1 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,320 What is crack lacking Hardwoo Knox listeners, I am Damp Valley coming at you 2 00:00:10,359 --> 00:00:16,120 without my fantabulous co host Adam Framo. I am, however, ecstatic as 3 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:22,160 always, end as ever, can be joined by my longtime colleague, longtime 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:27,559 friend Bleacher Reports Grant Hughes. Follow him on Twitter at gt underscore Hughes. 5 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,640 He's back, which can mean only one thing. At this point, We're 6 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,679 gonna finish up our off season report cards heading over to the Western Conference. 7 00:00:35,679 --> 00:00:38,520 Were already did the Eastern Conference, so if you have not checked that out, 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,799 please do so immediately before we cannon ball in here. Just my friendly 9 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:48,439 quick reminder, slash please to rate, review and subscribe to us wherever you 10 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,399 are getting your podcast. We are on YouTube as Hardwood Knox, we are 11 00:00:52,399 --> 00:00:55,880 on iTunes, Spotify, the whole nine, the whole ten, everything, 12 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:00,359 So please pretty please with sugar on top, rate review and subscribe the hardwa 13 00:01:00,439 --> 00:01:03,359 Knocks. That is the message here, Grant. How are you feeling tonight? 14 00:01:06,079 --> 00:01:07,599 I'm feeling good. We're doing the West, which is the conference I 15 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,959 tend to pay more attention to. I'll just be upfront with your listeners about 16 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,879 that. But now I've probably set myself up to miss a lot of obvious 17 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,920 things. So there's that. I'm doing great. I'm excited to be back, 18 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:25,200 and I'm ready to you hit your grades from me, which you just 19 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,239 mentioned before we started recording. So I don't know what you think about any 20 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,239 of this. My grades are revealed to you because I'm an open book and 21 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:38,120 I don't I don't withhold things from my friends, So yeah, I just 22 00:01:38,159 --> 00:01:40,680 want to make sure before we start to insult you somehow. So there, 23 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,680 so we're good. We're covered now. Uh. You know, I'm just 24 00:01:42,719 --> 00:01:47,280 trying to add a sense of mystery to this entire podcast, and there's nothing 25 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:52,239 to do with the barrage of flying some things that we're I'm being pelted with 26 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,680 as we're trying to record. So maybe it was Yeah coming at me that 27 00:01:56,799 --> 00:02:00,959 derailed my grading process. The steners don't know You're it's not You're not playing 28 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:06,359 hurt, but it's kind of like you're playing under duress right now. There's 29 00:02:06,439 --> 00:02:09,039 like a some kind of infestation. Can we call it an infestation? You 30 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:14,840 have some bug issues? I guess in my office there's like I've just been 31 00:02:14,879 --> 00:02:19,159 attacked by three monstrous like fly things. I don't know what they are, 32 00:02:19,199 --> 00:02:24,759 but I feel I feel very much attacked at the moment. And it's just 33 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,759 so everywhere we're clear, I can't see them even though I'm looking at you. 34 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,360 So it's from my perspective, it's like a forty percent chance that you're 35 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,680 hallucinating, which is even more fun to watch as you duck out of the 36 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,240 way of stuff that's maybe not even there. I'm actually tripping on acid just 37 00:02:40,319 --> 00:02:46,400 for this fun. So that's the that's the big reveal. Yeah, But 38 00:02:46,479 --> 00:02:52,599 anyway, the listeners presumably aren't here to talk about listen to meat being scared 39 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,639 by whatever these like I said, these mutant bugs that are coming at me 40 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,960 right now. You told me about some sort of hybrid fly to Thoma Island 41 00:03:00,039 --> 00:03:06,080 apparently that has eight heads and is super lethal. So I'm so committed to 42 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:10,319 this podcast that I'm trying to brave those circumstances. But let's begin here. 43 00:03:10,439 --> 00:03:15,159 So the first team, as always when we're going on alphabetical order, and 44 00:03:15,319 --> 00:03:20,360 is the Dallas Mavericks, so I'll begin with them. They hired Jason Kidd 45 00:03:20,479 --> 00:03:23,680 after parting ways with Rick Carlisle. They gave Luka don Chich five year Max 46 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,080 They signed Reggie Block to a three year at thirty point one million dollar deal. 47 00:03:28,159 --> 00:03:30,800 Twenty five million is guaranteed. Five point five million is guaranteed in that 48 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,000 final season. They signed Sterling Brown to a two year six million dollar deal, 49 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,360 resigned Boban Marjaranovitch to a two year seven million dollar deal, signed him 50 00:03:38,439 --> 00:03:43,719 Hardaway to a four year, seventy two million dollars deal. It can get 51 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,800 up to there are some incentives there where I believe it can be raised, 52 00:03:46,479 --> 00:03:50,319 and it is on a declining scale for anyone that cares about that stuff. 53 00:03:50,719 --> 00:03:54,360 And they acquired Moses Brown from the Celtics for Josh Richardson and created a ten 54 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,639 point nine million dollar trade exception in the process. They signed Frank neil Kina. 55 00:04:00,159 --> 00:04:02,560 Their grade is obviously an A plus to a one year deal at the 56 00:04:02,599 --> 00:04:06,280 minimum. They signed Nate Hint into a two way contract. They signed Eugene 57 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:12,400 Omory to a two way contract, signed Jaquori McLaughlin to a two way contract. 58 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:16,279 So I'm clearly missing someone that they waived. I'll update that immediately. 59 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:19,600 But grant, what grade did you give the and did I miss anything? 60 00:04:19,639 --> 00:04:21,959 First of all, but what grade did you give a Dallas Mavericks for their 61 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:27,519 off season. I think you did well. You JJ Reddick has gone, 62 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,680 but he was never really there. So other than that, I think we're 63 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:36,000 good. I gave Dallas a D plus. I think it's I think it's 64 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:42,079 one of my lowest grades, and it was higher at first because, like 65 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:46,040 we talked about it with the East a little bit. I guess I was 66 00:04:46,079 --> 00:04:49,240 giving credit for Hey, they got Luca locked up to the max extension, 67 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:55,160 so that's good. But that's one of those things where now my opinion is 68 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,279 more like, well, that was never not going to happen, even though 69 00:04:57,319 --> 00:05:03,120 there was some very you know, in substantial rumblings that maybe he was upset 70 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,720 at the end of last year. So with that kind of a side as 71 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,879 a given and the Tim Hardaway deal, I'm fine with. The declining thing 72 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,480 does kind of matter to me. I always kind of like those deals and 73 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,600 everything else they did was fine, you know. On the margins, Boban 74 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,399 coming back to for seven's fine. Reggie Bullock with the third year on that 75 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:29,480 MLE deal partially guaranteed Frank Nelakina obviously, but the so the big things are 76 00:05:30,399 --> 00:05:35,120 they replaced Rick Carlisle with Jason Kidd, and like, you know, maybe 77 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,879 this is a situation. We'll talk about this with Portland, or at least 78 00:05:38,879 --> 00:05:42,759 I will. Sometimes you just you know, coach runs his course with a 79 00:05:42,759 --> 00:05:46,800 team. No matter how good that coaches, nobody lasts forever, and maybe 80 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:48,959 that's a situation. But to replace him with Jason Kidd, I think, 81 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:56,879 whatever you think about Dallas's intentions to be a free agent destination and hook up 82 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,120 with with I'm going to get the guy's name wrong. Nick Harrison maybe is 83 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:06,040 the executive they signed to run basketball off seem like a package deal potentially with 84 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:10,279 Kid. Not sure, that's just my speculation. So you're plugged in with 85 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,519 Nike, which maybe helps you with some free agents at some point. They're 86 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,879 trying to correct what has been a big problem not getting free agents. I 87 00:06:16,959 --> 00:06:23,959 just think the downgrade tactically and personally from Carlisle to Kid is as big as 88 00:06:23,959 --> 00:06:29,079 you can you know, reasonably expect to see in an NBA team structure. 89 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:33,399 And then I also think you just have to knock the MAVs for yet again 90 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:38,879 they didn't go get the third star, and the jokes can come in now 91 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,680 because they don't have a second because Chris Epporzingis is is iffy in that role, 92 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,439 and Luca don Chich's max extension kicks in in twenty two twenty three, 93 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,839 and you're kind of they just they aren't meaningfully better, I don't think, 94 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,560 and certainly not in the way that they keep trying to be, which is 95 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,920 by adding a third star. So they failed in that effort, and I 96 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:04,160 think the coaching situation just the vibes are real bad to me on that front. 97 00:07:04,199 --> 00:07:09,439 So, uh, yeah, I just didn't like their offseason at all. 98 00:07:09,759 --> 00:07:12,959 What did you think? Yeah, So to correct myself, Nate Hinton 99 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,160 is out in Dallas. So that was a two way contract that was extra 100 00:07:15,839 --> 00:07:18,560 the perils of doing thinking I could do this like a couple of weeks in 101 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:24,040 advance before we hopped on apparently. And then the Hardaway deal is four years 102 00:07:24,079 --> 00:07:26,600 and seventy five million, fully guaranteed. I thought there was something else there, 103 00:07:26,639 --> 00:07:29,680 but it's four years, seventy five million, and it's fully guaranteed. 104 00:07:29,959 --> 00:07:32,120 I didn't go through the notable subtractions, which include JJ Reddick, like you 105 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,000 said, James Johnson, West of One Dude, Nicole Melly, and then 106 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,759 of course Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle, I shouldn't mention Nelson at the top. 107 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,199 I was not as hard as them on them as you because so the 108 00:07:43,279 --> 00:07:46,680 Jason Kidd hired to me is objectively terrible in addition to it being an actual 109 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:54,879 downgrade. It's just they failed to answer for his past that included domestic abuse 110 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,920 allegations, and like it was just another It wasn't as bad as the Port 111 00:08:00,079 --> 00:08:03,920 Trailbraisers introductory press conference for Chauncey Billups, where that could not have gone any 112 00:08:03,959 --> 00:08:09,199 worse if Neil O'Shea was talking out of his literal actual ass, and so 113 00:08:09,839 --> 00:08:13,800 I just docked them for that. I didn't think that that should have been 114 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:18,079 the press conference should have been more informative. And then I don't like the 115 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,879 coaching hire in itself, so that hurts them. At the same time, 116 00:08:20,959 --> 00:08:24,160 when you look at the on court product here and I don't know, you 117 00:08:24,199 --> 00:08:26,399 know, the front office changes, that's just tough to grade. Right now. 118 00:08:26,399 --> 00:08:31,639 We have to see if those connections are gonna go anywhere on the court. 119 00:08:31,679 --> 00:08:37,159 Though they could have functionally had a ton of cap space signed someone huge, 120 00:08:37,399 --> 00:08:41,759 this wasn't the summer to do that though, And we can make jokes 121 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,559 about the Mavericks being the king of almost especially now that Danny Ainge is out 122 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:50,200 of Boston. I just this summer wasn't gonna happen, and if it did 123 00:08:50,279 --> 00:08:54,840 happen, like you were in a position to where you probably gave Mike Conley 124 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,840 or Kyle Lowry a semi risky deal. And maybe that's okay because you have 125 00:08:58,919 --> 00:09:01,879 Luca Dantrich, but you already I have a semi risky deal in Christaps porzingis 126 00:09:01,879 --> 00:09:05,600 on the books, and so to rebound with you know, he kept Tim 127 00:09:05,639 --> 00:09:09,639 Hardaway Jr. The deal is it's declining, So I think it works for 128 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,480 them that it's going to decline. Is Luca really starts to get more expensive, 129 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,840 that's fine. I love the Sterling Brown deal, the Reggie Bullock deal. 130 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,799 Sterling Brown played some point guard for the Houston Rockets last year. Shot 131 00:09:20,919 --> 00:09:24,639 you know, eight jillion percent from three gives you some real defense. It's 132 00:09:24,639 --> 00:09:26,440 the same thing with Reggie Bullock. Camp with the ball on the floor nearly 133 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:31,320 as much, but he was routinely covering the toughest guy for the Knicks last 134 00:09:31,399 --> 00:09:35,039 year. And so to just have those guys who are plug and play, 135 00:09:35,159 --> 00:09:37,840 like even Frankie Lakina look all I'm saying, is he shot, you know, 136 00:09:37,879 --> 00:09:41,600 over forty five percent from three last year, but he's actually shown he 137 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:46,279 can defend at an NBA level. I think with him, I like the 138 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,120 flyer and we all know I'm frank whoever listens to this podcast, I'm a 139 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:54,720 big Frankie Lakina guy. I'm not trying to oversell the like what he means, 140 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:56,720 but it's a nice flyer because I thought he's always should have been treated 141 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:01,519 as a three in d wing, someone who you don't want to dribble or 142 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:03,639 make these difficult decisions with the ball in his hands. He should now get 143 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,159 to do that in Dallas if they play him at all, and he's shown 144 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:11,120 that he can defend at a very high level in the NBA. There was 145 00:10:11,159 --> 00:10:13,840 a real reason that Tom Thibodeau went to him in the final seconds of what 146 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,440 I can't remember what game it was against the Hawks in the playoffs, to 147 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,120 try and defend Trey Young. It was. It was a fucking stupid when 148 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,000 you thought abou him, because Frankie Lakeen would play like fifteen seconds the entire 149 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,639 game. But there's a reason why you go to that because he has that 150 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,200 capability, and so I like these types of moves that they made on the 151 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:31,960 margins. I don't know if Bobon needed to get a two year, seven 152 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,360 million dollars deal, that's something I could question. So I gave them a 153 00:10:35,399 --> 00:10:41,240 C plus just because I think they should have done better with the head coaching 154 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:43,600 higher. But that to me was really their one major with and it sounded 155 00:10:43,639 --> 00:10:48,039 like they and Rick Carlile we're gonna part ways no matter what. So C 156 00:10:48,279 --> 00:10:52,519 C plus area, that's where I'm at for them. But you look, 157 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,960 you crucified them. Indeed, I'm here for it. I could be tucked 158 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,120 up to a C minus because really like a lot of it, like you 159 00:10:58,159 --> 00:11:01,480 went through stuff, you know, the mid level stuff and mid tier you 160 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,639 know, Hardaway was probably a little better than that, but that type of 161 00:11:03,639 --> 00:11:07,360 stuff went fine. I just think, I think, you know, and 162 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,679 maybe I'll be wrong, but Jason Kidd has been sort of a magnet or 163 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:16,720 a cause of palace intrigue everywhere he's been. I've never seen anything tactically from 164 00:11:16,799 --> 00:11:20,639 him that was impressive relative to his peers. So yeah, I don't want 165 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,679 to just keep, you know, dragging this back and forth, but yeah, 166 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,559 I just that's just a brutal downgrade, even if Carlisle had to go, 167 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,279 even if even if that was being the complete just like not this guy. 168 00:11:31,519 --> 00:11:35,080 You know, yeah, I think that, And it really just depends 169 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:39,279 on I think they're all season or it should come down to it to me 170 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,039 in a vacuum, how stark is the downgrade or how poor of a decision 171 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,960 was it to hire Jason Kidd. And when you look at the on court 172 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,440 implications specifically, I think you could penalize them a great deal. And if 173 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:56,200 you're gonna factor in the off court stuff as well, Uh yeah, I'm 174 00:11:56,519 --> 00:11:58,320 I totally get where you're coming from. I'm actually surprised though, that you 175 00:11:58,399 --> 00:12:03,320 were that on them. I love to surprise you. The Denver Nuggets are 176 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,840 next up. They drafted Bones Highland at number twenty six. Everybody seems to 177 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:13,120 like him. We'll see. They extended Aaron Gordon. This is the most 178 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:18,720 recent thing they did basically four years ninety two isis and it's four million and 179 00:12:18,759 --> 00:12:24,279 incentives. I suspect it's probably that's a pr you know, framing of it. 180 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,600 As we see more and more now the agent side always leaks the max 181 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:33,519 possible number. How he gets to ninety two million. Oh, I would 182 00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:37,039 love to because I don't know every single season for each of the four years, 183 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,240 five hundred thousand dollars if he makes an All Star team, two hundred 184 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,840 and fifty thousand dollars if he makes an All NBA team, and two hundred 185 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:46,360 and fifty thousand dollars if he makes All defense. I would argue all defense 186 00:12:46,519 --> 00:12:52,159 is probably his best bet of those three. Yeah, so he's really and 187 00:12:52,279 --> 00:12:54,519 that's a quarter million for all defense for over the four years. Yeah, 188 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:58,919 so that that's a million total. He's not getting a fear All Star Game. 189 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:03,120 My god, let a team, which is funny, that is a 190 00:13:03,159 --> 00:13:09,279 smaller bonus than the All Star team. Yeah, that is weird. So 191 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,799 anyway, I kind of think of it as four for eighty eight, but 192 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,360 maybe it's four eighty nine. Anyway. Will Barton is back two years thirty 193 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,600 million, fully guaranteed. Jamichael Green the first of two Greens that they well 194 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:24,360 well kept one and brought one on two years sixteen point four million. There's 195 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,480 a player option on the second year. Jeff Green two years nine million, 196 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:33,639 got some unlikely incentives that can bring that up to ten. Austin Rivers is 197 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:37,080 back at the minimum and Marcus Howard to a two year or two way. 198 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,440 Dan, I'm looking at your at your sheet. Two year. That's two 199 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:45,000 year because he was up last year. Notable subtractions other than Jamal Murray being 200 00:13:45,039 --> 00:13:48,480 hurt, which is not an offseason move. Not a lot, not a 201 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,759 lot. Paul Millsap would be one. Trying to make sure I didn't miss 202 00:13:52,759 --> 00:13:58,000 anything from my sheet. Jamal McGee has also gone, and I think that's 203 00:13:58,039 --> 00:14:03,600 it in terms of the bigger names. So that is Denver's offseason not quite 204 00:14:03,639 --> 00:14:09,840 as consequential as Dallas's. What are your thoughts on how the Nuggets did I 205 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,360 gave them? You know, looking at I think that Aaron Gordon extension might 206 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,919 change it a little bit for some people. I guess you can look at 207 00:14:16,919 --> 00:14:20,559 that as an overpay. He did average like six points per game to close 208 00:14:20,559 --> 00:14:24,519 out the Western Conference semifinals. I still think, given what this team could 209 00:14:24,559 --> 00:14:30,320 have done, there's where you're just gonna let him walk in free agency and 210 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:31,559 the cap is expected to go up, and so if you look at this 211 00:14:31,559 --> 00:14:35,480 as like counting, like you know, as the cap increases like a twenty 212 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:39,559 percent of the cap or twenty two point five percent of the cap, I 213 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:45,600 don't really think it's that detrimental. And you know, he didn't have a 214 00:14:45,639 --> 00:14:48,120 real training camp with them, and there might even be some weird motions this 215 00:14:48,159 --> 00:14:52,960 season if Jamal Murray comes back and he doesn't played with him before. He 216 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:56,000 can be a connective tissue type on offense to me, and when you're not 217 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,879 going to ask him to do a ton as long as he's willing to fulfill 218 00:15:00,039 --> 00:15:01,200 that role. And I think if you can get Michael Porter Junior to buy 219 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,159 into being like your number four option at one point as he was coming along, 220 00:15:05,399 --> 00:15:07,639 you can get Aaron Gordon to play within the flow of the offense, 221 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:13,320 especially with Nikolaokas. Just dropping dimes to him. What he gives you on 222 00:15:13,399 --> 00:15:16,399 defense means so much. He was guarding point guards for them in the playoffs. 223 00:15:16,679 --> 00:15:18,799 I'm fine with this deal. So I had them at a B plus 224 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,759 before the extension and I'm going to leave them there just because I like everything 225 00:15:22,759 --> 00:15:26,360 they did. You know, I love Ja Michael Green. The Jeff Green 226 00:15:26,399 --> 00:15:30,519 deal was a sneaky good signing. You lose Paul millsapp, you lose ja 227 00:15:30,559 --> 00:15:33,519 Val McGee whatever to that. I actually liked that. They you know, 228 00:15:33,559 --> 00:15:37,960 they still have Zeke Nagy to try out at the five, but they can 229 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,600 also play like just different ways now, and they didn't really lean on it 230 00:15:41,639 --> 00:15:45,159 like they had this option with Paul millsapp there, but Jeff Green and Jamichael 231 00:15:45,159 --> 00:15:48,720 Green could make up a nice second unit front court. And if you have 232 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,320 Aaron Gordon on the floor in those minutes when Nakoly Yokich isn't, you can 233 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:56,600 actually do something with your defense there. So I thought they had just a 234 00:15:56,679 --> 00:16:02,960 really solid offseason, exceeded expectations relative to the lack of flexibility that they're working 235 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,720 with. And I think I don't know how much of a look he's actually 236 00:16:04,759 --> 00:16:08,960 gonna get in Denver. I'm hoping he can get some minutes with while Jamal 237 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,759 Murray's out. I really think that Bones Highland is going to be a very 238 00:16:12,879 --> 00:16:17,559 useful, very impactful NBA player. I've said this on this podcast before. 239 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:22,000 His contortionist finishing around the rim is a big deal, and he can take 240 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,480 difficult deep threes. He has to get them off a little quicker from what 241 00:16:25,519 --> 00:16:27,240 I've seen of him, but that's like, if you have someone who can 242 00:16:27,279 --> 00:16:30,559 do that, you can live with the fact that, oh, this dude 243 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,879 isn't really going to table set a ton and maybe that just comes with time 244 00:16:33,919 --> 00:16:40,960 and experience. So I thought they had just a great offseason again relative to 245 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:45,279 how limited they were with what they could do before you go. I guess 246 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,360 the one thing that could change this, or maybe it doesn't is a Michael 247 00:16:48,399 --> 00:16:52,039 Porter junior extension if they just max him out. Though, Like that's like 248 00:16:52,159 --> 00:16:56,159 going with the expected route, right, Like, there's in what way could 249 00:16:56,159 --> 00:17:02,000 Achael Porter junior extension harsh? Whatever? Great you're about to give them? 250 00:17:02,919 --> 00:17:06,119 Yeah, I'll just say I gave him a B plus two. I think 251 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,279 we're just in lockstep on on their off season. I agree with everything you 252 00:17:08,319 --> 00:17:14,720 said. I think if you know what would you what would you ideally want? 253 00:17:14,759 --> 00:17:15,720 I guess, as the Nuggets is, you wouldn't want to have to 254 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,799 give the player option on the last year because you like that extra control. 255 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,680 And I feel like with him, that's sort of where the negotiation is going 256 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,799 to be. I don't foresee there being a negotiation of we want you to 257 00:17:26,839 --> 00:17:30,319 take less than the max. I just think it's going to be what what 258 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,960 concessions, if any, uh do need to be made in terms of like 259 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,119 a player option that I like. I just otherwise I don't think he's gonna 260 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,319 like, I think that's it. I think that's all it is. So 261 00:17:40,759 --> 00:17:45,480 I if the Nuggets managed to get every year locked in and maybe even get 262 00:17:45,519 --> 00:17:49,079 some crazy like Exhibit three Joel embiid, like you know, back related injury 263 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:53,440 protections, partial guarantees, or something that moves it to an a if they 264 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:57,960 can retain some control you know over over porter or you know, protect themselves 265 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:03,240 from potential recurring of injury. But I don't think there's a scenario where a 266 00:18:03,319 --> 00:18:07,920 Porter extension would lower their grade. I think it would only has potential to 267 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,759 go up because I think, look, if you've shown you're willing to pay 268 00:18:10,759 --> 00:18:15,440 Gordon a reasonable rate, but sort of the high side of reasonable, maybe 269 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,799 I think you've got to just shell out. So other than that, the 270 00:18:18,839 --> 00:18:22,400 only other comment I'd make is I think this feels like the offseason of a 271 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,599 team that really understands itself, because, like you mentioned, Highland, I 272 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,200 think fills a need with Murray out, and I think Will Barton maybe people 273 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,720 will worry about his health or whatever, but two for thirty for him and 274 00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:37,119 the shot creation that he brings in just some of the instant offense that he 275 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,559 brings all that matters with Murray out, and you've given yourself in both of 276 00:18:41,599 --> 00:18:45,279 the greens, like Yokich plays forty minutes a night or you know he never 277 00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:48,960 misses games, but you do. You've got that option. Now you've got 278 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,559 sort of a more athletic, undersized look if you ever had to go with 279 00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:56,359 that or wanted to for some reason. So the Nuggets really seem to know 280 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,359 who they are, and I just think it felt like a very like a 281 00:19:00,559 --> 00:19:06,079 unified there's a lot of very clear understanding of what of what this team needs 282 00:19:06,079 --> 00:19:08,119 and how it wants to operate. So B plus and if there's a good, 283 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,759 you know, team friendly side of that porter extension if one happens, 284 00:19:12,319 --> 00:19:15,720 moving to the A range for me. And the thing with Will Barton two, 285 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,880 as you mentioned, is it's almost like a one year extension for him. 286 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,160 His salary next year goes to the player option. He turned down that 287 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:26,519 you're basically just adding a year on top of that and his salaries on a 288 00:19:26,519 --> 00:19:30,599 slightly declining scale. So I'm with you there. He's so important while Jamal 289 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:36,000 Murray's out, and you just hope that there's a fac simile of a full 290 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:41,240 time playmaker beyond Nicole Yokich, between Barton, whatever Jamal Murray does next season, 291 00:19:41,319 --> 00:19:47,000 does Austin Rivers, Monte Morris, Vacuno Compazo all that? So yeah, 292 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,119 I really liked their off season. Are you ready for me to run 293 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:52,279 through the Warriors? Who? Since I did the first five teams of these 294 00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:55,160 like weeks in advance, I did double check to make sure I have everything 295 00:19:55,519 --> 00:20:00,240 this time, go for it. So they drafted Jonathan coming Get number seven. 296 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:04,279 They drafted Moses Moody at number fourteen. They signed Iggy Andre Gadala to 297 00:20:04,319 --> 00:20:07,680 a one year deal at the minimum, signed out A Porter Junior to a 298 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,559 one year deal at the minimum, signed Amania be Elitza to a one year 299 00:20:10,559 --> 00:20:12,640 deal at the minimum, signed Chris Chioza to a two way contract, and 300 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:18,599 obtained a one point eight million dollars trade exception for sending Eric Pascal to Utah. 301 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:23,400 Their notable subtractions include obviously Eric Paschkal Alan Smiley, each made his NBA 302 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:30,119 career Rest in peace, Kemp bays Moore, Kemp pays Moore, and Kelly 303 00:20:30,279 --> 00:20:33,640 Ubray Junior. I saw your grade on this. I peeked at it already. 304 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:41,200 We we diverge here a lot I gave the war So the Warriors minimums, 305 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:47,799 I think that I think they made nice work of their minimums, specifically 306 00:20:47,839 --> 00:20:51,599 looking at Otto Porter Junior, whose offensive stock is just in the toilet, 307 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:53,640 and if you can reboot that with his shooting, and then you can even 308 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:59,359 look at I don't view Igodala or be Elitza as really any more than minimum 309 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,680 players at this point. That being said, maybe Igodalla shows you some more 310 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,480 ball handling with Golden State because he's so familiar with their system. You would 311 00:21:06,519 --> 00:21:11,480 think also be Elita, you you have to believe he'll shoot better from three, 312 00:21:11,759 --> 00:21:15,400 and so I think they got good runway, good bandwidth out of their 313 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,319 minimums. I also am not penalizing because I think some people are gonna be 314 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,799 mad about this grade. I'm not saying they should have traded for a star. 315 00:21:23,039 --> 00:21:27,079 The star market needs to develop. The only star that's realistically available right 316 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,720 now seems like it's Ben Simmons. If you want them to trade for Ben 317 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:34,319 Simmons, fine, it's a questionable fit. I think they could probably get. 318 00:21:34,559 --> 00:21:37,160 The defense would be terrifying with him and Draymond on the same team. 319 00:21:37,599 --> 00:21:41,920 I'm not penalizing them for not you know, trading their draft picks. I 320 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,359 just don't think the right deal was out there. If they could have gotten 321 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,839 Siakam and you told me that that was on the table, then I would 322 00:21:48,839 --> 00:21:52,839 be living as just someone looking at this. Here's my thing. I want 323 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:59,599 to know how they looked last year as their offense died a slow, painful, 324 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:04,759 eminently predictable death without Stephen Curry on the floor, saw that lack of 325 00:22:04,839 --> 00:22:08,680 secondary shock creation, and then decided, Hey, we're not going to add 326 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,839 a single secondary shot creator over the offseason. Don't tell me it's iggy. 327 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,279 I don't want to hear that. Jordan Pool is the answer. They brought 328 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:22,920 Isaiah thomasin, or they're bringing Isaiah thomasin to work out for them soon if 329 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,079 they haven't done that already. Okay, cool, you didn't use your mini 330 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:30,240 mid level. I'm still going to hit you for not doing you for not 331 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,799 doing anything with Kelly Uber Jr. How did you not flip him at the 332 00:22:33,799 --> 00:22:37,680 trade deadline for whatever you could get. How did you not try and wedge 333 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,839 your way into the Charlotte talks with him? I know he signed a two 334 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:44,200 year deal signed and trades need to be three years. Only the first year 335 00:22:44,279 --> 00:22:47,599 needs to be guaranteed, so there wasn't something more active they could have done 336 00:22:47,599 --> 00:22:51,640 there, And yes, you lost the Patty mills sweepstakes. Patty mills was 337 00:22:51,759 --> 00:22:56,359 low key but towards the end of last season. Maybe that was just a 338 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,039 referendum on the Spurs roster around him. But he's never been like this typical 339 00:23:00,519 --> 00:23:03,440 a one backup shock treader. He really spaces the floor. It can do 340 00:23:03,519 --> 00:23:07,160 a lot more with the ball in his hands, and than plenty of other 341 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,359 players on Golden State's roster. But if your excuse is we lost the Patty 342 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,359 Millsbury Stakes so we didn't spend the Mini mL come the fuck on. That 343 00:23:15,599 --> 00:23:21,640 aggravates the hell out of me. And you have Stephen Curry here just and 344 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:26,119 he, like you just said, what are we bidding farewell to his title 345 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,400 window for a third year? It's fun. I don't have a problem with 346 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,680 the Jonathan comingo pick. I like the Moses Moody pick Klay Thompson coming back. 347 00:23:33,799 --> 00:23:37,680 Maybe you put that under the notable additions of this. It's just not 348 00:23:37,759 --> 00:23:40,720 going to move the needle enough. Their offense was so bad without Stephen Curry. 349 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,960 They didn't add a single secondary shock creator and so for that, and 350 00:23:45,039 --> 00:23:48,359 they should consider this a gift because I feel like I'm very much waiting how 351 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,799 far their minimums went and the fact that, oh and lest we forget, 352 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:56,200 they did max out Stephen Curry in his extension. I'm really bad at listing 353 00:23:56,279 --> 00:23:59,079 extensions on this. I don't know what it is. You hate extensions. 354 00:23:59,079 --> 00:24:03,119 We established that time you hate them and ty mills and extensions two things you 355 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,160 hate the most. The fact that you were able to lock down Stephen Curry. 356 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:12,200 Great grand wonderful. You're getting a D plus for me for the offseason 357 00:24:14,079 --> 00:24:18,200 should have been. You have one of the ten best players, ten to 358 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:22,480 fifteen best players of all time, maybe certainly one of the five best offensive 359 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:29,680 players in NBA history, and you've just collectively decided like we're gonna slow play 360 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:33,880 whatever, like whatever window this is, and there's no merit to it anymore. 361 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,720 You have Clay Thompson coming back from two devastating injuries, two of the 362 00:24:37,799 --> 00:24:41,960 most devastating injuries that you could suffer in this sport, really, or you 363 00:24:42,039 --> 00:24:47,160 know that you're most likely to suffer in this sport. I just I don't 364 00:24:47,519 --> 00:24:52,559 get what feels like a real lack of urgency to optimize the window, the 365 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:56,519 prime window, not someone who's on the downswing, but the prime window for 366 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:02,319 one of the greatest players of all time. And it's to me, it's 367 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:06,640 disgraceful. Clearly, Stephen Kerry. They have built in loyalty from Steath. 368 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:11,160 They won three titles. I don't care. He is so good that he 369 00:25:11,319 --> 00:25:14,440 belongs on a team that's actually going to contend for something. I do hope 370 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,359 they make me eat my words. You could talk me into a path where 371 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,680 they win the West, but a lot of things are going wrong for four 372 00:25:21,799 --> 00:25:25,559 to five other teams in the conference if that happens. And so kudos to 373 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:32,240 them for I think getting good mileage out of their minimums despite to me not 374 00:25:32,519 --> 00:25:36,680 being a team that's going to be a real contender. That's all they did 375 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:38,240 that was great, and like the draft was fine. Again, I'm not 376 00:25:40,799 --> 00:25:44,839 if you had told me that they could have gotten Pascal Siakam within reason. 377 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,559 I'm not saying for everything and anything, but if there was a deal on 378 00:25:47,599 --> 00:25:48,920 the table and they just didn't do it, I might have given them an 379 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,279 F and so D plus if you if you can talk me into a C 380 00:25:52,599 --> 00:25:59,079 minus C you're a conversational Wizard because I'm just so fed up with the non 381 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:03,440 chalance with which they sort of carried themselves these past three, well two plus 382 00:26:03,599 --> 00:26:08,559 years at this point. Well so I gave them an A minus, which 383 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:12,559 is a huge divergence, but in parentheses, I have a reasonable person would 384 00:26:12,599 --> 00:26:15,519 probably be in the B or B plus range. I'm not always the most 385 00:26:15,559 --> 00:26:22,400 reasonable about the Warriors. So what I'd say is, first of all, 386 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:29,079 I think I think what happens a lot is and I understand the argument that 387 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:33,319 you have Stephen Curry, you owe it to him, or at least even 388 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:37,319 not even so much that you owe it to him. It's it's logical to 389 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,680 try to capitalize on, like you said, and I agree, one of 390 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,359 the greatest offensive players of all time, really one of the greatest players of 391 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:49,200 all time full stop, because he's thirty four. This is his age thirty 392 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:53,440 fourth season, and your time's running out. I think it gets I think 393 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,160 everyone sort of agrees on that. I think where the disconnect is is how 394 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:02,480 easy it is to do that. Is you're trying to do that after the 395 00:27:02,599 --> 00:27:06,960 better part of a decade being the best team in the league and paying what 396 00:27:07,079 --> 00:27:11,519 it costs to be that and inherently winding up with guys that are overpaid, 397 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,559 and in Thompson's case, that broke down that you can't move and so your 398 00:27:15,599 --> 00:27:18,000 financial situation is what it is and you don't have a lot of trade chips. 399 00:27:18,079 --> 00:27:27,359 Now, there's no argument against there. They did not add a secondary 400 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:32,319 shot creator, and that was clearly their biggest problem the on off splits. 401 00:27:32,319 --> 00:27:34,079 With Curry out of the game, they couldn't score when he's in there. 402 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:41,000 It's fine. I well, they think Jordan Pool is that guy. And 403 00:27:41,079 --> 00:27:44,519 if you took the Jordan Pool that came back from the G League last year 404 00:27:45,599 --> 00:27:51,000 and was very good, I think that's a reasonable expectation to have for him. 405 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,319 And in fact, I think the only reason that might not be the 406 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:57,920 best the best course for your secondary shot creator is I think he's going to 407 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:02,240 be good enough to play a lot with the first unit, especially with Thompson 408 00:28:02,279 --> 00:28:04,599 out. I think he's the answer there. I'm very high on Jordan Pool. 409 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,480 I think he has the ability to be a pick and roll set up 410 00:28:08,559 --> 00:28:11,680 guy. I think he's really sharp. I think he's improved a ton. 411 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:18,440 They like they think so they think he's the guy. Now you can disagree 412 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:22,960 whether that's the correct assessment or not. And I also think so. And 413 00:28:22,039 --> 00:28:26,759 I'll just go kind of through the justification that that's not a justification for my 414 00:28:26,839 --> 00:28:30,680 grade, except in so far as it mitigates their failure to get a point 415 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:34,599 guard and why they're looking at the Isaiah Thomas's of the world now, not 416 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:40,400 a great spot to be. I think their draft picks were better than better 417 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:44,079 than decent. I think cominga from what I watched in Summer League. I 418 00:28:44,119 --> 00:28:48,519 watched every minute. He's very flawed, he's very raw, but he has 419 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:52,960 the athletic ability and the knowledge of how to use his frame, which is 420 00:28:52,039 --> 00:28:56,599 like six eight two thirty. He has as good of a sense of how 421 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,079 to go through guys at the rim and how to create contact and succeed that 422 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,759 way as ten year vets, as like superstar ten year vets. It is 423 00:29:03,799 --> 00:29:06,839 a skill that you don't teach. I don't think I think he has it 424 00:29:07,759 --> 00:29:10,559 now. He had the ball in his hands a ton in Summer League, 425 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,720 basically got to play a superstar role. I think he has superstar upside. 426 00:29:14,799 --> 00:29:18,200 I think there's a scenario where he's the best player in this draft class. 427 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,680 It's like five or ten percent, but it's there and if you're taking that 428 00:29:21,799 --> 00:29:26,000 at number seven, I'm good. I'm good with that. Moody is the 429 00:29:26,039 --> 00:29:29,519 complete opposite. He's like a plug and play three and d take charges, 430 00:29:29,599 --> 00:29:32,880 make open threes. I think he's gonna be able to play. Not primary 431 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:37,400 shot creators again, I think they're minimum guys. Iguadala will be better here 432 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:41,839 than he was in Miami. He's familiar with the system. He's not a 433 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:45,839 primary shot creator, but he will keep the ball moving better than anything. 434 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:49,839 Like Kelly Yubre is the anti Andre Iguadala. Kelly Ubre has never thought more 435 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:53,359 than one step ahead on a possession ever, and I think he sometimes didn't 436 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,799 think that step last year, like with being in the same place as other 437 00:29:56,839 --> 00:30:00,759 players. Iguodala is the opposite. He will move the ball, get guys 438 00:30:00,799 --> 00:30:03,039 in the right places, tell them when they're in the wrong place, and 439 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:07,279 that's a value add I think the Elitza is a similar guy. He's going 440 00:30:07,359 --> 00:30:10,839 to have to play center, he's going to only play against backups. He 441 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:12,759 can shoot and he can pass two. There's not a break you down point 442 00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:17,759 guard. Totally fair. Patty Mills even wouldn't have been that guy. I 443 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:22,480 think though of their and auto porter. Who knows if he plays forty games 444 00:30:22,599 --> 00:30:25,400 like that, that's a win, but he does feel a need. You 445 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,599 can make open threes and you know he's the right size for how they like 446 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:33,640 to play on the wing. I think based on the options they had, 447 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:37,880 like Patty Mills didn't want to go there, they didn't find anyone who want 448 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,240 who made sense or plus with the tax implications to spend the mini mL E 449 00:30:41,359 --> 00:30:45,599 on, they still have that you can still use that. I just think 450 00:30:45,759 --> 00:30:48,519 like, look, if you're going to criticize them and say, don't tell 451 00:30:48,559 --> 00:30:52,400 me that billionaire owners need to save money, who's spending more than Joe Laco 452 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,480 nobody. So like there's a cat, there's at some point it becomes unreasonable 453 00:30:56,599 --> 00:31:00,839 to just say we'll take a pile of dog shit and pay at five point 454 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,759 nine million and forty fifty million dollars and tax penalties just because we have a 455 00:31:03,839 --> 00:31:07,519 roster spot. I think you might as well wait and see if there's a 456 00:31:07,559 --> 00:31:10,519 buyout guy or there's something you can use that on because it doesn't go away 457 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,319 and still keep it. So, based on the options they had, I 458 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:18,319 thought they hit the draft. Both of their first rounders were like optimal. 459 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,079 I don't think they could have done any better with either of those two picks. 460 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:22,839 I don't think there was a trade that made sense. And I think 461 00:31:22,839 --> 00:31:29,519 they're minimum salary slots. They fit so a lot. As I'm talking about 462 00:31:29,559 --> 00:31:32,720 this hinges on Jordan Pool and my belief in him and your lack of it. 463 00:31:33,279 --> 00:31:37,920 But I think they had a really good offseason, and I just I'm 464 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:42,720 not persuaded by they have they should have or you know, have to have 465 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:48,440 been all along finding ways to swing a big trade to get Curry another star, 466 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,079 just because I don't. I just don't think there is one. So 467 00:31:51,599 --> 00:31:56,559 I'm not going to hold that against them for their off season. I don't 468 00:31:56,599 --> 00:31:59,200 hold that against them either. Already said. The other thing is, I'm 469 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,559 not low on Jordan Pool. He played really well down the stretch of last 470 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:07,880 year and really some flash, some nifty finishing around the rim has shown that 471 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:10,279 you can hit him off the dribble jumpers. The Golden State Warriors offense ranked 472 00:32:10,319 --> 00:32:15,440 in the sixth percentile when he played without Stephen Curry last year. What did 473 00:32:15,519 --> 00:32:19,519 they else did they do to this roster that's going to ensure those minutes can 474 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:23,319 change? Yeah, they just have to hope that he's his best, the 475 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:27,240 best version of himself, because I'm sure that sample's not very big and it 476 00:32:27,319 --> 00:32:30,759 doesn't price in how it prices in how terrible he was before he went down. 477 00:32:32,519 --> 00:32:37,799 I think they hope that he's better, that Iguidala plays a significant role 478 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:40,279 and matters. I think they hope that they hit on one of these, 479 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:45,079 you know, fifteenth fan point guard spots. I think they hope that when 480 00:32:45,119 --> 00:32:47,799 Klay Thompson comes back, he just makes life easier on everyone with the spacing 481 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:57,000 a lot of flimsy hopes that age eighty four and Tregadalla is going to be 482 00:32:57,079 --> 00:33:00,200 this big of a lift, that Clay Thompson is going to come back from 483 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:05,960 two devastating injuries and be eighty percent of Klay Thompson like any time before the 484 00:33:06,039 --> 00:33:08,759 playoffs, to help those minutes out, assuming they even allow him to play 485 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:14,519 without Steph Yo, because they so, I just I don't know. I 486 00:33:14,559 --> 00:33:16,559 don't think they should have. The star market wasn't out there, So again 487 00:33:16,559 --> 00:33:20,599 I want to make it clear I'm not hitting them for that. I would 488 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,440 have and maybe some people are going to disagree. But Brent Forbes led the 489 00:33:23,559 --> 00:33:28,799 NBA in points per Touch last year signed with the Spurs for cheaper than the 490 00:33:28,839 --> 00:33:31,200 Warriors could have offered. Even Sterling Brown signed a two year deal with Alice 491 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:36,119 for cheaperan the Warriors could offer. He played some point guard with Houston last 492 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,319 year. Probably would rather have Jordan Pool as a shock creator, but just 493 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:43,359 another option there. George Hill signed for less than that. Didn't have a 494 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,200 great time in Philly. But if you're such a believer in what you can 495 00:33:45,279 --> 00:33:50,160 extract out of age one hundred and nine, Andre Cadala, why can't you 496 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:53,240 believe a little bit in George Hill, who I guess was good. You 497 00:33:53,319 --> 00:33:58,559 know, last time he was good was with Milwaukee. So I'm I understand 498 00:33:58,599 --> 00:34:05,359 the options wearing thin, but there's there wasn't at least publicly and not even 499 00:34:05,519 --> 00:34:10,360 just like somewhat quietly or suddenly. Didn't seem like there was enough aggression from 500 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:14,800 their part this offseason. And I do think their draft was solid. I 501 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:16,880 think that their draft was I don't think it was spectacular. You know, 502 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:21,400 there were you know, I think you could have gone in different directions at 503 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:23,480 either spot. I definitely think Moses Moody was the pick at number fourteen for 504 00:34:23,559 --> 00:34:28,599 them. That just makes so much sense. This was just a very uninspiring 505 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,039 off season for me. And maybe Clay comes back and is really good. 506 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:37,920 Maybe Andre Goodalla's return really helps you out. Maybe Jordan Pool pops. Maybe 507 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,880 James Wiseman comes back from injury after not playing in Summer League, after being 508 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:45,159 probably limited in training camp, after not having an entire offseason work out, 509 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:47,840 and he's somehow better. Maybe Jonathan Cominga is able to get rotation minutes on 510 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:52,320 a good team. Maybe Moses Moody really is plug and play as a rookie 511 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:57,000 on what wants to be a good team. That's just too many fucking Maybies 512 00:34:57,039 --> 00:35:01,239 for a team that has Steph Curry right now. And the other question I 513 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:07,079 have here is they didn't do anything to sort of clarify what is Moody going 514 00:35:07,159 --> 00:35:10,400 to do this season or what is coming? How much are they going to 515 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:14,480 rely on those guys? How much are they going to rely on Wiseman? 516 00:35:14,559 --> 00:35:16,519 It teams fain to complete that he'll be coming off the bench and that Loonie 517 00:35:16,559 --> 00:35:21,119 will start, And so then you're who are you relying on to help team 518 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,440 Wiseman? And you don't think you think Wiseman's gonna stay? No, I 519 00:35:24,519 --> 00:35:28,880 think Wiseman's gonna start, I think, and at least he's gonna have the 520 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,679 opportunity, and he may be like a like a ceremonial guys. You know, 521 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:36,000 he may start and play eighteen minutes or twenty minutes or whatever. I 522 00:35:36,079 --> 00:35:37,519 think the answer to all those young guys is they'll let them, you know, 523 00:35:37,679 --> 00:35:40,320 it'll be apparent whether they can play or not. And I think the 524 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:46,199 veteran guys that they brought in, I think I think the Warriors would prefer 525 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:52,000 that Comingo or Moody like demand you know, with their play fifteen twenty minutes 526 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,639 a night, or Wiseman the same certainly, probably more so for Wiseman because 527 00:35:55,679 --> 00:36:00,880 this is the second year. But I think they're okay with like, yeah, 528 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:05,360 maybe Cominga spends time in the G League, like that's that's totally on 529 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:10,119 the tables. Players that aren't going to spend time in the G League over 530 00:36:10,119 --> 00:36:14,639 the off season then would be just I you know, I think, well 531 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:20,599 because they're because ownership is completely cool with this being like a bridge. We 532 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:23,639 want our bridge guys. You know, that's that's the messaging now, and 533 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:27,960 it you know, it's it's it might be just because like well, shit, 534 00:36:28,159 --> 00:36:30,800 like, we're clearly not going to contend, so we might as well 535 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,920 start talking up this this other situation we have as if we intended it all 536 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,480 along. Whether that's true or not, Yeah, I don't know. I 537 00:36:37,599 --> 00:36:40,039 think, where do you think? So I put it this way, I 538 00:36:40,159 --> 00:36:44,440 think I think last year with Curry on the floor, they had like a 539 00:36:44,519 --> 00:36:46,599 top ten level offense. With him off, it was just like twenty nine 540 00:36:46,679 --> 00:36:51,760 barely better, you know, equivalent. I think they'll be top five with 541 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,280 Curry on the floor offensively, which is like maybe the most conservative thing you 542 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:59,679 could say about someone like him, because there's a little more talent, and 543 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:02,000 I think they can be like a mid pack offense like fifteen, you know, 544 00:37:02,119 --> 00:37:06,840 the thirteen to eighteen range in the league when he doesn't play. And 545 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:08,639 I think that'll be enough because their defense will be very good because they were 546 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:12,519 a great defense last year and I don't see a reason for to for that 547 00:37:12,639 --> 00:37:15,800 to change with the personnel that they brought on. So I think the offense 548 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:20,599 will be improved enough. But this is one of those situations where like, 549 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:25,719 as you said, if this goes bad because they just never score with Curry 550 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,719 off the floor, this will be so foreseeable. It will be, it 551 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:31,039 will be, it will be like, yeah, of course that's what happened, 552 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:34,239 you know, in hindsight, because this is all this is, this 553 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:37,280 is the fair avenue of criticism which you've you've brought up. So I guess 554 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:45,159 I'm just more generally optimistic about the pieces they've got making the offense better enough, 555 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:50,400 I guess to get that, you know, to sort of address the 556 00:37:50,679 --> 00:37:55,440 biggest weakness the team had, right, And I guess what's also tough for 557 00:37:55,559 --> 00:37:59,880 me to sort of then we'll definitely have to move on from the Warriors here 558 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:04,559 at some point. But so much of just the upswing and the wars were 559 00:38:04,599 --> 00:38:07,960 in the seventy fourth percentile of offensive efficiency with Steph last year, third percentile 560 00:38:08,039 --> 00:38:13,039 without him. They were in the eighty third percentile of offensive efficiency with Draymond 561 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:16,960 and Steph on the court, but they were they did most of their damage 562 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:22,360 without James Wiseman on the court. When Wiseman played with Curry, the Warriors 563 00:38:22,519 --> 00:38:25,599 were in the ninth percentile of offensive efficiency. To be in the ninth percentile 564 00:38:25,599 --> 00:38:29,599 of offensive efficiency in line ups for Steph and Curry was on the on the 565 00:38:29,639 --> 00:38:34,880 floor, that's that's actually impressively bad, so like it was tough. Wiseman, 566 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:37,400 James Wiseman did not know how to play NBA best. My question would 567 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:42,199 be, what happens if, now of a sudden he's back. Why Why 568 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:45,599 should we bank on him being better after the injury. You're just betting on 569 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:49,920 talent. You're betting on talent because that's that's all it is, and just 570 00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:52,760 a teenager getting better, that's that's all it is, because there's not any 571 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:55,760 there was no evidence on the floor last year that that was going to happen. 572 00:38:57,480 --> 00:39:00,400 Should we Houston move on to Houston? No, that we had to 573 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:04,159 do that because we were so far apart. I think that was the one 574 00:39:04,199 --> 00:39:07,079 to go along on. Okay, the Houston Rockets, I'll bet you we're 575 00:39:07,119 --> 00:39:12,880 gonna be much closer on this one. Drafted Jalen Green at number two. 576 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:16,559 Drafted Usman Garuba at number twenty three, Drafted Josh Christopher at twenty four. 577 00:39:17,599 --> 00:39:23,480 Acquired Alpern Sangun from Oklahoma City, the number sixteen pick for Detroit's twenty twenty 578 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:30,039 two second Let's say first, I think top sixteen protection in twenty twenty two. 579 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:34,760 Basically these two picks, they got a twenty two from first from Detroit 580 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:38,599 and a twenty three first from Washington have such ridiculous and lengthy protections that there's 581 00:39:38,639 --> 00:39:44,360 a good chance these turn into seconds or don't convey or do We're gonna get 582 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:50,239 into this on okay see slide of section. But anyway, got sangun basically 583 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:53,000 for a couple of future firsts that aren't gonna amount to very much. Signed 584 00:39:53,039 --> 00:39:58,199 Daniel Tye sign and trade technically four years, thirty five point six million. 585 00:39:58,239 --> 00:40:01,280 There's a team option on the worth year. He's got a fifteen percent trade 586 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:07,119 kicker twenty six million of that is guaranteed. David Nwaba three years, fifteen 587 00:40:07,159 --> 00:40:10,119 million. There is a team option on that third year as well. Signed 588 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:14,440 Dashon Nicks to a one year deal at the minimum, that's not guaranteed. 589 00:40:14,559 --> 00:40:17,320 Same for Tyler. Bay signed Matthew Hurt to a two way, signed Anthony 590 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:22,599 Lamb to a two way. They lost Sterling Brown, Kelly Olynik and Avery 591 00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:27,920 Bradley and the other thing. It's not really a transaction necessarily, but basically 592 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,760 agreed amicably with John wall that we're going to try to trade you. We 593 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:35,480 know we can't trade you because nobody will take that salary, so you're just 594 00:40:35,519 --> 00:40:37,480 not going to play, but he's gonna be cool about it, which actually, 595 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:42,679 you know, pretty solid handling of that, because that doesn't always go 596 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:45,960 that well. If we're going to give credit or a credit or a demerit 597 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:50,519 one way or the other, I'd say that's a positive. So that's the 598 00:40:50,599 --> 00:40:54,199 Houston Rockets offseason, mostly draft based, but not totally. What were your 599 00:40:54,280 --> 00:41:00,400 thoughts on how the Rockets did. I gave them a bee, came close 600 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:02,400 to a B plus. I'm just you know, it felt like they maybe 601 00:41:02,519 --> 00:41:07,159 went a year too far on Daniel Tye's deal and why did he need a 602 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:10,360 trade kicker. I guess it's to sign with a team like Houston, but 603 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:14,639 who was giving him three and twenty six twenty seven in the first place? 604 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:19,079 And I also, I'm just a little bit confused by not confused. I 605 00:41:19,199 --> 00:41:23,199 get why he would like Shane goun here, I'm not his biggest fan overall, 606 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:25,559 and looking at his game, the fact that he would go at number 607 00:41:25,599 --> 00:41:29,599 sixteen, but Usman Garuba dropped all the way to twenty three, and he's 608 00:41:29,599 --> 00:41:32,320 supposed he's a defensive monster based off what I've read about him and just watched 609 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:37,360 some film on him. I also love Josh Christopher. I love the Jail 610 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:38,320 and Green pick. I think it was the only pick, but the way 611 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:42,880 he looked in Summer League, it's like they have that, dude, and 612 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,679 now they have these two years before they owe anything to okay, see where 613 00:41:46,199 --> 00:41:50,039 they can kind of slow play this. They have their own draft picks, 614 00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:53,679 but I'm just like, I know those picks are heavily protected until Kingdom come. 615 00:41:54,119 --> 00:41:58,440 But you gave up two first as a team. That's yes, you 616 00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:01,559 still have plenty of picks because of that. The Brooklyn Nets trade for James 617 00:42:01,639 --> 00:42:05,760 Harden, but like I would argue, at least one of those picks is 618 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:07,599 probably gonna convey, if not both, Like they get as low as top 619 00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:12,880 nine and top eight protection, respectively, and so I like, you really 620 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,199 need to believe in Shane Gun and I don't know that you're at that point 621 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,800 where you should have made that type of a consolidation trade. So those are 622 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:21,920 moves that and I think that one, more so than the Tye, made 623 00:42:21,960 --> 00:42:23,599 me uneasy. But then you just look at their off season and it's like, 624 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:27,920 Okay, I basically love their draft. I even like the idea of 625 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:31,360 seeing what can Shangun play with Daniel Tys or can you play with Christian Wood? 626 00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:35,400 Can you even use him as a lone big What kind of quirky lineups 627 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:38,760 can you build with Usman Garuba in there playing alongside a Jay Shawn Tate and 628 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:44,159 even a David Nawaba who is fantastic defensively. If he hits his threes at 629 00:42:44,199 --> 00:42:47,239 even at thirty three thirty four percent clip, you have a very good rotation 630 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:52,039 player there. Daniel Tys is just gonna be so good for their lineup flexibility. 631 00:42:52,119 --> 00:42:55,559 Someone else who could play with Christian Wood or just be your only big. 632 00:42:57,320 --> 00:43:00,639 I'm I'm more confident and since future than I was at the time of 633 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:04,960 the James Harden trade. Maybe that part of that is John Green, but 634 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,639 it's the rest of their body of work. And I also think this is 635 00:43:07,719 --> 00:43:10,480 something that more recently takes into account, the fact that they're able to sort 636 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:15,639 of handle the John Wall situation right now so gracefully, where they were upfront 637 00:43:15,639 --> 00:43:17,360 to him and were at least made it. You know, maybe there's some 638 00:43:19,199 --> 00:43:22,000 sort of wink wink agreement between them where it's when we inevitably can't trade you, 639 00:43:22,679 --> 00:43:25,800 maybe that will be sort of generous in a buyout because sort of like, 640 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:30,119 okay, see with Kema Walker, that's a lot of dead money for 641 00:43:30,199 --> 00:43:32,519 two years, but you also don't need it to spend for real because you're 642 00:43:32,519 --> 00:43:36,360 not going to be good in those two years, and it sort of takes 643 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:37,960 you right to the end of Okay, we have our own picks now, 644 00:43:38,039 --> 00:43:40,840 our commitments to our okay, see, commitment in two twenty four is going 645 00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:44,239 to be up. That's when you have a ton of flexibility. Maybe some 646 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:46,760 of these youngsters have hit by then. And So I thought this was a 647 00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:53,159 really good offseason from Houston, probably slightly better, if not a lot better 648 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:58,079 than expected, And so B B plus stranger again, I ended up settling 649 00:43:58,199 --> 00:44:00,679 on a B because I don't particularly lie Shanggun that much, and I'm just 650 00:44:01,119 --> 00:44:07,519 that that transaction was just mega curious to me. Yeah, I I think 651 00:44:07,679 --> 00:44:13,199 so I gave him an a minus and I think that the only differences are 652 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:19,239 I think I do think of Shangoon as as potentially very very good play. 653 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:23,679 I mean, like he's too he's oh yeah, the way he fails is 654 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:27,840 very foreseeable. He's just not athletic enough, he's not center sized, but 655 00:44:27,920 --> 00:44:30,920 he has to play center. He doesn't impact the game defensively, but his 656 00:44:31,079 --> 00:44:35,519 skill level is like off the charts, and then you marry that with he 657 00:44:35,679 --> 00:44:39,039 was the MVP of the Turkish League get eighteen and all of his translatable stats 658 00:44:39,119 --> 00:44:43,960 like you know Kevin Pelton. You know, based on his numbers, Schangun 659 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:45,679 should have been the number one prospect in this draft. And there are a 660 00:44:45,760 --> 00:44:50,960 lot of people that you know had him at least top five just based on 661 00:44:51,639 --> 00:44:54,719 guys that are this good as teenagers in really good European leagues. Just don't 662 00:44:54,840 --> 00:45:00,400 fail that Like, that's that's the that's the you know, the the mystic 663 00:45:00,480 --> 00:45:04,679 view of him, which was persuasive to me, and just watching him play 664 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:09,119 like he I mean, if he slims down whatever, Like his skill level 665 00:45:09,239 --> 00:45:13,800 is super high. So I think at sixteen for a couple of picks that 666 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:17,000 you know way down the line may not be that great great. I love 667 00:45:17,039 --> 00:45:22,039 the rest of their drafts. I like Grubelot, Dylan Green no brain or 668 00:45:22,079 --> 00:45:27,559 Josh Christopher a great pick. The other difference I have, I think that 669 00:45:27,800 --> 00:45:31,079 bumped my little bit from mirrors. We're not that far apart, but I 670 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:38,320 think Dan is someone even winning a first for him someone you know, protective 671 00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:43,360 whatever. At the trade denalist teams are gonna you know, who doesn't need 672 00:45:44,079 --> 00:45:47,599 a playoff tested guy who can play center and move a little bit. And 673 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:52,760 if he's not a star, you know, sometimes the matchups not right for 674 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:55,000 him. But he is a guy that's gonna be a fit and fill a 675 00:45:55,079 --> 00:45:59,320 need on a lot of teams that are looking at what they've got going into 676 00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:00,840 the playoffs are going into the second half of the season and saying, you 677 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:04,719 know, we really get a guy like that and at you know, basically 678 00:46:04,880 --> 00:46:08,199 mL E level money, uh with with the kicker, but that you know 679 00:46:08,400 --> 00:46:13,079 that play a team option on the last year. I think he might be 680 00:46:13,559 --> 00:46:15,280 like a positive asset if they trade him, because it doesn't make sense for 681 00:46:15,360 --> 00:46:17,719 him to be on this team. It doesn't like it. Just why why 682 00:46:17,840 --> 00:46:21,039 is the Rockets when you're tanking again, why do you want him? So 683 00:46:21,159 --> 00:46:23,880 I view that as sort of a cagey potential, you know, trade ship. 684 00:46:24,559 --> 00:46:27,440 But so I bumped them up to an A minus for those reasons. 685 00:46:27,480 --> 00:46:30,360 Love their draft. I think they just the Rockets kind of know what they're 686 00:46:30,360 --> 00:46:31,760 doing, which was sort of in doubt. I feel like at least a 687 00:46:31,800 --> 00:46:36,840 lot of people were skeptical after Darryl Morrila. Yeah, and you know I'm 688 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:38,159 going to bump up to a B plus you talk me into it. I 689 00:46:38,239 --> 00:46:43,320 think the reason you have ticed on this rosters you don't really have another like 690 00:46:43,920 --> 00:46:46,119 center, Like you don't know if if you want to play Shane goud or 691 00:46:46,199 --> 00:46:50,119 Garuba there or how many minutes you can get out of them at center you 692 00:46:50,199 --> 00:46:52,400 have Christian would and so Tys really does serve a purpose and he's gonna give 693 00:46:52,400 --> 00:46:57,440 you more defense than Kelly Olynic. I just think age twenty nine at that 694 00:46:57,559 --> 00:47:00,440 price, given the way the direction Biggs are going, is he take how 695 00:47:00,480 --> 00:47:02,480 many threes he taking for you? But you you talk me into it. 696 00:47:02,519 --> 00:47:07,599 I'm Royn B plus for the Rockets and I'm they and look they haven't even 697 00:47:07,719 --> 00:47:12,400 like I still think that they could probably get if Daniel House is healthy and 698 00:47:12,599 --> 00:47:15,159 hitting his threes, just because of what he gives you on defense positionally. 699 00:47:15,440 --> 00:47:19,320 And then even Eric Gordon, who before he was injured last year was one 700 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:22,639 of the most efficient players in the league on drives. They can still get 701 00:47:22,760 --> 00:47:27,800 stuff for those guys and at the same time keeping them. And I think 702 00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:30,119 you more so look at Eric Gordon because he's expensive and commands more touches on 703 00:47:30,199 --> 00:47:35,159 offense. They don't do like they're not a detriment to you developing others. 704 00:47:35,360 --> 00:47:38,840 Eric Gordon isn't someone he's stood around, watched James Harden dribble for eighty years. 705 00:47:39,199 --> 00:47:43,400 He can stand in the ultra deep spot while Jalen Green goes to work 706 00:47:43,599 --> 00:47:46,280 while you're trying out, you know, Josh Christopher, Kevin Porter Junior, 707 00:47:46,679 --> 00:47:50,840 all all those guys there. They did. Also, Houston brought Dante ExM 708 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:53,039 back, is something I should have added, and so like that's even I 709 00:47:53,199 --> 00:47:57,519 like that. I don't think Dante Exum is gonna ever be healthy enough to 710 00:47:57,559 --> 00:48:00,719 stay in like turn in anything. But they have like the the outline, 711 00:48:00,760 --> 00:48:07,519 the skeleton of what kind of could be a defensive monster. So I very 712 00:48:07,639 --> 00:48:09,880 much like what they did. And you just you just talking. I bumped 713 00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:15,840 them up to a B plus automatically, because that's how I guess how how 714 00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:19,760 much I wasn't confident in the grade that I actually gave them. But yeah, 715 00:48:19,800 --> 00:48:22,039 anyway, so you convinced me to bump them up to a B plus. 716 00:48:22,280 --> 00:48:27,079 Love it, love it. So the Clippers they acquired Keyon Johnson at 717 00:48:27,119 --> 00:48:30,920 number twenty one from the Knicks for Quentin Grimes at number twenty five and the 718 00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:35,760 Detroit pistons twenty twenty four second rounder they acquired. They acquired Jason President at 719 00:48:35,840 --> 00:48:39,320 number thirty three from the Magic for Detroit's twenty twenty six second rounder and cash. 720 00:48:39,639 --> 00:48:45,239 They acquired Brandon Boston Junior at number fifty one from the Pelicans for sacramentos 721 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:49,199 twenty twenty two second rounder. It's it's essentially fake. It's it's top twenty 722 00:48:49,239 --> 00:48:52,960 four protected, a top fifty four protected. Excuse me. They resigned Quiet 723 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:55,679 Leonard to a four year, one hundred seventy six point three million dollar deal 724 00:48:55,719 --> 00:48:59,880 a player option on that final season. They signed Justice's Winslow to a two 725 00:49:00,079 --> 00:49:02,679 year eight million dollars deal that's fully guaranteed. They resigned Reggie Jackson to a 726 00:49:02,719 --> 00:49:07,239 two year twenty one point six million dollars deal that's fully guaranteed fifteen percent trade 727 00:49:07,239 --> 00:49:10,599 bonus. They resigned Nicholas between to a two year, six point five million 728 00:49:10,639 --> 00:49:14,440 dollar deal. This is a non bird deal that has a player option on 729 00:49:14,480 --> 00:49:19,760 that second season. They traded Patrick Beverley, Daniel Elturo, and Rgian Rondo 730 00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:22,639 to Memphis for Eric Butzo. They signed as Aa Hartnerstein to a training camp 731 00:49:22,719 --> 00:49:25,920 deal, signed Moses Wright and Harry Giles to training camp deals as well. 732 00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:32,360 Notable subtractions obviously Daniel Elturo Orjan Rondo, Patrick Beverley, DeMarcus Cousins who remains 733 00:49:32,440 --> 00:49:37,840 unsigned, and they waived Jogi Farrell. One did I miss anything there? 734 00:49:38,039 --> 00:49:43,559 Or Two? What grade did you give the Clippers grant? I don't think 735 00:49:43,599 --> 00:49:49,039 you miss anything. And this is I think my only straight A in the 736 00:49:49,079 --> 00:49:52,960 West. And I was sort of surprised by it because I think initially I 737 00:49:53,079 --> 00:49:55,679 was a little like, oh, were we really I mean, this is 738 00:49:55,719 --> 00:50:02,079 how how neurotic I think I sometimes he was like, oh, we really 739 00:50:02,119 --> 00:50:05,880 gave Kawhi that player option on year four with his health, you know, 740 00:50:06,159 --> 00:50:07,679 concerns and all this Stuff's like, yeah, you gave Kawhi the player option 741 00:50:07,719 --> 00:50:10,559 on year four. Of course she did. That's fine. But other than 742 00:50:10,639 --> 00:50:15,320 that, like, I mean, you know you brought back Kawai. Sure. 743 00:50:16,000 --> 00:50:20,639 The Reggie Jackson deal I think is fantastic, and the Battom deal same 744 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:23,679 thing. I think Winslow is as we're talking about flyers on the last team, 745 00:50:23,719 --> 00:50:28,840 I think Winslow is absolutely someone you take a flyer on he's twenty five 746 00:50:29,280 --> 00:50:31,000 and his you know, he's had two years where he's shot it really well 747 00:50:31,079 --> 00:50:35,239 from three and he's proved he can essentially play a point guard role. But 748 00:50:35,320 --> 00:50:38,840 he's wing size, which is perfect for how the Clippers really excelled playing small 749 00:50:38,920 --> 00:50:44,039 ball in the playoffs last year. It's just like, yeah, it's out 750 00:50:44,119 --> 00:50:47,360 the cash outlay for the chance that he's going to be a guy that you 751 00:50:47,440 --> 00:50:52,079 know what he was when he you know, averaging twelve five and four and 752 00:50:52,199 --> 00:50:54,880 shooting thirty eight percent from deep. And he's even when he's been injured and 753 00:50:54,920 --> 00:50:59,599 played these tiny seasons, his defense has always been good. So I think, 754 00:50:59,760 --> 00:51:02,480 yeah, eight million bucks over a couple of years, that's that's fantastic. 755 00:51:04,239 --> 00:51:08,159 I think Bledsoe is undervalued now because he was so pilloried for you know, 756 00:51:08,280 --> 00:51:12,719 he failed in a big stage for the Bucks and he just didn't care 757 00:51:12,800 --> 00:51:15,760 in New Orleans. But now he's basically an expiring deal because twenty two twenty 758 00:51:15,760 --> 00:51:20,960 three's non guaranteed. He's a great defender still, I think, I mean, 759 00:51:21,039 --> 00:51:24,159 he's I think he's so much better than Patrick Beverly just all told, 760 00:51:24,199 --> 00:51:28,880 even if he's not the shooter that Beverly is bled, so at least isn't 761 00:51:28,920 --> 00:51:30,920 going to foul himself out of the game and put the opponent in the bonus 762 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:36,599 after like four minutes in the first quarter. Beverly is the biggest hack in 763 00:51:36,639 --> 00:51:39,679 the league, Like that's a statistical fact per minute, and that hurts his 764 00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:45,320 team. I don't care how hard he tries. So I just thought that 765 00:51:45,199 --> 00:51:49,199 they did the big things with Kawai, they did the medium things with you 766 00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:52,159 know, Jackson and Betune coming back. I think even Keian Johnson, I 767 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:57,039 think, just let's get the most athletic guy on the planet and maybe he'll 768 00:51:57,119 --> 00:52:00,920 learn maybe you can play basketball. Like what a luxury for team that has 769 00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:04,599 all these stars and big names and deep rotation. So I don't really have 770 00:52:04,719 --> 00:52:07,760 anything bad to say about the Clippers off season. So they get a flat 771 00:52:07,800 --> 00:52:12,440 A from me, and I didn't really think very hard about you know, 772 00:52:12,639 --> 00:52:16,960 any other grade. Yeah, and look I gave them an A as well. 773 00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:22,079 Their offseason was just And so you talk about the Kawai deal, I 774 00:52:22,119 --> 00:52:24,960 almost view it as a positive that they weren't in this one plus one situation 775 00:52:25,039 --> 00:52:28,679 with him, because then there would have always run the risk. However, 776 00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:34,079 unlikely that you were paying him to rehab on your dime and then he would 777 00:52:34,119 --> 00:52:37,920 just leave. So now that you have him sort of locked down long term, 778 00:52:37,519 --> 00:52:42,679 you can more constantly go about building your roster and you can sort of 779 00:52:42,800 --> 00:52:45,480 do what you did this summer, where it's, hey, we're gonna probably 780 00:52:45,519 --> 00:52:50,039 invest and take some flyers and maybe they'll actually play key on Johnson this year. 781 00:52:50,039 --> 00:52:51,519 I love that move for them, by the way. I thought it 782 00:52:51,599 --> 00:52:53,440 was what the Knicks should have done, even though I knew they like take 783 00:52:53,480 --> 00:52:57,400 a bigger swing, and they did that on multiple front. Even with Brandon 784 00:52:57,480 --> 00:53:00,679 Boston Junior. I think if he wanted to go a minus like that, 785 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:04,320 you did give up two seconds from Detroit. That could be nice. But 786 00:53:04,400 --> 00:53:07,079 Detroit also has Kid Cunningham now and they've proven that they can make some nice 787 00:53:07,119 --> 00:53:10,400 moves, so it doesn't look like they overpaid for anything. Nicholas Bettum led 788 00:53:10,440 --> 00:53:14,000 them in regular season minutes last year, and you got to keep him on 789 00:53:14,079 --> 00:53:16,360 the non bird deal, the biggest, one of the biggest bargains, if 790 00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:21,280 not the biggest bargaining free agency when you look at production bang for his buck. 791 00:53:21,599 --> 00:53:23,079 Does that come back to bite them next summer when he could be an 792 00:53:23,079 --> 00:53:25,519 early Birds free agent where there's sort of that, like I said before, 793 00:53:25,599 --> 00:53:29,519 wink wink agreement under the table. Who knows as of right now, that 794 00:53:29,559 --> 00:53:32,519 looks fantastic the only move and Reggie Jackson based on how he played for you 795 00:53:34,360 --> 00:53:37,360 to keep him, and it's it's a short term commitment too, and it's 796 00:53:37,440 --> 00:53:40,679 really just not even that much from the team's perspective. That's big the thing 797 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:45,199 I'm most and also I like the heart Mistine add like, I'm just surprised 798 00:53:45,199 --> 00:53:47,320 that he remained on side based off what he showed in Cleveland towards the end 799 00:53:47,360 --> 00:53:52,280 of last season. However, the only movie I would have some lack of 800 00:53:52,360 --> 00:53:58,480 confidence in is is the Beverly for basically Eric Pletzo swap. That's that's just 801 00:53:58,519 --> 00:54:01,400 how I viewed it because Rondo was just a net negative for them. I'm 802 00:54:01,440 --> 00:54:06,400 not as confident and Bletso being that big and upgrade over Beverly because he does 803 00:54:06,920 --> 00:54:09,559 if he Beverly can at least hit his set threes, Bletso isn't going to 804 00:54:09,639 --> 00:54:13,159 guarantee you that if you need to give him the ball. I do think 805 00:54:13,159 --> 00:54:15,440 the Clippers can provide him with enough spacing to go to work. But he 806 00:54:15,519 --> 00:54:20,639 slipped offensively last year, he slipped defensively last year, and so you're banking 807 00:54:20,840 --> 00:54:24,280 on that needing to come back. Maybe he's more competitive, more engaged, 808 00:54:24,320 --> 00:54:29,559 just better overall on an actually good team that's not the Pelicans. There's still 809 00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:34,519 a slight roll of the dice there. However, you did consolidate roster spots 810 00:54:34,519 --> 00:54:37,760 as part of that trade, and in a year without Kauai, you lowered 811 00:54:37,840 --> 00:54:40,079 your tax bill as a result of the incoming salary. That's not something I 812 00:54:40,199 --> 00:54:44,960 necessarily care about, but I understand what they're thinking. And Bletso has the 813 00:54:45,079 --> 00:54:49,079 higher ceiling than Beverly, even if there's more of a question mark on what 814 00:54:49,199 --> 00:54:52,199 he might give you on a game to game basis right now. And so 815 00:54:52,320 --> 00:54:55,800 this was just under the circumstances I thought was great. Was a great offseason 816 00:54:55,880 --> 00:55:00,960 for the Clippers. Yeah, I And look, you know bloed Cell gets 817 00:55:01,199 --> 00:55:06,000 Bledsoe is not a good shooter. Shot thirty four point one percent last year 818 00:55:06,079 --> 00:55:07,880 from the thirty four point four the year before. Like, you can live 819 00:55:07,920 --> 00:55:10,280 with that. I'm sure it's higher on catching shoots. I was trying to, 820 00:55:10,280 --> 00:55:14,119 look, how are you doing the Playoffking? Yeah, well, that's 821 00:55:14,159 --> 00:55:17,719 the thing. That's what you got Reagie Jackson for. Yeah, he was 822 00:55:17,760 --> 00:55:21,840 a little bit better than that. It's just about everybody is on catching shoots 823 00:55:21,880 --> 00:55:24,000 and pull ups. But yeah, you know, he's not there. I 824 00:55:24,000 --> 00:55:28,760 think I think blood Cell is objectively a better defender than Beverly too. It's 825 00:55:28,800 --> 00:55:30,920 just, yeah, he's not gonna he's not gonna shoot it quite as well. 826 00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:34,760 But it's not like if he's gonna play a reserve role. I don't 827 00:55:34,760 --> 00:55:37,280 know. Yeah, I don't think you maybe is he gonna start. We 828 00:55:37,360 --> 00:55:39,599 haven't even talked about that. That would be interesting. Maybe he will, 829 00:55:40,360 --> 00:55:44,000 but you know, his shots should all be very high quality. I would 830 00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:45,599 assume in this offense, I'm good with Arry Bledsoe. I would think. 831 00:55:45,599 --> 00:55:51,800 I'm I'm assuming they're starting five. Is gonna be Reggie Paul, George Terrence 832 00:55:51,880 --> 00:55:57,599 Man, Marcus Morris, and then a Zubots. I'm assuming maybe Nicholas Patuma 833 00:55:57,599 --> 00:55:59,880 has worked in there. I think I think but Tum would be more like 834 00:56:00,159 --> 00:56:04,159 to start Dan Blaso at this point, Man, I got some options. 835 00:56:04,960 --> 00:56:07,960 That's a good team. That was easy. A couple of Flat A's Los 836 00:56:08,000 --> 00:56:14,960 Angeles Lakers. That's my turn to read the big move. As part of 837 00:56:15,039 --> 00:56:22,119 the bazillion team ever expanding sign and trade, they acquired Russell Westbrook, who've 838 00:56:22,559 --> 00:56:27,960 probably heard of, also coming in that deal second rounder in twenty twenty three 839 00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:31,199 from Chicago, a twenty four second, which is the least favorable out of 840 00:56:31,239 --> 00:56:37,360 Washington and Memphis, and Washington's twenty eight second going out for Russ and those 841 00:56:37,440 --> 00:56:40,880 picks was Montrese, Harold KCP, Kyle Kuzma, and the number twenty two 842 00:56:40,880 --> 00:56:45,840 pick, which became Isaiah Jackson. So that's the big one. And then 843 00:56:45,880 --> 00:56:52,599 a million veterans signings starting with not in chronological order necessarily, but DeAndre Jordan, 844 00:56:52,679 --> 00:56:57,880 Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, Kent Baysmore, Wayne Ellington, Rajon Rondo, 845 00:56:58,039 --> 00:57:02,440 Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Theresa all to one year minimum deals, Taylor Horton, 846 00:57:02,480 --> 00:57:07,079 Tucker Back three years, thirty point eight million, it's fully guaranteed. 847 00:57:07,119 --> 00:57:09,760 He's got a player option on the third year. Kendrick Nunn two for ten 848 00:57:09,840 --> 00:57:13,400 point three. He has a player option on the second year of that. 849 00:57:15,360 --> 00:57:19,679 Mark Gasoul they essentially sent him to Memphis so that he could go play in 850 00:57:19,760 --> 00:57:22,559 Spain or stay in Spain. I don't know if he's gonna play there for 851 00:57:22,719 --> 00:57:27,880 the rights to Wang Julien, and signed Austin Reeves to a two way, 852 00:57:28,280 --> 00:57:35,400 signed one a Yaye Gonzaga player to a two way and outgoing. In addition 853 00:57:35,519 --> 00:57:38,519 to the guys in the Westbrook trade, Dennis Shrewder is gone, Alex Caruso 854 00:57:38,679 --> 00:57:44,119 is gone, Markith Morris has gone west Matthews remains unsigned. We mentioned desoul 855 00:57:44,199 --> 00:57:49,079 Ben Maclamore has gone, Alphonso McKinney waved. So the Lakers very busy, 856 00:57:49,519 --> 00:57:53,199 signed a million veterans, traded for Russ. How do you see their offseason? 857 00:57:54,440 --> 00:57:59,639 I think they did an acceptionable job, exceptional job of getting a ton 858 00:57:59,679 --> 00:58:04,320 of moms from their minimums. I just I know my league. Monk is, 859 00:58:04,880 --> 00:58:07,039 you know, a hot and cold type player, but just from what 860 00:58:07,159 --> 00:58:08,719 he can give you on offense. To get him at the minimum is big. 861 00:58:09,880 --> 00:58:15,320 To get Wayne Ellington with the shooting gear that he had last season and 862 00:58:15,480 --> 00:58:17,960 knowing what he can give you off motion, even though that's not necessarily haw 863 00:58:19,039 --> 00:58:22,519 Lebron James's team's play at the minimum. Big Carmelo Anthony, he's so, 864 00:58:22,840 --> 00:58:28,000 he's still so divisive. I think as someone who's gonna shoot very well from 865 00:58:28,039 --> 00:58:30,599 three point range, and it's more comfortable spotting up off the catch in the 866 00:58:30,719 --> 00:58:34,599 NBA than he ever has been before. The minimum is big. Yeah, 867 00:58:34,599 --> 00:58:37,760 he's probably gonna take some shots that you're not gonna like. But the Lakers 868 00:58:37,800 --> 00:58:40,960 actually sort of need secondary shot creation still because Russell Westbrook is one of the 869 00:58:42,079 --> 00:58:45,400 least efficient jump shooters in NBA history. So just look, I mean, 870 00:58:45,480 --> 00:58:49,320 Trevor Reza, it's all. You know, DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard, 871 00:58:49,360 --> 00:58:52,760 like, they're not great players, but and I don't necessarily like DeAndre Jordan 872 00:58:52,079 --> 00:58:57,960 or Rondo here, but I think they got talent out of their minimums. 873 00:58:58,760 --> 00:59:00,719 And even with Kendrick Nunn, who didn't sign from minimum, they got him 874 00:59:00,719 --> 00:59:04,320 a two years Samway three million. Like you already mentioned, I think he 875 00:59:04,440 --> 00:59:07,440 gives you some He gives you a offensive variants, some of whom might give 876 00:59:07,440 --> 00:59:12,320 you some of that just sort of North South burst can hit some off the 877 00:59:12,400 --> 00:59:14,679 dribble jumpers. Maybe you trust him to run a little bit of pick and 878 00:59:14,800 --> 00:59:17,320 roll just to get that type of flyer on what is otherwise an older team. 879 00:59:17,840 --> 00:59:22,360 But maybe someone who really gives you some pizzazz off the bench. I 880 00:59:22,440 --> 00:59:24,360 think that was fine value Kellent Horton Tucker, I don't know what to make 881 00:59:24,400 --> 00:59:27,679 of that deal. I do wonder, and this is not I'm not even 882 00:59:27,760 --> 00:59:30,159 trying to troll. I just legitimately wonder if he gets the full three years 883 00:59:30,199 --> 00:59:35,079 guaranteed with the player option, if Rich Paul is not as agent, I 884 00:59:36,480 --> 00:59:38,519 don't I honestly don't know. But he gives you a lot positionally on defense, 885 00:59:38,840 --> 00:59:45,159 has shown he has sort of that just like herky jerky angular offensive game. 886 00:59:45,239 --> 00:59:49,400 If he hits and the videos of him knocking down corner threes, if 887 00:59:49,440 --> 00:59:52,679 he turns that into a shot, they have a ridiculously versatile and impactful player 888 00:59:52,920 --> 00:59:55,599 on their hands. So I'm fine with that type of gambo when you're looking 889 00:59:55,599 --> 01:00:00,519 at someone that young, and it implies a commitment to maybe playing him and 890 01:00:00,559 --> 01:00:02,599 developing him more. And there were spurts last season where he you know, 891 01:00:02,679 --> 01:00:05,639 it took a while, he needed to be wide open, but he was 892 01:00:05,760 --> 01:00:10,480 hitting some jumpers. I like everything they did, with the exception of I 893 01:00:10,480 --> 01:00:15,360 don't like Rondo and what getting DeAndre Jordan's sort of informs about their rotation and 894 01:00:15,400 --> 01:00:19,360 having Anthony Davis play center, and when it's not crunch time, doesn't seem 895 01:00:19,400 --> 01:00:21,400 like that's going to be much of a thing, even with the absence of 896 01:00:21,800 --> 01:00:25,079 Marc Gasol there, even though I think Bleacher reports Jake Fisher reported that Lebron 897 01:00:25,159 --> 01:00:29,599 and ad plan on playing a ton more four and five this year, which 898 01:00:29,599 --> 01:00:31,840 if that's true, you line me up to even bump up their grid in 899 01:00:31,840 --> 01:00:37,119 the offseason. I can't go higher than a B plus here because I don't 900 01:00:37,239 --> 01:00:40,239 think anyone who thinks the Lakers are going to be a bad team or just 901 01:00:40,360 --> 01:00:45,119 a spectacular disaster they're snorting clicks like that, they snort clicks with rolled up 902 01:00:45,159 --> 01:00:49,400 one dollar bills because they're still going to be very good provided their main players 903 01:00:49,440 --> 01:00:52,239 are healthy. And I think what you do, at minimum with Russell Westbrook 904 01:00:52,599 --> 01:00:58,480 is you probably do nudge up your ceiling in the minutes and regular season games 905 01:00:58,559 --> 01:01:01,280 that Lebron doesn't play, because Russell Westbrook is very much the type of player 906 01:01:01,360 --> 01:01:06,840 you want if there's not much else around you. And those lineups without Lebron 907 01:01:07,000 --> 01:01:10,119 last year they ended up being pretty rough once again. Their half court offense, 908 01:01:10,280 --> 01:01:14,840 which wasn't spectacular with him on the court to begin with, it was 909 01:01:14,880 --> 01:01:19,639 pretty bad. And I don't think Russ necessarily solves everything. But if he's 910 01:01:19,679 --> 01:01:22,840 in these lineups that are just like that, don't even have Lebron or a 911 01:01:22,960 --> 01:01:24,440 D. And you want to rest Lebron a little bit more this season because 912 01:01:24,480 --> 01:01:27,679 he is getting up there in age. I think he does give you that 913 01:01:27,760 --> 01:01:30,920 option. I'm just not comfortable with the fit when he, Lebron and a 914 01:01:31,039 --> 01:01:35,480 D are on the court, and if you're also going to have one of 915 01:01:35,519 --> 01:01:38,599 the bigs, whether it's Howard or DeAndre Jordan in those minutes, you're really 916 01:01:38,679 --> 01:01:42,960 shrinking the floor. And what you also did here to get him is you 917 01:01:43,039 --> 01:01:49,039 traded your two top three point makers in Kyle Kuzma and Kentabia's call. Well, 918 01:01:49,079 --> 01:01:52,440 Pope, when you look at Dennis Shrewder leaving by the way, three 919 01:01:52,559 --> 01:01:55,760 of your four leading three point makers are just gone. And that's sort of 920 01:01:55,800 --> 01:02:00,079 the other thing to look at this is that Dennis Shrewder isn't addition by subtraction. 921 01:02:00,199 --> 01:02:04,440 It's good that they didn't have to pay him a ton, but you 922 01:02:04,519 --> 01:02:07,679 gave up Danny Green in a first round pick for a year of Dennis Shrewder, 923 01:02:07,159 --> 01:02:12,599 which it's just looking at it in some is not great. Still a 924 01:02:12,760 --> 01:02:15,599 B plus given how and I think I might even be able to be talked 925 01:02:15,679 --> 01:02:20,000 to an as just given how uneasy to fit is between their you know their 926 01:02:20,039 --> 01:02:22,159 three best players now, and I don't want to hear there are two things 927 01:02:22,199 --> 01:02:24,719 I don't want to hear or and I don't think it's unfair to say this 928 01:02:25,000 --> 01:02:30,320 until proven otherwise at this point, One that Russell Westbrook can all of a 929 01:02:30,320 --> 01:02:32,960 sudden play without the ball. We have evidence from Oklahoma City, Houston, 930 01:02:34,119 --> 01:02:37,119 and Washington that he either can't play without the ball or at least isn't going 931 01:02:37,199 --> 01:02:40,679 to play without the ball. And also, if you think the solution is 932 01:02:40,719 --> 01:02:44,599 to take the bottle Lebron's hands and have him be off the ball more, 933 01:02:45,199 --> 01:02:49,039 I feel like less of Lebron has so far never been the answer, So 934 01:02:49,159 --> 01:02:51,559 why is it the answer now? And those are two things I'm comfortable saying 935 01:02:51,679 --> 01:02:57,480 until they prove it's proven Otherwise there's still that shaky element there. I also 936 01:02:57,519 --> 01:03:00,880 would have liked to have seen them just you'll pay up to keep Alex Caruso. 937 01:03:00,519 --> 01:03:07,320 They're risking a lot defensively by giving up Alex Caruso, Contavious Calopope and 938 01:03:07,440 --> 01:03:12,280 Kyle Cruzmo, who turned and quietly turned into a solid, just positional defender 939 01:03:12,360 --> 01:03:15,639 that they could throw at certain guys that would help them buy time. You 940 01:03:16,119 --> 01:03:20,639 you know, it just feels like now you're banking a lot on Anthony Davis, 941 01:03:20,719 --> 01:03:23,199 which is of course fine. But Lebron's been defending at a high level 942 01:03:23,280 --> 01:03:28,639 basically since he arrived in LA, or at least since Anthony Davis arrived in 943 01:03:28,840 --> 01:03:31,159 LA. Does that continue? I don't think you're gonna get a ton of 944 01:03:31,239 --> 01:03:35,920 you know, DeAndre Jordan isn't a really good defender anymore. You're relying a 945 01:03:36,000 --> 01:03:39,599 lot probably on Trevor Reeser and Kent Baysmore to do some lifting defensively. Maybe 946 01:03:39,639 --> 01:03:44,320 you're just very confident in talent. Horton Tucker are doing things on defense. 947 01:03:44,400 --> 01:03:47,119 But you look at just one of the scariest defensive teams last season and now 948 01:03:47,239 --> 01:03:52,039 all they've sacrificed on that front, combined with the iffy offensive fit, I 949 01:03:52,119 --> 01:03:57,639 would say, if nothing else during the postseason between Russell Westbrook and Lebron, 950 01:03:58,079 --> 01:04:01,599 there the combustibility fact they're here exist. I think any team with Lebron and 951 01:04:01,679 --> 01:04:06,559 Ad healthy is going to talent their way out of that and figure out different 952 01:04:06,599 --> 01:04:11,599 methods by which to win and win at a very high level. That being 953 01:04:11,679 --> 01:04:16,159 said, I can't just go the A route when there there is that degree 954 01:04:16,239 --> 01:04:25,760 of uncertainty baked in here. So I think the Lakers are a team that 955 01:04:26,480 --> 01:04:31,360 should only be concerned with what does our playoff lineup look like? Or playoff 956 01:04:31,480 --> 01:04:35,800 rotation? How are we going to play in the playoffs? And while I 957 01:04:35,920 --> 01:04:40,519 think Westbrook and I'm just going to start with the big move because the minimums 958 01:04:40,519 --> 01:04:43,519 are all great. It's hard to criticize a minimum signing if they give you 959 01:04:43,599 --> 01:04:46,679 anything. And the vast majority of these guys they signed for the minimum will 960 01:04:46,719 --> 01:04:49,599 give them something, right. I mean, you know, they've got some 961 01:04:49,639 --> 01:04:54,599 shooting, they've got some youth, they've got some size. Fine. The 962 01:04:54,679 --> 01:04:58,320 Westbrook thing, there's a case to be made that he'll be like your innings 963 01:04:58,360 --> 01:05:02,400 eater during during the regular se that's that's maybe that's true. And he'll you 964 01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:05,480 know, second units, he'll you know, hold the four down. He'll 965 01:05:05,519 --> 01:05:10,679 be a ball dominant guy in that role. I'll I like, you see 966 01:05:10,719 --> 01:05:14,880 no scenario where he you know, embraces an off ball role, tries hard 967 01:05:14,920 --> 01:05:18,679 on defense, does the little things that like, that's just Russell Westbrook doesn't 968 01:05:18,679 --> 01:05:21,760 compromise. It's his defining characteristic. He plays one way. He always like, 969 01:05:21,880 --> 01:05:26,239 that's just it. So if you think he's the innings eater and he 970 01:05:26,320 --> 01:05:29,320 preserves Lebron and ad By, you know, they get some nights off and 971 01:05:29,400 --> 01:05:32,920 he runs wild here and there, or he makes the backups function, well, 972 01:05:33,400 --> 01:05:39,800 that's cool. He's also a completely athleticism based player that showed significant signs 973 01:05:39,840 --> 01:05:43,400 of decline last year. Basically quit getting to the rim, didn't finish very 974 01:05:43,480 --> 01:05:46,480 well. There has never been able to shoot. So even that argument in 975 01:05:46,599 --> 01:05:50,559 favor of the Westbrook trade making sense is kind of iffy because I don't know. 976 01:05:50,679 --> 01:05:53,599 I don't know if he's going to help them in the regular season, 977 01:05:53,880 --> 01:05:57,719 certainly a big name in the playoffs. I think he's a massive negative because 978 01:05:57,719 --> 01:06:01,599 you've got a plan playoff defense is destroy him because he can't shoot and they 979 01:06:01,639 --> 01:06:05,239 don't guard him, so you're basically, unless you can play him at center, 980 01:06:05,320 --> 01:06:10,000 which is kind of what has been the move, can't really do that. 981 01:06:10,800 --> 01:06:15,159 So if you're looking at the Lakers through the prism of how much better 982 01:06:15,239 --> 01:06:17,559 are we for a title pursuit, which is the only way that they should 983 01:06:17,559 --> 01:06:21,239 be thinking, because Lebron is a thousand years old and like every second of 984 01:06:21,400 --> 01:06:26,559 his prime is borrowed time at this point, and Davis is always injury Iffy. 985 01:06:27,920 --> 01:06:31,079 I think they failed. I think Westbrook makes them worse in the games 986 01:06:31,119 --> 01:06:34,360 that they need to care about. I'm not giving them an F. I'm 987 01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:38,880 giving them a C minus because I think almost everything else they did was good. 988 01:06:40,480 --> 01:06:45,039 But it does come down to me to the fact that I think if 989 01:06:45,079 --> 01:06:49,360 they had just kept say Caruso, KCP and Kuzma, I like those guys 990 01:06:49,440 --> 01:06:54,559 better for the games that matter to the Lakers more than having Westbrook. Because 991 01:06:54,599 --> 01:06:58,039 you mentioned they lost all their three point shooting. I think Caruso and KCP 992 01:06:58,119 --> 01:07:00,920 are their best perimeter defenders and they're both on So now you're really counting on 993 01:07:01,000 --> 01:07:04,679 Horton Tucker being your shutdown stopper, because unless you think Ariza has got that 994 01:07:04,920 --> 01:07:10,519 for thirty five minutes in a playoff game or Baysmore, I don't know who 995 01:07:10,519 --> 01:07:15,039 you're putting on the Paul George's or you know, even you know, Devin 996 01:07:15,079 --> 01:07:18,000 Booker's, Donovan Mitchell's whatever, Like, I don't know who's doing that. 997 01:07:18,320 --> 01:07:21,239 So I think there's a case to be made that they're they're worst defensively, 998 01:07:23,280 --> 01:07:26,039 and I think in the games that matter they're going to be worse offensively. 999 01:07:26,400 --> 01:07:29,840 They might still win the title because they have Lebron and a D. I 1000 01:07:29,960 --> 01:07:33,079 just think this offseason was by definition, I'm giving it a C minus. 1001 01:07:33,159 --> 01:07:36,480 I think it's below average. I'm prepared to be wrong, like but I 1002 01:07:36,599 --> 01:07:41,519 just I think the Westbrook thing, it's not a cut and drive for sure 1003 01:07:42,519 --> 01:07:45,559 disaster, but I think the chances of it being a failure are higher than 1004 01:07:45,679 --> 01:07:50,199 not. So that's I'm being as conservative as I can. By just it's 1005 01:07:50,239 --> 01:07:54,880 as it's as marginally below average as you can get. Because again, everything 1006 01:07:54,920 --> 01:07:59,039 else they did, you know, made made sense there and I thought about 1007 01:07:59,079 --> 01:08:01,159 dropping so I have more faith in what Westbrook can do for them during the 1008 01:08:01,239 --> 01:08:05,559 regular season as sort of a guy running in the solo minutes. Maybe they 1009 01:08:05,599 --> 01:08:10,840 don't have enough spacing, but maybe I'm wrong there. I share your concerns 1010 01:08:10,880 --> 01:08:13,440 with the postseason, and this would be This was one of the reasons that 1011 01:08:13,480 --> 01:08:15,279 I consider dropping them down to A B or B minus. There have been 1012 01:08:15,279 --> 01:08:18,920 one hundred and twenty four players to attempt at least two hundred shots in the 1013 01:08:19,039 --> 01:08:26,279 postseason since two thousand and sixteen. Russell Westbrook's effective field goal percentage among that 1014 01:08:26,399 --> 01:08:30,399 bunch ranks one hundred and twenty third. So yeah, that's like, you 1015 01:08:30,479 --> 01:08:36,800 know, that's problematic for them. And I also the thing here and Zach 1016 01:08:36,880 --> 01:08:40,800 Loll mentioned this on one of his podcasts this offseason. By the way, 1017 01:08:40,840 --> 01:08:43,560 can you guess who ranks dead last in that category? I bet you can. 1018 01:08:45,680 --> 01:08:48,520 It's effective field goal percentage in the playoffs? Yeah, is it Eric 1019 01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:56,399 Bledsoe? No, it's Damar So. The other thing is Zach Will mentioned 1020 01:08:56,479 --> 01:08:59,680 is they have a lot of guys on their roster who are going to expect 1021 01:08:59,800 --> 01:09:03,640 to play. And it's you know, if you sign a minimum as a 1022 01:09:03,800 --> 01:09:09,199 Wayne Ellington and a Molik Monk, even even though he's younger, you probably 1023 01:09:09,279 --> 01:09:13,840 don't expect to play. But like if you're talent Horton Tucker and you just 1024 01:09:13,960 --> 01:09:18,119 signed that deal, if you're Mellow, if you're Dwight Howard and or DeAndre 1025 01:09:18,279 --> 01:09:21,640 Jordan, you're gonna expect to play. If you're Kendrick Nunn, I would 1026 01:09:21,640 --> 01:09:26,000 think that you would expect to play. So how do they sort of juggle 1027 01:09:26,079 --> 01:09:29,399 this that? I mean, Rondo expects to play just because of how important 1028 01:09:29,399 --> 01:09:31,920 he was during their twenty twenty title run. I don't know that's gonna be 1029 01:09:31,920 --> 01:09:36,960 an interesting thing to juggle there. I just couldn't hurt. I couldn't penalize 1030 01:09:38,000 --> 01:09:40,800 them for that just yet because I need to. You know, I'm assuming 1031 01:09:41,279 --> 01:09:46,319 there's more because Lebron is very much involved in at least the team building process. 1032 01:09:46,359 --> 01:09:49,239 I'm assuming there's at least some awareness of how this is going to shake 1033 01:09:49,279 --> 01:09:54,039 out for players. But the Wetbrook stuff is real, and I think you 1034 01:09:54,119 --> 01:09:56,680 could probably go as low as you want, not an F and not a 1035 01:09:56,800 --> 01:10:00,359 D. But I think C minus you if you and I you wanted to 1036 01:10:00,359 --> 01:10:02,359 go a plus just because you look at they didn't really have a ton of 1037 01:10:02,359 --> 01:10:05,920 assets. But hey, they have Russell Westbrook, who's still in a vacuum, 1038 01:10:06,119 --> 01:10:10,119 a fringe all NBA player. What he does is not scalable, but 1039 01:10:10,199 --> 01:10:13,159 look at what he did for Washington after his quad injury healed like that was 1040 01:10:13,279 --> 01:10:15,039 Look what he did for Houston when they tailored the roster around him. More 1041 01:10:15,399 --> 01:10:21,319 So, there are there's a huge just range and how you can grade the 1042 01:10:21,439 --> 01:10:26,039 Lakers here. I tend to just be more optimistic for them during the regular 1043 01:10:26,079 --> 01:10:29,760 season. I would be very much worried about them in the playoffs, not 1044 01:10:29,840 --> 01:10:32,079 only because of Westbrook and the offensive fit, but as we both mentioned now, 1045 01:10:32,279 --> 01:10:36,760 they at least on paper, they look a lot worse defensively, and 1046 01:10:36,800 --> 01:10:41,760 if they're not, Anthony Davis is probably a defensive the Year candidate, Defensive 1047 01:10:41,760 --> 01:10:45,600 Player of the Year candidate. Yeah, if you're going to be a potentially 1048 01:10:45,680 --> 01:10:48,520 bad perimeter defense, it helps to have a healthy Anthony Davis just cleaning every 1049 01:10:48,560 --> 01:10:51,960 mess up. So yeah, again, could be wrong, just you know, 1050 01:10:53,359 --> 01:10:58,560 pretty pretty scary relying on Westbrook in that capacity. We got a Memphis 1051 01:10:58,640 --> 01:11:01,439 next. I think it's your turn. Yes. The Memphis Grizzlies acquired Steven 1052 01:11:01,439 --> 01:11:04,359 Adams, Eric Bledsoe, the number ten pick, which they used on Zayer 1053 01:11:04,399 --> 01:11:08,479 Williams, the number forty pick, which turned into Jared Butler, and the 1054 01:11:08,600 --> 01:11:12,680 Lakers twenty twenty two first rounder. It's top ten protected for them, otherwise 1055 01:11:12,720 --> 01:11:15,520 they'll stay in New Orleans and then it turns into two seconds thereafter. They 1056 01:11:15,640 --> 01:11:19,319 gave up in that trade, Jonis Valancunis, the number seventeen pick, which 1057 01:11:19,359 --> 01:11:21,960 turned to the Tray Murphy the third, and the number fifty one pick, 1058 01:11:23,000 --> 01:11:27,479 which turned into Brandon Boston Junior and then also Tyler Harvey. They acquired Patrick 1059 01:11:27,560 --> 01:11:32,800 Beverley, Rondo and Daniel o'tourou for Eric Bledsoe. They then acquired Jared Cover 1060 01:11:33,079 --> 01:11:40,279 and Juan hernan Gomez for Patrick Beverley. They then traded Juan Hernan Gomez to 1061 01:11:40,439 --> 01:11:44,560 Boston for Chris Dunn, Carson Edwards and a twenty six second round swap. 1062 01:11:44,880 --> 01:11:48,039 They acquired Sam Merrill from Milwaukee and created a four point one million dollars trade 1063 01:11:48,079 --> 01:11:55,199 exception for Grayson Allen and cash. They acquired the number thirty pick, which 1064 01:11:55,279 --> 01:12:00,159 they which was used on Sante Aldama from Utah for Jared Butler. Of that 1065 01:12:00,279 --> 01:12:02,960 number forty pick, a twenty twenty two second round pick unprotected, and a 1066 01:12:03,039 --> 01:12:10,600 twenty six second round pick which four Utah specifically is protected from selections forty three 1067 01:12:10,680 --> 01:12:13,800 to sixty, And they signed Killy and Tilly to a two way contract. 1068 01:12:14,119 --> 01:12:17,439 Their notable subtractions sort of rehash years. They waved Jonathay Porter, they waved 1069 01:12:17,439 --> 01:12:21,399 Sean McDermott, Justice Winslow was gone after they declined his team option, Grayson 1070 01:12:21,439 --> 01:12:27,279 Allen and then Jonnis Valanciunas. What how did you grade the Grizzlies offseason This 1071 01:12:27,399 --> 01:12:30,319 was one of the most difficult ones for me to go with or to grade. 1072 01:12:30,359 --> 01:12:34,399 Ex Yeah, I agree, I gave him. I gave him a 1073 01:12:34,479 --> 01:12:43,079 B minus and just sort of on the macro thinking that I guess I would 1074 01:12:43,119 --> 01:12:45,239 frame it around the trade they swung with New Orleans, which I think, 1075 01:12:45,279 --> 01:12:50,039 as everybody said at the time, it sort of felt like the type of 1076 01:12:50,880 --> 01:12:54,760 trade that should have happened the other way, because Memphis was at her team 1077 01:12:54,800 --> 01:12:58,079 than New Orleans last year, and so if one of the two were making 1078 01:12:58,119 --> 01:13:00,640 the more like win now movies should have been Memphis and not New Orleans. 1079 01:13:00,680 --> 01:13:03,520 Are just the exhibits of New Orleans desperation. I think they did well in 1080 01:13:03,600 --> 01:13:08,600 that trade, and you know, they flipped a million pieces around. I 1081 01:13:08,680 --> 01:13:11,359 think it's just kind of fun that they now have Chris Donne to go with 1082 01:13:11,520 --> 01:13:15,479 the Anthony Melton and Dylan Brooks and just this like complete monster of backcourt defenders. 1083 01:13:15,960 --> 01:13:20,439 That's kind of fun. Try I might even be forgetting somebody. Yeah, 1084 01:13:20,520 --> 01:13:24,399 I just it feels like a little bit of a consolidation. It feels 1085 01:13:24,439 --> 01:13:29,159 like Memphis is cool looking around the West and saying like there's a lot of 1086 01:13:29,760 --> 01:13:32,520 real contending teams that are old and if we just hang out for a year 1087 01:13:32,640 --> 01:13:36,119 or two and just keep the powder dry and just pick up a pick here 1088 01:13:36,199 --> 01:13:42,159 and there, take somebody's bad money, we can sort of position ourselves for 1089 01:13:42,239 --> 01:13:45,479 a run. Now. Granted, like in a market like that, you 1090 01:13:45,640 --> 01:13:47,560 just may not have alternatives. It's not like free agents are kicking the door 1091 01:13:47,600 --> 01:13:50,920 down or you have all these options. But I thought it was, you 1092 01:13:50,960 --> 01:13:55,439 know, an above average off season kind of you could say they just spun 1093 01:13:55,479 --> 01:13:57,840 their wheels and didn't really end up in very much of a different place. 1094 01:13:57,920 --> 01:14:00,359 But I do think, you know, they were careful, they got a 1095 01:14:00,399 --> 01:14:02,399 couple of extra picks, they took on some bad money, which is sort 1096 01:14:02,439 --> 01:14:06,159 of what you ought to be doing in that position. So yeah, it 1097 01:14:06,279 --> 01:14:09,880 was hard to kind of land on that. I could be convinced it was 1098 01:14:09,920 --> 01:14:12,680 a B plus or C minus, but just kind of in that range. 1099 01:14:12,960 --> 01:14:16,720 I landed on the B minus. I went with a B up. I 1100 01:14:16,920 --> 01:14:21,079 like the thought behind what they're doing, like the concept, and you sort 1101 01:14:21,079 --> 01:14:24,319 of outlined it, which I think is why I graded them so highly. 1102 01:14:24,920 --> 01:14:28,920 I'm also loved with Zayer Williams after watching him in Summer League, and even 1103 01:14:29,000 --> 01:14:32,760 just like the swing at Jared Culver where it's okay, Yeah, he clearly 1104 01:14:32,800 --> 01:14:36,720 doesn't have like the raw tools to create the type of separation he needs to 1105 01:14:36,800 --> 01:14:40,920 be a really good shot creator and or maker. But how does he do 1106 01:14:41,000 --> 01:14:44,720 on a team that has like other guys that can do that, or playing 1107 01:14:44,720 --> 01:14:47,439 alongside at John Morant as appost like where there's more variants and pace, whereas 1108 01:14:47,680 --> 01:14:50,880 with the D'Angelo Russell it's always going to be a little bit more methodical. 1109 01:14:51,079 --> 01:14:55,279 Or if it's a and Anthony Edwards, who's not much of a playmaker right 1110 01:14:55,399 --> 01:14:59,319 now and he was last season was it was bad for him and his role 1111 01:14:59,399 --> 01:15:01,039 declined. But towards the end of his first season, there were lineups that 1112 01:15:01,079 --> 01:15:03,840 were working where he was the point guard. He was hitting they were super 1113 01:15:03,920 --> 01:15:09,159 wide open, but he was hitting some set threes. So I like the 1114 01:15:09,279 --> 01:15:13,760 concept behind that the question I have and they've flipped, like it's hard to 1115 01:15:13,840 --> 01:15:17,239 look at this when you when you zoomed out, it's just they flipped so 1116 01:15:17,359 --> 01:15:20,960 many guys that they acquired, so it's tough to get this a nutshell. 1117 01:15:20,960 --> 01:15:25,279 But I thought the two things that set out to me is just if you're 1118 01:15:25,319 --> 01:15:29,000 going this route, like was Jared Culver, like that was the biggest swing 1119 01:15:29,079 --> 01:15:30,119 that you were able to take, I guess because it's for a player and 1120 01:15:30,159 --> 01:15:35,039 Patrick Beverley didn't need so that's fine. But with the blood Zoe and Adams 1121 01:15:35,119 --> 01:15:40,359 trade specifically, I know that you had Jonnis now and Tunis on the books 1122 01:15:40,680 --> 01:15:43,319 this year too, but Janus now and Tunis is a really good player, 1123 01:15:43,720 --> 01:15:47,279 and his contract is a bargain at fourteen million, and so you sort of 1124 01:15:47,319 --> 01:15:53,760 juxtaposed that with the fifty seven million and guaranteed money that blood Zoe and Adams 1125 01:15:53,800 --> 01:15:57,520 were making combined at the time to only move up seven spots in a draft. 1126 01:15:57,600 --> 01:15:59,840 Wherefore, all we know is that year Williams could have dropped that far 1127 01:16:00,279 --> 01:16:02,680 anyway, a lot of people were surprisedly landed at number ten. My guests, 1128 01:16:03,000 --> 01:16:06,720 my guess is that he wouldn't have gone past San Antonio at number twelve. 1129 01:16:08,079 --> 01:16:12,600 That's just my guest based off what I just based off some TVs reading 1130 01:16:12,680 --> 01:16:15,600 to there and speaking with people who are you know, not very plugged in, 1131 01:16:15,720 --> 01:16:18,319 but just that's my guest. But to move up seven spots and they 1132 01:16:18,359 --> 01:16:21,760 get the Lakers first to take on that much guaranteed money, and yeah, 1133 01:16:21,760 --> 01:16:26,760 you were able to then move Eric Bledsoe and tournament to two different players, 1134 01:16:26,920 --> 01:16:29,640 and just like and then you're able to trade Patch Beverlyn and a drag coach. 1135 01:16:29,680 --> 01:16:32,039 So there's there's layers to that deal. It felt like, yes, 1136 01:16:32,520 --> 01:16:34,880 the deal I was made with New Orleans, it felt like New Orleans shouldn't 1137 01:16:34,880 --> 01:16:40,159 have been making it. But if a team was going to dump that much 1138 01:16:40,279 --> 01:16:44,880 salary, I thought the compensation from Memphis should have been a bit higher there, 1139 01:16:45,000 --> 01:16:46,159 and that that's part of the reason why I couldn't go any higher. 1140 01:16:47,039 --> 01:16:50,039 The other thing is just that, like this team is still after all this 1141 01:16:50,159 --> 01:16:55,880 time, and perhaps it's Zaire Williams a little bit, or maybe it's Desmond 1142 01:16:55,920 --> 01:16:58,399 Baine, maybe it's Jared Colver. They certainly have a lot of bites at 1143 01:16:58,439 --> 01:17:00,399 the apple. When it comes to just a long term building block wing, 1144 01:17:01,039 --> 01:17:04,560 I feel like if they're gonna take all these swings, it should amount to 1145 01:17:04,680 --> 01:17:10,960 something more. Then again, you just look at like the draft picks that 1146 01:17:11,000 --> 01:17:15,079 they have now stockpiled, Like they have Utah's pick next year, they have 1147 01:17:15,159 --> 01:17:16,520 a Lakers pick next year, they have all their own picks moving forward. 1148 01:17:16,520 --> 01:17:20,439 They have that Golden State Warriors top four protected pick in twenty twenty four, 1149 01:17:20,479 --> 01:17:25,600 which is a sneaky good asset, I would argue at this point, so 1150 01:17:26,000 --> 01:17:29,079 they have these extra firsts and they're built to do something. If they want 1151 01:17:29,079 --> 01:17:31,680 to consolidate, they're clearly not at that point. I think more than anything, 1152 01:17:32,000 --> 01:17:34,800 I do like a lot of the moves they made individually. Again, 1153 01:17:34,960 --> 01:17:40,000 just the concept of a swing on Jarret Culver Zaire Williams if you thought he 1154 01:17:40,119 --> 01:17:42,840 was going to be gone and you believe that he's the guy and someone who's 1155 01:17:42,840 --> 01:17:45,840 going to create their own shot from a perimeter spot at the two three more 1156 01:17:45,920 --> 01:17:51,760 efficiently and with more versatility than a Dylan Brooks, and I vibe it. 1157 01:17:53,640 --> 01:17:59,039 I just like their thinking as you outlaid with they are looking at the Western 1158 01:17:59,119 --> 01:18:00,960 Conference. Yes, it's wide open, but they're clearly so far away from 1159 01:18:00,960 --> 01:18:05,039 being in that upper echelan. Let's try and find or let's acquire as many 1160 01:18:05,119 --> 01:18:10,560 bites or avenues to get the co star apple for John Morand as we can 1161 01:18:10,640 --> 01:18:13,800 while he's still on his rookie scale deal when maybe there's not that much urgency 1162 01:18:13,880 --> 01:18:16,600 to win, and there's also just the element of well, what is Jared 1163 01:18:16,680 --> 01:18:20,000 Jackson junior? Now? He still seems like he might have all NBA potential, 1164 01:18:20,399 --> 01:18:24,520 but he was so banged up last season. I assume he'll be fine 1165 01:18:24,560 --> 01:18:27,760 on quirking threes next year. But what is he defensively? Can it give 1166 01:18:27,760 --> 01:18:30,399 you minutes to the five? Can he stop failing so much? Is there 1167 01:18:30,479 --> 01:18:31,800 more that he can do on offense if you put the ball in his hands 1168 01:18:31,960 --> 01:18:34,640 And I'm not even talking you know, post ups. I'm saying, can 1169 01:18:34,680 --> 01:18:38,880 he make quicker decisions or move more quickly with the ball in his hands if 1170 01:18:38,880 --> 01:18:42,399 he's putting it on the floor from from the face up position? And sort 1171 01:18:42,439 --> 01:18:45,319 of with those questions in mind, yes, he could be your number two, 1172 01:18:45,960 --> 01:18:47,840 but he also at this point, I think you're less confident that he 1173 01:18:48,000 --> 01:18:50,960 is than you were when he was a rookie, which is sort of a 1174 01:18:51,039 --> 01:18:55,720 weird thing to say. So, yes, I know he was in the 1175 01:18:55,760 --> 01:18:58,520 league before John Morand, but like he looked just when he came in and 1176 01:18:58,640 --> 01:19:00,520 was like, Oh, that's going to be a future All Star type player, 1177 01:19:00,600 --> 01:19:03,239 I think that's more of a mystery box now. And so I really 1178 01:19:03,359 --> 01:19:09,840 do respect what Memphis has done, even if I'm not so sure about everything 1179 01:19:09,920 --> 01:19:13,399 that they've done. Yeah, I would just add that, you know, 1180 01:19:13,680 --> 01:19:16,279 I think looking at the deal they swung with the Pelicans, I think Valentinist 1181 01:19:16,399 --> 01:19:21,720 is fairly indisputably the best player in that deal, and the Grizzlies lost him. 1182 01:19:21,960 --> 01:19:26,119 I think a motivator was they weren't interested in paying his next contract. 1183 01:19:26,720 --> 01:19:30,039 I think, you know, especially because Jaren Jackson, you meant, I 1184 01:19:30,079 --> 01:19:32,640 think it's all tied together because he's he's due for an extension, or he's 1185 01:19:32,640 --> 01:19:35,640 going to be due for an extension, So who knows what that's going to 1186 01:19:35,720 --> 01:19:39,640 be. I don't know that they'll you know, agree to that at anytime 1187 01:19:40,119 --> 01:19:45,199 this offseason. I think he's eligible this offseason, but I don't think they 1188 01:19:45,279 --> 01:19:48,920 wanted any part of having to deal with possibly paying Valentcunists like what twenty million 1189 01:19:48,960 --> 01:19:51,600 a year or something. So I think, you know, that was a 1190 01:19:51,680 --> 01:19:56,439 factor as well, which again it should be for a small market team unless 1191 01:19:56,520 --> 01:19:59,920 you're in New Orleans and you don't care. I guess we have the minister 1192 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:04,479 a Grizzly from Minnesota. Minnesota Timberwolves. Next they moved so Patrick Beverley, 1193 01:20:04,520 --> 01:20:08,800 who just bounced around. Like the last three teams we talked to, UH 1194 01:20:09,359 --> 01:20:14,560 talked about. The Wolves acquired him for watch of Hernan Gomez and Jared Culver 1195 01:20:15,159 --> 01:20:18,319 just to really I don't want to editorialize on all these, but what a 1196 01:20:18,399 --> 01:20:21,960 tough look to give up on Culver for nothing, So like, just man, 1197 01:20:23,159 --> 01:20:28,119 what a what a blow? And pick Acquiredtorian Prince Washington's twenty two second 1198 01:20:28,199 --> 01:20:33,920 round pick in cash from Cleveland for Ricky Rubio. That one why may Why 1199 01:20:34,079 --> 01:20:41,479 was Minnesota the team getting the pick in that deal? And it's Washington's twenty 1200 01:20:41,520 --> 01:20:45,760 twenty two second rounder. That's not that might not be a late second rounder. 1201 01:20:45,880 --> 01:20:49,039 And I know that maybe Ricky Rubio is he would certainly carry a heavier 1202 01:20:49,119 --> 01:20:54,560 offensive wolde and we've seen him play great defensively in the past, But is 1203 01:20:54,600 --> 01:20:57,720 he gonna, you know, gonna be that locked in on the Calves? 1204 01:20:57,920 --> 01:21:02,479 I just I don't know the the Cavs saved the Timberwolves some money there and 1205 01:21:02,600 --> 01:21:06,560 one of the team that's sent out the pick. I just felt I'm just 1206 01:21:06,720 --> 01:21:10,560 curious as to why they needed to send it a pick good for Minnesota, 1207 01:21:10,760 --> 01:21:15,199 But that's that's my That's gotta be Cleveland saying, hey, we need this 1208 01:21:15,319 --> 01:21:19,079 guy. What's it gonna take? The Wolves are like this guy, all 1209 01:21:19,159 --> 01:21:25,600 right, Leandrew Bowmarrow is coming over. He was at the two number twenty 1210 01:21:25,640 --> 01:21:29,880 three pick in twenty twenty. He was in Spain last season. Jared Vanderbilt 1211 01:21:29,920 --> 01:21:33,399 got a three year thirteen point eight million million dollars deal fully guaranteed. Jordan 1212 01:21:33,479 --> 01:21:38,479 McLaughlin got three years at six point five million. That's also fully guaranteed. 1213 01:21:39,279 --> 01:21:45,239 H McKinley, Wright and Nathan Wright no relation, probably signed two way contracts. 1214 01:21:45,359 --> 01:21:47,399 And as we mentioned, Ricky Rubio has gone, watch O Hernan Gomez 1215 01:21:47,399 --> 01:21:51,079 has gone, Jarrett Culver has gone, and Ed Davis remains unsigned and probably 1216 01:21:51,399 --> 01:21:59,520 will continue to be pretty quiet for the Wolves. What what do you have? 1217 01:21:59,640 --> 01:22:02,359 What do you Minnesota at? I gave him a B minus. I 1218 01:22:02,399 --> 01:22:05,479 thought about actually going a little higher because I like Patrick Beverley's fit on the 1219 01:22:05,560 --> 01:22:10,079 team. I do think you have to weigh sort of the cost concession with 1220 01:22:10,279 --> 01:22:14,720 giving up on Jared Colver after two years. However, after the Anthy Edwards 1221 01:22:14,760 --> 01:22:16,960 break out towards the second half of last year, just there was no path 1222 01:22:17,039 --> 01:22:20,079 to Jared Colver being what you want him to be. And I do think 1223 01:22:20,079 --> 01:22:25,079 there's value in admitting that you screwed up rather than trying to stick it out 1224 01:22:25,479 --> 01:22:28,439 and Patrick Beverley. This is part of the reason when you go back to 1225 01:22:28,479 --> 01:22:31,720 the Clippers why I wasn't as confident with the Bledsoe spop. Beverley was really 1226 01:22:31,840 --> 01:22:34,359 valuable for them at points in the playoffs, and just he's going to bring 1227 01:22:34,439 --> 01:22:39,039 a lot of what I think Minnesota needs, sort of that FU factor on 1228 01:22:39,199 --> 01:22:43,119 the perimeter in the backcourt. In general. I thought keeping Jared Vanderbilt on 1229 01:22:43,199 --> 01:22:45,119 that deal was a home run for them. He is really good. He's 1230 01:22:45,119 --> 01:22:49,399 a human energy drink. He's gonna rebound for you. They probably are gonna 1231 01:22:49,399 --> 01:22:51,880 play You could play him with Karl Anthony Towns and I know you have nas 1232 01:22:51,920 --> 01:22:55,239 read here. And I also really liked the Nathan Knight to a contract. 1233 01:22:55,319 --> 01:22:58,800 By the way, he showed some flashes last year really brief playing stints with 1234 01:22:58,880 --> 01:23:01,039 Atlanta. I think he could probably get away with him playing some of the 1235 01:23:01,119 --> 01:23:06,600 five just because of his activity level. I really just you look at their 1236 01:23:06,720 --> 01:23:11,640 perimeter, like secondary perimeter rotation, and it's like, oh, you couldn't 1237 01:23:11,680 --> 01:23:15,439 find a way to upgrade that, Like the two, three, four spots. 1238 01:23:15,680 --> 01:23:19,319 Where does Jalen Noel factor into this equation? How many minutes is Joctor 1239 01:23:19,439 --> 01:23:23,439 Cody playing or you two relying on Jake Layman. It's clear that they also 1240 01:23:23,520 --> 01:23:28,079 don't view Jade McDaniels as a four, and even though he played a lot 1241 01:23:28,119 --> 01:23:30,720 of that last year, but the way they were using him in Summer League, 1242 01:23:30,760 --> 01:23:32,920 I know some of league's different circumstances. Given that, and then also 1243 01:23:33,000 --> 01:23:40,800 their interest in literally everyone who's potentially valuable and available who could be a power 1244 01:23:40,880 --> 01:23:43,960 forward proxy for them, it leads you to believe that they really wanted to 1245 01:23:44,039 --> 01:23:45,880 upgrade the four spot. Now they could still go and trade for Ben Simmons 1246 01:23:45,920 --> 01:23:49,960 and this all looks different. They need to get a little bit deeper in 1247 01:23:50,000 --> 01:23:53,479 the front court or on the wing spots, and they failed to do that 1248 01:23:53,760 --> 01:23:57,039 over the off season. But I don't think they had a bad offseason. 1249 01:23:57,159 --> 01:24:01,319 It wasn't like they were super had all this flexibility in what they could do. 1250 01:24:01,399 --> 01:24:05,199 They're not a free agents destination, so they weren't going to, you 1251 01:24:05,279 --> 01:24:10,319 know, hit a home run with a veteran using their mid level exception, 1252 01:24:10,439 --> 01:24:13,960 which they did not use, by the way, so like you could penalize 1253 01:24:13,960 --> 01:24:16,199 them for that too. If they want to fancy themselves a playoff team. 1254 01:24:16,479 --> 01:24:20,560 I'm very interesting to see what Ballermo looks like, because he's just known as 1255 01:24:20,560 --> 01:24:26,079 someone who's gonna guard people in their jersey and that's something else that they need, 1256 01:24:26,479 --> 01:24:30,000 that defensive talent. And so between Matt and Patrick Beverley like you could 1257 01:24:30,079 --> 01:24:34,239 really run some very tantalizing lineups at this point. I'm also a huge fan 1258 01:24:34,279 --> 01:24:38,239 of Jade McDaniels. I would like to see him play the four of them. 1259 01:24:38,279 --> 01:24:41,680 I think they get away with it. I just thought, and maybe 1260 01:24:41,760 --> 01:24:45,359 again, maybe they're waiting on the bigger swing or they've decided to you know 1261 01:24:45,399 --> 01:24:47,560 what, if we couldn't get a Ben Simmons or John Collins, we're just 1262 01:24:47,640 --> 01:24:50,119 gonna settle for this is what we have, and we'll buy our time until 1263 01:24:50,159 --> 01:24:54,800 something better comes along. I think that's fine. I just still they're not 1264 01:24:55,239 --> 01:24:59,399 I don't even think you could punch them as a bona fide playing team at 1265 01:24:59,439 --> 01:25:01,319 this point. And I'm not saying necessarily that one move was out there, 1266 01:25:01,600 --> 01:25:04,000 but could they have maybe done a little bit more And there's still some off 1267 01:25:04,039 --> 01:25:08,119 season left to go, and if they're waiting to see how Ben Simmons stuff 1268 01:25:08,119 --> 01:25:10,279 shakes out, I actually don't have a problem with that, and That's also 1269 01:25:10,319 --> 01:25:13,960 why I didn't hit them harder for not really upgrading the perimeter rotation. If 1270 01:25:13,960 --> 01:25:15,920 you're gonna say, we're not gonna make a smaller move until we find out 1271 01:25:16,319 --> 01:25:19,560 what's going on Ben Simmons. He's such a perfect fit there. I think 1272 01:25:19,600 --> 01:25:24,199 he's the team that I actually want Ben Simmons to go to most. That 1273 01:25:24,920 --> 01:25:29,119 makes a ton of sense. And so I think the most curious thing to 1274 01:25:29,199 --> 01:25:31,800 me was their interest in Larry Marketing this offseason. I just didn't, you 1275 01:25:31,880 --> 01:25:35,000 know, he and talents can play together just because they both placed the floor 1276 01:25:35,079 --> 01:25:39,840 right what that would be just a defensive disaster and so that but that's a 1277 01:25:39,920 --> 01:25:42,560 move they didn't make, and we don't know how high their interest actually was 1278 01:25:43,079 --> 01:25:45,399 in that. I think their off season was was fine, I will say 1279 01:25:45,720 --> 01:25:50,920 marginally. Active off seasons are probably for teams that were winning it better than 1280 01:25:51,000 --> 01:25:56,920 a twenty seven win pace last year, though it was right. I had 1281 01:25:57,000 --> 01:25:59,159 him at a C minus, So I think I'm going to bump into a 1282 01:25:59,279 --> 01:26:02,239 C. I think, I you know, because I was sort of factoring 1283 01:26:02,319 --> 01:26:06,000 in, like how bad of a look it is to lose Culver for nothing 1284 01:26:06,079 --> 01:26:09,680 after you picked him, and then they lost their first of the Warriors, 1285 01:26:09,800 --> 01:26:13,600 which is like the I mean that was sort of more like last season instead 1286 01:26:13,600 --> 01:26:18,439 of the off season that they messed up there, and I guess like I 1287 01:26:18,520 --> 01:26:21,119 will just say, yeah, I'm fine with the CE. It was pretty 1288 01:26:21,199 --> 01:26:25,079 uneventful and it's all fine if they do end up getting Ben Simmons, because 1289 01:26:25,199 --> 01:26:28,560 I hate that we agree about them being the best destination for him because that's 1290 01:26:28,600 --> 01:26:33,960 boring, but it just is. I have some reservations about how Patrick Beverly's 1291 01:26:33,960 --> 01:26:38,600 whole deal is going to work there because Jimmy Butler was kind of the last 1292 01:26:39,079 --> 01:26:43,079 hyper intense, like every minute is the last minute of your life, level 1293 01:26:43,119 --> 01:26:45,560 competitor to be there, and like he just wasn't having it. And I 1294 01:26:45,600 --> 01:26:55,399 think at that point, though yeahs are delos vibes are positive to someone like 1295 01:26:55,479 --> 01:26:59,880 Jimmy Butler or Patrick Beverley, I would argue, know what about Anthy ed 1296 01:27:00,000 --> 01:27:04,039 words as comedic relief, Well, everybody likes everyone loves Anthony Edwards. I'm 1297 01:27:04,119 --> 01:27:08,920 in the Anthony Anthony Edwards Press Conference fan club. There's no there's no doubt 1298 01:27:08,920 --> 01:27:12,319 about that. I think get to see Beverly is in theory if he's on 1299 01:27:12,439 --> 01:27:15,319 board with playing for a team like this that probably isn't going to be very 1300 01:27:15,359 --> 01:27:18,560 good. That works, but yeah, hopefully this is all just the calm 1301 01:27:18,600 --> 01:27:21,680 before the storm and Ben Simmons ends up there for I don't know what it's 1302 01:27:21,680 --> 01:27:25,199 going to take or how they do it, but that would be ideal. 1303 01:27:25,279 --> 01:27:28,760 That would bump them way up if they pulled that off. Rono the New 1304 01:27:28,880 --> 01:27:30,640 Orleans Pelicans, and so if you guys might want to sit tight for a 1305 01:27:30,720 --> 01:27:35,359 couple hours, will work through this list of of transactions. They hired Wily 1306 01:27:35,359 --> 01:27:39,319 agreeing to be their next head coach after getting rid of Standing Nundi. They 1307 01:27:39,520 --> 01:27:43,960 acquired DeVante Graham on a four year, forty seven point three million dollar contract, 1308 01:27:44,359 --> 01:27:46,520 thirty seven point five million of which is guaranteed. He has just a 1309 01:27:46,600 --> 01:27:51,199 two point five million guarantee in that fourth and final year. Jonas valanci Unis, 1310 01:27:51,479 --> 01:27:55,119 the number seventeen pick, which which they used on Trey Murphy. The 1311 01:27:55,199 --> 01:27:59,760 third a number fifty one pick, which became Brandon Boston Junior. They got 1312 01:27:59,800 --> 01:28:02,840 all that for Eric Bzo. He has one year and twenty two million guaranteed 1313 01:28:02,920 --> 01:28:05,960 left on his deal. I'm projecting he gets waived in year two. Otherwise 1314 01:28:06,000 --> 01:28:10,399 he's gonna get paid ninety one four million Steven Adams at two years and thirty 1315 01:28:10,439 --> 01:28:13,520 five million dollars, which is the exact extension they signed him too, after 1316 01:28:13,560 --> 01:28:17,119 acquiring him for some reason last offseason. Weston one d the number ten pick, 1317 01:28:17,159 --> 01:28:20,119 which became Zeer Williams, the number forty pick, which became Jared Butler, 1318 01:28:20,520 --> 01:28:26,239 their own twenty and twenty two first round pick that is lottery protected and 1319 01:28:26,279 --> 01:28:30,119 then turns into two seconds if not conveyed, and then the Lakers is twenty 1320 01:28:30,199 --> 01:28:33,399 twenty two first round pick, which is top ten protected and turns into two 1321 01:28:33,439 --> 01:28:36,680 seconds for the other team if not conveyed. New Orleans would actually keep that 1322 01:28:36,720 --> 01:28:42,600 pick if it lands between it's protected for New Orleans with eleven whatever it is 1323 01:28:42,640 --> 01:28:45,000 thirty and then they sent out cash. They also created a seventeen point one 1324 01:28:45,479 --> 01:28:48,960 million dollars trade exception for Steven Adams, and I tripped over my own words. 1325 01:28:49,000 --> 01:28:51,560 There, New Orleans will keep it if it's top ten protected, that 1326 01:28:51,680 --> 01:28:57,319 Lakers pick, it goes to my God, whereas it goes to Charlotte, 1327 01:28:57,399 --> 01:29:00,159 I believe, or no Memphis. If it finishes eleven and thirty, there 1328 01:29:00,239 --> 01:29:04,520 we go. They acquired Sacramentos twenty twenty two second round or protected thirty one 1329 01:29:04,600 --> 01:29:08,800 to fifty four and cash from the Clippers for that number fifty one pick, 1330 01:29:08,840 --> 01:29:12,920 which is Brandon Boston Junior. They drafted herb Jones at number thirty five and 1331 01:29:12,960 --> 01:29:15,319 then signed them to a three year, five point three million dollars deal. 1332 01:29:15,439 --> 01:29:19,479 Two years of that is guaranteed. They then acquired Thomas Satoranski Garrett Temple, 1333 01:29:19,560 --> 01:29:24,239 who as signed to a three year fifteen point five million dollars deal. Two 1334 01:29:24,279 --> 01:29:29,000 of those years are guaranteed at ten point one million, non guaranteed in year 1335 01:29:29,079 --> 01:29:31,840 three. They also got Chicago's twenty twenty four second round pick and cash for 1336 01:29:31,880 --> 01:29:35,479 a Lonzo Ball on a four year, eighty million dollars deal that's fully guaranteed, 1337 01:29:35,840 --> 01:29:39,479 can get up to eighty four million dollars with incentives, and has a 1338 01:29:39,520 --> 01:29:44,520 player option on the final season. They acquired Portland's twenty twenty six second round 1339 01:29:44,560 --> 01:29:47,239 pick and cash for the number to forty three pick, Greg Brown the third. 1340 01:29:47,600 --> 01:29:50,439 I thought that was an oddly ambitious player from Portland. By the way, 1341 01:29:50,479 --> 01:29:54,159 I don't know how you thought about that. They then signed Josh Hart 1342 01:29:54,239 --> 01:29:57,760 to a three year thirty seven point nine million dollars deal. Only one year 1343 01:29:58,079 --> 01:30:01,760 is guaranteed at twelve million. The second season, the final two seasons at 1344 01:30:01,760 --> 01:30:06,720 twelve point seven million dollars a pop are non guarantees. They signed Willie Hernan 1345 01:30:06,760 --> 01:30:11,319 Gomez to a three year, seven point three million dollar deal fully guaranteed. 1346 01:30:11,720 --> 01:30:15,600 They signed resigned d d Lozada to a four year seven point seven million dollars 1347 01:30:15,640 --> 01:30:19,279 deal. Two years is guaranteed, and then each of the final two years 1348 01:30:19,319 --> 01:30:24,319 of that is non guaranteed. On that four year contract, they signed Jose 1349 01:30:24,840 --> 01:30:28,359 Alvarado to a two way contract, and they signed Dalton Holmes to a two 1350 01:30:28,359 --> 01:30:30,960 way contract. Some notable subtractions just to recap if you didn't get all that, 1351 01:30:31,319 --> 01:30:34,720 Stammon Gundy's gone, Lonzo Ball's gone, Stephen Adams are Butzelo were gone. 1352 01:30:35,000 --> 01:30:40,680 Also, James Johnson and Wes a one new that was and I probably 1353 01:30:40,720 --> 01:30:43,479 lost people on just the description of what they gave up in some of the 1354 01:30:43,560 --> 01:30:46,159 DeVante Graham deal. But what grade did you give the Pelicans for their off 1355 01:30:46,199 --> 01:30:54,560 season? So this is a C minus and just that was, I mean, 1356 01:30:54,600 --> 01:30:57,560 they did a ton and so the big there's kind of just a handful 1357 01:30:57,600 --> 01:31:01,039 of big items for my decision and kind of an overall feel of the organization 1358 01:31:01,199 --> 01:31:04,880 that dropped it below average but not but you know, by the smallest amount 1359 01:31:04,960 --> 01:31:09,960 you could. I think, like again, in a trade, if you 1360 01:31:10,039 --> 01:31:15,239 get the best player, which they did in Valentcunis, okay, that's potentially 1361 01:31:15,279 --> 01:31:19,199 a positive. And I like Trey Murphy at number seventeen, so I'm okay 1362 01:31:19,279 --> 01:31:24,000 with sort of what came out of that. I like Devonte Graham at his 1363 01:31:24,119 --> 01:31:28,279 number. I really liked the Josh Hart contract. That's I can't remember the 1364 01:31:28,359 --> 01:31:30,960 last contract I saw that. It was three years in the last two were 1365 01:31:30,079 --> 01:31:35,039 essentially consecutive non guarantees. It's really as a really interesting structure for a guy 1366 01:31:35,119 --> 01:31:41,359 who's team good play right. How did I know his rebounding can be overrated 1367 01:31:41,399 --> 01:31:45,119 and he shoots worse from three than most people would expect or realize. How 1368 01:31:45,159 --> 01:31:48,199 did no one come in with like a more aggressive maybe New Orleans like somehow 1369 01:31:48,319 --> 01:31:51,560 deterre it and made everyone believe they were gonna match whatever. I honestly don't 1370 01:31:51,600 --> 01:31:56,560 know how you can get more guaranteed money. Yeah, he's a good player 1371 01:31:56,600 --> 01:31:59,359 on it. I mean, that's a crazy amount of team control for a 1372 01:31:59,439 --> 01:32:03,319 guy that would think uh deserved more player control. So I mean there were 1373 01:32:03,359 --> 01:32:10,800 some good things and even even the losing Wanzo Ball and just deciding that, 1374 01:32:11,840 --> 01:32:15,800 look, we sort of have three max level or big salary slots. Ingram 1375 01:32:15,840 --> 01:32:19,600 Already's got one taking up Zion's going to definitely have one is Ball. The 1376 01:32:19,720 --> 01:32:23,760 third guy, like or we see the third guy, we're going to commit 1377 01:32:23,840 --> 01:32:27,760 big money too. I'm I'm sort of okay with them saying no. I 1378 01:32:27,800 --> 01:32:30,720 would have been fine with them saying yes at that number, So I can't, 1379 01:32:30,880 --> 01:32:34,640 like, I understand both sides. I just I'm not gonna knock them 1380 01:32:34,680 --> 01:32:39,039 way down or pump them up. I wouldn't have pumped them way up if 1381 01:32:39,079 --> 01:32:41,800 they kept him, because that would have been, I don't know, potentially 1382 01:32:41,960 --> 01:32:47,359 risky with with finite resources. The coaching change, insofar as it's reflective of 1383 01:32:47,479 --> 01:32:54,000 like you really botched it on hiring Van Gundi and who knows what Willie Green 1384 01:32:54,159 --> 01:32:58,560 is, it feels like a negative. The thing that really kind of got 1385 01:32:58,640 --> 01:33:03,199 me and knocked this below average was it sort of seemed like New Orleans thought 1386 01:33:03,319 --> 01:33:09,479 it was going to be a player for Kyle Lowry and then even Chris Paul. 1387 01:33:09,560 --> 01:33:12,479 Remember there were like little rumblings of like New Orleans. Interesting, It's 1388 01:33:12,520 --> 01:33:17,000 like no scenario where either of those guys ever going there, And it just 1389 01:33:17,159 --> 01:33:23,159 felt like either the Pelicans were deluded or they got played as like a leverage 1390 01:33:23,199 --> 01:33:26,520 thing. I just I just don't know. There was no scenario that where 1391 01:33:26,520 --> 01:33:30,479 that was real. And so their failure to like do to make a big 1392 01:33:30,880 --> 01:33:35,319 move or do something significant, even if that would have been like trading Ingram 1393 01:33:35,479 --> 01:33:40,279 for something, just something too. Because look, I think I don't know 1394 01:33:40,319 --> 01:33:43,640 what you think, but I think all this stuff about Zion being unhappy is 1395 01:33:43,760 --> 01:33:46,399 very legit. I think there's only one way this story ends unless the Pelicans 1396 01:33:46,479 --> 01:33:50,159 get way better very fast, and that's with him asking out before anyone's ever 1397 01:33:50,239 --> 01:33:54,840 asked out. Really, in terms of I do I think that's where it's 1398 01:33:54,840 --> 01:33:57,600 going, I don't. I wouldn't say like, oh, this year it's 1399 01:33:57,600 --> 01:34:00,119 going to happen, But I just I think there's an smoking for there to 1400 01:34:00,199 --> 01:34:03,159 be fire, and I think we're getting a field. But but look, 1401 01:34:03,359 --> 01:34:11,880 I just think I don't think he is going to just be happy with what 1402 01:34:12,000 --> 01:34:15,279 has happened this offseason because I don't think they're meaningfully better. Maybe he's Glad 1403 01:34:15,399 --> 01:34:18,079 van Gundy has gone and Willie Green's in, but they didn't do a ton, 1404 01:34:19,159 --> 01:34:23,560 So the messaging for him is kind of like, man, I kind 1405 01:34:23,600 --> 01:34:27,279 of I let some stuff leak that I wasn't super happy, and this is 1406 01:34:27,359 --> 01:34:29,920 what you did, Like, okay, so maybe I need to crank it 1407 01:34:30,039 --> 01:34:32,960 up a little bit. I don't know, so that's just that's speculative, 1408 01:34:33,079 --> 01:34:36,359 but that's kind of what I where I'm at. So it's a C minus 1409 01:34:36,640 --> 01:34:43,199 someone was okay. The sort of big picture stuff is getting a little more 1410 01:34:43,279 --> 01:34:46,159 ominous. I would say for the Pelicans, what did you think? So 1411 01:34:46,319 --> 01:34:49,000 the Zion stuff doesn't bug me too much. I do think it's real. 1412 01:34:49,239 --> 01:34:53,239 I just don't know how much it matters because no one has turned down that 1413 01:34:53,399 --> 01:34:56,359 first deal coming through the scale, And maybe that speaks to more about how 1414 01:34:56,399 --> 01:34:59,079 the draft is and should there even be in a draft, or what happens 1415 01:34:59,119 --> 01:35:02,439 after, should should restrict the free agency be changed? I just until someone 1416 01:35:02,640 --> 01:35:06,600 it's one of those when I was talking about the Lakers, until you Russ 1417 01:35:06,720 --> 01:35:10,479 proves that he could play off the ball, I'm just gonna assume that they 1418 01:35:10,520 --> 01:35:13,319 can't, and until Zion actually turns down that money and asks her out. 1419 01:35:13,600 --> 01:35:16,279 I'm going to assume that that's not going to happen. I think, sorry, 1420 01:35:16,399 --> 01:35:19,079 I think I think what I don't I do? I agree like no 1421 01:35:19,079 --> 01:35:21,479 one's gonna say no to that money. I think what you might get is 1422 01:35:21,600 --> 01:35:26,840 him just saying at some point still on his rookie deal, like you guys 1423 01:35:26,920 --> 01:35:29,399 gotta trade me, or I'm just not going to play like it's an Anthony 1424 01:35:29,520 --> 01:35:32,439 Davis, like I'm just sitting down and so figure it out like that. 1425 01:35:32,640 --> 01:35:35,520 That's the That's the form I think it would take if it gets, you 1426 01:35:35,600 --> 01:35:39,920 know, as bad as it good, if that's where it started and this 1427 01:35:40,119 --> 01:35:42,760 is and they know that's happening, and this is the off season they turned 1428 01:35:42,760 --> 01:35:45,800 in, they get can you get it? An affmatus, but it's I 1429 01:35:45,920 --> 01:35:48,439 actually gave him a D plus though, and I'm going to be I'm going 1430 01:35:48,479 --> 01:35:51,359 to be actually complimentary first because I think people are going to assume that it's 1431 01:35:51,359 --> 01:35:56,199 just another person who covers the league in the national level gonna give surface level 1432 01:35:56,239 --> 01:35:59,640 analysis, and maybe that's what this is. You look at this team, 1433 01:36:00,239 --> 01:36:03,000 and I think one of the bigger things that they've done that I actually don't 1434 01:36:03,039 --> 01:36:06,199 think people are really talking about at least, I haven't heard it. When 1435 01:36:06,319 --> 01:36:11,520 Zion was off the court last year, your point guard for in most lineups 1436 01:36:11,560 --> 01:36:15,720 with either Eric Bletsoe, Kyra Lewis Junior or Alonzo Ball, depending on how 1437 01:36:15,720 --> 01:36:19,279 you want to view those two while you're centers were Steven Adams, Willie her 1438 01:36:19,319 --> 01:36:27,039 Nagomez, Jackson Hayes. Now those minutes without Zion can be given to Davante 1439 01:36:27,159 --> 01:36:30,720 Graham as your point guard, Thomas said Ransky, who gives you some secondary 1440 01:36:30,760 --> 01:36:34,439 playmaking. And then Jonas found Judas is not only just a better offensive player 1441 01:36:34,479 --> 01:36:38,840 in generals than Steven Adams, he can generate his own shot off the block 1442 01:36:39,079 --> 01:36:44,479 and use his shoulder and kind of so you have more pathways to surviving the 1443 01:36:44,520 --> 01:36:47,119 minutes that Zion is off the court, which I think is important. The 1444 01:36:47,239 --> 01:36:50,119 Josh Hard deal you mentioned that was good. I love Trey Murphy for this 1445 01:36:50,199 --> 01:36:53,920 team. I think if you look at their wing rotation overall for a team 1446 01:36:53,960 --> 01:36:59,159 that just didn't have a ton of wings, I really like I already like 1447 01:36:59,239 --> 01:37:00,560 Trey Murphy. We said that. I obviously love Brandon Ingram. I think 1448 01:37:00,640 --> 01:37:04,640 Josh Hart really helps you there. Maybe Herbert Jones can play some immediately I'm 1449 01:37:04,680 --> 01:37:09,560 a big Naji Marshall guy, like someone who could play basically three positions at 1450 01:37:09,560 --> 01:37:14,239 this point, but certainly the three and the four. They still feel like 1451 01:37:14,359 --> 01:37:19,079 they're one injury away from disaster at every single position, if that makes any 1452 01:37:19,119 --> 01:37:24,199 sense. Where it's like, if you lose Zion, you're just backup four 1453 01:37:24,319 --> 01:37:27,079 rotation? Is who's the backup for? Is it Naji Marshall? That's who 1454 01:37:27,079 --> 01:37:29,399 you're gonna consider it at that point? Or do we go to the is 1455 01:37:29,439 --> 01:37:31,199 it Jackson Hayes? Damon? Gunny's not there anymore? So I'm gonnasso know 1456 01:37:31,880 --> 01:37:34,000 is it? You know? Do they try and get away with Josh Hard? 1457 01:37:34,039 --> 01:37:36,800 It's the four brand Ingram there. If Brandon Ingram gets injured on the 1458 01:37:36,840 --> 01:37:41,319 wing, okay, like you have Trey Murphy, you have Josh Hart. 1459 01:37:41,880 --> 01:37:45,359 It's like, I don't know if and then point guard is just if Devonte 1460 01:37:45,439 --> 01:37:48,159 Graham gets injured or how about this? If Devonte Graham has the season that 1461 01:37:48,239 --> 01:37:51,880 he had last year. And this is someone who a big believer in Devonte 1462 01:37:51,920 --> 01:37:56,159 Graham, I think in this situation he'll be better off than he wasn't Charlotte. 1463 01:37:56,199 --> 01:37:59,279 The dynamics changed there so much. He was a little banged up last 1464 01:37:59,319 --> 01:38:01,560 year, but this is someone who historically cannot finish at the rim, even 1465 01:38:01,600 --> 01:38:04,439 though he can toss assist. There has shown he can hit pull up threes, 1466 01:38:04,840 --> 01:38:08,760 but he also missed a bunch of them last season. He's definitely gonna 1467 01:38:08,760 --> 01:38:11,920 shoot. You know, he can carry over the Lonzo Ball catch a supercentage. 1468 01:38:12,319 --> 01:38:15,279 Now you get to the Alonzo Ball aspect of all this, what you 1469 01:38:15,439 --> 01:38:20,640 said, I guess I can see both sides. Why did Garrett Temple need 1470 01:38:20,760 --> 01:38:26,439 to guaranteed years in that sign and trade if you're New Orleans just because you 1471 01:38:26,520 --> 01:38:28,960 have to overpay for leadership or else. He could have gone somewhere else, 1472 01:38:29,000 --> 01:38:31,680 I guess for five million dollars. And I know that's not backbreaking, but 1473 01:38:31,840 --> 01:38:36,239 you're giving up the best player in that deal, a Lonzo Ball who was 1474 01:38:36,319 --> 01:38:40,479 really good. And if you, as you said, can say, you 1475 01:38:40,560 --> 01:38:44,079 know what, we're fine with paying Lonzo Ball this as an outsider, then 1476 01:38:44,199 --> 01:38:45,960 you should have paid Alonzo Ball that. To me figured it out later, 1477 01:38:46,439 --> 01:38:50,439 you probably could have moved him to a different team. I just and I 1478 01:38:50,560 --> 01:38:55,319 know some people you look at some of Alonzo Ball's numbers and he looks like 1479 01:38:55,399 --> 01:38:59,079 this really great player, and he's officially a quality floor spacer, and he's 1480 01:38:59,119 --> 01:39:01,279 gonna bring value in transition. I think he gives you some value defensively, 1481 01:39:01,640 --> 01:39:06,319 maybe not necessarily as like this lockdown individual guy, but just someone who's big 1482 01:39:06,760 --> 01:39:11,960 and looking at the scope of guys that he can guard or that you can 1483 01:39:12,000 --> 01:39:15,359 put him in certain situations. He's not going to save a defense that had 1484 01:39:15,840 --> 01:39:19,960 Zion Williamson playing a bunch of minutes with er Nerik Bletsoe who wasn't really trying 1485 01:39:20,039 --> 01:39:25,760 and there so I he's a flawed player because he can't create off the dribble, 1486 01:39:25,800 --> 01:39:28,560 hasn't shown that he can really run a half court offense. I just 1487 01:39:29,279 --> 01:39:31,640 and I'm like, you couldn't get more for him, or at least not 1488 01:39:32,079 --> 01:39:35,000 get to a point where, oh, we're still paying Garrett Temple beyond next 1489 01:39:35,000 --> 01:39:39,960 season. I have to find a taker for him, and I the other 1490 01:39:40,039 --> 01:39:43,319 way I looked at this was when you're looking at the DeVante Graham deal. 1491 01:39:44,479 --> 01:39:46,239 One of the biggest confidence I could put is that it's a fake first rounder 1492 01:39:46,319 --> 01:39:49,079 because I don't think they're going to make the playoffs, and so lotto protection 1493 01:39:49,119 --> 01:39:54,840 innoculate you against disaster. Okay, that's fine. Why are you making like, 1494 01:39:55,319 --> 01:39:58,680 yeah, I guess there's value in on doing moves that you did rather 1495 01:39:58,760 --> 01:40:00,199 than trying to stick them out. So I don't want to be hypocritical there 1496 01:40:00,239 --> 01:40:02,840 since I said I didn't hit the timber was too hard for giving up on 1497 01:40:02,880 --> 01:40:06,359 Culver, But you had to undo the Van Gundi hiring, and now you 1498 01:40:06,479 --> 01:40:12,439 had to undo the Steven Adams extension and acquisition in the first place, when 1499 01:40:12,479 --> 01:40:16,439 people were still puzzled why that, why that happens? I'm just this offseason 1500 01:40:16,960 --> 01:40:19,720 to me, I think you can look at them and say, maybe they're 1501 01:40:19,760 --> 01:40:24,760 a little bit better and getting better at the Zion William in the non Zion, 1502 01:40:24,800 --> 01:40:27,399 and it is going to be huge for them. I don't know that 1503 01:40:27,479 --> 01:40:30,720 they're that much deeper. And I think what they've ultimately done is giving up 1504 01:40:31,000 --> 01:40:39,199 a lot or wait, invested a lot in being as good or only negligibly 1505 01:40:39,359 --> 01:40:43,920 better than they were last season. And if they're you know, even if 1506 01:40:43,960 --> 01:40:46,279 they are noticeably better, how much credit do you give them If it's because 1507 01:40:46,680 --> 01:40:51,920 Okay, Zion is just ridiculous, he makes first team All NBA or something, 1508 01:40:53,239 --> 01:40:58,279 Brandon Ingram is an All Star again, and they get a either Nikiel, 1509 01:40:58,319 --> 01:41:02,680 Alexander Walker or Kyle Lewis junior sort of pops. None of those guys 1510 01:41:02,720 --> 01:41:06,039 are involved in the off season moves that they made would be my tribute to 1511 01:41:06,159 --> 01:41:10,319 that. So I don't think that there's a chance the Pelicans are worse to 1512 01:41:10,439 --> 01:41:13,119 me, by the way, But if you're going to jump through all these 1513 01:41:13,159 --> 01:41:17,520 hoops, all the transactions they did, giving up two protected first round picks, 1514 01:41:17,760 --> 01:41:20,119 I would say only one of them is going to convey. But to 1515 01:41:20,479 --> 01:41:27,039 a team that is not contending to do that and to not wind up substantially 1516 01:41:27,159 --> 01:41:30,720 better beyond a shadow of a doubt, to me, that's really problematic, 1517 01:41:30,039 --> 01:41:34,399 and this will bear out in the season. Maybe I'm being maybe I should 1518 01:41:34,439 --> 01:41:40,039 give them more props for actually undoing some of the moves that they did last 1519 01:41:40,039 --> 01:41:43,880 offseason. Stan Van Gundy, Steven Adams, just getting Eric Bletzo out of 1520 01:41:43,920 --> 01:41:45,119 here. He was so bad for them last year. I can't understate that 1521 01:41:45,960 --> 01:41:49,800 I get I get all that, but it just none of this stuff adds 1522 01:41:49,880 --> 01:42:00,119 up to me to qualitatively this noticeable, appreciable upgrade. So I'm very I'm 1523 01:42:00,119 --> 01:42:02,520 gonna fascinated to see what they do this season and how much their off season 1524 01:42:02,840 --> 01:42:06,600 maneuverings have anything to do with it, because I do think there's a chance 1525 01:42:06,680 --> 01:42:12,760 that they've basically made a lateral move when all said and done in the standings, 1526 01:42:13,359 --> 01:42:15,279 and again when we just went through that entire body of work. You 1527 01:42:15,439 --> 01:42:19,600 need to be better than you were last season. It's just where I'm at, 1528 01:42:19,680 --> 01:42:23,439 and so I'm actually gonna get grade them pretty harshly there. And that's 1529 01:42:23,479 --> 01:42:26,119 after I did go into this thinking I might be able to pull out a 1530 01:42:26,159 --> 01:42:29,039 C minus or a C for them, just because I love the Josh Hart 1531 01:42:29,079 --> 01:42:31,720 deal. I love Trey Murphy for them, and that also makes the salary 1532 01:42:31,800 --> 01:42:35,840 dumps look better because I might have wanted them to draft that type of player 1533 01:42:35,880 --> 01:42:39,439 had they stayed at number ten, but maybe you don't want to go plug 1534 01:42:39,479 --> 01:42:43,239 and play that low. So to still wind up with Trey Murphy at number 1535 01:42:43,319 --> 01:42:45,800 seventeen, that's really good. So if you want me to bump it up 1536 01:42:45,840 --> 01:42:49,680 to a C minus because you think I'm being like an asshole here, fine 1537 01:42:49,800 --> 01:42:53,520 I will go. I can't give them higher than a C minus though, 1538 01:42:53,600 --> 01:42:58,119 after trying to go through everything that they did well, I'm gonna bump down 1539 01:42:58,159 --> 01:43:01,079 to a D plus just to keep people mad that. How about that it's 1540 01:43:01,119 --> 01:43:06,520 only fair because I upgraded the Rockets based off what you said, so if 1541 01:43:06,560 --> 01:43:13,640 I can sell you on a rant the downgrade Telicans JO got, I got 1542 01:43:13,680 --> 01:43:16,239 another bad grade coming up. This is at the risk of spoiling. We 1543 01:43:16,479 --> 01:43:21,760 got the Oklahoma City Thunder coming up next, the Big move, I guess 1544 01:43:23,439 --> 01:43:25,680 yet again, another one of these. It was always going to happen. 1545 01:43:25,960 --> 01:43:30,800 Shakil just Alexander got his MAX extension well deserved. One of my favorite young 1546 01:43:30,840 --> 01:43:35,000 guys in the league, Kemba Walker number sixteen, which became Alpa and Shingun 1547 01:43:35,359 --> 01:43:41,399 and a twenty five second round pick whichever is more favorable from Boston or Memphis, 1548 01:43:42,000 --> 01:43:45,600 came over for al Horford, Moses Brown and a twenty three second round 1549 01:43:45,640 --> 01:43:50,880 pick. Subsequently, Kemball Walker got his buyout and he ended up with the 1550 01:43:50,920 --> 01:43:56,239 Knicks, Derek Favors and a first just a classic. This is what the 1551 01:43:56,359 --> 01:44:00,800 thunder of Done Forever came over because the Jazz one of de ducts some tax 1552 01:44:00,880 --> 01:44:03,960 payment. That first that came with Derek Favors is a twenty twenty four selection 1553 01:44:04,079 --> 01:44:09,680 Top ten protected that year and twenty five Top eight protection in twenty twenty six 1554 01:44:09,760 --> 01:44:15,640 becomes becomes a twenty twenty eight second if it's not conveyed. They also gave 1555 01:44:15,680 --> 01:44:21,159 a twenty seven second least favorable of the Thunder rockets, pacers and heats and 1556 01:44:21,359 --> 01:44:27,399 cash to send something back to Utah. Josh Giddy was the pick at number 1557 01:44:27,479 --> 01:44:30,880 six. Pretty surprising. Then that will factor into my grade. They drafted 1558 01:44:30,920 --> 01:44:36,760 tray Man at number eighteen. Then we've got Detroit's twenty twenty. This is 1559 01:44:36,760 --> 01:44:42,039 gonna be a mouthful. It's a lot of picks. The Thunder acquired Detroit's 1560 01:44:42,039 --> 01:44:45,920 twenty two first rounder, which has top sixteen protection that year, top eighteen, 1561 01:44:45,039 --> 01:44:49,399 the next two and top thirteen and twenty twenty five and top top eleven 1562 01:44:49,479 --> 01:44:53,439 and twenty six, top nine and twenty seven. These are the Detroit and 1563 01:44:53,479 --> 01:44:57,840 Washington picks in the Singoon deal. I'm just now realizing the protection on the 1564 01:44:57,880 --> 01:45:01,000 Washington twenty three first rounder is top fourteen and twenty three, top twelve and 1565 01:45:01,039 --> 01:45:03,960 twenty four, top ten and twenty five, and top eight and twenty six 1566 01:45:05,119 --> 01:45:11,920 for basically alfren chingun They got number thirty two in the draft, which was 1567 01:45:12,000 --> 01:45:16,159 Jeremiah Robinson Earl for number thirty four, which is Raucus Jacobitis and number thirty 1568 01:45:16,199 --> 01:45:21,000 six, which was Duce McBride. A couple of Knicks signed Mike Muscala to 1569 01:45:21,039 --> 01:45:25,520 a two year, seven million dollars deal with a team option for twenty two. 1570 01:45:25,560 --> 01:45:29,640 Twenty three signed Viet Krachi to a four year six point four million dollars 1571 01:45:29,680 --> 01:45:31,800 deal, and the first year is the minimum and it's the only one that's 1572 01:45:31,800 --> 01:45:35,720 fully guaranteed. Less of that in year two, the final two are non 1573 01:45:35,800 --> 01:45:43,239 guaranteed. Finally signed Aaron Wiggins to a two way. Your notable subtractions are 1574 01:45:43,319 --> 01:45:47,760 few. Al Horford obviously went back to Boston, Josh Hall was waived after 1575 01:45:47,880 --> 01:45:53,560 signing a two way, and SphI mckaylach also no longer on the Thunder. 1576 01:45:54,079 --> 01:45:57,239 Dan, that was a lot. Most of it was explaining the pick protections 1577 01:45:57,279 --> 01:46:00,600 and the Sagoon deal. What are your thoughts on the thunders offseason grade? 1578 01:46:02,319 --> 01:46:06,199 I gave them This is the closest I came to giving an F and I 1579 01:46:06,239 --> 01:46:09,720 didn't get there. They got a D. They got a D minus. 1580 01:46:09,840 --> 01:46:12,640 Did you give him an fay, No, I give him a D. 1581 01:46:12,800 --> 01:46:16,159 But I'm glad to hear we were in the same same area. I just 1582 01:46:16,560 --> 01:46:20,399 I can still be high on their future because of all these picks that they 1583 01:46:20,479 --> 01:46:25,840 have. And I extending shake guilty Salsander. The whole trade rumor thing leading 1584 01:46:25,920 --> 01:46:28,600 up to the draft, it always smelled weird just because the thunder like, 1585 01:46:28,680 --> 01:46:33,079 don't leak stuff out along those lines. And he is your timeline, Sha 1586 01:46:33,119 --> 01:46:36,600 Ganders so young that he is your timeline. You but you went through all 1587 01:46:36,640 --> 01:46:40,439 this and I get you're not trying to win now, but you went through 1588 01:46:40,520 --> 01:46:44,720 all this, and you still who do they have on the roster that might 1589 01:46:44,880 --> 01:46:48,760 be the long term number two running mate? For saying guilt as Alexander, 1590 01:46:49,359 --> 01:46:54,119 I just Josh Kiddy because he was drafted so high. Maybe you say him 1591 01:46:54,159 --> 01:46:57,439 this is just someone who doesn't look to score. On the fact that his 1592 01:46:57,560 --> 01:47:00,640 first few seconds in Summer League before he got injured included him scoring up is 1593 01:47:00,760 --> 01:47:03,920 actually kind of funny because that's just not what he's known for. I don't 1594 01:47:04,039 --> 01:47:10,079 understand it. And then unless we don't know something about Kemba Walker's knees, 1595 01:47:10,640 --> 01:47:13,760 and I've gone back to the fourth on this. Given how much cap space 1596 01:47:13,800 --> 01:47:16,319 the Knicks left before they signed Kema Walker, it seems like they knew it 1597 01:47:16,399 --> 01:47:20,279 was headed down that path, which I can't imagine that they would do if 1598 01:47:20,359 --> 01:47:26,159 Kemba's knee was just completely putty at this point. And everything okay Ce has 1599 01:47:26,199 --> 01:47:30,319 done has suggested that they're at least going to rehabilitate the value of that veteran 1600 01:47:30,439 --> 01:47:33,119 or treat them nicely while they're there, and then they're going to flip them 1601 01:47:33,159 --> 01:47:36,119 later on to a better team and get some value in the process. There 1602 01:47:36,119 --> 01:47:40,600 are two two schools of thought to this. Either you really just didn't believe 1603 01:47:40,600 --> 01:47:43,640 that Kema Walker was going to do that because his knee was so far gone, 1604 01:47:43,720 --> 01:47:45,640 or you were worried about winning too many games because you can't shut down 1605 01:47:45,680 --> 01:47:49,560 a shake Yo, just Axander again unless plan or fashion I injury crops up 1606 01:47:49,600 --> 01:47:53,560 what you know, knock on wood. I hope it does not, So 1607 01:47:53,720 --> 01:47:56,560 I just don't. I don't get what they're doing here. And then the 1608 01:47:56,640 --> 01:48:00,680 trade for those two. I didn't like that move Houston, but I'm just 1609 01:48:00,760 --> 01:48:03,600 even more puzzled by it with OKAC because eventually, like you need to start, 1610 01:48:04,039 --> 01:48:08,920 like stop divesting things. Now you've turned number sixteen into two future first, 1611 01:48:09,239 --> 01:48:12,640 which you know maybe both of them will convey, but are they gonna 1612 01:48:12,640 --> 01:48:15,119 be perhaps they put them over the top in a trade. And that's why 1613 01:48:15,159 --> 01:48:17,920 this grade could tactually be incomplete because so many of these have to be evaluated 1614 01:48:18,000 --> 01:48:20,640 years down the line. Even looking at their draft picks. I was fine 1615 01:48:20,680 --> 01:48:26,119 with Trey Man at number eighteen. I guess you know, Kema Walker fifty 1616 01:48:26,159 --> 01:48:29,560 three point seven million over two years, he gave back like seventeen million. 1617 01:48:30,520 --> 01:48:32,560 Was that enough to just have that much dead money on your roster for the 1618 01:48:32,640 --> 01:48:36,279 next two seasons? And I know you're not planning on going anywhere, but 1619 01:48:36,399 --> 01:48:42,199 like again, I just that was very surprising to me that they went that 1620 01:48:42,279 --> 01:48:46,640 route with him. The other thing, I don't get the let's give up 1621 01:48:46,680 --> 01:48:51,439 thirty four and thirty six for Jeremiah Robinson Earl, another wing type player who 1622 01:48:51,479 --> 01:48:56,039 can't shoot. He was did not shoot at three bar well in college. 1623 01:48:56,279 --> 01:48:59,479 He was under thirty nine percent. I think he was at thirty nine point 1624 01:48:59,520 --> 01:49:02,399 four percent on two point jumpers in college last season, So like, what 1625 01:49:02,560 --> 01:49:08,479 are what are what are you doing here? And I just again this is 1626 01:49:08,520 --> 01:49:10,800 coming. I'm actually high on their future. And look, the Derrick Favors 1627 01:49:10,880 --> 01:49:15,000 move is fine because that Utah pick. The Jazz really feel like they're going 1628 01:49:15,159 --> 01:49:17,720 like a boom or bust route right now, I know that they just Rudy 1629 01:49:17,760 --> 01:49:23,960 Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are signed until forever. Basically, like something just feels 1630 01:49:24,439 --> 01:49:27,560 untenable there if they fall short again. The fact that they couldn't and I 1631 01:49:27,600 --> 01:49:30,520 know Donovan Mitchell was banged up. My comedies banged up too. You couldn't 1632 01:49:30,640 --> 01:49:33,880 beat the Clippers without Kauai. You couldn't even get them to a Game seven. 1633 01:49:34,479 --> 01:49:38,479 There's I'm not and I'm this is from someone who's super high on the 1634 01:49:38,560 --> 01:49:41,359 Jazz, but they're just you know more, you know, hedge against their 1635 01:49:41,359 --> 01:49:45,319 future for the Thunder and you do technically need center minutes at this point because 1636 01:49:45,319 --> 01:49:47,199 you did trade away Al Horford. I'm totally fine with what they did with 1637 01:49:47,239 --> 01:49:51,199 Derrick Favors, but like, there's nothing about this offseason I loved for them, 1638 01:49:51,680 --> 01:49:57,479 save their extending shade Gil just Alexander, and so this is me grading 1639 01:49:57,560 --> 01:50:00,079 them in the moment and not their future. I still think has the potential 1640 01:50:00,119 --> 01:50:03,720 to be bright, but after all they did this offseason, they just acted 1641 01:50:03,760 --> 01:50:10,600 like sellers so much. They're nowhere closer to finding that second top tier building 1642 01:50:10,640 --> 01:50:13,119 block. It's not that's not an insult to lue Dort. It's not an 1643 01:50:13,159 --> 01:50:16,439 insult to Tail Malodon. It's not an insult to Alexey Pokashevski, who I 1644 01:50:16,520 --> 01:50:21,680 think he's probably the highest upside guy they have after shay Am. I forgetting 1645 01:50:21,720 --> 01:50:26,239 about someone I don't, I don't think I am that. Maybe it depends 1646 01:50:26,239 --> 01:50:30,640 on how you feel about Josh Diddy obviously, so perhaps I end up being 1647 01:50:30,680 --> 01:50:32,439 wrong there. But and the other thing is just like I want a roster 1648 01:50:32,640 --> 01:50:34,920 that and I know he didn't shoot the three ball two well last season, 1649 01:50:35,199 --> 01:50:38,960 but he has size, he can defend hard and a show, and he 1650 01:50:39,039 --> 01:50:42,319 can hit threes at the NBA level. I'm like Jeremiah Robinson Earl, who 1651 01:50:42,359 --> 01:50:46,840 couldn't even hit threes of the college level. Why couldn't they have gone after 1652 01:50:47,479 --> 01:50:51,199 like feet Why didn't they want him back? I just this is just they 1653 01:50:51,199 --> 01:50:57,079 are so I understand what they're doing, but like this is too much, 1654 01:50:57,439 --> 01:51:00,039 Like you've got to touch too far because you do have Shane Now he's gonna 1655 01:51:00,079 --> 01:51:03,359 kick in on that MAX extension after this season. You just I'm not saying 1656 01:51:03,359 --> 01:51:05,760 you need to be in a position to win, but you need to at 1657 01:51:05,840 --> 01:51:11,880 least have someone who is your second guiding light behind him, and I just 1658 01:51:11,960 --> 01:51:14,520 don't think that they have it. And I would have liked to have seen, 1659 01:51:14,880 --> 01:51:16,000 you know, of all the moves that they made, they either one 1660 01:51:16,079 --> 01:51:20,800 couldn't have taken the bigger swing at number six when you're looking at who was 1661 01:51:20,840 --> 01:51:25,279 fell on the board, or maybe even traded down who's taking Josh Diddy in 1662 01:51:25,319 --> 01:51:28,399 the top ten, who was taking Josh Giddy in the top ten. So 1663 01:51:29,520 --> 01:51:31,439 I'm sure they did their due diligence. Again, I think the Thunder is 1664 01:51:31,479 --> 01:51:34,720 going to be fine long term. I also think they could be in a 1665 01:51:34,840 --> 01:51:40,800 much more favorable position than they are. Yeah, I don't think there's any 1666 01:51:40,840 --> 01:51:43,680 doubt that they're still position great. I mean, all those picks are gonna 1667 01:51:44,279 --> 01:51:47,319 theoretically become something. They're they're you know, clean books basically, like all 1668 01:51:47,439 --> 01:51:50,680 all that stuff is still true. Their overall trajectory is fine. I just 1669 01:51:50,880 --> 01:51:54,880 I mean, I didn't like the Giddy pick. I think for a franchise 1670 01:51:54,960 --> 01:51:58,920 that has just made a habit out of taking long athletic guys that they hope 1671 01:51:58,960 --> 01:52:02,079 they can figure out how to teach to play basketball like that, ain't Giddy 1672 01:52:02,359 --> 01:52:06,479 now, Not that that strategy is yielded time like Terrence Ferguson and Hamadugiallo both. 1673 01:52:06,600 --> 01:52:11,000 You know, that's kind of an example of their type over the last 1674 01:52:11,079 --> 01:52:14,319 few years. It's different, you know, high on the lottery obviously, 1675 01:52:14,399 --> 01:52:16,600 but Kamingo was right there. Kamingo seemed like the pick to me. Everybody 1676 01:52:16,720 --> 01:52:20,199 was shocked that it was Giddy, So that's one. And then flipping the 1677 01:52:20,279 --> 01:52:26,680 pick that became Shangoon, who we've talked about several times already for a couple 1678 01:52:26,760 --> 01:52:30,000 of future firsts. That like, yeah, I mean, I guess that's 1679 01:52:30,039 --> 01:52:32,720 more volume to their you know, their stockpile. But those are the two 1680 01:52:32,800 --> 01:52:36,640 reasons. I just they needed offense, especially they hadn't done this yet, 1681 01:52:36,760 --> 01:52:41,760 but they went and waved or bought out Kemba Walker. They need offense, 1682 01:52:41,880 --> 01:52:45,239 so like a score, how could roll the dice on Shane Goun there? 1683 01:52:45,279 --> 01:52:48,520 And that's coming from someone who isn't necessarily in love with him. I mean, 1684 01:52:48,920 --> 01:52:51,720 they do if they were trying to win games, which they aren't. 1685 01:52:51,800 --> 01:52:56,039 It's just it's just like the it's just the asset that you know that I 1686 01:52:56,199 --> 01:53:01,079 think, like just just take post summerly where the league saw Shangun. Look 1687 01:53:01,359 --> 01:53:05,279 really tantalizing, like, do you think anyone else in the league would take 1688 01:53:05,319 --> 01:53:10,880 those two shitty super protected future first now for that guy? Like, of 1689 01:53:11,000 --> 01:53:15,319 course not and everybody I think are they even shitty though? Is like there's 1690 01:53:15,920 --> 01:53:20,119 at some points that don't you have too many? Well that too, I 1691 01:53:20,199 --> 01:53:23,800 mean, yeah, however you want to say it, they're certainly less valuable 1692 01:53:23,840 --> 01:53:27,319 to the thunder than they are to somebody else whereas sangun like he might have 1693 01:53:27,359 --> 01:53:30,560 been the answer to your question of who's the other guy besides SGA that you 1694 01:53:30,760 --> 01:53:33,720 like see as a building block, he might be that he might have been 1695 01:53:33,840 --> 01:53:36,279 that guy just based on the Summer League. I don't know, so, 1696 01:53:36,560 --> 01:53:42,199 yeah, I wasn't. It's a d for me. I just I just 1697 01:53:42,399 --> 01:53:45,479 those two those are their big things that they did, and they didn't make 1698 01:53:45,520 --> 01:53:48,960 a lot of sense to me. We are onto the Phoenix Suns, which 1699 01:53:49,079 --> 01:53:53,920 they are my team. Yes, they are my team. They acquired Landry 1700 01:53:53,960 --> 01:53:57,279 Shammitt for Javon Carter the number twenty nine pick, which was Dayron Sharp, 1701 01:53:57,319 --> 01:54:00,640 who's now on the Nets. They signed Chris Paul a four year, one 1702 01:54:00,760 --> 01:54:03,239 hundred and twenty million dollars deal, which was the pinnacle of agent friendly, 1703 01:54:03,359 --> 01:54:08,479 reporting seventy five million of that one hundred and twenty million dollars deal is guaranteed. 1704 01:54:08,800 --> 01:54:12,600 He gets paid thirty point eight million next season, twenty eight point four 1705 01:54:12,640 --> 01:54:16,000 million in year two. Fifteen point eight million of his thirty point eight million 1706 01:54:16,039 --> 01:54:19,560 dollars salary is guaranteed in year three, and then his thirty million dollars salary 1707 01:54:19,560 --> 01:54:24,239 and year flower is fully non guaranteed. They signed Cameron Payne to a three 1708 01:54:24,279 --> 01:54:28,159 year nineteen million dollar deal, Only fourteen point five million is guaranteed. That 1709 01:54:28,319 --> 01:54:31,520 final season is fully non guaranteed for him. They resigned abdel Nater to a 1710 01:54:31,560 --> 01:54:33,960 two year, four point two million dollar deal with a team option on that 1711 01:54:34,000 --> 01:54:36,800 second season. They signed to Found McGee to a one year, five million 1712 01:54:36,840 --> 01:54:42,960 dollar deal. They signed Alfred Peyton and Frank Kamiskey to minimum one year contracts, 1713 01:54:43,319 --> 01:54:46,119 and they scooped up Chandler Hutchinson on a two way contract. Spoiler alert, 1714 01:54:46,199 --> 01:54:50,239 Chandler Hutchinson is not on the Spurs. Notable subtractions include Javon Carter, 1715 01:54:50,399 --> 01:54:57,000 each On More Tory Craig Langston Galloway who remains unsigned, and they waived Tyshon 1716 01:54:57,119 --> 01:55:00,319 Alexander. I'm very curious to know which grade you gave the Phoenix Suns, 1717 01:55:00,399 --> 01:55:05,159 because you're smirking right now, so I need to know it. It's an 1718 01:55:05,199 --> 01:55:10,039 A minus. And I was only smirking because I was trying to remember why 1719 01:55:10,079 --> 01:55:13,319 I didn't give it an A. And that's just because I left the little 1720 01:55:13,359 --> 01:55:16,199 TVD section depending on what Eton and Bridges get in their extensions, presuming that 1721 01:55:16,279 --> 01:55:19,800 they both get them. You know, by the way, Yeah, if 1722 01:55:19,840 --> 01:55:24,840 Aaron Gordon got four and eighty eight, the number that was being thrown around 1723 01:55:25,159 --> 01:55:28,239 Bridges towards the end of last year was like four and eighty I is he 1724 01:55:28,399 --> 01:55:30,880 signing for anything under like four one oh two at this point? No. 1725 01:55:31,119 --> 01:55:34,520 Yeah, he's got to go in saying give me a hundred. It's got 1726 01:55:34,640 --> 01:55:38,600 to be a hundred, because I like, that's just yeah, I totally 1727 01:55:38,640 --> 01:55:41,840 agree and eight and I don't know what you do with that because he's gonna 1728 01:55:41,840 --> 01:55:44,119 go in and say I'm the number one overall pick and I was just a 1729 01:55:44,199 --> 01:55:46,720 big deal, a starter that really mattered that you needed on a team that 1730 01:55:46,760 --> 01:55:49,439 made the finals. So let's start at the max. And you have to 1731 01:55:49,520 --> 01:55:53,840 talk me down. That's gonna be tough, but yeah, I mean, 1732 01:55:53,960 --> 01:55:57,439 the Chris Paul deal, it's so good, it's so good for the team. 1733 01:55:57,560 --> 01:56:00,880 Like, I just I'm totally fine a front loading it like that and 1734 01:56:00,000 --> 01:56:05,319 just protecting yourself like crazy on the back end. I just, yeah, 1735 01:56:05,479 --> 01:56:12,600 I like to me, to me, it's really hard to sign a bad 1736 01:56:13,000 --> 01:56:16,600 two year deal, which for a very good player, which is sort of 1737 01:56:16,680 --> 01:56:18,880 what this is. I mean, it's you know, the third years of 1738 01:56:19,239 --> 01:56:24,239 decent amount of money guaranteed. But I mean that's about as good as you 1739 01:56:24,279 --> 01:56:27,520 could have come out of that. And then smaller scale the Campaign deal, 1740 01:56:27,960 --> 01:56:30,159 it might even be better because I think he could start for a lot of 1741 01:56:30,199 --> 01:56:33,159 teams. I think he matters a ton for them. He was so good 1742 01:56:33,279 --> 01:56:36,119 for them. And like, if your concern is, which it should be, 1743 01:56:36,239 --> 01:56:41,560 that Paul's going to break down, I'm fine with Campaign starting, you 1744 01:56:41,600 --> 01:56:44,840 know, thirty five games, Like, I'm totally good with that. So 1745 01:56:45,159 --> 01:56:47,119 for you know, basically six and a half million of a year million a 1746 01:56:47,279 --> 01:56:51,439 year and not even all of it's guaranteed. Man, I like that, 1747 01:56:53,279 --> 01:56:57,279 even even the smaller scale stuff. I think JaVale McGee addresses a real need, 1748 01:56:57,439 --> 01:57:00,079 especially with Dario Sarich gonna miss a bunch of time because backup center really 1749 01:57:00,119 --> 01:57:03,359 sucked, Like you just can't. They brought Kaminsky back, but like you 1750 01:57:03,439 --> 01:57:08,840 can't trust him as a rotation guy. If Eiden missed his time or just 1751 01:57:08,960 --> 01:57:13,680 doesn't play forty eight minutes. Everything else was Everything else looks fine him even 1752 01:57:13,840 --> 01:57:15,560 it's hard to be a bad minimum contract. I think Alfred Peyton is going 1753 01:57:15,640 --> 01:57:20,640 to test that theory. But it's a minimum, so that's fine. I 1754 01:57:20,720 --> 01:57:27,199 just don't really have any criticism. I guess. I guess you could talk 1755 01:57:27,239 --> 01:57:29,840 me up to an a if we just say, like, we shouldn't really 1756 01:57:29,880 --> 01:57:35,119 care about what happens with the extensions for Eton and Bridges because otherwise the Sun's 1757 01:57:35,479 --> 01:57:40,319 I think just nailed all the big stuff. So I don't really have any 1758 01:57:40,479 --> 01:57:45,960 any criticisms of what they did. That's great because I have plenty. I 1759 01:57:46,079 --> 01:57:48,880 gave him a B minus. I don't think there's anything wrong with their off 1760 01:57:48,920 --> 01:57:54,479 season. It was a lot of maintenance and all the their talent retention deals. 1761 01:57:55,039 --> 01:57:59,479 I loved the Chris Paul contracts for the team, absolutely fantastic. The 1762 01:57:59,600 --> 01:58:01,680 campaign and deal fantastic, even the Nator deal, like just he was out 1763 01:58:01,760 --> 01:58:03,920 for two months or whatever it was, came back in the playoffs and was 1764 01:58:03,960 --> 01:58:08,920 defending his ass off. That's a great option. I don't have a problem 1765 01:58:08,960 --> 01:58:12,920 with the Javal McGee addition, I expected something more inventive from this team for 1766 01:58:12,960 --> 01:58:15,960 a few reasons. They had easy access to the full mid level, which 1767 01:58:15,079 --> 01:58:18,000 they did not use its entirety. They gave a little bit more than half 1768 01:58:18,039 --> 01:58:23,760 to Javal McGee. And then you also mentioned it like what if Chris Paul 1769 01:58:23,840 --> 01:58:27,239 breaks down. You have Cameron Payne. That's awesome. And there's also the 1770 01:58:27,279 --> 01:58:30,600 Devin Booker, a point guard route which Monty Williams doesn't necessarily seen in love 1771 01:58:30,640 --> 01:58:33,159 with. And maybe it's a mcal Bridges is going to handle a ball more 1772 01:58:33,239 --> 01:58:38,279 because he does have pretty good vision. Even Landry Shammont in the past has 1773 01:58:38,279 --> 01:58:43,239 shown some ball handling flash. But that's like Landry Shammont's career ar because just 1774 01:58:43,279 --> 01:58:45,800 been so wild. When you look at how much he's been moved, that 1775 01:58:45,920 --> 01:58:47,600 the teammates he's had, all these future Hall of famers that he's played with, 1776 01:58:48,760 --> 01:58:53,079 there's I don't I wouldn't call a risk, but it's just like I 1777 01:58:53,119 --> 01:58:57,239 don't know how much he's actually going to elevate them. I just expected unless 1778 01:58:57,319 --> 01:59:00,239 they think that Jalen Smith is going to pop, and he did have some 1779 01:59:00,359 --> 01:59:05,039 really nice moments in Summer League. I wanted to see them be more inventive 1780 01:59:05,079 --> 01:59:08,680 in the front court. And look, I could even you could say, 1781 01:59:08,720 --> 01:59:11,159 well, losing Tory Craig is kind of a big deal because he was playing 1782 01:59:11,600 --> 01:59:15,279 important minutes for them in the postseason. I just think with Bridges, Cameron 1783 01:59:15,399 --> 01:59:18,800 Johnson, Nader Crowder, you you're fine there. Ultimately, Devin Booker factors 1784 01:59:18,800 --> 01:59:23,720 into the wing rotation too, so that doesn't really skeeve me. But like 1785 01:59:24,920 --> 01:59:28,720 I think, you without Dariel Schartz, who was kind of on the maybe 1786 01:59:28,760 --> 01:59:32,079 he was banged up before he was actually towards ACL but like the Dariel Schartz 1787 01:59:32,119 --> 01:59:34,960 at the five minutes weren't as impactful as they were for the first you know, 1788 01:59:35,279 --> 01:59:41,399 half or three quarters, two thirds of the season whatever. They needed 1789 01:59:41,439 --> 01:59:44,279 to do something more than get a developmentgee in the front court. For me, 1790 01:59:44,399 --> 01:59:47,000 why weren't they a team that was more in on the Larry Nance junior 1791 01:59:47,039 --> 01:59:51,439 deal? And I get that after trading for Landry Shammitt, the equity probably 1792 01:59:51,520 --> 01:59:55,720 wasn't there. Like having whoever you're drafted at number twenty nine, plus a 1793 01:59:55,800 --> 01:59:59,119 future pick or maybe number twenty nine and Jalen Smith would have looked a lot 1794 01:59:59,159 --> 02:00:03,279 better for Larry Name then Oh, Jalen Smith and Landry Shammitt. You know 1795 02:00:03,319 --> 02:00:06,239 when you can reaggregate Landry Shammant. I don't know if that day passed already, 1796 02:00:06,439 --> 02:00:12,079 So I'm I just I expected more and it did not even use your 1797 02:00:12,119 --> 02:00:15,199 full mid level when there were players out there, and I guess they could 1798 02:00:15,239 --> 02:00:18,239 technically still spend it, but like there were there were upgrades or at least 1799 02:00:18,439 --> 02:00:21,279 depth pieces to be had, and you're not going to be a team that's 1800 02:00:21,319 --> 02:00:26,520 paying through the teeth this year, even with that frontloaded Chris Paul contract. 1801 02:00:27,199 --> 02:00:30,560 You just made the finals. The Western Conference is wide open. Jamal Murray 1802 02:00:30,960 --> 02:00:34,920 isn't gonna return from his torn as hel probably until I would guess sometime in 1803 02:00:34,960 --> 02:00:38,359 twenty twenty two. I know a lot of people think he's just gonna come 1804 02:00:38,439 --> 02:00:42,119 back because he has that maniacal work ethic. It wouldn't shock me if he's 1805 02:00:42,119 --> 02:00:45,319 out basically until the playoffs. It's not all season. Kawhi isn't gonna play 1806 02:00:45,399 --> 02:00:48,840 next year. You saw that version of the Western Conference landscape. The Lakers 1807 02:00:49,359 --> 02:00:55,680 are stepping out on a limb and they're trying to hold Russell Westbrooks pile of 1808 02:00:55,800 --> 02:00:59,960 bricks while they're out on that limb. You looked at that Western Conference landscape 1809 02:01:00,079 --> 02:01:02,640 and didn't kind of think to be more aggressive. And I guess they still 1810 02:01:02,680 --> 02:01:08,520 have some flexibility if they want to make moves towards the trade deadline, and 1811 02:01:09,359 --> 02:01:12,640 it'd be better or you could, in theory, get more value for Jayleen 1812 02:01:12,720 --> 02:01:17,640 Smith if he's actually playing for you, and boost his value from the net 1813 02:01:17,800 --> 02:01:23,079 zero net negative that it was through last season. I get all that, 1814 02:01:23,840 --> 02:01:26,119 and I also, you know, you have to look if you're asking me 1815 02:01:26,199 --> 02:01:29,039 for an alternative, like what did you want them to do? You know, 1816 02:01:29,199 --> 02:01:30,760 I could look at it as a I might have been more intrigued by 1817 02:01:30,760 --> 02:01:35,119 a Jared Vanderbilt on this team than a JaVale McGee, and so just something 1818 02:01:35,399 --> 02:01:39,720 where it was either a bigger swing or you were more aggressive to upgrade the 1819 02:01:39,840 --> 02:01:42,840 roster, or just to get a little bit more depth. Because it feels 1820 02:01:42,960 --> 02:01:46,439 like they enjoyed, for the most part, really good health last year and 1821 02:01:46,640 --> 02:01:53,159 they're not like they're not inoculated against any one disaster. I'm not saying any 1822 02:01:53,199 --> 02:01:58,920 team should be, but like you're so dependent offensively on Chris Paul and Devin 1823 02:01:58,960 --> 02:02:01,159 Booker. To me, I do think Michael Bridges has another level. They 1824 02:02:01,239 --> 02:02:05,039 won the minutes Cameron Payne played without both Booker and Chris Paul last season. 1825 02:02:05,279 --> 02:02:10,039 That's big. I'm just Chris Paul's getting up there in age. I would 1826 02:02:10,039 --> 02:02:12,720 have if you're gonna get rid of Tory Craig, and even though you're bringing 1827 02:02:12,760 --> 02:02:15,039 back abdel Nador, I might have liked to have seen them get another lowish 1828 02:02:15,279 --> 02:02:19,720 end to mid end type wing in there. And then the front court depth 1829 02:02:19,840 --> 02:02:23,720 they do have it in Fury because Jale and Smith and a Pinch can play 1830 02:02:23,760 --> 02:02:25,880 back up five. You have eight, and you have Deval McGee, you 1831 02:02:25,880 --> 02:02:29,199 have Frank Kimsky. I just I would have liked to have seen something more 1832 02:02:29,279 --> 02:02:31,439 inventive or aggressive there. And you're not even going to talk me into Alfred 1833 02:02:31,439 --> 02:02:33,880 Payton, not even at the minimum, not even as your third point of 1834 02:02:33,960 --> 02:02:38,199 card. No no, no, no no no. So not a bad 1835 02:02:38,239 --> 02:02:41,760 offseason, totally justifiable. And if you ask me to pick right now, 1836 02:02:42,319 --> 02:02:45,159 I might pick Phoenix to come out of the West again. It really hinges 1837 02:02:45,199 --> 02:02:50,239 on the Chris Paul availability for me, I think I lean towards Phoenix as 1838 02:02:50,319 --> 02:02:53,439 my pick to come out of the West right now. So this is me 1839 02:02:54,000 --> 02:02:57,119 admitting that. And they were my title pick last year, so I was 1840 02:02:57,199 --> 02:03:01,239 wrong there. Still, I just take this feeling that it was a very 1841 02:03:01,920 --> 02:03:08,800 It wasn't uninspiring, It just it lacked some flare or a level of aggression 1842 02:03:08,880 --> 02:03:12,760 that I think they needed to show. Yeah, I think that's fair. 1843 02:03:12,880 --> 02:03:15,199 I just I just think like I sort of look at it as when you're 1844 02:03:15,319 --> 02:03:19,600 that good and you've got that much money, you know, just that needs 1845 02:03:19,640 --> 02:03:25,199 to be spent to stay that way by bringing back key guys. It's just 1846 02:03:25,399 --> 02:03:27,800 it's just hard to get better. I take your point, though, they 1847 02:03:27,840 --> 02:03:30,520 could have certainly been more creative with their you know, because now they sort 1848 02:03:30,520 --> 02:03:33,640 of if Aiden doesn't play, they don't really have another look like sorry, 1849 02:03:34,000 --> 02:03:38,720 you know, it isn't perfect, but he gave them another kind of form 1850 02:03:38,840 --> 02:03:41,880 to take, you know, just by being an undersized five. So yeah, 1851 02:03:41,880 --> 02:03:44,359 it could have gotten more creative. I don't know if the options aren't 1852 02:03:44,359 --> 02:03:47,119 necessarily there. I'm also Landry Shammon is more than a rental for them, 1853 02:03:47,319 --> 02:03:49,720 because you're getting to the pot where you're already have to pay Bridges and eight 1854 02:03:49,800 --> 02:03:54,359 next season, which is why if you want to defend how they allocated their 1855 02:03:54,399 --> 02:03:58,720 money this year, you can, because they're about if they're keeping Paul Booker, 1856 02:03:58,960 --> 02:04:00,520 Bridges and eighten, which there's no reason to assume that they're not. 1857 02:04:00,960 --> 02:04:06,479 They're for that core. Yeah, but like to get I think cost control 1858 02:04:06,479 --> 02:04:10,680 of assets for Landry Shammitt, who kind of feels like a rental unless you 1859 02:04:10,760 --> 02:04:14,880 think he's gonna get you know, Tory is he he'll get more than five 1860 02:04:14,920 --> 02:04:16,760 million a year unless I guess he could have a terrible season. But I 1861 02:04:16,800 --> 02:04:20,319 don't know. Yeah, I think Shammitt, I mean, I don't even 1862 02:04:20,319 --> 02:04:25,039 know how much he's gonna play. Honestly, you may he said his career 1863 02:04:25,199 --> 02:04:28,439 arc has been like wild. I think his career arc has just angled down 1864 02:04:28,680 --> 02:04:31,399 basically like the he you know, his best year was his rookie year, 1865 02:04:31,439 --> 02:04:35,239 I think, if memory serves, But yeah, I don't know. I 1866 02:04:35,399 --> 02:04:41,800 am very curious what you did with this next team, which alphabetically is the 1867 02:04:41,840 --> 02:04:46,359 Portland Trailblazers, and I think it's mine to read. So they replaced head 1868 02:04:46,399 --> 02:04:54,439 coach Terry Stotts with Chauncey Billups messily that press conference was rough and the whole 1869 02:04:55,399 --> 02:04:59,800 situation not great. We don't know how good of a coach Chauncey Billips is 1870 02:05:00,159 --> 02:05:02,920 again, kind of like Carlisle and Dallas. It may just have been the 1871 02:05:03,000 --> 02:05:09,319 case that Stots or that Stots's voice sort of had stopped carrying, as it 1872 02:05:09,479 --> 02:05:13,520 often happens with coaches have been there for a long time. Norman Powell is 1873 02:05:13,560 --> 02:05:16,000 back. Everybody knew it had to had to happen because they traded for him 1874 02:05:16,760 --> 02:05:20,840 ninety million over five years, fully guaranteed a little bit of sticker shock there. 1875 02:05:23,560 --> 02:05:26,439 The big trade, this Swan, which I think everybody likes. I 1876 02:05:26,600 --> 02:05:30,159 like, I hope you'll like Larry Nance Junior for Derek Jones Jr. A 1877 02:05:30,279 --> 02:05:33,560 twenty two first rounder which is lottery protected through twenty twenty eight, becomes a 1878 02:05:33,680 --> 02:05:39,560 second if it's not conveyed, and Denver's twenty four second round pick protected thirty 1879 02:05:39,600 --> 02:05:44,720 one to forty six. Some low end signings include Cody Zeller, Ben McLamore, 1880 02:05:44,800 --> 02:05:48,640 and Tony Snell. Pretty solid one year minimum. There want him for 1881 02:05:48,680 --> 02:05:53,239 more than the minimum. When's the last time you missed a shot or free 1882 02:05:53,279 --> 02:05:56,319 throw? Literally? I mean it's like been years so I'm free throws. 1883 02:05:57,760 --> 02:06:00,399 Acquired number forty three, Greg Brown the third for twenty six second rounder and 1884 02:06:00,560 --> 02:06:04,079 cash. Signed Marquis Chris to an un guaranteed one year deal. Signed Patrick 1885 02:06:04,119 --> 02:06:09,319 Patterson to the same, signed Dennis Smith junior man we're just going for it 1886 02:06:09,760 --> 02:06:12,840 on a non guaranteed one year deal. Signed Trent Waterford to a two year 1887 02:06:13,800 --> 02:06:17,800 already mentioned the outgoing guys in addition to Stutts and Jones Junior in his cancer 1888 02:06:18,000 --> 02:06:24,319 is gone, and Ronde Hollis Jefferson remains unsigned. What you know, kind 1889 02:06:24,359 --> 02:06:26,840 of interesting. You got a signing, you got a trade, you got 1890 02:06:26,920 --> 02:06:29,760 a new coach, got some minimums. What do you think about the Blazers? 1891 02:06:30,279 --> 02:06:32,760 The Larry Natz junior trade was a home run for them that you know. 1892 02:06:34,239 --> 02:06:36,840 I think for next season, it's clear that they're not going to trade 1893 02:06:36,920 --> 02:06:41,560 Dame. He would really have to agitate for a move, and they're innoculated 1894 02:06:41,560 --> 02:06:44,800 against disaster. The fact that it's protected it for twenty twenty eight is just 1895 02:06:45,399 --> 02:06:47,199 I said this on the last podcast we did again, the pick protection seemed 1896 02:06:47,199 --> 02:06:50,920 to be stretching further and further out. But Larry yet Junior is just a 1897 02:06:50,960 --> 02:06:54,239 fantastic fit for their roster. They might be able to play him at the 1898 02:06:54,279 --> 02:06:58,079 five Sun a little bit. I thought they got fairly good mileage out of 1899 02:06:58,119 --> 02:07:00,640 their minimums when you look at Tony Snell and Cody Zeller if he stays healthy. 1900 02:07:01,000 --> 02:07:04,800 Specifically, I actually think one of their you know, three training camp 1901 02:07:04,840 --> 02:07:08,760 deals. When you look at DSJ, Patrick Patterson, Marky's Chris, those 1902 02:07:08,800 --> 02:07:11,720 are fine gambles to me, based off with Marki's Chris Show before he was 1903 02:07:11,760 --> 02:07:15,680 injured to Golden State, Patrick Patterson has had like we're years removed from it, 1904 02:07:15,760 --> 02:07:19,359 but the idea of Patrick Patterson is still really fun. I'm I'm like, 1905 02:07:19,479 --> 02:07:23,159 not necessarily in on Dennis Smith Junior, but the fact that they're taking 1906 02:07:23,199 --> 02:07:27,359 a look at any kind of backup point guard is probably encouraging the Norman Powell 1907 02:07:27,439 --> 02:07:31,239 deal sticker shock, like you said, because no one else could give him 1908 02:07:31,279 --> 02:07:34,680 five years? Was that what it needed to get him at this And now 1909 02:07:34,800 --> 02:07:39,359 you just have so much money tied up in dudes that are under six five. 1910 02:07:39,399 --> 02:07:43,399 When you look at Damian Lillard, CJ. McCollum, and Norman Powell, 1911 02:07:43,680 --> 02:07:46,880 it's just that's a lot of money. I'm just I don't hate it, 1912 02:07:47,000 --> 02:07:50,199 though, because it's like if he was gonna get four years and like 1913 02:07:50,319 --> 02:07:54,279 the same average annual value and that's what you needed to do to keep him 1914 02:07:54,319 --> 02:07:58,319 there. I don't know that deal. I don't think it ages into a 1915 02:07:58,439 --> 02:08:03,039 disaster. That being said, we do have evidence beyond the past two seasons 1916 02:08:03,119 --> 02:08:05,119 or past season and a half where Norman Powell can be one of the wildest 1917 02:08:05,199 --> 02:08:09,560 roller coaster rides in the NBA. So some risk there, but I respect 1918 02:08:09,680 --> 02:08:16,319 them paying to retain that talent just because he gives. He gives like their 1919 02:08:16,399 --> 02:08:18,880 offense that element from the perimeter that they don't really have otherwise where it's the 1920 02:08:20,479 --> 02:08:24,760 it's not just North South juice, but it's like actually the entire line of 1921 02:08:24,840 --> 02:08:28,239 the North South to get going downhill, where unless if it was Derrik Jones 1922 02:08:28,319 --> 02:08:33,000 jun you're in transition, you probably don't really have that. So that's all 1923 02:08:33,239 --> 02:08:37,520 great. I think the Chauncey bills Hire was a disaster to I don't. 1924 02:08:37,960 --> 02:08:39,399 It's tough for me, and it goes back to the Jason kids stuff. 1925 02:08:39,399 --> 02:08:46,439 I don't know how much to really take from that because it's my main problem 1926 02:08:46,439 --> 02:08:48,399 with it is because I don't know anything about how he's going to be as 1927 02:08:48,439 --> 02:08:50,720 a coach on the court in the NBA. We've yet to see it, 1928 02:08:50,119 --> 02:08:56,039 but the fact that they couldn't like address any of the concerns expressed about the 1929 02:08:56,079 --> 02:08:58,359 sexual assault allegations he faced in nineteen ninety seven, and it wasn't really that, 1930 02:08:58,399 --> 02:09:03,479 but they were like pay imtronizing or they Nilo Sha was patronizing and condescending 1931 02:09:03,520 --> 02:09:09,520 about Becky hammonds candidacy in that press conference and then was playing the trust me 1932 02:09:09,680 --> 02:09:11,760 card when you don't get to play that card when you've kind of failed, 1933 02:09:13,119 --> 02:09:16,720 like your tephl on job security is not what you've earned. So I have 1934 02:09:16,920 --> 02:09:20,840 to wait that to some extent. What I will not hold against them is 1935 02:09:22,000 --> 02:09:24,760 you could look at this offseason and say they didn't do anything to ensure that 1936 02:09:24,800 --> 02:09:28,359 Damian Lillard won't leave after next season. This comes back to the Warriors discussion. 1937 02:09:28,880 --> 02:09:31,800 What were they supposed to do? It's if you're not going to get 1938 02:09:33,119 --> 02:09:35,479 Ben Simmons from Philly. And I do think that he's worth CJ. McCullum 1939 02:09:35,600 --> 02:09:39,439 and stuff. He's not worth season McCullum and the kitchen sink, though not 1940 02:09:39,600 --> 02:09:45,000 after what we've seen. So I think the Larry Nance Junior swung this to 1941 02:09:45,119 --> 02:09:46,319 an above average grade from me, I ended up settling on a B. 1942 02:09:46,920 --> 02:09:50,520 I was a lot lower on them prior to that move, but I think 1943 02:09:50,560 --> 02:09:54,720 he is such a quintessential fit. They did it without mortgaging a ton of 1944 02:09:54,760 --> 02:09:56,560 the future. I don't think they've done anything that's going to keep him long 1945 02:09:56,760 --> 02:10:01,600 Dame long term. I leaned towards Dame being out of Portland's after this season. 1946 02:10:01,680 --> 02:10:05,039 If he starts twenty two twenty twenty three with the Blazers, I'll be 1947 02:10:05,119 --> 02:10:09,279 mildly surprised where things stand now. I just don't know if there's anything they 1948 02:10:09,279 --> 02:10:13,359 could they could have done to change that in the first place. Yeah, 1949 02:10:13,359 --> 02:10:15,680 I agree, I had it as a C plus. I think I kind 1950 02:10:15,680 --> 02:10:20,119 of want to bump it up into the low B range because I'm pretty sure 1951 02:10:20,159 --> 02:10:24,079 I made that before the larry Nance maybe Anyway, the larry Nance trade is 1952 02:10:24,159 --> 02:10:28,399 like just it's fantastic for them and the Powell The power signing is like, 1953 02:10:30,159 --> 02:10:33,479 it's the high end of reasonable to me, but it's not out of it's 1954 02:10:33,520 --> 02:10:39,399 not off that spectrum. That's and like I think too, there's if if 1955 02:10:39,479 --> 02:10:45,159 as the cap goes up, you know, essentially you're you know, fifteen 1956 02:10:45,239 --> 02:10:48,880 million a year sort of becomes mL E level ish if you start to think 1957 02:10:48,880 --> 02:10:52,159 of it in those terms. Towards the end, it becomes a little more 1958 02:10:52,199 --> 02:10:54,920 palatable where he's sort of making a little more than the mL E in the 1959 02:10:56,000 --> 02:10:58,960 last couple of years of that deal. Like that's you know, you're you're, 1960 02:10:58,279 --> 02:11:01,199 I'm doing some gymnastics to get there, but like it's okay, and 1961 02:11:01,479 --> 02:11:03,760 and he did. He's played well for them, and they had a bunch 1962 02:11:03,760 --> 02:11:07,760 of lineups last year that he was involved in that were very good, So 1963 02:11:07,159 --> 02:11:09,840 I get it. And they were kind of pot stuff because they gave up 1964 02:11:09,880 --> 02:11:13,720 Trent and a pick I think two went to Toronto if I don't if I 1965 02:11:13,840 --> 02:11:16,560 have that right, So they didn't have a choice. And like their minimums 1966 02:11:18,039 --> 02:11:20,600 uh, Like you said, Snell, where was the market for Tony Snell? 1967 02:11:20,760 --> 02:11:24,319 Like he's got to be a five million dollars a year guy, I 1968 02:11:24,359 --> 02:11:28,880 would where's the market for? Yeah, Tony Snell just proved there in the 1969 02:11:28,960 --> 02:11:33,319 one. I guess if he's only getting the minimum, weih I I also 1970 02:11:33,399 --> 02:11:37,640 just house cleaning. Carmelo and Anthony and Zach Collins and Harry Giles also gone 1971 02:11:37,920 --> 02:11:41,840 in their subtractions, But yeah, C plus. Initially I'm gonna go be 1972 02:11:41,000 --> 02:11:45,199 minus. I just I think the name. I think, like you said, 1973 02:11:45,239 --> 02:11:48,760 they did what they could right if the if the if the Simmons ask 1974 02:11:48,960 --> 02:11:50,880 was just way too big, which it sounds like it was, this was 1975 02:11:52,000 --> 02:11:56,000 sort of about as well as they could have done under the circumstances. Let's 1976 02:11:56,039 --> 02:12:00,439 compromise and we'll both go be minus. How about that. I'll agree. 1977 02:12:01,039 --> 02:12:03,960 We are on to the Sacramento Kings, which they are my team. They 1978 02:12:05,119 --> 02:12:09,760 drafted Davion Mitchell at number nine, which had people riled up before summer League 1979 02:12:09,760 --> 02:12:11,199 for all the wrong reasons, and now everyone's riled up for all the right 1980 02:12:11,279 --> 02:12:16,079 reasons. After summer league. They resigned Rashaun Holmes with a four year, 1981 02:12:16,119 --> 02:12:18,239 forty six point five million dollar deal fully guaranteed that I still don't know how 1982 02:12:18,319 --> 02:12:22,680 Rashaun Holmes accepted or couldn't find an offer that would beat that, resigned Mill 1983 02:12:22,720 --> 02:12:26,119 Harkless to a two year a point nine million dollars deal fully guaranteed, resigned 1984 02:12:26,199 --> 02:12:30,560 Terrence Davis to a two year eight million dollar deal fully guaranteed, signed Out 1985 02:12:30,640 --> 02:12:33,000 Filling to a two year seven point six million dollar deal fully guaranteed, which 1986 02:12:33,000 --> 02:12:37,680 I thought was a typo when I saw that. But can we not acquired 1987 02:12:37,720 --> 02:12:41,199 Tristan Thompson a three team trade in which they gave up Delawn Right, They 1988 02:12:41,319 --> 02:12:45,039 signed the Mushketa to a two way contract, and they signed a Manuel Terry 1989 02:12:45,119 --> 02:12:50,880 to a training camp deal. Notable subtractions for them sound whiteside, Delaan right, 1990 02:12:50,960 --> 02:12:52,960 Justin James is the only one I have. I don't know if I'm 1991 02:12:52,960 --> 02:12:56,880 missing anything there. What drade did you give them? And are you holding 1992 02:12:56,920 --> 02:13:01,079 the fact that Luke Walton is still their head coach against them all? Yeah? 1993 02:13:01,079 --> 02:13:03,760 That was my first bullet point on my outline is that did not fire 1994 02:13:03,840 --> 02:13:07,239 Luke Walton's That hurts him a little, but I get it. You don't 1995 02:13:07,239 --> 02:13:09,199 want to keep paying coaches that aren't working for you anymore. The Kings have 1996 02:13:09,319 --> 02:13:13,600 a habit of that. I am a C plus. It would have been 1997 02:13:13,600 --> 02:13:18,479 a lot higher because the Holmes deal great. Like you know, we talk 1998 02:13:18,520 --> 02:13:22,640 all the time like don't pay centers, don't pay centers, but the Kings 1999 02:13:22,640 --> 02:13:24,840 didn't really pay I mean, this is this is I think the most that 2000 02:13:24,880 --> 02:13:31,279 they were able to give him using what do they have partial bird or Whatever's 2001 02:13:31,880 --> 02:13:35,159 like, it was the kind of deal that it didn't seem possible they'd be 2002 02:13:35,199 --> 02:13:39,760 able to retain him for this much, especially with Charlotte having some space or 2003 02:13:39,920 --> 02:13:41,720 just the Knicks or whoever, like surely he was going to get more. 2004 02:13:43,600 --> 02:13:48,359 So really good value. I'm fine with mo Herkless because they are real short 2005 02:13:48,439 --> 02:13:50,399 on wing defenders and in theory he can still do that. So two years 2006 02:13:50,479 --> 02:13:56,680 it just under nine million is fine. They they just that's kind of Davion 2007 02:13:56,800 --> 02:14:01,119 Mitchell. If he can guard wings, which to look like maybe he could 2008 02:14:01,239 --> 02:14:03,880 in Summer League, then I have no problem with that pick because now he 2009 02:14:05,079 --> 02:14:09,399 works with Haliburton and Fox. If he can guard threes, then awesome. 2010 02:14:09,479 --> 02:14:13,520 You have three point guard ball handlers that can play together and you can get 2011 02:14:13,560 --> 02:14:16,720 away with, you know, being undersized. Because Mitchell is that good defensively 2012 02:14:16,520 --> 02:14:20,359 remains to be seen. I have no problem with that pick. They have 2013 02:14:20,439 --> 02:14:24,279 too many freaking centers. It's ridiculous. Why are we paying Alex lenn seven 2014 02:14:24,319 --> 02:14:28,520 point six million? What like Tristan what? I way rather have Dalen Wright 2015 02:14:28,560 --> 02:14:31,119 than Tristan Thompson, just in a vacuum, and especially on this team because 2016 02:14:31,479 --> 02:14:37,720 behind homes you've got now Len, you've got Thompson. I think Damian Jones 2017 02:14:37,800 --> 02:14:41,800 they guaranteed, which is like why Marvin Bagley is a center. I don't 2018 02:14:41,840 --> 02:14:43,960 care what position they think he is. He has to play center too. 2019 02:14:45,520 --> 02:14:48,439 Timis he met too. I don't know he's a four or five like he 2020 02:14:48,520 --> 02:14:52,840 play center. I just the positional thing is insane. But so that it's 2021 02:14:52,880 --> 02:14:56,800 still a C plus. But I just I don't understand how they've divvied up 2022 02:14:56,800 --> 02:15:00,039 their roster. It's hard for me to understand that. Yeah, they it 2023 02:15:00,119 --> 02:15:03,439 was your grade again for them C plus. Yeah, I gave them a 2024 02:15:03,520 --> 02:15:07,199 C minus. I wanted to go D plus, but I love for Sean 2025 02:15:07,279 --> 02:15:09,359 Holmes and I think that deals an absolute steal. And then just watching the 2026 02:15:09,399 --> 02:15:15,319 way Davy on Mitchell defense in Summer League, just like he is just all 2027 02:15:15,439 --> 02:15:18,600 up and everyone ship and he is so good. He even showed some level 2028 02:15:18,600 --> 02:15:20,479 of shot creation there too. I agree with you that I think they try 2029 02:15:20,600 --> 02:15:24,600 it away and not just get away but thrive in minutes where he plays with 2030 02:15:24,720 --> 02:15:31,039 Haliburton and Daron Fox. But like, how did you not pick a direction 2031 02:15:31,319 --> 02:15:33,680 this offseason? And I'm not saying that they needed to blow it up. 2032 02:15:35,119 --> 02:15:37,520 They could still and they couldn't technically still do this gone the route of asset 2033 02:15:37,560 --> 02:15:41,079 consolidation if they wanted to try and be this year's version of the Suns. 2034 02:15:41,479 --> 02:15:46,399 The star market needs to develop there. But like the center, like you 2035 02:15:46,479 --> 02:15:48,640 mentioned, they have all these centers, I don't necessarily even know like Alex 2036 02:15:48,760 --> 02:15:52,760 Lynn getting two years why, I don't even know that Terrence, Terrence Davis 2037 02:15:52,800 --> 02:15:56,960 and Mo Hartles need to be fully guaranteed through those stretches. I don't have 2038 02:15:56,079 --> 02:16:01,720 problems with them, but like, you didn't do anything to clarify your direction 2039 02:16:01,840 --> 02:16:05,319 here, and that really bugs me. I know part of that is probably 2040 02:16:05,479 --> 02:16:09,600 on the Buddy Heel deal to Lakers that fell through. I was gonna say, 2041 02:16:09,760 --> 02:16:11,640 yeah, and so I get that aspect of it, But like, 2042 02:16:11,720 --> 02:16:16,880 what would Kyle Kuzman Cantavia's called the Pope have said about the King's direction aside 2043 02:16:16,920 --> 02:16:20,600 from breaking up Buddy Heeled and two more digestible contracts and then giving them, 2044 02:16:20,680 --> 02:16:24,960 Yeah, I think what it would have done is given them like actual wings 2045 02:16:24,239 --> 02:16:28,600 on this team, which they just don't have. There is I know you 2046 02:16:28,680 --> 02:16:31,840 don't look at we don't look at teams in terms of positions anymore, like 2047 02:16:31,000 --> 02:16:37,280 who's the actual pure wing on this roster and people maybe their first guest will 2048 02:16:37,319 --> 02:16:41,239 be Moe Harkless or Harrison Barnes. I view those guys as more like either 2049 02:16:41,319 --> 02:16:45,959 call them a bigger wing or they both should be playing the four. Yeah, 2050 02:16:46,040 --> 02:16:50,319 And so is it Lewis King like or Robert Woodard awesome? That's not 2051 02:16:50,760 --> 02:16:54,440 that's also not very awesome to say. So I need to see something and 2052 02:16:54,959 --> 02:16:58,959 I'm I like the davy On Mitchell pick now, like if that if he's 2053 02:16:58,000 --> 02:17:01,840 going to be that good at the level, but you also maybe didn't necessarily 2054 02:17:01,879 --> 02:17:05,600 put him in the situation where you need to succeed, or maybe you did 2055 02:17:05,760 --> 02:17:09,159 because you took all this pressure off of him with you know, Darian Fox 2056 02:17:09,280 --> 02:17:15,200 and Tyrese well Balanced Breakfast Haliburton. So I'm weird. I like the Ras 2057 02:17:15,200 --> 02:17:16,840 Shawn Holmes deal for them they could get. I think they can get real 2058 02:17:16,920 --> 02:17:18,799 value for that. They look to move it later or they just have a 2059 02:17:18,840 --> 02:17:22,840 really good center. But now they're still sort of stuck in the sub middle 2060 02:17:24,239 --> 02:17:28,440 of the Western Conference. They did nothing to change that. I'm I'm not 2061 02:17:28,520 --> 02:17:33,319 a Luke Walton fan either. I just what they preserved nothing. It's just 2062 02:17:33,479 --> 02:17:39,280 like this weird direction heading into avoid and maybe like, what is this team 2063 02:17:39,360 --> 02:17:41,719 top out as right now? And I love the Aaron Fox, I love 2064 02:17:41,799 --> 02:17:46,000 Haliburton, We've talked about Mitchell already, we love Shaun Holmes. They are 2065 02:17:46,079 --> 02:17:50,239 good players. This team doesn't have a great ceiling though, And I think 2066 02:17:50,280 --> 02:17:54,079 Sacramento, either one way or the other, whatever it was needed to choose 2067 02:17:54,120 --> 02:17:56,600 which side of defense they were going to be on, their failure to do 2068 02:17:56,760 --> 02:18:01,319 that is it's a C minus for me. Maybe I think that's all fair. 2069 02:18:01,600 --> 02:18:05,159 I agree, like, well, if you're going to criticize the Kings 2070 02:18:05,200 --> 02:18:07,520 for not having like clarity of purpose in their decision making, you could just 2071 02:18:07,719 --> 02:18:11,840 slap a blow average right on them for you know, twenty years. Basically, 2072 02:18:13,239 --> 02:18:18,200 I think I'm tempted to move down because obviously, yeah, they the 2073 02:18:18,440 --> 02:18:24,079 roster's very imbalanced, and you know just where the wings and what's the direction. 2074 02:18:24,600 --> 02:18:28,360 But I think I think I'm gonna stay slightly above average because the two 2075 02:18:28,440 --> 02:18:33,799 biggest things they did, which were drafting Mitchell and getting homes back on that 2076 02:18:33,959 --> 02:18:37,760 deal, we're positives, I think, although Mitchell, who knows right like, 2077 02:18:37,879 --> 02:18:39,719 we're just we're totally guessing at this point we've never seen him play an 2078 02:18:39,799 --> 02:18:43,600 NBA minute, but that's you know, we're still We're still in the ballpark 2079 02:18:43,680 --> 02:18:46,639 there. It really should the Kings be happy that they're in the neighborhood of 2080 02:18:46,680 --> 02:18:52,440 average in both our estimations. That feels like a win, and because the 2081 02:18:52,479 --> 02:18:56,280 off season wasn't bad, it's just there's there's also a market inefficiency on teams 2082 02:18:58,399 --> 02:19:01,760 trying to rebuild in the West right now feels like where yes, it's easy 2083 02:19:01,840 --> 02:19:05,159 to say take a ticket, dyea might blow it up. I'm not saying 2084 02:19:05,159 --> 02:19:07,239 they should have done that, but like there's an opportunity in the West right 2085 02:19:07,280 --> 02:19:11,040 now, and the King's like, you're just not good? Are they? 2086 02:19:11,399 --> 02:19:15,239 What is their best case scenario this season? Can they even be a top 2087 02:19:15,319 --> 02:19:18,879 six team? Best case top No? No, I was gonna say, 2088 02:19:20,399 --> 02:19:24,239 I wish people could see your face I ask that question. I was like, 2089 02:19:24,319 --> 02:19:28,280 a, oh damn, oh damn no, no, no, yeah, 2090 02:19:28,760 --> 02:19:33,760 I mean eight maybe, like if Fox is a is a legit, 2091 02:19:33,920 --> 02:19:37,520 no questions asked, all star Haliburton, step forward Holmes is the same. 2092 02:19:39,120 --> 02:19:43,159 Yeah. Maybe, but I think the play in again is probably their most 2093 02:19:43,200 --> 02:19:46,000 realistic, like hope they want to, you know, get in there and 2094 02:19:46,120 --> 02:19:50,479 real honestly, I just I'm I'm out here very close to Sacramento. I 2095 02:19:50,639 --> 02:19:54,280 think that's the vibe, Like that's that would be cool that like that's what 2096 02:19:54,399 --> 02:20:01,000 they would that's what they're going for. So as sad as that is, 2097 02:20:01,120 --> 02:20:03,440 I think that's kind of where we are. We want to take us through 2098 02:20:03,479 --> 02:20:09,719 the Spurs. I would love to the Spurs. So they acquired Doug McDermott 2099 02:20:09,760 --> 02:20:11,920 via sign and trade inked hm do a three year, forty three point two 2100 02:20:13,040 --> 02:20:18,319 million dollars deal. I have forty one point three non important fully guaranteed either 2101 02:20:18,360 --> 02:20:22,879 way. Sign Zach Collins three years twenty two point one. Only ten point 2102 02:20:22,959 --> 02:20:28,159 seven million of that is guaranteed three point seven million guaranteed in twenty two twenty 2103 02:20:28,200 --> 02:20:31,239 three, and totally non guaranteed in twenty three twenty four. Brent Forbes is 2104 02:20:31,319 --> 02:20:37,079 back on a one year, four point five million dollars deal. In the 2105 02:20:37,840 --> 02:20:41,719 biggest move that the Spurs made, they sent Demardros into the Bulls as part 2106 02:20:41,760 --> 02:20:46,200 of a sign and trade that brought back Thaddeus Young Alfre Rukamino, a twenty 2107 02:20:46,280 --> 02:20:50,559 twenty five first round pick, which is top ten protected top eight in twenty 2108 02:20:50,600 --> 02:20:56,360 six and twenty seven and a twenty twenty five second round pick, and they 2109 02:20:56,399 --> 02:21:00,280 also sent their own twenty five second rounder. They acquired channel On Hutch's in 2110 02:21:00,319 --> 02:21:05,079 who They waived Nicola malatinof. I don't know if he's still on the roster 2111 02:21:05,200 --> 02:21:09,120 or not. Maybe drafted Josh Primo at twelve, which was a point of 2112 02:21:11,079 --> 02:21:13,799 some discussion at the time. That seemed like a big reach, but who 2113 02:21:13,840 --> 02:21:16,840 knows. Signed a Key Debates d Up to a two year, three point 2114 02:21:16,879 --> 02:21:20,680 six million dollars deal. The second year is non guaranteed. Signed Jock Landale 2115 02:21:20,719 --> 02:21:22,120 to a two year, four and a half million dollars deal, second year 2116 02:21:22,159 --> 02:21:26,399 also non guaranteed, and Joe weez Camp got a two way. In addition 2117 02:21:26,479 --> 02:21:31,600 to DeMar Derozen heading out of town, Patty Mills, the last remnant of 2118 02:21:31,760 --> 02:21:35,000 the last first title team is gone. Rudy Gay and Trey Lyles also out 2119 02:21:35,079 --> 02:21:41,639 of town. I think that's everything. Goregy Jang also gone, but he 2120 02:21:41,799 --> 02:21:43,520 was sort of a part timer there. So, Dan, what are your 2121 02:21:43,559 --> 02:21:46,319 thoughts? Did I miss anything? Number one? And what are your thoughts 2122 02:21:46,440 --> 02:21:50,879 on the San Antonio Spurs off season? Well, you missed the dougment derby 2123 02:21:50,920 --> 02:21:54,440 contract because I had it wrong and you were right though when you said you 2124 02:21:54,479 --> 02:21:56,639 were forty one point two million, which forty one point three Excuse me. 2125 02:21:56,639 --> 02:22:00,479 I didn't have as big of a problem as other people did with it. 2126 02:22:01,000 --> 02:22:03,840 Zach Collins deal looks a lot better when you get into the details of it. 2127 02:22:03,520 --> 02:22:09,319 And they got a capslock Hall for Damarta Rozen that is, you know. 2128 02:22:09,879 --> 02:22:13,159 And I think the Josh Primo as sort of an unknown I went back 2129 02:22:13,239 --> 02:22:16,079 and I mean I talked to his agent on this podcast, and I also 2130 02:22:16,200 --> 02:22:20,760 I was watching a lot of film for Josh Primo from it. I appreciate 2131 02:22:20,920 --> 02:22:22,680 the swing because it seems like when you look at their prospects, if they 2132 02:22:22,799 --> 02:22:30,200 need like someone who might sort of explode or have a volcanic ceiling as a 2133 02:22:30,319 --> 02:22:33,440 ball handler, shot creator, I'm just looking at his physical tools of what 2134 02:22:33,520 --> 02:22:37,920 he does, and then of course the youth aspect of it. It's possible 2135 02:22:37,079 --> 02:22:41,159 that it's just higher than it is for Jejanta, Murray, Derek White, 2136 02:22:41,600 --> 02:22:46,600 Kelvin Johnson, those guys. So I kind of and where it seemed like 2137 02:22:46,680 --> 02:22:48,920 in a territory it became very clear once you got past a certain point in 2138 02:22:48,959 --> 02:22:54,360 the draft, there were not a lot of givens and so just take your 2139 02:22:54,399 --> 02:22:56,639 guy if it's five spots early. Who cares that? That's kind of the 2140 02:22:56,719 --> 02:23:00,079 thing. And I was told that there was a team that was going to 2141 02:23:00,120 --> 02:23:03,760 take Josh Primo before the Spurs if the Spurs were to trade back, which 2142 02:23:03,760 --> 02:23:05,440 is why they took them at twelve. I don't know how true that is, 2143 02:23:05,639 --> 02:23:11,040 but so I think because they kind of they're not all the way there. 2144 02:23:11,200 --> 02:23:13,079 But I don't know what else they're supposed to do to get there. 2145 02:23:13,440 --> 02:23:18,479 It seems like they've inferred that they're going to rebuild or at least open to 2146 02:23:18,559 --> 02:23:20,639 it, and now they've given themselves easier access to it because they don't have 2147 02:23:20,879 --> 02:23:24,920 these like super fat salaries on the books that can't be moved if they want 2148 02:23:24,959 --> 02:23:30,360 to turn into sellers. Jane Murray's their most expensive player next season. It's 2149 02:23:30,799 --> 02:23:33,520 at fifteen point two million dollars fifteen point three. However, you want a 2150 02:23:33,600 --> 02:23:39,360 round, So they have like a lot of They just have a lot of 2151 02:23:39,399 --> 02:23:41,479 stuff that they could do. I think the biggest gripe you could have is 2152 02:23:41,920 --> 02:23:45,920 there's really a chance that if they go for it, they get stuck, 2153 02:23:46,440 --> 02:23:50,319 like in that playing Chase sub just below the play in chase where they're not 2154 02:23:50,440 --> 02:23:54,879 bad enough to sort of outrank teams in the lottery from the East, and 2155 02:23:54,920 --> 02:23:58,280 then of course certain teams in the Western Conference if they want to go that 2156 02:23:58,440 --> 02:24:01,079 route, though it's fairly they don't have a they can't move Thaddy as Young 2157 02:24:01,120 --> 02:24:05,000 should probably met them value either before the season or during it. Yeah, 2158 02:24:05,159 --> 02:24:07,799 and look, if they want to go for it, just the fact that 2159 02:24:07,840 --> 02:24:11,360 they're going to do so, while accentuating I would assume based off how their 2160 02:24:11,440 --> 02:24:16,600 roster is built, Jontay Murray, Derek White, giving a shot to Zach 2161 02:24:16,639 --> 02:24:20,440 Collins once he's healthy. You're probably gonna find out more about Devin Missel and 2162 02:24:20,479 --> 02:24:24,280 Lonnie Walker, who's extension eligible right now. Lucas Amonic should probably get more 2163 02:24:24,319 --> 02:24:26,959 play time. Kelvin Johnson. Of course, I'm curious to see if they 2164 02:24:26,040 --> 02:24:30,440 use Josh Primo this year. We know how the Spurs have typically operated with 2165 02:24:30,559 --> 02:24:35,559 rookies. I like what they're off season says about how it feels like they're 2166 02:24:35,600 --> 02:24:41,760 finally prioritizing this the super big picture and not just trying to tread water or 2167 02:24:41,840 --> 02:24:46,200 fagne treading water because Greg Popovich is so old, and like they actually do 2168 02:24:46,319 --> 02:24:50,680 have these good players. I gave them a B. I could probably talking 2169 02:24:50,680 --> 02:24:52,360 to a little bit lower, just because if you were going to go into 2170 02:24:52,360 --> 02:24:56,559 the rebuild, you should say we'll lead fully into it. At the same 2171 02:24:56,639 --> 02:25:00,040 time, it's like, just because you're rebuilding, does that mean that you 2172 02:25:00,079 --> 02:25:03,159 should be moving Derek White right now? I know he's not young, but 2173 02:25:03,200 --> 02:25:07,520 it's why would you move Derek White? He's still sort of a swing piece 2174 02:25:07,799 --> 02:25:09,639 on your team. And it's the same story with the Jeante Murray who's a 2175 02:25:09,719 --> 02:25:13,840 little younger. So I'm just like, I don't know how they could have 2176 02:25:13,920 --> 02:25:16,840 leaned further into it. I guess don't pay Doug McDermott is one of those 2177 02:25:16,879 --> 02:25:20,840 things. But if you're gonna overpay someone overpaying the guy who can shoot threes 2178 02:25:20,920 --> 02:25:26,079 off motion and also was one of the league's most efficient cutters last year. 2179 02:25:26,120 --> 02:25:30,719 So I think B maybe a B minus, just because like, if you're 2180 02:25:30,760 --> 02:25:33,040 still I think you could still talk yourself into saying, are they kind of 2181 02:25:33,120 --> 02:25:37,360 there yet? But I don't know if it's it's not because they kept DeMar 2182 02:25:37,399 --> 02:25:41,879 Derozen, which would have been I think more of a concerning move for them 2183 02:25:41,000 --> 02:25:45,920 than whatever they did this offseason. Yeah, that would have been so disheartening 2184 02:25:46,040 --> 02:25:48,360 because that would have just signaled like now we're going to try to you know, 2185 02:25:50,079 --> 02:25:52,120 be seventh or eighth or whatever, and it's just no. I gave 2186 02:25:52,200 --> 02:25:58,559 him a B plus. I think getting anything for Derozen, who like they 2187 02:25:58,600 --> 02:26:05,120 had no business getting anything for, really get it. I like, this 2188 02:26:05,280 --> 02:26:09,920 is maybe hyperbolic, but I think that young might just be a better player, 2189 02:26:09,159 --> 02:26:13,920 Like might just be more helpful to a winning effort than Derosin is at 2190 02:26:13,959 --> 02:26:16,879 this point. I think that's at least debatable. And to get you know, 2191 02:26:18,040 --> 02:26:20,799 picks thrown in and others like phenomenal, Like that's one of the better 2192 02:26:20,879 --> 02:26:26,879 moves of the offseason. And to your point on McDermott, like, I 2193 02:26:26,040 --> 02:26:31,280 think if so they lost, Patty meals right. And I think if if 2194 02:26:31,360 --> 02:26:35,920 you need someone to replicate him running all over the place and making life easier 2195 02:26:35,000 --> 02:26:39,520 for everyone else, he's on the poor with offensively because he's setting little fires 2196 02:26:39,520 --> 02:26:43,040 all over the place that need to be put out just by moving around, 2197 02:26:43,200 --> 02:26:46,639 like McDermott can kind of do that. So if you're trying to preserve you 2198 02:26:46,719 --> 02:26:50,959 know, spacing, or if you're trying to give like de Jonte Murray and 2199 02:26:50,040 --> 02:26:54,920 Derek White and even Josh Premo if he gets minutes you're trying to give these 2200 02:26:54,040 --> 02:26:58,479 guards, you know, just an easier time of it. McDermott is a 2201 02:26:58,559 --> 02:27:03,200 helpful guy in that regard, and kind of on the Daniel Tye thing, 2202 02:27:03,440 --> 02:27:07,879 which minus the trade kicker. Both McDermott and Dad Young I think are guys 2203 02:27:07,920 --> 02:27:11,680 that you could absolutely trade that kind of fit almost anywhere. Both of them 2204 02:27:11,719 --> 02:27:15,239 are pretty scalable. If you're again, if you're a playoff team and it's 2205 02:27:15,280 --> 02:27:16,479 a deadline, you're like, God, damn, we gotta free up this 2206 02:27:16,600 --> 02:27:20,600 offense. Doug McDermott forty one point three over three years, awesome, let's 2207 02:27:20,639 --> 02:27:24,520 do it, like, let's throw a first in whatever. So the Spurs 2208 02:27:24,559 --> 02:27:28,159 are kind of having it both ways if if that's what they decide to do, 2209 02:27:28,280 --> 02:27:31,799 and even just like to fill out the pot pourri of like different types 2210 02:27:31,879 --> 02:27:35,440 of deals they swung Zach Collins, great flyer, Like I don't I don't 2211 02:27:35,520 --> 02:27:39,600 think it's likely that he's gonna stay healthy just because he never has. But 2212 02:27:39,719 --> 02:27:43,840 you've just protected yourself against all the downside risk and maybe he's a stretch five 2213 02:27:45,000 --> 02:27:46,879 that starts for you in two years, like I don't know. That's stranger 2214 02:27:46,959 --> 02:27:52,360 things have happened, So I think I think the Spurs really kind of ticked 2215 02:27:52,360 --> 02:27:56,120 off everything they needed to and did better than they had a right to really 2216 02:27:56,200 --> 02:28:01,280 overall, so it's a firm B plus part. I guess what's also this 2217 02:28:01,399 --> 02:28:03,319 is in favor of them. But I don't know necessarily who you're now bestowing 2218 02:28:03,959 --> 02:28:07,159 the responsibility onto. But you both Patty Mails and the martoos and are gone. 2219 02:28:07,440 --> 02:28:11,479 You didn't functionally replace either of them. I know, Bryn Forbes, 2220 02:28:11,239 --> 02:28:16,319 like you, you've decided your primary playmakers now are Murray and White, I 2221 02:28:16,440 --> 02:28:20,559 guess, and I just I actually like that. There's probably more to plumb 2222 02:28:20,600 --> 02:28:24,040 with both of them. And then maybe what it says about well, they're 2223 02:28:24,040 --> 02:28:28,719 gonna try and give Kelton Johnson Lonnie Walker more responsibility. I think Devin Vassel 2224 02:28:28,760 --> 02:28:31,399 should play more. I don't think he's gonna be given more on more responsibility 2225 02:28:31,440 --> 02:28:35,040 though that would be a real shock. You'll even bringing even having a Katabate's 2226 02:28:35,120 --> 02:28:37,879 job on this team. Just take those type of flyers. Shorty mentions Jack 2227 02:28:37,920 --> 02:28:41,840 Collins, and I guess you get some playmaking from daddy as young. But 2228 02:28:41,920 --> 02:28:46,040 I do like and maybe even Trey Jones gets run now. So I do 2229 02:28:46,239 --> 02:28:48,200 like what this suggests about what they can do. I just don't necessarily know 2230 02:28:48,239 --> 02:28:54,360 if they have the talent in place to maximize not having the derosan petty milk 2231 02:28:54,399 --> 02:28:56,959 where there's not that clear pecking order. You have to be pretty high on 2232 02:28:58,440 --> 02:29:01,799 Jontay Murray's feel, and I'm not. I'm not there yet in half court, 2233 02:29:01,840 --> 02:29:05,360 but I liked it. The Spurs seem prepared to plumb I guess everything. 2234 02:29:05,799 --> 02:29:07,040 Yeah, no, that's a great point. I think they kind of 2235 02:29:07,159 --> 02:29:11,920 took the safety net out right because now it's it's been several years for Murray. 2236 02:29:11,000 --> 02:29:13,959 Now pose you know, he's had the ACL that interrupted his progress, 2237 02:29:15,000 --> 02:29:16,159 but like, now let's find out. Let's find out if he can be 2238 02:29:16,239 --> 02:29:22,120 the primary ball handler on an offense that doesn't have, you know, the 2239 02:29:22,319 --> 02:29:24,440 Mills and Duros and elements kind of taking they can the heat off. I 2240 02:29:24,479 --> 02:29:28,879 think I think if this is a rebuild, or if it's like a soft 2241 02:29:28,959 --> 02:29:31,920 rebuild, or it's a let's feel out how this rebuild might go, and 2242 02:29:31,959 --> 02:29:35,159 you're gonna I think we'll know after this year what Murray can do, right, 2243 02:29:35,159 --> 02:29:37,479 because I think he's deep enough into his career where if he's not ready 2244 02:29:37,559 --> 02:29:41,680 now, then he's just not the guy that you build around, which I 2245 02:29:43,000 --> 02:29:46,120 think they probably still believe that he is, and maybe maybe maybe that's what 2246 02:29:46,239 --> 02:29:48,200 this is about. As much as any do you want to take us through? 2247 02:29:48,440 --> 02:29:50,520 Oh no am I the final team? I am the final team, 2248 02:29:50,879 --> 02:29:56,000 the Utah Jazz. They acquire twenty twenty seven second round pick. It's at 2249 02:29:56,040 --> 02:30:00,559 least favorable okay see Houston, Indian Miami cash and created an nine point three 2250 02:30:00,559 --> 02:30:03,840 million dollars trade exception. Only seven point five million is remaining from that because 2251 02:30:03,840 --> 02:30:07,840 they took Eric pasch Gall into it. They acquired all that for Derek Favers 2252 02:30:07,079 --> 02:30:11,319 and a twenty twenty four first round pick. They sent that to Oklahoma City. 2253 02:30:11,399 --> 02:30:13,360 It's top ten protected in twenty twenty four and twenty twenty five, top 2254 02:30:13,399 --> 02:30:16,879 eight protected in two thousand and twenty six, turns into a twenty twenty eight 2255 02:30:18,000 --> 02:30:20,159 second if not conveyed. They acquired the number forty pick, which they used 2256 02:30:20,200 --> 02:30:24,559 on Jared Butler memphisis twenty twenty two second rounder, no protections on that, 2257 02:30:24,639 --> 02:30:30,479 and a twenty twenty six second round pick for number thirty which they sent out 2258 02:30:30,520 --> 02:30:33,399 to Memphis, and that They got pesch Gal from Golden State for memphisis twenty 2259 02:30:33,440 --> 02:30:37,559 twenty six second rounder protected thirty one to forty two. They signed Mike Conley 2260 02:30:37,559 --> 02:30:39,959 to a three year sixty eight million dollars deal. Fifty eight million is guaranteed, 2261 02:30:41,319 --> 02:30:43,280 fourteen point three million is guaranteed in twenty three twenty four. The total 2262 02:30:43,360 --> 02:30:48,040 deal can get up to about seventy two point five and unlikely incentives. They 2263 02:30:48,120 --> 02:30:50,639 signed Rudy Gay to a three year eighteen point six million dollars deal a twenty 2264 02:30:50,680 --> 02:30:54,760 twenty three twenty twenty four player option on that. Signed as On Whiteside to 2265 02:30:54,799 --> 02:30:56,440 a one year deal at the minimum. Signed Drew Brantley to a one year 2266 02:30:56,520 --> 02:31:01,719 Parsley guaranteed deal. Notable subtractions on this team Derrick favors, George Niang's now 2267 02:31:01,760 --> 02:31:05,239 in Philly, and they waived Matt Thomas, who actually thought it could have 2268 02:31:05,239 --> 02:31:09,239 been a useful player in Utah. Did I forget anything there, Grant, 2269 02:31:09,920 --> 02:31:11,239 I think you're good. I think you're good. I gave it a B 2270 02:31:11,360 --> 02:31:18,559 minus and that's based mainly on the Mike Conley deal. I'm totally fine with. 2271 02:31:18,719 --> 02:31:20,680 It's sort of like a Chris Paul light where you protect yourself on the 2272 02:31:20,760 --> 02:31:28,239 back end with some you know, not fully guaranteed stuff. I thought that 2273 02:31:28,559 --> 02:31:33,719 that's perfectly reasonable for him. I think he can outplay that for sure, 2274 02:31:33,760 --> 02:31:35,440 at least in the first year, and then after that who knows. But 2275 02:31:35,520 --> 02:31:39,280 the Jazz are win now team, So what you care about is right now 2276 02:31:39,399 --> 02:31:43,520 as much as anything. Rudy Gayze, okay, three years, eighteen and 2277 02:31:43,559 --> 02:31:48,399 a half, you know that's fine. Eric Pascal for nothing. Basically, 2278 02:31:48,600 --> 02:31:50,280 I think he can be like a ninth guy on a good team and he 2279 02:31:50,360 --> 02:31:52,959 can score off the bench. He can you know, he did that for 2280 02:31:54,120 --> 02:31:56,559 stretches with the Warriors when I mean granted they were really bad and had no 2281 02:31:56,639 --> 02:32:01,200 one else to turn to do this, but he's a hard guy to handle 2282 02:32:01,319 --> 02:32:05,319 one on one. If that's how you need to play your second unit minutes, 2283 02:32:05,799 --> 02:32:09,440 he can get you five six, you know, good possessions in a 2284 02:32:09,559 --> 02:32:13,399 row where you get a decent look. So there's some value there. I 2285 02:32:13,479 --> 02:32:18,479 guess I was also sort of generally encouraged that. So this was a team 2286 02:32:18,559 --> 02:32:24,319 that I think everybody thought, or the rumble was that, oh, you 2287 02:32:24,399 --> 02:32:30,040 know, one of favors Ingles or Bogdanovitch or maybe Clarkson is probably gonna have 2288 02:32:30,120 --> 02:32:33,600 to go because they're gonna want to trim that tax bill. And first of 2289 02:32:33,600 --> 02:32:35,760 all, they picked the right guy out of those to dump, which was 2290 02:32:35,799 --> 02:32:39,200 Favors because he was the least valuable. But then they actually brought Gay on 2291 02:32:39,479 --> 02:32:43,520 for a decent salary. So it just sort of indicates to me that maybe 2292 02:32:43,559 --> 02:32:46,840 there's a willingness to spend more than maybe I thought and a lot of people 2293 02:32:46,879 --> 02:32:48,799 thought. So that's a positive. I don't know. I know what their 2294 02:32:48,840 --> 02:32:52,920 tax bill is right now. I don't thirty eight point nine million entering the 2295 02:32:52,959 --> 02:32:56,719 season. They're eighteen point one million over the tax is what I have them 2296 02:32:56,760 --> 02:32:58,879 at. Okay, that's yeah. I don't know. I think maybe that 2297 02:33:00,360 --> 02:33:03,799 was that was not a sure a certainty it ought to be for a team 2298 02:33:03,840 --> 02:33:07,440 that's good. I think they're right up there with probably the Lakers and Sons 2299 02:33:07,520 --> 02:33:11,479 on teams you put in that top tier. I guess. So it's a 2300 02:33:11,520 --> 02:33:16,200 B minus. I had knocked him down a little bit because it seemed like 2301 02:33:16,319 --> 02:33:18,959 the biggest problem they had not seemed like it was clear that the biggest problem 2302 02:33:20,000 --> 02:33:24,120 they had was perimeter defense. The Clippers kind of cut him up Rudy Gobert 2303 02:33:24,239 --> 02:33:26,719 got heat for that because do you blame the big guy for not being able 2304 02:33:26,719 --> 02:33:30,760 to move around in that playoff series? But it was hard to do that 2305 02:33:30,879 --> 02:33:33,239 when you're every guy that's supposed to guard someone all the perimeter is getting smoked 2306 02:33:33,399 --> 02:33:37,120 and you know, just ping ping ball movement and you know the guys are 2307 02:33:37,159 --> 02:33:39,719 in the lane. They did not address that. Rudy Gay is not that 2308 02:33:39,840 --> 02:33:45,040 guy. If Donovan Mitchell's healthy, maybe that's less of a problem. Saying 2309 02:33:45,079 --> 02:33:48,200 for Mike Comley, that's the only thing I would have liked to have seen 2310 02:33:48,319 --> 02:33:52,440 is just go just go find find a wing, find a guard who doesn't 2311 02:33:52,440 --> 02:33:56,079 matter that is just gonna stay in front of somebody. They didn't do that. 2312 02:33:56,600 --> 02:33:58,479 Yeah, I'm with you on all fronts. I just went with a 2313 02:33:58,559 --> 02:34:01,959 B for them, and I thought not going to B plus because, like 2314 02:34:01,120 --> 02:34:05,360 you, I really like the willingness to spend That. Being said, they 2315 02:34:05,440 --> 02:34:09,200 could still get out of that, you know, just because they have Buddanovitch, 2316 02:34:09,280 --> 02:34:13,600 Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles. There could be other stuff afoot as we 2317 02:34:13,680 --> 02:34:15,840 get closer to the trade deadline, if they're not as good as they think, 2318 02:34:15,959 --> 02:34:16,719 or maybe if they are as good as they think, they just don't 2319 02:34:16,719 --> 02:34:20,479 want to pay it. So I sort of reserve judgment for that a little 2320 02:34:20,520 --> 02:34:22,319 bit, and I'm with you. I just probably would have liked. I 2321 02:34:22,399 --> 02:34:26,840 liked that they gave themselves the option to downsize. With that in mind, 2322 02:34:28,399 --> 02:34:31,159 Rudy Gay is thirty five as a player option for that third season. I 2323 02:34:31,200 --> 02:34:37,920 though the number isn't huge, it's just like a player option for Rudy Gay, 2324 02:34:37,959 --> 02:34:39,559 who's going to be entering his age thirty seven season at that point. 2325 02:34:41,120 --> 02:34:43,879 It's only six point five million, But Rudy Gay at age thirty seven, 2326 02:34:43,920 --> 02:34:46,399 that's all I keep coming back to. Still do have the option of running 2327 02:34:46,440 --> 02:34:50,000 some weirdo stuff in the front court that I liked during the non gobear minutes 2328 02:34:50,399 --> 02:34:54,520 with Gay with Eric pash Gal, who I thought was just because he's also 2329 02:34:54,600 --> 02:34:58,239 close with Donovan Mitchell. And so that's keep Donovan Mitchell happy at this point 2330 02:34:58,319 --> 02:35:03,440 because he's your champions lifeline as good as Rudy Gobert is right now. But 2331 02:35:03,639 --> 02:35:05,760 I would have liked to have seen them just done something additional on the wings. 2332 02:35:05,799 --> 02:35:09,760 And yes, these guys, by normal standards, they are athletic, 2333 02:35:11,200 --> 02:35:13,879 they are specimens at the by the NBA level, you know, they're most 2334 02:35:15,239 --> 02:35:18,239 They're most effective wing defender at this point is still going to be Royce O'Neill, 2335 02:35:18,479 --> 02:35:22,000 which is fine, but they need another one. And it's like, 2336 02:35:22,520 --> 02:35:24,159 you know, they gotten and I'm not saying they could have, but had 2337 02:35:24,159 --> 02:35:31,239 they gotten even a David Nahwaba or like just someone along those lines, to 2338 02:35:31,319 --> 02:35:33,959 have just a defensive specialist they could have thrown on the court in certain situations 2339 02:35:35,120 --> 02:35:37,520 throughout the regular season, of course, because you don't just want to bust 2340 02:35:37,639 --> 02:35:41,440 up, bust out guys for playoff minutes. It would have made me feel 2341 02:35:41,440 --> 02:35:45,719 better about their chances still there if you told me they were the number one 2342 02:35:45,760 --> 02:35:46,719 seed in the West, if you told me they were the team that came 2343 02:35:46,760 --> 02:35:50,200 out of the West. They're built for it. And I think as of 2344 02:35:50,319 --> 02:35:52,559 right now, their payroll and the way they acted for the most part over 2345 02:35:52,600 --> 02:35:58,079 the off season really just sort of reflects that. And it even could have 2346 02:35:58,120 --> 02:36:01,399 been as simple as had they traded for like a Dane will House was just 2347 02:36:01,559 --> 02:36:03,520 on this team, I would be like I might be B plus A minus 2348 02:36:03,600 --> 02:36:07,959 territory. So a good off season from them, it's just their most glaring 2349 02:36:07,079 --> 02:36:11,000 void because I don't think having the option of downsizing is great. Rudy Gobert 2350 02:36:11,040 --> 02:36:15,399 is so good. You need that option against what one to three teams. 2351 02:36:15,879 --> 02:36:20,479 Yeah, that's just where I'm at with them. I like it. I 2352 02:36:20,559 --> 02:36:26,000 think we I think we agree on that one. I do wonder it's just 2353 02:36:26,520 --> 02:36:30,079 it's they it's such a cliche to say this, but and we don't need 2354 02:36:30,120 --> 02:36:31,799 to go along on this, but it does feel like I think you're alluding 2355 02:36:31,840 --> 02:36:35,280 to they feel like they've got a move to make. Don't you think like 2356 02:36:35,440 --> 02:36:39,040 that's it just seems like, you know, the Ingles and Bogdanovich could turn 2357 02:36:39,079 --> 02:36:45,079 into something else or or I don't know, I just because I don't understand 2358 02:36:45,200 --> 02:36:52,040 the like Rudy Gay doesn't feel like someone that really addresses much. So so 2359 02:36:52,280 --> 02:36:56,479 yeah, I don't know. I could I could see them being well, 2360 02:36:56,559 --> 02:36:58,479 that's this is the other thing there. I think they're gonna be the number 2361 02:36:58,520 --> 02:37:01,600 one seed in the West. I think it's more likely than not. But 2362 02:37:01,879 --> 02:37:05,399 if they get to a point where it's clear they really need something, I 2363 02:37:05,440 --> 02:37:09,040 think they've got enough mid tier salary guys to really put something together and maybe 2364 02:37:09,159 --> 02:37:13,079 make our criticism of their lack of a wing defender. Uh, you know, 2365 02:37:13,280 --> 02:37:16,399 go away. Hey, we're not We're not grading what might happen in 2366 02:37:16,440 --> 02:37:18,200 the middle of the season. We're grading they did over the Auseton. But 2367 02:37:18,280 --> 02:37:22,040 yeah, I mean, and I don't know if you could say they're super 2368 02:37:22,079 --> 02:37:26,200 fluish just because Mike Conley isn't doesn't have like the most pristine bill of health 2369 02:37:26,280 --> 02:37:28,680 behind them. But when you look at just their secondary guys beyond Mitchell and 2370 02:37:28,719 --> 02:37:33,639 Conley, I think you could argue that at least one of Bogdanovitch, Joe 2371 02:37:33,680 --> 02:37:41,200 Angles, and Jordan Clarkson offensively is super fluish or redundant. Joe Angles is 2372 02:37:41,280 --> 02:37:43,840 the most plug and play among those guys, and I just love Joe ingles 2373 02:37:43,559 --> 02:37:48,120 so and he's clearly comfortable in Utah, and all those guys are so valuable. 2374 02:37:48,239 --> 02:37:52,600 But if Mike Conley and Donot and Mitchell are both healthy, your offense, 2375 02:37:52,040 --> 02:37:54,680 even if you want to load it up with shot creation, does not 2376 02:37:54,920 --> 02:37:58,920 need all three of those guys. And so it does feel I mean, 2377 02:37:58,959 --> 02:38:01,719 it's probably Captain IV, but it does feel like if there is a move 2378 02:38:01,760 --> 02:38:03,360 to be made, at least one of those three guys would be involved. 2379 02:38:03,360 --> 02:38:05,559 I don't know if you have an Inkling or a preference. If you're the 2380 02:38:05,600 --> 02:38:09,280 Jazz and you're gonna make a move in the season, who do view is 2381 02:38:09,280 --> 02:38:13,479 the least expendable or who's the player you'd move mine. I'll throw it out 2382 02:38:13,479 --> 02:38:16,479 there. I know he's coming off a great season, it would be Jordan 2383 02:38:16,600 --> 02:38:20,799 Clarkson for me. I think that's right because if you're a team again that's 2384 02:38:20,840 --> 02:38:24,200 trying to win playoff games, I think Clarkson has the least value of any 2385 02:38:24,239 --> 02:38:28,319 of those guys, especially if Pascal can give you like ten or twelve points 2386 02:38:28,559 --> 02:38:31,159 on reasonable efficiency, because that's sort of just you know, Clarkson's better than 2387 02:38:31,239 --> 02:38:35,799 that, but that role just means less. The other thing I didn't mention, 2388 02:38:35,840 --> 02:38:37,040 by the way, is I love the Jared Butler swing. I don't 2389 02:38:37,040 --> 02:38:41,399 know if he'll get any playing time with them, but I thought he was 2390 02:38:41,479 --> 02:38:46,120 like a lottery caliber talent. And there's obviously the concerns about his health. 2391 02:38:46,159 --> 02:38:50,920 I'm assuming that's what dragged him down. But to get that type of value 2392 02:38:50,959 --> 02:38:54,399 at number forty and maybe you know, I think the criticism would be if 2393 02:38:54,440 --> 02:38:56,440 you pick Clarkson over Madonovitch r Ingles, you're not going to trust one of 2394 02:38:56,440 --> 02:39:01,360 those guys to run the offense necessarily in non Mitchell and Conley minutes, I 2395 02:39:01,399 --> 02:39:05,799 would argue you just shouldn't have minutes where both those guys are off the court. 2396 02:39:05,920 --> 02:39:09,280 But I really Jordan Carson will give you the creation there. But Joe 2397 02:39:09,319 --> 02:39:13,200 Angles is a better passer than Jordan Clarson is at this point, and maybe 2398 02:39:13,280 --> 02:39:18,639 Jared Butler just gives you something there. Yeah, this has nothing to do 2399 02:39:18,719 --> 02:39:22,120 with this, but everybody stopped listening now. You made me remember that I 2400 02:39:22,280 --> 02:39:26,479 was on the Joe Angles should have won sixth man over Jordan Clarkson train all 2401 02:39:26,600 --> 02:39:31,399 year. Didn't didn't come out to see. Well for me, I think 2402 02:39:31,440 --> 02:39:35,680 there's a case there to be made if jazz fans are mad. You can 2403 02:39:35,719 --> 02:39:37,399 just look at it like you could just look at it as it should have 2404 02:39:37,440 --> 02:39:41,280 belonged to a jazz player either way, if you want to go on a 2405 02:39:41,360 --> 02:39:46,159 round. But this was great. It was also long again, but Grant, 2406 02:39:46,239 --> 02:39:48,399 thank you as always for undertaking the report cards with me. If you 2407 02:39:48,479 --> 02:39:54,239 are not following Grant on Twitter, remedy that post taste at GT underscore Hugh's 2408 02:39:54,319 --> 02:39:58,920 great follow covers the NBA Pleach Report. Fantastic writer. Please please if you 2409 02:39:58,000 --> 02:40:01,239 made it this far, especially lead or just hopping around the timestamps. Remember 2410 02:40:01,280 --> 02:40:05,360 to rate, review, subscribe to Hardwar Knox wherever you get your podcasts, 2411 02:40:05,719 --> 02:40:09,879 Spotify, YouTube, we post clips there, iTunes, Google Play, whatever 2412 02:40:09,920 --> 02:40:13,000 it's called. Now the whole night we are everywhere and anywhere. Thank you 2413 02:40:13,079 --> 02:40:16,440 so much for listening, and as always, as ever, shout out too 2414 02:40:18,120 --> 02:40:22,600 New Mavericks co star for Luca don Chich, Frankie Laquina,