Speaker 1: What is up Felsico's I am to have Valley coming
at you with my certified fantabulous co host, mister Grant Hughes.
Wee as the Hardwood Knocks NBA podcast are moving on
to another NBA trade deadline primer. The Brooklyn Nets are
next up onto the table, and before we get started,
I have to ask, Sir Hughes, how are you doing.
Speaker 2: Just trying to process the Yiannis to Brooklyn for MPJ
and and Cam Thomas And I should have thought about
the math of my made up trade before I started
talking about it.
Speaker 1: You're gonna stick. You're gonna stick the landing on one
of these because we've got a few left, and I'm
confident that you'll get to wear And then it's just
like I'll trick you like you'll believe it. I mean,
I'm pretty gullible, so sure, but you'll deadpan it. You
won't like undermine your own fake news, and you'll let
it sit and marinate. And there will be people I
have faith that are they're gonna check their phones because
we're gonna leave get air like ten what so right, that's.
Speaker 2: The thing to sell it properly, you need to, yes,
and it, and we need to go like five full
minutes into the pod so people will freak out and
not realize I've undermined it and then and then go change,
you know, check their phones and stuff.
Speaker 3: I mean, we can. I'm willing to commit to that
if you are.
Speaker 1: I'm willing to commit to that as well. So, but
it needs to leave. I'm I also want to be
taken it back by the scenario that you that you lay.
Speaker 2: Out, Okay, well I might have you think about it
for more than five seconds going forward.
Speaker 1: Now, speaking of kooky scenarios, the Brooklyn Nets have fifteen
point three million dollars in cap space as we moved
on to their trade deadline. Bottles the only team with
that much cap space. So fifteen point three million in
cap space, they can do a bunch of stuff. But
notably they are They have about fifty million in cap
space this coming summer. They owe now getting to their
picks and their assets. They owe their twenty twenty seven
pick to Houston via swap rights, but they also own grant.
I did not know if you know this, but the
New York Knicks first in twenty seven, twenty nine and
thirty one plus the right to swap with New York
in twenty twenty eight. They have Philadelphia's twenty twenty eight
first round pick that is top eight protected, and they
have the Nuggets's unprotected twenty thirty two pick. I'm trying
to think, is they're, ah, that's the only twenty thirty
two pick that's owed anywhere at the moment, right.
Speaker 3: I think that's right.
Speaker 1: So I'm gonna say, what's the juiciest twenty thirty two pick.
It's the Nuggets Yokic getting older, but it's the only team. Yeah,
unless I'm misremembering anybody. So those are those are some assets.
And so I kind of wanted to start here with
the Nets if if you would indulge me, does their
pick situation next season for you or do you believe
it will impact how they go because everyone's saying they
can take on bad money and this rebuild continues, or
is it no, they might want to maybe they don't
trade Michael Borter junior, Nick Claxton because they're looking to
get better because they don't have their own first round
pick next year.
Speaker 2: I think there's some element of, well, a couple things
like you can't tank forever, you can't just avoid really
taking a swing forever, and or you can't just be
accumulating assets while taking on unwanted contracts forever. So that
just not having control of your pick at least like
removes one of the incentives to keep going with.
Speaker 3: That like course of action. Should it like I don't.
Speaker 2: But that's different though than saying don't you think, like, well,
then they gotta just who like they gotta just try
to be in the top six in the East next year.
They got to make some like wild ass moves and
maybe move some of those picks and try to bring
in some It's not that, like, I don't think you
abandon the whole like sensible, sane roster building process, but
it does, Like I think, the only thing I'm certain
of is that it will make our preseason conversation about
Brooklyn a lot different next year than it's been, because, like,
we can't be picking win totals in the teams if
you don't have your own pick, especially when you've kind
of been building up a little bit over the last
couple of years, like that, that'll be different. Do you
think it's gonna change what they do with the deadline.
Speaker 3: I don't. I think that's like kind too far out, and.
Speaker 1: They look at it as I'm sure they will, just
based on what Sean Marks did following the Paul Pierce,
Kevin Garant Garnett trade debacle. This is so much they're
gonna look at it as a one year break in
their Sunshine tanking and they'll they'll continue to operate as such.
So I don't think it changes it materially at all.
I don't think they're gonna go into next season thinking
we need to use this cap space on players who
help us contend for a play and spot or something.
Speaker 2: Now, some I've seen it written and said and heard
it said that because they don't control their pick next year,
well like they just keep Michael Porter Junior around because
he helps you win Like that. I mean, some people
would say, like that's one way that controlling your own
pick might affect their They're thinking, I don't.
Speaker 3: I don't agree with that, but right you hear that.
Speaker 1: I think what it allows you to do is be
a little bit more demanding and your asking price, because
if you look at any of the players, they there's
really only two names that teams are gonna be hot
after maybe three day, Ron Sharp hot after on this team,
who is getting materially less if you keep them through
this season and move them over the summer.
Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, I mean nobody. I mean.
Speaker 1: At some point, or he's an expiring contract, so you
want him, like next season he's an expiring contracts so
you want him for the two playoff runs. But so
that leads into we need to set the asking price
for these guys. But before we do that, grant, will
they move on from cam Thomas or will they at
least maybe shut him down because he's not a fun
watch on this team. I don't. I don't like it,
Like I don't.
Speaker 3: Will they? Will they play him forty minutes? Is maybe
the other question?
Speaker 2: Like what let him juice his numbers first, do him
a solid, let him chuse his numbers for free agency.
Speaker 3: He'll help you lose?
Speaker 1: Uh yeah, No, is there a team he would not
accept a trade to because he has to he has
veto power?
Speaker 3: Oh wow?
Speaker 1: Uh?
Speaker 3: Probably, but like.
Speaker 2: It would only be because he's like I have an
uncle that I hate in New Orleans and I don't
want to be around him, or something like because he's
gonna play more and it'll they'll be more appreciated.
Speaker 3: Literally, anywhere, I think.
Speaker 1: Right, because you can't even look at it and say,
maybe the Nets will give him more money, so they
have this placeholder contract because they didn't first of all,
they didn't do that this.
Speaker 2: Year they will, They're not, they have no interest, right,
They're not gonna keep him.
Speaker 3: There's no chance, I don't think.
Speaker 1: So do you think he's on the team after the deadline?
Speaker 3: I mean, oh, deadline hose next year? Easy? No, I
don't know what his market is.
Speaker 2: I don't know who's who's who wants a rental of
this type of player, Like so Cam Minnesota team.
Speaker 3: He might be on.
Speaker 2: I think I just nobody's given up a first. You
might give a second and I guess matching money. Yep,
they want him out of there.
Speaker 3: Ah, I don't know.
Speaker 2: I guess I'll say he's on a different team, but
that's just because the cost is like close to zero.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I could. What if they just decide that Jay
and Ivy isn't the answer. They're not moving j and Ivy,
but like you just take your Detroit, you take Cam
Thomas to see if they don't want to ruin the vibes.
Speaker 2: Well, there's that, and will he like what kind of
role does he expect coming onto this this?
Speaker 1: Can he be better than Caris LeVert? I guess is
the role?
Speaker 2: Well, but then if that's the part of the thing
with him, is like he wants twenty shots, you know,
like that that's the type of player he thinks he is.
So you, I mean, you'd know all this, right, you would.
You would have some conversations before trading for him, like.
Speaker 1: Hey, playing alongside and then also just being in the
locker room with Ron how in to sar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart,
you kind of can't like you, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3: Right right, there's.
Speaker 2: No there's no bullshitting around, there's no like Yeah, I
mean that's interesting, like the the parent in me wants
to send him there so that like they can set
him straight, like so that Isaiah Stewart and all those
guys can be like we care about the team and
like being tough and defending and your nonsense won't fly here,
so get it together.
Speaker 1: Honestly, what about if they end up moving Anthony Simons
to cut their attacks Bill Boston would make some sense?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, again, the the Missoula of it all
and the like we like quick decisions and spot up
threes and yeah he's an So what do.
Speaker 3: You think do you think he'll be on the Nets
after the deadline.
Speaker 1: I'm just gonna say no because I don't. I don't
want to see it anymore.
Speaker 2: Uh.
Speaker 1: And that might be if they're playing him minutes after
the tradeadline and he's on the team. I try to
your priority shift. I think post All Star break as
to what teams you really need to be locking in on.
But I do try to like still lock in on
like the bad teams, especially if they have young like
I love Yegor Joeman so especially like and a player
where I think, wow, I might have just freaking missed
on him and Danny wolf I camp Thomas might be
the breaking one of the next Like I'm drawing a
line in the cement and camp Thomas is it. He
needs to be gone or not.
Speaker 2: Playing, or you're out, or you just they can kiss
your eyes goodbye.
Speaker 1: I'll be watching film of all the possessions when camp
Thomas is not on the floor, and that's how I
will consume Brooklyn Nets basketball. If here's a player that
has more of a market, you're the Nets. What is
it taking you what's the minimum you need to we've
graduated from Throw a first round pick their way and
they'll do it right. Like, that's just.
Speaker 2: My My very first thought was, I think it's gonna
take at least two now, two firsts. I think because
there's only that one more year on his deal. It
also probably isn't not that that's the thing I was
gonna say. It probably isn't terrible money. But like that,
who is who even is that? Like I get I
keep thinking, like Jeremy Grant or whatever is like the oh,
that's a bad contract because like the EMBIID class of
bad contract is just like a separate thing.
Speaker 3: So it's two firsts.
Speaker 2: I think maybe depending on the kind of money you're
sending back, it's three. But I also think most teams
are not willing to give up three firsts for one
year and forty million bucks of Michael Porter Junior. Does
that sound about right?
Speaker 1: Yeah? It's also he's been pretty durable over the past
few years. Oh, you can look at that as a
ticking time bomb. But if you're a team like I
don't know, Detroit is my favorite Michael Porter Junior A nation, Yeah, nation.
I think trying to think of what other team can
maybe talk themselves, because you know one of those picks
will be lower end at least. I'm trying to think
of what the other team would be. You know, you're
kind of getting this.
Speaker 2: I was gonna say, I just you just look at
who needs shooting and who has a good enough defensive
infrastructure to to just I mean, he's not like this
poisonous defender. But obviously it's like you're a team that
has real deficiency's like just looking down that the best
defenses in the league, Houston probably not that Kevin Durantz
got that spot, san Antonio, I don't know. I mean,
he's if it was Fred Van Fleets willing to accept
the trade, and that's how you're getting to the most
So you have Van Vliet, and at that point I
would have him in Houston. I mean they do need,
think they said, I don't think as much growth or
like maybe hidden ability as Porter Junior has shown as
like a self sufficient scorer in Brooklyn.
Speaker 3: He's not.
Speaker 2: He's he's not like exactly what Houston would need. I
would say offensively because because also then you're kind of
marginalizing Jabari Smith Junior. I mean you're not taking mems
from Durant, but even Thompson probably get like, I don't know,
there's a eason you're probably eating into some Now some
of those guys may go back and hypothetical what about that?
Speaker 1: So the Warriors would have been interesting before the Butler injury,
and now it's just I don't know if they can
talk to him. I mean, would you as the Warriors
right now, Salary, so it's kaminga whatever to get there,
and then it's pods in a first. Is that something
you're still considering or no, I mean.
Speaker 3: I would consider it.
Speaker 2: It's like maybe if it's because I think Kaminga and
Moody gets you pretty close. Honestly, just throw pods in
there so we can kill the two timelines era. I
mean Porter Junior is again he sort of like in Houston.
He's not like the kind of defense Uh, I don't know,
compromiser with the ball that maybe the Warriors need, but
as just another guy that cannot be unattended to.
Speaker 3: Ever, there's there'd be value there you could throw.
Speaker 2: I mean, like does he make this isn't gonna happen,
but like if you put him into Julius Randall's spot
does that change anything in Minnesota if you put it,
he has, and probably his playmaking matters, because we've spent
plenty of time talking about the Wolves needs some of that,
like Toronto because they've got solid defense and they have
stretch issues in the front court.
Speaker 1: What about upgrading from the Harrison Barnes spot in San Antonio.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's that's one too, And the defense is good
enough there to to definitely accommodate him, especially if, like
you know, you'd hope that one or both of Castle
and Harper will figure it out shooting wise. But if
you're gonna play a couple of guards like a lot
that do everything well except shoot, you're probably gonna want
to get a guy in there that's, you know, a
really reliable, high volume guy from three.
Speaker 1: I loved him in New Orleans before it was clear
that Michael porter Tum is going to require multiple first
round picks to acquire. They just I want so much
shooting on that team. Him and Trey Murphy would be
a five alarm fire.
Speaker 2: And Zion on the team in that hypothetical, because if
it because it's like Queen is your center and then
MPJ your god, your defense sucks so whatever, it doesn't
matter what you do.
Speaker 1: Jordan Poole's on your team, so defense isn't going to
be any great shakes either. But I think it's it
needs to be the equivalent for me of two first
round picks to get. Maybe it's a prospect that you
really like, but that's what it's taking to move MPJ.
What about Nicholas Claxton.
Speaker 2: That's an interesting one. He's kind of in the him
and Gafford, and there's a third guy who's I can't
remember now are like all of the bigs that are
like reasonably available. He's really interesting because of the the facilitation.
It feels like everybody that's gone to Brooklyn has figured
out how to be like more of a I don't know, folkrum.
He's just passed the ball better this year. That feels
like kind of a new dimension. So it's not just well,
he can switch and he'll block a shot, and he's,
you know, a good, solid enough defensive piece. If I'm
looking at a center, though, I think I probably still
prefer Gafford just because he's cheaper and he's like a
just a just the lob threat. Like the best version
of Gafford is, like I understand how to integrate that
into a really good team. Now, Cloxson was pretty good
on some of those KD nets teams too, But.
Speaker 1: I just for two years and forty four million about
and it's declining after this season. I think it's at
least I think it's one first I don't think it's two.
I think it's one first round pick and a young
player you talk yourself into, oh he'll play, it's not
you know what I mean. Yeah, I'm trying to think
of what would be a good example of a maybe
at Jade and Ivy level of intrigue, the Piston should
not although could you mind the picture? Just go out
and sure that we have clacked it in Stewart and
Durren and we're just gonna more big. Yeah, So I
think that would be it for me. What do you Darren?
Sharp's the other name. That's a minimum of two seconds
at this point, and from the next perspective, I don't
even know if it's worth it. The team option is
so cheap. It's just if it's part of I think
he's getting moved as part of a larger deal where
it's maybe with MPG or something, and you're increasing the
value of your return.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I think right, because if it's just a
couple of seconds, why wouldn't you just rather have sharp
and the you know, the the I'm sure you probably
should just pick that team option up. But like the
flexibility to affords is not nothing. Is there anybody else
that you know might draw some interest? I mean, hey,
what Highsmith is there? If he's healthy, would be healthy,
which maybe the whole reason he's there in the first
place for what seemed like such a low return is that.
Speaker 3: He was just never going to be healthy.
Speaker 1: Zion Williams has had some moments. So if you just
want a wing that you think could play eat up
some minutes at least during the regular season, maybe him.
Speaker 2: Terrence Man makes too much and goes out too far.
He's got two more years after.
Speaker 1: This still just doesn't fucking shoot enough threes. My god.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Other than that, like they're not trading Clowny because
he's cheap and interesting. Everybody else is a rookie, it
feels like, so yeah, it's it's pretty slim pickings beyond
Porter Junior in Claxton.
Speaker 1: If you they should not necessarily be in the business
of trading for need sort of like we say, drafting
for need, it's like you shouldn't be in the business
trading for need. But if you look at this roster,
aside from saying the fundamental cornerstone of the future, is
there something that sticks out that you would like to
see them maybe prioritize.
Speaker 2: Well, I think you've got to at least you can
do process of elimination and say we got enough guys
we think can be our playmakers at the guard.
Speaker 3: Spots, and so you just see them.
Speaker 2: Well, you took enough shots at it that you gotta
at least go all the way through next year to
see if you've got somebody between.
Speaker 1: Well, I don't know, because it's just like they would say.
Speaker 3: A wing.
Speaker 2: I think I want to combo forward or like a
bigger wing before I start messing around with the guards.
Speaker 1: Because it feels like they've already messed around with the
guards or the on ball guys in the sense that
a lot of them just aren't on the ball as
much as anyone expected them to be.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so Joeman being like not a high rep ball
handling guard is interesting, but he has value elsewhere. Just
a question of like yeah, I mean Danny, Yeah, No,
you're I still I still am leaning away. I mean
what Saraf is who knows TRII who knows?
Speaker 1: Yeah, fast, I don't. So it's so.
Speaker 2: Early though, like I want it. Those guys are both
teenagers when they started the year. I think they still are.
I think Joemen is still nineteen too.
Speaker 1: Would you consider this is? Would you consider? And this
is I guess like kind of more of a I
guess it's a bye play. But what if Denver I
brought this up on the Utah episode. Denver's in love
with Peyton Watson. They're not paying both him and Christian Brown?
Would you consider just taking on? Would you throw one
of your lower end first round picks? Looking at maybe
the knickses twenty twenty seven pick, would you throw that
at Denver to get Christian Brown?
Speaker 3: Yeah? Maybe?
Speaker 2: I mean that's presumably that unless things go really sideways,
that picks in the twenties.
Speaker 1: I actually said one of their lower end first and
I'm looking at their commitments, so when you just look
at the extra first that they have the Knicks in
twenty seven, twenty nine and thirty one, Phillies in twenty
twenty eight, and Denver's in twenty thirty two. There's one
low end pick I think in.
Speaker 3: That budge, which is the Knicks one probably.
Speaker 1: Twenty seven, And could you even talk yourself into if
they don't win this season, they just might do something
so stupid.
Speaker 2: Well that's why I hesitated and said, like that's probably
in the twenties, but also who knows. Yeah, I'm just
not sure where I'm out on Christian Brown specifically, to
be honest, but like that player type, you know, the
guy that's making in the twenties, that's a star that's
young enough to where like could factor once.
Speaker 3: All your really really young guys are probable roles.
Speaker 1: Well, he's still pretty young. He's expensive though, and I
just wonder what the cost of with some of his
other teammates getting more expensive John Suggs Hmmm.
Speaker 3: He would definitely be.
Speaker 2: I think if you do that, it's like Claxton's not
going anywhere and MPJ is not going anywhere, and you're
kind of just like competitive.
Speaker 1: I was actually wondering if it was more of you
could probably get Orlando out of the tax by giving
them Michael Porter Junior. If you're taking back Suggs, you
throw Jonathan Isaac in there, like you could probably get
Orlando out of the tax.
Speaker 2: Well, what you're highlighting is the lead for Brooklyn is that,
like their true role here is to use the only
cap space that exists in the league to like, let
me do you a favor other teams, you know, whether
that's being the third team or whether that's we'll take back,
you know, a big chunk of money that you don't
want give you someone cheaper with stuff attached. Like that's
that's if I'm saying, like what should the Nets do,
It's use that cap space to do things no other
team can do, like be the be the only way
that this deal gets done and really like exact a
price for it.
Speaker 1: And there's an if you don't have like bigger deals,
like there's not even one single which by the way,
is possible if there's not a single blockbuster on the
table to where you can utilize that leverage. There are
so many teams within just striking distance of ducking the tax.
There are one, two, three, four, five, six teams are
seven and a half million dollars or lesson to the tax.
You could feasibly just help like three of them get out,
and then how many seconds you end up with for
that or even is there, you're probably not getting a
first probably's there, but if it's all right, we obliterate
our fifty million dollars of cast braces for the season
and we got like six second round picks or something
like that.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that that feels like if all else fails,
move But that's a pretty good like we know we'll
be able to do that if we can't do anything else,
like coming out with several seconds and just for money
that you sort of have to spend anyway, pretty pretty solid.
Like I don't know if that's even qualifying as a
fallback plan what is?
Speaker 1: And do you think they're gonna be willing to take
on money that goes beyond this season?
Speaker 3: So well, why wouldn't you be like it?
Speaker 1: Just like I think the price of the it probably
depends on what you're getting back, which you could say
about anything, but I might prefer because a lot more
activity happens over the offseason if you can facilitate facilitate
moves as a cap space, like they're probably gonna have
cap space either way, but fifty plus million around that's
a lot of cap space. So if you're able to
preserve that and maybe it change is now the variable
here is I'm just assuming what if they don't trade
Claxton or Michael Porter Junior. And there's just a chance
that if you trade Michael Porter Junior because he has
standalone you maybe you're actually getting expiring contracts in return,
so you're increasing your cap space too.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, are we trending towards like, oh, the
Nets have two max salary slots?
Speaker 3: Again? Is that?
Speaker 1: Like?
Speaker 3: I really don't want to think that again.
Speaker 1: I think that they view cap space as a facilitation tool.
Speaker 2: I don't think they change their stance on cap space.
It's not two superstars anymore. Well, who leaves nobody's a
free agent anymore.
Speaker 1: That's they signed Lebron this offseason.
Speaker 3: Congrat Yeah, no, that's really true.
Speaker 1: Well, hey, you just you don't know what your pick
next year.
Speaker 2: Lebron would definitely sell tickets at You'll be really yeah,
you'll be relevant, that's true. No, I think I think
just as a facilitator, as a like, let's let's get
involved in other deals. That's I mean, they could really
come away looking pretty good if that's all they do.
Speaker 1: Okay, so too many questions. Who's the most likely player?
To be traded on this team.
Speaker 2: Uh, I mean, I'll just go Porter Junior. I think
there's gonna be pretty robust demand for him, and I
think there's plenty of teams that would should and would
be willing to put two first on the table for him,
Like if he's if he's gonna play like this, I
mean it's gone on long enough, Like I think he's
that's a big salary, But I think he's just been
really good. And I think who doesn't need a lights
out shooter that has been on a championship team before.
Speaker 1: I'm just gonna go with to be country. I'm gonna
say like Zire Williams or Heywood High, just to be contrarian.
Speaker 3: I like it.
Speaker 1: And then I can't remember what my second question. I
had a second question for you. Would we do most
likely player to be Oh, the number over under on
the number of these players that get if if it's
Michael Porter Junior Nick Claxton point five. So you already
predicted Michael Porter Junior was going to be the most
likely player to be traded, So what the over and
the number of trades the Nets make? They could it
could be however many, I'll say one point five.
Speaker 3: And this counts them like nosing in, Like we're going
to take on this twelve million dollars salary with a
second attack.
Speaker 1: Correct, Uh, I will go.
Speaker 2: Over one point five, and in fact I will be disciplined.
I think it will have been a mistake if they
are not over, if they don't get two trades or
more done, I'll.
Speaker 1: Take the overs. Well, do you think that they will finish,
They will move past the deadline and have more or
less than five million dollars in cap space remaining.
Speaker 2: Uh, I'm gonna say less. I think they're gonna try
to use up.
Speaker 1: We're just gonna manifest activity and to existence.
Speaker 3: Really, that's kind of what this is good. I don't know, like,
what are we doing if we're not gonna capital We're
the only team that can facilitate deals like get in there.
Speaker 1: Could you imagine if they do nothing? If if they
do if they do nothing, I think that this will
have been the worst trade deadline of all time. There's
just nothing out there for them to facilitate.
Speaker 2: Well yeah, right, yeah, if they're on, if they're unable
to do anything, it's because just nothing happened anywhere and
nobody called them and said.
Speaker 3: We need help. Yeah, that would suck. I'm rooting real
hard against that.
Speaker 1: You got anything else on that, But you're ready to take
us out of here.
Speaker 2: I think that's gonna do it. Thanks everybody for listening
and for watching. As always, please remember to give us
a five star rating, give us a review.
Speaker 3: That's always very helpful.
Speaker 2: Wherever you're consuming your podcast content. If you're watching this
on YouTube, believe us a comment, please share it, Tell
your friends, tell your enemies, join our discord the Winks
for that or in the YouTube and podcast description, Till
we meet again on another trade deadline primer. We're running short,
We're getting there, shouts Frankinla Kina. Apologies, chair it out