What is krack a lackin hardwood knocks For listeners, I am Damp Valley coming
at you without my fantabulous co host Adam Prommel. I am, however,
continuously excited to keep our team look ahead, train on the role. The
Washington Wizards are up next, and we brought on Quentin Mayo. He can
be found on Twitter at real Quinton Mayo. That's at r e A l
q U I N t O n m A y O. He's the host
of bet MGM Tonight. He's an overall Washington Wizards insider. Covers the team
for Blue Wire Pods during the regular season, which is also the umbrella under
which this podcast can be found. He is also covers basketball and betting at
large. For honesty, he does a lot, and he does it extremely
well. We had a great conversation about all things Wizards heading into the season,
tackled, of course, Bradley Beale's future, all that good important stuff.
Before we get started, just the usual yet salient reminder to please,
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Instagram as well at Hardwood, Underscore Knox. With all of the business out
of the way, or the unfun business, let's get to the super fun
business of talking a bunch of Washington Wizards with Quentin Mayo. Quentin, thank
you so much for coming on the Hardwoo Knox podcast. The first time that
I spammed your DMS and you answered and you came on, and I am
forever thankful for it already. How are you doing, I'm doing well.
Thank you for inviting me first and foremost. And you say spam dms like
it was a like like you reached out multiple times. It was one time.
I don't want people think you're thirsty into dms. I was very open
and willing to hawk one with you. I think people who listen to this
podcast know that I just feel like a perpetual infringement upon people's lives, So
one DM is considered spam from my book. I'm excited to talk about the
Wizards. They had a pretty boring offseason. Nothing happened there, just nothing
major. We have to start with the Rush trade. Yeah, what were
you? I think the biggest team has been everyone's excited or commended them for
They're so flexible long term, they can choose all these different directions. I'm
curious where you land on that, But I also want to know how you
feel about what it does for them in the present, because you can argue,
hey, they lost a star, but they also really deepened their rotation
by like four players as part of that transaction. And we'll probably talk about
this later, but it might be a little too deep, Like it's a
lot of depth, and you gotta get guys that can go out there and
play, and they have a lot of guys and pretty much the same positions.
But it did add a lot of flexibility to this team. I mean,
that's undeniable. Coming into this offseason, we were saying, okay,
well, Russ contract, it's untradeable. Bradley Bill is making an X amount
of money, Davis is making sixteen million a year. How can they take
the next step and add a player that's good enough to really elevate the floor
or the ceiling of this team. And it was hard. I mean,
Demarna Rosen was thrown around, but Damar wants X amount of money. How
does he fit in the cap? Is he gonna take a pay cut?
All these different type of players have been speculated, but for them to trade
Russ, it was kind of a mutual thing. And actually it was more
on the Rush side because Russ wanted to play in LA. Like that's the
fact of the matter. Russ wanted to go to LA and he wanted to
win. He wanted to play some meaningful basketball. And what he did in
DC will not be forgotten. I mean he I mean, watching Rush from
the outside, you're like, man, he just goes so hard, Like
you just think he goes so hard. He hustles harder than everybody else.
And that's who Russell Westbrooks been watching every single game from him here in DC.
I'm like, this is not something I think we'll ever see again in
the NBA. Like it's so rare for somebody to play the game like he
does, even with all the criticisms. So it was signed for him to
go and you know, being a place where he can chase the championship or
win a ring in and get that last I guess notch in his belt of
you know, on court accolades. So it was cool. It was a
good trade. I mean, Kyle Kuzman, you get back Spencer Dinwdy,
Montres, Harold KCP. I mean, the the listious feels like it goes
on forever. These are not just like young guys who haven't done anything.
Kuzma at one point we were talking about I remember reading articles about, you
know, Kuzman was better than Jayson Tatum, or Kuzma's ceiling is higher than
next player, and all these different things, especially this first year in the
league, and you know, he comes in with some experience or playing in
LA and playing with those basketball players like Braun and a d But now he's
kind of at appointed his career where he has to have his own identity Outside
of that, I think he adds a lot to this team. Spencer Dinwity
coming off the ACL, I think got a lot of nice pieces. So
I like the trade. I like that both sides worked on it. Brad
and Russ did talk about it before it happened, and it was just like,
hey, you ready, I want to go. Is that cool with
you? I mean, this is what I'm thinking, And Brad I was
like, yeah, it go do your thing, and it was kind of
a shake hands and love you for life and keep it keep it moving.
So the trade was cool. The team's flexibility is incredible. I mean,
even if you are not bought into this team at the trade deadline or for
whatever reason, if it's winning or not, you have some pieces that other
people will actually look for. Last year the trade deadline, people were talking
about, Oh, well, we could trade Dives, or we could trade
Garrison, or we could trade this player. I'm like, those guys are
cool if you're a Wizards fan, but outside of the DMV area, I
don't think anybody's really clamoring to trade for those guys to take them to the
next level. So now you have some pieces where you know, a little
highly sought out there, and especially in this situation, you could probably see
more of what they can do because they have more free rein to operate in
the offense and defensively. The Spencer genuine addition, I mean, the first
off, he's coming back for the Parsley Touring ACL. Is he's gonna be
under any significant limitations to start the season, not that I've heard, Not
that I've heard. He looks the best, and we just talked about this
before. This is the best he's looked since for the for the ACL,
this is the best. But he looks really good. I think I've talked
to his trainer, Olin Simplest, the guard Whisper, and that's also his
uncle, and like the way he works is kind of freaky. Like I
know, we talked about the players work ethics, especially when you get to
the NBA, it's just a different level of work. But he's been really
grinding, like three workouts today, especially recovery and rehab, and seeing him
in practice, he's been He's been phenomenal. Like I mean, talking to
the players, talking to Brad, even talking to Spence just feels good.
I don't think there'll be any limitations. He wants to play in preseason.
Will we see him play in preseason? I think so maybe a couple of
games or one game towards the end part of that, especially because this team
is I think mentally all the injuries that they went through in past years,
in previous years, this is a big year for that organization, so you
don't want any setbacks. But he looks good. I think he won't have
I don't think you'll have any limitations in terms of playing time or things like
that. How do you like his fit with the roster? And I'm wondering
when people see in a Clendre knowing he's also had a previous A C.
L Indre, all those red flags pop up. His game has never really
been prided on a ton of explosion, and so I wouldn't work too much
about it. But I am wondering if the offense ends up missing like that
pure raw rim pressure Russell Westbrook put on the basket, because they don't you
look at this, They have a ton of players on this roster now,
and like, I don't know who their best guy to put pressure on.
Is it Beal? Is it Aaron Holliday at this point, because it doesn't
feel like it's going to be Spencer didn't withy. Yeah, putting pressure on
a defense or you're saying, like pressure in the rebounding department of grabbing boards
that rusk draw, I'm sorry, like putting pressure on the defense around the
boat that reaction when he gets in the lane is it's obviously in parallel,
but it feels like they don't have that, like ball hander was going to
put a ton of that raw room pressure on the opposing defense. Yeah,
I'd agree. I think, like you said, Spencer's game is not necessarily
finesse, but it's more of controlled. Uh, it's it's a smarter game,
it's a it's a he has like a deceiving athleticism about him. He
does he does playmate well, So I think that is not anywhere near Russ's
just sheer, explosion, downhill slashing play style. But you're right, I
don't think they have like one player that can that can come in and give
you what Russ did in that department. But one thing that they are going
to try to do even more this year is just the ability to have like
Daniel gafferd playing more extensive minutes and being the role man. But now you
have more options around the perimeter that can help you keep that floor spread open
to where you know, last year they were playing all defensive, we're just
playing off of the threes. Like even Dabby's who two years ago was probably
one of the best three point shooters in the league. Last year didn't even
look like himself. People were just playing off of these guys. This year,
you do have some talented perimeter shooting to where you get more one on
one matchups, especially coming down in the inside the lane. I think Brad
is also his pressure inside the paint is really good. He's one of the
more underrated finishers in the league. I believe on the mid range game is
literally his bread and butter. Right now, we talk about, you know,
in terms of his scoring ability. He came to the league as a
spot up three point shooter. Like he was just a knockdown three point shoot.
That was his thing. He hasn't shot the ball well from three point
range probably the past two years. His numbers have steadily declined. Now,
is that because of the fact that he's been probably the only option and he's
have to do even more probably so, But you know, this year he's
a true three level score. I think he pressures defenses and with Spencer,
didn't we just play making. One thing I love from him is when he
beats a man around the perimeter, which we'll have to see this year if
he can do because the ACL will alter the stop start just a little bit.
Is the way he can just effortlessly find a cutting man, or he
can the lot his lob throwing ability, I mean I saw it in Brooklyn,
Like it's crazy when you go back can watch these games. His vision
is really good. So you gotta room running threat like Daniel Gafford. I
think that helps out a lot. So nobody can just one piece can make
up for Russell Westbrook. But I think, you know, schematically and with
the playmaking ability that they have around the perimeter, it should be able to
do something. Daniel Gafford was one of the players that I was worried about
with Rousse's departure because Westbrook assisted on so many of his buckets last year during
that like Ron, where Gafford was spectacular for the Wizards, it does feel
like did what he can be that it's a different type of playmaking, but
I do think that they can establish that connection. I am curious as to
what you're looking for or what the Wizards need to be looking for from Daniel
Gafford in year two with him to actually view him as the center of the
future, because it was a relatively small sample size with which they were working
last season after the trade deadline. Conditioning, conditioning, conditioning and conditioning.
Last year. I mean asking anybody around DC, you love Daniel Gafford,
but he had problems finishing games, and that's probably because of the fact that
he came from Chicago. He wasn't playing a lot of basketball, so he
comes from Cogle. Now he's in a situation where oh, now I'm the
starter, Like, now I have to be out here for this amount of
time and they want me to close games. In the way he plays the
game, it's so fast he gives like he's sprinting up and down the floor.
The bunnies are there, like his athleticism is through the roof. But
you gotta be able to finish games. So now coming into this season,
all I've heard from you know, players and also coaching staff members is that
he's the starting center, like he's the starting guy in Montrez would come off
the bench to to, you know, relieve him at some point. Then,
of course, Thomas Bryant is working back from his injury. He'll be
back in the fold at some point. But Daniel Gaffard has to be able
to stay on the court and be and have that wind about him. He
said he's been working on it this offseason. He said, we can't really
tell until he gets thrown into the fire, which is a great answer,
because you can work and you do win sprints, but you gotta be able
to go out there and show it in a real game like scenario. So
I think another thing that he's worked on this year is just also his jump
shot. I mean, every every center is working on the jumper. You
want to be a more diverse basketball player. And I'm not saying he's gonna
go shoot three jumpers a game or anything like that, or I sole in
the posts over the left shoulder fade or anything of that nature, but you
know, just being a more diverse basketball player. But what he did last
year is something that will has been needed in Washington since I don't know when,
I mean March and Gore. Todd was probably the last realm rim running
threat. You like a rim running threat, but he had an excellent finishing
around the room and he can knock down middies, and since then you haven't
had a true skywalker like Daniel Gafford. So play exactly how he played last
year and then just be able to be available. Your best ability is availability,
and you can't get taken out of games, you know, on a
two point game in the fourth quarter, because you can't breathe like that just
can't happen. Do you view embers someone who can be like a viable backline
rim protector on the defensive end for them? Yeah, I do. And
it's and it's kind of it's kind of scary because I feel like when you
do cover a team, you kind of you start to get closer to the
guys, and you get closer to the team to where you start thinking,
maybe you think a little more highly of them than they are. But I
feel like there's a true gym defensively and Daniel Effort. I saw some plays
and some blocks that he made last year when Zion Williamson had the rim that
I haven't seen any guys make since I've been watching, you know, whenever
Zion actually plays basketball like I've seen, I've seen him play, like,
play some good defense in a lot of tricky spots. I've seen him get
beat, but take one stride from the freak go line extended into the block
and get a chase down in the half court setting. Like I've seen him
do freaky things defensively. So, like I said, if he can have
the win to do it, I think he's a probably the best defensive center
they've had in a long time. And I know that puts a lot of
pressure on Dai Gaffert, especially so young in his career, but he has
the tools. He just has to be able to put it together and stay
out there on the court. Yeah, his ability to cover ground north south
without a headstart was like crazy farming. Yeah, it's really weird. In
my question, not make this podcast eight hours long because they have so many
new additions sandwiching that together. Aside from Dinwoody, who ends up being,
in your opinion, the most important or most impactful new player on this roster
there? Man, I think it's I think it's honestly a toss up between
Contavious Callwell, Pope and Kyle Kuzma and a lot of people who haven't talked
about KCP this offseason as much as Kuzma because I guess the name isn't as
sexy as a Kyle Kuzma. Like KCP was never averaging it is too he
said what KCP tweets last I think too. Absolutely, he's not. He's
not doing runway shoots and all that stuff. Even kuz everybody has a thing
and that's causes thing, but KCP is more low key. But I think
the veteran presence that he does bring to that locker room and also just his
ability to shoot, and he's an underrated defender as well. They need perimeter
defending. Last year, the perimeter defending of Washington was probably one of the
most glaring issues. The pick and roll defense was future Like it almost made
me throw up watching them, Like I was watching my analysis before h this
podcast, just watching some analysis from last year's team, and I was just
like, this is the worst basketball I've ever watched defensively, And it's true,
they need perimeter defenders. I think KCP can stress the floor, knock
shot down, and play some defense. But Kuzman is the wild card because
we have seen Kuzman get real buckets now defensively, you know, that's another
story, but we've seen Kuzman getting real buckets to the point where I'm like,
how does he fit into a Washington system where you know, the only
time we've really seeing Kuzman in his bag is when the offense was all his,
like there was nobody else there to step on his toes. How do
you come into a situation now to where you're playing a second, third fiddle
to a superior basketball player and you now have a defined role in LA It
was like, Okay, one night, we need to be the point guard.
Next night, we need to go stand in the corner. Next night,
we need to do all these different things. You have a defined role.
You're the helper now, like, can you still be impacward? Do
you know how to be a role player or are you always having your eyes
set on being the superstar. That's the biggest question for kuz But I think
he has the tools to be whatever he wants to be. He just has
to know how to fulfill his role and do it with a smile. Like
like, if you're not getting seventeen shots tonight, cous but you're playing good
defense and you give me fifteen points and a couple possessions where you're playing locked
in defense, that's what this team needs. They don't need Kuzman to average
twenty four like that. That's just not what they need. So what you
said about KCP, I think is spot on, because like he LA had
one of the best defenses in the league last year, even when the Nyas
wasn't on the court and it was KCYP was routinely covering some of the like
the toughest option on the other team. I still think he was their third
most important player when they won the title in twenty twenty five. I think
it's going to be him, especially based off what you said about Washington's perimeter
defense. I do think there's the potential for it to be Kuzma because he
has improved positionally on defense. And I'm probably not as low on you as
you were on what he did like as a complimentary offensive player with the Lakers,
except that I'm with you where he feels like this unformed offensive player still
where there was year one where he could score all those strump scratch buckets and
then he hasn't really had the opportunity to do a bunch of that since then.
But he also when he's had the opportunity, hasn't done it well.
And so I'm curious if you think is Washington going to put him in more
of the position like you mentioned, to be predominitely more of a catching shooky
or playoff others, or do you think because the packing loater after Bell after
didn't what he couldn't get a little spoty, do you think that they're going
to ask him to maybe do a little bit more with the ball in his
hands. I do think so. So One thing wes Unso Junior said when
he came in is that he wants to take less. He wants to take
more off the plate of Brad Like last year, it's just straight isol basketball,
Brad pinned down triple handoff, straight dho action, Like that's it's just
boring basketball. We've seen it before. There wasn't a lot of ball movement.
He West has gone as far as saying less playing time for Bradley Bill,
like in more off false a movement for Brad and not just being the
primary ball handler. And that fits perfectly into incorporating guy like Kuzma who needs
both, like he needs to know that he's offensively inclined and can't go get
buckets, but also know how to how to be that compliment, how to
set those screens and do those things, especially at his size, like it's
crazy he's six foot ten, Like it's kind of weird when you look at
him on film, Like is he really that tall? Like he's legit that
tall. So I think with the new offense is being brought in, he'll
have a lot of chances to have options like if he's the if it's a
dribble handoff, or if he has to set a screen, or if he
has to initiate the next play, he can look at whoever's on him or
get switched on and say, oh I can get a bucket real quick,
and that allows the offense to be more free flowing and have more options.
So I think he will get that opportunity. And also we haven't talked about
the fact that rue hodch Moore still doesn't report to camp. Ruyhadh Moore is
supposed to be a starter and he's still not here. So you know,
the last thing I heard that he's going through some taking care of his mental
health. But if he doesn't show up the camp, it doesn't look like
they're gonna have a starting four and Kyle Kuzma that's gonna be a lot of
responsibility off off from the break. I don't think Dobbies would get that start
because Darbies can't play any defense, But I think Kuzma is probably in that
starting slot and that's good for him, especially coming into this situation this offseason
the way he did. How does do you see that front court rotation sort
of shaking out for the Wizards? Then, and I guess, and there's
the intern without Rui, and then long term, assuming Rui does eventually join
the team. It's so weird because the depth is crazy because when I look
at it black and white, I've tend to name names, and forget that
Thomas Bryant is coming back at somewhere right right like right now, we do
have the fact that Daniel's gonna start, Montress is going to be the backup,
and then the four position you have probably like you said, Ruy's not
gonna be there, so Kyle Kuzma. And it's just it's a it's a
weird situation. Darby's is gonna come off the bench as well, but it
is Darby's gonna come in and play the three or is he gonna come in
and play the four? Because we can't really can't really get a stronghold on
who's gonna play what, So if anything, I would I would probably assume,
like I just said, uh, Gafford Trez at the four or five
at the five position? Excuse me? Then you got Ruey at the four
when he comes back and they coming off the bench, I think first off
the bench would probably be Kyle Kuzma, and then Davis is still like an
odd man out to where where are you gonna get minutes for a guy who's
making the third most money on the team, Like it's it's that's why I
said it's almost too much up on the which his teams for everybody to get
minutes and be successful like that, they feel like they're built to consult,
like for a consolidation trade in the front court. I guess you could try.
I don't know how you feel about this. Playing a Ruey and or
a Kuzma more minutes at the three is how you open up minutes at the
four for Briton's I don't know that I like Ruey at the three. I
don't even really like Kyle Kuzim at the three, to be honest with you,
saying, and the thing with the thing with Ruy, we've been talking
about this for you know, since Ru's been drafted, is that people say
he has positionless potential and I think his foot speed is way too slow to
guard threes. Like I think he's great at guarding fours like that that's your
thing, Like he can maybe stick in there with fives, but like his
lateral quickness is not there. And what also, it gets to get factored
into this whole dynamic because you're missing some valuable practice time and playing time the
more minutes that you are out. So let's say he does come back after
preseason, what time have you spent practicing guarding threes. What time have you
spent practicing offensively operating at the three position? Like, it's not just an
easy switch. And it's funny that a lot of like more casual fans are
like, oh, he can just play right here or you can just play
right there. Well, that's a lifestyle change like that, that is very
different. Like you don't just say, oh, I'm gonna go from guarding
well Lebron James is a very extreme example, but going from guarding Lebrons and
now guarding guards like guarding Damarta Rosen. Damar would eat Ruy alive in one
on one situations and scenarios And that's a three. So, uh, it's
it's rough, it's a it's a rough position to be in. I think
Ruey is a four. But yeah, you definitely could slide him up and
down. I think I would have more faith in Kyle Kuzman to do that
just because of you know what he has shown previous years. Ruey's still so
young in his game, man, he still has a lot to work on,
uh, to stay on the floor and to hold down that starting position,
let alone moving positions up or down. What do you see let's just
a superwey reports is healthy and everything. What do you see his future as
on offense? Like based off what he can do? I've what I've watched
him. It's always felt when the balls in his hands, it feels like
there's a nice feel there. But I also don't understand what I'm watching a
lot of the time, if that makes any sense. No, that's that's
the Rue experience so far. And one thing with Rue is that compidence is
ninety percent about like with anything. I think he's as skilled as anybody at
that position at his age. I think he could he could do a lot
of special things, but he just has to learn not to defer. And
I think a little bit of that changes this year with a new coaching staff
and a new system, because last year is just so much ISO basketball that
guys are just like, all right, like I need to get Brad the
ball and get out the way. This year is like everybody, we want
you to make your own decisions as a basketball player out there on the floor.
And Brad, I mean, when Brad gets the ball to Ruey,
it has to be all right, I'm at the left block, this is
what my I'm gonna do and if they can't stop it, I'm gonna keep
doing it over and over again. Sometimes he'll come out hot in the first
quarter. If he doesn't get a few touches in the second, you know,
Ruey disappears to maybe the second half, and you can't have that.
He has to continue to be aggressive. But I think if he has the
competence in the aggression, the skill is right there, the length is there.
I also would like to see him have a little more creativity around the
rim. Right now, he's very linear. He's very straight up and down.
I mean even on fast breaks. I kind of know what he's gonna
do. Every time he doesn't have a euro step, he's just gonna try
to put his shoulder down and lay the ball up. He doesn't have any
wiggle left or right. Some creativity around the rim, and that comes with
just, you know, growing in the league and knowing that you're not a
n Zaga playing against these uh you know, the younger guys, the smaller
guys where you can just power over them. You have to have a little
more creativity and wiggle. So I think he's working on those things, and
when he comes back, you have to display that. And I really wish
he was in training camp right now with West because west his focus this offseason
has been teaching the young guys like the bets are bets and we can work
on that. But he's been really breaking things down for the young guys so
their growth, like you're only as good as the last player on your bench.
And I think Ruy could really do well being coached by West because West
has been implementing a lot of good stuff for the younger guys. He's not
mentioned waching staff a bunch of times and that, Yeah, I think you
can get me to say that, by the way they pay me to say
that. Yes, what what material changes do you think we can expect to
the way that the Wizards are playing under west Son Junior? Because these coaches,
the first time head coaching hires are always interesting because there are people that
are going to pretend they know what they're talking about with it. I have
no idea what to expect from him. I know what I've heard about,
what he's done, what his reputation is. But I'm always you know,
as someone who's just not super exs and oozy to begin with, you have
this new coach plug in there, I'm very curious to see what's different about
this Wizard's team on the court under west On Seljr. Yeah, we we're
going off of what we've heard so far, because, like I said,
this is not just his first time coaching the Wizard. This is this first
time being a head coach. Like you just said in general, So even
what you did in Denver or back when he was with Washington back in the
day. You know, how do you do that when you are the man?
How do you how do you walk in and implement whatever your vision is
for the team. It's it's very uh, it's it's a very fine line
to tread because you've never been in that situation. So watching him closely,
I just know one thing that he is put an emphasis on his defense.
Like this team's defense, Oh my gosh, I mean, I don't even
know where to start. It makes me sick. The defense was that bad.
It's probably it's crazy. And one thing that they did poorly last year's
their pick and roll defense. They switched a ton like they switched every every
time the screen comes in, they're switching. And when you have a lot
of young players and then a lot of switching going on, it's so easy
to get lost from the sauce. They're not gonna switch nearly as much this
year. Your manage your man. You are a capable defender. You stick
in front of your man, and if you need help, let somebody know.
But you're gonna be on this island until you're until we see that you
can't anymore. So less switching is number one, more ball movement, more
creativity. I don't think you're I don't think the NBA is ready to see
this version of Bradley Bill off the ball because he hasn't played off the ball
since prime John Wall and that was a very long time ago, so it
feels like forever ago, and seeing Brad off the ball, it's easy to
guard brad when you're watching him bring the ball up the floor. And then
he said, you get a screen set for him. You just got to
stay in front of him. But like what if you lose sight of him.
He hasn't been able to move off the ball, pin downs and all
those stuff in a very long time. And I think with that being the
case now, with other capable players and shooters and guys who know who they
are as players, especially around the perimeter, and that identity. They don't
look to Brad be like, all right, let me get Brad the ball.
It's like, oh, I can get a bucket, like this is
what I do, and that makes for a more widespread offense. Somebody asked
me a couple of weeks ago, I think I was on with Slam and
they asked about him, Well, Brad average thirty again this year. I
think Brad actually leads has the shortest odds or the best odds to lead the
league of scoring this year. And I said, I think he could average
thirty again this year. But if he's averaging thirty, the team's not winning
a lot of games because of the fact that he should not have to do
that this year. If Brad gives you twenty five, twenty six, twenty
seven, that's where you want him to be because a lot of these other
guys are capable scores. They're capable shooters, and they've shown it. It's
not just off of what we saw in college or what we think they can
do in film. They've done this. They're they're championship winners in this locker
room that had operated at the highest level in an offense. So Brad keeping
his number down I think his point slope is gonna come down. But that's
gonna be perfect for what the Washington Wizards want because it's a more widespread offense
from top to bottom. So we should expect to be more like an egalitarian
approach. But there's obviously Bradley Beale at the top of the packing uner even
Spencer Denuddy. But it's not going to be as maybe heliocentric because it was
last year. Absolutely, you know, you should never know, like it
shouldn't surprise you if KOLs goes off for twenty five one night and then the
next night. You know, we're looking at Corey Kissbert, who was their
first round draft pick. People forget because there's so many names in this locker
room. Corey Kisbert knocks down sixty three is the following game, and he
came off the bench. Like I think when you drafted Corey Kisbert, you
assumed that he would probably be put into the start line because they needed shooting
that bad. Now it's like, dang, where does Corey Kisbert fit.
They still got howld Netto, They got Aaron Holliday, who the kids,
the kids, the guys in the locker room love Aaron Holidays so far,
and I mean, I know he's not a flashy name, but he comes
to work and that's another option that you do have. It shouldn't surprise you
if the box score every night it's different, Like everybody should be able to
go off on their own. I was gonna ask you about that. Do
you view this team as having like enough secondary playmakers, guys who can actually
set other players up aside from Bimwoody and Beal And you know what does that
sort of inform about the type of role Aaron Holidays playing or how much they
were lying on how Willetto, who I've never viewed as he had a great
season last year. That guy wears other players skins on defense, but I've
just never view him as like that table setter on offense. And so I'm
curious as to where you land on like the structure there that they have of
secondary offensive playmaking. Yeah, it's gonna be It's gonna be a challenge because
I do think even when saying like it's it's extremely localized for me to be
talking about how Netto did last year? Did this? Then if they're like
people were gonna be listening like whol like what did how will netto do?
Like and and like you said, he was probably the team's one of the
team's best defenders last year, which is crazy because I don't even think he's
six two, like he's under six foot three. I'm he's incredible. But
seeing what they can do with playmaking outside of Brad and Spencer Dinwoody on that
bench's going to be interesting because they have a loggedym at the forward position,
not the point guard position. So that's gonna be something west Unsel Junior has
to come up with on his own. Merit. Hey, that's a that's
a great question. That's that's a really good question. We'll have to see
what that second unit does look like. And of course you get staggering and
you do all these different things with your starters, but yeah, that second
unit. Who runs that second unit? I mean, how wool has had
history and doing so, but how Old is more of a scoring guard,
like he's not, He's not more of a facilitating point guard. Aaron Holliday
can play decent defense as well, but they're both kind of more like undersized
combo guards to me, and with a lean to the scoring department. So
we'll have to see how that shakes out for them. Denny Avya is he's
gonna have any restrictions coming off that fracture foot. And he's also someone who
know sandwiching that discussion together, I thought maybe perhaps not immediately, but watching
him, I know he didn't necessarily have the ball in his hands enough,
but he felt like someone who might be able to step up and fill this
void eventually for the Wizards as that secondary type of playmaker. Yeah, it's
crazy. I feel like I need to apologize. I keep forgetting about all
these the names on this team, like Denny Is. When we talked to
West the first day of training camp, what he brought up was Denny Optia
as a secondary ball handler like that, and that's something that Denny was marketed
as and has branded himself as since coming out of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the
draft, and I think he is capable of that now. Healthwise, he
looks good. He hasn't participated in any five on five with the players with
the guys out there, but he has been running three on threes, five
and fives with coaching staffs and stuff like that, and he looks good.
I talked to him the other day I think you can probably expect him playing.
If not, the first piece is the game against Houston, I think
the second game against the New York Knicks. But he's good to go.
I mean, his recovery has been good and they expect a lot out of
him, especially right now with what they saw it up him last year.
West un still speaks highly of him, so he will have opportunities to become
the secondary ball handler, especially with that second unit, something that fans and
it's so much for him last year because it's funny, when they drafted him,
a lot of fans were like, who is Denny I deal like,
especially not because of the fact that he was from overseas, but he was
projected to go top five, So for him to slide in the draft,
Whizards fans weren't looking that high about God, oh these guys are locked up.
Let's see who are actually going to be projected to come to our team.
And last year you're like, oh, they drafted Denny. He's a
playmaker. And then you get him and then Scott Brooks sticks him in the
corner and says, hey, you need to shoot threes all game, every
game. It's like, that's never what he's done, like you watched the
film. Even when you talk to Timmey Shepard the GM on Draft night,
he said he's a positionless basketball player. He can be that playmaker and he
never got that opportunity when Scott was here. So look for him this year
to be able to do that. And also they're gonna lean him. They're
gonna because the depth, They're gonna work these guys in slowly, like I
feel. I feel like they feel comfortable, especially this year, slow walking
a lot more of these guys due to injuries than they did last season.
It's good to know because I was pleasantly I didn't I get like shin deep
into the draft and then I'll do crash courses afterwards. I was surprised at
how like not terrible he was on defense last year too, And when you
look at the fewer death I was worried that maybe is he going to be
someone coming off an injury being only a sophomore. This team has, like
I guess, semi immediate expectations that could he get squeezed. But it sounds
like what you're saying, he won't be, And I think that's smart because
he just looks like there's gonna be a really good basketball player in there soon,
not already. Absolutely a lot of he was mad last year a lot
because he got called for fouls a lot of especially on defense, and it
was like, I think he has the potential to be a really good defender,
but sometimes here a short end of the stick. You're a rookie like
this is this is just what happens. And also with the position that you
were kind of being expected to guard. If his size, you've got some
really wily veterans that are going to get those calls more often times than not.
So this year is another year for him. He's definitely trying to decrease
the fouling and that's something that Russell Westbrook talked to him a lot about before
he left. Didn't even shout it out Russell Westbrook in his press conference last
week and just saying helping him become more mentally tough and also defend without fouling
is one thing or two things that he's focused on this offseason. I didn't
see them westper comment where if Westbrook influenced Denny Audias approached at all, that'll
be very interesting to watch. Yeah, that's that'd be crazy that'd be really
crazy to watch. I didn't send this to you in the outline, but
do you think this team should have taken a bigger swing than Kissbert in the
draft at number fifteen? Also sort of knowing like at that point, like
we knew what was happening with Russell Westbrook, like we knew what the Wizards
were doing. To me, it felt like, yeah, maybe Kissberg ends
up being able to play a little bit more right away, but as you
mentioned the rotation where he should play, we'll be really crowded at full strength.
I'm just wondering if they should have, like, should they have taken
the project if it was like a Jail and Johnson like the like the Hawks
did, or even like a you know when Usman Garuba, who I couldn't
believe fell as far as you get guys who might not give you a return
on investment as soon. But this it felt like a very wind now draft
pick for a team that was veering away from any defined timeline. Yeah,
the biggest issue that they had last year was shooting. Like the shooting board
is terrible. So that was the number one I think thing on their list
was we need somebody that can shoot the ball, and Corey kissber felt that
fit that mold. Another thing with Washington is that with ted Leons's and Tommy
Shepard, they're really huge on image and off court presence and just the ability
to come in and be a professional. If you look at Corey Kisberty,
if you look at Denny Abdia, look at Rui Hachimura, you kind of
fit a mold of guys who, Okay, they're seilings may not be as
high as X player X, but they're never gonna give you any issues off
the floor and you haven't heard anything about them negatively wise in terms of personality
with the what was it Jalen Johnson? I love Jalen Johnson. I thought
his athleticism was crazy. I love that he that Atlanta picked him up.
But with Jalen Johnson, I mean it's hard to north the fact that people
are like, did he quit on do? Because he always has an issue
everywhere he goes and does he have an attitude problem? And with some organization
that are willing to say, hey, we can take a swing, I
think he's talented. Bring him in this organization, and I don't care what
would happened prior to this position. We love you, we're gonna take care
of you, We're gonna give you all the things that you need to succeed,
and some organizations really succeeded that Washington doesn't want to have to deal with
that. I mean especially, I think something has to be said for like
what happened with John Wall, like that kind of left a really bad taste
in ted Leons's mouth to where he's like, you know, I don't want
anything off the court to impact this team. Like if we're gonna lose or
if we're gonna win, it's gonna be because you know, we did it
with players that were available and just didn't you know, live up to the
expectations or exceeded their expectations. But it's not gonna be a guy that we
have personality questions with off the court. So that eliminates when you watch this
Wizard Team Draft of the Year, Like, man, I like Jalen Johnson,
but what is there one negative thing about him? Oh yeah, he's
probably not gonna be in DC. Like that's just kind of where we are
in terms of how they draft guys. And honestly, they love foreign guys
in DC. They love the Japanese market, the Israel market, Like they
just love that to expand to different continents and countries and nations, and that
that's kind of what DC is is a huge melting pot. And that's I
think another reason why you go with Denny and Ruey and the draft and courty
Kisberd. Of course courty Kisferd. But extreme is a good point too,
just inin someone looking move off the ball. This team, You've already mentioned
the defensive problems I had. It's still so weird. They finished outside of
garbage time sixteen in points loud per possession. I think I was inflated by
how the season sort of ended for them. Yeah, is the defense going
to be better this year? And like what like what what was the inflation?
Dude to like they were they did a good job. Opponents didn't get
a ton of shots to the rim last year, but they were finishing at
will once they did get there. It was just such an oddball defensive team
that I thought was bad, and then you look at the standing and it's
like they were around league average. I don't know what to make of that
size size. Scott Brooks ran a lot of three guard and four guard lineups.
Last year we talked to how would Netto last Friday, last Thursday,
and how Will Netto said the obvious. I'm a point guard and last year
I played the two, the three, and sometimes a fourth. Now I
don't know how many teams are playing how would Netto at the full at the
floor. It's ridiculous, and that those were things. The all side is
Schmidt, that is Schmith, how Will Netto and Russell, Westbrook and Bradley
build all on the floor. So times at the same time brad is six
three, russ is six two sixty three Ish, Schmith is six one,
and howld Netto is six two. You can't defensive wise, I think that
you can stop a team on a consistent basis with three guard lineups, especially
when they're that side. Typically, if you're gonna go with three guard lineup,
you want to go with more positionless guys that have some type of size
where they bring an expertise in a set area, and that's not what they
had last year. So I think with this year you do get a bigger
team. Starting with the point guard position. You got a big guard and
Spencive Denity didn't he's what six five sixty six. He's a big guard,
and not that he's been like this lockdown defender all his life, but it's
a different even when John was here, John is six three, Like it's
a different feel at the point guard position where you have a bigger guard.
Also, Bradley Bill's defense has to improved, like this is something that is
just known, Like when it's easy to talk about your lapses on defense,
when you have to do everything offensively, you kind of get a pass in
that department, And which is a lot of reason why people want to give
Brad dis respect. But then other fans and analysts, well Brad doesn't play
any defense. Well, Brad plays forty minutes and he's the reason why they
had like a hundred of these points, Like he's ninety percent of the reason
why y'all have even scored eighty. So his defense has to get better.
I think all those things kind of comes to fruition when you bring in west
an So junior who does recognize the flaws on defense. I don't think you're
gonna see many three guard lineups for West Lonsi junior this year. And I
think the switchiness, you're limiting that and you do just have more more talented
defenders just baseline, and I think that should be able to shoot them up
the ranking a little bit. I am contractually obligated to ask about Bradley Beale's
future. It does feel like ever since the reportion about that Russ tried to
get Bradley Beal to request to trade as well, which Russ might be the
worst star recruiter in the league. He tried to get team up with Kawai
and then Kawai stole Paul George Smokelama City. Now he tries to get Bradley
be able to leave Washington and that doesn't work out. But it feels like,
you know, if Bradley Beale decided to stay with this team through that,
it just feels like the noise is not as loud. But is this
still a fluid situation given he is entering a contract year or do you expect
him to sign an extension or is this just what we should I guess the
question is how likely is brad they be able to be wearing a wizard's jersey
after this coming season? Can I say like yes to every question you just
asked, because I think all of those things can be true. I think
it is still a very fluid situation. Like he wants to win games,
and if you're an organization that shows that you're not making strives to win,
then that makes you look that makes Brad look at the organization a little differently.
Now he's said on record a few times and off the record, well
I can't say what he said off the record, but he is said in
just conversation that you know, he wants to retire of Washington Wizard. He
wants that Jersey hung up in the Raptors and to be there for a long
time. They're the team that drafted him on his birthday. There's a huge
deal for him and they've just that's been a that's that's his life now.
And they offered them him the extension, which we all knew they would last
weekend, last Friday, last Thursday. But that's gonna sit there for a
little bit, I believe. I think that's gonna that's gonna sit there until
he feels as though we're moving in the right direction. Now. On paper,
this team looks better than last year, but we've I feel like you've
said that about this team every single season that Brad's been here. Is like
this team looks better and you're still, you know, fighting to get the
A seed you're in the play in situation. In playing scenario, I think
realistically, you want to look at this team and say, okay, can
we not play the best team in the playoffs round one? Can we be
a five seed? Can we be a four seed? Can we be a
top three seed? I think those are very lofty expectations, but that's what
the type of Brad, type of player Brad is is the type of team
he wants to have. He wants that to be to be matched. And
I think him and Dane major kudos to both of those guys, like they
are a different breed. They're so loyal. But the noise that you hear
now from the Dame side and who's extremely candid about what he feels in terms
of his future in Portland. It's the same thing with Brad. Brad wants
to be here, but he is not rushing to sign anything because of the
fact that you have to know that you're making the right decision and you can
get a lot of Like you can get a lot of money everywhere. Now,
like that's the thing. You can get a lot of money everywhere if
you can get a lot of money and win, great, that's what you
want to do. And if you can do that at home, excellent.
But so far they have to prove that they're building a team around him,
and Russ was a big swing and it kind of hurt Brad a little bit
because John was his dog. And then you have the season where everybody's down
with Covid and Dobby shows about a shape and shape and it's just a weird
season. But I think all the things you can say, it's a fluid
situation. Do I expect them to sign yes? Is it fluid? Yes?
Do I expect them to take his time? Yes? Do I expect
them to possibly look and take maybe take meetings at some point in time with
other teams. Absolutely? I expect all those things from Brad because you have
to at this point. Is it if you're him and you're looking at this
team? Is it? Can it be all about this season? Like if
let's say the Wizards are just like tenth or something around the trade deadline and
they don't have a clear path to moving up, well, is even type
of player that might look at what they're building and say, I can at
least see the vision here because like, even if they have their best season,
they're not gonna they're not going to be a championship contender right here.
And so I'm wondering that how that, you know, the long term sort
of factors in with he's getting a little older based in NBA years, like
that, how he sort of needs to weigh that. It's crazy at how
he's in year ten and he's twenty seven. That's he's twice seven, But
that's that's crazy. And he's the oldest guy on the team. Like that's
another thing. We don't talk like he's the bet and he's twenty seven years
old. But I think, yeah, I mean it has to be.
If I were him, I would look and say, okay, well we
have better players than we had last year. I think they're starting to realize
what we need and address those needs. A new coach also, I feel
like buys you a little more time if you're the Wizards and you're looking at
him and saying, okay, well what can West do in year one?
How do I like Western Sojo? I think the relationship with Scott Brooks for
a lot of players kind of soured, not negatively, but just you get
a little used to playing under a certain coach and you're not really being challenged
and you're not hearing a different voice. So you bring in a different voice
and you bring in a Flip Russell for all these different pieces. KCP and
him are really really tight best friends. Like that's a really big deal to
him to play with somebody. I think that even adds a little like that's
a that's a little addition to the time on Bradley Bill is playing with a
guy who now is your best friend. That that's something that he can get
behind and staying in DC. But if they're tenth to run the trade deadline,
I'm gonna have a lot to write about it, I feel like,
because that that is gonna be very disappointing on all fronts. You can never
predict injuries or anything like that, but yeah, it I don't think anything's
off the table if you're tenth at that point, do you cut some slack
to the roster age, or do you cut some slack to the first year
head coach or you're like, man, this is a swing and I thought
we had something, but I don't think these guys can really play, And
you know, it might be time for me to take my talent. Solseware
That get's really interesting if they all Suden are moving him with a half season
essentially left on his deal rather than you know, two seasons or a season.
Yeah, it's a tricky game. I plant this is we've reached a
cookie cutter portion of the podcast, right. I asked this on every single
look Ahead, and this is matchup based this question. I know. But
if you had to pick, what do you think ends up being their most
used or most effective crunch time unit with this roster, Spencer, Witty,
Bradley, Bill, Cantavious Carwell, Pope at the three. Caseyp's gonna start
this year. I don't think a lot of people realize that Casey is gonna
start at the four. I would love to say Ruey and then at the
five Daniel Gafford, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's Kus at the four.
Also, Cools brings a little more shooting at the four position, not
that he's an excellent three point shooter, but he can. He's a scorer.
He's more of a score and he's more app to go and get a
bucket than Ruey is at this point in his career. So probably say Spence,
Brad Kcpku's and Daniel Gaffer or those basically like four starters, and then
the four is going to be very like malleable, like would you expect Ruey
to start if he's with the team and then ready to go. I would,
Now if if Ruey shows up, you know after preseason, he's not
going to start, Like what I just know where that's not the kind of
guy. What's is where you can just come into camp and now be throwing
this to the fire like that. So he's gonna have to work for that,
especially because who's has been working his butt off too. But also the
five position is also kind of up in there because I think Danan Gafford is
the starter. But what they had and Thomas Bryant, it's it's very consistent.
I mean he led the league in field goal percentage from inside the pain
at one point in or a couple of years ago. He's extremely efficient.
He can stretch the floor, and it's it's kind of like what do you
need because you love stretched bigs, but also you need some defense, and
Daniel gafferd brings more defense than Thomas Bryan does. But Thomas Bryan's also working
back from an injury. But I would agree at four starters in a transition
a fluid situation at the four. Is there a quirky, out of left
field, weird lineup that you think this team needs to try, just it
doesn't even necessarily have to be good, just to see what would happen,
to see what it might be. Yeah, I would. I would probably
go. I would, uh, let's go spin set the one. Actually
know what, Let's go see Spence at the one, but at the two,
Corey Kisspert, slide Brad down to the three, Darby's, Burton's at
the four, and then at the five when healthy Thomas Bryant. Now,
I don't know how much defense is getting played in that lineup, but I
know that that that lineup can run. That lineup can score like crazy.
That I feel like, you know, you have like a nitro or a
turbo package in football where you got all your past pressers out there for a
third and long situation. Feel like that's like a highest scoring lineup. I
see that washing ticket throw out there and really put some pressure on some defense.
Kissberd has been so impressive in training camp, Like a lot of people
have had questions about other players. But the most consistent thing that you've heard
across from players and coaches that Kissper's ready right now. Like Kissburd not only
does he shoot the ball well, he has a little bit of a load
delivery on his jumper, but it's still butter. He hustles so hard,
his defense is very obvious. He doesn't cut any corners. So you're gonna
see a lot of minutes from Corey kissing. Our West is gonna have to
find him somehow for court, but he's gonna get a lot of playing time
this year, and he's ready for it. It seems I agree that line
up should get buckets. I would also agree that I think they would give
up a lot of buckets too. Absolutely absolutely. I think the one I
would want to see it because I am an endless lobbyist for small ball lineups,
and I want to see Spencer be all KCP, Denny and then Kuzma,
Like, let's just roll out Bell and Duty and all the wings sin
see what happens. I don't think that lineup defends particularly well either, but
it's fairs netto from locking minutes at the five, so we don't have to
stay one out the five minutes situations, I don't I do. If I
see Netto play a second outside of the two guard, I'm throwing my TV
out the window. I do not want to see it anymore, obviously,
And I love no. Netto can defend his butt off like he's he can
really defend. Last year he had such a good He's been good since he's
been in DC. Had an injury late to him. I think he's sprained
his ankle late season and is production kind of decreased. And at the same
time, Ish Schmith started getting buckets out of nowhere and then the last year
too. But Netto was solid. Man, I really like them this and
I apologize for sending you a typo in your outline, but their over under
is set at thirty four point five? Would you take the over under on
that? And where do you see them stacking up in the larger picture of
the East? I would take the over I would, I honestly would,
because of the fact that they are a group that knows how to play basketball.
Like it's less youth. I mean it's still young, but it's less
youth, if that makes sense. Like you've got young guys who have done
things and have expectations and everybody feels like they know that this is this is
this is something that we can really compete with. I think, you know,
if anything, a lot of people ask me, like Quinn, this
roster, you know, six seed, like we're no longer the eight seed.
I think it, give me six or five. But the only thing
that I'm challenged with is that the rest of the East is actually gotten really
good, Like like I think they can have a significantly better season than they
did last year and still be around the seven. Like, I just think
that East is that good this year. And then I look at the West.
The West it's kind of more open because you have so many injuries.
The East is pretty loaded this year on paper. I mean, Chicago you
got named Like when you look at the Knicks, even tho I don't love
Edvfornier, They've got a point guard in Kimbla. And then you look at
all these different teams where I think they can they can you know, easily
creep up on like you know, mid forties in the win total would still
be around the same position that they were last season. So we'll see.
Now every year there's an injury, it to a certain player, or a
certain team that you know one team unexpectedly drops and one unexpected team jumps up
in the standings. I think they can be in the middle of the pack
this year. I don't expect them to be like a top three or four
seed, but I think realistically, you know, six, seven, eight
is probably where they'll fit. But if they can get five six, I
think that's a win for the organization. I think you hit the problem with
the East head on, which is just that I think there'll be a clear
cut packing enter in the top four, even though right now I feels like
Milwaukee and Brooklyn than everyone else. I think in Landa belongs in the top
four, and then maybe Miami. But I think four teams will you know,
they'll establish themselves, but everyone like five. There could be five through
eleven of interchangeable teams. I think that's what makes it tough to peg where
the Wizard's fall. I'm curious to why the over under on them is so
low. I'm guessing it's just the combustible potential of what does happen with Bradley
Beal, Because if you decide to move him, like no, you're not
winning thirty five games this season. Exactly. I don't care how many guys
you have, whether you're not winning without Brad, it's it's gonna be something
interesting because, like we preview on my show, we preview the Pacers last
week, and it's like, oh, the Pacers have all solid guys,
like they all that they typically do, all these guys that can get buckets.
But then they got Rick Carlisle. Like, I think Rick Carlisle is
going to bring something to that team that you know, it's going to be
a little different than we'll be seen in a year's past. The Celtics are
a tricky team to me too, because Jason Tatum healthy, Jalen Brown is
healthy, Marcus Smart is gonna be the starting point guard, There's still much
to desire at the center position. Like they're kind of a question mark too
now, dude, I think they think last year they were seven seed.
But a lot of these teams are interesting. Charlotte just keeps getting better and
they're younger, they're exciting. Lameto is probably gonna play the rest of this
hopefully he stays healthy this season. Miami as well, gets Kyle Lowry.
It's just gonna be so many What the hell is Chicago is what I'm still
trying to like. What is Chicago because are they gonna defend like they might
defend because they have nice perimeter defenders, but then Booch is down low.
I don't know. Like Chicago to me feels like a team that coming into
the offseason we're excited about, but something will go wrong, Like something just
feels like it's gonna go wrong there in Chicago. I don't know why,
but that feels like one of those teams to me. And also in New
York, I'd hated the Evan Fournier pick up. I'm sorry, I'm not
huge in Evan Fournier. Maybe that's just me, but I didn't see how
I mean, he's a score and that's awesome, but I don't like the
Evan Fornia pick up. I'm Kimba's possible to me, but Evan Fournier was
a head scratcher. I mean, Kimba at that price point is certainly passible.
That's take the flyer, move on, That's fine. I was with
you in the general sense of I get why they lean so much into getting
shot maker this offseason because of how that Atlanta sere has went. But you
let your best perimeter defender walk What leverage did Evan Fournier had that he needed
to get that third guaranteed year? And I know it's a small sample size,
but that might say a lot about Evan Fournier, but his like postseasons
have been largely unspectacular. So I love with you. There is there anything
or anyone on this team that I did not ask you about that you think
needs to be covered. Mantres, Harold. I don't expect Mantres to go
out here and be six Men of the Year or anything like that. But
the toughness that like, the reason they elected to get Montrese is because he
can bring a toughness that I don't think they've had, like they didn't they
haven't had really like any Rioters. Like if Brad gets roughed up, you
know who's coming to brass defense, Ruy, Like you know what I'm saying.
Ruy's not like Davies is a Darbes is a mean lap being, like
he does not play around. But you need somebody that's going to come in
instill that physicality, especially on defense, and take some flagrants, take some
and have some idea about them. So like the last time this team had
that was Mark Keith Morris back in those death Row DC days, And if
you don't know what that is, I don't blame me, because that is
another extremely localized Washington Wizards fan thing. But I think Montrese also pushes the
younger guys to be tougher, like he's gonna bang around with Ruey. He's
gonna like Ruy is gonna have to assert himself if he wants to, if
he wants to practice with this team. I think Montrese does definitely bring a
different attitude to the locker room that I think would be advantageous to them.
You mentioned Montres Harrol, which makes me realize I forgot to ask this question.
Who do you view is the most likely player to be traded on this
roster heading into the season? Man, Probably cous really, that's interesting,
Probably probably Cous Not that not that Washington like doesn't like him. But if
I think if you're a team that's calling about somebody, it would probably be
between like CU's and KCP like. You're looking at guys who have been there
before. We've had a track record of being playing winning basketball. I have
had experience in the playoffs. You want somebody, especially like if you're an
elite team, you wanted somebody who can come in and not shy away from
that spotlight. Now, I think Washington views Cou's extremely, extremely high and
think there's a lot of untap potential there. But you might be able to
get something for Kyle kuzmant the trade their line if if things fall apart and
you have to start unloading ships. So I think probably kuz Or. It's
just tossible. Between the Lakers guys, it's all they're all Lakers. Who's
KCP in Mantrese. I guess I looked at it from the view of like
they would be buyers because of what they're trying to do. So I just
viewed Harold salary like that expiring contract to Magic. But what you bring up
a really saling point if they just if they're willing to prioritize the bigger picture.
I think KCP and Kuzma, aside from Bill obviously, are going to
generate the most interest on the roster, and they're much easier to part with
than a Bradley Beal because that that's a directional decision on your entire franchise.
Yes, yes, absolutely, I didn't even think of it from your point
of view that it's a good point as well. Tres's contract is right there,
and Tress kind of feels like, you know, sometimes he feels like
the odd man out. I mean, because we talk about Thomas Bryan and
we talk about Daniel Gafford because we've seen them in DC. But Tress is
like a tweener guy, Like he's not your back to the basket big He's
not like an elite defender, but he has a force out there on the
floor, and I think a lot of teams could use a guy like Tress
as well. Quentin, thank you so much for speaking with me. Are
you able to tell our listeners where they can find you on social media and
all the great work that you do? Follow me on social media at Real
Quentin Mayo also hosts the show for All Tossey It's bet MGM Tonight. It's
actually a live sports gambling show from seven to eleven pm Eastern times, so
you can guys can tune in on that and for the Wizard season, the
cover the team also for All Tossey and Blue Wire, so you can check
me out at Blue Wire Pods, the Quinn Mayo Podcast and also stream live
on Twitch, Twitch dot tv slash Quentin Mayo, so any Wizards content,
and we also do a lot of NBA stuff as well on our noon streams
and just go back and watch all the games and laugh at Dwight Howard probably
out in prese and stuff like that. I commend you for watching preseason NBA
basketball at all. I saw one clip and that's it, so we'll probably
watch it a couple of days from now. Quentin, you do a lot
of work, and you do it extremely well. So thank you for giving
me so much of your time, and rest assured I will be pestering you
again in the future. Not a problem, man. Thanks for having me