1 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,199 Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest episode of Hardwood Knox. This is 2 00:00:08,199 --> 00:00:12,400 Adam Promill here with my fantastic co host Dan for Valley. We are coming 3 00:00:12,439 --> 00:00:19,000 to you with a new episode of trade discussions. As seemingly every NBA player 4 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:23,600 under the sun, and even prospective NBA players enter the COVID protocols and we 5 00:00:23,679 --> 00:00:27,239 have no idea who's playing for what team. We're still going to talk about 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:31,160 trades because we did the Eastern Conference episode think about a week ago now, 7 00:00:31,519 --> 00:00:35,920 and we're going to be doing the exact same thing for all fifteen Western Conference 8 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,880 teams, Proceeding alphabetically. As Dan throws out some potential trade targets more in 9 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,280 just a general sense rather than fully formed deals, bounces those ideas off me, 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,560 and we figure out what these teams need, which is basically healthy bodies 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,039 at this point. But I think we're just going to proceed under the assumption 12 00:00:52,079 --> 00:00:56,920 that team rosters will eventually get back to normal, so trade season will be 13 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,000 like a normal trade season. I don't know, it doesn't make any sense. 14 00:01:00,119 --> 00:01:03,399 Nothing makes sense right now, Dan, how's it going. I am 15 00:01:03,439 --> 00:01:06,760 outside of health and safety protocols, so it's going well for me. I 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,920 actually took an at home COVID test the night before we're recording this, and 17 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,480 it came back negative. I was feeling fine, but someone at my wife's 18 00:01:15,599 --> 00:01:21,400 job tested positive for COVID, so we both figured we'd take one. So, 19 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,959 yeah, I have zero complaints. How are you doing? I'm doing 20 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,359 well. I feel like that was one of my stranger introductions. I wasn't 21 00:01:27,359 --> 00:01:30,280 really sure where I was going to go with it. Yeah, and I 22 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:36,079 was gonna say, I'm not gonna make this a classic for Valley rant ranting 23 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:40,719 and raven because there's someone coherent. But like the way that the reactions to 24 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:46,159 what's happening with the NBA are so when anyone ever presents them is like definitive. 25 00:01:46,599 --> 00:01:49,799 Oh, the league needs to shut down. What is the shutdown gonna 26 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:55,159 do? Because if unless you're forcing players to quarantine in a bubble, you're 27 00:01:55,159 --> 00:01:57,840 probably gonna get even more COVID problems because they're gonna be out and about with 28 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,840 family and friends doing whatever. So are he was shutting down the league with 29 00:02:00,879 --> 00:02:04,319 the intention of setting up a bubble? Are you shutting down the league with 30 00:02:04,359 --> 00:02:07,520 the intention of setting up even stricter protocols like they did at some point last 31 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,800 year where you couldn't even basically leave your hotel room on the road for some 32 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,599 players. I also don't you know. The other thing that I'm not a 33 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:16,680 fan of is just saying like, oh, we need to go about this 34 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:23,080 as usual because covid is and all the eighty different variants that are teaming up 35 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:24,800 to maybe a former superteam. That was the rumor hadding one of the articles 36 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:30,360 is it's not endemic yet, and so we can't treat this like it's like 37 00:02:30,439 --> 00:02:34,199 in just go on without it. And so I'm not providing any solutions. 38 00:02:34,199 --> 00:02:38,039 I want to make that clear. There I only have complaints or I'm confused. 39 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:43,800 There's something very cringey about the NBA trying to go on with business as 40 00:02:43,879 --> 00:02:47,360 usual. I'm not a fan of the It's basically a let's throw bodies at 41 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,639 the approach because you look at and this is something that's probably not talked about 42 00:02:51,719 --> 00:02:53,879 enough, is when when Kyrie was clear to come back for a minute before 43 00:02:53,879 --> 00:02:59,159 he went out tafety protocols, there were some people that talked about the competitive 44 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:00,800 edge that it gives them. That's to have. You know, the NBA 45 00:03:00,879 --> 00:03:05,360 sow against load management, but now Kyrie only has to play like basically every 46 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,280 third game because he's not on the road or whatever, and that gives them 47 00:03:07,319 --> 00:03:12,080 an unfair edge. The other thing I'm looking at now is you're using these 48 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:17,199 very low cost temporary players to prop up your profit, your AD revenue, 49 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:22,599 your gate revenue by just throwing them into these games they're not getting They're putting 50 00:03:22,599 --> 00:03:25,840 themselves. And I know NBA players are putting themselves at risk by playing these 51 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,120 other players replace them. What are we even calling them? They're putting themselves 52 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:34,240 at the same risk for a lot less money, for a lot less job 53 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,360 security, And there's something cringeworthy about that. I don't know what the answer 54 00:03:37,479 --> 00:03:40,560 is. I do think though, that it's fair. I know some of 55 00:03:40,599 --> 00:03:44,960 the people are like making fun of anyone who wants there to be a shutdown, 56 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,080 or is you know, panning the NBA for what they're doing. I 57 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:51,840 do think it's fair to want to or try to hold the NBA to a 58 00:03:51,919 --> 00:03:57,439 higher standard because it wants and has tried to present itself as this liberal bastion 59 00:03:57,879 --> 00:04:02,159 of sports, as just self aware and it's clearly it is a business first 60 00:04:02,159 --> 00:04:04,759 and foremost, and people can't forget that. But I also think that it's 61 00:04:04,759 --> 00:04:09,240 okay to be like, what are we even doing at this point? And 62 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,080 they're talking. I know they're talking to infectious disease experts. They are more 63 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,800 informed behind the scenes than you or I, than anyone who's not super in 64 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,519 the now or an actual epidemiologist, and so I know that they're making decisions 65 00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:25,319 based off what they're hearing from them. But right now it's more reactive and 66 00:04:25,439 --> 00:04:29,040 adaptive rather than let's be proactive and get out in front of this. And 67 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:30,360 that's probably my main qualm. I don't know what they need to do. 68 00:04:30,439 --> 00:04:32,439 And so that's the end of it turned into a rant. I didn't mean 69 00:04:32,439 --> 00:04:36,120 it to, but we can't present I'm just tired of people on every single 70 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:43,480 side of the equation as presenting their opinions as these actual solutions when shutting down 71 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,560 the league. It's not just shutting down the league's yeah, it's just not 72 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,920 that simple, and it's the NBA is definitely not handling it the right way. 73 00:04:50,959 --> 00:04:57,199 But there's just there's no possible simple solution here. Like the people who 74 00:04:57,319 --> 00:05:00,879 argue just blanket policies shut down the league, like, okay, think about 75 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:05,439 what you're doing to all the essential workers who are within the league's purview, 76 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,600 you know, the arena staff, the team staff, and everything, especially 77 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,519 during holiday season. Even beyond that, Like, just from a logistical standpoint, 78 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:16,720 and this is not meant to carry water for the NBA because there are 79 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,759 more important things and making sure that basketball games can be played. But again 80 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:27,439 from a logistical standpoint. When the league shut down the first time, everything 81 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:32,839 shut down, and that's not the case now because life is still proceeding in 82 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:38,959 whatever this new normal we have is amidst the pandemic. So if you shut 83 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:44,360 down your arena bookings right now, there are still concerts and events scheduled in 84 00:05:44,519 --> 00:05:48,040 perpetuity right now, those are not being canceled. So you're just not going 85 00:05:48,079 --> 00:05:51,040 to be able to resume. And if you do, it's going to be 86 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:56,399 with this scattered schedule or at non standard locations, which creates all sorts of 87 00:05:56,439 --> 00:06:00,959 logistical nightmares. It's just it's not simple in any way right now. And 88 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,839 the people who are pretending it is either by saying continue as normal, like 89 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:08,800 we don't need to make any changes, or shut everything down without considering what 90 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,720 those repercussions are, Like you have to think about it more than that. 91 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,639 Yeah, I'm just one percent with you, and it sucks that there's no 92 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,839 answers. But I think one of the biggest problems is there's been no uniformity 93 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,160 from the beginning about how the COVID pandemic is is handled, and so to 94 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:30,879 not have alignment anywhere is disastrous. And if it's happening, if it's happening 95 00:06:30,879 --> 00:06:34,279 in the NBA, they're just they're microcosm of just what's happening around the rest 96 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:39,879 of the country today as the cases just go through the roof. So I 97 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:46,040 wish there were solutions and but there just aren't. And it's I just want 98 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,360 to say, it's not as simple as shutting the league down. And it's 99 00:06:47,399 --> 00:06:51,839 also not as simple as just go just forget about it now. If they're 100 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:57,160 asymptomatic, they should play. It's also not that simple. Yep, So 101 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:03,399 subscribe to my substack. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to derail us like 102 00:07:03,439 --> 00:07:06,199 that, but it is. I mean, I'm glad you did because it 103 00:07:06,199 --> 00:07:12,199 would have felt weird, just like jumping into trade conversations without addressing the eight 104 00:07:12,279 --> 00:07:15,319 thousand ton elephant in the room. Yeah, I mean, look, there's 105 00:07:15,319 --> 00:07:17,639 another game about to be canceled as they're recording this. I don't think New 106 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,600 Orleans and Philadelphia is gonna be played so and we're just sending guys to different 107 00:07:21,639 --> 00:07:26,959 teams or as trade targets. But it's it is trade it is trade season. 108 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,279 I'll put that in quotes, because nothing ever happened shortly after December fifteens. 109 00:07:30,519 --> 00:07:33,120 Do you want to go in alphabetic order for the Western Conference or do 110 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,360 you want to go and reverse alphabetic order? I think we should still go 111 00:07:36,399 --> 00:07:41,040 in alphabetical order. I would just get too confused, and I genuinely don't 112 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,439 know if you could handle reverse alphabetical order. You've had enough trouble with the 113 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,560 standard one in the past, fair enough. That means we start with the 114 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:51,560 Dallas Mavericks, and I'm just assuming that you're gonna like be suggesting head coach 115 00:07:51,639 --> 00:07:56,240 trades. Yeah, I mean that should be among them. But when you 116 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,199 look at the Mavericks there, this has become the cliche, but it's still 117 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:05,000 what they need most. They need like the second shot creator slash playmaker. 118 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,279 It's Jalen Brunton is good, but he's just not the answer they are. 119 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,480 Chris Stops is never going to be that type of player, even though he 120 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,800 has the freedom to pull up from mid range. Goran Dragic is the obvious 121 00:08:13,839 --> 00:08:16,000 target. He's not even with the Raptors right now. For them, we 122 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:20,319 don't know what he has left. Eric Gordon I think would be fantastic for 123 00:08:20,319 --> 00:08:22,920 this team. The MAVs do not put any sort of pressure on the rim. 124 00:08:22,959 --> 00:08:26,639 They're dead last in rim frequency. So he's the name that stood out 125 00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:30,519 to me. Christian would would be interesting for them because he's super du He's 126 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,159 more dynamic offensively than Chris Stops. I'm not sure if people know that Chris 127 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,080 Stops is the better rim protector and it feels strength overall defender, and if 128 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,879 they were going to go lower end because the MAVs don't have trade assets. 129 00:08:41,879 --> 00:08:45,679 Really there's you know, you're getting yourself into either distant first round picks or 130 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,159 Maxi Kleiba Dorian Phinise. But there's not unless someone's really in love with Kris 131 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,879 Stops porzingis. They don't have a ton of assets. Anthony Simons, who's 132 00:08:52,879 --> 00:08:56,159 about to end a restrictive free agency. Is Portland willing to part with him 133 00:08:56,200 --> 00:09:01,440 at all? And the other name that's been floating around, which Kyrie Irving. 134 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,879 I don't have the patience him anymore, But there is some merit to 135 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:09,000 like, why don't those two teams just swap Porzing isn't Kyrie irving? The 136 00:09:09,039 --> 00:09:11,000 Nets defense has been better than expected, but their front quotation is wild, 137 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:16,759 and the MAVs are already dealing with an unvaccinated player in Trey Burke, So 138 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,399 being outside New York maybe that makes that a little easier. I don't. 139 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:26,240 I'm so far just I don't even want to talk about Kyrie at this point, 140 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,840 But to me, there is some merit to that type of swap. 141 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,879 Of those names, I think Eric Gordon is the one that intrigues me most. 142 00:09:35,399 --> 00:09:39,639 And the reason for that is not just as you mentioned, the ability 143 00:09:39,759 --> 00:09:43,559 to attack the basket, which is something that Dallas is sorely lacking. And 144 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,159 I'm also not that inclined to give up Chris Stops right now, because I 145 00:09:46,159 --> 00:09:50,200 think he's kind of sneakily having a pretty good season. Maybe not shooting the 146 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,559 ball particularly well from three, but just in terms of the rim protection, 147 00:09:54,639 --> 00:09:58,879 the defensive versatility, the offensive attention that he draws, he has been pretty 148 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,840 valuable for the Maverick. But Jason Kidd wants to do everything in his power 149 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,200 to take the ball out of Luca Dontech's hands. That's for whatever reason, 150 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:15,279 the offensive structure does not seem built to maximize the potential high usage nature of 151 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:20,759 his game, and I don't want to give him another player like someone like 152 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,919 Jaylen Brunson, who is going to compound that issue. So to me, 153 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:31,120 Anthony Simon's as good as he's been for the Blazers. I don't really want 154 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,600 to see him on the Mavericks because I worry about that further cutting into Lucas 155 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:39,360 production. Whereas Gordon can be that off ball, slashing presence who also can 156 00:10:39,399 --> 00:10:41,799 handle and get to the basket. It's just it seems like he is the 157 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:48,519 guy who both aligns with what the Mavericks are already doing and wouldn't push them 158 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,480 in a non beneficial direction. I totally get that a name that I thought 159 00:10:52,519 --> 00:10:56,559 about another Blazer. No one's talking about him in trade rumors because he's been 160 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:00,480 good this year. Norman Powell, he's been really good this year. If 161 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,679 the Blazers are like sort of looking at change, like if they do rebuild, 162 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,799 which I don't expect them to, Chris stops for Norman Powell. I 163 00:11:05,799 --> 00:11:09,799 think you probably need to attach something to Chris stops in that, but Norman 164 00:11:09,799 --> 00:11:13,840 Powell would be he's sort of like a I don't know, their games just 165 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,679 really aren't that similar. But I think he would fit the same mold as 166 00:11:16,799 --> 00:11:18,960 Eric Gordon, where he's not going to come in and exacerbate the issues that 167 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:24,080 you're talking about. Do you think we should just like do live news on 168 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,440 this podcast, just as we get the shams and tweets, Like while we 169 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:33,320 were talking, Kendrick Nunn has been cleared from the protocols, Jared Allen has 170 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,000 entered. We already saw Trey Young entered the protocols this morning. Yeah, 171 00:11:37,039 --> 00:11:39,759 we're you know what, We're just kidding because it would be an eight hour 172 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:45,879 podcast. It's funny that Kendrick Nunn, like the he goes in the leagu's 173 00:11:45,879 --> 00:11:48,720 health and safety protocols, he's cleared, he's not even playing, he's still 174 00:11:48,759 --> 00:11:54,039 injured. At some point, do we need the constant news? I'm about 175 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,799 to turn off my WOAG and shams shams notifications because it's like, I do 176 00:11:56,879 --> 00:12:00,840 I want all these guys to be all right, But at the same time, 177 00:12:00,919 --> 00:12:03,159 it's like, why don't you just tell me who's not the dat product. 178 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,200 It's just depressing at this point, right, it's also for your mental 179 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,720 health. You should probably turn off woas and shops notifications when we bought in 180 00:12:11,759 --> 00:12:18,120 the Denver Nuggets because we're just gonna fucking talk about trade. Still, I 181 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,639 don't This feels like the most pointless episode, and I really hope people are 182 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,000 enjoying it. I told Kaitlyn Cooper, if you haven't checked out our Pacers 183 00:12:24,039 --> 00:12:28,960 podcast that we put up on Friday afternoon, because that's how important that podcast 184 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,960 was. You know, I hate publishing podcasts in the middle of the day 185 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,679 on Friday, don't even like putting them up on Friday morning. But I 186 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,200 broke up my cardinal rule because it was an important podcast. I told her. 187 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,519 I don't know if it was on arrows like on air or not. 188 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,840 I said, I feel really just a moral doing this, But the NBA 189 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:46,600 is soldiering on, and like, what else are we supposed to do at 190 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:52,600 this point? The Nuggets, anyway, they're in this weird spot because they 191 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,519 need stuff, But I'm not giving them this all in type of target. 192 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,679 They are limited in what they can give up. Michael Porter, Junior Murray, 193 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,440 not anywhere you extend Darren Gordon, you can move him, but he's 194 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,799 not going anywhere. Kid's not going anywhere. But you also wouldn't make a 195 00:13:05,799 --> 00:13:09,279 big move this season with Michael Porter Junior and Jamal Murray both potentially out for 196 00:13:09,279 --> 00:13:13,159 the rest of the year. So I just in my head, I was 197 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,519 like, they need wings or versatile guys who can preferably hit threes. I 198 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,240 know a lot of people are gonna be like, well, they need another 199 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,480 guy who can sort of create on offense. This is just not the season 200 00:13:22,519 --> 00:13:24,039 to go after that type of player because I do believe you would be a 201 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:28,000 little bit more expensive. So the three names I have for them ken Rich 202 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,840 Williams, because I'm going to mention him with every team. He's just because 203 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:37,519 we both love him so valid justin holiday, someone who can defend a bunch 204 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:39,960 of different wing spots, especially if you're going to play him in second units 205 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,120 hit threes. He's been sneaky valuable to the Pacers over the past few years. 206 00:13:45,519 --> 00:13:48,279 Just recently return to their rotation, I believe after being out for a 207 00:13:48,279 --> 00:13:52,639 minute and then the other one. This is a deep cut Utah wants an 208 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:56,639 Abbe might be the most positionless player in the NBA right now. If you've 209 00:13:56,639 --> 00:13:58,600 watched any of the Raptors, and he can kind of do a little bit 210 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:03,679 of every thing. Maybe nothing great enough to where you're like, we want 211 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,639 to put the ball in his hands and see what kind of pick and roll 212 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,840 mystique that he has on offense. But he can, he can stretch the 213 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:11,919 floor, He can play a bunch of different positions. I probably wouldn't put 214 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:15,799 him at the small ball five, but he can defend basically anyone. He 215 00:14:15,879 --> 00:14:20,200 plays simultaneously smaller and bigger than he is. And I think he's like six 216 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,960 and nine or something around around there, because every player on Torontos between six 217 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,120 seven and six nine. And these players are cheap. I don't know what 218 00:14:26,159 --> 00:14:28,559 they cost when you look at their money. They're cheap, is what I 219 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,559 mean. I don't know what they cost in terms of assets. I can't 220 00:14:31,559 --> 00:14:35,519 even begin to build packages. But Denver does have, you know, for 221 00:14:35,559 --> 00:14:39,759 a justin holiday like Jamichael Green's matching salary, and there he makes more than 222 00:14:39,799 --> 00:14:43,639 just a holly Like that's a good starting point. It's what are you attached 223 00:14:43,639 --> 00:14:46,039 to? Stuff like that? Ken Rick Williams and wants An are so cheap 224 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,360 though, that it almost becomes problematic for the Nuggets because you're looking at bull 225 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,159 Ball and then it's okay, how do we sweeten this for that team? 226 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,799 You have to sweeten it that much though, Yeah, bullboll is not an 227 00:14:56,879 --> 00:15:01,720 NBA player. We need to he he couldn't crack the Nuggets rotation where there 228 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:05,960 was no one in it a valid point, I do. I do want 229 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,080 to provide the counter argument to you too, Watanabe, being the most positionless 230 00:15:11,159 --> 00:15:13,840 player in the NBA, I would I would argue that with Kyrie Irving kind 231 00:15:13,879 --> 00:15:22,240 of sort of back that goes to Ben Simmons. Oh man. I mean 232 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:26,639 this is Denver is an impossible one because it needs everything and it doesn't have 233 00:15:26,679 --> 00:15:30,720 anything to give up. It could use a backup big two, which is 234 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,320 why ken Ridge Williams. I don't know if he's the best options of backup 235 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,879 five, but he can play some five, so yeah, it's fine. 236 00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:39,879 I mean, I just I tend to think with this Denver roster, it's 237 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,840 just going to be in a wait and see approach mode, which sucks because 238 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:50,039 this is a season that you want to be doing everything you can to maximize 239 00:15:50,159 --> 00:15:52,440 your chances of winning a championship around the best player in the world, and 240 00:15:52,519 --> 00:15:56,159 you just don't have the ability to do that right now because you don't know 241 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:00,240 when Murray is coming back, Michael Porter Jr. Is likely out for the 242 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:06,320 entire season. Everyone else is either hurt or in the protocols right now, 243 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:11,440 and you have no guarantees there, So it just it feels like Denver needs 244 00:16:11,519 --> 00:16:17,879 everything and has very little incentive to do anything right now. And also part 245 00:16:17,919 --> 00:16:21,399 of my agenda was I don't want to put anyone on the Nuggets that could 246 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,320 theoretically usurp Bones Island in the rotation, which is totally valid. And I 247 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,799 think your other agenda point is making sure you mentioned justin holiday for every single 248 00:16:29,799 --> 00:16:33,960 team, So kudos for continuing that trend. It Kendridge Williams is the is 249 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,399 the that's I guess him and Joson Holliday. But Kenricksony is going to come 250 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,440 up a lot, I believe anyway, we'll see now. I feel bad 251 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,200 that we don't have like more in depth analysis for Denver, but at the 252 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,759 same time, like they're pretty frequently covered in every one of our mailbags. 253 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,960 So sorry, Nuggets fans, just not going to get that much this time 254 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,039 around because the situation doesn't call for it. I don't think this was shallow 255 00:16:55,039 --> 00:16:56,519 analysis. Reminder, just spent more time on them than we did the Mavericks. 256 00:16:56,559 --> 00:17:00,320 I just I don't think this is the season for them to go after 257 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,840 the splash of year names. It's just if you told me Jamal Murray or 258 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,599 Michael Porter Jr. Was going to be back at some point this season, 259 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:10,880 maybe you start looking into getting more aggressive. But they have to they can 260 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:12,119 tweet, and I do definitely think they need to acquire a waing. PJ. 261 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:18,400 Dozer's absence is monstrous for them. The Golden State Warriors, who they 262 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,400 were immediately linked to the Pacers when there was a report that the Pacers might 263 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,119 be open to rebuilding, and we're both skeptical that the Pacers will actually rebuild. 264 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:29,119 I couldn't vision a scenario where they trade one of their bigs. I 265 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,640 think Miles Turner or Sabonis is a fit for them. They're not one of 266 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,599 my top targets personally for Golden State. We can get into that in a 267 00:17:34,599 --> 00:17:38,200 minute. I was curious about what you thought about either of their two fits. 268 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,799 Who you prefer. I will say my one. I prefer Turner for 269 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:48,559 them because I think he would be more helpful in a closing lineup situation than 270 00:17:48,599 --> 00:17:53,400 a Sabonis would. I also prefer Turner there. I really like both fits. 271 00:17:53,519 --> 00:17:57,880 And I'll throw Jonas Jonas Valentinas's name into the mix as well, because 272 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:02,599 we've mentioned that before, or if New Orleans does decide to totally blow it 273 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,880 up, which seems like it could be getting more and more likely with Zion 274 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:10,440 Williamson just basically never returning to the lineup. I really like that fit still, 275 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:17,240 I do. I do like it, But when I've been approaching the 276 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:18,839 Golden State, they're also in a situation where it's like can they make it? 277 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:23,480 They can't really make a small move because definitely not, because you're either 278 00:18:23,519 --> 00:18:30,559 giving up two of your kiddos in Kaminga Moody and Wiseman. Wiggins is so 279 00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:33,359 important to you that it's not just a matter of using his contract the salary 280 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,519 ballast, and so you just don't have a lot of these. You don't 281 00:18:36,519 --> 00:18:38,960 have really any mid end deals. There's a bunch of minimums in Kavan Looney. 282 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:44,680 So is Wiggins on a bad contract anymore? Are we ready to move 283 00:18:44,759 --> 00:18:52,000 him out of that that area? He is? Clearly he's relative to what 284 00:18:52,039 --> 00:18:56,920 he's being paid. I think he's overpaid because there's a difference between being overpaid 285 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,880 and being like bad contract. It's not a move, it's not even clo 286 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,039 still worst contract in the league, but it's not even close to the best, 287 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,720 and it's just His value to Golden State, though, is interesting because 288 00:19:06,759 --> 00:19:08,480 of what he does for them is sort of someone who's picked up his defense 289 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:14,240 over the past season and a half and then being able to I still don't 290 00:19:14,279 --> 00:19:17,279 think he or even necessarily Jordan Pool or the answer to the non staff minutes, 291 00:19:17,319 --> 00:19:19,519 but like just being able to shoot a good enough clip from three or 292 00:19:19,599 --> 00:19:23,039 get off certain jumpers is super important for them. So the fact that he's 293 00:19:23,079 --> 00:19:27,759 become so mission critical makes it tough because I still think his contract to me 294 00:19:27,839 --> 00:19:32,839 still comes close to being I wouldn't think twice about moving it as a salary 295 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:37,200 matching tool rather than this player is valuable. But because he's been so useful 296 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,480 to the Warriors, it's fair to look at him that way. Yeah, 297 00:19:40,519 --> 00:19:44,599 that's that's valid. I do think. I think the big question for Golden 298 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:49,559 State on the trade market is centered around Wiseman, because they have, at 299 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:55,920 least publicly facing given no indication that they're willing to move him. Personally, 300 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:00,759 I think that's ridiculous. I really liked Wiseman coming into league. I thought 301 00:20:00,759 --> 00:20:03,400 that he had all sorts of potential and he still does. But he was 302 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,440 a disaster during his rookie season, which granted, probably should have been expected 303 00:20:07,799 --> 00:20:11,279 given that he played like three games above the high school level, hadn't played 304 00:20:11,279 --> 00:20:15,000 too much competitive basketball in like two years, all of that, but just 305 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:21,400 did not look even remotely like he should be on the court at the NBA 306 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:26,480 level during that rookie season. You have a core built around Steph, Draymond 307 00:20:26,519 --> 00:20:29,720 Green, and Clay Thompson, who are all getting up there in the years, 308 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:34,640 and I know that there's appeal to having Weissman as this bridge player who 309 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:41,319 can theoretically contribute this season when he is eventually healthy, and then potentially be 310 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,640 like the building block of the post Steph Warriors, which I don't even want 311 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:52,599 to think about. But I would move him to maximize both the value that 312 00:20:52,599 --> 00:20:56,920 he has, because we see it time and time again where when players actually 313 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,759 play at the NBA level, they're he goes down them because when there's still 314 00:21:00,759 --> 00:21:06,799 these untapped mystery boxes filled with unrealized potential, they have more value on the 315 00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:11,400 trade market. So if you move him now before he looks bad again as 316 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,759 a sophomore, if he does look bad, you're getting You're getting a better 317 00:21:15,839 --> 00:21:19,440 return for a window that you don't know how long it is going to stay 318 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:26,680 open. So I would do whatever I can to parlay him into someone like 319 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,319 Miles Turner, Jonas Valentiunist, Demonte Sabonis, you name that, that star 320 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:36,319 level player who can help them win a championship right now while they already look 321 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:40,240 like the best team in the league without wise been available, without Klay Thompson 322 00:21:40,279 --> 00:21:45,039 playing a single minute, Like I get that you're trying to maximize your long 323 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:51,440 term potential and treat him as that bridge player, but you don't get too 324 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:56,279 many opportunities to win championships in the NBA. It's it's almost like a little 325 00:21:56,279 --> 00:22:00,960 bit arrogant that Golden States front office thinks it can pull this off without doing 326 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,079 something like that. Is it arrogant because there's a chance that they can do 327 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,400 nothing and still win a title. It'd be different if they were like the 328 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:14,559 Grizzlies right now and the ability to potentially win a title this season because they 329 00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:17,720 have looked like the best team in the league to this point in the regular 330 00:22:17,759 --> 00:22:22,680 season, which is a key caveat is impressive, and it does give them 331 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:27,640 the bandwidth to justify not moving him, But it's gonna look really bad if 332 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:32,519 they don't win a title, and there's no guarantee right now, not that 333 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:37,519 there would be even with another star on board, but you do what you 334 00:22:37,599 --> 00:22:42,880 can to maximize the chances that you know you have. So I'm with you 335 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:48,720 on Wiseman, especially because after the season, like they haven't really they've been 336 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,000 more hush hush about him than they have about Klay Thompson. And even when 337 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,680 he's healthy, I would probably argue that they're not going to play him much. 338 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:59,559 They'll take the kaminga Moses Moody approach here because one he's and this isn't 339 00:22:59,559 --> 00:23:02,000 a shot at him, and people got mad in our YouTube comments. He 340 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:06,559 was not a helpful player for them last year, and maybe it gets better 341 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:08,599 with in the second unit this year. You know he can run more pick 342 00:23:08,599 --> 00:23:14,480 and roll if he's healthy, but they their turn was without him once he 343 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:18,839 was injured. Is when Draymond and Steph and the team took off. And 344 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,200 now you're in a position where because you're so close to winning a championship, 345 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,839 you essentially functionally have to punt on the second year of his career. And 346 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,480 so this isn't a moody comingo situation where now there's there only one year into 347 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,680 their careers. Two is a lot and two Wiseman's credit, he retains a 348 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,680 lot of the mystery box of people because he's played in fewer than twenty games 349 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,119 since his senior year of high school. That's also part of the problem obviously, 350 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,079 So I'm with you on it. I went into this exercise, I 351 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:48,519 texted two of our close friends slash Warriors fans about who would be the worst 352 00:23:48,519 --> 00:23:52,920 player that they would trade two of their youngsters for. And the name, 353 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,880 the only name that really came back and he was on my list of again 354 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,599 with was Pascal Siakam. And I do think that he's the type of player 355 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,440 they need because just someone who can also attack with the ball in his hands, 356 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,720 which is something that Miles Turner, and also defend, is my point. 357 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,839 Like, so Bonus has gotten better on defense, but it's still is 358 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,680 not that player Turner. I know he wants a larger role and he can 359 00:24:14,759 --> 00:24:18,200 kind of attack in space a little bit he has the one dribble three now, 360 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:22,119 but that's not really his mode of operation. Siakam is actually someone who 361 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:26,279 could facilitate lineups to me without Steff and have them be a net positive on 362 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,720 offense because the non Steff minutes are once again an issue through On State. 363 00:24:30,279 --> 00:24:33,559 I'm curious to you, though, after what you just said, would you 364 00:24:33,599 --> 00:24:36,640 give up two of the youngsters, And maybe there's other picks involved, but 365 00:24:37,079 --> 00:24:40,839 two of Golden State's youngsters for a turner or some bonus, and would you 366 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,119 do it for Siakam obviously too, But I think that's a no brainer. 367 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:48,000 Yeah, I think I would in all cases. It makes sense to maximize 368 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,599 the window right now. And I'm as good as Kaminga looked a few nights 369 00:24:52,599 --> 00:24:56,920 ago. At this point, I'm still not entirely sold on his game, 370 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,640 translating to start him at the NBA level, I would be more hesitant to 371 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:07,880 give up Moody, I think than cominga yeah, which I recognize as a 372 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,319 hot take. Yeah, if you're getting Sabonus or Turner back, I would. 373 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,200 That's absolutely a hot take. If it's Siakam, maybe you view them 374 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:18,680 as a little bit redundant moving forward, But I don't know if I would 375 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,839 give up two of the youngsters for it would and I wouldn't give up here. 376 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:29,720 So where Matt is, you're either getting cominga alone and then stuff that's 377 00:25:29,759 --> 00:25:34,000 not Wiseman or Moody for Sabonus or Turner, or I would maybe consider doing 378 00:25:34,039 --> 00:25:38,839 Moody and Wiseman. It would be I guess I'm not as high on the 379 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,200 Sibonus fit as everyone else. So Bonus is the better player than turn I 380 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,480 want to make that clear as fantastic, He's the one that gives me pause 381 00:25:44,559 --> 00:25:47,880 because there still would kind of be like a functional change and what they might 382 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:52,039 want to do on offense. But what's more of a story for the Warriors 383 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,920 is they really only seem built to make a home run swing. I do 384 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,640 have one cheap, cheaper player for them in terms of salary. What don't 385 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,640 we take to get Grant Williams out of Boston having such a hell of a 386 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:07,440 season. He's been so good, shooting the ball so well, been pretty 387 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,079 good on defense. I just don't know, you know, are you if 388 00:26:11,079 --> 00:26:15,039 you're are you thinking at this from from the perspective of Boston where it's Hey, 389 00:26:15,799 --> 00:26:21,039 this clearly isn't our year. He's going to be extension eligible this summer. 390 00:26:21,079 --> 00:26:22,279 We're not sure if we want to pay him. We paid Robert Williams, 391 00:26:22,319 --> 00:26:26,279 We have the two Jays. We also have Horford maybe on the books 392 00:26:26,279 --> 00:26:27,839 for another year, or are we going to waive him. I'd just be 393 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:32,920 curious because Boston to me is a paper tiger at best in the East, 394 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,319 and I don't think they'll strip it down and rebuild. I don't think Jalen 395 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:38,440 Brown is getting traded, but guys like Grant Williams or even I don't think 396 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,160 Marcus March should be untouchable for them at this point. But Grant Williams would 397 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,920 just be what's the thing to get him? Because he would be he's not 398 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:45,839 carrying the non staph line. I'm just want to make that clear. But 399 00:26:45,839 --> 00:26:48,359 he would be a fantastic fit on the wood. I just I feel like 400 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:52,039 he's in that weird range where Golden State just doesn't have the asset equity to 401 00:26:52,079 --> 00:26:57,400 get him because the pieces are all or all either too young with enough upside 402 00:26:57,759 --> 00:27:00,960 that you want more, or you have to make the bigger move, as 403 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,759 we established at the beginning of this section. So I just I think it's 404 00:27:03,799 --> 00:27:07,640 tough to get there. I am. I am curious though, which Warriors 405 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:11,000 friends you consulted for this, because if it was a friend of the podcast 406 00:27:11,079 --> 00:27:15,640 Jacob Born being asked who the worst player he'd move Wispan for, it would 407 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:21,440 be something like, probably like Nicola Yokich because we really need help, because 408 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:22,400 you know, as good as this team has been, it could all fall 409 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:26,640 apart and they could finish with the worst record in the league. It was 410 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,279 he was one of them, and then frequent guests and colleague of hours at 411 00:27:30,279 --> 00:27:33,720 Polish Report, Grant Hughes was the other one. I asked, Grant is 412 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:37,680 way too high on the Warriors. I'm just sorry, Grant, if you're 413 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,839 listening to this. He I asked him if he would give up two of 414 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:42,680 the youngsters for Jalen Brown, and he was like, I don't know how 415 00:27:42,759 --> 00:27:47,759 Jalen Brown really moves the deedle for Golden State when they have Wiggins. And 416 00:27:47,799 --> 00:27:51,720 I was like, oh my god, I love you, Grant, but 417 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,079 but yeah, I asked him in jest because he's been saying no to all 418 00:27:56,119 --> 00:28:00,359 my ideas and I just assumed that would be automatic. Yes, what do 419 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,240 you think about Ben Simmons for this team. Let's wrap up here really quickly. 420 00:28:03,759 --> 00:28:07,599 I actually seeing and maybe I was too far removed from watching the Peak 421 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,519 Warriors, but seeing Kavan Looney healthy and Draymond Green worked together, I'm like, 422 00:28:12,039 --> 00:28:17,200 you know, what do it? If you can get him and it's 423 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:19,279 there would have to be a third or fourth team because we know Philly doesn't 424 00:28:19,319 --> 00:28:23,119 want youngster's picks. Whatever I was coming into the season, I was hell 425 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:27,599 no. Right now, I'm like, hell yes, can you imagine the 426 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:33,559 defensive lineup with like him, Gary Payton and Draymond Green sharing the court? 427 00:28:33,519 --> 00:28:38,400 Oh my god, and Andrew Williams all defense Andrew Williams according to But yeah, 428 00:28:38,519 --> 00:28:42,079 that would be you know, assuming you're not giving up Gary Payton and 429 00:28:42,119 --> 00:28:45,200 that deal for Ben Simmons, which perhaps you might have to do. But 430 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,000 would you be on board with the team I could get down. That'd be 431 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:52,200 fun. Let's we are at a better pace for this podcast. Let's try 432 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:53,759 and to speed this up. This team is kind of easy because the Rockets 433 00:28:55,599 --> 00:28:57,519 they did get rid of Daniel House, who was listed as a target for 434 00:28:57,519 --> 00:29:00,039 a few of these teams. I just he has not been good, but 435 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,680 is a wing who can defend a few positions and theoretically hit threes even though 436 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:07,400 he hasn't been. But they got rid of him. They saw in Garrison 437 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,640 Matthews, who needs a new fucking agent. My god. He never should 438 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:12,720 have been on a two way to begin with, and now he's on one 439 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:18,599 of those freaking four year, partially guaranteed deals that's gonna pay him less than 440 00:29:18,599 --> 00:29:22,599 ten million if he hits. He's been great for them that Lisa's agent convinced 441 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,680 him to stay in the NBA because there were those reports that he was thinking 442 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,079 about just not playing basketball anymore when he could only get a two way, 443 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:30,960 oh, not playing at all. I was like, if he's gonna go 444 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:34,119 overseas might have made more money than this. I think the way it was 445 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,440 framed, and I did not read the whole thing, I'll be honest, 446 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,920 was that he was like thinking about hanging up. Well, that's sad because 447 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,519 he's really good. So I just have three youngster names here, and I 448 00:29:44,559 --> 00:29:48,039 think you're probably getting them. Is either did we trade Christian Wood? Did 449 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:52,440 we trade Eric Gordon? That's probably I don't think they should trade j Shan 450 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:53,599 Tape, but that might be a name to throw in there. This is 451 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:59,559 not a oh we traded Daniel Tice situation. But I have Peyton Pritchard, 452 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,400 who's played as big of a role for Boston orban as good as I think 453 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:04,720 they were expecting. And look, this team needs like just more point guard 454 00:30:04,759 --> 00:30:08,200 options aside from DJ Augustine and I hope that Kevin Porter Jr. I know 455 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,200 they went on that seven game winning streak or whatever it was a couple of 456 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,480 weeks back. But I have Peyton Pritchard, Kobe White as Flyers, and 457 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:19,359 then I have talent Horton Tucker because the Lakers are willing to build trade packages 458 00:30:19,559 --> 00:30:25,240 around talent Horton Tucker and maybe yet Eric Gordon that's on the yard consider because 459 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:30,519 he kind of fits their identity, of their identity without Jalen Green, I 460 00:30:30,559 --> 00:30:33,240 should say, where they've had some just like interesting defensive lineups, but imagine 461 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:37,160 having talent Horton Tucker is not good at defense yet, but just like the 462 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,839 positional malleability with him and Jay Shawn Tate there. I'm just worry about the 463 00:30:41,839 --> 00:30:45,000 shooting limitations with him. That's that's my immediate negative reaction, just at the 464 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,640 point with Houston where I'm like, fuck it, just let's see but I 465 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,440 would understand why I would prefer to have Peyton Pritchard or Kobe White on this 466 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:55,400 team. Would Kobe White, I don't know, I might have talent Horton 467 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:57,359 Tucker over Kobe White. I'm not gonna lie just because Kobe White and Jalen 468 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,000 Green And if Kevin Porter Junior is still there, that's that's a lot of 469 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:04,240 microwave chuckers. That could be fun though. No. I mean, I 470 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,039 honestly don't think Houston should worry about fit right now, because what are you 471 00:31:08,599 --> 00:31:14,440 maximizing your fit for. It's it's about getting talent, it's about getting upside. 472 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:17,880 I think the way I'm looking at this roster is just who would I 473 00:31:18,039 --> 00:31:22,440 not move? And you know the answers are pretty obvious at the top with 474 00:31:22,559 --> 00:31:26,400 Sean Gun and Green. I don't think you want to move Kevin Porter Junior. 475 00:31:27,079 --> 00:31:30,599 Don't don't think you want to move Jay shown Tap. But beyond that, 476 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,920 like if you can get a second round pick for someone, if you 477 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:36,880 can get a young player with some upside, just do it and worry about 478 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:41,160 the fit later because you need NBA caliber players. I will say I'm happy 479 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,880 they're starting to play Josh Christopher Moore. I really just want Usman Gruba to 480 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,960 see the floor. Those are also not that they're untouchable, but like, 481 00:31:48,319 --> 00:31:51,079 I'm so high on Gruba that i'd rather see him get more playing. That's 482 00:31:51,079 --> 00:31:52,440 not someone I'm moving because I don't think I know enough about him. If 483 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:56,359 I'm the Rockets to give up on and you're not, you shouldn't be, 484 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,400 to me at least going after a star at the moment. So no, 485 00:32:00,519 --> 00:32:02,039 you definitely should not. But yeah, I mean I would. I would 486 00:32:02,039 --> 00:32:05,319 see what I could get for Christian Wood at this point just because of the 487 00:32:05,359 --> 00:32:07,119 timeline, and you know you're going to be able to get something for Eric 488 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:13,119 Gordon, So I would be pretty shocked. Caculate somewhat active he has. 489 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,480 He absolutely has. They would purpose They would, without question get a first 490 00:32:16,519 --> 00:32:20,279 round pick for him and more if he just didn't have such a murky injury 491 00:32:20,279 --> 00:32:22,400 history. I don't even care about next year's salary or the or the non 492 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:28,319 guaranteed third year. It's just he's been hurt everywhere. The Los Angeles Clippers 493 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,359 have two of the most frequent names that we're going to drop on this podcast, 494 00:32:31,759 --> 00:32:36,759 ken Rick Williams, just because they're a team that's you know, Sergebacca 495 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,400 after being injured is now in health and safety protocols. If you have Zubos 496 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:43,799 who is great, but like they they have Isaiah Hartenstein, so like that's 497 00:32:43,799 --> 00:32:46,079 good, but they still kind of like to play small for sure, or 498 00:32:46,119 --> 00:32:49,799 have to play small for certain stretches. Kenrick Williams can help you there, 499 00:32:49,799 --> 00:32:52,119 along with Marcus Moore senior, he's not I do think they need someone who 500 00:32:52,119 --> 00:32:57,240 could elevate the offense. So these names that I have are actually more important. 501 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,599 Eric Gordon for them. His name is gonna come up a bunch and 502 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:01,839 he'll put more pressure on the rim for them. They can use someone who's 503 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:06,279 been a long standing weakness for this team, just the inability to get to 504 00:33:06,279 --> 00:33:08,880 the free throw line consistently to put pressure on the basket. It doesn't matter 505 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:12,359 when you have Kawai and Paul George, but when you only have one of 506 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:15,039 them, right, it does become a problem. Or when you have zero 507 00:33:15,119 --> 00:33:17,680 of them, as has been the case a little bit too frequently this season. 508 00:33:19,079 --> 00:33:21,920 Right, I have Jeremy Lamb. We'll put pressure on the basket. 509 00:33:22,039 --> 00:33:23,920 But I also like the Clippers who don't have a ton of they can't move 510 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:29,119 like imminent first round picks. I don't even don't think I'll move a first 511 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:30,200 round pick. If they do, I think it's in like two twenty eight 512 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:35,240 or two and twenty nine. So yeah, they have a twenty twenty six 513 00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:37,880 first h to O k Se, so you would have first allowable would be 514 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:39,519 twenty and twenty eight. That's not going to interest a ton of teams. 515 00:33:39,759 --> 00:33:43,440 Is Jeremy Lamb someone you can get for salary because the Pacers don't seem to 516 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:45,960 want him. He's hit his threes. He'll get to a spot in the 517 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,039 mid range, just to have a look. Their offense has not been good 518 00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:51,400 this year, so to have a different type of score. And the last 519 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:53,079 two names, I'll go through really quickly and you can respond to all of 520 00:33:53,079 --> 00:33:58,599 them. I'm just curious as to what KEMBA Walker would would cost to get 521 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:00,480 out of New York. He was out of the rotation. Health and safety 522 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,920 protocols put him back in in Boston. He had a good game. I 523 00:34:05,039 --> 00:34:07,199 fall somewhere. People will accuse me of not watching the Knicks by saying this. 524 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,880 I think Fournier should have been benched over KEM Walker. I also don't 525 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:15,920 think either decision was the solution to what's ailing this team. There they are. 526 00:34:15,199 --> 00:34:17,760 I was going report cards and I had to. I gave them a 527 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:21,360 D minus. I think that's a spoiler, but this will be out when 528 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:22,519 the report had rout, so I gave him a D minus. I considered 529 00:34:22,519 --> 00:34:25,519 giving them an F. So I've kem a walker on the lower end. 530 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,920 Brin Forbes would probably go a long way for this team. And now that 531 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,320 I'm thinking through it, so go with me and I don't. I don't 532 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:38,960 think the Knicks would do it, but I'm at the point Julius Randall might 533 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:44,039 have been a flash in the pan. I'm I'm there. It's you look 534 00:34:44,039 --> 00:34:46,400 at the percentages. He's coming off a couple okay games. I get that 535 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:51,360 the percentages needs to drop. The defense is gone. Maybe he was burnt 536 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,599 out from last season. I'm they extended him, and I said this, 537 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:58,559 I believe this isn't a victory lab because we both ultimately claimed, yeah, 538 00:34:58,559 --> 00:35:01,000 you give him that extension because of how he play. I clearly was too 539 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:06,239 optimistic about his regression. We both knew he was going to regress. I 540 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:07,840 clearly just thought he was still gonna be really good. Would you if you 541 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:12,599 could get Bledsoe who was basically an expire Like, would you trade him for 542 00:35:12,679 --> 00:35:15,880 expiring salary at this point? No, I think you're being a little too 543 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,599 harsh on him. You know, there are a lot of things ailing the 544 00:35:17,639 --> 00:35:22,679 Knicks right now. It is not a roster built to maximize as his talents. 545 00:35:22,679 --> 00:35:25,119 At the moment, he's still putting up twenty ten and five on a 546 00:35:25,199 --> 00:35:29,320 nightly basis. Granted, because he has such a high volume role. The 547 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:31,440 three pointers haven't been following. There have been some more turnover issues. His 548 00:35:31,519 --> 00:35:35,719 defense hasn't been great, he hasn't looked like an all NBA player like. 549 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:40,760 He's still been good in a situation that is not designed to maximize his effectiveness 550 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:45,960 and is designed to put too much of a burden on him. So I 551 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:50,079 think, like, I think we're airing a little too far in the overreaction 552 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:53,239 area there. I'm gonna take that as an insult. But he would be 553 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:58,039 a good ship of the player was right, and they could get to the 554 00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:00,679 salary matching pretty easy. I don't know how you would not deal for New 555 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:04,079 York. So this is not I'm not trying to crap all over Julius Randall. 556 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,400 I just don't think he's been good enough. And now I'm looking at 557 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:07,840 the rest of that extension. If I'm the Knicks and I'm like, we 558 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:10,519 always did not ideal. For sure, we didn't have the best. If 559 00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:13,880 this is me speaking as the Knicks, I'm not using me as a fan. 560 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:15,960 If I'm the Knicks, I'm thinking we knew we didn't have best player 561 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,760 on a championship team material, But now it's sort of like, oh, 562 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:22,079 this guy needs to be the three or the four. This isn't number two 563 00:36:22,079 --> 00:36:24,880 material either. That's just what I've taken away from the season, and I 564 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:29,719 feel like it looks a lot different though. If quickly grows, If RJ. 565 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,760 Barrett had taken the strides that we expected him to make going into this 566 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:37,920 season, if Mitchell Robinson has been able to have a more scalable role, 567 00:36:37,079 --> 00:36:40,840 well it's just like everything has gone wrong. Fuck Michael Robinson. Oh my 568 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,280 god. I would say that all he's doing is cardio out there, but 569 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,440 that's an insult of people who actually do cardio. He's he's been nightmarishly bad. 570 00:36:47,679 --> 00:36:52,639 But how much has that opinion changed since we were heading into the into 571 00:36:52,679 --> 00:36:57,039 this season, Because I think you were on the same camp as me where 572 00:36:57,039 --> 00:37:00,800 we were excited about seeing what he could do with a bigger role. Yeah, 573 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:02,400 I'm just and I think he can still do more. I just don't 574 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:06,119 know what's going on with him this year. I just I think that that 575 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:09,800 Randall is more a symptom than the cause here. I don't think he's the 576 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:14,719 cause. I just think the Knicks there's a misread on their social from all 577 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:16,079 from all of us. And look, there's a misread heading into last season. 578 00:37:16,079 --> 00:37:19,960 We thought they were gonna suck. If I'm the Knicks, I'm stripping 579 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:22,119 it down and playing the youth. And maybe that means that I should have 580 00:37:22,159 --> 00:37:27,000 listed Alec Burks for a bunch of teams, but he's been so good him 581 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:30,320 either here or Rose would be good for La the Clippers. I just don't 582 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:32,840 think they have the assets to get them. Julius Randall was interesting because I'm 583 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:37,159 at the point where, because of the extension, are you getting it? 584 00:37:37,639 --> 00:37:39,360 I get it for sure. But I do like Kemba as a target here. 585 00:37:40,679 --> 00:37:45,320 I think that's the one I would pursue, just given the knicks lack 586 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:47,920 of desire to work him into their rotation and only doing so out of necessity. 587 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:52,119 I can't imagine the price tag. Is that hot? Yeah? I 588 00:37:52,119 --> 00:37:55,280 mean he makes like the medium salary. Now he's sub nine million, so 589 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:59,400 it's easier to get there, and he has the player option, so maybe 590 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:01,199 they want that off their books. I'd just be curious as to what the 591 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:04,840 cost would be. I'm sure the Clippers, if we're just going to name 592 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,280 Nicks, they might be able to get Evan Fournier. I'm not sure, 593 00:38:07,679 --> 00:38:10,079 but I think the Knicks would be okay with Evan Fournier. The idea of 594 00:38:10,079 --> 00:38:15,119 Evan Fournier would help not only the Clippers but also the Knicks. Actual Evan 595 00:38:15,159 --> 00:38:21,800 Fournier not so much. The Lakers. I just have two names for them. 596 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:23,480 I don't well, I probably have. So I have Eric Gordon, 597 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:29,519 who would be a huge get for them, just monstrous for them, And 598 00:38:29,519 --> 00:38:31,840 then I have Buddy Healed. I think he's played bad enough to where it's 599 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:36,719 like, oh, that's a painful inclusion though for Lakers fans. But if 600 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:39,159 you can now get him using Kellen Horton, Tucker and Kendrick Nonn and then 601 00:38:39,159 --> 00:38:43,719 I don't know is that even enough? So here's my follow up question though, 602 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:46,920 is should they I think they can, but like, does this team 603 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:52,880 have the championship upside to actually give up one of the few young players on 604 00:38:52,880 --> 00:39:00,280 the roster for a potential short term fix. I don't know. I really 605 00:39:00,280 --> 00:39:04,440 don't think so. Lebron has been phenomenal this season when he's been available, 606 00:39:04,599 --> 00:39:08,199 and that availability is becoming more of a question mark. Anthony Davis has been 607 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:13,880 I'll avoid going on a rant here, but he's been really good despite being 608 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:16,599 disappointing. And then Russell Westbrook, you know, has been up and down, 609 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:22,719 but the fit still even with everyone available as rarely as that happens, 610 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:27,320 it doesn't seem like this team is going to be able to compete with the 611 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:30,400 front runners in the Western Conference. And I don't know that it makes sense, 612 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:38,800 given the overwhelmingly high age status of this roster to give up one of 613 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:44,400 the very few young players. Isaiah Thomas, you know, just signed and 614 00:39:44,559 --> 00:39:46,719 I think he's pushing forty at this point and brought down the average age. 615 00:39:49,159 --> 00:39:52,119 Oh man, that was the way you phrase that, the higher age status 616 00:39:52,199 --> 00:39:59,079 whatever was great. I get this skepticism to me, And look, Davis 617 00:39:59,119 --> 00:40:00,480 is injury now. He's going out four to six weeks and will probably be 618 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:04,440 close to eight knowing Davis that I'm not even dumping on him. It's just 619 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,159 it's gonna be eight weeks. You have to Maybe you're thinking about the mortality 620 00:40:08,199 --> 00:40:10,719 of this season, the limitations, but you also can't think like that because 621 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:14,760 you have Lebron James, you made the consolidation trade for Westbrook, and I 622 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:17,639 will also maintain that the lineups with Davis at the five, with Lebron and 623 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:21,960 Russ, they have killed opponents. They're like plus fifteen per one hundred possessions 624 00:40:22,039 --> 00:40:24,000 or something. So if you have a healthy Davis, a healthy Lebron, 625 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:27,760 I still think you're a threat in the West, and you need to treat 626 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:31,159 yourself as such. On the trade market. I think they're bigger limitation rather 627 00:40:31,199 --> 00:40:35,960 than their ceiling, which is lower than I think they expected. This is 628 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:37,079 not a surprise. When I was going through their report cards, I was 629 00:40:37,159 --> 00:40:39,719 like, people are gonna wonder why they didn't get an F or a D. 630 00:40:40,159 --> 00:40:44,880 And they've been playing better lately. But I'm like expectations outside of Los 631 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:49,239 Angeles were pretty tapered after that they were not going to compete for home court 632 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:52,880 advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Like that was unrealistic 633 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:54,679 from the start. I am curious where they gonna look at, Like, 634 00:40:54,920 --> 00:40:59,280 do they need to look at maybe a small ball they could use Kendrick Williams 635 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:01,840 now that A is out, because the solution here is to play Dwight once 636 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:05,639 he's out of health and safety protocols. Fine, you have Lebron at the 637 00:41:05,639 --> 00:41:08,280 five few units order you go back to the DeAndre Jordan's experiment, which is 638 00:41:08,719 --> 00:41:15,559 you know, no, I would argue again, it's just it's one it's 639 00:41:15,599 --> 00:41:17,400 tough to spot sellers and the Lakers are just so limited in what they could 640 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:21,800 give. Maxi Kleba would be great for them. Does Dallas want to deal 641 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,440 with someone they'll perceive to be as a direct rival? Who knows? And 642 00:41:24,519 --> 00:41:29,920 are you giving up talent Horton Tucker for Maxi Kleba? The Lakers and their 643 00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:31,400 fans probably are not. But I'm curious to see if they go that. 644 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:36,480 Can they find like a cheap big that helps them because Davis looks like he's 645 00:41:36,519 --> 00:41:38,320 going to be out for for quite some time here, But you could, 646 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:43,000 you know, if you're looking for I just you know, Alec Burks would 647 00:41:43,039 --> 00:41:45,000 be great for this team. But I don't know what are the Knicks want 648 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:49,719 for him. They're just I just I don't want to give up like THHT 649 00:41:50,119 --> 00:41:53,559 in this theoretical Well, that's the problem is that So I think that the 650 00:41:53,639 --> 00:41:59,760 Lakers are smart to view THHT is like sort of their last a golden asset. 651 00:42:00,199 --> 00:42:01,920 But I also don't think he's been good enough for other teams to view 652 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:06,639 a missus. It's yeah, it's it's just not a good situation. You 653 00:42:06,679 --> 00:42:09,079 know. We say all this, like the five thirty eight yellow based predictions 654 00:42:09,159 --> 00:42:13,679 right now they have the Lakers going thirty nine and forty three with a thirty 655 00:42:13,679 --> 00:42:17,000 seven percent chance of making the playoffs. This is I just I don't know 656 00:42:17,039 --> 00:42:22,360 that this is a team that needs to be mortgaging its future even further, 657 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:27,440 Like at some point you've made the consolidation trades you have Lebron like, you 658 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:30,039 just have to trust the incumbent talent and if it figures it out, it 659 00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:31,559 figures it out. And if it doesn't, like, let's not dig the 660 00:42:31,559 --> 00:42:37,159 hole even deeper? Would you do? So? And this is I think 661 00:42:37,159 --> 00:42:38,920 there needs to be another body, and they're definitely their partly needs to be 662 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:44,079 the other. That's the other problem is that none and Tucker make like fifteen 663 00:42:44,159 --> 00:42:49,320 point five or no, they make the fourteen point five million between them, 664 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:52,760 So like you can take back a nineteen million dollar player. But let's say, 665 00:42:52,840 --> 00:42:55,840 would you do Tucker none? Your first allowable first round pick, which, 666 00:42:55,880 --> 00:43:00,880 because New Orleans has the right to defer, are the one that they 667 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:06,519 are owed in two thousand and twenty five, could be twenty twenty twenty seven. 668 00:43:07,199 --> 00:43:09,760 But let's just say first allowable. Oh it's yeah, first alliable first 669 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:15,480 round pick. So would you do none Tucker first allowable first round pick? 670 00:43:15,559 --> 00:43:19,039 And there has to be other salaries in all? Would you give that up 671 00:43:19,039 --> 00:43:23,039 for Harrison Barnes if you're this team? Probably not? Oh I will, 672 00:43:23,079 --> 00:43:27,800 I would one hundred percent? Would I just I'm gonna double down? Am 673 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:30,239 I? Not wanting to move off the very few long term assets that they 674 00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:32,480 have right now? I think that's a tougher sell for the Kings than the 675 00:43:32,559 --> 00:43:36,199 Lakers, to be honest with you, just because you can look at it 676 00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:38,199 as go ahead and short the Lakers and long term future when you look at 677 00:43:38,239 --> 00:43:43,039 what they've done. But I think we've learned at this point. They got 678 00:43:43,119 --> 00:43:45,840 Lebron, They they got it like they're always like players are always gonna want 679 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:47,800 to come to them, maybe if you strip them, but enough of the 680 00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:52,199 trade assets. But like you just said, the first available first round pick 681 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:55,639 might be like twenty twenty seven. That's if lebron Off isn't going to be 682 00:43:55,679 --> 00:44:00,320 a Laker in twenty twenty seven. At some point you have to think about 683 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:04,280 that. I don't think you do if you're the Lakers. I think if 684 00:44:04,280 --> 00:44:07,239 you're other teams, the front office definitely a sacramentalsn't have the job stability to 685 00:44:07,239 --> 00:44:13,000 think that way. But that was that is their godfather offer, though, 686 00:44:13,119 --> 00:44:15,199 is the nun Tucker first of allable first round pick? Who does that? 687 00:44:15,199 --> 00:44:17,400 Get? Are you giving it up for Eric Gordon? You're not doing that 688 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:22,239 either? Are you? Probably not? And I'm sure I'm trying to think 689 00:44:22,280 --> 00:44:27,480 of like like realistic players. I get why you would think about Eric Gordon's 690 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:30,079 a little older. I would absolutely do it for Harrison Morns if that's the 691 00:44:30,119 --> 00:44:32,920 framework. There's like no one that even really springs to mind now when you're 692 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:37,960 really getting into it. So they're a tough spot. But they could use 693 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:43,480 like a cheaper wing to They need a lot of stuff, is essentially my 694 00:44:43,519 --> 00:44:46,639 point here. They have their biggest issue to me is they just have too 695 00:44:46,639 --> 00:44:51,000 many one way players. When you start to look at their supporting cast is 696 00:44:51,039 --> 00:44:55,679 you can't play someone without sacrificing floor balance on offense or torpedo in your defense. 697 00:44:55,920 --> 00:45:00,519 Maybe Trevor Reason winds up helping them there, but he's eighty years old, 698 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:07,760 so youthful by the Lakers standards. Is the what's the best case scenario 699 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:10,159 for the Lakers this year? Realistically they can win a champion You think you 700 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:14,119 think they can win a championship with this roster. I don't think they're one 701 00:45:14,159 --> 00:45:16,559 of the five most serious contenders, But I don't think if you tell me 702 00:45:16,599 --> 00:45:22,599 that Davis, Russ and Lebron are healthy. But even with a healthy even 703 00:45:22,599 --> 00:45:25,360 with a healthy Davis, we're seeing more and more that the shooting that carried 704 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:30,280 them in part to that championship was a fluke. It was an anomaly. 705 00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:36,800 We have seen nothing before or after to make it seem like that was in 706 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:40,159 any way sustainable and not a hot streak. They've played a lot better on 707 00:45:40,199 --> 00:45:44,400 defense, and so I have a point here, if you can ugly it 708 00:45:44,519 --> 00:45:47,000 up, I don't know that shooting is as important. We saw the Bucks 709 00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:51,679 follow that modelotte they were not shooting well throughout the playoffs last year. I 710 00:45:51,679 --> 00:45:54,760 wouldn't pick them in a series against any of the I'm not picking them against 711 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:58,639 the Signs, the Warriors, the Bucks, the Nets. Probably not picking 712 00:45:58,639 --> 00:46:04,760 them against the Jazz. But like they have Lebron and Lebron has still been 713 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:07,760 really good when healthy. And again the numbers when Davis is at center with 714 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:12,440 Russ and Lebron, they've been brutalizing opponents if you're if you get into the 715 00:46:12,480 --> 00:46:15,920 postseason intact and avoid the play in. Let's say, if they're in the 716 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:17,639 play and they're done, they're not making it out of the West with the 717 00:46:17,679 --> 00:46:21,119 way that Brackett would set up. No, I'm not saying you have to 718 00:46:21,159 --> 00:46:22,800 pick them against any of the teams that are in front of them, but 719 00:46:22,840 --> 00:46:27,519 it would not floor me if this roster won a championship. I wouldn't. 720 00:46:27,559 --> 00:46:31,000 I think it would because there's just still so much weight on Lebron's shoulders. 721 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:35,760 You know that I already started to have some of the concerns about him showing 722 00:46:36,159 --> 00:46:40,760 some of the signs of the elevated age last postseason, and I think that 723 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:45,880 he's only played eighteen games as we're recording this and I think that's part of 724 00:46:45,920 --> 00:46:50,119 why he has looked so good when he's played. And I just I don't 725 00:46:50,159 --> 00:46:53,320 know that I want to count on Lebron, as good as he is and 726 00:46:53,360 --> 00:46:58,239 as dumb as it is to bet against him elevating his game to the point 727 00:46:58,239 --> 00:47:00,960 it would need to be for them to be championship contenders for not just one, 728 00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:06,360 but two and three and four playoff series. What other teams are you 729 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:08,079 putting in front of them aside from the five? Are you saying Memphis is 730 00:47:08,119 --> 00:47:12,079 more like Littlewood title this year than the Lakers? No, No, I 731 00:47:12,119 --> 00:47:16,440 think that the Lakers do have the upside there, but like the Mavericks, 732 00:47:16,480 --> 00:47:22,239 maybe I would I would count on Luca doing more carrying the count on a 733 00:47:22,239 --> 00:47:27,119 team coach Jason Kidd over one that has Lebron and Anthony Davis. That's interesting. 734 00:47:28,920 --> 00:47:31,519 Yeah, it's close, they're in the same ballpark. But I think, 735 00:47:31,599 --> 00:47:37,119 like for me, the teams that you mentioned are the ones where it's 736 00:47:37,159 --> 00:47:39,920 just like, I don't see how they can break past that category. It's 737 00:47:39,920 --> 00:47:45,039 not a matter of having so many teams in front of them, it's more 738 00:47:45,199 --> 00:47:51,440 just how far ahead of them those teams are. I'm I think your skepticism 739 00:47:51,519 --> 00:47:52,960 is fair because I don't think they've earned the bed of the doubt. But 740 00:47:53,599 --> 00:47:59,880 I think their ceiling is still championship. It's not I don't it's not eminently 741 00:48:00,039 --> 00:48:01,519 reachable, but I think it's you know, this isn't I think you look 742 00:48:01,559 --> 00:48:06,280 at the Calves this year without making a huge move, their ceiling is not 743 00:48:06,480 --> 00:48:09,920 title contender. Same for Memphis. The Lakers are clearly they're not. They've 744 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:13,000 not been better. I want to make that clear. Both those teams have 745 00:48:13,039 --> 00:48:16,239 been better. They still have the championship ceiling. To me, however far 746 00:48:16,280 --> 00:48:20,719 away it seems. I'm still looking at that five thirty eight page, and 747 00:48:20,800 --> 00:48:23,800 they do have chances of winning the finals. They're giving the Lakers a point 748 00:48:23,840 --> 00:48:29,079 three percent chance, which puts them just behind the Raptors at point four, 749 00:48:29,159 --> 00:48:31,119 the Pacers at point five, the Bulls at point six, the Mavericks at 750 00:48:31,159 --> 00:48:35,239 point six, the Calves at point eight, the Grizzlies at one. I 751 00:48:35,239 --> 00:48:39,039 think some of those numbers are are ridiculous, but they're all so small, 752 00:48:39,119 --> 00:48:45,719 but the differences are so marginal. Nonetheless, I just I don't see them 753 00:48:45,039 --> 00:48:50,119 rising to the level of the teams that have a five plus percent chance. 754 00:48:51,239 --> 00:48:52,559 I just you've put in a position where I need to defend the Lakers. 755 00:48:52,559 --> 00:48:55,239 I don't like it, they've been bad, but I think it's to say 756 00:48:55,239 --> 00:49:00,360 that a team with Lebron and Anthony Davis don't have a five per chance of 757 00:49:00,400 --> 00:49:04,920 winning the title in this year of all years, and that's that is probably 758 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:07,400 the most salient argument this year of all years, because yeah, there's a 759 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:12,039 scenario in which they get lucky and have no one in COVID protocols and everyone 760 00:49:12,119 --> 00:49:17,480 is healthful. Right, that is true. But I guess if you want 761 00:49:17,480 --> 00:49:20,679 to say they have less than a five percent chance of winning the title, 762 00:49:21,320 --> 00:49:25,079 you need to allocate ninety six percent to one of those other five teams because 763 00:49:25,119 --> 00:49:28,880 I just don't know. Maybe Miami, you could talk to yourself and you 764 00:49:28,960 --> 00:49:31,559 having better chances. The list is starting to peter out for me. What 765 00:49:31,599 --> 00:49:37,800 about the numphis hey, I mean the Clippers because Kawai might come back, 766 00:49:37,840 --> 00:49:40,280 so there are there are scenarios. But I just if you're gonna put the 767 00:49:40,360 --> 00:49:44,639 Nuggets or the Clippers into the say that they have a championship ceiling, you 768 00:49:44,719 --> 00:49:50,559 need to absolutely say that the Lakers have a championship ceiling. You're staring dead. 769 00:49:51,719 --> 00:49:57,599 Yeah, we've reached the impast Memphis. What's interesting about Memphis is their 770 00:49:57,639 --> 00:50:01,480 fourth of the West right now. They have been they've been. We need 771 00:50:01,559 --> 00:50:04,760 to trade John Morant is what you're saying. Yeah, he's one of the 772 00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:07,880 least valuable players in the NBA. But seriously, they've been great without him. 773 00:50:08,239 --> 00:50:12,280 It's made me wonder. So I'll rattle off the names. None of 774 00:50:12,320 --> 00:50:15,519 these are not. All of these are. They should make up blockbuster trade 775 00:50:15,639 --> 00:50:19,360 names. I have Jeremy Grant. I'm wondering what the cost is for him 776 00:50:19,679 --> 00:50:22,920 with his injury. I have Thaddius Young too. I think got Thaddius Young 777 00:50:22,960 --> 00:50:25,519 and Jared Jackson Junior front colwork could be super interesting. I also thought this 778 00:50:25,639 --> 00:50:30,440 team was a sneaky Miles Turner destination. I know that Jackson's done a better 779 00:50:30,519 --> 00:50:34,760 job playing five, but Turner and Jackson work, and they could work really 780 00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:37,119 well. I think you get into the conversation of, well, what's the 781 00:50:37,159 --> 00:50:40,719 opportunity cost when we already have Jared Jackson Junior, Like, how much are 782 00:50:40,719 --> 00:50:45,480 we giving up for another big I have brandon Ingram I don't think New Orleans 783 00:50:45,559 --> 00:50:47,840 moves in. But if you like Memphis has that's a really fun fit. 784 00:50:49,239 --> 00:50:51,920 They have all their own picks. Even when you say, oh, we're 785 00:50:51,920 --> 00:50:54,039 not moving Desmond Bande, We're not moving Jared Jackson junior Morant. They have 786 00:50:54,159 --> 00:50:57,280 stuff. They have all their own picks. They have the jazz Is pick 787 00:50:57,360 --> 00:51:00,960 this year, they have Golden States in twenty twenty four. Rascal Siakam would 788 00:51:00,960 --> 00:51:02,840 be interesting for them. Like these are my all in names. I also 789 00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:07,400 have listed for Memphis. I already said Jeremy Grant and that is young, 790 00:51:07,480 --> 00:51:12,199 so like sort of on the middle end there. Curious what you think about 791 00:51:12,199 --> 00:51:15,559 any of the scenarios that I've thrown out there. I like some of these 792 00:51:15,639 --> 00:51:20,639 bigger plays. I like the idea of the turner Jaren Jackson junior front court. 793 00:51:21,039 --> 00:51:24,199 I really like having that go to scorer and Brandon Ingram. I think 794 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:30,719 both of those make a lot of sense, especially because the Steven Adams experiment 795 00:51:30,840 --> 00:51:34,679 just isn't working out as well as it could have. So I think that 796 00:51:34,760 --> 00:51:38,960 if you make moves to lessen the reliance on his minutes, that it's a 797 00:51:39,039 --> 00:51:44,079 positive, which makes me lean more towards the turner route than anything else. 798 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:47,119 Wow, that's funny that he would be your top target for them. I 799 00:51:47,239 --> 00:51:52,719 probably prefer like a Pascal Siaka, but he's Turner is gettable more gettable than 800 00:51:52,760 --> 00:51:55,079 it's and it's the gettability that changes the equation there. I mean, yeah, 801 00:51:55,159 --> 00:51:59,079 like in a vacuum. Sure, I'd rather have siakam on this team, 802 00:51:59,119 --> 00:52:01,280 but given what it's to take to get him versus to get Turner, 803 00:52:01,639 --> 00:52:05,400 I think that that calculus makes it a little more sense in the latter direction. 804 00:52:06,360 --> 00:52:08,280 So the other I think people are gonna wonder why there's not a wing 805 00:52:08,840 --> 00:52:13,119 on there. I think that Desmond may have given them the wing who can 806 00:52:13,159 --> 00:52:15,360 put the ball in his hands. You have Dylan Brooks already too, but 807 00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:17,840 if you wanted to go that route and he's not a wing, but ken 808 00:52:17,920 --> 00:52:21,920 Ridge Williams is the answer here. Just if you were going to go on 809 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:23,480 a lower and play, he could feel so many I wouldn't even call them 810 00:52:23,519 --> 00:52:28,159 holes, but so many different spots for them. And Harrison Barnes, that's 811 00:52:28,159 --> 00:52:30,800 another name that I think would make a lot of sense for Memphis. Imagine 812 00:52:30,880 --> 00:52:35,079 him sort of playing the four next to Jared Jackson junior. You have Bayne 813 00:52:35,119 --> 00:52:38,679 and Brooks and John Morant on the court. That's a super fun lineup right 814 00:52:38,760 --> 00:52:43,239 there. With you. I think Baine's progression definitely helps a lot of things. 815 00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:47,519 I'm just Memphis isn't a weird spot where I want to see how good 816 00:52:47,559 --> 00:52:52,599 this team is with Morant back on the floor as pieces have coalesced in his 817 00:52:52,760 --> 00:53:00,199 absence, because they could be further ahead of schedule than we expect did, 818 00:53:00,239 --> 00:53:04,519 which changes a lot of things. Entering trade season, my prevailing assumption was 819 00:53:04,599 --> 00:53:07,880 that they needed to just get someone who will help their defense. But they've 820 00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:09,880 been so good defensively without John Morant, you can ask yourself, well, 821 00:53:09,960 --> 00:53:13,800 will any of that sustain when he comes back, because I think he's part 822 00:53:13,800 --> 00:53:17,280 of the problem. But he's not like you know, darn Fox level bad 823 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:22,280 on defense right now, He's he's trying. He's like John Morant will try 824 00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:25,400 on defense, as Mosch. That was a shot at Taron Fox if I've 825 00:53:25,400 --> 00:53:30,039 ever heard one. They were just talking about this. I can't remember which 826 00:53:30,039 --> 00:53:31,880 podcasts. It might have been Kevin O'Connors or maybe maybe Zach Lows, but 827 00:53:31,920 --> 00:53:37,519 they were talking about his his upright stance on defense. And it's just when 828 00:53:37,559 --> 00:53:39,639 you've watched the Kings over the past two years, like the darn Fox defensive 829 00:53:40,599 --> 00:53:45,519 whatever it is performance is is alarming. I agree, it was just the 830 00:53:45,559 --> 00:53:49,880 way you said it was. It was just more brutal than I expected it 831 00:53:49,960 --> 00:53:53,559 to be. The Next team on our list is the Minnesota Timberwolves. They 832 00:53:53,599 --> 00:53:59,760 are Ben Simmons destination are good. Ben Simmons destination feasibility tough there. If 833 00:53:59,800 --> 00:54:04,480 the Sixers don't love D'Angelo Russell, who's been just so valuable as connective tissue 834 00:54:04,639 --> 00:54:07,199 on offense for Minnesota this year, I will say that other names I have 835 00:54:07,360 --> 00:54:10,960 listed for them, Pascal Siakam, I don't think Siakam's available, but the 836 00:54:12,039 --> 00:54:15,920 Raptors are. I think they're risk to do anything because of how aggressive they 837 00:54:15,000 --> 00:54:20,119 are, and if they're not like in the mix for a prime spot in 838 00:54:20,159 --> 00:54:23,440 the East, I could see them doing something nuclear. Harrison Barnes would be 839 00:54:23,519 --> 00:54:28,840 great for Minnesota, and then Myles Turner has been mentioned a ton for them. 840 00:54:29,159 --> 00:54:32,079 I think he Towns and Turner would not be my favorite fit, and 841 00:54:32,360 --> 00:54:35,960 I don't know that Turner is going to help you a ton in some of 842 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:38,760 the rebounding situations that you want to help with. But I would be on 843 00:54:38,920 --> 00:54:43,480 board with going that route for them, and look, you know it would 844 00:54:43,519 --> 00:54:49,840 also be good for this team, Kenridge Williams, maybe justin Holiday too. 845 00:54:52,719 --> 00:54:58,800 I really like the idea of Harrison Barnes here, mostly because it seemed like 846 00:54:58,960 --> 00:55:02,800 a lot of Minnesota's paths to success. We're going to hinge on Jared Vanderbilt 847 00:55:04,519 --> 00:55:09,920 being useful or McDaniels being useful, and neither of those players has popped to 848 00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:14,119 the point that you can't upgrade at that spot. So if you plug in 849 00:55:14,280 --> 00:55:17,800 Harrison Barnes, who can be another scoring option, who is a good connective 850 00:55:17,840 --> 00:55:22,239 tissue piece because he can contribute across the board, whether as a rebounder, 851 00:55:22,320 --> 00:55:28,239 as a secondary passer, as a defender who can guard multiple positions. He 852 00:55:28,599 --> 00:55:32,639 does what you need from that power forward spot in between Anthony Edwards and Karl 853 00:55:32,679 --> 00:55:39,079 Anthony Towns. I think that you're probably not fully maximizing his value because you 854 00:55:39,159 --> 00:55:43,480 just don't need him to be the score that he's been with Sacramento. But 855 00:55:43,599 --> 00:55:47,079 because he can do so many different things, he is the ideal fit as 856 00:55:47,159 --> 00:55:52,199 this team looks to send to that next level. I have another name for 857 00:55:52,239 --> 00:55:58,400 them that I'm curious is what you think about Hyry Andrew Jr. I don't 858 00:55:58,440 --> 00:56:05,800 think I'm as excited about him because there are more offensive limitations, but the 859 00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:09,119 defensive presence that he would bring would be highly beneficial in a way that is 860 00:56:09,280 --> 00:56:15,480 different than the Miles Turner defensive impacts because he's going to work better with towns. 861 00:56:15,920 --> 00:56:21,199 I don't love the Turner fit because I'm not sure what you're doing when 862 00:56:21,199 --> 00:56:23,079 you have both of the bigs on the floor, and I can get to 863 00:56:23,159 --> 00:56:30,039 a better place with NaN's and towns. I think the Turner towns would probably 864 00:56:30,039 --> 00:56:35,079 have a higher ceiling though, because Turner does can cover well. I guess 865 00:56:35,159 --> 00:56:37,239 NaN's been playing so well. I was gonna say, you're also giving up 866 00:56:37,280 --> 00:56:39,920 more for Turner, though that's a fair point. So Nance would be like 867 00:56:39,960 --> 00:56:44,599 a nice little mid end get for them, I think so, and it 868 00:56:44,719 --> 00:56:49,559 feels feasible for him to be gettable. Yeah, Portland decides to just I 869 00:56:49,599 --> 00:56:51,960 don't think that they're going to trade Dame. I would be shocked if they 870 00:56:52,039 --> 00:56:55,440 did. But there needs to be like different sort of change ups there, 871 00:56:55,559 --> 00:57:00,400 and NaN's, I think, is one that they won't move just because they 872 00:57:00,960 --> 00:57:02,719 prefer to move a Covington or a Nerd Kitch. I don't know what their 873 00:57:02,760 --> 00:57:06,400 value would be. They're just in the final year of their contracts, and 874 00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:09,320 Nance is such a team friendly contract and has played so well for them this 875 00:57:09,480 --> 00:57:13,760 year. But again, if they continue trend in this direction and they decided 876 00:57:13,760 --> 00:57:17,760 to shake things up, yeah, I thought he would be good for Minnesota 877 00:57:19,039 --> 00:57:22,920 New Orleans. There was a report from Bleach Reports Jake Fisher that they consider 878 00:57:22,960 --> 00:57:24,920 themselves buyers head of the deadline. I found that interesting. I'm not saying 879 00:57:24,920 --> 00:57:28,760 they need to hold the fire sale, but when you don't know if Zion 880 00:57:28,760 --> 00:57:31,559 Williamson is returning, I don't know that I would fancy myself a buyer. 881 00:57:31,559 --> 00:57:35,440 I mean, if I'm pretty sure you know that he isn't at this point, 882 00:57:36,239 --> 00:57:40,039 i'd be Do you think Zion Williamson plays this season? I'm kind of 883 00:57:40,159 --> 00:57:45,159 leaning towards no at this point. And a lot of the reporting has been 884 00:57:45,920 --> 00:57:51,280 interesting because I struggle to figure out, like what the motivation for leaking some 885 00:57:51,400 --> 00:57:55,239 of that stuff is, Like that he's falling asleep in film sessions and not 886 00:57:55,320 --> 00:58:00,159 paying attention and not going through the rehab steps and all that. Like what 887 00:58:00,679 --> 00:58:04,719 narrative are we trying to create when we already know that he's potentially frustrated with 888 00:58:04,760 --> 00:58:08,000 the organization and a flight risk. So I just based on all of that, 889 00:58:08,960 --> 00:58:13,360 it's tough for me to believe that he is going to be pushing himself 890 00:58:13,639 --> 00:58:17,239 to suit up for New Orleans this season. I don't know that I have 891 00:58:17,360 --> 00:58:22,440 an answer. I would say, given all the negative developments surrounding is a 892 00:58:22,679 --> 00:58:27,440 right foot injury. I believe it's his right foot. And the way they 893 00:58:27,519 --> 00:58:32,760 phrased this last one was just like to promote bone healing was just red flag 894 00:58:32,880 --> 00:58:36,280 for me. So I'll just say no and hope hope that I'm wrong. 895 00:58:36,320 --> 00:58:38,320 Now I'm wrong a lot. I definitely hope that I'm wrong. Yeah, 896 00:58:38,440 --> 00:58:42,039 I'm wrong a lot, So maybe that will sort of help the cause. 897 00:58:42,440 --> 00:58:44,760 So the names I have for them is they really need and this isn't just 898 00:58:44,840 --> 00:58:47,920 because of the Kyra Lewis injury. They need an upgrade at point guard. 899 00:58:49,320 --> 00:58:52,360 Devonda Graham has hit some big shots for them, but he just can't score 900 00:58:52,599 --> 00:58:55,920 inside the arc. It's a real problem. They would be a sneaky chema 901 00:58:55,960 --> 00:59:00,639 walker destination depending on the asking price, just as some one who can actually 902 00:59:00,679 --> 00:59:04,920 come in and provide some like I guess Kemba hasn't been a steady presence and 903 00:59:04,960 --> 00:59:07,840 he's not getting to the rim either anymore. But he's certainly a more consistent 904 00:59:07,880 --> 00:59:12,559 option than Nikkil, Alexander Walker or a healthy Kyra Lewis. He might even 905 00:59:12,599 --> 00:59:15,239 be more consistent than Devonte Graham, even though again DeVonta Grams hit some really 906 00:59:15,280 --> 00:59:19,800 big shots for them, even going on the cheaper end. I just have 907 00:59:19,920 --> 00:59:22,639 Brent Forbes, someone who could come in and you know, there are gonna 908 00:59:22,639 --> 00:59:24,360 be a lot of things that make you want to pull your hair out about 909 00:59:24,400 --> 00:59:27,239 him, but at least he's gonna be hitting shots while he does that. 910 00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:30,599 There's no guarantee that Nikkil Alexander Walker does that for you. So I approached 911 00:59:30,639 --> 00:59:36,920 them as buyers. But unless I'm not going to the super blockbuster route for 912 00:59:36,960 --> 00:59:40,559 them, unless someone who perfectly aligns with Zion Williamson's and brand Ingram's timeline becomes 913 00:59:40,599 --> 00:59:45,119 available, and you know, if Jayalen Brown actually was available, maybe if 914 00:59:45,119 --> 00:59:46,880 your New Orleans you could talk into trying to go after that. Is there 915 00:59:46,960 --> 00:59:52,039 brandon Ingram Jalon Brown spot there? And then that is that really a buy 916 00:59:52,199 --> 00:59:54,239 so much as just like an alternative shake up. I don't even know what 917 00:59:54,280 --> 00:59:58,320 you would call it. I don't buy them as Ben Simmons suitors, I 918 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:01,119 know that was a rumor going around just because that defeats the purpose of not 919 01:00:01,239 --> 01:00:07,239 defeats. But that's so much overlap on offense with Zion Williamson. It is, 920 01:00:07,360 --> 01:00:09,519 and I think like a name I keep coming back to here, even 921 01:00:09,559 --> 01:00:14,719 though he's not really part of the rumor mill these days, is Bradley Beale 922 01:00:15,559 --> 01:00:19,159 if he does somehow become available, Like that's the kind of move that I 923 01:00:19,239 --> 01:00:22,679 might be willing to make if I'm New Orleans, because he would be a 924 01:00:22,719 --> 01:00:27,400 good fit with Ingram and a healthy Zion. But beyond that kind of talent, 925 01:00:27,920 --> 01:00:30,280 I don't know that I see the purpose in being a buyer this season 926 01:00:30,440 --> 01:00:35,599 unless you're just trying to do everything you can to convince Zion that you're willing 927 01:00:35,639 --> 01:00:38,559 to put the right pieces around him. But then like you're still mortgaging a 928 01:00:38,639 --> 01:00:45,639 future for an uncertain at best presence present not presence. I struggle to see 929 01:00:45,679 --> 01:00:49,159 the motivation I would have listed Bradley Beale for me. This it's just this 930 01:00:49,440 --> 01:00:52,760 is this is a situation where i'd be with it for New Orleans too. 931 01:00:52,880 --> 01:00:54,880 You need to know that he's going to resign with you though he's still contract 932 01:00:55,000 --> 01:00:59,079 year, and that's just I wouldn't expect him. Memphis, to me, 933 01:00:59,119 --> 01:01:01,039 would have a better chance of keeping Bradley be all the New Orleans. Despite 934 01:01:01,360 --> 01:01:06,320 New Orleans, there's the Zion health and then Memphis is already good, and 935 01:01:06,480 --> 01:01:08,400 so I would think they would have a much better chance of keeping Bradley be 936 01:01:08,480 --> 01:01:12,920 a long term. Yeah. I'm just more using it as an example of 937 01:01:13,000 --> 01:01:16,400 the caliber of player I would need to see to make that kind of move, 938 01:01:16,719 --> 01:01:21,199 because otherwise I think you're just wasting assets. What do you think about 939 01:01:21,239 --> 01:01:23,800 Dennis Shrewder for this team, because I don't like the idea of that, 940 01:01:24,079 --> 01:01:30,239 like high volume, explosive point guard. You mentioned Kemba Walker too, and 941 01:01:30,239 --> 01:01:32,719 I don't know how much explosiveness he really has, but guys of that ill 942 01:01:32,800 --> 01:01:37,400 look, I do think makes sense here if you're looking to buy, which 943 01:01:37,400 --> 01:01:39,800 again I don't really think you should be doing. I would rather just keep 944 01:01:39,840 --> 01:01:45,519 giving minutes to the youngsters and not giving off future assets when you don't know 945 01:01:45,679 --> 01:01:49,360 that you have enough core pieces in town. I would just say does Kemba 946 01:01:49,559 --> 01:01:52,519 and even Dennis Shrewder because you're not going to have his bird rights And so 947 01:01:52,719 --> 01:01:55,320 that's why Boston would get rid of him, because they're not going to be 948 01:01:55,320 --> 01:01:58,920 able to keep him for one hundred and twenty percent of the big yacht at 949 01:01:58,960 --> 01:02:01,360 five million attacks payers level whatever it was. Oh, maybe the cost just 950 01:02:01,480 --> 01:02:04,679 isn't that high. And if Kemba really is out of a full strength and 951 01:02:04,760 --> 01:02:07,880 next rotation, that's I can That's the moves that I suggested. Nothing to 952 01:02:07,960 --> 01:02:10,920 me that I thought would cost them of shouldn't if you can, if you 953 01:02:12,039 --> 01:02:14,760 can match salaries and give up a second round pick for someone like that, 954 01:02:14,920 --> 01:02:17,480 sure, because we've seen time and again that having a competent point guard who 955 01:02:17,559 --> 01:02:24,039 can elevate the performances of players around him increases the chances of a successful rebuild 956 01:02:24,039 --> 01:02:28,880 because it's really hard for players to develop on the offensive end if you don't 957 01:02:28,920 --> 01:02:31,639 have someone who can initiate offense within the half court set. So if you 958 01:02:31,679 --> 01:02:36,320 don't think that DeVante Graham is that guy, which it doesn't appear that he 959 01:02:36,519 --> 01:02:39,480 is, then yeah, going out and getting like a capable point guard makes 960 01:02:39,559 --> 01:02:43,480 sense to promote the growth of other players. I just don't want to give 961 01:02:43,559 --> 01:02:46,639 up too much asset equity to get there. Oklahoma City, I just have 962 01:02:46,719 --> 01:02:52,239 a bunch of distressed youngsters and Oklahoma City has all the money in the world 963 01:02:52,239 --> 01:02:53,639 at this point, I don't even need to give anything up to get these 964 01:02:53,679 --> 01:02:58,920 guys. I was looking at players who either aren't playing, their stocks have 965 01:02:59,039 --> 01:03:01,320 dropped murky ife with their current teams. Even one of them is basically on 966 01:03:01,400 --> 01:03:06,159 the outskirts of the NBA at this point. Kevin Knox, Arnie Smith, 967 01:03:06,480 --> 01:03:10,159 Isaiah Todd, and Jared Colver. I just want, I want to want 968 01:03:10,320 --> 01:03:13,880 to believe in Jared Colver, and so it's like, okay, see just 969 01:03:13,960 --> 01:03:16,199 take him on and give him minutes right there with you. I can't give 970 01:03:16,280 --> 01:03:20,960 up on him for whatever reason. So I'm curious when you think about those 971 01:03:21,039 --> 01:03:22,800 names. I really do think I didn't really I think they could still use 972 01:03:22,840 --> 01:03:28,079 a wing. So the Jared Colver Kevin Knox suggestions are not you know nothing, 973 01:03:28,159 --> 01:03:32,679 but they really like the center position seems really unsettled for them long term. 974 01:03:34,079 --> 01:03:37,400 It does. It's I think you can make a reasonable argument that they 975 01:03:37,480 --> 01:03:42,480 have long term pieces at every other position. And as you said, like 976 01:03:42,599 --> 01:03:46,639 it's just stressed assets season here, and I think I viewed this team much 977 01:03:46,719 --> 01:03:51,480 like some of the other rebuilders. Where As we said with Houston, I'm 978 01:03:51,519 --> 01:03:53,760 not really concerned about the fits not really concerned about the positions. It's more 979 01:03:53,880 --> 01:04:00,400 about just getting like competitive players and okay see as a bunch of intriguing pieces. 980 01:04:00,679 --> 01:04:02,320 I don't know how many centerpieces there are. I don't know how many 981 01:04:02,480 --> 01:04:06,000 foundational building blocks there are, and you just need to increase your chances of 982 01:04:06,079 --> 01:04:10,440 having those. Of the names you mentioned, I like Jarret Colver the best 983 01:04:10,519 --> 01:04:14,840 because I think that he has the highest ceiling of those guys, even if 984 01:04:14,880 --> 01:04:19,119 he's been objectively awful to this point in his NBA career. The other name 985 01:04:19,880 --> 01:04:24,840 I think that they should this is not I don't Phoenix needs to move. 986 01:04:24,920 --> 01:04:27,440 Jalon Smith is part of any trade they make, basically a salary filler, 987 01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:30,440 because that's what's become. If I'm okay, see I want to get into 988 01:04:30,320 --> 01:04:32,239 and on the third team, He's like, hey, I'll take that salary 989 01:04:32,280 --> 01:04:35,760 because I'm assuming the team that they trade him to probably won't launch Jalen Smith, 990 01:04:35,960 --> 01:04:39,440 and that's someone who could play for Ncortmate's throw casey. Right now, 991 01:04:39,559 --> 01:04:42,719 I will say, to talk about their current roster, I'm happy they made 992 01:04:42,719 --> 01:04:46,840 a starting lineup switch on Saturday night. Their preferred starting five right now is 993 01:04:47,079 --> 01:04:51,840 very discriminatory against shooting and they need it badly. But I also I might 994 01:04:51,880 --> 01:04:56,280 be out on Poku. I don't want to break your heart. I know 995 01:04:56,559 --> 01:05:00,360 you're not because I'm in the same boat, and I'm also out on Bailey, 996 01:05:00,440 --> 01:05:01,719 and you know, I think that's no, no, no, no, 997 01:05:01,840 --> 01:05:04,840 you can't be out on base really so much defensively this year, that's 998 01:05:04,880 --> 01:05:11,599 not allowed. He's just so bad on offense. We prefer I think, 999 01:05:11,840 --> 01:05:16,559 consistent around these parts. Yeah, he's like very inconsistently between being horrid and 1000 01:05:16,840 --> 01:05:25,280 gruesomely bad. I mean, wow, gruesomely bad just feels mean. He 1001 01:05:25,400 --> 01:05:29,119 doesn't have a special what he does to rims feels mean too. That's that's 1002 01:05:29,159 --> 01:05:32,199 the issue. And like I had high expectations for him going into this season. 1003 01:05:32,199 --> 01:05:34,679 I thought it would be a more featured part of the offense. And 1004 01:05:34,760 --> 01:05:39,480 that's the issue I'm having with Okay see is like, as these young guys 1005 01:05:39,519 --> 01:05:46,719 are getting more minutes with exceptions, we're we're seeing their stocks decline. I 1006 01:05:46,760 --> 01:05:49,559 would just be curious to use, basically as an example, is what would 1007 01:05:49,559 --> 01:05:54,719 happen Because you look at how Shane kilos I was, anderw has to create 1008 01:05:54,800 --> 01:05:59,079 basically all of his own looks, all of them. Where would men some 1009 01:05:59,559 --> 01:06:03,480 would be easily be better on a team that has a more established ecosystem, 1010 01:06:03,519 --> 01:06:09,000 or at least better spacing like floor balance there for him, because just look 1011 01:06:09,039 --> 01:06:12,000 at the load that Shade Giljest Alexander is carrying, and it's impacted him this 1012 01:06:12,079 --> 01:06:15,519 year more so than last year. And like Josh Giddy has the floater passing 1013 01:06:15,599 --> 01:06:18,280 in spectacular. Still not really, he's not shooting well from three. I 1014 01:06:18,320 --> 01:06:20,639 think he's sub twenty percent last night, look, or maybe he was sub 1015 01:06:20,679 --> 01:06:25,119 twenty percent over the last month or whatever it was. I feel like if 1016 01:06:25,199 --> 01:06:30,280 Oksey had more shooters or just another player not on Shade Gilgess Alexander's level, 1017 01:06:30,360 --> 01:06:34,360 but just a better than a better than a Tail Malato or better than an 1018 01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:38,760 Aaron Wiggins, if like those were the guys that and better than Josh Giddy 1019 01:06:38,800 --> 01:06:43,760 because he's so new something better as a creator in the backcourt. Sorry, 1020 01:06:43,800 --> 01:06:46,239 I heard you mentioned Basley and spacing in the same sentence, and I've just 1021 01:06:46,320 --> 01:06:49,639 kind of shut down, like he's part of the problem. But he is, 1022 01:06:49,719 --> 01:06:53,679 But I mean, he's how much of the problem is he? He's 1023 01:06:53,719 --> 01:06:57,360 shooting thirty seven point three percent for the field twenty eight point three percent from 1024 01:06:57,400 --> 01:07:00,639 three sixty two point seven percent from the line while getting there one point eight 1025 01:07:00,719 --> 01:07:05,559 times per game as a primary slasher more turnovers than assists. I just I 1026 01:07:05,639 --> 01:07:10,400 don't know what positives do you can say that would make you believe that he 1027 01:07:10,440 --> 01:07:14,719 would be more successful even with better spacing around him, because he can't make 1028 01:07:14,800 --> 01:07:18,000 shots from anywhere on the court. He's not drawing contact when he does attack 1029 01:07:18,079 --> 01:07:21,159 the basket. He makes bad decisions with the basketball. Like I'm just out 1030 01:07:21,239 --> 01:07:25,840 on him. I'm just saying it's a pseudo big where if there was actual 1031 01:07:25,880 --> 01:07:28,800 space for him to be more of a play finisher at the rim where he 1032 01:07:28,800 --> 01:07:31,119 doesn't, you know where. I think it's interesting that they've tried to explore 1033 01:07:31,239 --> 01:07:34,159 him on ball, more so in previous years than this one, But maybe 1034 01:07:34,199 --> 01:07:38,320 that's not a responsibility he could have. It's tough to use him in that 1035 01:07:38,480 --> 01:07:43,760 way when you have Shay and then it's like, Josh Giddy's not a great 1036 01:07:43,840 --> 01:07:47,079 shooter. Defenses are reacting to him. You're playing with Jeremiah Robinson Earl, 1037 01:07:47,199 --> 01:07:50,960 who he I found him very interesting, but he's not a good shooter yet. 1038 01:07:51,639 --> 01:07:55,719 One of the few whose stock has risen this season in Okay. See, 1039 01:07:55,760 --> 01:08:00,440 I think, who's this Robinson Earl? I mean his stock at zero 1040 01:08:00,639 --> 01:08:03,800 entering the year as a rookie. So I am in on Jr e though, 1041 01:08:03,800 --> 01:08:08,119 and I liked that they've tried him at the five they I think this 1042 01:08:08,239 --> 01:08:13,119 team would benefit from having like a Gary Trent Junior or Doug McDermott on its 1043 01:08:13,239 --> 01:08:16,800 roster. I think guys who provide this form of offensive alleviation that would make 1044 01:08:16,880 --> 01:08:21,119 life so much easier on developing their other youngsters. And I think it's one 1045 01:08:21,159 --> 01:08:26,079 of the flaws of their roster that they don't have that type of guy on 1046 01:08:26,199 --> 01:08:29,359 the perimeter. Right now, I'm with you, I just wouldn't give up 1047 01:08:29,399 --> 01:08:32,680 too much to acquire it, because I'd prefer to prioritize the younger guys who 1048 01:08:32,720 --> 01:08:35,640 might be more building block status. Right I'm not giving the well I would 1049 01:08:35,640 --> 01:08:39,600 consider giving up assessor guys Trent Junior if i'm if I'm with them, But 1050 01:08:39,680 --> 01:08:42,439 like a Doug McDermot doesn't figure timeline. That's why this Spurs even want to 1051 01:08:42,439 --> 01:08:44,479 get rid of him. They're sort of using him in the same capacity. 1052 01:08:45,079 --> 01:08:49,279 The next team is the Phoenix Suns. So I went on the Timeline podcast 1053 01:08:49,399 --> 01:08:53,800 one of my favorite NBA podcasts and they predominantly cover the Phoenix Suns. We 1054 01:08:53,880 --> 01:08:57,760 did a whole trade episode basically half an episode for them, so check that 1055 01:08:57,880 --> 01:09:01,199 out. With little of me on it. I'll go through just I had 1056 01:09:01,239 --> 01:09:03,640 the same names listed we were. I was actually on the same page as 1057 01:09:03,680 --> 01:09:06,439 them. But I have a trade and run by you that I they proposed 1058 01:09:06,479 --> 01:09:09,800 to me that I was so I couldn't figure out what I would do with. 1059 01:09:09,920 --> 01:09:12,600 But so some of the names I have for them, Kendrick Williams, 1060 01:09:12,800 --> 01:09:16,279 I know that's good. Hey, the Thunders should trade for Kendricks Williams. 1061 01:09:16,359 --> 01:09:18,319 They have him, but I just feel like they should trade for him. 1062 01:09:18,600 --> 01:09:23,319 Agree right there with you, Kendrick Williams. Justin Holiday is actually on this 1063 01:09:23,479 --> 01:09:27,159 list because I think that they do need like another wing and he would be 1064 01:09:27,199 --> 01:09:29,760 great. They could also. Tory Craig is on the list. They never 1065 01:09:29,760 --> 01:09:31,880 should have let him leave. In my opinion, he was great for them. 1066 01:09:33,039 --> 01:09:35,520 People have floated I didn't have him on my list. They floated the 1067 01:09:35,600 --> 01:09:40,840 idea of Karis Lavert here. He's too much of a question mark if you 1068 01:09:40,880 --> 01:09:43,920 need to displace him from the ball for me to say that they because they 1069 01:09:43,960 --> 01:09:46,520 would have to give up real assets to get him. Eric Gordon would be 1070 01:09:46,680 --> 01:09:50,640 wildly intriguing for this team because they could use someone on the perimeter who puts 1071 01:09:50,720 --> 01:09:57,119 more pressure on the rim. The name that I have Larry Dance Junior for 1072 01:09:57,159 --> 01:10:00,119 them if he becomes available. I've been trying to get Larry your Phoenix like 1073 01:10:00,199 --> 01:10:02,640 three or four years now. I'm not as crazy about it, given how 1074 01:10:02,720 --> 01:10:06,079 well Javal McGee has played, and even Frank Kimiski when he's healthy, because 1075 01:10:06,079 --> 01:10:09,920 I think you do need to give lands Lands, you need to give Nance 1076 01:10:10,000 --> 01:10:13,399 some time at the five, and those minutes just don't seem as available when 1077 01:10:13,600 --> 01:10:20,000 McGee specifically is playing so well. They suggested Harrison Barnes, and I think 1078 01:10:20,079 --> 01:10:23,359 he's a great fit for them. The trade that they came up with the 1079 01:10:23,399 --> 01:10:29,920 framework was sarch Smith, Cam Johnson and a first for Harrison Barnes. And 1080 01:10:29,960 --> 01:10:33,399 then you needed just a player from a chief player from Sacramento to so the 1081 01:10:33,520 --> 01:10:39,760 roster spot math isn't as ridiculous. I ultimately said no for the Suns. 1082 01:10:40,000 --> 01:10:43,039 If I was the Kings, I would jump. I would jump at the 1083 01:10:43,079 --> 01:10:45,960 first allowable pick, which would be twenty twenty four for Phoenix. As of 1084 01:10:46,079 --> 01:10:48,039 right now, I'll double check that, but I haven't marked down to two 1085 01:10:48,359 --> 01:10:51,880 and twenty four. I would jump at that. If I'm Sacramento for Phoenix. 1086 01:10:53,239 --> 01:10:57,840 As a pure asset play, I get it. However, in my 1087 01:10:58,000 --> 01:11:00,439 mind, I think there's a move out there that would give you forty to 1088 01:11:00,600 --> 01:11:06,199 sixty percent of the idea of Harrison Barnes to where you don't have to give 1089 01:11:06,239 --> 01:11:12,039 up that type of asset equity. That's where I ultimately landed. My initial 1090 01:11:12,079 --> 01:11:15,479 reaction is that I would do it if and only if I can heavily protect 1091 01:11:15,640 --> 01:11:19,600 that first round pick, because I don't know what the post Chris Paul era 1092 01:11:19,760 --> 01:11:24,800 is going to look like, and we're probably entering that by the twenty twenty 1093 01:11:24,800 --> 01:11:28,279 four draft. So if you tell me that I can put like a top 1094 01:11:28,479 --> 01:11:31,640 twenty two protection and if it doesn't convert, if it doesn't convey, it 1095 01:11:31,720 --> 01:11:36,159 converts to two second round picks, then I'm in. But there's a little 1096 01:11:36,199 --> 01:11:40,439 too much uncertainty that far out in the future for me to want to make 1097 01:11:40,479 --> 01:11:45,279 a move, because, as you mentioned, you can replicate what Barnes brings 1098 01:11:45,319 --> 01:11:48,840 at a smaller scale for a cheaper price. So if if you're letting me 1099 01:11:48,920 --> 01:11:54,399 put those protections in, sure, I'm upgrading from Cam Johnson and Harrison Barnes 1100 01:11:55,000 --> 01:11:59,640 because that's how that's ultimately how I'm viewing this. The other two other names 1101 01:11:59,680 --> 01:12:01,680 that I have for them, this is and if you're willing to give up 1102 01:12:01,720 --> 01:12:06,000 Cam Johnson was my thought here, and maybe the actual package is not as 1103 01:12:06,079 --> 01:12:10,239 stark for either of these guys, is right now for this is probably we're 1104 01:12:10,279 --> 01:12:14,119 about the name. It definitely shouldn't be Derek White if you view him as 1105 01:12:14,119 --> 01:12:16,439 a defensive wing, wouldn't treat me for this team. I'm not giving up 1106 01:12:16,520 --> 01:12:19,399 Cam Johnson in a first for him, though his contract, I still think 1107 01:12:19,399 --> 01:12:23,319 he's an iffy. And then Gary Trent Junior was the other one I had. 1108 01:12:23,359 --> 01:12:26,439 If the Raptors just decide to say, hey, we're not moving og 1109 01:12:26,960 --> 01:12:30,159 or Scottie Barnes, I don't think you can move in Fleet. He would 1110 01:12:30,159 --> 01:12:31,520 have been on so many lists if they were open a moving van Fleet, 1111 01:12:31,920 --> 01:12:36,640 So that was intriguing to me. I wonder if because Trent has been so 1112 01:12:36,800 --> 01:12:40,279 good defensively this year, and I do think he gives you an element of 1113 01:12:40,359 --> 01:12:43,760 on ball offense, even though he's mostly just a great floor spacer. He's 1114 01:12:43,760 --> 01:12:46,079 shooting I think better than fifty percent on pull up twos this year, and 1115 01:12:46,119 --> 01:12:53,079 that kind of fits the Devin Booker Chris Paul Moti. I think I'm leaning 1116 01:12:53,159 --> 01:12:57,840 more towards acquiring Eric Gordon than Gary Trent Junior, just because of the price 1117 01:12:57,920 --> 01:13:00,840 points that it would take to get them. So were you do first allowable 1118 01:13:00,880 --> 01:13:03,079 first to get Eric Gordon, because that's essentially I'm not giving up camp Johnson 1119 01:13:03,119 --> 01:13:09,359 Frederick Gordon. Yes, with those protections again in place, what's the protection 1120 01:13:09,960 --> 01:13:14,279 like a top twenty kind of thing I think you have to I think would 1121 01:13:14,279 --> 01:13:18,560 have to be lottery. Then I'm probably still fine with that because I know 1122 01:13:18,760 --> 01:13:23,399 that he's going to bring an immediate assist to this team. Where I'm coming 1123 01:13:23,439 --> 01:13:26,399 from because in that scenario, the only asset that team is getting is the 1124 01:13:26,439 --> 01:13:29,880 pick because sarg is good, he's probably out for the year, and then 1125 01:13:29,960 --> 01:13:33,880 Smith is unless you really think that Phoenix has fucked him up and he's going 1126 01:13:33,960 --> 01:13:38,960 to be a low key star for you, That's where I think you run 1127 01:13:39,039 --> 01:13:41,640 into the protection problems. But I could I can get on board with that, 1128 01:13:41,680 --> 01:13:45,039 and I think that's why you wouldn't do if that if that's available. 1129 01:13:45,079 --> 01:13:47,520 I know Harrison Barnes stills a much different role on defense than Eric Gordon, 1130 01:13:47,600 --> 01:13:49,600 but if that type of move is available to where you don't have to gi 1131 01:13:49,720 --> 01:13:54,479 up Cam Johnson, that's why you don't make the Harrison barnsteal, right. 1132 01:13:56,000 --> 01:13:59,560 Yeah, getting to the final stretch here. Our next team is the Portland 1133 01:13:59,600 --> 01:14:02,920 Trailblay. I have no idea what they're doing, Joe, no clue whatsoever. 1134 01:14:03,199 --> 01:14:05,960 There's also Joe Cronin said that he wants he's going to make changes to 1135 01:14:06,000 --> 01:14:10,119 the roster and that this is an enhancement, not a rebuild, not a 1136 01:14:10,199 --> 01:14:15,359 retooling, an enhancement. I'm just what does that mean if you're I think 1137 01:14:15,399 --> 01:14:17,119 they still To me, it means they're on the wind out track, is 1138 01:14:17,159 --> 01:14:21,439 what I think. It means. What I what I don't know is how 1139 01:14:21,520 --> 01:14:25,920 much power does he have to make meaningful change to the roster if he still 1140 01:14:25,960 --> 01:14:28,399 has the INTERM GM tag. I know he's been with the organization for a 1141 01:14:28,479 --> 01:14:31,560 while, but forget about trading, even trading CJ. McCollum, that's a 1142 01:14:31,600 --> 01:14:35,039 wholesale decision. Is he gonna have the power to do that? So the 1143 01:14:35,159 --> 01:14:40,119 names I have sort of vary Ben Simmons if they can get in on him, 1144 01:14:40,239 --> 01:14:43,520 and i've I don't know if I've talked to you about this. I 1145 01:14:43,720 --> 01:14:46,359 know that Philly's not interested in CJ. McCollum. If you're Philly, if 1146 01:14:46,439 --> 01:14:53,039 the package is Norman Powell, Nance, picks and swaps, are you not 1147 01:14:53,800 --> 01:14:57,520 kind of intrigued by that? Because Man's is still under contract next year. 1148 01:14:58,039 --> 01:15:01,840 Norman Powell five years ninety million not steep for him with the way he's playing, 1149 01:15:02,039 --> 01:15:05,159 and other if you have picks and swaps, because look, the ship 1150 01:15:05,239 --> 01:15:10,079 has sailed on anyone who thought McCollum for Ben Simmons was the deal. McCollum 1151 01:15:10,159 --> 01:15:12,680 was not good enough this year, and it was. If he even suggests 1152 01:15:12,680 --> 01:15:15,600 a straight up swap there, there's going to need to be other stuff from 1153 01:15:15,600 --> 01:15:18,880 Portland going to Philly if that's the move. So if you're Philly and you 1154 01:15:18,960 --> 01:15:25,159 have Powell, Nance, picks, swaps, those are assets if you needed 1155 01:15:25,199 --> 01:15:29,319 to that, I think you can turn around and package together should another star 1156 01:15:29,720 --> 01:15:31,800 become available. And that's my I have other names for the Blazers, but 1157 01:15:31,840 --> 01:15:35,840 I was just if your Philly is that not? I know, Lorden Powell's 1158 01:15:35,880 --> 01:15:40,199 not a star, but how much better are the Sixers after making that deal 1159 01:15:41,319 --> 01:15:45,319 significantly better? Ben Simmons is a zero right now, So that's an unfair 1160 01:15:45,479 --> 01:15:48,760 question, But it's it's just tough to wrap my head around anything involving those 1161 01:15:48,800 --> 01:15:51,840 two teams because I have no clue what Portland's doing, and I have no 1162 01:15:51,920 --> 01:15:57,920 clue what Philly's doing, and there's just like such a mystery element when we 1163 01:15:58,039 --> 01:16:00,039 put them together in the same transaction. But yeah, I mean, theoretically 1164 01:16:00,079 --> 01:16:05,000 it makes sense. I also still think that a package including more than just 1165 01:16:05,119 --> 01:16:09,119 McCollum makes sense. I know you said the ship has sailed there, but 1166 01:16:09,239 --> 01:16:14,079 like, I'm still not sure that it should have for Philadelphia because the idea 1167 01:16:14,199 --> 01:16:17,880 of McCollum at at peak value does make sense with him being the rest of 1168 01:16:17,880 --> 01:16:24,600 the roster construction. But is Philly still holding out for, like, for 1169 01:16:24,800 --> 01:16:28,920 so much more that a package headlined by Powell and danced like it just isn't 1170 01:16:28,920 --> 01:16:30,960 going to do it. I just I don't know. I have no idea, 1171 01:16:33,520 --> 01:16:36,359 So yeah, that was just my thought. It's it's not an egregious 1172 01:16:36,359 --> 01:16:42,119 suggestion though, right absolutely not. No, it makes sense, but I 1173 01:16:42,199 --> 01:16:45,520 don't know that either of these organizations is in the business of making sense right 1174 01:16:45,560 --> 01:16:49,720 now. So one of the other names is more interesting than the other two. 1175 01:16:50,600 --> 01:16:54,600 What if the Blazers. What if an enhancement means sort of what the 1176 01:16:54,680 --> 01:16:57,840 Raptors did last year, but they're not. Maybe they're doing the same thing 1177 01:16:57,920 --> 01:17:02,079 this year. The one year tank this year is over. Our draft pick 1178 01:17:02,199 --> 01:17:05,359 is protected, so we're gonna keep it. They just decide that they're going 1179 01:17:05,439 --> 01:17:10,239 to keep it, and we're gonna trade for someone who's not healthy right now 1180 01:17:10,279 --> 01:17:13,039 and won't actually help us win games. I don't know what the cost proposition 1181 01:17:13,159 --> 01:17:15,079 is to get him, but Jonathan Isaac from Roland, I don't even know 1182 01:17:15,079 --> 01:17:17,880 if he would be available. I just have his name there because they need 1183 01:17:18,800 --> 01:17:23,640 not a Roco, not even a Nance not guys who are good team defenders 1184 01:17:23,720 --> 01:17:27,760 are just smart defenders. Nance Is. He's way better off a defender than 1185 01:17:28,880 --> 01:17:32,560 Roco. But they need a defensive anchor, and it's not Nurkics. When 1186 01:17:32,560 --> 01:17:38,000 you want to play this aggressives Isaac healthy Isaac, his value have to be 1187 01:17:38,039 --> 01:17:39,640 all over the place. I don't even know what you give up together. 1188 01:17:39,680 --> 01:17:42,000 It was just a thought I had, is if they're punting on this year. 1189 01:17:42,239 --> 01:17:45,319 The only qualm that I have because I like that idea, is how 1190 01:17:45,520 --> 01:17:50,279 you actually do a one year tank if you're Portland, Because Damian Lillard alone, 1191 01:17:50,640 --> 01:17:54,520 he's going to make sure four years. You shut him down and you 1192 01:17:54,600 --> 01:17:57,600 tell him that surgery on his abdominal injury, That's that's how you won year 1193 01:17:57,640 --> 01:18:00,279 to think. And if you tell Damian Lillard to shut it down and that 1194 01:18:00,359 --> 01:18:05,239 you don't want him to play basketball when he's already thinking about an exit, 1195 01:18:06,079 --> 01:18:10,039 what are you doing to the long term health of your organization? Because that's 1196 01:18:10,079 --> 01:18:13,479 where I was going with this, is like, I don't if he's playing, 1197 01:18:14,000 --> 01:18:18,000 you're too good to truly tank. If he is not playing of not 1198 01:18:18,279 --> 01:18:23,760 of his own volition, you are setting the stage for an actual trade request. 1199 01:18:24,960 --> 01:18:28,640 Here's an instring question. Looking at what assets they would have, and 1200 01:18:28,720 --> 01:18:32,560 what's interesting, I think if you're orlandos you might be getting the first allowable 1201 01:18:32,640 --> 01:18:35,920 Portland draft pick. I think it is twenty twenty four, and depending on 1202 01:18:36,039 --> 01:18:41,520 the protection of that, that's mega intriguing because you don't know what's going to 1203 01:18:41,560 --> 01:18:45,800 happen with Dame. Looking at what they would give up to match the salary 1204 01:18:45,520 --> 01:18:48,560 too, and whatever comminenttness, her little has to be involved in that. 1205 01:18:48,920 --> 01:18:54,800 There's who are you giving up in that deal that you think is going to 1206 01:18:54,880 --> 01:18:57,960 make the Blazers substantially worse. Know, when you're getting back a player who 1207 01:18:57,960 --> 01:19:01,760 won't immediately be playing for you, I'm not sure that you really are unless 1208 01:19:01,800 --> 01:19:09,880 it's Norman Powell, color me unconcerned. Yeah, yeah, which just yeah, 1209 01:19:09,920 --> 01:19:15,279 And I guess that makes it make more sense because you're not really tanking. 1210 01:19:15,119 --> 01:19:19,680 You're just not taking a step forward in the immediate present, right, 1211 01:19:19,800 --> 01:19:23,279 And then it puts you in a situation where maybe it's a little bit easier. 1212 01:19:23,319 --> 01:19:26,199 Two tanks should Damian Lillard needs some rest or, be open to some 1213 01:19:26,359 --> 01:19:30,720 rest or something. If he's open to it, then by all means so 1214 01:19:30,920 --> 01:19:34,239 I have. I just have two lower scale names for them. They need 1215 01:19:34,359 --> 01:19:38,000 big help, they need better rim projection. I don't know if either. 1216 01:19:38,079 --> 01:19:41,239 I think Mitchell Robinson was one. I think he would be better in the 1217 01:19:41,279 --> 01:19:44,760 aggressive defensive scheme that they're playing. Mobamba was the other. Is cooled off 1218 01:19:44,800 --> 01:19:46,960 from three and I don't know that you want him in an ultra aggressive defensive 1219 01:19:47,000 --> 01:19:49,359 scheme. But it's someone who can help you around the rim. He's been 1220 01:19:49,399 --> 01:19:54,880 a really good rim protector this year, so I don't really love to fit 1221 01:19:54,960 --> 01:19:58,399 with Bamba. You have Nance two, which I think makes this sort of 1222 01:19:58,560 --> 01:20:00,680 ring hollow, But I do you think they could use it? I'm I 1223 01:20:00,680 --> 01:20:04,920 wouldn't give up what when I get up nrkage from Mitchell Robinson? The salaries 1224 01:20:04,960 --> 01:20:10,159 are so disparate. Maybe I wouldn't, but I think Mitchell Robinson will be 1225 01:20:10,239 --> 01:20:13,319 more valuable to the Blazers defense. Well, more valuable to the Blazers because 1226 01:20:13,359 --> 01:20:15,800 of his defense, even though it's kind of sucked that all over the place 1227 01:20:15,840 --> 01:20:19,279 here, But they don't necessarily need to trade for another big. If they 1228 01:20:19,359 --> 01:20:21,920 want a big that's going to be a better fit for their defensive scheme. 1229 01:20:23,279 --> 01:20:28,319 I'm absolutely looking at like a Mitchell Robinson. What about like Perl? Can 1230 01:20:28,399 --> 01:20:32,960 he be in like the super aggressive scheme? Though maybe we haven't really seen 1231 01:20:33,000 --> 01:20:35,920 it in San Antonio, but I think that there's enough to plumb that it 1232 01:20:35,960 --> 01:20:40,279 would be worth a shot. I wonder if does neurlands no Well make sense 1233 01:20:40,520 --> 01:20:43,520 for this team men because of his men end salary and it's like just somewhere 1234 01:20:43,560 --> 01:20:46,199 in between. I don't think so, because he's such a negative on offense 1235 01:20:46,479 --> 01:20:50,359 that you're just foisting even more responsibility onto the back court, which you've seen 1236 01:20:50,359 --> 01:20:55,199 in the past doesn't work. Yeah, they're just they're a tough team to 1237 01:20:55,239 --> 01:20:57,920 come up with targets for because it's do we just suggest a bunch of young 1238 01:20:57,960 --> 01:21:00,760 guys because this is an enhancement or does it hands? What mean we're going 1239 01:21:00,840 --> 01:21:04,600 to make the all in type play? Tell you so, I have a 1240 01:21:04,680 --> 01:21:06,960 trade idea. I wanted to wait till we got to this team to throw 1241 01:21:08,000 --> 01:21:13,159 it at you. Would you do? It's Warriors Portland's and just before I 1242 01:21:13,199 --> 01:21:15,199 don't want to maybe even let's go through the next team, William Alli, 1243 01:21:16,439 --> 01:21:24,119 CJ. McCollum and Larry NaNs Jr. For Andrew Wiggins and Cavan Looney and 1244 01:21:24,239 --> 01:21:27,319 maybe you have to give up, like, oh no, I'm sorry. 1245 01:21:27,399 --> 01:21:31,279 It was Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman that was the trade. It wasn't for 1246 01:21:31,319 --> 01:21:36,119 McCollum and who Larry Jr. No. I don't think that that's feasible from 1247 01:21:36,119 --> 01:21:41,279 the Warrior's perspective, especially with McCollum in the midst of not the greatest year. 1248 01:21:41,720 --> 01:21:45,159 What what Wiggins does on both ends aligns with the direction of this organization 1249 01:21:45,279 --> 01:21:50,000 just way more Clay coming back, doesn't I don't think so. If anything, 1250 01:21:50,079 --> 01:21:56,560 it makes it more redundant to have McCollum as someone who can create his 1251 01:21:56,600 --> 01:22:03,520 own shot, as someone who is because Clay is going to theoretically have a 1252 01:22:04,279 --> 01:22:10,079 bigger offensive role by virtue of the spacing that he brings as an off ball 1253 01:22:10,159 --> 01:22:14,680 threat. If you're minimizing the ability to even have those kickouts because you're adding 1254 01:22:14,720 --> 01:22:18,359 another attack first player, I think mccollin would probably be a better fit. 1255 01:22:18,520 --> 01:22:23,840 I get where you're coming. I would be more concerned with his contract. 1256 01:22:24,279 --> 01:22:27,840 What does that look like? He has three years left on his deal at 1257 01:22:27,840 --> 01:22:30,880 a pretty hefty price tag. But I was wandering Nance on the Warriors would 1258 01:22:30,880 --> 01:22:34,199 be perfect. It would be really fun. Would I like a smaller scale 1259 01:22:34,239 --> 01:22:38,279 move for just him? If you can pull that off? And I don't 1260 01:22:38,319 --> 01:22:41,760 know how that happens, it would have to be looney and salary, like 1261 01:22:41,880 --> 01:22:44,760 would you would you even give up wise Man for Larry Nance Junior? I 1262 01:22:44,800 --> 01:22:47,239 guess Warriors sans would probably dragged me through the trenches for suggesting that one, 1263 01:22:47,359 --> 01:22:53,520 but they probably will. I'm just because the Blazers that they're gonna make any 1264 01:22:53,560 --> 01:22:55,760 sort of moves. You do have to start. What is CJ. Mccollin's 1265 01:22:55,800 --> 01:22:58,359 value on the trademarket. I hope he recovers from has collapsed along by the 1266 01:22:58,399 --> 01:23:00,399 way, and my guess is that he's going to be better moving forward when 1267 01:23:00,439 --> 01:23:03,960 he's healthy. Then we've seen he is. Would he not in those non 1268 01:23:04,079 --> 01:23:10,880 staff minutes though, be an absolute killer fit? Absolutely? So. It's 1269 01:23:10,960 --> 01:23:15,279 definitely the biggest cost evaluation exactly. I thought, was it at least a 1270 01:23:15,319 --> 01:23:17,199 trade? You didn't even think about the trade? No? I didn't really, 1271 01:23:17,239 --> 01:23:19,479 I didn't really. I guess it wasn't a good one. I thought 1272 01:23:19,479 --> 01:23:25,000 it was just like okay Wiseman and Wiggins for McCallum and Nance. I thought 1273 01:23:25,000 --> 01:23:27,680 it was one of the at least worth thinking about. Apparently not. I'm 1274 01:23:27,680 --> 01:23:32,159 gonna go sorry the Kings, they're great Ben Simmons destination as well. I 1275 01:23:33,000 --> 01:23:38,600 as someone who remains optimistic about Daron Fox's future, I wouldn't be a post 1276 01:23:38,640 --> 01:23:42,399 to movie at this point for Ben Simmons. I was against it. I'm 1277 01:23:42,439 --> 01:23:45,760 not necessarily all about it. I would consider it at this point. Ben 1278 01:23:45,840 --> 01:23:49,079 Simmons is listed for him, and look, maybe Philly's the one that has 1279 01:23:49,119 --> 01:23:55,319 to include extra assets there. I don't I'm not going Daron Fox and Tyrese 1280 01:23:55,359 --> 01:23:57,920 Halibert. I'm not giving the six. There's a bunch of extra stuff. 1281 01:23:57,920 --> 01:24:01,199 In addition to Fox, my dogs main appearance on the podcast companies with me 1282 01:24:01,359 --> 01:24:10,439 O strong agreement. In fact, the I also have Mo Bamba Rono. 1283 01:24:10,600 --> 01:24:13,560 Wow, I'm looking at the Blazers. I have Pascal Siakam. That's someone 1284 01:24:14,640 --> 01:24:17,840 that I would back up the the asset truck for. I don't know that 1285 01:24:17,920 --> 01:24:21,560 anyone would be off limits if I'm the Kings for Siakam. I suppose if 1286 01:24:21,600 --> 01:24:26,079 you are trading for Siakam, we want to keep darn Fox because the ideas 1287 01:24:26,119 --> 01:24:30,520 we are trying to win now. But that was the name everyone. I 1288 01:24:30,640 --> 01:24:33,079 only had this guy listed because everyone wants, not everyone. I've seen a 1289 01:24:33,079 --> 01:24:36,199 lot of people want him like Kings Sabonis. I don't know that I love 1290 01:24:36,359 --> 01:24:42,079 the fit with him in Holmes, I don't either. And I realized that 1291 01:24:42,279 --> 01:24:44,840 you can't see me shaking my head if you're just listening to this, but 1292 01:24:44,920 --> 01:24:48,039 I am reacting vociferously no to that. And then the other two. I 1293 01:24:48,079 --> 01:24:51,239 have a Romeo Langford. This team needs wings. Romeo Langford is short, 1294 01:24:51,279 --> 01:24:55,600 but it's had a pretty good year and can defend up. And then Delano 1295 01:24:55,720 --> 01:25:00,000 Banton from Toronto. I don't know why. I don't know why they necessarily 1296 01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:01,199 to move a rookie, but he's cooled off for shooting and they could really 1297 01:25:01,279 --> 01:25:06,079 use a defender in Sacramento like Delano Benton. I think the other way I'd 1298 01:25:06,079 --> 01:25:11,479 look at this team is just what I could get back for moving Buddy Heals. 1299 01:25:13,560 --> 01:25:17,159 Can I get back an expiring contract if you're lucky? Maybe? Well, 1300 01:25:17,199 --> 01:25:20,199 I mean we we already mentioned like him potentially going to the Lakers. 1301 01:25:20,279 --> 01:25:26,720 What does does that bring back? Like Taylon Horton Tucker. If you're the 1302 01:25:26,840 --> 01:25:29,319 Kings, you're doing Town Horton Tucker and none for Buddy Heals. Don't even 1303 01:25:29,359 --> 01:25:30,680 if that works with the salary. Buddy He'll makes a lot of money. 1304 01:25:30,760 --> 01:25:34,239 He doesn't make a lot of money. Buddy he Will is making twenty three 1305 01:25:34,279 --> 01:25:38,399 million dollars. So no, the Lakers would have to step ladder. I 1306 01:25:38,439 --> 01:25:41,359 mean they could do it, but they'd have to step ladder the hell out 1307 01:25:41,399 --> 01:25:44,560 of it. Yeah. I just this is one of those teams where I'm 1308 01:25:44,560 --> 01:25:47,479 just not sure that many moves make that much sense because there are intriguing pieces 1309 01:25:47,560 --> 01:25:53,720 throughout and they're just not ready to push forward towards that next step. Yet 1310 01:25:55,720 --> 01:26:00,439 I get it. The Spurs, I have a blank spot in their spot 1311 01:26:00,479 --> 01:26:02,079 because I just have no idea what this team should be looking to do. 1312 01:26:02,680 --> 01:26:08,000 I have an idea of what they need, but like, who should you 1313 01:26:08,119 --> 01:26:12,159 be targeting? It feels like they need a better point of attack score, 1314 01:26:12,520 --> 01:26:14,439 But at the same time, you do have Dejan Day Murray's, Like, 1315 01:26:14,479 --> 01:26:15,840 you can't be one of the teams that are just going to be involved with 1316 01:26:16,439 --> 01:26:20,199 a darn fox and you're also not going to go after, you know, 1317 01:26:21,119 --> 01:26:25,359 a veteran that's going to cost you a ton because you're not necessarily super good 1318 01:26:25,840 --> 01:26:29,760 right now. And then Dejan Day Murray's he's a better shooter, but between 1319 01:26:29,880 --> 01:26:32,600 him and White, like the spacing limitations there, you're not you know, 1320 01:26:32,760 --> 01:26:36,359 I thought about Spencer Dinwoodie. Is there a low play, low cost play 1321 01:26:36,399 --> 01:26:40,920 there to be made where he's not starting with those two guys but coming off 1322 01:26:40,960 --> 01:26:43,760 the bench and he has not been good in Washington, Now what's your goal 1323 01:26:43,880 --> 01:26:46,119 with acquiring him? Anyway? That's again I left the top spot open. 1324 01:26:46,239 --> 01:26:51,800 So these are more stop gap names or younger names, shake Milton, what's 1325 01:26:51,840 --> 01:26:57,039 it cost to get him out of Philly? Going on drugs? Just expiring 1326 01:26:57,119 --> 01:27:01,640 contract. So if you want someone to provide just maybe some shooting, maybe 1327 01:27:01,720 --> 01:27:06,119 some steadiness as a playmaker, just another in more of a point guard than 1328 01:27:08,239 --> 01:27:10,680 who's behind Murray right now, which is really just like when you look at 1329 01:27:10,680 --> 01:27:15,840 their secondary playmakers, not not anyone. And then Anthony Simon's going to be 1330 01:27:15,880 --> 01:27:18,119 a restricted free agent, but he's like, what if Lonnie Walker the fourth 1331 01:27:18,239 --> 01:27:20,920 was good type deal and he doesn't get to the basket as much. I'm 1332 01:27:20,920 --> 01:27:23,880 not I don't mean to be that reductive, but you know what I mean. 1333 01:27:24,239 --> 01:27:27,399 I really like the idea of Simon's here. I think that's the name 1334 01:27:27,479 --> 01:27:30,960 that makes the most sense to me, especially with the shooting strides we've seen 1335 01:27:30,079 --> 01:27:33,520 from him this season in Portland. I've also been waiting to mention this guy 1336 01:27:33,840 --> 01:27:38,199 until we got here because I think it's the ideal landing spot now that he's 1337 01:27:38,239 --> 01:27:41,439 been waived by the Philadelphia seventy six ers. But I would I would legitimately 1338 01:27:41,520 --> 01:27:45,720 like to see Grant Riller get a shot with the Spurs because the shooting that 1339 01:27:45,840 --> 01:27:50,079 he theoretically brings. The passing that he theoretically brings if he's healthy, would 1340 01:27:50,119 --> 01:27:54,640 be intriguing in this lineup. And I have not mentioned him even though I 1341 01:27:54,720 --> 01:27:57,279 just want to see him on an NBA roster for any other team, because 1342 01:27:57,279 --> 01:28:00,479 I think this is the ideal landing spot, giving him a place that could 1343 01:28:00,479 --> 01:28:04,840 actually use him. I mean, I'm not against it. That's such a 1344 01:28:04,920 --> 01:28:08,640 low flyer play at this one. I'd rather see them play actually give minutes 1345 01:28:08,680 --> 01:28:14,119 to Josh Primo. But I get I think both of those things the moral 1346 01:28:14,119 --> 01:28:15,640 of the story years. I don't have a top target for them, the 1347 01:28:15,720 --> 01:28:18,920 one they put themselves in a really weird place. They I think they have 1348 01:28:19,119 --> 01:28:25,039 enough where they could get something. Because teams should be interested in Doug McDermott, 1349 01:28:25,039 --> 01:28:29,079 they should be interested in Thaddeus Young. You could very reasonably ship off 1350 01:28:29,159 --> 01:28:32,279 Yaka Purdle somewhere. Brian Forbes could have interest to a contender as an off 1351 01:28:32,319 --> 01:28:36,159 the bench scoring option. They should be able to get something. I just 1352 01:28:36,239 --> 01:28:41,119 have no clue what that something should be, because I'm not sure they do 1353 01:28:41,319 --> 01:28:45,800 either. Would you do Doug McDermott and Derek White for Christops becorse, they 1354 01:28:45,840 --> 01:28:49,840 guess I would yeah, for both sides. For Whites, I don't know 1355 01:28:49,840 --> 01:28:55,159 if why he's been good enough for the MAVs to jump at that, but 1356 01:28:55,279 --> 01:28:59,760 the the I think, especially if you can also fit Thaddeus Young into that 1357 01:29:00,039 --> 01:29:03,159 RAN's action and just make it like a more of a consolidate veteran consolidation for 1358 01:29:03,279 --> 01:29:08,479 younger talent, trade for san Antonio and give Dallas just more depth than more 1359 01:29:08,600 --> 01:29:12,439 versatility in a way that isn't going to take away from Luca's playmaking. That 1360 01:29:12,560 --> 01:29:15,720 makes sense. All I'm gonna say is san Antonio Pop. The other night 1361 01:29:15,800 --> 01:29:20,159 played jocklan Landale over Daddy is Young. That's where he played him over Drew 1362 01:29:20,239 --> 01:29:24,199 ju Banks too, but still you Banks has been playing for Dad he is 1363 01:29:24,239 --> 01:29:27,560 Young basically all year, which has been strange because Young has been really good 1364 01:29:27,600 --> 01:29:31,920 when he's gotten opportunities. They I hope they free him or trade him somewhere 1365 01:29:31,920 --> 01:29:34,800 because I still think that he could help a team. I don't. I 1366 01:29:34,840 --> 01:29:39,199 don't have a top target though that was the That deal was the closest, 1367 01:29:39,439 --> 01:29:41,520 but I don't think Kristops should be their top target. They do. He 1368 01:29:41,640 --> 01:29:44,800 works with Peartle, but you have Pearle the closest I actually came. I 1369 01:29:44,880 --> 01:29:47,319 just didn't think the name was realistic enough with Brandon ingram is like, if 1370 01:29:47,359 --> 01:29:49,800 the Spurs were going to be buyers, that would be the guy that I 1371 01:29:49,840 --> 01:29:51,600 look at. And it's like, if you don't know, if they give 1372 01:29:51,680 --> 01:29:56,399 up to Jean Day Murray, that's incredibly interesting they could. I don't know 1373 01:29:56,439 --> 01:29:58,600 how you feel about them as a Ben Simmons team either, either. A 1374 01:29:58,640 --> 01:30:00,960 lot of people think that they would be an intriguing destination. I don't see 1375 01:30:01,039 --> 01:30:04,479 that. It's more shooting limitations and I don't know what he's going to be 1376 01:30:04,560 --> 01:30:09,359 elevating right now. They by the way, if anyone cares, this is 1377 01:30:09,399 --> 01:30:15,079 my favorite verse that of the year. They are first in average offensive possession 1378 01:30:15,159 --> 01:30:17,079 time, so they are the fastest offensive team in the NBA right now. 1379 01:30:18,239 --> 01:30:23,920 Would never have guessed that we can move on to our final team, the 1380 01:30:24,079 --> 01:30:29,119 Utah team. They are tough because, oh, by the way, speaking 1381 01:30:29,119 --> 01:30:34,760 of the Jazz, I did think about this for Dallas. Jordan Clarson wouldn't 1382 01:30:34,800 --> 01:30:38,520 be the worst fit in the world for Dallas. I don't know why Utah 1383 01:30:38,560 --> 01:30:41,840 Dallas will necessarily do business at this point. Maybe it's a is Kleiba involved 1384 01:30:41,880 --> 01:30:45,039 because I think Kleiba helps out Utah a ton. He's on my list for 1385 01:30:45,119 --> 01:30:47,159 them. I was curious this to your thoughts about that. I could see 1386 01:30:47,199 --> 01:30:50,439 that, but it does run into that same concern that I have, where 1387 01:30:50,560 --> 01:30:57,119 unless you're using him as a buffer for the non Luca minutes, I wonder 1388 01:30:57,199 --> 01:31:02,000 about playing them together in Jason Kidd's schemes because I don't want the ball out 1389 01:31:02,039 --> 01:31:06,119 of Luca's hands even more than it already is. I'm with it. Parson's 1390 01:31:06,119 --> 01:31:09,760 been better in recent weeks too, and I think I think he would be 1391 01:31:09,840 --> 01:31:12,000 good for Dallas. But that was a name I had him. He's like 1392 01:31:12,119 --> 01:31:14,640 in yellow and I don't know why I made him like an except I don't 1393 01:31:14,640 --> 01:31:17,119 know why to name him first. But anyway, so I have Kleiba for 1394 01:31:17,279 --> 01:31:21,119 Utah they need. I would probably prefer someone who's I know we've seen Cliba 1395 01:31:21,199 --> 01:31:24,880 defend like Kauai and Paul George in the past. I don't know that he 1396 01:31:24,920 --> 01:31:28,760 has that same defensive mobility. They could still use someone who can be an 1397 01:31:28,800 --> 01:31:31,920 active part of the regular season rotation, but that would also give them that 1398 01:31:32,159 --> 01:31:36,640 type of an option in the playoffs, because I think let's use Daniel Howson 1399 01:31:38,000 --> 01:31:41,760 as an example that someone you could theoretically use in the playoffs. I just 1400 01:31:41,800 --> 01:31:44,479 don't know how he would help you during the regular season, is my point, 1401 01:31:44,680 --> 01:31:47,840 except for those games. So I have to Tory Craig. Did you 1402 01:31:47,920 --> 01:31:53,159 not hear me start to say Tory Craig. So, Tory Craig. I 1403 01:31:53,279 --> 01:31:56,520 have two pacers al right here, Tory Craig and Alshe Brissette. I don't 1404 01:31:56,520 --> 01:32:00,239 think the pass were Trey Brissette. He's been amazing, but he's when you 1405 01:32:00,319 --> 01:32:03,079 look at his versatility and he can shoot better than Craig at this point and 1406 01:32:03,199 --> 01:32:06,560 handle the ball a little bit. He's like the exact type of role player 1407 01:32:06,760 --> 01:32:13,640 Utah doesn't have the just like incredibly versatile where they're limited to I would say 1408 01:32:14,319 --> 01:32:18,640 either one position or two position role players who maybe only do they have a 1409 01:32:18,720 --> 01:32:21,039 lot of dynamic offense on that team. I'll give them credit for that, 1410 01:32:21,159 --> 01:32:24,880 but they don't have a ton of dynamic defensive players, is my point, 1411 01:32:25,119 --> 01:32:29,119 And so Brissette would fit that mold while also potentially being good on offense. 1412 01:32:29,239 --> 01:32:31,960 I just don't know the Jazz. When you talk about first allowable first round 1413 01:32:32,000 --> 01:32:36,479 picks, the Jazz cannot trade a first round pick until two thousand and twenty 1414 01:32:36,720 --> 01:32:41,279 six is first allowable, right now, that's a long time from now. 1415 01:32:41,399 --> 01:32:44,520 I'm not My point is I'm not giving up with six first round play four 1416 01:32:45,319 --> 01:32:48,359 Brissette. I'm just I want to see Brissette. He's playing more in Indie, 1417 01:32:48,359 --> 01:32:50,600 and I made this list when he wasn't really playing so much in Indiana. 1418 01:32:50,920 --> 01:32:56,439 But fun name, as you can tell, I really like the idea 1419 01:32:56,479 --> 01:33:00,199 of Tory Craig here that was not planned. He'll go to same at the 1420 01:33:00,239 --> 01:33:03,159 same time. I promise I was not copying with you. He's and he'll 1421 01:33:03,199 --> 01:33:08,800 give you he might be like the best offensive rebounding wing in the league. 1422 01:33:08,840 --> 01:33:11,199 Like he'll just I don't know if the Jazz want him to do that necessarily, 1423 01:33:11,279 --> 01:33:15,439 Like he'll come in and he'll grab boards when guys are sleeping and he 1424 01:33:15,600 --> 01:33:18,840 can. They've already tried Rudy Gate the fives on Whiteside's glue injury contributed to 1425 01:33:18,880 --> 01:33:24,079 them even testing that. I don't think playing anyone at the five who's small 1426 01:33:24,319 --> 01:33:27,840 is actually something they're looking to do. Rudy Gobert with Craig at the flour 1427 01:33:28,680 --> 01:33:30,800 that's a lineup that you know maybe you're worried about the spacing a little bit, 1428 01:33:30,840 --> 01:33:34,000 but Craig hit threes for Phoenix last year, and the Jazz create a 1429 01:33:34,119 --> 01:33:39,039 ton of just high quality and I'm not saying wide open threes. I'm talking 1430 01:33:39,239 --> 01:33:42,920 ultra wide open threes, and so maybe that helps. The offense is just 1431 01:33:43,000 --> 01:33:46,359 a machine, and I think whatever you can do to alleviate the defensive responsibilities 1432 01:33:46,800 --> 01:33:50,079 that Donovan Mitchell asked his shoulder makes a lot of sense for making sure that 1433 01:33:50,159 --> 01:33:55,159 it doesn't get gummed up in the postseason, because we know that Steve is 1434 01:33:55,159 --> 01:33:58,720 a regular season juggernaut. Personally, I still am not out on them as 1435 01:33:58,760 --> 01:34:01,960 a playoff contender, even we've been let down by that in each of the 1436 01:34:02,039 --> 01:34:06,359 last four hundred years. But if you can do whatever you can to make 1437 01:34:06,399 --> 01:34:12,159 sure that Mitchell is not ultra tired in the postseason by getting a capable wing 1438 01:34:12,239 --> 01:34:15,640 defender who can slide down and slide up like Craig, you should do it. 1439 01:34:15,840 --> 01:34:20,199 The final name that I have for them is Kendrick Williams, and I'm 1440 01:34:20,239 --> 01:34:24,640 not even kidding. I have Kendrick Williams listed for them. What about justin 1441 01:34:24,680 --> 01:34:29,119 holiday? He would be excuse me, he would be. I think he 1442 01:34:29,159 --> 01:34:31,880 would be fine, but like, is he going and we've seen him play 1443 01:34:31,920 --> 01:34:36,359 some backup for an indied But is he giving you enough defensively against the guys 1444 01:34:36,399 --> 01:34:42,600 that you're worried about? So? But I was most mostly joking because we've 1445 01:34:42,600 --> 01:34:45,479 included him for so many other teams. But I think the serious nature of 1446 01:34:45,520 --> 01:34:48,680 the response, I mean, he's still good that I really didn't think about 1447 01:34:48,680 --> 01:34:51,439 it. I also thought he's just not enough. He's not quick, he's 1448 01:34:51,439 --> 01:34:55,439 not gonna do it. But Kyle Anderson, I though about Kyle Anderson with 1449 01:34:55,560 --> 01:34:58,039 his sons, he would actually be a good fit for Phoenix. I don't 1450 01:34:58,079 --> 01:35:00,239 think he's gonna get He's just not like that guy. He would be fun 1451 01:35:00,319 --> 01:35:03,600 to have just next to Joe Ingles in in Utah, but I don't think 1452 01:35:03,600 --> 01:35:06,279 he gives you enough. I'd rather have Rudy Gay at the four I think 1453 01:35:06,319 --> 01:35:11,119 for the Jazz than Kyle Anderson, is my point. What about Frank Nilikina 1454 01:35:12,039 --> 01:35:16,000 Frank neilpen to be a fantastic fit for anybody who needs a fantastic defender. 1455 01:35:16,000 --> 01:35:18,880 If he just he can't, he can. I'm not gonna say he can't. 1456 01:35:18,880 --> 01:35:21,600 There's nothing Frank Nielokina can't do. But like if you want him to 1457 01:35:21,640 --> 01:35:25,960 go up against the starrier wings of the bigger wings, like that's probably not 1458 01:35:26,039 --> 01:35:30,239 what he should be doing. James Harden, Kevin Durant. That's why you 1459 01:35:30,319 --> 01:35:33,439 trade for Frank Nilikina. But if you need to write about Kauai or Lebron, 1460 01:35:33,680 --> 01:35:36,239 that's not really Frank nilikina territory. I don't I don't need to dump 1461 01:35:36,319 --> 01:35:42,199 all over from Nilokina, but I'm glad we got that out of your system. 1462 01:35:43,279 --> 01:35:45,720 And by the way, the Jazz could do I don't know, I 1463 01:35:45,880 --> 01:35:48,199 just want want to trade. They could do something fairly big. You have 1464 01:35:48,359 --> 01:35:51,600 Clarkson salary. But if you're willing to move ingles that were blowing on Bogdanovitch, 1465 01:35:53,079 --> 01:35:56,359 that's when you could start talking about oh Is Harrison Barnes on the tables 1466 01:35:56,399 --> 01:36:00,600 for sweet Nae, the Jordan Clarkson for the Dream for the Jazz would be 1467 01:36:00,680 --> 01:36:04,640 Jordan Clarkson for Kleebland and Dorian Finney Smith. I won You have to assume 1468 01:36:04,720 --> 01:36:09,720 Dallas is selling in that instance, and I don't know what else you're attaching 1469 01:36:09,760 --> 01:36:12,279 to that to make it worth their watch, Like would you give up your 1470 01:36:12,319 --> 01:36:16,079 twenty twenty six first in that package. So but yeah, this was a 1471 01:36:16,159 --> 01:36:20,159 fun exercise and we did it in only seven minutes, longer than we said 1472 01:36:20,199 --> 01:36:23,800 we were going to do it, and that was with a rant at the 1473 01:36:23,880 --> 01:36:26,399 beginning. I'll call that a victory. If you've made it this far, 1474 01:36:26,640 --> 01:36:29,640 please, please, pretty please remember to rate, review and subscribe to Hardwin 1475 01:36:29,720 --> 01:36:32,439 Knocks on iTunes, even if you don't use iTunes. Spotify now has a 1476 01:36:32,520 --> 01:36:34,920 rating system. Apparently I haven't looked at it, so go to Spotify. 1477 01:36:35,079 --> 01:36:39,279 Rate review us there too if they allow it. Just subscribe though, that 1478 01:36:39,359 --> 01:36:44,159 is most important. Down over every episode, tell random people about us and 1479 01:36:44,279 --> 01:36:46,119 friends and family members, people that you know if they're looking for sub mediocre 1480 01:36:46,520 --> 01:36:51,000 league wide basketball NBA analysis. Until next time. Now, I'll view with 1481 01:36:51,039 --> 01:36:55,479 the shout out to the one the only the segue was right there, and 1482 01:36:55,520 --> 01:36:57,600 I think Adam was waiting for me to pounce on it, but I actually 1483 01:36:57,640 --> 01:36:59,960 went through a Frank Lackin rant. Frank Nilaky