1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,240 What's up y'all is Drusky and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce a 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,720 hilarious new basketball podcast called The due Zone with Drusky. Learn the backstories of 3 00:00:08,759 --> 00:00:12,240 your favorite balls and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a favorite 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,160 team? Was it the Raptors at the time or no? Was the Raptors 5 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:19,920 even started around the topic? Come on, Brode like I'm fifty, Taylor 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,719 Rogues, Asian Wilson, and any more. You won't want to miss this. 7 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,760 Listen to The due Zone with Drusky on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and 8 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:33,359 wherever you listen to podcasts. This podcast episode is brought to you by Coors 9 00:00:33,439 --> 00:00:38,399 Light. These days, everything is go, go go. It's NonStop hustle 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,159 all the time. Work, friends, family, expect you to be on 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,240 twenty four to seven. Well, sometimes you just need to reach for a 12 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,320 Coors Light because it's made to chill. Corse Light is cold loggered, cold 13 00:00:49,359 --> 00:00:53,960 filtered, and cold package. It's as crisp and refreshing as the Colorado Rockies. 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,600 He's literally made to chill. Corse Light is the one I choose when 15 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,399 I need to unwind. So when you want to hit reset, reach for 16 00:01:00,439 --> 00:01:04,000 the beer that's made to chill. Get Coors Light in the new look, 17 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:10,319 delivered straight to your door with drizzle your instant cart. Celebrate responsibly. Coors 18 00:01:10,359 --> 00:01:19,319 Brewing Company, Golden Colorado. Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest episode 19 00:01:19,359 --> 00:01:23,280 of Hardwood Knocks. This is Adam Frommel here with my fantastic co host Dan 20 00:01:23,359 --> 00:01:26,519 for Valley, who's gonna kick things off by telling us how he's doing today. 21 00:01:26,239 --> 00:01:30,640 I'm doing all right. I am very tired. My caffeine intake is 22 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,840 way too high. I don't mean I'm trying not to complain because I know 23 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,239 people have it worth and we cover a game for a living, but I 24 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,840 am exhausted, and to be honest, I love podcasting, so this is 25 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,799 going to be fun and cathartic. This week needs to end for me. 26 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,200 That's how I feel. How do you feel? Hear you? I hear 27 00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:48,719 you. You know. Right now, I'm just trying to think of examples 28 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:53,280 of athletes who it's just impossible to hate, coming up with like Derek Rose 29 00:01:53,359 --> 00:01:57,560 Maybe yeah, I don't we'll start. I mean, should we throw a 30 00:01:57,599 --> 00:02:01,519 karm Malone in there? Maybe Kevin John's and Ben Roethlisberger. Yeah, you 31 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,400 know, there are a lot of options O. J. Simpson. Yeah, 32 00:02:05,599 --> 00:02:09,680 just these universally likable that's look. As someone who now works part time 33 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:15,560 in social media branding, I understand the challenges of running accounts like that and 34 00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:20,319 how under appreciated social media managers coordinators whatever they're called are. That fan Duel 35 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,759 tweet was is going to end up being like one of the three most tone 36 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,560 deaf sports tweets of the year, and it's only February. I can say 37 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,479 that without question at this point. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, like 38 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:35,039 people can make mistakes on social media for sure, but like there was there 39 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,879 was forethought that went into that one, and that was just weird. Yeah, 40 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:43,719 when you saw the fan Duel sports betting account replied to it, like, 41 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,879 it was like, okay, there were some type of coordination here. 42 00:02:46,039 --> 00:02:49,319 That's a problem. Yeah, yeah, just not not a great one. 43 00:02:49,319 --> 00:02:52,400 But you know what was great on social media was all the questions we got 44 00:02:52,439 --> 00:02:55,080 for this mailbag edition. Yes, you're gonna lead us through it. Well, 45 00:02:55,199 --> 00:03:00,599 let's preface this with Adam is currently on a media blackout because he's recording 46 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,400 a tennis match that he wants to watch. I respect it. So he's 47 00:03:04,479 --> 00:03:08,120 coming in here blind and this is going to be very just off the cuff 48 00:03:08,159 --> 00:03:14,599 and exciting, which our mailbags usually include more forethought and we're about to put 49 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:15,960 into them. But we have a lot of good questions. We'll try to 50 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:21,039 get to as many as possible. Shout out to people who are dming me 51 00:03:21,159 --> 00:03:23,879 mailbag questions when we're not even doing mailbags, just for the future mailbag, 52 00:03:24,039 --> 00:03:27,960 I honest to God, want to shout you you out, and I'm going 53 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,800 to use one of them today because it was I thought it was a great 54 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:34,479 question. But I appreciate the engagement. Keep them coming, and definitely make 55 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,439 sure that you know you're you're sending us more questions when we solicit them from 56 00:03:38,439 --> 00:03:42,560 the from the hardwarknox account, and if you can tell that they're coming from 57 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,840 the NBA math account, sending good questions there too, so that Adam's ego 58 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,439 is not bruised and broke. I was gonna say I would welcome some some 59 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:52,599 DM questions to me as well, but I know that's not going to happen 60 00:03:52,639 --> 00:03:54,960 because for whatever reason, and it's kind of our running joke behind the scenes, 61 00:03:55,280 --> 00:04:00,840 whenever I solicit questions for a mailbag, just crickets, absolutely nothing and 62 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,719 any time Dan sends out one, it's the response rate is so much better. 63 00:04:03,759 --> 00:04:08,199 So I'm I'm glad to know that there is a clear favorite, as 64 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,039 there should be among the co hosts. It get. I don't think it's 65 00:04:11,039 --> 00:04:13,680 the co host, but there's Maybe you're too cool for the Internet, because 66 00:04:13,719 --> 00:04:16,680 now it's getting glaring since you're using the NBA Math account with seventy k plus 67 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,120 followers whatever it is, I'm using our Hardwoodknox account follow at Hardwoodknox. How's 68 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:25,319 that for a plug that has I think four thousand, five hundred followers. 69 00:04:25,399 --> 00:04:27,720 We love every single one of you. Keep with questions coming, but that's 70 00:04:27,759 --> 00:04:31,439 like, that's a glaring differential. I thought I really had the hook this 71 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,759 time with the t PA chart with the Twitter followers who submit questions up in 72 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,800 the top right. It was still behind your kitchen. It was too interested 73 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,720 in land. People wanted to retweet it and engage with the actual graphic you 74 00:04:43,759 --> 00:04:46,000 put on there rather than the solicitation itself. That's how you have to look 75 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,879 at it. Maybe I need to like act like my feelings are really more 76 00:04:49,959 --> 00:04:54,720 hurt than they are, or beg which I can just shamelessly beg. Yeah, 77 00:04:54,759 --> 00:04:57,480 and Look, someone in the reviews wrote, I'm reviewing this because I 78 00:04:57,519 --> 00:05:00,160 feel bad. It seems like they're desperate for ratings and reviews. That's literally 79 00:05:00,199 --> 00:05:03,319 what our last written review says. I mean it's they're not wrong. Like 80 00:05:03,639 --> 00:05:06,240 that's a pretty good read of the situation, to be honest. Look, 81 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,879 every time we get a rating or review, our ego gets to go up 82 00:05:10,879 --> 00:05:14,519 a notch. For it's temporary, but we really appreciate it. So keep 83 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:17,000 those coming. We might be desperate, who knows, But are you ready 84 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,240 to get into these questions? I think so. This one is fascinating to 85 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:27,600 me, and it comes from long time listener Miroslav Shook, who I feel 86 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,079 like I Butcher's pronunciation all the time, and it's because I just suck at 87 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:36,920 talking. Who is Denver's second best player this season? You know you want 88 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,360 the answer to be Jamal Murray, but I don't think it has been, 89 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,399 Like I think it's one of the role It's got to be like one of 90 00:05:44,399 --> 00:05:47,439 the successful role players. Or Michael Porter Jr. Who I also have trouble 91 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,560 putting in that category because as potent as he's been offensively, he just hasn't 92 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:56,519 played enough yet. So like it as as much as I might get made 93 00:05:56,519 --> 00:06:00,439 fun of for this answer, like is there a chance it's actually Monte Morris 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,759 or can you get really excited? Because could it be Ja Michael Green? 95 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:09,639 So if we're talking consistency, Ja, Michael Green and Mante Morris absolutely belong 96 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,680 in the conversation, right, that'll have to high enough ceiling for sure. 97 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,240 Jamal Murray's peaks have still been there, and I'm convinced he's banged up, 98 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,519 like it kind of looks like he's wearing concrete shoes sometimes, and so I 99 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,759 don't know if there's something wrong with him there and he needs to take some 100 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,480 time off. But he is still their second best player, and if you 101 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,839 want to talk about he is their second best player. But does that mean 102 00:06:29,879 --> 00:06:32,040 he's been their second best player this season? I don't think that. That's 103 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,079 a different conversation. I don't think anyone's peak has been high enough to meet 104 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:41,560 his. And is it Michael Porter Junior. I think it might be Michael 105 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:46,279 Porter Junior despite the misstime. I know in like the value added impact metrics, 106 00:06:46,399 --> 00:06:48,560 he's going to be second almost across the board because Murray just hasn't quite 107 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:54,000 been efficient enough and the other guys are our role players as successful as they've 108 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,480 been, so like it really might be MPJ. I just I have not 109 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,480 enjoyed him defensively this season, and there have been moments, though there were 110 00:07:01,519 --> 00:07:04,800 more moments last season, I would argue. I would say that there have 111 00:07:04,879 --> 00:07:09,279 been the most moments, like the first few games this season, but not 112 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,720 since his return. He's definitely been a turnstyle since coming back. If you 113 00:07:12,759 --> 00:07:15,040 had to say who's been their second most consistent player though, were most reliable? 114 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,040 Yo kich is just number one through and through, and I mean Gary 115 00:07:19,079 --> 00:07:23,720 Harris might be their most consistent player. That's just been a good thing. 116 00:07:24,439 --> 00:07:28,519 An important clarification. Are you going to really just throw shade at someone who's 117 00:07:28,519 --> 00:07:31,480 not even playing right now? Come on, that's messed up. I'm sorry, 118 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,120 I take it back. What is the Actually it's Monte Morris, I 119 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,079 think it is, dude, So I just wrote know what you're going to 120 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,720 get every night. There's a chance of Shamichael Green, but there have been 121 00:07:42,839 --> 00:07:46,399 just some minutes where it's rough. I will say the yokicher Michael Green pairing 122 00:07:46,399 --> 00:07:51,480 on offense just amazing anyway, and everyone loves playing with him too. It's 123 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:56,480 it's so obvious, like how much he's surprised people at how good and all 124 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,000 around game. He's had some bad games and maybe Monte Morris hasn't had those 125 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,519 valleys. My follow up question to this, for the third question on this 126 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:09,519 topic, do you, like, can we relitigate the Fecundo Composo addition at 127 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,399 all? I still don't know. You know, he's been better defensively than 128 00:08:13,439 --> 00:08:18,519 I ever would have expected, but he's shooting like twenty five percent on above 129 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,600 the break threes, and there's he's missed some time too, and he's not 130 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,079 playing a ton. I just don't understand the as John Hollinger of The Athletic 131 00:08:26,079 --> 00:08:31,360 calls, like the value proposition of spending a financial resource on him, even 132 00:08:31,399 --> 00:08:35,279 though it was relatively cheap. When you have Monte Morris and you have Jamal 133 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,519 Murray and you were just you know, couldn't they have taken a flyer on 134 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,039 Glenn Robinson the third, like just anyone who would have boosted their wing depth 135 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,840 to some extent. And I'm just wondering if he's if you want to call 136 00:08:46,879 --> 00:08:50,679 him a luxury, that's fine, but he seems like a very unnecessary luxury. 137 00:08:52,159 --> 00:08:56,200 Yeah, I mean I was. I was a huge Fecundo Composo fan 138 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,159 even before he came to the NBA. I enjoyed watching him overseas and an 139 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,600 international competition. So I was excited when Denver signed him, But that excitement 140 00:09:03,639 --> 00:09:09,039 was mitigated by exactly what you're talking about, because it never made that much 141 00:09:09,039 --> 00:09:11,519 sense, because if you're going to play him, it's either in a small 142 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:16,840 dual point guard lineup, which doesn't really make sense when you don't have defensive 143 00:09:16,879 --> 00:09:20,080 anchors around them, or at the expense of Murray or Monte Morris, which 144 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,519 you know, as as you said, it's a luxury item and it's one 145 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,440 that could have been better used elsewhere. I would even argue, and look, 146 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,960 it was most of the Biannual exception, so we're not talking about a 147 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,919 ton of money here. I still might argue that I would have just for 148 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,240 what this team needs, I'd have preferred to just bring back Tory Craig. 149 00:09:37,399 --> 00:09:41,039 I'm not gonna lie, and maybe I'm too far and moved from that situation, 150 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,960 but I found I'm entirely in agreement with you. I am going to 151 00:09:45,039 --> 00:09:48,399 need to rEFInd my spot here because we went on that tangent. This was 152 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:54,240 a good thought exercise, so I appreciate that question. Cole Walker has three 153 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,440 questions. Let's start with this one. Are all of these injuries a blessing 154 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,000 in disguise for the mat magic? I'm assuming he means, and like, 155 00:10:03,159 --> 00:10:07,559 Okay, this has to be the dumb moment of maybe we'll rebuild or it's 156 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,600 going to improve their their draft positioning or both. Right right, they're nine 157 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,559 and sixteen at the time of recording, which is worse than they've been in 158 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,600 the previous few seasons. Can we just still, like, can we mention 159 00:10:18,639 --> 00:10:24,200 their injuries? Though? The injuries are Alfred Rukmino out with dealing with knee 160 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,240 injury, Cole Anthony has the shoulder issue right now, Michael Carter Williams dealing 161 00:10:28,279 --> 00:10:33,159 with the foot, Evan Fournier's missed time with back problems. We know Markel 162 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,799 falls is out for the season with the torn a c on his left knee, 163 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,840 Aaron Gordon's out I think it's been like a week at this point, 164 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,679 in another four to five weeks with that left ankle sprain, and Jonathan Isaac 165 00:10:41,759 --> 00:10:45,200 is out for the season. I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh. 166 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,600 It's just the onslaught of injuries here, but he's he underwent knee surgery, 167 00:10:48,639 --> 00:10:50,559 so he's not going to play. You know, he was injured last year, 168 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,080 right, And so that's the thing. It's like, on one hand, 169 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,879 sure, it's good that they're finally moving towards the bontom of the standings, 170 00:10:58,919 --> 00:11:01,879 that they might have more more valuable draft pick during a really strong class, 171 00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:05,600 but then you look at who the injuries are and that far outweighs that 172 00:11:05,639 --> 00:11:11,519 benefit, because ultimately you don't want Cole Anthony to have to start over in 173 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,440 his rookie progression. You don't want Marquel Foltz, who is showing flashes of 174 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,000 being like a legitimately good point guard in the NBA, to have to start 175 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,200 over coming back from the torn ACL. You obviously don't want Jonathan Isaac out 176 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:26,399 of the lineup the entire season because you can't evaluate him or get the luxury 177 00:11:26,399 --> 00:11:31,559 of him playing until he's a year further down the road. And then Aaron 178 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,639 Gordon, you're missing out on chances to up his trade value, and if 179 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,879 you truly are tanking and moving towards the bottom of the standings, then you 180 00:11:37,919 --> 00:11:41,600 obviously want to move him. So like, none of those are good things. 181 00:11:41,639 --> 00:11:45,480 So no, I don't think there's enough of a silver lining in this 182 00:11:45,519 --> 00:11:48,639 situation to be worth talking about. I'll push back a little bit there. 183 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:52,679 The Aaron Gordon trade value thing is I believe that's real unless your plan is 184 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,080 we just want to bottom out this year without making major changes and we want 185 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,399 to keep him because I do still think he's a useful player of the Magic. 186 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,600 Definitely need to around just everyone with more shooting. But I think look, 187 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:07,000 Cole Anthony's issue is day to day his shoulder, so him just getting 188 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,679 more exposure here because Faults isn't there to take on so much of the minutes. 189 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,879 I think those reps could end up being really valuable for him, even 190 00:12:13,879 --> 00:12:18,000 with the Michael Michael, Michael Carter Williams stuff. That's just going to ensure 191 00:12:18,039 --> 00:12:22,200 that Cole Anthony is getting serious playing time. I will say, though, 192 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:26,399 I think that's valuable. But in some I would probably agree with you where 193 00:12:26,519 --> 00:12:28,320 unless you're looking at this says oh, is it the impetus to tear it 194 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,480 down and what does that even look like now because of the Gordon injury, 195 00:12:31,519 --> 00:12:35,000 I would hazard that it's let's see what we can get for four yer Gordon 196 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,399 and Terrence Ross. That's the way that you know Vooch is. I just 197 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,720 don't think you're gonna get equal value for him, and he should probably be 198 00:12:39,759 --> 00:12:43,399 an All Star this year. He made my latest All Star list. Well, 199 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,919 first of all, no one should be playing in the All Star Game 200 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:48,879 this year, but also yes, he should be selected as an All Star. 201 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,799 Can you name the three who have been there starting two, three, 202 00:12:54,919 --> 00:13:00,480 and four over the past two games. I want to see how many you 203 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,519 can name. They're starting two threes and four us. I think I knew 204 00:13:03,519 --> 00:13:07,960 two of them because I watched their game, which was a loss to the 205 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,679 Blazers, but I couldn't remember what the third one was and when I looked 206 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,799 it up, it just it makes me even more excited to ask this question. 207 00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:20,240 Dwayne Bacon, Okay, you have one right, James Ennis two, 208 00:13:24,159 --> 00:13:31,679 Kem Birch has played right as he started. Nope, no, I'm going 209 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,240 to tap out at those. Gary Clark, Dwenny Bacon, Gary Clark and 210 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:41,480 James Ennis starting in the same lineup. Yeah, that's that's not ideal. 211 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:46,080 Cole Walker also asked do you think there's any way Brooklyn can fix their broken 212 00:13:46,159 --> 00:13:50,759 defense? Doesn't matter. I think let's just answer the second question first. 213 00:13:50,879 --> 00:13:54,279 It absolutely matters. I know this team is going to be ridiculous offensively, 214 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,960 but I don't think you can with the top end talent they have. You 215 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,279 want to be able and what they gave up to get James Harden. You 216 00:14:01,279 --> 00:14:03,720 want to be able to make the case that, oh, they're the clear 217 00:14:03,759 --> 00:14:07,159 cut favorite in the East. And I think there are at least two teams 218 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,320 in Milwaukee and Philly who belong in that conversation, arguably above them. So 219 00:14:11,399 --> 00:14:15,639 I think it absolutely matters, which would make the question do you think there's 220 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:20,000 any way Brooklyn can fix their broken defense? I think this one is as 221 00:14:20,039 --> 00:14:24,879 simple as just saying no, Like they knew what they were doing here and 222 00:14:24,919 --> 00:14:30,840 that was sacrificing defense to have this offensive oriented trio. And I'm not sure 223 00:14:30,919 --> 00:14:35,679 that there's really anything that they can do because DeAndre Jordan is not going to 224 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,639 be capable of cleaning up the messages that they leave on a nightly basis. 225 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:43,600 They don't have the pieces around them, especially as they're playing like Joe Harris, 226 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,879 who's going to have to get minutes. So no, I think they've 227 00:14:46,919 --> 00:14:52,200 definitely limited themselves personnel wise to having what's probably going to be a bottom ten 228 00:14:52,279 --> 00:14:54,799 defense at best. The offense could very well be good enough to make up 229 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,840 for that, but when you have a team that's constructed like this, having 230 00:14:58,879 --> 00:15:01,840 a good defense, it might not be a necessity, but it's a floor 231 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,159 raiser, right because your offense is going to have bad nights, and if 232 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:09,559 your defense is never there to pick up that slack, that's problematic just because 233 00:15:09,759 --> 00:15:11,720 you're going to go cold at some point in the playoffs, especially as teams 234 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:16,519 are adjusting and you haven't yet made those counters. And this team is all 235 00:15:16,559 --> 00:15:22,159 about the postseason venture this year, So without the defense to raise the floor, 236 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,399 it's not necessarily like a death knell, but it does mean that there's 237 00:15:26,519 --> 00:15:30,919 less room for error on the offensive end, and a cold streak could very 238 00:15:30,919 --> 00:15:35,080 well knock you out. So what I think is encouraging for them is that 239 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,919 their defensive shot profile is actually pretty good, and so they're they're coaxing teams 240 00:15:41,039 --> 00:15:43,200 into you know, they're at least keeping them away from the rim at a 241 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:48,120 relatively good clip, and they're taking a lot of short mid rangers and just 242 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:52,159 all mid rangers in general. They teams are taking the fourth most mid Rangers. 243 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,120 When you're looking at the share of their their field goal attempts that come 244 00:15:54,159 --> 00:15:58,159 from mid range. They don't allow a ton of threes or like I said, 245 00:15:58,159 --> 00:16:00,679 looks at the rim that helps. They don't fall lot, So like 246 00:16:00,799 --> 00:16:03,720 there's some low hanging fruit there that I think really helps them. But they 247 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,519 don't have the personnel. I think you mentioned it. They're probably a bottom 248 00:16:06,519 --> 00:16:08,240 tim defense at best, and they're twenty fourth right now in points allowed per 249 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,840 possession minus garbage time. This is per cleaning the glass. They don't have 250 00:16:11,919 --> 00:16:18,320 the personnel to establish a much higher ceiling, and I don't know that they 251 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,240 can get one. It's I would argue that it's good that centers can technically 252 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,759 come cheap. Maybe there's one that ends up on the buy out market. 253 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:30,200 Maybe you can, you know, luck into a Pha Tucker, though I 254 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,519 don't know why Houston would deal with Brooklyn again when it controls so many of 255 00:16:33,559 --> 00:16:37,679 their future picks. Can you get a Thaddeus Young? Can you get Aaron 256 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,039 Gordon? Would be perfect for this team if he was healthy. But now 257 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,039 you're running into the problem of well, what the hell do the Nets have 258 00:16:44,519 --> 00:16:47,919 left to trade? And you won I don't think anyone's gonna be interested in 259 00:16:47,919 --> 00:16:52,799 DeAndre Jordan until you arguably can't trade him because you don't have any other bigs 260 00:16:52,799 --> 00:16:56,519 on this roster, so you still kind of need the DeAndre Jordan and Nicholas 261 00:16:56,559 --> 00:17:00,960 Claxton. I think he's still recovering from COVID, and look, I want 262 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,600 to mention this on the podcast because I'm sure that I've gotten it wrong and 263 00:17:03,639 --> 00:17:06,960 we're going to continue to get stuff wrong. This has been the hardest season 264 00:17:07,039 --> 00:17:10,200 of my entire career to keep track of shit, and it's just with the 265 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,160 constant lineup changes, injuries and the COVID protocols. So I don't want to 266 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,240 misspeak and say that someone's been dealing with that stuff. And I also don't 267 00:17:17,279 --> 00:17:19,440 want to discount that when where you know, if I'm about this slander Davis 268 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:23,559 Berton's I'm giving anyone who's recovering from COVID like all the leeway in the world. 269 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:27,119 I want to make that clear. But this has been just a it's 270 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,240 melted my brain trying to keep track of all this stuff. So you're not 271 00:17:30,279 --> 00:17:33,440 going to move Jordan, and I think what you can do is does any 272 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:38,000 team value having the injured Spencer Dinwitty because you'll get his bird rights in free 273 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:45,279 agency, Like can you build the Spencer Dinwitty two seconds? And Timothy lehil 274 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:51,400 Cawbero who's giving them good minutes? Does that get you Aaron Gordon from Orlando? 275 00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:53,440 Like that type of deal might be the one you can make. Maybe 276 00:17:53,519 --> 00:17:56,319 that's what you do for Thaddius Young. I actually wouldn't make that deal because 277 00:17:56,319 --> 00:18:00,799 he's been great on the short role for Chicago and his fantasic defender, but 278 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,680 I just like he can be limited in the playoffs. We saw it during 279 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,599 his time with the Pacers and the other one that I absolutely wouldn't move. 280 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,359 But maybe they're more open to this because they have so much offensive firepower. 281 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,119 You do have Joe Harris and that four years, seventy five million dollars deal. 282 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:15,279 I don't It wasn't a bad deal in real time, but it did 283 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,839 feel steep. Just but it's he's been fantastic for them. He doesn't affect 284 00:18:19,839 --> 00:18:22,759 the field goal percentage of like ninety on. It may not be a great 285 00:18:22,839 --> 00:18:26,519 value, but it's hard to complain about that basic right now. It's good. 286 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,759 First of all, what look at this roster, He's probably what who's 287 00:18:29,759 --> 00:18:34,839 the better defender than him, Bruce Brown. You just answered the question right 288 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,720 there, Kevin Durant, Bruce Brown, And let's just throw another player in 289 00:18:38,759 --> 00:18:41,880 there. It's got to be Jeff Green or maybe some nights, probably Jeff 290 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,599 Green. No, that's it. You know two point five players are better 291 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,079 than him on defense per night. So he's not a terrible defender, but 292 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,240 you don't want him being one of your top three guys. As my point, 293 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,400 probably not. But I wouldn't move him because I think he's so crucial 294 00:18:53,839 --> 00:18:59,319 to ensuring just offensive balance since he doesn't need the ball and it doesn't impact 295 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,200 what he does defend the number of touches that he gets. So I don't 296 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,359 know if there's a smaller scale move. Again, is there a center that's 297 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:11,039 going to wind up on the buyout market if Toronto starts selling Aaron Baines would 298 00:19:11,079 --> 00:19:14,759 be super interesting for this team. He started to play better. Again, 299 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,960 what are you giving up if you're Brooklyn and I don't even know that you 300 00:19:18,039 --> 00:19:18,799 need a big, by the way, if you can get a tucker, 301 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:23,039 if you can get a wing that's gonna help you defensively. You can punt 302 00:19:23,079 --> 00:19:26,720 on defensive rebound and continue to go small. But if you're gonna need to 303 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,920 switch, like, you need guys that can do that, and they're again, 304 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,599 their personnel just really isn't build to do that at the moment, I 305 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,920 think I would just give up any pick or player below Joe Harris in the 306 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,880 packing order. So it's your three superstars in Joe Harris or you're only untouchables. 307 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,480 I think I think so just given the construction and look like so far, 308 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,240 Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving have played in six games 309 00:19:48,279 --> 00:19:51,279 together, they're four and two. In those games they've they've totaled one hundred 310 00:19:51,279 --> 00:19:53,559 and sixty five minutes on the floor together. Their offensive rating in those minutes 311 00:19:53,599 --> 00:19:57,559 has been one nineteen point three, which is obviously really good. Their defensive 312 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:02,759 rating has been one fifteen point one, which is obviously really bad. They're 313 00:20:02,799 --> 00:20:07,559 still winning those minutes substantially, Like you can lean into that strategy. It's 314 00:20:07,559 --> 00:20:10,839 just a higher variant strategy that comes with more risk in the postseason. But 315 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,559 given the construction of the roster, and you know, we're talking about these 316 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,039 moves on the periphery that aren't really going to change things at at a large 317 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:22,559 macro level, So you know, yeah, you can make those, you 318 00:20:22,599 --> 00:20:26,359 can try to improve marginally, but you're not going to change the overall naketive 319 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,759 of this team, so just lean into it. And I would be reticent 320 00:20:29,839 --> 00:20:33,240 to even move Spencer Dinwitty because while everyone thinks he's good as gone in free 321 00:20:33,279 --> 00:20:36,720 agency, he's still a really good player, So like really good. You 322 00:20:36,759 --> 00:20:40,799 don't want to sell low on him because maybe he's look he's to this team. 323 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,119 He's just not as valuable anymore following these straits. That's that's a fact. 324 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,519 But if you can maybe flip him on his next deal, that is 325 00:20:48,599 --> 00:20:51,880 something to consider. But if you could get I wouldn't trade him for Thady 326 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,240 as Young. If you could get Aaron Gordon still using him, I'd probably 327 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:59,119 consider it. So that's that would be That might be the biggest move that 328 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:00,279 they could feasibly make. But I don't even know how much Atlanta would be 329 00:21:00,279 --> 00:21:03,839 interested in Dinwity's bird rights. I would argue, if they don't want to 330 00:21:03,839 --> 00:21:06,559 blow it up, they should be very interested because he's exactly the type of 331 00:21:06,559 --> 00:21:10,880 player that they need to play next to Cole Anthony or Markoffolds. Yeah, 332 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,799 given that, given the Dinwitty is an impending free agent coming off an injury. 333 00:21:15,319 --> 00:21:18,799 I would still move him for Thady is Young, just because you might 334 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,079 as well just push the chips all in right now, because you've you've opened 335 00:21:22,319 --> 00:21:26,599 the title window wide open, and you don't know how long it's going to 336 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,440 stay open. This I'm gonna use this question because it toes on what we 337 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:33,720 were just talking about. It comes from Myer roth bomb what team is better 338 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:38,759 the Bucks or the Nets? I think it's still the Bucks. I mean 339 00:21:40,759 --> 00:21:45,000 the numbers bear that out so far. Johanness is unbelievable and probably a little 340 00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:48,319 bit overlooked and underappreciated at the moment. Just a little bit of a fatigue 341 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,640 after back to back MVP seasons, a little bit of questioning just because of 342 00:21:52,839 --> 00:21:56,039 the postseason failures, which, as we've talked about before, you know, 343 00:21:56,119 --> 00:22:00,759 it's hard to pin those entirely on his shoulders. But he's playing phenomenal basketball 344 00:22:00,839 --> 00:22:03,279 right now, and this team around him is good and has some depth. 345 00:22:04,839 --> 00:22:07,960 I'm not as impressed by their depth, but they've gotten great minutes Fromobby Porteris 346 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,640 this year. In Brent Forbes, I still think the DJ Augustine signing was 347 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,559 a mistake, given how much has been more useful than he was last year, 348 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,799 even those marginal improvements have helped. Yeah, there's and look, I 349 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,039 think the problem with you, honest is just a lack of variants in his 350 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:23,720 game. Now. He is screening more lately, which is a big deal, 351 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:26,720 but the free throw shooting just a lack of counters when he has the 352 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,119 ball in his hands. I'm just trying to take mid range game winning jumpers. 353 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:33,079 I don't know what you're talking about. He's trying to diversify. Look, 354 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,200 that's like a I didn't have a problem with that. Everyone was saying 355 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:38,400 how open Middleton was, and I was just like, there wasn't enough time 356 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,799 on the clock. Like that doesn't bother me. I think it's fair to 357 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,799 question whether should he still be taking this many pull up jumpers or three pointers 358 00:22:45,839 --> 00:22:48,599 when he's not hitting them. I do think that's a fair and honest question 359 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:52,240 to ask. But I would lean the Bucks as well. There's a chance 360 00:22:52,319 --> 00:22:56,119 though, while both these teams, both these teams are better built for the 361 00:22:56,160 --> 00:23:00,400 playoffs. Probably I would argue you might be able to talk yourself into Brooklyn 362 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,559 come post season time because how many Well, no, it's the same how 363 00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:07,359 many players do you trust in a playoff closing lineup on the Bucks. I 364 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:12,920 think it's Drew Holiday, be honest, Chris Middleton, that might be it 365 00:23:14,039 --> 00:23:17,480 for me. I'm just it depends on the matchup as well. And then 366 00:23:17,839 --> 00:23:19,160 I was going to say the same thing. The Nets have four because you 367 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,680 have James Horrenon kyr Iring, Kevin Ran, Joe Harris. I think those 368 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,240 four are just fine. So maybe you could talk yourself into Brooklyn. But 369 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:32,200 should we also include the seventy six ers here though there might be that tier 370 00:23:32,279 --> 00:23:33,640 and they might be the best of the three. And look, this is 371 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,680 the This will be the third and final question from col Walker. Do you 372 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:40,119 think the overall do you think overall that the East is better or worse than 373 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,920 years past? Without looking at, you know, the concrete data for this, 374 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,640 and I wouldn't even read too much into the winning percentages just because of 375 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,759 how on even this season has been, I would say it's it's deeper, 376 00:23:48,839 --> 00:23:52,799 like maybe it doesn't have the same top end talent because I feel like Milwaukee, 377 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,240 Brooklyn and Philly belong in their own tier, but there are just so 378 00:23:56,359 --> 00:24:00,759 many quality options still where it's like Miami's starting to play a little bit better. 379 00:24:00,079 --> 00:24:03,680 Toronto is starting to play a lot better. You still have Boston, 380 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,240 who feels like maybe they'll move away from being something special. And then there 381 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:10,799 were just teams. Maybe they're overachieving at the moment, but New York, 382 00:24:11,519 --> 00:24:17,119 Charlotte, Charlotte being competitive is a game of itself. Not as much, 383 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,519 but Cleveland's been frisky. Detroit's also one of those teams that isn't gonna win 384 00:24:21,599 --> 00:24:23,079 games, but it's gonna play tough every night, just because everyone on that 385 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,480 roster is fighting for either a bigger spot in the rotation or a spot in 386 00:24:26,519 --> 00:24:32,359 the rotation itself, so they're they're always challenging even if they aren't winning games. 387 00:24:32,799 --> 00:24:34,480 And there's like, what's wild about the East is that there's only one 388 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,319 I mean, maybe you say the same thing about the West, but there's 389 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,720 only one team that you know doesn't care about making it into a top ten 390 00:24:41,799 --> 00:24:45,759 spot, and that's Detroit. Everyone else is one. The Wizards are six 391 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,519 and sixteen and they are only currently three games out of the play in spot. 392 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,559 So every team from the Wizards and above like actually wants that spot. 393 00:24:53,559 --> 00:24:56,720 Because you look at the Hornets, the Hawks, the Knicks, the Bulls, 394 00:24:56,799 --> 00:25:00,920 the Calves, the They've all been bad for a while, and then 395 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,759 the Wizards have been bad lately. The Magic have just been so mediocre that 396 00:25:03,839 --> 00:25:07,079 you know they want to end in that sweet spot. Anyway, I would 397 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:11,599 argue, yes, there seems to be a lot less easier out, especially 398 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:15,160 when you just factor in like how much time some of these teams are, 399 00:25:15,079 --> 00:25:18,880 how much time players are losing to injury in the league's health and safety protocols, 400 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,079 And I'll spotlight Miami there as a team has been really impacted by that. 401 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,000 Let's get to some more questions here. I want to ask you one 402 00:25:26,039 --> 00:25:30,519 follow up question on the East before we do, and that's how many of 403 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:33,960 these teams could make the NBA Finals out of the East. And you would 404 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,400 be like, yeah, that makes sense. I think it's the three. 405 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,880 I'm trying to talk myself into another team, but I don't think I can 406 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,279 at the moments, I don't know what I could talk myself into. Boston, 407 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,559 you can, They're like, I mean, just if Kemba is Kemba 408 00:25:48,599 --> 00:25:51,839 again, and Tatum and Brown are both there, they can beat anyone on 409 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:56,720 any night. They feel like a wing shut. Maybe Mark, if Marcus 410 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,400 Smart is healthy, you can really trust, like their top four or five 411 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,720 guys, But there death has to matter to some extent in the playoffs, 412 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,200 so that that would legitimately surprise me this year. But maybe the jail and 413 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,079 brown leap is the difference if you have Kemba being Kemba. So that's a 414 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:11,559 good point. I have to ask about the Hawks though, because they're eleven 415 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,519 and thirteen. They've been underwhelming so far, but they also have not had 416 00:26:15,559 --> 00:26:18,400 these new additions. Bogdon Bogdanovich hasn't been available since basically the start of the 417 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:22,079 season. Janottle Gallinari hasn't been fully worked into the lineup. They still haven't 418 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:26,279 had Chris Done on the floor. Rajon Rondo has been in and out. 419 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:29,799 DeAndre Hunter is hurt now. But if this team is fully healthy, like, 420 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,200 is that a team where you would be shocked that they're in the NBA 421 00:26:33,279 --> 00:26:37,160 Finals coming out of the East or is that within the realm of realistic possibilities 422 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,839 to you? I mean it's definitely within the realm. I would still be 423 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:44,839 surprised. Their defense has been a lot better than expected. I guess I 424 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,559 just haven't seen it on offense from them, and that's a product of Gallinari's 425 00:26:48,559 --> 00:26:55,079 been injured, he's still ramping up, and you have Bogdanovitch is out the 426 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,359 improvement. I'm on the fence. I'm on the fence too. Who would 427 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,799 shock you more? The raptors of the hawk is coming out of the east. 428 00:27:00,279 --> 00:27:03,720 The raptors see it would shock me more of the hawks. I think 429 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,440 that's where like, if we're using that, it's just the line of demarcation, 430 00:27:06,519 --> 00:27:11,559 Pacers or hawks. Definitely the Pacers. I think I'm there too, 431 00:27:11,599 --> 00:27:14,119 because we don't know what's gonna happen with Kasler and they are banged up. 432 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,240 They don't have TJ. Warren at the moment. But I think like I 433 00:27:17,279 --> 00:27:21,440 would definitely not be even remotely surprised by the seventy six ers, the Bucks 434 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,160 and the Nets, probably in that order. I wouldn't be surprised at all. 435 00:27:25,519 --> 00:27:29,079 If it's the Celtics, I'm on the fence about Atlanta and Toronto, 436 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,759 And then I think Indiana, Charlotte, Miami and everyone else is firmly out 437 00:27:33,079 --> 00:27:37,200 And I realize I just said Miami, and I could really come to regret 438 00:27:37,319 --> 00:27:41,680 that. But we just haven't seen it yet this year. Yeah, i'd 439 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,640 probably have if I had to power rank the East right now, I'd go 440 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:53,480 Philly, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Boston, Toronto. Miami would be like the 441 00:27:53,559 --> 00:27:56,000 six, and then the Hawks would be seven. For me, I think 442 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:59,839 Miami and Toronto is a toss up right now. But I do think the 443 00:28:00,279 --> 00:28:03,839 heat ceiling is lower relative to last season. Even when they are going to 444 00:28:03,839 --> 00:28:06,079 be a full strength, like they need to make a move, whether it's 445 00:28:06,079 --> 00:28:10,400 another shot creator or if it's like that dynamic four. Them not resigning Jay 446 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:12,480 crowd Or is a disaster. In my opinion, I don't understand this is 447 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:17,319 This is why I think we can definitively say that the East is stronger, 448 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:22,599 because we're not like comparing these teams to like a low lying fruit at the 449 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,799 top of the conference. The seventy six ers of one seventy two percent of 450 00:28:25,839 --> 00:28:30,240 their games. The Brooklyn Nets have maybe the NBA's best big three. The 451 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:34,440 Milwaukee Bucks have the two time raigning reigning MVP, the reigning Defensive Player of 452 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:38,440 the Year, and a good roster like these aren't just no name teams that 453 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:45,440 we're comparing typical more first round stepping stones too. You know, this conference 454 00:28:45,519 --> 00:28:52,640 legitimately has quality depth. I'm with you there. This next question comes from 455 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,519 jar who asked a few We'll see I might sprinkle it more throughout the podcast. 456 00:28:56,599 --> 00:29:00,920 This one fascinated me though. Who is more likely All Star nod Chris 457 00:29:02,039 --> 00:29:11,680 Paul or Mike Conley. Wow, that is really tough. There's something going 458 00:29:11,759 --> 00:29:14,240 to be hard for either to get in, honestly, just because of how 459 00:29:14,319 --> 00:29:18,119 deep the West is with top end guard talent. But I think I would 460 00:29:18,279 --> 00:29:23,240 probably go with Paul just because neither is going to get voted in as a 461 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:29,160 starter, and I think that Paul is more likely to generate respect from the 462 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:33,480 coaches who make the reserve selections. But you know Utah is going to have 463 00:29:33,799 --> 00:29:37,000 that. I mean, they're leading the Western Conference right now. They could 464 00:29:37,039 --> 00:29:41,799 be leading the Western Conference at the time that selections are done, and they're 465 00:29:41,799 --> 00:29:45,799 gonna have to have someone in there. I would go Conley because I do 466 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,920 think he's been better in the aggregate, even though CP three has had of 467 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:52,279 carrying an incredible workload at times when Phoenix and He's been awesome and crunch time 468 00:29:52,359 --> 00:29:56,799 for them, that that MIDI is still just money for him, which is 469 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:02,000 absolutely wild. With Conley, though, I would actually believe that coaches are 470 00:30:02,039 --> 00:30:03,720 more likely to vote him in because he's never gone to the All Star Game 471 00:30:03,759 --> 00:30:07,920 before, and they're going to view this as not just something of a career 472 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,720 treatment, career achievement award that he also deserves. So I think it's gonna 473 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,480 be tough for both of them to get in. I think they each have 474 00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:18,079 another player on their team who's more likely to get to NOD. I still 475 00:30:18,079 --> 00:30:22,160 think Devin Booker is more likely in Phoenix than Chris Paul and than both Mitchell 476 00:30:22,519 --> 00:30:26,079 even though he started the season not slow and Gilbert in Utah. But there's 477 00:30:26,079 --> 00:30:27,559 also look, some people I've seen made the case that they think Conley has 478 00:30:27,559 --> 00:30:32,200 been Utah's most valuable player this year. I push back against that significantly, 479 00:30:32,279 --> 00:30:33,799 just because of what Gilbert does defensively. Yeah, I think he's been their 480 00:30:33,799 --> 00:30:37,400 second most behind Gilbert. So it might even look Donovan Mitchell's peak has been 481 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:41,039 higher lately. It's just that Conny has been more consistent. The other thing 482 00:30:41,119 --> 00:30:42,920 the factor in is he is dealing with a hamstring injury now, so what's 483 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:45,079 going to come into play is how much time does he miss, And I 484 00:30:45,119 --> 00:30:49,000 think clearing the twenty game threshold has made him He'll be fine. But if 485 00:30:49,039 --> 00:30:52,559 it comes down to, you know, if this is like a coach thing, 486 00:30:52,119 --> 00:30:55,759 I actually think he's more likely to get in than thank Chris Paul, 487 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,839 if only because he's he would deserve it, but it's also the element of 488 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:02,759 he's never been there before. Right. You know? What I hope happens 489 00:31:02,799 --> 00:31:07,519 though, is that everyone is just like having an All Star Game is monumentally 490 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:11,599 stupid. No one wants to go. All the selections opt out, so 491 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:15,440 they have to pick reserve replacements, you know, and then we eventually get 492 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:18,839 an NFL Pro Bowl situation and all of a sudden, Isaac Korro is an 493 00:31:18,839 --> 00:31:26,799 All Star. I mean, players get fine. That isn't the CBA that 494 00:31:26,839 --> 00:31:29,079 they get fine if they're chosen for the All Star Game and don't play. 495 00:31:29,279 --> 00:31:30,759 So I don't know if the NBA will show more leeway there. Yeah, 496 00:31:30,799 --> 00:31:34,680 there's gotta be leeway there this season. I mean, they've said it's going 497 00:31:34,759 --> 00:31:38,000 to be a bubble environment, right, so there's no way that you can 498 00:31:38,119 --> 00:31:42,880 require a player to go to the All Star Game and participate in a mandatory 499 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:49,359 bubble during what's supposed to be their time off. Fair enough, Well, 500 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:55,839 let's stick with I would be downright shocked if someone was fined for skipping the 501 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,720 All Star Game. Look, the NBA's already has a to put a kind 502 00:31:59,759 --> 00:32:02,079 of questionable stance on the national anthem, so it wouldn't surprise me they don't 503 00:32:02,079 --> 00:32:07,559 see him. They're not as in touch with morality as people like to think. 504 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,079 I think that's we've been reminded of that a couple of times over the 505 00:32:09,119 --> 00:32:13,799 past year and a half. But it wouldn't surprise me if they find people 506 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:17,799 for not going because it's about advertising revenue, like the Athletic reported that, 507 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:22,960 and I'm sure they'd be pushedback from league partners, one of which we are 508 00:32:22,039 --> 00:32:27,680 both employed by, and maybe advertisers, like they're gonna put the press on 509 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:29,759 them if you don't have the best players in the game. If they exit 510 00:32:30,079 --> 00:32:32,200 in mass there's gonna be some issues there. So it wouldn't surprise me if 511 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:37,319 they get fined for skipping it. Would it be a good or bad thing? 512 00:32:37,119 --> 00:32:42,359 If Mike Conley finally ended his Doll's card drought, which should have ended 513 00:32:42,359 --> 00:32:46,599 a while ago because everyone opted out and he was like a second tier pick, 514 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:52,200 do you think he would rather be that honorary All Star or just not 515 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,079 make it, knowing him, he'd probably rather not make it. But he 516 00:32:55,119 --> 00:32:58,920 also said on the low post once he made it pretty clear that making the 517 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:00,960 All Star Game is important him. So I don't know where I land on 518 00:33:01,079 --> 00:33:06,599 that. I also maybe push back against has he necessarily not that he hasn't 519 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,119 deserved to make it, but just the guard pool in the West has been 520 00:33:09,279 --> 00:33:14,039 forever, so deep. It's one of those things where it's hard to use 521 00:33:14,119 --> 00:33:17,920 the word snub because that implies that you have to replace somebody else. But 522 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,359 like, just in terms, and this is why for years I've said that 523 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:27,559 the NBA needs to expand all star rosters more about should be a level of 524 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:32,440 play reached then, you know, happening to align with a ridiculously strong positional 525 00:33:32,519 --> 00:33:37,119 class, because I just I don't want twenty years from now, some some 526 00:33:37,559 --> 00:33:43,960 eighteen year old to be scrolling through Basketball Reference and come across Mike Conley's page 527 00:33:44,119 --> 00:33:46,000 or whatever it is at that point and be like, oh, you never 528 00:33:46,039 --> 00:33:49,240 made the All Star team. Let's move on and look at someone else. 529 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:55,000 Yeah, that's a that's a great point. Let's stick with Jarf here. 530 00:33:55,359 --> 00:33:58,880 He actually has two more really interesting questions, so I might give him a 531 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:02,759 third one after this, But are there any buyout candidates that could actually impact 532 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:09,199 the postseason? Well, this is where seeing these questions for the first time 533 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:12,559 makes things a little bit harder. Oh, come on, there's like you 534 00:34:12,559 --> 00:34:15,800 can't say that I've thought about buyout candidates too much to this point. So 535 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:20,960 there are I think there are a few obvious ones. Maybe Robin Lopez in 536 00:34:21,039 --> 00:34:23,800 Washington, depending on how bad they get. Cody Zella and Charlotte has been 537 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,159 mentioned, but I feel like they'd be more likely to trade him and they 538 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:30,159 just don't have big so I don't know why you move him at this point, 539 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:31,719 even if you don't plan on resigning him unless he's giving back a ton 540 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:36,840 of money. Otto Porter in Chicago would be interesting, just if they're just 541 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,159 done with him. That's someone who I think could definitely I'm a wing. 542 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:44,679 If a wing is bought out, teams will be foaming at the mouth. 543 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:47,119 And he has not been. His availability has been up in the air obviously 544 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:50,880 this year, but he also just hasn't been too great, So that would 545 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:54,119 be a name I'm trying to think. I guess Trevor Reza still belongs there, 546 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:58,440 just he hasn't played this year. Hasn't reported to the Thunder, but 547 00:34:58,599 --> 00:35:02,039 I could see him Wayne Ellington in Detroit. He makes so little and he's 548 00:35:02,039 --> 00:35:07,159 been just shooting the hell out of the ball. He would definitely help. 549 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:09,639 But I just feel like he's so cheap that Detroit should be able to get 550 00:35:09,639 --> 00:35:13,199 a second round pick for him on the trade market. And that's the thing. 551 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,079 It's like, I feel like there's been a noticeable decline and impact buyout 552 00:35:16,159 --> 00:35:22,639 market players in recent years, just because teams are dealing with fewer awful contracts, 553 00:35:23,079 --> 00:35:30,400 but also they're more more willing to give up draft assets. We've seen 554 00:35:30,679 --> 00:35:36,400 so many more trades lately and it's affected the buyout market. Yeah, and 555 00:35:36,519 --> 00:35:40,960 look at the buyout candidates always seem like sexier than they can. You name 556 00:35:42,079 --> 00:35:47,960 three legitimately impactful buyout stories in the last five years. Well, the season 557 00:35:49,039 --> 00:35:51,800 where it was who the Sixers get Marco Belinelli and who was the other one 558 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:54,440 actually did a lot of work for Orison Eliasova. Those two ended up being 559 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:59,079 really that it can happen, but it's just I think the level of player 560 00:35:59,159 --> 00:36:02,280 that gets bought out. There's often a disconnect between a like PJ. Tucker 561 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,480 is not getting bought out. There's a team that would give up the second 562 00:36:05,519 --> 00:36:07,480 round pick for PJ. Tucker, and there are a few of them. 563 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:14,119 Two games that I would find interesting is so Dante xim and Houston just we've 564 00:36:14,159 --> 00:36:20,800 seen. Look, he's always injured, including right now, but he's really 565 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:25,039 shown great defense in the postseason in the past. And so if his calf 566 00:36:25,079 --> 00:36:30,239 injury is healed and he just really doesn't have a place in Houston, which 567 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:31,360 is I think it's fair. And look, if Tille Fativa can save some 568 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:37,119 cash, that would be the other one for me. And I don't know 569 00:36:37,159 --> 00:36:38,239 if they would want to get rid of him, But Garrett Temple has been 570 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:43,320 fantastic defensively in Chicago this year, and so he doesn't really align with their 571 00:36:43,519 --> 00:36:46,079 offensively either. Yeah, he has a three balls not falling, but he's 572 00:36:46,079 --> 00:36:50,079 been pretty good there. But defensively, first of all, he's a player 573 00:36:50,119 --> 00:36:52,559 that Nets should have kept, by the way, I don't know why they 574 00:36:52,679 --> 00:36:54,880 let him go, But those would be two names I'd be fascinated by. 575 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:59,280 And maybe there's always like the surprise candidate that we can't see coming. I 576 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:00,519 don't I don't really know who it is at this point, but like Kyle 577 00:37:00,559 --> 00:37:04,840 Howry is not getting bought out, So anyone waiting on that scenario, I 578 00:37:05,239 --> 00:37:08,280 very much apologize to you. Let's again, let's stick this will be Jars. 579 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:10,960 Last question, which is the best team that will lose in the first 580 00:37:12,079 --> 00:37:20,639 round this year? M How are we approaching answering that? Because I think 581 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:24,519 first it's the Utah Jazz. I think so just if they get the wrong 582 00:37:24,559 --> 00:37:28,480 matchup, that completely go bear off the court. Right look, right now, 583 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:30,559 I would be I wouldn't necessarily say this would be a certainty, but 584 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:36,000 if they ended up having a match up with the Warriors as the eight seed, 585 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,159 that's a disaster, just because I'm not saying the wars would definitively win, 586 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:43,480 but that's you don't want to face Stephen Curry in the first round, 587 00:37:44,599 --> 00:37:46,800 you don't. I think I just have too much confidence to the Jazz still, 588 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:52,760 just when everyone's at full strength. They just have so many impactful positive 589 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:55,559 players and so few negative players in their rotation that it's hard for me to 590 00:37:55,599 --> 00:38:00,320 see them totally bottoming out. I think my answer would be whoever earns the 591 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:02,400 number one seed in the East, just because as we talked about, there 592 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:07,199 are so many quality teams in that Eastern Conference that the eighth seed is going 593 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:12,119 to be a good one that has enough ability to threaten a top heavy team 594 00:38:12,199 --> 00:38:15,400 like that. My actual pick would be the Denver Nuggets and maybe the Dallas 595 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:17,800 Mavericks, but I'm just lower on them than the consensus. Right now. 596 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:22,400 You look at Denver, I think it's definitely fair to say Jamal Murray is 597 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:24,760 more valuable in the playoffs, which is absolutely true. But the defense is 598 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:29,239 they just don't have that wing defender right now. This is as the rosters 599 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:32,320 currently stand, so maybe this changes, but paulmost happened Ja Michael Green can 600 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:37,559 pitch in on like a Lebron type or Anthony Davis type. But the teams 601 00:38:37,559 --> 00:38:39,079 that they're gonna have to go through and might be matched up with in the 602 00:38:39,119 --> 00:38:45,199 first round are gonna have a second guy. There's there's Kawai MPG, There's 603 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:50,639 Anthony Davis and Lebron James. Even if Phoenix, it's like, Okay, 604 00:38:51,679 --> 00:38:53,079 who do we have to go up against? Chris Paul? Who do we 605 00:38:53,159 --> 00:38:57,079 have to go up against? Devin Booker? Like though Gary Harris will get 606 00:38:57,079 --> 00:38:59,840 one of those and he should be fine, Like who's who's the other? 607 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:02,800 So my pick definitely to me, would also have to come from the West. 608 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:06,480 I still think that the top one or two teams maybe three in the 609 00:39:06,519 --> 00:39:08,400 East are going to be decidedly better than eight. I know the Hawks are. 610 00:39:08,639 --> 00:39:10,920 That's we don't know how to play Inteerman's gonna shake out. Maybe the 611 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:14,000 Nicks end up winning the player. I mean, like the Heat could very 612 00:39:14,039 --> 00:39:15,920 well end up with the eight seeds though, that's I would still yeah, 613 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:19,480 all right, but I think the pick has to come in the West because 614 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:22,320 whatever team is in the eight sea is actually going to be really good. 615 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,400 Yeah. If I think if we look at it as like which team would 616 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:30,719 be the most likely to lose to like a generic eight seed, like a 617 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:36,360 typical eight seed from one of the past five seasons, just that strength team. 618 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:42,000 It's not the Lakers, it's not the Clippers, it's not the Bucks. 619 00:39:43,519 --> 00:39:45,880 And then we're at like this not the Sixers tonight. It could be 620 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:51,559 the Nets because if that offense goes cold, if he goes prevail. But 621 00:39:51,639 --> 00:39:53,800 then I think the next tier is like the Jazz and the Suns. I 622 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,639 actually wouldn't pick that. It would take the right matchup for me to actually 623 00:39:57,679 --> 00:40:00,239 pick the Jazz in this like the matchup that works against them in the first 624 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:02,079 round. I still think there's something too. I don't know how good they'll 625 00:40:02,079 --> 00:40:05,679 be in the playoffs, but I'm not like that low on them. I 626 00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:07,880 think that'd be the famous at this point. I think the Nets are going 627 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:10,480 to be my official answer, minor mine's gonna be the Nuggets. So we're 628 00:40:10,559 --> 00:40:15,320 on records that well, we have the right to change our minds if they 629 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:17,960 make any serious roster changes. Right. That's a cool question though. I 630 00:40:19,039 --> 00:40:22,960 like that just because there's no like conventional way to think about how to answer 631 00:40:22,039 --> 00:40:28,480 that. Yeah, next question, let's go with and this will cover a 632 00:40:28,519 --> 00:40:30,199 few of them, but this is the only Bradley Beale one we will answer 633 00:40:30,679 --> 00:40:36,039 from Josh, does Bradley Beale get traded? And to Nope, I don't 634 00:40:36,079 --> 00:40:38,760 think he gets traded this season because the reporting has been so strong that he 635 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:43,679 wants to stay in Washington, and there's no reason for leaking that to this 636 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:45,440 extent, right, and it's him saying it, and he's not going to 637 00:40:45,519 --> 00:40:47,840 care what the Wizards get back, and the Wizards don't want to trade him. 638 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:52,559 He doesn't want to be traded. Every party involved has made it clear 639 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:54,639 that they're still playing for this season. You still want to see what he 640 00:40:54,679 --> 00:40:59,920 can do with Russell Westbrook actually healthy for a prolonged period. It's not gonna 641 00:41:00,039 --> 00:41:01,960 work. It's dumb. They should trade him, but they're not going to. 642 00:41:02,599 --> 00:41:06,559 Is he on the Wizards to start next season? Yes? Oh, 643 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:09,480 I would say no. Still, which team would have he is the most 644 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:13,960 likely? Let's say he gets moved before next year, which team is most 645 00:41:14,039 --> 00:41:16,119 likely to have traded for him? I think it's got to be Denver. 646 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:20,800 We've been talking about that for so long. Just how much sense that makes, 647 00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:23,920 how much Ammo they have that they can move, and if Denver, 648 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:29,519 if he does, if Bill does become available before this year's trade deadline. 649 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:32,199 The Nuggets are thirteen and eleven, like they can very much justify a swing 650 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:36,800 for the fences move, both because they know how good they are and because 651 00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:39,360 of how much they've struggled relative to expectations to this point. So I can 652 00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:44,239 absolutely see them being willing to part with Jamal Murray or MIKEA. Porter Jr. 653 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:46,679 Or whatever else it might be that's not Nikola Yokic to get him. 654 00:41:47,559 --> 00:41:52,480 And then if they don't make a deep playoff run, that situation isn't going 655 00:41:52,519 --> 00:42:00,239 to have changed during the off season. Here's my thing is Bradley Bill doesn'ts 656 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:04,480 would they need most and so look, this question comes from Nuggets aptly named 657 00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:07,079 the Count Nuggets. Is trading Jamal is something you would really consider if you 658 00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:12,280 were the nuggete GM And so if you're getting Bradby Beal, are you do 659 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:15,159 you would you prefer to part with Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Junior. I'm 660 00:42:15,159 --> 00:42:16,280 not getting up both. I'm want to make that clear. But if it's 661 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:20,719 one or the other and there's other moving parts there, like salaries, we 662 00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:22,679 might have I think we've already talked about this. Would you move Jamal Murray 663 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:27,199 or Michael Porter Jr? My answer hasn't changed. I would still move Murray. 664 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:30,599 I think that that Porter is just a more natural fit alongside the other 665 00:42:30,679 --> 00:42:34,920 stars, especially in a system where where Yokich can dominate the ball in the 666 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:38,400 half court. So yeah, I think that Porter's ability to score from all 667 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:43,400 three levels, both on and off the ball, which we don't typically see 668 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:47,199 Murray operate as much as a spot up guy. He's great as that rolling 669 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:52,280 guard in the reverse pick and rolls, but he's more of a luxury to 670 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:54,599 this team than Porter is. As weird as that might be to say, 671 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:58,519 I don't know if he's more of a luxury right now, but I think 672 00:42:58,639 --> 00:43:01,960 he might be a little bit more redundant with Bradley him because the ceiling is 673 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:08,119 still so ridiculously lofty. Yeah, I think in general, like unless it's 674 00:43:08,159 --> 00:43:13,159 a transcendent guard, you're typically keeping the wing over the guard. I think 675 00:43:13,239 --> 00:43:15,480 I'm still with you. But what bothers me about Michael Porter Jrs. He 676 00:43:15,519 --> 00:43:22,119 seems he seems very much to care about what's that? What bothers you on 677 00:43:22,199 --> 00:43:23,280 the court. Yeah, there's a lot of stuff that bothers me off the 678 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:30,239 court. But he seems like is he going to be okay because being the 679 00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:34,480 third option is still and that he seems like something he already had that like 680 00:43:34,559 --> 00:43:37,599 weird press conference in the bubble this this past but then both he and the 681 00:43:37,679 --> 00:43:43,519 team responded to that weird press conference in the bubble by playing better. I 682 00:43:43,559 --> 00:43:47,039 don't know, like I get the sense that he's a player with a big 683 00:43:47,119 --> 00:43:52,360 ego who also knows how to control the ego. Look, I think it's 684 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:54,679 a conversation I ultimately have the answered that you would I prefer to trad Jamal 685 00:43:54,760 --> 00:43:58,239 Murray in that scenario. My pick for where he would go though, would 686 00:43:58,280 --> 00:44:00,239 probably be New Orleans or to Toronto. I think those would be the teams 687 00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:04,320 that would take the all in swing on him, particularly heading into the last 688 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:07,679 year of his contract. Maybe New Orleans is actually less likely at that point. 689 00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:09,599 You need a commitment that he's going to resign if you're if you're the 690 00:44:09,639 --> 00:44:15,559 Pelicans. This question comes from Jacob w Bourne, very good friend of the 691 00:44:15,679 --> 00:44:19,840 podcast and just us in general. How many wins do the Warriors need by 692 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:22,320 the end of the season for Steph to be considered an MVP candidate? Is 693 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:29,760 it forty five? Is five hundred basketball enough? Yeah? Just given what 694 00:44:29,920 --> 00:44:34,480 we've seen traditionally from the MVP voting, I think Russell Westbrook was the only 695 00:44:34,559 --> 00:44:37,320 guy not in the top four to win v like gazillion years. Yeah, 696 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:42,000 it's definitely happen four, but not recently. Yeah, yeah, I remember. 697 00:44:42,039 --> 00:44:44,639 I think west An Salt was one of those if I remember correctly, 698 00:44:44,679 --> 00:44:49,360 that like missed the playoffs and and one MVP maybe. But but back on 699 00:44:49,519 --> 00:44:53,079 topic, I think that just because of that that history, you're probably looking 700 00:44:53,119 --> 00:44:58,119 at like forty five to fifty wins. I was going to say the low 701 00:44:58,280 --> 00:45:00,320 ends. I was gonna say, because this year so wonky, maybe people 702 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:04,480 are more like that was in an eighty two game season, so it would 703 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:07,920 be I would say, so forty three to forty four would be a sixty 704 00:45:07,519 --> 00:45:10,480 winning percentage, and as of right now, that would put you fifth in 705 00:45:10,519 --> 00:45:15,360 the West. And I just feel like there's enough weirdness this year to maybe 706 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:17,519 where people are willing to go off the beaten path and look more so at 707 00:45:17,840 --> 00:45:22,639 well, look at his supporting cast rather than I feel people normally skewed towards 708 00:45:22,719 --> 00:45:27,360 the most dominant player on the best team. So that would be forty three 709 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:30,440 to forty four. Forty five territory would be that for me. And that's 710 00:45:30,480 --> 00:45:34,840 over the course of seventy two games season. Yeah, I think I'd probably 711 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:37,840 go a little bit below that in the seventy two games season, just because 712 00:45:38,119 --> 00:45:43,239 this year is so wonky, and I think there is a lot of recognition. 713 00:45:43,840 --> 00:45:47,719 Now. It's one thing if the Warriors were fully healthy and not good, 714 00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:52,840 but just because Clay Thompson went down right before the season, before they 715 00:45:52,920 --> 00:45:55,599 had a chance to adjust, I think that gives him a little bit more 716 00:45:55,760 --> 00:46:00,800 standing Leeway, But yeah, I mean I think you still have to be 717 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:05,320 probably a home court advantage team in the West, certainly because of the way 718 00:46:05,360 --> 00:46:08,119 the conversation has gone thus far. Where it's been, Well, Yokich isn't 719 00:46:08,119 --> 00:46:10,920 on a team that's currently played from home court advantage, but Lebron is, 720 00:46:12,079 --> 00:46:15,239 Joel embiad is, and I think you throw Kauai in there. I think 721 00:46:15,280 --> 00:46:21,039 he's been among the third most mentioned, well four if you include Yokich and 722 00:46:21,079 --> 00:46:23,159 then maybe Kevin Duran, although the chatter is sort of like slowed there. 723 00:46:23,519 --> 00:46:27,599 But when you're looking at the alternatives, when so many of them come from 724 00:46:27,639 --> 00:46:30,360 teams that are going to finish in the top four, I think you absolutely 725 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:32,760 need to be in the top four in the conference. Yeah. And you 726 00:46:32,840 --> 00:46:37,360 know, if if Steph does somehow win MVP this season, Rick Puker might 727 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:40,400 just have to mute all of Twitter. Oh my god, thank god he 728 00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:43,719 hasn't worked for the same company as us anymore, so that we can say 729 00:46:43,719 --> 00:46:45,239 that that was I I had to think about that before I said it. 730 00:46:45,440 --> 00:46:50,000 That was one of the single worst sports takes of all time. I just 731 00:46:51,079 --> 00:46:55,480 mad having to mute Stephan Curry because people are celebrating him too much. Shut 732 00:46:55,519 --> 00:46:58,880 the fuck up. That's my message to you. Like that is the dumbest 733 00:46:58,920 --> 00:47:05,800 thing I've seen on the internet. Next question comes from this one is I 734 00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:07,679 don't really know. I don't really know how to describe this one, but 735 00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:13,920 from Wall of Oz, what's a reasonable price Denver could give up for lu 736 00:47:14,039 --> 00:47:15,519 Dort any chance? Okay, so he would bite. I think the latter 737 00:47:15,679 --> 00:47:19,199 is the most important here. Yeah, can we just answer the second part 738 00:47:19,239 --> 00:47:22,920 first? Is twenty one years old, is one of the best defenders in 739 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:27,400 basketball. Three point shot comes and goes. But he's gotten there's way more 740 00:47:27,480 --> 00:47:30,360 offensive upside than we realized. Yeah, there's he's gotten increasingly better just turning 741 00:47:30,400 --> 00:47:34,559 the corners with the ball in his hands. He is I tweeted the I 742 00:47:34,679 --> 00:47:38,119 tweeted the other night when they almost beat the Lakers without shake Gilt Just Alexander. 743 00:47:38,159 --> 00:47:40,599 Mind you, Los Angeles didn't have Anthy Davis, but they didn't have 744 00:47:40,639 --> 00:47:45,800 shake Gili Alexander, I tweeted about lu lu Dort. Is what you get 745 00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:52,079 when the unstoppable force is also the immovable object. You're not wrong, but 746 00:47:52,199 --> 00:47:55,480 no, I mean, like, I have no idea what the trade package 747 00:47:55,519 --> 00:48:00,679 would be just because there's no way that the thunder are realist stically parting with 748 00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:06,079 him. Yeah, he's so, he's twenty one years old, he's under 749 00:48:06,159 --> 00:48:09,960 team control for another two years at under four million dollars total one point eight 750 00:48:10,039 --> 00:48:14,079 million next year, one point nine million dollars team option the year after. 751 00:48:14,599 --> 00:48:17,119 It would take maybe, okayc is like, look, we're not going to 752 00:48:17,199 --> 00:48:22,199 be great in two years, and he's gonna command this huge contract we already 753 00:48:22,239 --> 00:48:25,000 have to pay. Say, maybe we like Garius Baisley better. We're gonna 754 00:48:25,039 --> 00:48:28,880 have hopefully a high pick in this year's draft. We have other picks incoming. 755 00:48:29,000 --> 00:48:31,239 I'm just saying, if you had to talk yourself in a moving Dort, 756 00:48:31,679 --> 00:48:35,199 I'm not going to view this through the lens of the Nuggets. What 757 00:48:35,280 --> 00:48:38,400 would it realistically take for Okac to consider it? And all right, I'll 758 00:48:38,400 --> 00:48:42,199 make the offers and we'll see if you take them. We'll see how far 759 00:48:42,280 --> 00:48:45,079 down the roster we can work here. You're trading in for yokis right. 760 00:48:46,079 --> 00:48:52,320 No, That's what I was gonna say is it would take a minimum of 761 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:58,159 two first round picks to get lou Dort and I'm not even sure if that's 762 00:48:58,280 --> 00:49:00,440 enough. Yeah, I don't know. It's just yeah, because the teams 763 00:49:00,480 --> 00:49:02,360 that are going to give up two first, it would be a great fit 764 00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:07,079 in Denver. Well, he would be a fantastic fit in Denver if they 765 00:49:07,119 --> 00:49:14,000 aren't an ideal fit. But in Denver's in Denver's defense, they were willing 766 00:49:14,079 --> 00:49:16,960 to pay Jeremy Grant. He just bet on himself equal money in Detroit. 767 00:49:17,239 --> 00:49:22,719 Let's make that clear. But so along those lines, like hypothetically, like 768 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:25,599 what do you think Denver would have to give up for Don chich? Okay? 769 00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:30,280 Okay, But seriously though, look, if you're Denver, I think 770 00:49:30,320 --> 00:49:34,960 would have to be two first and RJ. Hampton I think that would be 771 00:49:35,079 --> 00:49:37,960 the like because you're a good team. So how valuable are your first round 772 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:42,119 picks? I don't think the founder are going to be super interested in bow 773 00:49:42,199 --> 00:49:45,519 Bowl. Which here's straight up, I'm going to ask you this with a 774 00:49:45,519 --> 00:49:49,960 straight face. Would you trade Michael Porter Junior for lu dor No? Okay, 775 00:49:50,360 --> 00:49:57,119 absolutely not. I'm just I'm trying to imagine, like what would go 776 00:49:57,239 --> 00:50:00,639 through Sam Presty's head if another general manager called him and it is like, 777 00:50:00,719 --> 00:50:06,000 so what's your price for lu Dort? It's happened. It is absolutely hop 778 00:50:06,920 --> 00:50:09,079 Yeah, that's I feel like, I feel like general managers like have enough 779 00:50:09,119 --> 00:50:12,599 respect for each other. And I'm not I'm genuinely not making fun of the 780 00:50:12,679 --> 00:50:15,639 question because he really is an ideal fit. No. Look, it's an 781 00:50:15,679 --> 00:50:19,280 interesting thought exercise because he's not one of the most untouchable tiers in the league. 782 00:50:19,920 --> 00:50:23,480 Right. It's just a weird one. It's a very strange interaction to 783 00:50:23,559 --> 00:50:28,239 imagine. I would think if you're getting if you're negotiating with a contender, 784 00:50:28,239 --> 00:50:30,960 I would probably say it ends up being two first and then a prospect. 785 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:37,119 Not Michael Porter Jr. But like, okay, but can I can I 786 00:50:37,199 --> 00:50:42,079 push back on that? Why the fuck does Oklahoma City want more first round 787 00:50:42,119 --> 00:50:47,519 picks? Like you're using them hoping they turn into lu Dort's That's why I 788 00:50:47,679 --> 00:50:52,360 like those those picks from contenders, So that's what you want them to turn 789 00:50:52,480 --> 00:50:54,159 into. Here's here's another question I have for you, And it was posted 790 00:50:54,199 --> 00:51:00,239 me like the Sam hinkiest move that you could possibly possibly make. That is 791 00:51:00,280 --> 00:51:01,360 a great point, and I think that's why. So it would have to 792 00:51:01,400 --> 00:51:05,320 be tangible stuff, which means that you're probably looking at two young It's got 793 00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:08,440 to be a player. Yeah, so you already said no to Michael Porter 794 00:51:08,559 --> 00:51:13,280 Jr. Is there a prospect that springs to mind? And that's like, 795 00:51:13,519 --> 00:51:16,800 legitimately, that's why I started with Yokich because I was already thinking that about 796 00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:22,079 the draft picks. So it wasn't registering to me that those are things that 797 00:51:22,159 --> 00:51:24,559 I could offer here just because I didn't think Oklahoma City would have any interest. 798 00:51:24,920 --> 00:51:28,159 So in my head, I'm like, Okay, definitely not Yokich. 799 00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:30,920 They would definitely wouldn't trade Jamal Murray. They definitely wouldn't trade Michael Porter's junior. 800 00:51:34,559 --> 00:51:36,559 Where do you go from there? Like, would you trade anyone? 801 00:51:37,159 --> 00:51:38,440 I would think, right, you would trade anyone else. But that's not 802 00:51:38,599 --> 00:51:42,440 really saying much when you're looking at Denver's roster. To me, bullball and 803 00:51:42,559 --> 00:51:45,039 RJ. Hampton is okay? Cool? But or if they wanted like Monte 804 00:51:45,159 --> 00:51:49,360 Morris or JA Michael Green or Will Bardon or something, But then like, 805 00:51:49,559 --> 00:51:52,239 why is Oklahoma City doing well? Someone posed I think this was Sam Quinn 806 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:55,039 on Twitter from CBS Sports posts, would you rather have the number four pick 807 00:51:55,079 --> 00:51:59,920 in this year's draft or lu Dort the number four pick in this year's draft? 808 00:52:00,599 --> 00:52:04,480 It's close for me, this draft is so good. Here's so I've 809 00:52:04,519 --> 00:52:10,159 just salivating, especially after watching watching Jonathan Kuminga's Gee Lee Ignite debut. I'm 810 00:52:10,199 --> 00:52:14,599 just so excited about this draft class. I legitimately think they're like six or 811 00:52:14,639 --> 00:52:17,440 seven guys who'd be number one picks in a normal year. So if Washington 812 00:52:17,559 --> 00:52:21,280 comes knocking with the top five pick this year because they want to keep Bradley 813 00:52:21,320 --> 00:52:23,000 Beal and they're like, hey, give us lue Dort, I would do 814 00:52:23,119 --> 00:52:25,920 that. I would do that. I think it's questionable unless it's the number 815 00:52:25,960 --> 00:52:30,079 one pick or two pick or maybe three. But here was a question that 816 00:52:30,119 --> 00:52:31,599 was posed to me on because I've been on a bunch of podcasts this week, 817 00:52:31,760 --> 00:52:35,800 which I tried to say yes to every single how much time we spent 818 00:52:35,880 --> 00:52:37,280 on lu Dort. By the way, Well we're not. We're only gonna 819 00:52:37,320 --> 00:52:40,679 move. It's adjacent. This is lue Dort adjacent. I was on the 820 00:52:40,760 --> 00:52:45,400 Chase Thomas podcast Fella Blue Wire podcast. They he asked me, Michael Porter 821 00:52:45,559 --> 00:52:52,280 Jr. For OG and a Nobi m do you know I like that deal 822 00:52:52,360 --> 00:52:55,519 so much better? And there's the OG and a Nobi poison pill stuff like 823 00:52:55,679 --> 00:53:00,880 we get it. But I like that deal. For Denver, that is 824 00:53:00,119 --> 00:53:06,360 o Gianna Nobi is the exact type of player that they need, and for 825 00:53:06,519 --> 00:53:08,719 Toronto, I think it's at least questionable. I think I wouldn't do it 826 00:53:08,840 --> 00:53:13,760 unless they're including more than Michael Porter Jr. Just because of his injury history 827 00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:16,800 and he's a wildcard on defense. You already know that Ogianna noby' is a 828 00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:20,840 two way player, but I thought that was a fascinating thought exercise. Am 829 00:53:20,880 --> 00:53:24,280 I wrong? No, you're not. I think I would do it for 830 00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:30,039 both sides. I think Amnaobi is such a good fit for Denver that that 831 00:53:30,119 --> 00:53:36,239 speaks for itself. But I think you can sell yourself on the upside of 832 00:53:36,440 --> 00:53:40,239 Porter, especially because of how potent he is on offense. Like, ultimately 833 00:53:40,400 --> 00:53:45,599 you still have a roster that's going to be a better defensive team than offensive 834 00:53:45,639 --> 00:53:50,320 team if you're keeping Kyle Lowry in place, especially, I think that he 835 00:53:50,679 --> 00:53:52,559 fits really well there. I don't know where I would land on it, 836 00:53:52,639 --> 00:53:59,679 but I think it's I think it's very close. Eric with a K asked, 837 00:54:00,280 --> 00:54:04,480 what's the most realistic package for Alonzo to the Bulls trade and would he 838 00:54:04,559 --> 00:54:09,280 actually be a good fit with Zach Lavine. I'll let you go first, 839 00:54:09,360 --> 00:54:15,360 because it's a trade question. A Lonzo Ball has been playing out of his 840 00:54:15,559 --> 00:54:20,280 mind since the trade rumors hit, and I think part of that is the 841 00:54:20,360 --> 00:54:22,719 Pelicans have kind of put the ball in Zion Williamson's hands more. And if 842 00:54:22,760 --> 00:54:25,559 you use Brandon ingram as more of a shooter, it's going to open the 843 00:54:25,599 --> 00:54:30,760 floor for everybody else. But there's you know, there's sort of no denying 844 00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:35,000 here that Lonzo Ball has been night and day over his last ten games, 845 00:54:35,079 --> 00:54:38,320 fifteen point eight points, four point nine assists, shooting forty six point two 846 00:54:38,360 --> 00:54:42,840 percent from three point range. And I do think he's a good fit with 847 00:54:42,920 --> 00:54:45,360 Zach Lavine because Lavine can put a little bit more pressure on the rim, 848 00:54:45,599 --> 00:54:47,760 and Lonzo Ball is a good defender, not lockdown one on one, but 849 00:54:47,840 --> 00:54:52,800 he'll be disruptive. I don't know what a reasonable price is now, because 850 00:54:52,920 --> 00:54:58,679 Lonzo Ball has played so well where it's like a lot of people were suggesting 851 00:54:59,159 --> 00:55:02,679 the framework b Larry Marking in for Lonzo Ball. Just give them, give 852 00:55:02,760 --> 00:55:08,079 both teams too distressed soon to be restricted free agents. But Lonzo bad fit 853 00:55:08,280 --> 00:55:12,280 in New Orleans though, I think Larry Marking it helps because he's a better 854 00:55:12,280 --> 00:55:15,880 shooter than Nicole O Meli or anybody else that they have in the front court. 855 00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:20,800 That being said, Lonzo Ball to me is the much more valuable asset, 856 00:55:21,119 --> 00:55:29,800 and so it's probably Larry marking in and at first see, I don't 857 00:55:29,840 --> 00:55:31,679 know. This is one of those situations where I look at the two teams 858 00:55:32,320 --> 00:55:36,440 and it's like when you're in a fantasy league and you look at someone else's 859 00:55:36,559 --> 00:55:38,320 roster and are just like, yeah, like we're just not natural trading partners 860 00:55:38,360 --> 00:55:43,480 and the other yeah. And the thing that's weird too, just because Lonzo 861 00:55:43,519 --> 00:55:45,440 Ball is going to be a free agent the summer, the Bulls might have 862 00:55:45,559 --> 00:55:47,159 the cap space to go out and give him this monster offer, and so 863 00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:51,159 why are you going to give up so much value? Having his bird rights 864 00:55:51,199 --> 00:55:54,639 helps because you can match anything. But at the same time, I don't 865 00:55:54,679 --> 00:55:58,000 know what they I think it for New Orleans to consider it, though, 866 00:55:58,000 --> 00:56:00,400 would probably have to be marketing in at the first. I don't know Chicago 867 00:56:00,440 --> 00:56:02,119 would be willing to do that, but that would be my framework. There 868 00:56:02,119 --> 00:56:05,599 there are other teams that I feel like would make more sense for Lonzo. 869 00:56:05,599 --> 00:56:08,199 I think he's a good fit with Lavigne, but Golden State has been floated. 870 00:56:08,320 --> 00:56:12,800 I think that would be a good match. New York now has Dereck 871 00:56:12,880 --> 00:56:15,159 Rose and Alfred Paynton, so not them, but I liked New York for 872 00:56:15,280 --> 00:56:17,960 Lonzo Ball. They'll have cap Space two this summer though, So I do 873 00:56:19,159 --> 00:56:22,000 think because of how well Lonzo Ball has played, it's probably less likely now 874 00:56:22,079 --> 00:56:27,559 that he gets moved right probably so, I think, especially not they're winning 875 00:56:27,599 --> 00:56:30,239 too. I think it's increasingly clear that with this version of Zion Williamson who 876 00:56:30,280 --> 00:56:34,719 it really feels in the last week or so that he's like figured it out. 877 00:56:35,039 --> 00:56:38,719 It just seems like things have clicked for him. Given how they're playing 878 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:42,440 right now, I think it's more realistic that Ball could be the long term 879 00:56:42,480 --> 00:56:45,840 point guard. This is hysterical, No, it's oh no, I'll push 880 00:56:45,880 --> 00:56:49,360 back against that. He I don't think he's a fit long term in Phoenix. 881 00:56:49,400 --> 00:56:52,119 They need a different kind of They need the mess with the makeup of 882 00:56:52,199 --> 00:56:54,119 that roster a little bit. He doesn't put enough half court pressure, like 883 00:56:54,199 --> 00:56:59,519 he just can't be your point guard in those situations. So I don't really 884 00:56:59,599 --> 00:57:01,480 like him the Pelkins that much long term. With both Ingram and Zion, 885 00:57:01,679 --> 00:57:07,880 there see. I think that Ingram and Zion can eventually both take enough of 886 00:57:07,920 --> 00:57:10,960 the ball handling responsibilities that it works. You need to then this has to 887 00:57:12,039 --> 00:57:14,679 be how he shoots. It can't be oh, six weeks good, exactly 888 00:57:14,760 --> 00:57:17,639 six weeks terrible. I'm operating under the assumption that he continues to play like 889 00:57:17,719 --> 00:57:21,039 this to the rest of the season. We have another Pelicans question. But 890 00:57:21,079 --> 00:57:22,679 I find this hysterical because I'm just going through these now. Like we said, 891 00:57:22,719 --> 00:57:27,920 this was an off the cuff podcast. Jake Vandenbrink actually asked about the 892 00:57:28,000 --> 00:57:30,480 Michael Porter Jr. For OG and a Nobi swap. I swear that's not 893 00:57:30,639 --> 00:57:34,800 what I was reading before. He asked, does it make sense for them 894 00:57:34,840 --> 00:57:38,639 to trade MPJ for an athletic defense first minded wing OG and Aenobi would be 895 00:57:38,719 --> 00:57:42,760 the dream, but that might not be realistic. I would probably agree it's 896 00:57:42,800 --> 00:57:45,440 not realistic. But lu Dort for MPJ, that's deal. Stilling you right 897 00:57:45,519 --> 00:57:51,519 in the face, Denver. I hope it happens now, just so that 898 00:57:51,599 --> 00:57:57,480 you can rub that in everyone's noses for all eternity. Let's make this our 899 00:57:57,880 --> 00:58:00,679 last one. Who are setting it's for the Pelkins. We were some realistic 900 00:58:00,719 --> 00:58:02,440 trade targets for the Pelicans that would help propel them to a six seven eight 901 00:58:02,519 --> 00:58:07,320 seed. And we already answered this is Lonzo playing himself into an extension or 902 00:58:07,360 --> 00:58:09,599 trade. Let's do this. Let's finish the second one. First. Is 903 00:58:09,719 --> 00:58:14,199 Lonzo on the Pelicans at the end of the season. I think, so 904 00:58:14,960 --> 00:58:20,400 do they resign him and restrict the free agency? That's just contingent on whether 905 00:58:20,519 --> 00:58:23,159 this keeps up, because I mean, is he on the Pelicans at the 906 00:58:23,159 --> 00:58:29,760 start of next year? I think he is. I'm gonna say no. 907 00:58:30,159 --> 00:58:32,400 I don't know that they would let him walk for nothing because I could see 908 00:58:32,480 --> 00:58:37,400 him finishing the season here. But I feel like maybe signing trade scenarios would 909 00:58:37,440 --> 00:58:39,960 open up in that case where maybe a team with that doesn't have cap space 910 00:58:40,000 --> 00:58:45,119 would be interested in him. I'm buying into the improvement into it last year. 911 00:58:46,159 --> 00:58:50,239 I can't I can't do it long term. I think I think he 912 00:58:50,320 --> 00:58:53,280 can be that this player. I'm just not sure the Pelicans can facilitate it 913 00:58:53,360 --> 00:58:55,639 long term. This is to me, it's more about the makeup of the 914 00:58:55,719 --> 00:59:00,239 roster than Lonzo Ball. Are there any trades which is fair? Are there 915 00:59:00,239 --> 00:59:04,920 any trade target you'd like to see the Pelicans pursue this season that could bolster 916 00:59:05,039 --> 00:59:12,280 their playoff odds. Should they be making those moves as the question one percent 917 00:59:12,320 --> 00:59:15,760 should be They've already paid as they paid Steven Adams Zion is really good. 918 00:59:15,880 --> 00:59:22,039 Now you're gonna have to pay Josh hard at some point, like they, 919 00:59:22,119 --> 00:59:24,000 I would go all in if he was available. I would trade for Bradley 920 00:59:24,039 --> 00:59:28,320 Beale if if I was them, But on a smaller scale. You know, 921 00:59:28,599 --> 00:59:32,199 they definitely need wings. Their wings are branding, John Hark That's where 922 00:59:32,239 --> 00:59:37,559 my head went first. What wings? Harrison Barnes, he would be interesting. 923 00:59:37,559 --> 00:59:42,039 I'd be curious what the asking price is there for Sacramental because Barnes is 924 00:59:42,079 --> 00:59:45,639 having a career year. He's also just under contract for so long that does 925 00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:50,199 does New Orleans want to saddle themselves with the final three years or two excuse 926 00:59:50,239 --> 00:59:52,199 me, two years and thirty eight point six million of his deal? But 927 00:59:52,280 --> 00:59:55,880 he would be very interesting fit there. Joe Well, I thought about a 928 00:59:55,960 --> 01:00:00,719 sort of a short term solution and maybe there's like a combination deal here. 929 01:00:00,760 --> 01:00:04,639 I like PJ. Tucker in New Orleans. Can you get Daniel House as 930 01:00:04,679 --> 01:00:07,760 part of that too? Those might be just two lower key players that are 931 01:00:07,840 --> 01:00:10,880 great fits with the roster. I even contemplated Victor Ladipo for a minute. 932 01:00:10,920 --> 01:00:15,880 If the asking price is just so low where you're giving up salary filler, 933 01:00:15,039 --> 01:00:19,639 or if you're getting off blet those money in the process, I would consider 934 01:00:19,719 --> 01:00:22,679 it. He might be interesting there. To me, Wayne Ellington, maybe, 935 01:00:24,719 --> 01:00:28,719 I just they need they don't need more guards to me, even one 936 01:00:28,760 --> 01:00:30,440 who plays off the ball as well. It's like, oh, so you're 937 01:00:30,440 --> 01:00:32,480 going from JJ Reddeck to Wayne Ellington, who has been better than Reddeck this 938 01:00:32,599 --> 01:00:35,440 year. But right, that's what I'm doing it at. Its just kind 939 01:00:35,440 --> 01:00:38,360 of an upgrade there. It'd be great for them if the Pacers were willing 940 01:00:38,400 --> 01:00:40,440 to trade Justin Holliday, I just don't see it. I'm trying to think 941 01:00:40,440 --> 01:00:45,519 of like the mid tier guys, and look, there are so many Blue 942 01:00:45,559 --> 01:00:52,199 Door not what they're shooting at points, even though they've they've kind of perked 943 01:00:52,280 --> 01:00:55,280 up shots. Right now, Okay, so are you giving up Zion from 944 01:00:55,320 --> 01:01:00,920 lue Door obviously so the natural conclusion of this podcast, Yeah, I'm just 945 01:01:01,239 --> 01:01:04,599 I'm trying to go through my mind to see there's like any lower key. 946 01:01:05,519 --> 01:01:09,000 Aaron Gordon would have been interesting, healthy and if you didn't have Steven Adams, 947 01:01:09,519 --> 01:01:13,719 just as like a Porter junior could be fun. I wouldn't trade for 948 01:01:13,840 --> 01:01:17,079 him, though, unless you're getting off of Bletsos money, right the I'm 949 01:01:17,119 --> 01:01:20,880 just trying to look. So here's the other issue with trade targets I'm noticing 950 01:01:20,960 --> 01:01:22,280 this season and why I wouldn't surprise me if we're in for sort of a 951 01:01:24,559 --> 01:01:30,599 like a quiet trade deadline, let's call it last year. I definitely didn't 952 01:01:30,599 --> 01:01:32,719 predict the quiet trade deadline last year? Did I? I did predict a 953 01:01:32,800 --> 01:01:37,639 shitty twenty twenty one free agency, and everyone thought I was out of my 954 01:01:37,719 --> 01:01:42,519 mind. Look what happened. Uh, but o Giananobi would be great for 955 01:01:42,559 --> 01:01:46,239 the Bolts. I'm just a what about Michael Porter Jr. This is what 956 01:01:46,320 --> 01:01:50,840 I was getting at, though, is how many teams are gonna still fancy 957 01:01:51,159 --> 01:01:53,440 fancy themselves, still in the plane hunt. And I think the Pistons and 958 01:01:53,519 --> 01:01:57,920 the Timberwolves, and I'll say the Thunder and maybe the Rockets. So I'm 959 01:01:57,960 --> 01:02:00,599 really I'm not even sure you want to have the Timberwolves that list. No, 960 01:02:00,719 --> 01:02:02,119 the timber Wolves are there, but they're not making the play in But 961 01:02:02,159 --> 01:02:07,400 I'm saying they're there are a maximum or let's say there are under five teams 962 01:02:07,679 --> 01:02:10,599 that are gonna be sellers at the trade deadline, definitively. Maybe someone pivots 963 01:02:10,679 --> 01:02:15,639 that we can't see right now. That makes it so much harder when you're 964 01:02:15,639 --> 01:02:19,039 looking at availability, and so unless Detroit's fling, I still don't know that 965 01:02:19,079 --> 01:02:22,679 I'm putting Minnesota in that class like they're they're currently what six and a half 966 01:02:22,840 --> 01:02:27,920 games out of tenth place, six and a half games out of ten, 967 01:02:28,119 --> 01:02:30,960 tenth place with Karl Anthony Town's coming back like I can, I don't think 968 01:02:31,000 --> 01:02:37,199 they're realistically within striking distance, but I can see themselves talking and talking themselves 969 01:02:37,320 --> 01:02:40,840 into it. That's lu Dort for Luca don Chichloggett logic. I'm sorry, 970 01:02:42,039 --> 01:02:45,480 that's they're not in it. I mean, they don't really have anyone interesting 971 01:02:45,599 --> 01:02:49,239 to sell. Malik Beasley's been good. He might be a good fit in 972 01:02:49,280 --> 01:02:52,400 New Orleans. Hey, Jeremy Grant. I wonder, I wonder what the 973 01:02:52,480 --> 01:02:55,440 asking price like, what would the Pistons demand in a Jeremy Grant trade? 974 01:02:58,599 --> 01:03:02,679 I mean, there's an obvious answer, Blue Dort obviously, Yeah, I 975 01:03:02,760 --> 01:03:06,519 don't that's I'm not saying that teams should go after him, but he would 976 01:03:06,519 --> 01:03:07,840 be a great fit for the Pelicans. I would think they just they need 977 01:03:07,920 --> 01:03:10,639 wings. That's who they need to prioritize. Can they get if they can 978 01:03:10,639 --> 01:03:15,000 get Reggie Bullock from the Knicks, Like, hell yeah, just get wings. 979 01:03:15,119 --> 01:03:17,440 That's my advice to the Pelicans at this point. It's kind of a 980 01:03:17,480 --> 01:03:22,519 weird thing to advise a Pelican to do. Wow. Okay, I think 981 01:03:22,559 --> 01:03:24,199 that's the best place to end this podcast. Thank you for anyone who made 982 01:03:24,199 --> 01:03:28,840 it the full sixty two minutes with us. Please please, pretty please remember 983 01:03:28,880 --> 01:03:34,039 to subscribe to us wherever you're getting your podcast. Download every episode. You'll 984 01:03:34,079 --> 01:03:37,880 help us promote this Retweet our tweets on Twitter. Whether or not you use 985 01:03:37,960 --> 01:03:42,320 iTunes, please go over there, sir Chardwin Knox, rate, rate it, 986 01:03:42,440 --> 01:03:45,360 review it, subscribe to it. Use those numbers. The ratings and 987 01:03:45,440 --> 01:03:46,599 reviews help us out a ton. Though this isn't me begging, I'd just 988 01:03:46,679 --> 01:03:49,920 like to point it out that a ton of you listen to this podcast and 989 01:03:50,280 --> 01:03:52,840 based off the numbers, have not rated or reviewed us. We still love 990 01:03:52,880 --> 01:03:55,840 you though. You can also find us on YouTube, YouTube dot com. 991 01:03:55,920 --> 01:04:00,519 S or Chardwin Knox. Subscribe to us there and you can catch all our 992 01:04:00,559 --> 01:04:03,000 podcasts there, normally a day or so later because we want to give people 993 01:04:03,000 --> 01:04:06,360 to benefits downloading on the phones, but we are we are creeping up the 994 01:04:06,360 --> 01:04:12,039 subscriber count there too. And finally, follow us on Twitter at Hardwood Knox 995 01:04:12,239 --> 01:04:15,039 until next time we leave you at the shout out to the one, the 996 01:04:15,239 --> 01:04:18,039 only, who else could it be? After the podcast that we just had 997 01:04:19,400 --> 01:04:23,400 blue mother freakin sort