1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,879 What is krack Alack In Hardwar Knocks listeners, I am Damn Valley coming out 2 00:00:07,879 --> 00:00:12,759 you once more without my fantabulous co host Adam Brommel. I am, however, 3 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:17,600 continuously excited to keep our team a look ahead train on the role. 4 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:22,320 The New Orleans Pelicans are next up on the docket. Shama Dua from the 5 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,440 In the No podcast, a fellow Blue Wire podcast, was kind enough to 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,280 come on and speak with me about this team. There's lots of talk about. 7 00:00:29,359 --> 00:00:33,320 He's also the lead writer for Bourbon Street Shots and he is as well 8 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:39,119 a contributor to w d SU. Follow him on Twitter at Fear the Brown 9 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,159 spelled exactly as it sounds. He's been a great follow all off season with 10 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,560 a lot of the off court drama stuff that's been going on. So highly 11 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,240 recommend you follow him, just like I highly recommend you follow all of our 12 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,640 guests. Before we cannonball, bellyflop dive into a bunch of Pelicans talk. 13 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,640 Please let me remind you to continue rating, reviewing, and subscribing to Hardwin 14 00:00:57,719 --> 00:01:02,159 Knox wherever you get your podcasts down every episode is a huge way to help 15 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,640 us in the charts. Also, whether you use iTunes or not we asked 16 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,280 that you had over to iTunes. If you have access to it search Hardwood 17 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,439 Knox. Throw us that five star rating and also write a review, even 18 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:14,840 if you're criticizing us, because that helps us a ton. So long again 19 00:01:14,879 --> 00:01:18,400 as you throw us to five star rating. Two. If this is your 20 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,920 first time listening to this podcast, maybe you're a Pelicans fan, maybe you 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,120 stumbled upon us randomly, whatever, consider throwing us that permanent subscription. We 22 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:32,680 cover the league at large and a pleasantly sub mediocre, modestly insufferable fashion. 23 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,200 We can be followed on Twitter at Hardwood Knox. We're on YouTube go to 24 00:01:36,239 --> 00:01:40,239 YouTube dot coms or Hardwood Knox subscribe to our channel. We're on Instagram as 25 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:45,599 well at Hardwood Underscore Knox. Without any further delay, let's get to some 26 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:51,640 super deep, thorough New Orleans Pelicans talk with Shamon Dua from the In the 27 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:56,000 No podcast, among many other places. Shammon, thank you so much for 28 00:01:56,120 --> 00:02:00,239 coming back on the Hardwood Knox podcast to talk New Orleans Pelicans with me. 29 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,159 There is pretty much nothing going on with this team, right They've been pretty 30 00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:07,000 boring, I think before we get started, though, in all serious says, 31 00:02:07,039 --> 00:02:12,120 how are you doing? Hey, thank you for having me, and 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,800 I'm doing I'm doing okay. Could be better, you know, if the 33 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:22,039 Pelicans had non interesting news, I would be better. But seeing us there 34 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,759 and the Pelicans, there's always something up and and yeah, I'm sure we're 35 00:02:24,759 --> 00:02:30,319 going to dive them into that very soon. I think my first question for 36 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,960 you is, has David Griffin tried to play piano in your house at all? 37 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,439 You know, that'd be pretty awesome if you did, because I'm a 38 00:02:38,479 --> 00:02:43,639 big fan of live music entertainment, and if Griff, you know, felt 39 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,960 the need to show off his piano skills, play a few chords here and 40 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:52,560 there, maybe some Mozart, it could be good for the atmosphere. I 41 00:02:52,599 --> 00:02:55,800 did appreciate NION's answer when he was asked about that though I'm not letting a 42 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,439 grown man play piano in my room or whatever he said. I thought that 43 00:03:00,479 --> 00:03:06,319 was funny. Yeah. So the Pelicans offseason, I think they got a 44 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:09,080 ton of flak from the national media in general, and I think even at 45 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,680 least at the beginning, it seemed like fans were really angry with them, 46 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,120 I would assume in large part because they go through the motions of clearing cap 47 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,400 space presumably for a Kyle Awry or maybe a Chris Paul Chase, and you 48 00:03:20,479 --> 00:03:23,080 don't end up with either of those two after, you know, looking at 49 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:28,159 those moves in some losing Lonzo Ball but getting you on his now chu and 50 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,400 as having DeVante Graham looking at their additions, their subtractions now that everything has 51 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,240 had time to marinate. Do you just have any general thoughts or impressions about 52 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,719 the off season that are sticking with you that you want to get off your 53 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,919 chest as we head into the regular season. Yeah, for sure. I 54 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:46,439 mean, I think it's pretty interesting to sort of see the national perspective on 55 00:03:46,479 --> 00:03:53,439 the Pelicans offseason kind of flip in terms of what the reaction was when things 56 00:03:53,439 --> 00:03:59,319 were going down August one, and then you know what the reaction is now 57 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,400 that things have had a chance to simmer down and we're headed into the preseason 58 00:04:02,439 --> 00:04:06,319 or the regular season in the preseason's currently going on. And so while the 59 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:11,400 initial reaction, like you mentioned, was like pretty strongly negative, and now 60 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,920 it seems like a lot of these writers and media personalities stuff come around on 61 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:21,759 the players, come around on I guess Zion ironically, and some of the 62 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:27,759 fits that some of the some of the fits that the Pelicans added the summer. 63 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,439 So I you know, I think my initial approach was a little bit 64 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,360 in the middle of that. It's like, Okay, they I think they 65 00:04:34,399 --> 00:04:39,759 brought in some better fits in terms of Jonas Valanciunas, I think Devonte Graham's 66 00:04:39,759 --> 00:04:43,600 gonna fit pretty nicely with Diane and Brandon Ingram. You know, I do 67 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,639 question I do question the defense of this team. I do question the guard 68 00:04:46,759 --> 00:04:50,439 rotation of this team in general. And so that's going to be a story 69 00:04:50,519 --> 00:04:55,720 like storyline to watch going forward into the season. But you know, I've 70 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,360 always thought that the ceiling of this team is going to depend on how good 71 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,639 they're too old are and if they are, if they're really good players. 72 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,959 You know, if if Zion is supposed to be a top ten player, 73 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,279 then they have everything you need on the roster to make the playoffs. And 74 00:05:08,319 --> 00:05:11,600 if he's not a top ten player, well then you know, the question 75 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,279 can be asked like, Okay, well, what's going to happen with this 76 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:16,759 team? And likewise, is Brandon Ingram, you know, if he if 77 00:05:16,759 --> 00:05:19,360 he continues to improve at the rate he's been improven, and you know, 78 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,920 he solidifies himself as a top I don't know, twenty to thirty players, 79 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,319 and you have two of those type of guys. You shouldn't struggle to make 80 00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:30,879 the playoffs. You just shouldn't. And so yeah, I mean, I 81 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,079 think I think it depends more on them than it does on everything else. 82 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,639 I was pretty and what the fuck mode as everything was unfolding for them, 83 00:05:38,759 --> 00:05:41,800 And when we went back and I did like our off season grades a month 84 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,480 through whatever ago, I think I wound up in the middle like you, 85 00:05:44,759 --> 00:05:47,639 And I think one of their biggest things that they did is the non Zion 86 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,800 minutes look like they're going to be better, and I think DeVante Graham is 87 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:56,079 a chance to give them more of a traditional floor general dynamic than Lonzo Ball. 88 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,839 I just felt like they went through a lot of motions and nastics and 89 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:05,319 and just stuff, unnecessary stuff to make what could eventually be like a lateral 90 00:06:05,399 --> 00:06:10,040 move because I don't know that they're a bona fide playoff team. It did 91 00:06:10,079 --> 00:06:12,759 when you just look at like in real time, though, it was very 92 00:06:12,759 --> 00:06:15,959 easy to sort of overreact and be like, this is franchise mal practice what 93 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:20,240 they're doing. Yeah, I mean, look, I think part of it 94 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:25,360 was that there is all these expectations built up. Oh my gosh, like 95 00:06:25,399 --> 00:06:27,680 they're they're one of the favorites for Kyle Lowry. Oh, they're in hot 96 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,600 pursuit for Kyle Lowry. Oh they you know, they offered Chris Paul a 97 00:06:30,639 --> 00:06:33,920 pretty big deal, like you know, like those were the words coming out 98 00:06:33,959 --> 00:06:36,959 of all like the National reporters, right. And then at the same time, 99 00:06:38,079 --> 00:06:42,639 you have this polarizing figure in Lonzo Ball, who you know, when 100 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,839 when games are going on, people will make fun of him, and then 101 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,000 you know, the off season is here, all of a sudden, he's 102 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:53,319 this massive piece that the Pelicans lost, and so in conjunction of not securing 103 00:06:53,319 --> 00:06:58,160 one of those those name players and losing Lonzo, it was just sort of 104 00:06:58,199 --> 00:07:00,800 like, uh, what are the Pelican is doing? They did create all 105 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,560 this cap and they did nothing with it, and you know, it's not 106 00:07:03,639 --> 00:07:08,959 like they use it to gain picks, and because you know, they spent 107 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,959 picks. They spent picks creating the cap. They spent picks. They spent 108 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,439 a pick to get de Monte Graham and so in the moment you're you're absolutely 109 00:07:15,759 --> 00:07:18,560 And it's funny because David Griffin was like, oh, well, this is 110 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:23,639 just part of our tapestry of moves, and it's like, all right, 111 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,680 dude, you're actually doing here and then, but you know, I think 112 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,519 you hit on the key point heres is. I think this year they are 113 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,680 more sustainable with their non Zion and a large part of that is his val 114 00:07:34,759 --> 00:07:39,360 shooters. I mean that news the beast who's apparently in their eyes the way 115 00:07:39,399 --> 00:07:43,120 they promoted it, like this three point marksman. All of a sudden, 116 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:50,040 who's gonna take It's probably good that they got better than non Zion minutes because 117 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,279 there's no way that he's gonna be ready for the regular season. Correct with 118 00:07:54,319 --> 00:07:57,920 that? Do we call it like a covert right fracture, right foot fracture? 119 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,600 I don't what else you would call it. I mean, it just 120 00:08:01,079 --> 00:08:05,480 appeared on the radar media day. No one knew about it. It happened 121 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,399 months ago, supposedly, and all of a sudden, we're like, oh, 122 00:08:07,519 --> 00:08:11,519 yeah, he has a return to play protocol? What does that mean 123 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:16,680 for what? And oh, he has surgery? And now you know, 124 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:20,360 both David Griffin and Zion went on record that day they were like, yeah, 125 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,680 we'll be ready for Game one, and then now we are six days 126 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:31,200 away from the first game and they're waiting on scans. He hasn't started running 127 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,440 yet, and David Griffin is set to give an update sometime this week, 128 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,320 and David Griffin updates with Zion injuries are never good. They are never good. 129 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,039 I don't know if they're necessarily full of information or you can lean anything 130 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,879 from them, but you just look at all of them, they're never good. 131 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,639 I hate getting into this because I feel like I don't want to make 132 00:08:50,879 --> 00:08:54,679 fans of small market teams like I'm attacking them. But I do think the 133 00:08:54,720 --> 00:09:00,320 noise surrounding Zion's dissatisfaction is important in the sense of, do you think it 134 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:05,840 will impact like what this team does over the next year plush plus excuse me, 135 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,480 with the urgency with which they're trying to build out the rest of their 136 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,320 core, or do you think And maybe it's in large part because a lot 137 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,360 of this is, you know, built on the assumption that hey, maybe 138 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,440 he's that player as signed the qualifying offer because it's going to be so large. 139 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,519 I then look at this latest right foot fracture and I'm like, I 140 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:24,279 know his qualifying offer will be like seventeen million or whatever it is. But 141 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,440 given his injury history, like, is that something he's going on to do? 142 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,039 So I'm just curious, basically, how do you think all this Zion 143 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,440 noise impacts what they're going to do or the urgency with which they're going to 144 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:41,919 build this roster, flesh out this roster moving forward. That is such a 145 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:46,440 good question, and I'm not sure anyone has the right answer to that. 146 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,480 What I suspect is going to happen is I think you're right. I think 147 00:09:50,519 --> 00:09:54,759 he's going to take the money when it's presented in front of him. I 148 00:09:54,840 --> 00:10:00,840 think at one point I believed he would take something like a two plus one 149 00:10:01,039 --> 00:10:03,039 and wait out for the new cap and then you know, he can get 150 00:10:03,039 --> 00:10:07,320 even more money that way. But I think at this point, given that 151 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,519 foot injury, he just takes the money. If he stays relatively healthy, 152 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,840 he should make all MBA's fourth years so they'll be eligible for that super dupermax 153 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,440 that Rose rule thing, and and I think that's hard to turn down. 154 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,879 And if he truly wants to be elsewhere, stars these days just have the 155 00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:26,080 power to do that. They can just say, Okay, I want to 156 00:10:26,159 --> 00:10:28,240 be elsewhere, and if you don't trade me, you know, we can 157 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:33,919 make things messy, as we're kind of seeing play out in Philadelphia to a 158 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,840 lesser extent with Ben Simmons, I know, slightly different circumstances, but you 159 00:10:37,879 --> 00:10:41,320 know, stars have done this. They have the power. In Zion has 160 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:46,639 that power to make things ugly. And with regards to how they're going to 161 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:48,879 build around him, you have, I mean, as long as he's on 162 00:10:48,919 --> 00:10:52,600 the roster, you have. You owe it to yourself to build around a 163 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,759 talent like that because he represents the single best chance for you to become a 164 00:10:56,799 --> 00:11:01,879 contender. He represents a single best pass pathway for you to make the playoffs, 165 00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:05,279 and you know, uphold your end of the bargain to the fans and 166 00:11:05,279 --> 00:11:09,480 and like the community to put a good team out there, and to ownership 167 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:13,399 as well. So like from a financial standpoint, from a wind standpoint, 168 00:11:13,759 --> 00:11:18,559 or anything else, like Zion has all of this power that getting Sert over 169 00:11:18,799 --> 00:11:22,080 the franchise because he is he is that guy. He can he can do 170 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:28,519 those things. The issue here is that he hasn't done those things yet. 171 00:11:28,879 --> 00:11:33,879 And and now you know, there's questions about his availability on the court, 172 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:39,399 there's questions about you know, this sort of commitment to the team in general, 173 00:11:39,759 --> 00:11:43,519 because you know, there was David Griffin likes to point out about how 174 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:48,840 Zion wasn't at the volunteering workouts with the Pelicans in the summer because he was 175 00:11:48,919 --> 00:11:56,679 hurt rehabbing. Okay, that's fine, but why weren't you at all these 176 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:01,080 other things? And so why were you at Duke Krett Parks during the day? 177 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,240 And it's like, you know, so it's it's I think it's fair 178 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:09,639 to ask. It's like, I understand, from a business standpoint, Hey, 179 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,320 this guy is an amazing talent, and when he's on the court, 180 00:12:11,399 --> 00:12:16,519 he's like this historically dominant force, particularly at the rim. So you gotta 181 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:18,799 do what you gotta do to keep that around and keep it happy. But 182 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,320 when it when it comes to it's everything else. Un then, where is 183 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,360 there a line in the stand that you draw? And we've we've seen the 184 00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:31,120 Sixers draw a line in the stand, We've seen the Nets draw line in 185 00:12:31,159 --> 00:12:35,120 the sand. And so I don't do I think the Pelicans have reached the 186 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,799 sort of threshold with Zion. No, but I do wonder if we're going 187 00:12:39,879 --> 00:12:43,600 to see that point in the future. At some point. This will be 188 00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:48,879 my non, my last non basketball related question with Zion is there like should 189 00:12:48,919 --> 00:12:52,639 this team be watching sort of what happens with Ben Simmons because it's a different 190 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,000 situation. But in theory, if Ben Simmons succeeds in kind of forcing his 191 00:12:56,039 --> 00:13:00,559 way out of Philly one year into an extension, that's something a path Zion 192 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:05,960 could technically try to follow if he is indeed unhappy. Yeah, I think 193 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,000 the whole league is watching the Ben Simmons situation playout, and I think I 194 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:13,759 think, yeah, I think, you know, like owners and management are 195 00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:16,519 probably like rooting for the Sixers here and rooting for every time they find him, 196 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:22,120 which is fine, And then there's probably a lot of agents and players 197 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,799 keenly watching this situation playout saying like, okay, like what can we learn 198 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,919 from this, How how can we approach it when it comes our time to 199 00:13:28,919 --> 00:13:33,559 do something like this? And I think it's pretty loud and clear that holding 200 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:39,799 out is not the answer, right, But what if you're present and you're 201 00:13:39,879 --> 00:13:43,360 just hurt all the time, or what if you're present and you're pulling a 202 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,320 James Harden and not you know, not playing that well on the floor, 203 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:52,759 right exactly, So there's other ways to make this situation toxic if if the 204 00:13:52,759 --> 00:13:58,720 good faith negotiations have gone out the window. And I think as long as 205 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,720 you know, in this currency EBA, in this environment, that's always going 206 00:14:01,799 --> 00:14:07,480 to be a power that lies in the hands of the stars. And so 207 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,159 if in two years, when Zion is in his fifth year and he's like, 208 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,840 all right, I got my Max, I want to go to the 209 00:14:13,879 --> 00:14:20,639 Knicks. I just don't see a good ending for the Pelicans, just I 210 00:14:20,679 --> 00:14:24,120 just don't. And so that's but that's you know, that's that's how it 211 00:14:24,159 --> 00:14:28,559 is with any star and that's kind of the way the league is. And 212 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:33,799 I'm sure as these situations kind of play out across the league, I think 213 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,720 when the next round of negotiations come for the CBA, like owners are going 214 00:14:37,759 --> 00:14:41,600 to be out for blood. Yeah, that's going to be fascinating. And 215 00:14:41,679 --> 00:14:45,639 let's not touch that with a ten foot poll at the moment. The point 216 00:14:45,639 --> 00:14:52,559 in Zion last year was a revelation aside from his staying healthy, his overall 217 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,080 stamina. What is the biggest thing you're looking for him to improve upon in 218 00:14:56,159 --> 00:15:01,519 his game this year? If the Pelicans are going to be that playoff or 219 00:15:01,559 --> 00:15:03,840 play and lock whatever they're angling for because you're right, if he's a top 220 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,000 ten player in the NBA with what they've done, and if he stays healthy, 221 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,600 they should just automatically be in that mix. Yeah. So I think 222 00:15:11,639 --> 00:15:16,639 offensively, if he gave gives me everything he gave me last year, I'm 223 00:15:16,679 --> 00:15:18,519 more than happy with that, because that was a really good player, especially 224 00:15:20,559 --> 00:15:24,399 as you mentioned, during the point zion phase when they actually put the ball 225 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,840 in his hands and he became a primary initiator. He was unstoppable and his 226 00:15:28,919 --> 00:15:35,080 numbers obviously reflected that. And that player from February onwards was in my opinion, 227 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,159 a top ten player. And and so if he's just even able to 228 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,559 just replicate what he did last year, you know, that's that's everything you 229 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:46,080 hope for in a franchise player. Obviously, you know he's twenty one years 230 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,679 old and you want him to improve and the areas I like him to improve, 231 00:15:50,759 --> 00:15:56,720 and offensively, I would say getting a little crisper at at his passing. 232 00:15:56,039 --> 00:15:58,120 Yeah, I think he's a good playmaker. I think he sees the 233 00:15:58,159 --> 00:16:02,600 stuff. I think he could be cleaned up a little bit, and I 234 00:16:02,639 --> 00:16:07,039 think as he has more options this year, more actual viable offensive threats on 235 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,720 like Eric Bloodsoe and Steven Adams. You know, you might see some of 236 00:16:11,799 --> 00:16:17,960 those numbers tops as the season progresses, and then he's he himself said he 237 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,559 worked on a lot of mid range stuff in the paint to make his life 238 00:16:21,559 --> 00:16:26,440 easier, and I think he's right right, Yes, everyone's a floor spacer 239 00:16:26,519 --> 00:16:33,159 these days. And I think I think what will help him is sort of 240 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:38,759 this ability to keep the defenses guessing and being able to hit shots in that 241 00:16:38,759 --> 00:16:42,559 float to range because he gets to the rim at will and he finishes pretty 242 00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:45,799 much at will, so he doesn't really need to change too much up. 243 00:16:47,279 --> 00:16:49,720 But just you know, like three or four possessions where if he's in that 244 00:16:49,759 --> 00:16:52,799 float to range, he's able to just pull up, hit that eight footer, 245 00:16:53,039 --> 00:16:56,639 hit that nine footer. I think would would go a long way in 246 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:03,079 terms of opportunity for him to continue making an impact when defenses lower it up 247 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:10,119 defensively. Literally anything, man, just do something improve do if you show 248 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:15,440 some sort of activity level. Uh yeah, I think that's that's tied directly 249 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,880 with his conditioning, directly with his size, and the better in shape that 250 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:23,160 he gets, the more activity you see in terms of stats and just on 251 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:27,359 the floor the more out of shape he's in, the worst he looks. 252 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,440 Yeah, they last year, at least sort of the first half when I 253 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,160 was looking back, they bled corner threes with him on the court, and 254 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,759 he actually felt fairly responsible for that when you were watching. I'm not sure 255 00:17:37,799 --> 00:17:41,400 if that's his you know, as you've you wrote about it, the pel 256 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,160 can switch their defensive scheme, So I don't know if that had anything to 257 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:45,960 do with like the other big playing you know, to the level of the 258 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,160 of the screen and that making it more difficult on Zion. But if they 259 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,039 could just get him like better off the ball, and I think they're probably 260 00:17:52,039 --> 00:17:55,200 gonna need him to be better off the ball this year when you look at 261 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:59,519 the makeup of this roster, I think that goes a long way towards elevating 262 00:17:59,559 --> 00:18:03,000 his profile, but just also ensuring that they can shred water on that side 263 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,240 of the floor. Yeah, you can't have one of those like auto sin 264 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,480 moments where you're just staring off in the space and you're guy's back cutting you, 265 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,640 or you know, you're staring off the space in the corner guy's open. 266 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,880 So you're right, it's it's got to be an awareness thing and and 267 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,680 it just requires effort. And that's really I think if his effort increases, 268 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,920 that his defense will get better and the Pelicans will be better as a whole. 269 00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:29,400 That's that's the major uphill battle right now, is the effort. We 270 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,400 can talk about the technicalities of his defense and the specifics, Oh, how 271 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,799 are you going to you know, cover this scheme? That's all fine and 272 00:18:36,839 --> 00:18:41,319 well, I need the guy to actually try first. I actually didn't send 273 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,440 you this in the outline, but the idea of point zon when they're fully 274 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,920 healthy, coupled with how the Pelicans have, you know, the lineups they've 275 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,319 run out during the preseason, how is this? And I typically don't care 276 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,359 too much about starting fives, but like, how does this starting five do 277 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:59,319 you think end up shaking out again with a with a healthy Zion's such a 278 00:18:59,319 --> 00:19:03,200 good question. We've debated that amongst the Pelicans fans and media for quite some 279 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,799 time, and I don't think anyone knows. I'd be surprised if the coaching 280 00:19:07,839 --> 00:19:11,680 staff knows where they want. I would prefer I would prefer you know, 281 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:17,079 the front court is going to be Jonas, Zion and Brandon Ingram. Those 282 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:21,160 three are locks for me. I would love to see the rookie Tray Murphy 283 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:26,480 starting just to provide more shooting in the lengthy wing. I understand coaches being 284 00:19:26,599 --> 00:19:30,680 hesitant to put rookies in that kind of role, but just the quality of 285 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,960 shots that Zion generates for those kind of shooters, I think Trey Murphy would 286 00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:37,799 would feast in that. You know. I think we saw it with Lonzo 287 00:19:37,839 --> 00:19:41,200 being able to get about seven eight shots every seven eight three is a game. 288 00:19:42,039 --> 00:19:45,240 I think you can do that with Trey Murphy as well. Give him 289 00:19:45,279 --> 00:19:48,519 a similar amount of looks and he'll probably hit a higher percentage. And then 290 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,839 if you really want to lean into the shooting, you start DeVante Grant there 291 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,559 and he gives you another ball handler, he gives you a playmaker, and 292 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:02,480 all of a sudden you have three legitimate floor spacers on the perimeter, and 293 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:07,079 then Jonas Valanciunas, who is apparently the best floor spacer. But you know, 294 00:20:08,039 --> 00:20:11,799 right, no, but you know you kind of get this. Okay, 295 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,400 You're you're you're creating what people have been asking for, is like more 296 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,480 and more shooting around side. But if they don't go with that, you 297 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,319 know, I also like Nikhil Alexander Walker there. I'm happy putting him in 298 00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:25,960 that two spot and putting Devonte next to him. I think I like Devonte's 299 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,359 a starter period, so I think I'm going to pencil him in as my 300 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,519 Ford starter, and if it's not Trey, I want Niquel him there. 301 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:37,839 And again he gives you another ball handler, a person who can move off 302 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,640 the ball as well, who's better at catch and shoot threes than he isn't 303 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,119 off the dribble, although he does have some pretty bold shot selection when he's 304 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,359 not the or when he is the primary option on the floor. So that's 305 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,720 another reason why I like the time with the starters. So he plays a 306 00:20:49,759 --> 00:20:53,880 little bit more within himself. But and then again he gives you this. 307 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,039 You know, all five players in the lineup can do something credible offensively, 308 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:03,720 and it leaves the defense is very few places to hide people. How do 309 00:21:03,759 --> 00:21:07,799 you like the valentun Is fit with Zion or how do you anticipate them using 310 00:21:07,799 --> 00:21:11,799 those two together? And then what do you think happ like? Do you 311 00:21:11,799 --> 00:21:15,079 think they're gonna heavily stagger his minutes against Zion's where you're going to see him 312 00:21:15,079 --> 00:21:21,319 as sort of a staple whenever Zion is sitting. To answer your second question, 313 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:22,759 yes, I do think that they will stagger a lot of those minutes 314 00:21:22,799 --> 00:21:30,200 because just to maintain that interior presence and rebounding and just scoring ability. But 315 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,240 I don't mind the fit at all. I think Zion, when you look 316 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:34,839 at his numbers with Steven Adams on the floor, they were really good. 317 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,920 He was just a really good player. Like Steven Adams and Eric Blusso didn't 318 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,759 impact Zion. They impacted everyone else. You know, they impacted brandon Ingram, 319 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,920 they impacted to Kiel, they impacted you know, Alonzo, Eric Bledsoe. 320 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:52,440 So it's it's not that the spacing issues were ever really for Zion in 321 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,039 my opinion. I mean, look, his life does get easier when you 322 00:21:55,039 --> 00:21:57,599 had Worshooters around, no doubt about that. And I think jonas being an 323 00:21:57,599 --> 00:22:03,880 offensive threat and being able to sort of carve out space with his size, 324 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:04,680 and you know, if you put him in the dunker spot, you have 325 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,160 to put someone out there the wise he's gonna kill you. On the offensive 326 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,799 glass. You can dump him the ball at the elbow and either he's you 327 00:22:11,839 --> 00:22:12,880 know, he'll take a floor to rain shot or you know, you can 328 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:17,079 take a one dribble move and and you know, get a shot up. 329 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,880 So he's a pretty versatile offensive player, much more so than Steven Adams. 330 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,200 And he's about an equivalent offensive rebounder. And the thing is, if he's 331 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,839 getting the offensive rebound, he's going up with it. He's gonna score, 332 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,480 where Steven Adams is probably gonna pass the ball out. So I think I 333 00:22:30,519 --> 00:22:33,000 think Jonis is gonna be fine, and I'm excited to see what he does 334 00:22:33,039 --> 00:22:37,240 for brandon Ingram's game when when Zion's not on the floor and those two kind 335 00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:42,559 of figure out a two man pairing. So all in all, the spacing 336 00:22:42,599 --> 00:22:48,400 centers I think are nice to have obviously, but with Zion, no one's 337 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:52,440 going to respect that space or out there unless they're probably like Towns, right 338 00:22:53,279 --> 00:22:56,759 unless, because like you know, people like, okay, we'll get mild 339 00:22:56,799 --> 00:22:59,640 Turner. He blocked shots and he's spaces a the floor. No one's gonna 340 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,079 defend Stern when zaios on the floor, that's just not gonna happen. And 341 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,319 so well, if they're not going to do that, well let me just 342 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:08,039 get the guy that also is like a really good score, a really good 343 00:23:08,079 --> 00:23:14,640 rebounder, and you can just carry units in bursts. We saw that in 344 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:18,720 Memphis when when Jah was out for a portion of the year, or when 345 00:23:18,799 --> 00:23:22,160 Jaren Jackson was out, Jonas was their guy and he was just kind of 346 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,839 the folcrum, and so having that's going to be a really big asset for 347 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:32,839 the Pelicans. You already mentioned kill Alexander Walker, who's shot selection or decision 348 00:23:32,839 --> 00:23:36,759 making implies the utmost confidence, which in turn makes him aspirational. To me, 349 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,599 what do you envision for him to seem like? How prom you know 350 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,480 he could be a starter, but how prominitive a role do you think he's 351 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,319 going to play, And what's like just the biggest thing you're looking for from 352 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,519 him heading into year three? I envisioned big things for him. You know. 353 00:23:52,519 --> 00:23:56,599 There was a lot of buzz positive buzz regarding him in training camp, 354 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,480 in informal workouts before training camp, and how he has this amazing bag and 355 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:04,480 just looks great and he really does. They are like some flashes and he 356 00:24:04,519 --> 00:24:07,839 does these moves. You're like, oh my god, this guy is like 357 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,279 a superstar. And then he does these things and you're like, bro, 358 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:12,720 you could have just taken an open shot or open past. Why are you 359 00:24:12,759 --> 00:24:15,200 trying to do a lefty behind the back, you know what I mean though, 360 00:24:15,279 --> 00:24:19,880 it's it's I think he makes the game more difficult for himself. And 361 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:25,839 when he when he learns not to do that, he's really going to pop. 362 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,240 And and he when he learns to do the simple stuff and he gets 363 00:24:27,279 --> 00:24:30,680 good at the simple stuff, because I think he's already pretty good at the 364 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:37,039 difficult stuff. And so with regards to what I expect for him this year, 365 00:24:37,599 --> 00:24:41,920 he actually really started popping when when he gained the starting lineup spot when 366 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,160 Lonzo got hurt. Last year, he know, he averaged around like eighteen 367 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:51,359 nineteen points a game on high volume three point shooting. And he's a much 368 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:56,039 better catch and shoot player than I think people expect. And so if he's 369 00:24:56,079 --> 00:25:00,519 in the starting lineup, you know, I can I can easily see him 370 00:25:00,519 --> 00:25:04,240 being in this conversation for from most Improved Player, because I think he's gonna 371 00:25:04,279 --> 00:25:07,240 get the offensive reps. I think he's gonna get the shots up. And 372 00:25:07,279 --> 00:25:11,720 again when when Zion and b I and even Yonis attracts so much attention, 373 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,960 he's gonna get the he's gonna get the looks, and they're probably going to 374 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,440 do a lot of stagger minutes where he does get a lot of on ball 375 00:25:18,519 --> 00:25:21,839 time. And so when Zion and b I are maybe off the floor, 376 00:25:21,839 --> 00:25:23,599 maybe you're running the re unit with him and Yonis and those are your two 377 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,640 guys. So I'm excited for him, and defensively that guy competes. I 378 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:33,519 think he's a one of the better deflection generators in the league. He's usually 379 00:25:33,519 --> 00:25:37,039 like very high in deflections per game or per thirty six. It's just since 380 00:25:37,079 --> 00:25:41,079 the knack for getting in these these playing lanes. Think he can be a 381 00:25:41,079 --> 00:25:45,480 little bit better at the point of attack when when he's trying to get over 382 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:49,480 screens and whatnot. But he there's a defensive accountability when he gets beat. 383 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:55,039 You know, he takes it personal. So I think again when I talked 384 00:25:55,039 --> 00:26:00,000 about effort with regards to Zion, nikkiel brings it, and so I'm excited 385 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,079 to see what he does this season. He is electrifying to watch, even 386 00:26:03,079 --> 00:26:07,000 when the play doesn't necessarily end well and it feels like he's I guess his 387 00:26:07,039 --> 00:26:10,839 takeoff points around the basketball a little bit weird, but if he starts finishing 388 00:26:10,839 --> 00:26:14,359 more consistently around the basket, he becomes like in every level score who can 389 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,720 also play off the ball, which is just super dangerous when you're looking at 390 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:22,039 the cosmetic makeup of the rest of this team. Yeah, I mean it's 391 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:26,599 he has all the tools, no doubt, and he's he's ambidextrous, and 392 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:32,960 the sense that he doesn't have a preference and when he comes to which side 393 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:34,599 he wants to finish with. And there was like certain games like you know, 394 00:26:34,599 --> 00:26:37,720 he got sent down to the G League is like rookie year, and 395 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:38,920 he was like taking threes of his left hand. It was it was kind 396 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,519 of weird. But again one of those examples, it's like, just why 397 00:26:41,559 --> 00:26:44,960 don't you just get good at the simple stuff if we're doing this. But 398 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,839 he's a very confident guy, and I think this is a year where he's 399 00:26:48,839 --> 00:26:52,640 gonna start putting more of it together on a consistent basis. And that's always 400 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,440 the blueprint there. It's like, Okay, have all these tools. You 401 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:00,200 you know, you can shine really bright and any different areas you know you 402 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,440 can you can make some really creative live dribble passes. He can you know, 403 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,839 you can make some filthy step backs, or you can come off of 404 00:27:08,519 --> 00:27:12,559 a screen sprinting full speed and on fire catch and shoot, So he has 405 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:18,559 all the tools. Just putting it together and doing it consistently is is what's 406 00:27:18,599 --> 00:27:22,240 going to be key for him. How do you see the backup five rotations 407 00:27:22,279 --> 00:27:26,640 shaking out when everyone's healthy. I think Jackson Hayes is still dealing with the 408 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:30,480 left ankle sprain, correct, And they have Willie Hernon Gomez, They've I've 409 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,079 also read they've tried Herbert Jones there, and I do think the idea of 410 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:37,839 Zion at the five is never gonna go anywhere. People always going to be 411 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,240 intrigued by that. So how do you sort of see those minutes behind jonas 412 00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:45,559 balance shooting is shaking out if if everyone's healthy this season? Yeah, so 413 00:27:45,839 --> 00:27:48,440 Jackson did that update with Jackson today was that he's going to be ready for 414 00:27:48,519 --> 00:27:52,119 the season opener. So if he's healthy, he's the favorite to kind of 415 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:56,559 win those minutes for multiple reasons when he was the eighth pick, and so 416 00:27:56,599 --> 00:28:00,240 they're gonna they're gonna see what they got out out of him, or they're 417 00:28:00,279 --> 00:28:03,680 what they're what they have in him and invest him as a player, and 418 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:08,119 they're really high on him internally. They look at him as a versatile big 419 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:11,599 who can shoot, who can roll as a who can defend in space, 420 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:17,480 out of the perimeter at the rim. They really and truly kind of view 421 00:28:17,559 --> 00:28:19,559 him as like basketball play though, and they can mold him into whatever they 422 00:28:19,559 --> 00:28:23,720 want him to be. And so there was a lot of hype regarding him 423 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,799 in the preseason before he got hurt, that this guy was just nailing threes 424 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:32,680 from all over the court and in training camp and unfortunately we got to see 425 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,039 him for like eight minutes before he rolled an ankle and that was that. 426 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:41,839 So if the reality of Jackson Hayes is anything near the HiPE, yeah, 427 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,599 he's gonna get all those minutes, and if he continues to or if he 428 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,079 makes threes at an adequate rate, we might even see units where he finishes 429 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:53,279 the game at five because of the versatility he provides on defense is a different 430 00:28:53,279 --> 00:28:59,680 look as a vertical rim protector and a switchy big. He can legitimately step 431 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,799 out of the perimeter. But you know, if it's more of the same 432 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:08,000 Jackson where he has issues with knowing where to be or it gets in foul 433 00:29:08,079 --> 00:29:11,519 troubled, then it gets a little bit dicey in the backup five spot because 434 00:29:11,519 --> 00:29:15,440 Billy hernandomes well, I think is a pretty solid energy guy, is just 435 00:29:15,519 --> 00:29:19,319 not someone you want to rely on for more than bursts. He's a really 436 00:29:19,319 --> 00:29:25,839 good rebounder, just offensively. Man just has no hands and so like just 437 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,359 getting pocket passes in there is a little bit difficult. But he's one of 438 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:33,279 those guys where if it's like a late you know, like a late February 439 00:29:33,319 --> 00:29:36,240 game on a Tuesday, and they're on the road, you're like, Okay, 440 00:29:36,559 --> 00:29:38,160 we need someone to bring an energy like that's your guy, consummate, 441 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:44,039 teammate, someone that can really push a guy like Jackson Hays for just to 442 00:29:44,119 --> 00:29:45,799 keep him on track and keep him working. So that's you know, that's 443 00:29:45,799 --> 00:29:51,480 Billy Hernandomes. You talked about Herbert Jones at the five. I love that 444 00:29:51,519 --> 00:29:52,880 look. He's a rookie, so I don't expect him to get all that 445 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:56,880 many minutes, especially with that kind of responsibility. But I really do hope 446 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:02,839 that they continue to invest in him and continue to give him the opportunities to 447 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,079 succeed at that position, because if they can, that gives the Pelicans a 448 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:08,920 versatile look, which every team kind of needs. You want to be able 449 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,880 to play big, you want to be able to play small. If you 450 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,759 need to and do what you can. And I think when you talk about 451 00:30:14,839 --> 00:30:18,440 Zion at the five, really it's not Zion at the five, it's guys 452 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:22,079 like Herbert with him, and so you have to like load up on big 453 00:30:22,119 --> 00:30:26,720 wings and they take on those kind of defensive responsibilities. I think, no 454 00:30:26,839 --> 00:30:30,720 matter I think, no matter what, with Zion, he's always going to 455 00:30:30,759 --> 00:30:34,200 be on the weakest offensive player on the court. And so you know, 456 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:38,319 if you're if you're playing five out with him, he won't beat the five. 457 00:30:38,359 --> 00:30:41,599 He'll probably be the one in fact or whatever. He'll just be the 458 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,960 Zion. You just call it the Zion position, and then you know you 459 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,880 can have a bunch of wings next to him, and I really like that. 460 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,319 The Pelicans now have some options to do that with. So they have 461 00:30:51,359 --> 00:30:55,359 Trey Murphy obviously as the rookie. It's like six nine seven foot plus wingspan, 462 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:57,920 who can do those things. Herbert Jones, we talked about Nazi Marshall. 463 00:30:59,759 --> 00:31:00,839 You know, they brought back Josh Hard, They have Santa r Anski 464 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,960 sixty seven, you know, the Kiel sixty six. Brandon Ingram obviously is 465 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:10,319 there, and so you just want to continue bringing in those kind of forwards, 466 00:31:10,359 --> 00:31:14,559 those combo forwards who can rebound the ball and do the dirty work, 467 00:31:14,599 --> 00:31:17,920 so Zion doesn't have to and all he has to do is just take advantage 468 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:21,920 of the spacing that that look provides and just dominate. Do you think that? 469 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:26,240 I guess I never viewed Naji Marshall or Trey Murphy in those terms where 470 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:30,559 they could like handle the biggest players on the court. If they're going to 471 00:31:30,599 --> 00:31:33,119 play next to Zion, who would technically be classied as the five but not 472 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,880 the five, Are either of them capable of doing that? If Herb Jones 473 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:41,160 isn't on the floor, that's a good question. I think in the future, 474 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:44,759 I definitely see Trey Murphy being able to do that. I think in 475 00:31:44,799 --> 00:31:48,079 a pinch. You know, they put Nagi on some bigger players and he's 476 00:31:48,079 --> 00:31:51,240 been okay, Like I mean, there's a moment where like they put Nagi 477 00:31:51,319 --> 00:31:56,160 on Lebron last year at the end of the year, and Naji did about 478 00:31:56,160 --> 00:32:00,599 as well as you could expect for a rookie at the time. And so 479 00:32:00,279 --> 00:32:04,960 you know, if there's people bigger than Lebron that he's guarding, I don't 480 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,359 know, he's probably gonna shot Like you can't put him on yokis right. 481 00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:08,319 You can't put him on in bed. You can't put him on talents, 482 00:32:08,359 --> 00:32:12,079 that's for sure. Can you put him on a Miles Turner? I think 483 00:32:12,119 --> 00:32:14,799 so. You know, can you put him on like a Marquis Morris, 484 00:32:14,839 --> 00:32:19,279 I think so. So it just has to depend. It depends on the 485 00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:21,640 matchup. I'd say, like, I know, you can probably put him 486 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,440 on Christoph perzinctive if that's like the five there, Yeah, Christoph Perzincis isn't 487 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,480 isn't like a very aggressive, physical five. So yeah, right, it 488 00:32:29,519 --> 00:32:31,000 does seem like, I mean, you want Trey Murphy to be considered as 489 00:32:31,039 --> 00:32:35,720 a starter. Does seem like he's going to have a huge role right away? 490 00:32:35,759 --> 00:32:37,200 Is there anything I think we all know or most of us know, 491 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:40,039 like the outline of he was built as a three and D prospect coming in. 492 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,599 It seems like he can fill that role immediately. But is there anything 493 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,039 that's impressed you or surprised you specifically about his game and fit on the Pelicans 494 00:32:47,319 --> 00:32:52,039 so far? And I'll add this that was part of the reason I think 495 00:32:52,119 --> 00:32:55,559 my view of their offseason softened is because when I was watching the draft, 496 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:59,200 I was like, Okay, there's no way that Trey Murphy's getting pasted Indiana. 497 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:00,519 All right, it's not he's not getting past Golden State, He's not 498 00:33:00,519 --> 00:33:05,240 getting past Washington. Oh. It makes so much sense for okay, see, 499 00:33:05,319 --> 00:33:07,920 just to take someone like that and then uh, No One and then 500 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:09,599 of course Okay trades that pick No One does And so the fact that they 501 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,640 traded back and we're playing able to pick up Trey Murphy the third who just 502 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,799 seems like he's going to be a very very high impact NBA player, even 503 00:33:16,839 --> 00:33:22,839 if he never necessarily reaches his peak, that ends up being a huge boon 504 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:27,920 for them long term. Yeah. Look, I think what's really popped u 505 00:33:28,799 --> 00:33:31,279 with Trey, But outside of his shooting, I think it's just the size 506 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:36,440 man. He just he affects so many shots and his ability to just guard 507 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,799 up and down the floor. The Pelicans have not been shy about putting him 508 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:43,559 on tough assignments. They play him on Anthony Edwards the first game, they 509 00:33:43,559 --> 00:33:46,480 put him on Zach Lavine and de Marda Rosen. They's just you know, 510 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:52,920 they're they're testing, and obviously preseasons one thing and the regular season is another. 511 00:33:52,079 --> 00:33:54,440 But that's that's kind of the blueprint where You're like, man, if 512 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:59,640 this guy can really guard up and down, you have something there. And 513 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:01,160 that's the kind of player every team searches for. I mean, you look 514 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:05,720 at how you could, You look at how well like Mkaal Bridges did last 515 00:34:05,799 --> 00:34:07,559 year, and you're like, holy crap, you know, like O. 516 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:12,360 G. N and Obi like Nick Nurse has him guard one through five and 517 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:16,119 and so if Trey Murphy can become anything like those players, the Pelicans have 518 00:34:16,159 --> 00:34:22,280 a real gem. And I think offensively he's a very underrated ball mover. 519 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:25,239 The ball does not stick with him. He's His decision tree of whether to 520 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:31,840 shoot, dribble or pass is very good and very quick. So it's one 521 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:35,719 of those things where I think the rookie's come in are a little bit overwhelmed 522 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:37,679 with the speed of the game, and you know what to do and make 523 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:44,000 decisions. Tray looks comfortable and he knows if he's getting it either he's hoisting 524 00:34:44,039 --> 00:34:46,400 it or you know, if he is an opportunity to put it on the 525 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:50,760 floor, he will, If not, he's he's moving it along. And 526 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:52,880 and the other thing is like I think he's an underrated cutter. He just 527 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,199 knows how to how to be in the right place at the right time. 528 00:34:55,239 --> 00:35:00,360 And because he's such a big dude, he can He's an underrated vertic threat 529 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:01,679 a little bit. So I'm interested to see if they use him as a 530 00:35:02,119 --> 00:35:06,280 screen and roller in any sets. I mean I don't think they would, 531 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:10,000 but in situations where you're running like a five wing lineup or something like that, 532 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:14,639 I think you absolutely could. And and you know, there's already been 533 00:35:14,679 --> 00:35:17,119 moments where he's cut weak side. You know, he's done a backdoor cut 534 00:35:17,159 --> 00:35:21,960 and the people have found him. Uh, he's he's he's athletic, and 535 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,519 he's big. So there's a lot of a lot of creative, creative things 536 00:35:25,519 --> 00:35:29,480 that the Pelicans can do with them. I love weirdness, and so if 537 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:31,360 they're gonna use Trey Murphy as a screener, I'm all the way. I'm 538 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:36,840 into that this roster is built in such a way where, if we're if 539 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:38,679 speaking with you, it sounds like Devonte Graham and he kill Olexander Walker are 540 00:35:38,679 --> 00:35:43,719 gonna be guaranteed minutes in the backcourt. And just looking at players who I 541 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:47,400 wouldn't want to slot up in terms of like you know, uh, decongesting 542 00:35:47,639 --> 00:35:51,079 the backcourt rotation, I know they've played Garrett Temple at the five and I'm 543 00:35:51,079 --> 00:35:52,480 just looking at the way the roster film, it seems like one of or 544 00:35:52,519 --> 00:35:58,360 more of Kyra Lewis, Tomas Saderanski, and Garrett Temple have the opportunity to 545 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,440 get squeezed in this rotation or if you have any feel sense or preference for 546 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:07,000 how they go about using or distributing minutes amongst those three. Oh, I 547 00:36:07,079 --> 00:36:10,519 have no preference because I mean not, no, I have many preferences. 548 00:36:10,559 --> 00:36:16,599 I have no feel because Garrett Temple has started every single preseason game. He 549 00:36:16,639 --> 00:36:22,639 has not looked very good, and there's a big debate amongst like Pelicans, 550 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:27,679 you know, fans and media if he's going to continue to start or if 551 00:36:27,679 --> 00:36:30,199 he was just supposed to be this imaginary placeholder for Zion and b I. 552 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:34,679 But yeah, I mean I would love for Garrett Temple to kind of get 553 00:36:34,679 --> 00:36:37,159 squeeze out of the rotation take on a more of a leader from the bench 554 00:36:37,159 --> 00:36:43,840 type situation. I don't know if Willie Green agrees with that or not. 555 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:45,000 I don't know. It's tough to get a read on that. I think 556 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:50,559 there's better wing talent with Josh Hart, with you know, Santa Anski with 557 00:36:51,079 --> 00:36:53,559 even Herbert Jones just that I would like to see get minutes. But you 558 00:36:53,599 --> 00:36:57,280 know, young coaches probably like to rely on bets, so I want to 559 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:01,079 be surprised if he's getting minutes. Please don't start him, Please don't start 560 00:37:01,119 --> 00:37:07,440 it. But if if if I had to pick in terms of who gets 561 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:09,239 squeezed out of the guard rotation, I think it's Kira. Willy said he'd 562 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:13,920 like to lean ten deep when it comes to his rotation. So let's you 563 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:15,880 know, let's say the starters are DeVante. I'm assuming you know, well 564 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:20,760 the healthy Zion, right, So let's say this, the starters are Devonte 565 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:25,599 to Kiel Ingram, Zion Jonis. That's five. I think the bench is 566 00:37:25,599 --> 00:37:34,199 gonna be Santa Ransky, Heart Nagy Trey and Jack's that's ten. And so 567 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:37,199 you know that's your ten deep. And depending on the matchup, you know, 568 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:40,880 you're probably gonna get Temple in there because Zion search, so we'd probably 569 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:45,239 give more minutes. Or maybe they like a matchup for Kira Bet than they 570 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:49,480 like for Santa Ransky, so he gets minutes. And you know, maybe 571 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:52,679 there's a time where the big starm Valve Trouble and Billy here and the Gomez 572 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:54,960 is getting in, but I think those ten that I mentioned are probably going 573 00:37:55,039 --> 00:38:01,440 to be the rotation? Does having Gnaw and DeVante Graham plus being saddled with 574 00:38:02,119 --> 00:38:07,719 but I'll say semi immediate expectations, if not outright immediate expectations. Does that 575 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,320 sort of squeeze Kyra Lewis junior long term here at all? Does it make 576 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:14,400 it tougher to discern his future? How much of an opportunity is even going 577 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:17,840 to get to develop with this team? I don't think so, because I 578 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:24,039 don't think anyone's truly like claimed that starting role or claimed that I'm a I'm 579 00:38:24,039 --> 00:38:30,079 an established player that needs to be this mainstay in the rotation. Yet you 580 00:38:30,079 --> 00:38:34,559 know, DeVante as that decent amount of success, so I suppose he's the 581 00:38:34,599 --> 00:38:37,920 closest to doing that in terms of the NBA. But you know, Nikkiel 582 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:43,199 is still young, and he's very much a theory right now, and we'll 583 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:45,400 maybe and the hope is this year he becomes less of a theory more of 584 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:50,039 an actual guy there. But yeah, I don't. I don't think there's 585 00:38:50,159 --> 00:38:54,559 any like long term squeezing of Kyra going on. But also like I don't 586 00:38:54,599 --> 00:39:01,559 think Kira is necessarily shown anything. Yet that like I also deserve to take 587 00:39:01,599 --> 00:39:06,719 all those minutes. I think he needs minutes because he's young, and I'd 588 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:08,119 like him to continue to get the opportunity. But it's not like, you 589 00:39:08,159 --> 00:39:12,039 know, he's like stood out in some sort of like man, this guy's 590 00:39:12,039 --> 00:39:15,519 got star equity like right now, which is fine because he's really really young 591 00:39:15,679 --> 00:39:20,280 and he has a lot to do in terms of developing his body. I 592 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,440 think he's a you know, he's a small framed guard, and I think 593 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:28,440 once all that comes together, what's going to define him is his shot coming 594 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:30,440 together. I think his SHOT's gonna get better as he gets stronger, because 595 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:32,920 I think he can shoot. He's a really good free throw shooter, and 596 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:36,760 I think he'll be able to shoot. And so if once his shot gets 597 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:39,039 better, with how quick he is, with how effortless he gets in the 598 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:45,199 in the paint, I think he's gonna be a very good player for a 599 00:39:45,239 --> 00:39:47,360 long time. It's just one of those things where I don't know if you're 600 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:51,800 stealing his Monte Morris or is it you know, some percentage of Deer and 601 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:53,880 Fox, I don't know, And both of those are very good players. 602 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:57,960 So I'd be happy to turn into Monte Morris, but you know, it's 603 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,400 it's tough to tell right now, I will say, and this would be 604 00:40:00,559 --> 00:40:05,320 I think help Kyle Lewis Junior is that Devonte Graham is a good player and 605 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:08,079 he does put a different type of pressure on defenses than Lonzo Ball ever did. 606 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:12,039 But like his pull up jumper didn't fall last year, and he's never 607 00:40:12,039 --> 00:40:14,440 really been able to finish around the rim. So that's a great point you 608 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,000 make about they're really not settled in the backcourt, even if there might be 609 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:22,599 more of a given hierarchy, and during this season, yeah, definitely up 610 00:40:22,599 --> 00:40:24,079 for grabs. And if Kira, you know, just takes the leap, 611 00:40:24,119 --> 00:40:28,199 he takes a leap, and I think and the thing with like Santaranski, 612 00:40:28,199 --> 00:40:30,400 he's like he's an expiring this year, so it's not like he's going to 613 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:34,039 be a main stay in the rotation for a long time. So yeah, 614 00:40:34,119 --> 00:40:38,559 I think I think it's probably more likely Kyra gets used as an asset in 615 00:40:39,159 --> 00:40:45,599 acquiring some kind of like established player that's a star or quasi star and addition 616 00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:47,960 with other assets, I think that's probably the most likely outcome at this point. 617 00:40:49,159 --> 00:40:52,239 But you know, I wouldn't be surprised if one of those other guards 618 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:57,039 were using a stead and you know Kys the one that stays. It does 619 00:40:57,079 --> 00:40:59,880 sound like one of my questions was do you think Naji Marshall is going to 620 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:00,920 be part of the every night crew? And it does sound like you have 621 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:05,840 him in your ten man rotation, So is that at your actual expectation? 622 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:08,239 And why is he so valuable to this team? Who? I will say, 623 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:12,679 just watching him is like, I don't know, he makes he can 624 00:41:12,679 --> 00:41:15,000 throw like their simple passes, but it's like he's smart about moving the ball 625 00:41:15,039 --> 00:41:19,320 and then he's smart about moving away from the ball and finding seams and like 626 00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:22,559 set defenses when he doesn't have the ball. It's just he seems like a 627 00:41:22,639 --> 00:41:25,760 really good player. And I don't know that I've maybe just not felt following 628 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:30,880 Pelicans covered enough. I haven't heard enough about him, like and how important 629 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:34,519 he is long term to this team. Yeah, I mean if he was 630 00:41:35,559 --> 00:41:37,960 if Zion was healthy, he may have Naji might even have started. In 631 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:40,599 fact, he might still start. I think he's still might be a starter 632 00:41:40,639 --> 00:41:46,039 and play some Zion. What Naji provides is one this like low usage defensive 633 00:41:46,119 --> 00:41:50,480 wing that they can put on the opposing best player, which is something the 634 00:41:50,519 --> 00:41:52,400 Pelicans have lacked for a very long time, just that kind of size. 635 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:59,079 And last year they put him on literally everyone from Steph Curry Lebron and he 636 00:41:59,159 --> 00:42:01,280 was fine taken on that assignment. And that's that's just something that every team 637 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:05,679 needs. And obviously the skills, the swing skill for him is his ability 638 00:42:05,679 --> 00:42:07,039 to knock down, catch and shoot jumpers to make him like a long term 639 00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:12,559 vible option in the starting lineup. But you know, Zion and Brandon Ingram 640 00:42:12,599 --> 00:42:16,199 are so good offensively and then with Jonas and DeVante that the offensive rating for 641 00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:19,559 that group is probably going to be fine. You can get away with it. 642 00:42:19,599 --> 00:42:22,760 And if he brings ballace to the defensive ent. He's a pretty underrated 643 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:28,239 playmaker. He's really good at sort of like connecting the pieces, but also 644 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:30,639 creating on his own, because he gets to the paint, he gets to 645 00:42:30,679 --> 00:42:36,079 the rim, he lives at the free throw line, and he's a really 646 00:42:36,119 --> 00:42:39,639 good rebounder. In fact, a lot of people thought that Josh Harton wouldn't 647 00:42:39,639 --> 00:42:44,280 come back because of Naji's emergence, and he kind of plays a similar role 648 00:42:45,079 --> 00:42:49,000 but just as better. With the Ballin's hands, and so I think Naji's 649 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:52,199 definitely gonna be a maid stay in the Pelicans rotation regardless of the science. 650 00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:57,639 Healthier not the Keys is going to be finding him the right situations, the 651 00:42:57,719 --> 00:43:00,320 right lineups the plane, and I think he's a player that definitely pops when 652 00:43:00,519 --> 00:43:05,000 when there's more offensive talent on the floor and he gets to again be a 653 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,960 connector and connect with different pieces rather than one that has to take on an 654 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:13,559 additional offensive burden. But yeah, he's supposed to be working on his three 655 00:43:13,599 --> 00:43:15,559 point shot with with Fred Vincent, but I don't know if that's continuing. 656 00:43:16,559 --> 00:43:20,800 That would be exciting. Yeah, that's supposed to happen this this summer, 657 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:22,880 right and I think it did for a long time. But now like it 658 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:27,559 seems like Herbert Jones is Fred Vincent's guy right now, which is which is 659 00:43:27,599 --> 00:43:31,079 exciting in and of itself. But yeah, if Naji can knock down even 660 00:43:31,159 --> 00:43:36,679 like thirty six percent, that's that's a pretty pretty big asset. Whether it's 661 00:43:36,719 --> 00:43:39,280 a specific specific excuse me, a position or skill set for this team, 662 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:46,519 what is their biggest weakness right now? Oh boy, I think guard play, 663 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:51,559 you know again, just because there isn't really that established guy. When 664 00:43:51,599 --> 00:43:55,239 you look at the starting guards in the West, you know you have Devin 665 00:43:55,320 --> 00:44:00,360 Booker, Chris Paul Russell, Westbrook, Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, you 666 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:04,280 know, Jamal Murray, Luca jah Marian, you know, like all these 667 00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:07,760 guys, even even someone like the Angelo Russell, Like, I just don't 668 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:09,840 know if Pelicans have a single guard that's better than any of those type of 669 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:15,800 people or necessarily capable of slowing them down either. I mean, like I 670 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:20,599 said, nikkiel competes and that's probably your best option. So it's it's the 671 00:44:20,639 --> 00:44:23,599 guard play, and with the guard play specifically, it's like the ability to 672 00:44:23,679 --> 00:44:29,480 kind of create your own offense, where both those guys would Nikquel and DeVante 673 00:44:29,559 --> 00:44:32,960 show the ability to. But you know, DeVante's weakness is like you said, 674 00:44:32,960 --> 00:44:39,599 at the rim, and Niquil is his inconsistency. And so I'm worried 675 00:44:39,679 --> 00:44:44,239 that it was going to be one of those situations where like last year, 676 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:50,440 one night, Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe would hit a combined twelve threes. 677 00:44:51,039 --> 00:44:54,079 Another night they would go combine over fifteen, and You're like, man, 678 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:59,360 I just don't have any consistency out of this group, and I worry that 679 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:02,239 this is going to happen again where you don't know what you're getting at night 680 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:07,239 in, night out out of these players. But and you're gonna go up 681 00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:10,400 against a guntlet of good guards in the West. Do you think there's a 682 00:45:10,480 --> 00:45:14,639 chance. And it probably speaks to how much of a given I just consider 683 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:17,480 him now that we haven't I haven't really mentioned him to the point of this 684 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:21,159 podcast, but brandon Ingram, is there like that uncertainty in the backcourt? 685 00:45:21,159 --> 00:45:23,679 Do we maybe see like lineups where he's the day facto point guard? Then? 686 00:45:24,719 --> 00:45:28,360 Oh yeah, I mean I think I think he's going to spend a 687 00:45:28,360 --> 00:45:30,960 lot of time initiating the offense. So whether or not you know that that 688 00:45:30,079 --> 00:45:34,639 results in him kind of being a floor general or not, I don't know. 689 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:37,079 It's probably going to create a lot of shots for himself, but definitely 690 00:45:37,119 --> 00:45:39,800 he's going to spend a lot of a lot of time on the ball. 691 00:45:40,119 --> 00:45:45,159 And frankly, you know, I think he's one of these I think he's 692 00:45:45,239 --> 00:45:49,280 a better ceiling razor than he's a floor razor, which is why I think 693 00:45:49,280 --> 00:45:52,440 his fit with Zion's actually pretty good, because Zion is a good floor razor 694 00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:55,320 and a ceiling razor. But you know, Brandon can be the guy as 695 00:45:55,360 --> 00:45:59,440 a as a tip of a spear, so to speak, where you have 696 00:46:00,039 --> 00:46:04,639 you can get twenty five points from him on good efficiency, and every team 697 00:46:04,719 --> 00:46:07,159 kind of meets that level of scoring and it's and it's really reliable. And 698 00:46:07,199 --> 00:46:12,400 so when you have all these other things going on, like Jonas is putting 699 00:46:12,440 --> 00:46:15,960 bigs and foul trouble, Silence putting bigs and foul trouble. Brandon's not bad 700 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:19,519 at getting to the free throw line. I think he's really gonna thrive in 701 00:46:19,559 --> 00:46:23,599 those situations where of all these attention is being drawn to the big guys and 702 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:29,440 he has space to operate with. As of now, who do you think 703 00:46:29,519 --> 00:46:32,800 is the most likely player to get traded from this team before the deadline? 704 00:46:34,519 --> 00:46:37,599 Josh Hard? Yeah, his contract just feels like it's screaming built to be 705 00:46:37,639 --> 00:46:43,119 traded. Yeah. Him and Santa Ranski both other like functional expire. I 706 00:46:43,119 --> 00:46:45,519 mean, san Ranski isn't expiring and Josh Hart is an expiring that you can 707 00:46:45,559 --> 00:46:52,719 reroll twice, which is really fun. But but yeah, I mean those 708 00:46:52,719 --> 00:46:58,280 two can combine to bring back some pretty nice salary for the Pelicans, and 709 00:46:58,760 --> 00:47:01,039 Pelicans also have a seventy million dollars trade exception that they can use, which 710 00:47:01,039 --> 00:47:07,480 is something to watch. And yeah, I think I think those two are 711 00:47:07,559 --> 00:47:09,840 guys that you can trade without losing much in terms of the rotation. Right, 712 00:47:09,880 --> 00:47:13,559 So with sana Aranski, like you can plug and Kirat you'd be okay 713 00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:15,199 and can give more minutes in the keel, you know you're gonna have Scion 714 00:47:15,320 --> 00:47:19,000 on the ball. And likewise, with Josh Hart, you already have Garrick 715 00:47:19,039 --> 00:47:22,199 Temple and not she and all these other players of that position. So I 716 00:47:22,199 --> 00:47:25,480 think those two are like people. As a loyal listener to the in the 717 00:47:25,480 --> 00:47:29,480 no podcast, I know that you and Mason fall on the spectrum of like 718 00:47:29,559 --> 00:47:34,320 Josh Hart is like better as an idea and just overrated in actuality. Where 719 00:47:34,360 --> 00:47:37,400 You're still surprised that his restricted free agency shook out the way it did, 720 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:40,960 like one guaranteed year or is it just the Pelicans were so convincing to the 721 00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:44,280 rest of thee that they were going to match whatever it came his way. 722 00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:46,840 They always held that leverage. I just I was flabbergasted that he only ended 723 00:47:46,880 --> 00:47:53,840 up with one guaranteed year. I was you know, I before his restrict 724 00:47:53,840 --> 00:47:57,199 the free agency shook out the way it did, I was saying that he's 725 00:47:57,239 --> 00:47:59,519 not going to have much of a market. I don't think, you know. 726 00:47:59,559 --> 00:48:00,800 I was like, I think a skill sets that valued on the market. 727 00:48:01,840 --> 00:48:05,280 He if he was a better shooter, he would be more in the 728 00:48:05,320 --> 00:48:08,119 mind. But because he is a restricted free agent, teams aren't going to 729 00:48:08,119 --> 00:48:13,519 want to break the bank beyond mid level money, and the Pelicans would have 730 00:48:13,559 --> 00:48:15,679 matched mid level of money in my opinion, And so that kind of effectively 731 00:48:15,719 --> 00:48:21,320 shut off his options. And when that happened, they were able to squeeze 732 00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:23,239 him for as long as they did and get him to sign that deal. 733 00:48:23,320 --> 00:48:28,599 So all at all, not that surprising. I just I think he's a 734 00:48:28,840 --> 00:48:30,519 you know, he's an eighth man on a bad team and an eighth man 735 00:48:30,559 --> 00:48:32,679 on a good team. And that's just who he is. He's not going 736 00:48:32,719 --> 00:48:37,320 to be you know, you plug him in for twenty minutes, twenty five 737 00:48:37,360 --> 00:48:40,880 minutes, he's gonna get a few transition points, he's gonna grab a lot 738 00:48:40,920 --> 00:48:45,719 of rebounds, he's gonna try hard on defense and that, and that's a 739 00:48:45,719 --> 00:48:49,320 pretty narrow window of what he does. But and he's good at it, 740 00:48:50,039 --> 00:48:52,960 but he doesn't dig it much from that, so I'm not surprised he didn't 741 00:48:52,960 --> 00:48:58,159 get he didn't get much more money. Okay, he definitely is all first 742 00:48:58,199 --> 00:49:02,039 team shoots worse from three than people talk about him and his shooting. He's 743 00:49:02,079 --> 00:49:05,920 just one of those players wh everyone mentions him like this three indeed, but 744 00:49:05,960 --> 00:49:07,960 then you look at his three point splits and it's like, yeah, he's 745 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:10,679 like not really even a league average shooter at this point. And what's worse 746 00:49:12,119 --> 00:49:16,039 beyond that is he passes up shots constantly. It's this like pump fake and 747 00:49:16,039 --> 00:49:22,039 the one step into the melane and driving without a plan, and so you 748 00:49:22,079 --> 00:49:24,960 know, I'm I thought, you know, he was doing that a lot 749 00:49:25,039 --> 00:49:29,239 last year because it was a contract year and he wanted his percentage just to 750 00:49:29,239 --> 00:49:31,639 stay high. But he's doing it again in the in the preseason, so 751 00:49:32,199 --> 00:49:36,280 I think that's just who he is. He's just not a confident three point 752 00:49:36,280 --> 00:49:38,239 shooter who wants to let it fly. And that's part of why I'm excited 753 00:49:38,280 --> 00:49:43,760 about Trey Murphy in those situations win Zion, because I know he's not passing 754 00:49:43,800 --> 00:49:45,960 up a shot. I know Devonte Grant's not passing up that shot, so 755 00:49:46,119 --> 00:49:52,440 just let him fly. This could this or should be matchup dependent. But 756 00:49:52,480 --> 00:49:55,000 what do you think should be there their overall most huge or go to crunch 757 00:49:55,039 --> 00:49:58,880 time line up this season? Is it? Is it just there projected starting 758 00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:01,360 five, which is be a bad question because they're projected starting five is all 759 00:50:01,719 --> 00:50:06,800 over the damn place. Yeah, I think it should be matchup dependent, 760 00:50:06,880 --> 00:50:09,000 to be honest, I would like Jonis in there. I just think he's 761 00:50:09,559 --> 00:50:14,880 a matchup problem for the opponent team. But I understand just when teams space 762 00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:17,679 things out, you know, you have to adjust accordingly, and so if 763 00:50:17,719 --> 00:50:23,400 and when they do that, if Jackson is as good as they say he's 764 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:27,280 been, then you know you put Jackson out there, get a different look 765 00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:30,679 on defense. If not, lean into it, lean into the wings stuff 766 00:50:30,679 --> 00:50:31,960 man, put put some wings out there, portray out there, put her 767 00:50:31,960 --> 00:50:37,079 about there. Put whoever. I'm I want to get weird. I'm all 768 00:50:37,079 --> 00:50:40,800 about getting creative, and so I think I'm a believer in you have to 769 00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:45,920 force your opponent to match up with you as well. And when Zion's on 770 00:50:45,960 --> 00:50:50,719 the floor, that's a problem no matter what, because there's very few matchups 771 00:50:50,719 --> 00:50:55,320 for Zion. And yeah, so I think it's got to be what's going 772 00:50:55,360 --> 00:51:00,159 on that night and who the opponent is, because I just I can't imagine 773 00:51:00,159 --> 00:51:04,800 getting married to one specific thing the way that Stamping County did last year. 774 00:51:06,320 --> 00:51:08,159 What hey, what thank you for the natural segue? What is a weird 775 00:51:08,400 --> 00:51:13,199 off the beat on conventional lineup that you're really hoping they try out just to 776 00:51:13,199 --> 00:51:20,480 see what happens this year. I would go the all six seven lineups. 777 00:51:20,480 --> 00:51:24,239 So my point guard would be Zion, My shooting guard would be brandon Ingram, 778 00:51:24,280 --> 00:51:30,360 The small forward would be Trey Murphy, the power forward would be Naji 779 00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:35,280 Marshall. In the center would be Herb Johns. And I would roll with 780 00:51:35,320 --> 00:51:39,320 that as those three wings that are in the front quote quote quote unquote to 781 00:51:39,559 --> 00:51:43,400 just wreck havoc on defense, take the open shots or put the ball on 782 00:51:43,360 --> 00:51:45,559 the floor when they need to, and let Zion cook. That's what I 783 00:51:45,559 --> 00:51:50,920 would do. Mine was eerily similar. I want to see NAW with Trey 784 00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:54,360 Murphy, brandon Ingram, Zion and Naji Marshall. That's a lineup that I'm 785 00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:59,440 hoping that they try out. Yeah, any any any six of those players 786 00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:05,159 that we just love it just any combination of that their current wind total as 787 00:52:05,199 --> 00:52:08,840 we record this is set at thirty eight point five. I think I've said 788 00:52:08,840 --> 00:52:10,920 this a bunch of times in the podcast. But whoever, the people that 789 00:52:12,039 --> 00:52:15,320 make these lines do a really good job of making them. But would you 790 00:52:15,360 --> 00:52:16,920 take the over the under on Matt and where do you sort of see them 791 00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:22,000 stacking up in the larger picture of the Western Conference? If Zion was healthy, 792 00:52:22,039 --> 00:52:24,400 I would have taken the over. Yeah, if I had any confidence 793 00:52:24,440 --> 00:52:28,760 that he was returning soon, I would have taken the over. I have 794 00:52:28,880 --> 00:52:31,280 no confidence in that, so I say, do not touch that line, 795 00:52:32,199 --> 00:52:37,320 don't bet on it. But it's probably more logical to bet under than over 796 00:52:37,400 --> 00:52:40,760 at this point simply because of his health. I think I'm with you. 797 00:52:40,840 --> 00:52:44,159 And so if you're gonna take the under, like we're just assuming that they 798 00:52:44,880 --> 00:52:51,199 missed the playoffs again this season, I mean again, if Scion is like 799 00:52:51,719 --> 00:52:55,000 weeks away, months away, then yes, I think that has to be 800 00:52:55,079 --> 00:52:59,400 the assumption, because he is your best player and the team is built in 801 00:52:59,440 --> 00:53:02,920 a large part to function around him. You know, unless Brandon Inger where 802 00:53:02,920 --> 00:53:07,400 someone else takes just this unexpected leap and and you know, they find themselves 803 00:53:07,440 --> 00:53:09,679 in a play and I could still see them in the play in picture of 804 00:53:09,719 --> 00:53:13,840 Zion misses extended time that that wouldn't be surprised. But you know, if 805 00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:19,039 Zion only misses like ten games, then then I I would feel okay about 806 00:53:19,039 --> 00:53:21,519 it the over and you know, I could see them get around forty forty 807 00:53:21,559 --> 00:53:25,320 one forty two, especially if he's he's good, like this is lash, 808 00:53:25,360 --> 00:53:29,320 You're good. This is the least scientific thought ever, But it just feels 809 00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:30,760 like if they had like really good news on their zie on front, they 810 00:53:30,760 --> 00:53:37,360 would have been more like forward or quick about oh there's yeah, there's no 811 00:53:37,400 --> 00:53:39,920 good news on the zie on front. Like I said, whenever David Griffin 812 00:53:39,920 --> 00:53:45,480 has a Zion laps and injury announced or yeah, announcement, because we don't 813 00:53:45,480 --> 00:53:49,320 know what it is, it's never good. So but it's safe to assume 814 00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:52,079 that that's the case. It's just you know, what what level of not 815 00:53:52,119 --> 00:53:54,880 good is it? Is it he's not going to be ready to Christmas, 816 00:53:54,960 --> 00:54:00,239 or is he's got or you know, is it that you know, he 817 00:54:00,360 --> 00:54:02,679 might miss the first two weeks, but we'll bring him in in like the 818 00:54:02,719 --> 00:54:08,360 first week in November and he'll be like restriction free by Thanksgiving. Okay, 819 00:54:08,440 --> 00:54:13,199 that's manageable and you're like, that's that's not terrible. But yeah, so 820 00:54:13,320 --> 00:54:15,800 we'll see what they come out with. But if it can't be good, 821 00:54:15,239 --> 00:54:17,280 Yeah, And as you're recorded, I don't even think he's been cleared for 822 00:54:17,360 --> 00:54:20,639 running, or the at least haven't said he's been cleared for running, and 823 00:54:20,679 --> 00:54:24,639 so correct they Willie Green mentioned today that they were waiting on the results for 824 00:54:24,639 --> 00:54:29,119 the scans, which were presumably done today as well, because if they were 825 00:54:29,159 --> 00:54:30,760 done any other day and they're waiting for them, that just seems like a 826 00:54:31,559 --> 00:54:37,079 convenient cover for things they don't want to tell us. Yeah, I mean, 827 00:54:37,119 --> 00:54:42,400 like, look, the scans don't take that long to didn't they mentioned 828 00:54:42,440 --> 00:54:45,159 this like two weeks ago that was like the scans were coming or something. 829 00:54:45,840 --> 00:54:50,719 Well, so two weeks ago they mentioned that he was going to get them 830 00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:54,559 at some point in the future, and then at the last preseason game and 831 00:54:54,719 --> 00:54:58,599 Utah really mentioned he had not yet gotten them and you'd get them at this 832 00:54:58,639 --> 00:55:01,800 week at some point, And so I presume I'm going to give them the 833 00:55:01,800 --> 00:55:06,599 benefit of the doubt here that he got them today and they're waiting on today's 834 00:55:06,639 --> 00:55:09,800 results, and Griff should have an answer for us in the next two or 835 00:55:09,800 --> 00:55:15,880 three days or maybe tomorrow. Is there anything or anyone about this team I 836 00:55:15,880 --> 00:55:21,079 didn't ask you about that you think needs to be discussed. We haven't talked 837 00:55:21,079 --> 00:55:23,119 about Willie Green. Yeah, you would think I would ask about their new 838 00:55:23,159 --> 00:55:25,519 head coach and how he's going to change the way that they play. But 839 00:55:25,920 --> 00:55:29,920 I'm not that thorough apparently. So what are your thoughts on him so far? 840 00:55:30,719 --> 00:55:37,880 Yeah? Look, he's a very even keeled individual who recognizes the weight 841 00:55:37,920 --> 00:55:43,960 of his own words. Completely different vibe than Staman Gundy. He recognizes the 842 00:55:43,960 --> 00:55:47,840 impact that his words about players can have on them, whereas Damon Gundy is 843 00:55:47,840 --> 00:55:52,239 happily willing to say, you guys acted like high school kids, or like 844 00:55:52,320 --> 00:55:55,159 high school kids could have done this or whatever he said that game. Willie's 845 00:55:55,239 --> 00:56:00,199 not that guy. You know. He's been in the league for over a 846 00:56:00,239 --> 00:56:04,400 dozen years as a player and then more as a coach who's won at the 847 00:56:04,480 --> 00:56:09,079 highest level in Golden State. He's seen it all, and so I think 848 00:56:09,119 --> 00:56:13,840 the players really respond to that, and especially after what they went through last 849 00:56:13,880 --> 00:56:19,280 year, and then it shows in their conversations with the media that they really 850 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:25,039 respect his perspective. Schematically, it's a complete change. Offensively, he wants 851 00:56:25,079 --> 00:56:28,519 to run, he wants to pass, he wants to move the ball, 852 00:56:28,920 --> 00:56:30,639 he wants to play a free flowing style. Stan was bridget, Bridget, 853 00:56:30,679 --> 00:56:35,719 Bridget, you gotta like, you know, play at a snail's pace and 854 00:56:36,079 --> 00:56:37,679 and you know, bring the ball up the floor slowly and you can't do 855 00:56:37,760 --> 00:56:42,320 this, you gotta do that. Where Willie's like all about empowered players. 856 00:56:42,360 --> 00:56:45,760 So I think the players really respond to that. Whether that translates into results 857 00:56:46,280 --> 00:56:50,719 TVD, but it's good, you know, it's good that the players like 858 00:56:50,840 --> 00:56:53,760 him and the vibe is way different than what it was with Stan. Defensively, 859 00:56:53,960 --> 00:56:59,760 they're going to do more of a traditional drop coverage to start the year. 860 00:57:00,119 --> 00:57:02,519 Really does say you want to work his way into switching one through five 861 00:57:02,639 --> 00:57:06,079 once they once they get there, especially with the pieces they have, but 862 00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:09,599 they're they want to get cut up this drop first. And frankly, when 863 00:57:09,599 --> 00:57:13,960 the Pelicans switched to drop defense from the ridiculous pack the paint stuff that they 864 00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:19,880 were going on with last year, the last thirty six games actually since they 865 00:57:19,960 --> 00:57:22,800 sent the date, since the date that they switched the drop and they finished 866 00:57:22,800 --> 00:57:27,880 the season, it was like more than thirty six games actually they were the 867 00:57:27,960 --> 00:57:31,400 seventh best defense in the league, and and well, I don't anticipate them 868 00:57:31,440 --> 00:57:35,519 to be a top ten defense this year. Would I would absolutely not be 869 00:57:35,559 --> 00:57:37,239 surprised if they were, you know, close to fifteen, you know, 870 00:57:37,280 --> 00:57:40,760 closer to average, Like let's say they were like seventeen eighteen nineteen. That 871 00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:45,960 would not be a surprise to me, especially if Zion is missing times because 872 00:57:45,960 --> 00:57:52,440 that's a negative defendi point on the floor. Yeah, they finished twenty third 873 00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:54,760 in points of perposession after like having that hot close. I would think, 874 00:57:54,880 --> 00:57:59,199 especially with some of the better wing depth that they have now, if we 875 00:57:59,280 --> 00:58:01,360 really expect Trey Murphy to be to be good right away and if you're going 876 00:58:01,400 --> 00:58:06,320 to get a more high, higher volume role from Naji Marshall, it feels 877 00:58:06,320 --> 00:58:07,480 like they should be able to build upon that. And I don't know if 878 00:58:07,480 --> 00:58:09,400 this is a hot take, but if you're gonna play drop, I don't 879 00:58:09,440 --> 00:58:15,639 really know if you experience this huge drop off in defensive talent going from Steven 880 00:58:15,679 --> 00:58:19,519 Adams to Joonas Valanciunist, like some have speculated exactly, I mean, he's 881 00:58:19,559 --> 00:58:22,639 gonna he's gonna go be the big body and the paint he was good enough 882 00:58:22,639 --> 00:58:25,320 for Memphis at that time. And it's all and it's all about perimeter responsibility 883 00:58:25,320 --> 00:58:30,159 from then on out. And so those size on the wings that the Pelicans 884 00:58:30,159 --> 00:58:35,119 have this year is certainly gonna help them a great deal. But you know, 885 00:58:35,320 --> 00:58:37,960 we'll we'll see how it shakes off in terms of how they're able to 886 00:58:38,000 --> 00:58:42,719 execute it on the perimeter and and what their luck is. Frankly, they 887 00:58:42,719 --> 00:58:45,039 were they're a pretty unlucky team for large part of last year when it came 888 00:58:45,079 --> 00:58:47,440 to point and three point shooting. So we'll see how that plays out. 889 00:58:49,400 --> 00:58:52,719 Shammon, thank you for giving me so much of your time here to educate 890 00:58:52,800 --> 00:58:54,440 us all on the Pelicans. You're able to tell our listeners where they can 891 00:58:54,480 --> 00:58:59,199 find you and all the fantastic work that you do. Yeah, you can 892 00:58:59,280 --> 00:59:05,119 find me at Fear the Brown on Twitter. You could find my words at 893 00:59:05,159 --> 00:59:09,199 Brevard street Shots dot com. And you can listen to me on a podcast 894 00:59:09,199 --> 00:59:15,320 on the Blue Wire network called in the No which is n O New Orleans 895 00:59:15,320 --> 00:59:21,159 in the Know and with my co host Amazing Ginsburg. You have a great 896 00:59:21,159 --> 00:59:22,559 Twitter Abbey pick at the moment as well. I meant to tell you that 897 00:59:23,400 --> 00:59:29,159 thanks just making a weird face for him, I go following him on Twitter 898 00:59:29,159 --> 00:59:30,199 though, app you're the brown definitely make sure you do that. Thanks again 899 00:59:30,199 --> 00:59:32,440 for giving me so much of your time sham it, and I think you 900 00:59:32,440 --> 00:59:36,519 know by now I'll definitely be pestering you again in the future. Yeah, 901 00:59:36,599 --> 00:59:37,800 absolutely, thank you.