What is crack Lack and fellow thermonuclear aappers. I am Damn Valley coming at
you with a little minis like man, just some bonus content during the soft
seasons to tackle somethings topical. I will have a full mail bag out for
you on Wednesday. I think I got my wires crossed with guests, so
I'll be doing another mail bag and then we'll have a guest on to close
out the week. Please remember to subscribe to us. If you're not done
so already YouTube, hit that sub buttton like comment, help the algorithm,
love us back, turn on post notifications. If you've not subscribed on Apple
or Spotify, please do that as well. Leave ratings and reviews on both,
especially the reviews and the ratings on Apple. Help us climb up the
charts. Follow us on the socials at Hardwood Knox on Twitter and TikTok at
Hardwood Underscore Knox on I G and join our discord. Don't link to that
as in the podcast and YouTube, just scription, get in there and finally
purchase our merch We have the stores and link to that is in the podcast
and YouTube description as well. That He's the best extra way to support the
show in addition to again handing out those word of mouth recommendations. We appreciate
every single one of you. Let's dig in to the latest that's occupying the
NBAH fear during the dog days of summer or while we're being held hostage by
James Harden Damian Lillard. At this point, ESPN Tim's Bontemps made some headlines
when he said that he doesn't think Dono Mitchell will ever sign an extension with
the Cleveland Cavaliers and that they should trade him now. I actually want to
just play this clip very quickly, so let's cue it up here. But
this is kind of a make or break year for the Calves. I don't
do you think he Do you think he signs an extension right now? I
think I don't think there's any chancey science extension there ever. And if it
was up to me, I would say Donovan Mitchell today because I don't think
the Calves are getting as far as they hope to next year, and I
don't think he's going to extend, and I think they'll get a lot more
form which who summer's left, then they will have won summer left on this
surface, I want to make it clear. It's a reasonable stance to assume
that doctor Mitchell will never sign an extension with the Calves, and I want
to make clear so he'll be extension eligible. I think this November, that's
when he signed his last contracts. It'll be the three year anniversary since it
was a five year deal in case anyone cares about that minusha, So within
November, I believe he will be eligible for an extension. But given his
age and the number of years left on his contracts, so you can only
tack on an additional two years. I think at that point, if he
was gonna sign an extension, he's gonna wait to add the maximum amount of
years because he can get too off the you know, the one hundred forty
percent rays Like yeah, that I'll bring him to his max max money,
that's not an issue. So him not signing an extension and he won't this
year, I want to make that clear. It's not a big deal.
And like even if it's you get to next year and he still won't sign
extension, I guess maybe you get a little you know, squirrelish about that,
and you want to know if anything's going on, If he hasn't given
you any indication that he's made up his mind, though you gave up at
the time with when you include Doc Baji, he was four first round picks,
two swaps Colin Sexton and Lowry market In. That now looks like the
equivalent of like because of how good Lowry Marketing played, and just like the
Colin Sexton deal is pretty good, and even Doc Baji is really good.
Came on during the second half of last year. That looks like he gave
up. I don't know, at least the equivalent of like eight for round
Pigs or something for him. You don't just cut the chord on that after
one season. To me, I understand the people who are not in Cleveland,
who are like myself, let's say, so far removed from the situation.
They want to look at it from the cold, callous perspective and say,
yeah, I would move Donovan Mitchell and capitalize on his value. Now
here's my thing. We can't just assume these guys won't sign extensions with their
current team. Yes, Kawai left Toronto, but Paul George stayed in Oklahoma
City for the extra year, and had they maybe things ended differently for them.
Perhaps he doesn't know ask for out to join kawai as quickly, but
he still signed that second deal which was critical to or sign another deal with
Okasey, which was critical to them capitalize on his depart We can't advocate for
these let's just say non flagship, non glamour market franchises to treat their core
as if they don't have a chance of retaining it just after they made this
massive swing to do something that is relative to the Calves being the Calves out
of character. Knowing that Donto Mitchell wanted to end up in New York,
that was a risk, that was an out of character move. I want
teams to look at that risk award profile and say, you know we're going
to do it anyway. I want a team to come out of left field
and trade for Damian Lillard or to trade for James Harden. And I want
these teams in every single market, I don't care where they are, to
believe that they have a chance to not just acquire these players, not just
to win with them, but to also win and keep them. And the
best way to sell Donovan Mitchell on a long term future in Cleveland is to
win with Donovan Mitchell and I don't think that's outside the realm of possibility this
season when you're looking at the structure of the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee right there.
We haven't talked about them enough. I believe I'll be having something up
on them later this week. They had a really good offseason, Gonna be
super dangerous if they're healthy. Boston very implosive by getting rid of Marcus mart
having Kristaps porzingis they feel less versatile on defense, They've lost some playmaking.
They're going to be right there, and then after that it's it's wide open.
I mean, you're not gonna guarantee the Knicks are going to be better
than the Calves this year? Could they be sure? You're not gonna guarantee
it? The heat if they get day maybe if they don't know, they're
gonna be right in that just cluster of teams where it's okay sort of what
if here the Sixers? Who the fuck knows what's going on with the Sixers?
Is James Harden gonna be there? Joel and be gonna be there?
Where are they gonna look like? If James Harden's there, is that worse
for the team? How is he gonna act once he reports the Calves could
be better than them. If you told me the Calves were number two in
the East at the end of the regular season next year, this is my
surprise face. I don't have one. I'm not going to predict it,
but it would not shock me at all. I mean, maybe I will
predict it. We need to see when we get to predictions once this James
Harden and Damian Liller stuff settles. The degree to which I trust Boston is
very little is let's just say that, or at least I'm morbidly cautious,
curiously cautious, how do you want to phrase it? And so, yes,
it's not just about the regular season. How have they done enough to
improve their postseason stock with the additions of Max Strus and George Niang. I
don't know. I think Streus is a better defender than credited. I think
people look at his three point percentage thirty five percent last year and kind of
the way he shot during the playoffs. They get a little if he he
is functional, shooting some quick off the dribble, stuff, can fly around
in motion, he can play in the playoffs. Yes, you would have
ideally have wanted someone who defends like Isaaca Coro and shoots like Max Strus.
That move wasn't out there. And look, depending on what type of season
Isaaca Coro has, and if they don't, I'm assuming they won't sign him
to an extension, Like that's an asset that you can attach on top of
other salary. Can you just go out and get someone else? So like,
no, they're not going to be in a position to trade a first
round pick, but they have that Carrastervert deal very digestible, the Ricky Rubio
deal very digestible. They go out and get someone like a Reggie Bullock if
they needed to, and that's someone who elevates their team even further. And
we're just going to I have I want to make this clear for cash and
listening. I have zero cons about Dono Mitchell, Darius Garland front court,
backcourt. I just I can't get there. I think Darius Garland Garland's gonna
do a better job of even finding his scoring identity within this offense next year.
That would be my prediction. Him and Dono Mitchell wol have had more
time together the front court with Jared Allen and Nevin Mobley. I have some
concerns those two should be rebounding better together. I don't know if Niang can
come in and buy the let's say Mobley without Alan lineups and make those into
this rebounding force. That is something to absolutely be concerned about, as is
still the half court spacing with those two on the floor. We also cannot
just fail to cake in another year of Evan Mobley's development. That guy,
for his position is already probably like an a passer, maybe an a passer,
the stuff he is able to do defensively. I had someone in our
mentions who, even if they're listening, I don't know why they listen to
this podcast because they seem to hate me. They called me a careerist whose
takes have no value. And I follow the beat of everyone else's drum.
I picked Evan Mobley for Defensive Player of the Year. That is just I'm
not gonna lock him in for that again this year, but that is level
he's already at on defense, or we're just gonna think he's not gonna do
some more things a little bit off the dribble become more efficient on offense.
Does he develop a stand still mid range jumper. Do we see him take
a little bit more threes this year. I probably wouldn't predict it like this
is someone who was going into year three, was already in the defensive player
of the Year discussion, and has been good enough on offense to date.
But it's shown flashes of someone who could be so much more like looking at
someone who could put the ball on the floor, not even just we need
to run stuff through him at the elbows and slow things down like no like
grabb and go type shit, even whether it's gonna be off a rebound or
if you're gonna go in the half court and have him really just try to
orchestrate things from the top like he has that at least when you look at
him. Maybe he's not doing it so efficiently right now or in higher volume,
he has the ability if you maybe want to stagger don and Mitchell and
Darius got on even more this year, or sit both of them at the
same time and have Carrosilverton Evin Mowbley run some second units. Evan Mobley is
going to give you that really ultra high, limitless ceiling more so then a
Jared Allen and Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland and look, if you really wanted
to. You could move Jared Allen. That's a deal other teams would want.
Could you do a big for wing trade. That whole old Jiannaobe for
Jared Allen stuff is kind of by the wayside now that they have Yaka part
over way too much money. In my opinion, there are other moves this
roster can make aside from deciding, oh, like, if we don't win
the title this year, Donovan Mitchell's out. But let's just let's just say,
let's assume worst case in there again. I want to be of the
belief and I'm going to continue to be until Donovan Mitchell says otherwise that he
could resign in Cleveland, and I firmly believe that if they win at a
high level they sniffed the conference finals, which I fully believe that they are
capable of doing. Even if I don't know that I'll predict it this season,
I'm going to believe that they have a chance of keeping him. But
let's just say I've crapped all over the Blazers for not making the Damian Lillard
trade decision on their own terms. We just saw the value of doing it
in Utah, where your stars didn't request a trade, and whether Rudy Gobert
had the cachet to do show or not, whatever, Dono Mitchell absolutely did.
They moved those guys before, ahead of any trade request issues, and
they were able to capitalize on it in just to an unfathomable degree. I
don't think they reset the superstar market, but they right situation, right time,
found the right teams. These guys as hold the right amount of years
left on their deal. It worked out right. Now if don and Mitchell,
yes, there it could be you keep him this year. He requests
to trade next summer, technically one year out from free agency. That's a
problem. Are you going to get You have to ask yourself if you're Cleveland
again, we're just assuming the worst case scenario, not predicting it. We're
just assuming it. Here for a minute, Are you gonna get that much
more for Donovan Mitchell now with two years guarantee years left on his deal than
one? Honestly, the answer to me would be no. Yeah, if
you're looking to just send him to somewhere, he doesn't want to go looking
at what you did. But like there are going to be other teams than
the Knicks on his list. Miami might be in there, depending on what
assets they have left for Dame, they'll be There'll be other teams you're going
if you need to move him, I would say that maybe you cost yourself
a late first round pick by playing out this season. That would just be
my gut. I don't know what team right now. Yeah, you're gonna
let's let's use the Knicks as an example. Anyway, if you decided to
shop him again, Dono Mitchell is probably gonna come out at this point and
say, Okay, well now I'm gonna be moved twice. I'm really gonna
get my input here. The Jazz kind of knew I want to go to
the Knicks last time. I'm really going to elevate that to you know,
defcon one that I only want to play for New York. They will give
you the moon, they will make and I like the Knicks, the Jann
Brunton, Dono Mitchell back court. Whatever you think about it. They were
in on Donovan Mitchell after Jalen Brunton signing. They will do it again.
I don't know how much you get. It's probably not the equivalent of like
seven or eight first round picks that you gave up when you factor in Larry
marketIn, but you're getting a bunch of first And if you want Quentin Grimes,
you're probably getting him. You want RJ. Barrett, you're probably getting
him. So I'm just not too worried about that. And again, and
if it's gonna cost you a first round pick, whether it's gonna be the
MAVs is or using that as an example of that New York has or a
Nick's own first round pick, I want to play out this season. That
was the whole point of making that trade. You can't just say, oh,
we didn't win in one year, and we didn't trade for another star
this year to make ourselves the title favorite. So it's kind of a net
failure and we need to take this loss already. No, that's not why
you make this trade. You understood the risk. Give it more than a
year, especially if he is not indicated to you that he is not going
to stay. And again, the goal for any team should be to move
on if they sense attendant that direction before a player shrinks his market. The
calves just aren't there yet as far as we know. And to say that
after a year again, Tim bontemps I have a lot of respect for the
job he does covering the league. I think it's a reasonable assumption to say,
no, Donovan Mitchell was going to find a way to get to the
Knicks, or as of right now, he's not going to sign an extension.
I think that's fair. But this idea that the Calves should trade him,
it's sort of presupposes that one you're going to get enough back from a
team that's not the Knicks. Let's say to go ahead and just do this
anyway, and that there's just no chance in hell of the Calves winning and
or keeping Donovan Mitchell. And I think that's really unfair to the group that
is in Cleveland right now. They are still young. Everyone who's the main
part of their core has the opportunity to get better. I think you can
argue that Donovan Mitchell is the closest to a finished product that they have.
I might actually argue with Jared Allen if we're gonna be really honest, but
we just saw Donovan Mitchell kind of ratchet it up defensively this past year for
Cleveland, and so knowing that he's still in the improvement, but knowing that
at least two let's let's move the needle down further. Knowing at least two
of your core guys and Darius Garland ever Mobiley have the ability to improve.
Bet on yourself. You did it last summer, Continue to do it now.
We know they're not going to trade him, at least unless he sort
of agitates for out. If things go awry this season, you can reevaluate
it to tread trade deadline if you need to. But this team is good
enough as currently constructed to win the whole damn thing, or at least come
out of the East. You don't have to predict it, but let's acknowledge
it, especially when you're looking at the larger landscape, specifically of the Eastern
Conference. Right now, there's a ton of parody in the league. The
Cows are part of that parody. They had a pretty bad playoff showing against
the Knicks. There is value in learning from that, especially when you're looking
at a guy like Darius Garland and Evan Mobilely never getting the playoff reps before
you did some things to improve the roster here. The Cows are going to
be better. They see more playoff proof, and they are absolutely capable of
winning the whole damn thing, or again at least coming out of the East.
So no, you do not trade Donovan Mitchell. That is way too
premature, especially given how much you just surrendered to get him, and just
how early you are in this process. There was nothing last year you look
at and say, wow, they really flopped with Donovan Mitchell's. Time to
move on from him. I can't get there. If things go wrong.
We can talk again at the trade deadline. More likely, I'm saying we
need to see this through it till next summer. You can recalibrate, reevaluate.
Then Right now, my stance is, and I think everyone's stance should
be, you keep Donovan Mitchell because you were absolutely capable if things break right,
which is what every team basically needs to say of winning the East or
conference. Until next time, and as always, please remember to subscribe and
shout out to the one, the only, the indelible, the player who
could potentially put the Calves or any other team over the top if they sign
him. Frank Nila