1 00:00:15,359 --> 00:00:21,640 What is up, fellow thermonuclear a effort, I am da Valley coming at 2 00:00:21,679 --> 00:00:27,120 you with a very cool mail bag, while I am extremely uncaffeinated. If 3 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,719 anyone's been following along, which is also probably why I've not been putting out 4 00:00:30,719 --> 00:00:34,200 as much content this week, I'm trying to do a seven day caffeine cleans 5 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,200 because also anyone who listens knows that I consume probably I don't want to say 6 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,320 unsafe, but ungodly amounts of caffeine. I'm talking between like, on average, 7 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,200 six and eight hundred milligrams a day, which is between six and eight 8 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,679 cups of coffee. And that's down from like ten to twelve cups of coffee 9 00:00:50,679 --> 00:00:54,399 worth. Fun fact, I do not actually drink coffee. I consume them 10 00:00:54,479 --> 00:00:58,920 via pre workouts is the big one. But also just energy drinks amno energy 11 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:03,240 and those go sour Patch kids energy drinks sugar free by the way, only 12 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,719 one gramma carb Those are addictive as hell, even the Swedish fish favor, 13 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,040 so you probably go check those out. Ghosts come sponsor us? Why not 14 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,799 see them already off the rails here, I am delirious. We have a 15 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,560 mail bag. Very quickly, let me just remind you, implore you, 16 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:19,840 beg with you, plead with you to subscribe to us wherever you are consuming 17 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,879 us, if you're on YouTube, it means the world and helps us out 18 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,760 a ton of If you hit that subscribe button, like comment to help bust 19 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,319 up the algorithm, make YouTube love us back. If you're listening to us 20 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,640 via a podcast player, please consider throwing us that permanent subscription for whatever reason 21 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,239 you've stumbled upon us here. If you've done all of these things, word 22 00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:38,920 of mouth goes a long way for us too, So tell people you know 23 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:44,719 about the podcast, retweet our promos, tag us, or send the people 24 00:01:45,599 --> 00:01:48,920 links to our YouTube videos. However you get word of mouth out for YouTube, 25 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,280 but the retweets and telling people about us goes a long way. Also, 26 00:01:52,439 --> 00:01:57,439 join our discord channel. We are comfortably above one hundred members now and 27 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,480 the links to that are in the podcast description as well as the YouTube description. 28 00:02:00,519 --> 00:02:01,760 And follow us on all the socials. If you're watching, they're on 29 00:02:01,799 --> 00:02:06,760 the fucking screen. If you're not, they're also in the podcast description. 30 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:10,280 They're also on the YouTube description as well. Let's dive into this mailbag. 31 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:14,560 I'm trying to keep these briefer these off season podcasts. Shout out to everyone 32 00:02:14,599 --> 00:02:16,400 who's thanked me for making their off season a little bit easier. I am 33 00:02:16,439 --> 00:02:21,439 here to give you all the incorrect takes possible, and I say this all 34 00:02:21,439 --> 00:02:23,960 the time, and I hope it doesn't dilute the meaning. But I appreciate 35 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:29,400 every single listener that we get, especially the ones who engage are asking questions 36 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,280 for these mailbags. It means a ton that I'm able to do two a 37 00:02:31,319 --> 00:02:35,560 week if I really want to. Instead of doing a two hour mailbag where 38 00:02:35,719 --> 00:02:38,240 we stay on the mall into one. This one's going to be a mix 39 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,039 of Twitter since we had so many questions, and then the other one will 40 00:02:40,039 --> 00:02:43,960 be our discord dominant and I also have a couple of questions on YouTube I 41 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,840 need to get to. Without further ado though, let's get something topical. 42 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,319 This comes from Leland. He said, Hey, I wanted to add to 43 00:02:51,319 --> 00:02:53,319 the thoughts of why the Celtics might trade Jalon Brown for Durant. You've covered 44 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,080 most of it, but there's one other scenario that's most likely but not but 45 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,080 very possible, and that the Celtics have an off year just point Brown could 46 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,400 keyword being could possibly let up a known that he doesn't want to stay, 47 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,360 and the Celtics might have to face trading Brown on an expiring contract all of 48 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:13,080 the Pacers and Paul George and Spurs and Kawhi Leonard that value then as a 49 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,080 rental would not help the Celtics get another top ten to fifteen player. I 50 00:03:17,159 --> 00:03:22,520 agree with this statement and this thought process. It rests on the fact that 51 00:03:22,719 --> 00:03:27,360 Brown though more than an off year next season. You have to buy into 52 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,080 whether you think that the Celtics run to the Finals was lucky or not, 53 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:35,599 whether you buy into their mid season turnaround in full or not. The Celtics 54 00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:38,759 were a good basketball team and they've gotten better just by adding to Neil Gallinari 55 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:43,719 and Malcolm brogged In. Maybe you account for some regression from Al Horford, 56 00:03:43,719 --> 00:03:46,360 but guys like Robert Williams, the third Grant Williams, they're only going to 57 00:03:46,439 --> 00:03:50,000 continue to improve. Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum are young enough to where they 58 00:03:50,039 --> 00:03:53,639 even might continue to improve. So I don't think that you make this call 59 00:03:53,719 --> 00:03:58,039 because you're worried about there being a regression. You make it because one it's 60 00:03:58,039 --> 00:04:01,400 fucking Kevin Durant, and there was that report from Adam Himmel's back. I 61 00:04:01,439 --> 00:04:05,800 believe that the Nets asked for both Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown and trade talks. 62 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,759 I really hope that's fucking true, just because I would love to think 63 00:04:10,879 --> 00:04:13,919 that Brad Stevens had to react to that, or that there are people on 64 00:04:13,919 --> 00:04:15,680 the other end of the phone or the zoom call or whatever the text message, 65 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,920 whatever the hell was happening, that I actually had to digest what was 66 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:23,879 happening there. But if you are worried that Brown is going to leave, 67 00:04:24,079 --> 00:04:26,800 because we know we've talked about it on this podcast, he is not going 68 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,199 to sign an extension. It doesn't behoove him to one hundred and twenty percent 69 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,639 raise off of his final salary. It doesn't even really get close enough to 70 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,800 his max to justify it. He's better off waiting and hitting free agency in 71 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,360 twenty twenty four. Maybe he signs a short term deal to account for when 72 00:04:42,439 --> 00:04:45,600 the salary cap winfall actually comes, but he is going to wait, and 73 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,720 so it will be shocking if he doesn't become an unrestricted free agent, and 74 00:04:48,759 --> 00:04:53,759 if he has given any inclination that he plans to leave or explore the market. 75 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,399 Yes, I do think that would incentivize the Celtics to go after Kevin 76 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,879 Durant, and most of this stuff, it's like, is coming from the 77 00:05:00,879 --> 00:05:03,399 Nets, but Boston is mentioned as one of the three teams with Toronto and 78 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:08,199 Miami who's most heavily involved. I think that more so speaks to where Durant 79 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:12,319 either wants to go and there were reports that he has now views Boston as 80 00:05:12,319 --> 00:05:16,920 an actual destination per snyse Ian Begley. And then there's also just the Nets 81 00:05:16,959 --> 00:05:21,079 know that a Boston package built around Jalen Brown. Perhaps that drives up the 82 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,680 offers of other teams that are in this, like the Phoenix Suns, or 83 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:30,040 maybe if the Pelicans decide to get involved. That being said, I think 84 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,879 from Boston's perspective, you have to kick the tires because it's Kevin Durant and 85 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,000 he gives you basically everything of what you were missing when you're looking at the 86 00:05:36,079 --> 00:05:39,800 NBA Finals, All of a sudden, there's a trickle down effect where he's 87 00:05:39,879 --> 00:05:43,079 drawing most of the defensive focus and maybe you're talking about, oh, Jayson 88 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,480 Tatum was the best player in the NBA Finals instead of KD is KD Dunn. 89 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,120 That discourse surrounded by Jalen and Tatum was just absolutely horrible. Jalen was 90 00:05:50,199 --> 00:05:55,680 better than Tatum statistically in the finals. Is Jalen is good in the finals. 91 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,519 If Jason Tatum isn't the sole focus, not the soul, but the 92 00:05:58,519 --> 00:06:01,439 primary focus of Golden staty no. And so people in the YouTube comments who 93 00:06:01,439 --> 00:06:04,879 are telling me that Jason Tatum is not a franchise player, I want to 94 00:06:04,959 --> 00:06:10,199 stop short of telling you to stfu, but like Jason Tatum is a franchise 95 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,160 player. If you don't think he's top ten, that's fine. I'm not 96 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,319 saying you have to think he's the top ten player in the league. He's 97 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,279 a superstar though. So moving on from that, but yes, if the 98 00:06:16,319 --> 00:06:19,319 Celtics think that Jalen Brown is going to leave, that absolutely isn't incentive to 99 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:23,800 go harder after Kevin Rant, who's under contract for longer, even though you're 100 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,600 giving up you know, eight nine years at this point, getting eight nine 101 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,199 years older in addition to giving up other players. What does help, though, 102 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,959 is it seems like Kevin Durant is trying to leverage on the Celtics behalf 103 00:06:33,959 --> 00:06:36,680 by saying he wants to play with Marcus Smart and so there needs to be 104 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,199 more salary and steal to make it work. It's not going to be Jason 105 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,279 Tatum. It's not going to be Robert Williams. The third maybe the Nets 106 00:06:43,319 --> 00:06:46,399 ask about him, but I would be shocked if Boston acquiesced to that. 107 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:49,959 If it was just RW three and Brown, no draft equity, maybe, 108 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,240 but if you also want draft equity on top of that, you're probably looking 109 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,720 at Derek White or once he can be aggregated again, Malcolm Brogden, and 110 00:06:58,759 --> 00:07:00,279 so by Katie saying he wants to play with Smart, you're kind of ensuring 111 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,240 that you don't have to give up Smart in that deal. I don't know 112 00:07:03,319 --> 00:07:05,879 that Kevin Duran's can end up with the Celtics. They do feel like a 113 00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:11,240 more possible destination they did at the beginning of this. My bet is still 114 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,720 Phoenix or Miami, just because I think megastars tend to get where mega stars 115 00:07:14,759 --> 00:07:16,439 want to go and those were first two options. Still, Leland, you're 116 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:19,160 right. I think you hit it on the head that there might be more 117 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:24,839 of an incentive for Boston to be in this if they don't think that Jalen 118 00:07:24,879 --> 00:07:27,439 Brown wants to stick around long term, and look, he should, he 119 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,199 might be pissed off at this point because he kind of became It was never 120 00:07:30,279 --> 00:07:32,920 actually sourced that the Celtics were shopping him in the middle of the year when 121 00:07:32,959 --> 00:07:36,480 they were struggling, but that was the I would call it the low hanging 122 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,399 through discussion of oh, should you break up the Jay's and if you're going 123 00:07:40,439 --> 00:07:43,279 to do that, you're trading Jalen Brown. And now you're actually being mentioned 124 00:07:43,279 --> 00:07:46,279 in trade rumors when you just made the finals and came within two victories of 125 00:07:46,319 --> 00:07:49,079 a title. So I could see why that would frustrate him. He's also 126 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:53,079 one of the smartest players in the league. He understands that this is a 127 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,920 business. If they're going to pay him max money or his market value and 128 00:07:57,079 --> 00:08:00,639 hit free agency, I can't imagine you definitely need to worry about him being 129 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:05,360 this massive flight risk. Harry asked if the young guys on the Blazers really 130 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:11,480 pop at Anthony Simons nos Little used as examples Shade and Sharp. I think 131 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,759 we could thrown there as well. What's their ceiling in the West. This 132 00:08:13,839 --> 00:08:20,439 is tough because I think even if we're assuming really good health from Dame and 133 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,120 Jeremy Grant and nurkicch and you want to include leaps for Anthony Edwards and nos 134 00:08:24,199 --> 00:08:28,439 Little And look, nos Little was very good before his injury. He brings 135 00:08:28,519 --> 00:08:33,000 like this just explosive energy to the table as a rebounder, a little bit 136 00:08:33,039 --> 00:08:37,000 of a multi positional defender, a play finisher on offense closer to the basket. 137 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:39,679 You're not going to trust his perimeter game just yet. And then Anthrey 138 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:45,120 Simons is just I think he did a lot better as a playmaker last year 139 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,240 and that he can lead some units on his own more than he could before. 140 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,639 But his crowning skill is just that off the dribble shooting, he is 141 00:08:54,799 --> 00:08:58,519 lights out when he's done that. And so I think that the Blazers at 142 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:03,759 full Stra are probably better than people think. They seem like they're set up 143 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,600 to succeed defensively, Yeah, you're gonna have to run some like base maybe 144 00:09:07,639 --> 00:09:13,600 overly orthodox coverages with Nurkisch in the middle, but that can work in drop 145 00:09:13,639 --> 00:09:16,759 coverage, or you can get really creative and are you downsizing a little bit 146 00:09:16,759 --> 00:09:20,720 and you're trying out Jeremy Grant at the five and you have Josh harton Gary 147 00:09:20,759 --> 00:09:24,039 Payton a second on the court with him, then Damian Lillard and Anthony Simons, 148 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,679 or Damian Lillard and someone else, or Simons and someone else. So 149 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,399 I think that this could be a better defensive team than people believe. And 150 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:33,679 if you have Dame and I would say Anthony Simons at this point, if 151 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,080 they're both healthy, you're probably looking at a top ten offense when you get 152 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,399 into the Western Conference. Though, if we're going to assume good health for 153 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,159 the Blazers, let's do it for everyone else. Here are the teams that 154 00:09:43,279 --> 00:09:46,000 I do not think the Blazers have a chance of passing next year. Phoenix, 155 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,519 Denver, the Clippers, and the Warriors. Those are the teams that 156 00:09:50,519 --> 00:09:54,879 I don't think they could pass, and so I will put their ceiling at 157 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,600 fifth in the West. Now, if you ask me whether I prefer the 158 00:09:58,639 --> 00:10:03,080 Pelicans or the Timberwolves to the Blazers, I probably prefer both teams at this 159 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,480 point. Do I prefer the Grizzlies with the Blazers? It's close. I'm 160 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,639 way too low on the Grizzlies. I apologize Memphis fans. Do I prefer 161 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,919 Dallas the Blazers? I think I prefer the Blazers at this point, and 162 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,840 so Sacramento were the Blazers. I think I give the Blazers the slight edge 163 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,440 there as well. So well, a lot of things need to go right, 164 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,360 and there are teams that I don't think they're going to pass if everything 165 00:10:24,399 --> 00:10:28,519 goes according to plan or works out in Portland's favor, I don't think it's 166 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:31,480 outside the realm of possibility that not only are they the bona fide playoff team, 167 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,440 but they're kind of comfortably in there as that top five spot. And 168 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,720 if we're talking about the four teams, I just named Denver, Phoenix, 169 00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:43,480 Golden State, and the Clippers as teams that if there's a team that I 170 00:10:43,519 --> 00:10:48,399 think the Blazers could outperform, I honestly don't even know what it is like. 171 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,600 I think people are probably too low on the Suns right now, just 172 00:10:50,639 --> 00:10:54,720 because they didn't change anything up majorly yet this offseason. Kevin Durant rumors pending 173 00:10:54,759 --> 00:10:56,960 of course, Golden State, the fact that they're taking a lot of chances 174 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,080 on their or presumably gonna take chances with their youth by maybe playing Wiseman, 175 00:11:01,159 --> 00:11:07,039 coming to Moses Moody Moore, could they be a weaker regular season team, 176 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:11,120 I don't know, I, like I said, I can't envision Portland passing 177 00:11:11,159 --> 00:11:13,279 any of those four teams. I think I'll just go with Denver or the 178 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:18,240 Clippers because there's combustibility there with their injuries more so than there is in Golden 179 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,600 State. And you could or Phoenix and you could say, oh, well, 180 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,480 James Watson has been injured a ton. If James Wiseman's not playing, 181 00:11:24,519 --> 00:11:26,279 there's a chance that Golden State is actually better off, just because there's a 182 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:31,320 learning curve there for Wiseman since he's played so few NBA games. That's a 183 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,879 great question, Harry. I don't know. I have to you know, 184 00:11:33,919 --> 00:11:35,799 I'm saving this from when I really have to go on record with Bleacher Report, 185 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:39,600 but also as we get into later podcast in the off season, as 186 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,600 I try to make my record hierarchy, my championship hierarchy. I don't know 187 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,279 where I'm gonna put the Blazers. They're They're a tough cookie, right up 188 00:11:46,279 --> 00:11:48,519 there with the Pelicans for me, and then I'm going to be absolutely just 189 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:52,320 out of my mind when I get to the Eastern Conference. What do you 190 00:11:52,399 --> 00:11:56,480 think, Harry or Blazers fans, what is your Let me know in the 191 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,000 comments on YouTube or on Twitter. What you think they're sealing is if they're 192 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,600 going to be or discord join our discord. What the Blazers ceiling is if 193 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,039 if they're fully healthy all year, and I would look, I think Afrey 194 00:12:05,039 --> 00:12:07,440 Simons is going to get even better, and I just I don't trust Noss 195 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:11,080 Little's health right now, and I'm very curious to see what the Blazers get 196 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,759 from Shade and Sharp, assuming he's healthy, and how much they play him. 197 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,200 I'm just looking at the roster in totality and think that could be a 198 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:24,840 fifth seed in the West if everything goes right. Austin has three questions. 199 00:12:24,279 --> 00:12:26,480 I'm going to answer all of them. We discussed some of these on the 200 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,200 side. Let's start with this one. What do you think the odds are 201 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,440 of Bennedic Matherin being Rookie of the Year given a skill set and opportunity. 202 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,919 I'm actually gonna sandwich this with another question about my dark horses to win Rookie 203 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:43,080 of the Year. That one came from Jake g as Well. Let's just 204 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,559 start with Bennednick Matherin. Do I think he could win Rookie of the Year. 205 00:12:46,919 --> 00:12:50,639 There's going to be opportunity Indianna. They're very clearly rebuilding, and Tyrese 206 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,080 Haliburton's kind of your one A at this point, and then everything feels wide 207 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,200 open after that, when you're looking at the offensive pecking order, maybe you 208 00:12:56,200 --> 00:13:01,720 think Chris da Warte will get more touches is just being more established and definitely 209 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,000 being older. I get that. I vibe that that's it after that, 210 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,399 though, I mean, like you don't have to allocate a certain number of 211 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,559 touches to t J McConnell, or to JAYN Smith or to Buddy Healed. 212 00:13:11,639 --> 00:13:13,759 I mean Smith and Buddy Healed specifically, and even Miles Turner. Those are 213 00:13:13,799 --> 00:13:16,000 gonna be guys that play off the ball, and you look at the rest 214 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:20,360 of this roster like, you're not gonna have ohe Brissette on the ball. 215 00:13:20,519 --> 00:13:22,759 A Ton, You're not gonna have if you're even playing him, Aaron E. 216 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,200 Smith on the ball, a Ton, and so Mathren. If we're 217 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,840 really thinking about this, should be no worse than the third option on the 218 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,799 pacers. And we know that there's a lot that goes into the Rookie of 219 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:37,120 the Year and the Rookie of the Year discussion this season included some really high 220 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,759 level discourse, I thought, and so it will go beyond just usage. 221 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:46,279 But if you're not having these dominant campaigns from the top three picks this year, 222 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,039 which I'm not gonna say you might not because they're all bigs, but 223 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:54,679 you look at them and their offensive roles could be is it the word tainting 224 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,159 like restricted a little bit? Just based off the teams are on and how 225 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,039 offensive ecosystems tend to work, that might open the door for a lot of 226 00:14:01,039 --> 00:14:05,799 these guys outside the top three. And so I would throw Benn nick mathin 227 00:14:05,039 --> 00:14:09,960 up there. I'm without even looking at the betting odds Rookie of the year. 228 00:14:09,399 --> 00:14:13,320 If he's like a plus, like you know, if he's fifteen to 229 00:14:13,399 --> 00:14:16,320 one, feels like that might be a fair return. Maybe that's even not 230 00:14:16,399 --> 00:14:20,679 giving him enough credit looking at what he did in Summer League, the separation 231 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:22,799 that he can create off the dribble, some of him just the off the 232 00:14:22,879 --> 00:14:26,200 dribble looks that he hit from beyond the arc, and his ability to score 233 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:30,840 at all the different levels. I'm not sure. I definitely didn't understand, 234 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,360 but I only get shin deep, maybe knee deep into draft coverage right ahead 235 00:14:35,399 --> 00:14:41,399 of it. I didn't know that he was like such a had such on 236 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,440 ball upside, and that's clearly there. Just based off what I swore in 237 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,720 some league and going back and watching some of his college film, a lot 238 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,399 of people thought he would be predominantly this offball threat. But there's also like 239 00:14:50,519 --> 00:14:56,039 value in that if you trust him to be and in motion away from the 240 00:14:56,039 --> 00:14:58,080 ball, how how's Rick Carlisle going to use him in in that regard? 241 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,840 I think he could play off sorry s Haliburton really well. I think he 242 00:15:01,879 --> 00:15:03,559 can be in lineups. I don't know how it will look defensively, but 243 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,279 if you want to play Duarte and Haliburton and Mathred at the same time, 244 00:15:07,519 --> 00:15:11,919 so that's going to help him. I think the defensive role he plays, 245 00:15:11,159 --> 00:15:15,360 if they very much decide that, hey, we're gonna slot you at the 246 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,559 two and we're gonna stagger him, and it's a ton that could benefit him. 247 00:15:18,559 --> 00:15:20,440 But maybe there's also just like, oh, he's defending like more bigger 248 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,799 wings than we thought he could, especially right off the bat, that could 249 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,279 help him. Guess what I'm trying to say is like the highest range outcome 250 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:33,080 for him feels a lot higher to me than it did when they first drafted 251 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,440 him, and it has nothing to do with the pacers set up, just 252 00:15:35,639 --> 00:15:39,559 it's off of watching him. And so I think he has as good a 253 00:15:39,639 --> 00:15:43,360 chance of anyone outside those top three players that we're going to gravitate, you 254 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,159 know, Jabari Smith, you and your Chet home Grin and Paalo bank Carro. 255 00:15:46,519 --> 00:15:48,840 I think he has as good a chance of anyone. And the opportunity 256 00:15:48,879 --> 00:15:52,519 in Indiana, I think you can be on offense, you can argue is 257 00:15:52,559 --> 00:15:56,240 going to be greater than maybe even bag Harrow gets in Orlando, certainly than 258 00:15:56,279 --> 00:16:00,879 Homegrin gets in Oklahoma City, probably Jamar Smith Junior Houston, who knows. 259 00:16:00,919 --> 00:16:03,960 But so I think he has that going for him a viable Rookie of the 260 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,559 Year candidate. He would not be my pick at the moment, but I 261 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,240 think would he be my top five, definitely be my top seven. I 262 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:15,440 think at this point I don't know if he would be in my top five, 263 00:16:15,519 --> 00:16:18,879 but if you put him in your top five, I wouldn't argue with 264 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,559 you, like, not even the slightest j g as outside of the top 265 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,000 three players, who is your dark horse candidate for Rookie of the Year. 266 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,720 And so I try to think really outside the box here and I stipulated that 267 00:16:29,799 --> 00:16:33,360 I can't pick any of the top seven players, and I didn't even want 268 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:34,720 to focus on like, oh well, then I'll just default to like eight 269 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,519 and we'll just go with Dyson Daniels and so on and so forth. I 270 00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:41,559 also don't know what Dyson Daniels the opportunity is going to be like in New 271 00:16:41,639 --> 00:16:45,440 Orleans. So I looked at Houston, and I could see Terry Eason just 272 00:16:45,519 --> 00:16:48,080 based off what he could do as a wing and in heavy minutes that I 273 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:52,480 assume that he'll get, I could see it being him. I could also 274 00:16:52,559 --> 00:16:55,720 see it if maybe Houston gets away from Kevin Porter Junior a little bit. 275 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,360 Do they move him, do they try to make him just the specific microwave 276 00:16:59,399 --> 00:17:02,799 type score where they don't task him with any facilitation duties. Do you get 277 00:17:02,799 --> 00:17:04,960 Tai Tai Washington in here? I think most people will push back against that. 278 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,119 I could see one of those Houston guy sort of merging here. My 279 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:12,440 actual pick would be Jeremy Sohan from the Spurs. Just a really smart player 280 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,319 and if he's going to be healthy, I think will already be a defensive 281 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,519 disruptor. If the jump shot comes along, and now the chip England's not 282 00:17:19,559 --> 00:17:22,480 there anymore. Maybe you don't think that's going to be the case. If 283 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:27,599 he's better than expected as a jump shooter. This is just someone that I 284 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:33,519 think has a much higher ninetieth ninety nine percent to outcome than people even crediting. 285 00:17:33,799 --> 00:17:37,640 Right now. I don't think people believe that the Spurs picked up this 286 00:17:37,759 --> 00:17:41,839 potential cornerstone. And look, if I'm ranking the players that are most important 287 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:45,640 to the Spurs the future, I think I might have Josh Primo ahead of 288 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,640 him, and maybe even Devin Vassel, but he's sort of right there. 289 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:53,799 I think I would argue that Sohan's ceiling is higher than what we even have 290 00:17:53,839 --> 00:17:56,599 from Kelton Johnson, who just signed that four year, eight million dollars extension. 291 00:17:56,599 --> 00:18:00,960 And Kelvin Johnson is really fucking good. So I'm gonna go with Jeremy 292 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,960 sow In there. I don't know if he's going to make my actual like 293 00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:06,240 Rookie of the Year ladder and when I do it, but I think that 294 00:18:06,279 --> 00:18:08,279 he's someone if we're assuming that San Antonio is all in on this rebuild, 295 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,519 they're going to give him some serious agency this year, and I think that 296 00:18:12,519 --> 00:18:18,000 that could then be parlayed into the counting stats that's necessary to get attention, 297 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:22,039 but then also just the effectiveness to gain even more momentum from them, and 298 00:18:22,079 --> 00:18:23,400 people start to dig into you and see, oh, this is a really 299 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:27,839 impact rookie who maybe is defending better than most other rookies, and maybe if 300 00:18:27,839 --> 00:18:30,880 they really dig deeper, they'll see that, oh, this is someone who 301 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,160 makes really quick passes and he's not a ball stopper at all, and maybe 302 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,640 they're running even some just stand still half court sets through him. So I'm 303 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,480 excited to watch him play, and not just because I love his hair. 304 00:18:41,519 --> 00:18:44,359 He was hoping that he is healthy. I think he was dealing with a 305 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,920 shoulder injury or something. Some really words the health and safety protocols. I 306 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:51,440 don't know. It's all blurring together. Austin's next question, do you think 307 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,799 the Kings actually have a chance to slash will make the playoffs or at least 308 00:18:53,799 --> 00:19:00,079 the playing game this season? Yes, they have a chance. Am I 309 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,319 going to pick them to be in the playoffs? No? Well I picked 310 00:19:03,319 --> 00:19:08,960 them to be in the play in probably not. Like, let's what teams 311 00:19:10,039 --> 00:19:14,000 in the Western Conference are worse than the King without beyond a shadow of a 312 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,960 doubt, right, now Utah, I feel like it's going to get there. 313 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:22,000 The Spurs want to be there. Okay, see could still be there. 314 00:19:22,039 --> 00:19:23,480 I think I would just keep an eye. Okay, see they are. 315 00:19:23,559 --> 00:19:29,599 They might be just understatedly good. Here, that's three teams and then 316 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,799 Houston. I think you're still putting there. So that's four which look now 317 00:19:33,839 --> 00:19:37,440 you're kind of looking at that. We have twelve thirteen, fourteen to fifteen. 318 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,480 You only need to beat out one other team then if you're the Kings 319 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,799 to be in the play in here's the issue is that team Dallas, Denver, 320 00:19:45,279 --> 00:19:48,720 Golden State, the Clippers, the Lakers, the Grizzlies, the Timberwolves, 321 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,640 the Pelicans, Like it's really crowded in the Western Conference, the Blazers, 322 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,240 the Suns. It's really crowded in the Western Conference. I don't think 323 00:19:56,279 --> 00:20:00,480 I'm gonna pick the Kings as of now to make the play in tournament. 324 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,920 I do think they've built a very interesting roster. I am all in on 325 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:10,599 the Keegan Murray pick, especially as a fit. I'm wondering how this team 326 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,599 is going to carve out enough defense. As Matt Moore of Action Network did 327 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,039 say, though, there are worse models than the Iron Fox domas bonus and 328 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:23,559 quote a fuck ton of shooting. I just I'm looking at this roster and 329 00:20:23,599 --> 00:20:26,440 it's okay, Like Molik Monk is kind of exciting, and he's gonna put 330 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:30,000 some pressure on set defenses and drill a bunch of threes. Kevin Hurd another 331 00:20:30,079 --> 00:20:34,400 motion shooter. You have Harrison Barnes is I guess you're him and Damian Mitchell 332 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,880 your best defenders? Does Kegan Murray work his way into that discussion? You 333 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,880 need the Iron Fox to maybe have the best defensive season of his career. 334 00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:45,559 At this point, the roster's got like some depth to it again, especially 335 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,839 on offense. Just to have Rashaun Holmes as your backup five right now is 336 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,400 beyond a luxury and I would argue just the misallocation of assets, but I 337 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:59,759 digress there. So I don't think I think it's very eminently possible that they 338 00:20:59,759 --> 00:21:02,400 may the play in tournament. I'm not going to pick them to win the 339 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:03,359 play in Tournament, and I'm not even sure that I'm going to pick them 340 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,279 to be one of the top ten teams in West because as of right now, 341 00:21:07,319 --> 00:21:10,480 I only feel confident in saying and I don't even feel one hundred percent 342 00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:15,680 confident in this. But okay, see Utah, Houston and San Antonio the 343 00:21:15,759 --> 00:21:22,720 only teams that are going to definitively be worse than Sacramento next season. Final 344 00:21:22,839 --> 00:21:26,480 question from Austin, who are your some of your picks for first time All 345 00:21:26,519 --> 00:21:29,839 Stars this year? Mine would be Darren Fox or Zion in the West and 346 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,640 in the East, I got Cade and bold pick John Collins. Two things. 347 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,160 I don't think John Collins is a bold pick. I think with the 348 00:21:36,279 --> 00:21:41,200 Jante Murray and Trey Young there, and then you do have Clint Capella eating 349 00:21:41,279 --> 00:21:42,839 up some of those minutes at the five to where Collins might be best student 350 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:47,440 on offense is the primary screener. I get that concern, but that's a 351 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,079 good pick. Zion also already made in All Star Games, so I'm not 352 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,799 going to include him in mind. Darren Fox is a good one. He's 353 00:21:53,079 --> 00:21:56,880 look he played I can all start to close the season, and he's had 354 00:21:56,279 --> 00:22:00,799 half season long stretchers, three quarters season long stret which is where he's looked 355 00:22:00,839 --> 00:22:03,640 apart of an All Star. So it wouldn't shock me if he gets there. 356 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,680 If I had to pick one from each conference, I really want to 357 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,279 pick Tyres Maxie from the East. But as Austin and I are actually discussing, 358 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,440 he put up wild numbers with James Harden, Joel and b last year, 359 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,920 but do those sort of sustain I could see him work. He's way 360 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,279 into the discussion, though Kay Cunningham is of course a good one. I 361 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:26,400 think Evan Mobley belongs in there. I'm going to go with Kay Cunningham and 362 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,400 I'll follow that up with fuck it, let's be bald. I'm gonna say 363 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,240 Tyres Maxie putting that over Scottie Barnes or Nevin Mobley is probably stupid, but 364 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:37,519 I'm just gonna throw that out there. For the West, I'm gonna just 365 00:22:37,559 --> 00:22:40,359 say shake Yosoxander. I think this might be the third year, and predicting 366 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,960 his first All Star Piers, it's definitely the second one. That dude is 367 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,759 just so good and if they actually let him play and he doesn't get injured 368 00:22:48,039 --> 00:22:49,000 and this, granted this isn't as big of it. I think he had 369 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,039 an injury last year, so this isn't as big of an issue. When 370 00:22:52,039 --> 00:22:55,279 you're looking at pre All Star break. Now that they kind of have some 371 00:22:55,599 --> 00:22:57,039 I don't know if they have enough floor balance around him, but they definitely 372 00:22:57,079 --> 00:23:00,839 have more weapons around him. I could see him being a little bit more 373 00:23:00,839 --> 00:23:03,200 efficient than he was this past year. It did seem like Oklahoma City sort 374 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:10,119 of clunky set up took its toll on his efficiency and his not overall production, 375 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,920 but just his efficiency in the way his shot selection last year, I 376 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:18,319 should say so. But Darren Fox is also a good one. I'm trying 377 00:23:18,319 --> 00:23:21,039 to think of if there's anyone else in the West that would just spring to 378 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:23,079 mind for me, and I don't think there is right off the bat, 379 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,799 So yeah, I'm going with So we're settling on shakilas Auxander in the West, 380 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,680 and I'm going to go with Kate cutting him in the Eastern conference with 381 00:23:33,799 --> 00:23:37,039 keep your eye on Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, look Tyres Maxie. I 382 00:23:37,079 --> 00:23:41,440 even think John Collins is probably a good one, but those would be names 383 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:45,279 to keep an eye on, and certainly out west you have Darren Fox in 384 00:23:45,319 --> 00:23:48,920 there, and I don't I honestly can't think of like someone else that would 385 00:23:48,039 --> 00:23:52,079 like Jordan Pool is not going to crack that discussion this year for Golden State. 386 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,799 I'm probably forgetting at least someone like what could Anthony Simon's maybe go Kaboom 387 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:00,359 is that someone we should really be were watching as a first time All Star. 388 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,759 I can't get there at the moment. Michael Porter Junior if he's healthy, 389 00:24:04,759 --> 00:24:07,599 and I'll get to him in sort of a second, and something that's 390 00:24:07,599 --> 00:24:11,279 tangentially related to that. So those might be some other names just to keep 391 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:14,720 an eye on. Great questions, Austin, and thank you for all of 392 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,319 them. Kaide asked, whom are you targeting in an NBA expansion draft? 393 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:22,519 Just players in general or favorite starting five? This question we had something similar 394 00:24:22,519 --> 00:24:26,119 a while back, and I always put way too much thought into it because 395 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,799 the expansion rules are so they're not complicated, but they make it hard to 396 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,759 kind of decide who would be available. Every team can protect up to eight 397 00:24:33,799 --> 00:24:37,359 players in an expansion draft, and you kind of have to think through, 398 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:41,599 Okay, well, if you're going to the ninth best player and everyone's roster, 399 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,400 this isn't gonna be fun. But there are players who have contracts that 400 00:24:44,519 --> 00:24:48,039 would teams want to ditch or get rid of, of course, Russell Westbrook. 401 00:24:48,279 --> 00:24:52,119 But like so, one of my picks in here that I think would 402 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:55,720 be a sure fire pick is a Mike Conley for me, just slotting him 403 00:24:55,759 --> 00:24:57,759 at point guard. Do the Jazz do they think they can get value from 404 00:24:57,759 --> 00:25:00,680 on the trade market or because he owed so much this year and then guaranteed 405 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:06,440 almost fifteen million in twenty three twenty four and they're rebuilding, would they just 406 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:11,359 make him available in an expansion draft rather than protect him. It's tough because 407 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:12,640 like when you go eighteep on their roster, like, yeah, Donovan, 408 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:18,000 Mitchell, Walker, Kessler, They're also gonna have Jared Vanderbilt. They're probably 409 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,640 protecting those guys over him. But do you, like, are you still 410 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:23,240 thinking that you can get value out of Mike Conley or just view him as 411 00:25:23,279 --> 00:25:27,839 a good salary matching to I'm gonna pendil in Mike Conley here. I also 412 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:33,440 have Gordon Hayward as one. I think that the Hornets would probably want to 413 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,519 get rid of his deal. Maybe not so much given that we don't know 414 00:25:36,559 --> 00:25:40,279 what's happening with Miles Bridges the future, but so I have him penciled in 415 00:25:40,559 --> 00:25:42,160 here as well. That is Gordon Hayward the one I thought about, and 416 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,680 I don't think they would do it, But if the Nuggets have the opportunity 417 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,400 to just get off of Michael Porter Junior's money. Would they unprotect him in 418 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:55,920 an expansion draft rather than have that basically five year max extension, which there 419 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:57,839 are some protections for them, there are partial guarantees on the back end. 420 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,680 I don't think they would do it, so I'm not gonna pick him, 421 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,440 but he is someone I having question marks on my sheet that I'm staring at 422 00:26:04,519 --> 00:26:07,960 right now. So so far, if Mike Conley, Gordon Hayward, this 423 00:26:08,079 --> 00:26:11,200 was interesting, I have Cavan Loooney as my center because when you start to 424 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,440 look at it for Golden State, if they can protect up to eight players, 425 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,839 they're gonna have to use every one of those protections. I'm saying definitely 426 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:25,079 Steph Clay, Wiggins and Draymond that's four. You definitely protect Cominga and Pool 427 00:26:25,559 --> 00:26:29,400 that's five. And six. I'm assuming you protect Wiseman. You don't just 428 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,440 leave him on protecting an expansion draft that's seven and so were you protecting Moses 429 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:38,119 Moody or Cavan Looney there? I don't know. Maybe you're protecting Loudy, 430 00:26:38,319 --> 00:26:42,160 but I'm picking I'm picking Cavan Loudy because I think he'd be the one that 431 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:47,440 they'd be more inclined just to protect the wing rather than the big So I 432 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,960 have Cavan Loony, Gordon Hayward, and Mike Conley right now. I thought 433 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:53,920 about Tobias Harris here, but I don't need to go that much all offense. 434 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:57,799 I think I'm gonna go with I'm assuming Marcus Moore Senior wouldn't be protected 435 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,519 by the Clippers. Maybe I'm wrong there, but they have all the wings 436 00:27:02,599 --> 00:27:06,279 and I think they should open up playing time for a mere coffee. And 437 00:27:06,319 --> 00:27:10,880 then I'm I'm kind of torn between Eric Gordon or Josh Richardson. Give me 438 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,359 whoever is less likely to be protected by their team. I think for my 439 00:27:14,599 --> 00:27:19,039 roster, Josh Richardson might make more sense at the same time having the extra 440 00:27:19,079 --> 00:27:26,400 element of shock creation from Eric Gordon. So I'm gonna go Mike Conley, 441 00:27:26,519 --> 00:27:30,200 Eric Gordon Hayward, Marcus Moore Senior and Cavan Loody I gave. I really 442 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,839 thought maybe I should figure out a way to get ken rich Williams in here, 443 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,440 if I could have him over Gordon or Richardson, that like two spot, 444 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:41,440 even though Kendrick Williams isn't the two that's what's tough for me, And 445 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,359 maybe if you think that Gordon's going to be protected, I think, Okay, 446 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,240 see there's a chance they protect ken Rich Williams, But they also have 447 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:51,160 enough youngsters on the roster that you could get eight deep pretty quickly. So 448 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:55,400 I'm probably at Mike Conley and then Eric Gordon or ken Rich Williams, Marcus 449 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:59,519 Moore Senior, Gordon Hayward and and kvon Loody. That's a fascinating question, 450 00:27:59,599 --> 00:28:03,240 Kade. Let me know anyone with their expansion would be and I'll let you 451 00:28:03,279 --> 00:28:04,680 know whether I think those players would be protected. Do you think that I 452 00:28:04,839 --> 00:28:10,079 chose anyone that would be protected in an expansion draft as well? The Michael 453 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:12,240 Porter junior question to me is fascinating. Maybe a little bit less so now 454 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,640 that we're closer to the season and it's like, oh, he's gonna be 455 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,599 healthy, Jamal Murray's healthy. They added Bruce Brown and KCP like this is 456 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:22,920 the year that the Nuggets are are going for it, Kayden asked, with 457 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,400 Katie reiterating that the Nets need to choose him or the franchise leadership, Nash 458 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:30,000 and Marks. It seems like Katie will be traded if when this trade happens, 459 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,599 what should the Nets do not this year, but the following year in 460 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,039 twenty three twenty four, go tank mode or push for the playoffs with Simmons. 461 00:28:36,079 --> 00:28:41,519 So they should not go tank mode because they owe their twenty twenty four 462 00:28:41,599 --> 00:28:47,640 draft pick outright to Houston this year. I think you tank because, and 463 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:48,799 I know this wasn't your question, but just to get that on the record, 464 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,839 you tank this year because it's a swap with Houston. You sho should 465 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:59,319 still be pretty bad. So even if you have the worst record, you're 466 00:28:59,319 --> 00:29:03,039 still looking at high lottery pick next year. Though your first round pick is 467 00:29:03,039 --> 00:29:06,400 Ody Houston, free and clear. I don't think you tank on purpose. 468 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,839 With that said, I liked what the Nets did when they were first taken 469 00:29:08,839 --> 00:29:11,720 over by Marks. They decided those picks are out the window. They were 470 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:15,440 gonna build their roster oil they see fit. They weren't going to make these 471 00:29:15,759 --> 00:29:19,200 short sighted wind now moves to just ensure that the picks they were sending to 472 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:22,319 Boston were a little bit less valuable. So I could see them sort of 473 00:29:22,319 --> 00:29:26,480 pivoting to the all in youth movement anyway, if that's the route they decided 474 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:30,400 to go. Given that what we've heard about the Durant return that they are 475 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,240 sort of focusing on a player as a centerpiece rather than just all the picks, 476 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,359 and it seems like they want players en picks. We'll see what they 477 00:29:36,559 --> 00:29:40,079 wind up settling for. I think what you do is you try and go 478 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:41,960 for it around Ben Simmons. I don't think you do anything to short circuit 479 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,960 your future. Go spend on dumb free agents and signing trades, or make 480 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:51,359 these other trades where whatever draft equity you're getting from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant 481 00:29:51,359 --> 00:29:55,000 trades, you're then flipping for like mediocre players like a Gordon Heyward. But 482 00:29:55,359 --> 00:29:56,839 look, if you want to keep Royce O'Neil, if you want to keep 483 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:00,920 Seth Curry and put them around Ben Simmage, want to keep Joe Harris, 484 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:03,440 I don't think it needs to be a full on sell off, in large 485 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:07,039 part because look, yeah, do the one year tank, but in large 486 00:30:07,039 --> 00:30:10,240 part because I don't know that you're good enough anyway for it to matter. 487 00:30:10,319 --> 00:30:15,279 But it's mostly just that you already owe your twenty four pick to Houston outright, 488 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,920 so tanking doesn't really do anything for you. That being said, I 489 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,599 think the right call here, Kayden is you evaluate your team, build your 490 00:30:22,599 --> 00:30:27,200 team, operate as if those picks they're gone, it's whatever to Houston. 491 00:30:27,279 --> 00:30:30,759 So if that if you need to hit reset and you want to trade everyone, 492 00:30:30,799 --> 00:30:34,200 including Simmons, and like accumulate all these other picks from other teams, 493 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:38,680 I'm totally fine with them going that route. But I would like to see 494 00:30:40,039 --> 00:30:42,240 if we do get Kyrie Irving, Kemn Durant trades. I just want to 495 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,640 see what a team looks like when it's sort of built around Ben Simmons. 496 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,640 Can we get fuck ton of shooting around Ben Simmons. I don't think that 497 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,279 that's going to be as nearly as effective as some people think they honest comparisons 498 00:30:52,319 --> 00:30:56,079 are always absolutely terrible. But I still think Simmons is a damn good NBA 499 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:59,920 player. He's a fantastic All World defender, and he's an all world passer 500 00:31:00,279 --> 00:31:02,839 as well, And so if you put the ball in his hands and everyone 501 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,240 else around him, it's sort of supplementary. You're dealing with just a lot 502 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:10,279 of good floor spacers. There might be something to that. And then because 503 00:31:10,519 --> 00:31:15,039 yeah, there's there's really no like virtue in getting these lower level playoff berths 504 00:31:15,119 --> 00:31:18,400 or sneaking into the plane. But if you're getting these other picks that you're 505 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:22,680 holding onto from other teams, that's how you get your bites at the draft. 506 00:31:22,759 --> 00:31:25,880 Apple In I will say, if Kevin Durant, Kyrie Vernon are gone 507 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:30,279 this upcoming year, unless they're getting like Jamon Brown or brandon ingram Back or 508 00:31:30,319 --> 00:31:33,599 just someone else that we're not talking about, I think that they need to 509 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:37,000 go for the one year tank and then sort of try to reboot things quicker 510 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,599 in twenty three twenty four. That's a really good question, though. Kayden 511 00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:45,160 mo hayde Is Spare asked what's a better shot at top of the ark three 512 00:31:45,319 --> 00:31:48,519 or a free throw line mid ranger. I think context is important here. 513 00:31:48,519 --> 00:31:51,000 If you're telling me, is it just a foul shot when the whistle's dead, 514 00:31:51,119 --> 00:31:52,839 the ball's dead, Yeah, it's the foul shot. But I think 515 00:31:52,839 --> 00:31:57,079 it's just universally you're gonna say the above the break three pointer, and it 516 00:31:57,119 --> 00:32:00,759 could. It depends on who is taking the shot. It depends on the 517 00:32:00,759 --> 00:32:06,200 context of the shot. But look, the league average on above the break 518 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:12,039 threees was one point zero four seven points per shot this year on from fifteen 519 00:32:12,079 --> 00:32:15,640 feet out. This season, the average was point eight one eight points per 520 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,680 shot. If fifteen feets about the distance of the free throw line to the 521 00:32:17,759 --> 00:32:21,480 rim on just long mid rangers, so if you want to expand pass the 522 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,519 free throw line a little bit, the average was point eight point two points 523 00:32:23,519 --> 00:32:27,839 per shot. And I think what we're learning is that the types of shots 524 00:32:27,839 --> 00:32:32,359 you're taking are directly the result of the floor geometry. And so when you're 525 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:36,920 taking above the break three pointer, you're most likely opening the floor more because 526 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,160 you can. It's not necessarily this off the dribble difficult look. It's you 527 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:44,200 can be at a stand still there. If you're at a stand still on 528 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:47,000 the free throw line, I don't know what type of defense is like going 529 00:32:47,039 --> 00:32:52,480 to like that's going to be effective against. And that's sort of when we 530 00:32:52,519 --> 00:32:53,960 talk about no, the mid range isn't dead. If you're saying a self 531 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,000 created look that ends up being wide open from the foul line jumper. There 532 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,960 are certain players if it's like the are to Rosen maybe Chris Paul, that 533 00:33:01,039 --> 00:33:05,319 you prefer that over a catch and shoot above the break three or a pull 534 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,960 up above the break three. I still think for the most part it's the 535 00:33:09,799 --> 00:33:12,759 top of the RC three whatever you want to call it, or an above 536 00:33:12,799 --> 00:33:16,200 the break three just because there are more options there. You're not gonna get 537 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,640 catch and shoot jumpers from the foulon, and if you are, I'm gonna 538 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:24,480 question how your offense is being run. For sure. Let's wrap things up 539 00:33:24,519 --> 00:33:29,759 with this fun question from FNF devon should I put all my money on one 540 00:33:29,759 --> 00:33:32,000 spot at the roulette table or save up for a house? You guys think 541 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,680 that I want to answer these these joke questions that are maybe tralling us. 542 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,240 You should absolutely put all your money on the roulette table because you can double 543 00:33:38,359 --> 00:33:42,039 up and where else are you gonna get one hundred percent of your investment back? 544 00:33:42,079 --> 00:33:44,599 Think about how long it's going to take you to save up for a 545 00:33:44,599 --> 00:33:47,799 house, especially in this housing market. I am fucking kidding. Please save 546 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,200 up for a house. Save in general, do not put all your money 547 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:54,759 on the one spot in the roulette table. That would just be an absolute 548 00:33:54,839 --> 00:33:58,200 nightmare. And also, as I'm kind of looking at this clock, I 549 00:33:58,279 --> 00:34:00,160 have time for at least one more question, So let's get to this from 550 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:05,000 Chris Curtis on YouTube Love the Show. In the mailbag, You're the man. 551 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,679 Thank you, Chris. If you got to change a decision that Nicks 552 00:34:07,679 --> 00:34:10,800 have made in the past decade. What would it be As a Sons fan, 553 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:14,920 It's pretty easy that might do over would be selecting Luca number one, 554 00:34:15,199 --> 00:34:17,320 But a strong honor mention would have been taking Tyrese Halibert and over John Smith. 555 00:34:17,599 --> 00:34:21,960 Yeah, that one's stung. I'm not gonna lie. That's a great 556 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,199 that's a great question, Chris. For the Knicks specifically, I can't even 557 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:30,800 pick they should have Amnesty Amari Stadomier because that's more than a decade away at 558 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:36,280 this point. I might just like point to one of the draft routes not 559 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:42,239 taken. What if they had gone with Shay Gilgi Alexander instead of Kevin Knox 560 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:46,199 in that draft? What does the trajectory of this franchise look like if they 561 00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:50,440 go that route? I think, look, fans aren't gonna be wondering this 562 00:34:50,519 --> 00:34:52,760 as much either. And I don't think this needs to be the biggest do 563 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:57,199 over because I still have Hope and he's been very good and limited minutes. 564 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,239 But just like, what if instead of Obie top and you went with Tyrese 565 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:04,480 Halibert would sort of be a fun one. So I'm trying to lean more 566 00:35:04,519 --> 00:35:06,960 more recent here, and there are a bunch of other draft decisions from the 567 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:12,079 Knicks we could relitigate they buy a Mars drafted pretty well when they've been like 568 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,800 especially like with their later first round picks in recent years. But I think 569 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:20,039 it would be just because I'm so high on Chekuilersoxander, and I vum as 570 00:35:20,079 --> 00:35:22,719 this all MBA player. When is the last time that the Knicks had that 571 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:29,000 player consistently level of player at the one or the two spot. Really, 572 00:35:29,039 --> 00:35:30,920 I think if you hope that RJ. Barrett turns into the all MBA type 573 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:35,480 player at the two, Shakuiler Stoxander can be more of the engine of an 574 00:35:35,559 --> 00:35:38,440 offense, and so that Kevin Knox. I think it's easy to zero went 575 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:42,800 on that too, just because Kevin Knox went all the way bust and it 576 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:45,119 doesn't even have to be Shay like I might have. You would have rather 577 00:35:45,159 --> 00:35:49,679 have had Michael Porter Junior than Kevin Knox, even with his injuries. You 578 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,639 certainly Mchael Bridges of course, that draft, it felt like there were a 579 00:35:52,639 --> 00:35:57,679 lot of options, and sometimes I feel like the Knicks have overthought it when 580 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:00,119 they're higher up, and yeah, when it's a no brainer pick, or 581 00:36:00,119 --> 00:36:02,599 again the value they've mined out of the later rounds of the draft. But 582 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:08,639 sometimes it's just like, hey, you've needed a primary ball handler, facilitator, 583 00:36:08,679 --> 00:36:14,280 whatever, like pole star for your offense. Just take the player that 584 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:17,320 has a chance in hell of becoming that, rather than out smarting yourself with 585 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:21,719 Oh look at the talent of Kevin Knox, where yeah he had a good 586 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:23,400 summer league, but it was wildly inefficient. I don't think anyone actually thought 587 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:27,079 he was going to be a primary offensive engine at the time. And so 588 00:36:27,159 --> 00:36:29,639 that's the one that sticks with me. I don't know if I'm living Knicks 589 00:36:29,639 --> 00:36:32,400 fans, if you're listening fellow Knicks fans, I don't know if that's like 590 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:37,239 too recent, but the Shay Gilders Alexander miss still stings a lot for me, 591 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:42,760 and like, if we're able to redo like history with ping pom balls, 592 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:45,800 then yeah, it would be nice if they won the Zion Williamson draft 593 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:49,039 or the Karl Anthony Towns draft, But I'm looking at it from decisions that 594 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:53,400 they could probably control. And no, if you're asking do I, why 595 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:58,400 don't I focus on the Donovan Mitchell draft and why could would they drafted Frankielkeena. 596 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,119 I won't go there because Frankielkeena is an all time great. This was 597 00:37:00,159 --> 00:37:04,719 a lot of fun. I'm actually proud of myself for doing this and under 598 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:07,920 very well under an hour. Please remember a rate review and subscribe to the 599 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:12,159 podcast wherever you're consuming it. Hit that subscribe button on YouTube. Tell your 600 00:37:12,159 --> 00:37:15,360 friends, family members, acquaintances, random people on the internet about us please. 601 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:20,360 As always, though, remember to never leave this podcast before giving a 602 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:23,559 shout out to one the only the regret that I will never have. For 603 00:37:23,599 --> 00:37:27,719 the next day in amat number eight, frank Meila Keen