What is krack alac in. Fellow thermonuclear affors, I am Dan Valley,
coming at you as always with my certified fan tabulous Thermo Nuclear af co host
mister Grant Hues. We are here to talk about the biggest regret for every
NBA team during the twenty twenty three calendar year. Nice little New Year's themed
podcast. We are doing the Western Conference on this one. I don't know
which one I'm putting up first. I think West will probably go first at
this point based off the order of events since we already recorded the Eastern Conference
pod, so they will be split up. It's a fun exercise before we
get or maybe it's not so fun for certain fan bases. But before we
get started, the usual reminders. Please subscribe if you haven't already. If
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Grant, how the heck are you doing? I don't know if you
saw any of we're recording this Wednesday night. The Nets game tonight, Nick
Claxton was inactive, but he was wearing a green sweater with some sunglasses,
and the sweater had like spikes in the shoulders. It looked like but like
under the fabric. So I did not see this. So I'm doing great
because I've never seen a sweater like that, and so I'm just I'm excited
about it. And I was gonna say, like Nick Claxton, I'm ready
to make some points because his shoulders had little points on him. So here
we go. We're gonna make points today. Also, we're gonna read some
news because we forgot to do that last time. We're gonna do it.
Yes, So let's get into some NBA news, the latest news and rumors.
First. Do you want to start us off? Sure? For the
Atlanta Hawks, DeAndre Hunter underwent a non surgical procedure on Tuesday to address his
right knee inflammation. He'll be re evaluated in two weeks. Also, according
to mark Stein, there was some chatter during the recently concluded G League showcase
that indicates the Hawks are willing to move to Jonte Murray. He cannot,
by the way, be moved until January ninth because of that extension he signed
over the offseason. The hundred things a big blow. Not great. Yeah,
that's not a great load for the Hawks, but it's probably is it
the right decision? I guess it depends on if they're doing it just to
get like recoup picks and prospects. I don't know if I love it,
but if it's to sort of re you know, calibrate the roster a little
bit, like to get some bigger sized wings in there. But I just
don't know. This team is like so blah in the worst way. I
don't know what to make of them, because Murray's not a bad deal.
It's just he's not having He has not nudged them far enough. I mean
they first of all, they're not better than they were last season, but
he just hasn't moved the needle in the way that they were expecting him to,
or this core in general. He's simultaneously been like pretty good and actually
better offensively maybe then you would have expected, but he hasn't been the defensive
piece that they expect. And that was really like the whole deal of let's
put this guy next to Trey Young. He can guard ones or twos or
whoever. Young can't like that. He's just yeah, I don't know,
I don't know what the explanation is, but Murray has just kind of flipped
as a player type. He's an offense first player now. And the other
thing is just like, is this more so a symptom of Okay, well,
DeAndre Hunter and Clint Copela aren't gonna have robust markets and so we're gonna
move to John Murray. It's yeah, I mean, you can only trade
guys that they're markets for. I don't know how much of one there is
for either of those guys. That's a good point. The Boston Celtics are
reportedly interested in Kelly Olnik, a nice little reunion with him per Mark Steine.
The thing I'll say there is they can't really unless they're going to trade
Al Horford or really step ladder their way to get to Kelly Olynic's money.
He's making twelve million that needs to be a buyout situation and they can sign
him because he's making less than this year's mid level, so they will be
able to sign him via the buyout market. I just don't I don't view
this as a I'm sure they're interested in him. I just the path to
him getting there would have to get lucky, because you would have to like,
why would you ta buy him out? He's someone who they might want
to bring back. I would think if they're not going to trade him,
and then two where if someone else wants him, I can promise him a
more prominent role. Yeah, and like I mean, I like Kelly Olinic.
I think he's definitely the center that several teams should be targeting. I
don't know about the Celtics, though, it feels like, what you know,
their third big ought to be kind of like what Kita has been for
them in like a tiny role, just like a big bruiser. Uh Olynic's
not really that. He kind of does a lot of the Horford type stuff.
I guess, so I would prefer like a I don't know, like
a change of pace as another option. A big band gives you some rim
pressure rather than a big who stretches the floor so that you can optimize what
little rim pressure you get. Yeah, players, you've got that covered already
if you're Boston Brooklyn Nets, Jock Vaughn said, Lonnie Walker the fourth is
gonna be out through at least this Friday with the hamstring issue and an illness.
He has not played since November thirtieth. Kind of a I mean,
you'd think you would have thought this last year, but Lonnie Walker has played
well enough this year that he should not be signing another minimum deal. Fourteen
points six points per game this year, making forty six percent of his threes,
Like really quietly awesome year for him. I would have assumed he was
gonna get a bigger deal after playing well for the Lakers. But here we
are. Who's more likely to get a minimum contract or sign a minimum contract
Tamer Kelly Bridge Unior next season. I mean, neither of them, Neither
of them should should be on. You have to pick one, though,
I'm gonna pick I'm gonna pick Walker just because Ubre has got the wing size
that that might I mean, yeah, but again, if either of them
signs for a minimum, somebody got a bargain. I would say for Charlotte
Brandon Miller left their loss on Denver this past Saturday with a right ankles brain.
He missed Tuesday's game against the Clippers and has listed as day to day.
He could return on Thursday against the Lake. There's just that language just
proves that the Western Conference podcast is going up first grant. There you go.
That settled it. Nothing to add there. The Chicago Bulls Zach Lvine
has resumed on court work or as of Wednesday when we're recording this, the
Bulls don't have a firm timetable for his return from that right foot injury.
According to the Chicago Tribune, he has not played since Iember twenty eighth,
and the Bulls are nine to four without him. Woch reiterated the market this
is my favorite thing because what was what was? I forget what the adjective
was before there like there is no market, it's non existent. I forget
what it was. Now. Woach says, the market for Levine is quote
barren. As he recovers from a right foot injury, we need to I
mean, we got to come up with some more. Uh it is.
The market is a desolate hellscape where nothing lives. You can survive only using
your wits and grit. Nikola Vuchovich is also going to miss the next seven
to ten days with a groin strain that is per the athletic. We can
we stop with the non like the breaking news, the non breaking news,
breaking news on things just on the breaking. Can you just FYI us when
there is a market that's not an infernic abyss for zaq Lavine at this point,
which, by the way, I'm just curious as to what he'll actually
get traded for though with all this reporting like it could be a leverage play
from zach Lavine's people to try and just lower his value and get other teams
interested, it's not. It's definitely not benefiting the bulls by saying there's not
a market for room unless they're looking for cover as to why they haven't moved
him. I don't think anyone would expect them to move him while he's injured.
I'm just I'm very curious to I think you and I when we said
would he get two and a half the equivalent of first round picks and prospects,
we both hit the over. Would you still say that or you don't
think so? Was I forgot we had that conversation. You'll never believe it.
But I was thinking, like one and a half? Is it going
to be over under one and a half now, so suggests I'm under the
two and a half. That's I'll take the over on that, but our
initial I don't know if I would still stick with the over. Well,
and is it gonna be dead salary or is there gonna be a real player
or two in there. I just still attatching picks to Levine to try and
up the anty for this season. I mean, go again. I was
just saying gosh, and then I was gonna say galli, and I kind
of stopped in the middle. Let's see no Cavs, so you got the
Mavericks next. Yeah. So, Kyrie Irving, who has not played since
December eighth with a bruised right heel, has ramped up his on court work.
According to Jason Kidd, there's still no concrete time table for his return,
which is apparently fine because Lucas just detonating all over the place. Grant
Williams was moved to the bench on Christmas and is expected to remain out of
the starting five for the foreseeable future. Tim Hardaway Junior is starting at the
moment. But Kid did say he plans to roll out Luca Kyrie, Exhem,
Derrek Jones Junior and Lively once Irving returns from injury. That's noteworthy.
And I don't want to spoil part of this podcast because it does involve Grant
Williams for the magic, but that's just something to like, you didn't give
up a twenty thirty picks while for Grant Williams to not start him. Yeah,
That's where I'll leave it, don't you think ultimately in the playoffs,
for example, like Grant Williams is gonna matter more than Tim Hardaway Junior.
He just has to just for the matchups you're gonna need him to handle and
and that kind of thing. Does he matter more than ExHAM and do or
Derek Jones Junior? I mean, well, I don't know. It kind
of depends who they play. I guess that's not great if that's although I
mean both those guys have been awesome fines. I mean Exim is really that
is really the fine. Jones Junior is just he's just playing better than he
has. Yeah, the offense is pulled back for him, but for sure,
Denver Aaron Gordon is a wild story. Required twenty one stitches to lacerations
on his face and right hand, his shooting hand after suffering a dog bite
on Christmas. He's out indefinitely. I think he was listed the reports I
saw in good condition. It's not expected to be like some crazy long absence.
But that's that's a that's a not a I don't know if that's a
new one in the injury book, but that's a A one for sure,
I gotta be I just want to know whose dog was it? What was
the circumstances? Right, Yeah, real scary though. I mean, like
that's twenty one stitches is no joke, No hope he's gets gets back soon.
That's that's a wild one. That's a big absence. I mean,
the Nuggets are still just Jokic is the only player they can't afford to lose,
but their life on defense gets a lot harder without Aaron Gordon. What
do you think more Peyton Watson? Maybe more small ball with with Brown playing,
Like, what's what's the more MPG at the four? I don't know,
I don't know what they're what that's gonna change really line up? I
think Peyton Watson is the guy who will benefit most and probably I think Brown
and Watson will soak up a majority of the minutes. It's just like,
maybe you just see more strawth or get a chance, or do they have
to like break the the Zeke Nagy in case of emergency glass Zeke Naji's about
to start happening. It's gonna it's gonna be what if it does, That's
what we need. The Wold's update, znagy is happening on the Pistons.
Uh. They set the NBA record for consecutive losses with twenty seven on Tuesday
night against the Nets. Congratulations to tell you hadn't heard about that for weeks.
On End On Run It Back, Sean Sharania said that the Pistons are
targeting a four man via trade. This is kind of recycled news, but
he adds names that he's monitoring, or that the Pissons are monitoring are Pascal
Siakam, Ognnobi, Tobias Harris, and Miles Bridges. I just explain this
Pascal Siakam's purpose on this team. That is just like, what are we
doing here? And then oh go ahead, no, I just I was
just gonna express incredulity using different words. Probably I don't understand, like and
literally any of these guys. I mean, I guess you'd say, well,
they're they're gonna max out OG when in free agency. I get it,
But like something to note is just like, what's the point of trading
for Miles Bridges because his bird rights won't transfer, and so you're gonna have
to unless you think he just doesn't cost anything to retain, you're just gonna
go after him in free agency anyway? And then what does that say about
the organization that they're comfortable bringing in Miles Bridges? Would be another thing to
note. I didn'tobe. I think makes a lot of sense. But again,
why are you giving up assets for a soon to be free agent?
Who if I'm at a NOBI even if offers are a little bit less,
as long as they're comparable, I'm not staying in Detroit. That don't be
a part of this, no, right, Yeah, Well, like you're
not gonna you're if a team goes if he loses twenty seven games in a
row, the playoffs are like three years away. Like, I don't I
don't know. If I don't know, check the stats, I guess the
sample's really small because nobody's lost that many games. But like, if you
sign with Detroit as a free agent this summer, you're basically Pickas we're two
years away from being one year old. You're saying like, I will not
play a postseason game until twenty twenty six at the earliest. Like that's just
yours. There's no way. The turn turnarounds just don't happen like that.
All right, I've got the Warriors next based on the latest timetable for Draymond
Green's work on Himself program, which I love how you're framing that he could
return to the Warriors by the end of the week. What incredible work he
will have done on himself by then, He'll just be a change man,
right, sucking bullshit spin by the league. I'm not even blaming Draymond Green
for this. Who would accept it? This is just such bs, it'spin.
I did want to ask you, it's not in here. What did
you make of Steve Kurrz. Do we call it a rant or like you
know, I don't know yah tribe on legislating defense out of the game.
Can I give you my initial thoughts please? One, I don't think he
wasn't singling out Yokic in particular, just because Jokic is not the free throw
merchant that a lot of these other guys are. And two or I have
three points two, I don't think he's wrong, but three, it's just
very rich for someone to talk about legislating defense out of the equation when they
coach Steph Curry, who has these very unnatural leg kicks. And like some
although the Warriors would say Steph Curry gets is the victim of assault, like
every time he's running around off the ball and it's never called. But like
the fact that defensive players sort of can't touch offensive players has been more helpful
than not to both Steph and Clay over the last decade. Like, I
think them running around off the ball, like being free to move has been
a huge factor in the Warriors success. Yeah, yeah, I mean like.
And also my first thought was, just like anytime a coach complains about
officiating or almost literally anybody, I just tune it out. I just like,
this is I don't care, this isn't I actually light years had talked
about this. I liked it because he was basically shitting on at Adam Silver
rather than the referees. Who he said, I think did a fantastic John
So, I actually I appreciated the substance of this one more than most others.
But it's just like it wasn't a shot at Jokich in particular. It
was more just like him firing at Will Dreamond back by the end of the
week, huh. I just that's that's that's what we Maybe we're not sure
yet, but we're on. In the Houston Rockets, Grant Dylan Brooks left
Houston's Tuesday night lost to the Pacers with an oblique injury. Those are fickle
and to that end, head coaching Meyadoka says there's no timetable for his return,
which is I mean, that's a big deal Houston. His second in
point slap per possession as we record this. That's what more Tara Eason.
So what I'm was what I'm hearing right there for the only Clippers Kawhi Leonard
has missed the clippers past three games the left hip injury. This would not
have been news last year, but he was an iron man up until this
this season. Incredibly, TYLERU on Kawhi status moving forward, quote, he's
still day to day. He's progressing. He's feeling better, just not ready
yet. Let's hope that this is not like the tipping point of the season
where Kawhi goes back to the sporadic availability thing and we look back at the
first twenty five games as like, hey, remember remember when Kawhi was healthy,
how great he looked towards the end of put that. Don't even put
that into the ether, please, it's already there. I'm just pointing it
out. The Lakers Gabe Vincent underwent author scotprick surgery on his left name.
Will miss six to eight weeks. He has appeared in just five games this
season. The surgery comes after he made his initial return, only played a
game, and then all of a sudden there was nies soreness immediately, so
that that's pretty ominous. And then both Lebron James left me and Anthony Davis
left ankle sprain remained questionable on the Lakers' injury report. They're both clearly playing
through something, but it's always a little jarring the fact that they're just listed
perpetually on the Lakers' day to day injury report. Yeah, the Vincent injury,
I mean, it was kind of trending this way, it felt like
because it just couldn't couldn't get it right. It's a big deal because when
you look at the roster and how they feel about Danzel Russ right now,
like Pete Gabe, Vincent is someone who maybe closes Yeah, Lakers, I
mean that had to have been at least a consideration when they signed him.
It was just like, Okay, this guy is the two way guard that
we can put on the floor. And it's not a Well Russell kills us
defensively, and it's not a Vanderbilt kills us offensively. You can just put
Vincent out there and you're you're gonna be okay. Is a real playoff player.
I wonder if it makes it more or less likely he gets traded now
as sort of salary filler as part of a you know, we've always looked
at it as it'll be Dlo and Ruey Hachimura as the outgoing salary. Is
it now d Lo and Gabe Vincent because he won't play, or is it
which team wants him when he has a couple of years left on his deal.
That's that'll be an interesting dynamic from the Lakers. I'm probably still trying
to hold on to him. But I know Lakers fans in love with Ruby
Hotchimore and I'm still not I'm not a Ruby Hotchimore guy. Yeah, I
mean it's like an eighth, seventh or eighth guy maybe like that's but but
yeah, I guess I would say, I don't know if it means Vincent
necessarily is more likely to be traded because this, I mean, this could
be like I mean, already his season is going to be, you know,
halfway lost. At the very minimum, it might just be a lost
season entirely. I would say it makes it more likely and it was already
likely that the Lakers are going to make, you know, a significant move
that involves like two or three going out. For Memphis, Marcus Smart has
returned. He's back. He is not the reason they keep winning. That's
John Morant being back four and on in his first four games. Luke Kennard
also left Nie remains out but has at least been upgraded to day to day
on the injury report. With just like that's just the story of Cannard's career.
It feels like just long, long stretches with with foot, knee,
ankle stuff that just won't go away. Eric Poulstraw on the left calf injury
that has signed line Jimmy Butler the Miami Heats past three games. Quote,
he's going to go on this road trip with us. We have another day
before the next practice, two days before we get to San Francisco. I
really don't know right now what the timetable is. We'll have a better idea
by then. Yeah, I mean, I mean, this is the heat
in the regular season. But now they've dealt with absences to Tyler, hero
to Bam, the Jimmy Butler, and they're just still chugging along. It
doesn't matter because Duncan Robinson's good again and they just always find a way.
For the New Orleans Pelicans, Larry Nance Junior, who has not played since
November twenty seventh after he aggravated his right rib fracture, has been upgraded at
least too questionable on the Pelicans day to day injury report. So that's a
positive, and it's especially positive for anybody that is still of the mind that
you can count on him to be your closing five center, which I don't
know, I don't know if that's your if that's your plan. New Orleans.
That's that's a little dicey because you just I think you said it last
week, like he's just you can't count on it. He just can't count
on him being available because he hasn't been for the Knicks. Bagley of SNY
reports that multiple prominent is the word he used. People within the organization viewed
de Jontay Murray as the ideal trade target. I think those people should be
immediately fired. I like de Jontay Murray, but if you're going to keep
here's where he becomes. Even I still wuldn't use the word ideal. He
only becomes a good trade target if RJ. Barrett and Julius Randall are not
on this roster. And I will say, I don't know why you would
move. If you're gonna move Julius Randall, just based off how he's played
this season, it shouldn't be for like to make room for de Jontay Murray.
I just I find that very curious. There's also something in that report
that Leon Rose is reluctant to do business though with Clutch and their their clients.
That might sort of nuke any potential Murray to New York talks anyway,
I don't. I saw Nicks sense not loving the idea of Brunson and Murray
in the back court. Actually kind of like that again, if it was
independent of RJ and Randall existing, and if it was a matter of just
getting rid of RJ. Sure, I mean like if if it was just
straight up like RJ in a second or something for de Jontay Murray, I'd
probably give it a whirl. I mean, you're super small at that point,
but he's been too roller coastery for me. It's just having him integrate
into a dynamic where Randall is there too, that is not the ideal fit
for me. I'm really like bumping on ideal as the word in here at
trait. It's just like he's so clear, like you can talk yourself into
it, like you sort of just did with some bunch of caveats, but
like he's not ideal. That's insane, that's not the position they need.
His contract is good, and so from that perspective, if you were able
to roll a deal that you don't let you know, if it's Fournier and
Barrett and stuff to get Murray and whatever. I get from an asset value
perspective, but just functionally with Jalen Brunton and Julius Randall. And I'm just
gonna assume that R. J. Barrett wouldn't be part of the team if
you're getting Murray. It just it doesn't make sense, and probably neither would
quickly long term, right because you're not gonna go back. Yeah, That's
the other thing is just like maybe they're looking at it as okay, is
Dejantai Murry gonna end up being like cheaper than a manual quickly or so?
I don't know, Maybe I doubt it, but well, who knows?
All Right? For the Orlando Magic, Joe Ingles is dealing with a sprained
left ankle has missed the last six games. He continues to be listed at
day to day. Markle Foltz has missed twenty two straight as a Wednesday with
left knee tendonitis. Jonathan Isaac has now also missed another two straight games with
a hamstring issue. Any injury with him is always cause for concern, just
because of his history. Gary Harris missed Wednesday's game against the Sixers with a
left calf injury, So Orlando's kind of going through it right now. Just
on the injury front, but you got bank Carrol ballin though, yeah,
Palla bank Haarro's balling, Uh looking real good. Franz is coming around a
little bit after that ridiculously cold three point shooting start. So I don't know
if it's I'd have to go back and look more closely at his previous seasons.
But this year he just based off the way his hair looks. It
always seems like he's in crisis, just for every single moment of every single
game. He's just so disheveled looking. I was, you know, it's
funny. I was, well, I have analysis on another Wagner's hair,
which is MO and and he had like the center part going. He might
still have it going. The center part Uh, not a trend that we
need to return to. Never was a good look for anybody. So just
if we're gonna worry about the Wagner's collective hair, I'm I'm gonna start with
with Mo before we get the fronds. On Philly, Joel Embie missed his
second straight game with the right ankle sprain on Wednesday night. Nick Nurse said
Joel could return on Friday in Houston, though it's not definitive. Nicholas Patuma's
missed four straight games with the right hamstring issue. He's listened his day to
day. That's a sneaky, big absence for the six Ers. Good.
What did you make of the anything with Embiid is obviously concerning? What did
you make of sort of the the rumor I think it was from Spike Eskin
out there in Philly that Embiid like missed the Christmas came on purpose. He
already he said that he didn't want to play on Christmas, and then he
apparently said he wanted a private plane that he could fly to Miami the day
of Christmas. There was clearly he suffered the injury. What was it the
game against Toronto? So like there was an injury. I just can't bring
myself to care about it. I will say, if he got the day
off because he didn't want to play on Christmas, that would be mega fucked
up to me. But it doesn't seem like that was the case. Yeah,
It's just really weird that a superstar player on a team run by Darryl
Moury would get preferential treatment on off days and privacy. Yeah, what is
that? What messages that send of the team that he was good. I
understand I'm not in the Sixers' locker room and Joel and be just beloved in
Philly, and maybe he has reasons for like, hey, I want to
be home for Chris. Like what messages that send of the team, Like
well, no, all you guys are gonna miss Christmas, Eve and Christmas.
But Joel can get Christmas morning and then we'll charter him a private jet
just because it's just like, come on, it worked with James Harden.
You know what was ring? How many rings? How many finals appearances does
Maury have with with James Arden? The only reason I gave that report any
credence was because Maury was involved. It's like, this is what he does.
He lets his guy do whatever he wants. That the fact that he
missed his second straight game though, he was like, right, well,
so what are you doing here? I agree? Uh, this is something
for the Phoenix Suns. Kevin Durant is reportedly frustrated, according to Wood,
who mentioned the lack of supporting assets if he's supporting casts, and lack of
assets to improve the team as possible reasons for Kevin Durant's reported discontent. You
know what, my suspicion is about Kevin Durant's reported discontent. He's always fucking
discontented. That's what that is, operating default setting. He's just never happy
wherever he is, and it's it's always sort of if this is true,
So I want to give Kevin Duran this is coming from Kevin Durant, and
but like his his discontent is often tone death like, oh the Warriors aren't
your team, Yeah no shit, Sherlock step Curry exists. Oh what's going
on in Brooklyn? There's no continuity? Yeah no shit. You hitch your
wagon a Kyrie fucking Irving, and then this they have no assets and the
supporting cast that sort of makeshift assets. Exactly. You demanded a trade to
one team and they gave up everything to get you, and what it's not
necessarily his fault that they gave up the farm, but it's like you weren't
You didn't play the Bradley Beal card where you acted like you had a no
trade clause. Bradley Beal actually had one. So just good dude, come
on, I'm gonna say, maybe he's not actually he was born at one
point, but you know what if you're if he is frustrated, tried defending
better this year, mister Kevin Durant, that would be that would be my
advice. I'm so like caught in a spot with him where because he does
seem like a thoughtful, like interesting guy that a lot of times seems to
have a like pretty good perspective, like as far as how important this basketball
thing is, like no one can ever question like how much he cares about
it too, even though he will admit like it's not life like that,
Like he says a lot of things that make you sort of I don't know
if refreshing is the right word, but make you feel like I kind of
agree with how he approaches the world and then like this shit specifically with just
like wherever he is, no matter how Taylor made or how much influence he's
had on creating the situation that he's in, which tends to be a lot
because he has that much clout. It just like it feels like a matter
of time before it's just like, no, this isn't it either. It's
just like we were I mean, I feel like we were saying this in
Brooklyn of like what's the constant through the constant is just like Durant, he's
the one that's that's like somehow disruptive and like unhealthy for the franchise. I
don't know. It's it's vibes in Dallas with Kyrie even since last season,
have felt better since the vibes in Phoenix with Kevin Durant. It's just is
this guy a morale killer somehow? And I agree with that mean you said
he he's relatable, He's at least accessible on social media, and I don't
want to pretend to know the guy from watching him a million miles away for
his career, but the fact that there we have enough reporting along these lines,
not necessarily since he joined Phoenix, but in general the course of his
career where it's there might just be something to this, and it's maybe he's
trying to figure out what he actually wants. Clearly I can respect, but
if he's actually frustrated because Phoenix has a makeshift supporting cats and a lack of
trade assets, it's buddy, come on well and just like the Suns did
an objectively incredible job building this team with no assets to do it with,
Like all we talked about all off season was all great minimum signings, super
creative, like let's give away shares of our pick swaps to just like figure
out, let's go get second rounders somehow by like the Suns have done.
The Sons have gone above and beyond to like figure out how to have a
functioning team after giving up everything to get Durant and Beale. And it's like,
I just you said it, right, buddy, Like what do we
do? What do you want? Oh? Man? So and this will
be our final news item notable And for anyone who's wondering why we don't cover
like end of the benchure, this is just the most notable news items I
could find or that I deemed notable. Grant didn't really have a say in
how the doc was built. I apologize, I think of anything, there's
too much here. We should have just done the Kevin Durant thing for forty
minutes. Uh, don't worry, We're about that. We're gonna get back
to Kevin Durant, don't you worry. Well, so the Raptors, according
to woj quote aren't there yet with regard to trading og and Siakam. So
it's late at night, and so I'm going to use this analogy. So
anyone who's listening with children in the car. Do you know what this phrasing
turn it off or skip it or lower the volume, whatever excited. I
don't know what you're gonna say. Do you know what this analogy reminded me
of is like the overly self conscious partner who's in bed asking the other one,
are you there yet? No? Are you there yet? No?
And that's what it's become with these Toronto Raptors negotiations, where it's all these
teams rerecring like are you ready to trade these guys like no, we're We're
not there yet. So the praising, that's where my mind went to.
I don't think they they should be there. But at the same time,
it's like, this is how this stuff works. These guys aren't getting traded
in by the end of twenty twenty three, Like it's just not it's not
happening. It should have happened over the offseason if they were going to do
something. And just to the whole the same stuff the reporting about there's the
date because he could technically sign an extension before free agency if he's traded by
a certain date. I just don't buy into it because if he's willing to
sign an extension with you, he's willing to resign a free agency with you,
and so that doesn't put like a hard stop date on it. The
player who interests me the most because so many teams want him is og Because
if I'm the Raptors, I objectively don't trade him if I'm trying to rebuild
around Scotty Barnes. However, this operates under the guys that he wants to
be there because he has he's not a restricted free agent. He will opt
out. He will become an unrestricted free agent and could just leave, And
so you need to have a really good pulse on what he's going to do
if you're the Raptors, because if you decide not to trade him and you
let this guy walk for nothing, that is, you know, I think
is the better player in a vacuum, but the Scotty Barnes fit has sort
of marginalized him a little bit. If you misread the og Ananobe situation,
it's almost worse in my mind. So if I'm the Raptors, I wouldn't
trade him, But you better be damn sure one that he wants to come
back, and two you better not play the game of war. WHOA,
We're not gonna pay you that much. The Rockets gave you a two year
deal with a team option. No way, no way. Yeah, there
there's more. There are more ways for Toronto to win quote unquote the Ananobe
situation than to lose it, because they can pay him whatever it takes.
They can trade him for immense value, which I like, if it's true
that they could have got four first and whatever last year, like they maybe
should have just done it. But my only caveat would be if that's the
Knicks and like you're looking at those Detroit and Rightington picks, but you'd sure
shit rather have that package of an if he picks or whatever than nothing.
And they just got the Van Vliet lesson of like it really can happen,
Like someone can come over the top with an offer you think is too high
and just get the guy like that, that absolutely can happen. And if
anything, all these indications of like oh Ananobe might command this in trade or
that it's like I think he's gonna be a little more sought after than Van
Fleet was. And so you should really be ready as Toronto to see this
insane. I mean, I wouldn't even call it insane if he got just
a max short term offer or like a ridiculously big four year, like you
should expect that if Toronto, I wonder if they're sort of looking at it
as because so many teams will be interested that there might be he has to
be amenable to this. But some of the teams are gonna have cap space.
Yeah, if it's the Sixers and he's fine playing with Nick Nurse,
okay, sure, a good team that has cap space. But if he
wants to go to a good team, maybe they viewed as well, like
they'll be signing trade offers on the table because there's twenty nine teams that want
O g Anobe and not all of them are gonna have cap space. That
is a risky game to play, though, so scared to get to that
point with him if I'm them, like, I just don't want to be
I don't want to have to count on the market. I'm saying, if
he if you're willing to pay him and he will stay, I'm telling you
the Raptors not to trade him. But we now have evidence that they don't
necessarily have a pulse on what players are gonna do. The lines of communication
are a little staticky and based on van Fleet getting away. Yeah, so
let's talk about the biggest regrets for every team in the Western Conference. As
just a brief overview of the criteria, I focused more on There are some
like sort of game moments, but I didn't go towards injuries, just because
we all regret injuries unless they're self inflicted, and there is one on this
that is there. I try not to focus too much on just single game
moments unless there's sort of these flash bold moments. It's more transactional team building
stuff, opportunities missed or not explored, leaning one way or the other,
not doing something. That's how for the most part, you approached the East
when we did it, That's how I approached the West. Since i'll be
be spearheading this, I did not consult you about the Warriors. I always
feel like you know why I didn't, And I did this on purpose because
I want I wanted to see if it would spark a discussion about whether you
are or disagree. But I always feel like I'm going after you like as
a sounding board, and then you very rarely are concerned about like, well,
what does Dan think here? Because you just know so much shit that's
like, well, why would I want Dan's opinion? What do you mean?
I ask you nick stuff all the time. Well, I'm saying that's
not an insult. I go to you more to like bounce ideas off of
for stuff that doesn't have to do with the podcast. Then you do you're
more independent. I'm very much a clinger, I think, is what we're
getting at. Well, I mean, I don't know, I want to
reveal too much, but like, I definitely think in this job, it's
really easy to find yourself like where's the smart person? I'm gonna parrot that?
And I definitely have fallen into that for stretches over the years, and
so I really try hard to just be like, what do I think about
this? And then maybe it's also laziness because then I just like, don't
cross check it with people who are smarter than me. But I'm airing on
the side of trying to have my own thoughts on stuff more often lately it's
too easy. There's too much out there that you can just read and be
like, that's the correct opinion. I will absorb, I will adopt that.
You know, I find myself wishing we podcasts and more oftens that we
could do the thing where we respond to this stuff without having heard yeah other
noise. But it's just like we're pot We're thrown out two pots. We're
throw out three pots a week, only two of which we're doing together.
It just doesn't work out that way. So are you ready? And to
see whether I mess up the alphabet and like we have to skip teams.
So this is not Anyone who listened to this podcast knows this is a big,
a big lift. Yeah, so you know, we'll just see how
it goes. I'll try to correct any alphabetical stuff, but I you know,
I might just let you sink out there. If you go from like
D to Q or something, I'm just gonna jump around. How about I
just go out of I'm gonna what if I just did any order I wanted.
You know what I mean by that? Do it? Do it.
I'll just make sure you count to that seen, make sure you get fifteen
teams, so you gotta. I have a doc with my notes on this,
so I'm gonna bold and unbolts all bold the ones that I do.
This is so stupid. I'm not looking at the docks. So you're fine,
B I can't help you. I did, I will say very quickly
too. I did crowdsource some of these on teams that I struggled with.
I didn't always agree with what or go with what they said, but I
will shout out people that might have helped me or point me in the direction
of something I wasn't considering. This, however, is not a team that
I consulted on. We're gonna begin with the Dallas Mavericks just because I have
him queued up in the timestan doc so I alluded to this. They actually
have very few, like twenty twenty three regrets, because they had a pretty
good offseason I think, and like you could talk about some people like well,
why would they have tanked last year? So you end up with Derek
fucking Lively. That's why. Who's just perfect for this team? I think
it's it's not getting Grant Williams. It's giving up the twenty thirty pickswap to
get him. You've already benched him. He has proven not to be the
defensive guy that you thought he was going to be and that we all knew
he wasn't like he is malleable. He is switchable, he's not lockdown,
and he's not I still get a kick out of how it was framed.
They get a lockdown wing defender. It was like, no, that is
absolutely not what Grant Williams is. He's been moving to the bench. That's
fine. He still played a bunch of minutes in his first game off the
bench. And I also recognized he was a contingency because they went after matist
tible first. But you've now hardcapped yourself and you've given up a twenty thirty
pickswap, and it's like, how much the Boston really want this guy?
They weren't even really playing him when it mattered most until the players said something,
could you've gotten him for less? And I'll just say that pick swap,
because you can only trade one tangible first round pick, is like a
pretty big deal in the realm of if you wanted to compete with offers for
people who actually address your concerns of well, can we get two way supporting
cast members who fit the bill of like the two three four guys? Whereas
yes, we have Dante exem and Derek Jones Junior right now, But Derek
Jones Junior. I think his offensive limitations are going to be exploited in the
playoffs. We've already seen a pullback there, and then we have to see
if Dante ExHAM continues to be this good in the playoffs. If you're looking
to get in the running for other guys, and I'll say not oji Anobe,
you don't have enough to get him. But if you wanted to enter
the Jeremy Grant sweepstakes or Kyle Kuzma sweepstakes, like do you have enough to
get him? Maybe you still do, But that twenty thirty pick swap would
have come in handy or at the very least, Hey, it's nice not
to have traded away control of just our entire draft through that year, which
is what they are gonna flirt with if they make another trade. And so
I don't know if you have a better one, it's not. I think
some people be like, well, should they have done the Olivia max Sins
prosper pick with the Rashawn Holmes thing? And I still like that flyer long
term. He's not good yet. And it's like you said when you did
the East, I just picking the draft stuff is so weird at this point.
Yeah, I was, as you're talking, I was looking back at
like, so, what was the Holmes trade? Because he's just not a
factor for them. But it's like, I just I don't think that rises
too. Are you gonna if you look at the players that were taken after
o Max, you know, do you really love Julian Strawther that much?
Would you have played Ben Shephard? I just like, there isn't you know,
someone you know, Andre Jackson Junior is getting some minutes in Milwaukee.
It's not like you know what I mean? Yeah, I mean really like
the Lively for Wallace draft night move was one that, like at the time,
I think was you could justifiably criticize as like, was that really do
we need to do that? What isn't Wallace like maybe gonna be a It's
easier to see wall being like a I don't know, a starter or whatever
then Lively coming out of college. But I mean, you Lively is clearly
super helping. You knew John Tayckson was coming anyway, right, Yeah,
there's not a lot of regrets there to your point, So there no alternatives
from you on that one. No, No, I was gonna do the
Holmes trade, but it wasn't bad enough. So I'm going to go to
the LA Clippers next, in part because why is it so weird that I
was? It weird that I struggled with this team? And my first inclination
was to say that they should have pulled off the James Harden trade sooner,
because just look at how much they're rolling, and it would have given them
more time together. But I was also wondering if by playing it the way
they did, did they get him at a lower cost, Like if they
had traded for him over the offseason, let's say, would it have cost
them Terrence Man? And then I'm also looking at as well, because they've
gotten like Marcus Moore Senior off this roster sooner, And then I'm like,
okay, yeah, that would have been better. Maybe if you go back
to last season and say, well, should you should have pulled the ripcord
on Marcus Moore Senior minutes sooner? What does that team look like? Perhaps
that's worthwhile. But if you would have gotten rid of Marcus Moore Senior sooner,
would that have made the salary matching for James Harden even more difficult?
So I'm going to settle on this and I'm curious what you think. I
think the right answer might be they should have distanced themselves from the Marcus More
senior minutes last season. More, I just don't know how did that impact
the outcome of their year when you look at what ended up happening with the
Paul George injury like in the playoffs, then eventually Kawhi I'm settling on do
you think that, And we still have a couple of days. Should they
have signed one of these dudes to an extension already, because could you have
gotten them, in theory on more favorable terms, then you would get them
now because of how well the Clippers are doing and of how well Kawhi Leonard
specifically has played. I don't even know if that's the right answer, just
because now Kawhi Leonard is injured. He's missed the past three games as we
record this, and so some of those concerns are creeping up again. I
just wonder if by not extending them before you got James Harden, if you
have now locked yourself into well, these guys are all gonna get maxes,
They're all gonna have player options on the back end of them. Could you
have gotten some injury protection, some just more favorable returns. I'm just guessing
here because my assumption would be if you could have gotten more favorable returns,
maybe you would have just extended them. So I'm just going to settle on
that, and if nothing else, I think you could just argue now you
would have at least the fact that you have the three best free agents of
the twenty twenty four class at hitting the open market is pretty problematic just in
theory, and yeah, I want to be there, so I get it.
So I'm just I'm grasping its straws, and I'm wondering if there's just
like a mega valid alternative that I missed. No, I think I think
the only way you would go with the should could should? They? Could?
They have extended Georgia Leonard because it seemed like and maybe still was the
right decision not to if you could have got like a like I mean,
one plus one, I feel like would have been and just a non starter
from the players perspective, But like two plus one, maybe you could have
done and just limited some of your downside risk down the road a little bit.
But I don't think those guys, either of them, would have taken
anything less than just it's Max or I'm walking and I'll be the best free
agent in the class. So like, there wasn't a lot of incentive or
opportunity, even with their injury histories, to get them at like a quote
unquote discount. I don't think. I think the other thing you could argue
that is because in theory the extensions would have been shorter just because the year
they have left on their like their contract, is that would there have been
benefit to now we'll know if they opt out and you just got to give
them like the full four years. I just don't know. It's hard for
me to imagine. I don't think not would could both of them sign for
five or they? Wow, they could. He'll be thirty three, so
he won't be that won't take him through his age thirty eight season. And
I think Paul George is a little bit older, so maybe that's the one
that's Yeah, he'll be thirty four in May, so that's the one that
could bump up against the the because they moved into the age thirty eight rule,
right, I'll double check. Yeah, I mean, you can't give
either of these guys a five year deal, even if age thirty eight rule,
like notwithstanding, you just can't. You can't do that. I don't
think. I don't think. So. It says that they turned thirty eight
during the contract, so they would have been protected even with the okay,
so they could. It's but still like you could have been theory like shaved
one year of risk off of it. Maybe. Uh, it's tough.
It's weirdly tough. Like you said, you've had two teams now, Dallas
and LA where it's like mostly good, good job guys, not a lot
of Houston. It is sort of just both. The other thing you could
do is just both seasons. I would have to look at when Terrence Man
became like a staple in the starting lineup last year, was like a why
did it take so long to get to to Terrence Man starting here? But
he started in November of this year and that was because he was injured to
start the year. So this would be dating back to to last year and
his first game that or when he became like a starting lineup staple last year
was yeah, I mean it was later than it should have been, but
it was by the end of No, he wasn't. He didn't even it
was like, no, it was January, so that wouldn't even have worked.
I mean, maybe relying on Terrence man More could be another one though,
who was the Bones Highland Trade. They didn't go up anything to get
him, did they. It was like a second or something. Oh yeah,
I thought that was a fine regret. You do that every time,
even if Bones doesn't amount to anything, it was worth it. Another team
that I struggled with because it's just I feel like there's a ton of options
here, but you need to back up each and every one, and then
there's always the caveat. We'll look at what their top six are if they're
healthy. The fact of matter is they're just not healthy enough. And I
don't think that they have the Bigger thing for me is I don't think this
team has chosen in identity, and that's the New Orleans Pelicans. And in
the sense of I think you should have just this is so vague. I
ended up saying you need to have leaned into offense more. And I'm not
saying they should have predicted that Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram would be closer to
I mean, is this spicy? Are they closer to top fifty? Guys
than top twenty guys right now. I mean, if you're pricing in there
like health track records me, I don't know. I think you'd say both
of them are closer to like because if you're talking top fifty, they're right
in the middle. I don't know. Maybe that's top and out. The
fact the matter is is both of them are closer to top thirty than either
one of them are closer to top fifteen, right yeah, and you need
that guy in the absence of having that, I'm not saying you should have
moved Zion or Bi. And it gets into it that it gets into so
difficult. You like a lot of the personnel on this roster, but why
weren't you more aggressive this offseason and going after the space creator upfront with Zion?
I'm not even talking about just a shooter, but like a pancake e
screen center to help you, excuse me, create space and who also protect
the rim or if you weren't going to go that route, could you actually
get I'll say, as a floor stretching big where they're gonna take more than
like three attempts per one hundred possessions or be more available than Larry NaNs Junior.
Could you have The other thing is could you been more regressively saw it?
Yeah, we talk about the three point shooting volume. Where do you
want that to come from the lineup? Who are they replacing? It would
have needed to have been higher end. That's kind of what I'm getting at,
and I'll touch on that again very quickly there. I say, should
you have then invested more like an actual league guard just because of the way
that you've changed the way that you've used Zion at points where it feels like
because it doesn't seem like you trust him as much to run the show.
This is all anecdotal. Something's just off with this team. And I will
say Willie Green seems like he gets a little too cute with some of his
lineups where it looks like he's trying to prioritize either defensive effectiveness or versatility,
and it's just better offense is going to be the key here. And we
had someone a discord I think it was Rome eighty one to eighty site that
they've lost a lot of close games. That's going to be part of it.
I know, shchimid Dua from the end the no newsletters talked about this
as well, like them struggling in close games. They're sixteenth in points score
per possession, even factoring in some of the injury stuff they've dealt with this
year. The talent on this roster, like you should be better than that,
and so you need to lean into it one way or another. And
I do think a lot of that probably had to happen outside of the team,
But there's probably also things that you could do with the current roster that
would more so jibe with leaning into offense. Yeah, I think I agree
with you. Did you think at all about the I don't know how close
it ever was, but the Zion or Ingram for the number three pick in
Portland, Like, did you ever do you consider that way? And maybe
that wasn't like legit enough. I don't know if it was legit because Portland
was more prepared to draft Scoot than to keep Damian Lillard, and so it's
like, were they what would be the point of taking on Zion at that
point? Like if you were gonna, if you were that high on Scoot
that you would risk your relationship with Damian Lillard getting Zion for him, Just
like I just don't think it was ever realistic. Yeah, probably not.
Probably not all right? I got nothing to add there. Why don't we
go to Portland? Speaking of that? So I think I'm gonna land on,
I don't think I think I'm gonna land on. This is what I
land on because I penzled it in though then Damian Lillard ever ended just because
I think you could argue the Blazers are gonna be better off long term for
going through this rebuild, but they won didn't really let it begin on their
own terms, even though they drafted Scoot and kept that pick up. And
more to the point is just that it was just such bad blood with the
way it unfolded, because you either made these promises behind the scenes to him
and then went back on them, so you never should have made those promises
in the first place, or Damian Lillard lied about them. But the fact
that this played out in the media as publicly as it did with the one
team trade request, they had to jump through hoops kind of to get him
to approve the Bucks or the Nets. At one point he ends up in
Milwaukee. There's just something too. Damian Lillard was so big, important to
that franchise, to that community, did so many great things for the Blazers,
just for it to leave on such a sour note amid this, let's
say, allegations of lies and unfulfilled promises. You should have been more straight
up with him, or you should have just made this call more directly,
because we know it was for a fact, they did not at the very
least make the call to move him until just after last year, after this
Goot Henderson pick, it was well, what were you? What did you
think was gonna happen here? It felt like this is where I land on
it is. It felt like to me they wanted him to be the one
to initiate a breakup, which I just think was stupid and regrettable. Yeah,
I didn't need to go that way. I think I think it definitely
could have been maybe if there had been just some more frank conversations about like,
here's what we want to do. You're obviously not on board with that,
right, Like, can we as far as a rebuild? Can we
just just agree on a course of action here? And it never felt like
that happened, or at least if it did happen, it didn't seem like
the Blazers were consistent about like adhering to that because like the other thing,
I thought that nothing rises to the level of kind of I mean, the
Blazers ended up doing well, like in the Litler trade, but the optics
were bad. But like the Jeremy Grant contract, I feel like, is
something worth mention. It's not on the level of like you kind of like
let the franchise icon leave on, like not the best terms, Like that's
a real regrettable thing. Jeremy Grant is like you can trade it. You
still get first round value for Jeremy Grant. It just felt and this goes
beyond just the Lizard thing. It felt very much the writing was on the
wall that you needed to enter this rebuild, and yet you still entered it
on the fly, off the cuff, like not by your own design.
Necessarily, you probably should have moved on, not moving on from Chauncey Billups
probably like if you're gonna go, I mean I don't I just like if
you might as well have done it, if you're going to start the rebuild,
that's fair that I mean, that might be something just a monitor for
this season because you're still playing so many vets at this point. Are guys
that maybe don't factor into the long term. Uh, next team, let's
go to Let's go to the Thunder. So I did consult our friends at
the uncontested for this, and I appreciate their input and I am not going
to accept it and I'm going to go my own route. But they suggested
one. I just don't think the one of the ones. I just don't
think it was a big deal enough. They said they should have traded Poku
and Trey Mann by now to capitalize on their value. I think, at
worse you missed out on like maybe we got like two seconds and one of
them's protected. So I just can't get on board with that as being a
big regret, and it speaks to I think the team doesn't have a ton
of options for regret. The other one they gave me is the way that
they played in the playing game versus the Timberwolves last year. That's certainly up
there. I just think, like, oh, okay, Josh Getty playing
like dog shit in that game was just kind of predictable and maybe sort of
a glimpse into what is going to happen in playoff games with him, and
I think it sort of dilutes how well the Timberwolves were able to play,
and I know Antiy Edwards didn't have like the greatest game there, but Rudy
Gobert was kind of a monster, so I didn't want to go that route.
I also the Josh Getty stuff, the allegations of him having an improper
relationship with underage female, that is awful. I don't know what the Thunders
could have done to prevent it that they apparently knew about it beforehand. Do
they regret how they handled it? I don't think we have an information for
me to go there, which is why I didn't pick it. I also
think the whole move on from Josh Diddy, you couldn't reasonably do that after
the season he had left year just looking at on the court without knowing what
you have in chet and just like understanding his team more now his values at
an Adar, and so it's can you be mad at them for not moving
him? I'm gonna settle on. It's pretty basic and we've talked about it.
Maybe you should have had more faith though in this court to say,
hey, let's go upgrade like the shooting with a top A player or the
hefton bounce up front, because we're such a bad rebounding team. You had
the cap space to do that, you had the assets to go do that.
I'm not saying it needed to be this nuclear trade and maybe now you've
set yourself up to go get Larry Market in this trade deadline spoiler alert,
No they haven't, because the thunder just don't do that. And so I'm
saying their biggest regret should be not trusting what they had off of last year's
sample size more and that I'm not saying it need to be someone who cracked
their starting lineup, but maybe someone who you could have subbed in for either
Lou Dort or Josh Giddy who opens up the half court with his three point
volume and is maybe a little bit better off defensively then Isaiah Joe or just
is going to give you more rebounding next to Chet like some hefter bounds up
front. It's a tiny regret, but I think the level at which they're
playing at right now, where we've they're contending for a top two seed in
the West, and the fact that they've lost. They did just beat the
Timberwolves, but they've lost to a bunch of or a handful of really good
West teams, we have to start talking about them on the level of nitpicking,
and this would fall under the context of nitpicking. So shout out to
the un contested pod. You guys are great. I did not heed your
advice. I mean they nit picked harder than you, which is just another
testament to like this position this franchise is in. There's not a lot excuse
me having choking on my thunder thoughts were get emotional. Look about we talk
about emery. I just you know, I can't hold it together. I
think I would have I think you're right. I would just have framed it,
like maybe more broadly of this, the idea that like you're kinda have
to do something with all these picks eventually, because it's just by the time
they come rolling around, like they'll actually have quantifiable value, like oh,
this pick's going to be twenty ninth or whatever. Like that's just not the
same in terms of a trade asset as one that has all this unknown,
you know, value attached to it. So whether that's for market and whether
that's to have what you said I think is right, it's just you gotta
I think these picks just can't hang around forever. I think now, now,
clearly, as you're you're contending for the best, being the best team
in the West, is the time to like cash them in, uh or
even in the off season, even though would have been harder to know for
sure how good you're going to be, then it could have been like a
small cash in. And I don't have the name, but like they should
have. I mean, we go look at their cap space, like this
is a team where it's okay, like PJ. Washington might have helped them
on the glass and look at what he ended up signing for in Charlotte.
Could you have made a different trade where okay, it's not you're not getting
compensated for taking on this money, but you're giving up a small asset to
then take on someone who's gonna give you just some heft and bounce up front.
And it's for me to say that without naming that player, but there
probably would have just been guys who were they Look, I'll tell you this
right now, I wouldn't have mind if they just took on Clin Capella's money.
The Hawks were trying to dump him, that would have been something that
they could have done. So I'm not saying that specific players why they should
regret it. After watching Grant Williams this year, I liked him and Ocasey
a little bit, and now I'm like, yeah, like they didn't really
miss out on too much there. So yeah, uh, next team,
the Utah Jazz. This is with the caveat that I was a pretty big
fan, or at least I supported this trade. They have to regret using
their flexibility on John Collins, and I'm gonna say they have to because Andy
Larson reported of the Salt Lake Tribune that they do regret doing it, that
they've been frustrated with him at both end of the floor and are looking to
move him. I think when you look at this roster now, it always
set the tone for how it would be a little confusing with the front line
with John Collins there, but it felt like it would be in a good
way. And now I'm kind of at the point where it's like there might
have really been something to John Collins being on steroids and no longer being on
steroids, and now he's not good any more type logic thing. He well,
he got suspended. I don't know what the actual substance was. We
had that twenty five games suspend for the band. But however, I do
think having him there has now capped the development reps for Taylor Hendrix and more
to my point here and this this doesn't have to be this could be actually
exclusive of the John Collins trade. You should have gotten a veteran for general
in here, and that should have been the money that you kind of look
to. I'm not saying it needed to be your floor general of the future,
but like you certainly could have. I mean you did draft Bryce.
Sense about like could you have like tried to use those picks and moved up
and you've gotten in on the case and willd and sweep Steaks or even like
you know, I mean, Kobe Buffins injured right now, So that's just
not a great example at the moment. Should you have been like, oh,
can we move up to get like Anthony Black? Is he even that
type of type of player? I love Taylor Hendrix, So I don't think,
like that's not what my issue is. But I think it comes back
to the John Collins trade, where either you could have used that flexibility in
a trade to get someone like a even even if you rolled it over into
this season, like it's gonna be a lot harder to use John Collins's money
to go out and get a point guard who becomes available. Then it would
have been to just absorb them into cap space. Would there have been that
trade available for you over the offseason or could you have just spent that money.
Look, this could have been they weren't gonna max him out. So
Fred Vanvleet's a bad example, but they should have been a team that was
more. That's someone who's perfect where they don't. They're a veteran, they
don't infringe upon what you're trying to do with the youngsters. And I love
Keyante George. I think it's good he's getting these reps. He's also not
a good NBA player right now for what he's being asked to do, and
that's fine. I think that's the regret, and it's I think it's a
minimal regret based on where they're at with their rebuild. I am curious.
I think some people might have gone here that they didn't lean into the tank
sooner last year, and it was they did it early because the trade deadline
is so early. But he kind of missed your chance on Wemby and now
you are in this weird space for your rebuild, in which well, if
the guy isn't marketing in Walker Kessler or Keante George as you're guiding force,
well how the fuck are you getting this guy? So my overriding thought was
exactly that, like you had a chance at at this. Last year was
the year two tank if ever there was gonna be one. But like part
of the problem is that, like starting in twenty twenty two they were too
good. So like I'm out there because if all we did last year was
talking about how it's like it's too late. They bank too many wins,
They're not gonna get up to the lottery odds they need. So that's the
only reason I wouldn't go with that, because like, if you're thinking biggest
possible picture, it's one hundred percent that that they did not position themselves to
get weama, Like that's that is it? Because the other stuff that the
point guard was the other one I thought of just we both like George,
but yeah, someone to just be an actual point guard that's not Jordan Clark,
Center, Horton Tucker or Chris Dunn or like you could have gotten in
on the Tius Joan sweepstakes. All right, you could just I don't know,
beat the market on trade Jones like he was a free agent. Go
go get go. Yeah, one of the Joneses that either one of them
would have been a perfectly capable, you know, stop gap guy. That's
just like what they are. But yeah, so the tanking one is the
most intriguing one. But I feel like it falls a little bit out.
I mean, although you could have just tanked really hard after January first last
year, that might be it did, that might be very first. Yeah,
we all missed on. I do think there was some internal misevaluation though,
because we all assume that they were gonna suck from day one last year,
and I think they ended up having No one expected what Larry Mark did
for starters that was a big one, or because Kesler usually got off to
a heart hot start Walker Kestler was good right away. They did not understand
how good they were going to be in me in term, clearly not And
I like I had the feeling all year, or at least early on that
like they didn't want this to be happening. Like, not only did they
not expect it, I think probably because they all had to. They they
saw the Showcase games in Vegas, where we Minyamo was like, Okay,
well this is the guy, Like I'm sure they they were like such a
mixed emotion, all bag. Yeah, I'm not. I love Keante George,
but I don't think he's gonna be better than Scoot No, no,
yeah, I mean, if we're really gonna go a little bit outside the
twenty three thing, it might have to be that one. For me.
I just didn't want to go too far outside twenty three. And the other
one that you could say is like could we get some actual wings on this
roster? But yeah, I'm gonna move on to the Spurs just so that
I can mention this. I almost picked it for one of them. I
still think Utah and or San Antonio should be a shame that they didn't force
the Lakers to pay more for Austin Reeves. Yeah, they should have been
some type of poison pill. They are the teams that should have done it,
but I didn't want to. I don't know if that was a missed
opportunity. Uh maybe more so for the Spurs, who could use some Just
this, I don't really like this word anymore has become such a buzzword in
cliche, but connectivity on the offensive end. However, Oh, go ahead,
you're gonna say Reefs could just be your point guard, like if you're
not, Like just if he's on the spurs, I think you put the
ball in his hands and everything has gone would have gone better than it has
this year. I picked, and this is what I'm gonna end up picking.
But I'm melding it with I consulted Noah mcgaro, George of the Vican
Roll. Go check out his substack there does great work. I asked him
whether I was being too basic with this by just saying, because we've talked
about it so much, where it's your biggest regret to be either Trey Jones
did not start this season as a starter and still isn't starting, or you
should have went and gotten another veteran floor general who could start to optimize wehm
ben Yama. The on off split still with wem ben Yama's efficiency compared to
Trey Jones is so like, it doesn't need to be outside the organization,
just more Wemby and Trey Jones. It should be your biggest regret. What
he said was interesting, and so I will tack it onto this and it
was not something I thought of. You should have considered using some of your
draft equity, that Charlotte pick, that Raptors pick to have. Could you
have gotten a caseon Wallace in the draft. Could you have gone after a
Kyante George? Could you've done something like that? So if you weren't gonna
go the oh, we don't want a veteran floor general in here, well,
then get a young fucking point guard in here that's not Jeremy Sohan.
And I understand that there's value in experimenting, and they're still doing it.
They change their starting lineup again and trade Joe still isn't in it. Yeah,
but at some point it just feels counterintuitive. They're at that point,
and so maybe the overarching regret is not catering more towards Wemby's offensive optimization and
focusing more on experimentation and self discovery, which you know, I'm a pretty
big fan of teams going through the self discovery process. We've now been at
the point with the Spurs where no buddies, it's not to use the word
buddies, it's not working. Yeah, I think I don't know. The
more you think about the Spurs and what they're doing. It almost seems like
they're like trying a little too hard to innovate or just like, yeah,
we've got this guy that no one's ever seen before. We might as well
see if you don't actually need a point guard, right, we might as
well just see if having wem Binyama means you can just totally think outside the
box as far as how you put a roster together and how you put a
lineup on the floor, which, like, I'm never gonna I'm never gonna
hate that, just because eventually we will see, like, hey, remember
when teams used to have point guards. We'll like be talking that way at
some point. But so, like the Spurs kind of tinkering with that is
interesting to me. But yeah, it's the Reeves thing because Reeves would sort
of have allowed you to have it both ways. He's not really a point
guard, but so you want to settle on them not poison pilling Reeves.
Well, it's kind of every it's all the things you're talking about, because
it does address the point guard thing. It allows them to be a little
weird and a little creative with their you know, their starting and closing lineup
if they want to because he's not a Trey Jones type. He's not just
a game manager. He could be different than that. So maybe I guess
it's all kind of one thing. It's all it's the point guard thing,
it's the poison pill thing, it's it's the not using your draft capital to
go get somebody. I guess it's all kind of related. I still think,
and I think I mentioned this more from the NBA podcast. One of
my favorite fake trade proposals would be, does that Raptors pick get you a
manual quickly over the offseason to get it now? I know you still have
to the fact you have to pay him, turn around and pay him,
I think makes it tough. But with the Knicks having Dante DiVincenzo, I
don't know it. Is it interesting? Yeah? Yeah, I'm still like,
I don't mean to harp on this. I pride myself on really having
a pulse on what all thirty teams would like on every situation we talk about.
I hate my Pelicans one still, I just have like, for a
team that I'm so high on, I feel like I have a lack of
feel for like what they should or could be doing because everything you list with
them just has like this ripple effect of well yeah, but like you know,
there's like too many counter caveats. That's just the nature of that roster.
I feel like where it's like they got a bunch of one way guys
that you can throw out in certain combinations and it looks incredible sometimes and other
times it makes no sense. They got two stars that don't fit together,
but they're both individually very good and also sometimes not a bit like it's just
the whole team is difficult to sort of wrap your head around. I don't
think you're alone, is what I'm saying on that one. You know what
team is not so difficult to wrap your head around, The Los Angeles Lakers,
Like, we're gonna just we just went through the two teams that we
think should have poisoned pilled Austin Reeves, and let's focus on the team that
actually has Austin Reeves. So I thought I gave this as soon as the
news came out about Gay Vince at missing time, do they regret, like
you're hard capping yourself to get a Gabe Vincent and now you don't have him.
I still think I'm gonna frame it this way. I don't want to
focus on they should have traded Russell Westbrook sooner because we're talking about four weeks.
Is that are those four weeks in twenty twenty three? Because that spills
into we just talked about with the Jazz, That spills into like they never
should have made the trade in the first place. They should have moved off
all of them in the offseason. So if you want to pick that,
that's fine. I will roll into this why and I will also preface it
with this, I was wrong because I was so high on Dangelo Russell at
the time. Why was Mike Conley not in LA after the Like why did
we need the Timberwolves to get involved here like Utah had in the league easily?
Utah had Mike Conley? Like, like, why why did do we
need the Wolves? Did we need the Wolves to be a part of this?
I get the probably didn't want to kill Alexander Walker, but why was
you? I think you did it because you prioritized Dangeler Russell would be the
answer, right, it has to be, which is a mistake I think
pretty clearly. Unless well, they'll see what they get for him because they
signed him to trade him, So maybe maybe that changes but we're talking about
there, but Mike Comedy would be And I did consult friend of the Podge
Barry Davis producing a bunch of good podcasts right now and love him. Uh,
I just like it is the one, Like I keep thinking about it.
I feel like I'm over similphying. But I went back. I looked
at the transactional, like how the money work. Folding Mike Commy into the
Lakers trade would have been so easy. It would been so easy just to
exto communicate the Wolves from the entire negotiations. And where would they be now?
Because Colmley has mattered so much for them? Like talk about he is?
Is it a stretch to say he is their third most important player?
He's the maybe like I think he's They don't have a replacement for him.
I don't know if that meant how what that says about your questions specifically,
But I think about that all the time of like we you know, the
Wolves are like our are one of our no Notes teams in the West or
one of mine. They've kind of become that, except for if Conley goes
down, then you're just like, I don't know, I guess our playmaking
is coming from Edwards and like Kyle Anderson plays more now, like that's that's
what we're doing. Jordan McLaughlin's gonna get minutes, like that's yeah. Conley's
been huge and would have been phenomenal for the Lakers better than Russell, I
think yeah, and I think he would have provided it's I mean, even
the the Conley know Anthony Edwards units have been pretty bad this year. I
just Commy and Anthony Davis together without Lebron feels like it probably would have worked
out pretty well. The other thing you can focus on is why do they
still just not bring in shooting in general with this role? Even Gaye Vincent
is like that was your Marque edition and he's not the most efficient shooter.
He will take them, so there's value in that. Tory and Prince though
that signing worked out well, but it's just like we're taking flyers on cam
Reddish and like we're going with Jackson Hayes, who's actually played some for them,
but like, why can't we just and Christian Wood was supposed to be
floor spacer but that hasn't worked out. I think the comedy one is correct,
and if it's not him, it just has to be with like January
one, Russell Westbrook should not have been I mean, yeah, letting Beasley
go. I think that's another one, like because if you're hard up for
shooting, I wonder what that's a good one, because would he have stayed
like for a lot, like I mean, like the Bucks just picked them
up on the minimums, like you kept them on the same thing. You
never know, like and he's cooled off, but like you never know if
he would have been the same on this team versus the Bucks. Like he's
been up and down, and there's a reason Beasley's bounced around quite a bit.
He's not He's one of those guys that's younger than you think too.
But yeah, I think it has to be. I didn't even think about
the Conley thing as like as a road not taken regret. That's a that's
a great one. Let's go to the Minnesota Timberwolf since we spent part of
the Lakers section talking about them, so there, I think if you because
we call them our no notes teams, I now have more notes on them
where I'm just their offense concerns me as you get into playoff settings, and
so I'm like, they really should have done more to like get a backup
point guard and get someone who can increase their three point volume. But I
think I'm gonna that is just like stuff they could still address and they were
working with such thin margins. If they could have figured out a way to
keep Torri and Prints on the roster, how much different do we feel about
this team right now? We're pretty high on them at the moment. I
ended up going and I said, I didn't do this for the most part,
Uh, Jade McDaniels losing a battle with the Wall in the regular season
finale, just because look at like they really pushed the Nuggets. It was
a brief first round series, Like do we learn even more about the Wolves,
like and you just get a more of a sample with your best players,
just having you know their top five, and so I don't know what
this. I still don't think they would have beaten the Nuggets, but like
that series was really competitive, like Jade McDaniel's just having a season done.
I've also wondered did they potentially save themselves some money because of the McDaniel's injury,
Like he got his extension, but it wasn't near the max, and
so if he would have played, does he become a candidate? I just
think based off what they did to the Thunder while Anthony Edwards wasn't playing that
well in the playing game, and just knowing what Jade McDaniels can do and
what they did to the Nuggets, just imagine if he was available for that
series. And so I feel like, do you think it's okay to go
with that regret knowing that Jade McDaniels punched a wall and that's how his season
ended. I mean, it's like if you're not gonna pay, it's such
a such a clearly regrettable, like it's the perfect kind of regrettable situation because
it was like it was totally uncalled for and like just didn't need to happen
like something, you know, it was all we didn't trade for this.
Why it's like it was it was not like oh, end of the game
he got ejected. It was because he picked up his second found. It
was like the first quarter, I believe, And so it's just like,
what a fucking stupid thing, I will say, uh, And and you
know, the Thunder beat them soundly and SGA got his but watching that game,
Wolf's Thunder this is last night for us, but whenever this is recording,
it was on Tuesday, I watching McDaniels guard SGA. I was the
thought that enter in my head was like, I'm not sure there's anyone that
would be like, would make you less comfortable to be guarded by the McDaniels,
because like it's SGA and like he's kind of sticking with them about as
well as a human being can and is just like bothering him and reaching in.
His feet are so quick for how long he is, and it's just
like, yeah, so to circle back, like maybe that broken hand really
did like do the Wolves a favor ultimately, because just why if he had
done that like on a playoff stage and everybody had seen him just looking like
just a world beater defensively, like maybe he costs more. I don't know,
that's all to say. He just looked like vicious defensively for stretches against
probably the best guard in the league right now. Yeah, so you have
any alternatives for them? Is it just really the backup point guard or a
three point like volume shooting situation. I well, in terms of like a
need, it's just the backup point guard spot. But yeah, I mean,
you know, it's like, how big of a regret is that based
on how well you're playing? Yeah, it's to say that's a huge one.
Uh, which team? WHOA? I almost as I almost just left
our podcast room, that would have been that would have been something. Uh,
let's go to Let's go to Denver. Hashtag no regrets, good luck.
They want they won a title, but I did so. I consulted
Mile High Sports is Ryan Blackburn? Blackburn excuse me on this while I was
on his podcast, the ALU podcast, because I want to see, like
I was gonna end up on, could they have done more to get like
a backup big who would actually play where they don't have to downsize? And
is it the Zeke Nausey extension? I ultimately think you need tradable money,
and so that Zeke Nagy even right now because of the two hundred percent matching
rules for teams under the apron uh, I think that there's value in that.
I think I'm gonna settle on and this is this just speaks to how
whimsy it is they They went to use oriented as part of their bench and
it's yes, Peyton watching the shined Julian Strather's had his moments, but at
the end of the day, like you have just guys who are not you
know, Hunter Tyson, Jalen Pickett, even Julian Strauther to some extend,
who's not played a ton that just aren't playing, And like you could have
could you have gotten any of these veterans that look at all those veterans on
minimum contracts that the Phoenix Suns signed and like you're you're here is hitting with
like Justin Holliday and we know it was smart he's not on a minimum,
but like to keep Reggie Jackson, could you have gotten I still don't know
why Bismock Biamba wasn't signed, Like just get hit him the you know you
have DeAndre Jordan. I get what he does for your locker room. He's
actually been good in some of the minutes he's played, Like you can't rely
on him for a ton of minutes. I don't. Again, it's tough
for me to muster up the passion to be like, wow, man,
they they fucked up. Because I think the fact that we're here and this
might be more of an indictment on Michael Porter Junior and Jamal Murray than anything
to where they still just can't afford to use Jokic for even a second.
There's more validity to exploring the dual timeline things because you want to get to
a point where, well, hey, if Yokic misses more than four games
a year, like we need to figure out a way to combat that.
This is a way that you would hopefully get there, because right now it
doesn't seem like they're built for it. That's the only one I could really
come up with for them is that they skewed too far for the youth movement
is could they have done something where you know, they gave these guys a
guaranteed money to where they're not on two way contracts, So could you have
done something to have just gotten another veteran in here who even if he's just
a regular seasons inning eater, like that matters more than what you're getting from
some of these guys right now. Yeah, I mean, if we're ever
gonna have a no regrets that team and asks to be the Nuggets. But
the most significant thing that jumps out, and maybe this ties into what you
were saying about just the types of players they got to fill out the sporting
cast is just the backup big like they kind of did the DeAndre Jordan.
They're kind of Eudonnis haslming DeAndre Jordan a little bit like he's just we want
him around type of thing. That's a stretch just because he's like done something.
Yeah, I mean, just like you, you're not gonna I guess,
like it's you know, part of the problem with nitpicking about this is
like, well, if Yogic doesn't play that, they're like nothing, nothing
else matters anyway, So it's like it's not like you need a backup big
that's gonna like save you. If Yokic misses like two months, you're just
never gonna win. Basically, whoever, it is at least as far as
like people that Denver could realistically get, Like you can't. It'd be cool
if you could go get Miles Turner to be your backup big or whatever,
but like you can't because you want a title and that costs a lot of
money and that's your roster. But yeah, I think I just like a
I don't know, slightly more like consistently playable backup big that could actually start
occasionally like that kind of thing. But again, this is this is a
no regrets team, I'm gonna move out of the Houston Rockets, and so
I reached out to Red Nation Hoops. His Salomon a LEI friend of the
podcast, and he I proposed a bunch of different things. There's I do
think this one's sort of a no brainer. But them empowering KPJ behind the
scenes is just blasphemous when you look at those those rumors, how they treat
him like a franchise cornerstone. I do think that speaks to the larger issue
of just sort of their lack of team culture. I also do think it
encompasses too much of not twenty twenty three, since he spent half of it
not playing basketball or on the roster due to the domestic violence allegations. I
had other ones. So there was the one. You know, should they
have pivoted to more Alpern Shangun sooner it took them so long last season to
do that. They would have had more information on that point, maybe about
Jalen Green and his fit and more of a bit role, But that even
didn't come to light until now. We have Fred van Fleet and Dylan Brooks
and some of these other perimeter players on the roster. Here's the one he
gave me, and I consider other ones that I proposed him. I'm going
to read it verbatim. He said, if you he said, the Brook
Lopez pursuit, and here was his reasoning. If you got Lopez alprin,
Shangun gets further marginalized, and so you still didn't understand what you had in
Shangun at that point. Clearly. Two, if you miss on Lopez,
which you did, you made this ridiculous multi team trade that cost you draft
capital and young prospects. Because you missed, you also missed out possibly getting
Dylan Brooks on a sweetheart deal. Remember they ended up paying him more in
the end. The KPg thing would sting a lot less if Houston still had
ty Ty Washington, Usman Gruba, and door Josh Christopher on the roster,
who they also moved as part of these mechanisms, and then you wouldn't need
to make the eventual Oladipot trade because you've had those contracts on your books.
Instead, you could have just waved KPg right away, which is what they
should have done, and kept the second rounder. He had just an overall
really bad call by the front office to pursue Lopez. What do you think.
I mean, I didn't consider it in that framing. I did not
think about the ripple effects. I would I would have said, like,
I mean, really, the Lopez thing is is one of the biggest bullets
dodged I think in a long time. It can't be because you didn't get
the guy, and like, fortunately it turned out that Shingoun was beyond ready
to just be your center. Uh. But but I didn't think about like
all the knock on effects of that pursuit. Which that's that's a good point.
The other one I might throw in there is like you maybe took the
wrong Thompson at number four, just but it's hard to judge, amen,
because he just hasn't played, and a sar may never be able to shoot,
like just pick the other I mean, maybe just swap him. Now,
who would notice? Really? Well, maybe once a once the star
started really defending his ass off in a rocket's uniform, you might realize it
was him. But yeah, I think the it it makes sense to sort
of focus on the Lopez like non acquisition, but I can't. I can't
get all the way there with that as a regret. Since you didn't get
the guy, and that was the best thing that could have happened. Really
well, I'm saying, if you didn't go after him like da, do
you have to pay Dylan Brooks more, give up draft capital and make the
mechanisms work, you know. I think it's the KPJ thing would be the
other one for me, just because if those rumors, which I think it
was Clutch fans or Clutch points reported it, how much they empowered and just
ignored his erratic yeah on detrimental behavior behind the scenes. I'm talking pre domestic
violence allegations. It's just like, what are we doing? But I do
think that also speaks the larger symptom of should we've gotten more adults in the
room sooner here, both players, coaches, whatever, well, not moving
on from Steven Silas sooner? Maybe that's why I mean it all that does
seem like it's not it was beyond him. It wasn't just like he couldn't
rain everything in, but like the chaos was not of his doing. He
just wasn't the right guy to like control it, and maybe it was uncontrollable.
I mean, not moving not moving Jalen Green before he has like a
down year and a like Is that really good after the second half of the
season he had last year? Was that ever even in the cards? No,
it was. I'm just like, I think, I think you probably
have the right one, but I'm just trying to think of other potential potential
regrets there because everything else, I mean, an another team, Like I
didn't like the Brook steal, but like, yeah, kind of works for
me now, Like he's just he ended up being a lot better than I
mean, yeah, we missed out. How much better would that look if
he only cost like fifteen million a year? Oh my god, Yeah,
it would be one of the best contracts signed, which is like unthinkable.
Let's go to where we want to go to next? Who haven't I done
yet? Let's go to the Let's go to the Sacramento Kings. No,
I'm gonna save that to the end just to push you off, all right,
So theirs might be the most basic one when we're talking about stepping on
the toes of just things we've already talked about, uh not more aggressively looking
to upgrade their defense, and it's I don't there's been a lot of mixed
results with their offensive returns. Again, I don't know how many times we
have to cite this dearon Fox being healthy as just like their offense is just
going to be their twelfth right now. They're like, like, I don't
know what they're seventh or something since he returned from that sprain right ankle.
You look at this roster. I do think Kigy Murray's inoculated you against some
criticism because of the defensive jump he's made as well as Daron Fox. I
do wonder if does Damian Mitchell have to play meaningful minutes for this team still
if Daron Fox isn't defending the way that he is, probably not, because
Foxes still need to play. Still, what the did was allow you more
optionality to go out and be like, oh, we don't necessarily need a
Harrison Barnes replacement or someone Harrison Barnes's size. I think that's ideal. We've
talked about og Annobi for this team, probably more than any other team in
the league. But could you have got like you can go out and get
Alex Caruso, even a Marcus Smart if you were part of that. It
could be someone who's a little bit smaller because of Keegan Murray playing so well
defensively, and yet you chose to use your flexibility on We're gonna bring back
Harrison Barnes, We're gonna renegotiate and extend domas and bonus. We're gonna and
we're gonna bring over Vizenkov, who's not like had some bright spots, and
there's been when you seem like any of the minutes with Lyles and Vzhenkov on
the floor together, like the Kings are very just twitchy and fun, you
had an opportunity to be more aggressive, and it doesn't sound like from all
the reporting, Yeah, free agency doesn't seem like Jeremy Grant was ever really
on the table for them. You could have been more aggressive on the trade
market. There's always opportunities on the trade market that go unexplored, and I
just question, like, our are they going to remedy that now when we've
seen zach Lavine like linked to them for the right price, they might be
interested in zach Lavin should not be interesting to you at any price. I'm
sorry it easier, shouldn't be. And so they're a very good team.
I think that they were on the cusp of where if you get a very
good defender in here who could be a part of your top six, top
seven rotation in the playoffs makes a huge difference. Do they need to be
a part of your closing lineup? Maybe not, though that would be preferable.
You just that was a little bit uninspiring, especially after the season they
had had last year. Yeah, I think it has to be that it
has to be failing. I get it can't be that they failed to recognize
what they needed. It was like everybody understood the type of players that they
needed to sort of balance the roster out guys. This is kind of like
subreddit logic of Kings fans, I think. But I saw a lot of
criticism of they don't need an elite wing defender or defender because they perimeter defender
because they have Kegan Murray. And it's just like, no, that's sorry,
No that's not true. I would say, even if you wanted to
go even more macro, it's the idea that tied to like not not knowing
or not pursuing doggedly enough like what they needed. It's this idea that we're
going to talk a lot about. We're not satisfied with where we are.
We want to improve, we want to take the next step but then operate
as if the goal is to just make the playoffs again, which you know
what I mean, like, which is to double down on your guys to
bring Barnes back the Sabonus extension. I think, just in a vacuum is
what. I'm never going to say that that was a good decision. I
just like I'm not saying he's a bad player. I'm saying that was a
stupid decision. You didn't need to do it. It's too much money for
that type of player if you if in fact you are serious about leveling up,
if you're not, and you want to just kind of keep doing this
where you win forty something games and can't guard anybody, which is what they
They did not say that that was the goal. That's how they operated,
because if the goal was to get better, you would have figured out a
way to get wing defenders, to not commit yourself to Sabonis way before you
needed to, and for more money than you needed to. So yeah,
few regrets there, but they're all kind of of a piece. The Memphis
Grizzlies. This one spills into other years. It's waiting too long to make
the consolidation trade. But I will say and then you made the consolidation trade
on the wrong player. I think in large part, maybe Marcus Smart plays
better. He's healthy. Now the pecking water is going to normalize. Ja
Moran's sick at the moment. But like you have Bain, Jared Jackson,
Junior, Ja Morant and Smart all together, that's how you're gonna get your
most valuable information. It's just it felt like it was more and responsible.
We kind of need someone to wear all these hats where we need we really
we missed out in the boat on getting wings in here. But that could
be Marcus Smart, who can also help offset the twenty five game suspension that's
coming or came at the time for John Morant. I don't love that logic
in general, But I keep coming back to Keith Parrish from Fast Break,
Breakfast, very good podcast. He's checked them out. If you haven't already
tweeted this, This is back in November. It seems like people are open
to it now. So let's reflect Tias Jones, Theanthony Melton, Dylan Brooks,
Kyle Anderson, three first round picks and three second round picks became Marcus
Smart, Luke Canard, Jake Laavia, David Roddy, that's like, how
many guys backed up prominently into the Memphis Grizzlies current plans because Canard's injured.
The answer is Marcus Smart, who was just injured for a bunch of time.
That's go ahead the disaster. That's I mean, that's like a massive
downgrade in value, like massive. They'd be so much better off with the
guys the first list of guys you mentioned and assets, it's not even close.
That's crazy. So you just you made the wrong calls time and again.
I think this is something that is not just twenty twenty three, but
it kind of manifested the most in twenty twenty three because you made this was
your all int quote unquote, and even if you thought it was a half
measure, that's even worse. Why are we taking half measures when you're a
team that just finished with the second best record in the West last year.
Again, yeah, were they the best? No, they were the second
best, number two. I think they've been second twice in a row.
I want to say upcoming. It's just like I think that has to be
the regret. And it's also you kind of you know, the even we
were I was tricked by Zaier Williams too, So I understand that tool.
But you've just you've held on to your own guys just like for too much.
And it's worked out with Desmond Bane and John Morant and Jaron Jackson Junior
clearly, but they are always going to be the exceptions. And I get
this stuff is hard, but I feel like we have there's probably two or
three, at least two postseasons worth of evidence of like, we know what
you need, go out and get it, and they just elected not to.
Yeah, I think that's a really good one. The second to last
one. I guess I should just save the Golden State Warriors to the end
right now, you said you would, and we'll see if I ended up
with fifteen teams. By the way, that's the other. That's the other.
The other, I have no idea. I'll count we had to the
Warriors, which who I think are next? So the Phoenix Suns. I'm
going to be clear about this, the Kevin Durant trade negotiations, and what
I mean by this is you don't need to regret the Kevin Durant trade.
And for anyone who regrets the Bradley Beal trade, I understand but I come
back to with what you gave up, given how much of a sunk costs
DeAndre and became, what could you have gotten? Let's start there. What
could you gotten with that exact trade offer that is better than the idea of
Bradley Beal coming back in February. It's I mean, it's like an unanswerable
question, but the point taken, like it's hard to think of something that's
like definitely going to be better for what they gave up. The Kenn Durant
trade negotiation was in hindsight, a disaster just because you gave everything. You
were the only team on Kevin Durant's list and you acted. I don't know
if it's because Matt Ishpia just took over the team and he wanted to leave
a stamp. You gave up everything. Even the reporting that's jarring. I
know that he wasn't with the team, but it was just like, yeah,
we need we need Jake Crowder and you need to give him to us.
It was just like okay, And that was after relenting on some of
the pick commitments. You couldn't have won anything on that, like keeping a
first rounder, protecting like protecting these first rounders, it's you were I get
that it's Kevin Durant, and I think that there's you know, I saw
I don't know if you saw the tweet that was going around where people screenshotted
what people were talking about in in Reddit. How they're just out on Kevin
Durant. They think the trade itself was a disaster, and maybe just in
due time, because you did give up Michael Bridges and Cam Johnson and all
these vibes. You were very clearly not good enough at the time, and
so the swing that you're making I totally understand, but like you just you
gave up everything everything possible, but like in terms of these tangible first round
picks, and you were the only team on his trade list at that time,
and so to walk away with just you couldn't have figured out a way
to I get not getting like keeping Mcal Bridges would have been the I get
that was probably unrealistic. Like you couldn't even win with having Cam Johnson still
on the roster. There was ways to around the maneuvering of the money with
it, so like you couldn't you couldn't have gotten DeAndre Ayton shoehorned into that
just hey, like you guys kind of need a big You only have Nick
Klaxxon and Ad. Anyway, you gave up everything you made, You made
all the concessions, and I think it's coming back to bite you now to
where you didn't have any long term, mainstay possibilities left on this roster.
And he didn't give up, by the way, any of them in the
the Bradley Beal trade. And now you have this roster of makeshift veteran contracts.
And part of the problem is you and I, or at least I
did. I read too much into the signings. They were ballyhood and I
jumped aboard that bandwagon. Those guys were ultimately available for the minimum for a
reason. And there's also something to the effect of, I know they gave
out player options, like they're still trying to play for their next contract to
not pick up those player options, and so that gets a little dicey.
I just it couldn't have just done like won any aspect of the Kevin Durant
trade, aside from ending up with Kevin Durant, and I will say had
he had a list of destinations that were like six teams long. Okay,
fine, at that point, it's time to call the Nets his bluff.
Where are you sending him then? If not here? Yeah, I wonder
what wasn't the reporting something like and maybe you reference it with the Crowder a
bit, but like something to the effect of, you know, they were
close or whatever, and then the Sons were trying to hold out and not
give something, and Ishbia kind of comes in over the top, and it's
just you know, new owner enthusiasm is like just do it, basically,
make make this happen. So it's like, I think anytime that that is
a factor, it's just regrettable by definition, because clearly, like like you
said, make the Nets prove that one they have a better offer they don't,
or two that they're willing to hold on to him don't think they were,
So just like just wait a little while, because it's not like last
year was like the team in its full form. I don't think like it
wasn't like we get durant, we're gonna to my recollection. It wasn't.
It more became like once you know, in the off season, they get
beal and then it's like, okay, now we're really like we're going for
it. We think we're going to contend I don't remember feeling that way last
year, although maybe I'm just like forgetting about it. But yeah, just
the idea that you weren't bidding against anyone and you still managed to just give
up everything that you possibly could feel feels bad, feels like a bad look.
Don't let new owners get crazy. That's that's like a recipe for disaster.
Our final team the Golden State Warriors, and I have counted. This
is our fifteenth team, which means it is our final team. I should
count, I should count again. I'll count again while you're responding to it.
So I went with I didn't really know how to frame what can they
could they have done to rain Draymond green in because that would be the obvious
regret. I don't because they've put him through this work on Yourself program sooner
apparently, So if you want to go that route, or if you have
a way to frame it that would be better. I'm there. I'm settled
on they needed to It's a combination of experiment with the youth sooner and moved
away from as Jonathan Kamena just recently said, the ogs not give them as
long as long as a rope for as long we saw it, dating back
to last season later and I'm not talking about Look, we know what happened
with Pool, and I know that they just got tjd and Brandon Pajemski,
it still probably took them a little too long to get to those points of
leaning on them. The Kaminga one and even the Moody one are big ones
for me, where Moody's just kind of lost in the shuffle. Kaminga even
when he starts, doesn't play a ton. I don't get why Steve Kerr
doesn't play them together. I'm sure it's because is there enough dribbling or creation
there? Dude, look at what you're working with at this point defensively,
like just like play them together, especially with Draymond Green not there. And
I think that you would just have more information on the youth and maybe Moses,
Moody and John think Dimingo would be much better off if you would.
Actually, I don't want to say committed to the two timeline stick, but
like you you never really just plumb the depth of your youth properly, and
I think that did a disservice, especially last season. More so, I
get it you won the twenty twenty two title. You earned yourself some goodwill
there and now look you are relying on tj D now pods playing really well.
Man doing all rookie teams is gonna be a bear by the way,
just go round of it like a month or two ago. So I get
that you're doing it now. It took you too long to get there.
Look at how much time you even wasted this season where it's like, oh,
we're just gonna bank on Andrew Wiggins reverting back to twenty twenty two postseason,
which is the anomaly of all anomalies when you look at the rest of
his career. We're gonna allow Klay Thompson way too much Lelay when he's hurting
us. I know he's played better on offense lately like you need, and
I think this still could end up being regret. Where should you have a
tougher stomach with some of the ogs. No, you guys aren't gonna close
when you're like you guys aren't guaranteed to closing spot. I think we're getting
to that point. I get it's tough discussions to have. The only other
one that I think you could go with is could you have addressed some of
these more organically and saved face. But like we made the consolidation trade,
and so like this is just how it is. Like this player is clearly
better, We're not investing in youth, but we went out and we traded
for Pascal Siakam or we went out and we traded for for og An andob
or we went out and traded for Bradley Beal or something. Yeah, I
think I think that's I think I agree with just sort of the general idea
that the team has has kind of gotten it wrong, with the balance of
trusting the youth and then sort of like honoring or whatever the word we should
use is the veterans because like I mean Moody. Take Moody as an example,
he was told just the other day like you're out of the rotation now,
which just keeps happening to him, even though all he ever does is
just be solid and sometimes better than that. And then like Kaminga getting jerked
around and pull out of games in ways that other guys just don't. I
mean, like the Warriors put up with Pool doing just absolute nonsense for most
of last year, and Cominga would get yanked for like missing a rotation,
whereas Pool is just like I don't know, like meandering around three rows into
the stands on defense instead of like just doing anything. And you know,
I like, look, he sort of earned it, as he did earn
it as a contributor to the title team in ways that I guess Kaminga and
Moody didn't really although like even Moody, you remember those finals, Moody was
playing and Cominga was really good like down the stretch of that season, So
I agree they mismanaged that. I think also related to that is like this
is barely a twenty twenty three thing, but like not trading James Wiseman sooner
just because every second they kept him as value went down. So I mean,
if you traded him January one of twenty three, you're probably not doing
any better than they did at the deadline because it was clear that he was
not going to be a good player. But that's one of them. But
yeah, I think just the general mishandling of youth in general that was great
to encompass the James Wiseman trade. I think it's all part of the same
thing where it's like and even now I think this is beyond the scope of
what we're talking about. But you saved it for less. This is your
fault even now. I just want to point out though I would have also
you did yours in under an hour. I would have done behind in under
an hour if you weren't for this of an erect. I'm concerned about when
Draymond comes back because there's a very specific way that the Vets play, like
the ball pinging around the top, the handoffs, waiting for guys to come
off pin downs, and every defense in the league is attuned to it.
And I think it's a huge reason the Warriors turn the ball over like craziest
because there is no mystery to what they want to do when they play with
the Vets, Like I'm concerned that that will return because now it's like a
little more like kind of I don't know, they play a little more like
other teams, which when they don't have Draymond and Looney at the top doing
the whole shtick, that doesn't work as well anymore. And that might change
again. And that's just another instance of like the youth is not being served
here because things make more sense when you have Pajemski and kaminga just kind of
running around being athletic, like doing stuff that is very much outside the Warriors,
like quote unquote system that they use with the Vets, so like they're
not through I guess is the point here, kind of trying to navigate the
old guys young guys thing like that that is going to be a thing in
twenty twenty four. Still, yeah, I think it feels weird to say
now when Pods and Kaminga and TJD are playing, you kind of mentioned it,
well, what's gonna happen when Draymond dream comes back? Really with Kaminga
and TJD are the ones that you look at there right, which guys are
like they've earned minutes. They just straight up have earned minutes in ways some
of the Vets have not. And the track record has been like, well
that doesn't matter. That's that has been what's what's going on. Although I
mean to curse credit he I mean, Wiggins is going to have to do
very little to like get his minutes back, but he did. He did
take him away for for a little bit there. So that and Looney too,
Like Looney's been bad, He's taken his minutes away. So that's also
po Like the new new front Office's credit like to end up with Pods and
TJD in the same rookie classes. It's really good. This is good,
but it's still just there's an awkwardness And if you don't want to frame it
this way, I think then the only answer is, well, then you
should have made a consolidate, like a real consolidation trade already, not like
Chris Paul was kind of a I still think that wasn't a bad move sense,
but it was as an asset play. But just like it wasn't a
consolidation trade. No, I mean, I mean, I think I think
Pajemski, playing as well as he has should make the Warriors consider moving Paul
for as part of a bigger deal, just because like, ultimately, Paul's
role is just not going to be that big and shouldn't be because he can't
play heavy minutes over a long stretch, and Pajemski just keeps winning the minutes
he's on the floor, Like, I don't know how much more you need
to see before you turn it over to him. I think I'm at the
point where I would prefer to trade Andrew Wiggins and roll with Jonathan Kaminga and
let's up his role and let's also see who you get back in me Andrew
Wiggins trade. I don't. I think Chris Paul's contract is definitely more pliable
in negotiations because it's technically expiring, so that is like something certainly, But
if you find a team that's just like like Andrew Wiggins isn't super old and
like he can be we saw he wasn't too. If you find a team
that kind of values him as like a even a fringe or like a protected
first round pick, and you're using his salary on top of other picks,
if that ups your return, I'd prefer to move him and just like increase
John thaink Aminga's role slash. Let's see who we're getting back as part of
this deal. The combination of Moody, Pajimski and Kaminga should I mean,
the Warriors have like a roster glut issue as it is. The three of
those guys should, especially if Wiggins. If Wiggins ever got back to finals,
Wiggins like, then that's different. But I don't think that's happening,
and those three guys can contribute what he would have, you know, just
in different ways. Let's get the stat padding let's do I think both of
us only have you said like two separate things. I say, we do
that and get out of here. It's it's very late, and uh we've
given This is like the third straight week we've done every team series and so
uh yeah, I'm like, I'm fucking tired. I'm not gonna lie.
I love doing this, but I'm exhausted. I don't know how you feel.
I took a long nap today just because that's how I live as a
as a grown adult. You and Bert all troubled up taking a nap.
It rained here today too, so I was in a napping kind of mood.
I have to take a nap if I'm gonna be like halfway coherent at
this hour. Because I'm old. You killed. People aren't gonna have heard
this yet, but you killed. You slayed the Eastern Conference, So people
go check that out. It'll be up maybe Friday or Saturday, depending on
how much time I have. All Right, I have a love Weekend pods.
They don't download them, but they seem to love them. Whatever whatever
it takes. I have a weird one for you that's gonna feed into something
you and I are going to work on later. Uh but uh, Dan
over here, you know what. First, I'm gonna orient myself properly for
the camera, because, oh, thank you, I forgot I should orient
myself too. Let's go all right, Dan, You've got to pick one
sub twenty player to build your team around. Chet, Shane Gooon, Palo
Bancaro, Scoot Henderson. Ooh, I think I'm going Palo Bank Caro.
There's more positional versatility there than there is for everybody else. Chet is tempting,
but Palo is a ball handler and playmaker, where Chet's gonna be more
of like kind of the secondary passer. I think I appreciate Palo bank Carroll's
floor game. I trust the jumper enough. I'm gonna go with Bank Carrow.
These are gonna get progressively harder. Same question. Some twenty two player
to build your team around, Shandon Sharp, Jabari Smith, Junior, Asar
Thompson, Brandon Miller. Oh, I'm gonna go with Brandon Miller. I
think what we've seen defensively from him. I'd wonder if Shandon Sharp's offense is
super intriguing, and as is what Asar Thompson is doing or has done defensively
for Detroit. But like if you trust that Brandon Miller can be any any
kind of secondary playmaker on the level of a Paul George over time, just
the body archetype and what he's already shown, being able to get to his
spots on the ball and moving off the ball, coupled with the defense he's
already shown, and he's been like one of the Lowe Bright spots for Charlotte
this year. I'd go with Brandon Miller. I think I think Smith Javaris
Smith Junior comes closest. But you're not building your team around any of these
guys. I probably should phrase that a little differently. No, i'd been
I would consider. Look, there's probably three or four teams right now.
I'd say Toronto too good, Washington build around Brandon Miller. There are teams
I think considered build around Charlotte. All right, these will get harder now,
So it's not a build your team around it anymore. It's just who
who'd you rather have today? Derek Lively, Pajemski, Jalen Duran, billal
Kool ballyh gimme, it's it's bla cool BALI for me, I'm taking the
mystery box because I think he brings elements of what everyone you just named,
and when you're sort of looking at Derek Lively and Jalen Duran bla cool.
Bally has that explosive has a big man impact on defense if he actually hits
at his peak. Second though, I'm really tending to say Lively over Duran,
but then Pods is so good too. I'm just I'm picking block COULBALI,
so I don't need a second point. I think that's the right pick.
And it's because like Duran and Lively, the best versions of them are
still just like kind of contributors. They're not. I don't think Duran has
the upside to be like you're twenty five and twelve and you're running offense through
him. Probably, I don't think so. I don't think Lively is that
either, But like Kulibally is just like I don't know, maybe he's gonna
be a number one option wing who can say this is yet another reminder I
know Duran isn't part of this. Just how difficult. And I said this
before, the all rookie teams are gonna be Yeah, you just name three
rookies that have first team cases. I think the law is probably getting a
little bit weakest since he's not where he was at the beginning. But my
god, Okay, one more quartet of under twenty two is that you have
to pick one of not to build your team around. Just who would you
rather have right now? Jonathan Kaminga, Case Wallace, Jalen Green, Benedict
Matherin. Why this is actually easier than I expected because it's only between the
first two for me, Cason Wallace or Jonathan Kaminga. I'm gonna go with
Cason Wallace. I think he's probably a little bit too passive on offense right
now. But if all he's gonna do is hit catch and shoot threes and
defend his butt off and maybe attack a little bit in open space, that's
a that's a hell of a player. I just coming to size is still
tantalizing. He's gotten a little bit better with his ball skills, but it's
not a good sign that Jalen Green is not a consideration for that one.
He's just he's tiny, and we now have evidence like this will be the
third straight year where at least the first half of the season has been nightmarish
when you look at his efficiency. Yeah, I agree. You want to
do a word association hit me all right? Two handed block? Oh,
oh my god, I don't. I don't know why I don't have it
to it, don't don't have I don't have one. I'll give you my
chip probably has some. I can picture the Michael Jordan one the Wizards Michael
Jordan one like as a chase down and he got it two hands off the
board. Yeah, Ron Mercer, I'm pretty sure Dwayne Wade feels like I
might be imagining that felt like he had some of those. Lebron's got to
have a bunch of two handed blocks. I would think just of the chase
down variety. All right, that was a hard one. Nick batoum connectivity.
It's like super slow corner threes that always go in. Uh, julil
okafor bust? Is he the most forgotten like recent big miss in the league.
Honestly, if you know what was the first thing that came to mind
for me was speeding ticket when you said julil okafor didn't he have also some
weird like it was outside a bar and maybe it was in Boston or might
I guess maybe Philly where it was like maybe a fight or something it was
like the third incident of him like being out and getting in trouble as a
rookie. That just like And there's also something with Neurlin's Noel and Philly where
it's like I think he got in trouble because he was either renting a house
with people and they were like they destroyed it. They're like taking shits in
the upper deck of the toilet and something like what was going on in Philly
during the Hanky era. I don't know, not a lot of accountability.
All right, scorers table, Patrick Pepperley, that's mine too. I guess
like I'm trying to think who else has jumped on the scorers table? Didn't
didn't Wade do it once? John Wall did it, and Wade definitely did
it. It's totally Ron has done it. Yeah, well he's laid down
on the scores table for sure. Yeah, who I forget if it was
Ben. I must have been Ron our test that laid down on the scores
table and then got the thing thrown at him that triggered the mouse in the
palace. Yes, all right, last one? Three point celebration could be
your favorite three point celebration. First one you think of it's just deaf.
All the different ones where it's the go to sleep, he has the three
fingers one and then just my favorite, I think my favorite one. It's
so brazen. It's just when he shoots it, turns around before it goes
in and just stares down the other team's bench or the fans. I love
it. Who so Wes does? It was Wes Matthews that did the like
pulling the arrow and shooting the arrow too right, because Jamal Murray does that
on a lot of shots, but I think Wes Matthews used to do it
on mad threes. My mat also is Mellow, the genesis of three to
the dome. But he did it with like a which three fingers did he
do it with? Because everybody's looking for it because sometimes it's the pointer finger
and the middle finger and the thumb. Now sometimes it's the three little fingers.
There's a lot of ways to go. But Mellow did it to the
head. That was one of the first ones I thought of. Actually it
was his Like I forget which three I think it was like pointer fingers,
like ring finger, middle finger, pinky to the head. Yeah, he
did it. So I'm looking at the picture now it's the pinky ring finger
and middle finger. So it took the thumb in the index finger. He
would like hit his head too. It wasn't like a gentle self. But
yeah, Nix Aramello was really going at it. Yeah, I like a
good three point celebration. It's a good but yeah, it's got to be
Steph though. I have a couple, all right, what's the more interesting
trade that did not happen? Zion for Scoot or Dame to the Heat Zion
for Scoot? Just because what is that? Like? What is this Pelican
seem not that they would be better, like they would probably still be if
Scoot was healthy, really competitive? And then just I'm assuming that Dame is
still in Portland with Zion there, And then what does that do to the
trajectory of the Bucks? What does that do to the trajectory of the Celtics
because they will have traded Marcus Smart without getting Drew Holliday a lot more trickle
down effects. I feel like if you're all over the place the ripples on
that one. Okay, going back a little bit, Dan, what is
the more interesting trade that did not happen? Chris Paul to the Lakers in
twenty eleven or Steph Curry to the Bucks in twenty twelve. It's absolutely Steph
Curry to the Bucks because I think there still would have been a very fire
night window with the Lakers. And then in Milwaukee, it's one, does
Steph turn into Steph? Do they potentially still end up with Giannis? And
those two were together? Because that's absolute because they didn't draft Giannis at this
high spot and if they didn't take him at what was it, fifteen,
like let's just say they were better at that point. He might have still
been available when they were actually on the board. And then forget about just
the repercussions of because when you look at what happened with Chris Paul, Okay,
New Orleans traded Chris Paul regardless, it just wasn't to the Lakers.
What happens to the freaking Warriors if they just decided Montellis is the guy they
have fewer titles, and like that's that's for damn sure. Uh yeah,
yeah, So they drafted Yanni's fifteenth in twenty thirteen, and so it's just
like that was twenty twelve. You said the Boga deal was right, So
there's a there's a world in which they end up with Steph and Giannis.
I have another kind of similar thing for you. This is just calling it
a bigger what if Tatum over Fults instead of the Sixers trading up and giving
up stuff to get Foults, or Wiseman over LaMelo Halliburton, whoever else you
want to say, what's the bigger what if? I think it's Tatum over
Fults in large part because Tatum was so good right away, and given how
the Warriors have handled their youth stuff, what type of a learning curve with
LaMelo have gotten at the time? And he did not play Warriors basketball,
to be fair, neither did James Wiseman, but they viewed him as like
this David Robinson blank slate. And then the other thing too, is just
now if you had said it was between Tyre's Haliburt and it's just he was
not that high on anyone's draft board that well, otherwise the answer would be
halle for me. That's the one where it's like, man something. Then
then you're really talking two timelines. If you just have Haliburton taken over for
Steph. At some point I cannot can I have a quick massa I'm gonna
follow him some asochism here. Oh yeah, what's the bigger What if Sga
to the Knicks or Haliburton to the Knicks in the draft? I mean either
one would be cool. I don't know what would they have given like it
probably I think would have been Halliburton would have been the guy that more immediately
made an impact because we saw what happened when he went to Indie very soon
where it's like Shay Took. They were like kind of two and part of
it was he was with the Clippers. Then he's with a thunder team that
had his Paul den a shrewder, but it took him a little longer to
get into his megastar roots. I think I think it's Halle because like he
would can you imagine if then because the transformative effect he has is just different
than SGA, even if maybe in a vacuum SGA. SGA is just the
better player. Uh, Like, imagine the buzz of the Knicks as like
the run and gun, like suddenly like we're the most fun team in the
league. I think like that would just you can't put a price on that
one. My real pick is that they probably would end up trading both of
them, the Kings traded them. I mean, it's anything's possible, all
right, speaking of this is this is I mean, I'm curious what you're
gonna say, because it seems like there's an obvious answer. What is the
bigger What if Dan Marvin Bagley over Luka doncic and Sacramento or Jabbari Parker over
Joel Embiid in Milwaukee? Oh, I think it's Jabbari Parker over Embid in
Milwaukee because because I think you kind of like the idea of having him and
Giannis together is incredible. But if you have them together, does it limit
what one or both of them becomes personally? I'd like to find out.
I think I would like to find out too, But I'm just wondering if
like that's a possibility. Yeah, I don't know. It is kind of
like they do occupy the same those two in a lot of ways. But
like the lucover Badley is just like, well, yeah, obviously that should
have happened, and there's I mean, the Kings are just better off if
you if you have Luca and dearon Fox, you figure it out, I
think, or you trade one for a minute and then Yeah, but the
idea because I almost had to do a double take on like could so could
they they already had Yannis that the Bucks did, and you really could have
just added embiid and then had a couple of years off before he really started
playing, where Jannie is spreading his wings and then you're really in business.
That would be I don't know what that team does, but that's a fascinating
hypothetical. Yeah, that that one kind of bent my brain a little bit.
I think that might be all I that. In fact, that is
all I have for you in stat padding. Okay, I have. This
is a weird one and it's a great If you were watching the Magic Game
on Wednesday night, you're going to know the answer. But if you weren't,
I watched some of it. Okay, So Jannis at that to Kumpo
and the Attentakumbo hold the record for the most points scored in the NBA by
brothers on the same team between twenty nineteen and current day, which set of
brothers is second all time in total points scored while playing on the same team.
The Morris Twins with the Phoenix Suns between twenty twelve and twenty fifteen.
The Wagner Brothers in Orlando between twenty twenty one and current day, the Holiday
Brothers in Indiana between twenty nineteen and twenty twenty one, or the Hansboro Brothers
also in Indiana between twenty twelve and twenty thirteen. I gotta knock off the
Hansboro Brothers. Not a lot of points to be had there. I don't
think this is like collective points scored total like total points over that stretch.
So I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go the Wagner's number one, and I'm
gonna go, I mean highest on the list. The more the more I
after that, and then the Holidays after that, followed by the I can't
even remember who the Hamsburg Hans were brothers, so no. The answer so
second all time is the Morris Twins scored two hundred and eighty points together while
on the Suns. However, the Wagners in Orlando are up above forty eight
hundred at the moment, I believe I'll throw that up on the screen if
I cut it up. So they are inching in on second place, but
the Authentic Coopos are firmly in first place with almost eighty nine hundred points,
most of which shockingly were scored by Jannis. Yeah, Janis has Giannis is
doing a little bit of the heavy lifting on that one. I'm surprised that
the more I guess the Morrises, it makes sense. But like I always
was of the mind that when one of them was good, the other wasn't,
And it fluctuated like who the good Morris was? Like every year or
two for over ten years, it felt like anyway, okay, uh,
I have a couple more so, Oh, here's a good one with which
NBA player has more unassisted dunks for their career? So self created dunks?
Dearon Fox or Damian Lillard. I'm gonna say, counterintuitively, it's Lillard correct
one hundred and twenty to one oh nine. Dwayne Wade or Russell Westbrook.
My heart says Russ. I have to say, Russ, it's not even
close. It's Dwayne Wade five point forty two to three fifty eight. Wow,
so underrated. Dwight Howard or Shaquille O'Neal. I'll say, Shack.
I don't think Howard was posting up a lot. Yeah, that's not even
close. Shack twelve oh nine to nine fifty for Dwight Giannis Attentacumpo or Lebron
James. Hmmm, oh man, I'm gonna go Lebron just because of the
sheer volume of his career. That was a smart call. Eight ninety six
to seven sixty seven. Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. I'm gonna say Kobe
correct again forty nine to four to fifty seven. Not really that close.
Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan. Hmmm, I'll say I'll say Garnette. I
don't. I'm gonna say Garnett. I don't think Duncan did that. Did
a whole lot of Duncan. Ironically, it was Duncan three forty one to
two ninety five, got him by plenty. Anthony Davis or Rudy Gobert with
so many offensive rebounds. For Rudy, uh, I'm gonna say a d
correct four sixty five to three ninety four. Carmelo Anthony or Blake Griffin mellow
by a hair two sixty five to two sixty three. Vince Carter or Andre
Iguodala. It has to be Vince. It's not Andre Goadala four seventeen to
three eighty four. Unbelievable. Finally, shake Gildes, Alexander or Alan Iverson.
I'm gonna say SGA correct seventy three to sixty five. Already tight one,
tight one, But I mean Iverson played a trillion. He's also smaller.
I just thought that was interesting that Shay was already up there. Okay,
I have so this one. Oh, here's an interesting one. Wilt
Chamberlain owns the NBA record for consecutive games of scoring at least thirty points with
sixty five. Who has the second longest streak of thirty point games Kobe Bryant,
Wilt Chamberlain himself, Joel Embiid or James Harden. My first thought before
you gave me any options was Kobe, So I'm just gonna stick with that.
The answer is James Harden thirty two straight games. Wilt Chamberlain is in
third place to Wilt Chamberlain with twenty five. Kobe was fourth at sixteen and
Joel Embid his fifth at fourteen. I want to say Embiid's on a run
right now of the most thirty ten games since like Kareem or Wilt or something
like that. That was the genesis of me just but I figured thirty points
would be like a little bit more digestible for the audience. So you're welcome
to the uh to the audience. So my final batch of ones here,
which I didn't actually finish, it's partially finished, but I have six,
so I guess that that works out. So which NBA player has more games
with at least thirty points in tennisis Oscar Robinson or Russell Westbrook. M I'm
gonna say Oscar Robertson. That is correct. It is not even close to
twenty one to eighty four. Wow. James Hardener, Lebron, James thirty
and ten I'm gonna say Harden, that is correct. One o one to
ninety seven. It's very close. Luka Doncic or Trey Young. I gotta
go Luca there incorrect, Trey Young seventy one to sixty one. Oh,
Damian Lillard or Chris Paul. Hmmm, Paul has been around for so long.
I think I'm still gonna go. I'm gonna go, Dame. The
answer is Damian Lillard forty nine to forty one. Nice guest, Magic Johnson
or Michael Jordan. I don't know if Magic's scored. I'm gonna say.
I'll say Jordan that is incorrect, Magic Johnson fifty eight to thirty eight.
Wow, pass the ball, MJ. Steph Curry or Alan Iverson. Iverson
that is correct. You're really good whenever I pit Steph against somebody. But
forty seven or thirty five not even really that close. Next one up,
Kyrie Irving or Jason Kidd. I'm gonna say Jason Kidd, No, incorrect,
Kyrie Irving sixteen to fifteen. Ooh, tight one. Kobe Bryant or
John Wall. I gotta go Kobe. It's John Wall nineteen to sixteen.
Wow, Jannie or John Moran. I'll say Yanni's just volume of career again.
Fifteen to fourteen by a hair DeMar DeRozan or Tracy McGrady. Oh,
why do you have to bring Tracy into this? I have to say Tracy
McGrady. The answer is Tracy McGrady. Eleven to nine, Gilbert Arenas or
Kevin Durant, Gilbert that is correct, fourteen to twelve. And finally,
Derek Rose or Kareem abdul Jabbar. This is thirty points and ten assists.
Yeah, I'm gonna say Derek Rose. All right, it's only nine to
eight though, so but it is Derek Rose though to be clear, Yeah,
that answer was correct. Sneaky, sneaky, nice job on that one.
Do you want to take us out of here? That's all? Thank
you, great one. I enjoyed that. Hi everybody, Thank you for
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As far as the link for that being in the YouTube and podcast description,
I think that covers it. Hope you had a happy New Year.
If you're listening to this afterwards, which I think is when this is going
up or before Dan's shaking his head, I don't know. Have a happy
December thirty first or whatever. Sorry, I don't know what is time.
As always, we close with a shout out to the one and only Frank
Pilikiema and an apologies to Jared Allen.