Speaker 1: What is up, Fellasi Go's I am Dan Valley coming
at you with more ens in of the NBA podcast,
fame of Yahoo Sports, fame of HBO Max fame, and
of course only fans notoriety. The Trade Deadline primer machine
keeps on chugging along. We were onto I think the
NBA's most pleasant surprise of the year in the Phoenix.
Is that fair to say more somes are the biggest
or most pleasant surprise in the league.
Speaker 2: Maybe the Celtics up there? Yeah, yeah, oh yeah. They
can't beat the Celtics on that one. That's that's gotta
be Boston. But like they're up there, it's been It's.
Speaker 1: Why can't they be more surprising that everyone had this
team ticketed for hell? I think I think I had
the Celtics, Yeah, but their hell was deliberate hell right.
And they're doing this in the West right Yeah, And
by the way, as we're recording, this won't go up
right away. They have not only leap frog up to
their way into the Western Conference top six, but guess
who they jumped to get there more.
Speaker 2: I'm guessing the Rockets. When you're frame it, Kevin Durant's Rocket, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1: Some meaning to that, but there's also meaning to their
trade deadline vitals, which our first talking point right off
the bat. They are less than two hundred and sixty
thousand dollars into the tax i. Do not think that
is going to stand. They cannot trade any first round picks.
They can trade more up to two second round picks
a hohold two seconds. They have a twenty twenty six
pick it's the most favorable from Dallas, OKC and Philly,
and then they have their own twenty twenty nine second
round pick. They also have one of their trade exceptions
expired the day that we're recording this, but they have
two more two point three million from the Nurkics trade
that expires the day after the trade deadline, so on
the trade deadline, and they have three point three million
dollars from trading Vassilier Micic that expires June thirty, twenty
twenty six. That's kind of to say we needed to
fill some space on the grid because those really aren't
noteworthy trade exceptions. More, we will start with the first question,
the answer to which I think is incredibly easy. Well,
the Phoenix sounds duck the tax Yes, they absolutely are
you sure that's a whole two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Speaker 2: I know, Look, yes, they I am pretty certain. I
am pretty certain. The only question is going to be
who are they going to send out? What's the deal?
Speaker 1: Just the dump? I think it if I had to guess,
it's probably Nick Richards is the guy that they're trying
to figure out how to get rid of. But they
also could do something where it's we'll get into targets
and needs, but they're trading salary and then cheaper salary
is coming back in. But if you're talking straight dump,
I think Nick Richards. Could it be anybody else?
Speaker 2: Yeah, they're not going to do it with your Sheer
Fleming because they got him in the city like they
believe in him long term.
Speaker 1: It's not gonna be Nigel Hayes Davis because the time
Line podcast told me he was going to be a superstar, right.
Speaker 2: Eh, Jalen Green, They're gonna dump forty three millions again? No,
it's yeah, I agree with you. It's probably gonna be
Nick Richards. They're gonna find like a center who's earning
what like four and a half million or maybe not
even the center screw that it's just someone.
Speaker 1: Well, I actually so. I mean this leads me to
my next question, are they good enough to buy? You're
you have well, let's let's not even say good enough,
but you don't have any controller first round picks. Moving forward,
you are in the Western Conference playoff race as it stands.
What is the incentive not to buy? What can you
possibly do that would damage your or mortgage your future
more than you already have?
Speaker 2: Well, I mean, I hear what you're saying. I don't
disagree with the notion, but let me answer that question
by racing you another question, aren't they automatically just indirectly
when Jalen Green comes back?
Speaker 1: No, that's I mean, that's you want to call him
their best mid season edition. Okay, cool, that's not buying, all.
Speaker 2: Right, okay mister technicality. Fine, So who is the player
you're looking to use in a bi scenario here?
Speaker 1: Well, I think you have. Well, so the actual question
would be who among Phoenix do you consider they absolutely
can't move them off limits right now? Book?
Speaker 2: Probably? I mean again, before the season, I actually had
him as someone who would develop into a trade candidate
because I thought they'd be so bad and they would
just go into the dumps and he would ask out.
I was fortunately very wrong about that, so he is
right now locked in. We've heard the Suns themselves go
out and basically say Dylan Brooks is off limits, which
is interesting. Who else really like? They like? Ryan done?
Speaker 1: I kind of this is this is me taking it
to an extreme. But I just think in terms of reliability,
even though he might not always take as many threes
as you want, Royce O'Neil.
Speaker 2: Really, do you think he's said okay, I mean, if
you're looking to get better, do you think I mean
he might appeal to other teams you also, by the way,
just for what he's making. Yeah, you can't.
Speaker 1: You can't trade like Colin Gillespie or even Jordan Goodwin
like those are just guys that can't be moved.
Speaker 2: And I would I would say that even though he's
going to be a restrictive reactionent would. I would say
the same about Mark Williams. You're not going to find
someone who's ass productive at six point two million at
the Center Spot diet.
Speaker 1: Yeah, but if you're worried about what he cost you
in restricted free agency, but you probably shouldn't be so
to your point.
Speaker 2: Yeah, well then you're not buying because and that was
the answer that you were asking me, Like, if you're
giving up the better player in the deal, which I
presume that they would be in that scenario, you're.
Speaker 1: Selling the more. Well, yes, I don't think. I don't
think a Mark Williams trade necessarily has to constitute selling
if they were looking at I don't, I don't. I
don't expect that. If you're trading Mark Williams alone, then yes,
that would constitute selling. If you're using him as a
way to step ladder, your way to someone better.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, no, that's that I agree with. Do you
have is that they would almost have to be a
big man, right because like they have spent very little
time in developing Malo Watch, and I mean Nick Richards
is barely playing like Osogadaro is.
Speaker 1: Is that another player. There's a lot of guys that
are just contributing above their pay grade. So you look
at them and say, that's what makes my Royce O'Neal
pick stupid is because you have so many of these
just cheaper guys to where it's oh no that you
can't what are you gonna get for that?
Speaker 2: Right? So so what if you were trying to buy,
can I ask you what position you would be looking at.
Speaker 1: I think they need more of a like offensive threat
in the front court, and it's your big man setup
is fine, Mark Williams, ohsoy Goodaro. It probably needs to
come from the four spot, just because you have Devin Booker,
Jordan Goodwin, Gillespie and Dylan Brooks. So like one two three,
you're kind of set up. And I like Royce O'Neill,
but it's just he's not going to generate his own offense.
He's not going to provide you with a ton of
thrust going downhill. They do. I mean, the Suns, due
to their credit, have plenty of lineups to war Booker's
off the court, and they're still getting it done. And
I think that look Booker not having his most efficient season,
But I think it's just a passer and a guy
who's fitting within the larger context of a team that
plays its ass off. I think that I'm I haven't
done my All Star teams yet, but I think he's
going to make mine just because of the spirit of that.
So but I think it's the four Are you with
me on? I hate boiling it down to specific positions.
But it's it's like the three the combo forward, let's
call it.
Speaker 2: Yes, all right, I do agree with you on that.
So now we come into the caliber player. Are you
looking at someone in the Jonathan Claminga range? Are you
looking at someone better?
Speaker 1: I mean, Jonathan Minga is pretty bad, so I don't
think it's hard to say better. I'll throw a name
out to you, all right again, And I don't even
have to provide the caveat. I will that they can't
trade any first round They shouldn't trade any first round
picks because they physically can't.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: What if it's just it's salary to get to Zion
Williamson on this team?
Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean again, if it's salary, I'm already interested.
So I assume Jalen Green would be like the primary play.
Speaker 1: And that's the Pelicans saying, oh, you're giving us your
two seconds, Jalen Green? There's another? Is there like a
player that you're willing to throw in there that you
could just pedal us? Oh, this dude is semi interesting.
You could take the I mean, would you do Jalen
Green and malawatch for Zion Williamson? Oh?
Speaker 2: Like you're asking the wrong person because I am unreasonably
high on Malo watch.
Speaker 1: Why he was just drafted tenth overall. So if you
say no, I think that's totally fine.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I I but I at the same time, I'm
really weirded out by how they're not using him at all.
Like I understand they're leaning into the winning, which is fine,
but I mean what I what was the total amount
of minutes he'd played this year? Was it eighty four?
Eighty four development minutes? Jesus Christ, that's just yes, more.
Speaker 1: But he's played in six games over the past month,
and so the tide is turning. That's starry chasm, folks. Yeah,
I mean maybe so I wouldn't you have to game
it differently? Then? I don't know if you're going to
take back different money from New Orleans. I wouldn't be
opposed to giving up Grayson Allen in that deal. I'd
get uncomfortable if it's Grace and Allen Royce O'Neill and
then Nick Richard, Like that's how you're getting the money.
But is there a larger construction to where it's Jallen
Green and Grayson Allen for Zion and who's like another
player on the Pelicans. You don't have to bring back
Jordan Poole in that. This is a straight The Pelicans
want shooting in Allen, and then they're saying, oh, Jalen
Green contract is short, although you have Jordan Pool there
for another year. God, that trade was fucking stupid.
Speaker 2: Yep, it was. I mean the fact that three of
you know, Phoenix's highest paid players are shooting guards, that
does give them some leeway in terms of like, if
you're relinquishing one or two of them, you can probably
get by right. I mean, even Royce O'Neil. You can
play at the two in a panch if you want
to good Win two done, well, not done. He's more
for three if anything Zion in there. I mean, I
still think this team could use a point guard, but
sign would take up some of the playmaking along with Book.
That could kind of work out.
Speaker 1: What's the mega construction. It's sixty nine point five million
dollars in salary that gets them to take on the
de Jonte Murray deal. That's Jail and Green and Grayson
Allen gets you to what so thirty three and at
zero point six plus another sixteen point nine so you're
almost have fourty Oh yeah, Scar, excuse me fifty, I
can't a man. Yeah, I mean Royce O'Neill gets you. Yeah,
that's like nineteen you'd be trading everybody, right, too difficult,
but just food for that thought that.
Speaker 2: Is slightly difficult, but like it's it's an interesting thought
process at the very least.
Speaker 1: I do have so if they were thinking lower level,
but I don't know. This is at least someone who
like Sadik Bay Zion Williams's teammate that can give you
a little more offensive juice from the four spot. Yeah,
in the in a Sion deal or in just outside
if you can get him as part of a Zion deal. Sure,
I mean he hasn't shot the ball. Well, if you
can get both, I can't imagine you could get both.
Here's one. I just don't know what it would I
think it would have to be the Lakers are making
a larger trade and you're swooping in and get but
ruey Ha Chamorro would be really good for this.
Speaker 2: That's see, now you're talking my language because instead of
like the big name guys, I think you need someone
who is more off ball proficient. Really is that I
think he's a very underrated shooter. I think I like
him a lot more in the fabric of this offense,
like he would come in immediately and just be able
to catch and shoot, like he he won't have to
like incorporate his himself into like some advanced in some
condvanced advanced capacity, like he's fucking playing.
Speaker 1: I just on a team that plays the way that
Phoenix does. I really would love to see Zion Williamson
on it, just because adds the speed element on offense,
and they just right everyone tries so fucking hard on
the I don't know why I'm cussing so much of
this podcast, but the Suns this season are bringing it out.
It may they try. They just play so damn hard
that it could be infectious for him on and we've
seen Zion when he's locked in defensively can do a
lot of like defensive playmaking type stuff. But I don't
know if according to Joe Dumars, they're not training Zion
Williams and so it probably takes assets to get him,
which if I'm Phoenix, one you don't have them, but two,
I think it's reasonable to save. Though Malawatch has shown
you nothing this season. You don't give up the number
who is just the number ten? Pick that easily for
the Zion Williams in dice roll.
Speaker 2: What about Tara Easton?
Speaker 1: I mean he fits the Phoenix Suns motif. I don't
know if he does. I'm I was more so trying
to gear towards even if they're not guaranteed to I
feel like this team would need some like offensive bank ability.
Speaker 2: You don't think he's got that. I think he's been
sort of like hidden away in Houston for a long while.
Speaker 1: Now.
Speaker 2: I think he needs a new destination where he can
really open up offensively. I think there's another place.
Speaker 1: What do you trust him to do offensively? Like, what
have you seen from him offensively that makes you think
he comes in and so I actually knocked down threes, sure,
and maybe playing drive, but you see layers beyond that.
I do so.
Speaker 2: I do think him taking the ball off the back
court and actually being a little bit of a one
man transition army is something that was grotesquely underutilized in
Houston for a bit. So I do think he's got
some on bald juice. Very specific on bald juice. I'm
not expecting him to come in and you know, call
for a screen and you know, take pull up midies
or anything of that sort. But I do think there's
something there that could be unleashed. I also think, especially
with Book, who's such a smart screen and roll guy,
I would love to see him with Esan in some
pick and roll situations where they have, you know, I
spread out offense like Brokes is in the corner and Alan,
depending on what you give up it's in the other corner.
Just spacing everything out and giving him more opportunity to
attack the rim. I think that could be interesting. But
I do hear you like you're saying someone who is
more offensively potent and established or I guess if we
haven't seen enough attory. So just as an example, I'm
not having Tari Easan is the better player. Naji Marshall,
you know, can go end to end, you know, can
have those half court drives, and so Tari Easan's the
better floor spacer at this point, but Naji Marshall feels
more dependable for oh, we have this other downhill thread
or someone you put the ball in his hands and no,
he's not gonna create side to side necessarily, but can
do a lot of the North South stuff. What about
he's insured but a slightly used Obi toppin Is that
something you could use?
Speaker 1: Ah, the energy for this team, yes, I don't think
he if I'm gonna go the route of someone who
doesn't have the ball in their hands, I need them
to fit more of Phoenix's defensive motif than he can. Yeah,
do you want my nuclear option?
Speaker 2: Yes? Please?
Speaker 1: This no self creation? Maybe maybe he develops into it.
He's also injured. What if this team has buyer's remorse
from giving him a contract extension this summer? Kegan Murray?
Speaker 2: Oh, then it's not to be a trade deadline deal, right,
because he's poisoned.
Speaker 1: He's poison pilled. But so he counts as eleven point
one million dollars in outgoing money for the Kings, and
he's twenty five point two million dollars in inbound money
for our purposes the Suns. Right, that's a fourteen point
one million dollar gap, not unbridgeable, especially when you have
a team like the Brooklyn Nets kind of floating around
out there, right, Right, So if it's just salary and
seconds or maybe are you even considering giving balow Watch
up for Keigan Murray would that.
Speaker 2: I wouldn't. I won't lie and say I'm not intrigued,
because that is the kind of power forward who I
actually think could be really fun in Phoenix. And he
probably also needs to change the scenery because let's be really,
it hasn't been a it hasn't been good and I
don't think he ever saw the realistic developing curve in Sacramento,
So like I would be interested to see him come
to an organization like Phoenix. Not to say that that
the Sums don't have issues, because it seems like every
other year they have a ton of them. But at
least with book there's a certain baseline present. But like
you got that trade has to be expanded, it has
to be complicated. Uh yeah, I mean is he worth
all that squeeze? Like what would the ultimate I need
to know the parameters of this deal before I'm like
fully invested.
Speaker 1: So Phoenix's money, you have the Jallen Green is thirty
three point six. He doesn't necessarily need to be part
of that, So you could do a Grayson Allen and
Royce O'Neil in Fury gets you. That's the money that
Phoenix needs to match. And if you're also sending out Malawatch.
Is it unreasonable to think that, I don't know, do
the nets just like, do the nets just take Royce
O'Neill in the cap space.
Speaker 2: Just for nothing?
Speaker 1: Yeah? I mean Royce Moniel is good. You don't think
that's someone they can flip for seconds next year over
the offseason.
Speaker 2: I I think they're absolutely looking this deadline to squeeze
the everlasting fuck out of whoever they can who's coming
up against the tax.
Speaker 1: Okay, so I mean you throw them a second round pick.
This is We're not dealing with tax issues here, so no.
Speaker 2: No, no, But I'm saying I think they are. I
think they are reserving that cap space to at least
try to squeeze out at first from somebody. This is
gonna work that. I'm not saying it will, but like
it could be a fallback option.
Speaker 1: I guess he gets tricky from Sacramentos. And because who
are you else are you sending out for? Well, I
guess it doesn't matter if they're sending if you're getting Malawatch,
and if you were getting Grayson Allen, you need to
send somebody else out that gets a little difficult. You
could you could do it though, Like, could you call
there's two seconds enough to get the Nets to take
on Shrewder.
Speaker 2: I think they deemed Malowatch should take on Shrewder?
Speaker 1: Right, do the Kings even want Matt? Like I guess
in this scenario, if you're willing to call Mulligan on
Keegan Murray, are you concerned with getting Malwatch? Maybe not?
So is it Malo Watch and Royce O'Neill to Brooklyn
for cheap player Xes going to Sacramento?
Speaker 2: That would do it. I mean, I'm pretty sure that
the Nets would look at Malowatch and say that's the
price of admission.
Speaker 1: So then in that scenario, should they take on Grayson Allen?
Because we're saying that the Kings, you give the Kings
Royce O'Neill. Maybe give the Kings Hayward high Smith and
Royce O'Neill, and then the Nets take on Malowatch and
Grayson Allen and then the Sun Keegan Murray. I would
do that if seconds go somewhere, maybe maybe Sacramento. That
just as someone who's a Keegan Murray truther. That would
be such a bummer from Sacramento.
Speaker 2: I mean, look, Kings fans would hate it. But they
hate their team already, so what's the harm. That's interesting though,
that was the nuclear trade.
Speaker 1: It'd be more interesting if Phoenix had more assets to
play around with, right, I agree.
Speaker 2: I was thinking something along the lines of John Collins.
But the Clippers are actually showing life as of late,
so and the matching money is what difficult in that
day because he's at twenty six point six, So like
you would have to.
Speaker 1: Are you giving them Jalen Green or it's Grace and
Allen and Royce O'Neil.
Speaker 2: Probably have to be Yeah, Jalen Green, and then you
were probably getting up stuff for the Clippers. But like
the Clippers even interested in young players.
Speaker 1: I mean, Jalen Green when he's healthy could give them
some athleticism that they need, that they really need. But
that's also they're concerned about preserving cap space. And he
has another two guaranteed years when you factor in the
player option, so that would even Grayson Allen would be
a non starter for them too because he's got the
two guaranteed years left. Ditto for Royce O'Neal, no player option,
just two more guaranteed years left.
Speaker 2: All right, Well that sucked then, yeah, is there really,
there aren't really a whole lot of like scoring force
left in the league.
Speaker 1: I feel like not a foolish Randall doing these days.
It's actually playing pretty well for me.
Speaker 2: He's actually I was about to say he's playing pretty
well in Minnesota.
Speaker 1: Ruey would be super. I just don't think. I don't
think they have the stuff to get them. Looking in
Memphis sanci al Dama, they probably do have the stuff
to get him.
Speaker 2: That'd be interesting, like Grayson Allen for sanci al Damo,
like framework, Yeah, if.
Speaker 1: You're I mean, if Memphis is blowing it up. Anyways,
Grayson had already been in Memphis, he played for I
feel like he's played for so many teams. No, yes,
I was.
Speaker 2: I was sitting with the exact same thought.
Speaker 1: Has he been there, let's see Grayson Allen has Yeah,
he wasn't Memphis of the two seasons. That's right.
Speaker 2: Okay, great, they want we both got mental pictures of
something and we've connected it. That that is progress for
someone like for people like us. Yeah, okay, so I
returned to Memphis for for Grayson Allen? Yeah?
Speaker 1: Would I mean, I don't know if you have the
compensation to do it. This is more of a combo
forward look. But does Andrew Wiggins interest you for this team?
Speaker 2: Scoring, defense, quality, rebounding, moves the ball. Yeah, I don't
hate that. That's a good shout. He can play the four,
he can play the three too. He's assuming the heat.
Speaker 1: Would hate whatever the Sons are going to offer, though,
would be the caveat there. I Helton Johnson would be
really interesting. Talk about a guy that's having a good season.
Speaker 2: I would be surprised if the Spurs are open to
that same. Yeah, they're there, that's that's true. And also
Kelton is more for three than a four if we're
being real. He's six y five. I think the Sons
have guys who can guard up that could help. But yes,
that is a that's a really good point. Yeah, he
wants someone. That's why I brought up at DAMA, because
he's like six ten, six to eleven at least, if
not seven feet out right.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think my favorite name, I mean ki It
Murray's my actual favorite name, but I think Ruey would
probably be my favorite name. Like I don't my nause.
I said that before PG. Washington can't be traded. He'd
be interesting for this team.
Speaker 2: So this is like, I don't want to call him
a second draft guy quite yet, but like, what about
Gigi Jackson if we're staying in Memphis. That's a bit
of an upside play.
Speaker 1: First of all, I think you should absolutely call him
a second draft guy at this point. But that would right,
who else can we trade from Memphis to the Suns?
Speaker 2: Let's keep going, there's this guy who signed a two
hundred and forty million No.
Speaker 1: No, man, would they be Okay, No, I won't even
say it. Actually, that'll I think that'll get some Suns
fans mad.
Speaker 2: Well, this is a good podcast, I will say something. No,
I won't great podcast.
Speaker 1: I was gonna say, what if they were just looking
to get off the money, and maybe you're even getting
assets from the Sixers, but you could match the salaries
and get Paul George on your team.
Speaker 2: Oh man, all right, So so they'll look interesting for
like twenty games per year.
Speaker 1: Well, they clearly don't need Paul George right now, so
he'd be purely additive when he does. Right, What if
he's injured at the moment. What if Portland's just looking
to break up to Monty Kamara to Monty Kamara. No,
that's not Jeremy Grant into smaller contracts. M M.
Speaker 2: That's a scoring power forward right there. Not too old.
If it's the timeline of book can shoot get to
the pain. It's a big salary commitment.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's also I don't even know what the
construction because Portland's not gonna want Jaoen Green, So you
need a third team to be complicated, you do also
need a third team for this, But what about reuniting
with Kelly Ubre. Sixers are looking at duct attacks.
Speaker 2: They are. I was about to say, they're probably looking
to shed some payroll. I was probably not gonna help Phoenix,
who are also looking to shed some payroll. That's why
you would need a third team, right that's Brooklyn again
calling out Brooklyn.
Speaker 1: I mean we're dealing with low enough numbers though that
you could like teams with a trade exception, like a
Washington Utah.
Speaker 2: If you throw in Trendon Watford. I wouldn't hate it
for Phoenix. He's good. I know he's not playing right
now out of the rotation, but like.
Speaker 1: He makes it easier to get him then though.
Speaker 2: Yeah, he played well early in the year. I don't
think that's a coincidence. Shocker you I've liked him for
a while. Yes, ooh, this is this is iffy?
Speaker 1: What about?
Speaker 2: All right? So when he covers up dust on the bench,
who's bringing the bucket? You or me? Oh?
Speaker 1: So you wouldn't even play him?
Speaker 2: I would play him? But like, what's the upside there?
Speaker 1: I mean, he's playing over twenty minutes a game for
Los Angeles, he's shooting over forty seven from three or points?
Speaker 2: Is the averaging dan?
Speaker 1: What?
Speaker 2: Okay?
Speaker 1: But as a ball mover and someone like you said.
Speaker 2: The offensive minded for a man who could score the ball,
how many points is he averaging? Mister Favali, he is
at Was he four point nine points per game?
Speaker 1: Yeah? He's at five point seven over the past month.
Speaker 2: So screw oh wow the offense power forward that they need.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think he would help the team, though you're worried.
You were talking about you wanted them to get another
point guard. That's someone who could definitely keep the ball moving,
lean into their versatility element.
Speaker 2: All right, I mean, but tuone would help them. I'm
just saying he wouldn't. But like you, we were trying
to identify offensive minded power forwards. You're bringing up someone toss.
Speaker 1: Reed, that's not they don't have enough to get him. Yeah,
they could definitely get Kyle Kuzma, but they shouldn't.
Speaker 2: Why would they. Yeah, Patrick Williams, come on down. No,
no thing, Oh no, no, I was very much kidding.
Speaker 1: Uh. I really don't have anybody else here. This This
is like a tough it's a tough spot for them
to fill. But I think that they there are names
out there that maybe they would be able to get
even with the assets they have available that I think,
at least if there's not the perfect or the idealistic fit,
does help their team, which is already just an insanely
dangerous team.
Speaker 2: I still like the Rui idea.
Speaker 1: The shooting with Ruy is i mean mid range from
beyond the arc is huge. The lack of self creation though,
and it so it kind of comes down to we're
focusing on the scoring. Is is it fine that this
player is almost entirely complimentary or do you need someone
that has a little bit more of the on ball
pizazz to them.
Speaker 2: I would prefer the off ball or on ball posas.
Speaker 1: But like I'm not I'm not being you know, you
can't be I mean you can't be choosy as Phoenix.
It's just at the behest of that market.
Speaker 2: And like, I also don't think that Rui is entirely
just an off ball guy. Like he'll take, you know,
he'll be able to take or rather utilize straight line
drives and stuff like that. I don't hate it.
Speaker 1: And look, look he can't get to his mid range,
so there's like some one and two dribble stuff from
him there too.
Speaker 2: I don't know if.
Speaker 1: It's just different, like the ecosystem that you had in
or have with the Lakers compared to what you have
with the Suns. It's like you're going from having two
of Austin Reeves, Lebron or Luca on the floor during
most times to right, all right, Devin Booker is a
respected threat. But yeah, he's at fifty four percent pull
up to this this year. I'm sold Rui it is,
which is also why he's almost too good. That's the
problem for Phoenix. They need someone that's a little has
more like fringe value or distressed value to go. Fortunately,
that's not our problem. Well, I mean it's a little
bit of our problem.
Speaker 2: It's really not.
Speaker 1: I'm not employees has Elijah Martin made Mamu expendable in Toronto.
Maybe maybe they go after that between Murray Boyles. Why mom,
Maybe Mamo comes and plays like thirty five minutes a
game in Phoenix.
Speaker 2: You wouldn't want that, see that now we're talking. That
would be fine if Mamo comes in and plays more minutes.
I'm for it.
Speaker 1: Okay, this would make no sense from Washington's perspective, But
if you could, if you could, what about Chris Middleton?
See how much gas is left in that tank?
Speaker 2: Not a lot, right, Like he can play a half
a game, but like when he does, it's pretty effective.
Although he hasn't hit the three well this.
Speaker 1: Year, he is over the past month after about it
as many points as Nicholas Patoom.
Speaker 2: That's not helping. Okay, Marvin Backley, there we go.
Speaker 1: Honestly, do you think they have well, he's been playing
well this season, but do you think that they have
the defensive infrastructure to insulate him?
Speaker 2: Who cares? He's six eleven, he scores any boards and
he shoots. It's fine.
Speaker 1: That's a cheap option too. That's an easy guy to get. Well.
Speaker 2: I don't know what Washington wants for him, of course,
but no but he's just he's been super efficient, So
I'm just like, why not?
Speaker 1: And they do have guys, They have at least a
couple of guys who could get that. He does seem
a little too predicated on someone might need to get
him the ball. But you do have Book here, who
I still think is one of the more underrated passers
in the league. So there's that to consider. Now, I
have a final question for you, unless you have any
other targets that we didn't get to, no, I don't.
Do you think there's an all the element of a
miss opportunity. They've sat here and effectively they didn't effectively,
say Matt Hbos said, Dylan Brooks isn't being traded. I
know they don't have control over their future draft picks,
but when you're looking at some of the guys Brooks specifically,
who might be operating at the peak of their value,
do you think that they should more seriously consider exploring
the market for those players to where you're getting worse,
but you might be getting picks and or young players
who could help your long term cause. Yes, Grayson Allen
in particular, Yes, the things I don't know that Grayson
Allen is getting you that much, right.
Speaker 2: That's no. But like what my point is that he's
playing probably the best ball of his career. I would
argue at least close to it. So there's a reason,
or there's an argument to be made that his value
could be at an all time high like Brooks, I
think is the clear one, but like I just I
don't find it realistic. Also, I think I think there
are some teams in the league who are just like well, like,
even though his volume is up, his efficiency is still
somewhat spotty. Like do we trust him in the offensive capacity?
Do we trust like he doesn't really do a whole
lot else. He's a defender, sure, but like he doesn't board,
he doesn't really playmake he's he is what he is,
and it's not a multi faceted player. So what is
his value?
Speaker 1: I think you could probably get two first round picks
for him. He's shooting like sixty plus percent on fadeaway jumpers.
The three is Diplow thirty five percent. It's been a
little bit higher in recent weeks. But you're right about
the I think a lot of the rebounding stuff probably
comes down to the defensive assignments that he has he's
right on the rebound. He's certainly not play makings.
Speaker 2: It's just I hear you.
Speaker 1: It's too first from a contender. There's not a rebuilding
team that's coming in and giving you two first from No.
Speaker 2: It's just like again, it's just when when I keep
going back to the tree young deal, right, and I'm
just now two firsts for Brooks. But like I get it,
like if it's like late twenties or something, all right, yeah,
I'll do that. I just don't think the Suns would,
which No, I don't know they've said us much. Yeah,
do you have anything else on the Suns, sir?
Speaker 1: Do you? I expect them to. Who's there most likely
player to be traded for you? I think we agree
on Nick Richards. Yes, I'm probably with you there, and
I think they'll I think they're gonna end up buying.
I think they try to make an upgrade to this team.
By the dead they might just let it ride, but
I'd be shocked if they sold. I'll tell you that
much at this point.
Speaker 2: Honestly, I'm just I love it when good seems buy
because it does feel as a vote of confidence in
the roster construction. And I always think that's a good thing.
So I'm also a little tired of like financially driven trades.
I know we'll see this with them too.
Speaker 1: Well they're about to make ones.
Speaker 2: Well they're about to make one, but like if they
can finagle something while also.
Speaker 1: You know, they just can't ruin the vibes after the
past few seasons that we've had to log through with them,
the anyone who comes in needs to fit the vibes,
which I guess undermines my zion point.
Speaker 2: Yes it does.
Speaker 1: Can you tell our audience where they can find you
and all the work that you do, sir?
Speaker 2: Yes, sorry, you can find me. We'll break out Who's Sports.
You can listen to the NBA podcast and if you
understand Danny Issue can listen to Muster Beezer or catch
recalling games on HBO Max.
Speaker 1: Until next time, and as always, with the shout out
of one, the only, the indelible, mister Frank Niha Kima