I gotta ask this question once we do our salutations always good, 12 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:00.840 always good to be here with you, my guy, and autopsy time. 13 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:07.159 But also also inching close to the second year of the Baseline Awards as 14 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:10.400 the season comes to a close, so you know, look out for that. 15 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:14.159 It was quite a lot of fun we had last year and definitely looking 16 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:15.680 forward to bringing that back too. But right now. We got to body 17 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:19.120 him up, bag him, zip him. Let's let's get a pop. 18 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.319 Yeah, you know what I'm saying. So I got a quick question for 19 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:29.879 you. Do you think and I noticed is what's kind of you know, 20 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:36.640 reading the temperature in the room here with regards to the MVP chase. But 21 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:49.359 do you think Joel Embiid's performance on our Boston Celtics cemented his come up and 22 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:57.439 of finally getting that award or did you think he had already bagged it prior 23 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:00.719 to that. I'm really curious of what your perspective it would be on this. 24 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:04.799 I'll keep it short and sweet. Um. I'm not one of those 25 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:07.319 people who are now like I'm swayed by the last week of the season, 26 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:09.759 like all of a sudden, you can win the ward in the last week, 27 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.240 Like just like you couldn't win it in the first ten games or first 28 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:15.919 month of the season, you can't win it in the last week. Per 29 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:16.879 se. It has to be the total body of work. But a lot 30 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:21.039 of people are in that mode and it's kind of like, what have you 31 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.639 done for me lately? And you know how you finish is really it's kind 32 00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:27.919 of the determinating factor of who wins the award. I think that's just an 33 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:31.360 interesting situation. You know, the Nuggets are already they pretty much clinched the 34 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:38.319 Western Conference top seed in whatever. While it was my preseason pick I thought 35 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:42.840 Yoki had had was the guy was the pick, you know, maybe midway 36 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:45.639 through and even into you know, parts of February, I think it beat 37 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:49.840 has come on. But I wouldn't say the last game or this last week 38 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:52.719 is what's made the difference. I think it's still the total body of work. 39 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.439 So I can't be swayed that easily. I agree with you. I 40 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:59.919 just was really curious abot where you were with it because I've been seeding. 41 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:06.000 I've been seeing how people have been looking at the season in so many different 42 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.080 parts but have never been able to package or put together the full story, 43 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:13.199 you know what I'm saying. So it could be red chapter diverse, right, 44 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:17.719 And so for me personally, I think Joel Embid is gonna wind up 45 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:21.719 winning this. But I think it's going to be for all of the reasons 46 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:24.919 that doesn't really get spoken to, Like if you really think about the way 47 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:29.960 that the Denver Nuggets have been playing, regardless of the numbers, that Jokich 48 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.159 has been putting on. I don't know if the numbers are been having as 49 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:38.280 much of an impact as much as I just feel like he's as equally lost 50 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.800 as all of his other teammates are now. Then maybe they'll figure things out 51 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:45.520 when the time comes for the playoffs and everything, But I just feel like 52 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:51.400 you see more of a presence from Joel Embiid during these final stretch of games 53 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:55.560 where because of what the seventy Sixers have been doing, they had inserted themselves 54 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:00.439 to be among one of the top three teams right like they were trying to 55 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.680 chase down the Milwaukee Bucks. They have almost stayed, almost flagged down the 56 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:08.479 Boston Celtics, And so where we were talking about this being a two team 57 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:12.879 race in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia seventy Sixers have kind of changed that 58 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:15.800 dynamic, that the dimension of talk, so to speak. And a lot 59 00:04:15.839 --> 00:04:20.079 of that is because of joelmb because again James Harden is not one hundred percent, 60 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:27.879 and again we're still questioning candies two when fully healthy be among the best 61 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:32.360 tandems that know how to get it done when it comes to crunch time. 62 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:36.040 And the one thing I will say about this and that I'm hoping is what 63 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:41.519 takes place, Especially when we're talking about the Nuggets and the Sixers, I 64 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:46.879 want all of their top tier players to be in peat conditioned for this playoff 65 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:53.879 run. I don't think we can have as much joy watching this upcoming playoffs. 66 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:56.720 And we'll get into our previews and everything like that when on the road. 67 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:00.600 I get that, but we can't enjoy this unless these guys are at 68 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:06.199 one hundred percent ready to go to make this this playoff push, because I 69 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:11.000 don't know how many windows of opportunity we can have with this many players and 70 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:15.600 this many stars inserted into the conversation for us to make a decision of who 71 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.480 actually is going to be representing the East and Western finals. I know we 72 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.000 do this in you know, other years, and we've said this before, 73 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:26.800 but I truly want to believe in the idea that embiid hardened healthy, Murray 74 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:36.439 Porter Yokich healthy means a damn good playoff competitive NBA playoff competitive series for twenty 75 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:40.800 twenty three season. Yeah, we all want to see that. You know, 76 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:44.639 who's nobody's running against that for sure, And just keeping it to the 77 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.319 earlier part. The VP's obviously in a regular season award. But people want 78 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:50.759 to then obviously think about, okay, well, what does the playoffs success 79 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:56.079 mean? Then? Other Nuggets have had better playoff success in their history than 80 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.000 Joel Embiid has with the Sixers. Obviously, Nuggaus made it to a Western 81 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.920 Conference final, the six Ers have not. So health has played our role, 82 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:06.120 I think, and both of the both of those outcomes, you know, 83 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:11.680 especially when the Nuggets were healthy, Jamal Murray was arguably the playoff MVP, 84 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.240 you know, for them in that bubble run, so to speak. 85 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.560 But at the end of the day, these are two teams that are poised 86 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:20.319 to make very very deep runs in respective conferences, two great players, and 87 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:24.519 a lot of people would still to take Yokich over and Bead in terms of 88 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:28.319 if you're building a franchise, is starting that today. But the overall body 89 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.839 of work I think for the MVP is a narrative conversation that we all know 90 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.920 and love, which we will have obviously in more detail on the award show. 91 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:38.759 Absolutely all right, So now that we're talking about all the winning, 92 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:45.639 let's go ahead and figure out a couple of teams who have defined the art 93 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:53.480 of losing that cold but you know, it's it's uncommon for like a team 94 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:57.319 like the Portland Trailblazers, Right, It's it's uncommon for them because they've actually 95 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:01.279 been a successful basketball team the last few seas and maybe minus a few injuries, 96 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:06.079 who knows how successful this team would have been. Right. But when 97 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:12.600 you when you already have packed it in and told your superstar go home and 98 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.839 start dropping some more hot sixteens, you know what I'm saying, You know, 99 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:19.160 start you already start working on your videos for the Grammys. You know 100 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:25.519 what I'm saying for next year pretty much is telling you that basketball isn't a 101 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:29.600 priority for the remainder of this NBA season. So with that being said, 102 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:32.360 Shaw and I are going to make sure we dig in on the Portland Trail 103 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:40.680 Blazers and the Washington Wizards, two teams who have very interesting scenarios with their 104 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:46.319 superstar players and what their executives are gonna need to do, so you don't 105 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.319 want to miss out on that As we continue our our top series. As 106 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:51.079 always, be sure to get my man Shaw Astro Sports NBA gain at me 107 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:55.040 a game face lead the show's Twitter handle at NBA. Based on available and 108 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:57.560 ultimjor platforms. You know where to find us. If you want to check 109 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.480 out this episode in our previous episodes, go to www dot the base on 110 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:05.040 NBA dot com. Also recognize the baseline runs with the nineteen Media Group. 111 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:09.079 For those of you watching us on YouTube, what Up? What Up? 112 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:11.560 If you see the blue logo down there, you know that's the nineteen Media 113 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.240 Group. We rocks with them. That's family. So we encourage you to 114 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:20.560 not only catch us, but catch the plethora of great talent and content via 115 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:26.519 the nineteen Media Group. Go to www dot nineteen Media Group dot com. 116 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:30.879 All right, so with that being said, you know how we do? 117 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:33.960 You know how we roll? Give us a couple of minutes here going throw 118 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.960 on the white coats so we can examine and zoom a couple of bodies in 119 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.720 our latest edition of the our top series. You don't want to miss out 120 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:52.279 here on the baseline. Time to break it. They're dead, My team, 121 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:54.360 My team is dead. They knew we were coming, man, they 122 00:08:54.440 --> 00:09:03.320 knew we were coming. Time now for the breakdown. Callie waunt y'all based 123 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:07.919 on NBA podcast and this is our Autopsy Reports series. Shall not throwing on 124 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.519 them white coats and we get to body up a couple of more teams on 125 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:16.039 the slab, and the first team we're gonna talk about is the Portland Trailblazers. 126 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:22.360 Portland Trailblazers the team that you know pretty much have packed it in on 127 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:26.120 the early side of things. You know, they are among third, fourth, 128 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:31.159 worse than the Western Conference. And listen, I know that the focal 129 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:35.559 point has always been about them shutting down Dame Lillard earlier. It's ironic because 130 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:41.440 DAMEI Lillard is the consummate professional, and he's also the type of basketball player 131 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:46.679 that doesn't want the perception out there that just because his team isn't winning means 132 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:50.600 he doesn't want to be on the basketball court competing. But I will say 133 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:56.679 this much Shaw, this is a very interesting time for the Portland Trailblazers because 134 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:01.519 while we knew that there was gonna probably be a fire sale taking place with 135 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:07.440 their with their star athletes, they still somehow managed to keep Damian Lillard. 136 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:13.840 They still kept you know, use of Nurkics. Um. The future for 137 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:18.960 Anthony Simons is you know, is great, Um, But I'm sure that 138 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.159 there are certain question marks that even you may have for them I'm just wondering 139 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:28.840 shot that when you think about this basketball team and you think about, you 140 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:35.159 know, what defines winning for them, how much are they salvaging the loyalty 141 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:41.039 or basing this on the loyalty of Damian Lillard and and not what really should 142 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:48.960 be the proper and the right decisions made to rebuild this team and accelerate their 143 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:54.000 rebuilding process so to speak. Yeah, they're holding on to tales of yesteryear. 144 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:58.720 It's been a rough go obviously for this team this year. They're not 145 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:01.039 good offensively, not good defensively, not good in pace, you know, 146 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:05.320 don't shoot the three ball well. Even with Dame having a career year scoring 147 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:11.279 wise, you know, Billips has just really kind of struggled, you know, 148 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:15.919 to to kind of get an identity in place. And I take that 149 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:18.240 back through they were twelve to three point percentage of show. So I'm not 150 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:24.360 terrible, but it's just been something that understanding and holding on to Dame at 151 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:30.799 this point is now doing more harm than it can possibly do good because of 152 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:33.159 how much salary heats up with the cap. You know, he's gonna be 153 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:37.559 making sixty three million dollars at the end of his contract. Sixty three million 154 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:43.759 dollars, and listen, he's worth every penny of it when you look at 155 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:48.360 just how phenomenal a player he is. It's funny, you know, a 156 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:52.120 few years ago, Sean, We've had like some really great guests on to 157 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.759 talk about the Portland Trailblazers, and some of them, you know, I 158 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:01.679 think, really we're hard on Damian Lillard. I think that the perception regarding 159 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.159 Damian Lillard was, you know, he's such a ballhog. The ball just 160 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:09.480 seems to stick to him. You know, it's a mistake that you know, 161 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:15.440 you can't run it with him and McCullum, the two alpha's, and 162 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:18.799 then you you kind of look at the body of work and you know, 163 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:22.480 listen, Damian Lillard really has been a phenomenal player for the Portland Trailblazers. 164 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:26.559 You know what I'm saying, like not just putting up the numbers, but 165 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:30.120 you know, the teams that he's played for prior to this year have been 166 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:37.759 phenomenally good basketball teams. Which is really a stark contrast conversation that we're having 167 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:41.080 about what has taken place this year. And I don't know if you're putting 168 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:46.639 if obviously the idea or is that we should put that on his legacy of 169 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:50.960 you know what is taking place, but it is it is something that has 170 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.639 to be addressed because of what you've just alluded to. That much money invested 171 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:58.399 in one player and to have the results that you're looking at with this team 172 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:03.720 this past season, it's it's it's definitely and it's it's tenable. It's not 173 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:07.879 tenable at all for them to continue this. Yeah. When I say, 174 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:09.559 I mean and that'll be at the end of it. So the end of 175 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.799 his contract is four years ago, but he'll be like thirty six, thirty 176 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:15.919 seven years old making slaty three million dollars. I'm usually it hasn't worked out 177 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:18.799 too for too many good too many good teams. Yeah, I mean with 178 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.519 a player at that age. But the end of the day, in the 179 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.399 short term, where we're at um is, like said, they need to 180 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.679 figure out a way to to save Dame from himself. There's an incredible conversation 181 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.840 going on in NBA Twitter right now where Dame does not want to leave Portland, 182 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:35.480 he wants to win in Portland. Then criticizes or maybe not criticizes, 183 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.360 but make comments like hey, well I'm not here for the rebuild. Well, 184 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:41.120 the way the team is structured right now, they can't move forward. 185 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:43.399 I think with him in a way that that is logical, So it almost 186 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:46.799 makes him look illogical and some of his conversations. I'm not here, I'm 187 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:50.919 not trying to think about next year and la la la lah. But you 188 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:54.200 need to kind of release Portland or let Portland lets you go. And I 189 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:56.879 don't know if that's a you know, a media savvy thing where I was 190 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:58.559 like, hey, well, I say I tried to stay and you know, 191 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:01.679 they move me either way. I think the marriage has to be done. 192 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:05.639 But I don't want to spend too much time here because it's almost a 193 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.279 tired conversation at this point. Everyone is saying Dame should be traded. Dame 194 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.039 doesn't want to go, so what are we doing? You know, until 195 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:15.240 the Portland trailblazers on the front office decide like this is the route, that 196 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:18.399 the direction that we want to take. And sure we're hearing the reports now 197 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:20.240 all right now, this year, this is a year they're really gonna at 198 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:24.240 least think about it and consider it over over the course of the off season. 199 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.240 I just believe it when I see it. So for Now, I 200 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.159 think you focus on the players that are here, the players whose contracts are 201 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:33.799 up. You just mentioned Affreny Simons. He got a four year deal, 202 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:35.919 right, so he's he's locked in for the rest of the you know, 203 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.879 for the next foreseeable future. But Jeremy Grant, who brought over in the 204 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.200 trade last year, had a good season for them. Most was injured a 205 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:46.039 lot, but still average twenty a game. Nurkitch, who I know is 206 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.639 not a fan favorite of yours. You know, he signed up locked up 207 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:52.879 for another three years after the season as well. I love hold on, 208 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.879 hold on, let me get through. I know you want to know you 209 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:00.720 want to shade and sharp rookie playing really great basketball to close year. Um 210 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:03.000 that more interesting moves, So I think, are what are they going to 211 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:07.080 do with the contracts of Cam Riders and Matisse Tybel Now, I don't think 212 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.679 those are building blocks to your to your team, but those are pieces now 213 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:13.600 who you traded for and you're not gonna I would assume you're not going to 214 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:18.200 let them just walk away because their little has developed and showed a little bit 215 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.120 of something here and there. Um, But this team needs to figure out 216 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:26.759 what the identity is I guess around Dame long term and short term. Yeah, 217 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:31.039 so a lot of a lot of question marks. And I think part 218 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.320 of it too is that you look at the roster and you have a lot 219 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:37.159 of guys that have a lot to prove And my question is is that if 220 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:41.000 they can't prove it with Portland, where can they prove it. It's it's 221 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:43.879 amazing to me because a few years ago, like when you bring up matist 222 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.879 table, a few years ago Matisse Tybel was like there was there was a 223 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:52.279 there was a future for this kid, right, like he had a place 224 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:58.120 where he could he could literally be like a staunch defender, opportunity for him 225 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:02.960 to improve his perimeter shooting. UM. But he's a he's a he's a 226 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:08.480 big athletic um guard and I and even to this day, we still need 227 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:14.240 those, right at least when I checked. It's amazing how he's not usable 228 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:18.519 for a team like the Portland Trailblazers, or he's not been able to find 229 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.799 his footing with this team. UM. The one thing that I will say, 230 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:27.080 and I don't want to hearken too much on nurkis because I've said for 231 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:33.720 a very long time that the reason why you try to move Nurkics early is 232 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:38.360 because heaven forbid, he comes out and he does so well that he puts 233 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:41.120 you in a bind where you may feel like you have to commit to him 234 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:45.440 only because of the fact that you were tied to Damian Lillard, Right. 235 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:53.600 I mean, it's it's weird that the Trailblazer into space because you can't keep 236 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.320 all you're not. You can't even keep Nurkics if you wanted to. I 237 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:02.840 think you know he's worn out as welcome for the Portland Trailblazers, and I 238 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:07.000 think you have to completely move on from the idea that, to your point, 239 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.640 you don't want to you want to hold on yester year. He was 240 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:12.119 a part of Yester Year. He was a part of that experimentation of trying 241 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:17.279 to put together their version of a Big three, and it just doesn't hasn't 242 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:22.720 worked out. Doesn't mean that Nurkis can't still be a serviceable UM big and 243 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:26.160 can produce for like another team, but it's impossible to think that you're going 244 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:30.799 to try to build Nurkics and Simons. That's not going to work at all. 245 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:37.000 So they definitely have to move both Lillard both nurks Jeremy Grant. I 246 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:41.960 don't know. I mean, it would be nice to see some stability, 247 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:45.799 and I think he's had his better, his best years playing as a Portland 248 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:52.480 Trailblazer, So that could very well be a good placeholder while you figure out 249 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:56.279 what you want to do. Would you but would you rather pay Jeremy Grant 250 00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:00.119 on this kind of not even middling team, you know, this struggle and 251 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.720 struggling to get in playing team, or just let Shade and Sharp develop and 252 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:07.480 you know, let Jeremy Grant ride off into the sunset, because he's going 253 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:10.559 to be looking for twenty five to twenty seven million dollars per you know, 254 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:12.440 in his next deal. He's twenty eight years old, so you know he's 255 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:17.720 got one two ish maybe more pay days he's gonna look to try to cash 256 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:19.319 in here. Well, let me let me ask you this question. Where 257 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:23.400 do you find where do you have the versatility for Shade on Sharp or do 258 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:32.839 you just see him basically strictly taking over a playing Jeremy Grant's role. It's 259 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.960 not it's not a one for one, you know, swap. I'm just 260 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.319 saying I think kind of in general, if you're looking at the spot itself, 261 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:44.279 and you know Grant is well ave to see more of a of a 262 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:47.599 three to four and Sharp is more of a two three. You know, 263 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.799 I think at this stage, but if I'm looking to build and you have 264 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:55.119 Simons or whatever the case may be, listen, this team isn't I don't 265 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.559 think team this team is going anywhere as currently constructed. And that's what I'm 266 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.599 saying. So if if Grant, you get the opt out of Grant because 267 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:06.720 his contract is just completely expires. You flubbed up and gave nir Kitchen an 268 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:10.440 extension last year, which you probably shouldn't have done. He's got three more 269 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:14.240 years as I alluded to, I don't think you double down or triple down 270 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:17.920 if you will on this roster by saying all right, well let's keep Granting 271 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:19.880 here for X amount of years unless you can get it to some sort of 272 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:22.920 team friendly deal and I'm not saying in terms of money, but in terms 273 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:27.359 of years or options and that way, then maybe you can keep them. 274 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.559 And then not obviously you keep the asset, retain the ascid and or he 275 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:34.200 becomes flippable, especially if you know it's it's a deal that you know allows 276 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:37.400 the team to have some sufist level of control. But I don't know why 277 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.480 Grant would agree to that. So to me, Sharp is the better bet 278 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:44.880 to to kind of weigh on and truly truly bought him out it. Maybe 279 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:48.200 it takes another year of struggling and Dames like, all right, finally, 280 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.400 let me, let me get out of here. I don't, I don't. 281 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.839 I'm not into playing games, but I don't know if Portland has another 282 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:56.359 choice here other than to kind of play games with Dame here and this it 283 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:59.880 sounds really jacked up, So I don't I feel that even saying it. 284 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:03.039 I mean, yeah, listen, I listen, we're not good. You're 285 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:06.960 and you know what we're gonna show you that you went you went from you 286 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:11.640 know the real mild manner. You know what I'm saying, real easy m 287 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:17.599 me to dexter. I mean you you you play you platting, you plating 288 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:22.160 to kill a dude's legacy, right, the killing kill a career. That's 289 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.920 harsh, Okay, His legacy in Portland is forever. Okay, there's no 290 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.640 doubt about that. He's a great trollblazer to ever lace them up. There's 291 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:32.839 no two ways about that. But you know, it's it's almost like a 292 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:34.039 game of chicken, you know, put all the memes you want to put 293 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:37.200 out there, like the names looking at them, they're looking at Dame. 294 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:41.519 And at this point there needs to be a separation, but nobody wants to 295 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:45.160 budge. They just kind of want to continue on and this kind of unhappy 296 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:51.480 and not great marriage. Um, and somebody should give. But if you 297 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.640 don't, and it's like and if you in the court of public perception per 298 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.279 se, it's like, all right, well, the Blazers may just want 299 00:20:56.279 --> 00:21:00.559 to say, listen, we'll keep We'll keep the team kind of as is 300 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:03.680 where it's just like and then Dame ultimately is like, you know what, 301 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:07.240 maybe need to get up out of here. I mean, look, I 302 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:11.359 don't disagree with you. I think that this is part of the priority that 303 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:15.920 Cronin is going to have to really weigh is. But I will say this, 304 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:21.279 he cannot he cannot mess with this, right, he can't wait this 305 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:26.519 thing out. I think this has to be a very decisive and in judicious 306 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:30.880 immediate you know, play you dance around with this, you let this linger, 307 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.680 and then you run the risk of the guys that you do have have 308 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:40.759 them questioning where they where they fit in, and where they stand. Um, 309 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:44.279 well, let me let me circle back one on to one other particular 310 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:48.519 point that you made, because I think to me it sounded like you were 311 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:53.400 really disappointed in Chauncey Billups and what he has done, what he's done as 312 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:57.079 a coach, at least this past season. So I'm just curious for you 313 00:21:57.400 --> 00:22:03.319 how long of a leash are you willing to give Chauncey Billups Because another part 314 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:07.400 of this equation as well, too, is recognizing that if you're Chauncey Billups 315 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:11.119 and you have to work with a rebuild process, are you willing to do 316 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:15.440 that? Because you no longer have a Damian Lillard, a star player to 317 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:22.880 work with. You have a a a a potentially promising star in Anthony Simmons, 318 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:26.759 but we've seen where he has his e been flows. If you're you're 319 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:33.039 Chauncey Billups, how much of how much patience can you exhibit in that you 320 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:36.839 know? You know, if I'm Chauncey, this is not what I signed 321 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:41.920 up for. I didn't sign up to to to rebuild. So UM came 322 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:45.319 there because Dame was there specifically, and if for some reason Dame were not 323 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:48.519 to be there, then you know, you'd have to reevaluate that situation. 324 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:53.359 Maybe he would stay. But if you're looking at a team of Simons and 325 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:00.240 Sharp and Cam, Reddish and and and Nurkics, like you know what it 326 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:04.440 is, like like you know what that is. So to me, it's 327 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.880 it's really kind of you know, shout or get off the pot time. 328 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:11.759 I think for the entirety of the Blazers organization, from Dame to the to 329 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:15.880 the to the crone in to Billups, everybody taking a hard look in the 330 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.960 mirror. But again, like I said, I don't want to continue to 331 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:21.519 beat this horse because it is the elephant in the room that we can't really 332 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:25.279 get around of. But we keep hearing the same thing. So it really 333 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:29.079 now results to the rest of the roster. And I think if they start, 334 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:32.359 if they find a taker for Nurkics, they don't resign Grant. You 335 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:34.279 know, obviously they moved off of Josh Hart here in the middle of the 336 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:37.039 season. Uh do you bring back, Like I said, if you bring 337 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:41.920 back Reddish and Thieble and guys like that, that to me might say kind 338 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.039 of where the team is going. But it's it's it's it's not really great, 339 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:48.960 I think in Portland right now. And it sucks because you have a 340 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.160 Hall of fame talent, you know on the roster who's you know again is 341 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:55.279 the greatest player to ever play for your organization. All right, Chell, 342 00:23:55.559 --> 00:24:00.599 Well was that your eulogy? It felt like it were you killing him softly? 343 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:03.759 I think you probably. I mean I'm killing them really all right, 344 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:07.119 and you know, and just being as honest as I possibly can. You 345 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:11.799 know, I think we both have a certain level offinity for this Blazers organization. 346 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.680 We have a certain level of affinity for for Lillard himself, you know. 347 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:17.319 I mean I even like Anthony Simons. I mean, you know, 348 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.680 he's still twenty three. He's a lot, got a lot of growing to 349 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:22.319 do, you know, as as as a as a guard and as a 350 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:25.680 guy who can try to score it, but also you know, combo guard 351 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:29.799 who can sometimes create for others as well. But this roster just isn't it? 352 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:34.000 That's all I can say. Yeah, I mean, as we record 353 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:40.240 this podcast, I mean the Trailblazers are running out Drew U Banks, Kevin 354 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:48.480 Knox, Maze Sharp and Williams. So that's a eulogy and of himself, 355 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:56.359 like Oh my gosh, I listen, um. I hope that things do 356 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:02.599 turn around for the Portland Trailblazers, but yeah, this is shaking time. 357 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:06.559 Let me say this last thing. One hundred and twelve million dollars and committed 358 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:11.400 salary next year. That's without Grant, that's without Reddish, but that's without 359 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:15.599 table, that's out without even Winslow. They already have one hundred and twelve 360 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:18.839 million dollars and committed salary without some of you know, the key Ish guys 361 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:22.400 and guys who they just traded for or trade for within the last year or 362 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:26.680 so. So what are they doing? I don't know. I just don't 363 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:30.480 get it. I mean, easy, man, put the knife down, 364 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:36.720 don't I'm done. I don't know what you do in death, scalpel Man, 365 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:40.960 you're tuned to the base, like Callie ward Shaw discussing the hot button 366 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:45.839 topics of the NBA coming up. Hopefully my man has a much more feathery 367 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:48.680 touch with the Washington Wizards than he has right now with the Portland Chailblazes. 368 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:55.839 But Wain, you don't know. Yeah, you went from Quincy to Dexter 369 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:59.319 real quick. We'll try to we'll try to settle them back down be shot. 370 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:04.119 I don't know, but nothing about no damn Quincy. I'm old school. 371 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:10.240 What can I tell you? Jesus oh Man. We'll try to get 372 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.759 Shaw back, you know what I'm saying. We'll get our Shaw, Emmy 373 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:18.200 Shaw back on track. Here on the baseline, we are back, Callie 374 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:22.720 warned Shall baseline NBA podcasts, and this is the autopsy report, and we're 375 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:26.839 gonna go ahead and keep it moving. The next team that we'll be talking 376 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:32.640 about is the Washington Wizards. And you know, Washington Wizards have had a 377 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:37.319 very interesting season. Um, they came at the gate like gangbusters, right 378 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:44.960 like they were hanging with the teams in the Eastern Conference. There was really 379 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:49.400 a lot of promise regarding the combination of Bradley Beale and Chris STAPs Porzingis. 380 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:56.680 And maybe one could even argue that even when Bradley Beale was was went down 381 00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:02.680 again that it really opened up the door for Kris STAPs Zingis to really kind 382 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:07.279 of find himself and come into his own. Part of where a lot of 383 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:11.319 our concern has always been with Kris STAPs is that it's just not sustainable with 384 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:15.599 him and he just can't stay healthy. And we don't know whether the interest 385 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:19.559 level is there to be a great player. There's definitely promise there for him 386 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:25.559 to be a solid player. Being a great player that's going to require consistency. 387 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:27.039 But when you look at this team show, when you look at this 388 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:34.240 Washington Wizards team, you know, we just finished having our conversation about the 389 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:38.960 Portland Trailblazers, And I don't know if if you're going to find a better 390 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:42.000 combination. I don't know if you did this on purpose like you intended, 391 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:45.359 you know what I'm saying, to cut up both of these teams at the 392 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:48.400 same time. But you have to start questioning the same thing that we did 393 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:55.720 for Damian Lillard with Bradley Beale, and you know, should I stay or 394 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:59.960 should I go? You know type thing? And if obviously I don't want 395 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:03.319 to leave, when does the organization say, hey man, we love you 396 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:07.480 for what you've done, but we need you to to to you know what 397 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:11.359 I'm saying, kick rocks so we can get into this full you know, 398 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:15.200 rebuild mode that we should have done. We should have moved you. How 399 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.839 many times has it been now when it comes to Riley Bale, like five, 400 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.039 six, seven, eight, twenty times? You know what I'm saying, 401 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:22.799 Like, it's just what are we to your point, what are we 402 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:26.240 doing here? We're securing the back I mean we've said that a lot about 403 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:32.200 Bill and to lesser degree, Lillard, Like they've they've wanted their money and 404 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:34.240 they've they've gotten their money. They're able to stave of their organizations. Now 405 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:40.079 anything could potentially happen. I believe it was on this show where we might 406 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:42.519 have had a conversation it's like, listen, one of these two guys should 407 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:45.920 form like voltron and like ask to go probably play with the other, you 408 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:48.640 know, you know, a Lillard and Bill combination would be one of the 409 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:52.359 better backcourts, you know, and then the NBA for sure, Um, 410 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:56.039 I don't think we're going to get that, you know, any at any 411 00:28:56.039 --> 00:29:00.640 stage of the oh that that combination, that combination would be the combination that 412 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:06.359 we were hoping to see between Luca and Kyrie Irving. Yeah, yeah, 413 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:11.480 yeah, I mean, like offensively, and I think even the playmaking capabilities, 414 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:14.039 you know, a little less than obviously lucas one of the better creators 415 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:15.480 in our game, but you know, it would definitely be up there, 416 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:22.200 right and I think where Washington currently lands is. Are they now going to 417 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:26.400 middle themselves to death? Listen, I've I've loved the season Christaps Porzingus has 418 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:30.519 had. He's had a complete bounce back seasons played sixty five games. You 419 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:34.200 know, Bill's only played fifty games. You know that guy just really can't 420 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:38.480 stay on the floor. But now you're hearing the Wizards talk about extension for 421 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:44.720 Porzingis, And I don't disagree in terms of that it's being warranted, but 422 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.200 I think a lot of people are saying, it's like, all right, 423 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:48.839 well, where does that leave you? Just because he had a good season, 424 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:52.440 are you the team that should pay him given the results that you had 425 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:56.039 even alongside bial like it left you out of even the playing game? Here 426 00:29:56.119 --> 00:30:02.240 again again, and Kyle Kuzma is also so up for a contract extension. 427 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:07.359 What do you do with that? So let me just again run some numbers 428 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:10.559 for you, mistericality. Okay, do I need? Do I need a 429 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:17.160 pen and paper? Both Porzingis and Kuzma have player options. They're opting out. 430 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:21.400 They're opting out. I mean Porzingas maybe he eat option, but not 431 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:25.839 likely. So with those options, they already are at one hundred or forty 432 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:29.960 eight million dollars next year for a team that didn't make the play in. 433 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:34.279 That's that's reasonably priced, right, that's worse than for then, of course, 434 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:40.759 of course it is. And again that's that's what the player options. 435 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:44.599 So if you extrapulate that, you assume Kuzma's definitely opting out. There's not 436 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:47.759 a chance he's coming back at thirteen million dollars. Not a chance porzingis. 437 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:49.759 You could say, maybe at thirty six. Does he just say, listen, 438 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:52.480 you know what, I'll play it out again? I doubt it. 439 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:55.720 He's probably is looking for a two or three year extension. Does he make 440 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:57.000 a team friendly or not? Either way, you're going to be well over 441 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:00.119 the cap with those three guys. And again, this is a team that 442 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:04.200 didn't make the plan. So I'm struggling to see how the Wizards are gonna 443 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:07.319 be viable other than just like, hey, a fun story. They get 444 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:11.640 hot for a little while, score a bunch of points, and then ultimately 445 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:15.039 the offense and the defense continues to fail them. Daniel Gaffert seems like a 446 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:18.000 service so big you know, can obviously more than a rotation player. It 447 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:21.519 can definitely give you some blocks and some rebounds here and there, but everything 448 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:25.279 else around this team is still kind of just like, you know, Corey 449 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:30.240 cris Bird is reasonably decent shooter. Montie morrisonn't have the season we were expecting 450 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:32.200 him to have, at least not the season I expected him to have. 451 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:36.440 Adda played well when he got his minute sometimes here and there, but the 452 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:40.319 again, it's just it's just middling. And I think all of these teams 453 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:44.599 are looking and striving and should be striving for more than that getting into the 454 00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:47.279 playoffs and then trying to build from there. But I don't know if a 455 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:51.880 combination of Bill Porcincis and Kuzma as good as it is offensively, both all 456 00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:55.000 three of those guys are over twenty points per game this year, what does 457 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.440 it lend to You couldn't even get past the Hawks, and that to me 458 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:01.279 is problematic. Yeah, I mean, I'll I agree with where you're coming 459 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:05.839 from. Let me throw something out at you show because I'm curious what your 460 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:10.160 take is. You look over in the West Coast and Austin Reeves is like 461 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:15.880 kind of coming into his own right, Like he's becoming a star for the 462 00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:21.400 Los Angeles Lakers, which is not easy, right, Kyle Kuzma had an 463 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:25.400 like he had an opportunity, and really the opportunity that was given to him 464 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:29.480 with the Los Angeles Lakers, I think because of consistency, it made it 465 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:32.759 very difficult for him for the Lakers to figure out a way to keep him 466 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:38.039 when you know, he wound up basically being expendable for something better than him. 467 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:43.240 Right when you look at the rest of this Washington Wizards team, with 468 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:45.599 all of these players, Kissper, Goodwin, Gaffer, Davis, Gil, 469 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:55.640 all of these guys right of deja, do you find him to be any 470 00:32:55.640 --> 00:33:02.599 better than Austin Reeves? What kind of question is that? So? No, 471 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:06.920 The reason why I'm asking that question, Shaw is because if you're the 472 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:10.680 Washington Wizards and for a moment, let's forget Bradley Beale. Okay, I 473 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:14.000 know it's hard to but this is from won't forget brad to be Let's just 474 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:17.279 say the focal point is Porzingis and his extension. If you choose to bring 475 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:22.559 Porzingis, are you running back with the same roster of guys that you have, 476 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:24.799 Like of these guys that you've had, Gafford's been here for a while, 477 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:30.400 kiss Bert, he's been around for a little bit now of Dija relatively 478 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:34.000 young. But of those guys, do you find it there's there any promise 479 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:37.599 that's coming out of them that they're gonna they're gonna find a place to have 480 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:42.759 an impact for a team like the Washington Wizards that you're gonna start saying, 481 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:46.200 I want to build around you know Porzingis. With these type of guys, 482 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:51.640 you know, some guys figure it out very quickly. It feels like, 483 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:54.200 and I'm just saying, it feels like a guy like Austin Reeves has figured 484 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:58.160 it out where if this is the run that the Lakers are gonna make, 485 00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:00.279 they're gonna have to make it with this guy aust To playing at the level 486 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:05.079 that he's playing. The Washington Wizards have had these players for quite some time 487 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:10.119 now, and it just doesn't feel like we're talking about any of these guys 488 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:15.559 with upside potential there. You just mentioned it. You just describe them. 489 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:20.559 They're relatively good. But how long can you continue to do that, especially 490 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:24.519 now that you have to start talking about putting mad dollars into the pocket of 491 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:30.639 a guy like Porzingis, or you have to maybe consider reconstruct reconstructing a contract 492 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:34.079 that you've given for Bradley Beale. Are you doing it at the expense of 493 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:37.400 saying we're gonna get rid of these guys and actually go through free agency and 494 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:40.679 see if we could put some some veteran, solid pieces, better pieces around 495 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:45.079 or are you buying into the idea that these younger guys are going to be 496 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:49.920 able to step up and actually, you know, shine a light on what's 497 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:53.280 going on right b B more than be another version of the Kyle Kuzma that 498 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:59.199 the Washington Wizards were banking on him becoming for that team. Well, I 499 00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:01.039 think a lot of it is like, so Kuzma is only at thirteen million 500 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:05.440 dollars, so again he's going to opt out. The question you then have 501 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:10.280 to ask yourself is he's been playing above his contract right? Right? Then? 502 00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:15.639 Is he the guy you want to tie a bunch of money into. 503 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:19.159 So now he's got to get twenty five to twenty two you know, somewhere 504 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:22.000 twenty to twenty five millions, bless you, thank you, somewhere in that 505 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:25.880 range. Now do you tie that up? Understanding that he's twenty seven and 506 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:30.360 he's probably at this point he is who he is. There's not another level 507 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:35.960 of growth for him. Offensively, maybe he could get a little bit better 508 00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:38.960 defensively, but this is the player that you're tied to, this version of 509 00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:43.360 him. And I think similarly with porzingis sure if you can get you know, 510 00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:45.920 he plays sixty five games. If you can get to seventy seventy two 511 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:49.599 games with porzingis even better. At least he's defending for you at times as 512 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:52.679 well too. That's I think the question that Washington is kind of stuck with 513 00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:55.079 both of them. It's just like, all right, well, you don't 514 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:59.519 see the next level of upside for them, and then you're gonna tie this 515 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:04.199 money into both of those guys around Bill, who also is kind of who 516 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:07.480 he is at this point. So that's where I say, like, you 517 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:10.199 get stuck in the middling ground, and sure, could you try to go 518 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:15.000 attract another, you know, young free agent so to speak. But Washington 519 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:19.400 is in a free agent destination and with the money that's tied up with these 520 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:22.119 guys currently, they can't sign anybody out right. They would have to do 521 00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:25.719 some sort of trade and figuring that out. So you know, could you 522 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:29.880 move Abdiya and Kissburg and those guys won't make enough money because they're still in 523 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:31.679 the rookie scale. So you could try. It's just it's just very very 524 00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:36.360 complicated, I think, for them right now. And that's where you get 525 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:39.719 frustrated because you have you have whatever talent on you have, and it's intoxicating 526 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:42.920 because like, hey, well these guys are twenty point per game guys, 527 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:46.760 but they're not championship level guys, at least not with the other roster pieces 528 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:50.159 that are around them. And that's what puts you in a hole, so 529 00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:52.760 to speak. So I get why some people would be down on giving Porzingis 530 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:57.559 an extension. I get why even giving Kyle Kuzber the race he ultimately does 531 00:36:57.599 --> 00:37:00.920 deserve, because it doesn't lend you and put you in a place that puts 532 00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:05.960 you in the upper echelon conversation on the Eastern Conference. Agreed. But then 533 00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:10.159 part of that is also recognizing too that do you want to finally concede to 534 00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:16.159 the idea that this should be Porzingis's team, this should be Kuzma's team. 535 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:22.320 Like I guess part of Mishaw is recognizing that Bradley Beale, as great as 536 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:28.559 a player is, Bradley Beale is not moving the needle on elevating the Washington 537 00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:32.239 Wizards beyond what you're getting right now from the Washington Wizards because the years of 538 00:37:32.239 --> 00:37:36.719 where Bradley Beale was that guy was when he was playing next to John wall. 539 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:40.920 I mean, you can make the argument that Bradley Beale is beneficial to 540 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:46.760 Chris STAPs Porzingis. But if if the if the team is identified by what 541 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:52.239 Chris STAPs Porzingis does or Kyle Kuzma does, then what I'm just saying is 542 00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:54.440 is, no matter what money you're putting into, whether whether it be one 543 00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:59.920 of or both of those guys, it has to be with the understanding that 544 00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:04.360 this is their team, which means you can't have Bradley Beal on this roster 545 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:07.239 any longer. But then when you do that, what are you putting around 546 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:14.320 the identity of one or both of those players moving forward? Because this is 547 00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:16.840 no longer like the Watchington Wizards, and you just brought this up. They're 548 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:25.119 no longer in a space Shaw where people are okay watching this team just kind 549 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:30.159 of fumbled through the Eastern Conference. It's gonna it's They're not in a market 550 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:35.880 where they can afford to just say we have some dynamically, you know, 551 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:38.840 unique players with the way Kyle Kuzma, you know be you know, a 552 00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:45.719 fashion icon and Chris Staffs perzingis being the International Unicornies. All that stuff doesn't 553 00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:51.000 play man At some point, especially in the DC area, you got to 554 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:54.440 win and you have an opportunity, a window to be able to do that 555 00:38:54.800 --> 00:39:00.079 in one of the weakest divisions in the NBA, But you can't because your 556 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:05.360 roster is not constructed with the mindset of going out to really compete and win 557 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:08.679 like that. And so that's that's where to your point, y'all, is 558 00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:15.039 where that that you know, that interesting mentality of how this needs to be 559 00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:20.320 approach is really jumping out where you give this money to these guys. It's 560 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:22.440 not to say that they're not deserving of it, and it's not that you 561 00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:25.800 don't want them to have it, but you often do it knowing that you 562 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:30.559 are building around these two guys and this is no longer you gotta move Bradley 563 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:37.599 Beal, you gotta move also other players that you got to you know, 564 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:42.360 find a way to say to yourself that the guys that you're surrounding Kuzma and 565 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:49.360 port zingis there is potential upside to help improve and more so supplement what you 566 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:52.880 may not get on a consistent basis because of health reasons that these guys are 567 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:57.639 going to be out there the full eighty two for the season. And I 568 00:39:57.639 --> 00:40:00.760 don't know how you juggle that. There's there's a what I'm saying is is 569 00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:06.280 there's there's very little room of that transition to seeing improvement happen. It's almost 570 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:07.599 like, no matter what they do, if they don't do it right, 571 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:13.679 they could completely crash this team for five years, five years or more simply 572 00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:17.760 because of what they're not doing in addressing these players. Yeah, well, 573 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:22.280 I think maybe we even need some of the advanced stats because maybe some wizard 574 00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:25.599 fans and hopefully you're listening and tuning in, can give us some statistics. 575 00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:30.559 You know, what's the record when Bale, Porzingis and Kuzma play. You 576 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:35.079 know, expect they've been staggered a lot or course of this year because of 577 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:38.719 all the injuries. And I think that's what is troubling when you have to 578 00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:44.880 invest so much money in guys who traditionally miss a lot of time, and 579 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:47.400 that's just really hard to build that level of continuity. And we until Junior 580 00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:50.880 on the sidelines. It's just like, well, would expect me to do? 581 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:53.360 You know they need a point guard. I don't think they'll be able 582 00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:58.119 to address that. I think, you know, through free agency, so 583 00:40:58.360 --> 00:41:00.840 they should have a lot of repick. Obviously, maybe they go that route 584 00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:05.719 and get somebody who they can kind of groom, but chances are that player 585 00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:10.320 is going to take some time to develop. And can you make that happen. 586 00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:14.400 I think with one, two, or all three of those guys, 587 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:16.880 you know, within the next not even the next year, but probably the 588 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:20.800 year after that, before you start to steal some real yield and tread on 589 00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:23.639 that tires. That makes some sense for the Wizard's ultimate direction. Yeah, 590 00:41:23.639 --> 00:41:27.880 I'm not trying to, you know, be dooming Gloom. There's value in 591 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:30.000 having twenty point per game guys on your team. There's value in Porzingis and 592 00:41:30.039 --> 00:41:34.280 what he does, even on the defensive side. Daniel Gelford as I mentioned 593 00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:37.840 as well too, you know Dia. Again, I'm just kind of rehashing 594 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:43.440 it, but they're they're capable players, but they're not playoff They're not playoff 595 00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:46.760 contenders, let alone championship can There's not even playoff contenders right now, and 596 00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:51.920 I think that's problematic ultimately, And if you get lucky and get a game. 597 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:53.719 Get a season where they all play, you know, sixty five plus, 598 00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:57.840 then maybe this conversation is different. But to me, we haven't seen 599 00:41:57.880 --> 00:41:59.920 it yet, and I don't think you can. You can't count on that 600 00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:01.280 any capacity. All right, so let me go ahead, shot and give 601 00:42:01.320 --> 00:42:07.159 you some I'll give you an advanced statistic. You're ready, I'm ready. 602 00:42:07.400 --> 00:42:15.480 The Washington Wizards this year have implemented twenty six different starting lineups. Okay. 603 00:42:15.639 --> 00:42:24.320 Of the twenty six lineups, only two starting lineups have played double digit amounts 604 00:42:24.320 --> 00:42:30.559 of games. All right, you're ready, I'm ready. Okay. The 605 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:37.920 first lineup, which is Adja bal Kuzma, Morris Porzingis, played thirteen games. 606 00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:45.920 They were five and eight. The second lineup, Beal Gafford, Kuzmo, 607 00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:51.599 Morris Porzingis, played twelve games. They were six and six. Okay. 608 00:42:51.679 --> 00:42:55.199 So what I'm saying here, Shaw, is that even if you want 609 00:42:55.239 --> 00:43:04.719 to entertain the idea of Kuzma and poor Zingis as being your foundational pieces of 610 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:09.440 the eighty two games, even with those two or those three excuse me, 611 00:43:09.880 --> 00:43:15.800 as part of your starting roster, it is only amounted to twenty five games 612 00:43:15.880 --> 00:43:23.559 played right of the eighty two and even at best. They are below five 613 00:43:23.639 --> 00:43:30.360 hundred basketball team. You know, that's frightening, and and and and I'm 614 00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:34.440 not trying to say I'm not trying to say that, you know, oh 615 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:37.320 my god, like you know, this is a dumpster fire. All I'm 616 00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:42.119 saying, Shaw is, if you're resting your hopes on investing the kind of 617 00:43:42.159 --> 00:43:46.719 money that you'd like to invest in, say Kuzma and poor zingis you have 618 00:43:46.840 --> 00:43:54.639 to go in with the expectation of of of thinking that you need a significantly 619 00:43:54.679 --> 00:44:00.800 better roster to be able to compete then what you already are having, even 620 00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:05.320 if you've got Bradley Beale with them and that and I don't know how you're 621 00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:09.559 able to achieve that with the money invested already in bial and with what you 622 00:44:09.639 --> 00:44:15.960 already have surrounding the other two guys on your roster. That's tough. That's 623 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:21.199 tough. So if I heard you right, so would that with the Abdiva 624 00:44:21.719 --> 00:44:25.159 lineup better or was the Gafford lineup better? The Gafford lineup is better. 625 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:30.400 That makes sense because of the defense, But then you lose you lose some 626 00:44:30.440 --> 00:44:32.440 spacing out there. But again, if Kuzma can be you know, you 627 00:44:32.480 --> 00:44:37.719 know, thirty thirty six to thirty percent three point shooter alongside Bill, and 628 00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:40.039 that's where I think the point guard position becomes so important for them as well. 629 00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:44.480 Um, somebody can really help distribute and get the ball out there because 630 00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:49.679 Bill is not don't even want to go there. But you know, Bill 631 00:44:49.760 --> 00:44:52.239 has some playmaking jobs, but he's not somebody who you want to have that 632 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:55.320 level of responsibility kind of throughout. And you know, he did it a 633 00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:58.639 couple of years ago, and I think that was a year he was average 634 00:44:58.679 --> 00:45:00.280 thirty and you know, I think he was like six or seven assisted games 635 00:45:00.360 --> 00:45:04.360 will too, because like his usage rate was just bananas at that point. 636 00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:07.320 But he's just he's not he can't sustain that. He definitely can't sustain it 637 00:45:07.360 --> 00:45:12.119 in a winning environment. So to me, that's probably their biggest need. 638 00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:15.360 Go out there and get a point guard. Then figure out as well what's 639 00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:19.199 going on well obviously with Kuzma and Porzingism, because I don't think they're going 640 00:45:19.239 --> 00:45:22.800 to be able to move Bill, and I think at some point depends on 641 00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:25.400 the struggle's that you're in. But there are some out there that field Bill's 642 00:45:25.440 --> 00:45:31.639 contract is is a little um toxic. You know, he's he's not He's 643 00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:37.679 not the guy he's got. He's he's a little Paul George's without the defense. 644 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:40.079 Right. It's like he puts up the good numbers and understands that he's 645 00:45:40.119 --> 00:45:44.920 not a number one and you can't build a winning team around him. And 646 00:45:44.920 --> 00:45:46.559 it's not a knock. I think you hear that statement, it's like you 647 00:45:46.559 --> 00:45:50.119 feel like it's so negative. It's just not a knock. Certain guys are 648 00:45:50.159 --> 00:45:52.760 just what they are, you know, Like I couldn't be the president of 649 00:45:52.760 --> 00:45:54.719 the United States doesn't mean I'm not I'm a bad employee, you know what 650 00:45:54.760 --> 00:45:58.519 I mean. Certain things are just not my job, not within my purview 651 00:45:58.599 --> 00:46:02.360 to do. So. It's it's it's the argument that I often make shaw 652 00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:08.719 where people think that if I'm ragging a particular coach, it's not that I 653 00:46:08.719 --> 00:46:12.760 don't think that he's a good head coach. I just think that he's better 654 00:46:12.800 --> 00:46:15.880 as an assistant head coach. And I think part of that is because there 655 00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:21.559 are certain attributes that you need to have to be an effective head coach that 656 00:46:21.840 --> 00:46:25.239 some assistant head coaches that so badly want to be a head coach, they 657 00:46:25.280 --> 00:46:30.199 don't have it. It doesn't resonate it may not be the right time, 658 00:46:30.679 --> 00:46:35.199 or they're just not good at that. That doesn't mean that they are not 659 00:46:35.400 --> 00:46:40.639 legendary well among one of the best, And sometimes we have to recognize that, 660 00:46:40.880 --> 00:46:45.199 right, they're just some things that we're just not naturally that good at, 661 00:46:45.559 --> 00:46:50.760 and we could be given numerous opportunities to go out there and try and 662 00:46:50.920 --> 00:46:55.760 prove it. But at some point you the same the same ego that's driving 663 00:46:55.800 --> 00:47:00.239 you to say that you deserve to be there should be the same ego that 664 00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:02.880 speaks to you and say, I may not be really good or the greatest 665 00:47:02.880 --> 00:47:06.800 at this part of it, but I'd be damned if I'm not the greatest 666 00:47:06.639 --> 00:47:08.719 at what I've already that got me to the point to get me to the 667 00:47:08.760 --> 00:47:14.599 door right and to maintain that. And I think if you're someone like a 668 00:47:14.679 --> 00:47:17.599 Bradley Beale, who is an excellent basketball player, he's an excellent scorer, 669 00:47:19.199 --> 00:47:23.119 I think that you have to acknowledge playing on a team that accentuates what you 670 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:30.000 do best, and sometimes that may mean not having to take the bag for 671 00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:36.280 an organization that wants you to be more than what you know. You don't 672 00:47:36.360 --> 00:47:39.400 either have a passion for doing or is not in your purview for what your 673 00:47:39.440 --> 00:47:44.559 skill set brings. Sometimes you have to talk sense to the organization, you 674 00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:46.599 know what I'm saying, well, and stop them from and stop them from 675 00:47:46.639 --> 00:47:52.559 wrecking themselves. I have to amend in their leader statements. So hopefully people 676 00:47:52.559 --> 00:47:54.239 are listening, you know, are still on, because I feel like I've 677 00:47:54.239 --> 00:47:59.800 been like way out there were some of the comments here today. But even 678 00:48:00.039 --> 00:48:02.480 if you tried to mold this team and made them like the Portland Wizards or 679 00:48:02.519 --> 00:48:08.760 something like that too, the that's the hell of a mashup. But the 680 00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:15.480 contracts alone of Beal and Lillard together is nearly one hundred million dollars. What 681 00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:17.400 are we doing like that? That could never work? That could never work. 682 00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:20.360 You have nobody, You have to have me and hey, listen, 683 00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:23.400 listen the jack You know what the jackpot tonight is supposed to be? Was 684 00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:27.519 the mega millions? Is one hundred and seventy seven or something like that. 685 00:48:28.119 --> 00:48:31.519 Well, I mean even even even even the mega millions, you know what 686 00:48:31.559 --> 00:48:35.519 I'm saying, You gotta work hard to even get that from what these two 687 00:48:35.519 --> 00:48:37.519 guys. Again, yeah, that could never work. So I want to 688 00:48:37.559 --> 00:48:40.079 amend that earlier statement, like, hey, they should try to find a 689 00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:45.519 way to play together because from the team building standpoint, one hundred million dollars 690 00:48:45.719 --> 00:48:49.360 two guys alone and two guys who don't play defense. Yeah, no, 691 00:48:49.400 --> 00:48:54.239 thank you. I tell you what though, whichever state has to uh you 692 00:48:54.280 --> 00:48:59.719 know, has to handle that contract. Oh they getting over on the state 693 00:48:59.760 --> 00:49:07.199 tack stoll to be rest assured, DC Portland. I don't think that. 694 00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:12.760 I don't think those states are are state tax free maybe like no, no, 695 00:49:12.760 --> 00:49:16.119 no, you guys can stay here, live here. We got some 696 00:49:16.239 --> 00:49:22.880 we got some infrastructure projects we need funded. Come on down a full paw 697 00:49:22.920 --> 00:49:25.679 and roster building if that we're trevor to come to light. So I want 698 00:49:25.679 --> 00:49:28.679 to amend that. You know, I think I was saying it kind of 699 00:49:28.719 --> 00:49:30.239 almost tongue in cheek anyway, but let me really think about it. Yeah, 700 00:49:30.239 --> 00:49:32.280 there's no way those two guys should ever look to try to play together. 701 00:49:32.559 --> 00:49:37.320 No way. Look at you man, taking what little oxygen is left 702 00:49:37.320 --> 00:49:43.880 to them boys. Anyway, Man, awesome show this week, you know, 703 00:49:43.960 --> 00:49:46.679 really fascinating. You know, it's funny you would think that as we 704 00:49:46.719 --> 00:49:52.679 start climbing up the food chain that we would have even more positive conversations about 705 00:49:52.760 --> 00:49:54.960 what the futures are gonna be like for some of the teams that were already 706 00:49:55.199 --> 00:50:02.400 you know what I'm saying, examining and exooming, but I feel like it's 707 00:50:02.440 --> 00:50:08.239 getting worse. Like maybe maybe maybe some of these teams don't realize that they 708 00:50:08.239 --> 00:50:13.199 are hanging on by a thread and and and it's just gonna be like they're 709 00:50:13.239 --> 00:50:15.599 they're poorly they're poorly constructed, I think, you know, and they're gonna 710 00:50:15.719 --> 00:50:20.079 be stuck in this middle ground for a very long time. So, you 711 00:50:20.119 --> 00:50:23.559 know, would you rather be the Washington Wizards for Portland Trail Bazins right now 712 00:50:23.559 --> 00:50:28.760 with you know, Lillard Hall of Famer Beal Fringe maybe can make the Hall 713 00:50:28.800 --> 00:50:30.599 of Fame. What are I don't know, or the Houston Rockets or the 714 00:50:30.599 --> 00:50:35.559 San Antonio Spurs right now, who are more or less bottomed out with an 715 00:50:35.559 --> 00:50:37.719 opportunity to get you know, number one and number two picks with guys who 716 00:50:37.719 --> 00:50:43.400 could potentially change in their franchise, And you know, I would rather be 717 00:50:43.719 --> 00:50:46.480 I'd rather be the latter, you know, I'd rather be the Rockets or 718 00:50:47.039 --> 00:50:51.199 or the Spurs right now than the Wizards or or the Blazers, to be 719 00:50:51.280 --> 00:50:53.159 very honest with you, And I know that sounds insane, but at least 720 00:50:53.159 --> 00:50:58.400 there is a direction as opposed to just like we're middling and we're kind of 721 00:50:58.400 --> 00:51:05.239 held hostages by the to high level All star all the NBA type guys put 722 00:51:05.440 --> 00:51:07.840 can't do much more than kind of what they've shown here with the last couple 723 00:51:07.840 --> 00:51:13.440 of seasons. I would really like to see when it comes to Bale and 724 00:51:13.639 --> 00:51:17.239 to Lillard, and I kind of liken this a little bit to what we 725 00:51:17.280 --> 00:51:23.119 saw take place with Charles Barkley, Right, there was a transition period where 726 00:51:23.559 --> 00:51:28.800 when Charles Barkley was the man, he had that window of, you know, 727 00:51:28.840 --> 00:51:31.559 getting to an NBA championship, and he just couldn't get past Michael Jordan's 728 00:51:31.760 --> 00:51:36.760 right, Michael Jordan was the roadblock for all of a lot of great players 729 00:51:36.760 --> 00:51:42.000 of who we wished were hoisting up in O'Brien trophy. Right, what with 730 00:51:42.239 --> 00:51:49.000 Damian Lillard and with with Bradley Beale, what I fear what I hope doesn't 731 00:51:49.039 --> 00:51:52.840 happen is because it doesn't seem like that's their mentality. But what I hope 732 00:51:52.880 --> 00:51:58.639 doesn't happen is they don't start jumping on teams that compromises the greatness of what 733 00:51:58.719 --> 00:52:01.599 they have been given us over these years. This may have been the best 734 00:52:01.599 --> 00:52:06.280 windows that they've had, right, you know, a few years ago, 735 00:52:06.840 --> 00:52:10.119 But it doesn't mean that they can't go somewhere and be a part of something 736 00:52:10.159 --> 00:52:15.360 that helps to continue to elevate the greatness of what they've brought to the game. 737 00:52:15.760 --> 00:52:20.440 You know, we've seen guys do that, right. We've seen Grant, 738 00:52:20.480 --> 00:52:22.639 He'll do it. Um, We've seen it a couple of times with 739 00:52:22.920 --> 00:52:28.320 Baron Davis, right like, so we've seen players who have been able to 740 00:52:28.360 --> 00:52:31.559 transition in the twilight of their careers, you know. And I'm not saying 741 00:52:31.559 --> 00:52:37.000 it because of age. I'm saying it because of what their skill set means 742 00:52:37.079 --> 00:52:42.199 in this modern NBA. Is it outdated or can it adjust and adapt and 743 00:52:42.280 --> 00:52:45.599 adapt and adjust? And I'm hoping that that's what we're talking about here because 744 00:52:45.639 --> 00:52:50.360 we're focused so much on how much they're getting paid, and listen, they've 745 00:52:50.360 --> 00:52:53.119 earned every single dollar. It is not as if these guys have been bumming 746 00:52:53.199 --> 00:52:58.000 it, you know what I'm saying, and just kind of being las fair, 747 00:52:58.119 --> 00:53:01.760 and you know, the organization weren't in a position where they had they 748 00:53:01.760 --> 00:53:05.239 couldn't do it. They had to do it if they wanted to keep these 749 00:53:05.239 --> 00:53:08.400 players right, but in doing that, that was the risk that was taken. 750 00:53:08.679 --> 00:53:13.840 If you're Lillard and your Bill, you have to now understand your risk 751 00:53:14.239 --> 00:53:17.960 of the legacy that you're portraying if you're going to continue to play on badly 752 00:53:20.320 --> 00:53:23.719 constructed rosters as we've talked about, and you have to start thinking about where's 753 00:53:23.760 --> 00:53:29.079 your place going to be if this type of play that you're giving isn't helping 754 00:53:29.119 --> 00:53:32.199 the team and isn't helping yourself. And I think that that's when you have 755 00:53:32.239 --> 00:53:37.800 to start thinking about that transition to going the teams or figuring out a way 756 00:53:37.840 --> 00:53:40.719 to get to teams that can allow you to continue the greatness of what you 757 00:53:40.800 --> 00:53:45.840 do, and hopefully the organizations that have those teams know what to do in 758 00:53:45.960 --> 00:53:52.639 putting the kind of roster where that allows that to be elevated and not suppressed. 759 00:53:52.559 --> 00:53:55.320 Yeah. I mean again, I'll just close with this. They've gotten 760 00:53:55.360 --> 00:54:00.960 their money. Do they want to win an NBA championship? And I think 761 00:54:00.960 --> 00:54:02.719 the answer to that is yes, but they want to win it their way, 762 00:54:04.079 --> 00:54:07.440 and you know, their way doesn't seem to be something that's possible with 763 00:54:07.480 --> 00:54:12.800 their current teams and current structures. So do the teams ultimately these I listen, 764 00:54:13.199 --> 00:54:15.480 it's best we just move on because you're not going to go, So 765 00:54:15.639 --> 00:54:21.159 we're going to move you on ourselves. And Washington Portland will have some very 766 00:54:21.199 --> 00:54:23.599 interesting decisions to make, as they do every year. Um, but I 767 00:54:23.639 --> 00:54:27.480 think we're going to be in the same place, same bad time, same 768 00:54:27.519 --> 00:54:30.480 bad channel next year, saying, oh, look at Washington. Did look 769 00:54:30.519 --> 00:54:35.079 what Portland did or more or more I think more sadly what they didn't do. 770 00:54:35.559 --> 00:54:38.960 So well said brother Well said, that was a really good eulogy. 771 00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:43.880 I liked it. That was that was that was. That was shaw m 772 00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:47.559 e. That was a shaw m E eulogy. Trying to become calm. 773 00:54:47.599 --> 00:54:50.960 I can if you're kind of you're kind of scaring me there. You had 774 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:53.119 the dexter thing going on a little bit early. Didn't know what I didn't 775 00:54:53.119 --> 00:54:57.960 know. If you you, you're gonna kill them over twice. How we 776 00:54:58.039 --> 00:55:01.320 finished this show once again, man, we appreciate you and yours for hopping 777 00:55:01.320 --> 00:55:06.880 on board with us this week for the baseline. Callie Warrenshaw, we appreciate 778 00:55:06.920 --> 00:55:09.000 you guys, you know we do, and we'll catch up with you next time.