What is cracking, lacking hardware knocks listeners and any stragglers who might be coming
into this impromptu I'm gonna ramble for a minute in case anyone's actually gonna hop
in here doing this unscheduled because I did not predict the Jean Day Murray trade
tonight. But also now we have to retackle the Atlanta Hawks future in general
and anticipation of free agency. So I figure i'd hop on and do it
here so it's at least live if anything else comes up that will ruin it.
Thoroughly exhausted, I don't know as we get out of this quick intro
if anyone can see behind me, if they're watching on YouTube. I have
like a massive amount of energy drinks and energy powder amino energy at my workstation.
I am on minimal sleep. This is a wild time of year,
and I always forget. I feel like how wild and how just beat up
my body is, and how much energy I do not have. I do
not recommen and consuming the amount of caffeine that I consume. But we do
this because it's it's it's fun. It's a lot of fun. And speaking
of fun, we love transactions. I mean some people don't love transactions,
but transactions are huge part of the off season, and the Spurs and Hawks
just made quite the blockbuster deal and we have to pass through that. I
think is where to start. Dejan Day Murray is headed to the Atlanta Hawks,
and the Hawks, in return, are sending out to Neil Gallinari,
whose salary is now fully guarantees on that I think it's twenty one point five
whatever a million dollar expiring deal. Hawks are also sending the Spurs an unprotected
twenty and twenty six first round swap and then two unprotected first round picks in
twenty twenty five and twenty twenty seven. That is a pretty significant haul to
give up what you would consider an all star player, but not a no
brainer all star player on a every year basis. So this is like do
I think, look, I'll answer questions they come through the chat podcast special
and why do you think it's an early dive into Lemon Yama? I do.
I actually just wrote about this and tweeted at Meme about it. This
is absolutely what the Spurs are angling for is an overall tank job. I
think from the Spurs' perspective, let's let's start there. Because this is going
to be very hawk centric. Eventually, they were at a point and we
kind of saw this admission with the Derek White trade where they weren't good enough
to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were going to be able
to build more than this mediocre winner around Jante Murray. You were always going
to end up in this weird space in the draft where yeah, we've seen
the Spurs bag Cornerstone's there before Kawhi Leonard that trade, but it's harder to
do. You're not landing in that typical Cornerstone territory, so you were too
good to land there, but not good enough to beyond the shadow of a
doubt figure out a pathway to title contention. You either need to get lucky
in free agency, really lucky later on in the drafts Jeremy sow In like
turn into a star, Josh Primo, Stephen Missell, something along those lines,
or you go this route where you load yourself up on draft picks.
You get more developmental minutes for the kiddies, and you hope that you're able
to either find your next guy in the future drafts or maybe you already have
him on the roster, in which case you're gonna have a better chance of
discovering him if Jean Day Murray's not there, since he had a lot of
control over the offense. I also think what they've also done is given themselves
more bites at the apple in general. When you're looking at the pick stash
that they now have. So let's go through this really quickly. They have
all their own first, moving forward, free and clear. They have the
Hornets twenty twenty three pick. It's top six team protected. It will never
be better than lottery protected in twenty twenty four, and twenty twenty five turns
into two seconds. If it doesn't convey, I think there's a chance it
won't convey. The Hornets are always iffy. They also have the Hawks twenty
twenty five first, unprotected. They have the Bulls twenty twenty five first,
that's top ten protected, and then it's top eight protected in twenty twenty six.
If Chicago's gonna keep Zach Levine and de Marta rozen through that time,
it should at least convey. But you also have the twenty twenty six swap
with the Hawks. So if you're better than them, or maybe they're terrible,
this sort of doves tails as we get into these future picks. With
Dejanta Murray entering free agency, a lot of people don't think he will inevitably
sign an extension because he might be a MAX candidate if things panned out.
You have the hawks twenty twenty seven first round pick, free and clear.
So you have just those those two first round pick, the twenty twenty five
and twenty twenty seven just from the Hawks unprotected, plus the twenty twenty eight
swap from the Boston Celtics, which is only top one protected, and I
think they're really like net negative. That's going on in the YouTube chat right
now, but they're only a net negative I think like one second round pick,
and they have some industring second rounders to convey there. You're also bring
in three rookies from the top twenty five this year if they need to go
out. If the right player ever becomes available, two, three, four
years down the line, they either have all these bites at the apple in
the draft that could end up being pretty high picks. There's you know,
if things fall apart for the Hawks like they did this year, but only
more so if they lose Murray or if something happens the Celtics. That's they're
young, twenty eight, really far away, so if you need to swap
then they just have all these different bites at the apple in the draft or
again, I don't think it'll ever be trade pieces, sort of like the
Oklahoma City Thunder. But again, you've given your self flexibility. So this
was clarifying to me. I do think we over romanticize draft picks, but
the Spurs were stuck in the middle, and this gave them a concrete direction
and then the unpredictability in their range of outcomes of what comes moving forward.
That's also an asset here. And so it's not saying that de Jeante Murray
wasn't good. He was great. I just had a pocrist where I advocated
against trading for him without knowing the hall obviously, I think he could have
kept him and trying to figure out some things. But now they're set up
to really to work to plumb the depths of their their youth. The chat's
going off right now. They're probably gonna let Lonnie walk. That'll probably be
my guest. I also think, look, it's gonna be open season on
the rest of their players. Jaka Purdle final year of his deal, one
of the league's best rim protectors. There's also Doug McDermott. He's a little
bit on the higher end when it comes to being priced, but if you
want a functional shooter away from the ball, can also finish at the ram
off of movement, that's someone that should interest teams. Josh Richardson, I
thought, quietly had a really good year for Boston and San Antonio. He's
in the final year of his deal. What can you get for him?
And I don't I wouldn't expect him to go this route now, but I
would keep an eye on Kelton Johnson Junior, just because he's still really young.
But are the Spurs he's extension Olgeble now restricted free agency next summer?
Are you going to pay anyone when you're in the infancy of your rebuild?
By that logic, some people would say, well, then why don't you
think Devin Vassell is going to be available? Vassell just has that extra year
lefton's rookie scale. Mulso higher on Vassell moving forward. That being said,
I do think Keldon Johnson proved to be more plug and play on the offensive
end last year, and you can move him around defensively. I'm just saying
teams might call about him because the Spurs are clearly going in this future driven
directive. I don't know what they're going to to do with him, but
my guests would be Peartle Richardson. Those two will definitely be moved either before
this season or leading into this season. And then I keep an eye on
McDermott and so I'm fine with this for the Spurs. I'm probably a little
sad that if this is gonna be coach pop Swan song, that we don't
see him coaching a more competitive team, But maybe the Spurs surprise us.
Maybe he's planning on coaching longer. I will also say, when you base
it on just his sideline activity and the way he speaks in pressers, there's
been like this energy about him the past couple of years that I've really enjoyed,
and so maybe he just really likes the molding the kiddos part of this
entire process. Somewhere at Quinn, Snyder is probably looking at the Spurs and
like, oh, if they you know, if they end up with Victor
and I just come out of my hiatus from this year. But yeah,
I'm that's like the only downside for me here, it's you took a hit
immediately. But I think that when you look at the West with a healthy
or if you want to stay healthier, if you don't believe they'll be healthy,
Clippers Nuggets team baking that into the Sun's probably won't go anywhere if Chris
Paul and Devin Bookers are still gonna be there regardless of what happens with Eton.
You have the Mavericks, though they're about lose John Brunton, so there's
some uncertainty at the top. There's no guarantee the Lakers are just good next
year either. Don't please spare me just thinking. But Minnesota's on the rise.
The Pelicans are gonna get Zion back. That's a team to watch as
well. The Blazers should be better if if they're healthy, now is the
time to sort of move out of that. And you also you kind of
look at okay se consolidating those three conditional picks to get Jeremy so in at
number eleven. That kind of shows that, hey, maybe they're moving into
a different stage of their rebuild. They've already paid Shay, maybe they're going
to be more aggressive here, So the timing just couldn't be better to make
this move as tough as as it is. The podcast special nys. If
we have any plans to go live on Free Agency opening Day, I do
not at the moment, just because my full time job at Police Report,
I am nuts all the time during this time of year, and so since
this podcast is not a part of that, it is a secondary concern because
I have I have bills and a mortgage to pay in case anybody, in
case anybody cares, but I've been trying to put out as much content as
possible. Check out. We've published like six pods over the past four days
or whatever it is. Maybe I'll go live at the end or earlier in
the day, but I will try to do as much content as possible,
and I really enjoy I know there's only a few people in here right now
because I don't schedule these things in advance. I also we have a very
modest following, even though I love every single one of you. I appreciate
all the engagement. I really like talking to everyone in the comments and our
discord. Go join our discord, and Joshua says in the chat, better
be really bad than just to consistently make the play. And I mean,
I'm with you. I think some people who are outside team bubbles, like
myself, can be too callous at times. But like the Spurs were kind
of stuck in this limbo since they moved on from Kawhi Leonard. I like
the idea of skewing one way or the other. And this look from what
I've watched, like some highlights of a Victor after dub I'm fascinated by him.
I don't know that I've ever seen a prospect like him. I haven't
delve deep enough. But everyone who's smart is just saying like this is can't
miss. I know people have been trolling the Spurs and there I think they've
fallen though, Oh it's just they're over romanticizing draft picks or look at what
the lottery odds are when they're smoothed. That's still the best way to build
is through the draft. And you're still even if the words not, even
if you're disincentivized to all out tank, the best way to maybe get a
player like Victor is to have a bad record and higher odds in the draft.
If you want lottery reform, still you need to disincentivisee it to the
point where teams aren't going to think that way at all. I don't have
a problem with what the Spurs did here. I'm curious to hear what Spurs
fans will think about what I think about this deal for the Hawks. I
don't think it was an egregious price to pay. You have Trey Young,
so I think you can consider that those three picks you gave up are gonna
be middle rung at best. At the same end, the other thing is
Dejante Murray fits like a glove on the defense for Atlanta. You all,
you're gonna have to stash Tray Young no matter what. The difference here is
is that Dejante Murray is now just an option to throw out the other team's
best perimeter player, almost without condition. Like you know, he's not gonna
go defend Lebron James or something like that, but he can be his length,
his disruption. He's just ubiquitous, and the passing lanes on and away
from the ball, he's impossible to scream he is. I will change the
discord link in the YouTube description at at some point. I don't know why
what I did. The discord link that is not working. People said it
wasn't working on mobile, works on desktop. I apologize. I'll try and
fix that at some point. Hashtag I suck. I don't know what else
to say. I love the defensive fit and Murray is fantastic. I have
questions about the offensive fit because I think this theory that move Trey On off
the ball. And the one thing I'll say really quickly Jejante Murray instantly beefs
up the no Trey lineup. So those were still an issue. Last year.
The Hawks had some success when Delon Wright bogs on Madanovitch, we're on
the court without him. Murray makes those units better, even if you keep
Delan right or whatever. So that's one with Trey Young. There's this idea
that he can be someone who's moved off the ball, creates this this havoc.
He's Carlin Riley says Dejan das slim Jim Paul George on d I'm throwing
that up on the screen. That's that's hysterical and probably very apropo Bubba really
quickly, Where can I watch the Wizards free agency vid you did earlier in
the day. That should be just living on YouTube so, and it will
also be in the podcast feed after this. I'm trying to I'm recording forty
percent of our offseason outlook through the Southeast Division because I made the wrong choice.
I went with Central since I had to rerecord the Pistons one digressing there.
But offensively, Murray has come a long way. His ball control in
the pick and rolls a lot, better decision making in transition, lower turnover
there as well has the mid range game, of which which to speak,
I wouldn't call him a complete non shooter. Is he worth moving Trey Young
off the ball for possessions? Maybe the space in Atlanta could get a little
tight if Capella is playing minutes, if the defenses don't care about leaving John
Collins open, Who's a good, not great shooter. The other thing to
consider here is can Trey Young operate like that we just in theory? Oh
my god, what if he's like Steph Curry and just paying around screens.
He's not as strong as Steph Curry. I don't know if he would just
hold up through that constant motion. That's not something we've seen from him at
all either, And we've just never even seen the Hawks. I don't know
if it's a coaching thing, was it a personnel thing. It definitely was
personnel driven to some extent, But I think you could argue, like the
past two years, they could have tried again going off the ball more.
But these numbers they didn't surprise me, but they're still a little staggering.
So last year, over eighty three percent of Trey Young's made baskets went unassisted.
That's the fourth largest share in the league among ninety six players who averaged
at least thirty minutes per game. He ranked fourth in that same category in
twenty twenty one, sixth in twenty nineteen, twenty and twenty, and ninth
in twenty eighteen nineteen. So we've never seen that version. I'm glad to
get the block. Discord link is work, and I guess I'll transfer that
one. I'm really like, I'm a mess with the Discord link and I'm
sorry, I don't I don't know why. I don't know what Tredy Young
looks like in that role. I think you definitely have to have a willingness
to try it. Is Murray the perfect point guard to do it. I'm
I don't think guard. Whatever you wanna call them. I don't think he
is. That being said, the defensive juice he provides is huge to Atlanta.
I also, you look at this roster now, and there's more moves
to be made. You could play Murray and Compel. I'm not saying you
can't. I mean Murray just played with Peartle, so more dynamic. Peartle
has the floater which Capella does not. I think I would probably fall in
my chair if I saw a Clink Coopela start taking floaters. But I I
just I look at the roster. They didn't get any like Leaner in the
depth chart. They're still built for a consolidation move. We know John Collins
wants out at this point. He was painted as almost a gonner leading into
the draft, only not to get moved. I think you can make the
case that if you're John Collins, this team should be on paper like how
its peak should be a lot higher. At the same time, he wants
a bigger role, which the Hawks are actually in a worse position to give
insofar as they were ever going to give him one. Capella is still going
to be your primary screener on Yeka kan who continues to get better if if
he's healthy, going to throw this up on the screen as well. The
other thing is now yea Bogdan Madonovitch, dejan Day Murray, Trey Young even
throw Kevin Herder into that, like, you're not all of a sudden going
to have the license to expand your your floor game even more. Here straight
up, So if you really want the bigger role, it's not happening in
Atlanta. Maybe they trade Clink Capella and that allows you to return to your
primary screen or duty. But I do believe the offensive role he's looking for
is not in Atlanta. Do I think that means they're going to move him.
Maybe they want to recoup some of their draft picks. And we know
that they're a team that's going to be worried about paying the tax if they
have to go in there, which inevitably they will this season. Ironically,
so the Gallow trade actually saves them money. The Gallow trade, the de
gen Te Trae actually saves the money because they get off Gallows twenty one point
five million for someone who's making less in de Jante Murray, who's on the
books for sixteen point six million, So you're saving over five million dollars there,
and it's you know even that basically is the difference of what it was
going to cost to wave Gallo is he only had the partial guarantee. It's
guarantee now, but you would have spent five million had that demoney on your
books, or waved it and stretched it over three. So what you do
now is you probably might have access between that. The salary cap projection was
a little bit higher than we expected, by like one point two million.
I had them about thirteen million dollars below the apron. That was enough for
room to use the nontax players mid level, But would they do it while
still going into the tax. They're now more than ten million below the tax.
If I'm not mistaken, that frees you up to go out on the
free agency market, continue improving your team. And again this is all to
say, we haven't seen if there's other moves for them left in the chamber.
So we are getting spammed in the chats here. I'm gonna block that
user. I don't worry you guys, unless anyone wanted porn bots Joshua Warrent
such with the Hawks, I would try and trade for Gobert. I wasn't
high I was okay with this to begin with. But if you're gonna have
Murray on the court in addition to Gobert, that spacing could get a little
tight. And then who's your four in that scenario, because that's gonna cost
you John Collins and Clint Capella and you're not you don't have first round equity
to include, which I think Utah would demand. If you want to just
build the Joshua the defensive beast around Trey Young and you had John to Murray,
Rudy Gobert, go for it. If you're able to keep it DeAndre
Hunter in that hell, go for it. But I think this makes it
substantially less likely. It's more, what would a Collins move alone get you,
because you're not even partnering him with stuff at this point. Given the
picks that you already threw out there, I mean you could technically still trade.
You have your own twenty twenty three pick, said jone need to convey
one of the spurs until twenty five. But I don't know what that gets
you. I think they could still use a wing. The trade I propose
that will never see Garlands. No, we have to pivot here. Garlands
Garland Riley, I'm so, I'm so disappointed Eighten, eighten. You want
to max out Eighten. I'm just I'm not about it. It's gonna cost
you, and you're not the only one that said us, but my Garland,
I'm just I'm being an asshole here. I don't see it like he's
probably more. He is more dynamic things like cappela on offense, but he's
not actually like a floor spacer. And the thing is to even under base
your compensation, it gets so complicated. You're you're now not really getting out
of this. Yeah, you could use Capella, which works for the Suns,
but the Hawks don't have the cap space to take in just let's say
DeAndre in at thirty million while sending out Cappella. They need to include more
money, but the Suns would not be able to take back more money unless
that deal is expanded. That's just the weird base compensation rule inside and trades,
which affect predominantly rookie extensions. I don't I don't know that that's where
you want to funnel your money, and I think are you giving up?
So whether it's too it's not going to be to Phoenix straight up, but
that move is going to cost you Clint Cappela and then more players or more
probably Clint Capella and John Collins if he's going somewhere else. I don't think
DeAndre Ayton is good enough for the Hawks to jump through through those hoops.
The trade that I did propose, that is never going to say the light
of a day except for now because Grant and I, my fantastic colleague from
Bleacher Reports slash Quasi, co host of this podcast, discussed it and I
wanted thoughts in the chat. If you're listening to this on the podcast,
let me know what you think. This is the framework it would be o
Gianna, Nobi, Kem Birch, and Malachi Flynn for John Collins and DeAndre
Hunter. I wonder if that's enough for the Raptors to bite. My instinct
says the Hawks might think that's too much for their sort of blood. You
would have the option of using Cappella instead of Collins because of how much defense
Toronto has, and maybe you want to play Collins at the five role,
four out around Murray and have Frey Young in there. That's the type of
move I could see them making where it's consolidation, not into a superstar.
But Ogeanna Noby on this team with Murray, with Clint Capella, that is
a hell that is a hell of a combination, and so that's the dream
target. I don't think Toronto wants to give up Ogeanna Noby and John Collins
is not their type of player. And look, everyone, everyone thinks that
they just drafted their big of the few. I also look, the other
thing is, I don't think Toronto need the big like you have Pascal Siaka,
Lutino Ogana and Nobi defend fives in the past. Toronto Raptors fans think
they have their big man of the futuring in Christian Coloco. Maybe you do.
That's just food for thought. The Raptors need some more offensive Jews in
the half court themselves. John Collins is plug in play, but maybe you
explore his floor game a little bit. That's sort of what I proposed for
the Hawks. I don't know if anyone else sort of becomes available here that
would be worth including Collins, though, when we run the gamut of and
this is going to be a lot of recycling from the talk that I had
with Grant that again, we'll never see the light of day Rip. Where
else are you sending Collins at this point? Like, what is the other
trade target? We've We've mentioned Dayton, We've now mentioned o Gianna Obi,
The Pickens are are sort of slim out there. John Collins will be interesting
in Memphis, but like, what are you making that trade for? And
the Grizzlies are just not a team that's gonna go that route. Does Minnesota
have the assets? No, they don't or even really the personnel. I
think the Atlanta, which complicates this needsn't wing. Probably at this point it
would be if okay, so you decided to go to Spurs route and ship
out, say you can't even get him anymore. You give so many picks,
but sha de Jeante Murray and Tray would be so unconventional. But I'd
watch the hell out of that. I just I'm going through it and I
don't see like the trade target. There's the John Collins, Harrison barn stuff.
I don't understand that for either team. Really, Barnes is not a
wing. I guess it helps more now that you have Murray in addition to
Hunter, and so Barnes can exclusively defend fours. I hate Collins and sabonus
together and Sacramento. They can work on offense, but what does that do
on defense? Washington's not gonna have an interest in Collins. Boston is not.
They've apparently kicked the tires. But you're unless you're trading things, like
do you think that you're just trying to turn Collins into assets that you can
then turn around and see who becomes available later? Does a team like you
know, like how desperate does Dallas get? How many distant picks are they
willing to trade? Or is that the route you would go with Memphis?
Like that's the pathway. It would be salary filler and future picks. You're
not getting Desmond Baine. I don't even know if you get ze Here Williams
for John Collins at this point from them, you don't need Tyler Hero from
Miami, even if they're offering first round picks. Minnesota I don't think has
enough of the players to satisfy really who you're looking for. New Orleans has
really no need for a John Collins with Zion Williams in there. We have
back over this chat. Yeah, Oscar Hazel did say, Harrison Barnes,
I do not. I'm just not crazy. I think you need I would
want something else for Collins and the Kings are not the team to give it
to you. If they are, then hell yeah, let's let's do this.
Joshua says lou Dort would be great for the Hawks. Yeah, that's
interesting, but he's so cheap. What are you giving up for lou Dort?
It would want to like for future first round equity? Or do they
want on Ya Kong Wu? Are they high on Jalen Johnson? Are they
high on a J. Griffin? You could go that route, but man
Dort, Jante Murray on the same team would be that'd be unfair for a
lot of a lot of other teams. So I think that, like,
that's the route that you could still go if you're Atlanta. For sure is
look at trades, but that feels like a situation where the trade market would
have to develop something that we're not seeing right now, and I don't I
can't even spot the team. I normally fanks myself pretty good at saying like,
oh this team would come out of left field, I can't see it
now, or maybe they settle for that that King's deal. But the Ogann
and Obi stuff is the best I could come up with. I don't know
which. Again, feel free to h tell me whether you think that that's
that's a framework that could potentially work. Oscar says, Heyward and PJ for
Collins. I think you need more stuff from Charlotte for that. So yeah,
Haywards deals just like two years sixty plus million PJ. Washington would be
interesting. I don't know if you're not hurting your defense. It's probably lateral
here though, But that's again, Charlotte is a team I guess that could
theoretically want to kick the tires. They have Mark Williams and Ki Jones.
Maybe they view Collins as like a nice match with them. If you're bringing
back Miles Bridges, though, that gets a little weird. So yeah,
I'm at a loss. I think the Hawks are probably gonna try and do
more damage in free agency. I really liked Victor Oladipo for them before the
Murray trade. I no longer like him as much unless you're bringing him off
the bench. You could go the route of if you're looking to show up
defense, does the non taxpayers mid level get you a Calebero? Cody Martin?
Can I get you on your coffee? Just guys who could be moved
around. Positionally, t J. Warren arguably makes even more sense for this
roster right now, I'm just looking at what they could need someone who just
can play pure wing minutes. But maybe you downsize a little bit there.
The wing market in free agency is just it's really it's thin at this point.
I would still bring back the lawn, right. That would be where
it it's difficult. Is can you spend the non tax perramid level and bring
back the lawn right? My guess is no, It depends on how much
it costs. But I don't think you're gonna be able to do that,
So you could just bring back the lan right that. Could you maybe decide
to go, well, we want like a higher end defender there and bring
Garry Payton a second? Are you too small with having him, Murray and
Trey Young operating in your in your back court there? If you're looking for
the super cheap route Daniel House, I don't think he's someone who like maybe
he goes for biannual type money rather than the mid level exception, do you
take a flyer on once it's Donald Anderson with all the Warrior's rotation Damien Lee
is someone who also from the Warriors who can move a lot on defense.
Is that someone that you potentially consider I am. I'm like Mason, Milazo,
Copella and Collins for Randall and Robinson sign and Tray, Yeah, I
do that. Please God. The Knicks are They're fucking terrible. I can't
even talk about the Nick anymore than I already have Hawks free agent targets otherwise,
just like, it's just such slim pickins. And I don't even know
if they're going to spend that tax the non tax payramid level because you might
again just need to funnel that into the lone right Murray, I do think
makes it less likely that he's back, and so it's slim pickins there too.
But I do still think that you signing someone in free agency's more likely
than making an impact move from the trade market, unless there's just a cup
excuse me, a Collins deal that I'm not seeing. I thought about,
maybe be deark Jones junior for this team. If he's going to sign for
the minimum, can you get Kyle Anderson even for the non tax payramid level
exception? At this point, I'd be very interested to see. Maybe not
enough shooting and he's not the best defender. But is there a deal that
could get Kelly Ubre to Atlanta? We know that Charlotte's gonna be looking at
cut money in advance of signing Miles Bridges. Atlanta is not you know,
they don't have blank check salary or like these super intriguing expiring contracts to send
out right now. But you could in theory get their building something like you
know, to do you value Kelly brid Junior more than you value Kevin Herder.
That's actually a trade that I hate that I hate for both teams,
believe it or not. So Kelly brid Junior works via trade, but I
don't think the Hawks have the equity that makes sense to go out and get
him. Other free agents here for them, and so many of them we
were going through other point guards like Tyas Jones made sense before the Murray trade.
I don't think you want to burn your non tax payermid level on a
on another guard at this point, even though you still couldn't theory use one
like bring then right back. Sure, that's fine, they could have.
I thought, like, could they be involved somehow? I thought in a
casey p trade, that's that's a no go because of what happened with Washington.
If they were willing to play him and they're they're really looking to sort
of scrape the battle of value. PJ Dojer would be an interesting fit here.
You could skew like even more towards versatility, not lockdown defense. But
say you don't want the Nabby can play a bunch of different positions for you
if he is healthy. Like that is the level of player that we're talking
about. Even again, even the mid level candidates, like yeah, West
Matthews still makes a ton of sense here, and I wouldn't give them mid
level, but West Matthews age thirty five. Could you be a team that's
willing to wait on Joe Ingles age thirty four. He's probably been working out
in Portland, and I think Portland's gonna go the human trade exception route where
they sign him or guaranteed Bletso's contract and just try and flip those two acquire
someone via trade the middle of the season or before the off season's over.
It couldn't be in the off season if you resigned Ingles. Just an FYI,
Bruce Brown, I'd probably prefer Gary Payton the second here. I trust
his shooting a little bit more than Bruce Brown's. Again, are you just
too small with Murray and Young both under six five? And then you're gonna
added Gary Payton in second or Bruce Bown in the rotation? Yeah, that's
fine. Could you play all three of them together? Though I would have
some skepticism about that, I would absolutely try it because I'm a fan of
very unconventional lineups. Someone wants to talk about the Kings. We've talked about
the King's plenty. I said nice things about them. Them Renouncing Dante Devenchenzel
though, was weird. Maybe that's a fit in Atlanta still on the smaller
end, and I don't know what you trust him to do defensively, But
like that is just that was just a wild decision by them. I still
don't even fully understand it. He didn't have a good year coming back from
injury last season, and he wasn't like stand out for them. It was
still just just a weird to make that trade and then to whatever we know
the Hawks also to get back to them renounced Kevin Knox. He's not gonna
be your shiftfra agent. He's gone. Do they still have a needs for
Georgi Jang. He's a non bird UFA. I don't think you'll have a
huge market, But depending on what you do with Collins and then Delan Right,
I would still look at bringing him back. They have his his bird
rights, but you're probably not knowing them unless they're willing to go into the
tax you're not paying Delon Right and having the non tax payer. Also,
what's interesting is both DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan mcdonovitch or extension eligible here. I
don't think Hunter against an extension, just he hasn't shown enough the ability to
stay healthy and his offense kind of stagnated last year. And I don't even
think he was like a great defender for them, even though he's among their
best options at the point of attack, because he was by default among their
only options. But Abdonna's extension might make some sense. But now that you
know you're gonna eventually have to pay Murray and you already have Kevin Hurder under
block and keeper for years, I think you look less at that, And
Bogdanovitch had his own sort of health issues, so I look the Hawks addressed.
Arguably they're too biggest needs in the Murray trade. Which was a secondary
creator to move Trey off the ball, help carry liners without him, and
then wing at defense just point of attack defense. How can you further that
here? And I don't know what the alchemists too, John Collins trade,
knowing he wasn't involved with the Spurs, is there a way to just get
him on board with what's happening? Because this team, a lineup of Quint
Capella, John Collins, Dejanta Murray, Trey Young, and DeAndre Hunter makes
so much sense. And then you have Kevin Hurder and Bogdanovitch coming off the
bench, Onyeka Kungu as well, Like that's a really good eight man rotation,
really good non man rotation if you're throwing Delon right in there. And
this says nothing about I still really love Jill and Johnson and think he's someone
you could move around positionally a ton if you're gonna get lu Dort. I've
kind of wondered if that's would get you lou Dort. And then there's also
a j Griffin, who a lot of people loved coming out. It doesn't
look like they're set up to give him minutes next season, but this team
is like nine or ten now really interesting guys. That's assuming that they consider
bringing back Delon Wright still. So this is like, I'm I'm endlessly,
endlessly fascinated with every team. I say this to every team. But I
was already kind of curious what the Hawks we're gonna do? And but now
you acquire John Thay Murray without doing anything with John Collins, I don't know
where you go next. They would be look if if shit still hits the
fan in Brooklyn, I guess you've given up too much picks to get into
Kevin rant sweepstakes, but you have like the players, Like can you parlay
combinations of Collins and Hunter and on Yaka kong Wu and Picks and Joe and
Johnson, A J. Griffin, some of them going to Brooklyn, some
of them going to other teams that gets Brooklyn to to say yes, there
perhaps, But I think you're probably looking at stuff that's smaller scale from the
Hawks moving here, even though they have a fringe allstar and John Collins who
appears to be eminently available another trade. I thought about what it was like
a and I guess maybe the Clippers wouldn't have interest in Kevin Hurder even though
he's better than Luke Kenard, but like Bugdanovich, if you wanted a Marcus
Morris senior depends on how you feel about Marcus Marcus Morris senior excusally coming out
of that because you are sacrificing some shot creation there. That's a type of
player though, that they could really use. I like Marcus Morris Senior on
this team, probably a little bit better. Maybe I'm better than Harrison Barnes
defensively, I like him better than Harrison bars maybe some small ball five there.
I'm not moving Collins for Harrison Barnes, like the Kings need to be
including a pick there, and that's if they move Collins. I could see
them going that route in the end where it's, oh, we decided to
get some picks in addition to one player that we can use because we're trying
to keep ourselves flexible and lean moving forward. But I don't think this was
an unwarranted trade for the Hawks. But they're definitely rolling the ice here because
if they're at full strength, if everything works out, I do think that
they would be one of the top teams in these like right now, looking
at the Hawks on paper, if they stay the same, Who do we
know will be better. We know that the Bucks will be better. Please
don't ask me to include the Nets here. I mean, if they're healthy,
with Ben Simmons and Kyrie and Kevin Durant remaining healthy, I mean sure
those two teams. There's of course Boston is still going to be there.
Miami, yeah, I mean, they're not gonna just blow it up.
And if they do, it's to get like real players. They're apparently meeting
with John Brunson. I might throw the Sixers in here. They're projected they
get PJ. Tucker. Harn's apparently in good shape. Looks like he might
take a pay cut too. PJ Tucker on the Hawks would be sick.
Mason says, I don't disagree. PJ. Tucker will be sick on like
every team, Which is why I can't believe that Miami can't do anything aside
from offer PJ Tucker essentially the same money, the non tax payramid level that
the Sixers seem to prepare to offer him. If they're not willing to offer
him that, maybe they have other plans for their non tax payer emily,
or they don't think they could work, they don't want to work. Excuse
me, within the hardcap after extending Tyler Hero this summer. I don't know
what the reasons are, but we're not going to see PG Tucker play mission
critical roles for the Bucks and then, oh dud, he was much better
for the Heat. And then they're just gonna let him walk despite the ability
to at least pay him the same amount of money as wherever he's going.
Just odd. I know he's old, but that's just that's like really odd
thinking by me. But I think you could throw the Heat the Bucks,
the Celtics, the Sixers, the Nets are like. Then the Raptors are
like the candidates of the teams that could be better. And I don't know
how many of those teams are gonna say you're definitively gonna be better. I'll
go I'll go Boston, Milwaukee, Miami for sure. Philly's just implosive because
we don't know, like for sure, like those are the three teams for
sure, and it's not. It's not gonna be the Knicks. I apologize
to Knicks fans, but if you think that that's really the possibility that they're
going to be, in that conversation, I have a few bridges. I
would like to sell you. I think that's gonna do it. If you're
listening to this on the podcast, we're segueing right into you to Southeast Division,
which I'm going to try and put out post haste so that nothing else
is ruined. Thank you everyone for listening to this section. Thanks for joining
us on YouTube, and if you haven't already, please consider subscribing to the
YouTube channel, subscribing and downloading every episode of the podcast. Tell your friends,
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or send our links to people to help us continue building this community.
I appreciate endlessly every single one of you join our discord. The link is
somewhere. It's on Twitter that works, it's in the podcast description. It
doesn't work on YouTube. I'll try and fix that. But yeah, let's
get into the rest of the Southeast and please cross your fingers that I get
this podcast out before it implodes. The division, absent any interesting trade exceptions,
continues to roll on with the Charlotte Hornet's key free agents. Mile Bridges
is restricted. Cody Martin an important free agent for them. He's also restricted.
They have early bird rights on mantras Harold keller Bridge Junior five million of
US twelve point six million dollars salaries guaranteed until June thirtieth, that I expect
them to guarantee it. Mason Plumley has basically half of his nine million dollars
salary guaranteed until ten days before the moratorium, which, unless my math is
off, it should be guaranteed as we're recording this, or just already guaranteed.
They they did, Okay, I apologize for messing that up. I
didn't see it. Joyalen McDaniels is a one point nine million dollars team option,
and Nick Richards has a one point eight million non guaranteed till the last
day of the moratorium. Notable extension candidates Gordon Hayward and paratheticals lol PJ Washington
and Jalen McDaniels no notable trade exceptions. As I sort of alluded to at
the top, their best spending tool is the non taxpayer mL. I don't
even know if I'd be skeptical to use all of it, because they're about
twenty million dollars away from the tax if you just factor in Bridges his cap
hold, and his cap hold is sub seventeen, and my guess is he
probably winds up closer to twenty five than seventeen. So their best spending tool
it might be the minimum, because I don't know what Michael Jordan's going to
spend any thing that brings them into the tacks. Still, I don't mean
to troll them. It's just the well I do mean to troll them.
This is not a shot at Hornets fans, but the report, the way
wind Horse framed it that they need to move Gordon Hayward to afford to resign
Miles Bridges, that's not actually how restricted free agency works. Just in case
that anyone was wondering, Grant, what are you I mean? I guess
the starting point is Miles Bridges like his restricted free agency. Do you expect
there to be a market for him? Do you expect him back in Charlote's
their scenario where you don't see him there? YadA, YadA, YadA.
Yeah. I think the fact that we haven't really mentioned him a ton as
a target for other teams would suggest that, like, maybe his market isn't
fantastic, But that speaks more to the lack of cap space around the league
and which teams have it I think than anything else, because he's not necessarily
a PC one as a rebuilder. He's young enough, but I think he's
he's good right now. So and you're paying for basically his prime. So
I don't know if that you know which way that cuts? I think so
Mitch cup Check came out today as we're recording and said that they're going to
bring him back, speaking of bridges, but you know, obviously that would
be disastrous if they don't. Well, yeah, you can't just let him
leave. I mean, like, this is a cheaper organization and it's not
trolling. It's just like it's a fact. So if any team we're gonna
do it, it might be them. But but they have to bring him
back. I don't know what form that's gonna take. I don't know,
Like I'm not I don't think I'm comfortable at the full max, but that
may be what it takes. I'm not going. You know, I could
see four years. I could see you could even like do the Gordon Hayward
thing with the jazz from years ago and not offer him the full term and
just sort of see how it goes. Turned out it didn't go well for
you talk but or did it since Heyward just basically kept getting hurt after that,
I don't know. Yeah there, I mean in terms of big picture
needs, like when you can tell we can talk about Bridges too, but
this team just needs a defensive center. If you can stretch, that's great
and otherwise like you're just trying to fill in orter that makes sense for you
know, Steve Clifford team now, which I'm sure the mandate is like we
have to defend, we have to make the playoffs. So that's kind of
that frames kind of what you're going for, right And so yeah, I'm
pretty much with you on Miles Bridges. I don't think he'll get a max
offer sheet. But like the teams with cap space, like if it's if
it's Orlando, I for it's Detroit or San Antonio and they decide to fuck
around and go four one hundred, the Hornets have to match along those lines,
or maybe they try and screw Charlotte by making a shorter term. Michael
Jordan might appreciate the shorter term deal though Clutch Sports is involved, so anything,
anything is on the table, and I won't rule out like just being
surprised by how much he gets they need, They still need a defensive center,
and yet they have Kai Jones now Mark Williams, and then Mason Plumley
is there. I'm not saying they're the answers, but it's ideally you're moving
Mason Plumley is part of a deal for any center. Miles Turner is the
one that's been mentioned a ton. I think the kellyoo Bridge Junior for Rashawn
homes Swamp makes a lot of sense for both sides if you or maybe it
makes less if you have Harrison Barnes and Keyga Murray Sacrament know I when like
you have, he have some bonus and they've been linked to Looney and they
for some reason, we're trying to train for John Collins. Please don't even
I can't explain that one. So there are bigs out there they could get.
And Rashaun Holmes might not be enough of a defensive anchor, but he's
underrated there and just under Steve Clifford, I think that he would be more
than fine. Are there any center targets like in free agency that you've thought
about, knowing full well that like predicting what Charlotte might be willing to spend
even though they can technically maybe access the full or the bigger mid level like
good luck, like actually use it. That's the trick. I mean,
the two I like a lot. I mean, come on, Looney,
I think is I don't think he's gonna leave the Warriors, but someone like
that makes sense if it doesn't cost you the full MLI heartness sign. Again,
the fact that the Clippers can only offer him basically up to that number,
uh suggest that I think he'll at least get that offer elsewhere, and
the Hornets could go a little bit above that if they want have the stomach
for it. But yeah, I think I think you're looking at that weird
little middle ground of like Claxton. I don't think is realistic because I think
the Nets will just kind of match or exceed what I wouldn't be. Josa
seems fed up with how much that team is costing him. Yeah, well
you could. He should be fed up with a lot of things. Yeah,
I don't know. Do you have any other centers like I would?
I would love to see Mitchell Robinson under Steve Clifford, but I think it's
been made pretty clear the Nicks are going to pay him and the mid level
is not going to get him out of New York. Mo Bamba makes a
lot of sense. He's also like a different look from the Mark Williams Kai
Jones definitely a different look from Mason Plumbley. Does the mid level type money
get him if we're you know, it's the hornets, so like, I'm
not trying to be an asshole here, but we have to think even sort
of lower on the totem pole, Dwayne Deadman. Do they even look at
what is Searge Ibaka's market this summer if they're just looking for a veteran maybe
even a Robin Lopez not gonna space the floor. I don't like he's so
slower paced, but Mason Plumley's not actually like this, this fast paced monger.
You know. Do they look at Tristan Thompson? Do they look at
Moses Brown, Jalen Smith. I don't know how much he cost, but
he could be fairly interesting. A lot of people consider him more of before,
but he would he would really stretch the floor and give their ball handler's
room to operate. I think their stomach for spending the mL is going to
depend on whether they can offload Gordon Hayward for a smaller salary or the combination
of salaries that give the more breathing room under the tax after paying Myles Bridges.
I'm really annoyed that you got to Jalen Smith before I did. I
forgot that you're all all refrained for mentioning him for any of the other teams
that you could be set the next three. This team also needs to worry
about resign and Cody Martin. He's important, like if they want to do
something defensively, especially like he's going to be important to that and they just
need wings, so like they need to be involved on is what does Daniel
House cost? Gary Harris is probably a little bit too small when you look
at the setup of their roster, but what does Gary Harris cost? Is
this a This probably scues too far offense, but like what is Victor Oladipo
gonneat of course costing them? What does T J. Warren cost? A
mere Coffee? Definitely a name that they should look at they could bring in,
like if this is a team that wants to compete, Yeah, Wesley
Matthews at age thirty five shouldn't be off the table. Even when does Joe
Ingles When is he projected to come back. Do you take a flyer on
him if it's for just slightly more than the minimum and he wants to,
like Steve Clifford's prepared to use him. They need to look at all those
types of guys. Those are they are available few and far between, but
like this team isn't you know, you look at their wing depths and they
just don't actually have it, especially if they're not married to the idea of
keeping Gordon Hayward. Miles Bridges isn't a wing. Kelly Bridge Junior is like
he's a wing, but is he like he's like more in the Harrison barnes
Ilk where he's not. He's kind of like not away, but he's better
at defending them. So that's what I would be looking at if if I'm
Charlotte. Yeah, it's a tough position to be in where two of your
more likely trade candidates come from a which are Heyward and Kelly Bray come from
a position where you really can't for to lose much depth. But that's where
they are, especially if you want to get a center the ubre for Holmes
trade. Probably with the King's throwing in something I think makes a lot just
a ton of sense and shout out to I know there. So they ended
up getting the Denver's twenty twenty three lottery protected pick and four seconds for the
pick that became Jalen Duran. Shout out to Jake G. We have this
conversation on Twitter. I was lamppooting the Hornets and the Knicks when that deal
happened until the full details came out. I think they probably made out fine
there because maybe this opens playing time for James book Knight and Kai Jones by
going that route. I don't know if it does, but that's that's something.
By the way, they could consider. Maybe we played Kai Jones this
year. Maybe James book Knight gives us something and that addresses maybe some of
their needs. Anything anything else on on this team, That's all I got
on Charlotte. The Miami Heat key free agents PJ. Tucker non bird restricted
free agent, Kayla Martin non bird unrestricted free agent. I think I called
PJ. Tucker restricted. He's unrestricted Victoral depot. They have full Bird rights
on him. Dwayne Deadman, Mark Keith Morris are non birds. If anyone
cares, you don't as Haslam is a free agent and Miami can pay him
whatever that it needs to if they deem it necessary for him to come back.
Notable non guarantees Gabe Vincent, Max Drew's at one point eight million.
Both of those will be guaranteed or I have already been guaranteed. And Omar
your seven. I would imagine they probably guarantee him as well. Heyward high
Smith is fifty k guaranteed until July. First fully guarantee is them July fifteen.
Notable extension candidates Tyler Hero No notable trade exceptions. Their best spending tool
is the non tax payer mL They'll be about twenty million dollars below the apron,
and I don't think they care about going into the tax if they have
to stay below the apron. Though. That's if they keep Tucker at an
eight point four million dollars salary, which is the most they can offer him
on a twenty percent raise, or they might need to offer him the non
tax payer mid level exception, in which case, if that's going to him,
they have more wiggle room to use it. It's just they're still losing
a spot. So ideally you get to keep Tucker and then still use your
gr mid level exception grant thoughts teams about this team, is PJ. Are
you surprised that PJ. Tucker has been sort of builds more of this flight
risk or is it? Oh? Well, Dalamori and James Harden are in
Philadelphia and maybe they'll sign Trevoriza Lupamute and get the band back together. I
am a little surprised. I mean, I think it's it's always surprising when
someone his age, you know, basically turns down guaranteed money. But obviously
he's gonna I think he's gonna recoup that. And then some the Heat are
a weird roster. They're you know, they're they're very top heavy. I
think they've only got five guys that are on fully guaranteed deals, and you
know, they're generally looking they're generally like a team that operates, that improves
itself through trade. And it's like, well, if you have five guys
that are guaranteed, that's limits your options a little bit. I think you
know a bunch of their that'll change because they have non guarantees on like Struce
and Vincent, and you're at seven, all of whom I think makes sense
to bring back, especially at such low numbers. You can think about extensions
down the line, but I just think the playoffs kind of showed they're short
on, you know, a shot creator that doesn't get played off the floor
defensively. If Lowry's healthy, maybe that looks different. I think they also,
just like everybody, especially if Tucker leaves, you're looking at guys that
can occupy the combo, forward, spot, auto porter just to jump the
gun is like a total no brainer target to me for them, And you
know, Thaddeus Young would I've thrown there too. Bringing back someone like Derek
Jones Jr. Who really had his best years there, it could supercharge that
defense if he, you know, gets in prime shape again, you know
he's comfortable there. Stuff like that. I think you make a lot of
sense here too. Yeah, a trade is still the likeliest, you know,
major thing for them, but a lot of those options seem to have
kind of dried up, so they may just be stuck using that mL E
and hoping it's enough to improve the roster. Bringing Tucker back and kind of
adding a forward or two or a playmaker. Yeah, if they lose Tucker,
that's gonna be really hard to replace them. And I'm with you that
their best route to improve is going to be through trade, and they can
offer now because the renegotiation with Okac, if you include Nicola Yovic and like
as this year's first trom, they can trade up the three picks now.
I believe on top of that at theble check, I don't know what or
who that gets you in the running for. And you also need the player
that you described. Insfar as I know, it's like not available. There's
not that Murray is not that guy is there is the trade market going develop
in a different way that we don't see coming. And then even if we
know that the Heat are able to mind bargains out of places, but like
where I can't even like going through the free agency list, I just couldn't
even find someone like, yeah, maybe there's emergency shock creation types if it's
a Patty Mills should he leave Brooklyn or a Dennis Shrewder. But you just
said you don't want them to get played off the floor defensively, and that's
not really what those guys are going to give you. And look there's a
chance that they lose like Kayla Martin as well, in addition to PJ.
Tucker, Like that gets really hard even bringing in Molik Monk that again,
the defensive questions are there. You almost have to keep Victor Oladipo is like
what I'm looking at through this lens is he is so important all of a
sudden so and I again, the trade target just doesn't like the higher end
trade target. And look, they're not really built to make the smaller trade
because Hero even though he doesn't make a lot of money, like, you're
not moving him unless it's a Godfather acquisition and then all your best salary filler.
Now Duncan Robinson is the cheapest of that at sixteen point nine million,
you're not just acquiring. And I afterthought player there, So I thought like
because maybe if they didn't care about like the money, like they could step
ladder their way, Like how desperate are they for the type of shot creation
if PJ. Tucker leaves, Like did they just say, oh, yeah,
we'll take Tobias Harris because the Sixers are looking like a are you really
going to facilitate the Sixers getting PJA Tucker there? So that's weird as well.
I'm I'm not saying they're trapp They're gonna be a really good team if
they're healthy. I just have any trade targets sprunk to mind for you that
even begin to address like what they need the most. Yeah, I mean
I had just as like a total well you know, you really talk yourself
into it. You gotta do some gymnastics. But like if Kyrie Irving got
to a point where it was just like, you know, we got these
the nets like He's got to go, Hero and Lowry are kind of the
start of a package that makes sense there. I think Irving and the Heat,
you know, sort of culture is a real tough marriage. But the
Heat also love superstars and Kyrie Irving is that. And if any team thinks
it could sort of make this work, even though it's never worked anywhere,
they would have a right and feeling that way, or at least as much
as anybody would. I think aside from that, like and they don't really
operate this way, the Heat. They tend to like go find Gabe Vincent
and then or Strus and turn them into someone. But like if Lonnie Walker
just isn't a retention priority, guys, you know, Jalen Smith, We're
just going through the second draft, guys, and I have to mention Jalen
Smith because it's in my contract that doesn't exist. I think the Heat again
would be justified in thinking, like, we'll figure out what's in there with
Lonnie Walker, and it's worth the risk to go try to see if we
can get him with an offer sheet. One of the training targets I thought
about. I don't know what you need to attach to make it work.
Duncan Robinson plus question mark for Eric Gordon, M do you think I get
Yeah, because Robinson's contract it sounds bad, but it's just because it's so
long that that number of you know, the ninety million is scary. I
think I think Gordon would absolutely like because there's your there's your playmaker and guard.
Well, I mean he's as much an off ball guy as on but
like that you that is not going to get played off the floor defensively,
that that makes sense. You could imagine him, you know, he just
doesn't come with any of the concerns that Hero does. He's not as good
an offensive player. I don't think in that specific his Hero, but he
would make sense and he would bring you know, he's tough like the Heat
love their toughness, so that that's a factor too. Yeah, I'm curious
to see what route they end up going in free agency. And the final
thing I think to talk about here is do you think Tyler Hero gets an
extension. That's a great question, my guests would be if you want to
hear what I think, because the Heat are gonna want to prioritize slexibility.
He gets want a lot tougher to move if he's extended, like because of
the way that the poison pill provision is going to work there. And even
just like you normally don't see those guys as talented on rookie deals moved anyway,
you're going to move them at a higher number later on. But he
also has enough leverage coming off six Man of the Year averaging twenty plus points,
four plus assist, shooting nearly forty percent from three and as just honestly,
they're most consistent tough shot maker from the perimeter at this point. Unless
it's the playoffs and Jimmy Butler decides that he's going to be a perimeter savant
again, he has the wherewithal to ask for a max And if you're the
Heat at that point, it's well, you might as well wait and let's
see what we can do. Next summer, and if we have to match
a max or given max, then because he played so well, then so
be it. Yeah, I think that's right. I think I agree with
that. Our next team, the Orlando Magic Key free agents include Gary Harris,
Mo Bamba who's restricted, Bobo is restricted, Rollo Robin Lopez is a
non bird unrestricted free agent. Moe Wagner his one point nine million dollars salary
guarantees on June thirtieth. Delphin Kennedy is a one point eight million dollar non
guaranteed deal. Notable extension candidates include Mark el Folts and Terrence Ross. They,
surprise, surprise, have no notable trade exceptions. Orlando's best vending tool
is they can get up to assuming they renounce Mo Bamba and Gary Harris and
Robin Lopez in particular, twenty five plus million dollars in cap space. I
have their biggest needs priorities listed as shooting. Maybe some true wings rather than
combo forwards. Could also use a floor general type. Since Sugs, Foltz
Anthony really aren't those guys, I do wonder are they less likely to want
that if they want to believe in RJ. Hampton or two maybe they really
want to just funnel the offense through Palo Bancaro and jel and Songs, which
which I would be fine with. Yeah, I feel really good about them.
You know, the three four five spots. I just I mean,
I don't know if they're the three four, but like I think Wagner and
Boncaro as a forward pairing, I love it. I think if you get
anything out of Jonathan Isaac, who, by the way, is an interesting
trade chip because he's got a partial guarantee on twenty three twenty four and full
non guarantee twenty four twenty five. Did you see though there's still no timetable
for his return. He suffered he had to have hamstring surgery during his recovery
from ACL that was this past March. They expect him to be ready for
two the start of next season, but he has not played since the Disney
Bubble, right, one of the biggest wild cards, unknowns whatever in the
league at this point, like it's starting to get towards like the sad side
of I think we know, but uh what just his defensive potential. If
he shows anything, man if and the Magic can keep him like that,
really they get very interesting and if not, like, yeah, that's that's
a tough that's a tough deal kind of a bummer. I really liked him
when he was healthy. But yeah, I think, you know, I
think you'll probably talk about two, you know, they it feels like they
have a glut of playmaking guards with with Foults there, assuming he can stay
healthy, and Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs. But like, I don't know
if I believe in any of those guys as as like the steward of an
offense. I think that's why bon Carroll makes so much sense there, as
he might end up being that guy at a different position. But yeah,
they can mess around with offer sheets for restricted free agents. They can be
ambitious with you know, spending. They can be a leverage team for for
for other guys out there, and the same options as far as you know,
the Pistons and the pacers have and the spurs where you can just kind
of you know, will be the dumping ground too, if that's what if
that's what makes the most sense. They they they're set up to do kind
of whatever they want, right and they could I feel like they'll go to
more conservative out of leasing out cap space than maybe taking some flyers in just
free agency on on younger guys, and whether that's like an are Mere I
say younger, but like a Caleb or Cody Martin or an a Mere Coffee.
Could they just be one of the teams that say, hey, we're
going to give a winfall to Tayas Jones to just have that offensive stewart or
game manager. So there are a lot of your right that there's a lot
of different stuff that they could do. I've kind of wondered, well,
although let me let's get through this with Mo Bamba and Terrence Ross. Do
you think both or either of them will be in Orlando start a year.
Ross is on an expiring contracts he's not a free agent like Bomba, right.
I think Bomba felt like, well, why there's no way he'll be
back. They have Carter. It's just like, but if you could bring
him back as a backup center for you know, five six million, and
it's possible. And also him and Wendell Card you had a ton of time
together on the court last year. It didn't look great offensively at times,
but he could play next to Ben Carroll then. And if you don't know
what's happening with Jonathan Isaac moving forward? I've so I think there's a better
than chance than we're expecting that moment, even though I predicted that he'll leave.
But I kind of just feel like they'll move Terrence Ross, they'll let
Mobamba move on, and they'll just continue delving deeper into this like full scale
rebuild. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that's right. Ross is
again perennially going to be a deadline. Can we get anything for him?
It's probably second rounders at this point. But I think two two names that
you didn't ask, but I forgot to mention that I really like both restricted.
I don't know why you wouldn't mess around and see if you could make
the Blazers think about Anthony Simons. That's what I was I think I was
thinking. I was just about to ask you about those. Do you think
either of them provides enough? If they I like Anthony Simons, if you
believe that Suggs and Ben Carroll are like one B type playmaker and Ben Carroll
might be I'm actually I feel like I'm somehow higher on Joe and Suggs in
the consensus. All of a sudden, when everyone was so high on him
coming out of college. I think he can be that guy. I just
want to see him. They put the bond his hands a lot last year.
I just need the scene with more space to operate. They're better set
up with Ben Carrow and then if they can add some shooting, like even
bringing Gary Harris back wouldn't be egregious because of how well he shot the ball
for them last year. I love the Simon Sexton I just don't. I
think Simon's has a higher playmaking ceiling based off some of the stuff we saw
from him last year, where it's when he was collapsing defenses, he understood
what to do, not complicated passes, and maybe Sexton's already peaked where you
might be able to ratchet up the playmaking. If you're Anthony Simon's moving forward,
I would love him there. I did. Sexton's almost a bylow guy
at this point. I think maybe that's just me. I just I mean,
if he's costing your fourteen fifteen to get out of Cleveland, we're the
shot, right right. I agree Simons would be the real piece there because
him and Suggs I kind of like as a long term fit, and even
him and faults actually makes a lot of sense if you think faults is still
like a core consideration there. I think there's definitely more directionality to mark el
folts Is off the dribble game than there was. But unless he's going to
put consistently more pressure on the rim, get to the line, or develop
more than sort of this very methodical albeit fairly efficient mid range jumper, I
think your offense is going to be inherently capped if you're viewing him as the
floor general. What I did think about and you were talking about, oh,
maybe you look at trading Jonathan Isaac i app I probably would at this
point, but maybe you look at the non guarantees and say, we're hedged
against disaster. But teams like Sacramento or Minnesota, maybe even Charlotte, I
think there are a bunch of teams that would be interested in maybe you get
either picks or just interesting players back what if they went the other route?
So just go with me, or you have been Caro. You have Jail
and Suggs, you nail them to the floor and you go and make an
offer for Donovan Mitchell anything. I mean, it's it's picks and you have
Chicago's pick. I would include Franz Wagner. I know he had a great
year. The Magic fans are very high on him. They've been mad at
me in the past for I think I had him fourth on my or fifth
of my Rookie of the Year ballot, and they thought he deserved to be
higher. But it's it's anything that isn't Jael and Suggs or Palo ban Caro.
I also thought about, and this would be like, you're not giving
up Franz Wagner. It's maybe it costs you not your own future first,
and Utah was just kind of looking to get off the money. If you're
getting rid of Wendell Carter Junior in the like a Palo Bank Carro, Rudy
Gobert from Court is fairly interesting. Hold on, are we trading for Mitchell
and Gobert? You know, I'm saying I have some reservations about that.
I don't know if they'll Mitchell's probably not available, is my point? Yeah,
right, Like would you I think you look at it and say,
well, we if Isaac is healthy, Wendell Carter Junior is so cheap,
we have Ben Caro and we have the option of Brigheim Obama back. Does
Rudy Gobert materially change what we're doing? I mean you automatically have like a
top five defense if he and Isaac were on the same team. Yeah,
but Caro and Suggs offensively, I just that is not the target. But
if if Utah's asking price is so low to where it's not even costing you,
Franz Wagner, I wouldn't you know? They're They're also a team where
if Oksey did it, and I don't think they would shay guilt just Alexander.
That's something that somebody I think, I don't. It depends on I
think they're going to gradually build this thing out. I want to make that
clear. But Orlando could do some pretty freaky stuff if it wanted to,
and they're that high on just the Ben Carro, Suggs, even Wagner core.
Moving forward, Magic fans are so mad at you right now. They
might be happy because everyone always talks about them trading. They're good players to
other teams, so maybe trading for a good player would be different, that's
for sure. So maybe they're respected or they're angry. Like you said,
what is Krack Oak and Harmon Knox listeners, if you're listening to this on
the actual podcast while we're doing our Southeast Division preview, you're gonna notice that
Grant is no longer with me because the Wizards blew up everything that we talked
about ahead of their twenty twenty two free agency look ahead because they traded for
Monte Morris and Will Barton from the Number Nuggets. So we're gonna get into
that, and then I'm gonna readjust what our look ahead would have been from
that. If you're just watching this on YouTube. Drew it up live just
because to have it out there and just be done with in case it's ruined
or whatever. But the trade between the Wizards and the Nuggets, and we'll
get into a little bit of the implications for the Nuggets as well, was
Monte Morris and Will Barton go to Washington for Kentavious called Bill Pope and Is
Smith, whose contract will be guaranteed, and the Nuggets planned to keep him.
I saw a lot of people. Let's focus on this from the Nuggets
really quickly. What's interesting about this trade is the new salary cap projections gave
them a little bit more wiggle room under the luxury tax, and because of
the way that contracts worked, will Barton had some unlikely incentives for this this
coming season. Those were calculated into a lot of the payroll project actions when
they were trying to account for whether they would be under the tax or the
luxury tax apron. Now they have duct the tax, is my point,
by making this trade they save. It's under five million dollars in raws salary,
but it's more than six million dollars when you're factoring in that Will Barton
unlikely guarantee, or about six million around there. So they have now duct
the tax. Heading into the off season. What they could still do.
A lot of people said maybe they'll carve out enough room to use the non
tax payment level exception. That's too difficult. They would have to move some
whole scale salaries. Maybe Smith and Jeff Green and I still don't even think
that would do the trick. To be honest with you. They can still
use the MINIMLI, and I wrote about this. Calvin Bootha said he has
the go ahead to use the minimli for Denver. I would be a little
bit shocked if they still use it now, because this doesn't feel like a
team that wants to pay the tax at the moment, and it's preparing for
future seasons in which they have to. That the Wizards were able to help
them was a home run to me for Denver. I think, if you're
going to make this trade and look, maybe they still use their mini Emily,
they can do it. Maybe they use it plan on ducking attacks or
whatever later. YadA, YadA YadA. They have for now duck the tax
heading into the season. I think that this is a fine trade to make
while doing that because KCP is a fantastic point of attack defender, a real
three and D guy is better off the ball than Will Barton, is better
defensively than Will Barton. He's better defensively than even Monte Morris. There's definitely
a drop off from Monte Morris to Schmith. But if you have Jamal Murray
and Michael Porter Jr. Coming back and you believe in Bones Highland, this
is just there's some you know, cap sheet shuffling here that makes you cringe.
Because this team is so good when it's a full strength, they should
be willing to go as deep into the tax as possible. A guy like
Nicole yokis comes along once in a generation, so I get that element of
it. But this isn't a losing trade for them because KCP is exactly what
they need and they had not that Monte Morris was redundant, but they have
talent to make up for him. Now the focus shifts too, are they
going to stay outside the tax or will they use the min m E because
they could still use shooting, another defender, maybe even a backup big.
So the Nuggets remain a team to watch. I don't hate this trade for
them, but I do think it speaks a lot about how stingy they're planning
on being when it comes to spending on this ruster For the Wizards, love
love, love this trade. For the most part, I think they're gonna
miss KCP, who was probably their best perimeter defender last season. That being
said, you have other guys who can step up you had. I don't
want to say a wing surplus, but Denny Ava I think it's probably like
one of the five most underrated defenders in the NBA right now. Kyle Kuzma
has become rock solid there. Monte Morris is going to be fine, and
he will give you some point of attack. Minutes as well, you could
probably use another point of attack defender because you don't want to necessarily use Denny
Ava or Kyle Kuzma there in volume. Does that mean that they're more likely
to bring how Will metto back? Perhaps maybe they just go looking at to
fill that need with They needed shooting in defense. Is my point. Leading
into the offseason, and now you've gotten I think you can argue you've gotten
an upgrade in shooting when you look at Monte Morris's mid range game, his
ability to hit threes whether he's on or off the ball. Will Barton is
a good enough shooter. He's a little awkward off the ball, But I
think the Wizards needed more on ball juice as well, definitely more so than
the Nuggets did. I would like to see them give more responsibility to Denny
Ava on ball next season. I really think that he is just sort of
this sleeping blue chip prospect. We've already seen it on defense, and I
think there's a lot more to plumb there on offense. This doesn't prohibit you
from doing that. The other thing I'll mention is Will Barton his salary.
I don't like viewing players like this. If you can use it to facilitate
other trades. Like I don't think the Wizards are done like now. They'd
still have just all these fungible contracts that can move in separate trades. Monte
Morris gives you a good enough offensive steward now to take some of the pressure
off Bradley Beale, who, by the way, Bradley Beale, this is
like a very miniscule news item opted out of his contract. He's going to
resign on a five year deal with the Wizards. I imagine I'll have a
player option at the end of it. Maybe it doesn't, but he's staying
in Washington. The speculative nightmare is over, even though all along Bradley Beal
just kept saying I'm coming back to the Wizards. A sorry from that.
So the Wizards keep a lot of flexibility here, and they probably get a
little bit deeper just because Will Barton and Monte Morris are two of the you
know, they're both better than the Smiths, is my point. I think
you're gonna make a case KCP might have been the best player involved in this
deals between him and Monte Morris at this point, but you got two of
the top three players in this deal, So you are just deeper by extension
what the Wizards have also done now. And look, I think Monte Morris
is going to be a fantastic fit for them. I would like to probably
see them have a higher end just floor general type, because Will Barton,
Monte Morris, even Denny Avya his peak, and look, even Bradley Beale,
you viewed them as these secondary table setters. Not even Look, Bradley
Beale's a primary shot creator, playmaker and he can run be the engine of
your offense. But you would like someone who's just a better aster than Bradley
Beal on your team. I don't necessarily know that the Nuggets the Wizards habit
right now. He could be Monte Morris. And you have enough secondary playmaking
now between even Barton, just with the ball in his hands, secondary creation
at least Monte Morris. And again, if you're gonna explore just some more
Kenny obvious stuff, you have enough to sort of work within those confides more
than you did before. So I like this trade for them. And KCP
was going to be a free agent after next season anyway, And the same
be said of Will Barton. But he's just a little bit more expendable to
them. And now this maybe freeze up to where, Okay, Kyle Kuzma
feels like he might be a long sterm piece here. He's extension eligible,
has a thirteen million dollar player option next summer. I imagine he would decline
an extension even if the Wizards offer one, which they absolutely should they really
it's one hundred and twenty percent off of his current number, and so you're
looking at like a little over fifteen million dollars to start. That's I think
he's gonna think he can probably get get more on an annual basis as an
understrict to free agent, maybe even from Washington. So you're still flexible.
I think you've improved the balance of your roster. And now it gets interesting.
And this is where we lead into like the meat and potatoes of the
Wizards free agency. You can still go out and do just some weird stuff
here. This hasn't again hurt you really trade asset wise, KCP was one
of your assets. But if you really want to go out and make a
bigger deal, Monte Morris, will or Will Barton. Will Barton has an
expiring contracts Monte Morris more so it's just an actual player on a really team
friendly contract. Those are assets. Looking at their key free agents, they
have Thomas Bryant and Howard will Netto are the biggest names, and again I'm
wondering if how Will Netto is more likely to be back just given that you
give up KCP here and he was your best POA defender. They do not
have any notable non guarantees anymore because they traded both KCP and Is Schmith.
Their notable extension candidates include Christaps Porzingis I already mentioned, Kyle Kuzma, Ruby
Hachimura, and Burning Carry. I don't think any of those guys are going
to get an extension. I could see Kyle Kuzma being offered one and ultimately
declining it. Their trade exceptions, they have an Aaron holiday one where four
million and a Mantras Heroin worth five point two million. They're both going to
expire as of now February ten, twenty twenty three. Their best spending tool.
Here's where it gets interesting. So with Bradley Beal going to resign for
max money, and even with taking on this additional money in the trade,
they still have some pretty unfettered access to the non tax payers mid level exception,
which is ten point three million dollars to start. Actually, I guess
it could be a little higher here because the salary cap projections went up.
The point is, after the adjusted salary cap projections, I have them between
seventeen and eighteen million dollars under the tax. So like that's not even the
apron. If they're want to pay the tax, they can definitely use the
non taxpayer midlevel exception because they're going to be about nearly twenty five million dollars
under the apron. Again, even after accounting for oh, not that high,
there's gonna be like twenty million dollars or whatever is below the apron,
even after accounting for Bradley Beal's max salary. That is I think really important
because not a lot of teams are working with more. They're only a handful
of cap space teams, and there are a bunch more teams that are either
not going to spend the mid levels option or they only have the mini MLA,
a team like the Nuggets or the Clippers who might have already used it
on on John Wall. And so this puts you in the driver's seat to
at least I think be a more attractive destination if you're willing to give the
full mid level to one player. I don't know, you know, I
don't know. We can now would be a good time to get into targets
for them. I still think they could use some extra shooting. I think
you could stand to have some extra wing depth. I know you have Danny
Avia and Kyle Kuzma, but you need sort of that smaller, really feisty
wing defender. Now that KCP has gone, Monte Morris can be fine.
He's not a wing. Will Barton is more of a swing man and he's
had some good moments defensively, but he's not KCP. Is just my point
there, Guys like Daniel House and these aren't names that I think would command
the full mid level, which his names is keeping Guys like Daniel House a
mere coffee, I think is a sneaky good free agent. I would say
specifically maybe Caleb Martin or even either Martin Twin, but definitely to fill that
KCP roll a little bit in smaller volume because they they don't have like that
natural microwave instinct to their offensive games. They're super accessory, but that can
be valuable if you're putting the ball on everyone else's hands or just want some
spot different roles without KCP. I do wonder if this is a sneaky good
victory Ladipo destination, more secondary passing, and then just the ability of someone
else to create his own shot, really shoot well enough from beyond the arc
that does seem to come and go. But he gives you some you know,
even now, probably more raw rim pressure then you're gonna get from a
lot of your other guys. That includes a Will Barton and Monte Morris,
who, by the way, I can't remember if I mentioned this, Slady
Monte Morrison one of the best mid rang shooters in the NBA. So they
just there are now levels to Washington's offense, especially if you believe in how
well Chris Stops porzingis played here last year. Another name that would be interesting
is They. I think people believe they Taias Jones is out of the running
because they have Monte Morris. Now I would probably agree if he was willing
just to sign for the Nontax player's mid level. That just feels like smart
business to have that type of player there. But you could get a little
smaller in the back court. Are you ever gonna play Taias and Monte Morris
and Bradley bel together? Probably not. I mean you could, I just
don't know how good defensively you would wind up being in those situations, as
good as Tis Jones and Monte Morris can be in their own perspective. Roles.
Gary Harris could be an option again, smaller, not that long,
but very complimentary. Feiston d shot well from three last season and then even
shot well on drive nearly fifty percent. They could go to Bruce Brown route
as well, another smaller guy who could defend up who really intrigues me for
this team now and maybe again, if you don't want to give the mid
level exception to Tias Jones, maybe you don't want to give half or more
of the mid level exception to this guy. But Gary Payton is second feels
like he would make a lot of sense if you believe in his three point
clip. He hit like thirty six percent of his spot up threes last year.
If you believe in that from him, there's a chance that his point
of attack defense and just as general defense where he can defend up to threes
really and then you can also use him as a cutter even a screener on
offense. Again, you then are investing in some smaller players. With that
being said, it just feels like such a fit now, especially without KCP
there, So that would be another name I think is worth keeping an eye
on. You could go, I think you have enough shooting out of where
defense is just going to be the bigger need, even though if there were
stretches last year, long stretches in which I thought the Wizards overachieved non defense
relative to their personnel, and so they could maybe bank on being a league
average or better defense again this year by just having the current personnel in place.
Implicitly, though, by resigning Bradley Beal, you are obligated to continue
to go for it, and so there's not even a question go ahead,
use full non tax payramid level. It's just how do you want to prioritize
it? And so Gary Payton a second feels like it might straddle a few
interesting lines there. But I do love the idea of a Victor Roladipo in
Washington now. I also do wonder how act if this team will be in
the trademarket if you are going to resign Bradley beal also, by the way,
they could go like if we want to talk lower scale options like or
not lower scale, but Kyl Anderson not going to provide a lot of shooting,
but gives you passing and then multi position defense here not really a point
of attack guy, though, if you're looking for someone to kind of pick
up the load from KCP. And I don't know if the non tax payment
level is enough to get a Memphis, I think it actually might be just
keeping what you know, the emergence of Desmond Baines, I R. Williams,
JAKEL. Rabia being taken in the draft, and so on and so
forth. They could also maybe look at you know, Deck Jones Junior kind
of more of like a big or like a four like, but defensively,
he can play anywhere and he's going to compromise your spacing. But if you're
looking to prioritize defense in that regard, I probably wouldn't go the big man
route. You have Gaffer, you have Chris stops Porzingis. You could bring
back, I would imagine for fairly affordable if you wanted to, you could
bring back Thomas Bryant. Do you want to give Vernon carry a shot here
as well, so I wouldn't go that route. I guess I wouldn't be
opposed if you wanted to skew someone who's more of like a four, but
just having the Denny Avia Kyle, who's my set up? Like? Those
feel like really good, like three four options, however you want to classify
them there, and I would look for those like either pure wings or just
the two three guys like again KCP who could also defend the point guard spot,
and I really I'm just in love with the idea of Gary Payton a
second there. Victor Oladipo would certainly be just this bigger swing. With all
of that said, I don't think what the Wizards did precluded them from going
out and trying to find Tejing Woarn's another name, by the way, I
could mention him for every team that would make sense in Washington if he's I
don't know how much he's gonna cost coming off, how much time he's missed,
but he's damn good player as well, and my under the radar ones
by the way, I just want to reiterate, keep an Eyem your coffee
and Caleb or Cody Martin wherever those guys land Day were sneaky high impact players
this past season. The last thing I'll say on the Wizards is I'm very
high on what they've done on the off season so far. Even if you
don't agree that they should be bringing back Bradley Beal to that point really quickly.
If you don't think they should have been bringing back Bradley Beal, you
don't like, you don't make that decision now. You should have moved him
when there's actual time on his contract rather than getting into signed and trade scenario.
So Bradleyal wants to be in Washington, Washington wants him. There's nothing
wrong with that. I'm totally cool with it. You're still not you still
have an obligation. I have to kind of sniff around the point guard market
when looking at trades just to get an actual floor general in here. And
there's definitely needs to be someone different than the John Wall of Russell Westbrook type,
even as Spencer did what it needs to be someone who's more natural at
playing away from the ball, and even the Wizards meant were tangentially mentioned to
de Geant Murray, I like that defensively, and he has played without the
ball in San Antonio in the past, but you're still looking at someone who
works predominantly inside the arc, and to give up the equity would take to
acquire him, I wouldn't love it. And so I like the idea of
Monty Morris next to Bradley Beal on offense more than I like de Jan tay
Murray next to Bradley Beal defensively. It's not a contest, obviously, And
when you do look at the trade market, the issue becomes okay, well,
like what type of those point guards are available? And the answer is
that they're not. And I do what the Wizards have done just getting a
little bit more expensive expiring salary in Will Barton is that they could drum up
their potential turn. But what if they're interested in a Terry Rosier. Should
Charlotte be looking to cut payroll? There's like you've already gone the Spence Dinwity
route. So do not that's not gonna be touched to ten foot pole.
You look at maybe consider signing Dennis Shrewder if he falls through the cracks and
it's costing you the minimum or like even just the fraction of the mid level
slash the bi annual, which is the other thing that they could use.
By the way, I don't believe they used it this past season, but
they have enough room below the apron to where, yeah, they didn't use
it, lessie, So they have the bi annual as well. That really
opens the door for them to like, like what if t J. Warren
is just taking the biannd, Like what if that's what that guy culture?
What if you even make get Daniel House there, Like that's just really good
value. And so I'd like to see them do something like that. Maybe
do you try and be the team that's like, hey, Ricky Rubio,
we know you're not gonna play until the middle of the year, but will
you take the bi annual? Will not the best, cleanest fit long fra
they be able, but someone who could really manage the game for you.
Don't love it, but it's cheap enough why not consider it. I don't
view this as a D'Angelo Russell's trade destination. If Minnesota goes that route,
they would probably want Kuzma in that trade. I'm not giving up Kuzma for
D'Angelo Russell. That's just the state of affairs here. I think Kuzma is
more of a desire archetype asset to Washington. Could they could still look at
DeVante Graham maybe if they're trying to reboot assets. That's someone I imagine doesn't
cost you any real asset equity. You're not giving up Monte Morris. You're
not giving up to any Avdia in that deal. You're not giving up you
know, I mean, Christops makes too much anyway, but you're not giving
up a primo asset in there. The most I think you would have to
go, and I do think. Look, I exist outside the Wizard's bubble,
so I understand that there are a Wizards fan who've seen more games than
I have. I'm not that high on Ruby hatch Moore, but that feels
like the highest cost it would take is Ruby Hachimura, and I think that
actually might be enough to do it. Looking at the Washington's caps, it's
where it would work. But Ruy Hatchmore and salary Filler, that would be
like the highest. It feels like you would need to go because you're trying
to reboot DeVante Graham's stock at this point, and he might. He's going
to be considered overpaid at two years and twenty three point seven million guaranteed two
point eight million, then partial guarantee in the third year of his deal,
So he has close to thirty million guaranteed over excuse me, close to about
twenty five twenty six million guaranteed technically over the next two seasons. But you
do have control over him if it works out in that third season. My
point is he should be super affordable. Could this be a Derrick Rose team
after the Knicks traded for Jalen Brunson. I don't know how much I would
give up for him, aside from like trying to match salary. Would you
want to give up Wilbarton for Derrick Rose if you're Washington, I might argue
that you don't. But there is a team option on Rose, so he's
next year, so he's functionally an expiring contract as well. That is certainly
something that that they could look at. I thought about just depending on what
Orlando was trying to do. What about Mark el Foltz for this team,
It would be like if you took it's like sort of a worse offensive fit
than de Jontay Murray but with a lot of the same side defensive benefits.
That would just be something to look at. Again, I don't love the
offensive fit there. Could you just take a flyer on Cameron Payne? I
don't. He doesn't currently fit into any of your trade exceptions, But again,
what does that? Does it really cost you that much to get him
in the first place, aside from just triguing out how to match salary.
So those are names I think that would be worth keeping an eye on.
I really did kind of like the idea of Mike Conley here a little bit.
I just think when you look at Washington's best matching salary, they're probably
all too valuable to include in a Mike Conley trade, knowing that he has
the huge guarantee he's guaranteed this season, and the huge guarantee it's more than
five percent of his contract the following season, his age, and so I
think if you're Washington, you'd prefer the flexibility rather than going like, let's
say Will Barton and to pick your salary filler from there, is it?
I think it is Rube hutch More in that situation. Do youve you Ruby
hutch Moore a salary filler? I have a feel a Wizards view them slightly
higher than that, if not a lot higher than that. Might be a
name though to keep an eye on. If Utah decides to blow it up,
they could go for even like a you know, maybe even Alec Burk's
type if Detroit is looking to move on from him again, not a point
guard, but someone else who could generate the thrown shot. And so why
not just drown your roster and secondary playmakers. I think I have gone long
enough on the Wizards. Though I thought it was a great I thought it
was a good trade for them. I love the Monte Morris fit there,
and you still have all these options moving forward. I'm a lot higher on
their off season and what they can do. I think a lot of other
people are so many just you just Bradley Bule exceptions them consigning themselves to mediocrity,
and I just I really don't think it's that. Even if you don't
love the deal, even if you're disappointed with how he played last season,
they're not tethered to any direction right now, like this isn't the Lakers with
Russell Westbrook and that type of non option. They have so much flexibility on
the rest of their books to make trades right now, to make some impact
signings right now that aren't going to hamstring their books because they're gonna be for
salary cap EXE exceptions. They could wait and sort of straddle this line where
it's they wait and see what they have next season, then they figure out
how to use that flexibility. Do they need to ever revisit the Bradley Beal
situation over the next year or two, They can do that as well.
I think they're they're not in the best situation, the most amiable position in
the NBA, But I even like the Johnny Davis idea here, and maybe
that was part of the KCP calculus by the way, moving him and thinking
that that's someone who is going to be able to play an immediate role for
you, which I wouldn't, you know, he's twenty six four. Like
that's just like kind of a similar build there to KCP. But I am
more optimistic about the Wizards, both in the short term and long term,
and I think a lot of other people are and I'm I'm fascinated to see
where they're offseason heads next. If this is your first time listening to this
podcast, please consider throwing us a permanent subscription on YouTube wherever you get your
podcast. We really do exhaust ourselves trying to cover the entire MBA. I
re recorded the Southeast Division look by myself because we didn't want to just give
you data information. I ended up going about ten minutes longer we were supposed
to do ten to twelve minutes on this team. This was a fascinating trade
by the Wizards. Again great review. Subscribe to hard We're not Forever get
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description until next time and like always, if you get the shout out to
one the only Frankie Kna