1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,039 What is krack alagin hardwe Not's listeners, I am Damn Valley coming out you 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,160 once more without my fantabulous co host Adam Cromwell. I am, however, 3 00:00:12,599 --> 00:00:17,960 pleased to be joined by Paul Garcia. He covers the Spurs for Projects Spurs. 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,399 He's also the host of the Spurs Cast. Follow him on Twitter at 5 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,719 Paul Garcia MBA. As you might have guess, we're gonna be talking about 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,519 the San Antonio Spurs. Truly a fascinating team heading into this year, given 7 00:00:28,519 --> 00:00:32,520 everything that happened over the off season and also how they're tangentially. I guess 8 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,399 you would put it linked to the Ben Simmons sweepstakes in Philadelphia, or soap 9 00:00:36,439 --> 00:00:40,679 opera in Philadelphia, whatever you're calling that these days. Our conversation was great 10 00:00:40,719 --> 00:00:45,320 and also highly efficient. Paul dropped like fifty points here on a perfect fourteen 11 00:00:45,359 --> 00:00:48,079 of fourteen shooting, or something fifty points on twelve shots, whatever you want 12 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:51,399 to call it, So you're gonna enjoy that, I am sure. Before 13 00:00:51,399 --> 00:00:55,200 we get started, just our usual housekeeping notes. Please please, pretty please 14 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,799 continue rating, reviewing, and subscribing to us wherever you get your podcasts. 15 00:00:59,039 --> 00:01:02,960 That helps us out ton in the charts and moving forward. It also helps 16 00:01:03,039 --> 00:01:06,439 us whether or not you use iTunes. If you go over to iTunes search 17 00:01:06,519 --> 00:01:10,879 Hardwood Knox, throw us that five star rating writer review, include criticism if 18 00:01:10,879 --> 00:01:11,879 you must, that is totally fine. We'll take it to heart. Just 19 00:01:11,879 --> 00:01:15,680 throw us that five star rating. That also helps us out a crap ton 20 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,959 into the charts as well. Finally, if you stumbled onto us for the 21 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,840 first time, maybe by accident or because you're a diehard Spurs fan, or 22 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,879 because you're a religious follower of Paul Garcia's content, hello, welcome. Consider 23 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,840 throwing us that permanent subscription. We cover the entire league at large, and 24 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:36,840 we are pleasantly sub mediocre. Follow us on Twitter as well at hardware Knox. 25 00:01:36,879 --> 00:01:38,040 You can also find us on YouTube. Go to YouTube dot com search 26 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:42,040 hardwa Knox. We will pop up. We are also on Instagram at Hardwood 27 00:01:42,079 --> 00:01:46,719 Underscore Knox. Now that the housekeeping notes are out of the way, let's 28 00:01:46,719 --> 00:01:53,000 get into some deep san Antonio Spurs talk with Paul Garcia. Paul, thank 29 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,040 you so much for coming back on the Hardwoo Knox podcast to talk some San 30 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,359 Antonio Spurs with us. I keep a spreadsheet of the guests that I've had 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:00,840 on and how many times they've been. This is your fourth appearance, and 32 00:02:00,879 --> 00:02:05,799 this is the third time we've done the Spurs look Ahead, So thank you 33 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,879 for returning so often to talk about San Antonio basketball with us. First and 34 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,960 foremost, though, how are you doing? I'm doing well? You know. 35 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,319 Actually I didn't realize this is a time the fourth time. Now. 36 00:02:15,319 --> 00:02:16,439 I thought it was like like second or third. But yeah, I'm really 37 00:02:16,439 --> 00:02:21,159 glad. It's always a fun conversation to have. The season approaches. The 38 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,960 Spurs this year, I think are still confusing, kind of like they were 39 00:02:24,039 --> 00:02:28,400 last year. But it does seem like what they did this off season was 40 00:02:28,439 --> 00:02:32,680 cannonball more into a youth leaning movement, which I think is something you know, 41 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,400 you always have the national analysts or just people who are moved from San 42 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,800 Antonio who called for that. But it feels like the fans might actually be 43 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,800 relieved that this is finally direct the direction that they're going in. Yeah, 44 00:02:43,879 --> 00:02:45,840 no, for sure, you know, with the team, you know, 45 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,960 letting go of letting Demartaros and Patty Mills, Rudy Gay I'll walk away in 46 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,919 free agency. They have shifted to that tour that youth movement. This is 47 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:53,080 something that, like you said, the fans have wanted for a long time. 48 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,800 You hear, you know, their their complaints during the season of you 49 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,280 know, let let Dejunty take all the pick and rolls, like Kelton take 50 00:02:59,319 --> 00:03:00,759 doom more on offense, and all these different complaints and now all of a 51 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,759 sudden, here we go, this is it. This this team, this 52 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:07,159 is that the unit that Pops giving throwing out there. And there's not many 53 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,840 veterans left on this team, and so those young guys are going to be 54 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:12,319 responsible. So now when the fans get upset, it's gonna have to be 55 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,080 with with these young players that are developing, you know, in their early 56 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,360 twenties. And see, you know, they're gonna have to to live with 57 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:21,479 those mistakes. And see as this team goes along, is it are they 58 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,360 still sort of trying to straddle two timelines when you look at the McDermott contract, 59 00:03:25,439 --> 00:03:30,759 just having Pop there and just I mean even the age of you know, 60 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:32,520 I don't call it. We can't call Jante Murray and Derek White prospects 61 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,439 anymore, like they're they're on their second contracts, Like these are just really 62 00:03:36,439 --> 00:03:39,560 good players. So are they still sort of trying to straddle two timelines a 63 00:03:39,599 --> 00:03:43,800 little bit. Yeah, they're kind of in in both both of those modes 64 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,039 where you know, at best, you know, they're trying to get into 65 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:49,039 that you know, staying that that playoffs, that playing game realm uh, 66 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,919 you know, maybe finishing towards the later part of the Western Conference. But 67 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,719 at worst, you know, if things go south with an all of a 68 00:03:53,719 --> 00:03:55,319 sudden, you've got you've got a top five lottery type team. Here are 69 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,479 top ten lottery team if things don't go well. And yeah, so it's 70 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:00,759 kind of like they're really just trying to see, you know, what can 71 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,080 these young guys Derek White, John t Murray, Kelton Johnson, these guys 72 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,280 all you know, pop and turn into and then they have some veteran presence 73 00:04:08,319 --> 00:04:10,599 there, you know, guys like like Doug McDermot, who they brought in 74 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:14,599 some shooting Britt Forbes. So just kind of bringing in pieces around those guys 75 00:04:14,599 --> 00:04:16,360 to really let them try to flourish and see what can they turn into? 76 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:19,079 Are these going to be real players down down the road here that maybe turn 77 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,279 into an Allstar down the road or not. You know, they'll get that 78 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:26,360 chance this coming season. Fun Britton Forbes facts for our listeners in case they 79 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,560 didn't know, he led the NBA in points per shot last year. So 80 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,240 just talk about some microwave offense there. You sort of mentioned this already. 81 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,199 Is when you look at if the Spurs are rebuilding, retooling, playing for 82 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:41,199 the future, whatever it is, I don't know that they have that obvious 83 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,879 mystery box star level you want to call them prospect or young player who is 84 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,600 most likely on this team to make that seize MC leap where maybe we don't 85 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:53,360 say that's a future All Star, but at least sort of gives their rebuild 86 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,040 a direction, a starting point, a fulcrum, if you will. I 87 00:04:57,079 --> 00:04:59,639 would say, we just say opportunities they're gonna get the season, it's gonna 88 00:04:59,639 --> 00:05:01,639 be j Murray or Derrik White because they're both gonna get those opportunities. They're 89 00:05:01,639 --> 00:05:03,639 going to play together. But then they're also going to get to, you 90 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,959 know, really be in charge of the offense a lot of the times. 91 00:05:06,079 --> 00:05:10,279 And if it's not one of those two players, then they have Calton Johnson 92 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,439 Lonnie Walker the fourth then also Devon Vassell. I really feel like that Devin 93 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,680 Vassell had a really strong summer league but then now that he's back with the 94 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,480 San Antonio team, just based on one preseason game against one, it's one 95 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:21,120 game. He's got all those other guards and like premier players aroun him, 96 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,319 who get more opportunities before him. So maybe that's why I wouldn't say Devin 97 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,439 as my safe answer. But again I think de Jontay, Derek White and 98 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,199 then maybe even Calton. Are those three players like maybe one of them turns 99 00:05:30,199 --> 00:05:34,399 into to something that, you know, an impactful player down the road from 100 00:05:34,399 --> 00:05:38,879 ten thousand miles out. I agree with you. I would give up some 101 00:05:38,959 --> 00:05:42,160 of my fingers though, if we could see Devin Vassell just get a crack 102 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,959 at more of that type of volume. But look, Demarta Rozen's gone, 103 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,600 even having Patty Mill's gone, are they just officially turning the keys over to 104 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,399 de Jonta Murray on offense? And what do you think? You know, 105 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,319 what do you think he needs to improve upon most in that higher profile role? 106 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,759 And he did quietly have for you know this, our listeners. He 107 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,920 had a really good year last season. Defense was still excellent, and I 108 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:08,480 thought he showed progress on offense where no, he's not this knockdown jump shooter, 109 00:06:08,519 --> 00:06:10,800 but he seems willing to take them, and I trust him. He 110 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:14,160 seems less predictable with the ball in his hands in the half court. I 111 00:06:14,199 --> 00:06:17,120 am curious to see though, just what that looks like in a higher profile 112 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,199 role. Yeah, I think it's going to really be on him to see. 113 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,879 You know, what does he turned into on offense, especially the scoring 114 00:06:23,879 --> 00:06:26,240 wise. We know he still has amitterings jumper that he likes to go to. 115 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,160 He was more aggressive, and again it's just one preseason game. In 116 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,800 that first preseason game, he was really good about attacking and really settling in 117 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:33,839 at the third quarter. He kind of took over in that third quarter and 118 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,160 he ended up with seventeen points in the night. I'm being being one of 119 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,639 the leading scores for the team. And again it all came quickly there in 120 00:06:40,639 --> 00:06:43,160 the third quarter. We also know that he has that potential to basically like 121 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,959 put up stats. He had a multiple triple doubles last year. He's really 122 00:06:46,959 --> 00:06:49,439 gone on the defensive board and getting in ending possessions for the defense, and 123 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:51,959 like you mentioned, you know, setting up teammates and also on just his 124 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,279 individual defenses is really good too. So I really feel like, yes, 125 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,120 let's see, let's see exactly now with the with basically like the offensive his 126 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,279 hands to see, you know, how does he handle that with with you 127 00:07:02,319 --> 00:07:04,639 know, with driving, with getting the scoring, you know, with the 128 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,480 rose and gone, and especially if Derek White's Nott doesn't have it going for 129 00:07:08,519 --> 00:07:12,800 a night, I automatically think this is the season We're gonna get to see 130 00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:15,879 more of Murray and Derek White play together. But then I'm like, okay, 131 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:16,800 well De Rosen and Patty Mills are gone, so if they're going to 132 00:07:16,839 --> 00:07:19,079 be even more of an effort to stagger with them, or do we finally 133 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:23,279 get to see what these two might be able to do it together? So 134 00:07:23,319 --> 00:07:26,639 I think that Coach Pop's first priests the game, showing how he used both 135 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,120 players was really interesting. So he started both them for for a few minutes 136 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:31,360 till the first six minutes, like the Spurs normally do with their starters, 137 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,000 and then all of a sudden, he took out de john T pretty early 138 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,680 and then he let Derek White stay with the second unit. Then when Derek 139 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,000 White need a break, he brought john T back in. So so we 140 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,480 did see the initial staggering that could be because Tray Jones is out right now 141 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,160 he's out with them a left ankle spring to start the preseason. But again, 142 00:07:46,279 --> 00:07:48,720 like if he doesn't trust coach Pop, doesn't trust Tray Jones, and 143 00:07:48,759 --> 00:07:50,560 you know, and they they don't really have a backup point gard Maybe they 144 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,759 don't want to give the ball to Josh Prema just yet. Well then I 145 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,600 could see him continue that staggering route. But they'll still get you know, 146 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,519 those first six minutes of the first quarter and third quarter together on Tan Derek 147 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,560 White. Yeah, it's you know, it's interesting because I look at this 148 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:07,920 roster and I'm wondering, is the lack of I think you could say playmaking 149 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,639 in general or just table setters like their biggest weakness right now and you already 150 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,560 kind of you know, stepped on it. This doubles as my is. 151 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,240 You know, Trey Jones when he's healthy, is he going to get minutes 152 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:22,319 because he had a hell of a summer league himself. Yeah, that's that's 153 00:08:22,319 --> 00:08:24,759 an interesting question. Again, we'll see. Right now, he has heard 154 00:08:24,759 --> 00:08:28,240 it. I know that even for this their second preseason, giving it's Detroit, 155 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,240 he's on the injured list. His listen is doubtful, but we will 156 00:08:31,279 --> 00:08:33,559 see because I mean that was he was kind of like through it through a 157 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,559 wrench in the rotations because of how well he played it at Summer League. 158 00:08:35,639 --> 00:08:37,600 You know, if he's able to put up those kind of numbers and just 159 00:08:37,639 --> 00:08:41,519 that kind of composure at summer League, they're hoping that he can take this 160 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,360 into the season and become that that backup point guard now that Patty Mills is 161 00:08:43,399 --> 00:08:46,200 officially gone. I know he plays a different role than Patty, but yeah, 162 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,840 like, if if Trey's not ready, then coach Pop doesn't see see 163 00:08:48,879 --> 00:08:52,120 him ready to have an increased load workload, then I think that, yeah, 164 00:08:52,399 --> 00:08:56,039 you could see more of the staggery between John Ty and Derek White, 165 00:08:56,919 --> 00:09:00,480 the hopping around on the at line. I saying you hear because you've Josh 166 00:09:00,519 --> 00:09:03,799 Primo already based off what we saw at the Draft combine and then one preseason 167 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,279 game I watched. Did not watch the game. I watched just the Josh 168 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:09,200 Premo highlights. There is so much that it seems like he can do with 169 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:13,320 the ball in his hand, And so I'm wondering if one, what intrigues 170 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,279 you most about his game? And two I guess is he sort of the 171 00:09:18,279 --> 00:09:20,080 barometer for how committed they are to this youth movement, because I think in 172 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,600 a normal year he really wouldn't get that much minutes with the regular club. 173 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,679 Yeah, no, no, you're you're right. I mean just I would 174 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,919 say, honestly, like in terms of shot creativity and potential with off the 175 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,600 dribble kind of shots, he's already like like not not in terms of like 176 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:35,639 accuracy, he's not. He's not there yet, but he's going to be 177 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,360 down the road one of the one of the top players on this team already, 178 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,960 who can who can make difficult shots, who has that potential to really 179 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,279 just throw in you know, you know, you know, I'm crossovers into 180 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,519 into step back jumpers and things like that, and just shooting naturally off off 181 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,279 pick and rolls. He showed that already this first preseason game. He showed 182 00:09:50,279 --> 00:09:52,080 some of that as well in the summer league. So yeah, I think 183 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,720 that he's kind of he's kind of throwing the coaching stuff off a little bit 184 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,519 here where they didn't expect him to play so well so early on. Especially 185 00:09:58,519 --> 00:10:00,919 again it's just one preseason game, but just the way he plays, he's 186 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,200 gonna have to make them start questioning, you know, do we send him 187 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,799 down to Austin, which it should be the normal route for a Spurs rookie. 188 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,720 But then also if this team just isn't very good, you know, 189 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,480 where they really struggle, maybe they could because because just looking at their schedule, 190 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,840 I mean on paper, you would you might expect them to go maybe 191 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:16,919 like two and twelve at one point or four and fourteen really early on. 192 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,639 If things don't go well, If that does happen, you know, why 193 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,960 not just go into full rebuild mode and let Primo start getting real NBA minutes 194 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,559 against you know, quality opponents rather than sending him to the G league route 195 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,240 if the team again that's only in the case that the team isn't struggling, 196 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,159 but but again, if he plays like this throughout the preseason, where he's 197 00:10:31,519 --> 00:10:35,399 showing some of these these impactful performances, but then I really think that it's 198 00:10:35,399 --> 00:10:37,600 going to really make the coaching staff really question, you know, do we 199 00:10:37,639 --> 00:10:41,919 send him to the traditional rookie route or do they start giving him some minutes 200 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:46,159 now? And I was also wondering if maybe a coaching staff would be open 201 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,120 to being let's say, more experimental, not because of the direction that Spurs 202 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,320 are headed in, but just you know, when you look at the half 203 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,360 court offense without Damarduroz in last year, like the numbers on that are disgusting, 204 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,879 like they were bad, And so I don't know that there's a clear 205 00:10:58,919 --> 00:11:01,080 cut answer, And I my initial thought was like, you know, maybe 206 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,919 just trying, you know, maybe see what goes on, what's happening with 207 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,759 Trey Jones or Jush for just to see if it helps at all, because 208 00:11:07,759 --> 00:11:09,399 you still need that. Yeah, you have Murray, you have White, 209 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:13,440 But I guess unless you're expecting like a Lottie Walker or Kelton Johnson or Devin 210 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,679 Misselda to pop or do a lot more with the ball in their hands, 211 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,879 depending on which player are talking about, it feels like this team should be 212 00:11:20,879 --> 00:11:24,720 built to get weird or at least really indulge self discovery no matter what they're 213 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,559 trying to do. Yeah, and I think I think they know that's gonna 214 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,960 be probably one of their weaknesses as half court offense, you know, creating 215 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,960 when when a defensively locks them down. So I think that's why they've shifted 216 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,679 their focus this coming coming get to training campus. They've been talking about coach 217 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,039 Pops as as the players that they just really want to play fast, use 218 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:43,399 their speeding athleticism to their advantage. So so you saw that in their pace, 219 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,639 you know that they were really pushing the ball up the floor after every 220 00:11:46,639 --> 00:11:50,120 possession. And then also they're going to really rely on something that they talked 221 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,720 about last night is they're gonna rely on their defense to really create offense for 222 00:11:52,759 --> 00:11:54,960 them, and they need that. They basically need to get stops and create 223 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,360 you know, havoc on the defensive end so that they can get out in 224 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,799 the open court and use a lot of these these young athletes. I'm out 225 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,200 there in the open court because yes, once a team gets into their half 226 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,559 court offense, I mean, and their half court defense and really buckles down 227 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,240 on San Antonio, you do see where where they did struggle even even though 228 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:09,279 the Jazz were missing multiple, you know, core players in this preseason game. 229 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:13,120 You saw that when it really got to a you know, a more 230 00:12:13,159 --> 00:12:15,639 half court oriented game, with like fourteen seconds left of the shot clock, 231 00:12:15,799 --> 00:12:18,000 San Antonio did struggle. You know, they were trying to run their sets 232 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,279 and they really weren't going anywhere. And so I think, again, that's 233 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,000 are you gonna They're gonna really miss the rosen And that's why they got to 234 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,879 continue to push the pace and try to, you know, avoid letting a 235 00:12:24,919 --> 00:12:28,679 defense get set up like how they want to. It's also real to hear 236 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,039 Pop talking about that. I know the Spurs in more recent years, like 237 00:12:31,039 --> 00:12:33,120 they've had certain lineups that really just get after it up and down the floor, 238 00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:37,200 but they've always just been built on such like this methodical, deliberate approach. 239 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:41,440 And it's there's just something surreal about going into the preseason hearing Pop talk 240 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,000 about like their identity needs to be like this frenetic pace. It's just I 241 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,720 don't know, it feels, it feels it's kind of awesome, but it's 242 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,600 just it's like an outer body experience for me looking so far outside the picture. 243 00:12:52,399 --> 00:12:54,799 Yeah, I mean you mentioned experimental and that's kind of what it feels 244 00:12:54,799 --> 00:12:56,639 like already. I mean, I don't again, I can't, Like I've 245 00:12:56,639 --> 00:13:00,320 talked about this on a few podcasts where I just don't feel like Hops have 246 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,679 ever been in this situation where you know, the expectations aren't champion, championship 247 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,799 or bus so you know, and then it's also where you know there's just 248 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,759 really no a lot, not a lot of brometers for this team to have 249 00:13:09,799 --> 00:13:11,039 to set. So you see him being more experimental, like like you said, 250 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,679 on offense, you know, wanting to go fast, and then even 251 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,240 saw this in the one preseason game, he's already experimenting like crazy, where 252 00:13:16,279 --> 00:13:18,600 he's already like throwing in a half court trap and stuff like I think he 253 00:13:18,639 --> 00:13:22,559 just likes the fact that like there's not like a go to player on this 254 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,440 team on offense, but then on defense he can basically because they are all 255 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,399 these players are so switchy and you know they're all along in athletic he can 256 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,519 basically, you know, have different schemes, whether it's his zone for a 257 00:13:30,519 --> 00:13:33,000 possession or throwing in a half court trap or just different things with their energy 258 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,480 and just taking a little bit more risk and gambles and just seeing what you 259 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,600 know, this team turns into. I think that even for Pop, he's 260 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:41,440 very excited. Just looking at his mood and his tone coming into this season. 261 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,960 That's awesome because I think there's that when you just look at his age, 262 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,480 there's not a two ways that could go. This team could frustrate the 263 00:13:46,519 --> 00:13:50,360 hell out of him, or he could just go full mad scientist and lean 264 00:13:50,399 --> 00:13:52,679 into it. And so I'm just really hoping it's the ladder. Yeah, 265 00:13:52,759 --> 00:13:54,200 so okay, we'll see they end up like two and twelve that it could 266 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,440 change. I went back and watched a lot of Kelvin Johnson towards the end 267 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,200 of last season because I think like he was just one of the players that 268 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,120 I feel like, not that I passed judgment on too soon, but you 269 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,919 think that you know what he was and he was. People have just described 270 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,399 like he seemed to thrive on this chaotic energy. Towards the end of the 271 00:14:11,399 --> 00:14:13,000 season, it felt like there was just a little bit more finesse or change 272 00:14:13,039 --> 00:14:18,360 in direction to his game offensively, and I'm just wondering, like, what 273 00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:22,279 do you view as the best version of Kelvin Johnson offensively or maybe even what 274 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:26,000 type of opportunity do you think he's going to get on this specific roster construction 275 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,600 offensively? Is there a more dynamic player long term than we saw last season 276 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,919 on that side of the floor. Yeah, I think we're gonna see exactly, 277 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:35,720 you know, what can you turn into, especially in the A half, 278 00:14:35,919 --> 00:14:37,759 because that's where he kind of struggles. You know, we saw that 279 00:14:37,759 --> 00:14:41,200 if you if you watch tape from last year, you'll see that he was 280 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,279 he was very good about being aggressive, getting to the free to line, 281 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:46,639 get into the pain and scoring early on from like December to about February. 282 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:48,600 But then by like February, teams kind of figured him out. They know 283 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,240 that all he wants to do is score inside, so they purposely started backing 284 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,320 away off the three point line. And then of course he struggled a little 285 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,600 bit because people, you know, defenders are just leaving wide open and they 286 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,000 congested the lane for him. So he definitely said that he's wanted to work 287 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,360 on his shot. His strug looks a little bit different right now in preseason. 288 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,759 It's a little bit quicker, and he wasn't shy about taking them. 289 00:15:03,799 --> 00:15:07,200 He didn't make any last night in this first preseason game. But one thing 290 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,919 that was interesting to watch that you see from the coaching staff is that he 291 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,519 was getting a chance to run multiple pick and rolls where if Calton brings the 292 00:15:13,559 --> 00:15:16,399 ball down, he right away calls for a screen for Yakapotle set a screen 293 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,000 or Doug McDermott to set a screen for him. And so you've got to 294 00:15:18,039 --> 00:15:22,440 see more opportunity to create now, not again, not just Derek and de 295 00:15:22,519 --> 00:15:26,039 Jaunty, but now Kelton is also getting that opportunity. So again I don't 296 00:15:26,039 --> 00:15:28,360 know exactly how far he's gonna go in that and that, you know, 297 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,080 being an offensive player in the half court, But again I think that that's 298 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,879 it's good to see that the coaching staff wants to see how much can he 299 00:15:33,919 --> 00:15:37,240 development into that type of role. I think it's it'll definitely help him be 300 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,240 if his jumpers not working. That's he's just seemed again as the year went 301 00:15:39,279 --> 00:15:43,279 on, more comfortable, like spinning or changing directions a little bit as he 302 00:15:43,279 --> 00:15:46,120 got closer to the basket, even if the end result wasn't always great. 303 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,399 But I feel like if you wanted him to be in that sort of pick 304 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:52,200 and roll capacity in the half court, like, there's gonna need to be 305 00:15:52,279 --> 00:15:56,000 some progress, whether it's a pull up jumper or at least like where defenses 306 00:15:56,039 --> 00:15:58,840 are worried about him stepping into even if it takes forever for him to own 307 00:16:00,039 --> 00:16:03,559 work at three or even just as a spot up shooter, improving his percentages 308 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,399 on those looks. Yeah, for sure. I think that's that's the big 309 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:07,600 one right now that I'm watching is the spot up shooting. You know, 310 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:11,000 how is he going to be when when he's left wide open, and so 311 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:14,320 again we'll kind of well see what happens there. I have no idea what 312 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,759 to make of Lonnie Walker. I just don't like, We're three years into 313 00:16:17,799 --> 00:16:19,360 his career and I'm not sure I've seen We've seen like the highs, we've 314 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,480 seen the lows, we've seen the middles. His career has been so on 315 00:16:22,679 --> 00:16:26,240 even what is the biggest aspect of his game that he needs to work on 316 00:16:26,799 --> 00:16:30,200 to ensure that he's a part of this team long term? He is extension 317 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,919 eligible, Yeah, I personally would be a little bit surprised if he ended 318 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,480 up getting one, which is why I'm framing the question that way. Yeah, 319 00:16:37,639 --> 00:16:38,639 No, You're You're right, And I think that the biggest thing that 320 00:16:38,639 --> 00:16:41,720 he needs to work on it. I think that that's been the same case 321 00:16:41,759 --> 00:16:45,559 for Lonnie is consistency. I mean, he has these these these these crazy 322 00:16:45,639 --> 00:16:48,279 nets would put up twenty two, twenty five points and just look like you 323 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:49,639 know, he can he can he can drive on a defense in the pick 324 00:16:49,639 --> 00:16:52,440 and roll, he can go, you know, just go coast to coast 325 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,000 on a team. He can shoot. He can make threes, whether it's 326 00:16:55,039 --> 00:16:56,919 off the drib or spot up action. But then and you know, and 327 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,399 some some nights you say okay with maybe because Rosen was out or somebody was 328 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,919 out of the rotation, so he got more opportunity. But then there's games 329 00:17:03,919 --> 00:17:06,359 where like the Rosen was out or you know, somebody was hurt and all 330 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:07,279 of a sudden he got to start, and he still only put up maybe 331 00:17:07,279 --> 00:17:10,759 like six points in the games. And so again it's just that consistency where 332 00:17:10,799 --> 00:17:12,920 he's never been consistent. Again, last night, in this first preseason game, 333 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,319 he looked really good. You know, he took like a crossover and 334 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,359 then just made made a three. He was driving in and kicking to teammates. 335 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:22,720 Defensively, he was really active. I'm really getting doing a great job 336 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,000 of moving his feet and getting in front of the opponents. But again, 337 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:26,759 you know, is this going to care him to the second game and then 338 00:17:26,799 --> 00:17:29,680 the third game? And that's kind of been the question of Lonnie, is 339 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:33,119 that he's had these he's had these these signs before of being this you know, 340 00:17:33,279 --> 00:17:37,960 this player at another level, but he never consistently brings forth those performances. 341 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,319 And so, yeah, you're right, you know, with that extension 342 00:17:40,319 --> 00:17:42,119 coming up on the eighteenth of October, which is thirteen days away from from 343 00:17:42,279 --> 00:17:45,519 you and I recording this. I don't see san Antonio. I'm giving him 344 00:17:45,519 --> 00:17:48,640 that extension. But again, if he has two or three more, you 345 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,880 know, impactful preseason games and it looks like this is going to be a 346 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,519 consistent Lonnie Walker, then maybe, who knows what happens. I'm assuming the 347 00:17:55,519 --> 00:17:57,720 opportunity will be there at least early in the regular season for him because he's 348 00:17:57,759 --> 00:18:00,240 you know, you mentioned some of the shots he's hitting, Like there's no 349 00:18:00,319 --> 00:18:03,960 other guy on the team that's comfortable hitting the types of shots, and like 350 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,880 that's what you would you would love to see that out of a Murray or 351 00:18:07,039 --> 00:18:10,079 Johnson. Maybe White comes closest, or is Josh Primus. But like the 352 00:18:10,079 --> 00:18:12,119 fact that we're going that deep now into it, like he is, like, 353 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,000 there's no one else on this team to me that's comfortable hitting in theory 354 00:18:15,079 --> 00:18:18,839 that the shots that he can take and make. Yeah, no, you're 355 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,119 right, I mean, just just saying it, just seeing those names, 356 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,279 I think after Lonnie is probably Primo who's most natural to be able to kind 357 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:26,400 of crusty old Yeah, exactly. So, so it's so, yeah, 358 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,119 Salani has that potential. But again we'll kind of see you know, you 359 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,200 know, how how much he's able to keep that consistent. I think that 360 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,440 one thing you saw with him as well is you know when he came on 361 00:18:36,559 --> 00:18:38,200 off the bench, he's you know, poplex season in that six man type 362 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,000 of role he started doing that last year. Is that he he's actually getting 363 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,799 a lot of opportunity as well. It was really cool to see at the 364 00:18:44,839 --> 00:18:47,519 end of the first quarter, you know, with twenty with like twenty seconds 365 00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:48,799 I timing down, they let they let Lonnie run the final pick and roll 366 00:18:48,799 --> 00:18:52,920 of a possession and so he rans something with Yakov and so again he's gonna 367 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,160 get those opportunities, just like Kelton, just like Murray, and just like 368 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:56,960 White. We're we're going to see, you know what, what kind of 369 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,880 player can you turn into, especially with you know, no de Rosen there 370 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,240 and more to be in the way. Evan Vassll. Every team has a 371 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,559 player that I would follow to helen back and I think Devin Vasella is mine 372 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,160 for the Spurs. It could be Jean Day Murray, I'm not it's a 373 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,160 toss up between those two. He's going to be really good. I know. 374 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,759 It's three ball dropped off like towards the talent of last year. He's 375 00:19:14,799 --> 00:19:18,000 got just as a three D guy, he's going to be spectacular. Is 376 00:19:18,079 --> 00:19:21,400 that what he is? Or do you see more elements to his game that 377 00:19:21,519 --> 00:19:23,920 he could be this more you know, expansive player. I think we're going 378 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,079 to see more elements to his game. And we saw that. You know, 379 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:29,400 it's gonna be slowly, but but there's going to be more and more 380 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,079 that comes with Devin Vasilla in the years to come. And we saw that 381 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:36,200 initially at Summer league on this passed off this past summer where they wanted him 382 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:37,519 to purposely run more pick and roll, run more more you know, one 383 00:19:37,519 --> 00:19:41,400 on one sets and just see what you know. The assistant coach at the 384 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:42,720 time, Mitch Johnson, basically said, you know, how he performs at 385 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,359 some league is going to dictate, you know, what kind of role he 386 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,480 gets here with the San Antonio team down the line. And so he was 387 00:19:48,519 --> 00:19:52,200 really impressive in some league you know, you know wh where he was running 388 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:53,319 a lot of pick and roll when defensive would go under it on him on 389 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,880 screens. He was getting to his spot there in the mid range and that 390 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,920 was a pretty good shot for him. He saw that they learned how to 391 00:20:00,079 --> 00:20:02,079 they learned how to switch it on him, They learn how to switch over 392 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:03,480 the screens, they learned how to just to trap him at times, and 393 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,559 he and he did struggle with that, but then he said he wanted to 394 00:20:06,599 --> 00:20:08,519 be in those opportunities to learn, you know, exactly how to adjust the 395 00:20:08,519 --> 00:20:11,000 defense. Uh. And then, like I said earlier, you know, 396 00:20:11,279 --> 00:20:15,079 going into him this this preseason game, he didn't get that opportunity with all 397 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,319 those different ball handlers on the floor. But then all of a sudden, 398 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:21,240 the third quarter comes and he just has a really impactful quarter where he finally 399 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:22,960 got to rout a pick and roll and he got you know, he got 400 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,519 a screen and he actually took it down for a dunk. He had a 401 00:20:25,559 --> 00:20:27,000 midriage jumper, he had a three go down. So he had a pretty 402 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,880 good game as well. And of course, defensively, it's always gonna be 403 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,000 their forum. He's really good at anticipation. He's got long arms. And 404 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,039 I remember Zach Loo recently wrote a piece last week on Devin and he just 405 00:20:36,039 --> 00:20:38,359 talked about how Devin basically like like was able to hold him a Trey Young 406 00:20:38,519 --> 00:20:41,440 forever possession pretty well. That not a lot of defenders were able to do 407 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,640 at the NBA level, So I think defensively, it's always gonna be there 408 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:45,720 for him. It's going to see now we're going to see, now how 409 00:20:45,799 --> 00:20:51,160 much can he expand on offense if he winds up running multiple pick and rolls 410 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,480 per game. I'm gonna do like I'm I'm gonna riot in celebration because that 411 00:20:55,519 --> 00:20:57,160 would be that I would just love to see it. I think he's gonna 412 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,920 get the chance. Yeah, what is so how are they going to use 413 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,720 Daddy as young on this team? Like? Is he gonna primarily play backup 414 00:21:03,799 --> 00:21:07,720 five? Will he play a bunch with Jaku Peartle. I think he was 415 00:21:07,039 --> 00:21:11,480 first of all that deal for Demarta rozen They absolutely they killed it, and 416 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,200 so he's definitely someone who could help this team. I'm just curious as to 417 00:21:15,039 --> 00:21:18,559 how they're actually going to deploy him. Yeah, So here in San Antonio, 418 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:22,200 we're still watching that date October eighteenth, because that's the day that the 419 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:26,279 Spurs thirteen days now, the Spurs need to need to trim the roster down 420 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:29,680 from they have seventeen guaranteed players and two players need to get waved or traded 421 00:21:29,759 --> 00:21:30,640 by the end. So so Daddy is young, is one of the players 422 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,160 we're keeping an eye on whether he gets traded. You know, we don't 423 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,440 think he'll get waved, just because of the valley he brings to the team. 424 00:21:36,519 --> 00:21:38,160 And then also Alfred Caminos another player. So so in terms of Daddy, 425 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:41,519 it's like it was interesting already first preseason game, he had zero minutes 426 00:21:41,559 --> 00:21:45,039 to him and he and Amino didn't play at all. Popped in and use 427 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,680 them. Now, if he stays on the team past the eighteenth of October, 428 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:49,279 I do think that he will have a role here because San Antonio needs 429 00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:52,559 to keep his trade value high, so they have to keep playing him. 430 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,240 And so you know, he could either fit in off the bench, I 431 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:56,640 think at the four or the backup five. But you know, you have 432 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,200 Drew Eubanks playing well there. You have Jack Landale, that news center that 433 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,079 they brought in play playing well there as well. Uh, and then even 434 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:04,599 at the four. Actually Devin got those minutes at the four last night. 435 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,160 I think kellyop wants to continue. Yeah, Devin got the four, the 436 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,279 backup four minutes, So so really, Pop us to give you a lot 437 00:22:10,279 --> 00:22:11,920 of a lot of wings out there. So I don't know you know where 438 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,160 he's gonna fitting on the roster. But I think that for sure he's gonna 439 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,960 have to play if he stays past the eighteenth of October, because they need 440 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:19,279 to keep this trade value high, and I know that they want to try 441 00:22:19,319 --> 00:22:21,880 to, you know, try to get some assets for him, you know, 442 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:23,359 considering he's a he and a Meano or the two you know, veterans 443 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,440 who don't really fit on this team right now? Do you think there's a 444 00:22:26,519 --> 00:22:29,160 chance that they wave a mening before the start of the season. Yeah, 445 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:30,759 with the Meana, I think there's a chance. Maybe they look like for 446 00:22:30,839 --> 00:22:33,920 like a buyout, so you know, he's got ten million coming back, 447 00:22:33,039 --> 00:22:36,079 or he's got ten million that he's old, so I maybe let me like 448 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,240 an eight eight million dollars buyout something like that that he can maybe make it 449 00:22:38,279 --> 00:22:41,759 up with the vet with the team on a veteran minimum. So I think 450 00:22:41,799 --> 00:22:44,200 a mino there's a very high chance he gets a buy out. There's a 451 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,880 few teams already looked at that have trade exceptions that could absorb Amino or Young. 452 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:49,599 But again it's really tough to see, you know, who's gonna get 453 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,319 moved. But there has to be a move here within the next thirteen days. 454 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,079 And I look at their front court rotation, specifically the four five, 455 00:22:56,079 --> 00:23:00,839 and maybe some of this is organically solved because Zach Allens, we don't even 456 00:23:00,839 --> 00:23:03,279 know when he's gonna play. It sounds like if they decided to wave a 457 00:23:03,319 --> 00:23:06,839 meto, they could find a trade for Sad. But you look at you're 458 00:23:06,839 --> 00:23:08,960 talking about those three guys. There's Kelvin Johnson, you mentioned Devin Vasselo spend 459 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,200 some time at the four. I would imagine you at least want to like 460 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,160 maybe they're interchangeable, but like Doug McDermot and probably factor into there a little 461 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,759 bit. And so I'm just curious as to how you see sort of the 462 00:23:18,079 --> 00:23:22,759 four five rotations shaking out for San Antonio once this season starts. Okay, 463 00:23:22,759 --> 00:23:25,880 so yeah, so I had, you know, coming into the season, 464 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,839 I had you know, I had McDermott probably starting, and then Lucas Somonitor, 465 00:23:29,839 --> 00:23:32,160 who doesn't get a lot of minutes playing the backup for or at that 466 00:23:32,279 --> 00:23:34,000 he's young, if young still on the team. But basically looking at what 467 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,759 coach Bob in the first preseason game he had he had McDermott starting at the 468 00:23:37,799 --> 00:23:41,640 four, and then now that he wants to keep keeping more wing oriented on 469 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,079 the on the on the front court. He actually had Devin at the four, 470 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:45,880 so that that throws off the minutes for everybody. Luca's kind of got 471 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,960 buried even further now down and wout. Yeah, Kata based Jop was playing 472 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:52,960 before Lucas Somonitch and so at one point I was like, I was watching 473 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,400 the game and when Pop wasn't bringing in Luca, I was like, is 474 00:23:56,759 --> 00:23:57,960 you know it's Luca part of this? Maybe there's a trade with Daddy's young 475 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,079 and Amino going somewhere. Maybe Luca's like that young trade chip to throw in 476 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:03,480 for a team. But then you know, he eventually got some time. 477 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,799 But I just feel like Luca has never had a chance and he's just kind 478 00:24:07,839 --> 00:24:10,240 of been in Austin to the last two years. And again looking at the 479 00:24:10,319 --> 00:24:12,119 rotation from the first preseason game, it doesn't look like he's in the rotation 480 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,759 again to start. But that's kind of my thoughts on where I see the 481 00:24:15,759 --> 00:24:18,640 fore going. So how do you so, what's the starting lineup do you 482 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,119 think actually gonna wind up looking like? Then? I think the one that 483 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:25,519 we saw yesterday where it's gonna be Derek, Jontay Kelton, Doug McDermott, 484 00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:30,920 and Jaka Purdle. Okay, so it sounds like you don't expect that he's 485 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,200 shown to be on this team by the end of the season. No, 486 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,279 no, I do not, And just listening to his comments and also Amanos, 487 00:24:36,279 --> 00:24:37,559 they're basically giving those you know, veteran quotes of like, you know, 488 00:24:37,599 --> 00:24:40,720 as long as we're for the time that we're here kind of stuff. 489 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:42,200 You know, we're gonna be professional, We're gonna be you know, mentors 490 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,279 that they're giving those kind of quotes and interviews. So it almost sounds like 491 00:24:45,519 --> 00:24:48,200 like their answers like they know they're not going to probably be here a long 492 00:24:48,279 --> 00:24:51,720 term for the end up until the end of the season. This is I 493 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:52,920 don't even need to ask you then, who's the player most likely to get 494 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,559 traded because it's him. This was low hanging fruit. That does feel like 495 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,720 something I know you mentioned maybe before the start of the season. We're almost 496 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,559 being some prizing if they found a deal before then. It feels like he 497 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:04,400 might be one of the guys that just moves. December fifteenth, I think 498 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,440 it is when like every team can is just get to more players on their 499 00:25:07,519 --> 00:25:11,319 roster can be dealt right now. It just gets a little bit tough for 500 00:25:11,319 --> 00:25:15,119 for some of the teams to do anything given how many players are ineligible to 501 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:18,079 be moved. Yeah, I no, no, Like you're right, so 502 00:25:18,079 --> 00:25:21,279 you know it could I could very well see him going past October eighteenth, 503 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,119 up until maybe that December fifteenth deadline where they have, you know, more 504 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,720 more teams to trade with, because right now, like I said, there's 505 00:25:26,759 --> 00:25:30,960 only a few teams that have a trade exception large enough to absorb Daddy's song. 506 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,680 I don't even know if those teams would would want Daddy's song and against 507 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:34,720 get it. It's only a certain amount of teams because they have to be 508 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:38,039 more select those contenders or those those playoff level teams. So there's not a 509 00:25:38,279 --> 00:25:41,359 lot of teams to work with right now. But yeah, I don't I 510 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:42,359 don't. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if he's still on the team 511 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,240 past the eighteenth of October, but but it would it would very much surprise 512 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,759 me if he's still here by February tenth, which is the trade deadline. 513 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:52,039 I did not, for some reason send you anything about this when I was 514 00:25:52,039 --> 00:25:53,119 sending you an outline so you can feel free to punt on it. But 515 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:57,960 so you actually viewed san Antonio as a dark horse Ben Simmons suitor, And 516 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,599 do you even like the idea of Ben Simmons in San Antonio? Yeah, 517 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:03,559 no, no, I I do. You know, every time, every 518 00:26:03,559 --> 00:26:06,559 time that there's a rumor about the Spurs, you know, you know, 519 00:26:06,599 --> 00:26:08,720 inquiring about him, I always we always report on it over on our website 520 00:26:08,759 --> 00:26:11,799 and also on our podcast, the Spurs Casts, And so yeah, I 521 00:26:12,039 --> 00:26:15,240 really think that, yes, you know, san Antonio's gonna continue to stay 522 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,519 engaged. I think with Philly because you know, for them, you know, 523 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:23,200 Simmons I think would be a good option for san Antonio because again Murray 524 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,839 Wide, you know, Devassell, these players, they could have that potential 525 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,160 down the road, we don't know for sure. Whereas Ben Simmons, you're 526 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,000 getting an All NBA level player, You're getting an all Star right now, 527 00:26:32,319 --> 00:26:34,119 and then you get him in San Antonio and then you start building a team 528 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,519 around him, especially you know, coming into the next season as being one 529 00:26:37,519 --> 00:26:40,559 of the one of the few teams that actually has a good amount of cap 530 00:26:40,599 --> 00:26:42,680 space, so you can kind of restructure roster to fit around Ben Simmons and 531 00:26:42,759 --> 00:26:45,160 kind of work with them, you know his strengths and weaknesses. So I 532 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,240 really feel like, yes, as long as the price, you know, 533 00:26:48,279 --> 00:26:51,519 whatever the trade package comes down from what Philly would accept. Right now, 534 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,480 I think that yes, Sanatona is gonna continue to call and kind of a 535 00:26:53,559 --> 00:26:57,480 stay, stay engaged in those conversations until you know, he eventually gets moved, 536 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,720 because I really feel like, yes, if, if, if he's 537 00:27:00,759 --> 00:27:03,720 there for the right trade package that san Antonio is comfortable with, I think 538 00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:06,839 that yes, they would make that move. Uh and to to to bring 539 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:11,640 in Brent Ben Simmons, and I think he has regardless of what people think 540 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,480 of Ben Simmons now, he has the better chance of being a north Star 541 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,559 for your rebuild than either a Murray or Derek whiter and Johnson or Vassell at 542 00:27:18,559 --> 00:27:22,480 this point. Yeah, I know I agree again just because we know what 543 00:27:22,519 --> 00:27:23,640 he is. You know, you know what he is already as a player, 544 00:27:23,759 --> 00:27:26,119 you know, at the level he can get to. And then and 545 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,039 then I think that from there you can you can really kind of do it. 546 00:27:29,079 --> 00:27:30,920 Well. He's been saying, you know, through through through through his 547 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:33,400 you know in these reports that you know he wants to team boats around him, 548 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:34,160 and I think that the Spurs would be able to do that where they 549 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,240 can start, you know, moving maybe some of these young players to get 550 00:27:37,279 --> 00:27:40,079 to get in whether it's shooting around him or you know whatever, different players 551 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:41,480 that they feel what best work with Simmons. And again, now now all 552 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,759 of a sudden, you have your your your all star, you're all unbable 553 00:27:45,039 --> 00:27:48,359 level player for the next four years if you're san Antonio there and they could 554 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,160 offer a bunch of different packages. Which interesting about there is they could be 555 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:53,359 one of the teams where you need that third or fourth team if Phil he's 556 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:57,160 really just dead set on getting a star back for Ben Simmons, Like they 557 00:27:57,319 --> 00:28:00,960 can offer to me the best of both worlds when you look at having a 558 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,480 Murray and a White to include that someone like a Devin Vassell who can already 559 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,759 play now but it's a prospect, and then picks. They can offer the 560 00:28:07,759 --> 00:28:11,359 best of both worlds. No, they can't offer you an incumbent star. 561 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:15,079 But if you're going to accept like the tea or less, or if you're 562 00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:17,759 gonna settle at any point, if you're Philly, yeah, I think sant 563 00:28:17,759 --> 00:28:22,759 Antonio's package probably intrigues me most unless maybe Sacramento puts like Tyrese Halibert and on 564 00:28:22,839 --> 00:28:26,359 the table, which it doesn't sound like they're gonna do. Yeah, No, 565 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:27,279 I think I think that's a perfect word. You said, they're settle. 566 00:28:27,319 --> 00:28:30,279 I think that if Philly ever gets to the point where they're willing to 567 00:28:30,319 --> 00:28:33,319 settle on what they're asking for Simmons, I think that sant Antone is one 568 00:28:33,319 --> 00:28:36,480 of those perfect trade partners for them. Were yet the young players they have, 569 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:38,119 they have some picks just to send as well, and it would just 570 00:28:38,119 --> 00:28:41,359 be again on Philly bringing their trade package what they're asking for it down. 571 00:28:42,119 --> 00:28:45,920 This question is always somewhat matchup dependent. But what do you think should be 572 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:51,240 there go to crunch time lineup this season? Oh okay, that's an interesting 573 00:28:51,319 --> 00:28:52,680 question. I think let me just think here, So I would say Murray, 574 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:59,400 Derek White, Lonnie, let's see here, maybe maybe McDermott, someone 575 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:02,799 at the four, maybe McDermot of a cell and then for a big I 576 00:29:02,799 --> 00:29:03,960 don't know if I want to necessarily go Yaka, but but you know, 577 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,799 if Thaddy songs on the team, maybe him or or maybe Yaca just again, 578 00:29:08,079 --> 00:29:11,559 I would want over you know, I know, I didn't include Kelton 579 00:29:11,599 --> 00:29:12,720 in there, just because when it comes to crunch time, you want shooting 580 00:29:12,759 --> 00:29:15,640 in their shooting that you trust more so, and I know Murray's not a 581 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,960 knockdown shooter, but at least you trust is play making a little bit more. 582 00:29:18,039 --> 00:29:21,960 Whereas when Kelton got stuck in those crunch time situations last year, he 583 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,200 really struggled, and that's that was he wasn't in a lot of those rotations. 584 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:26,720 And so I think that those those players can all kind of shoot, 585 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:30,440 and they can kind of play make for themselves and for others. You going 586 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,839 through all those names just made me realize how many options that they just have 587 00:29:33,319 --> 00:29:37,559 to sort of fuss and fiddle with and their lineup. And it's also makes 588 00:29:37,599 --> 00:29:41,720 me curious as to you know, you mentioned Jocque Landale and then you have 589 00:29:41,799 --> 00:29:44,759 Drew you Banks plus Peartle. I kind of thought this team might be built 590 00:29:44,799 --> 00:29:47,599 to go a little bit smaller at points where Thaddy is young would play a 591 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:48,559 lot of five. He's still there even if you get rid of them, 592 00:29:48,599 --> 00:29:52,720 maybe you just go nuclear and try those smaller lineups there. But do you 593 00:29:52,759 --> 00:29:56,559 think that they're that interested in Obviously we know what Yako Peartle can do as 594 00:29:56,559 --> 00:29:59,400 a rim protection. They also still look Zach Collins is on this roster too. 595 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:03,039 So do you think that they are a team that could play smaller for 596 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:06,480 stretches or is that their center rotation they're gonna play more true bigs for most 597 00:30:06,519 --> 00:30:07,759 of the time. No, No, they're gonna stick to I think just 598 00:30:07,759 --> 00:30:11,880 just two traditional centers. I think it's always gonna be yak Up starting and 599 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:15,119 then there's gonna be that battle between you Banks and Landals. Last year there 600 00:30:15,119 --> 00:30:17,960 was that battle between you Banks and and Gorgy Jank when now it's it's Landale 601 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,200 and Eubanks and and and Zach Collins will throw it throw a wrench in here 602 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,519 in this situation because coach pop just said recently that they're expecting him back after 603 00:30:23,599 --> 00:30:26,160 Christmas time, that he could be returning to the floor by like January. 604 00:30:26,279 --> 00:30:29,640 So so yeah, so so they'll get a few months with Zach Collins is 605 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,119 able to compete there for some minutes. But yeah, I think that based 606 00:30:32,119 --> 00:30:33,680 on the rotations, they're gonna try to keep it more so to just keeping 607 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,640 one five and a lot of more wing and guard players at from the other 608 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:41,440 four positions. You're a great Popovich in this scenario and your task with throwing 609 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,480 out a quirky, unconventional, weird on line up that you have no idea 610 00:30:45,519 --> 00:30:47,799 how it's gonna fare, but we just need to see it to find out 611 00:30:47,839 --> 00:30:51,240 what will happen. Which five guys you're rolling with. I'm gonna go all 612 00:30:51,279 --> 00:30:52,400 wings, like it's just like a lot of wings. Saw. I would 613 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:57,240 go at like de Jonte, Derek White, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell and 614 00:30:57,279 --> 00:31:00,920 then you know, I don't know who that who that other one. Maybe 615 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,400 maybe it's starting maybe even starting Josh Premo in that line up, just to 616 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:04,799 just to have a little bit more fun. Oh Calton, I forgot Coltan. 617 00:31:04,839 --> 00:31:08,680 So yeah, So basically basically putting like like Vassell at the five and 618 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,279 then it four is like Kelton, then yeah you got Lonnie and then you 619 00:31:11,359 --> 00:31:14,920 got you still got Murray and just a bunch of wings, a lot of 620 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:15,839 speed. You know, they have some shooting in that lineup, and just 621 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,680 kind of saying go out paste the teams. And that's something I've tried. 622 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:21,960 I've tried to do before on an NBAHUK with those kind of line up. 623 00:31:22,519 --> 00:31:26,920 Mine was for them was along the similar lines. I need to see Murray 624 00:31:26,079 --> 00:31:30,839 White, Premo Vassell, and Kelvin Johnson. Just give me those five and 625 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,519 see what would happen. I'm with you though, like they're built to have, 626 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:36,559 like just play all wings just for a few just for a few possessions 627 00:31:36,559 --> 00:31:37,920 each game. I need to see it. Yeah, so that would be 628 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:42,319 it would be intense. Their current wind total over under as we record this 629 00:31:42,359 --> 00:31:47,200 to set at twenty nine point five, there are curveballs that can go into 630 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:51,400 that. Obviously, it seems like what's baked in is they could pivot really 631 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,240 into a rebuild and trade not only thaty is young, but they look at 632 00:31:53,279 --> 00:31:56,920 trading someone else. Would you what's you're feeling on the over under there? 633 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,559 And where do you sort of see them stacking up in the large picture of 634 00:32:00,559 --> 00:32:04,680 the Western Conference? Okay, so I have, unfortunately have two answers here 635 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,759 because like I have pre watching the preseason, then I have now post watching 636 00:32:07,759 --> 00:32:09,960 the preseason game at least one there, So you know, on paper, 637 00:32:10,079 --> 00:32:14,160 I kind of went through their schedule and I got them to like twenty six 638 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:15,519 wins. But I would just go safely say yes, I'm over at the 639 00:32:15,519 --> 00:32:17,319 thirty. I would just say over just because it's the Spurs. You know, 640 00:32:17,519 --> 00:32:21,480 teams are gonna get into dealt with like injuries and all these different situations, 641 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,640 So I really feel like they could get to at least over thirty now 642 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:27,000 as far as where they stack in the West, I do also see them, 643 00:32:27,039 --> 00:32:30,519 you know, outside of the playing game originally coming in but based on 644 00:32:30,519 --> 00:32:31,119 again it's one priest in the game, so I don't want to put too 645 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:35,000 muchmphsis on it. But but if they can really show that they're a top 646 00:32:35,079 --> 00:32:37,799 ten level defense, and I think that there's there's a little bit of potential 647 00:32:37,839 --> 00:32:39,680 there with the team that they're bringing back with losing a lot of their weaknesses 648 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:43,880 like having Deronda Rosen and Patty Milson of those other players that weren't as strong 649 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:45,960 defensively, if they can get to becoming a top ten defense, I really 650 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,839 feel like, you know, now we're talking you know, maybe maybe playing 651 00:32:49,839 --> 00:32:52,359 games back or maybe even yeah, yeah, playing game I would say it 652 00:32:52,359 --> 00:32:54,200 is right now, it's the safest answer. Uh and and just wins, 653 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,480 you know, that's gonna be you know, at worst, maybe like a 654 00:32:57,519 --> 00:33:00,480 thirty thirty five win team. If you can become like a top and defense, 655 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:04,680 again, it kind of matters on how how good can they be defensively 656 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,279 because right now, again it was one game, but they have the pieces 657 00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:09,279 there to be a really good defense. Yeah, they look like they could 658 00:33:09,279 --> 00:33:13,920 be super disruptive on the defensive end. Is there a chance, like, 659 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,599 let's say they're just better than expective to start the year. I would never 660 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:20,640 view them as buyers, but like, is there just that, then you 661 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:22,839 just don't move daddy. It's like, what if you're just so good and 662 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,200 you are in the playing conversation, Let's say they're let's say they're eighth, 663 00:33:25,319 --> 00:33:29,079 like heading into the trade deadline, do you just keep that he's young at 664 00:33:29,119 --> 00:33:30,799 that point and be like, hey, like we're here already. We're not 665 00:33:30,839 --> 00:33:34,480 gonna how quickly we're gonna be able to bottom out without him because coach Pop 666 00:33:34,519 --> 00:33:36,480 is still in charge of the team, you know, coaching the team. 667 00:33:36,519 --> 00:33:39,160 He's Yes, they would keep that that circumstance. Yeah, And that's the 668 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,640 one thing about that he said, you know, taken away from from from 669 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:45,200 young some of the younger players, is that as soon as they start winning 670 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:46,480 games and if he and he's and he's on the court, you know, 671 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:50,440 impactful, Pop is not gonna let him go. He's not gonna let him 672 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:52,480 just get traded just for you know, pick down the road or something like 673 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,079 that. He's gonna want to keep him in and staying as competitive as they 674 00:33:54,079 --> 00:33:57,599 can. So again, if they're in that ballpark of being within that playing 675 00:33:57,599 --> 00:33:59,839 game range, then yeah, I think that if Daddy was part of what 676 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,119 they're not going to let him go, is there a chance that they could 677 00:34:02,119 --> 00:34:06,519 go in the opposite direction beyond Daddy is Young, Because if you take Daddy 678 00:34:06,599 --> 00:34:08,519 is Young off this team, I still don't view it as anything close to 679 00:34:08,559 --> 00:34:12,920 one of the three worst teams in the NBA three or even five. And 680 00:34:13,119 --> 00:34:15,280 if you are going to commit to the rebuild, you want to give yourself 681 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:19,679 the best chance at like the highest lottery odds. At the same time, 682 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:22,119 I don't think you look at this roster and say, aside from Daddy is 683 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:24,320 Young, well, you could look at moving this guy. But is there 684 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,119 a chance that they would visit that end of the spectrum where they'd be willing 685 00:34:28,119 --> 00:34:31,440 to entertain offers on a Murray or a White in the middle of maybe a 686 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:35,960 Lonnie Walker or a or even a Doug McDermott. If they're really trying to 687 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,599 go hohle hog into this rebuild, No, I don't think they would. 688 00:34:38,599 --> 00:34:40,840 They would start, you know, moving those players unless you were getting somebody 689 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,800 like you know, like Ben Simmons, Like we discuss it just because it's 690 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,760 it's an A star, unless you're getting an All Star player than no, 691 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:47,000 I don't think they would even if they even things went went south for this 692 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,360 team. All that's all I see. What they would they would do is 693 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,039 like players like McDermott or or just like you know, some of the Murray 694 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:57,159 they would maybe start start giving those minutes like Josh Primo to two younger players 695 00:34:57,199 --> 00:34:59,639 like Trey Jones, maybe get some lucasmontage, maybe gets some so a good 696 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:01,840 if things went south, they could just see them, you know, basically 697 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:06,159 like like kind of limiting the core players minutes and kind of giving the young 698 00:35:06,199 --> 00:35:08,519 players some minutes. But you know again, I don't unless it's like a 699 00:35:08,559 --> 00:35:12,440 it's like an All Star player that they're getting back. It's a very impactful 700 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,280 player. I can't see them moving, you know, some of some of 701 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,199 these young core pieces like Maria derk White or a line Walker, those kind 702 00:35:16,199 --> 00:35:19,400 of players. I don't mean to put you on the spot here, but 703 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:21,960 how do you which two players do you think end up. I think it's 704 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:23,119 two players they need to get rid of before Open Night, which two yeah, 705 00:35:23,119 --> 00:35:24,960 they have to get rid of, but two players I would just say 706 00:35:25,039 --> 00:35:28,920 right now, save us answers to say Amenu and Daddy Song just because they're 707 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:30,840 the two veterans, they don't really fit with this team. But you know, 708 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:34,119 if they can't find takers, well then then then from there, let's 709 00:35:34,119 --> 00:35:37,000 just say they both stay on the team past the eighteenth of October. Then 710 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:38,719 I would say the next the next round would be the guys on on on 711 00:35:39,119 --> 00:35:43,239 shorter contracts and maybe like a Kadabates job. And I don't even know who 712 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:45,679 with the second player would because you know, Drew Gabanks played really well and 713 00:35:45,679 --> 00:35:49,559 I don't think they want to move him from this team. Yeah, I 714 00:35:49,599 --> 00:35:51,960 mean together if they just have so many players that I think you would want 715 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,840 to keep on the roster. So I would be shocked. Wow, I 716 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:59,440 can't there. You would definitely be floored if they negotiate a buy out with 717 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:01,079 Daddy h. Right, if someonea ends up getting Thady is Young for for 718 00:36:01,119 --> 00:36:04,519 free, that doesn't you know, it doesn't mean they lost to the margin 719 00:36:04,599 --> 00:36:07,039 ros and the like that that he is Young was like the second best player 720 00:36:07,039 --> 00:36:08,679 on the Bulls last year. Yeah, no, no, I can't. 721 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:10,880 I can't see a bio with him. You know they're gonna they would try 722 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,440 to keep him up until that February tent trade adline and try to get something 723 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:17,079 for him. You know, I remember when he first got traded San Antonia. 724 00:36:17,119 --> 00:36:20,239 You know, Zachlo on his podcast was kind of just entertaining the idea 725 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:22,360 of getting a back of first round pick. And so I think that if 726 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:23,679 you can get either young player and you know, a veteran just to make 727 00:36:23,679 --> 00:36:27,719 the salaries work or I'm getting back you know, maybe a first or at 728 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:30,559 least some two seconds just like that down the road, then you think you 729 00:36:30,559 --> 00:36:34,119 have to hold on him until February tenth. Is there? We covered a 730 00:36:34,119 --> 00:36:37,679 lot in an efficient amount of time for this For this podcast specifically, I 731 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:40,679 tend to be very verbose and long. Is there anything or anyone about this 732 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:45,239 roster that I did not ask about that you think needs to be covered? 733 00:36:45,039 --> 00:36:47,880 No, I'm just honestly, like, I know, it's one preseason game, 734 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,199 but man, it's like you just gotta really wait and see, you 735 00:36:51,199 --> 00:36:53,280 know, what this team turns into. Because I am very I'm very interested 736 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:55,760 to see what they become because again it was one preseason game. They looked 737 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:59,440 really good. They want by twenty six points, but that defense, just 738 00:36:59,559 --> 00:37:04,960 the commune unication, the moving around, the pop throwing weird traps already in 739 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,960 a preseason game, and just the high level of energy and the pace. 740 00:37:07,199 --> 00:37:09,760 It's interesting because this is something we haven't seen from a San Antonio team. 741 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:13,039 Me that I've been covering them for ten years now, I've never seen this 742 00:37:13,079 --> 00:37:14,920 kind of this kind of a team. And so just to see a bunch 743 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:17,280 of young athletic wing players who want to use speed and just you know, 744 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:21,519 just a lot of energy and high potential. You know, I do want 745 00:37:21,519 --> 00:37:22,400 to see what they turn into. You know, maybe maybe it is a 746 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,719 bad year and they end up being at the top ten lottery team like they're 747 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:28,880 supposed to be according to Vegas or who knows, maybe maybe they surprise people 748 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:30,119 and you know, they end up becoming a top ten defense and that carries 749 00:37:30,159 --> 00:37:32,760 them, even though they will have their offensive struggles, into becoming, you 750 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:36,360 know, one of those teams who's fighting for a play and seed. Do 751 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:38,199 you think they'll be a top to They were thirteenth outside of garbage time in 752 00:37:38,199 --> 00:37:42,079 points aloud of per possession last year. Do you think they'll be hot better 753 00:37:42,079 --> 00:37:45,119 than the thirteenth this year? The talent's there, but then they're also so 754 00:37:45,199 --> 00:37:46,119 young. It's like I don't I don't know what to do with that. 755 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:49,280 Yeah, that's why, that's why it's hard to say. You know, 756 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:52,320 I want to say yes, because again they lost some of their weaker defenders 757 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:54,320 and Rozen and Patty Mills, and now they've they've they've added some some better 758 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:58,159 defenders, like you know, when you're just giving them not really adding defenders, 759 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:00,599 but just having more more more players who are to be better about communicating 760 00:38:00,599 --> 00:38:05,000 and moving moving around the floor and just having more high level communication. I 761 00:38:05,039 --> 00:38:07,960 want to say yes, that that potential is there, but again we'll kind 762 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,000 of have to wait and see. Right now, I think we I'm gonna 763 00:38:10,039 --> 00:38:14,679 go out on a limit and say that they're better than nineteenth in turnovers forced 764 00:38:15,119 --> 00:38:17,320 because if they're going to run traps like that all year, and that's never 765 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:20,719 been like, I don't know, the Spurs great defensive teams, So when's 766 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:23,239 the last time they ranked like super high and forcing opponent turnover? They're all 767 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:27,719 about like not fouling or being like super fundamental. This feels like a team 768 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:30,360 that's just gonna maybe they'll foul a ton, but it feels like they're going 769 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:32,239 to force a crap ton of turnovers as well. Yeah, no, no, 770 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:35,480 I think so. And again, like you kind of saw it in 771 00:38:35,519 --> 00:38:37,960 that in that first priests A game where you know, Pops Letting Johnson Murray 772 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:39,239 trying to go into those deals. Even last year, Devi of a cell 773 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:43,119 was given that freedom to kind of anticipate and try to try to go for 774 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:45,519 some some some you know, incoming passes, even if he missed assignments at 775 00:38:45,519 --> 00:38:47,480 times, and you know, he was still able to get his minutes and 776 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:50,320 and log plain time. So I feel like, yes, they're gonna take 777 00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:52,199 a lot more risk than a normal Spurst team would do. And so so 778 00:38:52,199 --> 00:38:54,360 we'll see how that pays off. And then of course they still got Yaka 779 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:58,719 Purtle back there at the five near the paint to help, you know, 780 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:02,079 command the paint area, who was statistically like one of the most effective M 781 00:39:02,159 --> 00:39:05,960 protectors, if not the most effective M protectors in the league last year. 782 00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:08,079 Yeah, it hit a really good season last year. And just so last 783 00:39:08,119 --> 00:39:12,679 year the Spurs were nineteenth and opponent turnover percentage and they were in the bottom 784 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:15,199 five and the two previous years before that, so I think it's pretty safe 785 00:39:15,199 --> 00:39:16,920 to say they're gonna blow that out of the water. Paul, this was 786 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:20,679 great as always. Are you able to tell our listeners where they can follow 787 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:23,280 you on social media and also where they can find your work? Sure, 788 00:39:23,639 --> 00:39:27,559 you know on Twitter? I usually on Twitter lot, so you can follow 789 00:39:27,559 --> 00:39:30,239 me at Paul Garcia, NBA. I write for Project Spurs dot com analyzing 790 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:32,920 the league dot com and then you can listen to me on the Spurs cast 791 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,840 to weekly. You do a lot, you do it extremely well. I 792 00:39:37,119 --> 00:39:39,599 appreciate these chats as always. You're always it's always fun to pick your brain 793 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,320 about the Spurs, and thank you so much for your time. And I 794 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:45,719 think, as you know by now, in the future, I will be 795 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:47,880 coming to call again. Awesome, cool, looking forward to it.