1 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:20,640 What is tracka lack in Hardwood Knocks Listener's going live on YouTube at the moment 2 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,600 really is a test run to see how this ends up working out, to 3 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,519 see whether we can do this in the future and do it well. Here 4 00:00:28,559 --> 00:00:33,039 to talk about the Jeremy Grant trade, but very quickly as I also try 5 00:00:33,079 --> 00:00:39,840 to simultaneously figure out how to promote this on Twitter and see if anyone wants 6 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,000 to come in. Remember to rate review, subscribe to this podcast if you 7 00:00:44,079 --> 00:00:47,960 have not already, that would be absolutely helpful to us. Subscribe to us 8 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,679 on the YouTube channel. Join our discord, the link to which is in 9 00:00:50,679 --> 00:00:53,840 the podcast subscription. I've heard it's broken for people on mobile devices. I'm 10 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,119 looking into getting the right link, but you can join it on the desktop. 11 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,640 Remember to follow us on Twitter at Hardwood knock, also at Hardwood Knocks 12 00:01:00,799 --> 00:01:06,480 on TikTok, and we could be found on Instagram at Hardwood Underscore Knox. 13 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,680 So that's a bunch of fun you could you should consider doing that. Yeah, 14 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,159 the Jeremy Grant trade, I think that we need to talk about that 15 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,400 for sure. Sorry, I'm like totally distracted as I'm trying to get this 16 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:25,400 live stuff down any who the Blazers are getting Jeremy Grant, and it's not 17 00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:30,280 costing them the number seven pick like many people speculated it might. It is 18 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:34,879 costing them the Milwaukee Bucks twenty twenty five pick, which is top four protected. 19 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:41,079 It's supposed to turn into two seconds. The seconds are not like, 20 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:42,640 there's no stipulation on what those seconds are just yet. I also don't know 21 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:49,200 if that's what Detroit is agreen to send Portland if the pick doesn't convey because 22 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,799 it lands on the top four, they're giving up that they're giving the Pistons 23 00:01:52,799 --> 00:01:56,359 back. They're twenty twenty five second, and they're also giving the better twenty 24 00:01:56,359 --> 00:01:59,959 twenty six second between Portland zone and New Orleans zone. They are also swapping 25 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,680 the forty six pick with the thirty six pick. So Detroit's going from forty 26 00:02:02,719 --> 00:02:10,000 six to thirty six and this year's this year's draft. So looking at this 27 00:02:10,159 --> 00:02:16,039 from the Pistons side, first, I think that you what you can say 28 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:21,319 is, oh, I'm surprised they didn't get as much as they were supposed 29 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,319 to. I think we went through this a little bit with the Christian Wood 30 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,479 trade, where the Rockets really only got the number twenty six pick and a 31 00:02:28,479 --> 00:02:34,599 bunch of players who didn't factor into Dallas's rotation. That being said, this 32 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,400 might say more about the market for sellers at this point. I also don't 33 00:02:38,439 --> 00:02:43,639 think you can approach this as, oh, the Pistons fucked up and they 34 00:02:43,719 --> 00:02:46,240 accepted what was a worst package that was on the table. More likely than 35 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:52,120 anything, what this actually says is the market for Jeremy Grant was not particularly 36 00:02:52,159 --> 00:02:54,080 robust. If you have a problem with the return, I think you can 37 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,360 need to argue that he needed to be flipped at the trade deadline. Maybe 38 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,080 they were supposed to get more for him than the Athletics. James Edwards said 39 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,639 that was not the case, that this was the best offer they had. 40 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,800 I kind of believe that just because Grant was coming off a spraining thumb injury 41 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,800 and wasn't exactly playing all that well around the trade deadline. Now, if 42 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:19,400 your argument is one hundred percent that the Pistons should have moved him last off 43 00:03:19,439 --> 00:03:23,840 season, when he's coming off that career year, the perception surrounding him is 44 00:03:23,879 --> 00:03:25,599 so great. Is he this fringe star? He showed all these ball skills. 45 00:03:27,039 --> 00:03:30,759 I get that a little bit more. I just don't know that you 46 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,240 can view team building like that, Let's sign free agents that immediately flipped them 47 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,599 a year later. I think that's unrealistic, verging on two callous of of 48 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:40,439 you. When it comes to team building. You're not just supposed to become 49 00:03:40,479 --> 00:03:46,479 these breeding farms for contenders or better teams. That being said, it is 50 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:51,400 a fair criticism. There's also a TBD element here as well. We don't 51 00:03:51,439 --> 00:03:55,000 know what that first round pick is going to become. That's number one and 52 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,960 number two. We also need to see what the Pistons do with their new 53 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:02,159 found cap space. They were always going to have cap space. This gives 54 00:04:02,199 --> 00:04:05,879 them the ability to get to like fifty five plus million without doing all that 55 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,639 much. It depends on how much they like Hamadudiallo. He is a team 56 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:14,919 option. They would have to renounce Marvin Bagley if they his free agent rights. 57 00:04:14,919 --> 00:04:16,279 If they wanted to get to that fifty five million number, they would 58 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:20,600 have to wave Luca Garza, who has that non guaranteed deal. It's unclear 59 00:04:20,639 --> 00:04:24,800 whether they want to do that, but it is on the table and now 60 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,560 they can be ultra aggressive when it comes to They also have a team option 61 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,000 on Frank Jackson if anyone cares about that. But this allows them to be 62 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,199 ultra aggressive in a way they couldn't before, in a sense that let's say 63 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,439 they want to go after a restricted free agent, just because those guys tend 64 00:04:38,439 --> 00:04:41,199 to be younger, better fitting with the timeline of their number five pick, 65 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:46,480 Kid Cunningham, all that jazz, they can go out be aggressive with Miles 66 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,120 Bridges or DeAndre eight, DeAndre eight and then sot if all this cap space 67 00:04:49,199 --> 00:04:53,160 left over to continue shopping. So when you offer a restricted free agent an 68 00:04:53,199 --> 00:04:56,480 offer sheet, their team has I think it's up to seventy two hours to 69 00:04:56,519 --> 00:04:58,959 match, maybe it's forty eight, but it's around there. And during that 70 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,240 time, your cass space is wrapped up in that player until his incumbent team 71 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:06,839 makes a decision. That is prohibitive because teams don't want to tie up cap 72 00:05:06,879 --> 00:05:11,839 space and players they can't get when you have boatloads more to spend. However, 73 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,439 that gives you some more flexibility there. And so if you really want 74 00:05:15,439 --> 00:05:16,920 DeAndre Ayton and you want to put the pressure on the Suns, you don't 75 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,160 want to deal with the hassle of a sign and trade, which it's a 76 00:05:20,199 --> 00:05:26,560 little bit easier now because you have all this cap space, but you what's 77 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,279 the premium that you're paying to get DeAndre eight and out of Phoenix's probably going 78 00:05:30,319 --> 00:05:33,000 to be more than that Milwaukee twenty twenty five pick. Maybe instead, knowing 79 00:05:33,079 --> 00:05:36,560 that Phoenix really doesn't want to pay him MAXI money or near max money. 80 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:40,160 I think at this point, I don't know that they'd be scared off, 81 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,079 but it doesn't even seem like they want to pay him as like a twenty 82 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,319 two million dollar player. You give him that number, he signs the offer 83 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:46,959 sheet. You could put the pressure on them to match or not. Maybe 84 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,839 get in a situation where Robert Sarver, team governor of Phoenix, is so 85 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,959 fucking cheap that they don't even match it and they lose Aten for nothing, 86 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,639 which would be a disaster for the Suns. Could also do it with Miles 87 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:02,079 Bridges, Michigan native Miles I don't love his fit in Detroit. I think 88 00:06:02,079 --> 00:06:06,360 there's he's definitely got more directionality to his drives. We've seen him shoot better 89 00:06:06,399 --> 00:06:11,279 from three than he did last season, so there's that hope. He actually 90 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,240 shot an astronomically high clip on step back threes in twenty twenty one. You 91 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,399 can move him around defensively, even if he's a bit underwhelming there. Imagining 92 00:06:18,439 --> 00:06:23,000 him in transition or finishing these monster lobs from Kake Gunningham would be fun, 93 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,360 but you can go after him as well. I think what this also does, 94 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,360 and we saw Brooklyn do this in the past, before they were this 95 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:34,040 version of Brooklyn, they were giving largess offer sheets to Otto Porter Junior, 96 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:42,319 Tyler, Tyler Johnson, and they were essentially inflating those players market and forcing 97 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,040 their rivals to pay more to keep their own players. You can absolutely, 98 00:06:46,079 --> 00:06:53,240 one hundred percent go about a go that route this summer in free agency, 99 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:58,240 and maybe you're just drumming up Charlotte's payroll. We already know that Michael Jordan 100 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,240 is scared to enter the luxury attacks. There's talk that they're looking at Shop 101 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,959 Cord and they were just where they can afford to keep Miles Bridges. Just 102 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,519 an FYI, they don't need to afford to keep mos Bridges. They all 103 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,680 they have to do is pay him. It's as simple as that. So 104 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,759 I don't hate this deal for Detroit. I do think that they could have 105 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,560 done better at they trade him earlier. Wouldn't surprise me if there's a slightly 106 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,639 better off with the deadline. I don't think they left all this value on 107 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:26,480 the table, though it's clearly and there's the TBD, like just to wrap 108 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:29,639 this up for Detroit, where we have to see what the pick turns into, 109 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,079 what they do with this newfound cat flexibility. For the Blazers, though, 110 00:07:32,759 --> 00:07:36,360 this is just a monster win because so many people were viewing their off 111 00:07:36,399 --> 00:07:41,560 season through the lens of, oh, we're you're gonna try and rebuild around 112 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:46,639 Damian Lillard after trading McCullum, Larry Nance, Junior, Norman Powell, and 113 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,439 h CJ. McCollum. Sorry CJ mcllum, Larry Nance, you and Norm 114 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,360 Powell, Robert commingson. You give up all four of those guys without getting 115 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,439 a first round pick in this draft. Let's make it clear this draft that's 116 00:07:59,439 --> 00:08:03,079 a big al Now that trade is also suddenly an extension of Jeremy Grant they 117 00:08:03,079 --> 00:08:05,519 took him into that trade exception from the Sigi McCollum deal. You gave up 118 00:08:05,519 --> 00:08:09,800 the Milwaukee Buck first, Milwaukee Bucks first in the process. I think that 119 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,240 makes the moves look a little better to only give up that as you're the 120 00:08:13,279 --> 00:08:16,199 primary asset you gave up here. I know there were second round picks of 121 00:08:16,199 --> 00:08:18,680 all, but the primary asset you gave up here was that Milwaukee selection, 122 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:22,240 and then the ability to have all this cap space the ladder was never really 123 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:26,519 a possibility. If you wanted to keep the huge trade exception you got from 124 00:08:26,519 --> 00:08:31,079 the McCollum deal, you weren't gonna have cap space anyway. Also, I 125 00:08:31,079 --> 00:08:35,200 think we tend to over romanticize the idea of cap space in smaller markets, 126 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,600 and then this summer, frankly, cap space is bordering on useless if you 127 00:08:39,639 --> 00:08:41,559 have max money, which the Blazers would have struggled to get to and it 128 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:45,399 would have cost them Renouncing use of nerkis by the way, as well, 129 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,320 there's not going to do a whole lot because the free agency class is not 130 00:08:48,639 --> 00:08:52,200 especially deep. This is getting a really good player who, yeah, you 131 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,879 now have to pay. He's eligible for a four year, one twelve million 132 00:08:56,879 --> 00:09:01,679 dollars extension. I understand people won't think that he's worth this much. That's 133 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,639 fine. He's still a very good fit in Portland, and I think we're 134 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,759 sort of overstating how bad of a deal that could become a four year extension 135 00:09:09,919 --> 00:09:13,000 including next season, So five years. That's going to take him through his 136 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,720 age thirty two season. That's not the end of the world. And I 137 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,440 think there's a real case to be made that even before factoring in what Jeremy 138 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,000 Grant does for your team, he could end up on his next deal being 139 00:09:24,039 --> 00:09:31,080 a much more valuable trade asset than that Milwaukee Bucks pick. So that's huge 140 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,919 there. You still have some flexibility even after paying him, and then now 141 00:09:33,919 --> 00:09:37,559 you just get to put him alongside Dame. He's the type of wing defender 142 00:09:37,879 --> 00:09:41,799 that the Blazers have sorely lacked for a while now, of something they have 143 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:46,720 really two feisty guys on the perimeter and who can move around in Josh Hart 144 00:09:46,039 --> 00:09:48,919 and Jeremy Grant. Grant might be able to steal you some small ball minutes 145 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,559 at the five. I think he might even be a little bit better suited 146 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,120 to do that than a Roco or Larry Nance Jr. At this point, 147 00:09:56,639 --> 00:09:58,919 both of whom would have had an easier time doing that if they had someone 148 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,200 like Josh Hart and or Jeremy Grant in front of them in the first place. 149 00:10:01,639 --> 00:10:05,879 That helps you. And then I think the big thing with Jeremy Grant 150 00:10:05,039 --> 00:10:09,879 is he wants a bigger offensive role. He's clearly not the number one option 151 00:10:09,879 --> 00:10:13,200 in Portland. He's not even number two because Anthony Simons will be back he's 152 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,159 restricted free agent. And then you have use of Nurkics, who I would 153 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:18,600 also expect to be back now. But this is someone who I think kind 154 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,840 of slots in is a third option on most nights, and you're not going 155 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:24,519 to see a situation where he's like the fifth or six guy, or they're 156 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:30,240 asking him to take on bystandard duty in the half court or expecting him only 157 00:10:30,279 --> 00:10:33,480 to get his offense in transition. You can allocate some touches to him, 158 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,559 and so this gives him sort of the best of both worlds he was looking 159 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,279 for. You're on a better team, you get to play with Dame, 160 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,559 you should still have a prominent enough offensive role, and then you're going to 161 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,200 get paid because the Blazers, I know they didn't give up much, but 162 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:52,159 you're still not going to make this trade if you don't plan on paying Jeremy 163 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,480 Grant. And that's just that's a super important part of all this is you're 164 00:10:54,519 --> 00:10:58,440 not acquiring him as a rental. You're trying to accelerate your timeline. Now, 165 00:10:58,759 --> 00:11:01,600 what is a bigger pitch question for the Blazers. I think on the 166 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,919 court this is a no brainer. Is they still have moves that they need 167 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,200 to make. Let's assume Anthony Simon's and use of Nurkics. You're back now 168 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:13,559 looking at the basis for next season, having Nurkich, having Simon's, having 169 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:18,440 Dame Jeremy Grant, Josh Hart and the number seven pick. Is that materially 170 00:11:18,519 --> 00:11:22,879 better than what you gave up to get here? You had Norman Powell, 171 00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:28,519 CJ. McCollum, Robert Comington, Larry NaN's, Dame Anthony Simon's as well, 172 00:11:28,799 --> 00:11:31,279 and use of Nurkics. So is this core that you've put together? 173 00:11:31,399 --> 00:11:35,159 Is it one flat out better and two doesn't have a higher ceiling? And 174 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,240 next year's Western Conference, my argument would be it feels a little bit more 175 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,919 lateral and what we saw from Anthony Simon's is just an off the dribble creator 176 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,879 last year. Since they give you such an inherently high ceiling on offense anyway, 177 00:11:46,919 --> 00:11:50,080 any growth on the defensive end could technically make your team better. I 178 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,480 think what we still need to watch for is what happens with that number seven 179 00:11:54,639 --> 00:11:58,759 selection. Do they go in on a guy as Keegan Murray available, as 180 00:11:58,799 --> 00:12:03,320 Benedict Mathron available. I think Mathin would be the I want to say, 181 00:12:03,399 --> 00:12:07,240 the ideal selection there for them, just because you look at his motion shooting 182 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,440 with the defensive versatility he's going to give you. They're not just going to 183 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:13,799 have that be readily available in anyone. He's going to give you more than 184 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,559 that, maybe even than Keegan Murray. But you could also then look at 185 00:12:16,639 --> 00:12:22,279 flipping that pick. What you still have is the Eric Bletso non guaranteed contract. 186 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,240 You could waive him for four million dollars and just get him off your 187 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,320 books, or if you're if this next team, if you're acquiring someone with 188 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,000 multiple years left on his deal, just guaranteeing Eric Blexo's salary. It's sort 189 00:12:33,039 --> 00:12:37,360 of this huge expiring contract. There's actually value in doing that, and so 190 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,519 you have that smother miniature trade exceptions for anybody who cares about that. But 191 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,840 you have that salary anchor plus the number seven pick. There are things that 192 00:12:45,919 --> 00:12:48,440 you can do. I don't know what they're going to be. When you 193 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,120 look at some of the ideal gets for this roster, they're probably not going 194 00:12:52,159 --> 00:12:56,000 to be available. I never not that I never bought the Blazer's interest in 195 00:12:56,200 --> 00:13:00,080 zach Lavine. I just never really understood it. You have Sigmond, you 196 00:13:00,159 --> 00:13:01,600 have Lillard. I don't think you need zach Levine, even though he's clearly 197 00:13:01,639 --> 00:13:07,639 better than Simons. You need probably more wing defenders, or I would argue 198 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:11,440 an upgrade at center just because use of Narkis can still be schemed off the 199 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,919 floor. He's an underrated passer. I think he's probably too confident in himself 200 00:13:15,919 --> 00:13:18,240 offensively at points if you're trying to defend and drop coverage like he is just 201 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:24,200 rock solid there. So you can absolutely still use him and have a good 202 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:30,120 defensive bass if you're willing to play that way. But do you try consider 203 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,279 getting in the Rudy Gobert sweepstakes at this point with them? Again? I 204 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:37,159 can't say that again series going off on, maybe because I'm talking too quickly, 205 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,799 but do you try and get into the Rudy Gobert sweepstakes? It's I 206 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:45,879 guess a little bit harder now just because you have Damian Lillard, you have 207 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,440 Jeremy Grant salary, Like, those guys aren't going to be moved as part 208 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,720 of this. Are you willing to give up Josh Harden in that deal, 209 00:13:50,759 --> 00:13:54,879 you would really have to step ladder your way there because of how much Rudy 210 00:13:54,879 --> 00:13:58,480 Gobert makes and then just how much other non matching salary you don't have. 211 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:03,559 That could be what's lightly restrictive to the Blazer's trade options. Now, the 212 00:14:03,039 --> 00:14:07,759 number seven pick can be traded as I think the cap hold on that's about 213 00:14:07,799 --> 00:14:11,080 five point eight million, so when they sign their contract, that's the number 214 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,799 they could be moved at. That helps you add salary to a deal to 215 00:14:13,799 --> 00:14:18,080 take back a player. If you're going nineteen point four for Eric Bletsoe plus 216 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,360 the five point eight for the number seven pick, I mean, all of 217 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:22,960 a sudden, you can take back a player making almost thirty million dollars. 218 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,440 So it's not outside the realm of possibility that they could get to a Rudy 219 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:30,039 Gobert number. If it's a sort of a stack traded, I think it 220 00:14:30,039 --> 00:14:33,519 would probably be four for one at the minimum. You have to ask yourself, 221 00:14:33,519 --> 00:14:37,200 though, and are you willing to give up number seven for Rudy Gobert? 222 00:14:37,279 --> 00:14:41,480 If you were on Damian Lillard's timeline, I would argue that you're almost 223 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:46,320 obligated to look at it. Through that Lens Dame is thirty two. I 224 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,720 think he turns or is thirty one going on thirty two this July. It 225 00:14:48,759 --> 00:14:54,240 would need to double check that making a ton of money, are you going 226 00:14:54,279 --> 00:14:56,279 to consider extending him this summer? He's eligible for a two year extension that's 227 00:14:56,279 --> 00:15:00,759 worth more than one hundred million dollars if that's the timeline you're on. Like 228 00:15:00,879 --> 00:15:03,679 Joe Cronin has said on multiple occasions, at this point and immediately after the 229 00:15:03,679 --> 00:15:07,200 trade deadline, by the way, that was the plan was for the Blazers 230 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:11,039 to go ahead and rebuild a Round Dame. And I don't even know if 231 00:15:11,039 --> 00:15:13,559 they use the word rebuild. They probably said something fancy like retool if I 232 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:18,360 remember, like restructure, whatever the hell it was. So that's the type 233 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,120 of swing that I think you can still make. It's just is the market 234 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,399 conducive to that, because the things that I will argue are I'm not giving 235 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:30,440 up number seven for John Collins, nor do I think he's offensively a great 236 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,679 fit, and maybe having Jeremy Grant and Josh Hart if you wanted to play 237 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,200 Collins at the five that allows you to do so. I still don't love 238 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,960 that for the Blazers. Someone like Pascal Siakam would be a gem, but 239 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,759 we know the Raptors aren't going to to trade him. And I think that's 240 00:15:43,799 --> 00:15:48,440 what people forget. We've gone through this with the Celtics when people say that 241 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,080 they need a point guard I think is the most popular one, or the 242 00:15:50,159 --> 00:15:56,639 Lakers just need to trade Russ for so and so for who. The market 243 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,279 right now is just not conducive to making these huge swings, and so the 244 00:16:00,279 --> 00:16:03,480 Blazers are in this situation where I think they can be okay keeping the number 245 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:06,799 seven pick, depending on who they get there. But I don't think whoever 246 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:10,960 they draft is going to help that timeline they claim they're operating on. Now. 247 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:14,039 Maybe they bought themselves some leeway because you're able to get Jeremy Grant and 248 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,039 now you're sort of, you know, straddling the two timelines at once. 249 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,919 I just ultimately am not going to consider that enough. And is there another 250 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,000 move they can make without giving up the number seven pick? Like I said, 251 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,919 they do have those trade exceptions. They don't have a lot of intriguing 252 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,600 youngsters on this team. I don't know, given his murky availability history, 253 00:16:33,679 --> 00:16:37,360 what miss your little is gonna get you Keian Johnson has some real, real 254 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,799 pop to his game. I'm interested to see what he turns into, but 255 00:16:40,879 --> 00:16:48,000 he's at best someone you would call a complete mystery box. Does the Eric 256 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,360 Bledsoe contract if you're willing to use it as that anchor, does it get 257 00:16:51,399 --> 00:16:53,960 you someone who's maybe on a less desirable contract but still helps you out a 258 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,879 ton? And what if I'm not necessarily endorsing this move, but if it's 259 00:16:57,879 --> 00:17:02,200 not costing you equ or what if you're actually gaining it? Because the report 260 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,200 was they're going to give up one of their two first round picks to get 261 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,440 office salary, would you take Gordon Hayward on this team? Just honestly, 262 00:17:08,519 --> 00:17:12,119 if you only had to give up Plezzo and then there's probably another two salaries 263 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,279 that you need to sandwich in there, maybe it's not going to be Josh 264 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:19,119 Hart, is what I'm saying. If it's like Justice Winslow and maybe you 265 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,440 don't even want to give up n seor Little, I wouldn't give up key 266 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,599 On Johnson. But if it is Justice Winslow, Nasire Little and the Bletzo 267 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,240 contract, because Charlotte's looking to save long term money and shave a little off 268 00:17:30,279 --> 00:17:33,799 the top of this season. Do you consider that if you're Portland, I 269 00:17:33,839 --> 00:17:37,400 would, and especially if you're getting a first round pick as part of the 270 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:42,039 equation. If that's really what Charlotte is offering. And I think this leads 271 00:17:42,079 --> 00:17:47,640 to almost a larger discussion for the NBA off season. What does this mean 272 00:17:48,079 --> 00:17:51,559 for the overall seller's market. The Blazers might actually be in a position to 273 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:56,079 get more with the number seven pick then we actually could have envisioned. I 274 00:17:56,079 --> 00:18:00,400 would have guessed that Christian would went for more than just to bottom five first 275 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,519 rounder. His defense is bad. I do think he has the mobility to 276 00:18:03,559 --> 00:18:06,119 cover a ton of ground in the half court and help out around the rim. 277 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,079 I'm very interesting see what he looks like on a real team. I 278 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,759 would have guessed that he went for more than just the number twenty six pick, 279 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:15,240 even if even if Houston is sort of drowning in excess on the front 280 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,559 line with alparein Shangoon, they haven't even given Usman Garuba a look, and 281 00:18:18,559 --> 00:18:25,920 they're widely expected to take Palo Bankro during Thursday's draft. Jeremy Grant's different. 282 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,519 I understand that he is entering a contract year. I understand he's not coming 283 00:18:29,519 --> 00:18:32,599 off the best year in terms of his availability or his efficiency, but knowing 284 00:18:32,599 --> 00:18:34,759 what he showed in his first year, and just overall as someone who has 285 00:18:36,279 --> 00:18:42,880 more ball skills than anticipated, and knowing how thirsty, just utterly thirsty NBA 286 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:48,759 front offices are for these three and d archetypes on the higher end, I 287 00:18:48,799 --> 00:18:52,279 would have probably guessed that he went for more than a distant first round pick. 288 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,359 And cap relief is basically what this amounts to. And you normally, 289 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,240 I know, Detroit jumped up ten spots in the second round. You normally 290 00:18:59,279 --> 00:19:04,000 wouldn't see a team prioritize an asset as the centerpiece so far out in a 291 00:19:04,039 --> 00:19:10,240 trade. NBA general managers, front office execs, Vice presidents of basketball operations, 292 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,240 presidents of basketball operations, whatever is are of basketball operations, whatever the 293 00:19:12,279 --> 00:19:17,000 hell they're called now, they don't have the job security to say, yeah, 294 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:18,839 twenty twenty five pick, like that's three years down the line, that 295 00:19:18,839 --> 00:19:22,079 that can certainly be like our primary asset. I'll be the one that's making 296 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:29,440 this election comment in the chat from Bubba. If the Blazers get og, 297 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,519 they are set, I would one hundred percent agree. I would guess, 298 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,640 and just everything I've tangentially heard is that number seven isn't even going to come 299 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,279 close to getting OG from the Raptors. And I don't know what else you 300 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:45,000 include at this point that would even appeal to the Raptors giving up OG. 301 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,839 But looking at Grant specifically, I just would have assumed, even in a 302 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,960 contract year, because he plays such a desirable type of basketball, and because 303 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:56,880 he slots nicely onto a winner, onto an already good roster, if he's 304 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,680 willing to not dominate the ball as my and I don't think he was superball 305 00:20:00,759 --> 00:20:03,440 dominant in Detroit this season. The first year it was all sort of like 306 00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:07,880 no holds barred, given their their roster. But I don't think that he 307 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,720 was just sort of running amuck there. Either. I would have guessed that 308 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,480 he got more than that distant first round pick. Maybe it's different for Detroit 309 00:20:15,599 --> 00:20:18,960 Troy Reavers in the early stages of this rebuild, they're willing to sort of 310 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,759 hedge on that distant first round pick. But like there's a chance that pick 311 00:20:22,759 --> 00:20:26,960 doesn't even convey, and if it doesn't, it turns into two seconds immediately. 312 00:20:26,039 --> 00:20:29,480 Like I said, I don't know if that's what Detroit agreed to send 313 00:20:29,519 --> 00:20:33,200 Portland in any case, and we can all guess it's going to convey. 314 00:20:33,279 --> 00:20:36,400 So long as Joanna's attend to Coopo is on this earth and breathing, the 315 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,839 Bucks will probably be sending out a bottom ten first round, or let's say, 316 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:42,640 in that situation, that's still not really that high end of an asset. 317 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:48,920 And so you traded Jeremy Grant effectively for extra spending power and that late 318 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,720 first round or down the line where we don't even know if Detroy were gonna 319 00:20:52,759 --> 00:20:55,319 be one making that pick. I might even guess that the Pistons aren't the 320 00:20:55,319 --> 00:20:57,200 team making that pick because he could get moved a few times. This is 321 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:02,200 all to say, what does this for the other names that are on the 322 00:21:02,279 --> 00:21:06,160 trade market, John Collins, Harrison Barnes or names that we've heard. Rudy 323 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,240 Gobert has even been mentioned. It certainly look, if you want Eric Gordon, 324 00:21:08,279 --> 00:21:11,920 now seems like the time to go out and get him. What do 325 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,759 you have to give up to get these guys? And more importantly, what 326 00:21:14,839 --> 00:21:21,319 are those teams going to be able to to get for those players that I 327 00:21:21,319 --> 00:21:26,440 think is going to reverberate around the NBA's offseason trade market, and I'm very 328 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,400 now more intrigued than I was before to see how it plays out. And 329 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:36,359 I think, finally, like on the Blazers, this is such a home 330 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,000 run for them, and I think it's clarifying in a way that we couldn't 331 00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:45,039 guarantee before, just because it felt like they were sort of wandering in the 332 00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:49,519 wilderness after that mid season tear down, and I still don't have a feel 333 00:21:49,559 --> 00:21:52,440 for what the number seven pick becomes. Was this a way for them to 334 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:56,799 cover their ass and keep the number seven pick at least through this season, 335 00:21:56,839 --> 00:22:00,000 wait to see if maybe something materializes in middle of the year, like the 336 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:03,599 next star that we just can't guess that's going to come on the market. 337 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:07,039 Are they willing to trade number seven for a non star? And who is 338 00:22:07,079 --> 00:22:11,680 that non star? Clearly wasn't Jeremy Grant. They're not done, though they 339 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,279 can't be done, but I expect them to pay near Kich. I expect 340 00:22:15,319 --> 00:22:18,640 them to pay Sigmons. I'm just wondering if they have one more bigger swing 341 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:23,200 left in them. And on the Pistons, what I would really like to 342 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,519 see or fast forward to see, is like how much do they up end 343 00:22:26,599 --> 00:22:30,920 free agency at this point, and is Charlotte or Phoenix or those teams that 344 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,240 are impacted by this at all? Right now, we've seen from Woes as 345 00:22:34,839 --> 00:22:38,599 we're talking right now, As I'm talking right now, Woges reported on ESPN 346 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,319 that Phoenix has been aggressive looking for sign and trade possibilities. That is still 347 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,400 something that could appeal to Detroit. But what are you going to get for 348 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,279 DeAndre? Like this trade market has been so wonky and lead up to the 349 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,200 draft. I'm saying that obviously with just the two deals in question, I 350 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,039 don't know if this is a harbinger of a you know, an unfriendly seller's 351 00:22:56,079 --> 00:23:00,039 market slash friendly buyer's market, but it could poort and just sort of this 352 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:06,960 wild, wacky, unpredictable offseason and so in some I think, Look, 353 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,039 the Blazers won, but just by far. No matter even what they do 354 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:11,599 with the seventh pick, I think Dame is still going to be an advocate 355 00:23:11,599 --> 00:23:17,000 of probably keeping that I know he's been, I believe an advocate of Shade 356 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,359 and Sharp if he falls that low. And look, I've seen Shade Sharp 357 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:23,519 mocked everywhere from five to ten or around the eleventh area at this point, 358 00:23:23,599 --> 00:23:26,799 or are you gonna be dame? If you're dame, are you pushing for 359 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,279 the front office to continue making moves? It has to be on the table. 360 00:23:30,319 --> 00:23:33,079 Again, just if you're operating on Damian Lillard's timeline and you're preparing to 361 00:23:33,079 --> 00:23:36,160 pay Jeremy Grant and you want to pay use of NERD kids like that, 362 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,559 those are win now players who are just ultra win now, not even just 363 00:23:38,599 --> 00:23:44,480 like caught in between. This isn't Anthony Simon's going into year five. This 364 00:23:44,599 --> 00:23:49,079 is you know, these are really established vets. But I say that and 365 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:53,319 I'm a hypocrite because I just don't know who what is out there, And 366 00:23:53,319 --> 00:23:59,119 so I'm wondering if the Blazers can try and scale there moves a different way 367 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:03,480 at this point where they're still straddling those that line in between and trying to 368 00:24:03,519 --> 00:24:07,400 capitalize on these just smaller scale transactions. Are they trying to get involved if 369 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,039 the Knicks want to dump off some of their role players, like I said, 370 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:14,039 the Gordon Hayward one would just be something I consider. If Charlotte's really 371 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,799 offering a first, I'm trying to cople together two or three has to be 372 00:24:17,839 --> 00:24:21,640 three contracts. I believe to get there, and I especially if you're taking 373 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:22,759 on a first round pick. That's another app set you could try and move 374 00:24:22,759 --> 00:24:26,880 around in a deal, as is Hayward's salary. By the way, you 375 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:30,359 can try trading just that thirty million dollars number, whether it's this season or 376 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,559 next summer as an expiring contract. This is just a really good piece of 377 00:24:33,599 --> 00:24:37,359 business for the Blazers, And I think that you have to be confident if 378 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,960 you're a Blazers fan in their direction, not in the sense that, oh, 379 00:24:41,039 --> 00:24:44,279 they're a bona fide playoff team, because look, let's just be brutally 380 00:24:44,319 --> 00:24:48,079 honest, I'm not even trashing them. We can't say that they're that right 381 00:24:48,079 --> 00:24:51,400 now. We just we can't. The West is going to be a bloodbath 382 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:55,160 next year. The Warriors aren't going anywhere. What if the Lakers don't suck 383 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,640 the Nuggets and the Clippers should be healthier, at least one of them is 384 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,920 going be healthier. That would have to be the guests here. The Pelicans, 385 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:04,400 if they get Zion back, they were really frisky towards the end. 386 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,559 Phoenix could retreat a little bit. But if Chris Paul's healthy and Devin Booker 387 00:25:08,559 --> 00:25:11,240 are still there and they don't go nuclear, which I don't expect them to 388 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:15,759 go nuclear. Beyond Deandreton, They're still going to be around. Where are 389 00:25:15,799 --> 00:25:18,400 the Dallas Mavericks going? You have other up and coming options like the Pelicans 390 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,680 of course, Minnesota like what they can come in and make some moves if 391 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:26,240 they find a team that really likes D'Angelo Russell, or they're just willing to 392 00:25:26,279 --> 00:25:30,599 put first round picks on the table. So the West is going to be 393 00:25:30,599 --> 00:25:33,160 a blood bath. And if you want to make the have more than an 394 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,720 outside chance or more than a coin tossed his chance of making the playoffs, 395 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:41,759 you have to really look within and wonder, okay, well what do I 396 00:25:41,799 --> 00:25:45,319 do with this number seven pick? What could it get me? And maybe 397 00:25:45,319 --> 00:25:47,720 you could even look at it through the prism of well, if I went 398 00:25:47,759 --> 00:25:49,359 after someone who's in the middle of his career, like a John Collins, 399 00:25:52,519 --> 00:25:55,519 could I move him later for value? And it's part of a different wind. 400 00:25:55,519 --> 00:25:59,480 Now trade what's more valuable John Collins with a number seven prospect a year 401 00:25:59,519 --> 00:26:02,680 from now? And I know people will say the number seven prospect, but 402 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,079 there's a car driving off the lot type effect here where once that pick turns 403 00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:11,640 into a player, it loses some of its mystique and something that I would 404 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,599 float And it doesn't seem like the Hawks are going to trade him. But 405 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,799 if they really want a number seven pick, like does number seven and then 406 00:26:17,839 --> 00:26:22,839 again various salary like can you do a John Collins DeAndre Hunter set up there 407 00:26:22,279 --> 00:26:26,359 if you really wanted to lean into defense? Like does that get you into 408 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,480 a Capella DeAndre Hunter situation? I don't even know if that's worth it. 409 00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:34,119 I like John Collins and DeAndre Hunter. Yes, I'd probab give up the 410 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,559 number seven pick for even with Hunter on the verge of a payday Capella and 411 00:26:37,839 --> 00:26:41,240 Hunter, I feel like I'm less inclined to do so. But the reality 412 00:26:41,319 --> 00:26:47,599 is we're at a point where I don't think the players that the Blazers need, 413 00:26:47,839 --> 00:26:51,200 or would most need, or best fits for them are going to be 414 00:26:51,839 --> 00:26:56,480 so available with the number seven pick and a name I would throw out there, 415 00:26:56,839 --> 00:27:00,480 and I'm not the first to do so, so I I want to 416 00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:03,680 make that clear. But Zach Low mentioned this, like are you calling san 417 00:27:03,799 --> 00:27:08,559 Antonio about de Jante Murray? That's a hell of a fit next to Damian 418 00:27:08,599 --> 00:27:14,039 Lillard, Like that's a hell of a fit. Are you worried about too 419 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:18,240 much ball dominance in the backcourt or just on the perimeter in general, if 420 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,799 you want Jeremy Grant to get touches, you have Murray, who could probably 421 00:27:21,839 --> 00:27:25,079 struggle a little bit to operate off of Dame. But Dame gives you flexibility. 422 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:27,000 We've seen him work off of CJ. McCullum, Simon's, even Norman 423 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:32,279 Powell a little even Nurkic a little bit. So Dame gives you that functional 424 00:27:32,319 --> 00:27:36,559 maaluability number seven for like a Jante Murray. You're at the point in this 425 00:27:36,599 --> 00:27:38,839 trade market anyway, where it feels like you need to think outside the box. 426 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,480 I don't think if Kevin Durant hits the trade markets like I don't want 427 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,680 to say many, but some have predicted at this point if Brooklyn implodes, 428 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:49,240 I don't think Portland really has the juice to go there. Brooklyn's not going 429 00:27:49,279 --> 00:27:52,960 to prioritize picks anyway, And because Portland already owes a future first round pick 430 00:27:53,039 --> 00:27:56,480 down the line aside from number seven, like they would have to go further 431 00:27:56,559 --> 00:28:02,519 out and it would be like jagged conveyance obligations and you probably need a third 432 00:28:02,519 --> 00:28:06,200 and fourth team who would actually prioritize picks, although I misspoke there. If 433 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:11,160 you're trading Kevin Durant because Kyrie Ring's leaving or you're moving him, you're probably 434 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:15,039 are prioritizing picks, but having just number seven, like unless it's looking at 435 00:28:15,079 --> 00:28:18,799 a sign and trade with Simmons, which you absolutely do if you're getting Kevin 436 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:22,279 Durant. It just is Brooklyn gonna want to trade one expensive player for another. 437 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:26,000 I gave some consideration to Ben Simmons here. I'm probably not trading the 438 00:28:26,079 --> 00:28:30,440 number seven pick. I think Ben Simmons is underrated. I want to make 439 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:34,000 that clear. What he could do defensively for Portland is fantastic. Throwing him 440 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,039 into the fold with Grant and if you're gonna keep Nord Kiss your center that 441 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,680 I don't know what the floor spacing or the offensive pecking order looks like in 442 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:47,079 that situation. And if it's costing you number seven, like, can you 443 00:28:47,119 --> 00:28:51,359 get something else out of that deal? Like a Seth Curry would be good 444 00:28:51,359 --> 00:28:55,480 for Portland And aside from that, it's like, but That's what I'm getting 445 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,079 at is I think you have to think outside the box. If you're Portland 446 00:28:57,119 --> 00:29:03,440 now with this number seven pick, or again just in general like Gordon Hayward, 447 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,359 to me, would be sort of an outside the box acquisition if you're 448 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:11,359 going to guarantee Beletso salary and use him as that functional trade exception in himself, 449 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,759 which most people I've talked to said they don't think that's going to happen. 450 00:29:14,799 --> 00:29:18,640 They have until four days after the moratorium and free agency to do so. 451 00:29:18,839 --> 00:29:22,519 At the same time, I think after using the CD McCollum traded player 452 00:29:22,559 --> 00:29:26,759 exception, it's something that you could absolutely look at. I've even thought. 453 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,720 This is something that crossed my mind, is if Kyrie Irving's actually going to 454 00:29:30,799 --> 00:29:33,480 leave Brooklyn. I don't think he's a terrible fit in Portland and I can't 455 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:37,920 stand Kyrie Irving in general, But what if the Bucks, just knowing that 456 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,759 they could use that shock creation, are they willing to put Chris Middleton on 457 00:29:41,799 --> 00:29:45,240 the table, And if you're sending Middleton to Portland, would you give the 458 00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:48,319 number six excuse me, the number seven pick for him? I just food 459 00:29:48,359 --> 00:29:52,200 for thought. I know that he's kind of on the older side and slipped 460 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,640 off a little bit last year coming off that injury. He could also be 461 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:59,039 exactly what on Portland needs. Maybe you don't want to get into that territory 462 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:03,000 where you all of a sudden have to pay all these guys Jeremy Grant, 463 00:30:03,119 --> 00:30:08,200 Simon's nurkicch and then Chris Middleton. I think he might be extension knowledgeable right 464 00:30:08,359 --> 00:30:12,240 now, but he is not that far out from free agencies A player option 465 00:30:12,279 --> 00:30:18,279 with forty point four million next summer, so and he's making thirty seven point 466 00:30:18,359 --> 00:30:21,319 nine. Even getting to that number is difficult. Just an outside the box 467 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,000 name. It just feels like that's the type of thinking that you would need 468 00:30:25,039 --> 00:30:26,839 to do. Ideally, the player I'd love to see in Portland and so 469 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,240 many other places, but I also don't want him to leave it. Okay, 470 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:33,920 see shake Gil just Alexander would be great, just having another secondary ball 471 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:37,519 handler, similar vein of jejant Day Murray. Murray's a much better defender, 472 00:30:37,759 --> 00:30:42,839 Shake Gol's Alexander's a better offensive player overall? What does that do? And 473 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,559 nudges Jeremy Grant further down the pecking letter? How does he feel about that? 474 00:30:45,559 --> 00:30:48,920 Would he reject an extension if you go out and acquire someone who's ahead 475 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:53,480 of him in the pecking letter, but as a bigger guard even like Murray's, 476 00:30:53,519 --> 00:30:57,000 Like looking at jehan Da Murray size, you don't have to worry about 477 00:30:57,079 --> 00:31:00,440 paying Simons then also having them on the roster, like you can just easily 478 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:06,039 work that this isn't McCollum, Powell Simon's Damian Lillard territory in that essence, 479 00:31:06,839 --> 00:31:10,359 and that really like the names, and I've tried to run through like just 480 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,759 offbeat ones unless the Ahams would have come available, I don't anticipate that Harrison, 481 00:31:14,839 --> 00:31:19,200 Barnes and stuff would not be worth number seven to me. That's it 482 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,039 wouldn't even come close. I can't even get there. So those are the 483 00:31:22,119 --> 00:31:26,640 names that if I'm Portland, I'm kind of still just monitoring. I don't 484 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:30,480 think, though, I keep coming back to the Gobert thing. I don't 485 00:31:30,519 --> 00:31:34,279 know if that's the move that you made because of how much he he's earning. 486 00:31:34,319 --> 00:31:37,680 I think that he would he would completely just revamp their defense. And 487 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:41,359 if you had Gobert, if you're putting him on this roster without giving up 488 00:31:41,359 --> 00:31:44,319 Grant Hart or Lillard, I might have him as a top five team, 489 00:31:44,359 --> 00:31:47,200 top four team in the West automatically. I don't know if that's sort of 490 00:31:47,279 --> 00:31:52,720 championship ceiling territory though. But look, this was a fun trade to have 491 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,480 before, right before the NBA Draft. I think it's just a huge, 492 00:31:56,799 --> 00:32:00,440 huge hit for the Blazers, and I think it's justifiable for the Pistons. 493 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,480 But we have to wait and see what that cap space turns into. If 494 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:07,680 this is your first time listening to us, consider throwing us that permanent subscription 495 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,119 on YouTube wherever you get all of your podcasts. Follow us on the socials 496 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:16,119 at Hardwood Knox, on TikTok and Twitter, at Hardwood Underscore Knox on Instagram, 497 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,920 and join our discord. The link is in the YouTube description. It's 498 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,279 also in the podcast description. Until next time and Mike Always we leave with 499 00:32:22,279 --> 00:32:24,160 the shout out to the one, the Only