1 00:00:15,279 --> 00:00:19,440 What is crack lack in pillow therma nuclear a effort. I am Damn Falley 2 00:00:19,519 --> 00:00:23,440 coming at you with my certified fantabulous co host, mister Grant Hughes. We 3 00:00:23,559 --> 00:00:27,719 have more awesomes and grades the Pacific Division Part five or six. Very quickly 4 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,440 subscribe if you haven't already. Across YouTube, Apple, Spotify, comment on 5 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,640 all our videos on YouTube. Help the algorithm of us back ratings and reviews 6 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,679 on Apple. Written reviews along with the ratings Go a Long Way ratings on 7 00:00:38,719 --> 00:00:42,200 Spotify help. Please follow us on all the socials at Hardwood Knox, on 8 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:47,000 TikTok and Twitter, at Hardwoo, Underscore Knox on Instagram. Support the show 9 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:50,759 by purchasing our merch The link to the stores in the podcast and YouTube descriptions. 10 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,280 Join our discord the link to that is in the podcast and YouTube description. 11 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,240 And if you've done all or most of those things and you're subscribed, 12 00:00:57,479 --> 00:01:00,159 consider recommending us share the episode, share the shorts and the TikTok's that we're 13 00:01:00,159 --> 00:01:04,079 throwing out there any way to help us continue growing while we're in this like 14 00:01:04,159 --> 00:01:07,879 Twitter death spiral where it's hard to really get our podcasts seen by new people 15 00:01:07,879 --> 00:01:12,439 outside of TikTok and YouTube. Grant, that was a sub one minute intro. 16 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,640 How the hell are you doing? I'm doing great. We just had 17 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:21,079 a terrific Jim Shorts conversation offline, which we're not doing any of the brands 18 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,040 because we're not sponsored by them. And if, if, if the good 19 00:01:23,079 --> 00:01:26,400 people at companies X, Y and Z want to sponsor us. Yeah, 20 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,799 because we get some of your A sponsorships. Maybe a gym shark ghost would 21 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,280 be great if my energy drinks could be paid for. It turned into we 22 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:41,000 went from Jim Shorts to some pretty existential shit conversation about death as you do 23 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:46,159 as you do. As a brief reminder, the criteria for anyone who gets 24 00:01:46,159 --> 00:01:49,040 mad a C is average is an average offseason. I'm not saying people are 25 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,799 gonna get mad, but please just take that into consideration. Grant, are 26 00:01:53,799 --> 00:01:57,079 you able to take us through our first team of the Pacific Division? Yes, 27 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,079 this is the Golden State Warriors. Price in my home bias now because 28 00:02:01,159 --> 00:02:05,920 that's how it's going to go. The big move traded Jordan Pool, Patrick 29 00:02:05,959 --> 00:02:09,039 Baldwin junior, Ryan Rawlins a top twenty protected, twenty thirty first rounder. 30 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:14,039 Hilarious, great, pick to trade and a twenty twenty seven second to the 31 00:02:14,039 --> 00:02:17,120 Wizards for Chris Paul Draymond Green is back on a four year, one hundred 32 00:02:17,159 --> 00:02:22,879 million dollar contract. Dario Starch and Corey Joseph are on board at the minimum. 33 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,400 The Warriors drafted Brandon Pajemski at number nineteen and Trace Jackson Davis at number 34 00:02:28,479 --> 00:02:32,360 fifty seven. Jackson Davis is represented by Mike Dunleavy, the Golden State Warriors 35 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:38,879 new top executives brother. So that's interesting. Don Leavy replaces Bob Myers, 36 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:43,240 who I don't know how much credit you give executives for team success, but 37 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,919 he I think fairly deserves a lot of ESPN's Bob Myers. Bob Myers newly 38 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:53,039 employed or newly reemployed at ESPN. So dun Levy and Bob Meyer's out. 39 00:02:53,719 --> 00:02:57,879 It still seems like it's going to be kind of a collective decision making body. 40 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:01,840 Dante Divincenzo's gone signed with the Knicks, Ty Jerome Gone signed with the 41 00:03:01,879 --> 00:03:06,520 Cavs. Jamichael Green, Andrea Goodala Anthony Lamb. As far as I know, 42 00:03:06,719 --> 00:03:10,080 all three remain unsigned. I think that's still the case. Iguodala may 43 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,439 retire. I don't know if that's been officially stated yet, but I think 44 00:03:13,439 --> 00:03:16,360 that's the way things are pointing. Uh, quite a quite a bit of 45 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:21,240 activity online and some you know, a little bit of everything with the interesting 46 00:03:21,319 --> 00:03:25,919 draft picks, big trade, significant resigning that seemed a little bit uncertain as 47 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:30,639 far as Green goes. All told, I think this team is significantly better. 48 00:03:30,759 --> 00:03:35,560 This is a B plus for me. I am concerned about the Myers 49 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,360 void and the Chris Paul fit. We can talk about any of that stuff, 50 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,680 but B plus for me. Where where are you on this? Uh, 51 00:03:44,039 --> 00:03:46,960 this Warrior's offseason? I'm pretty high on it too. When you're a 52 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:51,000 bad Warriors fan, I think if you support like the Chris Paul acquisition, 53 00:03:51,039 --> 00:03:54,319 and that's just like they gave up if if that first round or conveys, 54 00:03:54,319 --> 00:03:57,919 I know you're saying, hey, you just signed pool to this extension, 55 00:03:58,199 --> 00:04:00,560 you turn around and then have to give up a first roun pick to get 56 00:04:00,639 --> 00:04:03,719 him, It's like it's a fake for if you couldn't vey it like something 57 00:04:03,759 --> 00:04:09,039 has gone incredibly right for you down the line, And I think that's a 58 00:04:09,039 --> 00:04:12,080 big deal. I'm just everything kind of. I think they played the Draymond 59 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,120 Green extension right clearly from by not giving him one to end up at four 60 00:04:15,159 --> 00:04:16,959 years, one hundred million. It is perfectly fine. There's a trade kicker, 61 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,439 it escalates. That's like some stuff too consider But I think that that 62 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,439 deal is I don't think it's a home I think it's just mark. I 63 00:04:24,439 --> 00:04:26,959 think it's what Draymond Green could be worth over the next four years, which 64 00:04:26,959 --> 00:04:30,720 is absolutely perfect. It's just a question of how do you view the Paul 65 00:04:30,759 --> 00:04:32,720 deal. If you believed in Jordan Pool, then you're not gonna like the 66 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:35,879 Paul deal. I did not believe in Jordan Pool, and I think getting 67 00:04:35,879 --> 00:04:42,240 out of that contract without having to give up a top nineteen first rounder is 68 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,240 a big deal because Chris Paul can still play, and just my question. 69 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,920 And I think it does impact how you view the off season, unless you're 70 00:04:47,959 --> 00:04:50,279 like, oh, why haven't they signed Clay to an extension yet, which 71 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,319 I'm just not. You know, if they signed to an extension, it's 72 00:04:54,319 --> 00:04:57,040 probably because he's taking like massive pay cuts. I think they're gonna play it 73 00:04:57,079 --> 00:05:00,920 like they did Green anyway, I like it. I really think Golden State, 74 00:05:00,959 --> 00:05:03,480 even dating back to the Kevin Durant error, I had put this in 75 00:05:03,519 --> 00:05:08,600 one of my articles, they have sucked on offense whatever Steph Curry is off 76 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,600 the floor. There were certain lineups that had Kevin Durant without Curry that worked. 77 00:05:11,759 --> 00:05:14,480 I want to make that clear. Chris Paul is a million years old, 78 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,519 but if you're willing to run pick and roll, slow things down in 79 00:05:17,519 --> 00:05:21,519 the half court a little bit more, he can steer you to a league 80 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,720 average offense without Steph Curry on the floor. So my two questions are just 81 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,199 are they gonna let him play pick and roll with? Okay, who is 82 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,519 it Draymond? Is it Jonathan Cominga? It's probably not Dario Scharitch, So 83 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,720 that's a question. And then what does it look like during the Steph and 84 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:41,120 Chris Paul minutes? Is that gonna be what you potentially close with or no, 85 00:05:41,199 --> 00:05:44,360 you're gonna go with the duel Big and Cavan Luny and and Draymond Green 86 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,319 without having any answers. I still think it was a very fair and measured 87 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:53,560 by the way gamble to make and so I went with an A minus here. 88 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,839 Okay, I think those are those are the questions to ask, and 89 00:05:56,879 --> 00:06:00,920 it really you could even distill it further to say, what role is Chris 90 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,000 Paul willing to play, I think, because I do think I don't really 91 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:08,199 have any doubt that Steve Kerr will run pick and roll with Chris Paul, 92 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,240 like, well, if you have Chris Paul, like, what else are 93 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,519 you doing? Right? You put the ball in his hands, and well, 94 00:06:14,879 --> 00:06:16,720 right, except this this time there's the guy who's making the decisions. 95 00:06:16,759 --> 00:06:23,120 Can can handle it? I think basically, if the theory is that Chris 96 00:06:23,199 --> 00:06:27,079 Paul is willing to come off the bench and is willing to go like god 97 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,680 knows how long between getting to close, because I don't think he makes a 98 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:36,319 lot of sense and against many teams as a closer, If he's willing to 99 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:42,120 just embrace that role, this should work because Paul is going to I mean, 100 00:06:42,519 --> 00:06:45,959 the Warriors would have killed to be break even in the non Steff minutes, 101 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,199 you know, for years and years and years, And I think it's 102 00:06:48,319 --> 00:06:53,600 it's not a big ask to have Chris Paul and some some combination of reserves 103 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:58,720 and starters play break even basketball for like, you know, the beginning of 104 00:06:58,759 --> 00:07:02,000 the second quarter, the beginning of the fourth, which you know is when 105 00:07:02,079 --> 00:07:04,959 Steph typically rests. That has changed some over the years, but that's the 106 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:10,079 idea and the theory of this team. Just it makes much more sense without 107 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,279 Pool because now all of your biggest problems, turnovers being a huge one, 108 00:07:15,839 --> 00:07:19,439 late game decision making being another, if you've got Paul to sort of mitigate 109 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,399 that. As long as he's willing to play the role that I think makes 110 00:07:23,399 --> 00:07:26,879 the most sense for the team, you know, maybe this should be an 111 00:07:26,879 --> 00:07:30,199 a minus for me. I just the Myers thing. I don't know how 112 00:07:30,199 --> 00:07:31,319 to do that. It's like, I don't need there enough money to offer 113 00:07:31,399 --> 00:07:33,879 him, and they didn't. It doesn't sound like it. It seems like 114 00:07:33,879 --> 00:07:38,360 he was just kind of burnt, which if you've been with this team over 115 00:07:38,399 --> 00:07:42,480 the years, like there have been some like thorny situations, like it's been 116 00:07:42,519 --> 00:07:46,600 hard to deal with. So I don't begrudge him that at all. I 117 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,319 just wonder you never know, You never know how much a lead executive matters, 118 00:07:49,399 --> 00:07:54,639 especially in a front office that's like getting input from the prides itself on 119 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,000 collaborative decision making. It you don't know what one guy really means. And 120 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:03,519 the fact that they got the green deal done without Myers really being super involved, 121 00:08:03,519 --> 00:08:07,279 it seemed like that's that's a positive. I think, Yeah, so 122 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,879 yeah, I think I think if any if I were moving this grade, 123 00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:13,600 i'd move it up. It feels like B plus is probably maybe a bit 124 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,959 of an under cell, but there are there are uncertainties, I guess is 125 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,240 where i'd leave it. I think, yeah, the B plus is fine. 126 00:08:20,279 --> 00:08:24,199 And also I also waited like it's clear that Chris Paul is a more 127 00:08:24,319 --> 00:08:28,040 infery attractive human trade exception than Jordan Poole. So if the Warriors really wanted 128 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,320 to make a bigger swing and look at moving Moody and Commander or some of 129 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,000 the picks, that they can still move later in the season when they have 130 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,799 a better idea of who they are or who's available. I think that Chris 131 00:08:37,879 --> 00:08:41,879 Paul's salary and his contract, the way it's set up, makes it easier 132 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,919 to do that, which absolutely matters. Did you have any thoughts on the 133 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:50,639 brandan the Pods pick. Well, he couldn't shoot it at all in summer 134 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:52,799 League. I don't know how much weight you put into that, because he 135 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:58,320 did shoot it fine in college. I just as a as a departure from 136 00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:01,159 let's take some shots on really good athletes, you know, Wiseman kaminga. 137 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,919 Moody's not quite the same, or you know, really highly regarded high school 138 00:09:05,919 --> 00:09:11,600 prospects like Patrick Baldwin Jr. Was a ridiculously highly rated high school prospect, 139 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,559 got hurt, flamed out. I think he still may be a decent NBA 140 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:18,159 player because he can shoot it. Pajimski is like the complete opposite, where 141 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,279 he's kind of someone that just figures out how to win, makes the right 142 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:26,120 passes, like that kind of thing. If he can't score, you know, 143 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,120 either in the lane with his floaters or make open shots, then I 144 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:33,279 don't know how much he helps. But he is like I can understand, 145 00:09:33,399 --> 00:09:37,399 and I can understand how the Warriors would justify a player like him who has 146 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,480 like high i Q and understands how you know, all the intangible stuff, 147 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,879 right. I wouldn't count on him to help, you know, almost at 148 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:48,559 all as a rookie, just because one, he's a rookie. In two 149 00:09:48,799 --> 00:09:56,080 I think athletically he might have some trouble just kind of adjusting. But yeah, 150 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,440 I like the I mean he went to Santa Clara. I feel like 151 00:09:58,519 --> 00:10:01,080 that should we should have started with that disclaimer, so listeners don't know that 152 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,799 is Grant's album matter. So I favor him. I support him. I 153 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,720 mean he went to I can't think of anyone other than Jalen Williams that went 154 00:10:07,759 --> 00:10:11,519 there, so, you know, other than like one of my five favorite 155 00:10:11,519 --> 00:10:16,879 players ever. So yeah, I think I wouldn't count on him, but 156 00:10:16,919 --> 00:10:20,120 I like the pick in theory. I guess i'd put it that way. 157 00:10:20,159 --> 00:10:22,200 I don't know enough about him to care or not. I just don't think 158 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,799 there was no one drafted after him. I'm like, oh, like fuck, 159 00:10:24,879 --> 00:10:28,600 Like the Warrior shouldn't went that direct. I mean, can Whitmore went 160 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,720 right after him. That's that would be That would be a very team. 161 00:10:31,919 --> 00:10:35,240 He was just traded Jordan Pool and now we're gonna like do the can Whitmore 162 00:10:35,279 --> 00:10:39,039 experience here? So and we're not sure about Jonathan COMINGI yet. I mean 163 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:43,360 it's he's still ridiculous potential, but now we're getting a little deep into the 164 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,279 career and it hasn't happened yet. So yeah, I get it. Are 165 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,879 you want to do the Clippers? Yeah, let's move on to the Clippers, 166 00:10:48,919 --> 00:10:52,240 who did a ship ton of nothing. So they waved Eric Gordon and 167 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:56,639 it saved them nine figures in their attacks bill. They resigned Russell Westbrook to 168 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:01,000 a two year deal using non bird rights with a player off for twenty four 169 00:11:01,159 --> 00:11:03,559 twenty five, They resigned Mason Plumley to a one year, five million dollars 170 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,639 deal. They drafted Kobe Brown at number thirty. They drafted Jordan Miller at 171 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,039 number forty eight and signed him to a two way contract, and they signed 172 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:16,600 Musa Diabete to a two way contract as well. The things that are kind 173 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,240 of hanging over this team that I think, unless I've missed anything already, 174 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,879 is the James Harden trade rumors. He only wants to go there. The 175 00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:26,200 Clippers apparently don't want to include Terrence Man, and then both Kawai and Paul 176 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,000 George are extension eligible. I don't know where you ended up as a grade. 177 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,200 I'm actually giving them a higher one that I would have if they extended 178 00:11:33,519 --> 00:11:39,240 these guys because I respect just not defaulting too. They just haven't played enough 179 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:43,080 together. Like there there's a discussion to be had about the way we talk 180 00:11:43,639 --> 00:11:46,440 about load management and injuries with the Clippers, because whenever we talk about it 181 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,600 with other players, it does feel like, look, the teams are making 182 00:11:50,639 --> 00:11:54,720 this decision, but when it's Kawai and PG, it's always framed almost as 183 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:58,120 if they're the ones that are actively deciding not to play, which feels a 184 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,559 little egregious. But then I'm like, is this a smoke fire situation? 185 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:05,639 So I think it's good they didn't side them to an extension yet unless they 186 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,879 were completely favorable team terms, because they just don't know that these guys are 187 00:12:09,879 --> 00:12:13,519 going to be available together when it matters most. I mean, I mean 188 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,360 I would push back. I think we do know whether they're going to be 189 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,159 they are, they will not because they just haven't been. So yeah, 190 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,240 no, we've been doing this too long together. I think I've been. 191 00:12:24,519 --> 00:12:28,120 We're you know, guilty of groupthink. My grade, my grade is a 192 00:12:28,159 --> 00:12:31,480 C plus, which is not like through the roof or anything. But it 193 00:12:31,519 --> 00:12:35,559 would be lower if they had Max extended either of those guys just because you 194 00:12:35,639 --> 00:12:39,840 can't in good conscience commit whatever it would be you know, four more years 195 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:45,759 or even you know, three plus one or whatever at ridiculous rates for guys 196 00:12:45,759 --> 00:12:48,639 that just like they just don't play. You just keep you can't do it. 197 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,320 So and honestly, I was gonna ask you, is your grade higher 198 00:12:52,399 --> 00:12:56,200 or lower if Harden is a part of this team. I mean, it 199 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,200 depends on the package, but you know, because of what they could give 200 00:12:58,279 --> 00:13:01,000 up, is they're really a bad Like if they're trading Paul George, we 201 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,200 can get into it. But is there a bad James Harden package that they 202 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,960 that they could wind up giving. I mean probably not. It would be 203 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:16,320 more based on the idea that just over the last several years James Harden has 204 00:13:16,399 --> 00:13:20,000 just kind of left places worse than he found them. So you know, 205 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,879 we're not and we've talked about this with Kyrie a lot too. It's just 206 00:13:22,919 --> 00:13:26,279 like, do you want to be in the James Harden business for any reason? 207 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:30,240 And now that's like a real question I think. I mean, James 208 00:13:30,279 --> 00:13:33,559 Harden's really good last year. I mean offensively, he had a very good 209 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:37,879 season. I just he's to that point now where for me, it's almost 210 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:43,240 like the circumstances have to be really specific and well tailored for me to even 211 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,600 entertain the idea of him being on my team because of what that means. 212 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:52,159 Like maybe it's different because you have Kawai and you have Paul George, but 213 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,240 you know you had Joel and Harden wants to play a certain way. You 214 00:13:54,279 --> 00:13:56,440 know you're going to get certain things from him, you know, You're definitely 215 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,480 not going to get certain things from him, and it's not like he can 216 00:14:00,519 --> 00:14:05,080 transition gracefully into a smaller He's like the least scalable guy in some senses. 217 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:11,399 He's I think he might be the least scalable player in the league, not 218 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,120 to say he doesn't. The Sixers were great with him, the Nets were 219 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,440 great with him, the Rockets were great with him. But like, we've 220 00:14:16,519 --> 00:14:18,840 yet to see him. Joel Embiad's probably the closest he's come to taking a 221 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,679 step back, and that was still more your turn, my turn stuff. 222 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,200 Then. Yes, I know he upped his catch and shoot percentage a little 223 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,000 bit, but this is not someone who's proven that they can play off the 224 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:31,759 ball. It's unders necessarily willing to do that. I just they need to 225 00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:35,440 playmaking. I'm concerned with how slow they would play, but they have Russ 226 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,679 for that, and look Karen's mann and Jack's pace. They don't use him 227 00:14:39,759 --> 00:14:41,759 enough as it is. And so like, I mean, if you have 228 00:14:41,799 --> 00:14:45,120 to give up, I'm just doing it. I will say, is it 229 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,360 you don't? You still make the trade. But I guess like Russ and 230 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,960 James Harden are still cool. Well yeah, I mean the fact that like 231 00:14:52,039 --> 00:14:54,879 that's like fourth or fifth down the list of questions you have, you know, 232 00:14:56,120 --> 00:15:00,399 and that's a significant one. Says a lot about kind of the ship 233 00:15:00,519 --> 00:15:03,159 that you're in for if you put this player on this team, I think 234 00:15:03,159 --> 00:15:05,879 I think I do it too, just because what is it ultimately going to. 235 00:15:05,919 --> 00:15:09,279 It's like Terrence Man is the deal breaker. We both like him a 236 00:15:09,279 --> 00:15:11,399 lot, but really, like you could you know, again, I was 237 00:15:11,399 --> 00:15:16,120 talking about the specific circumstances with respect to Harden. This is these are kind 238 00:15:16,159 --> 00:15:20,240 of the circumstances where the idea would be you lighten the load on Kauai and 239 00:15:20,279 --> 00:15:28,000 Paul George and having two other, you know, really established playmaking wings just 240 00:15:28,879 --> 00:15:33,799 that can both defend like that. Maybe this is pretty close to like how 241 00:15:33,879 --> 00:15:37,399 you would want your situation to be to accommodate James. Harden doesn't answer any 242 00:15:37,399 --> 00:15:41,240 of the playoff questions, and it doesn't answer any of the durability questions, 243 00:15:41,279 --> 00:15:43,000 which he also has not to the degree of the other two. Between the 244 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,720 three of them, it's like, oh, we'll get it. He's a 245 00:15:45,799 --> 00:15:48,639 rock of them will be available in the playoffs, right. There's also something 246 00:15:48,759 --> 00:15:52,720 uniquely terrifying about all three of those guys just getting free agency in the same 247 00:15:52,759 --> 00:15:56,279 offseason. Probably well that too. I was thinking from the coaches perspective, 248 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,240 having to deal with like the just alpha's all over the place. You didn't 249 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,879 give a grade. I was a C plus. Where are you on? 250 00:16:02,919 --> 00:16:06,399 I wanted to see just because I don't know what they did that's above average, 251 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,039 I guess if you want to say the russ deal. But I also 252 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,600 kind of assume, like, well, there's this is the early bird right 253 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,159 situated. We were just gonna have to pay him later. I think bringing 254 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,799 him back was good. I'm Mason plumbly, I'm indifferent too, Like, 255 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:19,440 I don't know, you could you've gotten a better big for that price point. 256 00:16:19,759 --> 00:16:23,000 I mean, I like Bismac biondo better and he's still floating around unsigned, 257 00:16:23,039 --> 00:16:26,159 but you can't ding him for it. It's just everything they acted and 258 00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:30,159 the Eric Gordon stuff. Yeah, she would keep Eric Gordon. But when 259 00:16:30,159 --> 00:16:33,320 it's gonna cost you two hundred million dollars to have Eric Gordon, I get 260 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:34,559 it. Yeah, I get it. So it's just like, yes, 261 00:16:34,639 --> 00:16:37,039 I it's not my money, so they should have kept him because he was 262 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:41,399 really important. But I'm not gonna like give them an extra demerit because they 263 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,399 didn't want to pay one hundred and fifty million dollars like they wanted to say 264 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,240 they shouldn't say Eric Gordon didn't drive up the price day they could have looked 265 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,519 for yo, That's something you could get into. Could they have been more 266 00:16:51,519 --> 00:16:53,480 aggressive in finding a new home for like Marcus Morris and then been able to 267 00:16:53,559 --> 00:16:57,120 keep Eric Gordon? Like was there some sort of compensation He's on an expiring 268 00:16:57,159 --> 00:17:03,120 contract, Like you couldn't have done something with OKC or Detroit or the Spurs 269 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,920 or something. So just to see nothing they did this offseason impressed me. 270 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:11,640 And but there's also the level of incomplete because of the James Harden trade rumors. 271 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:15,559 Yeah, I think I went to C plus just because they didn't immediately 272 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,440 extend Kawai and Paul George and that matters that kept that kind of kept them 273 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,720 above water for me though, because like what else did they do? I 274 00:17:22,799 --> 00:17:25,599 guess you really have to like the Rust deal. I just I can't bring 275 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,119 myself. It was an average. They couldn't do a lot, but they 276 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,119 didn't do anything that you look at and go oh wow, like nice job. 277 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:33,960 And if the best thing they did was not signed their two best players 278 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,640 two extensions. It's like, all right, like what is the bar here? 279 00:17:37,599 --> 00:17:41,799 Yeah, all right, let's hit the other LA team. I think 280 00:17:41,799 --> 00:17:44,200 I have them, So I'm glad I have your sheet here too, because 281 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,839 I did not have the Anthony Davis extension on here. Three years, one 282 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,160 hundred and seventy seven point one million goes through his age thirty four season, 283 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,920 and he's got a player option on twenty seven twenty eight. In addition to 284 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,480 that, got Austin Reaves back for four years fifty three point eight million with 285 00:17:57,519 --> 00:18:03,079 a player option on last. You're there just I mean, one of my 286 00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:06,359 favorite deals of the off season. I think you're there with me. Rud 287 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,480 Hatchmura for three years and fifty one don't love it as much. Not Terrible 288 00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:12,519 signed De'angelo Russell for two years and thirty six million with the player option. 289 00:18:12,559 --> 00:18:17,400 I think critically he doesn't have veto rights on a trade, so giving that 290 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,640 up was a big deal. That's a big win. I think Gabe Vincent 291 00:18:19,799 --> 00:18:25,000 on board from Miami for three years and thirty three Torre and Prince Late of 292 00:18:25,079 --> 00:18:29,079 the Timberwolves for a year and four point five million. Jackson Hayes and camera 293 00:18:29,079 --> 00:18:33,400 ads for the minimum outgoing Dennis Shrewder, Troy Brown, Junior, Malik Beasley, 294 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:37,680 Lonnie Walker the fourth and Mo Bamba drafted Jalen hood Shafino at seventeen and 295 00:18:37,759 --> 00:18:41,599 Maxwell Lewis at forty. Trying to see if I missed anything else. I 296 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:47,880 think that's other than some later draft selling and buying picks, I think that's 297 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:52,599 pretty much it. They porely like Maxwell Lewis, who was at number forty. 298 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,799 I look, this was a very good off season for the Lakers. 299 00:18:56,839 --> 00:19:00,839 I'm mad at other NBA teams. I mentioned probably on multiple podcast that they 300 00:19:00,839 --> 00:19:03,920 didn't make them pay more for Austin Reeves. I'm fine with the Daniel Russell 301 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,519 deal that's built to be moved. I know there's the player option on it, 302 00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:08,519 but he can't veto a trade. It's just such a low number in 303 00:19:08,599 --> 00:19:12,319 the cur like it's it's maybe twelve percent of the salary cap next summer. 304 00:19:12,599 --> 00:19:17,240 So and look, he's still like he's had. He had an efficient scoring 305 00:19:17,279 --> 00:19:19,319 season kind of before he came to LA, and so there might be teams 306 00:19:19,319 --> 00:19:23,599 that just value that. I gave them an a minus kind of spoiling the 307 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,200 lead here. I don't know what move there wasn't like other than I would 308 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,519 not have taken Jail Andhood Shaffino, Like you need someone. I know we're 309 00:19:30,519 --> 00:19:33,400 talking about rookies on a team that maybe wouldn't play them, and I know 310 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:38,880 he gives you like maybe that capslock wing defender, but this team needs spacing. 311 00:19:40,039 --> 00:19:41,720 And I thought the Torreon Prince deal was great. Austin Reeves is going 312 00:19:41,759 --> 00:19:45,799 to give you some of that, but you're still just not chock full of 313 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,799 Oh, we have good shooters, and if you're gonna try at all to 314 00:19:48,799 --> 00:19:52,720 play Anthony Davis with another big Gabe Vinson's considered three indeed, but we've seen 315 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,839 his three point percentage slump a little bit. Ruey Hotchmore is not that guy. 316 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,480 I also considered a B plus because I don't love the Ruey Hotchremore a 317 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,119 deal. Very good offseason for the Lakers, but I just thought that was 318 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,279 like who was giving him that type of money? And you're banking a lot 319 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,799 on what you saw kind of in the later season and during the playoffs, 320 00:20:10,799 --> 00:20:14,160 and even that is just like there's a clear ceiling on that. Dude. 321 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:15,319 Is he a part of your most important lineups? And the answer is just 322 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:21,000 gonna be no, most likely, but the value they got for like Gabe 323 00:20:21,039 --> 00:20:26,240 Vincinette Austin Reeves a plus plus deal, the Torrian Prince absolute home run. 324 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,119 So just the jail and hood Shaffino stuff just makes it a little. I 325 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,640 take an issue with that more than the Ruey deal, because at least we've 326 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,759 seen, like, okay, Ruey kind of works as a as a play 327 00:20:34,759 --> 00:20:38,359 finisher, and I just I would have liked to see the Lakers been like, 328 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:42,000 well, let's either move up or out of this spot entirely, not 329 00:20:42,079 --> 00:20:45,359 that they needed to acquire a veteran or because they've just rolled the dice on. 330 00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:48,559 They were never gonna be a cam wit More team, that's fair, 331 00:20:48,599 --> 00:20:52,519 But like Haimi Hawkes feels like he would have made more sense Pods even went 332 00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:56,039 to the Warriors we just talked about. I actually even would have looked at 333 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,319 Noah Clowney here just a sort of like a rim protecting stretch. Big is 334 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,240 he able to fit with a d Why was Chris Murray not on their radar? 335 00:21:03,319 --> 00:21:07,880 And I think even Olivier Max Deen's prosper is just someone who or even 336 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,400 Marcus Aster, I don't really particularly like him, but like they were just 337 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,759 better shooters on the board, and in oh Max's case, not a much 338 00:21:15,799 --> 00:21:18,960 better shooter. I trust his jump shot long term, but like someone who 339 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,599 still would have brought you that defensive value as well. I think I think 340 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,160 generally speaking, the Hood Shapino pick was pretty widely panned by you know, 341 00:21:26,279 --> 00:21:30,880 especially draft evaluators that are more analytically based. So I mean, I guess 342 00:21:32,079 --> 00:21:33,400 I'm an A minus two. I knocked it down. I think more for 343 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,119 the Hotsimura deal that I didn't really love. I would just add, though 344 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:41,400 I agree with everything you said, I would add that you know, if 345 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,640 you're gonna sign guys for the minimum and you're not sure you're gonna play him, 346 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,160 but if you do, you might only ask him to do one or 347 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:52,880 two things. I love Jackson Hayes and Cameraddish as just like let's see, 348 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,519 you know, maybe Jackson Hayes is like a fourth big or he might be 349 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,079 higher than that in the rotation. Like there's still obvious like physical talent with 350 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,920 both of those guys, and they mostly haven't been on good teams. And 351 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,319 I think for someone like Reddish, like there have been enough stops now to 352 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,960 where it's like it's it's definitely not them, it's you, Like you're you're 353 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,640 not delivering. But in terms of just guys with physical tools for the minimum 354 00:22:15,759 --> 00:22:18,880 on a team that you know doesn't have to play them, I think I 355 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,400 think those are the kind of flyers I like. So that didn't really meaningfully 356 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,759 affect the grade. But but that's just another reason that this was a solid, 357 00:22:26,039 --> 00:22:32,119 too very solid offseason for the Lakers. I did see some skepticism about 358 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,720 the Anthony Davis extension, and I didn't understand it, just like, yeah, 359 00:22:34,839 --> 00:22:38,319 you want to potentially pay him sixty three point four million, thirty four 360 00:22:38,319 --> 00:22:41,920 percent of a cap at age thirty four. Maybe not, but like you 361 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,759 like you can't get rid of him, like you need a poll star for 362 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,440 if and when Lebron leaves or actually kind of falls off, which is just 363 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:52,000 like, yeah, he's not the same player he was, but like age 364 00:22:52,039 --> 00:22:53,839 thirty eight, Lebron, age thirty nine, Lebron is still really good. 365 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:56,319 Yeah, it's not always going to be the case or he's not always going 366 00:22:56,359 --> 00:23:00,720 to be there. And the other thing, how'd you waited, Like the 367 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,000 fact that he had that eto and way structured you couldn't he couldn't get a 368 00:23:04,039 --> 00:23:07,440 longer deal, and so the fact that it's only three years, like now, 369 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,519 you're not paying him into his age thirty five season, and ad you 370 00:23:10,559 --> 00:23:12,119 waited for him to get into free agency, like he might have had to 371 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:15,480 pay him into his age thirty six season. So I thought that was just 372 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,119 a no brainer for them, and it keeps them a little bit more flexible 373 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:22,880 while also ensuring like, well, we do still kind of have this direction 374 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:27,920 with Austin Reeves, with Anthony Davis post Lebron. Yeah, I think it's 375 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:32,160 just the going rate for Anthony Davis, who like, I'm gonna bill Simmons 376 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:33,640 this right now and say, like, when he's at his best, he's 377 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,960 one of the like five to eight, you know, five to eight best 378 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,839 players in the league, and if that happens to be in the playoffs, 379 00:23:40,839 --> 00:23:42,680 which is all the Lakers care about, then that's worth it. And you 380 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,640 know, that's nothing he does anymore. It's just like, yeah, he 381 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,359 can cover a lot of ground on defense, but he's not as explosive as 382 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,440 he once was on offense. Like his game if he's actually on the court, 383 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,839 his availability might not age well, but his game should be fine, 384 00:23:56,039 --> 00:24:00,079 right, Like he's gonna slow down and still be a dominant rim protector like 385 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,640 that. That's just you know, as he fades, he's still gonna have 386 00:24:03,759 --> 00:24:07,240 like an elite skill or two. And it just, yeah, this is 387 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:11,079 what it costs to keep Anthony Davis. That's either you do this or you 388 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:15,000 don't keep Anthony Davis. That's just how it works. I just don't see 389 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,079 how even if you don't think the Lakers got a lot better, I don't 390 00:24:17,079 --> 00:24:19,279 know how you dislike their off season. It's just where I'm man agree. 391 00:24:19,559 --> 00:24:22,240 Let's move on to the to the Phoenix Suns. If you want to go, 392 00:24:22,279 --> 00:24:26,160 grab like a caffeine and beverage or something while I go through this for 393 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,359 like eight hours. They dismissed Monty Williams. They hired Frank Vogel. They 394 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,720 traded Chris Paul, Landry shammittt four first round swaps, four second rounders, 395 00:24:34,759 --> 00:24:38,640 and cash for Bravey Beal, Jordan Goodwin, and Isaiah Todd. They didn't 396 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:44,119 traded Isaiah Todd at least favorable twenty four first round swap and at least favorable 397 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:48,200 twenty thirty first round swap to Memphis for second round picks. In twenty twenty 398 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:52,039 eight in two and twenty nine, both of which are Memphis his own picks. 399 00:24:52,079 --> 00:24:56,519 For anyone that might care about that, They traded Cameron Payne New Orleans 400 00:24:56,559 --> 00:25:00,440 is two and twenty five second round pick and cash to San Antonio for a 401 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,559 top fifty four protected second rounder, so fake second they created a six point 402 00:25:03,599 --> 00:25:08,319 five million dollar traded player exception. They signed Eric Gordon, Josha Kogi, 403 00:25:08,599 --> 00:25:12,799 Kata Bates, the op Utah Wanton, Abby Drew Eubanks, and Damian Lee 404 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:18,000 to two year minimum deals with player options on the second season. They signed 405 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,160 bow Boll and Chamza met To to one year minimums. They signed number fifty 406 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,640 two to Mani Kamara to a four year, seven point six million dollar deal, 407 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,200 only one season is guaranteed. They also signed Udoka az Abouki and Saban 408 00:25:30,279 --> 00:25:33,519 Lee to two way contracts. Just some other housekeeping notes here. Jack Landale 409 00:25:33,519 --> 00:25:37,440 signed with Houston for four years and thirty two million, only one season of 410 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:41,319 that was guaranteed. Tory Craig signed with Chicago for two years and five million. 411 00:25:41,559 --> 00:25:45,680 Because Mpiama remains unsigned and I believe the Suns still have their early bird 412 00:25:45,759 --> 00:25:49,119 rights on him, that they did not announce him, there's the DeAndre eight 413 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,559 and speculation if you want to consider that. And then also, I don't 414 00:25:52,559 --> 00:25:55,519 know how much this factors in for you. They made Kevin Young one of 415 00:25:55,559 --> 00:26:00,319 the highest paid non head coaches in the MB. Yeah, that's a lot. 416 00:26:02,799 --> 00:26:06,799 Here's I know. I'm curious as to whether you've come around on the 417 00:26:07,039 --> 00:26:10,039 Bradley Beal. That's the biggest thing they did this offseason, unless you think 418 00:26:10,079 --> 00:26:12,839 firing Monty Williams was as big. I know you thought it was riskier than 419 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:17,640 I did. Have you come around to the idea, like if you have 420 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:19,720 a problem with that trade, your real problem was with the Kevin Durant trade, 421 00:26:19,759 --> 00:26:23,400 which has no bearing on this offseason, because look at the value they 422 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:30,240 gave up four seconds, four swaps, an expiring contract, and Landry Shammitt 423 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,920 essentially for someone who has an All NBA ceiling. You are not going to 424 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,720 get better value for what they gave up, and you didn't. By the 425 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,119 way, you didn't obliterate your depth with that trade. You gave up two 426 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:48,359 rotation players for one better rotation player. Yeah. So, I mean the 427 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:53,400 fact that they just hit like seven consecutive home runs on their minimums has changed 428 00:26:53,440 --> 00:27:00,559 my valuation a little like a lot actually, because because my knock really was, 429 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,079 you know, and it's basic stuff like I don't think Bradley Bill is 430 00:27:03,079 --> 00:27:07,880 a positive value player at that contract. It's just like he's not good enough 431 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,039 to justify what they're paying him. But then it's like the Suns don't care. 432 00:27:11,519 --> 00:27:14,240 They're already you know, they're trying to win a title and he gives 433 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,680 them a better chance to do that than fucking Landry Shammon and Chris Paul and 434 00:27:18,759 --> 00:27:21,359 like three and a half million dollars and all those picks. Right, So 435 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:27,319 kudos to the Suns are being very goal oriented. So the other questions I 436 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:33,640 had were like, do you need a third guy to that's a basically a 437 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,680 primary shot creator if you have Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. And there was 438 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:38,119 some pushback that I saw that. It's like, well, that kind of 439 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,279 was their problem in the playoffs is it was those two guys and nobody else 440 00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:48,000 could do anything. So fair points, I take that. I think ultimately 441 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:52,680 I have gotten you know, and hey, I'm giving the Suns an a 442 00:27:52,039 --> 00:27:56,240 so like a flat a. So yeah, obviously I've come around on it. 443 00:27:56,319 --> 00:28:00,599 I think the beal acquisition in conjunction with all the other stuff they did. 444 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,440 And I to your point, like the Kevin Young thing, I think 445 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:10,839 that's a little fraud when you really pay an assistant that the players a lot 446 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:12,799 for the head coach. Yeah, yeah, that's a little fraud. But 447 00:28:12,839 --> 00:28:18,160 like also, I love it when teams are willing to spend, you know, 448 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:22,359 extravagantly on stuff that isn't affected by the salary cap. So ultimately I 449 00:28:22,759 --> 00:28:26,000 kind of I like that. And you know, it seemed like Monty Williams 450 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,480 had kind of lost the locker room a little bit so and Frank Vogel has 451 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,279 won a title and is a good defensive coach and might be better at reaching 452 00:28:33,319 --> 00:28:36,799 DeAndre Atan than Monty william Yeah. Right, that relationship seemed broken between eight 453 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:38,160 and Williams. And so if you want to even if all you want to 454 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,960 do is rehab Itan's value, maybe Vogel is just a better person to do 455 00:28:41,039 --> 00:28:44,839 that, so you can trade him. But yeah, this is an a 456 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,920 to me, And it's it's weird that so much of it hinges on guys 457 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:52,240 like Gordon and KBD and you Banks and Watson Abi. But it's just like 458 00:28:53,079 --> 00:29:00,559 you should not be able to fill out a rotation so effectively with minimum salaries, 459 00:29:00,599 --> 00:29:03,200 and I just can't I can't really remember a team doing a better job 460 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,519 of that. So yeah, it's in a The soun's offseason was a rousing 461 00:29:07,519 --> 00:29:14,039 success. Even if I had haddn't still have some questions about the Bill thing. 462 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,920 The thing I went back and forth on was you kind of just punted 463 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:21,640 on having any other playmakers on the roster by getting rid of Campaign. And 464 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:22,960 there are two ways to look at it. Was Campaign going to be in 465 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,640 their closing lineup? Absolutely not no, And you still do have Eric Gordon 466 00:29:27,079 --> 00:29:32,240 kind of like sort of a secondary guy there. The trade the TP might 467 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:36,720 actually be more valuable to them this season the camera paign. So I didn't 468 00:29:36,759 --> 00:29:37,960 know where to land on that, But I will say to then not use 469 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:41,880 like really any of your minimums. I'm like kind of a point GUARDI type, 470 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:45,240 just to have that, knowing that these aren't the three most durable stars 471 00:29:45,759 --> 00:29:48,920 in the world. I went with an A minus just because it's the Kevin 472 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:51,960 Young stuff. You mentioned it. It made me a little uneasy. I 473 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:53,960 don't think there's a problem with it. I was. I don't want to 474 00:29:55,039 --> 00:29:59,039 use the word uninspired. I think Frank Vogel was kind of an unspectacular candidate 475 00:29:59,039 --> 00:30:02,319 to send on, but one like Doc Rivers got like really far into that 476 00:30:02,359 --> 00:30:04,359 process or something too. So the fact that he might be able to reach 477 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:08,680 DeAndre Ayton and when there is defensive uncertainty kind of caked into here, it's 478 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,640 like, okay, like Frank Vogel like gives you a very high defensive floor, 479 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:15,960 and I think that that's really important. I'm just sort of like, 480 00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:18,240 when we're looking at the highest level of bestball, I don't think you did 481 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:22,119 anything to hurt your championship chances by it's not even getting rid of campaign, 482 00:30:22,119 --> 00:30:26,960 but by not using the minimum on could this have been like a Corey Joseph 483 00:30:26,039 --> 00:30:33,079 team or could they have been Reggie Jackson's team? Right, So I'm not 484 00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:37,200 I'm not I'm just saying you didn't. You didn't hurt it, but you 485 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,640 did kind of just like there's a little bit more risky or maybe the thought 486 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:44,279 is, well, we'll just go out and get that player mid season that 487 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,640 in conjunction with and maybe he still comes back. Like I really like Bismac 488 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,319 Biambo for this team. Why was he just not like kind of part of 489 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:55,079 like do you think Drew Eubanks is better than Bismac Biambo. I guess some 490 00:30:55,119 --> 00:30:59,799 people will I like. I guess it's like a like someone who can like 491 00:31:00,119 --> 00:31:03,240 through the lane, and I might even trust him switching a little bit more, 492 00:31:03,279 --> 00:31:06,599 just as at least as a straight up rim protector. These are very 493 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,599 small equipples, though it was. It was an a off season in some 494 00:31:08,759 --> 00:31:11,359 regard, not an A plus could have been an a minus. It was 495 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,240 just somewhere at that range. There you go, all right, that takes 496 00:31:15,279 --> 00:31:22,640 us to the Sacramento Kings, which I have here so renegotiated and extended Demantas 497 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:26,079 Sabonis. So his deal essentially is now five years for just under two hundred 498 00:31:26,079 --> 00:31:30,480 and fifteen million dollars. Harrison Barnes is back three years fifty four million. 499 00:31:32,119 --> 00:31:37,039 Trey Lyles also back two years sixteen. Alex lenn Is back as well for 500 00:31:37,079 --> 00:31:41,319 the minimum and as is not as is, but Newland's Noel also signed for 501 00:31:41,319 --> 00:31:45,400 the minimum. Sign Sasha Vezenkov for three years nineteen point nine million, with 502 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:51,599 the team option on the third year. Signed Themis Kata got Chris Duarte from 503 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,000 the Pacers for just two future seconds. Not sure I would have believed that 504 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:59,160 was possible. A couple of year ago, trader Rashaun Holmes and number twenty 505 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,920 four to Dallas for ash got thirty four from Boston for thirty eight and a 506 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:07,599 twenty four second and they took Colby Jones at thirty four outgoing Terrence Davis, 507 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:12,160 Chimizi, Mattu, PJ. Dojer, and Matthew Delavadova is unsigned. I 508 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,400 will throw it to you before I reveal my grade. It's not a good 509 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,559 one. So I would like to see what you have to say about the 510 00:32:19,119 --> 00:32:24,079 King's off season before I jump in. So here's what's interesting is that when 511 00:32:24,119 --> 00:32:30,440 they made that Rashaun Holmes trade, it created this idea that they were gearing 512 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:37,240 up for something just mega. It's disappointing when you look at their off season 513 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:42,920 measured against that. However, that mega move wasn't out there like we campaigned 514 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:45,160 for them even before they made that move. By the way, we thought 515 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:47,480 Draymond Green was a good fit for I don't know. He clearly wasn't leaving 516 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,880 Golden State, and so you need to evaluate did you really want them to 517 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,319 go after a PJ. Washington. How gettable was Jeremy Grant when he got 518 00:32:54,359 --> 00:32:59,440 the full five year boat with a trade kicker and a player option from Portland. 519 00:32:59,519 --> 00:33:01,759 The answer is he wasn't gettable. So I have to pull back and 520 00:33:01,799 --> 00:33:07,079 say they had a lay of the market, and I don't think because they 521 00:33:07,079 --> 00:33:09,160 renegotiated an extend it's a bonus. This was not an issue of oh, 522 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:14,440 they misread what this cap space was gonna do. That actually makes me more 523 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,039 concerned about their off season because you do not give up first round equity to 524 00:33:17,079 --> 00:33:22,880 make it easier to give an incumbent player an immediate rays. It shows him 525 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,559 a solid You could have just given him a five year deal next summer. 526 00:33:25,799 --> 00:33:28,839 And if he didn't want to wait for that, if there's something behind the 527 00:33:28,839 --> 00:33:31,480 scenes, the threat of him leaving. One, no, like he just 528 00:33:31,519 --> 00:33:36,319 had like a great season and the Kings just broke their playoff drout, and 529 00:33:36,359 --> 00:33:40,160 two it's just like, so you're like him kind of agitating for this renegotiate 530 00:33:40,319 --> 00:33:44,720 nix I'm not saying he did this, but him agitating towards renegotiate Nixten made 531 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:46,720 you want to keep him around longer, Like, how could this blow up 532 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,359 in your face at all? So the fact that I don't believe any of 533 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:52,640 that factored in. I'm just not in the business of giving up first round 534 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:57,240 picks to make it easier to pay a player that I can just pay anyway 535 00:33:57,359 --> 00:34:00,640 next summer Who when you're looking at it from a team perspective, where was 536 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:04,119 the leverage coming from for him? Like, I don't even know if I've 537 00:34:04,119 --> 00:34:07,079 loved this money. I think he'll his the old age just fine. He's 538 00:34:07,079 --> 00:34:08,960 a very good player. I think they did some nice work on the margins. 539 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:13,199 Christo Warntday is an interesting flyer. I am now smitten with Vezzi, 540 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:15,440 who I just think is going to shoot the hell out of it. But 541 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:17,840 it's also sort of like, well, you have all these like forwards who 542 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:23,000 aren't small forwards now with him, Harrison Barnes, even Kegan Murray. Maybe 543 00:34:23,039 --> 00:34:27,360 Kegan Murray just makes his on ball leap and defensive leap, and he showed 544 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:29,320 a lot of it in Summer League and can be more of a wing. 545 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:36,000 I went with a just because I don't want to. I'm like still vacillating 546 00:34:36,039 --> 00:34:37,920 on this grade a little bit because I think that it's some people are interviewed 547 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:42,280 is unfairly harsh. I'm gonna go with a D plus here. Him because 548 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,519 is that what you went with? Yeah, it is, I give a 549 00:34:44,559 --> 00:34:46,719 D plus I don't. I guess you can say, well, what were 550 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:51,360 they gonna do with that extra casphase other than pay sa bonus more? And 551 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,440 doesn't it make sense to pay him more now so that you're not paying him 552 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:59,639 a year later into his career. If you want a Galaxy brain that it's 553 00:34:59,679 --> 00:35:02,679 fine you could we like Reggie Bullock would have helped this team if you wanted 554 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:07,159 to use cap space to do something like that and you gave up. The 555 00:35:07,199 --> 00:35:08,519 other thing is you gave up I don't care how you fear about O Max. 556 00:35:08,519 --> 00:35:12,840 Maybe you would have won a different direction when you've drafted Keagan Murray's brother, 557 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:17,440 YadA YadA, YadA, Like you gave up a first round pick and 558 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:22,360 you are not a net positive because of it. You kept you Basically that 559 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:27,400 was the cost of let's just say they'll bring Vezzy over and it was you 560 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,280 gave him first round pick to renegotiate an extensive bonus. That's just how I 561 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,199 view this, and I think the other deals were fine. I would say 562 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:36,760 some people didn't like the Harrison Barnes deal. That might be the most bankable 563 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,880 contract they totally fine. So and the other thing, the final thing I'll 564 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:45,079 say is you didn't address like your defensive concerns at all this offseason. Not 565 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:49,159 I think Neurlands the Well was a pretty good pickup. You leaned further into 566 00:35:49,199 --> 00:35:52,159 the offense model. We'll see how that works out for you. But to 567 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:58,920 not upgrade the defense in any way, shape or form is a choice, 568 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:04,280 but death certainly a choice, right. I think that. I think you 569 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:09,280 know your approach to the Sabonis extensions as being related to you know, giving 570 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:14,079 up a first and all all the asset management stuff. I think that's totally 571 00:36:14,199 --> 00:36:17,880 right, I think. But the idea of the King's not getting better in 572 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:22,559 a meaningful way or in ways that they really clearly needed to is more the 573 00:36:22,599 --> 00:36:24,920 angle that I come at it from. And so like, I got a 574 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:29,559 lot of heat before I tuned it out entirely after like a couple hours, 575 00:36:30,199 --> 00:36:32,559 I did a most overrated Players in the league, which is an impossible task 576 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:39,000 for for BR I don't know three weeks ago, probably because what's overrated mean 577 00:36:39,119 --> 00:36:42,960 by whose standards? Are we like, what's the baseline and what do people 578 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:45,920 what's the consensus opinion? How far from that is the player. It's so 579 00:36:46,039 --> 00:36:49,559 ridiculous. Anyway, Anyway, Sabonus was on there. I ranked him number 580 00:36:49,599 --> 00:36:53,199 one. It was right after this extension, the idea being this guy just 581 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:59,639 got played off the floor by Kavan Looney in a in a postseason series. 582 00:37:00,039 --> 00:37:04,320 I will, while granting that Sabonis was integral to everything the Kings did during 583 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,960 the year, a lot of people would say he mattered even more than Fox 584 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,719 did. Even though Fox was phenomenal in the clutch and I think graded out 585 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:15,960 significantly better by a lot of the catch alls. Sabonis's elbow passing and interior 586 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:20,159 play just mattered a ton. It mattered a ton to a team that won 587 00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:22,719 forty eight games, which it wasn't that long ago that that's like eighth seed 588 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:25,719 territory in the West, right, it happened to be much better than that 589 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:30,559 this past season, and a team that could not defend four shit, especially 590 00:37:30,599 --> 00:37:32,679 in the playoffs against a Warrior's team that actually, it turns out, was 591 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:37,599 not that great at the time. So they got upset in the first by 592 00:37:37,639 --> 00:37:40,280 a team that I think we should have had real questions about. And Sabonis 593 00:37:40,639 --> 00:37:45,840 was a massive reason that the Kings did not advance and he was making eighteen 594 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:49,400 five last year, you're two xing that as soon as this extension fully kicks 595 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:52,400 and he's gonna make thirty, and then you're three xing that towards the end 596 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:55,119 of this deal on an annual basis, So you've locked in at a max 597 00:37:55,239 --> 00:38:00,360 level rate, essentially, a guy that puts a ceiling on how good you 598 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:04,239 can be in the playoffs because he doesn't space the floor, because he doesn't 599 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:08,079 defend in space, because he's severely limited in ways that totally matter if you're 600 00:38:08,079 --> 00:38:12,079 trying to win playoff series, which is what the Kings should be trying to 601 00:38:12,119 --> 00:38:15,800 do now. Right because we've advanced, we've ended the playoff drought, what's 602 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:21,599 the next step. The next step cannot be committing massive money to a player 603 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,599 who raises your floor but also caps your ceiling. So that's why it's a 604 00:38:24,679 --> 00:38:29,039 D plus for me. I think the Kings were in a position where they 605 00:38:29,079 --> 00:38:31,079 did not have to feel pressure to do this. They did not have to 606 00:38:31,079 --> 00:38:35,800 give Sabonis this money now, and they could have waited, and maybe if 607 00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:38,880 they wait, they have other opportunities. They realize, after a second year 608 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:44,119 in a row, our defense cannot survive with him at the center of it. 609 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:47,760 We can't give this guy two hundred million dollars. So Sabonis is a 610 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:52,440 really good player, he's not the guy that they need in the middle for 611 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:54,800 that amount of money if they want to take the next step. And I'm 612 00:38:54,920 --> 00:39:00,480 disappointed ultimately that this feels like, let's keep the gang together because we'd like 613 00:39:00,519 --> 00:39:06,400 to win another forty five to fifty games and maybe get out of the first 614 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:08,679 round if we're lucky. Like that's just that's a disappointing result to me. 615 00:39:09,079 --> 00:39:15,639 While again conceding that Sabonis mattered and there weren't a ton of other options, 616 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:17,760 but they didn't have to do that. They didn't have to give that big 617 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:20,880 of a deal. So that's a long winded way. I feel like i 618 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:23,840 have to defend myself a little bit because I've been hard on Sabonis and that 619 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:29,480 contract specifically lately, and I think you had mentioned it and Tony One who 620 00:39:29,519 --> 00:39:31,119 might have listened to it, and already too now because of what I said 621 00:39:31,159 --> 00:39:35,679 when I say that they gave up a first who essentially resigned sabonus like you 622 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:37,800 didn't necessarily need to do that because you were slated for cap space anyway. 623 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:42,079 It made it easier to keep Barns. I believe they used the room exception 624 00:39:42,119 --> 00:39:45,920 to sign Vezzi, and so, like you were able to offload what was 625 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:47,960 it between Rashaun Holmes and then technically the old max pick like sixteen and a 626 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:52,760 half million in salary, So that took you from in theory like thirty five 627 00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:57,800 thirty six million in cap space. Now you're down to twenty and that would 628 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:00,840 have included renouncing Barns. If you give Barnes as eighteen million dollars salary, 629 00:40:01,199 --> 00:40:04,719 that's by by cap space. It's just kind of what I meant there. 630 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:07,760 And so like you, that's why you gave up because you were able to 631 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:10,000 sign Harrison Barnes and then still have cap space, and you use that cap 632 00:40:10,039 --> 00:40:15,599 space on Sabonis is renegotiate an extent on a decision that you could have waited. 633 00:40:15,599 --> 00:40:17,599 So I don't think I was clear with those motive operations, but I 634 00:40:17,599 --> 00:40:21,599 think I'm also with you and what you said there. I'm probably higher on 635 00:40:21,599 --> 00:40:23,960 Sabonus than you are, But to kind of see how that playoff series, 636 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:27,440 I'm holding and then decided like, okay, this is the right move. 637 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:31,599 It does feel a little bit unnecessarily not final, but like concrete and I 638 00:40:31,639 --> 00:40:35,840 feel bad. I feel like just I'm bagging on sabonus a lot. But 639 00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:38,559 it's just like there's also something too, and I think fans will and this 640 00:40:38,559 --> 00:40:42,519 will be a fair critique of both of us, like they just had their 641 00:40:42,519 --> 00:40:46,079 best season in two decades or whatever, and they're good and they can stay 642 00:40:46,159 --> 00:40:49,960 good. But if you were going to do this with Sabonis, you needed 643 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:53,800 to then improve your ceiling in the Western Conference. I just don't think they 644 00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:59,079 did that. What is their path to being better, more dangerous than they 645 00:40:59,079 --> 00:41:04,000 were last year? It's Keegan Murray pops and maybe he does, but is 646 00:41:04,039 --> 00:41:06,480 he gonna pop on defense? Which was still I know, you kind of 647 00:41:06,519 --> 00:41:08,480 they had some pretty good defensive moments in the playoffs. They did their ball 648 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:12,360 pressure was great. That was a real key, But that's not It's not 649 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:15,239 the same as having someone that is going to deter shots at the rim or 650 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:20,039 be able to switch as a bit like that's just he just doesn't do. 651 00:41:20,119 --> 00:41:22,800 And the other thing I was gonna say, the way that Sabonis came up 652 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:28,679 short what was essentially the book on him, Like this isn't like, you 653 00:41:28,719 --> 00:41:31,639 know, we knew this in Indiana. All of these issues were present then, 654 00:41:32,079 --> 00:41:36,880 and so then to see it hurt you in the playoffs and then to 655 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:42,000 pay him, I just again like I think probably you're you. I think 656 00:41:42,039 --> 00:41:45,599 you hit it. This is the Kings had the best season they've had in 657 00:41:45,599 --> 00:41:47,719 like twenty years, a little less than that, but that's only a small 658 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:51,480 exaggeration, and I think the vast majority of fans would be like, if 659 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:53,480 we just did that again, if we won in the mid to high forties 660 00:41:53,519 --> 00:41:58,000 again, and our a playoff team, give me that for ten more years. 661 00:41:58,039 --> 00:42:00,679 I'm happy. I don't think the urgency to let's, you know, 662 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:04,000 be into the let's get into the contender tier, I don't think that's really 663 00:42:04,119 --> 00:42:07,239 happening. But the way I think we tend to think about this type of 664 00:42:07,239 --> 00:42:12,280 thing is like, well, this can't be the end. The goal can't 665 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:15,920 be to win forty eight games, like that's that's not how you're you should 666 00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:19,679 be operating. And I guess are we short changing the fact that the path 667 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:23,519 room improvement could come through Sabonus and Fox Fox age twenty six, Sabonis age 668 00:42:23,559 --> 00:42:29,880 twenty seven. Fox, for sure, I think Fox was deservedly an All 669 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:34,079 NBA player and could absolutely get better, But I just I think we know 670 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:37,239 roughly what Sabonus. Like, if Sabonus comes out and he's shooting six three 671 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:39,840 is a game and he's making like thirty five percent of them, then maybe 672 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:44,239 he's worth that money. Probably not because of the defensive issues he poses, 673 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:49,639 but I kind of feel like he's got such a specific and unique game that 674 00:42:49,719 --> 00:42:52,880 it doesn't seem like there's a lot left like untapped. I don't know, 675 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:54,760 maybe you feel differently, No, And then just like the other thing here 676 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:58,360 that I've that you have to factor in, I think it goes out saying 677 00:42:58,360 --> 00:43:00,440 for those parts, it is like he kind of limited yourself. Now if 678 00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:01,360 you want to go out and make a move, and like there are still 679 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:06,559 picks you could trade, but this Sabonis on this deal or this roster makes 680 00:43:06,559 --> 00:43:09,800 a lot more sense if there's someone different to put at the three, let's 681 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:14,239 say so like, but like you just don't probably have the war chest to 682 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:16,159 get involved at og at a Nobi sweepstakes at this point, for right, 683 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:20,960 and even then, I think this is one of those situations where we're going 684 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:23,039 along on the kings here, But there's the last thing I'll say I think 685 00:43:23,039 --> 00:43:28,119 they probably to be the best version or like the next level version of themselves. 686 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:30,719 I think you kind of need a player who's not necessarily better than Fox, 687 00:43:30,719 --> 00:43:35,440 but who is better than Sabonis, especially in a playoff context. And 688 00:43:35,599 --> 00:43:38,960 now you're theoretically paying a guy that is your third best player in this hypothetical 689 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:44,159 two hundred million dollars like that that that's not This is like a Tobias Harris 690 00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:46,519 kind of situation where it's like, you can't you can't spend the resources on 691 00:43:46,559 --> 00:43:50,719 this guy if you want to get to, you know, at the highest 692 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:52,559 level, and I think why it could be potentially unexpiring. I'm not saying 693 00:43:52,559 --> 00:43:55,079 like they should have not like you could have just kept him. I'm not 694 00:43:55,119 --> 00:43:59,280 even saying that they should have gotten rid of him. No, And that's 695 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:01,480 the problem. It's like it's you want them to continue to get better. 696 00:44:01,519 --> 00:44:04,880 The West is going to be harder this year, so there's a chance that 697 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:07,400 they're just worse. Like growth isn't linear, so they could have a worse 698 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:10,280 record, lower seed and not necessarily be worse. They're still a great team. 699 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:15,880 So I just, yeah, I would say last year was not a 700 00:44:15,920 --> 00:44:17,840 mirage and I mean that as like to compliment, but I just don't know 701 00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:22,480 their path, how realistic it is now, or what that path even is 702 00:44:22,519 --> 00:44:23,519 to getting a lot better. Do you want to take us out here? 703 00:44:23,599 --> 00:44:27,440 Yes? I do. That's a good good note to close on everybody. 704 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:30,440 Thank you for listening, thank you for watching. Please remember if you have 705 00:44:30,519 --> 00:44:35,079 not already done so too. Wherever you consume this podcast, whether it's Apple, 706 00:44:35,079 --> 00:44:37,039 whether it's Spotify, whether you watch us on YouTube, rate review, 707 00:44:37,039 --> 00:44:42,119 subscribe, leave comments on YouTube, that's always helpful. If you have followed 708 00:44:42,199 --> 00:44:45,840 us every place at Hardwood Knox on Twitter and TikTok at Hardwood Underscore Underscore Knox 709 00:44:45,920 --> 00:44:50,960 on Instagram, you've done all those things. Tell your friends, share this 710 00:44:51,079 --> 00:44:53,800 however you consume it so more people can find out about it. Join our 711 00:44:53,840 --> 00:44:58,519 discord if you want some merch. The link to our t public site is 712 00:44:58,719 --> 00:45:01,679 in the YouTube and podcast description. I think that covers it. Thank you 713 00:45:01,719 --> 00:45:05,360 again, and we will close, as always with a shout out to the 714 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:07,159 one and only Frank milutina An apologies to share it out