WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.640 Next on the drive, Tim McMahon dropping dimes for your 2 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:05.559 NBA Daily Assis. 3 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:15.119 Ban McMahon, Van McMahan batted all Land Texas flood as 4 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:24.559 thicke as mud He's and Manvan McMahon Van McMahan, the man. 5 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.719 Whoa up like it was Christmas morning. Could feel the excitements, 6 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:43.039 wondered why forgot what day it was? Then I realized 7 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:47.759 today is the final of the NBA Cup in Vegas. 8 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.280 We go live to Vegas now where our guy Tim 9 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:54.359 McMahon is splitting eights and aces, realizes that two could 10 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:57.079 be the dealers, wild Tim, are we up or down 11 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.479 so far in Vegas? 12 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:01.520 Oh? We are eating because I have not bet one 13 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:03.759 single nickel on this trip. 14 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.000 And promise me that you will not. You realize that 15 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.799 that is a death sentence at those tables. 16 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:11.319 Yes, I am well aware of how all these large 17 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:12.400 casinos have been built. 18 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.159 Okay, fair enough, fair enough, you're a smart guy. Hey, 19 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:17.599 I'll tell you what we could do worse than this matchup? Right, 20 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:20.159 Bucks thunder tonight to Team Mobile. What do you make 21 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:21.719 of what we could see tonight? 22 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:24.799 Yeah, listen, it's funny because both of these franchises are 23 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:26.519 a kind of myth that they were left out of 24 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.000 the Christmas Showcase this year, and so here they are. 25 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:33.000 They've got the stage shoot themselves, and you know, these 26 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:36.439 might be the two leading MVP candidates at this point 27 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:40.879 of the season. That's obviously debatable because Jokers is so good. 28 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:43.599 You know, the Nuggets have kind of poked their head 29 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:45.760 above that play in territory that I think he has 30 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:48.760 to be out of to really be Cannon to be 31 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:53.040 MVP again. But obviously shake Gildis Alexander and Jalla Santocupo. 32 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:57.519 These guys are both having unbelievable seasons and the Bucks 33 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.959 bad start. They've won twelve or fifteen, and I am 34 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.319 really excited to see how Yannis and Dame fair against 35 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:07.000 the defense that is the best in the league by 36 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:09.280 a healthy march by a couple of points fer one 37 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:10.280 hundred possessions. 38 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.439 So and I want to follow up about Okace in 39 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:16.080 a moment, but just in the space of the NBA Cup, 40 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:18.280 you know, I watched the semi finals and just from 41 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:20.879 a television standpoint, the crowd didn't seem to be all 42 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.000 that into it. It looked like a more of like 43 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:26.080 a corporate crowd of sponsors and such and I think 44 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:29.159 tim for this thing to really take, you know, kind 45 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:31.560 of the next step forward. If there was a crowd 46 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:33.400 that felt like there was a lot on the line, 47 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:35.840 that would make a difference. So what's what's the feel 48 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:38.919 like down there? Is there legitimate buzz that this NBA 49 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:41.280 Cup Final is something people are really interested in? 50 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:45.560 You know, like, look, they got fortunate last year that 51 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:48.599 the Lakers were in it, and obviously the Lakers in 52 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:52.039 addition to being the most popular NBA franchise, it's a 53 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.280 short drive, you know, about a four hour drive to 54 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:58.479 La so it was essentially a Lakers home type of 55 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:01.879 atmosphere last year. That's not the case this year. I 56 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.280 would say the crowds have been fine. You know, they 57 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:08.400 were fortunate that the Falcons happened to be playing Monday 58 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:10.039 night football in Vegas, so there were a lot of 59 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:13.240 Atlanta people in town. You know, let's go Hawks type 60 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:16.879 of chance, that sort of thing we're going on. You know, 61 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.199 this hasn't It's not like this has been a tough ticket. 62 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:23.800 I'm curious to see what the crowds like tonight. And 63 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:28.240 you know, there is some talk about being a championship 64 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:31.960 game only in Vegas type of thing moving forward where 65 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.879 those semi finals will be at home arenas I personally 66 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:38.919 before that, I think in terms of atmosphere, obviously it's 67 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:41.840 a huge difference if you're playing in Oklahoma City or 68 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:46.479 if you're playing in Milwaukee versus a neutral site in Vegas, 69 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:49.479 and I think you're also in that instance. You know, 70 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:53.639 there's more reward for these teams that have earned the 71 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:56.520 top seed through group play. So we'll see if that's 72 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:59.039 something that comes to fruition, but it's at least a conversation. 73 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:01.159 Do you feel like kids getting the buy in from 74 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.360 the players it needs. Do you feel like these games 75 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:06.199 are competitive and players are showing up and they really 76 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:07.319 care about winning this thing? 77 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:11.719 Absolutely, I don't here's any question about that, you know, 78 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:15.000 especially as it gets deeper into group play and the 79 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.800 players realize, you know, who has a chance to advance, 80 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.240 and like, dude, it has been playoff type of intensity 81 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.879 in terms of these knockout games. And look, obviously part 82 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.920 of that is players want the money, you know, a 83 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:32.360 half million dollar bonus to the players that are winning teams, 84 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:34.279 you know, all those kind of things. But you know, 85 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:37.759 you give these guys something to compete for a title. 86 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.920 To compete for midway through the season. It's absolutely adding 87 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.240 some juice to it. And I really like the format 88 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:47.360 where everything counts in the regular season as well. It's 89 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:50.800 just you know, extra incentive on top of those games 90 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:53.920 until obviously this game another tweak I would like to 91 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:56.600 see happen, though. I think the winner of the championship. 92 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:59.399 I think the win should count in regular season standings 93 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:01.439 and other or to kind of be like the ultimate 94 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:06.360 tiebreaker where the loss would But I think that would reward, 95 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:09.720 you know, just another reward for franchise that's able to 96 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:11.399 get through this thing and win the title. 97 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:17.560 So it's really difficult to from a media standpoint, whether 98 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.959 you're a writer or you blab into a microphone or 99 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:22.360 you do a little TV to try to make the 100 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:25.759 jazz interesting. It all this year. But the okay, see 101 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:29.639 thing and look, this is a loose parallel, but Oklahoma City, 102 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:32.920 Like if you don't like Salt Lake, Oklahoma City, if 103 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:35.439 you've ever been there, I'll due respect, I'll take Salt 104 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:38.800 Lake City. So this is a market where we can 105 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.920 draw some parallels, respectfully to my friends down and Okay, see, 106 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:43.720 I've been there a couple of times. I'd prefer where 107 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:47.519 I live. But and obviously what Sam Presty has done 108 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:51.519 to make them awesome now and set themselves up to 109 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:55.879 be awesome forever should be celebrated. The Athletic did their 110 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.360 you know, Sam Amking, those guys do a great job, 111 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.560 and they did the front office Kings and OKC was one. 112 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.199 He pulled a bunch of other NBA exacs. So from 113 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:09.079 a market to market standpoint, try to draw some comparison 114 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:12.040 and some hope that maybe the whole market thing is 115 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:13.759 something we can throw out the window because of what 116 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.120 Sam has built there. But before we get into what 117 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.600 they're doing this year, what do you make of the 118 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:21.639 way Sam Pressing that front office have gone about building 119 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.040 this thing up to be awesome now and in a 120 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:25.680 position to be great for a long time. 121 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.279 Yeah, I mean looks it's been a very patient rebuild. 122 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:31.800 And obviously they were able to stockpile picks and they 123 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:34.920 still have just a massive stockpile, and I think you'll 124 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:40.160 continue to see them trading quality for potential quality down 125 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:44.720 the road, you know, to keep that pipeline coming. You know, 126 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.319 they also got extremely fortunate. It's the only time in 127 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.800 NBA history that a team was able to essentially trade 128 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:53.800 the rights of a future Hall of Famer without ever 129 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:56.240 having that guy in the roster. And I'm talking about 130 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:59.279 Kawhi Leonard. Of course, like that Paul George trade, Paul 131 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.040 George had a ton of value by himself at that point. 132 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:05.120 I mean, he was I think third and MVP voting 133 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:07.920 that previous year, and you know, an All NBA player. 134 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:10.839 But the reason they were able to get so much 135 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:14.680 from the Clippers is because they were essentially saying, hey, 136 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:19.879 we'll help deliver Kawhi Leonard to you. They're in LA 137 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:22.920 with this Paul George deal, and he gets Shaye Gilds 138 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:25.720 Alexander from that, and then you know, the picks are 139 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.079 like Jalen wore, they didn't think they were going to 140 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:30.040 get a lot of kick that early out of that deal, 141 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.759 but they did. That's Jaylen Williams, a bona fide co 142 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:35.720 star on a team that was number one seat in 143 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:38.800 the Western Conference last year. You know they might get 144 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:41.800 another lottery pick or two out of that deal. So 145 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:47.079 I mean, what a foundation to start from. Yeah, and 146 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:50.439 look the Jazz, they don't have a Shane Gildas Alexander 147 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.480 type of talent on the roster. It's gonna be hard 148 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:57.000 to get that type of talent. But you know, having 149 00:07:57.160 --> 00:08:01.240 Sta and Sja developing into an MVP Canada, that's what 150 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:04.360 really accelerated to rebuild as much as anything Proclahoma City. 151 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.920 Yeah, well said, because while I tried to do the 152 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:10.120 parallels between teams that I've been rebuilding and now have 153 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.319 a little bit of hope, because the Jazz are rebuilding 154 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:14.279 with very little hope, and it's a fan base that's 155 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:18.480 pretty bummed out. Like Orlando has Polo right and OKAC 156 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:21.839 has Shay and and the Jazz have Lowry and Lowry's 157 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:24.160 very very good. But until you get that guy, it's 158 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:26.639 hard to see the forest through the trees. But let's 159 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:29.480 go back to Okasee about what stands out most to you. 160 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:32.799 We had Tom Habersha on yesterday and I watched the 161 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:36.039 OKC Jazz game about I think you were maybe you 162 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:39.519 were there if I remember correctly, And I haven't seen 163 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:41.960 every single game they play, but every time I dial 164 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:44.200 in on them, I keep using this parallel. They're like 165 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:47.799 safeties in football on defense, they're ballhawks. There's no room 166 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.799 and so you know, ultimately I feel like they have 167 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:52.960 separated themselves a bit in the West. But what do 168 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.039 you like most about this group that we have in 169 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:58.360 front of us, Even without Chet and without Hartenstein at 170 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:00.519 the beginning, they've just been the best team in the West. 171 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.039 I don't think there's any argument there. 172 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.279 They are seventeen and two and they have a seven 173 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.679 foot are available to the entire game. Three of their 174 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.720 losses came during that little you know. One was the 175 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:13.000 game Sht got hurt, which was he played like five 176 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.399 minutes and change in that game. Then they lost two 177 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:18.200 more games during that little stretch where Chet was out 178 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:21.440 and Hartstein hadn't fully recovered from the broken hand yet. 179 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:25.200 But they've got a big mander seventeen and two. This 180 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:28.080 is you know, this team is. It's an awesome team. 181 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:30.759 And again we start with the fact they've got a 182 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.600 bona fide MVP cannon. Maybe the MVP favorite at this 183 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:36.960 morning in shaeis Alexander. But they are loaded. They are 184 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.159 loaded with depth, and they are loaded with two way talents. 185 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:45.559 There are no weak points to attack defensively. Yeah, look, 186 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:49.519 they have maybe I would say three of what the 187 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:54.679 top ten premer defenders in the league. Like lou Dort. 188 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:57.240 The fact he has not been all defensive team yet 189 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:01.159 is insane. It's ridiculous. It's honestly, it's since for the voters, 190 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:04.559 he's he's one of the best stoppers in the league. 191 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:07.519 You know what Caruso is and yeah, you mentioned a 192 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:11.519 ball hawk, right, he is elite that regard Cason Wallace, 193 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.480 he is the best defender that people don't really know about. 194 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:17.720 You're starting to learn about him. And then you know 195 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:20.600 Jalen Williams, you guys averaging two steals a game. He 196 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:22.840 you know, he doesn't have to take one of the 197 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:25.919 top two or three toughest defensive assignments anymore, but he's 198 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:29.960 capable of that. It's just as you said, they are 199 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:34.000 so good defensively, not just getting stops, but getting turnovers 200 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:37.039 that turn into offense. And then you know they have 201 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:41.000 a guy who's going to average thirty points efficiently to 202 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:42.200 run the show on the other end. 203 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:47.200 So a thought on tonight, and ultimately, as you referenced, 204 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.919 Milwaukee's really turned it around after a rough start. I 205 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:53.879 know Middleton at last check was game time. Maybe you 206 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:55.759 have information as to whether or not he's going to play. 207 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.000 Of course, he means a lot to them. He's always 208 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.720 been one of the more underrated, really good players in 209 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:02.919 pro basketball. Guy that went for a forty piece in 210 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:05.679 the NBA Finals. We're big game fans around here, so 211 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:09.519 excited to see them turn it around. What do these 212 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:11.240 two teams do well and what do you make of 213 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:14.159 this matchup? Okase is a five point five point favorite. 214 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.480 Yeah, I mean okay See again. Defensively one of the 215 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:22.639 most dominant defenses we've seen in recent NBA history. Shay 216 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:25.000 is just smooth as could be. He's going to get 217 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:29.559 his thirty. You know, Jalen Williams a legitimate All Star 218 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:34.759 type of talent. But still the one, you know, potential 219 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:37.519 flaw for the Sokse team is they're still pretty small. 220 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.080 You know, with Hart and Stein that helps. He's not 221 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:42.679 just a double double guy, but a dozen guys doesn't 222 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:47.279 points a dozen rebounds. But like last year, and Mark 223 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:50.639 Bagnall mentioned this, they were physically mold is the way 224 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:52.799 he put it. When they went to Milwaukee to play 225 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.240 against the Bucks. And then Gianna's had thirty and nineteen 226 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:58.960 in that game. And you know, Okaysee's not unique in 227 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:02.120 this regard, but they don't have a great matchup for Yannis. 228 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:05.360 It's obviously gonna have to be a team thing. But 229 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:07.600 if Wawawk's gonna win this game, I think it's because 230 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:10.080 Janni's just has the kind of performance of reminds you 231 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:13.559 that's the three times MVP, a Finals MVP, and a 232 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.759 guy who still has a chance to add to that 233 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:16.519 trophy plex. 234 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:20.679 Malik mcmannimon is announcing that Chris Middleton is doubtful for 235 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.720 the NBA Cup. Is that yeah? She just tweeted out 236 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:28.480 NBA Cup Final against Oklahoma City Middleton is doubtful tonight. 237 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:32.399 So that's out there as well. Have has Milwaukee's recent 238 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:36.320 resurgence rethought your place in the East at all with them? 239 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:40.919 Listen, they have a chance because they have such a 240 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:45.600 you know, such a big time star duo. I think 241 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:50.240 it's pretty apparent and obvious to say that everybody in 242 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.240 the East, and he really had bring the league's chasing 243 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.879 the Boston Celtics, and I know Cleveland's gotten off to 244 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:58.639 an amazing start. I would be surprised if somebody other 245 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:01.600 than the Celtics came out of East Conference. Milwaukee is 246 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:04.080 one of the team that you give a puncher's chance. 247 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:08.399 But if the Celtics are healthy that you know, don't 248 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.600 I don't think last year's title will be the only 249 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:12.799 one that that group wins. Something like that. 250 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:14.399 I agree with you there have you seen it now 251 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:16.879 from OKC to feel like the narrative in the West 252 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.639 should be the same as it is in the East. 253 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.759 Everybody is really chasing one team. 254 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:24.960 Well, I would say that I'm not going to go 255 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:28.879 that far simply because they haven't done it yet. Right, 256 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.879 the Celtics have done it. They've come, They've won the 257 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:34.240 East twice in the last few years, they've won a championship. 258 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:37.919 You know this Oklahoma City squad. Last year's was the 259 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:40.039 first taste of the playoffs. They got knocked out by 260 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:44.759 the Mavericks. So Oklahoma City is the most talent team. 261 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.360 Talented team is the best team. But I don't think 262 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.000 you can say everybody's chasing the Thunder when the Thunder 263 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.639 haven't won to get the Thunder or you know, they're 264 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:54.720 chasing getting out of the West for the first time. 265 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:57.240 I think they're the best team. I think the Matis 266 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.759 are the second best team. I think we'll have a 267 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:03.759 little red river Western Conference finals and you know, you 268 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.440 the center of established themselves in the favorite. But I 269 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:09.120 promise you it is you know the guys in the 270 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:11.840 Maveris locker room, they're not looking at it as they're 271 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:14.679 chasing Oklahoma City. They're looking as Oklahoma City is trying 272 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.919 to take their West title. 273 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:18.759 Away from I have nothing interesting to ask you about 274 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:20.960 the Jazz, So I was thinking about this when I 275 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.759 saw you on the rundown today. Here's what I'll ask. 276 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:26.679 I mean, you're the guy for this franchise from the 277 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:29.720 national big picture perspective, and I know that you're a 278 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:33.039 pro at creating relationships, and you know the guys down there, 279 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:35.840 and you know Xanak, and I know you know Will, 280 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:39.679 and I'm just wondering if you've had any conversations with 281 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:43.519 them because because look, it doesn't make for great sports 282 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.799 soccer radio. Here's the deal, Like, they're well aware of 283 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:50.320 what they're doing, and you know, there's nothing I can 284 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:52.559 say that they don't know. They know that they're not 285 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:54.879 in a good place, and I can't imagine the frustration 286 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.799 for Will as a competitor. Night in the night out, 287 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.159 I'm watching that Clipper game last night. It didn't then 288 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:02.200 look like two pro teams. It was unfair and the 289 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:05.240 Clippers are just average. They're without most of their you know, 290 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:08.519 some of their better, better talent. But what are the 291 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:13.600 nature of the conversations you have with jazz brass front office, ownership, coaches, 292 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.960 and is this just pain tolerance and we're going to 293 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.240 suck it up and a long game type thing like 294 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:20.559 illuminate us a little bit on some intel if you 295 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:20.960 have any. 296 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.000 I mean, they have to play the long game. And 297 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.879 and you know, last the last couple of years, if 298 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:28.279 we're being honest, they're too competitive for their own good. 299 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:31.360 And then you know they kind of pull the plug 300 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:34.440 come trade deadline and you end up mid to late 301 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:38.639 lottery picks, Like this team needs at least one high 302 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.879 lottery tick, if not a couple, uh to to really 303 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:45.399 provide the foundation to get back to where they want 304 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:47.720 to be. And you know, they knew going in this 305 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:51.759 season this was going to be a long, painful, miserable 306 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:54.799 season and they just had to have that level of 307 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:59.080 pain tolerance, you know. And it's not fun now, you know. 308 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:02.639 And it's this Will Hardy I think has proven if 309 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:06.799 you give him pieces, he can he can win games. Right. 310 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:11.279 This is a completely different kind of challenge. Because player 311 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.200 development it can be used as a euphemism for talent 312 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.960 but they are legitimately trying to develop, slash evaluate the 313 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:21.080 young talent on the roster. And when you know it's 314 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.600 going to be this sort of a season where, if 315 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:27.080 we're being just blunt about as the primary goal is, 316 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.279 you end up with a golden lottery, take it out 317 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:32.519 of this deal. You don't want bad habits to creep in. 318 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:37.879 You don't want young players to accept, you know, losing 319 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.679 and have that lose and mentality creep in. And that's 320 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:45.039 a really tough challenge I think for a coach in 321 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:45.759 this situation. 322 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:48.639 I'm gonna ask you, point blank a question I was 323 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:51.360 asked on a show I did a week ago for 324 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:54.440 my buddy who does a nick podcast. When the Jazz 325 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:57.879 are good again, When the Jazz are good again and 326 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:00.200 not just thirty five wins, when they're one of the 327 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.360 teams in the West that is throwing punches, Who on 328 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.799 this roster is on that team? 329 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:11.240 I mean, listen, there's no guarantees. First of all, because 330 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:15.400 there's not an untouchable on the roster. Obviously, Larry Markin 331 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:19.599 is not being traded this year and they see him 332 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:22.680 as a major piece. But when this thing turns around, 333 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.559 but there's no guarantee there, and you know, something could 334 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:28.319 come up where it makes sense to move him once 335 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:30.079 he's allowed to be traded again, I would say the 336 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.519 same thing about Walker Kessler. You asked me, who are 337 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:35.680 the guys who are most likely? I would start with 338 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:40.559 those two. You know, I think Cody Williams is going 339 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:43.480 to end up being a good NBA player. Obviously he's 340 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:45.880 not anywhere near that right now, but you know, I 341 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:48.519 was talking to somebody in the Hawks fit office this 342 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:51.119 week when they're in Vegas, and they mentioned that he 343 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.960 was one of the four guys as they were really 344 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.720 evaluating as a potential number one pick. They knew it 345 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.480 was going to be a three or four year process 346 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:01.400 Foray develop but they felt like he had the talent 347 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:04.920 to Podisi end up being the best player in this class. 348 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:08.480 So you know, it's again I would say Mark, then 349 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:11.119 I would say Kessler, and I would say we'll see, 350 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.279 but I think some of these young guys are gonna 351 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:18.279 end up beating baughdy NBA players. 352 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:21.079 All right, before I say you loose, you know, this 353 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:23.480 is the time of year. After that deadline comes and goes, 354 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.559 Now about eighty seven percent of the league can be 355 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:28.480 traded and The one name that has surfaced is Jimmy Butler, 356 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:31.799 who could actually make a difference. And you know, Shams 357 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:35.240 your guy over at ESPN taken over for woj. He 358 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:39.000 he did float out the scenario of Phoenix kicking the 359 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.440 tires there. And I'll tell you what, Tim, I went 360 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.200 to the Jazz Suns game last Friday, and it was 361 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.720 never it was never really in doubt, But there is 362 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:50.440 a little there's something with the Suns that I think 363 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:54.480 they could utilize somebody with the bite like Jimmy Butler has. 364 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:57.880 When Jimmy's head is right and obviously brad Biel can't 365 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:01.559 stay healthy. I feel like if Phoenix goes all in 366 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.000 on making the Butler move, that's something that could change 367 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.920 things out this way. Any intel as to whether or 368 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.880 not that's a real possibility, and if not, where do 369 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.559 you think Jimmy goes Well? 370 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.839 The problem is Number one, Brady Deal has got a 371 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:15.640 no trade clause, and I think he would wave that 372 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:19.359 to go to Miami. But Miami, I cannot see the 373 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:23.119 Miami Heat trading for Bradley Deal with that no trade 374 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:25.119 clause intact. I think he would wave it to go 375 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.440 to Miami. I don't think he would wave it on 376 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:29.960 a permanent basis, you know, just like he was able 377 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:33.519 to hold onto that when he accepted the trade to Phoenix. 378 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:37.119 And frankly, look, if Miami wanted to deal that badly, 379 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:41.599 they would have got him the first time around when 380 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.480 it was known that that was his preferred destination. And 381 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:46.559 if Miami is going to commit one hundred and ten 382 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:50.319 million dollars to a thirty something year old player over 383 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.880 the next couple of years, I think they would have 384 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:55.200 just signed Jimmy to an extension. So I think that 385 00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:58.880 deal absolutely would make sense from the Sun's perspective. I 386 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:03.319 just don't think Miami fight on it for you know, 387 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:07.359 the variety of reasons. If you if you had me 388 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:11.160 guess the most likely destination, I would still say the 389 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:16.359 Golden States. You know they've got obviously, you know, they've 390 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:18.720 been got a big game hunt for a little while. 391 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:22.039 They were trying to talk about marking in the Paul 392 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:26.359 George thing over the summer, you know, so that would 393 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:30.400 be the most likely. As far as Houston, the Rockets 394 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:33.319 front office has been very adamant they're not looking to 395 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:35.680 get a mid thirties guy. They're looking to let it 396 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.759 play out this year, and if they add somebody it's 397 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:41.599 a star in his twenties to start earlier, entering his prime, 398 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.519 you know, things could change, But that one would surprise me. 399 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.480 And then you know. 400 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:49.839 Dallas that I would be just shocked by that they'd 401 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:52.240