Speaker 1: What is up, fella Sicko's I am Dan for Valley
coming at you with the one, the only, the certified,
fancabulous mister Grant Hughes. We're here the penn Ultimate Hardwood
Knox NBA Trade Deadline Primer Podcast. Onto the Houston Rockets
we just have them, and then the Dallas Mavericks after that.
Just as a reminder, one definitely subscribe across all platforms
if you haven't already, but go bounce around. We have
episodes like this for all thirty teams. Some of them
got refreshers. We had the Wizards and Hawks ones all
locked and loaded and they got blown up by the
Trey Young trade, so we did a combined one with them.
Warriors and Bucks made us re record theirs, So go
check them out. They are You'll find them all on
our feed or we have a YouTube playlist out there. Grant,
Before we dive into the Houston Rockets trade deadline vitals,
how the heck are you doing?
Speaker 2: I'm doing well if I would just like to say,
I will not be doing well if Houston and Dallas.
Who's the other team we're gonna do if they get
Agent of trade before like Thursday, at the eleventh hour,
we riot because or we just do nothing because we're
not going to redo these.
Speaker 1: As we're peaked on the cars, we're recording this. This
is going to be going up like within a couple hours.
Speaker 3: Like I'm done. I've been posting multiples a day.
Speaker 1: It's we're past the whole decorum of let's space these out.
Speaker 2: So because also they're useless after Thursday, so they they
have to breathe all that. Well, you know what, you
get bonus points as a listener if you listen to
any of these trade deadline primers after the actual trade deadline.
Speaker 1: Because I think if your team doesn't make a move
and the stuff we then talk about, like some of them,
I still believe will be your Maine.
Speaker 2: Okay, look at you just I'm trying to just devalue
the content and you're saving it. That's that's why you're
a hero.
Speaker 1: Let's go into the Houston Rockets trade deadline vitals. So
they are about one point two five million dollars below
the first apron, which they cannot go over, and they're
xo point eight million dollars over the tax in total.
Just noting that number because maybe they want to duck
it next year though this is this also matters sixteen
point eight million dollars under the tax as of now.
That's without paying Tarisan, who's undering restricted free agency. Their
twenty twenty six first is going to the Oklahoma City
Thunder or Washington Wizards. They do have all their own
first rounders thereafter. In terms of extra obligations, they have
swap rights with Brooklyn in twenty twenty seven. They have
Phoenixes twenty twenty seven first, and then in twenty twenty
nine they have two first round picks. They'll be the
two most favorable of Dallas, Phoenix's and Houston's own. The
only notable trade exception they have Cam Whitmore that expires
July sixth, though, so they're not really obligated to use that.
I miss anything with their vitals, Grant.
Speaker 2: I think you're good, but as we've discussed the off, Mike,
I'm if you didn't catch it, I'm probably not gonna
catch it. If there's anything missing there. I did bump on.
I know this isn't I guess this maybe is kind
of the first thing to discuss, but uh, you mentioned
their distance from the tax line this season with a
very casual in case they want to duck it, uh,
or how are Rockets fans gonna feel if their team
goes into the deadline with the goal of ducking the
tax I wonder? I'm not asking you to speak for them,
but isn't that that bumped? I bumped a little bit
on that idea.
Speaker 1: It's Here's the thing is, you could look at it
one of two ways is that they're about to get
a lot more expensive, and so why start in fury
the repeater clock because that could accelerate them making any decisions.
But I also think it's fair to say they traded
for Kevin Durant over the summer timelines. You know, if
we're worried about missing the tax this year, to not
start the repeater Clark clock, we're talking about a three
or four year timeline horizon essentially, right, windows just don't
last that long anymore. And so if you think you
have a chance at winning the title, which the Rockets do,
maybe not as currently constructed, but the Rockets certainly do
that if if it's an offshoot, a byproduct of making
another move, but it would be a bummer because you
I don't first of all, the tax bill is just whatever.
At this point, it would be a bummer to say, oh,
we didn't get better, we duck the tax, knowing that
this isn't going to be the team. You are all
these guys going to be on the team in two
years anyway, The answer is no.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's the thing is I feel like, you know,
these cycles accelerate a little bit. But we've kind of
been saying like the rockets are gonna get expensive pretty
soon for a couple years, like dating back to I
don't know, like the Jalen Green draft class like that,
which which is like a while ago in like roster
building terms, and so, yeah, they've got Reed Shepherd eventually
is gonna need his extension. Jabari Smith's already got it.
Thompson is probably the most pressing one. But they have
so far figured out how to navigate like a very
good problem of we're drafting guys that come with high
starting salaries by virtue of where they've been selected, and
then like tend to play well enough to get paid.
They've done well to pay the those guys a lot
less than probably many would have expected ultimately and or
move them for the Kevin Durance of the world. So
I do. It is like we have to discuss it,
and part of the reason I brought it up because
it is important, But like they've navigated that pretty well
so far, so maybe they get a little benefit of
the doubt. It's right where if like they do make
a move that ducks attacks, it's like, all right, well
so far they've done pretty well with that kind of thing.
Speaker 3: And I would probably not be more.
Speaker 1: I wouldn't embrace it more, but I would feel like
it was more likely they looked to duck attacks if
Steven Adams doesn't get injured, because then you don't need
the idea of and even like Alprin Shangoon what was
it the other night tweaked his back or whatever it was,
can't remember, like just to have that insurance.
Speaker 3: And this is.
Speaker 1: Something because all these guys are on multi year deals. Doring,
Finney Smith, Clint Capella, do you have the ability to
duck attacks around the draft?
Speaker 3: Too?
Speaker 1: So it could be we go to the draft, maybe
we'll see how the playoffs end if there's an opportunity there.
So if I didn't make a prediction, I'm not saying
they won't shave salary, but ducking the tax will not
be the most notable thing they do. If they do it,
I think they've pulled off some other type of yeah,
just move and it happens.
Speaker 2: Right. It could be like a two birds, one stone
thing where they actually do go address the need somehow,
because again they have the assets, they have some of
those picked there, there's some sweeteners here, there's some movable contracts,
all kinds of things. So yeah, ducking attacks should not
be priority one, but it might be a nice little
addition to something else they do. By the way, I
think we were aligned in like the Clint Capella really well,
now that looks pretty good, like pretty planning fellas, so
that that has nothing to do with this trade deadline.
It's just the Steve Adams injury kind of sheds light on, like, maeah,
that was pretty shrewd. We didn't understand it at the time.
Speaker 1: Do you think that the Steven Stevens Steven Adams injury
is going to change their approach at all? Should the
Rockets be looked because having Clint Coppel the way they
want to play, Having Clint Coppella, Albrin Shangoun, Jabari Smith
Junior is just your primary. Do you want another bigy
they or at least a big who's better than Clint Capella.
Speaker 2: I think it makes it a priority, but I don't
know that it would be. It can't. I don't think
it fundamentally changes what they'll do because you mentioned the
guys like if you have Shanouon and Capella and Jabari
Smith and I'm and Thompson is a four, they can
if anything, maybe they go get a really dirt cheap
center or something like that. Or I mean the level
of guy that you're like, this is almost indistinctible from
someone you call it from the G League just eat
a few minutes, Like losing Adams is a big deal,
like one to their identity too, to just their overall production,
like he was a very very good piece for them
that did stuff like You're not whoever you go out
and get is not going to replicate what Adam was
doing for you because he's kind of like other than
Mitchell Robinson, he's kind of he's he's unique. But yeah,
I think it could affect things. I just it can't
be like anywhere close to the top of their list,
right or unless you disagree.
Speaker 1: No, I mean I would be curious if the cost
was seconds Eves Mezy might be a nice replacement just
because of what he does on the offensive glass too,
But like if the Pelicans want a first round pick
for him, I'm not going out and like a day
run Sharp, that'd be an interesting fit here, but it
would almost be Oh, can I attach stuff to Clan
Capella to get these guys then, because I'm not looking
to But no, it shouldn't be unless now I think
that changes if we're talking about in Adams and are
you worried about shang Gun at all?
Speaker 3: Then that conversation changes a bunch.
Speaker 1: But at that point you might just have to look
at roster And I don't know if this is the
year right, here's here's the big one though? Should they
be a ya, honest suitor?
Speaker 2: So I'm with two minds on this. I'mous, we haven't
talked about this. I'm curious where you are. One is
kind of like zoomed all the way out. Well, yes, absolutely,
because they do have They could put a very compelling
package on the table for him. They can market to
him like we have Kevin Durant here. Uh, that's you're
interested in that, correct? Like we can contend, especially if
you're here, we kind of need another big in the rotation.
I'm interested in some gyanis at center, aren't you like that? That? Like,
of course, right, and you've already accelerated your timeline with
the Durant trade, so you're clearly clearly open to this
kind of move. That's the stepped back perspective. But then
you look at the team and you're like, is that
is Yiannis at all the type of player they need?
And to me, other than maybe you can use him
as your primary initiator, I think the spacing concerns, I
think the overlap with guys like Thompson and Shangoon, there's
those are real kind of like fit issues that arise
with him, and a lot's been made of how like
he's not the easiest guy to build around, Like there's
certain things you've got to like the spacing big has
always been a must, and maybe that's Jabari Smith. I
don't know. Maybe Durant qualifies as that in a weird
kind of inverted way where Giannis is actually the center.
I think the short answer is, yeah, it's weird that
they're not in that core four of suitors that everybody
has mentioned. But I guess the reasoning is just on
their end, like it's not an ideal fit. We kind
of already took our shot on a veteran. I don't
know where are you on that.
Speaker 1: I I don't love the fit with Yannis.
Speaker 3: I just don't think he does.
Speaker 1: And not like you have Amen Thompson and even you
have Alprin Shangoun, we're throwing another spacing variable in here.
And also if you don't want to give up Amen Thompson.
So now we're punting on the idea of reach Shepherd
because then he thought, because you're not training Jabari Smith
because of the poison pill. So now you don't have
bred Van Fleet, you don't have Reed Shepherd. Kevin Durant
is just your lone like multi level because i'men Thompson
is just not a threat from the perimeter. Giannis is
even when the mid range is falling. It's different.
Speaker 2: I know I was the one that mentioned his name,
but I should have like Thompson is in that deal, right,
Like doesn't that seem like.
Speaker 1: I don't know because the way I know, the Warriors
have four first round picks, but there's no blue chip
guy in there. The heat they're offer right now is
built around two first round picks and khalil Ware. Just
the rumors saying like the Timberwolves and the Knicks are
among the top four suitors. It's who's they keep saying
like Jade McDaniels will get you a haul.
Speaker 3: It's like, okay, is he.
Speaker 1: Gonna get you three first round picks? Is oh, gad
and O be gonna get you? So if Milwaukee's actually
considering moving him mid season, I don't know. If you're
the Rockets, if you want to put picks on the table,
does Aman Thompson need to be Like I think Reed
Shepherd is better than any single young player that's on
the table for you right now.
Speaker 2: Well, well we know you think that, damn, but you're
not You're also not wrong. I was just thinking, like,
I don't know, Thompson and Jannis are just watching that
Rocket Spurs game the other day where it's like you
can like Thompson is just not getting guarded a lot now,
and it's like that's I don't know, man, that's that's
a tough one, and his value to the buck should
be I take your point, though, It's like you may
not even have to throw him in there. If if
like you can do it with Shephard and whoever else,
I just.
Speaker 3: Don't think it.
Speaker 1: If it's them, they're the team I think, along with
the Spurs.
Speaker 3: And then maybe the Spurs.
Speaker 2: Are the one that's like, why aren't you in this?
You know my whole thing.
Speaker 1: Sure, I think the Spurs would be I'm having a
longer conversation about it than Houston right now. But I
even look at the Spurs and the Rockets and it's
just like, go through the playoffs and see because first
of all, if they're because I think the Bucks will
want to wait and see, oh, can we get Aman Thompson,
Can we get Reach Shepherd? Can we get Steph Castle
or Dylan Harper. So I don't think he's gonna get
moved by the deadline. Maybe I'll look like a fool
and they end up sending him for just, you know,
a bag of chips that the Timberwolves can offer or
the Knicks can offer.
Speaker 3: I don't know.
Speaker 1: But if I'm the Rockets, I'm just not itching to
do it. And look, part of it is I guess
he does improve your offense, but I don't know. The
spacing would just be so weird, And after looking at
Houston after a really great start with their first chance
defense this year, they were like seventh or third at
one point. They're now seventeenth, right like, which feels right,
but given the personnel, it feels like, okay, that makes
more sense. And you're also when you watch them in
crunch time, like you really just feel the lack of optionality. Now,
I think there's been some points where I wonder why
you Mayudoka hasn't meaned on Reeepherd more, but we both
know that I'm.
Speaker 3: Going to go there anyway.
Speaker 1: The Rockets are twentieth in crunch time offense for the season,
and they're twenty fourth since December first, the threes.
Speaker 3: We caught a lot of shit.
Speaker 1: From Rockets fans when we said that we thought their
shooting start to the season was unsustainable bottom ten of
three point shooting since December first. As well, this is like,
those are the needs and I don't know that. I
guess when you're holistically, Giannis makes you better offensively, but
with the pieces that are already in place, he just
feels a little too duplicative for me. And if I'm
the Rockets, I'm looking more for complimentary pieces than this
defining player at this moment.
Speaker 2: Anyway, I think that's right. It's just like I guess
if you're Houston, you could convince yourself of the idea that, well,
we built this team knowing like we're gonna win the
possession battle with offensive rebounds. Our first chance offense doesn't
need to be that good because we're gonna be huge
and we're gonna generate offense in all these like sort
of secondary ways. If we throw Giannis into this mix,
we do the same thing because now our transition attack
has this crazy new weapon, and like, we're not gonna
get worse on the offensive glass with Giannis out there
just constantly being under the rim and missing close range
shots which yield offensive rebounds. All that you can talk
yourself into all that, and then and yet I'm still
with you that like it just isn't If you do
bring Giannis in, it almost necessarily means I mean, which
it should, because he's the best player of any of
the names. I'm gonna mention that, like you're moving or
devaluing or reconsidering how you use Thompson shngon like all
these other non spacing pieces, because you just can't. You
can't have like Thompson, Jannis Shngoon, I don't know fucking
another center, because why not on the.
Speaker 3: Real I'm just Jabbari will at least be.
Speaker 2: You know, he's he's like the lynchpin of that of
that hypothetical right, because it's like you guess you you're
like the only prime spacer assuming we've traded Reed Shepherd
and and Tari Easton is not actually as good a
shooter as he appears to you know, like it's just
it's a little clunky, which is because normally you just say,
go get him, but it's not quite that easy.
Speaker 1: And this is gonna seem counterintuitive because when we start
throwing out targets in a minute, like I think the
rockets you need to be. You traded for Kevin Durant,
who's in his age thirty seven season. So we're sitting
here telling them not to trade for Yannis. But you also,
this isn't well, let's wait and see what happens.
Speaker 3: Mode.
Speaker 1: I know you didn't give up a ton for Kevin Durant,
but there's an implicit urgency by acquiring him. I wanted
to ask you, though, Let's say you are making a
Yannis trade mid season. You is is there any part
of you as the rockets that would prefer just asking
questions everybody to give up Aman Thompson or Shangon instead
of Rea Shepherd, or to just make it a little
less spicy if you had to give up Aman Thompson
or shang Goon, Which one of those are you picking
as the rocket?
Speaker 2: Honestly, that's just between those two. It gets really tough.
You're catching me at a moment where I am. I
am less high on Thompson than I've been in a
long time, just because it's we're at what the two
thirds mark of the season or something close to it,
and the shot is just like it we're getting to
the point where it's like it may never be there.
And if it's never gonna be there, what do you
have in this player? And again, that Spurs game is
fresh in my mind. There have been a few others
where it's like, if you're a smart enough defense, you
can ignore him and go. You know, basically, it's different
when it's Wemby that's quote unquote guarding him and just
roaming because he's not afraid of a catching or anything
like that.
Speaker 1: What does it say that Steph Castle is allowed to
guard Shang Gun though, is that we want to Shangun or.
Speaker 2: That's no, that's Steph Castle is a boss, is what
that is? Because he also guarded Durant in that same game,
like within a five minute span and was just incredible.
I love that guy. Uh So I might lean Thompson
because again, if you're trying to preserve some offense, like
I don't know, Shang Guon's a better hub, right, Like
you're sacrificing one of the best, maybe the best perimeter
defenders in the league in Thompson. But if that's all
he is, and he's just a player that you can
cheat away fromm on the other end, like that's a
problem in the types of games you want to play
as the Rockets by virtue of having Durant and Giannis,
and it's hypothetical like that he's he's an exploitable weak
point in some ways.
Speaker 1: I think you're right, But my caveat would be I've
become incredibly worried about all of a sudden, you're very
reliant on dfs, Josha Koge and Target like those guys
off there, because your best on ball defender is Amed Thompson, Right, Sure,
So you have Giannis doesn't like, shouldn't be doing that stuff.
So you have guys in theory who could but the
idea of just being behold into like yeah, we need
Josha Koge to continue to cook. Yes, that's that's iffy,
But you're gonna run to the same defenses. Are gonna
treat Josha Kogy like more of a shooter than they
do Amed Thompson.
Speaker 2: Which is crazy, Like that's where we are, you know, Yeah,
that's it's tough. I wouldn't want to trade either of them.
I'm not like giving up on Thompson. I'm just like,
I'm I'm logging some some renewed concern that like maybe
maybe this is gonna be an issue.
Speaker 1: So what are the Rockets is? It's not, Yannest, We've
decided it's not their biggest need. What is their biggest need?
Speaker 2: I mean it's it again, like when you look at
the full season numbers, it's like, oh, that's that offense
is still pretty good. It is just someone that gives
them more of a shooting threat on the ball to
initiate pick and rolls. We're kind of just describing Fred
van Vliet in a lot of ways. Here so in
which he and he should have been. You know, he
is on this team. He's just not capable of playing
at the moment. But that type of player, isn't it?
Like I don't. I don't know where else I would
even go for a close second, It's just give me
someone that I can put the ball in his hands.
Defenses can't go under screens without being punished for it.
He's gonna keep the ball moving a little bit. This
might also be like describing the optimized version of Reed
Shepherd in a year or two. That's the other thing.
So it's that player type to me, I don't even
do you agree? Is do you have another concern?
Speaker 3: I agree with that player type.
Speaker 1: I think they if you can't go out and get
that player type, who's actually gonna be in your postseason rotation?
Speaker 3: I think And I've been a big and I've know
I've said this.
Speaker 1: Teaven Pass a big advocate of sometimes spacing can paper
over that lack of shock creation just by giving other
guys more room. And I think the Rockets, if they
can't get someone who can score off the dribble and
put pressure on defenses off the dribble from beyond the
arc if you just have a lights out shooter in
there that you're confident enough in playing. I mean, since
the Turn of the Calendar is a perfect example. They
have nine players taking no excuse me, they have ten
players taking at least one three point to ten per game.
I'm not gonnaclue Jeff Greed in there, he's barely played.
Only one of them is shooting better that two of
them are shooting better than thirty five percent from three
Kevin Durant. Of course, antari Ethan, who's just been on
fire all year. So you need to just be able
to better navicate. Oh Dafes in his twelve games is
shot under twenty five percent or read Shepherd's under thirty
five percent.
Speaker 3: That's not great for my guy.
Speaker 1: Jubari Smith looks like his shot came alive the other night,
but he's sub thirty percent. Yea during this stretch like
that list kind of even Josha Koge cooled off during
this span, So I I think you could go so
someone like I think what you're describing would be more
of a guard because you mentioned Fred van Fleet's name, Yeah,
and that's like what is the You're not looking at
a big name then if that's what you're looking more
at Kobe White, that might say the name that would be.
Speaker 2: So I was gonna ask you, like, sorry, it's like
the guy I'm describing as the Kobe White type you're
and I don't think you're wrong. I think there are
kind of more there's more than one way to address this.
You're thinking more of like a pure shooter and you
almost don't care what position that is.
Speaker 1: Right, it's will because the rockets have fungibility positionally just
because of like what all their different guys do. My
question would be, will can this guy? Because we know
the playoffs now are all about minimizing your weaknesses, and
so the question can become will this guy be on
the floor. That doesn't necessarily have to be for crunch time,
but will this guy play at least fifteen to twenty
minutes in the playoffs?
Speaker 3: I think has to be the question that they're asking themselves.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so you're not interested in buddy healed? Is what
what I'm taking from you.
Speaker 1: No, it's not, And it wouldn't be like a like
a Duncan Robinson situation.
Speaker 3: Maybe. I mean, like it's clear how much is Cleveland
looking at cost?
Speaker 1: Sam Merril, like he could stay on the floor in
the playoffs for them, that'd be that'd be five alarm fire.
Sam Houser doesn't do it for me quite like he
would help during the regular season. I don't know how
much he's playing in the playoffs, so maybe a bar
above Sam Hauser.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean if this is I don't know what
you're doing to to not go way over the tax
here and the Celtics maybe aren't selling. But like Simons
even would be someone that would make sense. It's just
he's too He's I don't know who you're sending out.
Speaker 1: Well, you could send out Fred van Vliet, he has
veto rights, but would he mind going to the Celtics.
Speaker 3: Yes, well that's the other thing.
Speaker 2: It doesn't sound I haven't heard any real rumblings on
it lately, but like, isn't there a case to be
made that, like if you think Van Vliet might be
capable of giving you twenty minutes in the playoffs, like
you just keep the batter dry, you.
Speaker 1: Know, could they get to Michael Porter Junior's money?
Speaker 2: Oh well yeah, I mean yeah, that's the thing with
the Rockets. The answer is always gonna be yeah, it's
just what are you so you can't give up?
Speaker 1: Would you get no? No, no, I was gonna ask
would you give up? Because they could fit it into
their structure. Jabbari Smith Junior for Michael Porter Jr.
Speaker 2: Hmmm, Man, I love I mean, I don't know. I
love Smith. I love the contract. I like the he's
still so young gives you you would or wouldn't wouldn't.
I think if the Rockets were like it's almost like
if you were a little better and it was very
clear that this was the put you over the top
move and and MPJ had like a slightly longer track
record of like this kind of volume and and and that,
maybe I'd think harder.
Speaker 3: I don't know.
Speaker 2: I think I might be more open to it than
you would.
Speaker 1: But if he if he wasn't too Yeah, if he
wasn't on the poison pill, maybe I'd be more open
to because then you have to send to other players
out as the Rockets. Now, let's say van Fleet is
willing to to you know, like except a trade to Brooklyn.
They have the rights, like would you give the swap
back to Brooklyn to get Michael Port? What if that's
just the only asset except for money, So it would
be Fred van Fleet and you could do who after that?
I mean Fred van Fleet and Dorian Phinney Smith get
you there. But if you're looking at shed Mort, I
mean maybe the nets are even letting you get out of.
Speaker 2: The tax I mean I was gonna stay like that
swap is I mean that should be more than enough
because Brooklyn should really want that swap, right and and
like if you're getting that swap back and you're moving
off MPJA, who would probably make it harder for you
to maximize the value of that pick next year. That's
a pretty good one too. I wonder if you could
ask for another, like a future pick from the.
Speaker 1: Net's on that deal, you know, So yeah, that maybe
that's the deal is? Can you do get the KNICKSES
twenty twenty seven pick instead send the swap back to
the Nets? Then the trade becomes it have to be
Fred van Fleet d and you could do a smaller contract,
or you could do that doesn't get you out the test,
so you could do clin cappella and maybe would the
Nets also send you Dayron Sharp back.
Speaker 3: I'm I had never.
Speaker 2: Not thought of this, but I it's not my favorite idea.
I love it because you could, because I think you
could ask for the moon like you, I think it
would be difficult to come up with the semi realistic
package that Brooklyn would be willing to give up, including MPJ,
to get that pickback, right, I mean, like, I think
that should be there if we if we circled back
into the Brooklyn trade deadline primer, like that should be
priority one. We got to get that pickback, because I mean,
they're gonna try to be better next year, I guess,
But it's like, would they be saying that if they
had control of that pick. I kind of doubt it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is so the deal. So the structure I
have and it works a double check to this. The
Rockets aren't saving money. They're taking on a little bit,
but they're so little they're still below the first apron
Fred van Fleet, Dorian Phinney Smith and Clint Capella for
and that that swap for Michael Porter Junior Dayron Sharp.
And then do you have the leverage to ask for
like the Knicks' twenty twenty nine pick instead of twenty
twenty seven.
Speaker 2: I'm asking for the pick.
Speaker 1: No, I think you could get the twenty twenty seven pick.
Without no matter what I'm asking as Houston, wouldn't you
prefer because the Knicks there might be changes this summer,
but they're probably not gonna suck next year?
Speaker 3: Right?
Speaker 2: Yeah? Well, for sure you would prefer the more distant pick,
just because Brunson will be older and by then, so
let's say something, something will have happened.
Speaker 1: It's a first round pick. Maybe do you ask the
Nuggets is twenty thirty two?
Speaker 3: For like?
Speaker 1: Would Brooklyn say no? So let's say this, this is
the package. You're giving up Clint Capella, Fred Van Fleet,
Dorrian and Finney Smith for day Ron Sharp and Michael
Porter Junior. You're giving the swap back, and you're also
getting an additional first round pick. I'll say I'll say
post twenty twenty seven, because I think the Nets would
want that pick back so bad that maybe you could
get both the Knicks' picks in twenty seven and twenty
two nine, or maybe you get that Nuggets pick in
twenty thirty two, just that.
Speaker 3: Would you do that? So forget about the Nets?
Speaker 1: I think the Nets maybe it's a conversation as we
get to the out years on those picks.
Speaker 3: Do the Rockets do this?
Speaker 2: Yeah? So that the question then is, like, is MPJ
because clearly he's the crown jewel of the deal, are
we sure that he's exactly what the rockets need? Because
that is a valuable pick, although like again trying to
keep it focused on the rockets, like, do you think
maybe at some point the nets? I guess it's such
a short window, it's unlikely the nets will have someone
you want even more that you'd be willing to offer
that swap back for, like probably not. I don't know
who that was.
Speaker 3: Not between now and when the swaps right, right, you
got a year and.
Speaker 2: A half maybe not yet roughly, but before that pick
would convey I mean I think.
Speaker 3: I do it? Am I not too?
Speaker 2: The only thing is the only thing is it's a
bad look if you're just putting Fred van Vliet on
an ice flow and like shoving him out to see
like that, that that's a bad look. But I think
I would get over it if.
Speaker 3: We Why is it a bad look like this? That's
just how I mean.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. Don't you have the feeling.
Speaker 1: Gave him an above market contract for two years?
Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean, you know, I just have a heart,
is all. Sorry you can't relate.
Speaker 1: I mean, it's but I also I'm not even sure
Fred Van Fleet is the exact player they need because
he's definitely just been a capslock shot creator.
Speaker 3: He's never been, but he's.
Speaker 2: Like, it's very clear that he would be a massive help.
Just even if I.
Speaker 1: Ask you a cold calculated question, who would you rather
have next year, Michael Porter Junior or Fred Van Fleet
coming off an a c L injury.
Speaker 2: Yeah, right, it's pretty pretty obvious. It's MPJ pretty easy
even position, even though positionally it's weird because you got
another forward in the mix that can't guard down. But
so well, here's the thing, if you still have Thompson
can guard down, I would trust Easton to guard down.
While is Easton on the team. If you traded for
MPJA or you go to free agency, probably.
Speaker 3: You have to keep.
Speaker 1: I think if you're losing DFF because you're like salary
net neutral for next season with this deal, so like,
I don't think it changes anything functionally for them. I
keep Easton, and I think you probably at least for
this season, because look, Michael Porter Junior could then be
valuable matching salary as part of a Yannis trade and
if you're getting if you're able to get two first
back from the nets for that swap in theory like
that could be more useful for you if you decide
to turn around and make a honest trade or a
bigger trade. But you're right, I positionally, so you have
Durant and Thompson Michael Porter Junior, and then are you
gonna play two centers with those three at some point?
Speaker 2: Right? Probably you still love Smith. I guess that's not
that many. But because I wouldn't. Who knows what you're
getting with Adams, all those Adams expiring I can't even
know on the books for two more years, that's right,
he signed that, that little short extension. Yeah, I think
you probably do that. Also, we buried the lead that
just like puts a giant like spotlight on Reed Shepherd
for next year where it's like you're the guy man.
We don't just don't have any other guards. It's you're
you're in charge of the back court, which I think
we're both supportive of.
Speaker 3: I don't know why I like this DA so much.
There's a lot of good deal. I yeah, I like it.
I don't.
Speaker 1: I My prediction is you could let us know in
the comments or our discord Rockets fans is Rockets fans
do not like the structure of that deal, but I
like it. Any other names, Like, I think, if they're
gonna go lower end solutions, what does it take to
get I've named him for so many teams out but
like Cam Spencer out of Memphis would be perfect.
Speaker 3: Any cheap moving forward.
Speaker 2: I mean, any of the Grizzlies, not Ja Morant guards
would be interesting. If you thought played well. I was
gonna say, if you thought Pippin or Tied Jerome we're
gonna be healthy up to play at some point, that
might be worth than worth an ad.
Speaker 3: I have two more. I have two more names that
I find interesting.
Speaker 1: Please he He's very cheap now, but he has a
player option in twenty twenty seven, twenty eight, and I'm
not convinced that the Bucks should view him as part
of their core.
Speaker 3: If they think Giannis is.
Speaker 1: Gone now or next season, Ryan Robins would be so
good for this team.
Speaker 2: He would be great. I mean, if I'm the Bucks,
like I'm this is probably overstating it, but I'm almost
thinking of like this is one of our post honest
core pieces. I mean, part of that's because they don't
have a lot else. But yeah, he would be phenomenal
for for for the Rockets. Like he I know it's
the bloom. There were moments earlier in the season where
I said some very outlantis things, but I still think
he's I think Rollins is a three level scorer that
makes your defense better, can run a pick and roll
that has to be guarded like hit him. Yeah, he's
a He's a really good two way guard that like
I think shouldn't be gettable for like less than I mean,
he's your I think you should have to give up
like a legit first and some other stuff for him.
Speaker 3: Like I think which the Rockets, to their credit that
you have, they.
Speaker 2: Can do it if they want. Would you would you
rather have Ryan Rollins or Kobe White like or actually.
Speaker 3: Riot contracts different.
Speaker 2: Rond's a better player, like in total, maybe I.
Speaker 1: Think Kobe White's a better offensive player. But also I'm
sort of just after watching em Udoka, it feels it's
almost from the He's been better than Jamal Mosley, I think,
but just doesn't play guys who are defensive liabilities, and
Kobe White is relative to this Rockets team, they could
instant him, but he's definitely a defensive liability, right.
Speaker 2: I agree.
Speaker 1: The other name, I don't don't know what it costs
again him Peyton Pritchard would be excellent for this team
as well.
Speaker 2: He would be really good. Yeah, yeah, I like that
a lot. I mean yeah, I don't think if a boy,
if the Celtics were sellers, things would be a lot
more interesting as like we expected they would be.
Speaker 1: This is a I guess it's also positionally redundant. But
should they be a Trey Murphy team, He's to match
that salary, that's for sure.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, do you want to give up the picks
it's gonna take for him?
Speaker 3: That's that's what Michael.
Speaker 1: The thing with getting a Michael Porter junior, he's more expensive,
but because you have that net swap, I think you
could get back picks and get off money like with
that swap.
Speaker 2: And everybody is in love with Murphy at the moment.
I think there's at least a conversation about who's who's
a better player right right now, Murphy or MPJ. Like
Murphy is relatively cheaper, contract goes out longer, like that
makes him the better asset. But like if you're just
thinking about who makes us better today. The Rockets could
conclude its MPG, and then the fact that they have
the trump card in trading for MPJ without giving up
a bunch of other stuff makes Makesporter Junior probably the
smarter get I think, even though he costs significantly more.
Speaker 1: I think, and which is fair. People will point to
the durability concerns with his back, but he's been like
at some point, it's just he's been available for three
straight seasons.
Speaker 2: I think we need to table that. I think we
need to leave the MPJ health issues aside until they
crop up again, just because like it hasn't been a thing.
Speaker 1: And the other thing too, is just like if you're looking,
he's not a point guard. But Michael Porter Junior this
year ranks in the double checking it right now, the
ninety fourth percentile of self created shot making efficiency. Would
you like to know where Trey Murphy ranks. I love
Trey Murphy.
Speaker 2: Please, I'm guessing lower than that if you have to.
Speaker 3: The tenth percentile. And so it's okay.
Speaker 1: If we're not going to get someone to facilitate offense
for others, at least we know he can come in here.
And just get buckets off the ball. On the ball,
I to wrap up on the rockets. I'm I don't
let's predict their scale. I'm more optimistic about this team.
I think their fans are lately. I don't think they'll
sit around and do nothing, And if they do, that's
when I'll get a little bit more pessimistic. But they
have the ability to make big moves, medium moves, moves
on the margins, so I think they'll do something to
improve the like.
Speaker 3: The offensive floor balance.
Speaker 1: I don't know what it will be, but I'm on
a scale of aggression, I'll probably put them at like
a six or seven of doing something.
Speaker 2: I like that range. I think. I think their needs
are so clear and the types of players that could
address them probably won't. Like the MPJA thing is is
a whole separate issue, but like, there's enough decent shooters
and solid, you know, playmaking guards that can make a
shot that that it would be disappointing if they didn't
go out and get somebody, you know, even if you're
just in the Kobe White tier of of acquisitions. Like,
I think they're a good enough team with a with
an identifiable enough flaw, sure and yeah, any any of
those guys like Tias Jones isn't gonna do it, probably
unless he's I'd taken till like twenty twenty one, Tias Jones.
Speaker 1: Just like we kind of said we need to like
ditch the MPG their ability thing. It might be like
time to move on from the idea of Tyas Jokes.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, oh I've moved on. He's like the last
guy because he's so available, he's so he's so easy
to onboard. It's just like, if you can't get any
of those guys, sure we'll give up a second and
salary we don't care about for him and not not
count on him. But yeah, I think the I think
they should do something. I think it's likely that they will.
The blockbustery stuff feels pretty unlikely because I do think
there is a case to be I just gave them one.
Yeah they should, You're welcome, but they have there there
they could make the case that like even though we
made the move for Kevin Durant that accelerated the timeline,
like we still would like to see what happens in
the playoffs with with him and with our younger guys
that are still kind of trying to figure things out.
Speaker 1: I think they will make a move where the player
coming back is no worse than ke On Ellis.
Speaker 3: They might just decide to get it like and that's
you know what. I don't know.
Speaker 1: I'd like someone better than ke On Ellis, But if
ke On Ellis is like the floor, that's.
Speaker 2: Why I'm happy with that.
Speaker 1: Yeah, uh, you got anything else?
Speaker 3: Are you ready to take us out of here?
Speaker 2: I got an outro? Thanks everybody for listening, for watching.
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