1 00:00:15,199 --> 00:00:21,320 What is up, fellow thermonuclear A efforts. As we used to say in 2 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,519 the discord, don't say as much anymore. So what's up, Thermonuclear A 3 00:00:24,719 --> 00:00:29,519 efforts? I am NAPA Valley coming at you with another Hardware Knox episode running 4 00:00:29,559 --> 00:00:32,359 a little bit late on this Monday. Because I decided to actually try and 5 00:00:32,399 --> 00:00:35,479 get my sleep pattern under control for a change to where I'm going to bed 6 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:40,000 maybe before the sun comes up. My body rebelled. I slept from like 7 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,039 one until like five fifteen in the morning, but I got up, was 8 00:00:43,079 --> 00:00:46,240 able to go to the gym early rather than trying to squeeze a worked out 9 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,560 midday or late at night, which in fury, keeps me wired later and 10 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,719 later. So I'll keep you apprised of how that's going. I'm sure all 11 00:00:52,759 --> 00:00:55,640 of you care. You should not. I'm just kidding about how my sleep 12 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,840 schedule is going. Before we get started, just a reminder, whether you 13 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,840 listening to this via podcast or on YouTube, hit that subscribe button. It 14 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,599 helps us out a ton, especially on YouTube at this point, like videos, 15 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,079 comment on them, subscribe to us. That all helps the algorithm make 16 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,200 YouTube love us back a little bit. As we continue to build up this 17 00:01:14,239 --> 00:01:18,079 community. And also just if you're new to listening to the podcast at large, 18 00:01:18,079 --> 00:01:23,319 we really do a thoroughly, seriously, unseriously job of covering the MBA 19 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,439 at large. Consider throwing us that permanent subscription. If you've done all those 20 00:01:26,439 --> 00:01:29,760 things, word of mouth can help a ton, So tell people to subscribe 21 00:01:29,799 --> 00:01:33,560 to our YouTube channel or subscribe to our podcast when you see those solicitations on 22 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,120 Twitter for I'm looking for a new podcast, what's your favorite podcast? Just 23 00:01:36,159 --> 00:01:40,280 throw us in those mentions and know that if nothing else, it'll make me 24 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,840 all warm and fuzzy inside, and that I will love you eternally forever and 25 00:01:42,879 --> 00:01:47,439 ever and ever and ever. Not a ton of new news, and I'm 26 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:51,159 gonna have to try and get maybe creative until we start doing our offseason report 27 00:01:51,239 --> 00:01:55,400 cards, which I delayed at this point because we're trying to wait and see 28 00:01:55,439 --> 00:01:59,159 like maybe a Donovan Mitchell trade goes through or Katie trade goes through. There 29 00:01:59,239 --> 00:02:01,480 was sort of a Friday news dump. I did YouTube videos about it, 30 00:02:01,519 --> 00:02:05,480 and so the first part of this podcast will actually not be on YouTube, 31 00:02:05,519 --> 00:02:08,479 so it's a podcast exclusive. Except there was already YouTube exclusive right before the 32 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:15,000 weekend. Sean Sharani of the Athletic reporting that the Hornets and Wizards are among 33 00:02:15,039 --> 00:02:19,479 the teams that have like kind of been involved in the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes, 34 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,960 and they're really, aside from the Knicks and the Heat, the only team 35 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,199 that have been like tangibly mentioned. I feel like the Wizards were sort of 36 00:02:25,199 --> 00:02:29,360 out there in the ether. There is a Donovan Mitchell, a few of 37 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,319 them, like photoshop and a Wizards jersey that you don't really have to go 38 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:36,479 hunting for still to hear that I'm not I don't read too much into the 39 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,159 Knicks and Jazz having not spoken in two weeks. Apparently that's more like, 40 00:02:40,199 --> 00:02:45,599 per multiple sources, NBA executives go on vacation this time of year while holding 41 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:47,120 the rest of us hostage to this news cycle, who just want to start 42 00:02:47,159 --> 00:02:53,120 analyzing and projecting forward and reviewing the offseason. In some I'm waiting to see 43 00:02:53,159 --> 00:02:54,560 what happens with this stuff, and you can rest assured, I'm gonna leave 44 00:02:54,599 --> 00:03:00,479 the team look aheads when we get there, the Jazz and the the Nets, 45 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,159 and then probably even in this I'm gonna have to leave those things to 46 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,840 the very end, just because of the way this is unfolding. But anyway, 47 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,879 where it's Wizards with the Jazz, I'll start with Charlotte. I don't 48 00:03:09,879 --> 00:03:13,520 think they have the assets realistically to get a deal done. You're not going 49 00:03:13,599 --> 00:03:16,439 to include Lamello because the whole point would be to play those two together, 50 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:21,520 and I love that fit offensively. Donoan Mitchell does a pretty good job playing 51 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,560 off the ball, and the Melo can play off the ball as well, 52 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:29,199 which is putting those two in the same system. That would be absolutely thermonuclear. 53 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,039 How about that a little call back there. I think you could worry 54 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,039 about what the end result would be. On defense, you're gonna worry about 55 00:03:36,039 --> 00:03:38,759 that anyway. But now you start getting into I think first and foremost, 56 00:03:38,759 --> 00:03:43,599 we have to assume that, like they figure out a way to include picks, 57 00:03:43,919 --> 00:03:47,759 so they have their twenty twenty three first is gone at the moment, 58 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:53,800 and so they have Denver and that's lotto protected and you can count on basically 59 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,680 having that, but they owe their first right now to Atlanta. It's top 60 00:03:55,719 --> 00:04:01,400 sixteen protected, then lottery protected for two years before it turns into two seconds. 61 00:04:01,639 --> 00:04:04,919 That in theory, if you wanted to throw that out of the equation, 62 00:04:05,319 --> 00:04:09,520 they can't trade a first round pick until two and twenty seven. They 63 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:15,360 could do something like two and twenty five contingent upon that obligation, but then 64 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,319 it could get pushed back and you can't look at that as a guaranteed first 65 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:21,879 round pick. But let's just say, like they can include the Denver pick 66 00:04:23,079 --> 00:04:27,720 and if they're willing to go twenty seven and twenty nine there maybe with a 67 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,800 twenty twenty eight swap, So you could find a way to include three first 68 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:33,120 round picks. I believe unless my math is off here, I'm like looking 69 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,279 at my spreadsheet right now with the pick commitments. No, that should be 70 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,319 right. So the protections on that ends in two thousand and twenty five, 71 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,160 so you could go twenty seven twenty nine to twenty eight swap plus that Denver 72 00:04:43,199 --> 00:04:47,279 twenty twenty three pick. Do you have any players who are immediately valuable enough 73 00:04:47,959 --> 00:04:51,639 to the Jazz to kind of service that buffer of Oh, they're getting that 74 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,360 Denver first round pick, which is gonna be like number twenty seven or whatever 75 00:04:55,399 --> 00:04:57,600 it will be, and then it'll convey like it'll convey, so you know 76 00:04:57,639 --> 00:05:00,120 you're getting a first round pick. But do you want like you have your 77 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,920 own first round pick? You have Mini's first round pick. At this point, 78 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,639 how many twenty twenty three first round picks do you need? So there's 79 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:11,360 that to consider. I saw some pushback in the YouTube comments that well, 80 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,480 we can't give up Mark Williams in this deal, and I was like, 81 00:05:13,519 --> 00:05:15,800 well, then there's a really good chance that you're not going to get Donovan 82 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,079 Mitchell because you need to sort of grease the wheels of a trade that can't 83 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:25,040 guarantee Utah draft assets really anytime soon, aside from that Denver pick. And 84 00:05:25,079 --> 00:05:29,519 so yeah, maybe PJ Washington he's extension eligible. I don't think the Jazz 85 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,600 want to acquire someone like him or r J Barrett or Tyler Hero who is 86 00:05:32,879 --> 00:05:36,839 in turn going to get paid. It just doesn't seem a round they want 87 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,360 to go. I still very much believe in James book Knight. Maybe I 88 00:05:40,399 --> 00:05:44,839 just got too high on him during the twenty one Summer League. But if 89 00:05:44,879 --> 00:05:47,800 I'm Charlotte and it's gonna take two of book Night, Williams and Ki Jones, 90 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,040 like, I'm just giving that up and then I'll include Reever records at 91 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:56,959 salaries needed to get done. That's complicated in itself because I don't know that 92 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,439 Utah is going to view Terry Rosier in the first year of his for four 93 00:06:00,519 --> 00:06:04,480 year extension as an asset, just like they might have no problem taking on 94 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:10,439 that money, and he is a very useful player. But it's just like 95 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:16,000 four years and basically a one hundred million bucks not entirely guaranteed, but it's 96 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,120 just like, that's a lot of money for a player who's a non star 97 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:24,519 and you're just entering your rebuild. Maybe you don't care. Maybe Danny Angstel's 98 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,879 an affinity for him back from their Boston days. I honestly don't know. 99 00:06:28,439 --> 00:06:30,920 You would have to get there probably with you do have those smaller salaries in 100 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,480 Book Night and Mark Williams. Let's just say that brings you to eight million, 101 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,720 and then you have Mason Plumley expiring, Kelly Bride Junior a twelve point 102 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,079 six million dollars expiring, So you can get there. It's not impossible. 103 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,959 I think if you have Mitchell and Lamello playing a bunch of minutes one, 104 00:06:47,079 --> 00:06:49,439 it's good that you resigned Cody Martin, I'm gonna tell you that right now, 105 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:51,680 and you need to figure out a way to maybe keep Kelly your bride 106 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,680 Junior is part of this deal, so it does get a little bit finicky. 107 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,600 I don't think the Jazz are gonna want Gordon Award, but I think 108 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:02,920 this whatever team is getting Donovan Mitchell should maybe try or the Jazz or the 109 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,639 Lakers, like the Lakers should try and get involved as like sort of a 110 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,600 third team that's getting value. Maybe the Jazz don't want that they can get 111 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,920 rid of Russell Westbrook and that might be the path for them to explore there 112 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,839 if I'm being honest. So it's not the worst offer in the world, 113 00:07:18,879 --> 00:07:24,399 but in this specific instance, I just don't view Charlotte as a team that 114 00:07:24,439 --> 00:07:27,319 can beat the Knicks offer right now and peasibly go if you're Donavan Mitchell, 115 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,399 I really don't think that team is out there if OKC had better salary matching 116 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:35,360 fodder, if New Orleans had any like real motivation to go after Donovan Mitchell. 117 00:07:35,399 --> 00:07:38,800 But you have see Jay McCollum and Brandon and German's eye on there, 118 00:07:38,839 --> 00:07:41,839 like you don't. You don't need another point of attack creator on on offense 119 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,040 and my my, I guess not so humble opinion there, since we're speaking 120 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,480 in such absolutes at the moment. But that's like, that's the offer is 121 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,839 you have to figure out a way to get like three picks and then some 122 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,560 swaps in there, or at least one swap in twenty twenty eight. I 123 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,279 think the Jazz would value just the way that the Hornets have reacted. Are 124 00:07:59,279 --> 00:08:03,759 you going to go that route in Charlotte again? I would do it, 125 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,759 but I just don't think you're gonna have the offer to beat like out other 126 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,800 teams. But it could help if the Lakers coming in, they're willing to 127 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,519 take Gordon Heyward, do they really want Tryer Rosier? So are they sending 128 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:18,399 another pick to the Jazz? Maybe two? If the Jazz are sending out 129 00:08:18,439 --> 00:08:20,279 other money, Like if the Lakers can get their hands on Billiam mcdonovitch or 130 00:08:20,279 --> 00:08:24,120 a Mike Conley or Malik Beasley in that so that might be a way for 131 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,839 them to read to get even more assets. But you are gonna have to 132 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:31,279 take in the fact that, oh, they are taking on Rosa Westbrook and 133 00:08:31,319 --> 00:08:35,559 look, if I'm Charlotte and like this is gonna cost three of Washington, 134 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,320 book Night Williams and Kai Jones plus draft equity, it gets fickle. I'm 135 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,879 doing it anyway, I'm just I'm not gonna lie. I don't like why 136 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:46,120 is PJ. Washington going to be your breaking point there at this point? 137 00:08:46,759 --> 00:08:50,480 So that's where I'm at. I would I get why Charlotte's interested. I 138 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,120 just question whether they have a viable package to offer. Washington, I think 139 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:58,320 can offer a stronger package than people credit and a lot of people need toube 140 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,559 comments pushed back because they don't watch the video apparently, and I know, 141 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,200 I get how the sausage is made, I get how reactions are made. 142 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,279 I guess I really only care that they're liking and subscribing. They don't even 143 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:11,799 need to watch at that point, but please watch the full video. Washington 144 00:09:11,879 --> 00:09:16,000 is similarly pick strapped. They have a twenty twenty three Latto pick going to 145 00:09:16,039 --> 00:09:20,000 New York, but it's top twelve protected basically until the end of time. 146 00:09:20,039 --> 00:09:22,080 And by that I mean it's top nine protected in twenty and twenty six, 147 00:09:22,279 --> 00:09:26,039 so it's probably going to convey. But if we're being honest and we're throwing 148 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,600 that out of the equation, they cannot offer promise a first round pick right 149 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,639 now before two and twenty eight, and you could go swaps in twenty seven 150 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:39,080 and twenty nine, and then that twenty twenty eight pick that's like very underwhelming, 151 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,840 even when you're including other stuff. You could try and broker a deal 152 00:09:41,879 --> 00:09:46,279 with New York for them to unprotect that pick. Why is New York doing 153 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,279 that when they want Donvan Mitchell? I understand that's a hurdle. I do, 154 00:09:50,759 --> 00:09:56,240 however, think that Washington is uniquely positioned to offer more tangible talent that 155 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,720 the Jazz should be interested in, and so that helps a little bit. 156 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,639 And we know that like the jazzer to have him in in first round picks 157 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,559 coming in from Minnesota in you know, basically every other year. In addition 158 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,840 to that pick swap in twenty twenty six, I believe that's unprotected so you 159 00:10:09,879 --> 00:10:15,240 can build offers. I'm just gonna assume, and this was just I'm trying 160 00:10:15,279 --> 00:10:18,360 to view it from Utah's perspective here, since I feel like they could almost 161 00:10:18,399 --> 00:10:20,080 name their place with some of these other teams. Bradley Meal off the table, 162 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,799 he signed a supermax YadA yad YadA. Christaps porzingis you don't want him? 163 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:26,679 I just he's I guess he's young enough and you could use somebodies at 164 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,720 center if you don't want to take back a ton of players because you have 165 00:10:30,759 --> 00:10:33,879 fourteen already on your roster. It's the offseason. Figure out a way to 166 00:10:33,919 --> 00:10:35,240 do it. I don't he might. I don't think he's an add wins 167 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,600 tier rebuild. But whatever the thirty six million dollars player option on twenty three, 168 00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:43,039 twenty four, I just I don't know why Utah would want him unless 169 00:10:43,039 --> 00:10:46,519 they think unless Danny Ainge and company think that he's just sort of some diamond 170 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,440 in not I guess not the rough at this point. He played well efter 171 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,679 he was traded to the Wizards, but unless they sort of view him is 172 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,480 like, oh, this cornerstone who won't really impact our one year tank, 173 00:10:56,639 --> 00:10:58,679 but you're gonna have to pay him soon. He's also making a shit ton 174 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:00,960 of money. If they want him, you give him up. I just 175 00:11:01,039 --> 00:11:03,840 don't think they would, is where I'm at. And so now you're getting 176 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:09,360 into basically every other salary on your roster. And while Barton and Monte Morris 177 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,639 can't be aggregated until I don't know what the data is on that, I 178 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,519 can't remember if they're September sixth or like right at the start of September whatever, 179 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,399 this deal can be agreed to completed later just that that's where we're at. 180 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:22,720 Training camp doesn't open. It's it's really it's no later than like September 181 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,120 September six in my head. I don't know if it's because that's my wife's 182 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:31,279 birthday hashtag good husbanding, but it's it's it's before training camp. So everything's 183 00:11:31,279 --> 00:11:35,639 fine there. But you have Barton at a fourteen point four million dollars inspiring 184 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,559 salary, Kuzma thirteen million dollars expiring salary. He has a player option for 185 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,320 next season that he's likely the client. Monte Morris has two years at under 186 00:11:43,399 --> 00:11:46,639 nineteen million left that that's an asset there, not moving along rights in the 187 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,759 middle of the season. Rui Hachimura essentially expiring at six point three. And 188 00:11:50,759 --> 00:11:54,639 then Denny Avdia, who I think is like one of the more intriguing players 189 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,200 that could be offered in a Donovan Mitchell deal. He's at four point nine 190 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,159 million, and so I think you've get a Washington package from this perspective, 191 00:12:01,399 --> 00:12:07,159 is it's Denny avda Johnny Davis, and then I'm probably I probably pushed for 192 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:11,000 Daniel Gafford here, and that's like barely, I don't that's not even twelve 193 00:12:11,039 --> 00:12:13,840 million dollars in total salary, but it's those three players off the Jazz want 194 00:12:13,879 --> 00:12:18,720 Corey Kissper Like fine that, but I'm looking at those three players specifically as 195 00:12:18,759 --> 00:12:22,519 anchoring your package. And then are you either you do have the salary filler? 196 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,279 I just line out like a whole bunch are the Jazz and tregues by 197 00:12:26,279 --> 00:12:30,840 Hachimura? Can you get a first round pick for Kyle Kuzma or first round 198 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,120 pick for Monte Morris to the Jazz want Monte Morris. You could go the 199 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:39,080 route of like Wilbarton Monte Morris, Avdia Davis Gafford and then hope that can 200 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,480 you include enough draft equity and mayor is there a way to you know, 201 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:48,039 on to broker their protections off that New York pick? At that point, 202 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,919 you know, if you're the Knicks, I wouldn't like if you're just willing 203 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,320 to send them or maybe it's even as simple as like, hey, can 204 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:58,799 we get it top like something protect and keep the protections this year, but 205 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,960 then it's unprotected in two thousand twenty four, so you're sort of hedging against 206 00:13:01,039 --> 00:13:05,279 the Wizards future another year and then you can at least send twenty six and 207 00:13:05,279 --> 00:13:07,799 twenty eight picks and then twenty seven and twenty nine spops. If you're the 208 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,399 Knicks, you could be looking at it from the perspective of maybe we'll get 209 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:11,679 out of a Mitchell when he hit three agency. How happy is he going 210 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,600 to be in Washington. It's a challenge for Washington. But I do think 211 00:13:15,639 --> 00:13:20,120 the players they can offer Gafford, Avvidya and Davis specifically, those are very 212 00:13:20,159 --> 00:13:22,720 interesting talents. Is it better than the youngsters the Knicks can send over When 213 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:28,320 you ly at Grimes top in quickly specifically, I think it's on the same 214 00:13:28,399 --> 00:13:31,440 level. I think of all the players are just named. While I'm very 215 00:13:31,519 --> 00:13:35,039 high on Drimes, I think Denny Avda is very clearly the best player among 216 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,919 them right now so underrated defensively, I think he has more playmaking to offer. 217 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,720 I think there's a framework there. If the Knicks decide they're out of 218 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,720 it, or the Jazz want to complete a deal before the season, and 219 00:13:43,759 --> 00:13:46,919 the Knicks one budge on they're asking price, I think the Wizards can get 220 00:13:46,919 --> 00:13:52,639 in there. However, what I want to talk about is the scenario that 221 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,440 I don't know if enough people are talking about her, It's just something I 222 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,960 started pondering, would the Jazz consider actually letting this lead into the season. 223 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,039 And the whole point of the Rudy go Part trade was they got so much 224 00:14:05,039 --> 00:14:07,080 because they made it clear that they were gonna they were okay with keeping him. 225 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,720 It's a little bit different now with Donovan Mitchell because you can convey that 226 00:14:11,879 --> 00:14:16,759 sentiment, but you've already started blowing up your team and so it just gets 227 00:14:16,799 --> 00:14:20,000 like super fucking awkward. If you go into the regular season with Donovan Mitchell 228 00:14:20,039 --> 00:14:24,279 on the roster, is Mike come and Bolliam mcdonovitch and Jordan Clarksonel still there? 229 00:14:24,279 --> 00:14:26,960 What is what is going on with that? So you know you're this 230 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,679 team in transition. I don't view Donovan Mitchell as for all this talk about 231 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,039 him wanting out of Utah. I don't know, like there were and the 232 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,759 reports of like riffs between with him and Rudy Gobert. That shit happens in 233 00:14:37,759 --> 00:14:41,639 the NBA. There's not like reports of Donovan Mitchell being this shitty teammate or 234 00:14:41,639 --> 00:14:46,519 a human being. So I don't know that he would agitate to get out 235 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,600 just because he's heard his name in trade rumors. I think it's also worth 236 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:54,519 noting while people have expected the trade demand to come and that reported that he's 237 00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:58,039 not happening in Utah, like he's not the one as at least as far 238 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,679 as we know right now that is dry having this. It's the Jazz because 239 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,799 they were exploring and rebuild. That's fine. So if you bring him back, 240 00:15:05,519 --> 00:15:09,120 I'm like weirdly okay with it, and I'll get into why, because 241 00:15:09,159 --> 00:15:11,919 I don't think he becomes a disruptor. I also don't think that this Jazz 242 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,639 roster is currently constructed. I guess you could be worried about Mitchell's value being 243 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,879 hurt because you'll suck, But I also don't think the good part of that 244 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,159 is I still think you'll be kind of bad even if you don't trade Conley 245 00:15:22,159 --> 00:15:26,240 and Bolliabodanovitch, Like it's not going to screw with your one season tanking you 246 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:28,600 of a whole season to get it done. Now. The reason you would 247 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,559 wait is maybe you're playing a game or chicken with the Knicks. But also 248 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,720 we're it's sort of like the optimistic point of the NBA off season, like 249 00:15:35,759 --> 00:15:39,200 we're soon going to get into even more reports. Definitely going to training camp, 250 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,559 everybody lost fifteen pounds while somehow putting on ten pounds of extra muscle ione 251 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:48,440 decreasing their body percentage in a healthy way into single digits. They gained just 252 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,440 twenty five pounds of muscle if they were frail over a six week period, 253 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:56,759 because that's totally humanly possible and definitely happen. Teams are getting content with their 254 00:15:56,879 --> 00:16:00,600 rosters. Maybe not if you're in the Kevin Durant sweep stay. It does 255 00:16:00,639 --> 00:16:03,120 feel like we're waiting on more moves right now than normal, and part because 256 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,840 the Mitchell and Kemn Durrant stuff holding up transactions, what's going on with Colin 257 00:16:07,879 --> 00:16:11,320 Sexton in Cleveland. So you couldn't make that case that there isn't a little 258 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:15,720 bit more unrest. But if you wait, could there be a team that 259 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:21,639 starts the regular season piss poor and they decide, oh, we need to 260 00:16:21,639 --> 00:16:22,879 go all in on this NNTO in Mitchell trade. And one it could be 261 00:16:22,919 --> 00:16:26,799 the Knicks if your youth out, like if they're drawing a hard mind in 262 00:16:26,799 --> 00:16:30,360 the sand where it's like they only want to give three picks and like I 263 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,360 don't know, grimes and topping and then they want you to take on Randall 264 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,639 or Fournier. You could wait them out if they get if they just even 265 00:16:37,679 --> 00:16:40,759 get off to like a four and seven start or something ridiculous, like not 266 00:16:40,879 --> 00:16:45,799 even non ridiculous like that. But after receiving the criticism that they have and 267 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,480 going after brunchon Brunson and clearly the urgency with which they've at least tried to 268 00:16:49,519 --> 00:16:56,039 get or have been eyeing other stars since Leon Rose came aboard, do we 269 00:16:56,159 --> 00:16:59,639 really like, isn't there a possibility that they then go all in and they 270 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,120 their offer because they realize, oh, we're not as good without Donovan Mitchell. 271 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,240 Do you risk also like the offer is getting worse from them. No, 272 00:17:07,519 --> 00:17:10,880 And that's why I think it's feasible that you could wait, because is 273 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,720 the Knicks, Let's say the Knicks' best offer right now? Is it going 274 00:17:14,759 --> 00:17:17,640 to get any worse if you wait to go into the season. They're not 275 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,200 a team that's gonna worry about disrupting their roster in the middle of year. 276 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,880 I'm just gonna I'm gonna tell you that right now. They're not a team 277 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,839 that's gonna worry about that. So I think if you're just so sort of 278 00:17:26,839 --> 00:17:30,480 turned off by what everyone else is offering and you're not you don't want the 279 00:17:30,519 --> 00:17:33,400 Knicks package right now. Maybe you can't get as many of their first round 280 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:37,599 picks unprotected into the future as you want. I would wait it out just 281 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,559 to see, or maybe going into training camp they decide to just up their 282 00:17:41,599 --> 00:17:45,440 anti and so it feels like Utah might have more levers there. And then 283 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,839 it also increases to me the likelihood that does another team come over the top 284 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,079 and it's I don't know what Miami's best offer is right now, but do 285 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,799 they get into a scenario where like, do they actually figure out a way 286 00:17:56,839 --> 00:18:00,759 to get other first round picks to send to the Jazz? Is are there 287 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:06,359 surprise teams that does that become part of this in the middle of the year. 288 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:10,400 Those are harder to spot, and like, I don't really know what 289 00:18:10,519 --> 00:18:12,599 you like what you get into, Like is Orlando good enough to were like, 290 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,640 well, maybe we should consider a Dono Mitchell trade because we're we're too 291 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,640 good right now? Does Toronto get off to a slower start or decide to 292 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,240 get involved with the Donovan Mitchell sweep stakes because they missed out on Kevin Durant 293 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,279 which would be sort of The other flip side of this is if a team 294 00:18:27,319 --> 00:18:30,759 gets Kevin Durant, there were going to be other jilted teams out there. 295 00:18:30,759 --> 00:18:36,920 Would they consider joining the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes at that point? I don't. 296 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,240 I don't know if they would. I think in itself it could be valuable 297 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,279 just to wait to see if the Knicks drive up their offer. And I 298 00:18:42,319 --> 00:18:45,319 get that I'm having trouble spotting surprise shutters right now. I did think about 299 00:18:45,319 --> 00:18:48,799 this before I came on, But like a Cleveland or something, they have, 300 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,680 they didn't do much over the offseason. Granted they weren't very flexible. 301 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,720 Mitchell's a very intriguing fit there. Does something happen in the middle of the 302 00:18:56,799 --> 00:18:59,839 year after they've resigned Colin sext him where he could be used as salary fodder 303 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,599 you caroslavert where they're just more willing to do something nuclear when it comes to 304 00:19:03,599 --> 00:19:07,079 maybe just trading away their entire draft. Since they're on this, you know, 305 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:08,720 you look at their core and it's not an immediate timeline. But at 306 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:15,960 the same time, Alan and Mobley and Darius Garland, like that's a real 307 00:19:17,079 --> 00:19:22,039 legitimate triple, Like three player bass there and if you bring back con Sexton. 308 00:19:22,279 --> 00:19:26,799 They made the trade with Caros Lavert because they clearly like viewed themselves and 309 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,160 like I was fine with the trade for Caroslavert last year, but I'm saying 310 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,359 they made that trade because there is some immediacy there, and so do they 311 00:19:33,519 --> 00:19:37,720 come over the top with something. I don't think a team like Detroit or 312 00:19:37,759 --> 00:19:41,920 Indiana would get involved, though I've been on the record saying like Indiana would 313 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,960 be like kind of sneaky fun. What about Memphis, Like if they just 314 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:48,799 I actually really hate the fit between Donovan Mitchell and John Morant, even though 315 00:19:48,839 --> 00:19:51,519 don Mitchell can play well off the ball, are they like do they fall 316 00:19:51,559 --> 00:19:53,240 off the field good vibes and find out that they've leaned too far into their 317 00:19:53,279 --> 00:19:57,240 own development Just because you know, you let Kyle Anderson walk, You've now 318 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:02,559 placed a lot of pressure on Zier Williams, Drake, Jakelrabia and David Roddy. 319 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:04,359 I shouldn't say, maybe so much pressure, but you're clearly invested in 320 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,480 like continuing to develop. What if that slows, Like could they decide to 321 00:20:08,519 --> 00:20:12,599 get involved and that I don't think, like we know many won't do it. 322 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:17,160 Milwaukee doesn't have the assets. New Orleans should not be interested. Okay, 323 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,400 see salary matching is too tough. I suppose Philly could all of a 324 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,680 sudden be interested, but aside from putting Tyres Maxie on the table like they 325 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,759 just don't have the pick equity to do it, Shoenix could be kind of 326 00:20:26,839 --> 00:20:30,519 interesting if they miss out on Kevin Durant. It's the middle of the year 327 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:36,119 January. DeAndre is now trade eligible. He can decline a trade, but 328 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,640 would he'd have a chance to be the guy in Utah and you could build 329 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,920 out picks with that. I don't know how you feel about having Chris Paul, 330 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,960 Donovan Mitchell, and Devin Booker, but Donovan Mitchell and Chris Paul are 331 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,960 tight and Dono Mitchell certainly gives you that your third ball handler. And look 332 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,920 the Timeline podcast, I believe I'd think it was them phrased it the best 333 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,359 way that the Suns have a third best player problem right now, where it's 334 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,960 very clearly DeAndre atan, But do you trust that he is the self creation 335 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,400 enough to offset what you're sort of losing or what it looked like you lacked 336 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,359 a lot in the not just this past postseason when you flamed out, but 337 00:21:07,799 --> 00:21:12,160 in the twenty one finals matchup with Milwaukee, you're smaller, But like Chris 338 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:17,759 Paul's getting up there in age. If you're allowed to keep Jay Crowder as 339 00:21:17,759 --> 00:21:19,279 part of that deal, you're definitely not keeping Cam Johnson. Is there a 340 00:21:19,279 --> 00:21:22,559 way to get Downlements without giving up Michael Bridges, because then that might make 341 00:21:22,559 --> 00:21:26,319 it a little bit more palatable, So that that's maybe a team I already 342 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:29,559 said I would love it if Orlando would get involved. Portland's not gonna get 343 00:21:29,559 --> 00:21:32,480 involved. I'll think Sacramental would get involved. That would be fucking wild. 344 00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:36,160 But does Washington figure out a way to increase the appeal of its offer. 345 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,079 Maybe Chris stops is like off to a scorching star, but the Wizards aren't 346 00:21:38,079 --> 00:21:41,960 good enough. I kind of thought momentarily, what if the Bulls got involved? 347 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,119 But they have de Rosen and Lavine and so like they've already traded away, 348 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:49,240 they're they're twenty twenty five pick, so they could and you can realistically 349 00:21:49,279 --> 00:21:55,160 expect that twenty twenty five pick to convey. It's top ten protected, so 350 00:21:55,279 --> 00:21:57,720 like you can sort of go the okay twenty seven and twenty nine and like 351 00:21:59,039 --> 00:22:03,839 twenty seven expires immediately if it doesn't convey, but it's it's protected so far 352 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:07,759 out that that even gets tough. So you only have Portland's twenty twenty three 353 00:22:07,799 --> 00:22:10,960 first, You're twenty twenty three first is headed to Orlando, and like you're 354 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,039 getting into a Lonzo Ball and Caruso. If Patrick Williams is involved and he's 355 00:22:14,039 --> 00:22:15,960 having a breakout year, okay, fine, but you need probably a way 356 00:22:17,039 --> 00:22:19,160 more than you need Donavan Mitchell. And so I'm looking at a team like 357 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,759 maybe Cleveland Washington just figuring out a way to be even more aggressive, Maybe 358 00:22:22,799 --> 00:22:27,519 Charlotte figures out a way to be even more aggressive. And of course then 359 00:22:27,519 --> 00:22:30,559 there's there's the Knicks. I mentioned the Raptors. Like it just feels like 360 00:22:32,039 --> 00:22:34,079 stuff happens in the season that changes everything, couldn't the Celtics, Let's just 361 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,480 say they get they miss on the Kevin Durant steps six, so they opt 362 00:22:37,519 --> 00:22:41,440 not to trade for Kevin Durant, which I don't I'm personally saying I don't 363 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,799 think they should. If it was like Jaalen Brown and salary filler. Straight 364 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,839 up, to get to that salary filler, it costs you a rotation player 365 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:52,359 though I might consider it. But let's just say they pass on Kevin Durand 366 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:56,079 or miss out on Kevin Durant, but then the season doesn't get like it's 367 00:22:56,119 --> 00:23:00,440 just their offense. Let's just say it's bunk. Do they consider like getting 368 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,519 in on Donovan Mitchell? Can they do that without giving up Jalon Brown? 369 00:23:03,759 --> 00:23:07,480 If they want to include r W three and Marcus Smart is in there? 370 00:23:07,559 --> 00:23:11,559 Would you even consider Jalen Brown for Mitchell straight up at that point, even 371 00:23:11,559 --> 00:23:15,920 though Wings are like most the most out after commodity in the NBA. I'm 372 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,599 not endorsing that, but I'm just saying that could that happen? Does something 373 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:22,000 open up with Brooklyn just like they decide that they want to move on from 374 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:26,079 Ben Simmons or kad Is. That's the other things like let's just say Katie's 375 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:30,000 not traded or and so a few things could happen, or Katie's not traded. 376 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,839 Maybe Kyrie Irving does get traded, maybe no one gets traded. Maybe 377 00:23:33,839 --> 00:23:36,880 everyone gets traded in Brooklyn, but Katie gets traded in the middle of the 378 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:38,240 year. Can you latch onto that third team deal? Because then Nets still 379 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,880 want to win. They want to out of Mitchell. Ben Simmons gets moved 380 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,079 elsewhere is in a situation where maybe the Nets have both Kyrie and Katie but 381 00:23:45,079 --> 00:23:48,359 they still want to go to the third ball handler approach. Wouldn't Utah be 382 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,759 interested in like a package built around Ben Simmons and other stuff. I don't 383 00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:55,640 think that that's particularly likely, but I'm just saying even a you know, 384 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:57,720 Dallas, he'd be perfect. But just like they're not going to be able 385 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:03,720 to get the pick equity they can give twenty twenty five basically twenty seven and 386 00:24:03,759 --> 00:24:07,119 twenty nine first round picks a swap in twenty six and twenty eight and twenty 387 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,920 four if they wanted to do that, and that's assuming they're picked to New 388 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,160 York conveys. But they just don't have the body equity. They have the 389 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,960 salaries to match, but Utah would have to really love you know, Josh 390 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,880 Green, Jade and Harvey, maybe Christian Wood a little bit. I'm just 391 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:26,799 saying there are scenarios that could arise in the middle of the season because teams 392 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:30,359 are going to be more reactive than they are right now when everything's sort of 393 00:24:30,519 --> 00:24:34,640 rosy, and so I just think there's a higher percentage chance. Then we're 394 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:40,119 speaking about right now that Donovan Mitchell is on the Jazz leading into the season, 395 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:41,599 and my guest, my ultimate guests, would be just because when you 396 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:45,319 look at the trade landscape right now, it doesn't feel like there's any team 397 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:49,759 that's gonna blow New York's best offer, even if it's not what you talk 398 00:24:49,799 --> 00:24:52,559 considers New York's best offer, like New York is, we know they're still 399 00:24:52,599 --> 00:24:56,880 holding assets back. I think even with New York taking a reserved approach, 400 00:24:56,039 --> 00:25:00,240 it doesn't seem like there's a team that can come really over the top beat 401 00:25:00,279 --> 00:25:03,680 them that would realistically be interested in Donna Mitchell. I think that could change 402 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:07,920 if you wait until the season. Would I predict it? I still wouldn't, 403 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,640 But let me know that right now it feels like New York is the 404 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:15,279 field. It wouldn't. It wouldn't shock me if the Jazz, if the 405 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,880 Jazz are gonna wind up waiting. I just think it's a possibility there, 406 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:23,279 and so let me know what you think about that. Subscribe and whatnot to 407 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,279 the podcast rate review. If you're listening to this on iTunes or Spotify or 408 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:30,119 another podcast player. If you're on YouTube, please hit the subscribe button helps 409 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,240 us out a ton in the like button. I actually did have one final 410 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,319 issue I wanted to get in here too, and it's like it was the 411 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:41,759 Zion Williamson contract. Details that leaked out in advance on the weekend came from 412 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:48,039 la dot Com that Williamson's contract features a clause that states he will have wag 413 00:25:48,079 --> 00:25:52,160 ins throughout the deal to measure his combined weight and body fat percentage to ensure 414 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,200 it doesn't exceed a total of two hundred and ninety five. If it does, 415 00:25:56,319 --> 00:26:00,599 guaranteed money in Zion's extension, which takes in not this coming season but 416 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,599 the next one, can be reduced. So this became like a thing on 417 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:08,359 Twitter and talk shows. Zion's apparently pissed off about it. That wasn't something 418 00:26:10,079 --> 00:26:11,559 I think he's pissed off, Maybe not even that it's out there, but 419 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:17,359 per William, Gillory of The Athletic was writing that Zion is annoyed that people 420 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,400 talk about his weight and that he doesn't actually have a problem with the fat 421 00:26:21,519 --> 00:26:26,519 jokes is what william wrote, but that he does take issue with people criticizing 422 00:26:26,559 --> 00:26:33,119 his work ethic as a result of the weight issues. So this is I 423 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:37,880 don't like this the clause existing, Like I kind of I understand it, 424 00:26:37,279 --> 00:26:41,599 because if you're worried about a player's weight, like these are professional athletes and 425 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:47,240 they get commoditized as these assets, which I hate, but like I kind 426 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,640 of understand trying to head your betch when he's been injured. I'd be curious 427 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,279 to see, like, is there any leeway if he does get injured, 428 00:26:52,559 --> 00:26:56,400 Like how hard is it to him to stay under combined two ninety five because 429 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,640 look two ninety five is he's listed. I'm looking right now at twenty four 430 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,400 and so that would be like a ten percent body fat percentage, which Stamon 431 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,759 Gundy once said per The Athletic that when he was coaching Zion, Zion was 432 00:27:07,799 --> 00:27:11,599 at the Pelicans have been worried that Zion puts on muscle. So well, 433 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,279 I'm just I think what I have the bigger issue. And look, there 434 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:21,839 are people that I respect who have talked about Zion's distance from New Orleans in 435 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,559 the past, his work ethic issue, him coming into training camp out of 436 00:27:25,559 --> 00:27:30,279 shape. I get all that, And you can't just say he's a twenty 437 00:27:30,279 --> 00:27:33,480 two year old kid because he is a professional athlete taking care of your body 438 00:27:33,559 --> 00:27:36,519 is going to be part and parcel of the job description here. That's the 439 00:27:36,559 --> 00:27:40,920 industry that you're in. I'm just I'm not with the body shaming of a 440 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,400 twenty two year old. I guess like he's twenty two. We have people 441 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,559 in their thirties forties sitting on their couch, like the Keyboard Warriors calling him 442 00:27:48,559 --> 00:27:52,880 fat, talking about the New Orleans food. That is regressive to me. 443 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,839 And even if Zion doesn't really have a problem with it, he's also a 444 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:57,519 human being, and so I get why he is pissed off that people are 445 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,519 like trying to equate this to a lack of work ethic. Could it be 446 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,920 maybe, But like the discourse around it, even if we're trying to be 447 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,079 more realistic than kind or even reasonable, because the discussion is not going to 448 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:15,400 go away. It just exists around professional athletes, there's a less destructive way 449 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,440 to have it. And I kind of, you know, like, again, 450 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:21,960 if I'm a twenty two year old, and most twenty two year olds 451 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:23,920 are not even in the NBA, are not in tune with their bodies to 452 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:27,839 the degree that the Pelicans are asking. But Zion, per the Athletics hired 453 00:28:27,839 --> 00:28:33,200 a personal chef is taking this seriously. Twenty two year olds in the NBA 454 00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:36,319 are not taking care of their bodies like you would think. Like we see 455 00:28:36,799 --> 00:28:40,119 a switch flipping later on in the career where players even who do take great 456 00:28:40,119 --> 00:28:42,279 care of their body. Not everyone's on Lebron And when did he, you 457 00:28:42,319 --> 00:28:47,240 know, start taking like real care of his body when we're talking about a 458 00:28:47,279 --> 00:28:49,640 meticulous diet and him spending over a million dollars per year on body maintenance, 459 00:28:49,839 --> 00:28:55,640 Chris Paul becoming vegan That happened in the middle early to mid thirties for him. 460 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,559 And so I get the zion as someone who has a unique body type 461 00:28:59,559 --> 00:29:02,559 needs to be more cognizant of it. And I get the criticism of if 462 00:29:02,559 --> 00:29:04,400 you're investing all this money in someone, you want them to be committed to 463 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:10,880 the franchise coming in to training camp in shape, but he really hasn't had 464 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,599 a healthy off season basically since he arrived in New Orleans. Doesn't that factor 465 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,880 into it at all? Again, there's probably fair criticisms to be made here. 466 00:29:18,079 --> 00:29:22,880 I just don't think we should troll him for being mad that people make 467 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,599 fun of his weight or that they think he's lazy. That is human behavior, 468 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,799 that is human emotion, and I feel very skiasy i make jokes on 469 00:29:30,839 --> 00:29:33,680 Twitter about players who are younger than me. I'm also not trying to say 470 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,759 that like my jokes are the types of jokes you could make. But as 471 00:29:36,799 --> 00:29:40,279 I've been in the industry a little bit longer and gotten a little bit older, 472 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,759 I try and I hope like getting away from the personal or something that's 473 00:29:44,799 --> 00:29:48,359 like could really be offensive or might be beyond the player's control. I'm not 474 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,640 saying that Zion can't take better care of his body, but it's not what 475 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,599 I'm saying. And I'm sure some of this is within the realm of possibility, 476 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,160 but like, this is someone who's so anomalous when you look at his 477 00:29:59,279 --> 00:30:03,279 build, could it just be tougher for him to keep the weight down and 478 00:30:03,319 --> 00:30:07,079 to hit this number than most. I guess the organization does think it's a 479 00:30:07,359 --> 00:30:11,680 that there's an element of a work ethic deficit here, or that there's a 480 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:12,799 reason this needs to be in it. Fine, we also knew it was 481 00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:15,599 going to come out, because everything comes out these days, literally just just 482 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,359 everything. This is not something we should be mad that came out. It 483 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,359 was inevitable. I'm sure z. I knew it was going to come out, 484 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,200 but I just feel like the reaction that it's a lack of self awareness. 485 00:30:25,279 --> 00:30:27,799 Someone told me on Twitter when I said that, this is just I 486 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,680 quote tweeted like the report abouts I being upset, like sources say, athletes 487 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,880 are human beings with real emotions. I'm just that is the stuff that gets 488 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,440 to me. It's like, we can't allow a player to be like, 489 00:30:41,079 --> 00:30:44,519 you know, emotionally offended by what people have said about his weight or his 490 00:30:44,559 --> 00:30:48,000 work ethic and yet there's the proven wrong mentality. But people like myself who 491 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:52,599 are not zoomed in on the situation should not be able to comment on what's 492 00:30:52,599 --> 00:30:55,640 happening behind the scenes and just assume because he looks one way, we don't 493 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:57,640 know what he's struggling with off the court. And it's even like with the 494 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:02,200 Julius Randall stuff this past year, I hate to equate everything the Knicks. 495 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,720 I was exceedingly hard on him and his body language to me was fucking disgusting. 496 00:31:06,079 --> 00:31:10,279 Now it's been said, and Knick's film schools noted this on multiple occasions. 497 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:11,799 I can't remember who else wrote about it that said I think maybe Fred 498 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,039 Katz had said something at the athletic I don't want to misattribute there, but 499 00:31:15,079 --> 00:31:21,359 that when players are struggling that mightily there's something else going on. And I 500 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,680 want to be you know, I want to be able to acknowledge that and 501 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:26,880 account for that. But a lot of the stuff when you looked at Julius 502 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,839 Randall that was happening on the court was feeling like he was trying to exist, 503 00:31:30,359 --> 00:31:33,319 like in an entirely different offensive ecosystem than the Knicks we're trying to run 504 00:31:33,359 --> 00:31:37,319 or that needed him to be in. Like, that's the stuff that you're 505 00:31:37,319 --> 00:31:40,400 going to criticize. Like, and I get that this is more basketball related. 506 00:31:40,799 --> 00:31:44,880 I just in the end, unless you have intimate knowledge of what's going 507 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,119 on, and unless you're willing to put a name to it, and it's 508 00:31:48,319 --> 00:31:49,880 I think the two need to be combined. It's not my name's on my 509 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:53,839 Twitter handles so I can call Zion obese. No, that's not how it 510 00:31:53,839 --> 00:31:57,160 works. If there's gonna be people who are close to the situation that are 511 00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:01,480 going to report about Zion as a teammate, or Zion's work ethic, or 512 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,759 about his weight struggles, put your fucking name to it. If that's going 513 00:32:05,799 --> 00:32:08,480 to be in a report like not oh the team in generals, because no, 514 00:32:08,559 --> 00:32:13,000 put your name on it. Like that's the whole anonymous sourcing thing provides 515 00:32:13,119 --> 00:32:15,839 unfair protection on certain instances. I get when it's a trade rumor or whatever. 516 00:32:15,839 --> 00:32:19,559 Fine, but when we're talking about like, oh yeah, I would 517 00:32:19,599 --> 00:32:24,039 take you know, fucking Dorian Finney Smith is a better I don't mean what 518 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:28,640 you're talking about like players, where no, I think Colin Sexton sucks, 519 00:32:29,119 --> 00:32:31,440 and like, put your name on that if you're if you're like plugged it 520 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,119 in and saying, oh, the Calves prefer Jenny Osman to context and I'm 521 00:32:35,119 --> 00:32:37,240 making sit up right now. So that's where my issue comes. I don't 522 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:42,200 really think that this is a rant insofar as it just makes me uncomfortable when 523 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:46,640 people are and I understand. I want to make it clear that women and 524 00:32:46,759 --> 00:32:52,839 others are objectified way more and harshly than professional athletes. So this is just, 525 00:32:53,279 --> 00:32:58,759 you know, an indictment on our entire society, but Zion specifically and 526 00:32:58,839 --> 00:33:01,519 the NBA specifically, because that's when I'm covering. It's a twenty two year 527 00:33:01,559 --> 00:33:07,079 old that we're all as adults gonna come in and call fat and say that 528 00:33:07,119 --> 00:33:09,720 he's lazy, and how many of us have been around or talking people close 529 00:33:09,799 --> 00:33:14,319 in the organization. And I really hope I don't get DMS because that invariably 530 00:33:14,319 --> 00:33:16,160 happens when I say things. I guess I should be happy that people are 531 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:21,240 listening, but it invariably I get their first time listeners. Maybe they're long 532 00:33:21,279 --> 00:33:23,559 time listeners. They come into my DMS and say like, well, I've 533 00:33:23,559 --> 00:33:28,720 actually heard from people who are like from the organization that's so and so actually 534 00:33:28,759 --> 00:33:31,000 wants out and like this and that, and like, okay, fine, 535 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:35,799 I'm talking about specifically. You know, if people are putting that out there 536 00:33:35,799 --> 00:33:37,920 themselves, is there a reason that you haven't put that out there? Then 537 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,839 if you're so close to these organizations and this is not it's again, it's 538 00:33:40,839 --> 00:33:46,000 just happened in other scenarios. I'm just it makes me uncomfortable. The discourse 539 00:33:46,039 --> 00:33:49,920 around what is the twenty two year old. I know it's different because of 540 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,480 the job that he has, and I know that these things are going to 541 00:33:52,519 --> 00:33:57,920 leak out. And there's certainly a conversation to be had about work ethic players 542 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,640 coming in shape, how they're playing their diet, Like there's a conversation that 543 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:06,720 we had. I don't think we need to be demeaning, devalu or like 544 00:34:06,839 --> 00:34:10,800 devaluing or deprecating and just assume that they all suck in general. It's like, 545 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:15,000 this isn't a James Harden situation either, where he was just very clearly 546 00:34:15,039 --> 00:34:17,920 trying to get out of off of Houston and then off of Brooklyn, Like 547 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,480 yeah, that shit, it was happening on the court and you saw it 548 00:34:22,199 --> 00:34:24,559 Zion struggling with his weight after missing a year because of injury, Like is 549 00:34:24,559 --> 00:34:29,480 that really a surprise. He's such an again, such an anomalous body type 550 00:34:29,599 --> 00:34:32,960 and human being. It's got to be harder to stay within that ten percent 551 00:34:34,519 --> 00:34:37,480 body fat range when you're not as active and you're dealing with what is an 552 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:42,559 injury that's going to definitely inhibit your activity. So that's where I land on 553 00:34:42,599 --> 00:34:45,159 it. It's not even just I'm disgusted by the clause. I would just 554 00:34:45,159 --> 00:34:47,679 be curious if something's happening, like is there a leeway if he's injured, 555 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:52,159 Like how hard is it if he's listed at two eighty four and you're just 556 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:53,960 telling him he has to be a ten percent in the entire time? It 557 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:58,920 should he get injured again. I know there's so I'm curious to see how 558 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:02,239 it gets enforced. And I know that this the structure seems unique because the 559 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:06,920 athletic gave examples and there weren't like big name players, and it doesn't seem 560 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:09,280 like this is very common. So you're investing in someone who's been injured. 561 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:13,440 I get it, three years in a career, has missed more than half 562 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,199 the games that he's eligible to play for through those three years, And I 563 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:20,239 get it. I get why it exists or why these discussions have to be 564 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,480 had. I just hope there's a more productive way to do it moving forward. 565 00:35:22,519 --> 00:35:27,519 When we recognize especially I'm not saying you should have carte blanche to criticize 566 00:35:27,599 --> 00:35:30,679 Lebron not going low enough on squats because he's in his late thirties. I'm 567 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:35,719 not saying that either, Like we need that better discussions about this, especially 568 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:40,199 when like we're not, when we're uninformed intimately on this subject, when we 569 00:35:40,199 --> 00:35:44,639 can't you can't tell me specifically, If you can't tell me specifically what's happening 570 00:35:44,639 --> 00:35:47,039 behind the scenes, what he's struggling with. Is he just coming in with 571 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:52,039 you know, two dozen bennets as a pre workout meal every single day and 572 00:35:52,159 --> 00:35:54,559 is refusing to work out away from the court. It doesn't seem like that's 573 00:35:54,559 --> 00:35:58,559 the issue because the Pelicans are worried about how quickly he was gaining muscles for 574 00:35:58,639 --> 00:36:01,000 the athletic So I guess that turned into a rant and I don't Again, 575 00:36:01,039 --> 00:36:04,920 it's not with the clause, and I'm not saying that Zion has been this 576 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:10,480 beacon of like good health or work ethic. Honestly, I don't know. 577 00:36:10,519 --> 00:36:14,360 I know jj Reddick had said on ESPN, and for him to say that 578 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:16,320 and put his name on it at the time that he was there or that 579 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,960 he knew for a fact, and when he wasn't there that like Zion seemed 580 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:22,199 like a distant teammate. It's also weird when you're injured and you're a twenty 581 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:24,679 two year old. It's twenty something year old who has like the hopes of 582 00:36:24,679 --> 00:36:29,199 the franchise on the shoulders, and everyone's reporting shit without actually talking to you. 583 00:36:29,519 --> 00:36:31,719 I get the frustration here, and it's compounded by the fact that everyone 584 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:37,559 was talking about his future and assigning stances to his name without really ever hearing 585 00:36:37,599 --> 00:36:40,239 from him. I'm not saying all those are wrong because there aren't people I 586 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:45,960 trust who very much believed that there was an issue with Zion and how he 587 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:49,480 felt about New Orleans and just the distance to him in the organization, and 588 00:36:49,519 --> 00:36:52,039 did this injury change that at all because he wanted to guarantee himself some long 589 00:36:52,159 --> 00:36:55,199 term security. It's not me saying Zion is perfect. This is more so 590 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:59,519 just like I'm repeating myself here, I hope that we can be a little 591 00:36:59,519 --> 00:37:04,000 bit more like we need to continue doing a better job of humanizing professional athletes 592 00:37:04,039 --> 00:37:08,039 and so many other people put professional athletes, NBA players in general. Is 593 00:37:08,079 --> 00:37:10,719 what we're talking about here. That is actually at this time. I hope 594 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:15,599 you all enjoyed my incoherent rambling at the end. Please remember to rate, 595 00:37:15,599 --> 00:37:17,360 review, and subscribe to this wherever you are consuming us, YouTube, your 596 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:21,920 podcast player. I don't know where else you would be consuming us besides the 597 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:23,679 podcast player or YouTube if it's you know, if you're listening to this on 598 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:28,760 TikTok, I didn't post it there so, but please also follow us on 599 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:31,159 all the socials those are in the podcast description. Join our discord if you 600 00:37:31,159 --> 00:37:35,119 want priority when it comes to mailback questions, answer. The links to that 601 00:37:35,159 --> 00:37:37,679 are in our YouTube channel descriptions and in all of the podcast description. Until 602 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:39,719 next time, and as always, have you with the shout out to the 603 00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:46,199 one, the only, the pinnacle of work ethic in the NBA, Frank Nila Keeter