1 00:00:15,679 --> 00:00:20,399 What is Kracklac and fellow Thermo nuclear affers. I am Dan fa Valley, 2 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:27,519 joined by my certified fantabulous co host, mister Grant Hughes. We are going 3 00:00:27,559 --> 00:00:31,760 to record material that could probably just get blown up within seconds of us speaking 4 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,600 about it releasing it. Hopefully some of the stuff we record and don't release 5 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,399 till the day after holds up. But before we get started, just the 6 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,439 usual reminder too. Continue subscribing wherever you consume us. Is that on YouTube? 7 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,920 Hit that sub button like every video, comment, help the algorithm, 8 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,960 love us back. 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And 15 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,120 actually, finally, if you would like to support the show, the best 16 00:01:18,159 --> 00:01:21,959 way to do so outside of everything I just listed or in addition to buy 17 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,519 some merch, Grant is rocking the apology to Mitchell Robinson, shut Jared Allen, 18 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,079 get the fuck out of here. You couldn't perform up to snuff against 19 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,719 the New York Knicks I have on the hardware Knox hoodie. Grant's got his 20 00:01:33,799 --> 00:01:36,599 cup, which was I don't know if I mentioned this, but we get 21 00:01:36,599 --> 00:01:40,760 a Bleacher Report live stream and Grant is so dedicated to the brand. It 22 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,959 wasn't coffee time, but he had the cup in his background so that all 23 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:48,239 the viewers on Bleacher Report could could see. So buy our merch. And 24 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,519 with that we get to the question everyone's dying to know the answer to Grant, 25 00:01:52,359 --> 00:01:55,640 how the heck are you doing? I'm doing well. I'm very excited 26 00:01:55,760 --> 00:02:00,439 to potentially be wrong about a lot of things on this podcast for reasons outside 27 00:02:00,439 --> 00:02:02,760 of our control, because the news will just change because that's the season we're 28 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:07,000 in. As opposed to just having incorrect thoughts, you know, that's your 29 00:02:07,039 --> 00:02:10,280 fault, But if so and so gets traded or a team goes a different 30 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:14,159 direction, then that's not on us. So we can be wrong all we 31 00:02:14,199 --> 00:02:16,199 wanted, and I'm sure that we will. I do have another question for 32 00:02:16,199 --> 00:02:22,280 you that's that's not really related at all. Let's just hypothetically say that you 33 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:27,800 have a stepfather who is missing in a submarine. Are you still going to 34 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,360 that Blink one eighty two concert that you have on your schedule. It's really 35 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,400 close to home because it's like, no, this is like the least relatable 36 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,120 news story of all time. Yeah, that guy was a superstar. The 37 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,800 stepson that just shot a shot over and over based on the tragedy. Good 38 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,719 good for him. I guess I don't know people know I'm talking about, 39 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,360 right, It was like the biggest story for I'm sure people know because it 40 00:02:53,439 --> 00:02:58,159 was the actual premise of like, oh if music is actual escapism for me 41 00:02:58,159 --> 00:03:00,360 and I want to like I could understand still going, but like turning it 42 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:06,400 into content like in hashtag, like basically hashtag like where's my dad step dad 43 00:03:06,439 --> 00:03:08,879 or something that like whatever you did was just so cringey. But I know 44 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,960 you have a blinko eighty two show coming up I think end of this month 45 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:15,080 or at the start of July, so I figured it was, well, 46 00:03:15,159 --> 00:03:17,560 it's funny you mentioned it. I did have tickets and it was for last 47 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:22,919 Friday, and I ended up selling them because they were worth a lot more 48 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:29,479 than than the experience. So I have the complete opposite approach to this kid. 49 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,879 I'm so angry at you right now. No wonder I would. You 50 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,360 never would have told me if I didn't ask this question, I would because 51 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,840 I knew. I knew your reaction would be. This is how the fractures 52 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,319 and fissures on hardware knocks stop. You can't, clearly, you can't put 53 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:44,479 a price on Blinko eighty two tickets if they're helping someone through their missing step 54 00:03:44,479 --> 00:03:47,719 father and intubate. You know what you can and I did? Was it? 55 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,280 Did you sell the tickets to him? No? Well I don't know 56 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,639 who bought him. You know, the good folks and Ticketmaster handled the transaction. 57 00:03:55,719 --> 00:03:59,800 So maybe maybe I helped him, you know, in some small way. 58 00:03:59,879 --> 00:04:01,759 Or all just out here trying to help each other. Shall we help? 59 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:08,360 Shall we help? The listeners discuss the Northwest divisions as usual, we 60 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,080 will be trying to keep this page because we won't wait too long on the 61 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,039 Pacific Division, so I will be setting alarms. You might hear Blake what 62 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,560 Nady two in the background. Although I'm so disappointed in Grant I don't want 63 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,879 to feel the pangs of disappointment every time that they play. But do you 64 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,800 want to take us through our first team, the Vitals, and I will 65 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,759 set the alarm I do. We are going with the Denver Nuggets first in 66 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:32,439 the Northwest Division. Here, they're key free agents. I should say singular, 67 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,079 but that would be a slap in the face of Jeff Green, who's 68 00:04:35,079 --> 00:04:38,399 also free agent. Bruce Brown is the main guy. He's got a player 69 00:04:38,439 --> 00:04:43,000 option. The Nuggets are pretty limited in what they can offer him, so 70 00:04:43,079 --> 00:04:46,800 he is the very hot mL E plus candidate for like every team out there, 71 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,399 Jamal Murray these always surprised me. Is extension eligible. He can get 72 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:57,120 up to three years. One hundred and fifty ishmillion would be his max. 73 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,399 Denver's cap situation, as is the case most teams that have a lot of 74 00:05:00,399 --> 00:05:05,480 success, they're over the tax. They probably will not have the full or 75 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,199 the mini well, it depends on what happens with Bruce Brown, what they 76 00:05:09,199 --> 00:05:12,839 get as far as they're full or they're mini mL E. We are assuming 77 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,360 that to get to that figure that we do not have holds for Brown or 78 00:05:16,439 --> 00:05:20,160 Green, but we'll discuss that in more detail. Notable trade exceptions. They 79 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:25,360 still have one for like another couple of weeks from the Monte Morris trade. 80 00:05:25,639 --> 00:05:30,560 Nine point one million dollars expires July sixth. Biggest needs, Dan, So 81 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:34,319 this team won the title, and those teams tend to not have huge needs. 82 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:39,000 But you know, nobody's perfect. So what if you're the Nuggets, 83 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,519 what is item number one on your off season priority list? It's Bruce Brown 84 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,439 because I think he determined your biggest need. Is it going to be a 85 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,759 backup ball handler or slash another veteran wing, or is it going like right 86 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:53,120 now he comes back, I just kind of like backup five, Like they're 87 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,160 pretty much just set, and so I'm very interesting what he does. I 88 00:05:57,199 --> 00:06:00,079 know Michael Malone said he was basically he wasn't going anywhere. They can offer 89 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:04,839 him a starting salary slightly north of seven million dollars or you know, the 90 00:06:04,879 --> 00:06:09,680 taxpayer have you seen I don't have a specific number on the mini mL E. 91 00:06:10,439 --> 00:06:13,399 I've like, I asked people and they like, we have the non 92 00:06:13,399 --> 00:06:15,120 tax Payamiley hammered out, we know what the room is gonna be. Like 93 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,920 the room is seven million, so the non so the taxpayer, Emily should 94 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,079 probably be higher. They might not have access to it though, but it 95 00:06:21,079 --> 00:06:24,720 could be greater than what they could offer Brown. If they can access it, 96 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,160 they can offer them Matt. My guest would be even in this market 97 00:06:28,199 --> 00:06:31,600 where we've seen cap space so far dry up in certain places, he should 98 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:39,079 have full MLI offers in that twelve point four starting million dollars range. I 99 00:06:39,079 --> 00:06:43,839 would give him the full boat, like four years and the only the only 100 00:06:43,879 --> 00:06:46,560 way, not the only way, but if he returns, if he opts 101 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,000 in or opts out and signs a non bird contract. This is very much 102 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:54,720 a wink wing situation where they're gonna give him a pay raise next summer using 103 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,920 early bird rights, which I will say before I throw it to you, 104 00:06:57,319 --> 00:07:00,519 maybe there's some investigation into it. I don't particularly care about that stuff. 105 00:07:00,639 --> 00:07:03,040 I would find it encouraging though, because it means that this team plans on 106 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,120 continuing to spend unless they're looking at it like, well, when we get 107 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,759 there, that's when we'll look at like, oh do we move Michael Porter 108 00:07:09,839 --> 00:07:15,480 Junior, Aaron or KCP at that point? Yeah? I think well, 109 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,360 Nick Batoum is the example that gets thrown out a lot because I think he 110 00:07:17,439 --> 00:07:21,399 did something similar with the Clippers a few years Reggie Jackson, do you remember 111 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:26,480 so? So, I don't think I don't think it's it's likely that that 112 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:30,120 will you know, the league is going to look askance at that. But 113 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,480 I do think, like, I don't know if even that's enough for Brown, 114 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,759 right, I mean we will discuss and have discussed that. The cap 115 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:42,240 space situation is getting a little bleak out there with some exceptions. So it's 116 00:07:42,279 --> 00:07:45,040 not like the Nuggets are going to have, you know, crazy numbers to 117 00:07:45,079 --> 00:07:47,560 compete with. But even even that wink wink promise where you know, take 118 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,040 this, take this one year deal, we get you know, the opportunity 119 00:07:50,079 --> 00:07:54,800 to really pay you a year from now. Like I don't know, I 120 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,839 don't know what that year from now you know, outlay looks like. And 121 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,120 is it going to be competitive with if he can get the full mL E 122 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:05,120 or more like or more right, like we all just we keep talking about 123 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,920 how like, oh, he's an m l E guy. I don't I 124 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,079 mean, he might just be worth a little more than that, like that, 125 00:08:11,079 --> 00:08:13,879 that wouldn't be crazy to me if he got fifteen a year for example, 126 00:08:13,959 --> 00:08:16,120 right, I mean, he just played a huge role on a title 127 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:20,000 winner and has like been really malleable and adapted to a bunch of different situations, 128 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:24,720 like the fit for him. He's he's such a weird player, but 129 00:08:24,759 --> 00:08:28,639 he's also oddly a universal fit because he can just do so many different things. 130 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:31,279 So I don't know, I don't know what the number would need to 131 00:08:31,319 --> 00:08:35,399 be, like in the you know, the backroom deal promise to I guess 132 00:08:35,519 --> 00:08:41,120 really the play is, we're going to try to win another title, and 133 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,279 even if you do want to leave and this wink wink thing falls apart, 134 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,480 you're gonna look even better, you know, a year from now. I 135 00:08:46,519 --> 00:08:50,960 think what helps them is that a lot of the many of the teams with 136 00:08:50,279 --> 00:08:56,159 cap space need more of like an actual primary ball handler where he's going to 137 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,399 provide like secondaries, Like even Utah now like they could use like sort of 138 00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:03,000 a floor jen role that's not really or game manager. He's not really that 139 00:09:03,279 --> 00:09:05,759 like if he was your backup, Yeah, you could throw him two years, 140 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:07,519 thirty two million, And that's something the Spurs could do. They still 141 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:11,600 don't have their floor general, but they just have like they have just so 142 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,840 much flexibility when you're looking at kind of like the six and seven spot in 143 00:09:15,879 --> 00:09:18,240 their eight in their rotation. That would he signed a two year, like 144 00:09:18,279 --> 00:09:24,000 thirty four million dollar deal with them. Just surround Wemby with as many like 145 00:09:24,039 --> 00:09:28,240 connective, high character guys as possible. Charlotte's a team that could have cap 146 00:09:28,279 --> 00:09:30,960 space as a like you're talking about a team that could use a secondary ball 147 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,360 handler, someone that defends. And I also think it is Mark will be 148 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,080 a little bit bigger if you could trust him, like if he was defending 149 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,000 threes and fours rather than like ones and twos in some threes, does Indiana 150 00:09:41,039 --> 00:09:43,559 then take a look at him? But I'm with you, where like if 151 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,480 I was a team with casterers, I might just pay him. Like if 152 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,759 he's going to take a short term winfalls specifically like two years maybe three, 153 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,879 I would do it. And I don't know how you look at trade exception 154 00:09:52,919 --> 00:09:56,000 could help, but the not the dream, but like the whole Alex Caruso 155 00:09:56,039 --> 00:09:58,919 fitting snuggly into it, that ship has sailed because now his money goes up. 156 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,559 Uh what targets would you look at for them? Uh? You know, 157 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,080 knowing? And again do you have anything to add to the Okay, 158 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:09,039 let's see what happens with Bruce Bruce Brown and then you're gonna need like a 159 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:13,000 backup ball handler or another veteran wing if he leaves, then a backup five. 160 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,919 Is there really anything else that this team could use? Not really. 161 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,080 I don't know what you'd do with the Jeff Green spot because he did actually 162 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,159 play and like not very well. So you but that that's such an easier 163 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,480 hole to fill with the mini next year the year we see the nag, 164 00:10:28,919 --> 00:10:33,080 Right, Yeah, that's true. You have the organic and I mean there 165 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,919 are there are internal options that Denver has some guys that they really do believe 166 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,840 in that are going to be ready for like Peyton Watson for examples, another 167 00:10:39,879 --> 00:10:43,840 as a guy that they see us, you know, contributing potentially next year. 168 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,279 No, so as far as targets, like, we're kind of you 169 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,639 know, we're not spending lavishly here minimums. Basically it's a minimum. It's 170 00:10:52,639 --> 00:10:54,360 like they can get they can spend the minimum if you think Brown is coming 171 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,799 back. So I guess if I start with the guards, I think Dennis 172 00:10:58,799 --> 00:11:01,919 Shrewder is probably much more more than a minimum player, but he's someone they 173 00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:05,320 should at least fire an offer at shake. Milton is kind of interesting to 174 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,799 me for the same reasons. Then you kind of get into the Wings and 175 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,639 Biggs and you say Joe Ingles, for example, just another guy to hit 176 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:16,120 a three and make a decision, not gonna help you defensively. I'm not 177 00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:18,720 sure how you you know that that might kind of compromise the Nuggets in the 178 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,759 ways that we've all thought they were compromised until they just defended well enough to 179 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:28,320 win a championship. Do you have anybody else you like in the free agent 180 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:33,120 bucket that I haven't mentioned or that plays a different position If we were looking 181 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:37,480 at Biggs, like his you know is Bismack Bonbo, Paul Rey, Dwight 182 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,960 Pout might all be too expensive, Like those would be names The two names 183 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:45,679 I like that I think would be very gettable o' shaber set and Javante Green, 184 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,240 where it's like if they could hit enough threes the spectrum of positions that 185 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,320 they could defend, and Javonte Green wasn't recovering well from his injury as as 186 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,360 a March, but like if it's the minimum and you think that he's gonna 187 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,320 play, like that's someone who he'll defend one through four and he hit like 188 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,919 thirty seven percent of his limited number of threes last year, and so that's 189 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,799 like a like kind of just a flyer guy Bruce Brown stays, goes whatever, 190 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,840 Like that's just an additional like someone who could really help your your defense. 191 00:12:09,879 --> 00:12:13,039 And maybe he plays regular minutes, maybe he doesn't, depending on you 192 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,360 know, how much you relying on Christian Brown next year or strawthor or Peyton 193 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,679 Watson as you mentioned, that's just sort of like a sleeper for teams are 194 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,960 really strapped. I could just see him being very helpful. Yeah, let's 195 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,799 see, do we have anything else on them? Though? This feels like 196 00:12:28,799 --> 00:12:33,080 a short like they're kind of just easy to tackle because they don't need much. 197 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,399 I think we both agree like they they enter next year's title favorites. 198 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,000 No matter what right or is there if Bruce Brown leaves, you equivocate on 199 00:12:41,039 --> 00:12:45,679 that. I think unless another team, even if Bruce Brown leaves, unless 200 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,200 somebody else really levels up, I think you probably just have to go with 201 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,399 the Nuggets. You know, the usual suspects will all be up there. 202 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,840 But I think the default should be Denver for sure. And they really are 203 00:12:56,919 --> 00:13:00,240 just a one issue team. Get Brown back and then offseasons of success, 204 00:13:00,279 --> 00:13:03,639 don't get them back. You really are kind of you need somebody that's gonna 205 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:05,159 dribble the ball. I think for you know, a few minutes a game 206 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,240 that takes us to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which I will give you their their 207 00:13:11,279 --> 00:13:15,120 basics here now. They're key free agents Nikila, Alexander Walker, who I 208 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:20,240 am trying to send everywhere as a value free agent. Jailen Noel also an 209 00:13:20,279 --> 00:13:24,120 AW is restricted. If I didn't mention that, Anthony Edwards eligible for a 210 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,000 max extension, probably gonna get it. It's just under two hundred million for 211 00:13:28,039 --> 00:13:31,600 five years. He can get the All NBA language that could raise that up 212 00:13:31,639 --> 00:13:35,840 to a supermax for just about two hundred and thirty six million. Jade McDaniels 213 00:13:35,919 --> 00:13:39,519 is also extension eligible, someone I would expect to get in the neighborhood of 214 00:13:39,519 --> 00:13:45,759 one hundred million dollars. We can discuss that the Wolves have well, they 215 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,960 also did some business. They extended nas Reid, so they got about ten 216 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,279 million within there, within ten million of the tacks after that extension. Without 217 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,240 considering the holds for Alexander Walker and Jailen Noel, they're probably going to be 218 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:03,559 a mini midlevel whole team. That looks like the likeliest outcome they have a 219 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,559 Jared Vanderbilt trade exception worth four point four million that expires on July sixth, 220 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:13,320 So this team does not need another big since they're spending like four hundred What 221 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,519 was there was somebody aggregated all the salaries. It was like two seventy for 222 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,279 Cat or one seventy for him and one thirty. It's like several hundred million 223 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:26,399 dollars for three centers. So they don't need a center. So what else? 224 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,440 What do they need? What are you looking at? And do you 225 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,799 have You're a naz Reid guy more so than I am, So maybe before 226 00:14:31,799 --> 00:14:33,799 we talk about targets, how do you feel if you haven't already discussed the 227 00:14:35,159 --> 00:14:37,600 naz Reid deal looks I thought it was a bargain, and people like, 228 00:14:37,639 --> 00:14:41,240 well, that's a lot to pay for a third big and you don't get 229 00:14:41,279 --> 00:14:43,759 to evaluate him in the context of this roster that you build. It's what 230 00:14:43,919 --> 00:14:48,639 is he worth on the market. And I would have thought I would have 231 00:14:48,679 --> 00:14:50,840 given him the full mL E if I wasn't. If I was like a 232 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,679 team like you know, the Jazz, I would have looked at pairing him 233 00:14:54,679 --> 00:14:56,759 in the front court with I know, you just have Taylor Hendricks like him 234 00:14:56,799 --> 00:15:00,279 and Walker Kessler and moern Market and they could have worked together, would have 235 00:15:00,279 --> 00:15:05,159 been perfect in Indiana. So there were teams that I think really could have 236 00:15:05,279 --> 00:15:07,960 used him, that maybe would have tried to even encroach with, you know, 237 00:15:07,039 --> 00:15:11,000 sign and trade possibilities if they didn't have cap space, but at flexibility 238 00:15:11,039 --> 00:15:13,320 under the hard cap. And look, he can play with either one of 239 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,200 these bigs if they really want to. I don't know. Defensively, him 240 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,240 and Towns will be rocky, but like he can play with Rudy Goberian, 241 00:15:20,279 --> 00:15:22,159 but he can still play with Towns, And I'm fine with the number. 242 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,840 I don't A lot of people were trying to connect the dots and say this 243 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,440 means that the Wolves are going to trade towns. I don't think resigning nas 244 00:15:28,559 --> 00:15:33,679 Reid is the impetus for you trading Karl Anthony towns that I disagree with it. 245 00:15:33,879 --> 00:15:37,480 Do you think the read deal is more of an like an asset preservation 246 00:15:39,399 --> 00:15:43,879 move as opposed to our vision is we will have three centers and will move 247 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:46,039 you know what I mean? Like, is it is an asset thing or 248 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:50,559 is it we believe this guy will help us in ways X Y and Z 249 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,320 It's probably a little bit of both, but it has to be on some 250 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,039 level asset preservation because you know, I really I don't think he would have 251 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,960 this much money in ested in your three big, like if you had Rudy 252 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,639 Goomrick Krlinty Towns. I don't think there was a scenario which you thought that 253 00:16:04,759 --> 00:16:07,480 nas Read was going to be a mid level type play. I don't think 254 00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:11,440 he make that trade otherwise. And now, look, he's more valuable to 255 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,799 them as a trade chip himself on this contract once he becomes trade eligible. 256 00:16:15,159 --> 00:16:18,120 That's just a number that can bring back more salary. And there aren't teams 257 00:16:18,159 --> 00:16:22,600 that are gonna you don't balk it that like if you want him, even 258 00:16:22,639 --> 00:16:25,399 if he's coming off the bench, like, that's not the numbers that they 259 00:16:25,399 --> 00:16:29,679 have invested in bigs are is ridiculous because of Gobern Towns. It's like, 260 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,639 if you're paying mid level to your third big, that's not really a huge 261 00:16:32,679 --> 00:16:37,639 deal. Yeah. I worry that, I like Read, maybe not quite 262 00:16:37,639 --> 00:16:40,799 as much as you. I worry that, Like, if he is a 263 00:16:40,879 --> 00:16:42,879 backup, this is a lot of money for a backup center, even of 264 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:48,480 just a peer second stringer. But if he's let someone like I'm trying to 265 00:16:48,519 --> 00:16:52,120 think of a comparison, well, someone like the King's thought, Rashaun Holmes 266 00:16:52,279 --> 00:16:55,080 was, and he was for a while, and you're paying him, you 267 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,440 know, twelve ish a year or fourteen a year, and he's a starter 268 00:16:57,639 --> 00:17:02,279 and he's like a plus starter, then this deals great. If Reid is 269 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,440 someone who can when if and when they trade him, can just you slot 270 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,079 in You're gonna play twenty eight minutes a game, maybe more as a starter, 271 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,400 we're paying you this much like that works for me. But if he 272 00:17:11,519 --> 00:17:15,759 is I don't know. Just in that that that murky, you know, 273 00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:22,000 morass of backup fives that are not that you know, hard to are pretty 274 00:17:22,039 --> 00:17:26,680 indistinguishable from like minimum salary guys. You know you can get go sign a 275 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,559 guy off the scrap heap and he can give you eighty five percent of what 276 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,960 read does, then then it's rough. But if he's a starter, I 277 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,200 think totally fine. There's no his floor game alone. We could talk about 278 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:38,400 the floor spacing where it's, oh, you can find bigs, it will 279 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,440 take threes. His floor game alone, it's just in theirs perimeter mobility on 280 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,559 defense there. So I think it was it was a no brainer for them. 281 00:17:45,599 --> 00:17:48,799 I don't think it informs what they're going to do in the front court 282 00:17:48,799 --> 00:17:52,000 one way or the other. I think it's I just think it you keep 283 00:17:52,079 --> 00:17:53,279 him, you don't keep him. This was this was the right play for 284 00:17:53,319 --> 00:17:56,680 them. What do you think is the bigger need I have been. They 285 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,240 can use a backup point card, but I don't think they could use more. 286 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,599 It doesn't have to be a part of their closing lineup. I know 287 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:04,359 you have any Edwards, I know you have Mike Conley, you have Nozrigi 288 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,559 of Towns. But I do feel like they could use another wing shooter, 289 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,400 Like if they have a wing, who's a shooter where it's it's Torrian Prince. 290 00:18:11,799 --> 00:18:15,519 And then I know a lot of people are high on Wendell Moore, 291 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,519 I don't like. I don't know how many minutes you're planning on having him 292 00:18:18,559 --> 00:18:22,400 play next year. And Jamie m Daniels again hit a high percentage of his 293 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,000 threes. But I'm talking just like a capslock shooter on the wings and at 294 00:18:26,039 --> 00:18:29,319 the Edwards is more of an off the dribble guy. Torrian Prince is like 295 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,279 the closest they sort of get to that. But I do see the argument 296 00:18:32,319 --> 00:18:37,400 for why just another backup playmaker behind Edwards and Conley would would be people's prerogative 297 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,240 to target. Yeah, I think for me it's probably the point guard spot. 298 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:47,480 Although if Edwards is increasingly ready to do more on ball stuff and just 299 00:18:47,519 --> 00:18:49,400 be the primary creator, which I think is sort of the endgame with him, 300 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:53,519 like a Donovan Mitchell type role, I think is it would be the 301 00:18:53,519 --> 00:18:57,240 hope where he just does run your offense. It might even be I would 302 00:18:57,279 --> 00:19:00,920 even I don't mean it might be more James Harden like role. Yeah, 303 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,160 sure, where he's just so sad and I feel like we saw that at 304 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,279 points last season. But please, I didn't mean to no, no, 305 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:08,839 no. I think it is a very much an open question, like what 306 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:14,400 kind of lead ball handler might he ultimately be. I was just using Mitchell 307 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,079 as the guy who, well he's a two, maybe he's not a two, 308 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:18,400 Like, maybe he can run a bunch of pick and rolls to great 309 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:23,920 success at least this past season. So as Conley's age and durability is obviously 310 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:29,960 a concern, so I think just to insulate yourself against oh shit, Conley, 311 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:33,559 you know is out for four to six weeks with whatever, and Anthony 312 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,720 Edwards is just suddenly maybe he's ready for it, but suddenly has this massive 313 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,599 playmaking ball handling role that is just you know, it's a lot to ask, 314 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,839 So I think I'd probably focus on a backup or maybe you'd even call 315 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,920 it like a third point guard. You don't need to go crazy, and 316 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,519 they can't, but you gotta have somebody. I think that you could throw 317 00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:56,799 out there for you know, a decent stretch of the season if you needed 318 00:19:56,839 --> 00:19:59,960 to, and feel like he's not gonna just you know, the offense won't 319 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,839 off the rails. My favorite target for that role and it's with the mini 320 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,079 mL E I Trey Jones. I don't know how much he casts him, 321 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:11,119 assuming the Spurs would match anything in that area, and so after him, 322 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:15,079 I really like the idea of Javon Carter here, assuming he opts out and 323 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,039 he's not much of a game manager, but just like he will give you 324 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:25,200 ninety four feet of defensive hell fire, and I just I would like he 325 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:26,519 can play off the ball, so you could play him with Edwards. I 326 00:20:26,519 --> 00:20:29,440 don't think he would playing with Conny at the same time, like you can 327 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:33,599 play him with Kyle Anderson. Have those type of outlets. I really love 328 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,440 the fit with him. And if you want someone who is going to be 329 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,640 more of a pick and roll player, I think shake Milton for sure. 330 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:45,319 That's just and if people don't know about and I don't blame them, like 331 00:20:45,319 --> 00:20:48,279 he was buried in the Sixers rotation, but like when they had injuries last 332 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:51,759 year, he was capable of running some pick and rolls for Philadelphia. So 333 00:20:51,839 --> 00:20:55,279 shake Milton. That might be a minimum target. But Dennis Shrewder could be 334 00:20:55,400 --> 00:21:00,000 semi interesting here right in a mini emil E territory, Like you don't sacrifice 335 00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:03,839 anything, Like he played some really pesky point of attack defense to the Lakers 336 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:07,279 most of last season. We'll get going downhill. I don't know how much 337 00:21:07,279 --> 00:21:08,960 you trust him as a shooter or a playmaker, but that might be an 338 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:14,920 interesting name. Yeah. I don't mind him, especially alongside either Edwards or 339 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,519 Conley, right because you can if this defense that he showed with the Lakers 340 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:22,599 persists, you could just spare I mean Edwards I think has the capacity to 341 00:21:22,599 --> 00:21:25,400 become a great defender, but if you don't want him to have to handle 342 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,200 that and run the offense, he throw Shrewder out there. I think Shrewder 343 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,720 could guard some twos if he's playing that position with Conley, So I like 344 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:34,200 that a lot. You know, if you're looking at wing shooting, though 345 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,759 you can still you can't quite split the difference. But someone like Seth Curry, 346 00:21:37,799 --> 00:21:41,680 I don't know that the mini Emil is going to get there for him. 347 00:21:41,839 --> 00:21:44,599 He's a weird He's a tricky player to try to evaluate. I think 348 00:21:44,599 --> 00:21:47,839 Shrewder's kind of the same way, like the mini Emili feels, especially if 349 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,079 it's seven or eight or whatever million, which I don't think it'll get to 350 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:55,200 eight, but it feels like that's right around where they should be. But 351 00:21:55,279 --> 00:21:57,079 it's hard to know if that's going to get it done if they have multiple 352 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,319 offers like his Minnesota the choice for the team for those guys, if they 353 00:22:00,319 --> 00:22:03,440 have more than one Mini Emily offer, I don't know. I don't know 354 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,720 if you mentioned Io Toss restricted, I don't know how the Bulls value him. 355 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:12,960 But if Trey Jones is someone that gets the immediate match at the MINIMLI 356 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:15,960 level, I think to sum it could be interesting too. I actually have 357 00:22:17,039 --> 00:22:19,680 him pencil with him for a lot more teams now because Stephan Noah's Sporting News 358 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:25,960 like listed him among free agents every team could afford because and he really covers 359 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,519 the Bulls and they have Kobe White as a free agent, they have Zach 360 00:22:29,599 --> 00:22:30,559 Lavine, and they have Als Crusoe mount the balls in the books. To 361 00:22:30,599 --> 00:22:34,359 Marta Rosen, it's like they're gonna be up against tax concerns, task concerns, 362 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:37,440 and a crowded backcourt. I thought it would take he can only get 363 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:41,559 the starting full like bigger MLI to start as a max salary. I thought 364 00:22:41,559 --> 00:22:45,119 it would take that at least plus like kind of a poison pill to get 365 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,720 him out of Chicago. I know, apparently he might be way more accessible. 366 00:22:48,759 --> 00:22:52,559 And I'm just like someone who could defend almost one through four. And 367 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,079 no, he's not a primary playmaker shooting come off like he can put pressure 368 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,839 on the basket and he can like like run me offense. Well enough, 369 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,960 if you give him space, I would love him basically on every single team 370 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,160 at this point. Well, I think too. You might look at it's 371 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,440 hard to know how they do this, but you know someone, it looks 372 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:15,039 like the Wizards are very much open to moving anything. So Monte Morris de 373 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:21,519 Monte Morris would be like pretty significantly overqualified for the role he'd play here. 374 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:23,200 But that's I mean, it's all on right. I think too is another 375 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,920 one that makes a lot of sense. The only thing is the alarm went 376 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,279 off. That's tricky and I they're just not built for a mid end trade 377 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,480 unless they're gonna like you could give Tory and Prince for Monte Morris, but 378 00:23:33,559 --> 00:23:37,319 is that a trade you're making? And are you're not trading Kyle Anderson? 379 00:23:37,759 --> 00:23:40,960 You're like, you can't even step ladder your way there, really, So 380 00:23:41,039 --> 00:23:42,319 they're sort of if they're gonna make a trade, it almost has to be 381 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:47,759 a mega one, it feels like without any picks involved. So but there, 382 00:23:47,799 --> 00:23:49,079 I'm so interesting with this team looks like a full strike next year, 383 00:23:49,079 --> 00:23:52,240 by the way, because we just didn't see it for enough this season. 384 00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:56,720 Always a great place to be for only trades you can make are massively consequential 385 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,440 ones. Let's hit the Portland Trailblazers. This is I'm sorry, damn Alphabet 386 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:07,079 got us again. Oklahoma City Thunder key free agents Dario Sarich, a key 387 00:24:07,079 --> 00:24:11,559 extension, eligible candidates nobody, so they vaporize a little of their cap space, 388 00:24:11,599 --> 00:24:15,920 but the Thunders still have about fourteen million or a little more, but 389 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,000 they have a bazillion players under contract. If they guarantee Lindy Waters a third 390 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,839 Jeremiah Robinson orl Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. They have some trade exceptions, 391 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,640 none of them are over the four point three million dollars one they have for 392 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:32,559 Darius Basley. They still have a tied Jerome trade exception, which is hilarious 393 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,759 four point two million, Mike Muscala three and a half million. So the 394 00:24:37,799 --> 00:24:41,799 Thunder again have a bloated roster as it is. So when you're starting to 395 00:24:41,839 --> 00:24:44,480 talk about needs, it's kind of like, well, who's going if you're 396 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,480 gonna bring in talent to fill these needs? What do you see? Well, 397 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,359 what are the Thunder trying? What do the Thunder want to be this 398 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,240 year? What do you envision them being as a team, like, because 399 00:24:55,319 --> 00:24:57,680 that informs what they might go after, how they might use the rest of 400 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,599 that cap space, Like what do they what do they need? What can 401 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,240 they get? Who do they want to be? That's like seventeen questions for 402 00:25:03,319 --> 00:25:07,599 you. I think they and I'll answer them all with the same the same 403 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,359 refrain, I think they want to be last year's team. Plus chet home 404 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,720 grid at this point is that they added some more shooting with Davias Burton's if 405 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:17,039 you think they're gonna stick with him, they have and I think you noted 406 00:25:17,039 --> 00:25:19,559 this just their roster spots alone. They totally can't just go out and sign 407 00:25:19,559 --> 00:25:26,599 a free agent unless they're gonna wave somebody. So I just I'm disappointed that 408 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,799 they vaporized some of their I get why they did it. I mean, 409 00:25:29,799 --> 00:25:32,200 to move up too spots on. It's surprised it did cost that much. 410 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,640 I'm not gonna question Sam Presty and Cason Wallace is certainly intriguing, but that 411 00:25:36,759 --> 00:25:41,519 was you know, it's twenty two million guaranteed for Breton's when you factor in 412 00:25:41,559 --> 00:25:45,240 that five million partial guarantee, that's a lot to move up to spots. 413 00:25:45,799 --> 00:25:49,680 I just I would like to see them get more some more shooting on this 414 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,119 team, even though they have Isaiah Joe and Lyndy Waters and now chet Home 415 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,240 Grid and Davis Burton's. I would like to see them get you know, 416 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:00,519 they were twenty eighth and defensive rebounding rate last year. Chet Home Grin will 417 00:26:00,519 --> 00:26:03,720 help that some, but can they get another bigger body to play next to 418 00:26:03,799 --> 00:26:06,200 him? Who even if they're not going to grab a ton of rebounds and 419 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,839 maybe we'll just be an aggressive like box out guy. They were my favorite 420 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,440 outside of New Orleans trying to brokers complicated sign and trades. They were my 421 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,799 favorite. Let's just throw a ship ton of money at Brook Lopez team. 422 00:26:17,839 --> 00:26:21,880 They could still do that. I just don't know when you look at their 423 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:26,720 cap numbers that I'm gonna get him to leave Milwaukee with how much cap space 424 00:26:26,759 --> 00:26:29,240 they have, Like let's say they can get to fifteen or sixteen million, 425 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:33,680 which they would basically have to two years thirty two million, that just feels 426 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,240 like it probably needs to be like between seventeen and twenty two, which they 427 00:26:37,279 --> 00:26:40,119 could get to if they wanted to. They're just they're not the team that's 428 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:41,319 gonna do that, and I want to be that clear. That's okay. 429 00:26:41,559 --> 00:26:47,440 Yeah, the Thunder and Thunder fans are always in our YouTube mentions. They've 430 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:48,920 always saying this to me whenever I write something a Bleacher Report, like that's 431 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,799 not what they're gonna do, and I go every I present it with the 432 00:26:52,839 --> 00:26:56,640 caveat. I know, but they're good enough to start thinking about it, 433 00:26:56,119 --> 00:27:02,400 and so like, do you have my whole thought process here is I don't 434 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,200 even expect them at this point to just go out there and sign a free 435 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:11,000 agent who they envisioned being a part of their top eight rotation. Yeah, 436 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:15,240 probably not unless they really luck out and somehow Grant Williams comes for less than 437 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:18,599 it comes for the amount of cap space they have. Seems unlikely. Although 438 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:23,000 what do you think I was about to say, Well, I'm starting to 439 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,960 think I'm wrong about Grant Williams because every time I so, you know, 440 00:27:26,279 --> 00:27:29,559 we were not going to talk about the Kings today, but they cleared you 441 00:27:29,559 --> 00:27:32,319 know, thirty some odd million in cap space with some draft night moves, 442 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:33,839 and it's kind of like, well, if they're not going to go sign 443 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,319 Draymond Green, which I don't think they will, Grant Williams makes a lot 444 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:41,759 of sense. What's it gonna take? Like, I think porzingis getting to 445 00:27:41,799 --> 00:27:45,680 Boston. Now we're just talking about everything but the thunder, but we'll circle 446 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,440 back eventually. I think porzingis getting to Boston means Grant Williams is less likely 447 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:52,200 to be back, I think. But at the same time, I just 448 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:56,000 feel like he can fit anywhere because if you need him to guard fives, 449 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:57,000 he can guard fives. If you need him to space as a four, 450 00:27:57,079 --> 00:28:00,400 he can do that. He can switch a little bit. Like he's just 451 00:28:00,839 --> 00:28:06,880 he's someone I could totally see justifiably getting seventeen eighteen million, like twenty feels 452 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:11,640 really scary. I don't think he would be worth that, But anything from 453 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,039 I think the four anyway to circle back, the fourteen million that the Thunder 454 00:28:15,079 --> 00:28:19,200 could could give him feels like that might just get matched by Boston if only 455 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:25,359 Again, we've talked about it from like an asset preservation standpoint, so that's 456 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,680 a good point. It's just it's it's right on the borderline. I think 457 00:28:27,759 --> 00:28:33,200 Lopez is for sure priced out. Trey Lyles I think could bring the shooting 458 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,359 you're talking about, but the King seemed to want to bring him back, 459 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,920 and you're not going to give him, you know, the the mL E 460 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,920 or ten million plus or whatever it is if you're the Thunder. So he 461 00:28:41,039 --> 00:28:44,160 would probably help their rebounding too, in addition to their spacing though. Yeah, 462 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,720 I mean, I think the idea of a just a hulking center like 463 00:28:47,759 --> 00:28:52,680 a Lopez makes tons of sense because just to just to like insulate chat from 464 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,480 you know, getting banged around and what will be his like asterisk rookie season. 465 00:28:57,279 --> 00:29:02,519 I think I think that's that's the idea. But again, it's like, 466 00:29:02,519 --> 00:29:03,920 like to get back to what you said, it's totally fine if they 467 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,960 just don't do anything and you know, take on a just use that cap 468 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:11,680 space for whatever, take on another bad like contract if you can. Even 469 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,640 that even doesn't get it. So who who who are you getting rid of? 470 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,440 Though, like you're just looking at I think we're at sixteen players right 471 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:26,480 when you factor in. So if they pick up Lindy Waters's team option guarantee, 472 00:29:26,519 --> 00:29:30,440 Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Jeremiah Robinson RW there, it's sixteen players, 473 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:33,680 and she's like, who who are you you need to get rid of 474 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:37,240 two? They even miscount here, I mean Sharich maybe is just because he's 475 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:41,480 a free agent, he doesn't count, but you're probably not counting him. 476 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:42,960 So yeah, they have sixteens, you need to get rid of two players. 477 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:48,079 And it's just like I guess it would be. I just want to 478 00:29:48,079 --> 00:29:52,319 tell you whoever we mentioned, it's gonna piss people off because there's like seven 479 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:56,599 or eight guys that are all roughly will value wise and slightly different that people 480 00:29:56,599 --> 00:29:59,319 are Oh, he can't be that. Can't get rid of that one because 481 00:29:59,319 --> 00:30:02,920 you have have Isaiah Joe. It could be Lyndy Waters and maybe you find 482 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,960 a trade destination with compensation for like a Trey Manner An Aaron Wiggins. Yeah, 483 00:30:07,519 --> 00:30:11,119 but look, we mentioned Grant Williams. I think he doesn't help their 484 00:30:11,119 --> 00:30:14,839 rebounding because he's so tiny, but he, like you said, defensively, 485 00:30:14,839 --> 00:30:18,480 he could fit and they need reliable shooting if they were to take on players 486 00:30:18,559 --> 00:30:22,319 via trade. I think my two favorites would be if Brooklyn's going to get 487 00:30:22,319 --> 00:30:27,160 off Joe Harris and you think you could rehab his value. But the other 488 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,079 one, and I'm wondering, just Toronto, if they're focused on talent retention, 489 00:30:30,599 --> 00:30:34,279 Chris Bouchet would be like a really good fit on this team. Maybe 490 00:30:34,319 --> 00:30:37,880 you want someone who's a little bit bigger, but he would help your rebounding, 491 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,640 give you some more shop blocking, and theoretically you can space the floor 492 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:44,000 as well. Yeah. Also, I mean we've talked about him already, 493 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,160 but seek Naji you could be someone that if Denver is trying to trim some 494 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,880 salary and they don't envision him playing this is just take him into cap space 495 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,519 and cut somebody that you don't value as much as him. If you're the 496 00:30:52,519 --> 00:30:56,799 thing, I have that kind of flexibility too. Yeah, that's that's a 497 00:30:56,799 --> 00:31:00,720 great point as well. I don't have anything us to say to them because 498 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,000 I don't think they're gonna have it. I'm so chet home Grinch is like, 499 00:31:03,039 --> 00:31:07,440 that's a huge addition. If he is seventy five percent of the player 500 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,000 you think that he is. This team is just like we don't we can 501 00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:14,200 maybe stop stop talking about the playing and it's all where are they gonna be, 502 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:17,480 like better than the full strength Pelicans? Like they are getting to that 503 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:22,039 point where we need to have those those conversations. I am my two biggest 504 00:31:22,079 --> 00:31:25,440 This is only because we have so many minutes left on them as and we 505 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,160 don't need to comment further. I'm obviously watching for chet Homegren. I'm very 506 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:33,039 curiously what type of role Kays and Wallace gets in year one. Yeah, 507 00:31:33,279 --> 00:31:37,960 Josh, Giddy and Shay you'll just Alexander there already. Yeah, I think, 508 00:31:40,359 --> 00:31:44,160 well, let's who who's their best five? It's it's Shay, Dort, 509 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:48,519 Giddy, Williams and Homegren. Like in your well, is that is 510 00:31:48,559 --> 00:31:52,640 that like jumping the gun on Homegren? Will it be other Jayalen Williams maybe 511 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,720 this year, Like, no, it's it should be Homegren. Okay, 512 00:31:56,799 --> 00:32:04,319 then is it Poku? He loves Poku. Yeah, I don't know. 513 00:32:04,359 --> 00:32:07,599 Wallace is really interesting. I think the theory of him makes a lot of 514 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,720 sense, uh next to s Ga, but like if he's out there with 515 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:15,920 dort Man, that gets pretty scary defensively, but I'm not sure what you're 516 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:22,160 doing scoring wise, especially if if get I don't know, they got a 517 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:23,599 lot of I really like this team. You know. My favorite thing about 518 00:32:23,599 --> 00:32:30,480 the Thunder and any team in the situation is everybody that matters is either very 519 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:34,799 likely to sustain their level of production or get better. And there's nobody where 520 00:32:34,799 --> 00:32:37,559 you're like, well, I don't know if that's gonna be back next year 521 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,960 or all in for slippage. There's like no as well? From three might 522 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:45,640 be kind of conservatives. I mean, Kim Anglin's there, so I mean 523 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:50,119 probably, Well, I was going to shoot forty five per se from three, 524 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,480 Like yeah, no, I love this team. They a playoff team, 525 00:32:53,599 --> 00:32:58,039 full full stop, yes or no playoff team. They're top ten in 526 00:32:58,079 --> 00:33:00,920 the West for sure. I would let's go top I'll say they'll be a 527 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:02,599 topic team next year. Okay, that's all I'm asking. Let's get to 528 00:33:02,599 --> 00:33:07,160 Portland, since I tried to do that already once before. Because this is 529 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,400 a team that could ruin us, although based on the last like three years, 530 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:15,200 we're just gonna have Damian Lillard and the front office stare each other down 531 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:19,200 and wait for someone to like say, pull the rip chord, and it 532 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:23,759 just won't ever happen, although it's gonna happen. That's my prediction anyway. 533 00:33:23,839 --> 00:33:30,720 So team, well, we get well, we'll get through the basics or 534 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:32,759 anything we can talk about that. I don't know if my take is hot, 535 00:33:32,799 --> 00:33:36,519 but I'm kind of annoyed enough by this to have a semi hot take. 536 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:38,920 So key free agents Jeremy Grant, that's a big one. Matias Tybels 537 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:44,319 restricted, as is Camraddish. Drew U Banks is also unrestricted. No extension 538 00:33:44,359 --> 00:33:47,559 candidates. They will probably have the mini MLI if they keep Jeremy Grant and 539 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:52,079 either Tybele or Reddish. They still have the Gary Payton the second trade exception, 540 00:33:52,079 --> 00:33:57,000 which is worth a point three million. That's good through February next year. 541 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,759 The biggest needs do we even start there. Do we just start talking 542 00:34:01,799 --> 00:34:06,079 about Damian Lillard, because I think that's probably the thing we need to get. 543 00:34:06,839 --> 00:34:08,599 Let's go through this is if they're gonna keep Dame first, and then 544 00:34:08,599 --> 00:34:13,280 we get it because look, they said they put up building a winner around 545 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:16,320 him, and he had a meeting with them this and so we'll get into 546 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:20,119 the Damian Lord. And in fairness, the Blazers fans they're tired of hearing 547 00:34:20,159 --> 00:34:22,280 about the Damian and I totally get I'm tired of hearing about the Damion talking 548 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:25,360 about the Damian Lord stuff. So let's go through this as if they're keeping 549 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:31,559 Damian Lillard. And so the theory is, if you can so what they're 550 00:34:31,639 --> 00:34:36,800 key free agency you already mentioned really or cam Reddish Batist, Thibo and Jeremy 551 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:43,199 Grant. If they keep two of those players, they are maybe in the 552 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,239 tax. They're a mini mL E team. I don't even know if they 553 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:49,079 would spend the entire Mini mL E. We can get into targets and what 554 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:51,360 their biggest need is. At that point, I would still say it's Kim. 555 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:53,719 They modernize. You've been big on this, the five man rotation. 556 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:58,440 I know that use of nurkids is extending his range beyond the three point line, 557 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:00,119 but he's not the most and he can hold up a pona shot like 558 00:35:00,159 --> 00:35:02,760 fifty eight percent and gets him at the rim last year. That's perfectly fine. 559 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:06,239 But he's more of a stand still rim protector, Like you want someone 560 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:09,039 with more mobility there. Even if they're going to compromise some of your spacing, 561 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:14,199 they probably still need a backup. But they always need a backup point 562 00:35:14,199 --> 00:35:15,320 guard. They just refuse to like invest in one. I know they have 563 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:20,280 Simons who's incrementally improved as a pass or YadA, YadA, YadA, but 564 00:35:21,039 --> 00:35:23,440 they could also use like other wings, like reliable shooting wings, because I 565 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:29,000 don't know if Matisse Thybo can replicate him shooting a trillion percent from three so 566 00:35:29,119 --> 00:35:32,840 I know, I know Dan Manny Camp. So there's needs and I think 567 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:37,480 that brings we could talk about. Let's let's just list some free agent targets 568 00:35:37,519 --> 00:35:39,719 that could make sense for them. Again, they're in the mini mle territory, 569 00:35:40,159 --> 00:35:45,519 Like if you want a rim runner, Dwight Powell jack Landale's definitely more 570 00:35:45,519 --> 00:35:49,360 of a mobile RIM protector on the offensive end a defensive end. Excuse me, 571 00:35:49,559 --> 00:35:52,880 Javon Carter as sort of a backup one Jay Crowder Tory Craig if you're 572 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:58,000 looking for maybe like combo forwards who could hit threes and am more reliable clip 573 00:35:58,039 --> 00:36:01,320 than a Tieble or or a Cam Reddy. But that's that's the name, 574 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:07,440 Like Jake Crowder is probably the most ambitious outside free agent type name that you 575 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,320 could expect to get, right, unless you really think I would just soon 576 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:13,320 moves market's gonna creater. Yeah, I was gonna say, depending on how 577 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:15,400 you feel about Carter, but like that's at least a you know that that's 578 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:19,320 a that's kind of bleak, that that's like a close question, like who 579 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:21,880 are we going to fire the bullets at? Is it gonna be Javon Carter 580 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,199 or Jay Crowder. It's not exactly like murders row here, right, And 581 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:30,599 so my question to you is if the plan is and I understand that this 582 00:36:30,639 --> 00:36:32,679 is gonna lead in the Damian Lillard discussion, and let's get this out of 583 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:37,519 the way. As currently constructed, this team bring back Jeremy Grant and at 584 00:36:37,559 --> 00:36:42,199 least one of Maatist thy Bow, Cam Reddish. They will fight maybe for 585 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:46,519 a bottom bottom playoff spot playing spot and a lot of that's gonna depend on 586 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:51,679 how good Scoot Henderson and Shaden Sharp are next season, how much they're even 587 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:54,400 playing. I understand why the Blazers want to keep both those dudes. They're 588 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:58,280 Shaden Sharp showed a lot of some of the shots that he can hit is 589 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,639 absolutely ridiculous, and he has that sort of at will rim pressure. Scoot 590 00:37:00,679 --> 00:37:05,559 Henderson's almost the same way. And if you trust him to just make like 591 00:37:05,599 --> 00:37:07,960 be able to play off the ball, hit some set threes, even if 592 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:10,119 even if he's not going to develop and off the dribble three, everything else 593 00:37:10,199 --> 00:37:13,639 is like, yeah, that works. Alongside Damian Lillard, they could be 594 00:37:13,639 --> 00:37:15,440 good. But now you're at a point where it's okay, Shanden Sharp, 595 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:20,639 every Simon's, Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson. None of those guys are wings. 596 00:37:20,639 --> 00:37:22,880 Shande Sharp comes the closest. None of them are wings. But let's 597 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:27,280 just again, who is the you're keeping Sharp and Henderson, and I get 598 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:30,360 why you want to do this. You're keeping Damian Millard, who is the 599 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:35,679 best player that you could acquire via trade with your remaining assets, which by 600 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:38,679 the bye would be maybe if you want to include Chris Murray there. But 601 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:45,440 it's Chris Murray plus Anthony Simons plus if you want to trade draft picks, 602 00:37:45,519 --> 00:37:49,239 you know, a lottery protected pick to Chicago through twenty twenty eight, so 603 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:53,599 it has to be first allowable pick language or renegotiate with Chicago to get that 604 00:37:53,599 --> 00:37:59,239 pick I'm protected, which maybe you could do. So who's the best player 605 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:02,159 or you've used of nurk It's salary. Given who's the best player, you 606 00:38:02,199 --> 00:38:07,960 could acquire using some combination of that package. This is the problem, and 607 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:12,159 you're right, this does get us into the broader Lillard discuss spoiler alert, 608 00:38:12,199 --> 00:38:15,840 you're not getting I was gonna say that's the point because it isn't og Naobi 609 00:38:16,159 --> 00:38:22,000 because that is about the minimum threshold at which where I start to say, 610 00:38:22,559 --> 00:38:27,039 okay, like maybe this does make sense because you go Lillard, you go 611 00:38:27,199 --> 00:38:32,159 scoot og Jeremy Grant Nurkics, or maybe you move Nurkics to get someone who 612 00:38:32,159 --> 00:38:37,599 fits better. Then all this talk about we're gonna build a contender around Dame. 613 00:38:37,639 --> 00:38:38,960 He's gonna wait to see what we do before he makes a decision. 614 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:43,920 Then it's like then there maybe is a decision to be made. But I 615 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:46,559 don't think that's enough for An Andobi. It's certainly not enough for Pascal Siakam. 616 00:38:46,599 --> 00:38:51,639 It's it's not enough for just you name anybody else that's been rumored, 617 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:53,239 Like I guess probably in hindsight, it would have been enough for John Collins 618 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:58,880 based on what Collins went for. But that's the issue, is is you 619 00:38:59,039 --> 00:39:01,400 unless you have another name maybe that you know that was a rhetorical question. 620 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:07,199 I don't know, but I think you could get if it was just I 621 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:09,360 think you could get Miles Turner, and maybe it's you wouldn't even have to 622 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:14,440 give up Simons. It's nurkicch and Chris and then a pick. Or it's 623 00:39:14,440 --> 00:39:16,639 like if you're getting off Nurkics money the process, which that probably that hurts 624 00:39:16,639 --> 00:39:21,880 your rebounding, but it definitely helps your defense. My hot take is, 625 00:39:22,039 --> 00:39:23,199 and if Blazers fans are still listening, so I feel like they might have 626 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:28,039 tuned out after we said they can't get OG. If I'm the Raptors and 627 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:32,840 the Blazers offered Murray and Anthony Simons or Simons and first allowable first round pick, 628 00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:37,480 I would do it for OG. I would absolutely do it. So 629 00:39:37,519 --> 00:39:39,199 I don't that's how high I'm on Anthony Simons and also what I think is 630 00:39:39,199 --> 00:39:44,119 fit could be in Toronto. So from my perspective, I think you could 631 00:39:44,159 --> 00:39:46,840 get O G. I don't think Toronto from that perspective. But you're not 632 00:39:47,039 --> 00:39:51,679 You're certainly not getting mchaeale Bridges like like these names that are popping up, 633 00:39:51,679 --> 00:39:55,000 you're certainly not getting Pascal Siakam like that stuff is not happening without including Scoot 634 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:00,320 hendersoner or it's just it's not happening. Yeah, yeah, I mean, 635 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:05,480 And I think the issue is is that you're more than an og and anobi 636 00:40:05,519 --> 00:40:09,480 away from actually contending for a title within Damian Lillard's window, and that is 637 00:40:09,559 --> 00:40:15,440 the issue. If he considers winning contending for a playoff spot, that's fine. 638 00:40:15,679 --> 00:40:16,519 If that's what he wants to do, that's fine, and you could 639 00:40:16,599 --> 00:40:20,920 juggle these whatever timelines. But if he wants to contend for a title, 640 00:40:21,199 --> 00:40:23,599 and they don't want to trade Scoot and Sharp, and I'm not telling like, 641 00:40:23,800 --> 00:40:25,920 I don't know what the deal out there is to trade either one of 642 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:29,599 those players that would make me feel comfortable. I'm probably a little lower on 643 00:40:29,719 --> 00:40:34,039 Sharp than consensus, Like I wouldn't be trading Scoot Henderson just as a package 644 00:40:34,039 --> 00:40:37,360 built around Pascal Siakam. Absolutely, so, I understand that you're at the 645 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:40,599 behest of the trade market, but it does seem like, whether they admit 646 00:40:40,679 --> 00:40:45,679 it or not, Damian Lillard and the Blazers, unless they're misleading us, 647 00:40:45,679 --> 00:40:52,559 all publicly are on have warring agendas or aims at this point. Yeah, 648 00:40:51,239 --> 00:40:58,679 I think maybe it's to me, it's just I think Portland and Joe Cronin 649 00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:02,119 and the executive and even ownership, I think they just don't want to be 650 00:41:02,159 --> 00:41:05,599 the ones. This is like a hack take, but I'm not going to 651 00:41:05,639 --> 00:41:09,039 apologize for because I think it's right. I think what they've done drafting Scoot, 652 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:14,239 you know, not trading Sharp even last year, and definitely not trading 653 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:19,440 either of those guys so far is the right decision because I think Portland is 654 00:41:19,599 --> 00:41:23,760 doing the smart thing by accumulating like super young, super high upside assets, 655 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:28,239 and they're looking down the road like just like any normal sane team would do 656 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:30,719 that didn't also happen to have an iconic, you know, two hundred plus 657 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:35,400 million dollar player on the roster that you owe something too. I think the 658 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:37,679 Blazers are just waiting until Lillard asks for a trade so that they don't have 659 00:41:37,719 --> 00:41:42,719 to be the ones that are, you know, saddled with you ended this 660 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:45,639 like ended this like we're talking about the last dance, Like oh now we're 661 00:41:45,639 --> 00:41:49,440 not going to be able to fruitlessly chase the ninth seed or whatever for the 662 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,119 next couple years, because that's what they've been doing. I just think that's 663 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:54,679 to me, that's by far the most logical way to explain all this is 664 00:41:54,719 --> 00:42:00,320 Portland absolutely is operating as if Dame will be gone, except it's just doesn't 665 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:02,639 want to be the ones to make him gone. The Blazers want a trade 666 00:42:02,679 --> 00:42:07,360 request so they can do this, get the three two firsts and Jim Hawks 667 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:12,039 and Tyler Hero or whatever from Miami and move on like that. That is 668 00:42:12,079 --> 00:42:15,239 where this is going. It just can't end any other way. I will 669 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,519 say, I don't think they're in danger. People are saying of Bradley building 670 00:42:17,599 --> 00:42:22,400 this up day doesn't have more trade clause, but they're going to operate as 671 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:25,280 if he does. And so if you're you're probably gonna trame him to Brooklyn 672 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:30,079 or Miami when it happens. It seems like those best offers from those teams 673 00:42:30,119 --> 00:42:32,159 aren't going anywhere. So if you actually want to. I could understand that 674 00:42:32,199 --> 00:42:36,599 logic as a counter to your argument, And it's just you're not going to 675 00:42:36,679 --> 00:42:40,079 Bradley build this up because he will have more value but this organization. And 676 00:42:40,119 --> 00:42:44,679 I if and when they move him, they're not just gonna send him wherever 677 00:42:45,039 --> 00:42:49,039 you would take like if they just sent him to whatever team had to be, 678 00:42:49,159 --> 00:42:52,559 Like if they just sent him to trying to think of like like who 679 00:42:52,599 --> 00:42:54,320 just wouldn't be on his list would be so outlandish, but like they might 680 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:58,719 have interest, like if if he didn't want to go to Chicago, and 681 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:00,239 like Chicago doesn't even have the best offered, but like they they're not just 682 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:05,920 gonna send him to Charlotte because Charlotte offered them a mellow ball. And Brandon 683 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,719 Miller's like, you know what I mean, Yeah, I think that's right. 684 00:43:09,039 --> 00:43:14,400 I also think like, if you're just being as unsentimental about it as 685 00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:17,320 possible, aren't you a little bit interested in just having his contract off the 686 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:21,840 books, Because what you know is, in a Damian Lillard career year, 687 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:25,599 you can finish thirteenth in the West, Like it's sting almost that entire same 688 00:43:25,599 --> 00:43:30,360 team plus a rookie as great as Scoot might be probably not going to be 689 00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:32,000 very good in terms of winning this year. So it's like, what is 690 00:43:32,039 --> 00:43:36,239 the upside here? We just we just spend this money on Dame again, 691 00:43:36,679 --> 00:43:39,519 his value declines maybe incrementally because he gets a year older. He's not going 692 00:43:39,599 --> 00:43:43,519 to have as good a year as he did last year. So like, 693 00:43:43,559 --> 00:43:45,239 I get it, the offers will be there, and this isn't like a 694 00:43:45,679 --> 00:43:50,519 like nobody's over a barrel, really, but I think the offers get worse. 695 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:52,480 I think they get worse the longer you wait. Maybe, but I 696 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:57,360 don't think they're gonna be can't miss from Brooklyn And like Miami's best offers not 697 00:43:57,480 --> 00:44:00,320 can't They're not very good now, Yeah that's the thing. So just like 698 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:01,599 how much are they actually going to lower it? And at that point it's 699 00:44:01,639 --> 00:44:04,960 is their value? And hey, you just said, we know we could 700 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,559 be thirteenth in the West with Dame having a career year. Are there worse 701 00:44:07,599 --> 00:44:13,239 scenarios than having game put butts in the seats, retaining that connection to the 702 00:44:13,239 --> 00:44:15,599 community organization, and then still winding up with a top lottery pick everything, 703 00:44:15,719 --> 00:44:22,119 Like, well, you think the downside is we have to go through the 704 00:44:22,159 --> 00:44:23,760 same shit again for a full year of will they trade him? And will 705 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:27,119 you ask for a trade? I'm sick of it. I'm ready for I 706 00:44:27,159 --> 00:44:30,320 want a new slant. Yeah, I totally get that, but I'm just 707 00:44:30,360 --> 00:44:32,280 like, as you said, they've proven unless you think he's going to infringe 708 00:44:32,280 --> 00:44:37,519 on the development of Scoot Henderson and Shaden Sharp, Damian Loader is not like 709 00:44:37,559 --> 00:44:42,599 a monopolizing player. But I just think because there's so much positional overlap there 710 00:44:43,039 --> 00:44:45,840 that it's not you would have to move Simons then to be like, okay, 711 00:44:45,840 --> 00:44:47,679 we like, let's make sure you know the pathways open for Scoot. 712 00:44:49,159 --> 00:44:52,599 And I think I don't think it's just damaging to keep him. I just 713 00:44:52,679 --> 00:44:58,559 feel like there's a disconnect from either reality or there's this purpose, purposeful pageantry 714 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:01,519 going on right now between both parties where it's like Portland's trying to drive up 715 00:45:01,519 --> 00:45:04,760 the asking pricer. As you said, it's this weird game of Chicken where 716 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:07,360 Dame doesn't want to be the player who asked her out. The Blazers don't 717 00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:10,559 want to be the organization that trades, you know't their their franchise talent. 718 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:15,320 And I think the uncynical take would be that like and maybe this is the 719 00:45:15,360 --> 00:45:20,199 case that Lillard like sincerely doesn't know, like he really does want to see 720 00:45:20,239 --> 00:45:22,840 if they can do anything to make it because you know, all things being 721 00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:24,719 equal, he seems very clearly to just want to be in Portland, which 722 00:45:24,760 --> 00:45:29,559 that's awesome, like great, like be where you're happy. I just the 723 00:45:29,599 --> 00:45:31,079 other thing you made me think of is like the butts in the seats thing, 724 00:45:31,119 --> 00:45:36,960 and like I'm pretty sure if you say Scoot has the keys now starting 725 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:38,760 from game one, like people are going to be pretty styched about that. 726 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:45,440 So like the downside of trading Lillard, like from a pr standpoint and from 727 00:45:45,480 --> 00:45:47,360 just I just there aren't a lot of them. I think it's a bummer 728 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:51,000 at the end of anything is sad. The end of the Lillard era in 729 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:53,880 Portland will suck. Like he's the best player of the team has ever had, 730 00:45:54,320 --> 00:45:59,679 So like that's hard. But just as a as like what a soft 731 00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:02,079 land that it's like we got scooted now, everybody like we got another ten 732 00:46:02,159 --> 00:46:06,559 years plus of like an awesome lead guard that everyone's gonna love. It's just 733 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:09,480 everything lines up to just do this and they haven't done it yet. Can 734 00:46:09,559 --> 00:46:13,199 you kick us through the jazz is vitals? Yes, I can. We 735 00:46:13,239 --> 00:46:15,360 went along there, but that's okay. Key free agents. Jordan Clarkson has 736 00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:20,239 a player option. Kelly Olynock has a partial guarantee, which probably by the 737 00:46:20,239 --> 00:46:22,360 time you hear this, we'll have a decision on June twenty eighth. Taylor 738 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:27,360 Horton Tucker also has a player option. No extension eligible candidates. Of note, 739 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:31,880 the Jazz acquired John Collins and used up a significant chunk of their cap 740 00:46:31,920 --> 00:46:36,079 space, but they can still get to over twenty five million if they keep 741 00:46:36,079 --> 00:46:39,599 a link and Taylor Horton Tucker ops in and they renounced Clarkson, which Clarkson 742 00:46:39,679 --> 00:46:43,320 is going to be an interesting figure to talk about for this team. He 743 00:46:43,360 --> 00:46:45,199 opts out. By the way, we haven't gotten we don't know. Yeah, 744 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:50,880 some trade exceptions here, Rudy Gobert nine point six million. Boyam Bogdanovitch 745 00:46:51,039 --> 00:46:52,599 this one. You go through all this and you're like, wow, the 746 00:46:52,639 --> 00:46:55,840 Jazz had all these guys Alexander Walker five million, Jared Vanderbilt four point four 747 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:59,840 million, which they do. By the way, for anyone who we have 748 00:47:00,079 --> 00:47:02,679 mentioned this, you need to renounce your traded player exceptions, like to create 749 00:47:02,719 --> 00:47:07,760 the nest, like if you want your maximount of cap space tpees count against 750 00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:09,960 your cap when you're under it. Friend, hold on all those and I 751 00:47:09,960 --> 00:47:14,639 mean that's an interesting question, probably not for this pod, but like which 752 00:47:14,679 --> 00:47:19,440 ones are worth actually holding onto for which teams so dan their biggest needs. 753 00:47:19,840 --> 00:47:22,440 I mean, you know, especially if Horton Tucker is not back, which 754 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:27,239 I'm not sure seems unlikely, we can discuss him. Need a lead guard, 755 00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:29,920 right, need a point guard and someone to run the offense anything else 756 00:47:29,960 --> 00:47:35,159 there No, they need wings, Like I want to segway into the we 757 00:47:35,280 --> 00:47:37,280 really don't need to spend a ton of time on them because I think they've 758 00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:40,320 kind of proven that they might not be ultra aggressive in free agency now that 759 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:45,559 they're going to look to take on the salary dumps. And like John Collins 760 00:47:45,559 --> 00:47:47,239 was unique in that you didn't need pick equity to get him because you want 761 00:47:47,239 --> 00:47:51,280 to rehability, Like that's if John Collins has a good year, that is 762 00:47:51,320 --> 00:47:54,880 someone who might net you first round equity down the road. And if not, 763 00:47:55,159 --> 00:48:00,199 it certainly can be like worthwhile salary filler as part of a big your 764 00:48:00,239 --> 00:48:06,000 trade. But like I want to get into more of like the John Larry 765 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:08,079 Marketing can play the three. He's been most of his time playing alongside a 766 00:48:08,119 --> 00:48:12,360 four and five. Last year he did the same thing in Cleveland. But 767 00:48:12,440 --> 00:48:15,840 I still would have questions about this team defensively, maybe having Walker Kessler and 768 00:48:15,880 --> 00:48:19,159 Taylor Hendrix sort of you know, nukes those concerns a little bit. But 769 00:48:19,199 --> 00:48:22,159 I want to get into the Collins fit. I just is it like there 770 00:48:22,199 --> 00:48:25,159 are no wings to go after on them, Like there's if you wanted to 771 00:48:25,199 --> 00:48:29,760 go after Jeremy Grant. Now it's like, well you have John Collins and 772 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:34,239 Lowry, Like that's not workable Walker Kessler. So there just aren't like the 773 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:37,079 lower end or mid end two three's that would come off the bench, or 774 00:48:37,119 --> 00:48:38,880 like a bigger two. Like even if you could get Chris Middleton, he 775 00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:42,880 no longer makes sense. But I mean you could play super big, don't 776 00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:45,320 get me wrong. But they're not going to make that play. And so 777 00:48:45,400 --> 00:48:50,760 I gravitate towards can they take a flyer on a Trey Jones that's restricted. 778 00:48:51,199 --> 00:48:52,360 I would just put Io to suon m on this team because he gives a 779 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:57,039 damn about defense, but that's not really a primary playmaker type. The big 780 00:48:57,119 --> 00:49:00,559 question would be they can get there like they can force a way there. 781 00:49:00,880 --> 00:49:05,719 If you could get Fred van Fleet, would you do it? And I'm 782 00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:07,960 using basically all of that twenty five million I can clear to get him, 783 00:49:08,079 --> 00:49:12,000 you would need to create more. It's oh talent Horton Tucker opted out or 784 00:49:12,039 --> 00:49:15,519 we actually had to wave maybe not like maybe he had to wave Kelly Olenic 785 00:49:15,639 --> 00:49:19,639 or you trip. I actually think you know what, Okay, see he 786 00:49:19,679 --> 00:49:21,760 just take Kelly o Link into cap space everything. I mean, like the 787 00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:23,920 Pacers might take Kelly Olnic into cap space. You could definitely move Kelly Olynic 788 00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:28,360 at his full guaranteed. Yeah, I think I'd be a well the number 789 00:49:28,360 --> 00:49:31,760 would matter. Anything up up up above twenty five million a year for van 790 00:49:31,840 --> 00:49:37,159 Fleet, which I think is probably gonna get makes me a little nervous, 791 00:49:37,559 --> 00:49:42,000 But I mean it is a position of need. And he is the type 792 00:49:42,000 --> 00:49:45,519 of guy that, like I don't think I think he does does more good 793 00:49:45,519 --> 00:49:49,320 than harm. As far as like how he would interact with someone like marking 794 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:51,800 in like you don't want to, you know, minimize Marking in his role 795 00:49:51,880 --> 00:49:53,440 to any extent. I don't think that's an issue because a Fleet has played 796 00:49:53,480 --> 00:49:58,840 with all NBA forwards before and that hasn't been a problem. Yeah, I'm 797 00:49:58,840 --> 00:50:01,760 okay with that. It doesn't lie, doesn't bowl me over, but but 798 00:50:01,840 --> 00:50:06,480 I think you know, certainly Utah, Well this, I guess it goes 799 00:50:06,519 --> 00:50:08,920 into a bigger question. Utah just did take on a bad contract for, 800 00:50:09,039 --> 00:50:13,039 you know, for some assets. So like, are they in a position 801 00:50:13,079 --> 00:50:17,880 where we're adding you know, a mid to late prime expensive point guard to 802 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:22,519 this group, right, because that would kind of run counter to what they've 803 00:50:22,519 --> 00:50:28,400 done so far, because like this rebuild started a year ago, you know, 804 00:50:28,480 --> 00:50:30,239 and it just went way better than anyone expected. So maybe that changes 805 00:50:30,280 --> 00:50:36,119 your plans. But I'm not sure the best use of their assets is adding 806 00:50:36,119 --> 00:50:38,880 a guy that you know, I don't know about the timeline fit, but 807 00:50:38,960 --> 00:50:44,480 just isn't really in keeping with what they've done transactionally to this point. And 808 00:50:44,559 --> 00:50:45,880 you know under danny Age, right, does that make sense? Like that's 809 00:50:46,079 --> 00:50:51,119 it's more of a like a philosophical issue as opposed to like an on court 810 00:50:51,119 --> 00:50:52,599 fit thing. Do you know it would be more danny Age at this point, 811 00:50:52,719 --> 00:50:57,079 it's about to aggregate aggravate a lot of people, And I'm not advocating 812 00:50:57,079 --> 00:51:00,119 for it. It would be more danny Age to have acquired John Collins and 813 00:51:00,360 --> 00:51:05,880 have Taylor Hendrix and now turns around and moves lowry marketing at the absolute apex 814 00:51:06,280 --> 00:51:08,400 yeah of his value, right, which they will not do, right like 815 00:51:08,440 --> 00:51:12,079 I can't. I can't. I mean, that would blow me away too 816 00:51:12,079 --> 00:51:14,880 good of a I don't even think that. I think teams would not even 817 00:51:14,920 --> 00:51:17,039 give up enough to justify it because they think he would be due for sort 818 00:51:17,079 --> 00:51:22,159 of return to solid ground role, and so I just don't think there's value 819 00:51:22,199 --> 00:51:24,559 in doing it for Utah. Actually, but I'm saying to me it would 820 00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:30,280 be more likely they trade lowry marketing than they sign or throw other money at 821 00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:34,159 Fred van Fleet or Jeremy Grant or Chris Middleton. I think that's I think 822 00:51:34,199 --> 00:51:37,840 that's I think I agree with that, And that just goes to like it's 823 00:51:37,840 --> 00:51:40,400 so easy to forget where Utah is and it's rebuild trajectory, right, It's 824 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:44,679 like these are early early days. I love Trede Jones there though I have 825 00:51:44,760 --> 00:51:46,000 to say that that was a name you mentioned, but I do. I'm 826 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:49,760 a big fan of that one because that's gonna that's not gonna cost you van 827 00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:52,320 Fleet money. He's not as good as van Fleet, but he's like a 828 00:51:52,360 --> 00:51:54,920 Steward right, he's like a young game manager, which which I don't hate 829 00:51:54,960 --> 00:51:58,480 for Utah, I would and I think they could be a team. I 830 00:51:58,559 --> 00:52:00,519 do you take a shot on a tea Styble. I don't know what it 831 00:52:00,519 --> 00:52:01,800 takes to get him out of Portland. Just like let's just bring like a 832 00:52:01,880 --> 00:52:07,039 really disruptive wing defender off the bench here you could play. I mean, 833 00:52:07,079 --> 00:52:09,000 like you have a pathway now to play five outline ups with Marketing and Hendrix 834 00:52:09,039 --> 00:52:12,519 and Collins like sort of makes the matches, so you could surround them with 835 00:52:12,639 --> 00:52:16,360 enough shooting where it works. That's like the only young that the cam Reddish 836 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:20,119 is not for this team, but like like young, disruptive. I thought 837 00:52:20,119 --> 00:52:22,639 about Bruce Brown a little bit for this team, but I alluded to that 838 00:52:22,639 --> 00:52:25,559 before. I don't think he gives you enough, like enough positional flexibility to 839 00:52:25,599 --> 00:52:30,679 guard up up like around the three and the four and just is it enough 840 00:52:30,719 --> 00:52:34,000 playmaking it just I mean maybe for two years and whatever. Like he's only 841 00:52:34,039 --> 00:52:37,760 twenty six or twenty seven, so he's not super old. But like those 842 00:52:37,800 --> 00:52:38,760 are the two names that kind of stood out, Like if you were to 843 00:52:38,800 --> 00:52:45,920 invest in a defense first type of wingish player, maybe it would be fascinating 844 00:52:45,960 --> 00:52:49,079 to see if and Utah's into position to just try this, Like, can 845 00:52:49,119 --> 00:52:52,440 Bruce Brown just be our starting point guard and actually play? You know what 846 00:52:52,519 --> 00:52:54,920 I mean? Like because you actually if you bring Clarkson back, for example, 847 00:52:55,239 --> 00:52:58,960 those two work fine together because Clarkson's gonna be on the ball all the 848 00:52:58,960 --> 00:53:01,880 time anyway, or at LEAs see lesson lightens that load. I think it's 849 00:53:01,960 --> 00:53:07,119 kind of I mean, the downside's pretty significant because their offense might just not 850 00:53:07,280 --> 00:53:09,000 work. But I think if I think it'd be fun to see if Brown 851 00:53:09,079 --> 00:53:13,000 could play like you know, I mean, he came in the league as 852 00:53:13,039 --> 00:53:15,719 a point guard and then he's gone through all these different iterations. It'd be 853 00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:19,119 interesting to see if he could just do that full time again. Honestly, 854 00:53:19,119 --> 00:53:21,599 you might just be like you could flip him with the deadline. It was 855 00:53:21,599 --> 00:53:23,440 a two year inflated salary, there would be a team like Bruce Brown. 856 00:53:23,440 --> 00:53:28,719 It's seventeen million, Yeah, sure, why not do? What did you 857 00:53:28,760 --> 00:53:30,760 think of? So they trade? They trade Rudy Gay in a second round 858 00:53:30,760 --> 00:53:36,320 pick for John Collins the final three years and like seventy five ash million whatever 859 00:53:36,320 --> 00:53:38,159 it is left on his deal. What did you think of that trade. 860 00:53:38,159 --> 00:53:43,320 What do you think about his fit? I love it for Utah even if 861 00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:45,840 like and I don't even really care that much about the fit. It just 862 00:53:45,920 --> 00:53:51,199 because it's such a low price to get a guy that I don't know. 863 00:53:51,400 --> 00:53:54,559 It could just be that I've overvalued him forever, or I've expected there to 864 00:53:54,599 --> 00:53:58,559 be some upside after you know, the heights that he hit, you know, 865 00:53:58,639 --> 00:54:02,599 two three years ago. I think there's a great chance that you know, 866 00:54:02,840 --> 00:54:07,159 he just maybe the fingers finally all the way better and he can hit 867 00:54:07,199 --> 00:54:09,840 shots again. Maybe getting out of Atlanta, the change of scenery angle, 868 00:54:10,119 --> 00:54:13,880 it's just like a great buy low, you know, and you got the 869 00:54:13,880 --> 00:54:15,960 cap space to do it, didn't cost you anything, you know. Just 870 00:54:17,119 --> 00:54:22,000 Rudy gay in a second, like that's that's crazy. That's like I can't 871 00:54:22,000 --> 00:54:24,679 believe if we even at the trade deadline, if that's the package you were 872 00:54:24,679 --> 00:54:28,119 told was going to ultimately get John Collins, I would have said, like, 873 00:54:28,519 --> 00:54:31,320 man, did he just like did he go oh for a thousand you 874 00:54:31,360 --> 00:54:35,480 know for a season? Is that what happened? Like? Because what what's 875 00:54:35,480 --> 00:54:39,239 funny is, remember the reports were Danny Ainge wanted a first round pick to 876 00:54:39,400 --> 00:54:45,519 take on John Collins and I thought that was Blastomas he ended up being closer. 877 00:54:45,760 --> 00:54:49,960 Yeah, I was not great. Yeah, No, I just we've 878 00:54:50,000 --> 00:54:53,679 struggled for a long time to evaluate John Collins Worth. I will just say 879 00:54:53,719 --> 00:54:58,519 that if I'm for me, he's worth a heck of a lot more than 880 00:54:58,639 --> 00:55:01,000 than a six million dollars veteran contract. In a second, I think, 881 00:55:01,320 --> 00:55:07,480 I just I gotta believe that if Utah just did this to rehabilitate and flip 882 00:55:07,480 --> 00:55:08,960 an asset, that the Jazz are gonna come out ahead, and if he 883 00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:12,480 fits and plays well, then you maybe just keep him. I don't know, 884 00:55:12,760 --> 00:55:15,880 but I think the path to success are many for Utah on this. 885 00:55:16,559 --> 00:55:20,360 Yeah. I loved it, and it's just I can't bring myself to care 886 00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:23,000 about Loud. I mean we I did kind of lampooed it when he was 887 00:55:23,159 --> 00:55:27,519 before he was going in like his first season in Cleveland, like, oh, 888 00:55:27,559 --> 00:55:30,039 they're gonna play him at the three. That's just not that's not gonna 889 00:55:30,079 --> 00:55:31,719 work. It can work. We've seen it now work the theory. If 890 00:55:31,719 --> 00:55:35,239 it works, it certainly works on offense. It could be a little difficult 891 00:55:35,280 --> 00:55:37,760 agains certain matchups on defense, but he's proven mobile enough to hold up and 892 00:55:37,760 --> 00:55:43,440 you have Walker Kessler behind you. Now I can't bring myself to care if 893 00:55:43,679 --> 00:55:49,079 if there's any concern, it's that will just playing John Collins with Walker Kessler 894 00:55:49,239 --> 00:55:52,800 threatened to marginalize him the way that Atlanta ended up doing because you can't ever 895 00:55:52,960 --> 00:55:58,800 use him as the primary room runner. But Utah doesn't have like the backup 896 00:55:58,880 --> 00:56:02,320 five right now, Like you can use John Collins in that role very easily, 897 00:56:02,519 --> 00:56:06,599 and you're going to surround him with better if you don't think it's better 898 00:56:06,599 --> 00:56:09,360 spacing, it's certainly more volume from a three point perspective where there will be 899 00:56:09,440 --> 00:56:13,639 room for him to actually roll. And I know, I know we hit 900 00:56:13,679 --> 00:56:15,480 our timer, but think of it. Frame it this way, like would 901 00:56:15,559 --> 00:56:20,800 you care at all about, well, how's Rudy Gay gonna fit with Kessler 902 00:56:20,880 --> 00:56:22,840 and marken In And you know, like, no, of course not. 903 00:56:23,039 --> 00:56:27,519 And that's what they I mean. It's an imperfect argument because it dismisses like 904 00:56:27,559 --> 00:56:30,840 the idea of opportunity costs. What could they have done if not Collins with 905 00:56:30,880 --> 00:56:32,920 that twenty five million dollars? But it's like if it doesn't fit, it 906 00:56:32,920 --> 00:56:36,480 doesn't fit. Who cares? You wouldn't imagine like Rudy Gay was on the 907 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:38,760 bench all year. You just swapped out Rudy Gay for John Collins. Like, 908 00:56:39,199 --> 00:56:43,360 so, if it doesn't work, no big loss like that, just 909 00:56:43,480 --> 00:56:45,000 I don't care. It's two years and all of a sudden, he's like 910 00:56:45,000 --> 00:56:49,719 a really awesome trade as as an expiring contract. If it doesn't work out, 911 00:56:49,800 --> 00:56:53,199 Yeah, awesome out here, Yeah, yes, I do. Thank 912 00:56:53,239 --> 00:56:57,719 you everybody for listening. Uh and if you are not following in all the 913 00:56:57,800 --> 00:57:00,000 various ways Dan mentioned at the top, I will go through some of them 914 00:57:00,119 --> 00:57:02,639 now at Hardwood Knox, on Twitter and TikTok. If you're watching us on 915 00:57:02,679 --> 00:57:07,239 YouTube, or if you have ever watched us on YouTube, please subscribe and 916 00:57:07,599 --> 00:57:12,719 follow us on Instagram at Hardwood, Underscore Knox. Wherever you're getting your podcast, 917 00:57:12,880 --> 00:57:15,159 rate us give us five stars on Apple. Do all the nice things 918 00:57:15,199 --> 00:57:19,760 to tell us we're nice and make us more successful so we can do an 919 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:22,440 even better job, because that's how these things work. What else have I 920 00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:25,360 missed? By some merch? We're both wearing it. I'm drinking from it. 921 00:57:25,360 --> 00:57:31,519 It's very versatile as merch goes. Yeah, goblet ooh a chalice? 922 00:57:31,639 --> 00:57:36,920 Can we get a chalice? I don't know what the difference is. And 923 00:57:36,960 --> 00:57:39,280 we'll close us always with shout out study one and only Frank Nolakina, an 924 00:57:39,280 --> 00:57:44,119 apology to Jared Allen and also Mitchell Robinson, since that's what my shirt says today