WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.480 --> 00:00:05.360 This is the baseline discussing the hot button topics of 2 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:09.599 the nb A welcome everybody, you're tuned to the baseline 3 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:12.599 Callie warn't yall discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. 4 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.039 It's been a long time. Sorry we left you, and 5 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:18.719 we always have a strong show to bring. 6 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:19.879 Back, sir. 7 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:24.640 That's gonna do it anyway, man, So uh listen, it's 8 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:27.640 it's it's great to uh to have an opportunity, especially 9 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:30.839 the dog days this summer, to uh hop on and 10 00:00:31.239 --> 00:00:35.399 tap in and make sure everybody is good and as always, man, 11 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:39.759 it's it's always welcoming to uh do this with my 12 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:42.439 brother for another mother a man, mister Warrenshaw repping out 13 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:46.359 of Fort Laydaville, Florida. What's good, mister Shaw. Good for 14 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:49.920 you to uh be in the fold, be it be 15 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:51.799 tapped in for the for the summer. I know we 16 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:54.479 both want to be tapped out in somewhere else and 17 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:57.560 stuff like that. But you know, NBA grind don't sleep, 18 00:00:57.600 --> 00:00:58.679 my friend, it does not. 19 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:00.960 And we're back here. You know, it's great to kind 20 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.880 of get back into the saddle here and talk about 21 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:04.680 some of the things we might have missed kind of 22 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.680 post summer League, if you will, and the NBA Draft, 23 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.319 so our content continues to arrive. We've got a spavorite 24 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.959 special guests coming on here this week. Really excited to 25 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:16.159 talk with that gentleman. But here just kind of be 26 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:17.760 back into this fold. You kind to do like some 27 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:20.799 of our contemporaries and still stay tapped in, but also 28 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:22.280 get some rush and reprieve ourselves. 29 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:26.319 Absolutely, man, It's it's great when we give ourselves the 30 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.480 opportunity to kind of take a step back and you know, 31 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.840 assess not just what the season is is culminated to, 32 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.560 but also with what happens in the off season, because 33 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:40.799 it's always just so immediate and fast to even take 34 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:43.439 a you know, to kind of get an overall view. 35 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:46.200 So you know, this is great because there will be 36 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.359 an opportunity of time for us to really kind of 37 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:51.280 chime in give our assessment of whether or not teams 38 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.760 you know, and have done what is necessary to improve 39 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.519 their roster to take step forward, take a step forward, 40 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.560 and then you know, look at the teams that either 41 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:02.879 have stagnated or may essentially be taking a step back, 42 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:05.680 and maybe even look at teams who are completely rolling 43 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:08.560 the dice with some of the moves that they've made. 44 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:13.439 You know, is the risk worth the reward. So there's 45 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:15.879 so much that we would love to you know, obviously 46 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.479 do and we will get into those things. But you know, 47 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:21.479 as always too, man, even the players in the teams 48 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:24.400 many know they need a break right, but that does 49 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.400 not mean that the NBA grind doesn't sleep right or 50 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.439 doesn't stop. And so we are excited to have someone 51 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.319 who is in the throes of being on that grind. 52 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:35.719 He's going to do a little FaceTime with the Baseline 53 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:41.240 with us a man Jordan Hines really an accomplished basketball player, 54 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:46.439 accomplished collegiate basketball player, accomplished player all together. He's going 55 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:47.879 to be jumping on both with this. We're going to 56 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:50.080 tap in with him, you know, get his perspective, his 57 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:51.599 views of what the summer is going to be like 58 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:53.439 and what the future is going to be like for him. 59 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:55.400 He's a name that you do not want to sleep 60 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:58.080 on because he is definitely in the mist. So a 61 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.319 lot of good stuff happening. As always be to get 62 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.439 my man Shaw at the Warrenshaw, you can get at 63 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:06.400 me a game face leader shows Twitter hand at NBA 64 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:08.479 Baseline available on all the major platforms you know where 65 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:10.919 to find us. You can also go to www dot 66 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:13.439 the Baseline NBA dot com to not only check out 67 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:15.800 this episode, but also all of our previous episodes that 68 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.879 we've got archived in the home at the Home the 69 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:22.240 home spot. You also know this if you catch us 70 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:24.120 on the YouTube channel, that means we rocking with the 71 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:25.919 nineteen Media Group family. If you see that blue and 72 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:29.120 white logo, you know that nineteen Media Group runs a 73 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:33.199 content street. So please go to www dot Nineteenmediagroup dot 74 00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:35.599 com to not only check us, but also the family 75 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.800 of great content creators that are a part of the 76 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:42.759 nineteen Media Group family. So let's get digging into some 77 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.800 of the news and noticed that and taking place while 78 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:49.960 we've been on our you know, little hiatus mini hiatus, 79 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:52.800 I guess you could say, and I think the first 80 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.879 thing that just jumps out Shaw is, you know a 81 00:03:56.919 --> 00:03:59.919 lot of speculation was made about why the Milwaukee Bucks 82 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:05.800 went ahead and just essentially released Damian Lillard, you know, 83 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:08.439 eating you know, most of the money that's owed to 84 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:11.319 him and allowing him the ability to go and sign 85 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:15.199 with anyone else, uh, without really figuring out you know, 86 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:20.480 where he's going to be and where most people thought 87 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:23.319 his intent is that he's probably going to look to sign, 88 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:26.839 you know, take his time and sign with a contender, right, 89 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:31.680 But he decided to sign with the Portland Trailblazers. And 90 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:35.680 I think there's so many different directions you can go 91 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:38.560 into this, but I wanted to get your perspective from 92 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:42.279 this shaw A person like Damian Lillard, an accomplished player 93 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.879 like Damian Lillard. It isn't as if, you know, he's 94 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:48.279 like in his forties or something like that, and you 95 00:04:48.279 --> 00:04:50.839 know he's about to do a swan song like the 96 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:52.759 next person that we're going to be talking about in 97 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:56.680 a moment or so. But with him, why make that 98 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:59.480 move to go back to the Portland Trailblazers, especially with 99 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:03.759 the way that that roster is currently constructed. What's the 100 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:06.040 end game here for a Damian Lillard to do that? 101 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:09.279 I mean, just the old adage of you know, you 102 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.079 say you can't go home again, and he's proven that 103 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:14.439 adage to be wrong. He never really wanted to leave, 104 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:18.720 and he's somebody who has been admittedly while yes, he 105 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:22.759 wants to win a championship, he also understands like or 106 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:25.680 he feels like his career is not incomplete if he doesn't, 107 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:28.439 if that makes sense, like it's something that, yes, all 108 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.160 players want to win, but he wants to be a 109 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.160 good dude. He wants to be a good teammate. He 110 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.240 wants to be he is going to be Hall of Famer. 111 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:38.720 So all those things are are in place, and now 112 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:40.839 the injury happens and the way that it does. But 113 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:43.759 while he does an unprecedented move in terms of you know, 114 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:47.120 stretching Waven stretching him if you will, and that allows 115 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.199 him this opportunity to be the free agent for the 116 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.879 first time like truly in his career. And he decided 117 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.720 in Chronic and company in Portland, decided them they're gonna 118 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:58.000 end defenses. And he gets to go home to where 119 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:00.199 he's basically raised his family now for the last some 120 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.240 out of years, rehabbed over that time, enjoying a Portland 121 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.800 team that is on the rise. Now again, we know 122 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:09.000 this is not a championship level team right now, but 123 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:11.639 Bobs did a really great job last year with this roster, 124 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:13.959 and they made some moves in essence to clear some 125 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:16.519 way for some younger guys to play. And I think 126 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.560 this is going to be in Dames Wolhouse, especially this 127 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:21.959 year of recovery, right, really assess the team and the roster. 128 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:25.680 Give Scoop some leadership, give Shaden Sharp some leadership. You know, 129 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:28.560 even Donovan Klingen, like all the guys at this Portland 130 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:31.160 Trail Builders roster is trying to build around Dame will 131 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.360 be there to be that guiding kind of force to 132 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.759 go alongside bullets in the locker room. And then the 133 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.240 next year he comes back and should be able to 134 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:40.639 play and play at a reasonably high level. And then 135 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:42.680 I think they'll they'll see where they're at that after 136 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.240 that second year, so it allows them again the time 137 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:47.639 to rehab be with his family being a comfortable setting, 138 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.399 and be with and men defenses that he didn't really 139 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:53.000 want to have been broken into very very beginning with 140 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:55.480 the beginning anyway, and then we'll see what happens in 141 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.480 year three because he has a no trade clause. I 142 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.120 believe it's a player option at the end of that 143 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:01.199 third year, and if he does decide he wants to 144 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:04.240 leave again to go air quote chase the Chase the Ring, well, 145 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.120 then Portland's given him that out and he has that opportunity. 146 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.879 So it's a nice story in a lot of ways, 147 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.399 but it has nothing to do I think, with championships 148 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:15.360 as much as has to do with comfortability for Damian 149 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:16.480 Lillard and a pull Drublozers. 150 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.439 I'm just gonna quickly lean on to what you're saying 151 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:21.439 that this doesn't feel like or doesn't have the sense 152 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:27.959 of someone who's chasing a championship. And I will also 153 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:29.800 say this as well too. We are in a different 154 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:34.319 climate now when it comes to athletes and what they're 155 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:38.040 prioritizing for their for what they want to I guess 156 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:41.079 etch out as their legacy. I'm not going to perceive 157 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:44.319 to act like I know what Damian Lillard is prioritizing, 158 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:48.480 but I will say I think we've almost completely just 159 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:51.800 we're so much caught in the immediate moment of what 160 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:54.639 an athlete is expected to do as a as a 161 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.519 professional is to go out win championship rings. And part 162 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:01.000 of that precedent, that pressure was applied, you know, essentially 163 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.959 by a Lebron James, and it then trickled itself down 164 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.399 to when you see a person like a Steph Curry 165 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.800 and a Kevin Durant and so forth and so on. 166 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:14.199 Damian Lillard was among one of those elite superstar players. 167 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:18.000 We were hoping would be in that fold because he 168 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:22.160 essentially led the Portland Trailblazers in two different occasions opportunities 169 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.000 to actually get to the NBA Finals and fell short, right, 170 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:27.959 And that's still in a pretty oppressive resume to have 171 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.839 as part of your legacy. I think when you have 172 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:34.120 a significant injury, depending on where you are and your 173 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.080 you know, your age window, I think you reset the 174 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:39.600 priorities about what matters. And you mentioned the fact that 175 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:42.440 I think him being closer to home, him taking care 176 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:45.440 of his family, I think all of that, and I 177 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.519 also think too Shaw, it's also to what you're saying. 178 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.720 I want my legacy to be known that I always 179 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:55.879 loved and respected what Portland gave me. They were the 180 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.279 ones who took roll the dice on me, and I 181 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.519 want to make sure that I do right by them. 182 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:04.519 And I think we don't often talk about these things 183 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.480 because it isn't until after the player retires that he 184 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:11.279 kind of you know, goes in that direction and speaks 185 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:14.960 to those things. And if there is a virtue of 186 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:21.919 a very what's the word animus relationship that severs, you know, 187 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:24.840 what goes on between him and the organization, whatever the 188 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.879 case may be, then you got to have these like 189 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:30.919 you know, Kumbaya moments and let's make peace moments and 190 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.600 documentaries of you know, nobody wants that. I think genuinely, 191 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:37.840 Damian Lilla has always had a love for the Portland 192 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:43.039 Trailblazers that I think him doing this sets another layer 193 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:47.919 to understanding a very unique and a very well liked 194 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:51.200 legacy of one of the most respected players of our 195 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.720 of this generation. You know, to play the game, and 196 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.080 of course you want to see him win a championship, 197 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:59.360 but I even think he's okay with may not win 198 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:02.120 the championship. But there's so many other things that I 199 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.480 think that I've been able to do that will make 200 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.879 me feel better about whether or not I do have 201 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:09.759 the opportunity to hoist that trophy. One quick thing before 202 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:12.200 we move on Shaw, And I'm really curious because of 203 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.759 what you were saying about him being, you know, kind 204 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:17.480 of a mentor of providing leadership to a guy like 205 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:22.960 Scoot Henderson. You genuinely believe that the Portland Trailblazers still 206 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:27.320 have faith or buy into Scoot Henderson. Do you still 207 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:30.639 think that he is that guy? Because I could also 208 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:36.519 say too that if Damian Lillard comes back like dalliand 209 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:40.960 something of Damian Lulla of old, what do you do 210 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:43.279 with the guy like a Scoot Henderson. Scoot Henderson is 211 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:47.559 gonna have to, you know, leap frog some pretty significant 212 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:51.240 markers for us to buy into the fact that he 213 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.519 eventually is gonna be that guy. Knowing that the man 214 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:58.840 before you that left that forced them to go get you, 215 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:01.000 you still have not you surp you you know what 216 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:03.919 I'm saying or superseded to that level. 217 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:07.440 Yeah, I think well from when I heard right and 218 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.080 you know, listening to other shows and media that poorly 219 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:14.440 even asked about it, and not that he needed to 220 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.440 bless it, but they wanted to let them know that 221 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.600 this is a direction that they were handing because many 222 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.679 for the same reasons that you might even be alluding 223 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:22.320 to you, right like, hey, is this really our guy? 224 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:25.440 A lot kind of long term andoo listen, listen, why 225 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:28.799 not right? You bringing back basically your your favorite son 226 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:31.399 here in Portland was somebody who I can learn from. 227 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:33.279 And then Scoot's going to have all the runway, especially 228 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.759 this upcoming season, like Dame is not a threat to him, 229 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.240 you know, this year at all, and then you again 230 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:41.000 you reassess what what that ends up being after the 231 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:43.360 next year, and then they play together and see what 232 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.960 you really have, and then I think Scoot's rookie contract 233 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.159 will be up and then they really have an opportunity 234 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.720 to kind of figure things out. I think the timeline 235 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.799 works out perfectly for all parties in this group. Gives 236 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.639 an opportunity to play prove himself, and then Dame has 237 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:58.600 an opportunity to kind of come back mentrum in the 238 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.879 short term, and then they can figure they can play together, 239 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:02.639 and then they get a year to really assess what 240 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.879 that is for all parties. I think it's a win 241 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:07.360 win for all parties involved, and I'm excited for what 242 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:09.679 schoo Henderson still has the ability to kind of prove. 243 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.279 We played really well towards the latter part of last year, battles, 244 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:14.720 some injuries, excited around their pland pulling the lineup was 245 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:17.240 a little wonky. Phillips did a great job even managing 246 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.279 that they were competitive for that one of those last 247 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.200 playing spots. So I think this is going to be 248 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:24.120 something that we don't necessarily worry about in terms of 249 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:27.000 personality clashes and or talent clashing in the long term 250 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:27.559 for the Blazers. 251 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:29.960 I will say this one thing though, all right, and 252 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:34.200 we don't often talk about it because it's the Portland 253 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:39.879 Trail Blazers and it's it just happens off and on. 254 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:43.080 We'll see whether or not the organization is going to 255 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:45.120 be on top of this. I will say this, Shaw, 256 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.440 while it's awesome, the Portland Trail Blazers are getting back 257 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:53.519 something that he essentially lost. Right, the fear can be 258 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.840 if Scoot Henderson does not exude the maturity of handling 259 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:02.159 that situation to wait and needs to be handled, Portland 260 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:05.519 Trailblazer fans and those among in that in that circle 261 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:08.320 are gonna be feeling like that, Oh, I can't wait 262 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:10.799 for Damien to come back, you know what I'm saying. 263 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.039 And then that's going to be putting additional pressure on 264 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:17.960 a guy like Scoot Henderson. Again, he's been given this, 265 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:21.519 this this this long leash, this runway of opportunity. I'm 266 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:27.159 hoping that part of his maturation is recognizing that even 267 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:30.960 as a player, you still can separate yourself, but don't 268 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:34.799 undermine yourself, knowing that part of that narrative you can't 269 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:37.279 you can't avoid it that part of that narrative that's 270 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:40.279 there is that fans are happy that Damien is back 271 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.480 in the fold, and at times fans can take it 272 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:45.720 to another level when they see you struggling because they 273 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.519 can't separate the greatness of what they had from one 274 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:51.240 player knowing that he can eventually come back, and not 275 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:53.720 looking at the level of greatness that you have for 276 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.679 yourself and what you're expecting to give for the Portland Trailblazers. 277 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.480 I just I'm just saying that at times, the organization 278 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:01.919 and even a head coach. I'm not trying to blame 279 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:04.240 people or or you know, go on on on any 280 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:07.360 kind of conspiracy theory theory, but it is there that 281 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:10.000 at times players don't know how to handle that type 282 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.960 of pressure when it is applied when you go through 283 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.200 those struggles. So it'll be interesting to see how the 284 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.840 Portland Trailblazers support that so that that narrative doesn't get 285 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:20.720 leaked out or get perceived because of the legacy of 286 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.279 that as of a Damian Lillard. All right, scheall, let's 287 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:29.600 switch our focus to the the LA Clippers, who I 288 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.799 don't know if I'm necessarily surprised by this move by 289 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:35.679 the Clippers. I am surprised by one of the moves 290 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:40.039 in them getting Bradley Beal, but more not most so 291 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:44.159 surprised about the fact that Chris Paul decided to come back, 292 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:47.759 you know, to the to the to the place, right. 293 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:51.080 I think people probably said to themselves, well, why didn't 294 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:53.840 you go back to the New Orleans Pelicans. It's almost 295 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.720 as if my man just like, yeah, he said, I 296 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:57.960 blanked out the first seven eight years of my career. 297 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.720 My career really started when I was playing in Lob City, right, like, 298 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.440 you know what I mean. And so it's I think 299 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:08.639 it's great. Obviously, there is also that opportunity because the 300 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:12.679 Clippers are among the early season people to teams to 301 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:15.759 keep a watch for that could upset the Apple card 302 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:18.120 as far as making a run in the Western Conference. 303 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.879 What do we make about Chris Paul Bradley Beal now 304 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.799 being Los Angeles Clippers for this upcoming season. 305 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:28.919 Yeah, because the Norman palletrade was curious and then some 306 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:30.519 people like, we just don't want to pay him. But 307 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.039 then you can get Bradley Bill. Yes, even at this 308 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.799 advanced age, so to speak. But what is basically a 309 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.200 minimum deal. It's just so interesting. You know, the return 310 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.879 on investment that people see, right, Bradley buil a number 311 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.159 that he was in Phoenix, not of value. Bradley Bill 312 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.600 at that number for the Clippers five and a half 313 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.679 million absolute value because his percentages were still pretty good 314 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.559 last year, you know, when he was able to stay 315 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:52.519 on the court, which is obviously the key statement and 316 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.080 that's the whole thing I think for the Clippers team, 317 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.840 and as it is every year, can they all stay 318 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:58.279 on the court. So Chris Paul coming back, you know, 319 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.279 gives them somebody, another ball handler, somebody who doesn't necessarily 320 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:04.559 need to log thirty five forty minutes a night with 321 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.240 James Harden. Kind of int there, but then that allows 322 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.960 Harden to get some rest. And now they don't lose 323 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.399 play creation if Paul's on the floor. And Paul played 324 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:13.559 all eighty two games with the Spurs last year, especially 325 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:15.720 even at his age. You know, that's an amazing situation. 326 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:19.080 So the Clippers are one of the more differently in 327 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:21.840 air quote improved teams. In the off season. They remember 328 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.519 the added Brook Lopez, added John Collins. Now you bring 329 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.720 in Bradley Bill and Chris Paul. A lot of veteran 330 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.519 presence on this roster. A lot of old guyshunt this roster, 331 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.840 so they really are going to have to do their 332 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.840 best in sence to try to stay healthy throughout the 333 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.080 course with the regular season and get a decent seed 334 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.720 where they can hopefully have home court. But I think 335 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.679 the additions of Chris Paul and Bradley Bill specifically makes 336 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.159 sense for where they are. Yes, it's a lot of 337 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.279 star power, it's a lot of name power, it's a 338 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:49.559 lot of potential Hall of famers here and you know 339 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.919 in La Land. But I understand where where they're trying 340 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.240 to go with it. And now we've got to see 341 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:58.759 if Lawrence, Frank and tylu have what it takes in 342 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:01.639 essence to really build a championship contender on that Lelly Clippers. 343 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:05.880 I just considered these interesting moves. I am. I'm probably 344 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.759 higher on the Chris Paul move because the Los Angeles 345 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:12.279 Clippers have for the longest time really needed a secondary 346 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.960 ball creator because they just never had it. After you know, 347 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:21.119 James Harden, I will say though, that what makes this 348 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:24.440 play interesting is that we could probably get rid of 349 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:26.960 the notion that the idea is is that they want 350 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.519 Brian Bradley Beal to operate like kind of like as 351 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:33.119 a point guard space. I I don't know why there 352 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:36.000 has this been a struggle to really find his niche 353 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:39.559 outside of his injuries. With this this this idea that 354 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:42.319 you know, if let's say you're running a three guard rotation, 355 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:46.440 that you know, the assumption is like he can operate 356 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:49.000 in a point guard space. I think he was in 357 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.480 a unique space when he played next to John Wall. 358 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:54.359 I think John Wall allowed that, and especially with a 359 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:58.480 different style of of pace of play, it allowed that 360 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.000 to get away with doing that. But he's never to 361 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:04.319 me been a dedicated ball handler kind of guy. If 362 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:06.400 you're gonna have that ball exclusively in the hands of 363 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.200 James Harden or Chris Paul, I think you make Bradley 364 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:12.079 Beal a better player. The question is, can Bradley Beal 365 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:14.359 stay on the floor long enough to allow the level 366 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:17.319 of greatness for guys like James Harden and Chris Paul 367 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:20.079 to help accentuate what he could actually give you. We'll 368 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:22.720 see whether or not that place and that's part of that. 369 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:26.160 You know, quote unquote low risk, low reward to you. 370 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:29.039 I consider it high risk because again, he's playing for 371 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:32.359 a team that is in the spotlight. Los Angeles Clippers 372 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.480 are a high visible type of team, and I would 373 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:38.480 have probably figured he would have gone back to a 374 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:41.039 place that would have had low visibility to allow him 375 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:44.240 to kind of really help bolster a team, you know, 376 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.319 boost numbers, but not really be part of the focal point, 377 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:47.680 you know. 378 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:50.359 But again maybe I mean he's better. Remember he's not, 379 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:53.279 he's not. He's slotted down now in terms of even 380 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:55.799 the pecking order. Even with Duran and Booker, he was 381 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:58.279 a third guy, and I think in this situation he's 382 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:01.160 the third guy is shift you will, and that's a 383 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:04.000 distant third behind what Kawhi and James Harden are providing. 384 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:06.680 So like it allows him to still to be able 385 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.279 to be a productive player, but not necessarily have to 386 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:12.680 be sought after as like, hey, you absolutely have to 387 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.759 produce because of all the other additions they mad as 388 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.920 well too. Think about even Chris Paul playing along with 389 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:19.559 John Collins. John Collins is a very productive basketball player, 390 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.000 especially as a lob threat. Here now you still have 391 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:24.920 Derek Jones, like you still they still have Boganovitch as well. 392 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:27.599 So this Clippers team is not struggling in terms of 393 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:31.680 roster and talent, and while I understand where you're intimating 394 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:35.920 to when it comes to beel but his impact is 395 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:40.000 more superfluous. I think in this way, I wouldn't say luxuries, 396 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:43.559 but I mean it's superfluous because he can still secondary create, 397 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:45.319 he can still some of those things, do some of 398 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:48.000 those things without the spotlight. Oh well, we need Bradly 399 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:50.079 Bible to give us assist and give us times or 400 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:52.319 we need rather be able to shoot forty percent from three. 401 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:54.599