Speaker 1: What is up Fellasiko's I Am Dan Valley coming at
you with the One the Only mort Yentsen of the
NBA podcast, fame of Yahoo Sports, Fame, of Forbes Fame,
and of Only Fans Celebrity. We are gonna do go
through our biggest questions for every team in the NBA
in the off season over the next few weeks. We're
gonna roll them out by divisions that we can really
get into, just some nitty gritty stuff. Spend a few
extra minutes rather than having to do like two or
three minutes on each team. These will be great companion
episodes to Grant and myself are previewing the off season
for every single team individually. Go check out those podcasts,
those videos, YouTube, Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your stuff,
and look, if you've not subscribed to the show yet,
please do so. And if you have not left us
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if you've done all those things, I would humbly ask,
and I don't ask every episode now, but humbley asks
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and podcast description with sixty seconds of that out of
the way, more, how the heck are you?
Speaker 2: I'm doing well. I just want to give the listeners
a follow up here because you know, also if you
do all the things that Dan just said, remember if
you meet Dan in the streets, give them a hug,
give them a kiss with tongue if necessary. Just be polite,
be good, give all you can for this great person
who makes a shits on a great content.
Speaker 1: You're making me blush right now, So I just want
to say thank you. Did you have any thoughts or
wanted to note anything about how we went about this?
We prepared our own question for each team, just our
biggest question that we're sort of ruminating on. Is there
anything you want to note about your approach?
Speaker 2: Well, they're overarching really, like you know, they're always going
to be like nitty gritty questions that fan bases are
looking at. But I'm going to take the major questions instead.
Not because it's just the popular question to ask, because
I think if you start big, we can always dick
down small instead. I think that's the better.
Speaker 1: Approach, which a spoil alert. That's kind of how I
approach this. So you sent me your questions, so I
decided some of them I had like the same ones,
and so I was like, well, I'm gonna go a
little bit more micro where he goes macro, and I
think that'll provide a nice little balance for us. And
with that in mind, how do we feel about getting
started with We didn't note this yet, but it'll be
in the title. So you should know the Southwest Division
the Dallas Mavericks mort what is your biggest question? Tell
the audience.
Speaker 2: Well, I mean, obviously we know whether we know the
answer to this question. From our perspective, it is should
you keep the number one pick or should you trade it?
We would like the Dallas Mavericks to keep it, because
that's the smart play. However, I will concede here that
the question is valid because you traded away Luka Dantic
and you said we are in it to win it now,
like our window is right now. We feel that we
are a more competitive group now than before when we
had Luka Doncic first and foremost. That is obviously wrong,
but that's what they said. And in order for them
to not lose face, which Dan, you and I know
how much NBA teams care about not losing face, you
at least have to have the conversation about would we
lose faith face if we actually go out there and
pick a teenager, because that's going to set back our
timeline and it's going to make us essentially liars for
the whole reason for why we traded away Luka Dootcic.
So that's why I'm asking keep the number one pick
or traded.
Speaker 1: I do think it's a fair question based off how
the MAVs have operated. I do believe they'll keep They've
said the rumors are that they will keep it, and
I would be shocked if they didn't. I don't even
know the player that you would move. The pick for
Giannis is the one that is mentioned, and I just
even you could tell me it's anyone. Basically, Joanness would
be he's a top three, top live NBA player. You
just traded away one of those two. But that's neither
here nor there. Kyrie's gonna be out until January or whatever.
So I just feel like making that type of a
home run swing would be ill conceived. So and look,
if you believe that flag and the other thing, by
the way, like Nico Harrison was harping on you know,
wouldn't it have been hysterical at Jaron Jackson Junior been
super Max eligible when he got the super Max when
the MAVs didn't want to give it to Luca. That
would have just been such a weird juxtaposition. But Nico
Harrison has made kind of a big deal about affordable
contracts or not wanting to pay certain types of guys.
Cooper flag on a rookie scale. We fill throughout rookie
scales when we do best contracts in the league, but
it has the potential to just be one of the
two or three best contracts in the league because his
cost is so repressed relative to the salary cap. I
would be honestly floored if they looked at moving the pick.
And to be honest, even more honest, like someone's head
needs to roll if they trade the pick, they need
to the Dumonts need to sell the team. Nico Harrison
needs to, Like I just don't. I don't even know
that trading for Gianness would be the right decision here.
I would rather see them be trading Anthony Davis because
they won the number one pick, which I also don't
think that they're gonna do right.
Speaker 2: No, look, you and our agreement. They should do this.
They should basically say, look, we were starting over. But
that's the thing. They're not gonna do that. They're gonna
try to have one foot in each camp. Right, You're
gonna have a foot in the nineteen year old Cooper
flank camp and then another foot in the Anthony Davis
Kyrie Irving camp, and nothing's gonna make sense. So I'm wondering, like,
this is basically the best excuse for any organization to say, oh,
we can reset our timeline. I wonder how long it
will take for this. Let's just be completely honest here
incompetent franchise to realize when is the time? Wait, like,
should we do this now?
Speaker 1: Yes?
Speaker 2: You should. You should basically trade Anthony Davis right now.
It's not gonna happen, But I think it's an interesting subplot,
and like if they are married to the idea of
Anthony Davis, because I think, again, there's a pr battle
to lose here if you're pivoting off Davis and then
right after having making making a big fuss about oh
he's better than Luca, he's like the guy who's like
better to get in here. By the way, side note,
I don't know if you've seen this. Luca was attending
the real Madrid game the other day. I don't know
if you saw the picks.
Speaker 1: Was he with like the Yok brothers or something. I
don't know.
Speaker 2: Well it's not but dudes in shape. Dude's big time
in shape, like proper in shape. That's as a very
funny subplot to be by the way.
Speaker 1: But yeah, the biggest off season addition for the Lakers
will be Luka Doncic having visible abs that will be
called right exactly.
Speaker 2: So, like I this is just such a weird team,
like they're they're they like Nico Harrison turned them so weird.
Now you have to like figure out what's the next
step here. Can we justify to the fan base to
trade like Anthony Davis, look the whatever you do, By
the way, if you're Nico Harrison, the fan base still
wants you gone. Like that's and that's never gonna turn so.
But like, I just think it's such a weird position
they found themselves in.
Speaker 1: So we're both in agreement that they should keep the pick.
I actually believe they will do. You believe they will.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think cooler heads will prevail.
Speaker 1: Yes, What I want to know then, can they get
another primary ball handler? Do they have the assets to
do so, do they have the gall to do so?
And can they game it so that whoever they acquire
can play alongside Kyrie Irving when he comes back? And
I think, look, I know the Kyrie contract, the player option,
that might be something people want to dig into and
Grant and I will get into it when we do
the MAVs offseason look ahead, but like, he's not going anywhere.
I don't know what the contract looks like, but he's
going to be on the Dallas Mavericks next season. So
I just find that not as intellectually curious as well
this team needs. I mean, maybe they give a lot,
like they can plumb the depths of what Cooper Flag
could do in that role, But if you want to
be competitive right away while also having Cooper Flag, I
don't think you want to put that type of responsibility
on his shoulders alone.
Speaker 2: Correct. Mark Stein has apparently mentioned, oh, let me see
if I get this right?
Speaker 1: Hang on, Oh, I can tell you who we mentioned?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I have it here. Drew Holliday, Chris Paul and
Lonzo ball Alnso is by far the most intriguing option,
also from a financial perspective because he's only earning like
ten million I believe it is next season, and he's
like the big guard. Also defensively orient oriented. He can
play make you can play him with multiple ballhandlers. The
thing about him, obviously is the same question that hovers
around Anthony Davis and even Kyrie Irving to this extent
now is availability Can he play over the course of
a full season or is he limited to playing twenty
five thirty five games at this point, If Lonzo settles
in for forty one games, like half a season, that's
a win in my book. So again comes down to
like what are you what are your expectations? Also financially
because Drew Holliday is gonna cost a ton on the books.
He said, like what forty four forty five million per year?
Speaker 1: He like the defense that he fits their defensive most
even he could play off Kyrie. And what I'd be
worried about with Lonzo is that feels like to me
an accessory move because even if he's healthy, how many
minutes can he play?
Speaker 2: Right? Yeah, and that's a legitimate question. What I'm asking
you is, if you're going after jew Holiday, what's the
deal like? Because yeah, so I have a deal. Oh,
I actually.
Speaker 1: Wrote about one before this report came out. So is
this based off my speculation? Who's to say?
Speaker 2: Really?
Speaker 1: Am I mark Stein's insider? I'm not, but maybe I am.
Who knows? So it would be you would have to
involve a third team because neither the Mavericks or the
the Celtics are gonna want to be hard cap or
take back more money than they send out, and they
functionally the Celtics cannot do that, right, So Dwight Powell
that four million dollar player option, you go. He goes
to the Nets and they get Portland's twenty twenty six
second round pick. I think the Celtics have that as
part of the deal. The MAVs send PJ. Washington and
Daniel Gafford to Boston, and then Drew Holiday goes to Dallas.
Speaker 2: Wait, you bring me the names again, PJ. Washington and who?
Speaker 1: And you have Gafford to Boston for Drew Holliday and
both of those guys for anyone wondering they are on
expiring contracts. And then My thought process there, just really quickly,
is that doesn't really save Boston a lot of money.
But like if they were trying to be good, PJ.
Washington soaking up the Jason Tatum defensive minutes like just
positionally makes a lot of sense. But I also think
you've now broken up Drew Holliday into smaller contracts that
can then be moved individually for more value and save
you additional money.
Speaker 2: That's my It's a lot of size you lose there,
but like you're getting Cooper Flag in there as well,
so perhaps it's enough for Dallas. I mean, you have
Dreck Lively right now.
Speaker 1: I want to be clear, I don't think PJ. Washington
is suddenly expendable, but if you have Cooper Flag, Naji Marshall,
Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, you can probably stand like you
would be able to survive getting rid of Gafford and PJ. Washington.
It's just if you don't think if you think Drew's
contract is that much underwater, that's where it gets hung up.
But Gafferd's probably gone anyway after this year if you
don't move him, and then PJ. Washington's eligible for a
four year I think it's like an eighty nine million
dollar extension, which is that's fine money for him, But again,
how much do you want him on the roster when
you have a d when you have Cooper Flag?
Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, no, I don't hate it. If there was
a cheaper option out there, I wouldn't hate exploring that.
But that's not a bad deal for Drew at all.
Speaker 1: And I don't really have I mean, like, there are
other names they could try, and I'm trying to think
of like super cheap, but I don't This isn't something
they're going to fix by Oh, we got Tias Jones
at the minimum. I guess Chris Paul would make a
lot of sense. I don't want to see him playing
with Kyrie too much, though. Maybe they have the defensive
infrastructure at this point to cover up for him. But
Chris Paul would be kind of as a stop gap
if you're using the mini mL or if he's agreeing
to come for the minimum. That would certainly like that
streamlines Cooper Flag's development, allows you to get Anthony Davis
the ball on the spots that he needs to get them.
I like that one. Maybe that one feels like the
one that straddles the best, the most amount of ground
where it's temporary, but.
Speaker 2: Its he loves speaking.
Speaker 1: But I mean, we're gonna get to the spurs. But
if they have Steph Castle dearon Fox and Dylan Harper
on their team.
Speaker 2: Oh we'll get to it. I have its take, I
have its take.
Speaker 1: Anything else on the maverage or any names you want,
Kobe White would be interesting, but he's about to get
paid and cost a lot in assets and playing him
and Kyrie you could.
Speaker 2: I do think he's gonna No, look again, the bulls
are are stuck here. No I'm not. That wasn't That
wasn't one of my rands that the bulls are stuck
is basically what I'm saying. They they know that they
had to basically let him go into under su Tree
Agency in twenty twenty six. He's only got one year left.
They could have cashed in big time at the tradead line.
I think they cost themselves, like they made the same
mistake with Caruso and like all they got back from
Caruso was Josh giddeyon nothing. So like I think teams
out there are not going to overpay for Kobe White
because of the contractual situation, because if you trade for
Kobe White, now you're facing the same issue that Chicago is. Yeah,
so he's not gonna cost you. It's on.
Speaker 1: I think that is fair, and I do think it
will end with them either moving him for dissatisfactory value
or they end up paying his next deal that does
not age correct. Well, that would be my official prediction.
Any other names you'd want to throw off, But I
think I guess we didn't really answer the question. Do
you think that they will go out and get, like
be aggressive enough to get someone who is, oh, it's
not just oh we got Trey Jones or we got
Tias Jones, like it's someone who makes more of an
impact of that. Or do you expect them more to
just kind of balance their cap sheet out and buy
time until Kyrie gets back.
Speaker 2: I absolutely think they're gonna look for a serious ballhank,
because look, Kyrie is also on the older side as
an NBA player, and that is a horrific injury. Like
we don't know whether how he comes back from that
at that age. Like if a young guy gets an aclsair, okay,
look that now it shows that at most come back
and are fine at that age, with a lot of
mileage on him as well. I just don't think we
can sit here and assume that he'll be himself. We
can hope so, but we can't assume. And I don't
think the Mats are either.
Speaker 1: Let's move on to our next team, which we're gonna
go alphabetically here. The Houston Rockets maybe the single most
fascinating team of the offseason, or at least one of
the five most. I'm gonna steal this. Well, let's go
with here a quote you took the overarching stuff, which
is fun to talk about. So what is your question
for Houston?
Speaker 2: The big question is is it time to trade for
a star or should they just run the course as
they did this season? And the reason I ask it
is because they had this conversation brewing even last summer
as well, and I was one of the few people
who are like, don't don't make a trade right now.
See what happens with your young team, See if there
are any developments that actually make you smarter about your
own players and makes it much more obvious who's like
in for the long haul and who shouldn't be. I
think they're smarter. I think they know who they are.
I think they've identified certain players who are absolute keepers
or who has the most trade value of depending on
how you want to look at it. So they are
at a point now where they have to figure out
do we try to take like one aggressive step forward
and trade for a real star, or just do we
keep this train trucking.
Speaker 1: It's a it's an enviable position to be in. It's
not an easy one because I think there's cases to
be made on both sides. And as someone who's taking
the ten thousand foot view of it all, I would say,
I don't want to see them go balls to the
wall for the wrong player, just any player, right. But
look at like I keep coming back to this, these
windows always just shut way sooner than you think, even
if you don't make the all in. Look at Boston
like they kind of that was an extended window, and
they like they reshaped it over time. The Jason Tatum
injury happens, and now their next two seasons maybe just
because you don't know what you have to figure out
what Tatum looks like when he comes back in twenty
six twenty seven, that could be out the window and
force a reorientation of their entire roster, so you don't
just want to sit and bank on you getting to
the point where we could beat the Thunder in a series.
We have enough offensive creation, Like that's the thing is
you look at their offensive numbers. They need shooting someone
who can kind of run things for them. But the
issue that I keep coming back to with them, while
I think that I would be a little bit more
desperate if I'm in Houston situation, to me, there's nobody
on the roster that checks the boxes that they need
and the only one who comes close. And this kind
of gets into my question, it's Read Shepherd, And can
you just say, hey, Read Shepherd's gonna play a bunch
next year if you're not playing this year and good
to be the exact player that we need. As a
Reed Shepherd optimist, I don't know that I would even
say that. So that's what's really tough is that, Okay,
they have so much at their disposal. There's still so
much room for these guys to grow. But Rockets fans
can get in the comments. They could let me know, like,
who is the player that you think aside from Reed Shepherd,
who if that's the plan for next season that's really
I'll support it because I love Reed Shepherd, but like
that's really risky. Who is the player on this team
that you think is going to turn into the guy
that can run a playoff level above average offense, Because
it's not like Shane Goon has his limitations there. You
need someone else who works from the outside in. And
if you still think Jalen Green is going to be
the answer, I need to know which basketball you're watching
that I'm not.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yep. And of course aman Thompson still we still
have the overarching questions about his shooting capabilities. Like he's
obviously fantastic. I would argue right now, he's probably the
best player on the team defensively, is super a budding
super are one of the best slashers in the NBA,
one of the most ridiculous athletes we've probably seen in years.
But like, does he have the floor game? That's that's
what I have.
Speaker 1: And even if he does, and I know they are
different players in many different functional ways, but like that's
kind of like, oh, Yannis, and I don't think you
even want Yannis to be the guy who's driving your
half court offense in the playoffs, Like you're okay with it, Like, no,
that's why they traded for Dame and that we could
you know, you know, we don't need to relitigate that.
I was in support of the move when they did it.
It was obviously risky. But like, even if I'm Thompson
hits his ninety nine percentile outcome, I don't think that
includes like someone who's hitting these pull up jumpers and
hit these three pointers. Like, we just don't see guys
improve in volume and efficiency by such stark margins when
when it's such an inherent limitation of their game. That's
not insult him. Jannis Tetakoupo is one of the five
most valuable players in the NBA for like the past
half the past decade, So I would again, I'm not
whether you think it's Devin Booker. Should they go after
Kevin Durant? Is there any names that you think fly
under the radar there?
Speaker 2: I just stolen stole my name. That was book book
is the because that's he's the guy with the floor game.
He's the guy who I think you can ask to
create a substantial amount of work off the bounds, not
as not because he's the point guard, but because he's
a good decision maker, like he can play ping and role,
he can initiate the offense, and he can also play
off the ball. He can also be a guy who
goes out and gets you literally seventy because we've seen
him before. He's that dude, And that would be the
fun acquisition for the Rockets. The question of course, there
being what's the deal? Because if you give up half
the roster, do you just become the new Sons. You
don't want to do that, and that's that I think
is honestly the biggest threat to this whole situation of
you know, trading for a star. Do you give up
too much? Do you give up like half the farm?
And are what and are suddenly left with too few
players on the roster where it makes sense? That's where
you go get into like oh did we just did
we just over course correct? There has to be a
middle ground in terms of who you're getting.
Speaker 1: I don't and I don't know if even Booker is
that option, because I guess you could argue that since
they own two of the like control some of the
Suns' own draft, it would maybe be easier to get
him for less net assets than if you were trading
for somebody else, but like it also could just call
you a crap ton, and it's you know, do you
kind of look at is there a player that straddles
the middle ground of this is gonna cost us not
for first round picks or something. And I think that's
the tricky part of all this is because there's probably
no like they would be if you could get this
player for its Oh like no, this wasn't the Donovan
Mitchell package. This was more like I'm trying to think
of like which star was just traded for kind of
a blah return, almost like luk at that's so mean,
Anthony Davis. But it's also true. But if Trey Young
would be the middle ground to where he's so ball dominant,
sure they can insulate him defensively, and no, would he
be my first choice. No, But if it's oh, Atlanta
just wants like two firsts or something, then a young player,
then that's that's a lot more appealing than four first
round picks and young players for Devin Booker, plus making
the salaries work.
Speaker 2: So making the salaries work. I was looking at that
at this, uh, Dylan Brooks and Jalen Green, that was
the deal I was thinking of. Unfortunately, it seems as
though that is not doable because the Suns will take
on more money.
Speaker 1: Basically, any trade they make is just gonna rope in
like a third and fourth team to take on money
with Phoenix.
Speaker 2: It has to like there's no other way to go
about this.
Speaker 1: Do you think there's anything to the effect of what
if they just brought in a shooter that would crack
their rotation, their playoff rotation. Do you think that provides
enough of the outlet to where, hey, we don't need
to go make the meg where Cam Johnson would be
a good example here, and then it's Kobe White would
be Honestly, he might be perfect. You have to you
now to deal with his next contract at a time
where okay, is Shane Goon still on the books and
then Jabari Smith Junior and Tarisan have new deals that
are coming up. But yeah, he would be and that
shouldn't cost you nearly as much as a Devin Booker,
as a Kevin Durant, as a Trey Young, the whole nine.
Speaker 2: He's obviously not on that level as the players should
just mention, but he's like closer to it, you know,
from a financial perspective at least where it makes sense
to go after him and questions for me, Oh right, sorry, no, no, no, no,
go ahead.
Speaker 1: Because what it leads me to ask, and it's I've
asked this question about the Magic, the Orlando Magic before.
How good does the offense? Does? Does the primary offensive
upgrade need to be to get the rockets to where
they need to go? And what I know that's a
convoluted way of saying it, but it's could you trade
for Kobe White and then just win the title next year?
Or if you want to enter that inner circle, does
it need to be someone who is actually on that
All Star All NBA level.
Speaker 2: Well, So to answer that question, I need to ask
you a question first, will Jalen Green still be on
the roster? Because and that sounds like a horrible way
to like initiate this conversation, but like, if you have
serious aspirations of winning an NBA championship, one of the
foundational mainstays in all NBA championship winners is that you
have a significant portion of players who are significantly outperforming
their contracts, meaning that their output production whatever you want
to call it, is flat out worth more than what
they're being compensated personally. Now, Jalen Green is gonna earn
thirty three point three million dollars next year, then thirty
six million dollars after that. Is there any world wherein
he does not immediately become a net negative in terms
of like the production slash compensation ratio. I would make
it a priority if I get Kobe White in there
to find a new home for Jalen.
Speaker 1: I think I might make it a priority in like
any type short of I guess if they go the
Yannis route, you don't need to prioritize that as much.
But I don't think his contract will be so underwater that, oh,
we need first round picks to take it on. But no,
no inserting it into a deal. It's not part I
don't think it's part of the outgoing value to another team, right.
Speaker 2: And that's that's kind of where I'm at, Because if
you are entering next season with Jalen Green earning thirty
three million and you have championship aspirations, financially speaking, you're
gonna be in for a hard time that like you're like,
you're gonna put so much pressure on every single rookie
contract left on that roster to like play at a
ridiculous level above their compensation model. Same with the Shin Gooon. Honestly, yeah,
that is a good point.
Speaker 1: I want to get to my question, which I think
it bleeds into what we're talking about. Are any of
the younger guys no longer part of the future plans?
And I think you mentioned Jalen Green, Yeah, there's I
think you know, Jabari Smith Junior and Tari Easton are
both extension eligible. And when you look at kind of
how the Rockets were playing where we saw we saw
a lot of triple big stuff or quad big depending
on how you feel about like Tari Easton playing. Is
Jabari Smith Junior any less important if you think that
they're going to bring back Steven Adams and run that
way or is it just having Aman Thompson there? There's
also how important would Jabari Smith Junior be moving forward anyway?
That's the name that I would circle, along with Cam Whitmore.
Is sort of not that they need to get rid
of these guys, but as you're thinking about their next
contracts coming up, are they willing to move them for what?
Like what here's a good example, would you move Jabari
Smith Junior is part of a Kevin Durant deal Kevin
Durant's older, But yeah, Smith Junior feels I think Barrs
Smith Junior is really good, I want to make that clear,
but he feels somewhat superfluous on this roster. I don't
want to say dispensable because that just has the negative connotation.
So like those are kind of the names. And then
also not that they should give up on this guy,
but like, what is the plan with Reed Shepherd? Because
you have immediate aspirations, he doesn't have the runway to
develop like some of these other guys did. And we
know that the Rockets have brought in basically all of
their young guys along fairly. Jalen Green's like the lone exception.
I feel like he was inserted into the fire right away.
But everyone else, I'm and Thompson, Alphahin, Shangun, Cam Whitmore,
maybe Jabar Smith Junior not so much, like a lot
of these guys have come along gradually. Can you how
do you integrate Reed Shepherd into a team that might
just be good enough to contend for a title. That's
really challenging.
Speaker 2: So you and I differ on our love for Jabari
Smith Junior. I think I'm lower on him than you are,
so I would not have any issues pivoting off of him.
I think, you know, some people are basically saying, oh, well,
he could be a superior version the Laurie market, and
you're Lauri marketing with defense. I just don't think we've
seen the offensive volume to a point where over the
course of three seasons, by the way, in two hundred games,
that's not nothing, to a point where I feel comfortable,
you know, penciling him in as a major offensive contributor, Like,
do I think there's defensive upside? Yes? I do. Do
I think he struggles with other big man stuff. Do
I think his rebounding is meh, absolutely. Do I think
he hits enough threes to be worth the squeeze? Nope?
Not really. Does he hit enough of his two pointers
to be worth it? Nope? Not either. Like, there are
just so many red flags to a point where I'm
just I'm pretty out on him as like a major
component to an offensive structure. So if you include him
in a deal, and if a receiving team looks at
Jabari Smith and go, oh my god, that's a tremendous asset.
Pull that trigger immediately if you're in Houston. That's where
I'm at. As for Cam Whitmore, I just want to
get this thing to through because there are teams out there.
There are a lot of teams out there that should
be calling the rockets about Cam Widmore. The thing is
they because they can't sit there and say, oh, well,
we love Cam like he's a major piece of what
we're doing. No he's not. He played sixteen damn minutes
this year. No he's not. Like the counter argument is
right there. You didn't even utilize him. He should have
played over Jalen Green for extended stretches this year. He
didn't like if there should be twenty teams out there
at least calling the rockets and asking about Kim Widmore.
Speaker 1: Yeah, he's super tantalizing. It does feel like I don't
know how dynamic he stands to be. Like the passing
on offense and then that the shot isn't falling, his
value just becomes all over them. I mean, you can
say that about a lot of players, but I don't.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Jabebarsmith, you can say that about as well.
Speaker 1: Yeah, No, because Jabari Smith Junior brings more defensive value
than cam went Moore.
Speaker 2: That is true. I was talking about the passing, all right.
Speaker 1: Yeah, so by the way, Javari Smith Junior specifically, I
would just like to see him in a better spacing environment,
and I think that we would see him.
Speaker 2: That's fair, I will give you that. It's just I
I just can't ignore two hundred plus games of data
and six and a half thousand minutes. I don't think
we're getting there, right.
Speaker 1: I don't know if he's going to be an All Star,
but I would love to see him. Not that I'm
rooting for him to leave, but like if they could
get more shooting or someone that could deliver him the ball,
like more like that's just not Fred van Fleet, Jaollen
Green Read Shepherd. Maybe not yet. I would just love
to see him in that type of role, whether it's
Houston or elsewhere.
Speaker 2: Oh no, no, don't get me wrong. He's gonna he
would be better in a lot of different situations. I'm
not arguing otherwise. I'm just asking what the actual ceiling
here is because it's like, okay, so with the caveat
and unless he ends up in Denver next to Jokich,
where he would blossom as hell, because that's just Whatmal.
Speaker 1: Murray, that is Houston interested in him. No, look, he's
not a bad fit for this roster.
Speaker 2: No, I'm just saying Jamal Murray without without joke, we've
not we've not really seen it.
Speaker 1: That's we've seen it in different It's not pretty for
the most part, right.
Speaker 2: No, But like I just it's what it boils down to.
All of this is identification, Like who do we believe
moving forward is worth more than whatever we're being offered?
Right Like, look, every single team right now probably has
a standing offer for Aman Thompson and the Rockets are
rightfully saying no, thank you. But if that one offer
comes in where they estimate his value, oh sorry, the
return to be over his value, Yeah, pull the trigger.
That I think that has to be the approach on
like an individual basis.
Speaker 1: That is that's fair. They need to figure out, like
what does their identity as a team on offense want
to look like? Yeah, And that's that's what's so tough here.
But it's a good position to be in because they
have a lot of assets, They have a lot of
intriguing young players, but they're now tasked with kind of
the toughest part of this whole progress, which is going
from good to great, and my personal belief. To wrap
this up, I don't think they get there strictly by
banking on internal development. I think this we could debate
about the level of the player coming in. I think
Kobe White is good enough to make a difference. As
an example, a fringe like like you could throw Anthony
Simon's on this roster. Maybe you want someone who's a
little bit better of a passer, but that's someone else
that I think comes in and am I picking the
rockets to win the title? No, but he gives you
more of an even keel presence than Jalen Green as
an example.
Speaker 2: Do you trade Reed Cheer straight up for Kobe White?
Speaker 1: Ooh? I mean, if I'm the Bulls, I'm bouncing on that.
I think, knowing that Kobe White's gonna leave, but they're
about to pay Josh Giddy, so Red Shepherd's career probably
gets ruined in Chicago. Unfortunately, Man, I probably can't just
because of the Kobe White contract coming after this. If
it was, if you're talking, could we rewind and would
you trade Read Shepherd straight up at the deadline for
Kobe White, then I think you have to consider it,
But no, I couldn't. I am, But I also would
you do it because we know that I'm just higher
on Read Shepherd, I think than consensus at this point. Frankly.
Speaker 2: I mean, look, if you're the Bulls and you're probably
if you're being honest about with yourself about that's Kobe
White situation, Yeah, I'm doing it because also Read Shepherd,
even though he had a horrible rookie season, there is
a level of shot making capability within his game that
I think could make him ultimately worth more than Josh
Gitty as well. So like just having a superior option
down the line, so the Bulls can see, oh, perhaps
it's time to trade Josh Gitty. That would be smart.
I don't think they're smart, so they're not going to
do it. What I will say as a secondary option
for Chicago is assuming, of course, the Rockets just guarantee
Jock Landale's contract just for salary matching purposes, centering a
deal around Cam Whitmore and maybe some additional draft compensation,
so Cam with more, Jock Landale for salary matching purposes
and some type of pick. I'm not sure like how
protected whatever for Kobe White. I wouldn't hate that for
either side either.
Speaker 1: No, that's a good one.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: I think if it's like sort of a middle end
pick one, I would say one of the rocket's own
moving forward, rather than you're not giving a son's pick
in that yet, right, that would be like that. That's
a good one. I really like that one. I think
that's my favor Kobe White's like that feels like the
middle ground because I've been kind of racking my brain
thinking this player is a little pricy, and I wonder
if he's too Fred van Vlidi, when you're looking at
if you want someone to create advantages for others, but
Emmanuel Quickly would be kind of interesting here too.
Speaker 2: Yep, I agree with that.
Speaker 1: Our next team is the Memphis Grizzlies. More what's your
question for them?
Speaker 2: Is it time to trade John rand the big one?
The big question. We have a lot of data now
on the Jahn Moran Grizzlies. I will see here. Here's
where I'll say it might be a little controversial, hopefully
not too controversial. You know, he's improved. I'm not going
to sit here and argue that John Moran hasn't improved
since he came into the league. Having said that, ever
since he took like was it his third year leap
when he was averaging like twenty seven or something along
those lines, like when he became you know that guy?
Since then, has he actually improved significant, significantly in one
single area on the floor to a point where we
can point to that and go, oh, yeah, we can
trust this going forward. I hesitate to say yes or
and if he has, please educate me, because I'm not
seeing it.
Speaker 1: That is interesting. I I think it's a fair inquiry
to make. The problem is and why I would say no,
it's not time to trade John Morant. This feels like
it might be then idea of his value. Maybe you
could go back to the off point stuff and say
that was the absolute idea, But having just so much
evidence about the limitations of building a half court offense
around him, I don't know how much. Like what is
the because Houston as an example, the team we just
talked about, they're not gonna go after him the magic,
They're not gonna they need someone who's a bit more
reliable shooter. So I just what is the market? What
is the team that's giving you a ton of stuff
for John Morant. I mean I kind of thought, like,
would Utah give you like lowry marketing into first and
is that is your team even better after that?
Speaker 2: I like, I, well, I mean just because you actually
get a sense of positional structuring. Utah would argue yes,
because like who's their point guard really, Yonce George.
Speaker 1: It's I think Isaiah Collier is probably the better bet
at this point, not neither bet safe.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but it's not offensively dynamic either.
Speaker 1: Not right no, right now, right now, more outside of
the restricted area for sure.
Speaker 2: Exactly. Well, much of the same with Josh really, I
mean there's not a lot of feel there.
Speaker 1: What was his finishing numbers this year? He's like one
of those classic guys where it's oh, why are why
isn't his shooting percentage at the rim higher? It's just
he's always there with reckless of nine three feet All right, good,
that's actually that's not Russell.
Speaker 2: He was seventy one percent last year, but that was
only a nine game samble size.
Speaker 1: So like, I think you know what it's because he
attempts it so much. When I'm watching him and he's
always just there, I'm like, oh, why does it feel
like he's missing so many but he gets there? Third
of his shots came that By the way, The other
thing I think you have to concern yourself with is
given the injury history, he is now what six years
deep into his career, he's only twenty five, but his
game is so he's a very high IQ player when
you look at the passing for sure.
Speaker 2: Yeah, the passing absolutely, yeah, But.
Speaker 1: Like his game is prided a lot on his athleticism,
and you kind of have to wonder, Okay, how how
long is this runway with John Moran in his prime
at this level? And that's something both the Grizzlies and
suitors would in theory need to reconcile.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, So why That's why I ask the
questions because I I understand training him or sorry, not
training him when his value is at the lowest. I
buy that argument in its entirety. That said, if you're
the Grizzlies, you have to eventually look at this thing
and go like, like, what are we going to do here?
Because if you also want to trade jaw, does that
have a ripple effect? Like do you actually want to
start over? Like you're not going to want to pay
Jared Jackson Junior full max. I assume if you want
to start over again.
Speaker 1: No, I probably not. And it's like, yeah, so are
you looking to get better as part of the job trade.
Is there any pathway where that exists? I mean, if
the Bucks aren't getting their own picks back at when
or if you're honest requests out building something around John
Moran for you honest, I don't know if that's what
Memphis needs. But if you just say we're gonna figure
it out when it comes to the all kinds of
floor general Chip, having Jaron Jackson Junior and Yannis on
the same team is insane, that would be And if
you're the Bucks, you could say, all right, we still
have Dame. So there's that tricking bartment. But if you're
looking for kind of a tent pole young player to
map out your future, John Morant would be an interesting option.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I will say Jared Jackson Junior and Yiannis would
be fun in the regular season. In the playoffs, no, well,
I mean, look, we have to talk about it as well.
I mean, Jaron Jackson Junior in the playoffs historically has
been what's the kind word to say, ass But yeah,
but he's been he's been but no, look that that's harsh.
He's just he's been disappointing. Okay, Like I was just
trying to crack a joke there. He's been disappointing in
the playoffs and that's been through the four times he's
been there. Even when he's hitting shots, then he's not rebounding.
Even when he's rebounding, then he's not hitting shots. It's like,
you can't get the full Jaron Jackson Junior package in
the playoffs for whatever reason apparently, and I think he's
shown that to an extent now where I'm like, no,
his value in my eyes, just that's just me personally,
is significantly below what you know consensus, because I think
if you trade for Jared Jackson Junior, it's with the
mindset of, hey, let's make a playoff run, or let's
or not a playoff title run, let's get deep into
the playoffs. Well, if you go into the playoffs and
you're aiming to make the finals, it probably you probably
need to have guys perform in the postseason, and he
does not.
Speaker 1: Which leads me to my question, what happens if Jaron
Jackson Junior doesn't renegotiate an extent. Maybe he does nothing
bad and so.
Speaker 2: Nothing bad happens. Even if they pivot off of him,
nothing bad happens.
Speaker 1: Wow, So they probably got it might have been a
blessing in disguise that he didn't make all NBA for
the Grizzlies, which kind of that we view it through
that lens. He would have been eligible for that super
max of five years, three hundred and forty five point
three million. They could have. I don't think they would
have given him that, but maybe they would have felt
pressure to or maybe even just giving him a thirty
percent max. You have to ask yourself, is he worth this?
What they can do now is they project to have
about seven million in cap space while keeping Santi al Dama.
If you bump up Jaron Jackson. This is how renegotiating
extend works for maybe anyone who's not familiar with it,
and hopefully I'm not too wordy or confusing anyone here.
The Grizzlies have seven million dollars in cap space. They
can give that to Jaron Jackson Junior, bump him up
to about thirty point four million dollars, which would allow
them to offer him a four year, one hundred and
ninety point eight million dollar extension from there. So over
the next five years, including next season, he's on the
books for forty four point two million on average, rather
than over the next six years had he been super
Max eligible, averaging about sixty one point five million. That's
a huge difference when you're factoring him on the margins
keeping this team together.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: My question though, is what if he says there and
says no, I'm not I'm not gonna take the renegotiating extend,
and if I go into free agency, I'm gonna get
get good good.
Speaker 2: Good luck, buddy. Look, here's the thing. I he's a
great regular season player. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
see to her and say he's like a bad player whatsoever.
My entire frustration comes down to the fact that he's Look,
he's six', eleven he's built, really really, well and he's
one of the most athletic athletic interior players in the.
League and all he can muster is about five boards per.
Game one that is weakest. Shit two he does not
show up for the. Playoffs those are highly concerning elements to.
Me but if you're a team that just wants to
get into the. Playoffs he's a major. Get like if
you're a team out, there it's just like you know
in the plane bubble every single, year getting a guy
in who just averaged twenty two points in just over
twenty nine. Minutes major major elements like to your success
in order to get in because the productivity in the
regular season is. Nuts but if you're paying him thirty
thirty five percent of the, cap it's with the assumption
that he's gonna lead you to places in the, playoffs
which he will. Not So i'm just not worried about.
Speaker 1: It that's interesting Because i'd be a little bit if
he turns it down because THE i guess the margin
is not too different is four years and one ninety
versus his max from another team next summer would BE
i think it's four years in about two hundred nineteen,
Million so not actually talking about that big of a.
Difference it could be. Higher if it's The, grizzlies they
have the fifth, year then give eight percent. Raises but
if he says if he says, no when you're The,
grizzlies you're playing this out and saying we'll let it
ride to unrestricted free. Agency you're not looking at oh.
Speaker 2: Oh, No i'm. Trading if he says, No i'm sure.
Speaker 1: You said nothing, Happens, no, no no.
Speaker 2: No WHEN i said how nothing, happens WHAT i mean
is there's there are no long term consequences of Trading
Jaron Jackson. Junior if you're The Memphis, squires that's.
Speaker 1: Right is you've had some pretty bold ass takes and
that is spicy that there's just no difference For.
Speaker 2: Memphis, no, no, No, WELL i, mean, look you're obviously because
again it's the ripple. Effect we just talked About jaw,
Right like you, know if you trade, jaw the overwhelming
assumption Is Jaron Jackson junior is going to be your best.
Player that's gonna lead you. Nowhere like he's not your best.
Player if he's the best player on a, team and
that's the lens you're looking at him, through you're fucked pretty.
Much and that's that's my. Take that's WHEN i say nothing. Changes,
obviously they're gonna lose more games than the record. Season,
obviously what in terms of like their overall championship equity
is not going to make a damn difference because so,
far what has their championship equity looked?
Speaker 1: Like, okay, Fair so who would you rather here's an interesting,
question then who would you rather have on your? Team,
well let me start. Here so you don't think if
he hits twenty six free, agency you don't think there's
gonna be a max offer waiting for.
Speaker 2: Him, well, No i'm not saying there. ISN'T i think
this shouldn't. Be but like teams are, Crazy LIKE i will,
say there is one team in a specific like specifically
WHERE i would open the door to him being like
the best version of. Himself that's next To luca In Los.
Angeles like if he gets next To, luca just the
sheer amount of shots that he'll be spoon. Fed uh
and and, like, yes that is the one area WHERE
i could see him make that transition from regular season
player to playoff. Performer that's that's that would be the.
One outside of, THAT i really struggle to see a
scenario where he lands on a team and, says, oh,
yeah Now i'm something good in the playoffs when it.
Matters so might there be an offer out? There a max? Offer?
Sure BECAUSE nba teams do this stuff all all like
all the. Time DO i think there should be based
on what he's giving you in the playoffs right? Now,
NO i don't think there should.
Speaker 1: Be, Wow i'm gonna be watching the renegotiating extension talks
now that it's not because he's not going to sign the.
EXTENSION i, mean if he signs the extension off his current,
number that's probably a win for The.
Speaker 2: Grizzlies where, no, sure oh yeah, Yeah, like, okay LOOK
i come off as a Huge Jared jackson junior hater.
Here that's not my. Intent my point is Basically i'm
not interested as AN npa organization and paying. Him you,
KNOW i think the what was the three Hundred oh
he's not eligible for the, supermax but people were, like,
oh let's hope he gets the supermax so he can
sign the, deal like three hundred and forty five MILLION
i think averaged out to what is sixty nine million per,
Year and that's ridiculous. Money that is utterly ridiculous money
for a guy who doesn't perform in the. Postseason like
if you can get him for forty per year, straight, yeah,
absolutely because look that's worth getting into the, playoffs and
that's that's what he will do for, you he will
get your ass into the. Playoffs if he's like the
secondary churchiary guy on the. Team absolutely he, will or
well he would at least eight that that goal. Significantly so,
Yeah i'm paying him forty million a, year what sixty sixty?
Speaker 1: Five he's not a thirty five percent max. Guy i'm.
Curious maybe not To Vic. GRIZZLIES i could see him
being worth thirty percent because this defensive. VALUE i know
the rebounding is an, issue but it's kind of.
Speaker 2: Insane, no, yeah for, Sure and again it's it came
off way too harsh on this. ONE i CAN i can.
Tell it's JUST I we're constantly talking about championship, windows
Right that has become the big conversation IS nba teams
now have shorter championship, windows shorter competitive. Windows that also
means that whenever you have a chance to make a,
run you can better make damn sure that the players
that you are paying the most money to are, major
major assets who outperform their actual contractual compensation level in the.
Postseason so, Far Jaron Jackson junior has not done, that
and if you give him a significant, raise you're putting
yourself into possibly a world of.
Speaker 1: Let's move on to our next team in this, division
The New Orleans. Pelicans a little. Confusing what's your? Question?
Speaker 2: More is this the end of the road For Sion, Williamson,
like you, know we have to ask the.
Speaker 1: Question it's not you want to know why the day
at the at THE nba, lottery you don't send someone
to be your lottery representative and move, him.
Speaker 2: RIGHT i mean you hope. Not i'll be.
Speaker 1: Funny.
Speaker 2: Funny could you imagine they won the lottery and Got
Gooper flack and then he met were, like, oh hey,
see thanks for Getting that.
Speaker 1: Is kind of weird because you're sending him there in
theory at that point where this could be for them
to win the right to draft your place.
Speaker 2: Replace and they already Have Trey, murphy who was let's be,
real could probably play that role as. Well oh, god
this seems just so. Confusing that's Why I'm i'm asking
the question About zion because like he's obviously the guy
who could fetch you a certain level of, return because
like the contractual, stuff like where whoever team would trade
for him has a lot of control over the. Contract
THERE'S mvp upside in attaining. Him so like presumably there
will be value attached to get, Back, like is there
a lot of value in trading out ct. McCollum, no
is there value in trading Away Deyontay? Murray who's what was?
All was? It the acl or? ACHILLES i don't even?
Remember oh, god so an acl tear earlier in his
career and now the. Achilles that's that's. Rough there's not
gonna be value in moving him right now, Either, like
what's what are they doing? Here? Not that's not that's
harsh to put that on at their feet entirely because
injuries are a. THING i just don't know what their
plan of attack. Here is.
Speaker 1: What i'm wondering, though is does it get worse if
he MOVE z eye on right? Now because what's the
best offer you could get for? HIM i? Proposed and
this for some, reason it felt if the basis of
this deal Was DeAndre ayton and then two of The
Milwaukee bucks swaps four and now all of a, sudden,
now all of a, Sudden New orleans controls four Of
milwaukee's draft. PICKS i THINK i just is that is that?
Enough is that too? Much if you're The, blazers IT'S
i Guess my point would, be couldn't Get hazier just
because look at where they're drafting this year in the.
Lottery they're coming in at number. Seven, YEAH i don't
know how you feel about this draft, yet like they're
probably not gonna find this fortune's turning. Player zion to
me is still their best chance of doing. That and
SO i look it AS i by the, WAY i
think your question is spot, on like it's very, fundamental
but it's like it has to. Be it's the this
is an existential crisis essentially that it feels like this
organization has been caught in for. YEARS i think what you.
Do my plan would, be we're Keeping. Zion can he
either one just play so well that, it's, oh it's
clear that he is our pole star of the, future
or can he increase his trade value leading into the trade?
Deadline BECAUSE i don't even, honestly if you went To
portland and offered that As New, ORLEANS i don't know
if they do, It and that's WHAT i would do.
IT i want to make it clear AND i don't
think If i'm The, PELICANS i probably don't want to
take that. Offer but at the same, time it's, like
what is. OH I, also by the, way number eleven
was also included in. There, okay so was number. Eleven
those two bucks, Swaps i'm just, like does that materially
change your? Fortunes Because zion's money is you could talk, about,
well there's the. Contract one it has outs For New,
orleans and two, like If zion's Not, zion you're cooked,
Anyway like to, me the money he's not on a
max where it's just like breaking your. Organization, No, no
the money he's, on he's on the fun. Max and
also just if he's not, right it doesn't fucking matter
what you're you be paying him the. Minimum your team
is still going.
Speaker 2: Nowhere yep.
Speaker 1: Yep so that would be my plan of. Attack but
this leads into my. Question if they keep zyon, watch
let's get your. Answer what do you want them to
do or what do you think they will? Do what
do you think they should? Do when on The zion.
Speaker 2: Front, NO i would look to trade. Him i'm not
SAYING i would trade him LIKE i would collect. OFFERS
i would see what's out. THERE i will not decide
to just negotiate with one team because that's. Dumb who does?
THAT i WOULD i would open it up and see
what's out. There and if one team just made a
big brain fart and was, like, yes we're all, in
we're giving up. Everything i'm taking that thing And i'm
running away with.
Speaker 1: It what is the? Team, like what is the team
that you look?
Speaker 2: At and if you never? Know like, sometimes But i'm asking. You, yeah, okay, okay, okay.
Okay now you're gonna laugh again BECAUSE i already brought them.
Up like call the, Bulls call the.
Speaker 1: Bulls your solution is just everyone pillage the? Bulls? Right
AM i? Wrong?
Speaker 2: Though like call, now And i'm not just saying the
bulls as, Well, like just call up the teams that,
you as an organization consider the weakest, Negotiators like call
up the teams that you consider. Desperate call up the
teams that you have identified as being at a crossroads
where they have no freaking idea what to, do and
where you might be able to squeeze them for more
than they probably feel comfortable. Doing call those. Up be,
progressive be, Proactive do something LIKE i don't have any
problem With sion, returning but given the current construct of the,
team it doesn't really make a whole lot of. Sense
Like Trey murphy And Herb, jones great. PLAYERS i love
both of. Them DO i love them both together Alongside?
Zion probably, Not like things have to change. Dramatically so, like,
look if we're talking about trade, VALUE i WOULDN'T i
wouldn't like Trading Trey. Murphy but he's on a contract
that's very, reasonable assuming he's, healthy you could probably get
a ton of. That why not try to finagle something
out of?
Speaker 1: This, MAN i haven't even tried to think OF i
just assumed he would not be.
Speaker 2: MOVED i have Not i'm more human with the same.
Assumption i'm Just i'm just talking out.
Speaker 1: Loud portland might give up more for him Than zion
at this.
Speaker 2: Point, Man denny And Trey murphy would be interesting.
Speaker 1: TOGETHER i, Mean Trey murphy just opening up the floor
for literally.
Speaker 2: Everything, yeah it makes so much.
Speaker 1: Sense would you? Do what? Pick number do they? Have
so It's Julius randall if he opts In Rob dillingham
and then number eighteen For zion if they have, Eighteen,
No i'm number seventeen For. Zion they got that From.
Speaker 2: Detroit, yeah, yes and That's oh that would hurt BECAUSE
i love Seeing julius rand actually playing well in the.
POSTSEASON i love how he's actually turned his own narrative.
AROUND i WAS i was harsh for a lot of
years On Julius, raindall AND i don't THINK i was
wrong in doing, so in being. So, rather Now i'm
really enjoying to see his resurgence or whatever you want
to call, it a realization of how to play proper.
Basketball so to him to get moved back to a
place he's actually been before as, well that's. Rough but
If i'm The wolves AND i get a chance to
Pair Anthony edwards And Sion, williamson even though like there's
still the injury risk and the availability issue Of, zion
that upside is just too good to pass.
Speaker 1: Up that's that's like not a Package New orleans can accept, it,
Right It's dillingham at a first round pick.
Speaker 2: Essentially, Yeah, NO i mean you're. Right that's why they should.
Explore that's why they they shouldn't just be, Like, okay we're,
Accepting like they should follow up on some of their
offers and, go, yeah you can do, better come, on
hit us back next week with something, Better, Like, yeah.
Speaker 1: My question for the, team WHICH i think is gonna
become at least more relevant for this. Offseason Maybe i'm.
WRONG i would love to See, look there are Teams
i'd love to See zion In. Detroit you imagine that
him a cad, together. Incredible what do they need the
most if they're planning to keep building Around? Zion AND
i present this with the caveat that De Jontay murray
may not play this season or for most of this,
season but he's still on your.
Speaker 2: Team, yeah THAT'S i, mean the answer is a floor.
Leader so that's where it, hurts, right because he's he's
still on the. Books we don't know what kind of
what's the word, Here we don't know what kind of
state he's gonna be when he. RETURNS cj is obviously too.
Old he can play a sort of pseudo point guard
role for the time, being but that's not good. Enough
they need a player who can hit reliable outside, shots
who can be that secondary, guy like you, know they
need A Tyres. Halbert that's the type of player they.
Need but like he's not super.
Speaker 1: Charged modern contemporary seven. Ash, yeah that's not a hard, player.
Speaker 2: No, exactly but those that's the type of player you
need to pair with such a specific talent As.
Speaker 1: Scion what ABOUT i, mean his name is gonna come
up a bunch BECAUSE i think he's really, good and
also his contract almost necessitating you.
Speaker 2: Say Reach shepherd, again so help. Me, God, Yeah i'm
a trade For.
Speaker 1: Rechaper If i'm The, Pelicans i'll give up everything For.
Reach i'll risk it. ALL i was gonna, say his
name is gonna come, up all, Right Kobe white for The.
Speaker 2: Pelicans, Yeah Kobe white should come up a lot this.
Year he'd make a lot of sense to. It like
he's still more of a combo in my eyes than he, is.
Speaker 1: Which works long term With dejontay right or.
Speaker 2: No, again depending on How deontay. Returns you, KNOW i don't,
know like.
Speaker 1: WELL i think at that point it's you Have zion
And kobe to alleviate some of the responsibilities offensively now.
Defensively sure you could have some issues if those three
are on the court together And dejontaimurray is not the same,
player but that's why you Have herb And Trey murphy
And Eves. MECY i think you can also argue THAT
i like mec but do they need a different type
of a big man look Alongside. Zion we've talked a
lot about that over the. Years it'd be Something i'd.
INVESTIGATE i don't view it as go out and Get
Christops porzingis or sign and trade For milestone or an
osried right, now.
Speaker 2: BUT i, SAID i spent a lot of time saying
this at the pre draft last, year And i've been
saying it like throughout the entire. Year Kilil ware was
the guy they should have targeted aggressively in the draft last,
year like he was he was drafted. Before the trust
is SHOOTING i trusted more THAN i Trust's, missy.
Speaker 1: But even you, know so it's, like that's Khalil ware's primary, value, right.
Speaker 2: The PRIMARY i, guess, yes primary what he can at
least stretch the floor at a capability at a level
WHERE missi is like what years away from doing.
Speaker 1: If at, all but mess he also plays defense at
a level that we've yet to see from Kolil.
Speaker 2: Right that very, Fair BUT i would rather go with
the high upside swing.
Speaker 1: There, YEAH i don't. KNOW i wonder what it would
take to get you, know he'd be really interesting on
this team next to sign because we did see him shooting.
Threes Zach.
Speaker 2: Edie oh, yeah like the big lumbering guy who can
also grab, lobs but who Can, yeah if he upped
his volume a little, bit your clock to paint a ton.
Speaker 1: Though, yeah honestly this player is like similar way. Older
he's a free agent And New orleans could access the
Nontax praimer Brook.
Speaker 2: Lopez oh, YEAH i knew you were going. There that'd be.
Fun that's the that's the. Archetype if he only wasn't
two point three million years?
Speaker 1: Old, yeah well even now for what TWO i don't
know what is he might want to be on a better.
Team he, yeah what type of.
Speaker 2: Because i'm thinking long. Term i'm thinking long. TERM i
want someone next To sion for not just one, year
but a couple of years at. Least But jan.
Speaker 1: Doesn't dook enough. Off in my, HEAD i was, wondering
like The, grizzlies we sty still kind of need Their
wing of the. Future But Jaalen wells And Zach E
edie For Herb jones just feels rich Because Herb jones
doesn't do the thing that they need the. Most so,
Like Herb jones is, excellent but he doesn't do the
thing That.
Speaker 2: Memphis he's also not that. Available herbs also.
Speaker 1: Fair the other thing, TOO i would love to see
them Sign Chris. Bouchet that's someone who could run.
Speaker 2: Alongside that'd be.
Speaker 1: Funny, yeah but, yeah long, term the higher, END i
think Me si with the vertical gravity and the stuff
he could. Do, DEFENSIVELY i thought those two played well
off each other by the way him And Zion mesi
And zion by the end of the. Year But i'm
with you that they kind of need a floor. General
but IT'S i just don't. Know how do you wait
investing in one when you know you have Dejante, marie
you also know that you don't know what he's gonna look.
Like how's that for some burbiage out? There any other
names that they're out, there any other, thing any other
things on this?
Speaker 2: Team, NO I I'm i'm just a little skeptical of
them as currently constructed and with the assets that they
have in. Hand I've i'm gonna be interested to see
what they do this summer because nothing right now screams
obviousness to. Me and that's off the red.
Speaker 1: Flag our next team and final team of The Southwest.
Division you might have heard of. Them they are The
San Antonio spurs who almost Had Cooper. Flag that was
man watching the. LOTTERY i know where weeks removed from it,
now BUT i. WAS i was really, like The spurs
are gonna Get. Flag this is absolutely rooting for.
Speaker 2: IT i was rooting for. It that would have been
the best thing. EVER i would have loved it because
imagined the. Defense so like, YOU i know, you you're
a sucker for for for defenders and for good overarching.
Defense just imagine Like Wempy flag and A Tiarn fox
who now doesn't have to assert all that offensive energy
that he did In, sacramento so you could actually get
back to some of this like defensively oriented. Game and
Then Stefan Castle, no, yeah well you Know castle throwing
for good. Measure, yeah absolutely defensively with that probably ranked
number two in the league Behind, okay, see like right
off the, BAT i. Wouldn't that wouldn't shock.
Speaker 1: Me so what is your question for The?
Speaker 2: Spurs my question is what's the big? Play? Like what.
Speaker 1: One for? You?
Speaker 2: Yeah will they even make? One? Yeah i'm.
Speaker 1: SKEPTICAL i just don't that would be. SO i know
they traded For Darn, fox but that was this player
only wants to come. Here the cost was reasonable. Enough
they've been the. TEAM i think you were an advocate
of it. Too But grant uh really wants them to
trade For. Yannis he wants them to be The yannest.
Speaker 2: Team i'm, Yeah i'm me. Too and and that is
that is the play That i've outlined several. Times the
thing here Is Dylan harper is really really good and
he can, shoot which is well, WELL i mean thirty
three From downtown he was on he was on forty
plus percent on spot.
Speaker 1: UPS i believe.
Speaker 2: Thirty seven thirty. Seven, yeah at least according To Ricky
o'donnald who was on my, POD i.
Speaker 1: Would trust him over.
Speaker 2: ME i would Trust ricky over virtually everyone when it
comes to draft. Stuff he's got that he's got a
memory that's. Insane so like the shooting needs. Work But,
harper to me could, be you, know one of those point,
guards so you, know the big physical point guards who
has this how to phrase? This so you know how
there are guys who aren't necessarily major like physical, athletes
but they think the game. Out and because they think
the game, out they tend to reach their potential a
little bit. More i'm talking About, Luke i'm talking About Paul.
Pierce i'm talking about those type of. Guys James harden. Too.
Well harden is, athletic but like he never utilized it
to the extent he probably. Could like, Thinkers Dylan harper
is a thinker that to me is enormously attractive right
off the, bat because who is another thinker on that
team who's also coincidentally their franchise. Superstar you want to
add it, exactly that, is you hit it right on the.
Money he should stick. Around by the, way he's really.
Good you're basically Telling, wemby, look we're going to bring
you a thinker for you because you and him are
are going to solve issues together on the, fly and
you're going to be really good at. It like there's
a part of me that also just want to, say
you know, what screw, it just stick With Dylan harper
and then let's see what, Happens like let's just build
a long term. Window but like If jiannis comes, up
that's he's probably like the one guy out there who
might be pseudo available where you just go screw, it
like let's just let's let's get let's get.
Speaker 1: NUTS i WHAT i just is there Other is there
another name out? There? Though because when you say what's
the big? Play is? There? Like is there another player
that then moves the needle because you. Didn't we're not
asking should you go trade For? Yiannis let's say if
they opt not For? Giannis is what do you want
to see?
Speaker 2: Them Is?
Speaker 1: Yiannis The is that what you? WANT i, mean it's
ANOTHER i guess a front court, upgrade like Alongside wemby
at this. Point but is there another player that moves you?
Speaker 2: There there is one guy THAT i wanted on The
spurs for a, while he's just not. Available That's Kate.
Cunningham that's that's.
Speaker 1: RIGHT i mean more so like should they should they
be A Kevin durant? Team? Like?
Speaker 2: Interesting, Yeah AND i get why you're confused because look
this this the spacing element of. It he's such a
better shootering Than. Giannis it's if you relinquish a ton
for a guy who's that. Old that's that's. Again i've
said this a million. Times that's WHAT i keep coming
back to with The Kevin durant, thing is if you
relinquish a lot for a guy who's, like for what
two years away from. RETIREMENT i just don't know if
that's worth the, Squeeze, like, yeah you can get a,
call like you would have to win the, Title like
you would almost have to guarantee yourself a, Title And
i'm just not there. WHERE i THINK kd is at
that level where you can pencil him in like he
could when you got him To Golden state for. Example
so Like yannis is also probably the oldest player That
i'm honestly interested, in BECAUSE i know timelines are a
little bit overrated now that wind competitive window so, Short
but With wemby, SPECIFICALLY i have to think long. TERM
i have to is and.
Speaker 1: What about any of The celtics guys if they became.
AVAILABLE a reunion With Derek white or Even John.
Speaker 2: Brown brown would be, interesting but he Just i'm worried
about the, contract And i'm, like he looked he did
not look great this. Year he really. Didn't Like if
he has a bounce back here and he returns to
like the version he was two years, ago.
Speaker 1: You definitely want to, see like what his knee is looking,
like because he was battling through that the entire season
or most of it seems like.
Speaker 2: So based on that right, now NO i mean, AGAIN
i would need some level of insurances who's.
Speaker 1: Available THAT'S i was honestly thinking, of like a middle ground.
Type this doesn't cost you, anything AND i actually think
that he would make their team a lot more. Dynamic
they're a Good Cam johnson.
Speaker 2: Team m. M, yeah that's a good floor spacing. Element.
ABSOLUTELY i think even even on its, own you also
have to, wonder, like what is the plan With jeremy
so hand right? Now BECAUSE i probably would.
Speaker 1: Stench Eligible jeremy So handy past.
Speaker 2: Right, yeah oh it, did because right, now even THOUGH
i think So hen projects as the better all around
player moving, Forward Cam johnson just solves such a big
need that they have right off the, bat where if
he were to make that, roster like traded onto that,
ROSTER i could not see her and say That Jeremy
sohen should be playing over. Him that would be a
very hard. Sell, so, like, yes they need to bridge
the gap between talent and, fit and it's always like
it's tough situation to get. Into before they made it
this far in the, lottery and before they also traded
For Darren, FOX i was big on them going after
guess Who Kobe. White that was one of those guys
WHO i was looking for not at the carts.
Speaker 1: Anymore what about we just talked about him. Previously if
he maybe he says no to the Extension Jaron Jackson.
Speaker 2: Junior, Defensively, yeah ridiculous, Upside but, again like These spurs
have championship aspirations in the near future because of the
presence Of. Wemby DO i trust a guy who's historically
been very poor in the? Playoffs maybe under the right.
Circumstances are these the right? CIRCUMSTANCES i don't. Know he
would definitely give them floor spacing as, well which they sorely.
Need so, Like i'm not saying he doesn't solve two needs,
honestly but will that carry over into the postseason is
WHAT i kind of need to know a little.
Speaker 1: Bit what If denver's just in the business of cutting
costs at this, point and so The spurs have Those
Harrison barnes And Kelden johnson expiring, contracts you could send
one to The nets or maybe another team as a
large enough trade, exception and those are players that are.
Useful do you take a fly because this would cost
YOU i would think minimal in just terms of assets and.
Equity would you take a flyer On Michael Porter?
Speaker 2: Junior so skills, WISE i would probably take a flyer on.
Him here's my bigger. Issue does he fit into that
locker room from a personality? PERSONSPECTIVE i think a guy
like him.
Speaker 1: Where political the coach, anymore but he is the, post right.
Speaker 2: You, know the political. Debates look that that might be
a place WHERE mpj can go to be, Rehabilitated so
that that's a good thing.
Speaker 1: Rad the scientific.
Speaker 2: Way. Yeah, right that, SAID I i think he's he's
got tendencies that would frustrate the everlasting fuck out Of Bick.
THAT i do. THINK i think because if you notice one,
thing it's that While wempy is an extraordinary, teammate he
also demands a ton out of his. GUYS mpj has
become a little bit of a poster boy in terms
of a guy who probably could do more than what
he does and just doesn't do, it and he's too
inconsistent and just occasionally just runs around and does. NOTHING
i think that would be an, issue especially at that price.
POINT i, mean, hell you could PROBABLY i probably Take
Cam johnson OVER mpj in that specific circumstance and fairly.
Easily so and that's paying like what half the, salary
well not half close to.
Speaker 1: It it's CALLED i, mean like And Cam johnson's. Declining,
yeah SO i don't Like Larry marketen for this team
anymore with his price. POINT i did find him interesting
before him and him And.
Speaker 2: Vic together would be it would be fun.
Speaker 1: Madness, yeah what ABOUT i mean you just mentioned should
this team investigators trade Value Trey murphy In San?
Speaker 2: Antonio, Yes Trey murphy is a big one WHO i
think could be a major key moving. Forward so he's
he's sort of in that same salary bracket As Devin,
missel AND i Think miselle was a little overwhelmed this.
Year he's he's had better. Season he was not good this,
Year BUT i do think there's a better shooter in
him than what we. Saw is that better floor? Spacing
if you actually Retain vassell and you GET i don't
know who you sent, Out that's that's the big, question,
Right like it probably has to Be Kilton johnson and,
stuff and then what The.
Speaker 1: Barnes as, Well, like, yeah it would BE i, mean
If New orleans is Trading Trey, MURPHY i think that
they're in the picks and prospects business at that point.
Speaker 2: Exactly so that's probably a landing spot For jeremy So
hannah as. Well but like, so so let's assume it's
What Jaron, Fox Devin, Vessel Trey, Mury, Yes Trey murphy
at the three or the four THAT i don't even.
Care and, yeah four maybe because then you Have Julian
champagne at the three for spacing, purposes that something becomes.
Interesting now you Have wempy And fox with optimized well
maybe not, optimized but really good spacing around, them and
Wemp is himself is a floor.
Speaker 1: Spacer this Is i'm, Again i'm just throwing. Stuff i'm
just what's that you made fun of? Me you called
it The fox newsification Of dan it. Was i'm just
asking questions more the number two pick For Trey murphy
and the number seven pick who says, no.
Speaker 2: That's a really good.
Speaker 1: ONE i sent so hand To New orleans as. WELL i,
mean there'll have to be other money, involved.
Speaker 2: But so, LOOK i am especially high on On Dylan,
harper probably more so than. Consensus So i'm inclined to say,
no BUT i fully concede that's that's and and that's
a conversation like that is not something you you hang
up the phone. For that is where you sit down
and you probably actually take a meeting face to face
and you hash it out and figure out a way
that makes. Sense that's that's a really good starting.
Speaker 1: Point any other names that we, should, oh you know
WHO i would? Love and, again MAYBE i shouldn't put
it past this. FRANCHISE i have no idea what they're,
doing and we'll eventually talk about. THEM i might even
like this player's fit more than.
Speaker 2: You're gonna. Say you're gonna, say la Metal, ball aren't? You?
Speaker 1: NO i like Metal ball, everywhere though we know. THAT
i was gonna, SAY i might like him better Than Trey.
Murphy But Trey murphy's got some more that we've seen
On Ball Juice Kegan, Murray.
Speaker 2: Yeah i've had that thought a. Lot so here's my. Issue.
Keegan as much AS i love the rebounding improvements and
the defensive, PROVEMENTS i need to see more out of
Him offensively, speaking he was built to this guy who'd
come in an average. Twenty i'm not that's an ar portraying,
number but like be a high volume offensive, score not
someone who could just, shoot but do more with the
ball in his. Hands he goes through these major MAJOR
i don't want to say, slums but he goes through
like periods where his confidence just drops and you can
often tie together just with him not making. Shots that
to me is a pretty big red. Flag now Where
i'm worried about that moving, Forward.
Speaker 1: I'm not as. WORRIED i think that the ecosystem In
sacramento has been one overturn too, often and two was
never conducive to like putting him. In just look at
how many different ball handlers they brought in and then
they kind of there's a roster turn there this past.
Season BUT i think that's, Fair like there's been some
inconsistency even and he's been asked to, play to be,
fair a pretty streamlined, role and the fact that you're
coming out of it wondering why isn't he more of
even a dead eye, shooter or why isn't even more?
CONSISTENT i think that's totally.
Speaker 2: FAIR i do have a name for, you, Though. Towns
it's not it's someone who is a who's basically breaking,
out and but he hasn't broken out to an extent
where he's where he's like Untouchable Danny. AFTUA i don't like,
him not not not giving up the second overall pick, Obviously,
NO i LIKE i.
Speaker 1: JUST i know he shot the ball well this, year
and there's a lot OF iq there, Then but like
you need to Surround vick with more dead eye, shooting
and that's JUST i Don't that doesn't necessarily bring you
further away from doing, that BUT i feel it's more
so you might actually lose floors basing as part of that.
Trade If Harrison barnes is part of the outgoing, Money
denny obvious is a better, player better on the. Ball
but if you're gonna Have fox because you're not Trading
castle or the number two pick in this scenario, either
which might be part of the. Appeal but god, damn
just put some more shooting Around Victor, wenbiyama.
Speaker 2: PLEASE i hear. THAT i totally. DO i was thinking
him in the short role with With, wemby like in
the dunker, spot would be Who that'd be.
Speaker 1: FUN i wouldn't be opposed to, It that's JUST i
don't know If i'm ALLOCATE i don't know how much
asset allocation for San. Antonio If Daron fox wasn't there,
ALREADY i might feel, differently or If, steph if one
of these things didn't, happen that they Had Steph castle
the number two pick In Daron, fox, which by the,
way that is my. QUESTION i don't know WHY i
have it written AS i do on, screen but if
they keep the number two, pick Can Dylan, Harper Daron,
fox And Steph castle all co exist in the same.
Rotation so here's here's the TAKE i.
Speaker 2: HAVE i Think stefan right now is you know he
we've all talked about him, as oh the point guard
of the future before they traded For Darn. FOX i
don't think he's necessarily a point. GUARD i don't think
he's necessarily a two. GUARD i don't think he's exclusively a.
WING i think he's one of those very positionless. Players you,
know not gonna Say Jalen, williams Because jalen has a
shooting touch That castle obviously does not. Have but the
positional fluidity and the ability to also defend up POSITIONS
i think IS i think those are. Real so like
if you get a very good shooter in at one
of the guard, spots for, example and you Have Daren
fox at the. One could you survive With Stefan castle
at the three as long as show also make sure
that the foreman is a floor. Spacer i'm not SAYING
i love, it BUT i think there's some upside. There
at the very, Least Stefan castle has so much positional
fluidity that you can sort of like put him into
the right situations at.
Speaker 1: WILL i could see him being offensively more of a
Supercharge Bruce brown. Type you can have him sept, screens
make some plays out of the short role, himself especially
within that. Ecosystem WHAT i would be worried about is
that Having, Fox harper And, castle it feels like it
would inhibit any one of, them Including, fox who's more
of an established, player just from hitting their peak or
the best version of themselves in the. Spurs there just
feels like there's too much redundancy in both strengths and.
Weaknesses for that, MATTER.
Speaker 2: I don't think you're. WRONG i think it's a real.
Question that's Why i'm like thinking out of the box
and basically trying to Turn castle, into you, know not
necessarily a, guard BECAUSE i do think he can play off,
ball not necessarily as a, spacer but in terms of his,
cutting the way he just moves around like he doesn't
stand still all the. TIME i think there's something, there but,
like you're, right the concerns are. Real like this is
WHY i didn't like when the initial rumors came out
About Jaron fox And San. Antonio you know a lot
of people were, like, oh this is a great, fit
like they jumped on the train. IMMEDIATELY i was a
little bit more. Skeptical i'm still not like in fully
love with the. FIT i think what they got him
for was. Tremendous that was tremendous work from The, Spurs
But i'm not married to The wempy Darn fox pairing long.
Term so if suddenly something pops, UP i know that
would be very hard For, fox who actively wanted to be.
There but if something came up where they could optimize
their floor spacing capabilities and streamline that roster a little bit,
more and that would cost Them. Fox i'm not saying, no,
man he forces his.
Speaker 1: Way To San, antonio then they flip, him that would be, Cool.
Speaker 2: AND i don't think because it doesn't seem like that's
an organization that they want to. Be but, LIKE i
don't think they realized that to win the second frickin'
pick in the draft. Either so now they're looking at
a situation where, okay things suddenly, Changed like, again to reiterate,
Myself i'm a Big Dylan harper, guy REALLY i. AM
i think there's a lot of upside in him And
wemby moving. Forward so If fox becomes a sacrificial lamb,
there but you also feel in need in moving. HIM
i don't hate, THAT i, don't but you don't have
to move him. NOW i don't think you're in any.
Rush you can still have a good season where he
just plays balls out and then maybe you look at
it at the trade dead line or. Whatever like he's
an unrestricted free agent in twenty twenty, six so that
complicates matters. Slightly but, Yeah I'm i'm not married to
that fit at.
Speaker 1: All this is at number two pick? Material should they
be a nas red, team like it's some sort of
sign in. TRADE i don't think he's gonna take the
non tax payer mid? Level is?
Speaker 2: That? Or?
Speaker 1: Or? No does he not give you enough of The
he has a real floor, game but does it not
feel like him And wemby are kind of girthy enough
let's say on the front.
Speaker 2: Line let's just put it that. Way if we're looking
for a guy who's going to play a lot of
power forward and who needs to shoot the, Ball i'm
looking At Trey murphy, instead as opposed To.
Speaker 1: Ospreed, WELL i think the difference there is one Is
Trey murphy? Available and two how much is it costing
you to get? Him?
Speaker 2: Right And i'm not in A, okay let me put this.
Away i'm going to rephrase. It i'm not in a
rush to go find like a four or five. MAN
i am way more in a rush to go find
a legit wing and WHICH i didn't have spacing. Issues
by the, Way, dan IF i didn't have spacing issues
as an. Organization right, Now i'm calling Up houston And
i'm saying number two For Amen, thompson what do you
think can we build a package off of?
Speaker 1: THAT i think they would immediately say.
Speaker 2: No, Correct and that's why you add the twenty seven
hawks pick. UNPROTECTED i think they still say, no, probably
but like at the very least you make that call
again if if you had spacing around, them that that
is the number one need with a bullet that is.
Spacing but it shouldn't be for every, cost you know
WHAT i? Mean like, this this team still needs to
optimize the talent level to get.
Speaker 1: In do you think they end up doing something that's
considered Splashy i'm talking not like Nas reed would be,
interesting but not at that. Level something.
Speaker 2: HIGHER i THINK i think they've already had their. SPLASH
i Think Jaron fox was their.
Speaker 1: Splash well you, said, well they make a big. Play
that was your, Question So i'm, asking.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah SO i well that's the THING i would.
Be my question to that is or, Sorry my answer
to that, Is i'm inclined to say no when it
comes to like a major major, shakeup like if it
comes out That giannis does actively ask, out that changes the. Equation.
Speaker 1: YEP i THINK i would have been more on board
with the idea, of, oh The spurs will do this
if we had seen more reps of D, Iron fox
And wenby, together and we just we. Didn't so and
that's just like sort of a big thing looming over
all this is how do you make such a wholesale
call without having a concrete idea of what's already in?
Place and SO i think that they would IF i.
Had i'll frame it this, WAY i think they would
max out at like we traded For Cam, johnson we
traded For Nasry sign and traded For nasried or something
that feels like Maybe Trey murphy would be like the
absolute apex of, well that dude's just gonna fix, it
like fit. Anywhere it makes so much. Sense but in
terms of like a ton of, consolidation or not even a,
ton but like moving the number two, PICK i guess
for a player that would cost. You if for a
player that would cost You Steph castle or the number two,
PICK i would be pretty shocked if The spurs end
up doing anything like.
Speaker 2: That SO i do have one for you. Here and
it was a QUESTION i got probably a month or
so ago THAT i just completely forgot about AND i
was reminded of it. Recently he. HASN'T i don't think
he played ever since getting traded TO Uh. Toronto Brandon
ingram didn't play for, him, right no play a game or?
NO i THINK i don't think. So so they're overloaded
at the wing. Spot this is something we've talked. About
they Have, brandon they HAVE, rj obviously have The Scottie.
Barnes now The spurs are in that situation where they
have too many, guards, right and it feels like there's something,
there a deal centered Around Jaron fox With Brandon ingram and.
Stuff could that do? Something is that interesting for both?
Parties is there something? THERE i don't, know.
Speaker 1: HONESTLY i Think toronto then Has quickly And fox And.
Barnes that's, interesting but that's a lot OF i, Mean
barnes and five And. Turn i'd be, more, Honestly i'd
be more intrigued by that set up In. Toronto if
you're gonna Play fox And quickly, together that beam a
caveat THAN i am With Brandon. Ingram there that THAT
i would. SAY i don't know IF i like that
for The spurs.
Speaker 2: Though see that's the, thing, right if there's a system
Where Brendon ingram might actually realize or get, taught hey
place your strength take more, Threes maybe that's the, place
Right like maybe him coming to a situation where there's
a very clear cut superstar in place and he's way
more available than the superstar you played with. Before maybe
there's a sense Of, okay you know, what if the
superstar needs me to space the floor for, him, SHIT
i better do.
Speaker 1: SO i, mean that's that is a. Thing that's one
THAT i would need to think about even after it went.
Down i'd probably need to see it to understand it
or believe.
Speaker 2: It but it's we can't agree that it's a wing
that would dramatically improve upon their current wing, depth, Right.
Speaker 1: YEAH i mean their best wing is like do you
even get Like barnes And johnson are both kind of not.
Wings champagne is their best, wing Like devin veself is
a little, small but maybe the answer is just. Him.
Speaker 2: YEAH i Like, champagne THOUGH i know that he was
a little up and down this, season but like considering
that he was like an end of the benched. GUY
i also spoke with people within the organization who just
raves about, him like he's so, good and the THING
i keep hearing is just he doesn't seem to fully
understand how good he, is which is always, interesting like
because if he has that realization at some, point like
he's like a legit six Eight i've Stood i've stood
next to him a couple of times like this isn't
you know six eight in size but like six' five,
from reality and he can play both the two the
three and get that shot off so. Damn quickly like
if there's another layer to him coming, next year maybe
some of those wing issues. Sell themselves the other.
Speaker 1: Player that we didn't really kind of mention in this
sort of if They, Have fox Harper, and castles what
Like Does devin vessel get lost in the shuffle of.
All this it's a good problem, to HAVE but i don't,
love IT and i think you have to try it.
To SEE like, I said i don't expect them to
move any of those guys that we, just outlined but
it is a real question because none of those dudes, are, wings.
Speaker 2: Right how much of this whole, Conversation changes by, the
Way If stefan castle comes back next year and it's
like a four three, Point, shooter like does that? That changes?
Like everything the ripple Effect Of stefan castle developing into
a legit three point shooter just basically.
Speaker 1: Changes, EVERYTHING yeah i mean it'd be pretty close and
then you're all of, a sudden but then still it's
Like the harper And the fox of.
Speaker 2: It all oh, All right but like then then you're
getting into like the minor issues because the overarching issue
here is that you kind of stuck with this With the,
castle lineups because he's such a hugere shooter as he is.
Right now if that changes, like that we're looking at,
a complete completely different like way of analyzing. The scene that's.
Speaker 1: Just doesn't that feel like such a? Big? Leap though
we ever seen players that we think are really erratic
or bad shooters just all of a sudden become league
average or better shooters that one to operate at a
higher volume and two that defensive respect enough to. Cover
them that would be if it happens in a, sophomore
season that would be.
Speaker 2: So wild it's, And look I'm not THAT'S why i
mentioned it in, that Vein like i'm laughing it OFF
because i don't. Think so it's just it's it's interesting
to me how basically what we're really talking about without
really talking, about it the big elephant in the room
is really that the lack of shooting Capability, of castle
the fact that he's such a. Poor shooter that's where
the issue. Overarchingly lie like because, you're right catch and
shoot threes this year thirty point three percent is that
is just not, Great man and like he too was
like he's he's in that coming into. This year he
was In That josh giddy camp last year of how
bad of a shooter that's where. We are. That's horrible,
so yeah expecting him to make a major turnaround, shooting
wise very. Much optimistic do.
Speaker 1: You have anything else on any of these teams before,
WE skidadle i.
Speaker 2: DO not i think we went about it pretty thoroughly
to be honest. With you.
Speaker 1: Can you tell our fine listeners subscribers where they can find.
Speaker 2: You and all the work that, You, do, yes sir
you can find me over At lu SKY where i
linked to my work Over at yahoo over at four
THE podcasts i do get to the Podcasts Like dames Pond.
Speaker 1: Plus until next time and, as always en with the
shout out to the one, the only the real missing
Pieces of santa Jelis Mister frank blake
Speaker 2: H