1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,120 What's up, y'all is Drewski and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,679 a hilarious new basketball podcast called The du Zone with Drewsky. Learn the backstories 3 00:00:08,679 --> 00:00:11,880 of your favorite ballers and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a 4 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:14,720 favorite team? Was it the Raptors at the time or no, was the 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,719 Raptors even started on the topic? Come on, bro had that old talk 6 00:00:18,839 --> 00:00:22,320 like I'm fifty Tailor Roes, Asian Wilson and many more. You won't want 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,160 to miss this. Listen to The Duo Zone with Drewski on Apple, Podcast, 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:32,560 Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. In two thousand and three, 9 00:00:32,799 --> 00:00:38,039 Nike signed thirteen year old Freddy Adoo to a seven figure contract, but 10 00:00:38,359 --> 00:00:43,320 Freddy didn't live up to the height. He has turned down every single documentary 11 00:00:43,399 --> 00:00:48,840 project looking closely at the details of his career until now. People are gonna 12 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:53,039 look at everything you did because of the hype surrounding your arrival and what they 13 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:58,359 think you can be. I'm Grant Wall and this is American prodigy Freddie Ado 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:10,840 from Blue Wire Podcasts. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Hardwood 15 00:01:10,879 --> 00:01:14,519 Knocks. This is Adam from Will here with my fantastic co host Dan Favallei, 16 00:01:15,079 --> 00:01:19,519 and we are now in the heart of the abbreviated NBA off season, 17 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,480 which I'm still like trying to wrap my head around how quickly everything is going 18 00:01:23,519 --> 00:01:26,560 to happen. We're recording this on a Monday, the draft is Wednesday. 19 00:01:26,599 --> 00:01:29,640 Then there's only a month until the season is actually set up a start, 20 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:34,079 and we're already seeing a lot of big news coming out. We had Mario 21 00:01:34,159 --> 00:01:37,640 Hazona op in, we had Tony Snell opt into his player option, and 22 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,359 even bigger news, as hard as it is to believe, Chris Paul was 23 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:44,879 traded to the Phoenix Suns. We're going to talk about that. We're going 24 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,599 to talk about the Houston Rockets's attempt to trade both of their star guards at 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,640 this point. But before we do any of that, a shout out to 26 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,599 our sponsors. I was always Indeed and bet Online Dot AG. You'll be 27 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:00,599 hearing from both of them shortly. We want to encourage everyone to subscribe to 28 00:02:00,599 --> 00:02:04,760 the podcast, to rate and review it wherever you are listening, and you 29 00:02:04,799 --> 00:02:07,680 know, in lieu of asking Dan how he's doing, which I typically do 30 00:02:07,719 --> 00:02:10,360 after these intros, I want to focus on what he told me before we 31 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,719 started recording, which is that he's not a big pasta or bread guy. 32 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:16,680 And I just I'm still struggling to wrap my head around that, and I 33 00:02:16,719 --> 00:02:21,560 just I need more explanation, Dan. I don't know what it is about, 34 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:24,400 Like I don't dislike it, but it's never been like something I've been 35 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,159 in love with. The carbs that I've always loved is like is pizza basically, 36 00:02:29,159 --> 00:02:30,919 which is still bread, But like I've never been like, oh, 37 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:32,800 I need to eat bread, I love, I need to eat mashed potatoes 38 00:02:32,879 --> 00:02:35,639 or anything like fries or anything like that. I don't know what it is. 39 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,759 And I think that's probably why doing carbs only like for eight hours a 40 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,039 week, Like I had my cheat night every Sunday night, as you know, 41 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,960 I used to send you pictures of them, I think. But anyway, 42 00:02:46,039 --> 00:02:47,039 like I guess that's why it's easy for me. It's because I was 43 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:52,280 never like gravitated towards those food to begin with. Like I was never big 44 00:02:52,319 --> 00:02:57,360 knack and cheese guy. But I did eat pasta before we recorded this. 45 00:02:57,439 --> 00:02:59,840 The night before we recorded this, I told you I had some penny alavaca 46 00:03:00,159 --> 00:03:04,639 chicken and some pesto and pena with chicken. It was it wasn't bad, 47 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,360 but again like it was just for not having had it in almost two years. 48 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,159 I was like, I'm just I'm just baffled by this. You like 49 00:03:10,199 --> 00:03:14,960 gave me the Quinn Schneider deaths. There. The entire grew up in a 50 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,439 family that like had the pasta all the time, and like a thirty six 51 00:03:17,479 --> 00:03:23,680 hour pasta drought is like substantial in our house now and just I'm struggling here. 52 00:03:23,199 --> 00:03:27,599 I just I can't believe that. I'm wondering how many subscribers you're costing 53 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,400 us right now. The numbers are plunging because I don't eat enough cars or 54 00:03:31,439 --> 00:03:35,400 don't like bread and pasta. How are you doing? We want everyone, 55 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,400 wanting everyone to tweet at Dan with their favorite pasta dishes. That is my 56 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:43,719 call to action for this podcast. Forget about our Chris Paul takes and our 57 00:03:43,759 --> 00:03:46,800 our draft picks and our Mario Hazzonia takes. Just tweet pasta recipes at Dan. 58 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:52,280 He will at Dan FAVALLEI favl e. He will not be using them, 59 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,879 So you'll be yelling into the great voice Adam will be satisfied though the 60 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,400 Chris Paul trade though, like or should we just talk about Mario Hazonia. 61 00:04:00,719 --> 00:04:02,120 It's really up to you, all right, we'll say Chris Paul. So 62 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,840 like we've had the podcast, We've already had multiple Rockets podcasts, and we'll 63 00:04:05,879 --> 00:04:09,800 get to the James Harden trade rumors after this, and we actually already had 64 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:14,159 a Chris Paul podcast. But the trade actually goes down and the final return 65 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,439 to recap was Phoenix is trading the Thunder a top twelve protected first round pick 66 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:25,040 in twenty twenty two, plus the big name in this trade Jail and Luck 67 00:04:25,439 --> 00:04:30,480 Tie Jerome Kelly Woodbrady Junior and Ricky Rubio getting back Chris Paul and Abdiel Nader. 68 00:04:31,399 --> 00:04:35,199 I My hot take on this trade is that I don't have a hot 69 00:04:35,199 --> 00:04:40,079 take. I like it for both sides, Like this feels like a risk 70 00:04:40,439 --> 00:04:44,560 that Phoenix needed to take, and insofar as it is even a risk, 71 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:46,319 like yes, there's a chance maybe Paul won't be as healthy as he was 72 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,399 this past season, but there's just two years left on his deal. And 73 00:04:49,439 --> 00:04:53,959 even if you view it as like should we get peak Paul or a great 74 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,959 version of Chris Paul. This is still only a two year move. I 75 00:04:56,959 --> 00:05:00,240 feel like the opportunity cost was justifiable because Ricky Rubio is under contract for that 76 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,759 same length of time. Kelley Obrad Junior was good, but I feel like 77 00:05:03,759 --> 00:05:06,160 as a play finisher, he's kind of expendable on this team and he was 78 00:05:06,199 --> 00:05:10,439 going to be a free agent in twenty twenty one. If you're really high 79 00:05:10,439 --> 00:05:13,879 on Tie Jerome, I get it, but like he wasn't really factoring into 80 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,959 the backup guard rotation last year when you desperately needed that. And then finally, 81 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,319 I think the asset here if you're okay, see you're looking at is 82 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:24,959 the twenty twenty two pick, and I saw that there's increasing pessimism that people 83 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:29,439 don't think that's going to be the combined draft for high school seniors and college 84 00:05:29,439 --> 00:05:30,839 freshman And so from the Sun's perspective, you have to like that. And 85 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,000 if you're the Thunder, you get another first round pick, and now you 86 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:40,079 have I think sixteen possibly seventeen over the next six drafts, and you're getting 87 00:05:40,199 --> 00:05:43,360 players who can actually play. Now that you've traded Dennis Shrewder the Lakers, 88 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,680 and we can probably talk about that briefly if you wanted to. You have 89 00:05:46,759 --> 00:05:49,279 Ricky Rubio coming in and Paul's gone as well, so you technically need another 90 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,519 playmaker. But you also have these two guys in Ubra and Rubio, who 91 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,519 I think you can get something for. I don't know what it is. 92 00:05:57,639 --> 00:06:00,879 Maybe it's more attractive if you're taking back less savery deal like I don't know 93 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,600 if Kelly Bridge Jr's expiring contract get you a first on its own. Maybe 94 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:08,000 if you're taking back a multi year deal. But now you have those options, 95 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,759 and so you keep turning these big name players into more bites at the 96 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,800 Apple and for a team that's preparing to rebuild, I think that's incredibly important. 97 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,720 And look now they're even more armed if they want to go in on, 98 00:06:19,319 --> 00:06:21,439 you know, pivot, if they want to get involved into James Harden 99 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:27,439 sweepstakes, like they can if they want to. I agree with pretty much 100 00:06:27,439 --> 00:06:30,160 everything you said there. My hot take was also that it's a good move 101 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:35,920 for both sides, and that isn't always the case with these blockbuster NBA transactions 102 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:40,360 that we see, I mean from the Thunder's perspective, like Sam Presty managed 103 00:06:40,399 --> 00:06:46,079 to take on assets to get Chris Paul and then move him for actual assets 104 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,600 without giving up anything else of value. So that's definitely a win for them. 105 00:06:49,639 --> 00:06:54,600 You know, they're they're continuing to build this stockpile of roughly seven thousand 106 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,199 first round picks in the next decade, and eventually they're going to have to 107 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,360 package those into something. But it gives them so much flexibility moving forward because 108 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,600 they have multiple picks in every single draft for the foreseeable future, so when 109 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:11,399 a star comes available, you can meet whatever timeline is being asked. There's 110 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:15,879 value in that They're still going to be competitive. I mean, I feel 111 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:18,720 like it's it's hard to believe that a team that was supposed to be rebuilding 112 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:23,639 and exceeded expectations on the strength of a second team All NBA season from Chris 113 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,480 Paul can move Chris Paul and still be a playoff contender in the Western Conference. 114 00:07:27,759 --> 00:07:30,439 But like their core is now Ricky Rubio, shaygil Just, Alexander Kelly 115 00:07:30,439 --> 00:07:34,240 wee Bray Junior, and Steven Adams. I mean, they could move Adams 116 00:07:34,879 --> 00:07:40,319 and continue to offload these veteran pieces. They could try to bring Danilo Gallinari 117 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:44,199 back on a one year deal and remain competitive. There are so many options 118 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,399 no matter what direction the Thunder want to go in, and that's a huge 119 00:07:47,399 --> 00:07:50,079 win for them in and of itself. With Phoenix, you know, you 120 00:07:50,079 --> 00:07:54,319 and I had talked about how this was one of our ideal landing spots for 121 00:07:54,399 --> 00:07:57,439 Chris Paul from the start, as soon as we knew that he was going 122 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,439 to be dealt at some point this off season. That he's just such a 123 00:08:00,439 --> 00:08:03,000 tremendous fit next to Devin Booker, and the fact that they could get him 124 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,879 without giving up Mikhail Bridges or Cam Johnson, that's a huge one. Number 125 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,480 ten. I think that's big number ten. Yeah, yeah, absolutely, 126 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,439 but yeah, I mean it's a perfect fit. It's a veteran leader for 127 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:18,439 a franchise that is young and looking to end this interminable playoff drought, and 128 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,800 as competitive as the Western Conference is set to be this coming season, it's 129 00:08:22,839 --> 00:08:26,439 hard not to have them in one of those eight spots now right. And 130 00:08:28,279 --> 00:08:30,920 look, and I think the biggest thing this does is Chris Paul is a 131 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,879 great compliment to Devin Booker, maybe to allow Booker to play off the ball 132 00:08:33,919 --> 00:08:35,320 a little bit more. I don't know that he necessarily needs to, Like 133 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,919 I think he's shown he can shoulder this high volume role efficiently. And I 134 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,639 mentioned this when I recorded The Sun's look Ahead podcast with Mike fe Hill, 135 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,799 was that the passes he's making, like they're not showy or super complicated like 136 00:08:46,799 --> 00:08:50,759 Ben Simmons or James Harden, but they're creating shots that wouldn't otherwise be there 137 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,840 for his teammates. Like even if you look at him backing down smaller guards 138 00:08:54,879 --> 00:08:56,960 or wings in the post and teams collapse on him so heavily. Now that 139 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,120 he can throw just these simple kickouts, those shots wouldn't be there if you 140 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,639 don't have his on ball gravity, I'll call it. But what this does 141 00:09:05,919 --> 00:09:09,360 also is the Sun's offense was in the seventh percent tile when Devin Booker was 142 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,240 off the court next last season. So you go, if you're wondering, 143 00:09:13,519 --> 00:09:18,440 that's actually terrible, it's the seventh percentile one hundred and two point seven points 144 00:09:18,279 --> 00:09:22,440 per one hundred possessions. Now with Rubio on the court, when Booker was 145 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,799 off, it was actually worse. It was in the third percentile ninety nine 146 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:30,360 point four. You're now giving those minutes to Chris Paul, Like think about 147 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,919 that, Like that is absolutely mind blowing. And what this also does is 148 00:09:35,879 --> 00:09:39,480 it gives you someone else who there should be more pick and roll sy synergy. 149 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:43,240 I think between Eton and Chris Paul, just because Chris Paul's an actual 150 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,559 threat to pull up and just score in general really where Rubio is not that 151 00:09:46,639 --> 00:09:48,799 aggressive, and so that's going to open up different things for Eton. But 152 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,399 looking specifically at the Sun's off season now, the way that this trade was 153 00:09:52,399 --> 00:09:56,279 structured, I think it's pretty clear that they're planning on also trying to use 154 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:01,679 cap space, and so they can have between I'll have them at sixteen million 155 00:10:01,919 --> 00:10:07,120 and almost nineteen million, depending on what they do with they have Elliot Coubo's 156 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:09,000 non guaranteed deal, Javon Carter is a free agent, and Cameron payin as 157 00:10:09,039 --> 00:10:13,000 a team option. I thought Carter a Cobo and Pain. Those those guys 158 00:10:13,039 --> 00:10:16,559 were all locks too. You keep their holds. They're so small, and 159 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:20,039 I think Carter you still keep because this hold is under two million dollars and 160 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,200 he's like perfect as someone. He's a guard who needs to play off the 161 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:26,519 ball anyway and defends his ass off shoots three as well. I don't know 162 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,799 what we're run in general. That's my Chavon Carter take right, and I 163 00:10:28,799 --> 00:10:33,679 don't know what you do with you know, a Cobo and Pain just because 164 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,399 I would pick up Pain's team option based on how he played, but like 165 00:10:35,399 --> 00:10:37,960 you can save a million dollars by replacing with a minimum. But anyway, 166 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,759 so they're gonna have you also have to renounce Bains, Commitsky's team option and 167 00:10:41,759 --> 00:10:46,200 then Sarich as part of this deal, or you can resign Bains and Sarich 168 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,840 and like still complete this deal. But it seems like they're going to use 169 00:10:48,879 --> 00:10:52,960 cap space based on how it we're structured, and I would almost I don't 170 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,799 want to guess, but it feels like they might be willing to decline Pain's 171 00:10:56,879 --> 00:11:00,679 team option as well, in addition to Commitskys and and renouncing other people since 172 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,639 he wasn't one of the salaries included in this trade, so that they're trying 173 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,919 to keep themselves as flexible as possible. And I don't know what names get 174 00:11:07,919 --> 00:11:11,720 thrown to hear people have mentioned Gallinari, Jeremy Grant seems far fetched because the 175 00:11:11,799 --> 00:11:15,240 Nuggets need to keep him, in my opinion, and can pay him more 176 00:11:15,279 --> 00:11:16,840 than anyone. But there are other names that can fit here. And now 177 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,399 all of a sudden, it's not just oh, we're a team on the 178 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,919 come up. You have Chris Paul to sell perspective players on now and maybe 179 00:11:24,919 --> 00:11:30,120 you're even at a conversation for ring chasing veterans. What if Paul Millsap decides 180 00:11:30,159 --> 00:11:33,720 that he's gonna come for the room exception or something, and so now they 181 00:11:33,759 --> 00:11:37,320 have those avenues available where it's you can use cap space, you'll have the 182 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:39,399 room exception two. And then you go and you complete this trade for Chris 183 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,600 Paul. I don't know if any names if you looked at free asient targets 184 00:11:43,639 --> 00:11:48,559 for the Sons or but like you mentioned, penciling them in to one of 185 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,679 the eight spots in the West, and from the way it looks like this 186 00:11:52,759 --> 00:11:54,240 deal is going to unfold, I feel like you have to because they're not 187 00:11:54,320 --> 00:12:01,519 done. Is how this feels. My initial reaction when looking at the free 188 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:05,080 agency class and who I would like to see end up there, The number 189 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,519 one name that comes to mind is Paul Millsap. I feel like he would 190 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:13,320 just be a great fit in this front court. Another veteran presence, another 191 00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:16,279 really smart player on both ends of the floor, a guy who doesn't really 192 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:20,200 need to touch the ball that frequently, as we saw with the Denver Nuggets. 193 00:12:20,399 --> 00:12:22,679 He would be a great fit next to Aden, He'd be a great 194 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,919 fit with the backcourt. I would really like to see that happen if possible. 195 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:30,440 I would like to see them try to swing some sort of move for 196 00:12:30,519 --> 00:12:33,039 Rudy Gay. I think he's another really intriguing fit with this team. But 197 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,720 I think that's like the level of signing that we're looking at here, Like 198 00:12:35,759 --> 00:12:39,080 if if Gallanari is willing to take a discount and come play, they're great. 199 00:12:39,279 --> 00:12:45,080 I think that's slightly far fetched given the financial situation. But yeah, 200 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:50,240 I think Millsap is number one on my list here. Yeah, I'm just 201 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,720 I'm curious sports free agents. They enter the fold for it's they could have 202 00:12:52,799 --> 00:12:56,480 the money. I think to go after Gallo, but I don't know that 203 00:12:56,519 --> 00:12:58,879 you necessarily need him when you have Chris Paul and Devin Booker, Like if 204 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:01,639 you want another shot, I guess you still need that set you want, 205 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,799 like a third shot creator. But there are so many options avail them. 206 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,240 They might just go low end too, Like you can bring back Sarich and 207 00:13:09,279 --> 00:13:11,639 then go chase Alec Burks and Paul millsapp like they're a bunch of stuff that 208 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,159 they could do now. Twenty twenty has already reshaped how we work and it's 209 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,840 almost over. 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I'm just looking at Rubio, I'm looking at Ubre like it 225 00:14:22,759 --> 00:14:26,200 feels like they're also going to be among the teams that aren't done and look 226 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,519 they have they might be able to sign and trade Gallow depending on what teams 227 00:14:28,679 --> 00:14:31,639 are interested in him, And it feels like they're going I'll set it at 228 00:14:31,639 --> 00:14:35,279 one point five. Are you gonna take Oh, I'm gonna take the under, 229 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:41,000 just because I think that the franchise has shown that it can rebuild while 230 00:14:41,039 --> 00:14:48,240 remaining competitive, and just by taking Rubio back along with with Ubrey, I 231 00:14:48,279 --> 00:14:52,080 think it's another indication that they don't want to just bottom out. And if 232 00:14:52,159 --> 00:14:58,440 you're moving Steven Adams, you're trying to bottom out just because you don't have 233 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:03,679 another option to fill that role. So I think that they know that they 234 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,759 can attempt to compete for that eighth spot in the West, whether successful or 235 00:15:07,799 --> 00:15:11,399 not. You know, just getting to play in the in the postseason would 236 00:15:11,399 --> 00:15:15,879 be a benefit, but not necessarily a disaster if it doesn't happen while still 237 00:15:15,919 --> 00:15:20,200 having so much asset juice to make a move whenever an opportunity is created. 238 00:15:20,639 --> 00:15:26,320 So I don't think they need to make any subsequent blockbuster moves or blow it 239 00:15:26,399 --> 00:15:31,320 up moves, because this roster is uniquely positioned in a way that it can 240 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:37,639 remain competitive while also doing a fantastic job. But from the rebuilding front and 241 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,720 looking at the Western Comerce playoff picture, like in the aftermath of this, 242 00:15:41,759 --> 00:15:45,000 since we're penciling the Sun's in, let me go through the teams that we 243 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,559 think are going to be guaranteed to go in. So we have the Lakers, 244 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:52,039 the Clippers, the Nuggets, the Jazz, the Jazz. Do we 245 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:56,159 throw the Warriors in there? I think you have to. I would just 246 00:15:56,639 --> 00:16:00,559 with Steph Clay and Draymond. So now things get interesting because of the ship 247 00:16:00,639 --> 00:16:06,960 showing Houston. They're there, Oklahoma City, Portland, Dalla safely rule, 248 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:11,399 is Houston going to be the worst team in the Western Conference if they do 249 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:15,320 end up moving Harden? Yeah, there's that's just the natural segue here. 250 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,840 So the James Harden wants out like that was reported by Shams Sharania. Now 251 00:16:19,879 --> 00:16:22,960 like it's been inching towards that where it was what was the phrasing, Tim 252 00:16:23,039 --> 00:16:29,039 McMahon, and what would use and the plausible eventual possibility is now a reality 253 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:34,600 he wants out. As Sham's also reported, it's Houston's willing to keep both 254 00:16:34,679 --> 00:16:37,000 him and Westbrook, which I actually think it's smart. I don't know how 255 00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:41,360 realistic it is. You know, I've been on team running back from the 256 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,519 start. Well, look here's the way I'm with you, and this is 257 00:16:45,039 --> 00:16:47,799 I know it's hard to exist like this in a vacuum if your stars are 258 00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:52,000 actually that unhappy. But James Harden has three years left on his contract, 259 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:53,559 and then if you want to blow it up, I would make the case 260 00:16:53,639 --> 00:16:57,279 that next summer is the better time to do it because Harden's value isn't going 261 00:16:57,279 --> 00:17:00,600 to dip. He'll still have two years before we can hit free age. 262 00:17:00,639 --> 00:17:03,360 She left on his deal, and you have the benefit of Russell Westbrook being 263 00:17:03,399 --> 00:17:06,119 closer to free agency, where maybe it's like, okay, two years and 264 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,160 ninety one million dollars looks a lot better than three years and one hundred and 265 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,839 thirty two point six, So I would I would run it back. Do 266 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:15,799 you expect them too? Like I won't even say start because we're so close. 267 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,559 And by the way, the best way I've seen this phrase someone point 268 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:23,599 out the NBA's there's usually three months between the draft and the opening of training 269 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,880 camps, and this year there's going to be eleven days. Like that is 270 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:33,359 absolutely mind blowing to me. Anyway, do you think James Harden finishes the 271 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,640 season in Houston before we get into the nitty gritty granul in Houston? Really? 272 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,240 So there's a point of no return with these things, Like when it's 273 00:17:42,279 --> 00:17:48,000 clear that both sides want to make changes, it's so hard to squeeze those 274 00:17:48,039 --> 00:17:51,680 players back into the locker room. Like we've reached the point now, And 275 00:17:52,039 --> 00:17:55,759 you know, I have no reason to doubt the validity of the recording here, 276 00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:00,720 especially as it's gotten more definitive where we don't just know that Harden might 277 00:18:00,839 --> 00:18:04,839 maybe kind of want to at least think about potentially possibly having a trade away 278 00:18:04,839 --> 00:18:10,279 from Houston, maybe to like he wants to go to Brooklyn or Philadelphia, 279 00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:14,079 right, And I just I don't know how you come back from that. 280 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,160 Yeah, I would. I would argue they've reached the point of no return, 281 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,039 but there's a lot of stuff needs to come together for this to happen 282 00:18:22,519 --> 00:18:26,000 by December twenty second, And part of it is Houston has to know that 283 00:18:26,039 --> 00:18:32,000 if you're trading James Harden, you aren't getting fair value back. There's there's 284 00:18:32,079 --> 00:18:37,000 no one that is going to be willing to trade equivalent value for a top 285 00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:40,720 five player in the NBA still in the heart of his prime, an offensive 286 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,440 system unto himself, like you're just are you going to ask for eight first 287 00:18:44,519 --> 00:18:48,079 round picks and a and a young superstar? Like it's not, it's not 288 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:52,559 going to happen. So like, if if they're making this move, it's 289 00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:55,799 because they've accepted that they have to move him, which I think opens the 290 00:18:55,839 --> 00:19:02,480 door for lesser returns and more realistic chances of him being moved expeditiously. And 291 00:19:02,519 --> 00:19:06,000 I also I that's a good point. I would say, regardless of what 292 00:19:06,039 --> 00:19:08,440 happens, Rockets fans should probably brace themselves and look, I'm gonna I'm gonna 293 00:19:08,519 --> 00:19:14,799 criticize Tillman Fatida until forever because he's just terrible NBA team governor. I don't 294 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:17,759 know why they let him buy into the league. It seems like, however, 295 00:19:18,319 --> 00:19:21,839 I would if I'm fans, even if you had darnmor's your GM navigating 296 00:19:21,839 --> 00:19:25,759 this, I'd be prepared to get back less than you would expect. Just 297 00:19:25,839 --> 00:19:29,279 because James Harden is a top five NBA player, I'm not arguing that he 298 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,200 is. He gives you a line to the postseason on his own. He's 299 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,640 one of those few players that does that. He's thirty one, and so 300 00:19:36,839 --> 00:19:40,680 you're talking about his age thirty two, thirty three, and thirty four seasons. 301 00:19:40,839 --> 00:19:42,519 He's also a thirty one with a game that's going to age. Well, 302 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:47,240 I think it's important we say okay, So I'm gonna push back a 303 00:19:47,279 --> 00:19:48,920 little bit on that. There has been a shift in Houston where if you 304 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:53,279 watch footage from from Harden by the way of like twenty thirteen, so explosive, 305 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,599 just completely different player. So no, his game isn't pridate on athleticism, 306 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:03,160 but he has missed like barely any games since he's been in Houston during 307 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,559 the regular season. When you look at some of these usage rates forty point 308 00:20:06,599 --> 00:20:08,680 five in twenty eighteen, nineteen thirty six point three last year at thirty six 309 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,319 point one the year before, he has some really high used seasons under his 310 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:15,200 belt. I think the next three years of James Harden are spectacular seasons, 311 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:21,319 but you can't give up what I don't think you could give up. I 312 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,480 mean unless you're getting another stars part of it. Like when you look at 313 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,720 what the Clippers gave up for Paul George. They traded for Paul George and 314 00:20:26,759 --> 00:20:30,240 Kwai Leonard. The best way I've heard a phrase is that the thunder found 315 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,319 a way to trade Kawai without ever having him on their roster and Sam Presty 316 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,079 everyone. So I don't think that's a say even if you view Harden is 317 00:20:37,079 --> 00:20:40,799 the finishing piece, it's a different situation here. And yes, Leonard and 318 00:20:40,839 --> 00:20:44,359 Paul George are theoretically they could leave la sooner, but you have a longer 319 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,279 part of their primes left. I'm not saying James Harden isn't gonna net a 320 00:20:47,319 --> 00:20:49,559 haul. I think he will. But like if you're expecting the Rockets to 321 00:20:49,599 --> 00:20:53,759 get like seven first round, like it's I think you're gonna get less for 322 00:20:53,839 --> 00:20:59,279 James Harden than the thunder God for Paul George would be my prediction. I 323 00:20:59,319 --> 00:21:03,559 think that's totally I think we're looking at something like Karras Lavert, Jared Allen, 324 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:07,440 maybe Spencer Dinwoody two and a pair of first round picks is going to 325 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:08,960 be an initial kind of offer. Yeah, let's look, let's talk about 326 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:14,079 the two teams he mentioned Brooklyn. They have a very attractive trade package. 327 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,640 If you're not looking to rebuild the issues, I think you would go Lavert, 328 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,640 Dinwoody Allen as the base, and then you're throwing in distant future picks. 329 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,119 Maybe beginning you could throw in number nineteen after the draft, but you 330 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:30,240 know, twenty twenty three and twenty twenty five, putting that in play, 331 00:21:30,279 --> 00:21:33,119 maybe betting against the NETS's future. Throw swaps in there you can, and 332 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,519 then what are the protections on you know, the distant picks. That stuff 333 00:21:37,519 --> 00:21:41,880 all matters. I don't think that ends up being the destination, like unless 334 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,839 teams are really intimidated by what Harden could do with three years left on his 335 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,200 deal, Because Dinwoody's going to be a free agent after next season, Jared 336 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:52,960 Allen's going to command more money. Lavert is on a great contract. He's 337 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,599 also twenty six, So you're not getting like that high upside there unless you're 338 00:21:56,599 --> 00:21:59,960 able to suss out a third and fourth team to where they really valued Dim 339 00:22:00,519 --> 00:22:04,200 and LeVert and these pieces to send back higher end assets toward Houston. I 340 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,359 don't know that this deal get done gets done. However, do you think 341 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,000 the Rockets are going to want to rebuild as part of a James Harden trade? 342 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:15,720 Is there a scenario in which James Harden is gone leading into this season 343 00:22:15,759 --> 00:22:21,200 but Russell Westbrook is still there? Probably? I think that's more likely than 344 00:22:21,519 --> 00:22:23,119 than the best first at this point. Then if you're resigned to that, 345 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,680 then the Nets package, I think gets a little bit more attractive because there's 346 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:32,799 that push to win now. Then Yeah, and ultimately I think that's what 347 00:22:32,839 --> 00:22:37,599 will end up happening. Now, that's that's my initial speculation as to what 348 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,359 the actual outcome is going to be, is that he's going to be in 349 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:44,160 Brooklyn and it's going to be a disaster. Do you think he's gonna end 350 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,559 up in Brooklyn? I find that interesting? Yeah, it seems clear that 351 00:22:47,599 --> 00:22:51,960 like he and Kevin Durant have been talking about that possibility, and we know 352 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,519 what's happened the last time Kevin Durant was talking about a free agency possibility they 353 00:22:56,559 --> 00:23:00,799 have. They seem to have the most realistic and attain will package. I 354 00:23:00,839 --> 00:23:03,000 mean, you know, we could we could talk about like Mitchell Robbins and 355 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,880 RJ. Barrett and picks for the New York Knicks. But Harden's not gonna 356 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,000 want to go there, Like he clearly wants to be on a competitive team 357 00:23:10,039 --> 00:23:12,960 right away. Philadelphia, if they're even willing, if Houston is even willing 358 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:18,839 to trade with it, given Darryl Morey's departure and subsequent hiring by the seventy 359 00:23:18,839 --> 00:23:21,960 six ers, now they're not going to give you Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid 360 00:23:22,039 --> 00:23:25,240 for him. You don't think they would give up Ben Simmons for James Harden. 361 00:23:25,319 --> 00:23:26,880 I don't think so. I think that's the swat that's staring everyone in 362 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:32,119 the face. I think that if you're Houston, you're probably having to do 363 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,880 something else as part of that deal. Just because Simmons is exponentially younger. 364 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:38,480 He's not better than Art, I want to make that clear. But you 365 00:23:38,519 --> 00:23:44,440 would probably have to take back Horford it maybe it would be Horford and Simmons, 366 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,400 let's say, for Harden and Rocco. Just given the potential animosity between 367 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,920 the two franchises and Tilman for Tita's disdain for having to spend money, I 368 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,200 can't see him wanting to take on that kind of contract because it just it 369 00:23:56,240 --> 00:24:00,880 automatically limits what he can do for the next few years. Yeah. So 370 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,400 like and I keep coming back to Brooklyn if that is the problem is because 371 00:24:06,799 --> 00:24:08,960 with Simmons, he's like so cheap relative to Harden, who's out like basically 372 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,160 forty million, that you need to include more money in there, like Simmons 373 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,160 for Harden does not I'll double check it, but him just map my head, 374 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,599 it does not work straight up. So and if you're the Sixers, 375 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,799 it's like, Okay, Harden's better now, and I know you're very win 376 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,359 now, but Ben Simmons is what is he twenty two, twenty three? 377 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,519 Like, so it's tough. Yeah, so you can't do that by itself. 378 00:24:29,559 --> 00:24:32,680 Like and do you even want to give him Josh Richardson and Ben Simmons, 379 00:24:32,759 --> 00:24:34,160 Like it feels like too much for Harden on the Sixers part. And 380 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,880 if you're getting Ben Simmons and you're keeping Russell Westbrook not the best fit in 381 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,839 Houston. If you're tearing everything down, I think you absolutely want to rebuild 382 00:24:41,839 --> 00:24:45,640 around Ben Simmons, Like that's not heartbeat. That would be the smartest play 383 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:49,720 here. The weight is finally over football is back. You might not be 384 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,799 at a game this year, but you can still be in on the action 385 00:24:52,839 --> 00:24:56,279 at bet online. Bet online is going the extra mile to make sure you 386 00:24:56,319 --> 00:25:00,119 can get it on every possible chance to win this season. From game spreads 387 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:04,200 and totals to team player and coaching props. That online gives you more options 388 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,799 to wager on than anywhere else. You can get in on their season opening 389 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:15,000 bonuses today and start off wagering on wins Vision Odds Championship futures all day every 390 00:25:15,039 --> 00:25:18,599 day. Head to bet online today and take advantage of all the great sign 391 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:22,319 up bonuses. Don't forget to use promo code blue wire all one word at 392 00:25:22,319 --> 00:25:26,680 bet online dot ag. That's blue wire all one word bet online. You're 393 00:25:26,759 --> 00:25:32,400 online sportsbook experts. I am wondering if there are any other teams that you 394 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,440 could see getting involved. Not surprisingly, I can throw out some trade packages 395 00:25:36,519 --> 00:25:38,240 at you if you would like to hear them. What, No, way, 396 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,440 No, It's it's tricky to come up with these, and I am 397 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:47,319 curious to see what you have because it feels like, despite him being an 398 00:25:47,319 --> 00:25:52,680 obvious top five player, that the market is still at least somewhat limited because 399 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:57,119 by moving for him, You're blowing everything up and completely altering your system on 400 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:03,519 a moment's notice. So like that just automatically limits it. Plus, his 401 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:08,680 style of play isn't necessarily conducive to some incumbent talents, you know, like 402 00:26:10,039 --> 00:26:14,599 the Atlanta Hawks aren't going to offer like John Collins, number six and future 403 00:26:14,599 --> 00:26:17,599 picks for him because there's no way you would want him next to Trey Young. 404 00:26:18,039 --> 00:26:21,920 So I think you see a lot of situations like that, coupled with 405 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:26,200 Harden's probable desire to go to a competitive team. It's not like he's gonna 406 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,799 want to go to the Charlotte Hornets. It's not like he's gonna want to 407 00:26:29,799 --> 00:26:33,960 go play with the Aaron Fox and Sacramento No. It's just it's it's like 408 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,279 I said, I'm curious to see what you came up with, because I've 409 00:26:36,319 --> 00:26:41,880 had trouble generating possibilities beyond the names that have already been floated. So I 410 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,319 want to make this car. I don't necessarily think that these were good fits, 411 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:48,599 but these would be deals that could be looked at. I'm gonna I 412 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:53,839 skipped over Atlanta Boston. You could do Jalen Brown and Kemba Walker for James 413 00:26:53,839 --> 00:26:59,960 Harden and Robert Covington. I don't know what other value probably has to go 414 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,079 to Houston in that deal. They have three first round picks this year, 415 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,759 they have all their future picks. But that would be the salary framework you 416 00:27:06,759 --> 00:27:10,640 have Grant Williams and Romeo Lankford as well, if Houston wanted to stay competitive, 417 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:12,720 but you're still getting someone who's kind of young and Brown, Kemba and 418 00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:17,000 Russ are not obviously agree. I mean, Walker could playoff for us if 419 00:27:17,039 --> 00:27:18,519 he needs to. That's not something you want to roll with long term. 420 00:27:18,559 --> 00:27:22,279 I don't know how you feel about Tatum and Harden playing together, but like 421 00:27:22,319 --> 00:27:26,240 if you don't know how Brad Stevens would feel about that, that's where my 422 00:27:26,279 --> 00:27:30,720 mind went first. It's like I could just imagine him yanking all of his 423 00:27:30,799 --> 00:27:33,480 hair out as he dries, as he tries to draw up atos. But 424 00:27:33,519 --> 00:27:37,279 that would be that would be a framework of a package, and that would 425 00:27:37,279 --> 00:27:38,799 be like you're getting Kimba, who's a present star, and then you're getting 426 00:27:38,839 --> 00:27:42,400 Joe and Brown, who's like that shake gilgis Alexander type of asset that the 427 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,799 Clippers got where it's a fringe. All that the thunder got from the Clippers. 428 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,440 He's better than Shay I would say right now, but like fringe All 429 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,359 Star type. I don't know if I would. If I was Houston, 430 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:56,880 I'd probably be more apt to consider that than if I was Boston. I 431 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:02,880 agree with that it's a reasonable it's a reasonable deal, But it comes back 432 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:07,079 to my thing about how I just there are so many franchises that I'm going 433 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:11,079 to rule out because of either fit or Harden's desire to play for a certain 434 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:15,839 team, and this would fall into the former category. Chicago could be a 435 00:28:15,839 --> 00:28:19,000 team where I feel like they're not not that they are not competitive. They 436 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,400 could be a fringe playoff team the way that they're built, but they could 437 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,200 go all in on a hardened because they can build out the entire team around 438 00:28:25,279 --> 00:28:27,839 him still and they know they have three years to do it. You start 439 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:32,279 with I think the two most important assets I can already say I really like 440 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:37,079 this one or the three most important assets are pick number four, Kobe White 441 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,640 and the next year's pick unprotected as well, because maybe James, maybe they're 442 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:42,279 not as good the first year, and then I don't know how you flush 443 00:28:42,319 --> 00:28:47,039 it out from there. Is Zach Lavina must include you have Wendel Carter Junior, 444 00:28:47,079 --> 00:28:49,319 you have Larry Marketing, because I would think if Houston goes towards this 445 00:28:49,359 --> 00:28:52,680 package, they probably prefer to rebuild. And I don't think Zach Lavine is 446 00:28:52,799 --> 00:28:56,839 Look, his salary is palatables. He's a good player, but if you're 447 00:28:56,839 --> 00:28:57,920 not, and if you're keeping Westbrook, he would make sense. And if 448 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,319 you could get him out of Chicago, I think you do that. But 449 00:29:00,359 --> 00:29:03,720 you could also go the you know, we'll take Liar market and Wendell Carter 450 00:29:03,799 --> 00:29:07,920 Junior, really give us another first or something like. That's the I'm not 451 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,119 saying they get all six of those things, but they do have other money 452 00:29:11,119 --> 00:29:14,240 they can They have Auto Porter Junior's deal is like a placeholder, Like that's 453 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:15,519 twenty eight million right there, and it comes off the books. So if 454 00:29:15,519 --> 00:29:18,359 you have to keep him, if you're acquiring Harden, you think Lavine, 455 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,319 you have to keep him. That's I think you have to keep him and 456 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:26,319 Auto Quarter. Oh those two well then yeah, I think I think the 457 00:29:26,319 --> 00:29:30,839 package that you suggested. Houston comes back and asks for both Wendell Carter Junior 458 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:37,279 and Lorie marken In and then settles for one of the two. So you 459 00:29:37,279 --> 00:29:41,559 have to sell Harden on not necessarily being a championship contender right now, but 460 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:45,079 having the cap space, the market and the desire with a new front office 461 00:29:45,079 --> 00:29:48,759 to build around him, which could be doable. Like I said at the 462 00:29:48,759 --> 00:29:52,720 beginning, like this is one that I can I can get behind because if 463 00:29:52,799 --> 00:29:59,079 your core is him, Leavine and Auto Porter Junior, that's a good start 464 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:03,200 on a rebuilding team. I'd agree, it gets tough if you're not going 465 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,559 to include Otto Porter Junior Zach Lavine to start matching money because White the number 466 00:30:07,559 --> 00:30:10,599 four pick after it turns into a salary and Wendell Carter Junior give you eighteen 467 00:30:11,039 --> 00:30:15,240 and so if you add let's say Thaddeus Young is the next most expensive player 468 00:30:15,319 --> 00:30:18,839 after that, that's going to bring you to thirty one. So you're still 469 00:30:18,839 --> 00:30:22,559 another player, Sure you could. I mean you have Christiano Felicihow's expiring deal, 470 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:26,680 you have Thomas s Aduranski. But now you're getting into like five for 471 00:30:26,759 --> 00:30:29,599 one situation. So that's why I think Porter might be or Levine would be 472 00:30:29,599 --> 00:30:32,440 appealing, because they kind of soak up two players, two to three players 473 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,079 worth of salary on their own. If I'm Houston is one point. And 474 00:30:34,119 --> 00:30:37,599 if I'm Houston, look, if I am trading Harden, maybe the return 475 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,200 isn't what fans are expect. Thing I'm not making concessions as part of this 476 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:41,079 deal either. It's like, you know, what if you don't want the 477 00:30:41,119 --> 00:30:45,960 partial guarantee I'm Thaddeus Young in year three, then I'm not making that deal. 478 00:30:45,079 --> 00:30:48,079 But I think they're a team where it's like they're clearly not on Harden's 479 00:30:48,079 --> 00:30:52,039 list, they're not ready to win. I could see them doing something like 480 00:30:52,079 --> 00:30:53,640 this, But I also agree with you. I would lean towards you want 481 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:57,079 to keep zach Lavine as part of that, because then you sell him Harden, 482 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,119 you're still the guy. It's a two star base with someone in zac 483 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:03,759 Lavine who's easier to fit around you. And then you flesh out the team 484 00:31:03,759 --> 00:31:07,400 from there with what because you're trading all these picks and prospects. I don't 485 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:12,319 necessarily know, but it would certainly make Chicago interesting. Then you just absorb 486 00:31:12,319 --> 00:31:18,039 al Horford's contract and take on bad money, and you know, then you 487 00:31:18,079 --> 00:31:22,799 go from there. What if so the Warriors, what if they do the 488 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:29,799 Andrew Wiggins number two, the Minnesota pick, let's say two swaps and then 489 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:33,240 three future first round picks. I'm protected, like and that might even be 490 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:34,480 too much, But I'm saying, what if they want to Andrew Wiggins number 491 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:38,079 two the Minnesota pick next year and then flesh it out with as many picks 492 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,279 as you need from there, would you like that for either side? I'm 493 00:31:41,319 --> 00:31:47,400 genuinely asking. I think so, really, Yeah, yeah, I think 494 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:52,319 it's especially appealing from Houston side, just because you can recreate the franchise in 495 00:31:52,359 --> 00:31:56,680 whatever way you want. You can be the latest team to take a shot 496 00:31:56,759 --> 00:32:01,279 on Andrew Wiggins and and hope that maybe you get something out of him, 497 00:32:01,319 --> 00:32:07,200 and you have so much asset juice down the road from an organization that is 498 00:32:08,039 --> 00:32:14,880 leaving no doubt that it is taking advantage of an extremely limited title window with 499 00:32:15,079 --> 00:32:19,599 no hope in the future. Because, like, if Golden State is doing 500 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:23,480 that, and you ask for those picks to be unprotected or as slightly protected 501 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:28,799 as possible, knowing that three years down the road, when the Curry, 502 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,880 Clay Thompson, Draymond Green and James harden Core has aged out that those are 503 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:37,079 going to be very valuable picks, Golden State would also just become like the 504 00:32:37,119 --> 00:32:43,440 most hated team in the history of basketball. Can you imagine the reactions if 505 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:46,559 they went from, you know, having this sick team that added Kevin Durant 506 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:51,920 to losing him and then trading Andrew Wiggins and the pick that they lucked into 507 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:57,119 because of the injuries during their one down year for James Harden. That would 508 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,640 be wild. And so, since you're actually altered, the hard Curry fit 509 00:33:00,039 --> 00:33:04,599 is kind of appealing to It would be a defensive disaster, but it would 510 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:08,200 also be so offensively potent that it might not matter because both of those guys 511 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:12,400 are Hardened. Doesn't really like to play off the ball. He kind of 512 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,519 stand still. Curry is a master off the ball, and I could given 513 00:33:15,599 --> 00:33:20,000 the back seat that he willingly took to Kevin Durant, I could see him 514 00:33:20,039 --> 00:33:24,720 altering how he played again to maximize his game around Harden. I don't I 515 00:33:24,759 --> 00:33:28,160 don't doubt for a second Stephen Curry could do it. I'm not sure if 516 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,799 I want to see it, because I really want to see Stephen Curry more, 517 00:33:30,799 --> 00:33:32,559 in least for an entire season. You also needed to pick up like 518 00:33:32,599 --> 00:33:36,640 probably two like you because you don't want to play green at center like you 519 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:38,799 need to pick up some strong defensive centers and then another strong defensive wing because 520 00:33:38,839 --> 00:33:43,720 you have Draymond Green and Clay Thompson a flesh out like that's your former combination, 521 00:33:43,759 --> 00:33:46,039 but you need who's your center gonna be? Even in smaller ball lineups, 522 00:33:46,039 --> 00:33:49,880 like you're gonna need another like power wing there to really help you. 523 00:33:50,079 --> 00:33:52,720 Since you're so interested in this package, then I didn't think you were going 524 00:33:52,759 --> 00:33:55,119 to be because I don't think I was. What does it specifically have to 525 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:59,480 look like? Then? Because it's Wiggins, it's number two as an actual 526 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:01,519 salary, it's that Minnesota pick, and so I think if you're Houston, 527 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:07,279 just based on your own pick commitments elsewhere, you want a swap with Golden 528 00:34:07,279 --> 00:34:10,880 State in two and twenty two, although do they not own their own first 529 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,920 round pick in two thousand and twenty two? That was the other thing I 530 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:15,039 couldn't confirm. No, they have, they have it. So you swap 531 00:34:15,079 --> 00:34:22,679 with Golden State in two and twenty two unprotected in twenty twenty three, they 532 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:27,440 and then I think you go with like twenty twenty five as loosely protected as 533 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:30,760 possible. That seems like the move where it's a swap and two firsts on 534 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:35,079 top of the two picks. But I think the problem is do they need 535 00:34:35,119 --> 00:34:38,760 more because they're also taking on Andrew Wiggins as part of this package. Does 536 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,880 Houston need more? Yeah, you're looking at four first round picks plus a 537 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:45,480 swat. No, Because I think I think because Houston is very clearly committing 538 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:50,360 to the long game in that situation, that it's more palatable to have Andrew 539 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:54,519 Wiggins's contract, which isn't like some interminable deal it does eventually expire, then 540 00:34:54,559 --> 00:34:57,880 I think you probably need I think you My guess would have to be you 541 00:34:58,039 --> 00:35:00,760 also have to give them a twenty twenty three swa as well, because they 542 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:02,440 do have their twenty twenty three pick. So I think it would have to 543 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:06,960 be two swaps, two picks on top of number. If Golden State is 544 00:35:07,199 --> 00:35:12,320 if Golden State thinks it can win with the Harden, Curry, Green Thompson 545 00:35:13,079 --> 00:35:19,440 quartet, it doesn't care about those those future pick swaps and and outgoing draft 546 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,960 picks because it's trying to capitalize on the window that's open right exactly now. 547 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:29,119 Another team that I wouldn't want to be in Golden State when that window closed, 548 00:35:29,119 --> 00:35:30,800 then just a what it would take to get Harden on top of like, 549 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:34,519 what are you You're paying some of these stars into their mid to late 550 00:35:34,599 --> 00:35:37,280 thirties. I would I would be here for it, but I would lean 551 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:42,800 towards if we got to pick, Like from a basketball entertainment perspective, there's 552 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,079 like a part of me that's morbidly curious about James Harden and Golden State, 553 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:50,239 but like I'm good with like I'd rather yeah, I mean, like in 554 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,199 terms of what I enjoy watching the most, Like I know, it's like 555 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:59,280 the unpopular opinion at this point. I like watching James Harton like as a 556 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,519 one man show. He's so ridiculously talented and good in a unique way. 557 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:07,159 They're like I kind of like if I had my druthers, like maybe he 558 00:36:07,199 --> 00:36:13,519 did end up in some place like Charlotte where he's just the unquestioned superstar again 559 00:36:13,559 --> 00:36:15,440 and he can try to average forty points per game, Like do you know 560 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:19,039 it would be awesome to see him? They just don't. They talk about 561 00:36:19,039 --> 00:36:22,039 how they have the assets to acquire the next disgruntled star, and it's clear 562 00:36:22,039 --> 00:36:25,000 that they don't. But New York like that is a blank slate, Like 563 00:36:25,079 --> 00:36:28,880 that would be the situation to see him in the Mitchell Robinson, RJ. 564 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,159 Barrett and future picks package, which is not gonna win that bidding. Just 565 00:36:32,199 --> 00:36:36,679 a couple more teams here. This one is I propose it to you last 566 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,320 night. If Paul George is willing to stay, you reunite him with Russell 567 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:45,199 Westbrook and you get Landry Shammitt, and you can pick from Lou Williams, 568 00:36:45,199 --> 00:36:49,800 Patrick Beverly or Jamichael Green's in there too with his player option, but I 569 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,280 would say probably Beverly or Lou will plus Shammitt and Paul George for James Harden. 570 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:58,760 I don't hate the Leonard Harden fit. I actually kind of love it. 571 00:37:00,199 --> 00:37:05,760 I feel like Leonard and Paul George together would be like an ideal supporting 572 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,679 cast surrounding stars for Harden. I'm not sure I had to backtrack because I 573 00:37:09,679 --> 00:37:13,320 don't. I don't think it's fair to call that a supporting cast. Well, 574 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,119 Paul George would be traded in this scenario, so it wouldn't be Leonard. 575 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:19,400 But I'm saying, if you can find a way to like not move 576 00:37:19,519 --> 00:37:22,239 him in the deal, they have no picks to give, so that's not 577 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:24,039 that's the issue. Yeah, that's the issue. Would you do that if 578 00:37:24,039 --> 00:37:35,320 you're LAC I probably not, just because I think that you you run a 579 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:39,039 big risk of it not working and then losing Kawhi Leonard. That's true, 580 00:37:39,079 --> 00:37:42,280 and he did want to come with Paul George. I would say if they 581 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:45,400 would do it straight up, I might consider it more if I'm if I'm 582 00:37:45,639 --> 00:37:50,000 Los Angeles, Yeah, it's it's a fun fit, but I think it's 583 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,719 just it's like too much of a risk reward for where that franchise is right 584 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:55,039 now. Just after the way Paul George played in the playoff, was some 585 00:37:55,119 --> 00:37:59,599 meant to consider I'm going to loop these final two teams together. Do you 586 00:37:59,639 --> 00:38:02,920 see? Like I look at the like maybe young teams that could put together 587 00:38:04,079 --> 00:38:07,480 interesting like young players or picks package, And I guess it's really three teams 588 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,039 you have. Okay, see with all those picks, you have New Orleans 589 00:38:10,119 --> 00:38:15,639 with all those Lakers picks, plus you know Lonzo Ball is there, Josh 590 00:38:15,679 --> 00:38:19,400 Hart and you kill Walker Alexander. I would assume you're not trading Zion. 591 00:38:19,639 --> 00:38:22,360 I've also thought about Memphis. You have like between him and Morant, Harden 592 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:24,599 and Morant wouldn't be it. I guess it's not the greatest hit, but 593 00:38:24,599 --> 00:38:28,719 you do have Triple J and Brandon Clark. I don't know that I love 594 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:30,480 the idea for either of those three teams. If you had to pick one 595 00:38:30,519 --> 00:38:34,760 of them to do it, my pick would be New Orleans. I'm curious 596 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:37,400 of the three, which you would like to see, not what you would 597 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:39,079 like to see, but which you could see going all in on a hardened 598 00:38:39,079 --> 00:38:45,320 trade if the opportunity presented itself. I feel like New Orleans is probably the 599 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:50,880 most likely, just because Harden could be a really good fit next to Zion 600 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:55,800 Williamson. I don't want to see it happen in Memphis is bad, I 601 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:59,800 would say, questionable, and like Morant was so good with the ball in 602 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:02,719 his hands, and I just that's one of those up and coming organizations where 603 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:07,920 I just I don't have any interest in blowing things up. It's just they're 604 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:12,119 already on such a promising trajectory that I don't I don't think that they should 605 00:39:12,159 --> 00:39:15,119 have any interest in making a move like this, even if it would expedite 606 00:39:15,119 --> 00:39:17,880 the timeframe. So yeah, I guess New Orleans by default. Maybe. 607 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:21,599 Look, I would love to see Harton in Toronto, like I don't know 608 00:39:21,639 --> 00:39:24,480 if they would build something around Kyle Lowry og and then all the picks ever, 609 00:39:24,599 --> 00:39:28,559 and you have Matt Thomas, And I don't actually want to see Kyle 610 00:39:28,559 --> 00:39:32,519 Lowry leave Toronto because he is my emotional muse. I feel like Kyle Lowry 611 00:39:32,559 --> 00:39:35,960 is like if I was a basketball player, I'd want to be Kyle Lowry. 612 00:39:36,199 --> 00:39:37,800 I would run through a brick rawl right now for Kyle Lowry, but 613 00:39:38,239 --> 00:39:40,679 that would be a team I'd love to see him on. I did finally 614 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:45,760 want to ask you really quick about that Lakers trade Dennis Shrewder going from the 615 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:52,360 Thunder to Los Angeles for Danny Green and the number twenty eight pick. I 616 00:39:52,559 --> 00:39:55,559 was free agency needs to play out for me first, because the Lakers wings 617 00:39:55,679 --> 00:40:01,280 right now, like actually like true wings are Lebron and Kuzma, and that's 618 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:07,880 not like like defensively like you want. I know, Kuzma's gotten better and 619 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,760 Lebron played better defense last year. You need someone like you had Danny Green 620 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:15,159 to go up against some star wings. I know you could still resign KCP, 621 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:19,199 but like you need they need another player in that like six six to 622 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:22,920 six eight range, And even Danny Green was undersized for certain matchups, but 623 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:25,599 I kind of felt like Danny Green has been on three title teams. It 624 00:40:25,599 --> 00:40:30,239 didn't happen on accident. I know he shot twenty nine percent in the finals, 625 00:40:30,639 --> 00:40:32,639 like if he was still valuable. Yeah, but it just it wasn't 626 00:40:32,639 --> 00:40:37,119 an accident. And so to you of him and a first for Shrewder, 627 00:40:37,159 --> 00:40:40,000 who is Look, you're betting on he shot a career high for basically everywhere 628 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:43,760 on the floor last year, which makes it an outlier. So you're betting 629 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:47,159 on that continuing. And while the talent around him will be better. The 630 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:51,840 Chris Paul minutes when Chris Paul is off the court, excuse me, the 631 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:53,440 no Chris Paul mitts in Okay, See we're not pretty last year and he 632 00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:58,760 had Shay Gildest Alexander with him and Steven Adams and Gallo for some of those 633 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:01,360 minutes, and you're actually not going to have that deep of an offensive supporting 634 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:05,920 cast around you in Los Angeles. Look, I need to see free agency 635 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:07,800 play out. They can make other moves. Maybe they're signing I don't know 636 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:12,119 if them signing Wesley Matthews would make me feel a lot better about this deal, 637 00:41:12,159 --> 00:41:15,199 because Danny Green in your first round pick, like was the move short 638 00:41:15,239 --> 00:41:17,559 of it? Also including Kyle Kuzma, like that was your move this offseason, 639 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:21,199 and you turn it into Dennis Shrewder, who I get his appealing because 640 00:41:21,199 --> 00:41:22,800 he's going to be a free agent next year when Lebron will be a free 641 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:27,639 agent. So now you have a ton of flexibility. Should you want to 642 00:41:27,639 --> 00:41:30,840 maybe do something with cap space or just to get creative depending on which contracts 643 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:35,239 should give out this season. I'm just not a huge fan of it, 644 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:40,239 and I would think if you're trying to win a title for this team, 645 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:44,840 I feel like the plug in plainness of Danny Green is a three and D 646 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:49,199 player is more valuable to me than Dennis Shrewder. And again, if they 647 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:52,280 signed someone or two people in free agency that renders this mood. I'm not 648 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:54,280 trying to ship on the Lakers. I think it's a worth while risk. 649 00:41:54,679 --> 00:42:00,239 I think people were kind of overselling the no brainerness of it all though. 650 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:04,760 I mean, I think the Lakers lost the trade all right. Could they 651 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:08,079 could turn it into something salvageable, like you mentioned, with free agency pursuits 652 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:13,480 to fill in what was lost with Danny Green. But I would rather have 653 00:42:13,559 --> 00:42:19,079 Danny Green the Dennis Shrewder for this team in a vacuum, and they're the 654 00:42:19,079 --> 00:42:22,280 one that gave up the pick to make it happen. So by definition, 655 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:24,360 I think that they're the losers of the deal. You know, as you 656 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:30,000 mentioned, Shrewder shot career highs from literally everywhere on the floor. I questioned 657 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:34,920 the sustainability of that. We know that he thrived when he was playing in 658 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:38,280 the three guard lineups that Okac ran out, which Los Angeles will not be 659 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:42,280 able to do, and he really struggled without Chris Paul on the floor. 660 00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:47,360 He is primarily a scorer. He is not a particularly notable defender. He 661 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:52,519 doesn't always get his teammates involved, which means that he's not really the Ray 662 00:42:52,599 --> 00:42:59,119 gen Rondo type of backup point guard that you need in Los Angeles to shoulder 663 00:42:59,159 --> 00:43:01,719 those minutes without Lebron James on the floor. So I just I question the 664 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:06,719 value and the fit. Yeah, the Thunder had an offensive reading the thirty 665 00:43:06,719 --> 00:43:09,440 fourth percent tile when Shay and Dennis Dennis played without Chris Paul last year. 666 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:14,239 If you add Gallo into that, it was the sixtieth percentile. But it 667 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:16,480 wasn't like he was carrying these units. I think the no Lebron minutes here 668 00:43:16,519 --> 00:43:19,920 are important, maybe not as important in the playoffs, but to get through 669 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:22,760 the regular season. And I'm just maybe it works out, but I think 670 00:43:22,760 --> 00:43:28,360 it's it's a bigger risk than people were really crediting. So I'm interesting how 671 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:30,280 it plays out, and again, free agencies a part of it. I 672 00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:32,440 also don't know, like, if they signed Wesley Matthews, how much better 673 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:37,199 about this deal? Does that make you feel? Because it does because of 674 00:43:37,239 --> 00:43:39,559 the matchup we did against Jimmy Butler, But it's like you're kind of the 675 00:43:39,679 --> 00:43:44,360 net neutral on the wings from where you were before. They just want a 676 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:45,800 title, so it's like they have cart block to make the risk that they 677 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:50,599 want to take. So if you're getting Wesley Matthews, I guess it makes 678 00:43:50,639 --> 00:43:52,519 me feel a lot better. But the fact that they still gave up a 679 00:43:52,519 --> 00:43:53,840 pick, and I know, okaycy has no reason to do this without the 680 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:59,079 pick, it just it feels like for now, again, until free agency 681 00:43:59,079 --> 00:44:00,599 plays out, I would think they to get Matthews and someone else on the 682 00:44:00,599 --> 00:44:04,880 wings for me to feel like really confident that this was this was the play 683 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:07,440 for them to make. The other thing is like if I'm the Lakers. 684 00:44:07,559 --> 00:44:13,480 I want to prioritize those late first round picks more than they are just because 685 00:44:13,519 --> 00:44:16,039 you're gonna have to pay all of the money to Lebron and Anthony Davis, 686 00:44:16,079 --> 00:44:21,199 which makes it that much more important to have rotation players on cheap deals. 687 00:44:21,679 --> 00:44:25,239 And you know, we've we've talked at nauseum about how bad this draft class 688 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:30,079 is, but that's primarily because there's not much star power. There's a significant 689 00:44:30,079 --> 00:44:35,400 amount of like rotation potential in this draft. As you move out of the 690 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:40,079 lottery, there are a number of intriguing upper classmen who are going to be 691 00:44:40,199 --> 00:44:44,800 entering the NBA in a weird set of circumstances. You know, like I 692 00:44:44,840 --> 00:44:46,519 would, I would just I would rather them take a shot on someone like 693 00:44:46,559 --> 00:44:53,599 Cassius Winston or or Desmond Bane and see if they can get that legitimate rotation 694 00:44:53,679 --> 00:44:59,440 player on a cheap contract instead of taking a risk like this. Yeah, 695 00:44:59,039 --> 00:45:01,239 I'll shat for me this particular risk, I would agree with you. But 696 00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:05,239 Lebron's teams just they don't even give those young guys a chance. It just 697 00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:08,400 had never happened in Cleveland or even really Miami, So I think that's why 698 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:10,920 they devalue first so much, but in a vacuum might agree with you and 699 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:14,480 just food for thought. And I know Anthony Davis is going to be in 700 00:45:14,480 --> 00:45:19,679 Los Angeles, but okay, see half court efficiency in the thirty second percent 701 00:45:19,679 --> 00:45:22,519 tile with Shrewder and Shay Gilgist Alexander on the court, no Chris Paul in 702 00:45:22,559 --> 00:45:27,039 no scenarios. If you add Danilo Gallinari to this, that actually went up 703 00:45:27,039 --> 00:45:29,480 to the eighty third percent tiles. So maybe there's some potential there, but 704 00:45:29,519 --> 00:45:32,440 you need another really good score next to him during those non Lebron minutes. 705 00:45:32,679 --> 00:45:36,360 I don't Maybe Anthony Davis catch you there, but I will say the Lakers 706 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:39,239 half court efficiency without Lebron on the court last year ranked in the twenty fifth 707 00:45:39,239 --> 00:45:42,599 percent tile. And I'm just I'm not sure if Dennis Shrewder is the guy 708 00:45:42,599 --> 00:45:45,519 that addresses this, It'll be interesting to find out. Do you have anything 709 00:45:45,519 --> 00:45:49,840 else to add talk about? Not particularly, I think we're just kind of 710 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:55,039 waiting for the next shoe to fall here. We're recording this shortly after that 711 00:45:55,239 --> 00:46:00,519 moratorium whatever you want to call it on trades was lifted, and already we've 712 00:46:00,519 --> 00:46:04,960 seen James Harden News and Chris Paul actually getting traded. So I'm just I'm 713 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:08,039 curious what's going to be next. I still I maintain from a previous episode 714 00:46:08,079 --> 00:46:10,840 that I don't think that many more All Stars are going to get moved. 715 00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:15,920 Yeah, the James Harden thing throws a wrench into that. What was the 716 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:16,760 over? Under? What did you pick? I forgot? You picked? 717 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:21,000 Under said two and a half, and I said under, Oh yeah, 718 00:46:21,119 --> 00:46:22,480 I did think. I did think that Chris Paul was going to be the 719 00:46:22,480 --> 00:46:27,360 only All Star moved. So that's probably going to be wrong already, but 720 00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:30,679 I just beyond hardened now, Like I just want if they moved Westbrook, 721 00:46:30,719 --> 00:46:32,880 that's totally feasible. What happens if Simmons and Hardener swapped for each other? 722 00:46:34,039 --> 00:46:37,199 You lose? Correct? I do lose. I always lose. So you 723 00:46:37,199 --> 00:46:42,239 know this was great. We will keep you informed with you know, analyzing 724 00:46:42,280 --> 00:46:45,760 the latest rumors and trades. It's it's frenetick out there right now, but 725 00:46:45,800 --> 00:46:49,159 it's a fun time of year. Please please pretty please with sugar on top. 726 00:46:49,280 --> 00:46:52,559 Remember to subscribe to this podcast. Wherever you consume your podcast, download 727 00:46:52,559 --> 00:46:55,440 every episode, and whether or not you use iTunes, head over there search 728 00:46:55,480 --> 00:46:59,920 Hardwood, Knox Throw us that five star rating right. Whatever review you want, 729 00:47:00,119 --> 00:47:04,719 Criticize me for not eating enough pasta or carbs, talk about how swollen 730 00:47:04,719 --> 00:47:07,519 Adams calves are. Whatever you can put constructive criticism, put it in the 731 00:47:07,519 --> 00:47:10,639 comments. But the five star ratings are really important to us. Thank you 732 00:47:10,719 --> 00:47:15,079 all so much for listening. Until next time, Leave you with the shout 733 00:47:15,119 --> 00:47:19,480 out two to one. The only future member of the Oklahoma City Thunder I 734 00:47:19,519 --> 00:47:30,800 feel like draft prospect, Grant Riller, Sugar Ray, Leonard, Roberto Duran, 735 00:47:30,239 --> 00:47:36,519 Marvelous, Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hearns. Legends whose four way rivalry 736 00:47:36,559 --> 00:47:40,480 define one of the greatest errors in boxing history, relive their decade of dominance 737 00:47:40,519 --> 00:47:45,360 in the new Showtime Sports documentary The Kings, a four parts series premiering Sunday, 738 00:47:45,440 --> 00:47:47,280 June sixth, only on Showtime