1 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:18,000 What is going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to season two, episode seventy 2 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,640 six of Clips and Dip. I am Chuck Buckler, usually joined by William 3 00:00:22,719 --> 00:00:26,760 Updike and Adam Oslin, but they are enjoying their off seasons and I am 4 00:00:26,839 --> 00:00:30,839 remaining here to talk about the Clippers. Today. We have the wonderful, 5 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,799 the fantastic, the effervescent Law Murray. He's a Clippers beat writer for The 6 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,840 Athletic. If you're not familiar, he's also covering the Drew League, I 7 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,399 believe starting pretty soon, which I'm very excited for. We're gonna talk Ty 8 00:00:43,439 --> 00:00:47,200 Lou. We're gonna talk the young guys. We're gonna talk the Clippers lack 9 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,439 of wiggle room. But before we get into that, Law, how you 10 00:00:51,439 --> 00:00:55,320 doing? Man? I feel a whole lot better after that intro, Man, 11 00:00:55,399 --> 00:01:00,359 I appreciate it. Yeah, it's I'm excited for to that starts Saturday, 12 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:07,439 June first, and I'm just I'm I'm ready for the all season. 13 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,040 But man, these days don't need to be fast like we can take. 14 00:01:11,359 --> 00:01:15,879 I'm enjoying. I'm enjoying the planet wheel right now. Yeah, there we 15 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,680 go. We have. We were kind of talking about it before we streamed 16 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:23,319 or before we started this. I think most Clippers fans are rooting for the 17 00:01:23,359 --> 00:01:27,200 Celtics in this this NBA Finals, So we'll see, we'll see how that 18 00:01:27,239 --> 00:01:32,239 happens. I saw someone photoshopped the Mavericks logo to be the Lakers colors, 19 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,239 and the Lakers fans are all Celtics fans now, so it's a very weird 20 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,599 time for LA sports teams. I feel like, no, the Lakers fans 21 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:42,879 are mass fans. Oh yeah, sorry, that's MAVs fans. Yeah, 22 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,280 so yeah, then we are going Celtics. Then that I think most of 23 00:01:46,359 --> 00:01:51,280 Clippers nation will be going Celtics on this one. We're not here to talk 24 00:01:51,319 --> 00:01:55,439 about the MAVs, thankfully, I guess. Anymore, the biggest news, 25 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,159 you know and Clipper dumb right now is Tylu. He's re signed. For 26 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:05,000 the most part, Clippers fans were on board with this, which given the 27 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,439 fan base, I was a little surprised there wasn't more split. There were 28 00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:12,599 people calling for Tylu to be fired at one point last year, which didn't 29 00:02:12,599 --> 00:02:15,800 make a whole lot of sense, but there was no I mean, take 30 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,159 aside the fact that Tyler is a great coach and has been with the team 31 00:02:20,199 --> 00:02:23,319 for so long, there was no other way this was going to go down 32 00:02:23,439 --> 00:02:24,759 right there. It didn't seem to me, at least, there's a world 33 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:30,520 in which Tyler wasn't re signing at some point. Yeah, I mean I 34 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:36,520 thought it was an elongated game of chicken, because I said, back, 35 00:02:36,719 --> 00:02:39,919 there's a tweet floating while I'm not floating around because I haven't made it float. 36 00:02:40,039 --> 00:02:46,639 But if you dig, like they're in the twenty twenty two offseason some 37 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:51,759 random day in July, I was like, yeah, I think Timrondlu's going 38 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,080 to get an extension this time next year. And you know, everything was 39 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,960 set up for that to happen. You know, like he got through his 40 00:03:00,039 --> 00:03:05,520 second season with the team, a team that never had Kawhi Leonard and lost 41 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,879 Paul George for three months essentially, you know, starting in Christmas, and 42 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:15,639 that team got over five hundred and competed and that was a year after the 43 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,319 Conference finals appearance, which was the first in franchise history. So it was 44 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,759 like, yeah, of course he's going to get extended. They're gonna get 45 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,879 Kawhi back, they're gonna get Palled back, They're going to really make this 46 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:30,080 push and we're gonna see just how close they are to the championship. Not 47 00:03:30,159 --> 00:03:34,159 only did their postseason get essentially canceled by the injuries, but before that, 48 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,680 they played thoroughly on serious basketball for a year, and everybody wanted to talk 49 00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:43,439 about the dysfunction. I had never heard anyone want toronlu to not be the 50 00:03:43,479 --> 00:03:46,800 coach of Clippers of Star as people who like, love and care about that 51 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:51,360 team from a perspective. Yeah, I mean I the first time I had 52 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,280 ever noticed that people were starting to chirp about that was shortly after they signed 53 00:03:55,319 --> 00:04:01,599 Russ in February of twenty twenty three. And I remember I went to Denver, 54 00:04:02,039 --> 00:04:06,000 and you know, people were, you know, because people were over 55 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,280 seeing Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris play together, and me, being someone who 56 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:14,680 has to be around the team all the time, understood why those guys were 57 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,000 playing absolutely right. So like I was shocked, you know, I was 58 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,600 shocked when you know, we get to Denver. This was after the double 59 00:04:21,639 --> 00:04:26,160 overtime one seventy six seventy five game against the Kings, Right, I was 60 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,680 shocked when they get to Denver and and you know, I'm looking at my 61 00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:33,399 mess mentions, I'm getting dinner on a Saturday night before this game and in 62 00:04:34,439 --> 00:04:38,680 Denver, and it was like, man, they need a fire to lude 63 00:04:38,759 --> 00:04:42,199 hire email Udoka And I was like, what is wrong with y'all that, 64 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,519 like you know, and you know, people were sharing inappropriate photoshops of Marcus 65 00:04:48,519 --> 00:04:53,519 Morris, Like it was very uncomfortable. While that was what it was the 66 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,680 darker times, I feel so like the rest of the year, like I 67 00:04:58,879 --> 00:05:01,800 just was like in this space where I was like, who knows what? 68 00:05:02,319 --> 00:05:08,399 And how uncomfortable is this? Because t Lou like everyone kind of was like 69 00:05:08,519 --> 00:05:12,240 what if TLU quits? Like yeah, it was super emotional when the Suns 70 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,160 eliminated the Clippers last year, and I was like, the hell is about 71 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,000 to happen? Is TLU about the like just upp and League, like we 72 00:05:19,079 --> 00:05:24,480 knew that Telu was dealing with, you know, some family things, some 73 00:05:24,639 --> 00:05:28,319 things close to him, in addition to the frustration of I don't know who's 74 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,480 going to start back to back games through this damn team, Like the way 75 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:34,519 that season was going, the front office should have extended him that year. 76 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:41,839 Instead, Winger goes to Washington. The guys in front office get promoted, 77 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,839 right and all TLU and the coaching staff get is you get to not be 78 00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:51,600 a lame duck going into the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four season. They 79 00:05:51,639 --> 00:05:57,480 got that last year. Tivu got his last year on his original deal guaranteed, 80 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,319 just so that knowing people like me can say, well, you know, 81 00:06:00,759 --> 00:06:04,000 like they don't know him anything after that year. Right, Yeah, 82 00:06:04,079 --> 00:06:06,720 that's a good call. But shout out to t Lou because you know what, 83 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,240 man, like, it got worse before it got better. They lost 84 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:14,519 six in a row, getting James Harden after running a whole training camp that 85 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,000 was supposed to be Camp Russ and it was Camp Russ. Like they came 86 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:21,199 out everyone you know who doesn't pay attention to stuff that I write and report. 87 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,560 They got comfortable with the idea that the Clippers were going to just keep 88 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,360 that training camp team through the balance of the season or wait, you know, 89 00:06:29,519 --> 00:06:32,000 to not to make a deal. I was like, guys, this 90 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:38,079 is going to happen as soon as you know, Philadelphia happened as soon as 91 00:06:38,079 --> 00:06:42,160 Philadelphia decides to make it happen. Daryn Morrey gets out of the ceilings like 92 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,079 it's going to happen. Yeah, And what happened. The trade gets made 93 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,000 a week before they have a four day stretch before playing in New York. 94 00:06:47,079 --> 00:06:51,439 So you know, they failed, man, and then they succeeded, and 95 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:58,040 so Toronto, Lou. There's a lot of things that he can be better 96 00:06:58,079 --> 00:07:02,079 at. You can say that about every head coach in the league, Okay, 97 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,600 like, for crying out loud, the two head coaches representing the NBA 98 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:10,000 finalist, or Joe mizzoula guy that most of y'all never heard of two years 99 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,000 ago, and Jason Kidd, a guy that you know when he took the 100 00:07:14,079 --> 00:07:17,959 Dallas job, like everyone was going back to his previous head coaching spots and 101 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:23,120 how crazy things got there. Like everyone can be better at the head coaching 102 00:07:23,199 --> 00:07:27,759 level. Every coach that has won with Lebron has never literally never won without 103 00:07:27,839 --> 00:07:31,560 Lebron. Like, let's just be like in terms of a championship like cause, 104 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:36,279 apparently getting to a finals or winning games in the regular season or having 105 00:07:36,279 --> 00:07:41,279 the respect of the most difficult personalized in the league doesn't mean anything to these 106 00:07:41,279 --> 00:07:46,120 people. So when you look at it that way, Chuck, the extension 107 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,959 was like, this should have happened. We knew was going to happen. 108 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:53,360 Thank god it's done. So we can move on to the other stuff that's 109 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,800 probably more important. Yeah, the uncertainty, And I thought it was and 110 00:07:56,839 --> 00:07:59,560 the Clippers felt the same way too. Right as soon as Darvin Ham was 111 00:07:59,639 --> 00:08:03,560 let go, what did we see an alert that the Clippers were working out 112 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:09,120 a long term right on Man's birthday too. Oh that's so funny. Yeah. 113 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:13,920 And and the other part you mentioned too is there's not a lot of 114 00:08:13,959 --> 00:08:18,480 other coaches who can walk into this specific locker room with the amount of clout 115 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:22,879 whatever new word you want to use that the big four of this Clippers team 116 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,879 has and come in to really like shake things up. Right. This isn't 117 00:08:26,879 --> 00:08:31,959 a team of young, hungry guys. This is older, hungry guys who 118 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,600 have been at the top of the entire game at one point in their careers. 119 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,480 So you can't just bring in someone to be like, we're doing it 120 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:45,840 my way now. Guys like that worked in Milwaukee, right who Milwaukee hired 121 00:08:45,879 --> 00:08:50,879 for that exactly? So, Tylu, it's probably good. I mean, 122 00:08:50,879 --> 00:08:54,000 it's as hard as coach coaching job maybe. But and for the fans that 123 00:08:54,279 --> 00:08:58,120 you know, what do we all want as Clippers fans? Stability, some 124 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,120 kind of continuity. We got it. We got it in other than you 125 00:09:01,159 --> 00:09:05,080 know, our player's health. We have it in probably the most important, 126 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,600 uh spot the Clippers could have it, and you know Balmber likes him. 127 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,559 If people read any of the quotes about how Tyloo feels about Bomber and stuff 128 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:18,840 like that, it's a good relationship between those guys. So great relationship, 129 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,039 I would say, yes, like they don't tolerate each other. They're not 130 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:28,879 like like man j Zoo, Bomber goes to Mexico, Missouri. Yeah that's 131 00:09:28,879 --> 00:09:33,600 all you need. Yeah, back to Mexico Missouri. But like I've heard 132 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,919 Tlu talk about Mexico Missouri, like you gotta want to be in Mexico Missouri, 133 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:43,080 you know, like to get there exactly. Yeah. I'm trying to 134 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,159 think. Yeah, any any place in the United States named after another country 135 00:09:46,279 --> 00:09:50,200 usually isn't a place where it's like, okay, yeah, this seems like 136 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,879 a good spot. I'm dying at Balmer driving into Mexico Missouri. I don't 137 00:09:54,879 --> 00:09:58,080 know. I don't think it can the way the way t Lou says, 138 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,840 like, I think it was I forget what hotel, but it was a 139 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,360 star hotel. It wasn't It wasn't a five star hotel was staying that and 140 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,440 he was just happy to be there with T Lou like like they've and you 141 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:16,360 know, I wrote, I wrote this in my piece outside of the news 142 00:10:16,399 --> 00:10:24,159 that hit Thursday morning, Like it's an investment, right, So it's clear 143 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,200 that the front office you're not going to upgrade on T Lou. Ownership knows 144 00:10:28,279 --> 00:10:31,840 you're not going to upgrading on T Lou. Like you get a new head 145 00:10:31,919 --> 00:10:35,720 coach because you want to switch things up when things need to be switched up. 146 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:37,159 But change for change his sake, which is something that a lot of 147 00:10:37,159 --> 00:10:43,879 Clippers people is like addicted to for some reason, like the grass isn't always 148 00:10:43,879 --> 00:10:48,480 greener on the other side, like and so like it was just a matter 149 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,879 of what's fair compensation. I think that's why it took so long. And 150 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,639 there's a priority list, like the Clippers have a whole lot more in this 151 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,559 all see this all scene is always going to be extremely critical. We knew 152 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,279 how critical twenty twenty four all season was going to be back in twenty twenty 153 00:11:05,279 --> 00:11:09,120 one, and we're here for many the same reasons. The success of the 154 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:16,080 team hasn't been there. But you can't just throw blame and say someone's got 155 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,919 to lose their job because the team did not meet the expectations that they set 156 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,440 for themselves. That's how you get stupid ass organizations that spin their wheels on 157 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,600 an annual basis, like the Clippers, multiple coaches who don't coach for the 158 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,960 team anymore. No one wants to be in that organization. No, you 159 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,320 don't want to, you know, you don't want to have an organization where 160 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,240 it's like, Okay, it's bad enough you don't have the luck factor, 161 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,120 but the things in your control you also are showing that you don't have a 162 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:48,200 grasp of that either. And so yeah, can everyone be better? Yes? 163 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,000 Can luck be there? Sure? If the luck is there? Do 164 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:56,399 I think this championship window is still open? I've written that it. I 165 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,639 don't think it does. The organization doesn't have to agree with you, and 166 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,639 they are obviously they are. They have their actions, are you know, 167 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:11,559 the reflecting your belief that they have the right people in place? Yeah, 168 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:16,240 and we like. And one thing that people have kind of brought up is 169 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:22,120 the you hear the chatter of kind of the maybe different philosophies or different aspects 170 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,840 of the Clippers between kind of the Lawrence Frank part of the front office and 171 00:12:26,879 --> 00:12:30,240 the Tyleru part. Right. You mentioned the Russell Westbrook thing. There's a 172 00:12:30,279 --> 00:12:33,240 lot of If you go back and read the quotes during that time from those 173 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:37,080 two guys, there's a lot of different things being said. One of them, 174 00:12:37,159 --> 00:12:39,279 you know, you mentioned like every coach has things to work on. 175 00:12:39,639 --> 00:12:41,000 I think a lot of the things that fans want to see is the front 176 00:12:41,039 --> 00:12:46,120 office and Tyleru and that Lawrence Frank perspective getting a little more on the same 177 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,600 page in terms of personnel and things like that, because we do have question 178 00:12:48,639 --> 00:12:54,240 marks with the backup five and what is going to happen with the backup two 179 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:58,039 kind of going into this next season. Yeah, I mean, well the 180 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:03,639 backup two. You're talking about a guy who and Norman Powell who. I 181 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:09,480 just feel like I didn't really get the respect nationally that like people who saw 182 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:13,440 how important the Clippers were, whether they were at their best or not. 183 00:13:15,039 --> 00:13:20,559 Like Norman I thought had a fantastic season. I regret not writing more about 184 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:24,840 him, But then again, my job ain't to cheerlead, so thank you. 185 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,799 Yeah. Look, man, you go through my whole season to work. 186 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,559 Uh, it's it's really hard to find a whole lot of fluff there, 187 00:13:35,759 --> 00:13:37,440 Like I gotta get to a real good place to be, Like, 188 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:43,480 all right, I'm featuring anybody, Okay. I wrote one Kawhi Leonard is 189 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:48,399 dope story, all okay, And I'm pretty sure his social media managers saw 190 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:52,279 that, John like it was. It was a game at where they won 191 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:56,559 in Utah December, and I was like, Kawhi, he said he got 192 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,879 a bag for this season, and then they reposted that that that that, 193 00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:03,480 so I was really proud of that, And I never wrote about Kawhi like 194 00:14:03,519 --> 00:14:07,960 that ever again, So like it's hard for me to get to that place, 195 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,720 Like I got so much stuff to write about. But like Norman had 196 00:14:11,759 --> 00:14:16,720 an outstanding season. He was on the ball less, his off the ball 197 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:22,759 efficiency was incredible, and his effort defensively was better than it had been in 198 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:28,879 years. And you could see that by how well the lineup performed when Norman 199 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:33,399 was in there with the other starters. Okay, the Power Rangers lineup, 200 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:39,720 Yeah, exactly. And so like you know, Norman's raw numbers are unimpressive 201 00:14:39,799 --> 00:14:43,559 outside of his shooting, Like we know Norman isn't really going to pass the 202 00:14:43,559 --> 00:14:46,720 ball, and we know that Norman is not a strong rebounder for his position, 203 00:14:46,799 --> 00:14:52,440 and there's not a lot of defensive plays like spark splash plays. But 204 00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:56,279 he fits. And when you got guys that fit, you keep that. 205 00:14:56,559 --> 00:15:01,480 Terrence man he fits. Terrence man of is a player who has had to, 206 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,360 you know, basically get eaten alive by some of the matchups that he 207 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,519 has. But the playoffs reminded you, oh wait, he's better at guarding 208 00:15:09,919 --> 00:15:15,279 some players than he is guarding other players. Like he can guarded Luka Doncic 209 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:20,159 more effectively than guard of Kyrie Irving. It's that's why I hate positionless tough, 210 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,480 because you need all types of body types. Those body types don't have 211 00:15:24,519 --> 00:15:28,840 to be restricted by size. It's a matter of what can you do now? 212 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:33,639 That very theory is what got the Clippers in trouble of why people thought 213 00:15:33,679 --> 00:15:37,120 that there was a sunction between the front office and the coaching staff. The 214 00:15:37,159 --> 00:15:41,480 front office saw t Lou in twenty twenty one when half to service by the 215 00:15:41,559 --> 00:15:50,200 Luka Doncic absolute heater by removing amits A zubots from the equation entirely. Sergebaka 216 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,240 his back gave out and we knew what the deal was there, and so 217 00:15:54,360 --> 00:16:00,759 Nicholas Vatum essentially had to play center for the Clippers to survive that series. 218 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,360 Right, the same thing in the next series, They're like, we're not 219 00:16:03,399 --> 00:16:07,960 going to beat the Utah Jazz with if it's a Zubas on the floor, 220 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,919 not because if it's a Zubas is a bad player, but because Rudy Gobert 221 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:17,519 is just able to do what Rudy Gobert does and Utah's offense is too good 222 00:16:17,559 --> 00:16:22,360 for that. So what do you do. You space the floor out with 223 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:27,759 Nico at center again, make Rudy Gobert have to guard out a five out 224 00:16:27,799 --> 00:16:33,679 lineup, and the drive game was enhanced. That was they were able to 225 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:37,759 do that even when Kawhi towards ACL. So the front office saw that they 226 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,279 knew they weren't gonna have Kawhi for a year, and they were like, 227 00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:44,320 let's try some things different with the roster. Let's punt point guards, Let's 228 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,559 just get as many wings as possible. Isaiah Hartenstein was not an investment. 229 00:16:48,639 --> 00:16:52,399 He played himself into one, and then the team was like, you know 230 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,000 what, we have so many wings. They've accumulated so many guys, Like 231 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,759 everyone looks at John wall is the reason why Isaiah Hertenstein's it's like, nah, 232 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,480 Robert Covington, Marcus Morris, and Nicholas buttoom was as much of a 233 00:17:03,519 --> 00:17:08,480 reason why Isaiah had to take money elsewhere as John Wall Because yes, the 234 00:17:08,519 --> 00:17:12,640 coaching staff the Stars, they're like, hey, we probably need another point 235 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:18,079 guard besides Reggie Jackson. But the other part of it is you only get 236 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:22,200 to have five basketball players on the floor at once, and they paid Marcus, 237 00:17:22,319 --> 00:17:26,240 Nico and Roco and they believe that one of those guys could be the 238 00:17:26,279 --> 00:17:32,160 backup five, especially with Kawuhi there. Yeah, so when you build a 239 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,440 team full of wings, you're like, let's play all the wings, and 240 00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:38,400 yeah, like they're gonna let Isaiah take money elsewhere. That screwed the Clippers 241 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:44,440 up. It screwed up those power forwards because obviously Rocco wound up sacrificing. 242 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,720 And you know, the thing that I will always give Lawrence Frank in the 243 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:52,559 front office credit for is whatever lace Frank says he would like to do if 244 00:17:52,559 --> 00:17:56,640 he had carte blanche, Like, he does wind up collaborating with his stars, 245 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:00,880 he does wind up collaborating with his coach, and he does wind up 246 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,400 serving those guys, you want a point guard, here's russ Even though here's 247 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,279 the most point guard point guard we can possibly give you. At this point 248 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:11,319 the option, Lawrence made it very clear what kind of guard he would prefer 249 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:17,119 playing with Kawhi and PG, Like they literally got Bone Tiland and Eric Gordon 250 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:22,039 on the same afternoon, okay, and then Paul George blows that whole thing 251 00:18:22,079 --> 00:18:26,400 up and it's like, yeah, I'm we're not satisfied with that Russell Westbrooks 252 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:32,440 available. Let's get him the backup center spot. Like Toron Lou, the 253 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:37,920 same guy who you know benched if it's a Zoo Bots to win multiple playoff 254 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:42,880 series, was stewing about the fact that if Zoo wasn't on the floor and 255 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,799 Kawhi wasn't available, because Kawhi makes all of those small lineups work, and 256 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:52,440 Kawhi wasn't Kawhi from a health perspective or a performance perspective. Until January and 257 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,839 middle of January, the clipers were under five hundred last year. Yeah, 258 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,240 see Lou, I remember walking up to him after or they got Mason Plumbley 259 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,720 and they beat the Warriors, and TV was like, we finally got a 260 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,359 backup center, Like We really needed that, Like, yeah, we've had 261 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:11,359 to watch Moses. We watched Moses Brown play a lot of basketball for this 262 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,440 team exactly on a two way contract. That was like, you're on a 263 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:19,119 two way just so that we can, you know, maximize the roster spots. 264 00:19:19,599 --> 00:19:23,720 So when you think about all that, Chuck, it's like, yeah, 265 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,920 they have your typical front office head coach. We're not always on the 266 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:32,240 same page. Why because they're human and they're both you know, they've both 267 00:19:32,319 --> 00:19:34,319 done some things in this league. Yes, they both have ideas, but 268 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:40,319 the credit has to be due to the fact that they understand where their weaknesses 269 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,480 are and they address them the best that they can. This past year, 270 00:19:44,559 --> 00:19:48,160 it was an issue like Mason I think was going to have a better season 271 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,480 if he didn't you know, damn near Tarrors ACL in New York. That 272 00:19:51,599 --> 00:19:55,160 was I watched that because I remember it was Randall and I watched the replay 273 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:56,359 of it the other day just and I was like, oh, that was 274 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:03,039 does that That was very close the disaster. He got carried, Chuck, 275 00:20:03,039 --> 00:20:06,400 he got carried off the floor. Yeah, like we saw if it's a 276 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:11,839 zoo by spraying his mcl you know, in the twenty twenty one Western Conference 277 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,319 Finals against the Suns. Yeah, and I thought Zoo was actually going to 278 00:20:15,319 --> 00:20:17,920 finish that series. It's like, it's not like Zoo had to get carried 279 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:19,759 the hell off. Yeah, you know, Mason was Yeah, that was 280 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,400 Mason looked like he was done for this season. I was like, Okay, 281 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:29,839 who else is out there? Daniel Tice had to save the damn rotation 282 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:37,000 and and so Mason obviously came back and had an uneven year. Daniel is 283 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,920 you know, I give him credit. He exceeded anyone's expectations. But Daniel 284 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,599 Tye is a marginal rotation player, and you saw that by the end of 285 00:20:45,599 --> 00:20:48,640 the year when he didn't play. You know, he's a tweeter in size 286 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,200 too, right, Like he's he's he's a tweeter, but he's like, 287 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:55,839 he's not a center. Yeah, he's six eight and he's a load up 288 00:20:56,279 --> 00:21:00,839 jumper, and he's over thirty and he's had knee issues. So everything you 289 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:06,559 got out of Daniel Tice exceeded my expectations simply for the fact that Daniel hasn't 290 00:21:06,559 --> 00:21:11,200 played you know, real minutes in two years before you know, getting a 291 00:21:11,279 --> 00:21:15,720 chance with this team to fill in while Mason was recovering from the mcl And 292 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:21,160 when it comes down to it, I think both of those guys who are 293 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,240 free agents, like the Clippers need to upgrade there. The Clippers need to 294 00:21:23,279 --> 00:21:26,759 upgrade on PJ. Tucker. Like the Clippers knew they needed to upgrade in 295 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:32,319 January and February, they tried. Everyone knew what they needed to do. 296 00:21:33,079 --> 00:21:37,279 And when I say everyone, like the front office. I talked to the 297 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,359 coaching staff. Well, the coaching staff is like whatever, We're just trying 298 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,759 to get a win. Like I don't think people realize this coaching staff. 299 00:21:42,799 --> 00:21:48,799 Toront lou Is is not a meddler, like he's he's trying to be Bill 300 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,960 Parcells, docers cook the groceries. It's like, just I'm gonna coach who 301 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:57,880 I got. Just all t lou as ors is complete rosters and consistent rosters 302 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,359 from the health perspective. Yeah, and you can see how that's gone. 303 00:22:02,839 --> 00:22:07,599 But like everyone knew, Like there's a reason Danilla Gallinari I mentioned this in 304 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,839 the mail bag I put out earlier this week, like they would have cut 305 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:15,359 Josh Primo in February if Gallo wanted to come to the Clippers and Gallows saw 306 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,079 rightfully, I would say Gallo saw a better opportunity in Milwaukee, and Gallo 307 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:26,680 did play until it was clear that Gallo was not it. So, you 308 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,200 know, like if the Clippers would have traded for PJ. Washington, for 309 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,680 instance, what kind of resources would it have taken the Clippers to get to 310 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:40,839 beat what Charlotte got. Charlotte got Grant Williams, a guy in his twenties 311 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:47,279 and service very good. Yeah, like I'm not the biggest. Like I 312 00:22:47,319 --> 00:22:52,720 thought Dallas paying Grant Williams was asenine to start for them. I just didn't 313 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:57,160 think Grant Williams is a starting caliber player and you saw Dallas was They figured 314 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:02,960 that out by by Christians? Yeah, yeah, like by Christmas. I 315 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,200 don't want to even comment on how they felt about him on a personal level. 316 00:23:06,599 --> 00:23:10,440 Just on the court, Grant Williams was not you know, he was 317 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:15,200 not worth. He was not a starting caliber player for that team. Maybe 318 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:19,400 he is for Charlotte, but we're you know, different spots. Yeah, 319 00:23:19,839 --> 00:23:25,839 exactly. So Like it's like what would have taken to get PJ. Washington? 320 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,400 Like I don't think the Clippers would have wanted to stomach that. I 321 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,839 don't know how well PJ would have played. Obviously he wouldn't have made Dallas 322 00:23:33,079 --> 00:23:37,440 as good. But also I mean, how valuable is a PJ Washington if 323 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:40,640 a Kawhi Leonard can't stay on the floor. It's a very good point. 324 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:45,519 How good is Dallas if Luka Doncic can't stay on the floor. So that's 325 00:23:45,559 --> 00:23:49,039 where I'm at with the backup situation. The front office knows what they need 326 00:23:49,039 --> 00:23:53,920 to do. The coaching staff with toronal lo is going to enjoy Paris and 327 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,720 and Brad Turner out there. Yeah, I'm sure that'll be in insane Lincoln 328 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:02,200 exactly. But I think everyone's on the same page about what needs to happen. 329 00:24:02,559 --> 00:24:06,480 The question is how hol chuck that was? So that was gonna be 330 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:12,559 my next thing? We have? There are some young guys who people are 331 00:24:12,599 --> 00:24:17,599 excited about on the Clippers. I think, you know, we have the 332 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:22,640 k we have the Kai Jones signing, which a lot of people have used 333 00:24:22,319 --> 00:24:26,920 certain mental gymnastics to justify as maybe he's the next Bix thing for the Clippers. 334 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:32,440 I think maybe are there any young guys you see who can maybe find 335 00:24:32,559 --> 00:24:36,160 some time and we're not you know, I'm not saying the full backup five 336 00:24:36,279 --> 00:24:41,960 or something like that, but developmental minutes within the Clippers, the Clippers first 337 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,000 team for the for these guys, because that is a tough spot on a 338 00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:48,640 young team with expectations like this. For an older team, yeah, I 339 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:55,759 think it's it's gonna be hard on because let's start with the back of five, 340 00:24:56,079 --> 00:25:00,359 because you do have those free agents in Mason and Daniel Tye. I 341 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,599 believe that if you're an older team, or in this case, the oldest, 342 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:08,799 like, I think you have to you know, I mean, the 343 00:25:08,799 --> 00:25:12,279 Clippers were the oldest team in twenty twenty one as well, but the difference 344 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:18,680 is a lot of that age was in the role players. Whereas you know, 345 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:26,599 your stars were still reasonably they were just touching thirty. Now you now 346 00:25:26,599 --> 00:25:30,039 you have so many guys who are over thirty that are at the top of 347 00:25:30,079 --> 00:25:37,759 the food chain, and you have to get younger from anyone else who is 348 00:25:37,799 --> 00:25:42,279 not an elite player. Like So, in other words, I know that 349 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:49,119 the front office isn't tripping about the age of Kawhi or Paul or James or 350 00:25:49,599 --> 00:25:53,559 I would say Russ, But the front office has been pretty clear about not 351 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:59,319 including Russ in the same group as James, Paul, and I think makes 352 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:03,920 sense. Yeah, yeah, Like that's just where they are. And so 353 00:26:03,759 --> 00:26:07,440 when you think about that, it's like, Okay, they might not worry 354 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,920 about them, I clearly do. Like I worry. Look, I'm always 355 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:17,680 going to worry about Kawhi's age as it relates to his health, Paul George's 356 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:22,400 age as it relates to his contract, James Harden's age as it relates to 357 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:27,319 the on ball role and the mileage, the crazy mileage he has had throughout 358 00:26:27,319 --> 00:26:30,599 his career. James hasn't had the injuries that Kawhi and Paul have had. 359 00:26:32,039 --> 00:26:37,759 But James also is older than those guys, and you know has a role 360 00:26:37,799 --> 00:26:41,319 where that is the fastest position in the league. And then now you got 361 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,759 James Harden. James used to play at that speed, like the Houston Rockets 362 00:26:45,759 --> 00:26:49,960 and James Hart Prime, they used to be one of the fastest paced. 363 00:26:52,039 --> 00:26:56,599 We're talking about a decade ago, Chuck. So we're you know, we're 364 00:26:56,599 --> 00:27:00,319 in a different era now. And so like if you are the Clips, 365 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,440 everybody else has to reasonably be in their primer younger. You can't have PJ. 366 00:27:04,559 --> 00:27:08,279 Tuckers on this team anymore. You can't have Mason Plumleaz or even Daniel 367 00:27:08,279 --> 00:27:12,680 Tice's on this team anymore. You can barely tolerate a Norman Powell on this 368 00:27:12,759 --> 00:27:19,000 team anymore. And so Kai Jones has a huge opportunity ahead of him because 369 00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:23,519 he can be your Isaiah Hartenstein, a guy who is non guaranteed, who 370 00:27:23,599 --> 00:27:30,039 has had some years and multiple teams in the league, who's had to deal 371 00:27:30,079 --> 00:27:36,240 with some things, but clearly has some skill sets that could emphasis one could 372 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:41,279 you know, be relevant is Kai has an opportunity. He got signed and 373 00:27:41,319 --> 00:27:45,160 everyone, you know, when he got signed, everyone was like, he 374 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:49,200 can play in the playoffs. Yeah, you guys clearly clearly don't listen. 375 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,599 But that's cool, you know, because we don't need to talk about last 376 00:27:52,599 --> 00:27:57,400 season. We're talking about the off season, and that's where we need to 377 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:03,200 see Kay Jones make the biggest impression. I don't care about the highlights. 378 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:07,640 I don't care about his athleticism because those are things that are you know, 379 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,519 you can put those in the bank. What you need to be able to 380 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,880 rely on is feel for the game, things that when Kyle Jones was at 381 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:21,200 Texas he wasn't good at. And feel for the game is both ends of 382 00:28:21,279 --> 00:28:23,680 the floor offensively if we're gonna play you at center. And that's what the 383 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:29,359 Clippers are training, they're grooming him, getting him ready for is to be 384 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:33,799 a center, not a power forward. Like a real scene. Have you 385 00:28:33,839 --> 00:28:37,599 seen the Clippers play basketball the last four years? Like I can't. I 386 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:38,880 can't tell you, Chuck, how many times people are like, just put 387 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,920 daniel Tys at the four. It's like, y'all want to win a battle 388 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:47,200 and lose the war. Yeah, and we've seen it. Why don't we 389 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,599 play tresen zoo together? Why don't we do it? And it's just like 390 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:55,160 stop, do y'all think that this is Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing in the 391 00:28:55,279 --> 00:28:59,680 nineties Knicks? Like what league are y'all watching the same? You know? 392 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:03,680 Like this ain't that league no more. That's not how the Clippers played. 393 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:07,240 That's really and a lot of teams that played two non shooting bigs, right, 394 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:12,960 And so everything with kai Jones is theoretical and you need to turn that 395 00:29:14,039 --> 00:29:19,839 theory into real practice and production. And the way kai Jones does that is 396 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,359 I'm almost certain he'll be playing summer league. He has to play basketball. 397 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:29,279 He went an entire year where he barely was on an NBA roster at all. 398 00:29:29,559 --> 00:29:34,160 He played in the you know quarto for Bahamas. He played for Bahamas, 399 00:29:34,759 --> 00:29:38,160 and then he got the two way or not the two way to ten 400 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:44,319 day from the Sixers. He wasn't healthy enough to last on that ten day. 401 00:29:44,319 --> 00:29:47,640 They put him in Delaware. He played two games there. His hamstring 402 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:52,000 flared up again. Things that happen when you're not around the game and you 403 00:29:52,119 --> 00:29:57,880 haven't been hooping like that, and so that's why Philadelphia didn't keep him again. 404 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:03,079 He was fine there, he wasn't healthy. They needed bodies because Joel 405 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:07,799 Embiid is already hurt, Robert Covington already hurt, like they needed bodies that 406 00:30:07,799 --> 00:30:14,400 could play and be available. He gets to the Clippers and the only time 407 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:17,960 I saw Kai Jones like he was with strength and conditioning. He was working 408 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:23,799 with Mussa Diabate, who Musa is another guy like Musa injury luck last year 409 00:30:23,839 --> 00:30:27,079 too, which is tough. Yeah the end the I don't think the the 410 00:30:27,079 --> 00:30:33,000 injury luck with Musa was unforced errors. Like I don't think Mussa got hurt 411 00:30:33,039 --> 00:30:36,599 when he broke his hand in January. I don't think that that was a 412 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:41,599 thing that happened on the basketball court. I just think that Musa was had 413 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:45,319 a had Let's just say it wasn't a basketball injury. So like, is 414 00:30:45,319 --> 00:30:48,359 he gonna be in the drew again because he was in the drew, he 415 00:30:48,519 --> 00:30:53,680 played drew, But he's got bigger things to worry about. I don't know. 416 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:59,200 Yeah, that's fair. I don't I don't know what's going to happen 417 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:03,240 with Musa. But because of the presence of Kai Jones and so, I 418 00:31:03,279 --> 00:31:08,039 think Moosa is going to be you know, the Lawrence Frank said that the 419 00:31:08,079 --> 00:31:12,079 team has a decision to make with him. And usually when I hear stuff 420 00:31:12,119 --> 00:31:15,519 like that. The last time I heard something like that was Jason Preston in 421 00:31:15,519 --> 00:31:19,559 his summer That means that you could see Musa go in the summer league. 422 00:31:19,559 --> 00:31:22,359 The difference is, you know, and just like Jason, like, there 423 00:31:22,359 --> 00:31:26,920 are teams that were interested in Jason Preston, Like obviously Memphis picked him up 424 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:30,720 for a while for their G League team and then he finished the year with 425 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:36,960 the Utah Jazz. You know, Preston has NBA skills, but do teams 426 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,319 think he's an NBA player? That is, the jury is still out there 427 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:45,000 with Musa like when the Clippers drafted him, the idea was, first of 428 00:31:45,039 --> 00:31:48,160 all, Musa played power forward in college for an offense that let's just say 429 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:52,599 Juwan Howard is now coaching in the NBA again, but like, you know, 430 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,799 you drafted college power forward and say we're gonna make you a center. 431 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,279 Does that sound familiar. That's what they're doing with Kai Jones now, a 432 00:32:00,319 --> 00:32:04,240 guy who you know, Kai might think that he's got all these outside the 433 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:07,400 paying abilities, and he still might, but the Clintons are putting him in 434 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,359 a certain box. And why do you put a player in a box? 435 00:32:10,519 --> 00:32:15,119 Normally you want to say the game is positionless, you can do anything, 436 00:32:15,319 --> 00:32:16,559 but you put a player in a box. It's the same thing I told 437 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:22,400 Terrence Man last year. I know you love that positionless bullshit, But if 438 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:25,039 you earn a starting job and you're playing one position that you know you're going 439 00:32:25,079 --> 00:32:30,400 to be in the best unit to start both halves every game, that is 440 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:32,720 the best thing to have a consistent role. So they're trying to give kai 441 00:32:32,839 --> 00:32:37,000 Jones a chance to have a consistent role next year's Clippers team, and to 442 00:32:37,079 --> 00:32:40,480 do that, it's at the center position where he can utilize his athleticism on 443 00:32:40,559 --> 00:32:44,960 both ends of the floor. So I'm not looking for dunks and I'm not 444 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,839 looking for highlights. I'm looking for Can kai Jones set a screen? Can 445 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:53,119 kai Jones roll and make decisions out of short roles? Can kai Jones understand 446 00:32:53,559 --> 00:32:57,960 where he needs to be as a rim protector because kai Jones, as tall 447 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,599 and athletic as he is, doesn't have the great his wingspan, And again 448 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:07,279 going back to Texas, he is not known for being a reliable rim protector, 449 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,480 a reliable defender. If he was, he would have played in Charlotte. 450 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,039 And so those are things that need to develop over time. Like a 451 00:33:16,079 --> 00:33:21,880 guy as athletic as kai Jones shouldn't like again, go back to Texas. 452 00:33:21,599 --> 00:33:25,680 His last year there twenty four blocks in twenty six games. For a guy 453 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:31,480 with that kind of height and athleticism at college level is like a red flag. 454 00:33:31,519 --> 00:33:35,440 It's like something's missing here. He doesn't have the greatest wingspan and he 455 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:37,200 doesn't have the greatest feel for the game, but that was three years ago. 456 00:33:37,319 --> 00:33:42,640 If he can develop a reliability there, then that's going to be huge 457 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:45,079 for his chances, and that's going to be huge for the Clippers, a 458 00:33:45,079 --> 00:33:50,119 team that openly is trying to find wins in the margins. That's where they 459 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:53,960 need to look at the center fasis, that's the young guys there. You 460 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:58,960 want to talk about Kobe Brown. I love Kobe Brown coming out of Missouri 461 00:33:59,039 --> 00:34:01,640 for everything that he could do offensively, and he did nothing but validate that 462 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:06,839 in Summer League and the G League. The Clipper's biggest issue, though Chuck, 463 00:34:07,359 --> 00:34:10,880 was their defensive rebound. Meame, it's not a strength to Kobe Browns 464 00:34:12,079 --> 00:34:16,440 like Kobe Brown, for all that he can do offensively, defensively it's going 465 00:34:16,519 --> 00:34:20,719 to be a little bit tougher. We know that he got an opportunity to 466 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,880 play, and the reason why that opportunity didn't stick is because that dude was 467 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:27,960 more likely to pick up a foul in the defensive rebound. Yeah, it 468 00:34:28,039 --> 00:34:30,440 was, And that was a knock coming out of college. Was his feet 469 00:34:30,559 --> 00:34:34,519 on the perimeter. He had had some slow feet, which is harder to 470 00:34:34,519 --> 00:34:37,400 make quicker when you're going from college to the pro level. Yeah, and 471 00:34:37,519 --> 00:34:42,039 I think that he can defend, he can hang and survive on the perimeter. 472 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:45,440 I think that he works his ass off, and I think that he's 473 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:49,840 going to be a smart team defender, and even a guy who can make 474 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,719 some plays, a guy who can get some steals, like I thought Kobe 475 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:55,800 showed that in Summer League, the ability to shrink the floor, the ability 476 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:00,000 to stay in front of guys, the ability to get in passing lane, 477 00:35:00,039 --> 00:35:01,679 to make plays with his hands, I thought, I think Kobe Brown has 478 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:07,199 outstanding hands, and so I think that he can survive as a four. 479 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:13,639 But he's not going back to college. He's not a run protector, he's 480 00:35:13,679 --> 00:35:17,239 not a great rebounder, and so you know, I believe that the Clippers 481 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:22,960 need to add a veteran power forward, a guy who can play the four 482 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,280 and the five, who can you know, if Kobe Brown beats that guy 483 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:29,880 out, then okay, that's cool, but that's great. Yeah, but 484 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,199 you also want a guy who like just can play either one of those spots. 485 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:35,960 Kobe Brown's going to get an opportunity, especially if they get PJ. 486 00:35:36,559 --> 00:35:40,559 Tucker relocated as they need to do. And offensively, I can believe in 487 00:35:40,639 --> 00:35:45,840 Kobe Brown. Defensively and on the glass, that's that's an area of weakness 488 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:51,039 that I don't think. Kobe Brown feels that the veteran power forward that the 489 00:35:51,079 --> 00:35:53,000 Clippers needs to try and acquire. That's where they kind of need to look 490 00:35:53,039 --> 00:35:57,000 for. And as far as guys like Jordan Miller, because he's the other 491 00:35:57,039 --> 00:36:01,960 guy that Lawrence Frank specifically mentioned as young guys who had big summers to show 492 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:07,199 the team something again. I think the team is surprised and pleased with what 493 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:14,360 Jordan's showed offensively, but Jordan needs to show that his defensive tools can translate 494 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,840 a little bit better. So that's what I'll be looking for. He's got 495 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:22,000 the length, he's obviously a little on the slight side, and he's got 496 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:27,119 to show that he can be a game changer on that and the floor to 497 00:36:27,119 --> 00:36:30,159 get out of that too ay contract that he's in, but he's already locked 498 00:36:30,159 --> 00:36:35,719 in next year, okay. Yeah. And then Brandon Boston a fan favorite. 499 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:40,440 Some the expectations for Brandon Boston are all over the place from Clipper's fandom. 500 00:36:40,559 --> 00:36:44,679 I know that offensively he's very good. He had the injuries last year. 501 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:50,360 He has flashes. I should say, yeah, I would agree with 502 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,360 that, But that's been my thing with Brandon Boston is there hasn't been any 503 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:59,119 consistency when he's had time with the first team, and obviously his lineups. 504 00:36:59,159 --> 00:37:01,599 He's not in lineup with you know, the top of the rotation or anything 505 00:37:01,639 --> 00:37:06,760 like that, but it's still it's just kind of feels choppy since he's been 506 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:10,199 on the team. When he's with the first team. My thing with Brandon 507 00:37:10,679 --> 00:37:17,360 is he works his ass off and he loves the game. I have been 508 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:22,239 saying this for the better part of his three years. The ball does not 509 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:28,199 find the bottom of the net consistently enough for a player who is literally right, 510 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,440 yeah, I mean, I mean shoot like, he's taken six hundred 511 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:37,239 shots in the NBA, and you know he's a sub forty percent shooter from 512 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:42,679 the field. He's at thirty one percent on his one ninety two career three 513 00:37:42,679 --> 00:37:47,440 point attempts. So you're seeing a player who if he gets to his spot, 514 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,480 he doesn't score at that spot. And then you got a guy who 515 00:37:52,559 --> 00:37:55,960 takes tough shots because I mean, he's not really one to pass it. 516 00:37:57,159 --> 00:38:00,679 So and he's you mentioned slight, he's one of his problem with the skinniest 517 00:38:00,679 --> 00:38:04,840 guy on the team would be I mean, he shares a roster with Bones 518 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,840 Highlands, So yeah, oh yeah, fair yeas said that. Yeah, 519 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:14,519 but the look, man, I thought it was notable that Lawrence didn't have 520 00:38:14,639 --> 00:38:17,800 much to say if anything will either Bones or Brandon, And I think both 521 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:22,800 of those guys are guys who love to see the ball released from their fingertips 522 00:38:22,559 --> 00:38:25,639 towards the rim more than they're going to look the pass. But both of 523 00:38:25,679 --> 00:38:30,679 those guys, you know, Bones obviously has shown that he can score at 524 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:35,400 the NBA level at a high rate. But it's but if Bones, I've 525 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:38,480 set this plenty of times. When Bones doesn't make shots, his whole demnor 526 00:38:38,599 --> 00:38:44,239 changes. Is different with Brandon, it's a matter of we just never see 527 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:51,039 him shoot or score efficiently. Like he's really not good at, you know, 528 00:38:51,119 --> 00:38:53,840 consistently putting the ball in the basket when that's the main thing that he 529 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:57,920 works for, that's his main kind of thing. And it's been three years 530 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,000 at this point, you know, like there's a reason and Brandon was a 531 00:39:00,079 --> 00:39:04,880 late second round pick, even though he was the top five recruit coming out 532 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:09,000 of a place that we all know, Sierra Canyon. Like Brandon has had 533 00:39:09,079 --> 00:39:14,079 a put the ball in the basket consistently issued for a long time. He 534 00:39:14,159 --> 00:39:16,480 shot thirty five and a half percent from the field at Kentucky. Man, 535 00:39:17,239 --> 00:39:21,760 you know, so like I believe there is something there with Brandon, but 536 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:25,760 like he's at a point where you got to look at Brandon Boston versus a 537 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:30,239 Mire Coffee, and Brandon has to do two things. Number One, He's 538 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:36,360 got to get and stay healthy. Brandon was going to have every opportunity ahead 539 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:40,239 of a mirror to be a rotation player as soon as this year. Unfortunately 540 00:39:40,559 --> 00:39:45,800 he had the quadriceps tend an apathy in Hawaii. He only you know, 541 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:50,199 he got into that first preseason game in the first quarter. That's how highly 542 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:52,920 he was going to get a chance to really get a chance to run. 543 00:39:53,159 --> 00:39:57,400 Like he had a great summer. They held him out of Summer League because 544 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:00,800 they thought that highly of him. Unfortunately, he had a back with that 545 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:04,440 quad and he never got healthy until December. And by December, it's like, 546 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,599 Brandon's too old to be going to the G League getting these reps. 547 00:40:07,639 --> 00:40:10,000 That's right, Gobe Brown, that was Joshu Roprimo, that was all you 548 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:14,480 know, Jordan Miller, those guys had to get those reps. They're like, 549 00:40:14,599 --> 00:40:17,719 nah, Brandon, you got to be with the team. And Brandon 550 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:22,719 just rarely got an opportunity to play. And so I believe Brandon can be 551 00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:24,519 a better player when he's playing with the best guys. But to play with 552 00:40:24,559 --> 00:40:28,320 the best guys, that ball has to find the bottom of the net. 553 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:32,199 A Mere Coffee kept his spot because a Mere Coffee did an outstanding job of 554 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:37,559 making shots in his role. You know, Brandon just has never shown the 555 00:40:37,599 --> 00:40:43,119 ability to do that at a consistent level. And he's running out of time, 556 00:40:43,360 --> 00:40:45,960 Like he's going to be a restricted free agent if he gets an opportunity 557 00:40:46,039 --> 00:40:50,559 this time around, Brandon's got to look at a Mere Coffee, a guy 558 00:40:50,599 --> 00:40:54,079 who you know, shout out to a mirror, but a mirror is literally 559 00:40:54,079 --> 00:40:58,840 going to be twenty seven years old this summer, and like a mirr was 560 00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:04,280 not good enough to stay on the floor this postseason when a mirror had a 561 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:07,599 mirror stretched. As a guy who gets extended minutes in a rotation, if 562 00:41:07,599 --> 00:41:12,679 you're Brand in Boston Junior, you got to beat that guy out. And 563 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,320 again we got to see how the team navigates his free agency. But I 564 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:22,199 don't look at Brandon as a guy who is going list of guys who, 565 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:24,440 yeah, like, he's not a He's he's not a guy who like if 566 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:30,039 a team overpays because they really want Brand in Boston Junior and restrict your free 567 00:41:30,079 --> 00:41:32,639 agency. Like yeah, the Clippers will say, you know, good luck 568 00:41:32,840 --> 00:41:40,079 and they'll move on. And so like that's Brandon when it comes to Bones, 569 00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:45,679 everything with Bones is going to come down to what happens with russ and 570 00:41:45,679 --> 00:41:49,000 and James to an extension. But I just feel like Bones is a shooting 571 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:52,159 guard and a point guard's body. And so if you look at why Josh 572 00:41:52,159 --> 00:41:57,800 Primo was signed and Josh Primo we can talk. You know, the off 573 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:01,920 court stuff is the off court stuff and the development of Josh Primo from a 574 00:42:02,639 --> 00:42:08,079 you know, just a therapeutic, psychological whatever. Same with Kai Jones. 575 00:42:08,159 --> 00:42:13,440 You know, Lawrence is very open about this. It's like the development plan 576 00:42:13,639 --> 00:42:17,599 for him there as much as the basketball development plan, sure that was relevant, 577 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:22,480 but as far as the player, they wanted a Josh Primo type because 578 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:27,760 it's the same thing san Antonio because he was overdrafted. Premo should have never 579 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:30,559 been a lottery pick. It was insane that he was a lottery pick. 580 00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:36,840 So but he was a lottery pick and san Antonio try to have him be 581 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,320 a point guard even though he had not been not shown that he was that 582 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:45,159 kind of player at any point previous to his pro career starting. The Clippers 583 00:42:45,159 --> 00:42:50,480 try to pick that up like they try to You know what does Laurence Strength 584 00:42:50,559 --> 00:42:53,559 says he wants. He wants big guards who can be as effective on the 585 00:42:53,559 --> 00:42:57,320 ball as they are off the ball. We saw the Luton yard. We 586 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:02,199 saw it with Eric Gordon, saw with Landry Shammitt, right like, so, 587 00:43:02,320 --> 00:43:06,800 what do you expect me to say about this draft? They're not looking 588 00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:09,599 for another brand in Boston or a Bones Island. I do think they're looking 589 00:43:09,639 --> 00:43:15,320 for another Josh Primo. And that's where if you look at development, this 590 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:19,599 team does not need more young bigs to develop. You have Bob Brown and 591 00:43:19,639 --> 00:43:22,039 now you have both Kay Jones and Musa Diavate on the same roster, and 592 00:43:22,079 --> 00:43:25,559 I don't know if both of those guys make it to or through training camp. 593 00:43:27,159 --> 00:43:30,480 There's enough bigs to develop if you will. Jordan Miller, you just 594 00:43:30,599 --> 00:43:34,239 used a second round pick on him as a as a wing who is not 595 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,199 a natural ball in hand guy, even though he's showing flashes that he could 596 00:43:37,199 --> 00:43:42,360 beat that guy three years ago. You picked three guards, in effect, 597 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:47,239 three guys who were scorers. In Keon Johnson again, a big guard who 598 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:51,719 has no business being trained as a point guard, but the Clippers were trying 599 00:43:51,719 --> 00:43:54,079 to talk themselves in the having him be like a point guard. That was 600 00:43:54,159 --> 00:43:58,360 Keon Johnson pe We were gonna forget about Kon because he didn't last one year. 601 00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:02,320 But you have to remember who the Clippers look at and wind up selecting 602 00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:06,599 with their picks. They looked at Kean, who is a hyper athlete who 603 00:44:06,639 --> 00:44:09,360 needed to learn how to play basketball, Preston, who is literally the exact 604 00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:16,000 opposite of k in every way. And Brandon, a long, young kid 605 00:44:16,039 --> 00:44:21,440 who had high school pedigree who you just were like, let's see what there 606 00:44:21,559 --> 00:44:27,119 is there. That was three years ago. Brandon's restricted and Jason and Kean 607 00:44:27,199 --> 00:44:30,400 are long gone. They need to replenish the guard situation because even if James 608 00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:35,119 and Russ come back, you're talking about two point guards who are in their 609 00:44:35,159 --> 00:44:39,079 mid thirties at a position that we've already established is full of young, fast 610 00:44:39,239 --> 00:44:45,039 talent. Okay, you need I look at the Clippers not to draft a 611 00:44:45,039 --> 00:44:49,440 point guard sized player, but to draft a guy who you could talk into 612 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:53,599 playing the one or the two. That's gonna be the biggest puzzle piece of 613 00:44:53,679 --> 00:44:58,960 who their clippers going to draft next month. And it's difficult with the draft 614 00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:02,239 too, because their draft in a spot where you everybody is an option, 615 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:05,760 you know what I mean. It's not like they're in the top five or 616 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:10,840 you're at the forty six pick where the talent pool is wide ish and the 617 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:15,599 amount of guys you can take is astronomical. Yeah, well, you're not 618 00:45:15,679 --> 00:45:20,360 drafting for needy, you know, at the middle of the second round. 619 00:45:20,719 --> 00:45:24,159 Yeah, you just want what Lawrence says, you know, pick the player 620 00:45:24,159 --> 00:45:30,519 that can make an impact, that can make the team develop and contribute in 621 00:45:30,559 --> 00:45:35,159 a short manner of time. So even now with me saying I think it's 622 00:45:35,199 --> 00:45:37,320 going to be a big guard that they look for, you know, like 623 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:45,480 that doesn't mean that it's some big who is good and drops like you know, 624 00:45:45,599 --> 00:45:49,000 next this year's Gigi Jackson, for instance. Like if that player is 625 00:45:49,039 --> 00:45:52,079 available and it's like, oh, he fits and he's good and he might 626 00:45:52,119 --> 00:45:54,239 even he might win a job, like he might be, you know, 627 00:45:54,400 --> 00:46:00,159 better than the bigs. If that player is there at forty six, it's 628 00:46:00,199 --> 00:46:04,320 just like, yeah, you're gonna pick him because he's better than whatever project 629 00:46:04,360 --> 00:46:09,079 guard might be there. Yeah, so you consider every position, But I'm 630 00:46:09,119 --> 00:46:15,519 planning a flag now that I expect a big guard to be the priority. 631 00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:21,360 Especially. The other factor is Xavier Moon is not too a eligible and at 632 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:25,039 Xavier Moon's age, you know, not that Xavier Moon is an old person 633 00:46:25,159 --> 00:46:29,840 on Earth, but as a player on that kind of a you know, 634 00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:37,519 roster spot, I think that Xavier is probably not going to be a player 635 00:46:38,159 --> 00:46:44,079 that the team gives serious consideration too for a roster spot. If he was, 636 00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:47,079 he would have already had one, because Xavier deserved the spot over someone 637 00:46:47,119 --> 00:46:52,920 like Joshua Primo for instance. There's a reason why Xavier Moon was with the 638 00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:57,639 team, and josh Primo, before he messed his ankle up, was still 639 00:46:58,199 --> 00:47:02,360 not with the team, right, But you know, maybe asks you invite 640 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:06,079 him and say, hey, can you win a job just in case? 641 00:47:06,679 --> 00:47:13,039 But the reality but the reality is they need to replenish the guard developmental spot, 642 00:47:13,360 --> 00:47:16,800 and if they don't draft a guy, maybe that's a priority undrafted guy 643 00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:23,760 as well. We've meant you briefly mentioned the Paul George and Harden returns for 644 00:47:23,840 --> 00:47:29,920 this team. We got a couple more minutes at this point. It just 645 00:47:30,840 --> 00:47:34,960 it feels inevitable that and I mean I could be wrong, but it just 646 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,280 feels like there's this there's this weird situation where the Clippers are kind of like 647 00:47:37,400 --> 00:47:43,280 negotiating against themselves while Paul George has this leverage of well, I could get 648 00:47:43,280 --> 00:47:45,719 a max from so and so. Are we just kind of inching towards the 649 00:47:45,719 --> 00:47:49,559 clip? Do you feel that we're just kind of inching towards the Clippers giving 650 00:47:49,599 --> 00:47:53,440 Paul Georgia max the four years. I I'm not there yet, man, 651 00:47:53,599 --> 00:47:59,880 Okay, I'm really not because I think what needs to happen is this, 652 00:48:00,079 --> 00:48:04,480 the Clippers can pay Paul George more money than anybody else. However, the 653 00:48:04,519 --> 00:48:08,320 Clippers have let it be known that from a year's and a average you know, 654 00:48:08,760 --> 00:48:14,599 uh, annual salary standpoint, they're not willing to go there. And 655 00:48:15,079 --> 00:48:17,239 so Paul is gonna be like, all right, well, y'all are going 656 00:48:17,320 --> 00:48:22,760 to be on the same level as everybody else. Maybe less. Let's see 657 00:48:22,760 --> 00:48:27,320 what these other teams are really talking about. I'm Paul George. I'm opting 658 00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:30,800 out and I'm getting all these dinners. Man, I'm going to Philly, 659 00:48:30,679 --> 00:48:35,079 really got some Look, I'm from Philly. You know you're gonna get some 660 00:48:35,079 --> 00:48:39,199 good casine there. Absolutely, I'm going to Orlando. I was just in 661 00:48:39,320 --> 00:48:44,400 Orlando. I'm sure Orlando got some good food down there. I'm going to 662 00:48:44,480 --> 00:48:47,360 New York. I'm gonna say, you got New York City. I'm eating 663 00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:51,719 good Man, I'm opting out and I'm letting, I'm, I'm, I'm 664 00:48:51,800 --> 00:48:59,679 like and I'm and I'm going to see who by late June early July is 665 00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:04,159 really serious about the kind of money that they would commit to a player who's 666 00:49:04,199 --> 00:49:13,119 played fourteen NBA seasons already and is looking for a reason to leave everything behind 667 00:49:13,199 --> 00:49:20,519 in La to go to be cold on purpose. And I lot just I'm 668 00:49:20,639 --> 00:49:23,360 like, if I'm Paul, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna see who blinks. 669 00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:29,880 Because all these teams can talk now and try and disintegrate a relationship that 670 00:49:29,920 --> 00:49:34,800 has been formed over five years at least, right, they can try and 671 00:49:34,880 --> 00:49:37,960 do that. And it's easy to lie in May and June, but it's 672 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:42,400 hard to do it when you're sitting across from the dinner table and trying to 673 00:49:42,400 --> 00:49:46,000 figure out who's going to take the check, you know, And so let 674 00:49:46,039 --> 00:49:49,960 me tell you how these things work. We hear a lot of noise and 675 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:53,280 a lot of bs until it comes real time. We thought James Harden was 676 00:49:53,320 --> 00:49:58,840 going back to Houston, and then Houston hired Emai Udoka, and that was 677 00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:04,400 the wrong coach to be trying to have a reunion with James Harden. So 678 00:50:05,920 --> 00:50:08,920 you never know when the bag, the bag that you thought you was going 679 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:14,440 to get based off of what some reporter was willing to print four months ago, 680 00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:19,000 disintegrates when the time comes to really make your decision. So I expect 681 00:50:19,039 --> 00:50:22,639 Paul George, and I think the Clippers kind of expect Paul George to opt 682 00:50:22,639 --> 00:50:28,480 out to test this thing, But I'm gonna see who when it really comes 683 00:50:28,519 --> 00:50:31,679 down to it, is really trying to give Paul George a blank check to 684 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:37,840 leave everything behind because it will hurt Paul if he's got to leave. Man, 685 00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:44,840 he got family here, new family, blood family. You know, 686 00:50:45,280 --> 00:50:49,000 he really cares about the dudes that he's been playing with, cares about Kawhi, 687 00:50:50,239 --> 00:50:54,679 the relationship with him and Tilu coaches Paul hard, but Paul has always 688 00:50:54,840 --> 00:50:59,920 taken to that positively. The relationship there is not going to be white. 689 00:51:00,039 --> 00:51:05,719 Paul leaves, like, I look at all the factors and Paul knows that, 690 00:51:06,320 --> 00:51:10,880 like maybe the championship window law. Murray said that that ship's closed. 691 00:51:10,960 --> 00:51:15,360 But like, and I know Paul is really thinking hard about, Hey, 692 00:51:15,360 --> 00:51:20,519 if I go somewhere else, is gonna be younger teammates, healthier teammates, 693 00:51:20,880 --> 00:51:24,039 guys who you know might maximize in the spring where he hasn't had a chance 694 00:51:24,079 --> 00:51:29,679 to do that with Kawhi. I see all that, but let's see what 695 00:51:29,719 --> 00:51:31,960 it really looked like, because it ain't. Like I keep saying, Chuck 696 00:51:32,159 --> 00:51:37,360 Grass ain't always green On the other side, and pg's already been called out 697 00:51:37,639 --> 00:51:42,599 by high level players for quote unquote running from the grind right, like you're 698 00:51:42,639 --> 00:51:45,800 gonna go to Joel MB's scene. I ain't never seen Joel and be healthy 699 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:49,719 in the playoffs, Right, you're gonna go to You're gonna go to New 700 00:51:49,840 --> 00:51:55,199 York like Julia what happened to the playoffs? Julius Randew healthy in the playoffs? 701 00:51:55,239 --> 00:51:59,559 And Tims is the coach? Is gonna coach Paul George. Oh, 702 00:51:59,559 --> 00:52:06,320 you're gonna like forty minutes, Yeah, you're go on MLKDA bro, Like 703 00:52:07,079 --> 00:52:10,960 you're gonna go to Orlando. Them mos, them moos just just got their 704 00:52:10,960 --> 00:52:14,960 first taste. Like, Okay, you're gonna go there and be the guy 705 00:52:15,039 --> 00:52:17,960 like I think Orlando makes the most sense if you're gonna leave like good weather, 706 00:52:19,239 --> 00:52:23,079 no taxes, a coach that ain't embarrassed himself yet. Uh like young 707 00:52:23,840 --> 00:52:28,599 big big dudes right like you ain't. You ain't gotta worry about playing the 708 00:52:28,599 --> 00:52:30,159 three or the four down there. You want to play the two, go 709 00:52:30,159 --> 00:52:35,480 ahead, play the like Jalen Suggs. He'll chase and hit anybody you want 710 00:52:35,559 --> 00:52:38,239 down there. You know what I'm saying. That's the threat. And again 711 00:52:38,360 --> 00:52:40,880 it comes down to, bro, do you want to go to Orlando? 712 00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:45,639 You wanna go to Orlando, You're gonna say goodbye and you're gonna have to 713 00:52:45,639 --> 00:52:50,400 come back and you're gonna get a thirty second tribute video and into it, 714 00:52:50,440 --> 00:52:54,000 don't bro, So like, uh, Chuck, you're gonna have to clip 715 00:52:54,039 --> 00:52:59,559 all this off because it's real talk. Though it's real talk. So I 716 00:52:59,599 --> 00:53:04,840 think that's why the Clippers are like they're gonna courteously, gently but directly be 717 00:53:04,920 --> 00:53:07,760 like Paul, if you opt out, we're gonna be here, bro, 718 00:53:07,159 --> 00:53:10,400 Yeah, we're gonna be here with the same offered as me here. And 719 00:53:10,440 --> 00:53:15,119 it's gonna be up to you to decide how much it really means to you 720 00:53:15,159 --> 00:53:20,400 to take that last big bag somewhere else, just so you can say that 721 00:53:20,440 --> 00:53:25,639 you mixed. I mean, that's a fantastic breakdown of it. And now 722 00:53:25,719 --> 00:53:30,039 James Harden, is there a team I was rattling this round. Is there 723 00:53:30,039 --> 00:53:38,239 a team that can offer James Harden enough money and also a chance at winning 724 00:53:38,280 --> 00:53:43,639 a ring? Then the Clippers can because it doesn't maybe Orlando, but it 725 00:53:43,719 --> 00:53:47,440 doesn't. See you know what I mean. It feels like this he should 726 00:53:47,440 --> 00:53:51,480 stay is what I'm called, like three for one ten, three for one, 727 00:53:51,599 --> 00:53:55,239 twenty line it up with Kawhi's contract. I don't know, maybe it 728 00:53:55,280 --> 00:53:59,639 seems too easy in my head because I've been thinking of the Paul George negotiations 729 00:54:00,079 --> 00:54:04,119 Kevin Garnett. When you wiggle your way out, you only got one or 730 00:54:04,119 --> 00:54:08,559 two wiggles, You ain't got infinite wiggles. I'm just gonna stand on business 731 00:54:08,559 --> 00:54:15,360 with that, because James don't. Everything just made sense for James, Unlike 732 00:54:15,920 --> 00:54:23,639 Paul, James has been through this time and time again over the last four 733 00:54:23,760 --> 00:54:28,800 years. Man. He was with the Rockets in twenty twenty, the Nets 734 00:54:28,800 --> 00:54:34,119 in twenty twenty one, the Sixers by you know, twenty twenty two, 735 00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:38,199 and then he opted out and did the sacrifice, and that costs Sixers money, 736 00:54:38,199 --> 00:54:43,000 and that obviously played a role in how the last summer went. In 737 00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:46,920 twenty twenty three, he's literally on his fourth team in five years. Really, 738 00:54:46,960 --> 00:54:50,760 we can don't even need five, we could. He started the year 739 00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:53,679 in Houston, even though he won it out again that year. So I 740 00:54:53,800 --> 00:54:58,800 just don't think James wants to keep doing this. Like I got to be 741 00:54:58,920 --> 00:55:01,880 around James quite a bit bit, even though you know, again, I 742 00:55:01,920 --> 00:55:07,039 don't show nobody favoritism. You'll never like again, y'all see me, y'all 743 00:55:07,039 --> 00:55:10,880 see me right, y'all see me on social media. I clearly am the 744 00:55:10,920 --> 00:55:16,280 opposite of an agenda writer. Okay, Like I'll ask anybody anything and I 745 00:55:16,320 --> 00:55:21,239 won't Yeah, like I don't hit peace, but I also ain't here you 746 00:55:21,320 --> 00:55:24,199 describe what's happening, you're I'll let you know. I'll let you know, 747 00:55:24,519 --> 00:55:29,360 so like it's not like you know, James is going to be hitting me 748 00:55:29,480 --> 00:55:32,360 up after the pot, you know what I'm saying. However, I really 749 00:55:32,559 --> 00:55:37,880 got to be around James on and off the floor multiple times, like he 750 00:55:37,360 --> 00:55:42,599 was comfortable and happy with how he was moving, and he and t Lou 751 00:55:42,960 --> 00:55:47,559 like considering James literally has head coaches that go on TV talking about how much 752 00:55:47,599 --> 00:55:52,480 they didn't like coaching James Harden, you know what I'm saying, Like James 753 00:55:52,480 --> 00:55:57,840 and TLU got along very well, and TLU relied on James more than Telu 754 00:55:58,039 --> 00:56:01,760 even relied on Kohi or p Like James was playing forty minutes in the damn 755 00:56:01,760 --> 00:56:07,480 playoffs and was playing well. Yeah, him were great. James didn't play 756 00:56:07,679 --> 00:56:10,960 poorly in the playoffs until Game five. By my estimation, Game five, 757 00:56:12,039 --> 00:56:15,800 James was terrible. But even Game six, James had thirteen assists, while 758 00:56:16,199 --> 00:56:20,880 you know, his co star wasn't shooting the ball or taking the ball by 759 00:56:20,880 --> 00:56:22,679 his horns. And I don't even put that on Paul George, like Paul 760 00:56:23,440 --> 00:56:27,679 unless Paul said that PJ. Tucker should start Game six, like that didn't 761 00:56:27,679 --> 00:56:30,800 happen, And so like, I just feel like I'm not really looking at 762 00:56:30,840 --> 00:56:36,320 realistic ways where James doesn't stay with the Clippers, like the relationship was there 763 00:56:36,599 --> 00:56:40,280 Bomber, You know, Bomber knows what it is, Like he knows what 764 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:45,719 it is. He's not even really a factor here. The front office loves 765 00:56:45,800 --> 00:56:51,280 James, like James was the ideal guy to bring to the team to play 766 00:56:51,280 --> 00:56:54,639 point guard when they already had a starting point guard. Bro okay, and 767 00:56:54,679 --> 00:56:59,840 then you saw how it was to everybody else, Like there's a conversation about, 768 00:57:00,079 --> 00:57:04,000 you know, James and PA's connection. But James made things pretty easy 769 00:57:04,000 --> 00:57:08,119 on Kawhi, and so the means of getting James meant that you were short 770 00:57:08,239 --> 00:57:13,760 at the wing, the big foard position, and they never fixed that and 771 00:57:13,760 --> 00:57:15,519 now is part of the heart attacks. But that's not James Harden's fault. 772 00:57:15,519 --> 00:57:19,079 I thought the trade was good. You gave up a lot to get him. 773 00:57:19,199 --> 00:57:22,480 Everyone knows what it is. He's from here, he's got roots here, 774 00:57:22,719 --> 00:57:24,960 he's old. He says he wants to retire here. There's really no 775 00:57:25,079 --> 00:57:29,679 reason for that not to happen. He hasn't been around long enough to say, 776 00:57:29,719 --> 00:57:32,719 oh, I wonder if this was no like like he didn't have a 777 00:57:32,760 --> 00:57:37,960 training camp with the Clippers. Right, the Clippers can legitimately go into next 778 00:57:37,000 --> 00:57:40,360 season and say, you know what, we're going to be five games better 779 00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:46,039 because we're not going to have a six game losing streak trying to integrate a 780 00:57:46,039 --> 00:57:50,719 new point card in November. Bro, Like, that's what you can reasonably 781 00:57:50,719 --> 00:57:53,119 go into next season saying if you can say you can bring James back, 782 00:57:53,360 --> 00:57:58,159 you can bring Paul back, and you can find the dude who has the 783 00:57:58,239 --> 00:58:02,039 Kawhi Leonard need voodoo though, do all that shit, and you can reasonably 784 00:58:02,119 --> 00:58:05,519 say, hey, we can be we can be better. We can at 785 00:58:05,599 --> 00:58:08,119 least be at the top four in the West again. And then it always 786 00:58:08,199 --> 00:58:10,800 comes down to the health. At that point, I'm not looking at James 787 00:58:10,880 --> 00:58:15,440 leaving the Clippers. There's just it just makes too much senser and to figure 788 00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:17,480 it out. Yeah, well, I'm happy to hear that. That's kind 789 00:58:17,480 --> 00:58:22,159 of where my head was at law. That about wraps things up. Thank 790 00:58:22,199 --> 00:58:27,760 you so much for coming on the show and talking Clippers. We love it. 791 00:58:27,800 --> 00:58:31,480 We usually have some kind of chip and dip combination because we are clips 792 00:58:31,480 --> 00:58:35,480 and dip. I didn't want to subject you to just watching me one on 793 00:58:35,480 --> 00:58:39,320 one eat chips and dip. Do you have any advice, insights, or 794 00:58:39,360 --> 00:58:43,840 thoughts about chip dip that you were a favorite dip perhaps that you would like 795 00:58:43,880 --> 00:58:47,199 to pass on to our listeners. Uh? Absolutely, nah not. I 796 00:58:47,639 --> 00:58:51,119 just say, you know, make sure you have a good glass of water 797 00:58:51,239 --> 00:58:54,079 or something. Man ain't nobody trying to choke on that stuff. So that's 798 00:58:54,119 --> 00:58:58,400 kind of nice. Yeah, I'm not I'm not a I'm not a dip 799 00:58:58,400 --> 00:59:01,199 person. I'm barely a chip person. You know, is dope. I 800 00:59:01,199 --> 00:59:07,199 appreciate y'all having We appreciate it. Please go ahead plug anything you would like 801 00:59:07,239 --> 00:59:12,119 to plug, any advice anywhere to find you so these people can get become 802 00:59:12,159 --> 00:59:15,519 better Clippers fans. Yeah, you know, so, Chuck and I was 803 00:59:15,519 --> 00:59:19,280 talking about the finals before I got on, and we ain't talked about that. 804 00:59:19,639 --> 00:59:24,639 I know y'all want to see two forwards at the three in the four 805 00:59:24,760 --> 00:59:29,920 spot, uh and and have a sign that that is going to work. 806 00:59:30,519 --> 00:59:35,239 Then it's clear what team y'all should be hoping gets through this thing. I 807 00:59:35,239 --> 00:59:39,519 think the Boston Celtics can be inspiring to the Clippers. So I'm going to 808 00:59:39,920 --> 00:59:44,039 just put that out there, and I'm also going to shout out all my 809 00:59:44,159 --> 00:59:47,840 guys at the Athletic covering the finals. Now, Tim Cato, who I 810 00:59:47,880 --> 00:59:52,719 hope that y'all saw. Tim Cato. He and I have a great connection 811 00:59:52,840 --> 00:59:57,840 every time it's Maverick's Clippers, So shout out to him. I'm excited that 812 00:59:57,920 --> 01:00:00,880 he's going to get to cover this, and and then y'all saw two years 813 01:00:00,880 --> 01:00:07,039 ago this when the Celtics made it to the finals. Jarrewis and Jking they've 814 01:00:07,039 --> 01:00:12,639 been here before, so I'm sure we had our national writers as well, 815 01:00:12,679 --> 01:00:16,599 and we have a great news desk and our outlet. Really we don't. 816 01:00:17,039 --> 01:00:20,840 We ain't here to blog, man, We ain't here to wait for someone 817 01:00:20,880 --> 01:00:24,400 to say something for us, or write something, or someone's ig story to 818 01:00:24,480 --> 01:00:30,039 be like, you know, someone break broke their silence on this shit. 819 01:00:30,320 --> 01:00:34,519 Like those dudes are really trying to put some different stuff out there, so 820 01:00:35,159 --> 01:00:39,599 support them, support me. I'm still writing, and we got a whole 821 01:00:39,639 --> 01:00:45,280 lot going on the month of June. There we go. We thank you 822 01:00:45,320 --> 01:00:47,440 so much. Check out the Athletic, check out all of Law's work. 823 01:00:47,880 --> 01:00:52,400 The Tripod is going to be back next week, assuming Will and Adam are 824 01:00:52,480 --> 01:00:55,000 okay and healthy. I think they are. You can find us on YouTube 825 01:00:55,000 --> 01:00:59,320 over at YouTube dot com, slash at Clippers Podcast. You can find us 826 01:00:59,360 --> 01:01:01,079 on Twitter at clippers Pod, and if you would like to argue with me, 827 01:01:01,519 --> 01:01:05,440 you can find me on Twitter at Chuck Mackler. Although I may mute 828 01:01:05,480 --> 01:01:07,719 you. Thank you for hanging out, and as always, let's go clips,