What is crackoacing fellow thermonuclear a everts. I am Damn Falley. Let me
at you out, my co host grant you once again. This week we
have our mega NBA trade deadline grimers starting to roll out, where we will
cover every team in depth as possible. The West, the Eastern Conference excuse
me, will be going live on Friday, so please check it out.
I wanted to tackle some news and rumors, though some of which we might
not get to immediately. Some of these are teams in the East, so
yes, we might talk about them. Otherwise, some of the news items
just don't pertain to the trade deadline. So I wanted to go through react
to some of these rumors, some of the stuff that's being bandied about.
We'll see if anything breaks. As I'm recording this in the middle day on
Thursday, so I got one of my phones right here, and if anything
pops up, we will we will rap about it. So I put together
a list, and let's start with the Cleveland Cavaliers who have been balling amid
injuries. Even the Darius Garland out, Evan Mobley out, Donovan Mitchell missed
some time as well. They were chugging along, and you have to credit
Jared Allen for just playing like an absolute behemoth, and it reinforces if you
also need to credit you know, Craig Porter Junior has been filling good minutes
for them. You have to credit the minute they've been getting from the small
ball furs. Sam Merrill has been an absolute delight on most nights to watch.
He's also you know, if you watch watch him, that dude really
competes defensively, and so he's not always going to be great at it.
But this is not like some sieve necessarily, and so I think that makes
the cabs a little bit more interesting. Isaaca Corro's had some really good stretches
for them this year as well. They are in the market for a three
and D wing according to mark Stein, I believe it was. And that's
where this report though, comes from mark Stein, which is the focus of
this cavalier stuff, so marks down at his substack. Sources said the Miami
Heat continue to have a bona fide interest in Donovan Mitchell despite Cleveland's don't even
call us approach, and they could well choose to test that resolve with Mitchell
proposals after Miami's trade pursuits of Bradley Beal and Damian Loward over the summer ended
with neither player landing in South Beach. That's a mouthful, So basically,
the Heat are still interested that Mitchell. Stein also notes that the Knicks and
the Nets continue to be mentioned as well, but that multiple executives from rival
front offices have described Miami as a prime team to watch for Mitchell fit wise,
So take everything with a grain of salt when you're hearing it from rival
from an office executives mentioning other teams where Okay, it's clear that this is
not necessarily coming from inside the house and when this always could be. This
could even be just Miami talking as well. And look, on some level,
it probably is that they're going to be interested in Player X, the
Calves. I do believe we probably telegraph. Don't even call us approach because
you don't give up the package for Mitchell that you did just to short circuit
the entire thing less than two seasons into it. I'm sorry, the injuries
you think that could change their timeline? Okay, sure, unless Mitchell actually
asks for out, I just don't think this is a discussion. And in
the event it actually gets to that, it's going to be an off season
thing. I don't even think his trade demand would come now inside one month
to the trade that and we've seen more shocking things, and this is certainly
something to watch if the Cavs get the sense that, hey, he's not
gonna stick around. But the reason you gave up so much to get him
is because he had the three guaranteed years left on his contract before he can
reach free agency, and you see out two of those. If you find
out that Mobley and Garland for some reason are done, look, I get
it, and it comes down to the same thing with what we've seen from
Cleveland. This stretch is basically reinforced that they are better off finding bigs that
can stretch the floor alongside Mobi or Alan rather than having the two of them.
Yeah, certain matchups, it will work, and they're going to be
hell fired defensively, but the offense, the ball is going to be less
sticky. When those two aren't on the court. You're going to see just
better flour rounch in general. And to be fair, we haven't given enough
time for that dynamic to marinate. Alongside Mitchell and Strus and Garland just not
having that sample size. That is something that Cavs have to look at,
and that would be more of an offseason thing as well. For all these
teams. I've seen some people mention that Chared Awn as a trade target.
I just don't know how you reasonably trade him right now with the way he's
playing, Evan Mobley being out, So there's that element of it. When
it comes to Miami and Mitchell, I would agree though that they make the
most sense from a fit perspective, and even as a trade partner right now,
I still don't love the idea of Donovan Mitchell in New York with Jalen
Brunton. I think you would need someone if you're going to go that small
who's just going to give you more defensive juice. And if they're that small
in the first place, they're probably not giving you a ton defensive juice,
or if they are, they're not giving you enough on on the offensive end.
Brooklyn would be semi interesting, but I have no idea where the nets
are going. They're kind of just spinning their wheels right now. Where if
you did go into a consolidation trade, I understand the incentive you have to
do that, giving your your draft obligations moving forward. That would just be
weird. And there are other teams that could come into the mix, but
it does seem like Miami and one of the New York squads would be on
Mitchell's list. Again if he asks for out, Miami becomes interesting over the
offseason, I think because you would be able to put a bunch of picks
and swaps on the table. I doubt you're getting Jimi hawkez in it,
but if you could, I mean you absolutely should. He's he's been one
of the best, one of the three best rookies this year. And they
also this isn't a destination where in theory, if you're getting rid of Mitchell,
Tyler Hero could work. I don't know that you want to see a
ton of him and Darius Garland playing together, but if you wanted to stagger
them, bring Hero off the bench, you are losing the Donovan Mitchell shot
creation element, and so Tyler Hero could make sense there, Whereas Utah kind
of beginning of rebuild, they were going to be guard heavy anyway, that
didn't make a ton of sense. Portland Dido having Scoot Henderson Affry Simon's Cleveland
would be different again if and when we get to that point, I just
don't think we're there, and I definitely don't think the Cavs should be there
unless something changes on Mitchell's end on the Detroit Pistons. Caid Cunningham it will
be out for at least seven to ten days with a left knee strain,
which he suffered during Sunday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, So we've at least
already passed a few days worth of that timeline. I will say. Prior
to his injury, Caid was like balling pretty consistently. He was averaging about
twenty five points and eight assists on fifty nine plus true shooting, which is
on the cusp of league average when you're just looking at basically, it was
basically like the end of November through through now, the start of December through
now, and so to be at fifty nine true shooting that's on the cusp
of league average. His turnover rate also went from was at thirteen point seven
percent on twenty nine point four usage during this stretch. That's compared to sixteen
point eight turnover rate on thirty one point three percent usage before that, and
a fifty point three true shooting percentage. So until November thirtieth, I believe
was how I was. How I had split it up. He had a
fifty point nine true shooting and that shot up to almost sixty, closer to
sixty towards the end of November November thirty if, Yeah, so I confirmed
that. That's a pretty long stretch. We're talking a month and a half
ish to be at. That's a big deal because if he's going to be
efficient, he was making better decisions on his drives, his threes weren't falling
it necessarily consistent clip, but he had some red like some hot games from
beyond the arc, and he was shooting. And he's at least shooting almost
thirty eight percent on his wide open opportunities again during this stretch. Overall,
big loss for the Pistons, but it's it's better that it's not serious.
Speaking of it not being serious, luckily, Tyres Haliburton will be had at
least two weeks with a Grade one strain in his left hamstring. He suffered
it in Monday's win over Boston. The Pacers are relieved it wasn't worse.
Anyone who was watching is relieved it wasn't worse. It looked pretty bad when
he slipped and kind of did a split on the floor in the restricted area,
and the team reaction was just that was terrifying as well. I don't
think this shouldn't have unless there's a setback and he winds up missing like three
or four weeks is it, you know, sort of panic mode here,
You're not there yet. I do wonder if this impacts his All Star starting
candidacy at all. The fan vote element of it I think will help him
there, like just people have noticed him. We'll see what happens with the
players. I do think media unless he winds up missing like the like is
out until the All Star break, I still think that this shouldn't have any
bearing on where he ends up in that All Star pecking order, which is
good because you want players in there who deserve it. He deserves it right
now in the games in Indiana, and so you want to see him.
It will be interesting to see how the Pacers fair here. Their offense is
that he tread water for the most part with some of their lineups when Halley's
on the bench, but they're just getting blasted overall by like almost nine points
per one hundred possesions when he's on the court, I would expect to see
more of Benedick Mathern, who, by the way, this is not you
know anyone who's listened. We're not the highest on Benanic Mathern. He's been
playing really well for like, I don't know, since the start of December.
It feels like basically he's been slashing over this long stretch fifty four percent
from two forty three percent on threes and eighty five percent at the foul line.
He looks more even keeled. There are still gonna just be times like,
well, why can't he pass more? Where's the defensive consistency? But
you're just getting to a point where it feels like he's a more regularly reliable
contributor, which is a big deal for this team, especially with Hallie out.
The big question here, and this leads into another rumor, is would
this change the Pacers trade deadline approach at all? Grant I could get into
that. I don't think that halliburton injury changes anything. Woj did say though,
that the Pacers are determined not to give up Jaris Walker and a Siakam
deal, and I'm just like at this point, So whatre you like one
pick and expiring salaries then, or are you trying to sell you know,
Obi Toppin as just like the primary asseid in that deal. I can't envision
a scenario, especially given that Toronto wants back actual players. It seems where
the Pacers trade for Siakam and they don't give up Jaris Walker or Benedic Matherin.
And I don't think there's a need for Bennanick Maathine in Toronto right now.
Maybe you'd want some of the shock creation if Siakam does leave there,
and if let's just say, you don't put Jarvis Walker on the table.
And I know that he is Caitlin Cooper had posted some stuff about him,
and I know he's shown some flashes in the G League. But if you're
not giving him up, so then what do you not want to give up
your first round picks at all? Like you, I would imagine that Pascal
Siakam is going to take a minimum of the equivalent of three first round picks
to get I know that they technically got less for og that might be the
eye of the holder. Detroit's Pick's going to be number thirty one, thirty
two whatever, and then you got a manual quickly that's like close to two
first round picks right there combined. And then depending on how you view RJ.
Barrett and so, are you just trading away your entire future draft with
swaps that might appeal to Toronto enough even though it's not actual players to say,
Okay, hey, we'll do this. At the same time, the
Pacers aren't a type of team that mortgages the future to that degree, so
that feels very much like posturing. If they're interested in Siakam, it will
cost them one of their their blue chip youngsters that's not Tarrey's Haliburton would be,
would be my guest, And I do believe the Pacers. I've come
more around on this. Everyone who listens knows that I'm more of the They
need to skew three four here. Siakam cannot slide up to the three.
He could slide down to the five, though, and so that might make
it easier to give up a a jail On Smith and trade like another big
in addition to Jarris Walker. I mean, and just I think the Pacers
you want that extra shot creator who won't torpedo your defense or is more bankable
on defense, and the fit with Miles Turner's just super clean. Maybe your
rebounding is not necessarily where you want it to be, but I think between
Siakam and Turner and then you're gonna get from your your guards in Halliburton,
if Bruce Brown is crashing out there, that's going to be enough. I
would just be very interested in seeing, you know, Siakam translates well into
how fast the Pacers want to play. He can attack an open space in
the half court and its three ball has been falling for like a month now,
basically. So I'm this is to say I'm more coming around on the
Siakam deal. This is all to say you don't give up real value if
you don't think he's going to stay. And we know that Siakam has We'll
get into that in a little bit. Some of his own preferred destinations here
the Golden State Warriors, there's just a bunch of rumors floating around out there.
They don't want to trade Kaminga, They're willing to trade Wiggins. The
report today from Sham's with everybody not named Steph Curry is touchable. So Steph
Curry is the only untouchable. I don't think Sham's used touchable. I use
the word touchable. That's how we should say. Everyone on this roster is
touchable, with the exception of Steph Curry. Also, following their really bad
loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday, Steve Kerr said he thinks this team has
quote lost its spirit, confidence and belief, all right, and then Steph
Curry this was big to me. Was as so this wasn't unprompted. But
Steph Curry on whether the Warriors need to show the front office by the trade
deadline that this group should stay together, he said, it's pretty evident that
if things stay the same, that's the definition of insanity, right, do
the same thing and expect the same result. I'm assuming he meant different results
or that he was misquoted there. That's like, honestly good for Steph.
I saw people were kind of clowning him, saying, oh, you live
long enough. He turned into Lebron James fucked that. Like, this is
not someone who has complained or telegraphed that he needs to get rid of people.
There's definitely been some sort of undercurrents or like he's not not shade,
but like He's definitely called out without calling out certain teammates or players or mentalities
before, but never this forcefully, And like that's just different from saying that
this team needs We haven't had really a Steph moment where he said we have
to make changes at the trade deadline, even when he's asked. And good
for fucking him, because you're in the end of your window. No matter
how you feel about him, You look gassed towards the end of some of
these games. The load your shouldering is just absolutely mind blowing. You have
a dude in Draymond Green who can't even stay on the floor, not because
he can't play, but because he can't control his in game emotions at points.
Good for Steph. Honestly, I just don't know. I've gone through
it. I actually like the idea of de Jante Murray in Golden State.
I've just there's just like no fix here though. That makes me feel a
lot better about this team. Whereas even if you slop Pascal Siakam onto them
and that could you know the package that they give up to get him,
depending on what that is, you'll feel different about the roster. But it's
they're already kind of deep and what they really need is just the viable number
two guy. It feels like the clear second best player who's actually not gonna
get you know, suspended or ejected every other night, and that Siakam does
fit that bill to an extent. But if you're going to play him with
Draymond, since I assumed Raymond wouldn't be part of that deal, you need
to then surround them with enough shooting because that's what that's why you could play
Draymond Kaman Looney, who has not been great this year by the way,
together is that you just always had the thermonuclear af shooting of Klay Thompson and
Steph Curry that is still there to some extent. Clay's been playing better of
late, but like you still need to make sure that the rest of your
non core lineups are then going to have enough shooting on the floor. And
I guess between like if you went Steph, POD's, Clay, Draymond and
Siakam, like that is a lineup that would intrigue me. What is you
know, I'm assuming the Raptors would want CP three salary in a deal even
more. And we're gonna get to more about Shams shams Cham's it's not Shamsiakam
and the Raptors in a minute, But like, is Wiggans going out as
part of the salary? Is that a possibility or if he's not, then
you're still bringing him off the bench. And could that get what happens with
Johnathan Kaminga. Is he going out in that deal with the Raptors insist on
his inclusion or you building this thing around Moody, who, by the way,
I think the world of Moody and I would love a team to just
free him at this point and give him a ton of ton of minutes.
But are you building it then around Moody and picks and salary? You need
to see what the roster looks like afterwards. And look, the Warriors are
deep. They've gotten good minutes from Pods, They've gotten great minutes from TJD.
Dario Sharitch has been one of the like maybe the single best minimum signing
in the business. I don't want to say that blanket statement. I haven't
really considered it. I know we have others balling out in certain places.
It's like you feel good about points of their depth, especially if they can
get a little healthier what's going on with GP two. At the same time,
it's I put Siakam on this team, and even relative to the projected
cost of like player like rotational costs of getting him there, I don't know
if I feel much different with the word like. It feels like the player
they need or who could transform this franchise is either not available or they actually
need to make the tough call of well, it's really more about do we
move off of Clay's expiring contract? Do we look at moving Draymond? If
it feels like and this is how I'll frame it, that they need to
get rid of two of Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, And
that's just a very awkward spot to be And like the meaningful ocker, maybe
I'm wrong, Maybe Siaka would come in and do it. I would make
the move if he's available, but the Warriors' core absolutely needs to change.
I don't want to be a hypocrite though, and pretend like I to just
say it for them to do something without having a solution. And I don't
have a solution because even the best case scenarios, you know, I think
that they should really look into can they get like a DeAndre Hunter who's a
more reliable shooter, but he doesn't pass a rebound, kind of like Kaminga
and Andrew Wiggins, but is more reliable shooter than those two. You can
build the deal around Chris Paul's salary to get there. Maybe a couple first,
along with Moses Moody. I proposed one first because I think Hunters probably
on a net value contract, but a net negative contract. Hawk's fans weren't
thrilled about that one, though I get it. I mean, reasonable minds
can disagree. Some of them were asking me for me to be fired,
which feels like that goes touch too far. But what are you gonna do?
That's the nature of fake trades. They could get some like that.
I think the balance is out there roster pretty well. You need to do
it, you need to do it, and it's just like, are they
gonna do it? I think this front office is definitely less married to keeping
the court together. I mean, how could they not be, But like,
I just don't know that any move out there. If it was if
you told me they acquired a Larry market In or Michale Bridges, I'd probably
feel a lot differently. That's not to say those players are better than Siakam
because they're not. The fit for both of them is just cleaner. I
just don't think you have the equity to get which is the primary issue.
So if you can get Siakam, go out and get him. If it's
not him, I do like the idea of Dejontay Murray, can you get
someone else? I know in Discord Ruby sca really wanted vote down. Bogdanovic
makes sense on this roster, not if you're keeping Clay and then you also
have pods. To me, just that's my personal opinion. The extra shot
creation would would be great. Can you insulate them enough defensively to where you
play Dejonte, Clay, Bogdanovich and Steph at once and then with Raymond at
the five. I just don't know if that provide enough. If you can
get him, he's an upgrade over what you have, But it adds to
the move needs to be consolidatory in nature. It can't be the Warriors go
and get like two guys to add to disprotation that's already kind of a smattering
of depth. We're gonna jump ahead of the Grizzlies since it's about It's.
Well, there's two news items for the Grizzlies, one of which is breaking
and it's another injury run per Sham's Memphis Grizzlies guard Mark It's Smart has sustained
a severe right finger injury and we'll be silined for approximately six weeks. Another
difficult injury blow in the season for the Grizzlies. Yeah, and I would
think that takes him off the trade market and so far as he was ever
on there does sort of further their tank the Grizzlies also, and that's a
blow. Smart has not been good. We had the discord member Austin was
saying he was he's basically dat more expensive Davion Mitchell. That just goes too
far. He is still like a more dynamic offensive player at his peak.
He's on a new team, hasn't enough time necessarily to familiarize himself with the
players, including John Morant here. I still think Marcus smartest valuable. I
still think the Grizzlies are for paid to get him, and you probably resently
you definitely can't move now that he's injured. You're never gonna match his value
per return. They also, though, did sign Vince Williams to a three
year, guaranteed seven and a half million dollars seven point three million dollar contract.
There's a team option on year four. They need to wave back be
Amble to do it. I would look for Biamble to maybe wind up back
there though after the trade deadline, maybe when they've sort of consolidated some of
their own roster spots, assuming they they do anything about that. I do
really like Vince Williams. He's six' four. I said this in discord.
Join our discord if you haven't already, plays like he's six' eight.
There's been some peaks and valleys to his three point stroke, but he's
at roughly thirty eight percent on spot up threes for the season. That is
more than high enough when you're looking at the grizzlies other wing options, and
then just his defensive assignments. This is someone who when he's on the court,
he will guard the opponent's best player basically, irrespective of how big those
players are. And if you're hearing Barhey in the background, my dogs are
mad. They think I'm not giving Vincent Williams enough of his flowers. Apparently
like that could be lugad rons. It could be Kevin Durant, It could
be Tyris Halliburton, it could be Kyrie Irving. He's gonna defend those dudes.
That's fucking cool. Good for him. Could end up being a great
deal for the Grizzlies. Bummer about the Marcus Smart injury, just a just
another footnote on what is becoming a lost season for them. Their draft pick.
We'll see where it ends up. I would say the only teams that
are guaranteed to have a worse record than them right now, I go san
Antonio and Detroit and Washington are the only teams. And san Antonio could catch
fire just they do with some talent, but they've they've not caught fire just
yet. On the La Clippers front, Kawhi Leonard per Woe Jenscham's signed a
three year, one hundred fifty three million dollar extension that includes a fifteen percent
trade kicker. The projections on his starting salary are weird. They say fifty
two million. That's higher than his actual max. And so it seems to
just expect the current salary cap is going to increase by ten percent next year,
which is the most it can increase in any given season. We've been
working with a number. What is the number I have in our little salary
sheet here, I've been working with one hundred and forty two million dollars.
This is clear, and that would put Kawi's max at about forty nine point
seven. This seems to intimate that the max is going to be higher.
That might be or the excuse me, the salary cap is going to spike
by ten percent, or just typical agents speak where they're trying to frame the
deal in the best life for their clients. Would you also know that Paul
George extension talks are ongoing and that this kind of set the floor for what
they would have to give him. What I find interesting is in Brian to
Porrek from bleacher Port, friend of the podcast and co worker Brian to Porak,
who also writes at Liberty Ballers and hosts the NBA pod. He also
writes at Forbes follow him, had said something about does this make it less
likely verging on impossible, that George and Harden get longer deals than this,
Because what's notable here is that Kawhi in Net probably took a winds up,
taking a little too a lot less or not substantially less, but he takes
could be up to more than ten million dollars, less than what his actual
max ends up would end up being. But he also didn't get a player
option, and there's only three years tacked on to this one. As part
of the new CBA rules, they were able to work it so that he
declines his player option. He's having three three years tacked on to it.
That's not four and it could have been four. And so does that mean
that Paul George has no shot at getting four? That James Harden can't even
get a four year deal and he hits free agency. That benefits the Clippers
just looking at what their window is is that you don't have to commit to
what is gonna fast become an agent corp for too long. I'm just curious
whether it impacts those extension talks at all. What is also interesting here is
that the Clippers have basically said, and this was always gonna be the case,
but they've reiterated, fuck it again, We're going to be a second
Apron team for the foreseeable future. That really makes them an interesting team at
the trade deadline. They've been the best team in the league, or one
of the two or three best teams the league basically since the start of December,
and so you can look at them and say, well, now the
Terrence Man doesn't miss a three in twenty twenty four, do we really need
anything you want to talk about us? Oh, the fact that PJ.
Tucker's not playing and whould be put in this big spot. While Vita Zubox
looks like someone who needs to play thirty plus minutes a game, I would
still say that I would like to see them get another It doesn't need to
be a wing, but like a body that can slot in it. The
four maybe also play some small ball five. That's a pretty tall order.
At the same time, because of where they're at now with just the second
apron, they're not going to be able to combine aggregate salaries soon, and
so do you take advantage of that opportunity now? And what if you were
willing to put the twenty thirty first round pick on the table, who and
what does that get you? I mean, they can get to a twenty
million dollar player pretty easily, and they could shoot their sites higher than that.
If they're willing to maybe talk about Terrence Man, who should not be
untouchable. I'm not giving up Terrence Man to get a Dorian Hinnie Smith,
a Kelly on Lineika, any of those sort of names. But if you're
kind of looking at a deal that could get you, you wouldn't even need
to do this. Does that twenty thirty pick, if the Hawks are really
willing to blow it up, get you DeAndre Hunter or Yekakungu? You could
reasonably get to that if you were willing to do Man in your twenty thirty
pick? Does that get you plus other salary? Does that get you Jeremy
Grant? Does that go a bridge too far? I would love Jeremy Grant
on this team. He could play from some small ball four you need to
trust on everybody else to small ball five. Excuse me, you need to
really trust on everybody else to rebound. But he's an extra layer of creation.
Just you look at the way that he can attack in the half court,
mostly some straight line stuff, even when he's attacking from like the forty
five angles, but like he still has kind of the speed in the dexterity
to do some things with the ball. In addition is being one of the
more liable off ball players, and then that's giving you just more defensive insulation
in certain of your lineups where it's like you if you played Paul George Kawhi,
Leonard Jeremy Grant, excuse me, and then just you're able to play
so Harden's in there, there's your four main combination and then yeah, Zubox
works in there. Could you also get away with minutes if you want to
russell Westbrook in that scenario and downsize with Grant at the five, you could
have Man on the court. I like that setup. I just I don't
like the idea of giving up Man. And so it's just like if you
wanted another I don't know if I Yaka Kungu really is fits the bill of
the small ball big for them. He's not going to stretch the floor.
He would be like he's going to be better, like his zubats is great
foot speed on the defensive end, and he's a really good rim protector.
Oh, Kungou would give you some more switchability juice there if you wanted that
for the playoffs. You could also just shoot your sites lower at this point
and it's like, well, could we get Dorian Phinney Smith? And I
mean nik Klas would definitely cost you the twenty thirty pick, but Dornyan Phiney
Smith would be a good fit on this team. I don't know if you
want to get him to small ball five options. I mentioned Kelly Olynock again,
you could match the salaries pretty easy and does it. It shouldn't take
that first round pick to get him unless you're also, well, do we
want something else someone else? Excuse me from Utah. I don't think anyone,
even if you're combining them Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olinic doesn't do that for
me for the first round pick. My point really is, though, is
the Clippers, and they always were there at least a team to watch at
the trade deadline. They're so good right now that it's tough to envision them
even getting Jeremy Grant. Let's you him as an example. Does it feel
like overkill just because it's well, we have our big three. Russ just
like he's been and look, Russ will have his knights where he's just absolutely
terrible, and then he's gonna have his nights, especially when he plays the
Suns where he's really locked in defensively. The pace he can added this team
and the way he's accepted a smaller role has been great for the Clippers overall.
I know he might not have been the best soldier so to speak with
the Lakers. Maybe we'll never know the full story there, but I've been
really impressed with his demeanor on the Clippers and at times his play. But
like having all of these guys and then if you're gonna keep man, is
it just well, do we really need to aim and with how well Zubots
have been playing, we really need to aim our sites that high? Maybe
you don't. I would just note that it's gonna get so much harder if
you ever wanted to make a substantial trade and not be flipping one of your
star players to use that twenty thirty pick then and so maybe it's just perhaps
the idea of, well, we're gonna use that pick in a smaller salary
to get someone who would be cheaper anyway, like a Jaylen Johnson in this
year of his contract. That would That's my dream yet for so many teams,
because I just want to see him freed from Atlanta. But he's been
playing, he's been in Atlanta. The Lakers very quickly Darvin Ham's job is
not in jeopardy. He received a text of voted confidence from Jeanie buss Stein
also reiterated that he should be safe for now. The Lakers have won two
straight games. I just I don't know if you changed the coach, how
much better off they are. I haven't been a fan of Darvin ham signing
injuries as much, just because, Yeah, the Lakers have dealt with a
bunch of absences and Gabe Vincent's excuse me, that void is huge. He
he was someone that I thought maybe could close for them when they signed him.
I get that element of it. A lot of teams are dealing with
injuries, and it's not like you're dealing with superstar injuries. Anthony Davis and
Lebron James have battled some stuff, but they buy in large been available,
and so that has rubbed me the wrong way. And some of the lineups
just don't make a ton of sense, and like the way he deprioritizes spacing
at points, it rubs you the wrong way. I just I'm just not
someone who technically calls. It takes a lot for me to call for a
coach's job, and I wasn't there with him anyway, and I would still
be fairly it wouldn't shock me but fairly surprised if he gets bounced before the
end of this season. The Knicks were denied a disabled player exception for Mitchell
Robinson, who underwent underwent and left ankle surgery that means he could return this
season. I will say this felt like these things are normally just granted.
I guess it's encouraging that the NBA's determined we don't know if he'll be out
through June, like that's basically the criteria here. I just don't I can't
imagine helped that when Tom Dibdeau was talking about it, he stuck to the
eight to ten week timeline. Was just like, oh, well, you
know, you can ask Leon Rose if he's gonna be out for this season.
Leon Rose has fucking talked to the media at number one, and that
just kind of undermined the whole disabled player exception application in itself. So I
found that a little funny. Does the Knicks's recent play impact their trade deadline
approach it all, especially if they know Mitch's coming back, That'll be a
big question. Hartenstein's been bawling. I think the the implications that they need
another ball handler creator and I would agree, but Duce McBride's giving you some
good minutes. Did it with Quentin Grimes. The ball is just moving incredibly
crisply in New York's half court right now. I don't know if that's an
extension of because og Anoby is in the Capslock Creator, and there's that incentive
for RJ. Barrett, so like he's gonna put the ball on the floor
a little bit more. We've seen what RJ. Barrett can do in Toronto,
We've seen it owns to New York. He wasn't just like this hopeless
ball stopper for long stretches and entire games or possessions at a time. So
I watched the offense since they've gotten o'gannaobi, there's a lot over the past
few games. I found myself thinking, with the way that Dante DiVincenzo and
Josh Harder kind of filling the gaps here, and if Duce McBride and grihyme'
is gonna give you reroalw minutes, why go out and get certainly like,
do you even need a Brocton? Do you even need a de Jontay Murray?
He still kind of intrigues me just by rolling some of your assets into
Murray is a singular asset and then making another move later. I find myself
not wanting to mess with this Knicks team, but I also think I'm in
the honeymoon phase of watching them with OG and that come playoff time, you
want the third guy who can generate his own shot aside from Randall and bruns
In, especially when one Brunton is small and two given Julius Randall's playoff track
record. Still great news overall that Mitchell Robinson might be coming back because the
Knicks, just in terms of not having star power, they might have between
Robinson and Hartenstein the most capable forty eight minute center rotationally. I mean,
there's Jared Allen and Evan Mobley for sure, and then anytman. Minnesota has
Karl Anthony Towns and Rudy Colbert and Nasriez, but they're up there. And
so I've been really impressed with Hart's play. He's been great defensively, and
he's a little more dynamic on a little more DNA. He's a lot more
dynamic on offense than Mitch Eric's Boelstra per. Both Boje and John signed an
eight year, one hundred and twenty million dollars extension with the Heat. It's
the most guaranteed money per WJES for a head coach in North American sports history.
This is supposed sixteenth season at the Helm. He's made six NBA finals,
won two titles. I still am just amazed he's never won Coach of
the Year. Will that change this season? Good for him? Easy decision
if you or the Heat. We're seeing coaching salaries go up. He is
technically the second highest paid coach in the league on a per year basis,
behind Greg Popovich. Just as guaranteed money is wild. I mean, these
are coaches made more than some players, but like eight years in one twenty,
now of a sudden, you know that your coach is going to be
making more per year than a you know, a PJ. Tucker, like
to mid level. That's like this is an average of we're talking like was
it fifteen million dollars a year? And so that's like that's more than the
mid level, the non tax players mid level in the NBA. That's a
pretty pretty big deal. So it's like, yeah, fifteen million dollars a
year, which is right now about two and a half million dollars more than
the mid level good for coaches, and I think Spoe particularly is just a
genius and I won't I will. He just knows how to pull these different
levers. Even this year, the Heat are six games above five hundred,
despite Jim hawk Is leading the team in total minutes and neither Bam nor Jinny
Jinny that's my mother in law's name, Jimmy ranking inside the top three.
Plus you've had Martin being banged up for most of the year, and your
top three in total minutes are Duncan Robinson and Kyle Lowry. And just the
way that the Heat they cycle through these guys that they'll find in the G
League or just on Earth off the scrap heap, and then even just the
renaissance of Duncan Robinson and the way that they've been able to deploy him since
the playoffs. To me, Spoe isn't just the best coach in the NBA.
He's the best coach in the NBA. And it's by a sizable margin
at this point. I'm interested to see. I think a lot of it's
going to depend on record. And you have Chris Finch in Minnesota, you
have Jamal Mosley in Orlando as good candidates. You have Mark Dagnold in Oklahoma
City. There's always a lot of deserving candidates for Coach of the Year depending
on where the he finished. They'll be interesting to see how much love he
gets. This is absolutely someone who if he never wins a Coach of the
Year awards, that's mind blowing to me. The Sixers Joelle Embiid missed the
game on Wednesday with swelling in his left knee. He's now missed six of
eight due to various injuries and been absent in nine of Phillies thirty six games.
That puts him on pace for under sixty five appearances. Just something to
monitor because we know how much he wants to win a second MVP award.
The priority needs to be just making sure he's whole for the playoff push.
I have continued and the Zach Low had mentioned this, I believe on his
podcast and at the point where I'd like to see Philly do more than hold
serve and see what their cap space gets them in free agency, I'd like
to see them do something at the deadline. I don't hate the idea of
de Jante Murray there either, So Benny about maybe should they have gone after
Marcus Smart before his finger injury, that's clearly off the table. I don't
think they. I really don't love zach Lavine there, even though he would
help them. Just that money and what do you actually need to give up
to get him. I'd like to see them to sort of just monitor the
market for opportunities that that might arise. And I wish they note that I
wish because I don't have a rooting interest in this team. They I do
think their big move will need to come aforem in a wing that maybe has
some ball skills surprise, surprise, A lot of teams need that. Orgian
Nobe would have been perfect even though he doesn't have a ton of ball skills.
He can he can do some stuff in open space. If mckal bridges
became available, the Philly's just not going to have the best package based off
the picks that they can move. And we know Max he's not going to
be on the table, and so I can't pretend to sit here and say,
oh, I know like this, this name is out there and they
shouldn't care too much about adding salary for next season. Someone like bo Don
Magdonovich for them though, that's someone where you could still you have a salary
on the books for next year. It could still carve out a MAX slot
well, carrying Tyrese Max, He's cap hold, just something for them to
consider there and on the Raptors. So per Sam Amick of The Athletic,
this is this is not verbatim, but The Athletic reported Seakam's desire for max
deal is set regardless of whether he stays in Toronto past February's deadline or is
moved to another team. He has also reportedly expressed the fact that he's not
seen the Sacramento Kings as a quote long term fit. Now, I'll start
with the King's part of this. I agree with Siakam, and I saw
some Kings fans interpreting this as well. We've had players like Chris we come
here and they were happy in Sacramento. I don't think this is an issue
of oh, Sacramento sucks, or even that the Kings are a terrible organization.
Now, I just don't like the sabonus Siakam fit on the offensive end,
and Siakam if he wants to not just retain his value but be a
featured option or be in the best position to succeed both individually and collectively.
I don't think it's with Sacramento and and Doma Simonis. I'm open to the
idea that it won't flop. I just think that that is such an awkward
dynamic and I wouldn't love it on the max contract front. What is do
like? I get it that there's I'm stumbling here. I wouldn't. I'm
at the point where and this is either me I'll admit to either I was
wrong to say that the Raptors should have given up Siakam instead of Annobie.
Or is it just we're getting more information because we know what the Raptors that
look like, because they have another dynamic creator in the mix with Emmanuel quickly
and even just the minute they've been getting from from Marj Barrett. It's a
combination of both I was wrong and there getting more information, so we should
change our takes if something is off. I want to make it clear in
Toronto, where Siakam doesn't want to be there or the franchise doesn't value him
or doesn't want to pay him, then yet you need to move him at
the trade headline because the biggest disaster would be keeping him not extending him this
season and then he leaves in free agency for nothing. You just you can't
let that happen again, after allowing it to happen with Fred van Fleet,
after minimally capitalizing on Kyle Lowry's departure as well. And let's not to say
like you already lost like the whole quiet lender of stuff and like the members
of the championship team. Siakam, though, is an all NBA type player.
He's made to all NBA teams. The fact that people seemed miffed that
he wanted his full boat max. What are we doing here? Just unless
you just think that these top fifteen to thirty guys don't deserve maxes anymore.
Okay, that's one stance. Seacom's four year max, if he signs with
his own team, would be one hundred and ninety point eight million dollars about
that's that's the extension he could sign with Toronto right now as well. He
can't sign an extension for that if he goes to a new team, he
would have to wait until free agency. The five year max, which he
can only get from the Raptors or the team that trades for him, is
five years, two hundred and forty seven point one million. Maybe that's the
number that makes you uneasy. The five years takes him through his age thirty
four campaign. That's like, that's about right, I would say. I
mean, I think that the back end that deal could be a little rough,
but I would think the first three to four years of any contract he
signs will end up being fine. His four year max if he just leaves
the fret, Like if he leaves the Raptors in free agency or another team
in free agency, it's four years, about one hundred and eighty three point
two million dollars. Those numbers could go up depending on where the salary cap
goes I'm paying SIATI. I would give Siakam a four year max and probably
not think too hard about it. The way that he's kind of finding his
spot to fill in in Toronto as they've done things differently, as they've transitioned
to more of Scottie Barnes and even having a manual quickly there. If you're
the Raptors and Pascal Siaka wants to be there and you can get him the
fifth year stuff I get. I want to make clear I don't want Raptors
stands in my mentions saying I watch every Raptors game and this that, by
the way, that's my least, that's a pet peeve of mine. I'm
op. I'm I feel like as a podcast host and content creator, I'm
very open to the fact that people who root for a team know more about
that team, or at least just as much about that team than I do.
I don't need you in my mentions because I'm saying something about Team X
and that it's not blatantly wrotch as well. Actually, like my team hasn't
been playing that well of late, and so this doesn't count as a good
victory for a team. Why that just beat Team X? I just that
stuff. Just my job is not to know your team as well as you.
My job is known the rest of the league and if you want to
do as good of a job as me. And I'm going off on this
rant here because I saw people calling out certain other people where they need to
get fired, and it's a lot. It happens a lot of the time
where yeah, there are blowhards when it comes to talking about the entire league
or a bunch of different sports, it's it's annoying. I get it,
it's frustrating as a fan. You need to the bar needs to move when
you're talking about when you do and I'm gonna just say it right here,
when you do what Grant and I do. I'm sorry that we don't know
about the Charlotte Hornets rotation on the second end of a back to back on
a Wednesday in January or on as keen into that. We need to know
a general more idea of the Raptors, the way that they're the Raptors,
the Hornets, the way that they're playing in addition to their cap situations,
the direction they're headed, what individual players guys are doing. And yes,
we need to watch the games. We need to watch film and that is
what Grant and I do. If you're just going too well actually literally the
smallest points, I'm open for discussion. But if you're gonna preface it,
well, I watch every game. I don't fucking care, honestly, don't
fucking care. Go do what I do that and do it better. If
you're gonna take a sception, well giving your opinion on the Excuse me as
I'm choking in the middle of this rant on the Washington Wizards while the other
twenty nine teams in the league, and be accurate in any way about what
you're saying and thorough So please, that's just that's gonna earn you an automatic
mute, or just I'm gonna ignore your comments if you start saying that.
Just a pet peeve of mine. So see, I get why Raptor stands
to that point, and there have been disagreements in discord, and I respect
the hell of the people that think you just need to trade them because something's
off here. If that is the case, yes, you need to trade
them because you can't afford to lose them. You can't afford to lose them
for nothing. The real I would do is the organizations. I'm looking to
change up the five spot. Even if you think we've seen Siakam play them
five there, what can you Yaka partls injured right now, that's the other
thing. He's going to miss some serious time at the moment, and so
I'm fascinated to see how the Raptors wind up playing while he's on the sideline
with his left ankle issue and they don't even have a timeline for his return.
I'm not saying that they're gonna move him at this deadline. I don't
know necessarily where his contract would be viewed, or how how well or favorably
or disfavorably or be viewed around the league, but that to me is the
more palatable path forward, especially because they've already prioritized the acquisition of players over
picks, and a lot of these teams that are interested in Siakam they're not
going to have, especially if we don't want to give up jos Walker for
him, They're not going to have actual players that can help you now,
or even some of the ones that will be available Jared Walker as a as
an example, is he going to help you now? The Warriors could probably
be one where it's, oh, we get a pick and then if we
think Kaminga and Moody can help us plus salary, okay, sure, But
I just if you're telling me that you can get Kaminga and Moody and a
Warriors for Siakam, or you can keep Siakam and then just look at moving
Yaka Peerle, trying to get a floor spacing big in there, or playing
Siakam even more at the five as time goes on, because you have Scottie
Barnes and you have RJ. Barrett, maybe it's oh well, let's just
try and get a bigger wing in there. I like that a lot better,
and I'll get into more of this when we do their trade deadline preview.
I just wouldn't rule out the Raptors as under the radar buyers to where
I think we've the ship has sailed on them trying to consolidate, especially now
if they don't have OG and you can't aggregate a manual quickly or r J.
Barrett. If they're they're not going to be in on the I mean,
the cost is apparently low, the market is Barren. I would still
I wouldn't hate zach Leen on this team still you can. It's late the
hell out of him defensively, even without o Jiananobi there, I not would
not be my favorite. Guess oh we exactly in the books for forty plus
million, then Siyakham, can you just get another perimeter player or someone who's
gonna where you're not, someone who doesn't nudge up Siakam to the five necessarily,
but is going to be better in those minutes than a Yaka partle who
can limit your spacing as useful as Yaka Purdle is at times. That's just
my stance on the Raptors right now. The caveat is just if you if
you don't want to go five years out for Siakam and that's the only way
he's staying in Toronto, then yes, I get the hesitance. Do not
wait this out. Then that's when you need to move him. If it's
he's looking at other teams, or he's demanding the fifth year, even if
it's some adjusted scale of a submax. But that's also something that could happen.
Is okay, well we had to go out on a fifth year,
but maybe he gives up the player option and it's not a total max.
Maybe it's five years and two hundred and twenty million because he's guaranteeing himself a
you know, more money over the longer hauld. You just save close to
thirty million dollars depending on where the cap winds up. I'm not saying he's
a perfect player. He's just he's been balling lately. There are times where
it feels like he is disengaged. Not that he's not invested in the game,
but the Raptors before the trade, after the trade, We're trying to
figure out their pecking order. This is an all NBA player, and you
don't just move an All NBA player who is more way more of an anomaly
than og Annoby was in a vacuum. Pascal Siakam is a much much,
much better player than og Anobi. Og Anobi is much more scalable, and
so it's in the eye of the beholder. But I think I'm just I
thought the Raptors need to move him instead of og for fit purposes. I'm
kind of not there anymore. He's adapted even even better to Scottie Bonds the
season has gone on, and I also just think like adding the second dynamic
creer or third in a manuel quickly has just opened things up in a way
for Toronto that it wasn't before, in a way that Dennis Shrewder was was
never going to, in a way that even Fred van Fleet didn't because he
was hitt is pull up three pointers the way that i Q can, and
the way that IQ gets into the lane and leverages that float or in an
accurate fashion and has the has like the there's the acceleration there and just has
like the acceleration to deceleration from him. It's just it's wiley, it's crafty,
and then if RJ. Barrett's gonna play like this, of course makes
your job a lot easier. He's been great at finding he did this in
New York at times. We've been great at finding pockets of space within finite
space of Toronto so far. So that's where I'm at with Siakam. Team
should be interested in him, though, and we'll get into morecam destinations on
the East Pod. But I'm just the Raptors are weird because they're so far
below five hundred that it makes you feel and they just suffer too gutting losses.
They you almost beat the Clippers. There's the controversial loss because the rest
with the Lakers the other night, I believe that was that was Tuesday.
I feel so much better about this team post Oljiannaobi trade, which I never
thought I would say there. And yet it's just you have to look at
the reality of the NBA standing in standings, and it's well, they might
be a play and it's is that going to be enough? And so you
have to be cognizant of that as well. Whereas are we about to pay
iq Scott. He is extension eligible this summer as well. We have our
j in the books for you know, twenty seven plus, and then we're
gonna give Siakam forty plus million dollars a year forty five plus million dollars a
year over the over the long haul when it averages out, you have to
have that discussion. But I do think, just as I think more avenues
are probably available to them now than they were before, the ogana will be
trade, which again I didn't necessarily think that that would be possible. I
would say for teams that should be in to wrap this up very quickly.
On Pascal Siakam, and I want to If I'm the Raptors, I'm not
trading him. That's just where if he wants to be there, I would,
I'd stick with him. I think the Pacers should probably be super aggressive.
I'm not opposed to the Grizzlies being ultra aggressive with their picks package and
saying, hey, yeah, we're gonna resign him and he'll help us this
season and we're just gonna see how this works. I'm not I don't love
it, but I'm not opposed to it. I would like to just see
him in Golden State because I want Steph to help. Steph is one of
my players of favorite players of all time. Excuse me. So those are
the three teams. I don't hate him in Dallas, I just don't for
the Raptors, love the package that you would be getting back in return,
and so I think those are my three teams. Memphis is just so off
the wall that it would be Oh Beckles Yakam and Memphis and John Morant's not
there, and just I would intrigue me to see him play with Jared Jackson
Juniors basically where I'm at there. Hopefully you enjoyed this again, come back.
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I believe, I believe that's about it. I want to shout out just
any new listeners that we're getting. It always warms my and all the kind
words we get. We're grateful for all your support. I appreciate every single
one of you. And when we have people who hit me on the side
to say that they do appreciate the job we do or that they like something
that we do, I do look at a lot of critical feedback and take
it to heart. I probably read too much into it at points, but
that's always valuable to have. I will say, though, when we get
nice messages, whether it's on discord, in the comments of YouTube in my
dms on Twitter. Finding out that there're still just new people finding this show
after all this years. That's what keeps Grant and Eye going. And so
thank you, every single one of you. And if you're a new listener,
if you've just found us, whether it's on Instagram, you found us
through TikTok or shorts or YouTube, just let me know, Just let let
us know YouTube comments, join our discord. It's always fun to hear that.
Until next time, which will be very soon, And as always,
I leave with the shout out to the one, the only, the indelible,
the eminently not touchable. He can't be touchable. It's not just because
he's injured. It's because he's the best player in the best prospect in the
Basin's not a finished product just yet. Frank Healer